Posts made by dvoraen

@Arkandel said in Spars and fights:

Let me ask a different question for the thread.

Is 'knowing how to fight iRL' - having some kind of background in martial arts, or even just watching MMA stuff on TV - an advantage to roleplaying such scenes?

Depends on what you mean by advantage. My answer is yes and no. I do think you get a better idea of how it would play out (mentally choreographing it and the realism aspect), but I think it safe to say that having that knowledge and, more importantly, the communication of that knowledge are two very different things when it concerns roleplaying it out. Some people with the background in martial arts would be better suited for advising a LARP, for example, because of being able to physically demonstrate and/or correct postures and movements, but if you asked them to do it in writing you might get less than you expected, simply because they can't translate their thoughts into writing.

Going to somewhat echo the "depends on the audience" answer that was given here. To use Arx as an example, I think a Champions duel pretty much mandates a "live RNG" aspect to it; for me the majority of its charm is to not know the outcome in advance. In a more serious (not GM'd) matter I can see the outcome being worked out in advance, simply so that both sides know what they're in for and can start processing the result, especially if PC death is a possibility.

It all depends on the circumstances and who is involved, really.

That said, I cannot RP out a physical combat, in detail, to save my life , so I lean strongly towards wanting to preordain a given physical fight. (I'm reasonably sure this is from WM PTSD.) I just can't picture the movements, the stances, etc., for some reason. Magical combat? YES PLEASE. I could probably do that all day long, figuratively speaking, but I kind of veer away from physical.

@Rinel said in Games? Do they exist? Where?:

@Auspice said in Games? Do they exist? Where?:

Repeat after me: purple prose is bad.

An irresistible urge to engage in the contumacious denial of the brevity so highly esteemed in these literary latter days and to revel in sesquipedalian verbiage akin to what a perspicacious member of the literati might find while perusing catalogues of authors past frequently engenders a sense of frustration and, dare I say, ire in the modern reader.

I coughed up a lung from laughing at this. I just wanted you to know that you amused me in a biologically harmful way.

I'm kind of in the middle when it concerns other people's playlists, because my general character preferences tend to not have lyrics where I see a lot of people where their choices are lyrical. It makes sense, but my own musical preferences (I'd say 80/20 instrumental/lyrical) means I usually don't listen.

There are times when I'll get the mood to randomly go through playlists, but it's not often at all. Like @Selira I was not very much into music, and that lasted until I was around 25 years old, give or take. People would ask me what I listened to in school and I'd be like "I don't." Now, at 38, I've found my overall preferences as mentioned above. I veer a bit from New Age as a style; I prefer orchestral and "background music" by nature. Thomas Bergersen and Ivan Torrent are two of my personal favorite composers but I don't like everything they do because certain styles I just go 'eh'.

@WildBaboons said in Games? Do they exist? Where?:

@dvoraen said in Games? Do they exist? Where?:

I dunno, I seem to recall people rabidly going after WM logs on Tyme, with a heavy undercurrent of "I will end you" in some of those discussions.

But what if someone didn't pronate their wrist!?

(intense, mad cackling)

I couldn't find a gif that really conveys my reaction to that. I'd forgotten all about the 'pronate' bitching. lol

@Arkandel said in Games? Do they exist? Where?:

@Derp said in Games? Do they exist? Where?:

It's because you can't win in WoD. You always piss someone off, or become the target of the latest social outrage. It's exhausting.

Since when was winning the goal of roleplaying?

I dunno, I seem to recall people rabidly going after WM logs on Tyme, with a heavy undercurrent of "I will end you" in some of those discussions.

@OldFrightful Stories and tournaments where the professionals do something off the wall and interesting is why I can't stand discussions about "the meta" at all. It's effectively a matter of public opinion and a fad, and then the pro players come out and say "sup y'all, here's some weird shit to mess with your heads", and then everyone copies them like it's a game of Lemmings.

That said, that's a great story and I don't play DotA at all (not very good at it) but I was able to follow it perfectly with what little I do know.

To use an example with a game I do flirt with (Overwatch), people have derided on Bastion and/or Symmetra for a long time, even after the latter got a rework to the point she had to get nerfed because someone finally started proving to the internet that "HEY, SHE RIPS PEOPLE APART IF IGNORED". It's crazy how people think they know everything until they're proven wrong, because they let the preconception of "the meta" prevent them from adapting or trying new things.

@Thenomain said in General Video Game Thread:

@dvoraen

Fair enough, but I would like to have more time to learn the abilities of the attacks of different people. I need Baby's First Chrono Trigger.

