User:GulliverBFG

Bio

GulliverBFG started playing Spiral Knights in late July 2011. GulliverBFG is my first knight to reach Rescue Camp, and them cross the Chasm to Haven about a half hour later. I have learned to play more slowly since then.

I like helping younger knights, when they want to learn. If they just want to treat my time like a thing to be used and discarded, then I let them go on their way. I like to learn from other knights as well. For such a simple game, there is much to know about tactics and strategy.

Introduction

Spiral Knights is a community, and I am kind of like an ethno-sociologist in that I observe what goes on in the game, and apply it to my observations about people in real life. I enjoy meeting new people, and the opportunity exists in here to meet people from all over the world. Google Translate is my helpful companion on such occasions.

Oh yeah, I like playing the game too. :P

This page is where I will work out my ideas and observations about this game. It is more like a journal and a codex than a user page. If I write something while am in a certain mood, and it seems "overly passionate" shall we say, then it could be I was inspired by a bad experience in game. Try coming back later to see the edited version.

Personal Code of Conduct

This is the bottom line of what you can expect from me, and what I expect in return.

• I will always revive my party members... Until they prove they are not worth reviving.
• If you say hello, I will say hello back. That is just how I am.
• I will always RSVP to join offers, unless I am in the middle of a danger room, or AFK, etc.
• I will always respond to direct messages, unless I am in the middle of a danger room, or AFK, etc.
• My allegiances in SK are, in order... To my family, to my friends, to my guild, to myself.
• If you are in my guild and also a friend, then you get double points.

Expectations

• If you play with me, then you will learn that I expect a few simple things. Unselfish play, common courtesy, and self-awareness. I will elaborate on these concepts later.
• My expectation is this is a COOP game. That means to be played well, it requires some teamwork. Good teams require time and practice to get really good. I am looking for such team players. Four good quality players, acting as a unit, not just random acts of violence.
• When I am the party leader, it is MY GAME. The party leader gets to decide who can go, when to go, and if the party leader says stop, then you stop. Run off like a selfish prig, and you may get kicked.
• Refuse to pick up crystal, crowns or mats, and you will be kicked. These items are shared by all members of the party.
• I expect you to stay alive. I will revive anybody once, but if you die repeatedly, then I will not ruin my game just to keep you alive. Normal players get unlimited revives, as I anticipate I will need them to revive me too. Selfish or incompetent players get none. Why would I want to give you half my health if you are just going to squander it?
• Don't waste my time, health or energy.
• Don't act like a jerk. Calling other people names makes you a jerk.
• Communicate like a gracious human being.
• Treat people like human beings. Behind the keyboards, we are all real people.
• Be patient. This game is not a race to see who can make more crowns the fastest. Time spent well is well spent time. Do not waste my time by begging me to rush through levels. I may just leave, or perhaps kick you if I am the party leader.
• I don't like kicking people, so if I have to kick you it is not a good day for me. I would rather let them stay dead and drag them along.
• If I am the party leader, I will always warn a player before kicking them.
• After the warning, I sometimes count to three before kicking a player. Usually this is after they refuse to get on the lift, or if they start begging to be tabbed or whatever.

Friends and Guilds

Friend

• Getting on my friend list is easy. Just talk to me, or play with me. If you are on my friends list, then you start out with my full trust and respect. If you abuse that trust, or do not earn that respect, then I may choose to remove you from my list.
• My friends list is MY PERSONAL GUILD. I get to decide who stays and who goes.
• If you are in my guild, you may or may not get to stay on my friends list. You still have to earn that privilege. Please don't have a sissy fit if I do not deem you worthy of friendship, I will still get your back in guild missions.

Guild

• If we are in the same guild, then you will get special consideration. You get more rope, cause we are teammates. However, the amount of rope I have to give is finite. If you are selfish, incompetent, or immature, then I may refuse to play with you. Guild or no guild.

Good behaviors

• Come prepared to play. Have the correct gear for the mission.
• Be patient.
• Be polite.
• Speak when spoken to. This dropping in and out of missions without a word is not cool. If you join, say hello, make a new friend... be a human being.

Bad Behaviors

Perform these bad behaviors consistently, and you will get kicked from my friends list, and I will also advocate to get you kicked from any guild.

• Begging.
• Casting Epithets. (Name calling)
• Join spamming.
• Failure to communicate, before, during or after a mission.
• Failure to follow the party leaders instructions. Assuming they are reasonable.
• Join, play a little, maybe get revved, then leave suddenly cause you think something else might be more interesting. Just like any sport, finish the game. Or in this case FINISH THE LEVEL.
• Stupidity. Wouldn't it be nice if there was a common yardstick for this? In most cases, that will be failure to learn the basics, or perhaps intentional deficiency. Like you just don't care enough to try to care. To me, that is an expression of stupidity. If you say "Huh?" when addressed with a perfectly obvious statement, that is a sign to me that you are possibly stupid. "Huh?" is an expression reserved for abject disbelief, or of course for morons to use in lieu of any other sentence.

About Me

I have been gaming longer than most players have been alive.

I prefer genuine coop, which is why I like SK so much. I like games that allow me to contain my gaming time into manageable chunks. Another reason I like SK.

I want to find a posse to run with who knows how to work together, and still relax and have fun. It would be nice to find a regular group.

I carry a Valiance just about everywhere, then tailor the other armor and weapons to match where I am going. Most people underrate the Valiance because they only value the faster kill. But the combination of accuracy, push back and high normal damage makes the Valiance a go to gun anytime I am in a tough spot. It actually has a higher damage point per hit than many specialty elemental weapons.

I usually wear my trusty mining hat, so that is one way you will know me when you see me.

I have soloed my way through every level in the regular game now, except the final battle with Vanaduke. I also have not yet done a Shadow Lairs, and I have yet to complete Operation Crimson Hammer.

I am still looking for an Extra Tall Modifier, because in real life, I am seven feet tall. As of: GulliverBFG 20:39, 29 August 2012 (UTC)

Philosophy

Philosophy? You may ask what philosophy has to do with gaming. I would counter, How can you truly be a gamer without a philosophy about gaming? What kind of gamer are you?

Maturity does not always follow age, but usually it does. It would be great to meet some older gamers. I joined a forum called The Older Gamers (TOG), but not much has come from that yet. I doubt it is realistic to find anyone my age in SK, but if there are other older gamers in here, say at least 25 or so, then I am looking for you people. People who speak in sentences, and not textese.

I was born in 1966, three years before man landed on the moon, and three years before the launch of ARPA net, the predescessor to the Internet. I got access to one of the first PCs when I was a teenager. I have played many games since then.

Coop is the best game mode. That is what I think. Even a tough sprite plays by certain rules, and thus can be beaten, and then beaten consistently. Human players adapt and cheat, so while they are more more challenging, playing deathmatch is not really an escape from real life. Human opponents do not always play honorably, and to me things like spawn kills, etc, are unforgivable sins. Just as I would not pick on a child, I would also not disrespect a weaker opponent.

Like any team sport, it goes better if the team is organized, and has a game plan. That means talking... What a tall order in this world of sound byte children.

Random and malicious violence can get the job done, but when it comes time to beat a serious boss, come up with a game plan, and share your knowledge. I enjoy playing more with a group that works well together, than just a bunch of indie slayers. Good teams can have teamwork in any game, but coop games encourage it. Spiral Knights is one of the best "simple" coop games ever devised.

SK quote by GulliverBFG

"All beggars are newbies, but not all newbies are beggars." "There can be only one GM."