Wynele

Considering I had already planned on creating half a dozen (give or take a few) alts com issue 24, it would pretty much business as usual.

I'd rather buy power sets I want, rather than wait forever for ones I might.

or to put it another way.

The Studio is more than likely going to work on more power sets anyway. The extra expense on my part (which has amounted to about 30 bucks and my monthly paragon points) is to ensure those get released sooner rather than later.

Haven't run villain side, yet, but...

Episode 2 was longer (more missions) than I expected--which is both a good and bad thing. Overall, I liked it...hrm... More than episode 2 of SSA 1.

Random stuff: (spoilers)

I'm always happy to see Synapse...doubly so since he's there in a hero capacity rather than in peril, as per usual. Too bad he brought Penny Sue with him.

Didn't mind the back up. Just wish it was Synapse and Positron. You know, buds helping out another buds.

I was a bit disappointed that Prometheus didn't acknowledge the that my character was an incarnate. This seems especially odd since Npcs have acknowledge various badges/accomplishments in the past.

Yes, Papa Smurf. I dare speak to a god. In fact, I've been back sassing you since oh,...issue 19?

On that note...Prometheus needs a personal story mission.

I want the key as a base item...or a vanity pet. Dunno. For some reason, I thought it was really cool.

I actually love the Kheldian concept, but don't play them because:

* They feel "clunky" game play wise

* Outside of their unique story lines, there is no acknowledgement that they're alien/human hybrids or different from any other super. This is odd in a world were an alien invasion happened in recent memory.

* Peacebringer powers make that weird whiny sound. Warshades don't, but..eh, something about their powers still grates me.

* Form changes hide my costumes.

The SSA was a promising first draft that had the misfortune of being published. Or maybe it just crams too much into a series of three mission episodes.

Despite being rather rough, episode one was still good enough that I stayed up late waiting for episode two to drop.

Episode two was interesting, but suffers greatly from "who are these people and why do we care?" Numina is painfully underdeveloped and unless you've played red-side, you've likely never heard of Darrin Wade. Although, in Darrin's case that becomes important later.

Episode three: Snuggle that idiot ball. On the upside, I thought the boss fight was fun. Alexis Cole Duncan and Marshal Blitiz were both interesting enough that I wanted to learn more about them...unfortunately. *hugs the idiot ball tighter*

Episode four: Here is where the SSA started to crash and burn for me. Still, I loved many parts of the episode. *pets the idiot ball*

Episode five: I'm so mixed about this episode. Victim tragically walks into a tragically obvious trap. But that's this guy's deal, so YMMV. Pluses include having Darrin Wade get bored and leave...er, run from us in terror, and giving us the chance to try in vain to revive States. Still, the feeling States was killed just to kill him lingers.

Episode six: Welcome to the Penny Sue Power half-hour (or 10 mins, whatevers) This episode felt that a demo for Penny that someone at the last moment realized it was part of a seven part series NOT about Penny.

Episode seven: Heroes (and demonic spider incarnates) In SPACE! Flawed and unfinished, but still pretty awesome. Interesting that I found Lord Recluse the most likable person on the ship of fools. Cap'n Mako was pretty nifty too. Unfortunately, my crowning moment of awesome was made at least partly possible by Penny Sue--or not, my corruptor pretty much just shook off the beam.

On the whole, I liked the SSA. It's only when I think too hard or look at the pieces individually that I don't.

Several reasons, but three off the top of my head--in no particular order:

They're melee, and melee is gross.

They're called brutes. Yep, the AT name offends/annoys me.

None of the power sets really grab me. I'd rather crush your soul than smash your face.

Hrm...

I'm in favor of option 3: A skin without Penny Sue.

But, since that's not an option:

One, I suppose...

Although, I have to agree. It really doesn't fit with the COX "mood," for lack of a better term.

I have a few defenders.

Even with the new vigilance, I spent most of my 1-50 time thinking..."If I was playing a corruptor, this pesky mob I'm dutifully debuffing would already be dead."

Because Widows are way hotter.

hrm... Lots, but off the top of my head.

Why does Red Widow have red glowing eyes and chitin on her face? (ie, the model uses the organic face from the mutant pack)

Is she a mutant? Magic? Is it a side effect of sleeping with Recluse?

The Praetorian prospective on the war. Preferably in a "good job breaking it hero" tone.

My top three:

1.) Psy/Dark/Dark Corruptor: An absolute murder machine. She scourges with her brain!

2.) Fire/Dark/fire controller: A bit wobbly at first, but she's shaping up to be really good.

3.) Whatever is shiny that week.

Lots of ways I'd like to see Penny--most of them involve her NOT being on my loading screen.

