Level Up - Part 28: The End of 2018

Shifting lanes in 2019. Goals here, both in WoW and real life.

Level Up - Part 27: Baked Chicken Pesto

FFXIV – Part 122: Curious Gorge Fights the Inner Beast

Summary: A roegadyn spreads his village’s warrior teachings and grapples with its downsides and legacy.

Level Up - Part 26: New Year on the Horizon

FFXIV – Part 121: The Mountain [Marauder 1-30]

Summary: The marauder (level 1-30) story. Kujata the Mountain. The 2018 Halloween event.

Level Up - Part 25: Eastern Plaguelands

FFXIII – Part 24: Lord of the Fal’Cie

Summary: Primarch Dysley uncloaked. Barthandelus. The l’Cie Focus and an unlikely supporter.

FFXIII – Part 23: The Gang’s All Here

Summary: The full party reunites aboard the Palamecia and pushes towards the bridge. Choosing members for my core party.

Level Up - Part 24: The Val'Kyr

Level Up - Part 23: Fish Out of Water

FFXIII – Part 22: Jailbreak

Summary: Vanille’s memory. The free l’Cie lead an assault on the Palamecia. Chocobo goes for the eyes.

Level Up - Part 22: Anja's Chicken Chili

TW: weight, food.

Long post today. Most won't be this long as I know it's not sustainable, but lots going on today.

Level Up - Part 21: Winter Goals

TW: food, calories.

Level Up - Part 20: Sustain

FFXIII – Part 21: Enough

Summary: Brynhildr. One of the series’ more brutal encounters as Sazh confronts Vanille.

TW: Discussion and imagery of suicide.

Level Up - Parts 17/18: Pacing

TW: food

FFXIII – Part 20: City of Nightmares

Summary: Sazh and Vanille in Nautilus. Chocobo makes friends. Dajh and Sazh reunite briefly. Nabaat’s sadistic streak.

Level Up - Part 16: Barbecued Chicken Thighs

Level Up - Part 15: Celeste (2/?)

FFXIII – Part 19: Assault on Precinct Estheim

Summary: Party bonding and planning at Hope’s house. Rosch leads a raid. The Cavalry counterattacks.

Level Up - Part 14: Celeste (1/?)

Spoiler warning: I discuss the plot and themes from the game "Celeste."

FFXIII – Part 18: You’ll Be Okay

Summary: The good ship Vangille sets sail. Fang supports Lightning. Lightning and Snow support Hope. Arriving at Hope’s home.

Level Up - Part 13: Learning Moment

Level Up - Part 12: Plan

Three-day meal planning.

FFXIII – Part 17: The Weight of Vengeance

Summary: Evading Rosch in Palumpolum. Fang and Lightning, Snow and Hope. Operation Nora comes to a head.

Level Up - Part 11: Cook Whatever

Level Up - Part 10: How to Fall Down

TW: shame around eating

Level Up - Part 9: Future is Present

FFXIII – Part 16: What’s in a Name?

Summary: Finishing the Sunleth Waterscape. Palumpolum. Lightning’s dangerous footsteps. Rosch. Snow and Fang to the rescue.

Level Up - Part 8: Weekends

TW: food, overeating.

Level Up - Part 7: Laura's Salsa Chicken

Level Up - Part 6: The Spirit of Non-Competition

Level Up - Part 5: Chipotle

TW: food

Level Up - Part 4: Fury

Level Up - Part 3: Warrior

TW: food

FFXIII – Part 15: Father and Son

Summary: The Sunleth Waterscape. The rough fate of Dajh.

Level Up - Part 2: Infrastructure

Level Up - Part 1: Reset

I've been away visiting family for the past week. I've rethought this project a bit. Readjusting.

FFXIII – Part 14: Worst Birthday Ever

Summary: Gapra Whitewood. Cavalry. Cid Raines. Hope’s Operation Nora.

FFXIII – Part 13: Horsing Around

Summary: Odin. Sazh and Vanille traverse the Vile Peaks. Snow meets Cid. A brief breakup with Serah on Day 7.

Leveling Up - Continued (Level 2)

Continuing with level 2.


TW: food, weight.

Leveling Up - On The Present (Level 2)

FFXIII – Part 12: The Omni-kit

Summary: The party moves through the Vile Peaks. Dreadnaught. Diving into the item upgrade system.

Leveling Up - Protein Shake (Level 1)

TW: food

Leveling Up - Character Creation

A new project.

TW: Weight, fitness.

FFXIII – Part 11: Volunteers

Summary: More details on Day 11. Lightning on Day 13.

TW: brief mention of Holocaust.

FFXIII – Part 10: Snow Tires

Summary: Eidolons join Snow. A Mysterious Woman captures him. Sazh flies the rest away from Sanctum forces. Debuff review.

FFXIII – Part 9: Gates of Antiquity

Summary: Snow stays behind. The rest push through Lake Bresha to an ancient city. Garuda Interceptor.

FFXIII – Part 8: Getting to Know You

Summary: Learning more about the characters of XIII, along with some terrible theorizing.

FFXIII – Part 7: Paradigm Shift

Summary: Initial exploration of the paradigm and crystarium systems.

FFXIII – Part 6: l’Cie You On the Other Side

Summary: Anima. The party undergoes a transformation. Snow and Serah. Lake Bresha. Paradigms.

FFXIII – Part 5: Crystal Sister

Summary: The party members converge on Serah, who fulfills her Focus.

FFXIII – Part 4: Collision Course

Summary: Sazh and Lightning, Hope and Vanille, and Snow journey through the Vestige.

FFXIII – Part 3: Bad Day at Hanging Edge

Summary: NORA suffers a brutal defeat. Snow, Gadot, Lebreau. Vanille and Hope. The Vestige.

FFXIII – Part 2: Fog of War

Summary: Combat basics. Sazh and Lightning move through the Hanging Edge. Meeting Snow, Yuj, and NORA.

Note: I’m taking this slow. Reading tutorials, datalog lore, and getting used to everything. I apologize to anyone hoping for a faster pace. I may speed up at some point when I’m more comfortable.

FFXIII – Part 1: Fast as Lightning

Summary: A new game begins! Meeting Sazh and Lightning. Escaping a train into a city at war. Manasvin Warmech. Exploring early menus.

FFXIV – Part 120: Scion Sign-Off

Summary: Some brief thoughts on XIV before I start XIII, along with future plans in XIV.

Note: due to the sheer number of stories and characters in XIV, I’ll only touch on a few highlights per category. Apologies to characters, stories, and mechanics I don’t address. 

 

Spoilers inside through patch 4.4.

FFXIV – Part 119: Vivi

Summary: The Heavensward Hildibrand quests. An all-time Final Fantasy great gets his own XIV story.

FFXIV – Part 118: Warring Triad

Summary: Three ancient eikons awaken in the Containment Bay of Azys Lla. Unukalhai. Regula van Hydrus’s conviction.

FFXIV – Part 117: Prelude in Violet

Summary: The end of patch 4.4. An old character’s return brings one of the game’s biggest mindfucks.

FFXIV – Part 116: Nhaama’s Strength

Summary: Start of patch 4.4 main story quests. Following Alphinaud to the Burn. Return to the Steppe.

FFXIV – Part 115: Under the Moonlight

Summary: The conclusion of patch 4.3. The tragic end of Yotsuyu. Alphinaud’s journey north.

FFXIV – Part 114: Tsuyu

Summary: Beginning the patch 4.3 main story quest. Yotsuyu’s new identity falters thanks to Asahi, the worst human alive.

FFXIV – Part 113: The Faerie Queen

Summary: Dun Scaith, the final Heavensward raid. Deathgaze, Ferdiad, Queen Scathach, Diabolos. Sky pirates victorious.

FFXIV – Part 112: Shadows of Mhach

Summary: Sky pirate rivals explore ancient Mhachian ruins. The first two 24-player Heavensward raids. Diabolos. Cait Sith. Ozma!

Note: I completed the first quest, “Sky Pirates,” way back in part 66. Everything after that, starting with the Void Ark raid itself, is new.
http://coldrungaming.blogspot.com/2018/06/ffxiv-p...

FFXIV – Part 111: The Final Coil of Bahamut

Summary: The conclusion to the Bahamut raid. Phoenix and Bahamut Prime. Alisaie and Louisoix find peace.

FFXIV – Part 110: Ruins of Dalamud

Summary: The first two wings of the Bahamut 8-player raid. Louisoix and Nael van Darnus.

FFXIV – Part 109: World of Darkness

Summary: The final wing of the Crystal Tower raid. Angra Mainyu, Five-Headed Dragon, Cerberus, and the Cloud of Darkness. The Allagans complete their mission.

FFXIV – Part 108: Crystal Tower

Summary: The first two wings in the FFIII-themed Crystal Tower raid. Labyrinth of the Ancients, Syrcus Tower. G’raha Tia. Unei and Doga.

FFXIV – Part 107: Alpha and Omega

Summary: Omega-M and Omega-F. The conclusion to Stormblood’s Omega raids. Alpha’s future with a new friend.

FFXIV – Part 106: Alphascape

Summary: The final two bosses of Omega’s tournament, Chaos from FFI and Midgardsormr. Cid’s past returns.

FFXIV – Part 105: Sigmascape

Summary: The next Omega raid wing. An FFVI theme: Phantom Train, Chadarnook, Guardian, Kefka. Nero’s growth. Midgardsormr’s sacrifice.

FFXIV – Part 104: Deltascape

Summary: The alien hardware of Omega. Alpha the chocobo. An FFV-themed raid: Alte Roite, Catastrophe, Halicarnassus, Exdeath.

FFXIV – Part 103: Slow Burn

Summary: Helping the third Lord, Suzaku the firebird, come to terms with the loss of her beloved Tenzen. “Savage” mode.

FFXIV – Part 102: Elderly Mutant Ninja Turtles

Summary: Calming Byakko. Soroban gets a taste of his future.

FFXIV – Part 101: Small Cuddly Gods

Summary: Temple of the Fist. Kugane Castle and Yojimbo. Hells’ Lid and the animal auspices.

FFXIV – Part 100: The Ridorana Lighthouse

Summary: The next 24-player raid in XIV’s ongoing Ivalice story. Famfrit, Belias, Construct 7, and Yiazmat. Ramza’s change.

FFXIV – Part 99: The Legacy of Orran Durai

Summary: The true identity of Ramza and Alma’s family. Montblanc and Hurdy. Ba’Gamnan recast as tragic, fallen hero. Towards the Ridorana Lighthouse.

FFXIV – Part 98: The Royal City of Rabanastre

Summary: Ramza and Alma search for their missing father in imperial-held Dalmasca. My first 24-player raid.

Taking a break from the main story as I gear up to explore some of the side raids and dungeons.

FFXIV – Part 97: Rise of a New Sun

Summary: Asahi, imperial ambassador. Amnesiac Yotsuyu. The conclusion of patch 4.2.

FFXIV – Part 96: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

FFXIV – Part 95: The Legend Returns

Summary: Completing patch 4.1. Lakshmi’s return. Fordola the protector. Raubahn changes jobs. Wanderer’s Palace.

FFXIV – Part 94: The Sultana’s Path

Summary: Beginning patch 4.1 content. Fordola the prisoner. The Sultana of Ul’dah revisits her past and plans a path forward.

FFXIV – Part 93: Savages

Summary: King Theodoric’s treasure hoard. Fordola’s origins and choices.

TW: mention of rape

FFXIV – Part 92: Children of Lilith [Red Mage, 60-70]

Summary: The origin of Arya’s power. The Nightkin. Lilith.

FFXIV – Part 91: Stormblood

Summary: Zenos and Shinryu go down. Ala Mhigo’s liberation. The end of the main (pre-patch) Stormblood story.

TW: suicide

FFXIV – Part 90: Ala Mhigo

Summary: The Alliance leads a direct assault on Zenos’ castle.

FFXIV – Part 89: Liberty or Death

Summary: Attack on Specula Imperatoris and Castrum Abania.

FFXIV – Part 88: Lady of Bliss

Summary: Lakshmi the primal. Fordola gets an upgrade. Setting up in the Peaks.

FFXIV – Part 87: While You Were Away

Summary: Shifting from Doma back to Gyr Abania. Attack on Castellum Velodyna. The Ananta summon their primal.

 

FFXIV – Part 86: Have Fun Storming the Castle

Summary: The attack on Doma Castle. Yotsuyu’s backstory. Gosetsu, hero of his nation.

TW: child abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault.

FFTA2 – Part 21: Closing the Book

Summary: Some brief final thoughts on Final Fantasy Tactics A2.

FFTA2 – Part 20: Storybook Ending

Summary: Al-Cid. Vaan and Penelo join. Defeating Illua and the Neukhia. Luso returns home. Mr. Randall. The end of FFTA2.

FFTA2 – Part 19: Bring Me To Life

Summary: Fauxn and Fakenelo. Swordmaster Frimelda’s revival. Ghi’s sacrifice. The Gifted Adelle.

FFXIV – Part 85: Gearing Up

Summary: Departing the Azim Steppe. Planning the attack on Doma. A glimpse of Yotsuyu’s past.

[Note: I accidentally deleted my screenshots from quests before “The Room Where It Happened,” so I retook those screenshots after the fact from a YouTube video of the quests.

FFXIV – Part 84: Royal Rumble

Summary: The Nadaam, a battle royale to determine leadership of the Azim Steppe. The Xaela first confront the Empire.

FFXIV – Part 83: Might As Well Be Children of the Sun

Summary: Bardam’s Mettle. Xaela tribes, politics, cosmology. Children of Sun and Moon. The Oronir and the Dotharl.

FFTA2 – Part 18: Solitude

Summary: Adelle’s brutal path. I rage at Luso. The tragedy of Frimelda.

FFXIV – Part 82: Steppe Up

Summary: Lord Hien. Exploring the Azim Steppe and meeting its Xaela tribes. The “Shisui of the Violet Tides” underwater dungeon. Blue Kojin beast tribe.

FFXIV – Part 81: The Time Between Seconds

Summary: Yugiri attempts to take out Zenos. It goes better than planned, but not as expected. Omega and Shinryu on the horizon.

FFTA2 – Part 17: Grimoire of the Rift

Summary: Illua. The Neukhia. The power in Luso’s journal. A nu mou friend from FFTA. Unlocking the lanista and ravager jobs.

FFXIV – Part 80: The Will to Live

Summary: Yugiri’s conviction is tested amidst a beaten and despairing Doman populace. How to deal with Crown Prince Zenos yae Galvus.

TW: State violence.
 

FFTA2 – Part 16: Framed

Summary: Taking stock of my overall progress. Khamja. Vaan and Penelo are framed. Geomancer unlock.

FFXIV – Part 79: National Trauma

Summary: Yotsuyu regroups from defeat in Isari. A closer look at post-rebellion Doma. Doman Liberation Front HQ. The casual cruelty of Zenos yae Galvus.

FFTA2 – Part 15: Ku-Pop

Summary: A moogle bard joins the party. Adelle gets a job offer. Unlocking the trickster and viking jobs.

FFXIV – Part 78: Oh! Susano

Summary: The kojin kami takes shape. Yugiri’s parents. The Confederates join the fight. Yutsuyu continues to be the worst/best.

FFTA2 – Part 14: Dreamweaver

Summary: A ghost stalks Luso’s dreams and provides a vision and path for the whole party. Brightmoon Tor. Unlocking spellblade, scholar, and seer.

FFTA2 – Part 13: Role Reversal

Summary: Vaan and Penelo pop in and send us on a treasure hunt. Unlocking the master monk and parivir jobs.

FFXIV – Part 77: The Witch of Doma

Summary: Yotsuyu, viceroy of Doma. A deal with Rasho, captain of the Confederacy. Tamamizu, home of the Blue Kojin.

FFXIV – Part 76: Catfish Hunter

Summary: The scheming Namazu (catfish), Gyodo. The helpful kojin (turtle), Soroban. Meeting the Confederacy in the Ruby Sea.

FFTA2 – Part 12: Judge Wanting

Summary: Cid’s attacker reappears. Geographic clues. Klesta goes down. Job unlocks for flintlock, raptor, cannoneer, chocobo knight.

FFXIV – Part 75: Journey to Kugane

Summary: Temporarily beaten in Ala Mhigo, we shift theaters and sail east to Kugane, near Doma. Meeting Hancock.

FFTA2 – Part 11: The Flowsand Pearl

Summary: Medicine for Cid. A seeq joins the party. Job unlocks for fighter, arcanist, fusilier. Next round of clan trials.

FFXIV – Part 74: Hunting Her Own

Summary: Viceroy Zenos yae Galvus. Fordola steps up. Attack on Rhalgr’s Reach.

FFTA2 – Part 10: The Auction House

Summary: My first clan auction. A bunch of side quests, which I’ll limit going forward (see ending note). 

FFXIV – Part 73: A Good Start

Summary: The brutal methods of the Empire. Formal cooperation between the Eorzean Alliance and the Ala Mhigan Resistance boosts morale, confidence, and recruitment.

FFTA2 – Part 9: A Growing Alliance

Summary: The Lang Brothers. Assassin job unlock. Klesta revisited. Luso the lover, Luso the NPC.

FFXIV – Part 72: Into the Breach

Summary: The beginning of Stormblood, the most recent expansion. Beyond the Wall. The Ala Mhigan Resistance. Lyse’s hometown.

FFTA2 – Part 8: Off to See the Wizard

Summary: My first dispatch. Lezaford the mage.

FFXIV – Part 71: The Far Edge of Fate

Summary: Gosetsu the samurai. Ilberd's primal breaks free. Nero helps out. Shinryu vs. Omega. Yda’s nature. The end of Heavensward.
 

FFTA2 – Part 7: The Cat

Summary: Adelle joins. House Bowen vs. Klesta. The tragedy of Swordmaiden Friese. Obliterated by the Red King.

FFTA2 – Part 6: Adelle

Summary: Beastmaster unlock. Camoa/Targ side quests. Rogue tomatoes. Meeting a new thief.

FFXIV – Part 70: Dancing With Myself [Dark Knight, 30-50: part 2/2]

 Summary: Fray’s rage, nature, and identity. The end of the 30-50 dark knight storyline.



"When there’s no one else in sight,
In the crowded lonely night,
Well I wait for so long with my love vibration
And I’m dancing with myself.”

FFXIV – Part 69: The Voice in the Abyss [Dark Knight, 30-50]

Summary: The mysterious dark knight, Fray, takes Ququshu as a student. Strange voices, strange screams, strange justice.

TW: sexual assault

FFTA2 – Part 5: Camoa

Summary: Completing the first tier of clan trials. Camoa side quests.

FFXIV – Part 68: War of the Magi [Red Mage 50-60]

Summary: Arya joins the team. Facing off against the cabal leader, Lambard. X’rhun’s closure.

FFXIV – Part 67: The Crimson Duelist [Red Mage 50-60]

Summary: A wandering Ala Mhigan duelist trains Ququshu as a red mage. An Imperial cabal. A girl has a name: Arya.

FFTA2 – Part 4: On Trial

Summary: Doctor Ocktor. Dragoon unlock. Meeting Ribs in Camoa. Starting clan trials.

FFXIV – Part 66: The Hazards of Love

Summary: The tragic, terrifying, and at times touching conclusion to the love story of Edda and Avere. A new sky pirate raid.

FFXIV – Part 65: Love and Kupo Nuts

Summary: A seasonal event hits the Gold Saucer. Matchmaking the moogles.

FFXIV – Part 64: The Griffin Soars

Summary: The Griffin victorious. His plan for war between the Empire and the Alliance. A great summoning. Papalymo’s sacrifice.

FFTA2 – Part 3: Circle of Protection: Green

Summary: Clearing a path out of the Targ Wood. Unlocking the green mage. Side questing around.

FFXIV – Part 63: One Life for One World

Summary: Urianger’s plan. The Warriors of Darkness find hope and rest. Minfilia gets a new mission. The Griffin and Ascians.

FFXIV – Part 62: Sullied Hands

Summary: A growing Resistance in Little Ala Mhigo. The False Griffin.

FF Tactics A2 – Part 2: Clan Gully

Summary: Exploring basic mechanics and the job system. Luso begins the long journey home.

FFXIV – Part 61: Titanic Grief

Summary: The consequences of world events hit a small kobold child. One of XIV’s most powerful stories thus far. Urianger’s betrayal lurks.

FFXIV – Part 60: The Unbearable Lightness

Summary: Preventing Garuda’s resummoning. The Warriors of Darkness share their origins and reasons.

FF Tactics A2 – Part 1: School’s Out For Summer

Summary: Starting a new game! Luso’s summer vacation takes a wrong turn. Into Ivalice. Cid.

FFXII Revenant Wings – Part 22: Flying Away

Summary: Some brief final thoughts on FFXII: Revenant Wings.

FFXII Revenant Wings – Part 21: Revenant Wings

Summary: The final battle against Feolthanos. The end of the Yarhi. Llyud takes leadership. The rest return to Ivalice.

FFXII Revenant Wings – Part 20: Bridge to Feolthanos

Summary: Zodiark. An old friend on a big bridge. Vaan’s leadership. Approaching the final boss.

FFXII Revenant Wings – Part 19: Forgotten Time

Summary: Into Feolthanos’ Keep. His memories and motivations. The final auralith.

FFXII Revenant Wings – Part 18: Darkening Clouds

Summary: Finishing up the last notice board missions before Keep of Forgotten Time. Crafting books. Zalera, Famfrit.

FFXII Revenant Wings – Part 17: A Moment’s Peace

Summary: Post-chapter 8 notice board missions. Cu Sith’s smithing. Rikken’s crew turns up. So does Ba’Gamnan’s. The aegyl attack Rabanastre.

FFXII Revenant Wings – Part 16: Esper Inspector

Summary: Reviewing my party member and esper abilities. A long session, but I wanted to get this out of the way all at once.

FFXII Revenant Wings – Part 15: Daughters of Feolthanos

Summary: The home of the Exiled in a familiar volcano. Mydia/Judge of Wings backstory. By far the most brutal fight in RW.

FFXII Revenant Wings – Part 14: Back to Ivalice

Summary:Ashe and Basch join. We explore the Judge of Wings’ backtrail and her impact on Ivalice.

FFXIV – Part 59: Coda

Summary: The battle against Nidhogg. The end of the Dragonsong War. The Warriors of Darkness loom.

FFXII Revenant Wings – Part 13: When Aegyl Attack

Summary: Aegyl with anima. Background on the aegyl and Occuria. Shemhazai and Exodus.

FFXII Revenant Wings – Part 12: World of Illusions

Summary: Chapter 7, part 1. Velis guides us through the world of the Yarhi. Feolthanos’ plan. Penelo and Vaan are beyond adorable.

FFXII Revenant Wings – Part 11: Shoot from the Hip

Summary: Fran joins. Ba’Gamnan resurfaces. The next auralith. Balthier has different plans for Lemures.

FFXIV – Part 58: Winning Over the Wyrm

Summary: Resolve to save Estinien. A plea for Hraesvelgr’s aid. Hraesvelgr tests us.

FFXII Revenant Wings – Part 10: Backtracking

Summary: Clearing past melees. Leviathan. Ultima. Hashmal. My first rank 3 pact.

FFXIV – Part 57: Earnest Dissent

Summary: Ishgardian resistance to peace with the dragons. Emmanellain screws up, tries for amends. Nidhogg returns.

FFXII Revenant Wings – Part 9: A Gift for Penelo

Summary: Stranded on a jungle island. Velis and the Judge. Velis and Penelo. Llyud doubts his nature and value.

FFXIV – Part 56: Up the Down Staircase

Summary: The Antitower. Minfilia joins with Hydaelyn. Aymeric continues the search for peace.

FFXII Revenant Wings – Part 8: The Grand Hunt

Summary: Rikken’s crew hunts treasure. Ba’Gamnan’s crew hunts Ba’Gamnan. The Judge hunts Bahamut.

FFXII Revenant Wings – Part 7: Skysea

Summary: Fighting off sky pirate colonizers. East to the skysea and Port Marilith. A friendly new pirate crew.

Brief Hiatus

I'll be away on vacation through May 13th. See you next week!

FFXIV – Part 55: Reactionaries

Summary: Ishgardian orthodoxy strikes back. Vidofnir makes an impression. Missing Scions return. The search for Minfilia.

FFXII Revenant Wings – Part 6: Judge of Wings

Summary: Sky pirates attack the first auralith. The Judge of Wings shows herself. Tomaj opens a bazaar.

FFXIV – Part 54: Mirror, Mirror

Summary: Approaching Vidofnir for peace talks. Enter Krile. The Warriors of Darkness.

FFXII Revenant Wings – Part 5: On Notice

Summary: Start of chapter 3. West to Tormaledos. Melees and Tomaj’s notice board.

FFXIV – Part 53: Knights of the Round

Summary: Thordan and his knights fall. Estinien is in trouble. The end of Heavensward’s main story and launch of patch content.

FFXII Revenant Wings – Part 4: Pacts

Summary: Delving into the Fane of Gucuma Qul. The purpose behind these sky pirates. Ba’Gamnan “joins.” The Big Bad gets a name.

FFXIV – Part 52: Dragon Sematary

Summary: The floating research station of Azys Lla. Ysayle/Lady Iceheart/Shiva falls. Warring Triad on the horizon. Tiamat’s tale.

FFXII Revenant Wings – Part 3: Ship’s Log

Summary: Exploring the primer and tutorial system.

FFXIV – Part 51: The Family Spear

Summary: The level 50-60 dragoon storyline. Training an Ishgardian dragoon, Heustienne, to face down the dragon Graoully and live up to her own high standards.

FFXII Revenant Wings – Part 2: Real Time Strategy

Summary: Fighting off Ba’gamnon. Flying to the floating continent of Lemures. Llyud the aegyl joins. Adapting (badly) to the new combat system.

FFXIV – Part 50: The Great Library

Summary: Matoya the Witch. The Great Gubal Library. Small changes in Y’shtola. Preparing to bust into Azys Lla.

FFXII Revenant Wings – Part 1: Rock Paper Scissors

Summary: Starting a new game. Treasures in the Glabados ruins. A derelict airship. Rumors of a floating continent.

FFTA – Part 18: Waking Up

Summary: Some brief final thoughts on Tactics Advance.

FFXIV – Part 49: The Way to Azys Lla

Summary: Bismarck goes down. Thordan and his Ascian friend hijack the key to Azys Lla. Finding Y’shtola. Trying out squadrons.

FFTA – Part 17: Final Fantasy

Summary: Defeating Llednar and “Queen Remedi.” The kids say goodbye to Ivalice. The end of FFTA.

FFTA – Part 16: I’ll Just Stay Here

Summary: Doned joins. Ritz can’t bring herself to say goodbye. Preparing for the home stretch.

FFXIV – Part 48: Chasing the White

Summary: Aymeric’s confrontation with the archbishop. Friendly Vanu Vanu in the Sea of Clouds. Hunting Bismarck.

FFTA – Part 15: Mewt Two

Summary: Gift Day at the palace. Queen Remedi’s temptation. The protection of Llednar Twem.

FFXIV – Part 47: Hilda

Summary: Enter the radiant revolutionary, Hilda. The Vault. Haurchefant’s fall. Easter comes to FFXIV.

FFTA – Part 14: Still Wanted

Summary: Hunter, blue mage. The Redwings. Mateus and the fifth crystal.

FFTA – Part 13: Job Applications

Summary: A little bit of random missions. Dispatch strategy. Initial thoughts on FFTA jobs.

FFTA – Part 12: Living the Dream

Summary: Marche in custody. Exodus and the fourth crystal. Cid’s awakening. “Llednar Twem.”

FFTA – Part 11: The Red-Haired Girl

Summary: Marche’s inability to play it cool. Ritz’s determination to stay in Ivalice. Mewt’s desperation.

FFTA – Part 10: Outside the Law

Summary: Adrammelech’s crystal. Babus’ duty. The terrible freedom of Jagd Dorsa.

FFTA – Part 9: The Second Crystal

Summary: Marche takes out the Ultima crystal. Brief encounters with Mewt and Ritz.

FFTA – Part 8: Antilaw Outlaw

Summary: Meeting Ezel Berbier. Learning about antilaws.

FFXIV – Part 46: Eye for an Eye

Summary: Solving the mystery of Nidhogg’s yellow eye. The archbishop makes a move. Ser Aymeric makes his own move.

FFTA – Part 7: Twisted Flow

Summary: Famfrit and the first crystal. Mewt, Cid, and Queen Remedi.

FFXIV – Part 45: The Crimson Dragoon

Summary: Assault on the Aery. Nidhogg goes down. Estinien deals the killing blow, undergoing a change. Flashback to the founding of Ishgard’s power structure.

FFTA – Part 6: Felonious Blanc

Summary: Marche wrestles with life in Ivalice. Montblanc gets a red card. First mention of this world’s crystals.

FFTA – Part 5: See You on the Other Side

Summary: Clan warfare and territoriality. Meeting a familiar face.

FFTA – Part 4: Missions of Ice and Fire

Summary: Getting the hang of FFTA party development. A slew of early missions.

FFTA – Part 3: Mission Accepted

Summary: Tutorials. Prison visit. Early missions.

FFTA – Part 2: Law and Order

Summary: The judge and law system. Clan Nutsy. A closer look at my starting party.

FFTA – Part 1: Losers’ Club

Summary: Starting Final Fantasy Tactics Advance. Meeting the kids. A modern setting. Things get meta. Cracking open an unusual book.

FFXIV – Part 44: Little Ladies

Summary: Reconciliation and a soft reset in Ul’dah as the Sultana awakens. A cute holiday event turns horrifying, tragic, ultimately bittersweet.

TW: human trafficking

FFXIV – Part 43: Listening to Nature

Summary: The level 1-30 conjurer quest line. Learning to harness nature’s power. Helping a fellow student avoid her mother’s mistakes.

FFXIV – Part 42: Moogle Diplomacy

Summary: Making friends with Dravanian moogles. Meeting Hraesvelgr.

FFT War of the Lions – Part 28: Tactical Retreat

Summary: Final thoughts on Final Fantasy Tactics.

FFXIV – Part 41: Lessons in Love

Summary: Ascending the sacred dragon mount of Sohm Al. Valentine’s Day, FFXIV-style.

FFT War of the Lions – Part 27: Ultimate End

Summary: Below Orbonne. Loffrey and Folmarv. Adrammelech and Hashmal. The High Seraph, the Blood Angel: Ultima. The end of FFT.

FFT War of the Lions – Part 26: Unfortunate Son

Summary: Dycedarg and Adrammelech. Zalbaag stands, falls, “rises,” and falls again. The end of Marcel.

FFT War of the Lions – Part 25: Death Seraph

Summary: Battle at Limberry Castle. Marquis Elmdore/Zalera. Delita’s his own team.

FFXIV – Part 40: Lord of the Hive

Summary: The primal Ravana. Palace of the Dead.

FFT War of the Lions – Part 24: Put Down Your Dukes

Summary: Beowulf and Reis. Construct B. Larg and Goltanna run into problems – or rather, problems run into them. Orlandeau joins.

FFT War of the Lions – Part 23: Considering Piracy

Summary: Delita reunion at Zeltennia Castle. Chapter 4 errands and rumors. A much different reunion in the Dorter Slums.

FFT War of the Lions – Part 22: Meliadoul

Summary: Exploring the world of chapter 4. We meet Isilud’s sibling.

FFXIV – Part 39: Here Be Dragons

Summary: The history of dragon/Elezen conflict. On the road with Lady Iceheart and Estinien. Vidofnir. The Gnath.

FFT War of the Lions – Part 21: In the Name of Love

Summary: Barrington falls. Marquis Elmdore. Marach’s brief exit. Folmarv takes Alma. End of chapter 3.

TW: sexual abuse

FFT War of the Lions – Part 20: Slaughter at Riovannes Castle

Summary: Moving to Riovannes Castle. Rapha and Marach clash. The brutal fight against Belias.

FFXIV – Part 38: Rekindling the Flame

Summary: Meeting Archbishop Thordan. Rescuing Flame General Raubahn from the Crystal Braves.

Coldrun Fitness

I won't talk about this much here, but if anyone's interested, I (re)started a site about personal fitness goals, steps, and challenges:

http://coldrunfitness.blogspot.com/

Trigger warnings absolutely apply there around food, weight, and related issues, so don't feel any pressure or obligation to visit.

That's all. Have a great day!

CR

FFT War of the Lions – Part 19: Rapha and Marach

Summary: Party of five. Ninja and onion knight. The noble Orran. Barrington’s “kids.”

TW: brief hinting at sexual assault. Maybe? I might have misread something.

FFT War of the Lions – Part 18: Will the Real Saint Ajora Please Stand Up?

Summary: Ovelia copes. Luso joins. The legend and truth of Saint Ajora.

FFXIV – Part 37: Sky Whale

Summary: The Vanu Vanu. Bismarck the primal. Lady Iceheart. Saving Tataru and Alphinaud from the Heaven’s Ward.

FFT War of the Lions – Part 17: Virgo

Summary: Orran. Alma joins briefly. Pursuing the Virgo stone beneath Orbonne Monastery. Wiegraf is consumed.

FFXIV – Part 36: Heavensward

Summary: Starting the first expansion. Exploring Ishgard. A pup-focused seasonal event.

FFT War of the Lions – Part 16: Tutored

Summary: Errands and exploration in chapter 3. Revisiting the tutorial with new context.

FFXIV – Part 35: Coup

Summary: The Monetarists take power in Ul’dah. The Scions flee into exile. The end of “A Realm Reborn.”

FFT War of the Lions – Part 15: Party Paring III – The Reckoning

Summary: Chapter 4 begins. Adjusting my party yet again.

FFXIV – Part 34: Unexpected Ambition

Summary: The defense of Ishgard. Tataru seeks a path. Suspicious happenings within the Crystal Braves. A celebratory feast begins.

FFXIV – Part 33: The Wyrm’s Roar

Summary: Rallying to Ishgard’s defense against a dragon assault. Starting the bard job.

FFT War of the Lions – Part 14: Cuchulainn Returns

Summary: A salty fight vs. Gaffgarion. Cardinal Delacroix becomes a Lucavi. Ovelia takes the throne.

FFXIV – Part 32: The Aetheric Moenbryda

Summary: Rescuing Minfilia from the Chrysalis. Moenbryda soars. Finishing the archer job.

FFT War of the Lions – Part 13: Shifting Identities

Summary: The “Princess” at the Gallows. Ovelia’s identity. A new faction. Wiegraf’s next steps.