An Argument for Always Picking Up Chests in PoTD

Ok, this has really been bugging me. I run Palace of the Dead a LOT because I've been feeling stressed out and it doesn't trigger my anxiety at all (even when aggravated), and it's also great for leveling up my classes and making money off of materia (which is great because I now have no gil after buying my house). And a looot of times that I run it, everyone ignores all the gold and bronze chests. And I don't mean that they don't enter a room just for a non-silver chest, I mean they run straight past the things when it would take no time at all to just click them and be done with it. And of course, the complaining at people who do pick them up because "mah speed run."

Please note that I am not arguing clearing out a whole room just for a gold or copper chest. I am just arguing for picking them up when you happen to already be next to one. Because, honestly, why not?
Also, I'm really only talking about floors 51-60 here. 1-50 are a different beast, and I've never bothered with 60+ so I don't know what things are like there.

1. Lust and Rage pomanders are great time-savers. If you really want to speed-run, you should pick up chests, because Rage pomanders help you clear floors waaay faster. And Lusts help speed up the boss fight if someone remembers to pop it and get the vulnerability debuff up.

2. Sight and Safety pomanders also save time. Sight poms make it so you can easily skip rooms that aren't worthwhile (which could mean a room with only gold/copper chests; again, I'm not talking about making runs slower here, just picking up ones you come across). Safety pomanders make it so the entire party doesn't stall because they all got hit by the silence trap or something. Or all explode and die like the last group I was in did.

3.  Flight pomanders are woefully underused in 51-60. What's better than less enemies on the floor to deal with?

4. Witching pomanders can save your butt in dire situations. And again, are woefully underused.

5. Purity pomanders. How many groups have I been in where no one's picking up chests, and the one time someone does it's a mimic. And then everyone proceeds to not pick up chests, meaning they're stuck with the long pox debuff (which can be deadly in groups with only DPS). Hey, if everyone was picking up chests, maybe you'd have a Purity for the pox? 

6. Serenity pomanders can save you. Seriously. Gloom + no actions is awful. It's even worse when your healer forgets to turn off Cleric's Stance before going to the next floor, and is thus stuck in Cleric's Stance with Gloom and no way to heal effectively because Cleric's Stance is an action...

7. INTUITION POMANDERS. WHY WOULD YOU NOT WANT THESE? Sure, sometimes you get useless stuff out of the bags, but if you get materia you can sell it and make decent money. I should know. I just got my house preeeetty purely from PoTD materia money.



As for copper chests, two words: Gelmorran Potsherds. Yum. These things can get you so much money because you can check the prices and demand for the materia and pick the one that will give you the highest profit. Or, you know, you can keep your good materia for yourself if you're trying to gear too. I know they're rare, but a small chance is better than no chance at all. 
Also, how am I supposed to revive people with Phoenix Down in all-DPS parties when no one picks up the copper chests so I never get another Phoenix Down? Especially since a lot of groups I've been in apparently don't know how the raising tower thing works, because I tend to have to run over there by myself to get someone up because no one has a raise or phoenix down, and people seem to forget it exists.

  
Seriously folks, just pick up the chests when you come across them. Please. Not picking them up can work out with a decent group, but picking them up just makes it safer, easier, and quicker. People don't play perfectly all the time, and having pomanders can really save a group or at least speed up a slow run.

And again, I'm not at all advocating taking the time to clear out rooms just for chests. I get it, floor 51-60 are the speedrun, leveling floors. Trust me, I know. I'm just here for the fast leveling too.

Sorry, needed to just rant about that for a minute. Ugh!

Tree of Savior!

Just bought my $10 founder's pack for Tree of Savior, and installing it!

Very excited!

I don't know very much about the game or what kind of builds are considered good, but I really want to play a support-ey type character. Not healing, but lots of buffs or other useful utility or something. Really looking at doing something with Pardoner, but I don't know what other classes to pair with it. Krivis maybe? Cleric? Or, a Paladin + Oracle seems okay too... I don't know!

Or maybe something with Archer? Like a Scout or something? Scout + Sapper?
Or maybe a Squire?

Oh well, I probably won't get to play tonight anyway; it's not even halfway done installing and it's already 11:15, so I guess I'll spend the rest of the night deciding and then play tomorrow (although I'll inevitably change my mind about a build by then).

Thousand Maws of Toto-Rak Rant...again

I swear I write a post on this every month I subscribe to FFXIV.

Thousand Maws of Toto-Rak.

Why, oh why, does this appear to be the most difficult dungeon in the game for people to grasp?

Brayflox's Longstop has nothing on Toto-Rak; that's what I think. I've done Brayflox's Longstop many, many times, and it's only gone wrong once or twice and that was because the tank was new and didn't know to keep Aiatar out of the poison puddles. But Toto-Rak consistently goes wrong.

I always make sure to explain the last fight, and if someone is consistently running face-first into Fleshy Pods I ask them to please not to do that, but almost every single time, one of those two things goes wrong.

Let's start at the beginning of Toto-Rak with what can go wrong?

First boss? Not much can go wrong here, so we'll skip over that.

Second boss? The tank not picking up the adds can be problematic because then they focus on the healer and slow them. This isn't bad at all if your healer is a SCH, but it can be fatal if you have, say, a new Conjurer. Also, ranged classes, please stay out of melee range on this fight so you don't get unnecessary poison. That can make this harder.

Trash pulls from the second boss on? Again, ranged, please stay out of melee range of the plant-things so you don't get poisoned when you don't need to.

Slow green goop area? Don't go running face-first into Fleshy Pods. This goes for literally everyone in the group. Every single class with the exception of Pugilist/Monk and Dark Knight have a ranged attack by this point.

Here, have a list of what attacks you can use to kill Fleshy Pods:

Marauder / Warrior = Tomahawk
Gladiator / Paladin = Shield Lob
Lancer / Dragoon = Piercing Talon
Archer / Bard = Anything
Conjurer / White Mage = Aero is the fastest
Thaumaturge / Black Mage = Scathe is the fastest
Arcanist / Summoner / Scholar = Bio is the fastest
Rogue / Ninja = Throwing Dagger
Astrologian = Combust is the fastest
Machinist = Anything

So, unless you are in a group with a Dark Knight and 3 Monks (in which case, good luck without a healer), then someone in your group can kill the Fleshy Pods for you.

This is especially true if your healer is a Scholar. At least a Conjurer / White Mage can Esuna the poison stacks off you when you stop running around. A Scholar just has to heal through it, which is a particular pain when you then run through one of the spider web gates and it closes in their face. And then proceed to die because you're now being hit by enemies + 3 stacks of poison and your Scholar is stuck behind a wall that you aren't helping to break them through because you're dead.

Finally, last boss. Please kill the tail. Please. If you don't know to, someone will probably remind you. Please kill the tail. I was in a group the other day where I told them twice to kill the tail, and they ignored me. Do you know what happened? The entire floor became poison and we all died. Just kill the tail.

Please.

Please make Thousand Maws of Toto-Rak less painful.

Back to GW2!

I'm back to GW2 at the moment, after playing Wildstar for a week (I would keep playing Wildstar but my computer is apparently boycotting the influx of new players, since it will not allow me to play). So, back to GW2.

I'm on the last step of Living Story Season 2 now, and having a whole lot of trouble. I'm doing the Shadow of the Dragon step in Point of No Return, and I think my full-Berserker Mesmer is just too squishy to do this bit on her own. Phase 1 is fine. I can kill the tendrils fine, and light the fires fine, and damage the head fine. It's Phase 2 that's the problem, when he start spawning the Shadow things. When I'm trying to light the fires, first of all, he's attacking me very often and I end up being knocked back while trying to light the fires, which eventually kills me. And while I'm busy trying to rally, the Shadow comes over and extinguishes the fire I lit! And I just can't seem to survive lighting the fires so I can be alive to extinguish the Shadows. It's frustrating!
I need a second person, I think. I think I specifically need a Guardian. Someone with support skills that can grant Stability and barriers and such, and that can survive more than two hits.
Or maybe I need to adjust my build or something? I can't afford a new set of gear, so I'm stuck with Berserker, but I could adjust my weapons or build.

My set-up is like this:
Weapons = Greatsword / Sword + Focus. I also have a Pistol to swap to Sword + Focus, a second Sword, and a Staff, all Berserker.
Build = Domination 221 (Empowered Illusions, Blurred Inscriptions, Imagined Burden) / Dueling 131 (Phantasmal Fury, Fencer's Finesse, Harmonious Mantras) / Illusions 122 (Compounding Power, Phantasmal Haste, Master of Fragmentation)
Healing Skill is Signet of the Ether
Utilities are Mantra of Pain, Blink, and Feedback
Elite is Time Warp

My equipment is full Berserker Aurora gear except the shoulders, which are berserker Carapace.
My weapons are Berserker's Iron Longblade of Air (transmuted), Berserker's Pearl Sabre, and Berserker's Krait Star.

Any tips?

EDIT: I read into it more, and people say things like "Don't play Berserker if you can't dodge attacks." I can dodge attacks. I got this far, didn't I? And I've been in full Berserker since I hit level 80 and splurged on a Masquerade set before I got my Aurora set with Karma. And until level 80 I was still using all Power items. The problem is the attacks that he puts directly on you constantly during Phase 2 fires. I tried waiting for him to do, say, 3 of his claw attacks before trying to light the fires, but he still gets me, and I end up running out of dodges + Blink being on CD. I'm confused :(

EDIT 2: Let's try this again. I didn't get the chance to grab my Staff since I wanted to rush back up before the Skritt tunnels closed again. But I adjusted what I could with what I have on me. I switched my Focus out for my Pistol. Swapped Signet of the Ether out for Ether Feast for increased base healing (I can't benefit from Signet of the Ether's passive during the parts that give me trouble since there's nothing to target and build clones off of). Switched Mantra of Pain out for Mantra of Concentration, and switched Time Warp out for Signet of Humility (to reduce duration of stun). As for traits, I swapped Dueling to 323 (Duelist's Discipline, Evasive Mirror, Deceptive Evasion) and Illusions to Chaos 213 (Illusionary Defense, Mirror of Anguish, Bountiful Disillusionment).
Hopefully, I can do it this time. My goal is basically just to have the slightest bit more survivability, hopefully make it through Phase 2 fires, and just take things slowly.

EDIT 3: Success! My strategy worked, although I maintain that it would have been easier with Staff instead of Sword + Pistol, if only because then if I accidentally swap weapons it wouldn't be the end of the world because I could still attack at a range, rather than flail madly wondering why I'm not doing any damage. Ether Feast was definitely better than Signet of the Ether for this, since it seemed like it recharged faster and did more healing when I needed it. And I also had more of an idea of what to expect this time, which made it much better. I was only downed once and I had already killed the Shadow, so I could take my sweet time getting up without losing any fires.

So...now what do I do? I have no gold, don't play well in groups because I get stressed...I guess I'll go run around Silverwastes or something. Definitely not Dry Top. I hate Dry Top. Silverwastes is fine and manageable. I would do the Mawdry crafting thing, but I need money to do that since I need the Foxfires and the Clay Pot. I already did the Thaumanova Reactor matrix cube key thing though, so at least that's out of the way.

Well, that's a conundrum

First and least importantly (to the conundrum that is), my family is getting a puppy tomorrow. Wicked exciting. He's all neutered and ready to come home. He's a rescue, so we aren't certain what kind of dog he is exactly, but the rescue center knows he's half Chihuahua; they just aren't sure what the other half is. He's a bit larger than a typical Chihuahua, so that's the interesting thing.

Now, to the conundrum, which I'm posting here because I couldn't find any information that was useful, and I tend to find that typing things out helps me think things through better anyway:

My boyfriend's internet often has problems. He lives in an apartment, so there's lots of other Wifi signals passing through that are likely interfering with his, and such. Works fine when plugged into the modem and all that, it's just his computer and mobile devices that have an issue (even then, some days they work fine, and others they don't).

But here's the conundrum-ey bit. On our 3DS systems the local wireless doesn't work at all when the internet isn't. As far as I knew, local play didn't require internet since we're sitting literally 2 feet away from each other. We get error code 018-0000, which means it couldn't connect to the internet, but I don't understand how it's relevant when we're literally sitting next to each other? He doesn't even have his apartment set up as an internet connection for his DS, so I don't know why his internet would even affect it.

Especially since we can go out to the park or something, where there's no internet, and it'll work fine. And it isn't our systems because they work fine anywhere besides in his apartment. It's fine at my house, the park, friends' houses, etc. Just not his.
It works if his internet is working fine, but if it turns off from whatever is causing the shut-offs then the systems stop working too. What's weirder is that it works fine if the power is out.
We make sure that there's isn't anything else on in his apartment that could be causing any extra interference too. It's just really, really odd.
My smartphone is still able to access to the internet no problem (it is not connected to his wifi either though), and I've been using my phone there for far longer than this issue has been happening, so I would doubt my phone has anything to do with it either (I've also checked and turned off my phone when we're testing the systems, and still nothing).

The only thing I can think of is that perhaps something about his modem itself is interfering with the DS signals, or there's some sort of outside interference (which I highly doubt would be intentional)?

Just throwing it out there, but I don't suppose anyone happens to know why this could be happening?

I also just thought I would put this out here because I read about people having similar issues but there were never any responses to their forum threads.

And Garuda is down!

Successfully beat Garuda today!

Well, by successfully I mean it took at least 5 tries, but it got done none the less. My group was very patient (all but one of us was new), and I don't think we did as terribly as we could have. I feel like a lot of our issue was that I just didn't have enough MP to sustain us, but I feel like a much better healer now that I've done it, and I feel like I have a better grasp for conserving MP. On our final attempt I didn't even come close to running out of MP until the start of the second phase because our Bard was very nice and kept Mage's Ballad up for me when he could. In the second phase I used Shroud of Saints to regain some, and I didn't end up running completely out of MP (I didn't run out to the extent that I couldn't Swiftcast + Raise one of our DPS when he died though, which I feel bad about).

Now, excuse me while I hyperventilate and regain my composure. I don't want to do Garuda ever again, so I'm a bit nervous about queuing for the dungeon roulette now.

Now I can continue on in the game though! Yay yay!

Which do you like more?

So, in advance of FFXIV's Heavensward expansion, I was messing around in the Benchmark to decide if I need to get a Fantasia or not.

And I would like some opinions because I'm, as always, very, very indecisive.

So, here's what my character looks like now (recreated in the Benchmark, obviously):

Dunesfolk Lalafell

And here's what I'm thinking of changing her into:

Raen Au Ra

I like them both a lot, but I don't want to make the wrong choice and have to buy another Fantasia, you know?

So, just looking for opinions. Should Cardboard Viking (Adamantoise server) be Lalafell or Au Ra?

Gimme Your MMORPG Recommendations!

I'm in a "try out new MMOs" kind of mood.

Currently downloading La Tale and RIFT, and re-downloading Dragon Nest, Ragnarok II, and Elsword.

But, I want more recommendations! And give reasoning as to why it's a good MMO. I also don't mind going back to games that I have played before since I things can change and such.

PvE MMOs only please. No MOBAs and no PvP-centric games.

MMOs I've played and enjoyed at some point in my life:

World of Warcraft - WoW's group content makes me anxious. Like most other things about it though. Not good experience with the community, however...
Guild Wars 2 - Great fun and love the customization, but I really miss the traditional paradigm of DPS/Healer/Tank. I like healing :(
Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn - Super fun, but leveling another class is a pain. Would play this all the time but I don't want to pay for the subscription all the time. Looking for something free-er.
DC Universe Online - Really fun but, again, something a bit more free would be nice. Yes, I know I can technically play for free, but not having the DLCs is a pain.
Maplestory - Community is ick. Love the controls and combat, and the variety of classes.
FlyFF - Nope. Not playing this ever again. Nope nope nope. Grind is not worth it in this case. Liked the armor in this game, but that's abut it.
Mabinogi - Love the concept; hate the controls and graphics.
Dragon Nest - Not really any customization. Fun to play though.
Ragnarok Online II - Doesn't seem to have a very active community. Didn't stick with it long enough to develop an opinion besides that.
Elsword - Not much customization. Fun to play, but confusing at times.
Eden Eternal - The combat feels slow and clumsy. I don't know why, but it does. Very cute game with armor and weapons that I like.
Aura Kingdom - Pretty much the same thing as Eden Eternal, except clumsier feeling.
TERA - Pretty great game, but it absolutely kills my computer. And unlike FFXIV, turning down the graphics doesn't help all that much (and you can't se how gorgeous this game is then).
Toontown Online / Toonown Rewritten - Not always in the mood for this lovely game.
Pirates of the Caribbean Online - Shut down. Not aware of a replacement.
Divina Online - Shut down. Can play in Japanese, but I don't know Japanese.
Lucent Heart - Shut down.
Iris Online - Shut down.

Oh, and please don't say Scarlet Blade because I have so minimal interest for that.

I really like when games try something new as well, whether it be classes or mechanics.

Minimal spiders is preferable. I remember I tried a game once (I can't remember what it was called. I know it was rereleased under a different name, but I don't remember what, or if it still exists), but I couldn't play it because pretty much all the enemies were spiders. Wasn't good for me. The game was such a fun concept too :(

I need a ton of MMOs to keep my attention since I switch between them so frequently...

So give me recommendations!

Oh, and I can give recommendations too! I'm good at that!

Need help making a WoW decision

I'm thinking about getting back into WoW, but I want to go on a RP server. I already have one picked out (Earthen Ring).
I just need to create my character.

I know I want to make a Shadow Priest because I have difficulty focusing on any other class.

I'm having trouble narrowing down a race, however. I've narrowed it down to two.

A Forsaken whose mind kind of snapped after being resurrected. She is a devout follower of the Cult of Forgotten Shadow and has an inexplicable fear of other races. She tends to be rather cheerful and friendly towards other Forsaken, and does not appear to remember being Human once at all.

My second idea is less fleshed-out (heehee), aside from "crazy Draenei Shadow Priest." I know the only way I can make it work is by having her be pretty much insane, because I can't think of any other way.

I really like the idea of my Forsaken, but I really don't like playing a Forsaken, which is a problem. They creep me out. I really like playing Draenei, but I don't feel like I could work with the same concept, and I don't really have any ideas aside from "insane."

I'll probably end up going with the Forsaken unless I can think of something good for the Draenei, but writing things down often helps me think, and who knows? Maybe someone has a good idea!

Huh...

Well, I'm stuck at the moment.

I just completed the guide for Mayohiga and the Gap Map and stuff, but...

Now I'm lost...

As soon as I figure out where I'm going next, I'll update the guide and such. I found a hole in the ground that I'm assuming has to do with Hell, but there's a Fairy blocking the way and she will not let me by. I don't read Japanese so I have no clue what she is saying or anything. I looked it up and nothing.

So, expect a little delay in the guide while I figure out where in Gensokyo I'm going.

Logically, I'm thinking it must be Hell next since Kanako had to do with Subterranean Animism and the hot springs are at the base of Youkai Mountain if I remember correctly.

If that hole isn't it, I'm guessing I'm looking for a cave or a bridge. No clue though. Going to gap about a bit and see if I can find a place to go. I'm assuming that if I can smash a rock somewhere then that will be a clue, at least.

EDIT: Ah hah! I think I found it! Guide writing go~

Any recommendations?

Are there any offline games with a good co-op mode? Offline co-op specifically. I just got Dragon Age Inquisition and was disappointed to discover that the co-op mode is online only (or I'm doing something wrong, but I think it's online only).

Reason being that I've always wanted to play a co-op game with my boyfriend. He doesn't have a internet connection that he can use with his Xbox at his house, and he doesn't get to my house very often because my dad is intimidating (really friendly and not really intimidating, but he is menacing looking, I suppose)

My favorite kinds of games are, of course, MMOs, but his internet connection is not sturdy enough to be able to play with me, plus he's a bit antisocial and doesn't really want to be playing with a bunch of people, but we'd really like to be able to play together.

Competitive games are out. We have plenty of those, but neither of us is very competitive and we'd rather play together, not against each other.

So far the games we are able to play together are:

• WWE 2K14 (so long as we are playing as both males or both females, or one of us plays and the other plays the referee)
• Borderlands (Shooters aren't really up my alley and this game frustrates him as well; like the loot system though!)
• Pokemon Rumble (super fun, but we can only play it at my house)
• Pokemon Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire (Battle Maison Multi-Battles. Not really co-op like I prefer, of course)
• Diablo III (Gore levels make us both a bit ill)
• Goat Simulator (again, not co-op like I'd like)
• Left 4 Dead I-don't-know-what-number (Zombies are scary)

Inquisition seemed ideal since there's even tanks and healers, and I would have loved that but he just doesn't have a stable internet connection.

So, does anyone  know of any games that are co-op, offline, and you know, kind of like MMO format? And preferably not zombies and something with a gore filter if necessary, would be nice. I know it's awfully specific. But I can dream, right?

The systems we have access to are:

Xbox 360, Gamecube, PS2, Wii, all Gameboy/DS versions

We can do system link on the xbox as well as we both have one.

Just a bit of venting

This is not gaming related.

For those of you who do not know, I am currently in school as a Computer Animation major. I am about four months into my course, and I have been second-guessing myself since I applied for the course.

I had initially been going to attend a college about two hours away from my home, which would have required me to stay in a dorm, as I cannot drive due to severe anxiety. Needless to say, that did not work out, and I am instead taking online Computer Animation classes through a different university.

I ended up taking an accidental "gap year" between my high school graduation and going to college, which involved a lot of soul searching. I had about two jobs in that time: one as an office assistant in a medical facility (basically, I did the paper shredding), and I also worked at a local concession stand for a short time. I ended up taking a break from a few prominent hobbies of mine, such as Cosplay and historical reenactment.

I am a person who cannot figure out what they want to pursue. In high school, I had been planning to attend school to become an Esthetician, but that interest soon faded and I have no desire to do that whatsoever.
I have a rather large, futile interest in historical reenactment that I won't pursue career-wise. Having that as a career goal is not realistic, and there is no way I am getting a history degree (my brother has a history degree that has yet to help him at all).
Any personality-career test I take comes up with Anthropology, which would undoubtedly be a good fit for me, but everywhere I read says that Anthropology is a terrible major to get into, and you will not be likely to find a job as an Anthropologist or Archaeologist.
Those same tests say that I would be an excellent Museum Curator or an Archivist, but again, where in the world do you get a job like that?

Another interest of mine is Computer Animation. The issue I have here is that I do not particularly enjoy drawing, and I do not consider myself a very creative person. I'm pretty sure that I'll enjoy the more technological aspects of the field, but I worry that the creativity required will be too much for me to handle. I'm taking an art class in my spare time, and they ask me to draw an object on the table. Then they ask me if I "drew the object as I see it, or if I drew my interpretation of it." I don't know what to answer there. I am drawing it as I see it, but it doesn't end up looking like the object in front of me because I do not have the creative skills to render it as I see it.

Finally, the last interest is the one that is currently bothering me the most. I appear to have some random interest in Physics, less of an interest and more of a hunch. Usually interests like this fade rather quickly, like the Esthetician one, but this one has persisted. And the issue is that I do not think I have any way of knowing if this is something I would be good at. I have always been terrible at math, more by virtue of not being taught well rather than my own bad math skills (when I do understand it, I really understand it). My high school offered practically no science classes aside from biology. They were going to offer a physics class, but only three of us signed up for it, so they cancelled it. The same thing happened for a meteorology class I was interested in.
I've tried visiting a local science museum to see what catches my interest, but it was too filled with screaming children playing with the physics stuff for me to pursue any interest in it at all.

And what is bothering me is that while I am pursuing Computer Animation, there is something nagging me in the back of my mind that I should be learning more about physics. Everything that I've read into quantum and theoretical physics is fascinating to me, and my brain wants to understand it. Yet I do not know if I will ever get to the point where my math skills will be up to par in order to pursue my interests.

I just do not know what to do. Whenever Physics pop into my head I question my decision to learn Computer Animation. Every single time. One of the reasons why Computer Animation is an interest is because of an interest in how things move (which, of course, involves physics).

I have no idea how to tell if Physics is really for me, or if my brain is just fantasizing. I need to know because otherwise I'll keep second-guessing myself, but I don't know how to know. I read things that say that if you have interest in science, to pursue it because the world always needs more scientists, but I also read the opposite, and that it's difficult and not realistic to jump right into it.

So, basically, I have no idea what I'm doing.

tl;dr
I'm stuck between staying in my Computer Animation courses or pursuing a mysterious persisting interest in Physics and I don't know what to do about it.