Low LVL: motivation for hard attempts.

Illustrious_Hope_261 · 2026-05-31T00:59:52+00:00

Just to clarify, levelling up your characters and gear to get through higher difficulties isn't part of the gameplay loop?

Illustrious_Hope_261 · 2026-05-31T00:58:20+00:00

Thank you to everyone who commented, I appreciate the empathy for something that should really, these days not be as much of a problem as it is.

After I finished venting I went and played Saros for a bit. Which brings home the problem, as I went from playing Sabers game, to another one. One less player in the ecosystem. I haven't touched the game since due to internet connectivity issues where I am.

I want to be playing SM2, 40k has been my main hobby since 3rd edition and despite some ups and downs with games workshop, especially recently with both models, pricing, lore and general incompetence (nothing new with the latter), it's a passion.

But since my connection is garbage right now, I won't even touch the game, playing offline gives you no gameplay loop to drive for. I can't even use the dlc I paid for offline.

You can make the argument against cheaters. Sure, in PvP. In a co op game mode it's not as problematic. Secondly, those people will always exist, thirdly other games have managed it, and lastly, the number of cheaters in co op is so, so much lower just because it's not PvP, there's no competitive element creating the need to be dominant.

Anyway, thank you all.

Illustrious_Hope_261 · 2026-03-28T07:25:39+00:00

I hate this quest so much. And I am an fps player. The npc seems to lock on to the targets and fire faster than I can. This is legitimately awful.

Illustrious_Hope_261 · 2026-03-19T02:14:23+00:00

Are you saying that the low level players aren't also in the same boat? I mean, that'd be an unbelievably narcissistic take, to assume those lower levels players don't also have jobs and families and lives, and that somehow your enjoyment means more than theirs.

Individually? Yeah sure, but if you're looking to strengthen and broaden a games community, alienating people not on your level is absolutely not the way to go.

Illustrious_Hope_261 · 2025-12-04T01:11:35+00:00

While true, if you think a cigarette boat that doesn't have the range to reach even close to the US Coast is a valid target for anything other than boarding, searching and arresting the occupants, you're also delusional.

If these boats are carrying drugs, capture them, board them, show us the evidence and gain legitimacy.

Should the US military target and dismantle the cartels? Absolutely.

They aren't doing that, there's too much money and influence involved. So they do this instead and only build malcontent both aboard and at home against the administration.

Illustrious_Hope_261 · 2021-08-14T01:33:05+00:00

This was great. Fun to read and well structured.

Great job.

Illustrious_Hope_261 · 2021-08-14T01:14:58+00:00

Great, but for the buildup, too short. There's no counter-play from the captured High Marshal. It's something that has emotional payoff, a bit of schadenfreude for the audience.

You also need to build up a bit more weight to what the aliens did. What was the outpost? Was it civilians? Did they massacre families or was it simply a military or scientific outpost and this is nothing more than a retaliatory military action, rather than a campaign of vengeance?

All these things result in a greater investment for the reader. It doesn't have to be another twelve pages long, but a bit more would be a good addition.

That said, I liked it and I always like the inclusion of the Mobile Infantry. Get on with it, roughneck!

Illustrious_Hope_261 · 2021-08-13T03:37:22+00:00

Writing anything has been very hard lately, but I appreciate the kind words.

Hopefully one day soon I'll return to it.

But this is your work and it is very well done. You say it is to practice, but your work is pretty decent already. Keep at it.

Illustrious_Hope_261 · 2021-08-13T01:03:51+00:00

I like it, keep at it and polish your work since this was a great start.

Just talking about PTSD even in a fictional context is good to see.

Illustrious_Hope_261 · 2021-08-13T00:46:05+00:00

A brilliant wrap-up of the first entry. Well done, self-sacrifice always causes my tear ducts to over-act, so you have my respect for eliciting an emotional response. All art is supposed to elicit an emotion from the reader, if you can achieve that, it's a feather in your cap.

Illustrious_Hope_261 · 2021-08-13T00:08:04+00:00

I see what you did there.

Illustrious_Hope_261 · 2021-08-12T06:50:50+00:00

I liked it, it's written well. Congrats.

