What's gimp to you? Are you gimp?
There are several types of players out there. At which point would you label a player a gimp/noob/(insert derogatory term here)? In which category do you fall?
Player A has every luxury item that can possibly benefit his class. To equip better than Player A is impossible, because Player A's gil is endless, and his equipment is perfect as far as the game allows. He uses +1 foods in every pt. His spell list is always full for his level.
Player B has only those luxury item that are especially useful. If the +1 version of an equipment gives only a trivial boost, but costs exponentially more, Player B saves his gil and makes the most out of his gil. IE: Eremite's Ring, +2 int, 2,000 gil. Eremite's Ring +1, +3 Int, 60,000 gil. Is +1 int worth 58,000 gil? Player A says yes. Player B says no. Player B uses food in every pt, though costs will determine whether the food is +1. He min/maxes his gil spending to equipment power. His spell list is full for his level as much as possible, excepting extraordinary cases like Erase, where the completion of BCNM 40 is only 8 levels away, and said spell isn't party critical to warrant a 300,000 gil pricetag.
Player C also fills out his equipment slots. His gear is up to date, and sometimes luxury, but unlike players A or B, Player C's gear isn't always optimized to his class. For example, at level 33, if Player C were a Tarutaru mage, he might still use his RSE equipment instead of gear that further enhances his strengths. This player as a 51 whm might equip a holy shield and hammer instead of a light/dark staff. His gear is current, and it's clear the intent to pull his weight in a pt is there, but he could make better choices in gear selection. Player C uses food in every pt. Player C's spell situation mirrors Player B's.
Player D also keeps his equipment slots full. However, Player D's equipment is often mildly outdated, or simply outclassed by other available gear. He could've been mistaken for Player B 10 levels ago. This player would only use food in a pt if at his level, players didn't get parties without it. Player D only buys the spells that people use most in parties. He'll have his cures and protectra's, and maybe even Barfira, but don't be asking for Barwatera or you'll be out of luck
Player E can't even keep his equipment slots full. His gear is even more dated than Player D's. Have you partied with a taru in Qufim that was still wearing his level 1 green RSE? How about the warrior in Kazham still wearing Lizard armor? Say hello to Player E. Missing equipment slots, horribly outdated gear, and not a meal in sight are the trademarks of Player E. Player E's spell situation mirror's Player D's for the most part, except Player E wouldn't have even situationally useful spells like Barfira. Cures and protects and the absolute minimum for Player E.
I actually modelled Player C after myself. That is where I fall. My gear is always up to date, but my priorities in buying for my Taru Whm have always put survivability ahead of specialization. In effect, my gear might be best classified as well suited to soloing. My philosophy has always been that a dead white mage can't cure the tank. No Astral Rings for me. +1 Saintly Rings will still enhance my effectiveness as a whm. I'm a Player C because the current thinking amongst the more experienced players is that MP > MND in terms of white magery. I'll be using a Holy Shield and whatever the best hammer is at level 51 instead of the staves because hammers and shields are the whm unique weapon set. This is how Whm's were intended to look, in my oppinion. Staves are for Blm's and Smn's, I think. I'm picking my choice in weapons based on class skill with said weapon, and not based solely on the stats accompanying the weapon. That said, I do plan to use Asklepious for the same +10% curing potency as the light staff.
What do I consider gimp? Player E is obvious. Once, when I was levelling my blm sub, I pt'd with a whm that didn't have barfira yet. Fortunately, not only did I have it, but my blm was levelled enough to have it uncapped. I hate picking up slack for someone else. Player D I'll tolerate. I believe Player D to be the most common low level type of player. It takes many levels to have the means of a Player A, B or even C. Sometimes, shear poverty keeps a potential Player B/C down. When I get to the "high levels", I'll consider Player D's gimp. By a certain level (I'd imagine 30's or so, since such was my case), players should have means of money making fairly squared away. Besides, at low to mid levels, the benefits to a party of a Player B over a Player D aren't as pronounced as they are at high levels where even a small weakness kills exp gain. In the levels where "anything can work", I won't call a Player D gimp.
