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Field	Value
Displayed name	Slarty
Member number	261
Title	Raven v. Writing Desk
Postcount	3560
Homepage	http://www.stripcreator.com/comics/slartyvsdesk/
Registered	Wednesday, November 7 2001 08:00

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Author	Recent posts
Fantastical Thoughts On RPG Game Mechanics in Avernum 4
Slarty Raven v. Writing Desk Member # 261	written Tuesday, October 30 2007 07:07 Profile Homepage #29 I do find it interesting that Angband is so popular here. You, me, and Alorael, at any rate, compared to Aran's lonely cries of ADOM. -------------------- Slarty vs. Desk • Desk vs. Slarty • Timeline of Ermarian • G4 Strategy Central "Making poorly-sourced claims is not the same as determining something." Posts: 3560 \| Registered: Wednesday, November 7 2001 08:00
Fantastical Thoughts On RPG Game Mechanics in Avernum 4
Slarty Raven v. Writing Desk Member # 261	written Tuesday, October 30 2007 04:49 Profile Homepage #26 I would vote to keep it here as well. Although it is perhaps of general interest, the length and style of some of the posts makes me worried it may go the way of Synergy's last debate topic. I would actually argue that hack-and-slash is not all filler. Recently I've had occasion (at work, no less) to play a number of RPGs and pseudo-RPGs made over the last 15 years for Nintendo's handheld systems -- the Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance. All of these games possess some kind of system that scales the potential field of gameplay to a vastly larger size. The Pokemon and Dragon Warrior Monsters games allow you to build up not three or six PCs, but hundreds of them, if you want to. (Pokemon, I was very surprised to discover, also has a battle system with a superb ratio of depth to complexity.) Mega Man Battle Network has a CCG-like system whereby you can constantly improve your character one element at a time, for an exceedingly large number of elements. There are the actual CCG games like YuGiOh, which work the same way. And then there are the roguelike Mystery Dungeon titles that have been appearing the past few years, which feature infinite dungeon exploration. Other games, like Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, incorporate a "mission" setup that allows new content to be speedily generated; either slipped into a template by the developers (FFTA has 300+ pregenerated missions), or on-the-fly much as a roguelike generates a dungeon level. This scalability has made these games much more successful than traditional RPGs for the same systems. A lot of this has to do with the environmental demands of a handheld system -- which people often want to play for small stretches of time, but with which still like experiencing a sense of accomplishment -- and the demographics; Nintendo has the younger end of the market and these games are at least partially targetted at 10-year-olds. But this kind of scalability entails infinite hack-and-slash, and this is infinite hack-and-slash that is being enjoyed. It's not like MMORPGs where it's really the only option for implementation. People choose the hack-and-slash option. -------------------- Slarty vs. Desk • Desk vs. Slarty • Timeline of Ermarian • G4 Strategy Central "Making poorly-sourced claims is not the same as determining something." Posts: 3560 \| Registered: Wednesday, November 7 2001 08:00
Thoughts on Custom Titles. in General
Slarty Raven v. Writing Desk Member # 261	written Monday, October 29 2007 19:39 Profile Homepage #63 Those are hideous cheesecakes... -------------------- Slarty vs. Desk • Desk vs. Slarty • Timeline of Ermarian • G4 Strategy Central "Making poorly-sourced claims is not the same as determining something." Posts: 3560 \| Registered: Wednesday, November 7 2001 08:00
Thoughts on Custom Titles. in General
Slarty Raven v. Writing Desk Member # 261	written Saturday, October 27 2007 08:57 Profile Homepage #45 quote: Originally written by me, 16 days ago, in the topic that Iffy started ("Canned") to ask the same question he asks here: Canning (note the second 'n', muffin) is a warning status. It warns you that your behavior is one step away from a ban. It is only going to go away if your behavior changes. I haven't been paying much attention lately, so I don't know what your behavior has been like recently. I know that it was pretty atrocious when you first showed up, and then (even before the ban) it got a lot better -- for which I validate you heartily! -- but it still needed improvement. If you really have ceased answering questions you aren't qualified to answer (especially in tech support), making pointless posts (and worse, pointless topics), and overreacting to simple comments made by others in ways that tend to fan flames, then (and only then) I would encourage you to politely PM a mod to ask about it. -------------------- Slarty vs. Desk • Desk vs. Slarty • Timeline of Ermarian • G4 Strategy Central "Making poorly-sourced claims is not the same as determining something." Posts: 3560 \| Registered: Wednesday, November 7 2001 08:00
stealth? in Geneforge 4: Rebellion
Slarty Raven v. Writing Desk Member # 261	written Saturday, October 27 2007 08:53 Profile Homepage #5 Iffy, there is a very real difference between what you said and what I said. "Less likely" is inaccurate, plain and simple. That may be the end result if you are totally careless about how close you are to an enemy; however, since that IS under your control, likelihood never enters into things at all. -------------------- Slarty vs. Desk • Desk vs. Slarty • Timeline of Ermarian • G4 Strategy Central "Making poorly-sourced claims is not the same as determining something." Posts: 3560 \| Registered: Wednesday, November 7 2001 08:00
Fantastical Thoughts On RPG Game Mechanics in Avernum 4
Slarty Raven v. Writing Desk Member # 261	written Saturday, October 27 2007 07:01 Profile Homepage #17 quote: Originally written by Thuryl: I agree that it's a very different type of game from traditional RPGs. I don't think a game where you're expected to finish with the same four to six characters that you started with can plausibly coexist with a world where one well-placed hit can be fatal. One easy way to make that work is to only fight monsters, i.e., creatures that don't wield weapons. This has been done at least twice in a quality RPG (Dungeon Master) and it's fairly reasonable for claws et al. to never kill you in one hit if you're wearing at least a little bit of armor. -------------------- Slarty vs. Desk • Desk vs. Slarty • Timeline of Ermarian • G4 Strategy Central "Making poorly-sourced claims is not the same as determining something." Posts: 3560 \| Registered: Wednesday, November 7 2001 08:00
Deathmatch Tournament -- Round Two, Part One in General
Slarty Raven v. Writing Desk Member # 261	written Friday, October 26 2007 19:22 Profile Homepage #111 I won't, but at the moment I am overwhelmed by real life busyness. Yes, I know I've been saying that for some time; it really is the case. I am still considering Thuryl's suggestion, and various possibilities for how to implement it. The best one involves having Icshi (he is my lieutenant after all) retroactively complete the tournament. I am considering realistic options too, though. -------------------- Slarty vs. Desk • Desk vs. Slarty • Timeline of Ermarian • G4 Strategy Central "Slartucker is going to have a cow when he hears about this," Synergy said. Posts: 3560 \| Registered: Wednesday, November 7 2001 08:00
stealth? in Geneforge 4: Rebellion
Slarty Raven v. Writing Desk Member # 261	written Friday, October 26 2007 19:16 Profile Homepage #2 It doesn't make them less LIKELY to see you. It raises the threshhold of what is required to make them notice you. -------------------- Slarty vs. Desk • Desk vs. Slarty • Timeline of Ermarian • G4 Strategy Central "Making poorly-sourced claims is not the same as determining something." Posts: 3560 \| Registered: Wednesday, November 7 2001 08:00
Iffy's contest idea in Blades of Avernum
Slarty Raven v. Writing Desk Member # 261	written Friday, October 26 2007 19:15 Profile Homepage #1 Presumably, the message that popped up would allow three answers: "Yes," "No," and whatever expletive TM would use in response... -------------------- Slarty vs. Desk • Desk vs. Slarty • Timeline of Ermarian • G4 Strategy Central "Making poorly-sourced claims is not the same as determining something." Posts: 3560 \| Registered: Wednesday, November 7 2001 08:00
Thoughts on Custom Titles. in General
Slarty Raven v. Writing Desk Member # 261	written Friday, October 26 2007 19:12 Profile Homepage #41 Iffy, the reason you are "Canned" has been explained to you repeatedly, at least once by me. -------------------- Slarty vs. Desk • Desk vs. Slarty • Timeline of Ermarian • G4 Strategy Central "Making poorly-sourced claims is not the same as determining something." Posts: 3560 \| Registered: Wednesday, November 7 2001 08:00
