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#1 May 31 2011 at 5:15 PM Rating: Decent
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going /SCH to boost drains, absorbs, aspir, and spikes. Staying in Dark Arts for most of the time only coming out of it to buff myself with blink/stoneskin. What do you guys think? Everything I have read about it talks about "lol why would you want to heal on a drk?".... but I am not talking about using Light Arts, I am talking about using Dark Arts. I know there are other viable melee subjobs that will boost my damage and all that, but I have no other melee leveled past 20 and would like to sub something that offers me a bit more.
#2 May 31 2011 at 5:51 PM Rating: Decent
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blindsyde84 wrote:
I know there are other viable melee subjobs that will boost my damage and all that, but I have no other melee leveled past 20 and would like to sub something that offers me a bit more.
GTFO.
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#3 May 31 2011 at 6:20 PM Rating: Decent
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I was blinded by RAGE there.

The first thing you need to do is level a proper subjob. Even if you never plan to use it, have it available.


/SCH does not offer more, it offers something different. I do not believe it boosts damage from drain, aspir, or any other dark magic.

As for /SCH, the sub job actually isn't all that bad if you're really trying to boost your magic side, but no one should ever let you use it in a proper party. With sublimation and stratagems, it's easy to keep up dread spikes most of the time. There is also the ability to AoE drain, aspir, and even sleep (you'll even have respectable enfeebling skill under dark arts). Your mistake is underestimating the power of light arts as well though. Being able to remove status effects can be tremendously useful, even if it does eat up a stratagem charge. The job combo can be used to offer light support a party as well if needed (used it for salvage once).

In the past, I found /SCH to be useful in a situation such as campaign (lol75). You're generally required to be responsible for yourself during the fights. With dark arts, you'll be able to see a lot more drains to help keep you alive from all of the AoEs. There is also Cure IV, Reraise, Regen II, and -na spells in case you get in trouble. Ungimped stoneskin was nice as well. The subjob does not do well in a purely solo situation.

Now though, I don't know if I'd ever go /SCH even just for the hell of it. If, for some reason, I wanted a mage sub, I'd be using /WHM. Haste being the biggest contributing factor. The lack of mp recovering tools hurts a bit with /WHM.

Edited, May 31st 2011 7:21pm by xypin
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#4 Jun 01 2011 at 11:17 AM Rating: Decent
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Ah thanks for the response.

So far /SCH is great. I am finding when subbing /war or /sam I pull hate off a tank, even a paladin, pretty easily. I end up taking more damage than is needed and causing the healer to have to focus on me and waste mana which in turn kills exp rates. This is the main reason I wanted to avoid subbing another power house sub. When I used to play (back in 2006) one of my real life friends played a DRK and took it to 75. He pretty much died every time he used a WS. This is without Soul Eater or Last Resort. Just Berserk from his SJ. That really turned me off from the class.

I am noticing with /SCH that I have a lot more survivability. While my damage is still ontop of the party, I am not doing such crazy damage that I have to worry about pulling hate. Even IF i do pull hate with something (i.e. normally very high drains and last resort cause large hate), I can keep myself alive long enough for the tank to get it off me and put less stress onto the healer.

Just seems like people are still pigeon holed into thinking, "RAWR I R DRK I R NOTHING BUT DMG!" and if that's how you want to be represented then fine. I personally like to bring a little more to the table than just raw damage output, and DRK will let you do that if you don't ignore that.

Xypin you brought up everything I was thinking about that made /SCH good for a DRK. I know most of that is higher level but even at 30 I am noticing the benefits. Especially when part of a PUG that doesn't really have strong organization or gear. Being able to hand out -na's and protects/heals is a great thing. And yes, using Dark Arts gives me a very solid boost in enfeeb. I haven't been resisted yet.

I will level a melee sub, don't get me wrong, but personally none of them seem as interesting as DRK. Maybe its because I main SMN and BRD lol.
#5 Jun 01 2011 at 11:27 AM Rating: Default
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I only sub sch when I am soloing things and having fun like AOEing stun and stuff like that. Outside of that, I use /rdm for fun. But the rest of the time, its /sam or /nin
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#6 Jun 01 2011 at 11:33 AM Rating: Decent
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well maybe I am barking up the wrong tree here. If I wanted to do damage with an option of casting for buffs/enfeebles/nukes.... should I even be playing a DRK? Maybe that's why I am having a hard time with my Sub.


Perhaps I should go RDM/SCH?

