Dark_Respite
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Posts
4927 -
Joined
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Quote:I'm just the messenger (or one of them). I fully intend to take advantage of my 'loudmouth that the rednames SOMETIMES listen to' status during the beta (if I get in) to try and stop your 2nd to last paragraph from coming to fruition. The beta testers got the devs to change the Keith Nance arc after THAT first draft was nothing short of flaming poo into something worth playing. If needs be, we'll do it again.Originally Posted by Xanatos
As long as @TheCheshireCat's DA arcs still exist in the MA...then nothing the devs make with their revamp will get to the heart of what it means to be Dark Astoria. Want to see good writing? Check out "Astoria in D Minor"
There's no geek "humour". (hoorb)
There's no spikey shiney armour.
There's no gimmick fights.
There's no uber-lame NPCs stealing the spotlight.
There's no writing telling you how your character is thinking/acting/speaking.
There's just an awesome engaging story that utilizes what we already have to it's maximum potential. If the devs are looking for a direction to take DARK Astoria than this is it. It's just horror. It's amazing.
lolWelloftheFuries. lolPraetoria. Don't ruin a potentially awesome part of the lore just because "that was something someone who's no longer with the company wrote..." Well guess what: most people think the new storylines are ridiculously bad / phoned in / troped up to the gills. Stop making excuses for wanting to write your own vanity stories about incarnates. ("OMG POSITRON IS THE GUARDIAN OF THE FLAME OF PROMETHEUS!")
I know this post will fall on deaf ears. All we're going to get is some warcraft-inspired solo zone. The BP will be revamped to look Japanese. (And will most likely have SUPER SHINEY SPIKEY ARMOUR.) I just hope that someone at Paragon Studios will realise that while the praetoria/well storyline is the meta-story, it doesn't have to feed into absolutely everything. That seriously limits creativity and the playing experience.
Sorry for being so negative all the time. There was a time when I'd have heard about the DA revamp and thought "Ah cool that's awesome!" Now I findmyself saying "I just hope they don't **** it up too much."
And pointing them at "Astoria in D Minor" is also on that list.
Michelle
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Samuraiko/Dark_Respite -
Quote:Will do.Originally Posted by Texas Justice
Oddly, I didn't get the long survey (the one that really matters to me). I've looked through all my stuff and I have nothing like that. I was putting everything in the schwag bag they gave us when we got there, so it would all be in the same place.
Can you send me the survey after scanning but before filling it out Ko? I'd really appreciate it.
Michelle
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Samuraiko/Dark_Respite -
I think I still have mine (I had additional info I wanted to add, so Avatea said I could scan it and send it to her). Let me ask if I can post the 3-page general survey to the forums. No promises on what she'll say.
Michelle
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Samuraiko/Dark_Respite -
To address this:
a) there will still be an echo of DA as it stands now for badges, plaques, etc.
b) the primary gate from Talos will be closed (a la Galaxy City), and new access points provided for both heroes AND villains, as...
c) DA will now be a co-op zone.
d) No word that *I* recall that the ghosts themselves will be gone (and I was at both panels involving Lore/endgame/etc).
e) Yes, the fog will be removed, as John Hegner noted, "Mot apparently needed a humidifier while asleep, and now that he is awake, it's not necessary." Dunno if this means the Echo will have its fog removed as well.
f) The new higher level BP and Tsoo will be getting a revamp - the lower level batch we are used to are the same (I meant to ask if the Circle in DA would still be there, but got distracted by other stuff - sorry!).
g) They are indeed drawing on the lore to try and pull its storyline together (striving for consistency was something Hegner and I discussed after the panel).
h) They are not adding new currencies again any time soon (this was asked in the endgame panel - they are aware that players are getting frustrated, so more effort is going into how to balance the game economy when new stuff is added without adding a new currency for it).
i) Any mission/TF (ie Citadel's) that would send you into DA is being reworked.
j) Adamastor himself is not quite getting a makeover... but in terms of scale vs the upcoming content in DA 2.0, he's roughly a "Lieutenant". Make of that what you will.
More as I remember it - I just woke up.
