Optimizing the rate of return it critical to every investment, and as a part-time resident of Vana'diel, one is encouraged to optimize their approach in the continuing quest for entertainment and enjoyment. With limited time available to pull strings and move my puppet-self, I've worked to explore the mechanics of Campaign Battle and discover the best technique for extracting maximum benefit from each encounter.
I've also been operating under the helpful advice of the FFXI development team that has constantly lamented the fact that the players rely far too much on the allied armies (which are autonomous) to engage and combat invading enemy hoards. The allied armies mill about the fortification that is the goal of the invaders. Unless stopped, the invaders will attack the fortress and ultimately deplete the resources in the region to the point that they take over the territory and the roles of the game reverse in that zone. Reversals are tallied on a weekly basis.
Adjustments have been made by the development team to reward those that engage the enemy in battle, and as I have progressed through the level system to the old cap of 75, and having earned a few dozen merit points, I have improved my abilities and honed my battle skills in the process, to the point where I am competent and able to solo most of the grunt level monsters. I have found that doing so yields very high levels of experience. So, my basic rule of gameplay has been to operate outsize of the assistance sphere of the allied armies, and prevent as many enemies as possible (usually one) from reaching the target.
This is a sound military strategy. Able bodied soldiers that can perform 1:1, lay in wait, stripping the enemy from back to front. The unprotected leader (or Boss Mob) meets the powerful allied defenders with a mobile and vicious lag-ridden mob of players from around the world. The lag is the downside of having so many puppets on the screen at the same time - slow response.
By myself, I can secure and defeat a single monster, yielding 2000+ experience or limit points. In a similar period of time, assisting the allied armies near the fortification, I will earn 900-1200 experience points. Starting at level 74 for most jobs, two players can handle a single grunt level mob in a battle. I've personally pulled and fed several groups of players in Pashow Marshlands [S] and gotten good experience, which is anything better than 1500 points. Every time I got a new monster and softened it up, two, three or 12 people would pile on and pound it faster and harder than I ever could. Each time the target monster was less than half health, I disengaged and grabbed another, feeding the frenzy. Then there was the boss monster, and I got bored and pulled it too. Kiting like a Red Mage can, I kept a damage-over-time spell and several ailments on the monster as it bounced around like a ping-pong ball from adventurer to adventurer.
Why was I playing near the fortress? It was simple really. There were no allied armies in the region to defend the fortress, so I had a field day without the help of the automated allied armies. I will admit that I was pleased when the Field Musicians showed up to help take out the Boss. It will take some time before I am able to solo the bosses, but I believe it is possible.
Given this environment, should I really be concerned about the negative comments regarding my playstyle that I have received from players that are satisfied with less than 1000 points for investing half an hour of their lives in a video game? I'm fairly certain that once people get a taste of triple the experience, that they will change their tune and venture farther from the support of the allied armies, accepting the challenges of the open battlefield with bravery, valor and a good degree of strategy and planning.
I am encouraged by the fact that some zones in the game are displaying this "ambush skirmish-line" approach. It seems only natural by the design of the zone and the path that the attacking monsters take. They walk to attacks just as the armies do, and it is valuable to know the routes by which they take, for it is the same battles being fought day in and day out in the perpetual preservation of the Crystal War that is Campaign Battle.
Let the Engineering begin.
June 25, 2010
June 21, 2010
:-) Happy Solstice (-:
On such a milestone day, I can not help but post. The Google logo commemorates the day as the longest of the year. The night begins to creep forward once again, but that's tomorrow and today is today. This is as much of a new year as January 1st. It has been a cause for celebration across civilizations far and wide, at least on this wobbly rock in space. It is also something that makes us all Earthlings, and reminds us of our connection to this world.
Being a citizen of this planet is just not enough for this son of an Archaeologist, I must persist in more than one civilization, and as many know, I populate Vana'diel. It's completely artificial and fictional, yet it is a civilization and culture all of it's own. In fact, as my suitably addicted playmate would remind me, it represents several civilizations and cultures, and the inevitable clash between them driven by the forces of light and dark.
I don't know that he'd be that fleet of finger, but perhaps so. I will admit that I am pleased and proud of his progress within the game realm of Vana'diel, and I hope that he has a good time with is next limit break, which after today, will no longer be the the last in a series of tasks. I do not know what challenges lay in store for me after today, but I will find out as much as I can as soon as I can.
While Earth celebrates it's longest day of the year, Twenty-Five days will pass in Vana'diel, with several of them unpopulated as the world undergoes an upheaval of sorts. The level restriction will be raised from 75 to 80, equalling the standard level limit in the competing online MMO. We in Vana'diel know that it takes time and ingenuity to create content all the way to level 99, and that most of it is likely only an outline in Kanji in a secret book on Tanaka San's shelf.
