Dark_Respite

[ QUOTE ]
Hey,

I am just curious how far we are allowed to go for controversial missions?

So how does this deal with making missions with real world issues? What if I wanted to make a mission involving drugs? Would I have to use ingame concepts only like Superdyne? What about using real world drugs and drug problems that arise? What's the difference? Would they only be allowed if they were Villainous in alignment?

What if I wanted to have a mission dealing with alcohol abuse and the damage he caused or the redemption of someone suffering from it?


[/ QUOTE ]

It's all a matter of presentation.

The CoX storyline, collectively, is no stranger to mature themes - we have murder, drugs, poverty, immoral and amoral characters, and crimes that range a wide span.

You can even find 'questionable' arcs in game. Kelly Arqua, Westin Phipps, even the "Cure the Lost" arc - you are taking away their own (albeit possibly misguided) choices and sense of belonging and yanking it away without helping them find better circumstances.

My mission "Dyne of the Times" involves an amoral scientist who has figured out how to combine Superadine with Excelsior to enhance neurological function, increasing a mind to near-machine speed and allowing better interface with technology. Problem is, give it to someone who's not cybernetically or genetically enhanced and they go insane. And I also have a well-liked and respected canon character facing the consequences of the drug and its use. The arc pulls no punches.

You mentioned wanting your arcs to be more Sin City - are you talking more for its presentation, or its themes? Gore, sex, and violence for the sake of shock, I can see the PTB yanking the plug. But if they're peripheral to the story (your hero is sent to investigate a prostitution ring, and you find out they're all volunteer women who are using seduction as a means of infiltrating a villain group to save their loved ones, and the hero now has to face a choice - break up the ring and sabotage all their efforts, or help them take down the villain group and ignoring the fact of them breaking the law), then yeah... I can see it working.

It brings up an interesting idea - being able to create a "Mature" tag and only accounts acknowledged as 18+ years old can access those arcs. I'd still hope they'd be done with dignity and taste, but you could REALLY get some gritty, in-your-face arcs that way.

Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite

They are:

/cce # CCLightning
/cce # CCCast
/cce # CCPrestoChango
/cce # CCForceSpin

Replace # with 0-4, depending on the costume slot you're changing to.

Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite

[ QUOTE ]
Here are all the cards collected together, hacked up with demo editing so it's a uniform background and no players.

EDIT: Oh, in case it's not clear:
Top Row: Death, The Fool, The Hermit, The Lovers
Bottom Row: The Magician, The Moon, The Sun, The Tower, Wheel of Fortune

There is also an audio component to the FX with a different sound effect for each. Here's what I was able to figure out (unfortunately I have a hearing disability, so some of them it was a little hard for me to tell):

<ul type="square">[*]Death - Scream[*]Fool - (Manic) Laughter[*]Hermit - Indistinct Speaking (Sounds someone with a deep voice speaking, insofar as I could tell, but couldn't make out what he's saying; someone else with full hearing should see if they can figure it out.)[*]Lovers - Big Smooch (Kissing Noise)[*]Magician - Explosion (&amp; Debris Raining Down???)[*]Moon - Wolf Howling[*]Sun - Birds Chirping[*]Tower - Strong Wind Blowing[*]Wheel - Wheel with Clicker Spinning (like one of the wheels of fortune at a casino or on the TV show of same name)[/list]
FX for D_R:

FX Maintained &lt;FXID#&gt; POWERS/ITEMSANDTEMPPOWERS/TAROTCARDS/FORTUNE_DEATH_CONTINUING.FX 0
FX Maintained &lt;FXID#&gt; POWERS/ITEMSANDTEMPPOWERS/TAROTCARDS/FORTUNE_THEFOOL_CONTINUING.FX 0
FX Maintained &lt;FXID#&gt; POWERS/ITEMSANDTEMPPOWERS/TAROTCARDS/FORTUNE_THEHERMIT_CONTINUING.FX 0
FX Maintained &lt;FXID#&gt; POWERS/ITEMSANDTEMPPOWERS/TAROTCARDS/FORTUNE_THELOVERS_CONTINUING.FX 0
FX Maintained &lt;FXID#&gt; POWERS/ITEMSANDTEMPPOWERS/TAROTCARDS/FORTUNE_THEMAGICIAN_CONTINUING.FX 0
FX Maintained &lt;FXID#&gt; POWERS/ITEMSANDTEMPPOWERS/TAROTCARDS/FORTUNE_THEMOON_CONTINUING.FX 0
FX Maintained &lt;FXID#&gt; POWERS/ITEMSANDTEMPPOWERS/TAROTCARDS/FORTUNE_THESUN_CONTINUING.FX 0
FX Maintained &lt;FXID#&gt; POWERS/ITEMSANDTEMPPOWERS/TAROTCARDS/FORTUNE_THETOWER_CONTINUING.FX 0
FX Maintained &lt;FXID#&gt; POWERS/ITEMSANDTEMPPOWERS/TAROTCARDS/FORTUNE_WHEELOFFORTUNE_CONTINUING.FX 0

[/ QUOTE ]

*hugs*

You're an angel, Scuzz, thank you!

Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite

Finally, I can FILM without having to beg and plead for people to help me get particular maps! And I can get full teams of eight by creating allies! And I can have two disparate groups slugging it out!

*hugs Positron and the other devs*

Yep, I-14 is my squee-worthy issue. Been here since the tail end of I-9, but this is my personal favorite.

Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite

[ QUOTE ]
Perfect. It worked perfectly.

I had to throw in a few more because my computer is emo and they still didn't load soon enough, but once I did it was all aces.

Pie Samuriko if'n you don't always have the answer.
Has Paragon Studios hired you yet to make official videos?

Thank you kindly.

