Profile for Mike Montgomery
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Displayed name | Mike Montgomery |
| Member number | 2599 |
| Title | Shock Trooper |
| Postcount | 201 |
| Homepage | |
| Registered | Thursday, February 6 2003 08:00 |
Recent posts
Pages
| Author | Recent posts |
|---|---|
| Why I did not like Geneforge 3 in Geneforge Series | |
|
Shock Trooper
Member # 2599
|
written Tuesday, May 23 2006 11:37
Profile
Let me preface by saying I have bought literally everything Spiderweb Software has for sale: Exile 1,2,3, blades; Avernum 1,2,3,4, blades; Geneforge 1,2,3; Nethergate, etc. I have played all of these to completion, and enjoyed them very much, with the exception of Geneforge 3. My goal here is not to bash Geneforge 3, but to give some heartfelt feedback on what did not work for me, that Jeff might take into consideration for future games. Now a bit about myself, so that my feedback can be understood. I prefer my roleplaying to reflect the choices I personally would make if thrust into a situation. I do not roleplay evil characters. I am OK with neutral characters as long as they largely can make morally sound choices. I view the neutrality to indicate more allegiance to their own internal moral compass than to the letter of the law. I prefer to play heroic characters, where the role playing situation allows them to perform acts of great good and kindness. This bring me to Geneforge 3. With Geneforge 3, my choices are too constrained. The game starts out fine, but at one point I am forced to choose one side or the other, and either way, I will be required to perform immoral actions to move the plot forward. Unlike Geneforge 1 and 2, there is no neutral path. In real life, I would flee from the situation to seek other choices. Given no moral or neutral course of action in the game, I chose not to continue the game. This leaves Geneforge 3 the only Spiderweb game I will never finish, unless it someday receives an update that will add a morally viable choice. I realize some people have no problem with playing evil characters or taking evil actions like slaughtering entire innocent towns. After all, it is just a game. They bought the game; they can enjoy it as the like. I have no problem with a game giving them the flexibility to do what they like. I just want the flexibility to do what I want as well. I personally cannot enjoy a game unless I am given choices that are morally viable for me. And there is no reason to continue playing a game you are not enjoying. I hope that by bringing this concern to the forefront, perhaps Jeff will take this into consideration when designing future games. [ Tuesday, May 23, 2006 11:37: Message edited by: Mike Montgomery ] Posts: 201 | Registered: Thursday, February 6 2003 08:00 |
| Custom starting party not always best in Avernum 4 | |
|
Shock Trooper
Member # 2599
|
written Tuesday, May 23 2006 09:02
Profile
quote:I believe you are right. But even then, there were some preconstructed classes that were a good deal, even after deducting for the useless stuff. I did an analysis for Avernum 3, and I believe 4 of the preconstructed classes were a good deal. For Avernum 4, the presence of trainers complicates things. As Stupas says, an agressive min-maxer may avoid training in any skill before first purchasing 2 levels. For such a player, adding 1 melee, 2 arcane lore, 1 spellcraft, and 1 nature lore for only 2 skill points would not seem worthwhile verses paying over 6000 gold for the same skills, and getting them much later in the game in the bargain. They should go custom and not put a single skill point in anything that could first be trained, and good for them. I would personally hate to play the game that way, but I have to respect someone who will put up with as much aggrevation in the early game as they will have for this level of character optimization. For players who do not optimize so aggressively, I think many of the preconstructed classes are a good bargain. Posts: 201 | Registered: Thursday, February 6 2003 08:00 |
| Custom starting party not always best in Avernum 4 | |
|
Shock Trooper
Member # 2599
|
written Tuesday, May 23 2006 05:11
Profile
Some of the walkthroughs and posts indicate that a custom starting party is always best. The logic here is that though the preconstructed classes would take more skill points to build, there are many things you would leave out in a custom build. However, there are several preconstructed classes that one should consider over a custom character. 1. For a Mage, if you create a custom character with Intellegence 6, Endurance 4, and 5 levels in Mage, you have 10 skill points left. The Sorcerer has all of this, and 8 skill points left. This means for 2 skill points you get: 1 melee, 2 arcane lore, 1 spellcraft, and 1 nature lore. This looks like a good deal to me. Granted, you could eventually buy all of this, but what does that work out to, 5000 gold spent per skill point saved? For a mage, I definitely think using a Sorcerer is a better choice than custom. 