Pondering armor... (FFXI)

[thistlechaser]

I almost never post about armor, but there's a first time for everything! COR will hit 72 in a day or two, which means I can go and pick up my Pahluwan pieces... if I still want them.

When COR was in a static and each level took weeks to get through, things were different. Small increases in stats would be more noticeable and more important. Now, when I get through levels in a couple of days, I'm thinking my year-old plan needs to change. :/

There are two pieces up for debate, body and legs.

Body:

Corsair's Frac DEF 42 HP +15, DEX +2, AGI +2 Racc +8

Pahluwan Khazagand DEF: 42, HP +20, Acc +10 Racc +10 Critical hit+

Defense is the same, HP is close enough to the same, DEX isn't important. I wouldn't turn my nose up at the crit hit+.
Important things: +2 difference in racc, but AF has +2 agi which makes up some of the difference.

Pants:

Akinji Salvars DEF: 30, HP -12, racc +3 Ratt +4 Eva +4

Pahluwan Seraweels DEF: 36, STR +3, Acc +4 Racc +4

A little difference in DEF, a difference in HP. Evasion is really nice, ratt is even nicer (I get so little ratt as a COR). ACC on the Seraweels would be nice but I really have too much acc now (likely going to switch my snipers out for str rings, which also covers the +str on the Seraweels).

Two other big parts of this:
1) I love my AF to pieces. I could (and should) switch out my AF hat for my o-hat (+acc and +eva in addition to the +racc), but I don't because I love my hat so much.
2) I'll be done with COR within two weeks. Once I hit 75, I likely won't do much on it and can store my AF (as much as it pains me to think about that!). The Pahluwan pieces are rare/ex -- I couldn't even mule them away.

So what should I do!

[Poll #1144433]

[Poll #1144432]

Comments

[naikitty.livejournal.com]

The Pahluwan bodypiece would probably be better 'cause it's more HP, RACC, and added Crit up rate, yes? As for pants... I'd say try both? If you don't have the pahluwan pants, the akinji's probably better anyway, since I dunno ranged WS damage modifiers. :x

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I don't have either pahluwan piece yet, I'd be picking them up just for COR. Thing is, after two weeks (or however long it takes me to finish COR) how often will I use them? I'll be meriting on RDM, so... :/ If only you could mule the assault armor bits!

[iniadelphinae.livejournal.com]

RDM can use the Paluhwan set, and it's decent for melee. With capped sword skill, you won't need the ACC in Campaign, but more crit hits never hurts.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Hm, true. Good point...

[tacrozar.livejournal.com]

Racc for the body should trump the AF.
Str for the legs should trump the AF.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Yeah, STR is good, though as said below I could get it from elsewhere and ratt is harder to get. *pokes at stats more* Well, at least in two weeks I'll be done with COR and it won't matter! :P

[veri-of-remora.livejournal.com]

You said it yourself, you're not going to use COR much after you get it to 75 so why get two pieces of gear that you can't store unless you find use for it elsewhere?

The differences in the head pieces are so minute and if those differences make or break your COR... well then you have bigger issues to address.

Pants-wise, I guess I'm the only one who voted for the Akinji pants. Ranged accuracy becomes moot at a certain point... so you're basically looking at 4 ranged attack vs 3 STR. You can find STR in slots alot easier than you can ranged attack.

At this point, I'd say the stats are almost so close (on all items) that you might as well choose what's most convenient for you in the long run and what makes you comfortable from a personal preference standpoint.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

That's what I'm thinking. I've always been a form < function person when it comes to armor, but I love COR AF so much and really, in Campaign what's it matter? I could go naked if I really wanted to. In a party, especially a LS static as I had been in, I would have wanted the best, but Campaign makes it all pointless.

The storage thing is the big point though. I'd have to mule off the Akinji pants, but that's not a big deal. The other two pieces I'd be stuck with forever and ever. :/

Thanks!

[tacrozar.livejournal.com]

Hmm... i must have missed reading that you won't bother using it too much.
In that case... COR AF ONRY! I seriously regret getting both p.body and p.legs for a job i rarely use. =[

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I have tons of AP points, but my wondering was over if short-term use was worth it for storing it. The stats are kind of close -- if the difference was big it would be more worth it. :/