Profile for Solodric
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Displayed name | Solodric |
| Member number | 3978 |
| Title | Warrior |
| Postcount | 125 |
| Homepage | |
| Registered | Friday, February 13 2004 08:00 |
Recent posts
Pages
| Author | Recent posts |
|---|---|
| Getting BoA soon, need some explanation FIRST! in Blades of Avernum Editor | |
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Warrior
Member # 3978
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written Monday, January 31 2005 04:45
Profile
[ Monday, January 31, 2005 05:55: Message edited by: Solodric ] Posts: 125 | Registered: Friday, February 13 2004 08:00 |
| Getting BoA soon, need some explanation FIRST! in Blades of Avernum | |
|
Warrior
Member # 3978
|
written Monday, January 31 2005 04:45
Profile
[ Monday, January 31, 2005 05:55: Message edited by: Solodric ] Posts: 125 | Registered: Friday, February 13 2004 08:00 |
| Getting BoA soon, need some explanation FIRST! in Blades of Avernum Editor | |
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Warrior
Member # 3978
|
written Monday, January 31 2005 04:44
Profile
That is good to know, considering I have so many ideas for Avernum. I truly and honestly want to make a full, complete and unabridged CEP (Community Expansion Pack) for BoA. I have a lot of ideas about little dangling plotlines and all. I want to get into contact with Jeff and see if I can make a CEP and get it officialized so that it counts as part of the storyline :P Posts: 125 | Registered: Friday, February 13 2004 08:00 |
| Getting BoA soon, need some explanation FIRST! in Blades of Avernum | |
|
Warrior
Member # 3978
|
written Monday, January 31 2005 04:44
Profile
That is good to know, considering I have so many ideas for Avernum. I truly and honestly want to make a full, complete and unabridged CEP (Community Expansion Pack) for BoA. I have a lot of ideas about little dangling plotlines and all. I want to get into contact with Jeff and see if I can make a CEP and get it officialized so that it counts as part of the storyline :P Posts: 125 | Registered: Friday, February 13 2004 08:00 |
| Root of all evil in General | |
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Warrior
Member # 3978
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written Monday, January 31 2005 04:39
Profile
By the way, I note that you say "Experience determines who we are", that is perhaps the purest form of what I am trying to say. If you take two people from two nations at war and train them to hate each other, and thats all you tell them to do, they will be consumed by hate. They will be hatefull people. But if you take the same two people and train them to be compassionate above all else, they will be compassionate instead. Who we are is defined by our experience, our actions are defined by who we are, and whether we are good or evil is defined by the culmination of said experiences, forming a moral opinion on a subject resulting in the subsequent action or inaction by the person, depending on whether they believe said action or inaction to be good or evil, and whether they decide to act with or against thier morals. Posts: 125 | Registered: Friday, February 13 2004 08:00 |
| Root of all evil in General | |
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Warrior
Member # 3978
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written Monday, January 31 2005 04:35
Profile
Wow. This whole discussion got pretty offtopic. It's become more religion and the existance of god, rather than right and wrong. As far as right/wrong goes, Skeletony, you said Good and Evil are in the eye of the beholder? I disagree, Good and Evil are in the mind of the person doing it, which is what determines if it's an evil act or not, in my opinion (As always)and while it is true that the beholder is someone who will be passing judgement on whatever the act is, and hence it is THIER opinion that matters with regards to said persons fate, whether or not a person committed an evil act or a wrong act is entirely up to the person acting. You seem to agree with me, but you and I are getting into an argument over semantics, which I really don't want to do. I'm sorry if I misunderstood you, I'm sleep deprived at the moment. Oh, as far as the anecdote and the animals, it was a response to a response I got earlier, btw. Posts: 125 | Registered: Friday, February 13 2004 08:00 |
| Root of all evil in General | |
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Warrior
Member # 3978
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written Monday, January 31 2005 02:30
Profile
