deerstalker
By the Traveler’s Light; the grind is real and the grind is good, y’all. Destiny 2 Forsaken dropped at the beginning of the month, and I have been grinding like it’s my second. Listen. From way back when four years ago when we first heard Ghost tell us “Eyes up” wayback in the Cosmodrome, it’s like first love all over again now. I’d be lying if there wasn’t some struggle in Destiny 2 Year 1. Now that everything between Curse of Osiris and Warming has lead to this, I am ecstatic. Ecstatic, I tell you! I’m not a gamer anymore, I’m a Destiny 2 Forsaken enthusiast. The world is larger than ever and there is so much to do (although I am fortunate enough to have several people to play with every day of the week).
Quality of Life
D2 feels different, regardless if you own the expansion. The new weapon system allows for more customization than ever. If you want to run triple snipers, triple shotguns, or triple grenade launchers, you can. There would be an ammo struggle, but you can. I tend to be fond of the D1 system rocking the primary and special, but when slogging through the Nightfall it was nice using a bow and hand cannon. I’m currently enamored with Pulse Rifles and Shotguns. RNG has not been on my side, so I find myself with a trusty pulse rifle and shotgun. The amount of options is staggering, and it takes a while to fully appreciate all of the ins and outs of the gear process.
The collection system is a much needed, “why-didn’t-we-have-this-already addition to the game”, but I am much more vested into the Triumphs system (and especially how it ties into the new title system). There aren’t a lot of PS4 trophies, but there are plenty of accomplishments you can achieve and knock off the list.
The return to the bounty system is a little bit of a bummer. Now I need to remember to visit the tower before doing anything, but it does reinforce the and succeed in habit formation. There’ll be a small adjustment period before it’s second nature. The drastically reduced exotic rate has been the most demoralizing part of the game. I like using the gear more than I like getting the gear. Dropping all my mats and playing constantly for a week resulting in two duplicate exotics and one new weapon is not exactly my definition of a good time. Xur won’t be helping me out for a minute, but it’s a small price to pay for the thrill (and repeated disappointment).
Story
The creative team really stepped up this time around. The story wasn’t anything groundbreaking, but it was well written and executed wonderfully. Cayde-6’s send off was haunting, and our journey of vengeance/justice was equally so. The baron fights were great encounters. The Trickster and Mindbender were of my favorites outside of the Fanatic, who I enjoyed fighting the most in both story and strike. The last act had a great WTF moment, and it’s nice seeing the endgame built into the story (much like Taken King way back when). Without too many spoilers, they could have called this expansion The Taken Queen and no one would have blinked.
The story emphasis continues into the new strikes too. The Hallowed Lair, Warden of Nothing, The Corrupted, and (PS4 exclusive) Broodhold have absolutely stellar moments and top-notch commentary from their respective NPCs. It’s a cohesive storytelling experience. Warden of Nothing also had the advantage of being one big nostalgia trip. The mechanics and artwork continue to be spectacular, showing Bungie really outdid themselves.
New Gear
The random rolls means that weapon and armor drops are exciting again. I want SMGs, Pulse Rifles, and Shotties, though, and goddamn the game is not working with me. Gotten way too many long distance guns that it’s been frustrating getting three snipers in a row. I suppose that will make the eventual drop that much more sweet but wow, gear is definitely a little harder to come by. Although, my energy slot in PvE has more often than not filled by my favorite gun in the game: the IKELOS_SG_V1.0.1. It’s a trusty shotgun that has continues to serve me well and may actually be the most powerful weapon in the game based on sheer DPS numbers.
However, the addition of bows has led me to one long-distance weapon that I enjoy using. Whereas even the deftest scout rifles or snipers continue to be too heavy of a weapon for me to use properly, bows have a lightness to them that make the incredible fun to use. Every notch of an arrow, every draw of the bowstring, every headshot feels crisp and satisfying. Even with all sorts of modern weaponry, the combat bows feels viable
— and in some cases, even better than guns. I’m sticking with what I know, I know many who have embraced the archer life.
New Supers
One of the things that got me the most hype going into the expansion was the new subclass nodes. I immediately went for the Striker Titan, and well…I’m in love with every skill (particularly the Ballistic Slam).
