AmazingMOO

One I haven't seen mentioned, but is almost mandatory anywhere in the Rogue Isles or Paragon City:

Elevator Repairman

Many of my characters are teens or pre-teens who attend a prestigious private school. Their supergroup base is supposedly the basement of the school. It's feasible to have them logging out in the university to be doing research for school projects, but I'd love a Paragon City Public Library for 'Student'.

Likewise, one or two of my characters are teachers and staff at said school. I'd prefer to have an 'Educator' rather than 'Scholar' if it's feasible.

We could use some designated commercial locations for 'Mallrats' and the like.

Let's see. My elec/elec brute is a pro micro-brewer. Perhaps hanging out at restaurants can earn him the 'Brewer' profession?

My fire/fire brute is a reformed arch-demon who uses the power of conflict and chaos to hammer home those painful ethics lessons. He could really use a church location to rest in.

How about superheroes who are house-husbands and house-wives? I see quite a few of those daily. It seems almost to be a parental necessity to have at least one hero who is invented around taking care of children. Is there any way to allow a 'home' location to get a 'Homemaker' career?

A few of my heroes are musicians. I'd love to see some sort of musical location. Pocket D is acceptable, but the inside of a music store or a livehouse would also be welcome.

One hero is a pro choreographer.

It seems to me like there's quite a need for Paragon City to gain venues for various kinds of public performances. Sports stadiums, concert halls, musical theaters, television and film studios, and others are needed.

I LOVE the new icon that replaced the tacky dollar bill on the character select screen.

Now, the $64k question is, are the buff icons fixed? A quick test with my MM says NO they are NOT fixed.

*sigh*

Wow. I'd personally assign this bug a higher priority. It makes it pretty difficult to play a buff-oriented character on large teams.

As a dedicated hoverer, I really like the new hover animation! Far better than the 'deadman float' animation from before!

This is a nice new feature, but for all the effort being put into place, we need to make sure these sounds are fully customizable from the get go.

Just because one energy blaster's blast goes 'Vreem' doesn't mean my energy blast should go 'Vreem'. I might want an energy blast that goes 'Zark!', 'Gra-ow-ow-ow-ow-ow', or even, 'Ba-ritney'.

That's right. Despite the effort and time it will take, I DEMAND THAT THE DEVELOPERS DELIVER FULL POWER sound CUSTOMIZATION OR ELSE I'M QUITTING THE GAME!

War Witch: Are the missions from Meg Mason repeatable if you're out of level range of the other contacts?

It'd be silly for players to get repeatable missions about Vhaz, Outcasts, or Trolls since they're 'DO-class' enemies. (I think the way the devs explain it is they don't spawn above a certain level and don't have powers to compete with players over level 20 or so.)

However, Igneous, Circle, and Coralax range MUCH higher than the other enemy groups. It seems like a level 40 player could get a challenge out of missions including them.

Also, thanks kindly for the changes to the Trolls in the dam area. I always congratulate people for being able to finish the 'Defeat all creatures in cave' mission since it's doable, even if it's super-tough, but the 'Defeat 10 Trolls near the dam' mission gives me so much grief that I don't ever encourage others to stick with it. The trial zone-size spawns are always too difficult for players who can approach Julius to attack, even in a 3-5 man group.

However, the mechanic of finding a group of trolls placing bombs and using the bombs to finish off the group from range is a neat one. I'd recommend leaving at least one instance of this spawn in for the same of encouraging players to think differently about how they approach difficult missions.

[ QUOTE ]
What, is a new costume pack avaliable?! I heard nothing of this, I am so behind the times.... what's in it? I looked around in Announcements, etc. and saw nothing.

I am behind the times.

[/ QUOTE ]

Various tuxedos, bridal, and lingerie-themed costume pieces, including texture upgrades to the existing 'Angelic', 'Hearts', and 'Excess' pieces. Also included are a few wedding-themed emotes.

Screencaps of the female costume pieces

NCSoft Store page for the 'Wedding Pack'

[ QUOTE ]
It's worth is just to dress your lady characters up in stuff you'd normally see in the bedroom. HAWT!

