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Author Topic: Games you're playing: The 2009 edition.  (Read 666212 times)

AndrewRogue

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Re: Games you're playing: The 2009 edition.
« Reply #1050 on: March 02, 2009, 02:20:41 AM »
Highlord would actually be an interesting endgame option to consider for that deck if I had the room. Unfortunately, he was not an option at the time.

Anyhow, now it is time for AndrewRogue's quick guide to the WoW TCG: Understanding what happened at the Darkmoon Faire, part 1.

The World of Warcraft TCG is a trading card game (if you aren't familiar with this concept at all, you should probably quit reading now, because I can only do so much for you) by Upperdeck Entertainment. Shock and amaze, it is based on the World of Warcraft MMO.

In general terms, at first glance, you'll see a lot of similarities to Magic: the Gathering. 60 card minimum deck, 7 card hand size, playing resources (see: lands) one per turn and exhausting (see: tapping) them to play cards. Of course, the devil is in the details, and there are a number of major differences in basic gameplay.

First and foremost, although there are specific cards that can be placed as resources (quests/locations), ANY card in your hand can be placed facedown as a resource, which generally softens the impact of "mana" screw. Of course, it always tends to be better to place quests/locations, because they do things while on the table (primarily allowing you to pay a cost to draw cards, but there are other things). The second big difference is that attacks are declared directly against opposing allies (see: creatures) and heroes. It is also worth noting that damage persists unless healed. Finally, the other big difference is that the game is that rather than just being a generic player with 20 life, your avatar is a specifically chosen hero that determines the various categories of allies, abilities, equipment and other things based on race/class/spec/tradeskills. There are some other differences, but hey. That's a quick breakdown.

Anyhow. Card types!

Hero: Your personal avatar. When your hero takes fatal damage (=> their health) or is destroyed through some means, you lose the game. Every hero has a "flip" that is unique to them (an ability printed on the hero that they use by paying a cost and flipping over, essentially rendering it one use for the most part).

Ally: Essentially creatures. They cost a number of resources to come into play and can't attack or exhaust for their powers until they've been in play on your side of the field since the start of your turn. They have an attack and defense, and a good number have powers and keywords. Currently, the keywords are Ferocity (see: Haste), Elusive (can't be attacked), Untargetable (can't be targeted), Protector (can "block" attacks), X Resistance (you take no damage from damage type X), Berserking (+1 attack for each damage on them), Shadowmeld (Elusive and Untargetable while ready), Diplomacy: X (you pay 1 less to play allies of type X), Warstomp (whenever this ally attacks or defends, you can exhaust an opposing hero or ally), Inspire: X (you may ready X at the start of each other player's turn), Sabatoge: X (you may declare an attack against X and, if successful, the described effect occurs) and Stealth (your attacks can't be protected against). Allies are normally split along faction lines (Horde, Alliance and Neutral).

Abilities: Essentially spells. Instant abilities can be played whenever, normal abilities function along the line of a sorcery. These tend to be divided by class, but there are some neutral and dual-class abilities.

Equipment: The gear that your hero wears. This comes in just about every slot. Weapons increase the attack of your hero by swinging them, armor lets you prevent damage, items let you do other things, etc.

Part 2 will come a bit later.
« Last Edit: March 03, 2009, 01:12:51 AM by AndrewRogue »

Captain K.

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Re: Games you're playing: The 2009 edition.
« Reply #1051 on: March 02, 2009, 02:40:40 AM »
DQV:  This game needs more clues about where you're supposed to go.  Finally found the minecart ride from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.  Recruited 1x Ned Flanders.  Got back to Fairyland.  Raised a flying castle.  Also <spoilers>

Both the Loftinians and Zenithians can fly, so why doesn't this trait get passed on to Abel's kids?  Can't be THAT recessive.

Also fought Bjorn several times, and got beaten soundly.  Damned good boss.

PWI:  Was reading on the forum about a pure attack cleric build - all points into magic.  Sounded like fun, so I made one.  It's awesome.  Level 10 in no time flat, without ever coming close to dying.  Number of potions used so far: 0.  Already has more money than my level 40 Blademaster.

