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GF2 - Secret Tunnel in Geneforge Series
Zeviz
Nuke and Pave
Member # 24
 written Friday, July 14 2006 08:45 Profile Homepage #1
If I remember correctly, Sharon is talking about the "tunnel" which is a map area leading to the inner valley. So just return to Sharon once you've passed through that area.

--------------------
Be careful with a word, as you would with a sword,
For it too has the power to kill.
However well placed word, unlike a well placed sword,
Can also have the power to heal.
Posts: 2649 | Registered: Wednesday, October 3 2001 07:00
New A4 Editor in Avernum 4
Zeviz
Nuke and Pave
Member # 24
 written Thursday, July 13 2006 21:54 Profile Homepage #13
quote:
Originally written by Micro Phage:

...
Basically I was waiting for enough feedback to help make the best, most versatile, editor I can, wasn't sure about permission (the scripts used are copy righted) to make editor itself available widely...
Ah, that makes sence. If I am not mistaken, Jeff told Croikle (the maker of original Geneforge Editor) that it was ok to distribute, as long as he clearly indicated that the editor was unofficial and unsupported, so everybody else just assumed that this permission applied to their editors as well. (And since Jeff had obviously seen the editor threads and didn't complain, this assumption is probably correct.)

quote:
PS Have you checked the editor out? It would be great if you had some time to do so and give some feedback. Thanks again!
Sorry, I don't have A4 registered. (I am not too enthusiastic about the game.)

quote:
PPS Member 335's posts and style and the constant name changes and signatures specifically addressing every post/reply kinda makes it seem that "-" is like a title or something. Definately gives the impression you are talking to 2 different people in same post/reply. Will use only "Alorael" in future.

Heh... It's a strong enough impression that maybe I was subconciously thinking:
"-Alorael, who's reply to a PM, got Micro Phage..." ;)
...
Yes, I thought you might be making a joke about "that -Alorael, who guy". :) However, his name is just Alorael. He started changing his displayed name some time ago to protest something related to custom titles, and liked the changes so much that he still keeps going.

EDIT: Your page looks good. For the editor, it might be good to include the disclaimer about editor being unofficial and unsupported, along with brief summary of instructions on how to use it on the page from which the editor is downloaded. If Google picks up your page, as it picked up a couple other editors, it would be helpful for people to see these instructions and disclaimers before downloading.

[ Thursday, July 13, 2006 22:06: Message edited by: Zeviz ]

--------------------
Be careful with a word, as you would with a sword,
For it too has the power to kill.
However well placed word, unlike a well placed sword,
Can also have the power to heal.
Posts: 2649 | Registered: Wednesday, October 3 2001 07:00
Israel - Lebanon conflict in General
Zeviz
Nuke and Pave
Member # 24
 written Thursday, July 13 2006 21:38 Profile Homepage #35
quote:
Originally written by The Worst Man Ever:

quote:
Originally written by GremlinJoe:

I said five yerars ago that Israel would be confronted by Iran, China, And Russia, Plus Gearga and syria.
Georgia.

For the record, China and Russia have fairly cold diplomatic relations, and so do China and Iran. Georgia is a non-entity and Syria has been officially at war for decades.
How do you know the evil Georgians aren't plotting to resurrect the Babylonian Empire, with its capital at Mount Ararat? :)

quote:
quote:
Originally written by Zeviz:

How long would Germany ignore "provocations"
Ask the right person and they'll say "until 1935".

But, of course, the fact that the philosophy of revenge leaves one with odd bedfellows should be news to nobody.[/QB]
Cute.

However, your argument simply proves my point: considering that German response to a percieved provocation was murder of 6 million people, and America's responce to a "provocation" of 9/11 was "regime change" in two countries, including one that had nothing to do with the attack, Israeli responce of bombing a couple of bridges and offices of people who ordered the "provocations" looks like an example of perfect restraint. :)

--------------------
Be careful with a word, as you would with a sword,
For it too has the power to kill.
However well placed word, unlike a well placed sword,
Can also have the power to heal.
Posts: 2649 | Registered: Wednesday, October 3 2001 07:00
Israel - Lebanon conflict in General
Zeviz
Nuke and Pave
Member # 24
 written Thursday, July 13 2006 21:21 Profile Homepage #32
"Not responding to provocations" sounds very good, unless these "provocations" are directed against you.

