According to the article linked above, the servers went down around 8 AM GMT this morning, and weren’t back up as of the time it was posted. For those who want to play their legally purchased copies of the game, they seem to be out of luck until at least tomorrow, as that’s when Ubisoft said they’ll be looking at the issue. If I had actually purchased this game, I’d be incredibly angry about this. Luckily, it’s not my problem.

So, for those gaming companies who insist this is necessary, are incidents like this enough? Since the DRM system is already cracked by pirates anyway, and it’s likely only a matter of a few days before  it’s specifically cracked for Assassin’s Creed 2? When are you going to stop punishing your actual customers for the actions of people who were never going to buy your game in the first place? I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, I will not buy or play any game that uses any inconvenient DRM technology. If you want my business, and that of countless other gamers, fix this. And by fix this, I mean stop using these DRM schemes. Though Ubisoft also owes it to their customers to get their servers back up as soon as possible, and they should have been working on them already. Of course, what they should really do is release a patch to remove this awful DRM scheme, then never speak of using it again.

To be clear, I do not condone piracy. However, the measures Ubisoft has taken while attempting to protect their game are, in the end, a spectacular failure of customer service, and I’m willing to bet in the next day or two they’ll be shown to be a technical failure as well due to some pirate group releasing a crack. Then, the pirates will be heralded as heroes for fixing the game and releasing it as it should have been released in the first place.

Group character creation is what a lot of people start out with. Many times, everyone is learning the game for the first time, and players and gm alike will be helping everyone pull together the character they want. Everyone will probably take on a different role in order to have a balanced party, and eventually a group of adventurers will be formed. Players may or may not think of ways everyone is connected, but it probably won’t matter. Since it’s the first game, they’ll likely do an easy meet-up, such as meeting in a tavern or everyone will start out in jail or something along these lines. Fun will be had by all.

Of course, what might also end up happening is that one player may get shoehorned into a role he’s unhappy with for the sake of party balance. Typically, this is someone who plays the cleric in a game of D&D, before everyone realizes just how powerful clerics are. Using this example of the cleric, in a good scenario, this player will actually find out clerics are a lot of fun for him to play, or players will realize it’s okay to go without a healer and the player will choose a role he’s happy in playing. In a bad scenario, he’ll stick it out and not have a whole lot of fun with it.

A clever gm might even realize that it’s not necessary for all party roles to be filled for everyone to have fun. In this case, he might take each player aside to build their characters separately, so each player builds what is fun for him to play. In this case, the players don’t worry about party balance, and just play what they want. This has the added benefit that characters randomly meeting up don’t just happen to fit the mold of “standard adventuring party,” which can help preserve verisimilitude for people who care about this.

However, this method has it’s own issues. Some players like a well balanced party, and would fill a less fun role before having a skewed party. Additionally, if players don’t talk about their characters ahead of time, it’s harder to establish relationships between the characters. This can be done in game, but by the time gms are pulling this trick out, players are often used to establishing relationships ahead of time, so it feels clunky to do this in game for some people. Finally, if two or more people are fulfilling the same role, it may lead to one player handling the role much better than the other player, so the weaker player feels overshadowed and like he’s not contributing to the party’s success.

Now, you might have guessed this by now, but I prefer to take elements of both methods and put them to work, though I favor the group method in this blend. So, I ask players to build characters in a group, but also stress it’s absolutely not necessary to fill every role unless that’s the way they strongly prefer to play. I’d rather see them all have characters they enjoy playing themselves. Furthermore, if it looks like one player will overshadow another in a similar role in a cooperative game, I’ll ask them to help the other player bring his character up to snuff if he’d like the help. Some players do have roleplaying ideas in mind that work better when they are a weak link, and they always have the option to go that route, but I’ve found more often than not they’re happy to have some help in optimizing. Finally, I make sure players establish some relationships within the party so they have a reason to stick together. They can worry about any other backstory later, but having some established in-party relationships really makes the starting sessions of a campaign run smoother.

The hardest part of this third blended approach is getting players to buy into the idea that every role doesn’t need to be covered. So, I tend to explain that this party weakness can lead to creative problem solving when they don’t have the typical solution on hand, as well as good roleplaying opportunities when seeking help outside the party. Or, using another example from D&D, perhaps a player might find leadership a good feat to cover these weaknesses via a cohort and some followers, which also leads to good roleplaying opportunities. Similarly, taking the allies or contacts background in World of Darkness might provide similar help in overcoming obstacles not handled directly by the characters, though likely not quite as directly. Once I’ve laid these thoughts out, players usually buy into this idea. If not, or if they still strongly prefer a traditional party structure, they’re certainly welcome to play that way. I just think it’s good to stress it’s not necessary to do so to have a great campaign.

