Recent reviews by Insomniac Jack

Journal excerpt, Week 70

I had just completed my prime objective for a dungeon: exploring 90% of it's rooms. The strain of this gruelling expedition manifested itself in their faces. My exemplary team of seasoned veterans, equipped with the best set of skills, perks (virtues), armors, weapons and trinkets, was weary and on the brink of madness. Yet there I still was, down to my last torch and enveloped in absolute darkness, tenaciously rummaging those cavernous depths.

Out of ambition, or perhaps mere compulsion, I just had to explore the remaining rooms. In the corridor leading to the final chamber, I stumbled upon a "Shambler's Altar". With promise of splendid treasure within, my inquisitiveness and greed took their toll. Despite my better judgement, I activated it with my remaining torch. Like a mollusc drawn into an anglerfish's hellish jaws by a shimmering light, I would come to regret my reckless decision.

A hideous abomination spawned before us! It's ear shattering shreeks instilled horror and hopelessness among my heroes. This took the battle to another level, now not only were they combating the demon in front of them, but their inner demons as well - who festered at a galloping rate. To make matters worse, the monstrosity kept calling forth tentacles which relentlessly molested my champions. Relishing our doom, these excited appendages strengthened with every lash whilst the nightmarish fiend spewed corrosive slime and lacerated my band of unfortunate souls.

They fought valorously, given the ungraceful circumstances, but unfortunately their luck had turned. Amidst the calamity and dissonnance, I tried retreating - to no avail! Like a cold chill, dread overwhelmed me as I felt death creeping around the corner - innescapable, ready to make it's claim. My heart sunk and my spirit faltered as I helplessly witnessed their excruciating demise, the sound of defeat maddeningly reverberating like a throbbing tambour within the contours of my mind. One by one, they met their dire end: choking on blood, bludgeoned, torn to pieces, shattered by that eldtrich thing and it's slimy extremities.

Livid, bereaved and devastated, hysteria engulfed me, followed by an extended spell of violent tremors and frantic bellowing. I have caught a glimse of a terrible truth and there was little I could do but to frolic in it's folly.


This wasn't the first time such occurences came to be, nor will this one be the last. Despite orchestrating the ruinous predicament of my chosen heroes, and lucidity forsaking me, I cannot abandon this burdensome path. For in the wake of these catastrophic maelstroms, I revel in the voyage ahead, or perhaps, have been mesmerized by the macabre aura emitted by this place...

I cannot dissuade you from partaking in this harduous journey; certainly, there are rewards and moments of delectation to be found, but they are few and far between when compared to the unspeakably wicked, transcendent horrors and constant tribulations you will come to endure. You've been warned, do so at your own peril! And most importantly, remember that overconfidence is a slow and insidious killer.

A poor man's Dragon Age, The Witcher and Dark Souls.

In short, the "Wasteland Workshop" dlc adds a number of things for you to craft within your settlements.

Here's what you get:

• Animal Cages - to lure nearly every creature in game, as well as super mutants, gunners and raiders
  
• Arena platforms and a beta wave emitter - enabling arena fights and taming captured creatures
  
• Concrete structures - walls, floors, roofs, stairs, ramps
  
• Traps
  
• Electric powered doors
  
• Neon signs, and lights - including individual letters, candles, lamposts, campfire, etc
  
• New decorations - wall mounted trophies, buses, and lettered signs
  
• Garden plot, water pump, fusion power generator
  
• Decontamination Arch - aka rad removal shower

Even though I can't help but feel like a lot of this stuff should have been in the game to begin with, I would have to trap myself with that thought to see the Wasteland Workshop in a bad light. Because what you get is fairly decent. Being able to build arenas, capture creatures/people and pit them against each other or settlers/companions for your amusement, and have insanely dangerous pets, are all pretty cool features. Whereas the additional craftable items add a bit of spark, convenience and variety.


For those of you who like settlement building and blood sports, this dlc is a real treat.