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Joined 2Y ago
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Cake day: Jun 16, 2023

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Consoles are just a consistent standard… Everything is standardized, everything works.

Well, with Steam Deck and supposedly upcoming new Steam Machine, that’s a perfectly decent target without restrictive software limitations and closed ecosystems. Plus, PCs are pretty standardized these days in general. Nobody needs to target the high end, and Valve does a hardware survey that’s publicly available to know exactly what hardware range is in use (and it’s generally the lower end, despite enthusiasts).

That’s ignoring the console support for exclusives

And I’ll keep ignoring them because there’s no reason for them to exist now, there aren’t architectural differences and unique capabilities that make sense for games to be exclusive anymore. That’s more of the artificial software restrictions I mentioned. Console exclusives can die in a fire. Even Sony has realized they’re leaving money on the table with that crap and releasing to PC.


I absolutely dig the Steam Deck, but it’s not a console in that regard, it’s not software restricted in any way, it’s just a portable computer with a convenient frontend. But… man, I’m more likely to pick it up than to play on my gaming rig these days, even though both can hook up on the TV. Handhelds are just great.


They’re just undercooked PCs with artificial software restrictions now. Except for the Switch, which is an undercooked TV streamer chip from 2015, also with artificial software limitations.

Hasn’t been anything exciting about consoles in over a decade.


steam://controllerconfig/413080/2866090215

Try this config. I posted about it above. It’s worked well for me to the point I’m no longer even comfortable playing GW2 on a keyboard, I’m able to react much more quickly to everything with the gamepad setup. Most important thing is always use action camera for combat and general exploration unless you specifically need the mouse for something.


Here you go: steam://controllerconfig/413080/2866090215

Paste that steam link in a browser while Steam is open and it will pull up the controller config.

Control mappings have face buttons and R1/R2 as attacks, L1/L2 as button layer modifiers, Joystick mouse and more. F-keys are on the d-pad, and most mouse related functions are active while holding L1. Pressing L2+R2 heals. Back button is your "interact. L1 + R3 switches between “action” camera and regular mouse mode for aiming. Action camera is better for combat, and is the mode I use like 90% of the time. Dodge is on R3. L3 swaps weapons. There’s also key combos for all the mounts, special action abilities (N key, on L2+back)… basically, everything you could possibly want to do in-game, there’s a controller way to do it. You may need to remap some of the mount buttons, I forget if I did custom mappings for some of those, as I have a lot of mounts (everything except roller beetle and gryffon).

Hope it works for you. I think it’s a great config, but my perspective may be skewed since I’m highly accustomed to it from muscle memory and using it for years (with Xpadder even, before steam controller mapping was a thing). I’ve used this config for every single class in the game and dialed it in so I can play literally any class without issues, including ones that have a number of aiming skills like engineer and elementalist. Actually, elementalist is a blast for this, dpad was perfect for switching elements compared to fumbling with F-keys.


I dunno about this one. Waiting to see what the crowd thinks as far as reviews. Secrets of the Obscure was as mediocre as they come and I have doubts now.


I’ve been playing it on a gamepad since 2012. I’ll see if I can get my Steam config link for you later.


Sorry, I edited my post above with some tips for desync issues. Have found in particular turning off shadows majorly reduced the frequency desyncs happen.


If you’re seeing that, good chance you’ve got some kind of network issue (or there’s a problem with the Photon setter you’re on and you should switch servers).

Generally I might see a desync every few hours. Rarely more often, but we can play for 6+hours sometimes with zero issues.

Couple things that could cause issues though:

  • make sure you’re both running at the same screen refresh (60hz is preferred).

  • if using the UB mod, make sure all settings are the same on both clients.

  • weirdly, turning off shadows can have a major impact on network sync. Try disabling shadows.

  • If you’re not maintaining 60 fps, turn down settings until you are, and if not possible lock both clients to 30 fps.

  • Lastly, as noted above if you’re having frequent desyncs, manually select your option server and choose a different region. E.g - I’m western USA, but I’d there’s issues I’ll switch to US East and that will generally resolve it.

