What are you playing?

[Ravenpoe]

Another Elite: Dangerous update. Last time I showed you one of the small ships I had been flying. Now we're going into the opposite direction.

Name: The Iron Igor
Hull: Lakon Spaceways Type-10 Defender
Role: Mobile Fortress/Anti-Xeno Platform


This ginormous behemoth is a Type-10, one of the newer chassis available. It's a modified Type-9, which is a heavy transport cargo ship/flying industrial factory. With the Thargoids now attacking populated space and posing a real threat to humanity, Lakon Spaceways has started modifying their cargo ships into heavy weapons platforms. The result is an armored leviathan that's built like a steakhouse, but handles like a bistro. It's not quick, it's not agile, but it's a goddamn tank and a lot of fun to fly. Even when its shields drop, it has such a thickly armored hull that it can keep on trucking long after other ships would be destroyed or disabled. And since the Thargoids have weaponry that can quickly strip shields, this makes it ideal for xeno-hunting.

It's also a blast to fly in multi crew, able to launch two small fighters and having a wealth of turrets for gunners to fire in all directions.

 

[GasBandit]

Wait, wait, wait... Elite Dangerous supports multiple players crewing the same spaceship? I did not know this...

 

[Ravenpoe]

Wait, wait, wait... Elite Dangerous supports multiple players crewing the same spaceship? I did not know this...

Yes, it does. Though not every ship can support multiple crew.

 

[Ravenpoe]

Here's some gameplay of someone crewing the fighter in a Type-10 (against a federal corvette, considered the biggest pure combat ship in the game)

 

[figmentPez]

F.E.A.R. Perseus Mandate I'm torn between wanting to say this was better than FEAR, and being upset by it's consistency issues. It has more personality than FEAR, it uses jump scares better, and it has more variety, but it also has more flaws. Like Extraction Point it has some areas that are overly large (though fewer), but it also introduces new weapons that are crap. The grenade launcher might as well be a slot machine, the lightning gun is woefully underpowered for the amount of ammo you're given (two shots from an 8 round clip to kill a rent-a-cop?), and the new automatic rifle has a scope that tints everything red.

Also, I'm docking points for putting a stat-boosting item behind a destructible wall, when there's no other time in FEAR or it's expandalones when the player can use a grenade to destroy the environment. The crate blocking the door is grenade proof, but a detonation at the end of the hallway, away from the door, blows a hole in the wall. There's not even a crack in the wall or anything else to suggest it can be broken. It was only a thought of "Oh, they're not going to be this nonsensical, are they?" that got me to try it at all.

 

[Squidleybits]

I finally got back to Monster Hunter World today. I did a ton of hunts to make a poison lance for the Barroth hunt and decided to try it again with my dual blades first and got it with no deaths and no serious issues. So...I have no idea wtf my issue was last time. Not sure what do with the lance either

I’m getting ready to hunt the big guy, the Anjanath. I have water weapons and a thunder one on my cat because it was cuter. I’ll go back and make him a water one if that choice ends up being a bad one.

Have you seen the cat Tobi Kadachi armour?

 

[Hailey Knight]

I finally got back to Monster Hunter World today. I did a ton of hunts to make a poison lance for the Barroth hunt and decided to try it again with my dual blades first and got it with no deaths and no serious issues. So...I have no idea wtf my issue was last time. Not sure what do with the lance either

I’m getting ready to hunt the big guy, the Anjanath. I have water weapons and a thunder one on my cat because it was cuter. I’ll go back and make him a water one if that choice ends up being a bad one.

Have you seen the cat Tobi Kadachi armour?

Your cat's weapon doesn't make too much difference ... although I have a clip of mine knocking over Anjanath, so maybe it does . Haven't seen the Tobi Kadachi armor for Palicos. Right now I have the Legiana armor.

I'm bummed that I missed the event quest for Horizon: Zero Dawn Palico armor that turns your cat into a robot. It was sitting there, I saw it tons of times, but it sounded boring and I didn't know it was attached to something cool that had a time limit. Lesson learned: do all event quests that I am able.

 

[Squidleybits]

I missed a bunch of events I’m sure.

I’ve also likely missed some in MH Stories. I should check for updates there though. I believe that they were adding some new catchable monsters.

