The Chronicles of Zidan

Zidan No More
FFXI Weblog: 3/04-11/04

Wasted Effort (10/19/04 1:28 AM PDT)

So last night I was exploring the new areas and even completed the quest that provides the map to these said areas. I'm tip-toeing around because just about everything could aggro and kill me on the spot, trying to look for the Qufim Swirling Vortex. I get aggro'd by an orc when I briefly checked my map and a high level guy by the name of Tuny comes to my rescue. He takes the aggro off me and heals me and offers to help show the way to the Qufim vortex. He leads me there and during the way I'm showing my gratitude and trying to strike small conversation except it may have been not small enough. "Please use simple words." was what his auto-translator said. Ahh, Japanese player. So in rough English I told him I was studying first-year Japanese in college. When I arrived at the vortex I showed off my skillz with a quick "doozo yoroshiku!" and he replies back but wasn't sure if he was trying to correct my messed-up romaji. >.> Nonetheless it felt cool to finally utilize this class in a real life situation, if FFXI is what you'd call real life. <.<

Before I jump in Sliders-style, he gives me some silent oil and I paid him 2,000 just because. And I'm thinking I probably won't need these oils since I'll be zapped to Qufim, where being level 30 shouldn't cause me trouble right??? As soon as I got there a swarm of bats aggro me and I try to activate my hi-potion but I was too late. My roommate, watching over my shoulder, suggests to run but I explained to him I'm pretty damned either way. How did I know the bats near the vortex would aggro?

I'm getting to the sad part. So after I died from a large bat-attack, I'm sent back to Lufaise Meadows, where I started from and where my current HP was set to (think of it like a save point). I /anon'd right away hoping Tuny wouldn't check to see if I made it and then declare me an official baka. So what could've been a 5 minute journey to Jueno from Qufim Island ended up being more like a 30 minute trek from Valkurm Dunes, to the Highlands to catcha chocobo all the way to San d'Oria, then hitch an airship to Jueno...

I should change the title to this blog to Zidan's Misadventures in Vana'Diel. ^^

Promyvion Holla (10/17/04 2:26 PM PDT)

This was definately the most difficult of the three! The Empty was pretty challenging as well, we had a lot of aggros and lost one person during the run to the Spire. The story is progressing and is somewhat getting exciting, other than the fact now that I need to definately level up in order to play out some of those key chapters in the struggle of light and dark in Vana'diel. I'm hoping the linkshell doesn't decide to do the next chapter in the expansion pack next Saturday (level 40 cap), leaving me with not enough time to level up either my monk or dragoon!

The new area is a big change considering I've only seen the same places in the last couple of months. Because of running out of time after the boss battle, I wasn't able to explore with the rest of the party and from what I hear the place might be too dangerous for my level but I'm willing to risk it someday. The city does offer an auction house and a Moogle but I really should be hanging around Qufim to level up the dragoon. However! Because I do now have access to this new area through the vortices found in Qufim and/or Valkurm Dunes, I could make Tavnazian Safehold my new jamspot in between levelling.

Pictures from the Promyvion Mea Outting (10/11/04 8:53 PM PDT)

Peorth's sword is glowing... There must be orcs around! Stay aleart!!!

Battling an Empty creature

The Spire!

Planning out our strategy against the boss...

The Promyvion Mea boss

Promyvion Mea (10/10/04 2:58 AM PDT)

Early this evening part of the linkshell set forth to try to tackle the hardest of the three bosses in order to gain access to the Tavnazia Safehold. The mobs seemed much harder but what was more difficult was trying to fill in the fourth party of the alliance. The boss battle was somewhat easy but I wasn't landing as much punches as I hoped for. It required a bit more strategy than the first. I almost died when the boss did an area attack that pushed me back and left me with like 20 hp but I quickly hi-potioned and the battle was pretty much ours. Unfortunately we did end up with a casualty but no worries. Once again it feels good to partake in such an organized event and help out in any way. Screenshots soon to follow. The next one shouldn't be as bad as we already cleared the hardest of the three. But I read that there's a fourth location we need to travel to before we could gain full access to the new locations and therefore taking good advantage of the new expansion pack.