Being a citizen of this planet is just not enough for this son of an Archaeologist, I must persist in more than one civilization, and as many know, I populate Vana'diel. It's completely artificial and fictional, yet it is a civilization and culture all of it's own. In fact, as my suitably addicted playmate would remind me, it represents several civilizations and cultures, and the inevitable clash between them driven by the forces of light and dark.
I don't know that he'd be that fleet of finger, but perhaps so. I will admit that I am pleased and proud of his progress within the game realm of Vana'diel, and I hope that he has a good time with is next limit break, which after today, will no longer be the the last in a series of tasks. I do not know what challenges lay in store for me after today, but I will find out as much as I can as soon as I can.
While Earth celebrates it's longest day of the year, Twenty-Five days will pass in Vana'diel, with several of them unpopulated as the world undergoes an upheaval of sorts. The level restriction will be raised from 75 to 80, equalling the standard level limit in the competing online MMO. We in Vana'diel know that it takes time and ingenuity to create content all the way to level 99, and that most of it is likely only an outline in Kanji in a secret book on Tanaka San's shelf.
Labels:
because I said so,
FFXI,
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why,
writing
June 17, 2010
300 posts - a Blogger Milestone
I just finished writing the short post for the daily blog. I have grown accustomed to actually doing the updates on a daily basis, which I believe helps deliver a true 24-hour delay and spin from post to post. Somehow, I can tell the difference between writing 5 posts in one day and writing 1 post a day for 5 days. I wonder if the readers can. Time may tell.
As to the 300 post milestone, well, that's the maximum number of posts that the blogger interface will allow you to view in a single page on the "Edit Posts" tab, and today, the 300th post on the daily blog will appear at the predetermined time. Unlike human blogs, the daily will not be calling attention to this fact as has been observed elsewhere. The daily has it's own milestones.
As to the 300 post milestone, well, that's the maximum number of posts that the blogger interface will allow you to view in a single page on the "Edit Posts" tab, and today, the 300th post on the daily blog will appear at the predetermined time. Unlike human blogs, the daily will not be calling attention to this fact as has been observed elsewhere. The daily has it's own milestones.
June 15, 2010
Easter Keeps Rumbling
There are those that know where I live. There are others that do not, but if you take a good look at the information available, you know that there has been a whole lot of shakin' goin' on down here on the north side of the border. Last night, at 21:26 hrs local time, things started moving unexpectedly, again.
It is to the point that I can distinctly feel the three phases of a quake. This is due to the fact that I am about 100 miles from the epicenter. The first phase is like stomping. Loud stomping. This is where a huge amount of energy is, and in the original 7+ quake, the stomping was very loud and very sharp. You can hear it, thump - thump -thuMP - THUMP! Last night, the thumping was softer, and spread out a bit more (less energy) but the next two phases were vastly different.
The second phase, while distinct, did not really overlap the third phase last night. While it was distinctly violent and much stronger than Easter Sunday, the lack of overlap with the third phase prevented the toppling of my DVD tower, and nothing fell. It was also about 7-10 seconds shorter that the Easter quake. I wonder if there is value in examining the power distribution over the phases?
The third phase had the Foul Pole at the ballpark oscillating. The top of the pole was moving a much as a baseball diameter left and right, and this showed the power of the lateral motion that exists in the 3rd phase. Needless to say, the Umpire call time until the foul pole stopped moving. Oh, and in case you're wondering, there is only one foul pole at the ballpark. Which park is it?
It is to the point that I can distinctly feel the three phases of a quake. This is due to the fact that I am about 100 miles from the epicenter. The first phase is like stomping. Loud stomping. This is where a huge amount of energy is, and in the original 7+ quake, the stomping was very loud and very sharp. You can hear it, thump - thump -thuMP - THUMP! Last night, the thumping was softer, and spread out a bit more (less energy) but the next two phases were vastly different.
The second phase, while distinct, did not really overlap the third phase last night. While it was distinctly violent and much stronger than Easter Sunday, the lack of overlap with the third phase prevented the toppling of my DVD tower, and nothing fell. It was also about 7-10 seconds shorter that the Easter quake. I wonder if there is value in examining the power distribution over the phases?
The third phase had the Foul Pole at the ballpark oscillating. The top of the pole was moving a much as a baseball diameter left and right, and this showed the power of the lateral motion that exists in the 3rd phase. Needless to say, the Umpire call time until the foul pole stopped moving. Oh, and in case you're wondering, there is only one foul pole at the ballpark. Which park is it?
June 8, 2010
Vote!
Yes, I am up early. I have a civic responsibility to perform. Lofty words you say? Well, as much as I might get chastised for saying it, remember this:
'nuff said.
Freedom is Responsibility
Responsibility is Freedom
'nuff said.