Let's take the example of Gaza. From the time shortly after Israel pulled out of Gaza, the towns in southern Israel had been periodically hit by Palestinian mortars. So how long was Israel supposed to ignore "provocations" of mortars falling on their towns? (Israel's patience lasted almost a year.) How long would Germany, USA, or Britain ignore "provocations" if somebody started periodically shelling German towns?

PS About Hezbolla rockets, considering that there were 98 Israeli civillians wounded and 2 dead as of Thursday evening, the ratio of civilian casualties is far closer to 2:1 than 10:1. (I am not counting casualties among Israeli soldiers and members of the Hezbolla.) However, unless you think that a certain number of dead Israelis is required to make the situation fair, I don't think the numbers are even relevant.

PPS I know that things aren't as black-and-white as I say, but there are plenty of people here arguing anti-Israel side and few people defending Israel. And, to be honest, I can't think of anything better for Israel to do. As somebody said in this thread, if Israel simply ignores the "provocations" they will continue until they start causing significant damage and/or the government of Israel is replaced by somebody who would respond.

quote:
...I just echo the sentiments expressed by Wonko at the beginning of the thread... all of this over two kidnappings when suicide bombings seem like regular occurrences.
...
I suspect this was the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back. (After months of mortar attacks from Gaza, the number of people who wanted Israeli government to "do something" probably reached a critical level.) Although, I could see how the operation started to free the hostages and grew and grew, because it's pretty hard to find 2 hostages in a whole country.

EDIT: Clarified to fix the meaning.

[ Thursday, July 13, 2006 21:30: Message edited by: Zeviz ]

--------------------
Be careful with a word, as you would with a sword,
For it too has the power to kill.
However well placed word, unlike a well placed sword,
Can also have the power to heal.
Posts: 2649 | Registered: Wednesday, October 3 2001 07:00
Israel - Lebanon conflict in General
Zeviz
Nuke and Pave
Member # 24
 written Thursday, July 13 2006 18:09 Profile Homepage #18
quote:
Originally written by The Worst Man Ever:

I did not ask you why Israel is killing civilians; that much is obvious. I asked you why civilians are dying here.

What will the civilian deaths in Lebanon accomplish?
1. If you don't know a difference between a bridge and a home, I am not sure how we can continue this discussion.

2. If you do know the difference, the answer to your question is obvious: Hezbolla's attacks against Israeli houses are trying to kill as many civillians as possible. Israel's attacks against bridges and airport are trying to stop Hezbolla from moving supplies and reinforcements.

3. You still haven't answered my question: how would you respond to rockets falling on American border towns?

--------------------
Be careful with a word, as you would with a sword,
For it too has the power to kill.
However well placed word, unlike a well placed sword,
Can also have the power to heal.
Posts: 2649 | Registered: Wednesday, October 3 2001 07:00
Israel - Lebanon conflict in General
Zeviz
Nuke and Pave
Member # 24
 written Thursday, July 13 2006 17:53 Profile Homepage #16
1. Hezbolla is currently targeting Israeli homes. Israel is targeting Lebanese bridges and airport. I agree that targetting civillian infrustructure is bad, but is it as bad as targeting homes?

2. Hezbolla was the one who launched the first attack.

So why are Hezbolla's attacks against civilian houses criticised less than Israeli attacks against dual use infrastructure used by Hezbolla?

[ Thursday, July 13, 2006 17:59: Message edited by: Zeviz ]

--------------------
Be careful with a word, as you would with a sword,
For it too has the power to kill.
However well placed word, unlike a well placed sword,
Can also have the power to heal.
Posts: 2649 | Registered: Wednesday, October 3 2001 07:00
New A4 Editor in Avernum 4
Zeviz
Nuke and Pave
Member # 24
 written Thursday, July 13 2006 15:56 Profile Homepage #11
quote:
Originally written by Micro Phage:

...
My intent was for people to have access to it only through this forum. But, in retrospect, it's still that way because I haven't posted about it anywhere else.
...
PS And major thanks to the ever amazing mysterious -Alorael who's reply to a PM got me pointed in the right direction to fix this!
I am curious, why do you want to make your editor available only to those who visit this forum? (If you are trying to increase forum membership here, making a home page with a link to this forum sounds like a more effective idea.)

