I've been working on growing the elemental ores. Probably about 7-8 months ago, I started one Sapling (which I grew from some cuttings myself^^) and a month later, I had myself a Dark Ore (beginners luck). In the months time, I started another 19 plants, and I got about 5-6 Dark ores all together. The intention of this, was to have them made into beads, so Grommet could make signed Dark Staves. But I don't think Grom was ready to make them then, and my buddy had bought me a Dark staff, so I greadily sold them all.
Then I moved onto Water Ore. In total, I probably grew about 4-5 Water Ores; one of which, I did have made into a bead, and now have a Water Staff, signed by Grommet (also have a signed Light Staff, but I bought the bead for that one^^.)
During my Water Ore phase, a friend asked if I could get back to growing the Dark Ore, as he was going to be in need of a Dark Staff. So, as my Water Ore sapling where harvested, I started working on the Dark Ore again....
....so for the past 4-5 months I've been trying to grow the Dark Ore, and have had no luck. 20 plants at a time (staggered timing though), 40-60 saplings, not one damn Dark Ore (my friend had long since just bought a Dark Staff)...Until Sunday. I harvested 2 saplings, one gave me a stack and a half of Rock Salt, the other.....
Dark Ore/hurray.
So, today (Monday 8/15/05,) I do a /sh in Lower Jeuno.../sh 87+ <goldsmithing> <can I have it?>
Owa responds "I have 94 <goldsmithing>
/me cool
/me how much do you charge? I don't have a lot of gil
/Owa what do you need?
/me Dark Ore to Dark Bead
/Owa you have items?
/me yes
/Owa meet me at MH
/em scampers to MH area
trade:
Dark Ore, Wind crystal, 10k
/me is that enough?
he accepts trade
/Owa what?
/me 10k
/Owa no, free
trades back 10k
/Owa I need to get equipment
runs toward MH
/me ok
and he DC's before he even gets to the MH
crap!!!!
so I wait
and wait
and wait
/sea all Owa
he's on
/t Owa Hey!!!
he DC's again
I call a GM...57 calls before mine><
wait
wait
wait
/sea all Owa
he's on
/t Owa Can I just get my Ore back?
again, DC's
wait
wait
wait
/sea all Owa
he's baaack
/t Owa If you were planning on stealing my Ore, why would you trade me back my 10k?
DC's
GM finally calls back (didn't show up though )
I tell my story
he says there will be an investigation, but that he can not return my item (expected)
I've never /blisted anyone, and to the best of my knowledge, I'm not on anyones /blist...I always try to play nice with others, and when I do have a problem, I try to handle it with tact. But all day I've been thinking of what Grom would say....
What the Frick!!!!
I don't plan on adding him to my /blist (though that would make him the first one), I want to know when he's around. I was even thinking of putting this in the "Help needed" section, to find some people to help MPK his a$$, but I guess a lesson was learned.
Ask for collateral when exchanging items for synthesis from someone you don't know.
--Upi
Just checked the AH...Owa sold my Dark Ore for 280k on 8/15/2005 at 2:36PM (EST)