Justin Lowmaster's Blog

Finally got into a Co-Op Vanduul Swarm match with Tony and Geoff from Guard Frequency after a little fidgeting with the currently semi-functional queue system.

Once we got it, it was quite a new experience from simple player. There’s a whole different feel playing with friends than just plodding around alone.

One thing I found was flying slower I could hit things far better than when at max speed. The aiming mechanic needs adjusted still, but such is the way of things in alpha testing.

I recorded the match and streamed via Twitch, which you can see below. Unfortunately, parts are choppy, which so far is unique to this recording. Previously I’ve not had that issue. My locally recorded copy had same issue, so it wasn’t a connection issue.

Enjoy!

Check out more Star Citizen news and opinion at  Guard Frequency.

Gave one of  the new Murray Cup courses a try.

After the .9 update it is clear that ships are faster!

It took a while to get used to the handling. It didn’t help my Comstab/G-Safe indicator seemed to be broken. I tend to fly with those off, but I was never sure what my setting was.

In any case, I see a lot of potential for fun here!

I’ve played the Capture the Core mode on Star Citizen Arena Commander a few times. It’s pretty fun. Basically it is capture the flag. Standard rules where your core must be present to capture the enemy core.

The cores are in a ring in space. You must fly through the center to grab the core. The fine is plenty wide, and you can miss the core and still go through the ring.

I’ve only played on Broken Moon so far. I’ve seen it proven that grabbing the core and hiding in the asteroids is a valid strategy.

I have also noticed that radar doesn’t pick up everyone everywhere anymore. I have seen the core on the HUD, but not the ship carrying it until the ship passes into view from behind an object. This is new. Previously, all ships were visible always.

I fly the speedy 300i with the shields on rear up to max. Since this covers the majority of my ship, it offers a lot of protection. It’s pretty easy to snag the core and fly back for a capture if our core is present. I don’t die that much, but neither do I get that many kills.

I’m not sure if the weapon strength is a lot less, ships are tougher, or there is some bug, but there is a lot less dying as far as I can see. I tend to be able to hit things, so just not sure. I should play Squadron Battle to see how it compares, see if this change is across the board.

Network issues appear to be non-existent now. This is after multi-player was opened to everyone! This provides a much better experience.

I enjoy the new mode! It’s good to have a 300i, which I see holding the majority in CTC, which feels suited for the job of running cores. Because there is more than just Pew Pew, I think I favor this mode so far.

15 minute live play:

If you’d like to know more about Star Citizen, check out the Official Site, as well as the Guard Frequency podcast, of which I’m the community manager of.

Space Station Escape is a game about a mad scientist who has created terrible creatures with plans to unleash them to cleanse the planet below of humanity. A secret agent has infiltrated the station to rig it to explode. At the last moment as the Agent rights the station’s power core to overload, the mad scientist discovers the plot and ruptures the hull of the agent’s craft, but both the agent and the mad scientist are in a mad race to the lone escape pod, using gear and weapons they pick up on the way to get past obstacles such as monsters (gosh, somehow they got released in all the chaos!), fires, fallen bulkheads, locked doors, and security systems gone haywire.

I have only played this once, with myself, but thought I’d post it, and see what people thought.

Give it a play, and let me know if it works, or is broken. Then maybe I can fix it. I’ll play it more too.

Additional info on the process after game instructions below.

Setup

Standard playing deck. Set aside jokers and face cards. Shuffle deck. deal 10 cards face down, 5 in each row. Set a joker beside the first card in each row. Shuffle all remaining cards and deal five to each player.

Play

The joker represents the player trying to overcome the obstacle on their side of the rows. For example, if the revealed row card is a 6 of hearts, their row card suit is hearts and it’s rating is 6.

Flip the first two cards over.

Players may play up to three cards. Cards have the following effect.

A-10 of same suit as row card: add together to create a value.

A-10 of Different suit, but same color and row card: Add together with number of card of card -1 to create a value.

Face card of same row card color -on self: Add two to value. -on opponent: Subtract two from their value.

A-10 that do not match row color have no effect.

Face cards that do match the row card they are played upon have no effect.

