TrashMan

I think one of the things that led to this more believeable atmosphere was the lower level characters - you were barely more competent than your average commoner to start and progressed rather slowly upwards not getting exceptionally more powerful until mid-game and even then it was entirely possible to stumble on an encounter that would eat you for lunch. By games end you were showing some true power but the length of the journey that took you there made that power more believable. In BG2 you started off at those powerful levels and went on to godlike ones - much less believeable - especially if you were not using a character you leveled yourself in BG1 and start off at level 8-9 right off the bat without the benefit of having grown to those levels - like being born a young adult with no basis for your knowledge or chartacter. It's one of the reasons I really prefer lower level campaigns - say level 1-mid teens if they are D&D type levels - which is why I am so excited about PE as thats the level of play they are talking about. I'd say it also has to do with level design and items. You really didn't have crazily powerfull or over-designed items. Most of my party used normal armor for the entire game. The buildings, the architecture - it all looked "normal".

Oy, users making silly mistakes - one can fill whole books with it. I see it every day.

Level scaling is of the devil. Or should I say, leveling as it is done today is of the devil. Difficutly only becomes a problem because the level power differences are so extreeme.

that image is hillarious

Another difference between BG1 and BG2 is one of atmosphere. BG1 had a more medieval, down-to-earth feel. It felt more real than BG2. The spells, the monsters, the items...everything was more "normal". For lack of a better word, BG1 felt more believable than BG2.

Hmm.. never had problems digesting milk. In fact, I drink milk every morning before I go to work..usually with cornflakes. I'm too lazy to make a sammich.

Probably the fact that if someone who's espousing "everyone should know English" manages to fail at spelling things correctly then imagine playing the game as a non-native English speaker or someone who has dyslexia. If my whole argument hinged on the assumption that people should be able to spell perfectly then I'd make damn sure I didn't spell things incorrectly while making said argument, but that's just me. That is just you. Who cares if you make a spelling mistake? I made mine because I wasn't paying attention. So what? You can always correct it. Apparently, people managed to play the old games just fine. And btw - I'm not a native english speaker either.

Ahh...that is a good one.

Condolences. It's never easy. Half of my family is in the hospital ATM. Grandpa has cancer. Grandma fell and broke her arm and pelvis. Dad is scheduled for an operation (intestines). Mother has back problems. Fun times...

My latin in rusty unfortunately. That said, this thread is now all about anime. GO!

So? I don't see how my speed typo has anything to do with anything.

Worked returned home and made lunch Browsed forums.. Watched stuff on YouTube cleaned the aparment. Played WoT Sighed a lot because of nostalgia, the situation in the world and human stupidity.

PC being able to craft legendary items is just utterly, hoplesly stupid. It's like the omnidisciplinary scientist cliche - it makes the PC too perfect. Where does he get hte time to become the world greatest smith and fighter and mage and whatever?

Aaaand..that's the reason why I want to burn the world down.

And fun does not equal quality or good. I find monkeys throwing poo at each other fun. Would you call it the height of quality entertainment? And bloody hell, Usagi Drop would kill a diabetic. It's sweetness in visual form.

I don't recall a single riddel in any of the old games that actually required an "a" or "the" before the actual answer. Also, singular or plurar would be obvious from the riddle. EDIT: And riddles like such were usually used to open a passage/door/chest, meaning that the player could usually try again....or he had a way around.

I loved those kinds of riddles. Actually made you really think. WAAAAAY better than this "choose the obvious answer from the list". And who the hell doesn't know english these days?

