Any Good Non-Magian Swords For BLU Out There?

I would like to get Almace and I will eventually. I guess for what I am reading I should stick with Isador for the time being. Maybe focus a little bit more on improving gear which is another issue because I don't do nyzul climbs, salvage or anything else. I might have to figure out how to jump on one of those shouts.

For now, I'll just try to finish the mavi +2 set and live with that for a while. Get epona's ring also.

Thanks for the advice guys..

If you tp in that full set, then even the best weapons in the game won't help you from being horrible.
I don't know if you use spellcast or windower scripts. If you don't use either, then the biggest upgrade you could make to your character would be learning how to use spellcast. That would be a bigger increase than any amount of gear.

I don't use neither of those. Just the game as it is.

I know I have to get better TP gear, actually better EVERYTHING gear lol. I would love to get Thaumas or even Ocelomeh (although I hate the 'feathery' look), but I can't afford it right now.

The question I have is, do you want to learn spellcast/scripts or even use windower?

Scripts are pretty easy to start with but if there is no interest in using on moral grounds or some other reason then I won't waste your time.

Before Spellcast I used 2-3 macros for BLU spells and WS. The decision of how well you portray a job is yours to make.

Easy upgrades to your TP Set (Assuming what's on your profile is TP set):
Rancor Collar (300k~ on your server)
Jupiter's Ring (Free from An Acrididaen Anodyne Aby Quest, I'll assume Epona is a work in progress)
Dusk Gloves +1 (400k~ on your server)
Dusk Ledelsens +1 (600k~ on your server)

Gives you capped haste and much more useful stats to TP in all for the low cost of 1.3 million. Now maybe you think 1.3 million is a lot of gil, if so I'll kindly point you to Dynamis, in 2-4 hours (technically 1-2 days) depending on skill/gear you'd make more than that.

I have never consider it to be honest and I really don't know the pros/cons of it. But I am usually against anything that takes away the original state of the game or anything for that matter. Something as simple as jaibreaking my Iphone or PSP. This is not because I am the best person in the world lol, but more about leaving things as they were intended.

All that being said, I wouldn't mind learning about it. Not sure how much use I could give to it under my current playing circumstances also..

Instead of spellcast you could also use windower scripts. I haven't tried spellcast yet mostly because I don't feel like learning XML writing. But windower scripts is a great middle ground between the terrible in-game macro system, and the automated spellcast program.

Lol not all those "if you don't use windower/spellcast you suck" comment again.

It is fact that spellcast/windower users will be ahead of none 3rd pt tool users, and nearly impossible to beat if both have same gear/skill. But not using it is not gimp to a point to be extremely behind and unable to beat any content. Plenty of great solo vid still done without them, and I'm often more amazed by those vid without windower than those with windower. Although it certainly require more effort,attention to detail and smart macro organization to play without it.

I don't use spellcast/windower, and I have to admit it's harder to deal dmg very well without it, especially when I often compete with heavy SC users. I often have to swap gear mid WS animation, and often have to worry about doing it too slow. I have to echo my JA recast for every WS macro, and count JA recast in my mind while paying attention to current TP and WS tempo. On top of paying attention to current buff/day/weather for appropriate gear swap. It's also much easier to make mistake when everything is manual, compare with everything scripted. It's also harder to macro in "idle" set when you go idle without 3rd pt tool, that apply to defensive set too.

Pros/cons? Cons is that I'm often 1 or 2 JA/WS behind SC users after 20~30 min of fight. That means if SC users do 47 WS total, I often ended up 46 WS total etc. And it's sometimes a bit frustrating to pay attention to so many things at once without script, and worry about WS/JA 0.5 sec too slow every single sec. Also if I take a break or not doing same event for a while, I noticed large performance decrease due to not getting used to the tempo of clicking macro and popping every JA/WS again

Pros? 1. You will have 0% chance of getting hacked/banned by SE without it, nor need to worry about it. Some ppl may tell you that you will never get hacked/banned with it and he've been using it for years and never have problem. But my personality is that I'd be worry about it even if the chance is 0.0000001%. I don't want to worry about someone hack into windower.net and put a Trojan in it all day long. I don't use my FFXI PC for web browsing or any download either, that way I don't have to worry about dealing with any of those problem.

2. The satisfaction when manual play really pulled off perfectly, or close to perfect. If SC user WS for 47 times, I also WS 47 times, that means I'm close to perfect execution. If I happened to survive a dangerous situation with fast defensive set swap, when I thought I'm supposed to die, that also felt pretty good. It is also a test for problem solving skill, try to find ways to make up the difference between manual and script. When every JA/gear swap is scripted, you play the job perfect(literally), and it's a challenge to get close to perfection with manual/legit IMO.

If you want to be elite, then use it, you will see performance improve for sure, and I'm not going to tell you that you can play the job better than ppl who script everything. Compare with those ppl who scripted everything, you will feel gimp a lot of times. If you don't want to cross the line, then don't, and nothing to feel ashamed about playing the game legit, there are certainly something I've gained while trying to play without 3rd pt tool, but it's not for everyone, especially if you aim to be the best. You have to be super stubborn and masochists to get through it, so the choice is entirely up to you.

The difference between your average non-windower user and the average spellcast user is going to be stark. Spellcast isn't directly responsible for the entire gap, but it is responsible for a good deal of it.

It really is a dramatic increase over the pathetic performance and utility of standard pol macros.

I agree that majority of none windower user performance is pretty bad, but I'm going to argue that 95% of none windower users don't use windower because they simply don't care about their output and performance, majority of player that care about output/performance would use spellcast. For none windower users to close the gap it requires a lot of attention, focus and practice and even modify macro before heading out to event(that means more time spent on job change) Also not everyone is 100% focused that much everytime. I pretty much only focus that much for macro management when ally is parsing ._______.


I've thought about using 3rd pt tool many times too, but for me is all or nothing. If I'm crossing the line, I'm crossing it all the way to the end for best result, instead of settle with the middle ground.

That's what I was saying :3

@Afania - Thanks for the imput. You and I have a very similar way of thinking.

Just the fact that by using a 3rd party tool I open the possibility of being hacked, even if it is minimal, I won't do it. I can't care less about being the best/elite or doing more damage than others. That's not why I play the game. And if this disqualify me to do stuff in game so be it..

We have gone a little off topic here, but besides gear upgrades I don;t see myself trying anything else, even if it makes the game easier or makes you a badass..

Fortunately, SE has planned for only that possibility, and there's nothing wrong with it.

Well, there are still a lot of ways to improve macro management without spellcast, just need to put some more problem solving skill and effort into it, if you want the satisfaction that comes with it.

http://nicoviewer.net/sm16003922

This is one of the earliest shinryu solo vid(I know that shinryu solo is nothing special nowadays, but at that time I don't think there's any). I was inspired by this video a lot when it was out, but not just because he soloed shinryu, but also because he do everything manual. He go into idle/nuke/cure/check recast/buff /fastcast manually for entire duration of vid, which is somewhat long(that means he focused this much without making major mistake, not just 3~5 min fight). I'd probably be 50% less impressed by this video if every gear swap he did was scripted and recast already showing on screen. Of course you can argue that it's just doing more work when another tool can do the same and better, but it feels pretty good when you solve the problem with what you have and how game was designed to be played.

While i agree with you that soloes are a bigger accomplishment when done with less aid, its also some what pointless. If you have access to and are willing to use windower scripts then the only reason to not use them is artificial challenge. You could also do this by other means like level restriction.

Why fight harder when you can fight smarter? I know I wasn't having fun hitting 4-5 macros for every action I wanted to do (swap in gear, ja/ws/spell, melee gear). This game is much more fun when you can use the gear you've accumulated without having to smash your keyboard.

When I first started this game, I knew nothing of windower. I just knew that it was illegal, but once I did more squad stuff, I eventually learned that windower, while illegal, is also socially acceptable.

I have a very slow reaction time. When I say slow, I mean REALLY slow. I actually shouldn't be playing SCH, which can be considered a job that requires a fast brain and fast fingers. I was told more details about the "mandragora program" and used it along with a few plugins, and eventually spellcast, but that was mostly for leveling up magic skills because I wasn't proficient in XML.

Got a few pointers about XML, then edited existing XML's to my liking, and it's made my life 25% easier. I'm even starting to delve into more advanced stuff with it. Just takes time and patience to learn, but it's worth it in the end.

As for getting hacked, if anyone REALLY wanted to hack you, they would--you can get hacked just reading ***on the front of Facebook, ijs.

I think it's odd that you believe you're more likely to get hacked using any of the commonplace third party programs than if you're not.

As far as I know, one of the last major "security breaches" was the Linkshell Community. Hell, someone could use this website to hack you. If somebody wants your account that badly, they're going to get it.

That aside, your concern for overwhelming statistical anomalies is probably a lot more isolated than you think- or need I remind you that you introduce billions of additional risks into your everyday life by choosing to leave your home at any given moment?

That is the fundamental difference between majority(not all) of JP and NA culture I guess, and again, depend on ppl.

Personally I don't find what's fun about having everything done automatically when the game isn't designed that way either...gear is something if you can get, then you can get it, and little can do if you don't have besides more grind. Setting up strat/which set to use is the thinking phrase, which I have fun with. So the next phrase is execution. I can argue that 90% of action game/fighting games are nothing but smashing your keyboard too, and nothing fun about smashing your keyboard. I can argue that I should just program every move in a fighting game and play rock paper scissor with my opponent, instead of having to execute them myself, but why when we see a perfect combo, or tetris being played perfectly we go "OOOOO".

Also, lv restriction is different topic when compare with script macro execution. You can say they're both artificial restriction, but they're completely different aspect, it doesn't involve 3rd pt tool using. If spellcast is a build in function in FFXI, and you choose not to use it because you want to test yourself, then yes I will agree that you're just gimping yourself and gains no real benefit by doing so, much like lv restriction. But when it involve 3rd pt tool using and breaking user agreement with SE, and put you under a risk of losing account, then it's entirely different issue.

Reverse-engineering is against the user agreement. Utilizing most of what you know about this game is effectually a violation.

That I already know ;) My FFXI PC doesn't use facebook read mail etc. And I don't use linkshell community. I do use SE forum though, and well aware that there are also risks when opening any web page.

Of course I'm not saying the chance is 0% even being super careful. I've heard rumors that PS2 player got hacked cuz SE leaked password info, and it's still possible to just attack the ISP I think? But getting hacked or not, not just XI, but every account, has something to do with the amount of risk you do. Ppl that reads face book, download anime, torrent movies, visit forums have higher risk than ppl not doing those.

Again, just do it if you're not worry about it. I never stop anyone from using 3rd pt tool, in fact even encourage them cuz I know the difference very well, and often got parse data for comparison, and well aware that I'd probably be safe even if I cross the line, just feel annoyed when 3rd pt tool users just have to say "gimping on purpose if you don't use or play on console", when 3rd pt tool isn't a built in function and no approval from SE.

I don't read this(and many other) website on FFXI PC. And yes if someone want the account that badly, they can still get it. But it's the cost effort thing. If I'm going to steal account and sell items, I'm not going to spend that much effort to steal 1 single person(and not a very rich player), I'm going to target easiest target and use easiest/fastest method, place trojan on website and get more targets at once. If I'm going to spend that much effort to steal an account, he/she better have 999M for me to sell.


And you don't need to give me lecture about going out taking risks etc. You can use math and analyze that using 3rd pt tool is well worth the risk because performance increase is a lot, and risk is very low. But it has something to do with wanting peaceful state of mind. I set up my own rule to follow when it comes to protecting my account, and not just for FFXI too, to reduce the risk of losing account as much as possible. Not setting up strict rules to follow is often the main reason why ppl got hacked. I never say I'll be safe forever, but at least I'm happier that way, that's enough.



Now this topic will never end!

So after just 3 NMs into the Almace 'pursuit' I can say without hesitation that I HATE this damn lottery spawn/PH ***more than ever. Damn Drooling Daisy didn't want to pop for 4 hrs last night and today before I came to work it did on the first kill of the PH. WTF

After trolling a little bit there, would it be wise to create a mule and start collecting helms and skins?

That way of thinking is HELP I AM TRAPPED IN 2006 PLEASE SEND A TIME MACHINE. Do you also not drive a car? Because your chances of getting in a car wreck are astronomically higher than your chances of getting hacked.

Do you sterilize your house every day to avoid getting a deadly virus? The odds are minimal but why take the chance?!

You could get hacked just for registering a username with this forum. Chances are about the same as using Windower.

At least be honest. Don't make up a *** excuse like "oh there's a chance I could get hacked/banned."

As in to cure you while you tank or while it tanks and you cure? Ya that helps.

Only cockblock was 200x Flans, did them in 2 firedays, rest are easy whiskers :) And you get a few geodes on those days too :)

As for NM camping, just do 1x NM when you log on, and 1x NM when you log out if you can, makes it less painful and you do something else of your playtime if it's longer ^^

One would think someone who is this adamant about not getting hacked would just shut up and get a security token.

i feel your pain! Daisy was the worse lottery nm for me. all the rest were pretty generous.
Something like this helps if you dont have too much time to play. I usually just did other stuff til i had an off day & just spammed the stupid lottery spawns then. Doing it that way is probably why i have long breaks in between making a new empy though..lol

Here's a list of some swords that aren't game changers but work.
(no particular order, just the one's that i've owned/used before I completed my trials)

Mageblade
Isador
Killer's Kilij
Beast Slayer (old 75cap days this was cool)
Firmament (augment)
Go to abyssea with as many open slots as possible, buy as many firmaments you can fit with Dom Ops points. go back to jeuno, pick the best 2 augments you have, & NPC the rest for decent gil.

As for trials I chose Almace & Khanda (Double attack) for DD set.
I have on me at all times an Earth Sword & genbu shield for my PDT-50% set, as well as a water sword for some MDB+. I like the earth & water as options for when I solo/tank NMs depending on the situation. Oh the earth sword & genbu shield are excellent for your kite phase of a CW burn, helps you gain the PDT-50% to keep stoneskin up longer.

Someday I'll build the fire & probably thunder & wind swords for fun. For now though the Khanda & Almace are sufficient. I do tend collect swords because I choose to mainline BLU, PLD, & RDM exclusively, so my gear overlaps 3 jobs.
I haven't scored any VwNM swords yet so i have no opinion on them.

The Khanda double attack sword may be a decent trial for you, its strictly kills, no weather, no BS. you should be able to breeze through it at your leizure, until the NMs, but they're easy enough. I chose double attack because it can mod the Almace's CdC, & I really hate the delay on the OAT Khanda.

My 2 cents, take it or don't :)