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Portal for Dummies
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Spike
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May 27, 2010 - 4:26 am
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Woo-hoo!  Small successes are better than none.  I made it past 15-3 (short stairway, platform, pit) and 15-4 where the energy beam originates and then got to 15-5 where I re-routed the beam.  After a while trying to get back over the walls I gave up.  Tough without a high panel facing the energy field.  Tomorrow is another day.

Are you finished, Yap?  Huh?  Huh?  Huh?

"…you just keep on trying 'til you run out of cake."

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Yapette
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May 27, 2010 - 1:06 pm
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Nope, not finished. Did finish Shivering Isles that's been crashing like clockwork every ~50 min.

 

Before exiting, I bid farewell to my good looking (mod) npcs. At the border, took a long, loving look at the amazing sky (mod), vegetation (mod), and textures (mod). Gazed far out across the river to the surrounding countryside (mod) before teleporting to Bravil where I could hardly take my eyes off the glowing windows (mod) & lit lamps to stare at the twin moons (mod) shining in the night sky (mod).

 

Today, according to a nine month plan (finish both main quest & S.I), I begin dissassembling: removing mods no longer necessary & adding three major world-altering quest mods. Last attempts to play these mods --> crashes at gates & conversations no matter what I changed & adjusted. Thus my plan to finish original content before major changes.  All that I love (noted above) is supposed to remain, but every fiddle & twiddle takes game files further along the path to irrevocably crapping - forever - the game's last save.

 

It's been a great trip that took four years. Extra quests mods are merely frosting. If I can tolerate the step-down in graphics, counter balanced by a step-up in world atmosphere, I may begin a major modded Morrowind. Especially since I have played neither expansion.

 

 

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Spike
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May 29, 2010 - 9:09 pm
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After 3 days I finally finished lvl. 15, then proceeded to crush me some androids on lvl. 16.  I agree with Yap and Pokey:  16 was lots of destructive fun.  Ended last night starting at the entry sign at the start of 17, which is where I will continue tonight.

Holy Moly, Yap!  Are there also mods for mods?  [Image Can Not Be Found]  How cool to be able to tailor a game so much to one's liking.  Pity, the real world has so few mods available.

"…you just keep on trying 'til you run out of cake."

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Yapette
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May 30, 2010 - 12:05 am
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Hey, Spike. I'm almost to the end of lvl 18 and I swear, honestly & truly, this last section ahead of me (attempted a couple of dozen times) may not be worth the motion induced vertigo. You will know what I'm talking about when you get here. I'm not at all sure I have it in me to get past this part. Ever.

 

I was looking at Fallout 3 mods....there are a couple I'd really like to install. First one being the mod that adds vegetation. Then better textures & faces which don't look so bad till you see the comparison between vanilla & modded.

 

You do know that HL2 isn't an rpg, right? At least I don't think it is. More of an "action adventure" with weapon effectiveness (meaning how often you don't die) based upon the player's twitch skill. Of which I gots none. [Image Can Not Be Found]

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Spike
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May 30, 2010 - 12:31 am
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Hi Yap.  Moby Games describes HL2 as action-puzzle solving-sci fi-futuristic-shooter.  RPG, not.  The combination of nice graphics and the concensus of those here who've played it made me think I could give it a try.  And it's 1st person, so I like that.  When I finish Portal (IF I finish – you've got me wonderin')  I'll either start HL2 or Penumbra.  Or one of those adventure games staring at me.  Besides, now that I've dipped a toe into the non-adventure pond, why not a 2nd toe?  If I don't like it there's always GTZ.  [Image Can Not Be Found]

I got a lot better at shooting in F3 than I thought I would.  Hand-eye is really good.  I got killed a bunch in F3, especially in the beginning, but even later because of radiation when I left my Advanced Radiation Suit home by mistake.  I also died in space in Mothership Zeta when I fell off of the alien ship.  So I'll just have to try to learn to do whatever I need to do in HL2 to stay alive.  If'n it doesn't work, well, nothing ventured, nothing gained, and no harm no foul.  Got my bases covered – a cop-out if ever I heard one.  [Image Can Not Be Found]

Whose F3 mods are you looking at?  Are they all "appearance" of one thing or another, or are any of them story/quest types?  If I do decide to download any F3 mods they will be story and/or quest types.  I didn't have anything useful to do in the game anymore, and so I quit.  But more story and more jobs would let me continue a game I really liked – at least for a bit longer.

Off to zoom through lvl. 17 in Portal.  Sure.

