Well, not to state the obvious, but it is not that hard to make 4 friends in WoW.
That aside, yes, it is not fun Pugging, for the most part.
"When you're in that situation, meaning leveling without friends, the only reason to do an instance is to complete a quest for a very nice item, and get some decent loot."
We found that the boss drops were more then sufficient to keep us all pretty well geared. Many of the instances we CLEARED on our first attempts, at low level mind you, so we had access to the good stuff right from the outset. Four Warlocks and a Priest is a way over-powered group composition, once mastered.
The only problem we had was that we all wore cloth. But speccing differently eased that somewhat.
Dungeon crawls, for the sake of being there, were more then enough to keep us busy. The loot was just a result, not the goal.
"3. Instances are a boring way to level up, compared to questing."
I totally disagree.
After doing the end-game raid dance, my wife, a few friends and myself made 4 Undead Warlocks and an Undead Priest, calling ourselves The Ungrateful Dead. Other then a few class quests, we spent ALL of our time doing what I had wanted to do since I was playing pencil & paper Dungeons and Dragons as a kid many years ago--Dungeon Crawls.
As soon as we met the level requirements of a dungeon (I think level 6 for Ragefire Chasm is the lowest), in we went. It was very challenging, filling specific roles with various Warlock builds combined with a Priest in either shadow or healer mode. We had to use our heads, had to spend time testing different approaches and all in all had a great time.
In regards to the leveling rate, since we were going in at very low levels, as soon as we could, we earned a relatively large amount of XP from runs. A couple levels gained for each run was normal. Did it get boring? Nope. By the time we had run the dungeon a couple of times we were leveled up for the next one. It was actually a really smooth transition from one to the next.
I can honestly say that I had more fun playing one of those Warlocks then any other gameplay style I experienced in WoW.
I don't care what they want to call it. DRM, whatever, it is going to have the same effect.
In order to deter the "casual pirate" from torrenting the day away, they will be deterring a paying customer from watching Netflix all day. It doesn't matter WHAT your doing, the end result is the same. The direction media marketing is going, it will not be long before everyone is using the same amount of bandwidth as the P2P crowd does.
This, bandwidth capping, is quite simply a revenue stream adjustment. Don't let anyone convince you otherwise. They have determined people are willing to pay more for internet service(at least the ones in Texas) and the ISPs are willing to CHARGE more for it.
I think the larger, horizontally placed block is a magnet that reacts against a perpendicularly placed magnetic field, to provide z-axis support, while the tinfoil looking thing is another magnet to act against one or more magnetic fields to provide x-y axis propulsion/repulsion.
The gripper is simply a rigid structure with a target(the little round thing) that is heated by a laser(located elsewhere, NOT on the robot) that expands and forces apart the "fingers" of the gripper(the pointy part...well, pointing to the side).
Pretty simple, once you think about it.
But, I agree, it is far from the idea of "robot" one imagines when that word is used. None of the control or gripping is controlled BY the robot, but rather remotely by either a human or computer. There is no ON BOARD autonomy.
Terrorist #1: Hey, did you read the EULA for this thing?
Terrorist #2: No. Why?
Terrorist #1: All the more reason to bomb them into the Stone Age. Here we are, building a nuclear weapon, and those crazy Americans are sweating the LEGAL ramifications.
I wonder how many corporations will be offering content, for free, on the web, as a means to increase the bandwidth usage of a subsidiary ISP property.
To take that further, I wonder how many will be CHARGING for content with one subsidiary, then double-dipping by charging for the required bandwidth to access aforementioned content, with another subsidiary.
Smells like cable TV, to me. At first Cable was supposed to supplant the ad-supported content model, only to reacquire and incorporate it into a pre-paid service. Double-dipping at it's finest.
"The problem was that they bashed the President of the United States in a foreign country during a time of war."
How is that a problem? Are we required to check our constitutional rights at the door as we leave the country? Our free-will stuffed in an airport rent-a-locker, for the duration of our travels?
Personally, I bashed him everywhere I went. And besides, they bashed the MAN, not the country.
It is patently impossible for either of these dudes to make ANY sense out of that much information, nor have any idea what to do about it.
I was jokingly trying to point out that it is obvious this information, and the decisions that would be made based on it, would have to be handed off to OTHER people. And that is, indeed, a problem in my opinion.
I DO know it was SecuROM that borked my drive though, as the registry entries were all there.
Now you have me wondering. Diablo 1? Trying to remember what all I had installed back then(not an easy task).
From my perspective, it is a moot point though. My point was that SecuROM was injuring my computers, and the ONLY defense against it was to either NOT purchase the game, or pirate it. Exactly what the developers wanted, no?
