Topics for this report include a modification to the Pazaak ROC, some future Gaming Platforms that the Fist Staff has been watching develop, the January Gaming Competition Results, February Gaming Comps, and the schedule for February Gorefest.
Small addition to the Rites of Combat for Pazaak. A few people mentioned concern related to the additional cards which are available to higher level Pazaak Card players. In order to keep an even playing field, but still allow for hard core pazaak people to play their high end cards, the following change has been applied to the ROC:
Pazaak Side Decks should be created using only the Level 1 Cards. These cards consist of the following:
- +1 to +6
- -1 to -6
- If both members agree higher level cards may be used.
I've had a few folks ask me about Games currently in development over the last few weeks, since this was going to be a slower report I decided to elaborate on it a bit. Which I think you'll find more interesting than me writing about how awesome my Assassin's Creed 4 Pirate Fleet is. I'll go through the list in what I'm guessing is their order of release and include links to pages related to each (pages may not be official pages if I found the official page lacking).
- Star Wars Attack Squadrons - I think we've all heard of this by now. Its currently in Closed Beta Testing. Rumor is that we could see it launching in the next few months. A potentially very exciting new option for Space Sim Combat.
- Freeworlds Tides of War - Based on the Freelancer game, this mod is specifically Star Wars Ships. There's no specific date on when its coming out though. They have added a video (about 1 hour long) on their main page which shows gameplay and an interview with some developers. During the video they said they hoped it would release "soon" and that it will require the Freelancer game to play.
- Star Wars Battlefront 3 - A continuation of the Battlefront series from back in the day. At a minimum I think its safe to expect to see this as a FPS option. Hopefully there are some other options as well (more space combat?). From what I've seen this is targeted to launch in 2015 although there are rumors that issues with Battlefield 4 may push back the launch, as resources may get temporarily redirected.
- Star Citizen - If this is the first time you've heard of this game you haven't been reading my reports! Space Sim Combat MMO, being done by the developer who did games like Wing Commander. This has been fan funded and has already raised over $37 million in donations. There will be joystick support, which alot of folks here have been craving. The Hangar Module is live now (for contributors) and a Dogfighting Module is planned to go live in April. Organizations have just gone live on their website, if you're interested in this game provide feedback on what type of Organization you'd like the DJB to be in our Forum Thread. I think its safe to expect to see Closed Beta start before the end of the year, with the game launching in 2015.
That's alot of potential Space Sims coming in the next few years. Related to additional support for games that are out there now, we have a project underway that's purpose is to allow CFs to be earned from nearly any game (provided you're playing it with another member). Arch is hard at work on this, hopefully we will have something ready for you all in the next month or two.
February Gaming Competitions
- Minecraft: Look What I Made A Minecraft based competition being run by Kuro from House Plagueis. Design a Star Wars location and submit! This competition is running through February 10th, but may be getting extended. Keep an eye on the Competition Page.
- Monthly Mobile: Zombie Run HD Download the app, the person who runs the farthest wins. All participants will receive 5 CF.
- TOR: The Mighty Hunter TOR based competition. The individual who has defeated the most World Bosses at the end of the month will win.
- TOR: Flashpoint Fun TOR based competition. Complete the most Flashpoints during the month of February and win.
- Injustice A competition based around 1v1 Duels in the Injustice: Gods Among Us game. All participants will receive 5 CF.
January Competition Results
Top Gun
- 1st Place - DA Aabsdu Dupar of House Plagueis
Hunt the FIST STAFF
- 1st Place - KP Atyiru Entar of Clan Arcona
- 2nd Place - ACO Donblas of Clan Arcona
- 3rd Place - DJK Lexi Sarden of Clan Arcona
Monthly Mobile: Slingo Lottery Challenge
- 1st Place - DEF Rangel of House Odan-Urr
- 2nd Place - DA Aabsdu Dupar of House Plagueis
- 3rd Place - GRD Kyrath Amaranthi of Clan Naga Sadow
GMRG Gorefest: January 2014
- 1st Place - DJM Keirdagh Taldrya Cantor of House Taldryan
- 2nd Place - DJM Aidan Kincaid of House Taldryan
- 3rd Place - GRD Rhiann Baenre of Clan Naga Sadow
Pendants of Blood
- 12Jan2014 - 18Jan2014: KP Vaar Mai of Clan Naga Sadow, PVP Score of 31.9 (72 Matches Played, 48 Matches won)
- 19Jan2014 - 25Jan2014: DEF Aerin Taggart of House Odan-Urr, PVP Score of 21.5 (82 Matches Played, 42 Matches won)
- 26Jan2014 - 01Feb2014: SW Ernordeth Puer-Irae of Clan Arcona, PVP Score of 42 (48 Matches Played, 45 Matches won)
February Gorefest Scheduled
Gorefest is schedule to start on Friday, February 21st. As I mentioned in my last report, the requirement for to be at GMRG II to participate in Gorefest has been removed. Any member of the GMRG can compete in the PVP portion of the competition and earn bonus CFs for any Gaming activities!
