To HQ or not to HQ: W. LegsFollow

Some people will look at this post as an "e-peen" post. That's fine. There is no question that an HQ like this necessarily involves some "look at me!" thinking on some level. But I'm making this post because I've thought in circles about this for a while and would love to get some outside opinions or even testimonials. I know this is "just" 1m for some... I'm just wondering what people think about the topic.

I helped start a Sky LS back in July. We've now finished the lesser gods and now primarily focus on Sea/Kirin. Soon (barring more horrible drop luck), I should get W. Legs, the one item (aside from M. Head) that I really wanted for the job I love, PLD.

I never thought that I'd consider HQing... it's 1.2m for no meaningful difference except a name and a white box. But now... HQing sort of seems like a way of commemorating the effort I put into helping build my Sky LS, manage people's wishlists (we have ensured that everyone got what they wanted in Sky before we move onto Sea, e.g.), recruit, strategize, and finally get this item. For me, it's not about what people see when they /check my character (in fact, I would be kind of embarassed to come across as an HQ junkie, or worse, fulltime WLegs PLD). It's just the feeling that I'll never get this drop again -- even if I did, I would never *take* it again, I'd rather someone else get it. I dunno, it's like buying a special edition of an album or movie or game you really love, or buying the vinyl instead of just downloading the torrent, or whatever. As for the money, 1m still seems like a lot to me, but it isn't some insane amount.

So, I've come around to thinking that it's worth it to HQ. I feel like I'll look at the item and think of our LS (which is mostly a small group of friends) and all our hard work and see it as a bit more of a "souveneir" than I would see Crimson Cuisses as. What do you all think?

If W.Legs had ever dropped while I was tied as point leader (300 points was the max bid for the item), I would have HQ'd them. Sure, it's a minor thing, but I needs to have me my white boxes.

Also, if I had gotten a second drop, I'd have put them on my mule (RDM main) rather than get both the HQ and the NQ.

And if for a small moment, when I saw the title and your name, I happened to think, "Man, I HATE that guy sometimes..." It's nothing personal. We just went 0/12 on W.Legs when I could finally lot them.

Edited, Dec 1st 2009 8:13pm by Dracoth

In my opinion, YES.

My reasoning parts from the premise that the item in itself is regarded by all the jobs that can equip it as a "Medal" of sorts, that proves to you you have extensive knowledge of Sky, at the very least. Sure, you could straight buy 'em from some LS, but if you think like me, such a rare and useful item is like a badge of honor, especially for PLD, since the wait list is usually long, and the drop rate can be horrid at times.

Of course, if I catch you wearing the NQ's, I would still be green with envy, lol, but I would never by any means berate that, since W.Legs for me have an intrinsecal and emotional value that makes them worthwhile to HQ, but I know well not everyone shares my point of view.

EDIT:



By all means go for it. It is exactly like getting that "super special limited edition" CD from the band you love, only that it is for the job we all grown to love and play: PLD. Man I wish I had a pair ; ;

Edited, Dec 1st 2009 11:36pm by Cigarman

Can't you upgrade anything else that would make your PLD better with the money first? Lamia Kaman +1, Toreador's Ring for Atonement-spam TP build, Gigant Mantle for Cure Cheat setup, Merman's Rings/Earrings for MDT set, etc...

If you're sitting pretty and have nothing else to spend it on, go for it. If you are postponing upgrades for a shiny white box of does nothing, then at least make 100% sure you've determined that you couldn't live without it.

The end decision here is do what you can live with. My recommendation is that you try really hard to explain to yourself why the white box is bad on that item, but if you really will hate yourself without it, then get it anyway.

I've always thought that particular white box either means you are rich (own everything you could ever want so it doesn't matter), dumb (can't invest gil intelligently), or rich and dumb (got lucky with something and have no clue how to use your money well), but I can see from your OP that it's not that simple.

Either way you go, congratulations on a fantastic item that I've personally yet to attain (NQ sitting in the MH just waiting for the drop as we speak). :)

Lol, nailed the head right there. I'd go as far as NPCing some crap if I was like really, really close to the asking price. It's not just a regular piece of equip, it's FAST PANTS.

Yep, I definitely hear you guys out on not spending the gil for this particular HQ when there are other major gear gaps that need to be filled. For me, at this point, barring super-expensive stuff like Ares/Relic (and a couple other things... Toreador's Ring would cost me 3.7m for +2 acc, for example), RareEx stuff I'm already working on like Homam, and a couple things I'll get as soon as the AH price drops back to my liking (HQ -MDT rings), my PLD's AH gear is pretty much done.

You guys don't really think that after all the advice I've gotten from you (and hito, Scar, few others) that I'd be running around with subpar gear do you? ;) Just drop rates holding me back~

I don't find this opinion wrong at all - it's just not mine.

With HQ abjurations, the only debate is "Do I have everything else I could reasonably get with that gil vs. how badly do I want the White Box." This isn't something math can answer. It's not even an issue of "You're gimp because you don't have +2 more fire resist!" Therefore, it's not something that I think will ever have a consensus of "You must deal with abjurations this way!"

Seems to me like you *want* to HQ them, but are having a hard time justifying it to yourself. If this is the case, if you NQ'd them you'd feel bad further down the line; and that's all the justification that's needed to HQ them, imo. I HQ'd mine and was happy I did so.

I had this discussion with a couple of people right before I decided to HQ my legs.

There were a few things that basically helped me decide to HQ it. I would not probably get the drop again and I might reqret not making them HQ since it is a piece that could be full-timed depending on what you are doing or if you have no other options. I have several jobs that can wear them so that was also a factor. When I did it, it took every drop of gil I had left, but I can honestly say that I will never regret making them HQ.

IMO if you can afford it or can wait until you can, HQ.

I regret not getting the "blood mask" but that is because the name is so 1337

I don't think any more or less of anyone who has NQ or HQ gear, but there is a reason to HQ beyond epeen.

The Fire Resist, although a very small factor, is a viable reason to HQ them. The more Fire Resist you can cram into as few slots as possible, the more MDT/MDB you can wear elsewhere. It's a small thing, but for some of us we like to min/max like that. (Not from any standpoint of personal ego, it's just something I find enjoyable, working out different combinations of gear to get a tiny edge here and there)

I have the NQ.

I don't have a white box.

And yet you know... when I use it I still think of the great bunch of people I worked hard with to obtain it :)

The HQ for Crimson legs isn't very high, the functionality difference isn't very high either.

If you have other stuff to buy, I don't think anyone really sees blood cuisses as an epeen item (I know I don't when I see people have it) so it would be up to you.

If you think there's even a sliver of a chance that you might regret NOT HQ'ing it, you better do it. You will most likely only have one shot at it. You could always spend a long weekend farming a bunch of gil, but you'll probably never get a second abjuration.

Yep :)

Sounds like you have your answer from your response above, too.

Unless your crazy rich, I wouldn't recommend it.