Yes, another LP from Zarah. However, this time I'm tackling a game that's a little less daunting than Morrowind. This time, we're playing Oregon Trail II!
What the heck is this?
Oregon Trail II is the 1996 sequel to the best-selling educational game The Oregon Trail with better graphics, better sounds and better gameplay... Maybe. It tends to be overlooked by its more successful predecessor, but it's still a game worthy of standing on its own merits. It's fairly pathetic by today's game standards, but that's what makes it so much fun to play.
So why am I doing this Let's Play?
I recently stumbled over my Oregon Trail II CD, which reminded me of an utterly hilarious LP of the same game a while back on Something Awful. An LP where the answer to every single body of water, regardless of depth, was "FORD THAT MOTHER****ER." I wanted to see if I could relive some of the hilarity here with our own LP. Keep in mind that it's been years since I've seriously played this game, so I have no intention of doing this LP with any modicum of sanity. I aim to make this as ridiculous as possible, and recommend all of you to do the same. Let's not just make history, let's do it in the most ludicrous ways possible!
What's the backstory?
A group of 19th century settlers travels west, along the Oregon Trail, to discover a new home among the unspoiled lands. Along the way, they will encounter rivers, towns, forts, rivers, landmarks, wild animals, rivers and probably a disease or two. Or three. Everything else will come from the story that we craft.
Who are you playing as?
I'll be playing as the wagon leader, who will be named after myself. Five others will be accompanying me in my journey, who will be named after the first five people to post with interest to likely die of cholera. However, everyone is welcome to cast their votes into the pool.
Are we going to help play?
Yes! You will be the ones I am leading to a new life, so it only makes sense that you be the ones to make the calls. I will attempt to present nearly every interruption and obstacle along the way to you guys. I trust you will lead us to freedom. Or death. Probably death.
So, what are we waiting for? Let's hit the road!
First things first, I need to figure out who's coming with me. If you want your name in this LP, then post here with the name that you want and your starting age (ranging from 5 to 20, then increments of 5 until 65). The first five people who post with this interest will be chosen. We will be setting out in May of 1848 (the default settings) with $800 to live off of.
Secondly, we have some other stuff to choose. We need to pick one of four starting locations: Independence, St. Joseph, Nauvoo or Kanesville.
We also need to choose where we want to settle: Oregon City, Sacramento, Great Salt Lake City, or the Rogue River Valley.
Finally, we need to decide if we want to set out with a small farmwagon, a large farmwagon or a Conestoga wagon, which cost $60, $75 and $100 respectively.
I vote for Oregon City in a Large Farm-wagon. Lets start in Independence.
I always thought Oregon Trail II was the best, though I didn't play all of the games. I don't know what happened to our cd.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Zarah
We will be setting out in May of 1848 (the default settings) with $725 to live off of.
...
Finally, we need to decide if we want to set out with a small farmwagon, a large farmwagon or a Conestoga wagon, which cost $60, $75 and $100 respectively.
Note that the wagon seems to be separate from our spare cash, so we can potentially start with $740 and a small wagon or $700 and a conestoga.
I can tell already that this is going to take over my life.
I can see it now. It'll start at first with me mildly checking the site day after day for the odd chance that there was an update. "Heh. this is kinda funny." i would say Unaware of the madness slowly folding over me..
Days later my addiction would grow
checking this forum 5 times a day for an update. hoping for more! "Pleaseohpleaseupdateupdat- Darn." aware of the madness folding around me, But knowing it was too late...
Then. my addiction will grow to unhealthly levels. with me checking constantly for an update.
refreshing this thread every chance i get. "My Precious...... update my Preeeeecccccciiooouuussssssss..... HEHEHEHEHE!" The madness setting in fully as i live out the rest of my days in worship to the majesty of the Lets play and its creator.
That Said, Count me in.
I vote for IndependenceThe Rogue River Valley and A large Farmwagon
Edit: Age 25. Name Doesnt matter really. (Perhaps Russell? or Malak? Im horrible with names. Feel free to name me whatever you wish.)
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Originally Posted by Krade
In Roland We Trust.
Last edited by Aragehaor : 02-28-2010 at 03:29 AM.
