Ex_Libris
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Posts
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Joined
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[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I'm thinking we will need a section for the Contest Entries... a few more may still trickle onto gametrailers.com over the next few days as there is an approval process.
I think judging starts on the 18th.
Ex
[/ QUOTE ]
Assuming the judges are paying attention - a few entries have already cropped up that I think are gonna get removed when the 18th rolls around...
And rather than creating a new section, why not just add a new category - "Contest Entry"? That would cover the Matrix contest as well as the PERC contest and any other held in future.
Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite
[/ QUOTE ]
Good suggestion, on the contest section. Maybe done like Guide to Guides with an Index?
Ex -
I'm thinking we will need a section for the Contest Entries... a few more may still trickle onto gametrailers.com over the next few days as there is an approval process.
I think judging starts on the 18th.
Ex -
[ QUOTE ]
Ah so sad, I missed the deadline to submit for the machinima contest. But rather than sit around and boo hoo about it, I decided to show off my beloved work anyways. I am extremely proud of myself for this...
Interview for a Destined One
Please let me know what you think! Nothing worse than no comments after putting such hard work into your art.
[/ QUOTE ]
Full open chuckle across the studio. I think it echoed.
Ex -
[ QUOTE ]
Is this a temp power ala Halloween or are we talking about the actual ability wear PPD Hardsuit as a costume on our characters?
If it's the latter, I will totally be stopping by the booth.
What time's on Friday, Saturday and Sunday will you be there handing them out??
[/ QUOTE ]
We will be there all day!
*my feet hurt thinking about it.*
Ex -
Paragon Police Department Hard Suit Costume
Stop by the NCsoft booth at PAX to get your Pocket D VIP pass to unlock this exclusive costume.
See you there!
Ex -
OP has been updated.
Regards,
Ex -
Coming up this month lucky attendees to Leipzig Games Convention in Germany and Penny Arcade Expo in Seattle will have the opportunity to pick up VIP passes* to unlock the Paragon Police Department Hard Suit Costume Power for their account. See details below for Leipzig and PAX! See your Community Representatives for more details.
- [*] Leipzig Games Convention August 20-24 [*]Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) August 28-31 [*]Join the Community Discussion for PAX Here![/list]Paragon Police Department Hard Suit Costume
We'll have another announcement coming soon about the next exclusive costume that will be given away to our Community.
*VIP Passes will only work in their respective regions. Passes distributed at PAX will only work on North American Accounts, and passes distributed at Leipzig will only work on European Accounts. -
[ QUOTE ]
So I'm trying to upload for like the 5th time now. Each time I've tried, I've waited a couple of hours before trying again. Got the video to 25MB @ 640x480, and it still says' Compressing" an hour later.
Hello, Gametrailer support!
(Worst webware ever - I have a new found appreciation for YouTube now)
[/ QUOTE ]
This also may be due to a review period... all videos are reviewed for content before they go live.
Ex -
Vol. 2, Issue 10
August 8th, 2008
The City Scoop a publication for Supers by Supers! With this issue we have many of our regular features back and moar!
Read the latest publication and then join in on the community discussion!
If you have concerns regarding the content of the Scoop please direct your comments via PM to Lighthouse or Ex Libris.
If you would like to do a feature article, have an event covered, or join "The City Scoop" team please PM Snow_Globe or Pants_Stealer
If you need some Advice contact Lady_Athyna or would like to Ask The X contact LiquidX
Finally if you have a Classified Ad or Recipe you would like included please contact: LadyK or MistressNoire -
Vol. 2, Issue 10
August 8th, 2008
The City Scoop a publication for Supers by Supers! With this issue we have many of our regular features back and moar!
Read the latest publication and then join in on the community discussion!
If you have concerns regarding the content of the Scoop please direct your comments via PM to Lighthouse or Ex Libris.
If you would like to do a feature article, have an event covered, or join "The City Scoop" team please PM Snow_Globe or Pants_Stealer
If you need some Advice contact Lady_Athyna or would like to Ask The X contact LiquidX
Finally if you have a Classified Ad or Recipe you would like included please contact: LadyK or MistressNoire -
The City Scoop Staff
-
Classifieds
TO: Everyone who posted comments about my "Incarnate"
video on the COH forums. Thank you all very, very much for the praise (and even
the occasional criticism). That you guys (generally) enjoy them as much as you
do, is all the more reason for Johanna Sinclair to keep running around like mad
with that videocamera of hers, and for me to keep making videos. Cheers! -
Michelle aka Samuraiko/Dark_Respite
ARTIST WANTED
Published author seeks superhero artist for politically
progressive comic book project. Speculative: no money up front, any profits to
be split 50/50. Character designs to start; full script pages will follow.
Interested parties should PM DoctorJ through the forums or @DoctorJ on the
game.
LOST
My pet Alpha Bomb has been lost. Last time I had him he
was on Protector. He has been last seen on Champion, but bounces to different
places. He is very sly and can go by different names, but he always responds to
Yo Gamma. If found please contact Crimson Betrayal.
WANTED
Fan Artist to draw my character. I cannot offer much
compensation other than any of the wares I would otherwise sell on the Auction
House. If you are interested, please contact Hakuro de Killer on the Virtue
Server.
Want to be part of the VEAT Army? Yes we are an offshoot
branch of the FUSION empire in the Protector dimension loyal only to Ghost
Widow. We are destined for greatness.
Ghost Widow has ordered my organization to form a new
sect in support of special operations. I will recruit within our ranks as well
as go outside of our known coalition. These chosen members will go to an
academy for training as various Arachnos soldiers. While I do not like to be
told how to run FUSION, Widow assures me that I will be rewarded for forming
this group.
My first order of business is to choose villains among
my organization that display some of the following qualities: Mind control,
knowledge of poisons, stealth, acrobatics, weapons fighting, and most
importantly do not display fear and that would die if I ordered them to do
such. I have at least 20 in mind from my 150 Villain organization that fit this
criteria. Over the next few weeks I will begin listing them in preparation for
training.
