Blargh. Yuku ate my post on Thursday, and then refused to let me re-make it.
Also, due to GAMING AWESOMENESS this week, I won't be around to post on Thursday (for SB), or Friday (here) of this week. ANYWAY.
The thing about Alma is that she's a (questionably) living killfield in the shape of a girl. You don't fight her; you run, or you get liquified. Her inclusion in the program was supposed to get me looking for subtle cues, picking up on when she appeared fast enough to NOT LOSE, and force me to pay attention while running from an insurmountably superior foe.
Rob, my original intention was that Uno was just a biiiiiiiiit too focused on her other project, and her finger slipped. My new intention is that she did it on purpose- not just to provide a surprise and force me to get better faster, but to get me to dig through her program and learn how it ticked, so that I'd absorb programming skill by osmosis. Funnily enough, the 'error' I'd chosen works just as well for both purposes- simple to make unintentionally, and subtle enough that I'd have to go over the code with a fine-toothed comb to find it.
**********
Entry 48 (Day 842)
You know, I wanted to start this entry off by saying that I'd gotten the awareness problem licked. Still could, but it'd only be a half-truth.
The program, as developed, has ten different difficulty settings. Every step up increases the enemy spawn rate (usually by setting up group spawns), decreases the amount of time I get to react before I lose points, and unlocks additional enemy types. Some steps also make specific enemies more dangerous.
I'm currently this close to mastering level three.
I can deal with the basic human enemies (mostly HECU Marines and TSAB mooks) just fine. The Imps aren't a problem, either- I know their audio tells like I know my own mind- nor are the varren. Where I end up slipping up are the Jackals and the TSAB Enforcers; both have shields, forcing me to focus on getting around or through them before I get the points for them, and the Enforcers move around a good bit.
They aren't hard on their own, mind you. In a group, though, they're awfully good at drawing my attention away from other threats long enough to take down my combo. I can deal with them without loss maybe six times out of ten.
When I miss that, well... I end up getting hit in the back. Don't know what does it. Don't know how it happens. Just going along, sensing and clearing, watching my points go up, and then WHAM! No matter how fast I sweep, I never find that one.
If I can iron out those Enforcer groups, and figure out what the heck keeps hitting me in the back, I'll be ready to start level four... ready to rejoin combat operations... and ready to go out alone again.
And when that happens, well... I owe Lada an arm.
Entry 49 (Day 852)I got it. I FREAKING GOT IT. I've finally mastered level three.
Boots on metal- left, 4.1 meters. Rustling fabric suggests TSAB mage. Turn, [Magic Missile, 20, group 10], shoot one group- multiple contacts, all directions.
About face, shoot four groups- hit four Marines. Duck Imp fireball- no damage- counter with group six. Refresh while dodging plasma pistol fire."He's doing remarkably well, isn't he?"
"Obviously. Keep watching."
Claws on metal- sound suggests multiple animals, coming from behind. Send three groups, open door to left, enter behind ready missiles. Room cleared, two exits- move to cover both.Two more varren survived- Jackals behind. Split group to the varren- eyes on the other door- three groups to the Jackals. Steer in from above- good! Room clear- hall clear- move to next door and refresh.
"Are those enemies working together?"
"Yes. On this difficulty level, some of the opposition routines are able to cooperate. The varren-'Jackal' interaction is an example that I expressely created."
"Quiet! I'm trying to watch!"
Next room is- oh, no. Two Enforcers, eight mooks, spread out. Should be tough.
Fire all twenty, spread shot. Dodge volley- cancel refresh- load new while they shield/recover. [MM, 60, group 15]- two mooks survived. Five groups to roof- Enforcers to both sides, watch them!- two to mooks, rest straight at Enforcers. Bring five groups down.
"I've seen enough at this point. Imma has demonstrated ample situational awareness by my stand-"
"Watch, and wait. He's not done."
Correct aim. Enforcers shielding forward- hit from above. Mooks gone- air movement from behind-BLOCK-KNIFE!"WURT WURT WURT!"
BZAP.
"...the auditory cues included voices, Uno? Why?"
"It was Imma's idea, Cinque. He said that the simulation was more realistic that way. I agreed."
"What is that thing, anyway?"
"I don't know. The database Imma gave me simply referred to it as an 'Elite'."
"An elite what?"
"An elite combatant. Witness how quickly it moved. How well it hid. Imma chose his enemies well."
"...I believe you're right, Tre. Is he ready?"
"Uno. Did Imma know what was coming at him before he saw it?"
"Not in the sense you're asking. He didn't know where the enemies would be, or how many would appear in each location. He knew roughly how competent they would be, and had previously defeated every type except for the Elite.
I would say this battle was no more rehearsed than yours are."
"...then yes. He is ready. Operation Kneecap will begin in two weeks."
My Unitarian Jihad Name is: Brother Atom Bomb of Courteous Debate. Get yours.
