Profile for Necris Omega

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A Developer Question in Geneforge 4: Rebellion
Warrior
Member # 2155
Profile #13
Was Monarch difficult? For me, yes. Infact, he was easily the most frustrating issue in the game. The final battle was worlds of easier, and that fact alone should tell you enough.

The Fens themselves are annoying and tedius; a general plus to the unfun catagory of the game, and Monarch himself is just too difficult an encounter for his position in the game. I'd seriously suggest lightening up on the number and quality of creations he spawns as well as his health points.

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Razordisk Frisbee Golf
Posts: 168 | Registered: Saturday, October 26 2002 07:00
Shaping Skills - Create Dryak? in Geneforge 4: Rebellion
Warrior
Member # 2155
Profile #2
Thank you for the reply. I was wondering what was beyond that psychotic Rotghroth...

As for the Ur-Drakon, well... I've already gotten 2 Cans O' Drakon, so why not? One was purchased from the Dryak Merchant, the other was found in the Cryodryak's Hold. Something tells me the third will be somewhere extremely unpleasant, however...

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Razordisk Frisbee Golf
Posts: 168 | Registered: Saturday, October 26 2002 07:00
Shaping Skills - Create Dryak? in Geneforge 4: Rebellion
Warrior
Member # 2155
Profile #0
's been forever and a day since I was last on these forums, but I could use some help. I'm Northforge Deep into the Geneforge 4 campaign and I was wondering about how I could go about enhancing my skill in shaping Dryaks. I'm really hoping to get to the point where I can make Cryodryaks, but at this point I'm not even sure it's possible. I could simply resort to shaping a Drakon, but I've enough fire based damage as it is. Falling back to the Gazer is another option, but one I'm not terribly thrilled with. In any case, any advise would be welcomed.

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Razordisk Frisbee Golf
Posts: 168 | Registered: Saturday, October 26 2002 07:00
Avernum 4? in General
Warrior
Member # 2155
Profile #248
quote:
Originally written by synergy67:

I picture a highly gratifying intro mission for Avernum 4 in the flavor of those "wrap up loose end" intros from a James Bond movie.

At the beginning of Avernum 4 you slip in and assassinate Rentar-Ihrno and level Ghikra with quickfire (originally ironically obtained from Rentar). At this point, the Vahnatai are so weary of their own irksome existence that they all go into a new Resting during which an unfortunate cave-quake shatters every last resting crystal, thereafter sparing the once fantasy-focused world of Avernum from any more ridiculous intrusions by sci-fi aliens, factories, and lasers.

Is it too much to hope for?

Sadly, yes, but still, I love the idea.

Okay, maybe not, but the Vahnatai are way too overpowered in my eyes - and they make no sense. In Exile/Avernum 2 they claim to be natives of the caves, but In the following installment some retract this claim. Rotten 'Shroom eatin,' robe-wearin,' yoga-mongers...

I -can- however, see them embroiled in some devastating civil war- After all, the Vahnatai of Avernum aren't the only "tribe" out there.

Let's face it, they really need to be taken down a peg.

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Razordisk Frisbee Golf
Posts: 168 | Registered: Saturday, October 26 2002 07:00
Avernum 4 Complete Wish List in The Avernum Trilogy
Warrior
Member # 2155
Profile #217
Forgot something- A massive, MASSIVE Area of Effect, blow -everything- up spell like Shockwave would also be welcomed in Avernum 4.

Shockwave, Quickfire, Major Summon... who needs Godhood to create a truly apocalyptic scene of ultimate destruction?

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Razordisk Frisbee Golf
Posts: 168 | Registered: Saturday, October 26 2002 07:00
Avernum 4 Complete Wish List in The Avernum Trilogy
Warrior
Member # 2155
Profile #206
It’s pretty clear that the overall mood is that people who are veterans of the Exile Series want to see a lot of what made the Exile series great that Avernum lacked put into Avernum. I couldn’t agree more.