PS Alorael's name doesn't have a dash in front. He just starts his signature that way. :)

--------------------
Be careful with a word, as you would with a sword,
For it too has the power to kill.
However well placed word, unlike a well placed sword,
Can also have the power to heal.
Posts: 2649 | Registered: Wednesday, October 3 2001 07:00
Israel - Lebanon conflict in General
Zeviz
Nuke and Pave
Member # 24
 written Thursday, July 13 2006 15:32 Profile Homepage #7
quote:
Originally written by The Worst Man Ever:

quote:
Originally written by Zeviz:

I am wondering how USA, Canada, or whatever country you are from, would react to rockets fired at its border towns and an attack against border guards. (I have hard time imagining US shrugging off a barrage of Katusha rockets launched at San Diego suburbs followed by an attack against border guards.)

An attack like the one Hezbolla launched would be considered a start of war if it was directed against any other country in the world.
You'd say the same thing if the Israeli response had been a nuclear attack on Beirut, Zeviz.
You'd say the same think if Hezbolla had nuked Tel-Aviv, Alec.

Now that we've gotten that out of the way, I'd like to hear the answer to my question: What would USA do in response to a rocket attack against San Diego suburbs followed by an attack against its border guards?

[ Thursday, July 13, 2006 15:44: Message edited by: Zeviz ]

--------------------
Be careful with a word, as you would with a sword,
For it too has the power to kill.
However well placed word, unlike a well placed sword,
Can also have the power to heal.
Posts: 2649 | Registered: Wednesday, October 3 2001 07:00
Whats Up? in General
Zeviz
Nuke and Pave
Member # 24
 written Thursday, July 13 2006 15:21 Profile Homepage #48
If this enthusiastic thread hadn't scared the poor guy away, we know that his sanity had been safely locked away. :P

Welcome to the boards, Lethal. (If you haven't been scared away yet.)

PS 2 more replies until Alorael's prediction comes true. Talking about self-fulfilling prophecies.

--------------------
Be careful with a word, as you would with a sword,
For it too has the power to kill.
However well placed word, unlike a well placed sword,
Can also have the power to heal.
Posts: 2649 | Registered: Wednesday, October 3 2001 07:00
Laws of Physics? in SubTerra
Zeviz
Nuke and Pave
Member # 24
 written Thursday, July 13 2006 15:09 Profile Homepage #13
There is a bomb blocking the exit to next part of the level. Think of ways to "remove" it. There are very few objects for you to chose from. Now think of the name of the level. Read the description of objects you have to work with in help. And just play around with them. If you need more hints:
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
One of the "law of physics" to which the name of the level is referring is the fact that two objects can not occupy the same space.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Another "law of physics" is that a falling body will remain in motion until something blocks its fall. I don't think I can give you more hints without just telling the solution. (I am assuming you'd rather figure out the solution yourself.)

[ Thursday, July 13, 2006 15:10: Message edited by: Zeviz ]

--------------------
Be careful with a word, as you would with a sword,
For it too has the power to kill.
However well placed word, unlike a well placed sword,
Can also have the power to heal.
Posts: 2649 | Registered: Wednesday, October 3 2001 07:00
Israel - Lebanon conflict in General
Zeviz
Nuke and Pave
Member # 24
 written Thursday, July 13 2006 15:00 Profile Homepage #4
I am wondering how USA, Canada, or whatever country you are from, would react to rockets fired at its border towns and an attack against border guards. (I have hard time imagining US shrugging off a barrage of Katusha rockets launched at San Diego suburbs followed by an attack against border guards.)

An attack like the one Hezbolla launched would be considered a start of war if it was directed against any other country in the world.

