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Affilliation
Spectromancer, World of Goo at Greenhouse
Been quite a while since my last post. A lot of stuff ate my time to write posts, but fortunately I was still able to look into a thing or two. One of those is the stuff at Greenhouse.
I’ve been monitoring Greenhouse the past while for updates regarding Penny Arcade’s OtRSPoD:E2 (it’s supposed to come out this week), and in the process I got to try to interesting games: Spectromancer and World of Goo.
Spectromancer is a fantasy themed card game created by Alexey Stankevich (creator of Astral Tournament and Astral Masters), Richard Garfield (don’t tell me you don’t know who HE is!) and Skaff Elias (original MtG playtester, Harry Potter TCG / D&D Minis designer). Gameplay uses parts of basic MtG concepts but has randomized decks (if you can design a deck, I havent figured it out yet), default constant “mana” increase across all mana sources, limited cards per deck, fixed slots for placing summoned creatures, and some positional considerations based on those slots (similar to Monsters’ Den: Book of Dread). Single player campaign is available, as well as multi-player. Gameplay is interesting enough, but I’m just learning the nuances so strategy is just now being revealed to me. Yes, you can make combos, but if there is no way to to custom design your deck, card synergy is a bit of a hit and miss. This game should appeal to MtG/card game fans, and plays quite decently (though I’ve encountered quite a few bugs in the demo), but I can’t recommend it broadly (niche gamepaly)
World of Goo is a physics based puzzle game where you manipulate blobs of goo to create structures that allow you to complete objectives (in the demo, it’s mostly getting from point A to point B). Graphics are slick and well done, and the puzzles are very interesting, though I’m kinda stuck in what could be the last level of the demo (I don’t know where I have to go / build to). You’ll easily figure out how to play on the get go (though perhaps the objectives per level won’t always be obvious. Like I said, I’m stuck), so I can make a rather broad recommendation on this as it should appeal to a lot of people.
I’m currently playing through the demos to determine if I should purchase them or not. Currently, I’m leaning on getting World of Goo, I’m still deciding if the Spectromancer’s gameplay will be appealing enough for me to be worth a purchase.
You can find download links to the demos at the developer’s website of each respective game and of course at Greenhouse.
[edit]
Crap! I looked around for a hint on the last demo level for World of Goo. Either I missed a clue (I checked again, none of the signs seem to clue me in) or it just didn’t occur to me that some of the environ items are actually usable! Demo is officially over. Now it’s time to consider if I enjoyed it enough to be willing to shell out some coppers for the full thing.
Tags: has demo, has downloads, MtG, Penny ArcadeThe Chrome Pendulum
I actually started writing this post on a Nokia E61i while I was at Italiani’s for dinner. Unfortunately, Wordpress 2.6.1 didn’t seem to play well with Opera Mini 4.1, so I lost what I typed.
No biggie, it wasn’t very long. I just wanted to say at runtime that, prior to leaveing the house for a late dinner with my SO, I installed Google Chrome and used it for around 15 minutes, and I was pretty much hooked.
Why? It was slick.
It was so slick that in 15 minutes, I couldn’t get the experience out of my mind. The interface was smooth, and very responsive. Rendering was fast, and mostly accurate (at the time). The UI is slick, smart, and functional at the same time.
Now, I know there are already a bunch of issues, yet this still has not dissuade me from the feeling that Google’s onto something good here.
Those first 15 minutes were like Google hypnotizing me into servitude with a swinging pendulum, and the pendulum was Chrome.
If you’re willing to gamble with the current issues, you can download Google Chrome here.
Tags: has downloadsNomad D&D Log, 2008.08/15
I originally posted these last Wednesday, but my connection must’ve screwed-up and I didn’t have time to to check that the post was a dud.
So, I’m re-posting it now, with some additional stuff.
