Final Fantasy XIV

What was to be Done

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Laureine looking up at me while I look over my messy desk at Eorzea Cartographer's HQ.

I kind of just got lost in time, standing there in the entryway to the office, staring at it all. Still piles of papers, letters, and notes all strewn across it. Flowers frozen in time and so many coffee mugs. It was always a mess, but it was my mess that I carried with me across three desks all the way starting back when I was still housed within the Aether Event Center’s manor.

Now it’s… all over, just a bunch of mostly fond memories. Ending the entirety of the map program was just simply bittersweet that had and continues to have even afterwards, unwavering support from a lot of the folks I’ve met over its 5 year run. I’d have never of guessed going to the Aether Event Center’s manor for that first big event would have led all the way to this moment, and here it is. It’s simply just over.

I really don’t know how long I stood there before I felt the brush of a horn on my arm. Had I not only not heard Miss Laureine’s approach and greeting, it wasn’t until she got my attention that it snapped me back into reality. I think she knew what had happened not even hearing the news directly. She knew I finally did it, and it was all from the way she interacted with me in that entryway. She gave me a side hug and really said nothing – a silent grieving moment between us within HQ. Aikirees was out and about and Lizz was fast asleep on the couch on the first floor (because of course), so it was really just us in that moment.

“…Thank you.” I finally said acknowledging Miss Laureine’s presence. This certainly wasn’t planned, and I really didn’t expect to linger there as long as I did. She nodded and turned to slowly head back upstairs to her tasks unknown to me. It sure was something, but now it all can rest, and I can adventure forward knowing for a time I was ‘uniting Eorzea, one map at a time.’

The Trail has been Dawned 7.4

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Me smiling while looking down with a lightning storm in the background.

Aikirees and I blew through the entirety of the Main Scenario Quest last night. Overall this was a solid patch and hasn’t wavered in that regard (yet). The last set of Arcadian still needs to be tackled, but due to holiday scheduling, that might be delayed out a bit further than typical.

I doubt I’ll do or mention much in regards to the actual story progression at this point, but possible in 7.5 or 7.55; just depends on how I feel about all of the post patches as a whole once it gets closer to 8.0. it is better, but we’ll see. I am looking forward to Arcadian once we all get around to it, and there’s that Monster Hunter Trial we’ve yet to even unlock.

More adventures await~!

The Trail is Dawning 7.4

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Aikirees and I leaning against a chalkboard with 'Blog Stuffs' written on it.

The cousins, even with some valiant efforts, did not fully Dawn the 7.4 Trail in one evening. It’s rare as the last time this happened was 6.3(ish), but got far enough at the very least. This is just a quick general thought in regards to the pacing and content – not the story.

I’ve disliked a large portion of Dawntrail after Shaaloani (even two things prior regarding the dungeons), and have my criticisms of 7.1 and 7.2 for one or more reasons, but starting with 7.3 and now with 7.4, this is starting to feel right again. I’m not talking story (as that’s a whole different container to talk about), but just the actual content: the new dungeon and trial in particular. These both are just a lot of enjoyable fun and not a lot of overcomplications that I haven’t seen really since Endwalker. 7.3 did address a bit of this, but this patch nailed it.

I’m not sure what the new Heavyweight fights are going to be like (probably bonkers like the last set in a good way – mostly), but in terms of the MSQ content, this is finally fun and enjoyable again. Now if only we can get the playerbase’s overall empathy back to where it once was.

Inquiries

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Elizara watching attentively as Laureine crafts on an anvil.

It was a later part of the evening, near nightfall. Just about everyone had retired at this point to their respective quarters, homes, and couch in Lizicus’ case. Just the faint dim light and sound emitting from HQ’s workshop could be seen and heard.

Miss Laureine taking a little moment to finalize reports on the airships from their previous journeys through the Sea of Clouds, along with some minor repair work. While doing so, the sound of her hammer hitting the anvil to create the repair parts attracted only one person getting ready to head back to the familiar place Reinylla was sleeping: Elizara.

Laureine deep in thoughts & focus on her work hadn’t noticed Elizara enter the workshop, nor did she say anything to Laureine to let her presence be known. Instead, she cautiously walked close by and sat down beside her and just watched as Laureine toiled over the anvil. Once Laureine noticed Elizara sit down, she gave her a warm smile of acknowledgement before returning to her work. Elizara just continued to watch with sharp focus as she continued to finish up the repair parts.

Once she was all done, a small silence filled the workshop, with only the low humming of the navigation panel and project in progress’ HUDs making any sort of noise.

“Hey, uh–“

Elizara began to say while still sitting on the floor.

“Hmm, yes, Mistress?”

At this point Laureine had already gotten up to examine the airship console to oversee repairs.

“…what’s it like to have those horns and a tail?”
Laureine paused completely on her task to think a moment, but soon thereafter let out a soft humored sigh before finishing up right-quick. Without saying anything, she walks back over to where Elizara was still sitting; the look on her face was both curious and worried as she might have asked something overly offensive.

Instead, Laureine squats down, smiles, and curls her tail in front of the both of them.

“Here, Mistress.”

She holds the end of her tail out as an offering to Elizara. Reluctantly, Elizara holds it gently, feeling the warm scales across her fingers. She lets out a quick quiet laugh flashing a smile across her face, and then releases Laureine’s tail.

“I-it’s not what I expected, but thank you.”

“You’re very welcome, Mistress.”

Elizara excited fires off a handful of questions towards Laureine, and as best as she can answer them. They spend a bell or so doing this just sitting in the Workshop before the both of them retire for the evening. Elizara manages to safely make it back to where Reinylla is resting, as does Laureine to the quietness of her chambers.

It seemed to have been a good evening to help Elizara feel more more comfortable than she has been prior, and hopefully with that a good night’s rest alongside Reinylla.

Happy Moonfire Faire 2025!

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Aikirees and I at the Moonfire Faire for 2025 with fireworks in the background.

Happy Moonfire Faire y’all! May y’all have an absolutely wonderful one this year!!

I think this year’s might be one of my favorites thus so far. The new ship combines almost all of the assortments of entertainment that Moonfire is known for and adds upon it! It kind of reminds me of the really fun and scenic All Saints’ Wake’s Sneaky Hollow they added a few years back but with the jumping puzzle included. The music on the boat changes at night time also to give it that nightly concert vibe; it’s really something to behold.

Lizicus and Laureine sitting on the edge of a pool in their swimwear.
Aikirees and I sitting on a very oversized inflatable chocobo in a pool.
Reinylla and Elizara relaxing together on a recliner.

The event quest itself is pretty short, which seems to be the par for the course with all of the recent ones. There’s some folks who don’t tend to like this, but I’ve never really minded it being on the shorter side to be honest, and with a place to simply just hang out after the fact has far more weight to it personally. The outfit this year is basically a wetsuit with a hoodie and sandals, and it dyes really well – it’s really nice!

Moonfire Faire in general has always had a special place in my heart, and it was also when ‘Totally Not a Gazebo Day’ event happened, which that in itself was such a fun time. I digress, however, and I wish y’all the very best Moonfire Faire season, and certainly head on out to Limsa Lominsa/Costa del Sol to enjoy all of the festivities that the event has to offer!

Hoping to see this make a return for a few years if not more thereafter, as it is really fun nice place to vibe for the season.

Sisters’ Fashion Report Adventure LXI

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Aikirees and I wearing long green tailcoats, with fancy top hats and Aikirees posing for the photo.

Episode LXI! – We now have hats, and I… think she thinks she’s the Cat in the Hat at the moment? I-I’m really not certain, but then again, there are times I’m really not exactly sure what (or where!) my sister is thinking about.

Summer Vibes

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Me wearing beach attire with a large wide-brimmed straw hat sitting in shallow beach water.

I’ve had this Moonfire Faire outfit for five years now – it came out during the 2020 season’s. At the time, and up until this latest patch, was unable to wear the hat that came with it. After all of this time, I’m finally able to dawn the dearly missed wide-brimmed straw hat to complete my summer vibing.

