Breaking Boulders with Teapots
by FEMAELSTROM, HSM team writer
I stood at the entrance to the space for the “Defend Edo” game. I stood so proud in my finest attire that I thought went with this place. So I grabbed my finest sword and readied myself for fierce and pitched battle against cyclops and ogres, umbrellas and demons, and of course that mad dog house looking thing. There I was, Indiana Jones, all ready to fight a set of Cyclops.
I walked into the red lit space and came to see my saved avatar standing at the ready with a free bamboo sword. Anyone who knows the game can certainly see that this was a fail about to happen.
And fail I did – miserably.
I got beat down by a mean red ogre that taught me the error of my ways. So I left, hoping that nobody saw my grand moment of silliness and massive fail. I left and really never went back, save for a few playthroughs with friends. Here is where I will take a moment to thank my friends MaeBell99, Benny-M-G, and Bobsfed. This abysmal failure made me not want to go to that space again and enjoy that game, at least, not until Granzella made the Tea House.
The Tea House is a beautiful space made by Granzella, I wanna live here!
The Tea House is a splendid piece of design work at the hands of the masters at Granzella. I think though that their mastery goes further than the simple, well-constructed, well-designed homes and commodities. What happened to me with Granzella was brilliant.
I bought the Tea House simply because it’s a beautiful estate, but there was a nugget there that my curious and wanting heart just could not ignore. Just beyond the house lay a pond with a bridge, and across that bridge lay a secret that sat mocking me to unravel it. There was a boulder that blocked the path to a land beyond. I had bought the wonderful piece of technology called the Juggernaut Observer and had used it to fly over to the forbidden area. I had seen the place, but without the ability to step foot there, it was a hollow victory. Then came the information by way of the forums and internet (thank you MaeBell99 for your tireless scouring) that I had been waiting for. It seemed – and mind you this is a spoiler for those that do not like any reveals – there was a way to open up the path that I had wanted to walk so very desperately.
I will get to the how of that in a little, but first here is what happened after that.
This very door was my path to freedom, I defeated the evil boulder!
When I had so much as an inkling that I thought was the way to open the blocked path, I chased it like a dog after a bicyclist. I heard – and here is the spoiler part – that it can be opened by purchasing the “Tea Caddy: Kokushi Nasu” from the elderly vendor woman in the middle of the street in the public Edo space for 3900 ryo (though it may be possible to open it with another item, I found the way with this particular key).
When I was told this, my next task was to buy the best armor in the store, and that I did, then run headlong into the individual battle and play until I opened that little chunk of secret paradise. It took me a few tries, and some still funny looking failures, but I got to walk up to that elderly woman vendor and pay the ryo to get that boulder removed.
This is about more than a teapot or a boulder though. It is about how a company like Granzella was able to make me buy around ten dollars worth of armor to get access to a part of the Tea house.
“What else you got?”
Some might see this as an unfair ploy. Some may complain that the annex of the Tea House should have been open all along to the user, and there is a part of me that agrees, but a bigger part of me thinks that this was a fun diversion. The fact is that without a goal to achieve, there can be a sense of boredom that some may feel in Home. This gives a person something to do.
For the last few nights, I have had this to do. I load up my saved avatar and go to the “Defend Edo” space. I enter an individual game and sometimes a group game, and play. The game is fun, and still a bit of a challenge for me. There is a reward for me too, which is the end desire for so many. When I get the right item, I will open up a really nice add-on to a space that was already very well made. This is one of those times that I feel like although I did have to shell out a few extra dollars to make this happen, Granzella did a great job of making it fun and making me feel like I got something for the experience and money I invested in the game.
To those that may fault Granzella, I say get some of the armor, and a good blade, and enter the game. It takes a few tries or a friend in the know, but strategies will become obvious and the game will seem like fun, especially when the ryo starts rolling in and the far away items for sale are much closer, and even in you own inventory.
Another plus is this: once I finish the task of opening the annex to the Tea House, there are other items to buy, so the task of decorating the space can be, in it’s own way, a game of collecting the other prizes from the elderly woman vendor in the Edo public space.
Ahhh, I did it, and If I can, you can too, and probably easier!
Yes, I gave up on the game for a while, and then came back because of my friends, but what made it really worth it was the Tea House, and the fact that Granzella made a really fun place to game at and was able to get me to buy armor, without making me resent it. This endeavor is fun.
If you have the Tea house and want to open the annex, this is a fun pursuit, if you don’t own the Tea House, then it may be an estate you might want to look into, or simply play to get the other things available. Either way, Granzella did a great job.
After buying the armor, I promise, no more brainless, Indiana Jones efforts from yours truly, I must have made somebody laugh that day, and hope they had a good chuckle on my and my fast dying ways. Come on in, the battle is fun!
January 18th, 2013 by FEMAELSTROM | 5 comments
FEMAELSTROM came to Home in June 2011 and never wanted to leave, even at weekly maintenance when he usually gets booted. The sand box environment appeals to the explorer in him and often is out and about as he ‘geeks’ out dressed like some sort of sci-fi character, while he people watches in popular public spaces. An artist and writer, FEMAELSTROM loves making friends and meeting people. He loves sci-fi and decorating Home estates and loves to respond “here” when people ask “where are you from?” in public places.
We’ll have to agree to disagree on this one. You have listed the exact reason that I won’t buy this space. I believe for the cost of $6.99 the space should be complete; it’s tiny without the addition. Also, I resent VERY much the idea that I would have to spend more money, such as another $10.00, for armor that I wouldn’t want and be forced to play a game that I have no interest in, to be able to have the space in its entirety. I’ll pass, as I see this as another GZ fail.
Thing is, all the time that type of marketing is successful. Its going to used across home not just in a GZ personal space but for most items. It does get a little annoying when someone says I got these great rewards by playing this game collecting these items buying this suit, using these tickets. So really you just paid out more than the rewards worth to win that reward like some sort of fair ground side show. Be prepared its not just GZ, peakvox are just as bad
Depends on how much you like games & puzzles. Most of my entertainment budget goes to Home. Friends & activities are more fun than the puzzle magazines I regularly buy. I do think the info that you have to play Edo ghost game to get 2nd part should have been part of the sales info. I bought the 1st part and, sooner or later will play the game.
Nice read Strom. I like the tea house but not enough to add it to my spaces. The game isn’t a turn on for me either. I think I will pass on this one, but I do like your take on it.
I bought the space not knowing that the other area had to be unlocked, and was kinda annoyed to find out I had to play the game to earn the ryo to get the tea caddy to open the space. So I ended up buying the metal rod for 2.50 and taking 3 days grinding ryo, and got the caddy. Now I’m working on getting the rest of the rewards, cause I bought the weapon for it, why not.
But it is an excellent space, and I love how they change the seasons as well. Definitely one of my favorites. Wish there was a way to have a ceremony in the second area as well.