Gamer Community

[Recidiva]

StarCraft II comes out in July.

Nothing else needs to be said.

I am kinda 'cited.

Zergling Rush!

 

[kaycee217]

I am kinda 'cited.

Zergling Rush!

It amused me how Blizzard changed the resource requirements for that rushing attack.

My personal favorite is the DT rush in Broodwar.

 

[Homburg]

The game-related stress in my RPG is getting to be more than the fun because certain of my players are being whiny emo haters, and they're doing it behind my back. And, the best part, they're the ones who are my friends outside of game and have been for years. The newbs are fine.

I'm about ready to wash my hands of the whole thing. I learned long ago with MMO's.

"This is a game.
Games are supposed to be fun."

If this is followed by:

"This is not fun.
So why am I doing this?"

It's time to walk. I'm nearing that point because of emo haters that are supposed to be my RL, long-term friends. Over a game. The fuck, really?

 

[FurryFury]

Wow Homburg, that is so frustrating. I'm so sorry. I need MORE of a game fix these days but I suspect it will be some time, if ever till I get it. I wonder if I'll be 90 in an old age home playing still? LOL.

 

[Homburg]

Wow Homburg, that is so frustrating. I'm so sorry. I need MORE of a game fix these days but I suspect it will be some time, if ever till I get it. I wonder if I'll be 90 in an old age home playing still? LOL.

By the time we're in our 90's there will probably fully-functional engaging VR. We probably will be able to fully immerse from our homes.

I actually went quite a while without a game. Considering it was my major hobby for literally three decades, prior to this game, I went almost two years without any game. That was a pretty serious switch as, prior to that, I'd not gone more than a month without some form of gaming for about fifteen years straight.

Part of my problem is likely that I was jonesing for a game and my disappointment with how this is going is rife. The big problem is that it is coming from people that I should be able to trust, but, oh well.

 

[FurryFury]

I've been there before believe me.

*HUG*

I'm so hoping that someday my husband's schedule will allow him to run another game someday.

By the time we're in our 90's there will probably fully-functional engaging VR. We probably will be able to fully immerse from our homes.

I actually went quite a while without a game. Considering it was my major hobby for literally three decades, prior to this game, I went almost two years without any game. That was a pretty serious switch as, prior to that, I'd not gone more than a month without some form of gaming for about fifteen years straight.

Part of my problem is likely that I was jonesing for a game and my disappointment with how this is going is rife. The big problem is that it is coming from people that I should be able to trust, but, oh well.

 

[John Doe]

Current Obsession:

Raising enough guild status points to get a guild hall in EQ2.

Entirely ambivalent about the newest Final Fantasy. To be fair I wasn't fair. Didn't play long, but watched people play and still...didn't care.

Have a tough time leaving my computer now so most games are going to have to be computer friendly.

Give FF a chance. At least finish the tutorial. It's only 30 hours long.

 

[Keroin]

"This is a game.
Games are supposed to be fun."

If this is followed by:

"This is not fun.
So why am I doing this?"

It's time to walk. I'm nearing that point because of emo haters that are supposed to be my RL, long-term friends. Over a game. The fuck, really?

You know I'm not a gamer but I feel for you on this. What is it with people? It's no different playing sports. I've seen grown men and women throw temper tantrums over something as silly as a tennis game.

Yes...Games are supposed to be fun.

Wish things were going better. I know you really put a lot of effort into that game, H.

 

[Recidiva]

You know I'm not a gamer but I feel for you on this. What is it with people? It's no different playing sports. I've seen grown men and women throw temper tantrums over something as silly as a tennis game.

Yes...Games are supposed to be fun.

Wish things were going better. I know you really put a lot of effort into that game, H.

It's frustrating because it's a game and lots of people want to WIN in the process.

Unfortunately an interesting game, like an interesting story, needs balance, sacrifice, tension, and some winning...but winning all the time is boring as hell over time.

So it's supposed to be fun, but it's supposed to be dynamic, and people often want OTHERS to be the ones to make the sacrifice.

That's the difference between hearing a story and playing a game...in the story you can vicariously live off the drama...in a game, you really do take the chance that you're going to lose something you have grown to care about...even if it's a pretend thing or relationship or identity.

