I finished the game ... and ... yea. I have some thoughts. It would however be unfair to credit those to
me - as it's all pretty much contained within the game. It's like ... I'm like ... torn between calling it
a Masterpiece or a hidden Gem.
And yea - it all pretty much needs to be said, but ... it's not like this is the first instance or way of
those things being said. And if you ... wouldn't understand, even when playing the game, well - apart from
the simple "well, you're too dumb and I can't help you" ... there's actually more; Though ... it's still
pretty much on point; And ... kind of the topic here.
Where 'here' is - if you want it to be - a somewhat elitarian, snobbish space where we do "intelligent"
stuff.
But yes. The world is complicated. And - I don't know how many people out there could actually tell me
in which ways Drova is similar or dissimilar to other games in that vein. Fallout, Gothic, Risen, Elder
Scrools. You know - where there's factions and they have their ideals and you pick one and get into
respective plot beats and conflicts. But that's not my audience, nor would that be an audience I could
entertain at this point ... outside of trying to be as ignorant about it as I can.
So, uh, sorry?
I just figure that ... Drova did it well.
So ... uh ... spoilers? Maybe later. For now ... a brief ... detour into
Gaming: How to create a Toxic Community
Because ... psychology matters. Like, above intellect. Intellect is ... weird. It's an abstract. It's ...
real. I suppose. I mean - I figure that coding, for instance, does require some of it. Like, one does -
if you want to be 'good' (for whatever it might yield) at it - need to learn multiple things that are just
abstract. You know decimal, you heard of binary - and perhaps you've heard of hexadecimal. And maybe you
even know what those words mean. But if you're asked for the difference between a pointer, an integer and
a bitmask - and you can't give me a multilayered answer that explains how they're the same but also not
- you ain't got it. And that's just the thing.
There are however also the two words: Wisdom and Foolishness. In my use, they have similar meaning as
'smart' and 'stupid' - but ... it's much simpler.
Wisdom is basically a different kind of smart. It can give you ways to ... appear smarter than you are.
Because you make up for what you're lacking. And foolishness ... also afflicts the intelligent. Like,
if Academia is torn - and our smartest speak of two different realities - it's ... pretty much there. As
obvious as it gets. And you could technically just try to 'guess' who's right and roll with it.
And - having started my second playthrough - to view things from a different angle - well, also led me to
a completely different start. Even found new stuff. But ... more importantly did I have to tackle with the
issue: So, how can I - the person that is me - play this game as an RPG, and not just join the Nemeton anyway
because fuck the Remnants? Well - for once, at that point I could just stop playing. But - since I've stumbled
into different directions, met people in a different order while overall knowing where I have to go so I'm not
stuck searching every nook and cranny first - well, I've seen a lot more that would convince me to join the
Remnants - or at least not the Nemeton - but at the same time ... my Gut feeling and a few ... observations
... do a good job at weighing against that. I mean ... that's the part you'd have to play for yourself. Maybe
play it on easymode; And figure out whom to join. I'm sure it's more fun that way. But ... anyhow ...
The thing is: The Nemeton and the Remnants are the two main factions in the game. And they're like ... THE
stereotype of their respective side of the coin, down to the colors, symbols and leaders. Like - getting
involved with the Nemeton is like: Help people, don't Brawl in the streets, spend time with the Kids; While
getting involved with the Remnants is like: Expensive (corruption), getting mugged (backstabbing), dealing
Drugs (and other shady business). So, the kind of stuff that will surely make for a great and stable society!
But yea. I found my niche. Like, the one moment I was wondering how I could RP my way into joining the Remnants
and the next I was getting shitfaced until I'd strip and something about sticking it to the divinities. Well,
at least that's what the game said happened. And yea. Eventually it all comes down to meeting the right people.
I mean, between Boris and Eugene - there's at least a ... 'good' way of joining the Remnants.
It still makes no sense - but it makes 'more' sense. The rest is just ... what has to be done.
Though ... selling Rustmoss is actually ... a neat option.