--------------------
Be careful with a word, as you would with a sword,
For it too has the power to kill.
However well placed word, unlike a well placed sword,
Can also have the power to heal.
Posts: 2649 | Registered: Wednesday, October 3 2001 07:00
Off the top of your head in General
Zeviz
Nuke and Pave
Member # 24
 written Wednesday, July 12 2006 19:26 Profile Homepage #64
quote:
Originally written by Oh, the pain, the pain:

quote:
What can I say? At least in my mind, my tastes are impeccable, and no other viewpoint is legitimate.
And that was the point of my postings. Your mind is too narrow, biased and influenced by personal tastes to evaluate modern music and call it all formulaic corporate crap. Music that I listed included genres that I do not follow/appreciate but are innovative in their own right. Bands that had their start in the sixties and early 70's continued to produce quality work post '75 as attested by the works mentioned earlier by Led Zep and Lou Reed.

You may be qualified to comment on prog rock but you are obviously not able to comment on anything else. And if you listen to soul/R&B and have never heard of Remy Shand then you do not listen to good soul.
"Don't argue about tastes." (Russian saying.)

Is there an equivalent saying in English? (The idea is that different people like different things so arguments like "is green a better color than blue" or "is modern rock better than 60s rock" are destined to go nowhere.)

--------------------
Be careful with a word, as you would with a sword,
For it too has the power to kill.
However well placed word, unlike a well placed sword,
Can also have the power to heal.
Posts: 2649 | Registered: Wednesday, October 3 2001 07:00
Ideas for a Nethergate 3 in Nethergate
Zeviz
Nuke and Pave
Member # 24
 written Wednesday, July 12 2006 19:20 Profile Homepage #3
I agree with Alorael. The problem with a prequel is that you know how things are going to end.

I also would want to see Nethergate engine used for a new game. I am tired of sequels to sequels to sequels. There are plenty of settings that wouldn't involve recycling Nethergate world: Ancient Greece, Native American tribes, etc.

I guess that answers what I'd want to see in Nethergate 2: the same engine with a few minor tweaks (like Avernum-style dialogue system) used for a new setting that would introduce an equally compelling world.

--------------------
Be careful with a word, as you would with a sword,
For it too has the power to kill.
However well placed word, unlike a well placed sword,
Can also have the power to heal.
Posts: 2649 | Registered: Wednesday, October 3 2001 07:00
Laws of Physics? in SubTerra
Zeviz
Nuke and Pave
Member # 24
 written Wednesday, July 12 2006 19:09 Profile Homepage #11
That's because you aren't supposed to walk so far past the exit. If you look at F3 screen, you'll understand what I mean. (If you don't know how Skelwigs work, they leave sertain items when they explode. Which items are left depends on the level and is shown on the F3 screen.)

--------------------
Be careful with a word, as you would with a sword,
For it too has the power to kill.
However well placed word, unlike a well placed sword,
Can also have the power to heal.
Posts: 2649 | Registered: Wednesday, October 3 2001 07:00
Laws of Physics? in SubTerra
Zeviz
Nuke and Pave
Member # 24
 written Wednesday, July 12 2006 13:19 Profile Homepage #9
When you blow up easy exit, Skelwig will fly out. If you aren't sure what to do with it, check out explosion chart for the level. (F3 key, if I remember correctly.)

--------------------
Be careful with a word, as you would with a sword,
For it too has the power to kill.
However well placed word, unlike a well placed sword,
Can also have the power to heal.
Posts: 2649 | Registered: Wednesday, October 3 2001 07:00
Shaper hypocrisy vs. Shaper tragedy (SPOILERS) in Geneforge Series
Zeviz
Nuke and Pave
Member # 24
 written Tuesday, July 11 2006 14:36 Profile Homepage #3
If I understood you correctly, the 3 scenarios can be summarised as follows:

1. All Shapers are just hypocrites, talking about control, but taking every opportunity to grab any bit of power that comes their way.

2. Events of Geneforge are completely unique and represent an unexpected crisis.

3. Megalomania is human nature, and Shapers are struggling with it as well as they can.

I think it's a combination of cases 2 and 3. On one hand, it looks like experiments gone wrong are common enough to have standard procedures for dealing with them. On the other hand, Shapers have built a stable empire spanning two continents, and the Geneforge War seems to be an unprecedented challenge. (At least that's the feeling I am getting from Geneforge 3.)

