 What Your Neofriends Really Want For Valentine’s Day
by cibola
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Valentine's Day is here, and you know what that means - it's time to spoil your Neofriends! I mean, they're your Neofriends, of course, you want to get them something special. But before you start tossing heart-shaped plushies and overpriced flowers at them, let's talk about what they really want. Sure, those gifts are cute, but let's be honest, most of them wind up in a shop for resale. This year, why not go the extra mile? We're talking wishlist items, stamp album additions, or something they can actually use. Because at the end of the day, it's the thought that counts, but it's the consumable that really seals the deal! Without further ado, let's dive into five items you should avoid and five perfect picks your Neofriends will actually love! What Not To Buy Let’s start with a quick, definitive list of things you need to avoid. #1 - Flowers Okay, okay. Flowers are cute, flowers are pretty. Flowers eventually die, my friend! Flowers don’t raise your avatar count! We don’t press flowers into an album! I don’t care how cute the Among Flowers Background is or how pretty the Flowers of Inner Healing are. Eventually, these items will phase out and end up in their permanent home: the Rubbish Dump. Next! #2 - Food We have a few caveats here - some food is cool, but only the fancy stuff. We’ll get into the details in a sec (see #1 in the “What to Buy” section). But if you’re sitting there thinking, “Hm, I think I’ll grab some ransom snacks for my Neofriends, food is food, right?” THINK AGAIN! We all know everyone’s got their pets checked into the Neolodge like they’re on an all-inclusive vacation. And one poor, starving pet they left behind? That’s not neglect, that’s strategy, my friend. That pet is on a gourmet feeding mission or they’re making sure they don’t miss their daily Quest Log tasks. So unless it’s gourmet, or they have a food-themed gallery, seriously, think. Again. #3 - Plushies Let’s get something out of the way - plushies are important to the happiness of many. I still look lovingly at my plushies in my gallery, the same way so many Neopians do. However, the plushie we want to snuggle or let our Neopets play with is a pretty big decision. A decision we want to make for OURSELVES. Get out of here thinking you know me! I’ll pick out my own plushie, thanks. And then I’ll make you admire them from afar. Get out! #4 - Clothes This is very similar to plushies. And honestly? Even worse. Buying clothes for your Neofriend is a huge risk factor, so just don’t take it. Is the colour right? Is the size right? Do they already have that? What if their Neopet is only into minimalist aesthetics now? Yikes, too many factors. Steer clear. #5 - Furniture I mean… Do I have to explain this one? First of all, NeoHomes aren’t even operational anymore, RIP. Second, even if they were, imagine the stress of trying to match someone else’s nonexistent home decor. What if they’re going for a sleek and modern vibe and you roll up with an Orange Jelly Couch? Or worse, they’re hoarding for the next Charity Corner and your gift ends up getting lost in the void of their SDB, never to be seen again? I think you get the picture. You probably don’t know what kind of furniture your Neofriends like and they definitely don’t want something they might have to take to a tailor or assemble. They want something exciting! Fun! Consumable! Rare! So let’s get into it. Introducing… What To Buy All of these categories are foolproof and will definitely win you friend points. You’re welcome. Bonus points if you check their wishlist(s) beforehand to see what they actually need. #1 - Gourmet Foods Remember that starving pet we mentioned earlier, and the weekly quest log prize pool? There’s another reason they are starving that pet - that pet can only eat gourmet. Gourmet foods are fancy, and once you eat them, they’re gone. But! They’re not like flowers - you have a record of them! That means your Neofriend can always check on their Neopet’s gourmet food list and remember that awesome Neofriend who gave them an awesome gift on Valentine’s Day. Get cookin’ good lookin'. #2 - Books Okay, this category is quite large. There are a LOT of books in Neopia, and many of them have been around for too long and there are frankly too many random ones floating around. Let’s avoid those. However, that rare book you’ve been storing in your Safety Deposit Box for two years? The one that your friend needs for their Booktastic trophy? Seems like a good way to show your Neofriend some love. Still, have some points to spend from last year’s Faerie Festival? Jhudora and Illusen have a pretty nice library to choose from! Also, remember that record of gourmet foods? There’s a record of books read too! Maybe you’re getting the picture now. #3 - Battledome Equipment Let’s take the exact opposite of plushies and give someone Battledome Equipment. Duh! With the Void Within Plot returning soon and Nerkmids practically falling from the sky, the Battledome is the place to be in 2025. Why not gift someone a Sword of Apocalypse? Nothing says friendship like the end of the world. Every time your Neofriend takes their pet to the Battledome to beat some bad guys, they’ll think of you. How touching! #4 - NeoDeck Cards Alright, now we’re getting to the really good stuff - the collections displayed on your userlookup. While you can’t gift an avatar (Wouldn’t that be nice?!), you can absolutely gift your Neofriend a NeoDeck Card! This category has a great range of prices, and you can pick relevant colours! Yes, it’s totally okay to pick the pink Collectable Cards to fit the Valentine’s Day theme. #5 - Stamps The ultimate gift for your Neofriend: a new stamp for their album. This collection is the closest thing we have to flex your avatar count, and it’s just like NeoDeck Cards - there’s a huge range of prices! Wanna toss them ten cheap stamps? Perfect. Want to go all out and gift them one really expensive, really exciting stamp? Also amazing. And while you still can’t gift an avatar (come on, TNT, PLEASE?), you can absolutely gift someone a stamp that sits on an album page with an avatar. That’s basically the next best thing. You will win all the friend points by giving someone a stamp - you can thank me later! BONUS: Want to stay on theme? Here are 5 stamps with a Valentine’s vibe. #1 - Faerie City Stamp - Pink and pretty, a classic. Plus, everyone loves Faerieland! #2 - Igloo Garage Sale Stamp - Look how cute those friends are! Just like you and your Neofriend. #3 - Stamp of Spring Charm - While flowers aren’t forever, a stamp with flowers on it is! #4 - Tea Time Stamp - Afternoon tea with Neofriends would be a wonderful day to spend Valentine’s Day, and there are hearts on the teapot! Winning! #5 - Valentine Stamp - Well, this one speaks for itself. Valentine’s Day is a great day to celebrate your Neofriends. They’re here for you when you get blasted by the Snowager and when you lose 100,000nps spinning the Wheel of Extravagance. You should spoil them! Gifting is an art, and like all great art, it requires taste, strategy, and knowing when not to be the person handing out sad little TDMBGPOP plushies. Take my advice, and your Neofriends will be reminded that you’re a Neofriend they want to keep around. Not that you should buy your friend’s love… but it definitely doesn’t hurt!
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