Thorin Oakshield

My guess is, that Lujate is keeping in mind what happened in the days Sacred: Underworld was more or less becoming an "older" game. At those times, the servers weren't filled with just friends, but also with the newer -read: younger - players who'd like to powerlevel and such. Those kind of players just entered a server - even HC Closed; which I used to play - checked the logbook for open quests, teleport to that area and close all quests just to get the XP and items, before leaving the server again. I've experienced this several times; and believe me; if there's something frustrating me in a MP game, it's Item / XP robbers. It was also the main reason why I started a new toon up to the first 10 levels in a 4-player server. Just to make sure I got what I worked for. If not mistaken, this was also the reason why Ascaron removed the main-quest from their servers, because groups of players doing that quest, didn't get the XP because other players closed the quests before they got to that point. Now, for the "team-leader" thingy: When I was a member of a clan-I-won't-mention, I've been organizing / participating in quite some Clan-events. Logic would be that the one organizing the event, would be the team-leader. However, most of the time it were a few players who happen to be clan-forum moderator / clan-staff who'd took control of the clan-event. As a result, bosses were often fought before all the participants were in place to join the fight; and thus they were left out of the loot and the XP. Trust me, not much fun when "friends" treat you like that. I can't say much about the loot-system of Sacred 2 MP; since I didn't play it that much, because of problems I had with the before mentioned clan. Since you had to use a clan-tag in your name, I had in my unlimited wisdom decided to add the tag to my log-in name. And since I wasn't allowed to be in that clan, I wasn't allowed to use that tag, however, removing it was impossible. What I do know, is that the system worked fine; except for the duration of the timer. 60 seconds to wait before a drop someone didn't want becomes available for anyone else is too long in a MP game. By then the one making the kill has moved on a lot further, basicly leaving his / her party behind, thus getting more of the XP etc. Lowering the time-out up to 15 -20 seconds would certainly be better. As for the servers: one of the results of the item / XP looters in Sacred : Underworld, was that in Sacred 2 a lot of players created a single player, password locked MP-server; thus locking up the server slots, making it impossible for other players to play this game in MP. So, all in all, I prefer I short time locked item drop, as it would give everybody a fair share of the drops. The way things work in Diablo 3 are fine to me. Now, as for teamwork: I remember starting the "Bounty hunters" quest in Underworld at some point with a couple of Dutch players who'd like to do that quest. After some time they left off, because it was taking quite some time to get from one bounty to another. But they said they'd be back later to join in the last runs and get the amulet. More or less at the same time, several other players dropped in and asked - which was common to do - where everyone was. After mentioning we're doing the bounty quest, they offered to help, but only after a server re-boot. So, after the re-boot the quest line was started again and something funny happened. Those two Dutch players just stood at the board, while the rest of us - 10-12 persons - roamed the map, killed the bounty and kept killing things in that region. Eventually all bounties were slain, the two Dutch players had their ammy - an unique, if not mistaken - and some regions were so close to getting the region boss, we'd went on a rampage to do those as well; thus having those Dutch players to teleport to one region, helping killing the boss, after all moved to the next region and so on. Although we weren't able to clear all regions, we did have a good time and it showed me how enjoyable MP could be if you're joined by people you can trust. Thorin

15.747,06 As of September 4th. Donations are slowing down a bit, by the looks of it. Probably because everyone has returned from their (unexpected? ) expensive vacations and currently lack a dime to scratch their b.tt:) Thorin

I've just editted - or is it addited? - my post with song-titles to contain all the titles and band- / artistnames I used for those quotes. I got a few more to add; "Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls; welcome to the Twilight Zone" ( Barry Hay's opening of the Golden Earring song "Twilight Zone" while recording the "Naked Truth"-concert at Café "De Kroon.") "For whom the bells tolled? For me!" (For whom the bells toll, by Metallica) (I believe there was a Sacred 2 grave having a similar quote) "Is this the road to hell? (Road to Hell, by Chris Rea) "This is the highway to hell for sure." (Highway to hell, by AC/DC) NOTE: If anyone with strong religious believes is having problems with the last two quotes, let me know by PM and I'll remove them. Thorin

You're right, Gogo. Would be a total bummer, having only a skelleton crew present there. Thorin

Nope, only your skull is. BTW, perhaps it's me, but why are most of the skulls representing DM members having a Dutch origin? Might as well rename the tomb into Dutch Matters Tomb. Thorin

