Final Fantasy XI Then...

[Marvelon]

First of all: Cesarion: awesome job. Love the pic, can'y wait to make the ingame equivalent ^^

As far as the elemental weaknesses are concerned, when I'm paladinning I rely on Tobal for that kind of information. Now that I've played BLM (if only for 10 levels) I've found determining the weakness isn't by far as straightforward as I thought it was. So far, I've just cast all my spells and seen which one does the most damage, then sticking to that for that mobtype. One thing I learned pretty quickly is that elemental weakness of a mob is not related to the kind of crystal they drop (as far as I can tell, at least)

[talizker]

So far, I've just cast all my spells and seen which one does the most damage, then sticking to that for that mobtype.

Agreed - this is a great way of doing it and a method that I employ as both BLM and RDM. There are so many factors that seem to effect damage (and spells in general) that the only way to be sure is to try.

Darwock - Even with no other information on their part, I can't understand why any sane person would want you to cast a low level spell that does little damage that is "correct as per the guide" over proven high damage spells that you have just been casting. It is so annoying when people insist you do things a specific way "always cast x on y mob" when surely part of the fun of this and any game is trying new things and figuring the best (or most fun) options for yourself (Wedge's BRD/NIN springs to mind for some reason!!!).

[C']

Agreed - this is a great way of doing it and a method that I employ as both BLM and RDM. There are so many factors that seem to effect damage (and spells in question) that the only way to be sure is to try.

Exactly true, the in game calculation for spell damage doesn't just look at the type of spell being cast, and the element weakness of the mob in question. The day can play a part (presumably fire spells will be stronger on Firesday and weaker on Watersday), maybe the weather in the area can have an effect. What about moon phase?

It reminds me of a LS discussion we had on what determined drop rates and whether there is an optimum time to farm. Me and Mihki both seemed to have theories and ideas on what happens and what influences but the fact is, only SE know for sure and in the end any calculations that are carried out are likely to have a random element to it anyway.

So in the end, the best way is, like everyone said, just play the game and base your thoughts and opinions on what you've witnessed yourself. If you cast a spell that is supposedly wrong, and it continually hits for respectable damage why not keep casting it, especially If you find the ?correct? spell isn?t as effective.

[Darwock]

Yes indeed, only Square Enix know the truth about the game's idiosyncracies - which has the wonderful side effect of introducing superstition into a videogame, and is the reason I always carry my wild rabbits tail with me when I'm doing something risky or important

[mikewl]

First thing, Awsome job Ces, that looks excellent, may I ask where you got the character pictures from, I realized it cant of been actually us since I am yet to be using the Harp shown.

Are we up for getting lvl 59 tonight and some buffer exp.

I think it was mentioned about doing this tonight with the Static and Tox and Kasha.

Party will be a bit unusual:

PLD, NIN, SAM, SAM, WHM, BRD

I think everyone knows what they are doing well enough to make this combo work, maybe if Mihki and Kasha take turns tanking or something we can reduce down time or something.

Im glad there will not be a ranger, to be honest I hate it whenever we have one in the party, it messes up my Ballads, since they always stand around the PLD.

I have all my 59 equip ready with me so when I lvl I will finally be able to equip my Star Necklace and use my Carnage Elegy scroll (2nd most expensive bard scroll so far behind Ballad2).

btw anyone need a Mahogany Bed, I have not sold mine yet but I have completed the MH Safe quest with it, if you need it im willing to do a deal on it.

Another thing for all to think about:

BCNM

Can everyone post what 40+ jobs they have and how many Beastmen Seals, so we can maybe work out a way to involve everyone, wether it be BCNM40, 50 or 60.

For me I have 200 Beastmen Seals and only job high enough for any is Bard.

I think I will do some research into what jobs are best suited to which BCNM.

[C']

First thing, Awsome job Ces, that looks excellent, may I ask where you got the character pictures from, I realized it cant of been actually us since I am yet to be using the Harp shown.

The pictures were obtained using the FFXI Model Viewer.

Quality bit of software that uses the in game data files to let you dress any character model in any combination of weapons and armour then animate them.

[Daragon]

What a 8) pic. Very nicely done.

Is that guy who looks like me at the side actually me? Pretty hard to tell which job it is. It looks like a DRK with that scythe, but BSTs also use em, and I noticed that snipper too, so hmm.

I've decided that thf is 100% the last job I'm taking past 30 (for the forseeable future at least) At the rate I'm going, you'll all be doing the CoP missions, while I'm stuck in Yhoator Jungle with the stupid idea in my head that I actually wanted to level DRG (no offense to any DRGs)

[C']

It is you Daragon. Like I said a few concessions were made to try and differentiate players from each other for those who weren't at the level (or close to) where they were using full AF.

For yourself, Ces wasn't sure which you would class as your main job but he remembered that you had both DRK and BST at around mid 30s so he put you in Centurions gear, gave you a Scythe (which both BST and DRK can use adequately) and gave you a little crab pet ^_^

[?pint]

Time for another one of my infrequent updates. I'm getting slightly bored of FFXI now, I've gone through a stage of being completely addicted and now I've finally decided to actually do something about it. I've 'quit' WHM and BLM now (both 75) and decided to start playing as NIN. At the moment, because it's at low level, it allows me to just play at times to suit me. I quit my HNM LS, so that now has no demands on my time. NIN is a very fun job, and I've found I have a much better time levelling on valkurm dunes than I ever have at higher levels. Kinda envy you guys for still sticking together; the server change was a mistake to be honest, and though I have a few close friends on the server, selling my AC is starting to sound tempting. New PC, went to dynamis and there was 0 lag, I was amazed . Same graphics card as wedge I think. Anyway, glad you're all having fun on Seraph =), still think of you guys every now and then. lol

[Marvelon]

The party with Toxicforce and Natasha worked out really well... Who would've thought a PLD / WHM / BRD / SAM / SAM / NIN party would work as well as it did... we got 15k exp in just under 4 hours, very respectable for a party with no BLM, no RNG, 2 tanks and 2 SAMs. We'll be trying for level 60 on friday - just the idea that we will reach that particular level still seems unreal to me.

As for BCNM 60, I have 200+ seals atm, so I could do at least 3 BCNM 60s, looks like we can probably spend a whole day doing them if we want to.

[Tobal]

I have enough to do 4 bcnm60's i'm about 20 off a 5th one.

[C']

OK, it sounds like you guys are hoping to hit 60 tonight so was thinking it is perhaps time we start considering getting the Shadow Lord battle complete.

I don?t know what other people think about this but personally I was hoping that we would only go as a group of Rank 5s with only people who need to attain Rank 6 actually in attendance and no high level people to essentially do the job for us. I?ve been looking forward to this battle for a long time now (completed the previous mission back in July O_o) so I will gain no satisfaction from having it done for me.

I think the LS has enough people for a full PT of rank 5 people which should be more than adequate for the battle (which would be Apathye, Mahlory, Mihki, Rarehero, Tobal, Wedgemoon).

Am I thinking along the same lines as other people or was everyone else hoping for the opposite?

If we are thinking the same, are people interested in trying for this over the weekend. Apparently the story really kicks in once he has been defeated and I am really excited about what might happen

[Darwock]

I've got a request to make of anyone who has any interest in smithing (or just wants to help...)

My pal is trying to up his smithing from the level 2 it is currently at. He needs bronze ingots, which are very expensive at auction but cheap at the guild. The guild only sells one stack.

There is a guy, neoncppp, who waits at the guild for opening time at 8am EVERY SINGLE GAME DAY, at least every time we've checked... and buys out all the bronze ingots within 3 seconds. He's obviously just doing it for profit. My friend has managed to beat him to the draw once, I've tried but failed.. we're trying to discourage this guy from this tactic but as he's there every single day, we're not having much luck.

