Oh hey, they redid the Blogger interface again. No idea when, if that gives you any idea how often I've tried to post here.
Charles' library:
Akasha
Paranormal Phenomenon
Kollektives Unbewussts (Presumably meant to be kollektives unbewusste -- German for collective unconscious, aka the World of C)
RagnarΦk (Technically a slanted capital Rho. Also it's subtitled with the exact same text)
Encyclopedia Brittania (This amused me to no end)
Flying, legless Charles was pretty amusing, I could watch that as a cycled gif a few dozen times and keep laughing.
So the questions:
O) This is out of order, but what the hell was everybody doing for a full month?
1) Who does V.V. call after he shoots Marianne? I assume just further agents under his sway, as opposed to some regulatory leadership, since the action is taken without Charles and done while the Order is still under C.C.'s control.
2) Charles' Geass has the power to override the knowledge of how to use eyesight and kinetic functions? That's a rather impressive interpretation of a memory-Geass.
3) If the Royals believe the Bismarck has disappeared, why is he with the remaining Knights of Rounds? Shouldn't that be fitting.
* Worth noting that he appears, eye opened and Geass-symboled in the next episode preview (apparently battling a turquoise-winged knightmare frame (Lancelot Albion I assume)
4) Who granted Bismarck's Geass, presumably he's had it since before that eye was closed, and thus longer than V.V.'s death-span. Geass endures beyond the lifespan of the granting Code? And there's certainly no extra connection between C.C. and Lelouch, whereas Bismarck appears to know of Charles' failure immediately, which makes me think he doesn't have order-generated Geass. Lastly, what does his Geass allow him to do?
5) Anya doesn't appear with the other Knights of Rounds but given how the World of C was entered, it's likely that she was recovered by Lelouch, Suzaku, and C.C. However the events within the World of C showed her awakening earlier, it's possible she wasn't there when they emerged. Given that they decided not to reveal it when showing all the other students at the academy, I assume that Charles' death is not the end of the effects of his Geass on Anya.
6) Given that Suzaku appears to have Lancelot Albion, or at least a Lancelot with Cecile's float-wings, where are Lloyd and Cecile? They appeared quite distraught (strangely, I didn't think either would feel loyalty to Charles) at the coup incited by Schneizel. It's uncertain if Schneizel still has them, since he apparently released Gino back to the Knights.
* Wildcard, I'm greatly amused by Diethard joining Schneizel.
7) Who acquired the second Geass blocking contact lens for Lelouch. Was it something C.C. prepared given history of Geass progression in its users? How did she acquire the original one anyway, though the Order? With that destroyed, they shouldn't have the resources to get another anyway. Also, why is C.C. back to her original garb? I guess because the Black Knights ousted Zero, but why not keep with what she had been wearing?
8) Whose forces are the ones in the preview. All I can see in looking at them is Soul Eater's Kishin.
Assuming Lelouch frees Japan for the Black Knights, their obligations as a force are ended (though not necessarily those of the United Nations that Zero created)
And here I was figuring that a restored C.C. was the end of a Lelouch x Kallen path, I'm glad to see that doesn't seem to be the case (though it could easily be an ambush for either of them I guess).
Edit: Bonus additions
I take back a portion of 4), as per Lelouch's discourse with C.C:
"What do you two think?"
"You noticed that I showed up?"
"And the fact that you have returned to your original persona."
I also find it ironic how Clovis had precisely what his father wanted all along.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Friday, May 02, 2008
Quick admission of guilt
Yes, I'm at work, but we're in this pseudo-complete stage of a process roll-out that means I'm done with all I can do, but there's still persistent issues outside of my control that prevent my from doing the next stage of things since there will be no concrete requirements till everything we have now is completed.
Animeside I'm watching just about everything that's not either really serious or really fanservice this season, at least so far, but that's not where we're going here.
Nor am I posting a cycle analysis of Shadowmoor, though I did that as well. Went 2-2 after a early lead at the pre-release, but had none of the dual color ultra enchants and no duos, which was pretty uncool. (At least I had the Red/Green Liege with 2 x Red/Green anti-blue and a Giant Hunting).
Still never beat that last Advance Wars mission, though these days it's mostly Brawl, Mario Kart, WoW, Grand Chase, Hellgate, and Puzzle Quest in some mix.
Anyways, I was watching a series (Library War specifically, since I can anonymatize the rest of this information enough to negate the incrimination anyway) yesterday and found myself stumbling over a characters resemblance to another's. Specifically the Information Library Officer (roommate of the protagonist) resemblance to a character that I could only vaguely place. About 15 minutes after I finished it struck me, and it was a character from a H-Doujin. Just had to relate it for the amusement of it.
Animeside I'm watching just about everything that's not either really serious or really fanservice this season, at least so far, but that's not where we're going here.
Nor am I posting a cycle analysis of Shadowmoor, though I did that as well. Went 2-2 after a early lead at the pre-release, but had none of the dual color ultra enchants and no duos, which was pretty uncool. (At least I had the Red/Green Liege with 2 x Red/Green anti-blue and a Giant Hunting).
Still never beat that last Advance Wars mission, though these days it's mostly Brawl, Mario Kart, WoW, Grand Chase, Hellgate, and Puzzle Quest in some mix.
Anyways, I was watching a series (Library War specifically, since I can anonymatize the rest of this information enough to negate the incrimination anyway) yesterday and found myself stumbling over a characters resemblance to another's. Specifically the Information Library Officer (roommate of the protagonist) resemblance to a character that I could only vaguely place. About 15 minutes after I finished it struck me, and it was a character from a H-Doujin. Just had to relate it for the amusement of it.
Sunday, February 03, 2008
Rockets, Anti-Tanks, and Resupplies aren't cutting it.
Clearly I need a new strategy. Hit the last stage of Advance Wars: Days of Ruins, and have to admit that I liked the way they took the new post-apocalyptic storyline. Also glad they used the new set of characters as an excuse to create some relationship interplay, though honestly I'd have been more amused if everyone fell for Will, seriously.
So, I'm not quite sure how to defeat the nest. 5 straight-line 8 damage laser cannons, 3 of which bisect the map making it impossible to get across with capture units (debris/ruin ground so the bikes can't make it either). Alternating side 5 damage missile effects. 2 auto-creation points (which are guarded by the laser cannons on the inside just to force me to use heavy firepower units to camp them). And to top it off Caulder's got a 5 star attack and defense CO effect on a 3 radius and it regenerates? Totally unfair, and aside from the half-life strike every round I think I could eventually outgun him. Problem is his air units just shred mine, and with so little by way of transversable terrain I find myself playing reactionary all too often. I think I'll just use a decoy array of troops and stonewall in with indirect fire, not sure how to keep my Eastern flank from getting overwhelmed, but that's merely another issue.
No resolutions for New Years, not that I ever do, but despite not making them. I think there's a few items on the itinerary. Aside from replacing Asgard (the Soundcard is partially dead, which is the only remaining piece of the original), I think I'll use the tax refund (or whatever they're calling it, economic incentive?) towards a PS3, and then we can tack on a few goals like moderate exercise and professional skill development. Maybe there should be something about a social life, but there's no really a young professional adult scene here that I know of, nor that I really care about anyways.
Saw Cloverfield with Jason, suffice to say that I'm not a major fan of the shaky camera, but can stomach it anyways. Pretty much went to see what the monster was, and can't say that I'm completely satisfied in that regards. The whole movie is a veiled survival horror, but after the opening you know the where and what of the end, which gives it all the appeal of a rail-shooter with all too obvious railings. Too much of what's going on is obscured by the cameras off-set focus and mobility that the suspense is killed off by the mystery. I'd watch it again just to get a better look at a few elements with the knowledge of where to look when, but probably not in theaters.
Also, if you're gonna add something after the credits, make it more audible, even if you're trying for something muffled.
To play quick catchup from a resurrection of last time's anime comments:
Darker than Black- Ended well enough, higher body count that anticipated but I liked the way everything played out. I'd appreciate another season of Hei and Ying against the Syndicate, and another one or two Initial D styled OPs while we're at it.
Not sure really what they'd do to recast the second season, as Hei doesn't seem the type to recruit anyone and all his former partners are dead though.
Baccano!- As much as I originally said I didn't want to spend all 13 episodes on that one train (and we did, despite the other stories), I think that Baccano! was fantastic. Despite the full-blown chaos (and absolutely crappy broadcast quality) the show came together masterfully, and still managed to through a couple armfuls of surprises my way.
The comic relief characters, while plot relevant, get a bit too much airtime for being such airheads. In a weaker show, they could've been fatal. Consequently, the finale feels a tad bit weak, for focusing on them as it did instead of the unveiling of the others.
Sayonara Zetsubo Sensei - It's a fun show, but I'm convinced there's not actually a plot. It feels 4koma, but even those have direction. Very much a product of very strong characters with non-existent plot. Works if you have expectations along those lines, otherwise you're just left wondering what the point of all it was. Additionally, everything extra on the screen just moves so quick I'd be amazed if even the intended audience could catch it all in one go.
Haven't watched an episode of the second season yet, but the ED is gorgeous, the opening is alright but I preferred the first season's stuff.
Idolm@ster Xenoglossia - What's that Sunrise, sacrifices made partially meaningless by the fact that the sacrificed survive? You're good at that sort of thing. Either way I liked the show on the whole and the cast without even having the Idol background or fan-ship for it. Playing itself on the safe side of things with the violence except at seemingly arbitrary spikes of the bloodshed gave it echoes of Eureka Seven's take on violence (though E7 basically embraced it after a short lull from the original inclusion).
Fulfilled the necessary role as Hime/Otome substitute, with all the pitfalls that entails.
Speaking of which, Otome Zwei ended reasonably happily for me, giving Nina powers, keeping the stupid cat-kid from doing anything. A bit off the cuff OVA set, but it had enough delights for the Otome/Hime fan that it worked. I'm hoping for some fun with S.if, though I can't say that Arika's mother is really my preferred character (maybe she was really awesome during the S.if time though).
Gurren Lagann - I just gotta get the Anonymous subs, like, tomorrow, Order is painfully slow and I want to finish this.
Tales of Symphonia - Seriously, a 4 set OVA that carried barely halfway through the story? Who thought this idea up? Or at least announce the next 4, please.
And for the "new" stuff
Tokyo Majin Gakuen Kenpuchou Tou Dai Ni Maku is still dead in the water as far as subs go, which is a shame, since I wanted to see if they could redeem the awesomeness of the first season. Licensing and general ill taste of the first season seems to have done it in though. Still on eps 1 and 3 have been covered still, perhaps it's time to go trawling for the raws, but I didn't even see those occurring weekly.
Aquarion ~ Wings of Betrayal/Glory~ was a great reminder of just about everything I enjoyed out of Aquarion, without the annoyance of Sirius and Silvia's incestuous fascinations
(Firefox suggested I use that instead of incestual, it probably knows better than I do) . Excellent action and interplay, and leading people down the wrong course. Not sure how I fell about a love balanced by three, nor about how they tried to tie it in as a prequel, but I do know I have a desire to rewatch the first episode again (badass soundtrack as Apollo falls into Mars and goes about combining and kicking Shadow Angel ass).
Tsubusa Chronicles - Tokyo Revelations was everything that I had hoped to get out of the second season by building the on first and then some. I've probably watched the mini-fight scene (Crossbows versus Syaoran until Kurogane's strike) a dozen times and enjoyed it every time. Glad to have things moving again for all the characters (back at the end of Season 1 with the RPG-world world for the prior example of everyone doing something) and again with Fye and Kurogane being awesome, though clone-Syaoran being amazing too (and yes, I was among those who though the one being held by Reed Fei-Wong was the evil clone, and not the original).
Macross Frontier cannot be praised enough. The CG here was mind-blowingly amazing and that's about all I can really say since everything else will be repeating that phrase in some form or another. Seriously, it made everything else look like child's play.
Minami-ke - I think both seasons have done pretty well with this one honestly. I don't have any major objections going into the second from the first (though the soundtrack seems perhaps the slightest bit weaker - until I hear the panic music). It's not quite the otaku humor that drove Lucky Star, and that probably makes it a bit more enjoyable for me in all respects. The Bible Black eyes are a little jarring (especially in the context of the first OP of the second season), but overall it's still a solid character designer. Much humor to be had, regularly a riot.
Rental Magica I nearly dropped, but kept around and have enjoyed it despite the lack of anything to really stand out to me. I think I'm probably doing it just for the ladies at this point, and even then I cannot stand Mikan, she needs to be replaced with Lapis for sure. I've enjoyed the progression of the plot, and the formation of some grand scheme underlying everything. Really, I'm rooting for Goetia though. Her Evangeline appeal beats out Honami any day of the week.
Shugo Chara - Why have I enjoyed this as much as I have? I dunno. It's relatively simple, absolutely monster of the week and the 3 Character Transformations are all just palette swaps on the single original. On top of that, the cast is absolutely juvenile, literally, the setting could've been handled much more to my liking with an older cast (Hell, they could not change the animation and just change the numbers of their grades and I'll feel better about it).