For Pathfinder, these skills can be used untrained, which means you can make a roll, add your base ability, and use that result. This means anyone can do it, it’s just easier for people with training. In World of Darkness, any ability that falls under a knowledge (like computer) can’t be done unless you’ve actually learned it by purchasing at least one point in said ability. An ability like drive takes a penalty on top of being untrained.

Both of these systems overlook an important issue in this though. Sometimes, there are things that people can just do. In the modern world, just about anyone can drive. Perhaps not well, but they can do it. In normal circumstances, it would be silly to ask a player to make a roll to drive successfully, or worse, tell them they simply don’t know how. Now, if they had no points in drive, it would be fair to say they only know how to drive an automatic, and if they get into a chase they’ll likely have a hard time. Driving point a to point b is still quite doable though. It’s a basic skill people have in the modern world.

Even more pernicious than this is the idea of a perception skill though. Yes, this certainly serves a purpose. However, you shouldn’t have to make a roll to see the door is closed, or that you’re about to walk into a lamppost. This is normal stuff. Rolling to note the well disguised signs of an ambush, or to hear a burglar creeping through your home would be appropriate, as this isn’t something that is common to note. That giant dragon in the sky though? Yeah, we all saw it ten minutes ago, and no, rolling a one doesn’t negate that. It’s too big to miss unless there is a severely mitigating circumstance, such as being blind.

The point here is simple. It’s not always appropriate to stick to the system with these skills. If a player wants his character to do something that could be done by anyone in the room, and the character has no disability preventing him from doing so, just let him do it. Use common sense. Or adopt the rule proposed in World of Darkness: “only ask for rolls when the results of failure are interesting.” Not noticing an ambush is interesting because it changes the dynamics of the battle. Walking into a door you didn’t see even though a normal person would see it and getting a concussion is not interesting, it’s annoying and makes players think the GM just wants to make their characters his playthings.

While mechanics are important, also remember the story. These characters are supposed to come alive, so treat them like they’re people. If something is ridiculously easy for a highly trained person, and something most normal people could accomplish, just let the character do it. Save the rolls for the difficult things, where suspense is needed, or when you need tension. And make sure the result of a success or failure is interesting, instead of just annoying. Keep the story moving, instead of bogging it down with needless bookkeeping because you want the 15th level ranger to make a survival check to find food in a lush jungle setting. He can do it. Don’t waste everyone’s time.

Tony Huynh has Greatest Video Game Trailers, God of War III (3) Release date and cover for us, posted on LimitlessUnits.com. His words say it all: “A countdown to the greatest video game trailers of all time. God of War III release date and cover finalized.” Props to him for including the Gears of War trailer in his list of great trailers. I’ve never played the game, but the trailer is a great one. Of course, he picked some other good ones to include as well, so allow him to take you on a stroll down memory lane while you wait for God of War 3 to release.

Meg gives us Game Review: Funky Farm 2 which she has posted at Simpson’s Paradox. The review is full of personality, much like she says the game is, and if you’re into farm sims like Harvest Moon, you may want to check out this review to see if Funky Farm 2 might also be a good fit for you. Of course, you could also check it out just to support other bloggers who play games or if you’re in the market for something different from your usual.

Curtis has some tips in his post How to Obtain Crop Mastery in Farmville | FarmVilleTime.com at FarmVilleTime.com. As he succinctly put it, “Farmville on Facebook – Tips, Secrets, and Hints”. This is, of course, for those who like the Facebook game Farmville and are looking for some help on obtaining crop masteries. I don’t play myself, but Curtis lays out the process for those who do and are looking to figure out how it’s done.

James Feudo gives us some life advice in his piece Life Lessons From Video Games | Overnight Sensation – Public Speaking, Communication and Personal Development posted at Overnight Sensation, telling us, “If you’re looking for evidence that video games help you in the game of life, then look no further.” In this piece, he draws some parallels between life and gaming, using ideas such as playing to your strengths, obtaining power-ups, and managing your growth. It’s an interesting read and you should check it out.

Finally, because I would like to see at least one post on the topic of tabletop rpgs in the carnival, I’m leaving a link to post by yours truly. Leveling by Plot Rather Than XP, posted right here at Gaming My Way, describes some alternative methods to leveling up characters for the purposes of plot advancement instead of just handing over some experience points. While not for everyone, the ideas could certainly be useful for some styles of gaming.

