Eco Warrior: Death by Pudding

The other day I was hanging around the Bastok markets taking teleport requests and waiting for a PTY invite when I notice Jprimal announcing he's looking for people to do the Eco Warrior quest so I send him a tell and join. There were almost 2 whole PTY's in an alliance, and many of the members were laughably clueless! Where's the Gusgen mines? How much longer? Can we leave yet? How'd you roll dice? What's a telepoint? I can't afford to rent a chocobo....these were all tell tale signs of doom that I got to read for aprox an hour and a half while sitting around in Bastok. Some PT members had been waiting for over 2 hrs to begin the quest!Finally we all get our chocobos (because teleporting to DEM is too easy ) and set out for the Gusgen mines in the Konschat Highlands. The alliance, now 3 full PTY's strong stopped on the bridge to N. Gustaberg and we took some pics, unforunately I couldn't get a wide angle shot but there were 18 mounted chocobos on the bridge

Basically the Eco Warrior quest is a 3 part quest, there's one in Bastok, San d'Oria, and Windurst and you earn 5k gill, 1k experience and a page from the Dragon Chronicals. For the Bastok E.W. quest we need to meet up with a Galka named Deega, a member of V.E.R.M.I.N, he'll ask if you want some sort of oil applied that will limit you to level 20. Since I'm now level 42 I had to go and buy back all my level 20 equip & a level 20 staff otherwise I'd be fighting in my jammies I don't think Jprimal was up to the task of leading 18 screaming children....how many times did I see "should I apply the ointment now?" and "how much longer?" or "Don't touch the ???" or "what's taking so long?". I just sat there and waited, and waited.....and waited for the better part of another hour! Finally the 18 of us lathered up and headed into the mines.....if you've ever seen a Capital One credit card commercial that's what we were like! Total chaos and confusion running around in the mines, stragglers getting attacked by mobs while others frantically tried to stay with the group because they didn't have the map.

After much craziness we make it to an open area with an overturned mine cart, if you target the mine cart the ??? appear "don't touch the ???" unbelievably no one activated the ??? which releases the NM we volunteered to exterminate. Just when things were looking up Jprimal, leader of 18 rag tag adventurers goes AFK and the troops staged a mutiny after waiting hours, the slim oil was wearing off and soon we would have to start all over again. So a few (most) threatened to activate the ??? and release the NM (notorious monster)....someone did and it was a total bloodbath! HP meters drained like someone poured draino in them! I gave up on saving others and tried to make my escape but the NM Pudding wasn't about to let anyone escape.....we were all doomed.

Mission 3, get Altair outta there!

After defeating the dragon and recieving rank3, I joined the Mithril musketeers in a Quadov slaughter in Beadeaux and helped Dayvad in Bastok mines get a rare material called Glocolite by killing Blind Moby in the Gusgen Mines.
My next mission for Bastok was arranged by Lucius in the Bastok Embassy in Ru'Lude Gardens atop Jeuno's tower.
I arrived with my letter of introduction, but my contact, Altair, had not yet returned from a visit to Delkfutt's Tower.
I asked Krogenar to join me once again in a matter of Bastok's security. We navigated our way to the 10th floor of the tower and defeated a Notorious Monster named Porphyrion, got the key to Delkfutt's Tower that would allow us access to the more dangerous areas, then headed to the basement. We found Altair unconscience behind a cermet door, when he came to, he told us he was attacked unawares and that we should wait for him back at the Embassy in Ru'Lude Gardens.
With this mission completed Tryptifaeris reaches rank 4 and my work for Bastok will continue via the Embassy in Jeuno.