But fantasy in a game is community property. The better someone is at creating that fantasy, the more attached they are.

 

[Keroin]

It's frustrating because it's a game and lots of people want to WIN in the process.

Unfortunately an interesting game, like an interesting story, needs balance, sacrifice, tension, and some winning...but winning all the time is boring as hell over time.

So it's supposed to be fun, but it's supposed to be dynamic, and people often want OTHERS to be the ones to make the sacrifice.

That's the difference between hearing a story and playing a game...in the story you can vicariously live off the drama...in a game, you really do take the chance that you're going to lose something you have grown to care about...even if it's a pretend thing or relationship or identity.

But fantasy in a game is community property. The better someone is at creating that fantasy, the more attached they are.

I get it, I just don't get it. If you know what I mean

I've only participated, (in a very limited capacity), in one public, (online), RPG and two private (2 person) RPG's, so I'm far from an expert, but I love creating characters that are damaged, that fail, that could very well die at any moment. But then, I've never played for points or winning or anything like that - I just like the writing part.

 

[satindesire]

I personally love RPing and have been for over a decade. In gamer years, that's a long damn time.

I have RPed on this site, one of my better RPs is here:

http://forum.literotica.com/showthread.php?t=601799

For all you Tl;dr's, it's a good read. And different than many RPs in the fact that it's literally written backwards and has NO parts written directly in Jenny's POV, because...she's dead.

Jennifer Chen is a mad-famous junkie artist whose heroin habit is the "muse" for her work. She's slowly being driven mad by the addiction, but only sees herself getting closer and closer to "the edge", where she thinks she'll break through to "the other side" of artistic brilliance. All of the parts are written journalistic style, by people whose life had been affected by Jennifer in some way before her death. One of the best excerpts in the RP, written by "Silkcrow", a very talented writer:

"I let Chow lead now, down a short corridor and through two windowless swinging doors, then around a corner and into a small room. There was no furniture, equipment or instruments in the room. Just a hospital gurney. The gurney was covered with a long strip of disposable paper. Lying on top of the paper was a black vinyl bag, zippered lengthwise from one end to the other. Attached to one corner of the bag by a heavy clip was a white tag with some writing on it.

I moved closer to the gurney and looked down at the bag. At one end, just below the top of the zipper, a dozen or so strands of jet-black hair stuck up between the brass teeth. They glistened in the sterile light save for a few which were stuck together in a paste of crusted crimson paint. I recognized each one.

The tears came now, unbidden, unwanted. I tried to ignore them and refused to blink my eyes, which they quickly filled and fled in thick droplets onto the bag. I felt my throat close up, my heart pound like a fist against my chest, and cursed myself for coming. Through the blur I saw Chow reach for the zipper. I stopped him with a hand on his arm, still focused on those bedraggled strands of hair and the sound of tears hitting the vinyl.

”Choices, kid. Everyone makes choices. And I’ve just made a bad one.” Then I walked out."

Even if you're not a fan of RPing or know nothing about it, sometimes they can make for really good reading.

 

[Recidiva]

I get it, I just don't get it. If you know what I mean

I've only participated, (in a very limited capacity), in one public, (online), RPG and two private (2 person) RPG's, so I'm far from an expert, but I love creating characters that are damaged, that fail, that could very well die at any moment. But then, I've never played for points or winning or anything like that - I just like the writing part.

Hehehe...I got to see this dynamic in action when I played one set of Dungeons and Dragons at the home of the dungeon master, who was a vicious bastard who got everyone killed as much as possible - for instance, warriors always faced off against rustbeasts that destroyed their gear, and wizards were always mired in an element that would make their casting impossible - i.e., fighting something sensitive to lightning but you're knee-deep in a sewer and you'd electrocute yourself...

Except...his wife was a bard who "miraculously" never died, had a unicorn mount, limited invulnerability and several "gifts" from various Gods while the rest of us had to reroll constantly and she breezed through life with nary a hardship. I saw her die once...but the resulting stares made him "locate" some sort of miracle and resurrect her unharmed. The rest of us never got miracles, only ugly death.

I love the writing part and I married the guy that's the best fantasy maker I've met...in an online game...with both of us deciding it was "only for fun." He and I are happily ensconced in EQ2 right now.

