Dio

When you cleared a room it stayed clear

I ran into splicers everywhere, even when I was backtracking. Rooms I had just cleared had splicers in them when I went back to scavenge or open up new passageways.

I'm sure people hate it because they think that mainstream FPS games are the root of all evil, but I honestly had a lot more fun playing Infinite than I did the first Bioshock. The first game punished you for exploring by spawning enemies into areas you just secured and took pleasure in leaving you with no eve, no ammo, and no health. Infinite paces the combat better and makes it enjoyable rather than stressful. The skyline fights are really fun and the setpiece battles get really crazy, especially with vigors being slung, rockets flying, and bullets going everywhere. The songbird fight was less tower defense and more of a traditional FPS setpiece battle, a la the Scarab fights in Halo 3 and the phased defense missions in Call of Duty.

Because I didn't have to worry about having to save scum just to get good drops or survive the next 25 meter walk and could actually apply my experience with FPS games to survive in combat, I could actually take the time to explore and enjoy the story.

The story had its share of "oh snap" moments and is disjointed, but I think I need some more time to fully wrap my brain around the ending and hunt down the rest of the voxophones. The voice acting was excellent and the characters were interesting, with even more craziness piled on when their timelines became merged. The multiverse bit at the end opens up all sorts of possibilities for DLCs and other story arcs. I thought that I would hate Infinite based on my hate of the first game, but I actually enjoyed this one a lot and would be interested in grabbing the Burial at Sea DLC when it comes out.

I suppose in the end, Bioshock Infinite was metacommentary on hero tropes, dystopian literature, and the creation and revisions of storylines.

Back rubs or tummy rubs?

- Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 4

Have you successfully conquered all of Kerbin space yet?

- Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 4

Screenshots and documentation of said errors will help the admins identify and correct any errors. In the meantime, try clearing your browser cache and reloading the page.

- Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 4

Animation quality is top-notch and background art is excellent. The lip-syncing is a bit off at times, but the level of polish here is much better than a lot of other fan works I've seen. I love that fans are still willing to put this much effort into art and projects like this.

I am neither a lore nor sword master. I merely bang my head against the keyboard until the monsters die.

If you weren't critical to my nuke spells, I would have slapped you halfway across Elysium by now.

Sorry about letting this hang for a while, but I'm putting this on hold until I can get some things sorted out. Thanks for your patience.

[colour=#daa520]“I was talking about Squall,”[/colour] Acclaim said, cocking her head to the side. [colour=#daa520]“All things considered, Razor here was actually pretty well-behaved.”[/colour]

The sergeant playfully patted Razor on his good shoulder. [colour=#daa520]“Don’t worry about the wing. Give it a few weeks and you’ll be as good as new.”[/colour]

Acclaim helped herself to a bottle of water, plinking a few bits down on the counter to cover the cost. Everything seemed to go about swimmingly. Razor was comforted by his sister, Fire Walker’s little companions weren’t panicking, and squinting out the window revealed that the tug had arrived to tow the kraken out to sea.

Fire Walker appeared preoccupied. Her walk to Squall, who had just awakened, was brisk and purposeful, as if she had been waiting on him. Their further interaction only confirmed what had begun as a curious suspicion. They’re... together? Acclaim wrinkled her nose at the thought. But then shrugged as she supposed she had no room to judge. Fire Walker had probably known him for longer and probably saw something underneath the daredevil egoist vigilante exterior that Acclaim had seen in that short encounter.

Of course, it was then that Fire Walker decided to take a leisurely stroll back on the beach.

[colour=#daa520]“Uh, LT. I would wait for the crew to clear the beach first!”[/colour]

She liiiiiiiiiives! I would still be on board with Anathema!

Sent from my GT-P7510

Bones couldn’t help but laugh a good-natured laugh at the unicorn’s question. What kind of silly pony questioned free drinks on a day like this? Especially if it came ice cold! Bones took a gulp of his own drink before speaking.

[colour=#8b4513]“C’mon up and have a drenk that the nice mare offered you! It isnae gonnae bite ye, I promise!”[/colour]

With his other hoof, he removed his weatherbeaten hat and swiped at his forehead with the fetlock. [colour=#8b4513]“Real scorcher today! So of coorse when my ma is visiting C-lot she asks me to run out and bring her groceries! Good thing I’m not on duty until tomorrow...”[/colour]

An ear flick and a guarded smile were the only responses to Ace’s awkward joke. It didn’t help that the medicine smell on Ace’s breath was nearly overwhelming. At least he was willing to get back into conversation rather than clamming up and stonewalling her.

