As someone who would have never have known that they were closing this place down and eradicating it from existence unless it was mentioned on VSN, I'm still sad to see it go. 

I feel bad for those that just joined here recently, those that won't experience the community as it used to be. Make no mistake, off-topic was not a hive of toxicity, it was one of the most consistently laid-back, friendly and genuinely entertaining communities here. I'd made some great friends there, would have loved to have made more, but... y'know, gotta close down that nastiness. 

 

I hope that those losing their 'home' here as I did last year find a suitable substitute. 

Oh, before I forget, the Party Temple (also an off-topic thread originally, now buried somewhere in ME Fan Creations) was great fun and I'm incredibly sad to see that go. Many hilarious nights were spent there and I will remember them forever.

 

"Non-stop renting because I'm strong." - Grunt

Just checking if people are still active here, sending some feelers out.

Because I recently went through the old thread for research purposes and it is easily the best thing on the internet.

I had to say that. I could've edited my last post in the thread, but who would've seen it?

...Although I am tempted to edit a bunch of my posts there for hilarious reasons.

Anyhoo, in case I'm talking to an empty room, I'm off. Have a great weekend!

Shut the whole thing down. If Off Topic, the cleanest part of the forum wasn't worth it, then honestly none of it is.

^That. Axing Off-Topic is supposed to be beneficial to the community. (which I can't understand other than it being a cost-cutting issue with us being the low man on the totem pole*, so to speak) If removing a much needed outlet AND a plethora of 100% decent people is "beneficial" in any way, there's something fundamentally wrong. Cut your losses, shut everything down.


*Despite being an idiom referring to someone of low rank or status, the actual low man on a totem pole is just as important (or more so) than the rest! So hey... yeah.

Hey y'all, curious. Whats your story? How did you discover the off topic section of the forum?

I wish I could remember. I know I joined in 2011, and I know I started on the ME boards, (a shout out to users like mnomaha and coldwetn0se for being so welcoming) but as for how I fell into the toxic abyss of off-topic? No idea. I know it took me a few months/years to even realize OT existed, buried all the way down at the bottom.

It might have been Party Temple, which started in OT. I laughed so hard I cried several times throughout that glorious thread.

I've never been that social of a person. I'd been content to mostly lurk on the ME forums, because frankly there was a crapton of hostility there. It was not - as a whole - a welcoming atmosphere, despite ME2 being largely 'positive'. (Again, there were amazing people there, but sadly they were few and far between.)

Off-Topic was wholly welcoming from the get-go. It made me, someone who'd call herself antisocial in real life, want to socialize. Sure, we've had our mangiraffedogs and whatnot, but rarely, if ever, any outright hostile people. You can't say that about any of the other sections (to my knowledge and experience, at least.)

When I discovered Off-Topic, I didn't return to the game forums in any real capacity. A post here and there over the course of a few months at the most. I think it's people like me that BW don't care to have around. We're here on their forums talking about things that aren't their games, and we don't even talk about their games when they're relevant.

I'll say it again - I left the game forums because of a largely unwelcoming atmosphere. (And to be honest, I just couldn't drum up the desire to join in on any of the discussions. I like the games, but I guess not as much as the majority here do. At least not enough to have the same discussions over and over.)

Off-Topic was my home. And now that home is gone. I would like to have a concrete reason why, but I feel I already know.

I haven't had time to check out the alternate forums, but I am so, so glad that you all remembered me.

 

And thanks to Eternal Phoenix for starting that thread and bringing us all together.

Ah, right. Thanks, Sir Elton. You should be ashamed.
 

Maybe they will change their minds and re-open it?
 
This really kinda p*sses me off.  I had hung in the DD, getting back to swtor and the witcher 3 threads FOREVER! 

I don't think they'll change their minds. They've been wanting to cut out the cancer that is off-topic for quite some time. Except we were totally cancer-free. But oh well, perhaps someday they shall see the error of their ways and reopen OT, long after everyone has left and forgotten about this place.

I signed up. Haven't looked much into it, but I hope I can change the bloody font.

Look, in the event that this gets closed... do you guys have a tumblr? Mine is curiousartemis.tumblr.com. Feel free to follow me. Heavey use of tumblr saviour if you're not an anime fan (but I queue my posts so only one goes up every hour; I don't spam).