That concludes this edition of the Gaming My Way Blog Carnival. You can use the carnival submission form to submit posts for next month’s carnival, to be hosted on March 25, 2010. Be sure to check out some of the posts of other submitters and perhaps leave a friendly comment or two if you like their work.

Now, to clarify, I think there are plenty of arguments you could make for banning D&D in jail. Of course, most of those arguments would also lead to banning sports, video games, and most of the other small amenities prisoners enjoy while living what is probably a soul-crushing life behind bars. However, “D&D promotes gang activity” was not one of those reasonable arguments.

Onto the meat of what I want to talk about though. That is the irresponsible news reporting of the Boston Herald. A couple examples from this illustrious piece, with my responses:

““They even acted this crap out,” the source said.”

I wanted to address this point out first, because it seems so innocuous, but it’s loaded. First, they talk like acting is a bad thing. Acting, to one degree or another, is integral to the experience. It’s creative, group storytelling. Like putting together a play, with the dangerous or impossible parts determined by dice and described by the group. Second, this makes out those who larp as crazy, and while I find the idea of larping not to my liking, I have friends who larp and understand it’s just a more active form of the game. Furthermore, larping is safe, as they use fake foam weapons that you couldn’t possibly injure someone with. Think Nerf, and you know exactly how dangerous what they use is, which is not at all. Finally, the reference to roleplaying as “crap”. Sure, you might not like it, but leave the rest of us alone. This “crap” didn’t lead to the killing. It doesn’t deserve your comtempt. Get over it and do something productive with your time instead of slandering a harmless pastime.

“The popular fantasy role-playing game has a long history of controversy, with objections raised to its demonic and violent elements. Some experts have cited the D&D backgrounds of people who were later involved in violent crimes, while others say it just a game.”

And of course, how can we forget this standard, throwaway line guaranteed to promote controversy and ratings. The only controversy is from the fact that we legitimize the opinions of people who know nothing at all about the game. I realize some may say I’m doing that by arguing this here, but what I’m talking about is when we treat the opposing opinion as equal all the time, even when it is factually wrong or misleading. Yeah, there are demons and violence in D&D. There are also demons and violence on TV, in books, and in the Bible that provides the grounds half these people are using to stomp all over D&D. Just because there are demonic characters doesn’t make the game demonic. They’re part of the evil in campaigns that is typically fought against. The violence is just as justifiable as any movie violence is, and there is usually more violence in any action movie than in a game of D&D. And to be clear, referencing the first point a bit, the violence is part of a story being written and played through by a group of people, it is not literally acted out.

Finally, a point on the experts involved. If you cited the D&D background of someone involved in violent crime as a cause of the crime, then you are not an expert on D&D or roleplaying games. Anyone who has actually sat down and played this game knows for a fact that it is harmless entertainment. It does not create killers, it does not enroll people in a satanic cult, it is not an affront to God. It is a game, it is fun, it teaches people to creatively think on their feet, and it allows everyone to create a story together, cooperatively, or blow off some steam in an imaginary battle against evil. Among other good things.

So, to those who report the news. Stop legitimizing controversy that isn’t legitimate. If you insist on reporting the other side to be “fair and balanced”, be sure to explain when they are, in fact, wrong and shouldn’t actually be taken seriously. Better yet, just stop acting like D&D is some evil, controversial activity and report on the actual story, which was about a serial killer, not about D&D causing him to kill, since that isn’t what actually happened.

In short, please report on facts, not fiction. Thank you.

That’s right, it’s me with some more reasons MMORPGs, particularly World of Warcraft, are bad, bad, bad. Of course, you already knew that, so let’s take a look at some of the best reasons.

5) They’re addicting.
No joke. Seriously, just check out the top reason for some of the withdrawal symptoms if you don’t believe me. I have friends who play hours upon end trying to get their fix of one more epic item. They give up lots of social opportunities in order to do “one more raid” in the hopes they’ll find what they need and not have it looted by a guild mate. Or enough gold to buy what they want from whatever vendors may be available. Most people will try to turn this around into a compliment about how awesome the game is. Now you’re prepared for it so you don’t fall into the same trap.