Players secretly choose up to three cards to play. Any cards may be chosen to be played. Once chosen, players simultaneously lay down first their face cards on either their side of the rows, or the opponents side. Face cards are then placed overlapping the row card if they affect that card. Make sure the row card’s rating is still visible.

Players then play their other chosen cards. Compare the value with the rating of the obstacle card. If the value is above the obstacle rating, they have conquered the obstacle. If both players passed, compare the differences between each player’s values and ratings. The player who’s difference is higher was faster this round.

If the jokers are on the same row, move the faster player’s joker ahead one row. If the faster joker is ahead of the other joker, move both jokers up one row. If the faster joker was behind the other joker, move it ahead to the same row as the other joker.

If neither player passed, turn them upside down. They were wounded! If both players ever don’t pass at the same time again, no one wins.

Discard all played cards.

If there is another row ahead of the current row, flip over the next card in each row, and flip the past row cards face down. Otherwise, move to the end game.

Repeat the turn as above.

End game

If there are no more rows to flip up, the station is moments from exploding! If one joker is ahead of the other, that player wins. They got enough of a lead to reach the escape pod first and leave the station before it was destroyed!

If however they are on the same row, each player find the suit in their hands with the highest value, with A = 1, # = # on card, J = 11, Q = 12 K = 13. Whoever’s highest suit is higher is the winner! They had enough leftover gear to get that last little bit of an edge on their opponent on the straight away to the escape pod, and got their first!

If the secret agent won, the galaxy is safer. If the Mad Scientist won, their madness is still out there, and maybe some research notes to create more terrible creatures.

If no one escaped, the galaxy is safer, but there’s one less agent to stop the next nefarious villain!

Originally, I’d imagined three obstacle types, different obstacle types on the cards, and was about to try and decide how to balance it, and what values to put on all the cards. Then I grabbed a standard deck, and started to divide and wonder if face cards were the obstacles, if the other cards could add up to consistently overcome them.

But then I kind of set most everything I had come up with aside and just did the setup, and started playing, making and adjusting the rules as I went along. It seemed to work, so I wrote it all down and saved myself a whole lot of time! Daniel Solis told me on Twitter once that a huge part of game design is reduction,  and that’s pretty much exactly what happened.

I’ve now completed the first draft of a game, and that feels good. It might not work, it might have problems, but as far as designing games goes, it is going in the right direction, for this game, and for me personally in general!

If the game works, maybe I can have a special themed deck made that will work as the game and double as a regular playing card deck.

Secret identity secured, we flew Nohtho Thrai’s ship to the Unroth system and created a ruse in which I warned the Tal Shiar of an impending attack. It was all for show, but our deceptions proved successful and put us in the good graces of the Tal Shiar. This allowed be to beam over to the lead enemy vessel, where a KDF prisoner was being held.

I took the liberty of exploring the security commander’s office and gather some information. There was some rather embarrassing information on his computer. Apparently he had been having an affair with someone and he had just discovered was a blood relative of his. His mistress had secretly been after some of his family wealth, and had been using him to get information. There’s more details, some quite disturbing, but considering I think he’s dead now, I’ll just leave it at that.

Before he died, however, I did put him in his place when he found me in his office. Some people act tough, and many people are intimidated by them, but I overpowered him with pure presence. Having read some of his communications with his mistress, I knew how to crack his facade of strength. I spoke with power and dismissed his ideas, even good ones. and after a few moments he let me start giving orders.

That’s how I got into talking to the prisoner. This too was just for show. Right under the noses of the Tal Shiar we passed information and acted out a harsh interrogation.

When we thought they had seen enough, she “escaped” from her bonds and I used a modulated rifle to ‘kill her’. In actuality it fired a beam that caused her to be transported away. When the security commander started to protest about an empty interrogation room, I just said ‘she was vaporized’ and went on my way.

Impressed with my handling of the battle and interrogation situations, I got to get into some really hot water.

I have heard many stories of the Borg, and I had hoped never to meet one, but I ended up inside a disabled Borg cube, doing research for the Tal Shiar. I’ve haven’t felt as distressed as I did that day for a long time. It’s chilling to be in a quiet ship. The darkness was oppressing, and naturally I prefer the dark, but not this time. In the darkness the dead restlessly waited, denied the peace most dead should rest in.