The following are my takes on the situation, and I apologize if they’ve already been stated- 9 pages is a lot to read through and chances are I’d forget what was said at the beginning by the time I reached the end anyways.

*************************************************

Weapon variety in the Avernum series is disturbingly absent. You have “melee weapons” (swords) and pole weapons (spears). When I picked up Smite in the Avernum series for the first time to find it had been turned into a pointy stick called “Giantslayer,” I was disappointed. Maces are the staple for your classical clerical-priestly types, and sometimes I want the Thor-like hammer wielding Viking warrior instead of Mr. SwordNShield.

Weapon poison, poison in general, and even more general: Ways to do nasty things to your opponents other than damage. Honestly, the Avernum series has no spell variety what so ever in comparison to Exile. Exile’s spell list was positively monstrous, and I loved it. “Should I blow him up, fry him up, freeze him, gas him, stop him, swear at him, zap him, summon horrible minions of darkness upon him, or simply Kill him?” Being able to do oh so much to your enemies was exhilarating. And Quickfire… tell me you didn’t enjoy this spell. Go ahead, tell me. Oh, wait, you can’t. I do think the graphic could stand to be a bit more fiery and less electric, but there you go.

And everyone loves weapon poison. In fact, why stop at poison? Why not elemental oils or polishes to add temporary extra damage or other special effect like sleep or cursing?

Ambidexterity: This is something I truly miss from Exile. Overpowered though it may have been, it lead to some of the most interesting combinations imagined. Honestly, my favorite view of the fighter type is the double sword wielding one. Unfortunately these are often a) unavailable, or b) “balanced” as to be completely useless in comparison (See “World of Warcraft”). I’m sure Jeff would do some serious balancing of this concept if he put it back into the Avernum series, but I hope he doesn’t “balance” it to the point of it being useless. What too many programmers fail to see when they balance two-weapon fighting is that to use a really nice two-handed weapon you only need to get your hands on ONE really nice two-handed weapon. To use a weapon in each hand effectively, you need twice the item power. There should be an advantage, but no one seems inclined to admit this.

Item Crafting- Not only do I see this happening, but I do not see how this couldn’t happen. It was a thrilling success in Geneforge 3, people love putting their names on weapons of mass destruction that they create (not in a real-world sense of course), and there’s something satisfying about putting all those rare but seemingly useless reagents into some Deadly Axe of Ultimate Doomedness. Jeff has already proven he has the skills for this- I’m sure he’ll show them to a much greater extent in his next opus.

Alchemy- I liked the alchemy system in Exile more… this generic “Healing Herbs,” “Energetic Herbs” “Spiritual Herbs” ect, thing really seems dumbed-down to me.

The Vahnatai as a player race: eh, I could go either way. I don’t see it happening, however, unless Avernum 4 was all underground again. Remembering Avernum 3, they burn in sun light like Chevy Chase at a comedy roast. That, and I think being able to play as one would somewhat disillusion the race’s status… then again, that’s probably a good thing. They could stand to be taken down a peg or two.

Races in general: I liked how Jeff did more and more with incorporating different racial reactions in the Avernum series. How the Empire freaked out at the Nephilim and worse at the Slithzerkai. I hope this trend continues, or even better, grows to be more encompassing. I’d honestly like to see differences between the races magnified myself (am I the only one who finds it strange that the Slithzerkai are said not to wear boots in Avernum 1, but do so happily in the sequel if in your party?) , and maybe some racial abilities would be nice, but probably too much to ask.

Something random: Why was Demonslayer in Rentar’s personal chambers?

Plot stuff – I honestly hope this isn’t too far in the future from Avernum 3. Four or five years maybe, a decade possibly, but I don’t want the events of the trilogy to be made into obscure history at this point.

Regardless of how many community wishes or speculations appear in Avernum 4, I’m sure it’ll be great. Jeff’s been in the business for years – he knows what he’s doing by now.

