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a4 is the best game yet in Avernum 4
Zeviz
Nuke and Pave
Member # 24
 written Friday, April 28 2006 12:42 Profile Homepage #43
quote:
Originally written by Spidweb:


...
Sometimes people don't understand how personally I take their critiques. No matter how many people like Avernum 4, the number of people who didn't like the new direction makes me genuinely unhappy. But what can you do? Looking back, there are some small things I would have changed, but, in Avernum 4, I feel I wrote the game I had to.
...
The drawback of having made great games in the past is the customers hold you to a higher standard. And the drawback of having loyal fans is that they have strong opinions on the game. :)

quote:
Originally written by VCH:

I wouldn't weigh the opinion of the board members that heavily. As with most games the people who actively participate in the community is small compared to the total number of people who play or have played a game.
However, the people who participate in the community are the ones most likely to generate word-of-mouth publicity for the game. I've bought two most recent games because of good things I've heard about them first on other forums and then on their own forums. So alianating loyal customers isn't a very good policy.

quote:
Originally written by Student of Trinity:

...
As far as I can tell, the complaints from a couple of old timers amount to fanatical orneriness on their parts, and can't really be given any weight.
...
Calling people "fanatical old-timers" isn't a good idea unless you want to be called a "drooling fanboy". :P

And considering that, according to Ash's poll, G3 and A4 had the least number of people who registered and liked them, more than just "a couple of old-timers" have issues with these games and ignoring their complaints might not be good for Spidweb's bottom line.

PS As for my opinion of A4, I'll post that in one of the half-dozen related threads, instead of side-tracking this one.

[ Friday, April 28, 2006 12:50: 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
Question 1: Energy in General
Zeviz
Nuke and Pave
Member # 24
 written Friday, April 28 2006 11:03 Profile Homepage #83
About nuclear power, the ironic thing is that current coal plants cause much greater environmental damage and more deaths than would be cause by any possible nuclear accidents if they were completely replaced by nuclear plants.

quote:
Originally written by Mc 'mini' Thralni:

Sorry to intrude in this discussion with such a drastically different thing, but somewhere I read an idea (it might even have been Simcity 3000), where they would use a big satelite, which would collect energy from the sun, like a normal solar panel.
...
I am not sure about satellite solar collectors, but I've heard that Russia launched a large mirror to create an artificial day/night cycle during arctic night for a Siberian town. The satellite directs sunlight to light up the town during the day and turns out towards space during the night. (Beyond arctic circle, there are several months in a year when son doesn't come up over the horizon.)

It's not quite the same thing, but it's another example of satellites using sunlight to benefit cities below them.

quote:
Originally written by Charles Dexter Ward:

The energy problem has been solved.

Hah.
lol When people say that they are praying for gas prices to come down, I didn't realize they mean it so literally. :)

--------------------
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
Languages in General
Zeviz
Nuke and Pave
Member # 24
 written Friday, April 28 2006 10:02 Profile Homepage #19
I can speak 3/4 English and 3/4 Russian. I also studied German in high school, but forgot most of it. (3/4 English and 3/4 Russian means that my English is still far from perfect, but I am already starting to forget Russian.)

Я знаю английский, русский и частично немецкий. (Russian version is much shorter, because I have to select letters one at a time from Character Map.)

Ich kann Englisch und Russisch schprechen. Ich hat Deutsch in die Schule gestudiert, aber ich hat es vorgessen.

quote:
Originally written by radix malorum est cupiditas:

Ani midaberet Ivrit, Anglit v'ktzat Aravit. Ani rotzah lilmod Italkit v'Sinit.
So you speak Hebrew, English and some Arabic? I think second sentence says something about Italian, but I am not sure.

[ Friday, April 28, 2006 10:04: 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
I want my other two characters back! in The Avernum Trilogy
Zeviz
Nuke and Pave
Member # 24
 written Thursday, April 27 2006 16:17 Profile Homepage #13
Managing the experience in Exile games is just another element of strategy, especially trying to make sure the priest doesn't fall too far behind. However, I am glad that I don't have to worry about this in Avernum. The only drawback of Avernum system is that there is no way to compensate for difference in XP penalties between characters. (In Exile, I could just let my Slith get more killing blows than my human.)

quote:
Avernum seems to be too specialized.
-------------------------------------------------
It caters to min/maxers like me. Before entering Thalni's beta, I spent about an hour in Kel's HLPM, creating a party min/maxed towards the hidden skills.
What's "min/maxing" in this context?