This training will consist of a series of trials and
strike forces ordered by Ghost Widow. More to follow soon.
Want to know more?
Please come to the Veat Army Project.
Want your character to be interviewed by Scoop Man? Send
a PM to HumanMiracle!
Want your character to be interviewed by Patty-Sue
Ivanova? Send a PM to Emperorsteele!
Need to sell something? Post it in The City Scoop
Classifieds. Send a PM to SpaceNut while LadyK is on Vacation.
Introducing Two-for-Tuesday at El Super Mexicano! All
regular quesadillas just 2 for $5 all day Tuesday!
The Cooperative Story project is in need of authors. You
can locate the current work
here. Support, commentary and introductions are located
here. The idea is simple: Find an author you know well and can work
with, and write a story together. At present, all styles are welcome. We look
forward to your contributions.
ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT RIBS
at InFront Steak house!
Thursday night is all-you-can-eat rib night at InFront
Steakhouse. Come in after 4 PM, mention this ad, and get endless plates of our
mouthwatering baby back ribs for only $14.99!
HELP WANTED
Writers for The City Scoop. Please contact Snow_Globe or Marcian_Tobay for
submission details.
Do you have an event coming up? Are you going to attend
an upcoming event? Do you want to see or even write an article for The City
Scoop? Drop a line to an Editor-in-Chief a week in advance, and you too could
be a guest writer for The City Scoop.
-
Market Watch
The View on Blue
Double Inf Weekend
While most players were enjoying Double XP Weekend, some of us were reaping the
rewards of Double Inf Weekend. Not only did defeated enemies drop twice as much
influence that weekend, but the resulting flood of funds raised prices in many
areas. The enterprising players who frequent the Market section of the forums
devised several schemes to take advantage of the situation. Here are the most
popular:
1. Stockpile stuff before the weekend (like crafted common and set IOs, recipes,
and salvage). Sell them during and after.
2. Place lowball bids on valuable items before the weekend. Hope to get some
cheap buys during the weekend.
3. Craft, craft, craft memorized commons.
4. Flip, flip, flip salvage and maybe recipes.
I personally tried my hand, at least briefly, at all four activities.
1. I stockpiled about 150 common crafted IO's, mostly accuracy, damage, healing,
and recharge, levels 25-40. I initially tried to sell them for 250,000 inf
each. I made some sales, but not as many as I wanted. On Sunday I dropped my
prices to 200k and sold almost everything by the end of the weekend. There were
times when prices went up to three or four hundred thousand influence each, but
it was hard to take advantage of those price swings. They were short-lived, and
seldom happened when I happened to be online.
I also stockpiled about 25 Crushing Impact recipes. I was disappointed to find
that they didn't sell at all during the big weekend. Crushing Impact is a
popular set, and I hoped people would buy them even while they were rushing to
level, but apparently not. After the weekend ended, I really expected them to
take off, but no such luck. I guess I got greedy. When I lowered my prices,
some sold, but slowly. I had a few higher priced items up for sale as well, at
extra high prices. The Numina unique sold, but the Performance Shifter +End
hasn't yet (as of this writing).
I stockpiled salvage, but I used it to craft. I could have sold some of it for a
profit, but I made a bigger profit by using it.
2. I tried to place lowball bids on certain items. I aimed for items which have
high value, but drop to low level characters, like the knockback protection
recipes. Sadly, this scheme was disrupted by a market hiccup. All of my bids
vanished, and my influence with them. The GMs restored the influence after a
few days, but they couldn't restore the opportunity to score some bargains.
3. My primary focus this Double XP Weekend was crafting. I was impressed during
the last such event by the high purchase prices for common IOs. I wanted to get
in on that action. I seldom managed to score truly ridiculous prices, but I was
able to make a steady profit. At the end of the day, though, I felt it was just
too much work. It takes time to gather up the salvage, run to a crafting table,
craft, run back to the market, and list items for sale. In my rush, I listed a
whole tray full of items for two million instead of two hundred thousand, and
had to sacrifice the listing fee and try again.
4. I was so busy buying salvage to craft that I seldom bought salvage to flip.
It was easy to find common salvage that I could buy for a few thousand and
quickly resell for twice what I had paid. It was not worth the time, though. If
I had tried my hand at more expensive salvage it might have been a different
story. I'll try to remember that for next year.
I certainly wasn't the only person who was more interested in Inf than XP that
weekend. The Market forum is full of war stories from Double Inf Weekend. Some
of the biggest bonanzas were redside, but plenty of heroes are reaching for
Bruce Wayne levels of wealth as well.
1. A lot of people stockpiled all sorts of things before the weekend started. In
general, sales of set IOs were disappointing. Common IOs flew off the shelves
at higher prices than usual. At 200k per enhancement, a lot of people sold out
by Saturday morning. Prices sometimes jumped over a million Inf for an
enhancement, but mostly stayed around 250-350k. An entire table full of 100
enhancements, selling for a profit of 200,000 influence each, only nets
20,000,000 profit. That's nothing to sneeze at, but it's not a great return for
the amount of time involved.
People who stockpiled recipes and salvage and relisted them for high prices
during the weekend were very disappointed. Prices on those items did not rise
during the weekend. Crafted set IOs didn't sell very well during the weekend
either, but on Monday people settled down and began to do some serious
shopping. That's when the set IOs, fancy purple IOs, and super-expensive IOs
began to move. The biggest single item sale I know of was a Luck of the Gambler
+7.5% Recharge selling for a cool hundred million infamy.
2. A few other people tried placing lowball bids before the weekend started, and
most of them had better luck than I did. One person reported buying 19
Regenerative Tissue uniques for well below the usual price. He hopes to make
10,000,000 inf profit on each one. I was not the only person to have my bids
wiped out by that market hiccup, though.
3. Crafting common IOs was enormously profitable for anyone who was willing to
make time for it. With double XP available, it's easy to understand why so few
people chose to spend their time crafting. Of course, that's exactly why the
people who did craft were able to make more profit than during a normal
weekend.
