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Topics - Clockwork

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61
So I posted this on the Pillars of Eternity forum, don't believe they found anything to like about it but I thought what the hell I'll post here too so someone can tell me where I'm going wrong. With regards to the third line: I realise that actually I can't write to save my life but on the internets you need extra unsubstantiated credibility to be taken even semi seriously.



"So I was reminiscing about the days slaughtering darkspawn alongside Sten and Alister. Dragon Age Origins was released back in (I think) 2009 and yet it still holds some of my fondest memories of gaming. The reason: the NPC's.
 
This game much like Pillars of Eternity is centered around a believable world and having it populated by a variety of characters, akin to real life. As a writer myself, characterisation isn't an easy thing to do. On the one hand, you have the job of making the NPCs that the main character is interacting with as relatable and realistic as possible, on the other you also can't make them too complicated for people to keep up with if there are new characters all the time.
 
The bit that requires (in my humble opinion) the greatest amount of thought is the judgement call on how fleshed out and how much writing can be assigned to any given person. Is this character going to be doing anything even slightly important (vendor level or above really)? If yes then a backstory is helpful (even if it isn't added in game). The layer that the player (or reader) sees is where they are now and how they react to them at that moment of interaction, but the reason that this particular character is, for example, hateful towards the PC doesn't have to be revealed in game specifically but the writer is aware of it all the time throughout the writing process. This helps get into the mindset of that NPC and forms their language, how they specifically structure their sentences and their facial expressions (again, not seen by the player necessarily but kept in mind).
 
This topic is actually huge and I was planning to and could write more but I doubt anyone is interested honestly."

62
Title is again misleading. Its not true, women are just as funny but the general perception is otherwise. This article is written by a sexist schutta but nonetheless it does have some interesting information in it. Particularly the studies.

http://www.cracked.com/blog/4-ways-were-programmed-to-think-women-arent-funny

63
Star Wars / Star Wars VII
« on: February 18, 2014, 01:08:28 AM »
Well if anyone finds any info, place it here so it's all in one place. Also I thought I'd share this.

Not a valid youtube URL

64
So, science people among us, would you indulge me in a little lot of ignorance mixed with an equal amount of curiosity? I hope so otherwise this will just be another dead topic I've started.

I asked myself if humans had the best immune system of all creatures on this planet. I thought at first, probably not - elephants and whales might have stronger immune systems due to the general big is better rule guideline (live longer, smarter etc...and yes humans are an anomaly to this as they are to so many other things). I attributed never having seen a sick animal down to me rarely seeing them apart from on tv. I have searched but from what I can tell there isn't really very much information or many studies done on elephant immune systems. I would assume then that disease isn't a major killer among them otherwise there would be more studies done. Also: being bigger and having larger organs; they could withstand more of an infection, giving the immune system more time to respond (big guess right here).

Then I considered insects, having an exoskeleton would make them less likely to acquire a pathogen surely? The skeletal structure wouldn't be porous enough to allow much (if anything) though. Reading this http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-kind-of-illnesses-do/ told me otherwise but it does mention that they have extremely effective immune systems.

The answer (apparently) is the first line in this report http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2012/nov/05/research-funding-takes-hit-usm/, though I'm not sure of the validity of it.

So apparently humans do have the best immune systems. I then asked myself why that was, and as always my first instinct was to say: it's just evolution. Upon further thought I tried to ascertain why we would have evolved that way. Firstly, we have porous skin. It keeps us cool and properly hydrated (and feels great :P) but also isn't as good as an exoskeleton, scales, leathery hide, fur (though that carries another risk) at keeping out pathogens.

Although being a wolfman I am an anomaly to this, humans are losing their body hair as an evolutionary process. We started off with less than monkeys but more than Brian Blessed and have been losing it since we decided to stop being naked all the time (yes, that's why geordies are growing it back). I would assume, then, that while the least complex pathogens were evolving and infecting us our immune systems grew at a faster pace than other creatures due to our sociability (another huge guess. More sociability=more people get the disease which leads to more potential survivors to pass on immunity?).

After that there was one link I hadn't really looked at: the pathogen itself. I'm using the broad description of any disease causing microorganism not because it's right or necessarily because that's even what I mean by it but because I know too little about each type to use them correctly. This is where my knowledge is especially sketchy and is more guesswork than anything.

Guess one: pathogens require another thing to exist which is why they are not (until further classification) technically living.
Guess two: pathogens 'like' energy. Energy in this sense is from heat from the host which is why humans are a better species for the pathogens to evolve to infect than, say, reptiles or fish.
Guess three: pathogens have been trying to evolve to infect humans (being the ideal host for pathogens) for so long that they have 'forgotten' to evolve to infect anything else which is why there are so many more diseases that affect humans than animals. That is also a guess.