"In the end, the concern over the issue far outweighs the benefit."
And what is the benefit? And who is to decide whether or not it exceeds my right to a secure environment at home? This greater good shit doesn't fly with me, because the public is not being consulted. Did Google ASK to image the residences? Did they ask opinions? No. They just fucking do it.
What it does is provide the ability to "case the joint" without the usual pitfalls of doing so.
In our neighborhood, if someone that doesn't live here comes by and begins looking at everyone's houses, they are noticed. If they seem suspicious, they are noticed.
Having the ability to view every residence from afar completely removes this risk of being noticed. Simply being noticed is often the only thing that prevents them from burglarizing a residence. That opportunity to notice a thief before the crime takes place is often the ONLY defense against burglaries.
But I guess you think that YOUR right to view anything you please is more important then the security of someones residence.
I think you're missing the broader concern here. WHERE DOES IT STOP? Where does the public's right to know end, and my privacy begin? The line IS being blurred here, and all in the name of making money for some corporation.
I wonder if the residences of Google employees will be viewable as well? I'm quite interested in viewing them. So much so, that I do not care what they think about it. But really, I just want to see what kind of flowers they are growing...
Slashdot Mirror
Well, not to state the obvious, but it is not that hard to make 4 friends in WoW.
That aside, yes, it is not fun Pugging, for the most part.
"When you're in that situation, meaning leveling without friends, the only reason to do an instance is to complete a quest for a very nice item, and get some decent loot."
We found that the boss drops were more then sufficient to keep us all pretty well geared. Many of the instances we CLEARED on our first attempts, at low level mind you, so we had access to the good stuff right from the outset. Four Warlocks and a Priest is a way over-powered group composition, once mastered.
The only problem we had was that we all wore cloth. But speccing differently eased that somewhat.
Dungeon crawls, for the sake of being there, were more then enough to keep us busy. The loot was just a result, not the goal.
"3. Instances are a boring way to level up, compared to questing."
I totally disagree.
After doing the end-game raid dance, my wife, a few friends and myself made 4 Undead Warlocks and an Undead Priest, calling ourselves The Ungrateful Dead. Other then a few class quests, we spent ALL of our time doing what I had wanted to do since I was playing pencil & paper Dungeons and Dragons as a kid many years ago--Dungeon Crawls.
As soon as we met the level requirements of a dungeon (I think level 6 for Ragefire Chasm is the lowest), in we went. It was very challenging, filling specific roles with various Warlock builds combined with a Priest in either shadow or healer mode. We had to use our heads, had to spend time testing different approaches and all in all had a great time.
In regards to the leveling rate, since we were going in at very low levels, as soon as we could, we earned a relatively large amount of XP from runs. A couple levels gained for each run was normal. Did it get boring? Nope. By the time we had run the dungeon a couple of times we were leveled up for the next one. It was actually a really smooth transition from one to the next.
I can honestly say that I had more fun playing one of those Warlocks then any other gameplay style I experienced in WoW.
"Anyone who values their privacy should applaud this move by Amazon" /golfclap
Supplication before our Robotic Overlord. Check.
Suspend free-thought. Check.
Check-out cart. Check.
Microsoft Operating System tester: So. How are things going for you?
Linux Operating System Tester: Well, my five year old managed to get a keylogger visiting 3boobbetty.com, but other then that, not too shabby. You?
Microsoft Operating System Tester: Not a blip on the radar. Smooth sailing. All is well.
Linux Operating System Tester: That's great, man. Awesome. Um...hey, dude. You got that thing plugged into the network?
Microsoft Operating System Tester: What?
Terrorist #1: Hey, where is...um...how you say? Cupertino?
I don't care what they want to call it. DRM, whatever, it is going to have the same effect.
In order to deter the "casual pirate" from torrenting the day away, they will be deterring a paying customer from watching Netflix all day. It doesn't matter WHAT your doing, the end result is the same. The direction media marketing is going, it will not be long before everyone is using the same amount of bandwidth as the P2P crowd does.
This, bandwidth capping, is quite simply a revenue stream adjustment. Don't let anyone convince you otherwise. They have determined people are willing to pay more for internet service(at least the ones in Texas) and the ISPs are willing to CHARGE more for it.
Pretty damn close.
I think the larger, horizontally placed block is a magnet that reacts against a perpendicularly placed magnetic field, to provide z-axis support, while the tinfoil looking thing is another magnet to act against one or more magnetic fields to provide x-y axis propulsion/repulsion.
The gripper is simply a rigid structure with a target(the little round thing) that is heated by a laser(located elsewhere, NOT on the robot) that expands and forces apart the "fingers" of the gripper(the pointy part...well, pointing to the side).
Pretty simple, once you think about it.
But, I agree, it is far from the idea of "robot" one imagines when that word is used. None of the control or gripping is controlled BY the robot, but rather remotely by either a human or computer. There is no ON BOARD autonomy.
Terrorist #1: Hey, did you read the EULA for this thing?
Terrorist #2: No. Why?
Terrorist #1: All the more reason to bomb them into the Stone Age. Here we are, building a nuclear weapon, and those crazy Americans are sweating the LEGAL ramifications.
I've found that there is no better way to ruin a perfectly good hobby then to make it a career.
Wow, 4.
But, to be honest, I heard the jackboots on concrete as well...
How about "Peacefully Assembling Anonymous Coward"?
I wonder how many corporations will be offering content, for free, on the web, as a means to increase the bandwidth usage of a subsidiary ISP property.
To take that further, I wonder how many will be CHARGING for content with one subsidiary, then double-dipping by charging for the required bandwidth to access aforementioned content, with another subsidiary.
Smells like cable TV, to me. At first Cable was supposed to supplant the ad-supported content model, only to reacquire and incorporate it into a pre-paid service. Double-dipping at it's finest.
I wonder what effect this will have on evolutionary processes in the diatoms.
How will they respond to the titanium dioxide in an evolutionary context?
Thank you.
Now we just wait for the DMCAs to start rolling in, and the head-popping will begin.
Can someone please post the MP3 on YouTube?
I've never heard the sound of exploding lawyer craniums. I'm quite curious.
"The problem was that they bashed the President of the United States in a foreign country during a time of war."
How is that a problem? Are we required to check our constitutional rights at the door as we leave the country? Our free-will stuffed in an airport rent-a-locker, for the duration of our travels?
Personally, I bashed him everywhere I went. And besides, they bashed the MAN, not the country.
Lack of inherent, hidden DRM?
What do you mean there isn't any? How did you determine that?... ...See my point?
If it hit the ocean, you can count on an American Sub being in route, as we speak.
Provided they can free it up from previous cable-cutting duty, of course.
Twas a joke, my friend.
It is patently impossible for either of these dudes to make ANY sense out of that much information, nor have any idea what to do about it.
I was jokingly trying to point out that it is obvious this information, and the decisions that would be made based on it, would have to be handed off to OTHER people. And that is, indeed, a problem in my opinion.
Since when did mainstream media become the "be all and end all" of informational awareness?
Ever notice how CNN will sometimes have a story up as their "headliner", then the story mysteriously disappears from the website, within minutes?
I can only assume the story ruffled the wrong feathers, and someone made a call.
Dig deeper(read elsewhere), and maybe you can actually find the news.
As long as the President, PERSONALLY, does all the viewing of data, I'm not too concerned.
Same goes for SecComm.
I am completely against them sharing their findings though.
Hrmm. I looked into it, and you're correct.
3DO didn't use SecuROM until Heroes V.
I DO know it was SecuROM that borked my drive though, as the registry entries were all there.
Now you have me wondering. Diablo 1? Trying to remember what all I had installed back then(not an easy task).
From my perspective, it is a moot point though. My point was that SecuROM was injuring my computers, and the ONLY defense against it was to either NOT purchase the game, or pirate it.
Exactly what the developers wanted, no?
Purchasing a product is a form of investment, as well as buying stock.
And yes, I purchased a cell phone. A basic, no-frills phone that still works after 5 years of use.
If I want applications, I sit down at my computer, a device far more capable of running them.
I didn't say I was a Grammar Nazi.
There are far too many already.
"In the end, the concern over the issue far outweighs the benefit."
And what is the benefit? And who is to decide whether or not it exceeds my right to a secure environment at home? This greater good shit doesn't fly with me, because the public is not being consulted. Did Google ASK to image the residences? Did they ask opinions? No. They just fucking do it.
What it does is provide the ability to "case the joint" without the usual pitfalls of doing so.
In our neighborhood, if someone that doesn't live here comes by and begins looking at everyone's houses, they are noticed. If they seem suspicious, they are noticed.
Having the ability to view every residence from afar completely removes this risk of being noticed. Simply being noticed is often the only thing that prevents them from burglarizing a residence. That opportunity to notice a thief before the crime takes place is often the ONLY defense against burglaries.
But I guess you think that YOUR right to view anything you please is more important then the security of someones residence.
I think you're missing the broader concern here. WHERE DOES IT STOP? Where does the public's right to know end, and my privacy begin? The line IS being blurred here, and all in the name of making money for some corporation.
I wonder if the residences of Google employees will be viewable as well? I'm quite interested in viewing them. So much so, that I do not care what they think about it. But really, I just want to see what kind of flowers they are growing...