Weapon Choice(messege to new players)

[Lamentation]

I commented in another post about makeing mistakes earlier in my carreer that I'm still paying for. To wit- For the first 30 levels of play, I faught with Sword and Spear.. Not because I thought they looked cooler or whatever, but because no one had told me the whys and wherefores of axes.

When a WAR starts out, he has an onion sword.. not an axe. and it seems quite logical to keep fighting with a sword... espically since none of the basic weapon shops even sell bronze axes... it's easy to see why so many young (Not in age, but in experiance) players stay with sword and shield, maybe branching out into greatsowrd or other 'knightly' weapons, rather then going over to axe as soon as possible.

So what's my point? My point is that as more experianced players, it's part of our job to inform new players so that they can be the kind of players we want them to become, and thus adding to both their enjoyment and ours.

(Oh yes, haveing just changed Axe four levels ago, I'm finally catching up to the cap. I'm going to have to do the same to greataxe as soon as I can afford one)

[Nameless]

Bronze axe is sold in the Bastok Markets weapon shop.

I'm not sure about other nations, because I don't level my low jobs there, though.

[Voila!]

It doesn't really matter what weapons warriors use. Most of them use what weapons they plan on using as a later class. It doesn't really matter because the more weapons in a party the more options for a skillchain there are.

[Nameless]

Except when the Warrior is only using Great Sword it isnt really, "more options."

[flipmazzi]

I totally disagree with the first post. THis game is about doing whatever u want. If u want to be a war using a GS, becuase you think it looks cool go for it. Other ppl might hate on you, I say ignore them.
Of course, if u like using G axe because it works best with WAR, i agree with that too.

Everyone should know that axe and g-axe work best with war, but that doesnt mean war is restricted to use only those 2 weapons.

[Armando]

As a Level 30 WAR/MNK who switched from Swords and Great Swords to Axes and Great Axes at 22...I must say it makes ALL the difference in the world. In fact, now I see that one-handed swords are basically the weakest one-handed weapons a WAR can have, save for clubs and daggers, which I've yet to see anyone use (thank God.) The difference in damage between swords and axes is abysmal, and that alone is reason enough to use them. Also, as a tank, you NEED the damage to hold hate, and as a damage dealer you're supposed to do damage. Either way, there's no reason not to opt for stronger weapons. The WS are better too, in my opinion. Raging Axe > Fast Blade. You get Smash Axe 12 levels earlier than Flat Blade. Shield Break is extremely potent, at those levels (not that it stops being potent later on) and granted, Sturmwind is ridiculously strong. The only "gimp" weapon I really consider worth having as a backup is Great Sword because you can set up Distortion with THF when noone else is around. And even so I still avoid switching out of my Great Axe.

Also, while the game is about doing what you want, there's a time and place for everything. Wanna be cool and swing a giant sword around? Do it solo. It's funner than it sounds. Gimping yourself in an exp party, honestly, and I don't mean this as a flame to anyone, is selfish. There's 5 other people in that party that want to have fun too. Gimping yourself gimps them too. There's times where you just have to swallow your pride and do what's best for all. Warrior is a job all to itself, it's not a DRG/PLD/DRK. Have you ever a WHM trying to be a PLD? If you haven't, you're lucky. If you have, then you must know it sucks.

And as for the dual-weilding thing, I'd much rather dual weild two axes than two Centurion's Sword. Like ZQM said, the accuracy and attack isn't enough to compensate for the sheer ammount of damage axes can do. Also, remember that by using a sub-par weapon you're losing potential accuracy since you have a lower skill cap, so your net accuracy gain is what, 1 point? I wouldn't mind using an Axe on my main hand and a Sword on my sub hand though. I think the sword can really compliment the axe. ^^

Ultimately, the decision is up to the player. However, one should never forget that people count on you. Again, I'm not trying to flame anyone, I'm just trying to state my point of view.

[neighbortaru]

gah! my eyes!

[flipmazzi]

Armando I agree and disagree. It boils down to simple situation:

1. WAR with weapon other than axe or great axe gets invite to pt and accepts.
2. WAR does a terrible job as tank/DD, so pt decides to kick him.
3. Now the war has some thinking to do. If he is pissed that he got kicked and wants better parties, he'll switch weapons. This is the logical choice. But lets face it guys, how many ppl in this game have you seen making totally unreasonable decisions? Their reasons are unknown to all of us.
4. So War decides to keep his original weapon. Can I fault him? At first i would say yes, but upon further thought not really. He is doing what he wants to do and thus maximizing his fun in his own way.

It is selfish, simply because it clashes with the enjoyment of others and therefore he is not considering other people whn he makes such a choice.

However, you can also choose to maximize your fun. Get a different pt, or kick the guy, I agree that it would be better if the WAR just had a G-axe in the first place, but that is something you can't control.

I started WAR with sword, trying to skill it up for PLD, fully knowing that G-axe was better. I switched to G-axe at 10, then switched back to sword at 20.
I have never ever been kicked out of a pt cuz im using sword.
I have never ever had someone complain to me because i used a sword not a G-axe.
At 30 I switched to G-axe for good. My reasons were obviously damage output, but I also fell in love with sturmwind.

The bottom line is I made a decision on my own. Thats a great thing about this game.

If someone doesnt know which wep to use for WAR, yes tell them Axe and G-axe. Otherwise I find it annoying and bossy to be telling people how to play a game in which how you play is totally decided by you.

[Nameless]

Originally posted by neighbortaru
gah! my eyes!

[Voila!]

I've seen the crappiest Drk get to level 60, so what's wrong with a warrior using whatever weapon he wants? As long as he switches to Drk he'll succeed even if he's using his own head as a weapon.

