Puppetmaster: Gear that increases Automaton Skills & Puppetmaster Merits

Platform: PC
ISP: ATT UVerse
Type of Internet Connection: Cable
Internet Connection Speed: 7.6 Mbps
Date & Time: April 9, 2014 @ 7pm CST
Frequency: All the time
Character Name: Siviard
Race: Hume Male
World: Shiva
Main Job: Puppetmaster
Support Job: Warrior
Area and Coordinates: Qufim Island (I-11)
Party or Solo: Solo & Party
NPC Name: n/a
Monster Name: n/a

I was testing ways I could increase my Ranger Automaton's parameters and I discovered this bug. Explanation below.

Step 1. - I removed all my gear, except for Eminent Animator. /checkparam gives the following stats. (Primary Accuracy 690, Primary Attack 902, Ranged Accuracy 742, Ranged Attack 958, Evasion 714, Defense 685)

Step 2. - I equipped Cirque Pantaloni +2. This armor piece increases the Puppet's Melee skill +10 as well as Ranged Skill +10. After equipping this, /checkparam gives the following stats. (Primary Accuracy 690, Primary Attack 902, Ranged Accuracy 742, Ranged Attack 958, Evasion 714, Defense 685) As you can see, there is no change.

Step 3. - I equipped Gnafron's Adargas, a PUP Hand-to-Hand weapon that also is supposed to increase Automaton skills. After equipping and doing /checkparam, I got this. (Primary Accuracy 690, Primary Attack 902, Ranged Accuracy 742, Ranged Attack 958, Evasion 714, Defense 685) As you can see once again, there is no change.

Step 4. - After testing this, I purposefully took 1 merit away from Automaton Ranged Skill just to see what would happen. After using /checkparam, I got the following stats. (Primary Accuracy 690, Primary Attack 902, Ranged Accuracy 742, Ranged Attack 958, Evasion 714, Defense 685) Shockingly, no change.

Step 5. - I spent 5 merits to re-obtain 5/5 Automaton Ranged Skill just to confirm my findings. Doing /checkparam, I got this. (Primary Accuracy 690, Primary Attack 902, Ranged Accuracy 742, Ranged Attack 958, Evasion 714, Defense 685)

By doing this, I was able to confirm the following. Automaton Ranged Skill that is gained naturally via skill up will increase your Automaton's Ranged Accuracy and Ranged Attack. However, once that skill is capped, any gear that increases the Automaton's Skill as well as any Merits put into Automaton Ranged Skill will not increase your Ranger Automaton's Ranged Accuracy or Ranged Attack.

Just tested this, befor people give the comment you still get skillups after being capped and putting on gear with skill. Even when going through that all stats in /checkparam are the same. This is a serious bug that puts Automaton accuracy and ranged accuracy to a lower point than it should be. It also explains why they have lower ranged accuracy and accuracy than players. Lower than players without buffs like bard songs and food. Tested with with the iLevel 119 Puppetmaster item Divinator btw.