The Search for Fuel 3

Well my search for the perfect gaming tea continues.  Two weeks ago I mentioned that the Rum/Plum/Lycii Berry tea I'd ordered from Design a Tea was phenomenal and it would become a staple in my tea line up.  In an effort to make good on this claim I've ordered a much larger bag of it, because let's face it ... the first bag was gone within a mere number of days.  Yes, it is that good.  Seeing how much I enjoyed the custom rum flavored tea, I ordered another of the company's signature teas - Tropical Snowflake.  A black based tea with rum and coconut, the rum flavor is nice and subtle as is the coconut.  They mix together nicely without one overpowering the other. Overall I like it and will certainly enjoy the tea, but I'm not certain I will buy it again.  It is really well made/mixed but I think I personally prefer things that aren't quite so light and floaty tasting.  On another note, the company sent me an extra, unsolicited packet of lycii berries with my order.  I'm not sure if it was intended for the Tropical Snowflake tea (should I choose to add it) or if it was meant as an optional addition to the Rum/Plum/Lycii Berry tea.  Either way, it was a very pleasant surprise and I shall be adding it into the Rum/Plum/Lycii Berry tea.  Well folks, that's one more tea down and in a few weeks I suspect that there'll be another one to discuss.

Coming Next - Thanks for hanging in there last week with all the work I had to do.  I hope you enjoyed playing around with the HHGTTG game on the BBC's website.  I find that it is an amusing way to procrastinate when more important matters should be commanding my attention.

Perra returns Wednesday afternoon with the coronation of Bhelen.  From there we will see how it all goes but I suspect that Perra's further adventures outside of Orzammar will continue on Friday night. 

Let's Play - The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Do you remember playing the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy text-based game when it first came out in '84 for the Apple II, Macintosh, Commodore 64, Amiga, Atari 8-bit, Atari ST and the IBM PC?  Did you miss it the first time around but really want to play it?  Fear not my friends for the BBC has got you covered.  Providing you with two different ways to play this classic, BBC Radio 4 has archived their web page containing the 20th Anniversary Edition of this cheeky game.  Both versions utilize the games' original text while providing the player with new contextual images that make it easier to visualize the story.  It's a very fun game that I have yet to beat.  Be prepared to die ... a lot. 

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Your home collapses in a cloud of dust, and a stray flying brick hits you squarely on the back of the head. You try to think of some suitable last words, but what with the confusion of the moment and the spinning of your head, you are unable to compose anything pithy and expire in silence.

> go s

You keep out of this, you're dead. An ambulance arrives.

> go s

You keep out of this, you're dead and should be concentrating on developing a good firm rigor mortis. You are put in the ambulance, which drives away.

> stay

For a dead person you are talking too much. As the ambulance reaches the mortuary a fleet of Vogon Constructor ships unexpectedly arrives and demolishes the Earth to make way for a new hyperspace bypass.

We are about to give you your score. Put on your peril-sensitive sunglasses now. (Hit RETURN or ENTER when ready.) 

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THE HITCHHIKER ADVENTURE GAME
by Douglas Adams - 20th Anniversary Edition 

Version One ~ Version Two

GRAPHIC FREE VERSION
Alternate

Update 12/4/2011 -  The BBC versions are once again working. Should you have any issues, however, I have provided and alternate link to a graphic free version of the game which is hosted elsewhere.

Image: BBC Radio 4 

Let's Watch - Skyrim Trailer

Ok I know that everyone and their brother is posting this today, but I simply could not resist because it looks amazing!  It has all the things we have come to expect from Bethesda with the astonishingly beautiful scenery (if it was like that in real life I'd spend more time outside) and the beyond beautiful soundtrack. Seriously.  In heaven I believe the angels will be playing TES music.

If you want a special little surprise though, skip to time stamp  1:12.  No you are not hearing things, that really is the Morrowind theme song sounding even better than ever.  This is one soundtrack I will most certainly be purchasing the moment it hits the stores.

Let's Visit - The Imperial Library

I know that all I seem to talk about thus far on L'Épée Magique is the Elder Scrolls series and Dragon Age: Origins.  I swear that I do play other games.  It just happens though that Morrowind is considered by me to be one of the best RPGs ever made.  As a result of my extreme bias, TESIII:MW is the first thing to pop into my head when the subject of gaming comes up, and as a result I still find myself looking for more things to read about it after all these years.  Thankfully if one chooses to read about Vvardenfell and its neighbors these days, one need not go far.  Enter the Imperial Library.  An amazing website that has been around for quite some time, the Imperial Library makes it possible for geeks like me to go back and read in-game books without starting up the actual game and hunting down the volumes.  Any Elder Scrolls devotee will rave, if you have enough time to let them, about the massive amount of text encapsulated in these books.  Now you can catch up on all your lore from Daggerfall to Oblivion with one click of your mouse.  Do you need to freshen up your knowledge of TES geographies & histories, peoples & societies, languages & arts, or religions & mythologies?  Maybe you've always wanted to learn the Daedric Alphabet? The Imperial Library has your back.

I have just ruined any chance you had of being productive for the rest of the day.  You're welcome.

 Image: Destructoid

DA:O - Perra's Tale This Week

Perra's story (starting with Bhelen's coronation) will return next week.  Unfortunately there are simply way too many demands on my time this week to play and blog her story.  I do have a couple of other fantasy related blurbs scheduled to post throughout the week though while I'm buried in my books.  Don't forget to tune in to check those out.  As for Perra, be looking for her to return at the very beginning of March.

Image: source 

DA:O - Into the Void

“If Branka is anywhere, this will be it.  She will not be unprepared.”

This post contains spoilers.
Continue reading at your own risk.

DA:O - Through the Ominous Door

Well that can't be good.

The last bit from Orzammar shall be divided into a few parts due to length issues - The Dead Trenches, The Anvil of the Void, and the Coronation.  This is part the first and it's very image heavy simply because I ended up with a number of awesome screen caps of Perra's team fighting and couldn't pick between them all.  Consider it my way of illustrating just how much fighting goes on.  To Bioware's credit they kept the enemies and surroundings in this section constantly changing. In doing so they forced me to actually evaluate the scene, and then strategize my way through the level.  I always do that on some level I suppose, but often you can run in hack 'n slash style and still come out on top.  Throw in a couple of high level baddies this time around though and you've got yourself a fightin' good time. 

While the beginning of  this post is largely images, the later part contains some major spoilers so continue reading at your own risk.  If you have not played DA:O before I would also warn you that the following post contains potentially disturbing content.