Archmonarch

Nah. You have to give him a nickname for his nickname. For example, using jizzle kizzy 5 (imagine below is directed to jodo): "Hey, jizz, (Do you mind if I call you jizz?)...." And we then continue with our ritual jodo bashing.

The deadline is Sep 4. Today is Aug 31. Tell me, do you think we are starting tomorrow? "

Now I know I have explained this many times, but Ill say it again. I was away from home and had no map to refer to when adjudicating F02. Any errors are derived thereof. I tried to correct them where I could, but I missed that involving Turkey.

Speed Grapher is entirely different from Speed Racer. I know theres a series of OVAs but I dont think theres a series.

I think you're being too harsh, Meta. If you have a great deal going on in your life, as Alanschu seems to, it is understandable that an optional internet game may be given a low priority. However, I agree that Eru had no good reason to quit. Also, Ive updated the first post for W02. I had an appointment this morning and forgot about it. Sorry.

I have two quite large problems with this statement. 1. Jodo, how the hell could you stop anyone from doing anything? It certainly isnt due to your stellar wit, overwhelming might on these fora, or your persuasive influence with any sort of power thereof. 2. Also, you are a blatant liar. Everyone knows you are a blatant liar, and thus, your statements mean nothing. Even if, by miniscule chance, one of your posts proved to be true (which I doubt would ever happen.) Ever heard of the Boy who Cried Wolf?

I think it had to specially customized to even work under water. But I also seem to recall something about the lightsaber boiling the water and anyone (including the wielder) in it.

Im going to guess Chapelle's Show, because it sounds like something Dave Chapelle would say, but I have no idea. Also, according to that article, Gonzo is in charge of the anime. This is bad news. Gonzo inherently f***s any projects with which it is related. Take, for example, what it did with Speed Grapher. Maybe Fuji will be able to rein them in, but we'll see.

Im not so sure Eru wants the spot anymore. He just quit OBS-03 and said the "game [Diplomacy] sucks."

I would have contacted you to settle what you intended, but you were out of town. Do not blame the game.

According to rumors your too late... They are going to make one for the 360, still unconfirmed but it might actually be bioware trying to make a sequel. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Uh, why? If you didn't like JE, just don't buy the sequel in the event it's made. I'm sure lots of people would like the game to have a sequel, as apparently it's been rather successful. Would a sequel directly affect you in some way I'm overlooking? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I shall respond to you both with a single explanation. I am not against a sequel to JE, indiscriminately. I enjoyed the setting and such of JE. I AM against such faulty plotting as was displayed in the first. I had dissected the entire storyline within the first 15 or 20 minutes (once you learned of the existence of spirit monks). In fact, I would be emphatically for a sequel to JE if they improved upon this area. As for how it affects me personally, it doesnt per se. However, I prefer new games to improve upon old mistakes, not to follow identical formulas, especially ones with flaws. Its the same reason no one wanted a sequel to, for example, Gigli.

Ordering a unit to move to a province in which another unit (whether yours or otherwise) is holding will result in both maintaining their position. If you wanted your F Wal to SUPPORT your F ENG in holding, then you would order F Wal S F ENG. You did not do this, thus France's supported attack against your one defender displaces you. Also, Reveilled, you are probably correct about the Russian builds, but as I said, I didnt have a map to which to refer. I was doing it all in my head.

Im not sure I could really say. I have only been working on the book sporadically for several months, and most of that was planning and creating the setting, characters, etc. Ive only written a chapter or two. As you know, one can never predict what changes or ideas will occur as you write. The fnished product is never exactly as you first imagined it, or in many cases even remotely close. Im absolutely sure Ill make changes and additions as I go along and get more into the characters/universe. I realize that isnt much of an answer but Im not sure I could offer anything better. If you have specific questions about the book, I would probably be able to answer those. Authors tend not to be good at categorizing or analyzing their own work.

Sorry for the late adjudication. I woke up late this morning and had to rush out. I am away from home, so I cannot update the map, but I will list the orders and Reveilled is free to make his own. I have not received orders from either Alanschu or Skynet, so both Austria and Turkey will receive NMR, unless I get a really good reason. Check the first post in a few minutes.

You seem to fail to understand the point of Diplomacy. It is to expand your natoin such that you control a certain predetemined number of supply centers. Each nation starts out with approximately 3 home centers and tries to grow from there. The white centers (on the ST map) are independent centers that can be conquered. And not every area has a supply center both because it would unbalance the game and (in this case) because not every system is habitable.

Anything else you wanted to know? Also, Serious Callers Only, I agree with you about Jordan/Eddings/Goodkind. I suppose it is my curse to be forever linked with the first, as we live in the same town.

Huh...of those, the only one I have read to any extent is Jordan, but I hope my plotting turns out better than his. Ive read some Gemmel but not enough to recognize any influence. Ive never really gotten into Forgotten Realms or Dragon Lance, except in very limited doses. And I remember trying to read the first book of the Death Gate saga once, but I dont think I finished.

