Beastmaster Chronicles

BANNED FOR LIFE

Due to IGXE.com my account was permanently banned. It was time to move on.

Only one in the world...

I have completely abandoned this blog apparently and for that I apologize because some real effort went down this last year. I did in fact obtain level 75, nearly 13 months after the post below. Yes a solo Beastmaster was nearly a 3 year journey of massive exploration, grinding and pure Hell at times. I explored untold miles of dungeons and outdoor areas, probably annoyed countless parties and generally strayed the tight edge that is convention in a game that is 100% not designed for any solo play whatsoever. I took up the challenge because I was always mystified by the lonely Beastmaster job making his way across the fringe while the rest of us were tucked away in our safe little party environment, leveling away like good little Tarus and Mithras.

The hill one must climb when I last blogged at 65 to 75 is nearly insurmountable, let us break it down for anyone who cares and those whom it doesn't concern may at least be dazzled by the sheer math hammer of it all. To level in Final fantasy XI you need experience points which you gain from fighting monsters at your level or above. Let's be clear (Barrack Obama) there is no way in this game to power level IE the old Maplestory/WOW theory of killing boars in the forest does not work. You simply cannot level on weak enemies, every battle is a challenge, and at best most are nearly deadly. Another fun fact about the grind, upon failing at battle and dying face down in the dirt you are actually deducted experience points 10% relative to your level requirement. So you work hard for two hours gaining 5000 exp, die once and now are left with 2500 exp, you have wasted an hour of your life, [congratulations] [Japanese] [Only]. 

The numbers which are amazing to behold are the biggest back breaker at all, anyone attempting solo to 75 or 80 now should immediately stab your eyes out and never read this number: 1,072,850. That is the final exp count required for just dinging into 75, and if you die on the next fight you can actually delevel and owe the system 2400 more exp to regain your golden boy 75 again, (fuck!) So when I was "Back on BST" below and all bonered up about grabbing the high fruit of 75 I was sitting at 466,350 exp. So that is only 606,500 more exp points to go woohoo! Yeah that took 13 months of nearly crack addicted grinding. 

In a SAFE camp with no parties, no links, and good level ratio present I could easily chain into 250+ exp per kill with a battle time of 3-6 minutes. I forgot Algebra (you don't need it kids, I still get laid plenty) so I can't tell you the time estimation, but I will say it felt like eons from level 65. I was a whole other person back in level 65 than I was at 75, it's like remebering my youth or something.  The fact is the numbers stack up, it's a brutal grind, but I finished the drill and probably the sweetest reward of all was a post ding console command of: /sea BST 75 all (translation search entire world, for beastmaster, level 75) the return generated a fantastic awe inspiring win:

 

 You goddamned right.

 

Back in BST!

I have secretly resumed my leveling of beastmaster in the online installment of the Final Fantasy universe. FFXI we call it, my second grand addiction after the everquest buzz wore off and the relentless PK'ers got old... This is almost year seven of this game for me and sometimes I just yern to get back out there.

Yes the title screen says it all "exploring the world of Vana Diel is a thrilling experience, don't forget your friends, family, or work..." I always laugh a little when I confirm that selection, but it's true the Zen-like quality of the world is such that it is easily addictive.

There is just nothing quite like this game as far ambiance goes, wind in the trees, water effects, it is as close to a meditative experience possible while killing thousands of enemy beastmen in an attempt to reign supreme!

The game certainly shows the huge difference between American and Asian MMO development. The American MMO-market is full of death and destruction, ruthless item questing, and loads of tea-bagging. Whereas Asian MMOs focus on quality of environment and simple things like travel.

In the world of FFXI battle is more of an art with extreme technical styles. Balance is important and only the truly brave attempt breaking the party mold at all. The few that travel deep into rarely used camps at the edge of dangerous areas are usually the mavericks of the game. The Dragoons, Black mages, and the most private and mysterious of all the Beastmaster.