4. At least one person did flip valuable salvage during the weekend and made a
mint. Tiglath Pileser reported over 150 million inf in profits. He also felt it
was the easiest and most efficient of his market schemes that weekend. A couple
of other people tried to flip items, but apparently chose the wrong items or
the wrong price points and they didn't sell a single thing during the weekend.
(If you are wondering what "flipping" means, and how you can do it, keep
reading this column. I'll write all about it in a few weeks.)
An honorable mention goes to FourSpeed, who earned a million influence buying
end mod recipes from the crafting tables and reselling them to players on the
market, just like I discussed in a previous article. He made a lot more money
actually crafting the IOs and selling them, though.
The big winners? The farmers. Because defeated enemies dropped influence at
double the normal rate, people who spent their weekend defeating enemies earned
a lot of inf. Thanks to a feature, or perhaps bug, in Ouroboros, some people
earned quadruple influence. One player, whose name I won't mention (to
discourage paparazzi) claimed to have earned 1,000,000,000 inf
after 25 hours of hard core triple-box farming! I've never heard of an evil
market manipulator earning anything close to that amount in a single weekend.
Even though Double Inf Weekend is over, you can still make moolah if you know
where to look. Just go, hunt, kill anything. Lots of salvage prices are still
really high!
-
Spandex Spotlight
Samuel
After a horrible mis-adventure trying to find someone to interview in Pocket D,
I followed up on a request to interview someone all the way over on Justice,
the name of some alternate reality shard thing. No idea what the Portal techs
were rambling about. Anyway, this weeks victim goes by the awe-inspiring name
of Samuel.
My powers were gone, Atlas Park was practically dead, and everything felt
terribly off. Frightened and alone, I finally made contact with Samuel, who
insisted on bubbling me when we met
Patty-Sue Ivanova: Force bubbles. Lovely.
Samuel: Painstakingly perfected. It's my passion.
PSI: Right. So, you're the famous... uh... Samuel (repressing a
slight snicker). Man, this entire dimension is whack. Where is everyone?
Samuel: Heh, there are a few under ol' Atlas over there. We
like to keep on duty, so most of us are out in the warzone.
PSI: Ah, duty minded. Well, that's good. I won't keep you long
then.
Samuel: (Eyebrow raises) If that's what you've heard, then I
guess I've made some friends.
PSI: I meant everyone around here as a whole, but yeah... So,
tell me a little about yourself, Samuel. Or, our readers, rather.
Samuel: Well, I'm a high ranking member of the Crimson Moon, I
am a very passionate defender, and I enjoy my work very much. One thing I would
like to stress to your readers is that if you are a defender out there that
isn't an empath, don't feel pressured to learn medicine, it is a real insult to
empaths out there, and you can do so much more with what you were given
naturally
PSI: (blinking slowly) Okay. What about personal details?
Where'd you get your powers and stuff?
Samuel: Ah, well, that's a good question. I grew up in a
different dimension, actually. A world much like this one. Life forms needed to
adapt to survive, and it would seem that my birth produced some very beneficial
complications.
PSI: 'Beneficial complications'? That phrase kinda contradicts
itself, doesn't it?
Samuel: You would think. My mother died giving birth to me.
However, I was told that it was her actions that produced my ability to shape
and form forcefields.
PSI: Oh, how sad... and what actions were those?
Samuel: I was going to miscarry, something about my radiation
powers giving me cancer rapidly, I couldn't control them, and with her last
breath she siphoned her own power and abilities into mine, and shielded my body
from being consumed with such a disease.
PSI: Whoa.
Samuel: My radiation powers have always been something I have
feared, but over the years, I learned to use them for good. I'm fortunate I had
that chance.
PSI: And why good? You could've just as easily gone nuts over
your mom and become a menace to society. Lord knows I've almost crossed the
line a few times...
Samuel: Never knowing my mother, and living with the despair
and sadness of her loss whenever I looked into my father's eyes, I could never
inflict that kind of damage to another. It would tarnish and insult her
sacrifice. That's what started me down the road of heroism, but I continue to
walk that path for myself, and for my fellow heroes in the Crimson Moon.
Believe me, the way we fight crime, I need to be on top of my game.
PSI: Okay then, one last thing. I'd be a horrible reporter if I
didn't do my research. What's this about you being some kind of War God? Sounds
like it contradicts the whole "peace loving, never-hurt-anyone Defender thing.
Samuel: Ah... Well, I have put that life behind me. The world
that I was from was wrought with war. I helped those close to me survive at the
time I rejected my control of radiation, I took up a blade. It was a name used
by my enemies, not my friends. And it is a name that tends to get me in
trouble, for those who remember the deeds I was made to do.
PSI: A defender that did damage. Now Ive heard everything!
Okay, one last question: Your name. Not that I'm one to talk, but... just
"Samuel"? Do you seriously bust into a room and be all "Halt, villains, SAMUEL
will put an end to your deeds!" or something?
Samuel: It's unremarkable, to some. It was the name my mother
gave me. And what I am doing is fighting crime. When I burst into a room of
villains, my eyes, my stance, my resolve shows them who they are dealing with.
PSI: Ooooh, good answer!
That wraps up this edition of Spandex Spotlight. Tune in next time for more
dirty secrets and misadventures!
-
Why I Joined Longbow
The rain was coming down in buckets in Paragon City, Rhode Island as Jon Lamier
ran from street corner to street corner. He had watched the news the night
before and the storm system that had ravaged the Mid-West had now reached the
Eastern seaboard. A bolt of lightning flashed across the sky and a tremendous
crackle of thunder was soon heard. That was close, he mumbled to himself.
He finally reached the Longbow office. Posters lined the windows saying Are You
Good Enough? and Fighting for a Better Future. He sighed and pulled open the
door, quickly stepping inside. Shaking himself off, he had a chance to look
around the office. He was taken aback by the numerous pictures on the wall and
how unprepared he was to finally sign on the dotted line.
