So I was right to check on the dwarf - to alert her father. She was no match for the titanic system she was trying to tamper with: she found herself caught by the machine. Fortunately, Kelgrim was able to circumvent the defense systems and save her.
I guess that means I did the right thing.
Elle is safe, so that's good.
The other thing I wanted to mention though - I got accosted by a dwarf. She's apparently called Mistrel Weaving, though she didn't tell me that at first. See, I was minding my own business, transmuting some living steel. It was in the mystic ward of Ironforge - that area with all that power. She took a minute to tell me how good my work was - for someone my age.
Then, she got suspicious. She pieced together what I was, not that it's exactly a well-kept secret. If the SI:7 knows and follows me around, I think it might as well be a matter of public record. I'm just not that important, especially given recent events.
But this dwarf was paranoid.
She seemed to think I was an assassin sent to kill her, for her efforts in the Siege of Orgrimmar or some such thing. I managed to set her straight - I had no idea who she was or what her organization was about. I guess being dragged around is better than having someone try to eat me.
I even got a job offer out of it. She suggested that I might be able to offer my services to the "Anvil March."
Kelgrim was less than happy about that idea. He says that they're gearing up to make an expedition through the Dark Portal, to fight the Iron Horde.
That does influence my decision.
It will be good to use my talents again.
Monday, November 10, 2014
Achaena's Diary, Page Two
Perhaps I am being too harsh. There have been good people in my life, haven't there? What about Rennfri? She adopted me after my family died. That has to count for something. That may not be a good example. Although she seems to care - she DOES care for me - the death and agony that follows her, that she deals out, that is done in her name - I cannot honestly call her 'good.'
What about the elf who had lived next door? She seemed .... innocent of the evils in the world. Maybe the healing woman - the one who became pregnant?
You might say that every nosy paladin who has tried to enforce a curfew on me might be considered good - at the very least, they largely say they are doing it for my safety. So they are nice enough.
And of course, there is the matter of the dwarf, Kelgrim Forgefighter. Undoubtedly, he has made his own mistakes. His relationship with his daughter suggests that she is at the center of one of his bigger ones. But - she has a relationship with her. He's trying to repair the damage done. "Good" is not synonymous with "infallible."
So maybe there is one good person.
I do hope he doesn't hate me, especially after I let his daughter walk blithely into danger. I did send him a letter, so if something is wrong, he can help to fix it.
I'm on a boat now, me and my golem, sailing across the sea to Kalimdor, so that I can fix my own error. I despise water - the only way that I can make the journey is in a windowless room where I cannot see my impending doom.
If we capsize, I will drown and die.
How pleasant.
What about the elf who had lived next door? She seemed .... innocent of the evils in the world. Maybe the healing woman - the one who became pregnant?
You might say that every nosy paladin who has tried to enforce a curfew on me might be considered good - at the very least, they largely say they are doing it for my safety. So they are nice enough.
And of course, there is the matter of the dwarf, Kelgrim Forgefighter. Undoubtedly, he has made his own mistakes. His relationship with his daughter suggests that she is at the center of one of his bigger ones. But - she has a relationship with her. He's trying to repair the damage done. "Good" is not synonymous with "infallible."
So maybe there is one good person.
I do hope he doesn't hate me, especially after I let his daughter walk blithely into danger. I did send him a letter, so if something is wrong, he can help to fix it.
I'm on a boat now, me and my golem, sailing across the sea to Kalimdor, so that I can fix my own error. I despise water - the only way that I can make the journey is in a windowless room where I cannot see my impending doom.
If we capsize, I will drown and die.
How pleasant.
Saturday, November 8, 2014
Of Ghosts
The elf wasn't anyone she recognized. She had known the others she had encountered, either personally or by their armor. This ghost was a civilian, though. She worse a simple, white nightgown, and a river of blood ran from her throat, which had been slit.
"They lied," the woman said, her voice wispery and almost inaudible. Achaena thought for a moment that she had imagined it. "They lied to you."
"Who lied?" She asked. "Who are you?" She wasn't particularly afraid - only the strongest ghosts could harm the living - and she didn't feel that this ghost meant to do her harm.
The woman floated forward, reaching out for her. She felt a chill as the ghost's hand cupped her cheek. "I would never abandon you ... my daughter."
She froze. Years of resentment, of hurt and anger, surfaced momentarily, before melting away. "Mother?" Her voice trembled. This had to be some kind of trick. She'd always been told ... but the dead weren't supposed to be able to lie. Not like the living could. And, when she was younger, hadn't she believed everything the Masters said?
The woman looked like her, tall and willowy, though her features were bleached in undeath. She enveloped Akkie in a cold, yet loving, embrace. "They killed me," the ghost whispered. "I could only watch as they twisted you, tortured you. Made you like them." Her voice held horror and pain. "That wasn't the life I wanted for you. It broke my heart."
"Mother, I - " The ghost pressed a finger to her lips.
"Shh." Her mother offered a sad smile. "This wasn't what I wanted for you, but it brings my soul a measure of peace to know that you are strong enough to survive the cruel world I brought you into. My only regret is that I could not - can not - be there for you."
Already, I can feel my rest calling.
Be strong, and brave.
My daughter."
Her spirit faded. There came a sense of profound peace.
She sank to her knees, silent tears streaking down her cheeks. Her world had been set upside down.
"They lied," the woman said, her voice wispery and almost inaudible. Achaena thought for a moment that she had imagined it. "They lied to you."
"Who lied?" She asked. "Who are you?" She wasn't particularly afraid - only the strongest ghosts could harm the living - and she didn't feel that this ghost meant to do her harm.
The woman floated forward, reaching out for her. She felt a chill as the ghost's hand cupped her cheek. "I would never abandon you ... my daughter."
She froze. Years of resentment, of hurt and anger, surfaced momentarily, before melting away. "Mother?" Her voice trembled. This had to be some kind of trick. She'd always been told ... but the dead weren't supposed to be able to lie. Not like the living could. And, when she was younger, hadn't she believed everything the Masters said?
The woman looked like her, tall and willowy, though her features were bleached in undeath. She enveloped Akkie in a cold, yet loving, embrace. "They killed me," the ghost whispered. "I could only watch as they twisted you, tortured you. Made you like them." Her voice held horror and pain. "That wasn't the life I wanted for you. It broke my heart."
"Mother, I - " The ghost pressed a finger to her lips.
"Shh." Her mother offered a sad smile. "This wasn't what I wanted for you, but it brings my soul a measure of peace to know that you are strong enough to survive the cruel world I brought you into. My only regret is that I could not - can not - be there for you."
Already, I can feel my rest calling.
Be strong, and brave.
My daughter."
Her spirit faded. There came a sense of profound peace.
She sank to her knees, silent tears streaking down her cheeks. Her world had been set upside down.
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
Achaena's Diary, Page One
Hello.
That's how these things begin, right? A greeting, an introduction, and then I spill my darkest secrets.
But the healer says that this will help. So, let's do this properly.
My name is Achaena. I am a half-elf. I am twelve years old. And I am a monster.
Oh, not like the Worgen, or the San'layn. No curse has made me to be what I am. But I bear no illusions: I am a monster.
But I'm only twelve, the astute observer will remember. What could I have possibly done?
Let's begin at the beginning. An elven woman deposited her newborn baby on the front doorstep of the orphanage. I remember neither my mother, nor the orphanage. I was too young. But I know what happened next.
A group of assassins, my family, adopted me. They raised me, trained me. I learned to fight with all manner of weapons, including my own magical talent. I also learned to brew potions and poisons.
I made my first kill when I was only ten. I've never felt any guilt. Why should I? This is what I was raised for. I was proud; Master was proud of me. He presented me with a set of ten perfect knives, which I carry to this day. They're a part of me, and more importantly, they are my last reminder of him.
You see, it was less than a year later that their scheme was uncovered. I returned from a job to find the house - my home for my entire life - crawling with guards. Everyone I'd known and cared for was dead.
But time moves on. I escaped the guards' notice easily enough, kept out of their way. I pursued legitimate work, even looking after a hunter's pets for a time. That was interesting. One of them was dead - killed long before I met him. I made fast friends with the ghost wolf named Vladik. He is a supremely loyal companion; he rarely leaves my side. The hunter ultimately let me keep him. If there is one person I trust implicitly, it is him.
I've met a lot of people - some of them were even good, I imagine. But mostly ...
There was that warlock who tried to kill me in Dalaran, because I wouldn't kill someone for free. Stupid - no gold, no blood.
He didn't succeed, obviously. Neither did the dwarf who tore a chunk out of my leg.
I'm still alive, but that one was close. I still have scars from those encounters - the leg healed with the help of magic, but nothing can cleanse fel taint permanently.
Even my own friends are - many of them - awful, horribly cruel people.
I think the dwarf, Kelgrim, is probably the best person I've met, and all I do is anger him. Maybe I should try to listen to him - he's old, he's supposed to be wise. But the things he says are so unrealistic.
People are mostly bad. It takes work - hard work - to care for anyone other than yourself. Even those who claim to be altruistic are only doing it to feel better about themselves.
Now I'm feeling bitter.
Maybe I'll burn this page - that's supposed to make you feel better, too.
That's how these things begin, right? A greeting, an introduction, and then I spill my darkest secrets.
But the healer says that this will help. So, let's do this properly.
My name is Achaena. I am a half-elf. I am twelve years old. And I am a monster.
Oh, not like the Worgen, or the San'layn. No curse has made me to be what I am. But I bear no illusions: I am a monster.
But I'm only twelve, the astute observer will remember. What could I have possibly done?
Let's begin at the beginning. An elven woman deposited her newborn baby on the front doorstep of the orphanage. I remember neither my mother, nor the orphanage. I was too young. But I know what happened next.
A group of assassins, my family, adopted me. They raised me, trained me. I learned to fight with all manner of weapons, including my own magical talent. I also learned to brew potions and poisons.
I made my first kill when I was only ten. I've never felt any guilt. Why should I? This is what I was raised for. I was proud; Master was proud of me. He presented me with a set of ten perfect knives, which I carry to this day. They're a part of me, and more importantly, they are my last reminder of him.
You see, it was less than a year later that their scheme was uncovered. I returned from a job to find the house - my home for my entire life - crawling with guards. Everyone I'd known and cared for was dead.
But time moves on. I escaped the guards' notice easily enough, kept out of their way. I pursued legitimate work, even looking after a hunter's pets for a time. That was interesting. One of them was dead - killed long before I met him. I made fast friends with the ghost wolf named Vladik. He is a supremely loyal companion; he rarely leaves my side. The hunter ultimately let me keep him. If there is one person I trust implicitly, it is him.
I've met a lot of people - some of them were even good, I imagine. But mostly ...
There was that warlock who tried to kill me in Dalaran, because I wouldn't kill someone for free. Stupid - no gold, no blood.
He didn't succeed, obviously. Neither did the dwarf who tore a chunk out of my leg.
I'm still alive, but that one was close. I still have scars from those encounters - the leg healed with the help of magic, but nothing can cleanse fel taint permanently.
Even my own friends are - many of them - awful, horribly cruel people.
I think the dwarf, Kelgrim, is probably the best person I've met, and all I do is anger him. Maybe I should try to listen to him - he's old, he's supposed to be wise. But the things he says are so unrealistic.
People are mostly bad. It takes work - hard work - to care for anyone other than yourself. Even those who claim to be altruistic are only doing it to feel better about themselves.
Now I'm feeling bitter.
Maybe I'll burn this page - that's supposed to make you feel better, too.
Saturday, November 1, 2014
50 Word Thoughts - II
Artistic:
She let the magic flow through her. It was almost pretty, the way the colors swirled together. She found the process soothing. It gave her mind a rest. The magic mixed with the metal in a beautiful pattern of light. It was always good to profit off of enjoyable talent.
Tired:
The girl called Chirp rubbed at her eyes, trying to wake up. The magic that enhanced her mind would only last a little longer. She wanted to cram just a bit more learning in before then. She just could not keep her eyes open for even a single moment more.
Haunted:
So much time had passed. The house was repaired, and ready for sale, but the word was that it had become haunted. Stormwind's forces were busy elsewhere. No one could be spared for the exorcism. The house stood empty and unwatched. She entered, quiet, in search of her beloved dead.
Purse:
She was pleased with herself, to know she was still as good as she was once. The mark was fat and easy, the coin heavy in her hand. He would barely miss the fat purse. For her, it was less about money. She had legitimate pursuits. This was just fun.
Water:
Bored. The trip took several days, and all she could see for miles in all directions was dull, boring water. At least it was not quite as scary as it used to be. That is, so long as she did not fall in. She could still, too easily, imagine drowning.
Walter:
The man was named Walter. He was a rich merchant who liked to mix business with pleasure. He was also dead. The two facts were very much related. He had tried to get just a bit too friendly, and she simply could not allow him to compromise her current disguise.
Potato:
She had never in her life experienced such a variety of flavors, of textures. The word for this one was "potato." She found that it was sometimes hard, but she liked it best when it was hot and soft and covered in "butter." This food was served with dead meat.
She let the magic flow through her. It was almost pretty, the way the colors swirled together. She found the process soothing. It gave her mind a rest. The magic mixed with the metal in a beautiful pattern of light. It was always good to profit off of enjoyable talent.
Tired:
The girl called Chirp rubbed at her eyes, trying to wake up. The magic that enhanced her mind would only last a little longer. She wanted to cram just a bit more learning in before then. She just could not keep her eyes open for even a single moment more.
Haunted:
So much time had passed. The house was repaired, and ready for sale, but the word was that it had become haunted. Stormwind's forces were busy elsewhere. No one could be spared for the exorcism. The house stood empty and unwatched. She entered, quiet, in search of her beloved dead.
Purse:
She was pleased with herself, to know she was still as good as she was once. The mark was fat and easy, the coin heavy in her hand. He would barely miss the fat purse. For her, it was less about money. She had legitimate pursuits. This was just fun.
Water:
Bored. The trip took several days, and all she could see for miles in all directions was dull, boring water. At least it was not quite as scary as it used to be. That is, so long as she did not fall in. She could still, too easily, imagine drowning.
Walter:
The man was named Walter. He was a rich merchant who liked to mix business with pleasure. He was also dead. The two facts were very much related. He had tried to get just a bit too friendly, and she simply could not allow him to compromise her current disguise.
Potato:
She had never in her life experienced such a variety of flavors, of textures. The word for this one was "potato." She found that it was sometimes hard, but she liked it best when it was hot and soft and covered in "butter." This food was served with dead meat.
Saturday, October 25, 2014
50 Word Thoughts
Banquet:
She knew it was a trap. She knew it, but she trusted herself. She could not, did not, anticipate how prepared he had been. The meat was delicious, even though she rarely ate it. The poison was so fast, she could not even cry for help. She was in trouble.
Frustration:
She was not doing it right. She knew it. She picked up the hammer and began to beat the training dummy in earnest. One strike, two, three - the dummy snapped in half. She did not let up. She continued until the wood was so many splintered pieces. Still so unsatisfying.
Merciful:
She stood over the orc, bloody axe in hand. He groaned, bleeding. It was not mercy that stayed her hand. The alliance needed answers. So she bound his limbs and began to drag his half-dead body back to the camp. Maybe she was wrong to hurt him back. Maybe.
Fast Food:
She settled into the dive, wings tucked in. The unfortunate cow would have no idea what happened. One moment, it was standing, peaceful, and the next, she had snapped its neck, her talons impaling its skull.
She ripped its flesh open, beginning to feast in earnest.
She had killed well.
She knew it was a trap. She knew it, but she trusted herself. She could not, did not, anticipate how prepared he had been. The meat was delicious, even though she rarely ate it. The poison was so fast, she could not even cry for help. She was in trouble.
Frustration:
She was not doing it right. She knew it. She picked up the hammer and began to beat the training dummy in earnest. One strike, two, three - the dummy snapped in half. She did not let up. She continued until the wood was so many splintered pieces. Still so unsatisfying.
Merciful:
She stood over the orc, bloody axe in hand. He groaned, bleeding. It was not mercy that stayed her hand. The alliance needed answers. So she bound his limbs and began to drag his half-dead body back to the camp. Maybe she was wrong to hurt him back. Maybe.
Fast Food:
She settled into the dive, wings tucked in. The unfortunate cow would have no idea what happened. One moment, it was standing, peaceful, and the next, she had snapped its neck, her talons impaling its skull.
She ripped its flesh open, beginning to feast in earnest.
She had killed well.
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
Thaumcraft 4.1.1.12 Part One
Or: Suddenly Magic
My game starts pretty much like any other minecraft experience: I'm in a savannah, with a few pigs nearby. I look for a tree, and, finding one, I punch it down and make a workbench, an axe, and a pickaxe.
Pretty standard stuff, all in all.
My mod list follows:
Thaumcraft
Ex Nihilo
Bibliocraft
Treecapitator
and Voxelmap.
The first thing I come across from Thaumcraft: An obsidian totem. I'm not gonna let that stand.
No, but seriously, I'm not. Those things spread taint, and this close to my original spawn, I want nothing to do with that. I immediately upgrade my pickaxe, therefore, and get to work.
My sacred work complete (I don't like taint), I head onwards. The next thing I come across of any value are some sheep, so I put them to death on the spot and get enough wool to make a bed.
Before long I find exactly what I'm looking for - a swath of magical forest.
I've found three different obsidian totems by now and dismantled all of them.
Oh hello.
I don't like these trees, on the one hand - on the other they're useful. Think of them as cave spider dungeons with some decent loot underneath.
Nope, nope, nope, nope, nope.
This also goes to the axe. Pick-axe, that is.
And here's my winnings.
My game starts pretty much like any other minecraft experience: I'm in a savannah, with a few pigs nearby. I look for a tree, and, finding one, I punch it down and make a workbench, an axe, and a pickaxe.
Pretty standard stuff, all in all.
My mod list follows:
Thaumcraft
Ex Nihilo
Bibliocraft
Treecapitator
and Voxelmap.
The first thing I come across from Thaumcraft: An obsidian totem. I'm not gonna let that stand.
No, but seriously, I'm not. Those things spread taint, and this close to my original spawn, I want nothing to do with that. I immediately upgrade my pickaxe, therefore, and get to work.
My sacred work complete (I don't like taint), I head onwards. The next thing I come across of any value are some sheep, so I put them to death on the spot and get enough wool to make a bed.
Before long I find exactly what I'm looking for - a swath of magical forest.
I've found three different obsidian totems by now and dismantled all of them.
Oh hello.
I don't like these trees, on the one hand - on the other they're useful. Think of them as cave spider dungeons with some decent loot underneath.
Nope, nope, nope, nope, nope.
This also goes to the axe. Pick-axe, that is.
And here's my winnings.
I decide to dismantle one of the three silverwood trees I've spotted. I left the node block in place - we'll see later if the node survived - and I replanted the single sapling I retrieved, because who doesn't want more silverwood, really?
Here's my take from the forest:
Next Up: Mining and gathering.
Saturday, May 3, 2014
Neko Powergames The Sims 3: Trivializing Everything Else
Starting with relationships:
People seem to love to rave about the Social Networking skill. So I decided to give it a whirl, leveling it in roughly the same fashion as Science.
The good news is, once I finally max it, I'll have enough LTR points to buy Fast Learner, since maxing Social Networking came up as a wish. Plus, the relationship transmogrifier is, indeed, quite powerful.
The bad news is - well, actually there isn't much for bad news there.
I clone plasma bugs periodically now - I hardly need $200k, though that's my goal.
And, unlike in the Apocalypse Challenge, I don't need to get rid of any of it. Susan's going to be living in a mansion by the time she gets out of college.
Any time Susan meets someone new, I just throw the transmogrifier on, and they're best friends now. She could also choose anyone to be her romantic interest, and with the Sim Finder app, she's guaranteed the best possible mate.
By the end of her third semester, she has $242,089. Which, incidentally, nets me two legacy points all on its own, since the points for money are calculated at 1 for every $100k.
I've also been leveling alchemy, because when I originally created Susan, I meant to make her a witch. I could cheat that on, but it's quite possible to 'catch' witchitude from a potion.
I use the remaining time to level various skills, including Charisma (as though making friends weren't easy enough), Inventing (for the fun of it), and Gardening (for the grades).
I also grab a couple of points in athletics and handiness, because why not.
Total stats by the end of college:
10 Inventing
10 Charisma
10 Science
10 Social Networking
10 Alchemy
10 Logic
8 Gardening
6 Athletic
4 Handiness
1 Writing
1 Cooking
1 Legacy Point for the Founder generation
1 Legacy Point for 100k Total Lifetime Happiness
2 Legacy Points for cresting $200k net worth
1 Legacy Point for LTW fulfilled: Perfect Student
Traits:
Evil (Family Trait, Social Trait)
Brave (College Trait)
Insane
Over-Emotional
Lucky
Bookworm
Friendly
People seem to love to rave about the Social Networking skill. So I decided to give it a whirl, leveling it in roughly the same fashion as Science.
The good news is, once I finally max it, I'll have enough LTR points to buy Fast Learner, since maxing Social Networking came up as a wish. Plus, the relationship transmogrifier is, indeed, quite powerful.
The bad news is - well, actually there isn't much for bad news there.
I clone plasma bugs periodically now - I hardly need $200k, though that's my goal.
And, unlike in the Apocalypse Challenge, I don't need to get rid of any of it. Susan's going to be living in a mansion by the time she gets out of college.
Any time Susan meets someone new, I just throw the transmogrifier on, and they're best friends now. She could also choose anyone to be her romantic interest, and with the Sim Finder app, she's guaranteed the best possible mate.
By the end of her third semester, she has $242,089. Which, incidentally, nets me two legacy points all on its own, since the points for money are calculated at 1 for every $100k.
I've also been leveling alchemy, because when I originally created Susan, I meant to make her a witch. I could cheat that on, but it's quite possible to 'catch' witchitude from a potion.
I use the remaining time to level various skills, including Charisma (as though making friends weren't easy enough), Inventing (for the fun of it), and Gardening (for the grades).
I also grab a couple of points in athletics and handiness, because why not.
Total stats by the end of college:
10 Inventing
10 Charisma
10 Science
10 Social Networking
10 Alchemy
10 Logic
8 Gardening
6 Athletic
4 Handiness
1 Writing
1 Cooking
1 Legacy Point for the Founder generation
1 Legacy Point for 100k Total Lifetime Happiness
2 Legacy Points for cresting $200k net worth
1 Legacy Point for LTW fulfilled: Perfect Student
Traits:
Evil (Family Trait, Social Trait)
Brave (College Trait)
Insane
Over-Emotional
Lucky
Bookworm
Friendly
Friday, May 2, 2014
Neko Powergames The Sims 3: Trivializing the Money Problem
So someone asked about the Legacy Challenge - or any other challenge for that matter - and it inspired me to start up one of my own. I don't know how long I'll stick with it - as I mentioned, they tend to bore me - but it sounds like an amusing diversion for at least a couple of days.
This is Susan Beckett. She's a Leo. She likes Mac'n'Cheese, Electronica, and the color gray.
I did the absolute minimum to ensure she had clothing on and looks reasonably cute.
This is a power-gaming entry, not a story or 'spend three hours on clothes' entry.
The traits, therefore, are the most important thing.
I went with:
Bookworm
Friendly
Insane
Lucky
Over-Emotional
With plans to get Evil and something else later on. Maybe Irresistable.
I gave her the wish to become a Perfect Student, and away we go.
From the Legacy Challenge, you're supposed to select a lot valued at $14,700, but most newer neighborhoods just don't -have- that kind of a lot. So I'm starting on a 64x64 lot in Lunar Lakes (the one stolen by the equestrian center, thanks Mr. Bulldozer!).
A quick trip to TestingCheatsEnabled True, and a FamilyFunds Beckett 1300, and we're totally legit and ready to go.
Now, the legacy challenge rules as they stand don't incorporate University Life - or at least, I couldn't find a version that restricts it in any way.
So I'm going to set some personal restrictions.
One: I'm only going to allow myself to apply for extra funds once a semester, on Thursday, after the activity but before finals.
Two: I find it entirely reasonable to limit myself to only three skills on the Brain Enhancement Machine, and five points each, so as to maintain some challenge. It's not going to be much of one, as we'll see.
Three: I'm only taking four semesters, total. I could finish college in one with the right traits - but that's exhausting and gives me no time to get money!
Susan spends the first hour or so waiting for the Uni Mascot and chatting herself up, which improves both her social and her fun. She's having the time of her life by the time the university goods show up, which, combined with her over-emotional trait, means she's quite happy indeed - and racking up those LTR points.
I don't really expect to get a scholarship off the traits I picked, and in fact she gets a disappointing 683/2400 on the aptitude test. I set her up for a single semester at twelve credits, which empties out most of her starting budget. $1,150 is most of $1,300, though she recoups $100 of that for the opportunity, and I'll be selling the cheap camera she got for fast cash - since there's no reason not to; no restrictions prohibit things you got because the game says so.
As always, I start on the central dorm.
Now, if I really wanted, I could sell everything in the dorm but the essentials - or even those - and be obscenely rich. But that seems - against the spirit of the thing. I won't need to, either, as you'll see.
Instead, I buy a Book Corral bookshelf - one of the ones with all the skill books in it - and a dragon egg.
I won't hold it against you if you didn't buy Dragon Valley - and the Renaissance Faire. It's real money, after all, not everybody wants to spend real money.
But I did, so I'm exploiting it, hardcore.
Now, I get the bug where sometimes the job board just doesn't have jobs. Frustrating, but I can deal, and that's not going to be my main mode of money anyway.
I have Susan pose nude at the art center, donate saliva, plasma, and giggles - enough to get her that writing class she really wants to do. My plans involve getting her as many LTR points as possible so that she can net some of the better LTR's early. Since her Lifetime Wish is - not exactly impressive - I'll need to make up the difference somehow.
This little guy is the key to my success here. He means that she won't have to eat or sleep at all for her entire college career - freeing up boatloads of time to do everything else. I'm going to have her only real interactions with him be to talk to him about logic - it's free skill points. I also loot the bookshelf of all the Science books - which is key to my strategy.
Then it's off to the library for some quality study time!
Being a bookworm, she skills up by reading really quickly, and the library boost helps dramatically.
By two AM (roughly six or seven hours after I had her start on it), she's got level 3 in Science - absolutely fantastic for a first night's work. Her first class starts at 8 AM, giving me roughly four hours. Considering my options, I decide to have her study from her course materials, which fulfills a wish she's had since getting to college.
Then I set her to studying Science a little longer, and she's ready for class.
I have her work hard throughout her first class, then queue up flying charcoal for the half an hour or so that she has between classes to raise her fun enough to work hard for most of her next class. Then I have her suck up to her professor - whoever that is - before sending her back to the library.
Yes, she's smelly, but as any veteran of the apocalypse can tell you, smelly is hardly worth noting.
She wants to read three total books, so I set her to reading her course material, which makes her happy. I don't let her finish though - once she's not stressed anymore, I set her right back to studying Science. Since she's a Science/Medicine student, this even improves her grades!
I needn't have bothered with making her happy; she freaked out due to the full moon and became tranquil immediately. Oh well.
A lecture comes between Susan and her studies - fair enough, that brings me to the only place on campus with a free science machine (of doom).
So by now you've probably guessed my plans.
Yep, just like I did in my apocalypse, I'm going to clone these little guys until I'm richer than God. They're worth at least $3400 a pop, probably more.
Now, I initially planned to get Fast Learner, but that desire seems rather silly - at least right off the bat. I'm instead going to buy my way up the Nerd social ladder - since, that's a thing I can do. Dropping 6k LTR points into the social group nets me rank six, not bad at all.
Susan gets singed on her first attempt to clone, but manages a successful cloning on her second shot, netting her an easy $5072 (total). I use it to buy a brain enhancing machine and a (home based) science lab. She won't stay singed long, this way.
She has to go to class before I can clone too many more bugs, but that's fine, since I have to go to the academic center anyway for my free ~$5000.
After nine bugs, total, have been sold, I'm sitting pretty on a nice $51912. Certainly nothing to scoff at, but let's see if I can do even better!
So the second round of plasma bugs - selling off six of the seven - brings me up to $87618. Not bad.
I spend another 2000 LTR points on getting my next trait - Evil, so that she can feed off the suffering of others. Yay, suffering! In total, that means I spent 10k on a new trait, with basically no time investment. I find it to be an equitable trade; YMMV.
So that's how you trivialize the money problem within the first week of classes.
This is Susan Beckett. She's a Leo. She likes Mac'n'Cheese, Electronica, and the color gray.
I did the absolute minimum to ensure she had clothing on and looks reasonably cute.
This is a power-gaming entry, not a story or 'spend three hours on clothes' entry.
The traits, therefore, are the most important thing.
I went with:
Bookworm
Friendly
Insane
Lucky
Over-Emotional
With plans to get Evil and something else later on. Maybe Irresistable.
I gave her the wish to become a Perfect Student, and away we go.
From the Legacy Challenge, you're supposed to select a lot valued at $14,700, but most newer neighborhoods just don't -have- that kind of a lot. So I'm starting on a 64x64 lot in Lunar Lakes (the one stolen by the equestrian center, thanks Mr. Bulldozer!).
A quick trip to TestingCheatsEnabled True, and a FamilyFunds Beckett 1300, and we're totally legit and ready to go.
Now, the legacy challenge rules as they stand don't incorporate University Life - or at least, I couldn't find a version that restricts it in any way.
So I'm going to set some personal restrictions.
One: I'm only going to allow myself to apply for extra funds once a semester, on Thursday, after the activity but before finals.
Two: I find it entirely reasonable to limit myself to only three skills on the Brain Enhancement Machine, and five points each, so as to maintain some challenge. It's not going to be much of one, as we'll see.
Three: I'm only taking four semesters, total. I could finish college in one with the right traits - but that's exhausting and gives me no time to get money!
Susan spends the first hour or so waiting for the Uni Mascot and chatting herself up, which improves both her social and her fun. She's having the time of her life by the time the university goods show up, which, combined with her over-emotional trait, means she's quite happy indeed - and racking up those LTR points.
I don't really expect to get a scholarship off the traits I picked, and in fact she gets a disappointing 683/2400 on the aptitude test. I set her up for a single semester at twelve credits, which empties out most of her starting budget. $1,150 is most of $1,300, though she recoups $100 of that for the opportunity, and I'll be selling the cheap camera she got for fast cash - since there's no reason not to; no restrictions prohibit things you got because the game says so.
As always, I start on the central dorm.
Now, if I really wanted, I could sell everything in the dorm but the essentials - or even those - and be obscenely rich. But that seems - against the spirit of the thing. I won't need to, either, as you'll see.
Instead, I buy a Book Corral bookshelf - one of the ones with all the skill books in it - and a dragon egg.
I won't hold it against you if you didn't buy Dragon Valley - and the Renaissance Faire. It's real money, after all, not everybody wants to spend real money.
But I did, so I'm exploiting it, hardcore.
Now, I get the bug where sometimes the job board just doesn't have jobs. Frustrating, but I can deal, and that's not going to be my main mode of money anyway.
I have Susan pose nude at the art center, donate saliva, plasma, and giggles - enough to get her that writing class she really wants to do. My plans involve getting her as many LTR points as possible so that she can net some of the better LTR's early. Since her Lifetime Wish is - not exactly impressive - I'll need to make up the difference somehow.
This little guy is the key to my success here. He means that she won't have to eat or sleep at all for her entire college career - freeing up boatloads of time to do everything else. I'm going to have her only real interactions with him be to talk to him about logic - it's free skill points. I also loot the bookshelf of all the Science books - which is key to my strategy.
Then it's off to the library for some quality study time!
Being a bookworm, she skills up by reading really quickly, and the library boost helps dramatically.
By two AM (roughly six or seven hours after I had her start on it), she's got level 3 in Science - absolutely fantastic for a first night's work. Her first class starts at 8 AM, giving me roughly four hours. Considering my options, I decide to have her study from her course materials, which fulfills a wish she's had since getting to college.
Then I set her to studying Science a little longer, and she's ready for class.
I have her work hard throughout her first class, then queue up flying charcoal for the half an hour or so that she has between classes to raise her fun enough to work hard for most of her next class. Then I have her suck up to her professor - whoever that is - before sending her back to the library.
Yes, she's smelly, but as any veteran of the apocalypse can tell you, smelly is hardly worth noting.
She wants to read three total books, so I set her to reading her course material, which makes her happy. I don't let her finish though - once she's not stressed anymore, I set her right back to studying Science. Since she's a Science/Medicine student, this even improves her grades!
I needn't have bothered with making her happy; she freaked out due to the full moon and became tranquil immediately. Oh well.
A lecture comes between Susan and her studies - fair enough, that brings me to the only place on campus with a free science machine (of doom).
So by now you've probably guessed my plans.
Yep, just like I did in my apocalypse, I'm going to clone these little guys until I'm richer than God. They're worth at least $3400 a pop, probably more.
Now, I initially planned to get Fast Learner, but that desire seems rather silly - at least right off the bat. I'm instead going to buy my way up the Nerd social ladder - since, that's a thing I can do. Dropping 6k LTR points into the social group nets me rank six, not bad at all.
Susan gets singed on her first attempt to clone, but manages a successful cloning on her second shot, netting her an easy $5072 (total). I use it to buy a brain enhancing machine and a (home based) science lab. She won't stay singed long, this way.
She has to go to class before I can clone too many more bugs, but that's fine, since I have to go to the academic center anyway for my free ~$5000.
After nine bugs, total, have been sold, I'm sitting pretty on a nice $51912. Certainly nothing to scoff at, but let's see if I can do even better!
So the second round of plasma bugs - selling off six of the seven - brings me up to $87618. Not bad.
I spend another 2000 LTR points on getting my next trait - Evil, so that she can feed off the suffering of others. Yay, suffering! In total, that means I spent 10k on a new trait, with basically no time investment. I find it to be an equitable trade; YMMV.
So that's how you trivialize the money problem within the first week of classes.
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