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Re: Games you're playing: The 2009 edition.
« Reply #1052 on: March 02, 2009, 05:40:59 AM »
Persona 4-Started this a few days ago. I've gone through all of the steamy bathhouse, just gonna grind a bit before I try to take on the Shadow. My levels are 21ish?

First impressions...the battle system has been overhauled mostly for the better. Analyze is nerfed, and getting first strike is a total crapshoot now, but you can actually control people and start dungeons from where you left off, and maybe once I get more Hermit ranks the fox will actually be cheap enough to use. The game doesn't mess around, either, this is far more like other SMT games in difficulty.

Story is all mystery right now, but seems promising. Characters are likable. Having 5 stats to juggle seems like it's going to be a pain in the ass though. I'm at...level 2 of everything except for Understanding, which is still at 1. Highest S. rank is Magician at 6. Probably gonna focus on PCs first since you get some nifty bonuses for ranking them up. Then Justice and Hierophant since apparently they have more of a time limit, and then Hermit for sweet sweet SP healing goodness. 
Don't think of it as a novel. Think of it as a chance to retroactively win every argument you have ever walked away from.

Meeplelard

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Re: Games you're playing: The 2009 edition.
« Reply #1053 on: March 02, 2009, 05:47:47 AM »
WAXF: Clarissa has obtained outfit #3!  Thus I am in Chap 3-7, I believe.
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kokushishin

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Re: Games you're playing: The 2009 edition.
« Reply #1054 on: March 02, 2009, 06:11:40 AM »
. New character thoughts: El Fuerte is crap, Rufus is decent mechanically but I can't bring myself to use him because he is grotesque, Abel seems pretty good and is almost always more threatening on AI than the other characters, Viper is just okay but is Cid-bait so I use her a lot.


Fuerte's passable once you get the hang of his dash.

Abel is easily my favorite of the newbies.

CV is all about space.


[/quote]
So, Seth. Is there any way to avoid getting hit by his ultra combo? Blocking doesn't do it, being airborne or all the way on the other side of the screen doesn't do it.[/quote]

It's supposedly high-blockable, but I usually crouch block to be safe.  Teleport->SPD and Dragon Punch spam are what I worry about. 

Xeroma

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Re: Games you're playing: The 2009 edition.
« Reply #1055 on: March 02, 2009, 06:48:03 AM »
Fuerte is really scary when you get his dash antics down. Crossup body splashes can be very hard for certain characters to get around.

Viper is extremely technical but has amazing BS when mastered. High-low is really pro and she can do all kinds of impressive and damaging combos. Bad HP though.

Abel has great mixups and some easy to use and effective tools. Very solid.

Rufus is very dangerous and damaging when he gets in close, with several ways to combo into his ultra and damaging BnB combos. Actually getting in is the hard part though, he doesn't have much to deal with say a shoto moveset.
« Last Edit: March 02, 2009, 06:51:34 AM by Xeroma »


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Re: Games you're playing: The 2009 edition.
« Reply #1056 on: March 02, 2009, 08:57:13 AM »
PWI:  Was reading on the forum about a pure attack cleric build - all points into magic.  Sounded like fun, so I made one.  It's awesome.  Level 10 in no time flat, without ever coming close to dying.  Number of potions used so far: 0.  Already has more money than my level 40 Blademaster.

I think the only times you want to boost other things is just for more STR at level-ups so you can equip proper weaponry...  Right?

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Re: Games you're playing: The 2009 edition.
« Reply #1057 on: March 02, 2009, 09:04:32 AM »
PWI:  Was reading on the forum about a pure attack cleric build - all points into magic.  Sounded like fun, so I made one.  It's awesome.  Level 10 in no time flat, without ever coming close to dying.  Number of potions used so far: 0.  Already has more money than my level 40 Blademaster.

I think the only times you want to boost other things is just for more STR at level-ups so you can equip proper weaponry...  Right?

Basically. The recommended bulid for a nuker Wizard is the same, except every second level add a STR. Though with my nuker mage I went 4 points Magic, and then alternated between VIT and STR each level just for health boosts. I don't know if its the same idea for your build, but they sound similar in style.

