Nepenthe
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Everything posted by Nepenthe
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There's also the little issue of Crimea having large deposits of gas and oil. Like eastern Ukraine. Now guess where "ethnic Russians" are campaigning for a return to the motherland... I hadn't actually realised it was the old oil and gas game, like with Chechnya.
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+1 As I've said before, while Svobada certainly aren't the most agreeable folks the Russians who say, without irony, "Little Russia should be one with Big Russia again" or that "Europe is due to feel what it's like to have a Russian boot on their neck again" are no better. The Russian nationalists who are that quick to denounce the entire Euromaidan movement as "fascist" ought to look at themselves in the mirror sometime. It's also funny that people will soil themselves at the though of "Russian boots on their necks again", but the strategy of systematic encirclement of Russia by NATO is, on the other hand, just fine. I've mentioned this several times but it has been ignored by people, the real reason for the Crimean annexation is that Putin wants a buffer zone around the borders of Russia. I can understand this as there is perceived idealogical threat from EU and NATO. That depends on what his grasp of reality is and how much he believes his own propaganda. If the latter, he's reconstructing the Russian empire and Crimea makes a good starting point for that. Baltics, Finland, mebbe Poland etc. next. For the Forgotten Realms fans, we have yet to see whether we are dealing with Bane or with Cyric after he read the Cyrinishad.
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Thinking of that myself. Best of luck. Thanks. It's never an easy decision, but I felt so good when I finally decided. I'm in my late 20's and have come up with many excuses as to why I should not go back and study. Looking at those excuses objectively, it dawned on me, that they are merely excuses. A close friend's wife, is now a boss at some company and she resumed her studies at 30+ with three kids. There is also another thing I have in mind if I don't get accepted to any of the Universities I apply to later in the month. That "thing" will have to wait for now. Worst case scenario is that i crawl back to my employer (not very likely unless welfare is the only option). Meanwhile, I'm in my early thirties, have a a phd level law degree in addition to the ll.m. required to practice around here, additionally have over 4 years of practical work experience in law, and have been working since I was 15 (as a barista)... and can't basically get any decent work. Mostly I don't even get interviewed due to some bs excuses like "he won't stay"... not even for contracts.
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At least you're consistent. During my current DA2 gameplay I can say that I feel it suffers from the same dragon age disease, but on a different level than DAO. In DAO my issue is that every segment runs on for too long... in DA2 the segments, "levels" if you will, are of pretty much the correct length... but due to the overuse of the reinforcement mechanic, every damn encounter runs for too long. I really wish they'd pared that back and saved it for the battles where it actually improves the encounter instead of just extending it... I loved ME2 until (the ending of ME3) ruined the whole series for me. Me too! Shattered Steel: 0 MDK 2: 0 Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood: 0 Baldur's Gate: 2 Tales of the Sword Coast: 1 Baldur's Gate 2: 9 Throne of Bhaal: 2 Neverwinter Nights: 0.5 Shadows of Undrentide: 0 Hordes of the Underdark: 0 Knights of the Old Republic: 6 The Old Republic: 1,5 (jedi knight until the end, imperial agent until some later planet) Jade Empire: 3 Mass Effect: 4 Mass Effect 2: 8 Mass Effect 3: 2 Dragon Age Origins: 4 Dragon Age 2: 4 And let's not forget that ME1 had a cover mechanic, it just wasn't very good.
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If I were in court, I'd be smirking due to having my point immediately proven.
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Bioware´s success + acquisition by EA and suddenly stuff that A) happened before B) didn't lead to much of a splash suddenly became a symbol of how EA was RUINING Bioware and how the games now lack "soul". The EA haters and gaming hipsters (such as they are two different groups in the first place) found a unifying symbol. Meanwhile, I look back and think that, maybe apart from the ME3 ending, nothing Bioware has released since the acquisition has been as dire as, say, NWN OC.
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The reinforcement paradrops in DA2 are apparently a lot more annoying when playing a mage vs. playing an offtank. Glad to see the end of that particular mechanic.
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Wait until you visit the same cave for the umpteenth time. Not a similar cave, not a mirror image cave, the same exact cave. Yeah, I remember getting a bit tired of that in my final completionist run, but frankly, whether I am in the same cave or in a universe of identical prefabs (ME1), it doesn't really grate me that much.
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I'm pretty sure that would be enough for Vlad to have his OMOH's lock you up for "antisocial behaviour". -
Yeah, I measure all the games I play to the same standard, instead of applying a different set based on what studio a game was made by. In fact, that probably IS a result of me being a lawyer.
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Dragon Age 2. Used the save generator to get a pretty different set of DAO variables from what I did before the great reformat brain fart of 2012. Early days yet, but I still don't get the hate this game gets, I'm having a lot of fun.
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... To continue the recent trend of double posts by yours truly, I'm at work, enjoying the sunshine through the window and not doing anything.
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<3 scarlett <3
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The early part of the evening is best, especially if you are the only guy in the group.
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I thought verbal fellatio was against the forum rules!
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Spill your blasphemous opinions on CRPGs here
Nepenthe replied to IndiraLightfoot's topic in Computer and Console
What are a few examples of that 'no'?*Aside from that: wasn't the quote perfectly on topic? I didn't see any examples of the "yes", either. -
In BG1, you have no idea how powerful Sarevok is until you fight him in the last part of the game, his "powerful henchmen" are pretty weak if you have done most of the side quests available to you, and you have no idea that you're fighting the Iron Throne until the bandit camp. In BG2, you know Irenicus is an immensely powerful mage right after you escape his dungeon. Not going after someone who can rip apart reality with as much effort as an average person tears apart bread is not cowardice, it's sanity. Eh, Sarevok wastes Gorion in an off-hand manner and their respective power is emphasised in the chapter start. Almost 1:1 same between the two BGs.
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I buy games (almost) exclusively for sp, so a good campaign is a prerequisite for me. Otoh, I am easily entertained and quite ok with a sub 10h campaign, if I have fun for those hours ( cod black ops1-2 come to mind).
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I wouldn't say diametrically opposed. As a story suggestion it's fine, Duncan could do it and he would do it if the circumstances were right. The objection I'd have is that it replaces one railroad with another one, and you still wouldn't have any motivation to follow Duncan's wishes once he's dead- rather the reverse if he's basically kidnapped you. If we really want to fix that issue we need a story suggestion that may not necessarily fix the railroading, as that is asking too much, but at least gives you a good and compelling reason to follow Duncan's instructions post Ostagar. But since I cannot come up with a suggestion that fixes it without basically rewriting the game or having equal logic flaws I also have to admit that I cannot really blame Bioware for not coming up with one either. The real alternative is probably as Humanoid describes- having a set background, so probably starting out as a prospective warden from the beginning and having that be an intrinsic and essential factor in the PC's make up. Personally, I'm happier having the more flexible start DAO offers rather than reducing the origins to background traits or similar, as the origins are useful for background information. But that is most certainly a matter of opinion as to which approach is better. Of course, if you started as a warden, it would make explaining the wardens' taint quite a but harder.
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They usually just give me one. That's because you're tight... Yes, I don't tip them, I've always assumed the two are related
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Too bad I can like Zoraptor's posts just once, brilliant analysis.
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I REALLY need to get this one slacker-backed. I just can't make my mind up on the tier!
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In which case shame on Bioware. They should at least aim for decent stories and plotting. Look at the goalposts move!
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Yep, mako good, mountain scaling bad. Thought the overlord way of doing it was a lot worse, though. (Mostly due to the way you couldn't just exit the Hammerhead when you wanted etc.)
