Cygnus

Ok..here are a few. For best viewing and considerate bandwidth usage, please download to your computer by Right Clicking and Saving As. Enjoy. http://www.eve-files.com/media/corp/BAPWN/Titan.wmv http://www.eve-files.com/media/corp/coc/miscnew.wmv I like this one and the music too. These next two are a set. It gives more the epic size these operations can become. http://www.eve-files.com/media/corp/CoRM/ascnvsgpos.zip http://www.eve-files.com/media/corp/CoRM/ascnvsgposp2.zip http://www.eve-files.com/media/08/Lyticus_APiratesLife.wmv Without a doubt, the best piracy video ever..and it is long...YARR! http://www.eve-files.com/media/corp/cynet/rookiejourney.wmv Nicely done, in a more dramatic style. I'll get some more. This one is cute and in French http://ns32358.ovh.net/~colsup/CSUP-la-fictionVOST.avi A very funny flash. If you ever hear me say Kapla!..you now know why. http://www.student.ru.nl/martindevillers/rmrnstuff.html This last one has to be done by professional people. It is quite incredible. http://evol.deliciousbass.com/evolution-trailer.wmv mirrorsite: http://www.eve-files.com/media/04/evolution-trailer.wmv

If you would like Schot, I can dig up some player made video links that are excellent as well. My friends in EVEOnline usually maintain an archieve of the links on our board.

Comments are welcome and appreciated. I hope you enjoy it. Narrative and myself is plain text Aura (female), the ship computer is text The Abyss Anger, pain, and dispair follow in the wake of all the children of Chaos. The time will come when we need seek Her refuge once more. She is dangerous and cruel and mysterious, yet she rewards her children interpid enough, with peace and enlightenment. She welcomes all her children back to her loving embrace with no reservations and no questions asked. All she asks in return is your love and your attention and... "Open secure channel T57122A0B1-Tango" Establishing link, please wait...link established. "Send: I am back in the area and available." Receiving: "You were not expected back." "Send: Things have changed." Receiving: "For the worse?" "Send: No." Receiving: "Good. Something may have come up..." and that you come alone... some time later... The Dance of Death is both beautiful and macabre. It can be as fast as a lover’s heartbeat or as slow as the mending of a broken heart. You do not get to always pick your partner in the Dance… Receiving: “Video feed is active. Hold position.” Send: “Understood” Several tense minutes pass as a lone ship remains hidden in the debris of an asteroid field. She watches as ships patrol the space around their makeshift base, just as a tigress watches her prey. We are being targeted. Send: “Been spotted” Receiving: “Terminate targets.” Send: “Understood” "Combat overlay." Combat overlay active. Auto target locking enabled. "Music." Selection. "Rob Zombie, Dragula." Music starts to reverberate inside the ship. Targets locked. "Execute attack pattern Tango using target alpha." Tango executing. The Akaedynkaar’s engines come to life as she maneuvers to join in the Dance. …all you can do is learn the steps and moves and let the music flow through you as you meet the other Dancers on the floor

