The Ripper

Quote: Originally written by LakiRa@: It would be avesome if you had that power. Agreed. I would so teleport myself to the other side of Turabi Gate.

Quote: Originally written by Dikiyoba: Shapers live in a world of essence and magic, not DNA, cells, and radiation. Our way of thinking about how shaping could work is probably radically different than a Shaper would see it. Dikiyoba.[/QB] Good point. I guess I think of it more like science fiction now, what with all the amazing advances in biotech, its not hard to imagine the near-future containing some very relevant analogies to GF. Or maybe I've been listening to too much Kurzweil.

Thanks Celtic, that is informative. Where do they take their stem cells from? Or do they just manufacture the cells themselves as well? Dikiyoba: I don't think anyone can disagree that shapers did not know anything about DNA and stuff, but I believe they could manipulate Genes without understanding the mechanisms behind it. Similar to how early humans unconsciously selected aurocs into cows without realizing what they were doing.

Quote: By the way, it is Nalyd's impression that Shapers Shape by creating the zygote of a base creature, bombarding it with different types of radiation, and accelerating the growth process.[/QB] The second part of that theory makes sense to me, but how do they create the zygote? Where do they get the Gametes from? From their own reproductive organs?

Quote: Originally written by Anglo-Saxonking: 1. Make it a high level creation, created by the Shapers as a last hope. Possibly GIFTS-like. Yes!!! That opens up the possibility of friendly spider areas in Geneforge! Finally!

All I have to say is thatJeff Vogel is a king among men, a beloved genius, and my personal hero. Not to take anything away from the all-important statement above, I would also like to add that I'm all for the checkpoint/area style world, as opposed to totally open. Quote: However, I'm not going to design games like that anymore. They are too difficult to balance properly. This is a good thing, not - as you have put it - something to apologize for. I don't want to fall asleep at level 1 holding the 8 key, and wake up fighting Hakaai. -theripper

G5 = You are a lone Eyebeast with Down Syndrome wandering the ruins of Terrestria in the Aftermath of the war, when you come upon a working geneforge...

woohoo, it IS on the ftp! I'm installing it right now!

Oh yeah? well my new spell idea is like a "Gargoyle" Spell. It'd be good for deadweight shapers. You just cast it at the beginning of a batte and it turns your to stone. You can't do anything but you're invulnerable for several turns.

See: Criteria for admission to Hogwarts Translation: Mostly nepotism plus wildcards

Chuckle. Actually, this deserves more than a chuckle. It deserves an LOL.

Side note: Shades/Ghosts must have essense too, since some can spray acid, right?

Quote: Originally written by Ash Lael: Quote: Originally written by Thuryl: Shapers have essence glands, of course. When I read this, I could not help thinking of Dr Strangelove. Purity of essense!!! Equality for creations? That's communist talk! ^ teh offtopic.

yes, 3 of them I believe. THe 4th is on the same map as the mind.

Whoa, Jeff actually reads what a low-life like me posts about his games? That makes me less angry. Anyway, back to the topic of serviles shaping. I still don't like it at all. But then, to me there's no way to play a satisfying game as a servile. It would just be a novelty. Call me an arrogant shaper, but I truly believe that all of the problems of the magic/shaping getting out of control is really only perpetuated by mad shapers/humans. In geneforge 2 for example, which I consider to be the perfect game. Can't be improved upon. In G2, the only reason the Awakened weren't dead by the time you got to Medab is because of Tuldaric. All the cunning of Pinner, and other serviles could not make up for the sheer power of one crazy mage. Or Spharon's Lands in G3, those serviles were probable the strongest serviles we've run into so far, but that's only because they were all controlled by a human master. ^ And I think that's the main point I'm driving here, is that although it would be really cool story-wise to play from the perspective of a servile, it shouldn't have the same gameplay. Otherwise its just too much of a leap from the previous Geneforge's (like in the examples above). I mean, as stated on the previous page, its just not your style, so its a leap I'll have to adjust to, but I think we'd be better off with a Roman/Celt situation when it comes to Human/Creations.

Quote: Originally written by $ v. #: Quote: Originally written by Delicious Vlish: I'd like to see an Infiltrator class. Stealth and mental magic out the wazoo. Daze, dominate, terror, stun, etc, as well as the standard unlock and such. But no battle magic available. This will never happen. Why do I say that? Jeff has always insisted on making every spell or ability potentially accessible to every character. When he implemented classes in G1 -- a first for him -- he still made sure that every class could use every skill. Serviles can't shape. Period. If there was a canister or something that allowed serviles to shape, I would be very angry. Ok, after reading through pages and pages of agent-theory, I've decided I don't know how to play Geneforge. I love playing as a shaper, and I love playing as a solo-guardian, but i can not play as an agent. The only spells I ever use (or bother learning) while playing are heal spells. I mean, maybe I just don't like magic in general or something, but I can't make it through a full game as an agent without cheating, its just too damn hard. I die way too much for comfort. I don't expect it to be easy or anything, but most of you are saying that being an agent is waaay easier than the other classes. And I'm not going to disagree with you. I'm just going to believe that I'm incapable of playing this game series properly, and I guess that works out to my advantage (without the need for nerfing), hooray!

Maybe he'll get rid of unlock. Completely useless spell if you ask me. I always have a hoard of like 50 or 60 extra living tools by the end of the game.

^ agree. Put it all into Quick Action and Parry. With my Guardian, I like to get both to 14.

Now please go IP ban yourself, Felix. You've made big mess out of the boards that a mod will have to clean up.

Quote: Originally written by Nick Ringer: They would be powerful enough to tear down walls and melt enemies. Whoa, destructible environments in Geneforge 4? That would be really cool. Edit: Wait, how about the ability to make "fading creations" (see geneforge 3). You could make a fading creation during combat of any creation you could normally make outside combat mode. They only last a couple turns, though.

I agree that it doesn't seem reasonable that Shapers are a different race from outsider humans, but my only question is, why do agents then have green skin?

It comes down to personal opinion I guess. If you get sucked into Awakened propoganda, which most people are inclined to do, then it seems like they are the "good guys". But personally, I try to stick loyal to the Shaper Council in my "regular" games. I guess they just breed loyalty into me (Alwan's talks also helped convince me). You are a shaper, the council gives you training, a job, power. Everything you are, you are because of them. And everything your creations are, they are because of you. As far as the treatment of your creations go, it is the way it is. Some creations are intelligent, but they are not natural, and they are not equal. If you disagree, then explain to me how a discipline wand works. Glory to the Shaper Council, in all their wisdom!

There may not be such a connection. If the geneforge works just like the canisters, then it reacts differently with different people, but there's no evidence that how "moral" they are has any effect on this. I always believed it was physiological. Some people just don't have strong enough genes it takes to absorb the power without the bad side effects.

The Awakened don't really mind. In fact I'm not even sure they would know about it. Because the servile you bring back isn't from an awakened camp, he's from Learned Darion's, right? It's my understanding that they are fairly neutral. In fact he even says something like "Look, if any serviles CHOOSE to come with you, then you're free to take them".

Maybe I'm way off, but i think you have to have rebel views and talk to caplan just outside the wilton walls, then talk to the serviles telling them that caplan sent you, then they'll do whatever you want. Oh, and to clarify, the serviles are just north of the bridge west of wilton. the bridge you help the guards defend. just north of that on the same map.