Nonek

The Box of Delights, first a readthrough of the novel then a watch of the old television adaptation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BxxdE9GvZc

I actually had a very favourable view of the OC myself, though of course it serves as a set-up for the absolutely incredible MotB. Theres quite a lot of ambitious and quality content in the OC, from the simple yet unavoidable means of weaving the protagonist into the plot, an unfortunate circumstance rather than a chosen one trope, to Ammon Jerro and almost all of his content and Shandras, the spirit of the slain Crystal Dragon Nolaloth, the excellent stronghold content, and of course the trial if it had the gumption to affect a number of endings based on the evidence presented. Then again the amount of grinding, loot recycling and padding all serves to obscure these high points, but that is the way with RPGs now and we see the same tired and unoriginal implementation in almost every one.

Yes I find the adherence to the device both overused and under realised, the one exception I found tolerable of late being the Firefly episode "Out of Gas." Partially because of how deadly space is (rightly) depicted as. You never get that sense of danger when Captain Whomever is sat in their big comfy chair calmly issuing orders, you just know that the status quo will be restored by the episodes end. I'd like to see something like Das Boot in space really.

Neverwinter Nights 2, just suddenly had an urge to replay the OC, i still stand by my statement of the game being staggeringly pretty, especially when compared to the truly hideous first game. Edit: Well second game to be accurate.

Farscape: It's a little Torment-ish isn't it? Two things stick out, one the obsession with food, and two Moya dying is becoming rather an overused device.

Columbo Season Two: Such fantastic performances from the guest stars, I was especially surprised by Robert Culp, he never really shone for me on I Spy or anything else really, but here he gave an absolutely barnstorming outing. This is one show that i'm surprised has not been revived, but could you find an actor who specialised in such a self effacing role, and one where the protagonist almost never judges the antagonist? Indeed I only saw him lose his temper once in the series, in a scene with Leonard Nimoy, who as usual beyond Star Trek made a great cameo.

Though oft criticised I personally did not find the KoS particularly offensive, I just think that he should have been nailed to the plot in some way. Perhaps requiring a host to inhabit the material world, which would be a perfect opportunity to rob the player of a favourite or hated companion, or making his Shadow Reavers from the Kalach Chas childhood friends and neighbours in West Harbour. Attacking maniacally and crying out for salvation at the same time, at one moment aiding the protagonist and then hindering him, as they lost more and more of themselves. Obviously too ambitious for a late development though.

You know with the Fellowship of Batlin and the Hubologists of Fallout 2 one has to wonder why the Scientologists have inspired such interesting comparisons in RPGs? Probably just the Californian ambience though.

I was reading a historical novel today wherein a prominent Roman Patrician was mocking one of Caesar's Gallic chieftains for being womanly because of his wearing of trousers rather than the iconic tunic that showed off the masculine thigh, how times/culture changes. I'd love to see a game that reflected this but invariably one always ends up in doublet and hose, whatever the period or setting. I'm rambling again.

I was interested in it as I thought it will be Vermintide in space but from what I have heard its more like a MOBA? In sense you only §progress§ though mission and next one you have to start from scratch? Not interested any more in it :/ Isn't it the same with Vermintide? you have a selection of maps, thorugh which you progress. First time you get those maps split "into acts" but nothing really connects. it's about loot and killing rats while taking their tomes of magic for better loot From what I understand in Vermintide you got permanent look which you can use in another missions, but from what I understand in Space Hulk you unlock nwe weapons only through one map? Am I missing something? You're correct.

Space Hulk: Deathwing beta. Nowhere near ready for public consumption, the voice acting is sadly sub par and underused compared to DOW, and the arsenal feels a little off. There is the acorn of a good game here, however it will have to be delayed or patched mightily to bring that Oak to fruition. The environments are absolutely stunning however, and really evoke the atmosphere of a Space Hulk perfectly. Edit: It's nice to see a Librarian brought into play so early, but even here I found his Warp born powers a little underdeveloped.

You insensitive devil you! Call me?

I'd have thought the anal inflammation over the untermensch not voting as instructed would have started to subside by now, ah well good luck President Fart.

The entire premise seems rather unworkable. Ah well, wait and see if it plays out satisfactorily and in an internally consistent fashion when I purchase the game, at least i'll be able to play as an evil minion for once and am not shoe horned into the usual boring chosen saviour routine. I'm also looking forward to sending thousands to their deaths, inventive torture and dehumanisation etcetera, rather than the usual small scale melee resolution that has turned all CRPGs into ARPGs.

Well personally i'd be setting up satraps to oversee large portions of the empire under fairly independent rule, with a central authority oversight as represented by the Fatebinders. I can see why Kyros would be playing off factions against each other, but when stamping out the last elements of resistance on the continent it would surely make sense to first conquer the province, make it profitable, ensure taxes are flowing and the economy is flourishing, while its own military/militia is efficacious, rather than pull it into a Diadochi like struggle for scraps. After all there are always internal threats in any empire, that need putting down and stamping out with extreme prejudice, and surely the secret police of the Fatebinders cannot mount large scale military operations. Though this raises the question of the standing army in the empire of Kyros, what is the command structure, whom does it pay loyalty to, what are its tactics etcetera? Edit: Slaughtering and enslaving the native population would be a good first move, giving their land to loyal settlers of the empire, and perhaps rewarding veterans of the standing army who are retiring from service. Obviously there would be a dual reason for the last move.

Erm, why doesn't the Overlord just appoint a supreme military commander for the campaign? Seems a more obvious move than sending the leaders of two factions into the fray.

Watching Smiley's People, the old Alec Guinness John LeCarre spy drama, it always surprises me with old television how reticent the soundtracks are, sparse and almost unused so that when a few notes or bars are played they feel very effective. Comparatively television nowadays, like society I suppose, has become very loud and rather indistinct.

Sheen for President 2020? See if SJFs can be triggered into an early grave through intense rectal pain?

Ian Dury and the Blockheads said everything that needs to be said about that back in the late 70's.

Temple of Elemental Evil, with the (excellent) Circle of Eight and Temple+ mods, still the best combat in a fantasy RPG but it's a pity they couldn't have gone with one of the better Greyhawk adventures. I know this is near heresy to some, but i've never had much of a fondness for most of Gygax' adventures, and there were some really brilliant modules released that garnered none of the fame the legendary Oerth ones did. The Falcon trilogy, especially when integrated with the Greyhawk city setting, was a fantastic experience. Indeed one could craft an almost entire campaign in the Jewel of the Flannaes, I know as I did, with ocassional forays into the Gnarly, the Cairn Hills, Abbor Alz, Mistmarsh etcetera.

Surprising considering Mr Cain worked on this game, after all Arcanum offered great (perhaps unmatched?) levels of real choice and consequence, rather than the false choices that this games advertising refutes emphatically. Indeed personally I consider siding with Kerghan, going with Larry to the Mariposa military base, persuading the Master to face his folly, commiting genocide in Stillwater, attacking Nasrudin, gaining the favour of Randver Thunderstone and numerous others to be signs of the best design i've ever seen. Then again there's the BMC.

Aye. Edit: Sorry.

Have all the celebrities who swore to leave done so yet?

It contains both, especially if one chooses to go beyond Imperial Servitor technology and explore Necron Necrodermis and Eldar Wraithstone controlled tech. As well as of course the perils of the Warp and their manifestations within the Materiums technology.

Apparently this is entering beta, and is being made by the devs behind "Eye: Divine Cybermancy" which is very...ambitious, broken, weird and definitely 40k ish. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCO0nWkKKsU