Three starships are poised near an acceleration gate, their pilots making last minute preparations before launching into the dangerous unknown. “So what is the assignment again?” Shemar asked. “Agent wants us to catch an informant and take him out. It is a level four assignment…” Kalahari replied. As the two finalized battle plans my thoughts wandered. Why does everyone think the Akaedynkaar looks like a winky? I could sure use a nerve stick right now! Maybe I should stop like she asked me too….OH! Kalahari is hitting the acceleration gate! It’s show time! Yarr! I’ll give her a five count and hit the gate to follow her in! Five...four…three…two…one...gogogogo! I punched the controls to activate the acceleration gate and the Akaedynkaar smoothly moved into alignment and started to accelerate. Hey! I should have seen Kalahari zooming off in front of me already… My eyes boggled as I took a quick look starboard. Kalahari’s ship had activated the gate but kept hitting Shemar’s ship and was having trouble navigating around. The Akaedynkaar suddenly jolted forward into warp. “Noooooo!!” were the last words I remember hearing Kalahari scream over the comm channel. Seconds later the Akaedynkaar exits warp. We are being targeted by multiple hostiles. Holy bat #^%$%! They are EVERYWHERE! Dazzling flashes of light erupted around the Akaedynkaar as her shields worked to deflect incoming enemy fire. Shields at 75%. I was frozen in panic. Shields at 50%. Girl do SOMETHING! Where to go?! Where to go?! Aaaah! Auto pilot warp!! Shields at 25%. The Akaedynkaar’s engines came to life and she began to maneuver to align with a pre-selected warp destination. Shields have failed. I should have been a scientist like mom wanted! Armor at 90%. Come on baby you can do it! Armor at 80%. Activate armor repair unit! Armor at 75%. The Akaedynkaar finally completed her maneuvering and smoothly accelerated into warp. That was so uncool…I need a nerve stick…