Dragonaut ~The Resonance~ - I think this is playing stand in for my shounen fix this season. It doesn't know when to kill off characters, completely sidetracks its own plot, and does a very poor job of explaining the mysteries it fosters. I cannot stand Kazuki, I have issues with practically everyone who shows up, aside from the established cast being a Dragon, randomly, and I've had just about enough with Jin and Gio being captured (yet I bet we'll get one more in there, randomly, at some point before the end).
Persona ~Trinity Soul~ has a lot of potential to be grand, it just needs to stop dancing around with the setup of the sides of the conflict and get down to the action. The sideline tragic-past crap can go away as well, I think that the Personas and the competing organizations are enough to fill the series anyways.
Wasn't a good season for heroes. Dropped both Heroic Age and Hero Tales for inability to get into them, alongside unsteady subs at the onset.
Not deep enough into Shigofumi or Spice and Wolf to comment on those yet.
You know, I have no idea what the outcome of Groundhog's Day was.
So, I'm not quite sure how to defeat the nest. 5 straight-line 8 damage laser cannons, 3 of which bisect the map making it impossible to get across with capture units (debris/ruin ground so the bikes can't make it either). Alternating side 5 damage missile effects. 2 auto-creation points (which are guarded by the laser cannons on the inside just to force me to use heavy firepower units to camp them). And to top it off Caulder's got a 5 star attack and defense CO effect on a 3 radius and it regenerates? Totally unfair, and aside from the half-life strike every round I think I could eventually outgun him. Problem is his air units just shred mine, and with so little by way of transversable terrain I find myself playing reactionary all too often. I think I'll just use a decoy array of troops and stonewall in with indirect fire, not sure how to keep my Eastern flank from getting overwhelmed, but that's merely another issue.
No resolutions for New Years, not that I ever do, but despite not making them. I think there's a few items on the itinerary. Aside from replacing Asgard (the Soundcard is partially dead, which is the only remaining piece of the original), I think I'll use the tax refund (or whatever they're calling it, economic incentive?) towards a PS3, and then we can tack on a few goals like moderate exercise and professional skill development. Maybe there should be something about a social life, but there's no really a young professional adult scene here that I know of, nor that I really care about anyways.
Saw Cloverfield with Jason, suffice to say that I'm not a major fan of the shaky camera, but can stomach it anyways. Pretty much went to see what the monster was, and can't say that I'm completely satisfied in that regards. The whole movie is a veiled survival horror, but after the opening you know the where and what of the end, which gives it all the appeal of a rail-shooter with all too obvious railings. Too much of what's going on is obscured by the cameras off-set focus and mobility that the suspense is killed off by the mystery. I'd watch it again just to get a better look at a few elements with the knowledge of where to look when, but probably not in theaters.
Also, if you're gonna add something after the credits, make it more audible, even if you're trying for something muffled.
To play quick catchup from a resurrection of last time's anime comments:
Darker than Black- Ended well enough, higher body count that anticipated but I liked the way everything played out. I'd appreciate another season of Hei and Ying against the Syndicate, and another one or two Initial D styled OPs while we're at it.
Not sure really what they'd do to recast the second season, as Hei doesn't seem the type to recruit anyone and all his former partners are dead though.
Baccano!- As much as I originally said I didn't want to spend all 13 episodes on that one train (and we did, despite the other stories), I think that Baccano! was fantastic. Despite the full-blown chaos (and absolutely crappy broadcast quality) the show came together masterfully, and still managed to through a couple armfuls of surprises my way.
The comic relief characters, while plot relevant, get a bit too much airtime for being such airheads. In a weaker show, they could've been fatal. Consequently, the finale feels a tad bit weak, for focusing on them as it did instead of the unveiling of the others.
Sayonara Zetsubo Sensei - It's a fun show, but I'm convinced there's not actually a plot. It feels 4koma, but even those have direction. Very much a product of very strong characters with non-existent plot. Works if you have expectations along those lines, otherwise you're just left wondering what the point of all it was. Additionally, everything extra on the screen just moves so quick I'd be amazed if even the intended audience could catch it all in one go.
Haven't watched an episode of the second season yet, but the ED is gorgeous, the opening is alright but I preferred the first season's stuff.
Idolm@ster Xenoglossia - What's that Sunrise, sacrifices made partially meaningless by the fact that the sacrificed survive? You're good at that sort of thing. Either way I liked the show on the whole and the cast without even having the Idol background or fan-ship for it. Playing itself on the safe side of things with the violence except at seemingly arbitrary spikes of the bloodshed gave it echoes of Eureka Seven's take on violence (though E7 basically embraced it after a short lull from the original inclusion).
Fulfilled the necessary role as Hime/Otome substitute, with all the pitfalls that entails.
Speaking of which, Otome Zwei ended reasonably happily for me, giving Nina powers, keeping the stupid cat-kid from doing anything. A bit off the cuff OVA set, but it had enough delights for the Otome/Hime fan that it worked. I'm hoping for some fun with S.if, though I can't say that Arika's mother is really my preferred character (maybe she was really awesome during the S.if time though).
Gurren Lagann - I just gotta get the Anonymous subs, like, tomorrow, Order is painfully slow and I want to finish this.
Tales of Symphonia - Seriously, a 4 set OVA that carried barely halfway through the story? Who thought this idea up? Or at least announce the next 4, please.
And for the "new" stuff
Tokyo Majin Gakuen Kenpuchou Tou Dai Ni Maku is still dead in the water as far as subs go, which is a shame, since I wanted to see if they could redeem the awesomeness of the first season. Licensing and general ill taste of the first season seems to have done it in though. Still on eps 1 and 3 have been covered still, perhaps it's time to go trawling for the raws, but I didn't even see those occurring weekly.
Aquarion ~ Wings of Betrayal/Glory~ was a great reminder of just about everything I enjoyed out of Aquarion, without the annoyance of Sirius and Silvia's incestuous fascinations
(Firefox suggested I use that instead of incestual, it probably knows better than I do) . Excellent action and interplay, and leading people down the wrong course. Not sure how I fell about a love balanced by three, nor about how they tried to tie it in as a prequel, but I do know I have a desire to rewatch the first episode again (badass soundtrack as Apollo falls into Mars and goes about combining and kicking Shadow Angel ass).
Tsubusa Chronicles - Tokyo Revelations was everything that I had hoped to get out of the second season by building the on first and then some. I've probably watched the mini-fight scene (Crossbows versus Syaoran until Kurogane's strike) a dozen times and enjoyed it every time. Glad to have things moving again for all the characters (back at the end of Season 1 with the RPG-world world for the prior example of everyone doing something) and again with Fye and Kurogane being awesome, though clone-Syaoran being amazing too (and yes, I was among those who though the one being held by Reed Fei-Wong was the evil clone, and not the original).
