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[FICTION] Tales from Port Astor | Slugger

  Note: This was a work I had feelings about putting on here. It gets a bit graphic on the violence end. If that is something you have a hard time with, then it's a-okay to skip this one. I wrote it some years ago when I was in a weird place in my life. Harris Johnson walked home late at night, to his small apartment in North Port. He had stayed out late, having a few drinks to numb his unease over losing his job earlier that day. He had worked at a bank, in a back financial office, dealing in corporate finance and leasing. It had been the second job he had of that nature, and couldn’t stand them—but they paid well. He wasn’t sure why he had been fired; had he taken one too many days off? He thought about it as he shuffled home. “Good riddance” he thought to himself, trying to bluff himself out of his concern. When he arrived, he unlocked his door, but not before missing the key slot half a dozen times in his buzzed and exhausted state. He dragged himself in, placing his hat and

Game Talk: KOTOR 2 Antagonists

     Released in 2004, Star Wars: Knights of The Old Republic 2: The Sith Lords ( KOTOR 2: TSL ) is a CRPG developed by Obsidian Entertainment. Upon release, it left a lot of content on the cutting room floor which was subsequently re-introduced by fans via the  TSLRCM , or The Sith Lord Restored Content Mod, which also resolved a number of technical issues the plagued the game such as stability problems and broken in-game quests. This is the third in a series of articles detailing specific choices made in the design of KOTOR 2. The first article covering item and characterization design can be found  here , and the second covering party companions here .     In KOTOR 1, Darth Malak is the undisputed antagonist through the entire game, after betraying his master Darth Revan before the events of the game. Despite the revelation of Revan's true fate toward the end of the main plot. Its sequel, KOTOR 2, has a much less well-defined series of antagonists. This isn't a condemnation,

Game Talk: KOTOR 2 Party Members

     Released in 2004, Star Wars: Knights of The Old Republic 2: The Sith Lords ( KOTOR 2: TSL ) is a CRPG developed by Obsidian Entertainment. Upon release, it left a lot of content on the cutting room floor which was subsequently re-introduced by fans via the  TSLRCM , or The Sith Lord Restored Content Mod, which also resolved a number of technical issues the plagued the game such as stability problems and broken in-game quests. This is the second in a series of articles detailing specific choices made in the design of KOTOR 2. The first article can be found here .     One of the most important aspects of CRPGs is the party composition. You'll spend tens of hours with these characters, and how they are portrayed is important to not only enjoyment of the game, but how the narrative interfaces with the gameplay and immersing the player in that world. When done poorly, it can jerk the player out of the experience with jarring dialogue, poor characterization, and bad mechanical imple

[FICTION] Tales from Port Astor | Of Both Times & Measures

 The black liquid was oil, we’d struck it rich. We knew that we could now retire, and live in leisure. We actually started talking about all the ways we’d spend the money. Our first choice was to move out west, and buy land, or even try our hand in the market. Ross said we could go back east; return in glorious triumph. Joseph didn’t know what to do with it, but then again, he didn’t know what to do with himself in the best of times. As the burning sun bore down on us and our discovery, we began to feel a growing sense of annoyance to take us. All alone in the wastes, we bickered about how we ought to split our find. Ross said he should get the majority, since it was rightly his equipment, while Joseph staked his claim by virtue of it being his land. While, I myself being a gentleman of sensible mind, suggested even shares, but the others would not have any of it. Ross swung first at Joseph, knocking the smaller man to the ground; then mounting and pummeling as he went. I tried to pull