Buddywalkoz at the Playhaven site killed him. It took him five hours, but he did it! Civil didn't intend for him to die. (I had to ask him)
I need ONE AND ONLY ONE new tester for Asteroids II. If you commit to testing you should be willing also to test HOLV. : ) I would love to have a hundred testers but Elendil only has one slot. Note that I've posted this in three threads at my website--you'd have to answer there to be fair to those who go there--first come first served. Thanks.
I'm sorry that I didn't see this but I visit a few forums and sometimes miss things---it's a tradition of Zarista Games to work very creatively with our betatesters--they don't get paid and they've added substantially to the quality of the games. They put their heart and soul into testing and have added their own creative input to the game. Our expansions are what they are partly because of them. I think their feelings would be extremely hurt if they could read your post and I'm sorry you feel that way.
My origins in gamemaking started with making expansions for Redshift's Legacy. They were free and I tested them in the open forum (those forums are no longer around-PDArcade as I knew it is gone with the wind--1Src is barely hanging on I think.). I also betatested them in the open forum and anyone who wanted could play them and contribute their ideas. It was a very dynamic way of gamemaking and I loved it. It was a pot of creativity. The betatesters became part of the game because we were all just having fun and expressing ourselves and they belonged. I want to keep that strong spirit of creativity. : ) I'm sorry if it is not in the old school gamemaking formula that they use their internet names but I know that everyone who has made a game is an individual and I opened our games to the creativity of so many individuals who deserve at least to have their name there. It was good for them and it was good for us and I think it's good for you even though you'd like them to be named Vern the Dwarf or some other standard name. : ) I understand your post but it's not Zarista's style. We and our games are made of the fiber of our betatesters--their ideas are woven in there, their desire for the game to be good are woven in there, their giving up their time that they could better spend making money or caring for a loved one are in there. I hope you will understand. My other post was my short answer--I was at work and it was time to go home. This is my full answer. : ) I make the expansions in my free time between the hours of 7pm and 12pm---with a bunch of people you've come to know and some of you love--many of their names are probably acceptable like Argimon and Silvergirl--but Tux1212 has devoted a whole web site to helping Quest players--why wouldn't you or anyone else be happy to have a quest or book from him after all the effort he's put in to make your life easier? He's listed maps there, quest lists, hints. I know what it takes to make a website with all that info. He's spent hours and hours of his time to help you. Just let him keep his name. : )
Let it rest at that. We will have four more expansions: Asteroids II soon : ) HOLV before the end of this year Horde II in the early part of 2011 Celtia in the early part of 2011 And then I think I deserve a rest unless someone unrests me. : ) Maybe I deserve a raise from 02 cents an hour to 05 cents an hour. ; ) But in all those expansions our betatesters' names will be what they are.
OK, TheFamousEccles, thanks for the pm----I will ask the current crop of testers what they think. That's fair. : ) And I will get back to you. Maybe they'll agree but I can't go back and do an update for the older expansions--it would only affect the new. Let's see what they say. I try to be flexible while also trying to keep as many people happy as possible--it's a little bit hard sometimes--. : ) But I try-- : ) I'm glad you generally enjoy our Zarista Quest expansions and thank you for your loyalty and your concern. : ) And especially for your love of rpg games. : ) We share a commonality there. Most of the testers have perfectly good rpg names like Fetharyne and Silvergirl and Argimon, Wizardz, Old Shaman, Blue Zed, Pedsipec, Ghosthunter, Goldenghost, Demonstar, Doeni, Dragonslayer, Eradicater, Hawkfire, Gbol, Imran the Scholar, PointofLight, Roland, Swimmer, Victorash, and Yorrick, Ardenne, Broono, CfsDoc, Chdo, Dea Firstianty, Falloutmike, Keysmaster, Manolan, Moti, Myrobotwillneverdie (now Marshall cause his name is just too long to display well in the game : ), Roland, Swimmer, and Vaterguy, Alvarin, Aslmentor, Demya, Duke of GP, Freckles, Jethro, Moof, Moti, Nikademus, Pao, Roland, Swimmer, and Yorrick, Aria, Aslmentor, Bergamis, CivilStriker, Dragonslayer, Duke of GP, Marshall, Moof, Moth, Moti, Polgara, Ronak, Smurf, and Lifehacker. : )
Robert9001 a tester of Asteroids II would like to stay Robert9001 although previously he was Rhobert the Fortis -- his old name in old dungeons --- he points out it's 2010 and times have changed and people know him by Robert9001. I have to interject that AsteroidsII has a lot of droids like Droidon10 who have numbers. I can't fault him for having a number after his name in Asteroids II. Still collecting info from my testers --
Response from wizardz re betatester names: "Actually I have been known as wizardz since before most anyone was online. My license plate on my car is WIZARDZ and has been for 33 years. I was known as wizardz at work in the early 70's. I don't think I'd like being Craig of Beta Five. I vote for the status quo: you can be who you want to be." Response from Moth: "Can I be Moth please?" So I think now it's time to turn this thread back to other topics. : )
I knew I should have made time to test on the PC last time you offered, - Drelbs fits in pretty well! I'm already D. Relbs in LilRacerZ and will be Dr. Elbs somewhere else... I'm perfectly OK with beta testers' names in the game, naming an NPC, item or location after someone is a great way to give them credit!
