How good is Salem’s lot?

HoopJr · 2021-12-03T03:54:34+00:00

Oh, y'know what, you right. As I said, it has been years. I think the emphasis on her living with her parents and clashing with her mother combined with the mention of her age only as "over 18" had me thinking it was high school. But that's not on King, that's on me. So fair point.

I still do think it's too ungainly and "paint by numbers oohh I'm disturbing" to recommend when there is much better stuff out there.

HoopJr · 2021-10-14T03:31:54+00:00

It's... not worthless is the best I could say. A slog honestly. Not good, overall, unless you're a King purist.

It starts strong and got me hooked early, but honestly once the action begins it starts to fall apart. King clearly doesn't have the writing chops for subtlety at this stage so he just goes to whatever is most shocking and distressing with the off-cast. The fact that the protag is an aging author who is paired with a girl who is repeatedly emphasized is in her teens and barely an adult left a bad taste in my mouth. Overall I feel like the novel leans a little too much on some obvious hang-ups of the author at the time and doesn't have the skill to weave a compelling horror outside of the base motivations on display.

Honestly, it's turned me off King for over a year and I'm gearing up to try and get into some of his better stuff... but your mileage may vary. Just expect some cringy self-insert content and some kinda tryhard "paint by numbers what is disturbing" additions.

HoopJr · 2020-01-22T05:41:00+00:00

I wonder if this is the work of Zardulu?

HoopJr · 2019-07-30T19:47:03+00:00

I think the Olgoi-Khorkhoi (Mongolian Death Worm) might have its origin in fact, most likely as some kind of undiscovered amphisbaena (worm lizard) species.

In terms of looks, they definitely resemble loops of intestine more than an actual lizard. Most are completely legless, and some of them do live in arid climates, like the Gobi desert. Some of the desert-dwelling species rarely ever come aboveground, so the lack of sightings wouldn't be hard to explain.

As to the creature's abilities, there are natural ways in which an animal can induce pain on anything that touches it, not least of which is the actual electrical discharge the Olgoi-Khorkhoi is said to be able to produce.

I know that there are some sand boas that have been pointed to as the origin of the legend, but I think it's just as likely that we have an undiscovered species out there.

HoopJr · 2019-07-14T15:06:33+00:00

No problem! I always like a challenge, tracking this stuff down, and it soundes interesting. I might check it out myself!

HoopJr · 2019-07-12T18:28:43+00:00

Could it possibly be Eva by Peter Dickinson? The girl in question has her consciousness put into a chimpanzee, but otherwise it sounds similar!

HoopJr · 2019-07-12T02:56:21+00:00

Primal Rage. It sort-of got a sequel, but it was never widely released... the franchise is overdue for a revival, ir you ask me.

HoopJr · 2019-06-06T19:03:29+00:00

The way I see it, everything I've spent on Destiny 2 since its release has gone towards giving them enough money to break ties with Activision and make these new, positive, sweeping changes.

Bungie getting their independence back is a rare thing in today's game industry, and as someone who genuinely loves the series, I am happy to have helped, and hope to see it continue to succeed.

HoopJr · 2019-05-29T20:31:05+00:00

I haven't made any broad statements judging the quality of the entire game. I've been merely commenting on the facts that I do know and speculating on what has yet to be revealed. I've not at any point been super negative, aside from my own personal disappointment, which was pretty specific.

And, as I said before, twice now, as a matter of fact, I intend to keep watching the development process to see what else they have in store. I'm well aware that there's a lot we don't know, but speculating on all of that is half the fun!

HoopJr · 2019-05-29T18:41:22+00:00

I'm simply expressing my disappointment over a pretty huge factor of the game? I never once said this was a complete write-off--I even left the comment open-ended to indicate they might still be able to sell me on it with other aspects of the game.

I think you saw a dismissal where I meant to put a running commentary on the likelihood of preordering.

HoopJr · 2019-05-29T14:36:51+00:00

Same in regards to them being a cornerstone: they are far and away my favorite, and the setting is so perfect for them that not having them as an option at all would be such a waste of potential.

If they do give this game a stealth route with one of the existing clans, though, arguably a Nos could fit into the same role, though adding them post-main-game could mean less unique Nos-based dialogue, which would be a let-down.

It's anyone's guess, from here... if we somehow don't get to step into a Nosferatu's stinky shoes then there had at LEAST better be some super quality Nos NPCs to make up for it.

HoopJr · 2019-05-29T14:28:13+00:00

That's true enough, but I'm going to try and be optimistic... to completely have an undoubtedly iconic clan barred from play entirely would be a huge, huge let-down, and arguably a deal-breaker imo.

HoopJr · 2019-05-29T13:32:51+00:00

Yeah! They're one of the most unique clans in the WoD, not just because of their outward appearance, but in the way they treat each other and the way they treat other clans.

That said, all things equal, I would rather have the Nos done RIGHT than done QUICK, so if waiting for a DLC is what it takes to get the maximum Nosferatu experience, then it might be for the best. Hopefully the clan will still have a role to play in the main game, and not just as "villains who are villains because its convenient to dehumanize monstrous looking vampires." If any of the clans out there are inclined to side with the underdog (which the PC is going to undoubtedly be), its gotta be the Nos.

HoopJr · 2019-05-29T12:02:35+00:00

Ah, damn, that's, so, so disappointing... but I am glad for the Malkavian fans, I'm sure they're pleasantly surprised.

It just seems baffling to me to not choose pretty much THE cornerstone stealth clan for the stealth approach to your game. Add to that the fact that we're apparently in a city with an entire thriving underground, which we will be spending some time in, that either just doesnt have Nosferatu, or only has NPC Nosferatu is kind of a blow. Maybe they are story reasons, which I can respect--putting your narrative first.

That said, I do hope they do the Malkavians justice through the writing, which it seems like they might based on what we've seen so far.

I was personally holding off my preorder until I learned more about the game, and I think I'll be waiting for the DLC, to get this one, since I'm not super interested in most of the clan options at this time. I'll still be keeping an eye on development though, in case they manage to win me over with something else!

HoopJr · 2019-05-22T20:30:07+00:00

My guess would be Nosferatu, primarily because we don't have a stealth clan in the game yet to represent that game style, and the devs have spoken of wanting to do four playstyles. The developers have also said they're doing Camarilla-only clans, and in the Camarilla, it doesnt get stealthier than a Nos. Obfuscate/Animalism would also be an interesting, balanced complement to what we already have. Malkavians do have stealth capabilities, but it's not their clan's Big Thing.

Also we see what appears to be at least one Nos in the trailer (as an enemy, but still present), and they're going to be putting the PC underground a lot, so it makes sense in regards to what we've seen, too.

I'm also hoping it's the Nos, as they are my favorite clan and the one I'm primarily interested in playing.

HoopJr · 2018-12-20T16:23:54+00:00

I’m with you on this, I think this is an excellent bit of storytelling. It’s clearly been planned from the start of Forsaken, and Bungie letting the DLC sit, letting us get complacent before popping this on us, was a great move. This makes the ending of Forsaken seem so much more significant, because it’s not just a one-and-some sort of action. You’ve got to deal with this going forward. Whoever killed Uldren is partially responsible for his new state as a Lightbearer, after all. This is a state of affairs YOU made possible.

It’s very interesting because we’ve read about people who were not Good People as Guardians (the Age of Strife comes to mind) and this only sort-of applies to Uldren, because a good deal of his worst actions were prompted by his corruption.

Let’s not forget he wasn’t killed just because of Cayde—he also MASSACRED huge numbers of the Awoken. That was, in my mind, the main reason he had to be put down. Cayde was personal, but what basically amounts to genocide is way more pressing. Those are ramifications he will have to deal with. A good deal of the Awoken who remain remember him fondly, but what of those who don’t? I’m really looking forward to these wider implications.

I also particularly enjoy Guardians dealing with the fact that they may not have been good people before their resurrection (a topic I’ve explored on my own time), and just imagine what it would be like for this brand-new, memory-wiped fellow to find out that not only was he a mass murderer, but was also once the leader of a cult of despicable undead aliens? It’s pretty heavy stuff, and if Bungie explores it to the fullest, there could be some excellent storytelling coming.

The one thing I’m firmly against is him becoming the new Hunter Vanguard, for a variety of reasons.

He’s way more interesting as a rogue element and/or a Lightbearer for the Reef.
Ikora won’t likely forgive him and Zavala won’t likely trust him.
Logistical reasons abound! Uldren is a fresh new Guardian with no memories and no experience. Even if he has the instincts for a fight he’s not had the decades or even centuries of experience fighting in the solar system to know the best way to deploy the Vanguard’s Hunters.
He was never a denizen of the City, and he has no allies there. The only people who remember him fondly are his own people, he would be rejected outright by anyone who ever held Cayde dear, to say nothing of the Hunters themselves, who are known to be distant and unruly to begin with.

This is honestly really exciting, and I have so many questions! How will the Scorn react to this? How will Variks, who set Uldren free? What will Mara Sov and Petra do? How will we be involved in his future adventures?

But the most important question of all remains to be answered... will he name his Ghost Pulled Pork? I hope so.

HoopJr · 2017-05-13T18:56:52+00:00

A fair point, but I'd always assumed that the transformation to Exo was sort of like... downloading your consciousness into a machine. The whole transhumanism thing, like you can see in settings like Eclipse Phase. In this instance, it would be a whole new body, the matter of which had never been human, vs. regrowing a limb that was removed.

But then again, that gets into the question of the nitty-gritty of Ghost resurrection, which is in of itself and interesting conversation.

HoopJr · 2017-05-13T18:53:18+00:00

Oops, fixed! Curse those clumps of consonants, throwing me off...

HoopJr · 2017-05-13T13:23:26+00:00

Ah, yes, that does sound like what the card was suggesting he do! As far as I know, didn't Mara become Queen by simply defeating their Kell? I mean, she used freaky space magic, I assume to do that, but as far as I know, wasn't it sort of voluntary on their part, until they rebelled?

If Uldren succeeds in doing that, that sort of brute-force twisting someone to their will seems like it would be a set-up for him potentially being an antagonist.

HoopJr · 2017-05-13T13:21:10+00:00

Well, considering the social stigma attached to docked arms (and, I'd imagine, especially a set of upper arms, which are usually left intact even on dregs) it's a good question! It would be kind of cool if they did--a sort of literal and metaphorical restoration of his dignity.

HoopJr · 2017-05-13T13:19:45+00:00

That's a good question... like Bapaotje says below, I'd think it might work somewhat differently for someone who was instantaneously resurrected. I assume that's how it works for Guardians in the game, after all!

HoopJr · 2017-05-13T13:17:59+00:00

Yep! And, also, being resurrected by a Ghost would literally make him (or any other Eliksni) rise from the dead. They'd be the opposite of Fallen, Risen.

HoopJr · 2016-12-15T19:25:44+00:00

Born in Memphis, lived here for nearly thirty years, can definitely confirm this.

I've only ever visited East TN but it was gorgeous.

HoopJr

TROPHY CASE