He had always been so outgoing and so friendly to others in high school and on
the school's swimming team. He smiled to himself as he remembered his first
swimming lessons. His father had taken him to his first lesson and teased Jon
that being a son of a diver in Longbow not knowing how to swim was going to be
disastrous, but then he put a arm around his young son, clad in swimming
briefs, and reassured him that even if he couldnt swim, he would be proud that
he tried. Jon shook his head; he had enormous swimming fins to fill. That is
what he was afraid of most - not living up to his fathers standards of what it
was like to be in the Dive Corps in Longbow.
Well, take your time there young man, the Longbow officer said, clad in the
trademark, skin tight Longbow uniform, his officer cap on a hat rack behind
him. That weather outside is nasty today isnt it; might get blown away if
youre not careful. Gonna play hell with our Eagle units. The officer stood up
from behind his desk and walked over to the youth. Names Larry, he said,
offering his hand.
Thank you, yes, the weather is quite stormy, Jon said, shaking his hand and
taking a seat. I sorta got an introduction on what I want to do in Longbow
just by running outside.
It was then that he really took a long, hard look at the office. Pictures of
Longbow achievements and classes lined the walls - everything from Eagle
training to the Dive Corps. On the wall, Jon saw a picture of a group of ten
divers swimming with their spear guns out and knives strapped to their calves.
A television was heard in the back room, probably where the Officer took his
breaks; it was a news channel from the female announcers voice. Usually it was
filled with nothing but hero versus villain chatter, but it must have been a
slow news day. She was talking about the horrible weather outside as well as
the sagging economy. He thought he smelled a slight hint of cinnamon in the
air, probably from an air freshener that was connected to the air unit.
Yes, yes, I understand, he consoled the young man in front of him. So, I take
it you read all of our brochures, watched all of our DVDs, and visited our
bases that are open to the public?
Twice on weekends, Jon smiled. Yes, I have done all of that. I even know what
sub-branch I want to enlist in.
Oh, do you now? the officer asked. Where exactly then?
The Dive Corps. My father was in it when he was my age and well, I guess I got
his swimming genes as well. I have a couple of medals and trophies from when I
was younger.
The officer nodded as he wrote this down. Good swimmer, relatives in the Corps
from before, and knows what he wants to do. Good traits if you ask me. Longbow
could use you of course. You would do our regular training that everyone goes
through; no doubt youll do swimmingly in our swimming course. Sorry, had to
say that, and then if you make it, you can go to the dive training. Oh, you do
know how to dive dont you?
Yes sir, I do; learned when I was twelve, well, learned how to dive from my
father but got certified when I was fourteen; legally that is, confirmed Jon.
But what Im worried about is, well, Im a bit slight of build, being a
swimmer and all, do you think I can make it through training?
Thought so, probably used to the tanks on the back and all that; well we use
something different, no bubbles and you dont carry around clunky tanks or wear
bad loose suits. We have the top of the line of everything in Longbow, the
officer said, some pride beginning to show in his face. Yes, I think you can
make it through training. No doubt youve toned your muscles and mind for
nothing but swimming for the past decade or so, but well get you trained for
any land work we might have you do before you are transferred to the Dive
Corps.
Jon began to relax somewhat, as the officer began to open up and relay
information to him about the Dive Corps and the training. He looked around the
office again as he leaned back in his chair and saw many pictures of the
Freedom Phalanx and the Vindicators directly behind the officer. Sir, isnt
that Ms. Liberty, the head of the Vindicators? he asked.
Yes, it is and she is also the head of all Longbow activities and next time, if
you do sign up, you would address her as maam, the officer said a bit
sternly, but then he smiled. She really is nice though. She drops by once a
month to see how this office is doing with recruitment.
The youth only shook his head in amazement. Nice to see heroes like that so
common, he blurted out before he stopped himself.
The officer only laughed. Son, she can be as sharp as a thumbtack one minute
and partying at Pocket D the next. She is only twenty something, but let me
tell you, she has Statesmans and Miss Libertys temper, so keep on her good
side and well, youll live to see another day. So what will it be, joining up
or not?
Jon looked around at the pictures one more time and this time he felt himself
swell with pride, knowing he was about to make the right decision. His father
had told him some great stories about the Dive Corps, and now he was about to
continue that tradition. Yes sir, Im joining. Where do I sign? he asked
excitedly.
Larry produced the necessary paperwork and set it in front of the eager youth.
Now before you go signing your life away, make sure you read everything. He
made sure this was plainly evident by keeping his hand right on top of the
papers before he let Jon read them.
Yes sir, I was going to do that. I just felt, I dont know, duty bound? Jon
admitted to the Longbow officer.
The man across the desk from Jon nodded his head and lifted his hand from the
papers. You can use that table over there, he said, pointing to a table along
the wall. When you are done reading them, you need to come over here and have
me witness your signature to make it official like.
Jon nodded and rose up from his chair. Looking outside, it was still raining. He
shook his head. Maybe I shouldve brought my swim suit today, he joked as he
walked over to the table and began to pour over the contents of the recruitment
papers. Each time a paragraph stated what was expected of him, he began to
think of the times in his life where his father had been there for him, helping
him his swimming career and his school work. He had never realized how much of
a presence his father had been on his life until then. He felt sick to his
stomach and put his head down on the table.
You alright over there Jon? Larry asked a bit concerned.
Yeah, just finally calmed down enough to realize what a decision this is, Jon
admitted. My father pretty much raised me and well, to be honest, Im a bit
afraid that I wont measure up to what he has meant to me all my life and if I
fail...
Now look here, the officer stood up and walked over to the youth. You will
not fail. Many recruits come in here with family currently serving or had
served in Longbow and they had the same worries you are having now. They turned
out alright and I expect the same from you. You have a good head on your
shoulders and pretty soon youll be wearing the proud red and white colors of
the Longbow uniform. Now get that notion that you will fail and you can only be
as good as you can be; no one else, you hear me?
Jon crooked a half smile on the right side of his lips. Yeah, I guess youre
right, he admitted. Just it came on sudden and well, I felt uneasy for the
first time I thought about joining Longbow.
Oh, Ill still join, Jon said, lifting his head up. Pretty much everything I
expected from these papers.
