Zombieluvr

(Don't even want to know how they reproduce...)

Might seem like too much of a Ghost Ship redux, but how about a pirate ship GM that also spawns ghost pirates?

Interesting. That certainly explains all the buildup around Odysseus appearances in recent issues.

The idea of multi-use, rather than co-op zones (and I hope you don't mind if I co-opt your term in the future, Slick! )

This is how I'd ideally like to see any such zones coming down the pike; not something for villain and hero teaming, but something that exists for both groups to pursue their own agendas, with different storylines (though perhaps related/connected ones). Obviously it takes more work, but I think it would be well worth the effort.

In an ideal world, of course, we'd see some separate love for Rogues and Vigilantes as well, but one thing at a time.

If not for the fact that some of the Carnival of Vengeance are male, I'd say it's because the Knives are the only female villain group for the Talons to target.

This actually would have been pretty cool, indeed.

As far as Dark Astoria, my only real complaint about the new DA revamp is that the Tsoo are kind of randomly involved, and the explanation behind their involvement kind of comes from nowhere (unless I'm missing/forgetting some Tsoo stories along the way). Everything else is pretty well set up (okay, maybe not the Knives, as you point out), but the Tsoo thing doesn't really work, although I do like the idea behind them being involved (I just figured it would have something to do with their connections to ancestor spirits being why they were concerned with the god of Death.)

Ancient times, indeed.

The Talons are definitely on a recruitment drive between what they're up to in Dark Astoria and First Ward among other things. Which seems to indicate that the Furies controlling them are getting ready to make a big move of some sort.

As you say, though, what is the Furies' agenda? It doesn't seem to be explicitly tied to the concept of broken oaths, although that's at least tangentially tied into things in various storylines.

I'm kind of wondering if the Furies might be somehow tied to the Coming Storm, although I'm not sure how/why/where that might be the case. Perhaps they're the next big threat to hit us after the Battalion/Coming Storm?

I might be wrong, but doesn't it come out during Mr. G's "Personal Monster" arc that Malta was actually infiltrating Praetorian Earth before they became aware of Primal Earth? At least, there is something going on vis a vis the Maelstrom Device that it came from Praetorian Earth and was taken to Primal Earth. I guess it's possible that happened after Primal and Praetorian "first contact" though.

(Which kind of makes sense that Malta would have wanted to exterminate Praetoria before they could contact Primal Earth, since Praetoria- the totalitarian state ruled by the "Superman"- pretty much represents everything Malta is fighting to ensure never happens.)

Not to mention that there are definitely people traveling into and out of Imperial City along the roadway, even if our characters are inexplicably stopped by the sonic fences.

I couldn't agree with you more. The "Shades of grey" behind Praetoria (at least the level 1-20 content) is why I enjoy Praetoria so much more than any other part of the game. As you point out, there are those issues on the Loyalist side, and you run into the same thing on the Resistance side- where you have to weigh the murky concept of "the greater good" against the lives of the individuals, and whether the group you are working for really has the best interests of the people at heart, and how far you are supposed to venture down morally ambiguous lines to ensure that.

(And, frankly, I have always felt that a couple of those story arcs needed Morality missions more than others. It's always bugged me that Hatchet's "Fodder" mission didn't involve a morality choice, but that the character willingly sanctions cannibalism.)

This part I have to kind of disagree with. I actually like the more Machiavellian take on Cole as opposed to the villainous Tyrant. I like that this is a guy who has basically done the same sorts of things Praetorian characters do- making moral choices based on his perception of right and wrong- and has gone down a road that led to Praetoria. "No one is a villain in his own mind... we're all the hero of our own story."

That the road he felt justified in walking required him to make alliances with others of less benevolent intent is tragic, and led to even more sacrifices in the long run is just another element of the story that humanizes the plot and makes it more real, IMO.

At the same time, I also think the Resistance- to one extent or another- were villainous in certain respects, too. Again, one of the things I really enjoy about it.

That everything post-level 20 sort of throws it all away and makes it black and white is unfortunate (although I'd argue First Ward still keeps a level of that ambiguity that I like, even if I am sad that the Loyalist and Resistance arcs don't continue to play out.)

It's something that has occurred to me, obviously, but I agree that it is one of those things that could use some clarification one way or the other. I'm also unclear currently whether Stheno is one of the Furies or not (I believe I recall seeing that she is, but I'm not positive. I'd have to go replay some of those Redside arcs again.)

I'd be very surprised if the game just leaves Praetoria hanging at the mercy of the Hamidon.

In fact, I'd be willing to bet a Praetorian Hami-Raid experience is coming down the pike (which would give Blue, Red, and Gold sides all a Hami). Don't know that they'll necessarily Incarnate it, but it's another possibility.

Are they different Furies, though? Given that the Well of Furies is a pan-dimensional thing, and the Furies are Incarnates that are now acting against the Well due to a disagreement with its current Modus Operandi, the Furies (and their Talon servants) could certainly also be pan-dimensional. That, or the Furies are sending their servants through interdimensional portals (and through time) in order to act against the Well and its multi-dimensional interests.

Possibly the Furies have access to one of the other 13 methods of time travel that have not yet been revealed?

(Which raises the question- where is the Furies' base of operations? Are they acting out of an Ouroboros-like pocket dimension?)

Well before that, actually. He's been around since issue... 12? I think?

I would imagine this is true, after all, I can't believe they would basically throw away all the incredible (and time-consuming to create) content from Praetoria just due to this iTrial, or just to throw it into Ouroboros.

What I expect would happen is for them to take the sort of approach they take to most level-based content, ie, assuming that it takes place chronologically in-character. Thus, you'd start your toons there, at level 20 shift to FW/Primal Earth, level to 50, go through the iTrials, do the new Tyrant trial, and at that point Praetoria is gone. From a RW perspective, it's no longer there, but toon-timeline wise it is until it isn't.

All that said, as a diehard Praetoria lover, I am very apprehensive about what I'm hearing about this trial and Praetoria (and am frustrated as heck that I can't view the preview until I get home... grr.)