Puppetmaster (Final Fantasy XI)

Puppetmasters are entertainers from the far East on Vana'diel. They use their puppets to entertain audiences, but they are also effective in combat. This is a playable advanced job in Final Fantasy XI since the addition of Treasures of Aht Urhgan. Puppets are summonable by the Puppetmaster just like a Dragoon summons his wyvren. The puppet joins the puppetmaster in battle, but unlike any other pet in Final Fantasy, the puppet can actually be equipped with a new head or chasis as well a dozen special upgrades.

Puppetmasters are accompanied by an Automaton, which according to the story of Final Fantasy XI, is a recent invention of a prominent engineer of the Eastern Empire, a galka named Ghatsad. Traditionally, the entertainers of the past had used marionettes to entertain crowds. These new creations are built and maintained by their puppetmaster owners and function without the use of any strings or other attachment. Instead a puppetmaster actually has a remote which he can use to control his pet.

From some of the descriptions of Puppetmasters released by Square-Enix, there are some very vague connections between Puppetmasters and a recurring job in the Final Fantasy series; Machinist.

Becoming a Puppetmaster
Quest: No Strings Attacked. Talk to Shamarhaan, an Elvaan in Bastok Markets next to the fountain. He will tell you to talk to one of his students, Iruki-Waraki in Aht Urhgan. Go to Aht Urhgan Whitegate, and find Iruki-Waraki at K-9. He tells you to bring him an Automaton. From there, go to the Automaton Shop in the same zone at I-7. Ghastad, the Galka who owns the shop and builder of Automatons, he will tell you about old relic Automaotns and where to fing them. You need to travel to Arrapago Reef. Go to the Northern Port, and ride the boat to Nashmau, or take the Runic Portal to Azouph Isle, and run through Caedarva Mire to I-6 and zone into Arrapago Reef. Once in Arrapagp Reef, go to H-10, and aboard the first ship you come across there should be a Skeleton, and a Lamia, as well as an ???. When it's safe, touch the ??? to get the relic head and frame. Then return them to Ghastad at the Automaton shop, and let him work on it. Wait until the next Game-Day, and then talk to him again. Then, go back to Iruki-Waraki, and choose a name for your new Automaton. You will score an Animator, and the ability to become A Puppetmaster. {congratulations}

Puppetmaster Abilities
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Job Abilities

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Job Traits

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Strengths

 * Puppetmasters can do appreciable damage when you consider both their automaton as well as their own ability to fight.
 * Automatons can be configured to do a variety of different abilities and fill multiple rolls.
 * Puppetmasters can gain experience better soloing than most jobs.

Weaknesses

 * Puppetmasters give the enemy the most TP of any job, meaning the enemy is more likely to perform weapon skills more often or with greater strength.
 * Puppetmasters are among the least wanted jobs for parties.

Warrior
One of the best choices for any Puppetmaster while inside a party. Offers Provoke, allowing a Puppetmaster with a healing Automaton to back up tank. Offers Attack Bonus, Double Attack, and Berserk for increased damage of the Puppetmaster. This is one of the strongest subs for a DD PUP.

Monk
A good alternate choice to WAR. Gives the Puppetmaster higher level Martial Arts traits, Boost to raise their Damage and help keep hate off their Automaton while solo, as well as Counter, Dodge, Focus, and Chakra. A viable sub for Solo play, and decent for Party as well.

White Mage
With a Healing Automaton, a Puppetmaster is able to main heal, fully replacing a White Mage, and freeing up Red Mages and Summoners to preform their jobs. Aside from this, White Mage offers little for a Puppetmaster inside and outside of parties.

Ninja
A very good sub job for a solo Puppetmaster. Utsusemi will eat damage, allowing the Automaton to take on a DD roll. Not advisable for parties, since it grants little that will be useful for a party.

Dragoon
Another good, yet over-looked support job for Puppetmaster. /DRG offers Attack Bonus at earlier levels, and Jump can be a nice addition to a PUP's damage. There are also many pieces of gear that add Haste and Attack + that make this an acceptible support job for a Solo or Party PUP.

Bard
Bard is an often overlooked Support job for PUP. While it doesn't offer much for the PUP themselves, it can really bring a lot to a full party. Raising Accuracy, Attack, Defense, or Haste. The Puppetmaster's Automaton can still put up some good numbers for DD, while the Master sacrifices a few numbers for the betterment of the party as a whole. Also acceptible for solo play, with Paeon and Mambo.