[SP-F01] Earning A Living (complete)

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Chaos. it was not uncommon for him to enjoy watching the hapless masses run in circles in dismay at the predicament they had fallen victim to. They were like ants behind glass scurrying without purpose, following the trails of others in hope that they would understand the path in time. It would surely lead to ruin and death, but 9Lives would not intervene. He sat on the rooftops of the buildings clocked in black with a hood that cast a dark shadow over his face obscuring his features from a distance. He liked the segregation of the heights as he looked down on the miserable and helpless.

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Spacing through his menus for a light read was a familiar and productive way to spend his time as he learned the system and all he could benefit from. As his passed a page a memory spurred up. This image was familiar. It took a moment but he knew he had seen the face of this character around the town. It took only a few moments before he laid eyes on the figure who was once again surrounded by players.

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Crafting? How quaint. So this was what the week did to try and pass the time. He sifted through the pages on crafting reveling on the insignificance of the tasks. Though he initially dismissed the notion of professions, a few caught his attention on a practical sense. The largest namely was blacksmithing. He didn't see much need for heavy armor but with time and talent, a suitable weapon could be forged to replace the blade he was tied to.

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He tried to ignore the trivial tasks and went on to read more on the combat system and how to activate skills yet the more he read, the more relevant the notion of having a well crafted and enhanced became. It was nagging at him like a compulsion that would not be suppressed. The documentation showed the image of the NPC and the region he could be found in. It couldn’t be helped; he was hood on the notion.

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9Lives found the construct quite quickly. His time studying the city gave incite to the travel patterns of the NPCs. He approached the character as he began a cheerful banter about blacksmithing that 9Lives tried to ignore. Its not that the disposition was upsetting to him, but rather that he couldn't understand the need to socialize with others let alone with lines of code and geometry.

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The window popped up with information on the profession detailing how the process of using the proper Mat to create items through blacksmithing could create items such as weapons, armor, and shields. Confident that this choice would reap the benefit of a custom weapon built to his specification, he accepted the profession.

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There was no going back now. He had chosen his profession and the NPC joyously exclaimed its artificial pleasure towards his decision. "Great decision, lets get started in your new profession" it said to him. He sighed looking the construct in the face as it handed him the ingredients to create a simple dagger.

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Immediately a marker appeared directing him towards the crafting table. thanks, didn’t think id find that… he said sarcastically as he took two steps to the table and opened the gui. A window popped up asking him if he wanted to use the crafting table or view the Tutorial. Nine selected the table but since it was his first time using it, the tutorial loaded anyway. why did you even ask me then he said under his breath.

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The tutorial was simple and easy to follow, to the point where he felt it was completely unnecessary. He didn't mind it so much until he got to the part where he could create the item. The tutorial had locked him out of creating other items since he was in a quest to make a dagger. I don’t use the dagger though which made not a bit of difference to the interface.

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Once finished he had a nice new dagger that he took back to the trainer to complete the quest. The NPC showed him with praise for the fine work he did. 9Lives rolled his eyes and hit the button. The weapon was removed from his inventory with no love lost. He actually was glad he couldn't create something he wanted if he would have had to give it up anyway.

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The NPC explained that he could acquire materials from stores, chests, and drops which would allow him to continue to craft. The more he crafted the quicker he would increase in his professions which made item creation easier and have better chances of enhancement. …and thus the grinding begins. he said to himself as he left the NPC.

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It wasn't so bad but the grind was the main reason 9Lives didn't like MMO’s. he liked the thrill, challenge, story, and development of gaming. Forcing someone to do the same thing over and over again so that an imaginary stat can increase allowing for a better roll from a random number generator seemed not only trivial but irritating. He could only take comfort in the fact that he both had the time to do it and would get better rewards in the process.

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He looked down at the starter blade he was given for his class and knew if he was going to get anywhere he needed a better blade. There was no time like the present to get started on his crafting. His menu stated that Rock and metal type creatures usually dropped types of metal that can be forged through smiting. He set a way point to the hills where his guide suggested he look.

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The trip to the hills was short and the parameter around the town was relatively mob free due to the population of the town not wanting to venture far from safety. In the near distance he could see a mob moving across the ground slowly. 9Lives knew he couldn't take much damage or he would go the way of the other players so he had to fight smart to survive.

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With shield and sword in hand he crept up on the creature until he got into range. The key to defeating the mobs was in the skills used. The combat system allowed for devastating abilities and damage if used properly. He relaxed his body and pulled the blade behind him. The blade began to glow golden as he waited for the creature to get in position.

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9Lives activated laughing himself forward at a blur slashing down horizontally at the Geode. Like in practice he followed through the motion keeping his body low and rolling away from the target. He wouldn't be struck down from behind as the creature switched to Agro form the attack.

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As the skill activated the creature turned and instantly went into guard using to deflect his strike. His motion followed perfectly despite the strike missing its mark. He rolled forward from the momentum and then dropped to a knee turning to brace from the attack. The Creature came froward striking with its stone arms. 9Lives braced activating his as the attack came in.

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His worked as the strike impacted knocking the attack aside and stunning the creature. With his blade still held back charging another attack he once again activated to strike down the creature in its stunned state. He knew he wouldn't have to many chances like this and each strike had to count.

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His attack hit with critical numbers instantly cleaving through the stone creature which exploded in particle physics of polygons. 9Lives slid though the grass with his shield once again raised. once he saw the polygons crumble from his single strike he stood up and smiled. as he walked forward he began to laugh at the mechanics of the game. As he claimed the drop he returned back to town.

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As he returned to town, he felt accomplished still exhilarated from his battle. the world seemed new again and gave interest to the grinding sense of his profession. He could simultaneously grow his interests in the world through combat and crafting using his loot to build better equipment that would allow him to be a greater success in combat. With the materials in his inventory, he once again looked down at his blade and knew he needed to make it till he could branch into a blade he felt comfortable with.