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes. Yes it is.

Mrs. Moo directly benefits from this because she knows that lingerie purchases are always pre-approved.

...But I don't get paid until the 15th!

The ignamy! Oh, cruel fate (and Jay), how you taunt me!

Seriously, very nice work on the various costumes, Jay! I know other devs have put in serious work on the pack, but I simply can't take my eyes off of 'Hearts Plus'.

Devs and Marketing folks: Yes. Yes I will pay $9.99 for this. More content would be always nice, but considering the frequent free expansions, I feel that $9.99 is a bargain for the occasional 'Paid' pack.

As a matter of fact, if the current rate of issue release and patch updates continue, I'd personally be cool with buying a pack like this 3 or 4 times a year.

The OP is a really good post-- a non-passionate evaluation and suggestions for change.

You're a better man than I, because I can't avoid the 'All PVPers are d---s,' attack.

The most important parts, and the ones that players and devs should most take to heart are:

[ QUOTE ]
In comparison with the genial, consensually associative, and casual profile of the rest of the game this environment is repellant and many players refuse to enter PVP zones at all due to it. This is the most overshadowing problem with PVP as it currently exists and any "fix" which does not address it will leave this game element with a sour and unattractive experience.

[/ QUOTE ]

One of the standard responses to 'All PVPers are d---s' is 'I'm a PVPer and I'm not. You're letting the actions of a few color your perception of the whole.'

Yeah. It tends to work that way, doesn't it? One trash-talker or 'ganker' type will do more damage than twenty 'honorable' PVPers.

[ QUOTE ]
With a temp this powerful, acquiring it should be an event, it should be a team activity, it should be hard!

[/ QUOTE ]

A lot of people view the Shivan and Warburg temps as 'bait' to get PVEers into the zones. This is ultimately a pretty self-defeating attitude. If you have to 'bait' players into doing something they wouldn't otherwise, you're doing something wrong.

[ QUOTE ]
A potential criticism of this idea I've heard before is "PVP is for PVP zones and PVE is for PVE zones; leave PVP for PVP". This mental segregation is foolish. Beyond the fact that there is already nominal reason for PVEers to enter for badges and such, all the PVPers already PVP. It is the PVEers that would need to be courted to find something appealing in PVP for it to flourish. That will only happen with more (and better) exposure.

[/ QUOTE ]

My experiences with the unpleasantness of PVP and the availability of the Oroborous system for auto-exemping has led me to swearing off PVP zones for any reason. I'm more-or-less permanently lost to PVP in its current state. I'm happier that way, and it'd seem at first glance that many PVPers would be happier if I didn't bother them.

This is a vicious cycle that has the potential to simply make PVP unattractive to update for NCSoft. Why bother if it chases players away and segregates them?

Getting players interested in PVP via Ex Libris' contests or the like is currently the only real future PVP has in CoX, barring encouraging PVE players to safely visit and observe PvP as in the op's suggestion.

Jay:

I like seeing a modeler with a massive figure collection like that.

Doggie:

Wow. He looks down a few meals... but that skinniness could also indicate a parasitic digestive track infection. Be sure his new owners get him checked out by a vet for worms and the like.

[ QUOTE ]
You guys have crappy keyboards I see. You should upgrade.

Good luck with the move!

[/ QUOTE ]

While certainly not as nice as, say, a G15, those little Dell USB keyboards are actually pretty nice.

They're tiny since the bezel conforms to the shape of the keyboard, yet the keyboard itself is still full-sized. They're also very easy to clean. The keys have a nice range of movement and are nicely weighted so if you touch type, you almost never make accidental 'landing' strikes.

While they come standard with most 'business-class' Dell workstation PCs these days. I wouldn't mind buying one separate to use as a 'lug-around' keyboard for configuring headless machines.

Now the Dell machines themselves tend to have some crappy hardware. The on-board audio for the Optiplex line is notoriously flaky.

