Emgro
Oct 30, 2006, 03:09 PM
Since launch, I've gotten my main character, a Female Newmann, up to lvl 27, and job level 5 in both Force and Hunter. Over that period of time, I've found myself doing a number of things that make many people go "huh?" and "why?". So without further ado, here's why I do what I do.
FORCE:
At this point in the game, Forces are somewhat screwed. We get 12 of our 36 or so spells, which is only a third of what we are supposed to have. That's the equivalent of giving rangers access to only single handguns, shotguns, and rifles, or hunters only double daggers, single sabre, and spears. We don't have our buffs, and our AoEs aren't levelling up properly to give us extra hits at Ra-spell skill 11 (at least in my experience and that of the other forces I've asked). Our Technics level up far slower than Bullets or Photon Arts, and are harder to aim.
But we are only somewhat screwed. A good Force with a decent staff and leveled technics can do solid damage close to a hunter (and better than most rangers), take little to no damage, and still heal. The key to solid damage with a force is multiple weapons with lots of PP. I suggest four if you use a mix of staffs and wands, maybe as many as six if you only use wands. Don't sell or throw away any weapons until you have a full palette.
Another important part of damage is keeping techs leveled. Pick two elements for damage, one from either ice/fire, the other from either earth/lightning. Why? I have fire and earth. Even if my fire is slightly lower level, it is still much more effective against ice (fire gets bonus) or earth (earth gets penalty) enemies. The same applies to getting light or dark when they are added. Why not get all of them? You can only know so many PAs, and level even less unless you grind a lot. Futhermore, they are expensive at low levels.
Learn Resta and Reverser. Resta needs no explanation, Reverser is 1000 messies and only costs 8 PP to cast. Curing a poison or burn effect saves you a resta later, and having both on a weapon gives you a bonus 4% to your Resta power (I'm not entirely sure about this, but buy reverser anyway). Don't overheal; you are on missions to tag enemies and get as much XP and loot as everyone else. If people are dumb, get hurt far away from you, and don't buy mates, their death is their fault. I don't let people die, but I don't hover behind them with a Resta wand either. Nobody expects Hunters and Rangers to give up XP, you shouldn't either.
Wands vs. Staffs. I like Staffs most of the time, they are a bit slower but tend to be more powerful and hold lots of PP. In the end, I use both. Wands for tagging and leveling Technics, Staffs for long haul damage output and healing.
Armor. When you get enough cash, maybe around lvl 10-15, upgrade your armor to something with a mind slot. Go to Neudaiz and buy the TP +32 or so unit for 1500 messies. It's very nice to have. I've gone the last 12 levels on 2-star armor, and lived. Yeah, I'd like better armor. No, I didn't think it was important when running in groups with 5 hunters who formed a solid wall of knockback PAs. Your experience will be different, adjust priorities accordingly.
PMs. The bowling ball in your room. Learn to synth, learn to synth grinders, and learn to synth low level ingredients into higher level ones. Read that several times, learn those things, and save several thousand meseta by level 20. I wish someone had told me that before. Also learn to buy things from player shops. All that money you save using your PM is going to be spent on your PM. Have fun feeding him several thousand wands and staffs to get his mind up.
FORCE:
At this point in the game, Forces are somewhat screwed. We get 12 of our 36 or so spells, which is only a third of what we are supposed to have. That's the equivalent of giving rangers access to only single handguns, shotguns, and rifles, or hunters only double daggers, single sabre, and spears. We don't have our buffs, and our AoEs aren't levelling up properly to give us extra hits at Ra-spell skill 11 (at least in my experience and that of the other forces I've asked). Our Technics level up far slower than Bullets or Photon Arts, and are harder to aim.
But we are only somewhat screwed. A good Force with a decent staff and leveled technics can do solid damage close to a hunter (and better than most rangers), take little to no damage, and still heal. The key to solid damage with a force is multiple weapons with lots of PP. I suggest four if you use a mix of staffs and wands, maybe as many as six if you only use wands. Don't sell or throw away any weapons until you have a full palette.
Another important part of damage is keeping techs leveled. Pick two elements for damage, one from either ice/fire, the other from either earth/lightning. Why? I have fire and earth. Even if my fire is slightly lower level, it is still much more effective against ice (fire gets bonus) or earth (earth gets penalty) enemies. The same applies to getting light or dark when they are added. Why not get all of them? You can only know so many PAs, and level even less unless you grind a lot. Futhermore, they are expensive at low levels.
Learn Resta and Reverser. Resta needs no explanation, Reverser is 1000 messies and only costs 8 PP to cast. Curing a poison or burn effect saves you a resta later, and having both on a weapon gives you a bonus 4% to your Resta power (I'm not entirely sure about this, but buy reverser anyway). Don't overheal; you are on missions to tag enemies and get as much XP and loot as everyone else. If people are dumb, get hurt far away from you, and don't buy mates, their death is their fault. I don't let people die, but I don't hover behind them with a Resta wand either. Nobody expects Hunters and Rangers to give up XP, you shouldn't either.
Wands vs. Staffs. I like Staffs most of the time, they are a bit slower but tend to be more powerful and hold lots of PP. In the end, I use both. Wands for tagging and leveling Technics, Staffs for long haul damage output and healing.
Armor. When you get enough cash, maybe around lvl 10-15, upgrade your armor to something with a mind slot. Go to Neudaiz and buy the TP +32 or so unit for 1500 messies. It's very nice to have. I've gone the last 12 levels on 2-star armor, and lived. Yeah, I'd like better armor. No, I didn't think it was important when running in groups with 5 hunters who formed a solid wall of knockback PAs. Your experience will be different, adjust priorities accordingly.
PMs. The bowling ball in your room. Learn to synth, learn to synth grinders, and learn to synth low level ingredients into higher level ones. Read that several times, learn those things, and save several thousand meseta by level 20. I wish someone had told me that before. Also learn to buy things from player shops. All that money you save using your PM is going to be spent on your PM. Have fun feeding him several thousand wands and staffs to get his mind up.