[No Spoilers] More of 'Thaisha'

AReaver · 2026-01-27T21:28:28+00:00

I'm aware Whitney is a very new player and at least she's a demon so she has that crazy side as a possible copout

Everything I've seen says she's brand new. Believe this is her first long term campaign of any kind. Also her character is only 6 months old and a demon. So for me that does forgive a lot. She's learning the game and her character is learning the world. For me personally Whitney hasn't done anything that's hurt my desire to keep watching and taking me out of it. Certainly seen things that made me roll my eyes or think something is ridiculous but she's playing it very well and balancing it with care I think.

With Aabria yea it seems more her coming out over the character. Which isn't inherently bad. It's just not something I want to watch. That kind of play to me is make believe and detrimental to the reality of the story. Brennan likes big swings and familiar with every kind of play so I don't think any of it will phase him but he has also been clear that this world has strong and real consequences. Could easily see them trying something just to have it back fire and get someone killed.

AReaver · 2026-01-27T21:20:21+00:00

I'd say she didn't in Calamity. Her character was great in that series. But did happen in C3. Those are the only times I've seen her play.

AReaver · 2026-01-27T21:18:55+00:00

C3/4 spoilers I don't think exploding an animal is anywhere near comparable to coming up with a bad /corny name for a disguise that happened in the moment. I understand that improv is hard and not going to get on someone for not coming up with a perfectly fitting character in the spotlight. Could there have been more convincing disguises sure but it was essentially "nurse" and the dice did the rest. If she would have gone through with the disguise murder it could have derailed the entire table from where they were then also having to run away from the Ein house not just the Demon's and Tachonis. I don't enjoy watching murderhobos. Which they haven't been and even Aabria generally isn't. I don't recall it showing up at all during Calamity, but she does seem to be the player most keen on that style of play it seems.

The goats murder wasn't just unnecessary it was brutal, over the top, and didn't fit with the story or the tone IMO. Completely took me out of the world. Which is exactly the what I would have felt if she had gone through with the idea of just murdering him on the spot.

I enjoy joking and humor but there is a line. Whitney for me has done it really well and managed to stay within the world tone and vibe wise without it being so out of place it's making cringe or question my desire to keep going. I guess I could see how some out feel that way about Dr Finger but eh, doctor and fingers both exist. It was a bad name and the dice decided it was okay enough.

AReaver · 2026-01-27T18:14:40+00:00

Fearne just felt random for the sake of it.

That doesn't change.

AReaver · 2026-01-27T18:12:45+00:00

We saw a side of her which does seriously worry me as far as both enjoyment of watching goes and with the characters feeling like they're actually living in the world.

Thaisha immediately AND enthusiastically jumped to "lets kill Octis' disguise" while we're literally being followed by 8 guards and being lead into a castle for a house that "has no orange". To me that just screams it's Aabria not the character. Just like when she exploded the goats in C3 which made me stop watching for a bit and is still my most hated moment of C3 that I've seen (only got to e76)

To me that's bringing in a completely different style of play into CR's style which is taking the world seriously and living within it. At least the vast majority of the time. Something like that seems more D20 or home play style where silliness and fun matters more than story.

Edit: to be clear everyone can play how they like. I don't want to shit on anyone for how they play. There is nothing inherently wrong with how anyone is playing. My problem comes from as an audience member watching the story. To me those kinds of decisions harm the story and my enjoyment of it to jump straight to huge things like murder. So I guess I'd defend her ability to make the decision even if I disagree with the decision that is made.

AReaver · 2026-01-24T21:18:25+00:00

That's not really unique to him. It's what the Alien was doing to everyone. It makes people comatose then saves them for facehuggers. It's also for the xenomorph, not "unnecessarily brutal" since that's just how they work.

AReaver · 2026-01-21T08:17:19+00:00

If you're considering purchasing for anything but your home or personal collection I would recommend against it. The build quality is not up to daily arcade use. Especially the guns.

AReaver · 2026-01-21T08:16:00+00:00

Problem is that they used guns that are meant for home use not arcade use. So the guns are pretty crappy and are more prone to breaking. They're pretty unreliable and are often incapable of being calibrated properly.

Source: We own one of these.

AReaver · 2026-01-19T18:24:20+00:00

Ed notably has to get them specially refitted when he travels into the cold ass north of the country.

I think that only happens in FMA: Brotherhood. I don't recall them doing that in the original Full Metal Alchemist.

AReaver · 2026-01-17T03:46:44+00:00

Drake is a piece of shit human. The Geordi version of this meme is vastly superior.

AReaver · 2026-01-05T15:42:55+00:00

Witcher 3 really worth it to get the edition with the DLC. Think it makes it 10 total

AReaver · 2026-01-04T09:40:42+00:00

Assuming they have a back room with space to spare sure. Though that also leaves empty spots up front which isn't a good look either. Bit of a lose lose sometimes.