[colour=#daa520]“Oh if I wanted to knock you out, you’d feel it. The boys always told me I had hoofball legs in basic! That’s what I get for turning down a contract from Trottingham United, right?”[/colour]

As put off as she initially was, though, Acclaim found it difficult to keep a straight face as Ace continued to talk with his mouth full. How he managed to do it without spraying whatever herbs they were everywhere was truly astounding! The sergeant cleared her throat.

[colour=#daa520]“Vodka is good stuff, but it’s not for everypony. I don’t blame you for wanting to keep out of it. The ponies in the ‘grad swill that stuff like water though.”[/colour] Acclaim raised an eyebrow as Ace somehow managed to gulp more drink down with his mouth full.

[colour=#000080]“... don’t need a chemical keeping me on a leash.”[/colour] Acclaim bit her tongue at the irony, but let Ace continue. This wasn’t her show, it was his. She’d come back to that later.

[colour=#000080]“...almost had champagne after winning the best young flier’s competition, but I wanted to remember the rest of the day.”[/colour]

[colour=#daa520]“Best young flier? No kidding!”[/colour] Acclaim could tell he was perking up, if only for a moment. [colour=#daa520]“Didn’t think you to be the type to have super fancy moves! What was your routine like?”[/colour]

Be glad. If you were a nimbat, I would be flinging you at ugly monsters all the time.

Rock and roll time.

Gipsy Danger

I fight monsters. What do you do?

RP Type: FFA

Name: Gipsy "Danger"

Sex: Female

Age: Adult

Species: Unicorn

Eyes: Auric.

Mane/Tail: Vermilion. Mane is cropped short and tail is kept tied at the base.

Coat colour: White, with a blaze of vermilion. Appaloosa blanket on her flanks the colour vermilion.

Physique: Strongly built. Feminine, but stocky.

Cutie Mark: A white star with wings. Signifying her lightning quick reflexes, firearms prowess, and underlying desire to “fly to the aid” of anypony in trouble.

Residence: Born in Manehattan. Currently on the road.

Occupation: Soldier of fortune, self-proclaimed pirate fighter, beast tamer, and dragonslayer. Now a member of the “Jaegers.”

Character History

Born in Manehattan to a poor family, Gipsy was trouble at a young age. She was always getting into this and that, be it cupboards, cookie jars, or stationery. Fierce and independent were hallmarks of Gipsy’s lifestyle. Her schooling was rough and tumble, her disrespect of authority getting her in trouble with both the schoolteachers and the queen bees who saw her as a threat, as Gipsy was never afraid to fight dirty to get back at ponies who crossed her.

Her leisure activities often involved hanging out with the boys, roughhousing, hoofball, and of course shooting slingshots. One day, while plinking at cans with some of her friends, one of the bigger colts, a known bully, showed up to ruin their fun. Gipsy could not allow this to happen to her friends. After a tense standoff, Gipsy talked the bully into going up against her in a slinging contest; the winner got to stay in their hangout spot and the loser would have to go elsewhere. Grinning ear to ear, Gipsy promptly wiped the floor with him. The bully, of course, was highly displeased and attacked Gipsy physically. But thanks to her quick reflexes and good aim, Gipsy shot out both his front hooves from under him and tapped him on the nose, making him fall on his face. The bully ran away, humiliated, and Gipsy gained her cutie mark, a winged star, symbolizing her lightning reflexes, excellent aim, and the willingness to fly to the aid of those trodden upon.

Gipsy never finished school. She instead ran away from home in search of the high adventure she always read about in books. With spell and blade in hoof, she thought herself free and invincible. But once again, trouble struck.

The ponies who lived in the borderlands led a harsh life. Sun beat down on them by day and bitter cold by night. In the end the earth always provided for them. But being in nopony's land meant no protection from the Royal Guard or the Aquellian Marines. Vulnerable and undefended, those border towns found themselves exploited and under attack. Usually, it was airship pirates or highway bandits, which the townsfolk could scare off with warning shots and dogged determination. But one day, a black dragon came to town. Hungry for gems and destruction, the dragon began tearing open buildings and trampling anypony in his way. The only help would come from the marshall and his posse the next town over. But not if Gipsy had anything to say about it.

By the time Marshall Pentecost had arrived with help, Gipsy was exhausted, but still fighting the dragon through sheer force of will. Her magical reserves depleted, she continued to taunt, spit, and bait the dragon to come close enough so she could strike with her knife. But in her fatigue, she stumbled, giving the dragon the upper hand. Pentecost and his posse used the opening to take down the dragon before it could finish Gipsy.

After seeing her in action, Pentecost extended an invitation to Gipsy to join the “Jaegers,” a team of fighters assembled specifically to combat predation and crime in the border towns. Though she refused to submit to any semblance of authority at first, the Jaegers’ performance against the dragon, and the fact that she owed Pentecost a debt of life prompted Gipsy to sign on. Trading her slingshot for a repeater and her rags for armor plate, Gipsy quickly became the star of her team.

Character Summary

Brash, hot-headed, and absolutely cocksure of herself, Gipsy is a gunslinging spitfire of a mare with a nose for getting into trouble and a talent for getting out of it. Her mouth is a double-edged sword, bringing her fast friends in good company and faster enemies when she talks down to the wrong pony. If there’s one thing that she can always count on, though, it’s her quick draw and impeccable aim. Gipsy has an ego as big as her mouth and a penchant for storytelling. Her knack allows her to spin bits of her past adventures into a truly epic tapestry. She can often be found regaling bar patrons about her latest conquests or with recounted tales of battles that seem to grow larger and more epic every time she tells them.

Gipsy has a mischievous streak a mile long and a complete disregard for institutional authority. Those that have her respect earned it through the crucible of combat or tests of wit, intellect, and constitution. She appreciates those who can match her swagger, though not without a hint of jealousy. Gipsy has grown to see the other Jaegers as family, having been through many battles with them and endured many hardships.

She secretly someday hopes to return home to her parents to apologize.

Miscellaneous

• Wears an orange garnet gemstone scribed with magical runes in her chestplate. She can use this gem as an aetheric focus to discharge spells.
  
• Has a preference for duster jackets and bandannas
  
• Always wears the chestplate of her armor, even when not in combat, which is coloured cobalt blue with vermillion highlights
  
• Wears gold-lensed goggles in combat.
  
• Armor kit carries a foldout aetheric repeater, though she prefers to cast with her horn.
  
• Has a foldout chainblade in her right front boot for close encounters.
  

Associates: The Jaegers

• Cherno “Alpha”: Earth pony. Former Stallian guardspony, Cherno is a mountain of a stallion with a noble heart to match his great strength.
  
• “Striker” Eureka: Pegasus. The polar opposite of Gipsy, Eureka has years of formal martial arts training and thousands of bits at her disposal. Her sense of entitlement comes from her rich family, which often brings her into conflict with Gipsy.
  
• Tai Feng “Typhoon”: Kirin. A smart, technical fighter who can seemingly be in two (or perhaps three) places at once.
  
• Castus “Tango” Kingfisher: Griffon. Pentecost’s partner and one of the founding members of the Jaegers.
  
• Pentecost: Earth pony. Informally called “marshall” for his role in cracking down on crime and predation via his militia teams, called Rangers. Leader of the Jaegers and Tango’s partner. Gipsy sees him as a bittersweet father figure, providing the support she never had, but reminding her constantly of the family she left behind.
  

Boop.

[colour=#daa520]“Hey now, I was infantry before Honor Guard picked me up!”[/colour] she smirked. [colour=#daa520]“The 45th out of Cloudsdale had me before the transfer to C-lot.”[/colour]

A little edgy, but it wasn’t anything she hadn’t seen before. Pirate fighting and police work required rough and tough sometimes and Ace fit the bill to a tee. If he was anything like the Stallian Guard aircrews she’d met during the last rotation, he’d respect confidence more than credentials. Acclaim was banking on the usual enlisted camaraderie to give her an “in” and so far it seemed to be working.

But suddenly a pall fell upon Ace. Acclaim involuntarily cocked her head to the side ever so slightly in puzzlement. His wan smile vanished and was replaced with an angry scowl. It was then that the reason for Ace’s curious fashion accessories became apparent: they were a repository for his medication... if the herbs could be rightly called that.

Ace’s subsequent outburst caught Acclaim entirely off guard. At first she was shocked and just a bit afraid, physically recoiling as if Ace was about to wind up and strike her. Then she was angry, her ears cocked forward and her wings flared out. Acclaim visibly bristled. How dare he! She was here to help! Even if she wasn’t here on assignment, this sort of rudeness was absolutely unacceptable. She had every right knock him on his flank and drag him by the ears to the MP’s station for disorderly conduct! But just as quickly as it had come, the outburst subsided. Ace stuffed more meds down his craw and seemed to shrink with guilt.

[colour=#0000cd]"Apologies, seems I... uh... didn't get much sleep on the ride here."[/colour]

That’s a load of horse apples and you know it. Was what she wanted to say, but simple etiquette and duty both conspired to shackle her tongue. Ace's problems ran a lot deeper than missing shut eye on the train over; this was just the tip of the iceberg. Taking a deep breath, Acclaim smoothed out her mane and laid her wings flat against her skirt again. She’d try her best to avoid pushing buttons, but if Ace wasn’t going to throw her a bone, this could prove to be a difficult night.

[colour=#daa520]“Ace, I’m not going to hide my assignment from you.”[/colour] Her response was affable, but firm. [colour=#daa520]“But I’m not going to smack you in the face with it either. I’m not a therapist, I’m a soldier, just like you. You’re free to talk about whatever you want to talk about.”[/colour]

The sergeant turned back to the bar, taking a sip of her drink before remarking, [colour=#daa520]“Ponyville’s best. I have to wonder sometimes why that place isn’t more famous considering I’ve yet to find a bar that didn’t serve Sweet Apple Acres cider. This stuff even shows up way in the frontier territory, right alongside Stallianoya vodka...”[/colour]

Is it true that England is actually a theme park off the coast of mainland Europe?

Lev Nobleheart

Never forget where you came from. If you ever have to go back, it's better to have friends there than enemies.

RP Type: World of Equestria

Name: Lev Nobleheart

Sex: Male

Age: Adult

Species: Griffon

Eyes: Deep royal purple.

Cat half: Panther. Very dark purple coat, appears black under most light.

Bird half: Secretary bird. White feathers, red “mask” around his eyes, prominent royal purple crest feathers.

Physique: Tall, broad-shouldered, and gruff-looking, much like his bird-half would suggest.

Residence: Stalliongrad.

Occupation: CEO and owner of Kalinka Shipping Corporation

Character History

Lev Nobleheart comes from a family of griffons native to the Stalliongrad area. Their origins were humble, beginning as small time metalsmiths for local farmers in need of tools. Through the generations, however, the Nobleheart family worked their way up the social and economic ladder. The smithy became a machine shop, which later became a factory. By the time of Xenia Nobleheart, Lev’s grandmother, the family had outgrown their manufacturing roots and moved on to other pursuits, namely business and finance. Xenia’s daughter Oksana (Lev’s mother) was the first in the family to head the newly established Nobleheart Investments.

Lev grew up under the careful tutelage of Oksana and when he was old enough was given the best education that money could buy. A young Lev studied in Stalliongrad, Talonopolis, and Canterlot, learning business, finance, and economic theory. After graduating from university, Lev worked for a time under his mother at the company, but soon realized that it was not what he was looking for. As wonderful of a mother and businessgriffon that Oksana was, Lev knew that he would never be able to succeed while remaining in his mother’s shadow. The younger Nobleheart willingly gave up assured financial security and a guaranteed future and struck out on his own. He went out hunting in Stalliongrad, using his impressive education credentials and accrued allowances to purchase substantial stock in a then little known trading company, Kalinka Shipping.

Within a few years, the young entrepreneur had risen through the company ranks and purchased Kalinka for his own use. With innovative business practices and a bit of luck, Lev turned an obscure delivery company into a shipping powerhouse in Stalliongrad. Kalinka now runs its own fleet of cargo airships, carrying a substantial portion of all freight between Stalliongrad and Talonopolis. As a result, Lev has a large amount of pull in the upper echelons of both Equestrian and Aquellian social and business circles. There are rumors that Lev might try for political office in the near future, but they so far remain unsubstantiated.

Character Summary

Though he is well-educated and very well-off financially, Lev remembers his family's humble roots and refuses to let his wealth go to his head. His family’s work ethic and compassion for those less fortunate are firmly ingrained in Lev’s mind. He keeps little property, maintaining only a middling-sized house in the Reya District, where he lives alone, commuting to Kalinka’s offices in Ostrov District every day. That said, he keeps himself very well-groomed and well-dressed as befitting of a griffon of his social standing. Lev has attire for every occasion from work to nights out to hikes in the highland district. The personal income that would have gone to upkeeping an extravagant estate is instead poured into foundations to fund scholarships and finance small business startups, Lev’s personal efforts to “give back” to those who helped his family get to where it is.

