February 2016
That horrid time rolls around again…your membership is expired! Oh, woe and despair, you might think, but that is not the case; there are many activities to enjoy without the need of a membership to Wizard101. Here are some pastimes that I’ve found to be enjoyable when I am unable to quest:
#1- Fishing
Catch all the fish! (Or rather, the ones in Wizard City…) Your catches are a way to earn gold while limited to Wizard City—it’s definitely difficult to gain decent amounts of gold when you’re unable to access farming spots like Halfang. Remember that you can also fish in bundle houses now, too; many of the fish available in the various castles sell for quite a bit more than what you can find in the waters of the Commons, especially if they happen to be a Catch of the Day fish. You might be able to fish up a chest in one of those houses, and if you’re lucky, you could get a mount!
#2- Gardening
Hopefully you’ve gathered some seeds throughout your travels in the Spiral. Plant them and see what rewards you might get! If you’ve had the opportunity to quest in higher-level worlds like Avalon and Azteca, you may have some plants like Couch Potatoes or Evil Magma Peas that drop mega pet snacks when they reach elder. Other seeds are useful too; sell or trade treasure cards you won’t use to get some gold or to help someone out.
#3- Crafting
There may not be many recipes available in Wizard City, but you do have the opportunity to craft fish tanks to hold some of your rare catches. Several of the fish needed for the recipes can be caught in players’ castles, so take advantage of that.
#4- Pet Training
Come one, come all, step right up and get your pets started on their course to greatness! Pet training and hatching is an almost necessary step once you reach the higher levels of the game, but it’s also a good hobby if you enjoy collecting them or taking part in the Pet Derby. Though you might have a difficult time picking up good snacks, you can still hang out in the hatchery or have fun with the training minigames.
#5- Decorating
Who doesn’t love a nicely decorated castle? It can be a fun challenge to fill up a home with furniture. Follow a theme, go crazy, or use the several item glitching techniques to create something unique and amazing! It doesn’t have to look like one of the pros did it, but after a long day, sometimes working on a house is the perfect way to unwind.
#6- Farming
Some bosses drop rare and unique items or pets, as well as school-restricted gear that is above average strength for its level. If you’re farming on a high-leveled character, it’s a great idea to pick some of that gear up to give your low-leveled wizards a boost from the start, as well as gain some gold if you sell your loot.
#7- PvP
Practice PvP is an excellent way to hone your skills for the real deal without the risk of losing rank. It’s also fun to join up with friends in your home and enjoy a friendly duel. While Practice PvP can be as competitive as Ranked PvP, it can still be an interesting experience to both play and observe matches.
#8- Join-A-Team
If you haven’t checked it out yet, the kiosk outside of the Bazaar in Olde Town has a really awesome function. It allows you to join Team-Ups that are in progress throughout the Spiral, but only if you have access to the area. There’s even a reward for using it; successfully completing 100 instances or dungeons accessed by using the kiosk will reward you with a Team Helper badge, and 500 successful runs will earn you a Team Leader badge. It seems like a daunting task, but joining teams for low-level instances can make the numbers rack up a bit faster.
#9- Badge Farming
Many of the mobs in Wizard City count towards badges; most of them towards the Undead series, and the Golems within the Golem Tower count for, obviously, the Golem series. Battling enemies and bringing those numbers up will reward you with an impressive collection of badges.
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#10- Chatting with friends
Strike up a conversation with a friend and you’ll be surprised how quickly time passes. Chatting about the game is a great way to learn new things or come up with theories. You might even want to get a group of friends together for an in-game party! Remember, it’s always great to get to know your friends better, but stay safe and use good judgement; don’t give out any personal information such as name, age, location, email address, or phone number. Also, be courteous to your fellow players—you’re more likely to make and keep friends if you’re polite!