Anyone else getting annoyed?

[Daryn2889]

So I am having a great time leveling up my PUP. I'm thinking that it's the best job ever... Until I get to the dunes. There are so many n00b parties, and they seem to be the only ones who want me. All other parties don't take me in because they don't know what I'm good for or something. I actually got one party, and they said the puppetmaster job was the "lol" job, and yes it needs a few tweakings, but it's not worthless. I got very frustrated, so I just went back to being a bard. I don't know what to do, hopefully in the new update they will make puppetmaster play more of a role in parties. I mean come on, why is their main weapon skill at C?

I am very disappointed, Puppetmaster has been my goal ever since I returned to the game, now it's like bleh. I am hoping to see some major changes in the update.

And anyone who is reconsidering PUP because of what I'm saying, don't. It's just an opinion :thumbsup: and besides the job has major potential, it's just not complete yet.

[Ryddr]

I thought PUP could effectively solo? Is this not so?

[Daryn2889]

I thought PUP could effectively solo? Is this not so?

Yes it's possible but there are about 3 problems (maybe more but I am focusing on these 3):

1) Their best combat skill (Hand 2 Hand) is at level "C", so what good does the damage output do? Even when I was subbing MNK, my level 30 job, I still didn't do that much damage.

2) They can only use mage armor, so their defense is a bit low and runs high risk of dying.

3) Puppets don't have unlimited life/ highest defense in the world either. If you are thinking about having your puppet tank, then you'd need to take a lot of oils with you, and if it dies, well then it dies and that's it. Also if you Activated it before 20 minutes were up, then you'd have to wait.

Athough they say puppetmaster is great for soloing, I only see that in the beginning levels, and then it's a downward spiral.

Double Post Edited:
Oh they should also change that annoying Scanner for the mage puppet frame. It seems to do nothing but enfeebling. Also they should lessen the time it takes for the mage to cast spells, because it takes quite a while @_@

[Murphie]

This is why I'm not taking PUP past 10 right now. Well, that and the ridiculously expensive items for getting new frames. I can't justify spending a bunch of gil on a job that I'm not that enthused by at the moment.

[samarium]

I HAVE seen a PUP soloing pretty effectively, and the automatons seem to have tons of HP, although it's a job you throw money at to do well - you need lots of Automaton oil and you'll still end up with downtime.

The automaton can do neat things at extremely early levels like Flash and Stoneskin, which helps with it tanking, but the PUP himself seems fairly useless. Low-level H2H skill and no real armor to speak of.

I'm not sure what SE was thinking this job would accomplish, but /sea all PUP gives me 15 results, and /sea all BST gives me 50 - that's a record.

-sam

[Jei]

they got nothing new after level 30 as of the moment. S-E should be giving them something soon...

[Mog]

lol! This is what I find when I search the new jobs.

/sea all blu 60-75

I find 100 people.

/sea all cor 60-75

I find 25 people.

/sea all pup 60-75

I find 1 person. >.>;

I don't know what SE intended when they made this job. Could it be a solo job? Is it made for parties? Nobody can say for sure, because I don't know anyone who's a high-level pup and who bothered rising the ranks of that job. SE needs to make some major changes to both pup, and blu (which will get nerfed very soon, so enjoy your power while you can).

[Raydeus]

Geez! no one reads job description anymore...

These wandering performers entertain crowds and confound their enemies with a customizable puppet known as an "automaton." Puppetmasters can also fall back on hand-to-hand fighting skills that utilize the flexible movements of their art.


As you can see, PUP was meant to be a performer, they were meant to entertain other players and get gil from that.

Why do you think Automatons have such big and hollow heads?

That's right, after the show is over they take it off and use it so people can throw the gil there. A PUP's H2H skill isn't for fighting IT mobs either, no, it is meant to be used on all those noobs that watch your show and don't give you gil.

They watched it so they gotta pay!



So, please stop spreading false info about this new and awesome job, you hurt us all.

Now if only I could make Bards learn other songs rather than the same one over and over again...maybe some Techno-Mazurka or something...

[Mog]

Geez! no one reads job description anymore...




As you can see, PUP was meant to be a performer, they were meant to entertain other players and get gil from that.

Why do you think Automatons have such big and hollow heads?

That's right, after the show is over they take it off and use it so people can throw the gil there. A PUP's H2H skill isn't for fighting IT mobs either, no, it is meant to be used on all those noobs that watch your show and don't give you gil.