 

Maybe, should this go under... we could stay in touch via tumblr, and Shep could post the reports that way, and we could chat with each other that way We could post and share screenshots, too, strategies, etc.

 

I've no idea how tumblr works or what it even does, but anything that suggests a username of TremendousWolfPeach (Shepenwepet is TAKEN!) can't be all bad. (I'm looking into it.)

 

I still post almost daily on the Capcom Pawn Community, but we can't really have discussions there. Well, we COULD, but it'd be hard to follow.

 

And my report lives here. Although, again, no good place for discussion. 

I definitely would be able to contribute to a DA/ME screenie thread. I noticed in the rift that one of our old pals created Flemeth. Pretty neat likeness too, considering what we have to work with.

 

And I would love to follow Chase's adventures in Thedas, should that ever come to pass. 

 

Alynna, GT: High Brontide (Level 160-something Sorcerer/Ranger, Utilitarian/Mitigator

Barnaby, GT: High Comestion (Level 102 Sorcerer/Warrior, no bloody idea what his inclinations are, I think one is mitigator)

Shinon, GT: Shepenwepet (Infinity ranger, scather/challenger)

Zihark, GT: Wizardy5 (Infinity Sorcerer/Ranger, Scather/Challenger)

 

Not pictured: Lil Lynna/Lil Shi, GT: Sweetfarore, level 46 medicant/pioneer 

Holy shart. This is insane. My heart, she is breaking. 

 

Yes, Off-Topic was a mess, but it was OUR mess, dammit. I always found most of the hostile trolls in the BioWare game forums, OT was more idiotic than evil. Hell, I'd volunteer to be a moderator for OT if they'd reopen it. Although considering pretty much nothing offends me and I don't see why people can't have political/religious discussions provided they're civil, I probably wouldn't be the type they're looking for.

 

As for this place, I've got a feeling this will be nuked as well. (Look at me being all positive.) But until it does, I'll be here, in this bomb shelter, clutching a camera. 

 

You guys are my weird second family and I love you all.

 

I love messing with Elder Ogres. 

 

And don't quit your day job, honey. Leave those with people who know what they're doing, please.

My brother and I once talked about what we'd do if we came into oodles of money. While this was about a decade ago, my idea remains the same. 

 

I'd build a real-life Spencer Mansion.

 

Probably minus the gas traps, giant snakes and such, but it would be mostly faithful to the source material. There's a forested hill that's about a ten minute drive from my house that would be perfect for it. I'd open it to the public on Halloween, even though idiot kids would probably trash the place and steal stuff. Coming up to the front door on any other day would result in the visitor seeing a sign that reads "Don't OPEN that door!" 

 

...if anybody here DOES come into a lot of money, please steal my idea. I want this to be a thing that exists.

Arg, there was a cartoon I used to watch as a kid, I was maybe 9 or 10, so it would've been in the 90's. It was a bunch of robots, I remember one was some sort of ninja-fencing instructor-looking thing, he was my favorite. I think there were a bunch of just... severed robot heads that talked, too, or something. 

 

Well that's gonna bother me all night. Why did I come in here

 

Edit: I found it, it's called Bots Master. Looks... pretty silly. Catchy tune, though

4 pics before I fall asleep

 

Lovely backdrop provided by a golem laser 

 

Zihark is slowly becoming Happy Daiz's Iorveth

 

I dunno, but this is great

 

Barnaby doing his best "You shall not pass"

 

Honestly though once you figure out how the system works it's easy to get your chosen Beloved. I've gotten my pick all four times now.

While I know this to be true, I still believe that Aeilnore is a black hole from which none can escape.

And don't let her hang around your male pawns unattended or you might end up with a little problem on your hands...

I'm at my yearly craft fair again, and it's dead, so I'm gonna goof off on here. 

 

Plus, huzzah, decent town internet. I actually could update stuff without worry.

 

And to keep this on topic, here's my first pawn, the delicious Crenshaw, updated with a new more accurate headband and seen through that new-fangled lyncean sight that all the kids are using these days.

 

And here is how far my pawn has come since those days.

