Two Point Hospital....

It's all true, Two Point Hospital is as good as they are saying.
I may be distracted for some time....

BF1

Street fighting at it's best and worst....

A Casual Carebear

STO...

Over 250k worth of saved up dilithium to upgrade all modules and weapons on my main's primary ship to level 15. A kings ransom to me, a drop in the ocean to others. Maybe I should have waited for an upgrade weekend special....

The image above is fine for STO gamer's to glance at and know the module type/abilities from just the icons. I wish there was an easy way (out of game?) to show/list the fitted modules details/stats.

Stardew Valley....

The latest patch brought a lot of additions to the game. So this is the first time I've seen the winter night market in my solo playthrough. Lots of coffee to be had with some special item vendors and submarine fishing.

It's the type of event you see and are excited for the first time. But I can say that next time I'll be less about the awe and more about the one or two vendors I want (painter/magic shop). That's not to play down the event. It's colourful and atmospheric. Plus the coffee.....

STO....

With the last daily done the reputation is complete and the reward weapons unlocked.

BF1....

I'm not sure if there were EA server problems or everyone decided to do something else. But the lack of matches last night was puzzling. It felt like BF V was out and everyone was gone to it....

I did manage to find a server but it was lacking even a 50% population.... Needs must 'n' all.

A Casual Carebear

Hitman....

I'm not a happy Hitman with the ongoing news that all the unlocks earned from season one will need to be earned again to unlock them in Hitman 2.

Expletive that!

There aren't enough expletives if they think I'm gonna redo the likes of some of those! 

Shenanigans like this make me doubt even getting the second game. Why bother with the effort if the third installment changes systems again and you need to redo season one for a third time etc............

GRW....

Back on my third character, gaining some XP with a stroll in Libertad. Collecting items and cleaning  up a story-line mission or two....

A Casual Carebear

Games with Gold....

I was surprised that For Honor was given away with Xbox Gold's last batch. September's list holds another surprise for me. Prison Architect. 

It's a game I've had mild interest in for a long time but never enough to push me to try it out; Despite a friend having it since it's early, early day's (5 years ago maybe). Looks like I'll get to try it out now.

Battletech....

Battletech 1.2, a hefty patch, lots of nice changes....

https://steamcommunity.com/games/637090/announcements/detail/1700559455450767714

STO....

Second place, I'm surprised! I'm happy to see an improvement. 

If it's a real improvement I'll see it in the next attempt.

Another two more dailies of the event and I'll have it completed. It's a pity the rewards for getting "placed" are rubbish.

NMS....

Well I was right about the grinding. I've needed a lot of materials to craft internal parts of the freighter. Thankfully I have cash and bought most of what I needed. So the grinding has been to vendors and galactic terminals. So not really a grind? Not that I've done much with the materials. Freighter base management is like a ground base in most respects. I was glad to see what looked like a large vault container. But they only have 5 slots of inventory spaces. As well as not fitting the ships, it left gaps that showed game breaking hollow chasms. That was deleted in short order.

I still need more materials to create stations and refining machines. Not to mention fuel. I haven't touched the expeditions or looked into gaining more frigates to do so.

The one ship I did try to buy as an additional one for me to use cost more than the freighter. 14 Million units and that included a trade in value! I might settle for a smaller cheaper shuttle like runabout.

Time will tell how all this plays out, it may take a whiiiiiiiiiile.

I do like the sight of my own capitol ship. Seeing it isn't gonna get old....

Battletech....

Battletech is a good game. I like it, it's brought all the usual mech mechanics and style into a very playable turn based PC game. I'm biased as I've always been into the franchise. Granted the time-frame that the game takes place in isn't my favourite. For that I'd need the clans and Omnimech tech (Mad Dog's & Timber Wolves). But I'm still pottering away with the main campaign, building cash and resources and moving onto the next story-line mission. 

As much variety as there is in mech's, weapons and technology; Inner Sphere mech tech has never 'done anything' for me(Could argue about longterm SLDF tech in the Inner Sphere (Atlas).........but). So seeing the expansion details (Flashpoint) due in November with more of the same (even with a Hatchetman) isn't floating my boat, at all. I doubt I'll get it. If I do it'll be a deep sale in the future.

Paradox Interactive

NMS....

I was on the verge of finalising my time in No Man's Sky, to say enough was enough, when I read something interesting. That there was a way to get a free freighter. 