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
<font class="small">Code:[/color]<hr /><pre>
$currentdebt = $characterdata["currentdebt"];
while ($currentdebt &gt; 0){
if !($currentdebt &lt;= 0){
$currentdebt = $currentdebt - 1;
}
update_characterdata($characterdata);
}
</pre><hr />

[/ QUOTE ]

I never understand why folks make these things so complicated...

<font class="small">Code:[/color]<hr /><pre>
$characterdata["currentdebt"]=0;
update_characterdata($characterdata);
</pre><hr />
Is so much simpler.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's rather the point. The former is why the update is taking so long.

<font class="small">Code:[/color]<hr /><pre>
$currentdebt = $characterdata["currentdebt"];

while ($currentdebt &gt; 0){
if !($currentdebt &lt;= 0){
$currentdebt = $currentdebt - 1;
}
}

$characterdata["currentdebt"] = $currentdebt;
update_characterdata($characterdata);
</pre><hr />

[ QUOTE ]
Nipping back to the topic of photography for a moment, though, I do have a couple of soft flood lamps that were once used to light a pastel and oil studio. I may have to consider driving to these events instead of flying ... then I wouldn't be quite so limited in the equipment I can take. Hmmm ...

[/ QUOTE ]

MMmm... Better than shop lamps by a leap!

While I hate to encourage ANYONE to fly right now, Talk to your airline and see if they check a well-padded duffle containing your lights and any electrical equipment. Don't travel with the bulbs in. Ask your check-in agent about carrying the bulbs with you in your carryon will present any problem with policy.

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Some tips for the photographer ...

[/ QUOTE ]

Those are all excellent points, and I'll do my best to try to set up the shots more carefully during the next event. I can't guarantee anything, obviously, but I'll do what I can.

I appreciate the suggestions!

[/ QUOTE ]

It looks like you had both pretty dim restaurant-type lighting, which will always give you grief, and a pretty crowded environment, which limits your movement opportunities. You're still doing pretty well.

Also, if you're there for the event and just happen to be taking pictures while your cheering (which I would have been!), it can be difficult to get any *opportunity* for good shots.

If you plan to be at any given event for a while, you might check to see if the staff will let you set up an impromptu 'press area' where there's a little better light. You can grab people as they walk by and get them to mug for you. While 'photography' lamps are expensive, work lamps are cheap and easy to use. A work stand with a clamp-on shop lamp or two is worth twenty times the $15 you'll spend on them. Don't shine them in faces unless you're good at diffusing them. Even then, do that VERY judiciously. Instead, use them to light up the floor and walls around where you're shooting to help eliminate shadows and create a more ambient environment.

Hmm... Some of the pics are a little, how shall we say, unflattering.

Some tips for the photographer:

Avoid taking pictures from behind people, especially in the dreaded rear 3/4 angle.

The 3/4 front view is not quite as bad, but also not particularly kind. You could have gotten a MUCH better piccy of Positron if you'd been standing maybe 15-20 degrees closer to his center line.

Most people have a 'good side'. If you're not immediately sure, try to get a shot from just left and just right. Use the one that looks better. (35mm film is relatively cheap. Flash RAM is cheaper.)

Get a diffuser for that flash.

If you HAVE to shoot from in the crowd, try to avoid bouncing your flash on the back of people's heads. It ruins your exposure.

Y'know... This video, or a shorter version, should get some wider exposure, say before a TV audience.

Aside from the awesome voice acting, there's not a thing in it that cant' be seen in game and experienced for yourself. Not only is it awesome, but it's also delightfully truthful about the game.

"This is what you get in City of Heroes and City of Villains: Pure, unadulterated comic-book awesome. Heroes and Villains kicking [censored] by the metric load. Punches, claws, beams, blades, guns, flying, leaping, ice and fire going bloody everywhere while GOO ALIENS are coming to devour you! We've got it all. Robots, ninjas, pirates, monkies and DEMONIC FLAMING NAZIS WHO WANT TO KILL YOU. Are you a bad enough dude to save the world?"

/em applause

I posted this in another thread, but I'd really like to hear the following sentence from NCSoft:

"City of Heroes Developers will not be involuntarily transferred to other NCSoft titles or laid off because of poor performance of other NCSoft titles."

