Round Three...

Okay, I won't lallygag around this time and just cut to the cheese- er, chase.

Faction: ARM

Unit Type: Kbot

Tech Level: 1

Summary: Here, my friends, is the second basic combat Kbot, for the ARM. You will (hopefully) recall that the PeeWee is good for early-game melee. The Rocko, by contrast, serves the opposite role. But I’m getting ahead of myself. First, you should know the cost of this unit: 117 metal and 964 energy. Once again, not too heavy a price. And the Rocko is definitely worth it. It has a reasonable speed, though nothing great, and the signature Kbot maneuverability. Its weapon, an unguided heavy missile, packs quite a punch- probably some of the heaviest damage a tech 1 can deal. Sound too good to be true? Well, here’s the catch. This rocket is UNGUIDED, and has a very slow speed. This translates into a consistent miss for the Rocko against moving targets. But not all targets move. This combination of traits makes this Kbot the ultimate (practical) base-busting unit. Essentially, it’s a purely offensive weapon. Good luck defending your base or holding territory with a unit that can’t the broad side of a strolling Sumo. But the Rocko does excel at its job. Mid to late game, a band of Rockos can cut through all but the biggest of MT forests (more on these later), or most other defenses, for that matter. Just be careful, some well controlled Flashes, Instigators, or PeeWees can get in close to your Rockos and eat them up. It’s usually wise to escort your Rockos with a couple of melee units.

Final Summary:

Speed: 1 2 3 4 5

Agility: 1 2 3 4 5

Firepower for Cost: 1 2 3 4 5

Armor for Cost: 1 2 3 4 5

Overall: 1 2 3 4 5

Prouz and Kons: Both Sides of the Issue

By "Prouz and Kons", hopefully you knew that I meant "pros and cons". It's just that misspelling words is hip. Here are pros and cons for both Total Annihilation and Super Smash Bros. Brawl:

TA

Pros:

• Allows in-depth thinking
• Let's you blow stuff up (who doesn't like that?)
• Has a wide variety of units and structures
• Has multiplayer engines that (surprisingly) still work

Cons:

• Has blocky graphics
• Has a unit limit
• AI isn't challenging enough
• Multiplayer engines are faulty
• Too old to work on many modern computers

Brawl

Pros:

• Has a variety of characters and modes to play
• Allows you to play trials of classic video games
• Has many different control types
• You can punch, kick, and whack the heck out of people
• Features cutting-edge graphics
• Has a wide selection of music and stages
• You can build your own stages
• The console that the game is played on is popular

Cons:

• Has clone characters (example: Toon Link and Link)
• Online play isn't all that great
• Last part of adventure mode is way too hard
• Not enough talking goes on
• Characters unlocked easily
• Works for one, and only one, console

That wasn't one-sided, was it? This is not meant to "prove" either game wrong or boring or cruddy, just to show certain people (hint, hint, Saulamin!) that both games have their strengths and weaknesses. No offense was meant for anyone.

Hehehe... SUMMARIZING!

I am going to summarize for you one of my favorite Brawl characters. I'm not trying to steal ThinAir's thunder or anything, though. ;)

Marth

Game(s) of origin: Fire Emblem: Monsho no Nazo (duh, Japan only), Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragons and the Blade of Light.

Weapon of choice: Falchion, an elaborately-decorated sword.
Description of looks: Has matted blue hair, blue eyes, and wears a dark blue cape and blue clothes.

Summary of Character: Marth is a prince in the Fire Emblem games that wields the immortal blade Falchion. In Brawl, his fighting skill far surpasses other smashers and his fellow 'Fire Emblem' character Ike. In sudden death matches, Marth is a great person to be, since he has a balance of speed and good moves. He is considered a middleweight but this attacks do a tremendous aount of damage when timed correctly. Like most characters, his down-B move does damage to an opponent if they strike when the move is performed. Marth's is especially deadly, considering it allows Marth to jump next to the enemy and slash with Falchion at an amazing speed. He also as the deadliest final smash in all of Brawl! When the smash is activated, he lifts his sword and then lunges at a character within range. A life bar appears for the person hit by the final smash and it loses all of its life counters. If there is open space, the enemy will instantly be KO'd. Cool, huh?

