Importance of AF?

[Karinya]

As you probably know, it is hard to obtain some AF at the levels where you can first use it (in particular, nobody wants a level 54 in Eldieme when you have the best key drop rates off Spriggans of up to Lv 66 with Dimensional Death). Assuming most people you know are around your level or lower, you can't count on high level help to do AF keys/quests. Even if you do know high levels, they will probably be busy a lot of the time - that's how they got to be higher level.

How important do you think it is to get AF before continuing to level? Is it a big deal to keep going at 54, 55, 56 with your RSE gloves or whatever else you have? (As a Mithra, my RSE gloves are excellent - +16 mp, +2 mnd, and the +4 vit doesn't hurt although it isn't that important). Or to keep your Magic Cuisses in the late 50s?

Obviously the Tabard and the Chapeau have huge benefits and you should get them as soon as possible; and the Boots are a soloable quest once you have a Nest chest key. But the gloves and hose are difficult to get (some of the worst coffers in the game) and their bonuses are not that great. Does not having them as soon as you are high enough level mark you as a lazy or inferior player who wasn't up to the challenge of getting them? Or would you (as a potential other party member) just shrug and forget it?

[cnick]

I wouldn't worry about getting the gloves and tights until you're much closer to 60. You basically covered the reasons why they aren't very important (although truth be told, outside of RSE, I think they are one of the better pieces of equipment for that respective slot until the 70s).

Being a Red Mage, you shouldn't have much trouble getting into coffer key PTs at 54-56 if you do want to get those pieces of equipment as soon as possible.

[Altruist]

These descriptions on use are for in EXP PT play, not solo:

Warlock Gloves - only good to macro to when you don't want the -int of your devotee's mitts. (low priority)

Warlock Tights - Nice + mnd and some mp, too bad you will use either RSE or Magic curisses (sp?) instead. (low priority)

Warlock Boots - RSE is better, may want to macro to cover up some negative attributes of your RSE. (low priority)

Warlock Tabard - This is the best RDM Body in the entire game for enfeebling, you absolutely need this as early as you can wear. (High Priority)

Warlock Chapeau - Try to get it as close to 60 as possible, I was 62 before I got mine, although it's very nice with fast cast and elem, it isn't an absolute show stopper. (Medium priority)

[Patchinko]

I do not feel that Savage Loincloth and Magic Cuisses match up to the Warlock's Tights. Your MP should be fine, unless you want to keep the RSE for Converting, and in my opinion Magic Cuisses do not match up to the Tights, though some people seem to feel differently. I know that Garlaige key and coffer is not the easiest thing, but I think the tights are worth it for a Mithra. If you don't feel that way, Magic Cuisses will tide you over for a few levels.

You'll probably never wear the Warlock's Gloves.

As for the Boots and Chapaeu, like you said, the former is very easy to get (and certainly beats your RSE... though I think Altruist was talking about his own) and the latter's stats are great, and worth the hard quest required to get it.

[Wrath]

I think I am going to skip the AF Gloves for a while, don't think waiting will hurt anything seeing as I can't get a Eldieme coffer key party going to save my life.

I already have my Garliage Coffer Key though, which makes me happy, just have to find a coffer now.

[Casval]

Altruist's description and your own conclusions seem to be accurate to me, honestly the only important pieces of AF are the body and head pieces, while the others can be replaced with RSE or other gear if you're only considering what has the best stats in PT situations (for looks though full AF on Mithra is nice )

I Never use the AF gloves in Exp PTs as a Mithra in favor of RSE gloves and only macro in the AF pants for the extra +Mnd and use the RSE pants otherwise (for Hume there is pretty much no reason at all to use AF pants)

for feet I use AF because there isn't much else available, if you are lucky enough to have obtained Mithra RSE2 feet though they are vastly superior to the AF feet

there's not much point in ever unequiping the AF body or head piece in PT situations unless you're switching to something with a larger MP boost for Convert

[Discordian]

Originally posted by Altruist
These descriptions on use are for in EXP PT play, not solo:

Warlock Gloves - only good to macro to when you don't want the -int of your devotee's mitts. (low priority)

Warlock Tights - Nice + mnd and some mp, too bad you will use either RSE or Magic curisses (sp?) instead. (low priority)

Warlock Boots - RSE is better, may want to macro to cover up some negative attributes of your RSE. (low priority)

Warlock Tabard - This is the best RDM Body in the entire game for enfeebling, you absolutely need this as early as you can wear. (High Priority)

Warlock Chapeau - Try to get it as close to 60 as possible, I was 62 before I got mine, although it's very nice with fast cast and elem, it isn't an absolute show stopper. (Medium priority)

I totally agree and I'll also say that I still use the warlock boots and gloves for melee soloing because they have tremendous purpose there.

