The recent Void incidents in Brightvale and Neopia Central have brought renewed attention to the Battledome. Repeatedly crushing Voidlings may be fun for a while, but perhaps you are beginning to think, "I wonder if I could do this…with other Neopets?!" Well, have I got great news for you! Put down your Wand of the Dark Faerie for a second, and join me on a journey of discovery through L54. What is L54? L54, short for League 54, is a form of two-player Battledome competition in which a series of player-imposed rules have been made to make matches fun and competitive. All Neopets have the same stats (hit points, strength, and defence) and all select from the same pool of weapons. Woah, woah…put that Wand of the Dark Faerie back down. Do you think raw power is the most fun? Not always. All competitive games have rules. It would be crazy if Yooyuball players could grow to gargantuan sizes, or freeze their opponents so they could not move, right? In the same way, having some boundaries and limitations in the Battledome allows for freedom for more competition. Otherwise, combatants would simply gravitate to the strongest weapons and not explore the plethora of strategies available. Players can use these rules to play many ways. They can have a friendly match here or there with friends, or make new friends by challenging new opponents. There are player-organised tournaments where individuals compete to win the most battles and come out victorious, usually organised between veteran and newbie leagues. Recently, there was a Guild War, something which has not happened for years, in which two Neopets guilds, organising on the Battledome Chat Neoboard, competed against one another using these rules. Each guild vied for victory and bragging rights by accruing...

Ah, Neopia. Always something new and interesting going on–and sometimes the stuff is paused. Many of us came back for The Void Within plot—eager to relive the golden age of puzzles, battles, and lore-rich storylines. But now, with the plot on a mysterious pause, we’re left twiddling our thumbs. What’s a Neopian to do while waiting? Don’t worry—here are some suggestions of things to do while we’re waiting for the action to start up again. 1. Try some Dailies Sure, they don’t offer the same excitement as cracking plot puzzles, but they help pad some of the sadness from not getting a new comic prize every time you log on. (Plus, any hoarders in the house? How many shiny obsidians do you have?) Start with the classics: - Coltzan’s Shrine: Maybe your pet will finally get a stat boost or find a treasure. - Fruit Machine: Free spins, free items, and free Neopoints. What’s not to love? - Tombola: The prizes are random, and the guy is a little funny, but who doesn’t love the thrill of a freebie? While you’re at it, don’t skip the wheels—Wheel of Excitement, Monotony (if you’re bored), Misfortune (if you’re brave), and Knowledge are all solid options for killing time. 2. Catch Up on Games (and Get That Trophy Wall Glowing) If you’re not already chasing high scores, now’s the time to revisit Neopia’s vast library of flash-esque games. And with the ongoing transition to HTML5, some classics are shinier and more stable than ever. - Meerca Chase II: Channel your inner runner and go for a new high score. - Hasee Bounce: Nostalgic and low-key chaotic. Plus, who doesn’t love catching doughnutfruits? - Kass Basher: A few well-timed smashes, and you’ll be raking in the Neopoints. Pro Tip: Use the downtime to set goals for trophies, avatars, or Neopoints. That shiny gold on your lookup? *chef’s kiss*

The news is out; Neopia is returning to its former glory! Flash games are back. Events are back. World-wide plots are back! And with it, many Neopians who had once been spending time away from the world are back. With the return of so many of the things that hooked my attention as a child, it’s not surprising that it has hooked my attention once again. But that does not mean that everything is as it always was. No, these past few months, even as settling back into this place has felt as comfortable as putting on an old favourite sweater, I have still discovered many differences. For those who are new, those who never left, and even others like me who are coming back and just want to compare experiences, I thought I would point out a few things that had most struck me since returning. 1. Vandagyres are ADORABLE Apparently, for a variety of reasons, there’s only been one new pet species since I last played. That’s understandable, the site got huge, and customisation is complicated, and there are so very many species of Neopets already. But still, I was a little bummed that there weren’t more new pets to check out when I came back. And then I actually saw them. Me: “OOOoooOOOooOHH it’s TOOOOO CUUUUTE!” Seriously, how are they so precious? Who said their eyes could be so big? Who said their feathers could be so fluffy? TNT! Make a rule! This shouldn’t be allowed! They’re too darling! My heart can’t handle it!