The Gaming Thread

[Rath Darkblade]

I gave Kenny short blond hair and she's bee running around in a tattered orange waistcloth for a bunch of the game. She is now dressed in dingy white-ish robes and a matching hood. So, yeah. Kinda. Off to kill Quaalag here, soon. I am also trying to do this with no summons. (Might not happen, though? No idea, yeah.) I have also only used Pyromancy a little. I am not a huge fan, so I have not cared to hone my skills or use it on bosses. I prefer hitting bosses with big stick/bonk. Also, I learned the Bandit's knife is usable at Level 1! Yay!

Here is Kenny (who does look pretty poor.):

View attachment 440

Kenny, armed with a club with nails in it, and what looks like a torch. Yes, she looks very poor.

I hope some of her stuff is enchanted (or magical)? If not, a boss might look at her and die laughing. (Never played Souls, but I've heard it's incredibly tough ... but I did play loads of other CRPGs, so I'm going off them. In ES4: Oblivion, for example, beating anyone with a club (much less a club and a torch) is near impossible).

 

[Luxuria]

Kenny, armed with a club with nails in it, and what looks like a torch. Yes, she looks very poor.

YAY! I was hoping for that effect. I am glad she looks poor and also, behind her is a bonfire. Also, just because:

I hope some of her stuff is enchanted (or magical)? If not, a boss might look at her and die laughing. (Never played Souls, but I've heard it's incredibly tough ... but I did play loads of other CRPGs, so I'm going off them. In ES4: Oblivion, for example, beating anyone with a club (much less a club and a torch) is near impossible).

Actually no. Kenny doesn't have any enchanted stuff yet. Her club is just a basic +7 At the moment. She has some lightning resin to give the weapon temporary lighting damage. But she doesn't use it often as she can't farm it yet. Yes, bosses laugh at her and Kenny dies. But also, Kenny keeps coming back to life and winning eventually. She has so far beaten:

The Asylum Demon (first and easiest boss of every run)
The Taurus Demon
The Gargoyles (Solo)
The Capra Demon (Kenny is very proud of this one.)
Attempted Chaos Witch Quaalag (still needs to figure that one out and win solo.) ("You Bastard!")
(Also Bad NPC, Maneater Mildred and another NPC that is Spoilers.)

Kenny is currently in a rickety wooden platform area called Blighttown and is searching for Large Titanite Shards to upgrade her weapon. Then, it is off to attempt the Chaos Witch again. But the good news is, Kenny got a magic ring of Favor and Protection that gives her more health and stamina. So that should help. She just returned to the Undead Parish and bought the Crest of Artorias from the Blacksmith Andre of Astora. So, she will be able to get another useful ring later on. Anyway, it's been quite an adventure so far.

 

[TrevorD]

OK, if Elden Ring was 1, Baldur's Gate 3 was 2, what'd be 3? And fwiw i've played all the dragon's quest series and Elder Scrolls stuff, including Skyrim. I need a new game, lol. TIA!

 

[Luxuria]

OK, if Elden Ring was 1, Baldur's Gate 3 was 2, what'd be 3? And fwiw i've played all the dragon's quest series and Elder Scrolls stuff, including Skyrim. I need a new game, lol. TIA!

I would recommend Assassin's Creed, or maybe the Witcher Series. The Witcher 3 is a very good game, although I found it wasn't to my taste. I can tell that it's well-made and interesting. I also would recommend the Nancy Drew Games from Her Interactive? They are strangely fun, even if a bit old-school. I would start with Treasure in the Royal Tower or the Curse of Blackmoor Manor.

 

[Set2Stun]

I agree with the Witcher 3 recommendation if you haven't played it. It's currently my favourite game of all-time. The combat is a fun challenge on the hardest difficulty; you need to employ some Souls-like tactics to win, and you need to use your potions and stuff. It's a different game on normal difficulty but still very enjoyable as it's a very immersive RPG.

I'm getting close to the end of the Mass Effect trilogy. I've had a whale of a time. Very enjoyable shooter RPGs with real stakes and choices that have consequences in not only the current game you're playing, but the sequels. If it's still on sale somewhere, I'd snap those up.

 

[Rath Darkblade]

I tried The Witcher 2. It is well-made and quite accurate to the spirit of medievalism, but very difficult. Haven't tried Witcher 3.

I would also recommend Kingdom Come: Deliverance. It is very fun, but also very difficult (especially in the earlier levels). I kept dying, especially when trying to sneak. Uggghh. OTOH, it is also very well-made and quite accurate to the spirit of medieval society and combat.

For older games, I would very much recommend Neverwinter Nights. It's an RPG classic. If you've never played it before, it's so much fun ... especially if you pick Deekin Scalesinger, the kobold bard, as one of your companions. "Deekin?"