Huh. Kinda figured this would be happening sooner or later with Cryptic developing Marvel's MMO. The lesson of the past (from SOE) has been that a given game dev studio doesn't do so well when it's in competition with itself. Lines of communication get tangled and priorities tend to get confused.

Jack's really made no secret of the fact that he was stepping away from CoH proper to focus more on Cryptic's other business. (Marvel MMO). I'd be willing to bet cash that this is presaging either a Marvel Studios or a Microsoft purchase of Cryptic, ala Bungie.

My concerns are as so:

NCSoft can sometimes be kinda harsh on its employees-- the recent layoffs for example. What happens when the new game that will make tons of money FER CERTAIN REALLY needs more devs? Will talent be siphoned away from NC^2? When the new game that will make tons of money FER CERTAIN REALLY turns out not to be quite as successful as the wined and dined had hoped, will said talent be laid off?

Remember that salesmen are always the last to go, even when they make the bad decisions that lead to the rank and file being laid off. NCSoft has a MUCH worse reputation than Cryptic for this.

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I was waiting to be rickrolled.

[/ QUOTE ]

PWNZ &lt;---- is that a way!




[/ QUOTE ]

Whatever happened to the good old fashioned duckroll? Do you people even know where (and how, my god, HOW?!) the Rickroll came about? Sure, it's made its way into various other message boards and chatrooms, but it was only yesterday that I got in one little fight and my mom got scared and said you're moving with your auntie and uncle in Bel-aire.

I whistled for a cab and when it came near the license plate said 'Fresh' and had dice in the mirror. If anything I could say that this cab was rare, bu I thought now forget it, yo, Homes, to Bel-aire!

I pulled up to a house about seven or eight and I yelled to the cabby yo, Homie, smell you later. I looked at my kingdom-- I was finally there to settle my throne as the Fresh Prince of Bel-Aire.

Quoth Castle: "choose the look of their weapon in the AWESOME COSTUME CREATOR." (Emphasis mine)

Every Cryptic Dev, Designer, Manager, and Executive needs to repeat that line to themselves 20 times when they first come in each morning, before they leave, and during every bathroom or coffee break.

Then, answer these questions:

What makes the COSTUME CREATOR so AWESOME anyway?

If I work on the COSTUME CREATOR, what can I do to keep it AWESOME or make it MORE AWESOME?

If I work on another system, what can I do to make it as AWESOME as the COSTUME CREATOR?

If I make decisions about the game, how do I make sure that the COSTUME CREATOR stays AWESOME in the long term?

If I make decisions about the game, how do I plan to bring the rest of the game up to the COSTUME CREATOR's level of AWESOME?

If I promote the game, how can I best showcase the AWESOMEness of the COSTUME CREATOR?

If I promote the game, how can I use the COSTUME CREATOR to best accent the AWESOMEness of the rest of the game?


The AWESOME COSTUME CREATOR is your pony. You guys need to feed it, brush it, clean its hooves, and read it bedtime stories EVERY SINGLE DAY.

[ QUOTE ]
This Issue also adds new Invention Sets to the game. When the Inventions System went live back with Issue 9, there were a number of powers that were left out. Matt tells me that Issue 11 resolves that issue, adding inventions that enhance the remaining powers. Like any good journalist, I asked for a list:

* Taunt
* Knockback

[/ QUOTE ]


Energy Blasters and Force Fielders REJOICE!!


Our time has come. Better yet, since these will be considered to be 'useless' as Hold or Immob IOs (They're not), these will be relatively easy to get hold of.

A Brief Overview of Slaver Alien Physiology

Dr. Abraham Hawke Ph.D., D.Xb.

Efforts to trace the origins of the Slaver species and Slaver technology are frequently controversial and met with setbacks, false trails, and information hiding. Much of Slaver history has been obsfucated and destroyed, frequently by the Slavers themselves.

It's been suggested more than once that much of the Slaver technology was stolen from another sentient race. Unfortunately, most of these suggestions are almost completely circumstantial and lack hard evidence.