On a side note, while animals and humans understand fear of injury, humans are the only animal with the poor fortune to have the reasoning capability to understand death. This has been studied. One person had a brain defect that made her act completely savage, and when she was recovered, and educated/introduced into society, she began making humane slaughtering houses for cattle. In her words "It isn't the death they are afraid of, because they do not truly understand that concept. It's the new environment that scares cows is all, they're scared as they would be whenever they're shipped to an unfamiliar location." Posts: 125 | Registered: Friday, February 13 2004 08:00 |
| Root of all evil in General | |
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Warrior
Member # 3978
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written Monday, January 31 2005 02:27
Profile
I've heard the "Hitler" argument many times, where people try to bring him into it to prove my argument is incorrect because someone did something horrendously horrible by OUR standards. First off, Hitler himself was a tool, and he was insane, and by law and by common sense, any person too insane to understand thier own actions is not responsible, they should be put in the loony bin. If you dont believe he was insane, go read his works, he wrote a few things. The guy was a nutcase, but a good public speaker, who was actually originally an artist. His art dealer was a Jew, actually, and he would have died without his help. A few unfortunate events lead to where hitler was and what he did, but if it hadn't been him, it honestly would have been some other crackpot. Back on topic, I understand you need to bear the consequences of the others actions, that doesn't mean said person is evil, and it doesn't make you evil for defending yourself if they aren't. To put it bluntly, "Thats just the way things are" sometimes. As for the bombings, Skeletony, they believe us to be the unholy plague/scourge of the planet. Honestly I don't blame the people who committed the acts. It was the ones behind it, the ones who brainwashed them from childhood, I'd like to get MY hands on, because it takes a good deal of intelligence and perception to run such a thing, hence they are the most likely to know what they're doing is evil. Posts: 125 | Registered: Friday, February 13 2004 08:00 |
| Getting BoA soon, need some explanation FIRST! in Blades of Avernum Editor | |
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Warrior
Member # 3978
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written Monday, January 31 2005 02:19
Profile
Okay, about the BoA editor.....first off, are you allowed to change the system? I mean, add new spells, change old skills, etc.,? Like, lets say my scenario is one where you play in a world with many types of magic. Is it possible to add a new magic skill, like "Pure Magic" for Natural Mages, the magic that Athron talked about using, the "Pure magic" she used that came from within her but could not be taught, etc.,? Speaking of other worlds, about the BoA character editor and scenarios, once a scenario is kicked up into the official scenario table, does it count as the "official" scenario? I suggested A4 might have something on the Lost Bahsikava, and was notified that that was Kelandon's territory, which gives the impression that each scenario is assumed to have happened in the A universe?....I'm really confused :P Posts: 125 | Registered: Friday, February 13 2004 08:00 |
| Getting BoA soon, need some explanation FIRST! in Blades of Avernum | |
|
Warrior
Member # 3978
|
written Monday, January 31 2005 02:19
Profile
Okay, about the BoA editor.....first off, are you allowed to change the system? I mean, add new spells, change old skills, etc.,? Like, lets say my scenario is one where you play in a world with many types of magic. Is it possible to add a new magic skill, like "Pure Magic" for Natural Mages, the magic that Athron talked about using, the "Pure magic" she used that came from within her but could not be taught, etc.,? Speaking of other worlds, about the BoA character editor and scenarios, once a scenario is kicked up into the official scenario table, does it count as the "official" scenario? I suggested A4 might have something on the Lost Bahsikava, and was notified that that was Kelandon's territory, which gives the impression that each scenario is assumed to have happened in the A universe?....I'm really confused :P Posts: 125 | Registered: Friday, February 13 2004 08:00 |
| Speculating about Avernum 4's plot in General | |
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Warrior
Member # 3978
|
written Monday, January 31 2005 01:51
Profile