P.S.  Do you tend to vertigo in real life, or is it only on a screen where you have no real relationship to the environment so as to keep your inner ear and brain "right side up", so to speak?

"…you just keep on trying 'til you run out of cake."

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Yapette
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May 30, 2010 - 2:07 am
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RE: PS...you'll find out. [Image Can Not Be Found]

 

Yes, there are quest mods but as I haven't finish original content yet, I didn't focus on 'em.

 

I don't play shooters due to slow reflexes effected by nerves of jelly, and inability to jump. No matter the setting, there is always jumping. Usually while running & shooting. 

 

That said, I own HL2 + episodes 1, 2. Reinstalled since Steam is up & running with Portal. Years ago, I quit HL2 very early on. After running, and jumping, then getting caught in a stairwell between guards who, aiming at me, wouldn't let me past. But, neither could they kill me due to godmode. An internal stand-off for which I could see no hope so I stopped playing. [Image Can Not Be Found]

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Spike
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May 31, 2010 - 12:57 am
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Yapette said:

RE: PS...you'll find out. [Image Can Not Be Found]

 


 

Level 18:  I came.  I saw.  I drowned.  Many times.  Finally reached the entrance to the room with the androids and energy balls.  Went in 3 times and got quickly killed each time.  Walked away for a bit to think on it.  I've an idea about my next step, but this looks like the level from hell.

"…you just keep on trying 'til you run out of cake."

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Pokey
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May 31, 2010 - 12:24 pm
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I remember level 18 very well since we spent so much time trying to get past it. [Image Can Not Be Found]

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Yapette
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May 31, 2010 - 2:09 pm
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Ah, the room with the Androids & energy balls (and platforms). I thought that might be my showstopper as it required quick movements….in more than one instance.

 

But naw, what comes next is worse. Really bad worse. With platforms. High up.  [Image Can Not Be Found]

 

Pokey, I wish I had your twitchitude, no kidding. I envy your ability to play what I cannot (like Just Cause 2).

 

Edit P.S.: DAMNATION!!! I am not past that point yet, but I'm rockin' & flyin' with a rhythm I didn't know I had in me. Now if only I wouldn't get the orange & blue portals mixed up & stop on platform 3. When I done shot that angled one but with the wrong color!

 

Edit P.P.S.: three minutes later, I f*ckin' did it!!! Finished lvl 18.

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Spike
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May 31, 2010 - 11:19 pm
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Yapette said:

 

 

But naw, what comes next is worse. Really bad worse. With platforms. High up.  [Image Can Not Be Found]

 

Edit P.P.S.: three minutes later, I f*ckin' did it!!! Finished lvl 18.


 

Brava!  Good for you Yap!

Level 18:  I found the safe corner
and stood for a while watching.  Dispatched the androids to their watery
grave.  Watched some more and figured out what I had to do next. 
Figured out how to get up onto the pedestal.  3 Seconds???  Only 3
seconds???
  To push a button and shoot 2 portals?  I could do it in 6
or so, but 3?  Now I have an idea that will have me crouched near the
edge of the precipice between the wall and the pedestal.  I'm thinking I
can shoot 2 portals in that wall, one above the other.  Use the lower
one to get to the button on that damned pedestal.  But then I'll still
only have 3 seconds to hit it and shoot 2 new portals for the energy
ball.  Precise timing - don't know if I've got it.  And don't know if my
idea can work at all, but I'll try in a bit.

"…you just keep on trying 'til you run out of cake."

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Yapette
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May 31, 2010 - 11:52 pm
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Heh. I figured what I had to do where you are and thought, "No way!" Took a day for a break & came back fresh to try.

May I contribute a slight spoiler that might help? I was going to type in white font but for some reason all my icons above are blank (although I can mouse-over & read descriptions).

Slight Spoilerish Hint

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

You can push the pedestal button without going thru the portal - simply reach thru and E. At first I was going all the way through and falling off the pedestal. [Image Can Not Be Found]

 

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Helmut
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May 31, 2010 - 11:54 pm
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The worst part of this is that when you shoot the portals  you need to shoot, it doesn't look like (to me anyway) that you can get through them to reach the button. It feels like I'm going to bang my head on the portal itself. Who'd put a button way up in the air anyway? But you can do it and that's what you have to do.

I like those levels where  you can see yourself entering the portals ad-infinitum. It's like you can have your cake and eat it too.

edit: good one Yap. I always jumped through [Image Can Not Be Found][Image Can Not Be Found]

My Dark Souls single player sensibilities are protected by a +10 GfWL Firewall of Ineptitude

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Spike
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June 1, 2010 - 12:04 am
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Helmut said:

 It's like you can have your cake and eat it too.
 


