DRK/BST -Demo- [Video Download Included]

I've had some people ask me how exactly I solo without leave (I've wrote a guide but it's not released yet until I have a bit of other content on my "blog"). I've decided to post a gameplay video of what and how I do it.

NOTE: This is an alternative way of me getting EXP without the use of campaign or goblin pets or subbing DNC. I am aware of all the other ways of getting EXP, this is what I like to do.

Also this is what I basically do on RDM, PLD, NIN, THF, but I deploy their abilities instead and mix and match around depending on situation.

What I set out to do shortly was to record a short video demonstrating how I solo using /BST "efficiently", kinda like BST main.

Obviously depending on zone/level/camp things can change a bit, but it more or less demonstrates what I do currently and previously with my other jobs that I soloed to 75.

Download:

Video Download via Rapidshare
Click "Free User" then wait for the countdown to finish, then click "Download".

It is 52mb in size. You will need WinRar to unzip it. You can obtain it from WinRAR archiver, a powerful tool to process RAR and ZIP files if you haven't got it. It has been virus checked before I uploaded.

NOTE: The volume isn't as loud as I wanted it to be but I did not have time to recompile the video. You might want to turn it up a bit more than usual when viewing the video.

Explaination:

Some stuff I want to clarify during the video so you know what I was thinking before anyone decides to shout "THE HELL YOU DO THAT FOR?!"

I do not play as efficiently as some, although I know I can, but I do not see the need. Also DRK's offensive power is very strong, no doubt you're all aware of that, so I decided to use some quite basic gear (hey, it saves me money...):

Melee

Main: Mutilator (Level 40 Scythe, +3 Accuracy)
Sub: None
Ranged: Thug's Zamburak
Ammo: Acid Bolt
Head: AF Helm
Neck: Parade Gorget (Peacock Charm if needing a boost)
Earring1: Trimmer's Earring (+5 Accuracy under /BST)
Earring2: Empty (Intruder's Earring usually but I keep forgetting it)
Body: AF Body
Hands: AF Hands
Ring1: Loyalty Ring
Ring2: Loyalty Ring
Back: Amemet Mantle +1
Waist: Swift Belt
Legs: AF Legs
Feet: AF Feet

I do not swap out the rings. I have Rajas/Ulthalam's Ring but I swap them in manually if I need a bit of performance boost (rarely).

Charm

For Charm I switch in Light Staff, Noble's Ribbon, Corsette +1 and Bird Whistle.

Misc

Only Stun and Sleep II is macroed, all my other spells are selected manually for now, hence you will see how sometimes I make certain decisions to cast some spells.

00:00 - 00:02

Shown you where I decided to camp. I normally would not camp here but due to a party and a BLU soloing on the otherside (Graveyard) I had no choice.

The bird I charmed is a Decent Challenge bird. I'm level 65, having obtained that not long ago, and usually the camp becomes a grind, but can still work.

00:10~

Initiated battle. Note that for DRK I do not jump in right away due to even with a Level 40 scythe I do near on par damage as my pet.

00:18~

Examining my surroundings.

00:45~

Looking out for my next potential pet/mob that can kill my pet off.

00:51~

Examining my surroundings, I knew a Water Elemental was nearby. I also felt that my pet would go down if I do not stop a TP move or two. So I examined surroundings to make sure it was safe to cast Absorb TP.

01:11~

Looking out for next pet.

02:02~

Preparing to attempt to aggro nearby mobs/next pet to kill off my current pet early.

02:09~

Repositioning my pet and then using Sic. This failed as my pet chose to use Helldive rather than Wing Cutter. If it used Wing Cutter it would hit the sapling as well which will speed up killing my pet.

02:25~

Due to Helldive weakening the mob, I decided to kill it off early. Initally I thought about attacking the sapling manually, but I changed my mind.

02:42~

This is my next pet. I send my weakened pet to fight it.

