Nonek

Twining's Earl Grey, the original blend, not that revolting new mix they "pioneered" a few years ago. Keeps ones upper lip stiff, ones mustache sprightly and ones little finger pointing to heaven as it should while imbibing.

A possibility but why then would it be a leading light in the study of Animancy as I believe Mr Sawyer stated somewhere? And why are they not simply perpetuating the prohibition found in Aedyr?

I'm not sure if it's legal as much as "no law exists against it yet". I feels like its unregulated more than set in stone legal. A fair point but until some form of legal provision is made for Animancy, then barring certain cultural precedents and acts that interfere with another law, it must be judged as lawful. Though in reality a rulers decision will probably be the deciding factor, which once again reinforces the point of Animancy not being regulated in the Dyrwood and the implicit suggestion that carries. In other words why has the art been overlooked when it is prohibited elsewhere? There is a dissonance there, what is the reason for that, and has the Dyrwood attracted Animancers from other nations due to oversight or intent?

Personally i'm in favour of devolving the EU back into an economic commonwealth, we are as nations very old, individualistic and independent, that is not a bad thing as many regard it to be. There are some EU directives I would embrace and some I would abandon, but i'm not a rabid right winger who believes that Europe is the most pressing issue in my home country, there are systemic failures and oversights in my own nation that have nothing to do with the EU, and will still be there when the current whipping boy is no longer of such importance. One thing that does unduly worry me about Europe is the steadily escalating animosity towards America, though some of that is rather warranted with the clumsy handling of matters the USA has engaged in lately. Large power blocks with rather antagonistic feelings between them is a very similar situation to any student of history.

That is also a valid point re: life expectancy of known animancers One supposes that this is dependant on what the previous attitudes were towards Animancers and what rumours and facts have emerged about their profession, the example we have in Update #73, is this a new technique only now emerging in the Dyrwood which seems to be the pioneer of modern day Animancy? Have there been previous abuses by foreign or domestic practitioners? What is the established attitude towards the profession in the Dyrwood? What was the previous extent of research before the pioneers of the Dyrwood moved the craft forward? Why is Animancy outlawed in other states? Until we have answers to a few of these questions i'm personally unsure of how the art would be recieved in the Dyrwood, beyond noting that it is legal at the moment, and the conclusions that fact raises. It would be very interesting to see these themes explored in the game, perhaps in literature. The excellent books on the subject of Magic and Technology in Tarant's great library in Arcanum spring to mind, especially the treatise on soot. Most illuminating.

Well I remember when we entered the EEC back in the early 70's, there was no suggestion at that time that we would be ruled from Brussel's or that the organisation would be much more than the Commonwealth. The unvoted for changes that have made Europe a single state were never voted on, and frankly it's about time that the matter was clarified. Obviously politicians do not want that as being an MP in Europe is a legitimate recourse and cash cushion if they fail to get elected at home, and we all know that there is a lot of loose money in the EU budget, but these individuals will at some point have to face facts and the electorate whom they are supposed to represent.

Ah here it is: "One good life. An extraordinary life. What levy must be paid for such a thing?" "If the gods won't answer, it is for us to decide."

Well, you make some valid points, but I think "having your body sold after you die" is not really in the same category as "being forced to spend an eternity in constant hunger, deprived of your higher cognitive functions" (Unless someone kills undead-you. Or not. Did they comment on what happens to the souls of slain undead?) If the Soul is irretrievably divorced from the cycle of death and rebirth through being bonded to the mortal host, then I would assume that is one of the most heinous of acts one can commit in the world of Poe. However actually proving such a thing or any of the actions of an Animancer seems to be a doubtful affair, especially in a world of the fantastical where there are other causes for such a condition, perhaps it takes an Animancer to catch one and prove their guilt? One has to wonder whether there is a field of theoretical Animancy, where the experiments undertaken are small and inoffensive, little skeletal rats revivified by the curious scientist who sets them to dance and shrinks away from testing his art on humans? Edit: I think it was during the run up to the Kickstarter that we saw the phrase asking why the gods are silent, and declaring that we should seek answers in this event, was Animancy born of the gods of Poe's silence on matters of the Souls? Are there parallels there to Philosophy?

