Goldengirl

Originally Posted By: Thuryl Originally Posted By: Goldenking I like how I assume that everybody who doesn't like the series hasn't read it. Fixed your typo. I said "I like how the criticism of the series comes from people who either admittedly, or assumedly, haven't read it." Admittedly would be in the case of Dikiyoba, who read the first three chapters and then quit. Assumedly would be in the case of Doom Warrior. So, really, there was no mistake on my part.

Originally Posted By: Dintiradan I've mentioned something similar on Shadow Vale, but the only thing stopping the movie Twilight from being a classic is Wesley Snipes. The special effects were admittedly subpar as well, though it was a relatively indie production. I like how the criticism of the series comes from people who either admittedly, or assumedly, haven't read it.

Originally Posted By: feo takahari Just received a stern lecture from the smartest girl in my school after she saw me reading a book in the Twilight series. Apparently she didn't think it was intellectual enough for the likes of me. Aside from hating being classified as somehow "above" the people around me, I began to wonder more and more about why it is that Twilight doesn't qualify as a classic--every argument I can think of would also disqualify Romeo and Juliet, The Scarlet Letter, or The Lord of the Rings. Also, found an online comic, www.misfile.com. I've been waiting for a chance to plug it--it's not exactly the most tasteless thing I've ever read, but it's hands-down the most hilarious. Twilight is good; however, to be a classic, you need to be able to stand the test of time. Stephenie Meyer just barely finished the series, so I don't think it's withstood that test, yet. So, I just finished reading Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher over the weekend; it's a good book, with a clear moral. I'd recommend it to anyone who wants a quick read, and doesn't mind the subject matter (suicide). Meanwhile, I'm reading the sci-fi -esque book, The Host, also by Stephenie Meyer. It is a good read, as well, and sheds light on several philosophical questions concerning utopia and humanity. It's more adult oriented, but it's still a good book, all in all. Oh, and I picked up and read my father's copy of The Tales of Tweelde the Bard, by JK Rowling, today. It was okay, but the "commentary" by Dumbledoore was heavyhanded, and the excessive plugging for Rowling's other short books was annoying. I was pleased to find that the proceeds from the book are going to some charity or another, however. Not like she needs the money...

Originally Posted By: ntemplates the fatalism of rebel —Alorael, who wonders if the Anama's influence over Bigail and eventually other places would be increased or decreased if things had gone differently. Did the roach invasion push people into the communitarian and quasi-communist Anama lifestyle on Bigail? If the roaches hadn't been stopped would disillusionment have caused the cult to die out? I imagine that the Plagues really bolstered the Anamas' power, as they were magical plagues. Gave people a common example of magic gone wrong, and all. And, considering how the Anama were the only ones really doing anything productive against the roaches, by healing and tending for roach victims, I think that Bigail would be gone by the time the roaches beat the Anama.

I hope Jeff doesn't kill Solberg. He, and Tor, are my favorite characters.

Alright, so we all know that there are four branches of magic, Mental, Battle, Healing, and Blessing. Of these, Mental and Battle can be used for battle. So, my question is, which is more moral to use? On the one hand, Mental Magic could be considered the best. Mental Magic is not inherently malicious, and is temporary. Furthermore, there are only a few spells I'd consider actually "killing". Specifically, spells that take away free will, specifically charm, dominate, and mass madness. Even if these acts are temporary, they cause the opponents to go against their comrades unwillingly, perhaps killing them, and as such is even more heinous. Meanwhile, no matter how complex the spell, Battle Magic simply kills via bodily harm, usually quickly. However, some of the spells, especially when they do not kill immediately, such as lightning aura, only cause prolonged pain, before an assumed death, and thus can be equated roughly to torture. It is for this reason that I believe that Battle Magic is still in the running for least moral. Surely, though, the absolutely most immoral is casting lightning aura, charming the opponent, having him kill all his opponents, and then, once the charm wears off, obliterating him. So, my fellow Spiderwebbers, what is your opinion?

So, is the game any good? Does it have more plot and resolution than, say, Pacman?

Originally Posted By: Shaper Andrace 3.According to Randomizer, all Shapers we have met so far are backwater losers. Andrace does not think this is so. Randomizer noted Diwania spcifically saying he was sent to a boring swamp, but he was a brand new shaper on his first assignment, and still put up a tough fight if you tried to kill him. FYT-ish. If anything, I think this proves more about the strength of novice Shapers than anything else. Which in turn proves more about the strength of the master Shapers.

Originally Posted By: Dikiyoba Originally Posted By: Goldenking Someone once tried to turn Geneforge into a story once - it was boring, and far too nitpicky to make a good story. I don't think the Shaper even got to Vakkiri before it was scrapped. Are you sure it wasn't this? Dikiyoba. Yeah, I'm sure. For one thing, I know that I posted in the thread, commenting on a vanishing roamer; for another, it wasn't so... horrible; lastly, it predated that "work" by a long, long time.

Originally Posted By: Shaper Andrace How bad could it possibly be? Or is it more like an extremely detailed boring step by step walkthrough of the first two zones? No, it was a story, it just wasn't a good story.

Someone once tried to turn Geneforge into a story once - it was boring, and far too nitpicky to make a good story. I don't think the Shaper even got to Vakkiri before it was scrapped. The thread is probably in the Geneforge 1 forum somewhere, deep in the dusty files of the Archives.