They watched it so they gotta pay!



So, please stop spreading false info about this new and awesome job, you hurt us all.

Now if only I could make Bards learn other songs rather than the same one over and over again...maybe some Techno-Mazurka or something...

Then what's the point of leveling? :P To get more exciting dances from the puppet?

[Raydeus]

Then what's the point of leveling? :P To get more exciting dances from the puppet?

To be able to beat higher lvl players if they dont give you gil :evil:

[Grandsummoner_Kairos]

I effectively soloed as pup/nin from levels 1-20. from 20-35 i outdamaged everyone in all my parties. PuP is VERY strong with decent equipment and all attachments at the levels under 40. Its decent 40-50 and after that is where it falls off. Its mainly due to the fact that the attachments don't scale in any way. I'm waiting at 50 poised to get AF after i see what they do with the job. I have smn and drg at 75 and bst is close. Only thing left I even want to level is pup.

[DakAttack]

The only things the Puppetmaster confounds are the people who party with it...

[mikejones]

kairos is actually very right. even though people say that pup is such a low-end DD from the mediocre damage that the player deals out himself, the puppet deals out most of the damage. if you actually parse any battles, PUP (before 30-40ish that is) can outdamage SAM, WAR, NIN, etc. But since square probably never planned any attachments or w/e to scale its playability after that level range, PUP really seems to be gimped. I'm sure square will do something in the next patch. just watch :)

maybe we can actually shout "Will Dance 4 Gilz ^^" in jeuno or whitegate.

[Ciros]

PUP, I think, has the most potential out of the three new jobs. However, I think several things that need to be improved before PUPs will become truly legendary. I think they are:

* Improving the quality of the Puppetmaster him/herself. Thus far, they can only use maneuvers, pepper small damage, and once in a while use a WS for decent damage. Their physical power needs to be given a serious boost. A Martial Arts JA wouldn't hurt, either.

* Puppets themselfs need to become more durable, powerful... well, pretty much recieve an overhaul in every area.

* The price of oil needs to be lowered (why does that sound familer?), and the amount of HP it heals should alter with the puppet's level.

With all that, I think PUPs can become a force to be reckoned with.

[Daryn2889]

Actually now I am back to leveling my Puppetmaster. I couldn't ust drop the job after it has been my goal. I got a party in the dunes today where me and my puppet were actually doing most of the damage. I know they will make it better, and I have a lot of confidence in it. I can't wait to see how it will turn out in the future, and everyone who isn't leveling it now because they don't like it will feel sorry when it becomes great in the near-future.

[Gilge]

i think what people focus on when they think pup is bad is they look at the damage that only the pup is doing. ive only ptied w/ about 3 or 4 puppetmasters through the dunes (i think), but from what i remembered, the damage the automaton and the player did combined was above average. combine that with pulling the mob w/ the automaton, and i think you've got a better DD than people give it credit for.

[Daryn2889]

i think what people focus on when they think pup is bad is they look at the damage that only the pup is doing. ive only ptied w/ about 3 or 4 puppetmasters through the dunes (i think), but from what i remembered, the damage the automaton and the player did combined was above average. combine that with pulling the mob w/ the automaton, and i think you've got a better DD than people give it credit for.

I wish everyone could see it the way you and I see it. I totally agree with you, because this sounds like me. I worked hard on building up my puppet and he is very strong and when you put us together, we can take on tough mobs solo. In parties, I make my automaton use Flash all the time and the mob hardly gets a chance to hit anyone when it's blind like that. I sub monk and I am pretty strong with my H2H. I even managed to pull of some SCs with my Automaton, which I thought was freaking amazing when the first time that happened. People take us for granted just because of our label. Many Puppetmasters are dedicated players, and peple need to open their eyes to that fact.

[IfritnoItazura]

In parties, I make my automaton use Flash all the time and the mob hardly gets a chance to hit anyone when it's blind like that.

Nice! You wouldn't believe how many times I've asked for concrete reasons why I should invite a PUP instead of someone else. This is the first time anyone has given me one instead of the usual "we're not so bad!"

At what level can the PUP start doing this? How often can Flash be used? I may invite a PUP if I have a NIN or WAR tank, once the PUP's have Flash.


I sub monk and I am pretty strong with my H2H.

No offense, but I find this part hard to believe; no support job can drastically improve a PUP's Hand to Hand skill--heck, as far as I know, no support job can improve that at all. How about subbing RNG for accuracy instead? Or do you lose important WS that way?


I even managed to pull of some SCs with my Automaton

Hmm. So I should leave PUP out of SC's? That way, they can SC with automatons at their own pace?

[Raydeus]

i think what people focus on when they think pup is bad is they look at the damage that only the pup is doing. ive only ptied w/ about 3 or 4 puppetmasters through the dunes (i think), but from what i remembered, the damage the automaton and the player did combined was above average. combine that with pulling the mob w/ the automaton, and i think you've got a better DD than people give it credit for.

No offense, but I find this part hard to believe; no support job can drastically improve a PUP's Hand to Hand skill--heck, as far as I know, no support job can improve that at all. How about subbing RNG for accuracy instead? Or do you lose important WS that way?

Itazura (Ifrit's mischief? :P ) they are talking about the V. Dunes levels, up to lvl 30ish PUP is a good DD from what I've been told. The problems start after lvl 40, that's when PUP goes downhill, specially with a C rating on H2H skill.

[Daryn2889]

Nice! You wouldn't believe how many times I've asked for concrete reasons why I should invite a PUP instead of someone else. This is the first time anyone has given me one instead of the usual "we're not so bad!"

At what level can the PUP start doing this? How often can Flash be used? I may invite a PUP if I have a NIN or WAR tank, once the PUP's have Flash.




No offense, but I find this part hard to believe; no support job can drastically improve a PUP's Hand to Hand skill--heck, as far as I know, no support job can improve that at all. How about subbing RNG for accuracy instead? Or do you lose important WS that way?




Hmm. So I should leave PUP out of SC's? That way, they can SC with automatons at their own pace?

Actually a PUP with the right attachment can use Flash starting from level 1 lol. There is also an attachment for Stoneskin, but I don't really use it because I don't believe having the puppet tank is the best idea on earth (probably because I use the mage frame but idk). I think this is actually better than having a mage cast flash, because this flash costs 0 mp on the automatons part and it can be used over and over right after the affect wears off. If the PUP is using light maneuver, than the puppet would use it more often. I don't see why all PUPs don't have flash... Well actually maybe it's because of the price but I don't remember it being too high.

Maybe I do decent damage because of my up-to-date gear or something, idk but I was doing more damage than the SAMs, sometimes even without the help of my puppet. Though my puppet really does help a lot because it hits the mobs and it has the ever-lasting enthunder.

Regarding skillchains, it depends on the attachment. I have this tp efficient attachment, and this helps my puppet to detect when and which weapon skill to use when contributing to a chain. Maybe ask the PUP if he has the Store TP attachment. Store TP sounds like it just saves it up, but the description is that it increases TP efficiency. I think that is pretty cool.

Double Post Edited:
Itazura (Ifrit's mischief? :P ) they are talking about the V. Dunes levels, up to lvl 30ish PUP is a good DD from what I've been told. The problems start after lvl 40, that's when PUP goes downhill, specially with a C rating on H2H skill.

This may be, but remember that basically there is nothing for PUP after level 25 anyway... At level 25 a PUP gains the job trait "Martial Arts", and then there is nothing after that. Of course this will change, but you may be right about the fact that as of now they are very decent DDs up until level 30. That's why I do not understand why people rush to level the job, as I am taking my time and studying about it because I know the job isn't complete yet.

[Raydeus]

This may be, but remember that basically there is nothing for PUP after level 25 anyway... At level 25 a PUP gains the job trait "Martial Arts", and then there is nothing after that. Of course this will change, but you may be right about the fact that as of now they are very decent DDs up until level 30. That's why I do not understand why people rush to level the job, as I am taking my time and studying about it because I know the job isn't complete yet.

Yep I think the same, until AF and high level Automaton upgrades are aviable there is no point on rushing or even level the job beyond level 40. That's why I'm not leveling any of the new jobs right now, I want to wait and see what are they gonna change or add to jobs before leveling them.

[Daryn2889]

Yep I think the same, until AF and high level Automaton upgrades are aviable there is no point on rushing or even level the job beyond level 40. That's why I'm not leveling any of the new jobs right now, I want to wait and see what are they gonna change or add to jobs before leveling them.

Well it doesn't necesarily mean you shouldn't test them out a little as the way they are so you see the ups and downs and its potentials. I want to try and take PUP up to level 75 when it's complete, so I'm just trying to get all the basics down, because at least all 3 jobs have that much. Although PUP DOES lack with the H2H combat skills.

Just a thought, but considering the armor and the H2H skill that a pup uses, MAYBE SE built the PUP so it can stand back and control the automaton to do it's bidding, much like the summoner. I know it sounds weird now, because the automaton certainly is not like the avatars and lacks in power for it to solo mobs without the help of it's master. Also the big lack of control that the PUP has over it's automaton with the exception of using Maneuvers, but maybe this will all change in the next update.

Or maybe I'm wrong and a PUP was meant for pure DDing with the help of a pet, like the DRG or BST. Either way I wouldn't mind, but I would like to be up on the front lines attacking a bit myself so idk. We'll see how it all plays out.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

I've really had no issues with having PUPs join my PTs. Problem PUP has is people expected this, much like DRG, to be a pure melee class and they try to play it as such. It's not, it can be diiferent things.

As far as my experience playing with PUPs, I've enjoyed them a lot more and had more effective PTs than the majority of BLUs I've had to stomach PTing with. When I've been out tanking, PUPs have usually done very well in helping me keep the mob in-place and doing good damage.

I don't really have a problem with the damage BLU does, but I do take issue with the rate at which they spam spells (most of which are spammed ineffectively, like Bludgeon). Blue spells should be more like COR's Phantom Rolls, where there's a signifigant recasts, preventing spam. I'd say like a 20-30 second recast at least, because I can't be the only person out there that's groaned when you're tanking and a BLU is invited to PT with you.

Personally, I think COR is the only balanced job introduced from the expansion. It doesnt get to do as much damage as a ranger, but its sufficent, worthwhile damage. It doesn't get forced into subbing mage like BRD does and has a lot of useful buffs as opposed to a large list of buffs that generally aren't used. My only quibble with CORs is most of the one's I've PTed with after 40 don't use the Card Shots effectively to enhance debuffs, instead, they use it to DD.

[Raydeus]

Well it doesn't necesarily mean you shouldn't test them out a little as the way they are so you see the ups and downs and its potentials.

I'm way too busy trying to get PLD to 70ish to even consider leveling a new job heheh, so I'll wait for now. :thumbsup:

[pearlsea]

i think what people focus on when they think pup is bad is they look at the damage that only the pup is doing. ive only ptied w/ about 3 or 4 puppetmasters through the dunes (i think), but from what i remembered, the damage the automaton and the player did combined was above average. combine that with pulling the mob w/ the automaton, and i think you've got a better DD than people give it credit for.

>.>, its like bst, they dont care about your overal DoT but just what you yourself can do. I got an invite around 40 (after hours of lfp), the main person i was comparing myself to was the war/nin, i was bst/war. I was hitting for 5-15 less then her per hit but you need to add in my pet damage which was about the same as what i was doing with a little less acc (I had acc gear and sole sushi), and while the war/nin did do 2 times the WS damage , if the tiger used razor fangs then we were still equal. I know its not parced and just from my observations but im sure i would of noticed if i was a gimp DD or whatever.

[Gilge]

for me, its ok that pup's DD skill decreases after lvl 30, because imo, there's nothing for a pup after lvl 30 (when you get your last frame). with no af yet, and no G5 for them, I really have no motivation to lvl pup after maybe 35 or so.

no af is probably hte reason i've been stickin mostly to the old jobs. i've just got nothing to shoot for.:cry:

[Drive]

the puppetmaster or the puppet doesn't get subtle blow do they? only the pup if you go /mnk or /nin right?

[Daryn2889]

I've really had no issues with having PUPs join my PTs. Problem PUP has is people expected this, much like DRG, to be a pure melee class and they try to play it as such. It's not, it can be diiferent things.

As far as my experience playing with PUPs, I've enjoyed them a lot more and had more effective PTs than the majority of BLUs I've had to stomach PTing with. When I've been out tanking, PUPs have usually done very well in helping me keep the mob in-place and doing good damage.

I don't really have a problem with the damage BLU does, but I do take issue with the rate at which they spam spells (most of which are spammed ineffectively, like Bludgeon). Blue spells should be more like COR's Phantom Rolls, where there's a signifigant recasts, preventing spam. I'd say like a 20-30 second recast at least, because I can't be the only person out there that's groaned when you're tanking and a BLU is invited to PT with you.

