Avernum V
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Agent
Member # 3349
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written Monday, March 13 2006 16:45
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quote:Yah, like have someone at the Tower Colony be half-rat half-person because of some failed experiment. -------------------- And everybody say....Yatta! Posts: 1287 | Registered: Thursday, August 14 2003 07:00 |
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Law Bringer
Member # 335
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written Monday, March 13 2006 17:43
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Oh, yes. Randolph. Despite the heavy implications of that encounter, I choose to believe that his epithet is an epithet in insult sense of the word. He's an ugly, human-looking nephar, so he gets called halfbreed. Describing a nephar as having nepil heritage is iffy, but I don't want any interspecies hanky-panky. —Alorael, who most definitely does want a chance to use the term "hanky-panky." It begs to be uttered! Posts: 14579 | Registered: Saturday, December 1 2001 08:00 |
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Apprentice
Member # 6857
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written Tuesday, March 14 2006 01:24
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I think that dialogue with npcs should be more realistic. Currently the situation goes like this: you are asking questions and choose insulting alternative. Then the dialogue ends but you can start it again, ask the same questions again and this time choose the non-insulting alternative. It should go like in Fallouts. If you insult someone, there will be consequenses. The NPC would make your shopping prices higher, or wouldn't tell you something important. He even might tell someone about you and cause the whole town's dialogue to change. Also everything that a NPC says should bear a meaning. If someone says he hates empire and then you say you love empire, there would be permanent or long-lasting consequences. Posts: 18 | Registered: Sunday, March 5 2006 08:00 |
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Triad Mage
Member # 7
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written Tuesday, March 14 2006 02:22
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Like Geneforge, basically. -------------------- "At times discretion should be thrown aside, and with the foolish we should play the fool." - Menander ==== Drakefyre's Demesne - Happy Happy Joy Joy Encyclopedia Ermariana - Trapped in the Closet ==== You can take my Mac when you pry my cold, dead fingers off the mouse! Posts: 9436 | Registered: Wednesday, September 19 2001 07:00 |
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Off With Their Heads
Member # 4045
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written Tuesday, March 14 2006 15:43
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Except not so blatant and contrived. And I'm inclined to think that humans and nephils, at least, may be able to cross-breed. They're both mammals, clearly, and nephils surely are closer to humans than normal cats are. I mean, all of this raises the question as to exactly how the humanoid races came into being. (Or humans, for that matter — are there apes on one of the surface continents?) Although Vahnatai Creationism seems silly to me, it does not seem out of the question at all that the other races were somehow shaped (in the GF sense of the term). In that case, I'd expect humans to have been the base evolved model and nephils to have been shaped from them. Cross-breeding in such a situation would not be impossible. -------------------- Arancaytar: Every time you ask people to compare TM and Kel, you endanger the poor, fluffy kittens. Smoo: Get ready to face the walls! Ephesos: In conclusion, yarr. Kelandon's Pink and Pretty Page!!: the authorized location for all things by me The Archive of all released BoE scenarios ever Posts: 7968 | Registered: Saturday, February 28 2004 08:00 |
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...b10010b...