 

[TrevorD]

I played part of the first Assassin's Creed n didn't care much for it/ Everyone else loved it. They'd say, 'go collect 20 blue butterflies,' and I'd be like whut? why? Then I would and after like 2 hours lookin around it'd be like here's your 100 gold, now go find 30 yellow ones. I was like, naa, and pretty much naa overall. Same w RDR2. I had more fun shooting my horse in the balls and riding it full speed off a cliff than anything quest-related. I know that's not entirely sane or well-balanced, but there you have it, lol.

 

[X Equestris]

I tried The Witcher 2. It is well-made and quite accurate to the spirit of medievalism, but very difficult. Haven't tried Witcher 3.

Witcher III isn’t too hard if you read your bestiary and use signs, alchemy, and blade oils. You’re gonna have a tough time if you try to hack & slash, though that can get you through most of the game on the lower difficulties (which I don’t think is true for the first two). A really good action RPG.

Also, the dlc was also either free or substantive, and the Blood & Wine expansion in particular is practically a whole new game.

OK, if Elden Ring was 1, Baldur's Gate 3 was 2, what'd be 3? And fwiw i've played all the dragon's quest series and Elder Scrolls stuff, including Skyrim. I need a new game, lol. TIA!

In the vein of BG3, maybe Dragon Age: Origins? They share a lot of DNA, to the point a lot of people consider BG3 a spiritual successor to DAO. Party-based narrative fantasy RPG with some novel worldbuilding, excellent characters, and tactical combat (though you really need the PC version to fully appreciate it; console versions lack the tactical camera, which limits what you can do). It does show its age in some areas, but it’s held up well overall.

 

[Rath Darkblade]

Sorry, long post, but I really have to rant and rave here. But I tried to make it funny. Hope you enjoy.

In the vein of BG3, maybe Dragon Age: Origins? They share a lot of DNA, to the point a lot of people consider BG3 a spiritual successor to DAO. Party-based narrative fantasy RPG with some novel worldbuilding, excellent characters, and tactical combat (though you really need the PC version to fully appreciate it; console versions lack the tactical camera, which limits what you can do). It does show its age in some areas, but it’s held up well overall.

Absolutely agreed. All the characters in DAO rule. Oghren gets the best lines, but Morrigan and Alistair have a few words to share. Also, try Oghren and Shale. "Passing a stone, get it?" / "I'm trying not to".

Dragon Age 2 is ... passable, but I'll only give it 6/10 because it's impossible to craft your own equipment with runes (unlike DAO).

Dragon Age 3 is crap. Runes are incredibly difficult to get, and without them, you can't beat Pride Demons (aka fire spirits, whatever), and forget beating any dragons. I eventually defeated the game with unenchanted weapons, and that was the only time I beat it.

Plus, it goes on and on and on. Plus, if you want to open that oh-so-secret door somewhere in the mountains, you have to scour the landscape and find 30 pieces of a key. Who has time for that?

So after those two shitshows, it'll take a long long time before I give DA4: Veilguard a chance. Which is too bad, 'cos DA3 ended on a banger of a cliffhanger, and I really want to know what happens next ... but not at the expense of having to sit through another shitshow like DA3.

I played part of the first Assassin's Creed n didn't care much for it/ Everyone else loved it. They'd say, 'go collect 20 blue butterflies,' and I'd be like whut? why? Then I would and after like 2 hours lookin around it'd be like here's your 100 gold, now go find 30 yellow ones. I was like, naa, and pretty much naa overall. Same w RDR2.

Agreed. There was the same problem with Oblivion (minorly), but especially Skyrim.

