See you there!

A new limit break quest for getting to 80. Was kinda expected to be honest. It had better not be a tedious fetch quest…

Still reading the notes, so expect more thoughts later as I see how Abyssea and Walk of Echoes pan out.

UPDATE: Additional thoughts found after the break So I have tinkered around some of the new stuff a bit, and here’s some additional thoughts:

Walk of Echoes

What a huge mess my first experience with Walk of Echoes.  I went out to Xarcabard [S] and was beamed on up, and was surrounded by a gaggle of JPs (it was 8am EDT mind you).  With the JP army, we entered battlefield #1, and were greeted by the crab committee.  All crabs, all the time.  The flow of getting temp items was going well, as the little crabs were going down nicely.

Sadly, the waves got really overwhelming, and death became quite common. Luckily, there’s no EXP penalty, so my fresh new 76WHM didn’t lose the level I just got.

Also, with Sandy now having taken over the Throne Room, I now posses an Allied Ring.  EXP is gonna be fast and furious come level cap removal time.

Fiat Lux – The Battle Against the Shadow Lord

Let’s start with what just occurred recently. This past Tuesday I pulled off getting the Medal of Altana. Making all of that Campaign Battling I do pay off, lol. And with that came a real surprise.

This past Saturday, the Japanese player base on Carbuncle pulled out an all-out assault on the northland areas, and by some miracle, by the time 11am hit, San d’Oria had pulled off a major coup, and took over all of it.

With this, the chance finally came for a showdown with the Shadow Lord in the past. Of course, with all Shadow Lord gear being mostly designed for jobs I don’t have leveled up, I figured a Hecate’s Cape would be a nice consolation prize for not getting some crazy looking great sword.

I became the sacrificial lamb of sorts, and had to Diaga the shadows the Lord put out of himself, and go run to a corner and die. And die. And die some more.

All this dying helped out the rest of the group though, led by super WHM, Bubbo, and we pulled off the win in typical style of groups I’m in — at the last minute. We had all of 1 minute and 7 seconds remaining in the battle.

Our reward?

Maybe next time, lol.

So What Else Have I Been Doing?

Before going to the Throne Room [S], it was off to the present day Throne Room to assist my darling Destiney (<3 Destiney) in battling Riko Kupenreich in getting a new Moon Cap.

Much like the battle against the Shadow Lord later, I ended up dead somehow, but even with that shortcoming for me we still pulled off the win.

Also, since my last post, I have become part of yet another new linkshell, TranslucentArmy. With TA I have seen Dynamis for the first time in almost 18 months (although no drops for me just yet), it’s looking like I am going to see an Ultima pretty soon, and other assorted things. While getting a lesson in Spanish everyday, since most members do speak the language, I’ve been enjoying my time with them thus far. Now if only Ennayram would bring his Kiwi ass back online, lol

Leveling up other jobs in an attempt to try and mix things up. Samurai is now up to 21, and Dancer to 20. Will I level further into these jobs? Probably. When? Who knows.

Did I mention how awesome Destiney is?

That’s About It

And finally, I leave you with random screenshots. Enjoy!

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.

I’ve gone through 2 linkshells since we last spoke, and am currently linkshell-less. Anyone need a SCH? lol.

At least I found a wonderful woman to help me get through these “tough times”.

Maybe I’ll make a full post later…maybe.

In it’s stead, I have been playing FANTASY EARTH ZERO a little more, since it’s pick up and play friendly. Well that, and FINAL FANTASY XIII. I’m loving that game, and am just about to finally beat it.

Expect a fully fleshed out post soon!

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!

More thoughts on the huge VanaFest Announcements late today. I need to sleep, lol

A big thank you to those who endured all the extra runs where just about everything drops EXCEPT the G feet.