Piper's Torque Info PlzFollow

(Long time reader, few times poster here...)
I recently got my Temp torque and was looking into getting a wind torque but then the update brings us this:

Piper's Torque
CHR+5
Wind instrument skill +5
Campaign: Wind instrument skill +10
LV69 BRD

As you all can see its a beautiful piece, and was wondering if anyone found where this comes from yet. I have a strong feeling it's from the new NMs in the beastmen strongholds in the past, if anyone should happen to find it plz let us know, info on zone, pos, strat if possible would be appreciated,tyvm.

[Whm 75  5/5 8/20]  [Thf 75  5/5 13/20]  [Blm 75  5/5 16/20]

[Brd 75  5/5 7/20]  [Sam 75  5/5 16/20]  [Smn 75  5/5 0/20]

[Blu 75  5/5 20/20]  [Bst 75  5/5 0/20]  [War 75  5/5 0/20]

[Rdm 75  4/5 16/20]  [Mnk 75  5/5 0/20]  [Nin 75  2/5 0/20]

hmm, did a search on wiki, and this is what i found:

Observant Zekka
Beadeaux (S)

Job: Black Mage/White Mage
Family: Imps
Crystal: Dark
Weak to: Light

Notorious Monster

Found on the lower level in the center of J-6 on the first map, behind the Quadav Charm door

So wait? Do you need a Quadav Charm from the present to open (= trade it to the door) the door to get to the NM?

Are you so sure this item is real?? i cant get much info on it

Observant Zekka spawns at J-6 (first map) on the lower level of Beadeaux[S]. There is a gate at I-9/I-10 that can only be opened with a Quadav Charm. The Quadav Charm can be obtained by killing De'Vyu Headhunter at the same location (I-9/I-10) in present day Beadeaux. Once you have obtained the Quadav Charm, you must trade it to the gate to open the door. You will keep the charm, and it is possible to open the gate from behind by just clicking on the door (no need to trade charm).

Behind the door is a narrow but long path with no monsters. If needed, you can pull the Imp to this location without having to worry about other mobs. It is long enough for SMN and BST to work their pets if needed.

On the way to the imp you will encounter Va'Gho Bloodbasked (NM). Make sure you do not agro this NM and, if you plan to pull the imp back, have someone stationed here to keep an eye on his location. He can block the path of whomever is pulling the imp back. Best results is to use 'moving', 'clear' or 'blocked' to update the pullers status.

Just beyond the NM is the Imp, it can be pulled from the upper level. If you plan to pull it back to the safe camp, most jobs will need to reapply sneak after agro'ing it. The Imp does not always start casting on agro. It resists sleep, lullaby, bind and gravity(I think). It moves at normal imp speed, ie: fast. The best job to pull is BST and SMN, they will not lose their sneak status and can easily run to the safe area without problems. A note for SMN's, you will probably need to recast avatar after passing the Quadav NM.

The Imp will counter any weaponskills with frentic rip, and will counter any magic (not just nukes) with AM of the same type *INSTANT CAST*. It is possible to avoid magic counter by using spells when he is busy doing something else, as he is not like colibri and learns/queues spells, I belive this may also be the same during Weaponskills. It also hits like a truck, 200+ DMG on a Taru BRD/WHM, 350+ crits. Zekka strangely does not counter avatar physical bloodpacts.

It was not possible to defeat this with 2xSMN, 1xRDM and 1xBRD. Zekka kills avatars too fast to control him this way. Our RDM left and we got a third SMN and we were able to defeat zekka then. SMN mp was very low even after everyone 2hr'ed when it did die.

I have also read that BST can solo zekka.

Observant Zekka is a 4 hour repop.

No drop! :(


Edited, Sep 22nd 2008 5:15pm by Asmoranomar

ONLY 13 people = easy? That seems pretty NOT easy to me.

That's the door to qu'lun dome, way down in the basement in present day beadeaux. I don't think that's even there in the past.