Arachnos Widow: I've wanted those metallic tights forever.

Sibyls:

Talons of Vengeance: SO SO many pieces I'd be thrilled to have, especially the snake body.

Tsoo: Mostly the new female corset

Seers: I WANT those boots, gloves, and funky shoulder pads.

The Praetors: We're killing them for lewts. We might as well steal their clothes too. I've wanted Mother's Boots since I saw them. Nightstar's arm blades, Domi's whip, etc.

Ms. Liberty: She's Statesman's only surviving blood relative, and thus his heir. At the very least she should have been considered and/or offered a position.

Aurora Borealis: She was Sister Psyche's sidekick and one time host. Shalice was her mentor and friend. Plus, a reskin of Mommy Mayhem would have been a (assumed) easy way to give her an update.

Back Alley Brawler: Never understood the love for this character. But, hey, old guys that can beat you senseless are cool.

Synapse: No reason to keep him, but no reason to toss him out either. Devs forget he exists half the time. But, he is the token speedster. Needs to mind the 4th wall, though.

Positron: Need someone to do "SCIENCE!"

And since it's a "dream team"

Redeemed Scirocco: As the resident broody, "I most atone for my past, while ironically being morally superior to everyone else." angst bucket character.

My pet theory is that Primal Earth is an anomaly in regards to the alignments of Stefan and Marcus. In short, other alternates of Stefan are good guys that won't kill faced against a Marcus that will (and then go on to marry your sister)

Mutation is my "go-to" origin. I use it for characters I want to play prior to hashing out their back stories. Sorta my default.

Some of my more recent characters:

Psychic blast/dark miasma corruptor Natural/magic/well juice origin. Her father is an unknown incarnate who happened to be slumming in Paragon back when Marcus Cole returned with super powers. Her father didn't know what the incarnate of Zeus intentions where and didn't stick around to find out. He lit out of town one night without a word to his lady friend...who, unknown to him, was pregnant with his child.

Said character is probably the only one I wavered on her origin. Settled on natural with the justification that a child with her abilities was the "natural" result of an incarnate coupling.

Fire control/dark affinity: Mutation/magic The mutant daughter of two midnighters. Her parents, perhaps wisely, have decided to hold off on magic training until she masters her mutant abilities. Unfortunately, her latent magic ability "leaks" out in her powers in the form of "procs"

Interestingly, I almost never pick the "magic" origin because it's too easy to say... Oh, it's just magic.

I actually rather liked Recluse in the finale So much, in fact that, ultimately, my hero took him along because she felt it would be "good" for him.

Let's see:

Recluse refocuses, and rethinks, and starts wandering down the path of redemption...

But... not before

He hears of Penelope's induction into the phalanx, and in turn appoints someone of equal cunning and competence to oppose her.

Jenkins is honored, and admittedly baffled, over his new rank of Patron.

Considering I don't trust Posi, Des, or Penny to lead me to lunch...

Lord Recluse: The death of his BFF left him unwilling to settle for underlings that "almost succeed," and just generally weary of everything. Red Widow's revival further spurred the need for change in his life.

Stuff happens...life's a gift, reflections, regrets, high res upgrades, belly shirts, new pants optional dress code, whistle while you work, etc, etc... all leading to Recluse taking over Statesman's revamped task force in which we face off against a empowered Black Scorpion and the new and improved Web.

Recluse: UH, my bad guys. I totally forgot about those blue prints I left lying around while running all those tip missions... and then, my alignment changed and my keys won't work in the door. So, go...gut..er, no!.. yeah, totally gut him and destroy the Web. Yeah, but like I'm saying... if Scorpion loses a limb or something, I'm not going to fuss.

Red Widow: Recluse's sidekick with benefits. Ghost Widow fears she's about to be replaced as patron, plots against Red Widow. The result of which backfires and binds Ghost Widow all the tighter to Arachnos.

Aurora: Takes over for Psyche. They only shared a body once, and it's not like Aurora hasn't been Psyche's student and sidekick for years now.

Cole: Is defeated, finally, along with Praetorian Hamidon. We get curb stomped by the Coming Storm at the victory party. The Well "dies" in the initial strike, but instead of being devoured by the Battalion it's dispersed between all the incarnates on both Earths, opening the path to the next rung of incarnate slots.

Considering it's little more than a demo for Penny Yin with "er, wha?" story progression shoehorned into the final mission.

Maybe? I dunno.

It just seems like they wanted to show off Penny, and then realized at the last moment that it's part 6 of a 7 part that has nothing to do with her.

As for Penny in action, my villain flattened her without too much fuss, and my hero dearly wished for the same opportunity.