I've raised to game player kids too...at least we always have shared interests and conversations about strategy and such. If I'd raised a sports fan I'd be entirely lost.

 

[Recidiva]

I personally love RPing and have been for over a decade. In gamer years, that's a long damn time.

I have RPed on this site, one of my better RPs is here:

http://forum.literotica.com/showthread.php?t=601799

For all you Tl;dr's, it's a good read. And different than many RPs in the fact that it's literally written backwards and has NO parts written directly in Jenny's POV, because...she's dead.

Jennifer Chen is a mad-famous junkie artist whose heroin habit is the "muse" for her work. She's slowly being driven mad by the addiction, but only sees herself getting closer and closer to "the edge", where she thinks she'll break through to "the other side" of artistic brilliance. All of the parts are written journalistic style, by people whose life had been affected by Jennifer in some way before her death. One of the best excerpts in the RP, written by "Silkcrow", a very talented writer:

"I let Chow lead now, down a short corridor and through two windowless swinging doors, then around a corner and into a small room. There was no furniture, equipment or instruments in the room. Just a hospital gurney. The gurney was covered with a long strip of disposable paper. Lying on top of the paper was a black vinyl bag, zippered lengthwise from one end to the other. Attached to one corner of the bag by a heavy clip was a white tag with some writing on it.

I moved closer to the gurney and looked down at the bag. At one end, just below the top of the zipper, a dozen or so strands of jet-black hair stuck up between the brass teeth. They glistened in the sterile light save for a few which were stuck together in a paste of crusted crimson paint. I recognized each one.

The tears came now, unbidden, unwanted. I tried to ignore them and refused to blink my eyes, which they quickly filled and fled in thick droplets onto the bag. I felt my throat close up, my heart pound like a fist against my chest, and cursed myself for coming. Through the blur I saw Chow reach for the zipper. I stopped him with a hand on his arm, still focused on those bedraggled strands of hair and the sound of tears hitting the vinyl.

”Choices, kid. Everyone makes choices. And I’ve just made a bad one.” Then I walked out."

Even if you're not a fan of RPing or know nothing about it, sometimes they can make for really good reading.

Very cool.

I loved the old text-based MUSH and MOO worlds. I'd happily create objects all day long.

I guess Second Life would be a good place for me now...but I already married the best player I'd met, and we've sworn off online play because of all the...static it has the potential to bring into a real life.

 

[satindesire]

Very cool.

I loved the old text-based MUSH and MOO worlds. I'd happily create objects all day long.

I guess Second Life would be a good place for me now...but I already married the best player I'd met, and we've sworn off online play because of all the...static it has the potential to bring into a real life.

Sexuality has become a big part of the online RP community...unfortunately. I believe that sexuality not only dilutes the player pool to include people looking for a quick nut, but it also detracts from the quality of plot progression in many games. People often get so focused on writing fucking scenes that they forget where the story is supposed to go!

Sexuality DOES have a place in my RP, but it needs to come at it's logical place. I don't RP for the sake of sex and none of my RPs are started for sexual purposes.

Mister is aware of the fact that there is sexuality in some of my games, but he and I both separate writing in character to person-to-person interaction, I.E. sexual scenes in RP is NOT cyber (in my games). So, I think that really helps. My OOC interactions are impersonal and highly platonic, no kissy-kissy allowed.

I generally let the people who inquire about gaming with me that I'm not into sex-heavy SL's and if they're looking for sexual RP, to seek it elsewhere. I don't get as much play as I used to, as many 'serious' gamers have grown up and had kids and don't have time for RP anymore.

Le sigh.

 

[Recidiva]

Sexuality has become a big part of the online RP community...unfortunately. I believe that sexuality not only dilutes the player pool to include people looking for a quick nut, but it also detracts from the quality of plot progression in many games. People often get so focused on writing fucking scenes that they forget where the story is supposed to go!

Sexuality DOES have a place in my RP, but it needs to come at it's logical place. I don't RP for the sake of sex and none of my RPs are started for sexual purposes.

Mister is aware of the fact that there is sexuality in some of my games, but he and I both separate writing in character to person-to-person interaction, I.E. sexual scenes in RP is NOT cyber (in my games). So, I think that really helps. My OOC interactions are impersonal and highly platonic, no kissy-kissy allowed.

