Arrow card questions

[Kibby]

So, I've heard that several classes love getting the Arrow card (blm, brd, mch, mnk, and war in particular), but I've seen those classes say they don't like it at all, so my question is: what classes benefit the most from the arrow card and in what situations (like during a lot of trash or boss fights).

My biggest problem is knowing when to give someone an arrow. I can't speak for mch, mnk, or war, but whenever I do aoe as brd, I run out of tp very quickly, so I'm worried if I give it to tp users during aoe situations, I could give them tp issues.

Lastly, would it be a bad idea to give the arrow to myself if no one else in the party can benefit from it (assuming I can't aoe it)? <_< >_>

And another non-arrow question - what is considered better, enhanced or extended cards? I kinda like enhanced more, but I still have hard time telling which is more helpful in the end.

(Sorry for all of the questions)

[Cyrocco]

So, regarding Arrow, I only really throw it on someone if I'm sure their TP can take it, so during a small pull, because I really don't have to have to use a Spire on someones TP in a boss fight (especially during raids) when I could've just burnt it. Now, the weird thing is as an AST, I always feel like I shouldn't be using the cards on myself because that's bad and I'm the benevolent buffer healer who reads the fortunes of others and yackity yack *~*. If you don't want to shuffle the Arrow, if you don't want to save it, use it on yourself. Get some Gravity casts in (if you like to DPS), get some faster heals, because who doesn't like faster heals. I...can't speak on the topic of who likes what cards because it really depends on the player.

(NOTE: For those of you who DON'T want a card when it's on you, right click the buff, it'll leave.)

[zuzu-bq]

Some players dislike it because it can change their GCD sync with the fight a bit off. That is not bad though since it is indeed a damage incrase by the end. Good players tend to like Arrow on any job they play. Also using it on yourself for a Presence of Mind-like buff is pretty cool and totally viable. As for TP issues, unless you throw too many Arrows at someone or a enhanced Arrow at someone that already go pretty low on TP, they shouldn't have any TP issues. So pay attention to your party, talk to them too. Of course your priorities with Arrow should always be BLM followed by BRD. And if they don't like it, they should just remove instead of complaining.

[FeliAiko]

- Best Job to give Arrow to is BLM, hands down. In the absence of a BLM then I'd go: BRD > MNK/NIN > WAR. Could include SMN in there if the player is using Ruin IIIs outside of Dreadwyrm Trance (which they should, but not all players do).

- Only cards you'll want to give to yourself is Spear (before using CDs like LA and Lightspeed) and Ewer, otherwise burn them on Royal Road.

- I'd say Extended Cards are better, if only because it means you get a use out of Spear (via RR), instead of burning comparatively better cards (Bole and Balance) to get the Enhanced effect. In 8 mans though, Expanded is better than both (unless it's Arrow; an Extended > Enhanced Arrow would be better IMO, assuming you have a BLM).

[Griffey]

You could always just use it on yourself if no one wants it.

[zuzu-bq]

I'd say Extended Cards are better, if only because it means you get a use out of Spear (via RR), instead of burning comparatively better cards (Bole and Balance) to get the Enhanced effect. In 8 mans though, Expanded is better than both (unless it's Arrow; an Extended > Enhanced Arrow would be better IMO, assuming you have a BLM).

While over time extended are better then enhanced since they're double time against 50% extra potency from enhanced, if the fight is about to have an downtime this makes your extended time not so usefull.

[Rongway]

- Best Job to give Arrow to is BLM, hands down.

BLMs will (should) click it off on trash because the extra speed prevents them from refreshing enough MP to do their rotation, resulting in a DPS loss, so don't throw it at a BLM on trash. If you use it on a BLM during a boss, however, you will be that BLMs new best friend.

For the other jobs, too many Arrows can lead to early depletion of TP/MP. In a light party, I'd recommend burning it for an Extend. In full party content that will last longer than couple minutes, if there's no BLM, Redraw. If it's a short/easy fight, the resource depletion won't be an issue, so you can use it on someone based on the priorities the above posters have suggested.

[zuzu-bq]

BLMs will (should) click it off on trash because the extra speed prevents them from refreshing enough MP to do their rotation, resulting in a DPS loss, so don't throw it at a BLM on trash. If you use it on a BLM during a boss, however, you will be that BLMs new best friend.

No we won't, that was even a topic for discussion on the BLM Sanctuary recently. Just add a Blizzard or Freeze cast before Fire III and we are good. That is both a DPS and a PPS increase.

Though for trash in dungeons I'd give Arrow to myself as AST so I can Gravity faster. But that is mostly because I have no trust on Duty Finder people.

[Kibby]

BLMs will (should) click it off on trash because the extra speed prevents them from refreshing enough MP to do their rotation, resulting in a DPS loss, so don't throw it at a BLM on trash. If you use it on a BLM during a boss, however, you will be that BLMs new best friend.

See, this is what confuses me. I've heard that arrows are great for BLMs, especially during aoe situations, and all of these conflicting opinions just confuses me even more. I don't understand how speed can be bad for BLMs when Ley Lines does just that.

Also, I would be really irritated if someone just clicked off my card instead of telling me outright, that way I know not to continue giving them arrows.

[FunkyBunch]

See, this is what confuses me. I've heard that arrows are great for BLMs, especially during aoe situations, and all of these conflicting opinions just confuses me even more. I don't understand how speed can be bad for BLMs when Ley Lines does just that.

Also, I would be really irritated if someone just clicked off my card instead of telling me outright, that way I know not to continue giving them arrows.

Don't give a BLM arrow. You will literally F'up the AoE rotation because they won't get the full mana tick when casting F3 From Astral Ice. A BLM shouldn't be using Ley Lines in the AoE rotation unless they have really slow Spell Speed for the same reason. If F3 takes less than 3 seconds you miss out on an F2 or a Flare and are left scratching your head as to why.

On a boss it's okay but I'd still rather not have it, because it's not really going to help with anything because the rotation is the rotation. You're not getting off an extra spell, you're potentially only screwing up how much MP I get back while casting B4 making me lose my full rotation on the refresh.
You only want extra SS once you get to AF because you NEED your AI T1-B4-F3 to take at least 6 seconds to get full MP. Which is what it takes at around 1200 SS.
It may help a bit when single targeting, but it's not really very helpful at all.