Various Thoughts

Daemon’s Mark is the fifth book in Caitlin Kittredge‘s Nocturne City series. First and foremost, the summary on the back of the novel appears to have been copied from Witch Craft. That aside, there aren’t all that many problems with it. Luna continues her slow progression toward becoming a likable character, while the supernatural abilities of the universe’s various denizens continue to take a backseat to standard dangers such as guns, tranquilizers, and reinforced steel cages.

Nalini Singh‘s latest Psy-Changeling novel, Bonds of Justice, surprisingly enough mixes up the standard order of events somewhat. All the previous novels had one half of its future couple ‘hot’ and aggressively pursue the relationship while the other would be ’cold’ and try to avoid the relationship. This one has both parties pursuing each other with equal fervor more or less from the beginning. As for the background plotline featuring the Psy’s fracturing society… it continue apace, with sides having been drawn among the councilors.

Neuropath is a thriller by R. Scott Bakker I picked up on a whim when I ordered The Judging Eye. Now, normally I don’t read thrillers and so had no idea what to expect. Even if I did… I probably would have been surprised that the book is more philosophical dissertation than novel. The characters are just arguments (or perhaps proofs) and the setting is merely window dressing.

Generally speaking this wouldn’t be a problem since philosophy can provoke interesting discussions. It didn’t work out that way in this case because I already viewed its ‘radical viewpoint’ as self-evident reality. Probably because I’m a sociopath. Regardless, reading it was akin to reading about how the grass is green and sky is blue; not particularly interesting.

There was, however, one point I found myself disagreeing with. A comparison is made between the brain and a computer, which is accurate enough for the most part. The problem comes when it’s inferred that because you understand the brain’s programming language you can accurately predict how it will respond to various stimuli. That is not necessarily true. While I haven’t worked with many different types of programming languages, the ones I have all included at least one "Random" function. A command that would return a random value from between a set of defined boundaries.

Brains, like computers, could very easily have certain responses tied to those "Random" functions depending upon their logical syntax. So while you would be able to predict that one of several actions could occur, you could not predict precisely which one.

The first book in the follow-up trilogy to R. Scott Bakker’s Prince of Nothing series is cut from much of the same cloth. It too follows a march across the world while focusing on particular characters whom toil in parallel story arcs that will more likely than not all converge at series’ end. Esmenet and Achamian return as first-person characters and are joined by some new faces; Sorwheel (Prince-cum-King of the final city Kellhus conquerors on the way to Golgotterath), Kelmomas (Esmenet and Kellhus’ youngest son), Nannaferi (the head of a fertility cult bent on Kellhus’ destruction), and Mimara (Esmenet’s long-lost daughter with the titular ‘Judging Eye’).

There are four currently competing plotlines. The main one has Kellhus leading a crusade deep into the Northern Reaches to wipe out the Consult, Sorwheel serving as the reader’s eyes. Secondary is Achamian’s quest through Sranc-infested lands to reach Ishuäl and discover what the Dûnyain truly are. It is told though both Achamian and Mimara’s eyes. Next is Esmenet trying to hold Kellhus’ empire together in his absence against the aggression of the Cult of Yatwer, seen though both Esmenet’s eyes and peripherally through Kelmomas’. Finally is the attention on Kelmomas’ murderous proclivities and to a lesser extent the various complications each of Kellhus’ children have.

Assassin’s Creed II is in most ways similar to the first. The main differences are a larger variety of weaponry (though you’ll probably find yourself sticking with the Hidden Blade most of the time), many more things to collect, faster travel between areas, and an economy of sorts that requires you to buy health and repair your armor.

The game is centered around collecting things. If you don’t like searching high and low for various pieces of a collection… you’ll have a far shorter playtime then those that do like it (and miss out on some story elements). What is there to collect? Lots: Eagle Feathers, Armor Sets, Weapons, Paintings, Codex Entries, Truth Symbols, Tomb Seals, Keep Upgrades, Target Portraits, and Treasure Chests.

Whether or not to play the game basically boils down to whether or not you liked the first, and whether or not you enjoy scavenger hunts. If ‘yes’ applies to either of those, you’ll probably like it.

This is just done from memory and referencing the last saved game of my first playthrough. As I play through the game for the second time, I plan to do a couple of quests differently to find some other Perks and double-check a few NPC dialog choices.

