Cantousent

City of Heroes is an awesome game. I never feel like I'm grinding when I play. I am, however, quite worried about finishing the entire thing before the real grind starts again in January. My character, Eldara, is level 33 now, just a bit short of 34.

Well, I tell you what really sucked, the drive back from Vegas. I was the only person in my family born there of my generation, and I wouldn't live there again for anything. Sounds like you're going through a rough patch, friend. As for your screenplay, I have only this to say, and it is entirely off topic: hardly anyone finishes a screenplay. It's a lot of writing. If it's not the greatest in the world, then it is certainly a substantial amount of practice.

I hope not. I rather like the special system and I don't trust Fallout 3 to use it. I have to say, Eldar Scrolls 4 looks quite sweet.

The backstory seems unfinished to me. I'm sure Valve was thinking something along the lines of, "hey, let's leave the backstory hanging so we have a built in sequel." As I understand it, HL2 sold quite well, and so we can undoubtedly count on HL3. I don't think this is expansion pack material. I feel pretty confident that they'll make another full package. That's relevant simply because the story in HL2 might not be a vital part of the overall backstory. There's a lot of explaining to do. I thought the whole savior thing was interesting, and the setting was quite well done. Nevertheless, there were more questions than answers at the end. I'm pretty confident that we could use conjecture to figure out what's going to happen, but I'd rather just buy the next game. Along with everyone else, I won't be happy if it includes Steam. Taken together, I'm happy with the whole package, but that's despite Steam rather than because of it.

You need a bigger six shooter, my multi-numbered friend. I'm afraid I made you angry. Well, you sure sound a bit angry. Of course, you sounded a bit angry before I came into this thread. After all, you obviously weren't addressing me when you wrote, "f you had the slightest idea what you are talking about you dumbass, you would know that it is actually *easier* to play a cracked/pirated copy of HL2 than a original one, if only because you don't depend on Steam to validate/decript/activate your game." I mean, my post sure sounded like I "...jumped at the chance to tell me I'm always calling people a troll, even though it's a blatant lie." Sure, use it in a quote. I like things like that. It feeds my overweening arrogance. Nonetheless, what I thought I did was tell you what seemed apparent to me. After all, you "implied" I was a troll in the same thread where you blatantly called Vol a troll. Then, hey, I was reading this thread on the same day I responded to several threads, and here you are, calling yet some other fellow a troll. I shake my head in wonder. I wasn't trying to bait you, I was merely observing a truth as I saw it. All I can say is, "f you consider telling people the truth without second intentions constitutes flaming, then it's your problem." All of this is a diversion from the real topic. Wait, I guess I can't make a comment in a thread without it being some sort of "personal grudge." I mean, we can't both post in the same thread? ...Or I can post, but I can't respond to anything you say? ...Or I can respond, but it can't be to disagree, otherwise I'm a troll or a dumbass or some such? ...And you think I'm angry? If I'm a troll, then you've got a huge target painted on your forehead. I can count on you, oh numbered one. Any slight regard and you're there to get the best of me! Well, consider me bested. Feel free to use that as a quote, I love stuff like that. Something tells me you're a "last word" sort of fellow. You probably like the bragging rights. Tell you what, you give me some sort of flippant and angry (but not really, you only sound that way) response and I'll let you get the last word. I don't, however, promise that I won't respond to the thread in general. After all, this is an important issue for gamers. Here's a serious response to get away from the fluff being thrown around regarding this whole issue: trolls are folks who don't really have any real opinion regarding the discussion. Trolls make comments solely to create arguments. Message board cowboys, and I'm gladdened that you took the first step of admitting you have a problem, feel the need to resort to obnoxious comments at the slightest provocation. Now, the folks in this thread seem to have a position. The reason that's a problem is simple, there are a good number of Valve fans who see an attack on Steam as an attack on HL2. We could only wish that they were trolls, but we aren't so lucky. The Valve fans truly believe in what they say. These people sometimes respond angrily to folks who bad-mouth Steam or HL2. More useful than being childish and giving a one sentence, meaningless response is to explain that Steam is flawed whether or not the game is good. I, for one, really enjoyed HL2. It's one of the best games I've ever played. ...But that doesn't mean the Steam idea is good. You can like the game and hate Steam. As consumers, we should recognize that a lot of folks will like the game but that they should voice their concerns about Steam. I don't think the issue has reached critical mass, so I suspect Valve will continue to use Steam. Nevertheless, we have a voice and we should use it. If you hate both HL2 and Steam, then I suppose it makes a lot of sense to rail against both. On the other hand, some folks will see both HL2 and Steam as an improvement on the whole issue of software purchases. I hope that we can convince them that, no matter how good HL2 is, Steam has some far reaching implications that might not be the best thing for the industry as a whole. Finally, Steam might be a net benefit for the industry. We just don't know. I don't like it, but that doesn't mean I'm not wrong. Good or bad, it's here for the time being and so we might as well hope for the best.

Good grief, Hades, Bush or no Bush, you'll find a good job, I'm sure. I thought you were going submit your screenplay somewhere.

