Big_Game_EU

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I wish the game had a beter definition of magic, instead of our own versions just clashing with each other.


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No, it should have a totally wooly definition of magic. Have you ever read a comic? Each universe has some basic idea of how magic works in it, but they don't apply it consistently. Each magician in the DC universe tends to operate in a slightly different way. The whole thing is about character conception. If Cryptic had laid down how magic worked in CoX, that would be massively limiting to us as players.


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I totally agree with Ravenswing here. It was never really my goal to actually define magic for the CoX universe rather
I wanted to find out (and im certain Ravenswing is doing the same) how others character veiw the subject. For US Angel magic is unclassified energies (or even energies from an unclassified source) because her thinking is grounded in the science anfd technology of the world around her. For Ravenswing its the big cosmic potential of sentient life to manipulate reality.

Each of our characters both see and define magic differently, and the great thing is because of the sketchy nature of the whole subject we can all be right in our own way. Basically each of us are subscribing to a different school of magic and therefore use or perceive it in a different way.

Its these different schools where the differences of opinion have an impact. Some magic is vulnerable to metals, will not work with technology, etc all characteristics of specific types of magic.

Sure there is some sort of basic truth that underlines all form of magic at some level, but unless any of us are some sort all knowing cosmic being or sorcerer supreme then we must content ourselves with our own miniscule fraction of what we know!

And yes i realise someone out there could very well believe they are all knowing, but because there is no way of really proving that we can safely just call them a nutjob!

/em strokes chin in the hopes of getting that beard to grow for stroking in deep and heavy discussions!

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Yep. Now, explain sentience.


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Ummm... no! I got a house full of kids at the moment and my head is banging already. Also there is a limit to the number of deep philosophical discussions I get involved in at any given time.

I think compelling arguements all round at the moment. Seems that the undefined nature of magic means paradoxically we can all both be right and wrong at the same time. All you really need is a careful placement of a label! (Can anyone else hear a Sitar playing in the background? )

Sorry for the earlier slight derailment of thread. However going back to the original question...

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So I was just wondering, what characters do you hold that benefit from the non define universe?


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Because of the influence system(which we are constantly being told is not cash!) and not being told we have X amount of dollars in our account my main Britanic can be a wealthy Architect and construction tycoon in his civilian identity.

Because of sketchy details and lack of rostas on some of the games background hero groups my hero Knightwatchman(III) can be a former member of the Midnight Squad who's disembodied spirit now occupies the body of murdered Knightwatchman II.

And there is other stuff. Not exactly ground breaking, but in a very defined universe someone would probably say that X cant happen or Y does not make sense because of Z, etc.

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Magic is the ability to change the current state, probably in some limited way. All sentient creatures have this ability. Not all can use it.

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However should a robot gain sentience would it not then have that ability. Also if Magicians can understand and learn to use it does it then still qualify as being magic!

If i understand you correct you say magic is there, but if we are able to rationalise it or duplicate through technological means then it isnt magic. This says to me that US Angels original theory that Magic is merely unclassified energies is actually quite viable.

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a physical device can't duplicate that power as such. The device would have limitations over what it could do, and would require a power source of considerable size to produce a lot of the effects a magician can produce with nothing more than a brain.


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True a device will always be limited compared to a person. However a sword empowered by mystic energy is said to be "magic", if a scientist managed to make the very same sword with the same properties and using same energy sources then by my understanding of your definition its no longer magic but now technology. Its then you realise that magic is merely a label and depending on your own understanding of the physics involved you will see it as magic technology, science, or any other number of labels you can apply to it.


this is gonna be one of those "bunch of old guys sitting around a table stroking beards and smoking pipes" kind of threads.

Nice one Ravenswing, will be interesting to find out peoples point of veiw on magic from a roleplaying perspective!

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and anything else that does things they shouldn't.

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...Does that include robots, or tech heroes who figure out how to manipulate mystical energy?

Should US Angel actually figure out a way of harnessing magic via her powersuit she will argue that she has merely managed to classify a previously unclassified energy frequency. Of course the reality would very well be "that girl in the powersuit just summmoned the purple binds of Sniffit!"

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Unlikely. You don't have a science background I take it?


