| DRK | PLD | SAM | WAR | RDM |
| 
| 
| 
| 
|
| 75 | 75 | 75 | 75 | 75 |
| DRG | ||||
 | ||||
| 75 |
Anyway, I've talked a lot about Paladin in recent entries and I still haven't had enough of it. Maybe I'm a PLD fanboy now, or whatever, but the job is just plain awesome and perfecting the style of play is my ultimate goal. Shortly after the events that took place in my last entry, I took PLD out for some more HNM-tanking first experiences. I must say, so much of this job depends on figuring out the best equipment in every situation. Nowadays most boss battles in FFXI are unique in their own way, and when situational gear comes into play, the effects of such gear tweaks prove to be very apparent. I'm not even talking about having high-end PLD gear such as Ares's Cuirass, Aegis, Hauteclaire, etc. Any pea-brain with enough time on his hands can join a massive bot-a-thon linkshell to obtain the best equipment available for any job, that still doesn't mean he knows how to play the damn role.
Thankfully, due to the impressive customization options in FFXI's macro system, the thought-out usages of each piece of equipment can be utilized with ease. Personally, I think this is where a tank job truly shines. My PLD folder is the largest macro folder I have, and each macro is laid out down to an obsessive amount of detail. Wait commands in the tenths of a second are used in most my PLD macros, precisely timed to take advantage of all the different types of equipment a PLD can take benefit from. 
Explanation: this works greatly to my advantage and allows my PLD to perform efficient to my standards. The Fast Cast benefits of Loq. Earring take effect the moment I start casting a spell (the lowered recast after spell is done from Fast Cast is not a big deal). Therefore, before the spell is done, my Magnetic Earring serves more purpose than a (very) minimal shortened recast of the spell [sidenote: I never considered leveling PLD before just recently and was enjoying RDM very much, hench my choice in Apocalypse Nigh earring]. My idle PLD/NIN neck of Parade Gorget that is equipped normally is swapped to an Enmity+3 neck. My normal ear2 is Hades Earring+1, but in casting Cure I swap in Hospitaler Earring before it is done casting for a +5% Cure potency. Boxer's Mantle is my PLD/NIN choice of back, but in casting a spell the Enmity+2 in Resentment Cape takes precedence for a split second. This same method of macro mapping is the same in PLD job abilities as well, with gear swaps targetted toward Enmity+, so you get the idea. I just love it when I receive a /c from someone bashing me for not wearing any Enmity. It's already been tested that standing and being hit reduces your Enmity values, but +Enmity does not lessen the Enmity loss, so it is pointless to wear Enmity full time like so many PLDs do.
People think I joke when I say I spend hours at a time setting up macros (I caught this bug while I was leveling RDM a while back). In fact, in retrospect I could delve into an even more obsessive amount of equipment detail through macroing but I think I've already reached a good balance that isn't too much of a waste of time. Anyway, call me crazy, but I am a perfectionist when it comes to video-gaming, and this is just indication of what a nut I can be.
This is one of the jobs I have taken the most seriously out of my 5 lvl. 75 jobs. Because it's more than just dishing out the biggest numbers, or keeping my party Refreshed; it's keeping my party alive, allowing everyone else in the linkshell to serve their purpose and perform their job without worrying about failure. I can definitely say being PLD is the most exciting time in my FFXI experience.
Well, that's enough of my ranting. On to some recent accomplishments I've been meaning to get around to since before I left for vacation. In order of succession since I lvled PLD and after the last entry:
▪ Jailer of Love This was only a few weeks after attaining lvl 75. I forced my ass into the role of PLD instead of suicidal Kraken DRK I usually am for the UFO. I definitely can't say this was one of my favorite fights, but it was my first oppurtunity to tank as PLD/mage. Utilizing the MDB/Magic Damage Taken -% build I posted in my last entry, I was amazed I was taking up to 75% less damage then a well-equipped PLD (not well-equipped for the situation, unfortunately) who used no MDB/MDT-% gear. The average difference though was actually much less, but still very significant. 33% HP saved against JoL's spells compared to a tank with no MDB/MDT-% builds. Since then my build has improved, with the addition of Iron Ram Hose; too bad Bru jacked his Lamian Kaman+1 back while I was away on vacation.
