Video Games/Gaming/etc.

I'm still around; work got in the way of life and gaming. Several people had vacation so I had to cover. This week is worse as it's Spring Break.

I discovered that my Oblivion game had a problem. I am 40 game days into the game, and all the dead bodies from all the fights are still lying around. So my game save file is huge, like 4.5 MB each. After looking around I found that the default cell reset time is 3 game days (that's the time for new monsters to re-spawn and dead ones to get deleted), so clearly I had a problem. After messing around for a while I figured out which mod was messing it up; it changed the time to 6 weeks. As it was one of the mods I really like, I didn't want to play without it. So, I finally fired up the TES Construction Set and changed that time back to 3 days. I had my character sleep for 4 days, and all the dead bodies are gone! My game save file went down to 2.5 MB.

Also, the guy that modded the interface came out with a new version of his mod, so I've been messing around with the new features and tweaking it to my tastes instead of playing much.

As for my character, she is now level 15, Arch-Mage of the Mages' Guild, and Champion of the Arena (though not Grand Champion yet). There's only been one new armor mod release since the last time so I only have one new screen shot. Keps, you should post a few screens of your leveled up character, even tho I know it's harder for you to do so. You are going to pass me up in levels soon.... I guess without that 3x slower leveling mod, I could be level 45!! Doh!!

I am currently doing this quest that requires you to find the 10 Ayleid statues from around Cyrodiil. It's not bad as it's making me go to places in Cyrodill I haven't been before. One map marker was wayyyy over to the East, and I had not gone anywhere near it. I have 4 statues right now. I'm also running out of quests to do. I may have to start the main storyline.

Keps wrote:I'm still thoroughly enjoying it. I'm a level 14 now. The enemies are so much tougher, though *gulp*

Keps, have you continued with Kvatch? Also, now that you are level 14, is there Ebony or Glass armor everywhere, like on the bandits?

slashersam016 wrote:i miss this thread.. currently replaying FF12.. i never get sick of this game.. best Final Fantasy for me..

FFXII is one of my favorites in the FF series (and RPG in general). :)

Vogue-ing in the middle of nowhere in Twilight Armor:
[image]

Anime Dad wrote:Your character is rather, ah, voluptuous

Please don't blame her; she's just drawn that way.

LOL, is that a mod too? :hehe:

I'm playing Bully: Scholarship Edition. That's a fun game....

32 more days until GTAIV is release.
anyone else getting it?
happy i pre-ordered mine. :mrgreen:

Madoka wrote:I'm still around; work got in the way of life and gaming. Several people had vacation so I had to cover. This week is worse as it's Spring Break.

Wecome back! :victory:

As for my character, she is now level 15, Arch-Mage of the Mages' Guild, and Champion of the Arena (though not Grand Champion yet). There's only been one new armor mod release since the last time so I only have one new screen shot. Keps, you should post a few screens of your leveled up character, even tho I know it's harder for you to do so. You are going to pass me up in levels soon.... I guess without that 3x slower leveling mod, I could be level 45!! Doh!!

I am currently doing this quest that requires you to find the 10 Ayleid statues from around Cyrodiil. It's not bad as it's making me go to places in Cyrodill I haven't been before. One map marker was wayyyy over to the East, and I had not gone anywhere near it. I have 4 statues right now. I'm also running out of quests to do. I may have to start the main storyline.


Please don't blame her; she's just drawn that way.

I'm a level 16 now. I'm kind of wishing I hadn't gone up so quickly. I think turning up the difficulty early didn't help. As it is, some of the enemies now completely batter me. I've had to turn the difficulty to easy a few times. I was especially dismayed when I had to do it to beat one person - I can usually beat people in the end. :bleh:
I'm not even an arch-mage yet, and those are the guild quests I've been most concentrating on. :sweat:
I am a Master of Alchemy though, so it's not all bad. :mrgreen:

Haven't heard of the Cyrodiil statues quest myself yet. I just did Garridan's Tears. I cheated and had a map with pointers, as I didn't fancy spending ages and ages looking for the tears.
Also recently done the Glarthir quest - one of the most boring quests I've encountered.

Re; armour - I've found glass weapons, but I'm not sure about glass anything else. I've started finding Dwarven and Mithril stuff, though, which I sell as it's so heavy.

I've got over 20000 gold, but I worry about what weapons to spend it on.

I'll try to get some new shots of my screens soon. :)

@ The_Lyrics - GTA IV is getting loads of cover in the gaming press here. I'm not sure what to think about it - I've never played any of the previous GTA games.
I think I'm concerned it might have a bit too much shooting for me. At least, that's how it seems on the trailers I've seen. :sweat:

Anime Dad wrote:LOL, is that a mod too?

Yup. :) I also found a mod that gives you a companion. S/he will follow you and you can give them commands and weapons, and s/he will fight with and heal you (if s/he has the spells). I still don't know if I like the idea and am unclear if it will unbalance the game.

Keps wrote:I'm a level 16 now. I'm kind of wishing I hadn't gone up so quickly. I think turning up the difficulty early didn't help. As it is, some of the enemies now completely batter me. I've had to turn the difficulty to easy a few times. I was especially dismayed when I had to do it to beat one person - I can usually beat people in the end. :bleh:
I'm not even an arch-mage yet, and those are the guild quests I've been most concentrating on. :sweat:
I am a Master of Alchemy though, so it's not all bad. :mrgreen:

See! I knew you would pass me up soon! I haven't had to move the difficultly slider so far. I've had some hard battles, but have managed to survive them thus far. What are your stats (Str, End, Will, etc)? I find that those matter more in your combat/magic capabilities rather than level, although your level determines what enemies you will encounter. If in leveling you didn't up your attributes sufficiently, you could have difficulties later.

Keps wrote:Haven't heard of the Cyrodiil statues quest myself yet. I just did Garridan's Tears. I cheated and had a map with pointers, as I didn't fancy spending ages and ages looking for the tears.
Also recently done the Glarthir quest - one of the most boring quests I've encountered.

I've found 7 statues now. The game doesn't tell you where the last three are. :banghead: I've been trying not to look at spoilers. And that Galthier quest was the lamest one yet. I'm glad I killed him. :twisted:

Keps wrote:I've got over 20000 gold, but I worry about what weapons to spend it on.
I'll try to get some new shots of my screens soon. :)

I've never purchased any armor or weapons. I just use what I find. So far. I look forward to your screenies. :)

The_Lyrics wrote:32 more days until GTAIV is release.
anyone else getting it?
happy i pre-ordered mine. :mrgreen:

Got mine preordered from evil gamestop.

haha i have mine pre ordered at eb games =)
this game will put my social life on hold :sweat:

Madoka wrote:I've found 7 statues now. The game doesn't tell you where the last three are. I've been trying not to look at spoilers. And that Galthier quest was the lamest one yet. I'm glad I killed him.

I've never purchased any armor or weapons. I just use what I find. So far. I look forward to your screenies. :)

I will get some screenies very soon - I promise! I've been so slack with stuff lately. :puppydog:

Oh no, I just know I'm going to get angry looking for stuff I don't have a clue where it's at. I have a terrible temper sometimes, lol.
I'm probably ages away from that quest, at least. I seem to take ages to finish stuff.

Aw, didn't you find it a bit sad looking at Glarthir's paranoid notes? I felt sorry for him. :mrgreen:

I just did a bit of the Knights Of The Nine stuff. I've got the Helm Of The Crusader, and tonight I got the Cuirass Of The Crusader. I think I'm gonna go after the other stuff next.
I'm also hoping to finally finish the Mages Guild quests. I don't think I can have too much to do now. I just did the Fingers In The Mountains one. Not that exciting.