The comparison to early Alchemy, the work of Dee and others, obviously springs to mind as well. Just as the Alchemist sought to turn lead into gold, not for profit but to make a base metal into one that was judged to be pure, and thus closer to the Lord. Are Animancer's doing the same with the soul? Is this so different to what the Wizard is doing with his spells, the formulae of Soul power that he scribes into his Grimoire? Both have an acknowledged and real effect on the world and its people, would a denizen of the Dyrwood judge this differently than we (who do not have and thus cannot manipulate our Souls) do? An interesting area to explore, what the manipulation of ones own Souls means for the setting. One obvious thought springs to mind, with the colonisation of Engwithan ruins, were Animancer's needed to turn off or master devices that were left by that culture? Were they an integral part of making the land a safe and pleasant environment for the settlers? Perhaps the experiments outlined in Update #73 are relatively unknown while their beneficent acts are far more acknowleged. Did they serve in the Broken Stone War against the Glenfathan's?

I agree that the lawfulness of Animancy in the Dyrwood might merit some explanation, the obvious comparison would be the Glenfathan use of astronomy to defeat the fleet blockading Defiance Bay, this would have obviously raised the profile of heavenly study to the general population of the area. Is it possible that Animancy has played such a critical role in some part of the Dyrwoods founding, or is its legality merely an oversight, one that its practitioners have taken advantage of to advance their craft? We know that it's practice is forbidden in other areas, however why is this? Is the study of the Soul judged to be amoral in and of itself, an insult to the gods and stepping too far into their realm? Certainly one can inagine any faith reacting in such a way, and perhaps being correct. Or have there been tragedies and rumours hounding the profession, born of the the example we have in Update #73, and perhaps individuals who have most certainly gone too far in their pursuits? One supposes the answer is that we don't know yet. One logical step that I think is sound to take, the Engwithan's were masters of Soul manipulation, and the Dyrwood sits upon the ruins of their civilisation. This seems to go beyond coincidence, was Animancy somewhat state sponsored when the Dyrwood was founded, or merely tolerated for the answers it could bring to the ruins and devices of the lost race?

For myself one of the most fascinating aspects of Poe that has been announced is Animancy, it makes sense that in a setting where the Soul is real and can interact with the mundane, that there have arisen individuals who wish to study it in more detail. Applying the scientific principle to what would seem a supernatural phenomena to us, but to the denizens of Poe is indisputably natural. However due to the use of Animancy in update #73 as a flawed means of immortality resulting in actual Undeath, one has to question the morality of the science and its practitioners. Is it only the most amoral of Animancers who would promise immortality to the desperate and foolish, or is there a number of them who are genuinely trying to research the disparity between the mortality of the flesh and the immortality of the Soul? And whatever their motives is it right to practice their art when its current application is, to say the least imperfect? At the moment in the Dyrwood the role of the Animancer is legal, and one suspects that their research is legal until they are brought to book, for whatever crimes have resulted from their actions. This would seem to suggest that there have been no great tragedies arising from their research as yet, and that the immortality they have offered to the unsuspecting is a secretive and rumoured matter not common knowledge, indeed pursuing such immortality (in effect spurning the gods and the cycle of death and rebirth) may be an amoral pursuit that none would willingly admit to. Of course as mentioned in the first paragraph of the Update segment above Animancy is not the only method of making the Undead, and maybe any occurences of Undeath can be blamed on these other influences, after all the Dyrwood rests on the ruins of the Old Engwithans. Their potency in Animancy seems to have been undoubted, but they are now long gone and have a foreign race guarding the remains of their culture, perhaps this is a warning to the younger cultures stumbling into the region and the secrets it holds? Is the manipulation and research of the Soul a moral pursuit, after all the people of Poe manipulate their own souls all the time, and surely Animancers are merely taking one more step along that road towards the mysteries of the infinite. Or is the method used to conduct that research the important matter, and Animancy is a tool only as moral as its purveyor? If you get the chance in Poe to support the research and experimentation of an Animancer, one who seeks to unlock the secrets of existence itself, will you?

Much obliged for the heads up Sir, one assumes Update 79 covered stealth mechanics?

Well I do remember one of the devs stating the reason Moon Godlike's are named as such is not because of a Lunar deity, but simply because they like to wear their trousers at half mast.

