My plan to take over the world - one sweat bottle at a time

My plan to take over the world - one sweat bottle at a time (take two... no... three )


Disclaimer:

This is pretty much a personal log of my struggles in game, so there is nothing really important you will miss if you decide to skip it.

I initially started this log in a different thread, but considered that after only four days I came with a rather major revamp of my plan, I thought it would be best to ask for that thread to be closed and start fresh on a new thread.

Any feedback, suggestions and even (constructive) criticism is highly appreciated! So please don't be shy and tell me what you think about!

Some of the changes I decided to implement are even a direct result of the first round of feedback I got in that first thread.


Concept:

That post represents just a description of my plan to survive in this harsh world without spending any RL$ (which is something I like to pretend is an option of mine, for an extra challenge, but truth is that I didn't really had the option to spend money in the first place) and, hopefully, a regular progress report log of how it goes. Well, to be totally honest, this is not entirely true – I did spent $5 for the starting package, but that’s it - was most I could afford and I just wanted to be able to say that I did supported the game too.

The reason why I'm doing this? Definitely not for showing off (since there is absolutely nothing to show off with). I'm just trying to offer a resource for any future new player that will be in my shoes to know what (s)he can expect if going down the same road, help him/her learn from the things that worked out for me, but also from the mistakes I've mate and not repeat them by themselves.


My plan:

I started playing Entropia Universe half month ago, on February 9th, 2015, on planet Arkadia, and it don’t took long to realize that I’m totally sold to the game. I have many dreams and goals in game, but probably the biggest one is to manage to come to the point where to be totally self sufficient, as in being able to survive with only what I gather and craft myself, without having to buy other people's wares, without spending any RL$ and without counting on any external help/income sources.

For now, my plan sounds like this:
- swunt low level mobs (I find it a good compromise - less boring than pure sweating, yet offering a clear net profit when sweat value is taken in account);
- save the part of the loot that I'll could later use for my viceroy armour;
- save the shrapnel (kinda better ammo option than buying from TT);
- sell the sweat and the rest of the loot;
- use part of said money to cover my expenses - repair (UL) or rebuy (L) weapons / ammo / armour (when it will be the case) / healing tool (when it will be the case) and allow me to keep swunting;
- save the remaining money (no matter how few) for later when I'll try to get my feet wet in the crafting area;
* rinse and repeat thousands and thousands of times; depending on how it goes eventually adjust to a different (easier/harder) mob.

Also, I realized that daily reports contained a too less sample to have any relevance, so, instead, I will make weekly updates, every Saturday evening (so a game week of mine starts Sunday and ends Saturday).


(Unasked) Q & A:

Q1: Not depositing is plain dumb; why "work" so hard swunting for a really really small fraction of what you could make IRL working same time?
A1: Considering social and financial background, but mostly age, working IRL is not an option, neither is depositing. So it's not really an option of mine, but a forced one; still I aslo enjoy the idea of a challenge to survive in game. I don't totally exclude the possibility that down the road I will become a depositor (when I'll afford it), but for now I try to find my way without it.

Q2: So you're one of those many players that plan to never spend any money but get rich / get a living out of EU?
A2: No, not at all. I may be naive, but I am not so naive. As I don't plan to ever deposit, I don't plan to either withdraw either; I just wanna do my best to survive and progress in game using only in-game resources.

Q3: Why swunting and not sweating circles, fruits or oil rigs (the other familiar "free" solutions to make PEDs)?
A3: I ruled out fruits and oil rigs for the simple reason that I don't like to put my faith in luck's hand... they may be great options for some (lucky) people, but they may also end up be a huge time sink with low or no revenue; they are just not reliable; also they don't give any skills; I do keep my eyes open for them, but not actively search them. Sweating circles on the other hand are a nice option and I may do them every now on then (especially if I find circles where healing is provided - like the daily SSI event), but while better from a strictly financial point of view, I feel they give less skills than swunting and are, more important, much more boring.

Q4: What about trading?
A4: I don't think I have neither the brain, tongue or the heart of a trader / salesperson. While I don't exclude taking advantage of certain offers that I may stumble upon, I definitely won't count on them or won't try to make a live out of the market. It is a great option for many, maybe the best of all, but is just not my thing.

Q5: "I know being new/poor/young sucks, so I wanna help you have an easier start/live in game; how can I donate something?" or "You're so freaking hot! I wanna help you! How can I do it?"
A5: If you think I'm freaking hot I highly recommend you an eye exam. But excluding that, I do not accept any help, donation, support or anything else which comes for free. If you really wanna help me, then please offer me a job that is somehow fair for both of use or offer me a fair price for my loot, but that's it - I don't need or want's anyone's charity. I may be poor, but if I want to succeed I want to do it through hard work, not through other people's compassion. Note: I added this question/answer, because I actually already met some nice people in game that offered to help me with some freebies to help me get a head start, and I just don't want that - I feel it would be cheating on my challenge. Second note: About the work part, I work for decay only and an eventually occasional !small! tip, but not more than that - added that because of a certain someone who thought that hiring me for 30 minutes and offering a 10 PED tip would be a nice way to get over the no help/donation part - well, it didn't worked out - hahaha.

Q6: This no help thing means that you also exclude newbie events/contests/hunts?
A6: No, not at all; if it's something that is open for (pretty much) everyone, then I see no reason not to try my chance too and benefit of that event / opportunity. Actually I already took advantage of the SSI circles, as well as the Cosmic Challenge event.

 

Where I'm starting from - March 6th
(or, in other words, what I managed to achieve in my [almost] first month here)

Professions

* Combat
- Swordsman (Hit) - Amateur, 4
- Knifefighter (Hit) - Novice, 4
- Swordsman (Dmg) - Novice, 4
- Knifefighter (Dmg) - Novice, 4
- Evader - Beginner, 2
- Brawler (Dmg) - Green, 2
- One Handed Clubber (Dmg) - Green, 2
- Two Handed Clubber (Dmg) - Green, 2
- Whipper (Dmg) - Green, 2
- Brawler (Hit) - Green, 1
- Ranged Laser (Dmg) - Green, 1
- Ranged BLP (Dmg) - Green, 1
- Paramedic - Green, 1
- Two Handed Clubber (Hit) - Unskilled, 1
- One Handed Clubber (Hit) - Unskilled, 1
- Laser Sniper (Hit) - Unskilled, 1
- Ranged Plasma (Dmg) - Unskilled, 1
- Ranged Gaus (Dmg) - Unskilled, 1
- Whipper (Hit) - Unskilled, 1
- BLP Sniper (Hit) - Unskilled, 1
- Grenadier (Dmg) - Unskilled, 1
- Dodger - Unskilled, 1
- Plasma Sniper (Hit) - Unskilled, 1
- Gauss Sniper (Hit) - Unskilled, 1

* MindForce
- Sweat Gatherer - Apprentice, 7
- Electro Kinetic (Dmg) - Unskilled, 1
- Pyro Kinetic (Dmg) - Unskilled, 1
- Cryogenic (Dmg) - Unskilled, 1
- Jammer - Unskilled, 1


Attributes

- Health - 94
- Strength - 32
- Agility - 29
- Psyche - 19
- Intelligence - 14
- Stamina - 1


Assets

Note: items in grey are limited ones.

* Money and Deeds
- one [Arkadia Underground Deed] (~50 PED value)
- 50 PED cash on my [PED Card]

* Clothes
- [IFN Private Combat Uniform Cap (F)] - 0.08 / 0.10 PED (source: IFN mission @ Arkadia) - equiped
- [IFN Private Combat Uniform Shirt (F)] - 0.08 / 0.10 PED (source: IFN mission @ Arkadia) - equiped
- [IFN Private Combat Uniform Pants (F)] - 0.08 / 0.10 PED (source: IFN mission @ Arkadia) - equiped
- [Carapace Boots (F)] - 0.18 / 0.20 PED (source: starting quest @ Arkadia) - equiped
- [Carapace Pants (F)] - 0.20 / 0.20 PED (source: starting quest @ Arkadia)
- [Colonist Standard Issue Jumper (F)] - 0.01 / 0.01 PED (source: starting clothes)
- [Colonist Standard Issue Slacks (F)] - 0.01 / 0.01 PED (source: starting clothes)
- [Colonist Standard Issue Slacks (F)] - 0.01 / 0.01 PED (source: starting clothes)
- [Arctic Combat Parka (F,L)] - 0.10 / 0.10 PED (source: The Thing @ Rocktropia)
- [Arctic Snow Pants (F,L)] - 0.10 / 0.10 PED (source: The Thing @ Rocktropia)
- [Arctic Boots (F,L)] - 0.10 / 0.10 PED (source: The Thing @ Rocktropia)