These rare few classes solo in a game never designed for soloing and do so with terribly slow EXP rates plus much chagrin from their fellow adventurers. Beastmasters have enjoyed the title of MPKers for years or camp stealers, much of which spawns from jealousy of watching a single player fulfill an entire party role and grabbing exp chains to the thirds.

The beastmaster is the quiet sometimes shy background character seen to only relate to his flock and have more knowledge of the beasts of the world than any other character. They tame the wild and use nature in the struggle of the day.

When I was first leveling up my original characters like warrior, monk and thief I was always mystified by the roaming beastmasters who seemed so content to make their own path. I always felt so generic sitting in my factory perfect party (tank, dps, healer) when one of these enigmas went by, especially in the old days.

So to fulfill my pledge and mini dream of making it all the way to level 75 solo, I have resumed. After a real hard spot at 57-60 I pushed on through to my current level of 65. I will be resuming my updates as well.

Fall is here and it's the online gaming season, what better time to grind away the cold nights of winter in those dangerous areas no one else goes. As the fellow BST's greet each other, I say: "good hunting!"

I'm Out...

57 levels in less than 5 months and full AF gear as well...  What a waste you're probably thinking, not so.  This was my second mmorpg after Eric and I discovered Everquest after some booth babes at E3 gave us free gold memberships.  It promised everything, the Final Fanatsy universe, unlimited friends, and beautiful endless landscapes.  It pretty much did that, no game currently has the emotion and mystery of environment that Final Fantasy XI does.  That is the big problem for me.  I thought I could forget the past and play in the realms I used to play in, but it's just so hard.

The old days are just too near when I start hearing that Bastok theme or the chimes out in Gustaberg.  The game has also become completly filled with leetist assholes and rank 10 folks only end gaming, Lakshmi had 1180 people on last night...  The game is dying and I probably should just let it, and move on.  I gave it a great portion of 4 years already...

Heh it pains me to say this but the more I played the more I missed my Horde friends on World of Warcraft.  Although I will say this, if they ever applied wow rules to FFXI I would probably come back [Do you understand?]  Good bye old friend, and friends, I won't forget the long nights and great people I fought with along the way!  18 levels to go fail...

...and delete

Slowly dungeon crawling through 57

 

I am slowly crawling through to 57, so I'm back!  World of warcraft is still easier to play while running, but I am adjusting.  I will get to 75 damn you 57!  Quicksand caves right now is painfully slow but very safe EXP right now.  I am looking forward to a new camp soon, and when I hit 58 I will try some hellbombs in garliage shitadel.  Back on the horse, providing addiction for almost 5 years now...

   

A mini hiatus has occured

Final Fantasy being the massive grind that it is, coupled with the skyrocketing EXP that occurs 50 on, is wearing me out.  This game can literally become a job as anyone that is rank 10 or fully Chains of prommie bestowed knows.  The massive leveling will continue soon, I am currently developing an advanced new excercise system, and will report on that soon.

For the moment I am taking shelter in the amazing Lost Odyssey, a game to set the benchmark against for real Japanese RPG turn based games of the future.

44-48 The Sanctuary of Zi'Tah

After a nice stint in the islands I have settled into another foresty zone in the Li' Telor region.  This is a huge forest where the trees are so tall little light reaches the ground even at the brightest parts of the day.  The leveling is easy here with an outpost controlled by my country of Bastok within easy reach.  I was was using my favorite pet a member of the leech family called a "Goobbue Parasite."  Leech leveling is easy with their high dps and crippling drains, and with a small pond filled with them I was converting and throwing leeches all night long.  The only downside worth mentioning is the linking leeches can do when a mischarm occurs but those links can be resolved with a few easy converts and back to work!  Yeah leveling in this game is certainly work...  With a climbing exp range after 50 the suck is just around the corner.

I also ran into a few Notorious Monsters on the way to 48.  While taking a break from grinding out levels I have began the long questing/coffer hunt that is the 6 Artifact armor quests.  AF armor is the special job specific armor that resembles the original armor from the old Final Fantasy games.  It is also highly acclaimed for the job specific stat increases.  The beast AF centers around lots of charisma, reward, and charm benefits.  These factors are all nice when you start trying to level with tough, or very tough monsters.