Macross Frontier cannot be praised enough. The CG here was mind-blowingly amazing and that's about all I can really say since everything else will be repeating that phrase in some form or another. Seriously, it made everything else look like child's play.
Minami-ke - I think both seasons have done pretty well with this one honestly. I don't have any major objections going into the second from the first (though the soundtrack seems perhaps the slightest bit weaker - until I hear the panic music). It's not quite the otaku humor that drove Lucky Star, and that probably makes it a bit more enjoyable for me in all respects. The Bible Black eyes are a little jarring (especially in the context of the first OP of the second season), but overall it's still a solid character designer. Much humor to be had, regularly a riot.
Rental Magica I nearly dropped, but kept around and have enjoyed it despite the lack of anything to really stand out to me. I think I'm probably doing it just for the ladies at this point, and even then I cannot stand Mikan, she needs to be replaced with Lapis for sure. I've enjoyed the progression of the plot, and the formation of some grand scheme underlying everything. Really, I'm rooting for Goetia though. Her Evangeline appeal beats out Honami any day of the week.
Shugo Chara - Why have I enjoyed this as much as I have? I dunno. It's relatively simple, absolutely monster of the week and the 3 Character Transformations are all just palette swaps on the single original. On top of that, the cast is absolutely juvenile, literally, the setting could've been handled much more to my liking with an older cast (Hell, they could not change the animation and just change the numbers of their grades and I'll feel better about it).
Dragonaut ~The Resonance~ - I think this is playing stand in for my shounen fix this season. It doesn't know when to kill off characters, completely sidetracks its own plot, and does a very poor job of explaining the mysteries it fosters. I cannot stand Kazuki, I have issues with practically everyone who shows up, aside from the established cast being a Dragon, randomly, and I've had just about enough with Jin and Gio being captured (yet I bet we'll get one more in there, randomly, at some point before the end).
Persona ~Trinity Soul~ has a lot of potential to be grand, it just needs to stop dancing around with the setup of the sides of the conflict and get down to the action. The sideline tragic-past crap can go away as well, I think that the Personas and the competing organizations are enough to fill the series anyways.
Wasn't a good season for heroes. Dropped both Heroic Age and Hero Tales for inability to get into them, alongside unsteady subs at the onset.
Not deep enough into Shigofumi or Spice and Wolf to comment on those yet.
You know, I have no idea what the outcome of Groundhog's Day was.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Long time no see...
I figured I'd get something in, and perhaps a few paragraphs more than a mention that I need to change the header text.
The really sad part is I never did end up using the SQL mess from last time.
Parsed about 30K images from Ajax, which leaves about 75K till I'm done, not really fast going but I've collected a preliminary ~2K to sort through for addition to Wallpapers and humor pictures. It's about time to get looking for New Year's pictures on some of the functional sites though.
No X-Mas wallpaper, my list consisted of 0 items so that's what I got. Didn't really feel the mood this year amid working (despite my vacation time) and everything, just took a lot of time to rest and recover from the year. Didn't want anything though, mind you, finalizing the list for the components I want to replace Asgard with and then I'll order up the new machine (while trying to figure out a name)
Came into work today (slightly late to open cause of Traffic Lights, fuckers going 25 under the limit, and just not wanting to get out of bed) with Star 94 on the Radio playing Panic: at the Disco's - I write sins not tragedies which is the "Haven't you people ever heard of closing the god-damn door" which sounds incredibly awkward for a work song, even if they just radio-silence the "damn".
At the War Room last night David passed me the source book for something called Cthulu Tech so I of course opened it up to see what it was like.
They claim
"Built on Framewerk
Gone are the days that hobbyists wanted intricate, complex mechanics in their games. Simple, intuitive systems like White Wolf’s Storyteller or Eden Studios’ Unisystem are now the order of the day. Even Wizards of the Coast's d20 has been streamlined from its more complicated days.
Framewerk, the proprietary system upon which CthulhuTech is built, is not only simple and intuitive, it is cinematic, exciting, and puts destiny back in the hands of the player. Its easy to grasp nature makes the game straightforward to learn and quick to start. Its clever dice mechanics make even the simplest of task resolutions exciting."
Ladies and gentlemen. The sytem calls for you to roll a number of D10's based on relevant skill expertise, the end value of which is computed via:
A) The Highest Value amongst the dice
B) The sum of any matching die rolls (ie: 4, 4, 6 can be computed as 4 + 4 = 8)
C) The sum of any "straight" of die rolls (ie: 4, 5, 6, 9 can be computed as 4 + 5 + 6 = 15)
Elegant and simple my ass.
There's roughly 20 non-combat skills and 8 combat skills each and the non-combats go all over the place including Crime, Larceny (yes, they're different), Seduction, Persuading, and many many others all of which have at least 5 specializations within them.
It uses a morphed variant of the Fallout system (which I'm sure has a different archetype as the true hier to power, but I don't dabble in anything aside from D&D and D20 Modern) which features 5 Attributes of 1-10 (allocate 35 total across them) and derives relevant abilities from these (Speed is a function of the average of Agility and Strength, etc). Couple in the requisite Min-Maxing of Flaws and Traits.
The oddity of it all though, is you gain generic EXP, which can in turn be used to buy anything: Attributes, Skills, Feats, Attribute-derived abilities.
Suffice to say I spent a good 45 minutes in recitation of this (to humorous effect) and still didn't even touch on the combat system.
Anime-side, not a ton to say since the dying sound card pisses me the hell off, but Macross Frontier is jaw-droppingly amazing. Year in retrospect coming later.
The really sad part is I never did end up using the SQL mess from last time.
Parsed about 30K images from Ajax, which leaves about 75K till I'm done, not really fast going but I've collected a preliminary ~2K to sort through for addition to Wallpapers and humor pictures. It's about time to get looking for New Year's pictures on some of the functional sites though.
No X-Mas wallpaper, my list consisted of 0 items so that's what I got. Didn't really feel the mood this year amid working (despite my vacation time) and everything, just took a lot of time to rest and recover from the year. Didn't want anything though, mind you, finalizing the list for the components I want to replace Asgard with and then I'll order up the new machine (while trying to figure out a name)
Came into work today (slightly late to open cause of Traffic Lights, fuckers going 25 under the limit, and just not wanting to get out of bed) with Star 94 on the Radio playing Panic: at the Disco's - I write sins not tragedies which is the "Haven't you people ever heard of closing the god-damn door" which sounds incredibly awkward for a work song, even if they just radio-silence the "damn".
At the War Room last night David passed me the source book for something called Cthulu Tech so I of course opened it up to see what it was like.
