Hitman 2....

I hung around to see what would happen. That was a mistake.

The A.I. is still psychic.... That or blame the newbie!!

A Casual Carebear

GRW....

I thought I read that there was to be a free club 'gift' if you played the game with the release of the latest patch. But I think it has yet to come.... There was however a free claimable gift I didn't' expect there so I picked it up.

Kinda cool.

GRW....

While Ghost Recon has moved on in it's evolution to be more PvP and group PvE based; My interest in the game has wained. I've waffled about all this before. I've completed the campaign with two solo characters, taken one of them to complete the Tier system and the other half way. As for the third co-op/multiplayer only character; He is still stuck about mid way thorough normal levelling. His progress/map looks like an unorganised spaghetti junction. His gear and weapons are a shambles.

I'm well done with this game. Only returning to bring my best two through any special mission/operations like the Predator or Sam. Or like today when a new patch hits and things have been updated/tweaked etc.

I do have an itch to scratch with the new guerrilla mode for my co-op character but he is so under geared and under prepared he would have to be carried through it. And the new mode from what I've read isn't for the under prepared.

Just because the game has nothing new for my preferred gameplay doesn't mean I dislike it or the changes. The game has been improved in so many ways over the last year never mind the previous one. I hope year three brings more.

I'm not a lover of the new main menu screen but I'm sure I could get used to it:

I do love the new compass:

But I really love the new 'heat' map feature, funny to see all the path's taken. Spots in the desert from a heli landing and assault etc:

Games with Gold....

The March list of games is out.

Republic Commando is a great game, I've played it on PC and I'll look forward to playing it again on Xbox.

I've no real interest with PvZ but it might be a game my wife will try as she was massively into the first game. Not sure if she ever got the second......

Metal gear Rising might be of interest, I've a love/hate relationship with Metal Gear games. The first 10 minutes of an iteration of the franchise will be telling for me.

Adventure Time is something I'm not into cartoon or game. It's graphics do look like the cartoon so if your into it you'll be into the game....


Republic Commando!!

Rome Total War....

The joy that RTW gives is both in it's quirkiness as much as it's greatness. Still a fantastic game in my view. A game I've purchased several times as time and operating systems have gone on.  I've waffled about it on and off over before.

Getting back to the game for a quick battle or two saw me reload an older save. It's a fun thing in it's own right to asses what stage a save is in; Especially when you've not seen it in years. This save was from an Armenian late stage campaign(Dark Green).

It looked like I had loaded up a best of the best army on a boat. My guess is that they were going to be headed for Egyptian lands to cause havoc behind the lines. But as I was in this save for some 'relatively quick' fun; I decided to take them to capture Rome and see how long they could hold out. 

Surprisingly the Roman civil war was distracting the factions. So it was easy enough to take Rome and fun to hold out until the Julii got their act together in overwhelming numbers.

I like to sally out from cities I'm defending on the same turn they are besieged. The attackers have nothing to attack walls with that turn and the A.I. does be bewildered. Quirky but true. Sitting ducks. 

Defending two early attacks:

A Casual Carebear

Hitman 2....

I've not felt a need to get back into the Hitman 2 campaign maps. Legacy progress is going well.

A Casual Carebear

GRW....

The last of year 2...... Meh......

Ubisoft North America

Hitman 2....

Great patch notes filled with so much goodness.... Patch 2.14

Tomorrow we'll release Game Update 2.14 💪

We'll have server maintenance for HITMAN 2 starting tomorrow at 11 am UTC and end approximately 14 pm UTC.

During that time, we'll roll out the February game update.

Read about the game update here: https://t.co/0j2ZEHXG7c pic.twitter.com/KX7OPJDuUC

— IO Interactive (@IOInteractive) February 25, 2019

Hitman 2....

Progress in the legacy pack is still feeling fun. Marrakesh is done.

I might even be more accepting of the multi-mission challenges being listed and messing up the stats.

3 locations left to do.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A Casual Carebear

BF 1....

The past two weeks has seen a new found try at unlocking some more weapons. Some need very situational matches that don't happen too often. But it all adds variety and motivation to play. 

Best Bits Mashup 3, things that get edited late at night.....

A Casual Carebear

Battletech....

BATTLETECH Free Weekend starts NOW! That means that you can play BATTLETECH for free between now and monday! Go check it out: https://t.co/pnOx435qn4 pic.twitter.com/a4TGuc5AxI

— BATTLETECH Game (@BATTLETECH_Game) February 21, 2019

Darkest Dungeon II....

A sequel! I can't wait!!

