Seven Tips on How to Start Playing Neopets (...Again)

Remember that list of Neopets Goals you made when you were thirteen? Well, you have finally done it. You have scratched off every last one of even the most daunting of tasks. You have millions of neopoints sitting in your bank account, your stocks have been sold, all of your pets are painted the perfect colour and customized to the highest standard of fashion, and your user lookup is looking fabulous.

Now what?

Ladies and gentlemen, I am here to help you, to inspire you, to guide you through your accidental neopets hiatus. Neopets is not about spinning a wheel or two and collecting interest everyday; it is a journey that can be more exciting with every step (so long as you put in a bit of effort).

Now, without further ado, let's start playing Neopets again!

1. Downsize

That is correct, my friends, it is time for a little spring (or... summer) cleaning! It is time to go through that dusty old safety deposit box of yours and get rid of all those items that have built up over the years. Do you really need nine thousand Rainbow Dung? Of course not. How about fifty two rotten left boots? Did not think so. There is a discard option for a reason people, use it! Once you have said 'bye-bye' to all that junk, go through your SDB by category. In doing so, the task becomes less daunting and you can more easily sort through your valuable and ...ahem... useless items. You would be surprised how many cool items are hiding in there!

On a similar tangent, side accounts. You know where I am going with this. Those cute neopets that you never play with that just wait and wait for you to come back and say 'Hi', there is someone out there that could take much better care of them and you know it. It can be difficult to cut ties sometimes, but it is for the best, I promise. That Halloween Scorchio you never visit is not getting any happier, I'm afraid. It's tough, but creating a thread on the Pound Chat and finding suitable owners is the absolute best thing you can do. Plus, you might make a few friends along the way!

2. Socialize

A big reason Neopians grow away from the site is simply because there is not anyone keeping them here. There are so many lovely players on this site, sometimes you just have to go out there and look! Certain boards can be helpful, but what I recommend is finding a guild that shares similar interests and goals with yourself. Often times, guilds are much friendlier than boards, less clique-y, and more welcoming. You just have to take the plunge! Visit a board that covers a topic you are most interested in, say avatars or writing, quite often there will be guilds advertised relating to the subject. So drop in and say 'Hi'; very few of them bite.

3. Get Spendin'

Alright Mr. Moneybags, loosen up your grip on those shiny neopoints. You know that expensive avatar item you've been holding off on purchasing? Or perhaps your missing that one perfect item for your gallery. Guess what, you can afford it! Time to say 'bye-bye' to your millions and bump up that avatar count. When you start spending instead of just socking it all away, you can actually accomplish some of those seemingly impossible goals. Now you can start saving again!

4. Restock

Ah the 'R' word. It can be daunting, especially for those of you who haven't had much experience with the practice. Now that you've been here a while, it's time to challenge yourself. Become familiar with time intervals certain shops restock at and you'll be breaking the bank in no time! I recommend starting out with less busy shops; you will find more success there! After a bit of practice, head over to the Chocolate Factory, Uni's Clothing, Stamp Kiosk, or the Magic shop and really bring in those neopoints!

5. Battle

A huge aspect of Neopia is the Battledome. There is a dome in almost every land of Neopia for crying out loud! If you have not already, start training your Neopets. Battling with famous Neopian characters or even other players' neopets can be an absolute blast (figuratively and literally)! Quick tip: you may want to invest some of those neopoints in some good weaponry.

6. Draw

First off, everybody can draw; some people just need a little more practice than others. With that said, don't be afraid to try! There are so many places in Neopia that could really use a bit of your artwork. Art gallery, beauty contests, comics, you name it! If you can take the time to draw it, it can be done. All you need is a spark of an idea and you are good to go!

7. Write

Last but not least, write. Writing, in my opinion, will take the most effort, but the end reward is worth it. Having something published in the Neopian Times is a huge achievement for writers and comic artists alike and can be just what you need to revive your interest in Neopia again! You can submit to the Neopian Times, or perhaps enter a poetry contest, or you can work with other neopets players and write an amazing story in the Storytelling competition! So go, travel the lands and find your inspiration! It might be a short story, a guide, or a lengthy series. All you have to do is find an idea and stick with it! You can even collaborate with a neofriend or two. The possibilities are endless!

Well, there you have it. Seven tips on how to play Neopets again. I hope that after reading this article, this wonderful site has become just as, if not more, magical as when you started playing oh so many years ago. Thank you very much for reading and happy playing!