Scorpiox

Not any more, not since inactivity has been declared a valid reason for a lynch. Not since that certain people have decided that not posting because of the possession of a life is invalid and therefore a scum tell. /rant

That's all true. When one is playing mafia, there really is no break from it. During the days you must check the thread constantly and reply often, which makes it impossible to do much else than sit at the computer. During the nights, you have to PM and make plans. It's an all consuming experience, that's why I stopped playing it (also partly because of how blatant offensiveness and insulting is considered fair game through the mafia period, and how sometimes it can be hard to differentiate between in and out of game behaviour).

He quit, unfortunately.

I knew you were going to say that. Wow, that's some really interesting stuff there. I hadn't thought of how the different D&D traits can actually describe intelligence in varying degrees quite accurately. I love it when you do that, Flipz.

"Aye... I suppose you're right. I would have liked a note, or some warning, or for her to have chosen a better time; but... what the hell, if she'd rather run off and leave me here then I'll be buggered I'm going to wait for her. Not like she'd understand that idea, her people can live so long that running off ain't bad, as long as she'd come back in a hundred years or that. You and me, Tesni, we've got time running short, best be so that we spend as little as possible thinking on those that ain't worth our time." He laughed. "You know me far too well. I've got the nordic blood in my veins, nothing I can do about that. I've had my share of peril and great, crazy witches and their dastardly plans - think it high time I sit back and relax a bit. Get to know this girl a bit better, in a manner of speaking. You never know, by the end I might even be able to pronounce her name right. She's one of them apprentices at Ennoc's convent out of town, don't imagine they allow her much in the way of men to keep her company on these damn hot southern nights. If it goes well, she may even change her mind and decide the north is more her thing after all!" Haldor waved for some ale, he was beginning to enjoy himself again. "You have the right attitude, girl, we need more people like you here. Tell you what, this night is the last night I go pondering about things that may or may not happen, and start trying to live a bit more. For me, I'm going to work through quests as they turn up, leave the deep thinking to people who know nothing else and get the girl whenever possible. Sound like a good plan to you?" The nord smiled a wide gleeful smile, leaning back to swig his ale and be happy again.

Yeah, I'm loving the interaction between the two heroes at the moment. I've never really noticed it before, but Haldor and Tesni are similiar in a great many respects; and that seems to have surfaced recently. I'd like to see them questing again soon, something that they haven't done since I polished Haldor's personality off. I'm actually really enjoying writing for him at the moment - I think that I've got his way of speaking and mannerisms well enough to be consistent. He's less cringey that he was in Quest #19 and less angry than in #38. What does the outside world think? I'd like to hear opinions on my way of writing for Haldor and whether or not you think I've improved. To be honest I don't even know how D&D works besides the fact that it's a RPG involving fantasy. In the 70s I was far more occupied with my psychedelic music and sitting in a darkened room swaying gently to Dark Side of the Moon with my eyes shut. At the very least, I managed to keep myself away from the harder drugs that my friends liked to try (seriously, man. You can't explore the album properly unless you let go of yourself, man. These'll help you, they're pretty far out, man. Groovy.), something I'm thankful of to this day. I'm glad that my cohorts thought me weird for wanting to remain on my head whilst slipping away to Pink Floyd, than not remember those years at all.

If 10 were average, then I believe Guts ought to have FAR more than that for wisdom. In my view he is one of the stand-out characters in Heroica who are able to see the world as it truly is. Obviously that's only my opinion, explaining why it's so difficult to categorise a character like that, it's only subjective after all...

I'd rather not take part in the D&D attribute ratings because I believe that it's impossible to nail a character down to a list of numbers effectively. Especially with intelligence, as I believe that the term is only subjective in the real world - and certainly so in a forum RPG. How can one give a mark out of 18 for something so relative as the power of the mind? For example, let's choose two not-so-random living famous humans; David Bowie (obviously) and Stephen Hawking. They're both extremely intelligent people in their own separate divisions, that is indisputable. Now tell me, how would one possibly mark these two men's sheer brain power out of 18? Hawking is a scientific mastermind, and easily the brightest scientist in the world today (to my knowledge). Bowie in the 70s (lost it a bit during the 80s and 90s, but that can be forgiven) displayed an outstanding creative mind and perceptive understanding of how the world functions as he demonstrated in many songs. Great philosophy in quite a few, also. Stephen wouldn't stand a chance on the Earth of matching David's songwriting ability, in the same way that ol' Ziggy would embarrass himself trying to explain black hole physics, as the Prof. manages every day despite being paralysed wholely besides a small part of his cheek (seriously, how the hell does he give lectures whilst only being able to move his cheek?!). Anyone who claims that they could compare the minds of these men is deluding themself, quite frankly. Sorry! Speech over, I just wanted to get that off my chest. Next up: Define strength, Arnold Swarzengger vs Martin Luther King.