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Nope you are right I dont, but then im not a real superhero, not female, not American(though I did grow up around them), or a multitude of other things I pretend I am or do in game. I do try to play my characters in such away that I feel can be rationalised but obviously my own knowledge of a given subject will shape how I play or think about something.

As i stated its her theory! Magic can also be a label to classify anything we dont under stand.

Case point: Colonial troops firing on spear wielding natives. "arrrgh they have magic boom sticks!". Reality guns are merely a technology alien to them.

As for US Angel her abilities are tied to technology so she is trying to rationalise something she doesnt understand into somethiing she does. She does have a nice little ward inscribed on her armour by someone else but she just doesnt understand the mechanics of how it works(temp power given in game). Please dont think that US Angels opinion on magic is correct as she will openly admit that she doesnt have all the facts, however that will not stop her looking into it further.

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See, I'm not sure how that can work.. Beet, IIRC, is a robot yes? How can a machine be able to manipulate mystical energy? Never come across a machine that can handle magic.


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My character US Angel has a theory concerning magic that might just fit. US Angel is a tech heroine who has taken an active interest in trying to understand magic to possibly harness with her Powersuit for use against the demonic villain "American Nightmare" (Long story!). Her theory is magic is uncategorised energies operating on various frequencies. She believes if she can get her instruments to both register and analyze so called magic energy, she can adapt her own technology to control it. Its just a matter of finding the correct frequency for a given energy source. Of course because most magic doesnt follow the normal rules of physics so she hasnt broke that code yet. Saying that though what is perceived to be fact sometimes does change, (the Earth is Flat, discvery of DNA etc) so there is nothing to say some techie might rationalise magic(well certain frequencies!), and harness it


(As a side note popped down to the statue first time last night. Was quiet but id like to thank those i did see, and especially Alfred for keeping an eye on me!)

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Doesn't this sort of destroy the point of having base storage in the first place?

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Yes, but if you got a storage issue at the moment, loading components onto characters is another stop gap measure. I originally thought you must have been storing all kinds of rubbish, but after your later posts I realised that you had taken measures to hold on to what you really wanted to. Still though I cant see my SG ever needing the extra storage capability I would be happy for them to raise the limits, and I hope the Devs take note of your suggestion.

Maybe its a deliberate ploy to restrict our storage as they are planning to put ingame storage companies where we pay inf for them to hold our goods (hmmm, would actually be handy for heroes without a SG ).

If you have built all the base goodies that you want, then the only uses for your salvage now is to trade or use for empowerment buffs. start working salvage into components, that will free up loads of storage space. Also where an individual can only carry a max of 20 per salvage item, amount of components carried are not restricted.

As for stored enhancements first sell off later level training enhancements for influence (most people will have DOs or SOs anyway). Then look at what is unlikley to be used and sell them too. While its handy to have loads of enhancements handy to help out alts and new recruits, there is no point in having ridiculous amounts just sitting there.

With inspirations, its only at low levels they really bite into your influence to buy them. In my sg i find new or low lvl characters take awakens and stuff from storage, while the others tend to be picked up if someone dies in mish and they rez in base. Then they pick up anything they used up or didnt have in the mish they just faceplanted in, cutting out a side trip to one of their contacts.

At the end of the day if you need massive amounts of storage then the stuff isnt being used anyway. Encourage your SG to both use and replenish your stocks rather than turning your SG base into a warehouse!

Maybe some people who are interested (and feel they can do it!) should post here a write up with a name for the show, host's bio, etc. Then have the forum community vote for their favorite contender.(Unless someone wants to just go out knock up a character and just kick things off instead).

As for myself i do have a support character who is a "Super Heroine Fetish Softcore Pornographer/Strip Club Owner/Info-Merchant", not quite host material but would probably make a great guest!

I think this could a very cool and funny project. First we need someone to create a memorable host character to direct the show's individual themes, start topics, etc. That person could then invite a few people via pms to act as guests, and the random posting could be like audience reactions, questions, etc. Once the host figures a given topic has had its day, the host would then round up the thread with their last thought, and start a new one with different guests, topic, etc.

Big question is, who should create and be the host?

