Profile for Synergy
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Displayed name | Synergy |
| Member number | 6292 |
| Title | Shaper |
| Postcount | 2009 |
| Homepage | |
| Registered | Monday, September 12 2005 07:00 |
Recent posts
Pages
| Author | Recent posts |
|---|---|
| Where will G5 be? in Geneforge 4: Rebellion | |
|
Shaper
Member # 6292
|
written Friday, April 6 2007 13:39
Profile
quote:This stands for "Brilliantly Speculate".... ...right? -S- -------------------- A4 Items • A4 Singleton • G4 Items • G4 Forging • G4 Infiltrator • NR Items • The Lonely Celt Posts: 2009 | Registered: Monday, September 12 2005 07:00 |
| Ideologies of Geneforge (4) in Geneforge 4: Rebellion | |
|
Shaper
Member # 6292
|
written Friday, April 6 2007 06:31
Profile
Hmm, that seems to be the case from what I can find too. How many years have I been reading or hearing how "jellyfish are colonies" now? I guess that goes to show how information gets dumbed down for much of the media. -S- -------------------- A4 Items • A4 Singleton • G4 Items • G4 Forging • G4 Infiltrator • NR Items • The Lonely Celt Posts: 2009 | Registered: Monday, September 12 2005 07:00 |
| All In The Family in General | |
|
Shaper
Member # 6292
|
written Friday, April 6 2007 06:19
Profile
quote:It was my understanding that "the dead tell no tales." -S- -------------------- A4 Item Locations A4 Singleton G4 Items List G4 Forging List The Insidious Infiltrator Posts: 2009 | Registered: Monday, September 12 2005 07:00 |
| Aranclonetar in General | |
|
Shaper
Member # 6292
|
written Friday, April 6 2007 06:06
Profile
The picture I saw on the news looked almost exactly like him. This picture was the closest I could find online. Eh. -S- -------------------- A4 Item Locations A4 Singleton G4 Items List G4 Forging List The Insidious Infiltrator Posts: 2009 | Registered: Monday, September 12 2005 07:00 |
| Ideologies of Geneforge (4) in Geneforge 4: Rebellion | |
|
Shaper
Member # 6292
|
written Friday, April 6 2007 05:40
Profile
quote:I'm a colony of some fifty trillion cooperative cells, but I prefer to stick with "I" rather than "we." There are social benefits to not referring too often to oneself in the plural. It's ambiguous in the case of the jellyfish which is a true colony, because "fish" can be both singular and plural. Do the jellyfish consider themselves as one or many? -S- P.S. I voted Trakovites: right idea, but presently still just a hopeless spoiler party. [ Friday, April 06, 2007 05:42: Message edited by: Synergy ] -------------------- A4 Items • A4 Singleton • G4 Items • G4 Forging • G4 Infiltrator • NR Items • The Lonely Celt Posts: 2009 | Registered: Monday, September 12 2005 07:00 |
| Surprises in General | |
|
Shaper
Member # 6292
|
written Friday, April 6 2007 05:31
Profile
Wnds o' change, they be a-blowin'. Inhale richly. Ahhhh. I would like to thank The Academy™, my parents for making me despite themselves, my friends Anna and Trevor for wising up and moving back, my Ethics professor for painting with a palette of more than two hues, my Psychology and Spirituality professor for blowing my mind last quarter (so I could install a newer and bigger one), the frequently inscrutable Salmon, for not making me the least bit ashamed of any of my delightfully bizarre local counterparts (including Jeffery—maker of fine, annoyingly addictive, silly, little FRPGs), Stareye for thinking to make me an accomplice in SW-honorific do-gooding, and my black cat Bagheera, who never gave up on me—and doesn't bring me small, battered, squeaking rodents in the middle of the night as gifts, unlike my previous cat. -S- -------------------- A4 Item Locations A4 Singleton G4 Items List G4 Forging List The Insidious Infiltrator Posts: 2009 | Registered: Monday, September 12 2005 07:00 |
| Just one complaint in Avernum 4 | |
|
Shaper
Member # 6292
|
written Thursday, April 5 2007 21:37
Profile
I had kind of an odd experience between Exile and Avernum. I played a little of Exile III on a MacAddict CD-ROM back in the late 90's and kind of liked it, but was almost overwhelmed with how big and involved the game seemed. I thought the graphics were quaint and the world somehow felt magical, and it reminded me of the fun I had playing Ultima IV many years prior. A few years later, I started playing again and really enjoyed Exile III. I went online to look for a FAQ, I think, and found SW and learned there were these Avernum games, which were updated versions of the Exile Games. I thought it was a real pity the Exile name was not maintained, because I thought it was a far superior title for the series. Graphically, Exile had this sort of cavey green glow feel to me, which went well with the game. I liked the little special encounter nodules. Avernum had more of a detailed, literal view of the world. I'm