Bungie nailed it. Thundercrash feels better than Fist of Havoc ever did. It absolutely annhiliates mini-bosses, and flying about like Superman while making meteoric damage on impact has been great. My classmates have been rocking Well of Radiance, which has ruled the Gambit scene. My Hunter first mate enjoys the Spectral blades in PvP, but still loves tether the most when it comes to PvE. The new Gunslinger class, Way of a Thousand Cuts, continues to be the plague of my existence. It highlights a crucial fact: everyone has a new way to play. They are all viable and it’s great to have that build diversity.
New Game Mode: Gambit
Gambit is Destiny 2’s new PvEvP game mode, and I have not had as much fun in any game mode in any game ever. It is a simple game with simple rules: Fight. Collect. Bank. Invade. The level of strategy that emerges from two fire teams of four Guardians on four maps with 3 different enemy types results is staggering.
Sometime I gear up with Code of the Juggernaut against the Fallen or Cabal, relying on an SMG and melee to mow through adds. Against Hive, Vex, or Scorn, I rely on more mid-range tactics by sticking with Code of the Missile to get in and out. I’ve come to love solar warlocks saving my life with their super rifts, and appreciate the Hunters out there slaying. The most intoxicating feeling is when I invade and get that crispy Army of One, no matter how sloppy it is.
The daily bounties have forced me to try many different armaments, although I find that a HC/SG/Launcher meta works best for me. I have come to fear Linear Fusion Rifles and the Sleeper Simulant (which thankfully has a tweak coming its way).
New Locations (and an Endgame Befitting of a Queen)
I don’t have too much to say about the new location other than they are really, really pretty. The Tangled Shore brings a wonderfully western feel to the idea of an asteroid belt. The Dreaming City is just gorgeous, with so many secrets to uncover. I’m convinced we have barely scratched the surface of everything hidden within this update. The three-cycle makes Destiny 2 feel more alive than ever.
With weekly reset activities and daily challenges, there is plenty to do as we try to get raid-ready. As a chronic player, I’m already struggling to keep everything straight. Between wanting to play Gambit and explore the Dreaming City, I also want get good at competitive, and power-level. I’m currently grinding my light with the rest of my clan to prepare for the Last Wish. It’s shaping up to be a harrowing experience given the world’s first taking 18 hrs and 43 minutes to complete due to the mechanics and the power level. What little we have ventured has been daunting, but we’ll get there.
Final Thoughts
Mikkel: I love it. I already loved it, but man I love it more. I have a list of things I’m working on (One-Eyed Mask titan helmet, Redrix’s Broadsword, and the Dredgen title) and the future is definitely looking bright. I’m fortunate enough to have a solid clan to come home after the grind at work, so I honestly think this is the best Destiny has ever been. Everyday has something to do, some goal to inch towards. It’s a slog, but the game is beautiful and fun to play. I’ll suffer my horrible RNG because the pay off will come in time, and Bungie has made the investment worth it. Sounds like the trend is only going to continue.
To old guardians, come back to the light. To new guardians, welcome to it. You’re in for a good time – whether you invest a couple hours a day, or a handful of sessions here and there throughout the week.
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The post Destiny 2 Forsaken is The Golden Age of Content We Needed After a Dark Year One appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.
By the Traveler’s Light; the grind is real and the grind is good, y’all. Destiny 2 Forsaken dropped at the beginning of the month, and I have been grinding like it’s my second. Listen. From way back when four years ago when we first heard Ghost tell us “Eyes up” wayback in the Cosmodrome, it’s like first love all over again now. I’d be lying if there wasn’t some struggle in Destiny 2 Year 1. Now that everything between Curse of Osiris and Warming has lead to this, I am ecstatic. Ecstatic, I tell you! I’m not a gamer anymore, I’m a Destiny 2 Forsaken enthusiast. The world is larger than ever and there is so much to do (although I am fortunate enough to have several people to play with every day of the week).
Quality of Life
D2 feels different, regardless if you own the expansion. The new weapon system allows for more customization than ever. If you want to run triple snipers, triple shotguns, or triple grenade launchers, you can. There would be an ammo struggle, but you can. I tend to be fond of the D1 system rocking the primary and special, but when slogging through the Nightfall it was nice using a bow and hand cannon. I’m currently enamored with Pulse Rifles and Shotguns. RNG has not been on my side, so I find myself with a trusty pulse rifle and shotgun. The amount of options is staggering, and it takes a while to fully appreciate all of the ins and outs of the gear process.
