Borderlands 4

[Zema Bus]

Yeah I have to agree. And it's very shortsighted of them. Longer replay value doesn't keep people from buying newer releases or other titles they produce, for most gamers it has the opposite effect, otherwise we never would have bought BL3. Similar with the loopholes they go out of their way to eliminate, that's not going to help their bottom line, if anything it will hurt it. Destroying what made their games great is what is going to hurt their future sales. They don't get it.

[Grogan]

Yes, and I always bought all their DLC for those games, which also prolongued them. Why would you even buy that shit if you only get to play it once? What's killed this for me is, I have nothing to work towards. Oh, I can rank up 5 times in Ultimate mode, where the challenges just get more annoying (enemy modifiers) and difficult. So what? It doesn't lead to anything. There's no more gameplay besides crap like that. I don't really like playing other silly characters. I get used to the way one works and that's that. The game is not interesting enough to want to do that, it's just grinding with a bit of difficult traversal thrown in.

I think that soon I'm going to reset my Borderlands 2 character and play some of that. I don't think I want to jump back in at Wildlife Exploitation Preserve at level 80, but Liarsberg and Three Horns sound pretty good. I've got the best gear possible, edited to have the best combinations of manufacturer parts. Pre-Sequel as well. I miss the old Borderlands games.

[Zema Bus]

A little BL2 does sound good.

[Grogan]

Even that "Maurice's Black Market" vending machine (available after doing the post-game quest) is cunty. It gets a new location every week (you pretty much have to look it up, it's announced I think), in an ignorant slut of a place where you'll have to fight hordes of respawned enemies every time you go there, and probably have to do an irritating side quest to unlock the area it's in (that's what it's been both times for me... first time was underground near a crashed ship, the second was in a biodome in Dominion city). It's not new side quests, just ones you probably haven't discovered because you had no reason to go there.

I wouldn't mind, except that it's the same merchandise all week, the machine doesn't reset. Level matched when you go there, but the same items (everything costs millions of dollars too). The machine itself has a 30 minute cooldown period, even if you just looked and exited without buying anything. This week it's all grenades. I don't use grenades... why would I want to sacrifice my heavy weapon for that shit? You get 2 throws (highest I've seen is 3 charges) and then it has to recharge. I was under duress when I first opened the machine last night (thought I could make a buy real quick) and had to exit because I was being attacked, so I cleaned up the enemies then let my game sit right there paused for half an hour while I did other chores. When the machine unlocked again it was the same items I didn't want. I bought the best looking grenade (corrosive flying disc that damages multiple enemies) but it wasn't advantageous enough.

That's so you can't farm the vending machine for good gear. They want everybody grinding in futility.

[Grogan]

Remember this? It actually looks better, despite being 13 year old, rudimentary graphics. At least it was artistic and tasteful, and when you remove the black outlines using the alternate renderer it actually looks pretty good.

bl2_southernshelf.jpg

I reset to a new playthrough and made my rounds at Southern Shelf (and took a long walk by the ice flows... got killed by Rakks even, caught between turret recharges).

I have no more looting and leveling incentive, but now I can enjoy the fruits of my labours with the incentive being my gear allowing me to make it through the quests and traverse the game. I can replay this any time I want with my favourite character and gear. Borderlands 4, not so much.

[Zema Bus]

Indeed, it looks much nicer than anything I've seen in BL4.

I bet this loophole elimination is all from Randy Pitchford getting peeved after finding out that some players have been having unauthorized fun. From what I've seen and heard about his outbursts I can see that happening.

[Grogan]

Probably so, or at least he didn't stop someone else from doing this. I mean, what do they care if people use editors and scam in-game loot. It's not a competitive game, either... they are just being greedy, controlling cunts. The best way to stop people from doing "unauthorized" things is to give them legitimate cheats to start with. A console where you can spawn item codes etc. (I appreciate Bethesda for that) and a legitimate modding interface.

Ah well, I'm getting Borderlands Pre-Sequel set up now. I'm converting it to the Windows version, I'm sure the Linux one will be crashipoo since the last time I tried it. It was already crashing on launch and had to be launched from a terminal (with Steam running) last time I used the Linux port.

[Zema Bus]

I see they have a big red banner at the top of the BL2 menu advertising BL4

I was at the start of the quest to meet the Slab King at level 77 so I did that, but I'm going to reset it. I've missed The Bee shield, and the Infinity pistol.

[Grogan]

Yep, in all the games. They have it set up so they just change the feed whenever they want. Puke bags.

Resetting lets you ease into it a little. It starts off a bit easier on Southern Shelf. Except for the Midgemong quest, that area is nasty at high levels in Ultimate mode.

