Arctic_Princess

Drain Psyche could be replaced by Mind Control's Lift, oir whatever the damned power is called.
That way it would have a similar effect to Katana's Soaring Dragon.

Just a thought as Drain Psyche is a wee bit overpowered as a melee power,imo.

It was Mary who awoke first on the first morning of the expedition. She had felt a kicking in her stomach as she lay on the soft bedroll next to her husband. It was the child – the cause of all this commotion and upheaval.

She remembered the day she found out that she was pregnant, from the doctor back in England, and how delighted she had been that they, that is Joseph and herself, were finally going to have a baby. After ten long years of trying and with no seeming change in their luck, a miracle had happened. She had gone to the post office straight afterwards to telephone Joseph at work and her heart sang as she heard the joy and elation in his voice. Then she had called for a cab to take her back to her mother’s where she had been staying, nursing her poor father, and dear mama was equally delighted that she would be a grandmother. They bowed their heads in prayer, both sitting in the parlour as her mother pointed out that now Mary was in a delicate state she must always be seated (no longer would Mary have to kneel at her mother’s side as a sign of respect), and thanked the Lord Almighty for his blessing and compassion.

Although no one spoke about the coincidence of their names (that would have been a blasphemy and two Hail Mary’s at confession), Mary found herself the centre of a special kind of attention; the ladies and gentlemen of the town would courteously see her past as she walked through the high street on errands. The butcher always put aside the best cuts of meat for her, claiming it was best to keep a lady in her condition in her best health when Mary knew that other expectant mothers had not received such a kind gesture. At church on Sundays, the boys and girls all dressed in smart suits with little caps and frilly dresses with ribbon-laden bonnets respectively were encouraged to gather round Mary (and Joseph, who always seemed to end up rather uncomfortably standing to the side of the crowd).

Then one Friday morning, after breakfast and prayers, her mother announced her father’s wish from his sick bed.

“You and Joseph are to make a pilgrimage to Lourdes.” She declared, stamping her cane on the oak floor of the breakfast room.

“But mother, Joseph has just gained employment at an accountancy firm in Eastbourne.” Mary silently cursed her small act of defiance as soon as she had uttered the words. However, the usual stern outburst did not follow. Instead, the matriarch of the family simply smiled at her only daughter, her only child, and said in a graceful, even manner, “Ah yes. Well I have already sorted the matter with his new employers. He is to join you as it should be on the pilgrimage. They have agreed to take him on in two months, when you return.”

Mary was shocked, not only by her mother’s calmness and in her dealing with ‘the matter’ so efficiently, but also by the suddenly overwhelming feeling that she could never repay the kindness she had received. More importantly was the fact that it did not matter.

Joseph was silent throughout Mary’s explanation of what was to happen. She thought she detected a hint of resignation in his silence but then she just put this down to being ‘with child’ and thought no more of the matter.

And so it was that they found themselves a week later, leaving Newhaven for the port of Dieppe, in a most inauspicious send-off: Father had died several days before and the funeral was a mixture of quiet respect and stifled enthusiasm for the upcoming journey to Lourdes. Mary’s mother, the parish vicar and the town mayor and his family waved coloured flags as the boat sailed away and across the British Channel. Mary would never forget the stern pride firmly etched on her mother’s face as she gave a final wave on the boarding plank and headed into the oily warmth of the ferry.

But all that had happened a month ago and now look where they were: A wretched tent halfway across the other side of the World with a godless guide and a child that held pure evil in its soul. Mary could not work out how it had come to pass that she had strayed so far from the flock and not realised. “What will Mother think of this?” she asked herself quietly, under her breath.

Joseph stirred in his sleep and so Mary decided she would venture outside rather than burden him with her wicked thoughts. Her eyes were blinded momentarily as the piercing sun, so different from the mottled gloom of the tent, took them by surprise. Cupping a hand over her eyes, Mary sought out the familiar shape of the camels and saw the guide and her maid chatting whilst the girl servant soaked handkerchiefs in the small pool.

And then she caught sight of the large rocks, lying side by side on the flat sand a short distance from the camp, that had surely not been there the night before. She pointed to them and the guide turned his head in her direction.

“A present from the sky.” He explained and chuckled.

Before Mary could ask what he had meant, the guide cocked his head to one side as if hearing something. Mary didn’t see the advancing silhouette over the horizon at first but the guide did.

“Company.” He said with a flourish and an unseemly wink.

“Good, or-“ Mary ventured but the guide laughed before she could finish.

“That depend on you.”

***

I have a wry smile on my face right now.
Excellent work. Simple, elegant and very, very funny .

Keep up the good work, Canna.

As the sun set over the dunes the wind rose and brought with it a feeling of unease to a small group of travellers who were setting out from the market town of Nowzad.

