Dax_Strife

Another issue:
Since Praetoria is an alternate dimension, will we be allowed to create alignment-opposite doubles of our current characters there?
If yes, then will we receive a bunch of new character slots with the expansion? I'm down to just two free slots on my server of choice, and I've got at least 5 characters I'd like to make Praetorian doubles for.

Come to think of it, some of the ATs and power-pools don't seem like they'd work well if you could switch 'em...

I mean, a heroic mastermind who defeats his enemies with an army of zombies? In fact, most masterminds don't make sense as heroes... "I'm a savior to the down-trodden, who sends his army of street thugs to beat up other street thugs! Gang warfare... for justice!"

Stalkers make sense in a way... Batman was a stalker, really. :P

I just really, really hope they don't pull a "WoW" and make the new expansion pack cost $40 with no free month. If they keep it around $30, maybe $40 and throw in a month, I'll definitely pick it up.

I'm still examining the Ish. 11 wallpaper for clues:

-The Ouroboros is a big one, definately... but it may hint at self-destruction as well as renewal. Perhaps a villain group carries out a plot that results in its own undoing?
(Personally, I'd love to see the Tsoo get licked, and the dragon is styled more in Chinese than European; just a theory of course).

-The infinity shape of the ouroboros.

-The nebula-like cloud that makes the background. I don't think it's there just for decoration...

Although few details are given by the preview, I do have this to ask in regards to the screenshots:

Why do we have to fight the CoT again?!
Including an Oranbega level in the TF makes it look so much more painful to complete.

The biggest problem I can find with this gameplay mode is the targeting. It constantly makes me aim at inanimate objects and civilians instead of the police and Longbow who are actually a threat. The only advantage I've found so far to targeting civilians is for the corrupter buffing power pools... Kinetics, for example, can instantly boost their health and endurance by using their buff powers on the civilians around them.

My two cents:

-Definately an impressive zone. The whole approach into the city from the Ferry has this feel that you're stepping into a place full of danger and power. You feel empowered and yet oppressed at the same time. The monitors of Recluse and his speech are my favorite part (is there a chance someone has his speech in mp3 format? I'd like to hear it without the zone background noise).

-That said, the zone is a bigger system slow-down than St. Martial ever was. I pray there aren't any hunting missions in this zone (especially with the stalker-esque units lurking around).

-I have yet to complete the patron arcs, but what I hope to see upon completing one is getting a bit more respect from the Arbiters and other Arachnos troopers. By level 40 in CoH, your character is getting a ton of respect from the other characters for all the work they have done. The villains should get a similar treatment: they've survived the rest of the Rogue Isles, and gotten more powerful in the process; they should be figures to be feared once they sign on with Recluse's lieutenants.

-The music didn't sound new to me, and I've loved the music in CoV up until now (Kevin Manthei rocks in everything he does music for). I was hoping there would be a special theme just for this zone, sort of an "Arachnos March" if you will.