I helped my friend Chemo with ToAU (Aht Urghan) mission 44 and what struck me as odd was how efficient the fight went. This was the first Japanese mission fight I’ve done for ToAU, but I’ve joined other Japanese players for CoP (Promathia) and Zilart missions before. However, when I compare this fight to the many North American (NA) mission 44 fights I’ve done before, the Japanese players really know what to do and do it well.
The setup we had that morning (US time)/late evening (JP time) was RDM, WHM, BLM (Chemo), PLD/RDM, and MNK/NIN, and myself on BRD. We had only one death the entire time and that was when Alexander (the last ToAU mission boss) was at 4% HP.
Comparing this to the several NA fights I’ve done, we almost always wipe on the first phase of the fight versus the Blue Mage or get at least half the party dead before phase two. By phase three where we fight Alexander fully powered mode, NA players tend to be in one or more of the following:
- Wipe halfway after Astral Flow
- Time out at less than 10 to 15% HP
- Lose the tank, RDM, or WHM before 75% HP which leads to a wipe
- Lose the DD or tank before 50% HP which leads to a wipe
- Entire fight and towards the end have MP issues; lack of MP
During the entire time from beginning to end, with Chemo’s group and I being the only NA player, we had no issues on MP and no wipes before and during the fight. Phase one with the BLU went incredibly well, no wipes. Phase two doesn’t count since that’s Nashmeira’s brother controlling Alexander, so that form is ridiculously easy. By Phase three, the fight was smooth from start to finish having only lost Chemo (>_<) at 4% HP.
And, MP was never an issue. Why? The WHM was popping Mulsums the entire time, and on occasion, used Hi-Ethers. The PLD was alternating between Hi-Ethers and Hi-Potions. The MNK was using Hi-Potions and “au Laits” (HP regen drinks). And, my friend Chemo was using Hi-Ethers.
Then, I look back to the NA fights I did and I see no NA player using either potions or drinks. Of course, I didn’t have any Hi-Ethers on me, but usually I’m not in any MP issues with me switching between melee songs and Ballads.
They were simply much more efficient, and it would be great to see NA players do the same. It reminded me a lot of the JP Button Q&A that Elmer set up between NA and JP players where each side tossed questions at each other. And, the part where JP players mentioned how much more prepared they were by bringing medicines to the mission fights compared to NA players is pretty much true in my eyes.
Bard is almost complete?
And, speaking of Bard, I am honestly three items away from actually completing Bard entirely 100%.
It’s funny because that isn’t my main job, and as much as I loathed coming as Bard so often, I don’t mind it as much nowadays. I even stopped complaining so often about it.
However, when Marduk’s Jubbah and Tiara are complete, all I need now is Gjallarhorn. Now, given this is an MMO and an RPG at the same time, one can say they are never complete. But, given all that I’ve gotten and done on Bard in the last three to four years, I can pretty much say I’m almost done with Bard now.
All that’s left is capping out Bard Group 2 merits and I’m done in that area; just ten merit points away. But, that’s only to reduce the recast timers.
Now, there are items such as Carnwenhan, the Mythic Dagger for Bard that increases song duration by twenty seconds or Alkalurops, the staff that drops from ZNM Tier 4 Tinnin. However, they aren’t necessary for my Bard given Troubadour merits, which make songs last as long as six minutes, and I have Terra’s and Apollo’s Staves with both Light and Earth Grips to boost it. Therefore, they’re not really needed.
As for Shadow Robe and Shadow Clogs, I have Kirin’s Osode and someday, Marduk’s Jubbah, as a viable and admittedly better alternative; and I have both Goliard Clogs and Oracle’s Pigaches for feet.
Therefore, Bard will be 100% complete after Marduk’s Jubbah, Marduk’s Tiara, and Gjallarhorn are completed. Everything else are just nice additions to the job but not entirely necessary or game-changing.
Hmm, do I change my main job from Red Mage to Bard?
I don’t know. Oftentimes I get burned out coming Bard so much, but I still enjoy the job. Gjallarhorn is mostly meant for me to save space, and it has always been my intention. It is also the best instrument I can get for Bard. Red Mage has been five years for me and Dragoon four, whereas Bard is just over three years. So changing it to my main is going to be very difficult.
I wish I could say the same about Red Mage and Dragoon. I have a lot of equipment left to round out Red Mage to bring it to its highest potential. And, for Dragoon, I am missing Valkyrie’s Fork and might change my mind on getting Ryunohige, Mythic Polearm. I still need to improve my Weaponskill gear a bit and give it more variety for Penta Thrust, Wheeling Thrust, and soon Drakesbane.
I still haven’t decided on what Mythic Weapon I may eventually upgrade after Relic Horn is done. But, I have narrowed it down to either Terpsichore for my Dancer or Carnwenhan for Bard, though I don’t think I’ll need the latter.
Who knows? Right now Gjallarhorn is my ultimate goal and most likely final goal in this game. It may change in the future, but that’ll depend on who is left on Bismarck and how people will treat me down the line until I eventually quit.