Valsuelm

I find it unfortunate that you force all retail shoppers who want a physical edition to use Steam.

I wonder if there's some loser American on some Russian gaming forum somewhere that trolls Russians and tries to insult their nation on a semi-regular basis.

The radical Zionists who run Israel do not have now, nor have they ever had any intention of allowing Palestine to exist as a state, nor have they ever had any intention of returning the land they took during the 6 day war, nor any they took prior to that.

Indeed. Any competent U.S. president that has U.S. interests in mind first and foremost would tell Israel that they'd shoot down their planes if they flew over U.S. controlled airspace on their way to start a war. In particular one that has an almost certain potential to drag the U.S. into it, as well as to become WW3. That said. It's likely nothing more than political theater BS that it was said. To rile up the pro-Israeli and anti-Obama zombies who are completely unaware of the U.S.S. Liberty and other things that go to show that Israel is anything but a good ally to the U.S..

Your puzzling skills are lacking.

I said that I think banning abortion is socialistic which is not the same as saying it's socialist specifically, but rather that it seems like the kind of thing socialists would be inclined to do. Uhm. Why? I mean... Since socialism is traditionally tied to atheism, why would they ban abortion? Abortion is usually banned on religious grounds. No, it's not usually banned on religious grounds. It's historically usually banned on the grounds that many people, religious and not, consider it murder. Banning murder is not socialistic. If one does not see it as murder then I can see how one would consider it that though. As for communists. There is no standard communist position on the matter. ie: At various times the Soviet Union allowed and banned abortion. However communist Russia was the first nation in the world to allow it Carte blanche. Later they changed their minds (many have theorized they did this when the population of ethnic Russians wasn't as growing as much Stalin would have liked). So, in the case of the U.S.S.R., one might say that the stance on abortion was a matter of state run reproductive policy, which would indeed make the issue of abortion socialistic in that nation. In the world at large there are multiple schools of thought in regards to the issue. Some are technocratic, some are socialistic, for some it's just a matter of 'women's rights', for some it's just a matter of seeing it at murder, and so on. In the U.S. all of these schools exist, but the 'woman's right's movement' and the 'right to life' (those who consider it murder) are the two major factions that generally get the airplay on the news, and for the most part has what's been driving any legislation in regards to the matter. The less dominant schools of thought ally or attempt to manipulate these major schools (as they do with pretty much any issue). So while there is no obviously visible direct influence by technocrats or socialists one could argue they have influenced the debate. Indeed many have argued that the modern women's rights movement itself is socialistic or technocratic in nature, in addition many have argued that the issue of abortion itself is technocraticly driven from a eugenics perspective. Interesting post Vals Whats your view on abortion? I am fine with it under the right circumstances, I think it is a very traumatic experience for any women and most of the time its not done without careful consideration My view is that it's a very grey issue. The circumstances in regards to what leads a woman to want to get an abortion vary greatly. I think both of the major mainstream schools of thought as represented in the media have it wrong, as they are presented to have a black and white view of the matter, and indeed this is how many see it. In my experience those who see it as a black and white issue (should be allowed 100% or should be banned 100%) generally have not thought the issue through at all, and have allowed media to define their opinions on the matter (which is common for many to do on any given issue). The legal issues are quite complex. Roe v. Wade, the landmark case in regards to the issue in the U.S. is quite complex, as is the subsequent fallout from it. In the main stream media (which is generally dominated by leftist thought) Roe v. Wade has been misrepresented as to allow abortion Carte blanche. It did not do this, yet it is commonly celebrated by many to have done so. While I generally agree with the ultimate outcome of the case, I vehemently disagree with some of the arguments and reasoning made during it, as indeed some of those arguments were socialistic in nature (I generally stand firmly opposed to socialism as well as generally agree with the argument that the court didn't have Constitutional jurisdiction over the matter). Again though, the issue is very complex. A discussion about Roe v. Wade between people knowledgeable on the issue could last a great many hours in person. And Roe v Wade aside, there are many different scenarios one could discuss, and in many of them the questions of 'should the state be involved?', and 'if so in what manner?' leads to a complex discussions in themselves.