The two sturdy camels, laden with supplies, canvas and bedrolls, shifted uncomfortably along the sand and gravel, as if the next step might uncover a terrible sand wyrm, its gaping maw sucking them in to oblivion. Their stubborn, camel minds prevented them from bolting.

The leader of the group, a starvation-thin man yet with a steely glint in his eyes, sucked a finger and held it up to the warm air, “Storm coming.” He declared in broken English.

The remainder of the group, a white couple and their Moroccan maid, looked at the guide in astonishment. The white man spoke, “A storm? Do you mean a sandstorm? Shouldn’t we turn back?” His voice was unsure despite his sturdy frame. The white man’s head darted from the guide to his wife and back like a wheater and this image was compounded by his white headdress and light, golden brown robes.

The guide shook his head gently from side to side, “Is good omen, this storm. Magic!” and then he laughed, which set his companions at ease although not entirely.

The small group continued on at a slow and steady pace. They passed the dry, gravely plains of the Karakum and smelled the sweet sugar cane growing up through the seemingly barren, desert soil. Every so often the white man would stop and hold a hand over his eyes, scanning the horizon. He would point at what looked like a distant campfire only for the guide to chuckle hoarsely and shake his head.

“The sun takes its time out here. It not say goodbye soon.”

After an hour, which to the three people walking behind their guide felt like an eternity, the white woman, swathed in white linen and wearing a headdress similar to her husband’s, groaned and clutched her swollen stomach. The maid attended her mistress, issuing gentle cooing noises to ease the pregnant woman’s mind.

“Mary, darling,” her husband spoke, “we don’t have to continue our journey tonight. I mean, it’s ludicrous to keep wandering this far into the desert at night and in your tender condition!”

“Joseph,” the woman’s voice faltered for a second, “we must continue. You know what the Father said: I must find those people who will purge the spirit from me.”

“Godlessness!” Joseph spat the word out but his wife gave him a sudden, piercing look.

“Don’t say that!” Sweat crept down her face and he was shamed into submission.

The maid retrieved a cotton handkerchief from within the confines of her rustling, desert robes and dabbed Mary’s forehead. The guide, seemingly oblivious to the discussion, raised his arms to stretch and then pointed to a clump of trees in the near distance.
“We stop here. Soon cold comes.”

Relieved of the distraction from his wife, Joseph helped the guide unpack the canvas and bedrolls. The trees, if they could be called that, were protecting a small pool of clear water which rippled in ever-decreasing circles as the wind skated across its surface.

With the camp set up for the night, the troupe retired to their quarters although the guide remained on watch, sitting on a small rock by one of the camels and drawing some heat from it. When Joseph turned to look at him before entering the canvas tent, the guide looked him directly in the eyes and said, “I not miss this for the World.”

Puzzled, Joseph simply waved and smiled before disappearing behind a thick, green flap of material.

The night roared on and, in a waking dream, Joseph swore he heard the crackle of lightning.

***

This will be an ongoing thread from me although people are, as ever, encouraged to comment.

I've had time to compose some thoughts and have some ideas about the characters I play and why they are what they are. The following is a (perhaps) short story or indeed (perhaps) a longer one.

If anyone fancies contributing artwork, no matter what you feel is your level of artistic ability, perhaps even mood music then please feel free.

Because of this invitation to contribute and comment, the 'finished' piece is not in my mind a qualifying entry for any Creative Genius nominations. I don't intend that to sound arrogant or that the reader must enjoy the fiction, I am simply stating it here for the record.

That said, enjoy!

This is why your drawing style reminds me of 'Take On Me'.

Little treat at the end that I thought was worth keeping!

And for starters, a quick trip to the Handbook and the main picture of Arctic Princess would be nice. I realised that I have no pictures of her besides in-game ones.

If you're feeling adventurous, d'you think you could morph my avatar (Cate Blanchett) into the pic? After all, Cate will be playing her in a cameo role in my life story, straight to DVD

Ooh,ta.

Famous at last!

/headbursts

I like the style a lot DD, and it reminds me a lot of A-Ha's "Take On Me" video.

Are you taking requests at all?

Problem solved - user error. Ahem.

I have updated much on the Handbook and have realised that my pretty-making skills are a bit poo.
Profiles for Raidar and Helena Hammond have been created.
As have Titan Vanguard and Ghost Watch although they are very much at the 'stub' stage.

Arctic Princess has been picturified and Ionos's profile is now as up to date as I care it to be.

I put in a category 'Psychic' for Helena. Are 'we' bothered about defining characters that in-depth?
If not then I will erase it from her page.

Oh and finally, I added the short story what I wrote back in October 2007 about an old character, Midnight Rose who 'became' Ms Adams.

Okay I'm having some annoying trouble uploading images to the Wiki at the mo.