Oh, and I recently did the Dar-Ma quest. Really really creepy. Hackdirt is a horrible freaky place. I laughed though, when I found that one of the unfriendly villagers had a disposition rating of 0 towards me! :hehe:

Wow, you do much better than me just using what you find to defend yourself. I think I've bought stuff in the past.
Do you use enchanter items a lot? I really rely on them. I enchanted my favourite sword a while ago. It drains fatigue by 10 points per strike, and it really seems to give me a little bit of breathing space to hit back.
I also really rely on poisoning my blade, with burdening potions.

Oh AD - I'm back on PS2! I got a slimline machine for my birthday!
And you were right - it's pretty much silent. Yay. Now I can play all my PS2 games. :dancing:

Oh, and I was amazed at how much smaller and lighter this machine is that the originals - my old one seems like a monster in comparison. I'm keeping it though, as a back-up. :victory:

The_Lyrics wrote:haha i have mine pre ordered at eb games =)
this game will put my social life on hold :sweat:

I think I'll do that too. I think I'll get the special edition. I never buy those, but it looks nice. I could always use the cash deposit box. :mrgreen:

Keps wrote:Oh AD - I'm back on PS2! I got a slimline machine for my birthday!
And you were right - it's pretty much silent. Yay. Now I can play all my PS2 games. :dancing:

Oh, and I was amazed at how much smaller and lighter this machine is that the originals - my old one seems like a monster in comparison. I'm keeping it though, as a back-up. :victory:

Awesome Keps-chan! I never knew the old ones were noisy, since I hadn't played one.

I've been playing less FFX lately - life seems to have gotten busier. But i'm up to a part that has an infuriating puzzle you have to solve to progress, so i'm going to have to sit down and finish it. :banghead:

Keps wrote:Aw, didn't you find it a bit sad looking at Glarthir's paranoid notes? I felt sorry for him.

Hmmm, I did that quest 2 years ago, before my break, so I can't remember the notes. Perhaps I'm not glad I had to kill him.

Keps wrote:I just did a bit of the Knights Of The Nine stuff. I've got the Helm Of The Crusader, and tonight I got the Cuirass Of The Crusader. I think I'm gonna go after the other stuff next. I'm also hoping to finally finish the Mages Guild quests. I don't think I can have too much to do now. I just did the Fingers In The Mountains one. Not that exciting.

I don't have any of the expansion packs. The PS3 edition, I believe, is the Game of the Year Edition, which came out after all the expansions came out and included them all. I got my version the week Oblivion came out. You'll have to let me know if the Nights of the Nine is worth getting. :)

Keps wrote:Wow, you do much better than me just using what you find to defend yourself. I think I've bought stuff in the past.
Do you use enchanter items a lot? I really rely on them. I enchanted my favourite sword a while ago. It drains fatigue by 10 points per strike, and it really seems to give me a little bit of breathing space to hit back.
I also really rely on poisoning my blade, with burdening potions.

I have to correct myself. I had to buy the Sorceress Armor that she's using because the modder made it for sale only. I haven't enchanted anything yet. I really should try it out. I've really just been a stupid fighter type that uses a few spells in between.

Anime Dad wrote:I've been playing less FFX lately - life seems to have gotten busier. But i'm up to a part that has an infuriating puzzle you have to solve to progress, so i'm going to have to sit down and finish it.

You must be at the Cloister of Trials at Macalania Temple? Man, I really enjoyed FFX when I think back on it... :)

I just picked up Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII-. It's quite a bit of fun. I haven't been playing on the PS2 or PC since getting it.

Anime Dad wrote:

Awesome Keps-chan! I never knew the old ones were noisy, since I hadn't played one.