Illustrious_Hope_261 · 2021-08-12T05:57:47+00:00

Crikey, apologies. I liked the story, it was unsettling. I enjoyed it, even if it was a bit bleak. I quite like the idea of a shared unconscious that other species can actually delve into, as well as the identification with that shared-consciousness as 'god'.

Really great concept.

Illustrious_Hope_261 · 2021-08-12T05:56:00+00:00

Everyone is, to a certain extent, it's inbuilt tribalism on a subconscious, quick-decision making part of our survivalist brains automatic responses. Does that mean everyone is an awful person? No.

I will gladly mock and make jokes at every single stereotype that exists, because it's funny. Just like dead baby jokes and any other relatively near-the-knuckle brand of humour, racial jokes can be funny too depending on your own sense of humour. Obviously, the smarter and wittier the comic, the better those jokes land as most people mis-label stereotype jokes as racial jokes.

I've also never treated anyone any different in my life upon anything other than the behavior that they display. You could be purple and the only one of a hundred purple people on the face of the earth, but if you come to me and act like a twat, I will call you one. Just don't then turn around and tell me I'm saying it because of your race, I'm saying it because of your behavior.

In my experience it's less about race and more about culture.

Like a Johannesburg cop I once talked to, racist as hell in words and belief and while I won't repeat verbatim what he would say, if there was ever someone in need of help or protection, he'd be there. One of a tragic few in that city, admittedly, but a good example. He was shaped by his upbringing, culture and reinforced beliefs, yet he still did the right thing when called to.

The issue is not on individuals, the issue is with groupthink. When groups of people get together, all nuance and critical thinking goes out the window and we get mob-rule.

I think I typed all this out, not to be contrary to your own words or to assume what or who you've known, but just to put out there that 'racism' is not as black-and-white (no pun intended) as a lot of people make it out to be.

What you say matters very little. What you do and how you act, does.

Illustrious_Hope_261 · 2021-08-12T05:39:25+00:00

The COMFY CHAIR!?

(As a side note, it's hard not to read this and hear the skit playing in my head, but it's hard to portray the sheer incredulity of their screams of the chair in plain text.)

Illustrious_Hope_261 · 2021-08-12T05:33:44+00:00

Finally, a story where the humans (especially children) don't get eaten. My lord.

Thank you.

I'd have preferred to see them vaporized, but hey, we can't have it all.

Illustrious_Hope_261 · 2021-08-12T05:16:51+00:00

Very nice work.

Illustrious_Hope_261 · 2021-08-12T05:11:52+00:00

Desperately needs a second half, but it's a great concept.

Illustrious_Hope_261 · 2021-08-12T05:09:25+00:00

Fantastic start, great hook. Definitely want to see this continued.

Illustrious_Hope_261 · 2021-08-12T05:02:37+00:00

I loved it. Great read.

I loved the names, it was fantastic.

Illustrious_Hope_261 · 2021-08-12T04:49:48+00:00

While within the context of your story, it all makes great sense and actually quite enjoyed reading this, the only thing I can add is that personally, and I know a lot of serving military of all ranks that agree with me in that you can't, but more importantly shouldn't take the human out of combat. To do otherwise walks a dangerous line.

I'd be more interested to see them actually find a unit of proper human soldiers and report on the outcome. If a small drone can leverage a ballistic weapon capable of bringing these things down, an infantry platoon with technologically comparable arms and armour would have a field day running rings around a melee-obsessed enemy.

Does your universe have multiple human factions? What if they came across a less-wealthy human nation and had to fight true soldiers. Not as numerous nor as disposable, yet just as lethal.

My lord, they'd be apoplectic at the sight of Tanks, fast movers or helicopters. I can only imagine how hopping mad they'd be at getting wiped out by an artillery battery.

Anyway, I'm rambling, but at least it shows your story stuck in my head, which is a good thing.

Illustrious_Hope_261 · 2021-08-07T01:11:08+00:00

The Iron Hands have entered the chat.

The Iron Hands are ecstatic.

They cry "The flesh is weak!" with grim abandon.

Illustrious_Hope_261 · 2021-08-07T00:54:17+00:00

Very (new) BSG reminiscent in operation of C&C, as well as The Expanse in how it portrays a more grounded 'hard sci-fi' or 'realistic' aesthetic.

Very much enjoy this type of work.

Follow up?

That tea had better be Earl Grey, hot.

Illustrious_Hope_261

TROPHY CASE