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Golden Forge in Geneforge 4: Rebellion
Law Bringer
Member # 6785
Profile #2
If it isn't possible it will tell you.
Posts: 4643 | Registered: Friday, February 10 2006 08:00
8000: Pseudoscience Postravaganza in General
Law Bringer
Member # 6785
Profile #51
There were actually two different cold fusion experiments occuring at the same time. The more famous one was the Utah "battery" where they claimed to produce more energy than inputed. This one led to years of frustration trying to figure out how they first did it.

The second one at the University of Arizona saw some fusion on a much smaller scale. Their results given here as one of their papers. Since this was not the amazing results seen in Utah it is usually forgotten.

The Japanese have poured tons of money into research to get rid of their oil dependence.
Posts: 4643 | Registered: Friday, February 10 2006 08:00
5353: Pseudohistory Phatassathon in General
Law Bringer
Member # 6785
Profile #1
A more reasonable explanation for the lack of historical records was the low literacy rate outside the church. Even the nobility relied on a small group to do the record keeping for them. Still there should have been sufficient records from the churches just in recording births, deaths, and the all important tax collection and property records to satisfy even him.
Posts: 4643 | Registered: Friday, February 10 2006 08:00
Golddale 5 in The Avernum Trilogy
Law Bringer
Member # 6785
Profile #2
Jeff mentions in the hint books about taking character names from various TV shows. J.R. from Fort Dunvo is an example.
Posts: 4643 | Registered: Friday, February 10 2006 08:00
Harmony East Docks in Geneforge Series
Law Bringer
Member # 6785
Profile #4
Hoge is supposed to escape and delay you with various creations. At least that is the script.
Posts: 4643 | Registered: Friday, February 10 2006 08:00
Avernum 5 Early, Early Notes in Avernum 4
Law Bringer
Member # 6785
Profile #100
Actually the relative sizes has nothing to do with which came first. The quote only implies that the person who named the Avernite city might have come from the surface city. It doesn't say if there is another surface city with the same name. It also doesn't rule out that both were named for something else.

Back to suggestions for Avernum 5. Geneforge 4 got rid of part of the haul everything back to town to sell by reducing most item values to 0.
Posts: 4643 | Registered: Friday, February 10 2006 08:00
Nothing Plus Nothing Equals Nothing in General
Law Bringer
Member # 6785
Profile #4
Here is a better way of differentiating Newtonian and quantum mechanical views.

Newtonian is direct observation of what is happening with objects. Even invisible gravity is defined as a force that can produce macroscopic changes in the enviroment. Easily reproducible and measurable events.

Quantum mechanics is indirect observations and probability calculations when applied to the real world. At the microscopic level you can't directly observe most actions so you have to infer what is happening from interactions that can be observed. You can't make completely accurate measurements because of Heisenberg Uncertainty principle places a limit on how close you can come to measuring all the variables. For some calculations you deal with the probability of different outcomes occurring.