He lifted them up and shook them twice to emphasize his point. He rose up and
walked back to the desk with Larry following. Both took their seats and the
officer handed Jon a pen. Just to be sure and I have to ask this to all new
recruits, he started in. This decision about joining Longbow, it is a
decision made by you and with the support of your family that you are to
dedicate yourself to the ideals of Longbow and help where it is needed no
matter where it is?
Jon took a moment and nodded. Yes, it is what I want to do; no matter if I fail
or dont do as well as others, I will do my part to be the best Longbow recruit
out there.
Good, now sign the papers and well get you started on when and where to meet
for your training, the Longbow officer stated.
-
Community
TPvPL Season 2
The Test Server PvP League has resumed in its second season. Thanks to hard work
from Old Schoolfs JimmayDean, a draft was held after Independence Day,
featuring over 100 PvPers, green and veteran to the Test scene.
To ensure variety, Jimmay had each player list five Super Heavyweight heroes or
villains that both captains and participants could select from for the matches.
The League will last well into September and the mix of veterans and newer Test
players should make this a great change from the normal ladders.
Nine teams emerged from the draft, led by test stalwarts such as Ajax,
Chizakice, .Prodigy and Healer Hank. The team makeups are balanced despite the
large amount of players involved (over 130 at last count, when Jimmay closed
the sign-ups).
Team names are colorful as always, from Team Emo to Team Purple Panda
Powergloves, Team King Kong Klan through Team AFK and Hanks Huggers. Since the
captains are Test veterans, everyone who signed up will have a chance to play
and benefit from the veteran savvy of their teammates.
With the League spread over a two-month period, players will be able to make
matches some nights while tending to their off-screen life on others. Each team
has enough members that fillers were a non-starter this year, as per Jimmay.
The matches started July 17th, 2008 and will endure until September 4th, 2008.
Make sure you drop by the Training Room in Pocket D on Thursday evenings after
9:00 p.m. Eastern to see some truly off-the wall Arena matches. The winners
will receive forum titles, courtesy of our beloved Community group of
Lighthouse, Niviene and Ex_Libris.
Unlike the usual line-up of Empathy Controllers, Blasters and Defenders, this
league should feature a variety of archetypes, each trying to make their mark
in a 10-minute slugfest at the Super Heavyweight level (47-50). The last league
featured several tankers who kept Taunt on support while their Blaster friends
took shots at other opponents.
Players who might not have IOs or min-maxed builds will find their teammates
helpful in both regards, with many Test vets having bases stocked with Purples
and IOs of various flavors. With the two Test ladders in an inordinate amount
of flux of late, the TPvPL may be just what many need to recharge their
batteries, have a few laughs and find their love for PvP once again.
All the best to the other participants, Team Emo and myself will do our best to
keep things active out there!
For more information about the TPvPL, please visit the Arena section of our
forums and browse the various stickied threads concerning the league.
Fan Fiction Spotlight
Anomalous
AAR
by
DeviousMe
A staccato of thunder tore through the dark, spearheading a shower of sparks as
ten shaped charges detonated in simultaneity down to the millisecond, blasting
the heavy frame of the reinforced door clear off its hinges with calamitous
cacophony. With a crash that nearly rivaled the noise of the demolition, the
thick slab of metal made forceful contact with the concrete floor, sending
several cracks to spider into the heavy-duty material as it threw a mass of
fine dust into the air.
The bright-white cones of flashlights fingered their way into the room, their
light dancing about in the haze as brilliant cascades of illumination. With
immaculate precision, they wandered into the darkness, chasing the shadows from
banks of mothballed monitors and long rows of dusty databases, sweeping light
where there had been none for quite some time, and carefully inspecting each
and every shelf, keyboard, phone, and rolling chair for anything even remotely
threatening.
The seconds ticked by.
Cause now followed effect as the flashlight of a cone crept into the gloom at
shoulder height, riding atop the finely crafted muzzle of a decidedly high-tech
assault rifle. Barrel followed muzzle, trigger followed barrel, and so did the
fingers of the weapon's wielder, trained hands in fingerless gloves holding the
rifle steady as a rock.
It's called an "After Action Report" when someone in a military organization
explains what happened in an operation or just after a combat situation to
their superiors. Here, the Lady Grey is explaining to the U.N. what exactly
happened when she sent a crew of Vanguard soldiers and metahumans into Rikti
Earth.
This is something like a "What If?" story. It started as a forum roleplaying
game where the mission was to stop Nemesis from uploading his mind across the
Rikti Psychic Network (or whatever it is they've got) and, as players
eventually fell away, the "game master" of the session decided to write it out
as a story. What winds up happening is far more complex than a standard "bad
guy beat-'em-up."
A part of why this story appeals to this reviewer, aside from some of his own
characters being in it, is that, for once, our characters take a proactive
approach in their lives. This is an adventure, not just a patrol that gets out
of hand. The characters find themselves in what should be one of the most
hostile territories imaginable, and it becomes their job to help save it.
Against this backdrop is DeviousMe's characters. They've had their own story
thus-far and it continues here. As convoluted as it may seem to anyone who has
followed it to its present state, the plot seems to be coming to a head here as
the reptile-like extraterrestrials wage a peculiar war of espionage that only
they can understand... Or maybe they don't, and all of the characters are
simply being tugged at by invisible puppet strings.
-
Anarchy in the USA
Yes, the Etoile Isles and Paragon City corner the market on evil villains in the
east corner of North America. But you know what? There's a great big world out
there, ripe for the plucking and big enough for you to crush in your hand. So
I'm urging you all to think outside of the Zig, and to venture out into America
to spread your evil. As a bonus, I'd like to give out some pointers for all of
you aspiring conquerors.
New York City is a perfect city for young ne'er-do-wells to raise some righteous
hell. Since it's a big city with lots of cops, you'll get your Outlaw badge in
no time.
Massachusetts: Come for the Lovecraftian horrors from the beyond, leave when you
get your butt handed to you at Fenway.