a sucker for art and aesthetics, so Avernum won, even though I liked the spells better in Exile, and having six characters. I also missed some sense of atmosphere the Exile graphics gave me that the Avernum graphics didn't. If I had played Exile for years before Avernum, I can see how I might have really prefered the original. Home is where the heart is. We get attached to what is first and familiar to us. That's probably part of the loyalty for many. Some reasons people prefer Exile to Avernum are probably parallel to reasons I prefer Civilization II and III to Civ IV. -S- -------------------- A4 Items • A4 Singleton • G4 Items • G4 Forging • G4 Infiltrator • NR Items • The Lonely Celt Posts: 2009 | Registered: Monday, September 12 2005 07:00 |
| Problems with Help the Rebels quest. in Geneforge Series | |
|
Shaper
Member # 6292
|
written Wednesday, April 4 2007 21:31
Profile
quote:Don't stop reading! (unless you've never finished a game yet.) There's no truly wrong way to play this game or build a PC. Some people limit themselves to no magic and using sticks to beat everything, because they enjoy the challenge...even if they do stop posting on their progress at some point. :rolleyes: *cough*ash*cough* The Infiltrator in my story is an extreme build and something of an experiment. In fact, if I were to play an Infiltrator again, I'd build her a little bit differently, which I will comment upon in the conclusion of the tale. So, by my own estimation, I didn't quite "get it right." There is room for "error" though. There are lots of ways to play this game. The bottom line is: Does your style work for you? Do you get what you most want out of the experience? Was it fun to play? If you can answer, "Yes," well, there you go...mission accomplished. If not, try again, having learned from where you think you went wrong. Happy Infiltrating...or whatever you're trying to do. -S- -------------------- A4 Item Locations A4 Singleton G4 Items List G4 Forging List The Insidious Infiltrator Posts: 2009 | Registered: Monday, September 12 2005 07:00 |
| Aranclonetar in General | |
|
Shaper
Member # 6292
|
written Wednesday, April 4 2007 21:19
Profile
Apparently, Aran was just shot and killed in Boise, Idaho, so hereafter, if you spot him, it's one of his many clones.  R.I.P. -S- -------------------- A4 Item Locations A4 Singleton G4 Items List G4 Forging List The Insidious Infiltrator Posts: 2009 | Registered: Monday, September 12 2005 07:00 |
| Happy Passover in General | |
|
Shaper
Member # 6292
|
written Wednesday, April 4 2007 18:42
Profile
A man with a briefcase dashes up breathlessly to a London train station and sees a long span of platforms in either direction. He hastily asks the attendent, "I have two minutes to catch the train to Sheffield! Which way do I go?" The attendent sardonically replies, "Turn to the left and you'll be right...turn to the right and you'll be left." :P -S- -------------------- A4 Item Locations A4 Singleton G4 Items List G4 Forging List The Insidious Infiltrator Posts: 2009 | Registered: Monday, September 12 2005 07:00 |
| Happy Passover in General | |
|
Shaper
Member # 6292
|
written Wednesday, April 4 2007 18:13
Profile
quote:Don't worry...it's all right now. -S- R is for Redundancy -------------------- A4 Item Locations A4 Singleton G4 Items List G4 Forging List The Insidious Infiltrator Posts: 2009 | Registered: Monday, September 12 2005 07:00 |
| Which kind of spells do you like. in Geneforge 4: Rebellion | |
|
Shaper
Member # 6292
|
written Wednesday, April 4 2007 18:04
Profile
With strong Battle Magic, I find that Ice Spray and Kill are the two spells I use the great majority of the time, unless I need something less punchy than Ice Spray to finish something off, in which case I use Fireball or Searer. Kill is more powerful than Lightning Aura, which I rarely find worthwhile, as it just leaves your opponent alive longer to do some real damage to you. Essence Orbs are nice for multiple targets all prey to Magic Damage, but I still find myself using them infrequently. I usually would rather completely destroy a foe I have quite possibly already Dazed anyway, than wake up and piss off three at once, none of which are likely to die that turn. -S- P.S. This poll would have done well to have permitted more than one choice selection. I utilize all spell categories significantly in certain builds. I most enjoy select Battle Magic and Mental Magic. [ Wednesday, April 04, 2007 18:53: Message edited by: Synergy ] -------------------- A4 Items • A4 Singleton • G4 Items • G4 Forging • G4 Infiltrator • NR Items • The Lonely Celt Posts: 2009 | Registered: Monday, September 12 2005 07:00 |
| Why does Ahkhari... in Geneforge 4: Rebellion | |
|
Shaper
Member # 6292
|
written Wednesday, April 4 2007 17:57
Profile
