Zortel

The whale had started to thrash, his damaged brain striking out and going wide with psychic pulses until Psysan deflected the wave of fear and terror rolling over it. The bleeding from its wounds had stopped, and the water flowing over its underbelly was helping to soothe it.

Krill Killer's mind though... what telepathic thought was projected was garbled, snatches of words transmitted slowly, repeating over and over. Stop. Help. Hurts. Murdered. Revenge. Stop. Help. Hurts. Murdered. Revenge.

Scared.

Sad.

Even shame.

There was just a burble of psychic noise from the whale as his continued to try and flee without much luck. A small burst of water came from his blowhole, sending a light mist with heavier droplets down around it.

A few flashes of light came from camera phones as the now less skittish crowd went to rubbernecking mode, taking photos of the heroes and the whale.

This is the danger of mothering governments. See Australia's actions on video games and the internet for example. These out of touch people get the wrong ideas and decide to ban something for the majority, when only a minority ever cause a few problems.

Here's a thought, Germany/Australia/Everywhere Else:

100 people play BLOODGUN: GUNS AND BLOOD with its bump-mapped gore splatter and 7.1 surround sound bullet engine.

Two people who played BLOODGUN: GUNS AND BLOOD at a later point go on to go postal.

Obviously it's not things like mental or emotional problems or drugs or social causes or anything. No, it has to be the VIOLENT GAME OF VIOLENCE AND BLOOD AND GUNS.

Know what kills more people than video-game related violence? Cars. Smoking. Alcohol. You don't see any governments banning these things though. Driving a several ton vehicle that can go over one hundred miles an hour is fine, but playing a game that has elements of violence in? That's terrible and sick and wrong and no good could ever come from that. Drinking causes more violence than computer gaming.

Video games don't make me violent. Stupid, knee-jerk governemtn decisions and censorship make me think violent thoughts.

With a shudder, the whale's body starts to lift off the sand, before a deep, echoing psychic sound of pain emerges from it, dropping it back onto the sound with a solid, loud thud. The head wound the beam sword had given Krill Killer was a rather nasty looking one, going quite deep.

One of its eyes focused on the fence going round it, and the surface dweller who was using her mental prowess to manipulate it. A single, quiet thought rippled out of his mind towards her.

"Help... sea... rest."

Esperanto, mia bela homoj!

(Would probably help with my learning! )

By now, Krill Killer was thrashing helplessly in the water as it writhed in pain, only to get struck by the robot and suited man that had stabbed it. Letting out a another burst of Telekinetic energy, The Psy Whale tried to speed away to safer waters. In its thrashing though, it had aligned itself with the southern part of the beach, near a rocky area and with a mighty crash and spray of sand beached itself.

The leviathan laid on the beach, its tail and flippers jerking around as it tried to gather the energy to escape its current predicament.

"THEY WILL NOT LISTEN TO REASON." Krill Killer's telepathic voice boomed in Claire Bouyant's mind. "THEIR LUST FOR VIOLENCE HAS KILLED MANY OF MY POD, AND EVEN NOW THEY LASH OUT RATHER THAN SAVE THEIR IMPERILED BRETHREN."

Righting himself underwater, the Whale shook himself. The eye beams had been weakened by the water as it hit him, but the strain of exerting his powers had begun to take their toll. "NOW THEY SHALL LEARN THE WRATH OF THE TIDES. THEY WERE NOT PREPARED!"

... Not that he was prepared for the beam sword to the head. Even under the water, it sunk into him like a hot knife through butter. A psychic wave of utter anguish blasted forth across the sea and beach.

Yes FFM, because I'd totally go up to someone and say "HELLO THERE PERSON OF SEXUALITY X WHO DOES/DOES NOT ACT LIKE STEREOTYPE X." instead of calling them by name.

:/

I'm curious about that too.... I mean, I've never given any thought to it. I'm just a geek. Can't use 'normal' because that would imply people who have an...

Oh jeez, I'm not even sure how to word this D:

...

Can't use 'normal' because that would imply people with the tendancies typically associated with homosexuals (overly flambouyant/feminine for men, masculine and 'butch' for women) are abnormal.

"Not displaying stereotypical homosexual patterns of behaviour"?

Colour me confused.

If the change happens, let's go start our own forums. With gambling, and ladies (and men!) of negotiable affection!

In fact, forget the forums!

In all seriousness though, I think it should be kept. Sometimes people, a spade is just a spade. Except when it's a playing card.

I'd buy an NCSoft Game Pass (or whatever they called it) if it offered these things:

City of Heroes/Villains
Aion
Tabula Rasa
Dungeon Runners (the member version).

Bonuses for other NCSoft games could be included (Bonus NC Coins for Exteel? A reward scheme for Guild Wars, or even a free access to the make over tools every couple of months for a character.)

I miss TR, and the chance to have explored it more.

I fully endorse bringing Mitchell and Webb to our fellow players across the world.

And I'll chuck that link to my Norwich City fan brother.

I for one would like to know if the base editing system will be improved without removing the stacking/no clipping of item placement (Which has resulted in some absolutely stunning bases) and if we'll get new objects added any time soon. It's only been 10 issues or so since we got them.

