Profile for Or else o'erleap.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Displayed name | Or else o'erleap. |
| Member number | 335 |
| Title | Law Bringer |
| Postcount | 14579 |
| Homepage | http://www.polarisboard.net |
| Registered | Saturday, December 1 2001 08:00 |
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| Author | Recent posts |
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| The meaning of life. in General | |
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Law Bringer
Member # 335
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written Wednesday, April 23 2003 13:40
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That's part of it. We have to write it in base ten (or at least always in the same base) because all systems are "base 10" when written in their own number system. —Alorael, who suspects there is a deep philosophical meaning to it. Perhaps base 10 is the meaning of life? Posts: 14579 | Registered: Saturday, December 1 2001 08:00 |
| Happy Easter. in General | |
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Law Bringer
Member # 335
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written Wednesday, April 23 2003 13:15
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I don't think "interdimensional" is a real word, but it appears in science-fiction (usually bad science fiction or parodies) often enough that many people recognize it. It has almost attained the same quasi-real state as "elven." —Alorael, who was horribly crushed when he realized that the word elven is just a mixed-up amalgamation of "elfin" and "elvish." So much fantasy... all wrong! Posts: 14579 | Registered: Saturday, December 1 2001 08:00 |
| Hybrids Anonymous or How to Differentiate an Opaki from a Choirboy in General | |
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Law Bringer
Member # 335
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written Wednesday, April 23 2003 12:54
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I don't think the sliths can change gender. If the dragons can, it's a function of their magic. But then, I still think the switching was just Jeff being confused. ?Alorael, who doesn't think Sulfras would ever bother to switch his/her gender. It would undoubtedly be inconvenient, and somehow inconvenience without tangible gains don't seem in character for Sulfras. And no, he/she probably wouldn't view a brood of little dragons as gains. [ Wednesday, April 23, 2003 12:55: Message edited by: Alorael ] Posts: 14579 | Registered: Saturday, December 1 2001 08:00 |
| Oh man...CHECK YOUR PRIVATE MESSAGES, PEOPLE! in General | |
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Law Bringer
Member # 335
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written Wednesday, April 23 2003 12:38
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Well, it is a very nice graemlin. I like it even more than the banana. —Alorael, who is guilty of gross PM negligence. He does have email notification turned on, but he also checks his email only sporadically and loses half of what he should read to his spam filters. Posts: 14579 | Registered: Saturday, December 1 2001 08:00 |
| Avernum 3 Clairvoyance bug in Tech Support | |
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Law Bringer
Member # 335
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written Wednesday, April 23 2003 12:30
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Nethergate and the Avernums do have some problems with things behind walls. That's the only one that I've ever seen that had any significance at all, though. Mostly it just results in odd messages and opportunities to pick locks or disarm traps that you haven't actually reached. —Alorael, who thinks the games are somehow programmed under certain circumstances to check for nodes first, then see if a wall blocks passage. It doesn't work in all cases, but it does in a few. Posts: 14579 | Registered: Saturday, December 1 2001 08:00 |
| 1,000 in General | |
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Law Bringer
Member # 335
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written Tuesday, April 22 2003 16:03
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Congratulations, X! May this be the beginning of... uh... many posts to come! And may you always find random people with whom you may engage in protracted and pointless arguments. —Alorael, who sees no reason that sanity must be a prerequisite for posting on Spiderweb. If anything, it's a problem that must be dealt with harshly. Fortunately, it's not a common problem. Posts: 14579 | Registered: Saturday, December 1 2001 08:00 |
| Crossfire in General | |
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Law Bringer
Member # 335
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written Tuesday, April 22 2003 13:27
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I'd agree. As soon as you allow any words, written or spoken, to be made illegal, you have just opened the door for Thought Police and wiretaps everywhere. People have a right to think whatever they want and express those thoughts. ?Alorael, who does think that there is a fine line between demonstration, which is speech, and action, which is not always okay. But it's important to find that line in order to protect both minorities and freedoms. Posts: 14579 | Registered: Saturday, December 1 2001 08:00 |
| Palm Sunday in General | |
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Law Bringer
