Up and Coming Warrior – Gear QuestionsFollow

I've been soloing WAR lately in order to level my NPC - I have quite a bit of gear lined up already for the later levels, but I wanted to run it by the veteran Warriors here and get a few opinions if I could.

A brief derail/confession: I've been using WAR/BLU and Great Axe. For those of you who doubt subbing BLU for soloing, it gives some great traits/stats: auto-regen (2 a tic with FoV), Cocoon and Metallic Body make for great dmg mitigation at the onset of a fight. Head Butt stuns usually land, but only for a second, and Bludgeon is a great dmg spell, which stacks with Mighty Strikes. It also has the beast killer trait for certain situations. I also have full MP merits, which /BLU allows me to take advantage of - it also allows me to make use of the FoV refresh. /BLU also lets me to take on links without worries, and I usually only rest to restore my NPC’s MP or to go afk. As far as /DNC goes, I don't have the heart to dance in a video game. I have it unlocked, but I despise leveling it.

Having stated that, I have some general questions about the gear I’m going to be using at 75. Here is a list of the gear that I already have, or already have the gil to buy once I’m at that level. Most of this comes from my lolrdmmelee set up.

WAR/NIN Dual Wield Set-Up (I will worry about a Great Axe set up later)

Maneater
Joyeuse (I have 8/8 Sword Merits already)
Fire Bomblet
Walahra Turban
Chivalrous Chain
Suppanomimi
Diabolos’ Earring or Spike Earring? (Assault Earring will be my last upgrade)
Hauberk/Haubergeon
Dusk Gloves
Woodsman Ring
Ecphoria Ring
Forager’s Mantle
Swift Belt
Baron Cosciales or Exorcist Hose? (shooting for Askar eventually)
Dusk Ledelsens or Amir Boots (or lolAF2)?



The basic questions I have are these:

1) Weapons: Is it feasible to parse well with a Joyeuse off hand with 271 skill (merits + suppa)? I have had it forever and I just really want a chance to use it when it matters, rather than just soloing ash and trash mobs on RDM. Also along the same lines, could I feasibly use an Organics instead of a Maneater and parse respectably? That would just be for fun - I like swords, what can I say ;)

2) Leg wear: I’m a bit disappointed with what my options will be here, being specifically Baron or Exocist before I can get Askar. What are everyone’s opinions of which leg armor should be worn with my gear set up? (I have up to Floor 60 access on Nyzul, but dread PUG, eventually I should have Askar though). I have no desire to go after Byakko's Haidate unless I happen upon an extra 4-5 mil and get one from a merc shell. Probably won't happen.


3) Feet: Given that my acc using Axe and Sword will be lower than a good GAxe set up, should I use Amir Boots over Dusk Feet? Of course I know that I should use Aurum, but my LS doesn’t do ZNM. Maybe I can solo my way there on RDM? I have AF2 boots (a one-time freelot LS run, and I get this and Relic Gaxe!) Can I ever wear these and not be completely lol’d at?

4) Earrings: I don’t have an Assault Earring yet, but I will once I have run out of other upgrades which will make a larger difference per gil spent (i.e. Fire Bomblet to replace Bomb Core at 70). Before that however, is Diabolos’s Earring (+3 Acc) acceptable, or Spike Earring if my Acc is good?


As far as what I will be using WAR for, it will mostly just be merits and Nyzul, as I have a strong distaste for endgame in FFXI.



TL;DR version: amidoinitrite?

AFv2 Boots? No, you'll always be laughed at for that one.

If your merits are up to it (7~8 for axe and sword), you should be able to pull a meat build with Dusk feet, but you should always strive to improve, and the (current) end goal is Aurum.

Earrings:

Suppa is good for DW, other earring should be a Brutal Earring, period. Join a limbus shell, buy ABCs... whatever. Just get one of these and never take it off.