Post reply

Warning: this topic has not been posted in for at least 120 days.
Unless you're sure you want to reply, please consider starting a new topic.
Name:
Email:
Subject:
Message icon:

Verification:
Type the letters shown in the picture
Listen to the letters / Request another image

Type the letters shown in the picture:
What color is grass?:
What is the seventh word in this sentence?:
What is five minus two (use the full word)?:

shortcuts: hit alt+s to submit/post or alt+p to preview


Topic Summary

Posted by: Imrahil
« on: December 11, 2004, 11:57:59 PM »

I've complained about the lack of description by the judges in past IM contests, but I have to say that these were much better.  I have a pretty good idea of what each of them does (as far as where to go, who it involves, if it's game-breaking, etc.) without feeling spoiled.  I don't mind the "foody" commentary as long as it's descriptive.  Keep up the good work!  :)

- Imrahil
Posted by: Userunfriendly
« on: December 09, 2004, 07:52:44 PM »

No little birdie chirped in my ear, but I took a look at Bon's entry as well.

A repulsive and disturbing little boy was the main character in Bon's entry.  I will admit my favorite moments while playing this mod was when I chose rather evil dialog options to say to the little boy who's name was rather familiar.  Certainly the standout feature in Bon's mod is as before the enjoyable and superb voice acting by none other than the author of this mod.  I particularly liked the magnifying glass dialog, causing me to both simultaniously grimace in disgust, and giggle at the deliberate magnification of rather bad traits exhibited by the little boy.  A most enjoyable morsel! ;)
Posted by: Userunfriendly
« on: December 09, 2004, 07:47:16 PM »

The same little bird who is not Quitch also visited me as well.

Weimer's entry was a feast for all!  A bit of moral ambiguity, some intricately crafted dialog, and some astonishingly well crafted touches.

I particularly liked one simple little throwaway line, when the Mayor mentions he wishes to gift you with the armor reward in hopes that will dissuade his daughter from following the adventurer's life.  I encountered a few bugs, however I am not at all certain whether it was my build or the mod. The bugs did not detract from the zesty flavor of the mod, which brings up a few wrinkles in my head as I attempt to answer some of the interesting philosphical musings prompted by this wonderful entry.

As per Weimer's patented trademark homages simply added to the enjoyment of this mod.  I really liked that almost throway touch of white gold in the ferrule of Covenant's sword.

Yay! :pirate :pirate :pirate
Posted by: SimDing0™
« on: December 09, 2004, 06:09:23 AM »

I continue to suggest "integration with the game" as a category for judging.

(Because then I get more Quest Pack material, obviously.)
Posted by: jcompton
« on: December 09, 2004, 01:57:39 AM »

On a vaguely-related note, I'm sure that the word "Thomas" does not appear in the mod, although you clearly caught the allusion (crouching anvil, hidden subplot ...). Similarly, I couldn't pass up the Rand reference. I would have done even more to break the fouth wall, but experience tells me that Our Overlord is not as fond of it as I am.

Looking at the mods that have scored well, I'm not certain there's a statistically significant advantage to employing or omitting ye olde fourth-wall breakers. Domi's entry is certainly not spectacularly immersive, being essentially a Neeber/Noober in-joke. It's worth noting that I didn't score it as high as some of the other judges--but then, it won anyway, for I am but one judge. In fact (trivia note) in both of the very close IM contests (3 and 6), I did not "pick the winner." Is there a lesson there? (Hopefully, yes, "Compton hasn't picked judges who think exactly the way he does," which is good, because if I just wanted to look at my score sheet 4 times, I'd save 3 people the use of a perfectly good Sunday afternoon and just make photocopies.)

My thought when I saw what you'd done is, "Ah! A joinable NPC from _another_ canon! Give Wes three _more_ years and he'll have a joinable, completely original character!" Had Covenant been made instead of linguini and clams ala Weimer on Sunday afternoon, the Originality score would have been tricky.

Quote
And to our little birdie: yes, vi is fine.

How efficient, saving valuable electrons putting that here. :)
Posted by: weimer
« on: December 09, 2004, 01:37:28 AM »

Thanks for taking the time to give me a bit of thematic commentary, Bons. Would you believe that I wasn't aware of the 30 minute time limit (probably because I didn't actually read the directions, sigh) until Jason mentioned it to me in passing after the fact?

On a vaguely-related note, I'm sure that the word "Thomas" does not appear in the mod, although you clearly caught the allusion (crouching anvil, hidden subplot ...). Similarly, I couldn't pass up the Rand reference. I would have done even more to break the fouth wall, but experience tells me that Our Overlord is not as fond of it as I am. Apparently if I'm left to my own devices and I had limited time, all of my dialogues start to sound like Ilyich / Pontifex / Wes In Real Life.