* Armors
- [Harrier Scout Harness (F)] - 6.00 / 6.00 PED (source: Starter Pack)
- [Harrier Scout Arm Guards (F)] - 4.20 / 4.20 PED (source: Starter Pack)
- [Harrier Scout Thigh Guards (F)] - 4.00 / 4.00 PED (source: Starter Pack)
- [Harrier Scout Helmet (F)] - 2.10 / 2.10 PED (source: Starter Pack)
- [Harrier Scout Gloves (F)] - 2.10 / 2.10 PED (source: Starter Pack)
- [Harrier Scout Shin Guards (F)] - 2.10 / 2.10 PED (source: Starter Pack)
- [Harrier Scout Foot Guards (F)] - 2.10 / 2.10 PED (source: Starter Pack)
- [Carapace Vest (F,L)] - 0.48 / 0.48 PED (source: starting quest @ Arkadia)
- [Carapace Communications Helmet (F,L)] - 0.26 / 0.26 PED (source: starting quest @ Arkadia)
- [Pulsar Armour Plate Trainer (L)] - 0.40 / 0.40 PED (source: starting quest @ Arkadia)

* Weapons
- 1,000,000 [Universal Ammo] (100.00 PED value)
- [Bukin's Blade] - 34.00 / 34.00 PED (source: starting quest @ Calypso)
- [S.I. Psy-Blade] - 17.50 / 17.50 PED (source : trade)
- [S.I. HK110] - 3.85 / 3.85 PED (source: trade)
- [Sollomate Opalo] - 3.80 / 3.80 PED (source: trade)
- [Z12 Barbarella] - 5.90 / 5.90 PED (source: Starter Pack)
- [Herman LAW Trainer (L)] - 2.00 / 2.00 PED (source: starting quest @ Arkadia)
- [Herman ASI Trainer (L)] - 1.50 / 1.50 PED (source: starting quest @ Arkadia)
- [Skildek P 30 (L)] - 0.80 / 0.80 PED (source: starting quest @ Calypso)
- [Flamethrower (FA) (L)] - 0.30 / 0.50 PED (source: The Thing @ Rocktropia)

* Tools
- [VSE Mk 1]
- [Vivo S10] - 22.00 / 22.00 PED (source: The Gauntlet instance @ Calypso)
- [S.I. H.E.A.R.T.] - 9.00 / 9.00 PED (source: trade)
- [Herb Box] - 5.00 / 5.00 PED (source: trade)
- [Medkit (L)] - 0.49 / 0.50 PED (source: The Thing @ Rocktropia)
- [Vivo Explorer (L)] - 0.05 / 0.05 PED (source: starting quest @ Calypso)
- [Cheap A$$ FAP-1 (L)] - 0.20 / 4.00 PED (source: starting quest @ Rocktropia)
- [TerraMaster Trainer (L)] - 0.17 / 0.40 PED (source: starting quest @ Arkadia)
- [Genesis Star Rookie Finder (L)] - 0.09 / 0.10 PED (source: starting quest @ Calypso)
- [Rock Ripper Trainer (L)] - 0.18 / 0.20 PED (source: starting quest @ Arkadia)
- [Genesis Star Rookie Extractor (L)] - 0.09 / 0.10 PED (source: starting quest @ Calypso)

* Materials
- [Vibrant Sweat] - 10,000 (20.00 PED value)
- [Pet Name Tag] - 5.00 PED value
- [Neurobiotic Booster A5 1mg] * 5