The fight itself is very basic. As PLD/RDM my pattern of spell usage rotation is as follows: Blind, Bind, Blaze Spikes, Barstone, Sleep/Dispel; Flash and JA are thrown in when available. Because of JoL's constant Dispelga, possibly removing a couple of Ballads or Refresh, the higher cost Enmity generators, Sleep and Dispel, were thrown in only every other rotation (once hate is established well and Enmity cap is almost reached). It is also worth macroing from Iron Ram Lance back to Macuahuitl +1 and Koenig Shield if Shield Bash is up. It doesn't hurt to stun an -aga or tier4 spell. That about rounds up my thoughts on JoL, this one was generous with us granting full drops. Grats Kesh.
▪ Ouryu Because JoL can cast spells of every element, I saved myself the trouble and stuck with my MDB/MDT-% build. Wyrms, however, are a different story. Probably the easiest Elemental resistance build is Ouryu. Though I had to go through the trouble of going 1/5 on Maldust Ring from some ghost NM in Gusgen Mines and soloing Garuda again for a Wind Belt, it was well worth the effort after seeing the performance at Ouryu. Too bad I couldn't get a pair of Sand Gloves before the fight, but I did spend a day or two afterwards to obtain it, 1/6, stupid Nutsucker. The Earth resist build is quickly swapped out the moment Ouryu lands. The few seconds that go by while a BLM readies an ES+Sleep II could result in an unlucky streak of multiple crits from Ouryu. My PLD/WAR straight-tanking build comes into play as Ouryu is on the ground.
I opted for PLD/WHM for the fight. WHM offers Magic Defense Bonus II innate trait. Though some people swear by the Enmity generation from /RDM, /WHM is just as good, if not even more efficient. Having a quick Erase for this fight is also very beneficial for a tank (Ouryu uses Slowga). The spell usage rotation is as follows: Poisona [me], Paralyze, Paralyna [me], rinse and repeat. Flash and Erase are thrown in there as needed. This procedure glued Ouryu on me 80% of the time.
Okay, so that kind of damage is in the extreme low end. The average fire(rock breathe?)-ball damage is anywhere from 30-50, without Phalanx (2) or Stoneskin. The Earth resistance build I have totals 144. Another 100 Earth resistance (maybe more, unsure what Enhancing gear is available to WHM completely) can easily be attained from a WHM, and +50 from BRD, as well. A possible total of almost 300. Tally in the effects of a Bar-spell merited WHM or if the tank PT is lucky enough to have a COR, the Magic Defense Bonus elevates the defense from Earth resistance to great heights. In the future I will eat Steamed Catfish for this fight, instead of worrying about dying after flight-landing and eating Tavnazian Taco (BLMs should be compenent enough to Sleep on time).
▪ Wyrm KSNM99 More Wyrm-type action. This fight is always fun. PLD/NIN is definitely more suited toward this fight than a NIN/DRK, merely due to the defensive security measures athat a PLD can take if Terrorized. Not a lot to say about this simple battle. Regular MDB/MDT-% build was used during flight mode, which is normally not a long phase at all. Terror poses are done in Kiting gear, which is essentially my highest attainable Defense without usage of shield. (0/5 Martial Abjuration gear is sad :[ ) Most of the fight consists of Flash, Curing trigger-happy SAMs, self-Cure3s (HP-/HP+ allows for a 210 HP difference for a comfortable Cure3), and a teeny bit of Ninjutsu tossed in.
Aaaaaaaaaaand I think that about catches me up on the fun PLD activities I've been doing. Toss in a few tier1 Jailers and regular Limbus/ZNM/etc. events and that's pretty much the jist. I guess that wraps up my PLD coverage. I have taken quite the effort to play the job as well as I can, and optimizing it for every different situation even if I don't have the best end-game PLD gear yet. Time can only bring improvement and I'm looking forward to spending a lot of that time tweaking my tank style.