Edited, Jun 1st 2011 1:34pm by blindsyde84
#7 Jun 01 2011 at 12:30 PM Rating: Decent
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blindsyde84 wrote:
IF I do pull hate with something (i.e. normally very high drains and last resort cause large hate), I can keep myself alive long enough for the tank to get it off me and put less stress onto the healer.
Depending on your method, keeping yourself alive can actually be counter-productive when trying to lose hate.

blindsyde84 wrote:
well maybe I am barking up the wrong tree here. If I wanted to do damage with an option of casting for buffs/enfeebles/nukes.... should I even be playing a DRK? Maybe that's why I am having a hard time with my Sub.

Perhaps I should go RDM/SCH?
It depends on what you want to do and how you'd like to contribute to the party. If you go with RDM, you'll be stuck in a position of pure support at higher levels without the opportunity to supply much damage. Depending on the group, you'll rarely be asked to contribute as support on DRK (especially in pick ups) at high levels. Then again, one of the best parts about DRK is its ability to be very versatile allowing the job to contribute in a variety of ways to low man parties. DRK/SCH also lacks any real enfeebling spells.

If dealing damage is your primary goal, then go with DRK. As you've already seen, the job can act as some kind of support when needed.
If casting is your primary goal, look into RDM. The job will be asked to support mostly, but can still deal good damage when geared properly.
If you want to solo, you'll find RDM to be a much better fit. DRK/RDM is also be a useful combo for solo/support because of enfeebles, cures, refresh, convert, and eventually haste. Having an Apocalypse helps with soloing on DRK.
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#8 Jun 01 2011 at 1:13 PM Rating: Decent
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i had to check the date on this thread twice.

If you want self healing and sustainment (not necessarily survivability), /DNC is the sub to have. If you want to take less damage, /SAM or /NIN are better choices than /SCH despite whatever idea you might have about hate control.

A dead mob deals no damage.

Your comments about ripping hate off a PLD and dying are pointless. They indicate only that you're using a PLD in a situation you don't actually need one or you PLD just sucks. Abyssea is one of those places and most people still bothering with PLD in Abyssea are the latter as well.

DRK parties hardier than WAR and othe straight DDs for sure. /SCH only gives you status removals over /RDM or /DNC unless you want to piss off a cleave group. /SCH died in my mind when Endark couldn't be made AoE. The only real application is Campaign where you could probably stoneskin+phalanx tank a whole wave now.
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#9 Jun 01 2011 at 2:54 PM Rating: Default
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Well I am more of a caster/support as my main is SMN and BRD. Also the only classes I have past 20 are casters (keep in mind i have only been back for 3 weeks). RDM sounds maybe like its more my style, and I can use my caster gear on it so that's less money. I was hoping I could (i know this phrase is used a lot) play something inventive and focus a class towards something other than what it has been doing for the last 9 years... but guess not. DRK I guess will go the same was as NIN for me. NIN I have never thought should be a tank but is almost required to have /war.

Thanks for the help and responses, sorry if they were newbish. Times haven't changed I guess and even tho this game is INSANELY easier... I guess we still don't have free choice as far as job combos. (I got kicked out of a book burn party last night because I went as DRK/SCH.... a !@#$ing book burn....)
#10 Jun 01 2011 at 7:03 PM Rating: Good
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The problem is other jobs can do the same thing, but only better. There's also the point of what is needed to assist the group and the group you join. You can try to be inventive and versatile*, but if your extra utility is unnecessary, then no one will take you seriously. I won't lie, DRK/mage can be useful in certain situations, but you cannot expect the combo to revolutionize the game.

I should also mention your level range has a huge impact. What is best at level 15 is not always the same as what is best at level 55 or level 90. Had you mentioned only being level 30 or something, /COR would have been suggested.

Probably your three best job options right now are RDM, DRK, and DRG (mostly healing support though). If all you want to do is supply a party with de/buffs, then RDM is is a good choice. You even be able to use your elemental magic, but you'll rarely be allowed to melee in any pick up party. If you want to make melee damage your primary focus, then I'd stick with DRK. Conform to the status quo for those that demand it and bust out whatever combo you want while soloing or working on low man activities within your linkshell. Pick up groups will never be the place be "inventive." Sorry, it's just far easier to stick with what we know works than entertain some random person about how their job combo is the greatest.



*Being versatile includes having a wide selection of sub jobs available, even if you love one specific job combo.
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#11 Jun 02 2011 at 7:41 AM Rating: Decent
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Quote:
play something inventive and focus a class towards something other than what it has been doing for the last 9 years...


Possible, but as some have nicely pointed out, versatility =/= utility.

