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dtgreene: [great quality information about Wizardry RPG mechanics]
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rjbuffchix: Thank you for this. Did you end up choosing on which dungeon crawler was next to play (see earlier in the topic)? I have Mary Skelter but unfortunately have been unable to begin playing so I can't offer feedback.
Still haven't yet. I am currently planning to get both Serment (from GOG) and Wizardry (from HB) on the day the latter releases.

(Speaking of dungeon crawlers, there's apparently a major update to Bard's Tale Trilogy in development.)

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richlind33: Is Phantasy Star 3 any good?
That is an interesting question, to be honest. It has some interesting ideas, including the multiple generation idea, but it also has some pretty big flaws. The most obvious ones I can think of are:
* Walking speed is slow.
* There's a lot of mandatory backtracking, with no teleport spell (escapipes only let you warp out of dungeons, and there are no telepipes) and no faster transport until late game. (This is especially annoying when combined with the previous point.)
* Individual battles are not hard enough to be a challenge (except maybe the bosses, particularly the final ones).
* The game doesn't do a good job wearing you down over the course of a dungeon, particularly if you use items that cast healing spells for free when used (and it's not obvious which ones they are).
* The spells for curing poison and reviving the dead are not reliable. (Note that poison works differently in this game; it prevents the character from being healed rather than doing damage over time; it's also annoyingly commn in this game.)
* Many of the spells aren't useful; in particular, offensive magic is only useful during one part in the first generation, as otherwise the characters who can use such magic don't need it to do good damage.

I have been able to enjoy it (and, in fact, I've beaten it while I haven't beaten PS2), but it's not for everyone, and even though there are multiple routes through the game, I haven't been able to complete the game more than once back-to-back (I get bored and switch to another game when I try).

If you want to try the Phantasy Star series, 4 is the most accessible game to start with.

By the way, one Phantasy Star 3 quirk: If, at the start, you sell your boots, buy an escapipe, watch the marriage cutscene and are sent to the dungeon, then use your Escapipe, the game will softlock. You can still go around town and talk to people, including the king (who actually tells you that you're stuck and need to reset), but you can't leave town and therefore the game can't progress. (Using an Escapipe at the beginning of a new generation can have the same types of results, including both softlocks and a major skip.)
Post edited May 26, 2019 by dtgreene
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rjbuffchix: Thank you for this. Did you end up choosing on which dungeon crawler was next to play (see earlier in the topic)? I have Mary Skelter but unfortunately have been unable to begin playing so I can't offer feedback.
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dtgreene: Still haven't yet. I am currently planning to get both Serment (from GOG) and Wizardry (from HB) on the day the latter releases.

(Speaking of dungeon crawlers, there's apparently a major update to Bard's Tale Trilogy in development.)

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richlind33: Is Phantasy Star 3 any good?
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dtgreene: That is an interesting question, to be honest. It has some interesting ideas, including the multiple generation idea, but it also has some pretty big flaws. The most obvious ones I can think of are:
* Walking speed is slow.
* There's a lot of mandatory backtracking, with no teleport spell (escapipes only let you warp out of dungeons, and there are no telepipes) and no faster transport until late game. (This is especially annoying when combined with the previous point.)
* Individual battles are not hard enough to be a challenge (except maybe the bosses, particularly the final ones).
* The game doesn't do a good job wearing you down over the course of a dungeon, particularly if you use items that cast healing spells for free when used (and it's not obvious which ones they are).
* The spells for curing poison and reviving the dead are not reliable. (Note that poison works differently in this game; it prevents the character from being healed rather than doing damage over time; it's also annoyingly commn in this game.)
* Many of the spells aren't useful; in particular, offensive magic is only useful during one part in the first generation, as otherwise the characters who can use such magic don't need it to do good damage.

I have been able to enjoy it (and, in fact, I've beaten it while I haven't beaten PS2), but it's not for everyone, and even though there are multiple routes through the game, I haven't been able to complete the game more than once back-to-back (I get bored and switch to another game when I try).

If you want to try the Phantasy Star series, 4 is the most accessible game to start with.

By the way, one Phantasy Star 3 quirk: If, at the start, you sell your boots, buy an escapipe, watch the marriage cutscene and are sent to the dungeon, then use your Escapipe, the game will softlock. You can still go around town and talk to people, including the king (who actually tells you that you're stuck and need to reset), but you can't leave town and therefore the game can't progress. (Using an Escapipe at the beginning of a new generation can have the same types of results, including both softlocks and a major skip.)
I've been playing POE and am greatly impressed. The story is actually suitable for adults! Isn't that amazing? ;p
Post edited May 26, 2019 by richlind33
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richlind33: I've been playing POE and am greatly impressed. The story is actually suitable for adults! Isn't that amazing? ;p
POE?
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richlind33: I've been playing POE and am greatly impressed. The story is actually suitable for adults! Isn't that amazing? ;p
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dtgreene: POE?
Perverts of Ecuador
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richlind33: I've been playing POE and am greatly impressed. The story is actually suitable for adults! Isn't that amazing? ;p
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dtgreene: POE?
Pillars Of Eternity.