New Jersey: Stranger than Massachusetts. But honestly, a great place to relax on
the beach while you contaminate the crops.
A quick overview of some North-East states: Pennsylvania: Whoo! History and
cheesesteaks! Vermont: Whoo! Socialism and ice cream! Connecticut: Whoo! Rich
people to mug! New Hampshire: Whoo! Canadian border? Maine: Whoo! Fish HOLY
CRUD STEPHEN KING'S WORST NIGHTMARE.
Florida: The entertainment empire has one heckuva chokehold on America's stump,
and incredibly lucrative for a young performer/scheming mastermind. Bleed 'em
dry!
The Midwest: A great area to control! They've got corn, potatoes... uh... hmm...
the government... Canadian border... hmm... wide open spaces with
jack-nothing... ah! Easy to take over!
Nevada: Social services or gambling: Which do you want to control?
Wisconsin: All the liquor and cheese anyone would ever want, and some of the
toughest fans this side on Yankee stadium and Fenway. You've never fought until
you've run the Pain Triad: Green Bay, Red Sox and Yankees. Unlocks a special
accolade if you live!
Wyoming: Umm... government secrets. That's basically it. Seriously. It's the
government's sandbox. Also looks like Colorado.
Arizona: Pull one of the biggest acts of destruction ever by blowing up the dam.
And then get arrested. All in all, it's hot but a nice place to visit.
Idaho: A myth perpetrated by the American government. THERE'S NOTHING THERE.
Have you ever met anyone from Idaho? I thought not!
And so that's a couple of pointers for all of you aspiring villains. So get
cracking! And if you believe my tips, I've got a farm in Idaho for sale super
cheap.
Patriot America by
jarwastudios
Stalking & Sin Stalker by
baquitania
Writers Block
Hey there Scoop fans and writers alike! Here at the City Scoop we try to bring
the community together and make sure that this paper by supers for supers
gives as much insight as it does aide to its readers. In the grand spirit of
helping the community and connecting people, I would like to present this new
column: Writers Block. No, not the horrible disease that plagues most writers
when they cant continue to write, but a block or two for writers on how to go
ABOUT writing, with advice from featured fan-fiction writers. I know youre
asking, But HM, what makes YOU so qualified to do this? How can YOU give US
advice? With that question I would like to give this response: Im NOT
qualified. No one truly is unless they have a degree in advice giving. Im here
to provide some insight from other writers, as well as, some insight I have to
offer as a fellow reader and non-featured writer. So with that in mind, lets
get started!
I recently talked to Blue Battler, the July 25th featured writer in the Fan
Fiction Spotlight, about his magnificent piece, Survivors. If you havent
checked it out or, havent read Mr. Greys review on it, you really should. It
exemplifies the greatest aspects of fan-fiction dealing with canon characters
of City of Heroes. The characters seem very human and believable, which is a
hard feat to achieve with fan- fiction of characters you didnt create
yourself. This isnt the first piece Blue Battler has written concerning
characters not of his creation. His other more notable piece is The Conscious
of a King, which dealt with the Clockwork King.
While Blue Battler and I chatted on writing, I congratulated him on achieving
his goal of making Statesman a more likable character than most make him out to
be. I asked how he did this, as well as how he provided a different version of
Sister Psyche that many have not presented before and he replied, I think that
if youre writing about someone you need to put yourself in his shoes, so to
speak. You have to think about what makes them tick before you can write them.
For those of you starting to have an interest in writing fan-fiction and feel
you dont know HOW to go about this, think Christian Bale, or Daniel Day Louis.
Thats right folks, METHOD ACTING for your characters. Be the characters; try
to imagine what your character will feel or how they would feel it. This also
brings to mind a great standby for writers as well - researching your
characters. For Blue Battler, this was somewhat easy having established canon
about his characters. This was provided to him by the writers for the game
itself.
Blue Battler commented on the well known lore of City of Heroes, saying, I like
the back-story of the game, and thats what has appealed to me as a writer.
Again we see another old tradition of writers the world over: Taking ideas from
other writing. No, I dont mean you should literally TAKE someones idea, but
look at their work and see what you like about it. Say, for instance, that you
like the situation in Blue Battlers Survivors. You would look at it, read it
a couple of times, and pick out what you like. Then, find a way to make the
aspects you like about HIS story reflect YOUR style.
For example, if you want two characters to talk about how one of them has
changed due to some great tragedy in their life, go ahead! Try making the
setting match the mood as well. Blue Battler used a familiar setting for
Statesman to talk about an intimate subject, which gave the story a deeper and
more emotional feel. If your character has a case of the cold shoulder, try
having them in a more unfriendly place so that the two talking are
uncomfortable, or try placing one of the characters out of their element,
giving their conversation a shaky foundation to start on.
That about wraps up our first article. We learned about Blue Battler, who has an
English degree from Ball State University, and two wonderful pieces of work.
You dont have to be an English Major to have wonderful fan-fiction, although
it would give you an advantage, wouldnt it? You can read pretty much anything
to get good ideas and you can work hard to produce wonderful fiction. Every
writer started out somewhere, so dont worry if your first piece doesnt come
out the way you envisioned, or if nobody comments on it. Take your time to
perfect your craft and youll have it down. Run it through spell check, get
your grammar down, check your characters, and ask others to help you proofread
it if you want to. Blue Battler imparted one crucial piece of advice to
aspiring fan-fiction writers, Id say keep on writing, and I agree.
-
The City Scoop
The Rogue Isles Legend
Welcome to Rogue Isles Legend! This column is dedicated to exploring the many
different zones of the Rogue Isles. In my few years of playing this game, I
still find many players unaware of the details of our digital environment, and
in this series of articles, I will work to change that. I will explore each
neighborhood in detail, showing the threats, badges, plaques, and contacts,
both ordinary and hidden within each neighborhood. The information will be
presented spoiler free, where possible. After all, I am hoping to show you
where to find the game's content, not spoil the ending for you. With that in
mind, let's take a closer look at our first subject, Potter's Field, on
Sharkhead Isle.