This story actually ended up being longer than I expected. Comments are welcome and appreciated. I hope you enjoy it. The Remembrance of Ashford Abbey Sardelac Sanitarium, a place of refuge and healing for the traumatized after the Searing. In a time before the Searing, it had a different name, a different purpose, it was once called Ashford Abbey and it was my home for much of my youth. I return to the Abbey every year with my beloved sister, Xani, and my dearest friend and Guardian, Shantal, to remember those lost and to remember the event that forever changed our lives. It started out as a small, private day of remembrance, but now it has turned into a very public ceremony. Ashford Abbey’s Remembrance of the Searing draws people of all cultures far and wide for a very spiritual experience. While I am uncomfortable with the attention, I can see no diplomatic way out especially since Benard insists there is no official ceremony in the first place. I do admit it is a beautiful ceremony and deeply moving, so I contently play my part in it. The ceremony starts with a promising, young girl student from the Temple watching vigilantly for my arrival. This student views her role as a great honor and takes it very seriously. I heard several of the girls did not sleep for days as they constantly kept watch for my arrival. When I do arrive, the girl races to the center of the courtyard with a bell in hand and begins to ring it. I make my way into the courtyard and to the girl as do the Temple faithful, students, and worshipers. *ring* *ring* *ring* *flash* I remember Temmer’s reassuring grin as he said; “You’re feeling things are out of sorts and that is good enough for me.” He paused to gently brush a strand of hair from my face. *flash* The hair stood on the back of my neck. Something is wrong, so terribly wrong! But what if I am mad? What if my feelings are betraying me? What if…*deep breath* I have to have faith… I ran to the courtyard and the great bell there. It was imported from Cantha and used for ceremonies and to gather people in times of emergency. I rang the bell. *fade* The girl stops ringing her bell and for a few minutes, the hundreds of people gathered, quietly remember. *flash* After several minutes, I stopped ringing the bell. People were gathering in the courtyard. They wondering what the fuss was about and I had no answer. Benard was giving me a disapproving look, when suddenly the wind began to shift and the first ominous, unnatural clouds started to form in the sky. Benard ordered the bell rung. *fade* *ring* *ring* *ring* Three boy students being to ring their bells in unison as I slowly walk and lead the procession to the shrine. *flash* Things were orderly at first, people issuing orders and people calmly making their way to the catacomb entrances. Things became more frantic as the foul wind blew and all the sky became red. Then the lighting and the first streaks of fire fell from the sky. It then became all out panic as people desperately raced in from the outlaying farms for the shelter of the catacombs. *fade* The procession reaches the shrine and stops. Now only one boy is ringing his bell. The boy and I stare a moment at each other and we both gently smile. He looks so very proud… *flash* I was standing outside the catacomb entrance with several other faithful directing people as they arrived. Two of the students that were ringing the bell had just arrived at the entrance. “Why is Jessap still out there ringing the bell?” I yelled over the storm and people. One of the students shook his head and talked while trying to catch his breath, “We tried to bring him! He said he would not stop ringing until everyone is safe.” Jessap was not a gifted student, he was quite the opposite. He was mocked by many as being the village idiot. Despite his slowness, he had a strong back, a big heart, and was always eager and happy to help others. I needed to get Jessap to safety. I yelled his name and waved my arms to get his attention as I started to run out to get him. “Jessap! Jessap!” I made it two steps… *fade* I take exactly two steps forward and stop. As I stop the boy stops ringing his bell. I always shudder… *flash* A giant crystalline meteor fell into the courtyard and onto where the bell once was, silencing Jessap. The shockwave from the impact knocked me to the ground. The full onslaught of the Searing had begun… *fade* On my knees, I bow down towards the shrine as does the rest of the gathering. We are all bowed in silence for several minutes as we remember… *flash* I remember the screams of terror and the cries of babies over the thunderous force of the Searing. The dust in the air was as thick as the fear people felt. Someone yelled, “Cave in at the west wing!” I was choking on smoke that smelled of sulfur, as I made my way with others, through the shadowy catacomb passages that we could barely see in. We were moving rubble and stones. We found survivors. One woman’s body was badly broken yet she clung to life as she clung to her crying baby. “She looks bad off. Careful with her lads.” Temmer’s face was covered with soot and sweat as he looked at me with his intense, blue eyes. “You should go up with her.” I nodded and left with the men carrying the injured woman and her baby. Temmer was still yelling as he did at regular intervals. “Help is here! If you can hear us make some noise!” We were a short way down the passage when the hair on the back of my neck stood on end. I turned back and my eyes locked with Temmer’s one last time. A thunderous sound and the earth shook. Dust filled the air and rocks fell. I was screaming, people were holding me back and then all went numb… *fade* In years prior I tried to not cry as I remembered, now I just let the tears come. I wipe away the tears as I slowly stand and walk next to the shrine. Every year I bring an offering, this year I brought a Canthan cherry blossom, Temmer always wanted to see Cantha… I place the cherry blossom on the shrine and in the most clear and resonant voice I can muster, I say my vow. “I offer this in remembrance to all those that have passed. In your name and in the name of all those I love, I carry on and work to make the world a better place” I walk away from the shrine and people begin to stand and then make their way to the shrine with their own offerings and words. I typically try to make my way to a place to avoid any further attention while I wait for Xani and Shantal, some years I am more successful than others. This year I was intercepted by a family and could see Benard hovering conveniently nearby out of the corner of my eye. I inwardly smile as I sense yet another of the old codger’s schemes to make a proper priestess out of me. The strangely familiar woman spoke, “Priestess Arnimane?” “Please, just call me Cygnus.” “O…ok. Pries…I mean Cygnus. My name is Carol. This is my husband Mark.” Mark bowed his head and said, “It is a great honor to meet you. This is our daughter Lisa.” He showed me the baby he had cradled in his arms. “And this is our son Douglas”, Carol put her hands on the small boy’s shoulders as she concluded the introductions. I recognized Douglas right away. He was the student that rang the final bell in the ceremony. Carol continued, “I been meaning to do this for years now. I just…just…” Carol bit her lower lip, “I’m not sure if you remember me, but you saved me and Douglas from the rubble in the catacombs… A sudden wave of realization hit me. It was her. I was doing my best to remain composed, but I was caught completely off guard by this encounter. The onslaught of different emotions was becoming numbing… “I just wanted to thank you.” Carol managed to choke out as tears welled in her eyes. I did not save anyone…I could not save anyone…I should have… “I…I…” I was trying tell Carol I was sorry, that I should had acted sooner and did more. I had not noticed Xani and Shantal were next to me until they both placed a hand on my shoulders. All three of us exchanged glances and I knew exactly what they were thinking and maybe they were right that I am needlessly beating myself up over events I could not control. My nerves settled. “You are welcome” I said and bowed to Carol. Carol smiled and bowed in return. She looked settled now as well. She then kneeled down and whispered something to Douglas. Douglas walked forward with a long, thin wooden case in his hands. He stopped right in front of me and looked up at me with his wide, nervous blue eyes. He then held up the case with both hand and presented it to me. He bowed his head and spoke, “We made this for you Priestess Arnimane” I smiled and took the case. “Thank you Douglas” he lowered his arms as I took the case. Instead of returning to his mother, Douglas stood before me staring at me with his big, blue eyes excitedly waiting for me to open the case. I opened the case to reveal and beautiful patterned ribbon, much like the ones I wear around my wrists and in my hair. The ribbon is fashioned in my favorite fabric and colors. On one side of the ribbon a phrase in archaic Canthan and on the other side archaic Ascalon. Xani was ohhhing and ahhhing as she asked, “What does it say?” Douglas answered, “A light in the darkness.” My eyes were getting misty and I smiled at Douglas and said, “It is beautiful. Thank you. I will cherish it always.” I bowed to Douglas and he bowed in return.

I never did post these youtube Guild Wars videos...they are rather good Guild Wars vs WoW Simply Enfuego Bohemian Rhapsody and probaby the best of the bunch..I even found and downloaded the original high res version of it... Fire of Spirit concert video

Oh, do not misunderstand. It has decent multiplayers. The difference is people host their own games and files, it is not like the Bnet or the Sacred servers. Gamespy host the general Internet room where you can create and join games via the internet. Game can be given a name and password protected as well. So gogoblender can host Dark Clan Titan Quest..password protect it. You also have the option of using direct LAN connections as well. Of course since people store the charatcer files on their PC.."legit" gaming can become difficult. I tinkered with it multiplayer..and it worked well enough. It certainly can be used for that. Also if you like creating modules for you and friends to go through...that is something you can do as well. Honestly, for multiplayer though..I tend to play Guild Wars for that mostly, so it was not my primary concern with Titan Quest. From what I have seen of it, it is more like Neverwinter Nights. The gaming community hosts the games and makes new content for it. Did I mention the nice little clang you get when you successfully block or how if the Defender skill called Pulverize successfully executes....you lean in with your shield and smack foes, get a small thunder clap sound, the screen shackes...and it can send weaker foes flying into next week?

The major advantage is the obvious. Plasma do not become part of a debris field. A fleet becomes part of the possible salvage an attacker can get..defenses do not.

Ok. I can say after playing Titan Quest for awhile now, that it is certainly very fun. I'll make a bullet check list for you Gogo. 1. Graphics and atmosphere. Check. The graphics are top notch. For the charatcers and the settings. 2. Sound. Check. I know how much the sounds in Sacred and Titan Quest has the same quality sound and music. 3. Multiplayer. This is where it is vastly differenet. No offical game servers. I cannot say much for the multiplayer experience, I have yet to try it. It is also open to custom mods. So people can make their own stuff and alter charatcers and make custom senerios...and cheat. 4. Story. It is standard action rpg. Nothing special. It is liner, though you can revisit places you been before, just like Diablo. 5. Charater development. There are only two charatcer models, Male and Female. You cannot customize the look at all. Charatcer stats is a straight forward system of investing points into what helps you the most. Charatcer skill is where it does offer the diversity. There are 8 Mastery lines and a charatcer can have up to 2 of those Mastery lines. At level 2 you pick your first Mastery and at level 8 and any time after you can pick up a second Mastery line, if you wish (it is entirely optional). You get skill points to invest each time you level and you can develop the skills you wish. The is an NPC in the game that you can use to untrain skill points so you can put them into something else. What makes Titan Quest fun? For the single player game, it is the complete package. It is not one thing, just the complete package well done. My current favorite charatcer is a Guardian, which combines the mastery of Defense and Nature. Nature offers skill to boost health and resistances, heal, and summon allies to fight with me. Defense offers boosts that are defensive in nature, and heals and something very special, the charatcer can make use of a shield as a weapon. The world is rendered in 3D and utilizes physics as well. Really powerful hits on foes and send them flying into next week. Watching my Guardain shield charge a group of baddies sending some of the flying off into kingdom come, just never gets old .