I'm so mad at myself... for not leveling a tank job sooner! This might just extend my FFXI life a whole lot more. I'm a n00bie PLD that didn't have to endure the hardships before it got super-buffed, but, boy, am I glad I took on the role after it got suped up, with uber updates to the job. What f u n!!! I've had my PLD 75 for not even a month yet, and I've already tanked quite a few fun and challenging HNMs and grown into the job so comfortably! 
Which brings me to another point. How can PLDs die?? Haha... ok let's deflate my dome a little bit. I guess PLDs that just go thru the motions will be brought down with the quickness. But in all the events I've tanked so far within the first month I've even had PLD, I can count the number of times I've died on one hand. Well, pair this with the fact that Dawn's healers are on top of their games. But, really, the job is just so damn [Incredibly tough] that you'd have to really try, in order to die. Anyways, on to some fun this week.
Tanking Proto-Ultima... 2 updates ago, I wrote an entry about the -Magic DMG taken% and MDB gear I have set up for occasions such as tanking this Bio-Weapon. I was surprised at the results. Well, not really surprised, but I was actually able to reach the cap for the damage that Citadel Buster (countdown devestation move) does to my PLD. Below I have 3 different CB scenarios.
▪ The first of the Citadel Busters that I recorded, I have no additional Magic Defense buff (lol I thought Saline Coat was AoE):
▪ Second CB, I am able to receive Shining Ruby (Carby Bloodpact) for a 10% increase in Physical and Magic Defense:
▪ The last CB that I ate to the face, my Rampart does nothing to lessen the DMG I take:
to reach DMG taken -% cap (w/ Shell5), so B.Q. Ring replaces 1 Coral ring
Unfortunately, after dying mid-fight due to Terrorize and a coupld of crits by Ultima, I came back without a Shell 5 buff, so the 1083 cap DMG I took from Citadel Buster was all under my measly lil' Shell 3. The results are still pretty satisfying for me. Only 1 death due to an unfortunate Terrorize round whereas my poor veteran PLD homie Trixter lost 7000 exp (ya I'm talking shit on you). Sorry mang, I told you I ain't just messing around here! This past week Proto-Ultima wasn't all the fun to be had, either! Buncha Limbus/Dynamis on PLD and some long-awaited, fun Sea and Sky adventures!
So, with a brank-spankin' new tiger pantsu under my belt, I took my WAR for a spin in some Nyzul Assault (only 1 drop this week, an Askar Gambieras that went to waste) and a meripo where I let a Japanese RDM72 and his RNG72 buddy leech for some 20k+/hr EXPz. 2 BRDs ftw. Was able to get 2 upgrades in Rampart recast. So far have Sentinel recast maxed, Guardian @2, Chivalry maxed, and still debating on more Guardian or a Fealty (probably Fealty..)
PLUR 4ever! Don't stop the rave
I volunteered to organize this Saturday LS event (mainly 'coz I wanted some new PLD fun, but it turned out to be pretty fun setting up LS events..), and it was quite the successful Jormungand battle, which was already a departure from our normal Saturday sky/sea/KS/Ouryu etc. farming events. Actually, it was, personally, only my third Jormungand ever! Maybe it was just because I was in the front lines tanking, but it seemed to be a very quick fight compared to our last bouts against the mountain's ice-cold guardian. I remember around the time I quit playing, 3 ½ years ago, that was when CoP was fresh and these HNMs had just been introduced, and I never was able to participate in the first battles versus the grand Promathia dragons. Nevertheless, I've done my research and was confident that I had what it takes to get the job done! What better way to break in my brand-spankin'-new, baby PLD than to throw myself into a Wyrm's dinnerplate! 
(Granted...), this is probably the easiest Wyrm in FFXI, but it is still a learning experience, nonetheless. And it was these kinda fights that I was really looking forward to as I lvl'ed my Paladin. Recycling the best DRK gear I had into premium PLD/NIN equipment was a major plus and gave me an edge in entering the world of Final Fantasy XI Paladin. I believe the fight lasted no more than 1 ½ hrs., which seemed pretty short compared to the past two encounters I've had this year vs. Jorm on my Samurai. We did have a couple more Summoners than the last Jormungand fights, which more than likely almost doubled our killing speed.
