Looking for an endgame Taru RDM/PLD

[Yellow Mage]

Re: Looking for an endgame Taru RDM/PLD

Okay, let's make up a situation so we can stop flaming each other in the limited disscusion realm of the combination RDM/PLD (which was really designed to get most of it umph from the RDM really more than the /PLD).

Errm. . .RDM/PLD versus BLU/NIN (another fine combo I may consider, after BLU AF2)?

[ItazuraNhomango]

Re: Looking for an endgame Taru RDM/PLD

Okay, let's make up a situation so we can stop flaming each other in the limited disscusion realm of the combination RDM/PLD (which was really designed to get most of it umph from the RDM really more than the /PLD).

I don't see anyone flaming you; presenting arguments and evidence that you're wrong is not a flame. (However, I do see people getting exasperated and annoyed at your stubboness and unreasonable insistence that RDM/PLD is somehow a great combo.)

There has been literally pages and pages of good info on what different support jobs can add "umph" to RDM in this thread already, if you're willing to read with an open mind, so I'll leave that alone.

Errm. . .RDM/PLD versus BLU/NIN (another fine combo I may consider, after BLU AF2)?

They are nothing alike? I don't know why you'd want to compare them... In any case, you can do both--there's no reason why you cannot level and get everything: RDM75, BLU75, PLD37, NIN37.

Just heed all the good advices given to you so far...

[Yellow Mage]

Re: Looking for an endgame Taru RDM/PLD

Ok.

Sorry for being stubborn?

I said you all had fine arguements, all of which I heed with greatest care, but as of now none of us are exactly sure if I'm "right" or "wrong," per se, as I have a LONG while before I actually field test the plan.

And by the time I start, they've BOUND to have come up with AF2 +1 for the Blue Mage by then. So of course I'll do both.

But I think RDM/PLD and BLU/NIN are both excellent combos, and I want to know what will happen if they're pitted in three contests: one of stats, one of usefullness/priorities, and one of the two actually fighting each other.

[neighbortaru]

Re: Looking for an endgame Taru RDM/PLD

Ok.
Sorry for being stubborn?
I said you all had fine arguements, all of which I heed with greatest care, but as of now none of us are exactly sure if I'm "right" or "wrong," per se, as I have a LONG while before I actually field test the plan.

actually, I'm pretty sure the rest of us knows who's "wrong."

But I think RDM/PLD and BLU/NIN are both excellent combos, and I want to know what will happen if they're pitted in three contests: one of stats, one of usefullness/priorities, and one of the two actually fighting each other.

stats mean very little to playing the game, especially in light of choosing the appropriate sub-job.

usefullness? in what regards? solo, both probably the same. parties, BLU/nin hands down.

and why would the 2 fight each other? ballista? pfftt

oops

[Celeal]

Re: Looking for an endgame Taru RDM/PLD

As for stats of BLU, it depends on which spells BLU is equipped. For example, Cocoon adds VIT +3 to the BLU if he equips the spell. If you are looking for stats of a naked BLU without any gear or spells, you have to ask level 75 BLU

As for usefullness/priorities, it depends on the player skill and style, in my opinion. You can always look up info for the gear, stats, spells, job abilities/traits, race.... but the final outcome is decided by the player and the situation.

[Icemage]

Re: Looking for an endgame Taru RDM/PLD

But I think RDM/PLD and BLU/NIN are both excellent combos, and I want to know what will happen if they're pitted in three contests: one of stats, one of usefullness/priorities, and one of the two actually fighting each other.

- We've already discussed why RDM/PLD is not an "excellent combo"... not even a "good" combo. Merely "situationally OK if you don't really care".

- BLU/NIN is a really good tank in the Level 24-40 range. After that, the ability to hold hate fades since they can't get the attention of enemies without spending lots of MP.

- Stat-wise, who cares? Stats mean very close to nothing in FFXI. It takes many many many stat points to produce a significant difference in performance.

- Usefulness... neither RDM/PLD nor BLU/NIN are tangibly useful at level 75, so such a comparison should be declared a tie since neither one will ever see any usage.

- Head to head... unless you participate in Ballista or Brenner, no one cares. PvP doesn't give you any progress in game.


Icemage

[Jei]

Re: Looking for an endgame Taru RDM/PLD

But I think RDM/PLD and BLU/NIN are both excellent combos

err.... we have 6 pages of players with over 4 years of expecience trying to tell you Rdm/Pld it isn't good. Try reverse our role and tell me what would you call yourself?

[Meepster]

Re: Looking for an endgame Taru RDM/PLD

no................... and no. As a 75 red mage, i'm going to have to give it my best to discourage you from using this combo. Its gay and useless. Not to mention, you'll solo better as rdm/nin and rdm/war. for defense if thats what you're lookin for, try rdm/war... you'll get defense bonus job trait and defender job ability + you can wear carapace armor +1, cheviot cape, and a terra's staff with VIT rings and PWN the defense rdm/pld will provide to you. Not to mention stacking that with SS + phalanx + Protect IV. It's better for the simple fact that you'll have more defense and attack power available to you, better melee stats, double attack, and provoke for claiming mobs. Rdm/nin on the other hand offers average stats, no job abilities, and very limited and weak ichi nukes.... but you get dual wield (Whoopeeeeeeeeeee) and utsusemi Ichi, and at 74, Ni... which makes you a killing machine because you can pop up ni in a couple seconds then recast buffs without being hit... then continue to pound the mob. It depends on how you want to play.

for end game you'll want whm/blm/drk subs readily available
chainspell + stun for the win on /drk
extra mp + magic attack bonus + better nuking stats + aoe nukes + elemental debuffs + conserve mp + clear mind on blm
extra mp + magic defense bonus + divine seal + Aoe cures + status cures + auto regen and i think clear mind also on /whm

personally, as a 75 rdm and blm... i've grown to love both jobs. for the most part, you'll see me as rdm/blm or blm/rdm. thats just my preference. but for some occasions that divine seal + convert + cure IV is sure nice and saves you some mp

i know thats alot of subs to think about leveling, but if you're gonna be serious about your job, then thats what its gonna take to be flexible and useful in every situation.

