Zortel

Regarding Merits:

How about being able to gain them by completing story arcs too? The stories are there for people to do, and people can use Ouroboros to flash back to them. It means less farming of the TF's as people have other ways to do things, and may encourage people to play and see that content as well.

Day Jobs:

Hopefully we'll get places to work a bit more varied. For instance, with City Hall and Freedom Court, we have MAGI, ELITE, SERAPH, GIFT and DATA that people could log out in to gain buffs based around those FBSA divisions. DO/SO shops of the varying origins, Vanguard, Portal Corps, Midnight Squad, Universisty, Pocket D, and hopefully some new places and buildings too, hopefully utilizing existing in game stores.

(C'mooon Up-n-Away. And The Wizards Well, I have a character that'd love to work there!)

Shields: Wonder what types there'll be... I'm really hoping for a cool Tech one to use with Tech Broadsword.

Empathy: Heal Other
Pain Domination: Spank Other?

... I'll get my coat.

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tbh highly unimpressed, what happened to i13 being massive?

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Okay, so a system that lets players the world over create their own missions and story arcs for people to play in and enjoy isn't massive?

Two new power sets, a new system of rewards for accomplishing tasks in game to unlock things, two new power sets for several ATs, powerset proliferation probably to come, more than likely global zone changes, a system for earning badges and extra things while offline, supergroup base enhancements...

If all that isn't massive, I kinda wonder what your idea of massive is.

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In the interim, Memorabilia will be even bigger than last year... so worth attending, I'd say.

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And it just has to be the day before I have to go and have a knee op. :/ Damn timing!

Good point.

In that case, if we have shields:

Tanker Primary: Shields
Tanker Secondary: Broadsword

I think there may be a slight chance of getting Archery/Trick Arrow for Corruptors, at least I know a few people who'd love that.

MM's are always difficult ones to pick for... Maybe Cold or Thermal?

Blaster Primary - Radiation Blast
Blaster Secondary - Radiation Manipulation
Brute Primary - Broadsword
Brute Secondary - Kittens... uh, no, Shields? Maybe?
Controller Primary - Electric Control
Controller Secondary - Cold Domination
Corruptor Primary - Psychic Blast
Corruptor Secondary - Force Fields
Defender Primary - Fire Blast
Defender Secondary - Thermal Radiation
Dominator Primary - Electric Control
Dominator Secondary - Dark Assault
Mastermind Primary - None. Nothing. Nada. Zip.
Mastermind Secondary - Some form of Empaaaaaaatthyyyyy!
Scrapper Primary - Energy Melee
Scrapper Secondary - Energy Aura
Staker Primary - Icy Melee
Stalker Secondary - Ice Armour
Tanker Primary - Electric Armour
Tanker Secondary - Electric Melee

Like with Electric Assault being added last proliferation, I think Electric Control is up next for Dominators, with Dark Assault ready for the next set of proliferations for Dark Control to come in.

I don't think we'll get any new MM primaries, and I think Icy Melee/Ice Armour is more likely. We can at least say something about ice bending light to hide, right? Really hoping for Cold Domination for Controllers, and Thermal for defenders. A team consisting of a Fire/Fire and Ice/Ice Tank, Fire/Thermal and Ice/Cold Defender, Fire/Thermal and Ice/Cold Controller and Fire/Fire and Ice/Ice Blaster... /drool.

I also think we'll be getting more synergizing APPs.

Storm Sapphire caught the energy infused punch right on the cheek and stumbled back, bringing a hand up to rub his jaw. "That... was uncalled for." He grunted, before leveling a jab at the clone's stomach. As his fist connected, a blast of light sent it flighting back, followed by several further blasts striking out at it.

Flipping mid-flight, the doppleganger spread his arms back with clenching fists as shields burst into light around him, absorbing the blasts. With an impassive expression, its body soon flared with light as it shifted. Flesh turned to energy as its form morphed into the powerfully muscled and armour plated shape of a White Dwarf, clawed hands balling up.

