Red_Gren

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If it's anything like the one Moggie and Missy took me to in Austin, I'd be game for it.

It was the NCSoft event where they were getting ready for Tabula Rasa launch. The restaurant was within walking distance of the Dave & Buster's. And THAT D&B knew how to make some of their signature drinks properly, not that watered down crap we got at the D&B in Milipitas.

I'm curious to find out what the Justice * Junket will be this year.

EDIT: As long as we get proper FULL addresses this year. And complete directions.

You hear that Red Gren and Diamond Dragoon? I'm talking to you. I'll forgive infallible for his fallible directions to the liquor store since he was a visitor to the region as well.

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Ok... it's official! I'm worried about Buca di Beppo! If there's one in Texas, this one's not going to measure up. Everyone KNOWS everything is BIGGER & BETTER in Texas!

Seriously though, I do think it's a pretty good venue for a bunch of people, and that's why I suggested it. I'm glad to hear others also like the place.

Wha buh!?! I don't remember giving you directions anywhere!
The one time I tried, you insisted you would rely only on your GPS... (comedy & epic adventure ensued... )

Ok... I did goof up with the address of the restaurant. Sorry about that.
I guess I need to hire a fact checker/editor this time around...

Aaannd.... if we're going to go back to Holder's for breakfast/brunch again, I'll make sure to have the full mailing address on hand so you can enter that into your GPS and hopefully get to the right place in a reasonable, non-comedic amount of time. I make no promises though... I don't have any control over what your GPS says!

I don't hear Merm giggling! And that has NOTHING to do with the fingers plugged in my ears! Nope! NOTHING to do with it!

Didn't I [u]just[u] say that?

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When (real) men have the ability to give birth!

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"Real men", parenthetical or otherwise, by definition, do not give birth. In fact, doing so would, again by definition, render them not men (real or otherwise).

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Ok, what the heck!?!
What's all this talking sense & being logical bull-pucky!?!
Duuude! Did you forget where you were!?!

THIS!!!

IS!!!

JUSTICE!!!

So stop already.

P.S. Nice pics Noodle! THnaks for posting them!

I'd claim inside knowledge, or psychic premonitions, but the truth is, I was so busy trying to be funny, I lost track.

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We have the dates for HeroCon 2009...and it's gonna be two days this year! For those of you planning on attending this year, mark your calendars for October 24th and 25th 2009.

Linkie!

Sooo...we doing Japanese again this year?? >.>

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I dunno. Is that what folks want? I sort of didn't want to repeat myself, but if that's what folks would REALLY like to do, I think I can find a way to deal with it.

Alternatives:
I had dinner at Frankie, Johnnie, & Luigi's last night & saw their family-style menu which looked pretty good. I've also had some good-sized groups at Buca di Beppo that went well. Of course, Italian food can be had most places, and I imagine everybody has a favorite that these won't match up with. But, I think the food's pretty good at either place & I think they could accomdate a similar sized herd to the last one we managed.

There's also a Mexican place I'm partial to that I think folks might like. No idea if they do family-style, but don't really care as long as I get my favorite... They have a store front in Palo Alto that has this nifty wall-o-tequila behind the bar, but they don't take reservations & parking in Palo Alto is teh suck. Instead, I'd suggest folks trek to the sister restaurant in Mountain View where the parking is more plentiful.

That's just stuff that I've already been thinking about. I could look into other places if people have requests for other kinds of cuisine. There are more Indian places than you can shake a stick at in the nearby area, and there are a fair number of Thai places too. Of course, given that a number of people wanted to stick with foods they were more familiar with, I thought I'd try to be more accomodating this time around.

Oh... I'm also going to say that anything I suggest is likely NOT going to be close to any hotels that Niv & crew may set up arrangements with. Apologies to those who might be driving in the day we decide to do this gathering, but I like to think the food will be worth it. I'm pretty gol-darned sure you'll find the company to be top-notch!

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We have the dates for HeroCon 2009...and it's gonna be two days this year! For those of you planning on attending this year, mark your calendars for October 24th and 25th 2009.

Linkie!

Sooo...we doing Japanese again this year?? >.>

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San Jose?!



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What? You were expecting Milpitas or Santa Clara again?

Or Campbell, Cupertino, Fremont, Los Gatos, Mountain View, Santa Clara, or Sunnyvale???