Right in time for this year’s Moonfire Faire no less, so I’m certain it’ll get a bit of use in coinciding with my usual hair ribbon too.

Dragon Tails: An Old Book

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Laureine looking at Lizicus while she's holding a book with two winglet panels jetting out from both sides.

Lizicus is somewhat a paradoxical creature. She loves to sleep her days away (usually on the couch in HQ’s upper-entry lounge to get some sun from the window and the fire’s warmth), tends to take everything carefree (to the chagrin of Miss Laureine), and just tends to not worry all that much to be in the now.

However, on the other side she can be deeply sentimental, easily be gazing off into the distance lost in her own thoughts, listen to the people around her and give out some deep advice, or come to the rescue of folks in need.

In this instance, the book she holds. It’s an old book of mine that I have long replaced with a new functional set. Years back, the tablets that spring out stopped functioning properly and the pages grew dim. I just decided to place them in The Archives’ foyer area as an old memento of those early times seeking out Aikirees. However, a curious Au Ra fell upon them and decided to try and fix then.

Miss Laureine, try as she might, never really could get them to work just like they used to – she did manage to get the pages to glow almost like they used to. Moving on to Allagan and Alexandrian technologies, she left the books in her chambers. Meanwhile Lizz, being her usual self, had misplaced her set of rather well-loved books and was in dire need of a pair. Laureine offered her my old books, and after explaining the story behind them, promised to take good care of them.

She did in fact do so, and even without it being fully functional, has managed to thrive in her Archanist skills with them. She protects them quite well, and to this day have never seen them worse for wear – almost the complete opposite sans the tablets. Miss Laureine has mentioned in passing with a little bit of annoyance that she might have drawn a couple of cute doodles on the screens: one of them I know is her and Miss Laureine, but she won’t tell anyone what the other is. It might be us, or it might be something/someone else, but I didn’t mind hearing that she had drawn on it at all, which I believe was a relief to Miss Laureine as well.

Lizicus really is something unique, and even if she’s a bit of a pain to her cousin, she does always mean well in the end to her and to everyone she meets that she calls family or friend.

Leporine Travelers: Chief Bunny

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Elizara disapproving of Reinylla in a Chief Bunny outfit, especially outside in the cold weather.

“…what are you wearing?”

“Don’tcha like it, hun? I got it wit’ all of them Gold Saucer Points we keep collectin’!”

Reinylla excitedly shows off her Chief Bunny outfit to Elizara who just continues to look on with disapproval.

“You do realize where we are. Outside. Under a gazebo. In a city-state that is expressly cold. REGULARLY!“

It would take a moment or so longer for Reinylla to realize this through all of the excitement, and within that moment of realization, Elizara throws her coat over her head and shoulders.

“Come on, let’s get you inside and next to one of the fireplaces. If you catch cold, you’ll never hear the end of it from me!”

Reinylla, slightly shivering, expresses a silly smirk on her face as the both walk into HQ to warm up.

Crafty Big Cat

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Aikirees and I in the Free Company workshop in our crafting outfits with Aikirees giving a thumbs up.

While I haven’t changed it up all that much between tiers for a while now, as I really like what I wear, Aikirees really changed it up this time around in some rather comfy clothes for all of one’s crafting needs. Whether or not she keeps it moving forward depends entirety how well she can handle those long pants covering up her fuzzy legs all the time.

Then again, HQ is located in a northern snowy area, so she might just be fine.

In the Rain: Redux

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Aikirees in her new Summoner outfit holding an umbrella in the rain.

After so, so many years now, Aikirees updated her Summoner’s look to more reflect her rather larger and vastly fuzzier self. Her old Summoner outfit when she was a Miqo’te was a mirrored image of the one she had from her First Life back on Vana’Diel. The color’s are very similar, but a little bit of a different style to match her new form.

Leporine Travelers: Last Hurrah

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Reinylla battle ready to confront Lahabrea.

~~ “You… you BASTARD! Bring her back here!!” ~~

Reinylla was suddenly alone, hearing the feint echo of Elizara’s shouting from what feels like so very far away. Lahabrea appearing in front of her for the final confrontation. After some rather brash antagonizing from Lahabrea, the two began to clash – Reinylla’s adventuring and training all put to the test for this very moment.