I've checked sizes, file types, where I have typed the info to update on the page etc.

Are images proving to be a problem for anyone else? Or is it just me?

I want in. It will solve a conundrum I'm having re: Work/Life/Game balance. May I suggest a sensible evening of frivolity, such as Sunday, for this?

Oh and watch out for any of Col's characters, or Kanto2s - the procs are horrendous to fight against! That aside, if any team PvPRP is suggested I will start my own and bagsie them

This post is, in many ways, a way of discussing my own thoughts and feelings on Heroes in general.

I have recently been on an intensive, two-week (C)ognitive (B)ehavioural (T)herapy course to deal with 26 years or so of 'baggage', hence my absence from the community and the game itself.

So as part of the therapy I want to throw open discussion, specifically in terms of characters in roleplay, and ask people to do a CBT-lite exercise should they wish.

The example of how I'd like things to progress follows:


[u]CBT for Arctic Princess[u]

Early Experience(s)
Mother: secretary
Father: technician at the Chernobyl Power Plant
Father believed that hard work was the key to success. Mother was distant.
Kata felt she didn’t receive much love from her parents and this was how it should be. Love, emotions etc. did not have a place in a relationship.
Provision of a roof, meals etc. was the most important thing.
Thinking of others was also important but only in terms of it being for the Greater Good.

Core Belief(s)
I am unimportant. I do not matter.

Rules That Protect (the Core Belief(s))
If I help others all the time Then I will matter.
If I have a roof over my head and eat Then I am cared for.

Trigger Event(s)
Being sent to a research facility at the age of 11. This challenged her belief that she was unimportant and this led to the feeling of being different somehow. Wrong.

Thoughts
There is something wrong with me.
Other people are more important than me.
Other people do not need to know how I am feeling. Or what I am thinking.

Feelings
“I am angry about being in a position that made me feel anger.”
“I feel guilt that I have to face my emotions when other people’s are more important.”
“I am panicked when a situation is not under my own control (because I am letting other people down).”
“When people appear to show emotion to me I do not have a response and it causes anxiety.”

Behaviours
She withdraws and does not tell others what she is doing.
She pretends that everything is OK.

Physical
Restlessness.

Environment
In Paragon she is secure because there is always someone who needs help. In fact everywhere she turns there is always somebody to save.

It may appear to be a bit heavy or full-on yet I have learned a lot about myself recently and I would like to continue using the tools I've picked up in every aspect of my life. Yes, even the pretendy-fun-time-game ones.

Animations are always tricky, I think on the whole they'd need to be more apparent when the shield is activated rather than when it is active, if that makes sense...

O2 Boost is a No Brainer, Simoom could perhaps have something akin to Steamy Mist/Shadow Fall for the start animation with little wisps of cloud floating around the body.
For Turbulence I imagined something like Sonic's -res aura.

Actually the 'cloud' effects could work. You know, the ones that come with Steamy Mist?
Just make it a general case that the start animation is a little different (perhaps the Snow Storm 'hands up' for Anti-Cyclone and the Elude anim. for White Squall?)

As for numbers and switching certain effects/bonmuses around - well, I'll leave that to people who know what they're talking about.

((I'm having to be away for a week, possibly two, which has come as a bit if a surprise. So, I will post the results here and try to keep up to date. PMs to people affected by this post to follow))

[ QUOTE ]
GIFT REPORT – 274HOHHPSI

01/12/09 – 08:45

***

Sample: Extraction source - Galaxy Plaza. No contamination from operative detected.

Details: Traces of Gamma Radiation – low. Not considered a threat. Oil substance identified as regular tarmac. Super-heated.

Likely source unknown: Heat and radiation levels associated with explosive devices. Would need evidence of associated trauma to suggest explosive device. No shrapnel collected.

Fibres identified: Cotton, polyester.

[/ QUOTE ]

Helena looked at the stark report and turned her head inquisitively to Sally, one of the lab technicians.

“It means whatever happened, Helena, wasn’t the result of a bomb.” The woman explained.

“Radiation was minimal. Certainly there’s no threat to you or the public. I’m afraid this one’s a bit of a mystery. You don’t think your friend, the rock monster, could have imagined it?”

Helena held the printout in her hand and chewed a corner in thought. Her expression betrayed her fears and Sally responded kindly.

“You know you’re fully capable of reading minds now. The tests, the drugs, the rehabilitation – it’s just your self doubt holding you back, Hel.”

The two women hugged, with Helena mumbling her thanks before she made her way home to her lonely apartment overlooking Gemini Park, the printout still in her hand. By the time evening came, Helena had decided that she would seek out this rock guy again and do a little more investigating.

“Run that past me again will you?” a middle-aged man wearing a lab coat looked at the slight, purple-swathed woman as if she were about to go off.

