Beseech thy lord

[Chozon1]

Does it grate on you when people say "ideals" when they mean "ideas"?

[ArchAngel]

Moving on, what do you think of "magitek," or the blending of magic and technology. Is it generally effective, or is it a cheap technique some writers use to expose that they don't really know how science works?

So, I'm taking two different meanings(but related, I suppose) from Magitek. On one hand, there's the Arthur C. Clark "Any sufficiently advantaged technology is indistinguishable from magic," where magic is simply an advanced and forgotten technology. I've certainly toyed with this: the collapse of an advanced empire and following dark ages with a people with genetic enhancements and nano technologies to create some fantasy world. The danger of this one is it can come off very cheesy, or worse, take all the mystery out of a fantasy world. If you become to concerned with the functioning of the magic, you end up skirting the line between fantasy and sci-fi and effectively becoming neither.

But, on the other hand, skirting the line between fantasy and sci-fi can be great, such as steampunk, or as I just found, dungeon punk. There, the concept of magic meets technology, another magitek concept, can really create a fascinating and elaborate world sure to capture the imagination.

So, I guess it's another non-answer and say as a tool, it can be a great asset or entirely damaging, depending on what you do and how you use it.

Does it grate on you when people say "ideals" when they mean "ideas"?

I didn't occur that people did this a lot, but now that you mentioned it, it certainly is grating.

[Sstavix]

Dungeon punk? Tell me more, please!

[ArchAngel]

Those were my thoughts when I first heard it, too!
Here's what I first saw: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/DungeonPunk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I suppose it's close to ArcanePunk (which I just heard about, too): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arcanepunk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I guess the D&D Eberron campaign is a central defining work on the genre.

[delve]

Arcane punk seems to be just a bit hair-splitting.

[Sstavix]

Those were my thoughts when I first heard it, too!
Here's what I first saw: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/DungeonPunk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I suppose it's close to ArcanePunk (which I just heard about, too): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arcanepunk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I guess the D&D Eberron campaign is a central defining work on the genre.

Now that does sound cool. This would be the approach I would take if I would write a magitek-type novel.

I found it especially interesting to see Planescape: Torment on their list of examples. No wonder I like that game so much....

Have you ever played that game? If so, what were your thoughts? If not... what's taking you so long!

[ArchAngel]

Have not tried Planescape: Torment yet. Next time I find it on sale on GOG, I was going to pick it up.

[delve]

Played Master of Magic?

[ArchAngel]

Yeah, a little bit. I'm a bigger fan of it's space counterpart (a huge fan, actually).
I should probably finish a game in it.

[delve]

What's this? A space counterpart?

[ArchAngel]

Master of Orion. Quite possible the greatest game of all time.
Or the Greatest Strategy Game of all time.
Definitely the premier Space 4X of all time.

[delve]

Ah. MoO 1 or 2? I never spent much time on the first but if the second had been a shirt it would have disintegrated from use. Though it had a bit of a critical flaw at the endgame.

So, I almost hate to ask, but your opinion on MoO 3?

[ArchAngel]

MoO 1 is great. I had much fun with it and it still holds up, imo, as a great space 4x. Albeit a little more simple than I'm used to, it has a lot of personality still.

But when I talk about the glory of Master of Orion, I speak of 2.

And MoO 3 is terrible. I gave it several tries, but I couldn't even get close to the end.

If you want a more modern Master of Orion, try out Endless Space. Deeply inspired by it, updated and modernized multiplayer, a pretty great UI, and a really fun game. Not as good, imo, and not as much personality, but worth picking up if you like space 4X's.
(I don't even have to mention Galactic Civilizations 2, but I will. You can get lost in the ship builder for hours.)

[delve]

Yes, MoO3 should have been called Master of Menus. X.X
I'll have to try Endless Space.

Sword of the Stars?

[ArchAngel]

Tried it a little, and it was alright, but it didn't fully pull me in.