Battlerock_X

You are too humble, Michelle.

And I'm looking forward to those questions.

Meantime I have 2 more vids getting worked on for the good Captain.

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Very enjoyable. :-)
I may be sending some questions later.

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Thanks. The Captain should have a few more vids up soon.

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That was fun. thanks for sharing that Battlerock.

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You're welcome. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Okay, this is my very modest contribution.

Ask Captain Catastrophe - #1

It's obviously not on the same level as Samuraiko (she is the champion of CoH machima), but I think it's comical.

If you ever watch the bumpers on Adult Swim you might see where I was inspired to do this kind of video.

I hope you like it.

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Speed Boost

A Kinetics ability that increases a friendlt targets Speed and Endurance recovery.

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Ah, thank you.

Sorry for sounding like a n00b, but what DOES "SB" mean in regards to the action?

Now imagine if she did that INSIDE the sealed metal tube with wings!

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[Edit] Darn, scooped in a different section. That'll teach me to not read the boards![/edit]
A local story! Second link has the actual story...

Klingon Weapon Used in 2 7-Eleven Robberies

Colorado Springs Clerks Recognized the Batleth



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A warrior with NO HONOR!

I'm actually surprised that nobody has come out and suggested this yet... especially after the Mac ads...

Shoe Salesman.

I mean, come on, just for the heck of it!

I know I've made this suggestion before but I think it's worth bringing up again as a stand-alone subject.

Perhaps one of the best add-ons for a SG/VG base is to have NPC (Non-Player Character) support personnel. After all, Batman has Alfred, Superman has the Kryptonian robots, Iron Man has Jarvis, Lex Luthor has a whole army of corporate goons... why can't the players in Paragon City and the Rogue Isles have their own support staff?

The idea of having NPC support is that even if no hero or villain uses your base for any length of time, it isn’t really abandoned. There would still be people in the base that would be keeping it clean and keeping it well-stocked.

The suggested base support limits would be as follows:

* For tiny bases, only one NPC support will be allowed
* For small bases, up to two NPC support
* For medium bases, up to five NPC support
* For large bases, up to ten NPC support
* For massive bases there can be up to twenty NPC support

The role of the NPC support is simply to walk around, clean, and play with any equipment they come near. For instance, if an NPC is near a touch-screen or console, they can play with the unit. (Animation is already present for this. See Mantid's Animation Guide for “Type” and “Touchscreen”.) If they are near a bookshelf, they can do “research”. Otherwise they will just walk around, unless you click on them to converse.

Also if you “chat” with an NPC support member (clicking on them), they will provide some kind of modest discussion, such as group status or any outstanding messages they may have. They can also give random statements as you're passing by, depending on their function and the location you are in. For instance if you are in the teleport room, the NPC will say something like “The teleporters appear to be in working order.” If they're near a bookshelf they can say “Just making sure everything is organized.” (Random comments are no different than the NPC models in any other zone.) They can also serve as reminders if base rent is due or past due.

Additional functions can depend entirely on the kind of support you purchase or “hire”.

NPC support will have several layers of customization. The first is the kind of support that you hire.

* Staff members – All-purpose support characters. They will defend themselves during a base raid if attacked, but they will not actively defend the base during the raid. They will walk around the entire base. Hidden bases will only be allowed to hire staff members.
* Medical support – Confined mostly to the medical areas of the base, these doctors and nurses will aid in health and stamina restoration if you stay near them. If you are still not at 100% in both areas when you leave the area, though, they will give a generic message such as “Please come back, you are not fully healed.” They will not take any action during a raid, even if attacked (Hippocratic oath), although they will aid those NPC members injured in battle. They will cower if targeted to show they are not hostile.
* Military support – They will work like Freedom Corps agents, always on patrol, and actively defending the base during a raid. They will attack any player that is not part of that group or linked through a Coalition. When clicked on, they will stop and salute the player, then go into “at-ease” position until you walk away from them.

For each kind of support, there will be three types of NPC characters:

* Human male (athletic build)
* Human female (athletic build)
* Non-Human (see below)

For the human characters, there will be three types of attire:

* Business Suit (slacks for males, skirts for females)
* Unisex bodysuit (blended colors) with V-belt (muscular for males)
* Casual wear (slacks and short-sleeved shirts)

For Non-Human characters there will be three categories based on body-size models:

* Alien (thin model)
* Robot/Cyborg (normal model)
* Monster (huge model)

The colors of the outfits will based on the SG or VG colors and they will display the group emblem on their chests. Medical support will wear white lab coats over their current outfit. Military support will have shoulder epaulets and carry weapons. Humans will have assault rifles, aliens will have lasers, robots/cyborgs will have electricity, and monsters will have fire breath.

Having a variety of characters will allow for specialization. For instance, having an all-female staff wearing business attire, an all-male medical support team wearing casual clothes, and an all-monster security force.

Since they can defend themselves if attacked (with the exception of the medical staff), NPC support figures are also targetable in base raids. If they are killed, they cannot be revived, and the SG or VG leader will have to purchase or “hire” replacements.

Since the release of Issue 13 and the reorganization of base costs have eliminated the concept of a “rent-free” base, NPC support costs can be rolled into normal rent. Remember that NPC support would be treated as would any employee so you would have to provide for a regular wage for them. They would not be working for free.

There would be two costs. One would be to “hire” the NPC, and then after that the group would have to pay a monthly “wage” for each NPC based on their role. Obviously it would cost more to have medical and military support than an all-purpose support team.

[u]Suggested Costs (inf=infamy/influence):[u]
Staff Members: 1000inf per NPC to hire, 100inf per NPC per month
Medical Support: 2500inf per NPC to hire, 250inf per NPC per month
Military Support: 5000inf per NPC to hire, 500inf per NPC per month

Your (serious) thoughts and questions please. I understand this is (for the most part) decorative tool that would require some serious coding. (And, no, "search is not my friend"!)

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"I watched you die in my arms" - Jack Bauer to Tony

Huh? Jack Bauer jumping the shark? NNNNOOOOOO!!! Jack would bite the shark and then torture it!

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My stupid DVR didn't record the first 2 hours of the 24 season premier. I plan on catching up online this weekend.

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Just fyi (for anyone else concerned), you can also get caught up here.

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It's been my experience that DC doesn't kill off characters *nearly* as often as Marvel does. Seriously, how many times are they going kill (and subsequently rez) Jean Grey before they just let that poor girl rest in peace??

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Well they do that for 2 reasons:
1: She falls under the same category of Wolverine. Artists love Wolverine since he heals so fast they can actually have him get maimed or injured in any concievable way and just walk it off. Jean is basically immortal so writer's get the liberty of killing her off without any major reprocussions cause she can come back at anytime.

2: That's just the nature of her being the Phoenix folklore and otherwise, giant cycle of death and rebirth.

She's currently on the rebirth cycle and is bouncing through time as an infant with her "son" Cable, who's like 50 and was born from her clone who is now the queen of a demonic dimension.

Anyone's head explode yet?

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Plus the guys at Marvel love tormenting Logan, Scott, and, of course, all of the fans of the redheaded beauty.

KHAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNN!

KHAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNN!

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Someone will pass him a 'wakie, or maybe that was his BatDecoy that he pulled out of his utility belt or some such.

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It was Jason Todd in the Batman outfit... they killed him AGAIN!

No?

I have a few issues, some of them already mentioned by others here, and one of them already noted in-game.

Naughty/Nice Halos: As noted in-game, these cannot be used by anyone under level 30 and they are not tintable as originally advertised. This is a waste of effort for lower-level alts, especially since they have to play the BNY mission five times to get this. This should be treated as the cyborg combat auras are, which are accessible at any level.

Naughty/Nice Presents: I agree with some of the early posters that there should be some sort of special reward for defeating these frostlings and/or Winter Lords.

BNY Mission: I don't mind keeping the Baby New Year mission, but there should be some additional missions, possibly accessible through Pocket D like there were for the Valentine's Day event.

Winter Everywhere: This is supposed to be winter, so perhaps it would be good if winter showed up everywhere and not just in a little spot in Croatoa.

New suggestion: How about unlockable base items related to the Winter Event? How about being able to add those decorated trees or some candy cane or a snow bank to our base?

I'm hoping that this time around at least some of the suggestions/issues will be addressed and, in the case of the halo auras, dealt with before the Winter Event ends.

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SSoooooo wait a minute. People are just running into it like a blockade? no dmg no porting they just stop? How is this griefing?

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It's griefing because it's intentionally stopping a person trying to accomplish a time trial. It would be like you trying to finish a task force and someone finds a way for you to constantly get disconnected from your server at every entrance.

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Two complaints, one minor, and one not so much. Unfortunately, like the Halloween Event, I doubt either will be addressed before the end of this year's event- but maybe next year.

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I think that a key part of the problem for the devs was that both Halloween and Winter Events came around the release of i13, which they have been trying to iron the bugs out first, especially after removing the Mission Creator from the plan. I can probably guess that they had very little time to work on anything else so they punted with Winter.

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My minor gripe is that the Halo Auras, while Unlockable by anyone, can still only be used by people above 30. It really would have fit the spirit of the event better to allow these to be used by all. We have the tech to allow other auras from lvl 1 (see the Cyborg Pack), so why not allow these?

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I think that this is more than just a minor gripe. Why should a low-level player even try to get these halos if they can't be used unless they're a 30 or higher? Not all of us have endless time on our hands.

If the devs are listening, please add this to your next quick tweaks. Halos should be like the combat auras.

