Data for all you mages, good read.

[Eotfofyl]

robonosto.blogspot.com/2008/12/on-magic-resist-rates.html

[Nessus]

Lots of numbers, but what does it all mean? HQ staves are good?

[Mnementh]

Below .50 "base" magic hit rate:
HQ staves co-aligned in element with that of a direct-damage magic spell (and probably other types too) appear to provide a constant increase of .15 magic hit rate
NQ staves co-aligned in element with that of a direct-damage magic spell (and probably other types too) appear to provide a constant increase of .10 magic hit rate
1 point of elemental magic skill (from equipment alone?) corresponds to an increase of about .005 magic hit rate
Above .50 "base" magic hit rate:
HQ staves co-aligned in element with that of a direct-damage magic spell (and probably other types too) appear to provide a constant increase of .30 magic hit rate
NQ staves co-aligned in element with that of a direct-damage magic spell (and probably other types too) appear to provide a constant increase of .20 magic hit rate
1 point of elemental magic skill (from equipment alone?) corresponds to an increase of about .01 magic hit rate
A magic hit rate penalty appears to exist when targeting monsters higher level than you

It means that for anything you are remotely accurate on:

Each point of elemental skill gives +1% magic hit rate,
The NQ staves give +20% magic hit rate,
The HQ give +30% magic hit rate.

In melee terms, 2 accuracy = 1% hitrate. So the HQ staves would be a melee equivalent of +60 accuracy.

This says nothing about their potency though because that is pretty well known and tested, but their accuracy increase is MUCH higher than was previously thought.

Also, if you are highly innacurate on something, the bonuses are halved. So for something like Kirin maybe, or King Behemoth, they would only give +10%/+15% hitrate instead of +20%/+30%.

[Rionen]

nice, thats insane the defference, good to know though leveling Red Mage and Black next, thanks toes.