There are two sides to every argument and often each is valid for different reasons. TheFamousEccles' point of view is just as right as anyone's and he wants to preserve the "classic rpg" nature of the Quest. There's no fault in that at all and who knows how his thoughts will influence me. The Quest expansions evolved the way they did but who knows if we don't turn to a more classical rpg influence at some time in the future. : ) He made me think and that's always a good thing. In January I think I can have a few new testers most likely and Horde II and Celtia--which I hope will be as lovely and deep as we have plans for it to be--will be coming up. : ) Drelbs would be perfect for either one but you have to remind me then that you want to test. : )
Don't get pissed if I start bitching. Here's my problem: I suck at this game. I've had this game for over a year and have been playing it on and off. I always start up a new character do some quests, get to astares (fighting orcs the entire way) then itbecomes difficult to get anywhere bc everything like goblins and trolls kick my ass. Also I can't finish noblesmabs inheritance quest bc I don't have 28 persuasion (how is the player even supposed to know he/she needs that to continue in the Jewery shop. Omfg I hate that, are most quests like that? And yes I did plenty of quests in the first city, killed lots of amazon women and robbers, built my shit up. So I'm thinking mAybe I didn't create my character correctly. Like morrowind I Always utiliZe weapons my guy is specialized in so what's the prob? Can someone recommend me a race and skills that can make me a successful archer/thief so I can finally continue past astares? Also when I level up what skills are most important? I usually just chose strength, endurance and speed. Can I have some tips please from some experienced r p g ers !
Thanks for listening Cat, I'm impressed how much effort you went into just because of my complaint. I'll shut up now, as I'm clearly in the minority here. Thanks for your time.
I understand your devotion to the "classic" nature of rpgs. Maybe I learned something. : ) I may not be able to use that learning now but maybe later. Glad to see we have a common liking for point and click games--am quite impressed with that list. : )
As a Lady Cat, I would appreciate a few fewer expletives in your post. : ) The English language gives us so many substitutes for "pissed", "bitching" and "suck" but this may be good Chaucerian language ---- I forget from college English whether it is or not--I don't think so. : ) If you want to be a successful archer/thief you might want to be a Seiry-which is the thief class and strengthen your light armor and light weapon skills as well as accuracy, lockpick and stealth--that's a start. Many of the quests require increasingly higher persuade or mind magic--sometimes they give you a hint--sometimes you have to ask in/check the forums--so no matter what race you are you need to work on persuade/mindmagic and other skills. Silvergirl's old advice is to keep a suit of clothes for each of the following because you can increase your base stats by what you wear or equip: mercantile suit--so you can buy low sell high (buy in Matras-sell in Mithria) persuade suit for those persuade quests mindmagic suit for those mindmagic quests lockpick/stealth suit for those quests magic suit so you can enchant your gear even higher if you have high intelligence and high environment magic and drink a bunch of fortify magic potions you can enchant higher than otherwise (and mark more spots) : ) If you need more experience at the beginning of the game, you can go back and rekill the lower level monsters--they respawn--you can sleep at an inn until they respawn it is possible to slink into Mithria even at a low level if you hug the shoreline--then you can buy higher gear One of the most important things you can do is learn to enchant and then have enchantable gear that you can equip when you need it (you can't de-enchant so pick your enchants well.) You can increase your skills/attributes not only by training but by reading books--you can buy some of these in libraries - others you'll find I hope this helps a little. It's also important to train repair by the way especially as you play the higher level expansions. You can get to Cursed Chess Set from Matras--you could get some nice gear and spells there. : ) You should equip Stone Skin if you need higher defenses. This is really just a start. : )
Can you go through the Quest and its expansions without enchanting at all but just with using pre-enchanted items--weapons, armor, etc. : ) Just a little question, like could you play as a monk. Not everyone likes to enchant and I think it would be interesting to see how you'd fare. You might have to rely on long-range weapons more often--and defensive spells like Stone Skin and other available defensive spells---just curious. And you might not be able to do certain quests right away. You'd have to train your skills, read books and get together some suits of gear that are already pre-enchanted. : )
It would be interesting to know what skills are under-represented in enchanted items. : ) Darkstare at Playhaven has tried to do this. ; )
Challenge--we have a challenge going on to complete the Quest and all the expansions without enchanting but just with using pre-enchanted items--weapons, armor, etc. These are the rules: 1. Enchant. Do not use enchant, or pay for an NPC to use enchant on your behalf. 2. Alchemy. If it occurs naturally in the expansion you're in, or an earlier expansion, you can make and use any potion. 3. Expansions. You can't go to the next expansion until you've seen the credits for the expansion you're in. 4. Expansions. Once you have left an expansion, you can only return to a mark placed adjacent to your permanent storage in that expansion, to access same. (no accidentally wandering round Mithrias to clear your crime records) 5. Respawning. You can use respawned monsters and monster drops, but not artefacts (scrolls potions weapons armour etc)that respawn naturally. 6. Expansions to be done in (somebody put the order in here please). - Quest - Ice & Fire - HOL I - Cursed (optional) - HOL II - Horde - HOL III - Asteroids - HOL IV - Archipelagos 7. Anything else is OK. There are a few of us taking up the challenge. : ) I'm replaying through as a Derth mage although I used to be a Nogur--am having a lot of fun! : ) Playing cards to buy myself a strong wand and all the spellbooks I can get from Matras! I'm level 3!
Asteroids II should be out soon. It's a big world. And the betatesters enjoyed a number of things about it including the game size, the fact that the quests are tied in closely to the story, the new pre-enchanted objects and other things. : ) We hope you will enjoy it.
