sanguineFenrir

I am posting to show my continued support for the FC. As I said in my earlier message, the only thing that's stopping me from joining outright is that the FC is on a different server. I already have one LS here on Balmung that I would like to do some things with, but I would still like to help you out with the fellowship. I still don't have an FC yet, although I admittedly haven't done any browsing. I'm well aware I could simply create an alt, but I'm doubtful that I have any applicable character concepts besides this one. As someone who wishes to level all the classes and disciplines, I'm not sure I have the stomach to do it twice. I might simply wait until launch and test the waters of both servers, though. I wish that some form of cross-server communication existed.

Kevaraan attempted to make another attempt at a partial, tooth-concealing smile: a gesture that obviously did not come easily to him. The metal ring in his lower lip followed the curve of his mouth before he spoke again. "I enjoy the night myself, but by the looks of me, that shouldn't come as much of a surprise. Though I suppose that my body's internal clock is disturbed due to all the traveling I do. Or did. So, I might as well go try to lie down soon." His tone contained a hint of unease, or past annoyance, although it didn't seem to be directed at the bard. "Before you depart, can I ask you something? Have you ever considered playing at Mih Ketto's amphitheatre, here in the city? It's been a while since I've seen one, but they have had festivals in the past there, of varying sizes. It's also a nice place to think when one seeks quiet... or a muse. The birds make for a pleasant accompaniment most of the time.

Kevaraan looked about before replying to Felix. His voice was neither rich nor tinny, but it had a slight accent (reminiscent of Britain)... one that would give off the air of one cultured and well-mannered. His voice might prove to be mildly disconcerting if those observing expected a sound more aligned with his race; his speech was precise like cut glass, lacking the hissing sound some Miqo'te were known for. "Oh, no. Your music was the reason I bothered to stop in this tavern at all. It was quite relaxing, and I suppose I'm in need of such things. I have no musical aptitude myself." He extended a long-fingered hand, nodding. "My name is Kevaraan, by the way. Felix; did I hear that right?"

The image AFriendOfAFriend linked is now my desktop background. And I'd also like to see Ronso, perhaps more so than werewolves... especially considering the events of X and its sequel. On topic: I did not know that the Elezen aren't Eorzean natives. Having different continents or regions does open up a lot of potential for immigration, although I do wonder how new races would be handled--everyone would have to level a new character if they wished to play a new race, because there is no "race change."

The brawl caught Kevaraan's eye, and he felt some primal instinct flare up in the back of his mind, frantically calling for him to vacate the tavern. The vast majority of patrons did not turn an eye; soon, he saw it was over before it had had a chance to escalate. He watched the Highlander's large frame pass between the door and meld with the falling night. Soon after, a clatter of porcelain was heard, and Kevaraan looked down to see the barmaid frantically cleaning up a spill, racing against the spreading liquid. He moved over to her and knelt down, attempting to help the girl soak up the beverage with a spare linen cloth from a nearby table. His eyes carefully inspected the wood, in case the mug had chipped or shattered.

Yes, I have a slim PS3 that's about 2 years old. I haven't really used it too much, so it should be in good condition, and I also just bought a new controller (my old one mysteriously stopped functioning after beta 3.) I'd like to get a PS4, if I get lucky; I may get the PS4 version if circumstances permit. There have been mixed opinions on the PS3 graphics, but, all things considered, they look fine to me. I also have a nice bluetooth keyboard, so I won't be missing out on roleplay. I was very surprised at how fluid the controls are while using a gamepad. When I run games I usually turn things like shadows and view distances down, but I turn particles and textures up so things are still presentable. I'd probably get better performance if I were to install Windows, but I'd rather not do so for just one game. I'm counting the days and hours until beta...

When the barmaid brought Felix his refill, Kevaraan politely called her over before she could return to the bar, and asked for the same type of drink. He gently plunked a few coins into her free hand, about twice the cost of the drink, and quietly murmured something about keeping the tip. She gazed at him skeptically, as if unsure what to think of the gesture. His face remained straight, and eventually she nodded and smiled. Kevaraan pressed the mug to his lips, watching the performers in his peripheral vision. The drink was fresh, slightly floral, although he supposed they must have put less honey and more lemon juice in his serving. He had to grin from under the mug at the bard's suggestion of relaxing music; he liked this a fair bit better. The man was thoughtful. I wish they played this sort of music at the Amphitheatre, he thought. Taking small sips from the juice, Kevaraan continued to watch the group. Once or twice, he caught his gaze straying to the Highlander, but he never let it linger long, remaining silent.

I wish my results came close to that. I'm not going to be playing on a PC because my computer does not run Windows, but I downloaded the character benchmark anyway, just so I could have something to hold me over until beta. (Yes, I'm desperate.) I had to run the game in a virtual machine, and when I played the third beta, it was alright. I think the shadows are a huge influence on framerate, even when turned down: I was disappointed that there was no way to totally disable all of them. Unfortunately for me, the benchmark seemed to be a lot choppier, even in the creator, and actually running it was even worse. It was only marginally better than a slideshow, and the virtual machine practically choked on all the particles. It helped me cement once and for all that I'd be buying the PS3 version. But, enough of my wallowing. Congratulations on your score--I bet the game is extremely smooth.

Kevaraan closed his eyes as the next song started. He began to lapse into a sort of meditative state, blocking out the intermingled tavern speech. The wooden table-drumming provided a quiet accent to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat; he let his mind go wild with images and color as the song continued. When the bard offered up a name, Kevaraan snapped awake. His eyes narrowed as they readjusted to the light, and he shook his head in an attempt to regain the bearings that briefly had melted away. Knowing that any attempt at smiling would be both odd and hard to discern, he simply broke into measured applause. Not too fast, nor too slow--loud enough to be heard, but certainly not enough to incite the rest of the patrons.

Welcome to the forums! That's an interesting name, and it does seem to fit the lore quite well. I am eagerly anticipating playing an arcanist as well, which is yet another reason to look forward to the beta.

Kevaraan paced down the Gridanian streets, stray leaves crisply punctuating the measured fall of his boots. He knew it was far, far too early to sleep, but could not settle: insomnia had been his nightly company since the Calamity, and today he could tell the first inklings of it were coming early and holding fast. Knowing this, he began his nightly walk early, hoping the sunset would soothe his mind with its array of autumnal colors. Were it not for the faint, airy notes of the panpipe, Kevaraan wouldn't have stopped at the door. No, taverns weren't his place: the drinks were distasteful in more than one sense, and the chatter made it hard to focus. But, upon hearing the music, he was compelled to crane his neck around the doorway. He saw at least two Miqo'te, and one of them was dancing. The rest of the place, though reasonably populated, didn't seem near as lively. Slowly, he walked into the tavern, making an attempt at subtlety. Perhaps the music, or the unintelligible lull of conversation, would drag him back to the fringe of fatigue. Kevaraan leaned against the wall and noticed that he was quite taller than either of the two females near the panpipe player; he stood at about five feet and nine inches, tall for his kind. He wore a long brown jacket with a vest and pants to match, likely purchased from a leatherworking shop in the city. He made some attempts at sweeping his long, dark hair away from his face while he watched the group, his pale green eyes scanning the rest of the bar. As the song continued, he tried to smile, but the resultant expression was little more than a vague twitching-up of the corners of his mouth.

Kevaraan's diet while in Gridania is generally inexpensive, but still nutritious: Breakfast: A slice of thick bread (think French) with butter or fruit spread; a random fruit, generally whatever the inn has on hand; strong herbal tea with one cube of sugar and hibiscus. Lunch: Anything on the inn's menu, but NOT the eel pie ("Whenever I think of it, my mouth starts to feel slimy..."). He commonly enjoys soups, but if in the field and unable to go back for whatever reason, he'll pack enough to make a simple sandwich. It's rather bland because he still needs to learn to cook. Dinner: Typically another inn menu item that's more substantial than lunch: roast, ribs or fish with an appropriate side dish or two... perhaps potatoes or a vegetable medley. Typically has another mug of tea before going to sleep. Other: Carries nuts and dried fruits while in the field. Never drinks alcohol, and won't touch street food of his own volition, but he might try if he's pressured or there are no other options.

I'd be interested in wolf-like beastmen, and Fenrir as well. While I enjoy the Mi'qote, I'd be more interested in playing a lycanthrope. I'm surprised there may have been documented cases in this world, and I'm almost tempted to go research it.

I'd like to comment on FC's and Skype: I'm used to seeing IC recruitment as well, though I've seen both. I've joined several RP guilds on an OOC first basis, because that was how they operated. (i.e., they were game first, RP later.) But, once I was invited to the guild, the other members would presume to already know my character and things about them (even without me telling them while in character.) It was very mild and never referenced anything specific to my character's backstory, but I always felt off-kilter whenever a guild tried to do that, as I don't play characters that are well-known or overly open. It was very difficult for me to interact with them because of the stylistic difference. As you can tell by my user info, I already have one LS, which seems like it will be a small group. That's good, and I expect to have more LS's for different purposes. However, I'd really like to find an FC that isn't too large and fits my character, and build up a good foundation with them on IC (and perhaps OOC) levels. I have seen Skype RP referenced multiple times and I believe Gerik has a thread with the details. A general RP chat does sound like it could be entertaining, but I'm not sure how well I would mesh with the group, particularly an established one. (I bring Skype up because I'm pining for the game a bit, and tend to laze in front of my computer rather than playing my PS3 as I had intended.)

My experience with FFXI amounts to trying out the free trial about a week ago (and it didn't run that well to boot), but I've always had an interest in multiple worlds and such. If we're given more lore on this, I can see myself trying to figure out ways to weave it subtly into my character(s)' backstories. It wouldn't be anything too blatant, but it might help give explanation to a few events, and perhaps future backstory for possible alts. The Vana'diel aspect does open up a lot of potential for ex-FFXI players, as I've seen quite a few that recreated their old characters in the new game.

While I don't assign themes to any of my characters, I do enjoy listening to Cohen's Scherzo sometimes, when I need to get into the correct state of mind. There are other songs as well, but this one is the first I thought of. Pairbond, below, also does a good job of summarizing Kevaraan's relationship in more than one way. in terms of lyrical music, this cover of Losing My Religion fits well, although I don't listen much to the actual band. Finally, here's another song I've been listening to a lot while waiting for release: IE1OPUE4e3I fYW9GVDb4Pk qUIhmy-HvcA qnn_UKKNv5c

My mouse seems to be acting up and posted a duplicate of this response. Please disregard.

Kevaraan has a rack of eyebrow rings and a lip ring, which were "done" by an acquaintance of his, and which he was initially wary of. As I've mentioned in a different thread, his name is vaguely European/Nordic. In past games, or just within custom fictional lore, the race from which Kevaraan is from borrows its flavor from both animal behavior and indigenous cultures, although there is nothing too specific. I have another character whose upbringing was very Spartan (and some might argue that it was even more severe.) In A Realm Reborn, Kevaraan is merely himself--which is part of the reason why he and his family were written to have been influenced by numerous different cultures. My other half once was working on a novel that shared some similarities with Orson Scott Card's work, particularly Ender's Game. Much of her driving creative force in general came from the Final Fantasy series itself, or at least the older ones. We enjoy thinking about various scenarios from television shows and such, but I don't think either of us would ever go so far as to write something that borrowed too heavily from that.

My (or my character's, however you wish to look at it) name has a very long tradition of being used in almost any game, MMO or not. The actual correct form of it is "Kain Annorek", but I'd like to avoid being associated with Kain Highwind, Kain of Nosgoth, or such, which this particular instance has nothing to do with. I've been "known" as that before I ever had any knowledge of FFIV. That game aside, the name has a number of apt symbolic connotations, so it stuck. Kevaraan (or Kevarån) was devised as a vaguely Nordic or Baltic-sounding equivalent of that, in sound only. Its only purpose was to get around the name filter in Warcraft, as "Kain" tends to be quite popular--special characters included. I use the original form whenever I can, but the other name has its own vaguely indigenous sound, so I use it for RP and other such works. "Annorek" was a random attempt at devising a surname, and that's so long ago I can't even tell you when. It also stuck, and appears quite often as well in some works I'm affiliated with. To say anything more would likely be very confusing, and this reply would turn into a very long story... I've studied the naming conventions, and both Mi'qote clans are interesting in that regard, but if there's one thing I must keep, it is this name.

Welcome to the community, Hyrist. I quite enjoyed your written exploration of the intro imagery above, and it's an accurate summation of what roleplaying is. (I wonder how any given character would feel if they knew about roleplay and the games it takes place in.) Eric sounds like a character my own might get along with quite well. I hope to see you around Balmung, and I'll do my best along with the rest of the community to welcome you here. I'm relatively new myself, but would be glad to help with anything you might need.

Yes, I did receive a Windows key earlier today (I accidentally submitted my first application on the European site, and that one got picked for phase 3, so I reapplied as directed.) I imagine the purpose of sending out the keys early is to allow people to input them early, which may reduce the load on the registration servers. (The Windows keys in the email are only valid until the 30th, and after that, anyone who has not registered must reapply when beta starts.) Only the people that indicated interest in the Windows version (or both versions) are getting keys. Those that marked both platforms get a Windows key with a notification that the PS3 key will be mailed at a later date. Those who only asked for PS3 keys, as opposed to Windows, just get an email telling them that a key will be coming soon.

I would have posted earlier, but this took me three days to do, on and off. I can't get the spoiler tags to work--the first spoiler is 1-15 and the second is 16-100.)

That's really great to hear! Leveling each of the classes is a significant draw for me, and I've plenty of time to spend in Eorzea, so when the linkshell has developed, I will probably fill the role of whatever is needed for specific runs. I actually am very comfortable with the combat engine, and with having a smaller pool of abilities, so I may not have any of the issues I did in previous games. In order of confidence, I'd rate myself as a healer, then a DPS of either type, then a tank. I have heard that tanking requires more attention when it comes to maintaining threat. That may make it a weakness for me because the thing I have the most trouble with is switching targets quickly (I use a PS3.) However, that may even out with continued practice, considering I'm better with the controller than the mouse and keyboard. I'm also assuming the group is not going to place much of an emphasis on voice chat, seeing as we may be grouping with players outside the linkshell. This is fine with me, as I'd prefer not to use it.

I'd be interested in having a stable group to run dungeons with, as some random groups tend to rush or have less-than-agreeable temperaments. I'd be happy to help anyone who needs it, as well. It is nice--and an interesting approach--to be able to roleplay in dungeons a bit, even if they do repeat. I've seen the "madness/dream" idea proposed in other games when discussing randoms in a roleplay context. If you'd have me, I would happily join your group. Seeing how my character is, I'll probably be performing a variety of roles, but I enjoy healing and will see if I can get the systems to work with my setup.