July 8th Version Update: New Ammo Gear

[Dekusuta]

http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/threads/35228

(NQ) Purchased with Bayld
Convocaller 99 None Avatar Lv. 106 SMN

(HQ) Purchased with Plasm ; required key item semi-pure celadon yggzi (Ceizak Battlegrounds) from T4-5 Delve NM
Dashavatara Sash 99 None Avatar Lv. 113 SMN

Both are ammo slot;

Basically a buff-all to our pets. Granted I feel avatars still need more buffs and SMN still need more abilities and bloodpacts

Assuming the grip(s) are still coming this seems like a good first step.

Thoughts?

[Umisame]

FAST TEST(Dashavatara Sash):
Crimson Howl: attack dont increase
Ifrit Meteor Strike: 3400(without) to 4900(with) vs Strolling Sapling in Konschtat
Wind Blade VS raptor VT: 4900
PC vs raptor VT: 2500(three times tested) with dia 2 3300 dmg
No -perpetuation
46% to 74% healing HP with Wind Blade: 445hp healed(1589 hp?)
More acc/eva/melee dmg

While is a good boost in dmg i feel like we needed more.
(5/5 on merit BP and MAB equip)

[Dekusuta]

1600 HP still at 113? That's no change from before IIRC.

[Mokeil]

I'm liking the nice damage increase... How's avatar durability looking, though?

For example, the Alternator adds no HP to the Automaton, and yet I can have my Sharpshot tank 2 VT lizards in Morimar with no problems due to pure evasion and defense. No increases to HP might not be that big of an issue if the defensive stats are good enough.


(I've been hoarding plasm for this update. Here's hoping it was worth it.)

[Kimarironso]

Sorry to ask anyone know what npc sells the Convocaller?

The Dashavatara Sash is bought from Forri-Porri near the inventor's coalition for 30k Plasma.

[Mokeil]

Sorry to ask anyone know what npc sells the Convocaller?

The Dashavatara Sash is bought from Forri-Porri near the inventor's coalition for 30k Plasma.

It's supposed to come from the Peacekeepers Coalition. It won't be available till at least Sunday - assuming the coalition ranks up on your server.

[Dekusuta]

Did some tests On Chapulis around Biv #1 using Wind Blade with 5/5 MAB merits 4/5 into WB and significant MAB gear ~+70)

No Sash
Dmg / TP (APPROX)
2838 / 20
2786 / 0
2961 /50
2836 /20

With Sash
4371 / 47%
4857 /100%

Basically 1.5 BP can finish off a VT target now and avatars take significantly less damage due to higher evasion/def

That said, HP appears to be unchanged. ~1600 +/- 100 for rounding Based on whispering wind and looking at my pet health %

That is a bit surprising. Was expecting higher HP for a scaled up Pet.

I thought I may have to resummon which I did, so all my HP tests are based on clean summons without swapping out ammo slot for something else.

[Mokeil]

Definitely a huge increase in evasion and defense. I was able to safely kill VT lizards in Morimar without having to resummon or use healing Wards. Still lacking the Delve SMN staff, so my output isn't as impressive as Dekusuta's, though...

On a fun note, I was getting very regular 8.8k Predator Claws off in Abyssea on ole Megamaw Mikey (RR, GH, and Sanguine Scythe Atmas). On my last kill, the poor NM didn;t even live long enough for me to get a third BP off.

[Clou777]

does the update for smn include all ammo items for the effect or its it only for these 2 new items? like would the esper stone increase the avatars stats to that of a lv96?

[Dekusuta]

From the update notes


A summoner’s avatar’s attributes will now increase in line with the item level of the item equipped in the ammo slot.
* Equipment that increases the attributes of avatars has been added.
* If the item equipped in the ammo slot is switched out when the avatar is active, the increased stats will change based on the new ammo.

[Clou777]

yeah but that doesnt answer it, i dont notice a difference when i take off the ammo and when i wear it

[Annalise]

yeah but that doesnt answer it, i dont notice a difference when i take off the ammo and when i wear it

Do a magical bloodpact with it on, then switch to Esper stone and do a magic bloodpact with it off. Based on what SE has said, you should get lower damage from the Esper Stone because of the decrease in avatar stats.

