Arilou

I kind of like First Ward, if it hadn't been for Praetoria they'd have been my favourite arcs.

BUT after Praetoria they feel like a throwback, yesterday's way of storytelling in COH. They feel like the old COH arcs (albeit better written) but with none of the bells and whistles we had in Praetoria. (like persistence of choices, etc.)

The Talons herald the future. They herald the end. They herald retribution for all your crimes.

Isn't there a lot of stuff in Praetoria that points out that the "Eddie Polstra" identity is faked? Which would probably point towards Praetorian Eddie being dead (probably in the Hamidon Wars) since otherwise there'd at least be questions about the his namesake. (assuming they have the same name of course)

"We are all aware that the senses can be deceived, the eyes fooled. But how can we be sure our senses are not being deceived at any particular time, or even all the time? Might I just be a brain in a tank somewhere, tricked all my life into believing in the events of this world by some insane computer? And does my life gain or lose meaning based on my reaction to such solipsism?"

Project PYRRHO, Specimen 46, Vat 7
Activity Recorded M.Y. 2302.22467
TERMINATION OF SPECIMEN ADVISED

So, I just finished my first Magisterium Trial on Live, and I checked out Prometheus to see if he ahd anything to say and well... He doesen't.

Is there something I'm missing (like is it hidden under one of the dialogue branches) or what?

Please, don't use those terms

There's a reason: They mean different things. In narratology "plot" and "story" are two ways of looking at narrative sequence. (basically the plot is the narrative as it moves chronologically through the work in question, while the story is the narrative as it moves chronologically "in-universe")

If I had to redesign the place I'd definitely do a bunch of different things, for starters I'd have at least one "independent" track and one "insider" track, one where you're basically doing your own thing or setting up your own organization, and the other where you're working your way up within the Arachnos power-structure.

But that train has already departed.

Personally I don't think the 5th Column could ever be a "generic villain group" for the simple reason that well... THEY'RE NAZIS. That's a very specific brand of villainy. Recluse's anarchic darwinism means most other kinds of villainy can be more or less incorporated without a fuss, but national socialism well... Is a much more specific thing.

I sincerely doubt he's alive. His Personal Story had a very "preparing to die" feel to it.

Yeah, my first 50 was a MM, and while I've done some basic IO-ing (pretty much just sticking some cheap sets into whatever positions I find useful) I really don't have any idea of what to actually do with her.

The way I understand the timeline it goes something like this:

-Some organization from Primal (not Portal Corp) discovers Praetoria, sends Maelstrom & his companion there. Maelstrom switches sides.
-Cole dispatches people to figure out what the heck is going on with those Primals snooping around, hence Marauder's Cell and the attempted kidnapping of Statesman. He starts gearing up for invasion. (old arcs)
-Both Arachnos and Longbow/Vanguard start infiltrating Praetoria, at the same time Powers Division is infiltrating Paragon City (Twinshot arc)
-Our Praetorian PC's delay the invasion (by whatever means) in the final Praetoria arcs.
-Cole sends Battle Maiden to invade (Atlas TF) the primal incarnates strike back and essentialyl wreck the invasion force (Tin Mage TF)
-At the same time the Durays team up and launch a diversionary invasion (Sutter TF)
-With the invasion defeated, Cole is now on the defensive. He starts by trying to take out the Resistance (BAF trial) but is stopped, the incarnates then proceed to wreck Lamba Sector (Lambda trial) and the Keyes Island Reactor, pretty much ending any threat of invasion.
-The fighting starts to wake the Hamidon up, who proceeds to pretty much declare war on Praetoria. (UG trial) Desdemona assumes leadership of the Carnival of Light.
-The incarnates attack the TPN network to try to break Tyrant's hold on the praetorian population, Maelstrom is defeated. (TPN trial)
-With no more propaganda, Mother Mayhem turns on the psychic sledgehammer. The incarnates stop her. (Minds of Mayhem trial)
-The DA arcs, Praetor Duncan slips over to Primal Earth, Mot is defeated, Diabolique attempts to take control of him but the incarnates and Dream Doctor stops her (DD trial)

I23 stuff:
-Chimera in desperation gathers what remaining supers he can into a new group of Praetors. Imperial City is liberated. (Sword of the Emperor arc)
-Nova Praetoria is evacuated, Lord Recluse tries to beat the incarnates to the punch (and stealing Cole's technology) but is defeated by Cole.
-The incarnates invade the Magisterium, beating Cole's Praetors, in desperation he blows up the Magisterium but it is not enough and Cole is defeated.

That would be kind of cool.

Also, I'd like more spotlight on the Patron's sidekicks. They all have their own TF, but apart from Wretch and to a lesser degree Silver Mantis they don't have much personality. More of them!

(more of the patrons too)