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Specializing your Neopets - Spread Out Your Resource


by halleycat2235

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Hi Neopians! The trouble with Neopia is there’s so much to do. You must have this problem, too: You wake up, your pets are clamouring for your attention, stuff is spilling out of your inventory, your shop’s been ransacked by wealthy shoppers, messages are piling up in your guild… you get the picture. Not to mention all the wheels to spin, the prizes to collect for yesterday’s good deeds, and - oh yeah! - you need to earn some Neopoints every once in a while! It’s enough to overwhelm the most valiant, energetic Neopian, which might lead to less than favourable results. (*exploding mortog*)

     Well, today’s your lucky day, because I have the remedy for your ills.

     Ever wonder how the most successful players do it? How they can afford all of those books, gourmet foods, training codestones, and job tickets at once, while setting aside Neopoints for their own endeavours? I’ll tell you how. They specialize!

     *cue theme song*

     The Specialists know that each Neopet has an inner drive, a propensity for one hobby or another that strengthens with use or withers from disregard. Figuring out your Neopet's speciality requires looking deep into his or her soul and extracting the essence within - that’s all! Once you extract your Neopet's essential nature, you can find the speciality within by probing it with questions like:

     What do you like to do on the weekends?

     How do you like your meals: Food Shop or Kelp?

     When’s the last time you were in Faerieland’s library?

     Which is your favourite Neopian land?

     What do you do when someone is mean to you?

     Be prepared, because you might hear answers you weren’t expecting! For instance, one pet’s natural inclination might be to SKIP weekends and work nonstop. Woah! Another pet might turn out to relish breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with a second breakfast, elevenses, afternoon tea, and supper to boot. You might learn that one of your Neopets is actually living INSIDE the library (I put you in the Neolodge?!?!), and another spends all her free time in the Battledome, challenging anyone who looks at her funny. Even pets you thought you knew can surprise, shock, and astound you, so it’s recommended that you enter this process with an exceedingly open mind and a fresh supply of Leafy Tissues.

     Let’s look at some examples.

     Now, not all my pets are quite mature enough to divulge their true callings. It’s true, too, that interests can and will change as the years go by. This is natural - don’t be alarmed! But also, y’know, try to encourage some industry and commitment.

     Jakester, my eldest, is my reader. The passage of many years has allowed him to undertake some strength training, and he spends much time keeping Mimi, his Zombie Karren, from eating her Larnikin, but his passion, as best I can tell, is delving into Neopia’s dusty tomes. Having read only 173 books, he’s not, uh, a very advanced reader for his age, but he has direction.

     Hallez is one pet who really knows herself - she is ALWAYS at the Mystery Island Training School trying to beef up for her battles. As just a little grape, she has a long way to go, but her Babaa is a willing participant in target practice (the wool cushions the blows).

     Hazlit, my little Pteri egg, tends to get down in the dumps. What she really likes is savouring gourmet foods over a nice, long dinner with her Babaa, so I try to keep her supplied with yummy morsels at all times. (Don’t tell her there are eggs in that dish!)

     And then there’s Hazlt. Hazlt is… well, you could say Hazlt is my guinea pig. No muscles, no brains, no employment history to speak of, not even a couple of fish from Ye Olde Fishing Vortex under her belt! She’s a bit of a puzzle. Hazlt is one of those rarest of Neopets that yearn for change at all times, novelty as the only constant. She willingly puts herself under the Lab Ray’s gun each and every day, only to find… -2 agility? +1 level? Yeah… this could just be a phase. Check back next week - I’m going to stick another job coupon under her pillow.

     As you can see, our pets are highly individualistic, with wishes and aspirations of their very own. I myself happen to have a reader, a warrior, an eater, and a… a worker, and you might find yourself with any or all of these, or maybe a fisher, a gamer, a beauty queen, an adventurer, a financial analyst or a shopper all your own! Only your Neopets (in consultation with you, their owner, on whom they rely for hobby funds) can decide.

     Once your pet has decided on their speciality, it’s time to put some real resources towards their success. (As my mother says, “A pet who tries and fails will only bother you with wails!”) Here’s where you can start:

     Got a warrior? Start with the Swashbuckling Academy on Krawk Island, move to the Mystery Island Training School when your pet gets strong enough, and eventually you’ll make it to the *Secret* Ninja Training School. Training is slow going, but that’s where your infinite patience and commitment to your pet’s progress comes in handy! Plus you can get a less reliable but sometimes useful boost from the lab ray, faerie quests, and dailies about Neopia to help with motivation.

     A beauty queen? If your Neopet fancies him- or herself a beauty queen, good luck - this one will require some time-intensive participation on your part. You might find yourself watching the hours tick by in your Neopet's studio as they insist over and over that you redraw the crook of their arm or the bandaid across their bald head… But your efforts will be repaid manyfold when gold, silver, and bronzes trophies adorn your pet’s homepage! Once the weekly Beauty Contest starts (Friday afternoons!), don’t forget: you are your pet’s best, most devoted, and sole advocate.

     A worker? Luckily, your Neopet can test the waters at the Faerieland Employment Agency with Basic Jobs. Any pet can undertake a Basic Job, and while they’re not always super lucrative, whose first job was ever a windfall? If your pet takes to running errands, you can graduate them to Super Jobs, for which they will need a Job Coupon. You could buy your pet a Green or Blue Job Coupon so they can get accustomed to the Super Job market, but be forewarned: only Neopia’s wheels (Excitement, Knowledge, and Extravagance) can give job coupons, so make your pet promise they’ll do due diligence at the wheels every day (or you could end up paying your pet’s wages!).

     Is your pet a reader, after the elusive Neopian Book Award? Yes, much of your Neopoints fortune will go towards Booktastic Books if this is the case, but just think of the peace and quiet with which you’ll be blessed when your Neopet's nose is stuck in a book. You’ll want to view which Booktastic Books your pet has read, which you can find by clicking on your pet’s intelligence in Quick Ref and then following the link to the special Booktastic list. Use Jellyneo’s Booktastic Books checklist tool to find unread books, make a Booktastic wishlist to hold everything, sort by price (or not), and start buying. You’ll be able to admire your efforts when your Neopet is the proud holder of a Booktastic trophy.

     A gourmand? Sometimes pets do tire of their stays at Cockroach Towers, after all. If your pet is exhibiting a sudden interest in high tea and caviar, it might be time to introduce them to Gourmet Foods. Much like Booktastic Books, get thee to the Gourmet Club Hall of Fame and see how many very rare foods, of rarity 90 to 100, your pet has already eaten! You can then use Jellyneo’s checklist tool to make a new wishlist. Shine up your Neopoints for the spending! With luck and good fortune, your Neopet might soon sport an “Honorary Member” badge on their homepage.

     And at last, a hobby that rewards persistence MORE than riches! If these last hobbies are out of your budget, consider Ye Olde Fishing Vortex. Given enough time, your Neopet could become a prosperous fisher and snag you many an old shoe.

     So, there you have it: give each of your Neopets the attention they deserve by specializing! Finally, your pets will let you buy stamps and chat on the Neoboards in peace. Keep your eyes peeled for Session 2: Specialized Pets Deserve Specialized Petpets (and Petpetpets) for even more tips on increasing and ensuring your Neopet's success!

     (Disclaimer: specializing your Neopets will not actually lead to ultimate prosperity, increased luck, or a fantastic new hairstyle. You might see a precipitous drop in your bank account’s balance, for which we cannot be held responsible. Likewise, we cannot be held responsible for any rebellion, rumination, or moodiness resulting from the implementation of these strategies. Follow directions at your own risk.)

     

 
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