Duoing QuestionFollow

SMN+BST is a killer combo for sure. Can't go wrong with two BSTs either. I don't think PUP falls in the same class with BST & SMN for low-manning, I think their automatons would die too quickly as melees and wouldn't be much use as healers. PUP is more like two non-pet jobs than a true pet job in my eyes. So you'd likely have the same problems you do on DRG.

Edit: Also, of the three, I'd say SMN is the most in-demand right now for other areas of the game as well. All three jobs have weakness procs in Voidwatch, but PUP & BST ones are extremely hard to hit so most people don't bother getting one. SMN procs are slightly easier, and so people do tend to try to get a SMN in their group. Also, Ramuh's stun capacity has no equal in the entire game, which makes it very useful for the more difficult fights like Arch Dynamis Lord.

Edited, May 1st 2012 2:55pm by Pergatory

You using Drg/Mage or Drg/Sam?

Is there really anything life-threatening to a level 99 dragoon/mage with access to super jump in the game outside of endgame content?

My guess is that you can probably solo everything non-event-related on DRG (and anything that's soloable is by definition easier in a duo), so I wouldn't suggest actually picking up a new job, unless you actually want to play them.

If you're adamant against drg/mage, I believe that Drg/Sam can still Seigan+Third eye, and trigger healing breath (once a minute?) if your jump are on timers?

The biggest tip I can give to a DRG playing with a BST is to make sure the BST is up to snuff with WS -> Snarl, or even subbing WAR and using Provoke -> Snarl to pin hate on the pet right before or after your WS. You are still a primary DD with some of the highest spike dmg in the game, so you will probably be tanking 99% of the time later on (BST pet won't hold over an early drakes without you making an effort to help him with snarl or jumps). That being said, remember that some of your jumps shed hate and use them appropriately. Don't be afraid to try outside-the-box mechanics or subjobs. Do anything you can to pin hate on your BST friend and then have him snarl to pin hate back on pet. One thing to consider is leveling as DRG / THF and using things like Trick-Attack on BST -> WS -> BST/WAR provoke -> Snarl. In the span of a couple seconds your pet will have so much enmity it will almost guarantee neither you nor the BST will be taking any hits for the life of the mob. If he's /DNC, a nice AOE waltz or Ghetto-Voke before snarl will accomplish the same thing without leaving you with only Breaths to keep you alive. If you are still looking to move away from DRG, but don't want to play a support role job, the THF class itself makes another excellent partner for the same reasons I just listed.

If your friend plans on leveling a healing class like RDM, SCH, WHM down the road, it may be a good idea to put DRG on hold to level with those, since it will be incredibly easy to kill quickly and stay alive. You'll be helping your friend and yourself. But only do this if you have a job you'd like to level with your friend that isn't DRG in the meantime, don't force yourself into it. Other people have suggested SMN, I agree this works very well. A buffing class will also help a great deal (a haste spell alone will make any melee class level a significant amount faster). BST + BST and BST + SMN are far and away the most effective 2's combos for low-manning experience and NMs, and you'd be surprised what you can take down by just throwing pets at something til it dies, but don't get yourself wrapped into some cookie cutter combo - just play what you want to play and when you hit Abyssea it'll all move along so quick it won't matter.

I would still use the GoV strategy, but tailor the level you go so that 2 people can easily bash easy prey mobs for page completion. Yesterday my BF and I did King Ranperre's Tomb for a couple of pages. Unfortunately I kept zoning us out, which was defeating the purpose, so we ended up moving. Our plans were to start on page 3 and move up as we leveled before having to move out.