Jock_Tamson

[ QUOTE ]
I'm curious, why did you leave out Dreadful Wail?

[/ QUOTE ]

Lack of power slots I want it, but can't find anything I'm willing to drop for it.

- Jock Tamson, Who could use a half dozen more power selections.

[ QUOTE ]
"Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of my companions, I shall fear nothing. For they stand against any harm that may come my way, and I shall make them strong against any harm that may come theirs. For, in my presence, they shall never fail to defend me, and I, in theirs, to defend them."

[/ QUOTE ]

Well done!

- Jock Tamson, Who does sometimes find his companions fail to defend him.

Uhmmm, Brian. In the unlikely chance that are reading this. I mean this in the nicest most constructive way; you need this:

A Useful Windows Application

- Jock Tamson, Who cringed.

[ QUOTE ]
Im sure the Tanker forum would disagree with the idea that they dont need situational awareness.

I'd also say a Blaster with no defences needs more situational awareness than, say, a Dark Defender running Darkest Night in the middle of a mob.

This is denigrating other AT's, lets not, eh? We dont need to.

[/ QUOTE ]

If that what I seemed to be saying, I misspoke. I intend no slight against any other AT.
<ul type="square">
Any experienced player will develop good situational experience.

Team support ATs will develop it faster.

All ATs are, to greater or lesser extent, team support.[/list]
A good team support Tank requires excellent situational awareness. There is also a great spectrum of situational awareness for the players in any AT.

Situational awareness is perhaps a bad term for what I was trying to convey....

I think Defenders are typically in a better position to notice and react. It is what we are geared to. I don't think that is any a slight against any other AT, nor do I mean they can't or don't do it. It's how I would define Defending. The Tank may be just as well aware that a player is about to die or that an extra mob just got aggro'd half way across the map, and there are certainly things he can do about. However, he is likely locked in with a giant crowd of badguys already, has fewer reactive powers and, as a melee AT, less opportunity for ... maneuver is a bad word here because melee ATs have to run around more ... rapid engagement of something on a different part of the map?

I'm not trying to set up some combative comparison of Us and Them. I'm trying to define one of the things Defenders do well. Hopefully it should be no more divisive than Blasters blast better, Scrappers scrap better, Tankers tank better, Controllers ... Ok there it might become divisive

Someone help me pick a better term than situational awareness. Can I just call it Defending?

- Jock Tamson, Who is the last person to want to degenerate someone, unless I think they are whining

[ QUOTE ]
*cough* grendel *cough*

The "mother of" line was a dead giveaway

[/ QUOTE ]

That's pretty much why that line is there

- Jock Tamson, Who isn't particularly good at anagrams.

[ QUOTE ]
Does anyone else find themselves typically being team leader because of the situational awareness thing?
Not to denigrate any other ATs, but it seems all to common when people, for example, can't keep track of how many generators out of four are live or where they're KBing mobs, or what mobs are under the bridge they're on...

[/ QUOTE ]

I think it is true of experienced players in general, but that Defenders get there faster and are in a better position for it than the melee ATs.

Often on teams I feel that hole there wanting me to fill it, but stubbornly resist as I have quite my fill of being responsible for others at work thanks! So I will typically run over and confront the incoming trouble without saying a word. Usually that buys enough time for everyone else to notice.

Another effect I find it has is that I absolutely despise those Task Forces where you can't see the map. Not being able to see where everyone on the team is feels like being partially blind.

- Jock Tamson, Who now feels the same way about the GPS map in his car.

[ QUOTE ]
Jock, what is Legendr supposed to signify?

[/ QUOTE ]

Legendr is an anagram. Solving it will tell you the source material I used to inspire the story.

Hint: It's not Nemesis

- Jock Tamson, Who may have to write another dragon story, but is afraid it would have a sad ending.

Though the First Children of Statesman drove the First Children of the Spider from the City, their children and grandchildren have often sought to return. There are places where great riches in prestige and glittering badges of honor can be reaped, and Warriors of both lineages clash there while their brethren farm that wealth. Thus it was in The Place of Shifting Time where Children of Statesman fought great battles and brought home a bounteous harvest. Their Warriors won great victories and few of the Spider Born could stand against them.

It has oft been told that the Children of Statesman thrive on challenge and novelty. So it was that in time the Warriors amongst them grew bored with their triumph and moved on to other goals and other places. The Farmers continued on about their business unremarking. For a while there was quiet. And then an Evil came.

