Let's Play Deus Ex: A Series of Lectures

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Video Games > Let's Play! > Let's Play Deus Ex: A Series of Lectures

Bobbin Threadbare: Jan 2, 2009; I'm looking for a flock of urbanmechs.

rabiddeity posted:

I'm not sure if anyone else noticed, but the inclusion of Starbucks in the grid of "secret societies" under Personal Thoughts made me chuckle.

Well of course it is. Feuding coffee shops secretly controlled by a single master is a major subplot in Invisible War.

# ? Jul 1, 2014 08:06

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# ? Jun 6, 2024 10:00

Angry_Ed: Mar 30, 2010; Grimey Drawer

Bobbin Threadbare posted:

Well of course it is. Feuding coffee shops secretly controlled by a single master is a major subplot in Invisible War.

This was actually something that later blew my mind in real life unintentionally. See before Borders bookstores went out of business the cafe served "Seattle's Best" coffee. Which I thought was strange because wouldn't Starbucks (which is carried in competing bookstore Barnes & Noble) be more likely to stake that claim? Turns out that Seattle's Best was under Starbucks ownership since 2004 which was the same year that Seattle's Best just happend to start showing up at Borders.

Borders of course is now out of business (and their trademarks and customer lists were acquired by Barnes & Noble naturally). For as mediocre as Invisible War was, it inadvertently and accurately predicted coffee chains "competing" with each other while really being the same company.

# ? Jul 1, 2014 08:22

Paramemetic: Sep 29, 2003; Area 51. You heard of it, right?; Fallen Rib

As a Freemason, I personally love all the conspiracy theories directed at us, but equally amusing is when people get it wrong. Once I wore a ring to work at a psychiatric hospital, and a kid asked what it was. I asked him what he thought it was, and he said he thought I was a member of some dumb geometry fraternity. When I laughed and told him it was for Freemasonry he didn't know what that was, and this is a kid who was pretty savvy on conspiracies and knew allll about the Illuminati.

I really enjoy the Illuminati stuff just because it's so outlandish. That said, Freemasons did have a hand in the French Revolution, and Pope Leo XIII even wrote an encyclical that blasts us for our obviously evil beliefs in self determination, naturalism, popular sovereignty, and separation of Church and State. Of course, the late 1800s were not a great time for the Church, and Freemasonry was growing openly, so we seemed as good a target as any.

I have played this game tens of times, and have never talked to Dowd at length, or really explored all the small speech options for a lot of these guys. You've selected talking options in this playthrough I've never used, and it's been really cool. I appreciate seeing how a Denton I've never been handles things, and some of the exposition has just been awesome, so thanks.

# ? Jul 1, 2014 08:33

Tremors_Van_Zant: Jan 7, 2014

I like this Let's Play a lot, good job.

# ? Jul 1, 2014 10:11

Tecman: Sep 11, 2003; Loading the Universe...
Please Wait.; Pillbug

Bobbin Threadbare posted:

My opinion on the stinger is, "Well, I guess Human Revolution did well enough to warrant a sequel." I figure it'll take place during the Northwest War since that happens in 2031. I'm not sure who's supposed to be opposing the Illuminati since HR takes place before Bob Page betrays the others, but then it might just be an opposing faction within the organization.

The opposing organization is a bit more defined in the tie-in novel for HR (whose author was on the writing team for the game), though not that much. It's called the Juggernaut Collective, a global cyberterrorist group - basically a bunch of hackers.

One of the things in the novel was that they were tied with the New Sons of Freedom (which would then turn into the Northwest Secessionist Forces and even later into the National Secessionist Forces from DX). One character from the organization as presented in the novel shows up in the DLC (Janus), the other doesn't (D-Bar). Tho if I remember right, Lebedev was technically a member too, as well as the protagonists of the book.

I think Janus shows up in the mobile game too, but I haven't played through that one yet.

Also, thanks for the Illuminati section, I've also been waiting for it.