Complicating this is that fact that most non-Terran human societies that encounter Slavers destroy them on sight. The Slaver species itself is considered almost extinct throughout the galaxy. If a Slaver homeworld exists, it has not been found.

In the few cases that live Slavers or their technology have been captured, they exist at a level far inferior to that recorded by historians.



Slaver Biology:

Few records exist of Slaver biology, but those that do are definitive.

Sources: Grebori-descended humans on Grebor 2 maintain records that indicate that humans conducted extensive dissection and vivisection studies on the few slaver individuals that survived a pre-Grebori ship revolt. Similar studies have taken place during the first Caramine-Slaver war.

Grebori biological records describe slavers as so:

Slaver height is typically between 2.5 and 3.5 meters. They have 2 apparent genders with moderate physiognomical differences between them.

Both 'Male' and 'Female' Slavers have a hard, but somewhat brittle exoskeleton. Their main body is composed of either 4 or 5 segments depending on gender.

The first segment contains the bulk of the species' brain and sensory organs, including complex eyes, membranes that are sensitive to sound, and feelers that are sensitive to touch and electromagnetic flux.

The second segment contains a larve nerve-cluster analogous to a human's brainstem, mouth, mouth feelers, and membranes inside grooves on the feelers that are sensitive to scent, including pheremonal signals.

The third segment contains organs responsible for maintaining the flow and oxygenation of blood. Rather than organs analogous to lungs, the contraction of the internal 'heart' muscle draws air into spiracles located in rows down both sides of this segment. These spiracles are lined with gill-like membranes that absorb oxygen from the air and release carbon dioxide.

The fourth segment contains the majority of the slavers' alimentary tract, including organs that function similarly to crops, stomachs, and intestines. There is a sizable opening in this segment for excrement.

This segment also serves as the primary anchor for each of the slaver's ten legs, two of which are adapted to act as dexterous arms with 'hands' and two of which are almost completely vestigial. Each hand is composed of 4 fingers, one opposing, each of which has five major segments. The slavers 'feet' are configured similarly with a 'heel finger' and 3 multi-segmented toes.

The fifth segment contains, in females only, reproductive organs dedicated to producing eggs. The segments are lined with two rows of non-functional pheromone releasing feelers on the anterior side. The oviduct is located on the anterior side, between the feeler rows, usually immediately below the excremental opening. Any pheremonal chemicals are released via the oviduct.

In males, the fifth segment is merged with the fourth. It primarily serves to distribute a fertilizing seminal fluid. It also contains two small rows of functional pheremonal releasing feelers.

Male Slavers are taller, thinner, and typically weigh less than females. They are somewhat more intelligent than females and are able to maintain control over the females by secreting a pheremonal substance from their reproductive glands.

Female slavers are shorter, much bulkier, and much stronger than their male counterparts. They are vastly more aggressive and will defend the males to the point of self destruction or destruction of their eggs.

The ratio between the two seems to be approximately 1 male to 10 or more females.

In large groups of Slavers, it's not uncommon to see a crowd of female slavers gathered around the reproductive area of a male Slaver's fourth segment, wiping excreted liquid into their mouths with their mouth-feelers. They will in turn carry this pheremone-rich liquid to other females in the group by stroking their mouth-feelers together.

Male slavers are capable of short-term survival without their brain/head segments. Their mental capacity is severely reduced and they will soon bleed to death without surgery, however. Slavers typically treat a decapitated male as 'dead', even if the rest of the body appears to be functioning.

In stark contrast, Female slavers suffer only moderate capacity reduction when their head segment is severed. In fact, it's not uncommon to see females that have been purposefully decapitated, either with metallic tourniquets or cauterization. While blind and deaf, these females still fight viciously and are capable of reproduction.


Slaver Vulnerability:

Any human-written text about Slavers would be incomplete without instructions on how to kill or destroy them.