Moves:
B move: Shield Breaker
Side-B move: Dancing Blade
Up-B move: Dolphin Slash
Down-B move: Counter

Regular "A" attack rating (1 to 5): 4
"B" attack rating: 5
Final smash rating: 5
Overall rank: 5

Well, you need to see both sides of the issue, not just TA. If you're going to pick one, then... GO BRAWL!

Second Try Is Obviously Not The Charm

Why, you ask?

Well, because the poor unit I'm about to summarize is woefully inadequate.

*Sigh*

Well, here goes nothing (literally)...

Faction: CORE

Unit Type: Kbot

Tech Level: 1

Summary: Here, my friends, is the supposed CORE equivalent to the PeeWee. Known mysteriously and simply as the A.K., this unit falls far short of the usefulness of the PeeWee. Though its speed and maneuverability are slightly superior, that is, essentially, its only advantage. The A.K. also comes at a fairly cheap price: 56 metal and 696 energy. Sadly, even this small amount of resources is wasted on such a unit. Whereas the PeeWee makes up for armor with firepower, the A.K. compensates with... well, nothing. Its weak laser deals very little damage. Honestly, I have very little to say about this unit. As a warning, do NOT attempt to pull off an early infantry expansion with A.K.s. Veterans have tried, and can't make it work. Do not make. Yuck.

Final Summary:

Speed: 1 2 3 4 5

Agility: 1 2 3 4 5

Firepower for Price: 1 2 3 4 5

Armor for Price: 1 2 3 4 5

Overall: 1 2 3 4 5

Both basic infantry done...

The First To Fall...

Actually, the first to be summarized!

That is, the first unit from TA- and also my personal mascot! ; )

So here goes!

Faction: ARM

Unit Type: Kbot

Tech Level: 1

Summary: In many TA unit guides, this is the first combat unit to be described. And this guide is no exception. This unit is the PeeWee. Not a very threatening name, right? But it makes up for reputation with efficiency. First, its cost is a quite a deal: a mere 53 metal and 697 energy. Now, this price is all good and fine, but is the unit still worth it? In short: an emphatic YES. Like most Kbots, its maneuverability is good. And its speed is above average. Its armor (or lack there of) is its greatest weakness. A mere three missile shots will bring this Kbot down- not good, considering that missile towers are the cheapest defenses out there. But its weapon makes up for that. Armed with ARM's signature weapon, the EMG (energy machine gun), this unit is great for dishing out some cheap damage. Its combination of maneuverability and firepower allow it to consistently mow down two of CORE's equivalent infantry. So what is this unit good for? Is it even worth your time? Well, this unit, in summary, should be viewed as an inexpensive early game raider- capable of being produced with little damage in the precarious infant economy. In fact, this unit alone may sway some ARM players to start with a Kbot Lab, rather than the more versatile Vehicle Plant. These players start pumping out these raiders to set back there opponent, while expanding more and more land with their commander. If carried out right, this investment rapidly pays off. Now, like all units, you need to recognize that the PeeWee has a time and place. That time and place is early game offensive. Don't rely on these any later than that.

Finally Summary:

Speed: 1 2 3 4 5

Agility: 1 2 3 4 5

Firepower for Price: 1 2 3 4 5

Armor for Price: 1 2 3 4 5

Overall: 1 2 3 4 5

There you have it!

Ryan's Rants: Subspace Emissary Plot, Part 2

Here goes something!



So, after seeing Subspace engulf the hovering stadium, Pit turns from his "viewing screen" and sees Paletuna.She gives him a magical bow that shoots arrows of blue light. He nods in gratitude (no one talks) and descends to a place called Skyworld, which is infested by the evil Subspace creatures. If you defeat them, you will meet up with-a Mario! Pit and Mario will continue to fight together for the rest of the Subspace Emissary.