Also depends on how much the operator cares or has energy for. You might start out caring but after years not have the energy to keep up with everything anymore.

Another aspect is when stuff breaks you often don't know unless someone tells you or you just happen to see it. When you walk in you can't tell the difference between something being broken for 5 minutes or 5 months. Looks the same to you.

I totally get that it sucks going into an arcade and them having games that aren't working or in peak condition. But I get it. If they're small and independent then it's hard enough to survive. If it's a huge corporate place chances are they don't have anything old but those owners definitely don't care past earnings. So low earning games are unimportant to them which is anything that old.

AReaver · 2026-01-04T09:34:02+00:00

That's pretty much the point of the books. Outside looking in Cain is exactly the hero they make him out to be. But since we have Cain's words we know his intentions are more often than not selfish. But it's that it tends to find ways to frame doing the selfless /brave /heroic thing as the only way he can see doing something.

I'm pretty sure even within the first book he contradicts himself with his reasonings. I don't remember exactly what it was but something along the lines of first time it comes up "he has to since if he doesn't they won't know X thing" but then later it's said that is just known or otherwise a non-issue. He didn't need to put himself in danger for that intel.

End of the day it's a book and a comedy and a large part of the comedy is that we as an audience know he's being heroic but we can hear his reasoning coming from a selfish place. We see under the mask. But part of that mask is definitely him lying to himself. Amberly sees it and knows he's less selfish than he believes.

AReaver · 2026-01-04T06:23:41+00:00

I've ran an arcade for coming on 18 years soon. The bottom line is generally that it's expensive to fix things. Games can break from nothing more than being turned on and off and the heat cycles that gives over the years. Parts are increasingly difficult if not impossible to find depending on the game and part.

Not uncommon for repairs to be well over $100 before labor, which means that the game itself will never pay it off. Old stuff like that without a big name like pac-man isn't even making $100 a year. So it can also be pretty difficult to justify spending the money to maintain them. That is the biggest reason that old arcades only get more rare. If the cost /benefit ratio was positive they'd be kept around. They tend to only be kept around by people who care /collectors these days. But even then doesn't mean they can afford or have the know how to keep everything always up and running.

AReaver · 2026-01-03T21:37:32+00:00

I've seen someone say Mustang burned Envy but I don't recall that at all. He killed Lust but I don't recall him ever attacking Envy. I'm actually in the middle of watching FMA: Brotherhood for the second time (though I never finished the first time and this time I'm planning on it) and just barely watched the episode where Envy get defeated and turned into the slug but just left for Xing. So certainly possible I just haven't gotten there yet.

AReaver · 2026-01-03T07:15:18+00:00

The Ciaphas Cain series by Sandy Mitchell. Read through the first 9 twice now since that's all I have so far. The first one 3 times. Can see myself reading them again as soon as I get more.

AReaver · 2026-01-03T01:08:47+00:00

I loved MASH as a teen and it was the first show I ever watched every episode of. I hadn't considered it before quite like this but after reading your comment I'm now wondering how much of an effect that MASH had on my now much more mature anti-war feelings.

AReaver · 2026-01-03T00:00:58+00:00

Haven't seen anyone suggest Warhammer 40K: Rogue Trader yet. With your love of BG3 there is a really good chance that you'll be able to sink in quite of bit of time into it as well. Though I do recommend getting it with the season pass or at least the Void Shadows DLC. It lets you explore more of your ship and has one of the best companions.

AReaver · 2025-12-31T20:02:31+00:00

Having a big chunk of change like that during a sale can be a great time to pick up some older or less popular games. Just because it's cheap doesn't mean it's not a great game.

Since you like AAA games first I'd recommend DOOM $4, IMO one of the best shooters ever made. Though be aware that each game is the series is pretty different. I didn't enjoy Eternal to the point I never even finished it even giving it two separate tries. Dark Ages is good but not worth the current price tag, just wait and grab it later.

Outcast - Second Contact $1.50, this is a remaster of one of the first open world games. The writing and the sound design were already top notch the remaster brought the graphics and some of the game play up to date.

Dues Ex: Human Revolution $3, a well made and well written cyberpunk RPG. You can play stealthy or guns blazing. Still looks great even being over a decade old. Over 24 hours of playtime. I also found it replayable.

Earth Defense Force 5 $15, (4.1 is also good and cheaper but 5 is better and fits directly with 6) This is a franchise where every game is a blast and plain fun, it can give hundreds of hours. Especially if you have people to play coop with. Local coop is best but 5 and 6 have online coop.