The collection system is a much needed, “why-didn’t-we-have-this-already addition to the game”, but I am much more vested into the Triumphs system (and especially how it ties into the new title system). There aren’t a lot of PS4 trophies, but there are plenty of accomplishments you can achieve and knock off the list.
The return to the bounty system is a little bit of a bummer. Now I need to remember to visit the tower before doing anything, but it does reinforce the and succeed in habit formation. There’ll be a small adjustment period before it’s second nature. The drastically reduced exotic rate has been the most demoralizing part of the game. I like using the gear more than I like getting the gear. Dropping all my mats and playing constantly for a week resulting in two duplicate exotics and one new weapon is not exactly my definition of a good time. Xur won’t be helping me out for a minute, but it’s a small price to pay for the thrill (and repeated disappointment).
Story
The creative team really stepped up this time around. The story wasn’t anything groundbreaking, but it was well written and executed wonderfully. Cayde-6’s send off was haunting, and our journey of vengeance/justice was equally so. The baron fights were great encounters. The Trickster and Mindbender were of my favorites outside of the Fanatic, who I enjoyed fighting the most in both story and strike. The last act had a great WTF moment, and it’s nice seeing the endgame built into the story (much like Taken King way back when). Without too many spoilers, they could have called this expansion The Taken Queen and no one would have blinked.
The story emphasis continues into the new strikes too. The Hallowed Lair, Warden of Nothing, The Corrupted, and (PS4 exclusive) Broodhold have absolutely stellar moments and top-notch commentary from their respective NPCs. It’s a cohesive storytelling experience. Warden of Nothing also had the advantage of being one big nostalgia trip. The mechanics and artwork continue to be spectacular, showing Bungie really outdid themselves.
New Gear
The random rolls means that weapon and armor drops are exciting again. I want SMGs, Pulse Rifles, and Shotties, though, and goddamn the game is not working with me. Gotten way too many long distance guns that it’s been frustrating getting three snipers in a row. I suppose that will make the eventual drop that much more sweet but wow, gear is definitely a little harder to come by. Although, my energy slot in PvE has more often than not filled by my favorite gun in the game: the IKELOS_SG_V1.0.1. It’s a trusty shotgun that has continues to serve me well and may actually be the most powerful weapon in the game based on sheer DPS numbers.
However, the addition of bows has led me to one long-distance weapon that I enjoy using. Whereas even the deftest scout rifles or snipers continue to be too heavy of a weapon for me to use properly, bows have a lightness to them that make the incredible fun to use. Every notch of an arrow, every draw of the bowstring, every headshot feels crisp and satisfying. Even with all sorts of modern weaponry, the combat bows feels viable
— and in some cases, even better than guns. I’m sticking with what I know, I know many who have embraced the archer life.
New Supers
One of the things that got me the most hype going into the expansion was the new subclass nodes. I immediately went for the Striker Titan, and well…I’m in love with every skill (particularly the Ballistic Slam).
Bungie nailed it. Thundercrash feels better than Fist of Havoc ever did. It absolutely annhiliates mini-bosses, and flying about like Superman while making meteoric damage on impact has been great. My classmates have been rocking Well of Radiance, which has ruled the Gambit scene. My Hunter first mate enjoys the Spectral blades in PvP, but still loves tether the most when it comes to PvE. The new Gunslinger class, Way of a Thousand Cuts, continues to be the plague of my existence. It highlights a crucial fact: everyone has a new way to play. They are all viable and it’s great to have that build diversity.
New Game Mode: Gambit
Gambit is Destiny 2’s new PvEvP game mode, and I have not had as much fun in any game mode in any game ever. It is a simple game with simple rules: Fight. Collect. Bank. Invade. The level of strategy that emerges from two fire teams of four Guardians on four maps with 3 different enemy types results is staggering.
Sometime I gear up with Code of the Juggernaut against the Fallen or Cabal, relying on an SMG and melee to mow through adds. Against Hive, Vex, or Scorn, I rely on more mid-range tactics by sticking with Code of the Missile to get in and out. I’ve come to love solar warlocks saving my life with their super rifts, and appreciate the Hunters out there slaying. The most intoxicating feeling is when I invade and get that crispy Army of One, no matter how sloppy it is.
