Shagster

So, based on the ending, we have a new explanation for the TARDIS's indeterminate readings of Amy's pregnancy.

It's not a Schrodenger's Baby after all, instead it's a Einstein–Podolsky–Rosen Paradox Baby!

Much simpler...

I would assume that it should take more Empyrean Merits than Alignment Merits to get a Very Rare IO or PVP IO.

It's possible to get 2 Empyrean Merits per day (3 after Keyes Trial goes live?).

Using purely tip missions, takes 2 days to get an Alignment Merit.

Admittedly, can buy an Alignment Merits every 20 hours, but the 50 Reward Merit plus 20 million Influence costs seems like more than an Incarnate Trial worth of effort.

Looks like the Devs were more generous than that, in a way.

On Test, 1 Notice = 40 Threads. An Empyrean Merit is only 20 threads if used for that.

Admittedly, 1 Notice = Empy Merit would have allowed you to use 8 Notices for a Rare, but that's the trade off. 40 Threads for doing the WST seems fair to me.

Awesome patch.

I love the Notice of the Well conversion to 40 Threads. This gives a pretty plausible way to do Incarnate advancement for those who hate the Trials but don't mind TFs.

Thoughts and observations after a second viewing:

1) Richard Nixon
- some of his socially awkward moments are actually quite consistent with some real life things I've read about Nixon. He never was the most smoothly charismatic of people, for a politician, let alone a president, and he was aware of it.
- some have noted that this Nixon is shown a bit more sympathetically than most people would expect. My "fridge brilliance" insight on this is: one of the Doctor's strengths is he brings out the best in people. He makes ordinary people aspire to be extraordinary, and reminds exceptional people what they are capable of. He brings out the best in "Tricky Dick", using Nixon's skills at conspiracy and intrigue for a good cause. The most damning indictment of Nixon's character from all this: The Doctor's influence DIDN'T stick for the long term.
- loved that Nixon was taping all Oval Office activity as a counter-measure to the Silence.
- another observation: at one moment, a frantic and active Doctor tells Nixon: "Don't trust anyone, except me." A few words from The Doctor can have a massive impact. ("Doesn't she look tired?"). Look at that line again. Is The Doctor responsible, in part, for Nixon's paranoia later in his tenure?

2) Canton
Hope he shows up again in the series. Tough and competent 1960s FBI agent with a rebellious streak and ability to think outside the box? Sounds like good companion material under different circumstances. And like the commenter above noted, he's a pretty good analogue for the Brigader in many ways.
Love his "welcome to America" moment. These two episodes are wonderful examples of how culturally, Britain and the US are like two long-time friends who can poke fun at each other's quirks. In some ways, the story is a love letter to the homeland of the American fans.

3) upcoming plot points.
Much has already been said about how these two episodes are setting things up, and raise more questions than are answered.
I think it's pretty clear the girl was being kept by The Silence to be the pilot for their proto-TARDIS. Beyond that, Moffat has left us with many plausible options for her origin.
-Since the Silence have that Grey-crossed-with-Men-in-Black vibe, they could have used Amy as an incubator for a child using the Doctor's genetic material somehow.
-Could be the daughter of The Doctor and River Song, and Amy is just holding the girl in the picture as an "auntie".
- could be Jenny (or another person of Time Lord decent. Susan? The Rani?), captured by the Silence and forced to regenerate into a more childlike form?
- maybe Amy's daughter with no Time Lord DNA involved. Maybe just being conceived inside the TARDIS is enough?

4) The Silence.
Interesting villains.
They are trying to back-engineer TARDIS technology, so clearly they've been watching the Time Lords. Or maybe just The Doctor on his many visits to Earth.
Interesting thought: The Silence have a natural ability to make you ignore and forget them. Kinda like Perceptual Filters in Time Lord technology. What if Rassilon or other Time Lord Scientists back-engineered that feature of the TARDIS from The Silence? The two races may have a long history, but only The Silence would remember. (and maybe hold a grudge?)
As to the Doctor's solution to The Silence. Yes, it was a pretty violent solution in some ways. But, really, all he was doing was giving humanity a way to fight back in a war it wasn't aware of. And all The Silence have to do to avoid being killed is stop messing with humanity and avoid them. Little different than ordering Danny-Boy to destroy the Dalek ship or blowing up a Sontaran battle-fleet. Warning was given, The Silence were the aggressors, the Doctor did what he had to in order to protect the innocent, as he has in the past.

Done babbling... for now.

I've got FemFury up to 1,223. With only badge left that I can get being Partner for doing 50 extra Weekly Strike Targets.

15 / 50. Gonna be a while.

Excellent news.

Personally, I haven't felt any difficulties with the reward system. (Aside from making a few "I got a rock" jokes about many, many Uncommons, in good humor)

But, seeing friends and fellow players get upset over the sense that they've been treated unfairly by the system has been distressing.

***sadness***

The very first Doctor Who episode I watched as a child was a Tom Baker episode with Sarah Jane as companion.

She's been the epitome of a Doctor's Companion in a lot of ways. And with her coming back in the new series, showed the amazing growth in the character from plucky-girl-sidekick to someone who really changed from her time in the TARDIS. Showing how a sidekick can grow into a hero in their own right, and inspire and lead others.

Beyond the character, to all reports, Elisabeth Sladen was a wonderful person, too.

She will be missed.

Well, I'm gonna try sometime in next few days to do a "Lambda Looter" run on FemFury, and see if the glitch in player's favor shows up to award all 3 badges. Then I can at least have the badges on my main character without having to do basically the same Master run scenario 3 times on same character. Other players got lucky, maybe I will too. Just got to get it done before they patch things.

I'll probably also try some Lambda Looter runs with Dr. Continuum, to bring some Rad debuffs and try to help others get the badges. I'll grind with him to help Electroanagesia get the badge, for one thing. Must support the other badge-hungry person in my SG, after all.

the Q&A said: