Profile for Ash Lael

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What about a spidweb chatroom? in General
Ash Lael
E Equals MC What!!!!
Member # 5491
 written Monday, March 14 2005 20:48 Profile Homepage #6
The Lyceum has a chatroom.

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Sex is easier than love.
Posts: 1861 | Registered: Friday, February 11 2005 08:00
cehck tihs out in General
Ash Lael
E Equals MC What!!!!
Member # 5491
 written Monday, March 14 2005 20:40 Profile Homepage #97
quote:
Originally written by Thuryl:

A business management course may be inefficient if all you ever want to do is manage a restaurant all your life, but what if the restaurant industry slumps and thousands of people who don't know how to do anything but manage restaurants are left with no jobs and no marketable skills? A general education creates people who are able to work in a variety of fields as the requirements of the job market shift.
Really? I think the experience of having held down a position of responsibility and having proved yourself capable of managing employees would count in your favour much more than having studied a bunch of unrelated subjects x years ago.

And really, 'Life Experience' is very valuable. Managing a restaurant for an extended length of time is very unlikely to turn you into a person who only knows how to manage a restaurant and nothing else.

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Sex is easier than love.
Posts: 1861 | Registered: Friday, February 11 2005 08:00
cehck tihs out in General
Ash Lael
E Equals MC What!!!!
Member # 5491
 written Monday, March 14 2005 12:31 Profile Homepage #82
quote:
Originally written by andrew miller:

Um, one of the reasons your nation and mine are as economically well-off as they are is because of their education systems.
We could argue about cause and effect, but I won't bother. :P

[quote]It may not make sense to you now, especially if you're inside it currently, but formal education systems, even through the high school level, create skilled workers. What does "skilled" signify? I think at a basic level, it refers to the added capacity for abstract thought that enables employees to adapt to new, more complex tasks and solve more complex problems. Anyone can push a button repeatedly on an assembly line or process meat; not everyone can manage employees at a restaurant (you likely need a high school diploma for this) or even do basic filing. At some level, jobs such as these require a baseline level of analytical thinking ability.

That the quality and existence of the formal education system matters is evident if you compare the wage rates in different nations. Across the board, nations with a "comparative advantage" in unskilled labor (large numbers of uneducated people) have much greater poverty rates than those with an advantage in skilled labor. Also, consider Singapore - over the last seventy-five years or so, its economy has transitioned from being unskilled labor-based to a skilled labor- and capital-based economy, largely through its dedication to a formal education system for its populace, and as a result has witnessed tremendous benefit financially.

Believe me, I know first-hand how school sucks! :) However, there is a rhyme and reason to it.[/quote]I've been out of the education system for four years. I didn't really give it a chance, so I freely admit that I don't have a fully balanced view of things. On the other hand, you've probably never tried getting a job without an education, so you probably don't either.

I'm not arguing that formal education is not a path to employment and success. It's the only way a lot of people are aware of, and it's probably the most common route. I'm just saying that (particularly with skilled labour) it's a very inefficient way to go about things. If I wanted to get a job as a restaurant manager, the last place I'd go is to TAFE or Uni.

Possibly my perspective is warped by unnaturally positive experience, but I like to think there was more to it than freak luck.

[ Monday, March 14, 2005 12:40: Message edited by: Ash Lael ]

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Sex is easier than love.
Posts: 1861 | Registered: Friday, February 11 2005 08:00
cehck tihs out in General
Ash Lael
E Equals MC What!!!!
Member # 5491
 written Sunday, March 13 2005 22:00 Profile Homepage #65
I maintain that the entire education system is, by and large, a waste of time. Higher education may be different, I've no experience with it. I also realise that a lot of fields absolutely require formal education (such as medicine, for example), and am not referring to these.

Having given those disclaimers, I have no qualms saying that I think more often than not, formal education is, at best, very innefficient and you're generally better off bypassing it as much as possible.