If you happen to be in Bastok before 8am, have a need for bronze ingots and want to get one over on a greedy player, please have a go!

When Claude gets his next stack, he plans on doing a /sh advertising them at cost to anyone who needs them, with the intention of refusing neoncppp if he asks

[mikewl]

Finally level 60 Bard with Full AF and what I would consider to be near best equipment available, apart from +1 earings which cost about 500k each and the better element staff's.

Rare, you sound like your in a similar position to what I was a while ago, all I can say is I was on the character delete screen about to quit the game, but decided why do I need to quit. I uninstalled the game and decided to take a break, which although I ended up putting the game back on within two days I still held back the time put into it.

After a break from it I have gotten back into it more and thought about some of what we will have to do soon, Missions are sounding real good, then we have BCNM's to arrange for everyone, be it 40, 50 or 60, we should arrange it all as a LS so that all benefit from it.

I know your in a position where to have the best equipment you would have to farm like crazy, but I really think the only ones who get the real expensive stuff are those that buy gil or have many jobs lvled to 60+ with a 70+ job, I would just go with what you can reasonably afford, no one should complain that you dont have that high priced equipment, I certainly think you have excellent equipment already.

Anyway, maybe you should take a break and come back on for specific events and then go from there, I know with me a short break made the game seem much more enjoyable and im glad I did not quit.

[Marvelon]

Rargh Static #1 reached lv 60 yesterday, and to me it still hasn't quite sunken in yet. Congratulations and many thanks to Mahlory, Tobal and Wedgemoon. May we be as prosperous after 60 as we were before.

Now comes the big 60 standstill. I still need my lv 60 AF (which is a proper AF3 quest with a big NM fight at the end in Davoi) I agree with Rare's idea to do the Shadowlord fight for Rank 6 with just Rank 5ers, to maintain the spirit of exploration and to keep the element of surprise. I assume we'll be trying for (and hopefully achieving) quite a few BCNM 60 fights with our static and other who wish to participate, personally I've got enough for three orbs, and am close to a fourth one. This will help fund my Knightly Mantle (the only item I need to get this level, for exp parties anyway). And I believe This would be a good time to finally start on our Promyvion endeavours, better late than never I suppose.

Furthermore... I need to level warrior again (currently 3) and I intend to level BLM 11->17 and RDM 10->25. And then last, but not least, Genkai3.

I don't know what to say Rare, I've been in the same position (and at the time 1m seemed as insurmountable as the amount you're facing) and the choice for me was between giving up or copping out (in as far as a lifetime of being beaten to within an inch of my life can be considered copping out) What I understand of the Venomous Claw is that it is still dropped by HNMs (though less than before) and is now also available through a certain BCNM(s). Instead of lowering the price it seems to have done nothing of the sort. Reason being is that the kind of LSs that actually have the ability to obtain the item control the sales and distribution (they either give their harnesses to members of their LS for services rendered or hunt for a claw specifically when one of their members needs it) unfortunately this means that anyone not part of such an organisation is basically screwed as there is no other way to obtain one.

Options then are to obtain the money (which, in the interest of sanity and to prevent the risk of burning out, I can not recomend to a friend), to live with a replacement or to seek out an LS that can provide you with the item. I'm afraid that Rargh, however tightly knit and dedicated we all may be, does not wield, nor command, enough power to be able to provide it's members with support on this kind of endeavour.

Personally, I don't have a huge friends list (outside of Rargh) and I am doubtful of my reputation on Seraph (If I even have a reputation to speak of). I believe others in Rargh, however, have been more sociable than myself and have established their own contacts to call upon. I expect that someone with your dedication, integrity and skill may well have generated the sort of contacts that can help you with this.

Whatever happens, I'll think no less of you for not having the perfect equipment nor if you decide to end your career as a Ninja having been impeccably equipped throughout.