Thoughts on Custom Titles. in General
Slarty Raven v. Writing Desk Member # 261	written Friday, October 26 2007 10:47 Profile Homepage #19 Some of Drakey's titles are references to Marathon levels. More of them are references to Alice in Wonderland: see my title, Aran's old titles, Kel's titles, and so on. I of course prefer this list. -------------------- Slarty vs. Desk • Desk vs. Slarty • Timeline of Ermarian • G4 Strategy Central "Making poorly-sourced claims is not the same as determining something." Posts: 3560 \| Registered: Wednesday, November 7 2001 08:00
Hero of old spell in Nethergate
Slarty Raven v. Writing Desk Member # 261	written Wednesday, October 24 2007 18:53 Profile Homepage #3 Also note that Hero of Old has an absurdly high casting cost compared to casting each effect individually, and it doesn't last any longer either, nor is it stronger in any respect. It might be convenient at times when you have spell points to spare, but it's honestly one of the least useful spells in the game. -------------------- Slarty vs. Desk • Desk vs. Slarty • Timeline of Ermarian • G4 Strategy Central "Making poorly-sourced claims is not the same as determining something." Posts: 3560 \| Registered: Wednesday, November 7 2001 08:00
Episode 4: Spiderweb Reloaded. Something like that anyway. in General
Slarty Raven v. Writing Desk Member # 261	written Wednesday, October 24 2007 18:19 Profile Homepage #259 Synergistical. So does that mean that when Kel made that comment about the unzipping of the item from which new age buzzwords were pulled out, it was Synergis-- Okay, I stopped myself. Mostly. -------------------- Slarty vs. Desk • Desk vs. Slarty • Timeline of Ermarian • G4 Strategy Central "Slartucker is going to have a cow when he hears about this," Synergy said. Posts: 3560 \| Registered: Wednesday, November 7 2001 08:00
Episode 4: Spiderweb Reloaded. Something like that anyway. in General
Slarty Raven v. Writing Desk Member # 261	written Wednesday, October 24 2007 07:18 Profile Homepage #254 Iffy : Infernal Flamming Muffin :: Synergy : ? -------------------- Slarty vs. Desk • Desk vs. Slarty • Timeline of Ermarian • G4 Strategy Central "Slartucker is going to have a cow when he hears about this," Synergy said. Posts: 3560 \| Registered: Wednesday, November 7 2001 08:00
Episode 4: Spiderweb Reloaded. Something like that anyway. in General
Slarty Raven v. Writing Desk Member # 261	written Tuesday, October 23 2007 20:33 Profile Homepage #250 What... "Synergy"? ;) -------------------- Slarty vs. Desk • Desk vs. Slarty • Timeline of Ermarian • G4 Strategy Central "Slartucker is going to have a cow when he hears about this," Synergy said. Posts: 3560 \| Registered: Wednesday, November 7 2001 08:00
G3-why do you dislike it in Geneforge Series
Slarty Raven v. Writing Desk Member # 261	written Monday, October 22 2007 06:42 Profile Homepage #7 When I went back and looked at my earliest posts here for the relevant topic, I was surprised to see how positive I was about G3. There were things I hated, like the boats; but I was very positive about the direction of the story and even the type of forced choice questions involved. The problem, I think, is that the lack of variety in plot, questions, and game paths, makes the interestingness of G3 quickly fall to the ground when you replay it. And because I didn't quite finish the game but instead replayed it several times for strategy, I became annoyed at all of those things. So I must reluctantly agree: G3 is a good game, just don't play it twice. -------------------- Slarty vs. Desk • Desk vs. Slarty • Timeline of Ermarian • G4 Strategy Central "Making poorly-sourced claims is not the same as determining something." Posts: 3560 \| Registered: Wednesday, November 7 2001 08:00
The noob language in General
Slarty Raven v. Writing Desk Member # 261	written Saturday, October 20 2007 18:29 Profile Homepage #18 Alorael, your new handle begs the question. Argh-Hoth? -------------------- Slarty vs. Desk • Desk vs. Slarty • Timeline of Ermarian • G4 Strategy Central "Making poorly-sourced claims is not the same as determining something." Posts: 3560 \| Registered: Wednesday, November 7 2001 08:00
How did you guys begin? in General
