Locmaar

Quote: Originally written by Disappearer: Actually, it seems pretty easy to implement. You can already give yourself a permanent speed boost just by changing one number in the data files. [...] It is admittedly a little more complicated to boost your creations' speeds, but if this was being handled in a hardcoded way, I don't see how it could be too hard. I wasn't talking about changing the speed. I was talking about running. It would look pretty awkward if the PC and his or her creations just slide across the zone. Running PCs and creations, however, means a lot(!) more graphics for smooth running animation. I seriously doubt Jeff would implement something like this unless it would look right. @ Kelandon: Life is full of surprises.

Quote: Originally written by Disappearer: What Geneforge could really use, IMHO, would be a "run" mode that could only be activated (a) when the zone has been cleared, and ( when no enemies are visible. This prevents it from poisoning any game mechanics, while at the same time getting rid of sandwich time. Even though I realize that this would mean fiendishly much more work for Jeff, I find myself in absolute and utter agreement with that (ah! Diablo II).

I have to agree with Clavicle here. I was a huge fan of Exile including BoE and for a short time part of the early community endeavors to create massive scenarios. Like many others I underestimated the workload and had to quit. When Avernum came out I thought it looked hideous and felt very sad about that. I now realize it had to do with me and my mindset at the time, being all worked up with BoE, so I wasn't up to enjoying the change. I returned to Jeff's worlds with Avernum 4 and was surprised by how it got a ritual beating by the community for a) having no plot and not having the BoA engine. I thought it was his best-looking game until then. After A4 I dived into G3 and absolutely loved that. I also enjoyed G1 and G2, but a lot less than A4 and G3, due to my aesthetics' unability of being downgraded. G4 and A5 are even better than the previous games and so far I enjoyed every little graphics improvement, which is why I was terribly underwhelmed by N:R, even though it has a great storyline. I don't know if it's the engine that prevents me from being hooked, but I fear it has something to do with it. So what I'm saying is this: should Jeff choose to return to, say, BoA's engine he would risk his business, since I don't see how anybody outside these boards has high praise (or money) for its nostalgic charme. I understand the notion, but it's not going to happen and for very good reasons. This does not mean, however, that I don't enjoy these discussions on which game mechanics are 'broken' by an engine update, or the lack of windowed modes for quick emailing while playing. On the contrary: I find all of this highly entertaining. And I'm looking forward to Exile TNG.

edit: UBB thought my post so well conceived that it created a duplicate. I feel flattered.

I think it's all fair and square to use the editor to get your most fun out of the game. On the same note, while I truly enjoy solving riddles and such, I don't like being frustrated by a puzzle I can't get my head around, which is why I really like browsing through ye olde Book of Answers. It's also very helpful for completing the game without missing out on something. I also sympathize with and understand the challenge approach of a game, even though that's not my cup of tea. Quote: Originally written by Faint Piping of Two Demoniac Flutes: See above edit Could you elaborate on this, please, little pipe-man?

In my humble opinion, having to use a Light spell in order to make dark areas less dark has a lot to do with 'grinding'. Jeff would have to make certain darknesses darker lest they'd be penetrated by Light, which in return would cause us Light spell fans (and I count myself amongst them) call for a Strong Light spell to be able to penetrate strong darkness. Some dungeons are more fun if you don't see everything, and this seems to be a device that Jeff likes to utilize once in a while. I also think I'm quite happy with my PC's not having to go to the loo every once in a while (though that might be fun, too). It somehow doesn't make a difference in the long run. PS: I'd like to add that I'm a huge fan of, say, Exile II's complexity and amount of spells. But I also enjoy the streamlined versions of Avernum IV and V. PPS: I'm writing this post on my brand new MacBook which makes me very(!) happy. 5 1/2 hours of battery life is more than I could have possinly ever dreamed of. PPPS: To be quite fair: I can dream of a lot of things far better than 5 1/2 hours of battery life, but still I'm very(!) happy. PPPPS: I absolutely adore post scriptums.

I've just read 'The Curious Incindent of the Dog in the Night-time' by Mark Haddon. I recommend this book to anybody who likes... uh... to read. Before that it was 'Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close' by Jonathan Safran Foer, an equally heart-breaking and heart-warming story. Also by the same author, the wonderful 'Everything is Illuminated', made into a fine movie with Frodo Baggins. Lovely.

Quote: Originally written by Azuma: Quote: Originally written by Spidweb: I have completely redone the tutorial system. I think experienced players will be very happy with it now. - Jeff Vogel Glee! No more forced tutorials for the veterans! I hope this it what Jeff meant, considering he called this 'very unlikely' that in his March 8th letter. But I keep my fingers crossed that this wasn't premature glee-ing.

Quote: Originally written by lifeguardernie: is there a cheat to revive unconsious characters As far as I recall there isn't, unfortunately. Quote: Originally written by lifeguardernie: also is there a way to unkill someone if i missed a quest on them [like the freindly giant]? This could possibly be done with (re-)setting the appropriate SDFs. Keep save-games and revert if you find yourself in a situation like this. I'd have loved to be more helpful but since nobody responded I thought I'd throw in my unhelpfulness for measure.