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Perks
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Combat
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Assault Rifle Marksmanship: AR Recoil Control +1
Requirements: 100 AR Head Shots

Assault Rifle Precision: AR Accuracy +1
Requirements: 50 AR Head Shots

Black Belt: Martial Arts Damage +5
Requirements: Defeat 50 enemies with Martial Arts

Limited Bloodshed: Endurance +10
Requirements: Defeat 50 enemies with Non-Lethal methods

Lurker: -20% Movement Sound
Requirements: Evade or silently Takedown (with Martial Arts) 75 enemies

Merciful: Endurance +25
Requirements: Defeat 250 enemies with Non-Lethal methods

No One Left Behind: Endurance Recharge Rate +20%
Requirements: Rescue Albatross from Brayko’s Mansion

Pistol Mastery: Pistol Damage +1
Requirements: 100 Pistol Critical Hits

Pistol Proficiency: Pistol Accuracy +1
Requirements: 50 Pistol Critical Hits

Professional Courtesy: 10% Discount on Armor purchases in Rome
Requirements: Used Non-Lethal force against the CIA

The Better Part of Valor: Increased Shadow Operative Duration
Requirements: Evade 75 enemies

Tough as Nails: Endurance +5
Requirements: Taken 1000 Damage over the course of your career

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Dialog
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Agent of Change: AP +5
Requirements: Convinced Marburg to abandon Leland during the Endgame

Aggressive: Martial Arts Damage +5
Requirements: Choose the ’Mission’ option at end of first conversation with Westridge

Any Last Words…?: Reduced Weapon Ability Cooldown
Requirements: Kill Nasri

Camaraderie: 5% Discount on all non-Intel purchases
Requirements: Have a favorable Disposition with 10 people

E-Mail Enhancement: AP +2
Requirements: Reply to 10 E-mails

Friends in Low Places: 10% Discount on Armor purchases from Grigori
Requirements: Befriend Grigori

Gentleman: Endurance Recharge Rate +20%
Requirements: Politely turned Madison down

Green: AP +2
Requirements: Choose the Recruit dialog stance 3 times

Hand of Al-Samad: Endurance Recharge Rate +20%
Requirements: Do not kill Shaheed in the Endgame

I Don’t Hit Girls: 5% Discount on transactions with G22
Requirements: Let Sis live

Office Romance: Endurance +5
Requirements: Romance Mina

Professional: Endurance +5
Requirements: Choose the ’Ready’ option at end of first conversation with Westridge

Secret Service: Reduced Hard to Kill and Iron Will Cooldown
Requirements: Prevented Ronald Sung’s assassination

Social Butterfly: 5% Discount on all Intel purchases
Requirements: Have a favorable Disposition with 3 people

Stay of Execution: Favored Weapon Recoil Control +1
Requirements: Let Shaheed live in Saudi Arabia

Stick to Business: 5% Discount on Armor, Armor Mod, and Gadget purchases from Steven Heck
Requirements: Use mostly Professional responses in your first conversation with Heck

Surprise Attack: Favored Weapon Damage +1
Requirements: 150 Surprise Attacks

Testing the Waters: AP +1
Requirements: Used all three dialog stances in the same conversation

Textaholic: XP +250
Requirements: Reply to 5 E-mails

The Big Picture: 5% Discount on all Weapon purchases
Requirements: Let Nasri live

Variable Approach: AP +2
Requirements: Used multiple Dialog Stances in 15 different conversations

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Handler
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By the Book: -5% Cooldown Bonus on all Abilities
Requirements: Westridge as current Handler with Neutral/Liked Disposition

By the Book II: -10% Cooldown Bonus on all Abilities
Requirements: Westridge as current Handler with Trusted Disposition

Constant Encouragement: Endurance +5
Requirements: Mina as current Handler with Neutral/Liked Disposition

Constant Encouragement II: Endurance +15
Requirements: Mina as current Handler with Trusted Disposition

Tech Savvy: Gadget Damage +10%
Requirements: Darcy as current Handler

The Subtle Approach: Enemy Sight Distance -5%
Requirements: Albatross as current Handler

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Miscellaneous
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Always Listening: 5% Discount on all Intel purchases
Requirements: Listened to all of Sung’s speech while fighting Omen Deng

Be Prepared: Increased Ammo Capacity with all Weapons
Requirements: Purchase majority of all available Mission Intel (I bought all but the Maps and Easier Difficulty ones)

Behind the Lies: XP +250
Requirements: Uncover the truth behind the Triad defectors

Betting Man: 5% Discount on all Gadget purchases in Saudi Arabia
Requirements: Completed Darcy’s bonus Orientation task

Birds of a Feather: Reduced Chain Shot and Shadow Operative Cooldown
Requirements: Work with Albatross for the assault on Brayko’s Mansion

Breaking and Entering: XP +100
Requirements: Lockpick 10 Locks

Cage Match: 5% Discount on all Weapon purchases in Saudi Arabia
Requirements: Completed Mina’s bonus Orientation task

Circuit Breaker: XP +100
Requirements: Bypass 20 Electronic Devices

Custodial Work: 5% Discount on all Intel purchases in Saudi Arabia
Requirements: Completed Parker’s bonus Orientation task