I had a futhermucker of a time with that last night, I did OK until I killed the Bullymong counterpart, but the midget somehow fucked off and hid. Once the Midgemong pair come out of the saloon doors, the enemies spawn relentlessly until you defeat the mong and the midget (at least in Ultimate mode). I was busy fighting enemies and it was hard to search for him, but I finally got him while spamming Nukem rockets at a bunch of enemies. It seemed he was actually in the usual spot he goes to (up on one of those small buildings with a balcony) but must have been mostly embedded in a wall or something. I'm pretty sure that's where the nukem rocket ended the quest. I was looking there for him and I'd have seen him. It was 2 other non-midget enemies up there shooting at me.

Oh, the approach to Captain Flynt ramps up the difficulty and it's a long stretch before you get a save. I'm about to head off to Boom and Bewm when next I play that.

[Zema Bus]

I took down Boom and Bewm faster than I thought I would, Captain Flynt, he went down pretty fast too. My turrets really helped, the cool down is very short so I'm able to keep them active most of the time. Now I'm at Three Horns Divide.

[Grogan]

You can take them back (have to physically approach and press E) to shorten that cooldown even more. Sometimes I can't though, I have the longbow perk and sometimes I throw them far and snipe on the approach

That's what I hate about Borderlands 4, I can't cancel the Forge skill once activated.

By the time I get to Captain Flynt, I'm sick of that and take him down with the nukem while he's slagged from my turrets. I quit at Three Horns, right at the part where I have to go steal that Hyperion thing to hack the catch-a-ride. I'm not sure when I'll get back to that, I'm going to get back to more relaxing games now.

[Grogan]

https://www.gamesradar.com/games/border ... lden-keys/

JHFJB-6KCHJ-5XBB5-JBTBJ-6FRRJ = 3 Golden Keys (expires November 25) new!

I've started trying again to get some value out of Borderlands 4. I still haven't finished exploring all the grey areas of the map. I inadvertently did one of the challenges I have to do for Ultimate Mode Rank 2, "kill Bramblesong". I was exploring an abandoned mine and this big flying creature was at the end of it.

Also, they have released the first Bounty Pack DLC "Rush Saves Mercenary Day" free for everyone (and promised a 5th one) and gave everyone a free Vault Card to level up. It sounds to me like they are desperately trying to bring back their player base. I read a statistic on a gaming news site that said that 95% of players stopped playing. They probably hit the same point that I did, where it felt futile.

[Zema Bus]

I also read that overall sales have been way down compared to prior titles. Overtime word gets around that this one doesn't have the replay value they would have assumed and that it's an overall watered down experience, and so they don't buy it in the first place. They get what they sow.

[Grogan]

Also, they charged what amounts to a metric fucktonne for a Borderlands game, which would have dissuaded a lot of people. I'd bet that there's less disposable income out there nowadays, too. Like, everywhere.

As you know, I'm still sore about Tiny Tina's Wonderlands. This game is way better than that, at least (but cunty all the same!) just not visually, it's terrible.

[Grogan]

I just heard that after completing the story with one character, when you start a new one it starts at level 30. That's something at least. I just might be more inclined to try another character if I don't have to start it from zero.

Also, the strategy is different in this game. It used to be that you wanted to do side quests while the XP rewards were still significant, so you can level up enough to fight the enemies in the later parts of the game, but now it's really the opposite. Skip most of the side quests until AFTER the campaign is completed.

The reasons are, firstly, everything is mostly level matched now. Some enemies might be a level or 2 (or 3 I've noticed in a few cases) above you, but that's by design.

Also, once you stop getting XP (level cap is 50) you'll have no XP awarded to give you Specialization points to put in that tree post-game (there is no Specialization tree until then). So essentially you have a broken post-game character if you reach level 50 before the end of the campaign. The only thing XP will count for then is if you have a Vault Card active. That's fucking stupid.

I think I was level 47 when I finished the campaign, so I cheated myself out of some Specialization points (around level 30 is where you should be when you finish the campaign). Except for some new side quests from existing quest givers (that have "the timekeeper is dead, but..." context in them), challenges to rank up Ultimate Mode and those Bounty Pack DLCs, there still really isn't much point to post-game, since you still can't start another with the same character.

[Zema Bus]

That's interesting. Yeah that is at least something. Guess I better stop doing the side quests then. If you start another character, Vex has been good, I've been using her companion "Trouble" who helps fight enemies. There's an alternative to Trouble where you can deploy multiple Vex clones, one fights from a stationary position and the other one moves around but only distracts the enemies, but multiple copies of each can be deployed at the same time. I saw someone using them, looked like it's pretty effective so I'll probably give it a try.

[Grogan]

At least my kill XP is going towards both Specialization and Vault Card rank. I'm seeing the kill XP in purple text now. I can see that my Specialization rank is still increasing and I just got a Vault Card rank up.