“I didn’t see it myself but according to another hero some regular guy just exploded. He was being harassed by some Hellions. Now can we get on with my scan please? I’d rather not be responsible for the quarantine of my entire apartment block.”

Helena Hammond, previously known as ‘Phobia’ and survivor of the First Rikti War (if you could call being in a coma for four years surviving) stood impatiently in a GIFT laboratory, waiting to be scanned for radiation levels. In her delicate hands she held a grubby, polythene bag which contained a plastic scraper and what looked like regular dried mud, mixed with motor oil.

The scientist took the bag from her and looked at it curiously before stowing it away in a plastic container and labelling it. Helena didn’t quite catch what the man wrote but she stopped herself short of attempting to read his mind. That was a steep, downward path she tried to avoid at all costs.

After receiving the okay, Helena went behind the screen and removed her street clothes, gasping as her feet touched the cold, tiled floor. She stepped into the screening bay and let her mind wander back to earlier in the evening.

It had certainly been an odd evening. She had arrived at the statue in Galaxy City, a regular meeting place for Heroes to relax, on the lookout for Richard Huntington. Something had triggered in her mind that morning and she just wanted to chat to him and possibly have a little flirt. There were few pleasures to be had these days for a single girl with her talents and he had been so helpful when she had asked for his aid a year ago, to try and block out her wretched powers.

The conversation, Richard-less, was soothingly banal: people were chatting about fashion and making jokes. Helena had clocked the very tall man, seemingly made of rock, as she approached the large concrete plinth but then this was Paragon and she had seen far worse.

Minutes were lost in thought and then she was brought back to the explosion and felt the way the ground had trembled for a split second. People turned their heads to see the cause of the commotion, heroic instincts rising to the fore. Helena had no idea why she had felt inclined to – oh wait! The Rocky Man had returned, his face and chest covered in grime… well more discernible grime than he had previously worn. Helena had offered a handkerchief from her utility belt and felt like an old woman in the process.

Another hero, a young man in a cape asked, “You saw someone?”

The Rocky Man replied that he’d seen a guy in trouble, being beaten up by some gangbangers. And then the three of them were at the area of the explosion, indicated by a dark patch on the tarmac behind the statue. Helena had tried to ‘scan’ the area mentally (an act which avoided entering another person’s mind entirely), but there was no sign of sentient life in the small, open-air parking lot.


The Rocky Man and the Caped Guy discussed the bizarre events whilst Helena stood dumbly, looking at the scene.

“Should we… check the hospital or something?” The Caped Guy asked. He sounded Canadian to Helena: Canadian and ever so slightly nervous.

Helena remembered asking what had happened to the man and his aggressors.
“…I saw some flaming bits around but, they’re gone now. I had my eyes closed during the blast…” he replied. “In my experience, people don’t normally blow up.”

The Caped Guy had made a decision, “I’ll go check the Hospital. The admissions desk should have picked him up if he was ‘ported there.” But he didn’t move: The scene was strange and had a totally unknown quality to it. Perhaps that’s why the three of them remained there, or perhaps the Canadian was new to all of this and was waiting for someone else to call it?

“Well, this is an odd place t’be standin’.” Helena didn’t see the girl at first as she was bent down, scooping up gunk into the bag.

“Some sort of explosion according to Rocky there.” Helena mumbled from her bent over position. The man didn’t appreciate that description but he explained the situation to the girl.

“Ah right. I'm assumin' there was a person involved? The place stinks o'th'unnatural.” The girl’s nose wrinkled and she added, “Aye... what's it y'r callin' it... radiation.”

“Radiation?” Helena was the only one who asked the question but she sensed it was suddenly very much at the front of everyone’s mind.

“My kind's not fond of it. I'll be off.” And with that the girl returned to the statue and resumed her conversation.

And then the three went their separate ways: Helena made her way to the GIFT lab, the Canadian wandered off to the hospital and Rocky remained. Helena drifted back to the present just as the cold water shower started. She screeched as the hard water assaulted her.

“Everything seems pretty normal Helena. You’re good to go.” A tinny voice from another room came through the speaker.

“When can I expect some results? From the sample I took, I mean.” Helena shouted, drying her hair with a towel.

“Couple of days I reckon. Want me to keep ‘em here or shall I post ‘em to you?”

“Keep them here, Johnny. Thanks.”

The powers all seem to do the same thing and I'm assuming would cause knockback too.

Yes, yes Ice Blast is a very 'samey' set but it offers different ways of tackling a situation plus it gives you control.

