THE JOURNAL OF AALEA SKYFALL

I'm not in BETA, but...

...hello!

That's a screenshot from an ingame cutscene.

Admittedly I had the opportunity to test the FFXIV Beta out for a few hours last night and I'm confident that I spend a lot of time in Eorzea the coming months (years?).

Journal • FFXIV

Final Fantasy XIV ramp up!

Today it is 34 days left until Final Fantasy 14 Collector's Edition hit retail. I have been reading a lot of Beta tester impressions the last couple of days, and with several YouTube clips available now it's an understatement that I am psyched to play the game.

I have collected information about fishing in the new game, since it was always an issue of the heart for me in FFXI. The new fishing guide can be accessed in the main menu above. A link to the FFXI fishing guide can be located on the bottom of that same page.

The Eorzean guide is still work in progress as I have yet to play even the beta version of the game, but I hope to be filling in the blanks, by undertaking some more fishing expeditions, like the ones I used to do in Vana'diel. If you wanna lend a hand be sure to send me a message. No decision has been made regarding what server I will end up playing, since this information is yet to be published.

A Linkshell has been set up for Eorzea as well, it can be accessed via the top menu. It is (currently) called Here Be Monsters, and it has got a corresponding forum for LS Members setup, also available in the top menu. Past members of The Usual Suspects and future members of Here Be Monsters are kindly welcomed to join up.

Crafting • FFXIV • Journal

Ferry-go-round

Sunday 29th I realized I could use the Skeleton-clubs on Aalea, so decided to camp Blackbeard/Silverhook. Having already acquired the clubs for Radiozo, I knew these NMs rather well, so this time I camped as NIN/DRK.

The first day I spent 12 hours and only saw four pirate rides in over 30 rides total. I was kinda beat after that so went to bed as early as 20:00.

Second day it looked as though I would see a repeat of the day before, but Silverhook finally popped, and it was a rather easy fight with Radiozo backing me up. No drop this time.

On Tuesday I woke up early and Ssjvic, one of my former Dynamis LS-mates was breaking Mithran Rods for skill on the ferry as Thief. I helped him break rods while waiting for NMs to pop. Eventually Blackbeard popped and we had a hard time staying alive, but nobody died and I got one out of two clubs. Thanks Vic!

Started using the Explorer Moogle to go back to Selbina since Silverhook reportedly only pops on the Selbina to Mhaura route. With Ssjvic half asleep I used when we docked. No sign of Silverhook when Vic finally left, I had almost given up, and decided to take one last ride - lo and behold, my old friend Silverhook. Yet again he didn't drop after a repeat of the last fight.

Wednesday I again woke up early, and after getting into a meripo with Nicholette, Mezmerize, Shagrath, Cabich and Willya that ended with my WHM turning 71, I decided to give Silverhook another shot. Today I was lucky in more than one way; he pops on the first ride. This fight was a bit harder, he managed to land Sleepga II on Radiozo, so for a while I was unsupported, but he was below 40% then. He eventually hit us with a -ga spell and woke Rad up. After that it was cake, and he even dropped club number two. So I went 1/1 on Blackbeard and 1/3 on Silverhook this time around.

FFXI • Gear • Journal

Peacock Omelette

It took me sixteen days and three claims to finally get my Peacock Amulet. The first two claims I used Swede for Treasure Hunter IV but it turns out I only needed MNK/THF to get the piece to drop.

I missed a couple of pops due to being asleep, and 2-3 were claimed by AFK-claimers. This Aegis Paladin and his Thief friend, they were countercamping me, and after claiming and killing Argus, they just kept running into the wall for hours afterwards. I personally placed two GM calls and third time, I wasn't there, but a Japanese player claimed and killed Argus, and he/she observed the same behavior from the Paladin. He also placed a report to the Special Task Force, but I've seen that PLD after this incident so guess he wasn't banned.

My first claim, he popped right in front of me - the PLD autofollowed Argus, and I told him to disengage or I'd GM call, this was the day after I had first observed him AFK-claiming - and it took me a while to run Swede from San d'Oria. No drop though.

Second claim I had two countercampers, but it appears they were both AFK, so even though I was on the wrong macroset and managed to aggro a scorp and a gob when I hit /heal, I finally managed to claim by typing /ja "Provoke" with Argus targeted. I actually took the scorp, gob and Argus off to the side-tunnel and killed the scorp and gob, with Argus going unclaimed. Swede's Treasure Hunter didn't pay off.

There were a few days when only Leech King would pop and I had, I think, exclusivity on ToD. Not that it really matters when it comes to Argus; with a 16-32hr window you can get screwed either way.

Third claim was also a bit stressed, as there was a Galka Ranger actively camping the room. Fortunately I was able to Chi Blast-claim Argus. This time Lady Fortuna smiled upon me and I got drop with Thief subjob.

FFXI • Gear • Journal

The Joy of Camping

So today I was camping Charybdis for a TOD, and it popped and killed me and another White Mage that's there for TOD.

A duo of Japanese Red Mage and Blue Mage then proceed to DOT-kill it but wipe. The WHM had changed to RDM and with a Ninja he claims it. They proceed to wipe too. The WHM (now RDM) offers to team up with everyone that's there, so I ask them to invite Radiozo, and again, the NIN goes down, pretty much one-shotted. Rad has plenty of hate and goes down as well.