Did not cash any in. I usually have a few hundred in a fleet for recon purposes.

Spell Force 2 is not an RPG, it is a RTS with roleplaying elements. Balder's Gate 2 is an exceptional game as is Knights of the Old Republic. The Elder Scroll games as well. Torment in my mind is the pinnacle computer roleplaying game. The story and the interaction and the immersion is what is paramount in a roleplaying game. Sacred is much like Diablo..it is an action game with roleplaying elements. I for one like publishers to include comprehensive documentation, most these days include a skimpy pamphlet on how to use the game interface and nothing else. It seem most would rather captalize on a published, supplimental "guide" book instead. In the case of Balder's Gate's documentation, the majority of the book is background story and spell desciptions. The actually game mechanics parts are not as daunting as you may think. To say "leave Balder's Gate on the shelf" is a gross misrepresentation of the excellent series that truly is. It perhaps is not what you were expecting. It is not Sacred. It is a roleplaying game, first and foremost. The action is also meant to simulate a table top, turn/round based charatcer action..in the real time computer environment. It tells an epic story that was intended to span 3 complete games. As fate would have it..the third installment and final chapter got told in the Throne of Bhaal expansion instead (due to the impending failure of Interplay). An epic story that is compelling and flexible enough for any charatcer motivation. It is a game where you actually remember the names, personalities and voices of party members, infact, you probably see them more as companions. I'd have to say Balder's Gate 2 and Throne of Bhaal is a very satisfying roleplaying game experience. Favorite character in Balder's Gate series: Jaheira (excellent voice acting by Heidi Shannon) The relationship between the player and Jaheira is probably the most complicated, she is also the companion that suffers and looses the most in her association with the player. All time favorite villan in a computer game. SHODAN. The artifical intelligence that believed she was a godess. All time favorite roleplaying charatcer party member/companion. She is my avatar. Fall from Grace.

No, I have not played it yet. I might be tempted to, it is been awhile since I enjoyed a good space combat sim.

Ok, Gogo, here you go. After reading a good number of reviews I'd say this little clip summs up how most feel about the game. XPlay Video Review

player name: salsab alliance Jin Roh 3:407:3 3:407:4 This puts salsab inbetween myself and Aurora of Spawn.

Where in Galaxy 8? I'll have to take a peek. I know there is one near my Galaxy 3 bases.

DarkStar One Homepage I know, Gogo, you had mentioned this game way back on the offical Sacred Forums one day. Not sure if you kept up with it or not. There is a downloadable demmo out now and according to EBGames, looks like it will ship August 14th. I wonder if Ascaron has gotten a little better with testing and bug fixing..and supporting their game after release? Anyway, thought I'd mention it and it might be worth taking a look at.

Certainly a good plan and works well too Firefly. Yes..I admit...I have this "thing" for a solid defense. /rolleyes If people do not want to totally rely on satillies..they can build Fusion power and satillite...the beauty of Fusion is you can turn them off and on as needed. Leave them off...fleet crashes your satillies..turn on the Fusion B)

Welcome back.

Solar satillites are excellent if you have a large defensive array to protect them. Some people do not keep all their mines at 100%. If you do not plan to have defenses and do not want to use satillites, then most people use Solar Power to provide energy for Metal and Crystal Mines and use Fusion Plants to power Deuterium mines. All of my colonies have some defense. A standard mining colony for me right now has the following defensive array. 1000 Rocket Launchers 1000 Small Lasers 80 Ion Cannons 40 Gauss Cannons 20 Plasma Cannons The array is meant to deter a cheap attack. I can put some solar satillites, but I would not go over 50-100 of them or so on a colony. On my two fortified worlds...I can easily put several thosands of satillites in orbit if I want.

