Shadows of an Ultima Dynamis-Windurst in the Path of Darkness

Dynamis-Windurst

Last week Saturday OceanidsDyna chose to do Dynamis-Windurst. Our regular puller Vlacatocc was unable to make it. Instead Zalia got to pull. They didn't do too badly, but we had several wipes due to uncontrolled linkages. We killed the MB but it died in the last 30 secs so we didn't get the official win. This time with Vlacatocc pulling we managed to kill the MB with 30 minutes to spare and farm afterwards. No BLM or RDM. In my time with the shell no RDM AF has dropped (I can only attend Sats though). Meanwhile Hypnotizd (from my LS AlwaysFUNE) managed to get a cleric's briault (I've been lusting after this one for a while) in his Dyna :-(

Storms of Fate

After finally kicking the little twerp's face in ZM17 I heard about a possible Storms of Fate run. However, I was in an xp party at the time and couldn't go. Much to my delight it got postponed until Saturday. Right after Dynamis I got a tell asking if I wanted to go on a run. It took a while to get set up and I managed to see a lot of familiar faces from my past. Ultimatechidori and Sesshi (from LoHHNM/Valour), Kiobi (from GYS), Guivond (from RuinousOmen) were there and I got Ashur (AlwaysFUNE) and Zarovich (Imperial) invited too. I died to a cluster (wasn't paying attention when casting) but finally made it to the area. Once there we buffed up and hit it as hard and fast as we could. There were several deaths in a heart pounding battle, but we managed to win! Now I have to climb the promies and then I can FINALLY do AN!



Proto-Ultima

RuinousOmen finally finished up another Ultima set. This time around we had several new people from the crew that used to come. We missed Eldercid, Toxicity, Loren, and Dubajaba. The battle was intense and long. Several dissipitations went off which threw a kink into things. Our PLD/NINs died quite fast leaving Arizod and Vashstarwin (WARs) tanking for a bit. Nice to see WARs who were not afraid of vokes. Citadel Buster was irritating. It took a long time to wear him down (we need to hit harder during Citadel Buster and let the guy die instead of running at 30). But we managed to snag the win and the title. Belgarath got the feet and Hovaz got the head. For our three Ultimas we have received 4 Turbans...*sigh* a hand and a foot. Given that Ultima is so much harder than Omega I find it funny that our win percentage on Ultima is 100% and our win percentage on Omega is 87%.

ToAU/CoP





The Imperial ToAU static (Zarovich, Thayos, Kaerwyn, Zephiris, Makina, Kiabrightblade, and myself) managed to get to the Gessho fight. We tried to straight up tank him a few times with Kia but he ended up dying too fast. Luckily you don't lose XP in ToAU battle zones. Our 3rd try we decided to kite kill him ala Kirin. Zarovich charmed/kited Gessho as BST while Thayos enfeeb'd and took care of the clones. Our DRGs (Zephiris and Makina) and PLD (Kia) hit him when they could and Kaer and I healed. It wasn't the most elegant of fights, but we won! Gessho is a pain in the ass.



I'm actually enjoying the CS of ToAU, the story is getting to be interesting too. We have 2 more fights to finish the missions off! Hurrah!



I enjoy being in Imperial, especially since AlwaysFUNE tends to be a little slow at my prime times on the weekdays. On Saturday we did Promy-Mea for Zadine. 3 SMN, 1 PLD, 1 WHM, and 1 MNK raped Mea! I think I'm going to have some fun doing CoP for a third time ^^.

I also have fun and get to chat with Pikko in Imperial. I listened to her radioshow with Exodous today and it was entertaining. I find it funny that I know both Allakhazam admins from Garuda and they're both in the same LS. We were waving to Pikko's little boy who loves her character.



Registery

I managed to learn how to make FFXI beautiful by tweaking the background resolution. However, my computer can't run it. When I oversample it, I get 4 frames a second. I wish I knew what I needed to do to keep it like these pics ... I wonder if I have to get a new graphics card.





DATs

I found some really nice .dat files to switch up. I really like the Young Griffin armor from the Sandy Past. It's now my "Naked Taru" armor. I also found Nation Moogles! They have a Windy, Sandy, Basty, Jeuno, and ToAU one. I really liked the ToAU version. And I didn't realize, I have a mule (Stal) who is the same model as Pikko! BTW, if you're on Garuda and get a chance to know Pikko ask to see her MH. It's really nice.

Zilart All Over Again

Zilart is going to be mashed in the middle of this post since it happened chronologically in the middle, so bear with me.

First I managed to snag a BLM testimony while helping someone complete LB3 and also hoping for a key so they could obtain their RDM AF. Now I have no illusions about getting a Maat cap (because that would mean I'd have to level a DDish job) but I hate to throw things away. So I decided, what the heck, let's just try the Old Man again. Went in without any preparation, just my normal BLM gear. Of course, it helps that I'm level 75, with a lot of +elemental magic skill, +int, +enfeebling skill, and merits. I did wait for Earthsday to pass so less chance of resist on Burst II. Walked up to him, Burst II followed by an ES + Sleep II. He managed to Manafront and cast Bio II on me before my Sleep II hit him. Then I followed up with a Freeze II. Results as below.



