SE and the Dragoons

[Anaki]

Re: SE and the Dragoons

i wnder what the possibilitie of another jump ability? unlike the others instead olf primarily for shedding hate this one will when you jump your wyvern does something as well?

[DakAttack]

Re: SE and the Dragoons

What if the wyvern's two-hours were grouped as their breath attacks are? There's elemental, healing, and multipurpose breaths from a wyvern, so what if they expanded that a bit to the two-hours?

Maybe any sub-job's two-hour that the wyvern would have no use of it could use as a breath onto the Dragoon for 50% duration/effectiveness? For example Chaincast Breath would give you Chaincast for half the time that it normally is etc. That could be applied to almost any two-hour.

[Balodoth]

Re: SE and the Dragoons

Well, I think it goes without saying that many of this would be breath based. Manafont, for instance, would be in the form of a refresh breath that restores MP with every spell you cast. Meikyo Shisui would likely be some sort of TP breath that you would trigger just before using your weapon skill so that you immediately get another 150% TP for one free chain by yourself (and a hidden effect of an immediate burst breath from your wyvern). Perhaps Familiar could charm the beast for 30 seconds, much like the BRD song.

At this point the question is, do we make them all breath-based? For instance, Mighty Strikes affects the whole party making their next 3-4 hits automatic criticals with a boost to accuracy? Does Blood Weapon affect the whole party to a small degree or just your wyvern to a large degree? Is Perfect Evasion a percent given to everyone or 100% for Raiden (or whatever you name it)? On the one hand, if part of our goal is to get party invites, then affecting the party is the way to go. Then again, personally, when Lady uses Eagle Eye Shot, I want to use my weapon skill and see a devastating breath attack.

And Anaki, that's something we were discussing earlier. It seems that S-E doesn't want to give us commands because that makes the wyvern a pet, when their goal is to make them an extension, a buddy. Most of us here agree with you that if we can't directly control it, we would like to see the wyvern react to our actions. Maybe not a new jump, just have it do something on the jumps we have. By the way, the wyvern already does Super Climb when we do Super Jump.

[DakAttack]

Re: SE and the Dragoons

I think a party breath would be useful but that detracts from the Dragoon-Wyvern relationship. Any two-hour the Wyvern couldn't directly use should be converted into a breath form for the Dragoon. It would be extremely helpful if we could have a choice to use it on the Wyvern, or have our Wyvern use it on us. I feel that would be the height of the Dragoon-Wyvern relationship.

[Elyon]

Re: SE and the Dragoons

I don't know if this has already been suggested, as I've only skimmed the latter pages, but I have an idea regarding Wyvern lifespan.

Why not give the Wyvern a sort of 'Float' status/trait (ala previous FF's)? It does fly after all. The 'Float' wouldn't cover Earth based spells or anything like that, but rather AoE attacks. Take for example, the Whirl of Rage attack by weapons would be avoided because the Wyvern is too far above the attack. The trait could also have different degrees of effectiveness such as goblin bombs being less effective because the Wyvern is on the outskirts of the blast radius. Some AoE effects might have to retain full damage (such as Cursed Sphere, as Flies do indeed... fly). I'm sure someone else could add on to this and tweak it a little bit to make it sound better or more effective.

[Balodoth]

Re: SE and the Dragoons

Hmmm, I brainstormed an "Ambient Defense" idea earlier that increased the wyvern's resistance to attacks not directly targeting it. Something like that?

Question on the sub-2-hr: Mijin Gakure is a death-attack. So naturally this is something we wouldn't use lightly. But it's without an EXP penalty. Do you think a "no timer penalty" would be going too far? Would cutting the remaining time in half be too far?

[Elyon]

Re: SE and the Dragoons

Another related idea just hit me.

Again, forgive me if this is 'old' 'OLD' 'olde' 'dude did you know the dell guy got arrested?' or anything. Just bear with me. Like with my suggestion of float, I'm trying to keep things practical and logical (and fair). It's not uncommon to see real pets with collars or charms or other garments of the sort, so why not give FFXI 'pets' charms of their own? Like the charms and equipment we wear on our characters, these too could give stat/trait bonuses and enchantments. I think it may be more trouble than it's worth for SE to program a Wyvern equipment window, so as someone stated earlier the item could be equipped in our near useless Ammo slot.

Too keep things fair, because I honestly don't think the Dragoon job needs that much retooling (honestly the only thing besides its endgame performance that I truly see wrong with it is its horribly horribly tarnished reputation), this wouldn't apply only to Dragoons and Wyverns, but to Beastmasters and to an extent maybe even Summoners. Also, the stat bonuses would probably need to be minimal.

IE:
Scorpion Charm
Wyvern: Evasion +10(maybe that's too high? 5 would do maybe)
Lv(Reasonable)DRG

Or maybe, they could implement it subjob-style.
IE:

Spiked Collar
Latent Effect(Activated with WAR Sub): Wyvern: Attack+10 STR+5 (Or however the hell they'd figure wyvern stats, just as long as it's making a decent [dare I say noticeable? ;o] difference)

Ivory Bell
Latent Effect(Activated with WHM Sub): Enhances Breath Attacks (Maybe Healing Breath could proc at around 60%, maybe even 75%?)

Maybe a THF SJ item could grant Evasion Bonus or maybe Haste. (I'd love the little guy to hit faster, but I wouldn't sub MNK for anything)

Now, I wouldn't mind shelling out a pretty penny as long as it was worth it. I would just pray that there would be a quite simple way to obtain them.