--------------------
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
Deathmatch topics need loving too in General
Zeviz
Nuke and Pave
Member # 24
 written Thursday, April 27 2006 13:01 Profile Homepage #17
quote:
Originally written by 1 v. One:

...
ROUND TWO
1. Rentar-Ihrno vs. Titless Madonna
2. The Wizard of Oz vs. Kefka
3. Garzahd vs. X
4. George W. Bush vs. Guy Fawkes
I am guessing next round's matchup is going to be:
Rentar-Ihrno v. Garzahd and Kefka v. Bush
with the final round being Rentar-Ihrno v. Kefka

Unless Slarty wants to amuze us with the final: Madonna v. Bush, Madonna wins. :)

[ Thursday, April 27, 2006 13:05: 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
International Imitation Day in General
Zeviz
Nuke and Pave
Member # 24
 written Thursday, April 27 2006 10:24 Profile Homepage #56
If several styles in one post is ok, the more the better. :)

—Zeviz, who would like you to know that Silent Assassin says that if Zeviz ever becomes an evil overlord:
One of Zeviz's advisors will be an average five year old child. Any flaws this advisor sees in the plans for world domination must be fixed before the plan is put into execution.

[ Thursday, April 27, 2006 10:25: 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
Writter's Block in General
Zeviz
Nuke and Pave
Member # 24
 written Thursday, April 27 2006 10:16 Profile Homepage #4
quote:
Originally written by radix malorum est cupiditas:

quote:
Originally written by Joe Slater:

The steady decline of the quality of English spelling. :P
Coming from a kraut, that's quite the insult.
"Kraut" is a bad word for German in the same way "Kike" is a bad word for Jew (or Russian "Zhid"). So while it might have been funny the first time somebody said it, three times in the last few days is a bit much for one joke.

--------------------
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, April 27 2006 10:11 Profile Homepage #70
quote:
Originally written by Dintiradan:

Dikiyoba, I find your lack of Legions of Terror disturbing.

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IF I EVER BECOME AN EVIL OVERLORD:
Any and all magic and/or technology that can miraculously resurrect a secondary character who has given up his/her life through self sacrifice will be outlawed and destroyed.
(Wow. This is really, really relevant.)
I am glad Ur-Noob failed to read his copy of the evil overlord list. :)

--------------------
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
Yom HaShoa in General
Zeviz
Nuke and Pave
Member # 24
 written Thursday, April 27 2006 09:42 Profile Homepage #45
quote:
Originally written by Wild Kinky Slugs:

I'm not claiming victimship.
Same here. There is a difference between caring about and demanding respect for something and "claiming victimhood".

Half of my anger is because skinheads can literally get away with murder in Russia (unless you count 2-3 year sentences for "hooliganism" as adequate penalty for murder). So it just overflowed into this thread, because I've generally seen a very high correlation between Holocaust denial and other neo-nazi activities.

--------------------
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
Yom HaShoa in General
Zeviz
Nuke and Pave
Member # 24
 written Thursday, April 27 2006 07:51 Profile Homepage #38
quote:
Originally written by Mathman v. Qwerty:

You know, the stuff I said about respecting other people applies to EVERYONE.

The Holocaust skeptic in this thread, despite making an apology, has been threatened and called names:
...
1. There are 364 other days in a year for a debate about Holocaust. The only reason to do it in the middle of a memorial is to start a fight.

2. He completely succeded in disrupting the memorial. Every single reply to this thread contains a discussion of whether Holocaust happened, instead of a memorial for its victims.

3. Right after his "apology" he continued to do the same things he apologized for. He didn't even have a decency to start his own thread.

There are some actions that remove all respect one might have for a person. Boogeyman/Order Mage's actions in this thread fall well into this category.

quote:
(by Aran)
You misunderstood my point, I believe.
My point was that my hostility is not directed at any member of the group that holds these views, but at the group and the views.
...
Sorry for misunderstanding.

quote:
(by Aran)
...The emotional analogy makes little sense. To nearly all of us, the holocaust is an atrocity that we have no personal relations to. ...
My point was that to some of us, this is an event that had personal impact.

PS WKS, to aviod future opportunities for creative FYTing of your posts, say "death camps", instead of "concentration camps" when talking about Holocaust. Many countries built "concentration camps" of various degrees of repulsiveness. Nazis are the only people who built "death camps" - places for killing hundreds of thousands of people with industrial efficiency. So in the future just use the term "death camps".

[ Thursday, April 27, 2006 07:54: 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
7 Creation Party in Geneforge Series
Zeviz
Nuke and Pave
Member # 24
 written Wednesday, April 26 2006 14:51 Profile Homepage #3
I am guessing you want 7 creations of different types, not counting G3 NPCs. My party would probably include:
the 1st Fyora I've made (kept for centimental value)
a leveled-up Cryoa that's been with me from early game
a leveled-up Thahd that's been with me from early game
an invinsible Thahd Shade (Thahd Shade with a lot of extra dexterity.)
and 3 of the best creatures I could make, eventually ending up with an Ur-Drakon, a Rotzion, and an Eye-Beast.

