Bio III, can I has it.

[Rezeak]

Imo we don't need it as DRK....

-5% more attack, -2 hp per tick really isn't something to be bothered about.

Either way here the main reason RDM has it and it's that RDM is the main enfeebling mage thats all there is too it.

As for your arguement .... Skill ... Skill isn't a arguement ever if you want to use it as a Arguement look at COR it's dagger skill is higher than it's gun and parry skill is A- soooo COR should be a parry tank that WSes with daggers .... no.
Ps. RDM can sub SCH and have B+ which isn't that low and with a staff it prolly beats DRK for resists so w/e.

Bio III will make up for group 2 merits.... please read what haste does and be thankful we have one amazing group 2 choice .Now if that seems to be a problem go look other group2 choices for most jobs they only get 1 good one espically with the DDs and some don't even have 1 good choice like Desperate blows for example MNK.

Occult tp gain.... no lol.... i'll explain if ya want tp there a little thing melees do for tp it's called hitting the mob.

Either way there's so many more things that would be more useful for DRK than Bio III i mean if you want an attack down spell ask for Absorb-attack or something it would make more sense than Bio III not that i want either lol.

Lastly imo Dark seal,Diabolic eye or Muted soul imo is more useful for DRK than what Bio III would be.

[Silverleaf]

Muted Soul - What is -PDT, what is Seigan? I can has Third Eye? I sub THF now.

Did you even read what this trait does???

[Covenant]

Let's all just admit that the whole merit discussion is a special case. SquareEnix truly didn't think they would be goin passed lvl 75. They create the merit category to give a final special feel. That is to say, individually all jobs and players would pick and choose what abilities they liked on a personal level. Some would choose bio 3 other slow II. With the increase of job levels, this "special-ness" is less rewarding. Why cry over AM, when -JA spells are stronger over time?

As a redmage first and Darkknight, I do feel for the lack of Bio3 for my Darkknight. However, I don't advocate giving BIo3. There are still plenty of Darkknight specific suggestions just to name a few...

Curse, a spell which shaves a percentage of HP and MP.
"Demi" aka dark damage magic. Tiered I-IV.
Absorb tier II - this one might be tricky due to stat caps if one exists. But could easily be a non-decaying/duration effect.
"Dark Storm" - AoE dark magic... Think a DRK ONLY version of AM-aga.
All the "other" virus effects.

So while a lack of Bio III, is simply annoying in my opinion. That lack of above options are a travesty.

As an aside, there something im not understanding about TP and occult TP. If TP is based on weapon delay, why does the TP return for magic so low? 2-5points. A dagger gives 5 TP and that's a fast swing. A sword is usually 5-7TP, big weapons what 10? A tier III nuke 3 TP or so for however many casting seconds... I think something IS wrong.

[Afrohatch]

DRK needs to have ancient magic too, IMO. Sure, you'll lose 4-5 swings while casting, but you'll even out when waiting for recast. Make it happen SE, I hate swinging my weapons ><

[Covenant]

@afrohatch, not sure if your being sarcastic... But, the majority of AM usage is the "opening" spell before agro. Most blackmages open with AM and switch to faster nukes if something isn't dead. It sorta like all the battle strategies which have melee's sleep themselves with TP for that BIG opening weaponskill/skill chains.

So a Darkknight wouldn't necessarily spam this Dark AM. But, would either open with one or magic burst one.

[Alhanelem]

"Demi" will never happen. It's too powerful in an MMO context. The damage would have to be capped really low. Note that the only two examples of this effect in the game from players come from the same 2-hour.

[Raxiaz]

"Demi" CAN happen, it DOES NOT have to do damage equal to 1/4 of the mob's HP... It can do purely dark-based damage, not that hard to comprehend.

But in all honesty, darkness is a horrible element in this game. It gets resisted by practically everything and all manifestations of "damage" of it are really disappointing. Even Skillchain: Darkness is disappointing. Very rarely do I ever see it not get resisted. Probably fighting the wrong kind of mobs, but still.

[Byrth]

But in all honesty, darkness is a horrible element in this game. It gets resisted by practically everything and all manifestations of "damage" of it are really disappointing. Even Skillchain: Darkness is disappointing. Very rarely do I ever see it not get resisted. Probably fighting the wrong kind of mobs, but still.

Yeah, considering Darkness skillchain actually does ice damage most of the time, I'm going to go with "No." What the heck are you doing, skillchaining imps and undead?

Drain is fairly accurate and very cheap for the damage it does. The main problem with Darkness damage is the lack of sources. Impact is impractical, which leaves Drain, Drain 2, and the Bios. Bios have very low base damage, Drain 2 is given to the wrong job, and Drain is a level 10~12 spell. What do you want?

[Covenant]

I'm in the camp that sometimes damage ISN'T, necessarily more important than style of play. I think it would just look bad-ass if a DRK is enveloped in a dark auras while casting and burst even if only for 300damage. There's plenty of mobs weak to dark element...usually plants, light elemental, carby and alexander, colibri's (even if they reflect).

I don't know if a DRK can open a darkness skill chain, but if they can they could finish with a magic burst dark. Also, I don't know about drain... What happens when your HP is capped? Does damage still occur?

[Elexia]

Probably wont happen. Plus Diabolic Eye has its uses, just not with souleater. I really hope you're trolling. XP

Edit: Who knows, maybe we'll get a Job Merit Category 3 at 99, with Bio III as one of the options! I'm still guessing the other options would be better than Bio III D<

Given his in-game presence, I doubt he's the troll type.