To my surprise there were several people in my social LS that did not have sky yet. They had just achieved level 75 and were interested in getting Sky as well as joining our frolic against the Sky Gods. So after being assured that they had all the CS done up to ZM4 we went farming unlit lanterns. Ashur (RDM/BLM), Demesis (WAR/NIN), Avinateri (PLD/WAR) and myself (WHM/NIN) went to various locations in the Temple of Ugglies and Den of Rancor to attempt getting these items. We were unsuccessful for about 2 hours. I managed to coax Dukenukem with this THF 45 to help us, and were unsuccessful for about another hour or so. Then I managed to corral Nojoke (THF 75 with TK) into coming (he had logged in the temple anyway camping pop item for TK). First Maledictor we fought, a latern dropped. The Second one we fought, a lantern dropped. Now Dukenukem had a lantern from before so all we needed was one more.



Disgusting isn't it? 3/3 Unlit Lanterns (when I did mine other people had the lantern already). So we saddled up to hit the BCNM. I changed to BLM/WHM for ES Sleepga II, Duke changed to PLD/NIN, and Kavita (WHM/BLM) consented to join us. I sent Ashur, Avinateri, and Demesis to Norg to do the Tonberry hate quest. Then all of use removed our hate (except Duke who never started the quest). I had made sure everyone had bought silent oils/prism powders and we traipsed out to Den of Rancor. Made it in one piece and entered the BCNM. Managed to defeat it with no problems (it is so much easier at level 75 than when I did it at level 60 WHM). Duke, Kavita, Ashur, and Avinateri had to log.

Demesis and I continued on because our LS leader had said if I got them through ZM5 he'd take them to sky. Nojoke came along because I planned to sacrifice him to the Ash Dragon and then raise him somewhere. Luckily I found a nice map online with the route (I still need a map of Ifrit's Cauldron) and we went through without too much of a problem. Demesis accidentally got Ice Crystals instead of Clusters so we had to patiently wait. The Ash Dragon was firmly against the far left wall so we managed without any aggro! We killed the NMs at Behemoth's Dominion, Ifrit's Cauldron, and Sanctuary of Zi'Tah. Celestial and Lorddocster took Demesis to the rest of the headstones (I needed food, sleep, and to craft sleeping potions for a LS person).

After Sky the next day (where we defeated Suzaku x 2 and Byakko x2 [finally one without a death and a leg dropping for a NIN]) I saw Demesis and Ashur nearing Ifrit's Cauldron (they had done all of the solo headstones for Ashur while we were skying). I dragooned Doc, Ashke, and Nojoke into going along without realizing that Ashur had shouted for a group in Aht Urghan Whitegate. I almost killed the DRK when he said he didn't have any more silent oils...grrrrr. Nonetheless we managed to do all the headstones again. Doc lead us to ZM6 and at that point Doc, Ashke, and NJ left our group.

So we had a PLD/WAR, DRK/WAR, WHM/SMN, RDM/BLM, WAR/NIN, and a BLM/WHM and vowed to get sky. ZM6 wasn't a problem at all. Unfortunately two of our members had thrown away their Delkfutt's Tower Key so they ran up the way. ZM8 was pretty easy with one death, the WAR, when Light Blade managed to go off. After all the requisite CSs we headed again to QSC. I suggested clearing out the worm so it wouldn't aggro us while we rested back for TP. Unfortunately someone popped the ancient vessel. The PLD ended up dying before we realized the vessel had popped so Demesis and the DRK took turns tanking. We managed to beat it and were off on our way to Sky. I took them through Ro'Maeve a couple of times for the CSs. Then I took them on a tour of sky.

Explained what aggro'd and how to use the Blue teleporters. I remember my first time there trying to figure out what people were telling me so I could get to Genbu and help out (at the time I hadn't done any sky gods and I was just guesting on shells because they wanted a BRD to help and friends had asked me). They were so excited. I had to rush to Limbus after.



I got bludgeoned into starting to raise a Chocobo. Ashke and Lorddocster both have black chocobos who have been groomed for speed and endurance. So I dutifully sent ShadowQueen (Ashke's Black Female) and FirecrackerFury (Doc's Black Male) on a Jeuno Date. My egg should be ready later tonight and then I have to figure out how to raise this chocobo. Probably going to use it mainly as a riding chocobo.



Hopefully I parent it well and it doesn't hate me ^^

Magicites

Remember that fun pick up party that I had? Well one of the members Gottlieb looked me up the next day and asked if I'd be willing to help out him and Skylee for the magicite quests. Hehe, I had to tell him that Skylee was not near ready for that as he was on the Dragon fight (Mission 2-3). But I said I'd take him to do the Magicite quest. Now, back when I did this I was like level 30 or something. We killed the dragon (my friends Alcindor and Lanoire waited for me to get to level 30 before we edid this quest) and Sumiko took us around. In fact we did the rank 3-3 mission (delkfutt's tower) and then did the magicites all in one sitting. I was post call that day too, so much of it was a blur.

