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#21
Computer Gaming / Re: FREE --> Endless Legend @ ...
Last post by bobarossa - May 18, 2024, 01:24:47 PMQuote from: JasonPratt on May 17, 2024, 11:36:44 PMWell, I picked up the remaining three DLC at 85% discount thanks to this offer so THERE!Steam says I've played a little over 100 hours, but not since 2021. Didn't know/remember there were DLC. Must be why I felt the game was kind of limited.
.......even though I haven't played one second of the other DLC.
or the game.
ever.
I feel like this is a legit investment for the future!
One of my achievements is playing at least 10 turns over any number of playthroughs. Only 66% have achieved that so don't feel alone at never playing.
#22
Current Events / Re: Russia's War Against Ukrai...
Last post by FarAway Sooner - May 18, 2024, 01:21:32 PMQuote from: Skoop on May 11, 2024, 09:41:12 PMNo one in the west is willing to switch their economy over to war time production to produce 70,0000 arty shells per month, cause that's what it will take to win this.
The Pentagon states that they'll be able to hit production targets of 100,000 155mm shells per month by Summer of 2025, as funding for that (along with many other things) was included in the $65B spending bill that the US recently passed.
Your basic point still stands: Readiness costs money, and Western democracies have proven pretty reluctant to make that commitment, even after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The West in general (and the US in specific) has always prided itself on spending money instead of lives. I think that one lesson from the Ukrainian war is that, while money matters a lot, we might need to rethink how we spend that.
In particular, we might need to recalibrate the mix between quality and quantity. There's a role for high-value weapons (e.g., F-35s dropping a half-dozen PGMs hundreds of miles behind enemy lines) and low-value weapons (e.g., a battery of 155mm howitzers dropping a curtain of dumb HE shells across enemy troops advancing along a broad front), but I think Western procurement strategies have strayed toward the high end.
Simple things like rifle ammunition, trucks, and AP rounds for tanks are necessary before the wunder-weapons can do their thing.
I'm more worried that the US won't be able to keep their eye on this ball and Congress will go back to allocating pork to key defense contractors, rather than maintaining the broad industrial base to allow us to ramp up ammunition production quickly.
It's kind of similar to the plan proposed (and ignored) in 2017 (?) to keep surgical-mask production facilities mothballed but ready-to-roll in the US for $150M a year. It ain't cheap, but it ain't that expensive either. It just requires us to pay attention to the important stuff.
https://www.defenseone.com/business/2024/04/goal-100k-artillery-shells-month-sight-army-says/396047/
https://www.defensenews.com/land/2022/04/18/us-army-document-details-plan-to-update-wwii-era-ammo-plants-and-depots/
#23
Computer Gaming / Re: Next three rumoured Total ...
Last post by Senex - May 18, 2024, 01:17:18 PMQuote from: Geezer on May 18, 2024, 01:17:06 AMI would buy 40K in a heartbeat. Star Wars, not so much.Lord Vadar finds your lack of faith disturbing.
#24
Computer Gaming / Re: Next three rumoured Total ...
Last post by Gusington - May 18, 2024, 01:15:22 PMWorld War I Total War?? Delayed indefinitely? 
#25
Computer Gaming / Re: Next three rumoured Total ...
Last post by Gusington - May 18, 2024, 01:08:42 PM'Victoria/Edwardia Total War' please I beg...1837-1910ish...
#26
Computer Gaming / Re: Next three rumoured Total ...
Last post by Grim.Reaper - May 18, 2024, 09:12:35 AMCool, then I am hoping they progress to eras not previously covered, versus continuing to have new versions of old material.
#27
Computer Gaming / Re: Next three rumoured Total ...
Last post by undercovergeek - May 18, 2024, 08:54:15 AMQuote from: Grim.Reaper on May 18, 2024, 05:49:52 AMNo hesitation for me, immediate buy for Star Wars. As for yet another Medieval game, although I like the time period would rather them try something new (i.e. American Civil War, etc.) although I realize rifle era hasn't been it's strength.
There is some suggestion in the article that elements of WH2 and WH3 have been a practice run with 'rifle' fire for 40k or Star Wars
Having just started a WH2 campaign with the skaven and their warp fire repeaters there's definitely working rifle fire
#28
Computer Gaming / Re: Next three rumoured Total ...
Last post by Grim.Reaper - May 18, 2024, 05:49:52 AMNo hesitation for me, immediate buy for Star Wars. As for yet another Medieval game, although I like the time period would rather them try something new (i.e. American Civil War, etc.) although I realize rifle era hasn't been it's strength.