I generally let the people who inquire about gaming with me that I'm not into sex-heavy SL's and if they're looking for sexual RP, to seek it elsewhere. I don't get as much play as I used to, as many 'serious' gamers have grown up and had kids and don't have time for RP anymore.

Le sigh.

Well, that's the thing. Husband and I both started on that "just for fun, totally detached" basis. But over the years that he and I roleplayed together online, we became indispensible to each other and ultimately ended up together. Years of pain and heartache ensued.

So regardless of he and I thinking WE could remain detached, I've seen enough of "inability to remain detached" to let me know not to mess with it. Love and intimacy do the choosing, not me. He's pretty adamant about not opening that door again, and although I used to disagree with him on the subject, I've come around to his way of thinking after watching people for a few more years online.

I actually think I could probably handle it, but my husband has decided he doesn't want to have to shoot someone, so there you go. For him, it's not about me leaving him, it's about him having to defend me from someone who feels they have some right to my reality.

Creation of characters expresses some need, and that need being fulfilled gives people ideas that that need isn't being fulfilled in reality, which gives them some sort of imaginary or real proprietary knowledge that can be used to wedge their way into reality.

Whether or not they'd succeed at it, not the point ultimately. It's not giving them the chance to try that drives the choice.

Overall and in rich retrospect, I have to agree that it's a risk I don't want to take for some detached fun.

Which is why I write fiction now...I can still write, I just am prohibited from writing AT someone.

 

[Keroin]

Hehehe...I got to see this dynamic in action when I played one set of Dungeons and Dragons at the home of the dungeon master, who was a vicious bastard who got everyone killed as much as possible - for instance, warriors always faced off against rustbeasts that destroyed their gear, and wizards were always mired in an element that would make their casting impossible - i.e., fighting something sensitive to lightning but you're knee-deep in a sewer and you'd electrocute yourself...

Except...his wife was a bard who "miraculously" never died, had a unicorn mount, limited invulnerability and several "gifts" from various Gods while the rest of us had to reroll constantly and she breezed through life with nary a hardship. I saw her die once...but the resulting stares made him "locate" some sort of miracle and resurrect her unharmed. The rest of us never got miracles, only ugly death.

Oh good gravy! Gotta love nepotism.

It's the rules and points and pre-created worlds that really keep me from getting into RPG beyond what I'm doing. I completely understand the need for the rules and such but, hm, makes me feel penned in.

I am really enjoying the one-on-one RPG I'm involved in, it's actually given a boost to my "real" writing. Surrendering control of a scene or plot line is challenging and forces me to stay on my toes. Very cool.

I love the writing part and I married the guy that's the best fantasy maker I've met...in an online game...with both of us deciding it was "only for fun." He and I are happily ensconced in EQ2 right now.

I've raised to game player kids too...at least we always have shared interests and conversations about strategy and such. If I'd raised a sports fan I'd be entirely lost.

That's awesome that you have that to share with your family!

 

[satindesire]

*snip*
Which is why I write fiction now...I can still write, I just am prohibited from writing AT someone.

That's true. Some people are better at being completely emotionally detached from the people they're writing with and some people get deeply involved. One isn't necessarily 'better' than the other, inherently, there are good and bad things about both mindsets. I say this with no ego or offense intended whatsoever.

I think it's beautiful that you are in a relationship with someone who shares so many of your passions and hobbies. Really, it's something that has strengthened my relationship, and so I surely see the value in having similar passions as your mate.

 

[Recidiva]

Oh good gravy! Gotta love nepotism.

It's the rules and points and pre-created worlds that really keep me from getting into RPG beyond what I'm doing. I completely understand the need for the rules and such but, hm, makes me feel penned in.

I am really enjoying the one-on-one RPG I'm involved in, it's actually given a boost to my "real" writing. Surrendering control of a scene or plot line is challenging and forces me to stay on my toes. Very cool.

That's awesome that you have that to share with your family!

I love the games...but there are only a few people I can play with...and since I'm married to the bestest, I don't go wanting.

I play all sorts of online RPGs, and have run roughshod through Everquest, Warcraft, Everquest 2, Dark Age of Camelot...but the way I play is pretty much purely for experiencing the world and doing what I do solo. I have all channels off and don't talk much at all.