This wouldn't be the best possible party, but it's the best I could do with the restrictions of keeping at most 1 creature of each type and having all 7 slots filled.

[ Wednesday, April 26, 2006 14:52: 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
International Bad Pun Day in General
Zeviz
Nuke and Pave
Member # 24
 written Wednesday, April 26 2006 14:28 Profile Homepage #24
quote:
Originally written by Zephyr Tempest.:

quote:
Originally written by Lo material lo tov:

He was convicted of carrying gulls across strayed lions for immortal porpoises.
I don't quite get that one.
...
Try saying it aloud, replacing "gulls" with "gals", dropping 'r' in "strayed", 'o' in "lions", and 't' in "immortal".

[ Wednesday, April 26, 2006 14:29: 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
Yom HaShoa in General
Zeviz
Nuke and Pave
Member # 24
 written Wednesday, April 26 2006 09:41 Profile Homepage #16
quote:
Originally written by Nyarlathotep:

I was bashing Neonazi idiots, not you. :)
So you don't see anything wrong with his behavior? I am not sure what is personally important for you for you (anniversary of grandmother's death? your friend's death?), so I am not sure what analogy to make to explain how I feel. Perhaps if when you posted about death of your online friend somebody replied "she had it coming, stupid ..." you'd feel a similar emotion.

--------------------
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
Yom HaShoa in General
Zeviz
Nuke and Pave
Member # 24
 written Wednesday, April 26 2006 09:05 Profile Homepage #9
quote:
Originally written by Monaco, baby xx:

...
And I've been reading about Holocaust denial, and, well... I don't go for it myself, but since when has it been wrong to question things?

I would, of course, argue fiercely with those that believe that the Holocaust was made up...
Regardless of whether people should question everything they hear, it is just a little offensive to question a genocide during a memorial for its victims. Since I doubt the "arguments" are going to be significantly different next week, or the week before, it makes one wonder whether people who come up to a Holocaust memorial and say "it never happened" might have some motive other than "intellectual curiocity".

EDIT:
quote:
Originally written by our resident Nazi:

All I got out of that is you think only dumb people believe the holocaust never happend.. Forgive me if i misunderstood.
What I "think" is that the only people who would come up to a Holocaust memorial saying "it never happened" are neo-Nazis.

Why is it more acceptable to spit in the face of Jews than to spit in the face of Christians or Muslims? When some guys drew a cartoon making fun of Muhammed, the whole world was in uproar and some countries passed laws against "blashemous" cartoons. When people come up to a Holocaust memorial and say to the relatives of victims "it never happened", it's considered "a sign of intellectual curiocity".

[ Wednesday, April 26, 2006 09:13: 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
Question 1: Energy in General
Zeviz
Nuke and Pave
Member # 24
 written Wednesday, April 26 2006 08:53 Profile Homepage #36
First, I'd like to correct a common misconseption: "Hydrogen Fuel" isn't a fuel. It's a battery. There are no "hydrogen mines" and any method of hydrogen production will use more energy than you'd get back from burning the hydrogen. So you can't call hydrogen a fuel source. What it does provide is a cheap and efficient method of storing and transporting energy. The main use of hydrogen will be to make other energy sources more practical. For example, using solar power plant to make hydrogen while the sun is shining and then burning that hydrogen on a cloudy day.

As for energy sources themselves, I've heard a lot of good things about fusion power. It's clean and requires no special resources. The main reason it isn't available yet is that nobody bothered to invest as much money into it as goes into oil and other "popular" energy sources. Since, if I understand correctly, the bigger a fusion reactor is, the more energy-efficient the reaction, a very large initial investment is needed to build these plants. However, once built, they'll be cheap to operate, so the investment would pay off in the long term.

--------------------
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
Descriptions in General
Zeviz
Nuke and Pave
Member # 24
 written Wednesday, April 26 2006 08:14 Profile Homepage #67
quote:
Originally written by Thuryl:

All in good time. It shouldn't be much longer.

Hell, now it's going to be an anticlimax. :/
For some reason I am beginning to think about RiB. :)

--------------------
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
I have to change Signature? in General
Zeviz
Nuke and Pave
Member # 24
 written Wednesday, April 26 2006 08:05 Profile Homepage #24
A signature should never be longer than the post it follows. ;)

--------------------
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
Yom HaShoa in General
Zeviz
Nuke and Pave
Member # 24
 written Wednesday, April 26 2006 08:02 Profile Homepage #6
quote:
Originally written by Yours Sincerely, The Boogyman.:

Wasn't meant to be funny. This topic was begging for it.
Anybody still thinks there are no fashists here?

