Questions on magic setFollow

My fellow Paladins. Recently I have started to invest both time and gil on a magic redux set for my Tarutaru Paladin. I have a couple of questions. First off, here's my gear:

Weapon: Iron Ram Lance
Grip: Nothing (Ugrading to either Shark or Sword)
Ranged: Lamian Kaman (obvious upgrade would be +1)
Head: Iron Ram Sallet
Neck: Parade/Harmonia's (upgrades would include Ritter and that new Bloodbead)
Ears: Merman's
Body: Iron Ram Hauberk
Hands: Iron Ram Dastanas
Rings: Merman's
Back: Lamia Mantle +1
Waist: Warwolf/Swift (looking for enough rank for Lieutenant's Sash)
Legs: Iron Ram Breeches
Feet: Iron Ram Greaves

Ok, so assume the following. Capped Shellra V. Full barspell merits. A 1000 DMG Flare, no resists.

In my understanding, assuming the listed upgrades and gear, I should have reached the cap of -50% magic damage taken. 23.43%(240/1024 ???) from gear and 27.4%(?) from Shellra V.

At this point it's clear that the Flare should do 500 DMG to my char instead of the usual 1000. Here comes the tricky part. When does MDB calculate? At the same time M% or after. Maybe even before?

Let's say after first. 500 DMG base with 33MDB (assuming Barfira with max merits) comes to around a 335DMG blast.

If it's calculated at the same time, the reduction is roughly 83%, resulting in a 170DMG blast.

Calculating before, results in 333DMG.

Further reducing this damage with a /RDM sub for an additional 10MDB will result in a 280/70/280 DMG blast respectively.

The first obvious question is: which is the correct calculation? I can't test this myself since my PLD at the moment is just a toy, and I'm forced to go BRD to events (yay...)

The second question is, without taking Aegis into the calculations, which is the absolute best straight magic reduction set a PLD can get? Seems to me Resentment cape is situational for those odd times you don't have a capped Shellra V. Mind you, this isn't a resistance set, I still have long long ways to go with that one.

As always, I'd appreciate feedback from my fellow Paladins.


EDIT: Since I was curious, I found out what the best possible -dmg set there is available, and since I'm pretty sure I don't know how to calculate it, any math gurus please help me! Comes out to this:

Aegis + Shellra V = -50%magic dmg. cap.

Lamian Kaman +1 (+2 MDB)
Full IR gear + Ataractic Solea (+ 18 MDB)
Static Earring (+2 MDB)
Shadow Ring (Darksday +10MDB)
Volunteer's Ring (+3 MDB)
Resolute Belt (+2 MDB)
Lamia Mantle +1 (+4 MDB)
/WHM (+12 MDB)
Diabolos buff (+10?MDB)
Full merit Barspell (+10 MDB)

Comes to: MDB +73

Also, assuming Magus' Roll with a BLU in party is MDB instead of -DMG taken (I tried looking for it and couldn't find a definite answer). Gives +33 on XI with BLU in party. If it is indeed MDB, total comes to +106MDB.

So, -50% magic damage taken AND 106%MDB. How does it calculate? Seems to me only mobs with Magic Attack Bonus can hurt you this way, unless it caps at some point.


Edited, Dec 14th 2009 12:12am by Cigarman

Ok, took a look at the thread. I suck at math, but here's my attempt.

1) D
2) Multiple-Target Damage Reduction
3) resist
4) Staff Bonus
5) Day | Weather Bonus
6) Magic Burst Bonus
6a) Magic Burst Bonus Gear #1
6b) Magic Burst Bonus Gear #2
7) MAB / MDB
8) Target Magic Damage Adjustment

D = 1000 (assuming the Flare example)

D x 1.0 = DmtR = 1000

1000 x resist (1.0) = 1000

1000 x SB/Day/Weather/MB/MBg (all 1.0) = 1000

MDB: 1000 x (1/1.33)

1000 x .75 = 750

750 x (.5 magic damage modifier) = 375 DMG on first case scenario. Capped Shellra V and enough -MDT. MDB +33.