Despite all our efforts and all the arrogance of Commander N’vek, disaster struck and some of the salvage team were killed, and one was assimilated. I cut him down myself, but I don’t know what his last moments were, what his mind experienced.

I can rest, however, in the fact he was Tal Shiar and not one of my own crew.

Sorry my that of late my story has been silent, but I was not in a position send communications, for I as assumed to be dead. I was not, however.

The Republic had a lead on getting my undercover. They have been recruiting members of the Republic. No Tal Shiar in their right mind would allow me in their ranks as they all want me as dead as I want them. However, they did have their eye on a Republic Reman, Nohtho Thrai, who was getting disenchanted with D’Tan’s ways. Someone on his ship sent word. That informant hasn’t been heard from since.

We took a damaged shuttle out to where Nohtho was suspected to be, near a planet. Between the shuttle and planet was a cloaked ship.

I put out a distress call when Nohtho’s ship was in range, and they came, and beamed be aboard. Feigning injury, I was sent to sick bay and spoke with Nohtho there. Meanwhile his crew was salvaging what they could from the freighter. I was able to determine through conversation that Nohtho was indeed intending in joining the Tal Shiar.

That’s when I triggered a signal to the cloaked ship, which was a Republic science ship. Using it’s finely tuned scanners and transporter systems, it beamed Nohtho and myself from his ship down to the planet, the science ship bridging the distance between the two.

There I slayed him without a moments hesitation. I focused all of my mental energies and tore his mind apart in his confusion, then broke his neck.

A group of KDF ships arrived on cue and “captured” Nohtho’s ship, which would now be my ship. Later, I would “escape” from the Klingon’s and keep the identity of Nohtho, and act as him to go undercover.

Cutting an apple isn’t all that hard, but changing how you do it just a little bit makes getting the most out of your fruit easier.

First, cut it across it’s equator.

Then take the two halves and cut across along the points of the star. (Did you even know there was a start in there? Not many people do!)

Continue all around the star until you only have the core left.

Then cut the remaining pieces into whatever sized you want, as they wont be uniform unless you make them so.

No more messing with the stem, fidgeting to cut seeds and core off the slices. A slight change can make a huge difference!

I was excited to go to the Rose City Comic Con this year! I had one main goal; to meet Ethan Nicolle and get my Axe Cop books signed.

To start we got our badges and waited in line to enter. Amazingly, in a plain room with no cordons, the staff aligned everyone waiting in a snake pattern and when the doors opened, everyone continued in a nice, orderly fashion. It’s great when humanity works together.

Once inside, we roamed the booths looking for the objective, and after a bit of searching, we found the table labeled Ethan Nicolle. But he wasn’t there yet. So we went and looked around some more.

The most fun I had was looking at the cosplay artists. There was some really costumes!

Eventually we got back around and Ethan Nicolle was at his table. But while I waited for him to be free I met Keith Tucker, an artist for Pinky and the Brain, one of my favorite childhood cartoons. He was fun to talk to.

When Ethan was available I introduced myself, and said talked out the podcast he was on (Nobody’s Listening) back in the day. I got my books signed.

I also for a limited edition sketch book and he asked what I wanted as a sketch. I thought about it for a bit and then asked for a Unisquid!

Achievement unlocked!

It was fun to walk around and see the sights and merchandise, and the beautiful artwork. I got my books signed and a unique sketch. Much fun.

I’ll be going next year.

Charva gave us files that indicated D’Tan was treacherous and a true terrorist and enemy of the Romulan people. Also as I mentioned before she had given us files that lead us to believe that Tovan’s sister was being transferred to a penal colony, which prove to be false and a trap.

I took the files to my computer and checked the facts. Things didn’t add up.

I have a hard time believing Charva is purposely leading us astray. From when I knew her at the Palace of Lush, a name those who were prisoners there found distasteful and inaccurate, Charva did have idealistic tendencies, and would not wish us harm.