There are unstable hermits, power-hungry maniacs and unscrupulous researchers in any society. The areas we've seen so far are exactly the kinds of areas where such people would lurk:
- Gf1 was set in a remote research center that was digging up ancient knowledge and was shut down as soon as authorities found out what kind of experimentation was going on.
- Gf2 was set in a desert frontier settlment so remote that a whole valley of terraformed land could be hidden for years from the outside world.
- Gf3 is once again set in a frontier so remote that there is no worse place for them to send Diwanya, and, until recently, just getting to the testing center to take Shaping Tests was considered to be a part of the test.

Gf4 will be set in more central areas of Shaper empire, so only after seeing that game will we know whether all the rogue experimenters we've seen are the exception or the rule.

PS There is also a simple consideration that without sealed labs and mad scientists, there would be no side dungeons for the party to fight through. :) (It's a lot easier to throw a few monsters into an area and call it "sealed lab" than to make "enemy camp #10" that is different from the previous 9 enemy camps the PC had to clear.)

--------------------
Be careful with a word, as you would with a sword,
For it too has the power to kill.
However well placed word, unlike a well placed sword,
Can also have the power to heal.
Posts: 2649 | Registered: Wednesday, October 3 2001 07:00
Avernum V ideas in Avernum 4
Zeviz
Nuke and Pave
Member # 24
 written Friday, July 7 2006 09:32 Profile Homepage #130
A GIFTS PC would be too annoying and out of character, but A GIFTS joinable NPC could be an amusing Easter Egg. It would probably act like a Xian Skull, constantly bothering you with "You are cute" dialogues. It might also make "You are cute." a dialogue option when talking to any NPC, but that would probably be too much work for Jeff for a single joke.

[ Friday, July 07, 2006 09:34: Message edited by: Zeviz ]

--------------------
Be careful with a word, as you would with a sword,
For it too has the power to kill.
However well placed word, unlike a well placed sword,
Can also have the power to heal.
Posts: 2649 | Registered: Wednesday, October 3 2001 07:00
Cell phone in General
Zeviz
Nuke and Pave
Member # 24
 written Friday, July 7 2006 09:22 Profile Homepage #30
quote:
Originally written by Nikki xx:

...
Oh, and I would kill for Aran's number.
Would you kill Aran himself? :P

[ Friday, July 07, 2006 09:23: Message edited by: Zeviz ]

--------------------
Be careful with a word, as you would with a sword,
For it too has the power to kill.
However well placed word, unlike a well placed sword,
Can also have the power to heal.
Posts: 2649 | Registered: Wednesday, October 3 2001 07:00
Worst game possible: First round in Richard White Games
Zeviz
Nuke and Pave
Member # 24
 written Friday, July 7 2006 09:14 Profile Homepage #1
As you've said, there are two kinds of bad games: the games that are so bad nobody would ever play them, and the games that are painful, but good enough to keep the player struggling.

To see examples of the first kind, just look at the bottom of BoE CSR chart. :)

The second kind is much tougher, because it requires enough good elements to counter-balance the bad ones, while keeping the bad ones bad enough to qualify as "worst" game.

I would suggest a game with a gripping mystery story, where the player is constantly looking for the next clue, and a very good rewards system in the form of artifacts, cheat codes, and feel-good text. The negatives would be slightly out-of-focus graphics, with refresh rate low enough to cause barely noticeable flicker, gameplay requiring rapidly pressing key combinations awkward enough to damage the wrist, and consistent spelling mistakes that creep into the keywords player has to enter. The game would allow saving only in pre-defined positions, requiring player to replay whole sections over, and over, and over as he tries to hit the right key combinations quickly enough. So the negatives would be not in the game itself, but in damage to eyes and wrists, headaches, and learning spelling mistakes.

[ Friday, July 07, 2006 09:17: Message edited by: Zeviz ]

--------------------
Be careful with a word, as you would with a sword,
For it too has the power to kill.
However well placed word, unlike a well placed sword,
Can also have the power to heal.
Posts: 2649 | Registered: Wednesday, October 3 2001 07:00
Cell phone in General
Zeviz
Nuke and Pave
Member # 24
 written Friday, July 7 2006 08:55 Profile Homepage #27
quote:
Originally written by Redstart:

...
Just out of curiosity, how much does it cost for you people to use your cell phones? The rates over here are 0,069 ?/min for calls, 0,069 ? for SMS, and 0,66 ? fixed costs per month. (In USD $0,09; $0,09 and $0,84 respectively.)
In US the prices are about 20-30$ per month for the line, which usually includes unlimited calls during evenings and weekends and 300-1000 minutes during "peak times", which are 6am? - 9pm Monday-Friday. If you exceed that amount, the prices are outrageously high (0.69$ per minute on my plan).