D&D News
- GSL, SRD, Stealth, New Rituals, and DRAGON Editorials - oh my! - Aside from the announcement on the GSL/SRD, There are a bunch of D&D related stuff going on as well. Jonathan from The Core Mechanic mentions some of these. The one I would like to give special note is…
- Ritually Speaking - This is an article by Peter Schaefer for Dragon Magazine #366. Basically, it’s a downloadable (for now) list of 33 additional 4E rituals. As The Core Mechanic’s Jonathan pointed out, “considering the PHB only contained 49 Rituals, this is a 67% increase in the total number of rituals in the game. So, grab this quick before they make you pay for it.“
D&D Opinion
- Why People Hate Fourth Edition: “I think I’ve worked it out. D&D4 is New Star Wars.” - This is actually a very insightful analogy.
- 4e “In The Trenches” - From the source: “As most of the initial hype vs furor wars have settled down there’s some good “what 4e is” information starting to emerge out there. Ones I’ve found the most helpful are…”
- 0 and 1, or The Problem With RPG Combat - Hmmm, I never considered this that way. His point is a good one to remember regardless of the game you’re trying to design.
- A Noobian Guide to 4th Edition Dungeons & Dragons - A great piece. Given that I’m a noob myself, the perspective reflects my own more closely.
- Playtesting 4th Edition: An Essay by Justin Alexander
Other D&D Related
- Download the New 4e D&D PHB Index! - This is fan made.
- The Value of Dungeons and Dragons - This got me thinking… what IS the value of the stuff I spend money on? I’ll probably try to make a similar valuation on my other hobbies.
RPG Related
- How To Build a World: The Basics - Applies to a lot of disciplines. More importantly, it’s a fun excersise which could help you tap in the creative juices you left in the fridge of your youth.
- Pathfinder RPG Beta PDF Available (Free) - I’m a sucker for free rulesets.
Warcraft III Patch v1.22 Includes Balance Changes
When I tried to play a game of Warcraft 3 on battle.net last night, I ran into a snag when the game started downloading a patch. I was expecting a bunch of bugfixes, but apparently there were some balance as well.
“BALANCE CHANGES” (copied from Blizzard’s Warcraft III Patch v1.22 at Support Site)
HUMAN
- Scout Tower repair rate changed from 12 to 20.
- Knight damage increased: Attack cooldown changed from 1.50 to 1.40 and base damage increased from 25 to 28 (Average damage is 34).UNDEAD
- Increased Ziggurat base armor from 1 to 5.
- Reduced the build time of the Necropolis from 120 to 100.NIGHT ELF
- Reduce the Orb of venom poison duration from 10 seconds to 8 seconds.
- Increase the experience gain from Dryads from Level 2 (40xp) to Level 3 (60 xp).
Looks like Humans got the good side of this patch. Ziggutrats were just plain fragile, specially after Tier 1, so this is a welcome change for the Undead (I wouldn’t mind if they simply tied zig armor with the tech level, but the instant tougher armor might help UD defend against early rushes). Nigh-Elf gets a nerf, and no changes for Orcs. It would seem like the most significant changes would affect towering strategies.
BTW, I guess a new ladder season was launched ‘coz I jumped back to level 1.
Goto the Blizzard’s Warcraft III Patch v1.22 at Support Site for complete info on the patch. You can get the patch automatically by connecting to battle.net or you can download the stand-alone patch at the Support Site (it wasn’t avaliable as of this writing should be avaliable shortly).
— 2008.07/08 update —
The downloadable version of the patch is already avaliable at Blizzard’s Warcraft III Patch v1.22 at Support Site.
Tags: has downloads, WarcraftDungeons & Dragons 4th Edition GSL and SRD Released
WotC has released the Game System License and System Reference Document for D&D 4E. The documents (and any future revisions) can be found (and downloaded) in the Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition Game System License website.
Here’s a “layman’s version” from ENWorld. There’s also an “unofficial GSL FAQ” in ENWorld, but it’s tough to link to (it was post on June19, 2008).
Source: GamingReport.com
Tags: D&D, has downloadsDownload Firefox 3, Set a Guinness World Record!