So I read back up on the quest and go and kill stuff in Beadeaux (took me a while to remember where those mobs pop). Then I place him at Dem and have him Choco to Jeuno. We start the tenshodo quest and I take him to Bastok then back to dem to Jeuno to complete. We get all the key items and head on our merry way. I figure Castle Oztraja first since it's the longest. But I somehow lost my maps of the place. So going on memory, I inadvertenty lead him toward the place for LB3 (o.O) D'oh! Escape, retry. Finally find the right place. Off toe BEadeaux and Davoi and completed those quickly. Woohoo Rank 5.

Turns out he has a friend Cazim who he plays with (real life friend). Gottlieb actually got his BLM ahead of Cazim's MNK with our party. I think Cazim was a little put out that Gottlieb did Rank 4 missions without him. So Gottlieb asks me if I can do the missions for him (Cazim was at work when we did the missions initially, he work until late in the night). So I say sure and start the whole process again. Turns out Cazim and Gottlieb have played FFXI 2 times before, but never really got farther than this mission (and around the 40s job level). This time they want to go all the way and Cazim really wanted this mission done. He had actually read up on the missions and printed out maps. So things went pretty fast (plus I didn't get lost this time). Woohoo Rank 5 again. Turns out Cazim likes fatasy novels so we chatted about that while doing the missions.

Yesterday, I got asked by Lorddocster to powerlevel his ninja. He desperately wants NIN to 37 so he can be a RDM/NIN (which he claims are "gods" of the game). Meh, gods. Until one of them wipes and wants an Raise III (hehe, RDM didn't get Raise II in the update) [see my post about Davoi below]. Now I really hate powerleveling at times, it's kind of boring. Plus everyone wants the PL to be the tank. So I lay out ground rules. The party should function as normal. People provoking, doing SC, MB, and no freakin' WHM meleeing and casting banish, banish, and elemental magic. And we set off to the Eastern Altep desert. He actually told me, "I'll give you 100K per level and 100K per hour". But I really hate powerleveling, but I have a hard time saying no. So we get to the desert and he assembles his team. And gives me 500K off the bat, I try to refuse, but he keeps trading me and tells me to take it. Somehow they have an idiotic PLD who has no concept of how to voke or rest for MP. Then he goes AFK for ages (on the "loo"). So this was bothering me. Much to the fact that I didn't really notice the WHM. Now they eventually boot that PLD for being AFK for a long time and get another PLD. Now this one I liked! Voked, cured, rested/healed and I hardly tanked at all. They also picked up a BLM to complete the party (e.g. a WAR/THF had to leave).

Now I start noticing the WHM. Doesn't use any food I can tell. Has never heard of regen. Basically I'm curing the party while this mithra rests for 3/4 of the battle. Then she pops up and uses Cure IIs. I ask her to regen the tank. No answer. I ask her to regen the SAM (who was stealing hate a lot), no answer. Although she did cast regen ONCE! (and just once after I asked). Argh. Eventually we move to Garlaige Citadel. Before the move I get another 500K for leveling bonus I was told. Now this was too freakin much. But he wouldn't take no for an answer. Now the RDM was never magic bursting to the set up skill chain but he was new and I could forgive him. I ran him to bastok so I could warp 2 him but his HP was in the desert so I Warped him to the desert. So I tele him and he makes his way to garlaige.

So in garlaige, I was getting more and more frustrated by the WHM. She essentially is not doing anything, I'm the main healer. Eventually she has to leave so she gets replaced by another WHM. Well actuallly they had 2 WHM for a while because the RDM just up and ran off for no apparent reason. o.O. So I start off a conversation with this new WHM when I see her use regen off the bat. Hallelujah! I give her my remaining ginger cookies and we work out a battle plan. The SAM was still an MP sink. But I wanted her to enfeeble to get her skills up. So I watched the SAM and NIN HP in the beginning while she enfeebled. Then she regened and cured whil I was her back up. Now the NIN was pulling way too fast for a convetional party and for people to get MP. She would tell me when she got low and I main cured for a fight. It was very enjoyable. She had to leave eventually and got this WHM named Pakka who also used regen! And he macro'd in some emotions while curing (so I could tell when he was doing cure and cure II, hehehe). So Lorddocster had to finish when he was 35 (it was 6AM in England) and I was up 1 mil in gil.

Now recently Verrick's bank has been low. I had been fluctuating between 400-500K, but after my last party where I bought the seer's set, centurion set/sword with CP, extra food for people, and the merc capt doublet, I was down to 232K. So maybe karma is a good thing? My friend Lanoire recently added up all of my mules' money. Turns out I have like 8.4 million total. Never thought of it that way. Each of my mules has their own account. I rarely transfer gil between characters. The mules in the cities have to spend their cash to buy crafting materials and send them to others, so my Sandy mule has recently dipped from 1.5 mil to 1.4 mil (damn Sandy has been in first for 3 freakin' weeks).

Anyhow, the new update is being implemented right now. I guess I have to start meriting so I can get Protectra V and Shellra V. And as a BRD I get Raptor's Marzurka (level 37) whoohoo!. Slight boost to walking speed. Anyone need a WHM in a merit party?