"This is going to hurt, Michael..." His Kheldian warned as the ethereal beast charged, a powerful smite sending the police officer hurtling upwards. With a flash of light and a distortion of space, it began to chase Michael, knocking him further into the air with each blow. Strike after strike knocked the officer up, until with pure determination and will his forearms swelled with light, and a push up located him directly above the next teleportation point.

"Good, but you're no Storm Sapphire!" Michael spat, bringing down his bunched together fists on the beasts head, sending it plummeting to the rooftops. "Mess with the law, and the law messes with you, and Stranger? I AM THE LAW!"

A blast of light engulphed Michael as he assumed his dwarf form and hurtled straight down after his clone, a pair of plated feet cracking the very ground and air with cosmic energies as they connected. The metal roofing of the abandoned warehouse they fell upon giving way and sending them into the bowels.

Flashes of blue-white light flickered and glimpsed out of the windows as the pair fell to battle.

Sneaky so-and-so, hope you're enjoying your break!

"It's all about confidence. With a bundle full of it you can bluff your way into anything, really." Ryan nodded as they got off the elevator.

"Maybe join some of the clubs at the tower, Tracey, get to know people that way rather than just going up and saying hi. Or bumping into people." Ryan grinned. "It's pretty effective though, it seems."

"Hey, I'm a taken man, Leo." Ryan laughed as they headed to the elevators. "Good thing my guy knows I love having female friends. And I can spot my own good looking guys."

Stepping into the elevator after Tracey, Ryan glanced upwards. "Speaking of female friends, BODICIA? Ground Floor please."

Ryan grinned to Tracey. "Not at all, hun. And 'sides, you're right to say that. I mean, a lot of rumours are just that, no substance to them at all." With a blur of orange light, he appeared behind Tracey with a hand on her shoulder.

"Really, it's up to Leo if you want to tag along with us for a bit. We're heading downstairs. 'sides, some pretty girl company is something I always like!" He grinned, peering over the top of his sunglasses to give her a wink.

"Replicating themselves based on scanned DNA, to interact with us better? Or perhaps more sinister dopplegangers come to usurp our lives. Who knows my dear, who knows." Storm Sapphire's Kheldian half commented. "But for those who take our appearance, if imperfectly, we may have to distinguish ourselves."

"You're not suggesting..." Michael trailed off, standing in place as his clone approached him, eying up the creature curiously as they faced one another.

"You will need to return to that form sometime, Michael... and it may give us an edge in the power stakes if we have to battle someone on equal terms."

"We'll keep that as a plan B then." Michael grunted, before stepping forwards. His energy shields shrunk to just flicker and coat his costume. "I'm Officer Michael Preston of the Paragon Police Department, who might you be?"

Ryan stood back to watch with a smile, arms folded across his chest. While being seen with Leo might help quell some of the rumours, the young man also realised that Leo getting his own point across to someone would help.

And he always enjoyed seeing Tracey maybe make friends or talk to others.

When I hear of people completing Eden in so short of a time, you know what I think?

Cool, those people put thought into their tactics, selected their insps and took some other skilled players into doing this TF in such a way. It brings more rare recipies onto the market for people who can't afford to do a TF over and over in the chances of one dropping.

Would that take away anything from me completing Eden in my own time in my own way? Hell no. There's lots of things in life that people can do faster than others. If they raised the difficulty of it, is that punishing the people doing it quickly, or the people who do it in the normal time and then have to take longer because of this difficulty raise?

They could make the Crystal Titan have insanely high accuracy, but then that punishes -everyone-.

Leave it how it is, I say. The people completing it fast for recipe chances can do it, the people taking their time can do it.

I think the costume thing is one of those that always makes me smile. Other games, items are mostly for stats and not really for looks, and in the hobbled together items you wear you end up looking a little silly. In CoH, you can be on the streets as a hero or Villain you've designed, with much more variety and life to them. And individuality.

Being able to log on for an hour and do a couple of missions is always good, the Inventions system isn't optional, changing your characters apperance is quite easy, and despite all my niggles with the game at times, I'm coming up for 42 months now, that's longer than I've ever played any MMO.

Also, kickass community and many friends.