Game Review: Gran Turismo 4

After the long wait I picked up Gran Turismo 4, got home poped it in the ol' PS2! As with each previous installment in Polyphony Digital's franchise the intro movie gets the player psyched to start racing with a rockin tune and some amazing video showcasing the wide spectrum of cars in the game.
The menu interface is laid out like a map with 3D icons for different points of interest similar to GT2 and GT3.
Lets start at Home. New to home is you're game diary which comes in handy to help you remember what the last thing you were doing because this isn't a game you'll finish in a week, or a month. Also new to home is photo mode which allows you to place cameras at differnt locations throughout a track during a replay and snap some sweet shots of your car and view them in the photo mode. The images are photo realistic and be saved to a usb storage device.
Another familiar area in GT4 is the License Center, like previous GT's you'll need to pass the tests to earn the A,B,IA,IB and Super license. One thing gone from GT3 is the Rally license.
The GT4 map has many new areas like the Driving Missions area. This is similar to the license center and has 34 missions in total to test your skills with predetermined auto's.
The Driving Park offers a cople tracks to help players familiarize themselves with how a newly acquired car handles.
The Jukebox is where you can preview the music from GT4 and customize what you'll be listening to during the races. There's like 60 something songs in there, everything from classical music to techno.
The Power and Speed area gives the virtual greese monkees two tracks to see how much power we can tweek out of our rides one track is the Las Vegas Drag Strip.
GT4 holds the gold trophy for the most tracks in any racing game I've ever played! The tracks are catagorized by,
Original Courses:
High Speed Ring
Mid Field
Grand Valley Speedway
Grand Valley East
Grand Valley West
Deep Forest Raceway
Trial Mountain
El Capitan - this is a new track located at Yosemite National Park
Autumn Ring
Autumn Ring Mini
Apricot Hill Raceway

City Courses:
Seoul Central- this is a new track located in Korea
Tokyo R246
Hong Kong - this is a new track
Clubman Stage Route 5
Special Stage Route 5
New York - this is a new track that runs thu times square
Seattle Circuit
Cote d' Azur
Opera Paris - this is a new track
George V Paris - this is a new track
Citta di Aria
Costa di Amalfi

World Circuits:
Tsukuba Circuit
Tsukuba Circuit - wet
Fugi Speedway - 80's
Fugi Speedway - 90's
Fugi Speedway - 2005
Fugi Speedway - 2005GT
Twin Ring Motegi - Super Speedway
Twin Ring Motegi - Road Course
Twin Ring Motegi - East Short Course
Twin Ring Motegi - West Short Course
Infineon Raceway - Sports Car
Infineon Raceway - Stock Car
Suzuka Circuit - East
Suzuka Circuit - West
Mazda Raceway Leguna Seca
Nurburgring Nordschleife
Circuit de la Sarth I & II

Dirt & Snow
Swiss Alps
Cathedral Rocks Trail I & II
Tahiti Maze
Grand Canyon
Ice Arena
Chamonix

Congrats if you made it thru that list! Now double it, because you can choose to race on most of them in reverse also!!!
Returning from it's hiatus in GT3 is the the Used Car Showroom, GT4 has 2 and a Historic Showroom as well.
GT4 seems a bit overwhelming at first with all the places on the map but it is well organized and won't take too long to get familiar with all GT4 has to offer. The events are also categorized under Begginer, Professional, and Extreme events, most will recognize the series regulars like the Sunday Cup or the Clubman Cup.
I'm glad to see that if you have GT3 save data you can transfer your A & B license and up to 100,000 credits, one time only! So be sure you check your GT3 save data to see that you have the maximum amount of transferable credits. Because these games are a labor of love and not being able to transfer even a little something from the previous one would feel like a slap in the face.
GT4 boasts around 700 cars that triples the car count of GT3! This is trully a car enthusiasts playground! I have seen articles from Road and Track and Import tuner on GT4. I have even heard that certain dealerships have the game in the waiting area for people to play while they wait for their repairs to be done. For those with high end AV equipment you can trully appreciate the beauty of GT4 with 480p and 1080i HD video and Dolby Prologic II audio.
Gran Turismo is more than just another racing game, it's a car aficionado's wet dream. The fact that GT4 has such a vast spectrum of automobiles from the GT-ONE Race Car (TS020)to the 1915 Ford: Model T Tourer , shows that Kazunori and his team at Polyphony Digital look at automobiles as peices of artwork in motion not a greasy machine that gets people from point A to point B.
With all that GT4 offers regrettibly it does have one HUGE rusty dent....the one thing that could've made GT4 trully the "drive of your life"....Online play! Yes GT4 is gorgeous, yes GT4 has alot of tracks, yes GT has a huge selection of cars to choose from BUT it all seems painfully repetative. Like I mentioned earlier the Gran Turismo titles cater to hardcore racing game fans and are attractive to the casual gamer but this is the forth time around collecting cars from races that can be as short as 5 minutes to as long as over an hour. The payoff would've been taking that Aston Martin DB7 Vantage and racing your friend from Japan in his Deso Sard Supra and sharing the replay with other online.

