My Thoughts On Evasion Skill Vs. Evasion +

::Note::
This Page is originally intended to post my long response to comments made on the Elusive Earring page, found here:
http://www.ffxiah.com/item.php?id=14761
Just so you're not completely lost on parts.
That said, this is still a forum, so feel free to post your responses to my thoughts like normal.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

I have been thinking long and hard about the difference between Evasion Skill + and Evasion +. I have been looking over other people's opinions and thoughts to see what if any of it make sense, and I have come up with this:

There is indeed no direct documented proof that Evasion Skill + is better than Evasion +. That is true, and it's hardly debatable. But there is a lot of indirect proof that it most likely is more important.

The most basic and obvious thing, is that there is a lot more Evasion + Gear than there is Evasion Skill + gear. After stating the obvious, you have to think of the reason why?

Common sense is telling me that Evasion Skill is more important. I won't say I have proof of it, but it's pretty obvious that there's some difference, most likely case is that skill + is more beneficial.

I found I really liked Grondell's statement, for it seemed to make a lot of sense. Evasion skill is capped out at 75, the most being 276 evasion before merits. Like us, mobs will have at most an evasion skill of 276 at level 75 following the curve, for every Monster has a job, and skill levels are based on jobs.

Evasion skill +, being from Merits or from gear itself, would thus raise your skill level higher than your current job level, thus giving you a base evasion of a higher level following the skill curve. At this point, Evasion + gear will just make you evade better at that level, making up for any accuracy a monster has, after ignoring the skill level difference from mob level.

Thus, evasion + gear would enhance your ability to evade at your current skill level, just like Accuracy + helps you hit at your current skill level. So stacking Evasion + gear in slots that don't have Evasion Skill + -would- give you the most Evasion possible.

I won't say that 1 Evasion skill = 2 evasion, seeing as there is no documented proof, but I will also say that it is very easy to believe.

Now, the other part of this post I wanted to deal with Arivale's comment.

First, you're right, there is no Dark Magic +, only Dark Magic Skill +. But you're ignoring a VERY obvious fact:
There IS Magic accuracy and Magic Attack + gear.

It's just like if you look at Weapon Skill + gear, they add to your base weapon skill, thus to your base attack and accuracy. After a certain level, the bonuses from skill is lessened, this is true, but it's also getting two things in one, for you get Attack and Accuracy + in one part rather than having to get them in different slots, which is why Weapon Skill + gear is so great and rare.

Though I cannot think of another thing Evasion skill + would grant bonuses to like Weapon Skill + does (attack and accuracy), I have to believe that it has a greater impact on overall evasion. Such as adding more evasion + than normal evasion + gear could.

All of this leads me to believe that Evasion Skill + is has more of an effect than Evasion + on gear.