Pure Bard DS

[Riltus]

Your character currently has 331 total magic ranks which is 5.6 ranks per level (331/59). This translates to a weapon ranks conversion factor of ~0.75. You need 472 total magic ranks for 8 ranks per level, an additional 141 ranks. How much DEF stance DS would those 141 ranks provide? Not much. Approximately +16 DS. Players generally overvalue the DS benefit of magic ranks per level until they crunch the numbers. There is nothing intrinsically significant about 8 ranks per level. As a matter of fact you don't need any magic ranks to activate runestaff parry DS.

Calculations:

1. Weapon ranks = conversion factor * character level

Character level = 59
331 magic ranks = 5.6 ranks per level = 0.75 conversion factor = (0.75 * 59) = 44 weapon ranks
427 magic ranks = 8 ranks per level = 1.00 conversion factor = (1.00 * 59) = 59 weapon ranks
590 magic ranks = 10 ranks per level = 1.20 conversion factor = (1.20 * 59) = 70 weapon ranks
Defensive stance factor = 0.70

2. DS = weapon ranks * stance factor * 1.5

331 total magic ranks: (44 * 0.70 * 1.5) = +45 DEF stance DS
472 total magic ranks: (59 * 0.70 * 1.5) = +61 DEF stance DS
590 total magic ranks: (70 * 0.70 * 1.5) = +73 DEF stance DS

Note: The above values only reflect DS from magic ranks. They do not include stat bonuses, the 10 phantom weapon ranks, runestaff enchant bonus and the +50 defensive stance bonus.

Mark

[nocturnix]

Your character currently has 331 total magic ranks which is 5.6 ranks per level (331/59). This translates to a weapon ranks conversion factor of ~0.75. You need 472 total magic ranks for 8 ranks per level, an additional 141 ranks. How much DEF stance DS would those 141 ranks provide? Not much. Approximately +16 DS. Players generally overvalue the DS benefit of magic ranks per level until they crunch the numbers. There is nothing intrinsically significant about 8 ranks per level. As a matter of fact you don't need any magic ranks to activate runestaff parry DS.

Calculations:

1. Weapon ranks = conversion factor * character level

Character level = 59
331 magic ranks = 5.6 ranks per level = 0.75 conversion factor = (0.75 * 59) = 44 weapon ranks
427 magic ranks = 8 ranks per level = 1.00 conversion factor = (1.00 * 59) = 59 weapon ranks
590 magic ranks = 10 ranks per level = 1.20 conversion factor = (1.20 * 59) = 70 weapon ranks
Defensive stance factor = 0.70

2. DS = weapon ranks * stance factor * 1.5

331 total magic ranks: (44 * 0.70 * 1.5) = +45 DEF stance DS
472 total magic ranks: (59 * 0.70 * 1.5) = +61 DEF stance DS
590 total magic ranks: (70 * 0.70 * 1.5) = +73 DEF stance DS

Note: The above values only reflect DS from magic ranks. They do not include stat bonuses, the 10 phantom weapon ranks, runestaff enchant bonus and the +50 defensive stance bonus.

Mark

Thanks for the breakdown, that is really helpful. It sounds like actually pumping up magic skills only for the sake of DS is not really worth it then. I started using the defensive signs and that has helped alot, i think im near 400 DS in defensive with my signs up. I just always thought of defensive signs as more of an emergency thing because i was able to get high enough DS with my pures to not even need to use signs ever. But with my bard, I guess I need to incorporate them into every hunt now.

[audioserf]

I have always run all the COL signs on all characters. No reason not to provided you have the mana/spirit to keep them going. It's basically free AS/DS/TD.

[Roiken]

I'm surprised, i have not commented on this thread, but i'm not surprised Zarston has.. do what he says.. That being said.. our bards still run around with a sonic shield sometimes. because the runestaff defense is hard to keep up...

[Roiken]

on a serious note, if you want to learn how to die, you should skills Yakushi... he can tell you how to fuck up a bard # jk Hoy