Slarty Raven v. Writing Desk Member # 261	written Saturday, October 20 2007 15:59 Profile Homepage #5 I wasn't shocked. ;) I'm fairly sure I posted something, probably in Avernum, when I registered in 2001, but the archive only has posts from Geneforge 3's release in 2005. A selected chronology of posts: 1 - my first appearance in the archive is, predictably enough, probing the mechanics of Geneforge 3. 26 - first defense of Exile graphics 41 - first proclamation of SoT's wisdom 58 - first Torment challenge I then took a break for six months, and came back for Avernum 4: 87 - reappearance, complaining about broken nephilim 94 - first argument with Synergy 125 - first research into EE topics 126 - first discussion of how 80's RPGs were better 132 - first facepalm 140 - first syntactic analysis 164 - first rant about Chitrachs 182 - first attack on Vahnatai Creationism 201 - first argument about prescriptivism It wasn't until post 252 that I so much as clicked on the General forum, and we all know the horrible events that have ensued. The amusing thing is that my posting habits don't seem to have changed much at all in the admittedly less-than-a-lifespan that's passed. -------------------- Slarty vs. Desk • Desk vs. Slarty • Timeline of Ermarian • G4 Strategy Central "Making poorly-sourced claims is not the same as determining something." Posts: 3560 \| Registered: Wednesday, November 7 2001 08:00
Bug in Roman quest in Nethergate
Slarty Raven v. Writing Desk Member # 261	written Thursday, October 18 2007 02:53 Profile Homepage #3 I was asking a clarifying question. Given that your sentence was malformed to begin with, it wasn't hard to conceive of your only referring to body armor despite saying "anything," which would explain it. Has anyone else encountered this problem? -------------------- Slarty vs. Desk • Desk vs. Slarty • Timeline of Ermarian • G4 Strategy Central "Making poorly-sourced claims is not the same as determining something." Posts: 3560 \| Registered: Wednesday, November 7 2001 08:00
The Titan in Geneforge 4: Rebellion
Slarty Raven v. Writing Desk Member # 261	written Monday, October 15 2007 04:09 Profile Homepage #8 On ne joue pas avec la liberté Elle ne se divise pas tout comme l'égalité Elle ne peut être achètée, négotiée Ni est changée contre de la pixilité! -------------------- Slarty vs. Desk • Desk vs. Slarty • Timeline of Ermarian • G4 Strategy Central "Making poorly-sourced claims is not the same as determining something." Posts: 3560 \| Registered: Wednesday, November 7 2001 08:00
The Titan in Geneforge 4: Rebellion
Slarty Raven v. Writing Desk Member # 261	written Sunday, October 14 2007 18:22 Profile Homepage #6 Harle... not a reference to Schala and Kid, is it? -------------------- Slarty vs. Desk • Desk vs. Slarty • Timeline of Ermarian • G4 Strategy Central "Making poorly-sourced claims is not the same as determining something." Posts: 3560 \| Registered: Wednesday, November 7 2001 08:00
equipment fails totally in Tech Support
Slarty Raven v. Writing Desk Member # 261	written Sunday, October 14 2007 06:23 Profile Homepage #6 Try a new game and see if it works. If it doesn't, reinstall. If it worked before and now it doesn't, and nobody else has ever heard of the problem, then something probably became corrupted. -------------------- Slarty vs. Desk • Desk vs. Slarty • Timeline of Ermarian • G4 Strategy Central "Making poorly-sourced claims is not the same as determining something." Posts: 3560 \| Registered: Wednesday, November 7 2001 08:00
Testing in General
Slarty Raven v. Writing Desk Member # 261	written Sunday, October 14 2007 04:11 Profile Homepage #7 Mostly, though, it's as insecure as a teenager with zits. -------------------- Slarty vs. Desk • Desk vs. Slarty • Timeline of Ermarian • G4 Strategy Central "Making poorly-sourced claims is not the same as determining something." Posts: 3560 \| Registered: Wednesday, November 7 2001 08:00
1 in General
Slarty Raven v. Writing Desk Member # 261	written Sunday, October 14 2007 04:10 Profile Homepage #81 This thread is just about the least spammy thing here. It's creative and interesting. Moreover, nearly everyone here seems to agree that it's not spam. If you disagree, either deal with it, or find a community that shares your definition of spam. -------------------- Slarty vs. Desk • Desk vs. Slarty • Timeline of Ermarian • G4 Strategy Central "Making poorly-sourced claims is not the same as determining something." Posts: 3560 \| Registered: Wednesday, November 7 2001 08:00

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