As I mentioned in a quick comment last week, Firefox 3 is trying to set a Guinness World Record for the most downloaded software in 24 hours. The browser was launched at 1 pm Eastern Time, and the clock is tickin’.
So what are you waiting for?! DOWNLOAD FIREFOX 3 NOW!!!
— edit —
I already installed mine. 
Here are some initial customization tips.
Tags: has downloadsOpera 9.5 Released! Firefox 3 on June 17!
Opera 9.5 has gone live! You can go to their official website and download it now (like what I’m doing as I’m typing this).
Also of great browser importance is the official announcement of Firefox 3’s release date, which is June 17! Spread Firefox is encouraging everyone to download Firefox on release day to help “set a Guinness World Record for the most software downloaded in 24 hours”!
So, what’re ya waitin’ fer?! Download Opera 9.5 now! Afterwards, get ready to set a Guinness World Record on June 17!
In case you’re wondering, yes I use 3 browsers. I use Firefox and Opera most of the time, and only use IE for very stubborn (and unavoidable) websites that only works with the “M$ way” .
Tags: has downloadsDungeons and Dragons 4th Edition Out Last Saturday
Well at least it was Saturday in the Philippines, since 2008.06/06 in the US was a Friday. Although I’ve role-played with some friends as a wee-wee-child, I’ve never really role-played D&D. It’s still of great interest to me as a pillar of RPG design, so any evolution it will take will always be of interest.
Given this, today’s focus is on the recent Dungeons and Dragons 4th Edition related stuff on the internets.
D&D4E News
- D&D 4E Out Early (and unintentionally)
- D&D 4E is out! (Critical Gamers, GamerDad, VelvetDiceBag)
- UK Launch Event
- Massively covers Dungeons and Dragons Online’s Module 7
D&D4E Reviews
- + A GM’s First Impressions of D&D 4e: Looks Like Fun (Gnome Stew)
- - Dungeons & Dragons Player’s Handbook: 4th Edition (RPGnet)
- + New D&D Rolls a 20 for Playability (Wired)
- Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edtion Review (Flames Rising)
- A Balanced Review, Not Everything Is Black And White (Greywulf)
D&D4E Opinion
- Dungeons & Dragons Owns the Future - This was written weeks prior to the 4th Ed release.
- Balance and Rules Convergence in Dungeons and Dragons 4E (RPGDigest)
Items Prior to 4th Ed’s Release
- Unofficial D&D 4th Edition Info Page - This is a compilation of various 4th Ed info/rumors/speculation prior to the release.
- + AICN World Exclusive: Massawyrm Has Played Dungeons And Dragons 4th Edition!! (part1, part2) - This was written last Feb. Apparently, Massawyrm was a playtester. It would be interesting to compare this to the post 4th Ed release reviews.
D&D4E Local Scene
— update —
Goto Dragon Avenue for downloadable character sheets, a combat cheat-sheet, and power cards.
For those who miss some of the old character classes, here’s a fan created 4E Bard class and a fan created Druid class.
Here are more reviews!
- review by Jonathan Drain
- ChattyDM’s DMG and PHB reviews
- PHB review by NiTessine
Reviews from rpg.net (mostly from their Fantasy Week around the time of 4E’s launch, some afterward)
- Core Rulebooks Gift Set review by Hywel Phillip
- Core Rulebooks Gift Set review by arete66
- Core Rulebooks Gift Set review by Roodah
- Core Rulebooks Gift Set review by Conan McKegg
- review by by Belisarius999
- “Keep on the Shadowfell” playtest review Andrew Ellis Troubio
- PHB review by Shannon Ramp
- PHB review by Daniel Weber
- PHB review by by Al Seeger
- PHB review by Adam Waggenspack
- PHB review by David Banuelos
Humor
“Cookbooks are a lot like Dungeons & Dragons and other role-playing games. They contain seemingly rigid rules that, in practice, require a certain amount of adaptation for your own tastes.” - Lore Sjöberg on Wired.com’s Alt Text
Read through the comments. It all sounds “find-replaced”, but somehow still comes out are true! lol
Tags: D&D, has downloads
