Nonek

Personally I think such self righteous preaching, based upon Ms Sarkeesian's lies and half truths is a direct consequence of the many years of demonisation consumers have been subject to, with game journalists having grown used to abusing the millions of innocent and mainly apathetic (to their drivel) masses whom play games recreationally, the lies and false narratives were easily embraced and used when actual controversy and wrongdoing reared its head. Now with Ms Sarkeesian's work statistically and scientifically disproven, themselves shown to be the wrongdoers, misogynists and regressive elements in gaming and the consumers actually making a stand against degenerate practises, while self funding games that actually are progressive and innovative, they are outraged as they become increasingly irrelevant. Of course they will still abuse consumers, state they are dead, lie about them being harassers and women haters, or that the truly diverse masses of gamergate wish to stifle diversity, but their lies are ringing more and more hollow, as they become obsolete. They are after all just a group of lying hypocrites whom are no longer relevant, whom oppose diversity of opinion as well as race and gender, and wish to censor and distort the truth to their own ends, morally reprehensible and so desperate as to make bomb threats against a bunch of people just having a party.

Gaming. Description: You have always been drawn to the roll of the dice, the turn of the card or the placement of the playing piece, and have at times won a fair amount of coin in such pursuits. In truth though your talent extends further than mere games however, you have an innate grasp of strategy and tactics, a calm calculating grasp of odds and chances, and how one may influence them. Effects: Now this is where I come unstuck, I really can't think of a reasonable bonus for this skill, that slowly increases over time and doesn't unbalance anything. There are of course many chances to use such a skill, games of chance in a tavern for instance, but I can't think of any mechanical advantages. Perhaps something to do with the stronghold, or maybe a very small experience bonus? Any ideas?

Dirk here with an exclusive for all you Futureheads out there, Bioware have today unveiled their latest consumer survey and you will be among the honoured few to gain access to it. Please complete and e-mail to Bioware HQ: Do you wish the game to be called: a, Dragon Age: Let's play dress up. b, Dragon Age: Magic fantasy kingdom funtime. c, Dragon Age: Lots of blood and dramatic music, we're trying really hard to be mature. d, Dragon Age: Dry humping the dating sim. e, Dragon Age: A pony. f, Dragon Age: A platform for cheap and profitable DLC. Do you wish the protagonist to be : a, Male. b, Female. c, A sexless but must be pretty thing with the barest hint of personality, spouting our god awful "humour". d, Romanceable. e, A pony. Do you wish armour and weapons to be: a, Oversized. b, Needlessly and hideously ornate. c, Romanceable. d, All of the above. e, A pony. Do you wish companions to be: a, Morons. b, Useless. c, Romanceable. d, Pretty. e, Cutesy and Snarky. f, All of the above. g, A pony. Do you wish the plot to be: a, Blah, blah, blah - skip, skip, skip. b, A steady progression of ever more bland loot. c, Illogical and insultive to the reasoning ability of a foetus. d, Romanceable. e, All of the above. f, A pony. Do you wish the primary antagonist to be: a, A cliched big bad. b, The tool of a McGuffin. c, Romanceable. d, A pony. e, A reaper. Do you wish the game DLC to be: a, Content gouged out of the main plot, so that you can never just buy a full game. b, Never ending. c, Romanceable. d, Other-Please purchase the "Discussing DLC bonus questionnaire pack" from the Bioware store to register any other options, yours for only $14.99. Do you wish the possible failure of the game to be blamed on: a, You. b, 4chan. c, EA. d, Metacritic. e, Bitter old trolls, who just don't understand our innovations and artistic integrity. f, Gamergate. Edit: In all seriousness Luzarius just get over it and play other, better games, the market has not had so many superior quality alternatives in quite some time. Or go back and play some old games that are packed with far more content, features and innovation than any new ones.

This is why I stressed that there should be secret entrances unlocked by the main quest, so that those whom choose not to take advantage of the opional content can still enter the Paths at key points, without having to complete all of the levels of content. A secret stair, passage or somesuch, running parallel to the Paths but apart from it. Thaos' own entrance perhaps? On the subject of the Strongholds visitors and attacks does anyone else feel that these would be a perfect opportunity to use and expand upon the illustrated sequences we find throughout the game? So that we have a minigame somewhat similar to the fantastic story sequences found throughout King of Dragon Pass, that we solve through our attributes, skills or reputations. I was a little underwhelmed by how little the illustrated sequences were used when their versatility is clear for all to see, and they might offer so much more choice and more importantly consequence.

The very epitome of modern journalism, absolutely laughable.

