Topic: The Chit Chat Thread

@Elfuggingjefe yup I get ya, my days mainly consist of dragging my unwilling self out’ve bed and getting dressed before reaching my desk, promptly pulling my pants down, bending over and trying to block out the pain for 8-9 hours, 4 times a week… retirement better arrive soon, as I’m not sure I’ll have any **** left to sit on before too long 😅

@BlAcK_Sw0rDsMaN To return to answering your question and thinking about the anime that I’ve tried, I would say that Blue-Eyed Samurai is one of my favorites. (I haven’t seen Afro Samurai or Samurai Champloo) I like the Cyberpunk one alright also, Edgerunners I think it was called, and the Castlevania one was ok. But my favorite I’ve seen lately is Arcane. Visually and stylistically it’s peerless.

Back when I watched older anime I just ended up jumping around watching a few episodes of different things but never stuck with anything. The only one I can remember as a favorite is Ghost in the Shell. I’m sure there’s others I’m forgetting.

As far as Shogūn, I watched the recent Hulu/FX live action TV show based on the book and it was quite excellent. I didn’t know about an anime of it. But if you’re in for a more realistic creation of the novel in a period drama type of way, you should check out that TV show.

@graymamba @Elfuggingjefe Preach! My sentiments exactly

Planning to move on from Literature now, in favour of Manga/Art books and Anime/Samurai Cinema watching. Also plan to hang up my controller after I beat SOTE in the next few months, but I will always still, nevertheless, be, yours truly, the BlAcK $w0rD$mAn.

Edit: I might start a band next year. Just gotta find a drummer who can handle wild free jazz/free improv-type-of stuff! .

@Th3solution I may check out that Shogun live action rendition then. Anyway, I think that I should inform you, with regard to your potential, future, playthrough of Sekiro, that if you can get through the first half of the game and then one more tough area, when you are a bit past the halfway point you can get access to quite an op weapon, (it's story-related, impossible to miss) that, when, utiliised intelligently, can prove very effective and make the remainder of the game much easier, especially if you opt to take on the easier final boss, instead of the regular one. I don't think it's too much of a spoiler to say that.

Edit: Is your intended order with these games still: Dark Souls 3, Sekiro ,Elden Ring ? Regardless of what you decide, I'd still appreciate your tag when you start playing the next one.

@BlAcK_Sw0rDsMaN Yeah, I’m undecided but I think I’m playing DS3 next. After that, I’m not sure. Original plan was ER next but it might be better to play in release order. DS3 approximately Oct/Nov… maybe?

Did you ever complete Nine Sols? If so how was it?

@Th3solution No, sad to say I never beat Nine Sols. That was due to the level design being too dense and maze-like/combined with a lot of the 2D environments all looking the same, (the combat was no problem, though). it was all getting a bit claustrophobia-inducing, so I decided to quit and move straight to my playthrough of ER with the Sekiro 'Wolf' Build, before leading into the SOTE DLC as soon as possible, once my build is perfected. What about you, Sol, my friend? Still progressing through BG3 at a reasonable pace?

@BlAcK_Sw0rDsMaN Yes, making some solid progress, although I have not played for a couple days. I tend to play in bunches — 6 hour sessions for a couple days in a row, and then none for the next 4 days, etc.

If anyone needs a laugh here's a 'Chinese Robot Fails' video. Laugh now while we still have a choice, ey? (satire, bam!)

https://www.reddit.com/r/funny/s/afHPwoMJI1

Tomorrow is a special day in my country Indonesia.
There will be flag ceremony on Sunday 17 August 2025 to celebrate 80th anniversary of Indonesia Independence Day.
All the students and teachers in my school will be participating in flag ceremony tomorrow.
I hope some of the grade 6 students who become ceremony officer can do their job well.

Good morning.
Today is Independence Day in my country Indonesia 🇮🇩.
It's the 80th anniversary.
I made a photoshoot about Independence Day celebration in ACNH.
MERDEKA!!!

Indonesia looks wild fair play

@FuriousMachine Speaking of all things Japanese and samurai-related. You say you don't like the Souls games, but we have yet to discuss perhaps the most iconic samurai game of all time. Have you played Ghost of Tsushima? afaik enemies don't respawn in that one. I plan to play the DIRECTOR'S CUT edition at some point, less keen on the upcoming Ghost of Yotei.

Edit: Also Jin Sakai's fighting style may be a spiritual successor to that of Zatoichi, according to the internet.

@BlAcK_Sw0rDsMaN I am the proud owner of the Tsushima platinum trophy and all the DLC trophies. Fantastic game, I love it to bits and I'm massively looking forward to Yotei, which I have on pre-order I'm getting some Azumi vibes from the female protagonist and I have a weak spot for Ryuhei Kitamura's adaptation of the material (haven't read the source material, though).