The two clashed for what felt like many of bells, neither wavering, but it wasn’t much longer afterwards that between Hydaelyn herself and what gave Reinylla the extra strength to overcome her foe.

“Lookie here, tall dark and dreary, I got’er someone to get there back to, so it’s really time for you to go!”

Reinylla in battle stance with a lot of explosions in the background.
She is filled with, DETERMINATION.

With that, her final blow was given, and with such power not only was it over, another was saved in the process. Realizing now that everything was still collapsing before her, it was very much time to make an escape and quick. Not exactly where to look or what to do, she only had moments to ponder the next move.

Reinylla looking around at everything exploding in the surrounding area.

She heard off in the distance, approaching rather quickly; a magitek, her magitek barreling through the burning facility to give aid in a quick escape. Quickly hopping aboard, she rushes towards where she and Elizara were back fighting the Ultima Weapon. Upon reaching said location, she spots Elizara looking around for Reinylla, only to be quickly scooped aboard the armor as they continue quickly out!

“Nice’of ya to drop in here, darlin’!”

“Y-you! …You idiot!“

Reinylla grinning back at Elizara and back forward again as they all manage to get out and into safety right as it all comes crashing down.

With that, Operation Archon was a complete success. Everyone updates everyone’s status via linkpearl with the two Vieras heading off to daybreak while riding the magitek armor. The two do end up getting a bit of rest before the next morning in Mor Dhona, and the celebration that Reinylla has sorely earned from all of this.

Reinylla with all of the Scions of the Seventh Dawn.

Elizara decides to stay well in the background, while Reinylla joins everyone introducing the dawn of the Seventh Astral Era. While the whole celebration was lovely, Reinylla subtly headed to where Elizara was, and gives her the biggest hug ever.

“I… wh-what was that for?!”

“Oh, just everythin’ there, darlin!”

Elizara, still very puzzled, does return the hug after a long pause.

“Yeah, don’t mention it.”

“So, ya ready to hit ta hills?”

“Yeah, sure; yeah, that does sound good.”

Reinylla beams the brightest of smiles to Elizara, and then grabs her by the hand tugging her off to the next big adventure. The two safely reunited with the realm safe and sound. What lays ahead on the horizon for these two’s next adventure is fast approaching.

Leporine Travelers: The Ultimate Weapon

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Reinylla and Elizara in front of Cid's airship, the Enterprise.

There they were, the two Vieras at the pinnacle of Operation Archon, about to storm Gaius van Baelsar’s base of operations: the Praetorium. Without even saying anything, Elizara boards the Enterprise and beckons to Reinylla to follow suit once she’s on board.

The flight to the landing site was quiet, nothing but the sound of of the airship itself could be heard.

“Hey, sug. If anything happ–“

“Nothing like that will happen. I’ll make sure of it.”

Shocked at Elizara’s resolve, all Reinylla could do was smile with obvious concern behind it.

“We’re in this till the very end, right? So.. so, it will be fine.”

Elizara’s emotions could be slightly heard bleeding through the words.

They land at the site with a gentle thud, and the two along with Cid disembark from the Enterprise to do what they came there to do. Several forces later had them face to face with Gaius himself, and after taking out a large foe, Cid stays behind to keep communications open with Elizara and Reinylla heading deeper to take care of the Ultima Weapon itself.

Elizara and Reinylla confronting Nero in the Praetorium.

After donning some magitek armor themselves, they blow through an incredible amount of resistance only to be greeted with a blasting door that knocks out the armor itself upon destroying it. Shortly thereafter said door, Nero tol Scaeva block their path. After a brief talk between him and Cid, he turns his focus to the two Vieras. However, Elizara’s sheer determination of keeping Reinylla safe from any harm ended up being no match for Nero, and he was quickly taken out of the fight.

Reinylla listening to Cid on linkpearl with Elizara behind her checking the surroundings.