Legendr was its name. It moved swiftly and unseen in dark shadows. It struck without warning, heedless of cries for mercy, and none there could stand against it. They ran, but they could not escape. They pleaded, and were mocked. They banded together, and were slaughtered one by one none the less. They cried out for help … and an answer came.

Trick, youngest son of Defender came to heed their call. He carried a mighty bow of yew and on his breast was pinned a shining jewel that marked him "Seeker of Monsters". He moved with confidence and grace, yet wore a cloak of shadows and wove a cunning path that Legendr could not strike him. "Who leads here?" he called out, but no answer came. "Elefftee!" he called out in the language of the Pugs, but still no answer came save Legendr's mocking calls of "Gimp" and "Newb". Undaunted Trick sought a place of observation and watched with a keen eye. From his vantage his watched as Legendr moved silently towards a pair of farmers who stood unheeding, lost in conversation. As the fiend raised his weapon to strike, Trick himself struck hard and fast, training arrow after arrow upon his foe leaving him weakened, unhidden, and stunned. Then Trick leaped down between the farmers and called out to them saying, "Strike now you fools", and so Legendr was felled and fled from The Place of Shifting Time.

In this way it came to pass that Trick, for a time, stood guard over The Place of Shifting Time, and the farmers prospered once more under his watch. Some quietly went about their business. Others watched, and learned, and in time fought battles of their own. One day a young Daughter of Empathy came. She wore the clothing of a Puggish Healer, but over her back a well strung bow was hung, and her eyes were old with wisdom. She spoke to Trick of other places and other challenges, until together they left the Place of Shifting Time.
And then an Evil came.

Mother of Legendr was its name. It moved swiftly and unseen in dark shadows. It struck without warning, heedless of cries for mercy. Some ran, but they could not escape. Some pleaded, and were mocked. Some cried out for help … and an answer came, for some banded together, and they fought using the lessons learned from Trick and were soon victorious.

So it was that in The Place of Shifting Time the Children of Statesman fought great battles and brought home a bounteous harvest. Their Warriors won great victories and few of the Spider Born could stand against them.

- Jock Tamson, Mythologist

I skipped the 16th. Why? I don't know, distracted I guess...

What was I talking about? Ah, yes.

This is the most recent story, and therefore the last for a while anyway. I wrote this as a Christmas present to the Forum, and to myself, to celebrate being off work for almost two weeks

Here is a tale of Trick in another strange land.

- Jock Tamson, Who would like to thank everyone who helped rebuild this thread.

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I am a defender. I don't win battles,

[/ QUOTE ]

You can you know. I'm not saying you have to, but you can. Yes, even an Empath.

- Jock Tamson, Who is sounding a little like a Obama speech here.

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh I know I can add a fair amount of DPS, even being a healing-spec empath. But the increase in damage output when I fully buff a scrapper or blaster and make them more or less immune to mez and free from worrying about their health bar far outweighs anything I can do on my own.

[/ QUOTE ]

No doubt.

If that Scrapper is in over his head, and half the team is lying dead about you. You can be the difference maker. Not just because you have some tools to make it happen, but also because playing a Defender develops situational awareness. When thing start going South, it is typically the Controllers and Defenders who realize it first. Sometimes the fastest solution is a handfull of red pills, a Power Build Up effect, then a Nuke.

- Jock Tamson, Whose Empath had "Right! That's it! Everyone out of the pool!" keybound to Blackstar. Only in Latin to make it sound more clever.

As the Children of Statesman are born into his city, they step forth weak and hesitant. Slowly but surely they learn their way and grow in knowledge and power. They face greater and greater challenges until at last they stand at a pinacle of power. Some then stand aside and pass their flame on to the next generation. A few linger a while and share their knowledge and refine their power. So that these few would have a challenge worthy of their measure against which to refine their abilities, Statesman set beside his City the Great Hamidon.

A Son of Tank and a Son of Scrapper were the first to come upon it:
"What is that cousin?"
"I do no know cuz. It is like something one would find in the back of a refrigerator written large. Let us confront it and see what we can learn"

..and so they learned the fastest way from the Land of the Hamidon to the place of healing. Clearly this was a challenge greater than merely two could meet. Support was sought. "Jello team Eleffem" they called out in the language of the Pugs. Soon a party of eight Children of Statesman set out to confront this strange new challenge. Little before had withstood as much. They strode forth into the Land of the Hamidon in confidence! They strode out of the place of healing in wonder. This was a greater challenge than even the Great Titan that once strode the land. Word was spread, the call went out, and soon a great multitude of the most powerful Children of Statesman where there gathered. En masse they attacked. En masse they fell.

