Need help understanding BiS(best in slot)

[Docent]

This is true, but it should only be a last resort. There's a reason the kirimu pants are considered BIS pre-FCOB despite only being 110

Now that twines are out, I really really doubt any melded 110 can beat a 130, even with the worse stats.... I haven't checked the Kirimu pants and Ironworks one, mind you.

[kyuven]

Now that twines are out, I really really doubt any melded 110 can beat a 130, even with the worse stats.... I haven't checked the Kirimu pants and Ironworks one, mind you.

Well see, the kirimu pants can have accuracy as well as both DET and CRIT. The DET makes up for the difference in DEX, more or less, and the CRIT is, well, the BRD bread and butter.
the ironworks pants have accuracy and skill speed. I only wear them because I can't afford the kirimu pants just yet and need the accuracy. Since skill speed basically does nothing for bards, it means the stat slot is "wasted" whereas the kirimu pants get use out of all 3 stats they can hold.

[dughug]

Wow, so many great and detailed answers, thank you. I have a better understanding now.

Another question: When I use ariyala's calc, without fcob gear because I don't have any yet. And it lists gear that I don't have, how do I know what is the second best item when it only gives you a green line for the best which I may not have?

[Docent]

Wow, so many great and detailed answers, thank you. I have a better understanding now.

Another question: When I use ariyala's calc, without fcob gear because I don't have any yet. And it lists gear that I don't have, how do I know what is the second best item when it only gives you a green line for the best which I may not have?

There's actually a really neat feature to help you gear as you grow up in Ariyala:
You can use the inventory system to tell the website which piece you have, then, you can have the Best In Slot calculator actually run with those items only and it will tell you what's the best outfit you can make out of those.

The thing is, you can use this system in a bit of a non-obvious way: You can actually say you own all of the stuff you CAN get access to. For example, you may not have all of World of Darkness drops yet, but add them to inventory regardless. Then, run the BiS solver, and it will tell you which pieces to mix and match for the best results (but won't actually tell you to use dreadwyrm, since you didn't add it there, etc.).

After that, it's just a matter of figuring out which items it recommends that you don't actually own yet, and start working towards that.

[dughug]

Thank you, very helpful.