2. For a Priest, it is less clear-cut. If you were going to train some melee skill for your priest anyway, then the preconstructed Priest is a good idea. If your custom was 5 intellegence, 5 endurance, 3 melee, and 4 priest, then for the equivalent of 1 skill point, the preconstructed Priest give you 1 thrown, 1 arcane lore, 1 spellcraft, 2 defense, and 2 first aid. However, if you were not going to train melee (for example Slith pole priest), then custom makes sense. 3. For a melee fighter, if you were going to train 4 strength, 4 dex, 5 end, and 5 melee anyway for your custom character, the Berserker gives 1 bow, 1 thrown, 2 hardi, 2 def, 2 nature lore, and 1 first aid for just 3 skill points. Definitely better than custom in my opinion. 4. For a Priest/Mage, a Hedge Wizard (or Shaman if you also want melee) makes a lot of sense as an alternative to custom. Compared to a custom with 5 intel, 5 end, 3 mage, and 3 priest, the Hedge Wizard gives 1 melee, 1 QA, 2 arcane lore, 1 spellcraft, 1 hardiness, 1 nature lore, and 1 first aid, all for only 3 skill points. In summary, I believe the all-custom starting party is not the best choice. Most parties could benefit from 2 or more preconstructed characters. Custom characters do have their place, especially for pole weapon specialists, or pure priests with no melee or mage skills, or a dedicated archer, or some other special purpose. But most parties have a place that 1 or 2 Sorcerers, Berserkers, Priests, or Hedge Wizards could fill better than a custom character. Posts: 201 | Registered: Thursday, February 6 2003 08:00 |
| Benefits of joining then leaving Anama in A3? in The Avernum Trilogy | |
|
Shock Trooper
Member # 2599
|
written Tuesday, May 16 2006 05:48
Profile
In Avernum 3, are there any residual benefits from joining then leaving Anama, or are all of of the knowledge and attributes gained stripped when you leave? If any benefits remain, could someone explain what they are? Thank you very much! Posts: 201 | Registered: Thursday, February 6 2003 08:00 |
| Crafting list organized by item used in Geneforge Series | |
|
Shock Trooper
Member # 2599
|
written Friday, April 29 2005 22:18
Profile
Genefore 3 Crafting List Organized by Ingredient : Items that can be made using ingredient This is simply a reorganization of the list so kindly provided by Drakefyre. I did this to help understand what ingredients needed to be saved for key items, and what ingredients could be used right away for lesser items. Please let me know if any corrections need to be made. Posts: 201 | Registered: Thursday, February 6 2003 08:00 |
| Anvil on Dhonal's Isle? in Geneforge Series | |
|
Shock Trooper
Member # 2599
|
written Friday, April 29 2005 12:21
Profile
I did too. Is there a way to reset the area so that the mind is not dead? Posts: 201 | Registered: Thursday, February 6 2003 08:00 |
| Lankin plot bug? in Geneforge Series | |
|
Shock Trooper
Member # 2599
|
written Friday, April 22 2005 09:52
Profile
I have completely cleared the Island; not a rogue or generator to be found. I go to Lankin with Norrell's proposal that he accept 1 month imprisonment to end the rebellion. I have 10 leadership. Lankin says that he is tempted, but he cannot accept Norrell's offer, because of the rogues. WHAT ROGUES? There are no rogues left! This seems like a plot bug to me. No point in having high leadership and getting Norrell's proposal, if Lankin will not be reasonable. And it is not reasonable to reject the offer based on rogues if there are no rogues left. This is a big disappointment. I played through earlier with lower leadership. This time with high leadership, it looked like there was a peaceful resolution possible for the rebellion. But it does not seem this is the case, though there is no logical reason for Lankin to reject the offer. What do you think? Should this be reported as a bug to Jeff? Posts: 201 | Registered: Thursday, February 6 2003 08:00 |
| Middle of the road viewpoint in Geneforge Series | |
|
Shock Trooper
Member # 2599
|
written Monday, April 18 2005 11:24
Profile
I was not suggesting a radical reform that invalidates all shaper principles. Just two things: avoid exposing serviles to lethal harm, and grant freedom to those serviles who are intelligent and mature enough to request it. Take the robot analogy. Very few robots would become enlightened enough to understand freedom, much less request it. Granting freedom to serviles who want it will not affect those serviles who are happy to serve. As for abusive situations, people would not callously abuse robots or dogs. They cost money. Dogs take time and money to train. Serviles cost effort and essence. Only a fool puts them into needless danger. There is a big difference between exposing your servile (dog, robot) to potentially lethal harm and the normal rigors of a job. Posts: 201 | Registered: Thursday, February 6 2003 08:00 |
| Special Buyers? in Geneforge Series | |
|
Shock Trooper
Member # 2599
|
written Sunday, April 17 2005 16:30
Profile
Thanks! Anyone know about Iron Bars and other stuff? Are there special buyers for anything other than dried herbs, research notes, and shaper equipment? Posts: 201 | Registered: Thursday, February 6 2003 08:00 |
| Special Buyers? in Geneforge Series | |
|
Shock Trooper
Member # 2599
|
written Sunday, April 17 2005 07:56
Profile
In GF2, there were special buyers for shaper equipment, iron bars, research notes, gemstones, etc. In GF3, there is a special buyer for dried herbs. Are there any other special buyers in the game, or should we just sell the other stuff to general merchants? Posts: 201 | Registered: Thursday, February 6 2003 08:00 |
| Middle of the road viewpoint in Geneforge Series | |
|
Shock Trooper
Member # 2599
|
written Sunday, April 17 2005 07:43
Profile
quote:This reminds me very much of the Bicentennial Man, where a robot seeks and finally gains freedom. At the end, the reasoning went something like, "For any sentient being that understands and desires freedom, freedom should not be withheld." Serviles are created, just like robots, but if they progress to the point of desiring freedom, freedom should not be withheld. I don't think one would have to cease to be a shaper to have this viewpoint. In fact, I think one would feel pride that your creation has grown and matured to this point, just as when one of your children becomes a mature adult. As for the issue of full-scale war, it is very foolish to take extreme action that pushes people to support the other side. With enough atrocities, even those who would have remained neutral will side against you. Shapers could have strongly bolstered their forces (or at least have reduced the strength of their opponent) by taken an enlightened position toward serviles, thus enlisting smart serviles to their position. For example, I thought it was absurd for serviles to remain in rebellion against the shapers once they realized that their rogue problems were actually being caused by the other side. But I think that the shaper’s hard-line position was somewhat responsible. Even if the shapers were not responsible for the rogues, they were responsible for callously sending serviles into dangerous situations. A moderated shaper position would have increased their strength during the war, not reduced it, in my opinion. [ Sunday, April 17, 2005 16:34: Message edited by: Mike Montgomery ] Posts: 201 | Registered: Thursday, February 6 2003 08:00 |
| Middle of the road viewpoint in Geneforge Series | |
|
Shock Trooper
Member # 2599
|
written Thursday, April 14 2005 04:46
Profile
quote:I guess this summarizes my position quite well. I just started the game again, this time closing all position dialogs. I never state my opinion. I just let my actions do the talking. We will see where this takes me. Personally, I think the position questions about rogue creations make no sense. Even rebels slaughter rogue creations on sight because they are mindless and dangerous. Those were some great well-reasoned posts. Gives me some food for thought. Posts: 201 | Registered: Thursday, February 6 2003 08:00 |
| Middle of the road viewpoint in Geneforge Series | |
|
Shock Trooper
Member # 2599
|
written Tuesday, April 12 2005 08:25
Profile
I started playing without reading anything, and I find that if I answer questions in a way that I think is reasonable, I am not accepted by either side. For example, I don't think it is reasonable to use serviles as cannon fodder; the shapers have a responsibility to provide a safe work environment for their serviles. But if a creature has gone rogue, yes, of course it should be killed. It would be quite hypocritical to say otherwise, since most of the game is spent killing rogue creations. With GF1 and GF2, there was always the awakened, a middle of the road faction for servile rights without all out war on the shapers. And it was possible to play pure, independent of the 3 factiions and not using any canisters, will enough books and people who would train to make it possible to not join any faction or use any canister, and still be able to win. I miss this in GF3. I prefer to play games that appeal to my sense of ethics. Since both sides are unethical in GF3, I find the game far less satisfying than GF1 or GF2. Does anyone else feel the same way? Posts: 201 | Registered: Thursday, February 6 2003 08:00 |
| GF Story (read please) in Geneforge Series | |
|
Shock Trooper
Member # 2599
|
written Tuesday, April 20 2004 13:37
Profile
I like your story, and look forward to the rest. Posts: 201 | Registered: Thursday, February 6 2003 08:00 |
| GF Story (read please) in Geneforge 2 | |
|
Shock Trooper
Member # 2599
|
written Tuesday, April 20 2004 13:37
Profile
I like your story, and look forward to the rest. Posts: 201 | Registered: Thursday, February 6 2003 08:00 |