Yes, our guild is still growing strong and in fact now in an alliance with several other guilds. Our alliance has over a hundred members strong. Our alliance name is The Silver Circle Alliance. It was founded by The Beautiful Oblivion (EON) and The Orphans of Kukai (OOK). The Orphans were highlighted as Guild of the Week. http://www.guildwars.com/community/guildwe...hansofkukai.php other memeber guilds are: Tides of Light (TL) Mithril Knights (MK) United Union (GWU) Anet has also announced some information on the next expansion. This weekend is doubt faction player versus player event, next weekend is a player versus player preview of the two new classes due out with the upcoming expansion. I am experienced in adventuring and player versus player battling. Character names: Cygnus Arnimane (Monk) Cygnus Xani (Elementalist) Shantal Dane (Warrior) Sionesse Arnimane (Assassin) Okoni Sendai (Ritualist)

To protect the innocent, or rather..unwise, I will omit the name. A scan of a world with defenses, but lacking anti-ballastic missiles. Metal: 783575 Crystal: 589674 Deuterium: 100543 Energy: 5858 Fleets Large Cargo 14 Light Fighter 16 Battleship 19 Recycler 2 Solar Satellite 2 Defense Rocket Launcher 511 Light Laser 291 Heavy Laser 22 Gauss Cannon 46 Ion Cannon 96 Plasma Turret 7 Small Shield Dome 1 Large Shield Dome 1 Buildings Metal Mine 24 Crystal Mine 21 Deuterium Synthesizer 13 Solar Plant 24 Fusion Reactor 9 Robotics Factory 10 Shipyard 10 Research Lab 9 Research Espionage Technology 8 Computer Technology 8 Weapons Technology 8 Shielding Technology 8 Armour Technology 7 Energy Technology 9 Hyperspace Technology 5 Combustion Drive 6 Impulse Drive 6 Hyperspace Drive 4 Laser Technology 10 Ion Technology 7 Plasma Technology 7 A scan after a volley of 24 Interplanetary Missiles... Metal: 783575 Crystal: 589674 Deuterium: 100543 Energy: 5858 Fleets Large Cargo 14 Light Fighter 16 Battleship 19 Recycler 2 Solar Satellite 2 Defense Gauss Cannon 8 Ion Cannon 90 Plasma Turret 1 Buildings Metal Mine 24 Crystal Mine 21 Deuterium Synthesizer 13 Solar Plant 24 Fusion Reactor 9 Robotics Factory 10 Shipyard 10 Research Lab 9 Research Espionage Technology 8 Computer Technology 8 Weapons Technology 8 Shielding Technology 8 Armour Technology 7 Energy Technology 9 Hyperspace Technology 5 Combustion Drive 6 Impulse Drive 6 Hyperspace Drive 4 Laser Technology 10 Ion Technology 7 Plasma Technology 7 Do not let this happen to you! If you going to build a decent defensive array, always have a good supply of anti-ballastic missiles!

Titan's Quest seems more a decent single player game. It does not seem to have much stress on multiplayer playing. For a single player game I would suggest Oblivion. Mageknight I am hoping will provide a solid single player and multiplayer experience.

Agreed. I think they are mostly using the universe for a strong, established setting. I am not expecting anything revolutionary from this title. I think it will offer a solid game experience for both single and multiplayer play.

Since I know Gogo is kind hoping for a game to play sometime this summer, I will mention Mageknight again. This little article covers a bit on multiplayer aspects of the game. Mageknight Multiplayer Q&A Official site

The only suggestion I can offer is to have a pair of these worlds..and station a small core of ships at each and a large amount of small lasers. Then have the larger part of your fleet on deployment between the two worlds. Over time you may be able to leave more stationed as your defense array grows.