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Razordisk Frisbee Golf
Posts: 168 | Registered: Saturday, October 26 2002 07:00
Humanoid Species In Mythology in General
Warrior
Member # 2155
Profile #16
Jersy Devil
(America, presumably in the forests of New Jersy. How "Humanoid" it is depends on the interpretation)

Damond
(Greeko, possibly (or even more likely) pagan idea where the term "demon" is said to have originated from. Originally a benign entity I belive)

Selkie
(Celtic, Human with typhically gray eyes/hair who metamorphs into a seal in water and back when on land.)

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Razordisk Frisbee Golf
Posts: 168 | Registered: Saturday, October 26 2002 07:00
Speculating about Avernum 4's plot in General
Warrior
Member # 2155
Profile #140
Things (likely already mentioned, but reading six pages to ensure this would probably leave me with nothing to say) that could possibly be in Avernum 4...

Sliths, Sliths, Sliths:
Yeah, there's still a little war going on in the caverns of Avernum, and there's always the distant idea of the original Slithzerkai homeland.
Oh, and here's another twist for you- the (at least one sage) Vanahtai claimed in Avernum 2 to have never seen the Slithzerkai before. Both races are, however, native to the caves, both are supposedly ancient, and once more the primary slithzerkai civilization is very advanced, or at least the evidence in the original Avernum would have us believe. Have the two races really never met before, or is there something else behind that...

Demons, Daemons, and the Hothster:
By now the idea of a demon run conflict is cliche` in the industry of RPGs, but they're still a major part of the Avernum story. Grah-Hoth isn't going to take getting his kingdom overtaken, being humiliated, and being humiliated again. An alliance with the revenge bent Vahnatai maybe? At least there'd be Sss-Thsss 2, methinks.

Ghosts of the Past:
Demonmage Garzahd comes back for a second round. Lich-flavored maybe? With hundreds of thousands of dead Imperial Soldiers just waiting to be made into undead lackies, the question isn't so much a matter of "why?" as it is "why not?" Garzahd was an insanely potent archmage before he died, and probably had more than a few connections in the less than savory realms of existence. Besides, lesser beings have cheated death before, so why not him?

More Ghosts of the Past:
Anyone remember that little tomb that only opened on a certain day in the area of Motrax's caverns that was not only ancient, but HUMAN to boot? Yeah, what's up with that? Clearly Avernum couldn't have been the first human power in the region. What could this entail? Maybe light into why Grah-Hoth was in Avernum in the first place? Maybe the Vahnatai have even older hatreds of the humanity that few of them can still remember? I don't know how large of a part this could play in Avernum 4, but writing it off as an impossibility would likely lead to surprise.

Chaos, turmoil, and Avernum's plight:
Okay, we have probably at least half the population of Avernum leaving for the surface, a Slith war going on, betrayal of the Vahnatai, the death of one the greatest mage to help found Avernum, the primary source of magic in avernum obliterated by Avernum's oldest enemy who was nearly unleashed upon them once more, and a very old King without any form of compatent heir seeing as no one has any idea what happened to the first great party of adventurers... Can you say "unstable"? How far this could boil over if said king were to collapse is anyone's guess, but it wouldn't be pretty.

I'm sure most of this has been thought of already, but if not then great. I've no doubt Jeff will continue to deliver as he drives his flagship series into the realms of quadrilogy.

--- Your long winded maniac, Necris Omega

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Razordisk Frisbee Golf
Posts: 168 | Registered: Saturday, October 26 2002 07:00
Question on dreams in a Blades game. in Blades of Avernum
Warrior
Member # 2155
Profile #5
If Blades of Avernum's item system was as annoying as Neverwinter Nights then you would get a resounding no against manipulating the party's inventory from my direction. However, seeing as it isn't that big of a deal in BoA, I would have to say yes to the idea of the itemless dreamscape. In such a situation, the physics can make or break the atmosphere. One could even make it very specific, having some items be removable and others not for plot purposes. Then again, I don't have the specifics of your planning and purpose in such a sequence, so...