With Cid quickly contacting them, and Nero fleeing the scene with a conveniently placed power outage, there was very little left blocking them from reaching Ultima. Gaius attempts to stop them from reaching it. However, between their combined force, makes it even a surprise for him to realize this wasn’t a simple task to be taken lightly. They quickly hurry after Gaius but not before he activates the Ultima Weapon.

With a little bit of help from Hydaelyn herself, they’re able to stave off the weapon’s eikon powers and even rip them away. Lahabrea makes his move, and activates Ultima’s most powerful ability – Ultima itself. Thanks to one more timely shield from Hydaelyn, Elizara and Reinylla just had the stripped and worn down remains of the weapon left to worry about.

Elizara and Reinylla confronting the Ultima Weapon.

“Enough of this! Come one, Reinylla, let’s end this and go home!”

“You got it, darlin’!”

The two attack the Ultima weapon, dodging its surprising amount of tricks even after being through all of this, but before it could manage to let out another Ultima spell, Elizara’s determination reached its highest heights.

“Absolutely NOT!! You will NOT harm her!!”

A bellow war cry of sheer anger with very obvious subtle hints of other emotions rang deep within, and from what appeared like it came out of nowhere – arrows of pure light rained down on the battlefield.

It was over. The Ultima Weapon had been defeated.

Reinylla contemplating with Elizara over a knocked out Gaius.

Gauis being emergency ejected from the weapon itself lied motionless before the two.

“You think he’s okay, sugar? Maybe we should check’er somthin’?”

“Why- after… all thi–, ugh… You’re such an idiot. Come on, let’s go home.”

Partial confused, but in agreement, Elizara and Reinylla begin to look for an exit from the wreckage. However, only upon walking just a few paces forward, Lahabrea appears all of a sudden and takes Reinylla away!

“You… you BASTARD! Bring her back here!!”

Nearly shrieking in anger at what she just witnessed, all she could do now is hope for Reinylla’s safe return…

Dragon Tails: The Professor

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Laureine wearing a bright red overcoat with a tie, vest, slacks, loafers, and goggles on her head.

A while ago, the cousins (as well as Aiki and I) obtained omnicraft status once again for the rest of Dawntrail. Afterwards, there’s usually a rite of passage in obtaining a new outfit to go along with said accomplishment. Miss Laureine has reached her peak form with this ensemble as her crafting outfit of choice this time around.

‘Professor Laureine,’ which seems fitting being the one who has combed more of the Archives than any of us, has delved well deep into Allagan, Alexandrian, and any other otherworldly technologies without question. Keep shining bright, and continue to hone your craft all the way to the stars.

…which is still something she, along with the rest of us, still need to explore eventually.

Leporine Travelers: The Castrum

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Elizara and Reinylla with Castrum Meridianum in the background.

“You ready?”

Elizara, glancing outwards at Castrum Meridianum with Reinylla next to her.

“Huh, oh, a right, yes. Let’s get-a to it then!”

Elizara takes point and begins to rush ahead into the forces that await with Reinylla backing her up with the spell power she has learned to wield throughout her journey thus so far.

Upon taking out the first wave and a magitek armor, they appear to have come to a dead end.

“Where-to now, darlin’?”

Elizara shrugs, looking around for any sort of option before Cid contacts Reinylla with a solution.

“…he wants us to, what!?“

“Jump on down this ‘ere trash chute!”

Reiynlla and Elizara discussing the use of a trash chute in Castrum Meridianum.

“Wh- no. Absolutely not! I’d rather climb the wall over there!”

“Aw, come’er on, sugar! It’ll be fun!”

“…how is that fun!?”

Before Elizara could continue to protest, Reinylla excitedly jumps down the chute. With a loud exasperated sigh, Elizara jumps down to join her as well. Continuing their battle throughout Castrum Meridianum, taking out more soldiers and a drill-mech, they’re finally face to face with Livia sas Junius herself.

“Look-a, sugar! It’s her!“

Not even pausing, Elizara aims her arrow at Livia’s helmet.

Elizara and Reinylla confronting Livia sas Junius.

“Yep. Payback for Waking Sands.”

