Happy Birthday Spira.
Today marks the 4th anniversary of Spira's creation in Final Fantasy XI.
Oh how time flies. It feels hard to believe that I've been playing the same game for 4 years now. It only seems like yesterday that I had gone down to Tec-Drome and picked up a copy of FFXI, brought it home and tried to figure out how to properly work Playonline. And then getting the world pass from Etoh to join Ragnarok server.
A wave of nostalgia hits me, when I think back to the early days and nights of running and actually exploring Gustaberg, in its dusty glory. Everything was unknown. Everything was new. Everything was exciting. And its kinda funny because I was playing the game so much day, night and overnight, that there was once, I actually raised my hand to block the Vana'diel 'Sun' when its glare pierced my eyes.
And then there were the other players. I was in TemasekChevaliers, the SG linkshell created by Etoh. Everyone (almost) was new, it was fun and exciting because we could all learn about the game from each other... and everyone was receptive to the things that others had to say. It was a time when I truly understood what being an adventurer in FFXI meant.
But as time goes by, the game changes... and people change. It would appear that my experiences in the world of Vana'diel would teach me important lessons in life and the real world as well. Through the simulated society of an MMORPG, and the stories told within the game itself, which are both very real, I learnt compacted lessons of humility, teamwork, greed, trust and love. The online world might not exist, but the emotions were 100% true. And perhaps this is one major reason why I am still playing this game today.
Fast forward to 4 years later. The game has changed so very much. Players who left early on or even along the way would find difficulty believing this is the same game that they had played before. Of course, the changes have mostly been for the better. Yet, with all the new things that come by, it is a sad feeling to know that I will never ever regain that initial adventurer's spirit again. New expansions don't really seem all that new anymore, and perhaps I have grown somewhat weary of the game after these 4 years.
But I still love this game very much. It still captivates me, and I love it when challenges are thrown ahead at me. The story is so amazing. The graphics, somewhat dated, still exude a graceful charm. Each zone feels like it really lives. The music, oh so enthralling.
So.. where do I stand now? Instead of that Lv1 RDM newb that I was, perhaps it is time for me to evaluate what I have done in this game.. and to see just how much of the game I have experienced.
Coincidentally, this is my playlog taken today, inclusive of AFK hours and overnight bazaaring of course.
thats like 25% out of these 4 years.
..so.. an overview of Spira.
Spira
Hume M 2B
Ragnarok
Missions:
Bastok Rank10*
Windurst Rank10*
San d'Oria Rank10*
Rise of the Zilart: The Last Verse*
Chains of Promathia: The Last Verse*
Treasures of Aht Urhgan: Eternal Mercenary*
Wings of the Goddess: Cait Sith
Assault: Captain*
Campaign: Brass Ribbom of Service SS
* means completed.
Jobs and Levels:
WAR37 MNK10 WHM42 BLM37 RDM75 THF37
PLD06 DRK37 BST71 BRD05 RNG04 SMN75
SAM37 NIN37 DRG75 BLU37 COR08 PUP75
DNC12 SCH07
NPC: Nanako 42
Pankration: CelestialHeart 15
Crafts:
Fishing 2
Smithing 2
Alchemy 6
Cooking 28
Merits:
Max MP 3
Summoning Magic Skill 8
Critical Hit Rate 3
Spell Interruption Rate 1
Slow II 1
Paralyze II 1
Phalanx II 1
Deep Breathing 1
Angon 1
Avatar Physical Accuracy 3
Elemental MP Cost 5
Heavenly Strike 1
Wind Blade 1
Role Reversal 1
Ventriloquy 1
Fine-Tuning 1
---
HNM Title-whore hitlist:
Gotten:
Fafnir Slayer
Nidhogg Slayer
Tortoise Torturer
Behemoth's Bane
Kirin Captivator
World Serpent Slayer
Cerberus Muzzler
Khimaira Carver
Needed:
Aspidochelone Sinker
Behemoth Dethoner
Vrtra Vanquisher
Tiamat Trouncer
Ouryu Overwhelmer
Wyrmking Astonisher
Virtuous Saint
Hydra Headhunter
Comet Charioteer
Star Charioteer
Moon Charioteer
Sun Charioteer
Noble Einherjar
lol, I have alot of meriting and killing to go thru.
Goal-setting:
Main jobs: RDM BST SMN DRG PUP.
BST will be the final job to 75 unless a new job with a pet appears in a future expansion.
All other jobs will only need to be leveled up to 37 only, with the exception of WHM at 42.
Also, meriting all 5 jobs completely...
Shouldn't be too hard to accomplish before mid next year, probably.