9/10

Selbina milk....it does the body good

While in San d' Oria I finished up a few more quests to help build my fame there, one such quest had me helping some wrinkly old elvaan woman. She asked me to get her some Selbina milk.

As I went to hunt Stray Mary, I ran into Lumbering Lambert, I asked if he's seen Mary. He had not >.>

I reached the Konschat Highlands and did some sheep hurting (hee hee). Still Mary didn't show, so I went to the auction house and bought the milk, after geting my reward I made a small profit.

The Rumor and the Sluice

Continuing where we left off, Tryptifaeris heard a rumor of a vampire hiding in the dungeons below the Chateau d 'Oraguille so being the maveric adventurer I am I immediately head over there to investigate...To the untrained eye San d 'Oria seems like your typical fuedal kingdom but if you look closer you'll see a kingdom being torn in two by the heirs of the kingdom, and an uneasy peace that is on the edge of colapse. Fear and paranoia is all about and any citizen thought to be a traitor to the kingdom can easily find themselves living out the rest of their days in a dank dark cell below the Chateau, but then there are some who choose to hide down there some like Novalmauge, I found him roaming the Bostaunieux Oubliette, when I was close enough to him my expectations of a fearsome beastman lurking in the shadows were shattered, there stood an elvaan man of similar stature to myself his robes were of a similar style to my own and his hood was drawn to hide his face, a few locks of silver hair could be seen from the edges of the hood.

He explained that he had been cursed and required a vile of beastmens blood but wouldn't explain why, he then asked me if I believed the rumors that he was a vampire. Well momma didn't raise no elvaan fool, so of my two choices I choose "Yes I do think you're a vampire". He took my response rather well considering. Lucky for me I just happened to have a vile of beastmen blood in my inventory from a recent kill. I handed it to the mysterious man and was rewarded with a scroll of drain....hmmmmm. With this spell I am able to "suck" the HP from my enemies. I left the dungeons with an uneasy feeling, and I was sure our paths would cross again.
And they did, later that afternoon I got word that Belgidiveau believed the water supply had been poisoned! Kefka.... that was my initial reaction, that somehow Kefka was alive and back to his evil ways. I was told there was a man who could be found down in the dungeons who was a scholar in the art of poisons who might be of assistance. Once again I found myself down in the San d "Orian dungeons alone with the mysterious Novalmauge. He explained that I needed to acquire a rare flower called a Dahlia and then he would be able to create a counteragent to the poison. So I ran to the Auction House and bought one then headed back so Novalmauge could create the counteragent. Once he had finished I rushed across the central square of Northern San d'Oria to Belgidiveau and gave it to him to test the water, but I was told it appeared to be a prank by some local kids thankfully. I recieved a Heavy Ax as a reward for my services and left San d'Oria in search of other's in need of my services.....