[Babekeke]

yeah but that doesnt answer it, i dont notice a difference when i take off the ammo and when i wear it

might be that once you un-equip it, you have to re-summon with it equipped to get the benefits back again.

[Mokeil]

I'm reasonably certain it's dynamic level checking - no need to re-summon. I was testing out my damage some on mandies right outside Adoulin's gates, and I noticed very clear differences in how fast my avatar was dying as I was taking the sash on and off.

[Dekusuta]

Yep, when I was testing I had esper stone in my inventory so my macros swapped it in as I bp'ed and I realized why the damage was so bad.

Esper stone is now out of the equip list.

[Clou777]

ok tested with diabolos Nether Blast and here were the results:
Nothing in ammo slot - constant 838 dmg
Esper Stone - constant 843 dmg

so esper stone DOES increasse avatars stats, but not by much

[Infidi]

ok tested with diabolos Nether Blast and here were the results:
Nothing in ammo slot - constant 838 dmg
Esper Stone - constant 843 dmg

so esper stone DOES increasse avatars stats, but not by much
Sure it wasn't just the Avatar:MAB +1 Esper Stone gives you ? :D I don't know how much damage that gives you, but sounds right. Pretty sure they said in update notes they are still fixing other items so they will show the item level in desc, thus making it usable.

[Clou777]

Sure it wasn't just the Avatar:MAB +1 Esper Stone gives you ? :D I don't know how much damage that gives you, but sounds right. Pretty sure they said in update notes they are still fixing other items so they will show the item level in desc, thus making it usable.

ahhh true that, well guess that sucks, im trying to farm plasm now for the HQ

[Clou777]

OK, finally got it and Nether Blast With empty slot was 838, using HQ sash was doing 1179 and the avatars melee attacks were almost doubled, very nice piece!

[Infidi]

OK, finally got it and Nether Blast With empty slot was 838, using HQ sash was doing 1179 and the avatars melee attacks were almost doubled, very nice piece!

Congrats! ^^

[Clou777]

smashing in abyssea too average 7200 heavenly strikes and got 16k+ on af3 proc

[Sargent]

Doing Ifrit killshot trials on Elder Goobbues in Boyahda Tree, 8-10k the majority of the time.

[Babekeke]

Doing Ifrit killshot trials on Elder Goobbues in Boyahda Tree, 8-10k the majority of the time.

Nice, is that a 1-shot?

[Sargent]

Nice, is that a 1-shot?

Easily, those mobs only have about 5k HP. Also hitting 10k Thunderstorms every time on Dolls.

[nyheen]

any test/info going on with the Convocaller?

[Herby]

it's pretty much half as strong as the Dashavatara one (+7lvls and +14 lvls). no need for testing to see this

edit okay after reading this that sounded a bit rude >_< sry, but it still stands, if it's anything like alternator/forefront it's half as strong

[nyheen]

it's pretty much half as strong as the Dashavatara one (+7lvls and +14 lvls). no need for testing to see this

edit okay after reading this that sounded a bit rude >_< sry, but it still stands, if it's anything like alternator/forefront it's half as strong

>.>. lmao. was wondering if it was like how the altenator/forefront is. from testing forefront.. it just as strong as the alter. only diff is it NQ while the alter is HQ. i would test the Convocaller once i get 99 (95 smn for now) and get some more bayld. 3k now><. but so far it like no info on this convocaller.

[FaeQueenCory]

>.>. lmao. was wondering if it was like how the altenator/forefront is. from testing forefront.. it just as strong as the alter. only diff is it NQ while the alter is HQ. i would test the Convocaller once i get 99 (95 smn for now) and get some more bayld. 3k now><. but so far it like no info on this convocaller.
LoL there probably won't be much... if any at all.
Because so many ppl will just skip the 30k bayld investment and just get some plasm for the 113 version.
Delve is basically the new abyssea...
At least in the player mentality. ex: "why bother with AF quests, just abyburn and get AF3" "why bother with r/e/m weapon, just delve KI and plasm farm."

