trying to escape from it all

They go hand in hand don't they? Also, I can write in LJ and skill up at the same time.

( Cut for pictures )

It's been a long time since I posted so here's a small update with some dates as to when I got my latest toys.

( Some pictures )

( Home sweet home )

It's kind of fun walking around San D'Oria again. I find myself remember how much I love this city, mostly because it was the first thing I saw when I walked around in this world that has been part of my life for three years. I'm remembering changing to WHM and going outside naked because I thought it was like the dress sphere system in FFX-2. I remember deleveling for the first time because I would just die and HP instead of walking places. I'm remembering the first time I saw La Theine and the first rainbow I ever saw. I'm remember falling in love with red mage and hating black mage (and now I'm thinking of how ironic it is that it's my second 75). I'm remembering almost being kicked out of an exp party because I couldn't afford dispel. I'm remembering getting my artifact weapon, the day I got my pimp hat, all of the little things that make me appreciate this game.

I've come a long way, but no place makes me smile quite like San D'Oria. This update brought me home and I couldn't be happier.

It appears luck is on my side.

YES. If my hat drops tomorrow in Xarc this will be the best weekend ever.

So, I recently got my second 75 level, BLM, so now I plan on jumping on the merit bandwagon with that and RDM. I'm pretty sure what I need to do and everything, but when asked what I should level next and what I think my options are I got three choices with pro's and con's to each one.

COR: Currnet Level: 9
Pro: When I leveled it I had a great time and the job seems like a lot of fun. I have 37NIN already.
Con: Bullets are expensive and I have no desire to level RNG.

BRD: Current Level: 20
Pro: Easy to level, I know a lot about the job because I have a friend who was a 75, and I have a 37WHM ready to go.
Con: I'm not sure if I'll like the job or not.

SMN: Current Level: 26
Pro: I really enjoy the job, I have all but two of the avatars, and I have a 37WHM leveled already.
Con: I don't want to camp the Yingyang Robe NM and I don't want to be a gimp WHM for 49 levels.

I'm getting a lot of pressure to do BRD and everyone seems to think I would really like it. I just don't know, I feel like by leveling BRD I'm betraying my RDM-ness and no one would ever let me come BLM or RDM to any events. I'm broke as hell and I dislike farming.

Final option would be to screw leveling a new job and max out merits. What should I do?

I...think I need a break. Or something. I don't know, I just feel like my linkshell is suffacating me. Mind you, I love the people in it dearly and I've made some amazing friends, but this whole crimson legs thing has gotten me really angry and frustarted.

I guess I need to explain me a bit before getting into this. I'm a pleaser by nature. I have this thing where I want everyone to be happy, even at the expense of me. Now, I put quite a things before me as far as my linkshell goes. Turned down lotting on Z pants and Crown to let WHM's have, etc. When I lotted on the pants I won't lie and say I wasn't being selfish, but I have the right to be every now and then, right? Well, the count of people leaving because of me getting crimson pants is, get this, five. Yes, five people have left because a RDM got crimson pants before PLD's. I'm angry, I'm frustrated, and I want a break, but I feel like I can't. I feel like I'll just be proving all of those losers right if I vanish for a bit. Plus they've gotten me a hella lot in the seven or so months I've been a part of the linkshell. So I feel guilty about wanting to take a break, about liking my pants as much as I do, hell I even feel guilty about not being able to show up to events religously because of my job.

So...what do I do?

So, I tend to do some thinking when I'm just sitting around not working relaxing. I actually came to this conclusion while I was camping Fafnir last because some the most elite linkshells are there and I get to check other RDM's and see where they are. So, I got to thinking about my body pieces and I realized...I'm satisfied. Looking at the stats of the Dalmatica first of all and how every end game RDM there seemed to be using it. I sat there for a bit and tried to think of what I could possibly use it for. Here are the stats and what I think of them.

Dalmatica
Rare Exclusive
Slot: Body
Def: 45
Adds "Refresh" Effect - It's 1 MP a tick...whoop de do.
Convert HP to MP: 50 - Only 26 more MP than my AF2, again, whoop de do.
Enhances "Resist Paralyze" Effect - Um, yay?
Magic Defense Bonus: 5 - I do like this part of it, it's high point in my opinion.
Jobs: Bard, Black Mage, Red Mage, Summoner, White Mage
Races: ALL
Level to Use: 73

Then there's the other body piece that all RDM seem to want is the Crimson Scale Body. Outside of being an amazing looking piece the stats aren't that great.

Crimson Scale Mail
Rare Exclusive
Slot: Body
Def: 52 HP: 40 MP: 40 INT: 10 MND: 10 - The HP/MP+ combined with the INT and MND boosts are the only perks to this piece.
Breath Damage Taken: -10% - Meh, I've never even heard of this being tested. And if I'm taking breath hits from a dragon I'm in the wrong place @.@
Jobs: Dark Knight, Dragoon, Paladin, Ranger, Red Mage
Races: ALL
Level to Use: 73

Now, my linkshell leader asked me if they aren't that great then why did everyone use them? I said simply because they show status, they show you're rich and part of an LS that can kill the big turtle in the valley. I have my body switch outs much like miriamelofodin.

Nuking: Errant Body
Enfeebling: AF1 Body
Everything else: AF2 Body.

Now, there is no dening the +15 on the AF1 body. Anyone who says differently is kind of dumb, in my opinion anyway. For Errant the +10 INT for nuking does make a difference, I did test it. The Crimson Body also gives +10 INT and 40 MP, but that means I would only use it for nuking and, let's face it, I don't nuke much. Finally, there is everything else (healing, enhancing, etc). This is where the Dal seems to come in, but I don't know about everyone else, but refresh going off at 45% is so awesome to such a degree. I like my fast cast effect very much and for +1MP a tick I don't see it worth the money. I'd rather give it someone else who would use it more, a WHM or SMN or something. As far as Crimson goes...I'm not sure. I'm guessing PLD for first, but Keonig body is really nice. I don't know, both pieces seem like something that isn't needed, certainly not the RDM's Noble's or Yingyang.

Don't get me wrong though, if offered, I'd take either in a heartbeat. XD

Any thoughts?

Would have gotten a Zenith Crown too if I hadn't had to go to work. -.- One dropped from second Genbu, but I lost the lot and then I found out 2 more dropped from Byakko. Oh well, right now I'm crossing my fingers for pants on Friday's Kirinx2 since I'm missing the next sky week and Kirin fights for vacation. If the legs don't drop this Friday I am betting 100k that they will drop when I'm not there. I'm also crossing my fingers for Osode for Fiddy. ^^

Goals for the summer:
1. Get DRK to 37.
2. Get SMN to 37.
3. Finish merritng RDM.
4. Get 2/5 on Crimson.
5. Get 2/5 on Duelist.
5. Get 3/5 on Zenith.
6. Get sea and/or beat CoP.

I know I shouldn't be as giddy as I am, but I feel like I've finally accomplished something. Next are my job specific and the 10 points will be divided as so:
-3 Wind Accuracy (for silence and Gravity)
-1 Ice Accuracy (for paralyze)
-1 Earth Accuracy (for slow)
-5 Covert recast.
Then I fully merrit MP and INT. I've been chugging along really nicely. If I get a party I average 3 merrit points a day. I might actually have RDM fully merrited by the end of the summer. I was also thinking of throwing in some merrits into evasion for when I solo. I was looking under other but I didn't see anything really worth putting time into. Eminity+ would be exp suicide, but eminity- would be solo suicide. Thoughts?

( She looked pretty so I took a screenie )