Red Hook Studios

STO....

The 9th Holograms have shown up, better late than never eh......
Must have been changes/tweaks/fixes done with the server reboots during the last week.... But I've not played much since getting the event ship to notice.

Hitman 2....

I'm really happy to have finished the remaining challenges for Sapienza in one fell swoop. While I did post that a few day's ago; I thought I'd do up this post and upload some footage to flesh out what happened.

Basic starting area and load-out with a silenced sniper rifle.

Doing the Master difficulty, suit only, silent assassin did take a few attempts. First completion was as seen below but in taking out the virus I also killed a scientist. At least that run game me the x3 suit only completions. While I did record the final run I did so only after the save point. But I do have a previous run recorded that shows exactly what I did. I've also uploaded that failed run's first part to show the start "prep" side of the mission before the save. So one mission seen in two parts with the save in between both.

Part 1, the "preparation" side of the save, is to gather items and clear the way. In my case, gather coins and disable security recordings. It shows I also took the opportunity to get the virus usb; At the time I thought that was best but in the end I went ahead with a safer option(as seen in part two). 

I also thought I'd get a mansion keycard in an apartment forgetting that in Master mode, it like a lot of items are removed for difficulty.*

Part 1 - Preparation:
(*Re-enacted/re-recorded due to the persistent copyright claims/strikes due to freaking kitchen radio opera music!)

Part 2 - The Assassinations:

Hitman 2....

Legacy pack map 3 Sapienza "done" as can be... *shakes fist at cross-map challenges*

BF 1....

A Casual Carebear

ETS 2....

I like rainfall and bad weather in general, mainly while looking out a window as I stay warm indoors. Playing ETS 2 I got thinking that it's been a long time since I'd seen rain in the game. Going into settings I increased the rain probability slider and went for a drive. Stopping off to refuel and rest I was parked up and for a minute enjoyed watching the rain. It occurred to me that watching and listening to the rain might in game might be considered a type of ASMR, maybe? I'm not 100% sure but I put up two video's anyway.

Parked rainfall with hazards and wipers on:

Parked with an external thunderstorm view:

A Casual Carebear

Hitman 2....

I've waffled about this before but the more I play Hitman 2 the more I'm still peeved about the second "full version" game having temp or unreleased content. As I've been playing the alternative version of the maps on the legacy pack (Hitman maps); The Santa winter pack isn't available. Along with 90% of the maps escalations. The second games timed/locked or soon to be re-released content. Re-released for the nth time. Yep, peeved.

Nice to see the first game is being given away for free to PS Plus gamers. Xbox next?

Enough wafflin....

I completed all the extra map version of Sapienza nice to return to them.

Hitman 2....

Getting my Hitman groove back; I've been spending time going through the Legacy packs alternative locations.

A Casual Carebear

Gaming....

Not to be a downer with the day that's in it. But....

Real life can tend to get in the way of gaming, a hobby can be life consuming but life is not a hobby.  Frustration at things that are bad and can't be controlled. It's ultimately unavoidable, this real world lark. So this last week hasn't had much gaming done.

What I have gotten done in gaming is culled my list of "active" games. Mainly 'smaller' games that I feel I've done/enjoyed enough to be put on the back burner. Into the Breach/Horizon Chase Turbo/Don't Sink/Mini Metro etc....etc.....etc......  All to make way for progress on the many games I have on that 'To-Do' list...... So many games so little time....

BF 1....

A Casual Carebear

Horizon Chase Turbo....

Colours, colours for all!

The 1.0.4 update, quality, quality of life changes: https://steamstore-a.akamaihd.net/news/externalpost/steam_community_announcements/2461683368378528715

The cable guy car is an interesting addition.

Euro Truck Simulator 2....

A new update with all the quality of life stuff that is now standard to patches and very welcome.
Time to get a new truck....

Full notes here: https://store.steampowered.com/news/?appids=227300

SCS Software

STO....

A few day's ago I completed the 9th anniversary event and claimed the reward ship on my characters.

I've also claimed the other Q rewards, emotes, party horn etc. The daily isn't really worth doing just for the Dilithium. Nothing came from the two mystery box's I took, always a bad option to take but worth it for the "what if" moment/feeling. As for the ship, I was right to think of it as an admiralty ship for all but one of my characters. My science character, one of my class "mains". 

In checking out the new ship I noticed how closely in layout it matches a previous reward ship (the 6th anniversary reward ship) The Krenim science vessel.

*ignore the modules fitted, I was faffing about with a lot.