Alchemist: Go get me 10 dangerous ingredients, 10 more dangerous ingredients, and 10 especially dangerous ingredients.
Me: And what do I get for all that?
Alchemist: 500 gold.
Me: Falafel you! If I get that many poison ingredients, I'm gonna use 'em to buff up my own alchemy score. Go rooting around in swamps yourself.
.......
Every Jarl's Assistant: We have a problem!
Me: Figures.
Every Jarl's Assistant: No, really! We need a brave hero to kill these bandits, wolves, and/or giants!
Me: Let me guess, and your guards are too incompetent and lazy to do it themselves ... even though they faced down and killed a dragon.
Every Jarl's Assistant: Exactly! So you go and do it! Please?
Me: Oh, fine.
(after getting killed about 10 times by a giant ... and nearly getting killed by the bandits)
Every Jarl's Assistant: Hey, thanks! Here's 100 gold.
Me: Yeah ... which I will totally not piss away at the nearest tavern, smithy, and/or miscellaneous shop.
.......
Blacksmith: Go get me 10 pieces of iron ore.
Me: All right, and do I get anything for that?
Blacksmith: How about some training for your smithing score?
Me: Nah thanks. If I get iron ore, I'm gonna smith some iron daggers and buff up my smithing score myself.
........
Another Blacksmith: Can you give this sword to my father?
Me: OK. Do I get anything for it?
Another Blacksmith: Nah.
Me: Then I'll just use this sword to fight with. Thanks lady!!!
(Years later, coming back to Whiterun and handing the sword over to her pampered dad)
Dad: Gosh, thanks. Here's 20 gold for your trouble.
Me: (goes nuts and slaughters dad)
........
Yet Another Blacksmith: Go find me the Helmet of Someone Really Famous Wot You Never Heard Of.
Me: All right!!! Finally a quest worthy of my time!
(After slaughtering like fifty bazillion draugr, including a really tough undead guy, and schlepping the totally ordinary helmet and all this other loot to town...)
Yet Another Blacksmith: Gosh, thanks! Here's 100 gold.
Me: ........ and what'll you give me for all this other heavy loot?
Yet Another Blacksmith: ... 300 gold?
Me: ........ riiiiiiight. And how about this totally neat magic sword?
Yet Another Blacksmith: ... how about 400 gold?
Me: Sigh. I really need to work on my speechcraft skill.
Yet Another Blacksmith: At least you don't have to put up with that wheel thing from Oblivion, where you try to persuade merchants, and they only take one gold off the price.
Me: Fine. So how can I buff up speechcraft?
Yet Another Blacksmith: Try the Bards College.
(later, at the Bards College)
Bard: Welcome! Want to train your speechcraft?
Me: Sure!
Bard: That'll be 500 gold for one point of speechcraft.
Me: (taps foot, eye twitch) This better be worth it.
(A king's ransom later)
Bard: ... and now your speechcraft is up to 40! Cool, huh?
Me: Not really, 'cos I wanted to buy that neat-o magic sword at the blacksmith's, but I couldn't afford it.
Bard: And now you can, 'cos your speechcraft is better!
Me: Yeah, but now I'm broke. This sucks.
Bard: Sorry! No refunds. Want more money? Go adventure some more.
(One delving into an incredibly dangerous dungeon later)
Me: What can you give me for all this loot?
Yet Another Blacksmith: Ooh, cool. How about 2,000 gold?
Me: Done! And now I want ................ what the **** happened to that magic sword I wanted?!
Yet Another Blacksmith: Sorry, I sold it to a passing hobbit. You snooze, you lose.
Me: Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!! (Goes up to the highest mountain in Skyrim and "Fus ro dah"s everyone)

 

[Luxuria]

Haha @Rath Darkblade, I understand this about Skyrim. But honestly, I don't really do much questing in the game. I join the Dark Brotherhood and murder a bunch of NPCs. I also enjoy roleplaying in Skyrim- historical characters, book characters, etc. So, it's more about what serves the character needs.

I think I did the main quest of Skyrim once. Haha. Other than that, my main quests are:

The Dark Brotherhood
The Aetherial Crown Quest
Thane House Quests

 

[Rath Darkblade]

Haha @Rath Darkblade, I understand this about Skyrim. But honestly, I don't really do much questing in the game. I join the Dark Brotherhood and murder a bunch of NPCs. I also enjoy roleplaying in Skyrim- historical characters, book characters, etc. So, it's more about what serves the character needs.

I think I did the main quest of Skyrim once. Haha. Other than that, my main quests are:

The Dark Brotherhood
The Aetherial Crown Quest
Thane House Quests

Hmm. I thought the Dark Brotherhood was much more fun in Oblivion, to be honest. In Skyrim, it's all fun and games until the twist. Plus,

Spoiler

being made the Listener so early

takes all the fun out of it. Plus, I really don't like the Night Mother's voice being so echoey and the fact that

Spoiler

she makes me murder random strangers for no reason.

In Oblivion, climbing up the ladder from being a common murderer is much more fun.

I agree about the Aetheriel Crown. That quest was very satisfying.

The Thane House quests are fine, but the fact that they give you such mundane rewards sucks. I killed a dragon and all I get is a stupid sword? Thanks a bunch, Balgruff.

I modded the shit out of Skyrim, and now it's much more fun. For instance, Inigo rules.

 

[X Equestris]

Dragon Age 3 is crap. Runes are incredibly difficult to get, and without them, you can't beat Pride Demons (aka fire spirits, whatever), and forget beating any dragons. I eventually defeated the game with unenchanted weapons, and that was the only time I beat it.

Hmm, I never had any issue beating stuff like pride demons and dragons without enchanted weaponry.

From the sound of it, you might’ve been short on abilities meant to tear down guard. Without them, yeah, combat would get tedious fast, since those enemies can armor themselves with it to prevent damage to their actual health. And if you take forever whittling down their guard, they’ll be able to reuse their guard-generating abilities to refill the bar and make you start all over.