#29
Computer Gaming / Re: Next three rumoured Total ...
Last post by Geezer - May 18, 2024, 01:17:06 AMI would buy 40K in a heartbeat. Star Wars, not so much.
#30
Music, TV, Movies / Babylon 5: The Road Home (anim...
Last post by JasonPratt - May 18, 2024, 12:01:59 AMWarner Brothers and original showrunner/writer J Michael Straczynski teamed up last year for a sort of tribute film to Babylon 5 (perhaps due to rumors of a possible reboot), called The Road Home. I didn't get around to it last year, but finally watched it tonight. At 79 minutes (including end credits), it sure doesn't overstay its welcome, but despite some catastrophic destruction neither is it very meaningful -- because the destruction is timey wimey alt history that happens entirely by accident.
The main point of the plot is almost explicitly "don't you remember loving this series and its characters, and you'd like to see them again?" Most of the surviving actors return to their roles, and get to hang around together in various scenarios. The faux voice actors subbing in for departed cast, are variable in quality, either absolutely or between (sometimes within) scenes. The plot is whoops, there was an accident that Commander Sheridan shouldn't have been around without special protection, but he and his wife truly love each other so don't worry the entire universe won't end. (Which doesn't really make much sense in JMS' cosmology for the show, but I appreciate the idea.) Animation art design is mostly good, although figure animation gets very janky at times, and character designs often only vaguely resemble the characters even at the time frame the movie is set in. If anyone likes Zathras (excuse me, I think this one is Zaaa-thras), he's a hoot as usual. A Lost In Space joke is made, but not by Bill Mumy oddly enough. (When I say this joke is made, I mean EXCPLITLY ABOUT THE TELEVISION SERIES, as an acknowledgment that B5 is also a TV show, as a 4th wall break.)
There are plot holes and overconvenient timing which also sometimes serves to pad out the running time here and there.
I realize I sound rather ambivalent about it. That's because I am! You get an animation budget to produce an extended episode or two-parter (in effect), and didn't bother with a better story than this, J? Okay you can throw a moon at a planet now, but it overtly doesn't mean anything in the end, so... the final scene isn't even set in the main storyline but is just an excuse to sightsee the characters being charactery for three minutes. Sure it's nice, but I can do that by watching my discs sometime.
Hard C. If you like the series, and want to see a lightweight tribute by the cast and showrunner, I recommend finding it streaming somewhere, ideally for free (with commercials), or a cheap rent. I can easily imagine watching any of the real episodes again, even the admittedly poor ones; but not this. I'll probably throw it away rather than take up a slot I could use for saving something else.
And that's sad.
The main point of the plot is almost explicitly "don't you remember loving this series and its characters, and you'd like to see them again?" Most of the surviving actors return to their roles, and get to hang around together in various scenarios. The faux voice actors subbing in for departed cast, are variable in quality, either absolutely or between (sometimes within) scenes. The plot is whoops, there was an accident that Commander Sheridan shouldn't have been around without special protection, but he and his wife truly love each other so don't worry the entire universe won't end. (Which doesn't really make much sense in JMS' cosmology for the show, but I appreciate the idea.) Animation art design is mostly good, although figure animation gets very janky at times, and character designs often only vaguely resemble the characters even at the time frame the movie is set in. If anyone likes Zathras (excuse me, I think this one is Zaaa-thras), he's a hoot as usual. A Lost In Space joke is made, but not by Bill Mumy oddly enough. (When I say this joke is made, I mean EXCPLITLY ABOUT THE TELEVISION SERIES, as an acknowledgment that B5 is also a TV show, as a 4th wall break.)
There are plot holes and overconvenient timing which also sometimes serves to pad out the running time here and there.
I realize I sound rather ambivalent about it. That's because I am!
You get an animation budget to produce an extended episode or two-parter (in effect), and didn't bother with a better story than this, J? Okay you can throw a moon at a planet now, but it overtly doesn't mean anything in the end, so... the final scene isn't even set in the main storyline but is just an excuse to sightsee the characters being charactery for three minutes. Sure it's nice, but I can do that by watching my discs sometime.Hard C. If you like the series, and want to see a lightweight tribute by the cast and showrunner, I recommend finding it streaming somewhere, ideally for free (with commercials), or a cheap rent. I can easily imagine watching any of the real episodes again, even the admittedly poor ones; but not this. I'll probably throw it away rather than take up a slot I could use for saving something else.
And that's sad.