Clan Zorah

The eternal thread. And to pay homage to our history, the ceremonial rules.

Thread Rules:
1. Do not personally insult other members, do not personally insult members of other fandoms.
2. Do not troll or link to trolling threads/posts/polls.
3. Do not spam, do not create quote pyramids.
4. Please be mature and respectful at all times, and failing that, be entertaining.
5. Character criticism is allowed and encouraged.
6. Please contact the group owner or any other officer if you have any major concerns.

And so it begins for, the first time, once again.

We are now truly the Miegrant fleet.

May this time be the last time we need to move. And so long as I have the power to keep this site up, it will be.

This is our Rannoch.

SciFlyBoy wrote:This is our Rannoch.

You're absolutely right. "A very special patch of Rannoch," even. Heh.

we are going to need a few more threads before it really feels like home though. Like a film and TV, a animation and comics etc.

Well, by all means, make it happen! Make this place ours.

I already started the Smut thread.

TTTX wrote:we are going to need a few more threads before it really feels like home though. Like a film and TV, a animation and comics etc.

I'm working on it. It does make the place feel homey, even if we have a few weeks to go still.

At this point people can just start threads, right?

Or I suppose its "topics" now.

TheodoricFriede wrote:At this point people can just start threads, right?

Or I suppose its "topics" now.

Yep, you guys all have the ability to.

This is nice. Good job banging this together! Nice look.

Vol wrote:Yep, you guys all have the ability to.

The format should be just like the previous forum where if I wanted to talk about something I just add it to the main topic, not create a new topic, correct?

Sites32 wrote:This is nice. Good job banging this together! Nice look.

Thank you kindly. Couldn't let you bunch of nerds get away from so easily! Lots of work to do still before BSN gets nuked.

And of course, huge thanks to all the great people who've chipped in money to keep the lights on. More on that in the coming days.

SciFlyBoy wrote:

Vol wrote:Yep, you guys all have the ability to.

The format should be just like the previous forum where if I wanted to talk about something I just add it to the main topic, not create a new topic, correct?

That'd be ideal, since we're not a high activity group. Even in the golden days post ME2, a lot of the traffic was idle chatter.

Though I'll leave it to you guys to make the ME General thread.

SciFlyBoy wrote:
The format should be just like the previous forum where if I wanted to talk about something I just add it to the main topic, not create a new topic, correct?

I think that if we talk about a specific topic in length (say...10 uninterrupted pages), then we should create a thread for it.

Same rules as usual really.

I just urge people to create new topics, not whole new sections.

We aren't that many people. The more we divide, the less conversation there will actually be.

Alas, The libertine section appears as though it will be empty most of the time...

Your friendly neighborhood Dragaros here.

Testing, one two three, testing…

Everything seems to be working so far.

Someone With Mass wrote:I think that if we talk about a specific topic in length (say...10 uninterrupted pages), then we should create a thread for it.

Topics are 50 posts to a page, mind you.

TheodoricFriede wrote:Same rules as usual really.

I just urge people to create new topics, not whole new sections.

We aren't that many people. The more we divide, the less conversation there will actually be.

Alas, The libertine section appears as though it will be empty most of the time...

Pretty much. Keep it small and loose, and have specific topics for posting mass media.

The Compound will grow with time. That's where I'd put stuff like contact info for gaming, RPing, and other stuff that greedy public eyes can't see.

TheodoricFriede wrote:Alas, The libertine section appears as though it will be empty most of the time...

It's tempting, but ultimately it's that fact that I'm at the W in NSFW for most my day that keeps me from parking in that section. Can't wait to see what's been contributed later when I'm free though.

SciFlyBoy wrote:been contributed later when I'm free though.

I like to think of myself as a sort of curator.

Make requests, I'll see what i can find you.

Vol wrote:

Someone With Mass wrote:I think that if we talk about a specific topic in length (say...10 uninterrupted pages), then we should create a thread for it.

Topics are 50 posts to a page, mind you.

Wow. Well...it's going to take some time to get used to not having all of those dickless restrictions.

Indeed.

Embrace the freedom people!

Man, even as a WIP, the PURPLE theme is way easier on the eyes. Dark background, pleasant purple tones. So sick of the Web 2.0 bright whites and painful minimalism.

So why are they shutting down BSN? I've been away for a good while.

TheodoricFriede wrote:I like to think of myself as a sort of curator.

Make requests, I'll see what i can find you.

Who has been trying to get Tali in yoga pants? One person here has been more adamant than the rest.

Vol wrote:Man, even as a WIP, the PURPLE theme is way easier on the eyes. Dark background, pleasant purple tones. So sick of the Web 2.0 bright whites and painful minimalism.

If you really want to read something terrible on the eyes, read a soundtrack review on Filmtracks. One minute and my eyes are already in pain.

Vol wrote:Man, even as a WIP, the PURPLE theme is way easier on the eyes. Dark background, pleasant purple tones. So sick of the Web 2.0 bright whites and painful minimalism.