Councils of war were called. Strategies were discussed in the meeting places. In time the Great Hamidon fell, and the victors were given rewards such as none had ever received before. The Great Hamidon did rise again, and again was defeated, until this too became routine and common place. The Hamidon would change and find new ways to fight back, the Children of Statesman would for a short time be shaken, but would always rise to the challenge. This is their nature.

The Children of Defender supported their cousins in this as is their gift and their curse for a rash question their Great Mother once asked. Many were content in this, but as they are their Mother's Children a few looked on and asked, "What do these others do that I could not? The Child of Scrapper there, we need him to defeat the parts of Hamidon that shrug off our blasts, but would we if enough Children of Defender took aim? The Children of Tank take the brunt of Hamidon's attack for us. With enough shared power could not Children of Defender do the same?", and so on.

Thus it was that a band of the Children of Defender gathered together to show that there was naught others could do they they could not. A score of them set out. Some took the role of the Children of Tank and looked to hold off the Great Hamdion's attacks from the others. Some took the role of the Children of Scrapper and sought to slay the aspects of Hamdion that are harmed little by attacks at range. Still more played the roles of Children of Blaster and Controller, seeking to quickly slay Hamidon's guardians. They were Children of Defender. They were powerful! Yet they failed.

A lesson was learned. We are not the Children of Tank, Scrapper, Blaster or Controller. Each has abilities we alone cannot fully match. We can achieve great things, but must not forget who we are. Do not seek to be what you are not. Find power in what you are.

- Jock Tamson, Mythologist.

Here is the penultimate tale in the current collection. The STF in our back pocket, the All Defender Hami Raid was the next logical step, or so I reasoned.

We have tried...we have failed. I swear it is just a matter of getting sufficient numbers though. If barely 2 dozen of us can take down a Mitochondria, surely a zone full of Defenders could succeed.

Here then is my ode to our first attempt, which we went into with a bad plan...

- Jock Tamson, Who had fun none the less.

[ QUOTE ]
I am a defender. I don't win battles,

[/ QUOTE ]

You can you know. I'm not saying you have to, but you can. Yes, even an Empath.

- Jock Tamson, Who is sounding a little like a Obama speech here.

[ QUOTE ]
Jock, did you post that when we completed it originally? I remember a post, but that one seems different than the original I'm remembering.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's it. I was afraid it was lost is as I some how failed to copy it into my Word backup. Thankfully, _Slim_ PM'd me a copy. May Defender bless him and all his Alts

- Jock Tamson, Who only fixed a misspelling or two.

Oh, for a muse of fire that would ascend
The brightest heaven of invention!
- William Shakespeare

The fire has grown cold now. No warmth remains in these ashes. I had thought my tales here were done. The Spirit of Defender herself had perhaps inhabited and inspired me for a while, but Defender does not sit long in one place as Tank might. Her's is a restless spirit. It might touch and inspire you for a while. You might mistake what it brings for your own greatness. As many a Blaster and Scrapper has learned, mistake Defender’s might for your own and you will fall hard when her grace is withdrawn. So I sought to withdraw before I fell.

Yet here I stand again and stoop once more to build a fire in this hearth. Not because Defender’s grace has touched me, but because it has touched others and their tale must be told.

In the distant land to which they have withdrawn, the First Children of Statesman argue. This is the way of the Children of Statesman when taken away from his City. They gather to discuss and argue. One day it came to pass that they debated the best set of companions with which to confront the Avatar of The Spider Statesman had recently placed near his City.

“Certainly one of my family”, said Tank. “Someone must distract The Spider while others destroy his web. He is unassailable while it stands intact.”

“You’ll surely need one of my kids”, said Scrapper, “To take care of all the dangerous brood he summons about him. Tank’s kid will be too busy calling The Spider names. Someone has to take ‘em down fast.”

“You will need some firepower to take down the web then”, chuckled Blaster, “a couple of my family to do that without having to run about like mad things would be wise. Besides, everything always goes better with the occasional large explosion.”

“Well you will need some of my grandchildren to protect you then”, said Controller, “or some of Defender’s. Haven’t you always said we are strongest when we stand together sister? I think some of all our talents would be needed.”

Defender smiled. “Send enough of my children and it would not matter who else came.”

“Who would hold of The Spider?” scoffed Tank. “You would never have enough strength to destroy the web!” cried out Blaster and Scrapper. “They are right”, agreed Controller, “if not one of Tanks children, then one of my daughter Illusion’s children to help hold off The Spider or he would destroy all.”