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I would love to go but can't (unless someone buys me a airplane ticket)

I know a [u]bunch of[u] people would save me a seat at [u]one of[u] the justice table[u]s[u] .

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fixt

Heck, we might even appropriate one for ya!

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Hey Mod8, if you or any of the other folks at Paragon Studios are available that day and can make the trip, y'all are more than welcome to join us for a little Murder Burger action!

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As long as players don't use this as a time to ambush them on current in-game events, I think you might get some takers. Were I one of the Dev team, I think I'd have to decline just on the possibility of such an ambush.

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Considering the players that have said they will be attending thus far and knowing their respect for the developers' privacy on such matters, I think the likelihood of such an ambush is pretty low. If anyone that is thinking about attending that hasn't RVSPed yet plans on doing such a thing, please don't come. If someone does come and pulls such a stunt, I'll have to ask you to leave. This is intended to be a get-together for local Justice players to catch up with one another, not an opportunity to try to get the attention of any Paragon Studios employees who happen to be Justice players and may potentially attend so you can debate with them on game or development politics. I don't want any attendee to be put into an uncomfortable position and will have *zero* tolerance on such crap.

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*Sadly cancels order for Super Atomic Epic!!! Ambush Pie-Burgers*

Ok, ok! No Super Atomic Epic!!! Ambush Pie-Burger wedgies it is...

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And whoever mentioned burger joints in the East Bay and left out Nations is going to hell for the unforgivable sin of not mentioning one of the best local chains (also does a good breakfast).

Now I'm hungry.

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I think that might have been me. And I disagree that I'm going to hell for the unforgiveable sin of not mentioning one of the best local chains.

No sir! I am in fact going to hell for the unforgiveable sin of not mentioning a place where one can go for burgers and PIE!!! Getyerfacts straight!!!

Happy Birthday Peep!

Feel free to have some of the cold coffee & moldy pie you've been saving for me! It's your day & you deserve the best! :P

Then you're doomed to ugly! Bwahahaha!!!

(I don't know that this is true, I haven't tried making a Spider in a while. If you want to see your face, I think you'll have to wait until level 10, but then in doing so, you lose the Spider Armor & just get to keep the leg backpack.)

So make a Widow?

In addition to being more fun (IMO), you get butt-capes!!!

Si mi senor...
*rolls eyes*
It shall be as you wish.

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Hmmmm . . . what powersets would Don Quixote Flea and Red Sancho Panza have?

P.S. Someone get Sexy Jay to whip up one of those Spanish conquistador helmets real quick for me, please.

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I'd figure broadsword & shield for Don Quixote Flea mostly for the look. And it seems to me that Red Sancho ought to be either a defender or controller of some sort. I'm leaning toward a controller so that I can both help you out & get you out of the trouble you will inevitably get yourself into.

Oh... and until Jay can provide you with the morion maybe you can approximate the cabasset displayed a bit lower down on the page.

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HA!

Thanks for the laugh Mermie!

Also, even though I may get frustrated by it at times, I do want to thank the crusaders, the "whiners", and yes even the [censored]-hats for taking the time to post. Sometimes you make this a better place. I appreciate the results, and the efforts, and the thoughts behind the efforts, even if I don't always appreciate or agree with the form of those thoughts & efforts. I appreciate it because it's something I'm not willing to do myself, but get to enjoy the benefits of anyway.

So, thanks!

For my part, I'm going to keep doing what I've been doing. Try to make things "better" in my immediate vicinity, at the time, in ways that are easy & convenient for me. I know I'm not always going to get it right, and I hope you'll be able to forgive me when that happens. All I really expect to accomplish is to do the occasional "good deed" every now & then, because sometimes, that's exactly what someone NEEDS.

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You can be Sancho Panza to my Don Quixote.

To the Windmills! Ride, Sancho! RIDE!

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It will be Sunday before I can make good on this, but...

I LIKE IT!!! I will now "need" to figure out & create a good Sancho Panzo sidekick-hero & then I WILL be looking for a Don Quixote from you Flea! Yes I will! However, given my attention span, I'd be surprised if this lasts more than a log-on session, if that...

Yay!


Congratulations Noodle, Richie & awesome newborn son!