Member # 335
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written Tuesday, April 22 2003 13:15
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The spiriti of (secular) Easter is in the peeps. I don't actually eat peeps, and I don't know many people who do. But it just wouldn't be the Easter season without little yellow marshmallow birds slowly petrifying everywhere. —Alorael, who also heartily recommends peep testing from a variety of sites. http://www.keypad.org/bunnies/index.html and http://www.peepresearch.org are both good examples. Posts: 14579 | Registered: Saturday, December 1 2001 08:00 |
| Palm Sunday in General | |
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Law Bringer
Member # 335
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written Sunday, April 20 2003 16:07
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Absolutely nothing, aside from the fact that I still can't eat bread. The Passover seder is great, but the following week isn't. —Alorael, who wishes everyone a very happy Palm Sunday (in retrospect) and Easter anyway, whether or not they are Christian. [ Sunday, April 20, 2003 16:08: Message edited by: Alorael ] Posts: 14579 | Registered: Saturday, December 1 2001 08:00 |
| Exile 2 code problems in Tech Support | |
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Law Bringer
Member # 335
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written Sunday, April 20 2003 08:02
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After programming the games, Jeff's costs are rather low. When you register, unless you order the CD and pay extra for it, he spends only the short time it takes to process your order, not any money. So mass production doesn't really help him. —Alorael, who also believes the Exile games started out more expensive than they are now, so they have depreciated. The Avernum games were just made at the same lowered price. And all the games are currently on sale, so if you're going to buy, do it soon. Posts: 14579 | Registered: Saturday, December 1 2001 08:00 |
| Crossfire in General | |
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Law Bringer
Member # 335
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written Sunday, April 20 2003 07:59
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Jam vs. Jelly: Put a pair of invisible newbies against Arctic and Saunders. ?Alorael, who would be happy to argue the marijuana issue himself. He has a rather interesting perspective on it, after all. And no, it's not nearly as good as skribbane. Posts: 14579 | Registered: Saturday, December 1 2001 08:00 |
| The meaning of life. in General | |
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Law Bringer
Member # 335
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written Saturday, April 19 2003 12:07
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Actually, I think Thuryl's comment means something else. All number systems, stated in themselves, are base-10. In binary, 2 is 10. In hexadecimal, 16 is 10. In the Babylonian base-60 number system, 60 is 10. —Alorael, who believes a base-14 system was used somewhere as well. There's really no reason to use ten above any other number, aside from the fact that a small base means that even low numbers take a while to write down and very large bases require excessive numbers of different digits. Posts: 14579 | Registered: Saturday, December 1 2001 08:00 |
| Joint Scenario Authorship... in Blades of Avernum | |
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Law Bringer
Member # 335
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written Friday, April 18 2003 16:26
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Here are some problems with joint authorship: 1. The actual process of building towns and setting up nodes is hard to share, since there's no good way to merge two scenarios back into one if you work separately. You have to take turns passing the master copy back and forth, and the person without the scenario can design a few towns to import. It's very, very awkward. 2. When it's your turn to work, you have to work. Otherwise, your partner will become very angry. 3. You need to be very, very good at communicating. Every little bit of plot has to be agreed-upon and duly recorded so you don't disagree with other people working on the scenario. 4. Differences in style and opinion can cause problems if you feel strongly about them. —Alorael, who would conclude by saying that if a cooperative effort were to work, it would probably have to be on something very different from a standard scenario. Either that, or you'd need a pair of extremely skilled, friendly, and dedicated designers who live in the same house and have different schedules. Posts: 14579 | Registered: Saturday, December 1 2001 08:00 |
| Exile 2 code problems in Tech Support | |
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Law Bringer
Member # 335
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written Friday, April 18 2003 08:43
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If the graphics bother you, try the Avernum games. They do have the same plots, with a few added quests and towns, but the viewpoint has become isometric. Still, if you're looking for brilliant graphics, Spiderweb is probably not for you. —Alorael, who would like to point out that one can buy a more mainstream computer game for about $50. For half the price you get a game that really is just as large in area and playing time, but less graphics- and sound-intensive (so yes, the download is smaller). Posts: 14579 | Registered: Saturday, December 1 2001 08:00 |