Personally, I think COR is the only balanced job introduced from the expansion. It doesnt get to do as much damage as a ranger, but its sufficent, worthwhile damage. It doesn't get forced into subbing mage like BRD does and has a lot of useful buffs as opposed to a large list of buffs that generally aren't used. My only quibble with CORs is most of the one's I've PTed with after 40 don't use the Card Shots effectively to enhance debuffs, instead, they use it to DD.

I'm glad to hear that you have no problems partying with us PUPs. Some of us take the job seriously, while others just do it to get to level 75 asap or some other stupid reason. I have fun with the job and every party I get into, I don't disappoint one bit. They actually get disappointed when I have to leave because I contribute quite a bit @_@

Double Post Edited:
the puppetmaster or the puppet doesn't get subtle blow do they? only the pup if you go /mnk or /nin right?

The puppetmaster only has 3 job traits, for now at least. They are Resist Slow (level 10) Evasion Bonus (Level 20) and Martial Arts (25). You are right, since I am subbing monk, I do have Subtle Blow, along with Martial Arts and almost Counter.

[mytoy]

i use stoneskin attachment w/ pup all the time its nice to protect it from the occaisonal mob attack while fighing and protection againmsst AOE, havent got flashbulb for flash yet but im trying to get to nashmau to buy it from npc, its cheaper thatn AH

i think what people focus on when they think pup is bad is they look at the damage that only the pup is doing. ive only ptied w/ about 3 or 4 puppetmasters through the dunes (i think), but from what i remembered, the damage the automaton and the player did combined was above average. combine that with pulling the mob w/ the automaton, and i think you've got a better DD than people give it credit for.

THANK YOU FOR POINTING THIS OUT!
I spend hours waiting for party invite, i go to websites and look at pup forums and all i see is:
PUP SUX PUP GIMPED LOLPUP

and crap like that its annoying pup is not weak, pup ROX in ballista, pup could pwn pretty much anything in ballista cept for other pet jobs

[zagex]

So PUP is the new Drg in terms of "lol" job?

[Aeronus]

damn this is dissapointing, i wanted to play as pup soo bad, dont even get party invites:o

[Feba]

pup/nin from levels 1-20.why?

[Lilani]

My PUP is only level 20, so I can't tell you much on how it works, but I would like to point out something about the "problem" with expensive frames.

You don't HAVE to buy all three of them. I know some people who have taken it past 50 who only have one frame unlocked. After you get the frame you want unlocked you don't have to buy the others if you don't want to. Yes, I will admit that it is better to have all of them unlocked, in case your party has a preference, but it is not a requirement to unlock a new one 10 levels. That first attatchment can cost 200k-500k depending on prices on your servers, but after that you're pretty much set.

If I ever get back to leveling it, I know I'm not going to unlock the others. One reason being for the cost, but the other because I like the mage attatchment. I know a lot about how it works and I'm very comfortable with it, and I don't see a point in having to go back and learn about a new one when I like the one I have right now. However, if I ever get bored or don't like it anymore I will unlock another. But until then I'm fine with it.

And one thing on soloing: It's possible 1-20, I know that much. While LFP I must have soloed myself up almost three levels at the Dunes/Highlands. I'm not sure about upper levels, but it's not very difficult to take down a DC at 19-20, even given that the H2H skill is C.

Although, I will admit that the amount of H2H weapons you can choose from suck. I ended up getting HQ versions of the weapons as I leveled, because it would be 6-9 levels before I could even think about getting a new one.

[Hantz]

First of all, let me say, I am not a PUP, nor do I plan to be; I don't even have ToAU installed yet. That being said, I think this thread is the right one for the conversation I would like to have about PUP in general. The basic idea of this thread is pretty relative to my opinions of the way PUP has developed.

That being said, there are many aspects of PUP that I often dwell upon. I would like to hear any and all possible explanations/opinions anyone thinks are relevant.

1.) Back when I frequented another FFXI forums site (which will remain nameless, despite the fact that many of you instantly know what that site was), when it came time for ToAU to introduce new jobs, idiocy ensued. Disregarding the cries for jobs such as pirate (which turned out fine) and necromancer *shudder* and how I felt about that in regards to the FF universe, my major gripe with introducing Necromancers was largely based on game-play. I argued the point that, in a game where each job has to precariously maintain an individual identity without overshadowing the others to regulate balance, where would a new pet job fit?

It seems now, to me at least, that my fears were justly warranted.

SMN's unique role lies in the fact that each of their pets is based on a certain affinity (most being elemental *damn you terrestrials!*) that governs their abilities. Having their use be based on MP consumption, they have their own uses and limitations based in a purely magical field.