I've been playing less FFX lately - life seems to have gotten busier. But i'm up to a part that has an infuriating puzzle you have to solve to progress, so i'm going to have to sit down and finish it. :banghead:

:victory: Be glad you won't have to experience the PS2 originals. Noisy bricks, they are. :mrgreen:
Eek, good luck with the puzzle. :sweat:

Madoka wrote:
I don't have any of the expansion packs. The PS3 edition, I believe, is the Game of the Year Edition, which came out after all the expansions came out and included them all. I got my version the week Oblivion came out. You'll have to let me know if the Nights of the Nine is worth getting.

No...there is a PS3 version of the game which doesn't have all the expansions - mine's one of those. :puppydog:
I have the Knights Of The Nine, but not the Shivering Isles. However, the GOTY edition on PS3 contains both of the expansions.
Knights Of The Nine seems quite good so far...but there's a lot more to do, and somehow I think much harder battles to get through.
Tonight I got the Gauntlets Of The Crusader, but that quest wasn't especially thrilling. And, I've been left with an unavoidable -5 drain on my fatigue. That shouldn't bother me too much though, as my fatigue is high, and recovers quickly too.

I have to correct myself. I had to buy the Scorceress Armor that she's using becuase the modder made it for sale only. I haven't enchanted anything yet. I really should try it out. I've really just been a stupid fighter type that uses a few spells in between.

Hey, nothing wrong with "stupid fighting" if it gets you where you want! :hehe:
Ooh, I got to level 18 tonight, and for the first time, someone wrecked my weapon. It was the Lonavo's ring quest. One of the guys must've thrown a spell at me that totalled my sword. I still battered the guys, though (I did die once, lol).

What are you currently doing on Oblivion, Madoka?

Argh, I can't believe I still haven't got new pictures. I need to write a note. :banghead:

Keps wrote:No...there is a PS3 version of the game which doesn't have all the expansions - mine's one of those.
What are you currently doing on Oblivion, Madoka?

I didn't know they made a version that was not GOTY. :sweat:

Well, since I have no idea where the other three statues are and I didn't want to just look up an FAQ, I decided to continue the main quest. I don't want to say too much so as not to spoil. It's not much different so far than any other quest. I did notice that more Oblivion gates are popping up around the world. Gonna be a pain if I have to keep closing them.

What's funny is that I've done the Mages guild quests and my character is the Arch-mage, and part of the main quest requires you to seek help from the Mages guild...so when I went to ask this NPC Mage for help, she acted like she didn't know who my character was. I'm your Arch-Mage-sama, baka!!!

I got Harry Potter the other day. This is the most ridiculous game EVAH, but I'm playing it to take a break from Enchanted Arms. I'm almost done it. It's surprisingly addictive!

I haven't played online yet tho. Too scared to enter a room filled with Halo freaks.

I did get Call of Duty 4, as well. Haven't cracked it open tho. >>shakes fist at Harry<<

:hehe:

Well, COD4 is really good. Really addictive. I got stuck near the end at Veteran, but still lots of fun. Love the plane mission.

Madoka wrote:
I didn't know they made a version that was not GOTY. :sweat:

Well, since I have no idea where the other three statues are and I didn't want to just look up an FAQ, I decided to continue the main quest. I don't want to say too much so as not to spoil. It's not much different so far than any other quest. I did notice that more Oblivion gates are popping up around the world. Gonna be a pain if I have to keep closing them.

We are very different in how we approach games..if it were me, I'd have gone straight for a walkthrough. I know that's kind of cheating, but I'm ok with that. :-)
Yeah, unfortunately there is a non-GOTY PS3 version - which I bought before I knew. Mind you, I'm not really complaining, because even without Shivering Isles my game is tremendous, and I still have tons to do.

I've only so far heard of the one Oblvion gate, at Kvatch, which I have closed. I keep wondering when others are going to appear.
How many have you shut so far, Madoka?

What's funny is that I've done the Mages guild quests and my character is the Arch-mage, and part of the main quest requires you to seek help from the Mages guild...so when I went to ask this NPC Mage for help, she acted like she didn't know who my character was. I'm your Arch-Mage-sama, baka!!!

