In the old world ...

1) ... it was all about the energon cubes. As the cubes got more expensive with time, and it was the currency to do everything else, many of my fellow-knights started to hoard the cubes. Overtime, some of these knights turn into businessmen, and tried to play the market while the new knights were overwhelmed by the market (ie it became increasingly more expensive to buy the cubes). It was tough for the new knights. Many of the new knights i met would die the next day, due to inadequate armor, weapons. We were told these cubes were of a finite quantity. HQ has been exploring new ways of harnessing energy. I think they finally found it.

2) ... you had to 'pay' to defend cradle. I know right ? it is crazy. I do not understand. some knights told me the elevators needed energy to move. so what little cubes we get from HQ, we needed to use to power-up the elevators. Some told me quietly that other knights have stopped defending Cradle, given the limited cubes they have, coupled to the costs of powering-up these elevators. These days, we are no longer 'penalized'. Since this recent change, Some of the knights I met have been defending Cradle 24/7 - some told me they have not visited toilets in a while. I worry for them. while it is important that Cradle continues to be defended, I hope these knights remember that domestic matters back on Earth requires their attention. Also, they should visit toilet on occasions. Not sure if the armors would rust or smell.

3) ... I did not think much of minerals / materials / treasure boxes / danger rooms. I recalled briefing from HQ on how potentially useful those minerals / materials / boxes / rooms could be, but practical experiences suggested otherwise. I always thought they were such a waste of time & effort. I really needed to focus on getting to Basil, so that I can re-sell the items, at a secondary market. On reflection, I realize it was cos of the limited cubes HQ provide us with, limiting the amount of defending / exploring I could do. with the recent changes, I can still sell items in the secondary market, while defending / exploring cradle. Importantly, I am starting to re-learn how useful all these items / rooms can be. Suddenly, everything starts serving a purpose.

4) ... I did not have hello kitty floating over my shoulder. The desire to grow my kitty into a monster has kept me returning to Cradle repeatedly, to feed it. Truth be told, I was getting tired of defending cradle - [I hope no one finds this Diary. I am not suppose to say things like that]. However, it is indeed a strange world where the Jelly King seems to magically regenerate each time I squashed it, and the twin dogs continue to shoot laser beams despite having its head blown off a million times. I think this world is rigged. The knights told me I am crazy. Anyway, overtime, I have bought swords, guns, and bombs. And now, HQ tells me I have a new pet monster. She seems nice. i wonder what she can do when she grows bigger ? Guess I will be here for a while more. Also, I am glad I can now feed her with minerals / materials that I kept in my Doraemon stomach. For the longest time, I had no use for those minerals / materials. Not sure if she will grow bigger. I been feeding her a lot. I feel embaressed having her following me. Yesterday, when I was in Haven, I notice everyone had bigger pets. :(

5) ... I could heat up my items - just like that. These days, heating items is no longer as easy. sigh. however, I am appreciative that HQ has found an alternative to the old energy system. Although the current fire crystals is not as efficient as the old energy system, it does make more sense for a knight to be able to pick up fire cyrstals, rather than to wait for the miserable amout we have on a daily basis, or needing to buy it off a secondary market. Truly, with the new heating system, I feel an increasing need to break more treasure boxes, take down more danger rooms, and explore clockworks more.

Even as I lay in the comfort of my bed in the Guild Hall, I been wondering what another wise knight has been telling me - if the watch exists, a watch-maker must exist. Truly, if He did, He must have been the most brilliant watch-maker. After all, creating a world that continues to sustain interest is not easy - especially in a world where resources are limited, and the desire for novelty is boundless. He may have just convinced me to stay for another year. Who knows, I may just use some Earth Dollars on here finally.