So anyway I'm not too impressed with how little I know on the subject or on how vague and possibly incoherent my thoughts are. :(

If anyone can tell me anything about this, that would be great. Or if someone could just say they read it and it sort of made sense...anything. xD

65
So I saw this advertised as a 'dark RPG' where the main characters are a band of misfits and criminals. Sounds good, combat is probably going to be crap though as usual. In the steam sale I bought it for very little money, thinking it would be a dud. I was very wrong.

I'm about halfway though chapter 3 of 5 and I can see that it fails hard in a few ways.

The dialogue is terrible. I'm not sure if the writers were non native English speakers and it didn't translate properly. It is a German game, both the tabletop from which it was made and the devs behind the videogame.

The story is well below average, I place it somewhere between X-Com EU and Age of Empires 3. The main thing that irked me about the story though was that it was sold as criminals end up saving the world (I may be paraphrasing), within the first 20 seconds the MC and party members are shown to be (yet another) falsely accused victim of some kind of power play who then proceed to help every Tom, Dick and bloody Susan out of his/her pathologically 'good' nature.

Another failing is the voice acting.  It's hit-and-miss. The first mage sounds like a foppish tool, the dwarf is too dwarfy but the elf has an interesting backstory, raison d'etre and is voice acted reasonably well. Plot spoliers ahead
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Other characters have no real reason to help out the MC other than: because he/she's the MC.

However, despite all these failings, this game is an absolute gem.

Firstly, the setting is brilliant. I love the world that is created (Ok so some people have silly names, whatever), the art style is fantastic: very dark and yet doesn't feel either too dark and grimy or a repetition of The Witcher, getting progressively lighter as the game goes on. The pseudo time period is great, sort of 15-1600's but without arbequeses or any sort of blackpowder. It makes for a nice detraction from the usual tropes anyway.

Secondly. The combat is excellent. If you like turn-based combat: This is the game for you. Turn off speech and press spacebar as frantically as possible to skip straight to the next fight. Each one feels unique and usually adds a challenge or puzzle to solve, too many enemies for you to fight conventionally? Group them up and shoot the rope above a chandelier (cheesy yes, but oh so satisfying) Troll won't take any damage from your greatsword weilding beserker? Run him across a tar pit and light him up. With switches and traps, environmental objects and probably much more: the combat never loses it's entertainment value.

Lastly, the character customization feels exactly like a PnP RPG and is all the better for it. XP is awarded well, I didn't feel too powerful or too weak and the diversity of it means that you can have a plate wearing mage if you so choose, or a nimble and agile dwarf, with the power to smell danger before anyone else can see it.

In conclusion: Is the game perfect? Hell no. But the bits that are good, are really good.

Rob

66
So this guy does a load of youtube videos about a variety of things. The most interesting ones for me are the historical ones on infantry shoving matches and on light chariots which I posted here.


67
Total War Mods - The Engineer's Shed / Rome 2 Hoplite Shields
« on: October 27, 2013, 01:45:01 PM »
So I've been looking for a mod which changes the hoplite shields in Rome 2 from rectangular to round. This covers the mercenary hoplites, and veteran mercenary hoplites and all faction hoplites (Sparta already has them). I don't know why but it just irks me, don't mind if it's historically accurate or whatever. If somebody sees a mod which does this please let me know! :P

EDIT: If someone here can make it and they don't have Rome 2, I'll buy them it. Really want this mod but don't have the ability to do it for myself :P

68
The Welcome Hall - Start Here! / Exilian Updates
« on: September 23, 2013, 11:27:24 PM »
So as some of you may be aware; Exilian keeps a council of moderators. Ways to improve Exilian and updates to old systems are discussed and voted on and are then implemented if successful. In this thread I'll be keeping everyone else updated as to what is going on with this site. Transparency is the key here, technical knowledge won't be needed and how it affects you will be surmised at the end of an update. Any problems with any of this, PM me.

Rob

69
General Chatter - The Boozer / X-Men Comics (Contains some spoilers)
« on: September 06, 2013, 06:29:04 PM »
Anyone else read them/ want to read them? Anything you don't get ask away and anything that requires discussion I'll more than happily oblige. I promise to be non confrontational, even if you hate Colossus. :P

I've not read them all but I'm pretty close, somewhere in the late 80's now ;)

Can someone tell me how the majority of them lost powers. It has something to do with Red Witch and an island iirc but didn't really understand what was happening as it was like 4am and I had too much caffine in my system to concentrate.

Also the apocalypse line, I didn't read the Avengers section of it so I'm a little confused as to the events leading up to that. (I think that makes a difference, not sure). I get the fall of Angel and how that works but I'm not sure as to why Apocalypse is on earth and who 'the twelve' are. I think I might have missed a bit... Or I hold memory like tissue paper holds lead weights.

Anyone that can help I'd be much obliged.