02:46~

With pet getting some hate on my next pet, I can safely find the next target I wanted and then use Heel without gaining additional hate.

03:05~

I wanted to link the other sapling, but I then realised it was too close to where 2 chigoes will spawn.

03:16~

Next target in sight, I stand and wait until my new pet kills my current pet.

03:40~

Mischarm.

On DRK I cast Stun on it and run a distance. If not possible, I cast sleep/bind. On PLD I cast Flash. On RDM I cast gravity. On NIN I recast shadows or run if it's at night time. On THF if I get hit I hit it with a couple of blood bolts.

03:57~

I successfully charm the sapling and go for the next target.

04:07~

Knowing that this bird is checked as Tough, I cast Bio II on it to make killing a bit faster. I was going to cast Poison II next but then decided against it due noticing how much the bird's HP dropped already.

04:32~

Some hate... no big deal, I sometimes allow myself to get hit. Absorb-Spell is a lot of hate anyway.

05:06~

Making sure next pet and the pet I will attempt to aggro with my pet to kill off my current pet isn't too far.

05:18~

Draining some of the lost HP back. I try to keep in top HP at all times where possible.

05:32~

Repositioning and attempting to kill off my current pet with the sapling's AoE. Typically, I failed.

05:56~

I delayed using a weaponskill because I knew if I kept the prey alive longer then it won't take too long to kill my current pet off next.

06:20~

Getting next pet by making it kill my current pet. Notice that I run out of the radar range before using Heel. This will ensure the mob will not attack me when it gets near as no emnity is generated.

06:33~

Used Stay so I have a running start if I mischarm my pet.

06:40+

The rest is self explanatory.

I would've got more chains but this particular area is a bit difficult to chain above 2 or 3 due to the placement of the birds and the 2 chigoes that aggro nearby.

I think that explains most things. If you have any questions feel free to ask.

Misc Note: Due to my computer failing I am perma-shifted to Windows Vista for now, I will still continue to make other videos. I am getting this legendard Vista lag, somewhat, but not as bad as some others have described. Recording videos should still be no prob.

Looks great, thanks for posting. I've used a similar strategy when leveling other jobs, but have often run into the "mischarm-chain" that usually kills me, lol.

Did you use the same strategy for RDM? The offensive ability of DRK is apparent, but when leveling something with weaker attacks, did you make sure your pet-to-prey selection was just right, and cast magic (Dia/Bio, Blind, etc), or did you melee along with your pet? I think I can make a pretty good case for either, but I was wondering what you did.

On RDM, it was even easier, due to the large array of offensive and defensive crippling moves I had for myself, and that fact I can cure myself and pretty much live forever means I'm able to have more freedom.

With a weaker attack RDM, even though I had melee gear, I gravity the mob and depending on situation, to land more hits, I will either Para or Slow and stack on Bio 2/Poison 2 to make my pet live longer but it depends. Sometimes I might want my pet to live for 2 fights, in that case more enfeebles will be applied.

I used:



As my main sword, chosen for it's somewhat low delay and good accuracy on top. The idea is that since I know all my weaponskills suck (Fast Blade just doesn't cut it), I resorted in using Burning Blade, Shining Blade or Spirits Within, usually Spirits Within. Since you attack with relatively good accuracy and low delay, you usually end up with 200% TP if meleed right at the start.

Also, you pretty much have to melee to make sure you take the mob down. You don't want to pet swap and end up with a half duration/half HP pet, as it causes a derail for the rest of the mobs ahead. If I stood there and just enfeebled, not only would it be boring, it would be even slower.

Oh, I forgot. You got your Tier I, II and III nukes, use them to finish off the mob too, but you may need to hold back to make sure your pet is dead or is near dead.

On DRK, yes the offense is apparent, but so is my ability to recover, so the choice was taken to use such a low level scythe but with somewhat good bonuses attached.