I took my findings to Tal’Mera on Drozana station. We discussed the details, and have come to the conclusion that Charva was given altered files, probably as a test of her loyalty and to lead us into the hands of the Tal Shiar.  I set up a meeting with Charva under the guise of joining her and intend to guide her into finding the facts herself.

Meeting Charva in person again after so long was tense. On one hand it was good to see her. Being freed from imprisonment had treated her well. She seemed stronger and healthier and even happier. Many of those we knew were lost since out escape, on Virinat and in combat against the Tal Shiar, and taken away in raid by the Elachi. It was good to know some are more than just barely surviving.

On the other hand, our reunion was steeped in treachery. Our intentions in being there were hidden, even if good intentions. On her side she is believing lies and wants us to join her. I can only hope this all doesn’t end badly.

As she looked at the official files Tal Shiar documents, Charva became upset, agitated, and confused. What she had been told didn’t match up with what the records showed.

As one would expect, Tal Shiar showed up to arrest us all. Also as one would expect, they died at out feet.

Perhaps it was self preservation, or perhaps it was coming belief in our cause and the truth, but Charva’s gun fired alongside ours, despite her accusations against us.

She suggested that we altered the Tal Shiar’s files to mislead her. Even after she would have been killed by the Tal Shiar. I fear her pride is getting in the way. She choose a path believing it to be the right choice, and she is ignoring the facts because that would mean she has been wrong this whole time, and not only has been a pawn of the Tal Shiar, but she would have to come to terms that she has likely caused the death of innocent people. I can only hope that in Republic custody she will have time to think and consider, and will come to see the truth.

I used Grammarly to grammar check this post because when fighting the Cardassians, the Gemaen Nnharai (Mind Flayer in your language) took some damage to the computer systems and my normal systems I use were offline.

On orders from Subcommander Nadel, we traveled to the Klingon and Federation Neutral Zone. Romulan Republic ships had gone missing, and we set out to discover why. What we found was no surprise to us.

Empress Sela has stirred up the True Way into doing her own dirty work for her. She’s convinced them we are a threat to them. This is true in a sense, because they attacked us, and we destroyed them. Foolish, anyone who believes the Tal Shiar’s lies. Perhaps then we too are fools.

Charva contacted us with information about Rinna, saying she would be transferred by the Tal Shiar to a penal colony. However, when we got there, all we found were some true way ships guarding a convoy of freighters. We fought our way past the escorts and disabled the freighters and beamed aboard to find Rinna, if she was indeed aboard one of them.

On the first freighter, we found only supplies, no prisoners of any kind. There was some resistance, but nothing that we couldn’t handle. We set the ship to self destruct to cover our tracks.  It already felt wrong, and the lack of evidence of prisoners was disheartening, but we beamed aboard the next freighter.

Once again there, no prisoners. Just more people trying to kill us.

We had to destabilize the warp manually since the controls would not respond. Despite being sure we would find no trace of Rinna, we transported to the last ship.

This freighter contained hundreds of weapons, and no sister of Tovan. This is the last time we the Tal Shiar’s lies direct our path. Either Charva is playing games with our lives, or the information she received is falsified, which means that someone is likely monitoring her, and they know she had been in contact with us. If she is indeed still worth saving, if she can be shown that the Tal Shiar is not the best hope for the Romulan people but that they are all only shadows and lies, then she is likely in danger from whoever is feeding her false information. If she is just playing games, then the best I can hope for is that I wont have to destroy her myself.

Thankfully, our stay on the last freighter was short. I was able to shunt an exhaust duct into the ventilation shafts to obscure us and make our way quietly past our enemies.

Death walked past them in the mists, and they did not know.

Once we had gathered all the information we could, it was a violent turnabout when the ship was set to destroy itself with us still on it. Thankfully our quick pace gave us enough time to transport off. I can’t say the same for those we managed to leave alive.

I never intended to fight those other than the Tal Shiar, but enemies of the Romulan Republic are enemies of me, but I will no longer be played as a puppet, doing the bidding of the Tal Shiar under the guise of information given to us to help us. I will soon confront Charva with what we found, and she will have to come to terms with reality.

 Disclaimer: I received compensation to post the above link to Grammerly.