Anthony Edward Stark

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Re: Games you're playing: The 2009 edition.
« Reply #1058 on: March 02, 2009, 09:31:59 AM »
I mean, you had Expel and Roak as members.

To be fair, Expel got in only because Precis herself is being a genius. Her Mana Cleaner made Quadratic Sphere/Key possible for common use, and the Federation take Expel in only because of that.

Expel got in because they had been meddled with by a higher power (namely, the Nedians and to a lesser extent, the Earth Federation) and so the UP3 no longer counted. Same with Roak. Developing one advanced piece of technology doesn't necessarily make you not underdeveloped, it just means you're much more advanced in one field than most of the space-faring societies were at that phase in their history. They elaborate on this in the dictionary entry on OPAs, and how most of them are a result of people underestimating a race's ability to excel in a certain field, like the Neumann Purifier.

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Re: Games you're playing: The 2009 edition.
« Reply #1059 on: March 02, 2009, 03:01:20 PM »
PWI:  Was reading on the forum about a pure attack cleric build - all points into magic.

I think the only times you want to boost other things is just for more STR at level-ups so you can equip proper weaponry...  Right?

Basically. The recommended bulid for a nuker Wizard is the same, except every second level add a STR. Though with my nuker mage I went 4 points Magic, and then alternated between VIT and STR each level just for health boosts. I don't know if its the same idea for your build, but they sound similar in style.

Yeah, I had misread the article and put all points into magic - you should put a point in Strength every other level so you can equip new wands and robes.  One levelup corrected that mistake.

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Re: Games you're playing: The 2009 edition.
« Reply #1060 on: March 02, 2009, 09:24:26 PM »
It seems pretty fucked up at the idea that a planet would need to do something to prove itself worthy of joining the federation if they wanted in as well, what is the Federation going to do, turn them away because they are not cool enough?  That would look good on the galactic stage and leave the underdevelopped planet at the mercy of whoever wants to come along and enslave them... Which is well essentially SO1 plot.
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Re: Games you're playing: The 2009 edition.
« Reply #1061 on: March 02, 2009, 09:42:15 PM »
PWI:  Was reading on the forum about a pure attack cleric build - all points into magic.

I think the only times you want to boost other things is just for more STR at level-ups so you can equip proper weaponry...  Right?

Basically. The recommended bulid for a nuker Wizard is the same, except every second level add a STR. Though with my nuker mage I went 4 points Magic, and then alternated between VIT and STR each level just for health boosts. I don't know if its the same idea for your build, but they sound similar in style.

Yeah, I had misread the article and put all points into magic - you should put a point in Strength every other level so you can equip new wands and robes.  One levelup corrected that mistake.

Yeah, this is what I started doing instinctively to my Cleric (thanks MapleStory!), so while I dispaired that I usually had less than half the HP of Clerics five levels below me, I also usually had double the MP and far higher damage.

Shale

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Re: Games you're playing: The 2009 edition.
« Reply #1062 on: March 02, 2009, 10:24:29 PM »
Kingdom Hearts: Hollow Bastion is unlocked. Will clear the Hercules Cup first, though.

Now I feel the need to rant about the Gummi Ship.

I am perhaps the single most positively inclined person in the world toward this minigame. I like rail shooters, I can enjoy just about any game as long as I like the genre and it's not actively bad, and I am a completist about minigames. So how, I ask, did they manage to go so wrong with the Gummi Ship (which is, at the core of its gameplay, no worse than mediocre) that I am completely fucking sick of it? Why did they put a complex, completely obtuse, virtually instruction-free upgrade system in place for a game where you don't need upgrades to complete anything? Why did they fill the main game with Gummi parts when there's no main-game reward for using them well? For that matter, why isn't there a reward for doing well on Gummi Ship levels? Your only prize is to get where you're going, so why put effort into doing better than "hey, I finished the level"? And why is it nigh-impossible to actually build a ship with the blueprints scattered around the levels like candy. Is there a better way to turn gamers off to a feature than to put a lock on it saying "ha ha, you're not ready yet, and I'm not going to tell you when you are or what you need"? Goddamn, Square. You suck.
« Last Edit: March 02, 2009, 10:26:55 PM by Shale »
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Xeroma

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Re: Games you're playing: The 2009 edition.
« Reply #1063 on: March 02, 2009, 10:31:17 PM »
If it's any consolation, KH2's version of gummi ship stuff is actually pretty alright.


