See you there!

I think back and can remember when Heaven was born:
- I was a junior in high school
- I was 16
- FFXI was recently announced at some SquareSoft millennium press event.
- My mom and stepfather would marry nearly two months later.

So that’s all well and good, but it seems as though all of that just happened in the past few weeks, and not 10 years ago.

Just makes me wonder how time just seems to fly by.

Up Goes The Level Cap

This seems like the logical first thing to talk about, since it clearly has the most impact on the game. It was announced that the level cap of 75, which we have learned to adapt and build around since 2003, will be gradually raised to level 99 by the end of the year.

This is going to have enormous implications on the way the endgame of FFXI is played, as well as on me because it takes about 30 years for me to level jobs in any capacity. What job will I try to level up first? Will I try to go on with Scholar? Or will or break out my Red Mage, and use the “Refresh/Haste” route to speed up progress? Possibly even go White Mage first, and curebomb my way to the new pinnacle? Will I even GET to 99 by the time 2020 comes around? We shall see.

Along with this will come new chances for different subjob possibilities, and of course, more new magics. Just what I need for my broke ass. Better start saving the gil now to save myself time later…

Three New Addons

Announced in tendem with the level cap increase was that there are three new addons coming. But not some lame story stuff. Actual battlefield type stuff, with new loots and better chances for leveling up! Yes, I will buy all three. Yes, I will try in vain to complete them. Yes, I will be the Scholar Master, lol.

Trial of the Magians

This is one of the cool things they announced that almost got buried beneath the other bombshells of the night.

The Trial of the Magians is a new branching quest line, which will allow you to upgrade your armor and weapon in ways that you choose.

Now I am not really in a position to upgrade things like Relic or Mythic weapons, but I think this could definitely help with the possible issues that will arise with the raising of the level cap. I personally think this might be one of those things that doesn’t catch much buzz at first, but as people catch on and see how it is, it might be one of the biggest things to come from all the announcements.

The FINAL FANTASY XIV Beta

So yeah. It seems the beta test will be starting very soon. They announced alpha testing has begun, and that will last as long as it takes through player feedback. I wonder if I will be a part of it…

The FANTASY EARTH ZERO Beta

Starts this Wednesday! Extremely excited to FINALLY play this game in English, and not be afraid of being banned because I’m speaking English. Genuinely excited for this.

Other Stuff

Let’s see here. Work still sucks. As if there’d be anything different to announce on that front, lol.

Might be going on a trip out to an “exotic” place later this spring. Not going to spill the beans just yet, but it’s someplace nice.

Been playing Persona 4 recently. That game is a piece of work, lemme tell you. If you haven’t played it, GameFly it. Rent it. Buy it. Something. This is one of the best RPGs I’ve ever played. So dust off that PS2 and get going!

There’s your update! See you online!

What???

Alright, I am going to try to remember everything that has occured since the last proper post.

Linkshell Changes

Recently, I departed DRFChampionEdition and joined up with Ennayram, Alessandra and others in MeneoCecus.  The reasoning for leaving DRF was not anything against anyone within the linkshell.  It was more in line with the fact that my work schedule has become even worse that it already was, and I would have only been able to attend one event a week.  I cannot really expect to earn anything when I would only be around once a week.  That’s why I joined with Enna and crew since their event start time works for me (for the most part) with starting at 11pm EDT.  It’s been great fun thus far, and I suppose, sooner or later, I will actually talk to my new LS mates on Skype…one day, lol

Scholar Is So Close

I just need 3200 experience points to finally reach level 75, but, amazingly, I have been working so much, I can’t even do the like 2-4 Campaign battles to gain that little bit of EXP.  Of course I could be doing it now instead of typing up this blog post, but I have neglected this thing long enough.

FINAL FANTASY XIV

So yeah, that got announced this past week.  I have already made another post discussing the future SE online game, so go read it!

Blog Changes

As I am sure you noticed, yet another layout change has been made to this blog. I am very torn between the previous look, and this more “minimal” look, so you never know what design you may see the next time you come around, lol.  I also chose this because it does load a bit quicker than the old look, and I just like new, shiny things.