A bit of a backstory first. The system I'm currently in, the second since the new NEXT patch hit, greeted me with lot of space combat. A freighter under attack to be precise. I ignored the combat and the freighters distress calls. Each time I'd leave the systems station to explore a planet I'd ignore the freighters pleas for help, not once, not twice but at least 7 or 8 times. 

So I read that if you save a freighter under attack from pirates, the captain of said freighter would invite you aboard and offer it's command to you..... For free. 

Free vs spending 10 million credits sounds like an offer I can't refuse.

So I undocked, answered the hail and said I'd help. 

I Killed the pirates and docked on the freighter as directed....

So after offering the ship I accepted it. Then he did a happy dance. 

I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing....
Does he know something I don't!! Probably.... I'm worried now.

A Casual Carebear

Owning a freighter was one of my only remaining goals.
A mobile base I can build on. A base for a fleet I can increase as well. Whats not to like!
Till now it seemed unobtainable.

Now that I have it, I want to know more about it, it's capabilities, fuelling and upgrading....

As well as the expeditions it offers....

I have to begrudgingly admit that my interest in the game has been somewhat rekindled. 

Begrudgingly because I was all but set to call it a day and finally uninstall the game. 

Somewhat rekindled because as new as all this is I sense a grind for items/materials/fuel ahead.

BF1....

A Casual Carebear

Quake Champions....

The accessory of accessories....

Planetbase....

Another game with a patch today, Planetbase gets some love with patch 1.3.0.

New UI updates and rearrangements of the chats and stats looks great, but having the new keyboard shortcuts is a fantastic. Red alert for fast action response to those dámn intruders! Really great!

Now if only the meal makers could be set to a specific meal.... Burgers for all!!!!!!!!!!

GRW....

Challenges aside I felt like doing more within the game. But not on either my main or second character. My main has nothing left to do bar challenges, my second character has the tier grind, which is a grind and not fun. So that left the co-op only character. I should stop calling him co-op, he's not been that in a while, since this, maybe longer. Good groups in co-op are hard to find. I didn't have the heart to do co-op mode. I really wasn't in the humour to try to herding cats. Or repeat the same mission with different groups 5 times in a row(fact).

Being back on a character that hasn't reached max level; Who is missing skills and abilities is kind of refreshing. Mainly because even simple tasks can kill you. Back to basics. 

A lack of weapons, gear and attachments is still his major problem. So preset weapons are a key factor still. The weapons I've chosen have been proving themselves capable to cover all most situations.

I just hopped on this character to potter about, helping to level him unhindered; And be(or not to be) as completionist as I like without annoying or being annoyed by other gamers. With no aim other than to enjoy the game. It's been a while since I did that. Casual is casual.

A Casual Carebear

Eve Online....

I'm still faffing about with my PvE and "PvP" Alpha's, their alts and their alts, alts. Both accounts are full. Faffing to the max. I could drone on about the faffing but it's micromanagement for the sake of playing the game and being ánál about it. In a way I'm glad I've kept my old mains out of the Alpha's lives. Alpha's, no support, living their own lives..... Bla, bla, bla....

I will post about it.... 

I will post about it.... 

I will post about it....

The remodeling of the Caldari transports/haulers was a surprise. I have a lot of nostalgia for the older models of the ships. I've taken many a Badger on an adventure; Even when they were a Badger Mk1 and Mk2 never mind after the Badger/Tayra split. But I'm not as miffed or put out as I thought I'd be. The new models look good, taking the Naga design further. 

Here's to hoping they change the Corax class of ship hulls into mini Naga's in the future!!!!!!! 

STO....

A late night buy......

Which I don't regret. I liked what I saw in the dev blogs.

It's not like I ever buy Zen, these ships cost me nothing but free currency.

Now that I have them I'll have to test these out on my lower end characters. Along with a few other ships including the summer event rewards... Those on the Klingon side will have more fun given their lack of variety.

BF1....

Getting to know the Rush game mode better now; I'm more conformable with it's faster pace. So much so that I can handle a match ending in defeat and still consider it a 'good' match. 

Says what now.....

Executive producer at DICE says what now....https://t.co/WUANlMufaX pic.twitter.com/VqUQOmSpdU

— A Casual Carebear (@ACasualCarebear) August 22, 2018

Free is free....

Free games I see and claim usually don't get a second glance. Like Xbox gold monthly lists. 