4) They turn you into a wimp.
“Warriors are so overpowered!” Ever hear that line? It’s the line of someone who just lost PvP to a warrior. Now, in most games, you pick up your character and try again. In an MMORPG? You go onto the official forums to let the devs know that the enemy class needs to be nerfed or yours needs to be buffed… preferably both! MMORPGs are so based on stats that the way to win is to have higher stats first, more skill second. This, in turn, leads you to looking to other people (in this case, the devs) to solve your problems for you, instead of you solving them yourself (such as by getting better at the game then winning). So much for self-reliance. And all of this is without even considering the physical aspects of wimpiness from a lack of exercise. Perhaps this isn’t a good life lesson. Apparently it works in MMORPGs though… after all, they want you to be happy, so you keep playing and hand over more of your hard earned money. Speaking of which…

3) They’ll drain your account dry.
Low on money? Too bad! It’s the end of your subscription period. If you want to play more, you must renew! I bet now you wish you didn’t leave your job to play games. Now, the smart thing to do here is cancel your account and run away as fast as you can, never to return to the game. Unfortunately, you’re addicted and need your fix (see point 5). So you dig into the college fund, or the rent money, and pay your bill to keep playing. This could also lead to some unpleasant social situations, including…

2) Losing your girlfriend (or boyfriend).
Now, I know what you’re thinking. Plenty of girls play MMORPGs. This is true. Plenty of them will still ridicule you if you make any one of these MMORPGs your life’s work, particularly if it means you pay less attention to them. And girls, you don’t get off the hook either. There are plenty of guys who will leave you too if you leave them in the lurch for a game. After all, I know very few people who will tolerate “Sorry I was late for our date honey, but there was a raid I had to finish before leaving the house.” It’s far, far worse if you miss the date entirely. Also, your significant other will see all this money you put into the game and wonder why it couldn’t go towards them… perhaps to make that date a bit more interesting.

1) Lose your soul.
Seriously, people say this like it’s a joke, so I have a story for you all. I lived in a dorm at school which was heavily into gaming. About half the dorm picked up World of Warcraft at launch. We didn’t see much of them after that. Once in awhile, however, the server might be down, or the internet on campus would go down. At this point, the WoW players would leave the comfort of their computers and virtual worlds, to wander the halls with a glazed look in their eyes. Many would lament their inability to play the game at the time, and it seemed to be all they could think about. They had lost their souls to WoW and become zombies for the MMORPG.

Still not convinced playing one of these games is a bad idea? Try it out for yourself then. Just have a support group ready to bring you back from the brink when you find out how truly bad these games can be for you.

Note: Once again, in case you missed it at the top, this piece is not at all serious. Don’t take it as such, and you’ll hopefully enjoy it. And if you’re one of those watchdog groups that thinks games are bad, this piece is not the place to do your research. I’m making certain claims because they’re funny, not because they’re true.

However, in a narrative game, you may want to tie leveling to a specific plot point rather than XP. For instance, defeating the demon king triggers a level, as the party has made a significant plot accomplishment. From a narrative point of view, they’ve proven their strength and are now expected to reliably be able to handle this situation, and possibly handle harder situations. Gaining a level represents being able to fulfill these expectations.

You might even give them the level just before this battle for other narrative reasons. Perhaps the fighter learned a new battle technique that is intended to help him battle the demon king. Maybe the wizard has just developed a powerful binding spell for this purpose. Things like this happen all the time in stories, yet in rpgs they always seem to happen after the battle when the new techniques are no longer immediately needed. Of course, this needs to be done carefully, since you don’t want their new powers to completely overshadow your boss encounter either.

Perhaps they spend a year studying with appropriate high level masters of their particular art, be it martial or magical. After this time, it’s likely highly appropriate they gain a level or two. That study and dedication ought to be worth something. For it to matter, it also ought to be roleplayed through of course, unless the point is to give them levels to prepare them for a much higher power part of the story.

Another possibility is that their power is tied to an item, quest, or deity in some way. By retrieving the item, they assimilate its power into their being, as though it’s an extension of them. By taking on a quest and coming into alignment with a higher purpose, perhaps they draw power from that purpose or a god aligned with that purpose. Perhaps, if you can work out the bookkeeping ahead of time, you could even have them level up in the middle of a combat to deal with awakening powers or perfecting new techniques in stressful situations.

This is convenient for matching party power to plot pacing since you can do it without messing with the numbers to make it work. You just have to be sure the players buy into a heavy narrative game, but hopefully you can agree on a style with your players without worrying about how levels are doled out. The main point is to make leveling less about bookkeeping and instead have it serve the story you and your players want to tell.

