FFXI Job Direction?? Dev Team, Please Respond.

[Seriha]

POIDH.

For 75, TP set was basically Joyeuse/Justice/V.Stone/Walahra/PCC/Suppa/Brutal/Goliard/Dusk/ACC ring/Rajas/Cerb/Speed/ASA/Dusk. It's a haste heavy build with a spritz of ATK and ACC, both of which are still a RDM deficiency. Newer gear that's come since doesn't change much since you could cap Haste before, nor does it really change the ACC/ATK situation much. Some I've chucked. Some I've sold. Goading's more accessible than Speed despite lesser haste. Atheling is a legitimate upgrade. The C. trousers are debatable next to the ASA, as it translates to a big ACC gap where the minimally gained DA/TA could be lost in misses (nevermind Joyeuse still being one of our primary weapons diluting that perk). Beyond that, our TP sets are pretty much still the same with WS considering things like Anguinus over Warwolf. Once atma exit the picture (Hence my Abyssea comment), our good WS, which are mult-hitters, further exacerbate the juggling against STR/ACC/ATK and secondary mods thanks to lesser base skill and no native melee traits.

Not quite a thousand words, but in absence of a pic, you'll have to deal with it.

Sorry, but that's the way it's always been for the 'weaker' DDs. They simply have to work harder to compete, and it's not unreasonable for them to need a WoE or Full Empyrean to enter into the equation. DDs have never been on equal ground.

Pit Strong DD vs. Weak DD with equal effort put into both (nevermind the impossibility short of the exact same gear) and it's still no contest for the weaker. That's part of the problem. People flock to the stronger by default even if it means taking a gimp Strong against the pimpest of the Weak that would outdo them.

Meanwhile, your head's still up your butt if you think Empyreans or even WoE WS are standard.

My RDM, from 49-90+, always received fast invites for Abyssea exp.

So, by admitting you didn't level the job the old way, you've pretty much confessed no first-hand experience on the actual issues myself and others have brought up over the years. Hint: This isn't a problem that just materializes at 90.

Leaders like me because I don't suck.

Leaders on your server are clairvoyant? I must learn their secrets to constructing the perfect PUG and how seeing a name and possible search comment divulges one's full potential. Or maybe this is where you say you only EXP with your LS or a static. Most don't.

<lines of self-back patting>

POIDH time? Is this where I say I'd been my preferred LS RDM doing the back-line gig in various events prior to the cap increases where myself and others felt the brunt of pink magery with no hinted direction from SE other than a seeming sense of inaction? I mean, I guess we could look forward to the job map, but that's not really any different than the years we sat around before that hoping for fixes and changes.

On another note, you can't hide behind Guru status here. You can and will be called out when you're off-base, and if you're smart, you'll see it as an opportunity to reconsider your stances or learn something.

I must have been asleep or something when I conveyed that posting on Alla somehow makes me unconditionally right. Please link. This isn't the first time you've brought it up, let alone as yet another attempt at an insult toward myself or anyone who posts there. Yes, I've called you out on your own behavior here and its carry-over to BG, and it seems I've struck a nerve. When you can convey that precious knowledge of yours without running away for support or poisoning it with your sour attitude, maybe you might actually teach me something. I know your eyes are rolling right now, so prepare for it again, but I do learn things when there's actually something to be learned.

Otherwise, I'll just give you the advice that you're never going to change my mind about RDM in its current position, as we're intrinsically conflicting in both personalities and play styles. I, however, want options for the job. You? "Screw 'em! They're retards."

[Eeek]

Meanwhile, your head's still up your butt if you think Empyreans or even WoE WS are standard.

For some DD jobs, yes, they absolutely are standard. The weapsonskills are just that good. I can understand folks who don't want to pursue a full Empyrean, but the WoE Empyreans are a reasonable and powerful option that are simple to complete on any schedule with or without assistance from friends. Every DD who takes their DD jobs even somewhat-seriously, and does not own a Relic/Empyrean, should have a WoE Empyrean or be working on one provided the weapon grants them a top-tier WS. Some of the weaponskills are not worth the effort.

So, by admitting you didn't level the job the old way, you've pretty much confessed no first-hand experience on the actual issues myself and others have brought up over the years. Hint: This isn't a problem that just materializes at 90.

Do we really need to drag out the 'players have to level their jobs in 4k/hour crab parties to be a good player' argument? Smart, dedicated players will play well, and poor players will be poor. Always.

And I like how I have no first-hand experience with RDM's issues despite being around the job for years, studying the job, gearing the job, and playing it extensively in the field. Anyways, most good players are well aware of the capabilities of jobs they do not have leveled. It's a part learning the game.

I've never meleed on my RDM in a group setting because I'm fully conscious of RDM's abilities and what contributions are needed from me for the group to be successful (it's as simple as looking at the party/ally list). Playing RDM feels like playing a God on the battlefield, and that's without /SCH (I don't enjoy leveling, but it's at 30 now and I will force it to 49 somehow ; ; ). RDM isn't primarily a one-trick pony like WHM or BLM - RDM can do damn near everything I'd want to do as a mage in the field. I absolutely love RDM's ability to switch on-the-fly between defensive/supportive play and offensive play, and I can make all sorts of subtle adjustments to play that vary from mob to mob and from area to area.

If I wanted to melee, I would have leveled an actual melee. While I did build a RDM melee set before taking a break (<3 summertime), I only intend to use it for fun in solo play. I don't care to put in the necessary effort to make RDM an effective melee in group play. If I ever make an Empyrean, it'll be a Twashtar without question.

I mean, I guess we could look forward to the job map, but that's not really any different than the years we sat around before that hoping for fixes and changes.

RDM's been an incredibly powerful job for years, so I can understand SE's hesitation in tweaking it too much. Something does need to happen in the next 6 months or so, though. It's easy to assume that the Devs will somehow boost RDM's enfeebling capabilities, but as happened with Break, they seem hesitant. I do think Cure5 will happen by 99.

I'm not sure what else the Devs would be willing to do. They could adjust RDM-casted enfeebles to be inherently more accurate on mobs/NMs that are highly resistant or outright immune to certain enfeebles, but that could break solo RDM. I'm afraid we'll mainly see additional tiers of spells as happened with Refresh 2. I wouldn't be surprised to see spells like Para3/Slow3/Phalanx3 show up in the next-tier merit system after level 99.

without running away for support or poisoning it with your sour attitude, maybe you might actually teach me something.

I'm fully aware that you don't care about my opinions simply because they're different than yours. That's understandable and incredibly common as has been demonstrated through psychological research. I write more for others than for you. I don't know why RDMs across all FFXI RDM Forums are so strangely obsessed with RDM melee while most RDMs I've encountered and spoken with in-game over the years don't care much about it. I write for myself and those who don't want the job so fundamentally adjusted as to cripple it.

I write because these official forums are probably the among biggest threats to FFXI in its history.