Hi Tobycat :-).

Tuesday, October 24th, 2000

Well its been awhile since my last update I suppose. Recent events have really left a bad taste in my mouth for the IDL and the scene in general. So I have taken a bit of a hiatus away. Things are looking up however, it only is a matter of time till things 'get back on track' as far as what the IDL is doing and my participation.

I had no personal problems with Realm, in fact I think he is pretty much a 'straight-up' kinda guy. Why he would cheat on the IDL is really beyond me. He seemed not to take responsibility for his own actions, and wanted to blame others. If anything, I am glad that I was taught to own up to my own mistakes and learn. Realm's actions and the aftermath seem to have given the IDL a new sense of direction, a direction back to its roots. I honestly thought it was going to be worse off, and fully expected a huge negative impact. Luckily, things turned out differently...or maybe it has nothing to do with luck at all. Maybe some are taking their UT status more seriously these days.

I would like to thank Sirian for the consultation before we released this evidence. Originally I was going to test the UT to make the 'right' decision. However, the evidence was overwhelming and I had precedence on my side. What I thought then by taking a chance really turned out the right thing to do for me and the IDL as a whole. It also gave notice to all would be cheaters out there, we are watching.

All in all, not a bad thing. The UT seems to be less lax about its standards, and I honestly welcomed the regulate measure on Rott. That kid really has an identity crisis...and the UT is definately not a place for him. Nitrate was put on notice as well...we are sick of the 'tudes in general. This is a positive thing really for me, since all that negativity was really wearing me down.

In site news, its been awhile :). I need to finish the Hall of Fame, however I lack motivation. I think once it IS done, its really going to shine. Oh, and this journal entry is dedicated to the only person that reads my site anymore....Hi TobyCat!

Now go play some D.

Thursday, September 7th, 2000

For some reason I am feeling introspective tonight. I saw Sirian last night on IRC, which was great since he doesn't hang there much anymore. I am reminded on how often I get "off track" myself when a hot new game comes out, or I get busy doing various piddlydick stuff. When 10six came out, it really took control of my calendar book I can tell you...and it even spread to MrPocket's book of "things to do all the time no matter what". Games are addictive, and anyone who disputes that is foolish. However, is it such a bad addiction? Maybe I should go about things saying its a Vice...a passionate hobby for the entity of PC Gaming and the people you meet doing such things. I know how Sirian's passion for Diablo 2 is trust me, even though I have never played it (was beta testing for Diablo 1 tho ;-).

I have always been an 'Online Gamer'. Rarely do I finish single player games...my critera is usually centered around if the game is fun to play online. Sure, I have had the luxury of being on T1 for almost all of my Descent experiences (100baseT here at the new place), so maybe I am spoiled. I see so many comments on the IDL about lag this, and lag that. I am mostly immune to these comments since if a player is having a connect problem, its always on their end. Sure, a few times the network here flakes out...lag happens to everyone, even on T1s.

In 1995, I told fathom and dramu that T1 type access would be availible to a huge amount of people in 6 years. They laughed, but sure enough demand dictated supply in our free market system. It's only going to get better in my opinion, as we see the first real formation of online gaming communities...not the ones we have now, but apply a power of 10 to that in terms of support, ease of creation and maitaining. Gaming communities are not going to be centered around just one game...but an ethos. An attitude of intellegence and shared visions is what I hope to see.

Before I stop writing and grab a beer, I want to say 'tuff break' to Warmaster on the IDL. Bro, you had a great run for the Crusader award, but Vainiac was an absolute machine. Sorry about the mixup at the beginning of the month, Warpcore was down when our script was suppose to calculate the Crusader award. Donut (as always) came through in the clutch, providing a calculation routine. After 3 mis-placed awards he finally got it right. Thanks goes out to donut for his help, and Good luck goes to Warmaster on this month.

btw, now is the time to play me...I'm giving out win after win in my 'pickup games' ;-). How long can I hang with all these young hotshots is tough to see, but I do see some writing on the wall. The utter reliance on Spreadfire and Vulcan is depressing me lately...there isnt much I give up in games except when it comes to those two weapons. I have always said that D1 is the most balanced out of all games, but I rarely see anything else from the current batch of players. Not meaning to rant, I use it right back, but I guess I long for the Qaud vs. Plasma fights of old. Ah, the memories...

Well time to go do what I do best.

Tuesday, August 22nd, 2000

Well well...where to start.

The first place is obviously SCL. Had hella fun, and I wanna tell everyone that attended "GG". I finally got to meet Sirian in person and he is way more that just 'cool'. A very cool cat when he plays...and the team games he likes to talk a lil smack :-). I didn't get an IDL match in with him like I wanted, but we were having too much fun just chilling out talking, and playing team games. He sat on my right, while LordDeath sat to my left...talk about neat! LD was on fire all weekend...he basically couldn't be stopped. He was ripping in any open anarchy games and one on one's (note my match loss to him). He was really relaxed, and I think that was key...and lend even more proof to my claim that the more relaxed you play, the better your games will be.

Solo, Tiny, and Moon were all awesome. I was really honored to meet some of the infamous Kahn Krew. Moon isnt a half bad D1 player as well...and she can throw out macros with the best of em ;-). Solo was waaaaay too cool for his own good... he needs to get a bad attitude or something to help balance him out. He was awesome in the D3 team games...he killed me way too much in our Gaurdian game thats for sure. There are some great pics of everyone that made it (including all the cool peeps I am leaving out) over at Steel City LAN. I heard the players at CaliFest had a great time as well...so all in all a great month for Descent Lanning.

I do have some sad happenings however...when I got back from PA, I decided to go ahead and format my HD. D3 and other programs just were not liking my system and were always crashing. I tried to improve stability by upping my CPU to a 533 Celeron...with no luck. So unfortunately, the 55% done Hall of Fame section has been reduced back down to about 25%. No one is more pissed about it than me let me assure you. I will just have to get cracking on it again and finish it out.

There was also some disturbing developements in the IDL. Mak's .pig hack seems to have made the rounds to a point where I had to actually post a notice on the IDL not to use it. I mean come on people...the IDL isnt for you to hack your way to the top. Players just stating to me that they were using it totally dishonored the ladder, and I actually considered for a day closing it. If people want to cheat that much, then the IDL doesnt need to exist. Period. If I find the problem is that persistant...down goes the IDL...and probably the last vestage of great D1 gaming along with it. No threats intended to anyone reading this...but just reflecting how pissed I am about the entire situation.

Did I mention my joystick is broke? Thanks Sek, its all your fault for that awesome game we had at SCL ;-).

Ok enough venting.

Saturday, August 5th, 2000

Finally hooked up with Sirian. We discussed the future of the War Journal, and he will host it on his site. I will update the IDL without it, but maybe still house it there for a mirror capability. The War Journal is a great peice of Descent History, and it would be a shame if someone just deleted it, so we are going to keep it around for historical purposes.

Higera is now finally and completely done. I did a few tweaks, but the lighting algorithms of the D3 engine are starting to annoy me. I have also completed about 90% of a new 2 team level called "The Long Run". I hope someone wants to play it in PA. Speaking of which, its going to be cutting it close. Travel arrangements are STILL not finalized, but I swear I'm going to make it somehow.

Tuesday, August 1st, 2000

Finally talked a bit with Sirian last night. He admitted his Diablo2 addiction, so thats always the first step ;-). No seriously, we also talked about the 3 team set. With Gwar MIA again (looking for a job), and Higera not being 'completed'...there hasn't been a lot of development work on it. After last night I told him Higera would be done by today. Right now its going through a final lighting pass on MrPocket's machine next to me. I figure since I have to lug it all the way to the Steel City Lan fest I can get some use out of it in the meantime :-).

We also talked about the various cut sections on the IDL. The War Journal is probably going to be hosted on his new site. This makes me very happy since I am a big fan of the War Journal. We never got a big response from other players, which is sad. Maybe the community truely is dieing out. If it does, ill be the last one it takes ;-).

Well I might as well work on the Hall of Fame. Oh, and for people that want to get on my wisdom page...the sayings have to be unique and thoughtful. I (of course) reserve the right not to publish any quotes or saying that people send in...however I thank everyone for suggesting new bits of wisdom.

Sunday, July 30th, 2000

going to work on fusion more. lil'jerk was ruling our Div-Uberstyle games...he was really hot. Ah, home sweet home. Well...not exactly. For the first month of August I am looking after my parents house when they are away traveling on business. Most people do not realize that I a farm boy ;-). Yup, have to take care of around 60 head of cattle, a chicken coop, 5 dogs, and one very fat cat. I have a lot of time to think however, and hopefully I can wrap up my Hall of Fame section soon. I had not realized how massive that one section would be. At first, I thought 15 names would be the top. However when the list gets past 30, you know you have an epic challenge ahead of you.

LordDeath has already had a sneak peak...but he isn't getting any more since I am hitting the "L"s soon ;-).

I'm gearing up for the LAN fest in PA. Travel arrangements are getting to be tight, and I dont know how we are going to make it back honestly. I will find a way however as I have to buy Sirian a beer or two.

Monday, July 17th, 2000

Well all back from Kansas and it was a real blast. Everyone was cool...especially meeting Pavel and KidT for the first time. They are great people and good pilots. Dramu and lil'jerk came up with MrPockets and I at the last minute. I'm happy they did, as we had some full D1x games late at night. We played KFF, and it was one huge ass rapeage on myself...I was last place about 40 kills behind the first place (either Pavel or dramu). MrPockets kept surprising everyone by connecting with so many fusion shots all weekend. He told me after the fest that he's Descent3 was really fun as well. We got some good games in Entropy when the teams were balanced (they werent always balanced most agreed). Trinity is an absolute pleasure to watch play. I don't see how she is so dominating with the mass driver by using ONLY the MS 'winder Pro...No Keyboard. Its a real trip let me assure you. KidT and Pavel owned everyone in the 1v1 tourney...and I got ass drivered my first match :-).

To say I lost my MD skills (what level I had) is an understatement. When we get back to the T1 and fast connect, I hope to hone my skills with that weapon even more. I really felt out of place in D3...the Steel City Lan fest is my goal to get things back on track. MrPockets and I are going to have to play a ton.

Thanks goes to everyone who showed up this weekend and for Trinity and Cromagnum (the Fearless!). Thanks for putting on a great fest, and feeding us!

Sunday, July 16th, 2000

Wow, having a hellava time up here in Kansas. Trinity and Del's LAN is really kickin, and although I am taking way more than my share of licks, im slowly getting off the rust. Pavel96 is here and is really dominating...dramu as well in the D1x games, I forgot how much I hated his Quads. MrPockets is very surprising with the fusion, anything with fusion and he is definately toe taggin ya. Not only is this a good experience and getting together with 'net friends', its really preparing some of us for the bigger lans of Penn and Cali.

Anyhow...ill do a more complete write up when we get home :-)

Friday, July 14th, 2000

"A Lanin we will go, A Lanin we will go, Hi Ho a Merry O, a Lanin we will Goooo.." :-). Even though I have continually told Trinity "I dunno, I might make it, might not", I have been planning on making the trip up to Kansas the whole time :-). Its not my fault she never reads my journal...hehe. Anyhow, im sitting here doing laundry and waiting for Pockets to get off work so we can split. I'm even trying to talk my old buddy dramu to go...he needs to get back into his pyro and slap me around for a few hours.

Talked with Sirian finally, and he's busy playing Diablo2! I totally understand however, I have been known to disappear once in awhile when a new game comes out...but its a common occurance to all hardcore PC gamers I would imagine.