It was very encouraging to be able to tank the Wyrm for most of the duration of the battle; probably a good 70/30% split of enmity between Jay's PLD and me. I made an extra effort to glue the beast onto me, as MP was maintained well and I spammed my self-Cure, moreso than any enmity-generating tactics my co-tank could perform, along with the properly-timed spread-out JAs. Though in an easy fight such as Jormungand, this enmity-hogging doesn't pose a threat, I could see how not cooperating with your co-tank could lead to some serious problems in some of the more difficult fights. Hell, this is a already a given, from Subjob-Ninja 101... Anyway, the drops weren't so great. Just a few Molybdenum Ores (did we get a M. Pole???), but the fun times and new job experiences more than made up for our shitty Dawn-dorpz luck!
Walking away from my first LS event as PLD, I could say it was a pretty successful learning experience for me. Being my first front-line wyrm experience, I could really use some practice positioning these gigantic things when they get up in the air. The only thing I wasn't prepared for at the fight was the take-off period, in which wyrms will spam magical attacks at you while they are in-flight. To counter this damage, I just saved Rampart during the wyrm's flights as I really didn't need it as a last-resort hate tool during the fight at all. Even without specialized Magic Defense gear, I was still quite surprised at Rampart's effect versus the wyrm:
This week, however, I was able to work on my Magic Defense build a little bit more and made an equip-change macro for such occasions where I'd need it. Preparing for our next Proto-Ultima, I geared myself for maximum Magic Damage Reduction to counter her devastating Citadel Buster.This set-up offers me exactly 25% Magic damage taken reduction, in addition to 6 raw Magic Defense Bonus and a total HP of 1564 (PLD/NIN).. With a once-merited, Shellrva V (unlocked only), I'm at the Magic damage taken -% cap already, so I could see some improvement in this set-up with more Magic Defense Bonus traits and/or more total HP.
Another fun incident during Jorm that I was pretty amped about was Shadow Mantle processing on an Utsusemi: Ichi cast! Yeah, my gimp ass doesn't have Boxer's Mantle yet for a Shield skill+ build, so I macro in Shadow Mantle during Ichi casts on PLD/NIN (full time this thing on PLD/WAR). Too bad I didn't SS it though!
I used to think macro-ing in Loquacious Earring for Utsusemi on my melee jobs was a bit over the top, but now with PLD, I don't think it's too much at all. My specific Utsusmi: Ichi casting macro for PLD is looking like this:
Maybe if I were in a position with two Bards in a tank PT with dual Ballad and dual Marches running at once, I could opt for Gallant Leggings full-time for +10 Shield skill, instead of the Homam (most PLD probably substitute the Wal-Mart Turban for a high-enmity piece, such as Aegishjalmr or Bahamut's Mask, but since I have neither of these, a Shield+ piece in place wouldn't be out of the question). If only PLDs were able to have as much EQ-swapping freedom as normal DD's... but the consistent maintenance that a healer-role is responsible for wouldn't bide well with a constant blinking tank. As it stands, the only visible (blinking) EQ-swaps I have are for my Magic Defense set, which in most cases won't call for heals or status ailment spells much to begin with.
Guess that about does it for the recap of my first real HNM PLD experience... hopefully there will be plenty more to come!! I'll try not to neglect my other dedicated jobs as much either, but I'm just havin too much damn fun!
Finally! Paladin lv. 75! Didn't take too long to grind and it was sure hella fun to do! And the fun's just starting. I am feeling really ambitious about my new job, and really can't wait to take on all the fun events with PLD. I should've lvled a tank job sooner! Even though I've always been meaning to. Having played many DD jobs already and Red Mage, I feel there's much experience I can bring to the round table of Paladin. Even my DD roots are apparent in my PLD:
Probably the highest Vorpal Blade I'll ever see. Outside of meripo instances I don't see how any of my sword weapon skills will ever reach that level again, and it's not like I'll be meriting on PLD any more. It was a lot of fun to push the PLD DD threshold during the final stretch of my stint to lv. 75. Parsing along the lines of an average-above average merit-style WAR/NIN using a job known for its weak damage output was pretty fun. With the grind out of the way, I can focus on becoming a real Paladin.