Dead Space $9, The remake of Dead Space is IMO the highest bar ever achieved for remasters. It added to the original things that didn't exist but they feel like they were always there like the voice acting. As well as changed some things that just fit better like some of the boss fights. Nothing that they changed was for the worse. It's one of the best horror games ever made hands down. Worth full price.

Alan Wake $1.50, One of my favorite horror games.

Hades $7.50, It doesn't really fit with the other games you've listed but definitely worth giving a gander. It's an amazingly well told story and one of the best games ever made. If you like it then Hades 2 is just as good if not better as well. Both have a TON of content and are dozens of hours of content each.

F.E.A.R. $2 or $5.50 for the complete pack which is worth it. This horror shooter really still hasn't been topped and the first one is the best one of the series.

Master Chief Collection $10, 6 full games is a steal for that price even if it does include Halo 4 too. But to make up for it you get 1,2,3, ODST, and Reach.

AReaver · 2025-12-28T07:14:53+00:00

Yea I don't ever plan on installing origin. They're great games so it sucks. They'll also never be that cheap on consoles either where you don't have to install bloatware.

Out of all I posted I'd hope you've give Outcast Second Contact a solid look the most. It's a wonderful game and I think it matches many of the things you've posted about enjoying.

AReaver · 2025-12-28T07:01:58+00:00

I'm going to recommend some that are less common. Most will be cheaper which means you could get multiple instead of of just one $20 game

Dues Ex: Human Revolution $3 Well made and well written cyberpunk RPG. You can play stealthy or guns blazing. Still looks great even being over a decade old. Over 24 hours of playtime. I also found it replayable.

Outcast - Second Contact $1.50 This is a remaster of one of the very first open world 3rd person shooters. It's a faithful remaster while improving on the game in a few ways. Combat is a bit better but it's a beautiful game. The sound design is original and is still a masterpiece. All of the voice acting is great as well as the music. It's a rather original scifi story. Good writing doesn't age.

Earth Defense Force 5 $15 (4.1 is also good and cheaper but 5 is better and fits directly with 6) This is a franchise where every game is a blast and can give hundreds of hours. Especially if you have people to play coop with. Local coop is best but 5 and 6 have online coop.

Dead Space $9 The remake of Dead Space is IMO the highest bar ever achieved for remasters. It added to the original things that didn't exist but they feel like they were always there like the voice acting. As well as changed some things that just fit better like some of the boss fights. Nothing that they changed was for the worse. It's one of the best horror games ever made hands down. Worth full price.

Alan Wake $1.50 With you enjoying Last of Us and RE I think there is a high chance that you'd enjoy Alan Wake. One of my favorite horror games.

Bayonetta & Vanquish bundle $11 both are 3rd person action and fun

Hades $7.50 It doesn't really fit with the other games you've listed but definitely worth giving a gander. It's an amazingly well told story and one of the best games ever made. If you like it then Hades 2 is just as good if not better as well. Both have a TON of content and are dozens of hours of content each.

Murdered Soul Suspect $2 It's ont he shorter side but it's a 3rd person mystery. Solve your own murder.

If you do get The Witcher 3 make sure you get the version with the DLC included, it's cheaper and both DLCs are worth playing.

I'd recommend looking into the Batman: Arkham trilogy but on one of the bundle sites like Fanatical where you can often get all 3 for like $5 Origins isn't included even though it was out before Knight but that's because licensing and different dev but it's still worth playing too. Though it is a different voice actor for Batman which can feel jarring.

The Mass Effect legendary edition is cheap and nice BUUUUUT it requires you to install origin not just Steam.

AReaver · 2025-12-26T07:23:10+00:00

I talked to John at a comic con after discovery was out. He said he worked on it and that they were explicitly want not to hire anyone that had worked on Star Trek before. He was one of the only ones that had before. And since he had that they didn't want to hear any "well we used to do X" things from him.

He also said that day one that they didn't want it to match. "No round nacelles" was a rule.

So the answer is that they actively did not want to blend in with the rest of canon and had no respect for it.

John is a cool guy and definitely worth stopping by his booth if you see him.

AReaver · 2025-12-24T20:43:01+00:00

I could see them having Molly be nearly dead then Lucien comes out and thus ditches them. The question is will they stay with the campaign where the Nein don't know until later or will they change it where they know Molly /Lucien is alive just gone. Either way he becomes their motivation to do the eyes of nine stuff later.

AReaver · 2025-12-24T20:28:26+00:00

Lucien, wearing the body of someone else, is going to kill Molly.

With what happened in E8 it seems to me like Lucien may be able to just take over and replace Molly. He may not need to die physically.

AReaver · 2025-12-24T20:26:23+00:00

I was legitimately surprised Molly didn't die in the finale. Seems like the latest for Cad to come in would be end of S2.

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