BruceVC

I finished DA:I last night after about 100 hours, it was an entertaining gaming experience and it scores a 65\100 on the globally respected " BruceVC game rating system" . I cant give it higher score because of the 2 main criticisms I have for it which are the combat is routine, its still fun using tactics like Fire Mine but overall its not complex or strategic. You also end up using AI for party members because you dont want to have to micromanage the various abilities in every combat....it would be laborious map markers make exploration easy, I like to explore and find things. So it lacks challenge in this respect These negatives dont negate from the things that are positive, so what I enjoyed about it include the Power Point system is an excellent component. It motivates you to complete the myriad of quests and to participate in activities like the Requisition Table and gain points. I would like to see similar systems in other RPG as a good reason to complete quests I liked the politics and machinations of the War Table, it is fun getting input from advisors and taking their advice I gave the Grey Wardens another chance and at the final narrative updates they rebuilt there origization I liked the idea of being the Inquisitor and the status and influence it provided I appreciated the large number of quests and map regions Crafting was fun and worthwhile, you end up looking for resources to improve your items I loved closing Rifts and I enjoyed the broader narrative Frostbite provides a beautiful graphic experience especially when you can max the settings So its a fun game that I recommend but its important to be aware of the shortfalls which I mentioned

https://www.defense.gov/News/Speeches/Speech/Article/3297356/opening-remarks-by-secretary-of-defense-lloyd-j-austin-iii-at-the-ninth-ukraine/ Here are the comments from yesterday of Lloyd Austin at the Ninth Ukraine Defense Contact Group Its powerful words and accurate. You cant dispute almost everything he says, to quote some of the truths he mentions " And we're here to reaffirm our resounding support for a free and sovereign Ukraine. Nearly one year ago, Putin began his unprovoked and indefensible invasion of Ukraine. Putin thought that in a matter of days, his forces would seize Kyiv and overthrow Ukraine's democratically elected government. And he thought that the international community would just live with it. Russia did not prevail. Kyiv did not fall. And Ukraine's friends did not falter. In the year since Putin's war of choice began, Ukrainian soldiers have won the battles of Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Kherson.They pushed back invading Russian forces with Javelins, Stingers, and other systems donated by the countries in this room. The world was inspired by the resilience of Ukraine's people and the courage of Ukraine's troops Well said

https://www.tellerreport.com/news/2023-02-11-vucic--serbia-will-have-to-impose-sanctions-against-russia-due-to-pressure-from-the-west.SkqQGrrTo.html Well done @Sarex, its good to be on the right side of history. The next step is for Serbia to join the EU

So local SA political drama, last night was our SONA (state of the nation address ) and the EFF, Economic Freedom Fighters, tried to storm the stage and they got thrown out. It was classic and even though irritating what the EFF tried to do it provided much entertainment. The EFF are our anti-white, "socialist ", far left revolutionary party and the funniest thing about this was their leader ranting and raving on the street outside while SONA continued

I use Chrome and for a month I couldnt post, quote or rate posts, its all working now

It doesnt concern me in the slightest even it true, the Russians have been pushing numerous false narratives and hyperbole that they " fighting the US\NATO" to justify there military failures and lackluster performance so the US helping with navigation coordinates is fine. But saying all that the article does say " Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder, a Pentagon spokesman, said in the statement. “The Ukrainians are responsible for finding targets, prioritizing them and then ultimately deciding which ones to engage. The U.S. does not approve targets, nor are we involved in the selection or engagement of targets.” The senior Ukrainian official described the targeting process, generally: Ukrainian military personnel identify targets they want to hit, and in which location, and that information is then sent up to senior commanders, who then relay the request to U.S. partners for more accurate coordinates. The Americans do not always provide the requested coordinates, the official said, in which case the Ukrainian troops do not fire"

Do you think they created these Terminators in similar labs to what the Ukrainians use for there mutant soldiers?

You onto me Sarex, insightful as usual

I didnt realize it but spy balloons do have certain advantages over satellites used for spying. This link highlights it https://breakingdefense.com/2023/02/balloons-vs-satellites-popping-some-misconceptions-about-capability-and-legality/

Nah, we dont mind speculation on this forum. We do it all the time And its definitely true within Russia you cant be honest or vocal around anti-war sentiment. Here is some polling data from Serbia, its reveals most Serbs are supportive of Russia and think Putin is someone to be admired. But I dont know how accurate it is because its a SA website? https://theconversation.com/ukraine-war-serbia-is-shifting-closer-to-russia-heres-why-192472

She must have been in a fantastic mood during the Novak banning and deportation

Nah, dont be so hard on yourself. Serbs never bring up the past

You can absolutely be anti-vax\anti-corona vaccines and opposed to Russia invasion of Ukraine, the 2 are not mutually exclusive I have always supported vaccines but the global pushback to Corona vaccines was based on several things like the right to say no. Im fine with that because 80-90% of people who died in hospitals or had the most severe sickness were the unvaccinated so everyone must accept the consequences of their decisions We didnt see major cases of variants escaping the vaccine efficacy so vaccinated people like me were fine. But end of the day because Corona had a relatively low mortality rate of 5-7%, unlike the black plague or Ebola which is 40-60%, people who were unvaccinated didn't feel threatened or were asymptomatic. Of course the risk is also spending time with the high risk people over 65 and being asymptomatic but again thats a personal choice people made. But you cant force people to take vaccines for Corona, as prudent as it is it didnt work, in most countries, and just encouraged the whole " globohomo\deep state\big pharma is trying to control us " conspiracy theorists and that made more people object to it I do think vaccines should be mandatory in old age homes for staff

Wow, what a brilliant review. HL looks incredible. The combat is complex and I love the open world and activities

https://the-secret-of-darkwoods.vercel.app/ Here is an upcoming CYOA game, it reminds me of the Fighting Fantasy PC games The developer is active on Codex and Im very interested in it

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/western-sanctions-push-russias-energy-revenues-lowest-level-since-2020-2023-02-03/ Some grim economic data for Russia from the Western oil price cap and sanctions

Yes thats the thing, satellites would provide more accurate surveillance than a balloon. But its still concerning and this balloon isnt the only one floating around https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/photos-appear-to-show-second-chinese-balloon-passing-over-latin-america/ar-AA176oGH

Its stinking Commie subversive technology, it must be destroyed immediately. You must watch a movie called Red Dawn. ( the original )..this is how it starts. First balloons then invasion !!!

The moment you agree to historical redress caused by things like slavery and occupation let me know because your ancestors, the Vikings, committed the most terrible crimes against the English and they enslaved people...I watched a documentary on this and I still suffer from sleepless nights...its created real trauma in my life but you can help me by accepting responsibility for your ancestors crimes and carnage and then we can work out a monthly payment directly into my account. Think of your privlidege created by your ancestors

Sure, like anyone is going to believe this. And only 18k Russian soldiers have died

But the ending, wow. You never would have predicted that I know the official statement is no season 2 but hopefully that changes?

https://thehill.com/policy/finance/3842074-economy-jobs-inflation-unemployment-report/ The US added 500k new jobs and inflation is down to 6.5%, it was an unbelievably positive showing with most analysts more cautious Man the US sanctions against Russia and its support for Ukraine is really crashing its economy

Sorry I am not sure what you mean, are you asking if white kids are being told they responsible for colonialism or slavery from a historical perspective?

For me its not a question of intelligence for any dictator\autocratic but rather egregious or myopic decisions made in the interests of nationhood or complete self-interests and the entire future of the country becomes part of those decisions for the good and bad There are lots of examples of educated and clever leaders who were brutal dictators and made terrible decisions in the running of there countries that led to years if not decades of economic and social decline and degrees of global isolation. Look at Zimbabwe, Mugabe was educated. He wasnt stupid but he made terrible decisions But I definitely disagree that any Western country would be able to do what Putin has done, there are checks and balances and more importantly political accountability and consequence when you want to invade a country if you a Democracy. Just look at the US invasion of Iraq in 2003, the US and their allies spent months at the UN trying to motivate the invasion and get global support. There was months of domestic " marketing " in the US and UK to win over public sentiment for the invasion Compare that with Russias invasion of Ukraine, within 2-3 months the Ruskies moved troops on to the borders of Belarus and Ukraine and said it was a " training exercise ", they even dismissed the reality of an invasion. You cant do that in a Democracy because you will be held accountable for your lies. The vote and winning popular support matters but its irrelevant in any one party state or autocracy because what can civilians do? And also if you prepared to ignore human rights, arrest and kill protestors and you have effective security forces then you can stay in power indefinitely. Even if your citizens suffer and your economy collapses. You cant do this in any Western country because you will be voted out Finally I agree echo-chambers are boring, I would prefer people are honest with there support for Russia but then you must accept people will disagree. But thats point of a debate, hopefully people wont take it personally but agree to disagree.

Interesting point, he would have been more or less safe living in the US. The Ruskie assassination influence isn't as strong there?