Kierthos

The thing of it is, as much as it may be over-used (I don't think so, but I'm playing along), it's actually a valid threat from an in-game standpoint.

Look, for how many years before the Incarnate system was added were the Rikti the big dogs of the game? If you wanted high end content then, you ran Lady Grey, or you ran the ITF, which was the end-game of the Cimeroa story.

Going Rogue comes out, re-introducing all of the Praetorians (updating their bios, changing some powers around, fleshing out the world, etc.) There's also a larger connection to Incarnate stuff and end-game content because it makes sense.

The reason the Rikti cannot take over the world is that they cannot form a stable long-lasting portal back to their homeworld. They keep trying, we keep stopping them.

The reason Romulus can't take over the world is that we curb-stomp back when dirt was young.

But stable connections between Praetorian Earth and Primal Earth are open all the time. And Cole's forces weren't beaten in ancient history by time-traveling heroes/villains. He's a threat, here and now. And because he's got a bunch of people who are power hungry, just like him, they're going to try and find ways to increase their own power, generally at the expense of others. Not necessarily because they're evil (Praetoria seems to be more of a Black and Grey morality), but because this is the way they do things.

I mean, think about it. If, say, Chimera came to Primal Earth and repented for all of his past misdeeds, well, we'd probably welcome him with open arms. He won't do any such thing, of course, but if he did.... (I used Chimera, because he was 'raised by evil', so he's potentially redeemable, unlike, say, Siege, or Mother Mayhem.)

Like it or not, the Praetorians are a valid threat, and their power-gaining schemes are going to be the focus for, at the very least, the next few trials.

I've been wondering where my points are too, as I just got another token the other day, but according to my account management, my renewal happens on the 29th of this month, so I guess I have to give it a few more days.

I can't see it being BaBs. Yes, the Dev who used the name is no longer there. Yes, Galaxy City is a raging inferno of rubble-aliens.

But he's the sole black guy. I think that actually saves him.

But let's take a look at the others.

Citadel - Okay, how do you kill a robot? Sheer amounts of damage, just like anyone else. The difference is, he can easily have a backup of his entire program sitting somewhere waiting for a new body to be built. So killing him would fulfull the requirements, but it's kind of pointless.

Numina - She's already dead. Sorta. While they could lay the ghost to rest/banish her/absorb her into a mystic doodad to power it... it doesn't have the same effect.

Miss Liberty - Yes, because she's not in Kick the Puppy territory already. Pass. (Side note: What's Lord Recluse's reaction going to be to the end of part 3? That was his niece.....)

Positron or Synapse - Honestly, I've seen so little use out of these two that it would be barely noticeable (for me, at least) if one of them bought it. Positron has already technically died once in the comics, and been brought back, and who knows if Synapse was ever legally dead when Crey was experimenting on him? Frankly, due to their lack of overall use, it wouldn't be compelling if either one died.

Manticore - While it would be odd for the guy with no powers (yes, yes, I know, Teleport Arrow... you know what I mean) to die, I could see him sacrificing himself for the others, especially his wife. But I could just as easily see him living. He's effectively the Batman AND Green Arrow of CoH, so he's prepared as hell for everything.

Statesman - His death would be major, at least as far as in-game reactions would go. Yes, so would any of the others, but Statesman is the man, as far as heroes go. He's the biggest, baddest one of the surviving eight. So honestly, I see him being the one to die.

Frankly, though, as long as they don't kill BaBs, I'll be cool with it.

A one-person SG is definitely doable. And the beacons are easy to get. The thing that's the real pain in the butt (for me at least) is getting the SG healing badges.... to the point where I don't even have a medical room in my base yet.

I'm irritated by it a little bit as I had just hit level 48 on one of my characters, and I need to log in so I can put new enhancements in.

Anyone know what, if any, cooldown the temp power Ethereal Shift has? I'm thinking about using it to bypass a chunk of the 'Whispered Tip' missions involving the Malleus Mundi.

*shrug* One of life's mysteries.

Incarnate abilities are only available to VIP players. If you go down to Premium, you lose access to them. However, if you go back up to VIP at some later point, you will still have any that you had previously earned.

I'd say (using D&D terminology) that Venom (the Eddie Brock version) was at best Lawful Evil. He had no problem using a lot of villianish tactics, but there were a few lines that he wouldn't cross. Venom (Mac Gargan) is more Neutral Evil, but the symbiote was more controlling then.

I don't believe you can. The color changes on the bolo control the color of the cord, and the color of the piece surrounding the star/skull. Now, they will take on a muted version of that color... if you make the bolo piece red, the star will look very pale red.

But that's about the limit of it.

Some friends of mine and I did try 4th edition. We used it for about a year, and right about when everyone was hitting 11th level (we started at 3rd or 4th level, I think), we noticed that time to resolve combats was growing so much because the GM had to come up with new ways to even challenge us. I mean, in the last combat we had when using 4th edition rules, I (with my Storm Sorcerer) used a spell that hit all but one enemy creature on the map, and killed all the minions. (Minions in 4th edition only have 1 hp. They're supposed to be disgustingly easy to kill.)

Bam, 75% of the map is cleared. And the GM screamed. (Well, to be fair, he screamed once a game. Usually at truly horrible puns.)

Iron Man could easily be an Energy/Energy Blaster. Let's face it, he's just IO'd out to hell and back. He can afford it. He's rich.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the mystery subordinate in the cutscene (the guy in the victorian steampunk vest) say something along the lines of the next target being the one he was built for? (Look, I'm at work right now, I can't check.)

If I'm remembering that correctly, that leads me to one of two options.
1) Automaton - in which case, the Devs are really pushing the idea that this thing is being run by Nemesis.
2) Mystical construct - in which case.... I got no idea.