I can't say about quest turn-in XP though, the quest line I've been on culminates in having to fight a super badass omega thresher before it will turn in (and I have to go stock up on ammo and try to find some new gear etc. first)

[Grogan]

It doesn't seem to affect the rate at which I gain Specialization points. It's taking more to rank up now (Specialization rank 30 -> 31) but quest turn-ins and kills seem to still be getting the same percentage towards it.

What they must have meant is that there will be fewer side quests available post-game if you've already done them. It really doesn't matter, there are plenty that you won't have done. I still have several in various areas I could do.

It turns out that super badass omega thresher was one of the challenges towards unlocking the wildcard mission for Ultimate rank 2. It was one of those asshole things you have to hook and throw those corrosive cannisters at to break its bioshield before you can do damage to it. It fucks off underground and comes back with its shield back and you have to do it again etc.

P.S. The real meat of it: As long as you don't get to level 50 much before the end of the campaign it's no big deal. That would actually deprive you of XP, as you'd get none (no Specialization, no Vault Card yet) for any game play before finishing the campaign. That could have happened to me if I'd done more sides (but I was out of patience for that shit, which saved me )

[Grogan]

Someone posted this in the Steam forum, and said it came from a Reddit source. (It's not on the site I normally use)

JZX33-ZKWST-5XT3W-JTBJ3-66BXB = 3 Golden keys

Expiry unknown, all I can say is that it works now.

P.S. This key expires Dec. 2. It's now posted on the site I normally use.

[Grogan]

I got to Ultimate Vault Hunter Mode 2 tonight, seeing as I already did most of the boss enemy challenges leading up to it, by exploring and doing side quests. I really had to play carefully and it damn near took me all night though! (I had to leave it paused as you can't quit during the Wildcard mission).

The Wildcard mission was brutal. It was a re-enactment of "Rush the Gate" where you eventually get to kill the big Idolator Sol boss enemy. Only, the enemy modifiers were weird. Every enemy had a red health bar first, then below that a shield bar, then an armor bar. It made the combat tedious and difficult, always having to switch weapons. It was important to use the correct damage types too, because they were all strong damage bars. The enemies were relentless, too, I had to try and be in places where only a few could get me at once.

After playing in that Wildcard mode, UVHM 2, with enemies having 200% health and me taking 14% more damage, seems easy!

[Grogan]

I ran into a fight I just can't do in Ultimate Mode 2. One of those Ripper Drill Sites, "Saw's Clench". I tried it about 6 times, and I get pretty far, even kill one of the 3 bosses (they fly around in these little enclosures with strong shield bubbles). It first spawns hordes of Rippers to fight, including badasses and when you finish those waves, the 3 "Ripper Roadbirds" come out.

Eventually I get worn down, and there are no regular enemies in range to get a second wind kill on time. When you die, and jump down in there again, the fight starts over from the beginning. The enemies you get (before the 3 bosses) may be different/worse. I lost about $10 million retrying that fight.

I'm afraid I just have to give up, the enemies just have too much shield and health. I could drop down to UVHM 1 or even Normal mode, but I'm not really doing it to farm, but to complete the activity and get XP apportioned to Specialization rank (which I won't get much of if I drop down to mode 1 and none in Normal mode)

[Grogan]

At this point, I'm just in an abusive relationship with this game. It's royally pissing me off, but still sucking me in looking for gear. It's like drugs, you know it's time to stop but you want more reward. There are a lot of activities (bunkers, vaults, drill sites) that become very difficult in Ultimate Mode 2, the enemies are horrible with multiple damage type health bars and more waves of them. I'm blowing through thousands of rounds of ammo (running out and trying to open crates while taking damage lol) during some of these fights even if I can stay alive. I can't see myself going for Ultimate Mode 3 or more, the Wildcard missions will be horrendous only to make my game more difficult and aggravating with ridiculous enemies.

Some dead asshole dropped this somewhere, it turned out to be way better than it looks. Each shot is like a swirling pattern that converges. If it goes right, it'll take down enemies like those armoured and shielded synths in one shot. Unlisted, but it's got a COV type magazine, where it has a cool down. It doesn't affect a gun like that much because it takes time to aim anyway, and it's no worse than a reload if it breaks and saves having to reload if it doesn't. I'm finding that useful, to have COV magazines for some of my guns, because I'm doing a lot of weapon switching now.

bl4_ballista.jpg

[Zema Bus]

Kind of like a sedistic cunt with irresistible candy who slaps you every time he gives you some more candy I sort of have a feeling I won't be playing it to where you are now lol!