But that's how it was designed... iirc, they said that the Peacekeeper's stuff was for returning players so that they could easily get gear for the harder post-99 content (read: Delve lol).

[Babekeke]

A few reasons why noone has info on this:

1) Noone could buy it until JP midnight on Sunday, when the Peacekeeper's Coalition ranked up.

2) People just realised that there's actually a point to doing all 5 wildskeeper reives, so noone has any free bayld any more.

3) Mog Garden KIs also cost Bayld, and it's kinda fun.

4) If you care enough about SMN to spend 30k Bayld on it, you're going to eventually spend 30k plasm to get the HQ. Therefore, why bother wasting your bayld on something that's already out-dated, unless you don't think you will EVER do delve?

[nyheen]

most people cant, or dont really have the time to do delve and from the look of it AH weapons blowing delve away so where them delve shout at? delve farming/KI?! anyways if smn not really the main job people would just want soemthing that easy & good to use. same goes for the pld shield, my main job is not pld so i dont wanna waste lot of months soloing for a Ochain,Aegis.

[Herby]

Forget the Huactzin Shield it sucks (sad but true)

[Hayward]

Forget the Forefront Flute, too. No point in having a Reive-only Gjallahorn. At least give people the option to upgrade it to where you can use it anywhere.

On the Convocaller, It certainly allows SMNs to fight NMs far more quickly in Abyssea. While Fighting Ouzelum in Altepa, Shiva was hitting Rushes for almost 3,000 HP consistently. On top of that, Fire spells didn't do much damage to her.

Would certainly like to get the level 113 sash, but I've yet to even try Delve. Tier II bayld weapons will have to do for now.

[Babekeke]

Forget the Forefront Flute, too. No point in having a Reive-only Gjallahorn. At least give people the option to upgrade it to where you can use it anywhere.

I'm actually intrigued to see if "Reive:" items also work in delve, the same way that "Assault:" items also worked in salvage. I carried around that stupid "Assault: ballad +1" flute (Storm Fife?) for ages.
Though there's very little that I'd use it for as most of my instruments now give +3. Just ballad probably.

[nyheen]

well after doing some quick testing with the Convocaller. this thing is badass! looks to be a mini Dashavatara Sash, pets lot more eva, magic def,def attack etc. while trying it around Boyahda Tree with Ifrit doing like 6-8k+ dmg on Elder Goobbues etc with Flaming Crush. no +2 stuff yet just 1s.
mess around in Abyssea - La Theine with garuda soloing the UFO NM. atma was RR apoc MM. mosting hitting him for 4k-5k+ Predator Claws. kinda lot with a mob that got lot def. i only had to call 2 garudas she got some great eva def etc on him.

overall if you not able to get the HQ, this baby is just as good. it just the NQ:)

[Archades]

Ive been using the convocaller since it was available. definitely an improvement i just put a list of nms from Aby i've fought since in the smn solo/duo thread. My opinion definitely a plus for any summoner not doin delve.

[Edyth]

I'm liking the nice damage increase... How's avatar durability looking, though?

For example, the Alternator adds no HP to the Automaton, and yet I can have my Sharpshot tank 2 VT lizards in Morimar with no problems due to pure evasion and defense. No increases to HP might not be that big of an issue if the defensive stats are good enough.


(I've been hoarding plasm for this update. Here's hoping it was worth it.)

The evasion bonus is extremely noticeable. The damage resistance is noticeable until the enemies are incredibly tough to 99. Tulfaires and Bloodmoon Umbrils still hurt, but they'd hurt far more without the Dashavatara Sash.

[Mokeil]

I gotta say, I'm actually fairly pleased with the boost to avatar performance. I've found myself able to solo the mobs in areas up to, and including, Morimar and the Foret without much problem. It seems to do for us what the Alternator did for Automaton performance. My avatars feel decidedly beefy once more, and I actually feel good about bringing my Summoner along when I do things with my friends again.

(DISCLAIMER: The preceding display of grudging approval in no way shape or form indicates that I think SMN does not still have seriously fundamental problems that still need to be addressed soon, or that I think SMN has actually gotten an update. We have merely been given the same bump in power everyone else already got. Nothing else has changed.)