The daily bounties have forced me to try many different armaments, although I find that a HC/SG/Launcher meta works best for me. I have come to fear Linear Fusion Rifles and the Sleeper Simulant (which thankfully has a tweak coming its way).
New Locations (and an Endgame Befitting of a Queen)
I don’t have too much to say about the new location other than they are really, really pretty. The Tangled Shore brings a wonderfully western feel to the idea of an asteroid belt. The Dreaming City is just gorgeous, with so many secrets to uncover. I’m convinced we have barely scratched the surface of everything hidden within this update. The three-cycle makes Destiny 2 feel more alive than ever.
With weekly reset activities and daily challenges, there is plenty to do as we try to get raid-ready. As a chronic player, I’m already struggling to keep everything straight. Between wanting to play Gambit and explore the Dreaming City, I also want get good at competitive, and power-level. I’m currently grinding my light with the rest of my clan to prepare for the Last Wish. It’s shaping up to be a harrowing experience given the world’s first taking 18 hrs and 43 minutes to complete due to the mechanics and the power level. What little we have ventured has been daunting, but we’ll get there.
Final Thoughts
Mikkel: I love it. I already loved it, but man I love it more. I have a list of things I’m working on (One-Eyed Mask titan helmet, Redrix’s Broadsword, and the Dredgen title) and the future is definitely looking bright. I’m fortunate enough to have a solid clan to come home after the grind at work, so I honestly think this is the best Destiny has ever been. Everyday has something to do, some goal to inch towards. It’s a slog, but the game is beautiful and fun to play. I’ll suffer my horrible RNG because the pay off will come in time, and Bungie has made the investment worth it. Sounds like the trend is only going to continue.
To old guardians, come back to the light. To new guardians, welcome to it. You’re in for a good time – whether you invest a couple hours a day, or a handful of sessions here and there throughout the week.
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The post Destiny 2 Forsaken is The Golden Age of Content We Needed After a Dark Year One appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.
Grindhouse Airs 9.23.18
AFROnerdists! Check for our latest installment of the Grindhouse airing this Sunday at 6pm ET. Join the Afronerd Radio team, as they wax about the following topics: noted writer, graphic novelist (Shaft, Power Man and Iron Fist, Cyborg) and friend of the show, David Walker stops by to discuss his forthcoming Harlem Renaissance supernatural themed comic, Bitter Root (Image); Apple's billion dollar streaming service has purportedly been dubbed by staff as a bland and "Expensive NBC"; the fan favored but cancelled time traveling series, Timeless, gets its closure via a wrap up movie; the Dark Knight goes in a X-rated direction in the comic series release, Batman: Damned #1; more definitive scene pics of Joaquin Phoenix' Joker hit the net; it appears Disney heard the internet and capitulated to charges of colorism with the Princess Tiana cameo in Wreck it Ralph sequel, Ralph Breaks the Internet; another friend of the show, Professor John Jennings will be heading up a new graphic novel imprint entitled, Megascope geared toward diverse narratives of POC; indie director, Chloe Zhao (Sings My Brothers Taught Me) has been tapped to direct Marvel's next franchise series, The Eternals; Space Jam returns with Ryan Coogler, Lebron James and Terrence Nance.....interesting; Netflix has just greenlighted a sci-fi project starring actors, Jamie Foxx and Joseph Gordon-Levitt tentatively titled, Power; discussing Black Horror via Jordan Peele's Candyman reboot; And lastly, Dburt might check out a special November Black-ish purely for their Power tribute episode. Call LIVE at 646-915-9620.
And while you wait for tonight's show, here's a blast from the past-Blerds and Bleeks Speak-'16 at the Schomburg Black Comic Festival:
There’s few conventions or expos that have secured my heart in so quick a time as Small Press Expo, and with my second year under my belt I can finally pinpoint why. Let me take you with me. It’s Sunday morning, the second day of SPX 2018, and I’m trying not to sprint from the parking garage to the North Marriott’s White Flint Auditorium. I check the flyer again to see I’m truly on my CPT today, hoping that everyone else is on theirs as well (spoiler: of course we are).
