I should also mention that I gave it to an Elvaan Warrior friend of mine. He had a higher mind than me, but a lower mind than the taru. He had a lower intelligence than me, but a higher charisma. Not sure how his charisma compared to the taru redmage.
It procced more for him than it did for me, but nowhere near as much as it did for the RDM. Perhaps once every two fights.
I had one of these for a time, as a Mithran Thief, but the Def Down never went off. I gave it to a taru Red Mage friend of mine, thinking that the weapon might be broken, and holy god, it went off an average of three times per fight. So, I'm thinking that the chance for the proc to go off is based on a stat. I'm thinking that stat might be Mind. Mine was modified with a spike necklace to 14 (I think). Her mind was a good 28 or 30.
If anyone has done any other tests or has any other theories, I'd be incredibly pleased to get this pinned down.
I dunno about that. I ran through about 600xp worth of monsters in Qufim (not the most scientific measurement, I know) (23 Mith THF), not a single additional effect. I had MND 17. Then I bought 2 Saintly Rings to test this theory, bringing MND to 17+4. Killed another 1000xp of monsters in Qufim and still didn't see a DEF down.
I'll probably try it out again in a few more levels. In the meantime, stats say that a Taru RDM beats a Mithra THF in: INT, MND, CHR (and MP of course). Maybe I'll try boosting those other stats later.
Well, regardless of what stat boosts your weapon's additional effect chance of sticking, I would hardly consider fighting 3 ITs (about 600xp) in Qufim a fair test of the weapon. Go fight a few easy prey mobs in Jugner or La Theine and see if the weakened defense effect sticks.
by now I've been through 2 or 3 levels of using this dagger and it still hasn't clicked in once. Now, whether or not 2-3 levels is statistically significant, I don't much care, because either way, if the add effect is so irregular/infrequent, it's not much worth using anyway.
I should also note that I've used it on plenty of too-easy, easy, DC, etc. prey as well. No effects noted. My experiments with the +4 MND boost noted above, though, have not continued past what I posted above.
not to mention that the weapon's add effect is fairly useless if it only hits easy prey (who needs the help?). It's most useful if it lowers def on high defense monsters like crabs in Qufim.
easy prey at higher levels = harder, or if you're fighting a named monster that is easy prey (like warchief vatgit at level 19 thief) and you get your *** handed too you, opening the fight with a 150 sneak attack.