Bibiki Bay

Neyla and I started leveling our Beastmaster jobs in the Eastern Altepa Desert because another BST had alreay moved into Bibiki Bay. This was our first xp session after learning Leave, so I was eager to adjust to new tactics. We were charming Giant Spiders and sending them after the Sand Beetles.

The xp was decent, but unfortunately the desert spiders are so spread out that it's very easy to get into trouble. Knowing your pet is about to die without a suitable replacement is rough. Neyla kept tabs on the BST in Bibiki Bay, and we quickly switched camps when she left.

Bibiki Bay was a good zone. We could charm the rarabs, dhalmels and efts wandering around to fight against the birds. We'd let the pets beat down the ravens and then dismiss them when our prey had only a sliver of health remaining. Then we'd use our axes to finish the job.

The Urugnites on Purgonorgo Island make decent pets.

We roamed from the Buburimu border to the western passage near Sunset Docks. I scouted a little bit ahead to see if there was better prey, but the first thing I saw was a Hobgoblin Martialist, which is something I go against on my Lv. 68 White Mage. No thanks.

Neyla hit 36, and a short time later we were on the fight that would bump me up to the same level. Neyla got disconnect mid-battle and I finished off the raven. I went solo on another bird while I waited for Neyla to get online again.

We rode the Manaclipper out to Purgonorgo Island to scope it out. The Urugnites make great pets because they don't link, they don't aggro, and their shells are tough as hell. We sent them after the birds flying around the beach, which was very good. We also tried them against the black mandragoras, and that wasn't so good. The krakens hit-and-miss, but reliable for xp.

We were only on the island about thirty minutes, long enough for the Manaclipper to return and take us back to Sunset Docks. We plan to go back out there tomorrow for another xp session. I may have to dig out my clamming gear.

The scythes are badass.

I flew out to Jeuno to check on new equipment. I had planned to buy a set of Loyalty Rings, but some jackass had bumped up the price and I decided to wait a day or two. I was able to buy some Frostreaper scythes for myself and for Neyla, who was still in Buburimu farming crawlers for silk thread. I wandered out to deliver Neyla's scythe, and the two of us killed shit until my scythe skill hit 10. Neyla had come close to 30 skill by the time we returned to the outpost.

I don't know that I'd want to use a scythe in combat very often -- the damage is nice, but the delay is maddening -- but I think it would be my "walking around" weapon. It just looks too badass, and I like the idea of people seeing me with one of those strapped to my back... even if, as Neyla joked, it looks like I can barely lift the thing.

Fighting Legends

I bought ingredients to make meatball bait and caught the Selbina ferry for a lengthy fishing session. I wanted to go after Titanictus (one of the the legendary fish) and bhefel marlin (for the navigation chart quest).

The bane of my fishing career is a beast called Ryugu Titan. When it bites the line, you can't mistake what it is because the bastard fights hard by whipping the rod from right to left. It's almost impossible to wear it down because it moves too fast to be able to wear down its stamina.

I can't believe I caught a Ryugu Titan.

I ended up releasing several from the line in frustration, but then I found the one titan in the ocean which was sluggish from swimming through industrial waste. After a struggle, I landed my first titan! Let me tell you, this is a major landmark in a Vana'diel angler's career. I had reached Lv. 74 fishing on a silver shark a few minutes earlier, but the titan excited me more.

Veresko joined me for a few more trips on the ferry. He wanted to break some clothespole rods so he could repair them and increase his woodworking skill. I snapped several for him.

We also stepped in at the last moment to help a Lv. 75 White Mage who was fighting Blackbeard by herself. She had worn him down to within a sliver of his life, but it was looking like she might run out of time. Blackbeard didn't drop the club she wanted.

I ended up throwing away several Titanictus to make room for the Sea Zombies, another legendary fish which only appears during pirate attacks. When it was all over, I had three legendaries -- Ryugu Titan, Titanictus, and Sea Zombie -- on display as trophies in my bazaar. I plan to add the others at some point.

Neyla and I finished out the evening by having another Beastmaster skillup session. We started in Bibiki Bay and moved to the Eastern Altepa Desert to cap our axe skills and learn the Avalanche Axe weapon skill.

Juggler Hecatomb

I wandered back into Gusgen Mines this morning to the spot where Neyla and I were fighting bombs Saturday night, although this time I was on my White Mage job. I dropped down the hole and landed on he back of a notorious monster called Juggler Hecatomb.

Juggler Hecatomb tries to make me his bitch and fails.

He didn't attack me, so I ran over to the side of the room to rest my MP back to full. I did a search online for his profile, since I wasn't sure if he was a regular NM or an HNM, but it looked like I'd be able to take him. I cast Haste and Stoneskin on myself and waded into the fight.

He hit kinda hard, but I would Flash him and apply Stoneskin every time he knocked it off. He also used Bio II an Dia II a few times. A more aware person who hadn't been awake since 4 a.m. would've silenced him and saved a lot of grief, but I forgot to do that.

I used Hexa Strike on him several times. He got me into the yellow at one point, but I was never in serious danger. A wandering Dragoon miner threw a couple Cure IIs my way, which certainly helped.

I killed him with a little over 100 mp remaining. He didn't drop the Heavy Halberd, though.

For the Sake of Accuracy

There are four giant clams in Korroloka Tunnel.

I quested a Venerer Ring today for use on my Beastmaster job. It provides a +3 bonus to accuracy, which makes it easier for me to hit the monsters with my axe instead of keeping them cool by fanning them with the blade every time I miss.

The quest is a neat little side story to the game. A young girl has gone off in search of a legendary bounty hunter, and you must track her down to make sure she's alive and well. The journey takes you to Norg, Selbina, Rabao, Bastok and Lufaise Meadows. At one point you have to help an informant by providing five Eastern Gems, which drop off the sahagin beastmen outside the Sea Serpent Grotto.

I killed quite a few of them and got two gems. I summoned my NPC so he could get some experience points, and after that session was over I decided to buy the other three gems at the auction house.

One of the more interesting parts of the quest involved trying to impress one of the pirates from Norg by tracking down a drink. I had to go to Korroloka Tunnel to track down four giant clams to fill a flask. I agree with the pirate that clam juice sounds like complete swill, but I managed to find them after a bit of exploration.

I obtained the ring and will put it to use. I spent about 5k over the course of the quest, but I received 4k back when it was over. The fun part is the ring itself costs about 300k at the auction house.

Other than that quest, it was a quiet day. I did plenty of fishing (I'm now .2 away from 74 skill) and started cooking on my Windurst mule. Dibbler made so much carrot broth and sliced sardine that I thought I would go mad, but it's a start.