I said that I think banning abortion is socialistic which is not the same as saying it's socialist specifically, but rather that it seems like the kind of thing socialists would be inclined to do. Uhm. Why? I mean... Since socialism is traditionally tied to atheism, why would they ban abortion? Abortion is usually banned on religious grounds. No, it's not usually banned on religious grounds. It's historically usually banned on the grounds that many people, religious and not, consider it murder. Banning murder is not socialistic. If one does not see it as murder then I can see how one would consider it that though. As for communists. There is no standard communist position on the matter. ie: At various times the Soviet Union allowed and banned abortion. However communist Russia was the first nation in the world to allow it Carte blanche. Later they changed their minds (many have theorized they did this when the population of ethnic Russians wasn't as growing as much Stalin would have liked). So, in the case of the U.S.S.R., one might say that the stance on abortion was a matter of state run reproductive policy, which would indeed make the issue of abortion socialistic in that nation. In the world at large there are multiple schools of thought in regards to the issue. Some are technocratic, some are socialistic, for some it's just a matter of 'women's rights', for some it's just a matter of seeing it at murder, and so on. In the U.S. all of these schools exist, but the 'woman's right's movement' and the 'right to life' (those who consider it murder) are the two major factions that generally get the airplay on the news, and for the most part has what's been driving any legislation in regards to the matter. The less dominant schools of thought ally or attempt to manipulate these major schools (as they do with pretty much any issue). So while there is no obviously visible direct influence by technocrats or socialists one could argue they have influenced the debate. Indeed many have argued that the modern women's rights movement itself is socialistic or technocratic in nature, in addition many have argued that the issue of abortion itself is technocraticly driven from a eugenics perspective.

I imagine some folks in Rome said this when Caesar crossed the Rubicon. I wonder if they realized it might be the better part of two millennia before it got better. A new dark age is on the horizon.

Indeed. Except combat XP was broken. So they fixed it. Bestiary XP is awesome, and more games should use that instead. It's a shame Obsidian caved in on Trap/Lock XP and added it to the game. Now you don't have a choice but to farm every trap and lock. No... it wasn't broken, and yea... you do have a choice. Also, to each their own, but I humbly suggest you never 'farm' anything when playing an RPG. You'll likely enjoy it much more. Though I suppose there are some out there that like to 'farm', you lament thinking you have to, so... simply don't. Or play something else. The concepts of 'farming' or 'grinding' have become increasingly common in the last decade when discussing various video games. I contend that if one thinks it's 'farming' or 'grinding' that the game is not inherently fun, or the person engaging in it has a somewhat masochistic idea of what fun is. At the very least it's usually a glass half empty approach.

Never said that. I considered it socialistic as it suggests collective ownership of people's bodies. Was going to say this is the dumbest thing I've read all day but then I got to the Nazi sympathizing. Only just hopped on and I've already had enough Off-Topic for one day. You need to be strong and resolute Baro....enough to despise the power of the Off-Topic Or failing that have the mental fortitude to just engage in debate, peoples opinions on this section are not that unfathomable or unreasonable Unfathomable? No. Haven't once come across an opinion here or anywhere that was. Unreasonable? Lots of them, here and elsewhere. Stems from not knowing what one is talking about most of the time. Though, for arguments sake, one usually can even consider an unreasonable opinion in realistic terms reasonable when one considers the limited bits of knowledge one bases their opinion on. ie: This girl's reaction is reasonable when one considers the limited scope of her knowledge.

He's #1? Really? Kim Jong Un doesn't trump Netanyahu? Kim? LOL (old school, as in you actually made me laugh out loud (the internet was a better place when LOL meant what it says)) Kim is largely harmless. I'm not saying he's a good guy, but he doesn't have near the blood on his sleeve than many other leaders do. He doesn't even rank top 10, hell, not even top 20, maybe even 50. Unless of course you had your heart set on a mohawk, then maybe he's the worst of the worst.

Iran is the wrong people, it doesn't get more wrong unless you resurrect hitler. Btw, there's no Iranian fatwa against nuclear weapons. http://pjmedia.com/andrewmccarthy/2015/03/16/there-is-no-fatwa-condemning-nuclear-weapons-by-irans-ayatollah-khamenei/ This Andrew McCarthy > yours. While I do occasionally enjoy Bill Whittle diatribes about the state of things, PJ Media is about as naive and ignorant as any media source comes when it comes to international matters (this sadly includes Bill to a large degree). Especially when talking about Iran or Israel. The pro-Israeli propaganda is heavy on that channel, and the organization that the article is citing (MEMRI) is a pro-Israeli 501c. I trust them about as much as I trust Obama to tell the truth, maybe less. That said. Fatwa or no Fatwa, it doesn't really matter. Iran would be dumb to not get nukes if they can, given the historical hostility from it's some of it's neighbors, the U.S., U.K., and Israel. Nothing could assure it's national defense more than nukes, sadly.

Netanyahu is a fear mongering warmongering piece of fermented swine feces. On my list of evil leaders of nations, he's #1. May he lose the election, and then one day rot in Gehenna. That said, even if he loses, I'm sure he and those like him will remain powerful. Woe is the world that this is so. Baby steps I suppose.

The one thing I ever break out the character editor for with Baldur's Gate 2 is to give myself the XP I earned in Baldur's Gate 1 and Tales of the Sword Coast. I'll be doing the same I'm sure for this game's sequel should I play it and find myself with more XP going in than the game allows. XP caps are kinda stupid I think. Don't put that much XP in a game if you don't want people earning it.