Rather than make a traditional review I thought i'd indulge in a spot of backseat developing, share with the Obsidian devs my invaluable (read worthless) opinions and query the ladies and gentlemen on some of their choices. I would have done this on a dedicated review/feedback thread, but couldn't find one. Firstly a little praise, with this game I got exactly what I was promised, and Obsidian should be praised for this when so many Kickstarters have cheated their backers even when massively overfunded. I am more than satisfied with my purchase, and count Poe as a good game. On my personal old fashioned scale of 1-10 I would attribute Poe a 7, bearing in mind that 10 is an unattainable perfect score (and perfection is impossible) and five is a perfectly average game that is fit for purpose. I have some problems with the game; The MMO classes that are infecting all RPGs now, the fact that a Rogue is misnamed as roguishness has no connection to brutal combat whatsoever. The stash reinforcing the tyranny of loot that has to be included in all games now rather than worthwhile content. The amount of copy pasted combat encounters scattered over maps, that is somewhat necessitated by making an IE successor game, as they were similarly combat heavy. However all of these are little things that do not detract from the game too much. However to get to the meat of the matter, I question some of the design choices: For instance the massive amount of content invested in the Endless Paths, that is totally dispensible and seperated from the game itself. I would have merged a good deal of this in one of my pen and paper campaigns. Caed Nua I would have made Raedric's stronghold, and Gilded Vale the demense that a character may rule over and tax upon seizing the paths. If the character wished to. Furthermore the Endless Paths themselves (and the giant Adra statue within them) I would have made into the machine that created the Gods of Eora, and contain hints, histories and visions of Thaos that could be accessed through exploration and keys available through the main quest. However this would restrict the players whom do not choose to explore the paths, so I would have secret entrances and portals into each level of the paths that are unlocked upon the main quest path. Defiance Bay I would largely leave untouched apart from making the end of Act 2 reactive to the player in some way, perhaps have Thaos take control of the protagonist to murder the Duc, but in so doing reveal much of himself, the Endless Paths and the secrets that the Glanfathans hold. A give and take situation, though that is just spur of the moment thinking. I would start the game in the blasted ruins of the Godhammer crater, as this seems an area that cries out to be shown to and explored by the player, and have a little travel and adventure before the protagonist stumbles upon the incident that awakens him. Or even have it occur there. Two further settlements are needed in my opinion, one frontier township somewhat like the Dyrford but with stockade, defences and a more military demeanour to show the tension between the Dyrwood and Eir Glanfath. This should lead of course to Twin Elms, the path to confronting Thaos and the endgame content that will lead the players back to the Endless Paths eventually and the vast statues that breathed life into the gods. There would also be numerous adventuring areas connecting these of course, but perhaps a few less with a little more worthwhile content. Also i'd make Gilded Vale a depressed ghost town barely clinging on to life when the protagonist stumbles into it, and through the characters decisions i'd make it grow, adapt or be dispersed over time. For instance if the protagonist takes the stronghold, rebuilds the castle and village, rules fairly and justly then i'd have Gilded Vale become a bustling township and an important destination in the Dyrwood. If he disdains rulership but takes a home in the manorhouse of the stronghold, and defends the village then the people endure and become stronger, taking their cue from the local hero to carve out their mark upon the land and remain independent and strong. Etc. However hindsight and detatched observation is flawless as they say, and I am not faced by the struggles and problems that arose for the Obsidian staff, so my theorising is hardly a condemnation of them. I'd prefer to think of it as an alternate form of review, and an indication of how much the setting made me think and become invested, and therefore prove itself both as a game and a piece of art.

The strategic challenge lies in a number of factors: One. my choices are limited due to the four man party I typically use. Two, I don't rest or resupply once i've entered a dungeon and try to complete in one attempt. Three, my spells, abilities and items must be carefully rationed and used at appropriate times. Four, my party members health and viability in their roles must be carefully monitored and maintained. Tactically I like the lay out of the undead in Kresselack's tombs, one cannot simply use a chokepoint or rush the enemy. One must scout, clear traps, make careful advances and disable key enemies while hindering the onrush of the undead, using the Druid or Mages most potent abilities. One must also stay on ones toes and be aware of the self destructing, or more harmful enemies and retain the abilities to destroy or incapacitate them at range. Add to this the wonderful descriptions scattered throughout the tomb, the oppressive feeling of being watched that the carven faces of Kresselack transmit, and the sense that one is stumbling into a tragic backstory, well this elevates the dungeon into one of my favourites. Especially when one adds in the factor of Mr Jays wonderful voice acting as the Black Wolf, an underused character in my view. Loot I simply prioritised, and left the rest behind to disappear, a realistic and sensible strategic option. However this is simply my opinion.

After watching the Romance of the Three Kingdoms 2010 it was quite a jolt going back to a non subtitled film, I think it also completely ruined Game of Thrones for me, the latter now appears small, prosaic and provincial in comparison.

For those wishing to experience a true classic in cinema I can truly recommend the following film, a touching study of oppression, racism and the expansionist zeal that drove the iron roads across America. The players and power mongers of this piece are truly villainous at times, but one has to ask oneself whether their amorality is warranted in a harsh, frontier where there is only so much law as there are steady hands and loose triggers? However the real heart of the film is the close bonds that developed beyween the railroad workers, their simple banter around the campfire, and the honest enjoyment they express while partaking in a simple meal. It always brings a tear to my eyes, and expresses a hearty bon homie that may charm even the most jaded heart: Cinema at its finest i'm sure you'll agree.

Finished Poe, beginning cogitations. I'm surprised that there is not a united review/feedback thread so that Obsidian can gather criticism and such.

