As a level 15 Taru RDM a long while ago, I loved this cap. The bonuses to HP, MP, and INT, while small, were appreciated. I'd highly recommend it for any level 15-ish RDM; it's a great value for what you get!
Ok....so I have no idea what the chances are for making a HQ synth but I made the republic hat using this recipe at lvl 19 gld smithing. Yeah When It happened I nearly hit the roof of my room. Does anyone have any idea about the regularness of HQ synths. OOOOo another question. I have heard through the grapevine that 4 leaf mandie buds help chances of HQ synth. Is this outlandish statement true....false....do you hve to eat it? I have a madie bud in my inventory at the time...maybe it does help. Anyone?
I ran a test a while ago with the bud. I ran through nine stacks of beehive chips making beeswax. I was 52 levels over the cap for beeswax. I faced North when doing all the synths.
Stack 1-3: I left the mandy bud in my moghouse and left my moghouse. Facing north I synthed 16 beeswax.
Stack 4-6: I placed mandy bud in inventory, left moghouse and faced north. I synthed 15 beeswax.
Stack 7-9: Still facing north outside my moghouse, I then ate the bud. I synthed 15 beeswax.
Conclusion: The bud does absolutely nothing.
While I was skill-uping through cooking I get 6 chiefkabobs while a level under the cap. I also get HQ1 animation while synthing Silver Ingots and I am only level 24 Goldsmithing.
I imagine the HQ success rate to be something such as this:
The recipes on this site are correct for Bastokan gear. The price to get skill level to make Bastokan gear if you are lazy and want to buy all compents is roughly 50K. (If you sell everything you make at AH price). It is about this point that GS will start to turn a profit. I made this gear when I hit GS skill level 18 at roughly a 1/15 failure rate with advanced synthesis support. If you want me to make if for you for a reasonable price I am on the Pandemonium server. E-mail me at Spytotheboy@excite.com. The exception result for all Bastokan gear is Republican gear. (Hence why they have the same recipe.) Had one exception result ever. After making 15 brass hairpins, I made a +1 hairpin on the 16th one. I made a Bastokan Subligar (GS skill 23) at GS 18. So it is possible to make gear that is 5 levels higher than your own at least. Only made one so don't know the failure rate. Any other questions?
This was a solid 5k on the Bahamut AH and this is my second favorite of the Bastokan set, very good item for DRK's and RDM's alike if youve got a spare 5k go n get em while theyre hot.
I admit to having looked at this item for my DRK, but was curious if it would be better to wear the San d'Orian Headband for agility. Not sure how much I would want 1 extra point of INT as opposed to this... Give me some feedback on this please, I'd love to know from someone that's been there ;)