Stay tuned for more o' them summaries!

Ryan's Rants: Nostalgia Continued

If you saw ThinAir's last post, he mentioned that I must wait for two long years before a wearing period of nostalgia finally ends.
I can't say much about it. It's both too painful, personal, and private.
A friend of mine is leaving to serve the Lord in Africa. This is a wonderful calling, and I'm glad that said person is serving Him, but it's sad for this mysterious Christian to go.
I write this post in an ordinary room, filled with ordinary toys and ordinary books. I type on an ordinary Windows Vista and write in ordinary text. But, since I sit in my school room now, I remember this friend, a classmate of mine.
A wonderful, ordinary student. But with an extrodinary calling
Nostalgia's tough. It's a funny-sounding word, but it's deadly serious. Everyone has nostalgia moments. In fewer words, everyone has wants. Wants to experience the good times again. Wants to fix things in the past and strengthen a bond.
But we don't have time travel yet. Personally, I don't think that we'll ever have time travel. God gives us one earthly life for a reason.
Three words: Live it well.

ThinAir's Thoughts: Nostalgia

Now, once again, if you know me, you know I'm a sap of a chap.
Sentimental is one of my many middle names.
That being said, Nostalgia is not a thing unfamiliar to me. This term, however, was lost on my mate, DaFizzyMan, until recently. Now I'm regretting telling him about it. Why? Cause he's wrestling with it, at the moment. But more to the point: as a whole lot of things in my life wrap up, and a whole new host of things begin, I thought I'd dedicate a post to Nostalgia.
Now, according to the dictionary, Nostalgia is:
A bittersweet longing for people, places, and situations of the past.
Bittersweet. Hmmm.
Shall we define this, too? Again, from the dictionary:
Both pleasant and painful.
Now that's more like it.
You laugh at the memories, then cry because that's all they are: memories.
You rejoice in the times past, then can't believe they're gone.
This, my readers, is nostalgia. But often, there is another element.
Regret.
Thats right: Nostalgia sometimes not only wants to relive the past, but redo the past.
Now, this is different from plain remorse or guilt. Those who feel this kind of Nostalgia don't want to erase the past, out of any hate or guilt or sadness. Rather, they want to add to the past. They want to be able to notice and revel in those little things that they can only appreciate now, looking back. They wish they had said more, done more, lived more of that beautiful life, while it was still there. And this kind of Nostalgia is often the most painful.
That's the thing about time. You only come to grips with it when its gone.
Thank God, though. Because things come in cycles. That thing you miss, usually comes around again.
Some may have to wait a mere month.
I'll have to wait one long summer.
DaFizzyMan will have to wait two painful years.
And others, until God finally calls them home.
But no matter the hold time, no matter the distance, no matter the time you have to wait-
Those times will return. They may not be exactly the same, they never are. But they will return.
And in all this, Nostalgia helps:
When that time comes around again, you'll be ready to live it.

Would you guys kill me...

... If I got poetic?
Ok, then, how bout another question- does that make this suicide? ; )
Well, here goes

Ironic

Why is it
That we find ourselves when we think of others
That we find life when we no longer fear death?
Why is it
That nothing we keep will be ours
That in giving, we receive the most?
Why is it
That we so fear tomorrow we forget today
That in fearing time, we lose much of it?
Why is it
That a King would die for his subjects
That the same nails that held Him there now break our chains?


There its out of my system, now don't shoot!! O_o
= )
Whaddya think?
Was it good?
Or should I avoid poetry if I value my life? xD

Quote of... these days

At 13, things seem to get pretty insane.
Theres not a day I dont thank God for his unchanging grace.
But enough about me. Heres a quote I cooked up in the hard days:

"This is one of the times that I'll write witty quotes about one day, but for now, its insanity."

