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Nonek

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  1. Nonek
    Personally i'm hoping there are no healing potions, ridiculous concept that should have been jettisoned a long time ago. I agree that item degradation should probably be a choice in expert mode, it seems to hinder a lot of the more "casual" crowds enjoyment.
  2. Nonek
    And you realy think that "abnormal" romances are better ? See Dragon Age, Mass Effec 2 one o theres bigges issu was romances multi-racial-sexual raomances with aliens looking like dogs or gay people (i don't have anything aginst them but i simply don't whana discover that my companion, brother in arms etc has hard on on me) .... Wher Zervan i DAo sad "Im wery atracted to you" i simply wanted to run from the room. Well personally no, i'd argue for no romances, but you did ask what we'd like to see. Taking the Cipher romance and making a rather scathing meta comment on the romances peddled by Bioware and others is what i'd like to see, a reflection of how disturbing and rather odd these things are when looked at objectively. Despite all the various species, races and sexualities peddled by Mr Gaider and Co. their content remains uncomplicated and rather boring adolescent pandering. I'd just prefer a relationship as complicated (and optionally uninvolving of the protagonist) as Gann of Dreams manipulations or perhaps Kreia's hidden regard for the Exile, that in no way changes her personality or makes of her a symbiotic puppet. Too often the characters serve as mere sops to the act of stroking the protagonists ego, i'd prefer that they be fiercely individual, discerning and not in need of "fixing" through a few lines of overly sentimental and simplified romance dialogue.
  3. Nonek
    Like the idea, i've always felt that too much weapon swapping mid melee undermined certain characters, for instance a heavily armed and armoured veteran fighter might realistically carry a half dozen weapons on his person, from brass knuckles to a longsword, and change as the moment dictates. However that barbarian or ranger may not have the benefit of training with all those items, or wish to enter combat without their sacred weapon, and thus they're rendered somewhat ineffectual. I'm hoping that combat is short, dirty and nasty as you suggest, with the health mechanic being able to be targeted directly by various means. So that even the toughest bag of hit points must be wary of certain weapons, poisons, spells, critical hits, backstabs and prone/sleeping states. If well prepared and well armed, thanks to thorough scouting, divination or what have you, I wish to carve through all but the toughest of enemies sharply. Not without the chance of harm or reversals however. If in the position of being ambushed rather than the ambusher, then i'd ideally wish to be just as vulnerable. Making armour more vulnerable, and subject to damage over time is something i'd love, with a sliding scale of effectiveness that necessitated the attention of a skilled armourer or maybe a powerful spell of mending by a mage. Gives combat a further cost and makes us all the more wary. Thinking about it could we in a pinch also use the armoured rim or boss of a shield to make bludgeoning strikes? Might be a nice little desperate gambit by the fighter who finds his sword is just not cutting the mustard.
  4. Nonek
    I'd be amenable to realistic medieval punishments being levied upon my characters should they be caught, such as losing a hand for thievery or whatever, so long as they were not rendered thus unplayable (though i'd definitely want that mutilation reflected.) If in a dangerous situation, where I know death is but seconds away and my every word counts, (say in conversation with a bloodthirsty tyrant) then I positively want the game to punish me with death and game over if I decide to choose an idiotic option, or try to say something "witty." Choice and consequence, too often we're sherparded into towing the line, let us bear the brunt of our actions and know that the dangerous characters and situations do have some actual in game teeth.
  5. Nonek
    In terms of rewards, i'd say it's fairly hard to fit a formula to them as they should each be dealt with on an organic case by case method. However it should be possible in my mind to be an absolutely grasping and mercenary character, and that be perfectly acceptable. After all is said and done, we'll be putting our virtual lives on the line so wanting adequate recompense is an entirely viable request. Now how you approach that, whether with blunt demands, subtle blackmail, open aggression or what have you, obviously those should have consequences as well as your quest choices.
  6. Nonek
    The Price of Pleasure - Knowing the mind, the cunning Cipher can choose far more subtle methods than a blunt attack that crushes the mind or severs the soul. He can give pleasure, at first but a small thing, a fine mood and a feeling of strength, but as it grows the waves of pleasure overwhelm the mind and the body. Eventually the target will writhe upon the floor, shuddering in spasms of orgasmic delight. There are tales however of Ciphers selling this gift to the rich and powerful, but such utter pleasure is addictive and what would one not do to have it? Thus we hear of great men enslaved to their pursuit of this sensation, and Ciphers ruling great states as hidden puppet masters.