Either way, good luck with your project.

---Your somnambulating maniac, Necris Omega

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Razordisk Frisbee Golf
Posts: 168 | Registered: Saturday, October 26 2002 07:00
Nudism in General
Warrior
Member # 2155
Profile #35
Prudishness? Well compared to the rest of the world the West really is overly conservative. I know Europe is a whole lot more lax on this subject. And even bringing up Japan would be redundant in this discussion I think...
Prudishness aside, I still stick by my non-nudist policies. Sure, as a moderate I try to take the middle ground and can honestly say that though I would be really freaked out by a massive explosion of public nudity, I would be able to get over it. However, clothes will never go out of style, or at least not here in Wisconsin. Any hyper-conservative who wants to de-nude a nudist only has to ship them up here for a winter. And I stick by my belief that some people (myself included) should not be seen naked publicly.
Clothes are just too utilitarian all around. Sure, you could get us to replace pockets by carrying around back/fanny(I hate that word) packs, and I suppose women could just get bigger purses or something, but the world is too populous and too cold to support a massive and permanent nudity conversion.

---Your underdressed maniac, Necris Omega

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Razordisk Frisbee Golf
Posts: 168 | Registered: Saturday, October 26 2002 07:00
Nudism in General
Warrior
Member # 2155
Profile #2
... I can see this topic turning sour at a physics defying speed.

I like pockets. If I had no pants, where would I put my wallet? Or car keys? ...

On second thought, don't answer that. Clothing is there for a reason, and even as an artist I cannot possibly say that the naked human body is a thing of beauty.

At least the male human body isn't... And what about fat people, huh?

---Your overdressed maniac, Necris Omega

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Razordisk Frisbee Golf
Posts: 168 | Registered: Saturday, October 26 2002 07:00
beasts in Blades of Avernum
Warrior
Member # 2155
Profile #7
My suggestion would be to back up, run from any of your enemies you run into (slow is a great help for this) and come back when you're stronger. The beasts (they were more terrifying in Blades of Exile IMO) are pretty much the worst thing you can come across in the entire scenario (okay, so you can attack and PO the dragon or make one of the towns mad at you and have to fight the guards, but that doesn't count) so you'll probably want the best equipment in the scenario (not possible as the best armor is in the area at the end of said tunnels).
My suggestion would be to look for the Flaming Sword in one of the holding areas for your warrior. Also, I have read that it is possible to steal the Fine Waveblade from the Vanahtai without having them go hostile, but I have not tried this and take no responsibility if the information is false. Unfortunately, there aren't any spells availible higher than Ice Lances for your mage yet.
When actually taking the beasts on, haste (or better yet use haste potions) your warriors and your priest, slow your enemies, and bless your fighters into divinity. Heal your warriors following every fight, but resting may be a bad idea as having a pair of beasts charge into you when you're not expecting it is bad news. Mana regains at a decent rate when simply walking anyways.

Don't worry - it all goes down hill from there.

---Your helpful maniac, Necris Omega

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Razordisk Frisbee Golf
Posts: 168 | Registered: Saturday, October 26 2002 07:00
BoA vs. NWN in Blades of Avernum
Warrior
Member # 2155
Profile #7
NwN vs BoA? Hmmm...

Graphics? ... NwN, no contest

Sound? … See above

Music? …yeah, see above again

Combat System? ... BoA. NwN is the ugly bastard child of turnbased and realtime that no one loves.

Content? ... Not applicable. NwN has been out for far too long to compare fairly. Sure, the original campaigns might be a bit bland and too linear, but, like it will eventually be for BoA, it's the outside based modules that make NwN so great. And yes, I do indeed say it’s great.

Support? … Again, BoA is too new for comparison.

