Wow, I didn't expect such negative response to the "there's a few months left" thing! In all honesty, the game will go until somebody wins, but trust me when I say that nobody is at all close to doing so.

Today's Tips:

• Though most of you have probably noticed this, many actions are not public. These "stealth" actions include using some items, casting a few spells, going shopping, equipping stuff, and more. If you're wondering if a particular action went through, then, don't be afraid to ask me.
• Zaile is buying stuff in points, so all he has to give you for your items is points as well. Mmmm, "life is money" has never been a more fitting phrase.

And we begin!

• Terror-A
• Terror-B
• Terror-C
• Terror-D
• Demon Guard-A
• Demon Guard-B
• Shadowcat
• Conjurer
• Electabuzz (Summon)
• Mud Demon
• Thing
• Glalie (Summon)

The scores shown on the sidebar reflect the scores of contestants at the exact time Carabbit froze time! Thus, if your score hasn't changed, it's probably because you "haven't gone yet." Sadly, since I'm gone next week, this game will not progress until the day I resume: That is, Tuesday, August 28th! Damn Wait Modes... remind me, for Sock 3, to make them just a one-day phenomenon like they were in the original. Ah well, it's the game.

GUILDS Don't go it alone!

Guild of Magus

Creator: Sandy
Type: Invite Only
You will be notified in case you are given an invitation- you may not freely join.

Order of Beorn

Creator: Sundoulos
Type: Invite Only
You will be notified in case you are given an invitation- you may not freely join.

Brotherhood of Lief

Creator: FirstAid
Type: Open
You are free to join this guild as long as your total level is 4 or less.

SOCK Intelligence Agency

Creator: Joshua
Type: Invite Only
The SIA has no open positions at this time.

The Healing Shield

Creator: Bainick
Type: Open
May freely join if the following is fulfilled:
You need to have begun the competition as Defender or Healer and have at least 2 levels combined of either to join!

SHOPS ...New stock every week!

Zaile's Items - Note: Prices are NOT in Gold!

Item	Effect	Price
Antidote	Cures Poison.	25 Points
Smelling Salts	Cures Confusion.	25 Points
Echo Herbs	Cures Silence.	35 Points
Flex Herb	Cures Immobilize and Disable.	50 Points
Gold Needle	Cures Stone or Paralysis	75 Points
Holy Water	Cures Haunt or Curse.	75 Points
Vaccine	Cures Virus.	75 Points
Remedy	Cures all negative status.	150 Points
Energizer	Increases Unarmed Attack Power by 2 permanently.	200 Points
Fighter's Star	Increases Fighter Level by 1 permanently.	200 Points
Defender's Star	Increases Defender Level by 1 permanently.	200 Points
White Mage's Star	Increases White Mage Level by 1 permanently.	200 Points
Black Mage's Star	Increases Black Mage Level by 1 permanently.	200 Points
Bolsterer	Increases a Weapon's Power by 10% permanently.	250 Points
Rare Candy	Levels up another piece of equipment when used.	250 Points

Zaile's Weapons - Note: Prices are NOT in Gold!

Weapon	Equipped Effect	Price
Wizard's Rod Blk 1	Power 3; Break% 10 Magic Power + 10%	75 Points
Staff of Senselessness Src 4	Power 15; Break% 10 50% chance of inflicting "Confuse" with attack	250 Points
Deathbringer Fgt 18 or Sck 9	Power 60; Break% 10 25% chance of instant KO	950 Points

Zaile's Armor - Note: Prices are NOT in Gold!

Armor	Equipped Effect	Price
Summoner's Cloak Sum 5	Break% 10 Summon Sacrifice Costs - 25%	250 Points
Force Armor Def 14	Break% 5 Halves all elemental damage.	300 Points
Chicken Suit Drg 3	Break% 5 Triples obtained Points and Experience, but causes Confuse status (cannot be prevented)	1000 Points

Zaile's Accessories - Note: Prices are NOT in Gold!

Item	Effect	Price
Fighter's Badge	Unlocks abilities from three levels above current Fgt level.	750 Points
Defender's Badge	Unlocks abilities from three levels above current Def level.	750 Points
White Mage's Badge	Unlocks abilities from three levels above current Wht level.	750 Points
Black Mage's Badge	Unlocks abilities from three levels above current Blk level.	750 Points

Zaile's Motes - Note: Prices are NOT in Gold!

Item	Effect	Price
Might Mote	Bestows "Might" status.	120 Points
Focus Mote	Bestows "Focus" status.	120 Points
Immobilize Mote	Causes "Immobilize" status to one target with 75% probability.	120 Points
Disable Mote	Causes "Disable" status to one target with 75% probability.	120 Points
Protect Mote	Bestows Protect status on one target.	100 Points
Ray Mote	35-70 Light-E dmg to one target.	80 Points
Umber Mote	60-110 Dark-E dmg to one target.	120 Points

Point Benchmarks ...Spend your points on rare items!

Benchmark	Prize Choice
50 pts	Fighter's Sword (Fgt 2; Power 15; Break% 1) Wizard's Rod (Blk 2; Power 3; Break% 10; MagPwr + 10%) Point Doubler (Doubles day's Pts when used)
75 pts	Defender's Shield (Def 2; Break% 5; Absorbs 20 Pts of Dmg completely) Cleric's Robe (Wht 2; Break% 20; Wht Magic Exp. Costs - 25%) Gold Doubler (Doubles day's Gold when used)
100 pts	AGG (Accessory: Gain bonus Gold when you write in a Q&A letter) APG (Accessory: Gain bonus Points when you write in a Q&A letter) AEG (Accessory: Gain bonus Experience when you write in a Q&A letter)
125 pts	Everybody's Mace (Weapon: No prerequisite job level; Power 10; Break% 3) Everybody's Guard (Armor: No prerequisite job level; Break% 10; Phys. Dmg. - 10%) Wait Mode (Item: Freezes Sock 2 in time for user's choice of between 1 and 3 days.)
150 pts	Guild Permit (Allows user to create a guild.) Level-Up Star (Grants target with exactly enough experience to reach the next level.) Blue Mage's Medal (???)
200 pts	Point Doubler (Doubles day's Points when used.) Gold Doubler (Doubles day's Gold when used.) Exp. Doubler (Doubles day's Exp. when used.)
250 pts	Staff of Aid (Weapon: Prereq. Wht 5; Power 5; Break% 10; Doubles power of Cure spells.) Sneak Glove (Item: Steal a random item from enemy or opponent with 75% prob.) Warp Stone (Item: Change points with another player, chosen at random.)
300 pts	Mind Break (Armor: Prereq. Def 7; Break% 15; Magic Damage - 50%) Goldgrabber (Weapon: Prereq. Fgt 5/Mer 12/Thf 1; Power 20; Break% 2; Gain 10% of target's Gold with successful attack.) Hawk's Eye (Accessory: If equipped, Obscure and Obscurega spells have no effect upon you.)
350 pts	Everybody's Lance (Weapon: No prereqs; Power 25; Break% 3) Everybody's Shield (Armor: No prereqs; Break% 5; Absorbs up to 50 pts of damage completely.) Thief's Medal (???)
400 pts	Deep Pocket (Accessory: Increases Item Capacity by 2.) Sneak Glove (Item: Attempts to steal random item from target with 75% probability.) Iron Boots (Accessory: Prevents wearer from getting knocked over.)
475 pts	Exp. Tripler (Item: Triples day's Experience when used.) Bullseye (Armor: Blu 5; Break% 5; 50% prob. that any monster attack will be directed at wearer.) Magnetic Apron (Armor: Mer 5; Break% 5; 50% prob. of obtaining any items used against you.)
550 pts	Gold Tripler (Item: Triples day's Gold when used.) White Magic Staff (Weapon: Wht 8; Power 5; Break% 10; White Magic Exp Costs -50%) Black Magic Staff (Weapon: Blk 8; Power 5; Break% 10; Black Magic Exp Costs -50%)
625 pts	Point Tripler (Item: Triples day's Points when used.) Thiefknife (Weapon: Thf 5; Power 20; Break% 5; 25% prob. of stealing with successful attack) Quickening Armor (Armor: Def 15; Break% 20; Eva + 25%, Can make a bonus guess on one question each day.)

Prize Shop Want something special? Start saving up...

Prize	Points Required
Nintendo DS Lite Carrying Case	1000 Points
Q&A Guest Host Position	1500 Points
DS or PSP game of your choice	3000 Points

Yesterday's Answers

#81:
d) Cindy (70 Gold)
This should have been pretty straightforward, as long as you've played Final Fantasy IV.

#82:
b) Panzer Dragoon Saga (80 Points)
Yep. Not much more to say here.