PLD Post-50

[Rones]

Just going to elaborate a little further on Dark's good suggestions.

50-52 = Crawler's Nest/Quicksand Caves (Helm Beetles/Ants)
52-54 = Kuftal Tunnel (Robber Crabs)
54-56 = Boyahda Tree (Robber Crabs)
56-58 = Gustav Tunnel (Robber Crabs/Gobs)
58-60 = Cape Terrigan (Crabs, pugils, raptors)
60-62 = Valley of Sorrows (raptors)
62-64 = Labyrinth of Onzozo (Taromas)
64-67 = Boyadaha Tree (Processionarers, skippers)
65-68 = Ru'ann Gardens (Flamingoes)
66-69 = Boyadaha Tree (Steelshells, Darters, Gobbue)
67-70 = Ro'maeuve behind moon gate (Weapons)
69-72 = Kuftal Tunnel (Tigers/Cockatrice in basement)

[csBahamut]

Originally posted by Rones
I haven't had a pld not use defender yet. The bonus in defence almost always outshines the drop in dmg the pld does (which isn't too much to begin with). Unless you are fighting T or below, I don't see why you wouldn't use it.

I don't know what you are fighting in Exp sessions, but so far for me, only mobs 10-12 levels higher or more ever do more than 100 damage per hit to me(no crit). If I toss up defender on anything that deals less than 100 damage per hit to me, I get no drop in damage delt to me.

It's you're referring to NMs and HNMs, then yes, defender is a must. Defender just isn't needed if the PLD is using Boiled/Steamed Crab or Fish Mith/Chiefkabobs and has the right gear for his/her level.Going from ~440 def to ~560 def by using defender with Raptors in Valley of Sorrows had no effect on the damage I took from raptors. With Perytons on the otherhand, I got a reduction of 20-30 damage per hit. And that was only with the one's that were IT++. I actually have to put on beserk sometimes on any VTs because they just don't hit hard enough for me to get a cure in before my second provoke.

If you're PLDs have to use defender, they're probably to cheap to buy food and are having problems holding hate. Of course, you could be referring to something else besides exp parties.

[AtraposBLM]

Originally posted by Rones
Just going to elaborate a little further on Dark's good suggestions.

50-52 = Crawler's Nest/Quicksand Caves (Helm Beetles/Ants)
52-54 = Kuftal Tunnel (Robber Crabs)
54-56 = Boyahda Tree (Robber Crabs)
56-58 = Gustav Tunnel (Robber Crabs/Gobs)
58-60 = Cape Terrigan (Crabs, pugils, raptors)
60-62 = Valley of Sorrows (raptors)
62-64 = Labyrinth of Onzozo (Taromas)
64-67 = Boyadaha Tree (Processionarers, skippers)
65-68 = Ru'ann Gardens (Flamingoes)
66-69 = Boyadaha Tree (Robber Crabs, Darters, Gobbue)
67-70 = Ro'maeuve behind moon gate (Weapons)
69-72 = Kuftal Tunnel (Tigers/Cockatrice in basement)

Just a side note - you might mean Steelshells for 66-69.

[Rones]

Thanks, that was a mistake Altrapos.

Of course, you could be referring to something else besides exp parties.

Nope, I was refering to in exp parties. Every pld I have partied with from 50+ has been religious about using his defender. Then again, most of them switch all their def gear into +vit once they get defender at 50, so maybe that's a source of difference.

I have to wonder though, if you say +25% on your def resulting in a 120 point jump as you put it doesn't cause a noticible difference, does having your attack +25% higher (which results in smaller number jump) bring worth while results? Even if defender is only lowering the average dmg by 5-10, I would still prefer that over the pld being able to hit slightly harder.

I actually have to put on beserk sometimes on any VTs because they just don't hit hard enough for me to get a cure in before my second provoke.

I've had plds throw up berserk for the ws 65+ for dark chains and then quickly click it off quick, but never have I had one leave it on. I can always tell though when they forget it up and their hp starts dropping fast as I get the typical "oops" from the pld.

[Akidon]

PLD+Defender isn't a strategy I've never been too fond of. Unlike defense, PLD doesn't have much emphasize on attack, and therefore the -25% attack decrease you recieve from using Defender is pretty noticeable. Thanks to the defense increase you recieve from food (you'd better be using food) and trait bonuses, +25% defense increase from Defender isn't gonna mean a whole lot. Thus, you should be able to benefit more from not using it, since being able to hit harder means contributing to faster kills, as well as bringing more hate to yourself. As said before though, if the monster is hitting a bit too hard...then you'll probably want to use Defender.

Edit: Accidently posted before I was able to complete my post. :dead:

[Biterman]

csBahamut is correct, you wont see a big damage mitigation with defender on anything lower than IT+.
And its not uncommon at all to hit for big fat zeros with Defender on. Zero dmg = no tp = less Spirits.

About Dark staff I mean before you get spirits at 55 you can sacrifice the TP by switching to Dark between pulls. 180k for one now is...cheap. I paid 350k for mine, and that was after buying a Steppe belt for 450k.
I took 2 months of lvling to lvl fishing to 50 and to get a Lushangs. Thats how I did it.

[Ozymandis]

Originally posted by Rones
Just going to elaborate a little further on Dark's good suggestions.

50-52 = Crawler's Nest/Quicksand Caves (Helm Beetles/Ants)
52-54 = Kuftal Tunnel (Robber Crabs)
54-56 = Boyahda Tree (Robber Crabs)
56-58 = Gustav Tunnel (Robber Crabs/Gobs)
58-60 = Cape Terrigan (Crabs, pugils, raptors)
60-62 = Valley of Sorrows (raptors)
62-64 = Labyrinth of Onzozo (Taromas)
64-67 = Boyadaha Tree (Processionarers, skippers)
65-68 = Ru'ann Gardens (Flamingoes)
66-69 = Boyadaha Tree (Steelshells, Darters, Gobbue)
67-70 = Ro'maeuve behind moon gate (Weapons)
69-72 = Kuftal Tunnel (Tigers/Cockatrice in basement)

To add to this list, I'm a ninja and WAR/NIN so some of these might not be that great for you:

52-54 Garliage bone mobs
52-55 Boyahda Tree Spiders- not really tank-friendly, but fast chains and great exp... beware Sickle Slash
53-55 CN beetles chained into Knight Crawlers- scorps are bad news for a paladin, so you'll have to take care on pulls
52-55? King Ranperre's Tomb Bats- tough pulls, however, single bats are the easiest mobs in the game IMO
62-64? Monastic Cavern Orcs- difficulty depends on what you're fighting at the time. Rangers are easy, Dragoons are very tough, Monks are hell (this mob broke me of WAR tanking)

[Ariesknight]

Wow, thanks for all the replies. I do eat Boiled Crab so the conclusion of the foregoing is I shall not use defender= more damage since damage reduction done tp me by defender is negligible. Thanks.