spoiler... . . . . . . . . . I'd have to say this plot device was perhaps the weakest moment of the whole game. There really is no believable reason the Drakons need you to help out with the Unbound. I'd rather have seen your PC be involved as some kind of reluctant, but necessary witness or even as hostage (testing the Unbounds seemed okay in this respect, but it steers one toward being inclined to oppose the Drakons.) You then get to decide whether to permit the Drakons to finish the Unbound and help fight the invading Shapers, help the Shapers overcome the Drakons, or just sabotage the machinery on your own either way and try to escape undetected more like certain PCs would really be inclined to operate. The final scenarios didn't need to involve you at the helm one little bit. -S- -------------------- A4 Items • A4 Singleton • G4 Items • G4 Forging • G4 Infiltrator • NR Items • The Lonely Celt Posts: 2009 | Registered: Monday, September 12 2005 07:00 |
| The Insidious Infiltrator in Geneforge 4: Rebellion | |
|
Shaper
Member # 6292
|
written Tuesday, April 3 2007 19:12
Profile
VALETA III Chapter Five—Part Six: There's Something Rotten in This Den, Mark Valeta, still exultant over her thorough trouncing of Miranda, is startled by an unearthly presence emerging from the shadows ahead. Ever since her creepy encounter in the Wrecked Lab, the appearance of a rotghroth is enough to send a chill down her spine...briefly. Then she gets down to the business of sending this decaying corpse back to its grave.  But as it turns out, this rotten one was not alone. Quite the opposite. Valeta stumbles upon a virtual infestation of Rogue Rotghroths in this dark, forsaken corner of the cave. Even more frightfully, one of them glows a sinister green in their midst. It is a Rogue Rotdhizon, clearly the menacing leader of the lot.  Val wastes no time casting Mass Madness, hoping that her potent Mental Magic will find its way into some functional cranny of the rotting brains before her. She does indeed have some success. She manages to Charm one Rotghroth and the Rotdhizon itself! Two rotted minions attack the Rotdhizon, to Valeta's delight. Two more gang up on the other Charmed rot. Only one rot escapes the distractions sufficiently to attack Valeta.  As the rots continue to whittle each other down, Valeta dispatches the one before her and then makes quick work of three more ailing rots.  One more turn, and it's down to the Rotdhizon leader only. He whittles down as readily as any other rot.  He also dies as readily as the rest.  Now Val helps herself to what has been secretly beckoning her to this dark corner of the world...a canister...and not just any canister, but the third Create Drakon canister. She takes a deep breath...and inhales deeply.  The power...THE POWER! It surges like liquid fire through her veins in shimmering, tremulous waves. She dashes out of the Warren like a bowshot. She must return with the utmost of haste to Derenton Freehold where she has left her Shaping gear. It is finally time for what she has been long preparing. NEXT: I Get By With a Little Help From My Friends -S- [ Tuesday, April 03, 2007 19:52: Message edited by: Synergy ] -------------------- A4 Items • A4 Singleton • G4 Items • G4 Forging • G4 Infiltrator • NR Items • The Lonely Celt Posts: 2009 | Registered: Monday, September 12 2005 07:00 |
| The Insidious Infiltrator in Geneforge 4: Rebellion | |
|
Shaper
Member # 6292
|
written Tuesday, April 3 2007 18:14
Profile
VALETA III Chapter Five—Part Five: Settling An Old Score (Catfight in a Cavern) Valeta stands before the smug Drakon panel, seething at their misuse of her and Greta. She would have loved to have finished off each of the three Drakons before her, but is not permitted the sastisfaction.  Instead, the Drakons themselves initiate the destruction of their own test pets. Upon the bidding of their masters, the Unbound decay rapidly and crumple into bubbling piles of Creation leftovers on the floor. Valeta takes the opportunity to take this small reward for her bother from the chamber off the arena.  This is normally my favorite armor to equip, but Valeta isn't nearly strong enough to heft it. This is the sacrifice she makes for being so magically purist. She'll have to make do with her Shaper Trueweave, as it's the best body armor she's going to be able to equip in this game. For good measure, Val also pilfers the golden goblet some Drakon carelessly left behind in the viewing seats. Valeta may have been inducted into fulfilling the wishes of the Drakons in Northforge, but she is still on her own mission. By successfully completing the Unbound testing, she is given access to the Northforge Warrens nearby. Karikiss informs Val that there has been some kind of disturbance back in the Warrens, and he wants her to find out what it is—and take care of it, if possible. Happily enough, Val's wishes coincide with those of cranky ol' Karikiss. It's off to the Warrens out the west doors of the Citadel. All these dangerous pylons have been thoughtfully turned off for Val's safe passage.  