how do i pt with a dragoon?

[aegina]

in reading these and other forum, i keep hearing drg's say that the dragoon job isn't gimp, but rather you just have to know how to play with the job.

well, my question is, how do i do that?

i play as a thf. i know there are some intersting things a thf and a drg can do together with hate control, but im not too sure how to do them. also, im not the only pt member pt'ing with the dragoon. when building a pt, how do i make sure the dragoon i'm inviting is being used to his fullest advantage?

sorry if the question seems kinda vague, but any help is appreciated. i'm just asking for tips on how to use drg to its fullest effectiveness.

[Jei]

Re: how do i pt with a dragoon?

IMO with a DD and Thf set up, you will want all 3 melees to be a bit experience or at least fast desicion. Openning a fight with SATA, if the melees can't get into position fast enough, Drg is sure to get into trouble.

I don't think there's anything much to say specificly for DRG in particular. It is always the Thf to choose when to pull, skillchain and SATA to fully maximize the potential of the melees. The Drg just needs to listen and follow when the Thf calls. They are just perfect that way ie openning distortion for Thf.

[ibroyles]

Re: how do i pt with a dragoon?

Usually what most people mean when they say DRG+THF works well, is that the DRG can be sneak+tricked onto and simply high/super jump off the hate. Usually, its the THF's choice on whether or not this should be done with a particular party setup though. I.E. you wouldn't want to SATA+WS onto a DRG at the start of a battle, unless you're absolutely sure they can shed that hate. Or if you're really good, don't set up who you want to SATA, stand midway and see if hate turns or not, then quickly run behind whoever is behind the mob and SATA+WS onto them. That way, hopefully, the "half" the time the mob turns hopefully the DRG will have either high or super jump ready. Once you get Assassin trait you can work even better with the DRG, as long as you are very aware of when their timers are ready. If their timers aren't ready, just TA+WS onto tank, if they are SATA+WS onto them.

[aegina]

Re: how do i pt with a dragoon?

i do see how if you do a sc with the drg, sataing over the dragoon's sholder, then he jumps, all (or most, rather) of that hate will be gone. that lets you deal sata damage without having to turn the mob away from the tank i guess, but it seems to me that theres still the magic burst damage/hate to worry about...

is there any good way to use this to plant extra hate onto the tank, or is this just a means of using a hate-free sata?

[ibroyles]

Re: how do i pt with a dragoon?

Well any DD who's subbing WAR can probably help with that by putting in a timely provoke right before WS'ing to open the skillchain. That's standard practice, however. Basically this strategy seems to work a lot better with a PLD tank, and if you are having trouble turning the mob in the first place(if the PLD is holding hate exceptionally well, even a BLM wont pull hate). In this case a PLD+DRG+THF frontline works very well in a situation where other melees+THF wouldn't work well. If you are unable to pull hate PERIOD from a PLD and they aren't putting an effort forth to hold their hate back, then DRG+THF works very well. Whereas with other melees, you might put too much hate and they will be summarily killed.

[DakAttack]

Re: how do i pt with a dragoon?

Keep each other appraised of your TP at all times and always do your weapon skills as close to 100% TP as you can. The bonus from extra TP a Dragoon recieves is negilgible, as I'm sure it is as a Thief as well.

Make sure he's saving his Jumps until after WSs for an extra TP boost just incase he falls behind.

You never know when a Dragoon may spike his damage so it's good to be ready for a SATA onto him or the tank at any given time.

ALWAYS use Sneak Attack and Trick Attack RIGHT before you pull. This is to prevent the Dragoon from taking too much damage while you stand behind the tank, use each ability, then wait for the weapon dely to finally attack again. I see too many people die because of this. You should line, engage, and your first attack should be SATA.

Good skill chains are Double Thrust > Viper Bite, Skewer > Viper Bite, and Wheeling Thrust > Shark Bite I think. I'm not sure on that last one, havn't had a chance to try it out or get clarification on it yet.

Always direct your party towards flying monsters. Stay away from multiple bat monsters and bees for the most part. Single bats and birds don't have overly powerful abilities and weapon skills.

Make sure you've got a Blm to take advantage of the Distortion skillchain with. You can also time Freeze by having the Blm begin casting, and then start the SC about 4 or 5 seconds in. It should be used at about half health and should do around 1000 damage with a good skillchain.

[ibroyles]

Re: how do i pt with a dragoon?

You are correct Wheeling Thrust > Shark Bite = Light. Also Skewer > Dancing Edge is a good one.