Edit: Hmm, that's a lot of qualifiers. :P

[ Sunday, March 13, 2005 22:03: Message edited by: Ash Lael ]

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Sex is easier than love.
Posts: 1861 | Registered: Friday, February 11 2005 08:00
Weapon Making in Blades of Exile
Ash Lael
E Equals MC What!!!!
Member # 5491
 written Sunday, March 13 2005 19:55 Profile Homepage #10
However, there are also ways to block 1PC parties. :P

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SupaNik: Aran, you're not big enough to threaten Ash. Dammit, even JV had to think twice.
Posts: 1861 | Registered: Friday, February 11 2005 08:00
How many? in General
Ash Lael
E Equals MC What!!!!
Member # 5491
 written Saturday, March 12 2005 23:09 Profile Homepage #39
Lay - Ell.

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Sex is easier than love.
Posts: 1861 | Registered: Friday, February 11 2005 08:00
How many? in General
Ash Lael
E Equals MC What!!!!
Member # 5491
 written Saturday, March 12 2005 22:14 Profile Homepage #37
My middle name is Lael. I like it a lot more than either of my other names.

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Sex is easier than love.
Posts: 1861 | Registered: Friday, February 11 2005 08:00
Calling all Scenarios in Blades of Avernum Editor
Ash Lael
E Equals MC What!!!!
Member # 5491
 written Friday, March 11 2005 14:46 Profile Homepage #13
That's cool guys, but you don't need to announce every time you start a scenario. When you finish one, well, that's worth making a song and dance over. :)

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SupaNik: Aran, you're not big enough to threaten Ash. Dammit, even JV had to think twice.
Posts: 1861 | Registered: Friday, February 11 2005 08:00
Calling all Scenarios in Blades of Avernum
Ash Lael
E Equals MC What!!!!
Member # 5491
 written Friday, March 11 2005 14:46 Profile Homepage #13
That's cool guys, but you don't need to announce every time you start a scenario. When you finish one, well, that's worth making a song and dance over. :)

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SupaNik: Aran, you're not big enough to threaten Ash. Dammit, even JV had to think twice.
Posts: 1861 | Registered: Friday, February 11 2005 08:00
Relative location... in General
Ash Lael
E Equals MC What!!!!
Member # 5491
 written Friday, March 11 2005 03:44 Profile Homepage #56
TM: We don't have barns or barnyards. We have sheds.

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Sex is easier than love.
Posts: 1861 | Registered: Friday, February 11 2005 08:00
Article - Rollick in Blades of Avernum Editor
Ash Lael
E Equals MC What!!!!
Member # 5491
 written Thursday, March 10 2005 18:15 Profile Homepage #28
quote:
Originally written by Student of Trinity:

I'd be prepared to argue that rollicking/gritty is the most significant bit in the long binary number describing a scenario. What would the next bit be?
I'd say the most important factor depends on the scenario. Some scenarios emphasize certain elements, others focus on others.

I would say one of the most important elements in general and one I like to focus on is the relationship between the player and the party.

PoD, there is no way DreamGuy is Jeff, as you'd realize if you'd heard him complaining about A Small Rebellion, and how a choice with no easy answer is a false choice.

[ Thursday, March 10, 2005 18:53: Message edited by: Ash Lael ]

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SupaNik: Aran, you're not big enough to threaten Ash. Dammit, even JV had to think twice.
Posts: 1861 | Registered: Friday, February 11 2005 08:00
Article - Rollick in Blades of Avernum
Ash Lael
E Equals MC What!!!!
Member # 5491
 written Thursday, March 10 2005 18:15 Profile Homepage #28
quote:
Originally written by Student of Trinity:

I'd be prepared to argue that rollicking/gritty is the most significant bit in the long binary number describing a scenario. What would the next bit be?
I'd say the most important factor depends on the scenario. Some scenarios emphasize certain elements, others focus on others.

I would say one of the most important elements in general and one I like to focus on is the relationship between the player and the party.

PoD, there is no way DreamGuy is Jeff, as you'd realize if you'd heard him complaining about A Small Rebellion, and how a choice with no easy answer is a false choice.