Okay, I watched the video twice now and these are my thoughts...

(1) Not too keen on the 4th Wall Tron-like discussion. "My user"? Please!

(2) What are the characters doing leaving their day jobs to go meet in Pocket D? Wouldn't "their users" be upset that their alts are changing jobs on them? If I log out my alts in one place, I expect them to be there when I log back in with them.

(3) I'm sorry but the changes in costumes are not representative of real game-play. There are no special effects with costume changes, unless you can find some way to tie it into an inspiration with a macro. This is something that I wish we could select normally, though, so maybe at some point the devs will act on it.

(4) I have to ask: who REALLY gets their jollies fighting the Vahzilok to the point where they will only fight them? I hate having to deal with those puke-machines almost as much as I hate cave missions and sewer missions.

(5) The discussion was rather corny. I know it was designed to go over some of the major changes in i13 but showing is sometimes better than telling. Just watch Samuraiko's "What's Past is Prologue" video on YouTube to see a good example of this.

Finally... although I have to give Ten Ton Hammer points for taking the time to come up with a new video, which is something that I myself would love to do if I could get the time, I still think it could have been improved.

And let me take this time to also join in with the request that NCS please put Samuraiko/Dark Respite/Michelle on retainer for doing these videos. I have found her work to be superb.

Name: LexieTech Incorporated

Currently Recruiting: LexieTech is looking for dynamic operatives eager to help CEO Lexie Lothora start the new corporate branch in the Rogue Isles.

Theme/Concept: Although LexieTech Incorporated specializes in high-tech audio and mainframe computer systems, the company also engages in other more clandestine operations.

Activity: Whenever possible. This is still a start-up operation as of this posting.

Requirements for Membership: Applicants must be loyal to the corporation and be willing to remain in corporate (VG) mode until at least level 30. Once the associate has achieved level 30, staying in corporate mode is voluntary.

Leadership and In-Game Contacts: email or PM Lexie Lothora

URL: None yet although that may be subject to change.

Coalitions: None as of posted time but that can be subject to change.

Other Details: The new Rogue Isles offices are open and currently provide medical transporter and salvage storage. Advancement is made through successful recruitment.

I just called up the Paragon Pundit and he said the only thing he came up with recently was a suspicious news story of a guy currently living in exile in the Rogue Isles running for president.

Reverend NeoCon for President?

Well this character was certainly considered political...

Reverend NeoCon (seen on the left)

Reverend NeoCon's holiday message.

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Another question: When the Rikti invade a low-traffic server such as Victory, can they actually suceed and stick around for a while or do they just leave if they are not defeated? If so, after how long?

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The Rikti never really succeed in any given area. The Vanguard have more powerful weapons at its disposal. Unfortunately they cannot stop the damage that the Rikti cause on the ground during that time. That's why we're needed to hold the line and stop the Rikti.

Once the Rikti mothership is forced out of the area, they transport all of their soldiers and toys back up so that we can't use them like we've been doing for the past six years since the first Invasion.

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So how do I know where the invasion forces are going to land again? This is a serious question, I don't get it. Some chat channel? Which one?

/Hopeless noob

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The general broadcast chat channel will give a special warning from the Vanguard when the Rikti are about to invade in a certain area. The first warning will give you five minutes to decide if you want to take cover or stay and fight.

The second warning is to let you know the Rikti have invaded that area. But if you're already in the area, you'll know as well because the sky will turn a sickly brown color as the Rikti mothership is overhead (hidden in the clouds). You'll also know they're here because suddenly all non-combatants will have disappeared (they head for the shelter). The field around the War Walls will also diminish before the bomb ships arrive.

Don't worry about the mothership. You won't be able to reach it even with a flight-power. Leave that to the Vanguard. You'll have plenty to worry about closer to the ground, and I do suggest you stay close to the ground when it happens. If you get too close to one of those bomb ships it WILL attack you directly.

Bomb ships drop bombs first, then the troops will transport in. The more people in any given area, the more troops you'll have to fight. Take it from me... you WANT to be on a team when that happens!

You'll know the battle is done when the War Walls start to go back to full power. The sky will return to normal and the Rikti ground forces will be teleported back up. Then you'll get the all-clear from the Vanguard.

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Please, if you're going to keep having these stupid things, could you please add some damaged buildings and craters to all the zones that get hit.

Please?

It would make the continued invasions feel a lot less stupid.

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Aw, that would insult the work of those FINE Paragon City maintenance droids that scour the city to make sure that everything is damage-free. You know, the ones that only come out for about an hour or so every weekday morning when all of the servers are off-line.

(note: all sarcasm intended)

BTW, you're not the only one that suggested that we start to see some signs of invasion damage.

/sharpens blade of Ghost-Slaying Ax

Rikti...

/brings blade to the side of his face covered by a metallic plate

... PAYBACK!