By Fenrir.Motenten 2012-04-02 12:08:27
Cure set:
Assuming Hume whm/sch with Light Arts and no Healing Magic merits.
With current set (base + cureskin = total):
Cure 3: 431 + 150 = 581
Cure 4: 806 + 282 = 1088
Cure 5: 1033 + 361 = 1394
If you swapped body to, say, Facio Bliaut for capped potency:
Cure 3: 447 + 111 = 558
Cure 4: 834 + 208 = 1042
Cure 5: 1074 + 268 = 1342
So direct amount cured increases by ~3.5% - 4%, but total cured+stoneskin protection drops by ~4%. You're basically right at the point where I consider it worthwhile to switch to AF3+2 body despite not capping cure potency.
Suggestions:
Get a Sirona's Ring (10 skill, 3 mnd, 3 vit; single most cost-effective improvement you can make)
Get an Ephedra Ring (slightly more expensive, but still a good improvement over mnd rings; keep a mnd ring for curagas, though)
Get an Orison Earring (drops from chariot that gives key item for Rani; any group going for Rani kills will likely let you have it for free)
Improve staff to Arka IV.
Staff+earring puts you at 46% cure potency, comfortably above the threshhold for switching to Orison+2 body. Beyond that you'd need a Roundel Earring to let you start switching more stuff around, and that's probably a more long-term goal (still fairly expensive, depending on your income options).
Stoneskin set:
Assuming hume whm/sch, you should have 91 base mnd. That means you need a mere 267 Enhancing Magic skill to cap stoneskin. Light Arts should put you around 400 (not even counting whatever you have in gear), which means you need less than 50 mnd to cap stoneskin,.
In other words, there is absolutely no point in keeping mnd in your enhancing magic set simply for stoneskin (this goes for your rdm questions as well). Ignore that and just focus on max Enhancing, and toss in haste or Conserve MP or whatever to fill it out.
Though for bars, 4/5 AF3+2 set plus relic(+2) pants. For Boosts/etc, Enhancing Magic skill such as Hyksos Robe.