Guard Dog

I forget who said this but "If you take the last Sunni and the last Shia, put them in a room together and tell them they are the last Muslims alive they would fight to the death". The whole regions is a bloody mess and the only reason anyone cares is oil. That's why in the US the government needs to get out of the way and let us exploit our own.

Bugs aside this is the best game I've played in years. The level of detail is amazing.

Oh and ktchong, I object to the inclusion of the libertarian tag on this post. This dude is no libertarian.

Val, the truth is a candidate that people like you & I would be enthusiastic about would have no chance of getting elected. The US might be shifting a small amount towards favoring a more libertarian political philosophy because of the excesses of the last 17+ years but folks are far from buying into a real libertarian government. Too many, far too many Americans want the government to be their mommy & daddy and take care of them. They don't pay attention to what the government is doing to them so they don't make informed decisions in the voting booth. A quote attributed to George Washington spells it out perfectly "Government is not reason, it is not eloquence. It is force. Like fire it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master, never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action."

Actually I disagree. The past few years, particularly in the political threads it's a LOT more civil than it once was. If you remember a few years back we had folks Like Krezack, Pop, Nur Ab Sal, I could name a few others who aren't around anymore. Guys like that got really angry and not just passive aggressive, plain aggressive when someone had the audacity to have a different opinion. Hell Krezak said he considered me to be sub-human for being Christian. Nothing like that going on these days. Even Oby for all his (admittedly soft-sold) racism has never been abusive or insulting that I remember reading. Lord of Flies and particularly Yushaa used to post 1000+ word posts about how he wished all Americans would die and stuff. I've said it may times here. Getting down on someone because their politics aren't your politics is the same as hating them because they cheer for a different sports team than you do. It doesn't make sense (unless they are Yankees fans). I think the debates around here have been a lot more entertaining and less of a bloodsport that a few years back. Just my $.02. Oh, and Mod team, don't try to pat yourself on the back for that. AFAIK only Fio and Ros ever did anything about any of that. I know Ros did because he got on MY case once!

A lot of work to do around the house today. Unfortunately I won't be around to do any of it. I'll be in Dyrwood as soon as the coffee maker is done. That line about "No sleep for the watchers".... that was pretty right on.

Wals! Welcome home my brother!

Admit it, you will all be so disappointed when he doesn't get nominated. The sad thing is if he gets nominated and the democrats run another condescending, heavy handed, freedom hating, constitution mocking, Obama clone I'm voting for Cruz. There is not a single democrat on the national stage I'd cast a vote for right now. But if they run someone who doesn't meet my description above, then I'll likely vote for the Libertarian candidate. The thing is, I don't vote FOR republicans. I vote AGAINST democrats.

PoE. Yeah, it's awesome!

Just checked Steam. PoE unlocks in 4 hours. My day just got booked solid.

And another thing, is it just me or does it seem like every time Obsidian busts out a new game this place gets a little weird?

We need a frying pan and a jar of mayonnaise for all the spam around here lately.

I just watched Team USA choke... yes f-----g CHOKE on a 2-1 lead over Denmark in the last six minutes to lose 3-2. You wonder why that sport isn't more popular in the US? It's because we suck at it.

Ah, you feel all bait-and-switched. I get that same feeling from PoE so I can commiserate. Sure. They are promising a modern IWD, BG, etc and it LOOKS like they are making DA:O lite in a D&D setting. Whatever. I'm already in for $50 so if it sucks as far as I'm concerned I just bought a really expensive soundtrack. How do you figure PoE was bait & switched. I haven't really been following it. They didn't decide to go MMO did they?

You're having a different discussion than me. You're talking about whether you like those changes or not and whether they seem fun to you. I obviously can't prove you wrong on that. What I'm saying is that those aspects show a very clear divergence from how D&D CRPGs of the past played, so much so that the combat gameplay we see in that video doesn't really evoke games like Baldur's Gate or NWN. That much is quite obvious from that video - unless you think we need to read the manual and play the full game to be able to tell. From what I know of you personally, I think you don't really enjoy hardcore RPG mechanics and would prefer a relatively casual and actiony romp. I don't mean that as an insult - and I don't think you'll take it as one, given your self-professed preferences. I think you may well enjoy SCL. Which is my point. I don't have a bone to grind with SCL not being my cup of tea - that's not a problem. I do think it was disingenious of them to announce themselves as the return of good old D&D CRPGs. Tigranes is right on the money. If I invited all of you for dinner promising steak, prime rib, and an open bar and then when you all get there you find out I'm serving hamburgers and potato chips with one can of cheap beer you'd be a little disappointed. That is not to say burgers and chips are not good, it just wasn't what I promised you. They pitched this project by throwing around the D&D brand and the promise to live up to the IE games and NWN. That attracted a vocal and passionate audience. But the meal they are serving up, even though it's not out of the kitchen yet, is something else entirely. Their own forums have gone from being full of mooning fanboys to shark infested waters.

I sat on the front porch and read a book all day today. It was really great. The book and the day.

I'm definitely one of the ones complaining over there and it remains to be seen if they really are listening and what this will turn out to be. Based on what I've read so far I'm guessing it will be a puree of vanilla mush that might have a passing wave at something resembling D&D but has been dumbed down to appeal to the 15 year old MMO gamer that names his characters after bodily functions and uses words like pwned. Man I hope I'm wrong. But the truth is if we get a robust toolset that is accessible and comprehensive as what we had in NWN I (sorry Josh the NWN II toolset was a mess) I can live with all that.

The CEO of n-Space posted on one of the threads: Well, the upshot is they are listening. He didn't give away much info but at least they are listening. I guess bitching might serve some purpose after all.

HK-47 made that game for me. KOTOR I was very good. Not great but one of the better games I've run through. KOTOR II had the potential to be worlds better but it was so chopped up, particularly at the end it just made the whole experience fall flat for me. Had they made the game they wanted to make it might have been one of the best RPGs ever.

We had company this weekend. My Wife's best friend and her husband. Good lord they could put some booze away. I'm starting my new job a week from today so that gives me a week to wrap up the big projects around the house. Starting with the fence.

Tonight is Game 3 of Hell week and so far the Grizz are 2-0. On to MSG & the Knicks.

Well, I'd suggest anyone considering buying in to hold off. Or forget it entirely. Unless DA:O Lite appeals to you. At least until after release. Just my $.02

From what I'm reading over there folks have definitely turned on the devs based on the info that has been released so far. Everything the D&D fans of old were hoping this would be... well it might not be.

Pff, alcohol rookies. A proud alcoholic who knows his sh!t drinks water and eats between his drinks, and he never forgets to guzzle tons of water before going to bed. This way you can be drunk every single day and actually enjoy it. Rookie huh? Young man I assure you I had dropped more empty bottles in the trash than you will in a lifetime before you were old enough to bench press a plastic rattle toy! I had no idea you were a trash collector! Is it a secure job?

The function of the executive is to be a check on Congress and to enforce the laws that congress passes and he/she signs. Apparently our current President missed that day they taught that in law school. A Paul Ryan presidency, while not the best outcome it certainly would not be bad, would be defined why what Congress looks like and how well he can work with them. If Congress is controlled by the left then at least he can protect us from them and they can protect us from him. That is how it is supposed to work. That Congress has allowed the President to modify existing law outside the legislative process and selectively choose which laws he will enforce and which he won't is absolutely unforgivable.