Started a Wizard of Earthsea tonight, put on my Brian Blessed dramatic voice and read my little ones the first few chapters, they were absolutely gripped by the attack of the Kargish Raiders and the mist Sparrowhawk summoned forth. Think i'm on to a winner with this, thrilling, a touch scary for a little one, simple and yet possessing a certain nuance. Can't wait to describe the Dragon of Pendor and Ged's spell battle.

I've been wracking the old grey matter for hours on end, i've finally got it: Joss Whedon presents Battle of the Bulimic Bare-Knuckle Ballet Babe.

The young lady is going to absolutely ruin the tension on her bowstring while carrying it strung like that, and near throttle herself if she moves that sword quickly.

I was largely unsupervised as a child when it came to my fathers library, and though I may have read a few books at far too early an age, such as the Silmarillion, Lord Foul's Bane, a glut of Moorc*ck, and some of the more graphic Ancient Greek classics, I don't regret it one iota. Though my shortsightedness is a constant irritant that renders the world into a blur without my trusty spectacles, the worlds within my mind are bright and vivid as when I first read of them. I regard it as a fine foundation for a child, to hear of morality, philosophy and adventure that piques the intellect. Though I respect teachers as an undervalued profession, I believe that one must give them the right ingredients to mold, and half that work is done at home.

Rather depressing article, I want my children to excel personally. My little ones love the Sagas of Thor and Loki that i've been reading them (with a few minor edits,) the only problem is finding new material. I think I may soon broach A Wizard of Earthsea by LeGuin.

It can be, but we have a few situations that are more relevant at the moment, such as the SPJ thing and possibly a debate panel at a con. I'd much prefer to talk about that than getting into another circular argument with Bruce that clogs up several pages. Ooh i've not heard of this, Return of the Honey Badgers?

Yes but it's so funny. Edit: You're right I shouldn't troll like this, sorry.

No i'm not you halfwitted buffoon, and asking for ethical behaviour is now a new low? Honestly you'd know far more about paying for sex than me Bruce, I wouldn't think of intruding on your passtime. However to get back on track now that we have proven again that Mr Greyson commited ethical abuses, I hope you aren't going to lie about this again, every debate you make yourself look more and more ridiculous.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOYBWwmcXeg You heard it here first ladies and gentleman, cash payments and a sexual relationship between a journalist and their subject is both ethical and not worthy of any attention. You halfwitted buffoon.

Yeah I would expect this from you, much easier just to say things and not have to back them up Like your unproven assertion that Mr Grayson is innocent of any unethical behaviour? Please Bruce you can believe your own lies, as i'm sure they let you sleep at night, but don't expect any others to do so. A game journalist has a code of ethics to follow, he should not have a personal relationship of any kind with a game developer, never mind sleeping with one or paying for what follows. This is basic ethics, that can be confirmed by any ethics professor or anybody possessing a journalism degree. This should be simple to comprehend for a child or even you. Edit: I'm not surprised that I have to tell you this.

Ooh scolded for telling the truth by Bruce, such a moral authority. Do your own investigation hypocrite this is common knowledge, and i'll not waste my time on satisfying an abuser of womens tiny mind.

Try putting them in your mouth and not in your pockets? Edit: No in all seriousness I really do know what you mean, middle age spread is a thing, and i'm sadly resigned to the fact that my six pack is just not viable anymore. Crunches, reverse crunches and all of the other exercises just don't work like they used to.

Probably shamefully low, which is always disappointing. I do think that with the near total abandonment of the LibDems there does need to be a viable moderate party either forged from a redesigned LibDems, or launched as a new party, representing moderate and cautious good government: Sustainable economic policies, a clear renegotiation of our position in Europe so that we may plan for the future, a championing of our free speech and a rolling back of the surveillance led nanny state, and a focus on excellence in technology, science and innovation within our industries so that our manufacturing base can recover. i doubt this will happen however. Edit: With the SNP's ascendancy it could also be argued that the United Kingdom needs to be renegotiated, it's alright handing more self rule powers to the Scots, but similarly the Welsh and English needs to be represented equally. A number of self rule measures may actually make for a stronger union, with a viable future rather than the devolvement we are almost certainly heading towards.

Sleeping with a developer and making undisclosed cash payments to them is a clear conflict of interest for any game journalist, this is not to be argued by anybody with a grasp of ethics, and lying that it is not just makes the liar look like an indoctrinated loon. Of course you could then shift the goalposts when faced by this irrefutable truth, and say that a multi billion dollar industry does not warrant a media that is fit for purpose and ethical, but that is the statement of a halfwit. It's almost like the pathetic attempts to deny the gamers are dead articles were not a hateful attack on those whom play games recreationally, one really needs a vivid imagination to make this statement after reading their hateful and regressive content.

I was actually expecting UKIP to be wiped out far more convincingly in the general election, usually the public votes for them in by-elections as a protest and warning measure, and then abandons them when it matters, which really is quite a heartening reflection on the general public. However the millions of votes UKIP recieved in this election is a clear warning to all of the parties, and a break from tradition. Labour and the Tories should be wary of this, it is a sign of disillusionment in my opinion.