My mind on my modding & modding on my mind (pun intended)

Hello everyone!

My writing hiatus (caused by writing other stuff) is complete and I am now ready to continue my work on VEC/Coverage projects.

As you may have guessed from the title of this magnificent post, yours truly will now talk mods. The creation kit will be out January, but there are still over a thousand mods ready for use, but as for now, I've decided to list the three that I use myself


Deadly Spell Impacts by Isoku

If you are anything like me, then you were probably bummed that spells didn't have a greater effect on the environment. After I stroll into Riverwood and then violently get cast into a battle with a fire- or frost-spewing dragon, then I wanna see some battle impact, beyond the weary bones of a huge, dead reptilian monster.

Only frost-breathing dragons allowed me this pleasure, but alas, it was only to a minimal extent, that would do Chuck Norris shame! And Kirby.

Therefore I am glad that I found Deadly Spell Impacts! Isoku is now one of my favorite people! He takes the weak impact textures from before and dumps them right down the thrash, replacing them with greater and clearer impacts, that will make your magic duel look like a fricken holocaust!

I strongly advice you to try it out. I've been using it for a while now and I still enjoy taking a break to wander around and enjoy the wonderful art left behind by myself in a particular maleficent moment!




Glowing Ore Veins 3000 by Baratan

There isn't much to say to this one.
At first I didn't want it, because I wanted mineral veins to be "not-super-easy-to-spot." Unfortunately I ended up in a position where I couldn't fricken spot them at all, in spit of my eye for detail. Therefore, I download this bad boy!

What it does, is that it makes the ore veins glow with a brighter color, making them easier to spot on the go.

The Ultimate Mod by Tytanis

That name sounds a bit extreme, doesn't it? I mean, it would have to include... Like... Everything!
Well, that it does! Or, at least almost!

The Ultimate Mod is far from done, 'cause Tytanis literally want it to contain all of the awesome stuff and even though it is only at its most basic stage ATM, it adds an incredible amount of content.

New mounts, items, crafting options, perk effects, spells, element-enchanted arrows, weapons, armor, polearm-wielding - YOU NAME IT!

One of my favorite features is that you can make high-level armor, like daedric, look like low-level armor by infusing Fx steel or Iron in the creation process.

This is by far my favorite mod and it'll continue to grow beyond our wildest beliefs, I'm sure!

I definitely recommend - nay - order that you download and apply this mod immediately! Or adorable polar-bear cubs will be hurt! Just kidding^^   .... (Or am I?)

Wuz' goin' on'?

Given that the majority of people reading all of my crap gather here, I figured I'd give a quick update on what I've been up to.

First of all, a little something I shared with the people on facebook: "Given the severe lack of game advertisement in Denmark, you may be able to understand my thrill when I discovered a big-ass poster on a local train/bus station - I asked my girlfriend to take a picture and accepted with what I consider a somewhat reluctant smile, insinuating that it was a big silly. Yet, I appreciate it immensely."

THIS IS THE ONLY PICTURE I'VE EVER WANTED TO TAKE.

That aside, here are the updates!

VEC

Virtual Entertainment Central, will be ready in January, according to my WebDesigner - Until then, I am only watching and waiting. Eagerly. We've already got the design somewhat settled and also the content, which is going to be awesome. As mentioned before, the WebComic is awesome - for that, I can personally vouch.

GTA V Coverage

When does it begin? It already has! At www.gtav-coverage.blogspot.com

The updates ain't daily, given that December is a busy month for students and people with friends and family. Also, GTA V has a lot less meat on it than Skyrim - I have plenty to write though!

Skyrim Coverage

It shall not die. Modding tools will be released in January and then the mod reviews will come sweeping in like a hail storm in Winterhold. I've also got a couple of other ideas in mind.

Updates

All updates on crap that I do, can be found on my Twitter profile and my Tumblr blog, where I sometimes post witty pictures that I make, during boring classes. As always, if you want anything, this is my mail: madsbraas@gmail.com

Peace be with you.

GTA V Coverage

The GTA V Coverage site is now open for business: www.gtav-coverage.blogspot.com

Mind mod (pun intended)

They were going to release the creation kit at game release. Game release! It has yet to find its sweet way to my more-than-ready PC, providing me with great joy, as I create my phallic tower that makes it "snow" near Falkreath. Yes, that is indeed just one of my plans, as I've got an entire list of things to do. I actually have in mind to create a rather long story-arc, taking one on time travel, in order to prevent disasters that will disturb the flow of time. It will involve a mysterious cult and dragons. I am currently writing the story.

But it is hard to get to work, without ma' kit.
Do ya'll have any plans?

The cons of Skyrim

I've been extremely excited about this title, as you no doubt have gathered from my innate posting since June - Although it seems as if not all are aware of this, since I still get small "corrections" and "confirmations" on posts that are months old - I've learned to ignore it, but I still like to complain.

But I digress and would like to steer the heavily-armored vehicle, that is my mind, back on the road of childabu... On the road of Skyrim. It is no lie that most of us have had extreme expectations to Skyrim and on that note, I am no different - Yet, and I don't like to admit this, there are some things that disappoint! I talk not of the minor glitches and bugs (I walked through a rock on the side of a mountain yesterday,) no, I speak mostly of content-related stuff!

Graphics
I have to admit that I am a little disappointed with the level of graphics. I have Skyrim set on ultra and I could easily take it further, yet, I am not allowed. Not to say that Skyrim is not pretty, but there was plenty of opportunity to enhance it even further (which modders have indeed done, thankfully - although, not perfectly.)

Random encounters
Oh, there are plenty, indeed! Might be some I haven't encountered yet! I make sure to always travel by road and never use retarded fast travel. Yet, I consider the random encounters way too few, and way too rare. Often I find myself moving a very long distance, wondering when something will fricken happen! I just don't feel like radiant story is used to its full potential overall, and random encounters are no different.

Too short a story (Spoiler ahead)
Nay, I speaketh not of the main story, which is absolutely fine. I speaketh of the companions, which is the only other I've played through. The lack of story engagement and time spent before it is complete is horrible. There should pass more time before we get to be a werewolf, we should be able to spent more time with each companion and especially Kodlak (unofficial leader,) so we actually get pissed when he is killed.

I know not how long the others are, but so far I am quite happy with The Dark Brotherhood, although I am not that far in.

Relationships
Deep relationships in Skyrim... They're shallow. They just don't exist. You've no way to improve your relationship, beyond doing stuff for people. Also, I find it really weird that when I, as a Dunmer, beat up a drunk Dunmer-hating Nord and then he is my best friend thereafter (I killed him because of that.) I wasn't a fan of courting in Fable III, but the intense lack of it in Skyrim is a little disappointing.

Speech
Like with relationships, there's nothing there. There should be more aspects and advantages to speech, as well as a better way to improve it, preferably connected to improving relationships.

Stupid companions
Companions keep running into traps. 'Nuff said.

Epic Battles
This is one thing that I consider inexcusable. This is one of the most important things in such a game and it just almost doesn't exist in Skyrim. Occasionally, you'll have one with a dragon. I had a Gandalf/Balrock-like battle with one. But that is not what I talk about!

When fighting, say, Alduin - It doesn't feel special. There ain't nothing special! The scenery, adversary, setting, music is supposed to add together to create a powerful mixture of intense epicness (said as Jack Black,) yet disappointment is all this potion gave me.

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I do realize that there is subjective and that you may think of all of this very differently and I hope that I n no way implied that Skyrim is a disappointment - 'Cause that is not what I meant. Skyrim is the embodiment of pure awesomeness and by far the best game that I have ever played.

I already look forward to The Elder Scrolls VI