My (not so) amazing life

With the release of the new MMO Warhammer online, WoW has seen many members of its player base pack up their raiding gear and head for the new MMO that offers to be something different. This said I'd like to address the fact that WoW nerds might actually be getting a little bored of the same old Raiding Grind. They simply aren't entertained enough with doing the same raids over and over again to get the same epic armor to sell on the same auction house. Alot of WoW fans are really just people who keep playing because they have friends who still play and they don't want to lose touch with the people they've met while playing the game that captured their hearts for so long.

Now that's not to say that it's a bad thing that they're staying merely because of ties to friends and whatnot, but on the eve of the release of many promising MMORPGs that could potentially Replace, or just rival, WoW: Warhammer, Chronicles of Spellborne, Darkfall Online, AoC(if it manages to get out of the rut it seems to be in) MMOnerds are looking for a way out of WoW and the only way they can do that is by changing games, or give up playing MMORPGs all together, *gasp* and that, realistically, won't happen for too many players.

Anyway that's all i wanted to say, i was just thinking out loud...or on keyboard...whatever.
There's an interesting Thread on the Darkfall Forums that, after reading, led me to thinking about this and putting it into words, go check it out!

Darkfall Online sent out their second round of closed beta keys today. Sadly, i didn't get one, however they have said that might be sending out keys as early as tonight, and as often as every day, so i'm still hopeful that i'll be getting a key.

I can't think of an intro to this so here you go! The title says it all.


C9 (Continent of the Ninth)


Awesome looking new game by Hangame. Nothing known (by me) about character customization or if it's going to be a persistant world or not, but i have high hopes for this game.


Blade & Soul


Another awesome new game in development by NCsoft, looks to add dynamic combat and console like movement and controls to the MMO genre, sure to be a major contender with alot of well known MMOs



Darkfall Online

Revolutionary new MMO that promises to change the way people look at online games, the makers claim that you will be able to do ANYTHING you want in this game (within reason I.E no rape) pillage, plunder, rob, steal, hire yourself out as a mercenary, with a strong emphasis on PvP, i hope this game can pull off everything that it sets out to do...




And there you have it, the 3 MMOs that i am awaiting the most, i hope you all enjoyed this, and found it exciting and informational.

This expansion for The Sims 2 completely rocks my sox, i just got it yesterday and i can't stop playing it! (i can't stop playing Sims normally but this just adds to the effect) In the newest addition to the Sims repertoire you can move into an appartment, instead of living in a house. This is especially cool because instead of moving into a big house that you don't need because you're single, you move into an appartment.
You can also get a roommate! and you can be social with your neighbors, this makes it so much easier to gain friends, rather than calling them and inviting them over, just head next door and say hello! When you get a roommate you split the rent and you gain a new friend! (well not automatically but you get it)

One of my favorite additions to the sims thanks to this expansion is the ability to become a witch! Just become friends with a witch and they'll teach you the ways of the arts! So cool

now if you'll excuse me i have to go freeze time and send my minion to attack my enemies...good day.

I've realised why i stopped playing FFXI...again! I'm really mad at myself. The fact is the game is getting old and boring, i can't get as far in it as i thought i would be able to because i just don't have enough time! i'm just going to cancel my subscription (again) and start up another game...Age of Conan perhaps, i've seen my friends playing it and it looks amazing truthfully. I hope that the few readers that i have won't stop reading because i switched. Oh well, whatever....

My chosen profession in FFXI at the moment ( i say at the moment because i tend to change a lot ) is Puppetmaster. Yes, i know what you're thinking: "lolpup" i get that a lot, but i normally only get that from people who have never tried the splendorous spine-tingling serendipitous Job that is Puppetmaster.
I simply adore this job, for many reasons, too many reasons to go into too much detail, but i love this profession for 3 main reasons:

1. I can have my pet out for as long as i want with no MP cost
2. I can control my pet with something other than weapon skills
3. I can rock at soloing

The third reason is really the point of this post, I'm generously giving my readers (however few they may be) a few little tips and tricks that i find good to know when soloing as a Puppetmaster. I write this assuming that you have a basic knowledge of Automaton Attachments and Frames before beginning to solo, because honestly you shouldn't be looking at a solo guide if you're just starting out the job.

