Nick Ringer

I voted Guardian, Magma ... I like being able to stand next to something knowing it will be reduced to a puddle in the next ten seconds. However I don't use creations as a Guardian; the ultimate character for me would be a magical Guardian with no shaping skills. That way, I could augment myself further.

But what's the point of good armor and weaponry if you're not going to use it? Guardians are where it's at.

Am I the only one who thinks of "Donnie Darko" when I see "Dakro?" I loved that movie.

It'd be just about impossible to make happen.

But changing leaders' minds about their own goals? Ah yes. It's nice, rather than choosing to either obey or kill them.

What do you mean by "the Empire?"

The Sholai describe themselves as coming from a barren, isolated land; due to lack of resources, they must trade to survive, and meet as many other civilizaitons as they can. So if the Sholai had broken off from the Shapers, a case of ignorant isolationism is very unlikely. The Sholai in GF3 implies that they've only just met the Shapers.

The temple's carvings were written by Sucia natives. The descendants of those who wrote it became the Shapers. The other natives were wiped out or horribly mutated (like the Shades and Heustess). This provides no evidence that the Sholai originated there. In fact, it is almost impossible given GF1's history of Sucia.

The only remaining theory I can give you is that the Sholai populated Sucia in the first place. So in that respect, the Sholai would be the origin of the Shapers. It would explain the language similarity.

But let's not get into universal common ancenstry. I could submit that the Shapers came from Lucy.

I played through Geneforge without using canisters. The only place I couldn't fight through was Guarded Docks and the Shaper Crypt. But I made it off the island. And yeah, no ending difference. But I had high levels ...

... that was your 1234 th post.

Was Syros the one who became Easss? Or was Easss always named as such?

Thanks, Zev.

I'll be honest: I did not see it coming. I thought the "ancient race" was totally unrelated and had been wiped out before the Shapers arrived. It is made pretty clear by notes that the Shapers exploring Sucia had no such suspicions, and that the ruins were already haunted.

So the Shaper cult is a few centuries old ... maybe we can form a vague timeline.

o Sucia is populated by savage and unorganized natives.

o Some isolate themselves and build the temple to study.

o Separated islanders gain magical talents, then imprecise Shaping talents.

o They attack* uncivilized islanders by Shaping them.

o Some+ are inadvertently made stronger, and new diseases are born.

o A few talented islanders escape Sucia. Some shape themselves to become immortal drones.

o Mutants and diseases wipe out islanders^.

o Immigrants from Sucia take over on the mainland, becoming the Shapers.

* Motive unclear; probable want for power.

+ Is Heustess one of these? Surviving "savage?"

^ Presumably everyone on Sucia Island died out.

Which pylon? All I remember are the "at one point they had sheep. Later, they had more sheep."

Although the fyora carvings on the temple's walls are clueful.

No conversation. Just kill the pesky thing. Gloves are plus strength and minus intelligence. Perhaps some other stuff.

But I'm too smart for them; I never plan ahead!

I think that Drayk you're talking about is Rhakkus, or Akkat. One of the GF2 leaders. Does anyone know for sure?

I support you, MD, but there would have to be some common spells between the classes (heal, daze, bless).

Moreforge.

Just a scenario editor, really.

[EDIT] Actually, make that Yourforge.

Without discussing it, at least right off the bat ... how many people have found the Big Secret? It's in the original Geneforge, and that's all I'm saying. But I want to discuss it. Just ... without revealing it to those who haven't found it in-game. And I'm still going to be vague in talking about it.

... so ...

If you haven't found big secret of Geneforge, read no further. It will ruin your life forever.

-~=~- SPOILERS FROM HERE-ON-OUT -~=~-

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My initial reaction to the Big Secret was a desire for more detail. Not a shrug and "I guess." Given millenia to contemplate such things, you'd think one have more to say.

Either way, the name "Esther" refers to something divine, enigmatic, mysterious -- appropriate for the Agent, who should probably be these things.

I thought kongfu was Chinese.