I think he has an awesome name! Especially the first name! My opinion has NOTHING to do with the fact that I share that first name. Honest! No really... Seriously. (Is anyone buying this?)

HA!

Thanks for the laugh Mermie!

Also, even though I may get frustrated by it at times, I do want to thank the crusaders, the "whiners", and yes even the [censored]-hats for taking the time to post. Sometimes you make this a better place. I appreciate the results, and the efforts, and the thoughts behind the efforts, even if I don't always appreciate or agree with the form of those thoughts & efforts. I appreciate it because it's something I'm not willing to do myself, but get to enjoy the benefits of anyway.

So, thanks!

For my part, I'm going to keep doing what I've been doing. Try to make things "better" in my immediate vicinity, at the time, in ways that are easy & convenient for me. I know I'm not always going to get it right, and I hope you'll be able to forgive me when that happens. All I really expect to accomplish is to do the occasional "good deed" every now & then, because sometimes, that's exactly what someone NEEDS.

Thanks! I was going to thank you for saving me the time it would have taken me to hunt it down so that I could get into the game, but that didn't happen. Instead I read more of the thread, started to write a reply, flipped back to the thread to check some details, thoguth maybe I should abandon the original reply & then reply to one of the new ones and...

And then I realized that worrying about this problem is keeping me away from things I'd really rather enjoy. That the smart thing for me to do, for myself, is to not worry about this, put it behind me & get on with what I'd rather be doing. This problem may be the reason this game ends prematurely, but I don't think it's going to happen real soon. And that's good enough for me. I'm going to enjoy the company of y'all here for as long as I can, and deal as best I can with the losses of those that choose to leave as it happens.

I don't know for sure if that's what the devs are doing, but right now, with my bed calling to me, it sure seems like the smart play. Work on the game as long as it lasts. Do the best that you can while you're here. Worrying too much about what's said on the boards, good or bad, just keeps you from doing either. The boards ARE a useful tool and CAN provide useful insight, but they're not the end all, be all. Use the tool the best way you know how.

Heh. That sounds pretty good to this tired guy. I'm sure someone will be along at some point to point out how that's stupid or wrong. Or maybe this will go up without comment. Whatever. Sleeeeep!!!

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From Poositron

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So there you have it. If you guys want to be mad at someone, be mad at me. In my efforts to make the game fun and exciting in the long term. I sometimes have to make decisions that make players unhappy, and for that I apologize. We are working hard to avoid these kinds of situations in the future, and will work hard to avoid the kinds of situations that lead to badge removal in future releases. I also want to assure you that we will not be going back and removing badges introduced previous to I14. Some of those badges are truly an accomplishment to get, and we will not take away from those that have accomplished such a task nor will we remove the ability for future players to aspire to those same heights

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However, my conjecture is that the company take on this is that posting a public apology only serves as fodder for those looking to stir up dissatisfaction. Sure, silence on the matter does the same, but it doesn't leave a physical record that someone can point to when someone demands "proof" of bad behavior on the part of the devs.


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You see he is capable of making ammends. He has chosen not to do so.

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When you're right, you're right. I think I remember seeing that post, but haven't followed that thread. I don't suppose I could trouble you for a link? I've got this horrible tendency to prefer to play games when at home, rather than go searching through forums.

What was the response? Generally positive?

Given the trend to pessimism that I've been seeing, I'd bet that they won't take that leap.

As always I'd love to lose that bet.

Edit: By the way, I took a quick glance at your blog that someone linked & it looked interesting. I plan to take a closer look at it when I have more time to give it the attention it looks like it deserves.

Oh... and in reference to your post below, I'd love for you to win that bet too!

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If it's too late for dim sum in the bay, you can always treat him to Dim Sum House sometime during the week. We haven't done a Dim Sum House run in quite awhile Peep!

Also, I'd like to pick the brains of our Bay area folks...is 11am an okay time for y'all? I didn't think of the math and it was brought to my attention that you guys would have to leave around 9:30am or so and would have to get up a tad bit early for a Saturday. Should we push the start time of this back to noon or 1pm?

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I Googled & MapQuested a trip to Redrum & both figured it would be almost a 2 hour trip. I imagine it would be longer if I tried to mooch a ride with DD & Chewie. For a trip like that I think I'd want to stay longer than just for lunch. Any suggestions on what to do after lunch?

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But before their can be any forgiveness there must be contrition.

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I don't disagree. However, my conjecture is that the company take on this is that posting a public apology only serves as fodder for those looking to stir up dissatisfaction. Sure, silence on the matter does the same, but it doesn't leave a physical record that someone can point to when someone demands "proof" of bad behavior on the part of the devs.

It would be a messed up position to take, but looking around in general at behavior in forums, one I can see someone thinking is sensible and necessary.

I'd like to see that apology & have people feeling better, but given the conjecture above, I don't think it's likely.
(If any dev sees this, I'd be happy to be proven wrong!)

Ha! Gotta love that attitude!

Happy Birthday!

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Something has changed at paragon studios and I suspect it has something to do with NCsofts major investment into it and the strings attached to that investment. Its not a good direction.


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I have noticed a trend to assume the worst of things, and felt the need to offer an alternative viewpoint that I hope is not too unrealistic. I agree with what you say above right up until the bolding ends.

Something HAS changed due to NCSoft's major investment. Paragon Studios have hired and continue to hire more people to work on this franchise.

And with the influx of new people come both solutions & problems. The things the development team want to do but had been prohibited from doing because there just wasn't enough time in the day for them to even try? Some of those things can now be shifted over to the "new guys." However, at the same time, the "new-guys" need to learn how best to become part of the "City of" team. They need to either learn how things get done at Paragon Studios, or convince the old-timers that there's a better way to do it & then teach them how.

I expect that much of the time our formerly very communicative dev team used to be able to spend with us is now taken up providing direction & training to those that now work with them. And it's possible that with the bringing in of new people, responsibilities have been handed off and that "old" lessons learned, somehow failed to get passed along.

I'm not going to say you're wrong. I don't have any more knowledge of what goes on in Paragon Studios than you do, so it would be stupid to say so. However, I will say my hypothesis of what's going on is as valid as yours is, and in my opinion the more likely explanation.

Look, I miss the communication with the devs too, but can understand why it may have died off. I hope that with time, the old channels can be re-opened, or new ones developed. But I also realize that it may take time and so, will be patient.

Based on what I heard on the boards, I too am disappointed by the way things are appearing to be handled. However, this sparks a thought. Based on what was said & done on the boards, some people were infuriated. Now imagine what might have happened were that allowed to flourish unchecked?

Some have seemed to suggest that it would merely have been a blowing off of steam, or a discussion of concern about what was going on. I call bull-pucky. Be brutally honest. Think about other boards. Think about how one post in anger spawns another and then yet another and then starts growing from a minor nit to a HUGE deal with plenty of hurt feelings to go around. Think about how quite a few people have stated that one of the things they like about these boards is how that sort of thing is a relative rarity.

So yeah, it would have been nice if the mods had let you vent your feelings. Nice for you. Who else would be served by that? No one here can do anything to help speed up a resolution of your problem. All we can do is post how that sucks & how we feel for you. As other have pointed out, sometimes brutally, there are other channels for that. All allowing those posts to remain on these boards would do is to serve as a record of your discontent and of the people that held your hand & patted your shoulder. It would also have served as ammuntion for the jerk-faces that like to go around stirring up trouble. In short, it would have made these boards just like those that some come here to escape.

Hmph. I could go one, but I expect I'd either bore you or make a bigger fool of myslef than I already have. So, let's wrap things up. IF you've gone to HeroCon/the Meet & Greets, then you've seen that the devs are people who love this game & the community that has formed around it. You will also have seen that they want to make this game as fun, interesting, exciting, challenging, & rewarding as they can for as many of us as they can, for as long as they can. There's something that gets in the way though. People.
A) They're people, not gods & not robots. They're bright & talented, but they make mistakes & lapses in judgement. They get tired & they have bad days.
B) We're people. We have our own tastes & preferences. We have our opinions. We have our prejudices. We are not all the same.

Given B) those poor saps in A) seem to be setting themselves up for failure as they'll ALWAY be doing something wrong, in someone's opinion. So, all they can do is do what they think is best, based on their talents, knowledge & experience and hope that it's good enough for the majority of us out here.

What you can do is decide what is best for you, and then act on it.

I hope I've managed to add something useful to the discussion as it's popped up.