And that's it. The Remnants are like ... chill and loose, while the Nemeton are like ... uptight and ...
not very welcoming.
Anyway. So - how does all of this fit together?
Maybe later.
For now - the thing is this: Every now and then you will encounter a game that is like "known for its toxic
community", but more so because ... it would strike the individual observer as toxic, based on ... what
side they're coming from. So, don't think about "League of Legends" in this instance, because ... that's a
whole different ballpark. It's a team-sports where - if you're in a team with rando's where everyone is the
main Character while nobody can really communicate and everyone has a different idea of how to win the game
ALL WHILE the game itself, so I hear, will also try to make sure that you're only winning "so much". And so,
it's ... naturally it's toxic. But here the community is more so a victim - and the toxicity is just ...
the atmosphere. At least that's my general experience.
More so I'm thinking about games that ... uh ... "try to do something".
And people start to dig it. They enjoy the game because it "did something" - and then some people will come
in and complain about the thing it did - and people who enjoy the game will kindly or unkindly, though usually
it's the former, tell them to go F themselves.
Well, the way I present it here is probably oversimplified. I mean, there's also something about 'accomplishments'.
I mean - the fact that Elden Ring had sommons to make Boss Fights easier made THAT a whole thing. And all that is
without ... how to put it ... "opening the secret Chest". I mean, I'm sure there's like a whole book or volume of
books going in detail on how ... Dark Souls difficulty is stupid for instance, because, uh, people can beat Elden
Ring blindfolded or whatever. Stuff I suspect is kept away from the public eye for when ... we've stepped into
their trap thinking we understand their game.
So yea. The problem with this particular thing is 'pride'. Pride, pride, pride. "I enjoy the game because it's
difficult" - is like, one step removed from "I'm proud I beat this game". But that too is ... complex. Am I proud
because 'I' met the challenge, grew beyond myself - while ultimately having a blast playing it? Or am I proud
because ... I did something that's worthy of admiration?
Or, something I at least think is worthy of admiration ...
But - and maybe this belongs here - one thing that makes Elden Ring great is that it's the evolution, the peak,
of a good concept. People made a great game once - and improved upon it, time and time again. It's the same to
what happened elsewhere - except - it's based on ideas like: Hey, what if FARMING was the whole point of the
game? And it worked. So now ... there are all these games that are just ... the most stupid gaming mechanics
ever, turned into their own genre.
And ... the secret chest also has stuff to say about how FARMING and all of that nonsense are like the actually
good games because they ... mimic life. It is life. It is what life is all about. So, it's more real. And - less
distracting, perhaps. It's silly from start to finish - and all there is to be proud of are random drops. And
perhaps the amount of hours, days or weeks it took you to get it.
So, maybe now you can see a bit more of a ... throughline here.
Huh? What?
Well, don't get me wrong. Pride ... is important. To them. Pride is everything. I mean, the extent to which it is
a "sin" - or "bad" or however to name it - it is that. Yea, a servant of Eshem. And what's it all about? Well,
getting people to say things like: "Eshem? Hell yea!". Not like ... for people with wisdom - who care to know what
the deeper implications or long term consequences might be. But for poeple who pride themselves of foolishness.
They too might speak of deeper implications and long term consequences - but ... sigh.
See - one very effective tool that ... yea, let's just stick with "Eshem" ... Eshem has - is to make the stupid
person feel smart. I mean, we know it from movies. And ... also there's like ... a long history of scam artists,
pyramid schemes and other such things. The whole History of Humanity, according to the Bible, began with one such
thing. Allthewhile Wisdom, in the Bible, is strongly linked to God. God is almighty - and only a fool would
oppose HIM! But more to the point - it's like: If you're looking for ... the best way. The smartest thing you
could do. The most long term success you could get. You'd stick with God. That's just ... "duh". And everyone
trying to convince you otherwise ... well, it wouldn't matter whether we lived in Eden, Avernum, Elysium, Drova,
Nirvana or what have you - well, it should be a no-brainer.