# ? Jul 1, 2014 14:10

Five: Jan 6, 2009

I live near Toronto and our local AM Talk Radio conspiracy theorist has so far been the only conspiracy theorist who has put together a working theory as to why the Illuminati haven't TOTALLY taken over the world and why he is still allowed on the Radio.

There are two Illuminati's working to cross purposes, of course!

# ? Jul 1, 2014 14:39

FinalGamer: Aug 30, 2012; So the mystic script says.

Paramemetic posted:

As a Freemason, I personally love all the conspiracy theories directed at us, but equally amusing is when people get it wrong. Once I wore a ring to work at a psychiatric hospital, and a kid asked what it was. I asked him what he thought it was, and he said he thought I was a member of some dumb geometry fraternity. When I laughed and told him it was for Freemasonry he didn't know what that was, and this is a kid who was pretty savvy on conspiracies and knew allll about the Illuminati.

I really enjoy the Illuminati stuff just because it's so outlandish. That said, Freemasons did have a hand in the French Revolution, and Pope Leo XIII even wrote an encyclical that blasts us for our obviously evil beliefs in self determination, naturalism, popular sovereignty, and separation of Church and State. Of course, the late 1800s were not a great time for the Church, and Freemasonry was growing openly, so we seemed as good a target as any.

I have played this game tens of times, and have never talked to Dowd at length, or really explored all the small speech options for a lot of these guys. You've selected talking options in this playthrough I've never used, and it's been really cool. I appreciate seeing how a Denton I've never been handles things, and some of the exposition has just been awesome, so thanks.

I have a boyfriend who recently joined the Freemasons through his father, and he wishes that half this stuff was true when instead he calls it "an old people's treehouse club with cool secret rings". Not that he minds, it's kinda cool to be part of something I suppose. He's definitely less secretive about it than my friend in high school who was a Mormon and just straight-up refused to answer any of my questions with a wave of "youuuu don't really wanna know it's pretty boring :rolleyes:

", so he tells me what he's allowed to tell me, I guess. I really don't know too much of how they operate nowadays or why but they really don't seem to be a harmful bunch to me, it feels more like a conglomerate of businessmen than anything else.

Though I kinda got skimmed over on the Scottish Rite and as a Scotsman I really have to ask, what the hell does that mean exactly and why is it called that?

# ? Jul 1, 2014 15:17

Paramemetic: Sep 29, 2003; Area 51. You heard of it, right?; Fallen Rib

FinalGamer posted:

I have a boyfriend who recently joined the Freemasons through his father, and he wishes that half this stuff was true when instead he calls it "an old people's treehouse club with cool secret rings". Not that he minds, it's kinda cool to be part of something I suppose. He's definitely less secretive about it than my friend in high school who was a Mormon and just straight-up refused to answer any of my questions with a wave of "youuuu don't really wanna know it's pretty boring ", so he tells me what he's allowed to tell me, I guess. I really don't know too much of how they operate nowadays or why but they really don't seem to be a harmful bunch to me, it feels more like a conglomerate of businessmen than anything else.

Though I kinda got skimmed over on the Scottish Rite and as a Scotsman I really have to ask, what the hell does that mean exactly and why is it called that?

If you're into boring answers, the boringest is the answer to that question. Basically, the oldest Masonic lodges on the record are from Scotland, with many having records predating the formation of the first Grand Lodge by a century or more. So a lot of early American Masons were Scottish, or Scotophiles. The latter group basically formed the Scottish Rite in 1801 in the US, and since there is a long Masonic tradition of inventing provenance to seem badass, they called it the Scottish Rite so they could trace back to Scotland.

Historically a lot of these little orders come and go, but the Scottish Rite caught on and became one of the main "appendant bodies" of Masonry, basically external, separate organizations that are Masonic in flavor and only accept Master Masons. The other big one is the York Rite, which has a similar provenance of name.

Notably, all of the degrees of both the York and Scottish Rites really do predate those organizations, as most appendant bodies are amalgamations of previous work. So while the Scottish Rite has no direct relation to the Order of Strict Observance mentioned by Bobbin, it did crib almost all of their degree work and then adjust it accordingly. Masonic degrees are basically initiatic rituals that confer a moral message or lesson, like a big kid's version of a fable, so there's that.

