Tanking Expectations

[Tirocupidus]

Do you think I'll be able to get by until level 37 without tanking? Does anyone ever care if a ninja is just there to do damage? As a white mage to 38, I didn't find it any easier with a ninja tank than a paladin tank. In fact, if I had to pick one, I'd pick a good paladin. Now I'm wanting to make thief my main job, and I want to get ninja and warrior to 37. However, there's a lot of work that goes into getting the Utsusemi scroll, so I was wondering if I could bypass that for now. If I can't, my backup plan is to get through the dunes first, then level thief to 45 before I work on Tenshodo fame. Hopefully I can take ninja through the dunes without much trouble.

[Aeolus]

Re: Tanking Expectations

I don't see ninja as a good enough Dmg dealer to choose it over other DD jobs so unless the ninjas tanking as well it doesnt seem worth it.

[Jei]

Re: Tanking Expectations

we do, actually. 1-36 we invite ninja for tanking. But usually not solo tanking but a duo tank set up. 2 nin, or nin and war/nin.

Nin's damage is pretty weak at this level so I wouldn't want them for DD yet honestly.

[Ellipses]

Re: Tanking Expectations

You'll run into a lot of resistance. Tanks are always one of those jobs that people sit around waiting for to complete their party. You're going to get tons of invites to be a tank, and hardly any to be a DD. I'd say it's fair to assume that you're not going to get any invites to be a DD (unless you sub BLM or something), though you may find a party here and there that's willing to accept you as a DD anyway.

Even without tanking, if you don't have Utsusemi, forget it. The only parties that will put up with that are going to be just as gimped, and won't level worth a crap.

Your options are to either go through the bit of work it takes to get your scrolls and then level at a reasonable pace, or put off the scrolls and level at an absolute crawl.

[Karinya]

Re: Tanking Expectations

In my experience, ninja also makes a good puller if they know what they're doing, but you may not get invited very often for that.

As Jei says, ninja is often part of a duo-tank setup at this level, with another ninja or a warrior. Solo tanking with only utsusemi:ichi isn't usually very effective.

If the party has no RDM, ninja's enfeebles can be useful to the party, but unfortunately, few party leaders will consider that when deciding who to invite.

[Spinnthrift]

Re: Tanking Expectations

Your best bet is to get into a static with a Pld friend, and go as Nin/Rng as DD.

Gun Ninja's or Shuriken Ninja's are very formidable DD at lower levels, just costly - however, if you're good at it, you'll be capable of ripping hate off even good Paladins without thinking*.

You also make an exceptional puller - more so if you have a friend who you can team with who's either Rng or Thf with Acid Bolts.. and you co-ordinate pulling, you pull with a high damage shot, and they pull with a status shot... at lower levels - the mobs will come back with around 85% health, and Def Down before the fight starts...

However - doing this takes skill and coordination and friends - and you will still need your Utsusemi's.

- Saeriel.

*This is something I did through my Qufim levels... it definately hurt my bank balance, but the typical DD's who laughed at the notion of a Nin DD were humiliated, and the Pld said he didn't realise a Nin could do so much damage.

[capitalistnihilist]

Re: Tanking Expectations

IMHO leveling NIN without your Utsusemi spells is akin to leveling RDM without refresh, WHM without cures or BLM without nukes.

As a NIN your #1 most desirable trait is your survivability- be it while tanking or while pulling. Yeah, you could probably get buy pulling without shadows, but you'll only be gimping your party. Each hit you take is more MP the healer has to waste on you due to your inability/unwilingness to get your spells.

If you want people to respect you as a player, PLEASE don't touch NIN 12+ without getting your scrolls.

[Myaku]

Re: Tanking Expectations

Like you, I would prefer a PLD tank over a NIN tank hands down. From a THFs perspective, PLDs hold and generate hate a lot better than NIN, allowing everyone to do more damage. When I took NIN to 30 for my THF sub, I at first tried the "Tank {No thanks.}" route, and found parties very few and far between. I eventually gave in, and started to Blink Tank, and I got many compliments at how good of a job I did at it. You definately need to get Utsu before you level NIN - Tanking is up to you, but it will go a lot faster if you do.

[Murphie]

Re: Tanking Expectations

Your best bet is to get into a static with a Pld friend, and go as Nin/Rng as DD.

This is what a friend of mine did while I leveled PLD. He was just leveling NIN to sub, so he preferred to DD and pull if at all possible. It worked out really well.

[Tirocupidus]

Re: Tanking Expectations

Hmm. Judging from the responses, I think I'll change my plan a bit. lol

Probably stop NIN at level 12, and get THF to 25 to help in running back and forth while getting Yagudo necklaces.

Edit:

Well, is WAR a pretty well-accepted subjob for THF? The few times I've done a "/sea all thf 75", everyone has NIN subbed. I'm just thinking that the Tenshodo fame would go a lot faster with TH2 and 20 extra levels. I guess I could sub WAR exclusively until later?

[Wertyone]

Re: Tanking Expectations

If you are from Windy farming necklaces in Giddus is quick. Outpost warp makes it easy to travel to and if you get a return ring the trip home is very fast. Just return ring warp to the outpost and outpost warp to Port Windy. The gil you get from turning in the necklaces pays for the warps.

[Jei]

Re: Tanking Expectations

thf/war is acceptable yes.

[Tirocupidus]

Re: Tanking Expectations

If you are from Windy farming necklaces in Giddus is quick. Outpost warp makes it easy to travel to and if you get a return ring the trip home is very fast. Just return ring warp to the outpost and outpost warp to Port Windy. The gil you get from turning in the necklaces pays for the warps.

Yes, I am from Windurst, and that sounds like a good strategy. Thank you, everyone, for the advice.

[Ellipses]

Re: Tanking Expectations

THF/MNK with knuckles is killer til the low 30s (when you get Viper Bite). THF/WAR works, too, though I have no personal experience with it. Note: Anything/NIN before 20 is absolutely pointless. Before 24 it's almost entirely pointless. So you should be subbing something else until then anyway.

[Murphie]

Re: Tanking Expectations

THF/MNK with knuckles is killer til the low 30s (when you get Viper Bite). THF/WAR works, too, though I have no personal experience with it. Note: Anything/NIN before 20 is absolutely pointless. Before 24 it's almost entirely pointless. So you should be subbing something else until then anyway.

So much truth here. Valkurm parties were absolutely blown away when they saw the damage I was able to put out with a SA+Combo. Heck, even my regular damage wasn't anything to sneeze at. I die a little inside when I see THF using Daggers in Valkurm and Qufim. I mean, I'm all for keeping your skill up, but cap that bad boy and switch back to a weapon that's actually going to help the party!