Atreides

My friend and I were talking about WAR on a roadtrip and it went into how MMO's felt vs SP. Seems to me SPs are like reading/exploring great books - satisfying in their own way but lacking human interaction. Even when you're multiplaying NWN2 with a few buddies it's like you're exploring an interesting but empty world because there's no human interaction back. MMO's on the other hand usually aren't as fleshed out with story but it's the people you interact with that bring it out. Playing for the lulz in other words. It's the crazy stuff you do with friends that makes it fun. Both have their points I guess.

Can we have afros as selectable hair-dos (with size slider adjuster and stuck in comb accessory of course) and succubi as a playable race now? These would go a long way to making the game legendary.

At least one of them's carrying a bag.

I think Wals means he's a home brewer with an understanding of that kind of fluid dynamics. Plus more evil capitalist banks fail.

I'd vote for Paulson-Bernanke '08.

The greater importance of horses now is in tune with the increased focus on trading. After all something needs to pull the trade wagons and a lack of them would be weird. I remember some static ones in MOTB but they were static. Now I've nothing against other things pulling my chariot, like people for example. Actually a chariot drawn by dire pandas would be awesome.

I hope we'll have dialogue like this

Hikaru no Go's one of those animes where you can't stop watching it ep after ep. But when you finally stop and look back I got the feeling why did I watch it? In a way it's awesome how it can hook you but ultimately I felt empty. Not saying you shouldn't watch it, but after say 10 eps (out of 50+ I think) I'd recommend evaluating it before going further. Yakitate Japan on the other hand has that hooking factor AND made me feel satisfied. Was more fun and creative in general. Shigeru Kanmuri ftw.

No it's not. It's a different feel (serious/kabuki/supernatural) feel to it than Kenshin's lighter humour that gets more serious towards the end. Just finished Mononke. We need more than 2+12 episodes grrr.

Ain't sure 'bout your example, but you can toggle on more D&D rules like critical hits from enemies, friendly fireballs etc from Difficulty under Options.

I think SoZ has the potential for a few epic party v party battles between rival trading group board of directors. Should satisfy those out there that like major battles that have been building up over the course of the game. Of course you don't have to gut all of them unless you're really psycho. You could ruin them so they come after you or I'm sure there other groups that favour subtlety and manipulation as their means of warfare. Maybe if you rly piss them off the others could gang up and you'd be in a very tough fight against the odds.

It's good to hear many opinions and I think Di puts more thought/effort into her posts than many. As such I look forward to reading what you post. This rest-rules thing and friendly fire(ball) thing seems like a simple indicator variable thing that can be changed in the difficulty/rule implementation options. We already have the puppet mode and full rules settings so it already addresses many of the concerns here. Only thing that couldn't easily be tweaked was the non-perma death because in the previous games the story was heavily dependent on your companions surviving to the point. Since this is a own-party with optional companions thing maybe that need's lessened and perma death can be toggled on/off.

I got Box of Sorrows.

Not sure if someone mentioned Mononoke (the one with the medicine seller, not Princess Mononoke). I think I should share the amount of win with the rest of you.

I like Asahi and especially Lowenbrau myself.

Oh yeah and I'm still hoping we can play succubus for my succubus, tiefling, aasimar party

Or the party we're speaking to may be able to switch around too. Say we're about to tempt the greed of their low wisdom wizard and then THEIR cleric interjects to stop the deal or something. Basically although our own party's collective conversation skills get better theirs does too. So in a way it's not unbalanced because we just got better while they're static. They get better too. Seems like an entertaining minigame in itself where we need to use all our available resources to outsmart the other party. Would be superb for the trading component too.

I sip my coffee while reading something about the town having statistically high polio rates and disability that causes people to move stiffly.

I awaken from my slumber as the last of the harsh rays of the setting sun retreat to the advancing darkness. The promise of a new night beckons.

I'll check this out for sure. I've got high hopes for Tilted Mill. If they make a Jap city builder I'll play it forever and ever. Well almost. Plus they're also quite willing to try new things out which is encouraging. Dungeon Keeper builder ftw.

High oil prices is finally changing the way Americans think about energy - which is good. Conservation and more funding for tech research into alternates which is awesome because the USA is still mofo at research. The US comes up with funky ideas which China will copy pasta illegally and produce for profit.

Back on the economy angle, Obsidz could take some ideas from the remarks of some people's glee at the downsizing of a well-known coffee parlour, if the right scenario does turn up (possible consequence of overagressive expansion in the game and the global economy turns sour?). On a more important angle, I'd like succubus as a playable character race so I can create like a whole party of them. Or a mixed party with aasimar & succubus NPCs for the epic romance lulz. Come on Obsidz I know you can do better with the heads art design. Even though you want to stick with the WotC prescribed art direction (which I understand), that doesn't mean you have to limit yourselves.

If it's just a single if/check on a single skill then it's open to abuse. However if the check's X diplomacy AND Y bluff then it may be more balanced and keep some options closed. Would still encourage players to increase more than one skill/int/wis stat in a character.

Aragones is an asshat but he can manage the Spanish egos. As for Domenech, I really think he should be fired for incompetence. Donadoni not so because he's been quite decent in selection. Italy doesn't have as much obvious talent. Looking forward to Scolari at Chelsea next season. They're coming to Malaysia on preseason and I may get to watch them live for the first time in my life.

Germany [3] - Spain [2]