Merry Christmas everyone... and I found Queen Valark!

First of all Merry Christmas everyone... Happy holidays, blessings and warm regards to all your respective families!  

Its been a phenomenal last few days both in real life and in-game... and it was wonderful to run into a great friend of mine from when I played FFXI on the Garuda server.  Yep... I'm still pleasantly shocked at how I ran into her, right here on the Mysidia server... and she's none other than Valark!   Its a mad coincidence and what was most heart-warming was how she still has that same great personality of always helping people.  What a good Guv'nor.


I first ran into her FFXIV character (Chick Norris), Lind Legend and Felix Klein a few days ago while trying to get help in completing a quest (getting Storm seals for my personal Chocobo... thanks again guys).  Afterwards, she invited me to her social linkshell and I didn't know it was her until yesterday when we started talking about FFXI.  


Ironically enough, there she was again putting others first by helping me get my Kokoroon Scale Mail as a Xmas gift... and then during the discussion, she told me who she was on FFXI and I freaked out laughing.  Truly a wonderful surprise.  BTW, here she is using her Pugalist to decimate the NM...

...And here I am proudly wearing the drop (we got it on third try; so yes, third time IS the charm lol)...

Then she generously insisted that we go do the pre-Ifrit quests of kiling some of the six required NMs that drop the necessary Echo Crystals.  So we first headed off for another region of Thanalan...

Whereupon Valark... sorry, I mean "Chick"...decided to switch jobs to Gladiator and pwned the chap before I could even dismount my Chocobo.  Crap, now I'm itching to level Gladitor as well now lol.

Then it was off to Limsa.  Stopped for a sec to get a quick snapshot of the Ul'dan skyline... (it might come in handy if I can flog it to the Sultana for a small fortune)...

Prior to that, we made a quick detour into Cassie Hollow (actually called Cassiopeia Hollow), so I could learn more about the secrets of Gladiator (amoungst other enlightening game mechanics)...

She had to log after that, so I decided to take a quick tour of the outskirts of Gridania (had an urge to follow one of the rivers to wherever it ended)... it was something I always loved to do back when I played FFXI... remembering to explore your world now and again...just grab the keys to the Chocobo and ride, dammit.  You'll always be richer for it.

Then I wandered back to my hometown Gridania and while chatting to another friend, I remembered how frustrating I found the Rank 34 Storyline Quest "Forever Taken".  Wait, I think I got a piccy of when I actually went back to Gridania to glare at the NPC (for them lying to me it would be a cinch... cinch my arse, SE placed freaking level 75 to 80 mobs on the bloody path!)

Made a return to the Maelstrom Command headquarters and stopped for a second to marvel at gorgeous Limsa from a cliff near the main city-gates...

Then of course, I had to pause for a bit in the main central area of town... of course no one was about cuz they were all getting plastered at the Admiral's Christmas gig...

Anyway, my phone's ringing again and I need to return to hang out with family at the table.  I leave you all with a screenie of my beloved Maelstrom flag flanked by christmas trees... dunno, just something simple and serene about it that speaks volumes about this great holiday season.  Be well everyone!

Always everyone, please remember that all the official videos and images from SE were used here strictly for fan purposes; and all the product, system names and/or company logos remain the registered trademarks of Square Enix.  Copyright (C) 2010-2011 SQUARE ENIX CO. LTD. All Rights Reserved

...And here comes Patch 2.0

Bloody 'ell!

Been well over a year already since I updated this little journal blog thingie, innit?  First off apologies to all the readers and followers for the unbelievable lack of up-dates (and lack of posts there off)...I had no idea that  trying to get a dual in Architecture and Industrial Design was such a massive time sink that there were days I was glad to get just three hours of sleep.  But I still love it.

That said, huge two thumbs up to all the wonderful emails over the past months that several friends sent.  Sterling people... and it shall be my honor to remember all your incredible concern.

Thank you.

Yes... Patch 2.0 (click to see the patch notes)... the very catalyst that dragged me back to the game (now that I have a few weeks of resting time).    As many of you recall, I kinda played for the first two weeks back in September 2010 and eventually started playing less and less due to issues with the game... until college projects finally took over.