Hades, my point is that you must have some reason you hate Bush other than the fact that he is a Christian. When a Christian agrees with you regarding Bush and cites some of the same reasons you cite, why make the issue one of Christianity in the first place? Who is imposing their view in this thread? Democrats don't want to be associated with the most extreme and unfriendly elements of their own party, and yet many do seem quick to associate the most urbane and reasonable Christian with the most obnoxious elements of Christianity. Nuts, we're are people before we are anything else. That you believe that we are people entirely by chance where I see a guiding hand in our human condition doesn't change the end result... our shared humanity.

...And yet you attend school, from which you derive your education. The point of any university is to teach, is it not? Do you doubt that many professors have entrenched opinions that they undoubtedly impose upon the students? Do you doubt that some of those opinions are related in no way to the subject at hand? What about Christians who neither pass out "propaganda" nor knock on your door? Would it be better if no Christian knocked on your door? Do you not have any Christian friends? I haven't been to a campus where the folks handing out bibles or religious materials are any more obnoxious than the mass of folks who hand out any other material. Certainly, they are more respectful than the socialists who set up booths every Wednesday where I attend school. ...And, you want to talk about a fantasy, let's talk Socialism. We're in a thread about George W. Bush and you find a Christian who agrees with your position. What do you do? Why, attack Christianity, of course!

You can either persuade or sneak past virtually everyone in the game. I don't think you must fight anyone in the game.

I've never heard tell of something that would improve your mood, Hades. Of course, you might be cheered if someone dropped a vase on Herve sometime, but you shouldn't take joy in someone else's misfortune!

Just remember, you can actually finish the whole game without combat. Freaky game, though. In one of my runs, I decided not to engage in a huge end battle. I managed to resolve the conflict without violence. That was good.

Probably not my cup of tea, I'm afraid. It's like everything else, if folks manage to pull out the interesting facts and post about them here, I'm far more likely to take a real look at it. Otherwise... well, maybe a magazine will have an interesting article or a friend might discuss it with me. Since I follow development more than my friends, though, that doesn't seem likely. I hope it does well, though. I like to hear about folks succeeding.

Oh, quit trying to tell everyone who disagrees with you that they're a troll. Just because you think what you write is clever doesn't mean that the majority of folks agree. In fact, the majority of the folks on this board don't write anything, so how would we know? On the other hand, I dislike Steam on principle. I have my doubts that it hurts the pirates nearly as much as it inconveniences me, the legitimate customer. Furthermore, piracy still seems to flourish. Now, I suppose that it might end up taking a dent out piracy. I hope it does. ...But I don't like it now and I'm starting to wonder what will happen in the future. The bottom line, however, is that the software companies should be careful before they assume that they can continue to encroach upon the privacy of the legitimate consumer. You never know what will happen when a great mass of folks feel abused. Right now, I doubt that's the case. For example, I'm willing to put up with steam... for now. Let's just see how far they decide to push this business. If it gets bad enough that the legislators meddle with it, then it will be a complete mess for everyone.

Hey, don't blame me for finding good things to say for your effort, dammit. :eldar'swrygrin: I try to find something good to say about artwork, websites, etc. that folks put in these fora. Why not find the good for a song? It's true, though, it's harder to sing softly than it is to singly loudly. Nevertheless, I was impressed. You obviously cared about it, and I think it says something of anyone who takes the effort to produce something and post it for other folks to enjoy. That you made it for your nephew is even more impressive. Folks want to compliment you? Say thanks. I agree with the reverb, though. You should appreciate that the reverb is in there. It's almost like sepia tone photographs. The effect makes the whole song sound as if it's a live recording from a lare auditorium.

Your voice is quite a bit deeper than I had imagined. Quite a nice effort on your part. I especially appreciate that your voice didn't cry for momma when you produced some volume. The dynamics were well done. I notice that you sang a cappella but you did tweak the effects. I especially liked that you sounded as if you were singing in a large auditorium. At any rate, you're an interesting atheist, Mr. Sawyer.

Diablo was much better than Lionheart. I actually like Lionheart, though, in all it's terribly, terribly flawed glory.

As I recall, I had some extra characters I eroneously thought I needed to include. I finally figured out what I was doing, but it was a pain.

Happy Christmas to all of you, even the jaded ones.

Congratulations to both you and Mr. Wiggymeister. It is undoubtedly a match made in heaver. Tell, though, how stodgy old Ender managed such a charming catch.

Once again... ewwww.

Undoubtedly, you speak from experience. Do you go back to visit them every now and then.

There's nothing worse than finding yourself infected by someone else's insomnia.

See, now I actually find that comment funny. Of course, I have a weird sense of humor. As it stands now, I'm playing KotOR2 (great game, btw) and I can just imagine, instead of a twisted, old crone, I have W telling me not to help people and that struggle will make me grow stronger!

See, here's where the opposition really suffers. After all, is he a religious zealot or a money grubbing religious poseur? Is he an idiot who only passed through Yale with a "C+" or a savvy, shrewd, and evil mastermind who managed to win two elections and increase his parties hold on the legislature in both the mid-term elections and his own re-election? Which cabinet member is the real mastermind? Rove? Card? First of all, I don't know how many of you passed through Yale with better than a C+ average, but I have my doubts that any of you have. Second of all, the most vocal atheist element on these boards appears neither enlightened nor tolerant. Finally, I don't know about the rest of you, but the idea was to tell jokes about the president. It