Valeta helps herself to a Strength canister stowed away in a locked building in the Warrens. She has for some time been wishing she had more Strength to give her more options for gear combinations to wear. She could have been using the Quicksilver Chain now possibly, for instance, but she didn't think to check it out after gaining Strength here. So many distractions. While checking out the Warren, Val discovers the source of the disturbance when she happens upon an old acquaintance...Ms. Miranda. Miranda explains how she and Alwan and a small party of Shapers have sneaked into the Warren in preparation for making an attack on Northforge Citadel, but inconveniently got locked into the Warren temporarily. Miranda offers Val the opportunity to come join their party and make the assault on Northforge together. As much as Val performed to help out the Shapers, she is not surprised that Miranda would be expecting her allegiance and her compliance. Here is where Valeta must choose and have the die be cast. Valeta chooses... ...to oppose Miranda and the Shapers. Miranda is not happy to receive this news, as she also receives some Essence Shackles in anticipatory response. Miranda does some nasty damage to Val in return with her Searer, and sensing that she is outmatched, summons a Battle Gamma to assist her. Val doesn't stoop to this tactic, but doesn't hesitate to Charm the big brute and let him do some of her work for her on Miranda.  Which he thoughtfully does—Whump! Thud!—even as Miranda summons more help and tries to run off. Val Charms the War Trall too and douses Miranda liberally with Ice Spray, instructing her to cool it.  Unfortunately, these tactics are too effective, and the Battle Gamma gets the finishing blow on Miranda, robbing Valeta of her victory—and the much coveted Xperience Points. That is simply not acceptable. So, Val has a second go of it. Again she challenges Miranda, slows her, weakens her, and Charms her summoned Battle Gamma.  In your face!  By the time the War Trall is Charmed and joining Val's side of the fray, Valeta is able to deliver a fatal blow of ice. The cocky, irritating Miranda is no more.  Val resumes her exploration of the Warrens with wry satisfaction. The look on Miranda's face when she realized she had miscalculated...priceless. NEXT: 0ut of Stench, Sweetness -S- [ Tuesday, April 03, 2007 18:31: Message edited by: Synergy ] -------------------- A4 Items • A4 Singleton • G4 Items • G4 Forging • G4 Infiltrator • NR Items • The Lonely Celt Posts: 2009 | Registered: Monday, September 12 2005 07:00 |
| Happy Passover in General | |
|
Shaper
Member # 6292
|
written Tuesday, April 3 2007 16:35
Profile
Yeah, he was even named after that Joshua guy who was a savior of sorts back in the early days of Israel. He sure had some clever military tactics: lamps in pitchers at night suddenly shattered to terrify a vastly greater army, and marching around Jericho seven times till the walls fell down. He thoughtfully saved Rahab, the helpful non-Jewish harlot from the city, who just happened to become a direct ancestor of King David and that later saviorly dude who came along. The savior born of a "virgin" was also born of a harlot. If that's at all interesting. -S- -------------------- A4 Item Locations A4 Singleton G4 Items List G4 Forging List The Insidious Infiltrator Posts: 2009 | Registered: Monday, September 12 2005 07:00 |
| The Insidious Infiltrator in Geneforge 4: Rebellion | |
|
Shaper
Member # 6292
|
written Tuesday, April 3 2007 16:08
Profile
VALETA III Chapter Five—Part Four: The Ties That Unbind Valeta contemplates her long, arduous sojourn leading up to this moment, when she finally enters the gates of Northforge Citadel. In this moment, she fulfills a goal she was given by Greta way back in Southforge Citadel, when Val was still sadly so much less Godlike. The memories of that earlier time also seem so far away now, except for the lingering awareness of that awesome power she felt infusing every cell of her being when she hesitantly submitted to the ecstatic ravages of the Geneforge. That feeling remains ever-present and fills her nightly dreams. God, why did she hesitate back then? She chuckles knowingly to herself, contemplating her youthful ignorance. Val wonders what she is going to find inside Northforge, tucked so secretly into the frigid depths of the Grayghost Mountains. Her toes ache vexingly in her Quicksilver Sandals. It will be good to return to a warmer, and hopefully more civilized, environment. It is warmer inside, barely. Val first encounters Greta again at long last. But what the sadly naive Greta has to share with Val is not at all encouraging. It seems the scourge of the Drakons and their disastrously shortsighted goals have wholly infected these halls. Greta urges Val to talk to Warmaster Karikiss. Hmmph. When she gets around to it. Val is more interested in meeting up with Jared again, whom Greta informs us is present here too. Jared is thrilled to see how the many canisters Valeta has assimilated have been perfecting her. He eagerly trains her in the last of the spells she lacks.  