AIB

Nice.

Maybe if he were to use his Lore Pets .

Goodbye Alien. I wish you well.

Ecclesiastes 3.1-8

There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die,
...
a time to kill and a time to heal,
...
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
...
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
...
a time for war and a time for peace.

[Its final twilight had come; before it, everlasting darkness. That mighty and magnificent ship, the War and Peace, was sinking slowly into the salty sea. On board the singular significant seakhelds were seeking solace and yet, even that, seemed nonsensical, for, you see, the prospect of perpetual prosperity in the promised land had been plucked from their personae. Their denial had given way to anger, anger to bargaining and bargaining to depression...Depression over what would forever be lost...Depression over what would never be gained. Some silently, others openly, wondered, "Must we endure this everlasting sorrow?" And then, suddenly, he appeared and she, she was at his side. And as they moved through the crowd embracing their friends, he opened his mouth and comforted them saying…]

My dear children.

For many years we have traveled on-board this grand vessel. I am sure that each of you know that, whether enduring hardships or enjoying blessings, ever have I been with you.

Ever shall I be.

It is the last hour. Let us not deny the gravity of our situation. Though this, our ship is strong, yet shall she sink beneath the shadowy surface, settling forevermore into a shadowy sarcophagus below.

I shall stay with this ship.

Do not be afraid. I shall see that each of you are sent safely on your way. Do not despair for I tell you “hope springs eternal…”

There are other ships, ships like ours, striving to reach the promised land. Some of you have sailed upon them in the past others of our number shall sail upon them in the future. May all of you reach that beautiful shore.

If only…

If…

Only…

They are, perhaps, the saddest words one could ever speak.

If only, we had more time.

Time...Time...Time.

Listen to me my brethren…

Although we live in time, I tell you that it is the one thing that makes complete happiness impossible.

Simply because we live in time we cannot combine our pleasures, our joys, our happiness.

By the mere fact that we live in time, we cannot enjoy the freedom of maturity while, at the same time, enjoy the responsibility of immaturity.

Time demands that we take each of our pleasures successively.

And time not only presents those pleasures, it also takes them away.

Reflect upon your own experience. Have you ever noticed that the more conscious you are of the passing of time the less you are enjoying yourself?

But think about the other side of this. The less conscious you are of the passing of time the more you are enjoying yourself.

That, that is a hint of what our promised land must be like. It must remain outside of time; for in that place, we shall possess all pleasure and joy and happiness at one and the same full moment.

This evening I say unto you, make the most of the time that has been given to you and, whether in this world, or the world beyond this world, I pray that you make it your aim to enter into that land for it is there that I shall be.

Farewell my friends.

Farewell my family.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Night has fallen. The water is now quickly washing over the deck of the ship. Serene Servant rushes to AIB…]

[SS] All have safely departed. None have been lost.

[AIB] Thank you my dear. And now, it is time for us to part ways.

[SS] Sir, you know that I cannot. Ever have I been by your side and ever shall I be.

[AIB] You plan to follow me?

[SS] I could do no other. As I have followed you in life, so, too, shall I follow you afterlife my Captain, my President, [she smiled] my King.

[AIB] And you are at peace with this decision?

[SS] I am.

[AIB] And so the mystery of your name, the mystery of your being, has been revealed. [She fell to her knees as he approached her, and he placed his right hand upon her saying…] The time has come.

[SS] Yes. How then shall we proceed?

[AIB – (shifting to Dwarf form – voice deepening)] We shall ride this ship into the darkest depths!

[SS – (also shifting to Dwarf form)] And then?!

[AIB] We shall bury it beneath the ocean floor!

[SS - voice quickening] And then?!

[AIB – shifting to human form with hands outstretched to the sky] We shall rise again and make straightway for the promised land!

[SS – also shifting to human] Indeed we shall my lord.

[AIB] After all blessed one, it is not…

[SS] as if…

[AIB] we cannot…

[AIB + SS] fly!

[Quickly they shifted to Nova form and then back to human. And as they embraced upon the deck a new day dawned with prospects more promising than those of the past...]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

There’s a land that is fairer than day,
And by faith we can see it afar;
For the Father waits over the way
To prepare us a dwelling place there.

Refrain

In the sweet by and by,
We shall meet on that beautiful shore;
In the sweet by and by,
We shall meet on that beautiful shore.
We shall sing on that beautiful shore
The melodious songs of the blessed;
And our spirits shall sorrow no more,
Not a sigh for the blessing of rest.

Refrain

To our bountiful Father above,
We will offer our tribute of praise
For the glorious gift of His love
And the blessings that hallow our days.