--------------------
Be careful with a word, as you would with a sword,
For it too has the power to kill.
However well placed word, unlike a well placed sword,
Can also have the power to heal.
Posts: 2649 | Registered: Wednesday, October 3 2001 07:00
new freakin' monsters ideas in Geneforge Series
Zeviz
Nuke and Pave
Member # 24
 written Friday, July 7 2006 08:49 Profile Homepage #11
quote:
Originally written by bigfix:

I know but i started pressing enter one day
and i never stopped.
If you don't have enough respect for your readers to follow standard rules of English, including capitalization and punctuation, why should we read what you write?

Valcrist, same applies to you. Also, please use a spell checker. You can not expect people to put more effort into reading your posts than you've put into writing them.

--------------------
Be careful with a word, as you would with a sword,
For it too has the power to kill.
However well placed word, unlike a well placed sword,
Can also have the power to heal.
Posts: 2649 | Registered: Wednesday, October 3 2001 07:00
Xylgham udwlnit skretcko!1!! in General
Zeviz
Nuke and Pave
Member # 24
 written Thursday, July 6 2006 08:36 Profile Homepage #380
Looks like the big resolution is approaching. Everybody is now in the room with The Thing, and half the people have been attacked already. I am guessing the newly posessed is one of the people who were unconscious at the time: Michael or me. Or it could be any of the previously attacked people in the room, which includes all of them besides Infernal and Nick Ringer.

--------------------
Be careful with a word, as you would with a sword,
For it too has the power to kill.
However well placed word, unlike a well placed sword,
Can also have the power to heal.
Posts: 2649 | Registered: Wednesday, October 3 2001 07:00
Wow (G4) in Geneforge 4: Rebellion
Zeviz
Nuke and Pave
Member # 24
 written Thursday, July 6 2006 08:14 Profile Homepage #128
So would you recommend banning all research?

The Shaper controls are already strong enough to cause resentment in population and rebellious tendencies in the cases you've mentioned. So if, as you suggest, these controls are fundamentally flawed, the only option is to completely ban new research and punish any experimentation by instant death. Somehow I doubt the viability of such an extreme solution.

--------------------
Be careful with a word, as you would with a sword,
For it too has the power to kill.
However well placed word, unlike a well placed sword,
Can also have the power to heal.
Posts: 2649 | Registered: Wednesday, October 3 2001 07:00
Laws of Physics? in SubTerra
Zeviz
Nuke and Pave
Member # 24
 written Wednesday, July 5 2006 16:17 Profile Homepage #7
The timing for the first one is a bit tricky, but for the second there are no timing issues: just do the right actions as quickly as you can. (I simply held down arrow key when pushing final stone.) For the third one timing also shouldn't be an issue as long as you do things reasonably quickly. The fourth one, however, required very presice timing (even more presice then number one). It did take several trials for me to get through parts 1 and 4 even after I've remembered the solutions.

I can give more direct hints about solutions if you want.

[ Wednesday, July 05, 2006 16:19: Message edited by: Zeviz ]

--------------------
Be careful with a word, as you would with a sword,
For it too has the power to kill.
However well placed word, unlike a well placed sword,
Can also have the power to heal.
Posts: 2649 | Registered: Wednesday, October 3 2001 07:00
Laws of Physics? in SubTerra
Zeviz
Nuke and Pave
Member # 24
 written Wednesday, July 5 2006 13:58 Profile Homepage #5
Why do you need to push sideways and up arrows simultanously? What does that do?

The only arrow combinations involved in my solution were one or two Shift+direction for pushing without moving, some Ctrl+direction for dynamites, and mostly single arrows for pushing while moving.

[ Wednesday, July 05, 2006 13:59: Message edited by: Zeviz ]

--------------------
Be careful with a word, as you would with a sword,
For it too has the power to kill.
However well placed word, unlike a well placed sword,
Can also have the power to heal.
Posts: 2649 | Registered: Wednesday, October 3 2001 07:00

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