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Nonek

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Everything posted by Nonek

  1. Fascinating videos, thank you for uploading Mr Aoyagi. I very much enjoyed the ramble on sympathetic antagonists and have enjoyed when they are presented as Mr Sawyer describes, it seems far more reasonable for my characters. I don't think that Mr Sawyer or anybody else on the Black Isle team has anything to regret in Icewind Dale 2, there were low points such as too long slogging through the Underdark and high points such as the siege of Targos and the return to Kuldahar, but all in all I found the game to be enjoyable and challenging. In fact i'd still like to see that IP brought back to life, though with perhaps a little more narrative focus. For ten months the team worked a small miracle in my opinion.
  2. I can understand where the gentleman is coming from, it's reasonable and I look forward to trying out the system. Personally I was looking forward to playing a physically deficient Wizard who was powerful in the arcane arts, but if that's not available then i'll have to redesign my character. I wouldn't be averse to doing as Sir Chaox suggests and using a starting trait to mitigate the effect that Strength has on spells, as this archetype would already be punished with poor combat skills and frailty, it seems a little excessive to also lessen his spell strength.
  3. Pillars of Eternity: Oscopy?
  4. Yes I do hope we see all of the prejudices the game world suffers, especially with regards to different species and cultures. For instance I imagine that the Aedyrean's of Raedceras regard the Dyrwood settlers as heretical and sinful barbaric dogs for their slaying of Saint Waidwen, and that there is still great prejudice against the Glenfathan's for the Broken Stone wars. In my opinion facing and overcoming the racism, speciesism and stereotypes of the setting is far more important than hiding away from it or portraying everybody as nice and politically correct.
  5. Congratulations you've just done more work than has ocurred in the past years worth of sittings at parliament.
  6. Fighter - Defender, Guardian, Shieldbearer, Punchbag. Wizard - Animancer, Alchemist, Tim. Ranger - Scout, Huntsman, Bounty Hunter, Ace Ventura. Barbarian - Dervish, Dreadnought, Battlerager, Wimp. Rogue - Assassin, Weaponmaster, Killer, Rouge. Paladin - Crusader, Zealot, Templar, Torquemada. Priest - Brother, Monk, Avowed, Son of a Preacher Man. Monk - Scourge, Penitent, Flagellant, Sado Masochist. Cipher - Soulblade, Mind Hunter, Soulslayer, Prince. Chanter - Skald, Poet, Runemaster, Shakespeare. Druid - Earthmight, Skinshifter, Forrestal, Vegan.
  7. Hopefully not, it usually makes an interesting character into a one dimensional prize for the player to win, i'd much rather have a companionship like with Cass or Kaelyn. I also dislike that the npc never gets any choice in the matter, the player simply spouts the right lines and gets his reward, always seems slightly grubby and too Bioware-ish.
  8. The one strength for me in computer games is interactivity, whether that's seeing all of the options I can bring to light when I face the Transcendant One. How I can try and shape the Mojave to my wishes, whether I succeed or not. Even simple end game slides telling me the results of my actions are fine, so long as I made a difference. That's why I like Obsidian, they allow one to make choices and suffer the consequences. Sometimes not enough like at the Wall and Malachor, but I think that was somewhat out of their hands. Take away that logical choice and consequence, replace it with "BUT THOU MUST," Deus Ex Machina or even the game not allowing you to progress through a blocked door until you hand over a child (an extremely repulsive none choice,) and I don't feel i'm playing anymore. I feel i'm being played and preached at, all at the same time. At that point I stop and uninstall or continue with an ever growing chip upon my shoulder.
  9. Personally I didn't think it was pretentious, simply poorly written by somebody who obviously didn't understand the subject they were dealing with. That and the total lack of choice and idiotic unmotivated characters spoiled it for me, they have the power to alter all of space and time at their disposal and are for some reason bothered by one ordinary man, utterly ridiculous. Edit: I do agree however that with the lack of interactivity and consequence a novel would be far more preferable to Infinite.
  10. I have a terrible dark secret to reveal, I liked Torment's combat. It helps that I did not build the usual WIS/INT/CHA character and rather built for combat, using the old giant strength specialisation trick. He was very potent in combat but quite well balanced in the other attributes. Edit: Got to agree with Keyrock that Infinite was perhaps one of the worst most illogical narratives i've ever played, extremely arbitrary and nonsensical.
  11. One thing's for sure, I certainly wouldn't want to be on the wrong side of a duel with those Polish gentlemen, apparently their saberwork was infamous throughout Europe and beyond. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yegd3YpjmWY
  12. Yes Iorveth has a quite nice arc, and the extra content for his side of the story in Loc Muinne is excellent. Far more of a welcoming vibe in Vergen, as opposed to the grim neutral path of Roche.
  13. 1) Ultima 7. 2) Planescape: Torment. 3) Betrayal at Krondor. 4) The Witcher. 5) Fallout. 6) Witcher 2. 7) Fallout: New Vegas. 8] Ultima 4, 5 & 6. 9) Baldur's Gate 2. 10) Alpha Protocol tied with NWN2 and expansions. Edit: How I despise emoticons.
  14. Personally I don't really care for the simulationist versus gamist argument as i'd like elements of both, all I want is for the actions available to my character to make sense, so that in this instance I can take advantage of getting the drop on my foes in some sensible manner. Edit: I do believe our armour will have encumberance penalties in Poe, and i'd love a Mule like in the first Dungeon Siege. I also think that Mr Sawyer will provide some option of taking advantage of reconaissance, the gentleman knows his stuff and will no doubt reward tactical wisdom in some manner, i'm just curious about the specifics.