[Yellow Mage]

Re: Looking for an endgame Taru RDM/PLD

Again, I thank you all for the advice, but it is not going to stop me from at least trying. Nothing ventured nothing gained.

/em readies to embrace essays upon essays of why he should make one combo and not another.

[Raydeus]

Re: Looking for an endgame Taru RDM/PLD

Again, I thank you all for the advice, but it is not going to stop me from at least trying. Nothing ventured nothing gained.

/em readies to embrace essays upon essays of why he should make one combo and not another.

No one can really tell you what XI is, you gotta see it for yourself.

I wish you luck though, who knows, maybe you'll start a new sub trend.

[Icemage]

Re: Looking for an endgame Taru RDM/PLD

Again, I thank you all for the advice, but it is not going to stop me from at least trying. Nothing ventured nothing gained.
/em readies to embrace essays upon essays of why he should make one combo and not another.

What you're not understanding, I think, is that you never have to "choose". You're not stuck with any subjob, ever. If you don't like one, you don't have to use it, and on the flip side you don't have to find the "middle ground" subjob that works "so-so" for eveything - which is why /PLD is such a bad subjob. Not because it doesn't offer useful traits, but because in any given situation, there is a subjob that is better - more to the point, there are subjobs like /WHM and /BLM that are far more useful in general.

I swapped freely between Black Mage, White Mage, and Bard support jobs while levelling my Red Mage, and that decision always hinged on what I was trying to do, and who I was trying to do it with. Unfortunately for you, a Paladin subjob does not offer enough tools to be deliberately chosen over other subjobs you might possess; rather than select the middle ground choice, it is a much superior option to just suck it up and level the support jobs you really need for what you're doing.


Icemage

[BurningPanther]

Re: Looking for an endgame Taru RDM/PLD

For someone who hasn't even played the game yet, the OP seems rather unreasonable with respect to the obesrvations and advice given by seasoned players. But hey, that's the hallmark of all advice: When given, it's never actually taken.

Yellow Mage, it seems like the biggest role you want to play is some sort of protector, but if that's the case, then just go PLD main and Cover/Flash/Vorpal Blade your merry heart out. Wanna deal damage in a mage-like way? Take BLU up and turn them Bomb Tosses right back around on those little Goblin pukes. Wanna be a nightmare in PvP and solo as other jobs merely look on in envy, then turn around to be the linchpin of the party? Play RDM.

But, more importantly, just PLAY THE GAME. Stop what your're playing now, pick up FFXI, and just PLAY IT. You'll then see that for all your research, things won't progress quite as you'd expect. You'll see that soloing to 10-20 will take you a LONG time, you'll see that some of your gear choices may be ill-concieved for RDM, you'll see that RDM/PLD isn't quite what you hoped.

Anyhow, don't wait, don't anticipate, just PLAY THE GAME. You'll see what everyone has been trying to tell you.

[WishMaster3K]

Re: Looking for an endgame Taru RDM/PLD

All I'm saying is, Raydeus, you'er only saying that about the Joyeuse because you don't have one. I have one, and I only took it out of my melee rotation twice:
-Kraken Club when I skilled up Club
-Hornetneedle when I skilled up Dagger

The Joyeuse is easily in the top 4 of RDM swords in the entire game. (Excalibur, Justice, Enhancing [kinda iffy, I don't know if it's worth it past the base damage], and Joyeuse)

[Raydeus]

Re: Looking for an endgame Taru RDM/PLD

All I'm saying is, Raydeus, you'er only saying that about the Joyeuse because you don't have one. I have one, and I only took it out of my melee rotation twice:
-Kraken Club when I skilled up Club
-Hornetneedle when I skilled up Dagger

The Joyeuse is easily in the top 4 of RDM swords in the entire game. (Excalibur, Justice, Enhancing [kinda iffy, I don't know if it's worth it past the base damage], and Joyeuse)

I'm sure it is, but at least for now I'm not interested in it.

[ItazuraNhomango]

Re: Looking for an endgame Taru RDM/PLD

Again, I thank you all for the advice, but it is not going to stop me from at least trying. Nothing ventured nothing gained.

>_>

Do try it. (Not joking or mocking--I mean it.)

Just remember that in order to make a proper judgement, you'd also have to compare to other support jobs (by trying them as well).

Again, be wary of being closed minded; you've been given a lot of good info, please take them to heart. Level RDM, and if you find yourself liking it, make sure to have WHM37 and BLM37 eventually. (Plus, they are nice jobs to have for transportation purposes--I teleport LS mates and give myself a Warp home all the time.)

By the time you need none exp party use support jobs, you'll likely know what you want, I think. (I myself have /WHM, /BLM, /NIN, /THF, /WAR ready; still have to work on /DRK, /BLU, and /SMN. And, finish /BRD. /sigh Sometimes I hate being prepared.)

BTW, I'm a RDM54 and PLD48--I believe I have a firm grasp of both jobs' abilities--yet, I do not see much value in RDM/PLD. I say that, even though I'm one of those weirdos who like non-standard job combinations. (DRG/BRD in Valkrum Dunes, SAM/RNG in Qufim Island, DRK/WHM in Yuhtunga Jungle, etc.)

RDM/PLD is usable, just not optimal--and, far from being generally useful.