Is the game a pulling tool?

I don't think so.

Does the game contain a social component where like-minded people (People who like comics/playing a hero/villain, playing MMORPGs, roleplaying and so forth) can meet, interact, form friendships that may lead to a relationship?

Yes.

May these people be heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, pansexual, asexual, monogamous, polygamous, black, white, brown, green, purple, a fan of tea, coffee barristas, transgender, transvestite, crossdressing, androgynous, BDSM fans, football fans, yodellers, model train enthusiasts, people who enjoy Tim Curry, Tim Curry, party animals, old, young, young at heart, old at heart, have no heart, human, AI?

Of course! To quote M. Bison in the Street Fighter movie.

Do I know of any Grande bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich- I mean, supergroups on the EU servers? Nope.

Do I know of any open to such members? Well, I'm pretty sure mine is, but we're a casual Roleplaying SG, and kiiiinda inactive.

Are you now thinking of Tim Curry eating a grande BLT while playing with model trains?

... You are now.

Edited because I used Transexual and did not want to be lynched.

That's fair enough, but the tips written up in the first post apply to the general consensu of EU roleplay. It is interesting what you say about your interpretation of IC. We tend to ignore the NPC civilian names, a lot of us don't take everything our character (as in, the game character) does as IC. (So Zortel, a scientific genius who doesn't really know that much about magic, won't be going out to stop magical rituals and decipher things, because there's other heroes who can do that.)

There's also a play safe mentality. Some of us stick tags in our profiles saying to contact us via PM for if you have x enhanced type of sense, or can detect y. Or even to say if we're famous, have a secret identity or so forth.

Secret identities are less common in the Unionverse, due to the difficulties with keeping them secret, but they do exist.

The hospital teleporters also sometimes tend to be played with, because frankly, what's the point of characters heroing without risk of injury? "You defeated me, but I'll be back, just as soon as I've teleported to hospital and been rejuvenated!"

Cindersnap got a thrashing and was off heroing for weeks as he recovered in his Super Group's medical bay. Crimson Archer lost an eye to an acid attack and never got it back. Redsight didn't even make it to hospital and died, along with various other heroes in the Unionverse.

As a rule, EU RP'ers tend to disregard some of the rules and game mechanics in the name of realism, believabilty, fun and concept.

Killer Krill flew back from the punishing attack of M221, a rather pitiful sing-song sound coming from it as it reeled back towards Crazy Dragon. The sound it made when the swords piereced its skin and into its blubber though was not quite as pitiful, and more enraged as it started to fall towards the water, a young English man with swords poking into him on his back, and a very odd centipede clinging to it as the waves below sloshed round to welcome them.

"I'LL TAKE YOU TO A WATERY GRAAAAAAVE!" A sightly jumbled thought burst out from its mind.

That old gameplay tech demo video (the one with Atlas Statue being a wire mesh instead of solid rock, right?) wasn't even Alpha, IIRC. It was pre-alpha. I do miss the little turning they did when moving though. Also, I think it wasn't a double jump so much as jump, front flip and launch into flight.

Flag up, peroidic broadcast messages in zones the level range I need in, and I always try to work in level, AT and powersets if it isn't obvious.

And then, the magic ingredient.

Humour and light-heartedness. For example:

"Rushmore.: Level x Tanker looking for a team! I'm blue, I'm true, I'll take damage for you."

"Rushmore.: Invite Rushmore, the level x stone tanker to your team, and you'll get Liberty, Justice and apple pie. (Rushmore may not come with apple pie. No cash alternatives.)"

"Rushmore.: Freedom fries? Pah, how about Freedom Force! Rushmore (With only x levels of stone tanking fat!) is part of a good, balanced buttkicking."

Here's three to be getting on with.

Zortel

The leader of the Unity Vigil, and former CEO of ZorTel Industries. Zorielle Rolando has been an active hero since 2002, when she took the Zortel Mk 1 Alpha suit out against the invading Rikti forces. Sustaining heavy injuries she spent her time recovering till the end of the war, assisting with her scientific know-how from her hospital bed.

In 2006, she announced the closure of high tech R&D company ZorTel Industries, and moved away from heroing to concentrate on the upcoming birth of her children with partner Tessa Lenson. Wanting to give back and help others though, she founded the Unity Vigil in 2007 and soon returned to active duty.

Today, Zorielle leads the group of heroes from Unity Tower in Skyway City, and often lends her considerable expertise to the city. Zorielle is 39 years old and lives on a small island in the South Pacific, with wife Tessa, adopted daughter Hannah, and their three year old twins Kelly and Michael.

Cindersnap

Ryan Andrews, also known as Cindersnap, is the leader of the New Vigilants. The group was set up by Zortel of the Unity Vigil to help train young mutants. Cindersnap himself came to the Unity Vigil after a spell in juvenile hall for gang crimes with the Outcasts.

At 18 years old, his position and life experiences have forced a lot more responsibility on him, having lost his parents in a car accident and his younger brother to a drugs related accident. None the less, he retains a cheery outlook, helped in part by his faith in Christianity and boyfriend Robert Judge, son of popular televangelist and ultra-conservative Gary Judge.