I thought an anti-Israel protest at the same time and location as the annual Holocaust Memorial on Berkeley campus was as low as it could get. Apparently not.

As to Wizard/Boobyman/whatever else you are called, some day when doing something like this in real life you'll discover that this generation of Jews wouldn't obidiently walk into death chambers, and if you try hard enough, this will be the last lesson you'll learn.

--------------------
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
Are Geneforge and Avernum related? in Avernum 4
Zeviz
Nuke and Pave
Member # 24
 written Tuesday, April 25 2006 15:54 Profile Homepage #3
quote:
Originally written by Dikiyoba:

Vahnatai have had Shapers since before Geneforge even existed.
...
Vahnatai creationism? :) (There is a theory that all life in the world of Avernum was created by the Vahnatai.)

To answer original question of the thread, there is no reasonable way to make a connection between the worlds of Avernum and Geneforge, because Avernum has its own long history with no mention of Shaper-type magic or of any creatures from Geneforge world. Neither does Geneforge have any mention of Avernum-type creatures.

Trying to put Geneforge and Avernum into same world is like trying to put Star Wars and Star Trek into the same universe. There are just as many differencies in history, races, magic, etc. It could be done, but the results wouldn't be appealing to fans of either series.

--------------------
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
"'s and .'s in General
Zeviz
Nuke and Pave
Member # 24
 written Tuesday, April 25 2006 13:55 Profile Homepage #29
quote:
Originally written by wz. As:

...
"My brother, who I often speak with, called me."
...
Since this is a grammar thread... I think the above phrase should use "whom": "My brother, whom I often speak with, called me."

"Who" is used in nominative case and "whom" in accusative case.

PS "My brother, with whom I often speak, called me." sounds better to me. Which word order is actually better in English?

[ Tuesday, April 25, 2006 13:57: 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
Av2 does anybody teach mage skill? in The Avernum Trilogy
Zeviz
Nuke and Pave
Member # 24
 written Tuesday, April 25 2006 13:31 Profile Homepage #1
There is a place where you can purchase Magery extra skill that improves effectiveness of all mage and priest spells. (You can also raise that skill in a couple additional places.)

However, I don't think you can purchase Mage skill itself.

EDIT: According to Schrodinger's faq, there are 2 places to purchase Magery skill, one more expensive than another.

[ Tuesday, April 25, 2006 13:40: 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
Registration code question. in Avernum 4
Zeviz
Nuke and Pave
Member # 24
 written Tuesday, April 25 2006 13:16 Profile Homepage #6
quote:
Originally written by SevenMass:

...

But.... These instructions can't be send through e-mail? :confused:

I recieved the key 12th of april, about 14 days ago.
I don't know why, but for some reason even if you don't order a CD they still send you a package by regular mail. That package contains registration code, a catalogue of their games, instructions on backing up your registration, and maybe a manual (don't remember exactly).

--------------------
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
What style of graphics would you like to see in Avernum 5? in General
Zeviz
Nuke and Pave
Member # 24
 written Tuesday, April 25 2006 12:55 Profile Homepage #7
quote:
Originally written by Mathman v. Qwerty:

Not that it matters, but there ARE people here who prefer the original Exile I and II graphics to the later version that you have apparently labelled "best"...
Those "/" were supposed to mean "and/or", rather than just "and". I guess I should replace them to avoid ambiguity, but saying "most recent and/or best graphics" doesn't sound good.

[ Tuesday, April 25, 2006 12:56: 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
Registration code question. in Avernum 4
Zeviz
Nuke and Pave
Member # 24
 written Tuesday, April 25 2006 12:45 Profile Homepage #4
quote:
Originally written by SevenMass:

If I'd re-download A4 for say.. to replace v1.0 with v1.01 (or any other possible future update) Wouldn't I be re-installing it?

Anyway, such a system seems to be giving Jeff a lot of extra work. And even if it is not a lot, there must be a better way than that!
When you register, you'll recieve instructions on how to back up your registration, so you will not have to e-mail Jeff every time you reinstall the game.

--------------------
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
What style of graphics would you like to see in Avernum 5? in General
Zeviz
Nuke and Pave
Member # 24
 written Tuesday, April 25 2006 11:56 Profile Homepage #3
quote:
Originally written by stranger:

...
As for the BoE graphics, we all know he's not going to return to that.
Just to clarify, the question is what you'd want to see in an ideal world, rather than what you think is most likely to happen.

PS It would be interesting to see how people voted and why, rather than just numbers in the poll. (I am not posting mine for now, because starting a poll and saying my opinion right away wouldn't look good.)

[ Tuesday, April 25, 2006 11:57: 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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