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DEFENDERS OF NEOPIA HEADQUARTERS - All around Neopia there has been a surge
of young pets hopefully eagerly capes and tights. What is the reason behind
all of this? A new trend in fashion? A fancy-dress ball? If you're starting
to think that the old spandex pants in the back of your safety deposit box are
about to be the style of the season, let me shed some light on this phenomenon.
The simple truth is, many vile and unspeakable evils slink around our fair
planet. Not just any villains these, but SUPER villains! As you already may
know, to combat a super villain you need no less than a super hero! The Defenders
of Neopia are recruiting any Neopet brave and strong enough to combat this menace.
Do you think you're up to the challenge? Before you go running out of the room
with a bed sheet tied around your neck, sit down and give it some thought. Here
are a few pointers for getting you on your way.
Super Powers
First things first. Do you have any super powers? If the answer to this is
no, you may want to rethink going into the super hero business. Of course, if
you're not among those lucky enough to have been bitten by a radioactive Poppit,
you can always combat evil with loads of pricey gadgets.
Don't- Pretend to have a power you don't have, or exaggerate a power
that you do. This will only get you in trouble, and it doesn't impress anyone.
Don't say that you have 'Super Toxic Breath' if you've just been eating too
many chilli dogs at Hubert's. All of Neopia is counting on you to do what you
say you can, so don't let them down!
Do- Be creative in finding new uses for your abilities. (Opening a bag
of Cheesy Neos from 15 meters using your telekinesis doesn't count) Just because
you're 'The Electric Wocky', that doesn't mean all you can do is shock the bad
guys. Try using your power over current and voltage to short out weapons of
mass destruction, or to give the Car of Justice a jump if you left the headlights
on.
Don't- Use your powers for evil. If you take advantage of your power
to exploit the weak, you're not much of a Defender, are you? Even the
slightest misuse, like knocking over an Achyfi machine for a free drink, tarnishes
your reputation as a super hero.
Picking a Name
A name is what the world will know you by, so it's important that it makes
a good impression. It's not just a word, it's an image. Do you think Neocola
would sell nearly as well if it was just called 'Fizzy brown liquid'? Of course
not!
Do- Pick a name that says a lot about you. For example, if you are a
Moehog a good name could be Judge Hog. Sadly, that's already taken so you're
going to have to try a little harder. Something like 'The Tusked Crusader' is
catchy, and appropriate. The ideal superhero name does several things: it gives
the good citizens of Neopia and idea of what your powers are, what species you
are, and (most importantly) how amazingly awesome you are.
Do- Try to let your name reflect just what your super power is, if you
have one. If you fight crime by shooting powerful streams of water out of your
nostrils, 'The Flaming Tonu' is not the moniker for you.
Don't- Let your name get too long. 'The Masked Acara Ninja Assassin
of Great Hurting and Doom that Stalks in the Night ' may say a lot about what
you do and how you do it, but it's very impractical. A name like that won't
be easy to remember when some poor Neopet needs to call out for a hero.
Making a Costume
A costume to hide your secret identity is a must, unless you want reporters
from The Neopian Times knocking on your door at all hours of the day and night.
Not only does a costume hide your face and give you an air of mystery, it also
adds to the image you project as a super hero.
Do- Make it comfortable and easy to move in. No matter how great your
costume looks, if it's too tight to run in, you probably aren't going to be
catching crooks anytime soon. How vigilant are you going to be on your watch
for crime if all you can think about is how much your shoes are hurting you?
Do- Keep fashion in mind, please! No one wants to be known as 'The Avenger
Who Can't Dress Himself'. Mixing floral prints and plaids is a huge no-no, and
so is overusing bright and painful colors. If you're really lost, find someone
who can help. It's better to consult your fashion crazed sister than to patrol
the city looking like a circus clown.
Getting Stronger
Even the best of super heroes run into a situation that's more than they can
handle. Do they give up when this happens? Of course not! They find a way to
build up their powers, then they go back and try again!
Do- Raise your stats. Going to either the Swashbuckling Academy on Krawk
Island, or the Mystery Island School, is a reliable way to train. These are
the best places for the average pet to get stronger. If you have some money
to spare, you can use the lab ray. However, you might find you have to change
your name frequently. There's a good chance that you'll be 'The Masked Lenny'
this week, and 'The Krazy Krawk' the next.
Don't- Sew fake muscles into your costume. It won't help, and your enemies
will be able to tell the difference.
Beating Enemies
One of the integral parts of being a super hero is actually beating the fiends
you go up against. Trust me, this is pretty important. If you've been training
like you should, this probably won't be much of a problem.
Do- Go into battle prepared. Find out all you can about your opponent
from people who have beaten it before, or from trustworthy websites. Commander
Garoo, for example, deals a lot of his damage in earth icons. A Shovel Plus
could be a handy weapon to use against him, but a U-bend probably wouldn't do
a bit of good.
Don't- Give up. No matter how tough your foe seems to be, you'll beat
them eventually. It might take more training or better weapons, but it's only
a matter of time until you join the ranks of super heroes the likes of Captain
K.
Don't- Get too cocky. Just because Meuka is a difficulty of 60 and you've
already beaten the Cave Chia (a close 58), that doesn't the little slime ball
will be a walk in the park.
Defender Trainer
It's important to not only train you body, but to keep your mind in tiptop
shape as well. A great way to do that is to brush up on your Neopian Trivia
with the help of Judge Hog's defender trainer. Learn to recognize Petpets and
strange items on sight, because you never know when that knowledge will come
in handy. (I don't know how you'll use the fact that the word Cobrall contains
both the letters 'b' and 'r', but if an established super hero says it's important...)
Do- Play often to increase your knowledge and reaction time. Good reflexes
can give you the edge you need in a close fight. (Plus, the NP it gives out
has been doubled, and extra money can't hurt.)
Don't- Attempt to make your own Defender Trainer instead. I strongly
doubt that your mother will appreciate it if you steal her produce, only to
tie it to sticks in the back yard. I don't think your Meepit will be fond of
the arrangement either.
Hopefully this guide has given you all you need to start your career as a do-gooding
vigilante on the streets of Neopia. With a little luck and a lot of skill, maybe
you'll get your own set of trading cards and lucrative Neocola endorsements.
Remember that the future of Neopia rests in your hands!
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