Quote: Originally written by Henry Plainview.: Don't get me wrong, A5 went a long way to going back to the original trilogy. I am enjoying it a lot, but not as much as I did the original trilogy. And, of course, it's Jeff's choice to use whichever engine he sees fit. I share this notion, but I believe it's due to the time they came out and how old I was then (at least with me it's that). I don't know if I would even look at a game like Exile for more than a few seconds should I come across one today (unless for reasons reminiscent or nostalgic in nature). But while I do see your point, I'm sure I'll enjoy the new remakes just as much as I didn't think Exile III was better or worse than Avernum 3.

I am no supporter of the Averforge-thesis; there are vast differences in the engines (real-time as opposed to turn-based snaps to mind). Also, life's way too short to get wound up by a couple of pixels crossing an imaginary cyber-line. Furthermore, I'm one of that odd breed who really enjoyed Avernum 4 for the sole reason that it looked prettier than older Avernum games. For complexity-of-plot's sake I replayed Avernum 3 shortly thereafter, wishing it would look shiny and sparkly like A4. Avernum 5 looks even much better, and I can only guess that A6 will even more so, so yes: I'm looking forward to A6-Dark Waters.

Considering how Jeff's been working in the past, I wouldn't be too surprised if he releases updated versions of previous games in between major new releases, just like he has done with N:R. At least I hope that's what he'll do. It's been a long time since I've played Exile 2 and as I didn't exactly fall in love with Avernum's early interface, I'm really enthusiastic about a shiny, pretty version of the tale.

Have you considered saving your game and then, well, just try it out? What's the harm? Kill her, loot her hoard and then decide for yourself if it was worth it. If you feel bad about killing her afterwards, just revert to a saved game and pretend it was a dream. Works fine for me.

If it eases your pain: I feel exactly the same for Geneforge 5 for Mac.

Welcome to the board. Leave your sanity at the door. Don't hurt the fluffy kittens. (Or was it: don't feed the fluffy sanity and leave your kittens at the door?) Shade Moref has been discussed at length in different threads .

If you've made it there, you've already passed the turn-off. It's the right dungeon, though. Walk back until you come to a crossing with portcullis, pretty close to underneath Harkin's Landing (and a bit to the north). Head further north and you'll be attacked on a mediterranean kind of serpentine road. Follow that road and you'll eventually find him. edit: too late once again.

Jeff has also repeatedly stated that e-mail is by no means a reliable way of communication. It may well be he sent you an e-mail but you never got it. I'd write him about it, if I were you. Edit: Oh boy

This is one of the most memorable fights in the game. I thoroughly enjoyed the entire dungeon (ah! transporter mazes - the essence of any good table-top RPG. And well executed at that) and the prime sentinel fight was the icing on the cake. And yes, I'm serious.

Quote: Originally written by Spidweb: And his interaction with the party makes perfect sense. I can't stress this enough: You are not very important. The game repeatedly establishes that the real action is taking place on the surface. That you manage, at the end, to become relevant is a real surprise to all concerned. And, as a designer, I think this is really cool. This is one of the reasons that I was genuinely annyoed at times - or rather my PCs were. Having to listen to drooling Manfred being just too busy sitting on his throne so he can't really talk to me: I wanted to kill him there and then. When a game achieves that it must be considered masterfully crafted. And I still feel there should have been an option to give him his shield back. Quote: Originally written by Spidweb: The more I think about it, the happier I am that I wrote the game the way I did. - Jeff Vogel And rightly so.

I still think it's quite alright to explore a vast and fun world without having a grand twisted scheme as a plot to make it more entertaining. Also I believe that Avernum 5's plot was more of a device to set the stage for Avernum 6. I felt very early in the game that both options (Manfred or Dorikas) were feeble at best and I would have enjoyed joining with Avernum instead to kick the Empire out. Either way, the Empire has a secret outpost deep in Avernum lands and they're going to use it. My biggest problem was to identify with the Empire and not with Avernum. It's so... different. edit: it seems SoT beat me to it. Damn. Too slow.

Wasn't the lich's name Vecna? I even considered going to the attic to look for ye olde AD&D stuff, but I'd rather ask here first. edit: Duh! Just read the sub on the picture. Double duh!!

Indeed - browsers can be loyal fellows and retrieve cached versions rather than reloading. However, this behaviour would explain why there aren't any new postings as opposed to old ones disappearing.

Quote: Originally written by Sushi: Do you mean the place with a lot of tunnels that change shape every time you go back to them? I didn't see any entrances there. Or is it a completely different place? You didn't see any entrances since the entrances tend to appear where you are not looking. Take it as the first of the trials, before the lake welcomes you to be tried.

I'm just guessing here, but it could have something to do with your setting. In the top right of your browser window there's a pull-down menu which allows you to set which topics you would like to see. I'm guessing that could be it because I found nothing wrong with it.

It's just south of where the river bends before you enter the Azure Gallery. Southeast from Highground, if you are already past that curve.