70
General Gaming - The Arcade / Hegemony Gold: Wars of Ancinet Greece
« on: August 18, 2013, 04:55:46 AM »
Anyone know anything about this game/played it. Not sure if I want to buy it or if I just like Greeks.

71
Discussion and Debate - The Philosopher's Plaza / Strong Women
« on: August 17, 2013, 05:50:20 PM »
http://www.newstatesman.com/culture/2013/08/i-hate-strong-female-characters

Don't be put off by the title, she doesn't hate strong women characters, she hates the term. This has probably been discussed already and I haven't checked. I hate her not for anything poignant she says but simply because she trashes on Superheros (and Dr. Who). Bitch.

Sub discussion, is Dr. Who a Superhero? I'd say on the whole, yes.

Wears a mask, check (sort of).
Is on balance 'good', easily check
Usually survives fatal injuries, check
Has a ridiculous outfit, check (apart from Eccleston and sometimes Tennant)

I think this is in fact a thoroughly exhaustive list of what constitutes a superhero. Or something like that.

72
General Gaming - The Arcade / Warmachine: Tactics
« on: August 16, 2013, 05:32:17 AM »
So. I was just browsing kickstarter and found this.

I for one *love* steampunk and clockwerk (sic) fantasy. From game footage it looks like a mash up of Dishonored setting with X-COM:EU gameplay. This could possibly be my perfect video game. Indie developers Whitemoon Dreams wanted to create a game using the Warmachine license and the head of Privateer Press was more than accomodating. The kickstarter is finished with all the bonus targets being hit meaning that when the game is released, there will be a lot more content. Yay.

For those of you that are unaware, Warmachine is a tabletop game much like any other (setting aside) created by Privateer Press. You play as a Warcaster, the leaders of these futuristic armies. Warcasters multi-class between an engineer, a wizard and a bladesman. Jack of all trades and master of all. Not only do can guys and girls become whirlwinds of destruction in their own right, they control giant steam powered robots kitted out with guns and blades, flamethrowers and rocket launchers....All the fun stuff. There is a little more to it than that, it's not simply Rock 'em Sock 'em Robots with wizards. Each of these Warcasters is also backed by a nation or a lot of money. Regular troops that wouldn't look out of place in a Warhammer Imperial Guard army form the core mass of bodies and help to shape some kind of narrative which sounds suspiciously the story behind the MOBA, League of Legends.

Yes this game borrows heavily from other sources but also it looks like a decent mash up where it could have gone horribly wrong. I'll be more than willing to give it a shot on release.

EDIT: I believe given how much was given to the project that players can fully customize colours for each of their armies.

For a closer look at the lore and world, check out http://www.warmachinetactics.com/#!theworld/cqkd

Check it out, looks exceptionally promising. I'll be keeping an eye out on this one, no word of when it'll be done yet or how much it will cost.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/409030043/warmachine-tactics

73
Questions and Suggestions - The High Court / Exilian Award System
« on: August 13, 2013, 04:55:01 PM »
So I was looking at different boards and got to this dangerous business of thinking. They all seem to have award systems with easily achievable goals (100 posts without a moderator slapping you etc, posting once a day for a month etc.) The exilian one is pretty difficult to get any sort of awards. Personally I don't care for this kind of thing much, nice to achieve one but also not a huge deal (to me). Would rehashing the reward system with more awards and more point boosters be an idea to get some more traffic through here? I don't know. Opinions?

74
General Gaming - The Arcade / Dragon Age Series
« on: August 13, 2013, 01:37:42 AM »
Can someone please talk to me about this? So many things need to be discussed it's unreal. Plus I really want to get hyped for 3 but resentment of Bioware and EA hasn't quite diminished from the clusterportugal that was Mass Effect 3.

Also, if you want a nerdrage about ME 3 I'm cool with that.

75
Bethesda Mods / Rob's Skyrim Mods
« on: August 08, 2013, 01:16:45 PM »
Sooo I'm planning on creating a couple of mods, really basic. In fact I've started both and they've both gone wrong.

What I'm trying to do is create 2 NPC followers, one is a wood elf ranger companion scales with you 1:1 blah blah blah. Class is sorted, look is sorted however shes naked and won't say the right things :(

I did follow the instructions on a tutorial...sort of. I know why shes naked actually, I think, I didn't give her anything in her follower inventory but that's because I want to be able to replace her items with upgraded duplicates when I can smith properly. So her items are just in regular inventory, I think I may just need to wait a couple of days until she equips her clothes and weapons.

The dialogue, I have no idea where to begin. I set her faction to potential hireling and potential follower, so that might be wrong. but her dialogue consists of her saying, "Yes?" and my reply being, "Perhaps another time".

Second NPC is a cultists at the shrine of Boethia, just someone to take the spike through the chest because I like my followers. Even Cosnach. He is not naked but I have no idea how to do custom dialogue and couldn't find a tutorial vid to help me out with that one.

Could someone help me out please?

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