Lev’s upbringing by the ascended working-class Noblehearts taught him that money never came easily and that hard work and education were the keys to success. Before his departure, his mother left him with one more bit of advice: compassion and honesty were the best long-term investments he could make. As a result, Lev is kind and welcoming while out of the office and a magnanimous host whenever he discusses business with potential partners; that said, he makes it very clear that there is a separation between personal and professional lives. Just because he deals business with somepony does not automatically make them best friends.

Because of his investment in his company (in time and effort as well as money), Lev can be a bit of a workaholic, pushing himself to get things done ahead of schedule and maintain his competitive advantage. He can also be self-sacrificial to a fault, willing to commit time and resources to projects on his own, especially those having to do with philanthropy.

Foalsitting operation? Ouch.

Acclaim carefully took the time to look him up and down. Ace was broad shouldered and sinewy in build, the quintessential airborne infantryman, and carried himself as such. This would be the kind of rough rider that any fresh recruit would look up to in his or her first time abroad. But something was distinctly off about his presentation. The uniform was well-kept, almost sterile, but contrasted sharply with what appeared to be combat saddlebags. As he spoke, Acclaim caught a whiff of something unpleasant on his breath, something medicinal smelling. Finally, there was his initial reaction to meeting her. However quick it was, the reaction was one of terror rather than pleasant surprise. The strange body language showed that outwardly, Ace was a fine soldier, but inside, something wasn’t right. He certainly wasn’t going to make this easy on her.

[colour=#daa520]“Sergeant Acclaim, III Order,”[/colour] she said, immediately transitioning from returning a snapped salute to extending her hoof to shake. Credentials were important to be sure, but it would likely put Ace more at ease to know it was a social function rather than another border patrol. She did her best to present herself as a fellow enlisted, her bat wings relaxed and draped over her skirt, a hint of a smile playing at her lips, and stance distinctly at ease after her salute. [colour=#daa520]“Welcome back to C-lot!”[/colour]

[colour=#daa520]“Can we go over that again?”[/colour]

Acclaim slowly reread the dossier. She’d definitely read it the first time, but she’d rather have it straight from Col. Ironwing. Guard duty was one thing, but this was something else entirely.

Col. Ironwing wrinkled his nose and adjusted his glasses with a hoof. [colour=#8b4513]“Army Medical has been going over some new preventative medicine procedures and part of their trials include accountability partners for mental health.”[/colour]

[colour=#daa520]“So he’s crazy?”[/colour] Acclaim blurted. Her ears drooped for a moment as she realized her faux pas.

The colonel was unfazed. [colour=#8b4513]“We’re all a bit crazy, sergeant. Who else would join the Army?”[/colour]

[colour=#daa520]“I”m not sure whether to be flattered or offended, sir.”[/colour]

[colour=#8b4513]“Humor, sergeant,”[/colour] the colonel smirked. [colour=#8b4513]“Ace is a good kid. He just has some confidence issues and his CO thought it would do him some good to get out. But to do that, they need somepony they can trust.”[/colour]

[colour=#daa520]“I appreciate your faith in me, sir, but if I didn’t know any better I’d think high command was playing matchmaker for me.”[/colour]

[colour=#8b4513]“It’s less an order and more of a favour, Acclaim. Ace is a former athlete, just like you. So I figured you’d be best to help him reacclimate.”[/colour] The big pegasus paused for a moment as he took another sip of tea from his mug. [colour=#8b4513]“Being master of ceremonies for this event isn’t easy. I want everypony to have fun here, sergeant. But I also want to make sure that ponies who need help get help.”[/colour]

[colour=#daa520]“I’ll do my best, sir.”[/colour]

[colour=#8b4513]“Good. You’d best get going. The festivities start in a few hours. I’ll have Ace sent to meet you in the foyer after everypony has had a chance to mingle. Dismissed.”[/colour]

Of course that was several hours ago.

[colour=#daa520]“Anytime now, buddy,”[/colour] Acclaim mumbled to herself as she sipped at her cider.

She’d quietly excused herself from Fire Walker and company specifically to search for Ace. Ironwing had said wait in the Foyer before going in, but the Foyer of the castle was a big place. So Acclaim did what any soldier would do while waiting for her charge: got a drink at the bar.

Idling was something that Acclaim didn’t ordinarily do, and thus she found it difficult to keep herself occupied while she waited. She polished her pins. She straightened her cummerbund. She ruffled her bat wings and checked the pleats in her skirt. Finally taking a look around, she spotted an approaching stallion roughly matching Ace’s description.

[colour=#daa520]“Ace High I presume?”[/colour]