So I'm taking a break from Lusternia for a few days, and it's given me a little time to reflect. But one thing I didn't expect to pop into my head is this: I distinctly remember getting a present from Ironbeard (or whatever he's called) during the Lusternia Year 5 celebrations, "a shimmering, silver bubble pipe" to be precise.

When I first got it, I tested it out with help from my Guildmaster at that time to see what effect it had, if any, and I discovered this: when blown, the pipe obscures the exits of whatever room you're in. I.e. you blow it and when you LOOK at the room again, the exits dialog would say "a panoply of bubbles obscures the exits" or somesuch.

Now, I know this is a powerful ability.

I just don't know how to use it properly.

Anyone have any ideas on how to use this thing? Or if it's even useful at all? I've held onto it for this long and I haven't used it at all since I tested it because I don't know in what context in which it would be useful. So any ideas would be appreciated.

And yes, I know this is a bit of a trivial topic, but to be honest I'm bored right now and need brain engagement.

You're probably better off trading it in and using the credits to learn something, or buy something more useful.

Since you can still use the in-game MAP, the obscuring exits does nothing, really, unless you are in a manse.

It's pretty worthless except for entertainment value. I'd trade it in and learn some skills.

How does one trade in this artifact, then? If there's a help file just point me to it and I'll read it in-game, if you don't want to post it here.

Yes, skillllls. Or maybe a small rune for your weapon if they have a sale?

I suggest 3 artipipes, but that's just me.

Syntax should be in HELP ARTIFACTS or one of the related files.

And I got one of those once. It rocked, because I instantly traded it in and got fabled herbs at the time.

It's useful if you need someone to get lost in your demesne and you're not a duststorm-wielding Geomancer.

If it lasted longer and you can't use winter (provided the target doesn't have weather sight)

... and the target in question is too stupid to use MAP.

Sounds like MAP needs to respect what you can and can't see. It doesn't show standard hidden exits, showing exits that are obscured sounds like an oversight. They stuck it on all the realms, so I'm sure they didn't code each realms map for each skill, but it would be nice if they went back and tweaked it.

I think MAP already obscures the exits, but you can still pretty much infer where they are from the presence of nearby rooms.

Yeah, they changed map to no longer show exits if they are blocked by illusionary walls and such so i'm sure it would apply to this too.
However if you are in a room on the map with no exits showing but is right next to another room, it's safe to think that there is an exit in that direction.

Skills that stop you from being able to use map, combined with this could be troublesome but it just takes a second to spam all the different directions to get out of. When I got one of these i ran around annoying people for a bit and then traded it in.

It's amazing how many people can't find their way away from the nexus if you put up illusionary walls.