Ok, now looking at the calculation for Aegis (assuming Magus Roll won't wrok)

1000 x (1.00/1.73 =.58 (if rounded up to your disadvantage)) = 580 / .5 = 290 DMG assuming MDB+73.

Now with a +33 Magus Roll, assuming it works:

(1000(1/2.06))/(.5) = DMG
(1000x.49)/(.5) = DMG
(490)/(.5) = 245.

Conclusion: With the best gear available and buffed to hell and back, you can achieve a 75.5% damage reduction from spells.

amidoinitrite?

Thanks for the link :)

EDIT: Holy hell at the diminishing returns from MDB.

EDIT2: Didn't account for the ~10% proc on Shadow Ring negating all damage. So you have a static -75.5% plus another 10% to be negated. I don't know if to straight up add it for -85.5%, et ceteris paribus. (Meaning the only spell you eat is Flare with a D of 1000)

EDIT3: Let's see the best possible w/o Aegis vs. best with Aegis.

w/o: MDT-50%, MDB:

Kaman+1: +2
IR + Solea: +18
Lamia Mantle +1: +4
Diabolos: +10(?)
Bar spell: +10
Magus Roll, BLU on PT XI: +33
Total: 77
282DAMAGE (71.8% magic reduction)


w Aegis: MDT-50%, MDB+106: 245DAMAGE (75.5% magic reduction)

The difference is smaller than I thought, really. Only a 3.7% decrease in magic damage taken with an Aegis. However, you get to keep your sword (A+ skill caps at 267) instead of fighting with Polearm (E, caps at 200). That alone is huge, since you obviously ain't gonna Penta Proto-Ultima sometime soon lol. Also, you lose TP when switching from sword to IR Lance.

Lastly, I've looked for the absolute best magic redux set without sacrificing sword.

Joy/Palmerin's/Kaman+1/nada
IR/anything/Merman/Merman
IR/IR/Merman/Merman
Resentment/Sash/Coral+1/Solea

So, MDT-50%.
And, MDB16 from gear, +10 Bar spell, +10 Diabolos, +33Magus = +69MDB
295DAMAGE. (70.5% Damage reduced vs Aegis 75.5/85.5%)

Only a 5% difference overall with Aegis, however, there's also the enmity, HP factors to take into account while tanking (exceeds the subject of this post). Moreover, Aegis enables the equipping of a Shadow Ring, which negates 10% more, making the difference around 15% more damage reduced over time assuming a constant and equal amount of nukings of the same damage, all while allowing to keep sword. If you choose to use a Shadow instead of a Merman's, you can close the gap a bit if you use the following setup:

Joy/Palmerin/Kaman+1/nada
IR/anything/Merman/Merman
Coral+1/IR/Shadow/Merman
Resentment/Sash/Coral+1/solea

After calculations (both cap 50% MDT):

Darksday: 21 from gear, 10 bar, 10 diabolos, 33 magus = 74 = 287DMG (71.3% +- ~10 = 81.3% vs 85.5% Aegis, 4.2% difference, pretty close)
Restday: 11 from gear, "" = 64 = 305DMG (69.5% +- ~10% = 79.5% vs 84.5% Aegis(removed MDB+10), for a 5% difference)

CONSCLUSION: Aegis offers, while fully pimped and buffed, a 5% extra reduction in damage. However, given the dramatic diminishing returns from MDB, might be worth it to take around an extra 5-10% magic damage, sacrificing MDB for acc and haste for Atonement, which is the true beauty of Aegis. But was nice to come to the conclusion that gearswapping for big nukes (Hello Citadel Buster) while keeping sword out is only 5% more damage over relic shield.

Now, I'm off to do a spreadsheet on the diminishing returns on MDB.

Edited, Dec 14th 2009 4:48pm by Cigarman