1. Rod of Lordly Might

Here we have the Swiss Army knife of Dungeons and Dragons. First, it’s a staff with the ability to cast Hold Person, Fear, and a weak version of Vampiric Touch once per day. But wait, there’s more! It can also be used as a magical mace (+2)! Need a torch? No problem! Just turn it into a flaming longsword (+1) instead. Not only will it light your way, it does a number on all of your enemies at the same time!  And for those times you need raw power over all else, turn it into a magical battleaxe (+4) with which to cleave through your enemies. For those who prefer long pointy sticks, you can have your choice of shortspear, longspear, and lance (all +3). It really does everything! And that’s still not all! Extra functions include an extendable ladder that can anchor in rock as hard as granite, the ability to force open doors, a compass, and an altimeter in case you happen to be out for a pleasant ride on dragonback! And it’s all yours if you help the town out with it’s troll problem! Seriously though, what’s not to like about it?

2. Boots of Dancing

This is the one gimp item I’ve given a player that they truly seemed to enjoy. These cast what is possibly my favorite wizard spell in the game, Irresistible Dance, on whoever is foolish enough to wear them into melee. Or run from melee in them. There’s nothing quite like telling a player who charges into melee that he begins break dancing and doesn’t know why. But hey, it’s a really fun curse, even despite its irritations from a mechanical perspective. Not saying I wouldn’t get rid of them first chance I had, but they are fun. Besides, once a player manages to remove them, there’s nothing quite like the revenge they take in using the boots against an unsuspecting npc.

3. Dust of Sneezing and Choking

This is another fine cursed item. Casting it into the air in hopes of revealing invisible foes, everyone begins coughing and sneezing instead. Incidentally, it does reveal invisible foes, it just does so by the sound of the coughing opponent. Of course, no one actually gets to do anything about it, since anyone in the area is completely unable to do anything else. Assuming they even survive the constitution damage. Of course, if you know what it is beforehand somehow, and properly prepare someone to release it, this can actually be a devastating first strike against any foe, followed up with the rest of the party once the designated patsy releases the first strike. And turning a cursed item to your advantage is where the real fun begins.

4. Javelin of Lightning

Ever since you’ve heard of Thor or Zeus, and perhaps even before then, you’ve always wanted to throw lightning bolts. Here’s your chance. Every one of these Javelins is a lightning bolt in a can just waiting to be released. Really. Just throw them and watch the fun. I know it’s simple, but that’s really all there is to this one.

5. Oathbow

Under normal circumstances, this is just a very well made bow designed for those of above average strength. However, swearing an oath to kill an opponent turns this bow into a magical powerhouse whenever used against that enemy, while making it less stellar against all other opponents. The oath remains in effect until the enemy is slain or seven days elapse, whichever comes first. Then it can be done all over again. This is great for those characters who would make such oaths, and have that kind of single-minded determination to pursue an enemy to the end. Come to think of it, it would be a great fit for a holy warrior wielding a Sun Blade and Shield of the Sun. (See below and you’ll see what I mean.)

6. Apparatus of the Crab

I don’t know what crazy wizard thought of this item, but it’s D&D’s equivalent to a tank and submarine all rolled into one. Without the giant guns anyway. It requires two people to truly pilot effectively, but man, the look on the faces of the enemy when they see a giant metal crab approaching is worth it. So is the protection offered. It’s a little clunky to move around in, but what proper tank isn’t? Time to find some wizard spells that don’t require line of effect in order to really dish out some pain from the inside. Just in case the pincers weren’t enough for you. I love using this as an enemy, only to have the players find out there are two more inside, fresh and ready to fight once the crab itself is taken down. Which is no easy feat on its own. It’s also great to let the players use in one-off missions for a kingdom, particularly if they’re lower in level and you want to let them have a taste of power and bigger combats to come.

7. Dust of Dryness

This powder is incredibly absorbent, with the ability to soak up 100 gallons of water and store it in an area the size of a pebble. When hurled down, it then releases all absorbed water. As long as you can find a lake or ocean to use, getting all that water is easy. After that, the fun part begins. All that water exploding away from the pebble should cause some havoc. You won’t get any floods out of it, but you’ll probably knock over your enemies from the power of the current, provide enough water for a town to make it through a drought if you’ve been carrying it awhile, or really ruin a fire elemental’s day, among many other possibilities.

8. Instant Fortress

What’s cooler than having your own fortress? Keeping your own fortress in your pocket, then dropping it on your enemies’ heads when they attack you! That’s exactly what the instant fortress allows you to do. Complete with battlements and arrow slits, it grows straight out of a metal cube and roots itself into the ground, mauling and pushing away those who attempted to invade your personal space bubble. Also great when you need an impromptu way to block the pass into town from the roaming bandits. Definitely beats building the fortress by hand. Especially when you have about a minute to get the job done.