Well, Me

Ryan's Rants: The Subspace Emissary Plot, Part 1

ThinAir can describe most of the plot in a short amount of time. But no, not anywhere close to that in 'Brawl'. Here it goes:

A cutscene begins the adventure mode. It shows Mario and Kirby (two of my favorite video game legends) in the middle of a hovering stadium. On a viewing platform stand Zelda and Peach. To start the actual game, you pick if you want to be Kirby or a-Mario! After you win, you see a video of the angel commander Pit from the Kid Icarus games watching the battle from above (wouldn't it be kind of weird if he was betting on who would win? I thought so). It then goes back to the stadium where a cannonball hits Mario and sends him flying. Petey Piranha, a villain from the Mario series that looks like a Venus flytrap, captures Zelda and Peach in two cages. Your only option is to free the princesses with Kirby. You win, Petey's defeated, and all is normal, right? No. You're so very wrong. This guy called the Ancient Minister (look up his picture, he's to hard to describe) on a floating circular platform orders these cute yet doomed robots to put a large time bomb in the middle of the field. Uh oh. There's nothing Kirby can do about it, so he calls his Warp Star and allows Zelda and Peach to hitch a ride.

So, that's part one of my 13-part "Subspace Series". RB out!

'ThinAir'sThoughts' xD : TA Background

Alright, so you'll remember this old RTS game: Total Annihilation.
Now, TA is known for many things: its gameplay, units, and resource management...
But one of those things is not its plotline.
Despite this, its a good place to start.
So picture this:

Utopia- at last. The entire Milky Way has been colonized by the benevolent Core. Lush planets, advanced technology, and a worldwide government. And now, the secret of immortality itself has been discovered. A experimental technology known as Patterning has allowed the transfer of human consciousness into machines. Then- it all ended. In an overeager attempt to conquer death, the government declared Patterning mandatory. And (forgive my phrasing), all hell broke loose. Many citizens had been disturbed by the unearthly process, and when the process became mandatory, they resisted. As Core dealt with the first riots in hundreds of years, matters got even worse. As people were Patterned by the thousands, their collective consciousness was stored in a massive database, dubbed Central Consciousness. The problem? With so many thoughts stored inside it, it became sentient itself- and with the very galaxy dependant on it- declared itself ruler of the Core. The coldly effecient Central Consciousness battered down the rebels' ragtag defenses. Forced to flee, the rebels established their capital on the verdant planet of Empyrrean- and declared all out war on Central Consciousness.
Four Thousand Years later. The galaxy is in shambles. And still the war rages. The battered remnant of the opposing armies battles on, satisfied only with the total annihilation of the other. And you- yes you- have just been appointed commander of Arm (or Core) forces.

Ryan's Rants: A Complete Opposite of ThinAir's Game

Here goes my first post...

While my accomplice plays his TA (another abbreviation for "Total Annihilation"), I hook up my Wii, grab a remote and a nunchuck accessory, and pop in a game disc. Which game disk, you may ask? Super Smash Bros. Brawl, to be exact. Think of TA again. Now think of an opposite kind of video game. You have 'Brawl'. It's a fighting game true to its name that pits characters from almost every thinkable Nintendo video game against one another in combat. Characters include Mario and Luigi (Super Mario Bros. series), Link (Legend of Zelda), Kirby (you're kidding me...) and Fox (Star Fox series). There are 39 characters in all, which you meet in the adventure mode, "The Subspace Emissary". I can't tell you the plot now, but I will reveal it to you in later posts. The game has both single-player and multi-player modes, such as Events (scenarios with certain objectives) and Brawl (a fun 1-4 player way to release your anger).

Keep posted for more info on 'Super Smash Bros. Brawl'. RB out!

P.S. Sonic is the only non-Nintendo character in 'Brawl' (he's from SEGA)

So, before we go any further...