Fire Blast is all about DoT.
Sonic is all about -Res with some soft control in there too.
Archery is about rapid and accurate attacks - the Claws of Blasting if you will.
Assault Rifle is the 'generic' pew pew set.
Elec is about -End.
Energy is knockback champion
Psi is either heavily resisted (later on, generally) or not at all
Rad is -Def
Dark is ToHit Debuff plus some soft controls

Air Blasting seems to only cater for knocking opponents away from you and Energy has this in spades, with the extra benefit of Energy being one of the less-resisted forms of damage (Freaks are my primary example).

An attack like Concussive Blast which is a single target stun (I made it up) and which would have synergy with Blaster secondaries (the disorient component in Energy Manipulation's melee attacks, for example) might go some way to rectifying this.

As the theme is 'Air' then a Targeted AoE such as Rain of Fire seems silly, so I would stick with a snipe.

But it seems difficult to sustain any ideas beyond that and so with what you have at the moment, which appears to be a long stream of the same attack only ever so slightly different, it is in high danger of becoming boring.

Oh and you've omitted one major power from your list: Tornado. Seeing as Psi Blasters and Defenders get Psionic Tornado, I see no reason why an Air Blaster wouldn't have the same available to them. And yes, with the chance of causing terror/fear in enemies too.

Inspired by this post, I had a lookie at 'types of Wind' and have come up with the following rudimentary armour set:


[u]Wind Armour[u]

Anti-Cyclone
Toggle: Smash/Lethal Defence, Knockback Protection

Streamlined
Auto: Defence vs Ranged, AoE and Melee

O2 Boost
Self: Heal, +Max HP, Toxic Resist

Chinook Blessing
Toggle: Fire/Cold Resist, Energy/Neg Energy Defence

Turbulence (Taunt Aura)
Toggle: -ToHit, Knockup

Simoom
Click (Self): Protection against Fear, Disorient, Hold, Immobilise, Placate.

Zephyr Breeze
Auto: Regeneration Boost, Res Defence Debuff, Res Recharge Debuff

Aerodynamic
Auto: Movement Speed Increase, Recharge Rate Increase, Res Movement Slow

White Squall
Movement Speed Increase, Endurance Recovery Increase, +Def All (except Psionics). Self -Recovery.

***

So there you have it - that's my take on 'Wind Armour'.

I suppose some sort of Summer event could involve a tropical island theme.

And I would vote for the Banished Pantheon being involved (Tiki Totems anyone?) and being available to all levels much like the Tuatha and Red Caps are for the Winter event.

Plot-wise I have no idea however a few unlockables would include:

Tiki Sunglasses - unlockable costume item.
Hawaiian Shirt - unlockable costume item.
Hanky Hat - unlockable costume item

Sunblock - Special Summer Event Invention Set (Resistance or Defence, not sure)

Maybe some emotes could be added such as Ice Cream Cone, Parasol and Build Sandcastle.

***

I do like the Independence Day theme too. Nemesis immediately springs to mind, for some reason...

More posts from people has caused much more musing from me, I do apologise .

I now pretty much have a full bank of characters on both of my accounts - full as in slots available to me without need for credit card payment. Of these characters I think I have roleplayed three of them and even then I've not really touched the surface, mainly because AP is so human that I find it difficult to have her lead a normal life (i.e. why play a human in a World of Superbeings?) and so I often hesitate to involve her in things that would get out of hand. And when they do she invariably ends up in hospital. Game-wise she's, imho, kickass but if I translated that into her RP-wise, it would be very silly.

I consider all of my characters as second/third-string at best - I've found myself much more suited to plot-monkey business than playing a leading figure, but then I guess that's because I don't consider myself particularly good at RP or, if I'm really honest, capable of playing well with others (i.e. not trying to steal the show).

Pseudo psychotherapeutic ramble over, how far do people reckon that 'normal' characters can stretch the limits of expectation and achieve things that one imagines could only be done by a being with superpowers?

I have plenty of those who will never see the light of day RP-wise because in their own, non-godly, way they could solve a lot of problems in a heartbeat.

[ QUOTE ]
Personally I like to treat Statesman and Recluse as the pinnacle of power in the CoX universe.
Otherwise there'd be no point in Recluse with cronies being the number one feared enemy.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'd also like to add the fact that Sister Psyche is, according to in-game lore/canon, the most powerful psychic in the World - that's possibly not quite true and I can't find the quote that backs it up but some attention seems to be being paid to the power limits of the CoX Universe.

In the ads for the Korean release or at least roughly around that time, Mirror Spirit is touted as the most powerful magic-user (or somesuch) too.

There may not be a whole lot of limitations on us as Players but they are certainly out there. Therefore I tend to scoff at 'uber-l337' Gods who proclaim that they must be more powerful because they created x, y and z.