Both systems deal with matter and energy. It's just that Newtonian physics is seen as a limited case of quantum mechanics where you can simply the calculations.
Posts: 4643 | Registered: Friday, February 10 2006 08:00
I was afraid this day would come.... in General
Law Bringer
Member # 6785
Profile #39
You might have a wait on getting a key, since Jeff said he was taking a vacation.
Posts: 4643 | Registered: Friday, February 10 2006 08:00
Exile 3> Ancient Enemy Conceal Tunnel in The Exile Trilogy
Law Bringer
Member # 6785
Profile #27
First you need the artifact information from the Nameless Mage back in Krizan. If you never talked to him and paid him than you can search forever without finding the Tower in the southwest corner of the island.
Posts: 4643 | Registered: Friday, February 10 2006 08:00
Bug report - G4 in Tech Support
Law Bringer
Member # 6785
Profile #1
It is kind of narrow at the top of the stairs, but that is the first time I've seen that. Avernum used to have that coming out of combat but it never killed the game.
Posts: 4643 | Registered: Friday, February 10 2006 08:00
A Strange Chill in Geneforge 4: Rebellion
Law Bringer
Member # 6785
Profile #2
Eventually you find something there and visiting Sandros Mine seems to help it appear sooner.
Posts: 4643 | Registered: Friday, February 10 2006 08:00
Question about the boards in General
Law Bringer
Member # 6785
Profile #1
Try going to the "my profile" at the top of the page and look for the "view/update profile" on the upper left then go down the screen for the preference for email notification. See if turning one of them to off ends your problem.
Posts: 4643 | Registered: Friday, February 10 2006 08:00
Vahnatai won't get Crystal Souls in The Avernum Trilogy
Law Bringer
Member # 6785
Profile #2
There should be a message that you see the Council for news about a location, but go to the Shrine when you actually have the Souls. You can't cross the bridge to the Shrine until you have retrieved the first Crystal.
Posts: 4643 | Registered: Friday, February 10 2006 08:00
So this is goodbye in General
Law Bringer
Member # 6785
Profile #21
It was a physics degree, but my first year as a physics grad student I got a job offer to be a teaching assistant in the economics department. But they paid less than physics and I hadn't had an economics course since high school so the decision was based on economics and I stayed in physics. Maybe it had something to do with the physics professor who started out his classes with reminders about the many fine things you could get with an MBA as a way to cut class size.
Posts: 4643 | Registered: Friday, February 10 2006 08:00
Cultist Safehouse Infighting in Geneforge 4: Rebellion
Law Bringer
Member # 6785
Profile #0
If you have enough leadership (10) so Eessarian will convince them to let you past in the Cultist Safehouse some strange things will occur. Sniping the stray cultist to kill them after they are no longer hostile causes them to fight amongst themselves. Soon the cultists, leaders, and cryodrayks will attack each other and only some will be hostile to you. It speeds up killing them.

Fixed typo.

[ Monday, December 11, 2006 22:32: Message edited by: Randomizer ]
Posts: 4643 | Registered: Friday, February 10 2006 08:00
Best Game Ever? in Geneforge 4: Rebellion
Law Bringer
Member # 6785
Profile #14
Being able to use mouse or keyboard makes it easier for whatever way is easiest for you. I hate when I'm just a little off with the cursor and move my character instead of attacking with it. The old interface needs a lot of upgrading and there are several nice features from A4/GF4 that could be used.

I'm old enough to have used an Apple II+ and remember before personal computers. I still have decks of punchcards from college.
Posts: 4643 | Registered: Friday, February 10 2006 08:00
Servile Battle Mage in Geneforge 4: Rebellion
Law Bringer
Member # 6785
Profile #16
I got almost no experience in the expert area (~250 XP), The number of monsters left that give anything is almost nil.
Posts: 4643 | Registered: Friday, February 10 2006 08:00
Is the Shaper Camp unbeatable? in Geneforge 4: Rebellion
Law Bringer
Member # 6785
Profile #9
Thornton and the Western Barrier Zone do warn you after you finally kill the first creation that this might not be a good idea, If you have the passage bracelet then you can kill them one at a time and the others won't attack. Turabi Gate is one that you really need to sneak through for the 2 quests and the great loot. I've never been able to sneak through it like you did Synergy without setting off an alarm a few times. Western Morass is doable with an army or a lot of terror spells for the guards and torrent gems to kill the Vlish when they come enmass.
Posts: 4643 | Registered: Friday, February 10 2006 08:00
Shock Trooper Tales in Geneforge 4: Rebellion
Law Bringer
Member # 6785
Profile #0
I'm running a missle shock trooper with initially fire shaping creations and later magic shaping. No canister usage and only shaper approved creations. This won't be an optimized build, but should be powerful enough to get by with the limited magic abilities. Of course I'll steal everything but the kitchen sink, since a girl's got to have money to buy the finer things in life.

Chapter 1 - The Forsaken Lands

Cordy was a naive girl that fell for the Rebel recruitment stories and found herself cast ashore at the Rebel docks with that arrogant jerk Tyrol and that coward Magda under the command of Greta. Fleeing from the Shaper raiders she reached the safety of Southforge Citadel. Eager to help repel the invaders she used the Geneforge only to endure it's intense anguish. This made her resolve never to use the canisters that could warp her even more. Raising her mechanics to 6 and her leadership to 4 she strolled through the testing area killing the worms and other creations left behind by the raiders. She helped out that twerp Jared get his locked door opened, but shunned his reward. She did help herself to the few coins he had since she deserved something for her efforts. She went back to the docks and gathered up everything that was left behind including from the locked boxes.