Don't you think using "Dance Macabre" from Carnival des Animeaux by Camille Saint Sans might be a better thing to use:) I do remember there was some sort of cartoon-movie about that clasical piece once, where you had the skelletons dancing and using their ribcases of other skellies as xylophone. I thought it was quite amusing at the time. Similar, but not what I meant: (now, If I only knew how to get posting links was working, it would save me a lot of typing. Thorin

Yup. Coz what I had in mind was "Rough Boy" by ZZ Top. Thorin

With the exception of Rough Boys and Sentimental Journey, you got them right, Wolfie. Although the two I had in mind, might as well be other versions of those songs. The reason you don't know / recognize all is because not all of them were (hit-)singles, but album tracks instead; not all of them from artists who're known world wide and not all of them might be the kind of music you like. So, I'm curious what others may recognize. Thorin

If we start to abuse songtitles, how about these.... At the entrance of the tomb: "Whole lotta skullies" (Whole lotta Rosie, by AC/DC) "Stairway to skull storage." (Stairway to heaven, by Led Zeppelin) For those having a grave and a tomb: "My skull is here..." (in the tomb) "My skull is there..." (at the gravestone) ( Now I'm Here, by Queen. ) "I told you to be careful with that axe, Eugene" (Careful with that Axe, Eugene by Pink Floyd) For having "only" a skull: "The only halo I got, is a Halo of Flies" ( Halo of Flies, by Alice Cooper) "I held my head up... ... and now it's severed." (Hold your head up, by Argent) "Whoops" (Whoops, by Blues Traveller) "You ask for something for the pain... ...and you end up like this." (Give me something for the pain, by Bon Jovi) "To the rest of my body: take me back." (Take me back, by Brian Adams) "So this is my hometown now?" ( My Hometown, by Bruce Springsteen.) "Not so fortunate son" (Fortunate Son, by Creedence Clearwater Revival) "He body! Where do you think you're going?" (Where do you think you're going?, by Dire Straits) "Enjoying a Sentimental Journey?" (Sentimental Journey, by Fats Domino) "Oh well...." (Oh Well, by (Peter Green's )Fleetwood Mac) "I was only sleepwalkin' " (Sleepwalkin', by Golden Earring) "Not the Paradise City I expected" Paradise City, by Guns 'n' Roses) "I walked the line" (Walk the line, by Johnny Cash) "I was the last rebel" (The last rebel, by Lynyrd Skynyrd) "Left in the dark... .....again." (Left in the dark, by Meatloaf) "I was brave and crazy" (Brave and crazy, by Melissa Etheridge) "Never thought I'd end up as King Nothing" (King Nothing, by Metallica) "I'm not even half the man I used to be." (Half the man I used to be, by Nirvana) "Living the wild side of life brought me here" (Wild side of life, by Status Quo) "So.... I'm stuck in this tomb with you." (Stuck in the middle with you, by Steelers Wheel) "I got here with a little help from my friends." (With a little help from my friends, by The Beatles (Joe Cocker) ) "THIS is Hotel California?!" (Hotel California, by The Eagles) "I got hit by the magic bus" (Magic Bus, by The Who) "I was a rough boy." (Rough Boy, by ZZ Top) Thorin PS: anyone able to figure out all the artists / bands I "quoted"?

Just got my friend a skull in the tomb, with the inscription: I hope she likes it. Thorin

Well, my skull is up there...... hmmm, bad choice of words, I guess. Anyway, it can be found at Knuckles's side, all to the left, top skull. When Dred sees it; he might actually add the right quote in his posts with idea's. Thorin

Just ordered my skull and kept my grave, so I guess I'm burried at two places now. Right now I'm wondering if I should donate another 29 Euro's to buy a tombstone for a friend of mine, who's birthday is coming up soon. Though she's a member here too; just very inactive;, so I might as well buy her a skull as well. Already got the quote ready. Thorin

What we all seem to forget, is that one of the most logical ones was already in Sacred 2. If not mistaken, at the Sloeford graveyard, to be precise. Thorin

"When he asked me 'Head or tails', I wasn't expecting this." Got the quote already, now I just need to order the skull. Edit: As an alternative: "I guess I'm heading nowhere now?" Thorin

Glad to know you're getting better; though I kinda knew that already. It may sound odd, but one of the first things that crossed my mind - and which I didn't post at the time as I had in mind to write it in a PM - was wondering if it wouldn't be better for you to quit smoking. It pleases me to see you realize that too now; especially since I know how hard it can be. After all, I quit smoking after being a chimney for 27 years, eventually smoking about 150 ciggie's a week in the last year. Which is a rough 300 cigarettes a week. So, if you need some mental support, you know where to find me. Just make sure that your "Unbended grave" remains what it is, a grave for fun, not for real. Thorin

It got its pro's and con's, I think. Pro's is what DreD mentions, you do the kills and other player just act like a vacuum cleaner to pick anything up. If they community acts similar to the HC community of S:UW, we get whole starting islands full of items for anyone anyway. And I'm in favour of that; especially since I was eventually one of those guys dropping tons of items. However, the downside of it is, when you're fond of questing - like I am - it's possible other players finish your open quests and move on with YOUR loot and YOUR XP. And that's why I oppose as well. Thorin

At the FAQ-page of the Unbended site, it's somewhere written that they're able to do a lot more with the current technology as they did when Sacred was develloped. Meaning they don't need that much of a funding to get the same result. It also means they can do it with a smaller team. As for the reason Ascaron went bankrupt; that was due to a combination of things. The financial crisis made it impossible to get another loan at the bank, because the gaming market was bound to collapse; the devellopment of Sacred 2 took longer and was a lot more difficult as expected; Ascaron was still paying up to 45K Euro's a month, to hire the Sacred: Underworld MP servers, because of the tight finances, marketing was a bit *cough* low and finally; having CDV publishing the game in Northern America and Dumb Stupid publishing the game in the rest of the world wasn't doing them any good either. Not to mention they also paid for the - FREE!! - Sacred 2 servers. So, having two different publishers didn't the sales any good, having a bad *cough * terrible *cough* marketing didn't the sales any good either and the game had a bit too many bugs, which gave it a bad reputation as well. As a result, having more expenses then income, bankrupty was the only solution. Surprisingly, I Always had the feeling Dumb Suckers killed Ascaron because they would get a hold on the strong Sacred Franchise. Just to give the entire series a headshot with The Sequel I Won't Mention. Thorin

My guess, with the release of that dumbed down version of what should have been a good game, word got out the Original dev's of Sacred are working at a new game; thus triggering the faster flow of money. Make me wonder if those fellows of Dumb Suckers are realizing what they did. Thorin

DreD linked at my FB-page to a review of Rock, Paper, Shotgun, in which S3 got reviewed as "This game is properly, unambiguously rubbish". Need to say more? Thorin

They've also posted a request for English for aplications for English speaking moderators at Facebook. However, I got the feeling that moderator also needs to be able to speak German. Thorin

I think you should change it to: "Resting place of Dobster. A good house elf" ROFPMS! Sorry, couldn't resist. Thorin

DreDBanGeR is there as well, having the text: "Being Vertically_Challenged THIS! ain't helping much" It's a reference to his S:UW Dwarf which he called "Vertically_Challenged" and it took us some time to get the right line of text. Thorin

Well, if you manage to get a quest going, I think the "Do you want to live forever?" question should pop up in it too. It may not be Conan's quote, but it's - imho - one of the key-concepts of the movie. Thorin

It's found at the western graveyard, somewhere near the bottom. However, you need to click and hold to move the graveyard a bit up, so perhaps that's why you didn't find it, Dobs. It says: "Thorin Oakshield Famous last words: NEXT!" By the look of it, you still need to buy the game; but at a reduced price. I've checked the several donation options and the ones for the gravestone, the major and the "NPC-version of you" (alter-ego) have the following message: "The full amount of the Early Supporters Packages 1-3 (that's Gravestone, NPC, Major) CONTAINS a so-called "Game-key" at a reduced preferential price of 11.90 EUR(o) incl. 19% taxes." Of course, English isn't my native language, but by the looks of it, we still need to buy the game. It's just cheaper. Although personally I think that when someone donates 299 EUR, that person should get the game for free for sure. But who am I? (edit) Another posibility is that you get more additional things depending at your donation; meaning those who spend 300 EUR, most likely get the super de luxe collectors item box. Or something like that. Thorin

Steam just got the game up as Pre-order. With a discount (from 59.99 euro's to 37.99 euro's) - yeah well, you're Dutch or you aren't - and since I had it at my wishlist already, I just pre-ordered it. Now the long waiting begins. *sigh* Thorin