Raid Rx is designed to encapsulate and cure the shock and horror that is 25-man raid healing. Ok, so it's mostly horror... Anyways, if you're a big fan of X-TREME Whack-A-Mole (or are being forced into it against your will) this is the column for you. As you can see above, Kevin is just about done with the second floor of his farm house!

I realize a number of you are most likely new to the Hello Kitty Online (HKO) world. While the package may seem sickly sweet to those transferring over from playing Undead, the belf in me seems to be able to accept that everyone must wear a bow. I raid in pink and purple, after all. I've also come to appreciate the impact this game is going to have on the raiding community at large. And that's what I want to share with you today.

Join me after the break for details around how raiding in HKO is an improvement in the right direction for MMORPG raiding!

Unlike its predecessors, the focus of HKO raiding is more about communication and social interaction than content progression. They accomplish this by changing the goal from defeating bad guys to producing a persistent impact on the community you play in. The purpose of a raid is to construct buildings, homes, and communities in the HKO world.

Just think about that for a second. Not only can anyone join in the raid, there are no more reset timers. And what you accomplish as a group remains in existence for the duration of the game. It's not just a head on a stick in the middle of town for a couple of hours. Progression tracking becomes more about how big of a village you've built and managed, rather than how many bosses you've downed. And at the end of the day, others can stroll by to view your handiwork.

This opens up the entire spectrum of raiding to the casual player. No matter if you have 5 minutes or 5 hours, you'll be able to participate in construction. You also don't have to pick between progression and playing with friends. Everyone is welcome to help out. It doesn't even matter what level you are. Your buddy that just started playing can come and join up with your group.

So what are the steps to get in on this hawt raiding action? It may seem counter-intuitive at first but killing mobs in the wilds of Sanrio isn't the way to go. Leveling up your professions is more critical to the success of the raid. You'll need at least a few core people with high enough House Building skill, but after that any profession can assist in construction. Furniture Makers and Woodcrafter can supply building materials and interior components. Farmers can plant fragrant flowers and shade trees around the property. Tailors are encouraged to create fuzzy rugs, drapes, and shams to brighten up the place.

It's not all sunshine and posies, though. Raiding is still difficult, especially when it comes to clicking where you want to place housing components. Everyone's name in the game is an active link to their personal online content. That means that while you're trying to put shingles on the roof, you run the risk of misclicking and ending up on MerimaidPrincess's blog about the game. That's if you're lucky...

Marcie Knox has been healing lead for over a year, including old school AQ40/BWL/Naxx. She has suffered through holy priest and now basks in the glory that is healadin. Her pally is currently getting ready to make the transition to HKO. Feel free to add CuttiePai to your friends list!

Tags: head-on-a-stick, hko-insider, kevin's-farm, persistent-content, posies, village-construction

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Tips, How-tos, Fan stuff, Raiding, Leveling, Raid Rx (Raid Healing)