It is when the moron tries to be smart ... that he's most likely about to get scammed!
And that's like ... the story of a game I played. So, the benevolent "i only care about the poor people" type of
guy that tries to stick it to the elites who's entire operation is based on corruption and the primitive urges
turns out to be a megalomaniac authoritarian with a God-complex? Shocking!
I mean, "sticking it to the elites" is essentially just doublespeak for "unable to navigate a complex society".
Or not?
Well - it depends.
Like ... previously ... I was let down where the plot went. But ultimately ... it made sense. If you're talking
to all the affected before the mission in question ... they'll tell you as much. The issue is ... history wasn't
actually repeating itself. So, Drova is stuck in a predicament that was brought about by the Bygones ... and the
realm is like stuck in a band-aid solution; And the thing is about to come off. And who's right and wrong ...
isn't perfectly clear ... . After I last wrote of it I found some notes that ... would contradict my interpretation.
And so, it's never quite ... 'good' to reduce complex issues to first principles, in the abstract. Like, you're
not solving a math problem by stating that it should be possible.
I mean ... if a-b=c ... is c positive or negative?
Well, what if B is 10?
But the fact remains. As we see today. If there's a complex problem that people are maybe scared to even talk about
because of the effort a solution requires - and someone just "bails" with the rhetoric of "getting something done"
- so and so many people will hear that and say "Yes!". Meanwhile, those that actually try to do something are then
being left alone because all those that want to do something think that they're better off "sticking it to the
elites". Who get nothing done ...
Videogames Bad!
It's ironic. I mean ... I've played a few games with eating/hunger mechanics - but ... Drova did it the best. Based
on my understanding. It's not only the best like ... on a vibes basis. It's the best because the mechanism actually
stood out, was useful and allowed me to play with it. Like ... in other games it's like ... either annoying or
there are better options or it's not worth it. But here it's like ... essential. Or ... just definitely useful!
And it's also ... not like you have to kill a white griffin with golden sheen and a magma dragon each time you want
to eat something. As part of either faction you'll also get a free ration - and with all the stuff you pick up,
there's actual variety.
So - sleeping at night and filling that depleted hunger bar. Those are things I learned. To do. In the game. But
... that ... well, at least right now my real life situation is somewhat ... different.
Like so, taking care of a 'Sim' isn't the same as taking care of yourself. You have to learn either one separately.
Either one might help you make sense of the other, but it's an individual process nonetheless.
And so, to me the whole concept of 'making stuff' ... might be a bit warped compared to someone who doesn't play
video-games.
I've recently read a sentence on reddit that sums it up pretty well: "Nobody told me that writing my own videogame
from scratch means that I have to write the WHOLE THING" - or something to that extent.
But I believe that this isn't a video-games problem. It's also about Bourgeoisie and the Proletariat and
Industrialization and Captialism ... .
And things like "Women shouldn't be leaders because they have a vagina and can only spread their legs" - so,
comparing apples to the act of walking.
I've learned a new word today: Hoeflation. But what about Hogflation? Like ... seriously? How hard does a woman
have to look these days to find a decent, high quality man?
How utterly is the pointlessness?
The Bible is like "Who is as Blind as the Servant whom I sent?" - and yet I feel like everyone's expecting me to
'see'! See what? I have to figure it out?! How?
Oh, but I do can see! Right? So ... ? I know stuff - I've discovered things - I ... 'see things' (well, actually
I've never actually had a hallucination or a 'true vision'; Except for the 10th Seal experience but that's ...
so long in the past I question if I actually saw something) - but yea, whatever.
So, what am I doing here? What are YOU doing here?
It's like ... ugh ... this whole nonsense is getting old ...
I'm sorry.
I mean sure ... the whole clickbait titles that some of those left-leaning YouTubers put out followed up by ...
totally sub-par content ... doesn't really look all that great, especially from a right-wing position I assume
- but ... then there's stuff like this. And how are we here today?
Well ... I suppose you have to figure things out yourself! Maybe ...