Ahh... I see what you did there. But it's actually painfully true. I'm hoping everyone has gathered by this point that xxlrocka's character exists only to 'troll' the community. I know it sounds unsympathetic, but players have given advice time and time again for him to respect the game more and try to play properly, but it doesn't appear to have sunk in. Either he is still unable to understand (which I doubt), or he is deliberately continuing because he realises how much his behaviour is irritating and enjoys the attention. It seems the best thing for everyone to do is simply ignore Drake until xxlrocka matures quite a bit.

Pretty excited for this, as a huge fan of the original series. Arnie's return is a good start, and hopefully we'll soon see some excellent writing to match. Salvation left a lot of loose ends that need wrapping up. (How the living hell does Skynet alter its creation when Dyson is stopped? Surely that would just remove its existence in the future, as opposed to simply being created 'initially' in a different way?") I'd have to agree. The first and second are definitely the best story-wise. The third runs a little bit too quickly, but ultimately fits in rather well with the others. Salvation seems a film created with good-intentions, but largely poor execution.

Sorry for the wall of text, ladies and gentlemen - I just needed to clear up Haldor's thoughts, and a speech turned out the only way to do it.

"Aye, true. I haven't really thought about sleeping much. Since Jess vanished, I haven't even been back to the inn, reckon my stuff's still all there. It's hard, you know, Tesni; having to move on. It's not like she died - I could remember her fondly if she did that - but no, she just... went. One day we were sharing a bed and much else... and then she's gone. Poof, disappeared. No note, no clues - nothing. It's a terrible thing to say, but I'd rather know she be dead or with another man than have this empty feeling inside. I want her to come home, I really do; but at the same time, I don't know. That fact that she left me while the lot of us were *this* close to destruction seems...wrong. Was it cowardice? Did she not want to be here 'case news came that I'd been killed? Was she just bored with me, and this life? I should hate her for it, but I don't. It certainly didn't seem like she was unhappy. The night before I left... she was 'enthusiastic' to say the least, if you catch my meaning. She made me think that she were going to wait behind all along, ready to surprise me and take me in like she used to..." His face turned glassy for a brief moment, as he remembered past joys. "I don't know, Tesni. I can't wait forever. I can hardly wait at all. This life seems so brief, that anything could change in the time I hope for her return. And besides, I've been asked to the theatre by a fine young lass only recently. The general idea I've been getting is that she means this as courtship - not the kind I'm used to, mind - and the day is arriving soon. Is it bad of me to move on so fast? You're a woman, Tesni, you are more versed in these feelings, what would you have me do? Do you think -" Haldor stopped as soon as he realised he'd been talking far too long. "You don't want to hear my problems, do you? It's fine, I can hardly expect you to listen to the woes of a weary nord. I need sleep, that's all. You have better things to do." "As for Althior, his change would be well if he had ever crossed paths with Wren at all while she was at large. That's why I can't stand him. I went out, came back after saving the world; found out my girl had left me, and he tells me he was given a second chance, but would rather waste it calling people out for being good-natured. He did that, he did just that. I told him to lighten up - and he called me weak for it. That's why I'm running a new policy in these parts - don't try forcing your beliefs on anyone else or I'll be forced to kick your head in, it's simple. He can piss himself trying to inflict his misery on the rest of us, but I won't stand for it, I've got enough on my mind." The nord had to breathe deeply, he was getting far too heated. It was a combination of various things, really, that made him feel this way. Whatever the causes, it was not a good place to be in.

Haldor turned his head slightly, confused. "Wait... did I tell you I was talking about Atramor? By the gods, I need to sleep. No, I meant the mage Althior - he is the changed one. Everything I just said, that was about Althior. Poor old Gibbin, being lumped with the likes of him because I haven't slept in days." He laughs nervously, slightly disconcerted and ultimately worried that he is going insane.

I even managed to mix up Haldor and Tarn, despite their names beginning with different letters.

That's really awesome, Sandy deserves every bit of credit he/she/it gets!