Ok, now all these polls and links and short stories have been all good and fine.
But if you know me (which you probably don't), then you know I'm a strategic sort of chap
This being said, RTS games are right up my ally!
For those less experienced in the field of of strategy gaming, RTS stands for Real-Time Strategy- meaning that the game is not turn based- time actually matters.
But not just any RTS will do, one in particular stands out.
This game is Total Annihilation, affectionately known as TotalA.
Now, if you haven't heard of this, its okay. You're not uncultured or anything: its completely understandable. Mainly because the game was produced back in 1997, by a now extinct company (Cavedog).
The game features blocky characters, and graphics, though cutting edge at the time, now pretty hard on the eyes.
So, what, you ask, is so great about this game?
Well, consider this:
+TA won 57 awards, ranging from the time of its release to 2004
+One of these awards was Gamespy's 'Best RTS game of All Time', topping even StarCraft, a game produced years later
+Even now, 13 years after its release, TA retains a following of veteran players from across Europe and in the U.S. and Canada

THis is just a brief introduction- more will follow, including the plotline of the game, gameplay (hopefully, if I can figure out how to post a video), and strategy guides.
P.S. If anyone knows how to post videos and pics on a post, let me know!

New Team member

Hey everyone! This is DaFizzyMan from Total RB. The author of this blog (a GREAT friend of mine) graciously allowed me to contribute. From now on, the posts that are authored by me shall be signed "Ryan's Rants". Enjoy them all!

-DaFizzyMan

It might take a bit more than an apple a day...

...to keep THIS doctor away...
~House Divided #3~
Enjoy mates


So, a breakthrough, eh? The pig’s gone and squealed: running to Emerson’s feet, like the simpleton he is. Doesn’t he realize he’s an accessory? Does he actually think this will save his hairy hide?
The man known as Doctor Keltz spat scornfully, lost in thought. Lounged in a quiet, dimly lit office, he pondered his situation. Despite his disdain of honest, industrious, and simple people, he conceded one thing to Rhalington: the man was an engineer like no other. This advancement was exactly what the project needed in order to move forward. These blueprints from Rhalington showed mentally controlled mechanisms- that were not actually dependent on the physical brain- only thoughts. This breakthrough, when applied to his own transfer and matrix technology, should allow testing on actual subjects. But this development was both a blessing and a curse.
I’ve known Emerson for twenty years, now. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned about him in that time is that he kills those who please him last. That devil's spawn, to him, a gift is a longer lifespan. Of course, Emerson couldn’t be expected to actually let either Rhalington or I live, if this plan goes through. I’ve just got to strike first. Now, the problem is, Rhalington’s currying favor. If this pleases Emerson as much as I think it will, I’ll be his next target.
The Doctor suddenly stood, knocking back his sleek office chair. With a call, he brought his secretary to his side. The man questioned, “You needed something, sir?”
Keltz nodded, his eyes shadowed by his deep brow, “Yes. Send an invite to Mr. Emerson. He will be our guest for dinner, this evening.”
The faithful servant nodded knowingly, “Very well sir.”
As the secretary left Keltz, the doctor smiled. This was going to be one heck of a night.


Hmm, sounds like this'll be an interesting evening...
Comments or feelings on Doc. Keltz? Lets hear em!

Joshua Won the Battle of Bunker Hill...

Right?
As I read this, I was honestly laughing and crying at the same time.
Just take a look and you'll see why...
(No wonder our country's goin' down the tubes...)

Consider the evidence. Many high school seniors believe that Sodom and Gomorrah were husband and wife, while a majority of Americans cannot name one of the four Gospels. Jay Leno asked his Tonight Show audience one night to name one of Jesus’ twelve apostles; they came up empty. One in ten Americans believes that Joan of Arc was Noah’s wife, and only one-third knows that Jesus (not Billy Graham) preached the Sermon on the Mount. One of the most frequently quoted passages from the Bible—“God helps those who help themselves”—actually appears nowhere in either the Hebrew Bible or the New Testament.
And then there was the hapless Howard Dean. When asked during the course of the 2004 presidential primaries to name his favorite book in the New Testament, the former governor of Vermont stammered and finally blurted out “Job,” a book located for centuries squarely in middle of the Hebrew scriptures.

Oh deary...