Vyperhand

like or dislike the individual characters, how does removing a role-playing OPTION improve the game? I could understand the problem if the romances were required, but they're not.

Just to follow up, anyone that hasn't voted in the below poll might want to do so. Looks like a majority isn't good enough to get any attention? Repeat of my post in questions to the devs: Um.. no romances would be ultra-bad, given the poll on this very site that showed over 80% of players supporting them and over HALF saying they were critical to the game. Now earlier, a dev said there were not only going to be romances, but romance options to pursue with multiple characters... what happened to that? The Romances Poll

bumping to be near relevant topics on the front page...

Um.. no romances would be ultra-bad, given the poll on this very site that showed over 80% of players supporting them and over HALF saying they were critical to the game. Now earlier, a dev said there were not only going to be romances, but romance options to pursue with multiple characters... what happened to that? The Romances Poll

On the Critical Strike topic: Even with the less-than optimal Double-Saber with Nextor and Opila crystals (Keen and Massive Criticals) + Master Speed, that was a beating. I rarely had creatures live to a second round of combat. Lead in with Stasis Field and it was game/set/match. Also, even that sub-optimal config was a recipe for "How to punk Darth Malak in 15 seconds or less". Now, make it double regular sabers with the primary as above and off-hand being Opila and Solari Crystals (Massive Crit/Paladin crystals) in the same scenario, and I went 14 hours of gameplay without ever being so much as hit with my 2 levels of Soldier + Guardian ultra-redundant Combat Monster character. (And of course, Bastila on support using Force Lightning and WhirlWind) Malak got smacked down in one round on the SF, then again after I finished "freeing" the captive Jedi. I guess that 4 attacks doing 35-60+ each is kinda good. Also, from some of the damage numbers my game displayed I suspect that the feat might be actually slightly glitched in a "beneficial" way. The only way I could make some of the numbers make sense that large would have been to add in the Solari Crystal's DS damage bonus before the multiplier. :ph34r: Sadly, I was too awestruck to go back and look at my messages before the ending started. Done right, the Critical Strike tree is already absolute sickness, and even the "defense penalty" isn't relevant. Dead enemies don't hit back. Oh, and a hearty welcome to the REAL Adria Teksuni. Glad you're here.

*Sarcastic applause* the date for the donation to JDAA hasn't passed yet. From the original: There's been some confusion over the amount of money we're trying to raise, so I've edited this post to reflect what we're getting at. I take full responsibility for any confusion this has caused. This is important, so read it carefully, ok? Bioware has invited Adria to the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in mid-May. They want her to be part of some super cool, exclusive Bioware/Microsoft shindig. I don't need to tell you that E3 is the biggest expo in electronic entertainment, or that this would be wicked exposure for our little community. Plus, Adria would come back with all sorts of juicy first-hand info on what Bioware's got coooking. Most importantly, however, this offer represents some well-deserved recognition for everything that Adria and Aaron have done for the KOTOR fan community, and by extension, Bioware. So what's the problem? Money (isn't it always?). While Bioware are being more than generous by inviting Adria to the show, they aren't going to fly her to LA, put her up in a hotel, etc ... That's where we hope you'll come in. Our goal is simple: Collect $2500 (US) - will it cost that much to send Adria to E3? Probably not, but read on to see our logic. So now you're saying, "ok, Weas, whatever you say ... but what's this about kids with diabetes?" I'll tell you. Later this summer (but much too late for E3), Aaron will have access to some money. When that time comes, Aaron is going to take the money he would have spent sending Adria to E3 and cut a cheque for an amount equal to what you guys donate to Adria's trip, and donate that to Juvenile Diabetes Research. So, if we manage to raise $2500 to send Adria to LA, then a $2500 donation will be made this summer. The donation will be made on behalf on Kotorfanfic.com and will have the names of our members as the donators! So, let's say we raise $2500, but it only costs $1000 to send Adria to E3. That leaves $1500, right? Well, Aaron will match the total donations ($2500) and add it whatever's left over, thus: Unused donations: $1500 Aaron's contribution (equal to total donations): $ 2500 And so the total donation to the JDAA will be $4000! In Aaron's own words (from later in this very thread): "1. I will match UP TO $2500 in donations. 2. If we receive, for example, $3000 in donations, I will match the first $2500 & the additional $500 will be included in the donation. i.e, we're not pocketing anything." That oughta' clear things up a bit. So, this is your chance to not only send our illustrious leader to the biggest event in gaming, but also to help kids living with diabetes. If you've got a few bucks to spare, please go to the KFF.com homepage and use the "Donate Now" button (it's over on the left) and send it our way. One final note: E3 begins on May 12, so Adria has to be in LA by then. We want to give her plenty of time to book a ticket so she won't get jacked by the airline. As a result, there is a deadline. All donations must be in by