[ Thursday, March 10, 2005 18:53: Message edited by: Ash Lael ]

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SupaNik: Aran, you're not big enough to threaten Ash. Dammit, even JV had to think twice.
Posts: 1861 | Registered: Friday, February 11 2005 08:00
Relative location... in General
Ash Lael
E Equals MC What!!!!
Member # 5491
 written Thursday, March 10 2005 18:09 Profile Homepage #52
*fits the Aussie stereotype somewhat*

I've at least shorn sheep and shot kangaroos and all that stuff. And I use G'day in business emails. :P

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Sex is easier than love.
Posts: 1861 | Registered: Friday, February 11 2005 08:00
Article - Rollick in Blades of Avernum Editor
Ash Lael
E Equals MC What!!!!
Member # 5491
 written Thursday, March 10 2005 14:49 Profile Homepage #25
I'd also point out that game design and scenario design are two quite different things, just as writing a novel isn't the same as writing a short story. A good writer should be able to do both well, sure, but just because you have some experience with the one (and I'm giving you the benefit of assuming you aren't just lying), does not automatically mean you know everything there is to know about the other.

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SupaNik: Aran, you're not big enough to threaten Ash. Dammit, even JV had to think twice.
Posts: 1861 | Registered: Friday, February 11 2005 08:00
Article - Rollick in Blades of Avernum
Ash Lael
E Equals MC What!!!!
Member # 5491
 written Thursday, March 10 2005 14:49 Profile Homepage #25
I'd also point out that game design and scenario design are two quite different things, just as writing a novel isn't the same as writing a short story. A good writer should be able to do both well, sure, but just because you have some experience with the one (and I'm giving you the benefit of assuming you aren't just lying), does not automatically mean you know everything there is to know about the other.

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SupaNik: Aran, you're not big enough to threaten Ash. Dammit, even JV had to think twice.
Posts: 1861 | Registered: Friday, February 11 2005 08:00
Article - Rollick in Blades of Avernum Editor
Ash Lael
E Equals MC What!!!!
Member # 5491
 written Wednesday, March 9 2005 21:28 Profile Homepage #12
I think Areni is a successful blend.

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SupaNik: Aran, you're not big enough to threaten Ash. Dammit, even JV had to think twice.
Posts: 1861 | Registered: Friday, February 11 2005 08:00
Article - Rollick in Blades of Avernum
Ash Lael
E Equals MC What!!!!
Member # 5491
 written Wednesday, March 9 2005 21:28 Profile Homepage #12
I think Areni is a successful blend.

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SupaNik: Aran, you're not big enough to threaten Ash. Dammit, even JV had to think twice.
Posts: 1861 | Registered: Friday, February 11 2005 08:00
Your Thoughts .... in General
Ash Lael
E Equals MC What!!!!
Member # 5491
 written Wednesday, March 9 2005 16:15 Profile Homepage #39
I drink only occasionally (i.e. when someone else is paying), so I can't really offer any meaningful comparison between Australian beers. Victorian Bitter (VB) seems to be the most popular in the South, up North it tends to be XXXX.

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Sex is easier than love.
Posts: 1861 | Registered: Friday, February 11 2005 08:00
Let's Play A Game! in General
Ash Lael
E Equals MC What!!!!
Member # 5491
 written Monday, March 7 2005 21:39 Profile Homepage #18
Okay, this is obviously dead. Might as well reveal who we were, if we weren't caught.

I was Relax Lola Relax.

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Sex is easier than love.
Posts: 1861 | Registered: Friday, February 11 2005 08:00
Background Music in Blades of Avernum
Ash Lael
E Equals MC What!!!!
Member # 5491
 written Monday, March 7 2005 19:10 Profile Homepage #13
Very good point, which is why I'd never use it in a battle. Cutscenes would probably work though, and if not over-the-top, a touch for atmospheric purposes could work nicely.