Reinylla nods with a mixture of emotions, and the battle between the two forces begins! Bullets, fire spells, and arrows litter the battlefield, and finally at the end, the two Vieras were triumphant.

A quiet near eerie feeling falls over the area. Elizara and Reinylla still eyeing the now lifeless body of Livia, making sure it was in fact over with. Finally, Elizara lets her guard down and holsters her bow.

“..Let’s go. Just one thing left to do.”

Reinylla nods and puts her staff away with that. They both leave Castrum Meridianum slowly and exhausted from the ordeal. They report back to the Alliance and begin the final phase: Praetorium. Once they’re both rested up, it will be time to put their journey together up until now to the test.

Leporine Travelers: Aiming for the End

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Elizara looking over at Reinylla about to take on Rhitahtyn sas Arvina at Cape Westind.

Reinylla approached the gate that would lead her into Cape Westwind. She knew what was more than likely going to happen upon proceeding forward. Elizara standing close by, wanting to lend assist, but knowing she couldn’t.

“Hey, Reinylla, I–“

Before she could finish the statement, Reinylla intervened.

“Wait’a for me, sugar. I’ll be alright; it’s just’a like last time!”

“B–“

She walked over and placed her index finger on Elizara’s lips, with a gentle confident smile.

“Wait’a for me. This isn’t the end of me, darlin’.”

Elizara, stunned and unable to conjure a response quick enough, did what she was told and watched as Reinylla entered into Cape Westwind alone. All that could be heard thereafter was the yelling of soldiers, spells of fire, and Rhitahtyn sas Arvina going toe to toe with Reinylla herself. Elizara did her best to keep any additional solders from running into the battle for lending assist, and it wasn’t very long before it became silent.

“R-Reinylla…?”

Elizara creaked open the gate and hollered out into Cape Westwind, only seeing smolders and smoke from the two’s clash.

“Reinylla!?”

She shouted as loud as she could, only to hear her voice bouncing across the smoke. She rushes into the area, trying to hear any sign of Reinylla through the crackling sounds of the smoldering ground. Panic began to sink in, but once she heard footsteps through the smoke, a cautious relief washed over her.

Slightly staggering, Reinylla makes her way out through the battlefield towards Elizara. Nearly collapsing into her arms, Reiynlla knew she was safe at last.

“I-I did say that I’d be alright, sugar.”

“You idio–“

At that point, Reinylla fell asleep with Elizara holding her. She embraced her dear friend and let her rest for a bell or so. Once Reinylla was capable of walking on her own again, they headed back to Minfilia, Alphinaud, and Rabauhn to bring the good news.

Elizara and Reiynlla standing in front of Castrum Meridianum's gate.

“You ready?”

Reinylla nods, determined.

“I’a sure am, darlin’! Let’s show them what’a we got!”

Elizara smirks.

“Alright then, together until the end. Let’s show them what we’re made of!”

With that, the two proceed through the massive gate and into Castrum Meridianum. Their journey together is inching ever so closer to the first major climax with many more adventures yet to be revealed!

Black Mage Ticker – Dawntrail Edition Ver 2

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Black Mage Glyph as of Patch 7.2

As of Patch 7.2, the Black Mage’s Elemental Gauge got a smidgen of a change – where the timer was completely removed. I decided to continue my silly ‘Ticker Thingamajiger’ schematic with the change included.

Personally, I’m somewhat mixed on the change. One ear it’s a nice adjustment to make the class a smidgen more relaxed only to now worry about positioning for optimal damage in each encounter, which makes getting a Flare Star off at level 100 a lot easier. However, it kind of trivializes a major aspect of the class itself as well as ‘break’ the reason for abilities to be there to begin with. Firestarter doesn’t feel as necessary now as there’s not big reason to worry about refreshing the timer anymore. It’s nice to quickly flip between Umbral and Astral plus a damage burst in general when it proc’s, but… I don’t know, I kind of miss the timer now that it’s gone.

Something tells me that there’s going to be some more changes by or before 8.0 to give some of these abilities a more useful task – or they’ll just remove it entirely, which I hope doesn’t happen. Regardless, still love the class and will continue to for the foreseeable future as my main.