Last night I was getting wrecked trying to kill an enemy that required throwing that stuff at him first to make him temporarily vulnerable to weapon fire. I finally fast traveled to the nearest golden chest, and got lucky with some nice gear, including a Jakobs sniper that gave me one shot headshot kills, it has been a while since I had anything like that. I went back there and had no problem taking him down.

[Grogan]

It's really a big middle finger to Borderlands players, this game. Everything about it is miserable. It's just "Haha, fuck you, pay me"

Have you been checking your Rewards? You have to click on them to get the stuff into your backpack. I cleaned it up afterwards (sold the shit), and I had all kinds of good stuff in there that I could have used at those levels when I got it. A few legendaries even. Earlier in game while I was looking for Jakobs snipers, I had purple ones in there at level 21, 31 and 40.

Those bio armored enemies are a pain in the ass. Best to use something of the right damage type to take their health down as much as you can before you have to hook and throw another canister.

[Zema Bus]

That's something I need to remember to do, checking the Rewards, I haven't done it in a long time.

[Grogan]

I sure got burned tonight. I was doing the second quest line from "The Boss" in The Pit (North of Belton's Bore). It's to break into a black site and eliminate all digital copies of Vile Lictor, ultimately. One of the quests glitched out with an enemy that was in the walls, and the objective was "kill Order reinforcements". I could see one red dot left on my HUD, and could even hear the last cunt taunting me but there was no enemy to shoot. I had to quit and restart the game, which made me fight all those waves of enemies again.

The next quest, where I have to go and plant a virus in a copy of Vile Lictor... broke. I had to quit and I figured I'd just respawn and have to fight a few more enemies to get back to where I was. It spawned me out on the road! There is no way to get back into the facility, I needed "Bruce" (a mech) to get in and place something that opens a rift for me. So that's nice, it was a significant quest that can't be completed now.

That kind of took the wind out of my sails and got me to just go play other games.

[Zema Bus]

A few nights ago I was doing the 'Rush the Gate' mission to find and kill Idolator Sol. On the way there I had to fight a bunch of enemies until it looked like they were all defeated, but all the bots on my side were still searching around. Sure enough, there was one guy left. He was partially embedded in a wall and vibrating violently. After that, the fight with Sol - the worst boss fight I've seen in this game so far and I kept getting killed until I'd finally had enough.

[Grogan]

Rush the Gate was my Wildcard mission to unlock Ultimate Mode 2... it was horrendous and took a long time to both get there and get through it. While un-fun, Idolator Sol wasn't even the worst part, it was the hordes of enemies with asshole modifiers before getting to it while in that wildcard mission mode. It reloads the game with all this shit and if you quit, crash (I haven't, but I saw others complaining), or your quest glitches and you have to reload, it starts over with you taking the quest again from Lilith and you repeat everything, including the traversal in that asshole mode. You respawn at the last checkpoint if you die though.

What made that mission/mode that I got so bad were all the enemies, including badasses, all had 3 damage bars. Red health on top, shield, then armor last (often two of one of those). It doesn't sound that bad until you realize that all those enemies attacking you (new ones spawn) are going to be in different damaged states and you have to switch weapons for each while being hammered by others. Damage types matter, the damage bars are strong.

I won't be doing any more of those. Ultimate Mode 2 is already too bad in some activities. They didn't balance this very well, some of the shit has been impossible. A restart may help with that, different enemies.

Last night kind of weakened the spell this game had on me. Pretty soon I'm not going to have much reason to continue.

This will get me to play it again tonight though!

https://www.gamesradar.com/games/border ... lden-keys/

T9F33-TXW9J-5RTT5-3JTJJ-RR6R6 = 3 Golden Keys (expires December 9) new!

[Grogan]

I noticed this a few nights ago. I'm not sure if this was present before the campaign is complete, but on the Missions tab, there's a tab to replay any completed mission. It reloads the game, but there are no strings attached (they aren't fucked up enemies like the wildcard missions or anything), it just plays the mission at your current mode and level. I'd imagine quitting "Abandons" the mission replay (there's a button to abandon it in the menu) but that's OK.

I played one tonight and at the end of the mission it pops up a thing where you can hold Tab to go back to the main game.

I'm not even sure I care about the lack of a second playthrough, with that.

[Grogan]

https://www.gamesradar.com/games/border ... lden-keys/

BZRB3-W65HT-CFJBC-B3JT3-K36XR = 3 Golden Keys (expires December 16) new!

I was going to try to leave this game alone tonight (it has a detrimental hold on me and I have much nicer games I should be playing) but now this

I don't even care as much about that gear anymore though, as I've obtained better legendary shit than that will be likely to put out, in UVHM modes from enemy drops. Also, all my best gear is at the level cap and there's no need for anything new (unless it's better lol)