Wow, so you don't know any gay people or many Russians....you haven't traveled far down the path of multiculturalism have you GD ? Meeting Russians or gay people has nothing to do with multiculturalism, General.

Happy St. Patty's Day!!! ^^^ Saw these guys in Phili some years back, one of the best live shows I've ever seen (and I've seen hundreds).

Evil bastards blocked the above in the US on 'copyright grounds'. May those bastards suffer testicular rot (no matter their gender). Here's a version that works in the U.S.:

You've apparently not been reading the forums much these last two years, nor have ever read rpgcodex.

I'm likely in the same boat for the same reasons. I'm holding off on exactly which boat I get into in regards to Obsidian's next kickstarter (if they have one) until I see the final product, but if the kickstarter were today, I'd likely be sitting it out (would have to see the pitch of course).

This. If Iran gets a nuke; they'll all want nukes. With all those bombs about, it won't be long until the wrong people get their hands on them. The wrong people have had their hands on nukes since day 1.

God I hope so on those sparkles. While I can appreciate sparkles in some contexts, sparkles on corpses or game loot in general is definitely not one of them. On the general subject of loot. IE games did it better than any other RPG games out there I've come across with the exceptions of the tedium one encountered in shops (simply allowing the buying of more than one item at a time would have gone a long way), and one might encounter when managing their inventory. For the latter an on toggle (meaning not always active) auto sort for the party as well as individual characters would have been all that was needed. But these were UI issues/improvements. Insofar as how the character interacted with loot in the game, and how loot appeared in the game it was done no better in any other RPG game I've seen . If what we have in PoE is glowing piles that all look the same (ala NWN2), this is the opposite of an improvement over what IE had. Edit: Divinity: Original Sin, seems to do it just as well as the IE games did, insofar as loot interaction and how it appears. Actually maybe even better as there seems to be even more differentiating in the way loot appears on the ground than even the IE games had, which would have been the direction expected Obsidian to go. Note that I'm only a few hours into D:OS so I may have an incomplete picture at this point.

Even if Iran never uses the nukes it could develop; Iran simply having them would pose a huge problem. Only if you're inclined to invade them, which some in the west are keen to do. Otherwise those nukes pose no more of a problem than those of anyone else.

A slider would be grand!

If the caffeine is your reason, I can't help you other than to suggest tea. But, I myself occasionally really crave that carbonated drink, but generally don't drink store bought soda as it's so bad for you for many different reasons. Here's two solutions if you want that carbonated thirst quencher without the excess corn syrup, chemicals, and other bad things. 1. Go and buy soda water (or seltzer, but I personally prefer soda water), get yourself some fruit (I personally prefer limes, but there's lots of alternatives), dice it up, and put it in the soda water for flavoring. It's an awesome alternative to any store bought soda in my opinion. 2. Make some homemade ginger ale. (Obviously this only applies if you like ginger ale). This stuff is awesome, but takes a bit of work. There's a number of recipes out there for this. You can buy the soda/seltzer water yourself or ferment it yourself, whichever you prefer. I myself prefer just buying the soda water. Here's the closest thing to the recipe I use. Again, this is awesome, and is my preferred soda by far, and real ginger is actually very healthy for you (the vast majority of store bought ginger ales have absolutely no real ginger in them). I usually go with #1 as it's a lot less work (peeling and dicing the ginger is the hardest part of #2), but highly recommend both.

It certainly mattered who you played with as well as the encounter. The better GMs I've played with rarely just said 'here you go' after an encounter was over. With the better GMs I've played with encounters weren't always over when players thought they were. Regardless, the complaints are valid. This thread is like so many others on so many gaming boards, in part valid complaint, in part a bunch of people trying to invalidate the complaint. If you don't see the problem, that's cool. Others do. None of them are saying you should be stuck with their preference. What is being asked for is an option so they don't have to be stuck with yours. Also, I'm pretty sure most here who aren't happy about this are not considering it in a vacuum. A number of fundamental things have been done that are 'new school' as opposed to the 'old school' that the kickstarter said we'd have. If you like them, good for you. Some of us are not happy with some of the departures from what made the IE games what they were. In most cases, taken by themselves they aren't that big a deal, but taken together they are (the biggest exception I know of (having not played the beta) is the lack of ammo for projectiles). The more changes from the IE engine the more the game is less like an IE game. While no doubt some backers don't care, or would even prefer this, it's pretty safe to say that a majority of those backers backed the game because they wanted that IE experience again. Will a petition change anything? I'd wager a lot no. Petitions almost never amount to anything. Moreover, the vast majority of backers are completely unaware it exists, and even if everyone did, most likely wouldn't be inclined to bother to partake in it, no matter what their position on the matter (reference the backer polls to see the low turnout relative to the number of backers out there). And of course Obsidian is under no obligation to even bother to read a petition, let alone implement what it wants.