They claim
"Built on Framewerk
Gone are the days that hobbyists wanted intricate, complex mechanics in their games. Simple, intuitive systems like White Wolf’s Storyteller or Eden Studios’ Unisystem are now the order of the day. Even Wizards of the Coast's d20 has been streamlined from its more complicated days.
Framewerk, the proprietary system upon which CthulhuTech is built, is not only simple and intuitive, it is cinematic, exciting, and puts destiny back in the hands of the player. Its easy to grasp nature makes the game straightforward to learn and quick to start. Its clever dice mechanics make even the simplest of task resolutions exciting."
Ladies and gentlemen. The sytem calls for you to roll a number of D10's based on relevant skill expertise, the end value of which is computed via:
A) The Highest Value amongst the dice
B) The sum of any matching die rolls (ie: 4, 4, 6 can be computed as 4 + 4 = 8)
C) The sum of any "straight" of die rolls (ie: 4, 5, 6, 9 can be computed as 4 + 5 + 6 = 15)
Elegant and simple my ass.
There's roughly 20 non-combat skills and 8 combat skills each and the non-combats go all over the place including Crime, Larceny (yes, they're different), Seduction, Persuading, and many many others all of which have at least 5 specializations within them.
It uses a morphed variant of the Fallout system (which I'm sure has a different archetype as the true hier to power, but I don't dabble in anything aside from D&D and D20 Modern) which features 5 Attributes of 1-10 (allocate 35 total across them) and derives relevant abilities from these (Speed is a function of the average of Agility and Strength, etc). Couple in the requisite Min-Maxing of Flaws and Traits.
The oddity of it all though, is you gain generic EXP, which can in turn be used to buy anything: Attributes, Skills, Feats, Attribute-derived abilities.
Suffice to say I spent a good 45 minutes in recitation of this (to humorous effect) and still didn't even touch on the combat system.
Anime-side, not a ton to say since the dying sound card pisses me the hell off, but Macross Frontier is jaw-droppingly amazing. Year in retrospect coming later.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
There's probably a simpler approach to this.
Just a quick code post at work, I'd wanted a Halloween image which I clearly don't have access to at work, so keeping it just to the code, and maybe I'll put up something Halloween-y later on (assuming I have images that aren't merely leaning to the gothic side of things) and by later I do mean much later, as in another day, as I'll probably be playing Hellgate all evening.
Anyways, SQL madness
select
DATEDIFF(n, pj_print_time_on, pj_print_time_off) [Print Minutes]
,(CAST(pj_print_counter_end AS int) - CAST(pj_print_counter_start AS int)) [Print Total]
,pj_print_spoilage_qty [Print Spoil]
,(((CAST(pj_print_counter_end AS int) - CAST(pj_print_counter_start AS int))) / (DATEDIFF(n, pj_print_time_on, pj_print_time_off))) [Print per Minute]
,pj_comments [Comments]
,DATEDIFF(n, pj_folding_time_on, pj_folding_time_off) [Fold Minutes]
,pj_total_folded [Fold Total]
,((pj_total_folded)/(DATEDIFF(n, pj_folding_time_on, pj_folding_time_off))) [Fold per Minute]
,pj_folding_spoilage_qty [Fold Spoil]
,DATEDIFF(n, pj_insert_time_on, pj_insert_time_off) [Insert Minutes]
,pj_insert_total [Insert Total]
,pj_insert_spoilage_qty [Insert Spoilage]
,((pj_insert_total) / (DATEDIFF(n, pj_insert_time_on, pj_insert_time_off))) [Insert per Minute]
from print_jobs
where DATEDIFF(n, pj_print_time_on, pj_print_time_off) > 0
AND (CAST(pj_print_counter_end AS int) - CAST(pj_print_counter_start AS int)) > 0
AND DATEDIFF(n, pj_folding_time_on, pj_folding_time_off) > 0
AND DATEDIFF(n, pj_insert_time_on, pj_insert_time_off) > 0
AND pj_entered_date_time > @StartDate and pj_entered_date_time < @EndDate
All it really lacks to truly impress myself is variable declaration to avoid the repeated usage of the mathematics in getting the 'per minute' values.
Anyways, SQL madness
select
DATEDIFF(n, pj_print_time_on, pj_print_time_off) [Print Minutes]
,(CAST(pj_print_counter_end AS int) - CAST(pj_print_counter_start AS int)) [Print Total]
,pj_print_spoilage_qty [Print Spoil]
,(((CAST(pj_print_counter_end AS int) - CAST(pj_print_counter_start AS int))) / (DATEDIFF(n, pj_print_time_on, pj_print_time_off))) [Print per Minute]
,pj_comments [Comments]
,DATEDIFF(n, pj_folding_time_on, pj_folding_time_off) [Fold Minutes]
,pj_total_folded [Fold Total]
,((pj_total_folded)/(DATEDIFF(n, pj_folding_time_on, pj_folding_time_off))) [Fold per Minute]
,pj_folding_spoilage_qty [Fold Spoil]
,DATEDIFF(n, pj_insert_time_on, pj_insert_time_off) [Insert Minutes]
,pj_insert_total [Insert Total]
,pj_insert_spoilage_qty [Insert Spoilage]
,((pj_insert_total) / (DATEDIFF(n, pj_insert_time_on, pj_insert_time_off))) [Insert per Minute]
from print_jobs
where DATEDIFF(n, pj_print_time_on, pj_print_time_off) > 0
AND (CAST(pj_print_counter_end AS int) - CAST(pj_print_counter_start AS int)) > 0
AND DATEDIFF(n, pj_folding_time_on, pj_folding_time_off) > 0
AND DATEDIFF(n, pj_insert_time_on, pj_insert_time_off) > 0
AND pj_entered_date_time > @StartDate and pj_entered_date_time < @EndDate
All it really lacks to truly impress myself is variable declaration to avoid the repeated usage of the mathematics in getting the 'per minute' values.
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Musings on Tribal M:tG
Planeswalkers
Ajani Goldmane - 2WW - Starting Loyality of 4
+1 : You gain 2 Life
-1 : Put a +1/+1 Counter on each creature you control. Those creatures gain vigilance until end of turn.
-6 : Put a white Avatar creature token into play with "This creature's power and toughness are equal to you life total.
Chandra Nalaar - 3RR - Starting Loyality of 6
+1 : Chandra Nalaar deals 1 damage to target player.
-X : Chandra Nalaar deals X damage to target creature.
-8 : Chandra Nalaar deals 10 damage to target player and each creature he or she controls.
Garruk Wildspeaker - 2GG - Starting Loyality of 3
+1 : Untap two target lands.
-1 : Put a 3/3 green Beast creature into play.
