Well, for those very few of you keeping score at home, the UIS thing has almost been straightened out. It seems like I get to blame LLCC for part of the problem missing a class on my transcript when it was sent off a few weeks ago. How they pulled that one off, I’ll never know.
Anyway, I don’t have much else to say, so how about another Youtube video?
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon friend code – 0688 5570 2384
I’ve been playing Pokemon Mystery Dungeon – Explorers of Time. I like Pokemon, and I really like Roguelikes, what can I say? The game has been great so far. The story is a cut far above the norm for a Pokemon game. The gameplay is pretty unique for a Roguelike with the whole Pokemon move system being thrown into the mix. And when did Venonat become such a freaking tank!? My main character is a female Charmander named Ichirin, and my partner is a male Squirtle named Rakuen. The team name is Eternium. And I just cleared the Crystal Cave.
But there’s one problem I have, the AI, specifically the utter lack of pathfinding. Choosing to have your Pokemon set to “Follow me!” is tantamount to suicide because then they won’t move into attack; you’ll have to reposition the enemies for them. If you set them to attack, well, you’re bound to get split up when you walk out of a room or past a crossroad because he’s more concerned about the enemy than what his leader is clearly trying to do. Having them set to run away won’t guarantee that they’ll actually run from an enemy, I watched one of my Pokemon die because he kept crossing back and forth over his own path.
I can, however, deal with Pokemon losing tracking when they’re split up between multiple rooms, since it happens in every other Roguelike, but I’d like to think we’re to a point where characters can remember what path their leader took out of a room.
All I’m asking for is just a little more intelligence. When I engage an enemy, I’d like a little support without having to tell my Pokemon to run off after every little threat. I’d even accept it if they made like a 5 panel radius that they’d move away from me in, just as long as they don’t go completely berserk and end up completely lost. And when I set someone to flee, he should come toward the leader and run past him so I can pull the enemy off. That’s it. Is that so much?
Well, I do love some Team Fortress 2, and it was recently brought to my attention that a new video was released. So here it is in all its glory.
I got an email from UIS saying that my General Education requirements had not been fulfilled at LLCC, so I’d have to find some way to fit two more classes into my schedule. When I asked how they figured the Gen Ed requirements were lacking, I was told it’s because I’m getting an Applied Science degree which focuses on technical aspects rather than general requirements.
Now that’s kind of a stupid premise. While I’ll say, yes, it’s more of a technical degree, that doesn’t preclude completion of general education. All AAS degrees at LLCC require 60+ hours of coursework, and not all AAS’s are created equal. For example, mine has several ‘technical classes’ that are, in fact, included in Gen Ed requirements, as well as several hours left over. So, they filled the rest of that time with, gasp, Gen Ed! In addition, I had some transfer credit from AP and dual-credit classes in high school to add to that. The end result? I’ve fulfilled LLCC’s Gen Ed requirements! In effect, the difference between the normal Associate’s and the Applied Science degree is whether you focus on advanced concepts or broadening your subject base. I chose the latter, since UIS would just end up reteaching me the advanced concepts anyway.
What I’m being told is that I must add two more classes to my schedule, which given the way I’ve plotted things out, almost certainly requires staying there an extra semester. Alternatively, I could stay at LLCC for another semester, take absolutely NO Gen Ed classes, get a regular Associates degree, and continue merrily on my way. I choose option three: throw the transfer requirements of the State of Illinois at UIS (which I’ve fulfilled) and protest the whole thing.
Sometimes I wonder if universities are really as smart as they say they are…
AP went over very well for me. I had a much better time than I did at Sugoi or Ohayo. Though it was also a lot more tiring, especially having to make supply runs for Ben, who couldn’t seem to remember everything he needed for an event to save his life.
Whose Line went fairly well for it’s first appearance at AP. It would have been nice to have a bit larger crowd, but it was fine all the the same. Rachel and Celeste’s groups both came to the show, so that was awesome. We even got Celeste on stage. We also had some of our best volunteers, ever, here. And I have to say, you people need to get your minds out of the gutter! We’re already looking forward to next year.
Amy drafted me into the Evangelion Puppet Show. Tristan MacAvery reprized his role as Gendo for us. I played SEELE 2 and 4. SELEE 6 was oddly silent for the performance. We played to a full house, and it went over quite well. I’ll probably do it again next year. Hopefully, someone’s got a video to post up on Youtube or something.
The cosplay props panel went better than it did at Sugoi, mostly due to Ben A) having done it once before and B) not finding out 12 hours before the panel that he was doing it. We actually had some people in the audience that had used the materials Ben was talking about. And of course the Saber armor… well it’s the freaking Saber armor, it’s awesome.
Then there was Fight Club. We don’t talk about Fight Club. But if you do a Youtube search for Anime Punch Fight Club, you’ll find some videos. Go do it. Now.
Finally, the Adult Swim panel. Not nearly as many people as there were at Ohayo, but we had a good time of it anyway.
So that’s it I. I had a great time meeting some new people and hanging with Janette on Saturday and Sunday.
We have been confirmed for Acen, so that is my next convention. I hope to see everyone there.