Also, I just had another Brainstorm (just full of ideas, eh? @@). Forgive me if it sounds cheesy, actually screw it. Yeah, this is cheesier than a goddamn pizza, just deal. >_>

Wyvern Whistle
Enchantment: Call Wyvern <Recast: Reasonable amount of time> (I don't know the deal with recast formats and the like, because honestly I've never used an enchanted item. Bear with me.)
Lv.(Something reasonable) DRG

Like with the charms, I don't have a problem with it being reasonably pricy. But FFS, DON'T MAKE IT DROP OFF SOMETHING LIKE JORMUNGAND. Maybe make it the loot from an ENM(solo?)/BCNM/Quest/REASONABLE(god I love that word tonight) NM.


Please forgive any butchering of the English language (tired as hell right now), the good possibility that all of this has been said before, and my excessive use of parentheses.

Night all


EDIT: As for an explanation as to why all of the improvements I've suggested revolve around the wyvern (because honestly I'd much rather see the Dragoon itself improved) is because I believe that is the route Square would take to better the job. Hell, besides the wheeling thrust update, the Wyvern is about the only damn thing they've changed regarding DRG.

[Skygto]

Re: SE and the Dragoons

Most of these abilities seem like novelties. I want something that will benefit endgame. Something no other jobs have.

[Elyon]

Re: SE and the Dragoons

I want something that will benefit endgame. Something no other jobs have.

You say these all sound like novelty abilities, but damn, DRG itself is a novelty job.

Honestly though, that would be great. Yeah, I would be all for it... but asking for something no other jobs have is asking a bit much, I think. Well, actually what do you mean by 'something no other jobs have'? (Sorry if I'm coming off as snooty or anything, I'm not trying being that at all. I'm just trying to consider everything)
Did you mean something no other jobs have as in an ability(take Call Wyvern or other 2HR's for example) unique to DRG? Or did you mean what I thought you meant as in an ability that does creates completely new task/effect that no other job can offer? If you meant that, then that does ask quite a bit, in my eyes.

I mean look at the established jobs, most everything that can be done in this game can be accomplished on more than one profession. More than one job can tank, more than one job can heal, more than one job Regen MP, more than one job can stun, many jobs deal damage, etc. (this is all speaking in terms of being effective. Such as RDM and BRD being effective with MP regen. Not BRD, RDM, and anyone with a BRD25 sub)

Really, of what could be added, there isn't much besides novelty abilities left to add. Without a complete reworking of the job, the only categories I could possibly see DRG falling under in HNM fights is 1. Damage 2.Healing. There's also Stunning(if such an ability added. It's feasible) to consider, though I wouldn't really consider that an entire category. Simple reworkings and enhancements could help DRG be quite an effective DD in HNM fights, and healing would take a little more work but it's possible.

DRG lacks focus. They can do a bit of everything, but no one wants a bit of everything, they want a job focused for one task. SE should just get off the damn fence and throw the job one direction or the other.

[kuu]

Re: SE and the Dragoons

DRG lacks focus. They can do a bit of everything, but no one wants a bit of everything, they want a job focused for one task. SE should just get off the damn fence and throw the job one direction or the other.

Yes and no. In terms of mass group effort, then specialization is a good thing, because there is more then enough people to touch on areas that need touched.
But you are not always limited to that. A more diverse set is good in other situations.

HNM is tricky, because it's not the only endgame route there, but some people give it more weight then others.

I personally think instead of a job class as condition for HNMLS, it should be a mental stress test. It's almost a spectator sport these days to see everyone at each other's necks. The drama...

[Skygto]

Re: SE and the Dragoons

What I mean something no other job has is that I want SE to give Dragoon and ability or trait that will make them more diserable endgame. You know that one ability that will make Dragoons more than just a one track melee. Drks have their magic, absorb spells and stun, so they're a step up from Drgs. Sams are like Drgs as they are lacking in useful abilities, but they can do SCs like mad which opens up options for Blms. Thiefs have their Sneak and Trick attack, and they are used to give the finishing kill to an HNM, even if the TH myth isn't true. Monks have Chi Blast which is an amazing damaging tool. Rangers are just upright damage dealing kings.

What does Dragoon have that the other melees don't? Healing Breath? Sure a melee that can fight, pull off SC, and can heal you with little MP usage is great but most people don't want a curing DD and espicially one that's not gonna last long because the Wyvern is so weak. In XP parties and HNM, Dragoon damage isn't the problem, it's the lack of usefulness. Everything they can do, another job can do aswell, and probably even better. SE needs to improve the Dragoon and make it more appealing. Like I said before, give it something no other job has.

[Balodoth]

Re: SE and the Dragoons

I agree with you quite a bit, Skygto. The most DRG needs before endgame are just minor touches to help the wyvern stay alive longer, make the DRG more useful in its abscence, make the subjob a little more integral. Things like that. I really have to say DRG could very much use a level 60 job ability. SAM and WHM just got theirs, it's out turn!

[Kailea]

Re: SE and the Dragoons

Yes little tweaks are all we DRGs need, tell you the truth, the way I am right now is fine, but an extra tweak would help :p

last two PTs I have been in read my search comment and acualy let me choose between the 4 subs I have leveled to 37 WAR THF DRK WHM we did well in the PTs and noone complained at all. but yeah a samll tweak to keep my Azure alive would be nice ^.^

[Riceman]

Re: SE and the Dragoons

my opinnion is S-E should just completly remake DRG

[Skygto]

Re: SE and the Dragoons

No I like Dragoon the way it is now. No need to remake it