Toolset? … I’m going to have to go with NwN on this one. Sorry, but the BoA editor is awful. You don’t even get a real vision of what you’re editing. You get some undetailed 45° rotated flattened shadow of the real thing. And no, I don’t like having to script everything from the doors to the custom items.
NwN allows for much, much more customization as well. Movies, music, sound, everything.

Spell system? … BoA hands down. The mana system works. Why in the name of all that is good did they have to screw with it in the D&D system? Having to prepare my spells specifically per day, choosing exactly what spells I want and how many prior to when I actually need them sounds like a bad long-distance plan. And hell, you can’t even rest half the time to regain your spells. What is my mage supposed to do? Pull out his pathetic little staff and ask the nice lizard man if he needs a toothpick? … Without mana, you have no mana potions, and thus you need to rest to regain spells. Being left unable to rest and regain spells is inexcusable.

Item system? … It’s close, but… I’m actually going to go with BoA on this one. NwN has a great deal of limitations in this category, far too many in comparison to the rest of the game and its content. It just seems the designers were lazy when they reached this point on a lot of things. BoA is far more free flowing with the item system. NwN’s ability to grant item descriptions though… BoA -really- needs that. When you’re not graphically based, you really need text descriptions to stay with your items. And if you can tie a text label and specific sats to an item and take it from scenario to scenario then why not a text description?

Balance? … BoA. NwN’s final fight in the original campaign is psychotic beyond forgiveness. Maybe I’m just that much more of a veteran of the Avernum system, but that fight was unrealistic and I think set a record for frustrating the living hell out of me.

Story? … Eh, both are good in my eyes. NwN is a lot more linear, but it’s larger.

Character form and function? … BoA. NwN’s class system might make for a fun distraction, but it’s very limiting. No, I shouldn’t take a penalty just because my top fighter dabbles in clerical spells. And having a four person party as opposed to just one character… well okay, I see the multiplayer reasoning in just having one, but I don’t play NwN multiplayer. Four characters lets you play the gamut of the game’s abilities.

Overall, I’m sticking with NwN for the time being. BoA is just too new to have anything to offer, really. For NwN I’m doing light module development but when I say like I mean light- As in “the weight of a photon” light. I expect it to be done some time around never…

I was initially planning on maybe developing a scenario for BoA – I even had several (15) pages of dialogue written out prior to even being brought onto the Windows Beta Test. Then I saw that the only thing worse than my writing was the program it was to be designed on and a full cancellation was in order. Not that I have the scripting skills or the patience to learn said scripting to get any such project done. This might change depending on how bored I get, but don’t expect anything from my end until BoA is more mature in the number of decent outside content.

---Your unscripted maniac, Necris Omega

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Razordisk Frisbee Golf
Posts: 168 | Registered: Saturday, October 26 2002 07:00
Unbalanced Spell in Blades of Avernum
Warrior
Member # 2155
Profile #3
quote:
Originally written by Sgt. Bubblegum:

With three or four of him running around, summoning vampires, and casting spells, I barely get a change to swing a sword.
That would be the main beef I have with summoning stuff. It's all fine and good until you end up with Arcane Summon summoning vampires.

So suddenly you have three vampires. Each of whom summon three more vampires each on their next turn. Each of whom also summon three more vampires on their next turn. Therefore you have 27 vampires going all at once, who all have the ability to summon even more vampires. Hypothetically, you could have 81 vampires running around in 4 turns (yes, I know AI would spawn this situation maybe once in 10000000000+ trials, but that's why I said hypothetically). Even worse, if this situation came about whilst fighting Vahkohs, you could end up with 162(163 counting Vahkos himself) in that amount of time. Infact, that's more likely as mass summons occur when the AI feels outnumbered.

163 vampires. Let's see Buffy get out of THAT one.