-4 : Creatures you control get +3/+3 and gain trample until end of turn.
Jace Beleren - 1UU - Starting Loyality of 3
+2 : Each player draws a card.
-1 : Target player draws a card.
-10 : Target player put the top twenty cards of his or her library into his or her graveyard.
Liliana Vess - 3BB - Starting Loyality of 5
+1 : Target player discards a card.
-2 : Search your library for a card, then shuffle your library and put that card on top of it.
-8 : Put all creature cards in all graveyards into play under your control.
Dual Lands (Reveal or comes in Tapped)
W or R (Giant) Ancient Ampitheater, B or R (Goblin) Auntie's Hovel, B or G (Elf) Gilt-Leaf Palace, U or B (Faerie) Secluded Glen, W or B (Merfolk) Wanderwine Hub
Legendaries
Ashling the Pilgrim - 1R - 1/1 Elemental Shaman
1R : Put a +1/+1 counter on Ashling the Pilgrim. If this is the third time this ability has resolved this turn, remove all +1/+1 counters from Ashling the Pilgrim, and it deals that much damage to each creature and each player.
Brigid, Hero of Kinsbaile - 2WW - 2/3 Kithkin Archer
First Strike
Tap : Brigid, Hero of Kinsbaile deals 2 damage to each attacking or blocking creature target player controls.
Brion Stoutarm - 2RW - 4/4 Giant Warrior
Lifelink
R Tap : Sacrifice a creature other than Brion Stoutarm: Brion Stoutarm deals damage equal to the sacrificed creature's power to target player.
Doran, the Siege Tower - UGW - 0/5 Treefolk Shaman
Each creature assigns combat damage equal to its toughness rather than its power.
Gaddock Teeg - GW - Kithkin Advisor
Noncreature spells with converted mana cost 4 or greater can't be played.
Noncreature spells with X in their mana costs can't be played.
Horde of Notions - WUBRG - 5/5 Elemental
Vigilance, trample, haste
WUBRG : You may play target Elemental card from your graveyard without paying its mana cost.
Nath of the Gilt-Leaf - 3BG - 4/4 Elf Warrior
At the beginning of your upkeep, you may have target opponent discard a card at random.
Whenever an opponent discards a card, you may put a 1/1 green Elf Warrior creature token into play.
Sygg, River Guide - WU - 2/2 Merfolk Wizard
Islandwalk
1W : Target Merfolk you control gains protection from the color of your choice until end of turn.
Wort, Boggart Aunite - 2BR - 3/3 Goblin Shaman
Fear
At the beginning of your upkeep, you may return target Goblin card from your graveyard to your hand.
Wydwen, the Biting Gale - 2UB - 3/3 Faerie Wizard
Flash
Flying
UB, Pay 1 Life : Return Wydwen, the Biting Gale to its owner's hand.
Incarnations
Dread - 3BBB - 6/6 Elemental Incarnation
Fear
Whenever a creature deals damage to you, destroy it.
When Dread is put into a graveyard from anywhere, shuffle it into its owner's library.
Guile - 3UUU - 6/6 Elemental Incarnation
Guile can't be blocked except by three or more creatures.
If a spell or ability you control would counter a spell, instead remove that spell from the game and you may play that card without paying its mana cost.
When Guile is put into a graveyard from anywhere, shuffle it into its owner's library.
Hostility - 3RRR - 6/6 Elemental Incarnation
Haste
If a spell you control would deal damage to an opponent, prevent that damage. Put a 3/1 red Elemental Shaman creature token with haste into play for each 1 damage prevented this way.
When Hostility is put into a graveyard from anywhere, shuffle it into its owner's library.
Purity - 3WWW - 6/6 Elemental Incarnation
Flying
If a spell or ability would deal damage to you, prevent that damage. You gain life equal to the damage prevented this way.
When Purity is put into a graveyard from anywhere, shuffle it into its owner's library.
Vigor - 3GGG - 6/6 Elemental Incarnation
Trample
If damage would be dealt to a creature you control other than Vigor, prevent that damage. Put a +1/+1 counter on that creature for each 1 damage prevented this way.
When Vigor is put into a graveyard from anywhere, shuffle it into its owner's library.
Commands
Austere Command - 4WW - Sorcery
Choose two - Destroy all artifacts; or destroy all enchantments; or destroy all creatures with converted mana cost 3 or less; or destroy all creatures with converted mana cost 4 or greater.
Cryptic Command - 1UUU - Instant
Choose two - Counter target spell; or return target permanent to its owner's hand; or tap all creatures your opponents control; or draw a card.
Incendiary Command - 3RR - Sorcery
Choose two - Incendiary Command deals 4 damage to target player; or Incendiary Command deals 2 damage to each creature; or destroy target nonbasic land; or each player discards all the cards in his or her hand, then draws that many cards.
Primal Command - 3GG - Sorcery
Choose two - Target player gains 7 life; or put target noncreature permanent on top of its owner's library; or target player shuffles his or her graveyard into his or her library; or search your library for a creature card, reveal it, put it into your hand, then shuffle your library.
Profane Command - XBB - Sorcery
Choose two - Target player loses X life; or return target creature card with converted mana cost X or less from your graveyard to play; or target creature gets -X/-X until end of turn; or up to X target creatures gain fear until end of turn.
Championers
Boggart Mob - 3B - 5/5 Goblin Warrior
Champion a Goblin
Whenever a Goblin you control deals combat damage to a player, you may put a 1/1 black Goblin Rogue creature token into play.
Nova Chaser - 3R - 10/2 Elemental Warrior
Champion an Elemental
Trample
Thoughtweft Trio - 2WW - 5/5 Kithkin Solider
Champion a Kithkin
First Strike, Vigilance
Thoughtweft Trio can block any number of creatures.
Wren's Run Packmaster
Champion an Elf
2G : Put a 2/2 green Wolf creature token into play.
Each Wolf you control has deathtouch.
Changeling Beserker - 3R - 5/3 Shapeshifter
Changeling
Champion a Creature
Haste
Changeling Hero - 4W - 4/4 Shapeshifter
Changeling
Champion a Creature
Lifelink
Changeling Titan - 4G - 7/7 Shapeshifter
Changeling
Champion a Creature
Tribal Leads
Imperious Perfect - 2G - 2/2 Elf Warrior
Other Elf creatures you control get +1/+1.
G Tap : Put a 1/1 Elf Warrior creature token into play.
Incandescent Soulstroke - 2R - 2/2 Elemental Shaman
Other Elemental creatures you control get +1/+1.
1R Tap : You may put an Elemental creature card from your hand into play. That creature gains haste until end of turn. Sacrafice it at end of turn.
