When SE designed Beastmaster, they put their brightest on it.  Beastmaster in FFXI is an exquisitely crafted job.  Everyone considers it a solo’ing job, but as I’ve been finding out, duo’ing and trio’ing with Beastmaster is as complex as it is fun.  When things go right, you’re elated as the XP rolls in.  When things go wrong, and you’re barely able to escape with your life, it’s a rip-roaring good time.  When you don’t escape, it’s still an entertaining trip.

Case in point.  The other night Ardra and I were in Tahrongi Canyon, both as Beastmaster/White Mage.  We were there too early, and barely scraping out XP, but having a pretty good time playing the job, and making ourself laugh as we named our pets (Mandorius, DJ Hoppy, etc.).  At one point I got ambushed by a — well, Goblin Ambusher.  I told my pet to attack which the Goblin ripped through in just a couple of seconds.  Ardra did the same thing, and we took off running.

Cue the Yakety Sax music.

Since Ardra’s pet didn’t last long either, we were both veering left and right as we saw flora and fauna we could charm and throw at the Goblin to slow him down.  It looked like something from the “running gag” skit that closed each Benny Hill show.

We made our escape, laughing the whole time.