Refrain

http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/i/n/t/intsbab.htm

Dear Truant(s),

Look upon AIB's death stare in the foregoing picture.

Know that it IS directed at YOU!

I will not utter your name as I am certain that YOU know who YOU are.

Now, go forth and weep.

Return to me when you wish to be restored to your former state of glory.

Regards,

President AIB

Because I only allowed you to borrow four of my stars.



Saturday after 9:00 p.m. EST

or

Sunday after 3:00 p.m. EST

I'm looking forward to it.

Maybe someone should record it...

Triform is not for everyone.

Human form bores me; and, comparing your build and style of play to my own, well, it just seems slower paced.

I'm sorry.

But not just AVs, a level 54 AV (Bobcat) on a large outdoor map with the maximum number of enemies and patrols, full of +4 x8 claw wielding, defense debuffing, baddies and all of this pre-additional damage procs in my build, pre-Hybrid and pre-+5 Enhancement Boosters!

Yes, I try to die less

(Sorry Septi I couldn't resist.)

Thank you and you are as well.

Indeed...

I think more.

(To establish this assertion I refer the reader to THB's following comment)

BAM!

I have 2 fury bars. Sunless Mire AND Dwarf Mire (Damage Cap FTW).

It's just part of the fun for me and, after doing it for so many years, it's natural.

Yes, god mode is fun.

Oh, and nice build...

It looks a little light on the AOE damage though.

Thank you.

I am glad that it makes it easier for you to read what I have written.

This was fun hope Eagle (and all others) can make it back next week.

I am sure that some would be inclined to argue over this...I have better things to do.

Btw, if I recall correctly, long ago there was a program that you could run that would keep track of things like the amount of damage each person on your team was dishing out etc.

Stat tracker? Hero tracker?

I don't have the time to look it up. I had it at one point. You may want to search for it and use it.

Thanks and yeah, you're probably right.

You are overlooking the variety of situations that present themselves over the course of the game.

Because of the trees it is as though you can't see the forest.

This is quite a...sweeping...statement. Let us focus on this...

"There's no way...if constructed correctly."

So, the build that is constructed correctly can do all things (missions, enemy groups, difficulty settings) better than every other build?

It boggles the mind!

Please, tell me of this one human form build that is always going to do all things better.

It is true that "every enemy group becomes less of a threat with more durability and more crowd control."

It is also true that enemy groups are of no threat when they are dead. For this reason, AIB's attacks are never set to stun.

With reference to the use of the word ultimate...maybe folks are looking at things in a different way...

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ultimate

In particular examine...1a, c and d

Here's a quote from you back before instant form shifts,

"So overall Microcosm was right, the human form chain is higher by about 5 dps, but that's not accounting for form shifts and without softcapped defense might mean you need to use stygian circle or dwarf drain which would lower your numbers quite a bit. "

http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showthread.php?t=277488

Yeah, the thing is this...how much more AOE DPS can a Triform dish out per second?

For some reason, I think it is ALOT more than 5 dps.

Here is another link with some pertinent discussion...

http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showthread.php?t=273855

As I have related before, if there were something that I "valued enough" and I could only do it on a Human Form build then I would make a second.

I disagree. I would say that Triform's ST DPS is slightly under Human form's ST DPS (5 DPS?) but Triform's AOE DPS is far higher. This is of course is simply my perception based upon my limited playing experience.

I might be wrong; but I doubt it.

Feel free to do the math. Or better yet, shine forth the Microcosm signal.

I don't think that the two "cancel each other out."

I have read much of what you have written on these boards and I have spoken with you in game. The progression of your thoughts and your builds have varied a great deal.

It's not that I mind you sailing the seas and experiencing the joys of the islands of Tri, Tri curious, Bi, Bi curious, and Human forms. But, it is as though, upon arriving at each new island, you suddenly decide that all other islands were and are inferior in EVERY way.

Perhaps you think you are making progress...

But I say unto you progress is simply a comparative about which we must decide the superlative.

You see, progress by its very name indicates a direction; and the moment we are in the least doubtful about the direction, we become in the same degree doubtful about the progress.

Since we value different things, a great many of your "progressive decisions" appear to be "regressive decisions."

But, feel free to make them. It's your prerogative.

Oh, and remember when you used to advocate 45% S/L on Kheldians. And then you discovered the 32.5% defense, one small inspiration from softcap, thing?

Was it a, "Eureka!" moment?

Because, I'm just going to throw this out there...you know, building for 20% defense means you are just one MEDIUM inspiration away from softcap.

