jaguars4ever

The version I have doesn't use the Starforce. Just so you know, I bought/downloaded it directly from direct2drive (which I also used for Beyond Good and Evil and Oblivion). And since my local games stores sell jack for the PC these days, I figured I may a well buy it online and be playing it in 20 minutes, rather than buying off eBay/Amazon and waiting. Also, the thing I like about my direct2drive downloads it that my CD/DVD drives can be free for music/movies etc. Disc tray switching = sux0rz!1 One disadvantage however, is that the download does not come packaged with SR1, as opposed to the North American retail box. <---Apparenty those things exist.

I too like the dynamism, RP. I was a little surprised when my ranger wingman landed on a planet and undocked with new uber weps. I know he's there to help me, but that's just showing me up dammit! -- Also: I wanted to play paratroopers.

Check your PM inbox. I just sent you my review. EDIT: *sigh* I suppose you're all curious now, so here you go: :D It's the game of all games, so you'd have to be some sort of philistine to not love it. It offers something from virtually every genre so there's bound to be aspects which you enjoy. The space galaxy itself is totally old skool (highly stylised 2d ala DOS), not dissimilar to such classics of yesteryear such as Solar Winds or Star Control. The combat in free-space utilizes a turn-based tactical system (you can 'plot' and judge your klicks & target your fire in advance kind of like Fallout's hex system). The RPG elements in this game totally rock. The character creation system is that of a trimmed down RPG. You select your race and class, and each permutation has its own secondary effects! You also get to customize what starting equipment comes with your ship. But most important is what skills you select. Each skill (charisma, tech, etc) will pretty much effect how you play the game (which coupled withe your class) allows you to truly create a non-generic character. As you gained experience points (for completing quests, killing stuff..you know the usual), you can increase your skills and go up in rank. You can also gain some pretty nifty medals for helping certain races which is also cool. Did I mention that depending on your rank and leadership skill, you can also gain wingmen party members? Well, the really behave more like hench-men, but that's still pretty awesome. The way you play is open-ended and completely up to you, and the maps, planets, systems, quests and what-not are randomly generated each time you create a new game. So feel free to team-up, trade, extort, kill anyone you meet in space...where no one can hear you scream. In fact, the game's NPCs will do stuff without you - mine, fight, trade, buy better equipment - so it feels like you're part of the game world, rathter than the gameworld's revolving around you. I particularly like the dynamic economy (unlike Freelancer's static version) where the prices of commodities are always in flux, so you'll have to stay alert to the news to where the best buy for your cred is at. The interface when you're docked at a planet is similar to Freelancer (equipment store, trade center, mission place, hangar bay), but with one unique difference: The ability to partake in planetary battles! The land-based RTS part is actually not too bad (and it's completely optional). It works like your regular RTS. Gather resources (ore, energy, Jedi juice? What is it they use these days...), and you build your various robots/turets/killing stuff. The better upgrades cost more and what not. You give them orders, they defend, attack or capture or your take a more hands on micro-management approach. However there is a fun, neat twist (best used with a really uber robot) - you can manually take control of a robot, and the 3d-isometric RTS game sorta morphs into a third-person-over-the-shoulder Mech game! Back to the space stuff. There's military centres (where you can fund military operations), science research posts (where you can research better technologies for upgrades) and even business centres. There you can fund developments in other systems, or even take personal loans. There's drugs that you can illegally smuggle...and then there's drugs you can take! The stimulants are class btw. They raise certain stats/skills by a certain amount (but they'll go negative in withdrawal), but be careful to not get addicted. I suppose you could always go to the medical center and get treatment for that, but it'll likely be costly - just like bribes. Another thing that was totally sweet and awesome, is if you becomes a wanted man (with a big fat price on your head...and you'd just know a pirate like me would), you can drop by pirate base and have extensive plastic surgery to change your race (or just do it for recreation like Michael Jackson). The game itself is zany and almost has a Hitchhikers Guide style of humor...when it's not giving you giggles over it's Engrish style antics. What you say?! (I'm still unsure whether the mis-translations are intentional or not). Some of the missions are ridiculously funny, and there's even a Zork-esqe text adventure game. Hehe. Wait - I almost forgot. There's another game: If you go into a worm-hole/black-hole thingy you get sucked into this old skool space arcade shooter thing. Nifty. To sum it up, this game's retro done right.

Freelancer and Space Rangers 2.

^_^

Actually, no. Memory-bit inferface "is king".

A cost effective and smart way to do it, Hades. Of course it is a little different than before, since when JE was released, the XBOX was already in the $99-149 price region. And I'm assuming when ME is released the 360 will still be up there in price. So there might be some waiting involved...

Nice Avy/Sig combo, Oerwinde. Shockwave FTW.

SoCal homies FTW!1 ^_^

Target Destroyed!

Alright guys - I'm in the PCGen program and I'm about to create a char. What sources should I load from the source material pane?

Ha! I remember Nathaniel Chapman of the Riberty Rogues. :D

Guys, guys - take it to the LancerDome! Two ship enter, one ship leaves! (not a typo)

Maybe even a torp. Anyway, here's Alan parking his new bird:

Clearly the only way to play it. :D

NINJA POWER OF THE MIND Disclosed for the first time are actual training methods for tapping the mystical forces within. Breathing techniques, Meditation and Kuji-kiri hand symbols are covered in the text with diagrams and photographs. A trained Ninja mind can learn to control animals, endure pain, turn invisible, read minds and stun or injure opponents with a touch, shout or even a look. -- But Ninja Jags already knows all that. I guess I'll have to wait for the second edition in order to learn the Art of Translocation.

The Rumble in the Space Jungle

"Fine by me! Alright then - on the count of three..."

A legendary ship in its former glory... -- And into the breach once more! *GASP* I've lost a wing! -- Oh n0es!1 I've lost another wing! -- Yet victory is mine! But at what cost? Goodbye brave ship... -- Now behold this new bling-bling! -- Putting it to the test. But is this ambitious, or just plain suicide? -- ZING!

Sounds like fun Eldar. Consider me in.

^What he said.

Why does everyone use that cat to express gayness? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> The same reason we use to represent...

It never hurts to be ambidextrous.

Absolutely.