In Scotland and the rest of the UK, the Scottish Rite is known as the Rose Cross, not to be confused with the actual Rosicrucian organization, which is similar but not related to Freemasonry directly. It is also not to be confused with the Royal Order of Scotland, which is an honor society only for Masons but which actually has some connection to the nobility and is conferred only to Masons who have made some positive contribution to the world (and are Christian etc.).

We have a thread in A/T (because we are so secretive) so if you want to check out more about Masonry pop over there.

:mason:

# ? Jul 1, 2014 18:43

Bobbin Threadbare: Jan 2, 2009; I'm looking for a flock of urbanmechs.

Paramemetic posted:

Yes, but are you also an Illuminatus? The world needs to know!

# ? Jul 1, 2014 18:51

Rigged Death Trap: Feb 13, 2012; BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP

I think the usual method is Gish Galloping him and then accusing him of being a secret conspirator of conspiracy #x (and all preceding) when he opens his mouth.

Then going back home to blog about it, wildly over exaggerating everything.

# ? Jul 1, 2014 19:55

FinalGamer: Aug 30, 2012; So the mystic script says.

Paramemetic posted:

If you're into boring answers, the boringest is the answer to that question. Basically, the oldest Masonic lodges on the record are from Scotland, with many having records predating the formation of the first Grand Lodge by a century or more. So a lot of early American Masons were Scottish, or Scotophiles. The latter group basically formed the Scottish Rite in 1801 in the US, and since there is a long Masonic tradition of inventing provenance to seem badass, they called it the Scottish Rite so they could trace back to Scotland.

Historically a lot of these little orders come and go, but the Scottish Rite caught on and became one of the main "appendant bodies" of Masonry, basically external, separate organizations that are Masonic in flavor and only accept Master Masons. The other big one is the York Rite, which has a similar provenance of name.

Notably, all of the degrees of both the York and Scottish Rites really do predate those organizations, as most appendant bodies are amalgamations of previous work. So while the Scottish Rite has no direct relation to the Order of Strict Observance mentioned by Bobbin, it did crib almost all of their degree work and then adjust it accordingly. Masonic degrees are basically initiatic rituals that confer a moral message or lesson, like a big kid's version of a fable, so there's that.

In Scotland and the rest of the UK, the Scottish Rite is known as the Rose Cross, not to be confused with the actual Rosicrucian organization, which is similar but not related to Freemasonry directly. It is also not to be confused with the Royal Order of Scotland, which is an honor society only for Masons but which actually has some connection to the nobility and is conferred only to Masons who have made some positive contribution to the world (and are Christian etc.).

We have a thread in A/T (because we are so secretive) so if you want to check out more about Masonry pop over there.

Ohhhhhh...so it does originate from here, that's pretty neat! And no surprise that it of course occurs during the Jacobite Era right around the time when a lot of classist wars were occurring in Scotland between the Highland clans of old and the Lowland city-folk of new in what was more a civil war of time and progression rather than anything else.
Actually, considering Freemasons had an apparently large influence in America at the start of its colonial era, this WOULD explain why there are a lot of Scottish names and influences I see in the USA, like an unusually large amount of it that seems to extend a little beyond just simple immigration.

Granted that can be simply put down to the Clearances but that was the Gaelic population forced to leave off land that was stolen from them and they all went to Canada to found Nova Scotia rather than the States. But still, very cool to know thank you!

# ? Jul 1, 2014 20:19

SpeedGem: Sep 19, 2012; by Ralp

Bobbin Threadbare posted:

We now return to our regularly scheduled, um, schedule.

Handouts:

Public Bulletin: New Cremation Center
Public Bulletin: MARTIAL LAW
Public Bulletin: Government Shutdowns
Public Bulletin: Transit Disruptions
Public Bulletin: MOST WANTED
Joe Greene's Image
New York Voice: Party Against Tomorrow

Known misses: No known unknowns.

