Rand(Nerds) Episode 287 - Ship Graveyard Simulator 2, Final Fantasy XI

Welcome to Episode 287Poor Skazzz is running on no caffeine and suffering for itRam is very much looking forward to Timberborn hitting version 1.0 which is being released the same days as the podcats, Ram has high hopes as think to some changed he should be able to create an accident gulag, he also talks about picking up an adorable Iron Tooth plushieMoving onto what we've been playing, whilst waiting for Timberborn, Ram has been having fun in Ship Graveyard Simulator 2. Hes talks about the mechanics — buying ships, methodically dismantling them with hammers, circular saws and blowtorches, sorting scrap at the recycling yard, and upgrading your tools. He compares it to Hardspace: Shipbreaker which he played last year, and give his thoughts on which one is better out of the twoSkazz then takes us into a big nostalgic deep-dive. After failing to find his old Warcraft games on Battle.net, he ended up down a rabbit hole of disappointing WoW private servers before rediscovered his love of Final Fantasy XI by playing on the Horizon XI private server. He recalls the emotions as he booted it up on his Steam Deck and hearing the music again for the first time since 2003. We then discuss FFXI's unique mechanics such as job changing instead of starting new characters, the brutal level-down-on-death system and the way the game encouraged forced group play.We also dicuss VR treadmills and Ram cosplaying as a beaver costumeNotesDilbert suffers the horror of no CaffeineV1 is finally out for TimberbornGet your own cuddly Iron Tooth More cute beavers in the Timerborn lore trailerWack big things with hammers in Ship Graveyard Simulator 2In Ram's opinion the better game, Hardspace: ShipbreakerYou can still play online on official servers with Final Fantasy XIOr check out a free FFXI private server with Horizon XIGet into the Timber born spirit in your own Beaver costumeWe look forward to seeing you all on the next podcast on March 26th 2026, at 18:30 GMT either on YouTube or Twitch