Game Review: God of War

What do you get when you put your VHS tape of Clash of the Titans and CastleVania in the blender and hit puree? You get served God of War! This action/adventure game looks promising the game engine looks inspired by Konomi's Vamp slayer in Rygars realm of Greek Mythos. God of War is like a great book, you find yourself unable to put the controller down because you want to find out what happens next. The story of Kratos plays out like a Tarantino film, the begining is the end is the begining. Speaking of Kratos, he one bad ass MFer! He'd give Snake a run for his money in the "coolest game character" catagory. The games starts off mercilessly with Kratos battling the minions of Ares in the Agean Sea, and the first boss fight seals the deal that this is no CastleVania clone! The game employs a fighting engine similar to Parappa the Rappa & DDR get the sequence/timing correct and you'll pull off some impressive kills. Kratos can acquire new attacks for the Blades of Chaos by collecting blood orbs which are obtained by killing monsters, breaking objects such as pottery and statues, and opening chests. And speaking of chests (ATTENTION PARENTS), GoW is the first game I've played where there is totally topless, women in bed together plain as day. This is not some "hot coffee" secret, it is at the beginning of the second chapter and if you want to get some "expirience" hop in bed with the ladies and give em some hot Spartan luvin.... After the story unfolds a little and you realize Kratos' motivation the game becomes even more enjoyable, the action never lets up but story is what drives this title from an average action platformer to an exceptional addition to your library, it doesn't hurt either that the main character is one badass anti hero. The graphics are above par and the level design is fantastic, some areas trully help redefine the typical platformer and the sense of scope reaches new hights literaly and figuratively. One instance that comes to mind is while scaling a wall on the Temple of Pandora you'll spot the Titan Cronus, you'll suddenly realize just how high up you are. God of War also has an air of exploration that is reminiscent of Tomb Raider that can payoff, and the puzzles in the game actually seem intelligent and serve a purpose. I just completed one last night that had me sacrafice an innocent man trapped in a cage, ever see Temple of Doom? Flame On indeed!God of War also has a fantastic soundtrack that adds to the drama within the game and makes the whole experience more cinematic. If you have a decent home theater this game will sound incredible.

9/10

Tryp's Tele Taxi

This past weekend Tryptifaeris the Grey reached level 37 as a White Mage! I now have the ability to teleport to the crags of Mea and Holla. After reaching 36 I read my Holla and Mea scrolls that I was able to buy for 130k & 80k gill respectively (thanks to the person who bought my tarut death card for 250k gill ) With those spells learned I headed to the bustling metropolis of Jeuno and began offering teleports to those in need of fast reliable and affordable travel.
My very first "fare" paid me 10,000 gill for a tele from the Valkurm dunes to Holla! The usual rate is 500 gill for Holla, Mea or Dem. So I started my travel agency on the right foot. At level 37 I bought the scroll of Shell 2 and joined a great PT with Vrtra aka Littlekiller in the Crawlers Nest. In order to get the map of the crawlers nest I need to complete the Selbina clay quest I have about 5 more locations to visit.

This Old Citadel

Unlike the nomad lifestyle of our favorite beastmaster Krogenar, I have been partying hard in the Jungles outside Kazham. When I wasn't in a party I made easy money by taking the Airship back to Kazham, it costs 200 gill to get a ticket but once in the waiting area there's a man who asks if you can help return a lost object, he shows you what the airship passenger looks like and all you need to do is return the item to the correct person and you'll recieve a 500 gill reward. then I'd purchase a scroll of warp in Jeuno with my conquest points (I have around 4K) and warp back to Kazham when I got an invite. Getting party invites was never difficult in Kazham, Yutugha and Yhoator Jungles were teeming with Mandragoras, these guys might seem harmless enough but they sure can take a hit! I loved casting Fire on those little buggers and watch them come running towards me aflame, and their death throes were cute too. Thanks to all you burnt Mandragoras for your bountiful XP, if it weren't for you I might still be sitting on the docks of that tropical paradise known as Kazham waiting for a fish to bite onto my lure.