   

While running through Delkfutt's tour on my AF1 quest I ran into an NM named Enkelados a giant dark member of the gigas family.  It seems he is also a beastmaster which made the whole thing ironic, I dropped a Courier Carrier on him and stood back and watched as she did 100+ damage per hit, not bad I was over leveled for the area at 46, but the guide said a team of 2 level 50's were required.  Such is the power of Beast I suppose.

On the other hand, I had my ass handed to me by a fast moving NM named "Serra!"  This fast pugil type popped right in the middle of a fight with one of her place holders.  Not good timing at all, not having studied the local fauna online I had no idea what I was in store for.  At level 45 she was hitting me for 200+ a turn, that is scary damage with a pool of HP under a thousand.  Being in a zone with no escape, just a ferry leaves little in the way of safety so I had no choice but to keep fighting.  It was a dangerous game of charming, engaging and resting.  In that order exactly, just enough time was allotted for my survival, I had her down to 10% health when the unthinkable happened.  A mischarm...  My sequence was broken and 1,2,3 I was doing the face down mambo...  Such is the BST life.

    

41-43 getting sun!

Summer is here and the living is easy.  I kissed the dark and murky swamp goodbye and moved to the gorgeous Bibiki Bay.  I took the long ferry from the first zone out of the Buburimu peninsula and made my way to the remote island of Purgonorgo.  This game doesn't have a single zone that is possible to spell.  The beaches here are far and wide, filled with giant beach snails named "Coralline Uragnite" not knowing any better I de-boated and jumped right into fighting.  I charmed the first mob I saw a monkey of Opo-opo variety and assumed I would fight these huge land slugs!

Not so...  The Coralline Uragnite have a few nasty tricks up there tentacles, one of the worst I found was their odd ability of sticking a straw in the ground and then gaining a huge regen of health about every third turn.  Ugggh I had to throw just about every mob on the beach at this thing before it finally died, no surrender!

I settled into a camp after a bit and found my best success again was based on "living on the edge" by charming the ever dangerous slime family of mobs, this one was called the "Viscous clot."  I say dancing on the edge because the slime family of mobs are wicked powerful and easily the best pets in the game, but they have a natural ability to resist charm.  When you match that with their massive damage per second, and superior defense one mis-charm and you are at half health and running for your life.  Playing the slime game is dangerous but effective I was exp chain up to 4x alone!  This is the power of the BST, no party no help and I'm leveling alone, in a game that would never allow it!

As a side note I have also added a massive screenshot gallery to this site of all screens from level 1 to now: http://www.lastfreeman.com/photos/bst/

39-40 Carpenter's Landing

This zone is jam packed with mobs.  Lots to fight and charm, my favorite was the birdtrap, a sort of flying plantoid full of power and debuffs.  This zone stayed empty the entire 3 level span I found myself here.  For safe leveling it is hard to imagine a more perfect place. 

It is kind of hard to get to the southern part, a slow ferry ride that makes a long circular voyage.  I think it is well worth the trip, bring lots of food and jug pets though!

34-38 HALFWAY!

Hanging around the zones close to Jeuno have I been, (Yoda) scoring exp chains off the orcs that inhabit Batallia downs.  This was a dreary zone with Necropolis outcroppings poking up all over, in protest to the rolling landscape.  The spookiness of knowing underneath the earth here is the Eldieme necropolis filled with the most unholy dead walking added to the macabre.  I was grabbing tigers here and throwing them at Orcish types in this area.  Somewhat slow but safe exp.

later I took off on an adventure North to the Jugner forest, a swampy blueish land filled with moss and humidity.  I ran into the "carpenters Landing south" zone.  I had never really been here before and thought I would check it out.  After tunneling around lost for a while (no map) I surfaced to find a beautiful Bayou looking zone.  It was completely empty of any exp parties of people at all.  It was also very mob intensive, for the amount of space they were anywhere from about 20-30 mobs per zone.  This could prove to be a great BST camp.  More on this great zone as I beat on it for a while.