Not to be a jerk, but the bottom sewer pipe in the underground where the sniper was, contains an accuracy mod in it. I don't know why they put it there. Most of the weapons you have should be maxxed out accuracy wise by then anyways.

# ? Jul 1, 2014 20:50

The Rabbi T. White: Jul 17, 2008

Paramemetic posted:

We have a thread in A/T (because we are so secretive) so if you want to check out more about Masonry pop over there.

Oh you don't need to go to that thread.
Jon Safran has already blown the lid off your terrible, dirty secrets: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mVW7GM_I9E

# ? Jul 1, 2014 22:58

Bobbin Threadbare: Jan 2, 2009; I'm looking for a flock of urbanmechs.

Since I posted the original comment earlier, I thought I should let you see the continuing saga now that someone's gone and poked Gekiganger03.

# ? Jul 2, 2014 02:57

paragon1: Nov 22, 2010; FULL COMMUNISM NOW

How does one become qualified to use evidence and logic? Is there some sort of seminar I have to attend?

There isn't a fee is there? I'm all tapped out.

Edit: Cardiovascular diseases killed 800,000 people in 2010 alone according to the CDC (their website is really neat and useful by the way). Is this guy trying to say wheat killed them all?
http://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2013/p0903-vs-heart-disease.html

paragon1 fucked around with this message at 03:12 on Jul 2, 2014

# ? Jul 2, 2014 03:02

Shifty gimbal: Dec 28, 2008; Hey you... I got something to tell ya; Biscuit Hider

I've recently noticed that someone using the word "logic" in an argument, in the context of "using logic", is probably on the crazy side of an argument. There's something with that specific word that attracts the uneducated. It's usually when they're falsely appealing to either common sense or the scientific method.

# ? Jul 2, 2014 03:41

biosterous: Feb 23, 2013

Five posted:

I live near Toronto and our local AM Talk Radio conspiracy theorist has so far been the only conspiracy theorist who has put together a working theory as to why the Illuminati haven't TOTALLY taken over the world and why he is still allowed on the Radio.

There are two Illuminati's working to cross purposes, of course!

This sounds fun, I wanna check this guy out. What's his showtime and frequency?

# ? Jul 2, 2014 04:04

Kunster: Dec 24, 2006

There's something that cracks me up about that Adimeus track's flute. It sounds like whoever the composer was for that song didn't really know what to put on that peculiar part without feeling empty, so he just pulled a recorder and played it, going "YES, THIS FEELS MORE AYURVERDIC AND NOT TOTALLY TACKED ON" (Like how the Orchaestral version of Final Fantasy 8's Fithos Lusec Wecos Vinosec has a random woman burst into the recording studio and do completely out of touch vocals, hence probably why when googling for this song I seem to not be able to find a version with the flute.

Gimbal lock posted:

I've recently noticed that someone using the word "logic" in an argument, in the context of "using logic", is probably on the crazy side of an argument. There's something with that specific word that attracts the uneducated. It's usually when they're falsely appealing to either common sense or the scientific method.

It's a bit like how if you find someone bragging about being a critical thinker, you're probably about to start to hear A.W.Mann type garbage painted over with some sort of "apolitical logic science" feel into it that's just there to make one's "Brown people are just mentally inferior", and probably sees oneself justified since one ain't a redneck or smiled at a gay dude one time.

I kind of have a theory that the virus on the ship could not be on "Gray Death" mode. Adapated for it sure, but not necessarily with the order. Why else would they put it on somewhere that's admittedly on a lighter part of the ship, after x time of getting the ship from Dowd, outfitting it for such a purpose and keeping it on a base that Page went through the trouble of purchasing just for this purpose?

My God JC, You're The Bomb!

Kunster fucked around with this message at 10:01 on Jul 2, 2014

# ? Jul 2, 2014 09:46

FinalGamer: Aug 30, 2012; So the mystic script says.