Though I like the left-aligned posts and the dark background, I would personally rather have duller tones of purple. But I dunno. I'm used to extremely dark grey/brown themes. RES night mode, for example.

For anyone curious, this forum setup is extremely similar to the setup used by the Cerberus Daily News RP site. Same base phpBB community layout thing, different theme.

Sites32 wrote:So why are they shutting down BSN? I've been away for a good while.

IIRC, they [BioWare] believe they can do a better job communicating and interacting with the fanbase/playerbase through regular social media (Twitter, Reddit) rather than a dedicated forum.

Sites32 wrote:So why are they shutting down BSN? I've been away for a good while.

Weeeellll

The Bioware that we know is long gone. They dont want to deal with any criticism what so ever. And they dont want to spend the time, money, and effort it would take to cultivate a community.

Basically, fuck bioware.

Vol wrote:Man, even as a WIP, the PURPLE theme is way easier on the eyes. Dark background, pleasant purple tones. So sick of the Web 2.0 bright whites and painful minimalism.

I remember getting stabbing pains in my eyes after reading the old BSN threads for a while and switching to something that didn't have a dark background, so I think I'll wait with that judgement.

TheodoricFriede wrote:

Sites32 wrote:So why are they shutting down BSN? I've been away for a good while.

Weeeellll

The Bioware that we know is long gone. They dont want to deal with any criticism what so ever. And they dont want to spend the time, money, and effort it would take to cultivate a community.

Basically, fuck bioware.

Figured as much. Matter of time I suppose specially now with social media and other outlets. To be honest I haven't roamed the main boards on the forums in a few years so I have no idea what it has become. I checked out the legacy page just the other day and good ol nostalgia kicked in. Those were some times.

Wheeeeeeeeeeew.

Good to have a private place all to our own.

It's goingt o be weird doing this on a place which isn't Bioware/not connected to a larger community. Fells weird.

As if we interacted much with the outside world anyway.

Yes this should do nicely.

Mazder wrote:Wheeeeeeeeeeew.

Good to have a private place all to our own.

It's goingt o be weird doing this on a place which isn't Bioware/not connected to a larger community. Fells weird.

well if we get lonely there are the other unofficial BSNs.

Also we've got to manage our quoting so we don't have text pyramids again.

Spartanburger wrote:Though I like the left-aligned posts and the dark background, I would personally rather have duller tones of purple. But I dunno. I'm used to extremely dark grey/brown themes. RES night mode, for example.

For anyone curious, this forum setup is extremely similar to the setup used by the Cerberus Daily News RP site. Same base phpBB community layout thing, different theme.

Yeah, this is a public theme with a tool that let me choose the primary overall color, the highlighted text book, and the highlighted text. I have to go into the .css files to manually set the hex codes for more precise and varied colors. So it'll be a little while.

Ultimately I want to have a light/neutral/dark choice in templates.

TTTX wrote:well if we get lonely there are the other unofficial BSNs.

There'll be a link(s) to the successors BSNs somewhere prominent in the near future. Though GAC tells me the Unofficial BSN seems to be emerging winner.

So, No Mans Sky.

Anyone know if that game is worth a damn yet?

I want to get excited about it, but i dont even understand what you are supposed to like...do.

TheodoricFriede wrote:So, No Mans Sky.

Anyone know if that game is worth a damn yet?

I want to get excited about it, but i dont even understand what you are supposed to like...do.

Well, a lot has been going on with it in the last week.

Early copies of it were going out to some people for PS4, which has lead to pre-release streams and gameplay, and numerous copyright claims on the footage (the developers are now working with Sony to get those claims removed).

The developers were not really happy with the game out early, but not because it was out early, moreso because they had a rather significant content update in the works that would come out as the Day Zero 1.03 update, and they didn't want early impressions (and reviews) of the game to come out in it's pre-patch state. This is understandable, because the update changed quite a bit, and all for the better. I highly suggest you visit that link and read through the patchnotes if you are interested in the game (small spoilers in the notes, but nothing major).

I've yet to see some negative impressions of the game post 1.03 patch.


That said, it should be cleared up:
The game has a multiplayer component. Yes, it is possible to meet other players. The problem is, the game world is so unimaginably vast, that you are literally more likely to get a rare real life cancer than you are to meet another player in this game.

The game is about exploration. If that isn't appealing, then whatever else is in the game is probably not going to enthrall you. I guess an analogy I would come up with is, if you played Elite: Dangerous, and wished that the E:D exploration mechanic was deeper, more varied, and you could land on planets that actually had life rather than lifeless, samey, boring rocks, then NMS might be for you.

Regardless, wait for reviews. PC version comes out on August 12th, and the PS4 version comes out tomorrow.

But what do you do?

Is there an end?

Is it like Minecraft where you just sort of exist?

is it a rogue like?

Is there progression?

Do i have a sort of HuB?

TheodoricFriede wrote:But what do you do?

Is there an end?

There is no end as in a "Yay, you finished the game!" like with, say, Mass Effect. There is a goal in mind, which is reach the center of the universe, but how you reach that is up to you, and you don't have to pay any attention to the goal at all.

