I’m having so much fun playing Runes of Magic..
Today Blindrage and I ran around and did the quests to get a whole new set of armor.. The Silverspring’s Hope Set. He got the chain set for his knight, and I got the cloth set for my priest. We found a new guild who seems really nice! Very excited 
Also, Found a new website that was pretty helpful today.. it is found at
I added it to my links..
Oh how I miss the ease of macro creation in FFXI!
I did some research and found a few useful macros that were buried in forums.. I think I may have to find their wiki page and help them start a macros section.. it would be so helpful to new users, as not everyone knows how to write scripts and call on things correctly.
Anyhow, I added a new page called “~RoM Macros” with a few ones I am using and I’m more than willing to share, so check it out.
Also, here are some links where it shows some others… though some of the pages don’t show unless you are registered.. (and for some reason my information doesn’t seem to work, but maybe you’d have better luck!)
http://forum.runesofmagic.com/showthread.php?t=16065
http://forum.us.runesofmagic.com/showthread.php?t=229
http://forum.runesofmagic.com/showthread.php?t=20186
and I’ll share what I’ve found so far…
Just pictures…
Chain Logar Armor set
And.. first attempt at a banner.. not as clean as I had hoped it would turn out.. but here it is none the less..
When you start Runes of Magic, they give you an option to have a title of “Novice Adventurer”, or none. I had chose to have no title, because nothing screams “Noob” like a sign saying “Novice Adventurer” hanging above my head. Sad as it sounds, I’d rather not have it be so evident that I’m new and don’t know much… lol!
However, yesterday night Blindrage and I tried my second attempt at the “Things that go Bump in the night” Quest. This time I was actually closer to the level you are supposed to do it.. hehe, and we won this time.
In doing so, I got the third piece to the red colored “Logar” armor which looks pretty snazzy as well as a new title available. That new title… “Full-Stomach Warrior”, so I went ahead and selected to use the title. So now I have a little “neon sign” above my head letting everyone in the land know that… well.. I guess that… I’m not hungry..
I got Katella’s Priest to level 14 last night. I’ve decided I’m going to try and not let there be more than 3 levels between the primary and secondary jobs, so I’ll be working on Knight again. I’m really enjoying this game too.. even started a little video, so hopefully will be able to share that sometime soon.
I’m surprised sometimes how many people I come across that have played FFXI. I created a new character named Meaholla, and pretty instantly got a whisper from someone if my character’s name was inspired from the promy’s in FFXI.. lol
So I’ve been really enjoying Runes of Magic.. its even nearing the enjoyment level I had with FFXI when things were going well, and my friends were actually available to play with.. hehe.
Katella in Runes of Magic (RoM) is Primary job Priest (currently level 11) and Secondary job Knight ( also currently level 11).
shown above is my Knight Armor then shown in Priest Armor. I know the job tags at the bottom are confusing because I still was technically a Knight when I took the second picture, while wearing my priest stuff - but I’ll explain that more a little later.
I made Laurelai a mage, and Jilliana a scout. I also have Serenade (named after my beloved puppet in FFXI.. hehe)
There are a few things that I really appreciate about how the makers of this game worked things.
First of all, I appreciate the flexibility of having more than one job.. One of my favorite aspects of FFXI, was that you had a choice. In Runes of Magic, you have a little less choice in that you only get a single opportunity to pick what your second job is, and then those two jobs are what you go back and forth between. However the combinations you come up with are unique, and being a Priest/Knight gives you access to things that Knight/Priest doesn’t have which falls inline with how FFXI did it too, although in FFXI they accomplished that by limiting the sub job. In Runes of Magic you are able to have your main and subjob be at the same level, if you’ve leveled them that far respectively. Also, in Runes of Magic, there are certain spells and abilities for each job that are only available if that job is your primary. Otherwise you have access to all the general spells that either job has to offer.
Second, I really appreciate how they worked their equipment/armor management. It is similar to WoW and a few other games in that your equipment/armor is stored on your character as if they were really wearing the things (and not taking up space in your gobbiebag like in FFXI).
Whats cool about how Runes of Magic does it though is that they give you space on your character for 2 separate sets of armor/equipment that is stored on your character. When you get to the point (level 10) and you are able to pick up a second job, this becomes quite useful, because when you change jobs, if it doesn’t automatically change you to the correct armor set (it seems to remember whatever set you wore last as that job), than you can just push a button in your character screen and it will switch what set you are wearing. I remember spending 20 minutes or longer in my FFXI moghouse, just trying to find armor that I could use when I switched my main job. As much as I loved FFXI, that was a definitely a part of the game that I loathed.. It took far too much time! I could also see this having functionality in later levels if there was a reason for equipment swaps, as you can wear any set at any given time, at least it displays them. I’m not sure of the limitations on this, but I imagine if its a piece that is too high for your current level that you couldn’t use its stats.. but I haven’t come across that limitation yet.
I like that many of the quests are soloable. Some are harder, but as long as you think your way through, and don’t carelessly just run in, it hasn’t been too frustrating which makes it enjoyable to settle down after dinner and just do things that aren’t as repetitious and actually make progress.
There are quests where you want to get a group, or just another person to go with you.
Initially, I’m finding myself impressed with this free to play game. Graphics are actually good, (better when you adjust configurations in the game client.. lol – just figured that out). Also on my slower computer I was able to go in and configure things so that I experienced far less lag.
Enjoying it more than I’ve enjoyed any game in awhile.. lol
My sister suggested that we try this new free game. Its called Runes of Magic. I had my doubts, it being free and all, after less than impressed status with Rappelz, Shaiya, and recently also tried Lost Chaos.
The Runes of Magic game… While it is incredibly frustrating to try and download, two seperate attempts due to corrupt files, and a couple days in time.. (keep in mind, my computer is getting really slow so that may or may not have been the games fault). However, once it gets on the machine, all the stress associated with it seemed to melt away. I have to say I really have an appreciation for this game. While things aren’t always as smooth as far as movements, and cities tend to have some lag at busy times (honestly.. alot to most games have to deal with that issue.. and again.. maybe some has to do with my computer itself). It seems to have married a lot of my favorite parts of various other games into one. Seemingly a child of WoW, with some FFXI aspects I enjoyed.
Character Customization is great.. I seriously haven’t come across anyone that looks like my new Katella. She’s as short as they get.. lol. Things from hair color, hairstyle, face, size of near all parts of the body.. .its kinda crazy, and fun..
There is currently 6 jobs, with 2 more on the way this fall. While all characters are currently human, that will change again this fall when it sounds like they are adding Elvaan to the mix.. (not sure of thier spelling of Elvaan, and too tired to look it up.. hehe.. sorry).
It has a dual job option, which so far I think is pretty cool.. even better, the “subjob” that I still term it as in my mind, can be the same level as the main job, if you have leveled it that far. Plus there are special things you can get from the different combinations you choose.
My Katella is actually a Priest/Knight. Here she is with my beloved Blindrage, who is also currently enjoying this new game!
Everything is turned off.. WoW, FFXI, everything..
I hadn’t even thought about it much in a few months.. I started feeling nostalgic and was checking out a few blogs that I hadn’t in quite a long time.. I don’t keep up on everything… obviously … busy with real life
yet…
I’m intrigued by the discovery of FFXIV …
hmmm…
If the graphics are that good.. I may have to check that out!
Life is getting pretty hectic.. just wanted say I’m still alive, just been so busy I haven’t had time to do much of anything in game..
When things quiet down, I’ll probably get bored and have more to post.. lol!
I’ve read a few FFXI blogs talking about the new April updates, so I went online and checked out what they were. While the Whitemage got some things that sound a little tantalizing, I was however very disappointed in the Redmage updates. I was hoping they would have something that would help me convince my favorite RDM to pick up FFXI once in awhile again…. no such luck.. he just scoffed when I showed him what the RDM’s will get.
- Composure
(Lv.50 Ability Delay: 5 min. Duration: 5 min.)
Increases accuracy and lengthens recast time. Enhancement effects gained through white and black magic you cast on yourself last longer.
- Notes Activating Composure will impose a recast time penalty upon all magic, songs, and ninjutsu.
Many are saying that its geared for the soloing RDM, but I disagree. I don’t even think this really helps the solo’ing RDM either, as most of those like to sub /nin for survivability and it already takes long enough to be able to recast shadows as it is…
Its odd to me that they are taking Redmages gift of Fast Cast, and diminishing it.. It just doesn’t seem right. When you play other games compared to FFXI, you realize how much more challenging FFXI is. Unless you have a group of friends at your beckon call, or are cheating some way, you aren’t able to as easily just fumble your way through it quickly. But while I think a challenge is at times more fun, it isn’t fun to have to work so hard at every single aspect. It gets tedious and less fun, especially when real life steps in, and you have even less time available to spend on it. But then thats what Field of Valor is for I guess.. (definitely not knocking FoV.. I personally really liked that addition). The premise of FFXI is great, I love the feel of the game, but I think there is definitely room for improvements that would make it more successful.. Sadly, I’m not sure that they are going in that direction. Sometimes I really wish I could have an audience time with the developers and tell them what I really love about the game and simply offer up some small suggestions (no strings attached.. no money or credit involved.. just please think about this..). ah /sigh
But back to this job ability, Say you cast an enhancement of Stoneskin on yourself, and say it is supposed to “last longer”. Personally I’ve had my Stoneskin knocked off me in 1 or 2 hits in certain nasty situations.. so even if it lasts 3 hits, is it really going to be worth putting more time between you and your next possible Ninjitsu shadows cast?
I don’t know, I look forward to reading what you all test it and come up with.. I could be all wrong. However I doubt it will be that much better.. mostly because then if it really made stoneskin last that much longer, then later they may find it to not properly “balance” the game, and would then nerf it. Am I wrong?
I’m just really confused by what they are trying to accomplish..
The first tier of en-spells are not used that often, least it seems.. So I wonder if instead of adding new levels of en-spells, if they shouldn’t have instead looked at why it is that those spells get such little use. One reason is because most don’t want their cookie cutter RDM party members meleeing. They don’t think that people can effectively refresh and haste while fighting… In my opinion they are wrong, because I’ve known two or three that were very good at doing it – was it more a matter of macro set-up than anything. I really think that they should have thrown Redmages a better bone.. maybe something along the lines of offering a little of the versatility that Scholars have.. more like some of the situational things they are planning on giving Whitemages in this same update.
What if?
What if maybe give them two separate job abilities,
One that increased melee damage by a certain amount but maybe made white/black magic not quite as potent (if they have to have a negative in it somewhere to balance it).
Then a second that made magic more potient but diminished melee (again if they have to have the negative..)
Build up more support abilities to foster new and different playstyles.. Breathe some new life into the job and the game..
Here is another idea, maybe lower recast time of refresh & haste spells, so that people don’t think they have to spend their entire time in party concentrating on timing these just right.. Give them the opportunity to do a few other things… RDM has so much to offer, yet are so continuously limited.. and I don’t think these new updates really help alleviate any of that. …
Just my thoughts….