Located in the southwestern portion of Sharkhead Isle, the cemetery known as
Potter's Field is nearly an island unto itself. The graveyard is located behind
The Hellforge, but extends quite a distance behind it, separating from the main
island and continuing out toward the sea. Today, Potter's Field is a cemetery
where the Cage Consortium's workers bury their dead, but in ancient times it
was a power center for the Mu, a race of powerful mystics. Even today, this
aura of supernatural power lingers, drawing potent magical beings to linger
over the mass graves.
DANGERS OF POTTER'S FIELD
Potter's Field is one of Sharkhead's most dangerous neighborhoods. With a high
concentration of Bosses in spawns ranging from level 25 to 30, Potter's Field
could easily be quantified as a Hazard Zone. Of course, in a Hazard Zone, you
need to meet a level requirement to enter, but any young villain could blunder
into this cemetery unaware of the dangers afoot. With that in mind, here is a
list of the dangers that lurk behind the scrap metal tombstones and cavernous
mausoleums of Potter's Field.
The Scrapyarders: Easily the most recognizable threat to villains in the
cemetery are the disgruntled employees of The Cage Consortium. You'll find
these bitter souls mostly within the cemetery walls, kneeling at the graves of
lost comrades, most notably the fallen hero, their namesake, Scrapyard. These
are no mundane mourners however! These are bitter, desperate men who've had
their basic human dignity flayed from them, layer by layer, by the Cage
Consortium. Something about costumed villains lurking near the graves of their
lost loved ones taps into their barely contained rage, and they're quick to
respond to your presence with violence. The most common danger from them are
the Demolitionist Lieutenant mobs, whose prodigious dynamite blasts generate
enough knockback and general AoE to draw in other nearby spawns. If picking a
fight with broken, desperate men is your cup of tea, make sure you silence
these mad bombers first, or you may find yourself in over your head.
Of course, the greatest danger The Scrapyarders can throw at you is The Ghost of
Scrapyard. Although this hero was murdered years ago by Captain Mako, his
spirit still rises from his grave when The Scrapyarders are suffering. A Giant
Monster of prodigious physical and spiritual power, Scrapyard's spirit rises
from his grave and calls his living comrades to him in vast numbers. Lead by
the spectral giant, The Scrapyarders march from Potter's Field, through the
Hellforge and into Port Recluse, in a violent riot that bears an eerie
similarity to the infamous march in which Scrapyard gave his life. When this
happens you will see an event in your chat box that reads "Miner's strike in
progress on Sharkhead Isle". Scrapyard will spawn in the center of Potter's
Field, at the site of his own grave, and quickly begin gathering followers.
They do not linger in the graveyard for long though, quickly marching into less
hazardous and more populated zones. Defeating Scrapyard will earn a villain the
Hammer Down badge, which unlocks the Contact Crimson Revenant on Nerva
Archipelago. Defeating enough of the rioters around the ghost will earn a
player the Hammerhead badge, but as a Giant Monster, Scrapyard is extremely
powerful, and should not be challenged unless you have a well prepared team on
hand.
Vol. 2, Issue 10
August 8th, 2008
This Issue:
Upcoming Events:
August 9th
August 10th
August 15th
August 16th
August 17th
August 18th
August 22nd
The Circle of Thorns: Mages and demons from the Circle of Thorns infest the
entirety of Potter's Field, drawn to the aura of magical power that lingers
over the graveyard. Within the walls of the cemetery, the spawns are smaller,
consisting mainly of Defenders, Soul Mages, and Agony Mages, with the
occasional Succubus mixed in. Outside, the blackened beaches of the island
prowls all of these, and Hellfrosts, Spectral Daemons, and Nerva Spectral
Daemons, as well as Behemoth Lords. In addition, the Circle is openly hostile
to the other factions in the area, and it is not uncommon to discover a group
of them attempting to steal the body of a lone Freakshow, Scrapyarder, or even
Coralax. Rescuing these victims will do you no good, as they invariably turn on
you as soon as you get aggro from the CoT spawn.
The presence of so many Hellfrosts here is important for the Cold Hearted badge.
This badge is one that is essential to the Demonic Aura accolade, and requires
the killing of 250 Hellfrosts, or Hordelings, both of which are rare in
missions, and difficult to find outdoors. However, by circling the perimeter of
Potter's Field, you can normally find between ten to a dozen per "sweep". Be
sure to check between the rocky outcroppings of the beach for common spawn
areas that are easy to miss.
Coralax: While moving around the beaches, beware of lurking Coralax that hide
under the surface of the water, near the shore. Spawn sizes usually number
between a few Green Hybrid minion and a single Blue Hybrid lieutenant to a full
blown school with several Blue Hybrid lieutenants lead by a single Red Hybrid
boss. They rarely come too far ashore, but can provide an unpleasant surprise
to players patrolling the beaches for Hellfrosts.
The Freakshow: The Freakshow have one of their scrap metal fortresses on
Sharkhead Isle, but hostilities between the Freaks and Cage Consortium mean
that the Freaks aren't welcome beyond their own territory. This means that The
Freakshow needs to wander far and wide in search of a good time, and with this
in mind large numbers of them have taken to holding impromptu raves in the
graveyard. I'm sure the Meat Doctors have their own interest in the shallow
mass graves as well.
Freaks are rare within the cemetery walls, but not unheard of. Mainly they hang
around open areas, away from Scrapyarder and CoT spawns, digging up loose metal
and partying with groupies near the beach. Large groups including multiple Tank
bosses are not uncommon, but most dangerous are the Meat Doctors, who can
resurrect any Freak that you defeat.
The Banished Pantheon: Potter's Field is one of only two locations in all the
Rogue Isles where Banished Pantheon can be found outdoors. As a magic centric
villain group, the Banished have come to the graveyard in search of magical
power, and while they do not have the same amount of presence that the Circle
of Thorns do, there are still many of them lurking within Potter's Field.
