ff_classchange | This was rather fun to fill out!

The Basics:

Name: Yin
Age: Haha...somewhere in my 20's? ~~Vague talk is vague! XD~~
Location: U.S.A.
Occupation: Working part-time at a crafts store while job-hunting, as well as writing stories and reviews in my spare time.
How did you find out about this community? (Specify usernames if you remember them.)

roax pointed the way in her usual awesome manner. :D

Personality Questions:

1) List and expand upon your three best traits / strengths. (These should be personality-related, not physical.)
1. Caring -- I look out for those around me and worry about their wellbeing a lot...and I try to be encouraging and/or supportive of what they want to do.

2. Observant -- I tend to notice a lot of little things that are going on around me. I have pretty sensitive hearing, and if I'm focused on something I try to examine all of the details I can about it.

3. Creative -- I try to come up with all sorts of solutions to problems, and I have a huge imagination. Sometimes this can be a bit of a bad thing though, since it means I often tend to daydream and/or let my thoughts wander. :)
2) List and expand upon your three worst traits / weaknesses.
1. Shy -- I'm extremely withdrawn and introverted, and prefer to spend time by myself or only with those I really like. I generally come across as being very quiet and nervous when interacting with others. My self-confidence is pretty low overall.

2. Anxious -- I worry. A lot. Even over things that I have no real control over (such as how a person might perceive something I said). I can get myself pretty stressed sometimes doing that.

3. Naïve -- I've been told countless times that I don't act with a lot of common sense, and I can be far too trusting at times. I tend to act very childish during arguments or when it comes to how I view things in general (and I've been called a "brat" quite a lot because of that). Overall, I'm probably just not as knowledgeable as I need to be when it comes to reading the actions/true intentions of others or seeing how the world works.

3) Rate yourself on the following traits by putting an 'X' in the box you think fits best. (E.g. if you are slightly more introverted than extroverted, put an 'X' in the second box.) Explain your choice as well.

Introverted [ ] [X] [ ] [ ] [ ] Extroverted
Explain: I am very, very shy...I don't really dislike people or anything, I just have a really hard time getting the confidence I need to talk to others comfortably. It's something I need to work on, but it's a trait that's really hard to change. I'm able to be a bit more open around family and close friends though.

Cheerful [ ] [X] [ ] [ ] [ ] Gloomy
Explain: While I do have my serious moments and I know when I need to be more somber in given situations, I generally try to be rather cheerful and optimistic whenever I can be. I want to smile and laugh whenever I can, because I think that gives me the courage to get through the times when things are bad or I'm feeling really down.

Leader [ ] [ ] [ ] [X] [ ] Supportive
Explain: More supportive, definitely...I'd constantly be worried about making the wrong decisions if I was placed in a position of leadership. And I'm not sure I could be strict enough in enforcing policies and what-not, so I'd probably be a somewhat ineffective leader at that. I am more than capable of voicing my opinion when I feel something needs to be addressed though.

Confident [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [X] Modest
Explain: Haha, I'm almost self-deprecatingly modest at times to the point where I hardly ever see value in my own work (even if someone tells me something I've done is good, I always doubt it in my head). I think that's partially due to my anxiousness and confidence issues, but aside from joking and occasionally acting that way online or with people I'm familiar with...I'm not a very confident person.

Reserved [ ] [X] [ ] [ ] [ ] Impulsive
Explain: It can depend on the situation, but I think I tend to be more reserved/cautious overall since I'm always worrying about things anyway.

Energetic [ ] [ ] [X] [ ] [ ] Calm
Explain: Somewhere in-between for the most part, although I do have moments of extreme hyperactivity and calmness.

Feminine [ ] [ ] [X] [ ] [ ] Masculine/Tomboyish
Explain: Ah, I wasn't really sure how to answer this question so I apologize if my reasoning doesn't make too much sense. I identify with being a female, and I sometimes like accessories that are considered more feminine overall (such as jewelry, ribbons, etc.)...but I'm not a huge fan of make-up (aside from mineral based coverup, I don't really wear any) and I hate clothes/shoe shopping ~~yet I can spend hours at bookstores or GameStop~~. I guess saying I fall "in-between" the two spectrums is a good way to describe it! XD

