PolyCast Episode 175: "In Response to That"

[crawf0rd]

It's for anyone that wants to call in to further discuss a topic, preferably if they have a different perspective that what was discussed. Either from the current live show or on a topic discussed on a prior show.

Gotcha. Thanks!

 

[DanQ]

To append to MadDjinn's answer, you can call in using Skype (free) or any phone with long-distance capability: we have a number based in the United States and another in the United Kingdom.

 

[starstx]

Don't forget - Dan makes a poll every year to gauge listeners interest in the main topic groupings, so don't forget to vote .

May I suggest doing this every 6 months and getting some mid-season feedback?

 

[MadDjinn]

May I suggest doing this every 6 months and getting some mid-season feedback?

Knowing how much Dan loves polls, I'm sure he'll consider it.

 

[DanQ]

May I suggest doing this every 6 months and getting some mid-season feedback?

Knowing how much Dan loves polls, I'm sure he'll consider it.

You are the first to ask for this, stars, and it's not something I've previously considered let alone have discussed amongst all regular co-hosts. It will be made as a point of such conversation.

 

[kingchris20]

I just listened to this again throughout the last hour of my work day, and I gotta say, I missed the part about turn-based mobile games in the bathroom....LOL, just...one...more...turn........<hey, what are you doing in there> uuuhhhh.....LOL

 

[DanQ]

I just listened to this again throughout the last hour of my work day, and I gotta say, I missed the part about turn-based mobile games in the bathroom....LOL, just...one...more...turn........<hey, what are you doing in there> uuuhhhh.....LOL

So many euphemisms, can't decide where to start so I won't.

 

[TheMeInTeam]

Is TheMeInTeam going to start playing Civ V again with BNW though? That guy is GREAT but he needs to climb back in the wagon! Must have something to do with his handle.

No worries, most if not all of us have a thick skin . Long answer inbound; I feel I owe it to my fans (both on this show and elsewhere) to explain, but I also want to do so:

I might indeed pick up BNW, probably on its first big sale. The turn times are a serious barrier against me playing. I don't need instantaneous turn times, but I need to be able to issue orders to my next unit without waiting a few seconds each time, and to get something under 10-20 seconds late game (standard maps can be much longer).

I don't think I can match what I did in civ IV in V though; I was in graduate school or looking for work or both during my civ IV time. As a result, I sunk many available hours into the game and due to the rate at which I could play it that turned into game spam + a lot of mechanics learned. These days I split time into games like Dark Souls and am looking to pick something else up as well, so it's unlikely that I'd turn into a civ V strategy superhero or something, aside from perhaps highlighting some of the more abusive things . I am aware that the quality of my commentary on the show has dipped...not because of technique or presence, but I just plain don't know civ V like I know civ IV (though I do follow it) and that's a limiting factor.

I've had a few more things going on IRL than just work though. If it were just work, I'd still be uploading to youtube consistently. I've had to put up with everything from shingles (can be pretty brutal even though my case was relatively mild), to thyroid medication dosing and type issues (hours spent researching that alone, there's a lot more to thyroid replacement than even most doctors are willing to touch), to two separate + ongoing major family events..one being pretty divisive. Even when I had time for extra gaming, sometimes I haven't had the energy...be that mental energy or just literal physical fatigue.

Recent bloodwork (2 days ago) showed that I've still been slightly hypo the past 6 weeks, but better than before (I've lost 8 pounds just from switching medications alone within 2 months, same caloric intake (I actively track it), just as an example of what can happen). If I'm not on replacement, I essentially don't have thyroid function (TSH scores and hormone levels were that off the 1st time I got checked) and that makes the pitfalls of insufficient replacement more pronounced.

I've had the dosage pushed up, and we'll see how I do. This has been an ongoing problem for a few years now and I'd be lying if I said it didn't impact me, but I don't know how much. I don't like using it as an excuse, especially because it's never certain the degree of impact vs what's in my head. I could literally make this post 4x longer just by giving highlights of what I've learned by sifting through pubmed articles, online accounts, potential foods that inhibit function, and individual inquiries into each of the hormones, but at least I have a chance now that I understand things better (think the dedication I used to civ IV, and apply it to this but with a little extra incentive).

On a more positive note, I think I've figured out a way to get my avermedia capture device (records to external USB HD) to work on a PC monitor also. I'll test it once I get the cables, but I should easily be able to record with 0 strain on the PC if it works out, since the device would just pick up the signal en route to the monitor and has its own processor. The spike in video quality on my stuff will be enormous should I succeed.

 

[arik24]

; how long have you been listening, and how did you first come across PolyCast, if you don't mind my asking?
:mischief/QUOTE]

I stated listening at Episode 163: Everything But the Kitchen Sink, but really got into when you all started talking about BNW and things. I found out about PolyCast on civfanatics which I look at daily.

 

[Seek]

@TheMelnTeam - Wow, I had no idea these medical issues were going on in your life! It's due to your Civ4 LPs that I got back into the Civ franchise again (used to play Civ 2 way back when), and I've been anticipating your return to actively posting LPs for a while now. Thank you for sharing with the community what happened and what influenced the drop in LP'ing.

I would (as I think others would) be interested in hearing your take on Civ5 post-BNW, considering your opinion of the game to this point. (Btw, as a member of the Frankenstein group, don't you get a copy of every civ release? Seems crazy to me that they'd make you buy them after giving you access to betas to playtest.)

I very much hope everything works out for you with these awful medical problems (even if it doesn't mean more LPs and/or civ-related youtube content). Feel better man.

 

[Hulking Lummox]

@TMIT I am very sorry to hear about your troubles. I made my comment about you needing to play BNW because I actually recently started watching/listening to your civ 4 LPs because I find you so entertaining on polycast. (I only ever played a few hours of IV on my brother's computer before Civ V came out so that says a lot about the quality of your commentary). Just wanted to see if I could nag you into playing more civ V because I like hearing what you have to say.

Since you quoted me in your post, I'd just like to say that I like to tease and am sarcastic by nature so I hope my comment did not cause even the slightest bit of offense. It feels easy to razz you or say, Dan, on the basis of hearing you all give each other crap on the show (and that familial vibe is a testament to polycast). It's totally understandable that life takes twists and truly your health is the most important thing to divert to when there is a lot going on in your life. All of my best, I am going to send you a PM too, that is more relevant to what you shared.

 

[DanQ]

I stated listening at Episode 163: Everything But the Kitchen Sink, but really got into when you all started talking about BNW and things. I found out about PolyCast on civfanatics which I look at daily.

Hope you're able to find one or more episodes from our archives to enjoy in the interim of the release of the next episode which, as it happens, was recorded yesterday.

@TheMelnTeam - Wow, I had no idea these medical issues were going on in your life! [..] Thank you for sharing with the community what happened and what influenced the drop in LP'ing. [..]

I very much hope everything works out for you with these awful medical problems (even if it doesn't mean more LPs and/or civ-related youtube content). Feel better man.

As Seek said above. When the state one's health is impacted, all else by necessity is as well.

[TMIT]... t feels easy to razz you or say, Dan, on the basis of hearing you all give each other crap on the show (and that familial vibe is a testament to polycast).

 

[DanQ]

... Civ modding remains the purview of ModCast. (The first season of PolyCast being the notable exception, as it was before the ModCast show existed.)

I want to provide an update on this front, given that I couldn't be more specific at the time of the post above as I didn't want to give anything away.

After 1 1/2 years of absence, ModCast has returned to production and its forty-seventh episode is now available featuring a new regular panel.