Mad Auntie - 2B - 2/2 Goblin Shaman
Other Goblin creatures you control get +1/+1.
Tap : Regenerate another target Goblin.
Merrow Reejerey - 2U - 2/2 Merfolk Solider
Other Merfolk creatures you control get +1/+1.
Whenever you play a Merfolk spell you may tap or untap target permanent.
Scion of Oona - 2U - 2/2 Faerie Solider
Other Faerie creatures you control get +1/+1.
Flash
Flying
Other Faeries you control have shroud.
Sunrise Sovreign - 5R - 5/5 Giant Warrior
Other Giant creatures you control get +2/+2 and have trample.
Timber Protector - 4G - 4/6 Treefolk
Other Treefolk creatures you control get +1/+1.
Other Treefolk and Forests you control are indestructible.
Wizened Cenn - WW - 2/2 Kithkin Cleric
Other Kithkin creatures you control get +1/+1.
Tribal Enchantments
Boggart Shenanigans - 2R - Tribal Enchantment (Goblin)
Whenever another Goblin you control is put into a graveyard from play, you may have Boggart Shenanigans deal 1 damage to target player.
Eyes of the Wisent - 1G - Tribal Enchantment (Elemental)
Whenever an opponent plays a blue spell during your turn, you may put a 4/4 green Elemental creature token into play.
Faerie Tauntings - 2B - Tribal Enchantment (Faeire)
Whenever you play a spell during an opponent's turn, you may have each opponent lose 1 life.
Favor of the Mighty - 1W - Tribal Enchantment (Giant)
Each creature with the highest converted mana cost has protection from all colors
Each creature with the highest converted mana cost has protection from all colors
Hoofprints of the Stag - 1W - Tribal Enchantment (Elemental)
Whenever you draw a card, you may put a hoofprint counter on Hoofprints of the Stag.
2W : Remove four hoofprint counters from Hoofprints of the Stag: Put a 4/4 white Elemental creature token with flying into play. Play this ability only during your turn.
Whenever you draw a card, you may put a hoofprint counter on Hoofprints of the Stag.
2W : Remove four hoofprint counters from Hoofprints of the Stag: Put a 4/4 white Elemental creature token with flying into play. Play this ability only during your turn.
Merrow Commerce - 1U - Tribal Enchantment (Merfolk)
At the end of your turn, untap all Merfolk you control.
Kithkin Pride - 1W - Tribal Enchantment (Kithkin)
Whenever a nontoken creature you control attacks, you may pay W. If you do, put a 1/1 white Kithkin Soldier creature token into play tapped and attacking.
Prowess of the Fair - 1B - Tribal Enchantment (Elf)
Whenever another nontoken Elf is put into your graveyard from play, you may put a 1/1 green Elf Warrior creature token into play.
Rebellion of the Flamekin - 3R - Tribal Enchantment (Elemental)
Whenever you clash, you may pay 1. If you do, put a 3/1 red Elemental Shaman creature token into play. If you won, that token gains haste until end of turn.
Fun Extras
Cairn Wanderer - 4B - 4/4 Shapeshifter
Changeling
As long as a creature card with flying is in a graveyard, Cairn Wanderer has flying. The same is true for fear, first strike, double strike, deathtouch, haste, landwalk, lifelink, protection, reach, trample, shroud, and vigilance.
Forced Fruition - 4UU - Enchantment
Whenever an opponent plays a spell, that player draws seven cards.
Monday, October 01, 2007
Aaah, Fall
Woot, missed September entirely. Somewhere between the job and the diversion-turned-lifestyle that is World of Warcraft I didn't really find the time nor content to eek out a full blown post in that time. A pair of half sorted anime image sites/folders, a partially organized music folder, 2 nearly renamed folders of anime (as I move them from viewed to storage on the USB HD), and the flash fueled distractions of Adventure Quest (58!) and DragonFable (9!) during my semi-unimpaired at Saturday work aren't really contributing to the efforts.
Overlooking the facts that Adult Swim seems to be running both a 2003 Calendar remarked for 2007 events and time-line accurate calendar that claims they were running Blood+ episodes 111-125 over the course of weeknights on the second and third week of September, it appears at present that they'll be replacing Bleach with Death Note after the end of the second "season" chronologically, though Bleach originally actually ran 52-53 as a double episode and this sorta cuts right before the good stuff of the Soul Society so I wonder what it is they're actually doing, or if they genuinely only have the first 2 sets of 26 at their disposal, which would be sad.
So, in the realm of anime here it goes.
I still haven't watched Hayate nor RxJ, I've decided that I'm totally dropping the former but likely to grab and watch the full series batch of the later from Umai.
With Black Order's staff vacations and A.F.K. doing, well, I have no idea what, my progress in Sayonara, Lucky Star, and Gurren Lagann have all ground to a painful halt. I'm eagerly anticipating all 3, but only LS really has any progression outside A.F.K. (Guerrand to completion, though 3 groups have all done the next episode of SZS). Also, I'm kinda curious exactly what the rest of Doujin Work looks like, I didn't think your-mom dropped series.
Darker than Black and Idolm@ster Xenoglossia are both headed towards their respective ends, and the screens for both look promising. I'm holding a bit of hope that DtB'll get picked up again at another date as Hei x Misaki was a fun pairing, or even the more fanart-beloved Hei x Ying.
Someone has taken up the chalice of School Rumble Season 2, which is great news for as much as I detest an unhealthy portion of the cast, it's still amusing enough to counterbalance. I just have to look at it not as romantic comedy/drama but instead as pure school comedy with a bit of Eri service.
Zombie Loan
Somewhere between the random philosophical musings on the nature of existence, the random allies, the shounen-ai, the yuri, the less than stellar production quality, anticlimactic battles, and the numerous major story lines completely left unfinished (Grim Reaper, the Yakuza, Ferryman, and the other Zombie organization, not to mention everything involving the Headmistress and the wolf-spirit) there just isn't much good that I can say about the show. There was certainly potential but all they managed to do was laying characters atop characters, alluding to other events and people, and resolving none of it.
Verdict - It's not getting licensed, I don't see why it would since it'd be nothing either than a waste of money, but save yourself the trouble and skip this one.
Claymore
Okay, so the death of Flora makes me very sad, as she outshone pretty much all the other Claymores in terms of looks and style in her short time amongst the cast. Raki is at least thankfully coming across less like the whiny, lonely, over-entitled brat I grew to hate his as. I'm not overly concerned with the remainder of the Claymore force stationed at Pieta, but I am curious as to what it was that Galatea destroyed in that Church. As an aside, the jumping between falling fragments of the chunk of earth portion of the battle was amazing.
