Flipz

I think we have quite a few players in their 40s... ...oh, levels, you meant Levels! Right, got it. Sorry, couldn't resist.

We really need to split up our Phoenix Essences, we have three of them on the Hero who's most likely to fall.. As the cold logic of battle faded and the last of the enemies fell, Arthur turned to his lover. "Alexis, are you alright? Did that mechanical monstrosity do any lasting harm?" Real concern filled Arthur's eyes. A rage built within him as he inspected her wounds, but frustratingly, he could find no fault with his fellow party members; all had performed admirably, even the Assassin Rone who had condemned the Chaos he was bound to follow. Wren. It's all Wren. The party could hear a deep rumble building, but (aside from general suspicion and savviness) could not divine its source. At last the rumble grew and burst forth from Arthur's lungs, a scream of animalistic rage that echoed through the alleyways, a cry the part-Rangers, the frog, and even the outdoorsman Haldor could recognize: the most pitiable sound known to the world, the howl of a creature trapped beyond escape. It was the sound of a man trapped within his own flesh, within his own soul. Seething but still within control, the Sorcerer exerted his fury the only way he could: upon the lifeless corpses that lay in front of him. Two short, impossibly precise swings of his blade, and soon one of the Bombsters was beheaded, the other with Sir Roderick's sword buried halfway in his back. Arthur bent over, breathing heavily, as he removed his sword. "What good..." he said, seemingly unaware he spoke aloud. "What good is it being a Hero, if we can't even protect the ones we love? What good is it to be human if all that is good to us is merely an opening for others' torment?" Arthur sat next to the crown upon the Shrine, facing away from the others, idly inspecting it with his Magnifying Glass but not fully paying attention to the results; it was busy work, to distract his mind from his own troubles. He opened and closed his left hand, inspecting his palm as he removed his glove and the wrapping beneath it. The others could not see, of course, save perhaps the Frog Paladin, but his veins had grown black in his moment of pain, as if pure chaos flowed within them instead of blood. The color had slowly faded away, remaining but the slightest shade darker, but he saw it--saw his weakness, his frail mortality. Wren is mad...but she somehow speaks the truth. It was an insult to compare my own pitiful strength to hers. But I have to stop her, I must strike her down--I have seen it. It is my destiny. Unless... Arthur continued to stare at the crown, deep in thought, but not quite lost within it.

Asajj Ventress? Annoying character, but great minifig parts.

Good point, that seems to be a reference to the Klingon Bird-of-Prey in The Voyage Home. Perhaps the new movie will be combining plot points from all three movies in that trilogy?

I'd like to see all of the gifts handed out, even if most of them end up being powerless. Things like Dyric's Duplovian Helmet and all of the "lovers lockets" and "chastity belts" being sent to Alexis would be great for roleplaying, if nothing else.

And Fugazi + CorneliusMurdock = CornaziFoogdock

Looks great, Scorpiox! In other news, Pie, I your Grogmas Gifts post. Great roleplaying! So, "Corngazi", are you the victim perpetrator of a bad joke, or are we making fun of Endgame here?

^^This. Monsters, Inc. 3D was literally the best 3D movie experience I've ever seen. (Granted, I never saw James Cameron's Avatar in 3D, but still.) Pixar knows how to do 3D well, if I go to see a Pixar movie, I know the 3D will be worth the extra price.

Wow. They're actually doing it. From that trailer (on the previous page), the new movie is clearly a re-make of The Wrath of Khan. I wonder if JJ will go the whole way and re-make all three of the movies in that trilogy? Q knows The Search For Spock could REALLY use it...

Since Skopios will automatically take out the Bombster in its two hits, can we auto-play with Skopios at the top of the BO and finish the fight? "Skrall, let Skopios polish off these scraps from the top of the Battle Order. The rest of us don't even need to risk fighting."

"Skrall, how's this for a battle plan?" Suggested Battle Order:and actions (confirmed actions are in bold.) Arthur (Darkness, Sir Roderick's Sword) vs. Bombster B (Back Row) Dyric (Phoenix Essence on Alexis, Back Row) Skrall (Hunter's Crrssbow) vs. Bombster A (Back Row) Alexis (Darkness, Mockthril Longbow) vs. Bombster B (Back Row) Haldor (Zoot er Isen) vs. Bombster B (Back Row) Alexis (Darkness, Mockthril Longbow) vs. Bombster B (Back Row) Phil (Hammer of Dastan) vs. Chimaera Guard C (Front Row) Poletad (Heal injured party members, if any)

Bottom line: if you really love LEGO and you have the cash to spare, then I'd say pick up a few extra sets to sell later; if you're not a real fan, then don't bother. Everyone else here has already explained why LEGO as a pure investment vehicle for an outsider is a really bad idea, so I won't re-hash their arguments. On the other hand, if you truly love the brick, then it's a win-win situation; if the investment becomes valuable, then you've made yourself some extra money to spend on your hobby, but if not, you can always just tear the thing open and have more building supplies. Either way, you win.