I mean, what can't be stuffed up badly if the designer doesn't know what he's doing?

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SupaNik: Aran, you're not big enough to threaten Ash. Dammit, even JV had to think twice.
Posts: 1861 | Registered: Friday, February 11 2005 08:00
Background Music in Blades of Avernum
Ash Lael
E Equals MC What!!!!
Member # 5491
 written Monday, March 7 2005 18:54 Profile Homepage #11
I think music should only be used at specific points, such as during a cutscene.

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SupaNik: Aran, you're not big enough to threaten Ash. Dammit, even JV had to think twice.
Posts: 1861 | Registered: Friday, February 11 2005 08:00
Surprise in General
Ash Lael
E Equals MC What!!!!
Member # 5491
 written Monday, March 7 2005 18:28 Profile Homepage #72
Testing...

Yep, I have BoE Posse. Cool.

[ Monday, March 07, 2005 18:29: Message edited by: Ash Lael ]

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Sex is easier than love.
Posts: 1861 | Registered: Friday, February 11 2005 08:00
Concentrated Linearity Debate (New Voices Welcome to Participate and Vote) in Blades of Avernum
Ash Lael
E Equals MC What!!!!
Member # 5491
 written Saturday, March 5 2005 20:54 Profile Homepage #13
Exactly, it's the designer's perogative (sp?).

Personally, I'd like to see experimentation and new ideas come into play rather than a battle between "Linear" and "Non-linear". One of the ideas behind Areni, for example, was to create a kind of macro-linearity (the story progresses in the same way), but still allow a great degree of variance on the detail level. Depending on what recipes you choose to rely on, what ingredients you use up, where you go, etc, the combat experience can be wildly different for different people, but still of a consistently high quality. One of my beta-testers said a certain recipe was only slightly useful, while it was the main staple for another. In other words, I tried to create a situation where the scenario would allow for big changes on a level that mattered to the player, dictated by the player's actions. I think it succeeded, though most people don't appreciate it, since they only play through once. :P But that's the kind of thing I'd like to see more of, blurring the two concepts in interesting ways. Roots is an example of a scenario that does this purely in storyline terms, though I can't really expand on that without ruining it for someone.

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SupaNik: Aran, you're not big enough to threaten Ash. Dammit, even JV had to think twice.
Posts: 1861 | Registered: Friday, February 11 2005 08:00
Concentrated Linearity Debate (New Voices Welcome to Participate and Vote) in Blades of Avernum
Ash Lael
E Equals MC What!!!!
Member # 5491
 written Saturday, March 5 2005 20:02 Profile Homepage #11
The Adventurer's Club scenarios are not non-linear. While AC1 and AC3 have a lot of incidental, non-essential stuff (to a point where it can be difficult to find the central, linear storyline), the main path doesn't vary to any real extent.

Did you ever finish any of the AC scenarios, Drake?

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SupaNik: Aran, you're not big enough to threaten Ash. Dammit, even JV had to think twice.
Posts: 1861 | Registered: Friday, February 11 2005 08:00
Article - bjlhct2 On Scenario Design pt 1: Linearity in Blades of Avernum
Ash Lael
E Equals MC What!!!!
Member # 5491
 written Thursday, March 3 2005 19:37 Profile Homepage #82
It gets terribly difficult to keep track of what we are actually arguing here. I was under the impression that we were discussing scenario design, but it seems SkeleTony has been talking about RPG design in general (where I will freely admit that combat is a much greater asset, as players don't know the engine inside out - wheras in BoE, it would be entirely possible for a sufficiently experienced player to beat a dragon with a level 1 party, though it would be a long, boring fight).

Similarily, I thought he was arguing that linearity was inferior to non-linearity, but it appears I was mistaken - he's merely saying that it's more his style.

So, I'm not sure what to say, since I can't really see anything I disagree on. :P

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SupaNik: Aran, you're not big enough to threaten Ash. Dammit, even JV had to think twice.
Posts: 1861 | Registered: Friday, February 11 2005 08:00

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