Sorry, while my last post was long, I left a few things out. Another Vahnatai disadvantage would be that while thier bonus to AP lets them attack twice in melee, they cant attack twice from range in a single round. Also they're weak in the sun, which I think would be done simply by removing all thier advantages while on the surface. As for the plot, your either a member of King Micah's personal guard, or even more elusively (and creative, and more likely given my experience with Jeff) you are a member of the Empire, but friendly to the Avernites. Last, but CERTAINLY not least, your are a Rebel against the Empire, and maybe you go to Avernum because you need to get off the surface because it's too dangerous, or maybe you just see it as a place you can help. Or more likely, you fight on both the surface AND in Avernum, which if your a Rebel against the empire, would be pretty damned cool IMO :P So. You start on the surface, to train, then you go to Avernum to help. The Vahnatai are preparing to use barriers to segment Avernum, and cause catastrophes all over the caves, are they? First of the three gamewinning quests: Find a way to stop this from happening. This might include taking out some large Vahnatai magical place, or whatnot. On the way, you hear about the Lost Bassikava. After taking down the magical place, your notified that while it's a grand victory, it's only a matter of time until the Vahnatai remake it and succeed. Avernum needs allies (second gamwinning quest), who are found in the slith hordes beneath the surface. But that turns out to not be enough, the Vahnatai are still too strong. To make matters worse, relations between Avernum and the Empire are thrown into a delicate balance when a group of rebels do something horrible to the empire (doesnt matter what) and are found to be in Avernum employ. So at this point even if avernum were willing to let empire soldiers in, they cant! Not to mention Avernums great strength, the Tower of Magi, cant help them much (refer to A3). So while the war rages on, you find even more allies on the surface, in places on would not expect: The Nephilim, maybe even the Troglodytes, and most importantly, your character goes to the Rebels. Into the main Rebel base against the empire, and enlists thier aid. Hence turning everything upside down and over again, Jeff-style. Especially if you START as an imperial troop and are forced to enlist the aid of the rebels :P So the fighting grows to a climax and of course you need to use the distraction to get in, kill whomevers in charge, and get the hell out of dodge, as the third quest : If you like my two vast posts, lemme know. If not, I wont post again, sorry for the spam-age. Posts: 125 | Registered: Friday, February 13 2004 08:00 |
| Speculating about Avernum 4's plot in General | |
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Warrior
Member # 3978
|
written Monday, January 31 2005 01:30
Profile
I've beaten A1. I've beaten A3. I'm about midway through A2, and I'm downloading BoA at first chance. I revoke my earlier post. I have a new idea for a plot :P Given the events in A3, which I only recently started (three days ago), and beat (this morning), I'd say the following is very, very clear: The Vahnatai have a stronger tendency towards magic. Even thier "Warriors" know basic mage and priest spells. However, when thier strongest mage was pitted against the humans strongest mage, who started winning? BwaHA! granted, we all know how that turned out, and to avoid spoiling the plot for anyone I won't be too specific, but still. The Vahnatai might live longer, but they seem to have the EXACT SAME problem that Elves/Dwarves have in DnD. Slower, MUCH slower advancement, and they can only get so good. Meanwhile, humans can keep getting better and better till they're crotchety old farts who give of auras of intense power, and are capable of slaughtering even the oldest and strongest vahnatai, because the vahnatai just take too damned long. Even further evidence of this was provided by Jeff, whom I'm very impressed with at the moment. Thier Waveblades take MONTHS to complete even a single blade, thier razordisks take a week a piece or so! And a FINE waveblade takes forever. MEANWHILE, in A3, if you give mithril to the ultimate, reclusive, angry blacksmith, he turns it into the best sword in the game (if you like +1 AP) in just 10-15 days. And that sword is better than any vahnatai blade, both in min/max damage and damage per level. Not to mention, the outdoors makes the vahnatai weak as hell, as well. So, my idea for an A4 plot? The Vahnatai War is raging on. The empire, and even the avernites, are fighting a dead-end war with the Vahnatai. The Avernites can't facilitate the empire's teleportation of troops to the bottom, because if they did the state would be at much risk. So the good Sliths/Nephilim, and Avernum, are the only thing standing between the supremely pissed