Mithra or Elvaan

[taylor82]

Title says it all. I know its a stupid question but, I just can't decide. I want to play THF, BLU, NIN and probably SAM (I used to have a SAM and quite enjoyed it). I managed to unlock the support jobs on both and am in the process of getting BLU on both >.>

What do u guys think? The male Elvaan seems pretty beast but, I'm not a fan of their casting animations nor the dagger attack animations. Mithra seem cool but, being a guy it just feels strange to play a chick in game as lame as that is haha.

[Caketime]

10 years ago I asked myself the same question, and now I kind of regret my initial choice due to the constant crossdressing jokes and the occasional "Are you gay?", but it's not so bad. Secretly liking dresses helps a bit. :3

[Economizer]

I just can't decide.

Depends on what you care about. If you care about looking cool, then you have your answer, but if you only care about stats, Elvaan accuracy isn't as much an issue as it once was, especially for 2h weapons, Elvaan have high STR, and they have higher then average HP (the best stat in the game), while their MP pool isn't a meaningful downside anymore.

[RealmReborn]

Oh wow, I didn't realize races mattered this much. Would I be a fool to make a Taru melee?

BTW I'm brand new to the game, only been playing a couple days...

[Karbuncle]

Mithra is a nice Balance of stats. they're going to be a good few STR behind Elvaan, but of the jobs you listed, DEX and AGI are going to be important as well.

for NIN, AGI as a HI Mod, for THF, as a TA mod and Exenterator

DEX because almost all the jobs you listed have a Crit-hit WS (most with DEX mods...) as their primary dmg source.

The only exception being SAM. So in my opinion, its a 3 to 1 in favor of Mithra. while MP may not "Matter" as much as it used too, You're still going to feel the restrictions, especially on BLU, who already have a pretty low MP pool.

Will it be crippling? No, But honestly, I'd go Mithra. - And i'm not just saying that because i chose the race.

Also yes, a Taru (Melee)DD is foolish. Taru are just plain awful as Melee DD. while its not going to be a huge difference, they lack any strong features in STR or DEX, and are statistically the worse Melee DD Race available. Though the gap is not WTF huge.

[Economizer]

Also yes, a Taru (Melee)DD is foolish. Taru are just plain awful as Melee DD. while its not going to be a huge difference, they lack any strong features in STR or DEX, and are statistically the worse Melee DD Race available. Though the gap is not WTF huge.

I wouldn't compare a Tarutaru's STR to their DEX. They have average DEX. Their STR is below average.

Still, a Tarutaru's STR isn't insurmountable, it is only an eleven point deficit compared to an Elvaan's STR. Basically, it won't kill you.

What will kill you as a Tarutaru melee is the only stat that has enough difference and importance between races to matter - HP. Also, many melee players merits HP, which negates any possible fix that could have while keeping the gap as wide if not wider.

At the widest gap you're missing 445 HP between yourself and a Galka, and this difference will get your ass killed. This wouldn't be so bad if every job had an MP pool or even every job that does have an MP pool had it make a make or break difference but the prevalence of refresh sources have made the 467 or so MP difference at the widest point (a job/subjob combination that nobody uses on a job that is arguably the most neglected job) between yourself and a Galka. There aren't any unique refresh sources to help rebalance this, and further adding insult to injury, the easiest way to start a fight with more MP is converts HP to MP gear, something a Galka can afford to do, but the opposite isn't always an option with melees without MP pools.

Any chances of this inbalance being remotely negated are pooped on by Tarutaru's low VIT, and even Tarutaru's above average AGI or INT doesn't help since it won't make you evade enough damage enough of the time or resist enough magic damage enough of the time.

So SE balances mobs to be threatening and deal about 370~595 more damage to be a threat to everyone who isn't a Tarutaru which is often lethal to melee range Tarutaru. The worst DD in the game is a dead one, so HP ends up actually mattering more then any other stat.

Despite all this I suggest you choose whatever race you want and have fun. If enough Tarutaru players complain about the imbalance we could see a change in monster actions or HP/MP numbers between races.

[RealmReborn]

Despite all this I suggest you choose whatever race you want and have fun. If enough Tarutaru players complain about the imbalance we could see a change in monster actions or HP/MP numbers between races.
Thanks for the input (both of you). ^^

Even though I'd very much love to build a Taru tank or melee, I don't think I'll take the gamble on it. The last thing I want is to get to cap and be looked down upon because of something like this, lol. I'm so glad I saw this now instead of a few months down the road... in every other game I've played with racial stats it didn't have an impact really except for the first 10-20 levls.