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Re: Games you're playing: The 2009 edition.
« Reply #1064 on: March 02, 2009, 10:32:38 PM »
Yeah, Gummi Ships are a lot better in KH2. :P They still don't have a particularly important role other than getting from place to place, but there are extra missions and unlockable blueprints that can be gained by completing missions quickly, destroying certain enemies or a certain number of enemies, etc.
In KH1... You'll find that you'll only be able to make some of the classic blueprints, and only right near the end. But they're good for comedy value in some cases - like the Cactuar.  ;D

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Re: Games you're playing: The 2009 edition.
« Reply #1065 on: March 02, 2009, 10:37:16 PM »
It seems pretty fucked up at the idea that a planet would need to do something to prove itself worthy of joining the federation if they wanted in as well, what is the Federation going to do, turn them away because they are not cool enough?  That would look good on the galactic stage and leave the underdevelopped planet at the mercy of whoever wants to come along and enslave them... Which is well essentially SO1 plot.

I imagine if you were to the point of being able to communicate with them reliably (you know, FTL communication, not light-speed radio waves with centuries of lag) that makes you not Underdeveloped. The UP3 decides when the Federation comes to YOU and asks if you want to join. It's not that you're proving that you are cool enough to join the Federation, it's proving that you have reached a point in development where you can be considered an advanced society and giving you cool gizmos won't warp your civilization beyond recognition. Or that you have been fucked with by a more advanced power, in which case the Federation decides to ignore things.

There was an episode of Star Trek about this that they cribbed from.
« Last Edit: March 02, 2009, 10:41:26 PM by Rob the Stampede »

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Re: Games you're playing: The 2009 edition.
« Reply #1066 on: March 02, 2009, 11:02:55 PM »
There was an episode of Star Trek about this that they cribbed from.

Star Ocean never steals anything from Star Trek.

Haven't played SO4, but one possible motivation to deny membership is fear of immigration.  Think EU and Turkey.
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Anthony Edward Stark

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Re: Games you're playing: The 2009 edition.
« Reply #1067 on: March 03, 2009, 12:28:15 AM »
I would also guess that they would refuse people who run oppressive regimes or somesuch, as even in SO3, they were portrayed as hegemonic, not tyrannical.

Aaanyway, was I supposed to infer that the Morphus are some sort of Nedian offshoot? It's a combination of the ears, the technology, and the vague statements about how Morphus society has existed in the same state it has now for like four million years.

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Re: Games you're playing: The 2009 edition.
« Reply #1068 on: March 03, 2009, 12:49:32 AM »
Team Fortress 2

Been playing this pretty well continually on my Spring Break. I'm getting a LOT better with Sniper than I used to be, and I'm also coming into my own some with Pyro (having gotten the third milestone earlier today.) I've also trained up my Spy play from "Terrible!" to "Bad", so that's a plus, I guess.

I've gotten to a point where no one class pisses me off more than the others. So maybe I understand something about how the game works, now.

AndrewRogue

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Re: Games you're playing: The 2009 edition.
« Reply #1069 on: March 03, 2009, 01:20:43 AM »
AndrewRogue's quick guide to the WoW TCG: Understanding what happened at the Darkmoon Faire, part 2.

A couple of brief corrections to missing keywords were added. This is why I don't type when I'm tired. >_>

So why does Andrew regret his deck building choices?

Well, primarily because I didn't spend nearly enough time testing. The core of my deck worked pretty well, based off the classic Inspire-Myriam builds. For those who aren't in the know, Inspire-Myriam is currently on of the Alliance's strongest win conditions. Myriam Starcaller is a four cost 3/4 ally who is Untargetable and can exhaust to deal 5 damage to an opposing hero. Inspire is a keyword I forgot to mention, that allows you to ready a specific card type or set of card types. So, I'm sure the clever minds here can determine how this is dangerous. Thus, many Alliance decks use a fairly standardized Myriam build that builds up a wall of protectors, then plays Myriam and an inspire ally to quickly burn the opponent down.