I honestly can't remember, but it's a great number of pages back. If only we folks didn't post so much, you'd be able to find it... ---------------- God, did I really write Atramor?! Pepper, can we please re-take that scene? Just pretend that Haldor said Althior. Please. Please! EDIT: Needed more facepalms. :facepalm:

Oh God no. Last time Sisco had to jump in and tell us to shut up. This kind of stuff only happens on Eurobricks - heated arguments over the relative merits of fantasy fiction. Definitely Althior, although with a few tweaks that post could apply to all three. In Tolkein's works it's like that, but a while ago we had a debate and decided in-canon that elves only aged very slowly as opposed to not at all.

I certainly remember the discussion, and I also think I can recall the outcome. We came to the conclusion that once an elf reaches the age of human adulthood their body clock slows down to something like one tenth of the usual rate. Therefore, for every ten years lived, they would only appear to have become one year older. Correct? I would have to disagree on that point. In Tolkein's universe, the elves are far more spiritually linked and ingrained in history than in most other fantasy works (Just think of Elrond and how he is able to 'sail to heaven' with Gandalf, Frodo and Galadriel at the end of ROTK). In Middle Earth, their immortality fits rather well in my view, but only for the way that they are presented in-context. With TES-esque elves, for example, having an unlimited lifespan would be ridiculous however.

If everything becomes too complication Haldor can simply return home.

"I see, hopefully we're on the same page then!" Haldor chuckled, but soon his face hardened. "What did you think of him? He's an old - was an old friend of mine. Up until recently, he was a nice bloke to be around, but not too long after we came back from Wren he changed completely. He give you any of that "smiling's for weaklings" megablocks? How about "no point being happy 'cause you're going to die anyway"? Can't stand an attitude like that. If he wants to go through his life like that, it's fair enough - he can die on his own in some gutter somewhere knowing there ain't nobody that cares for him. But I'm sure as hell not letting him try any of that on me. If comes anywhere close, it'll be hard to keep myself from socking the sorry bastard." "This is Tesni, a more dependable girl I do not know. Glad to hear it, I've never been one to trust someone who shifts their form without choice. I'd have no way of knowing whether they'd be the same person each time they came back..."

"Aye, that I have. After we tackled Wren I made an effort to try and chill out a bit - take some more straightforward jobs without the serious moral bollocks at every turn. It's pretty refreshing to be truthful, I've just returned from hunting bloody great lizards off on a remote island. One of the folks in my party, he was a bit... interesting. Carvenhall's his name, you know of the man? Well, while we were fighting he had some weird kind of fit when he weren't allowed to hit one of the creatures, started shouting, insulting and the like. Then soon as we were done, he came straight back to normal and stayed there for the rest of the quest. What do you make of that? The only way I can think of describing such a transformation is that of a werebeast. Except with less of the fur and big claws, you know." He laughed. Haldor glanced over at the sound of Althior's voice, and remained staring blankly in his general direction for some few minutes, before turning round again. "Say, Tesni, you remember Atramor - right? You know, young fellow, short beard, formerly pointy hat."

Haldor gazes around through the low candlelight, looking around for something to do. He spies Tesni, who looked deep in thought; not wishing to disturb a woman with her mind elsewhere, the nord simply calls out "Hail, Tesni!" and waves to the berserker. Haldor waits to see if she'll approach him before going any further.

Heretic! In all seriousness, they're both great examples of early-ish outstanding graphics and containing many great themes. I love them both.

Truth is that rogue classes already are and are able to be FAR more powerful than anything else in this game. Money gets you upgrades, artefacts and therefore strength; a valuable commodity rarer than you'd think for support classes. Healers are barely even needed when you have potions. To think, Haldor gained about 150 pieces of gold this past quest, probably less. Whereas Benji I believe gained over a thousand. I still can't see, to my blindness, how a hero could possible 'need' to make that much cash in a quest, but that's what a lot of players say. In honesty, most heroes will always be weaker than their rogue allies - but that's okay. If I wanted to play this game to be all-powerful I'd have gone rogue at the start. But I find cleric/barbarian hybrid classing to be far more enjoyable, and that's why I do it. Scorpiox' advice to all: This game can be fun in so many other ways that purely min/maxing, so discover and explore them! Don't feel that you must become a raider or assassin simply because they allow you to eclipse others in power, play what you like best!

That's something I'd personally hate to see. It would just be too orientated towards offensive AoE damaging classes. If that policy were to be put in place, it sounds as though clerics wouldn't be getting any stuff at all - despite their constant battle to make sure everyone else is alive enough to be able to. As I said on the Pay-4-Revives idea - The moment that people start playing this game solely for themselves - and the element of community spirit is lost - is also the moment that this game falls to pieces. I know you weren't seriously suggesting it, I'm just giving my opinion.