((I only took a few pics (between blasts!) and most had you guys obscured by my energy blasts. At least in these ones you can actually see Siberian Bear, and Northern Star.))

((Also pics of you guys in compromising positions i dont know about. If i did you would be leaving stacks of cash in brown paper bags, down the local park for me! ))

Taken from USAngel's blog site...

"Ok i was like on my way to Atlas Park from the AEGIS facility (Ma team's base in Talos) when ah run across that armoured goon "Siberian Bear". Well word on the street is he blames me for a couple of his comrades going missing, and hes upset a couple of Paragon's finest, so ah front up to the great lunk. Anyway one thing leads to another and ah decide he needs a whupping! Rather than duke it out on the streets of Talos and risk that lumbering fool demolish some poor ctizen's home ah suggest we go to DJ Zero's place (Makes it fair then and gives him a chance!) Bear, not one to pass up the opportunity to pound on a 125lb girl, jumps at the chance."

"We get to Pocket D and ah set up a match on one of the club's arena terminals. We then get 'ported to the hold of a cargo ship, and battle commences. Ah should of been able to run rings around him but his improved ice powers really slowed me down. Still ah was able keep moving, and blasting away at his armour. Problem is his armour must be as think as his head, because the damage ah was inflicting wasnt enough to bring him down. Still his own punches are pretty feeble so he didnt fare much better against my armour. The end result was another draw, but im sure an observer would give me the point seeing as the so called mighty Siberian Bear was wheezing like a 350lb,ninety year old smoker, after running a marathon! Perhaps if ah tweaked my armour to inflict more damage rather than be energy efficient ah could have face planted him!"

Camera Footage of USAngel v Siberian Bear!

"Anyway rumor of me and the Bear battling must of got out 'round the club and one of his team, "Northern Star", turns up wanting to take a crack at me too. Anyway just because this guy had these stupid batwings, and the worse spiky hairdo ever, ah figure he needs a slap for his terrible fashion sense."

"The arena terminal dumps me and Northern Star in a resonable simulation of the waterways in Perez Park, and we go for it. First thing that surprises me is Northern Star uses energy blasts like mine, ah never realised what it was like to be on the receiving side of them. Where Siberian Bear is a big slow lumbering hulk, Northern Star was fast and nimble, and really made me chase to hit him. We both go down a couple of times but in the end Northern Star gets the better of me (need to upgrade ma armour's weapon range!)."

"We both 'port back to the club and ah have to listen to his victory bragging. Still ah may be sore but ah aint a sore loser, and there is always another time!"

Camera Footage of USAngel v Northern Star!

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USAngel

Notes taken from USAngel's private journal...

"So we got this group of communist heroes calling themselves the "Ultimate Soviet" running around the city at the moment. Ah figure that hardcore die-hard Reds are probably not too welcome back in the Motherland now that the country has seen the light and embraced the ways of freedom. However here in Paragon, the city is so desperate for heroes they'll take anyone. Thing that worries me though is there is an awful lot of these guys popping up all of a sudden, and more than a few of them were connected with the Military and KGB. Just because the former Soviet countries might not appreciate these old guard types running around in their own backyard, ah wouldnt put it past the Russian government and the KGB to still be using them as agents (Gives them a nice bit of "Plausible Denial"). Worse still considering ah have hooked up ma team's base computer to one of their spy satellites, to help me track down that creepoid "American Nightmare", there is even a possibility someone over there might have traced ma carrier signal. Ma best bet is to keep an eye on these "Ultimate Soviets" and figure out just what their real agenda is."

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Seeing as Pantocrator is trying to salvage his SG thread i thought i would help by putting USAngel's thoughts from the original thread (the one that got pirated and degenerated into chaos!)back into this thread.(Yes i know quoting myself is bad form but its quicker than retyping it, and it is valid to this thread so i think im justified!)

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:O I'm kinda back! Pinching broadband from the neighbours till I get my own sorted out

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Is that anything like the episode of "Bottom" where Richie and Eddie nick gas from their neighbor? because it was bloody hilarious and I can imagine you busting through walls or climbing along the guttering to sort it out!

