LadyCrimson

This isn't Diablo or Skyrim. Some games it's appropriate/part of the game design for a lot of clvls, some games it's not. RPG doesn't = must have tons of clvls in order to have chr. customization. I remember while playing BG1, I never felt like the levels allowed was "too low" at the time. The only reason I ever had a thought in that direction is when I wanted to multi-class - which of course equals less "power" for each class ability. Which is sensible and I didn't want that aspect changed. I just wanted a few more chr. levels then so you could get each a bit higher.

It's been raining all day. Saw what looked like a small legless salamander (or some kind of amphibian) dash into the garage under the door. By the time I thought to myself "Temo-capture it so I can take pictures of it!" it wiggled back outside again. It was so cool, looked like a long brown earthworm, moved with multiple body S ripples like a little snake. I'm pretty sure it wasn't a baby snake. I hope it wasn't a snake. Now I want to go digging among the wet leaves ...

Not my video. Game glitches are funny (super-speed paddling glitch). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNeC6twrZTI

Couldn't there be an option setting to use the higher res ones for those who care/have rigs to support it? I don't know if that's possible with the way the game is designed/connected together etc tho....especially loading screens.

But (worn in) flannel is so soft...me likes it. Not that your choice isn't awesome too.

Salt is one reason I don't want to live in a snow state ... or right by the ocean. Although in the latter case, I might deal with it for a private beach on my property....

While one can be rationally aware of the effect/importance of depth perception, it's always weird when you lose it for a while. Everything looks the same, yet not.

@Woldan - that Covenant song really brings to mind Depeche Mode, for me. Which is not a bad thing.

All I know of Milwaukee is Happy Days and Laverne and Shirley. I've been in WI but farther NW. ...getting ready to head out for my dance class. I haven't worn hard-soled shoes in a long time, feels weird.

I can't handle them putting anything down anywhere. I have done so/will if I utterly have to, of course but ... yeah. You don't handle so much as endure while pretending you're elsewhere. Good luck, Labadal ... hope it's not as bad as the original test implied. Keep us posted.

I remember watching the first few episodes of Arrow when it came out, and sorta liking it. But I haven't followed it since. I should really catch up with it a bit (I think the 1st season is on Netflix, at least). The ads for 2nd half of TWD season aren't inspiring but I'll still be on the couch watching, because ... well, because. It's a mystery at times. And also really really hoping Better Call Saul is good. Sunday, not long to wait now.

It is getting to the point, with SSD drives and other things, where loading may be so fast that the "loading screen" as info/something pleasant to stare at may become a bit obsolete. I don't even have a SSD and the loading screens in Borderlands2 went by so fast I couldn't even read most of the "game hints" they always had. But a rest screen could be lengthened, I'd imagine.

There are plenty of styles of games where I don't care if there are day/night cycles at all, but (especially these days) any game that has me marching characters through some role-playing world environment filled with towns, forests and other landscapes had better either have a day/night cycle (even if only visual) or else be surrounded by 3 or 4 suns.

Late night snack/meal: can of Chef Boyardee "spaghetti & meatballs" (a very loose term in this case) w/a dash of habanero salsa. Livin' lazy large!** **ran out of the other EZ but more sensible, foodstuffs...

Stranded Deep - the sand-whale thing was becoming enough of an annoyance to make me want to stop playing (the way they push items around/you lose items). Then I learned you can open the save file with Notepad and alter the whale lines to 'false' - so I assume they don't spawn in that game then. Since whales are cool to watch but serve no purpose yet, I'm fine with that. Maybe now I can build/survive in peace and not have to constantly move to a new island because a whale suddenly decided to camp out near me. Also, finally punched a shark in the nose (with a machete, not my fist) and discovered they're not so tough. Mostly it seems hard to actually get a hit in, but once you do, not so bad. I did bleed into the water a lot tho. Thankfully no other sharks seemed to notice....