As a DRK main who has mainly played WAR or BLM since returning from a break (cuz thats whats needed) I still work on my DRK...so heres the basics.

Melee jobs benefit from melee subs, depending on level you either get ACC bonus (DNC DRG RNG) lolEVA, Haste, Dualwield, or TP gain bonus, one job gives all of those.... /dnc.

Some jobs give ATK bonus but its gimped (or is same level DRK gets already) minor stat bonus are also rec'd from various jobs.

/NIN = hate you wont pile on Mage (+Survivability) /SAM = mainly TP gain bonus with a little survivability

/DRG = Haste (w earring) ACC bonus, jump.--- None of these jobs can: curaga when party is slept (/DNC can) or Silena mage (/DNC can) return MP for no casting time (/DNC again) return HP (/DNC) Free Sneak/Invis. (/DNC)

/DNC can also Debuff w steps (thus building up moves for Voke or Grav.) or Store TP for mini Sekkanoki.

I have had great fun DRK/SCH when I was doing campaign....also its a monster for Campaign EXP & Drops. (can cap all categories)

/RNG is a beast low to mid lvl soloing/duoing (with bolts) + widescan for NM's & such.

..............

That being said, play how you want but it may severely limit you, remember... everytime you cast /mage, your NOT swinging your weapon, unless DRK gets some fast/insta cast this will always hurt.

(currently I'm working on DRK/MNK & it is insanely good this is however : at 90, in Abyssea, with proper Atma & Abyssite though)


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#12 Jun 02 2011 at 10:12 AM Rating: Good
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blindsyde84 wrote:
Well I am more of a caster/support as my main is SMN and BRD. Also the only classes I have past 20 are casters (keep in mind i have only been back for 3 weeks). RDM sounds maybe like its more my style, and I can use my caster gear on it so that's less money. I was hoping I could (i know this phrase is used a lot) play something inventive and focus a class towards something other than what it has been doing for the last 9 years... but guess not. DRK I guess will go the same was as NIN for me. NIN I have never thought should be a tank but is almost required to have /war.

Thanks for the help and responses, sorry if they were newbish. Times haven't changed I guess and even tho this game is INSANELY easier... I guess we still don't have free choice as far as job combos. (I got kicked out of a book burn party last night because I went as DRK/SCH.... a !@#$ing book burn....)


you should never be surprised when you're kicked out of anything for using an inappropriate job combination. just because you think "something new" has to work doesn't mean a) other people agree, or b) that you're right.

seriously, if you use a weird job combo, that on its own is fine and your choice, but if you start getting even the tiniest bit upset that other people don't approve or that you're not invited to do any event with it, you're doing something very very wrong. the world doesn't need to bend to your understanding of it. when you start getting indignant that this isn't happening--even in a video game--you're making a huge and grave mistake.
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#13 Jun 02 2011 at 5:02 PM Rating: Decent
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DRK is a melee job, period.

Using subs that don't augment your ability to melee has no place in a party. I will admit that playing solo can sometimes require more finesse and spells that a melee sub can't provide. but when you are in a party to perform the function of melee DD (which if you are DRK...thats your role, don't try to argue) you come equipped with a melee subjob.

I'm not saying playing as DRK/SCH or any other /mage job has no place in the game.

I'm saying that in a party, you're expected to fill the role your MAIN job is equipped to. Therefore, anything other than a melee oriented job is unwelcome.
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#14 Jun 05 2011 at 10:22 AM Rating: Good
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DRK/SCH? Is that like the DRK that's sufficiently emo to actually keep a diary instead of use Livejournal?
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#15 Jun 05 2011 at 2:13 PM Rating: Good
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I find that, especially in the wake of the last resort boost, /sch is a decent enough sub in like a dom ops alliance. 90% of the DDs there are gimp as sh*t, so if you even -think- about trying you're the tank. And if you're gonna have hate fulltime, then keeping dread spikes up 2/3ds of the time with alacrity is pretty nice. In general, I find /sch to be good in any sitation where you're gonna have hate a lot just for the niceness of alacrity dreadspikes. Dark arts boost to drain recast is nice too, and sublimation is a way to keep mp up on non-aspirable mobs (without sacrificing DD atma) which actually play very well into drk's strengths, to whit, paying hp to boost performance which you can then drain back.

Side note, I also like /sch if I'm fighting undead for regen 2 and stoneskin.

The ability to land sleeps at all ever is nice too. As is AoEing them.

But yeah, not the sub for parties pre-70, and even after that it's situational.
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