I am a little concerned for our actual selves now, though. Now that we're starting to see some of the gear revamps coming off the test server, it looks like everything with an item level of 100+ is getting all sorts of boosts to defense, HP, MP, and most especially Evasion and Magic Evasion. Outside of a new staff and ammo item, however, Summoners pretty much use exactly 0 of that gear.

As things stand now, I already get dropped in 2-3 swings by anything in Adoulin, thanks to my lousy HP total, paper thin defense, and lack of Evasion skill to match boosted enemy stats - let alone any stray AoE attacks. Are we really going to be expected to head into high content level events with our level 90 empyrean and relic gears (basically, the only things outside of a few outliers that actually provide beneficial stats for someone trying to be a SMN and not just a /WHM)?

I know Summoners have always had rather different gear preferences than the other mages, but the consequence of forcing character growth via only items means that you have to make sure there are items to allow jobs to grow. It doesn't matter how awesome our avatars are if we, the Summoner, can get K.O.ed by a passing breeze.

(DISCLAIMER: The preceding concern in no way shape or form indicates that I think it is the greatest problem facing SMN, or that I think SMN will have actually gotten an update when such concern is addressed. We will merely have been given the same bump in defense everyone else will already be enjoying by being able to make use of level appropriate gear. Nothing else will have changed.)

[Archades]

Well there is one good thing about gear leveling us up. We don't get weaker every time we "level up".

Just looking for that small silver lining.

[FaeQueenCory]

I gotta say, I'm actually fairly pleased with the boost to avatar performance. I've found myself able to solo the mobs in areas up to, and including, Morimar and the Foret without much problem. It seems to do for us what the Alternator did for Automaton performance. My avatars feel decidedly beefy once more, and I actually feel good about bringing my Summoner along when I do things with my friends again.

(DISCLAIMER: The preceding display of grudging approval in no way shape or form indicates that I think SMN does not still have seriously fundamental problems that still need to be addressed soon, or that I think SMN has actually gotten an update. We have merely been given the same bump in power everyone else already got. Nothing else has changed.)

I am a little concerned for our actual selves now, though. Now that we're starting to see some of the gear revamps coming off the test server, it looks like everything with an item level of 100+ is getting all sorts of boosts to defense, HP, MP, and most especially Evasion and Magic Evasion. Outside of a new staff and ammo item, however, Summoners pretty much use exactly 0 of that gear.

As things stand now, I already get dropped in 2-3 swings by anything in Adoulin, thanks to my lousy HP total, paper thin defense, and lack of Evasion skill to match boosted enemy stats - let alone any stray AoE attacks. Are we really going to be expected to head into high content level events with our level 90 empyrean and relic gears (basically, the only things outside of a few outliers that actually provide beneficial stats for someone trying to be a SMN and not just a /WHM)?

I know Summoners have always had rather different gear preferences than the other mages, but the consequence of forcing character growth via only items means that you have to make sure there are items to allow jobs to grow. It doesn't matter how awesome our avatars are if we, the Summoner, can get K.O.ed by a passing breeze.

(DISCLAIMER: The preceding concern in no way shape or form indicates that I think it is the greatest problem facing SMN, or that I think SMN will have actually gotten an update when such concern is addressed. We will merely have been given the same bump in defense everyone else will already be enjoying by being able to make use of level appropriate gear. Nothing else will have changed.)
SO true... But then hasn't smn ALWAYS been the red-headed step-child when it comes to gear?
Not that I'm saying we should be thankful for the... two... delve... macro-only... gear... and quit complaining. (I'm talking about Bowkus Circlet and Yaksomoto's Pole... haven't gotten the circlet yet so I don't know if it's better than the emp+2 or if the +% proc from the set bonus is better... it has less summoning skill... but I think +10 mab might make up for that with the magical BPs.
And no smn would idle that staff... sure the +crazyMP is nice and all... but I'm pretty sure the idle staves with 99% -if not all- SMNs are the -perp magian staves and a Terra's Staff -depending on if you have an avatar out or not-.)