Environmental vulnerabilities:

- While adolescent and adult Slavers are tolerant to temperatures considered 'cold' by humans, they're much more vulnerable to heat. At ambient temperatures above 36 degrees celcius, most Slavers will experience pain, delerium, and reduced function. Above 40 degrees celcius, most Slavers will begin to suffer severe injury, including bleeding from spiracles, mouth, and other orifices, as well as internal hemmorhage, permanent brain damage, and permanent organ failure. Above 44 degrees celcius, most of their internal tissues will begin dying and 'cooking' due to protein denature.

Exposure to ambient temperatures of 40 degrees or above for more than 15 minutes is usually enough to kill most Slavers, although a very few females may last longer.

Explosure to ambient temperatures of 44 degrees or above for more than 3 minutes will kill most Slavers.

Note that Slaver tissues contain proteins that are typically toxic to humans. Eating Slaver meat will cause illness or death in humans.


- Slavers are more tolerant to cold than humans, and don't seem to experience hypothermia. Instead they go into a state of hibernation. However, it is possible to freeze them to death by exposing them to ambient temperatures below 0 degrees celcius for adequate periods. Since Slavers seem to avoid protective clothing other than armor, humans equipped with arctic protection clothing will most likely have a strong advantage over Slavers in cold conditions so long as they can outrun or use ranged weapons against the Slavers.

Note that in such circumstances, female Slavers will cluster together over male Slavers to try to maintain adequate warmth. It is not advisable to approach a pile of Slavers than appears to be 'frozen to death'.


- Slavers cannot respirate under water, nor in most other viscous fluid media. If submerged in water, Slavers will typically asphyxiate in under 1 minute.

Likewise, it is quite possible to asphyxiate Slavers by covering their spiracles in thick oils, paints, or other adhesive fluids. Slavers cannot resipirate through their mouths or any other orifice.

The traditional ceremonial Camerine paint gun is likely derived from weapons that shot paint and and oils at Slaver aggressors.


- Slavers are far more vulnerable to variations in external pressures than humans, partially due to their rigid exoskeleton.

Slavers are most comfortable at approximately .9 standard Earth atmospheres (91 kPa).

Below .5 standard Earth atmospheres (50 kPa) or above 2.2 atmospheres (223 kPa), Slavers spiracle membranes will begin to rupture.

Below .2 atmospheres (20 kPa) or above 3 atmospheres (305 kPa), Slaver carapace sections will begin to break and rupture.

A quick human with an airlock can easily kill Slavers. Likewise, Slavers will not be able to follow a human to any depth while swimming.

Note that it is not recommended to expose oneself to the vacuum of space to avoid Slaver attack. However, legends and partial historical accounts of the Pirates of Camerine indicate that mutineers-turned-pirates successfully took two Slaver ships without protective gear by expelling as much air from their lungs as possible, and leaping between two open airlocks.


- Slavers are slightly less vulnerable than humans to strong radiation due to their exoskeletons. However, Slaver exoskeletons have proven to be extremely flammable in an oxygen atmosphere.

To quote the Grebori poet Derensha, "When in doubt, kill them with fire."

Flamethrowers, heating lasers, or other incendiary weapons should be considered standard issue to any military force that may encounter Slavers.

"Uhn... gah..."

"I've seen that look before," a voice mentioned from the darkness.

Marcus clawed himself upright and rested on his knees. Weakly, he wiped the vomit off his chin.

"You killed it, probably without thinking about it. Feeling some regret or pity? Some kind of failure, perhaps?"

"It hadn't attacked me," Marcus gasped. "But I didn't even consider trying to talk to it."

A match light flared in the darkness, briefly revealing a bearded man in a white coat. The man lit a long, evil-looking cigar and began puffing. Even after the match went out, the cherry-red coal on the end of the cigar provided a glimmer of light.

"It wouldn't have helped. It would have attacked you as soon as it saw you."

"You know about these creatures, Doctor..."

"Doctor Hawke. Abraham Hawke. We've met a few times in passing, Statesman, but I imagine that we scientists must tend to blend together after eighty-odd years of crimefighting. Cigar?" he offered. "It'll help wipe out the stench."

Marcus was initially repelled. It'd been literally decades since he'd partaken, but the scientist's idea seemed like a good one. He took the proffered tobacco and book of matches.