| Using Other People's Graphics in Blades of Avernum | |
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Law Bringer
Member # 335
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written Monday, April 14 2003 16:36
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You are, in fact, encouraged to use the graphics from databases like The Louvre and the few graphics on Drakey's page. That's what they're there for, after all. If you want to use graphics straight from another scenario's graphics file, it's polite to ask the designer for permission and/or information on whose graphics they are. —Alorael, who would advise giving credit. You can put it in the readme, in the introduction text, in a special node near the beginning or end, or just in a town for hall of fame and credits purposes. If you want, you can even come up with other clever ways of working in the people you'd like to thank. The important thing is to make people feel like their work is appreciated so they will continue to make good graphics. See, everything is selfish! Posts: 14579 | Registered: Saturday, December 1 2001 08:00 |
| Hybrids Anonymous or How to Differentiate an Opaki from a Choirboy in General | |
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Law Bringer
Member # 335
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written Sunday, April 13 2003 07:43
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The nepharim certainly aren't outcast. They may be separated somewhat, but they occupy the sames forts and areas as the regular nephilim. I would say that the two groups view themselves as different and stick mostly with their own kind by choice, not by any law. And I think the vahnatai could bring down the Empire if they weren't halted by a band of racially mixed adventurers, but that's just me. ?Alorael, who could see the nepharim as a sort of Mamluk equivalent. Perhaps they are technically slaves, but they obviously wield enough power to have chiefs of their own. Besides, you'd think the nephilim would be glad to have bigger, tougher buddies to help them fight off the humans, although racism often makes very little sense. Posts: 14579 | Registered: Saturday, December 1 2001 08:00 |
| Nether Circle! in Nethergate | |
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Law Bringer
Member # 335
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written Saturday, April 12 2003 19:24
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It's somewhere in the north, among the many hills with caves in them. I think it's the northwesternmost cave, but I could be mistaken. It has a sign in front. —Alorael, who doesn't think the Nether circle spells are as wonderful as they should be. He rarely uses any of them. Posts: 14579 | Registered: Saturday, December 1 2001 08:00 |
| What feature that the Avernum series lacked would you most like to see in BoA? in Blades of Avernum | |
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Law Bringer
Member # 335
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written Friday, April 11 2003 16:32
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I'd like the A1/A2 damage scheme back, since I never did hit the damage cap in those games, but barring that I'd settle for no cap. Then there would be monsters with thousands of hit points, but at least there would be a reason to take damaging weapons over pointed sticks with +1 Worthlessness —Alorael, who also wouldn't mind seeing improved AI. Avernum's monsters all seem to be suicidally eager to charge you regardless of the efficacy of other attacks. Posts: 14579 | Registered: Saturday, December 1 2001 08:00 |
| Hybrids Anonymous or How to Differentiate an Opaki from a Choirboy in General | |
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Law Bringer
Member # 335
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written Friday, April 11 2003 16:09
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No, I think that's a well-known fact that people pick up osmotically. I can't actually find it documented anywhere reliable, though. On the other hand, I do know that neutered cats often either grow much larger than they otherwise should or become grossly obese. I had a cat that did both. ?Alorael, who had a quote from one of the Avernum games explaining that nepharim come from two nephil parents and that the nepharim are larger and stronger than nephilim, sterile, and born for unknown reasons. It makes sense in an evolutionary sense, though, if nephilim lived in separated family units. Posts: 14579 | Registered: Saturday, December 1 2001 08:00 |
| What will scripts actually look like? in Blades of Avernum | |
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Law Bringer
Member # 335
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written Thursday, April 10 2003 16:34
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Once again, you don't have to use the scripting language. The built-in scripts should cover everything or almost everything that is done in the Avernum games, which is enough to make a good scenario. And if you need more help, someone here on the boards would probably be willing to give you help on making scripts for more difficult processes. —Alorael, who is sure Jeff will include some kind of documentation for the script system. Whether or not it makes more sense than buying and reading a book on C or C++ remains to be seen. Posts: 14579 | Registered: Saturday, December 1 2001 08:00 |