The #drawingwhileblack @SPXcomics meet up is in about half an hour !! Come by and chat with other! Invite friends too! pic.twitter.com/ykO3zN57LA
— Abelle ✨?@ CALA?? (@sparklyfawn) September 16, 2018
I rush in, trying to look around casually before finally spotting the #DrawingWhileBlack hashtag’s founder, Abelle Hayford, who greets me warmly and invites me over (you can read up on the inspiration behind the hashtag in our interview with Abelle from last year’s SPX). There’s a small group gathered already, and in no time laughter rings out as we trade opinions about movies, art schools, and just the realities of being Black creators, making space for more people as they arrive. Nobody acts as gatekeeper, demanding to know what table you came from or what product you brought. When someone does pass out a book, everyone grabs them with joy as if receiving a comic for the first time and before we know it it’s time to take a group photo and disperse to tables and panels.
This gathering, though not necessarily an official part of SPX programming, is every bit what the SPX experience should be for a POC participant, if not more. Last year I mentioned the discussion of a much-needed creators of color directory, and while a document itself doesn’t seem to have been compiled yet, enough careful organization of your Twitter timeline makes it easy enough in a community determined to loudly cheer for one another.
Take for instance this year’s panel selection, an impressive offering of different genres, ages, experiences, and cultural viewpoints from local to international presenters. While the biggest draw Saturday was the “Universes of Rebecca Sugar” panel (click the titles of the panels for my livetweets), Sugar’s big name status in no way overshadowed other panels of the days such as “Feminist Futurism & Fantasy” or “Trans Memoir.” If anything, all three emphasized the importance of resilience in the creative field, the value of one’s unique voice, and remembering one’s roots/forebears in order to open doors for future artists, an inter-panel conversation that could only take place as a result of a thoughtfully curated schedule.
Sunday’s panels were similarly comprised of diverse yet intersecting voices between “Teen Latinx Memoir” hosted by the incredible DC-based organization Latin American Youth Center, the children’s literature panel called “Building the Jungle Gym,” and the “Queer Romance” panel. One pressing criticism I had last year was that I felt that many of the panels failed to include Black or even non-white passing panelists, a lack that felt even more palpable once the #DrawingWhileBlack hashtag was launched and one could see a significant number of posters present throughout the Expo.
This year I was delighted to find that not only did the sampling of panels I attended more visually reflect the diverse experience within the visual arts field, this representation continued for subjects that were not explicitly about race. As an example, I thought that both Shauna J. Grant’s (creator of Princess Love♥Pon and listed as one of the Five Blackest Manga You Should Be Reading Right Now) and Shannon Wright’s (creator of Castor & Carina: Halley’s Cosmic Combo) contributions to their respective panels really helped open up the conversations of nostalgia and childhood to a Black cultural lens. I’m also hoping that the “Teen Latinx Memoir” panel is part of a growing trend to invite non-adult voices to hold spaces of power in the arts community as creators in their own right and not just as audience members.
This brings us at last to the Ignatz Awards Ceremony, a celebration of achievement made even more necessary by controversies which can be best summarized by cartoonist Ben Passmore’s observation that “comics is changing, y’all. There’s some dusty people out here who don’t like it” (Phillip LeBlanc at The Beat has a great breakdown of what lead up to and followed the moment). Personally, I was mostly pleased to see a majority POC judging panel this year, including BNP favorite Taneka Stotts, as well as another longtime BNP favorite, Richie Pope, winning Outstanding Artist for The Box We Sit On.
It’s one thing to observe the shift in comics towards creators of color, LGBTQIA+ creators, and those of us that are both from online sidelines or in small conversations. It’s quite another to see the leaders of this movement, both seasoned veterans and fresh fighters, come together and palpably feel that passion fill Small Press Expo. To laugh through breakfast alongside creators whose work can make you feel seen right to your core or to bond with your new favorite artist through a shared side eye in the Exhibition Hall ’cause white folks be out here tryin’ it sometimes. (Also: the fact that SPX launched a fundraiser to #DefendThe11 indie comics community members facing a defamation lawsuit is wonderful show of support.)
It’s like leaving with a charge that I don’t think I can sum up any better than Rebecca Sugar’s heartfelt quote during her panel: “Failure is not a problem. Stopping is a problem. There will always be bad drawings, but there’s no problem if you kept moving forward. Don’t stop. Please don’t stop.”
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The post Small Press Expo 2018 Round Up: Comics and Community for Creators of Color appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.