 

Caution!  Hijack ahead!

I've always hated the "...have your cake..." adage.  Yes, you can have a piece of cake, and no, you can't eat it.  A sadist thought that one up.  It should be banished from the language.

But I get your point, Helmut.  It is cool. 

"…you just keep on trying 'til you run out of cake."

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Helmut
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June 1, 2010 - 12:17 am
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Actually, I'm only using things that have the word cake in them, regardless of context or content. I pity the test subjects in level 18. Let them eat cake. Ok. I'm tired. [Image Can Not Be Found]

My Dark Souls single player sensibilities are protected by a +10 GfWL Firewall of Ineptitude

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Spike
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June 1, 2010 - 12:19 am
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@ Helmut.  Well then, I think you should have a piece of cake before going to bed - and eat it too.

"…you just keep on trying 'til you run out of cake."

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Yapette
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June 2, 2010 - 12:42 am
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On the home stretch. Currently being smashed. Not certain whether I'm getting thru my portal and smashed by side-moving smashers or misplacing my portal & being smashed between rising platform & ceiling. Tomorrow is another day.

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Spike
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June 2, 2010 - 9:15 pm
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Level 18:  I know what to do, I can do it in a couple of different places, I just need more than 3 seconds to do it.  Sweaty palms make it hard to accurately whirl around and mash buttons.  If this keeps up I'm a gonna give up.

"…you just keep on trying 'til you run out of cake."

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Yapette
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June 2, 2010 - 10:28 pm
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Spike, are you at the trap door button & divert sparkle before it shuts?

Getting the cube?

Or opening the panel/door so you & the cube can get through?

 

Oh, and edit, I haven't finished yet. Currently dying in room w/ Androids but my auto save keeps returning me to a no-win corner with nanoseconds to live. I need to formally reload to before I arrived in the room if I want any chance at survival.

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Spike
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June 3, 2010 - 1:09 am
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At  "trap door button & divert sparkle".   2 portals to access the button high up on the pedestal, check.   Can then shoot other portals to divert sparkle/energy ball toward the trap door.  But it's the timing that is messing me up.  After hitting the button through the lower portal I spin right to shoot the first portal to receive the energy ball and then spin left to shoot the ball's exit portal.  Most times the door closes just before I shoot the second portal.  Twice I got the energy ball through the second portal, but the door closed before the ball reached it.  How anyone did all this in 3 seconds is beyond me.  My palms didn't get sweaty during any of the other levels, but this part of lvl. 18 has me sweating a lake, which makes it hard to mash-swing-shoot-swing-shoot.  This part of level 18 is the toughest of the entire game - so far.  Can it get any harder??? Rhetorical.

"…you just keep on trying 'til you run out of cake."

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Yapette
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I think your problem may be the swinging both left & right. Too many movements for 3 seconds (now why must I state the obvious?).

 

Now mind you, my mind is normally a sieve. So accurately recalling my steps (under extreme stress) is dubious at best. However, here goes.

 

I stood between the pedestal & the far wall, facing wall – only movement is swinging head right to watch the sparkle.

My portals for sparkle (I'm assuming you're doing same) are opposite up/down trap door & black-hit-spot far left wall (one I'm facing) so portal leaves source, goes thru far left wall, comes out opposite-to-trapdoor & across room to trapdoor. This will capture sparkle that is sent out when swiveling source is facing left.

I'm still standing between button pedestal & wall, facing wall.

Now this part is hard to explain as I get my portal colors confused, resulting in multi-do-overs.

I think this was my strategy:

blue on wall, orange across room (try to get feel for how long it takes to go in one, out another by watching the cycle for awhile)

watch sparkle go into blue portal, quickly turn head and blue portal directly into wall in front of me, (intuitively assume sparkle has exited orange portal opposite wall or turn head to check), orange portal right above blue, reach hand (not move body) in blue portal & hit E. It takes some mashing E practice runs, but if orange (upper portal) is correctly placed, it's possible to push button E without ever moving from original spot. You'll hear the sound if it works, and by then you have a chance to turn around & look up (as you're still standing on floor below/under the trap door).

If this wasn't your strategy at least it gives you another option to try. Before typing this I looked at a video but that guy jumped through hitting E all in one motion. I watched it over & over & still couldn't follow each step he took but I do know his jump & button mashing was all in one. Which in no way could I ever do as I'd miss. My way can be done blindfolded as it is dependent upon the portal & platform being lined up w/ button dead center & E activated from general middleness.

Good Luck!

 

 

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