“Let us see then”, said Defender and moved her spirit out into the city.

J-BOT 247
Mental Giant
Bard Song
Dark Blue Demon
Vanessa Valentine
Esoterrorist
Totalitarian
Not Putzing

While others may debate about the need for a Child of Tank, while the Pugs may cry out for a healer, while others may worry about the team they take with them to confront The Spider’s Avatar, the Children of Defender do not need to worry themselves. We adapt to what is needed. Statesman has yet to set before us a challenge that Defenders cannot meet. These eight Victors demonstrated this truth once more. Others will follow, but remember these names: The first all Defender team to complete Statesman’s Task Force.

- Jock Tamson, Mythologist.

*waves to the thread wandering way off yonder*

Hi guys! I have the next story if you want to stroll back over

This tale was the glittering prize for a race. It all started here .

- Jock Tamson, Who wishes he could have been there.

In the end the servers will be empty and without voice. Statesman shall move across the City and close the doors one by one. The City has been filled with villains to defeat and challenges to be met, and Skuls to be hunted. In the end, villains, challenges and Skuls lose their appeal when there are too few to share them with.

So Statesman will call back to him his 5 Children, Blaster, Controller, Scrapper, Tank and Defender. He will give them new life and new gifts and they shall move into new lands to begin the tales again.

To Defender he shall give the greatest gifts: The Knowledge that supporting your friends in need can mean much more than it has meant before in other lands. The Knowledge that with great power there comes great temptation to break copyright laws. The Wisdom of Fruit Salad and Pointed Sticks. Then Defender and her Children shall move out into other worlds and change them for the better.

But Defender, who is timeless and therefore changes not, shall say, "Do I have to?" Then, brothers and sisters, if we have all been very good, Statesman shall build us a new City.

- Jock Tamson, Mythologist

This is the last of the original stream of stories I produced. I was running out of ideas and wanted to quit before I wrote something with an annoying amphibious character with a strange accent that nobody really likes. So this story echoes the first post and speaks of endings and new beginnings.

Before signing off, however, I did promise to post more if inspiration struck. Thus there are three more stories to follow this one. Then we will have to see if my Muse rewards me for this (happy) labor.

- Jock Tamson, Who has not even the smallest intention of leaving for WoW and doesn't know how TMS got that impression the last time.

The season has turned again, and once more the City is renewed. It streets and towers teem with life as the Children of Statesman seek out the new challenges set before them. We have seen some hard seasons in the past, and reaped some bitter harvests, but always there was also the joy of the new gifts a new season brings.

Look out over the City! See the crowd there at the new House of Trade. Here a line of Statesman's Children stand laughing and toying with bats as they wait their turn to meet the Avatar he has placed amongst us. Someday the Endless Winter may come, but today there is Spring and new life.

Someday the Endless Winter may come.

Turn now from the happy and lively sight of the City and our new Springtime and look with me into the future that may come. Here is Atlas Park, quiet and forlorn. A single voice calls out asking if anyone wishes to join a Hunt in the Sewers. No answer comes, his voice echoes across empty streets. We move on to the Land of the Pugs by the Great Pit. A few gather here. They stop us and ask if we are the one they seek, but Aitchelar has not been seen in this land for some time. Here is Perez Park. Ah brothers and sisters, do you remeber the crowds that gathered here once in the Springtime of the World. No crowds teem here now. Skuls gather and dance, but nobody watches. The Endless Winter has fallen.

Someday the Endless Winter may come.

But not today. Today it is Spring! And we go to play. Fear not the Winter today. In Statesman's City, while we play, the Winter shall not come.

- Jock Tamson, Mythologist

This story was originally posted in honor of the I9 release. So it is appropriate that it falls on the night of a major patch. It's cold outside tonight, but in the City, Spring has come again.

- Jock Tamson, Who waxes poetic in this one.

[ QUOTE ]
If this keeps up without an appropriate retraction, I will post my completely accurate retelling of rad/sonic, where the toggled enemy ran away, AM was fired when no one was near, and everyone wondered why rad continued shouting when, if he'd throw an irradiate out, they'd be able to hit some purples.


[/ QUOTE ]

Very well. I retract the last sentence

- Jock Tamson, Who is simply doing as requested

Look brothers and sisters! Do you see him, or is it her? Standing on the ridge just there, silhouetted against the dying sun. His white vestments flowing over her shoulder in the wind. The Mighty Storm! Proudest of Defender's Children. A feat which requires a great deal of pride indeed. Powerful and changeable, many may mistake her way for the way of Chaos. Not you and I, brothers and sisters, we know that his way is the way of Controlled Chaos. What you may not know is that this was not always so.