Note that the wagon seems to be separate from our spare cash, so we can potentially start with $740 and a small wagon or $700 and a conestoga.
That it does. My bad. I fixed the main post, so we're starting with $800 as a total, minus the cost of the wagon, whichever we go with. Thanks for pointing that out, though.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Aragehaor
Edit: Age 25. Name Doesnt matter really. (Perhaps Russell? or Malak? Im horrible with names. Feel free to name me whatever you wish.)
Then I shall name you after your screenname, unless you have any objections. There'll be no confusion once you get sick with something that way.
If our name is used, would you be expecting us to RP? I don't have the creativity for that (or the time) but I'd love to be in there if you just need a name.
As for the name, I'll go for Leeroy.
Edit: Unless you're just using screennames, in which case AgentPaper or ThePaper works fine.
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Last edited by AgentPaper : 02-28-2010 at 03:48 AM.
If our name is used, would you be expecting us to RP? I don't have the creativity for that (or the time) but I'd love to be in there if you just need a name.
As for the name, I'll go for Leeroy.
Edit: Unless you're just using screennames, in which case AgentPaper or ThePaper works fine.
No, I just want names so there's a bit more of a personal connection. It's funnier to say that one of us died rather than some other random character.
Also, I think I'll go with screen names, since it'll be easier for other readers to keep track of who is really who. ...Not that it really matters, but like I said, it's funnier that way.
EDIT: But now I must sleep. Still need one more, then tomorrow, the adventure can truly begin.
Baby Binky, age 3. Let's leave out of Independence in a Conestoga, heading for Oregon City.
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Originally Posted by GungHo, on Battletech
The Atlas is also goofy but it has that whole "Stay Puft Marshmallow Man" menacing smile thing going for it. The guy who drew that one up was obviously taken to the Nutcracker when he was a child... and he was screaming in terror the entire time.
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Originally Posted by Enterti, Cogidubnus
Glyphstone, out of all the playground I think you scare me the most...
Age 15, Fiddler. Edit: Argh, it seems I'm a bit too late. ...unless you disqualify people who didn't give all the info and invalid responses... *mind control mind control*
I say we head out to Sacramento (GOLD RUSH!), starting from Independence.
Get a Conestoga Wagon. You're gonna need lots of space for all the chickens you're gonna bring.
I'll use the names of the first 5 with whatever the starting age was when I booted up the game. However, I'll use anyone I didn't get to for the next game, should we all die early. Which we probably will.
So, according to the votes, here's what we're setting out with (there was a tie between the large farmwagon and the conestoga, so I just went with the conestoga. We might need extra space):
Well, here I am in Independence.
My fellow settlers were getting antsy to leave, so I figured we should hit the road immediately. However, as soon as I took a step forward, I was approached by some merchant, no doubt trying to swindle me as he talked about "his package." I dunno how he found me, or why he approached me on the street, but it seemed fishy.
Fellow settlers, will we buy a starting package before we set out? Or shall we throw caution to the wind and stock up the way we see fit?
No, lets buy our own stuff. The starting packages never contained sufficient medicine, in my experience. I personally just bought 1 of every medicine (or more, if I knew it to be useful). Bring the standard rifle and accessories, some basic wagon parts, basic clothing/warm clothing, and plenty of food. Don't forget dried vegetables. Also a few of the more useful tools. A couple water-kegs should be essential. For draft animals, lets go with Oxen; get plenty; as a butcher, I imagine you'll be able to slaughter any that fall.
Out of curiosity, what skills did you take? Did you take any?
Be sure to buy as many anvils and grandfather clocks as possible.
I started as a butcher, so I have cooking as a skill. Also, the store had 2 grandfather clocks. They are now ours. I also bought a bottle of every medicine the man had, some clothes for all of us, and two banjos. Why? Because I could. He has no weapons, however, so I'll have to go somewhere else to buy those. EDIT: I just bought 3 water kegs too.
We should decide what kind of foodstuffs we want before I get carried away, though:
All of the beans they have in stock, and then as much as you can afford of maple syrup, candy, licorice, lard, molasses, and honey, without making us too broke to buy lots of guns when we get to that.