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dtgreene: POE?
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tinyE: Perverts of Ecuador
Shoo!
Post edited May 26, 2019 by richlind33
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GameRager: Well it is understandable that it would be popular to some degree, given the human nature to procreate/be attracted to others.
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richlind33: Sure, but it's negative impact on human relationships correlates closely with it's prevalence. It isn't harmless.
It negatively impacts some relationships, but it also improves others. Also: Correlation!=causation(i believe that's the saying).
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richlind33: Sure, but it's negative impact on human relationships correlates closely with it's prevalence. It isn't harmless.
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GameRager: It negatively impacts some relationships, but it also improves others. Also: Correlation!=causation(i believe that's the saying).
Correlation does *not* equal causation in and of itself, but it will frequently lead you to it.

Does pornography actually *improve* relationships, or is it just another drug that we use to make up for unmet needs?
Post edited May 26, 2019 by richlind33
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GameRager: It negatively impacts some relationships, but it also improves others. Also: Correlation!=causation(i believe that's the saying).
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richlind33: Correlation does *not* equal causation in and of itself, but it will frequently lead you to it.

Does pornography actually *improve* relationships, or is it just another drug that we use to make up for unmet needs?
Some couples use it/"marital aids" and say it improves/spices their love life up, so maybe it's a bit of both?

Irregardless, I don;t think we need to throw the proverbial baby out with the bathwater in this case.
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richlind33: Correlation does *not* equal causation in and of itself, but it will frequently lead you to it.

Does pornography actually *improve* relationships, or is it just another drug that we use to make up for unmet needs?
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GameRager: Some couples use it/"marital aids" and say it improves/spices their love life up, so maybe it's a bit of both?

Irregardless, I don;t think we need to throw the proverbial baby out with the bathwater in this case.
It takes more than "spice" to have a healthy relationship.
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GameRager: Some couples use it/"marital aids" and say it improves/spices their love life up, so maybe it's a bit of both?

Irregardless, I don;t think we need to throw the proverbial baby out with the bathwater in this case.
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richlind33: It takes more than "spice" to have a healthy relationship.
Yes, but for some it helps keep an otherwise stale relationship from becoming tedious or falling apart.
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richlind33: It takes more than "spice" to have a healthy relationship.
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GameRager: Yes, but for some it helps keep an otherwise stale relationship from becoming tedious or falling apart.
Drugs are a fantastic temporary solution to a seemingly complex and insurmountable longterm problem. Porn in a sexless marriage may seem like a great idea at first, a quick solution to a problem that will give a few great bumps, but similar to GOG's curation things will eventually fall apart. Substance will vanish for the sake of cheap tricks and kinky toilet thrills, and at that point it will take a great deal of retro to normalize yourself.
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I miss drugs.
I miss alcohol.

I LOVE mornings now, but the rest of the day sobriety can be a drag.
I however will remain committed to it.
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GameRager: Yes, but for some it helps keep an otherwise stale relationship from becoming tedious or falling apart.
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LootSeeker: Drugs are a fantastic temporary solution to a seemingly complex and insurmountable longterm problem. Porn in a sexless marriage may seem like a great idea at first, a quick solution to a problem that will give a few great bumps, but similar to GOG's curation things will eventually fall apart. Substance will vanish for the sake of cheap tricks and kinky toilet thrills, and at that point it will take a great deal of retro to normalize yourself.
Drugs will often mess with you physically...moreso than pr0n will.

I agree it can be a crutch for some, though.
Post edited May 27, 2019 by GameRager
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LootSeeker: Drugs are a fantastic temporary solution to a seemingly complex and insurmountable longterm problem. Porn in a sexless marriage may seem like a great idea at first, a quick solution to a problem that will give a few great bumps, but similar to GOG's curation things will eventually fall apart. Substance will vanish for the sake of cheap tricks and kinky toilet thrills, and at that point it will take a great deal of retro to normalize yourself.
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GameRager: Drugs will often mess with you physically...moreso than pr0n will.

I agree it can be a crutch for some, though.
Pornography is addicting, so it's a drug as much as heroin is, and excessive ejaculation is a great way to become enervated and impotent.
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GameRager: Drugs will often mess with you physically...moreso than pr0n will.

I agree it can be a crutch for some, though.
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richlind33: Pornography is addicting, so it's a drug as much as heroin is, and excessive ejaculation is a great way to become enervated and impotent.
I don't fully agree about pron being bad. Actually, I'd say male masturbation above 30 is bad. You stop wanking for a week and suddenly you have the energy and sex drive of a 20 year old again. Obviously, you don't have sex at least once a week, this is a bad idea for many reasons, including higher risk of prostate cancer.