Most of their abilities (except for the multi-techs) show on the individual character's page, and a specific event will expand some of those lists, but even on a Wait setting for battle it will give you time to read the descriptions of each tech/item. Attacks that begin before you open a menu will still resolve and whatnot, it's not a hard pause.

@Thenomain said in General Video Game Thread:

@dvoraen

I thought I did. If the combat menu is a menu then yes? But it doesn't seem to wait while I decide which attack to use. I'll try again. Thanks.

I can't recall with Chrono Trigger specifically whether choosing who to use a basic attack on qualifies as Active/Wait eligible, but if enemies and the like are freely attacking while you have the Tech or Item menus open -- meaning, things keep going while you do nothing but look at the items you have, let's say -- then you're definitely on Active.

@Thenomain said in General Video Game Thread:

I tried playing Chrono Trigger. I was quite eager to experience one of the most loved JRPGs of all time, but the lack of pausing in their semi-turn-based combat turned me off. Not entirely, but just enough.

The only JRPG I tried that I immediately liked was Breath of Death VII: The Beginning.

Did you change the option from Active to Wait? It at least pauses things from happening in combat if you have a menu open (items, skills, etc.)

@Thenomain said in General Video Game Thread:

Final review of Divinity: Original Sin, Enhanced Edition.

Not the best writing in the world, but holy shitballs is it fun with others.

70 hours. Not even 2/3rds of the achievements. Check it out.

If you like JRPGs, Dragon Quest XI will take you about 100-150hr to max achievements. I'm clocking 200+ and close to finishing all the accolades, some of which are disgusting RNG (hi casino games like getting a Royal Flush).

@Wretched said in The ADD/ADHD Thread (cont'd from Peeves):

Does anyone else have a near pathological need to rebel? To test limits of rules and taboo and everything else, like the proverbial red button that NEEDS to be pushed no matter how many times someone tells you not to? Testing the limits of work dress codes, how often to use which shortcuts. Just that subconscious need for a little anarchy.

Sort of? The thing I have found I do a lot, especially when stressed and/or frustrated, is that my mind will be writing these near screenplays where I am just angry ranting at people in charge in some sort of righteous outrage over <insert topic>. This happens even if I have absolutely no reason to talk to that person and they are not involved in the daily functions for my work area. I mean, we're talking sharp words at best. Nothing profane, just an extreme amount of indignation on my end.

@RightMeow said in MU Things I Love:

@Herja I don't know what it was or what happened; but I think I'm jealous I wasn't part of it. Does that count?

You and me both. One day. ONE DAY. I want to see some of these logs.

@Jennkryst said in What Types of Games Would People Like To See?:

@dvoraen I see your Stormlight, and raise you the whole Cosmere.

If someone can pull off a successful, long-lasting game that touches on the entire Cosmere, I would be impressed, and I would probably "retire" from MU*ing because I don't think I'd ever see anything to top that. That said, I think the Cosmere itself is way too big in scope.

There have been times I have seriously contemplated seeing if a game based off of Brandon Sanderson's Stormlight Archive is viable. I have absolutely no idea what kind of logistics are involved, though, but the thought does keep striking me from time to time. (Random aside, all of the staff names would be the names of the Unmade.)

@Thenomain said in General Video Game Thread:

@Ghost

Haven't played.

Not willing to give money to Epic Games.

No logical reason. It may be overridden at the first sale.

But that screen-shot reminds me of everything I love about Borderlands.

I can't buy it myself even if I wanted to do so (money issues) so I was watching a streamer play it. There's some pretty hilarious lines in it. lol

@Arkandel said in General Video Game Thread:

I had the chance to work for Blizzard in 2006. I did not take it. I do not regret it.

See, I don't think 2006 was a poor era for Blizzard. WoW was still in its infancy but defying expectations, and things were Getting Done at the company. Once you hit the years around Cataclysm's development and Diablo III, though? I do wonder how things changed.

PC Master Race here. ETA - Primary rig, used for video games and everything else too. Client = Potato.

I can't type for beans on my phone (speed or accuracy, relative to a computer keyboard) and I'm too much of a perfectionist that I can't entertain the idea of RP on my phone. Also because I want logs.

@Sunny said in Real World Peeves, Disgruntlement, and Irks.:

My fucking inability to express myself in a way that other people can understand.

I feel like this was the theme of this past month, for me. My thoughts feel like tangled snarls that won't unravel unless i"m itemizing each and every thread in the order it showed up, and by that point it's a dissertation nobody would rightfully have the patience to endure.

@Rinel said in Should Rinel become smol birb?:

My favorite bird is the shoebill stork. It's enormous, it looks like God's joke on creation, and it abandons its weak offspring to starve after watching the stronger hatchlings bully them out of the nest.

This explains so much now! Just look at that stare.