Food is for suckers. Buy lots of guns and bullets, hunt.
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Originally Posted by JaronK
Frankly, a Wizard can suck even more than a Fighter could ever dream of sucking. A Fighter can stab himself to death, but only a Wizard could Plane Shift to some horrible far realm to be tortured for an eternity of insanity.
Bacon. We can buy all 600lbs of it for only $30. (Don't do that though. )
Take a couple pounds of celery, as it is cheap.
A pound or two of coffee beans.
20lbs cornmeal, 20lbs dried beans, 20lbs dried fruit, 20lbs dried vegetables. 20lbs flour. 5lbs lard. 10lbs onions. 20lbs potatoes. 20lbs rice. 25lbs pickles. 5lbs pemmican. Assorted other tastier food. Cheese? That's 185lbs of foodstuffs, plus however much bacon we take. How much have we packed of other things, and how much can we carry?
5000lb capacity. We won't even come close to that, I expect, so buy maybe 50-100lbs of bacon.
Bacon. We can buy all 600lbs of it for only $30. (Don't do that though. )
Take a couple pounds of celery, as it is cheap.
A pound or two of coffee beans.
20lbs cornmeal, 20lbs dried beans, 20lbs dried fruit, 20lbs dried vegetables. 20lbs flour. 5lbs lard. 10lbs onions. 20lbs potatoes. 20lbs rice. 25lbs pickles. 5lbs pemmican. Assorted other tastier food. Cheese? That's 185lbs of foodstuffs, plus however much bacon we take. How much have we packed of other things, and how much can we carry?
What's this? Logic. Dear sir, I think you're missing the point of Let's Plays. (No, you aren't, as there isn't a 'point', per se, but I felt that I needed to point out how you're using logic and specifics for your choices and the rest of us are being ridiculous. Also, candy and tea ftw!)
I did the gun shopping before hand, to make sure we'd at least have SOMETHING to hunt with before spending all our money on food. However, there'll be money left after this, so I'll head back and stock up some more. I also bought 8 oxen, 6 chickens and some spare wagon parts while I was out. Anyway, here's our food shopping list:
20 lbs. of candy
30 10-lbs. sacks of dried beans
10 5-lbs. sacks of dried fruits (to prevent scurvy)
10 5-lbs. sacks of dried vegetables
35 16-oz. jars of honey
50 5-lbs. slabs of lard
19 1-lb. jars of licorice
25 16-oz. tins of maple syrup
30 16-oz. jars of molasses
20 lbs. of tea
10 50-lbs. sacks of dried fruits (to prevent scurvy)
10 50-lbs. sacks of dried vegetables
Those are 5lb sacks, fortunately. Though the idea of hauling half a ton of fruits and veggies cross country amuses me.
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Dark Fiddler
What's this? Logic. Dear sir, I think you're missing the point of Let's Plays. (No, you aren't, as there isn't a 'point', per se, but I felt that I needed to point out how you're using logic and specifics for your choices and the rest of us are being ridiculous. Also, candy and tea ftw!)
Yeah, I always play Oregon Trail to win. Old habits are hard to break.
More gun. You wouldn't be able to defend a single hill without more gun.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JaronK
Frankly, a Wizard can suck even more than a Fighter could ever dream of sucking. A Fighter can stab himself to death, but only a Wizard could Plane Shift to some horrible far realm to be tortured for an eternity of insanity.
Those are 5lb sacks, fortunately. Though the idea of hauling half a ton of fruits and veggies cross country amuses me.
Whoops. You saw nothing. >_>
Quote:
Originally Posted by Flickerdart
More gun. You wouldn't be able to defend a single hill without more gun.
With the money I had left, I returned to the gunsmith to stock up more. Unfortunately, the other guns proved to be too expensive to load up on too many, so I loaded up with other provisions. Here's our loadout:
20 boxes of 20 bullets
5 25-lb. kegs of gunpowder
20 10-lb. sacks of shot
1 pistol
1 rifle
1 shotgun
1 rifle or shotgun sheath (someone is going to lose a toe)
At the moment, I have $16.63 left in the bank. I also added some garlic to our foodstuffs.
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Into the West: Let's Play Oregon Trail II
