Ash Lael
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Regulation - Complexity sidebar
Ash Lael replied to Randomizer's topic in Geneforge Series - Originals
Stillness, speaking as a fellow ID proponent, you're in the wrong on this one. You haven't actually presented a properly structured argument. And there's no point in asking for the same from common descent when your opponents are saying it doesn't even matter whether or not common descent is logical or defensible. Common descent could be completely discredited hogwash, but it wouldn't make any difference to whether or not ID is valid. This is something along the lines of what they're looking for: NOTE: THIS IS FOR DEMONSTRATION PURPOSES ONLY. PLEASE DON'T BOTHER DEBATING THESE POINTS. Premise: All irreducibly complex systems that we have observed the creation of, such as cars*, airplanes*, and computers*, are the result of deliberate intelligent design. Premise: There have been no irreducibly complex systems observed to have been made by any other means. Assumption: The amount of time that we've been able to observe and record the emergence of new irreducibly complex systems (since the beginning of human civilization, let's say) is a sufficient sample to expect to be able to see all the ways irreducible complexity can arise. Assumption: Where there is only one observed mechanism for the creation of a type of thing, it is reasonable to assume that things of that type whose origins are not directly known were created by the same mechanism. Conclusion: Old irreducibly complex systems of whose origins we have no direct record (such as those found in nature) must have come about in the same way as more recent ones (such as cars*). That is, they are the result of deliberate intelligent design. * - Yes, I know these aren't technically irreducibly complex. But still. ---------------------- A logical argument, you see, is itself an irreducibly complex thing (and most definitely a product of intelligent design ). You've presented arguments, but they've been missing parts, and thus haven't been able to perform their function. Describe all the parts, rather than simply assuming them, and then the discussion can progress. -
Action packed tutorial is good. But can old-timers and/or those who have played the game before have an option to turn off the tutorial tips and just play through it? I've been playing Spiderweb games for quite a long time now and get sick of being told how to equip a knife and open a door every time I replay one.
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Where's the love for Greta? Such a hot-blooded young lady...
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Because I Can: The Masochist's Guide To G4
Ash Lael replied to Ash Lael's topic in Geneforge Series - Originals
Solo it is. *clutches kebabs to himself distrustfully* -
Because I Can: The Masochist's Guide To G4
Ash Lael replied to Ash Lael's topic in Geneforge Series - Originals
UPDATE!! I just beat Moseh and got through Illya Province. Damn tough, too. I thought he had me. I ended up bringing him down with all of 12 HP to spare. To date, Ug has eaten well over a thousand kebabs. He somehow maintains good fighting fitness. I'm now tossing up whether it's acceptable to take reinforcements with me in the Fens. On one hand, I haven't been training in Leadership, so the most I can get is 2 soldiers anyway, so it's not like Ug won't still be labouring under a disadvantage compared to most non-stick-wielding characters. On the other... is it cheapening the challenge to accept help? I've been using occasional help where I can get it anyway (leading monsters back to friendly characters, or fighting alongside characters in specific situations). I'm inclined to say it's alright, but if people demand further masochism I can go without. -
Because I Can: The Masochist's Guide To G4
Ash Lael replied to Ash Lael's topic in Geneforge Series - Originals
How about I finish with Ug first? I've just gotten through the Cairn Gates, and am level 11. The Battle Alphas at the bridge and the Restless Dead have been the only things too tough for me so far. Oh, and I got through the Dumping Pits by just running past and taking a few hits rather than taking on a trio of Runewarded Thahds. -
Because I Can: The Masochist's Guide To G4
Ash Lael replied to Ash Lael's topic in Geneforge Series - Originals
I could, but I can't be bothered. He looks just like every other servile. -
Because I Can: The Masochist's Guide To G4
Ash Lael replied to Ash Lael's topic in Geneforge Series - Originals
No combat is actually pretty easy in general. And it also gets boring. Anyway, Ug has been launched! I'm using Mechanics, but not Leadership, and playing a heavily combat-focussed game. I've also extended no spellcasting to using any pods or other magic items (though wearing magic armour is okay). I've just knocked over Shalia, and so far so good. After a little pain early on when dealing with large numbers of opponents I can only kill one at a time, I've started to follow Thuryl's lead and am investing in Endurance. I also carry around a lot of food - I don't have anything else to spend my cash on, so that's pretty much unlimited and I use it as much as possible, regularly chomping down snacks while in the middle of a fight. I can't help expecting Ug to get really overweight, what with his unhealthy dependency on kebabs. On the other hand, I guess it all gets surgically removed... No real difficulties so far. I'm spreading skill points fairly evenly among combat skills (though with extra endurance), and I have to say, quick action and parry help a lot, especially against tougher opponents. When all you have to hit people with is a stick, it helps to hit them a few times. -
Because I Can: The Masochist's Guide To G4
Ash Lael replied to Ash Lael's topic in Geneforge Series - Originals
Ooh. I'm tempted on that basis alone. But I think the fact that you've played the game already would give you a pretty sizable advantage in such a contest. I like the stick idea if only for comedy value. A Servile named Ug, who also never trains in Leadership ever. -
I've started playing G4, and geez. It's just WAY too easy. It seems a decent game so far, but the combat is so unchallenging and tedious that I'm getting quite bored. So this means I have to give myself a challenge! Thuryl already did Onan the Barbarian, so it has to be something tougher than no magic, no canisters, and no creations. I want to do something really ridiculous. I'm thinking something like no training, or maybe a Servile who isn't allowed to do any damage himself and must rely purely on his creations. I'll start this challenge tomorrow night, so feel free to come up with intensely difficult suggestions and/or cast votes until then.