What do you mean? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Simple. When used often enough in various mediums, worlds or ideas become played out. There are certain basics you expect and which are almost always met in the exact same way. In Star Wars terms, this is a common person who grows to achieve great power (usually as a Jedi) and defeat the great evil, most commonly portrayed by a Sith, the similar but inherently less powerful group due to their dependence upon evil and its accoutrements. There will also be strange aliens and moments of great adventure in which it seems the hero can die, but never will. Also, developers must play to such expectations, so as not to alienate the fanatical fan base, who would prompty boycott any such product, or more likely buy it and then bash it continuously, such that no similar product is ever made again. Even Kotor 2 pushed the edge with that one. Finally, in using a franchise, there is the intrinsic obstacle of not having intellectual control over a project. They must answer to some authority who determines what is or is not proper for a given universe. This naturally stunts creativity and leads (in many cases) to mediocre products, successful in nothing more than fulfilling the demands of the creator. Take for example the majority of comic and video game movies. To be honest, these are problems with much of the SciFi/Fantasy genre, not limited to Star Wars.

Such was my plan. The magic system wouldnt become even a minor factor until the second book, and at that point, it would be summarized to some degree as part of Gale's lessons. I would also include a full appendix detailing such after the book. I agree with you that the focus should be on characters and story. I just find it easier to do that if Im not always asking myself, "How does ____ work?" or "What should I do here?" Also, if you wouldnt mind, could you list the influences you noticed? Im sure Im aware of some of them, but readers often pick up things unrealized by the author.

A final warning: it is now only 20 hrs until adjudication and I have only received 4 lists of orders of which I know. If you do not want to suffer NMR, submit quickly.

I thought he did in the Tawny Man trilogy? This is the second Farseer trilogy; the one about the relationship between the Six Duchies and the Out Islands. Maybe Im thinking of the Fool. I know he dies.

Im working on it. And that is only a brief description, the reality is much more convoluted. For example, if you want to discover a secret from the first book, read the spoiler after this admittedly long and ultimately necessary explanation. There are two categories of Bar Shai: those born to the power and those who can be taught to access it. The first are infinitely more powerful, but the latter are infinitely more common. The magic system used by the Bar Shai is divided into 10 elements. 4 are the normal hermetic elements: earth, air, fire and water. Each of these also combine to form 4 dual elements: lightning (fire and air), mist (air and water), clay (water and earth), and metal (earth and fire). Then above all of these are two more: Spirit and Void. Void takes after the Eastern mystic definition, being the element that contains everything. To make things more complicated, each element is associated with a particular application. Air is Manipulation. Water is Transformation. Earth is Reinforcement. Fire is Emission. Spirit is Materialization. Void is Specialty. Basically, those of each element are gifted with a certain special ability within their category. For example, an Air Mage might be able to control dreams, or use the wind to carry messages. A Water Mage might be able to change another, physically or mentally. An Earth Mage might be able to increase his or her strength or to awaken hidden abilities in others. A Fire Mage might be able to shoot flame or some such. Those in dual elements can access both equally. A Mist Shaper might be able to control or influence the weather. A Clay Shaper might be able to create artifical life. Metal Shapers are almost universally skilled smiths, and can control the properties of their creations to some degree. A Lightning Shaper might be able to power a device through electricity (even though in this world electricity is the equivalent of fusion energy today: theoretical and dangerous). Spirit Adepts and Void Disciples are the exceptions. All Spirit Adepts have the same basic ability: to materialize an item of their choice. They may make any additions to the item or give it special abilities, but once the item is chosen it may not be changed unless the Spirit Adept progresses from one level of mastery to another. Void Disciples have absolutely no set abilities; the only common thread is that they do not neatly fit into any other category. The hierarchy is as follows: all 8 terrestrial elements (earth, air, fire, water and any combinations) are at the bottom level, with the dual elements being slightly more prestigious than one alone. Then at the top is Spirit. Originally, Void was the preeminent element, but as the void disciples were the majority of the rival god's supporters, they are now considered abominations and killed immediately after being found. The majority of Bar Shai do not even realize this element exists.

Robin Hobb is female. It says so in the author bio on the inside back covers. Also, I thought Chade died? Movies: ? Dont watch that many. Games for which I Want Sequels: Quest for Glory 5 (redone), PS:T, Fallout 2, Arcanum, System Shock 2 Games for which I Dont Want Sequels: JE (at least not if it uses the same rules system and writing), others I shall remember later Books for which I Want Sequels: My own Authors I Want to Stop Writing For the Good of Humanity: Kevin J Anderson Authors Approaching that Point: Robert Jordan

I get it whenever I post a new topic as well. In fact, I seem to remember having gotten it (though less frequently) last year also. Also, Im guessing the reason for the Revan Solo item is that was the first topic (You will notice the error message references a topic named 'Hallo Revan Solo.') to cause a problem, and has been a holdover for every similar error message since. I would suggest looking into the above topic, and see if any problems can be discovered there.

From what I understand, though dont trust me as I havent been following it, PvP hasnt been implemented in the initial release version and would be a later addon.