Member # 869
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written Tuesday, March 14 2006 15:47
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quote:It's more likely that there used to be apes on one of the surface continents. The Empire are not renowned for being environmentally friendly. -------------------- The Empire Always Loses: This Time For Sure! Posts: 9973 | Registered: Saturday, March 30 2002 08:00 |
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Triad Mage
Member # 7
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written Tuesday, March 14 2006 15:57
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It would be most likely to see them on Vantanas, which would be a sort of "virgin" surface world before the Empire started fouling things up. -------------------- "At times discretion should be thrown aside, and with the foolish we should play the fool." - Menander ==== Drakefyre's Demesne - Happy Happy Joy Joy Encyclopedia Ermariana - Trapped in the Closet ==== You can take my Mac when you pry my cold, dead fingers off the mouse! Posts: 9436 | Registered: Wednesday, September 19 2001 07:00 |
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Shock Trooper
Member # 125
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written Tuesday, March 14 2006 20:51
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quote:Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't Nephar just bigger, stronger, sterile Nephilim? Some just turn out differently (I remember some analogy with mules, though I don't know how correct that is), and then they're called Nephar. -------------------- Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy, and taste good with ketchup. Posts: 256 | Registered: Monday, October 8 2001 07:00 |
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Councilor
Member # 6600
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written Tuesday, March 14 2006 21:11
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A half-feline, half-human creature would have five lives. Dikiyoba. Posts: 4346 | Registered: Friday, December 23 2005 08:00 |
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? Man, ? Amazing
Member # 5755
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written Tuesday, March 14 2006 21:13
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quote:I don't get it then. Nethergate was one of your best received games from a critical viewpoint, and Avernum from a sales viewpoint. To combine aspects of both could be even better (Think adding chocolate syrup to ice cream) and boost sales as well. I'm sure a guy of your talents could create a situation where it would be possible to play the game from either perspective. -------------------- WWtNSD? Posts: 4114 | Registered: Monday, April 25 2005 07:00 |
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Warrior
Member # 6912
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written Tuesday, March 14 2006 23:40
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hey how about a civil war between vanahtai...with both Empire and Avernum supporting the current regime? That would justify a Vanahtai in your group You can even have rentar ithro being the good one this time trying 2 redeem her self or something off topic...one thing i would so love is 2 have the ability to wield two swords again...i so seriously miss that Posts: 89 | Registered: Wednesday, March 15 2006 08:00 |
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Law Bringer
Member # 2984
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written Wednesday, March 15 2006 00:30
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quote:Maintaining the Vahnatai's coolness is something of a lost cause, I would say. There are some other people who would agree. In response to the original post: quote:There should be an option for non-Vahnatai villains. Edit: That said, I would find it very cool if the Vahnatai culture had a little more light shed on it in future games. That, or just phase them out. You can't keep something permanently mysterious; you'll have to either get around to actually explain them or risk them becoming a mere plot device. A kind of villain-ex-machina. [ Wednesday, March 15, 2006 04:00: Message edited by: Aran ] -------------------- Encyclopaedia • Archives • Members • RSS [Topic / Forum] • Blog • Polaris • NaNoWriMo Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair. I have a love of woodwind instruments. Posts: 8752 | Registered: Wednesday, May 14 2003 07:00 |
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Infiltrator
Member # 2245
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written Wednesday, March 15 2006 04:06
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I don't understand why we can't have a prequel. Perhaps a game where you play as the First Expedition. That would certainly make a refreshing change. -------------------- VIVE LA TAKERS! VIVE LA REBELLION! VIVE LA GHALDRING! Posts: 522 | Registered: Friday, November 15 2002 08:00 |
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Infiltrator
Member # 5410
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written Wednesday, March 15 2006 06:07