Verdict - Too many pieces still left up in the air so here's hoping for another 26 in a year or two when there's more manga to support it. Also hoping that those 26 involve more than just Claire, I don't think a single Claymore can defeat a Dweller, I think teamwork really is and should be key, both in terms of telling a good story and in terms of logic.
Blood+
Took me what, 3 weeks to eventually pour through all of this? There was a ton less fighting that I hoped for, loss of all the good Sif, Mao accomplishes little since she's essentially encouraging a love that isn't meant to be (and on some levels ticks that "related but not by blood" nerve) but there's just something about cameramen I guess (direct Speed Grapher reference, I admit). Too much of the fighting isn't Saya, and a lot of that isn't even Haji either, too many battles end when Diva's Chevalier's cancel each other out.
Still a few pieces left at the end, namely the origin, purpose, and end of Nathan, given the events after his supposed death.
From the Wiki, did I just miss this part in one of the flashbacks somewhere?
Bleach Movie : Memories of Nobody
Senna > Rukia & Inoue. But that's from a perspective that stopped when Soul Society did. Takes a bit of time, and plenty of oddness to get to the actual meat of the story (the last 20 minutes of warfare) but at least it's a decent trip. Being someone who stopped before even the wind-down of Soul Society I was pleased to just watch the old crew go to town against some fresh blood. Kenpachi's fight was too ridiculously over-the-top one-sided to keep a straight face at. Nice to see Rukia's "Blue Moon" since obviously she didn't do any fighting in the series through the course of Soul Society.
Verdict - Didn't quite inspire me to pick Bleach up again yet, but came close. Will probably have to pick up the manga though (yet I've been saying this about a ton of other series as well, and while I did DL Claymore's I haven't yet gotten to it.)
-- Since starting this both Lucky Star and Doujin Work have seen some loving, so I'll get to those, Jeanne, and the new season's pickings whenever I find the time to post again.
Overlooking the facts that Adult Swim seems to be running both a 2003 Calendar remarked for 2007 events and time-line accurate calendar that claims they were running Blood+ episodes 111-125 over the course of weeknights on the second and third week of September, it appears at present that they'll be replacing Bleach with Death Note after the end of the second "season" chronologically, though Bleach originally actually ran 52-53 as a double episode and this sorta cuts right before the good stuff of the Soul Society so I wonder what it is they're actually doing, or if they genuinely only have the first 2 sets of 26 at their disposal, which would be sad.
So, in the realm of anime here it goes.
I still haven't watched Hayate nor RxJ, I've decided that I'm totally dropping the former but likely to grab and watch the full series batch of the later from Umai.
With Black Order's staff vacations and A.F.K. doing, well, I have no idea what, my progress in Sayonara, Lucky Star, and Gurren Lagann have all ground to a painful halt. I'm eagerly anticipating all 3, but only LS really has any progression outside A.F.K. (Guerrand to completion, though 3 groups have all done the next episode of SZS). Also, I'm kinda curious exactly what the rest of Doujin Work looks like, I didn't think your-mom dropped series.
Darker than Black and Idolm@ster Xenoglossia are both headed towards their respective ends, and the screens for both look promising. I'm holding a bit of hope that DtB'll get picked up again at another date as Hei x Misaki was a fun pairing, or even the more fanart-beloved Hei x Ying.
Someone has taken up the chalice of School Rumble Season 2, which is great news for as much as I detest an unhealthy portion of the cast, it's still amusing enough to counterbalance. I just have to look at it not as romantic comedy/drama but instead as pure school comedy with a bit of Eri service.
Zombie Loan
Somewhere between the random philosophical musings on the nature of existence, the random allies, the shounen-ai, the yuri, the less than stellar production quality, anticlimactic battles, and the numerous major story lines completely left unfinished (Grim Reaper, the Yakuza, Ferryman, and the other Zombie organization, not to mention everything involving the Headmistress and the wolf-spirit) there just isn't much good that I can say about the show. There was certainly potential but all they managed to do was laying characters atop characters, alluding to other events and people, and resolving none of it.
Verdict - It's not getting licensed, I don't see why it would since it'd be nothing either than a waste of money, but save yourself the trouble and skip this one.
Claymore
Okay, so the death of Flora makes me very sad, as she outshone pretty much all the other Claymores in terms of looks and style in her short time amongst the cast. Raki is at least thankfully coming across less like the whiny, lonely, over-entitled brat I grew to hate his as. I'm not overly concerned with the remainder of the Claymore force stationed at Pieta, but I am curious as to what it was that Galatea destroyed in that Church. As an aside, the jumping between falling fragments of the chunk of earth portion of the battle was amazing.
Verdict - Too many pieces still left up in the air so here's hoping for another 26 in a year or two when there's more manga to support it. Also hoping that those 26 involve more than just Claire, I don't think a single Claymore can defeat a Dweller, I think teamwork really is and should be key, both in terms of telling a good story and in terms of logic.
Blood+
Took me what, 3 weeks to eventually pour through all of this? There was a ton less fighting that I hoped for, loss of all the good Sif, Mao accomplishes little since she's essentially encouraging a love that isn't meant to be (and on some levels ticks that "related but not by blood" nerve) but there's just something about cameramen I guess (direct Speed Grapher reference, I admit). Too much of the fighting isn't Saya, and a lot of that isn't even Haji either, too many battles end when Diva's Chevalier's cancel each other out.
Still a few pieces left at the end, namely the origin, purpose, and end of Nathan, given the events after his supposed death.
From the Wiki, did I just miss this part in one of the flashbacks somewhere?
- 1945 James becomes a Chevalier in Berlin. Acting on orders from Amshel, Solomon kills Martin Bormann, another Chevalier and a high-ranking Nazi. End of the Second World War.
Bleach Movie : Memories of Nobody
Senna > Rukia & Inoue. But that's from a perspective that stopped when Soul Society did. Takes a bit of time, and plenty of oddness to get to the actual meat of the story (the last 20 minutes of warfare) but at least it's a decent trip. Being someone who stopped before even the wind-down of Soul Society I was pleased to just watch the old crew go to town against some fresh blood. Kenpachi's fight was too ridiculously over-the-top one-sided to keep a straight face at. Nice to see Rukia's "Blue Moon" since obviously she didn't do any fighting in the series through the course of Soul Society.
Verdict - Didn't quite inspire me to pick Bleach up again yet, but came close. Will probably have to pick up the manga though (yet I've been saying this about a ton of other series as well, and while I did DL Claymore's I haven't yet gotten to it.)
-- Since starting this both Lucky Star and Doujin Work have seen some loving, so I'll get to those, Jeanne, and the new season's pickings whenever I find the time to post again.
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