Let's Play Jade Empire!

When you kicked this LP off, Joie, I really was tempted to buy JE on Steam. That temptation hasn't really waned, btw...

The following update or so is going to involve me spending a lot of time and screencaps on a minor sidequest. This is because I find the sidequest in question absolutely hilarious and it features a character performed with great gusto by none other than John Cleese.

You'll know who it is when you see him. Trust me.

SIR RODERICK. I couldn't wait until you got to him!

MY GOD. That man is glorious. PLEASE tell me we're able to recruit him.

I was really, really, really dying when Varric said he named Bianca what he did because 'Mirabelle' was taken to mention all this, but I knew you'd get there eventually, and he's so, so much more glorious as the big surprise when he starts talking and the recognition sets in, and damnit, just everything else about him. I'm just rotating in my chair cackling happily the LP reached him at long last XD

Yay Sir Roderick Ponce von Fontlebottom the Magnificent Bastard! He's definitely one of the high lights of the capital.

Fondlebottom? He's not gonna be hitting on Meiyi when this is over, is he? though he does have that glorious mustache

I love the metaphor you spin about the debate being like the practice ring. Very, very good writing.

And yes, Mirabelle. Stupid thing killed me more than most single things in this game >_>

I really do recommend it. The combat mechanic isn't anything to rave over and I'm probably still not using it to anything close to best effect, but the atmosphere and storyline and characters thus far more than make up for it.

...unless you're like dude at last night's animenite who claimed loudly that you're supposed to play RPGs for the combat and if you want story to go read a book. Then there may be no hope for you.

Asjlkdhf thank you~~ I admit I'm really pleased with that part myself.

I kind of wish I'd figured out a way to go through all six arguments to hear what else Sir Roderick had to say, but it ended up being simple to just sweep the thing in the first three. (Besides, I have to leave some things unexplored to encourage everyone to play it themselves!)

And oh dear God yes Mirabelle is vicious. I haven't fought a single other thing that's hit that hard in the entire game.

Oh I actually own it for the XBox and played (and won) it multiple times, but I'd have to find it. Steam makes it so easy lol. So me being tempted really is a sign of just how crazy lazy I can get sometimes!

Oh pf well never mind then! XD

(I can't judge, I'm kind of tempted to get the Mass Effect Trilogy for PS3 even though I have the games for 360 already, just so I can multiplayer with my friends. Probably won't do it... but still tempted.)

Yes, I did just devote the best part of three updates to Sir Roderick.

Somehow I'm not sorry.

And well you shouldn't be.

Sir Roderick is the show-stopping number. He DESERVES IT.

I do wonder if Ulmsbottom is a reference to the Johann Gambolputty sketch...

I sure that Sir Roderick would be insulted that all of the updates aren't devoted to him.

I do love Qui, but his murdering of the English language takes some getting used to.

Very intriguing to actually see the protagonist do some introspection. It's unusual in games with ~*destinies*~ that the protagonist takes a moment to answer 'why' and I like the answer you came up with. Very plausible and human for the situation.

The actual responses the game gives to choose from are fairly simplistic - to the point that, based on the way I'd been playing Meiyi up to that point, none of them really seemed to fit as an appropriate answer to Sky's question. I suspect that in cases like your average BioWare RPG, especially the older ones where game design and technology wasn't yet at a level to accomodate very much of a degree of nuance, that lack of examination of the player character's motives is as much to allow the player to imagine it however they want as anything else.

But since I've been giving myself a pretty free hand with Meiyi's characterization as I go along with the LP, I took the opportunity to go into more depth than the game's actual text allows for. I'm happy that you like it!

Do I spy a Simpsons reference in Qui's dialogue~? :D

You weren't the only one. :)

From a gaming session Matt ran once:

<Emmitt> Have you come to learn from my exemplitude?
<Plax> ... Have I?
<Plax> I mean, have I!

I like what you're doing as well. Filling in the gaps in your head is what makes RPGs fun.

For all you know, Meiyji, he's just having fun setting you up with the one challenge you can't meet for a while before letting you proceed. I have a feeling there's more than a little tease in Sky.

... I just realized something about the medic's condition that never struck me before. Huh. Well, I'll get back to what that was later on and just say for now that I'd be most pleased, should Iron Soldier find a nice fire to die in.

Sky, you can stop proving that you're a steadfast, caring man. We're convinced. You can start trying to seduce us now.

Really, all you had to do was say, "I'm not Zu. Wanna?"

Really. I mean, it's great that he's this concerned about Meiyi's emotional well-being and scrupulous about respecting her as a person and all, but what if she wants to be flattered into your bed, Sky? Did you think of that?

...I bet Davian's right and he's doing it on purpose.

I am suitably intrigued!

FRIENDZONED.

Oh, Sky. <3

Let me talk about my pet peeve with Bioware companion dialogue that has so many talks end with an awkward "oh, well, this chat is over, I guess, but we'll talk again when the timer's run out!" This isn't a phone conversation ("no, you hang up first!"); you're standing right there whether I'm talking to you or not. There's got to be a better way, but I don't know what it is.

On a Zu-related note, a lurker dropped this Zu romance fic in my inbox: The Garden of Pleasure Last. (Note: game spoilers.) Just thought I'd pass it on.

Trepanation.

Marquess of Queensberry rules.

Well, I didn't know about the rules BUT there is a Monty Python sketch dealing with... hold on... Johann Gambolputty de von... screw this, I'm googling it.

Which does seem a reference of its own.

Of note: The Queensberry rules specify the round length, but not how many are allowed. You see, back in the day concussions weren't well understood.

EDIT: You might be on to something.

EDIT2: Olympic tag was the best.

It was a TIE >:3

To be fair, headshots weren't really a thing in boxing before padded gloves were introduced. Back then most blows would have been directed at the torso, which would be comparatively easier on the hands.

I love you guys. <3

For some reason, I can't find the post now, but did you ever get your problems with the flying minigame ironed out? I love the outcome of that sidequest series. I just finished replaying the game and I remembered how I managed to do the damn things.

I did!

In that I hacked the game and made the Marvelous Dragonfly invincible, but as long as I'm able to complete the sidequest series it's all good, right?

Hahaha, that'sssss actually exactly what I did. Works like a charm.

I love all this sidequest in the Imperial City! And the Arena is really fun <3

And your writing is really good.

I was a bit perplexed about Sky romance as well, mostly because I didn't think he was going to say stuff like that.
I saw that kind of thinking...in seventeen years old boys (and a girl).
If you romance him with a male character, he tries to throw you at Silky Fox and Dawn Star - because that's obviously better for you - unless you make clear that he is the one you want.

So I suppose he has a bit of a "inferior complex" going on, since you have a +*destiny*+ and everything.

...but I had to take the "break up" option even if I never flirted with him.
Dunno.
The s/s romances in this game are difficult.