JFS
-The Legendary J-Man-

[/ QUOTE ]

No they haven't. And not for lack of me trying, either. But if you know someone who knows someone who can convince them otherwise...

Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite

Short answer - yes, there is.

Let me grab your file real fast.

EDIT: Okay, I added several seconds just before your character jumps, so that should give you enough time for your textures to finish loading.

Here you go.

EDIT Part 2: For future reference, search your demo files for something called a "SKYFILE". I use these to lengthen pauses if need be. a) make it longer, and b) copy the line. What I did for this, for example... Instead of:

17 SKYFILE SKY 2 0 1.000000

I made it:

1217 SKYFILE SKY 2 0 1.000000
1217 SKYFILE SKY 2 0 1.000000
1217 SKYFILE SKY 2 0 1.000000
1217 SKYFILE SKY 2 0 1.000000

Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite

Greetings. Word of advice - check your sanity at the door, you won't be needing it here.

Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite

Aw, damn it, Ex, you can't leave!

But as long as it's on your terms, and you've got greater things on your horizon, then I'll wish you all the best.

Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite

Spiffy, thank you Scuzz! *hugs*

Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite

Argh, I wonder if there are different democode FX for these... grrrrrrrr. Can you only have 1 fortune cast on you at a time? Or can multiple people tag you with fortunes?

Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite

Gratz!

*checks out the Careers page*

Drat, still no videographer listing. Oh, well.

Of course, in keeping with corporate tradition, you'll have to outsource your customer service to the Rogue Isles.

Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite

*pauses and then looks again at Darkjedi's signature*

Hold on a mo... Doug Shuler?

Serra Angel?
The Zodiac Conspiracy?

NO BLOODY WAY!

Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite

Enough people have sent me PMs asking me if I'll do commercials for their arcs that I figured I should post this.

<ul type="square"> [*]I am not taking commissions until the end of May - between my 5th anniversary commemorative video and another commission project on my roster, I just won't have time. AFTER that, I'm open, unless real life drops something on me for which I am completely unprepared.[*]When I do start taking commissions again, they will be on a first-come, first-serve basis. Flattery, bribery, and job offers at NCNC, while greatly appreciated, will not earn you a higher priority.[*]Sorry, I don't work for inf. I realize that in today's economy, money is tight for a lot of people. Well, it is for me, too.[*]Cost will vary depending on length and complexity of your video. We'll discuss it.[*]One more thing - music. Unless you've got a band or a composer friend who is willing to provide you with music for your commercial, I'll be using/remixing music from the game. Don't worry - I can still make it sound cool. Check out my "Etiquette of Assassination" video for me remixing CoH music.[/list]
Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Arc Name: And Hell Hath No Fury
Looks like great minds think alike...


[/ QUOTE ]

Looks like we'll have to play each other's arcs and see who has more fury!

[/ QUOTE ]

Deal.

Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite

Um... Leandro is working on it. Problem is grabbing a ton of datafile stuff, or so he says.

Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite

And of course I have to get in on this...

Castle's notes

Dark Armor

Base Building

Grav/Kin

Graphics problems

Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite

Venture, you're the kind of reviewer I'd love to get to look at my stuff, but I know you're so absolutely backlogged now that I'd feel like a heel asking you to review mine.

So instead, when you have some actual downtime, please send me a PM and let me know and I'll send you my two arcs.

Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite

[ QUOTE ]
On an unrelated note:

[ QUOTE ]
I should know better - my MA is in Deaf Studies/ASL Linguistics.

[/ QUOTE ]

Mission Architect? Nope. Martial Arts? Nope. Master of Arts degree?. Whew.

[/ QUOTE ]

Very funny, Arcanaville. I didn't think of that until AFTER I'd posted it. And yes - in this instance, MA = Master of Arts.

Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite

Happy belated birthday!

And please pass along my apologies to Sister Flame - as I am not making a trailer for Issue 14, her shot at video fame has been postponed. I will have to see about sneaking her in for a cameo in one of my music videos or something.

Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite

Yeesh.

Oh, and just because in two years I've never done this before...

First after redname.

Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite

*shudders*

That's a good thing, by the way. Damn, dude.

Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite

[ QUOTE ]
Arc Name: And Hell Hath No Fury
Faction: Neutral
Created by: @azrhiaz
Difficulty: everything is set to extreme
Length: 4 Missions
Synopsis: The shady past of the Knives of Artemis has come back to haunt them. Will you help save them or doom them to oblivion?

[/ QUOTE ]

Looks like great minds think alike...

Title: Hell Hath No Fury
Arc ID: 3430
Creator’s Global Name: @Samuraiko
Difficulty Level: Hard
Synopsis – At the directive of Lord Recluse, the mystics of Arachnos begin work on the secret Project: ERINYES. Only things don't quite go as planned, and now the Rogue Isles and Paragon City will never be the same. (The backstory of the MistWalkers, as found in the story The Course of Superhero Romance.)
Number of EB/AVS – 5
Story Type – Serious
Mission Count: 5
Estimated Time to Play: Approximately 45-60 minutes

Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite

Oh, good, so it worked!

Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite

An excellent suggestion... and should I do videos in future that have dialogue or lyrics, I will endeavour to caption them.

I should know better - my MA is in Deaf Studies/ASL Linguistics.

Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite

[ QUOTE ]
...usually I'm as much a comformist as the next guy but...

uh, I'm not seeing the brilliance in it? &lt;.&lt;

[/ QUOTE ]

From a technical standpoint, it's well-done. Layering effects like that can be a major PITA. (Although and this might just be thanks to the joys of YouTube, the sound quality at the end gets muffed. A high rez version for download in the Movies section of the ftp.coh.com site might not be amiss.)

Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite