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5th Fighter Test Woes
mood: 
blah
blahEverytime I take it, I seem to be getting worse at it. The last time I got cornered by all three critters and whiffed the Wraith about 50% of the time while it hit me 100% of the time. The best way to fight the Wraith is to keep it in one corner and hit it just after it swings. This way you can counter its Troilus and keep from running into either the Blood Wyrm or the Lava Beetle which are fast and hard to shake. Unfortunately, I can't brick the Wraith which means I probably don't have a chance at passing the test until I get more Detha. If that doesn't work I'll have to wait until I increase my Histia after I get to the 300 mark with Detha which means I won't be passing for quite some time. On the other hand I am able to hit the Wraith better using the Great Sword but my goal is to pass the test with the same weapon I use on a regular basis to give the test more validity so I've been not switching weapons. Then again, a true warrior would use the best tool for the job. I will have to think more on this.
Kiriel told me that I'm welcome back to CoNGA but I'm uncertain. Even though I'd love to adventure with Kiriel and Michael and Crunch and Manx, I don't bring anything to the group. I don't have the overall strength of Kiriel, the defense and battle tactics Michael has, the raw power of Crunch, and the amazing healing ability of Manx. I am too cautious and while I don't have any obvious weaknesses I also don't have any obvious strengths. I'm also awkward around people. I would be a liability and no matter how much I want to join them it just wouldn't work out.
I think envy is my biggest weakness. I read stories of other people's adventures and I wonder why I can't experience them. Adventures such as the recent invasion of the rebels from Tenebrion's Island and the group going to the Pitch Cavern or those who have explored the new areas on Kizmia's Island. I don't have any anger or hatred towards the people who are on those adventures because they worked hard at being able to experience them. I just wish I could experience them too and knowing I can't is depressing at times. It seems that no matter how strong I become either physically or mentally or spritually or emotionally it's never good enough.
(Anonymous)
But you can!
So you may not be a Crunch, yet, but do your best and learn. And be positive! Take everything in the best possible way. Assume the best intentions from what people say or do. Stop being your biggest critic. The trick is not trying to be what you cannot, but be all you can, and set yourself goals.
Re: But you can!
It's because of the places they likely explore such as the Pitch Caves and past the Snake Pit and Kizima's Island and the Scarmis Pit and the Garden Maze. These are places of which I am not familiar with and have no hope of contributing anything. Not tactical knowledge or fighting ability and I would need to be healed and raised much more than anyone else. What would I bring to the group that couldn't be found elsewhere? I certainly don't know and I have no idea why Kiriel invited me. My ranks are publicly available so she should know what a liability I'd be and she could tell by my black belt as well.
So you may not be a Crunch, yet, but do your best and learn. And be positive! Take everything in the best possible way.
Crunch is who he is because he has about 1200 Darkus and a ton of other ranks to back that up. He can do things I can't and all of the positive thoughts won't change that. On the Ethereal Plane he could kill the Ethereal Slugs I was killing in my attempt to help the group in one swing where it took me half a dozen at least. Tell me how being positive will change that.
Assume the best intentions from what people say or do. Stop being your biggest critic. The trick is not trying to be what you cannot, but be all you can, and set yourself goals.
I have to be my biggest critic because no one else will, well aside from Sor. They won't say anything or they'll say "It's fine" because they don't want to stir up trouble or they don't care enough to say anything or they'll keep it inside where it festers. If I'm not hard on myself for mistakes made or the wrong thing said or make goals for myself then I won't improve at all.
In fact, me not accepting Kiriel's invitation is what I consider me not trying to be what I cannot. If you think I should accept her invitation please say so because from where I stand, I am not the type that would benefit her or her group. I would be trying to be their level and experience and knowledge and that is something I'm not.
(Anonymous)
Re: But you can!
[jeanne]Crunch is who he is because he has about 1200 Darkus and a ton of other ranks to back that up. He can do things I can't and all of the positive thoughts won't change that. On the Ethereal Plane he could kill the Ethereal Slugs I was killing in my attempt to help the group in one swing where it took me half a dozen at least. Tell me how being positive will change that.
Being positive isn't about being Crunch, it's about appreciating what you have now and working toward what you want to become. If you want to become like Crunch (an example) then work on that and appreciate the steps you climb to get there.
[me]Assume the best intentions from what people say or do. Stop being your biggest critic. The trick is not trying to be what you cannot, but be all you can, and set yourself goals.
[jeanne]I have to be my biggest critic because no one else will, well aside from Sor. They won't say anything or they'll say "It's fine" because they don't want to stir up trouble or they don't care enough to say anything or they'll keep it inside where it festers. If I'm not hard on myself for mistakes made or the wrong thing said or make goals for myself then I won't improve at all.
What I meant is that Kiriel knows you, she knows who you are, what you are capable of, how hard-headed you can be, she has seen you swing at a slug that Crunch killed in one swing, she knows you can be moody, etc. She knows you, you were part of her group before. As you said, your ranks are available and the black belt is visible. Yet, she did ask you to join her group. Get that through your head! She knows you and asked you to join. When I say "assume the best intentions from people," that's what I mean. She knows you and still want you in her group. Give her the credit that she deserves, perhaps she knows that you should join?
When I say "stop being your biggest critic" I mean that you are the one putting obstacles in your path so that you fall on your face. You won't accept the invitation because of what you think of yourself, then you hate not being in the group.
The last part is easy to understand. Don't get in the group thinking you should be as strong as Crunch or as though as Mike, but be as good as Jeanne! Find your niche, make yourself as useful as you can, without being too much of a burden. That way you can learn what you need to learn and experience things and grow. The only absolute is that if you don't join, then you will *never* learn anything. What you need to learn is more than what ranks give you, it's tactics, how things work, how the group interact together. A group like that, meeting regularly, becomes more than the sum of its skills, and that's a rare thing to be asked to join. Don't pass it on.
(Anonymous)
5th test
I blame rank degradation.
Either our ranks are not as effective as they were as time goes on or the beasts are continually getting stronger (like young sasquatch). Maybe it's just me realizing this, but it feels like DT is dangling carrots in front of people and discretely pulling them away.
As for fighting. I recommend this order for the 5th test: Banshee, beetle, blood wyrm. And.. don't chase the beetle, it will circle around to you, use that time to troilus. Keep the wyrm for last on the opposing side of the SW barricade.
Re: 5th test
It's just that when I asked people how much Atkus it takes to pass the 5th circle test people would tell me 250 Atkus but I couldn't hit the Banshee at all until I got the extra 50 ranks and even now it's better for me to wait for it to swing once to reliably hit it. This has led me to say often in frustration that I can't hit something even when I thought I had enough Atkus to be able to based on what everyone was telling me. Now at 300 Atkus I can hit stuff like Young Sasquatches and Olive Tokhans and the Banshee that I thought I should have been able to at 250 Atkus and for a long time it was really frustrating. Now it's just a thorn in my side because I know I'll have to train more in Atkus in the future and then balance to recover my swings. Even though I'll eventually get a Bloodblade I don't want to have to use it to hit most of the beasts in an area and because one can't use the Bloodblade in all situations so real Atkus is far better.
As for fighting. I recommend this order for the 5th test: Banshee, beetle, blood wyrm. And.. don't chase the beetle, it will circle around to you, use that time to troilus. Keep the wyrm for last on the opposing side of the SW barricade.
Right now I'm trying to stand still with the Bansee because I think I am getting close to enough Detha to be able to brick most of its attacks. Last time I got the Beetle to yellow before I fell because it hits me for a lot of damage and I missed a few times. Next time I'm going to try to swing at it twice and then run away rather than trying to brick it so I may have a better luck killing it before it has too many chances to swing back. I just hope the Blood Wyrm will stay far away so I can do this so then I'll use the hit and run tactics on that.
I think I'll post the visionstone to show you what I mean.
Thanks for the comment.