My fate has brought me now to a place Krogenar holds a special place for in his Beastly heart....The Garliage Citadel or as he likes to refer to it as The Garbiage Shitadel . This place couldn't be any more opposite from the lush Jungles of Kazham, the entrance to The citadel rests in the side of a mountain range in the southern-most regions of the Sarumauge Champaigne, a desolate place littered with chunks of ruins from a city long ago destroyed by three taru taru mages. The ground is burnt ash and there isn't a tree to be seen for miles around, as you pass thru the entrance to the Citadel light from the sun seems to be consumed by the bleak blackness that reaches up from below. A narrow passage decends into the mountain and the flutter of bats can be heard echoing off in the distance, chunks of broken brick and debris litter the staircase that leads to crematorium. The bravest man might falter alone in the Garliage Citadel's deep dark.

Welcome to the Jungle

As the airship splashed down on the crystal clear waters of Kazhams shore line Tryptifaeris the black prepared to debark. The sun was shining and the the cool ocean breeze was a welcome change from the frosty plains of Qufim. Before Tryp had reached the end of the board walk a request from a party in the Yutugha jungle came requesting my services, but they needed a white mage so I ran to the local Nomad Moogle, switched Jobs from Black Mage to White (both at level 25 now) and headed out into the Jungle.

I spent two or three days leveling there, I also managed to reach Ifrits Cauldron......on foot , then I felt daring and tried to navigate the jungle maze to Norg. I didn't have a map of the Sea Serpent Grotto which leads to the pirate cove of Norg, that made things alot more interesting. I had a guide but sometimes the Invis spell just runs out at the most inopportune times.....like when there's a hundred skeletons crowded into a small cavern.




I got to Norg but not alive, a Black mage far higher than me dragged my corpse to the gates of Norg using the Tractor spell, then a White mage raised me. So far Kazham has been VERY profitable I'm now 28.5 White 25 Black and have sold over 10,000 gill worth of Bastore Sardines and Quus .

Return of the Magi

There's nothing worse than being absolutely broke in Vana Diel, the other day I bought a few new scrolls and some fishing gear and SHIZZAM I'm broke! I had around 7000 gill up for sale at the Kazham auction house, but it just sat there for days, even with my competative prices they just weren't selling. I also had an assortment of fish in my bazaar but no one needs to buy fish on the tropical island paradise of Kazham when all they need to do is cast a line.In an act of despiration I pulled all 7 dozen fish off the auction house, pawned off the crap in my bazaar to the local M&P shop and bought my airship ticket back to Jeuno.

Once there I discovered I couldn't even afford the taxes to place items up for sale at the Jeuno auction house! I headed down the busy streets of Jeuno to the Chocobo stables, I had just enough to rent a Chocobo. With my bundles of fish along with all my other equipment I headed back to my homeland, the majestic Bastok. It felt like a thousand moons had passed since last I walked through the grand marketplace of Bastok and felt the cool breeze of the Bastore Sea, I looked forward to going home.

I rushed across the dusty plains of North Gustaberg and as the gate to Bastok market rose over the horizon an eery quiet blanketed the land, there was an un nerving inactivity about.

"Had the city been overtaken by the foul Quadov?"

I pondered my absence, had I deserted my people, left them when they needed my magic most. As I passed thru the gates of Bastok I half expected to see the city in ruins, I passed thru the tunnel entrance and my worries washed away as I gazed upon the shops and white towers of the , I strode towrds Fire water circle and the auction house. The streets were empty except for the random passerby and the NPC's....Bastok was a ghost town .

After placing my fish on the Bastok AH I headed to my Mog house, ACK! cob webs everywhere, and dust an inch thick, the afternoon sun cast a warm glow in my Mog house thru the film on the window. I spent the better part of the afternoon with moogle cleaning my mog house.

After a little synthing and gardening I went fishing over in Port Bastok, then I decided to check out the Koroloko tunnel and see if I could make it thru to the dessert Krog has been soloing in for the past month or so.