| Drakefyre in General | |
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Law Bringer
Member # 335
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written Thursday, April 10 2003 13:21
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The first Spiderweb forums were established on March 23, 2001. Those would be the real good ol' days, although Spiderweb-related antiquity involves several communities that predate Spiderweb's boards. —Alorael, who actually thought that the BEEP appeared only a week or so after the forums were opened. Still, it was two years ago, so it's hardly surprising that he's wrong. Posts: 14579 | Registered: Saturday, December 1 2001 08:00 |
| Drakefyre in General | |
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Law Bringer
Member # 335
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written Wednesday, April 9 2003 11:28
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Which was 4/11/01. Does that mean we should expect it in two thousand, one hundred and eight years? Or just when somebody deletes CM4 and you finally finish RiB? —Alorael, who will accept bets on which comes first at this time. Currently the odds are 3:2 in favor of RiB. Hey, a millenium is a long time! Posts: 14579 | Registered: Saturday, December 1 2001 08:00 |
| Hybrids Anonymous or How to Differentiate an Opaki from a Choirboy in General | |
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Law Bringer
Member # 335
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written Monday, April 7 2003 16:52
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The nephils do make some weapons, and they have good bowmaking and fletching skills (although not with crossbows). However, once again I would cite their oppression as the cause of technological decline. They are unable to mine on a large scale, since the humans would quickly kick them out. They can't trade for materials, since the humans would kill them. They are stuck in small, fortified encampments with only their minimum needs for survival met. It's no wonder that they're not advanced! ?Alorael, who would say that the nephil situation in many ways resembles Africa of the 17th century to early 20th century. The nephilim suffer from acute racism and constant defeats in wars that they are not technologically equipped to win. And each loss sets them further behind. The only difference is that the Empire seems to have a policy of total extermination rather than colonialism or enslavement. Posts: 14579 | Registered: Saturday, December 1 2001 08:00 |
| Hybrids Anonymous or How to Differentiate an Opaki from a Choirboy in General | |
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Law Bringer
Member # 335
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written Saturday, April 5 2003 16:47
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The nephilim have permanent dwellings both on the surface and in the caves, but their settlements seem to be more substantial in Exile/Avernum. I'd say that they are at least semi-nomadic, but only because staying in one place too long lets the Empire bring its massive armies to bear against them. Underground, where there are no large human armies and where caves make for easily-defended natural forts, the nephilim feel safer in finding one home and staying in it. On the other hand, this could also be evidence of the leadership of the human Anastasia, who set an example by inhabiting and/or building the main nephil fortress. ?Alorael, who would guess that the nephils aren't nomadic by nature. They certainly seem to be perfectly happy as shopkeepers in human towns when they are able to avoid racism. In fact, there are more nephilim willing to live with humans than sliths. Perhaps the sliths are more xenophobic than the nephilim. Or maybe the humans just seem too alien to reptilian creatures. Posts: 14579 | Registered: Saturday, December 1 2001 08:00 |
| Hybrids Anonymous or How to Differentiate an Opaki from a Choirboy in General | |
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Law Bringer
Member # 335
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written Saturday, April 5 2003 11:36
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The slithzerikai definitely have an greater civilization than appears in the games. In Gnass and in Lost Bahssikava (A1 only), you learn that the sliths are exiles as well. In fact, they were cast out for being bloodthirsty, demon-worshipping savages. Even the sliths in Exile/Avernum have mages and priests that can match humans, organized crafts, and basic skill in stoneworking (although I believe someone in Gnass says they lived in caves before). The nephilim seen in the games are similarly not at their best. In Exile, they too have been banished, only they don't have powerful mages like Erika, Patrick, Solberg, and Rone to help them out. On the surface, the only nephilim left are still hiding from the Empire's genocidal policies towards nonhumans. At one point they may have had far more advanced culture and crafts, but most of that was systematically eradicated by the Empire. ?Alorael, who has contributed nothing new. He has just posted a very long-winded explanation of why the other races don't seem as impressive as the humans and vahnatai. Posts: 14579 | Registered: Saturday, December 1 2001 08:00 |