Promyvion Dem (10/02/04 10:53 PM PDT)

This is the second linkshell event I have took a part in and it was a better experience. Mainly considering I had done all the prepwork that was needed and was generally more prepared. As far as my role in the actual party goes, I was glad to just be there for some extra damage (although it felt at times I wasn't doing as much, due to the toughness of the BCNM). The battle was somewhat easy considering we were the third and last party to enter the circle, therefore we had enough time to think up a strategy. Hopefully all three parties had a chance to defeat the boss before the night. The Empty realm is strange and eery and for me, a totally different experience compared to the daily level grinds in the well known and populated areas of Vana'diel. I had had a fantasy goal of getting my Dragoon up to level 30 and instead use that job than my Monk job which has been pretty stagnant at 30. But because of school and such that wasn't possible. However, I estimate in the next two weeks or so I should be nearing 30 which will probably be in time for the next Promyvion assaults, should there be more organized in the future. Props to the linkshell members who participated. To the others, wish you were there. I feel I'm getting the hang of this game again. But I still consider myself a mid-level noob. :-)

Back in the Game (09/29/04 1:03 AM PDT)

It's been awhile since I last posted. It's been awhile since I've last done anything FFXI for that matter. Recently I've gotten back into the game with positive results. After almost quitting due to numerous reasons (one main one is finding the time to invest into this game to get my money's worth), I've gotten back into it and levelled up some of my jobs in record time. Currently I've done away with the DRK job and may keep levelling that strictly as a subjob for my newest aqcuired advanced job, the Dragoon. Playing as the DRG is so fun it reminds me of when I first got the game. It's a little bit like DRK and the BST with one solid pet, something that won't uncharm and start biting your ankles. My wyvern's name is Eisenzahn, (similar to the Warhammer 40,000 character Eisenhorn) - such a cool name for a little blue dragon. I'm enjoying the job and have exercised being more "social" with trying to get party invites and trying to help out/talk more in the linkshell - to finally experience what I have been missing out in the last couple of months. With the newest expansion out as well, it's added a boost to my FFXI enthusiam and hopefully it remains solid for the coming months. My new goal now is to definately level up DRG and MNK to 75. >:-)

Friday, August 27 2004 3:18 AM PDT

The Lure of the Dark Side

"I invaded the Quadav camp just at the outskirts of Bastok. I... I killed them. I killed them all. They're dead, every single one of them... Not just the men, but the women and the children too. They're like animals, and I slaughtered them like animals... I hate them!" *said in a grumbly whiny Anakin tone*

And thus began my journey down the dark path as a Dark Knight. I guess the life of the beastmaster was well, lonely. No parties. And the monsters I'd charm, they don't talk back. But the voices in my head were. Something about Zeid... I had to search for this Zeid...

Levelling DRK is extremely fast, at least the fastest I've seen so far. Managing to kill EM's with 4-5 hits, using about half of my life. I gained 8 levels in about 4 hours. Amazing...

Monday, August 16 2004 11:08 AM PDT

Met up with a couple of other Beastmasters and did some "partying" with an oddball cast consisting of a hume, mithra, tarutaru beastmasters and their pets: lizards, rarabs, and dhalmals. I may be joining the ranks of other BSTs in the all-BST linkshell that I've read about in the forums. Of course, it'd be a P/T thing because my sole allegiance rests with TOH. :-) I am able to charm Toughs now for a little longer than before which is nice with a Charisma of 21. Even though Tahrongi Canyon/Buburimu Penninsula are supposed to be good locations for BSTs around my level, I'm going to need to head back to the area surrounding Windurst and work on my WHM to get it to level 10. Besides, I'm going to go visit the culinarians' guild as it seems cooking is a good skill for the Beastmaster (able to make pet food) and also for my fishing needs.

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