And suddenly, that's it, that's all. There is virtually nothing left for Val to purchase anywhere. She is amply stocked in Living Tools, Madness Gems, Torrent Gems, Wands of the Inferno, and some Healing and Energizing pods and spores—everything a stealthy and ferocious battle spy could hope to possess. All future proceeds now go into the Valeta retirement fund—if she survives to enjoy one. Poking around the laboratory rooms nearby, Valeta blunders upon a Rogue Shock Trall who attacks Val without provocation. One blessed blast of Kill settles his hide. Sheesh. I thought this place was supposed to be secured.  Val pokes around and discovers the Geneforge, reassembled here in Northforge Citadel. She feels a sudden and powerful compulsion to partake of its inner pool once again, but barely manages to resist the draw. She knows better. The Geneforge looks like it's not even properly operational, as if it were being neglected for some greater work on hand. Val also notices a most enticing jar protected by a potent projector field in a little room nearby. She determines to find out what is in that container before she leaves the Citadel. Next Val inescapably bumps into Warmaster Karikiss, so she listens to his demands that Val and Greta serve as his puppets to test the Unholy Unbound of Drakon creation.  Val already blotted one Unbound out of existence back in Quessa-Uss, though she never got any credit for it, so it remains her private triumph. She is not too worried about having to face another, perhaps destroying it too, and with her persuasive words, she even smooth-talks Karikiss into letting her recruit some help from amongst those in Northforge. It turns out that the otherwise enthusiastic Jared won't help out (Val sneers with disdain,) but Val finds four Drayks in the back rooms which she is able to talk into joining her in the fight. The first three Drayks comply eagerly with Leadership of nine or less. The fourth Drayk takes Leadership of eleven to convince. What makes him so special, anyway? Val notices a most curious and suspicious thing in the SW corner of the Citadel, way back by the Drayk hovels. There is a simple little lever sitting almost invisibly behind a pillar. It opens a tiny room down the hall. What's in there, Val wonders? She finds a lonely power spiral with no indication of what it might possibly be powering.  She acts on a hunch, and powers it down, hoping nothing happens to draw attention to herself. Returning to the little room off to the SE with the can in it, she finds that the projector fields are indeed off now. Ah-ha! Relieved that she doesn't have to buff up and take major, possibly lethal damage running through the projector field to find out what is inside the jar, she will now find out unscathed.  She eagerly pries the lid open and finds a nondescript black key inside. What the—? She has already explored the Citadel and not found any other mysteriously locked doors. What might this possibly open? And then, through the parting mists of her mind, the answer dawns from old rumors she barely recalls being told...and she shudders. It's a long way off, and she has other fish to fry before she can hope to satisfy her curiosity. But surely, here in her hand lies the key to opening Monarch's foreboding Black Door. She carefully pockets this key. She suspects she alone now holds the knowledge of its significance. She neither doubts nor cares whether it will even be missed. Such self-indulgence will have to wait though. Presently, Val has a fight to pick on some Unbound. Reporting back to Greta that she is ready to proceed, the two enter the testing chamber. Val finds to her great disdain that she is being watched by a retinue of Drakons for a third time dueling some big beast for their amusement. Val vows here and now to exact her revenge upon the Drakons who repeatedly seek to use her so reprehensibly. Turning her attention forward, Val sees not one, but three Unbound waiting to taste her wrath. The four eager Drayks Val recruited join the ranks. Greta summons a Wingbolt and War Trall forth. This motley party approaches grimly and prepares to survive its ordeal facing the Unbound. Not all present look expectant to do so.  