DRG's pet role was clearly as a physical DD, perfectly suited for a PT role. In theory, their wyverns add extra effects to a DRG's every move, basic melee and job abilities/spells alike. In effect, a DRG (again, in theory) end up operating at 150% of their potential (initially limited by few JTs and JAs) to warrant the use of a pet. The wyvern is also a static pet, who remains relativley unchanged throughout the DRG's career, unlike other pet jobs where the pet used can vary greatly.

BSTs, dealing with wild enemies, were given JAs strictly to manipulate this type of pet. All possible BST pets do have their own elemental strengths/weaknesses, but they are not as strictly aligned with them as a SMN's pets are. Despite your feelings as to the originally intended role of BSTs, they arguably fulfill a similar role as that of the SMN, but as the physical counterpart to the magical SMN. Each pet has a set of skills, it's own situational uses, and it's own costs/risks.

This brings us to the present. Where do we (maybe more importantly, does SE) feel that a PUP should fit? Even with the introduction of new jobs that fit in more non-traditional roles (BLU as a "physical mage" with physical spells and affinities, and COR as a link between support and DD) it's still hard to find where the PUP was supposed to fit. The PUP's gear choices, skill limitations, and pet uses paint a blurry picture. They seem to point in contradictory directions. Are PUPs meant to be DD in the cast of DRG and BST, wailing away next to a powerful pet? Pet choices seem to say yes, while gear and skill seem to say no. Are PUPs meant to be the RDM "jack-of-all-trades" of the pet role? The versatility of the Automaton's roles hints "yes," but the lack of the real support abilities of a RDM say not.

As much as I doubt that the PUP's shortcomings are based on the players' lack of imagination, is it possible that PUPs fit into such a nuanced role that we just aren't seeing where it goes? Or is the answer that the PUP hasn't been given such a role in the first place?

2.) How is this dilemma remedied? Do you feel that PUP is already pointed in the direction of a certain role, and that some simple gear/skill tweaks could allow them to reach that potential more easily? Maybe more gear options are the solution. A high rating in a weapon could solve this. I think a more drastic solution could be to give PUP an A+ in weapon that other jobs only achieve an A- at most could make it, at least, a master of some weapon. To go super drastic, what if PUP was given an A+ in throwing, and throwing weapons were given weapon skills? Is it going to take something that big to fix the job? Or will it be something more along the lines of more pet control or JAs? I don't know.

3.) Do you think it's the Automatons that are causing the problems? It seems that the puppets start to lose their sheen at around level 40. Could this be fixed by adding new attachments, or would it take a new frame or two starting at those levels?

4.) It has been rumored that Alexander may appear before too long. It has also been rumored that, due to Al's mechanical nature and story clues about rebuilding him, he may end up being a powerful Automaton. How would any of you PUPs feel about that possibility?


Edit: I re-read the PUP history from POL and found this again, just for some context to point #4:

Automatons were developed by a group of craftsmen led by Ghatsad, a Galkan puppetmaker. Ghatsad has never explained what he hoped to achieve with the creation of automatons, but rumors say that the gigantic automaton-like being that appears in Aht Urhgan's founding myth is the ultimate goal of his work. As if to underscore the truth of the rumors, it seems that Ghatsad was provided with a substantial research fund from the Imperial Treasury under the pretense of encouraging private enterprise. With a massive amount of capital at his disposal, Ghatsad set about putting together a research team from the finest alchemists the Empire had to offer, not to mention expert blacksmiths, goldsmiths, bonecrafters, and clockmakers from every corner of the world. After ten years of painstaking work, they finally completed the very first automaton--Mnejing. However, when a triumphant Ghatsad entered the palace with his newly created automaton, he did not receive the warm reception he expected. The Emperor and his court entertained visions of the giant creation of legend, and when they beheld the shaky gait of Mnejing and the command cord trailing behind her, they assaulted Ghatsad with gales of derisive laughter. Only one face among the hecklers lit up at the sight of the tottering automaton--Crown Prince Jalzahn. The prince not only convinced his father to allow him to keep Mnejing, but also to employ Ghatsad as his personal tutor. Even while Ghatsad's creations were quietly ridiculed as the "prince's toys," the puppetmaker continued his research within the palace up until the day the Emperor died, many years later.

I know that is long, but if you have any feelings that you think pertain to any of these questions, don't be afraid to let them fly.

Thanks.