T w e n t y S i d e d

If the end result is Godzilla, whom I would argue has made the most money of any giant movie monster and has generated by FAR the largest amount of screen time, we should probably look at the beginning. I’m going to leave off some of the more technical “this particular concept likely came from this very early German sci-fi film” details, although I find film history and its interaction with speculative fiction fascinating and informative. There are a handful of important films (and real-life events) that informed Gojira, although the true primogenitor of the genre is, of course, 1933’s King Kong.

Continue reading ⟩⟩ “A Socialogist, a Paleontologist, and a Nuclear Physicist Walk Into a Bar…”

Paige Francis He/him

One of the top questions in Star Wars The Old Republic, or any other MMORPG, by people playing the game for the first time or returning to the game is, “Is crafting still important?” In SWTOR, the answer is “it depends.” Bioware and EA, and now Broadsword, haven’t expanded the crafting tiers to match each expansion. Almost no additional crafting-unique items have been added since the game launched (like mounts and toys). A new tier was added for the “Onslaught” expansion, but it is comprised almost entirely of the ability to craft rare currency that can be exchanged for expensive and hard-to-obtain items. A lot of the required materials are only available in PvP and multiplayer content. For solo players, crafting still effectively stops at the original limit.

However, within those limits you can craft some items that have constant demand on the Galactic Trade Market; SWTOR’s implementation of an Auction House. I haven’t actually counted, but I think about half of the gear dyes available in the game can be crafted…the other half are only available for real money (or as a reward if you engage in Galactic Seasons content, about half of which you’re doing ANYWAY if you’re just playing the game.) While most actual gear has been established through vendors, one piece of equipment is still in the crafting domain: augments, and the “kits” used to add them to gear. I can actually craft some of that high-level currency I mentioned, but I’m still at the point that I’ll be using it for myself first.

And of course, you CAN engage in crafting gear for yourself as you level. This is mostly pointless, as you’ll get drops better than what you can craft pretty regularly. But some gear drops less-often than other pieces…so you can at least craft some of this to raise your stats. I have four Imperial-side characters at the moment. I was motivated to finish out the four base classes solely so I could have access to the four crafting skills needed to create the parts needed to create the parts needed to create the parts needed (no, you read that right, and I wrote it right) to create a “Dark Project” item. Three of these and a few million credits can be exchanged for a “Commanders Compendium” on the fleet space station. A Commanders Compendium can be used to upgrade a companion all the way to maximum influence level: 50. Not necessarily needed if your first companion is the one you use constantly…hell, my Sith Warrior Lord Zeele has his first companion, Vette, nearly to influence level 40 at character level 49. She will be at 50 before I finish the base game.

Which brings me to the entire point of this post. When I’m spending hours crafting on the fleet space station; I watch movies. And I’ve been on a monster movie kick lately.

Continue reading ⟩⟩ “Monster Movies at 50”

Paige Francis He/him