Did that blow your mind?

For a moment allow me to speak from my limited experience.

1. It is easy to purchase Medium inspirations.

2.I destroy large groups of enemies very quickly

3. Medium inspirations often drop from the +3 and +4 enemies I am destroying.

4. I have Vengeance to use when teaming, it is exceedingly rare for me to be the first person to die on my team...

5. Because I have not sought the 45% S/L or even the 32.5% S/L my stats are higher in a number of other areas than those who have.

6. I have more powers (especially offensive) powers at my disposal because I am not enslaved to toggles.

7. I also have more powers at my disposal because I don't stun with AIB.

8. And yet, I have no "survivability issue."

Serene (my PB) is also very powerful and for those who don't know who are reading when I pop a Med purple with either of my Kheldians, or use Vengeance (which they can perma use with a body), I exceed the softcap in S/L and Psi.

At this point let me just say, Kheldians are magnificent and to borrow from Aristotle, the whole is greater than the sum of their parts.

No tank you.

Hah, that was rich! Starting to get warmed up...

There are many variables associated with taunt and threat rating. I do not feel called to make a thorough examination of the matter. However, I will happily read through your abbreviated report and then decide whether or not to give it my stamp of approval.

Yeah, I don't use stuns. I've never had much use for 'em. (Anyone else having a Quigley Down Under moment?)

But you say, "It is for the sake of your team. It is for your utility!"

And I say, "I generally do my best to kill enemies before my teammates die, but if they do their sacrifice is not in vain for I will avenge them by buffing both me and all other teammates with Vengeance."

Oh, and you do know that I raise individuals from the dead too?

Yep...utility...

This is where I ask, "Please operationally define "on all counts?"

In my experience, I am quite efficient playing below the level cap with Kheldians.

In fact, I generally melt spawns when exemped....

Yep, self reporting here....



Sounds like nice toons.

Here's what I think we should do....

We can do some Lev 54 Psi farms with Psi attacks only that are marked to ignore Melee/Ranged/AOE defense .

Then we can go fight some Level 54 enemies that debuff defense whenever they hit while fighting a level 54 AV that debuffs defense when he/she lands an attack .

I wonder if AIB will get to avenge your toons...


Your response did not change the truth...

"Whenever one chooses for something one chooses against something else."

Decisions must be made. Sacrifices must be made." - The Book of AIB 1:1 (That's right the collected works are going to be part of the "Kheld Canon" )

But that is "cheating" right?

But from what does "being enslaved to those toggles" take?

Answer the question, Heretic THB, and in so doing affirm the truthfulness found within the Book.

You'd have to elaborate upon what these "extremely tough situations" are and demonstrate (witness) that they could not be survived by others who do not use toggles.

I tank in moderation for I prefer Warshading or Peacebringing.

Yeah...progress...

Meditate upon this question....

Do all tri form builds and players do more AOE than all human only builds?






And now, friend Septi, go and read about Hasty Generalizations.

No, I do not know that, "Warshades are incapable of competing with high end AOE sets"

Hmm...

Builds vary.

Players vary.

Missions vary.

Enemies vary.

Difficulty levels vary.

Mission levels vary. (i.e. Some Warshades exemp.)

Generalizations...

And what of the builds?

And what of the players?

And what of the missions?

And what of the enemies?

And what of the difficulty level?

And what of the mission level?

If I felt that it were "more worthwhile" to utilize a Human form instead of a Triform build then I would.

But I don't.

Clearly, the things that you value on your build(s) and the things that I value on my build are not prioritized in the same fashion.

That is fine.

Here is your statement, "...if all you want to do is AOE damage, you'd be better suited playing another Archetype. Perhaps a SS or TW Brute, because they'll out damage even the most fully realized AOE Warshade."

Apart from the fact that AOE damage is not all I want to do, I find it funny that you asserted that "a SS or TW Brute" will "out damage even the most fully realized AOE Warshade."

So, any ol' SS or TW Brute out there is gonna out damage THE MOST fully realized AOE Warshade against every enemy, in every mission and at every level in the game?

I probably don't qualify as "the most fully realized AOE Warshade" but were I farming with some SS or TW Brutes and they happened to get on my nerves I'd let them know that Captain AIB's next stop in farmville was going to be the Island of Toxic and/or Psi damage depending upon their secondaries. It is likely they'd abandon ship.

But were they to stay, I tell ya, "It's amazing how little damage folks put out when they are lying on the floor."

But I do thank them for Vengeance.

It was funny because of the general flow of you comments both before and after that statement.