---Your Arcane Maniac, Necris Omega

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Razordisk Frisbee Golf
Posts: 168 | Registered: Saturday, October 26 2002 07:00
Nephilim with a Pink shirt? PINK?! in Blades of Avernum
Warrior
Member # 2155
Profile #12
quote:
Originally written by Just Like Before:

Hey OmegaNecrisman you know she wasn't saying it was an edited version but that the shirt is magneta instead of pink in her version, like omg wtf.
Um, yeah, I know, I was talking about the blue edit posted above. When I edit the hot-pink/magenta (gah, I really have trouble seeing the difference, but then again I hate pink all around...) to roughly the same blue using Paintshop Pro's tools - http://yoshirum-redblade.tripod.com/1669.gif (copy and paste that address into a new window as Tripod should die in some horrible yet creative way), it's rather different and I was asking what was used because I was wondering why that was.

To Gavin (I almost typed that as "glaven", way to go Jerry Lewis -.-;; ) -

What kind of blue are you interested in seeing? Something that fluorescent, or more something toned down? With Paintshop color edits are a snap, even in this situation.

---Your Graphic Maniac, Necris Omega

[ Friday, June 11, 2004 12:29: Message edited by: Necris Omega ]

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Razordisk Frisbee Golf
Posts: 168 | Registered: Saturday, October 26 2002 07:00
Nephilim with a Pink shirt? PINK?! in Blades of Avernum
Warrior
Member # 2155
Profile #9
xxo- did you use MSPaint to edit that? I only ask because it seems kind of flat in comparison when I do I direct hue/saturation change via PsP. Maybe we're just using different programs, or Spy.there is really on to something about your display settings...

---Your inquisitive maniac, Necris Omega

[ Friday, June 11, 2004 08:38: Message edited by: Necris Omega ]

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Razordisk Frisbee Golf
Posts: 168 | Registered: Saturday, October 26 2002 07:00
We know about Geneforge 3...but what's next? in General
Warrior
Member # 2155
Profile #36
Avernum 4... that would be a double edged sword of risk. Sure, on one hand we know this: Avernum works. It works well. But we also know another thing: so did StarWars. No one wants to see what happened to Lucas' brainchild happen to the Avernum series. By the time he puts it out it could end up undoing a lot of BoA scenarios chronologically. Further, anything new he put in it would be demanded to be implemented in the BoA engine as well.
Sure, I'll admit, I want to see a continuation of the Avernum saga, but I'm just leery of the consequences a forth Avernum would pose. The plot might be contrived as it?s hard to come up with another reason to go on about the Avernites. They've already "come full circle" already, they?re back on the surface, what more could they want or need? Sure, avernite/empire frustrations would definitely be in there, but is that really as dynamic as their quest for the surface, or outright war against each other? Then again, Jeff always was a sharp writer- if he really wanted to I?m sure he could come up with something that would both work and flow with the original series smoothly.

---Your analytical maniac, Necris Omega

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Is the triadmage X named X because he's really pornographic?
What would anorexia Nervosa look like on a Vahnatai?
Posts: 168 | Registered: Saturday, October 26 2002 07:00
Diplomacy with the Dead, Length? in Blades of Avernum
Warrior
Member # 2155
Profile #6
quote:
Originally written by Specific Custer:

Is it ever possible to actually complete the "Slay Undead" quest?
Yes. Yes it is.

---Your curt maniac, Necris Omega

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Razordisk Frisbee Golf
Posts: 168 | Registered: Saturday, October 26 2002 07:00
Article - 10 Dread Diseases in Blades of Avernum Editor
Warrior
Member # 2155
Profile #21
1: Stupid Party Syndrome

This seems to be a given. In any decently written plot, logic in the actions of the main party is a definite must.

2: Scooby Doo's Disease

This depends upon several things. Sometimes it makes sense to have everything be explained, sometimes not. If you're making a scenario with multiple endings, maybe this isn't such a good idea. If you're making a scenario that will have definite follow ups, do not do this by any means. If you're winding up a series, or do not have anything futher planned in the given setting, it could be a feesible option to end things completely. Note this doesn't have to mean nicely. Wrapping everything up can still be done with barbed wire.