I don't have a "pet to prey" selection really. I usually adjust my playstyle per fight depending on pet vs mob, but I usually try not to do:

Crab vs Crab [It's too long]
Beetle vs Beetle [see above]

But I have specific camps I go to always.

I use all of my main job's abilities/spell to help me with the fight. No ability is spared, unless it's something that can't really contribute (i.e. PLD's Rampart, unless I'm in Sky).



Regarding your mischarm trains, it depends on your after actions in the event of a mischarm and how good you are in getting away. Sometimes trains are inevitable and of course, I die, but yeh that usually stops me, but rarely. More frequent in dungeons though due to the close proximity of the mobs.

LadyKiKi said:

(I've wrote a guide but it's not released yet until I have a bit of other content on my "blog")

Obviously depending on zone/level/camp things can change a bit, but it more or less demonstrates what I do currently and previously with my other jobs that I soloed to 75.

Click to expand...

Cool video, Ladykiki! It's pretty impressive how you leveled to 70 without Leave. I was wondering when we might see a guide explaining some of the tactics and outlining some suitable camps for this sort of project. Thanks again for posting this!

Off topic: Falk your sig is awesome! haha.

Tim Wakefield said:

Off topic: Falk your sig is awesome! haha.

Click to expand...

Thank ya.

I wanted to try soloing SCH/BST and I was wondering if camp selection, post-level 35, would be as simple as avoiding "Zoo" camps where pets can run out sans Leave. So instead of leveling in the Sea Serpent Grotto in the early 50s (that awesome nook with the leech camp), go to Crawlers Nest to kill flies?

I always wanted to solo other jobs as /bst but I never got around to it before I stopped playing. I will have to save this video in case I ever come back to the game so that I can remember how to do things.

Very nice vid there.

*Off topic: Where'd you get the dat for the battle music you use?*

I have to agree, that sig is VERY cute and awesome.

Anyway, SCH/BST, early 50s you will have to compete with BLMs, BLUs, and any other soloer that can deal heavy damage quick in Gustav Tunnel, you can fight Goblin's Leech there. Pull with pet, and with SCH's nukes I bet you can take down the leech very quick and do 2-3 leeches with it before your pet dies, or skip subbing BST altogether. Then Crawler's Nest for 52 or 53 until 55, and head to Garlaige. Unfortunately camps at 55-58 there is really one spot... you'll need a couple of levels headstart before you can comfortably do bombs behind gate 2. Every other camp isn't worth the trouble, might as well just squeeze in there with other parties/BSTs.

I have written a few guides already (Leave Techniques, Sic Techniques, Jug Pet Guides, [Basic] Gear Guide, Camp Guide, also some psychology guide to "why stuff I tell you doesn't work on you", Charm Guide/Escaping Guide, as well as BST, PLD, THF, DRK, RDM, NIN guides, mostly are the same but with some play techniques. THF, DRK, NIN still needs a bit of work) at work but not completed yet, and I want to add pictures/videos but haven't had the time. I really want to make it an enjoyable guide to read and to look at, rather than it being all text.

Ambrosio: Download the video first and see for yourself. Once you get the basics of it doing it without Leave is actually not too bad.

Gannon: Thanks, I can upload the dat for you if you want? It replaces the usual solo battle music. I made it myself because I was bored with the default, and I was playing Crisis Core at the time. The battle tune is from Crisis Core at the end game dungeon before the last boss.

LadyKiKi said:

Gannon: Thanks, I can upload the dat for you if you want? It replaces the usual solo battle music. I made it myself because I was bored with the default, and I was playing Crisis Core at the time. The battle tune is from Crisis Core at the end game dungeon before the last boss.

Click to expand...

That would be great if you could do that!

Gannon said:

That would be great if you could do that!

Click to expand...

http://rapidshare.com/files/171255533/music101.rar


Backup your original, then unrar and replace.

Thanks! I do a lot of other dat swapping in the game so I know the deal ^^