By the way, if Christmas at your place includes Yoshimo and books on philosophy, you'll have to invite us over one of these times. :-)

And to our little birdie: yes, vi is fine.
Posted by: Bons
« on: December 08, 2004, 11:41:00 PM »

A little birdie who is not Quitch suggested I do some unofficial commentary for Weimer's IM6 entry, so here ya go:

The ichigo daifuku of our modding meal, Weimer gifts us with dessert in this feast of tainted heroes. Per the detailed instructions of the gracious ReadMe, I scampered my test party to the Umar Hills without delay! This mod provides the addition of an NPC that goes by the name of Thomas Covenant, who makes his presence known during the interactions with the mayor of Imnesvale. Finally, a TC for BGII! Happiness! Oh, what interesting interjections from an intruiguing interloper! What auspicious appropriations of amazing alliteration! What devious designs delineated during dialogue! I greatly enjoyed the acknowledgement of Yoshimo, yes, THE Yoshimo, during this first encounter, the further dialogues with rescued Mazzy, and the inclusion of an interesting book item "The Virtue of Selfishness" - just like Christmas Chez Bons!

With the new NPC in party, I sprinted to rescue Mazzy and confront the Shade Lord. Using a judge's regulated playtime, completing the inherent quests in the 30 minutes alloted was like cleaning a fratboy's futon after a kegger: a sticky challenge! Aware of the monumental task at hand, my heart bounced like the forest bunnies, anticipating the rush of adventure to come! The availability of CTRL+Y filled me delight, and Covenant handily solved one of the Temple Ruins quests, also speeding my progress toward the mod's culmination.

The final dialogue with Minister Lloyd offered a profusion of replies, hero and non-hero flavor! So many choices, I did not know which to pick! With this rainbow of selections, the nuances and dynamics of the competition's theme burst onto my monitor, an excellent conclusion to this course.
Posted by: SimDing0™
« on: December 08, 2004, 09:52:26 AM »

I didn't think I'd said anything about the format of Iron Modder. Perhaps that's the FALSE MEMORIES kicking in again.

Quote
I suspect that was one of Cuv's. Wouldn't surprise me if he could, considering how many new areas he's produced... more than anyone else in the community I'd wager.
Now, that sounds like a claim. I'm simply pointing out that a claim based on something nobody else can see doesn't carry much weight. And I managed to get the classic RTW joke in there. Anything else you've read into my responses is purely conjecture on your part. :)
Posted by: Quitch
« on: December 08, 2004, 06:02:47 AM »

So, if you weren't referring to his experience, what exactly was the purpose of your post?

I don't recall ever using any mod I have worked on as a basis for any idea I have ever put forward, but please, continue to base your posts on false memories.

I'm sorry you take such offence to someone believing that the Iron Modder format could be better, but then, as I'm sure you realise, that's your problem.
Posted by: SimDing0™
« on: December 08, 2004, 02:02:09 AM »

THEN LET US BEGIN THE SEMANTICS BATTLE.

I never said anything about it bearing on his experience, so where did that come from? On the other hand, I don't try to convince people of my superiority using work that nobody else can see, so... there's something of a balance in the argument.

END TURN.
Posted by: Quitch
« on: December 07, 2004, 06:06:37 PM »

I suspect that was one of Cuv's. Wouldn't surprise me if he could, considering how many new areas he's produced... more than anyone else in the community I'd wager.
So how many of them can we play right now? :)

Not entirely sure how that would have a bearing on his experience in creating areas.  Do you only remember work you publish or something?  Can't say as I suffer from that.
Posted by: Cuv
« on: December 07, 2004, 04:01:07 PM »

Is it really any harder to enforce than the current system? I can easily have a ton of appropriate Quest Pack material that nobody's ever seen before, so you all think it's new. There's still a certain degree of modder honesty involved.

Right, which is all the more reason I don't bother trying to forbid it. :)

and the judges know...i know in at least one iron mod i've judged before that i gave lower scores in innovation because the entry had a brand new area map, and there was no way that could have been created in the time limit allowed...in compensation, i gave it higher scores in originality and entertainment because the new area had some interesting npcs and snappy witty dialog...

so really it all evens out...for example, i tend to score pretty tough...i don't hand out 5s and 10s often, which comepensates nicely with the other judges if they like to grade things higher..... :pirate

Hehe... interesting.    You actually gave me the higher scores for the premade content after all.    The NPC's and their dialog was pre-made,  not the club area.  The segway from the copper coronet was premade also.   That was listed in the readme.   The area, creature placement and functional scripts were the real creation.    I wrote some quick dialog for my namesake to take in the theme, along with an item(with effects) and new bams also made on the fly.  I would ask that judges actually read the README in the future before assuming what can and can't be done in 4 hours.   
Posted by: jester
« on: December 07, 2004, 12:04:32 PM »

This cues another another insert for any Iron Mod readme:

'No animals were hurt in the production of this mod.'

A nice method of inspiration though given how outdated simple kisses can nowadays be with all these groupies smooching about. More stern methods are surely needed for the self-respecting muse to get that area going.
Posted by: jcompton
« on: December 07, 2004, 11:49:48 AM »

The Bitch Goddess of New Areas is mighty and extremely capricious. Iron Modders should follow their muse, but be wary of having their muse hit them in the face with a bat. :)
Posted by: Ashara
« on: December 07, 2004, 11:28:23 AM »

making area in 4 hours? That's not an Irong modder, it's a mythril one, or ilithium :)