This month has seen For Honor given away on Xbox and now on Steam as well. "For a limited time".

https://store.steampowered.com/app/304390/FOR_HONOR

There is a single player element to this game that may increase it's odds of being played....

Space Hulk Deathwing....

A stroll, just a stroll.......

A Casual Carebear

STO....

The new ship bundle stats look great from a tactical point of view...

https://www.arcgames.com/en/games/star-trek-online/news/detail/10981523

___

Halfway there 50% done.....

BF1....

Sharing is caring.....

GRW....

Season 6 Week 2 sees a lot of sneaking about. Sam Fisher style, for the most part.

Although the challenge says you can't fire your weapon it doesn't count against your a.i. team mates. So clearing the area's with sync shot is the order of the day.

As the first part needs to be done in the Montuyoc region, I stayed and completed all the parts there.

The first part can be done in the training base to the east of the map

I gained entry from the north-east, cleared the base(visual scan/sync shot) for one generator and the jammer.

The second section of the base across the road to the north south-west has another generator. As before scan(jammer down so use drone), sync-shot clear and turn off the generator.

The second part of the challenge needs you to kill 3 SB soldiers unseen with one grenade.
I found three patrolling SB's in a secluded area North of the lake in Laguna Colorada Baths.

For the last part I went back to the same entry point in the training base as that side of the base has single sentry guards that are easy to CQC.

Easy challenge but with stealth and randomness if felt tense at times. Sneaking up on a sentry etc.

Enjoyable.

Mini Metro....

Mini Metro. I saw it got an update last week. It's good to see games get long-term updates and cross platform attention.

While I'm not into the game in a role playing or minute, min maxing detail kind of way. I see it as a casual puzzler that I can have some fun with. Usually with the challenges(like get 1000 passengers to unlock another version of the map). So in terms of more serious Metro fans I'm sure my methods are messy, crazy works of despair. Speaking of which, I hopped back into the game and saw I 'needed' to unlock the 1972 version of the New York level....

Short version....

Long version....

A Casual Carebear

Hitman....

It would seem that the next Elusive Target (The Bookkeeper) is due this coming Friday. 

The same target that was my very first Elusive Target. My very first and failed target. 

Thanks for reminding me game.....

BF1....

Some maps are great for defenders....

 A Casual Carebear

Race The Sun....

A Steam offer a few years ago gave Race The Sun away for free. I've not played it in ages but did notice it last night as part of the VR section of the game library. 

Not that I have a VR headset but I was checking to see if it would be worth getting one and what games I already have that would be suitable(2021 edit; I do have one now.... Playing in VR is fun but after a few races it gets old fast). 

Anyway all waffle aside I took another look at the game. I'm glad to see that the maps still change daily. I'm rusty at it, the faster it gets the more twitchy I get, that leads to overcompensation and then an exploding ship.... And that's just in 'normal' mode, never mind the Apocalypse mode!

Normal Mode....

Apoc mode....

STO....

Two new ships are coming for STO. "Announcing the Recon Destroyer Bundle!".

There is to be a dev blog with ship specifics to be released tomorrow. I'm liking what I'm seeing of them already so far. I'm definitely leaning towards buying the bundle and use up some of the Zen burning a hole in my mains wallet.

STO....

3rd place today! I've been surprised that I've been doing so well. It's either a measure of how crap the teams I've been in are or how super awesome I am. 

Given my gears quality, lack of epic gear and my one or two ultra rare items, I'm amazed my common "very rare" gear is doing so well.  Maybe it's not what you have but how you use it..... Engage all the double entendres.

GRW....

I had an urge to play Ghost Recon Wildlands. While it would have been better to hop on my co-op character and level him up. I decided to stay solo. Specific co-op character for co-op only. Because I'm 'funny' that way. 

So the new challenge season rewards are as I said, lacklustre. Aimed more towards the PvP side of the game(Odd how many games warp PvE activities into a feeder system for PvP these day's...... Me paranoid!?!) Anyway I ended up doing the first weeks challenge set.

Nothing major in doing it. 

Easy long range no HUD kills x5

Easy blow up convoys x2

Sniper headshot kills x30 (more of a grind than a challenge)

Now if only the reward was the week 3 vehicle.... Just to have....

If I'm not saying it's too easy I'm saying it's unfavourably difficult. It's hard to get a good challenge mix, I feel for the devs. 

---

Nostalgia is strong with this one.

Ubisoft