* Blueprints
- [Basic Sensor Blueprint] (QR 1.0)
- [Ball Bearings Blueprint] (QR 1.8)
- [Simple I Plastic Springs Blueprint] (QR 1.0)

* Miscelaneous
- [Valkyrie T1 (C,L)] - 0.20 / 0.20 PED (source: starting quest @ Calypso)
- [Exploration Hoverpod (L)] - 0.29 / 0.50 PED (source: starting quest @ Arkadia)
- [Arctic Truck 4x4 (C,L)] - 0.42 / 0.50 PED (source: The Thing @ Rocktropia)
- [Arctic Combat Helicopter (C,L)] - 0.50 / 1.00 PED (source: The Thing @ Rocktropia)

So, excluding the "freebish" and/or limited stuff and only counting the items that I could give a clear value to, my assets value around 270 PED, plus 50 PED cash on my card, for a total of 320 PED.

I have to admit that 'till this moment I kinda lived on somekind of "wellfare" as in my mentor bought all my sweat of 3 PED / k, instead of the usual 2 PED / k and also almost all my other loot, no mater how small the stack was, at a fair price. And for all this, I deeply thank her.

Also, as already mentioned, I have to admit that I did spent $5 for the starting package, but that’s it - was most I could afford and I just wanted to be able to say that I did supported the game too.

Finally, I have to admit (and thank) to a few people that were really nice with me and either offered me good deals or helped me with a job every now and then; it was no charity, I always tried to work my a$$ for my money, but I am aware that some of those deal were somehow preferential.

But from this point forward all this kind helps will be in the past and I will try to survive in this world with only what I can achieve by myself.

 

Reserved (will contain links to all weekly logs)

Report for current week (this is a work in progress, will be updated):

Played time (effective, afk not counted): to be filled at end of week


Fun factor (subjective ofc): to be filled at end of week


Actions:
Day one (~4 hours of effective playtime; fun factor: 4/10)
- Continuing with my monura (females) swunting (you know, trying to get the reward for 500 kills which is 12 PED worth of universal ammo); finished with 56 kills (from 300/500 to 356/500).
- Ended the day at the SSI sweating circle, followed by a short exploration to get the teleporter at Arkadia Land Area 1.
Day two (~x hours of effective playtime; fun factor: x/10)
- New day, same plan - swunting monura (gemales); finished with x kills (from 356/500 to x/500).
- At some point, I got a really nice "hunt for decay" job (so yey, free skills for me ) for halix (thank you, [Anthony Ranger Morris]); finished with 120 kills (from 50/75 to 95/400).
- Continued my exploration quest and got the teleporter at Arkadia Land Area 2.
Day three (~x hours of effective playtime; fun factor: x/10)


Profession level-ups:
Day one:
- Brawler (Hit) - from 1 to 2
Day two:
- Ranged Laser (Dmg) - from 1 to 2
- Brawler (Dmg) - from 2 to 3
Day three:


Attributes skill-ups:
Day one:
- Agility - from 29 to 30
Day two:
Day three:


Financials:
Day one:
- Got my daily AUD share: 0.01 PED; total money: 50.01 PED.
- Profit from SSI sweat selling: 0.60 PED; total money: 50.61 PED.
Day two:
- Cashed out 2.29 PED from Entropia Partners; total money: 52.90 PED.
Day three:


Others:
Day one:
- Got the teleporter at Arkadia Land Area 1.
Day two:
- Got the teleporter at Arkadia Land Area 2.
- Finished IFN Challenge - Halix Stage 1 (75/75).
- Cashed out 2.29 PED from Entropia Partners.
Day three:

 

Hi,

Just another thought. Have you got yourself into the mentor program yet? Apart from the benefits of having access to advice from experienced player, you will end up with a set of Adj Musca for doing the stuff you were going to do anyway. You can then keep the armour for when it becomes appropriate to use, or sell it to another player for more peds to support your game.

 

Thank you for idea, but yeah, I'm already in the discipleship program.

My mentor's profile is even linked in the previous post.

 

I am glad you are flexible enough to update your plan. Make sure to continue doing so in the future. Here are a few couple more pointers:

- Being self-sufficient will be very very hard. MMO's are designed to reward specializing in one thing, and getting other things in fair trade from other specialist players. For example, I understand every crafted item requires a blueprint, and blueprints are expensive. Also I heard that crafting requires mined resources, and you did not mention mining in your plan. I would suggest amending your plan to allow trading with other players for items that you need.

- If you do not want your gender or appearance to affect the amount of help you get, take down that profile picture.

- This is a game, so if you are not having fun, you are doing it wrong. Do not push yourself to do think if you do not like them. You are not achieving anything here, you are not proving anything to anybody, you are just having fun.

 

That makes no difference. I was just called Sir(!!) in her other thread despite the image to the left.

In addition to the other post (sorry for giving you ideas, Lovefall, to change the plan. ) it doesn't take long to keep track of things if the structure of the data sheet is a good one. I think I spend a maximum of 5 minutes total in connection to my carabok swunts. But to each their own.

Good luck on v.2!

 

Rigidity never helped solving a problem. I really love what Darwin said that "It is not the strongest, nor the most intelligent that survives, but the one that is most adaptable to change. In the struggle for survival, the fittest win out at the expense of their rivals because they succeed in adapting themselves best to their environment." And why else would I ask for feedback and suggestions, if I wouldn't be willing to listen and learn from them? Of course, there will be things that really don't fit my personality, playstyle or things that I will not agree with, but many others I'm looking forward to incorporate in my plan.

Yes, I know that this is both very hard and very dumb. Yet, is one thing I can't give up on, for the simple reason that it is the thing I always enjoyed most in all games I played so this goal is my main driving force that keeps me going through the rough or boring days. And about mining, yes, it is part of my plan - either if I'll manage to get hired on the Greenleaf Mining Corporation or just by my own; is just one thing that it is planned for later.

I won't be a hypocrite - I need and I want all the help I can get - hahaha - just that fair help, not charity - as in either the gift of knowledge (as in good advises and stuff), either decent jobs/offers for my wares. What I don't want (and I had to refuse already a few times - which already show that there are quite a lot of generous people in the game) though is direct help (charity, mercy, etc) as in "here, take 20 PEDs and just go enjoy the day hunting, forget about sweating for today". As I already said, I may be poor IRL, but I have my honor - I want to succeed in the game by hardwork, not by the mercy of others.

And yes, of course that EU is a game and the ultimate goal of any game (or entertainment option for the sake) is to entertain ourselves. And I found a lot of things which I love in the game and it can be fun at times; and in the moments when it is not fun, it is still relaxing, and that is kinda equally good - after a hard day of school and homeworks, swunting mobs may not be the definition of fun, but doing it without any pressure, while chatting with in-game friends and listening rock balads, can be a great way to relax and prepare for sleep.

 

Really sorry for that sir. I blame my broken eyes, the short hair and the uniform (in my country military is men only - so got used that when I see a military uniform to associate it with a guy).

And for those ideas which are partly to "blame" for making me adjust (I wouldn't really call change) the plan, I thank you - so if you have more, keep them coming - hahaha. And, actually, I event did started and an excel tab - hahaha - maybe not really complex or fancy one, but I did.

 

First off: a hartly good luck on take two too!
What is it exactly that you changed though? The way you track your results? If it has anything to do with OCD ... then I want to ask what that means.

Why Viceroy? Sure, it's a good armour to hunt a wide variaty of creatures with. But those are all way out of your comfort-zone now. I think you are better off now with no armour and a fap to skill up defense and paramedic. Then when you get stronger, you propably have graduated too, and could use the Adj. Musca. Corvus (L) is also a good armour for you to start with (not sure about it though, I rarely use armour myself).
The whole armour vs. fap discussion is as old as Project Entropia. Wich brings me too ...

The Herb Box is a fine starters fap, and if you are still serious about getting that S.I. H.E.A.R.T., then let me add that the Herb Box is maxed at level 2.2 vs. 15.2 for the S.I.. So think about it, very soon you will get the max uses and heals out of the Herb Box.

That is quite an impressive list already for such a short amout of time! Well done!

My only reply to that is this quote in a quote of your own:

 

Well, except switching to weekly report, I also quit the wellfare program from my mentor (who gave me preferential price for sweat) and decided that instead of keeping all loot, to only keep the one needed for armor and sell the rest.

For now, my plan sounds like this:
- swunt low level mobs (I find it a good compromise - less boring than pure sweating, yet offering a clear net profit when sweat value is taken in account); (same)
- save the part of the loot that I'll could later use for my viceroy armour; (somehow different)
- save the shrapnel (kinda better ammo option than buying from TT); (same)
- sell the sweat and the rest of the loot; (somehow different)
- use part of said money to cover my expenses - repair (UL) or rebuy (L) weapons / ammo / armour (when it will be the case) / healing tool (when it will be the case) and allow me to keep swunting; (somehow different)
- save the remaining money (no matter how few) for later when I'll try to get my feet wet in the crafting area; (new)
* rinse and repeat thousands and thousands of times; depending on how it goes eventually adjust to a different (easier/harder) mob.

Is not like I will have it completed in any foreseeable future anyway, so while it may be totally useless for me now, by the time I will manage to save all mats (which may very well take years ) I could probably make a good use of it. Plus, is nice to have a sidegoal to work towards too.

 

Nice to see that you are flexible enough to adapt your plan to what you now feel is a more reasonable version, after spending time in game working on it. So, here's me wishing you the best of luck on your (slightly) revised plan!

 

You may already know about this, but if not, check out mininglog.com. The mininglog program is hugely valuable in helping you to mine efficiently.

 

Made some updates on the "start post" so I can have a fresh start on first day of spring.

Also added professions levels and attributes.

Temporary daily updates will follow; weekly updates will happen every Saturday evening.

Thank you everyone for your moral support.

 

I don't know if you know this, but you can log on to your account at entropiauniverse.com and see a full list of items with tt values and a total value. That would make it easier to list your current inventory here.

 

Yes, I know (thank you for telling though ). Just that I liked it more the way I did it - organized on categories, and with source mentioned.

Also, not like I intend to do it on a constant basis - it was just this time, to mark the point where I'm starting from.

 

GL, with phase 2..
I will suggest another site that will tell you what loot you need to build what ever Blueprints you have in your inventory and vice versa..
You just copy your "Items" list out of your EU account page and paste it in the tool.. I find it useful for crafting.

http://www.candyman.se/pe/bobthebuilder/v2/

 

I don't see any mention of the rig. If I were you , I would visit the rig 15 minutes before logoff, get one stack of oil and logoff.
When logging in, do the same, spend your first minutes trying to gather one stack of oil.
This way you have 60-80 pecs of oil. Keep doing it until you have 50 ped, buy an arkadia land deed, rinse and repeat.

Persist like this and you will have an additional stream of income. Work your way up to 26 aud , sell them and buy one cld.

repeat repeat repeat.

 

Thank you for advice, is probably a good one, but I kinda covered it here:

Thing is there would probably be other people on the rig too so there is a high chance that I will just waste the time travelling 'till there (that in the lucky case where I will not end up being killed too ).

 

There is a very slight chance that my plan might get a really unexpected boost.

It is because of this contest organized by Jod - if my screenshoot with my first time (getting a global, not something else, you dirty miders ) gets most votes, I would win 100 PED. Yeah, I decided and promised that if that happens, half of the prize would be shared with the other people in the contest, but I would still be left with 50 PED, which for me would be an amazing thing. So, if you wanna give a hand, now you can do it - just go here and vote Lovefall for President, err... I mean Lovefall for 100 PED (vote is done with a replay in the topic).

(Half) kidding now; but really go and vote - you can do it to help me, you can do it to hinder me (as in vote for anyone else to make sure I don't win ) or you can just vote for the screenshoot you like most. But for real, that's a very nice event that Jod is doing every month, and it would be nice to see more people involved (both participating and voting).

For anyone who would vote (for me ) a big thank you!