FRIDAY before Memorial Day

[Huw the Poo]

Well, I was going to play Stellaris exclusively (again), but my current game has hit an impasse and the next patch is too close for me to want to restart.

Instead, I might look at Wargame: AirLand Battle picked up in a recent sale, and also we just got Monster Hunter 3: Ultimate for the Wii U which I'm just starting to get into.

Enjoy the long weekend, everyone!  We've got a public holiday in the UK too! :)

Well, quite surprisingly, the game I've played the most this weekend has actually been Saints Row: The Third which was ported to Linux a month or so ago.  I put it on my wishlist yesterday, then happened to check out Humble to find that it was included in a bundle!  So I picked it up and I've already put in nearly 7 hours, despite having played it a lot on the Xbox.

I am very pleasantly surprised at how well it plays with a mouse and keyboard.  Driving isn't ideal obviously, but besides that everything else is superior.  It's a lot easier to get headshots, for example, which really helps when you're facing a swarm of enemies.  I've also been reminded of just how funny the game is; it's been quite a while since a game last had me properly belly-laughing.  It's a very silly game. :)

[Gusington]

Pillars of Eternity is surrounding me with its slavering maw. Probably my favorite RPG of the last few years, even more than The Dragon Age games, which I love. I guess I am a traditionalist...PoE feels like home. I hope the two DLCs get marked down during the Steam sale.

[Sir Slash]

Yeah, I'm waiting on Part 2 even though I haven't even gotten to Part 1 yet. And I read the other day.... PoE 2 Is in the works. I've been really surprised by how well the Stronghold part of this game works. I expected it to be mostly a gimmick but it's very functional and, fun too.

[Gusington]

Yeah I love the stronghold in PoE...didn't even know it existed before I started playing.

[mikeck]

 I loved pillars. Just a good old fashion isometric RPG  with new graphics.  It's got everything you need crafting good storyline cool magic spells skill trees...

[Sir Slash]

I love the look of the game, it's beautiful. Some of the most realistic water-effects I've ever seen and it's really great the way the air over a fire blurs as if it's really hot. I spend time just looking at all the extra stuff indoors and outdoors.

[Gusington]

Yeah the modern effects and graphics combined with the excellent storytelling make for a great RPG. And I'm only at level 5 after 20 hours!

[Sir Slash]

I just ran into a 'Giant Dank Spore'. Reminds me of my Gym locker in Jr. High School. 

[Gusington]

Better your locker than your shorts. I'm trying to the think of the best enemies I have run into so far...I think the forge knights have been the most bad ass.

I also like that there are firearms in-game. Is it worth it to arm a hunter character with a blunderbuss or arquebus instead of the standards hunting bow?

[Sir Slash]

Yes if you don't need them to be able to hit from far away as the firearm weapons have limited range and take forever to re-load. But they pack a hell-of-a-punch. Wands and Rods also have good damage numbers, especially some of the special items that you'll come across as you play, and have good range and re-load time. And... you can Enchant any weapon or armor if you've got the required ingredients that'll give them special attacks, and let them do even more damage or more protection, or whatever.

[Gusington]

I haven't enchanted anything yet - no idea how to do it.

But I will arm my hunter with a firearm, that sounds like loads of fun!

[Sir Slash]

Enchanting is easy-peasy. Just right click on the weapon in the Items screen, look at the bottom and click on 'Enchant'. A list of enchantments/improvements will come up. Clicking on them will show you what you they do, what you have, and what you need to do the improvement. No recipes, no Crafting Tables or Crafting Skills required. They all require some money for some reason so you'll need some coin to make the improvement. But what's good is if your characters aren't ready to go up an experience level yet, you can improve your weapons and or armor and still fight better or last longer. You can spend an hour just cruising around looking at stuff in this game and not even get to playing it.

[jamus34]

I really need to get back into PoE. Heroes of the Storm has been taking most of my disposable time lately.

I just wasn't happy with my monk, I think I need to try something else.

[Gusington]

Thanks Slash...since I've played a while without enchanting anything it will probably take me forever now to get everything maxed out. Does crafting work differently?

[Sir Slash]

No. Crafting works the same way.