I thought it was funny...guess you didn't.

You'll have to find someone else to argue with about this. I have neither the time nor the inclination to do so.

The problem is one cannot leverage "all abilities simultaneously."

As it is written,

"Whenever one chooses for something one chooses against something else."

Decisions must be made. Sacrifices must be made."



I'd love to see it, especially if it can solo Giant Mosters without Lore Pets.

Well, I use the mire freely and I nuke freely because I am not enslaved to toggles.

Perhaps "enslaved" is too harsh of a word...perhaps not...

But this does give you an opportunity to fire back with something like,

"Well I use toggles so that I am not enslaved to using inspirations or buffs for my defense."

In which case I simply smile saying,

"Each person should ponder and plan based upon their preferences and playstyle."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Remember everyone, say, "Yes!" to complete thinking by saying, "Yes!" to AIB.

Til All Are One,

AIB

1. This is false.

2. So, from this I gather that non Triform Warshades sacrifice (AOE) damage for survivability and crowd control.

3. This makes me laugh.

4. I don't just want to do AOE damage. To quote from my build post,

"I build for...Recharge/Damage (AOE and ST)/Survivability/Utility. I can solo with ease but I have always preferred to team."

I have many other ATs. They bore me.

5. I think you should think this through...

Alright, now that you have, do I need to explain?

6. Again, you have made me laugh...

So, what you are saying is,

"Because of its multifaceted capabilities it is relevant at the high end."

7. This is like unto point 2. It also needs some more thought.

So, what you are telling me is that when it comes to your Warshade you value "strong global defense" and "potent consistent crowd control" over AOE damage because your AOE damage will be trivialized by other ATs.

You do know that other ATs will provide stronger global defense and more potent consistent crowd control right?

How should we approach the "ultimate build?"

8. Toggle suppression is on the horizon.

Oh, and Black Dwarf has always had a place, especially when killing AVs.

As I have said before, so I say again,

"Whenever one chooses for something one chooses against something else."

Decisions must be made. Sacrifices must be made.

Therefore, each person should ponder and plan based upon their preferences and playstyle.

You guys and your analogies...they're making me laugh.

AIB: "But, sir, if there is an ultimate build then why would one need a second?"

THB: "NEVER YOU MIND! I SAY! NEVER YOU MIND!"

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Come now, let us all agree upon this...

A Ts vary
I ndividuals vary
B uilds vary

I nstances vary
S ituations vary

Right!

For some reason I think I should have thrown the word, "Always" before "Right." Of course, I suppose some would think that to be...wrong.

Civis Kheldianus Sum!

AIB

Other ATs come and go but my Kheldians stay eternal.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Welcome back.

1. I believe you are correct.

2. Right. They don't need a "major overhaul," however implementing a few select, oft expressed, and well thought out desires should be beneficial for all who utilize Kheldians.

3. The suggestions that I judge to be the best for our kind would not be difficult to implement.

4. You are correct. Were my beloved PBs and WSs to be redesigned I would...resign.

5. I say unto you, "One day, Mad Grim, you shall be neither mad nor grim over the position of our race. However, to us, you shall always be Mad Grim."

Ah, yes, one of the advantages of not being enslaved to toggles...

And to preempt the outcry...

Note: This does not mean that there are not advantages to the use of toggles.

Remember, whenever you choose for something you choose against something else.

Couldn't we all just use "a little more AoE damage?"

Nukes make me happy...

Oh, and I do have this briefcase that is ever by my side...

Football anyone?

Rakeeb, your remark does not reflect a holistic level of thought.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

"Just Say No" - to incomplete thinking

(A public service announcement brought to you by AIB. He cares for you!)

Great KF...but...

"Y u N0 l3t m3 50lo H0pKInz?"

See all of you this Friday, if not sooner.

http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showthread.php?t=292856

Don't worry, one day, it shall be ours...

Nay, dear Microcosm, I need YOUR vote of confidence.

Believe me when I say, "I will see our ship safely into harbor."

Dechs, I do not know why you would dissuade others from being led into that beautiful land of promise about which I so often speak.

I ask that you recall and reaffirm that "ringing endorsement" you gave to me so many months ago. The endorsement that secured my place as frontrunner.

http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showt...=278701&page=2

My message has not changed.

Surely, neither have you.

Know that, were it not for the close connection I have with Serene Servant, I would surely consider you for my V.P. That being said, I trust that you would do (and will do) an excellent job serving in my Cabinet as Secretary of Defense.



You are a wise political consultant.

As such, please consider the position of Chief of Staff.

Thank you for your steadfast support.