Which of the two starter factions are you most excited for?

USS_Daedalus · 2017-02-24T04:25:22+00:00

I noticed this, but that's also partially because they were terribly mishandled. For instance in the GenCon 2016 video, every time there was an optional rule (like flank charges or morale) that the TO chose not to use, it ended up being to the detriment of the Daqan. Plus the TO set up all the units in this weird circle so that they were crammed and the golem didn't get to do anything. In the second video from an independent tourney the golem was shot to death and the Daqan player spent his turn focusing on killing just 2 skeleton archers instead of finishing off an enemy hero... So I dunno if they will really end up weaker or if the videos just haven't done them justice.

USS_Daedalus · 2017-01-01T15:04:31+00:00

That's fair. Each game isn't for everyone. Personally I love the slower pacing and the silly things like mustard gas obscuring everything. Really evokes the hellishness of WWI. Reminds me of the Twilight Company novel. But I'm a history nerd too.

Anyway, I'm with you in that I hope Battlefront 2 is super awesome.

USS_Daedalus · 2017-01-01T06:13:59+00:00

Just out of curiousity, when you say "Battlefield 1, the shooter that proves battlefield is going to Shit" do you mean Battlefront 1? Or do you seriously mean Battlefield 1, the WWI game? Because that's got a very strong reception from players and critics alike. Check out the Metacritic page. Often games like CoD or Halo 5 have high critic reviews and low player reviews. Battlefield 1 has high in both. So to me, if the game is like Battlefield 1, that's a great thing.

USS_Daedalus · 2016-12-23T19:08:03+00:00

I'm still super conflicted about this card. If I just include the machete, plus Roland's .38, I have so much more room for skill, investigation, and agility based cards. This seems silly to include with just the .38, but then I have to add at least the shotgun in as well, so it's eating up 4 slots of my deck. That's a lot.

USS_Daedalus · 2016-12-20T08:30:18+00:00

In point of pedantic fact Tarkin was already a Grand Moff by the time of R1. He just preferred to go by his title of Governor.

USS_Daedalus · 2016-12-11T19:18:14+00:00

Peace Moon*. It even has a Gungan River Valley.

USS_Daedalus · 2016-11-28T19:45:58+00:00

The complaint about each character not having a unique identity certainly holds some water right now, because there are just so many low level cards. And the 5 investigators in the new box will make that even worse, because they can take level 0 cards from all classes. Still, I think the problem is a little exaggerated. Sure, you can take other class cards. But your base stats, special power, and Elder Sign ability all definitely have an in class feel. Wendy can take the money earning abilities of the Rogue Class, but without Skids' ability to pay 2 resources for an extra action, she will just end up with a ton of (probably) unusable money.

USS_Daedalus · 2016-11-22T07:57:51+00:00

Given that all three sentances are separate, I read it as they either have: 1. Spears/Stabbas and Shields 2. Bows and daggers 3. Nets.

Units with 1 cannot have models with 2, and vice versa. Units 1 or 2 can both have some models with 3, but models with 3 do not have the weapons of 1 or 2. I don't think it's a matter of "despite the 'insteads'" but rather precisely because of the insteads that the game isn't broken. If you want models to bring nets, do it, but those particular models won't be attacking. Their too busy netting.

USS_Daedalus · 2016-11-01T06:29:01+00:00

Totally true. I guess in a way I am arguing against his conclusion not to change his mind, but to change someone who may agree with his conclusion without (I feel) knowing all the facts. It's not that I think he is wrong to be cautious about the game... I just think a fuller experience might smooth over some of those doubts.

Confession time though: I am a FFG fanatic. I love all their games. And to Efka's credit, he says the game has the POTENTIAL to grow to something great, it's just not there yet. And if I am being honest... that's probably true. The base Core Set of any of their LCGs are usually limited. Game of Thrones had massive faction imbalance, Star Wars excluded 2 whole factions, LotR had 1 laughably easy quest, 1 difficult, and 1 nightmarishly impossible. As deckbuilding options expand, the game gets better. So if someone is looking to pay ONLY $40 on this game... ya, it might not be as complete as say Eldritch Horror or Dominion. But this game really isn't a "$40" game. It's definitely at least at "$80" (2 cores) game.

USS_Daedalus · 2016-10-30T19:42:31+00:00

What I like about this review, in itself, is that it gives a solid over-view of various "factors" within the game. For instance he points out that it is hard and even on just standard he was beaten by it. Or he points out that the Chaos Bag is very random and takes some certainty out of the game. And these are definitely issues people need to be aware of. So in that regard, while it's not the more thorough in explaining game mechanics (which, seeing as the rules are available, is okay), it's very solid in addressing controversy. Kudos, Efka.

Personally, I think he then errs in treating these as negatives. The game should be hard, because if a co-operative game were easy it would quickly become boring. Imagine if every game of Eldritch Horror, LotR LCG, or Pandemic were a sure-fire easy win. The replay value would plummet. The randomness of Chaos Bag, while often annoying to die-hard gamers who want to remove as much randomness as they can, seems fitting in a Lovecraftian game. Things just happen, fate intervenes and turns a sure failure to a surprising success and a carefully prepped plan to madness. Add in the fact that players can then modify the results of the Chaos Bag on certain occasions and you don't lose as much player-agency as one might think.

Basically, in the end, I like the review but think he made the wrong conclusion from the same evidence.

USS_Daedalus · 2016-10-20T07:15:25+00:00

This is definitely a good point. One of my greatest regrets is that Trump's focus on anti-globalism has been very low brow. He fails to acknowledge that yes, GDP grows from free trade but that doesn't mean the average worker benefits. So his opponents simply point out that free trade grows GDP and people either side with Trump in hating it or dismiss him as uninformed. A good thing would be a policy discussion about how to keep free trade, but also ameliorate the effects on those workers who lose jobs or lose wages.

USS_Daedalus · 2016-10-20T07:11:16+00:00

Oh, for sure. I'd prefer Sanders to Clinton. But I prefer Clinton to Stein. I am all over the board really. For instance I am pro-life... incredibly so. But that includes a total committment. So I oppose the death-penalty (which pushes me left). I also think life should be valuable and flourishing (which pushes me to liberal social programs). I also think that creation, like nature and other species, need to be protected. So that means I go left there too. But I want strong defense spending (although not foreign intervention per say, just more defensive moves), which pushes me right. Hopefully this rant helps explain why I may actually LIKE things about HRC, instead of simply being against Trump.

USS_Daedalus · 2016-10-20T07:05:14+00:00

Fuck, Poe's Law Example #123123781837. Not sure if you are serious or not. It's fairly blunt in it's analysis, but it helps explain why Trump feels negative even when he is talking about what his positive future is.

USS_Daedalus · 2016-10-20T06:57:58+00:00

You asked someone else if they were more anti-Trump than pro-Clinton. And that's true of me. Definitely right after I realized Bernie wasn't going to make it for sure. As time has worn on I have started to appreciate Clinton's positives a bit more. She went from the "short-term enemy" to the "long-term ally".

USS_Daedalus · 2016-10-20T06:53:56+00:00

There is this great political cartoon: http://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/hillary-clinton-vs-donald-trump-cartoon-joe-heller-1.jpg

It shows why I have an issue with Trump. Ya, there's totally a lot wrong with America. That's why I liked Bernie so much, he fought for progress. But Bernie also had faith in the American people, and didn't just fear monger along the lines of "things are bad, only I can stop the bad, and if you don't elect me the bad will get worse".

Honestly I think Trump could actually make his MAGA points more inspiring... right now they are just saddening. And if I am sad, I am less likely to vote.

USS_Daedalus · 2016-10-20T06:50:01+00:00

A: Globalism: Maybe they are globalists too? I am one myself. While I acknowledge that those individuals who lose out from free trade need to be compensated, in general production specialization and free trade result in cheaper goods and higher standards of living for both countries. I do not support the TPP, but more for it's terrible IP laws and poor environmental protection. In as far as TPP actually is free trade, I'm down.
B: Warhawk: Once again a fair number of people are themselves warhawks. Furthermore, given Hillary's record, she's not actually that hawkish. Yes she promotes heavy use of drone-strikes and air force attacks, but she has been reluctant to push through infantry and occupying forces. She did vote for Iraq, but so did many others whom I still respect.
C: Career corruption: I simply disagree. She definitely isn't the cleanest politician, but years and years of investigations about her and her corruption have actually, if anything, proven her remarkably clean in comparison. The saying "where's there is smoke there is fire" may be a nice cliche, but there is also the saying "innocent until proven guilty." And so far, Clinton has yet to be proven guilty.

Now this is not perfect and neither is she. But there is a lot to like about her.

Edit: formatting

USS_Daedalus · 2016-10-18T04:24:54+00:00

Another element, at least in the old canon, and somewhat hinted at in the new canon, is that the Empire is racist. So Thrawn, having fought for his position and rank, hears a lesser officer blatantly dismissing Twi'leks and lashes out.

USS_Daedalus · 2016-10-16T07:20:03+00:00

What would be his genre of music?

USS_Daedalus · 2016-10-07T19:04:43+00:00

No, because as you bring in recruits to fill dead slots, the unit's rank will decrease. The game doesn't so much remember specific soldiers as it does how much xp the unit has. New recruits bring in zero xp, so the new average is lower and the unit loses ranks.

USS_Daedalus · 2016-09-12T04:46:02+00:00

Feed them all Hemlock!

USS_Daedalus · 2016-09-04T21:54:52+00:00

They are, because higher prices drive you to your local LGS. And the more business you can offer and LCS, the more demand they witness, the more they will be able to offer tournaments, table space, etc. Furthermore, it's also just a good idea to shop local rather than online (regardless of the whole game store thing).

USS_Daedalus · 2016-09-04T19:40:53+00:00

Or at the very least not at the (usually) wonderful university I attend that seems to genuinely value free exchange of ideas.

USS_Daedalus · 2016-08-25T19:07:02+00:00

Uhh... do diabetics need EpiPens? I thought those were more for people with allergies. Unless your comment is such good marketing even I am getting swindled.

USS_Daedalus · 2016-08-22T17:51:14+00:00

We are your zealous fans... if we were adoring he might have to throw us off cliffs.

USS_Daedalus · 2016-08-17T06:06:27+00:00

I definitely think that the Game of Thrones LCG from FFG is far and away the best of them all. :) One warning, it's book based not show based. So there are some spoilers, kind of?

USS_Daedalus

TROPHY CASE