Oh and to add more to the mix, I suppose it can be very cliched, especially if you haven't had the personal experience of it (which is why I wouldn't feel comfortable doing it), but one particular strand of weakness is 'addiction'.
Very powerful creatures (and by that I mean anything!) who have to constantly keep things under wraps might find the stresses and strains of it all leaking out into, perhaps, an addiction or even a personality disorder/antisocial behaviour. Of course, it could get very harrowing and emo all at the same time and, to keep everyone from despairing of having to deal, this addiction might have to be solved at some point.

Some comic-book-style links I can think of are;
Tony Stark's alcoholism, combined with his dicky ticker;
Superman's exposure to Red Kryptonite.

There are more but my brain cannot think of them.

This has turned into a very interesting discussion, certainly. And whilst we all know the pointlessness of trying to establish anything as a form of player cannon, it's a handy reference guide nonetheless.

[ QUOTE ]

1. I didn't say I didn't want or need people's viewpoints. I appreacite them.

[/ QUOTE ]

Then why post a question in the RP section of the forums?

[ QUOTE ]
2. Who do you think was godmodding there the most? Me or Son of Ares?

[/ QUOTE ]

I didn't realise this was some kind of spot-the-ball competition. I can only assume that you asked for SoA's permission to post a transcript in the first place. But to answer the question, there was a fair amount of godmoding between the pair of you.

[ QUOTE ]
3. I wouldn't call taunts/challenges godmodding. That rules out 2., as well.

[/ QUOTE ]

Taunts and challenges are all well and good. Continuing to do so despite the bizarreness of it all is up to you. I am guessing that this was the first time your character encountered the person who quit from the nature of the dialogue and that you were in the same SG (which I assume is Hero-side - I have no idea if the message system says SG for Heroes and VG for Villains or not). How do you consider then that taunting a fellow SG member and boasting to them about soul-eating and such is anything like social/sensible behaviour.


[/ QUOTE ]

On second thoughts I can already picture the answer in my mind. A Happy New Year to everyone who has been caught, rabbit-like, in the headlights of this thread.

[ QUOTE ]
19:03:28 Son of Ares: Greetings The Phantoms
19:03:52 The Phantoms: Greetings, mortals.
19:03:59 Son of Ares: mortals?
19:04:06 The Phantoms: Yes, Mortal.
19:04:08 Son of Ares: do you know who i am?
19:04:08 Other Guy: Say wha-?
19:04:15 The Phantoms: .....No, I do not.
19:04:45 Son of Ares: then bow down, i am the son of Ares, and i am gifted at killing, maybe you will be next for your insult - Muahahaha - seriously this is just too much. Now if he had then replied, uncertainly or with just the slightest hint of 'This isn't going the way i had planned - let's try a different tract.' it might have pulled it off. Otherwise this just sounds like something out of a really bad Flash Gordon spinoff.
19:04:54 The Phantoms: I cannot die. - Way to go spreading the news. Some others may have seen this as a challenge. If they had and approached you (via tell) on the possibility of them finding out how you might be weakened, can you say in all honesty that you would have considered it and perhaps run/co-run a plot based on this?
19:05:27 The Phantoms: Mabye temporarily remain in a form of statis, but not die. - Way to go telling the World and its life partner your weakness. If I were very powerful but perhaps wanted to throw others off the scent, I wouldn't have even mentioned the fact that I can't die in the first place, let alone given away a clue as to what might happen if someone tried it. But that's just me.
19:05:37 Son of Ares: ofcourse you can, my blade was forged to sever immortallity - Godmod
19:05:37 Other Guy: What the [censored] are you on about? - Sensible reaction
19:05:39 The Phantoms: I hold respect for one who demands that sort of authority. - Hang about, two ticks ago you were the man who couldn't be killed.
19:05:55 The Phantoms: So, I do respect you, I simply assumed you were a mortal.
19:06:01 Other Guy: *Yawns* - Sensible.
19:06:17 Son of Ares: *backhands Other Guy* "Quiet" - God Mod
19:06:32 Son of Ares: Assumptions kill my friend
19:06:34 The Phantoms: ....Yes, I repsect you.
19:06:47 The Phantoms: Hmm. You make a valid point. By Aphrodite's Girdle...
19:07:07 Other Guy: Are you retarded or summit? - Bit harsh but still sensible.
19:07:20 The Phantoms: ...Are you?
19:07:41 The Phantoms: I am Me, Demon of the satanic creed.
19:08:03 The Phantoms: ....Oh, and I enjoy burning souls. - Very funny joke.
19:08:05 Son of Ares: I Am Kalliades son of Ares, Demi-God of War
19:08:15 Other Guy: Your also modest - I believe this is sarcasm
19:08:20 Son of Ares: And i enjoy pain, suffering and killing - Sounds like the kind of guy I like to... ahem. Apart from the killing bit
19:08:30 The Phantoms: Hah! Demons are not made for modesty.
19:08:34 The Phantoms: I enjoy those also.
19:08:43 Other Guy: I enjoy sex, stealing and drinking, now the introductions over oh mighty overlord, shut the [censored] up.
19:09:10 Son of Ares: but can you do it with great skill, and should we prove ourselves on Other Guy? - Attempt to GodMod
19:09:22 The Phantoms: I would enjoy that. - Condoning a God Mod
19:09:37 Son of Ares: would you mind joining me in the base?
19:09:44 Other Guy: [censored] no - Clever use of the irony of the comic book. S/He can hear what you just said.
19:09:58 The Phantoms: ....He enjoys cursing, I see.
19:11:33 The Phantoms: ...oh, and yes, Im already there.
19:11:45 Other Guy: You two are [censored] weird - Possible attempt to change the subject or politely ignore the two characters attempting to GodMod. I would have just clicked 'Ignore' by now.
19:11:52 The Phantoms: You can talk.
29-2008 19:12:27 Other Guy: I can also kick the [censored] outta smart mouths like you, I didnt sign up to take [censored] by some demi-god up his own [censored]
19:12:34 Son of Ares: i suppose it is instinct for it?
19:12:56 The Phantoms: I hate it when they complain. It makes killing them so very irritating - Which part of Heroes are not known for going around and killing things is missing from this?
19:13:35 Son of Ares: i think it is more fun, you have to work so very hard for that final scream for mercy, so satifying.... - I only hope this character is a villain
19:13:47 The Phantoms: Well, that is the good part, yes.
19:13:54 Other Guy: Do you two ever get laid? - Humour. My word he offered you both so many ways out of this.
[i]Then it degenerates a bit into a 'my willy is biger than yours' conversation which, somehow, feels slightly more 'real'.