[Laehn]

I didnt get some of my most important pieces of AF till after 60. Brd af quests almost rival rdm ones, so i know how it feels.

Its important gear for every job i think. So id say get it as soon as possible, but it wont make you a bad rdm if you cant get help from high lvl people (i know how hard that is... ) A good way to maybe convince high lvls to help is you bribe them with PL-ing. One thing i know is that most 70+ people feel that lvling in valkurm, qufim, and kazham is like pulling teeth after experiencing how fast fights go late in the game.

[Gman]

Most of the above opinions are based on races that dont have oodles of MP like Tarus. My RSE pieces suck, I have no reason to wear them as a mage. The same cant be said for Hume I guess. Magic Cuisses give a nice bonus to INT and MND, but I prefer the look of AF tights instead, and I already sold my Magic Cuisses. For me, it's full AF in exp parties, but I can certainly understand why others would rather switch.

BTW at level 61 with my current gear, I get a perfect convert ratio when Pumpkin pie is used as food (which is my food of choice right now anyway.

765 HP, 725 MP (+40 from pie)

Plus my gear gives about +20 or more in both INT and MND.

[bonovoxpsu]

man, its your AF. AF! get it. don't slack.

i don't understand why people want to skip this... every since i was a lvl 5 and i saw an rdm in full AF i wanted it. didn't you go through the same?

yes it can be a chore to go through lvls 50-60. but looking back, it was the funnest lvls.

and now? its just buckets and buckets of XP to traverse. dude - get your AF. you won't regret hitting 60 and having every single piece. its a great feeling.

i'm so confused at all you rdm's.... :confused: :mad:

[edit] also as an rdm, getting the key is the only hard part. with sneak/invis and subbign blm for emergency warp, you should have no problems finding a coffer.

get online and find a treasure coffer map and its just a matter of time...

[Lightseeker]

Originally posted by bonovoxpsu
man, its your AF. AF! get it. don't slack.

i don't understand why people want to skip this... every since i was a lvl 5 and i saw an rdm in full AF i wanted it. didn't you go through the same?

I definitely went through this. Unfortunately as an elvaan rdm I have 2 main concerns -- INT and MP. My RSE gloves and boots are SO much better than the AF ones for exp pt. I use magic cuisses and I'm really not sure if I should switch these out at 56 for the tights or not. The body and hat are no-brainers though. I have the boots, and the key for the tights. I want the gloves SO bad, though they are useless except for soloing. Every day I look longingly at the RDM AF on mysterytour, but that doesn't make it easy to get an Eldeime key, and my one attempt for a Castle Oz key resulted in the death of a 70 BLM friend. ; ; I think everyone WANTS their AF, the question is, is it practical to stop leveling and get it ASAP? Or realistic to think that it is attainable at the level you can equip it?

[bonovoxpsu]

yes, its very realistic.

i've done it. no high lvl help. everyone who did it was my lvl. like clockwork, we got our AF pieces one by one.

[Altruist]

I think any shy mithra would probably not wear the AF pants lol.

[Lightseeker]

Originally posted by bonovoxpsu
yes, its very realistic.

i've done it. no high lvl help. everyone who did it was my lvl. like clockwork, we got our AF pieces one by one.

Well I must admit I know it's possible, it just may not be possible for everyone. My LS just recently shattered and my new one is notorious for no-shows. I have 2 friends in my level range that I can count on for help with AF and that's about it. I've thought about doing the jeuno-spam thing, I'm just not sure if it's really a good idea. I'm open to advice tho. /sigh I miss my old LS.

[Gman]

AF is not the best armor, this is well known. (except for body and head) but it is a trophy... a symbol of getting to high level. When you reach 60, its such a great feeling to have your AF complete, so you can continue leveling without worrying about it.

I HATED seeing crappy RDM that I'm 10x better than with AF pieces that I didn't have because my linkshell wasnt high enough level to help me or I couldnt find any high level help.

It pissed me off to see these morons walking around in AF that I didn't have, so I decided the only thing I could do about it was get it myself.

Level 50-60 are the longest part of this game, with 2 genkeis, 5 af pieces, and Missions to complete. On top of that, many melees spend tons of time farming for Habergeon, Snipers, etc. If you get to (and past) 60, with full AF, give yourself a pat on the back. You've accomplished a lot.