I just did Anjanath. One and done Not my prettiest work, but I got him. I caught a fireball to the chest. That one shot me. That was evil! I was much more careful after that. He was turd though. He wasted a lot of time running around after I got a few combos in each time.

Next time you’re playing, have your cat try the armour set on. So cute!

 

[Hailey Knight]

I missed a bunch of events I’m sure.

I’ve also likely missed some in MH Stories. I should check for updates there though. I believe that they were adding some new catchable monsters.

I just did Anjanath. One and done Not my prettiest work, but I got him. I caught a fireball to the chest. That one shot me. That was evil! I was much more careful after that. He was turd though. He wasted a lot of time running around after I got a few combos in each time.

Next time you’re playing, have your cat try the armour set on. So cute!

I will! I haven't gotten to play all week due to work and life stuff, but I plan on it tomorrow.

And yeah, Anjanath seems to get bored after a little while. Sometimes even if you're not fighting him, he'll take interest and then just go "meh" and leave. Sometimes it's annoying, other times it's a mercy.

 

[Squidleybits]

I’m going to have to fight him a bunch I think for his armour. Hopefully I can speed things up over time.

 

[Far]

It was his fangs that took me ages for weapons. Just would not drop. I got the Plunderblade for the palico though and have been getting much higher drop rates of breakable parts since then. Not quite finished the main stuff but fairly close.

As for monsters that run away all the damn time, the orogaron takes the cake for me. Damn thing would not stay in one area.

 

[Squidleybits]

I’d like a fire weapon, so I guess I have to go back and pay him another visit.

 

[Hailey Knight]

I am definitely in high rank now. This is the first Monster Hunter I've played where they felt the need to explain why there were different difficulty settings as part of the plot.

 

[GasBandit]

Subnautica -

Spoilered for Dave's benefit

Spoiler

Well, I got a small base built in the Lost River using thermal energy, and even outfitted it with a scanner room, so finding materials to build just about anything I needed for it was a snap. Then I explored til I found the way down to the inactive lava zone... damn that place is deep and dangerous. There's warpers everywhere, I hate those little lava lizards and the larva that suction-cup onto your vehicle and start draining power. And it's all over 50c in temperature so getting out to pry the larva off and repair (or getting teleported out by a warper) is a painful experience. And to top it all off, all the kyanite was waaaaaaaay down where there's a goddamn Sea Dragon Leviathan on patrol, and staying out of his area of influence is stressful shit. I managed to get enough to make the 1700m depth upgrades for both the Prawn and the Cyclops, though, with enough left over to make a thermal power charger for the Prawn.

Oh, and I managed to kill the juvenile Ghost Leviathan in the lost river. I grappled onto his neck and then went to work on him with the drill. It took FUH-REV-UR. Like, at least 5-10 minutes of constant drilling. And he's just a baby! I don't know if this method is as viable as the guy who told me about it made it sound. I certainly am less eager to try it out in open water, anyway. Might just be best to continue keeping a low profile.

 

[bhamv3]

Subnautica -

Spoilered for Dave's benefit

Spoiler

Well, I got a small base built in the Lost River using thermal energy, and even outfitted it with a scanner room, so finding materials to build just about anything I needed for it was a snap. Then I explored til I found the way down to the inactive lava zone... damn that place is deep and dangerous. There's warpers everywhere, I hate those little lava lizards and the larva that suction-cup onto your vehicle and start draining power. And it's all over 50c in temperature so getting out to pry the larva off and repair (or getting teleported out by a warper) is a painful experience. And to top it all off, all the kyanite was waaaaaaaay down where there's a goddamn Sea Dragon Leviathan on patrol, and staying out of his area of influence is stressful shit. I managed to get enough to make the 1700m depth upgrades for both the Prawn and the Cyclops, though, with enough left over to make a thermal power charger for the Prawn.

Oh, and I managed to kill the juvenile Ghost Leviathan in the lost river. I grappled onto his neck and then went to work on him with the drill. It took FUH-REV-UR. Like, at least 5-10 minutes of constant drilling. And he's just a baby! I don't know if this method is as viable as the guy who told me about it made it sound. I certainly am less eager to try it out in open water, anyway. Might just be best to continue keeping a low profile.

Spoiler

FYI, I believe testing has shown that drilling has a lower DPS than simply punching. I haven't tried it myself though.

 

[GasBandit]

Spoiler

FYI, I believe testing has shown that drilling has a lower DPS than simply punching. I haven't tried it myself though.

Spoiler

I believe it, from my first hand experience. Thing is, when a leviathan shows up, I rarely have time to get out and detach the drill arm

 

[GasBandit]

Subnautica

LEAVE MY SUB ALONE, JACKASS

(That guy in the back there is about 3 times the length of my sub)

Anyway, I finished the game. Game of the Year. Must play. Awesome stuff. Perfect 5/7. A few bugs here and there but nothing gamebreaking.

 

[Null]

What did you put in your time capsule?

 

[GasBandit]

What did you put in your time capsule?

Two ionic batteries, two ionic power cells, and Mk 3 depth modules for the Cyclops and Prawn. And, of course, an eloquent goodbye letter.

Unfortunately, checking the subnautica website, the Time Capsule voting mechanism is mired down in 2 weeks of backlog, so I don't think mine will ever see the light of day :/

 

[Squidleybits]

I am definitely in high rank now. This is the first Monster Hunter I've played where they felt the need to explain why there were different difficulty settings as part of the plot.

Beyond the obvious - to torment us?

Or to show us how easy they had been going on us prior to that point?

 

[Hailey Knight]

Beyond the obvious - to torment us?

Or to show us how easy they had been going on us prior to that point?

"The monsters have mysteriously gotten stronger!" is the game explanation. Except you can choose between doing low or high rank quests/expeditions, so I guess we're time travelers too? What's going to happen at G-rank? "Every monster has become a god."

I did a couple high rank excursions last night and met the devil of high rank, who harasses you frequently so you can't get your quest done. I did cut off its tail before retreating, so I'll call it a draw .

 

[Squidleybits]

I’m guessing that I have quite a ways to go before high rank.

Are you playing mostly solo?

 

[ThatNickGuy]

Snake Pass

Got this through Humble Bundle Monthly, but I've been curious about it. I got hooked on Mark Brown's YouTube channel recently and watched his video on the game this morning. It convinced me to install it and try it out.

I'm glad I did. It's incredibly charming, like Octodad meets Banjo Kazooie. I like how they entirely embraced the snake mechanics. Haven't gotten too far in yet, but I'm enjoying it.

 

[Hailey Knight]

I’m guessing that I have quite a ways to go before high rank.

Are you playing mostly solo?

High rank is essentially the six-star quests. If you're grinding Anjinath right now, then yeah, I think you have a little bit to go.

I'm playing solo for the story quests and expeditions, or anything where I want to prove myself, but for grinding for materials, I mostly search for someone who's already hunting that monster and go help them out, which might be their story quest to hunt that thing or just optional/investigations.

 

[Squidleybits]

I don’t have PlayStation Plus, which would make going online right now not possible. I’m not sure that I want to right now while I’m using my dual blade hot mess fighting style. It works for me, but I have no idea how it’s going to work in a group without me being hated.

 

[Hailey Knight]

I don’t have PlayStation Plus, which would make going online right now not possible. I’m not sure that I want to right now while I’m using my dual blade hot mess fighting style. It works for me, but I have no idea how it’s going to work in a group without me being hated.

They've toned down just how much friendly fire there is. While there's a lot of nudging, we don't stall each other up as much as before unless it's a direct hit, shot, or an upswing that sends a player soaring.

That said, PS Plus is $50 is a year (I think). It's worth it at my house because both my wife and I play multiple online games on the PS4, so there's never a time where it'll be wasted, but I'd be hesitant for just one game unless it was really important to me.

 

[Null]

So I finally won an Independence Victory in Civ IV: Colonization. I had to turn it down to the lowest difficulty level, though. That's not really a problem with the game, that's down to me sucking.

Also it took me 5 playthroughs to realize that if you send a colonist to a friendly native village, you can learn a trade for free in just a few turns.