Ryan used to do some acting work, both stage in several productions including 'Romeo and Juliet', and teen dramas such as Talos Beach and Paragon High, until deciding to focus on his heroing. His fan base is numerous, and he often helps to arrange them into doing civic activities. He is fluent in American Sign Language. Cindersnap currently lives in the Atlas/Skyway urban district.

Madame Midknight

Jane Darc – Parapsychologist for hire, Ghost Buster, Mediator for the living impaired and roleplayer... is a zombie.

After falling and breaking her neck getting some air during a night of tabletop gaming, her body was used to test a new necromantic spell. And it worked... somewhat.

Jane is a criminals worst nightmare. Her use of weird ideas and spells, pop-culture laden language and use of bizarre subculture terminology frequently baffles those around her. The purple-dressing cadaver is also known for snark. Jane lives with her partner Jared Scott, familiar sentient rat Boo, snarky cat Rheu and golem Warforge. She has also been known to go LARPing, and runs a variety of tabletop games at the Wizard's Well in Kings Row. As someone who has seen death from both sides, she treats life as a big joke, but her mastery of magics gleamed from a mentor is impressive. She is also a very unorthadox Jew.

Boo, her rat, is named after a computer game character and has been known to do the Snoopy Dance for snacks.

Krill Killer's voice boomed forth once more, over the screams and panicked cries of the beach-goes. "YOU ARE FOOLISH TO CHALLENGE MY MENTAL POWERS!" Spotting M221 with an eye, the whale 's body spun, its long tail starting to cut an arc through the air as it tried to bat away its attacker. The centipede on it wasn't worth the concern of the avenger of aquatic life at this moment in time.

On the ground, the civilains were running wild trying to get away or get to their family, and some were even attempting to swim into the ocean to help those getting dragged out to sea.

Wouldn't a better supergroup be "We accept people of all races, genders, sexualities, religions, cultures and sub-cultures. If you have views on any of the above that might be considered negative, keep them to yourself. If you can discuss your views with others in a sensible manner, that's fine, just step back if things get too heated or look like they could lead to an argument or falling out. You have a right to your views, and a responsibility to others. You wouldn't like to be mocked for being what you are, so don't do that to anyone else. Breaking these rules mean you will be reprimanded."

... Wait, wouldn't life be better like that? That's what equality means to me.

Also, universal acceptance isn't a good thing. Because we'll never be able to accept everything about everyone. Universal tolerance on the other hand, is a bit more attainable. "You are X, and while I don't quite understand that/like that/feel comfortable with that, you are entitled to that without persecution (as long as no harm, either mental, physical or emotional is caused, or is done without informed consent.)"

Just saying.

Tilting its body, Krill Killer's eye focused on the tiny being shouting at it. "DO NOT GOAD ME, INSECT." Its projected voice echoed, directed at the centipede. "LEAVE OR FACE THE CONSEQUENCES, ALONG WITH THE REST OF THESE HUMANS."

A telekinetic ripple flowed throughout the beach as sandcastles exploded in puffs of fine, golden sand, and buckets and spades were launched skywards.

A tidal warning signal had already begun to drone, oscillating between high and low moans. A suitible background orchestra to the monsterous mental mammal's reign of destruction.

Please give us a simple board skin, the mass amounts of images, including that background one make it so that it's very difficult for some systems to handle browsing. Even with just one tab in Firefox with this site in, I get pauses when scrolling. Please don't torture my Eee PC too

The beaches on Talos Island were packed. It was a hot, sunny Saturday afternoon, and a conflicting array of coloured bikinis, beach shorts and swimsuits lined the sandy bay by Spanky's Boardwalk. Lifeguards shouted orders to foolish and reckless swimmers, carts selling cold drinks, coffees, hot dogs and ice creams lined the boardwalk, and cool boxes were packed to the brim with dangerous cocktails of sandwiches, beer and nibbles.

Children were building sandcastles, older, more adult looking children were building bigger and fancier sandcastles, and swimmers played games and cooled off in the ocean.

And then there was the floating, psychic whale.

Wait.

What?

At first only a few noticed the long, dark shape under the water. Then some more noticed. Gasps, pointing fingers and camera phones were all directed at the looming shape under water. It was a Greyhound bus and a half in length, and almost three times as wide at the front.

When it surfaced though, it got everyone's attention. A powerful blast of water sprayed from its blowhole as the leviathan beast of the brine floated out of the water, it's sea song of savagery sounding across the north end of the island.

The crowds froze, watching the spectacle with bafflement and fear in equal doses.

"I AM KRILL KILLER, THE PSY-WHALE." It's telepathic voice boomed. "FOR TOO LONG YOU SURFACE DWELLERS HAVE HUNTED MY KIND WITH PRIMATIVE WEAPONS AND FLOATING FORTRESSES. NOW... YOU SHALL RECIEVE OUR PAYBACK IN KIND!"

With a flex of its mental muscles, the seas began to surge. Water spouts fired up high into the air and vortexes threatened to swallow those still in the water.

... Makes you wonder why anyone vacations, or lives, in Paragon City anymore.