Long ago a young Storm went on his first hunt with her uncle Tank. As they approached the first group of Skuls, Tank began to offer advice. Too proud already to take advice from Tank, Storm laughed and rushed ahead. Tank waited and watched, expecting his young charge to learn an important lesson in humility. No lesson yet for Storm, who drove her foes before her with a mighty gust of wind and pelted them with snow and ice. Then, laughing still, Storm stood within a great hurricane of wind and sent them flying about.

"Stop!" cried Tank, "you are just making them angry!" "They cannot reach me uncle!", laughed Storm, and threw another dozen nearby high into the air with a tornado. "You will have the entire park chasing us if you keep that up!" warned Tank. "Sounds like fun!" shouted Storm" setting a lightning cloud to chase another dozen. So in this way Storm worked a circle round the park, infuriated Skuls pursuing in ever greater numbers. Till at last Storm came full circle.

"Uncle?" said Storm.

"Yes little one?" Tank replied.

"Some of them seem to be getting through.", said Storm, with perhaps a tiny hint of concern.

"That is to be expected." called out Tank, "there are some four score attacking you."

"Do you think perhaps you might help me?", asked Storm, attempting to sound calm and confident.

"There may be some four score attacking you little nephew", shouted Tank, "but there were twice that again in pursuit. I am somewhat busy myself!"

So it was that Storm learned a lesson. What lesson was that you may ask? Later, as she tended her child's bruises, Defender did just that. "Have you learned anything from this?" asked Defender. "Yes!", replied Storm earnestly, "If you are being chased by a dozen score of Skuls, run in a straight line." Defender laughed and said, "That is very wise my child."

Much later Storm learned control, but that is a different tale.

- Jock Tamson, Mythologist

In tonight's story we are reminded that Storm has always been proud and entertain a lesson in geometry.

- Jock Tamson, Who assumes TMS will once again take issue with the suggestion that Storm might get hit.

You have read how the Spider came to the City from the Web that is the Universe. You have read also how when the Land of the Kora Fruit was shattered creatures came from the Void Beyond to dwell there and guard the fruit. Not only evil exists beyond the walls of the City. There is good also, and it, in time, also came to the walls.

Thus came the strange Kheldians to our land. They watched the Children of Statesman and were amazed and desired to become more like unto them. So one amongst them went to the each of the Great Progenitors to ask what most defined them.

"When are you most like yourself?" it asked Blaster. Blaster laughed and replied, "When I act before my foes and strike them down. When the battle is over ere it began. When I stand wreathed in fire and smoke encircled by my fallen foes. Then I am most like myself."

"When are you most like yourself" it asked Controller. Controller considered thoughtfully and replied, "When I move through the world with patience and grace, stilling and befuddling my foes. When my friends and allies, protected and strengthened, move before me like an all consuming wave. Then I am most like myself."

"When are you most like yourself" it asked Scrapper. Scrapper answered without hesitation, "When all others have fallen or fled and I alone stand and finish the fight. When the all too clever cannot cut the knot, and I draw my sword. When I Scrap! Then I am Scrapper!"

"When are you most like yourself" it asked Tank. Tank considered briefly, then answered slowly but confidently, "When I stand at the center of a great host, and their slings and arrows avail them not against me. When I hold against the charge so my friends may shelter behind me. When I am a touchstone of strength for all who follow me; I am myself."

"When are you most like yourself" it asked Defender. Defender had long before considered this question and replied thus, "When Blaster stands encircled by his fallen foes. When Controller has all in her grip. When Scrapper stands alone against great odds and prevails. When Tank stands unharmed against a great host. When all these things occur. When all these things come to pass because I did what needed to be done at the moment it needed to be done, and they barely realize it. Then I am their Defender."

So the Kheldian resolved to be like Blaster when needed, to be like Controller when needed, to be like Scrapper when needed, to be like Tank when needed. To be what was needed, when it was needed. In this way, it chose to be like Defender.

- Jock Tamson, Mythologist

No comments. I have lost my audience to double xp weekend I continue, none the less, with my commitment to post these one a day until they are all put back.

Tonight's story brings Kheldians in to the mythology, and discusses what it means to be a Defender...

- Jock Tamson, Who resisted the urge to use an origin involving calamari leftovers.