Michelle
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Samuraiko/Dark_Respite -
Quote:We were given two types of surveys. The first (a really short one) dealt with an individual panel (whichever you attended), asking your opinion on how it was presented, the information given, if we'd attend a related panel (for example, if we went to the "Design a Costume" panel, whether we'd be interested in one on, say, how costumes are actually built in COH, or "Concept Art" or whatnot) etc.Originally Posted by Agent White
What sort of questions were they asking in the survey?
The other was a 3-page survey ranging from the Plummit itself to the kinds of things we wanted to see (and what we DIDN'T), specific/follow-up information for certain topics (for example, when Ross Borden the marketing guy told me that if I had suggestions for him, we should talk during the cocktail hour - we kept missing each other - so I put a list of suggestions on the survey directed to him and Black Pebble), rating the features we'd seen presented on a scale (what we were most excited to least excited about), etc. It was fairly extensive.
I know quite a few folks commented on the latter survey that lack of advance notice was a major deterrent to being able to do this sort of thing. I talked to Zwill, Brian, and a couple other folks over the weekend, and it's HOPED (allow me to stress that word) that for the next one, they make sure it's announced at least 3 months in advance, and NOT that close to a holiday (or if it is, something like Memorial Day which helps some folks with an additional day off to use for a vacation).
Now to see what they make of the info...
Michelle
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Samuraiko/Dark_Respite -
For those who were, it was fantastic seeing many of you again (and meeting others of you for the first time)! Special kudos of course to my fellow Justicites for additional entertainment (dead fish bacon waffles, and yes, you had to be there).
BIG REQUEST: if you didn't turn in the survey things they gave us, please scan them in and send them to the email address we had to send our badge pictures to. They WILL be utilizing that feedback for the next Plummit - let's make sure to keep improving them.
For those who were NOT there (and especially the ones who'd PMd or Tweeted me with requests) - I tried to fulfill as many as I could. Whenever I had the chance, I tried to bring up your questions to the appropriate redname(s) so your concerns could be addressed (sometimes other people asked your questions in the panels, so you you can find those yourself).
But there WILL be another Player Summit (possibly upgraded to HeroCon-hood depending on budget, location, player interest, etc).
So to EVERYONE...
START SAVING NOW. PLEASE.
(I know the vacation time submission thing can be a hassle and a half, but hopefully you can stockpile enough money to be able to swing the trip.)
It was wonderful fun, and I hope to see many more of you there next year!
Michelle
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Samuraiko/Dark_Respite -
Quote:Originally Posted by Steelclaw
A sneak peek at what the rest of us poor slobs who don't live within (semi-)easy travel distance of the Summit will be missing today:
* Samuraiko arrested for assault and battery in her efforts to "convince" War Witch to make creation of a "filming" emote a top priority for the company.Quote:Originally Posted by houtex
I, for one hope she gets it, she deserves it, I think. That can't be hard to do, c'mon devs!Quote:Originally Posted by MajorDecoy
Samuraiko deserves to be arrested for assault and battery? What did she do to you?
Or are you saying that Warwitch deserves to be battered?Quote:Originally Posted by FloatingFatMan
You're joking, right? Have you SEEN the camera emote?Quote:Originally Posted by Schismatrix
So it'll be one of those old-school movie cameras from the Twenties that required a tripod and crew to use.Quote:Originally Posted by houtex
Well, sure, all of that. What else could I have meant?
No, I did not get arrested at the Plummit.Quote:Originally Posted by Sapphic_Neko
O.o
poor samuraiko getting arrested!
I did, however, actively campaign for my videocamera emote, to where I was talking to David Nakayama and some of the art team, arguing about why I needed one. We're still negotiating the price tag.
Michelle
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Samuraiko/Dark_Respite -
Quote:Originally Posted by Von Krieger
Samuraiko: "Can we have more videos? I can't make them all for you!"
Black Pebble has been working with the Seattle team on the next videos.
The Freedom launch trailer was worked on by an agency, rather than in house.
Posi: "There's some... stuff coming with weather. It's probably not what you're thinking, it's a lot more subtle. But it opens doors for new things in the future."That "or hire her" comment, if I'm not mistaken, was actually Redlynne's, who was just behind me in line for asking questions.Quote:Originally Posted by Gideon
Aded to the fun. After Samuraiko asked her video question: "Please do some more so I don't have to keep making them all the time." From the peanut Gallery at the back drifts "or hire her."
