Off Topic Discussion Megathread

[Neoyoshi]

Trying to nap.

[Kolsykol]

On the topic of FFXIV I guess, but tomorrow Mikepreachwow and his FC will have their PvP tournament which will be pretty interesting.
I think on paper at least FFXIV PvP could be pretty fun to watch.
They're gonna expand it later but the first tournament is more of a test and for his FC only.

I enjoyed both DA 1 and 2. DA:I I could never get into no matter how many times I try. The first one you start in humble ( Or maybe no so humble but ends tragic ) beginnings and work your way up to being important. The 2nd one you also start with nothing but work your way up to being important. The 3rd one is just "Oh you're a terrorist...wait...you fixed the issue we blamed you for? Well hello there King/Queen!"

It was just a huge disconnect for me.

I just dunno wtf Bioware is even doing today lol.
I keep forgetting that Andromeda even exists, it seems terrible.

It's the same with Blizzard tho, I think it's worth remembering that the actual people who were the reason their games were good are all gone.
Diablo 1 and 2 for example was made by a different wing of Blizzard that all left almost 20 years ago and went on to make PoE.
The studio that went on to become Blizzard was the other part.
Sure they were responsible for Warcraft and WoW, but most of those people are also gone.

It's just people who had nothing to do with what made Blizzard so great that work there now.
It's only their IP's in name but in practice it's not really the same games anymore, it's basically other people playing around with IP's they had no hand in creating.
I think it's much the same with Bioware too.

Obviously that's also true to a large degree with FF and FFXIV, but I also think it's worth remembering and why people shouldn't have this inherent sense of loyalty towards IP's or studios.
It's the people who make things great not the studios name or IP.

[RyuDragnier]

I just dunno wtf Bioware is even doing today lol.
I keep forgetting that Andromeda even exists, it seems terrible.

It has the best combat in the ME series, tbh. But then again it was made by the team that did the ME3 multiplayer, so that's to be expected. Story is so-so, characters are varying in likeability, but the premise isn't too bad. It wasn't bad for that team's first attempt at making a fully fledged game, and they fixed a number of bugs and other things. The game as it is now is a lot better than at launch. It's just a shame they were forced to pack it up and made to work on Anthem...especially since nothing could save Anthem. If DA4 sucks, then that's it for Bioware tbh, it's going to be shuttered (and if inner management still works the way they did for Inquisition on, then they deserve to be).

[Misplaced_Marbles]

It has the best combat in the ME series, tbh. But then again it was made by the team that did the ME3 multiplayer, so that's to be expected. Story is so-so, characters are varying in likeability, but the premise isn't too bad. It wasn't bad for that team's first attempt at making a fully fledged game, and they fixed a number of bugs and other things. The game as it is now is a lot better than at launch.

The combat is great, sure, but the story is even worse than the usual cookie cutter chosen one stories, since Ryder is just a vehicle for the actual chosen one who will solve everyone problems single-handedly with hyper intelligence and a heaping helping of asspulls.

[RyuDragnier]

The combat is great, sure, but the story is even worse than the usual cookie cutter chosen one stories, since Ryder is just a vehicle for the actual chosen one who will solve everyone problems single-handedly with hyper intelligence and a heaping helping of asspulls.

So Commander Shepherd.

[Misplaced_Marbles]

So Commander Shepherd.

Not really, since Shepard doesn't have a voice in their head that tells them how to act, what to do and where to go, while also solving every problem for them (out of pity, SAM leaves little picture "puzzles" so Ryder the toddler can get a little brain exercise. what a nice AI master), that also empowers them to do the fighting, since without experience and skill, Ryder is just a chump (and is now entirely reliant on SAM, since didn't have a chance to get any) who was lucky enough to have a sentimental dad who left an unshackled AI in the hands of a greenhorn. Good thing SAM is more than capable enough to pick up all the slack for a bumbling buffoon.

(Sure, the originals had their questionable bullcrap, but it's nothing on this level. This single thing made sure it was crap from the beginning to the end for me. There's more, of course, but eh...)

[SturmChurro]

My allergies this summer have been outright horrifying. I don't think I have had it this bad for awhile. I'll not describe in detail just how bad, but suffice it to say, really bad. On top of these bumbleebees somehow getting in my house - which I am also allergic to. At least I kind of got an understanding with a wasp when they get in the house, but a bee, I had one land on my face the other day. A bumblebee just acts like they own the whole area and all it's airspace!

[Midareyukki]

My allergies this summer have been outright horrifying.

Yeah, it's that time of the year.

Flowers: randy
My nose: suffering

[RyuDragnier]

Not really, since Shepard doesn't have a voice in their head that tells them how to act, what to do and where to go, while also solving every problem for them (out of pity, SAM leaves little picture "puzzles" so Ryder the toddler can get a little brain exercise. what a nice AI master), that also empowers them to do the fighting, since without experience and skill, Ryder is just a chump (and is now entirely reliant on SAM, since didn't have a chance to get any) who was lucky enough to have a sentimental dad who left an unshackled AI in the hands of a greenhorn. Good thing SAM is more than capable enough to pick up all the slack for a bumbling buffoon.

(Sure, the originals had their questionable bullcrap, but it's nothing on this level. This single thing made sure it was crap from the beginning to the end for me. There's more, of course, but eh...)

I feel like they were setting this up to where the AI would be KO'd or unavailable for most of the 2nd game so Ryder would basically be having to stand on their own feet. Or at least, that's what I'd do. First game is Ryder learning the ropes with the help of the AI, second game being the AI taken away and Ryder forced to do things themself.

Andromeda is good enough for a lighthearted playthrough, Ryder the character is nothing compared to Shepard, for sure. Funnily enough, most of the time I put into Andromeda was the multiplayer mode. I kind of wish they had supported it longer. They also just cut the quarian dlc, and had it made into a book or whatever.

I'm still angry about that. The Quarian DLC was needed, and they could have polished up more of the game with it.

On a separate note, for some reason I'm getting 245 ping in FFXIV, and only in FFXIV. Not getting ping issues in GW2, with any websites, or anything else, it's just FFXIV.

[Vyrerus]

I've had pretty gnarly allergies this summer, too. Lots of sneezing and itchy itchy itchy Eustachian tubes.