Global: @Britanic
Server: Union

Characters(City of Heroes)

Britanic (Architect and Construction tycoon turned to heroing to atone for inactivity during Rikti Invasion. Also must be a contender for slowest leveling character in CoH)
USAngel (Seemingly dizzy power armoured cheerleader, in reality tech genius heroine. Friendly rival of the new Ultimate Soviets.)
COP (Cyber Organic Patrolman, Injured PPD officer rebuilt by a secret Crey Cyborg program.)
Knightwatchman (Mysterious street savvy wielder of the cursed Heretic blade, and possible schitzophrenic.)
Surgeon General (Former army medic empowered by Rikti radiation during the war.)
Freedom Fighter (US enhanced soldier and former guerilla warfare instructor.)
Fast Buck (Mutant Speedster)
Paragon Privateer (Normal employment no-hoper planning to build a rep to become a hero for hire with Hero Corps. Sees himself as an Errol Flynn style swashbuckler.)

Characters (City of Villains)(Fairly inactive at the moment)

Partisan (Leader of the militant anti-super Humanity First organisation. See earlier Partisan post.)
Big Game (Poacher turned mercenary killer.)
Stahl Kommando (Robotic super soldier from an alternate dimension where Germany won the First World War.)

Contact Info: Forum PM, PCP Forums, In-game.
RP Type: Casual, Forum, depends on mood, character, and surrounding bods.
Times: Can be quite random, but on most nights after 10pm.
Timezone:British Standard.

Just an idea but could future posts have a quick blurb after the characters name helps you picture them a bit easier if you have never ran into them before. Maybe some of the old posts could have something small edited in too.

I dont really play villains enough for me to restart something like Clocktower, besides because of the nature of my villain hes more of a "drop in stir it up a bitfrom time to time" type of guy. Of course Pocket D is a different matter my villain has used the neutral ground for a number of face to face verbal confrontations with heroic, and villain supers at various points in the past.

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Pocket D seems to be gaining in popularity though. I've seen quite a few people roleplaying in it now compared to how it was when it first arrived. I've always thought it was a shame more RP didn't happen there as there is far more potential conflict in having heroes and villains in the same room. Plus, by having heroes present, it would potentially cause the villains to form a more united front rather than bickering with each other. Who knows, with the arrival of arena consoles to sort out differences, maybe Pocket D will become the place to be at last.


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I have got to agree with Dante here. I have always said that Pocket D is a fantastic place to RP especially considering heroes and villains can interact. Also unlike the PVP zones this can be done by any level safely. I realise a lot of the hardcore RPrs are not overly keen RPing in Pocket D due to some of the inconsiderate types that pass through, but in fairness apart from a SG Base you can get that sort of unwanted attention anywhere.

For myself my RP is fairly casual or own forum based, but i can think of some great experiences bantering with villains and a snaptooth mish where the villains i persuaded to join me decided that they would go on strike halfway through the mish so i got a total pounding then they stole the glory(Harsh to me but it was funny)

To really help kick things off there needs to be more permanent contacts (Newspaper mission style) and maybe a visable cadre of Pocket D bouncers.

As for the clocktower im tempted to bring my villain down at some point but seeing as hes an anti-super bigot, i cant see him making too many friends!

"Partisan you murdering scum sucking filth, now we add littering to your list of crimes! You best pray that when I finally take you down you get sent back to the Zig and don't end up with community service and have to pick up every piece of that rubbish."

Here is the current look of the PCP base which we have named Aegis.

Aegis, the PCP base.

For a RP focal point wouldnt Pocket D be suitable? Apart for the corridors the place is always empty, and im sure it was put in the game for RP purposes. Its the only place where Heroes and Villains from all levels can interact face to face. And you can even put that drinking emote to good use.

Sounds great fire users crank up the BBQ, Icers cool the beer, and the Rad users can make sure we all get a nice tan.(Hmmm what sun factor protection will i need from one of them?)

As i said when i made the original post, i was not expecting any replies to the post due to the nature of what i was asking. However i thought id let you know i had 3 PMs from villains who are more than happy to sell out their VGs including one from one of the most well known on Union.Im not going to spill who or which groups, but once my group is happy to venture into raiding these VGs will certainly be on the list.You got to love people who can play real villains(unless you are their victim).