I've been writing a bit.
Also, due to GAMING AWESOMENESS this week, I won't be around to post on Thursday (for SB), or Friday (here) of this week. ANYWAY.
The thing about Alma is that she's a (questionably) living killfield in the shape of a girl. You don't fight her; you run, or you get liquified. Her inclusion in the program was supposed to get me looking for subtle cues, picking up on when she appeared fast enough to NOT LOSE, and force me to pay attention while running from an insurmountably superior foe.
Rob, my original intention was that Uno was just a biiiiiiiiit too focused on her other project, and her finger slipped. My new intention is that she did it on purpose- not just to provide a surprise and force me to get better faster, but to get me to dig through her program and learn how it ticked, so that I'd absorb programming skill by osmosis. Funnily enough, the 'error' I'd chosen works just as well for both purposes- simple to make unintentionally, and subtle enough that I'd have to go over the code with a fine-toothed comb to find it.
**********
Entry 48 (Day 842)
You know, I wanted to start this entry off by saying that I'd gotten the awareness problem licked. Still could, but it'd only be a half-truth.
The program, as developed, has ten different difficulty settings. Every step up increases the enemy spawn rate (usually by setting up group spawns), decreases the amount of time I get to react before I lose points, and unlocks additional enemy types. Some steps also make specific enemies more dangerous.
I'm currently this close to mastering level three.
I can deal with the basic human enemies (mostly HECU Marines and TSAB mooks) just fine. The Imps aren't a problem, either- I know their audio tells like I know my own mind- nor are the varren. Where I end up slipping up are the Jackals and the TSAB Enforcers; both have shields, forcing me to focus on getting around or through them before I get the points for them, and the Enforcers move around a good bit.
They aren't hard on their own, mind you. In a group, though, they're awfully good at drawing my attention away from other threats long enough to take down my combo. I can deal with them without loss maybe six times out of ten.
When I miss that, well... I end up getting hit in the back. Don't know what does it. Don't know how it happens. Just going along, sensing and clearing, watching my points go up, and then WHAM! No matter how fast I sweep, I never find that one.
If I can iron out those Enforcer groups, and figure out what the heck keeps hitting me in the back, I'll be ready to start level four... ready to rejoin combat operations... and ready to go out alone again.
And when that happens, well... I owe Lada an arm.
Entry 49 (Day 852)I got it. I FREAKING GOT IT. I've finally mastered level three.
Boots on metal- left, 4.1 meters. Rustling fabric suggests TSAB mage. Turn, [Magic Missile, 20, group 10], shoot one group- multiple contacts, all directions.
About face, shoot four groups- hit four Marines. Duck Imp fireball- no damage- counter with group six. Refresh while dodging plasma pistol fire."He's doing remarkably well, isn't he?"
"Obviously. Keep watching."
Claws on metal- sound suggests multiple animals, coming from behind. Send three groups, open door to left, enter behind ready missiles. Room cleared, two exits- move to cover both.Two more varren survived- Jackals behind. Split group to the varren- eyes on the other door- three groups to the Jackals. Steer in from above- good! Room clear- hall clear- move to next door and refresh.
"Are those enemies working together?"
"Yes. On this difficulty level, some of the opposition routines are able to cooperate. The varren-'Jackal' interaction is an example that I expressely created."
"Quiet! I'm trying to watch!"
Next room is- oh, no. Two Enforcers, eight mooks, spread out. Should be tough.
Fire all twenty, spread shot. Dodge volley- cancel refresh- load new while they shield/recover. [MM, 60, group 15]- two mooks survived. Five groups to roof- Enforcers to both sides, watch them!- two to mooks, rest straight at Enforcers. Bring five groups down.
"I've seen enough at this point. Imma has demonstrated ample situational awareness by my stand-"
"Watch, and wait. He's not done."
Correct aim. Enforcers shielding forward- hit from above. Mooks gone- air movement from behind-BLOCK-KNIFE!"WURT WURT WURT!"
BZAP.
"...the auditory cues included voices, Uno? Why?"
"It was Imma's idea, Cinque. He said that the simulation was more realistic that way. I agreed."
"What is that thing, anyway?"
"I don't know. The database Imma gave me simply referred to it as an 'Elite'."
"An elite what?"
"An elite combatant. Witness how quickly it moved. How well it hid. Imma chose his enemies well."
"...I believe you're right, Tre. Is he ready?"
"Uno. Did Imma know what was coming at him before he saw it?"
"Not in the sense you're asking. He didn't know where the enemies would be, or how many would appear in each location. He knew roughly how competent they would be, and had previously defeated every type except for the Elite.
I would say this battle was no more rehearsed than yours are."
"...then yes. He is ready. Operation Kneecap will begin in two weeks."
My Unitarian Jihad Name is: Brother Atom Bomb of Courteous Debate. Get yours.
I've been writing a bit.