I found wearing the Tunica (plus other worker gear) does reduce the breakage of my sickles. A full stack of sickles can last me two-three runs at two hours each. It is pricey, but worth it in the long run.
Just wondering if the HQ version of this set does anything more than simply add more defense? I'm a miner and I have the field set. I break a lot less pickaxes, would this HQ set improve it even more?
To be honest, I really do believe that the HQ gives better results.
As an experienced miner, I've mined for hours with both sets, and experience the best, and I mean the best, with the HQ. Just yesterday I got two darksteel ores in one point, and that was in Zeruhn Mines where your lucky to get 2 per 70 inventory trip. I will fill up inventory space with all iron/darksteel ore and still have PLENTY of picks left.
Call it luck or whatever but I say just invest in it. If you don't find good results, just resell. You won't lose a dime.
The HQ versions of Fields don't make it have a less chance of items breaking or getting higher chance of rare/very rares, overall it's just a useless HQ. Don't get these equips unless you want to blow off some gil.