Thieving & Achieving

Due to “popular demand” from certain members of TheHelpingHand Linkshell, I am going to start writing my blog for this site again. This does not mean I have any plans to return to the Linkshell right now; there are far too many users who have deeply upset me, plus there are now certain members of this Linkshell who are on my /blacklist. I am saddened by what this Linkshell has turned into and although I did my best to try to organise/lead since Kitty’s departure, due to factors outside of my control, the Linkshell has come to stand for something I cannot associate with.

Needless to say, my best in-game friends remain on this Linkshell and it is for them that I continue this blog. Throughout everything, they have continued to support me and talk to me, both in and out of game, which is fantastic. I will always help you out in return.

So it has been nearly a month since my last entry and a lot has changed. As you may recall, I started a three-year Web Design & Development course in April which, on top of a full-time job which keeps me out of the house for twelve hours a day, has severely restricted my in-game play time. I therefore don’t play every day anymore, but I do come on as much as I can.

I have also begun work on a community site called Limit Break Radio, which was a dream come true as this guy is like an FFXI hero of mine. The interview is now accessible from the Vana’diel Profiles home page (June’s article) in both audio and text format. At the time I didn’t have a microphone (I was using a built-in one on my laptop) so my quality is appalling, and as I was nervous, I waffle immensely when I ask the questions. It’s worth hearing, however, as Aniero is an incredibly talented speaker, having a background in broadcasting.

Last week Sesh and I had the pleasure of interviewing Steak and Fusionx from the other popular FFXI community and Podcast, Pet Food Alpha and due to a new microphone and a bit of rehearsal, my delivery is much better. This article will be available in July. Steak is another great presenter, and also very funny. Worth checking these Podcasts out if you have the time.

But in the meantime, keep an eye out for Level Down, and you can slowly track my rise to FFXI stardom! And, if you haven’t already done so, create a page about yourself on Vana’diel Profiles – I’ll add you to my friend list.

In game, I’ve been hard at work with levelling THF, and last night I got 30k duoing with Teila in the Mire and hit L75!

Hallelujah, hallelujah!

I have been levelling THF since around January 2006, when my WHM seemed to have come to a halt at L58. I then took THF to L50, went back to levelling SMN, then went to WHM, then went to THF again and took it to L60, then went and took COR to L75, and THEN got back on the horse with THF. So in the time it took me to get L75 on THF (nearly 2.5yrs), I managed to get two other jobs to L75. This was seriously hard work, but I’m so pleased as it’s the job I’ve been passionate about ever since Bassmundo sold it to me with his dagger-spinning antics many moons ago. I’m now determined to Merit it to the hilt, get the best gear ever and then try to solo impossible odds.

I also helped Akashea and Teila recently take on Cailleach Beur, a Skeleton NM for the Staff Weaponskill, Retribution, which was found inside Ifrit’s Cauldron on a bridge above a river of lava. BBK organised the run, asking members to come and help “someone who always helps out others”. Whether people came out of the kindness of their hearts or because they felt guilty I don’t know, but we got an alliance of THH members together for the fight, which was very easy.

We then stuck around to get BBK a Wyvern Skull for the Opo-Opo Crown quest, and when one dropped really quickly, I asked if they minded hanging about for one for me. Although I do not have BRD levelled, I do have some of the items already, so I thought I would take the opportunity now whilst I was here.

With the new update (which I’ll get onto later), there is a new quest available from Lower Jeuno, called The Miraculous Dale, which involves fighting around twelve to fifteen unpopular NMs for a total of just under 60k. As three of the NMs are the Boreal mobs from Xarcabard, we thought we would kill two birds with one stone and tick those off the list whilst getting Sirdante her LB2 done at the same time.

Again I was surprised at the turnout as we ended up with seven of us from THH, and the three mobs were down in seconds. The damage the front-liners were doing was incredible. Just a shame we can’t get this many to turnout to regular events – we could do the tier 1 ZNMs for fun (see update bit).

Now for the update. There’s been a lot of new things implemented into June’s update, including an increased level cap for Fellows (L70), a Fellow points system, new WotG missions, quests and Campaign rank, amongst other things. I managed to uncap Yawawa from L60 (she’s now L62), but I found out afterward the points system with the NPC is backdated for so much time, and the points you have available the first time you speak to him is based on XP your Fellow has got during that time. As mine had been stuck at the level cap for around a year, I didn’t have many points to spend. It’s cool because now you can really customise your Fellow with appearance and weaponry, plus increase the amount of mobs she can kill etc.

The new missions are simply amazing. I did them on the night they came out. It’s a tonne of really long cutscenes and just one fight, but the cutscenes are the best I’ve ever seen with cinematic technique found in proper cartoons, plus realism of animation never seen before (check out Lilisette’s dancing). The story is great and it’s so begging for a twist. We KNOW we won the Crystal War, so this expansion can’t just be about what happened. Cait Sith is meddling for a reason. I just want to know why.

Another update was the implementation of the ZNM system. This was to give parties/Linkshells a fairer option at fighting NMs in Aht Urhgan, by adding a points system from completing quests. When enough points are achieved, they can be exchanged for pop items which, as implied, pop these NMs so you don’t have to compete with others for claims, nor wait hours for a pop.

To begin with you have access to nine tier 1 NMs, then by beating them you can progress to tier 2 etc. Each tier is significantly harder and parties have been known to wipe to tier 1 mobs. The drops are worth it though, and rumour has it that beyond tier 4 (the last known guaranteed tier) is a tier 5, as the name Pandemonium has been found in the .dat files. Could he be the new megaboss of this system?

There is also Dark Ixion, a HNM that runs away when approached, unless you throw a piece of Stygian Ash at him from the correct distance. He drops some nice items, but has taken Linkshells around 2 to 3 hours to beat with a full alliance. What is really bad about this though, is that Stygian Ash only drops from Pixies.

Let’s not forget our old friend the Sandworm. Now he has been given the ability to eat you, which transports you (and your party – unconfirmed) into the Campaign Ops zones (Ghoyu’s Reverie, Ruhotz Silvermines etc.) which contain various NMs such as Serket, and apparently these NMs found here drop some great gear, such as the Antares Breastplate.

Happy hunting!^^