1. DEX and Evasion

If you're a /war sub like me (which i suggest you do, because i really don't like investing in DEX evasion AND str equipment, and WAR gives that extra boost that i need) then DEX and Evasion are your best friends, as well as some powerful H2H weapons. DEX ensures that you can actually hit your enemy, and with a C in H2H skill, that comes in handy for a Puppetmaster in the later levels. and Evasion is my personal favorite instead of VIT because generally VIT gear is more expensive than Evasion gear, and it's mostly for PLDs, and because seeing the little "Miss" messages pop up on my screen fills my heart with passionate joy.

2. Str and Attack

Like i said before if you sub WAR you shouldn't have too much problem with dealing the damage you need to. But if you don't sub war than STR and Attack equipment (like battle gloves) are your backup friends, you know? the ones you call when your actual friends are busy with other things. They're important, but not quite as important as your DEX and Evasion equipment

3. Frames to Use

Well i really shouldn't say "Frames" rather "Heads" because the Stormwalker frame is the only frame that really heals reliably (other than the harlequin frame but i never use it) it's going to be your soloing partner for the trials ahead. Once you hit level 40, make sure to pick up your Soulsoother head first, it will become your automaton's new favorite hat.

4. Strategy

My strategy really isn't all that complicated, but i'll share it with you anyway.

I start out with Light Maneuver to get my Automaton to use Flashbulb, and i make sure that Light is up the entire battle, so he refreshes the effect when possible. I move on from Light to Dark Maneuver, because that starts him on his enfeebling path if i don't need healing. It also gets him to use Mana Converter when he needs it. I go from there to Ice Maneuver, basically because it shortens the length between casts of the Automaton.

That's it! Those are my tips for Soloing with Puppetmaster, and let me tell you, I've flown through the 40's and am approaching the 50's with increasing speed. This job is one of the most rewarding I've ever played and i definitely recommend people step out of the darkness and into the light that is puppetmaster, stop cowering behind your "Lolpup" sunglasses and enjoy the sunshine!

The state of the economy in FFXI isn't doing as well as one would hope, lots of things are overpriced and lots of things are under priced, there are probably many factors that determine all these things, supply and demand, NPC prices of things, blah blah blah. I'm not willing to go into things like that because i simply don't know enough about economy to talk about it. I will however, talk about things that i do know about.

Gil Sellers
Gil selling is at an all time low for FFXI, due to SE's crackdown and constant bannings of illegal accounts. I applaud the special task force for their excellent work in getting rid of these maggot infested carrion that are called Gil Sellers. The economy of a video game simply can't stand the influx of "Created" Gil that these gilsellers get from selling things like fish to NPCs, and from quest rewards. The more they put into the economy, the harder it is for us honest players to play without resorting to buying gil to stay in the game.

Undercutting
I can't stand undercutting!! AHHRRG it makes me mad enough to want to throw things at people. I simply can't understand why people would ever undercut their items just to get them to sell a little faster, especially if they undercut for 1k or more. How in the world do people not realize that undercutting ends up lowering the price and ends up hurting not only the economy, but you, in the long run? It's not going to take much longer for someone to buy your 20k So-and-so sword than it would if you sold said sword for 18k, if it's in high demand and people are willing to pay 20k for it, WHY WOULD YOU GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUY IT AT A LOWER PRICE?! especially when someone will end up buying it anyway */sigh* how do people live with themselves? Honestly...

That's really all i can object to when it comes to the economy, again i don't know much about economics and i can't really say much more than i know, and that's it. But what i do know about people messing with the economy really gets my blood boiling, anyway, I'm sure you've had enough of my ranting and would like me to hush up now. So i will.