I shut off all the greed and trash talk and just serenely...kill stuff and make stuff. I have a particular brand of "TradeDD" (Like ADD only more deadly) that makes me wander off and harvest at inopportune times when people need me to heal or whatever. "Oooh! Look! Metal!"

Everyone in the family has certain talents and niches in gameplay that makes it fun to play together. Husband has maps in his head and a twitch muscle capacity that makes people think he's cheating, he's so fast and so accurate. Son has incredible processing speed and is fabulous at discovering strategies to beat a scenario or piloting. I swear he should get a job as a game tester. He can watch the rest of us play and then suddenly announce "I know how to do that." And he can. My daughter can solve a puzzle before I even grasp the rules. I usually contribute patience and willingness to grind certain things other people consider boring - like crafting.

So in EQ2 I have all my crafts maxxed and I can make...well...everything you could possibly need. And I am happy to make money to pay rent on big houses and decorate them and...

So it's fun to see personalities express themselves through games.

 

[Recidiva]

That's true. Some people are better at being completely emotionally detached from the people they're writing with and some people get deeply involved. One isn't necessarily 'better' than the other, inherently, there are good and bad things about both mindsets. I say this with no ego or offense intended whatsoever.

I think it's beautiful that you are in a relationship with someone who shares so many of your passions and hobbies. Really, it's something that has strengthened my relationship, and so I surely see the value in having similar passions as your mate.

I completely agree with you. I don't have any judgment based on it either, this is just our version of playing the emotional odds.

If the right person comes along, I will get really, really attached. And even if I can keep that platonic in my way...that doesn't mean it's fair to the other person.

It's like knowing that I'd be okay with polyamory, but choosing not to do so because the risks, for me, outweight the benefits.

And the math's different for everyone.

You know that whole thing where "what is cheating?" is the question? Well, if my husband thinks it's cheating, it is. And over time, I've come to agree. It's down to the individuals and what they're sensitive to or prone to.

 

[Keroin]

Even if you're not a fan of RPing or know nothing about it, sometimes they can make for really good reading.

I checked out the RP section of Lit several times but, honestly, I just didn't find much in the way of good reading. Mind you, I'm sure it's just like the fiction section of Lit, where there is no end of crap. Like the fiction section, I'm sure there are also some rare gems that really do shine.

Also, what I saw, (that put me off), was a lot of "wish fulfillment". The guys were cool, the women were sexy, etc. For personal satisfaction, that's great, but for fiction...snore.

And the oft-changing POV's and tenses I find distracting many times.

Good gracious I sound like an old fuddy duddy, don't I?

 

[Recidiva]

I checked out the RP section of Lit several times but, honestly, I just didn't find much in the way of good reading. Mind you, I'm sure it's just like the fiction section of Lit, where there is no end of crap. Like the fiction section, I'm sure there are also some rare gems that really do shine.

Also, what I saw, (that put me off), was a lot of "wish fulfillment". The guys were cool, the women were sexy, etc. For personal satisfaction, that's great, but for fiction...snore.

And the oft-changing POV's and tenses I find distracting many times.

Good gracious I sound like an old fuddy duddy, don't I?

I think you just sound like a good writer

And I have the same problem with wish fulfillment and stereotypical idealized characters.

Gotta give 'em flaws, gotta make 'em interesting.

Partly why Warcraft pisses me off at times. "I'm a PALADIN, I do not wish to fight in a thong and a belly shirt!"

 

[Keroin]

I think you just sound like a good writer

LOL, thanks. Vastly preferable to "old fuddy duddy".

And I have the same problem with wish fulfillment and stereotypical idealized characters.

Gotta give 'em flaws, gotta make 'em interesting.

Partly why Warcraft pisses me off at times. "I'm a PALADIN, I do not wish to fight in a thong and a belly shirt!"

HA! Love it.

Yeah, flaws are beautiful. Flaws are interesting. Flaws are good plot fodder.

 

[satindesire]

I checked out the RP section of Lit several times but, honestly, I just didn't find much in the way of good reading. Mind you, I'm sure it's just like the fiction section of Lit, where there is no end of crap. Like the fiction section, I'm sure there are also some rare gems that really do shine.