Note to dumb***: The promotion was "Send Adria to E3 and help kids with diabetes". The whole promotion was that Aaron would match what the community donated to get her to e3 as a donation to the kids with diabetes fund. If you're going to try and disrespect someone in a public forum, it would be helpful to learn to read first so you can at least do it accurately. If it was intended as humor, it was quite badly done. Over. Out. Apologies if I offend any mods, but that was just wrong and needed a response.

Well, according to a poll on this very site, nearly 80% of the people that played the game agreed with him. sure you don't need some therapy?

yeah, I punked malak there too... double sabres, master speed, uber-crits and massive damage crit sabres. He never got to move. that should unlock special dialog "I Ownz j0o!" wow... this topic has wandered a bit, eh?

Is it strange to anyone else that as lopsided as this poll was that there wasn't more (any?) developer commentary?

Will we have the option of continuing "open-ended" play after the game is "beaten"? Gices us chance to sell all those items and cash that EVERY frickin' crpg gives out on the last level that you never get to use for anything? Save the galaxy, then go on some leisurely sidequest action perhaps?

Actually, that's a bug in the game... to get it 100% of the time, don't talk about what happened between you after the fade-to-black screen. If you do, a bug partially bombs out the romance plot. I'll get back on topic now, I swear.

AFA the Bastila/Revan Romance, it was actually done very well, (except the ending of the game completely ignoring it, which just about ruins the rest) if you take it in its proper context. 1) The KOTOR story took weeks or months of "real-time" presented in 25-40 hours of game time. Much down-time available therefor long conversations and games and friendship while traversing hyperspace. 2) The character was portrayed true to her nature: brash, passionate and "quick to get involved" 3) They were trying to illustrate the dynamic of a Lifebond without making it so central the game was ruined without it. That's tough by any standards. With all that, I sure haven't played a game with an optional romance done better or more believably than that one. Yes, it could have still been better with a few simple additions. If you go out of your way to save the love interest in combat when overwhelmed, getting a thank you and bonus "romance points" would have been very nice. Perhaps the ability to buy the love interest presents as a way of also gaining "romance points" for example. Spend some of those piles of creds on nice jewelry or somesuch? And some sort of indicator/meter when talking how well you're doing, like a colored heart at the beginning of personal or cut-scene dialogs? Maybe take a lesson from the old Harvest Moon series there? Or am I just crazy? I don't think so, considering the percentage leaning in favor of romance, that the more developed the romance and engine for it are, the better. [/pseudo-rant] um... thanks for listening?

Nope, but I work in technical support and have my PHD in Common Sense. :D (job offers from obsidian will be gleefully entertained) KOTOR was the first CRPG I ever really went for. most of the others were just too flat and linear and lacked a reason to really care about your character or NPCs. This is as close to PnP role-playing as I've ever seen on a electronic game, and I just hope beyond hope that KOTOR II will be the same or better!

Lightsaber limb-lopping without major re-work idea: Instead of referencing a damage multiplier on critical hits, reference a new damage table that might include "damage locations" and new damage types. This leaves the basic combat structure intact and adds volumes of combat variety, even if it's only a 10 to 25-effect chart on crit hits it could add tons of new animation combos. (defatk1-secatk2-crit4; defatk2-secatk1-crit5; etc.etc.etc.) That should be a do-able and let people that want to have their "Jedi Disarms" have them. Also, please add depth to any romances included. KOTOR did a good job on depth and believability, but it mostly left a sense of incompleteness and a little bit of "aw... that was SO close to cool!", in particular at the endings. Some more personal development, and maybe a little bit of "spicier" flirting that's unlockable via parental controls? (NOTE: this post may contain questions cleverly disguised in the form of heartfelt pleas) :ph34r: Thanks!