Close should count in horseshoes, hand grenades, and ToAU missions. (FFXI)

[thistlechaser]

So. Damned. Close.

Our best attempt at ToAU 44: Alex down to 2% and we timed out. 2%! So close! Arg!

At least we know we can do it with this group. :}

I know a few people were curious about our fight since they need to do it, so I'll pass along: Darkday seems to be a highly bad day to do it on. With our first wacky party setup (WHM, WHM, RDM, COR, MNK, THF) we had walked all over the BLU. Our better party (PLD, WHM, COR, MNK, THF, DRK) wiped to the BLU three times (first form twice, second once) all on Darkday. Once the day changed, it was better.

I brought in 40 hi pots, two full tanks, and walked out with none. (Though I did share a lot of them.) Must bring more next time.

Personal high point of the fight for me: Keeping the darned Immortal asleep for nearly 10 minutes straight. Hope you enjoyed having your ass owned by a Corsair, stupid Immortal! Light Shot after Light Shot, no resists!

Next time! But arg, So Darned Close! Arg!

Comments

[veloxe.livejournal.com]

Achi was telling me about this while we were on vent. Apparently the BLU was being unexpected evil tonight, oh well, he must of heard you were prepared and decided to eat food or something...hacks NPCs I tell you!

Also, we've come close to beating him and run out of time (like 10%) but 2%!?! That's in the realm of like: "Damn if I had spent the 300k for that extra 1 STR we would have won!!" of gear almost o.O

[achika-soladia.livejournal.com]

I do have some opinions on what could be changed to speed up the fight a little. => It just requires a little convincing on my part.

What I was thinking was that maybe I could con a RDM into repping me, and have you go DRK instead. No offense, but I think the RDM's Refresh would be better than Evoker's Roll, plus he could backup heal if the WHM needs to rest.

If you think this would be a good idea, I can try to convince one of my RDMs to go with you. The RDM I have in mind might also help with damage mitigation on the PLD, having access to Phalanx II.

There's another thought I have going, but I'm debating with Vel on the usefulness of that idea. => So I won't post it yet.

[xvolph.livejournal.com]

RDM or some sort of backup healer would be good. Dano did a nice job, but I'm sure she would have benefited from having a hand.

[achika-soladia.livejournal.com]

Well my other thought was, and I don't know what Dano's options are, but I was wondering if /SCH might help in the event that I can't get a RDM.

Two charges of 50% MP reduction Cure Vs, Sublimation for a quick return of MP, faster casting and lower regular MP cost are what I'm seeing. /SCH wouldn't necessarily be as needed if there was a RDM there, because Refresh doesn't stack with Sublimation, but it's a thought I had this morning.

I'm hoping I'm not stepping on any toes here. =( If so, just smack me around.

[philia.livejournal.com]

I do have scholar, but right now it's at 25.... depending on when we're going, it wouldn't take too long for 37, or close enough. :3

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

I was thinking about this while getting ready for work this morning. I could come as RDM? I always say I can't because it's different than what I usually play, but I have done it in parties before and it's really not so bad. I'd have to buy a crapton of armor and stuff, but that's fine with me (I can resell it after).

I don't have Phalanx II yet (stupid me got Slow II, thinking I'd be just getting them all... then COR hit 75), however three merits are easy and I could get that before Thursday. (However, a real RDM with it fully merited would be better...)

An extra DRK would give more stun. Keeping a MNK in would help with the BLU more. A MNK would stay alive better than a DRK.

I don't know. :/

[achika-soladia.livejournal.com]

I'm surprisingly squishy, considering that I have all that HP, Enmity -4 head that also has Subtle Blow (Which I used in the last fight against the BLU), and a belt with physical damage reduction. D=

I'd say I'd MNK/DRK to help with Stun, but my DRK is 20. D= I could attempt to level it, but I'd run out of MP quick.

The RDM I have in mind has both Slow II and Phalanx II.

Don't forget that a RDM can help with nuking in the first form as well.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm not against coming on DRK! If your RDM friend is okay with coming, it's okay with me. (Who is it, by the way?)

[achika-soladia.livejournal.com]

His name is Ultimage. I'll talk to him tonight about it. =x

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Oh, I've seen his name around, but never talked to him or anything. Thanks!

If he's okay with it, see if he's okay with Thursday evenings?

[achika-soladia.livejournal.com]

Will do!

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Let him know I'll cover the cost of his meds as well? Don't tell him a figure, I don't know him so I'm not going to give him as much as you and Ten got, but he shouldn't have to lay money out to help us. :)

[veloxe.livejournal.com]

Ulti is so epic he doesn't need your silly meds!

Also, if for whatever reason you end up down a tank for this (RL can be crazy sometimes) if I'm not in a PT on my SAM I would be all for jumping on PLD to help. Just giving more options in the future.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Thank you! We should know by tonight if she's working on Thursday. :D

And too late! Gil has already been sent to him~

[iniadelphinae.livejournal.com]

This fight is just so absurd. I swear that whoever designed the (pre-nerf) U/O fight came up with this.

We're probably going again August 2, with PLD, WHM, BRD, RNG, WAR, BLM. I'm a little worried about BLM Sleep, but I'm hoping that Repose will be as effective as Light Shot.

Concerning WHM MP, it's going to be an issue no matter what. We've done our attempts with RDM+WHM and no meds, and both the WHM and I (on RDM) have run out of MP. If we're lucky, one of us has managed to get up to about 200 MP before the other one runs out.

I'll probably be WHM for the next attempt, which is extra incentive for me to finish my SCH sub (sitting at 24 right now). Sublimation works with Ballad, so that plus Light Arts should compensate quite well for the lack of Auto-Refresh.

While Phalanx II would be helpful (especially since we have a Taru PLD), it's one of those things that ends up not getting done after a while because MP is so tight. And that's with the extra MP a Taru PLD brings to the fight.

Also, distance tanking? Does this mean xvolph doesn't actually hit the mob? Just stands right out of range with an Earth Staff and does hate-tool rotation? I'm all for anything that reduces Alexander's TP gain.

[xvolph.livejournal.com]

Yes. Distance tanking is still effective with hate-tool rotation. If the tank is also trying to do melee damage, this means more damage taken, as well, and the tank takes enough damage just from a distance.

[achika-soladia.livejournal.com]

They never nerfed the U/O fight. XD

And I see my /SCH thought is reflected in this post too. =x

[iniadelphinae.livejournal.com]

You don't lose a gajillion exp getting through the fight; ergo, it has been nerfed :D

/SCH is something I've known for some time would be good for my WHM. An ls mate brought WHM/SCH to Sky farming, and I thought to myself, "Holy shit, self-Devotion!"