Exactly/ditto. I can understand/see they have certain uses but it's not something most are going to use constantly, hence wanting to upgrade/rebuy them all the time (to keep the "market" high) always seemed rather dubious to me. The ubiquitous cellphone or some variant seems the main route for portable computing/'net use, long term.

Tried another early access called Besiege. At the moment it's just levels where you design a vehicle/thingie to destroy a new hut/castle/whatever. Not that I've gotten far. I like the building/design part (it's kind of a whimsical, do-anything style) but I don't see much other point yet. ...I think that's the 3rd or 5th early access I've tried recently. Guess that's what's happens when one doesn't like the AAA games much anymore. So far, I haven't picked a true clunker/didn't even get my $15 worth, yet...just the usual "it's early alpha, needs more content" routine.

I'm not sure, but maybe they're taking this Cast Away thing a bit too far. ...playing as a nomad (no base "home" island) is more challenging/interesting re: days survived. Just pick a direction, use up one island and keep going forever, and ever, and ever....

Interesting that so many don't like vendor gold limits. I mean, I understand it...it often doesn't work as well as it sounds in concept. I sort of liked the way it worked in the original Divine Divinity, but it had a barter system to go along with it. It was still clunky and yeah you'd end up sometimes not being able to unload stuff. But sometimes the management aspect adds an element of gameplay interest, for me, if it's something more than just a number limit in the vendor window, that is. Still, it's not a feature I "must have" or likely will even really notice its absence. Heh.

If they edit it right, I usually think shorter previews are better. Or at least can arouse market-viewer curiosity more, when there's less shown/revealed.

Long day. Paperwork, legalities, blah blah. Time for some food and a movie or something.

I can't think of a single game where, if there was a walk and a run option given, I didn't have it on run, all the time. Or if it was stamina based, constantly be running until I ran out of stamina, then grumble about having to walk while stamina regenerated. I suppose I'm impatient. I mean, I love exploring and wandering, but I don't like doing it at a snail's pace, unless the area to be explored is a 20x20 house. But I do think it's odd not to have a walk/run option, both.

"Stranded Deep" - early access survival-type title, week old on Steam. Will have bugs. Gameplay so far...crash into the sea, paddle raft to nearest island. Craft a basic shelter (foundation, leaf-hut wall/roof), campfire, basic tools etc. by dumping stuff on the ground and if you have enough a build menu comes up when you r-click on piles. Hunger/thirst isn't too hard to deal with, but building/tool/fire material (palm trees, rocks) is finite per island and tool durability is lowish so you always need more. Rains a lot which can cause health issues eventually so you do need a shelter at some point. Islands in the ocean is infinite, so you paddle to other islands for more resources and special gear, or try diving for shipwrecks (you can find parts to build a boat motor). Lots of sharks in water but you can avoid them for a long time if you want. Or you can try to kill one (ha) and drag it to shore for meat. Biggest PITA is the islands are often far apart, so you're paddling 3-5 minutes one-way, going back and forth repeatedly since inventory space is severely limited (8 spaces, stack limit of 4). Easy to lose direction until you randomly find a compass, too. Anyway...like Cast Away + Giligan's Island of One. I rather like it - it's not high-stress unless purposely going after sharks all the time - but I'd advise most to wait and see if it adds more to do. If nothing else, it could use more crafting options.

@Lexx - probably rinse and repeat at the moment. Was just made EA a week ago, had one patch. It's playable/fun and what's there is pretty nice, but not a whole lot to do/craft yet+a bit glitchy. I'll write more in the "What are you playing" thread but for most it's a wait a few months and see I'm sure. -------------------------------- Ooo, humpback whale, cool. Wonder if I can hunt them. Er...what? Wait a minute... Sand whale? ....it's funny, except he's been going in circles for 2 hours and every time he swims through my island, he pushes anything in his path that I've dropped on the ground into the ocean (doesn't seem to hurt structures tho). Hoping when I reload he'll be gone (wasn't there when I started).

I liked it well enough, what I heard of it.