Hall of Fame and Wisdom sections are smoking...LordDeath is proofreading the HOF, so it might not have so many spelling errors like this entire site is prone to :-). Anyhow laundry's done...I'll let ya know how the LAN goes.

Friday, July 7th, 2000

Haven't had a chance to update this for awhile...a lot has been going on in my personal life right now, so web updates sometimes come last :). Haven't done much Descent playing or development in recent weeks...and in truth I haven't even spoken with Sirian about the 3-Team set lately. I will send an email to him tomorrow about that, and the upcoming LAN fest in Penn.

I have to say im looking foward to that. MrPockets and I are going up to Kansas in a week to get some of the rust off our pyros...I'm sure we are going to get our ass handed to us. Kuf already has been giving me shit about how much he is going to rule me in D1 :). Probably so, but I generally get the last laugh.

By popular request, I will add one more section to the Krash Pad. I dont think I will do another hitlist, but more of a hall of fame over the history of online descent players. Now of course this is just from my own personal opinions, but I think it will be entertaining. If you have any 'votes' or people you think should be on the list, email them to me and I'll think it over.

Wisdom section is coming along as well...it definately has a oriental tilt...but hey im influenced by that stuffage I guess. My hope is that it will continue to grow once it is initially posted.

Friday, June 16th, 2000

Finally finishing up the 300baud 3-Team set. Sirian helped me out a ton with flow control issues in my only level in the set "Higera". I have to say it moves much better than the previous. I am also optimizing it for tougher gaurdian play by giving another repair bay next to each goal. Its also a nice ambush nook for CTF.

We are doing a huge stresstest on Higera tomorrow. I hope things go well.

Tuesday, June 13th, 2000

Hah! I finally got my analog ass back on the net this week. Modems suck...especially those that disconnect you from EVERY online game you play. This of course includes Descent 1-3. So I might be out of action for quite awhile (till mid-august). This will give me some time to build a few levels and such however. Hopefully I can release an anarchy level soon.

The 300baud 3-Team set is doing well in beta testing. We have already found signifigant modifications that we must do, but overall its a great first effort. When we do this, it amazes me that no other level designers ensure their level quality like the 300baud team does. Granted, Sirian does probably 80% of all the levels in the series we have released, he is very objective on his levels. Overall I am glad to have him around giving pointers and making suggestions. His organizational skills are keeping these projects afloat as well :-)

I must admit I need to get cracking on my Descent 'Homework'. Team Hoard 1.3, Duel, and Gaurdian all are kickass D3 mods...and I plan to master them all (or at least not feel like a newbie ;-). Maybe I will go do that right now.

Saturday, May 27th, 2000

The remake of the tactics area on the site is complete. I must say, it is probably the most comprehensive 'article' I have ever written on the subject of Descent. That is still not saying much, but I am damn proud of it.

I should have my Wisdom section up soon, I have to wait for a week or so since I am moving to a different house soon. All my good zen books and such are all packed up :-(. At any rate, the site is being completed quickly...and I am enjoying the work on it. It gets the old blood flowing and every bone in my body is telling me to jump on Kali or PXO and down a few pyros...but this damn modem (or ISP) is really not doing well in any games. I usually disconnect after only 4 or 5 kills in ANY game. I am hoping for better performance at my new address since the phone lines here are old. Needless to say, getting back on the T1 in August is a morale booster.

I'll notify some of the Descent News sites later this week to let them know the Pad is up and running again after a LONG time down. I doubt I will get much of a response, but its worth a try.

Friday, May 26th, 2000

Finally got the pad up and running again. Mostly placeholders right now, but that will soon change. I am finishing up my level for the 300baud 3-Team series tonight...hopefully it will go over well with the players out there. Sirian and Nirvana are talking about doing a new series based on Gwar's Duel Mod. Seems interesting to say the least...and I'll have to see if I can contribute or not.

People have already spoken to me about the hitlist...I still havent decided if I should bring it back or not. Sometimes I feel im really out of the loop, so who am I to judge? More on that later.