19:15:16 Son of Ares: i could have any one, i can mind control anyone, i could force you and make it seem like you actually love me - So why the need to kill? Oh and GodMod attempt
19:15:40 Other Guy: He?, you [censored] retards havent even heard a womans voice have you?, let alone screw her, im a woman you retarded [censored]
19:16:01 The Phantoms: ......Really? you sound like a man...
19:16:12 Other Guy: More of a man than you'll ever be
19:16:37 The Phantoms: Well, Man is but a title for a puny human, is it not?
19:16:39 Son of Ares: oh come now
19:17:20 Son of Ares: Man is but a creation of my whim - Seriously?
19:17:27 Other Guy: Riiight..
19:18:02 The Phantoms: You created man?....
19:18:09 The Phantoms: I highly doubt as much.
19:18:13 Son of Ares: by accident
19:18:30 Son of Ares: along with Hades and Hephaestus, we got bored - Again this could actually be a funny joke, but surely not a serious claim?
19:18:44 The Phantoms: ....well, thats more likely. What right thinking god, would make something so worthless and insignificant. - Destroyed any chance of above being a joke
19:19:12 Other Guy: it is fun being worshipped
19:19:25 The Phantoms: ...And feared, that is rather amusing.
19:19:47 Son of Ares: feared?
19:20:00 The Phantoms: Not many exactly worship demons, do they.
19:20:05 The Phantoms: Not anymore, anyway.
19:20:18 Other Guy: Where the [censored] is Someone Else?, I aint takin' this [censored].
19:20:37 The Phantoms: Is the human always this annoying?
19:20:42 Son of Ares: Someone Else is 'mislaid in time' - GodMod
19:20:50 Other Guy: Then [censored] this
19:20:53 The Phantoms: Mislaid?...
19:21:20 Other Guy: I signed up cus' Someone Else gave me a good job offer, and pay was aight, but I aint working with retarded [censored] like you two, later, not.
19:21:31 Other Guy has quit the Super Group - Applause
19:22:00 The Phantoms: Well, that was strange.


[/ QUOTE ]

In short, Phantoms, people have tried really hard to offer their viewpoints on your OP. Whether you choose to take any of it on board is ultimately up to you. If you enjoy this kind of roleplay then fine, go ahead. But don't expect everyone to think it's really good or worth their while.

Also as an aside (and I've been guilty of this when I go into the D on several occasions) - Pocket D has some kind of barrier to prevent conflict. I'm never quite sure if this extends to being able to use powers if you have any (making ice cubes or causing it to Snow outside), or if a person throws a punch will they end up in a cornfield? If someone could be more proactive than me and find out for certain what the deal is, I would be grateful. Then it could be one thing that might actually be able to be applied across the board so that whenever anyone's in D, acts of violence can be dispersed by a kindly tell stating whatever the case happens to be.

[ QUOTE ]

2. If you say you created the world or mankind, your a jackass. I dont care if thats what legends say in his backstory, religion is a soft spot for almost everyone, even atheists, and theres difference between a creation myth and a "god" saying "thats how it happened!".
It's going to make a lot of people rather angry.