Also, what I saw, (that put me off), was a lot of "wish fulfillment". The guys were cool, the women were sexy, etc. For personal satisfaction, that's great, but for fiction...snore.

And the oft-changing POV's and tenses I find distracting many times.

Good gracious I sound like an old fuddy duddy, don't I?

The quality of realism in characters is how you spot a good RPer from a...ahem.."casual" one.

I had to stop offering character building help as a mentor because I was "too harsh" according to my peers. I guess after my 50th 'fallen angel teen character with long beautiful hair is in high school and no one knows she's an angel but her father is a demon so she's really half-demon and half-angel and some people want to kill her to make this prophecy come true" and me saying "um, what kind of Judeo-Christian theology are you operating under to write such a story?" I had to stop.

Characters have to have balance. They have to be logical. They have to have flaws.

My most beautiful character is also a xenophobic, paranoid, half-mad serial killer. I won't get into the details, but suffice it to say, she's not a "Mary Sue" for sure.

Partly why Warcraft pisses me off at times. "I'm a PALADIN, I do not wish to fight in a thong and a belly shirt!"

Me: "How is this practical battle gear? She's exposing a good 70% of her flesh, wait...is that...is that a metal bra? How on earth? No woman would enter into dangerous enemy territory wearing something stolen from the set of "Xena: Warrior Princes!" For God's sake, give her some realistic and logical armor, not this brass bikini!"

 

[Recidiva]

LOL, thanks. Vastly preferable to "old fuddy duddy".

HA! Love it.

Yeah, flaws are beautiful. Flaws are interesting. Flaws are good plot fodder.

Writing has helped me a lot figure out how to entertain myself with fiction, but not have to act out the drama in my reality. It's nice.

I'm cool with leading a relatively boring real life that's stable enough for children and marriage and pets and job and clean house.

And sharing a rich fantasy life with those same people.

The job and pets are left out of the fantasy life...but they're okay with that.

 

[Recidiva]

The quality of realism in characters is how you spot a good RPer from a...ahem.."casual" one.

I had to stop offering character building help as a mentor because I was "too harsh" according to my peers. I guess after my 50th 'fallen angel teen character with long beautiful hair is in high school and no one knows she's an angel but her father is a demon so she's really half-demon and half-angel and some people want to kill her to make this prophecy come true" and me saying "um, what kind of Judeo-Christian theology are you operating under to write such a story?" I had to stop.

Characters have to have balance. They have to be logical. They have to have flaws.

My most beautiful character is also a xenophobic, paranoid, half-mad serial killer. I won't get into the details, but suffice it to say, she's not a "Mary Sue" for sure.

Me: "How is this practical battle gear? She's exposing a good 70% of her flesh, wait...is that...is that a metal bra? How on earth? No woman would enter into dangerous enemy territory wearing something stolen from the set of "Xena: Warrior Princes!" For God's sake, give her some realistic and logical armor, not this brass bikini!"

Exactly! I think some of the most fun husband and I had was swapping genders and even...swapping characters to see how much of a grip you have on a character build...whether or not you can seamlessly play any character. It's the whole "who do you want to be today?" creative challenge that I really loved.

Husband and I once played a set of psychic fire-starter twins. Exasperated goody-goody parents who were expecting paragons gave us Nerf axes. Now that's fun. I've had my share of psychotic but endearing characters. (Well, endearing to me, anyway.)

I also had a character that would adopt anyone on request so I had a huge family...and I had hundreds of kids. Ulaven's character would just set a warning that there was no allowance and no breast feeding.

Warcraft clothing really, really irritates me. EQ2 has an "Appearance" setting, so you can wear whatever set of appearance clothing you want. I LOVE that. The fact that I can make that clothing, even better. EQ2 has separate crafting levels so you can be a level 85 crafter and a level 1 adventure level. I crafted in Warcraft, but by the time I COULD make something, I'd practically outgrown it.

Warcraft used to make me "embrace my inner skank" and then want to shower. The clothing in Outland and Northrend became much better. But the newbie stuff used to make me do the same thing. "Jesus, you're kidding me, that thing is metal and MAN that's binding, do you have any idea what kind of cutting into breastseses that would actually do when I try to swing a blade?"