[RealmReborn]

Do any of you guys know a good site to refer to for which races go well with each job? I am really worried I'm going to make the wrong choice now, lol. I really wanted to be a taru but I like all the melee jobs more than mage ones. I just want to make sure I don't make another bad choice such as taru+melee.

[Economizer]

I just want to make sure I don't make another bad choice such as taru+melee.

There are no other bad choices. HP is the only stat that matters (in terms of the differences from races), and Tarutaru are the only race with a deficit over the average.

But if you really want to compare all the races, the races go as follows for their "super" stat: Hume - None (no superpowered stats, but no downsides, although they share average CHR with everyone but Galka and Mithra), Galka - HP/VIT (also above average STR, but lowest MP and below average CHR), Elvaan - STR/MND (low DEX, lowest INT, below average MP), Mithra - DEX/AGI (pretty average in every other stat, although a below average VIT/CHR), Tarutaru -INT/MP (lowest STR, VIT, HP, but above average AGI).

Each stat has its usages (you can check BGwiki for each stat to compare). Your primary stats most of the time for a melee job are HP/STR/DEX. The biggest deficit between these isn't that large with the exception of HP though, so don't worry too much. To compare specific race stats with certain jobs/subjobs check a stat calculator (http://bellsouthpwp2.net/k/i/kinematicf/FFXI/StatCalculator/).

[Mayoyama]

Oh wow, I didn't realize races mattered this much. Would I be a fool to make a Taru melee?

BTW I'm brand new to the game, only been playing a couple days...

Being a taru myself I can assure you theres nothing at all wrong with taru melee. In fact, taru do it best, just coz we are awesome! And we also get some of the coolest ws animations in the game - who doesnt love doing multiple backflips? lol

[Demon6324236]

Statistically Tarutaru are bad melee jobs, visually they are awesome, so pick your poison.

[Caketime]

10 years ago we had discussions like this, then it kind of died for around 9 years and now the old arguments and talking points about Taru melee are resurfacing, and it's really funny now because the game has changed so much that the haters have to revive an ancient topic and conveniently ignore the mountains of -DT and HP+ gear.

[Demon6324236]

10 years ago we had discussions like this, then it kind of died for around 9 years and now the old arguments and talking points about Taru melee are resurfacing, and it's really funny now because the game has changed so much that the haters have to revive an ancient topic and conveniently ignore the mountains of -DT and HP+ gear.Not really, even with DT gear your HP still becomes a problem, HP gear is not effective to stack on either. People are not anti-Taru, they are anti-dead DD.

[Plasticleg]

10 years ago we had discussions like this, then it kind of died for around 9 years and now the old arguments and talking points about Taru melee are resurfacing, and it's really funny now because the game has changed so much that the haters have to revive an ancient topic and conveniently ignore the mountains of -DT and HP+ gear.

delete your character
There are times when TPing in a hybrid set is acceptable. The only way a taru would be able to overcome their HP deficiency with current mobs would be to constantly melee is HP+ and DT- gear.
All of those options hurt their damage output, rendering them ineffective and making it more practical to select any other race to DD over the taru.

[Caketime]

If DDs had 4k+ HP each you guys would still cry about Taru lagging behind, and would still assert that you're right and I'm wrong despite all of the many successful Taru players out there who understand that it's not about your max HP, it's how you use what you have to work with to accomplish your goal. You can throw hypotheticals at me about how inefficient this or that is, but at the end of the day all you're doing is soapboxing about your opinion and why exactly everyone should listen to you.

[Fistandantilus]

Elvaan is the master race.

[Byrth]

In really high buff situations (which includes capped fSTR), my Taru DNC is 0.3% worse than a Galka. My Taru WAR (no longer capped fSTR) is 1.5% worse than a Galka. These examples were both optimized for Galka, then I just flipped the race to taru and divided.

It's a pretty insubstantial difference in practice. However, for a totally-optimized player that last 1% damage is worth millions of gil. I mean, how much does Khepri Jacket cost? It doesn't even increase THF's DPS by 1% overall. If people care enough to pay 200mil so their THF can do ~<1% more damage, they'd probably feel the same way about their base stats.



Anyway though, the much more substantial difference in practice is the fact that I have to change the food I eat when I do events and play much more conservatively than my Elvaan/Galkan counterparts because of my dramatically lower HP pool. Legion is very one-shotty, and Tarus simply don't have enough HP to survive unless they turtle against many of the monsters. If you die in Legion, you lose a lot more than 1% damage and it greatly impacts your alliance's success. If you spend the whole time in a turtle-y hybrid set, you also lose more than 1% damage. I eat Arrabbiata (which sucks, because 1 dragon meat = 2 of them) and switch to a hybrid TP set against many of the monsters. On the other side, our Elvaan DRKs get to eat Red Curry Buns and go all-out on pretty much everything. So for events like Legion, the Taru HP difference causes a DD difference that is much larger than it first appears.