9. Ring Gates

You know how sometimes, you just have to split the party even though you know it will end badly? Well, these will help make it end less badly. Items can be transferred between these two magic hoops, so if one group realizes they need something the other group has, just send them a message and have them send it on back to you. Also coordinate a two pronged attack without using telepathy. Or learn a cool new fighting style through the hoops. Maybe the tank can hold up one hoop while the rogue sneak attacks through the other from a safe distance away. Or maybe that falls under the clause of being too far away, you might need a GM call on that one. Casting spells through the ring is a go though, so that’s very helpful for the frail wizard who wants to deliver a devastating touch spell, or a cleric who prefers to heal the party from a distance. In short, very versatile, and helpful in a variety of circumstances, particularly with some planning.

10. The Shield of the Sun

Perfect for the non-chaotic warrior of justice. Everyone knows warriors don’t know magic, but can derive power from great artifacts. This is one such artifact, which grants spellcasting as a level 20 paladin to the wielder, among other perks. In return, the wielder must undertake a quest every year at the behest of a good deity. Between the quest likely undertaken in order to find this shield in the first place, as well as every quest taken thereafter, this is a beautiful choice for lots of extra plot. It also provides magic for the holy warrior that wishes to rely on his tools rather than inherent magic, and in return you’ll see the warrior doing a lot of good questing. I love pairing this with a Sun Blade, which is especially useful against evil creatures and has a daylight power that seems to fit right in with this shield and the theme of a warrior gaining magic through his tools rather than a deity.

Admittedly, it is not my favored solution, as I believe it would be possible for Sega to do a 3D Sonic game justice if they really put in the effort to do it right. After all, we have Sonic’s and Shadow’s levels from Sonic Adventure 2 as a barometer of that, and they were great… but the levels of the other four characters weren’t, because they didn’t focus on the speed, or really any fun gameplay at all.

However, that said, I’m still pleased by this development because I really think Sega will get back to the speed that made Sonic great in doing this. After all, in a 2D Sonic game, speed is what they rely on for the gameplay, they don’t have the excuse of issues with 3D level design, and they’ve stated that their intent is to bring the speed back. And really, quality gameplay trumps pretty graphics as far as I’m concerned, so as long as they get the gameplay right, I’ll be happy.

That isn’t to say that the game won’t be good looking though. After all, even the Genesis Sonic games looked great aesthetically, even though they were far more limited technically than games today. In addition, Sega has said they will be making this game HD, which is good news for those looking for some graphical punch. This, of course, leads me to believe the game will be released on the PS3 or 360 (or both), but not the Wii, as the Wii doesn’t have HD capability. Also, which consoles will get the game is just my speculation, as no details have actually been released other than it will be for a current generation console.

In any case, I find this very exciting news, as I’ve been waiting for a return to the speed that has been lost over time. Here’s hoping they make this a great game that really beings the series back to life, both in terms of excellent gameplay as well as a fan following.

Now then, onto the good stuff. You’re going to need a couple things. First, you need a mage from the Order faith. Then, you need access to the summon warrior spirit spell. Most likely, this means lots of research in the order library, meaning you’ll need to have control of the order faith for a good long time. It may also be possible to trade for the spell though. Or, since we’re cheating anyway, you could just use the “all spells” code and save yourself the trouble.

Once you have these things, it’s pretty simple. You enter battle, and you cast your summon warrior spirit spells to summon as many warrior spirits as you would like to have. Then, once the battle is sure to go your way, you hit the autocalc button before the combat has a chance to end. This will finish the battle up for you, but it will bypass the end of battle flag that causes the warrior spirits to disappear when the fight ends. This will lead to you keeping those warrior spirits you summoned in battle. You do still have to pay the upkeep costs on them though, so don’t get too greedy. Also remember, if you ever finish a battle with these warrior spirits, they will disappear, so you must autocalc any fights you have with your free warrior spirits, whether you do so from the beginning, or you wait until just before the fight ends.

So, as you can see, they are a bit more restricted than the real warrior spirits, but that’s not the point. The point is that it’s fun to glitch games, especially if you might be able to wrangle some sort of advantage out of them.

Now, armed with this new knowledge, adventure forth into Urak, and whip those followers of Chaos into line. And while you’re at it, consider saving the world with those knights in shining armor you’ll be summoning too.