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Heya.
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Let's Play Avernum!
Ash Lael replied to Ijuuin Enzan's topic in Avernum Trilogy (2000-2002 original versions)
Hey, cool. I sometimes lurk those threads. Kind of weird to be silmultaneously referred to as "The yokels on the official forums [getting very excited] over G4 like they do for every new release" and "The picky as [something very picky] people on the Spiderweb boards", though. And if you did a Let's Play Blades of Exile thread, I would love you forever. -
Quote: Originally written by Lenar Labs: No wall bumping = FYT.
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Bush and Kerry to be wed on Brokeback
Ash Lael replied to Masked Man of Inscrutability's topic in Blades of Exile
Adventurer's Club is pretty good for a beginner scenario, assuming you don't mind a very big scenario with a large amount of (not terribly difficult) combat and occasionally getting stuck for a while. Nephil's Gambit is also good, with an excellent storyline (one of the best, I think), the combat isn't too hard, and it's big without being as massive as Adventurer's Club. However, you WILL need to consult the walkthrough at one point. I tend to think Nightfall is a really good scenario to start with. The combat's easy, there's a lot of humour, and since there's three ways through, if you get stuck going one way, you can backtrack and try another. Quote: Originally written by Lazarus.: Emulations, Roots, and Apology are easily the best 3 of the scenarios I've played (Although Roots has crazy hard combat.) Outside of those, I'd also recommend Drizzt's trilogy. Apology isn't a walk in the park, either. Emulations isn't too hard, though perhaps it would be better to play the other scenarios in Stareye's series first (even though the links are pretty loose). Drizzt's trilogy (The Forsaken, Brotherhood Of The Hand, Shadow Of The Stranger) are very good scenarios, becoming increasingly so with each installment. Brotherhood and Shadow are a bit tricky in places, but after Forsaken you should be okay. One point - the readme doesn't specify this, but the plot of Brotherhood makes a lot more sense if you play as a human singleton, and all the scenarios make more sense if you use different parties for each. I wish I could recommend one of my own scenarios, but they're all crazy-hard. -
Or the whole scale of combat is dramatically ramped up. Intead of starting off fighting Fyoras, you start fighting Drayks.
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I'm pleasantly suprised, and cautiously optimistic.
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Quote: Originally written by Emperor Tullegolar: There you have it. Stalker is crappy at being evil, yet he won. That is why I challenge people's opinions. Stalker isn't crappy at being evil. He massacres towns. What makes him a comparitively complex character is the fact that he does this in the name of a greater good, and seems to actually believe his own rhetoric. He simply is okay with killing innocent people as long as he's killing his enemies at the same time. It's an understandable, though abhorrent, point of view. That makes him a fairly decent villain. Personally, I voted for him simply because of the lack of any real competition. For reference, my favourite villain (or antagonist) of all time is Javert from Les Miserables. If you want to berate people for liking villains who aren't fundamentally malicious people, I'm a big target here.
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Does it have actual characters?
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How would you do it?
Ash Lael replied to Emperor Tullegolar's topic in Avernum Trilogy (2000-2002 original versions)
Quote: Originally written by Emperor Tullegolar: Ash Lael: You don't say? Roses of Reckoning sort of ruined that game for at the time, but... I'll start working my way through the scenarios you guys recommend this weekend. Forgive me for not being able to comment until then. While there is in fact a RoR for BoE as well as BoA, I suspect you're thinking of the latter. BoE is a very different animal, with many more scenarios and a higher caliber of them. -
How would you do it?
Ash Lael replied to Emperor Tullegolar's topic in Avernum Trilogy (2000-2002 original versions)
Quote: Originally written by Emperor Tullegolar: As for the games Ash Lael mentioned, I've not played a single one, interestingly enough, are they available for mac? BoE sure as hell is. -
How would you do it?
Ash Lael replied to Emperor Tullegolar's topic in Avernum Trilogy (2000-2002 original versions)
Actually, it doesn't get all that much worse than Rentar. It does get much, much, much, much, much better, though. For examples of great villains in games, I always like to point to System Shock 2. SHODAN, The Many, and Xerxes are all top-notch. I also invite you to play my BoE scenario Revenge... I think I have a couple of above-average villains there. -
How would you do it?
Ash Lael replied to Emperor Tullegolar's topic in Avernum Trilogy (2000-2002 original versions)
Quick point: Many of the people who complain about Jeff's games have in fact made their own Blades scenarios. If you want to see how we would do things, you could, you know, play them. -
Quote: Originally written by *i: Sorry again for the double post, but this is a new issue altogether: With the change in rules, it makes it a requirement for those in the final round to have access to both BoA and BoE. I foresee this creating problems. A possible solution is to break the contest into two, one for just BoE and another for BoA. Just out of curiosity, how many people out there have access to both? I do, and will be judging.