  15. I've heard that it's 3 different endings in 3 seperate areas, and 36 different ending states of the world. Don't know how true this is though.
  16. How sad that the Ultima's and Betrayal at Krondor are held in so little regard, fantastic games, though it's nice to see the Underworld's included. Labyrinth of Worlds was an amazing experience, so much content throughout the worlds linked by the crystal. I'll always remember the story of Praecor Loth. Edit: That Codex forum is an...interesting place isn't it?
  17. Nuffle is indeed a cruel and capricious god.
  18. Yes it would be in character I agree, though I don't know if it would be for Emhyr. Edit: Personally I never saw Philippa as being particularly evil, she was just a child of her times and playing the same game as the rest of the power brokers of the North.
  19. This is true for cities on the whole where there were such minorities, but these were an extremely small part of the genetic make-up and made no impression on the gene pool on the whole, indeed some minorities would find themselves losing any distinctive racial profile as they interbred with the native population, yet keeping their culture. However in the countryside, among the largely agrarian poulation their occurence would be rare to non-existent and there you will find only the native population who regard the local market town as a exotic locale and have no intention of leaving their home. North African traders yes, the Mediterranean is the finest and safest road in that part of the world. Berber mercenaries seems like a bit of a stretch, you're more likely to see Dogs of War from Europe passing through for the acquisition of Byzantine gold. Turkish scholars i'm not so sure of, considering the recent Crusades in the Holy Lands and the antipathy to the unbelievers that this is bound to have caused. Jews obviously, they will probably be an old and established part of the big cities. Orthodox priests maybe but i'd say that you're more likely to see refugees from the Seljuk's assault on the Empire. Roma yes, they're still there. Travelling is dangerous and difficult at this time, thus my reference to the Mediterranean being the best of roads, and I hope this is brought to bear on the game. Edit: For clarification what i'd personally like to see is bustling lively cities that are colourful, dirty, dangerous and exotic while in the countryside i'd like to experience the culture that bore those cities and some form of national character. That's an ideal case for me personally. 2nd Edit: Re Bryy's problem with sex and sexism in the Witcher, i've got to disagree i'm afraid. Yes there was the silly sex cards of the first game which the developer learned from and removed, but there were also strong women like Sile and Philippa Eilhart who made the world dance to their whims, who outwitted the protagonist and sought to change the world for what they saw as a better way. Obviously there was a Chaucer like Merry Wives of Windsor vibe running through both games but Geralt is helped and saved multiple times by a woman, and is roundly decieved by others. There are few games that feature women of such strength and self motivation, mainly Obsidian ones, and personally I like this. As antagonist they're a lot more effective when treated as such and as npc's worthy of cooperating with, this is far more palatable to me than the usual slaves to the protagonists who have no self motivation, no impetus and cannot achieve anything without the players help. The worst sexism of the Witcher I would say was undeniably aimed at men, Bernard Loredo is far more loathsome than any other character male or female.
  20. In the Kaedweni camp? Hmmm that's quite an intriguing idea, Ones first impressions were of the Empress whom Emhyr replaced Ciri with, but I suppose your idea is very possible. Certainly create an interesting dynamic between the Emperor, the Witcher and the two sorceresses.
  21. I'll stick old Harold down here: A filthy old manservant, lets call him Harold. Alcoholic, smells of urine,sweat, tobacco and Old Spice, teeth and hands brown from rolling his cigarettes. Coughs constantly, attacking his chest will result in muttered thanks, and a brief respite: "Thats got it." Extremely conservative, racist, speciesist and sexist. Has a derogatory nickname for every person he meets. Is fiercely loyal to his master, served in their family for millenia, and believes in old fashion values. Has a near limitless capacity for absorbing damage, as he's been around a lot in his youth, but is useless in a fight. Complains often however that you should be beating him more often, raping milkmaids and beheading the uppity peasantry, as that's a noblemans job. Can find anything his master fancies in any city, seemingly has more contacts and resources than an entire thieves guild. Never usually gives a straight answer: "Here and there, now and then, this and that." These are his usual responses to any questions. Has a son in training to take over the family business and a daughter making her living on her back as per family tradition, is fiercely proud of both of them. Looking forward to the day his son slits his throat while he's asleep and nicks everything he owns, as the family custom of succession dictates. Can lift and pack massive amounts of gear, fifty pounds more than the strongest character in the party. Has thirty two fatal and incurable conditions, plagues and injuries but doesn't complain about it too much, as he really enjoyed acquiring them. Role: Interrupt mid combat to ask if you're done yet, remind you that your grandfather was twice the man you are, and your grandmother thrice, lech at women, drink, smoke, steal from you, cough during stealth missions. Key Item: Backpack of gargantuan proportions, hipflask filled with molten lava and a flashers mac. Appearance: Breaks mirrors. Feel: Embarassed and incompetent.
  22. Hmmm, I like the general aesthetic but i'd want a good mail shirt over that gambeson, and switch that shoulder pad over to the left side to increase the protection on the shield bearing enemy facing side. Also i'd like some leather wrappings around the haft of that spear so that it wouldn't slip in my hands.
  23. Well as a parent I think the wise course of action would be a total ban on children, give it a hundred years and i'm sure we'll see very positive results in the fight against all kinds of issues. In fact I guarantee it.
  24. I've got to say that as an Englishman i'm a little flattered, I never knew we and our language were so popular.
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