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Going back to an earlier comment, regarding character specific quests.... If a scenario was set up to require a specific type of character to do a task, a NPC could be provided that you could substitute into your party, allowing you to play through the game without a replay. Alternatively, a NPC could offer up a quest and be the guide, if you choose to accept the guide role then perhaps the NPC unlocks a secret door/finds a sneak to help solve the mission. Without the NPC the mission may be solved but would be much harder/require a different path. -------------------- "Dikiyoba ... is demon ... drives people mad and ... do all sorts of strange things." "You Spiderwebbians are mad, mad, mad as March hares." Posts: 687 | Registered: Wednesday, January 19 2005 08:00 |
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Off With Their Heads
Member # 4045
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written Wednesday, March 15 2006 07:12
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quote:Rentar is dead. Dead, dead, dead. And I think it's better that way. EDIT: Oh yeah, and A5 is going to involve Dorikas going to the surface. He'll probably be the primary villain. And guess what! He's probably going to make monster plagues on the surface! Anyone who's finished A4 ought to know that immediately. [ Wednesday, March 15, 2006 07:18: Message edited by: Kelandon ] -------------------- Arancaytar: Every time you ask people to compare TM and Kel, you endanger the poor, fluffy kittens. Smoo: Get ready to face the walls! Ephesos: In conclusion, yarr. Kelandon's Pink and Pretty Page!!: the authorized location for all things by me The Archive of all released BoE scenarios ever Posts: 7968 | Registered: Saturday, February 28 2004 08:00 |
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Shock Trooper
Member # 1115
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written Wednesday, March 15 2006 07:55
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While I'd love to see a game from the First Expidition's perspective, there are a few problems with the concept. 1) The First Expedition was chosen from the cream of the Empire's special agents. They were already strong, well-equipped, and dangerous. Changing this to be "You look disposable. How do you feel about caves?" would require re-writing part of the game's backstory. 2) The caves are completely unsettled when the expedition went through. No towns, no sanctuary. At best you would have only one town; it'd be your contact point with the surface. To make it useful, it'd have to update as you played along, but I've yet to see an implementation of that idea that didn't end up really rather contrived. 3) The First Expedition died. They didn't accomplish anything beyond proving that Avernum's a dangerous place to be. Moreover, they got split up. A couple fell to Nephilim in the northeast caves (just ask Motrax); someone died in the Waterfall Warrens and left the Orb of Thralni there; the pieces of Demonslayer got scattered all over (though it could have broken and then been distributed later). I think the Onyx Scepter was also a First Expedition piece of gear, and that's way over on the other side of the map! Ultimately, Jeff didn't leave himself enough wiggle room here to make a game that we wouldn't already know the ending of. Which is a pity. -------------------- "Don't take life so serious, son. It ain't nohow permanent." -Porkypine Derakon's Library Posts: 287 | Registered: Thursday, May 9 2002 07:00 |
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Law Bringer
Member # 335
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written Wednesday, March 15 2006 08:43
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quote:Right, and that's what makes "nephil heritage" a strange choice of words if Randolph is pure nephar. That would be like saying nephils have nephil heritage. It's true, but it's so obvious you wouldn't bother saying it like that. —Alorael, who is sure a First Expedition scenario could be worked out if necessary. The BoE scenario Truffle Days involves a survivor, in fact. Still, that kind of survival oriented game seems more suited to a scenario than a full game, or the game would end up being very unlike other Avernums. Posts: 14579 | Registered: Saturday, December 1 2001 08:00 |
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Guardian
Member # 6670
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written Wednesday, March 15 2006 10:12
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All this Nephar talk reminded me of something: remember the, ummm, stupid Sliths in A1 & A2? Not the barbarian ones, but the friendly ones that were only good for menial work. I remember something about a large number being born that way. You don't come across any in A3, and I haven't so far in A4? Does anyone know what was behind all that? -------------------- IF I EVER BECOME AN EVIL OVERLORD: All naive, busty tavern wenches in my realm will be replaced with surly, world-weary waitresses who will provide no unexpected reinforcement and/or romantic subplot for the hero or his sidekick. Posts: 1509 | Registered: Tuesday, January 10 2006 08:00 |
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Apprentice
Member # 374
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written Wednesday, March 15 2006 10:36