Within the walls and without, their shambling Rotting Husk servants can be
found. Sometimes these spawns will be lead by one or more Shaman lieutenants,
including Death Shamans, who use dark blast attacks and summon more zombies,
Avalanche Shamans who use Earth attacks, mostly knockdown effects, and Storm
Shamans that use Storm powers. Drifting among these are the Spirits. Often
called "masks" by the players, these are the boss spawns of the Banished
Pantheon. Spirits of Death, Pain, and Sorrow all fight basically the same,
hover-blasting you with various damage types and playing bizarre tiki island
music. Curiously, these bosses don't spawn above level 25 here, making them
surprisingly little threat.
HIDDEN CONTACTS
Potter's Field has only a single contact, and that one a hidden one. However,
that contact, Archmage Tarixus, offers significant advantages to players
willing to unlock him. These rewards include a powerful negative energy ranged
temporary attack, a temporary Phase Shift power, and an essential badge for the
Demonic Aura accolade.
Archmage Tarixus: Archmage Tarixus was once one of the ancient Mu, a mystical
race who practiced magic as a way of life. He is long past dead, but his
ancient spirit has persisted throughout the centuries, preserved by his
mightiest magics and unyielding force of will. His plans involve evoking
unspeakable powers and have been culminating for centuries. With your help,
they can come to pass.
The Archmage isn't willing to entrust his aid to just any random thug in spandex
however. To earn an association with Tarixus, you must become a student of his
history. This can be accomplished by earning the Lorekeeper history badge. To
do this, first go to Mercy Island, 107 yards due west from the Mercy Door
marker, and read the plaque outside the walls of Mercy. This is the hardest
plaque to find, as it is hidden behind a ramshackle, rusted out building. Then
ride the Ferry to Port Oakes, where you will find another plaque 118 yards
south of the ferry, on a rocky outcropping. Your next stop is Cap Au Diable. Go
to New Haven, and find the plaque in front of the wall that separates New Haven
from Mount Diable, 300 yards northwest of the Mount Diable neighborhood marker.
Finally, return to Sharkhead Isle, where you will find the last plaque behind
the Arachnos fort in Port Recluse, 119 yards south of the Ferry. Once you have
read all four plaques, you will be awarded the Lorekeeper badge, in the History
section of your Badge list. Once you have the badge, you will find Archmage
Tarixus' spirit hovering over the caskets on a rocky cliff at the very edge of
Potter's Field. Because of his floating animation, you need to place your
cursor over his legs, rather than his chest to talk to him.
That concludes this edition of Rogue Isles Legend. I hope you found this article
informative and useful. Join me again next time, when I once again explain the
map.
-
[ QUOTE ]
Request sent to Ex Libris to sticky or mark not for purge.
[/ QUOTE ]
Done!
Ex -
The below flier is posted on behalf of the player drrmidnight promoting the publication.
Neighborhood Watch "The Quota" Part 8 is available as of today. This issue features the conclusion of the all-hero smackdown featuring American Pi, Alpha Beta and our impetuous fledgling hero Ray Danner.
Enjoy the newest edition!
Regards,
Ex Libris -
Submissions have started to filter into Gametrailers.com!
Join the Community Discussion!
There is still time to enter a submission, see the rules and contest details in the post above.
Regards,
Ex Libris -
So to reiterate, my suggestion is that folks enter as soon as possible so that they can find out if there are any barriers to their entry. I think once a video is posted it is considered eligible for judging, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't go through the necessary steps to make sure you pass the legal gates.
Good luck everyone.
Ashcraft, refer to the end of my quoted text for the fax number and contact information for the release forms.
I think in the end nobody wants to get into a chainsaw war over the car!
Regards,
Ex -
Hey Gang,
We have been watching the thread for submissions and concerns. As of the past few days we picked up some underlying concerns so we have contacted the support director at Gametrailers.com and he has given us the following statement:
[ QUOTE ]
"To clear up any confusion, any entry which contains multiple entrants will be disqualified unless, per the rules, prior written authorization is given by GameTrailers:
[ QUOTE ]
A group (e.g., multiple entrants) is generally not permitted to enter or submit an entry in this Contest and any attempt to submit a Contest entry form or Video (as defined in Paragraph 3 below) or to otherwise enter the Contest by or on behalf of a group without advance written authorization from Sponsor, will subject the entry to disqualification. If a group is permitted by Sponsor to enter, only a single individual (whose designation shall be set forth in writing by all of the members of the group and subject to any additional requirements deemed appropriate by Sponsor) shall have the right to be deemed the entrant, to participate in and to win the Contest and all actions, failures to act, decisions, determinations, agreements and authorizations from and by that designated individual bind each member of the group. Sponsor assumes no responsibility for any disputes among or between members of any group or any disputes among individuals or entities that claim to have any rights or interests in any Contest entry or Video or otherwise in connection with this Contest. Sponsor reserves the right to revoke its permission for any group to enter, participate in and/or win the Contest and be awarded a prize and to disqualify any group entry at any time, with or without notice of any kind."
[/ QUOTE ]Documentation can be faxed to David Muehl
Fax: 310 907 2219
Please include user name and video title and be sure the video is already uploaded to GT.
[/ QUOTE ]
Also David let us know that submitted videos do not go up right away, that they are first reviewed internally and if there are issues where a submission may need to be reviewed for content or resubmission it is kicked back to the person that submitted the video.
This is what is happening in the case of Ashcraft's submission, I am guessing it is currently being reviewed. It sounds like there may be some things you all can do to ensure your video is considered. We have found working with gametrailers.com that they have been very responsive to our request for information.
We look forward to seeing all the great submissions from our community and from those that are just trying City of Heroes for the first time.
Best of luck, if you have additional questions continue to post to the thread, you all have been extremely helpful with one another and that just continues to affirm what a great community we all have here at City of Heroes and City of Villains.
Regards,
Ex Libris -
Thread marked to save!
Regards,
Ex -
[ QUOTE ]
So has the location of the meetngreet been finalized? Has the room been booked? Or are we just going to stand around at Starbucks saying "I thought you were going to do it."
[/ QUOTE ]
I am in email correspondence on a place now, if anyone else has anything cooking please let me know.
Ex
