Maybe I'm just being sensitive or maybe I've done too much to go by and let it be taken for granted.

I'm no Superman nor am I Bill Clinton but a simple "Gee Kev, thanks for doing so-and-so for me, I truly appreciate it" would definitely suffice. Not that I'm hoping for something in return but hey, it won't kill for people to show some gratitude from time to time, no?

I'm super frustrated at the fact that sometimes I tend to do stuff and I'm not given enough attention for something I worked to make it the best it can be. I placed my heart and soul to do stuff for people and what did I get? Nothing.

I feel like just letting it go and forget about putting my effort into doing something and just do a half-passed six job just because you are not going to appreciate it anyway.

Looks like I've gotten more than what I've bargained for.

It is pretty true what they say about working. You either have nothing to do or you'd be stressed out at how much shit you have to put up with.

Maybe it is my personality. I hate being stuck or staying stagnant and when I hit a block, I would be upset over the fact that I can't keep moving. I feel exactly like that now. I'm presented with too much obstacles that I clearly can't overcome.

Everyone has a choice to make. Either choose to overcome the obstacle or to turn away from it. I falter to the latter, sooner or later.

I thought I'd be staying true to my job as a copywriter, but no less I find myself wandering in a web of multitasking, or rather, over-tasking.

It's been almost 2 months I've started working with my company. With all due respect, I have nothing against the pressure as the company is very easy going and linear in other aspects of the work ethics other than job scope. I'm being hired as a copywriter but that is far from my own practise.

In a percentage of duties I do in work, I would say copywriting is represented by 20% of the entire fraction. Web content management takes a whooping 60% of my work time and the other 20% goes to clientèle. I just don't think that's how I'm suppose to be conducted as. Seriously, if I'm hired to do a job that is not within my job scope, I feel the zest of outdoing myself in that specific scope beginning to subside and become a drone of economy. Heck, I'm even losing my writer's touch when writing this blog entry because all I could think of is how to manage sites, keeping the page presentable and such.

ARGH!

I seriously don't think I'd be staying long in this company. I'm suppose to work as a copywriter, damn it!

NOTICE: For the up-to-date version of this guide, please refer to this link instead.

I decided to compile all my findings regarding runes for Cabal Online as a point of reference for myself and as for anyone else who would like to take up this post as a guide.

My guide is incomplete but I will update it from time to time when I get relevant information and the time to do so.

Oh, of course, credits will be given and best of all, it is given right here, right now:

Screenshots of the game were taken by myself from CabalSEA
Original artworks are copyrights and belonging to ESTSoft

Following is the list of FAQ:

FAQ Index

1. Introduction and Basics of Runes (a.k.a. Soul Ability)
2. Introduction and Basics of Blended Runes
3. Application of Runes
4. Rune Usage and Growth
5. Rune Drop Location
6. Rune Stats, Types and Abilities
7. Rune Abilities Limitation
8. Things Needed to Learn and Develop Rune Abilities
9. Rune Charts

What are Runes?

Runes are the latest edition to the game, Cabal Online in Episode 3: Soul & Sienna, amongst other new features. The Runes (also known as Soul Ability) are similar to the pet option, whereby you can use it to learn specific options such as HP, Attack, Magic Attack and etc. that adds bonus to you permanently as long as you have learnt the Runes and is not deleted from the Soul Ability window.

To access this window, simply press U from your keyboard or alternatively click the icon circled in red as shown in the screenshot below:



Once done, you will see this window:



As you can see, the attribute skills which I had learned are Stun Resist, Down Resist, Knock-Back Resist, STR, DEX, INT and Pet EXP respectively.

Return to the FAQ Index


What are Blended Runes?

Blended Runes are an extension of how normal runes work. Unlike normal Runes which are completely passive, Blended Rune requires you to firstly 'activate' the skill or effect that you want in order for it to work passively. For example, having the Shock I, Defenseless I and Sword Pressure I rune learned, you can have all 3 blended runes activated at any one time as long as it is 'activated'.