Vahnatai, and the Empire that can't handle a few stupid monster hordes that a single avernite adventurer can slaughter off (Gotta love playing singleton). So.....the battles are getting bloodier. The Vahntai are using the fact that every troop has magic, and thier superior numbers from awakening all thier numbers, against the avernites. The Vahnatai have perfectly crafted weapons, which while slow to craft, each Vahnatai probably has a weapon by now. The Avernites, being the most creative and intelligent minds in the empire (which is why they were banished, of course) is using guile and creativity to hold off the Vahnatai. But it can only hold so long. To lengthen this defense are the great heroes of A2, holding back the hordes. Keeping Vahnatai spies out are Unspecified Services, heroes of A3 with a vengeance, keeping good old King Micah from being assassinated as long as they can. Things begin to look grim, and Avernum needs a new ally. You begin play at this point, with available party members including Vahnatai (After slaughtering hordes of these things, I think thier stats would pretty much be: +to mage spells, meaning any Vahnatai can use magic, even without going out of thier way to learn it. Also more nimble, a bonus to Parry and Actions. Sounds pretty sick, dont it? A character with a base actions of 5 (because all vahnatai can attack with melee weapons twice per round if they dont move) and capable of using mage spells? And less likely to be hit, gosh, what could possibly stop these monsters. Then you add in the fact that Vahnatai have a severe EXP penalty (because they learn more slowly) and that any encumbring armor not only stops thier spells, but makes them weak in melee as well, due to thier light frames. Maybe require an insane, insane amount of Endurance to get thier AP back, and not allow them to cast spells unless they have full AP. Because as you might noticed, skilled as Vahnatai craftsmen are, they never wear armor, or anything in fact, but cloaks. And thats my two cents. Dont stealem :P Posts: 125 | Registered: Friday, February 13 2004 08:00 |
| Root of all evil in General | |
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Warrior
Member # 3978
|
written Monday, January 31 2005 01:02
Profile
Incredible. I make a post and come back to find it that there have been nearly 50 responses in just a couple days. Well, one person commented that an alligator might think/not think it was doing good when it killed someone's dog, which brings up guilt/innocence in the realm of good and evil. At the risk of misqouting, I'm going to use some ancient greek philosophy on the issue. Namely Socrates', despite how infamous he was, since I think it is the simplest way to explain. Socrates' once defined Bravery and Fearlessness. He said Fearlessness was what animals experienced. They did not know what death was, they do not truly understand it, therefore they can't fear it. At the risk of making a controversial and simplified statement: "They are too stupid to fear". The lack of rationalization on thier part makes them incapable of understanding the concept of thier own termination. Meanwhile, Bravery is when a person fears something, but has a stronger motivation than fear, allowing him to perform a task despite that emotion. Now try and apply this to Good, Evil, and Innocence. Animals can not do evil, because they do not understand it. If a baby where to knock over a glass onto the floor, would the baby be guilty of that crime? Or innocent, because it knew no better? Applying that to animals, when an animal kills something for food, it knows no better, therefore it is innocent. Now, if animals ARE capable of rationalizing good and evil, life and death, etc., and know that what they're doing is wrong, and do it anyway, that would fall into the category of an evil act. Meanwhile, if a person thinks they're doing right, how can you penalize them? If the soldier shoots the man running down the street with the pistol, thinking him to be a threat, how can you blame the soldier, should they later discover that said man was defending himself? Therefore, the soldier is "innocent" because he thought he was doing right. Thats my two cents, I hope I dont get buried in responses again :P Posts: 125 | Registered: Friday, February 13 2004 08:00 |
| naming a character in Avernum in The Avernum Trilogy | |
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Warrior
Member # 3978
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written Monday, January 24 2005 07:37
Profile
I usually play singleton with a male human or nephil mage named Solodric, when I get more characters they're Marach - my warrior who knows some white magic Teth - My thief/ninja guy Alexie - My fulltime clerical asswhipper. Dont go stealin' my names now :P Posts: 125 | Registered: Friday, February 13 2004 08:00 |