3: Verbal Diarrhea

Depending on the character, the writing, and the situation, this might make sense, but use with extreme caution.

4: The Plague

Avoiding the "plague" idea is extremely hard to do, but it can be done. But by all means do NOT make anything out to be a clone of either said games. You will fail and look unintelligent.

5: Monty Haul Gut

Definitely. Don't unbalance your scenario by leaving around 20 greatswords of eternal death in every secret passage behind the local village blacksmith's shop.

6: Delusions of Grandeur

No address is needed.

7: Knocker's Migrane

Don't be afraid to use secret passages, but remember you're playing with nuclear material - be very careful. Poisonings are common.

8: Weapon Envy

Very true. A medium powered weapon with a great story or creative twist is far more entertaining than some giant cannon of a sword, and the largest battle means nothing next to the cunning villian with crazy tactics and well coded gimmicks.

9: Insanity

Uh, wrong. A poorly done insane character is no worse than a poorly done any character. Insanity is a trait just like any other major personality.

10: Linda's Condition

Yes and no. Daemons can be horribly cliche` (this is comming from a former Diablo II adict mind you) but well done daemons are fine. Saying a character is controlled by daemons and doing it well is still better than using the generic magic excuse and doing it poorly.
And yes, the Daemon Island series was awful.

---Your BoE-less for... gah, years now maniac, Necris Omega

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Razordisk Frisbee Golf
Posts: 168 | Registered: Saturday, October 26 2002 07:00
Article - 10 Dread Diseases in Blades of Avernum
Warrior
Member # 2155
Profile #21
1: Stupid Party Syndrome

This seems to be a given. In any decently written plot, logic in the actions of the main party is a definite must.

2: Scooby Doo's Disease

This depends upon several things. Sometimes it makes sense to have everything be explained, sometimes not. If you're making a scenario with multiple endings, maybe this isn't such a good idea. If you're making a scenario that will have definite follow ups, do not do this by any means. If you're winding up a series, or do not have anything futher planned in the given setting, it could be a feesible option to end things completely. Note this doesn't have to mean nicely. Wrapping everything up can still be done with barbed wire.

3: Verbal Diarrhea

Depending on the character, the writing, and the situation, this might make sense, but use with extreme caution.

4: The Plague

Avoiding the "plague" idea is extremely hard to do, but it can be done. But by all means do NOT make anything out to be a clone of either said games. You will fail and look unintelligent.

5: Monty Haul Gut

Definitely. Don't unbalance your scenario by leaving around 20 greatswords of eternal death in every secret passage behind the local village blacksmith's shop.

6: Delusions of Grandeur

No address is needed.

7: Knocker's Migrane

Don't be afraid to use secret passages, but remember you're playing with nuclear material - be very careful. Poisonings are common.

8: Weapon Envy

Very true. A medium powered weapon with a great story or creative twist is far more entertaining than some giant cannon of a sword, and the largest battle means nothing next to the cunning villian with crazy tactics and well coded gimmicks.

9: Insanity

Uh, wrong. A poorly done insane character is no worse than a poorly done any character. Insanity is a trait just like any other major personality.

10: Linda's Condition

Yes and no. Daemons can be horribly cliche` (this is comming from a former Diablo II adict mind you) but well done daemons are fine. Saying a character is controlled by daemons and doing it well is still better than using the generic magic excuse and doing it poorly.
And yes, the Daemon Island series was awful.

---Your BoE-less for... gah, years now maniac, Necris Omega

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Razordisk Frisbee Golf
Posts: 168 | Registered: Saturday, October 26 2002 07:00
Exile Fan Games in General
Warrior
Member # 2155
Profile #6
quote:
Originally written by Automatic poster. Do not reply.:

Jeff has taken a hard-line stance against fanfiction.
And yet he markets games like BoA and BoE which as he states are designed specifically to limit scenarios within his world of Avernum/Exile which would constitute as fanfiction with some scripting splashed in...