Lol! That's really funny. :rofl: That NPC should be kicked out of the Mages Guild for being so ignorant, heheh.
Talking of silly NPCs, I once went to Jensine to sell stuff, but she told me to get out of her shop when I gave her the wrong answer to a question. So I left, then went straight back in, and Jensine acted as if nothing had happened, heh. I got to sell my stuff. :victory:

Some screenies -
Some of my stats are being affected by magic in these shots. Oops.

[image]

[image]

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Keps wrote:We are very different in how we approach games..if it were me, I'd have gone straight for a walkthrough. I know that's kind of cheating, but I'm ok with that.

Well, I am not as honorable as you think. I have a laptop where my PS2 is, and on it there is a folder named "Game FAQs." I usually try to do the quest or beat the boss without reading the FAQ first. If I get the smack beat out of me a few times, I'll look for help. Sometimes the Bosses have spells/skills where the names do not indicate the elemental affinity, so sometimes I'll look that up rather than load, try fire resistence, get killed, reload, try electric resistance, get killed...

Keps wrote:I keep wondering when others are going to appear. How many have you shut so far, Madoka?

One the one at Kavtch. I haven't gone into any of the other ones so far.

Spoiler — click to reveal

No new Oblivion Gates will appear until you talk to Martin in the village below Kvatch (where he goes after leaving the Church in Kvatch). So you can keep exploring the world without the extra trouble of the gates. That's what I did until I had finished most of the quests. Also, the gates will keep reappearing. Someone mentioned that he had closed over 50 gates.

Thanks for the screenies!!! I know it's harder for you to get screenies than on a PC. Your character looks great! Remember when you said you wanted stats like Madoka's? Your character has already supassed her!

Madoka wrote:
Well, I am not as honorable as you think. I have a laptop where my PS2 is, and on it there is a folder named "Game FAQs." I usually try to do the quest or beat the boss without reading the FAQ first. If I get the smack beat out of me a few times, I'll look for help. Sometimes the Bosses have spells/skills where the names do not indicate the elemental affinity, so sometimes I'll look that up rather than load, try fire resistence, get killed, reload, try electric resistance, get killed...

Lol, it's nice to know I'm not alone in "cheating".
Yeah, I will try to do something first before getting help. I judge it by how angry I am. If I get super-annoyed, that will send me rushing for a walkthrough.
I don 't have much patience though, so I only have to get beaten a few times before I'm at the FAQs.

One the one at Kavtch. I haven't gone into any of the other ones so far.

Spoiler — click to reveal

No new Oblivion Gates will appear until you talk to Martin in the village below Kvatch (where he goes after leaving the Church in Kvatch). So you can keep exploring the world without the extra trouble of the gates. That's what I did until I had finished most of the quests. Also, the gates will keep reappearing. Someone mentioned that he had closed over 50 gates.

Thanks for the screenies!!! I know it's harder for you to get screenies than on a PC. Your character looks great! Remember when you said you wanted stats like Madoka's? Your character has already supassed her!

Ooh, thanks for the info. I was a little worried that suddenly Oblivion gates were going to start popping up while I'm trying to do my quests...it's nice to know I can rest easier. :victory: I want to do all the quests I can before doing the gates.

Well, maybe my level (20) is higher than yours, but it sounds as though you have done many more quests than I have.
You have the mod that makes it take longer for you to level up, don't you?
I wish I didn't have to level up so quickly (this is when non-moddable consoles can suck).

Thanks for saying my character looks great. :dancing: She looks even better in this pretty red velvet outfit I have in my inventory. Heh.
That's my favourite thing to wear, but I don't get to wear it as much as I like - what with having to put on armour for most quests. :mrgreen:

Oh, I've been meaning to ask...have you bought a house in Skingrad? I want to, but apparently I'm not famous enough. Hmph!