Gimbal lock posted:

I've recently noticed that someone using the word "logic" in an argument, in the context of "using logic", is probably on the crazy side of an argument. There's something with that specific word that attracts the uneducated. It's usually when they're falsely appealing to either common sense or the scientific method.

It's like a politician using the word "truthfully", it's a living act of using a hypocritical word concerning your own stance in order to further your potential legitimacy towards the masses. In other words, "if I use this word people WON'T think I'm an idiot and actually a smart person! :v:

# ? Jul 2, 2014 14:53

Rohypnol Blitz: May 12, 2014

I've heard too many strange conspiracy theories about the Illuminati for me to actually take them seriously. Like how they control your dreams with a special coating on car door handles so that you will buy a certain brand of tuna. It's nice to finally watch a video involving the Illuminati without my inner dialogue screaming "Suuuuure"

# ? Jul 2, 2014 21:04

Xander77: Apr 6, 2009; Fuck it then. For another pit sandwich and some 'tater salad, I'll post a few more.

Bobbin Threadbare posted:

Smuggler Email: Informatsiya

Re: "Attached: Velichestvenyy". That word (properly conjugated at that, which is impressive) translates as "Grand" or "Magnificent" or... "Majestic".

Bobbin Threadbare posted:

We now return to our regularly scheduled, um, schedule.

The easiest way to thin out the MJ12 troopers is to let them converge on your and Stanton's location (possibly with the random thug in tow). Stanton is immortal, so they're going to shoot the poo poo out of each other while aiming for him - then run out of bullets. Simple.

# ? Jul 3, 2014 05:05

Cerebral Bore: Apr 21, 2010; Fun Shoe

Xander77 posted:

The easiest way to thin out the MJ12 troopers is to let them converge on your and Stanton's location (possibly with the random thug in tow). Stanton is immortal, so they're going to shoot the poo poo out of each other while aiming for him - then run out of bullets. Simple.

The only acceptable way to thin out the MJ12 troopers is to let them converge on your and Stanton's location and then apply a liberal dose of Willy Pete :colbert:

# ? Jul 3, 2014 07:14

Bobbin Threadbare: Jan 2, 2009; I'm looking for a flock of urbanmechs.

Today we conclude our look at modern secret societies by looking at the man known as the granddaddy of them all. Honestly, though, Rhodes is both the best and the worst man to be the grandfather of secret societies; while he certainly believed in one-world government, he did a terrible job of keeping his ambitions secret. The guy could've been a Bond villain if he was born fifty years later and wasn't so British.

Handouts:

APR: Terrorist Search
APR: "Aquinas"
Navy Email: Bot Repairs
Navy Email: Gray Death Reminder
Navy Email: ASF Clearances
Simons Email: Preparations
Simons Email: RE: Security Report
Simons Email: He has left
Simons Email: VersaLife

Known misses: I completely forgot to get into the locked door in the warehouse offices.

# ? Jul 7, 2014 17:04

JT Jag: Aug 30, 2009; #1 Jaguars Sunk Cost Fallacy-Haver

There's a certain appeal to the concept of a one-world government. Not the hegemonic, "one nation will dominate it" form that Rhodes dreamed, but the decentralization part he espoused is appealing. And, like you said, Bobbin, and this might be my bias as someone who lives in and is well off in the United States as well, I can't help but feel that a federal, decentralized model would be the best way to go about it. Effectively, if the EU incorporated every country on earth, gained a very limited taxation ability to allow it to maintain itself, and the component members were required to coordinate their militaries in a manner like NATO operates today, that's how I imagine an ideal one-world government on Earth.

# ? Jul 7, 2014 17:58

Kunster: Dec 24, 2006

Since Rhodes was mentioned and that he created Debeers, I figure I might as well post Edward Jay Epstein's article on Diamond Selling since Lucius DeBeers seems to be by pure namesake.

# ? Jul 7, 2014 18:09

The Casualty: Sep 29, 2006; Security Clearance: Pop Secret

Whiny baby

Why does it say the video is still encoding?