One overzealous Drayk rushes the Pointfire Unbound on the left. The Pointfire Unbound backs away, but utterly obliterates the hapless Drayk with its lethal counterattack. The sight of the furious waves of energy the Unbound summons forth on its very breath is terrifying. Valeta keeps her composure and Mass Energizes the entire party, proceeding to hammer away magically at the Pacification Unbound on the right after Wracking it. Two devastating blows of Kill from Valeta take Pac-Man out of the testing. He never gets a chance to pacify anyone. Val notes, to her great disappointment, that the supervising Drakons will not permit her to kill these wretched Unbound. This only adds to the searing white-hot fury of her battle lust. She zeroes in on the Assault Unbound in the center, where Greta and two more Drayks are focusing their efforts and lets fly an icy halo of wrath.  The Assault Unbound has been stopped in its tracks by the collective assaults. Two more Drayks fall to the savage breath emanating from the gaping maw of the Pointfire Unbound. Valeta silences the bellows of the malevolent beast with two final blasts of Kill.  Three Drayks surrendered their cold, reptilian souls (if they have any) to these lumbering giants in combat. All others, thanks to Val's quick, furious work, have survived. Greta looks tremendously relieved and scurries out of the room with her pets and the sole surviving Drayk. Maybe he was the "special" one of the four? Val is alone with the glowing Unbound before her and the Drakon administrators still watching. What next? NEXT: What's Next. -S- -------------------- A4 Items • A4 Singleton • G4 Items • G4 Forging • G4 Infiltrator • NR Items • The Lonely Celt Posts: 2009 | Registered: Monday, September 12 2005 07:00 |
| The Insidious Infiltrator in Geneforge 4: Rebellion | |
|
Shaper
Member # 6292
|
written Tuesday, April 3 2007 13:59
Profile
Yes, but not often in this game, in which Val is playing a certain extreme role. Note that Val did go through the Grayghost Gates and kill nothing. She went sleuthing into the Drakon chambers and past locks and traps to score the Infiltrator Shield and the Essence Armor canister, along with other loot. -S- ADDIT: In Chaper Two, Val used her stealth abilities to enter the furthest confines of the Turabi Gate to acquire the Essence-Infused Skin from a strongly-locked box. She didn''t even trigger a fight running past all the Shapers to get in or out. [ Tuesday, April 03, 2007 14:16: Message edited by: Synergy ] -------------------- A4 Items • A4 Singleton • G4 Items • G4 Forging • G4 Infiltrator • NR Items • The Lonely Celt Posts: 2009 | Registered: Monday, September 12 2005 07:00 |
| The Insidious Infiltrator in Geneforge 4: Rebellion | |
|
Shaper
Member # 6292
|
written Tuesday, April 3 2007 13:51
Profile
VALETA III Chapter Five—Part Three: Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! It's freakin' cold everywhere around here. Valeta enters the Gesselin Freehold, home to many an Ice-Drayk, and warms herself by the fire. She meets the leader of this colony, Ssaroyen, who wants Val to settle the hash of some offending Drayk back in Khima-Uss. "It will be a pleasure," Val assures him. Her favor curried with Shorass (whom she slew) is bafflingly sufficient to grant her free passage to Northforge right now, if she wants it. Or was it her high Leadership? Or both? She accepts the privilege, but will also grant Ssaroyen his favors. First, Val wants to pick up some things she came here for, though. Ssaroyen will do Val some favors, whether he realizes it or not. Even though his prices are high, Val wants that Glaahk Eye quite badly. It will enable her to make a fourth Mental Focus Charm. Val forgets that prices will come down (I think?) after doing the two missions for Ssaroyen, but she is impatient, and will be swimming in more loot than she knows what to do with shortly anyway. She buys the Glaahk Eye, the Torrent Gem, the Living Tools, and the Steel Spine...with some irritation. Why are lizards all so greedy?  In Ssaroyen's room next door, Val has no qualms about waiting for the guards to meander off so she can steal the Quicksilver Sandals lying forlornly there, surrounded by straw. Obviously, these primitive reptiles have no clue how to put something so precious to good use. Val feels a flush of anger at the thought, but consoles herself with an awareness of the simple reality that the ignorance of the Drayks enables her tremendous good fortune.  These sandals offer Val yet another precious +1 Action Point. Trembling slightly, Val dusts off and dons these humble, yet invaluable pieces of frostbite-inducing footwear. Perhaps she won't even lose all of her toes if she dares to wear them in the snow and ice. Combined with her other two Quicksilver items...   ...Val now can summon +15 Action Points when hasted! Miss Lethal just got 50% more lethal. Or rather, she would have been, if she hadn't been encumbered wearing all three at this point. Tragically, we later forget, when finally able to be unencumbered again, that she could have three attacks at her disposal. Yes, even the carefully calculating have highly moronic moments. :mad: At this point Val retreats into her cozy and slightly more protective Shaper Trueweave, also recovering her lost Spellcraft points. Sadly, for most of the rest of the game, Val operates on only two pieces of Quicksilver Gear at once instead of three, meaning she gets 10 AP unhasted, but still only two attacks hasted. +15 AP would have greatly facilitated some confrontations, to say the least. And moreover, there is a fourth piece of AP-enhancing gear yet to come. I am tempted to replay Chapter Five utilizing this properly and see what difference it might have made. Take note, peoples! Do not make dumb mistakes like this. Learn from our example. Do as we say, not as we do. Meanwhile, even more importantly, Val finds the second canister of Create Drakon, when she ventures across the bridge to the south. Only one more canister to go. Val can hardly contain her growing excitement. She is craving some lethal company, even if it is cold and reptilian and in the form of a conceited Drakon.  On the way back from the canister, in some Godforsaken corner of the Gesselin Freehold, Val gets careless and lets an inocuous Pulsating Rat take her out with one bite. Wicked, wicked, and lethal little rodent! Good thing this kitty has ninety nine lives. Val makes a quick jaunt back to Khima-Uss to pay Byoress a little visit on Ssaroyen's behalf. He's a twit, so rather than take his blood money now and kill him later, Val just kills him now for Ssaroyen.  She notes, all too fleetingly as she unleashes her lethal fury, that she finds it extremely difficult at this point to hold back her disdain for those who choose to foolishly flip her some attitude or try to take advantage of her. She feels great disgust for so many around her, and she doesn't remember having always felt this way, but her memories before the Geneforge and the many, many canisters have become foggy and distant. Ah, but the canisters—these now fill the memories which offer the warm solace into which Val escapes. Byoress takes a mere three hits of Kill to kill, bringing Valeta up to level 42. Valeta is adding Intelligence now. She needs more essence for the mighty Drakon creation she envisions in her mind. She hurries off briefly to warmer climes to fashion a fourth Mental Focus Charm upon the enchanted anvil in Valeya Ruin.  Val always feels good when making herself magically more powerful. NEXT: Friendly Walls, Unholy Horrors [ Tuesday, April 03, 2007 14:10: Message edited by: Synergy ] -------------------- A4 Items • A4 Singleton • G4 Items • G4 Forging • G4 Infiltrator • NR Items • The Lonely Celt Posts: 2009 | Registered: Monday, September 12 2005 07:00 |
| Are Drakons superior beings? in Geneforge 4: Rebellion | |
|
Shaper
Member # 6292
|
written Tuesday, April 3 2007 11:42
Profile
quote:Why, yesssssss, warm-blooded fleshy one. -S- [ Tuesday, April 03, 2007 11:43: Message edited by: Synergy ] -------------------- A4 Items • A4 Singleton • G4 Items • G4 Forging • G4 Infiltrator • NR Items • The Lonely Celt Posts: 2009 | Registered: Monday, September 12 2005 07:00 |
| The Episodes: the poll in General | |
|
Shaper
Member # 6292
|
written Tuesday, April 3 2007 11:33
Profile
quote:Later. -S- -------------------- A4 Item Locations A4 Singleton G4 Items List G4 Forging List The Insidious Infiltrator Posts: 2009 | Registered: Monday, September 12 2005 07:00 |
| The Insidious Infiltrator in Geneforge 4: Rebellion | |
|
Shaper
Member # 6292
|
written Tuesday, April 3 2007 11:15
Profile
VALETA III Chapter Five—Part Two: Krimes R-Uss We forgot to mention it last episode, but Valeta picked up something very useful from Eye Herzfeld: this Quicksilver Bulwark, the primary reason Val diverted down to face the perils of Frostwood so soon. She straps this on immediately and switches out her Shaper Trueweave armor for Shorass' Quicksilver Chain, which also grants +1 Action Point. The loss of two Spellcraft and the low protective value of the chainmail is a regrettable loss, but Val can afford the diminishment to her Spellcraft. The rather slight protective value of the armor is leaving her rather vulnerable at present however. The payoff is that Valeta now finds herself with ten Action Points unhasted in combat—most useful indeed. Val wisely senses that she wants to make a pet Ur-Drakon before venturing into the Breeding Pits nearby. She needs to acquire three levels of Create Drakon in order to do this, so this becomes her next priority. She has more business in Frostwood too...but not just now. For now, it's off to chilly Khima-Uss to do some shopping. As well as some "shopping," if you catch our drift. In Gasspahr’s Shop, Val acquires her first level of Create Drakon for 1500 coins. Leadership lowers the price in this case. Two down, one to go.  