I have to admit though... at least this +99 Adoulin gear is WAY better than the extra Abyssea gear.... because we actually GET pieces. (aside from the empy I mean)
I'm fairly confident that there's at least now one person finally on the dev team who likes smn...
And I hope that this new super-god-+70-to-all-stats grip will be just what we need to cope like all the other jobs.

(also it better darn well have at LEAST +3 summoning skill... if not +10... I was VERY disappointed in losing +45mp for a boost to avatar level... it's worth it... but as an Elvaan smn... it hurt a bit. I can only imagine the horror a Galka smn would have with that loss...
And further: other pet jobs have... y'know... STUFF that their +99 equipment does... what does the +99 smn gear do? just makes your avatar +99... no +skill... no +mp... no nothing.
I mean, I'm glad for the boost. It was needed... but... surely there's programing room on that item to at least do SOMETHING more than just raise the avatar level... I mean... dear god... look at that BST axe...)

[FaeQueenCory]

http://bg-wiki.com/bg/August_2013_Version_Update_Changes
Bluh.
I was hoping that that grip would be in this update.... what with the new bayld gear... (I'm hoping that if it is going to be a Delve gear thing... that it has a bayld version, much like the Convocaller or the PUP animator...)
I guess.... later then.... lol

[Mokeil]

I'm pretty sure the planned Grip was turned into the Ammo item we got in July, and they just forgot to tell us that's what happened. The bayld and Delve ammo items do pretty much what was expected of the proposed Grip by boosting our avatars up to a sufficient power base as to be not-totally-lame, but merely kinda-lame (right about the power range of an un-buffed melee fighter), once more.

Now we need some gear for ourselves that will let us enjoy the extra defenses most everyone else gets to enjoy as of this update. Well, at least we got some macro boots this time...

[Dekusuta]

They just doubled the MAB for Balsam Staff (was 60 avatar MAB now 120) and the HQ version Astralwatcher

Saw a set for sale 14m NQ 60m HQ.

Now what are the Mythic holders going to do? or the SMNs who spent millions ranking up Yaskomo's Pole going to do?

Seems highly unbalanced (again) just so the crafted staff they added back in April can be relevant for a few top tier woodworkers to make millions.

UGH.

[FaeQueenCory]

They just doubled the MAB for Balsam Staff (was 60 avatar MAB now 120) and the HQ version Astralwatcher

Saw a set for sale 14m NQ 60m HQ.

Now what are the Mythic holders going to do? or the SMNs who spent millions ranking up Yaskomo's Pole going to do?

Seems highly unbalanced (again) just so the crafted staff they added back in April can be relevant for a few top tier woodworkers to make millions.

UGH.LOL that's hella old news. We've known about that doubling ever since it went gold on the test server...
And Mythics are going to get a similar boost.... people just need to wait a bit... I mean, they should be used to waiting because they made a Mythic.

As to being better than Yaskomo's Pole.... that's because it was always intended to be. It's a higher level item. While that isn't always true that a higher level item will be strictly better than a lower level one.... when the two items do the exact same thing, that holds true 99.99% of the time.
And even though Yaskomo's pole only has <50% of the MAB.... it also has Macc. Which is still very valuable in >99 content.

It's not "unbalanced" or any attempt at favoring crafters... it's just making the 117 item more potent than the 99 item. (idr if Yaskomo has an iLv... but I do recall that it's <117.)

[Babekeke]

They just doubled the MAB for Balsam Staff (was 60 avatar MAB now 120) and the HQ version Astralwatcher

Saw a set for sale 14m NQ 60m HQ.

Now what are the Mythic holders going to do? or the SMNs who spent millions ranking up Yaskomo's Pole going to do?

Seems highly unbalanced (again) just so the crafted staff they added back in April can be relevant for a few top tier woodworkers to make millions.

UGH.

Anyone who made a delve weapon rank 15 either had gil to burn, or has learning difficulties (unless it's a dual-wieldable one), as we all knew for a long time that the boss weapons and the craftable ones will out-date them very quickly.

[Manux]

how many more ammo slots are there 3, and what are the names of them?