Ironically enough, after the panels, I tried to talk to Ross, but we kept missing each other. I did talk a little bit to Black Pebble (in fact, I have now figured out how I'm going to put him in my next video).
What I found really funny was that as I went up to each redname I knew to say hi, their virtually identical reactions involved a smile, a hug, and the comment, "So when's the next video coming out?"
I'll be posting more on the summit elsewhere, but let me just say - it was an absolute blast. It was wonderful seeing everyone, much information to be had, and there WILL be another summit.
So start saving $$ now. For those of you on a budget, people on the whole were amazingly helpful when it came to carpooling, giving rides to folks, sharing hotel rooms, etc. Take an extra day and visit the Bay Area - it's lovely there.
See you at the next Plummit!
Michelle
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Samuraiko/Dark_Respite -
Quote:"This is gonna make things so much easier... counting out stacked bills, sorting change... having time for LUNCH!"Originally Posted by Yogi_Bare
Kaitlyn Daniels, a recently graduated Finance major who has begun work at a Paragon City bank, discovers one morning that she has super powers.
"This is sooooooo cool. I was so worried about about having to deal with rude customers... but now!?! 'Sorry ma'am, you're declined.' 'What was that you say?' bzzzzzzt, POW!"
If I am a winner, I permit NC Interactive, Inc. and NCsoft Europe Limited to use my name, likeness, photograph, hometown, and any comments that I may make about myself or this contest that I provide for advertising and promotional activities. I also certify that I am at least 13 years of age and am eligible to participate in this contest.
Michelle
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Samuraiko/Dark_Respite -
And I will be taking as many notes as I can for those unable to attend. However, due to limited available baggage space, I am not taking requests for merchandise, should there be any available.
Michelle
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Samuraiko/Dark_Respite -
If someone's got room in a car for me for breakfast on Sat morning that'd be fantastic!
Michelle
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Samuraiko/Dark_Respite -
Finishing last-minute packing and super excited!
I'll be arriving at SFO at about 5:45pm (thankfully I have a ride) on Friday!
Michelle
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Samuraiko/Dark_Respite -
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Quote:"This is Faith Nottingham of Paragon News Network. We are continuing our coverage of the strange invasion of electrical creatures running rampant. In related news, Mad Scientist Vernon von Grun has withdrawn his recently submitted patent for his Mega-Static Generating Dryer Sheets (aimed at those who covet electrical powers but lack the ability), citing 'unforeseen complications' in his research..."Originally Posted by 7deCoeur
If I am a winner, I permit NC Interactive, Inc. and NCsoft Europe Limited to use my name, likeness, photograph, hometown, and any comments that I may make about myself or this contest that I provide for advertising and promotional activities. I also certify that I am at least 13 years of age and am eligible to participate in this contest.
Michelle
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Samuraiko/Dark_Respite -
Quote:Thank you for the compliment! Quick reminder of the proper spelling: SAMURAIKOOriginally Posted by Ineffable_Bob
http://www.youtube.com/results?searc...x&oq=samauriko - Pretty much all of Samauriko's CoH videos are awesome.
To that list, I'd also add:
http://www.youtube.com/user/Aralcox - anything by Aralcox (apologies for the low rez versions on YT - if I could get hold of him, I'd ask his permission to upload the high rez variants to my own account)
And I REALLY wish Zwill and company would reinstate the Fan Videos page in the Multimedia section.
Michelle
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Samuraiko/Dark_Respite -
Quote:If the devs can manage this as a cutscene, I will cheerfully commit seppuku as a concession to the greater talent.Originally Posted by eth_Nargy
I kind of do hope he bites it, just cause I don't like his character.
Here's how I imagine the cutscene playing out:
Random Evil Dude/Cole: Statesman, if you touch this bomb, you will DIE!
Statesman starts to run towards the bomb, but is stopped as Sister Psyche puts her hand on his arm.
Psyche: no dont do it statesman (in all lowercase)
Statesman gently pushes her away and turns his head back towards the bomb, a single teardrop streaming down his cheek.
Statesman: Come now, I've always been this way.
Statesman rushes to the bomb and uses hand clap, as the camera pans offscreen and all you see is a huge number float upwards as the bomb explodes.
