Goldengirl

I imagine that the Shapers are like many orders of elites. They maintain their image so absolutely to the oursiders, and therefore when they recruit from the population to train new Shapers, there are two possibilities. The illusion may be bought so wholly that it's actually faithfully reproduced without any duplicity, such as with Alwan, or the illusion remains merely an illusion for power-hungry individuals, like Rawal. It would be easier if we had some idea of how people became Shapers. Taygen shows that Shapers can marry, and presumably have children, so I imagine that the children of Shapers are first pick to become Shapers as well. Whether or not outsiders can become Shapers is less clear. At some level, Shapers seem devoted to ideas of meritocracy. However, I'd imagine that outsiders would have far less motivation for the Rebellion if it were so easy to become a Shaper. Perhaps it's some mix of the two, where only the rich can afford to send their children to Shaper schools like the Greenwood Academy. I don't think Rawal is evil. He doesn't have a solution to the Rebellion, but then again neither do the Shapers of the Coast.

I find Rawal to actually be one of the more realistic characters in the Geneforge series. Moreover, he was representative of the older, classical era of Shapers that prompted the Rebellion in the first place. I'm thinking, here, specifically of the Shaper Council that would rule over the world, even if it was burnt to a husk, as they said in the ending of G3. From a roleplaying perspective, it's understandable to hate him as he basically holds the PC hostage. Maybe I just have Stockholm syndrome for him, even though I usually play rebel?

Hmm. You clearly need to have your implants adjusted. Don't worry, we have sent someone to fix that for you next Thursday.

Considering the loyalty issues all of the Hands had (except, possibly, the PC) I doubt any of them would become Redbeard's new Heart.

At first I interpreted sugar very broadly - many things, such as fruit, have sugar that you need to survive. Looking through this thread more, I'm looking at that category more narrowly as candies and sweets. Certainly not my favorite group, though it's a nice treat every now and then. Looking back, as all of the other categories are staples in my diet, I'd give up sugar. Indeed, I basically already have. However, I voted for meat at the time since I misunderstood the category, on the basis that I gave it up before for a year, so I could do it again if I wanted.

Those could be any three dead people. In fact, if they were dead Hands (or Eyes or anyone, really) I'd guess they'd give them a more respectable burial than just hauling them off in a cart. Those corpses are probably from the attackers.

In practice, I don't think this is different than the informational asymmetry problem you identified earlier; rather, this just compounds it. There's opportunity for adverse selection, obviously, when initially selecting insurance. Good drivers are going to expect low interest rates, since they're good drivers. However, there are very few ways for these drivers to signal to insurance companies that they are good and therefore deserve prime insurance rates. Instead, insurance companies have to squint and stare at data to try and guess based on categories (eg teenagers pay more, males pay more, etc.), look at past trends in accidents, etc. Beyond that, though, there are opportunities for moral hazard in how the insurance company deals with you, the other driver in an accident, and other firms. They can swindle you or others, or they can't; the problem is, just as early, that it's really hard to know if they're actually acting in our best interest or not.

It's been a long time coming in Spiderweb games, but I'm glad to see it happened. Everything else sounds great, too; I'm sure this is going to be an amazing sequel!

Excellent well done! What do they say, good things always come in threes? Well, this is the third milestone lately, so way to finish strong.

Banks are rent-seekers? Who'd have thought!

No, the one with the poisoned wetsuit.

Data the Android was only semi-intelligently designed, since his creator was only human.

I'm not an evolutionary biologist, but perhaps the smaller jaw has to do with the descended larynx? The descended larynx that adults (but not infants) have gives us the ability to make a lot more sounds, and thus opens up vocal communication, and language more broadly, as a possibility. That's obviously an evolutionary advantage.

Watching jokes fly over newer members' heads makes me feel old. Also, I saw that Commander Eddie posted this and blanched.

I'm reading The Brothers Karamazov ​by Fyodor Dostoevsky. I have a feeling it will take a while.

I'm just going to say, if we'd been doing play-by-post this wouldn't be an issue...

That said, as Synergy proved a few years back with the Insidious Infiltrator, it is entirely possible and fun to go with the Infiltrator (= Agent) and dominate the game.

I finished Basso. The jokes weren't that funny, but I'm too culture-bound to truly appreciate them anyway. The explanations made sense, at least, of the jokes. Moreover, they provide as a good access for an explanation of cultural practices of joking in general and the social effects of play. I'm now reading Kerouac's Big Sur. I thought his earlier writing was good (and it was) but this prosaic picture of alcohol-inspired insanity and its heavy tolls is gripping.

More importantly for the Geneforge series (no offense Trenton) they have a lot of replay value. But seriously, don't just take our word for it. Try all the demos!

Waking up in the morning. How quaint.

Perhaps a poll would be a more efficient way of gathering data.

I don't recall that being a problem we had last time around.