Warnings issued by the U.S. military to their own troops: "Aim towards the enemy." Instruction printed on US Rocket Launcher. "When the pin is pulled, Mr Grenade is not our friend." US Marine Corps. "Cluster bombing from B-52s is very, very accurate. The bombs are guaranteed to always hit the ground." USAF Ammo Troop. "If the enemy is in range, so are you." Infantry Journal. "A slipping gear could let your M203 grenade launcher fire when you least expect it. That would make you quite unpopular in what is left of your unit." Army's magazine of preventive maintenance. "It is generally inadvisable to eject directly over the area you just bombed." U.S. Air Force Manual. "Try to look unimportant; they may be low on ammo." Infantry Journal. "Tracers work both ways." US Army Ordnance. "Five-second fuses only last three seconds." Infantry Journal. "Any ship can be a minesweeper... once." Anon. "Do not draw fire; it irritates the people around you." Your comrades. "If you see a bomb technician running, try to keep up with him." USAF Ammo Troop. After every flight, Qantas pilots fill out a form, called a "gripe sheet," which tells mechanics about problems with the aircraft. The mechanics correct the problems, document their repairs on the form, and then pilots review the gripe sheets before the next flight. Never let it be said that ground crews lack a sense of humour. Here are some actual maintenance complaints submitted by Qantas' pilots (marked with a P) and the solutions recorded (marked with an S) by maintenance engineers. By the way, Qantas is the only major airline that has never had an accident. P: Left inside main tire almost needs replacement. S: Almost replaced left inside main tire. P: Test flight OK, except auto-land very rough. S: Auto-land not installed on this aircraft. P: Something loose in ****pit. S: Something tightened in ****pit. P: Dead bugs on windshield. S: Live bugs on back-order. P: Autopilot in altitude-hold mode produces a 200 feet per minute descent. S: Cannot reproduce problem on ground. P: Evidence of leak on right main landing gear. S: Evidence removed. P: DME volume unbelievably loud. S: DME volume set to more believable level. P: Friction locks cause throttle levers to stick. S: That's what they're for. P: IFF inoperative. S: IFF always inoperative in OFF mode. P: Suspected crack in windshield. S: Suspect you're right. P: Number 3 engine missing. S: Engine found on right wing after brief search. P: Aircraft handles funny. S: Aircraft warned to straighten up, fly right, and be serious. P: Target radar hums. S: Reprogrammed target radar with lyrics. P: Mouse in ****pit. S: Cat installed. And the best one for last.................. P: Noise coming from under instrument panel. Sounds like a midget pounding on something with a hammer. S: Took hammer away from midget Donald Rumsfeld was giving the President his daily briefing. He concluded by saying: "..and yesterday, 3 Brazilian soldiers were killed in an accident.' "OH NO!" the President exclaimed. "That's terrible!" His staff sat stunned at this display of emotion, watching nervously as the President held his head in hands. Finally, the President looked up and asked..........'How many is a Brazillion??' "Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build bigger and better idiot-proof programs, and the universe trying to produce bigger and better idiots. So far, the universe is winning." Q: What do elves learn in school? A: The Elf-abet! Q: What's the most popular wine at Christmas? A: "I don't like sprouts" ! Q: If athletes get athletes foot, what do astronauts get? A: Missletoe! Q: What do you get when you cross a snowman with a vampire? A: Frostbite. Q: Why was Santa's little helper depressed? A: Because he had low elf esteem. Q: Where do polar bears vote? A: The North Poll. Q: What do you get when you cross an archer with a gift-wrapper? A: Ribbon hood. Q: What was wrong with the boy's brand new toy electric train set he received for Christmas? A: Forty feet of track - all straight! Q: What kind of bird can write? A: A PENguin. Q: How does Al Gore's household keep Christmas politically correct? A: On Christmas morning, they give the presents TO the tree. Q: What do you call a cat on the beach at Christmas time? A: Sandy Claus! Q: What nationality is Santa Claus? A: North Polish. Q: Why does Santa's sled get such good mileage? A: Because it has long-distance runners on each side. Q: What do you call a bunch of grandmasters of chess bragging about their games in a hotel lobby? A: Chess nuts boasting in an open foyer! Q: What do you get if you deep fry Santa Claus? A: Crisp Cringle. Q: What did the ghosts say to Santa Claus? A: We'll have a boo Christmas without you. Q: What did Santa shout to his toys on Christmas Eve? A: Okay everyone, sack time!! Q: What do snowmen eat for breakfast? A: Snowflakes. Q: If Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus had a child, what would he be called? A: A subordinate claus. Q: Why did the elf push his bed into the fireplace? A: He wanted to sleep like a log. Q: Why did Santa spell Christmas N-O-E? A: Because the angel had said, "No L!" Q: What do you call people who are afraid of Santa Claus? A: Claustrophobic. Q: Why does Scrooge love Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer? A: Because every buck is dear to him. Q: Why is Christmas just like a day at the office? A: You do all the work and the fat guy with the suit gets all the credit. Q: What was so good about he neurotic doll the girl was given for Christmas? A: It was wound up already. Q: What's a good holiday tip? A: Never catch snowflakes with your tongue until all the birds have gone south for the winter. 2 martians come to earth. They go to a gas station and find a petrol pump. The first aims it's lazer pistol at it and says: - We are martians earthling. Take us to your leader or suffer the consequencies. The other try to take reason with his pal. - Man, stop that. This earthling is a die hard. - Shut up! Don't matter how he is, he must obey us, we are superior! - No dude! He can tottally take us alone. - Don't be ridiculous. Earthling, stop ignoring us! Take us to your leader... So that's how it's gone be right? TAKE THAT! The martian shoots. The pump, obviously, explode. Both martians are thrown some hundred meters from there. The one that shoot asks the other. - This one was angry! How do you knew he was so dangerous? - Didn't you saw his ****? It reached the ground, circled him twice and yet came back up and it's head was hangging in his ear! An old Arab lived close to New York City for more than 40 years. He would have loved to plant potatoes in his garden, but he is alone, old and weak. His son is in college in Paris, so the old man sends him an e-mail. He explains the problem: "Beloved son, I am very sad, because I can't plant potatoes in my garden. I am sure, if only you were here, you would help and dig up the garden for me. I love you, Your Father" The following day, the old man receives a response e-mail from his son: "Beloved Father, Please don't touch the garden. It's there that I have hidden 'the THING'. I love you, too, Ahmed" At 4pm the US Army, The Marines, the FBI, the CIA and the Rangers visit the house of the old man, take the whole garden apart, search every inch, but can't find anything. Disappointed they leave the house. A day later, the old man receives another e-mail from his son. "Beloved Father, I hope the garden is dug up by now and you can plant your potatoes. That's all I could do for you from here. I love you, Ahmed."

TG?

If only I could do this...

TTGR is WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY overrated. There, I said it.

Finished watching Welcome to NHK yesterday. Was a great show. Especially this scene: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNZ6lAlmwYA&feature=player_detailpage#t=401s Watching Usagi Drop atm and it is really uplifting. Tokyo Grandfathers is next.

This is how it really ends:

B.t.w - her's the manga..on english: http://www.mangareader.net/5-centimeters-per-second

The Managa is a bit longer and especially the last bit is longer. There is a very hopefull last bit added where Kanae comes to Tokyio. She decides to go looking for Takaki at Tokyo and after she comes to decide to go back and not see him, he seems to walk in front of the park bench where she is, presumably noticing her. It was a joke. Take it easy. And AMV's can be utter crap (most are) and they can also be masterpieces. Don't diss AMV's ... especially not the two I posted. Both are great and the music and visuals are a great match. Thanks. And I don't do drugs. I do anime. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5TfUkRr7Qs