Chad Gulzow-Man

First off, from the brief accidental leak on the test server prior to Going Rogue's launch, I'm pretty sure all of the attacks were pretty magical in nature. Lightning, dark and fire were all that I recall, but there was probably an ice attack as well. (I was bummed that there didn't seem to be a straight energy attack, but I guess my Scrapper will make due with either lightning or fire...)

But, to focus on one part of your post in particular: "Natural/unpowered characters, or weapon users, etc... doesn't really fit the theme for my golden age knife-nut adventurer to suddenly whip out an energy blast" doesn't really apply. You're no longer unpowered--you're an Incarnate now, and you're able to do crazy things ala Statesman's overpowered lightning crashes.

In the GR beta, I think it was granted at the end of the TF. You could also get drops of common "Incarnate Shard" salvage, which could be turned into the uncommon salvage that the Boosts were crafted out of. This common salvage would supposedly drop for anyone with their Alpha Slot unlocked at random when doing any level 50 content.

I just saw another thread where GG was saying that it took 3 pieces of uncommon Incarnate salvage to create a common Boost, and 4 pieces of common Incarnate salvage to create a piece of uncommon Incarnate salvage... but I honestly don't remember the numbers that well from the second-hand reports I read 4 months ago.

Not true. Doing the arc in Ouroboros effectively turns it into a task force, and everybody gets the souveniers (and the next contact unlocked) by completing them.

I've run the contact that introduces you to Katie through Ouroboros. I wasn't the team leader, and that's the only time I ran said arc. I can now start a Katie Hannon TF any time I want.

Pretty sure you heard wrong and/or it was in another game. I pour over every bit of 'Con and Meet & Greet info I can find, and I've never heard any info from someone at one of these events (much less a red name) saying anything about a graphics update. I do recall that, at a recent convention, one of the devs said that they'd like to see mitten hands replaced with working fingers, but that it wasn't a priority and that it would require way too much effort to fit into the current planned timeline.

And given that WE JUST HAD A GRAPHICS UPDATE IN APRIL, I don't see them doing another one for a few years, much less in Spring 2011.

I believe it happened in Issue 15 or 16, so it's only been about a year.

The polygon makes a damn good point...

I was actually a little surprised that the show got cancelled after season 4, though.

... I don't know anyone who kept watching after season 2. >_>

This. I'm eagerly awaiting Issue 19 for Inherent Stamina so I can more effectively use Choking Cloud on my Fire/Rad Controller--I originally slotted him all wrong, but was too lazy to respec him. I generally play him in near-melee, so I can heal the teammates that are taking the brunt of the pounding (like my poor imps) and, of course, use Cinders effectively.

I'm also working on strategies for my DP/Rad Corruptor that will involve Choking Cloud, once I'm able to get some decent enhancements in there (like the Lockdown +2). I play DP as a mid-range powerset, since I can't resist firing off Executioner's Shot every chance I get...

To the OP, I would have to say it all depends on what you want to do with it. If you're thinking of keeping it around as an "Oh $#!@" button, it probably won't do much for you. But if you want to throw some slots and an IO set or two in there, it can be extremely effective.

But just so you know,
Issue 19: Alpha Strike
is the best present.

The Scorpion Shield at the very least has a glowing sigil that appears on your character every few seconds, and I believe it also gives you a slight glowing aura not unlike those you see in the Invulnerability powerset.

Not that I've been on any of them (it's been months since the last time I did an ITF), but I've heard epic stories about some of the ITFs you've led ending up with over 200 deaths.

Anyway, I'll stop derailing the thread now.