[/ QUOTE ]

*has been eyeing the wagon from a distance and has scraped together a few inf to gain passage at the next stop*

Gods, goddesses, mythical creatures and the like are, more often than not, cited for their powers than what they actually do on a day-to-day basis. The stories we know from either being told, Googling or *gasp* Wiki'ing them are not based on a year in the life of [insert powerful entity here]. They are stories of myth and legend which are based on grains of truth covered in the chaff and flies of hyperbole, gusto and showing off. In short, the stories are adverts for how great a particular thing is.

And it always strikes me as odd (no wait, it doesn't but I was just turning a phrase) that only a select number of Gods tend to be chosen for Superhero/villain stories: namely the ones that either represent Emotions (Aphrodite/Venus, Cupid/Eros to name two entities of love, hate, war, passion and sexuality) or the physical ideals of Man (apologies to Women and anyone interested in Equal Opportunity): Namely Hercules, Zeus, Athene/a, Mars/Ares and Thor.

No one seems to want to play as the disfigured yet ingenious Hephaestus or the vengeful/caring/nurturing/jealous Hera/Juno. Everyone wants to be a King and Wise and Strong and Beautiful.

From my memories of lapping up these stories as a child right up until the present day, the characters who stood out the most weren't the Gods: They were just petty, vengeful idiots who doled out whatever punishment they saw fit and caused the ruin of many just because of their total miscomprehension of what it is to be human.

My favourites were the ones who used a bit of brainpower to solve the convenient, Tomb-Raider-esque (yes I know TR came after, but I'm trying to be street ) riddles, traps and puzzles that were set before them. They may occasionally have been given something akin to a Holy Sword of Witch Smiting +4 by another God keen to see their rival's schemes thwarted but it was still their ingenuity can resolve that won the day. Of course, never read what happened after because it invariably involves eye-gouging, cursed first sons and miscommunication resulting in suicide by proxy but who said there had to be a happy ending?

So, God characters, in my opinion, are overrated. They are merely the ideals of a particular group of people turned flesh. That's not to say they can't be played though - just very carefully.

I love Pratchett and, in particular, the way he deals with Gods. They are blowhards. Yes, they control the 'fate' of the World. But they only exist through belief and even then that belief can become something else, causing the original God to die or become a lesser creature. And so they might send a prophet or attempt to manifest as a creature. In the Superhero world, this usually results in the God turning up as a Villain. I therefore find it hard to interact with a truly Heroic God, because my own sensibilities and thoughts about religion/spirituality (which inevitably find their way somehow into all my characters) tell me that they don't exist. Or, at least, no-ne shown me one yet which could possibly exist.

I am aware this has turned into a bit of a brainfart (!) on my part so i will end with the notion that you can be a God character who created The World - But 'The World' may have been a tiny island that needed rain for their crops to grow or perhaps didn't want the big volcano to erupt and burn everyone alive, turning them to stone..

And finally, to sort of answer the OP - read. Read up and not just books about heroes/villains/gods/monsters but other 'stuff' too. Like, y'know, real life stuff. Cults are always a good place to find out about the mentality of worshippers over the centuries and perhaps that might be the key to finding out how/why your God exists and acts the way they do.

My 2.5 billion inf.

[ QUOTE ]
...teaming with Mako himself to get her back (which will be extremely novel for a hero but not unheard of - after all they get to team with Arbiter Sands).


[/ QUOTE ]

I heard Mako doesn't play well with others

But yes I too hope the MA will be fun, intuitive and, more importantly, capable of translating our ideas into missions.

Besides the 'novel' ideas with 'new' hero/villain groups, i can't wait to have a crack at creating some missions to do with either characters that are my own or other peoples' (consent permitting). I have had a thought about an historical set of missions based around the characters of Shadowe, Zortel, Jason Caine, Miss Ellie and Grav Mistress.

I shall be, needless to say, contacting the players if/when we find out what the MA is capable of

Apart from Ravenswing's Miss Muffet LARP description putting me off the thought of sweeping a duster round the shed, the Tarantula Mistress idea is very coolio.

Also, on the notion of Red, The Company of Wolves appeals to me. As does Into The Woods.

AFAIK the Mission Architect was put back an issue because they wanted us to be able to make our NPC bosses and the like. I've tried some variations of Red out on the cossie creator(!) and an all-Patent Leather bodysuit, trenchcoat, hood, padded gloves (fingerless) and eerie grin face is my favourite design. I also tried Mother Goose, but sadly nothing looks good. We needs more 'old' faces for male, female and huge! And big skirts with bustles.

Well, I for one will be attemtping Cinderfella when the MA comes out. Don't expect immediate release though - I have a horrible feeling I will become obsessed and spend months on creating before actually releasing anything onto the unsuspecting public.