So with the module layouts 99% the same the fit decision comes down to if an extra device slot on the Krenim ship is better to have. 

Outside the module considerations the big factors to look at are the stats and the mastery unlocks. Still looking at this from the science character perspective. Stats on both ships are fairly close. Both T6, Krenim +7K Hull at level 65 but Vulcan can move and turn faster. Both have bridge officers positions that allow for a wide range of abilities. But those  also depend on the officers you have available. Enough to make me think that both are equal in that area even if the Vulcan ship does "seem" to have better viability for officer abilities. But what do I know. This science class is voodoo magic.

The mastery for both is also close. Both look great on paper. But from a science characters perspective I'd have to lean on the Krenim ship for it's level 3 mastery.

The way I look at this Vulcan ship is that it's a science characters ship used as if it was for a tactical character. It can use cannons after all. The very definition of the scout ship is just that, a sci vessel used as a raider. That's the biggest difference here. The Vulcan ship isn't a "true" science ship like the Krenim vessel. This blend should work well for my inner tactical joy. But it doesn't sit well with me when everything about it says it should. I'm digging to deep here. If your still reading this and interested, the choice between the ships is between healing shield/hull and healing shield/hull while doing more DPS. It's all down to play-styles and group roles.

Either ship doesn't matter to my science character as she is still using the store bought (with free zen) T6 Temporal Multi-Mission Science Vessel. Neither of the ships replaces that.

Event ships are good, they allow players the ability to catch-up. To bridge the T5/T5-upgrade and T6 ship gaps. What I realise now more than ever is that even a c-store ship needs fleet modules to be really effective and competitive. Getting that fit is a whole other level of expertise I need education in.

Hitman 2....

The elusive target via the legacy pack was as easy to do as last time; Thankfully proven by MrFreeze2244. I did it the exact same way. Second time doing it, it was the elusive target target. Nice and easy.

A Casual Carebear

Subnautica....

(My)Subnautica - A no comment world tour....

A Casual Carebear

Subnautica....

While waffling about my time in game I thought I'd post again. One thing I really like in the game is the chance to find a time capsule. Containing an image, short message and some items from other players who have completed the game. Here are the ones I found.

Two of the best have been from my more recent game-time.

One had a cuddlefish egg for a good home(he/she/it got one!). And some siblings to play with.

The other had a drill arm from a Prawn suit that had been used to kill a Reaper. Nice.

I'd not yet gotten the blueprint for the arm(early playthrough) so was happy to use it, even just for ore's.


The other capsules all had items of use. A good mix at the time, I don't recall getting anything that I immediately ignored. Then again I'm a hoarder in games like this. ;)
Smallest of small chances that a player who did a time capsule sees it here and reads this, but just in case. Thanks!

-

So last up my own, I hope it was released to the game and someone found it useful.

Battlefield 1....

Back to Battlefield 1's familiar territory:

Apex Legends....

I've never really gotten into battle royal games, never gotten into shooters that feature hero class's. Maybe that's why I'm still into Battlefield 1. But Apex Legends looked interesting not to mention free, so why not give it a go. And a go I gave it. 

Starting in any game but especially in online multiplayer matches, the first few tiny baby steps, the first moments and minutes in a new game are the most daunting. How do I do this, what does that do, where is everything! What am I supposed to be doing..... Where are all the weapons.... etc. etc. etc. 

My (clueless) first match, first kill, first death:

A Casual Carebear

Like I said I'm not into battle royal games, or hero shooters(Quake Champs is an exception for some reason....), Apex is good, feels good, looks good and handles well for the most part. Running in the game feels like walking because the game is skewed towards players always sliding around. But after playing I'm not feeling "it" for the game. I don't have a draw pulling me back in. Was worth a try.

Subnautica....

Still a great game. I've been meaning to post about the game for a while now. I ended up doing a lot in the "base" game. This was spurred on by watching vids from some youtubers, old and new playthrough's(Here and Here). So the (then) pending Alpha release of Sub-Zero the standalone expansion only brought more of my attention to the game. While I haven't splashed out on the new one (I'll wait for the 'full' release) I've been back to my old saves way too much. One a full playthrough and the other a start/midgame version. It's impossible to show the game off as a base tour without spoilers. At this stage there shouldn't be players like that, but then again the game was given away for free by Epic so lots of new players there.There's a lot of playability(calm and not so calm moments) to be had from existing in the world, build/rebuild base(s), vehicles and organising items etc. Discovery and rediscovery in the same sea with different terrain between playthroughs. Little differences, all worth it.

Some screenies for now: