One Shots: This is too weird for even me

I like to think that I have a fairly open mind when it comes to accepting strange sights and races in fantasy MMORPGs, but Final Fantasy XIV seems hellbent on finding my breaking point. Literal cat-fish might just be that. It’s too weird for me, I’m out of here.

“Looking for NPC comic relief?” Vincent asked. “I give you the Namazu. Half-cat, half-fish (?) and I’m pretty sure the person who came up with the design was half-baked. The other shot I took on the way back to Castellum Velodyna (Beast Tribe quest hub) just as the fog was about to lift…”

When you’ve just made Moogles look normal and mundane, you’ve really accomplished something.

I don’t think that I ever stopped to think that there might be an actual, literal “Black Desert” in Black Desert. Goes to show how little I consider game names any more.

Vunak continues his adventures by showing us this titular region: “This week Mica and I decided to go to the other side of the map and check out the actual Black Desert. I had only glimpsed it before and she had never been, so here are a few screenshots of our time out there.”

“This week I visited Allods Online,” wrote Finyar. “It’s a shame that the latter gets such a bad rep (mainly because of its payment system), because I think it still looks quite charming.”

I agree. Allods never really captured my attention past a few brief tries, but I always did like the style and the Russian influences. Plus the races are pretty cool!

Rafael also responded to my call for comic relief NPCs in MMOs with this picture from Star Stable. Just kidding, it is Blade and Soul.

“There are many in Blade and Soul, but I have to go no further than my Hongmoon students. Little spoiler for those not there yet, but yes, you get students! Meet the miscreant Buyang his loveable sister Bunah and ‘I cry because I can’ Jinbin. They aren’t your only students, but you spend a lot of time with these three because of… issues.

“Buyang, the one forgetting that kite travel is all about hanging on, is quite humorous indeed. Maybe even a little insulting. His snide remarks certainly keep you alert. Not to mention that before your return, he was using the Hongmoon name in a scam to profit off of the famous school. Ah well, all is forgiven my little friends. They are my students now and my family. Love the little tykes, even though trouble is seemingly your best subject.”

For the opposite of frivolity, we turn to DK and the void of space: “This pic of Star Citizen from inside my cutlass may look pretty to the casual observer, but to the trained eye it’s a hold pile of head smashing on brick walls.”

Dear Ask Justin,

I have recently met a woman in World of Warcraft, and things are going really great. She’s an NPC, and I’m a player, and some of our friends say that it won’t work out because of this, but we just laugh at the h8terz, you know? She’s really fun, and her whip only stings a little bit once you get used to it. Still, there is one thing about our relationship that nags at me. She keeps pestering me to sign this piece of parchment paper she has. Something about a ‘sole?’ Maybe she’s a Shoemaker, like our friend Tehd, seen with us here in this pic? I really like this woman, so any advice you have would be appreciated.

Sincerely,

Mr. Lonelypants

Dear Mr. Lonelypants,

If you are OK with a girlfriend who has cloven hooves and has to work weekends in a hell dimension, then I say, go for it. She looks to be the attentive, nurturing type who enjoys taming lions as a hobby.

Sincerely,

Don’t write to me again, how did you get this address, never mind

Demons. Hellspawn. Evil that lurks from regions that would make your mind melt. Let’s see them for this week’s screenshot challenge!