  7. Nonek
    I'm looking forward to Mr Avellone's Cipher romance, picking and choosing from a menu of catatonic meat puppets caged in their own mind. Perhaps we can feast off their willingly offered up souls, stripping them of emotion and sentimentality and nibbling on portions of their minds like the tastiest of morsels. A whole suite of rooms in your stronghold, where pretty empty automata go through their day to day tasks, lost in a haze of needy desperation and the search for their paramours affirmation. Giving up any sense of individuality and self respect for the sake of a pat on the head or a few minutes of dismissive cold coupling. The normal stuff i'm not really interested in, bit tired of the usual adolescent yearning. As for in game consequences, i'd be in favour of perhaps having to rip the souls from your harem to strengthen yourself at a moment of crisis, and have to clear out the beyond lifeless corpses that litter your demense upon your return. Perhaps you could even have a cult who willingly sacrifice their souls for your delictation, so that in time you become like unto a bloated beloved god/devil, grown fat and powerful on the souls of your followers. Fools who believe that they are joining with your majesty, when in fact their entire essence merely serves as a light snack. Be nice to play as a dark and hungry god arising, whom all who look upon must lust after and love, regardless of their own desires.
  8. Nonek
    I'd like to play a character who has a believable and logical motivation for all his actions, and who can claim to be following his personal ethics on whatever path he chooses to pursue, no matter how outrageous and despicable they may seem on first impression. Definitely don't want the moronic upper right, middle right and lower right morality meters, as i'm not five.
  9. Nonek
    Just watched Lincoln, very good film and not too much Spielsberg sentimentalism, but at a few points I was left a little bemused. Mainly when the revered gentleman was pontificating on how the world would change with slavery being outlawed, forgive me if i'm wrong but hadn't the largest empire and political entity on the planet (England) abolished slavery quite a few years before the United States? Don't mean to denigrate the USA and Mr Lincolns achievements, but that was surely the world changing blow against slavery.
  10. Nonek
    Monsters from the Id - Within every man lurk hidden fears, the Cipher cracks open the doors of childhood dread and releases a devil to feast upon the recipients mind. At first this is a small thing, and the target is merely dicomforted and uneasy, but as the Cipher delves deeper into the deep instinctual level of the psyche more horrendous banes are called forth. Some subjected to such intrusive methods have been known to collapse into catatonic states, or even have their hearts burst from the strain. A rare few are said to have conquered their fears, by knowing themselves and accepting the beast. To Sleep Perchance - The Cipher quietly begins to hum a lullaby, a little nonsense childhood tune made to lure babes to their pillows. The minds of all those around begin to grow drowsy as they hear this, and slowly sweet slumber becomes an insistent demand. Eventually only those most strong of mind will avoid the temptation of sleep, but others will fall all too easily. It is said that an heroic Cipher once bound a cruel tyrannous princess and her entire court into such a slumber, and left them to die dreaming their sweet dreams, justice of a kind.
  11. Nonek
    I still think it's a very pretty game, probably using incorrect terminology there, but in some ways it beats Dragon Age in the looks stakes.
  12. Nonek
    Thought the mid atlantic accents spiced with an old world gravitas were quite well presented in Relics Dawn of War games or the dwarves of Orzammar in Biowares Dragon Age, they inhabited for me that fine line between what is too english and what is too american english. Obviously both carry a vast amount of cultural baggage, and create a dissonance for some.
  13. Nonek
    I'm increasingly liking the setting, ripe with all kinds of possibilities, reminds me of a book I read ages ago though for the life of me I can't recall the title or author. Touch concerned that Mr Avellone is not on board, it was his writing in large part that drew me into the original Torment. Not really got an opinion on the name issue one way or the other, so long as it's a deep, philosophical and intrinsically personal narrative then i'll be content. I would like to see how Wasteland 2 turns out before pledging however.
  14. Nonek
    Sounds interesting to me.
  15. Nonek
    My brother (filthy degenerate that he is) caught a touch of the Dragonball after a trip to Thailand, apparently an over the counter antibacterial cream will get rid of it in a few days.
  16. Nonek
    Be nice to see the dream/meditation chambers of an upper level antagonist Cipher however, somewhere secure and hidden where the players can rest, and be haunted by strange disturbing dreams.
  17. Nonek
    At least we can all agree, religious or not, that Dan Brown sucks.
  18. Nonek

    The Workout

    Nonek replied to Rosbjerg's topic in Way Off-Topic

    In terms of weight training I like the high intensity, basic power exercises: Overhead press for shoulders, bent over rows for back, barbell curls for arms, deadlifts for the torso, squats for legs and that's about it. Low reps but high weights, one day on and one off. For aerobic exercise I like to rep out on crunches of a morning, then walk/jog the dogs for 5-10 miles before breakfast and after supper. This is all mainly catered for the weekends rugger matches though, it can make you a bit too bulky, most people I know favour a more slender hollywood stature.