We'll just have to throw rocks at them.

I'm okay with "Blades of Geneforge." Kind of a bastardization but it'd help some of us exert creative needs.

I had a Guardian and -- even though I used the Geneforge -- got through the Shaper Crypt in maybe an hour. Inner Crypt is pretty much a mad dash to collect stuff amidst fire pits and battle gammas.

But in the original Geneforge -- did you ever find out the BIG SECRET? If so just make a sign in the affirmative as opposed to talking about it. Because it's quite a big secret.

[EDIT] Now I'm curious how many people know about it ... see corresponding thread.

... Seems like you put some checkboxes where you didn't mean to?

Everyone loves Fyora.

Far east end of Sucia Island. Only adjacent zone is Icy Tunnels. There are some guards at the east exit of that zone; you can scare them into letting you by (just tell them that you killed Trajkov), or just kill them.

That referred to selling your items to the shop owners. In which case it doesn't matter who you sell them to, they all pay the same low rates.

SPOILER: The servant mind shrieks with all its remaining life and the guards run to see what's going on. You can run for the boat. If you used the Geneforge, though, you might as well slaughter the guards. It's fun.

Apart from using the default names, as I never used to care, I named my Shaper Aleister. I don't know what brought it on, or even recall doing so. My guess is that the default, Esther, got messed up a bit in my stupor. But it's kind of a cool name, isn't it?

Andras is the Welsh variant of Andrew, from Greek Andreas. It's a combination of "aner" and "andros" ("man" and "of man" respectively). Probably not significant.

Dakro has no meaning whatsoever. Kind of masculine. Good for a Guardian.

Esther is Persian for "star," derived from Ishtar (a Hebrew Goddess). Queen Esther, in the book of Esther, saves a lot of jews from racial persecution. Most likely chosen for "star" significance.

Alwan could be derived from Alwyn -- a form of Alvin -- from Ælfwine -- which means "elf friend" in old English (ælf is elf, wine is friend). This one Jeff probably made up without reference.

Greta is a modern (although not popular) name -- short for Margaret -- derived from Greek, Margarites, which means "pearl." Probably chosen based on the modern equivalent.

[EDIT] Oh, and I name my creations Rex. No matter what type, it's the best name ever. Most fitting for Fyora or Roamers though.

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"Get 'im, Rex!!"

I would use my Shaper powers to mark my territory with big fungi.

(not a very significant contribution to the thread)

You're down to selling to special characters (that only take gems, iron etc). If you really depleted all the shops of coins, that's just how it is. Can't imagine why you'd even need more money, though ... even trainers can't cost that much.

Don't worry. All GF3 traders have bottomless pockets.

Okay, I retract that. Instead, play Trajkov in the events leading up to the PC's arrival on Sucia.

Geneforge: the Forging of the Sholai

Yeah. You could destroy Lankan's canister... I think you should be able to pick up other canisters and carry them with you. Even if they weigh ten pounds or something, it's worth selling them to "crazed canister junkies."

Kind of a spoiler:

The Gazak-Uss gate has a special panel on one of the nearby pillars you must press. But you can't find it without "knowing" about it first. The nearby hermit tells you something like that.

The research notes are worth a little to sell ... but I have, before, even without allying with the Barzites, given the notes to the Gheth dude. I open the door, talk to the shaper, give him the notes, and leave before anyone gets mad. Very low success rate. I know that merely opening the door and talking to the shaper won't get anyone mad. Use battle mode, or something.

And I'll confirm Dikiyoba's allegation that the serviles' cure is in Benerii-Uss. Can't remember which zone exactly. Know that it's in a book. Seem to recall the book occupying the southern region of the same zone with two eyebeasts. B-U Shaping, I think.

The serviles' cure is in a book

I was pretty sure we established it's soon after GF3 ... supposed to be the war between rebels and Shapers. The Geneforge itself won't play a big role from what I've heard.

Why doesn't the PC make a Geneforge? A good prequel would have us play as Danette.