At this point, everyone in Paragon City, even the Vahz in the sewers and the Devouring Earth in Eden let out an echoing "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO" as our valiant hero is no more.
Camera cuts back to statesman's faceplate flying through the sky like a frisbee above steel canyon, as images of his past are shown in the background. The scene ends as the mask eventually flies into outer space, creating a sparkle and, seconds later, exploding into fireworks in the shape of statesman doing a thumbs up.
Make it happen!
Michelle
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Samuraiko/Dark_Respite -
Looking forward to seeing everyone this weekend!
Michelle
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Samuraiko/Dark_Respite -
I got to thinking... regardless of who buys it at the end of the arc, what do you imagine their last words would be?
(Assuming they have the chance to speak any, that is... and not counting the dying scream of agonzied defiance as they go.)
The two that come to mind for me are:
Statesman: "Monica..."
BAB: "BRING IT!"
Michelle
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Samuraiko/Dark_Respite -
I really hope it's not Positron... my books aren't done yet. (And Synapse is a close second.)
The only one of the Phalanx I'm REALLY 'meh' about is Citadel. Sorry, big guy, but it's true. You and your TF just do not do it for me. If I had to root for one of them to go, he'd be it. Damned if I know how they could make it dramatic and emotionally engaging, but stranger things have happened.
But Statesman doing the heroic sacrifice thing? Facing down some truly devastating fate, jaw set, shoulders back, and the last word on his lips being, "Monica..." Oh yeah. THAT I'd buy.
(Damn it, now I'm suddenly seeing the scene of Vegeta vs Majin Buu near the end of DBZ. So I'm a geek - I admit it.)
Michelle
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Samuraiko/Dark_Respite -
Quote:Yes there is.Originally Posted by Golden Girl
Thre's nothing magnificent about being bad
"When I'm good, I'm good. But when I'm bad, I'm better."
Michelle
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Samuraiko/Dark_Respite -
On the one hand, this picture totally says, "BRING IT!"
On the other hand, it also says, "Discovering the limitations of Personal Force Field in 3... 2... 1..."
If I am a winner, I permit NC Interactive, Inc. and NCsoft Europe Limited to use my name, likeness, photograph, hometown, and any comments that I may make about myself or this contest that I provide for advertising and promotional activities. I also certify that I am at least 13 years of age and am eligible to participate in this contest.
Michelle
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Samuraiko/Dark_Respite -
Robert De Niro in MIDNIGHT RUN.
Jim Carrey in THE TRUMAN SHOW.
Val Kilmer in TOMBSTONE. (Especially after movies like REAL GENIUS, TOP SECRET, etc...)
Elijah Wood in SIN CITY (*shudder*)
Ironically, most of my favorite actors have a HUGE diversity of roles, so typecasting them is damn near impossible.
Michelle
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Samuraiko/Dark_Respite -
Quote:To address this round of concerns first...Originally Posted by Fantastic_Foe
Just played #459581, Kill or Cure by @Samuraiko
I have to rush through this review (getting family breakfast time aggro) I'll try to write something up that's more comprehensive later.
Overall, I enjoyed the story, and how it progressed. I ran it with my MA/SR incarnate scrapper at baseline difficulty, and it was no problem. That's good for me, since I was in it for the story, and not a combat experience. I was able to stealth past many intervening mobs, since this was largely a detective style clue gathering experience.
That was a good experience, overall.
I'll present some nitpicks. I believe the objective chaining in the final mission.
(SPOILER...)
I encountered the defeated and dying Viviane at the front of the mission, on defeating the Rikti around her, the text implied I had cured her and I then escorted her to the front.
I still had a goal to stop Dissolution from opening the portal, I assumed that Viv had set something in motion and I had to stop it. In the final room, I found Dissolution, still virus-striken and ready to open a portal to invade the Rikti homeworld with death. I defeated her, and the text clues implied that I should then cure her. I believe her defeat should have spawned the hostage/escort version of her.
One other thing, in the Nemesis weather station mission, one objective was "Hear Dissolution's recorded message." (It was something like that.) I think a better clue would have been to generically imply that I needed to track down Dissolution. I went into the mission vaguely assuming that she would be on the map, and the mission goal removed that ambiguity by giving me advance knowledge that she had left me a recorded message.
I enjoyed the arc, I'd play it again with some other of my characters.
