String Theory: A Puppetmaster's Guide *NEW*

I totally agree. Maybe double the rp for the second set of gear if they had to for 'balance' reasons. Even the crap you choose a path for with airlixirs can be changed for 1 silt from the npc Nolan in Norg...

FYI the quest "A Barrel of Laughs" that rewards the player with one of four, pet-centered earrings: if you have thrown away your earring, you can get a new one of your choice for 50,000 Bayld. Talk to Peladi Shalmohr in the Mummer's coalition, she'll yell at you for losing it, then offer your choice of earring for the 50,000 Bayld.

The BGwiki only states you can exchange the earring once per conquest tally by trading her your current one and spending 10,000 Bayld. Nothing about reacquiring one. I learned this the hard way after I tossed my Gelos earring lol

I didn't even know you could change them at all. I don't recall that info being on the wiki when I did the quest a couple years ago, but it's absolutely possible I missed it. Thanks for the info!

If I can only afford the Su4 Fists, how do those compare vs Sakpata's Fists, especially for overdrive sets?

Much better, 20% WSD of sorts is a lot better than all stats +20, sakpata's as far as pet is concerned is a nuke piece

Thank you for this because I tossed mine ages ago lmao

The much more important part of the question is, should you spend the ~40m on a +1, will you get 40m worth of use out of it, or should you save and get the +2

Will you ever get the +2, if so don't waste the effort on the +1, unless you need it and can't wait for +2.

You're just lighting gil on fire with a +1 and unless you absolutely have to, you shouldn't. But also, if you never need +2, then it's fine. The amount of times you need +2 are zero. 5% more damage for an extra ~70m.

If you can accomplish what you need to accomplish with sakpata, you shouldn't waste the gil on the +1.

Depends on the persons situation, time is money but if they're doing dyna-d on the regular that's 3 runs minimum for "free" to cap out a Su4 with a 10m initial investment, depending on how RP stones are circulated, you can use those to recoup some of the cost or to get it maxed out quicker

Could someone explain what the PUP earring with Maneuvers +1 actually does?

just +1 to stat given when using a maneuver depending on element
fire=str
water=mnd
thunder=dex etc

edit: Apparently also increases overload threshold?
https://www.bg-wiki.com/ffxi/Category:Maneuver

When you use a maneuver it gains 1 stat extra.

+1 str for fire
+1 dex for thunder

I’ll do “things that haven’t scaled with iLvl” for 300 Alex.

it's +13~15 depending on gear per maneuver, so not terrible, but yeah hasnt kept up with players stat increases

So depending on how much gear you can acquire with "Maneuver +__" you can get up to +13~15 per stat, depending on your set?

Yea, np. When I did the quest it was yearssss ago, and I hadn't even unlocked PUP yet let alone thought of getting anything other than gelos. Probably at the time SMN was still the meta basically for reisenjima NMs and aeonics?

I only recently took an interest in PUP, and was looking at itemsets for different builds and thought...I tossed my gelos earring... FAKK!

It doesn't say anything about re-acquiring it on the wiki so I dreaded the fact that it was probably one of those items where you drop it, too bad. I was pleasantly surprised when she yelled at me for 50k bayld for another one lol

You get i think 7 at base per maneuver, at 99 with no +maneuver gear, +3 af gloves is +5, and the earring is +1, you can also swap in midnights for another +2 for a total of +15.

Bg-wiki version has the Overdrive attachment set for SS frame, but what should my attachements look like for VE Overdrive, and which instances should I use VE in overdrive over SS?

Without going into much detail, it can be very circumstantial. Probably not the answer you are looking for but its the truth.

More often than not you can count on a handful of common attachments regardless though.

Turbo Charger 2 (1 as well potentially)
ARK 4
Optic Fiber 1
Optic Fiber 2
Attuner
Magniplug 2
Magniplug 1
Flame Holder

The remaining slots are flexible depending on the encounter, defensive needs, ws choice. Skillchains or no skillchains and the intended active maneuvers as a result.

Messing around with different set ups for pup just requires an understanding of how the attachments and maneuvers actually effect the automaton, followed by time just playing the job and experimenting.

Your text to link here...

That is an older guide but a good place to start for various set ups.

It probably doesn't work, but has anyone tried tossing their earring and then claiming a different one after buying it from her, then reclaiming the tossed one from the Recycling Bin? I doubt it works because the Recycle Bin is an extension of your inventory, but curious if anyone tested it on this one. I tested it on VR Rings, but the instructions require you to zone after tossing it (to completely clear it from your character) and then you can get a new one. Probably designed the same, just wondering.

Prime is more about master damage, not really Automaton. Automaton will get lots of defensive stats from +3 level and lots of accuracy, but PDL +12% can't really rival R25 Xiu or Kenkonken with AM3 for puppet damage.

As far as master damage, Godhands are better for PUP in majority if not all cases.

I don't think the damage limit does anything for the automaton I don't think you can attack cap it on most things so its totally useless. It is however your best option for if you are only tanking on the robot and want to make it take a lot less damage(even though it takes very little with the right attachments/gear anyways) I think unless they one day give a spirit link like ability for the auto(to give it songs which will never happen) it will be damn near impossible to see a use for the PDL on the automaton. Maybe during Overdrive but that is the only possibility that I can think off and either way Xiucoatl or Kenkonken will do more for the auto's damage.

As for master I find the damage with the stage 5 is very good on PUP(master level 50 so I usually sub Dark Knight) I hit very contestant numbers with only last resort and very few buffs for master so its pretty good, though most stuff I do I am using the tank auto like when I'm doing omen bosses/dynamis divergence. I'm tanking on PUP so for hybrid damage and robot survival its a very good option. I just don't think its a must have for PUP or MNK its good but its not amazing and most of the damage is in the white damage while the WS is just another Howling Fist when it comes to damage(very similar numbers but no FTP replication and 90% the damage is in the first hit)

All in all the stage 5 Prime is a nice toy and is situational for content as your best weapon(tank robot) if your going to do everything you can on PUP sure its good but its not something that anyone needs to hurry out and get.

Condemners with Pet: VIT+20 Damage taken -5% , is better than the +3Lvls from Prime H2H for PUP tank.

Second this.

This has to be sarcasm with the testing that the BST forum did with pet ilvl and the MEVA boost alone. Pet ilvls easily trumps Condemners because VIT+20 is worthless (not to mention +3 pet lvls is already 15-20 VIT anyways) and you can cap DT elsewhere. Also outside of Varga, Gnafron's Adargas is better anyways because it gives your tank auto more HP which equals more regen from ARK.

There's no getting past Peladi.