Talking to Greta she went to talk to the prisoner, Agent Miranda, and tricked her into revealing the Shaper Camp location. She helped Dassa with the mines, calmed Torchlight, found where the stolen supplies were stashed and looted everything that wasn't being watched. With fire shaping at 7 and more leadership she created her first cryoa Frost and the two set out to see the Forsaken Lands and find the madwoman Shaila. After clearing the Citadel Gates, she ordered the thahds to patrol the area to protect her work. She explored the Boiling Mudpits and after tricking the thahd she killed it with some icy crystals. The roamer was next and then she deactivated the mines and electrified fields to get the reflecting shield, coated cloak, and discipline wand. She even ventured to the Boiling Caverns to unlock the doors. With her mechanics now at 8 and a point for luck she finished the mines and returned to Southforge Citadel. She exchanged her chitin armor for that nice spidersilk robe.

Going south into Crenshaw Dells she dazed the creations and chased Tycho until he yeilded to her superiority. Looting the area she reported Tycho killed and got her next mission. Clearing the Shardfield of the worms, thahds, artila, and fyoras she helped Dinitia explore the area. On to the Shaper Camp where she figured why not take all their supplies to help her cause. While there she blessed and protected herself and Frost and killed the battle alpha with 2 icy crystals and a shot from the discipline wand. The glaahk followed next and lasted to a second round. Crowley paid her for saving Tycho and gave her that nice stability bauble.

Then it was off to clear the Forsaken Docks from Shaila's creations and the serviles that tended them. A few dazes and the cryoa killing each tender and it was soon over. She died a few times when she strayed too close to the next group, Selling off the loot she now increased her intelligence and created another cryoa Rime. The threesome defeated Shaila's creations and convinced her to go to the Shapers. Getting her reward from General Crowley she decided to wait on informing Greta while she thought things over. Another point of intelligence and missle weapons helped her clear the Sinkhole Bridge and rescue the Rebel scouts. Then it was clearing the battle alphas from Chickweed Bridge and the mines. That jerk Burkes was good enough to teach her spellcraft and augmentation when she raised her leadership to 6. The drayk was troublesome since the cryoa missed once and she barely killed it after a few tries.

Therile Colony was next and she followed Yves to his stash and killed him when he finally spotted her. Trell was easily cowwed and robbed. Then Mercadia was looted and her mission taken. Finally she returned to the Citadel to claim her rewards. She stopped by the Cells and killed the Maddened Servile and the glaahk, Then it was on to escort the Caravan to the Cairn Gates.

Sinkhole Bridge had been cleared, but she still had to clear the Spirefield. The fyoras fell first, then the Shapers and their venom turrets, then the artilas, and finally the rats. Looting the fallend bodies she even found a servile lying under a bush past the rats with a fiery wand. She picked up the nimble belt, but her cryoa had a hard time biting the shade so she killed it with her stolen venom baton. Escorting the caravan, she had her cryoas out in front to get the pyroroamers.

The dumping pit was a grind, but she got through and cleared it out for her reward. The money was enough to get a second spellcraft from Burkes and then she sold him out for his attitude. Then it was on to clear Cairn Gates of Lethos and his creations with a few spray crystals. The guards were dazed and killed. Determined that no one would suffer the pain of the Geneforge she turned the caravan over to the tentacles of the vlish.

Level 14, health 117, essence 51/115, spell energy 202, skill points 2
Strength 4, dexterity 2, intelligence 6 (+1), endurance 3
melee weapons 3, missle weapons 4, quick action 1, parry 1
battle magic 1, mental magic 2, blessing magic 1, spellcraft 2
fire shaping 7, battle shaping 2, magic shaping 1, healing craft 3
leadership 7, mechanics 8, luck 1 (+1)

Equipment - spidersilk robe, steel shield, steel sword, venom baton, shaped boots, gauntlets, coated cloak, swamp pants, chilling band, stability bauble, girdle of intelligence, lucky charm, fyora fang charm. Saving all the pods and spores except for battle and shielding pods.

I sold some gemstones and red crystals to raise money early for spellcraft. I still have 20+ icy crystals and a few spray crystals. Saving up essence for augmentation for Cordy and the next creations in chapter 3.

