SPIDER BOSS!! (And new specialties)

Minifigures,

The time has come to unleash the Power of the Nexus Force!

The Power of the Nexus Force is exploding! In the next few weeks, exciting new additions are coming to LEGO Universe, including new Faction Kits, a new leveling system and Capes! This new update packs quite the punch and is sure to help the Nexus Force in the grand battle against the Maelstrom!

New Faction Kits are Coming!



4 new Faction Kits are coming to help the Nexus Force! The Assembly will be premiering the new Inventor Faction Kit, the Paradox will have the new Shinobi Kit, the Sentinels will have the Space Ranger Kit and the Venture League will have the Adventurer Kit! You can expect to see quirky new gadgets, high tech weapons, close combat skills and swashbuckling moves!

Minifigures will now level up!



A new minifigure leveling system is on the way! Minifigures will be able to level up to 40 levels, unlocking cool new equipment and earning exciting new rewards every 5 levels! Leveling your minifigure is a breeze! All you need to do is earn U-Score by completing Missions and Achievements. It’s as easy as that! Existing minifigures need not worry, as we will automatically determine what level your minifigure is based on your current U-Score, and award any leveling rewards you have earned, too! Make sure to link your items before the Power of the Nexus Force releases! If you missed our previous article on leveling, be sure to read it to be prepared for this new update!

Capes: iconic, heroic and available soon!



With Valiant Weapons, Rank 3 Kits and powerful non-Faction sets like the Explorien Bot set, what else could a minifigure need to complete their battle gear? Oh, that’s right. Capes! Just imagine wearing a full Bat Lord set with a bright red cape fluttering in the wind behind you! What a sight!

The Power of the Nexus Force release is exploding with amazing additions! It’s...almost a bit strange, how much preparation the Nexus Force is going through right now. It’s almost as if they are preparing for an epic battle...of arachnid proportions!

Explorers, heed the call. Get ready for the Power of the Nexus Force now!

---

Not only that, but I bet 100k coins and a Valiant that the newest mini-game will be.....wait for it....SPIDER BOSS!!! I mean, come on, arachnid proportions??? You might as well just say it. For us beta testers, we have been waiting for this since, well, beta! Oh man, my electric bill is going to be through the roof! My computer is going to be on 24/7!!!! Now, please excuse me while I wait in front of my computer for how much the new specialties are going to cost!!!!!!!!
Fugu, signing off!!!

New Contest Rules

If you haven't heard, in August Lego is splitting the entrances up into to groups: 12 and under, and 13 and up. This makes things a lot fairer, cause you can't expect a 7 year old to do the same as a 40 year. (Just an example, could have happened!) This means that it will be easier for anybody under 12 to win, and somewhat easier for 13 and up. It just makes everything fairer, which is what Lego is going for. But, I STILL WANT UPDATES ON THE LEVELS!!!!!

Fugu, signing off.

Mini-Figure Levels!!!

In the next few weeks a major change will be added to LEGO Universe - Minifigure levels! As you complete Missions and Achievements, your minifigure will increase in level – earning new rewards and abilities. This leveling system will provide minifigures with a smoother game play experience and offers even more minifigure customization!


Leveling in LEGO Universe is a breeze! You won't need to spend hours upon hours grinding enemies for experience points. All you need to do is earn U-Score points by completing Missions and Achievements! After the new system goes into place, even Daily Missions will count!

Want some examples? To reach level 2, you must earn 35 U-Score. Level 5, will require 390 U-Score, and so on. These numbers are subject to change based on internal testing. Familiarize yourself with your Passport to quickly find and identify Achievements you can complete to level up!

With leveling also comes leveling rewards! At certain milestone levels (like 5, 10, and 15), your minifigure will earn cool prizes, including up to 40 more backpack slots, a rocking owl companion who is happy to perch on your shoulder, a permanent speed boost to your minifigure, and exciting new equipment!

As part of the new leveling system, another big change is coming. All in-game items will have a level requirement. This means that in order to use or buy this item, you must be the specified level first. For example, the Visored Racing Helmet has a level requirement of 20, the Crux Planet Shield has a level requirement of 25, and the Spike Hammer has a level requirement of 30. As you level up, your minifigure will be able to unlock more items, allowing you customize your minifigure to be exactly how you want it to be!

Concerned about how this change will affect your minifigures? Worry not! All existing minifigures will automatically have their level calculated by their existing U-Score. The U-Scores of existing Achievements and Missions are having their U-Score balanced for this new system – your minifigures will receive credit for every Achievement and Mission they have completed in the past . After the new system goes into place, we will recalculate your existing U-Score and transition you smoothly into the new system.