My deck used a slight variant on this, using the Warrior ability, Duty Bound (2 Cost, Ongoing ability. Your hero is a protector. When your hero protects, ready it) and the ally, Zempre, Grace of Elune (Four cost, Night Elf Hero Required, Shadowmeld, when Zempre is exhausted, prevent all damage that would be dealt to your hero, 4/5) to set-up a very strong wall. The hero can protect against whatever attacks opposing heroes and allies make and, with Zempre exhausted, takes no damage doing so.

Unfortunately, a few mistakes and a lack of testing made the deck fairly mediocre. I lacked a reliable way to exhaust Zempre without attacking into opposition and dying too often and I lacked a way to deal with the more consistent Black Ice build.

Black Ice? I do notice you played it three times! What gives?

Black Ice is one of the strongest decks in the current metagame. Based around the Gnomish Frost mage, Black Ice Fizzlefreeze, this deck takes the standard Myriam build, adds in some counters in the form of Nether Fracture/Fizzle and adds a devestating lockdown technique in the form of Water Elemental or Weldon Barov, rendering Myriam very difficult to stop.

Water Elemental? Weldon Barov?

Water Elemental: 3 Cost, 3/4 Frost Hero Required Pet. He can exhaust to deal 1 frost damage to all opposing heroes and allies. In addition, heroes and allies dealt damage by that can't attack this turn.

Weldon Barov: 5 Cost, 5/5 Alliance Ally. At the end of your turn, he creates three 1/1 Peasant tokens that all have Protector.

Both allies are obviously very powerful defensive tools.

What was this Voidfire Wand lock thing you mentioned?

Oh. That. Blargh. Voidfire Wand is a cloth class weapon. When it deals damage to an opposing hero, that player skips their next draw. Basically, the wand is used to create a hard lock on the board. This isn't as bad as it sounds, since most of the time, a player will have quests on the board to help him draw more. However, in the appropriate deck or at the appropriate time, the Wand can be used to create a hard lock. By discarding the opposing player's hand and turning all his quests facedown, you can stick an opponent in a position where they lack a board or an alternate means of drawing, thus locking them out of drawing cards for the rest of the game.

At that point, unless you have something in hand or a strong enough board to keep playing, your best option is to basically concede.

It is a fragile lock since so many things can disrupt it, but if it goes off...

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Re: Games you're playing: The 2009 edition.
« Reply #1070 on: March 03, 2009, 04:40:13 AM »
Wild ARMs XF: Act 3 is completed!

Now for a small opinionated statement:

I can safely say this game is better than Hoshi.

That is all.
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Re: Games you're playing: The 2009 edition.
« Reply #1071 on: March 03, 2009, 07:34:41 AM »
Star Ocean: The Last Hope - HP Boost is broken as FUCK.  That is all.

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Re: Games you're playing: The 2009 edition.
« Reply #1072 on: March 03, 2009, 08:25:27 AM »
I was actually agreeing with you Rob, probably should have put that better.  Also meant to say it in a way that was "SO is a Star Trek rip off/homage, it isn't like they approach it like this Niu".  So yeah, definitely agree with you.


Wild ARMs XF: Act 3 is completed!

Now for a small opinionated statement:

I can safely say this game is better than Hoshi.

That is all.
Are you sick or something?  I am going to assume the essay was posted in chat instead.
NO MORE POKEMON - Meeplelard.
The king perfect of the DL is and always will be Excal. - Superaielman
Don't worry, just jam it in anyway. - SirAlex
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Re: Games you're playing: The 2009 edition.
« Reply #1073 on: March 03, 2009, 10:19:58 AM »
It wasn't, actually.

But he hasn't completed the game yet, so.

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Re: Games you're playing: The 2009 edition.
« Reply #1074 on: March 03, 2009, 11:31:54 AM »
And?
NO MORE POKEMON - Meeplelard.
The king perfect of the DL is and always will be Excal. - Superaielman
Don't worry, just jam it in anyway. - SirAlex
Gravellers are like, G-Unit - Trancey.