 

[figmentPez]

Evoland 2 the first game was a relatively short parody of console RPGs, and focused more on jokes and references than it did on story or gameplay, but it worked at what it was doing. This sequel has expanded it's scope, and is not only trying for more of a story, but has tossed in other types of games as well. Thus far I've run into: Professor Layton type puzzles, a fighting game, a vertically scrolling shoot-em-up, 2D platforming (complete with disappearing-reappearing platforms and insta-death spikes), and a Canabalt/endless-runner type segment. That's in addition to the Zelda-esque combat, dungeons, talking to NPCs, fetch quests, collectible card game, etc. that come with the RPG-ish structure of the game.

So far, I really cannot recommend it. The writing sucks, none of the gameplay types are especially well done, and some of the portions are outright bad. 2D platforming with insta-death spikes has no place in an RPG. Even with the checkpoints, it's an exercise in frustration. The controls are just too sluggish and imprecise to make the platforming feel rewarding.

The first game wasn't great, but it was fun. It was an enjoyable joke about all the features that have come and gone from console RPGs over the years. The combat wasn't anything to write home about, but it didn't get in the way of things, either. This game isn't that at all. It has all these other game types thrown in, but they're just there. Aside from a joke about how a character hopes that they don't end up in an FPS, there's not any commentary or jokes about those game types. The first game barely had a 4th wall; at one point you open a chest that contains a village with NPCs. Evoland 2 just makes references while still mostly pretending that the 4th wall is still there, and in doing so has completely lost what made the first game interesting.

 

[ThatNickGuy]

Psychonauts

I saw a random comment how you can use Clairvoyance on ANY character, not just within the Milkman's level. And it shows what each character thinks of you. I HAD NO IDEA THIS WAS POSSIBLE.

It got me curious enough to reinstall and replay the game...and like any great game, it's sucked me back in.

 

[bhamv3]

Psychonauts

I saw a random comment how you can use Clairvoyance on ANY character, not just within the Milkman's level. And it shows what each character thinks of you. I HAD NO IDEA THIS WAS POSSIBLE.

It got me curious enough to reinstall and replay the game...and like any great game, it's sucked me back in.

Heh, this reminds of when I played Golden Sun on the GBA and got the Mind Read power. I went around reading everyone's mind. Their reactions ranged from "I'm hungry" to "Why is this guy standing so close and staring at me?" to "Stop reading my mind. Yes, I know what you're doing."

 

[Denbrought]

Heh, this reminds of when I played Golden Sun on the GBA and got the Mind Read power. I went around reading everyone's mind. Their reactions ranged from "I'm hungry" to "Why is this guy standing so close and staring at me?" to "Stop reading my mind. Yes, I know what you're doing."

Mind Read added so much to the Golden Sun games. On the second one you start with it, it's wonderful.

 

[Squidleybits]

They've toned down just how much friendly fire there is. While there's a lot of nudging, we don't stall each other up as much as before unless it's a direct hit, shot, or an upswing that sends a player soaring.

That said, PS Plus is $50 is a year (I think). It's worth it at my house because both my wife and I play multiple online games on the PS4, so there's never a time where it'll be wasted, but I'd be hesitant for just one game unless it was really important to me.

Once I’m in high rank and not a total train wreck, I’ll look into it. It could be fun.

I’d be mortified for anyone to hear me play though. The things I say to the poor monsters when they run from me and I’m having trouble fInding them....like that *&#@!! stupid electric tree squirrel.

 

[GasBandit]

I broke out Gnomoria for the first time in years today. Streamed myself playing it. Six. Hours. And what blows my mind is I had at least 1 viewer for 90% of the broadcast.

Nobody was streaming Gnomoria but me, and I guess this guy really wanted to watch somebody play Gnomoria.

 

[Hailey Knight]

Once I’m in high rank and not a total train wreck, I’ll look into it. It could be fun.

I’d be mortified for anyone to hear me play though. The things I say to the poor monsters when they run from me and I’m having trouble fInding them....like that *&#@!! stupid electric tree squirrel.

You can turn off voice chat . That's what I did. Got by without it on the 3DS and so far there hasn't been a situation when I felt the need to turn it on.

 

[mikerc]

....like that *&#@!! stupid electric tree squirrel.

Pikachu's in Monster Hunter?