Data Theft: XP +100
Requirements: Hack 10 Computers

Experienced: Endurance +5
Requirements: Completed third Mission Location

Intelligence Analyst: AP +1
Requirements: Completed 10 Dossiers

Know Your Enemy: Damage vs. Brayko +5%
Requirements: Complete Brayko’s Dossier

News Conscious: 5% Discount on all Intel purchases in Saudi Arabia
Requirements: Watched all of Shaheed’s News Broadcast

On the Guestlist: 5% Discount on all Intel purchases
Requirements: Identified all guests at Jibril Al-bara’s Mansion

Profiler: AP +1
Requirements: Completed 5 Dossiers

Psychological Warfare: AP +2
Requirements: Completed 15 Dossiers

Seasoned: Endurance +5
Requirements: Completed second Mission Location

The Basics: 5% Discount on all purchases in Saudi Arabia
Requirements: Completed all Orientation courses

Tour of Duty: Endurance +5
Requirements: Completed first Mission Location

World Traveler: Endurance +5
Requirements: Completed fourth Mission Location

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NPCs
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Alan Parker: Likes Professional, Dislikes Casual

Albatross: Likes Professional, Dislikes Aggression/Taunts

Ali Shaheed: Likes Professional

Brayko: Dislikes Joking/Taunts

Championchik: (Never talked to)

Darcy: Likes Professional, Dislikes Aggressive

Grigori: Likes Casual/Joking

Hong Shi: Likes Professional

Jibril Al-Bara: (Never talked to)

Leland: Likes Professional/Realist

Madison: Likes Casual/Reassuring

Marburg: Likes Professional/Straight-forward

Mina: Likes Professional/Casual

Nasri: Likes Professional, Dislikes Joking/Taunts

Omen Deng: (Unsure)

Ronald Sung: (Unsure)

Scarlet: Likes Professional/Compliments, Dislikes Joking

SIE: Likes Aggressive, Dislikes Joking/Charming

Sis: (Unsure)

Steven Heck: Likes Aggression/Professional, Dislikes Casual/Joking

Surkov: Likes Professional, Dislikes Joking

Yancy Westridge: Likes Aggressive/Professional, Dislikes Joking/Casual

Alpha Protocol is not bad, not bad at all. It has some combat-related issues that prevent it from becoming great mind you, but its general non-linearity and the way your choices directly effect later events are well done. Not only can you choose which order to do missions in, that order can effect what happens in those missions; choosing the ‘right’ order tends to open up options that wouldn’t have been there otherwise or make certain situations easier to navigate.

The dialog system is similar in appearance to a timed version of Mass Effect‘s, but plays out more like a game of rock-paper-scissor; each person you talk to tends to have a preferable tone, a neutral tone, and a disliked tone. Interestingly, it’s remarked in the opening interrogation (for a Recruit anyway) that you were partly chosen due to your ability to manipulate people… so power-gaming the dialog system is actually in-character role-playing. Most of the espionage minigames start out easy and end up insanely difficult if you don’t max out the Sabotage skill. Lockpicking is similar to Oblivion‘s, the bypass one is similar to Mass Effect 2‘s, and the Hacking one is unique and scales in an opposite manner; it starts out obscenely difficult and gets far easier as time goes on.

The leveling system is basically a set of active abilities and passive bonuses that bears a strong resemblance to Mass Effect‘s. Pistols are insanely powerful for two reasons; the Chain Shot ability and the way you can aim/fire them from behind cover. SMGs and Shotguns I have not tried yet, but they appear to be the weakest of the combat skills, while Assault Rifles are very versatile. Their active ability is crap, but they have a silenced ammo option and can be used as sniper rifles to pick-off targets that are out of pistol range while easily having the power to mow down targets at medium range. For short-range, Martial Arts pretty much decimate anything. If you come out of stealth, a single hit will take down an enemy, and there are a few hidden ‘non-lethal takedown’ perks that will permanently increase your Endurance by a nice amount.

Stealth is definitely powerful, but honestly you shouldn’t need to go past Master Awareness rank. However, an argument can be made for grabbing Shadow Operative to make certain missions (such as when you infiltrate the CIA) a complete cakewalk. Sabotage is basically essential unless you plan to pass up most of the later locked-up items and hidden data and don’t happen to be carrying a ton of EMP Grenades. Technical Aptitude and Toughness I did not use at all in my first playthrough as a Recruit on Normal difficulty. Perhaps they are useful on Hard difficulty?

Now, we come to Alpha Protocol‘s problems. It has two main ones:

• Firearms are horrifically inaccurate. Similar to playing Mass Effect with no weapon skills.
• The AI, while not completely retarded, only has two moves in its playbook; "Charge!" and "Take Cover!".