4) Describe how you typically work in teams. Is it generally a good experience, or do you prefer working by yourself? Do you like to lead and make decisions or do you prefer to let others make decisions so that you can do the legwork? You may find it helpful to give an example of a team you worked on recently and how that went. While I'm more comfortable doing things on my own simply due to my reserved nature, I know that sometimes going at things with a group is the wiser choice overall...from that standpoint, I tend to work rather well with others when I have to do so (though it might take me awhile to really "open up" to them). Usually though, at first I probably prefer working by myself or with someone I'm already somewhat familiar and/or comfortable with just because it's easier for me, but it really just depends on the group: if the members are actually responsible and seem pretty capable, I would probably have no problem working with them. I tend to keep to myself (especially at first), but I am more than willing to do my share for the group...and I'll also just keep an eye out on everyone to see how they're faring.

As far as decision-making goes...I'm more comfortable receiving orders than giving them, though that's mainly because I'm not too comfortable with leadership roles in general. BUT I am more than capable of speaking my mind if I feel that I have to do so or that a point needs to be made that hasn't been addressed yet. Overall though...if someone else is comfortable making decisions (and I haven't really thought of something else already that might be another solution) and they know what they are talking about, I would have no problem listening to them.

5) What interests/hobbies do you have? How do you like to spend your free time? I love to read (fantasy is my favorite genre, though any well-written book from other fiction genres or non-fiction is also welcome! ♥), and I enjoy writing. I love creative writing and have been trying to get more into that again after a pretty long bout of writer's block...and I also like to write reviews (haha, one of my biggest career goals is actually to be a journalist who specializes in electronic entertainment...still is, actually ♥) or just writing down my thoughts on things randomly too. I like interacting with and taking care of animals too. Watching TV/movies, hanging out with friends or family, and playing video games (RPGs and fighting games especially!) are also some of my favorite hobbies too.

6) Describe one to three careers you would find ideal, with a little explanation of why it appeals to you. Well, my ideal careers have always involved writing. I want to be a creative writer, an author who is capable of bringing a story and characters to life with their words. And as I mentioned before, being a journalist who specializes in electronic entertainment has always kind of been a "dream job" for me (it's one of the reasons I majored in Communication in college). The video game industry in particular is quite fascinating to me, and I've always kind of been really interested in the idea of writing reviews for games...ever since I was a little girl and picked up my first gaming-centric magazine. In a way, it seems kind of silly and childish when I talk about it--but it's still something I'd like to pursue at some point, especially whenever I get an issue of Game Informer in the mail.

FF Questions:
Haha, some of my questions will probably sound rather similar to my sister's. I apologize in advance for that, we tend to have similar tastes when it comes to FF games. XD

7) List one to three favorite Final Fantasy games and why you like them. Sequels/spin-offs/non-numbered/KH/Dissidia games are okay. Oh gosh, only three? XD Haha, that's tough--I like pretty much all of them! ♥ I suppose I'd say Final Fantasy IX, Final Fantasy X/X-2, and Final Fantasy XII here though. FFIX is a really wonderful game with a lot of heart to it: it manages to capture the feel in a lot of ways and pay homages to past FF games while still having its own unique story, and I love that about it. There's humor, plenty of touching moments, and great characters with lots of development...can't ask for more! It's just very endearing to me.

Final Fantasy X/X-2--gah, after playing FFX I became thoroughly enchanted with the world of Spira and its inhabitants. I loved the story in the game, and the religious/cultural/racial undertones to the story were quite unique and well-developed (and that kind of background had never really been done in a FF game before, so it made it all the more interesting). The characters were all very human to me, and I liked how even many of the more minor characters seemed to have a purpose or role in the plot (I can still name more of the minor characters in FFX than in any other FF game). The story had some very sad parts to it, but it always managed to have a hopeful tone as well.

Final Fantasy XII--the story for this game is probably one of the strongest I've seen in a FF title, and had a very mature feel to it that I really liked. I loved how the focus was on politics, and how even a vast majority of the antagonist characters just felt like real people who had viewpoints you could understand quite readily. There were some gameplay issues that could have been handled better (namely how vastly huge the environments were: as it took forever to get from Point A to Point B to advance the story)...but there was just so much about the story that I liked that I can get past that. I felt a lot for the characters, enjoyed their dynamics with one another, and even cheered at certain character-defining moments for more than just a handful of them over the course of the game. :D

...Honorable mentions would probably be FFIII for the DS and Final Fantasy Tactics (actually, I think this game has one of the strongest plots out of ANY of the FF games ♥), though as I said before while I haven't played all of the games I've pretty much liked all of the ones I've played so far for various reasons--the only exception being my answer to 10. They're all great games ~~aside from that one, lolz~~!