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I find it amusing people are arguing about biological limitations in a world where the laws of physics hold no sway and magic rules. Conservation of matter for one , and gravitational effects for the other (ridiculously high weight carrying, dont get me wrong I like the removal of such annoying things that do not enhance the game experience - ppl play games to escape reality, not to have to eat, pee, shower, sleep). I see no reason why in a world of magic, cross breeding between species would not be possible. Ehm, Half Dragon/ Half Human? Divinity in bloodline (Divinely Touched). Dintiradan, some sliths never reach the age of thought or some similar. All sliths are born little less than lizards until someday, abruptly, they can have thoughts. It is not a sure thing however, since some sliths never experience this phenemonom and hence never have thoughts and remain primitive. [ Wednesday, March 15, 2006 10:44: Message edited by: Red_Sage ] Posts: 32 | Registered: Tuesday, December 11 2001 08:00 |
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Infiltrator
Member # 6652
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written Wednesday, March 15 2006 10:47
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The First Expedition was slaughtered "to a man and a woman." This could be interpreted as being slaughtered completely, or only a man and a woman left alive. But that aside... Please, please, PLEASE no Dorikas. If he's done WELL and CONVINCINGLY MAYBE a sidequest, but NO MORE! We want an ORIGINAL PLOT! All I can think of at this point is a ridiculously G3-type plotline involving the overthrowing of the Empire, but there's gotta be something. Take the engine and fighting system of A4 and slap a good plot on it, and you have a very nice game. Please! Aw, who am I kidding. It's probably gonna be Avernum 5: Revenge of Rentar-Ihrno's Sister. -------------------- But I don't want to ride the elevator. Posts: 420 | Registered: Sunday, January 8 2006 08:00 |
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Law Bringer
Member # 335
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written Wednesday, March 15 2006 13:13
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Magic seems to have limits in the world of Avernum, and cross-breeding hasn't been seen yet. It's also a process that's remarkably difficult to rationalize. Energy/matter is conserved except when magic intervenes. Every force exerted on an object results in an equal and opposite force exerted by the object except presumably magical forces, which don't have an object to be acted on. Incompatible species cannot breed except when magic starts altering genes so they are functionally the same but somehow compatible between very different organisms? —Alorael, who can conceive of Dorikas being part of a good plot. He can also conceive of Rentar-Ihrno's return to the surface ending being the one used in A5 so that it is exactly the same as A3. Who knows? Posts: 14579 | Registered: Saturday, December 1 2001 08:00 |
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Warrior
Member # 6912
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written Wednesday, March 15 2006 13:44
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I just want A5 to take place in vanahtai lands i think its about time 2 spend a lot of time there.Oh and i just finished A4 and u do have an option for Ranter Ithro to live but yeah i would hate for any of the old charectors playing a major role in A5 i am up for a masive all out demon invasion and if it cant be in Vanahtai lands it should be a conflict that puts the WHOLE empire in jepordy not a few cities or the least populated continent ---Cross breading...half man half dragon wont that be the slith?? in fact pretty much all races look like half breeds half man and half something else. How much further can go? Less hair? Less scaled?.....the only cool truely original thing i can think of is half man half spider "spiderman" lol ----Vanahtai i am seriously getting a little tired of them being called masters of magic if i recall corectly Erica was breating the most powerful mage of the vanahtai...so making one wont be unbalanced (kos they are not that powerful) Posts: 89 | Registered: Wednesday, March 15 2006 08:00 |
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The Establishment
Member # 6
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written Wednesday, March 15 2006 14:04
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quote:Please no. Demons have been used to death in so many media, it's not even funny anymore. Demons invade because they are demons and demons are evil and like to invade, circular logic. No thought involved. The First Expedition would be a really nice change. Bring us back to survival, escape mode. -------------------- Your flower power is no match for my glower power! Posts: 3726 | Registered: Tuesday, September 18 2001 07:00 |
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Warrior
Member # 6912
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written Wednesday, March 15 2006 14:11
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come on you cant tell me demons werent cool in bashikova in BoA it can be one of the plagues in A5 kinda like the shades in A4 Posts: 89 | Registered: Wednesday, March 15 2006 08:00 |
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? Man, ? Amazing
Member # 5755
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written Wednesday, March 15 2006 14:12
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quote:Demons invaded because the GIFTS drove them crazy. The GIFTS are manifestations of abandoned sanity. Sinsanity, we fight back the demons. It will never stop. -------------------- WWtNSD? Posts: 4114 | Registered: Monday, April 25 2005 07:00 |