So I'm a lolRNG now....

[hongman]

Its crazy. Malacite + Armando explained I should really consider lvling this as a sub to my THF, and I felt the urge to do it.

2 days later its 17.5 and Iv absolutely fell in love with it....Iv decided to keep it lvled along side my THF, to 37 at least, if not all the way.

RACC Gear-wise, Feather Collar +1, and when I could, Rangers Neck, 2 x Bone + 1.
Started off with Longbow +1, moved to Ryl.Arc. Longbow. Crossbow +1.

Food, Meat Mithkabobs. Was told Roast Pirpara, but AH was out and I didnt bother with Windy.

Subbed WAR.

Now, the questions!

1. My marksmanship was skilled previously from DRK, NIN, THF...so I concentrated on Archery, which was pretty much 0. Anything over T and it sucks even when capped at lvl. As soon as I got access to Acid Bolts in teh Doons, I was spamming those, and not only was Dmg higher, but it fires quicker with a NOTICEABLE accurary + over Archery. Why? Even swapped back to Longbow+1 for the extra 2 acc...

Even with WS's - Hot Shot I could use without SS if it wasnt up, and would land. Flaming Arrow? Was lucky to get 60% WITH SS.

2. How the hell? Swapping from Archery to Marks reset my TP...Say I want to use Bow, then drop an Acid Bolt...? Am I missing something?

3. What is this Distance-Accuracy + Distance-Damage thing I hear about?

Think thats it for now....Thanks.

[VZX]

Re: So I'm a lolRNG now....

1. Well.... how much skill difference between your marksmanship and archery is the difference of ranged accuracy from both type of ranged weapon when you use them.

2. putting different ammo for wrong type of weapon force your ranged weapon to be pulled out from ranged slot, thus removing weapon = resetting your TP.

3. Long time ago, there was no such penalty that if you're shooting from varying distance, your racc/ratk varies. Now you can have varying racc and ratk from any possible distance you can do ranged attack.
There's notion of sweet spot where you have your racc and ratk unpenalized. This is the spot where you should shoot from

[hongman]

Re: So I'm a lolRNG now....

Thanks for the treply, however it was kind of....not answering anything. Maybe I should have been clearer.

1. RNG has the same skill rating for Archery and Marksmanship. Both Capped for each level. So moot point.

2. I know swapping resets TP. Is it swapping Ranged weapon that does it or Ammo? Kinda doesnt matter, as if I want to land an Acid Bolt while using Bow, I have to swap them both anyway. What do other Rangers do? Just use one weapon and stick to it all the way through?

3. Again, yes I know this, was looking for more specific info like hoe far away to stand, and what affects what - closer means more dmg or less, etc. Tbh I havent noticed any of this, and I have been looking.

[ItazuraNhomango]

Re: So I'm a lolRNG now....

Thanks for the treply, however it was kind of....not answering anything. Maybe I should have been clearer.

You have a tendency to miss good answers except from people you like. >_>

1. RNG has the same skill rating for Archery and Marksmanship. Both Capped for each level. So moot point.

What you wrote could have been interpreted as you have Marksmanship capped, but not Archery, which is why VZX (a great authority on FFXI game mechanism, BTW) said that.

Basically, if your Archery is close to Marksmanship but you think Archery misses more, you're feeling placebo effect of longer delay weapons. It's why people mistakenly think DRK misses a lot. (I parsed my DRK up to Lv.40; it was no worse or better than any other melee job I've tried when skill's capped.)

There are more accuracy available on bow and arrows than crossbows and bolts, I think, to boot.

2. I know swapping resets TP. Is it swapping Ranged weapon that does it or Ammo? Kinda doesnt matter, as if I want to land an Acid Bolt while using Bow, I have to swap them both anyway. What do other Rangers do? Just use one weapon and stick to it all the way through?

VZX answered you: you swapped ranged weapon, that's why you lost TP. Ammo swapping is fine as long as it's bolt -> bolt or arrow -> arrow.

3. Again, yes I know this, was looking for more specific info like hoe far away to stand, and what affects what - closer means more dmg or less, etc. Tbh I havent noticed any of this, and I have been looking.

If you are eating meat, you might as well stand at the edge of the melee range to start with. Move back a bit if you hit, move forward a bit if you miss two in a row.

Sooner or later, you'd train your brain to eyeball your sweet spot. Some windower users utilize a plug-in to figure out the distance from monster. I kinda frown on that, though.

When Sharpshot is up, move to maximum range immediately, and turn your prey into a pin cushion.

[hongman]

Re: So I'm a lolRNG now....

You have a tendency to miss good answers except from people you like. >_>


What you wrote could have been interpreted as you have Marksmanship capped, but not Archery, which is why VZX (a great authority on FFXI game mechanism, BTW) said that.

Basically, if your Archery is close to Marksmanship but you think Archery misses more, you're feeling placebo effect of longer delay weapons. It's why people mistakenly think DRK misses a lot. (I parsed my DRK up to Lv.40; it was no worse or better than any other melee job I've tried when skill's capped.)

There are more accuracy available on bow and arrows than crossbows and bolts, I think, to boot.

I miss good answers from people I like...? Do I? (no sarcasm here - interesting you pointed that out that's all)

I never meant my reply so sound ungrateful or unappreciative. Re-reading my post, yes I can see #1 could be misinterpreted. So I clarified.

It was maybe some placebo - but Marksmanship definately trumped, without a doubt. Wish I started the parser now.

Even so, each Bow attack on crabs/sheep was doing between 29-35. Long delay, as you mentioned. Xbox was doing 40s + Def down - and its quicker. Is it just that the weapons/ammo available at this level makes xbox just better overall?