Originally Posted By: Exile of Blades Originally Posted By: Rowen I just started Brisingr today. I hope it was worth the two week wait on the waiting list at the library. It is. I read it the day it came out. Definitely worth it. But apparently, 'trilogy' doesn't mean three books anymore. Trilogy isn't three books, silly! It's five (insert Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy reference here)! But, Paolini changed the title to the Inheritance "Cycle".

Originally Posted By: Nikki. I dunno. Just visiting Drypeak again might be fun, without having to trudge through the wastes first. I don't really see how Drypeak'd be much fun, really. It's a bunch of desert. The Freegate, on the other hand... that'd be just cool for the effect. Freegate always was my favorite place.

Originally Posted By: Lifecrafterandnoobeditor The conduits may have a part in it, but it may require a different type of teaching, because if you just had to yse a conduit, the shapers could set up platforms in every town and send several shapers to monitor each city via the creation seeing crystals (rivergate keep) and would therefore be alot stronger against the Rebel threat then they were. It certainly takes skill, and dedication. Those Shapers in the Barrier Zone are never going to leave their posts again, on pain of death. Also, something tells me the process of hooking yourself up to "the network" isn't cheap, and neither are the crystal viewers.

Originally Posted By: Goldenking I Me Mine, an autobiography/anthology of songs by George Harrison, edited by Derek Taylor; Inside Out: A Personal History of Pink Floyd, by Nick Mason; Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency, by Douglas Adams. Simultaneously. By the way, now I'm done with two out of three, so I might as well put in my reviews. I Me Mine was a pretty pitiful autobiography, lacking any real chronological. And, what's more, the last bits of his life, his later solo career/work with the Travelling Wilburies to his death, etc. aren't edited in. Instead, Derek Taylor basically just transferred a few of his interviews with Harrison on to a book. The result is nice, but lacking. What I really like about I Me Mine is it's anthology, though. It's incomplete, but it contains just about everything from "Don't Bother Me" to the stuff on the George Harrison album. Covers a wide array of topic, from silly love songs, to Formula One racing, to Hinduism. Very introspective. Inside Out, meanwhile, is awesome. Lots of pictures, lots of talking about the band from, basically, an outsider-insider's POV. Sure, Nick was the drummer, but he wasn't a lyricist, he wasn't the schizophrenic genius, he wasn't the guy who split the band up. He was just sort of along for the ride, which gives the book a really good bend. And while I'm commenting on this, RIP Rick Wright. I've added Ticket to Ride, by Larry Kane, or somewhat, to the mix. It's about an American who was on every single stop of the Beatles American tours of '64-'65. Seems good, well written, with character building moments. So far, I'd recommend it to anyone bored and looking for a good read.

Something tells me that anything about destroying/stealing creations with a wave of your hand is bull. There'd be no point to being a Lifecrafter or Servile, if there was.

It's a vague possibility, but I doubt it. If it was Barzahl, don't you think he'd make more powerful creations, such as the ones he invented himself?

Originally Posted By: Ghaldring Originally Posted By: Nebulan Or be in an underground safe-room and shape them to the surface.... What is the maximum shaping distance? As far as you can comprehend it to be? As depicted in several Geneforge sketches: Right next to the creation. You have to direct streamers of essence, so I doubt you could Shape creations while miles away. If you could do that, then the Shapers/Rebels would be doing it. Incorrect. Shapers have Shaped from a long ways away, usually with the assistance of essence conduits and Shaping pads. Case in point - the Barrier Zone, where the three Shapers Shaped their creations from the safety of their bunkers.

Canister mad Shaper...?

Shape, obviously. What else would I do with it?

Originally Posted By: Nioca But canister usage does more than that. It also inspires megalomania and a strong desire for more power. So instead of having a slightly stable totalitarian government, we'd have a completely unstable totalitarian dictatorship. Agreed. Perhaps if everyone had access to canisters, there'd be balance. After all, the canister users have respect for each other But, you're right. Except, they wouldn't be able to work together, so you'd have unstable totatlitatiand dictatorshipS, ruled by warlords constantly fighting for domination. Quote: If bringing a sixth of a continent to it's knees and holding it against large numbers of combined Shaper and Rebel forces is "some havoc", I'd hate to see what qualifies as total chaos. By that reckoning, the Rebellion is just a bit of rabble-rousing. This "sixth of a continent" also happens to consist of one town for which people would have their knees brought down, and a whole lot of unpassable swamp. Hardly as impressive as taking down a real province. Quote: Which in turn pales when compared to the damage inflicted by the Rebels in order to gain control over Terrestria. Assuming they unleash the Unbound. Which they probably will. But also assuming that the Shapers won't do the equivalent... Which they do, canonically.

I Me Mine, an autobiography/anthology of songs by George Harrison, edited by Derek Taylor; Inside Out: A Personal History of Pink Floyd, by Nick Mason; Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency, by Douglas Adams. Simultaneously.

Originally Posted By: Randomizer I'll have to let someone that actually uses creations tell you what Jeff did. Although Jeff did mention that most of us seem to not use creations. Why? Do the creations fail at doing something constructive, or something?

That Shaper Citadel has me wondering... what's the Shaper Citadel called? Or is it just called that... I'm hoping for something creative. Also, any other provinces or whatever names I could know? Continent names, provinces, cities, whatever. I'm a geographical name nerd, I suppose. Comes from making lots of maps in your spare time, I s'pose. Not that I have any spare time...

Originally Posted By: Nebulan you've done a few, but it's imposible to determine the total number of quests, since you didn't make the game. Yeah, but that's why there are beta testers and FAQs and walkthroughs. To tell you that kind of stuff.