"Maybe... all we can do is guess really." Ryan said, before nodding and getting up. "Let's take the long way. If people see us walking about and chatting, well.... BODICIA likes to send me the digest of important chatter happening in the corridors and all." The young man smiled, finishing his drink before heading over to the office door.

"It is true, you know Leo." BODICIA commented. "Listening to and translating teenage chatter helps keep me occupied, and you learn all sorts of interesting things. Such as what an 'Ollie' is. And that a bunny hop is something other than what rabbits do. And most importantly, I will teach people to fear my leet pwnsome skillz. Et cetera et cetera."

"We're... not entirely sure, y'know?" Ryan sighed. "She asked for you by name soon after, but... we haven't gotten a word out of her since, and any psychics we used to try and communicate mentally with her came away with either nothing or one hell of a migraine..."

"We'll find out what got done to her though, and we'll undo it. These companies are like, fanatics about taking notes and making reports, so there's bound to be documentation somewhere, right?"

I'll resist an urge to make a pun about the old Baby Back Ribs jingle for Chilli's and instead say congratulations on a healthy baby Back r- Alley Brawler.

Nosferatu on my En/En blaster. No Mez protection when I faced him, or any Break Free's. Posi can also give me some trouble too, though Anti-Matter seems to be worse.

The easiest ever was Snaptooth, as Power Push and his weakness to knockback made the fight laughable.

Reeling from the high pitched sound, Storm Sapphire covered his ears with his hands as he stumbled back, his shields flickering brightly into life as energy coursed through him.

"Pull yourself together Michael, we need to get on crowd control to stop the people from ogling the floor show."

"Right, right..." The police officer replied, floating up, before shouting. "I am an Officer of the Paragon Police Department! I want all civillians to get back as far away as possible, and I want you to get moving NOW!"

"Subtle, sensitive and well thought out. Such style, Michael. Such tact."

Ryan looked at his friend for a long moment before motioning him to sit down.

"While we were at the hotel, a van pulled up outside the plaza, and a pair of unidentified people chucked something from their van. It slid across the plaza and through the doors. BODICIA thought it was a bomb, but... turns out it was Gemini. She was in quite a bad way, Leo... we sedated her and took her over to the medical ward at the tower."

He smiled gently at Leo though. "Though she's on the mend physically, I mean, if they were able to put my ribcage back together, they can do anything."

Unless I've miscounted Friday's isn't full, we have one spot left!

Ryan hugged back in the manly, brotherly sort of way of male bonding before grinning. "Wish I did when I was younger, but y'know, us American teens are good for more than just being mallrats, we get the right path given the chance. And you flatterer you." The young man laughed, nudging Leo's shoulder with his fist, before looking a little more serious.

"Of course you can. She's over on the Medical ward at Unity Tower, second floor. Just ask at the reception and a Vigilant will like, take you up." He explained, before smiling. "If you want me to head over there with you, just give me a shout, 'kay?"

"Possibly a scan of some sorts..." Storm Sapphire said with a slightly pained expression as he landed near the other heroes. "All I know is that the scan is making my Kheldian side giggle like the Pillsbury Dough Boy. It's... creepy." He said with a shudder.

"It's nothing like we've ever seen though, so... I'm stumped."

"Nope, not in the state you were in, Leo." Ryan said in response to letting him go, before pausing to listen to the young (If older than him) man speak.

"What was tempting was the easy way, Leo. Where you do what you want, what you feel, where you're the one that matters, not anyone else. Hell, with our powers, if all of the New Vigilants thought like that, well... the world would be a pretty grim place." Cindersnap smiled, his eyes glowing behind his shades.

"We take the hard route, make the tough choices, put ourselves on the line to make others happy and safe. And that kind of attitude that you've got, to pick yourself up and resist temptation and to want to make a difference? That's the kind of thing that the Metahuman Youth Reforment Scheme was based on. That's the scheme that got me out of Juvvie, that taught me to be a hero, to join the Unity Vigil, and took me to this path today."

Getting up from where he was leaning on the desk, Ryan offered Leo a hand. "So I'm more than happy to keep training you. Two good looking blond guys like us? Evil's gonna burn with us on the scene."