One more tidbit I couldn't find out previously. (going to add it to my origional post).

Observant Zekka is a 4 hour repop.


No drop! x 3 :(

Edited, Sep 22nd 2008 5:15pm by Asmoranomar

I think I'm going to stick with wind torque. But that's because my debuff set has like 121 CHR or something. Thinking of ditching Sha'ir Seraweels in favour of AF now as I don't know if I need the 8CHR from them as much.

After much deliberation I decided to stick with my wind. My debuff set has about 119 CHR.

Also: I've found it a lot easier to stick elegy on to the more tricky mobs recently. I haven't really changed anything in my setups at all o_o; But I'm sticking elegy on gods + Kirin a lot easier at the moment (elemental days not affecting it, made sure to check the day each time. For the most part it was fire and ice). Was just wondering if SE had perhaps ninjared something or is it just my luck in sticking things increasing o_O

In the end, even this torque is nice, the difference with Wind Torque is so small that you will hardly ever notice. Getting this is mostly for show off that you got some very rare item. I prefer inventory minus one myself .

I bet most people will have an easier time to get a Wind Torque anyway. But for some amazing reason you get Piper's first, Wind Torque will become a luxury for you. And honestly, the BC60s that drop Wind Torque are easy to do x_X, and I have done it many times; only thing is people being stupid running around in the Den of Rancor.

Edited, Sep 29th 2008 1:31am by scchan

Thanx for the negatives on this torque, and yes i have it, only bc im not buying somthing for 300k+, cannot afford it for now.

I would say it is likely a little bit of both. We already have a neck that gives Wind Instrument skill +7 at a level before this (65 as opposed to 69) and can reach points of chr where it starts becomming diminishing returns as well.

I'm a little surprised by the general lack of excitement about this item. I picked up the Piper's Torque and have no regrets. I think individual preferences will vary, but it shouldn't be dismissed as useless or a step down from the Wind Torque without considering the individual cases.

As a Mithra BRD, I'm lacking in the CHR department, 64 base. So an item with both CHR and Skill is very appealing to me. Also, the +2 Wind Skill from the Wind Torque doesn't bump me up to another March Tier.

My current gear for Elegy:

Wepaon: Terra's Staff
Sub: Earth Grip
Range: Horn+1
Ammo: ---
Head: Bard's Roundlet
Neck: Piper's Torque
Ear1: Singing Earring
Ear2: Musical Earring
Body: Sha'ir Manteel
Hands: Choral Cuffs+1
Ring1: Omega Ring
Ring2: Nereid Ring
Back: Jester's Cape+1
Waist: Gleeman's Belt
Legs: Choral Cannions+1
Feet: Goliard Clogs

With my current 3/3 Wind/Singing Merits - this gives me 64 base CHR + 47 gear CHR for a total of 111 CHR and 501 combined Wind/Singing Skill. So as you can see, the Piper's Torque allows me to clear the 110 minimum mark by gear alone.

Even when I make the improvements I want: Marduk's Tiara, Marduk's Jubbah, Balrahn's Ring (if SE ever lets us exchange), Astute Cape, Marduk's Shalwar and Shadow Clogs - my total CHR will then be 115 - 5 of which come from the Piper's Torque.

Is there a huge difference in my set ups if I replaced Piper's with Wind? Not really. Will I be able to notice a huge difference? Without a huge sample size comparing the results between the two, it's doubtful.

But do I "feel" better about 111 CHR and 501 combined skill than I do with 106 CHR and 503 combined skill? Absolutely.

I think it's a close call regardless, but I certainly don't think it should be dismissed outright as inferior. The main deciding factor for many people will be price or inventory space. I was able to find the Piper's Torque for a reasonable price and since the Wind Torque wouldn't allow me to hit a new March Tier, I already sold it.

Take all this for what you will, but I wanted to present another side of the debate.