I'm more irritated that it's something I could have avoided. A simple change in the conditional actions from "heal if below 12 HP" to "heal if below 20 HP", and I would have been fine. (Barur still would have been KO'd, though, but I didn't want to waste his (then very rare) Mulled Wine on what I thought was just a midpoint boss. )

Lucario all the way. Yes, that includes in Super Smash Bros Brawl. Although, I do have a soft spot for Turtwig/Grotle/Torterra, my first starter and still one of my favorite Pokemon. I actually tend to prefer Grass-types in general, though I'm even more of a sucker for Dark-types. I don't think there's a single Dark-type I dislike EXCEPT for Stunky/Skuntank and Drapion, because I hate Poison-types. As such, Hoenn has been by FAR my favorite region.

And now for something completely different...

I racked up 500 Gold because we ended up fighting a boss that we couldn't risk rolling Special Damage against, that we couldn't Assassinate, and that we couldn't throw Effects at, and I only had one Nostrum. So, in essence, we ran 20 rounds of me getting SHIELDS instead of the Critical Hits we needed, and I still screwed up my calculations and didn't get XP for the fight. I know what you mean, though, it's why I decided to go on the Quest (plus I wanted to Quest under Pie); I passed up on a few other Quests because I was waiting for Swils' Fields run, plus I didn't want to miss out on 53. As a result, I'm appalingly low-level right now. (Could actually do with some Trial Brew right about now... )

Back-alley deals. EDIT: Psst, Flare, Erdy and Sarge should no longer be Sealed, thanks to her Roots of Life.

Ragh, really didn't want to ask Phil to attack the Chimaera Guard, but I can't ask Poletad to do it after what happened to Alexis (I keep forgetting my fellow party members aren't Lucky! ), and we need Skrall on Bombster A. Hopefully Phil will see the tactical necessity and listen to Arthur. Also hoping that Haldor's new SHIELD will come into play this Round with him targetting Bombster B, since it'd be a welcome double blessing

"Alexis! No!" Arthur looks on, helpless, as the Evoker falls. "Dyric, you're the only one who can bring her back, do it, we need her. Skrall, you're best suited for Bombster A, and Your Highness, we're best suited if you can take out Guard C; Alexis can do much more damage to the Bombster once she's revived." Arthur again sends darkness at Bombster B from the Back Row.

Ditto...

Wow, tighter battle than I thought--I forgot to look at my own HP for a minute there, when I suddenly realized that half the party is on the verge of death.

"Gah, that was awful. Haldor, please heal the Emperor before he's killed, the rest of you give me a moment to analyze..." "All right, Skrall, Your Highness, please join together in attacking Bomber A. I'll take Bomber B from the Back Row with Darkness, so that the Jinxed-effect can be used to full effectiveness. Alexis, Shalma should take Chimaera Guard E and F, and you should take B and C. Sir Poletad, please heal Skrall. Everyone else, pile on to Bomber B after I've Jinxed him."

"Well, of course, I'm asking for future reference. Next time something menaces my city, I intend to hire him before the enemy gets to him." "If you could take them from the Back Row, that'd save us a Phoenix Essence, Your Highness. Just a thought." Also, Phil has SP:2, so he should be at exactly 20 HP. "Dyric, remind us to buy you some SP next chance we have, you really need it." Shame we can't use these Chaos Doors on ourselves, it'd save us a lot of trouble. "Alexis, honey, mind directing Shalma to A and D instead? Shalma will take out both guaranteed, and it'd leave me free to wipe out E, who Shalma can't kill this round anyway." Arthur casts Lightning at E from the Back Row. "Master Skrall, we could really use you on the Bombsters, since after all you can't get Burned again. Sir Poletad, would you mind healing Skrall? Preferably after he attacks; I know it's odd, but this way he won't start Bleeding again after you've healed him. Actually...Haldor, could you heal Skrall while Sir Poletad heals Dyric?" OOC: No, Phil hit E. I don't think Lucky counts towards Assassinations, it hasn't for Hybros so far.

Sylvania's Cowls? They're simple items, not OP at all, but they're really great, I'd love to have one myself. Not to mention they're logical and appropriate rewards for the Quest givers. I have a dream team of players thought up for a Quest I want to host sometime in the future, but it turns out most of them are a pain to balance for ( ).

Agreed, the editor would be 100% better if it had a "remove formatting" option in it somewhere. Also agreed. If the ruling HAS to stand, maybe it summons a second spirit of the same type? Or else allows the Evoker to summon two different elemental spirits when equipped? It's a brilliant artifact, I hate to see it completely broken.