Re: #2 - Ok, so I was looking then more for an opinion of how others do it - Do you just decide which to use for that fight/party/level and stick to it all the way through? Otherwise, I can see me sticking with Xbox all the way, keeping Bow skilled just in case outside of party.

#3 - Thanks, Ill try this. Just that I couldnt distinguish any real difference between far/near, and then what about RNG's that melee for TP as well...?

[Dymlos]

Re: So I'm a lolRNG now....

Welcome to the world of RNGs. Right now it may seem Marksy is better than Archery, and yes that is true. But later on closer to end game when you're able to swap in Demon/Darksteel Bolts for Slugwinder, you will notice a significant difference in damage in which Archery will do more damage. But they even out once you get your hands on Selene's Bow/Vali's Bow and Othinus' Bow.

[hongman]

Re: So I'm a lolRNG now....

So basically, so long as I keep Archery skilled up, I have no reason not to use Marksmanship full time for now?

Also, those bolts - Crude bolts? Is there actually any use to those with their -RACC?

[Dymlos]

Re: So I'm a lolRNG now....

Oh you can still use them, I see a lot of RNGs use Marksy due to the fact that bolts are cheaper than arrows. It's really your preference. Would you rather do lots 'o dmg, or smack status bolts in the mob's face? And for the crap bolts/arrows/bullets? Farming, and when they're high enough to sell them, vendor trash.

[Malacite]

Re: So I'm a lolRNG now....

Don't eat mithkabobs!!!! > _ < people need to research food effects.


Last I checked mithkabobs don't give any ranged attack, only melee. You want to use Rice Dumplings for a whopping +30% ranged attack. Also for archery, you'll do more per-shot damage and higher WS, but in general Crossbow is better for EXP at most levels.


If you do use archery, make sure you use the following bows and the proper ammo:

16-30: Power Bow +1
30-40: War Bow +1
40-50: Battle Bow +1
55-75: Eurytos Bow*



* There are a few ways to get this bow now, as well as a new rare/ex version of this. Selene's Bow is another alternative too and is free. Also as you go up past 40 you'll find that archery will get increasingly expensive, and is in fact the most expensive of the 3 weapons.


In a hurry, post more later. GUNS RULE

[hongman]

Re: So I'm a lolRNG now....

I plead guilty. My Mog locker was 80/80 and I saw 2 stacks of Kabobs sitting there so I took them without researching.

The tradeoff - Landing Status bolts (which is a huge bonus) or do uber dmg.

I want both. but which is better >.> lol. If I switch mid-fight, I lose TP (which at later levels is huge).

[Kirsteena]

Re: So I'm a lolRNG now....

The way I tend to do it, is cap archery, then go for xbow! But I'm mainly soloing atm on worms, so archery seems to work better for me. Who knows what will happen after 24 and me actually starting to party (I hate partying pre jungles now)

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: So I'm a lolRNG now....

I miss good answers from people I like...? Do I? (no sarcasm here - interesting you pointed that out that's all)

He said you tend to ignore or overlook good answers except when answered from people you actually like. You also read about half of the replies written out to you in this very thread. VZX doesn't speak up much around here, but he knows his stuff.

Re: #2 - Ok, so I was looking then more for an opinion of how others do it - Do you just decide which to use for that fight/party/level and stick to it all the way through? Otherwise, I can see me sticking with Xbox all the way, keeping Bow skilled just in case outside of party.

Skill both in PTs, it won't take long to cap both and you're only beating yourself up with more expenses if you skill outside of PT. Use what you feel performs better from there.

#3 - Thanks, Ill try this. Just that I couldnt distinguish any real difference between far/near, and then what about RNG's that melee for TP as well...?

Waste of time. You'll be building up a lot of +Ranged Accuracy gear which means you'll be collecting a bit of -Accuracy gear as well. The rings are a double edged sword like that, making it more difficult to melee.

Guns are about the only weapon that let you get close enough to justify meleeing for TP, Xbow and Bow you need to stand a little further away, so its just more effective to TP from a range with those than try to melee for TP when using those.

[Vyuru]

Re: So I'm a lolRNG now....

2. putting different ammo for wrong type of weapon force your ranged weapon to be pulled out from ranged slot, thus removing weapon = resetting your TP.

Really? I didn't know that, good to know ^^

Myself personally I'd just go for marksmanship, I like the status bolts too much and things get REALLY fun with bloody/holy bolts.

The status arrows are nice too, but they just come in so late in the game, plus if there is a sam/rng in the party, more often than not he's using them, or at least the good ones do, and so they cover the archery aspect in parties.

[nanatsu]

Re: So I'm a lolRNG now....

Re: #2 - Ok, so I was looking then more for an opinion of how others do it - Do you just decide which to use for that fight/party/level and stick to it all the way through? Otherwise, I can see me sticking with Xbox all the way, keeping Bow skilled just in case outside of party.

The main advantage to xbow is acid bolts. They allow the entire party to maximize their damage, because every melee can benefit from the attack down status, which is perfect against crabs and pugils. Xbow vs Bow is basically trading speed and utility for pure ws damage. Your ws damage will be quite a bit more with bow than xbow at those lower levels. Also, once you get high enough for Barrage, you'll get more out of it using a Bow than you will with an xbow, meaning you'll get a larger amount of TP from using Barrage with a Bow.

It's your choice as to which one you want to use. They both balance out in the end, with one edging out the other a bit at certain points. Holy bolts have a way of pushing xbow over Bow in terms of damage if you know how to make the most of them. But using whichever one you are more comfortable with is fine.

EDIT: Just so I'm clear, I need to add that like others have said, skilling up both in an exp party is perfectly doable and recommended. You're going to want the option later, espcially if you ever plan on taking it above 37.

[Lmnop]

Re: So I'm a lolRNG now....

VZX doesn't speak up much around here, but he knows his stuff.

I want a VZX.