Unlike a DD job where you can take it out for a merit PT to test its potential and tweak the way you play the job, I'm stuck looking for things to tank. We have so many people with multiple versatile jobs in Dawn that I really hope my PLD will get his oppurtunity to shine. Shortly after attaining 75, craving some blood, I went out Campaigning in search for some action. Initially I went PLD/NIN because I'm pretty well geared for that set-up already, so am pretty favored toward it. I don't have much on the PLD/WAR side of things, aside from a Shadow Mantle and some hax Galka HP and VIT. Anyway, since it's a new day and age in tanking, we probably won't see much blood-tanking occur too much anymore; I figure it's best to start practicing the art of PLD/NIN!
So I fixed myself a self-Cure3 macro and went out hunting big game. Found some pretty exciting Campaign battles the first night on PLD. I soon realized regular mobs are a waste to try to shadow tank and bosses, as fun and entertaining as they may be to tank, really deplete your resources without real support. Some fights I was lucky to find competant mages to Haste me and help Cure me, but those types of players are really hard to come by in Campaign. I could rant on and on about Campaign, but I'll save that for another day. I found myself in a pretty crazy battle in Jugner (S) that night with one that seemed to last an eternity. Since I was sitting on Credit Ops for a while already, I kept spamming the battle-related Campaign Ops for some big points. I had kept failing Aegis Scream III, an Op where you had to participate in 5 battles defending your nation's territories or a battle with at least 5 waves of enemy advancements, but eventually after one long fight I was able to complete it. Paladin is really an ideal job for Campaign, since all you are able to fulfill so much of the criteria for performing well by taking constant damage, dealing out a considerable amount, and Curing as much as you can.
Anyway, after some fun it was back to business again. Having gotten lv. 75 so fast my Shield skill was significantly low. It was only 209 by the time I finished leveling PLD. Being one of the most important aspects of PLD tanking, I determined it was best to cap this combat skill ASAP. Referring back to some threads on KI and BG about Parry skill-up, I took my Taru slave out to Boyahda for some massive skill-ups. In a very short amount of time (probably about three hours total within just two sessions), I was able to reach from 209 to about 262!! Wow I wish Parrying was this easy to skill. Trixter the dinosaur PLD gave me shit about it because he had to cap his during the old-fashioned pre-Shield buff days. Didn't help that he didn't have a secondary RDM account to keep him alive, either. :p There are so many possibilities when you have a dual-box RDM at your disposal!My third Shield skill-up session took me into the dark depths of the Den of Rancor (actually the ideal camp is right there near the entrance). Another couple of hours here allowed me to cap my Shield at 276. The screenshot shows 274 only because I forgot to take one at 276. :( Progress was a little slower since I played it safe and only had 2 Pucks beating on me this time, whereas I was able to support myself with 3 in Boyahda Tree. I was also able to get 1-2 points of Parrying while at it as well. I'm only 3-4 points shy of capping Parry on PLD, but once I have some free time I'll take my Samurai out for real Parrying skill-up sessions.
Looking into some situational set-ups for my PLD, I found a nice little cape that not only isn't a bad substitute for Cerberus Mantle or Valor Cape, but has a great Magic damage taken -5% on it. I have a few ideas already on some magic resist gear, including the easily obtainable Iron Ram Lance that I have more than enough Allied Notes to spend on. I can't wait for the next Proto-Ultima to roll around to see how well I manage against Citadel Buster. Anyway, this cape drops from a 21 hour on-the-dot Tonberry NM. I had no idea what the ToD was so I just turned on Timestamp and sat my AFK ass in Yhoatar Jungle while I was out for the day. Incredibly, a few minutes after coming home the NM popped right in front of me. Going 1/1 on the drop and putting in minimal effort, I was pretty lucky. P.S. Koki did it.
