which weapon?

[JusticeReborn]

So I figured I'd bump this up given the current Foundation Event with the GC seals raining down.

I'm Maelstrom and about to be able to buy the Storm Lieutenant's Trident. The rest of my gear is basic stuff (no materia):
Head: Cobalt Elmo (also have Drachen Armet)
Body: Explorer's Tabard (also have Cobalt Haub)
Hands: Felt Bracers (also have Drachen Gauntlets)
Waist: Scarlet Sash
Legs: Explorer's Breeches (also have Felt Trousers)
Feet: Cobalt Sollerets (also have Explorer's Moccassins and Drachen Greaves)
Earrings: Dated Electrum Earrings
Necklace: Electrum Gorget
Bracelets: Raptorskin Wristbands
Rings: Rubellite Ring x2, Electrum Ring, Explorer's Ring

Given the above options to me, what Maelstrom gear pieces should I get to activate the Spear's bonus? I'm also up for general gear suggestions (though I don't have crafts to add materia to gear yet), but I realize that's not the focus of this thread. So which GC gear pieces to get to activate the Spear bonus is what I'm most interested in learning.

Thanks!

[Perin]

So I figured I'd bump this up given the current Foundation Event with the GC seals raining down.

I'm Maelstrom and about to be able to buy the Storm Lieutenant's Trident. The rest of my gear is basic stuff (no materia):
Head: Cobalt Elmo (also have Drachen Armet)
Body: Explorer's Tabard (also have Cobalt Haub)
Hands: Felt Bracers (also have Drachen Gauntlets)
Waist: Scarlet Sash
Legs: Explorer's Breeches (also have Felt Trousers)
Feet: Cobalt Sollerets (also have Explorer's Moccassins and Drachen Greaves)
Earrings: Dated Electrum Earrings
Necklace: Electrum Gorget
Bracelets: Raptorskin Wristbands
Rings: Rubellite Ring x2, Electrum Ring, Explorer's Ring

Given the above options to me, what Maelstrom gear pieces should I get to activate the Spear's bonus? I'm also up for general gear suggestions (though I don't have crafts to add materia to gear yet), but I realize that's not the focus of this thread. So which GC gear pieces to get to activate the Spear bonus is what I'm most interested in learning.

Thanks!

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.

[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.

[Nushidorei]

It seams like almost everyone is in agreement that the Storm Lieutenant weapon + pieces of the storm set are the best option. However, do keep in mind that these gear pieces may not be relevant for long in A Realm Reborn.

With new content comes new equipment and if the storm set pieces become outdated, then you will be gimping yourself by taking the Storm weapon over Garuda's Beak which is reliant on you equipping four pieces of gear which may hold you back, where as the Beak will give you a good weapon while allowing you to equip anything else that appears.

TLDR: Don't throw out Garuda's weapon just yet, it may be more variable in 2.0

[Perin]

It seams like almost everyone is in agreement that the Storm Lieutenant weapon + pieces of the storm set are the best option. However, do keep in mind that these gear pieces may not be relevant for long in A Realm Reborn.

With new content comes new equipment and if the storm set pieces become outdated, then you will be gimping yourself by taking the Storm weapon over Garuda's Beak which is reliant on you equipping four pieces of gear which may hold you back, where as the Beak will give you a good weapon while allowing you to equip anything else that appears.

TLDR: Don't throw out Garuda's weapon just yet, it may be more variable in 2.0

This pretty much. As soon as you break your set bonus, you're better off with Garuda's. For Serpents, I know this happens as soon as you get DL Helm. We just don't have as many options as Storm.

And if you're active in endgame content, you're not going to want to be using GC gear forever. A lot of people don't have access to Garuda weapons or have no interest or time to chase after things like DL gear though (not that there's anything wrong with that). For those people, Lt. weapon and GC set is the goal at the moment. It's also a very accessible starting point for people who do want to go for the rarer gear through raiding etc, especially with atomos dropping seals like candy now.

[EndcatOmega]

Is there any recommendation for high PIE gear with your suggested Maelstrom set? I'm at 245, and a pair of Tourmaline Rings +1 won't quite push me there.

[Velhart]

Is there any recommendation for high PIE gear with your suggested Maelstrom set? I'm at 245, and a pair of Tourmaline Rings +1 won't quite push me there.

I use this for when I want to cap STR and PIE.

Paragon's Crown (If you have it) gives STR+10 and PIE+10
Darksteel Haubergeon(Or +1 if you have money and time) with double melded PIE
Crafted gloves (Preferably Felt Bracer or Raptorskin since you could use them on other jobs like MNK) with double melded STR
Drachen pants (Or double melded STR pants if you are willing to sacrifice some PIE.)
(If you are Ul'Dah) Flame Sergeant's feet that gives +10 PIE when you have two other flame pieces on. (Put Flame Sergeant Earring on me to make that stat work.)
Scarlet Sash belt has some PIE on it.
Tourmaline Bracelet+1 gives +4 PIE
Of course there are rings, but you should have near 310 PIE at this point, so good to use STR rings.

I recently got a Gae Bolg, so I got to get some more STR/PIE in there myself. Perhaps triple meld one of my items.

I do really like my Crit ATK based gear also, but I have both stat cap and a Crit set, because this gets debated all the time which is better. So I just keep both in case one side makes a relevant argument, lol.

[EndcatOmega]

Well, I was looking for a method of doing it with the storm stuff, but I guess I'll just forget about it and do your suggestions. Thanks!

[Perin]

Well, I was looking for a method of doing it with the storm stuff, but I guess I'll just forget about it and do your suggestions. Thanks!

Storm doesn't have any piety gear that I know of unfortunately. The best source of piety without breaking a 5 piece storm set (aside from rings) is probably DL Caligae, but I know that's not an option for everyone.

Your only other options would be giving up body or legs for a piety double/triple meld (or Militia Subligar if you're lucky). That would likely mean switching to the awful storm sgt. boots to maintain set bonus though. You can think of that 30atk locked behind your spear's set bonus as being on the boots and it's an acceptable compromise in the end.

Also, don't forget about piety food for another 7 points if you can hit 350ish strength without smoked raptor/tuna miq'abobs.