| turned off chrater editor in The Avernum Trilogy | |
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Warrior
Member # 3978
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written Monday, January 24 2005 07:35
Profile
Speaking of editors....I dont have BoA yet, I'm going to buy it soon! About its editor...I hear it lets you change spells/skills or something? I was wondering if there's a way to reallly change the whole system, adding new races/skills/spells/etc.,? Posts: 125 | Registered: Friday, February 13 2004 08:00 |
| Racism in Avernum. in The Avernum Trilogy | |
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Warrior
Member # 3978
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written Monday, January 24 2005 07:31
Profile
Hey, we french aren't useless. Granted, I'm a U.S. citizen who simply inherited french blood, but hey, lay off the Frenchy/Canadian jokes, they get old REALLY fast. As far as racism in Avernum goes, people will always have something to hate. If it isnt racism it's sexism. If it isn't that they start up with the religions. If it isnt that they divide the religion into 50 sects and fight over that. And failing that they kill each other because they aren't in the same family. Trust me, I've studied enough history and psychology to know......bias is ALWAYS prevalant ESPECIALLY in a medieval setting :P Posts: 125 | Registered: Friday, February 13 2004 08:00 |
| Speculating about Avernum 4's plot in General | |
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Warrior
Member # 3978
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written Monday, January 24 2005 06:51
Profile
What I would personally like to see in Avernum 4: A quick tying of all those loose, dangling plots that never seemed to get tied off A return of a lot of the old cast that is still surviving to celebrate events, etc., to set the stage for what happens. I'm thinking more along the lines of, the Bahsikavva is opened up. The old sliths poor into the caverns to check out whats going on. Also, the shaky alliances between the empire and avernum crumble away, theres just no way it can stay there. Result? The new influx of good-slithy warriors from the lost bahsikavva join you and the Vahnati to fight against the Empire. I'm guessing the Vahnati will die out by the end of A4, but hey, I could be wrong ;) not to mention, there IS likely to be something along the lines of a succession....argument :P I dont think it'll escalate into allout war. Probably the succession dealy is where you will see "cold-war esque" spies and assassins. Posts: 125 | Registered: Friday, February 13 2004 08:00 |
| Root of all evil in General | |
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Warrior
Member # 3978
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written Monday, January 24 2005 06:30
Profile
I read the first part of this thread, and the last part of this thread. Seems the question still isn't answered, and it's moving more on to religion now. Well, ALL RELIGION ASIDE FOR A MOMENT, here are my thoughts on the issue. Something is evil when it is "wrong", I do not believe anyone will disagree with me there as it's simply the words definition. Now, what is wrong? First, we must ascertain how we find out what is wrong. Simple. We each have a set of morals. That can come from religion, social teachings, human nature, whatever. However you got your moral compass or lack thereof, you have it (or have it not). This moral compass tells you what's right and wrong (good and evil). When you do something that you yourself think is wrong, you are commiting evil. When you yourself do what you consider right, your doing good. Therefore, good and evil are interpretations of actions. Now testing the theory....let's say a person kills another person. That is evil springs to mind, but why did he kill the person? If he did it in self-defense, or did it to save others, is it still evil? Regardless of your own opinion, it is what the KILLER thought of his actions that matter. If he really thought he was doing a good deed, and was did something we consider evil because he was ignorant by our standards, how is he less innocent than creatures such as alligators? He did not know better, he did the best he could in the circumstances. So it is my belief that therefore, whether a deed is good or evil depends on the person commiting the deeds view of such. And this answers the original question, as well: The root of all evil is morals. The root of all good is morals. That's my view on the issue, I'll get around to reading the "meat" of the posts later. Posts: 125 | Registered: Friday, February 13 2004 08:00 |