Barrel identifier

[Karl]

Who cares how many times you save and restore?

I hate items that randomly injure me, or cursed items in general... I think they're stupid and unfun ("Ooh, look, I'm cursed. Just what I always wanted in a game..."), and if I can't identify cursed/negative-effect items ahead of time, then I save the game and try them out, and reload if they are cursed. (In this case, we're talking about radioactive barrels--a sci-fi version of a cursed item.) Also, for some strange reason Transcendence makes you self destruct in order to reload your saved game, and keeps track of how many times you do that. Whatever; to me it's a meaningless stat.

So I use saves to get around cursed items, which are an unfun game element that I don't like. (If you, on the other hand, like being cursed, then knock yourselves out. To each his own.) Also, I like playing games the optimal way, optimizing to the max and mastering the game. In that case, all that matters is the final game you play... how many saves and retries you use on the way to it is irrelevant.

[Betelgeuse]

I find random items alot more fun than the kill loot sell cycle. Playing without risk makes the game dull. There are lots of cursed items that I would like to have and I am glad where in the game.

[Karl]

Playing without risk makes the game dull.

Oh poppycock! If you want risk, that's the wrong way to do it. There's risk every time you go into battle, for instance. And there's risk when you explore.

I'm sorry, but I like playing an action/strategy RPG where my decisions and actions determine the outcome, not a gambling game where I lose because of a bad dice roll. If I get killed or injured due to randomness, that's BS, and I'll do whatever is necesary to avoid that--load a save, mod the game, or go play another game where skill is more important then luck.

Randomness should be used to add diversity, not BS. When you open a unknown package, having a small chance of getting a rare item adds flavor. Having a small chance of getting injured for no good reason whatsoever just adds cheesiness.

EDIT: I suppose though, between diversity and modding, you can have gameplay flexibility so that the people who like random penalties and dying due to bad luck can have that, and the people who like living or dying based on their own actions and skill can have that.

[Betelgeuse]

Oh poppycock! If you want risk, that's the wrong way to do it. There's risk every time you go into battle, for instance. And there's risk when you explore.

True but those are forced apon you. What the game needs is optional things. If you don't like one risk you don't have to take it, but if you don't like to explore or battle there is little to the game.
Take for example I like killing the sisters of domina. They don't fight back so I don't see it as a skill thing its more of a fun optional thing.

[Karl]

What the game needs is optional things.

I like the sound of that.

So why do you bother killing the sisters of domina? Do you just want to be evil?

[FAD]

Having those random risks is one of the many things that drew my intrest into the game.

Real life itself is a risk as well. Getting behind the wheel of a car, you're taking a risk of having an accident. How many times has your bare feet found that one elusive piece of broken glass after you dropped and busted your drink on the floor, but knowingly you've reassured yourself that the mess was thoroughly cleaned up? That's a chance risk.

So here's something to ponder...
Risk cannot be avoided, as risk itself thrives on avoidance.
Think about it.

[Karl]

I suppose these random risks appeal to people who like to gamble. I don't like to gamble. Well, scratch that, I like to gamble when the odds are in my favor.

Most negative risks can can be avoided--or at least minimized--if you're prepared. For instance, if I were walking on a floor that tended to harbor broken glass, I'd wear shoes.

And if I were in the business of opening treasure chests that tended to explode on occasion, or barrels that tended to leak radiation, I'd take prevantative measures to make sure I wouldn't get burned/melted/poisoned/decapitated/sexually violated, etc. In fact, I'd be stupid not to take preventative action once I knew that the risk existed. That could mean (for roleplaying's sake) getting a gullable robot to open the unknown barrels for me, or just getting a damn geiger counter to premptively detect radioactive barrels.

Now, not everyone would bother to take the effort to take such preventatve measures... (and for game balance the premptive measures *should* require *some* effort) but I would. As long as the game lets me do that, I'm happy. And, if I'm not mistaken, the game curently DOES let you avoid all those silly cursed items if you obtain all of the identifier ROMs.

Am I right about that?

[goat not sheep]

This was just a suggestion. Now, if you're good enough to do that, fine with me. I'm not, though. Sometimes, I have such expensive armour...un installing it is...*ARRG*