There is heavy survival elements in it. When you start, you're on a planet, facing your damaged ship. You have to explore and gather resources so you can repair your ship. Once repaired, you can fly around the system, but you can't jump to another system until you gather materials for fuel.

Some animals are dangerous, some are not. Some planets are safe, some require shielding and environment shielding to survive on for more than a few minutes. You can feed the animals and they might find resources for you, protect you, or just follow you around.

Many (maybe all) systems have a space station in them. You can blow it up if you want, but it takes a lot of work and a really good ship. The space station is a hub for trading, where you can buy materials for use or trade, new ships, and upgrades.

Your suit, ship, and tool/gun all have upgrades to them that allow you to go further and survive harsher environments.

I don't know how death works.

Missions, (like a distress beacon), can occur. All are emergent gameplay, where it happens around you and you can just choose to engage or not.

You can mine in space. Trading vessels can be bought for those wanting that Euro Truck Simulator experience in space, only with pirates that can attack you. You yourself can also be a pirate, attacking ships to get their loot.

The aliens there all speak an unknown language, and as you explore, you will find these weird knowledge tomb things that will "unlock" a word. When interacting with them, you will otherwise not know what they are saying, and have to guess what they're saying. They could be asking you for help, they could be warning you of danger, or they could be about to shoot you.

There's a bunch of robots called Sentinels that are connected to the main goal in some manner, and they are generally peaceful if you are, but will become more violent with you as you progress (I think).

There are buildings that have a mystery surrounding them.

Base building and freighters (very large ships) were mentioned in the 1.03 notes as features the devs are working on implementing in the future.



I guess one way to think about it is resource gathering (minecraft) on both land and in space, in a massive universe (Elite Dangerous) with a vague mystery to solve by exploring and (at least in part) by reaching the center of the universe.

One of the people who played it early said that it took him 30 hours of work to reach the center, and that was before the 1.03 patch that rebalanced the game and fixed some infinite jump exploits.

Good heavens, an actual answer...

I didnt think that was possible.

Well, ill still wait on reviews, but it seems interesting.

Semi-related, but the devs of NMS, Hello Games, seem like really cool peeps and their main dude Sean Murray did an AMA over on reddit which almost overtook Obama as the most popular AMA.

TheodoricFriede wrote:Well, ill still wait on reviews, but it seems interesting.

Waiting on reviews is a good idea with any game these days. I'm exited for NMS, but still waiting.

Final Edit: For more in NMS, here's the official, Reddit and NeoGaf guides on what to do in NMS.

I'll wait for the reviews of No Man's Sky, because I'm not that easy to hype up and I'm not falling for that trap again. Not to mention that I don't know if my hunk of junk can even run it.

I also found Elite: Dangerous to be one of the most boring space games I've played in my life. Do you know what I did for the majority of my playtime in it? Played on my 3DS while my ship was jumping to the next planet. Starting another game to waste time in another game is not something I want.

Exploring and Trading in Elite: Dangerous is very much a podcast game when you're exploring. During my trip to the galactic core and back, which took about five months IRL, I watched/listened to a crapload of different podcasts, including the Co-optional podcast, the WAN show, Tek Syndicate, BPinU, and Hello Internet.

Combat not so much, though. Still podcastable, but it's not something you can look away from and hope to survive. RESing without looking generally leads to you being merged with an asteroid that was hidden in the shadow of a planet.

Probably because E:D is being built more as a Space Sim than a Space Game. The RNGification of the ship module system with the 2.1 engineers update basically mean that you have to dump hours into an un-engaging grind for materials and higher engineer ranks just so you can go toe-to-toe with the AI, which all inexplicably have the upgraded modules.

The entire point of Elite Dangerous is just grind with little engaging. Even the Horizons update didn't do much. Lifeless rocks look pretty cool, and it's spooky to think about when you're lost on a lifeless rock on the other side of the galaxy, completely alone. But it doesn't last.
Even playing with others doesn't really have a lasting appeal.

Theres always one.

Theres always FUCKING one.

Nintendo....why do you put ones like these in?!?!

Surely the fact a new game is coming out is publicity enough?

Mazder wrote:Nintendo....why do you put ones like these in?!?!

Surely the fact a new game is coming out is publicity enough?

well Nintendo also just shut down another fan remake.

http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/08/08/nintendo-shuts-down-metroid-2-fan-remake-am2r

TheodoricFriede wrote:
Theres always one.

Theres always FUCKING one.

It feels like Nintendo isn't even trying anymore.

Someone With Mass wrote:I'll wait for the reviews of No Man's Sky, because I'm not that easy to hype up and I'm not falling for that trap again. Not to mention that I don't know if my hunk of junk can even run it.

I also found Elite: Dangerous to be one of the most boring space games I've played in my life. Do you know what I did for the majority of my playtime in it? Played on my 3DS while my ship was jumping to the next planet. Starting another game to waste time in another game is not something I want.

From what I've seen it looks like a very generic space survival craft-y game that got waaaaay too overhyped.