[Armando]

1. WAR with weapon other than axe or great axe gets invite to pt and accepts.
2. WAR does a terrible job as tank/DD, so pt decides to kick him.

Part of the problem is that everyone below 30 is used to having a gimped WAR. Only about 1 out of 10 Warriors below level 30 actually bother to use any kind of Axe. This also contributes to the fact that most people don't even know WARs should be using axes, including the WARs themselves. Finally, most people also have this "fuk u i do wat i want worry bout urself cuz i do just fine!!111!!one" attitude. If step two occurred, most people would flip off the party and go get another without thinking about why he got kicked off. This is why I think a thread like this is important, not to flame or degrade WARs who don't use the "correct" weapon, but to at least share important knowledge with them. The decision ultimately still falls on the player, but at the very least, if he/she decides not to play with the optimal setup, it'll be an informed and thought-out decision.

Personally, I think players should ask their party if he/she can use sub-par weapons, be it to cap it or simply because he just wants to. It's courtesy, and that's something that many parties lack. Odds are, they'll be fine with the WAR using other weapons, even if they know it's technically not the best choice. The warrior is happy, and so is the rest of the party. Like I said, most people will just look for another party, so it's not too hard for a WAR to ask the person inviting him if it's ok to use X weapon, unless he happens to be desperate. Of course, reality hardly ever coincides with what's ideal, and I don't expect many Warriors to do this, but it would be nice if one or two people actually considered it.

In retrospect, it's not completely the Warrior's fault; too many parties let them get away with using sub-par weapons. I understand that most people honestly don't care what the Warrior uses, but it goes beyond that - they generally don't care how any of the party members are equipped or if they have "gimped" sub jobs. I know I've only gotten as far as level 30, but the general attitude of most players in random parties at these levels seems to be "every man for himself," and they just see parties as a way to level up. Party members are expendable, and there's no need to be particularly courteous or reasonable with them.

Like I've stated, there's several factors that lead to Warriors not using axes. Lack of knowledge, indifference from other party members, personal preference, etc. The one factor that is under our control is informing them about the benefits and downsides of both using axes and other weapons. We have no right to choose for them, but at the very least we can allow them to make an informed decision.

[Kain16]

Before i became a samurai i used G.Axe all the time the dmg and ws's hlped me keep hate and by time i was in my 20's and pt's started finden plds i made a great DD just usin berserk all the time. alot of the time in quifim i was invited into pt because they saw I was usin a G.Axe i would get comments all the time like "finally a war with some sense" or "thank god u hardly see war usin great axe now adays" its my favorite weapon for the job and ill use it again when i lvl job to 40

[Armando]

Before i became a samurai i used G.Axe all the time the dmg and ws's hlped me keep hate and by time i was in my 20's and pt's started finden plds i made a great DD just usin berserk all the time. alot of the time in quifim i was invited into pt because they saw I was usin a G.Axe i would get comments all the time like "finally a war with some sense" or "thank god u hardly see war usin great axe now adays" its my favorite weapon for the job and ill use it again when i lvl job to 40

From levels 20-30 a WAR/MNK tank using a great axe and kabobs can easily outdamage a DRK without having to put up Berserk (which is a HORRIBLE idea while tanking other than activating it briefly while doing a WS, for those of you who don't know.) Heck, a WAR/MNK tank if played right can easily outhate anyone from levels 10-30. It's funny how you mention those comments, 'cuz I do get that kinda thing myself, and I find myself saying it to others as a reflex whenever I'm not the tank and I find a WAR with a Great Axe, kabobs, and up-to-date sub and gear.

[flipmazzi]

In retrospect, it's not completely the Warrior's fault; too many parties let them get away with using sub-par weapons. I understand that most people honestly don't care what the Warrior uses, but it goes beyond that - they generally don't care how any of the party members are equipped or if they have "gimped" sub jobs. I know I've only gotten as far as level 30, but the general attitude of most players in random parties at these levels seems to be "every man for himself," and they just see parties as a way to level up. Party members are expendable, and there's no need to be particularly courteous or reasonable with them.

I agree, but the only problem is when a player wants to level the goal is to do so fast and that means finding a pt as fast as possible. This method doesn't allow people to be picky. Sure, a WAR with the right weapon would be optimal to have in a party, But very few people have the patience to invite a WAR, see he has a sub-par weapon, and then kick him, and repeat. Doing so could extend the downtime for a long amount of time. Slow XP is better than no XP.

For the same reason some people don't like making parties,they'd rather wait to get an invite and hope to be the sixth member just because its usually quicker, but im getting off subject.

There's really nothing else to say...as long as everyone understands that if they want to benefit their pt the most. Use axe or G-axe.

Anyone wanna bet five gil someone asks which weapon WAR should use in the next week?

[GrimScorpio575]

Okay, I am a new player.. and correct me if I'm wrong but..

I was under the impression that the role of a warrior is as a tank in a party. Not as a damage dealer. Now, I have been switching off sword and greatsword as I have been levelling up and working my ways towards thirty when I can get sam. The reason I use greatsword is to improve parry a lot faster, which has worked out well. And I use sword/shield in a party because shield block helps to deflect more damage off of me, thus not having to force our healers to heal so often as well. Once I get parry and s. block about even I'm going to go back to using s/s for partying and greatsword for soloing.

So why is this bad if a warrior is supposed to be a tank and not a damage dealer? I can hold hate via provoke with relative ease thus far (Level 11). All you have to do is pay attention and take it back when the mage or damage dealer draws it. I would think it would be preferable to your party to be staying alive as much as possible and not dishing out damage.