8) List one to three of your favorite Final Fantasy characters and why:
Larsa from Final Fantasy XII because he's just really different for a younger character in the FF series. He's intelligent, peaceful, can hold his own in a fight ~~while spamming free healing, woot!~~, and has a keen eye for diplomacy and tact. I loved how him simply being who he was as a character kind of help to motivate or change the viewpoints of those around him at times throughout the story. The courage he displays at the end of the game, despite his own sadness at some of the actions he had to take in regards to his brother, was truly inspiring.

Vivi from Final Fantasy IX just because...well, he's Vivi? :D Seriously, I just love him quite a bit. He's an innocent character who has no real self-confidence, but he always wants to help those around him and ends up showcasing an inner strength that kind of inspires everyone. It was a great touch to have him as the narrator for the game because you got to see the story play out through his eyes, and that just made it all the more human in a way as he was talking about his experiences. He ends up discovering things about himself that terrify him at first (and understandably so), but he ends up pushing through that all the same. His ending monologue alone is just...amazing and very heartfelt ~~I cried at one line, actually!~~. *huggles him*

And Ramza from Final Fantasy Tactics. Ramza is an amazing character, and he's just very different from how most FF main characters tend to be. I loved seeing how he reacted to the things that happened around him, and how loyal he always stayed. He was a truly noble and heroic figure, and I think that makes the ending to Tactics all the more poignant in a way considering what ends up being recorded as "history" in comparison to what REALLY happened.

Honorable mentions would probably be Balthier (haha, let's face it...there are awesome FF characters, and then there is Balthier! XD), Ashe, Aria, Selphie, Ellone, Aerith, Shantotto, Fang, Sazh, Edge, and Tidus. Although truthfully? I don't really dislike too many FF characters and I'm pretty indecisive...so I could probably keep listing characters here until I'm blue in the face. XD Moving on then.

9) One to three characters you relate to (you may reuse answers from #8 if applicable) and why:
~Ah, relate to? *ponders* Well, I've been compared to Yuna, Terra, and Garnet at times...and I can see that to an extent (all of them tend to be nice, helpful characters who are somewhat naïve). As far as guys are concerned, I've usually been compared to either Arc or Vivi (as both are shy characters who are trying to gain more confidence in themselves)--and I can see that too. I was recently rated in a comm as being similar to Ellone, and I can actually see that quite a bit as she tends to be playful and sentimental/nostalgic, but has a more mature and reserved nature at times.

10) The FF game you liked playing least: ...Haha, this is easy! XD There's only one, and it is Final Fantasy VII: Dirge of Cerberus. I have never wept more tears of regret over spending full-price on a game than I had with that one. The game was pretty much unplayable to me, the story was convoluted and didn't make a lick of sense, and that was combined with an entire cast of antagonist characters who were horrible archetypes of Shounen Jump villain rejects (poor Weiss couldn't be a Super Saiyan because his hair didn't turn gold, I think that was part of his problem! XD).It also did a great job of butchering at least one character to the point where I couldn't see anything redeemable about them afterwards too. I think the only reason I even finished it was because I hate not finishing games. As it is, I regret spending any time on the title at all. Considering how much I enjoyed FFVII when I first played it, and the fact that Crisis Core was a pretty decent side-story/prequel to that game...the subpar quality and content of DoC was unforgivable to me.

11) One to three FF characters you dislike and why: I apologize in advance if I upset anyone who likes the following characters! ~~Please don't kill me!~~

Lucrecia Crescent from the FFVII Compilation. Haha, oh geez...I've actually written ESSAYS on why I dislike her as a character (and yes, she was the one I mentioned DoC butchering so extensively), so bear with me please. Basically, I think it boils down to that she failed at what the writers were trying to convey with her. I believe the idea behind her story was that she was a tragic figure who was so engrossed with her passions that she never learned from her mistakes until it was too late...but, unfortunately, they never conveyed her in a "tragic" sense. I found myself getting more and more infuriated/annoyed with her character as DoC progressed. Basically, the main pattern for her was this: thrilled with some scientific discovery, she'd make a stupid mistake that would cost someone dearly, and then she would run screaming into the night afterwards and never own up to said mistakes (I wish I was joking there...but there actually are scenes of her screaming and running away from the problems she caused 0_0;). Instead, she gets into a major case of denial about them and goes on her self-denial/cheery way until someone somehow reminds her of them accidentally...only to get angry at the person who brought them up to her: the one scene where she gets mad at Vincent for asking about his father after he found out she knew him just...bothered me (oh, how DARE he bring up something unpleasant for you...it wasn't like the guy was related to him or anything! Oh wait...yes, he was. 0_0;). She proves constantly that she wasn't very intelligent for a supposedly gifted scientist time and time again, though I think the real kicker that made me truly dislike her as a character was the "choice" scene. Upset because Vincent had reminded her about what happened to his father, she runs to Hojo and does that whole "if it only affects ME, what does it matter?" bit (seriously...I thought biology and genetics would be something they taught most well-educated scientists 0_0;)--only to naturally realize how much of a mistake she made later on and then, once again, panic and run away. Without remembering to take her son with her. ~~She's also never going to win "Mother of the Year"!~~ I just...gah. After that point, no matter what she did I just couldn't bring myself to like her.

Snow from FFXIII. Though this is mainly more from an annoyance factor. Basically, I just kind of wanted to give him a dictionary and have him actually look up the word "hero" in it...because half the time when I was playing the game I was convinced he didn't really know what it meant: he would say things like "If I don't know who to save than I should just save everyone, right?" (...I would think a "hero" would probably try to do that anyways regardless of whether or not they were in the area to save just one person 0_0;) and do things that didn't really make too much sense and endangered himself foolishly for bizarre reasons (such as when he left the group in the beginning to dig Serah out...even Lightning who very much loved her sister kind of thought that action was pointless since they really couldn't do anything with her in that state, all Snow did was leave himself in a position to get caught--and how was he going to help Serah or anyone else by doing that?). I either wanted to roll my eyes whenever he said "hero" or I had to keep myself from giggling incessantly because it reminded me of a Homer Simpson quote: "I saw my opening and I took it...that's what heroes do!" XD

12) Favorite weapon in a Final Fantasy game (either the name if you liked the name, or a picture if you liked the look of it, or a description if it had awesome stats/abilities): Either the Zodiac Spear from FFXII due to its design and how accomplished it felt to actually get it, or Brotherhood from FFX. I love the design of that sword quite a bit, and the symbolism behind it in the actual game (it was given to Tidus by Wakka and had belonged to Wakka's brother before then, symbolizing in a way the "home" Tidus found in Spira during his travels).

13) Your favorite Final Fantasy summon (e.g. Ifrit, Carbuncle, Bahamut, etc.): Valefor and Phoenix are probably two of my favorites though. I'm not sure why, but I love the characterization of Valefor in FFX. And Phoenix is just...well, the imagery alone and the positive effects it can have in a battle are amazing. I also love Leviathan, Bahamut, and Alexander too. ...Knights of the Round from FFVII was awesome and will always hold a special place in my heart from when I played that game as well. :)

14) Your favorite spell/ability/technique that can be learned in a Final Fantasy game (e.g. Esuna, Steal, special finishes/overdrives such as Tifa's Final Heaven limit break, etc.): Any variation of Cure, Raise, and Regen are my friends! Actually, I tend to love most of the status-boosting spells (such as Protect and Shell or Time Magic like Haste--actually, Time Mage was my favorite job in Final Fantasy Tactics) when playing FF games...though I do like casting high-level Black Magic spells at opponents too. I tend to find a lot of the spells and abilities in the series quite effective when used right though, so I'll just stop there. :D

15) A Final Fantasy mini-game/sidequest you invested entirely too much time into: ...A lot of the side-quests in FFXI, probably. I wasn't very comfortable with party dynamics at times and our connection wasn't the best, so it would take me forever to advance the story missions--instead, I'd just go around and do NPC side-quests that were solo friendly to pass the time (quite a few of them were very amusing! XD).

16) Your favorite Cid: I like all of the Cid characters I've met so far...though I suppose I'll say Cid Highwind here. He was my first Cid, and I think that endeared him to me quite a lot. XD

17) Optional: Up to one class you think does not fit you, with reasoning why. Haha, I'm just curious to see what votes I'll get so I suppose I'll leave this blank!

This was rather fun to fill out!

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