Useful Gaming Links
Man, that Tides of War looks good. Interesting to note that Chris Roberts (Star Citizen dude) had a hand in Freelancer as well; though he went very hands off after Microsoft acquired the company making it.
Do we seriously need made up rules added on to Pazaak? It took me literally two days of playing matches to unlock all the +/- cards the game offers... it's not exactly a difficult thing for anyone who plays to achieve. Are you slightly disadvantaged with beginner cards? Sure. But how is that any different from playing JA or a TOR duel against someone with years of experience when you're just starting?
We really need to stop adding our own, crippling rules to games. Before it was "no using concs" in JK. Then "no AA" in RC. "No dfa spam" in JO/JA... it's really sad. Play games the way they're made to be played and deal with it.
How big an advantage is it to have all the +/- cards? Is it crippling not to have them?
I agree with Shad and Mav. I really don't see an issue with the "upper level" cards. They don't automatically make you win, and there's hardly an advantage to them other than opening up another play-style (which is really all it is)...
I find that the +/- cards hinder me as much as they help - they're useful, but if you don't get the right ones....
We can't spam dfa in JO/JA? :P
Oh man, I could so go for a game of JK concs...
I've very much said the same over the years. You don't like the force choke spam in JO? Absorb stops that. Or kicking someone to death in JA? Don't stay so close. I get rules for fairness of competition but direct game restrictions suck.
Oh man, I could so go for a game of JK concs...
I've very much said the same over the years. You don't like the force choke spam in JO? Absorb stops that. Or kicking someone to death in JA? Don't stay so close. I get rules for fairness of competition but direct game restrictions suck.
So I'm interested in hearing more of people's thoughts related to the Pazaak change. If people want it gone, that's fine I can drop it. If people want it in place, so be it. Remember if both players agree any Side Deck Cards can be used it's basically like the rule doesn't exist.
Although the comparison to someone who has alot of JO/JA experience isn't exactly the same. Its more like a new person being at a disadvantage because the JO/JA Player has access to special gear that gives them advantages in certain situations, just because they've been playing for a long time. In TOR we leveled this with a Level 15 Dueling Bracket which has gear restrictions.
I'm open to going either way on this. Historically we've tried to level the playing field on games, so when the suggestions about this came up it made sense to implement.
That can be said for all cards. If I stock up on equal amount -'s as I do +'s, chances are the cards I have available in the match will be all of either sign. That's no different than getting +/-'s, or not getting them.
By my 3rd game (which I lost), I was already level 2. Getting to the appropriate level where you unlock these cards takes a few hours of continuous play, or a few days if it's spread out.
I believe this hinders gameplay by not only limiting it, but having to double check your side deck to make sure you're not using the wrong cards. I hadn't heard any concern about this either. The most I heard were first time players asking how to get some of the cards I have.
I agree that it shouldn't be limited to the base set. The extra cards you get helps to increase game play.
My objection concerning the change to the Pazaak rules is... you're trying to add fairness in a doubly random series already. The cards you get dealt in the first place from your side deck are random. The cards you then get dealt in the game are random.
I have every card in the game, and my side deck selection has made me lose more than once. Usually to Chaos, who has almost none. It's based off chance. End of the day, better cards or not, the luckier person/smarter person wins.
I agree with the above arguments against the change. I managed to pull all the cards playing tons of pazaak during the Crusade, and while I always use a deck with +/- cards, I still lose some games simple because of how much utter chance is involved. Hell, sometimes I forget to switch the value before placing it and lose doubly lol; I haven't played any pazaak matches (with people with and without cards) where someone was complaining because of the unfair advantage. Pazaak is suppose to be an easy game - less rules, the better