All these worries were quickly dispelled when I whispered Yosshi for an interview -- he's a nice, modest guy who will take a few minutes to help a fansite which just wants to ask a few questions. If only everyone would be so easy to talk to! I'm glad to have met him, even though we've obviously been strangers for quite awhile. He's managed to lay low and we totally missed when he hit level 50, or even 51.

Yosshi is an independent contractor which specializes in networking. Cisco CCNA to be specific. Independent contracts are busy when they have contracts, but in between contracts they get lots of free time. Enough to play Lineage and make a level 52 character!

To avoid the crowds in Fire Valley, Yosshi spends most of his time in the place that we used to have to hunt for experience - Dragon Valley. It seems like every single non-siege fight on the message boards these days (especially on Ken) are about some throw down or misunderstanding with which mop belongs to who in Fire Valley. Yosshi isn't a big arguer, so he prefers the peace and quiet of busting bones and exoskeletons in Dragon Valley.

He's a 17/17 knight which hunts with Tsurugi and Rapier - no surprise with the weapon choice ;) He had a Mail Breaker, but blew it at 51 after dying to a boss. Blowing his Mail Breaker was his way of stopping himself from hunting bosses, which are largely a waste of time if you are trying for level 52. He added +1 to both STR and CON (he likes balance I guess ^^) and is now 18/18. Include his Power Gloves and Amulet of Strength and you get his fighting strength, 21/18.

38 MP at level 52. That's right. 38 MP. It's all Fafurion's fault though - Yosshi kept getting killed by Fafurion and delevelling. He doesn't have anything to show for it except for the shared drops.

Yosshi died 12 times between level 49 and 52 and it took him about 7 months to do it. Yosshi also has a mage -- Mosshi, a level 48 summon mage which earned him the money for his AC and weapon back in the days when owning a summon mage was like printing adena.

What's next for Yosshi? Well, hopefully he gets another contract and keeps up his CCNA. In the meantime he wants the glory of blowing a recognizable item, growing his pledge, hunting bosses, sieging -- all those things that you can't do when you're eye is on the level 52 prize.

Yosshi wants to thank his pledge, FinalFantasy for keeping him full of braves, supporting his goal and spell ups and all the mages and elves who healed him, earth-skinned him and blessed his weapon in DV.

And also, thanks to his girlfriend for putting up with his late hours and understanding his goal. He promises to spend more time with her..

I can totally relate. ^^ Thanks Yosshi and congrats -- you deserve it.