The enemies do not respawn in GoT, but there are continually spawning random encounters throughout the map. They are also quite easily avoided if one just wants a break, but the game is so good at making the player feel like a badass samurai that it hardly matters. Very much my kind of game!

@FuriousMachine just remembered how excited I am to try Miike Mode, tighter camera for combat and buckets of blood.

@FuriousMachine Congratulations on your platinum. I feel encouraged to seek out my own path through Tsushima in the next few years after my remaining Fromsoftware adventures. Hopefully you will gain a deeper appreciation of the Zatoichi movies if you do watch them, if the swordplay really is that similar.

@Ravix I know, right? I'm a bit hot and cold when it comes to Miike's filmography, but I absolutely LOVE that the devs added a mode inspired by his work

@BlAcK_Sw0rDsMaN Thank you, I'm pretty sure I will. There are several fighting styles in GoT that you switch between, depending on your opponent, but the katana is definitely front and centre for the most part Hope you'll enjoy it when you get to it!

@Th3solution How is life and gaming going, pal? I am currently rocking 209 attack power with my +3 Uchigatana in Elden Ring, prepping myself for the DLC, I have about 70 points invested in Dex, Str is at 18, and I haven't levelled anything else. Obvs the weapons such as the Uchigatana (the katanas in general) scale well with Dex, even more when you obtain a particular Whetblade and apply particular Ashes of War to the Dex-based weapons. But enough about that, you haven't even played the game yet!

I am also enjoying watching through the 7 Zatoichi movies that I have chosen to view, and reading the Vagabond manga series, another samurai thingamajig that is quite good, and still volunteering. Music-wise I feel like I can call myself a competent free jazz/free improv guitarist, and I went to see a concert by another guitarist who does the same thing recently. She was very good, and I have another jazz gig coming up (watching, not playing at) in September, that should be good too!.

So even though it's just a hobby now, I feel like I can keep my head above water, for want of a better way of putting it, in terms of being in the lower-to-middle tiers of the great free jazz/free improvisation guitarists. It's great fun!

A bit more about volunteering, everything is kept confidential so I can't really say much, other than despite the dark moments that inevitably crop up in the field of mental health, I feel it is an important and rewarding role, thay may genuinely and hopefully make a difference to some people's lives.

What are you playing right now? Anything new in your life besides that? Heard any good music or seen any good movies lately? Or are you still in an off-phase for films right now?

Best,

B$.

N.B

I have also stuck to my plan (so far) of moving on from Literature to Art and Cricket books, I am currently reading the Wisden Cricketer's Almanack (UK Publication) 2025 and have a couple of inexpensive art books on the way, looking forward to diving in!

@BlAcK_Sw0rDsMaN Hey buddy, doing ok. I’ve had a weird few weeks and just got super-busy with life and so I’ve not turned on the PS5 for a while. Likewise for any other media consumption like movies or TV. Summer has been a whirlwind.

I’m jealous that you have the jazz guitar to enjoy and use as another outlet of your creative and recreational energies. I’m not musically inclined, as I’ve mentioned before, and am always impressed with the talent on display from those who are.

Your mental health volunteer work is another wonderful way to keep yourself grounded and I’m sure the clients are very appreciative of your efforts.

You mention the cricket and it does remind me that I am looking forward to American Football season which is starting now. The college and professional levels are both fun to watch and a nice diversion for me. Usually I get bored of it about midway through the season but for now it’s an anticipatory feeling for the great American pastime. It’s a big part of our culture and permeates all walks of life around here. Heck, the big news is the football player Kelce and Taylor Swift announcing their engagement! I couldn’t care less but it’s a big topic for both the music and predominantly female fandom as well as the dude-bros who are football fans 😅

@Th3solution Haha, would you describe yourself as a "dude-bro" then, Sol? 😂😉
Reminds me of my own insecurities when I spend too much time gaming, where the gameplay in either the whole or simply that part of the game, doesn't require too much thought, or listening to hip hop with the lyrical tropes of the genre, leaves me feeling like a bit of a "meat-head" my own word for "dude-bro" I suppose, and attempt to balance those more earthly activities with listening to free jazz or reading something that's well-written or even exploring art. It's like we were saying before about balancing the "lowbrow" cultural pursuits with the "highbrow" ones, but I suppose sometimes something can contain elements of both.

Back to gaming now, when you do have time to return to your PS5 or Movies/TV watching, will you be attempting to conclude BG3 and/or perhaps watching any particular movie or show?

Hope the American Football season is rewarding and enjoyable up to the midway point at least, and doesn't "dumb you down" too much! 😉

N.B You previously mentioned writing and public speaking being parts of your job, I see those as highbrow activities that I can commend you for, and there is an intellectual element to a lot of the games you've played, such as strategic combat or puzzle-based gameplay!

Take care!