Art of Melee Replacing (Long) :: Final Fantasy XI

#1 Aug 04 2006 at 2:47 PM Rating: Excellent

Guru

582 posts

I don't like to post here, because people can be so mean...but I must, since I think it's important and relevant.

A few days ago, I read about someone who was upset at the people that PT only for 20 minutes and leave. Then somebody commented that it's always the tanks and the mages that leaves too early, and the melees are left to fend for themselves, that melees can be replaced easily because there's tons out there. That melees are just another DD.

Indeed I agree that PTing when you have only 20 minutes is bad.

I also agree that if a mage leaves, it makes PTing nearly impossible. I even agree that mages should acknowledge the role they play in an EXP PT, and be responsible members of the PT...as in...be able to PT for at least 2 hours after arriving at camp - giving yoursleves at least 3-4 hours of playtime when going on an EXP PT. (I give myself 5-6 hours)

But I don't agree that melees are easily replaced because they are just another DD.

Aside from the argument whether or not "replacing" is a good idea or not, because that's a whole another discussion, I want to bring to all of the Melees' attention.

Contrary to the common belief: I can just replace myself with {insert a Melee job here}...you cannot just simply replace yourself with any other melee. Please. Get rid of that belief.

{Insert Melee Job Here} isn't the same as {Insert another Melee Job Here}

All to often, melees in a PT will replace themselves with just about anything. And 80% of the time, it just throws everything out of whack.

There is a bit of an Art to PT building you see, and unless you have paid particular attention to this, spent good deal of time doing "leader", gone through the pick up grind more than once, it's a little hard to see.

The main goal of replacing is NOT to replace just a body...but to find someone to keep the same EXP/Hour flow.

So you have to think to yourself:

How can I maintain the EXP flow, or perhaps make it better at my departure?

MeleeGuy: "Better than ME...?! You don't say?"

I'm sorry but it is true. We all like to think our own job is the best. But you have to admit your short comings as well.

My main job is WHM. But in Merit PTs, I do feel my short-comings, when compared to the PT next door that has BRD BRD RDM, and my PT has BRD RDM WHM. WHMs just can't produce same EXP/Hour in Merit PTs as a BRD BRD RDM or a BRD RDM RDM. (In this case, the inability to convert, and the inevitable "MP break".)

Some points I would like Melees to consider when making a replacement with another Melee:

1) What tank type is your PT?
---Is it PLD? Is it NIN? or is it a hate toss with 2x WAR/NINs?

>>>>>>This is important because it will determine what subjobs you should request or look for in a melee. A NIN tank may want a /THF for hate control, a /WAR for back up Voke. A PLD tank may prefer a /NIN so that MP can be used more to cure him than on the crazy MNK/WAR. If it's a hate toss, you might want to have /THF to help that out.

2) Who is your main healer, and how good is he?
---Is it a WHM? A double RDM? A single RDM? Is it a SMN? Is the supposed "Main Healer" really main healing, or is he meleeing with his Enthunder? Does he just pop a Buff at start and go sit around? Does your WHM pull out his Dark Maul+1 and whacks at the bomb tossing goblin?

>>>>Depending on the Main Healer's skills, your PT might be able to take on another DRK for double DRK. Maybe they can take on a MNK/WAR. This PT may or may not be able to take up MNK MNK NIN or PLD DRK DRK...watch your mages' skills.

>>>>But if your main healer is a SMN that likes to pull out Fenrir and just watch him bite stuff, perhaps you, an average WAR/NIN, shouldn't replace yourself with SAM/WAR whose search comments says his fully loaded with multimillion gil great katana, and can't /NIN.

3) How is the MP?
---Do you find your PT resting due to lack of MP after chain 2? Does your mages have the skill to live off 100MP and seem not to need a MP break? Is everybody /NIN and you see the WHM bopping around twirling his thumbs?

>>>>How many refreshes does a RDM must throw? Remember, if you are a WAR in a PT athat RDM needs to throw 5 refreshes (like PLD, DRK, BLU, WAR, BLM, RDM) that's 200MP on top of the Curing and Enfeebing. It might be a VERY bad idea to replace yourself with another BLU.

>>>>If you have ample MP left after chain 5, maybe you want to replace with a job that may generate more hate and push for chain 6.

>>>>If you were a DDing bad-a$$ BLU/THF, maybe a softer gentler BLU/WHM isn't a good idea either.

>>>>If your little Taru RDM was struggling to keep 4 melees alive in MNK MNK MNK NIN BRD RDM PT, maybe a WHM to take place of you, a tough talking MNK might be a sign of relief.

4) What is the SC? Or...is there any?
---Do you have a BLM? Do you have to SC? Would, at your level, soloing your best WS be better than a forced Distortion?

>>>>If you are flying with juicy MBs after Distortions or Light or Dark or whatever appropriate SC for the mob, then don't replace yourself with a job that your SC buddy can't do the same SC on.

>>>>If you aren't MBing, the SCs aren't as important. Perhaps a job that has a good WS at the level may end up producing faster EXPs than getting job with mediocre WS just to produce a SC that no one is MBing on.

5) What are you fighting?
---Are you figthing something a certain job can kill faster? Or...like Colibri (not the Lesser ones, mind you), a mob that makes some jobs completely useless?

>>>>If you are fighting bones in Gustav at around level 60, and you are MNK then perhaps that RNG61 won't be a good choice...even if he can pull like you and your pebbles. If the mob has particularly bad AOE like a Goblin or Demons, perhaps you don't want a job that has low defense, or can't /NIN.

6) What is everybody's tnl?
---Would a replacement higher (or lower) than you fit better?

>>>>If everybody is about to hit 70, then that SAM68 with @20000 in his search comments won't be doing same amount of damage as you, a DRG71. Besides, that SAM will get lower EXP, and that'll be a little rude.

>>>>If your NIN tank is level 60, maybe a MNK/WAR 62 might be a bad idea.

And finally the most important of all:

ASK your PT members how long they plan to PT more. No matter how good the PT is, all good things must come to an end. By you having the courage to say, "I am thinking about replacing myself in 20 minutes" maybe that BRD will say, "well I have to go in 30 too". This will prevent the all-to-common PT disbands after 2 fights I get there - and - I got there then PT disbanded rants....

The last one goes for mages replacing mages too.

This mostly applies to pick up normal EXP PTs, and even more for some Merit PTs. If you are PTing with your super skilled super haijin friend that knows the all of the tricks and trade of each job at every level (you know, the odd buddy on your friendlist that can make WHM/NIN tank work, etc...@@) this won't apply....naturally.

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