However, I still checked up on the game's updates now and again... and was gob-smacked when I saw the concept documents for 2.0.  I remember getting the  alert from FFXIVCore back in mid-October... and was quite impressed with Yoshi-P's direction for the game.  Which is why I did not hesitate to arrange for my payment details a couple days ago and then got back into the game familiarizing myself with the changes.  Lots of changes to get used to, by the way.

Anyway, the servers are currently undergoing maintenance and I thought I would get my blog back in order while I mulled over what the "miraculous" patch 2.0 meant for the game.   Here a few concept shots of aspects of the patch that really interest me...(Meh, I shall have to go back and resize them cuz they are quite large... for now, all the spiffier to see them in their detailed glory ehhhh?)   First up is the future PvP arena said to be located beside Limsa Lominsa

...and then there is the total revamp of the UI dynamics and job-class mechanics...

Speaking of new job classes, I found this concept art particularly interesting because I'v e always loved the Paladin and Dragoon classes... by the Twelve, Akihito Yoshida is still legendary, innit... wait, did he do these?

We shall not forget the new focus on Grand Companies as well.  I joined the Maelstrom just last night after burning almost 90 anima running all over the dam place to complete the relevant quests.

The two reasons that drove my decision were:  One, I've always loved Limsa as a very close second to Gridania... matter of fact, if it was't because the Lancer job's home is obviously Gridania, I would have picked Limsa... reminds me so much of San'd Oria in FFXI.  Plus they got pirates... I still needs me a shiny Musket and a Corsair job-class.   Nod nod nod.  Second reason was that I liked Limsa's red banner on the personal Chocobo the best

Ahhh yes, speaking of which... we may soon be able to "upgrade" from personal Chocobos to Magiteks!  At least, so says Yoshi-P in an interview broadcasted in early November... so we were guessing correctly, yes?  Remember a couple years ago when I speculated mounts on my blog?  Looks like SE listened to the fan base and are really developing the idea...and he had the concept art sketch to back it up...

I reckon it may be implemented with the PS3 release in (early?) 2013... makes marketing sense that they will toss in Magiteks when they will (likely?) release an expansion with the Garlean Empire for 2013.   And let the speculations begin, right?  Heh.

Come next year though, we can at least hope to see the Grand Companies indulge even more in Behests, Caravan Supply quests, and even some new dynamic called "Frontlines" (which is supposedly intended to work like FFXI's Campaign)

Plus, Yoshi-P also promises player residences... and I really wonder what he meant by "estates".   What could he be on about?  Could the below image be what SE has planned or this was just the concept art for one of the new outposts (where players can head to unlock achievements and do caravan quests?)

Dunno... I'm still trying to find my feet on this "new" game myself.  But one thing is certain though... I'm back for a good GOOD while.

Matter of fact, I shall even post up some of my favourite videos from the truly epic Dune saga... helps to remind me of my "lineage" and all that, but also to share the excellent themes that constitute House Atreides

First, the main theme for House Atreides... (hey Yoshi-P, can my linkshell eventually have a guild house like the collosial Atreides palace? Please?)...



Then, there is "Cleansing of the House" (when Emperor Paul Atreides excellently decimated every and any threat to  his newly born children)... this montage is taken straight from the film and was also the part where my blog's theme song "Inama Nushif" was initially used...



Plus, a superb version that used extracts from the GC movie FFVII: Advent Children...



Here is yet another video using the same song but features most of the members of House Atreides, including the twins)...



Speaking of which, here are the Atreides twins...



And of course, Leto's return to the Imperial palace to claim his throne from his Aunt Alia...



Can't forget the theme song for their grandmother, the powerful and truly beautiful bene Gesserit Mother,  Lady Jessica...




Be well everyone.

Always everyone, please remember that all the official videos and images from SE were used here strictly for fan purposes; and all the product, system names and/or company logos remain the registered trademarks of Square Enix.  Copyright (C) 2010-2011 SQUARE ENIX CO. LTD. All Rights Reserved