I escape with Radiozo to get Aalea (on Monk) inside and replace the NIN that has to leave for work. A Bard from the WHMs LS (I think) joins ut at this time, and when he finally gets there I engage Charybdis, and we all proceed to kill him, BLU is taking care of repops. With little trouble we defeat Charybdis and I lot a whooping 983 and get the Joytoy.

Of course, this doesn't go over well with the WHM who said I didn't need it, which was true at the time when only Rad was there. He goes on about how he would've just DOT-killed it with the other RDM and BLU. Personally I think I had a right to lot, so don't have any qualms about winning the lot. Sure they may have won without me, but now it took less than 10 mins and we all had an equal chance of winning the prize. Glad I didn't lot my usual Dynamis-type lots that usually are sub-200.

FFXI • Gear • Journal

Yinyang Robe

Spent about 10 hours camping for ToD on Friday, but at 3 he still hadn't popped, and I also checked at 10-11 before I went to grandma on Saturday. I didn't come back until late in the evening and he must've been up for a long time that day. Asked some friends to come help but no Robe dropped. At least I had ToD for the next day.

And Shikigami had remembered to bring the Robe with him today, so I got one after a few days camping, can't complain!

Thanks to Cyrius, Swede, Raizt, Heilger, Raye, Darksirius and Chronicles!

FFXI • Gear • Journal

Ebisu Rod

Picked up my coveted rod from Irmilant today!

My strategy for Ebisu was as follows;

1. Fish 100 Gugrusaurus.
2. Turn in Gugrusaurus until I get Saber Shoot or no more left.
3. Repeat step 1-2 until I get a Saber Shoot.
4. Fish 100 Lik.
5. Turn in Lik until I get Opal Silk or no more left.
6. Repeat step 4-5 until I get an Opal Silk.
7. Deliver items to Irmilant.

Turns out I never had to repeat the process, I only needed about 50 Gugrusaurus and 40 Lik. I don't have the exact numbers of how many I turned in of each, but no more than 65 Gugrusaurus and no more than 55 Lik total. Netted about 2.5M gil from selling the remaining fish. Life is good.

FFXI • Gear • Journal

Project 40 completed!

At the end of 2008, I had levelled all my low-level jobs to LV24. I set a timetable to do one job per month and to take all 12 to LV40. Turns out, I was a bit eager to get it done and it only took me 4½ months to do it. Last night I got SMN40 and it was the last of the dozen.

My next "mission" will be to get them all to 65 or higher. For this I've given myself until the end of 2010, so it should keep me busy for the next 20 months. There are 15 jobs at LV40 and I'm not sure which job will be next after Dragoon. I must say I have enjoyed them all, each job had qualities that appealed to me.

FFXI • Journal

Long time Jerkin...

...no not really.

Got my Assault Jerkin on my fourth attempt, first and second ones we didn't have a Thief with us, but this time Swede was there and we managed to get a drop. I lotted a whopping 960 on it and Swede lotted 880 or thereabouts. Don't worry Swede, we will be back for yours. Wanna thank Raizt (who got his on our second camp third attempt, thanks to Matchuu), Swede, Afroninja, Jaytc and Athilorian for camping with me.

Also went to Temple of Uggalepih and farmed us a Prelate Key plus another helping of Uggalepih Offering. So will have a Carby Mitts-run someday.

Gear • FFXI • Journal

The Past, the Present Tense and the Future

The last couple of months have been intense levelling for my part. Eleven jobs were taken from 0-10-12-14-20 to 24, where Corsair already resided. So now I have 12 jobs at LV24. Warrior, Thief and White Mage were taken from 37, 37 and 38 respectively to 40. Dragoon went from 10 to 42. I also spent some time and money on Goldsmithing and should be LV60 by 2009. Still not decided on what craft to max out. Smithing, Goldsmithing, Bonecraft, Leathercraft and Clothcraft are all candidates.

Currently, Dragoon is the focus. I am also trialing for Perseverance, whom Swede asked me to apply to. I've had some good times with them in the past and the last two weeks have been awesome. With most of my friends in Integral gone, Perseverance was an obvious choice, mainly because of Swede of course, but also because of some other friends I have or have had in there.

The future holds a few personal goals. I should get my last item from the Fishing Guild before starting on my new main craft, one level per week should put me at LV100 by Christmas 2009. The Ebisu rod also beckons, need to get that Stamina Ring BCNM done. For each month next year I have budgeted for one LV24 job to be taken to LV40, so that by the end of the year all my jobs will be LV40 or higher. Dragoon, Warrior and Bard will be my next careers to LV75. I should also work a bit on Radiozo's subjobs and I'm taking my Cooking/Fishing-mule to LV57 Ninja.

A Happy New Year to all!

Crafting • FFXI • Journal

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RECENT ENTRIES

I'm not in BETA, but...
2010-08-21 10:02:43
Final Fantasy XIV ramp up!
2010-08-18 14:01:01
Ferry-go-round
2009-12-02 08:59:59
Peacock Omelette
2009-11-08 08:43:49
The Joy of Camping
2009-10-20 18:27:14
Yinyang Robe
2009-10-18 21:34:52
Ebisu Rod
2009-10-18 17:01:24
Project 40 completed!
2009-05-15 09:26:21
Long time Jerkin...
2009-01-03 23:53:08
The Past, the Present Tense and the Future
2008-12-31 14:58:03