Quote:
FYI though, the concensus is that 1 Merit point adds +2 MAB to the corresponding element
I had seen this statement on several occasions, but couldn't remember if there were any hard numbers to back it up. I decided to run some tests to see for myself. Consider this to be independent verification of the theory.
I did nuking tests as taru 75 BLM/RDM against burned bunnies (BBD, for Burned Bunny Damage) as is the accepted procedure. All casts were Blizzard IV. Day/weather did not come into play. All test cases were repeated multiple times and damage was exactly the same each time (as expected), so I will only list the damage once.
Configuration I used 4 different equipment configs, as follows (naked except what's listed):
A: Moldavite Earring, Zenith Mitts, Igqira Weskit (+16 MAB)
B: +16 MAB kit (same as A), Eremite's ring, Eremite's ring +1 (+5 INT)
C: +16 MAB kit, Aquilo's staff (also has +5 INT)
D: Aquilo's staff only
For each config, I tested damage with 0 ice potency merits, 1 merit, and 2 merits. I neglected to collect data for config D with 0 merits (oops).
For these test cases, the damage ratios between 0, 1, and 2 merits should match the ratio of MAB, including +2 MAB for each potency merits. Here is a table of those MAB values:
Config 0 Merits 1 Merit 2 Merits 3 Merits
A/B/C 1.48 1.50 1.52 1.54
D 1.32 1.34 1.36 1.38
Results Here are the damage numbers:
Config 0 Merits 1 Merit 2 Merits 3 Merits
A 979 993 1006 1019
B 994 1008 1021 1034
C 1142 1158 1173 1188
D ---- 1034 1049 1065
A quick check with a calculator shows (you can do this yourself, if you are so inclined) that the ratios are as expected, allowing for rounding/truncation that we cannot see. Unfotunately, without a data point at D/0, the damage difference is not large enough to say absolutely that the ratio actually changes with the lower total MAB. When I get around to adding more ice merits, I expect to be able to show that conclusively.
Update: With the data from the third merit, we can see that the potency is indeed treated as +MAB. If reducing the total MAB had no effect on the results, the 3rd merit value for condition D would be no more than 1063 damage for any reasonable rounding scenario.
Conclusion The data is consistent with the theory that +2 elemental potency (1 merit upgrade) is calculated as +2 MAB. The theory is very likely correct.
Edited, Sat May 27 23:09:37 2006 by VxSote