There are two versions of Dissolution in the final version - the cured version is SUPPOSED to only spawn after you've defeated her original version (unfortunately, not having total control over the game mechanics means I can't have her appear in exactly the same place, and we ALL know how wonky the placement systems is in the AE in the first place). Sometimes it just happens. I hate it, but it happens.
Re: her recorded message, you're not actually MEANT to find her on the map. The invisible version of Dissolution actually triggers what comes across as a recorded message heard over the intercom. (It's late, I'm tired, so I can't remember if it's triggered by you getting too close to her invisible version, or if it's when you mess with a particular canister - I think the latter.) Most of the time, once you deactivate a particular canister, she spawns, and because she's alone on the map, her message can be heard no matter where you are (hence the simulation of a recording).
I thought I had modified the text for the Children of Anger - originally, the arc had Lost wandering the sewers, but people groused about not having level appropriate stuff to fight; the Children were meant to be people that Dissolution had abducted to experiment on (not always successfully).Quote:Originally Posted by Fantastic_Foe
Okay, spoilers abound.
SPOILERS
I briefly discussed the arc a few posts back. I have a few more points up for @samuraiko to consider.
I missed the actual holographic recording of Dissolution at first. The clue said I had to find the recording of Dissolution, so I was looking for some kind of glowing communication terminal.
Since Dissolution was nearly invisible, and since I was stealthing past most of the Nemesis, I missed her at first. Had the clue not unambiguously told me I was looking for a recording, I might have noticed the hostage/hologram (then again, I might not have.)
The background information for the recording was the boilerplate details for a minion.
In retrospect, I have some questions about the overall arc. The first two missions implies that whoever was behind the theft of SERAPH's Rikti research had tremendous resources, there was a clue indicating that the Malta were expecting to be paid in the multi-millions.
The sewer mission had roving bands of old-school Mother Mayhem Praetorians, Child of Anger, etc. I was therefore expecting some kind of back door Praetorian research going on with the Rikti, possibly Mom Mayhem looking to turn the Lost against both Rikti and Primal Earth forces, so the revelation that this was all being done by one extreme individual doesn't add up.
Unless I've misunderstood what was going on in the sewer mission.
Best regards,
The sewer mission is where you find what Dissolution is really up to, and how she got to be the way she is. She tried to join SERAPH - she was too young. She volunteered to help fight the Rikti - she was too young. Now she's grown up - and she's going to fight the Rikti herself. And thanks to the information she's now gotten from SERAPH, she's confirmed that she's on the right track to wipe out the Rikti completely.
As for where she gets her money, when Dissolution went to the Rogue Isles and word got around to people (namely the leader of the villain group she belongs to, as well as groups like Arachnos and Crey) that she could eliminate the Rikti entirely, they were QUITE happy to fund her work. As young as she is, this is all she's ever worked for. Nothing else matters.
If that meant raising millions to bribe the Malta and Knives into stealing tech, that's what she'd do. If that meant experimenting on the poor slobs that the Rikti were converting into the Lost, even if they'd never done anything wrong, that's what she'd do. The Rikti came within inches of destroying her world, so she's going to make them pay. And God help anyone who gets in her way in the process.
******
I'm sure the arc still needs tinkering, but the fundamental storyline is this - what happens when the heroes you look up to, the people who supposedly defend the freedom and rights of others, take away your freedom to choose to risk your own life, in the name of 'protecting' you?
Thanks for playing and for critiquing!
Michelle
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Samuraiko/Dark_Respite -
On a related note, has anyone else actually read the TV Tropes page for COH? Some of them are kinda fun. (And we're a Trope Namer - Homing Boulders is courtesy of us.)
Michelle
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Samuraiko/Dark_Respite -
Quote:The Longbow hesitated, their instinctive desire to administer justice warring with the memory of Manticore's last training stunt with the Shining Stars...Originally Posted by Eldritch_Knight
Raising his hands, he said: 'I'm a good guy now, I've come to defect!'
If I am a winner, I permit NC Interactive, Inc. and NCsoft Europe Limited to use my name, likeness, photograph, hometown, and any comments that I may make about myself or this contest that I provide for advertising and promotional activities. I also certify that I am at least 13 years of age and am eligible to participate in this contest.
Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite
