So You Want to Join an End-game Linkshell?Follow

NOTE: this is a companion piece to this
thread.

So, you finally hit 75 and now you wish to join an end-game
linkshell? You want to finally obtain all the gear you've been
dreaming of, and you feel that one of these shells is just the
ticket. Well, look no further, because I will fill you in on all you need to know about these high profile LS.

Choosing a linkshell that's right for you

First, you must realize that there are several different kinds of
HNMLS that you can choose from. The different types and a brief description are below.

"Established" LS : These are the LS that have been
around for a while. You'll know these LS from the amount of
reshells they do at any given time. These are most often filled with every scumbag that exists on a given server, and all rmt superstars want in. They're known for their ability to kill pretty much everything. The standards for getting into these LS are stringent, so unless you are equipped like a rmt superstar, or have connections, forget about getting in.

If you do happen to get in, remember that your entire self-worth is derived from whether or not you're able to kill tiamat with less than 30 people or kill Vrtra. You must also portray your shell and all its members as the pinnacle of video game excellence. Remember, everyone wants to be like your shell and if people criticize you or your methods, then they're just jealous of your video game glory. Remember to reflect this in every post to a forum you ever make. Your shell is the archetype that all others will follow if they want to be 1337 and garner as much e-respect for their online alias as possible.


"Family" LS: These are a farce. They pretend like they foment a "family" atmosphere - free of the usual HNM drama, but they eventually cave to job demands, item greed, backstabbing, and finger pointing like every other HNM shell that has ever existed. you'll realize that this "tight-knit" feeling is quickly lost when you see that every single day you log on, there's some random new person in the shell due to job and body demands. Each new person has the potential to introduce conflict into the "happy-go-lucky" LS. Not just new people upset the balance of these shells, but long-time LS
members who become jaded also do this.

Newbie shell: This is a shell that is just starting. You'll know it when you see the shell filled to capacity with bright-eyed soft-skinned HNM virgins. These shells end up becoming a joke when they manage to constantly wipe to pop item NMs in sky, and because they can't claim fafnir but once a month, and die when they do. Members eventually become resentful to each other. After a while, some quit the game, some quit the HNM scene, and others just move on to other shells.

Laughing-stock LS: This is an LS that has done
everything imaginable to become a joke. MPK, inviting known RMT
people into their midst, massive leader corruption, LS bank robbing, claim stealing - you name it, they've done it. They'll accept pretty much anyone. Hell, they'd probably even shout for members in lower jeuno if they didn't happen to have enough bodies to throw at something hard.

JP/NA hybrid shells Every NA reject goes to one of
these shells. The leader is almost always JP, and accepts these
people due to job or gear (since a lot of them tend to be rmt).

The NA rejects usually were kicked from multiple NA shells, and the only people who will take them are JP. They're usually proud that a JP shell will accept them given the fact that they're japanophiles or have the mindset that "JP = 1337 lolz, therefore I'm 1337 by association."

Before the claim changes, they would brag about gear they leeched from the JP claim-bots they had in their midst, and how many HQ kings they fought. They enjoy belittling all of the NA shells that rejected them.

RMT shells These are pretty much just shells filled
with RMT people. doing a /sea all linkshell at any given time will reveal that the entire LS is in jeuno. They enjoy wearing 90 mil+ in gear and then standing around looking pretty. Bragging about gear bought with real-life money is par for the course here.

They're characterized by accomplishing nothing, and sucking at the game and life.
--------------------------

As a rule, if your shell hasn't been flamed at killingifrit.com,
then you aren't officially considered part of the HNM scene.

Universal Requirements of HNMLS

So, before you make a commitment to one of these shells, you'd like to know what will be expected of you.

First, you must subject yourself to soul-sucking tedium on a daily basis. Every time you log on, there will be some 21-24 hour HNM to camp, or hours that need to be spent farming pop items for gods in sky. Or perhaps, farming hours in sea with a good possibility of ending up with nothing to show for it will be your time-waster, if your LS is at that stage.

You are EXPECTED to be at these camps daily. If you manage to blow 6-12 hours a day for months straight, you'd better not go any stretch of time going absent, otherwise the time you spent will just be void in your LS members' eyes. When the inevitable inter-LS fighting and bickering begins, you can expect to see that used against you.

HNM with mini-windows such as the land kings, only really require you to be there for the second that the HNM died, as the
mini-windows are 30 minutes long and end at the exact same time of death. If the monster decides to pop on the very last window, and depending on the time of death, you're looking at spending anywhere from 2 and a half to 3 hours of your life doing absolutely nothing!

Now that's what I call gaming!

If there's an early morning camp, or a camp when you have to be at work/school/college, or some other inconvenient time when a pop window will occur, you'd better be there, because other people with no life will. When it comes time to decide who gets what items, that one missed camp could be all it takes for them to get precedence over you, or respect due to "time spent helping the shell." If your time spent camping sh[/i]it ever comes into question, there's a good chance you'll be compared with the no-lifers.

In short, you must make a blood-pact with the mighty SE god and
satan, and quit your job/social life/schooling/etc, if you want to hang with the big boys of the HNM scene.

Atmosphere

HNMLS change people. This is a fact. Remember that friend of yours that you did everything with, and who was the greatest person since <insert generic venerated (deserved or not) historical figure here>?

Well, chances are, once they're sucked into the greed-infested,
time-wasting, all-consuming, E-***** flaunting vortex of the HNM scene, they'll never be the same person again. They'll become a part of the end-game nerd legions.

For every person who does not become like this, there are 20 that do. HNMLS, of course, are filled with these people, who are content to do nothing other than go on the never-ending quest for pixelated glory and items.

Atmospheres of HNM shells generally contain underlying hostility, item desperation, and a quiet mutual loathing.

Oftentimes, depending on the LS item distribution system, there will be mass frustration with the fact that promised items were not given to members (more common than you'd think). People who were not promised items, but feel they deserve them anyway also contribue to the aggravation.

This leads to entitlement issues, and people taking positions of authority by ascribing how much a certain member "deserves" something, and whether that's enough to take precedence over themselves. It's a kind of E-mutiny if you will.

Also, In case you don't know, your ***** size and worth are directly proportional to how often you claim overcamped sh[i]it, kill said sh[/i]it, and how many valuable pixels you have pinned to your alias.

Conclusion

Yes, what you've heard is true. FFXI's endgame is just a giant E-peen swinging contest, with the majority of time spent standing around, and watching Moon-faced nerds "compare" video game "accomplishments" with each other via flame-wars on forums/in-game. Think your server is immune, or that your linkshell is the exception? Think again. Take a glance over at the KI server forums will show you that ALL server's end-game works this way, with slight variations.

Also, it's a little known fact that your knowledge of the game is directly proportional to how much time you spend waiting for (H)NMs to spawn.

So, what are you waiting for? start sending out those applications to the linkshell of your choice; a whole world of E-wars, having your contributions (no matter how large) questioned, and a sub-par game experience await you!

[i]Edited, Wed Nov 16 16:35:17 2005 by SpinShark

LOL, this actually makes so much sense and is so so true o.O;

I hate to say it, and i'll know i'll regret it later, but SS is actually right. *gasps* Alot of endgame activity revoles around sitting on your **** for up to 3 hrs waiting for the HNM to pop, and hoping to outclaim the others. Sure, the rewards are nice, but its an aweful time sink. Anyway, for those w/o an end-game LS, don't worry, you're not missing much. Just hook up with 5-17 other close friends and you can do almost anything in the game. Leave the drama for TNT, they know drama, or so they claim. I bet they dont know about HNMLS drama

Generally correct, but a bit overexaggerated, contrary to popular belief there /are/ some decent LS's out there. :p

[:yawn:]


This is just like saying the sky is blue. Of course the damn sky is blue, we dont need someone to make an elaborate post saying the sky is blue.

I must give SS some credit though, he only used "Japanophile" once. That must be a record.




Edited, Tue Nov 15 15:40:36 2005 by acepod

And in other news, there's **** on the internet!


Edited, Tue Nov 15 16:12:32 2005 by RajiFarlander

hahahahahahaha. So the truth. I had been in a quasi-HNM LS for about 6 months, ran Dynamis for half of that, was the one who started certain ritual gatherings for members, attended every single LS event during my stay.... After more and more people started to show themselves to be disgusting individuals, I stopped hanging out in LS chat. First event I missed because I didn't want to help these crown jewels of the evolution chain, my head was on the chopping block. I was now some greedy ******* who used the LS, and apparently the "leader" is spreading word around to other LSes about how untrustworthy I am.

This is such a wonderful topic because it is 100% true, which makes it that much more funny.

It's all true.

The one time I agree with Spin.

Long guide thingy with colours in it... Looks like Spinshark is after for some rate ups!

Yes, bears do indeed **** in the woods.

Meh.

The one that he linked on the top of his post was actually pretty funny. This new one however is only stating the obvious.

It was like I was reading the post, and kept waiting for the satirical jokes to appear. Instead I found myself reading a post that resembles something out of a textbook.

Of course he is right, he is dead ******* right.

The thing you fail to notice is, WE ALL KNOW EXACTLY WHAT HE ALREADY SAID. He isn't giving new info, he stating the same thing acting like he is some sort of all-knowing god with a huge e-*****.

His whole post is merely: "The sky is blue!"

I really don't know why anyone with 1/4 a brain doesn't notice this.