sorry about the delay in getting this blog up n' postin', I realized after getting setup going that I don't actually know how I want to order this stuff. anyway, let's start by going roughly alphabetical
this is an Abominable Snowball!
Abominable Snowball
A great friend... for as long as the weather stays cold.
Item Category: Wintery Petpet
Available From: Restocks in Wintery Petpets (Terror Mountain), but also available from the Ice Arena of the Battledome (Terror Mountain) and The Snowager (Terror Mountain)
the other places the Abominable Snowball occurs use rarity-based systems of item generation (i.e. they can give any item of a certain rarity regardless of origin, e.g Esophagor in Haunted Woods, The Wishing Well in Neopia Central, Kiko Pop in Kiko Lake).
therefore it's pretty easy to determine that the Abominable Snowball's natural territory is Terror Mountain, primarily Happy Valley and the Ice Caves.
Habitat: Terrorpolar Alpine Forests
here's the rub: Abominable Snowballs may not be naturally occurring
How to Build an Abominable Snowball
Its quite easy once you look up how.
Abominable Snowballs can be built! this doesn't preclude them occurring naturally, but it is possible to roll some snow together, decorate it, and bring forth new life
note: it is not actually mechanically possible within the game of Neopets to build an Abominable Snowball, but that does not mean it doesn't happen outside of player influence.
(there is the question of whether Abominable Snowballs are even sentient, but it's the opinion of this blog that all Petpets are alive, or at least self-mobile, even Rocks, because all Petpets can enter and exit the Symol Hole independently)
this puts the Abominable Snowball's kingdom as either Elementa or Constructa, depending on whether they occur without Neopet influence.
i couldn't find any other items that lead me to believe one way or another, except that it's probably a common pastime to build Abominable Snowballs as one would a snowman:
Abominable Snowball Fights
Those poor Abominable Snowballs...
Abominable Snowball Usuki Set
This Usuki set comes with a carrot, mittens and buttons to dress up your Usukis Abominable Snowball.
the Abominable Snowball Acara Muffler and Abominable Snowball Acara Wig even equate the Abominable Snowball to a snowman:
Abominable Snowball Acara Muffler
A muffler for the added effect of a snowman.
Abominable Snowball Acara Wig
A pretty brown wig with a snowman hat for your Acara!
that said, building a regular snowman doesn't require instructions, as building an Abominable Snowball apparently does
also of note, Abominable Snowballs melt in heat and hot weather:
Desert Abominable Snowball
Maybe this was a bad idea...
(note that this is also the only Abominable Snowball color that has a unique description)
Abominable Snowball Plushie
Unlike the original, this ones an all-weather friend.
Abominable Snowball Borovan
Oh no! Who dropped that poor Abominable Snowball in the mug?
however, there is something to be said for the fact that the Desert Abominable Snowball retains the intelligence of a white Abominable Snowball, and can be converted back into an Abominable Snowball of any color by repainting it -- there is some quality of its aliveness that is carried across all colors, even if it appears to have melted, and despite the apparent ease with which one can put together their own.
due to the magical properties of Paint Brushes, though, this only goes for melting or other conversion through painting; that one in the borovan is gone forever.
there is also something to be said for the fact that all Abominable Snowballs of one color share identical accessories in identical configurations. one requires a green and red hat with a pompom to make an Abominable Snowball; no other hat will suffice. likewise it is possible in theory to make a small snowman that is almost but not quite identical to an Abominable Snowball, but that does not come alive as a true Abominable Snowball would. maybe this indicates the platonic nature of an Elemental, but one that can be replicated by Neopians? or perhaps one that is intangible in its natural state and, through creation of a suitable host, brought forth to inhabit a body?
finally, there is no indication that an Abominable Snowball can be made in any of its other colors, only its default color of White. that is, it may be the case that one can build a white Abominable Snowball, but must repaint it to achieve other colors. (which raises questions about the Robot color and others, but we don't need to worry about them thank god).
so what do you think? Construct (Neopian-made) or Elemental (naturally occurring)?
Construct
Elemental
Other
Voting ended onOct 22, 2024
note that if it may occur as an Elemental, it should be considered an Elemental, even if it could also occur as a Construct
you can also make an argument in the replies or in my ask, etc!
all of the items examined in making this post have been added to this wishlist on Jellyneo, including some that were not discussed here but had some other tidbits about the nature of Abominable Snowballs.
This funny looking fellow is very shy and loves hiding in small places.
Rarity: r78 (Uncommon)
Category: Wintery Petpet
Primary origin: Wintery Petpets in Happy Valley, Terror Mountain
Determination: Qualifying species!
Kingdom: Animalia
Habitat: Terrorpolar Alpine Forests
Gallery specimen: Yullie (~5,000 NP)
Other notable specimens: Other Yullie colors, with the exception of the unpaintable Island Yullie, exclusive to Trudy's Surprise
Notes:
I appreciate the TCG packs that address biological concerns of Petpets living in the wild, like the need for camouflage:
I wonder if Yullie really have any predators to worry about or if a typical Yullie isn't much concerned with it. But I'd also like to imagine a Yullie family building a beaver lodge–like structure in a snow bank and foraging or hibernating through the winter.tr
