Gorth

Talk about a blast from the past I saw somebody mention Temple of Apshai previously. Reminds me that I never got the second expansion (Curse of Ra?).

Yet it is hard not to think that at least the dream of putting up such an MMO with the popularity of the Kotor name and Lucas Arts backing it with the Star Wars name was one of the motivators for EA's bid on the company. If you look at how EA otherwise runs their business, something like Bioware fits like a foot in a glove. Long production times, niche target groups (compared to EA's other franchises), deliberately leaving out multiplayer of their research into NWN numbers etc. Suddenly they have to release games on a regular schedule and shoehorn in multiplayer, have to appeal to ever broader target groups etc. Personally, I still think it was the dream of creating a Star Wars MMO money machine that was at least a significant factor. Besides, I think Raithe might have been on to something with the 5 years thing. Not sure that EA actually let them go, but they might have had a clause that required them to stay with Bioware for at least 5 years after the take over to insure stability. Not uncommon in the corporate world.

I just downloaded the beta version of 'Conquistador' (which I backed with $100, Wasteland 2 got $265 for those who are curious). Looking forward to install and try out when getting home from work today. Yeah, I know, it was made available several days ago, but time *is* a premium commodity these days

Very interesting reading... you should post that in a thread of it's own I've often taken the unpopular stance in discussions that we should not focus our efforts on fighting mortality rates, rather that we should be fighting birthrates. I.e. fight the cause and not the symptom.

I was beginning to think I was the only person in the world who remembered that game. Mike Singleton was a genius

Off the scale. Lords of Midnight

I have faith in their hatred of romances. Whatever it's going to be, I doubt it will be traditional or dull.

That, and how you got an abode that matched your class/status with the Camarilla (sp?). I played first as a Malkavian and a Toreadorian fop, getting the "nice", appartment. Then as a Tremere, getting something different and finally as a Nosferatu, not even getting a functional TV Mind you, the Nosferatu playthrough was my favourite of the bunch.

Ex-European.

No EXP for just killing, according to the video by Tim Cain. Even better

...or just a rat tail large enough to use as a rope I generally dislike the idea of slain opponents "dropping loot". Sure, they may have the odd scrap of metal or strip of leather that can be used after I'm done bashing them, spraying acid at them and then having my esteemed companions fry, freeze, puncture and petrify them. So yeah, I'm of the school that thinks enemies are more important for the experience and whatever they were blocking access to (and possible the odd recycle resource in rare instances).

You're welcome

Meh, I loved how it was done in VMBL. Of course, you didn't have companions to deal with, so send those squatters down to the inn and tell them to get a room.

My bad, I confused him with the Ithorian assistant, silly Star Wars names I seem to remember the trigger for that dialogue is the Czerka guy (the unhappy one) in the Cantina. If pressed on what he finds wrong with current management, you can steer the conversation towards how to find some dirt on Czerka.

It could also be that the choice heavily influenced the Linux support, as Unity seems to come with Linux support "out of the box", so the work of porting it is trivial (compared to some other optional expenses). Those who know may be able to figure out how mod friendly the engine is, which would if not provide an answer, at least give a pointer towards moddability. As somebody who has English as his third language, I couldn't care less about multilanguage, as I prefer my games in their original language anyway (yes, I played The Witcher with English subtitles, once I found out that it was an option).

There is a guy (who gets blackmailed by the exchange) in one of the rooms at the far end of one of the habitats, who sells droid parts. One of the steps involves getting droid "credentials" from him, so you can convince B4, that he has to follow you. I think it's mentioned in one of the conversations along the way. Have the Czerka mercenaries attacked the Ithorian compound yet?

I found my old FO:NV saves The sneaky bastards were hiding out in a different folder in Documents and Settings. Who would have thought to look in "My Games"??? Anyway, heading off to Lonesome Road soon.

Funcroc is on a roll

I don't think I've ever used mods for the IWD games, so I can't help you there. As for one being "better" than the other, that depends on how you define better. The story and plot is more coherent in IWD1, but IWD2 boosts some serious UI improvements as well as newer rules (somebody correct this p&p noob is I get it wrong, but I think IWD2 featured 3.0 rules as opposed to the old 2.0 d&d rules in IWD1). Several attempts were made to port other Infinity Engine games to the IWD2 engine, but I think nobody managed a truly stable release.

I'm curious how you find the game once you get to play. I've never heard about it before, but I do love a good strategy game.

Fair enough if it's a wish born out of reflection over what you really prefer rather than adopting the current paradigms and doctrines. My background is just slightly different, being an "old" gamer when newfangled stuff like the gold box games came out (mass produced clones of each other that they were), I grew up with Avalon Hill tabletop wargames and later c64 SSI wargames before they started on crpgs. So my preference is something that offers me good tactical combat and a strategic overview. Something I always found lacking when my vision got stuck at ground level perspective, depriving me of the feeling of "being there", in control.

Mate, if you remember having a good time playing the original Sword of Fargoal (another "remake" kickstarter), then you can join the dinosaur club, which I'm myself a member of. What I resent is the idea that all games have to conform to current norms, rather than diversify and cater to a variety of tastes. It's not like people who prefer FPP/TPP crpgs/action rpgs are actually starved for games that caters to their tastes

As somebody who bought the European version of Fallout 2, I can confirm that there are indeed some weird things taking place when it comes to censorship. I think it was the UK that was the lowest common denominator at the time.

I seem to remember suggesting that 6 years ago (give or take a year). An online store where you could buy coffee mugs with the portraits of the 5 founders They could expand on the idea and offer posters and t-shirts (with concept art, portraits etc.), now that they have something that is actually their "own" property.

It was a main selling point for me. Sadly, some people just don't seem to comprehend that there are people out there with different tastes and preferences. Like tactical combat instead of action combat, overview rather than staring at my butt, things left to my imagination rather than spelled out in graphical detail etc. Not every game has to be a carbon copy of the last 10 major titles released.