  19. Nonek
    Like english second world war fighter pilots: I say Minty, bally Gerry dicky birdied and turned his ack acks on ones under carriage, barely got out in one piece! Blaggards! Long story short, early bath time in the drink. Had a frightful time, caught a damned cold and arrived late at mothers. Not bloody cricket! Mind you, had just emptied me payload all over sausage eater HQ, might have been a bit upset that he wasn't invited to the barbecue. Yes, bit of a sticky wicket, what.
  20. Nonek
    To Dream the Impossible - The Cipher lets loose the bonds of the flesh, his soul flying free into the Ether. Here he has neither eyes to see or ears to hear, but somehow he does sense life and souls. Here he can speak with other Ciphers a thousand miles away, or bedevil an enemy with nightmares, even take control of an impressionable and weak willed dreamer. The vast variety of life roars all around him, but above there is silence, serenity and the hint of something more. Throwing himself into the cosmos he hears far off the vast susurrous of beings that slumber beyond life and death, racing past suns and nebulae he ventures into the darkness between the stars. Here dwell eternal entities so utterly beyond him that he does not even register as existing to them, Gods, Demons, who can know. Parasitically he may feed off them, but their dark wisdom bears bitter gifts, and he may return changed from that dream quest.
  21. Nonek
    The Clouded Mind - The Cipher distracts those who look upon him, they suddenly have an urge to look elsewhere. Aids sneaking tremendously and at higher levels could become almost a cloak of invisibility. Disorient - Like the strongest of hallucinogens, the Cipher sends the targets mind into delicious or demonic fever dreams. At low levels this would be a shaken head and a few blinks, as the target finds his focus ruined. At higher levels a man can be trapped in his own mind, You're in the matrix Neo. The Shadow Knows - The Cipher asks a number of banal and pointless questions, each a careful probing attack against a mind. If the targets willpower cannot resist him, then he steals information from their mind. Alas Poor Schmuck - The Cipher converses with a restless soul, but the veil of death is hard to pierce and all too soon his willpower is shattered from piercing that barrier. At higher levels he can call forth the dead, to experience the thrill of life once again, though ultimately they find this unsatisfying. Bide With Me - Death can wait. The Cipher grasps the soul of a close acquaintance, someone he knows well, and does not allow it to join the great wheel. Hoping that the body may be healed while the soul tarries. This is a high level ability, and there is the risk of undeath occuring. Find The Lady - Who needs sleight of hand? A turned card, the value of a coin, the look of a face, all can be altered for a few moments for those with an awoken mind. Duel - Two Ciphers lock minds and attempt to break each others willpower, so that they might destroy or dominate their opponents minds. They battle in a landscape of pure imagination, and with weapons limited only by their own perception. Those approaching two duelling souls are repulsed and terrified in equal measures, something sickening is occuring. Edit: Sorry Hormalakh, didn't notice your above post.
  22. Nonek
    I'm with Hormalakh on this, at least in the sense of pen and paper campaigns, I began with the usual vast maps and international quests but they were always a little dry and lacking. The more I scaled things down, and added detail and reactivity, the more my settings came alive and jumped into the players minds. To the point where I ran a city campaign for two years, in which we hardly ever left the metropolis. It was heartening when my players could remember street layouts from memory, have a whole host of associates and antagonists to draw upon, and prefer to drink at the pub where they knew the clientele and got free ale for past deeds of heroism. It became their place as much as mine, to the point where they actually corrected me on a few issues, which I grudgingly conceded while quietly rejoicing inside. Don't know if that can be achieved in a computer simulation, the closest I would say that came to it was the ever changing lands of Britannia, as the Avatar ventured through them in Ultima 4-7. Be nice if Eternity is successful and can grow like that in future instalments.
  23. Nonek
    Of course there's also that most fearsome of modern day viking women, Margaret Thatcher, hammer of the miners.
  24. Nonek
    Surely the Avatar was more of a Paladin than a monk? Incidentally friar, the Ultima series (from number 4 onwards) with its focus on virtues stemming from bell, book and candle might be something to consider playing. Your senior brethren might be amenable to the moral lessons suugested in those games, and the protagonist pursuing a path of relentless self improvement. They might also get a chuckle from the fellowship presented in game 7, with its scientology parallels.
  25. Nonek
    So it's kind of like the Monk turning the agressors own strength against him?
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