which weapon?

[JusticeReborn]

The obvious choices are Bracelets, Earrings, Hose, and Tabard. The spear will count as the 5th piece to complete the set. I've also seen people use the Jackboots to complete the set, but that's less than optimal.

As for the rest of your gear, you'll want to upgrade to HQ rings and neck for sure. If your felt bracers are unmelded, you'll want to get 30-50 str on those too. Veteran's Field Belt may be a better option for your waist, but what you have will work if gil is tight. For your head, AF and Paragon's Crown are the best options. You likely won't miss the accuracy on the elmo if you grab the GC gear anyway.

You'll want to aim for 350/310 str/pie (give or take) with the lieutenant's spear. Depending on how it all adds up, you might want to grab a piety ring or two. I know Storm dragoons have a lot easier time capping strength than serpents.

Thanks a ton for that. That's really helpful, and I've already bought the 4 GC pieces you mentioned... just waiting on a United We Stand run to kickoff so I can rank up and grab the spear.

Looking at the other gear you mentioned, that's helpful as well. I found Felt Bracers +1 for sale in Wards but only +15 STR. HQ Rubellite Rings and Electrum Gorget available no problem. Veteran's Field Belt doesn't even come up in Wards though (even when I search "veteran" only).

As for the stats, before the HQ Ring/Neck and the melded Bracers, I'm sitting on 317/227 STR/PIE. Something tells me I went horribly wrong in stat allocation as I leveled up (I think I did STR and DEX)... I still have a Keeper's Hymn on me; care to share the "proper" stat allocation if I use it?

Thanks again for all the help

[Perin]

Thanks a ton for that. That's really helpful, and I've already bought the 4 GC pieces you mentioned... just waiting on a United We Stand run to kickoff so I can rank up and grab the spear.

Looking at the other gear you mentioned, that's helpful as well. I found Felt Bracers +1 for sale in Wards but only +15 STR. HQ Rubellite Rings and Electrum Gorget available no problem. Veteran's Field Belt doesn't even come up in Wards though (even when I search "veteran" only).

As for the stats, before the HQ Ring/Neck and the melded Bracers, I'm sitting on 317/227 STR/PIE. Something tells me I went horribly wrong in stat allocation as I leveled up (I think I did STR and DEX)... I still have a Keeper's Hymn on me; care to share the "proper" stat allocation if I use it?

Thanks again for all the help

You don't really need HQ felt bracers for just single or double melds. The stat difference isn't huge and not really worth the extra cost if you're buying straight off market. Having a HQ base item does increase the meld chance slightly for double+, but it's not really necessary if you're just starting out with melded gear.

Veteran's Field Belt is 5acc 2str and can drop from one of the normal chests in AV. Availabilty and price in the wards varies server to server I'm sure. It'll probably show up eventually if you check periodically, but I'd say it's much lower priority than getting some str bracers or even HQ rings/neck.

Stat allocation for drg is usually 23str/22pie, so you'll definitely want to reallocate if you went str/dex or something else.