Bard's Shirt (Relic) or Relic+1 - which one first?

[Nooblet]

I got the bow, legs, then ring.. I haven't once said damn... I wish I got **** instead.. it's really not that big of a difference.

[Bardo]

One thing that I don't see being talked about is the value of VIT.
If you've watched the Twintania kill video, the lowest HP value on their team was 4200.
Some of the unavoidable attacks were bringing them down pretty low.

My suggestion would be to +1 your Relic so that you're not bringing down your group's Limit Break damage, then get pants, then shirt, then hands/head before venturing into accessories.
Even though some of the accessories might actually be better for damage per Myth spent, ignoring that those pieces give you no Vit could come back to bite you in later content.

[Pellegri]

My suggestion would be to +1 your Relic so that you're not bringing down your group's Limit Break damage

Problem though is no one even knows just how much dmg is being added when one person has an ilvl 80 wep over 90. The other thing is there's problems beyond lb dmg if a group has to rely on lb so much, I can guarantee static stat gains from various pieces will win out against what may not even be a 100 dmg increase on lb.

[Bardo]

I can guarantee static stat gains from various pieces will win out against what may not even be a 100 dmg increase on lb.

Let's see some math. : /
Just because it hasn't been proven doesn't disprove it.

All the maths I've seen so far that attempt to prove that a few AF2 pieces are DPS gains over the Relic+1 in the first place are based on a completely simplistic damage formula that leaves you with nothing more than an approximate stat weight.
That's not exactly something I'd base a "guarantee" on. :X

Of course you're not going to "gimp" your group if you pick up AF2 pieces first. Or even if you pick up Accessories first.
At this point, there isn't enough information to support a facts based optimal upgrade path.
It's mostly just speculation based on approximations and how you value group performance vs individual performance.
So I think my advice is just as good as any other.
<3

[Coraline]

Here is my bard. http://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/lodest...acter/1760096/
I run Coil every week since end of august early sept.
Based on all the research I did. Pants always came up first with the highest DPS gain and being BIS.

Reading http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/t...nding-for-BRDs as my biggest guide.
I bought my up to the belt so far. Since these are the biggest upgrades I then played around with numbers on this spread sheet that was posted. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/...UQVhHZ0E#gid=0

I DO not have relic+1 and have been clearing turns since I started. Bards +1 is not the biggest dps upgrade.

[Coraline]

I only have 1 piece from coil because thats all that ever dropped.
If you aren't going to coil at all. Get relic+1 or smaller pieces.
If you are gonna coil I suggest pants first. And make sure you have full DL or crafted gear. I would strongly suggest getting HQ Gryphonskin Ring. It seems like the Bard ring doesn't drop until turn 5 so having that on with the myth ring is great.

The DL ring is.
Dexterity 9
Critical Hit Rate 9
Determination 8
Magic Defense 1
Defense 1

For HQ Gryphonskin Ring

Strength 9
Dexterity 9
Skill Speed 9
Accuracy 12
with melding max 12 crit, 8 dtr, 3 skill speed

This crafted ring is a good way to Itemize since you can gain Acc and still have the crit.

You want to be Accuracy capped "472" Turn 1-4
I have 476 on right now so I have to pop acc food for turn 5.
The hardest part is knowing which items give the best stats so you can wear those and fill in the gaps with Acc gear.

[Gabbelgak]

Ring is turn 4 we got one last week. Regardless though the Allagan ring is pretty bad and also think crafted is just the easier route to go.

Crafted (max melded): Dex 9 / 12 Skill Speed / 12 Accuracy / 12 Critical / 8 Determination
Allagan: Dex 13 / 11 Skill Speed / 16 Accuracy

4 Dex and 4 Accuracy at the loss of 12 Crit, 8 Determination and a Skill Speed.

I'll stick with crafted + hero and give allagan rings to alts.

[Pellegri]

Ring is turn 4 we got one last week

Except for the fact that it has been confirmed by many so far that it is a turn 5 drop and has never dropped from any other turn. Yes the allagan ring is still pretty horribly itemized(the SS is terrible on it, the acc on the other hand by the time you start getting twin kills you should honestly be scraping the bottom of the barrel on acc and could probably use it), beyond that though i'd be surprised if you saw any kind of noticeable difference between 4 dex and 12crit/8det when as far as stats go 4 dex is ranked at almost the same as that combination of stats.

[Songi]

Sadly most Allagan is pretty much filler. I guess it will be useful for when Vanity slots come out...if they ever decide to unlock them that is!

[Gabbelgak]

Except for the fact that it has been confirmed by many so far that it is a turn 5 drop and has never dropped from any other turn.

How can it be confirmed to be turn 5 if it hasn't been seen to drop? My guild actually recorded it on twitch, I'll see if he still has unedited feeds I can link you when he's on today.

I was going on the same assumption as you were when I geared myself - it was a turn 5 drop.