Other stuff

Other things that I couldn’t think of a heading for:

• Have done two very sucessful Proto-Omega’s with MeneoCecus so far.  Was nice play SCH in the battle, although not too mcuh for me to do other than Helix spells, and the occasional tier IV nuke.
• I really enjoyed the whole skill up boost Kupower from the Mog Tablet quest thing.  I actually skilled up sword like 16 levels, lol.  Would be nice if we got that again.
• When SCH finally gets to 75, I don’t know what job will be next to 75, if I even bother trying to go at it again.  I have enough money issues as it is.
• I really love Domino’s Chicken Alfredo bread bowls, lol.  Maybe too much.

OK well that will just about wrap things up!  See you online….somewhere, lol.

I guess I could go into a track by track thought of the CD, so here we go!  Just be aware beforehand, I do not claim to be a music aficionado, and these thoughts are just my own.

1. Voyager – I, for one, have always loved the song that plays on the boat ride from Selbina to Mhaura, and this re-imagining of it is really very nice.  The introductory 20 seconds are wonderful.
2. Flowers On the Battlefield – A very nice flow to this song with the flutes and violins guiding you through a majority of the song.
3. Xarcabard – The twisted sounding bass strings at the beginning really bring a feel of just how maniacal the northlands are.  The accordion an acoustic guitar provide a much different sounding feel to the original than you anticipate, and it comes off very well.
4. Fighters of the Crystal – Accordion headlining  the beat again…the selection of instrument is interesting, but the overall feel for the song stays true to the original, so I think it’s not as bad as some perceive it to be.
5. Faded Memories ~ Promyvion – One of the best songs in the album, in my opinion.  It keeps the haunting feel of the original song, and the area in which you hear the song.
6. Mhaura – Wonderful woodwind sounds, to go with the acoustic guitar and violins the accompany this piece, along with the accordion, yet again.  Mhaura is a soothing port town, and this redo is very much a soothing song.
7. Gustaberg – Being a Bastokan, this song carries a special resonance to me, and this track stays very true to the original throughout.
8. Rapid Onslaught ~ Assault – The background sounds to this tune sound very true to the original track, while the accordion and violins play out the lead to this battle track. A very unique sound to a song I am sure many of you have heard quite a bit in Vana’diel.
9. Distant Worlds – This is I believe the 4th different version of this song that has been released so far, and this one certainly has a much different feel than the previous iterations.  It has a very lighter tone, almost like a smooth jazz cafe type feel. It’s nice to get a much different take on this great song.
10. Griffons Never Die – This version of the San d’Orian past theme has a more upbeat tone to it as well, with many sections full of Piano, guitar, and flute elements.  Has a nice feel to it, and is good to listen to.
11. Wings of the Goddess – Another favorite of mine.  The past Vana’diel March tune has been redone with guitar, flute, and a very upbeat tone throughout. I’ve already done a file swap in my FFXI to make sure this plays over the original, lol.

There you go.  If you were expecting some in depth look into the OST, I’m sure there are websites out there that will critique the CD to death, but as a fan of the music in FFXI, and Final Fantasy in general, Sanctuary is a new favorite in my enormous collection.

I, being a sucker for these things, have jumped right in to this, and welcome you all to join me.

You can find my Members “My Page” here.

I also created a group called “The Vana’dielian Cafe”, and you can find that here.

This won’t be one either though. Sorry. But no worries, one will be coming soon, I promise.

Coming up! The trip to Pittsburgh, stuff in FFXI, and a very hard decision still to be made.  Maybe I’ll speak of it here in this post??

I will open up by saying that the Steelers parade pictures will have to wait for another day.  You see, the camera I took them with requires a very weird USB connection to be able to connect it to my PC to upload the images. And since I cannot seem to find the proper cable, it will still be a bit more time before I can show you all them.  I’m really sorry.

As for FFXI, I have begun the wonderful world of Salvage with Enna, Ales and the rest.  It was back to the learning experience, seeing how it all works, and still being clueless about everything.  Seems alot like how I said I was with Nyzul Isle, doesn’t it?  We will see how everything goes in due time with Salvage.

Now as for that whole decision thing I mentioned… Well my head is still all kinds of scrambled about what to do next, so there won’t be any conclusion to that either.

Maybe I should have named this post “Not As Advertised”.