Yes you can download pawns online and use them offline. However, if a pawn dies or is released he won't be able to recruit them again until he goes back online.

This might only be a problem once you start fighting enemies with instant death or petrifying attacks.

If you play online the Seneschal will be someone else who beat the game. If you go into the fight while offline you'll fight your previous Arisen.

Phantasy Star Online 2 Benchmark page

Sega has released a PC Benchmark for PSO2. You can also make characters for any of the 18 classes which are saved to your PC and can be used in future (or current) betas.

Direct Downloads (446 MB)-
From Sega
From Nvidia

And if you don't know Japanese this blog has info to get you started with the character editor. You can make ideal heroes such as this-

So our current forum links for Trials HD and Trials Evolution send users to this board. Do you feel these titles are racing games or more of a puzzle game. Yes there is speed and trying to beat your best times, but the amount of precision and timing make Trials unlike most other driving games; you can't even see what's in front of you most of the time.

Maybe we just need some kind of hybrid genre board.

I've been playing TF2 since it came out on Steam and come back to it time to time when there is a major update. So far I've never used their cash shop, but have tried the trading and crafting systems.

Before these systems were even in place I flat out abused drops. Yup, I was one of the many who missed out on the first wave of the "Cheater's Lament". Though I later got one from the Poly-Count bug.

I've played through the entire Imperial Agent storyline and most people regard it as one of the best. I'd like to see another good stroyline from the Republic side, so which ones are recommended? 

I tried Trooper during the beta, and some of the Jedi Shadow, but those both got a bit slow after leaving the capital. Do they get better, or should I give the other two classes a try?

So there have been something like three events so far to help boost XP or gain special packs (Commendation, Victory). Has this actually enticed you to play more multiplayer? Were you already playing at a normal rate? Or do you say "screw it" and are only going through single player?

I tried each of the events and while some of the rewards were nice, it didn't help with my overall goal of unlocking all of the classes. I've gained 7 of the 12 unlockable classes, but the rest are too random and expensive to gan with simple Veteran and Spectre packs.

There needs to be an event that just gives everyone Krogan.

I'd really recomend one that utilizes the job change system: FF3 (DS/Famicom), FF5 (PS1/GBA/Super Famicom), Tactics (PS1/PSP/iPhone). Each of these will give you a good variety of gameplay and are good introductions to the lore of the series.

My account exists from the GameFAQs merger way back in 2004.

I'm looking forward to B Spec.