These issues combine to form a real problem. Most enemies cannot hit you reliably from any distance greater than 10ft (due to the accuracy issue, which affects both you and them), and if they charge into close-combat range so they can hit you… you can mow them down with an automatic weapon or just martial-arts them to death fairly easily. So combat is not exactly all that challenging and it’s quite possible to run through a hail of Assault Rifle fire to jumping-knee-strike someone in the face and beat them unconscious. Although doing so is made a touch more difficult by the at turns over-sensitive and sticky controls and sometimes erratic camera movement.

So, while Alpha Protocol is not a great combat game, it is a great role-playing game. Although… I may end up revising that statement after I play through the game again. It’s quite possible that events play out exactly the same regardless of your choices, and a single playthrough may be specifically designed to trick you into seeing depth that isn’t there.

The eighth Morganville Vampires installment, Kiss of Death, moves the story out of Morganville for a change as the main characters take a roadtrip to Dallas so that Michael can do some live recording for a record label. The trip ends up filled with hazardous situations and they all end up back in Morganville short Morley’s group of vampires. So, now, I think that wraps up all loose ends except for the memory-erasing barrier around the town having been destroyed.

Deathwish and Roadkill are books four and five of Rob Thurman‘s Cal Leandros series. The former deals with the eradication of the last twenty or so surviving Auphe; tying up their storyline and revealing a bit of Promise’s backstory. The latter serves to reintroduce Rafferty and has most of the main characters going on a roadtrip to catch a deadly gypsy plague-bearer who threatens the end of the world; it concludes Rafferty’s story, advances the Cal/Delilah and Robin/Ishiah romances, and puts a cap on Cal’s gating ability.

The fourth book in Ilona Andrews‘ Kate Daniels series ups the ante a bit further, facing Kate off against her aunt and having her secret heritage become quite a bit less secret. While there is still Hugh and Roland himself remaining, with Erra down it’s difficult to imagine the battles getting much more epic in scale. I’m wondering if Andrews has a specific endgame in mind for the series, like Lilith Saintcrow’s Dante Valentine series, or if she plans to extend it indefinitely. I’m leaning toward the former due to the way the Babylonian myths have been integrated and their connections to Kate slowly revealed.

Web of Lies is Jennifer Estep‘s second Elemental Assassin novel and shares all the qualities of the first while advancing both storyline and character development. The main difference is that Gin’s star-crossed romance with the detective appears to have been concluded in a more final manner. The increase in Gin’s power level isn’t as off-putting as it could be thanks to the way she only uses elemental magic as a last resort. That could, of course, change in the future as the stage has been set to pit her against the Fire Elemental from her past.

Embers is Laura Bickle’s debut novel. It may or may not be the first in a series. The novel takes place in modern Detroit and is fairly unique in having its investigative protagonist mainly be a firefighter instead of a cop. It reminds me a bit of Diana Rowland‘s Kara Gillian series in general outline; both have protagonists in law-enforcement who have hidden mystical abilities who have to suddenly deal with their mystical and mundane lives colliding. The only issue I had with it was the periodic brooding about spirituality and forgiveness.

Dying Bites and Death Blows are the first two books in D. D. Barant‘s Bloodhound Files series. Despite their campy vampire-foreshadowing names there isn’t much focus on vampires in them; besides the protagonist, who is just a regular human, most of focus is on the lycanthrope characters. Bites introduces a ludicrous premise in a surprisingly rational manner, while Blows sort-of undoes much of the credibility it worked to create. The first novel is fairly serious and does its best to keep things just this side of suspension of disbelief, the second rips most of that to shreds by importing a few elements from Vicki Pettersson’s Sign of the Zodiac series. Hopefully, the third book bears more of a resemblance to the first.

Nalini Singh’s Psy-Changeling series (Slave to Sensation, Visions of Heat, Caressed by Ice, Mine to Possess, Hostage to Pleasure, Branded by Fire, & Blaze of Memory) is something of a combination of Larissa Ione’s Demonica series and Eileen Wilks’ World of the Lupi.

All the novels’ relationships play out, essentially, exactly the same and there is very little variety in Singh’s character archetypes. And yet… I find myself liking the series anyway. Perhaps it’s because, even though ‘light’ pretty much always wins where it matters, there is plenty of ‘dark’ laced throughout. The overarching storyline of a society going to hell taking place in the background also serves as an interesting and ever-changing counter point to the predictable male/female dynamic.

I’ll probably continue to follow the series until the (nearly identical) relationship dynamics completely crowd out the insurrectionist backstory. Sort of like how I approached Keri Arthur’s Riley Jenson books.