Return to the FAQ Index


When can I use/learn Runes?

You can start learning these Runes from level 120 onwards, as this is where the first rune's level requirement is met and also this is when you start to gain Soul Ability known as Ability Experience Points (AXP). There is a bar right above the EXP bar which is yellow, instead of the EXP which is blue, as seen from the screenshot below:



It is also visible inside the Soul Ability Window (U) as shown in the screenshot below:



Return to the FAQ Index


How do I level up my Runes?

Runes require AP to learn and level it. In order to gain 1 AP, it is required to attain 10,000,000 AXP. The character gains AXP every time the character gains EXP. A character at any given time can store a maximum of 500 AP. Once reaching this limit, the character will not be able to gain anymore AXP nor AP until it is spent on Runes.

Return to the FAQ Index


Where can I find/hunt for Runes?

You can generally find runes at higher level maps and dungeons.

For Maps:

• Lakeside
• Mutant Forest
• Pontus Ferrum

For Dungeons:

• Frozen Tower of the Undead B1F
• Volcanic Citadel
• Frozen Tower of the Undead B2F
• Forgotten Temple B1F
• Forbidden Island
• Sienna Altar B1F
• Forgotten Temple B2F

Return to the FAQ Index


What type of Runes are there?

There are altogether 26 types of Runes at the moment for Cabal Online. The Runes, in the breakdown in groupings are:

Stats:

• HP
• MP
• STR
• INT
• DEX
• Attack
• Magic Attack
• Defense
• Attack Rate
• Defense Rate

Resistance:

• Down Resistance
• Stun Resistance
• Knock-Back Resistance

EXP:

• EXP
• Skill EXP
• Party EXP
• Pet EXP

Amp:

• Sword Skill Amp
• Magic Skill Amp

Vampiric:

• HP Steal Percentage
• HP Steal Per Hit
• MP Steal Percentage
• MP Steal Per Hit

Wealth:

• Alz Drop Rate
• Alz Drop Amount
• Alz Bomb Chance

For reference of each type of Rune after it has been learned, refer here.

Return to the FAQ Index


What are the limitations to the Runes I could learn?

Although there are 26 Runes in which could be very helpful if a player is given the chance to learn all of it, however a character can only learn up to 13 types of Rune at any one time.

Return to the FAQ Index


What do I need to learn these Runes?

The first thing would be the Rune itself, of course along with other catalysts, mainly cores. The type of cores that are needed for the skill increases depending on the growth and level of the Rune. For a more detailed information on requirements for Rune growth, refer to the Rune Growth Chart.

Return to the FAQ Index


Rune Charts

Runes (With Images)

Type	Image	Name	Drop Location
Stats		HP	Pontus Ferrum (Cornus)
		STR	Frozen Tower of the Undead B1F (Chest)
		INT	-
		DEX	Volcanic Citadel (Chest)
		Attack Rate	Volcanic Citadel (Any mobs)
		Defense Rate	Forbidden Island (Any mobs)
Resistances		Knock-Back Resist	Forbidden Island
		Down Resist	Frozen Tower of the Undead B2F
		Stun Resist	Volcanic Citadel

Return to the FAQ Index

Change Log
24th September 2010	-	Added HP, Attack Rate and Defense Rate Runes to the table
20th August 2010	-	Added Blended Runes to the guide
28th August 2009	-	Guide is up!

I'm not the first and certainly, won't be the last one to speak about how atrocious Malaysian ISP is.

Time after time being defamed by so many, yet they hardly take notice of it. This, my friends is called the tidak apa attitude.

What is a tidak apa attitude you ask?

Well, let me explain in an actual scenario from the service we are proudly 'supporting', TMNet Streamyx.