# ? Jul 7, 2014 19:39

delfrickintree: Jan 4, 2007; I Paint Naked Nerds

I love it when I get emails about new BobbinThreadbare videos

Rohypnol Blitz posted:

Like how they control your dreams with a special coating on car door handles so that you will buy a certain brand of tuna.

lmao

# ? Jul 7, 2014 19:45

paragon1: Nov 22, 2010; FULL COMMUNISM NOW

The Casualty posted:

Why does it say the video is still encoding?

The youtube video worked fine for me.

# ? Jul 7, 2014 20:28

double nine: Aug 8, 2013

This level is simultaneously one of the best and worst of DX. Best because of the incredible flexibility, worst because of the large amount of walking you need to do between buildings.

# ? Jul 7, 2014 20:53

Gonzo McFee: Jun 19, 2010

Today's update: A reminder that White people ruin everything.

Seriously, Africa is still a mess because of us and we should be ashamed that we keep doing it.

# ? Jul 8, 2014 00:07

Soricidus: Oct 21, 2010; freedom-hating statist shill

Gonzo McFee posted:

Today's update: A reminder that White people ruin everything.

Seriously, Africa is still a mess because of us and we should be ashamed that we keep doing it.

Wow, that's pretty racist. I'm sure Africans would have been perfectly capable of inventing corruption and violence for themselves if more advanced races hadn't shown them the way.

# ? Jul 8, 2014 00:39

Bobbin Threadbare: Jan 2, 2009; I'm looking for a flock of urbanmechs.

Soricidus posted:

Wow, that's pretty racist. I'm sure Africans would have been perfectly capable of inventing corruption and violence for themselves if more advanced races hadn't shown them the way.

Oh, they had plenty of both before we even showed up, but the Europeans imported techniques to produce industrial quantities of both. The governments of modern African nations are still patterned off colonial governments, even in cases where the natives overthrew the colonizers. The reason things usually go south after decolonization is that the new oppressive government doesn't have the international resources of the old oppressive government and therefore cannot exploit its people as efficiently or prevent them from rising up in successive waves of oppressive governments that favor one tribe or family. And that all is aside from the interfering that former colonizers and their corporations still commit to keep the governments pliable to international exploitation.

So to sum up, gently caress everything.

# ? Jul 8, 2014 00:47

Gonzo McFee: Jun 19, 2010

Bobbin Threadbare posted:

Oh, they had plenty of both before we even showed up, but the Europeans imported techniques to produce industrial quantities of both. The governments of modern African nations are still patterned off colonial governments, even in cases where the natives overthrew the colonizers. The reason things usually go south after decolonization is that the new oppressive government doesn't have the international resources of the old oppressive government and therefore cannot exploit its people as efficiently or prevent them from rising up in successive waves of oppressive governments that favor one tribe or family.

So to sum up, gently caress everything.

Yer, what this guy said.

# ? Jul 8, 2014 00:48

counterfeitsaint: Feb 26, 2010; I'm a girl, and you're
gnomes, and it's like
what? Yikes.

Africa: To sum up, gently caress everything.

# ? Jul 8, 2014 01:50

Super Jay Mann: Nov 6, 2008

Pfft, if African states didn't want their government, culture and land upended by foreign invaders leading to a seemingly unending period of instability, war, suffering, and social turmoil that may never be resolved even in several generations' time then they shouldn't have parked their villages on top of all those profitable diamond mines and rubber deposits. :colbert:

(The sad part is you know some people thought exactly this

)

# ? Jul 8, 2014 02:00

double nine: Aug 8, 2013

The sad part is that some well-intentioned organisations (ie assistance programs) have a destructive effect. By funneling money from the first world to third world countries, governments in those countries are incentivised not to prioritize needs for their own economy/population, but to focus on the demands of aid programmes to get that lovely aid funding. Sometimes the two needs overlap. Often, the country gets shafted while the aid money has a corrupting influence and detracts from the building of a national economy and society.

# ? Jul 8, 2014 02:19