On to Illya and the safehouse.
Posts: 4643 | Registered: Friday, February 10 2006 08:00
Is the Shaper Camp unbeatable? in Geneforge 4: Rebellion
Law Bringer
Member # 6785
Profile #1
With a lifecrafter army of two drakons, two kyshakks, and a drayk I went all the way to the end. You have to thin them out with repeated attacks and leaving the zone to draw out the initial troops. Push through the field to shut off the control and retreat again. Finally the big push through the minefield and kill the remaining shaper troops. Then you find 4 shaping platforms churning out war tralls, kyshakks, rothizons (?), and wingbolts. It's not worth it by the time you can do it since the best treasure is the drops from killing them near the entrance.
Posts: 4643 | Registered: Friday, February 10 2006 08:00
Nethergate 2.0!, 2.0!,2.0! in Nethergate
Law Bringer
Member # 6785
Profile #7
You could do a prequel with the first Romans sent to map out the area for that fort versus the Celts trying to discourage them. The ending wouldn't be as great but this could explain why the Sidhe split into two factions and answer some of the questions about how various NPCs got where they are.

I predict the people that most want to be beta testers are the ones that want the game and don't want to wait a day longer.
Posts: 4643 | Registered: Friday, February 10 2006 08:00
Exile 3> Ancient Enemy Conceal Tunnel in The Exile Trilogy
Law Bringer
Member # 6785
Profile #25
There is some treasure and a spellbook somewhere. Mostly it's just experience and a chance to put the undead back underground where they belong.
Posts: 4643 | Registered: Friday, February 10 2006 08:00
Avernum 5 Early, Early Notes in Avernum 4
Law Bringer
Member # 6785
Profile #88
Actually with the power requirements to reach that far underground their were only two portals. The prisoner one to Fort Avernum and the military one that led to the base near the Abyss. Now surface portals between the continents were probably more common and not just by Ernest. However because of the military applications to transport armies they were probably kept under wraps.
Posts: 4643 | Registered: Friday, February 10 2006 08:00
Servile Battle Mage in Geneforge 4: Rebellion
Law Bringer
Member # 6785
Profile #14
Finally got around to finishing up the game so this is an update before using the control panel. I created a drakon after chapter 4 using volcanic fetish, flameweaver greaves, shaper robe, and shapemaster boots for +6 fire shaping levels to make it level 40.

Level 43, health 376 (338 with gruesome charm), strength 9 (+5), dexterity 5 (+4), intelligence 9 (+5), endurance 8 (-2), melee wpns. 5 , missle wpns. 6, quick action 5 (+1), parry 6, battle magic 10 (+6), mental magic 8 (+1), blessing magic 6 (+1/3 when needed), spellcraft 10 (+9), starting shaping, healing craft 6 (+1), leadership 10 (+2), mechanics 11 (+1/+6 when needed), luck 3 (+1).

Equipment:
All the charms with 4 mental focus charms (3 made)
Ring of Eye's Purity
Reaper baton
Puresteel plate
Girdle of genius
Talisman of might
Agent cloak
Stability boots
Puresteel shield
Flameweaver's greaves
Lodestone gauntlets

Alternate equipment -
Tinker's gloves and bauble
Infiltrator's cloak and tunic
Clover boots
Captain's shiv
Frost blade

I wasn't really satisfied with the way I made the character. I should have put less into leadership, blessing magic, and melee weapons so I could have had more for spellcraft and battle magic. I tended to run out spell energy for the powerful spells. Still a servile can do pretty well as a spellcaster instead of as a fighter.

[ Monday, December 11, 2006 19:36: Message edited by: Randomizer ]
Posts: 4643 | Registered: Friday, February 10 2006 08:00
So this is goodbye in General
Law Bringer
Member # 6785
Profile #16
Drop in on the 17th to see how your bot screws up this time, Just kidding. I'm sure the bugs are all out and the GIFTSs and GIFTRs were mad about being evicted.

Good luck on your degree. Everyone should get one just to see how their university can mess up the text. I got a plaque from my college on receiving my M.S in Physics from the college of Business and Public Administration.
Posts: 4643 | Registered: Friday, February 10 2006 08:00

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