Any items that have already been linked to your minifigure will not be restricted to the level requirements. This means that if your U-Score places you at level 19, but you already have a linked Spike Hammer from your past level-free life, you can still use your existing linked Spike Hammer with no worries! Remember, you must have the item linked, not just in your backpack or vault – but linked!

Stand by for more breaking news to come! In the meantime, crack open that Passport and start hunting U-Score points like there’s no tomorrow!

Discuss this article on the message boards!

---

Wow!! This is great! That means we can all get more rewards for something we've already done!

Fugu, signing off.

How to get Faction pet up!

Head on over to www.legouniverseguide.com/How-to-get-faction-pet-7-8.html

How-to get the Faction Pet, and more!

This Sunday, in an update to the Beta site, (www.legouniverseguide.com), I will release detailed instructions on how to get the Faction pet. That's right, either the Alien, the Saber Cat, the Stegosaurus, or the Gryphon. Please check there this coming Sunday!!! (7/8/2011).

Fugu, signing off.

+1 The Lego Universe Guide!

Show your support for the Lego Universe Guide by clicking the +1 button on the new site or underneath each blog post. It's easy, and if pops up saying you need a google profile, all you have to do is sign in with your google account and click create a profile. Simple, easy, and it helps the Lego Universe Guide go farther up in the rankings!

Fugu, signing off.

Hey there, adventurers!

It’s been over a month since Nexus Tower opened its doors to the world, unleashing an arsenal of funny, funky, and formidable new items on LEGO Universe. Micro City models, Mole Whackers, Radios that rain Pianos from the sky – the headquarters of the Nexus Force sells all the wacky, zany, powerful, hilarious, and generally awesome gear and models a Minifigure could ask for. To collect them all, you’ll need to earn your own personal fortune.

Sounds tough, doesn’t it? We admit, earning coins takes focus, but creating a powerful financial empire in LEGO Universe is easier than you might think! Here are a few ways to turn your lonely money tree into a flourishing coin orchard, in no particular order. Our averages were taken using Minifigures with Rank 3 gear and no Valiant Weapons. Your results may be different!



1. Complete Missions

• Daily missions will not only earn players a pretty decent amount of coins – they’ll also help players unlock bag space, vault space, increased Life Points, Imagination Points, and countless Achievements with their own valuable rewards. The daily missions in Nimbus Station should not be overlooked, as the gem packs they reward add up – and fast.
o Average coins per hour – 8,700

2. Cannon Cove Shooting Gallery

• Our team found that the Cannon Cove Shooting Gallery earns only slightly less coins than grinding Maelstrom Horsemen with a team in Forbidden Valley. Aspiring Minifigure entrepreneurs should definitely visit Cannon Cove now and then in search of doubloons!
o Average coins per hour - 12,500

3. Battle of Nimbus Station and Avant Gardens Survival

• The Battle of Nimbus Station can make you rich! If you’re looking to earn some serious coins, then head into the minigame without a team and continue replaying it. You may not pass many stages, but 100% of the coins you squeeze out of early-level Stromlings will go into your pocket. If you’re hunting wild Achievements, then most definitely head in with a team – you’ll have a much better chance of reaching the Four Horsemen with friends.
o Average coins per hour (solo, Battle of Nimbus Station) – 12,000
o Average coins per hour (group, Battle of Nimbus Station) – 8,200

• Not only can Avant Gardens can be a fun distraction from grinding, but it is also one of our favorite minigames to use for contests. Spend some time honing your Stromling-squashing skills and not only will you earn coins and Achievement awards – you’ll also be well prepared for the next official Survival competition!
o Average coins per hour (solo, Avant Gardens Survival) – 3,600
o Average coins per hour (solo, Avant Gardens Survival) – 6,500

4. Maelstrom Dragon Instance

• They may not drop many coins, but Maelstrom Dragons hide some extremely rare items in their treasure hordes. …items which can be sold to other players for an impressive profit! Stop by this minigame now and then – especially if you need a break from ownin’ Ronin at the Paradox Refinery (just a stone’s throw away) – and you could find yourself in possession of a super valuable rare item like the King’s Crown!
o Average coins per hour – 3,250

5. Selling/Trading/b>

• If you pick up a rare item you’d like to sell, head to the Marketplace subfolder of the Message Board and start a thread asking the community how much they think it is worth. LEGO Universe players are famously friendly and helpful – you’re sure to get a safe, helpful answer back in no time.

• Once you have a price in mind, advertise your item in Nimbus Plaza, Nexus Tower, or online in the Marketplace section of the Message Board. Allow your customers to haggle, but don’t settle for a price you know is too low. Once you make the sale, head out and start grinding again in search of a new product.

