User:Cayenne Fortner/muse

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Overview of Player's Musings
This section will be the one where I think about how my characters are faring, how my duties to the guild are proceeding and just random bits and pieces about the series itself. Any updates to my characters' progress, my work on the guild or my acquisition of the remaining games will be posted here, where I can go more in-depth.

Concerning the games...
I now have Eye of the North, and haven't made much progress beyond simple exploration with Celia. Still, there's something to be said about exploring, especially places like the Tarnished Coast (currently my favorite area there). My characters still need experience and skills (and so do I!), but that's something that has to come with patience and preparation. One day, I'll be an effective player in PvE, and when that day comes I think I'll finally turn my eye toward PvP. I have no clue when that will be, but I'm thinking (and hoping) it will be later rather than sooner.

Concerning Celia...
I've since realized that trying to balance two Warrior attributes and two monk attributes just isn't going to cut it for Celia. As a result, I've rebuilt her to more accurately reflect her original purpose as a holy warrior. Now with her focus on Strength and Swordsmanship with a minor in Healing Prayers, the intention as a Warrior with the ability to minister to a party's wounds has become manifest once more. Looking back on it, she seems to be the essence of a watered-down Paragon. Yes, I'm totally aware this makes her the very essence of the Wammo stereotype. No, I don't really care. *grins*

Concerning Saionji...
I recently wiped Saionji and restarted him with a Ranger primary, and after doing that I feel a lot more in control about his fate. Trying to Warrior him was just asking for heartache and migraines. With a better bow having waited for him in post and the useful parts of the older version's equipment, the work on gaining experience and skills (both in-game and on the meta level) must commence. Though I think I sent him to post a bit too soon; I'd intended him to transition at level 7-9, but he did so at 6...and I forgot the Resurrection Signet quest. Whoops. *grins cheekily*

Concerning Miranda...
Because I'm somewhat bothersome about going to extremes, I declared that I would allow Miranda to be an Elementalist with the same Monk minor in Healing Prayers. This was, of course, long before I know how to properly use Aura of Restoration. Nevertheless, having Miranda second in Healing Prayers will help her out immensely: cast Aura of Restoration, then keep the rest of the team healthy with Heal Other. Interestingly, this setup has the potential to work better than Celia's, as she doesn't need Orison of Healing for herself.

Concerning Annette...
Working with Annette has taught me that there's a lot to be said for caster weapons and other ranged affairs. Also, I learned that I shouldn't discount two-handed weapons just because they don't allow me the luxury of shields or offhands, and most shields are worthless to Annette anyway. Stupid Tactics and Strength prerequisites... *growls unhappily* With a quick trip to Kaineng Center and the use of a skill point, I now have a better reason to use minions; in Annette's case, though, they're more of a supporting role than a primary offensive system. For that, a liberal application of Rotting Flesh and assorted Domination Magic spells have seen me and her through many a good skirmish.

Concerning Chiyoko...
My first Factions character, and one of only two I have any intent on creating. I specifically chose her Monk secondary because I like to have all my characters be self-sufficient. This is primarily because I don't trust anybody I might meet outside of the guild, and the guild only has three members (myself included) right now. Still, I suspect that in time I'll develop as an MMO player and eventually I won't have this massive hang-up over being unable to trust non-guildsmen. Until then, Chiyoko remains what basically amounts to Celia with a primary in Assassin.

Concerning Daisuke...
When I first set out to create Factions characters, I planned exactly who they would be: gender, armor style, primary and secondary profession, even the names. Unlike with Chiyoko, I had to do a last-second swap of Daisuke's surname. It works, and I couldn't be happier. I still have a great deal of work to do with both, but having established their existences is currently the one thing I'm immensely pleased about. I figure if I give it time and effort, I'll eventually develop them into characters I feel very comfortable working with.

Concerning Arash...
I never knew that spears were distance weapons until I first started working with Arash. Like Chiyoko and Daisuke, I planned their gender, armor, professions and names beforehand. I have to admit that being able to fight from a distance helps me think more clearly, and unlike Miranda and Annette, Arash is not by any definition of the term "squishy." Like all my characters he needs work, but I'm confident I'll be able to develop him into a formidable force.

Concerning Nasrin...
As I started working with Arash and Nasrin, I soon learned the specifics of what I'd be working with them over. Where Arash is designed to actually work with a minimum of fuss through the Nightfall campaign, I realized that Nasrim would be working through the campaign with style and fun. This naturally doesn't bother me, because what's a game if it's not fun? Unlike pretty much all of my characters, Nasrin doesn't have much in the way of a dedicated, use-me-anytime self-heal. This poses an intersting challenge, and really makes me work to develop advanced tactics.

Concerning Ohtori Academy...
Things seem to be going well enough. While I try my best, I still have absolutely zero faith in myself as an effective recruiter, let alone an effective PvP player. There never seems to be much of anything going on for me to pick up on, and I've never really been the proactive type. Maybe I should start working on that...

As an officer of the guild, donations are a big part of how I prove my worth. While I don't see much personal use for items like Honeycomb and the like - I'd rather slog my way through miles of hostile terrain with maximum Death Penalty than waste the goods - I can understand that my friends appreciate the items. Those items are typically donated to Ohtori Academy's most prominent individuals, with no tears shed for the passing. I mean, if they'll help a friend, and I won't ever use them anyway, why not give them to the people that could benefit the most?