[Caketime]

Thank you Byrth for illustrating the pros and cons of being a taru far more eloquently than my drunk ass ever could.

[Economizer]

You can macro into more MP without screwing yourself over, you can't macro into more HP or even more damage reduction to do the same if you expect to be outputting damage anywhere near close.


On the other side, our Elvaan DRKs get to eat Red Curry Buns and go all-out on pretty much everything.

To add insult to injury Elvaans on a budget get supercharged Royal Omelette/Imperial Omelette to eat as well (it isn't quite as good, but on a budget it would make a huge difference). Do Tarutaru even get a special mage food? Nope.

Mage food isn't even anywhere near the league DD food is either, and you (currently) can't ever hope to compete with a melee job for damage in the majority of situations.

One step further... you lose your food effect when you die on top of getting weakened. Tarutaru's low HP even screws them over when it comes to food.

[Kincard]

I eat Arrabbiata

I wish people actually made that stuff, I don't think it's appeared on the AH of my server for like 6 months.

[Teraniku]

You all do know that low Taru HP was the reason we didn't get a Tarutaru Serpent General in Al Zhabi.

[Bearstar]

I think you should choose based on what you like about the lore of the culture. Equipment and later on, merits will fix any low level difficulties that come from race, for example my brother's (A Galka) first 75 (back before Treasures of Aht Urghan came out) was Summoner. His 2nd was Black Mage. And is better than many Tarus I've met when it comes to mage jobs so don't let anything get in your way.

[Bearstar]

Oh wow, I didn't realize races mattered this much. Would I be a fool to make a Taru melee?

BTW I'm brand new to the game, only been playing a couple days...

Don't let that get in the way. There is nothing wrong with being a taru. I know many taru tanks and they are good tanks. And I know many Galka mages that are awesome mages. Minus very low levels, the equipment you wear will overwhelm any racial stats.

[Bearstar]

Do any of you guys know a good site to refer to for which races go well with each job? I am really worried I'm going to make the wrong choice now, lol. I really wanted to be a taru but I like all the melee jobs more than mage ones. I just want to make sure I don't make another bad choice such as taru+melee.

the wiki: FFXIclopedia. It has everything you will ever need so bookmark it in your brouser

[Karbuncle]

Don't let that get in the way. There is nothing wrong with being a taru. I know many taru tanks and they are good tanks. And I know many Galka mages that are awesome mages. Minus very low levels, the equipment you wear will overwhelm any racial stats.

Honestly, HP Is still going to be the biggest thing. MP not so much, too much MP conservation available, as well as refresh gear, MP pool don't really matter (Which ironically makes Taru even worse :D), but HP is still going to screw you in some events.

NOW, they said in the interview they lowered the AoE damage/toned back in SoA, so this whole thing might blow over.

I think it should be spelled out again, really clearly... While Taru can perform most, like 99%, of the tasks an Elvaan DD can do, they are statistically the worse melee race in the game. now, this is by like, 1% or something, like Byrth explained, so its not going to cause you to not be invited or anything, its just undenyable on paper. and while their STR/etc isn't really huge, the HP thing can be a pr......... you know f**k it read Byrth's post again everyone/.


In really high buff situations (which includes capped fSTR), my Taru DNC is 0.3% worse than a Galka. My Taru WAR (no longer capped fSTR) is 1.5% worse than a Galka. These examples were both optimized for Galka, then I just flipped the race to taru and divided.

It's a pretty insubstantial difference in practice. However, for a totally-optimized player that last 1% damage is worth millions of gil. I mean, how much does Khepri Jacket cost? It doesn't even increase THF's DPS by 1% overall. If people care enough to pay 200mil so their THF can do ~<1% more damage, they'd probably feel the same way about their base stats.



Anyway though, the much more substantial difference in practice is the fact that I have to change the food I eat when I do events and play much more conservatively than my Elvaan/Galkan counterparts because of my dramatically lower HP pool. Legion is very one-shotty, and Tarus simply don't have enough HP to survive unless they turtle against many of the monsters. If you die in Legion, you lose a lot more than 1% damage and it greatly impacts your alliance's success. If you spend the whole time in a turtle-y hybrid set, you also lose more than 1% damage. I eat Arrabbiata (which sucks, because 1 dragon meat = 2 of them) and switch to a hybrid TP set against many of the monsters. On the other side, our Elvaan DRKs get to eat Red Curry Buns and go all-out on pretty much everything. So for events like Legion, the Taru HP difference causes a DD difference that is much larger than it first appears.