We in the Community Team hope that these tips go a long way towards helping you build up your nest egg. Have any money-making tips of your own? Share them on the message board, and check back next week for more advice on how to earn coins!

---

I have figured out Lego is out to get me. Majorly. They seem to be posting stuff about 2.5 weeks after I put it out there. Why? I don't know, maybe Inventrius has to come up with their own posts during lull time.

Fugu, signing off.

Beta site up and running!

I have (finally) gotten the beta site up and running. This beta site is located at www.legouniverseguide.com. Since this site is in beta, not everything is there. Please (please) email feed-back to support@legouniverseguide.com . That's what helps me find all the bugs and errors in the site, so I can fix them.

Fugu, signing off.

In order to keep the Nexus Force well prepared for battle against the Maelstrom, Vanda Darkflame has requested that Paradox scientists release weekly reports on Maelstrom (and Skeleton!) opponents during the month of June (and early July). Each week, we will release a short bio on one villain from each of the four main combat zones on Crux. Check back weekly to ensure your intel is up to date!



History: Though they themselves are not infused with Maelstrom, the evil Skeletons have plenty of reason to be interested in the chaotic energy surging through the Darkitect. Hailing from the haunted Underworld of Planet Ninjago, a Skeleton expeditionary force led by the grizzled General Nuckal recently landed on Crux Prime in search of a resource that could help them conquer the peaceful Minifigures and seize control of their planet: Maelstrom Crystals. When forged into armor and weapons, these Maelstrom-infused minerals are the only element that can defend the Skeletons against Spinjitzu: the ancient, mystical martial art taught to worthy Minifigures by the wise Ninjago master, Sensei Wu.

Led by Sensei Wu’s nefarious brother, the twisted Underworld Lord Garmadon, a Skeleton horde recently succeeded in overrunning the Ninjago Monastery, Sensei Wu’s home. Desperate to reclaim the surface of Ninjago from this Skeleton invasion, Sensei Wu brought the last remaining chunk of his beloved Monastery to a stalwart group of heroes he had heard tales of from travelling explorers – the Nexus Force. He landed on Crux Prime, but was followed by General Nuckal, who was immediately intoxicated by the dark power of the Maelstrom, realizing its potential as a weapon against Spinjitzu.

If General Nuckal succeeds in shipping countless megatons of Maelstrom Ore back to planet Ninjago, Lord Garmadon will be most pleased; if their Spinjitzu becomes ineffective, Sensei Wu and his disciples will be hard-pressed to push back the massive Skeleton invasion of their homeland.

Stats: 18 Life Points, 0 Armor

Attacks: Basic Strike: A Skeleton Miner will swing his pick at opponents for 5 damage.

Sloppy Spinjitzu Spin: Using a chaotic and undisciplined form of Spinjitzu, a Skeleton Miner will charge up and spin wildly for 6 damage, after which its head will continue rotating like a top, causing extreme dizziness.

Tactics: After sensing the courage and goodness of the Nexus Force, Sensei Wu has vowed to teach all of its members the basics of Imagination Spinjitzu if they wish to learn it. Imagination Spinjitzu should always be utilized against a Skeleton force.

When engaging a Skeleton Miner, be ready to jump out of the way of the way of its Sloppy Spinjitzu at a moment’s notice. Inversely, using pure Imagination Spinjitzu against Skeletons is super effective. Equip as much Imagination Spinjitzu gear as you can when preparing to face Skeletons of any rank – normal weapons do considerably less damage than Imagination Spinjitzu gear against Skeletal foes, and Imagination Spinjitzu armor will drastically reduce damage caused by their attacks.

It has been found that Skeletons are particularly fond of music in all its forms. While they are highly aggressive and belligerent while listening to Growlspeakers, they respond peacefully to the sound of friendlier tunes. Rebuilld smashed Growlspeakers into ragtime record players and nearby Skeletons will become entranced, leaving them vulnerable.

Charging up Imagination Spinjitzu and releasing it near a group of Miners and their superiors will most likely smash the Miners immediately, leaving only their officers, weakened by the blast, to smash. Minifigures using the Imagination Spinjitzu Staff should easily be able to easily smash the remaining Skeletons one at a time, earning them much more loot than if they target Miners alone.

Mardolf the Orange swears that his latest invention, the “Holographoid Skeleton Powerclutcherizer” will disable Skeletons by projecting a hologram of an attractive female Skeleton batting her eyes and blowing kisses in their direction. The Paradox highly doubts the success of this invention, as it is not yet known whether or not Skeleton women exist.

Discuss Skeleton Miners on the forum!

---

Finally, we learn something about skeletons. Unfortunately, only the stats of Miners. Oh well.

Fugu, signing off.