Frankly, this is the only bummer with Solasta, the fact that networking is via Photon and no LAN option. Is set up my own Option server if I could but it doesn’t seem to be possible.


Weird, wife and I have played it co-op the entire time. There’s occasional desyncs (saving and reloading fixes that) and otherwise all good.


You need to install the unfinished business mod to really make Solasta shine. It’s… unofficially endorsed by the devs (in the sense that the UB mod discord channel is hosted on the official Solasta discord). It adds races, subclasses, and more to bring the game fully in-line with tabletop options, including multi-classing.

Besides that, while the official campaign is decent enough, some custom campaigns are incredible, like full games in and of themselves, and some take more advantage of the game engine and dialogue options than the official campaign.

To me, Baldur’s Gate 3 is an interesting experiment, but in terms of gameplay it’s just not D&D. It’s a weird relationship sim with some (very) loose D&D mechanics. It has fun moments but the game is inconsistent, buggy, and generally becomes very un-fun, especially in multiplayer.

BG3 is very much a Larian game with D&D trappings, not a D&D game just made by Larian, if that makes sense.

I put something like 50-60 hours into BG3 and just couldn’t be bothered to finish it, stalled out once in act 2, and again on a second attempt in act 1. By contrast, I’ve got over 500 hours and counting in Solasta.

———-

Edit - oh, and with regard to rations, stack up early as you can (at least 20) and from there you’ll gather plenty in the field map if you have someone with high survival. Alternate option would be to have a Ranger or dries with goodberry, and later on other classes get the create food spell.

Or you could just disable the food mechanic altogether, it’s your game.


I have full faith in Tactical Adventures. Solasta is the closest translation of tabletop D&D to CRPG ever made IMO. All they need is a better than indie budget and permissions to use the full license and content instead of just the SRD.


I played it for 440 hours and I still don’t feel done with it.


Have a ton of games already, but I picked up Nuclear Blaze and Streets of Rogue on the cheap.

A week prior to the steam sale, got a good deal on River City Girls 2 and Mechwarrior 5 Mercenaries on Fanatical, $15 for both together.



Isn’t it a matter of player preference and spending power though?

I personally buy some 90% of my games on deep discounts (between 33% and 80% off) on sales in bulk, as I already have such a huge backlog it could be months before I get around to playing a game, I don’t see the point in paying full price, but I’m also never in a rush to buy the latest, newest thing.


I picked up a few games on Steam, as well some stuff on Fanatical.

Steam:

  • Half-Life Complete
  • Octopath Traveler 2

Fanatical (also Steam keys, just a different site and sale):

  • Spider-Man: Miles Morales
  • Doom Eternal
  • Crumble
  • Dark Devotion
  • Fallout
  • Fallout 2
  • Shantae: Risky’s Revenge - Director’s Cut

That’s wild, I just bought this last night on the GOG sale. I played it many years back and it scared the piss out of me.


Yo, Crumble has actually turned out to be pretty great!


F-Zero GX is much harder in the story mode stuff. F-Zero X varies depending on difficulty setting and cup selected.


Don’t forget Fanatical is a thing
[Fanatical](https://www.fanatical.com) has some awesome game bundles. The other night I picked up a bundle of 5 games for like $7 and Doom Eternal for around $8. They're neat because their bundles usually have many games and the discount allows to to select 2, 3, 5, etc. out of the bundle at the discounted priced at your choice. Thought I'd mention it since many people are aware of Steam sales and Humble Bundle bundles but I don't see much talk about Fanatical.
fedilink

GX is pretty cool but F-Zero X will forever be my favorite.


Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 for PS1. I still love chasing high scores in the Hangar.

Here’s a vid of the best run I’ve recorded at ~3.1 million. Not my best run (highest ever was 4.1 million) but this is the best on I have on capture.

Also, for some reason I really like Mighty Morphin Power Rangers for the SNES. I’ve played it so much I can beat the whole game in just over 30 mins on a single life.