Scenario 1

Technician A:	We're suppose to be going to Z's house to fix the wiring today at 2 p.m. sharp
Technician B:	Lah, no need to worry so much. We'll make it there by 2 p.m., can one.
*** Their arrival at Z's house at 3.16 p.m. ***
Mr. Z:	It's been an hour since our last confirmed appointment.
Technician A:	We're really sorry Mr. Z.
Technician B:	Tidak apa Mr. Z, we're here aren't we?

Even halfway writing this blog post, my connection was abruptly dropped off. No drafts were saved so I managed to do a backup of this in my Word Document. See how bad our ISP is?

Telekom Malaysia has no shame at all, providing us with this kind of service and has the knack to say that they have gone through breakthrough measures to give us the best there is.

It's also sad that there's no worldwide internet governing body that would help us that are deprived of our rights on the internet and its usage to help us out. I guess we're all stranded on this stagnant land known as Malaysia.

Weird blog title but I couldn't think of anything to describe this post's topic of discussion, as it covers a huge array of things.

Firstly, what a way to kick start my first week of work. It has already officially been 1 week since I started. It was as Daniel had told me, I've got some big shoes to fill, and tons of work that I need to start funneling my energy, time and concentration on. After the departure of 2 of my colleagues, I have to start picking up where they left off, tackling a couple of clients and going to meetings (all on the first week!). I'm not ranting about this, in fact it's nice to actually see a change of scenery in my life, for that I'm truly thankful.

Onward to gaming drama! I've been in LasNoches for not too long in CabalSEA and I've met a few people in the guild (not face to face just yet, lol) but it seems there has been a debacle going on, the closest of friends I made in LN has left due to a dispute. It really isn't something I find comfortable, for my friends who have had made ties with the guild and the members were to be severed because of a conflict that could easily be solved if there has been a thorough assessment made. I would rather cherish a friendship I made over a judgment that seems equally fair. No doubt it sounds selfish of me to say so, but when it comes to trust, would you place it on someone who you've met for a day or two or on someone you've already known for a year now? Figuratively speaking, that is.

Guild conflicts, turmoils and severance of the ties that bond the members together happens often in any MMORPG but I still think the neglect for friendship exist in the decision to be completely fair. I hope things get better, I don't like this one bit. Two of my guildmates that I've known since I started playing CabalSEA have gone to Oblivion and another one of my gossip partner has gone to AK47. It's not something I like, being left stranded here but I'll respect your decisions but I would hope that there comes a resolve that everyone can be equally happy.

Moving on to my Work in Progress, I'm still writing Chapter 3 but requires a little more time than I had expected with all these commotions. Definitely not giving up on this dream, writing is my passion and will be something that I will take even to my grave.

Anyway, this has been a summary of what has been going on with me, again I truly thank you for reading this :)



P.S. Before I go, this song is going to be stuck in my head for sometime, a classic but it's worth a listen, enjoy!

It's been awhile since I last visited my blog, or even post in it. For the first half of 2010, there has been a lot of trials of life that I had to face.

I'm still a gamer, but I've only minimalized myself to social apps on Facebook, mainly Playfish games (yes, it's bias of me lol) and still playing Cabal Online. Though I've spent a lot on the latter, it is high time I start to save my money and invest on something, real.

The reason I'm posting again is because I see the need to re-express myself somewhere other than Facebook, a place where I can 'compose' my heart's melody, a place for my mind to unwind and for my voice to say the things that a one or two line status couldn't suffice.

As of 8 hours from now, a new chapter to my life will begin. Mr. Dramatic here has finally nailed himself a job and can actually contribute to the society, well sort of (while getting paid for it to boot :D).

My social network is of course expanding beyond the horizons of gamers. Meeting with people from different background, culture and ethnicity has been a refreshing change of the usual crowd I use to hangout with, though I'm not saying I didn't enjoy the times I spent with my fellow Blueserverians and Cabalists, I think I've grown to the stage where lifestyle, accomplishments and career became my mainstream topic in life.

All and all, changes are bound to happen, even more now than I would have imagined it would be. What's there to say that it might be for the better, all I can do is to go the distance. Who knows, I might see my name in lights someday.