Gassphahr also has a Madness Gem and a Torrent Gem, which Val does not hesitate to scoop up, even at these expensive prices. There is a pricey Shaped Fiber Cloak here. Gasspahr is clearly a mercenary, and that's just rude. Val considers teaching the greedy Drayk a lesson, but swallows her flash of rage...for the time being. Sergeant Sabrina in Aziraph Camp Gamma also sells a Shaped Fiber Cloak at this extortive price. Val passes, as she already picked up one cloak free of charge on the South Poryphra Road and bought a second affordably from Leopold in Burwood Road South.  The baker here goes into a rather adorable happy fit when Val produces some Cake upon request. She snagged that back in Southforge Citadel from Delna's room, though she could have picked it up in about five different places. The baker does not complain that the cake is months old. Val thoughtfully scraped the mold off ahead of time. Learned Hartl has some nice loot tucked away behind some traps. There seems to be no way to not set off the mine and get cursed getting in at this trove. The effect is quite temporary however. Big whoop. Methinks Jeffy was poking fun at us with this bit. The Battle Roar canister is another one of those worthless prizes Val never winds up using. No wonder that canister was sitting back here unused. Who'd want it? Probably a Lifecrafter, that's who. Not so useful for someone not toting a horde of critters around, though.  Learned Hartl wants to know what's going on in the secret quarters behind the utterly obnoxious Drakon Drosstro, whom we entirely ignore for now. So, let's go see what's lurking in the laboratory, shall we?  The Experimental Rotghroth Val happens upon is docile at present. Val convinces the Drayk guard that her presence is warranted, another benefit of her adequate Leadership. Val spots an inviting, shiny treasure box in the corner. Attempting to investigate it is certain to annoy the laboratory's special guest however. Our fetid friend is going to have to go, so Val launches a fierce preemptive strike. He's quite a nasty brute nonetheless, and her Quicksilver Chain is not offering her a lot of protection.  The rot does not survive Val's liberally-applied Kills long enough for the Drayk guard to join in the fray, which he readily does if he's around when the rot goes hostile. Val helps herself to an Essence-Infused Skin from the now unguarded lockbox. She could make an Impervious Cape with this, but what's the point? She doesn't want that silly cape. She winds up making it anyway though, because it's profitable enough to sell. Val does find the Demon Bile she also loots to be much more useful. And she is certainly not going to pass up boosting her Essence Orbs another level with the help of the nearby canister. Let's not hear any ill-fated jokes about Val's Essence Orbs, by the way. She won't take kindly to them.  There is a notably unfriendly little trio of Unstable Firebolts Val discovers next. They do not survive to betray her intrusion. Val exits through the door they were evidently attempting to guard.  Val collects her reward from Learned Hartl for reporting on the lab, and hurries on east. Thankfully, he seems to have not noticed that Val already pillaged his pantry. She has more to do here later, but she needs to get to Northforge Citadel soonest. NEXT: Hastier and More Mental -S- [ Tuesday, April 03, 2007 14:03: Message edited by: Synergy ] -------------------- A4 Items • A4 Singleton • G4 Items • G4 Forging • G4 Infiltrator • NR Items • The Lonely Celt Posts: 2009 | Registered: Monday, September 12 2005 07:00 |
| The Episodes: the poll in General | |
|
Shaper
Member # 6292
|
written Tuesday, April 3 2007 09:16
Profile
Peace to some. Madness to others. -S- P.S. Serenity now—insanity later. [ Tuesday, April 03, 2007 09:43: Message edited by: Synergy ] -------------------- A4 Item Locations A4 Singleton G4 Items List G4 Forging List The Insidious Infiltrator Posts: 2009 | Registered: Monday, September 12 2005 07:00 |
| The Insidious Infiltrator in Geneforge 4: Rebellion | |
|
Shaper
Member # 6292
|
written Tuesday, April 3 2007 09:04
Profile
Messes? You mean puddles of blood? There's no one left to complain about the housekeeping. Noise? You mean the throes of imminent demise of the unsuspecting? All is very quiet when she is done with a place. -S- More coming when I get around to composing it again. -------------------- A4 Items • A4 Singleton • G4 Items • G4 Forging • G4 Infiltrator • NR Items • The Lonely Celt Posts: 2009 | Registered: Monday, September 12 2005 07:00 |