"Have you ever seen a kitten viciously attack a piece of string or a garden hose?" Hawke asked. "Of course many adult cats will kill snakes. This is the same thing. It's a racial memory. Most human populations in the galaxy have been strongly selected for the ability to kill these guys on sight."

Marcus finally got his cigar lit and inhaled deeply, drawing as much of the bitter tobacco smoke into his lungs as he could. Like the doctor indicated, the sharp smell muted the stomach-churning scent of the alien carcass in front of him.

"The reaction is usually stronger in non-terrans. You've been to planet Caramine, yes?"

Statesman coughed, belching cigar smoke. He settled into a more comfortable puffing rhythm before allowing himself to fall back against the wall behind him. "Briefly. Years ago. I was very pressed at the time. I seem to remember that they were a very ceremonial people."

"My daughters are half Caramine. Somehow, they caught a male in an airlock when they were toddlers. Then they tortured it to death over five or six hours. When I found them, they were beaming. 'Daddy! Daddy! We squished a bug!'"

"I remember now. The Caramine King mentioned that his empire was based on a standing war with an aggressor species," the superhero said.

"That was probably my dearly departed father-in-law," Hawke indicated. "The Caramine Empire is a totalitarian military dictatorship now. My wife used to be a princess, but works as a freedom fighter against them. The one thing they agree on is that there is not enough room for these guys-- Slavers-- and humans in the same galaxy. I've examined what historical records I've been able to obtain at length. No where have I ever found any indication that Slavers have ever been amiable to peace with humanoids of any kind. What humans didn't learn to destroy them were either enslaved or butchered. That's true here on Earth and on just about every other human world I know of."

"It still seems... brutal," Marcus admitted. "The rage... I've never felt anything like it before."

"I wouldn't feel too bad about it. You're one of those people who are revolted by insects or spiders?" the scientist asked.

Marcus nodded.

"And you probably have a bit of difficulty with shellfish, yes? Even if you eat lobster or crab, the fact that it looks like a 'bug' is always in the back of your mind."

"I'd have to admit that's true," Marcus said sheepishly.

"The trait is dominant, so it tends to stick around for millenia in any given human population after contact with Slavers," Hawke explained. "Assuming the population survives, that is. You may even have some Caramine ancestors. I understand that a few have crash landed on Earth in the past. At any rate, you'll find that most people become irrational while dealing with them. I'd even go so far as to use the work 'Berserk'."

Suddenly, there was a distant scrabbling noise. Marcus felt the muscles in his shoulders and back tightening, seemingly of their own accord. His body was going to fight, he realized, regardless of whatever mental discipline he could muster.

"Kerrrap," the scientist grumbled. Marcus saw him light another match. This time, the prominent pilot nozzle of a Crey flamethrower ignited, providing significantly more light. "I wrote a report for Vanguard last year. If we make it out of here alive, I'll make sure to forward a copy to Longbow and the Freedom Phalanx if you don't already have it. Slavers are NOT our friends and probably never will be."

Marcus found that the nausea and horror had left his body. All he could feel was disgust... and rage. "You know Positron?" he asked quietly while climbing to his feet.

"Ray Keyes? Professionally, but we don't really operate in the same circles," Dr. Hawke admitted.

"Let's deal with this," Marcus commanded. "Afterwards, I'll get you two to sit down and share what you know about this threat."

"Good," Hawke agreed. "For now, I suggest you attempt to destroy the middle body-segment first. They can't breathe without it."

Statesman attacked the first of the chittering aliens before he realized his body was moving. Behind him, Dr. Hawke took a long puff off his cigar and began to rain fire down on the approaching Slavers.

[ QUOTE ]
With any new feature, we want to ensure that it is rock solid and ready before we make it available.

[/ QUOTE ]

*snort*

*snicker*

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Sorry, sorry. I'll be good.

Hehehe... 'rock solid'. In an MMO yet. Oh boy.

Yes, please do get this tested as thoroughly as possible. There's a lot of room for catastrophic game breakage here. Thanks for the update, LH.