Pulling: Redux

Dulling the Axe

Most of my pulling discussions tend to be oriented toward /RDM -- not because /NIN is the devil, but because that's what I use and that's what I have fun doing. I'm not out to convert the world to /RDM. In this post, I'd rather stress the importance of the strategies that come into play when you're out to have fun while you're meriting, and the easiest ways I've found to make the transition between looking for parties and having parties look for you.

Axioms

A short set of social rules that seem to apply to every party and pulling situation:

If you take the initiative to make the party:
1. You can pull however and wherever you like.
2. You can take only people you know, and -- if you want -- only people you like.
3. You can party as long (or as short) as you like.

If you seek party:
1. You might have to advocate for your pulling strategy, or for a particular camp.
2. You'll take who you get.
3. You can still party as long as you like, but whether or not it's fun is mostly up to chance.

You can pretty much guess which situation I favor for this one.

The easiest way to have fun while you merit is to get a group together from your linkshell or to build an extensive flist of people you like to exp with. You can also ask for recommendations from your friends and try to merit in parties that are at least half composed of people you already know and like.

There's nothing breakthrough about this strategy, but I'm always surprised by how many people complain about meriting when all they do is look for parties ... instead of building their own.

Constructing a Group

Caveat: Situational. There are plenty of guides out there to exp camps. I deal mostly with merit-burn style parties.

1. A good healer. I don't like inviting healers I don't know, because a bad one will be the death of you.

2. A corsair. Not absolutely necessary, but it's good to build up a list of corsairs that you like and that like you back -- if you see one you like out in thickets, strike up a conversation, flist them, and invite them to your next group if they're amenable.

3. DD. Almost anyone will do, and I'll invite anyone if I like their company enough. Flist the ones who impress you in your best parties. If you have three strong DD, it's possible to have a good merit party with only five people (healer, bard, ddx3). If you have weak DD, it's usually better to have more/four of them and skip the corsair.

4. You. Bring pulling food of choice and your preferred subjob. Being consistent in choice of camp, pulling methods, and party setup will make actually pulling less of a hassle for you.

You'll find that the people you like will tend to make parties you like -- and that by having an extensive flist, you'll never lack for good invites. That can be both good and bad.

Good: you'll always have nice people to merit with.
Bad: they'll never stop inviting you. Ever.

Etiquette

There are pulling manners.

1. Make sure you (the pulling bard) or your leader have your camp in your seacom. All but the most rude people will check seacoms before they go to a camp. If someone doesn't have their camp commented, I consider it open -- though sometimes I'll make an effort to ask the leaders where their parties are, individually.

2. If you need to pull extra mobs from an area normally patrolled by another party, talk to their puller before you do. You might be able to come to a compromise without breaking either group's exp chain.

3. Wait for all party members to arrive before beginning a chain.

4. This is optional. Break the exp chain and restart when someone new arrives. This is a particularly odd bit of courtesy that some of my long-time friends appreciate. I prefer to ask new arrivals if they'd like me to break chain and restart for them, rather than breaking chain without explanation.

5. At bird camp -- middle or bottom -- do not pull birds from the other level, respectively, without express permission from the other puller. If you do it accidentally, tender an immediate apology to avoid the other puller embarking on a revenge-pulling contest. Most people won't care, but it's the rare few who do that will end up driving you up a wall.

6. Handle any special requests at the beginning of the party. This is why it pays to merit with people you know -- they already know what to expect from you and how you like to pull. I like my melee to kill whatever I pull first, links second. They know that and it's easier for them to make up their minds about a target in a link situation. If all else fails, designate an /assist.

Moral Gray Areas

That would be taking occupied camps or fighting off someone else who is trying to occupy your camp. I've arrived at a camp at the same time as another party, before -- but that's very rare. The usual rule is that the place belongs to whoever is there first and whoever is pulling mobs first. Whether or not you adhere to those unwritten rules is up to you.

The best way to take a camp and keep your reputation intact is to arrive and just begin pulling. Taking a camp is not and never should be a personal matter -- just business, getting yourself and your group some exp. Some people will never camp on other people no matter the situation.

Camping on another group tends to be less of an issue these days, with smnburn, chigoeburn, and increasing camp options. It used to be a much bigger problem, and part of my reason for pulling /RDM was an increased ability to both outpull another party and to defend my camp from people who tried to move in (while it was commented, no less).

I'd like to stress that this is only sometimes an issue at merit camps, but it's something that's bound to happen to everyone at least once in their career. What you do about it is up to you. FYI: there's nothing in the ToS that will give you footing with a GM, so it's up to the players to work/fight it out. XD

End Notes

These are just suggestions for forming and maintaining healthy merit parties. I leave pulling style and camp up to individual choice. It's my hope that the etiquette list will be particularly useful for new bards who may not yet know the implicit code of conduct. Adhering to a personal code will make it easier to compromise with other pullers in your area and will also make you a known quantity to other bards and other people who are frequently meriting near you in the same camp. Unless you like annoying other people and being annoyed in return, following the suggestions in the etiquette list will tend to keep your camps clear and your groups productive.

Merit Parties: Pulling /RDM

Why?
/RDM appeals to people who feel that they are singing too slowly. It can be done well with very little investment in gear or gil, although -- like most things -- the more you spend on it, the more you'll be rewarded. People who have trouble pulling high chains while /NIN may also experience more success as /RDM.

/RDM will not make you a better puller, but it will decrease the amount of time you spend singing songs.

When/Where?
Greater Colibri -- Nyzul Isle side of Bhaflau Thickets.

NB: I strongly suggest /NIN for Mamool Ja and/or Skoffins. Although /WHM can work at Mamool, it is usually not a pleasant experience. Trying to "Terra's Staff Tank" these can feel like being eaten alive.

Who?
Party styles (my two favorites; there are many variations):
BRD-COR-RDM-DDx3 (strong DD)
BRD-RDM-DDx4 (compensating for weaker DD)

I prefer to have a RDM to Refresh me, but there's nothing keeping you from getting a WHM or a SCH. I just end up more cautious with my MP.

I restrict DDx3 parties to people I already know. DDx4 parties are for LSmembers lvl'ing a job to 75, or to compensate for DD who wouldn't be strong/consistent enough in the x3 setup.

Application:
Use that format as a guideline. Most of the bad parties I've been in were due to poor choices of job and/or a failure to outline expectations in advance (i.e. 'you mean I was supposed to /war?').

I'm not going to say anything new here -- friendlist people you want to party with. Make mental notes about good and bad DD, Corsairs, and support. People will remember you when your parties consistently perform well.

How?
The real nuts-and-bolts of how this works -- and works so well and so consistently that it's easy to get high chains with average joe melee.

Preparation
You will need Tavnazian Tacos and an Earth/Terra's Staff. The tacos are optional but very, very helpful. The elemental staff is required. When you arrive at camp, get the highest tier protect your healer has to offer.

Edit: Since I wrote this, I've had more time to use my Lamiabane as a ranged pulling tool. It's great for micromanaging a party's pacing. If the group is exceptionally fast, it's a fun way to have a bird at camp without waiting for it to reflect a song.

Songs
Some of this depends on party preference. If you feel your party is not performing with a specific combination, it's your duty to try things until one of them works! That said -- I prefer Marchx2*.

*Note: Corsair's love this! Many of the best DD-COR's I know dual-wield knives for TP.

If you have a RNG, consider giving them Herculean Etude. This is especially effective with someone who has lower quality gear, although even experienced RNGs may be surprised at the uptick in their numbers.

Techniques Specific to /RDM
1. Don't use Lullaby (except on links / in emergencies).
2. Don't "stage" pulls in the traditional sense of the term (see rule 1).
3. Don't idle (feel free to use idle gear like dalm or ixion cloak if you have it).

DO wear Earth/Terra's Staff full time. DO cure yourself and others (swap in your Light/Apollo's for this). DO get Sanction Refresh. DO ask for Refresh when your mp is low.

Explanation:
The most common reasons for a BRD to /NIN at Colibri are to (1)blink reflected songs and (2)blink damage. Rule number one negates the first, while rule number two and rule number three negates the second.

BRD can easily "Terra's Staff Tank" Colibri because they don't hit that hard to begin with! ProtectIV + Terra's Staff + Tavnazian Tacos = ~70-80DMG per hit, barring criticals. This is well within an acceptable tanking range. Mileage will vary based on gear.

If you're going to pull BRD/RDM, commit to pulling like a BRD/RDM and don't try to be a BRD/NIN. Stoneskin, Blink, and Phalanx should be last resorts. Rely on CureIII and -- sometimes -- Regen.

/RDM Pulling Routine
Sing melee buffs. Pull bird with elegy (i.e. pull, run to camp, let bird beat on you). Pianissimo Ballad Mage (one or both ballads, depending on how much time you have between pulls). Pull bird with elegy, run to camp, let bird beat on you while melee finish off the first bird -- but start singing your next set of buffs as soon as you reach camp. This is where, with experience, you can gain a huge edge on pulling speed.

In this scenario, the bard is constantly in motion -- singing, curing, or pulling and returning to camp. My DD gradually figure out that it's better not to chase the colibri, because it's chasing ME. They stand on me to get the next Colibri, and I never have to worry about them straying away from buffs.

There's nothing new about this routine, other than cutting out Lullaby and the technique of staged pulling (using Lullaby to sleep a bird at camp). What /RDM does -- or should do -- is something more like staggered pulling: one bird at a time, for as long as the party lasts. Use your good judgment when it comes to pulling. Allow time for the bird to reflect elegy onto you and fly to camp. Discourage your healer from using Erase -- encourage them to Haste you, instead.

RDM's Fast Cast trait, combined with Marchx2, combined with Haste ... makes it very unlikely that you'll suffer any penalty from being Elegy'd throughout the EXP party.

I also find that melee are more focused both when chains are high and when they feel that another party member (i.e. the Bard) is in danger if they don't hurry up and kill their bird. I like to believe that BRD/RDM takes advantage of the 'protect the support player!' mentality ... but I can't say for sure.

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A note on Skill and CHR in merits
You don't need much of either to pull Colibri effectively. Elegy is not often resisted. What you need to wear to be comfortable will depend on your merits and your financial means. Try to find the minimum amount of Skill, M.Acc, and CHR that you need to be consistent -- then wear the minimum and put Fast Cast and MP everywhere else.

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Full disclosure
My ninja subjob is at lvl23. It is slowly getting experience through CampaignOps and rare bits of soloing over the weekend. My bard career is broken up with breaks of between 2-13months when life catches up with me.

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If you have specific questions about gear or technique, feel free to email me for a more personalized answer.