A small note, one is more than able to make a balanced Nameless One whom can be a very effective combatant, and yet unlock all of the games content. I know it is commonly percieved that intelligence and wisdom must be immediately maxed, this however is not necessary. I find the game to be far more enjoyable as such a protagonist, whom can easily handle the thugs of the Hive, quickly gains giant strength and if tutored by Vhailor becomes a veritable Grim Reaper, while spending most of his points on the more mental attributes.

Oh yes indeed, a vengeful noble hiring the adventurers to avenge his Undead sibling or such, it's nicely ambiguous. The Animancer did as he was instructed in the eyes of the law in the Dyrwood, and killing him could be construed as a murderous act, and the perpetrators assassins. Then the Animancer can raise the issue of his employers misdeeds, and how many fell by that gentleman or ladies hand as compared to the scholar, who was trying to (unsuccessfully) save and not kill. He can plead for more time, arguing that he stands at the very threshold of immortality, and that killing him is a crime against knowledge and generations of learning to come. It would be a very nice test of the protagonists beliefs I think. Of course if one is encountering the masses of the Undead that we usually have to grind through, then other options are needed, perhaps not even related to an Animancer: A malfunctioning Engwithan artifact, a creature feeding on and raising the homeless of the city as its thralls, an orphanage for the destitute that has fallen to a curse etcetera, but the developers i'm sure have a hundred ideas for such scenarios, that are far more consistent with their setting.

The radium mouthwash seemed to be working splendidly, until the gentlemans jaw fell off. I imagine one would simply not connect the flesh eating ghoul that has been dragging the homeless into its abandoned mansion lair with dapper old Baron Behrtric, even if it was dressed in rags of his clothing, and certainly the family would strive at all costs to keep this a secret. The setting is ripe for a Doctor Frankenstein however, obsessed with unlocking the very secrets of the soul, while his victims and their families pay the price. In essence I suppose it's somewhat similar to modern day spiritualists, ghoulishly enriching themselves on the grief, hope and fear of the bereaved.

Mario and Link were heterosexual?

My boy has been realy getting into Asimov lately, which i'm quite proud of, so we watched "I Robot" together tonight. I don't know if it's just me but does the central AI look almost exactly like the female face of Shodan from System Shock 2?

I agree that $60 for a beta demo is of course distasteful and I am not familiar with early access on Steam, but can the game not be pre-ordered for that $60 and early access granted based on that pre-order, or is that not how the scheme works?

Sounds more than reasonable to me, and perhaps allows a little more time and budget for the expansion as well, a win - win scenario. However i'm a rather laid back individual and others may disagree and want to get the product as soon as possible, and Obsidian may wish to announce another Kickstarter before we penurise ourselves in the usual consumerist gluttony celebrating Father Christmas' death and ressurection. Economically and pr wise however early access simply makes sense as you say, i'm thinking of all the free publicity from Youtube channels alone, Fearghus has no doubt been pondering the matter at some length. Edit: And a far more polished product obviously appeals, though personally I found both South Park and Dungeon Siege were head and shoulders above the competition in terms of stability. That said just as no battle plan survives contact with the enemy, so no software is tested until it is widely disseminated.

Finished Severance: Blade of Darkness, one forgets how disappointing the ending is, a shame. Started on the Game of Thrones rpg, nice to play as a gammer rather than the generic blue eyed, brown haired, stubbly thirty year old gent from most other games, and the dog is pleasingly ugly. I don't envy Mr Cosmo recording all those lines of exposition, still it seems quite enjoyable so far and I most definitely like the combat.

Should this thread be ported over to the funny things thread? Edit: Personally i've not had such a chuckle in quite a while.

And it just keeps getting better.

Just stop being abusive and insulting people, seems to be a rather good place to start. For instance don't accuse people you don't know or have just started interacting with of having stunted emotional development or being abusive backwards cavemen.

You seem surprisingly.. oh how do I put this... oversensitive, Nonek. As others have queried, are you feeling guilty about something? (I didn't quite expect this reaction from you, given that your comments in the update threads have been very reasonable and insightful. Strange how a topic about sexism and the like can suddenly get some people acting so out-of-sorts.) Well what else can one expect from an abusive backwards caveman Mr Paradox? No just having a little fun at the expense of the preachers, keeps the tone nice and light rather than po faced and serious at all times, let alone making generally abusive comments aimed at everybody.