Say what?

---Your confused maniac, Necris Omega

[ Sunday, May 02, 2004 18:58: Message edited by: Necris Omega ]

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Sanity is a relative concept. And like most my relatives, I rarely see it.
"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." ~ Albert Einstein
Posts: 168 | Registered: Saturday, October 26 2002 07:00
Very OT: Jeff, you are a genius in General
Warrior
Member # 2155
Profile #10
quote:
Originally written by Boeing:

If Jeff is so smart, why doesn't he care at all for his paying BoE customers?
Because there's not enough money in it to justify his time.

Jeff's time is valuable to him and to many others, and like the rest of us he probably never has enough of it. He's a husband, a father, the president of an entire company, the lead and sole programmer for his company, a writer, and probably a dozen other things known only to those close to him. He has a toddler to entertain and keep alive, a relationship to hold up, a business to run, a game to fully release, absent minded beta-testers who don?t re-read things to deal with, and I?m sure that?s not even a fraction of the half of it.
For a one man job (one man because the other two employees are female) it?s amazing that Spiderweb Software is even remotely what it is at all. I?m sure if he had the time and the resources he?d be happy to provide more support for BoE and be more a part of the community who adores his work, but he has important stuff to do like put food on the table. Providing greater support for a game that will shortly become extremely obsolete in the eyes of most people just isn?t practical or financially sound.
Of course he cares about his customers. Without them he?d either starve or have to go work for some big faceless and heartless gaming corporation with big flashy graphics and subpar plots. He?d be subject to ?managers? and ?bosses? and abhorrent schedules as inflexible as titanium steel alloy. (And here you thought he was cynical enough when you met him in Avernum 3.) But the fact is he has limitations on how much time he can spend on one game and still be able to release his next work on time to keep his funds coming in.

--- Your ground burning maniac, Necris Omega

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Sanity is a relative concept. And like most my relatives, I rarely see it.
"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." ~ Albert Einstein
Posts: 168 | Registered: Saturday, October 26 2002 07:00
Dungeons and Dragons? in General
Warrior
Member # 2155
Profile #9
I'm not big into actual D&D, though I am a heavy Neverwinter Nights addict, which is basically 3rd Edition D&D computerized. I play mostly single player, as my few multiplayer experiences involved a person with a more Diablo 2 mindset...

I have played normal D&D once... 'didn't get anywhere, saw a lot of mistakes on my part, and it is next to impossible to do with only 3 people... Ahem... it was fun and interesting though. The D&D literature is very well written I think, and can be very in-depth... sometimes too indepth (See Vile Darkness).

That said, only try it if you have friends already into it and who know what they're doing. Figuring it out on your own would quickly sour you to the game I believe.

---Your 10d12 maniac, Necris Omega

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Sanity is a relative concept. And like most my relatives, I rarely see it.
"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." ~ Albert Einstein
Posts: 168 | Registered: Saturday, October 26 2002 07:00
Happy Easter in General
Warrior
Member # 2155
Profile #27
Wow, this topic got out of hand fast enough. That's what happens whenever you add politics and/or religion to anything. Like adding liquid nitrogen or nitro glycerin to a cooking recipe, so are these unto a conversation.

But yeah, Happy Easter and Passover to all.

---Your debatable maniac, Necris Omega

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Is the triadmage X named X because he's really pornographic?
What would anorexia Nervosa look like on a Vahnatai?
Posts: 168 | Registered: Saturday, October 26 2002 07:00
Kilt & Bagpipes Please in Blades of Avernum Editor
Warrior
Member # 2155
Profile #1
'Spose I could do something up...

Inspiration levels as of late for BoA Graphics have been below zero though. Maybe when the game finally comes out for the rest of us...

---Your Windowed maniac, Necris Omega

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Razordisk Frisbee Golf
Posts: 168 | Registered: Saturday, October 26 2002 07:00

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