Random sexiness 

 

Shep's hero! Enjoy making out with a 12 year old afterward!!!

 

I have never mashed the start button so much. SKIP ALL THE THINGS

 

Thank you, Carcharoth, for making the ultimate sacrifice. 

^Perfect, many thanks! Already stolen. Alynna's gonna put in her earplugs tonight or tomorrow and get Julien, I think.

 

Haha you are on your own there buddy; I will never marry Aelinore

 

So ... to get this shot... I mean I thought it was a cut scene, and you can't take screenshots during cut scenes. How is this possible?

When you get back control of your character you have to run to Grigori with your beloved if you want to take his deal. Before you pick them up, they're lying on the floor like that. I didn't really notice until I was messing around on my last playthrough. Your three pawns stand off to the side in a little gossip circle, all saying something like "You cannot make the choice, Arisen?"

 

Wait. I think I just thought of a much easier way to get this shot. Escort missions. Let your charge die. It wouldn't work with Barnaby, but it'd work with the rest. I'd just have them die in a place like the Catacombs to double for BBI. 

 

And I'm now extremely curious if I can get that Final Battle shot with Barnaby. It would be absolutely unavailable elsewhere.

Reynard's fine. I think I have one of Mercedes in the final hall so she's not really a priority, but I'll take it since I'd prefer a floor rather than a misty void.

 

Julien is the one I'm really after, but Alynna can handle that in a few days.

 

Edit: Add Aelinore to that list. 

 

Edit 2: Bah, it's my post, I can do that. Shut up, it's late.

I have a somewhat disturbing request. 

 

If anyone is still playing the actual main story, and your beloved is one of the following: Julien, Reynard, Aelinore, Mercedes, Valmiro or Barnaby, I need this shot. (Possibly others I've forgotten about as well, but those are the biggies.) 

 

This is during "the choice". Meteor Shot or Lyncean Sight, Comet's too close unless you fiddle with it a bit. 

 

And those of you that had Julien as your beloved, does he show up at the Tainted Mountain in full armor or his recolored caretaker's garb? I know I could look this up on youtube, but right now everything's eternally buffering.

 

Oh, I sent Gaira home with a level 3 armor. He got scythed just as I was exiting the Bloodless Stockade, but I rehired him and sent him back properly. If you think to check, Let me know if he's rated four or five stars. I've always been curious if it averages or just takes the last rating.

What is the sexiest armour in the game.
By armour I mean covers the body and looks like it could protect against incoming attacks.

Well, it's subjective, but...here's mine.

*everything includes the Dragonwing Circlet because I just never take that off unless it's to swap in silly hats or the eyepatch

Male Warrior/Fighter = Sin set + Sovereign's Mantle


Male Ranger/Strider = Abyssinal Coat + Hard Leather Plate + Gloves/Boots of Oblivion + Heresy Cloak


Male Mage/Sorcerer = Grave set (minus the mask) + Hard Leather Plate + Evening Tights + Adept's Mantle

Female Ranger/Strider = Abyssinal Coat + Noblewoman's Corset or Abyssinal Outfit + Gloves of Oblivion + Delta Guard + Assault Boots

Female Mage/Sorcerer = Berserkin + Silver Chestplate + Flame Skirt (It doesn't cover much, but then again, most of the decent female mage armor doesn't cover much)


Female Fighter/Warrior = not a clue, just not the sin/hellfire sets. The ridges on the chest pieces aren't exactly... friendly to a woman's shape.

Ridiculous honorable mention to those lovely early-game mishmashes of garbage

You should do it, a bunch of us did that with our pawns a few dozen pages back. It was great reading about others' pawns.
 
I hired Gaira a few days back and still have him, I'll run him through BBI before I send him back. If you want nothing in particular, he'll be sent back with a level 3 armor.
 

 
I think this Carcharoth is a Bestowal-of Spirit Briana...

 
And Reyson/Leanne on my Sweetfarore account are no more, I beat Grigs with them yesterday (technically Shinon did all the heavy lifting as Reyson was lugging around a revenant wail at level 31 and could fire maybe five shots before doubling over in exhaustion) and ran to the encampment to get that secret of metamorphosis. I don't believe I rested with these two, but they do exist.