LeighB_EU

I was listening to Desert Island Discs on Radio Four this morning (yeah, I know, don’t tell the young ‘uns) and thought this might make a good Aerie style question.

So, if you had to choose, which seven powers would you keep (or take on to a desert island, presuming the desert island had access to the game servers, and in keeping with the radio program, no access to any other part of the internet, oh, and also presuming that other people could still play the game, oh, you get the idea)? And let’s presume, for the sake of the question, that in this magical world those seven powers would work together, say, because power proliferation was across all the ATs. (This is not really about PP, just your seven fav’ powers, but I know there are pedants hiding with the trolls in the bushes. )

Seven powers from Heroes and seven from Villains.

Would you have them because they look good, because they combo well, because they do l33t damage or just because you like them for no explicable reason?

Glad to hear you’ve got the computer sorted again.

I agree, some form of co-op would be great – I mean, honestly, one can’t leave the story writing up to those artists, they’ll just end up using words with too many vowels in them like Freeeeem! Seriously, this can be great fun, I’ve just done the text for a 12 page Mr Men book called “Mr Mail and the very bad day” which a friend, who’s an artist, is doing the pictures for. We’ll see how that turns out.

To keep this thread “clean” I’ve just started a new post about this and another co-op idea. Go see – Linky

Co-op Comic

BurningFist mentioned this in another post and I thought it deserved a new thread (source):

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On a barely related note I had a potentially great idea earlier on - maybe the writers and artists on the forum could get together and knock together a comic or two between us?

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So, as an idea this sounds great and as a writer I’d certainly love to do some of the scripting. I’m guessing it will be more work for the artists, so it’s really down to those who are interested and have the time to put their hands up. Unless it’s going to be done with stick men, then leave it with the text guys.

[edit: moved the Rolling Story to another post.]

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Having read the boards these past few years I've found that, as a general rule of thumb, when words like 'mate' or 'buddy' are used to begin a retort, I get the oddest feeling the person doesn't really want to be your mate or buddy.

That could be just my cynicism coming out though.

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Mate, I tend to agree, mate.

On a similar note I have always presumed that a post will never get a reply unless it’s got some sort of personal attack slotted in there or enough vitriol to fry bacon. Unless you’re in the comic and culture section where all the sedate people hang out.

While I agree that all of these things players can purchase are optional, I certainly agree with Alphane that the cost of them appears rather high for what they are. I certainly don’t understand how they can be called micro transactions. I thought a micro transaction was something that was less than 50 pence (UK).

Obviously I could be wrong and it’s just my perception that a rename or a server transfer are quick and easy to do, but I have always thought that they were over priced. The same with respec’s and additional slots.

If they’d been priced at, say 1 UKP or maybe even 1.5 UKP I’d feel they were worth it.

Having said that I don’t have a problem with NC charging whatever they can get away with. As has been said they aren’t essential to play the game, they are just nice tos.

Oh, I liked that one as well. You seemed to get in to the flow of the writing the more the story went on.

I like those. Expanded they would good as web site banners as well.

My only thought was that they looked a little dark so I couldn’t see enough of the characters, but this is only a minor point and I’m sure some of the guys who are good at graphics will correct me.

Mr Wuffles, don’t worry about the delays, and I’d guess most people entered for the fun and the challenge rather than the cash, so imo, save it for another competition (or use it for this one). I’d suggest you still do the judging when you can get access to your e-mail account, or have the stories resent, but that’s up to you, as it doesn’t matter that some of us have shown our hand, the deadline for entries has already passed.

So, here’s my entry as well. For those who are interested and have seen the other three stories I’ve posted, they are now all group and available as PDFs on my web site – www.leighbarlow.com/writing.htm

The Sound of Silence - PDF Link


“You doing okay there?” Marsha asked, as Milly poured out a ladle of soup to an old guy in the queue.

Milly turned, smiling and nodding, offering one of the two default answers she gave to nearly all questions. Then she tipped the stock pot and showed its contents to the older woman.

“Ah, nearly empty are you,” Marsha said. “I’ll get you a refill.” Marsha started to walk away, then turned back to Milly. “I tell you what, you were going to leave early tonight weren’t you? Why don’t I get Andrea to take over and you get off. We don’t want you being late for that handsome young man of yours, now do we?” She gave Milly a knowing wink.

Milly smiled and nodded again, and then signed, thank you.

Jake was due to pick her up at about nine. They were going out for a late meal. He had promised to treat her after being caught up last night in a meeting with his boss and those clients from LA. She knew he loved his job, but there were the odd occasions when the life of a corporate lawyer seemed to take up all of his time. How many other people sometimes had to work through the night? Still he loved the job as much as she loved helping out at the soup kitchen, so she wasn’t about to complain to him.

Back at her apartment she glanced at the clock – seven fifteen. Plenty of time to get over to that office and be back before Jake was due. Hopefully this would wrap up her current investigation. It probably wouldn’t stop the Family’s bomb making operation, but it would slow things down and if she could capture the lieutenants tonight, and find out what they were planning to blow up, that part of their scheme would be finished for good.

As she was leaving the apartment she felt the vibration of her phone.

Just going in to the meeting, the text message read. Looking forward to seeing you later. Jake. He had ended it with a couple of kisses.

Pausing briefly to reply to him Milly felt the slight giddiness that always came over her when she knew Jake was thinking about her. You’re like a teenager, she told herself as she left the back of the apartment block, but she was unable to get rid of the grin that had spread across her face. It only died away some ten minutes later as her final teleport landed her outside the small office building.

A tiny wail was enough to shatter the lock on the side door and she slipped inside, entering in to a quiet, dark corridor. Off in the distance she could just make out the sound of men talking. There didn’t seem to be any guards around.

The last of the Family goons slumped to the floor, the gun he had held making a harsh rattle as it slipped from his hand. Milly looked around at the papers that were now spread across the room, her sonic blast having whipped them up off the desk. After checking the other two men to make sure they were unconscious she started to rifle through the documents looking for any clues as to where the bomb had been planted. Just sometimes, she thought, I wish I could question people. Still, she’d get an email to the police and they would take care of it.

As she was finishing collecting the sheets from the floor her phone vibrated again. A call this time. She pulled it out of her trouser pocket and looked at the name. Jake. She unhooked one of her ear guards and accepted the call, one hand still sifting through the papers.

“Hi, hon. I thought I’d call rather than text as I need to apologise – I’m not going to make tonight. I’m really sorry, but the deal is being completed now and we need to go over to LA to finish things. The good news is I’m taking all of next week off so I’ll definitely make it up to you.”

Milly’s hands stopped moving aside the papers and her eyes rested on a list with one line highlighted.

“That’s my call for the gate. I’ve gotta turn this off and go. I’ll call you when I land. I’m really sorry. I know I don’t say it enough, but I do love you.”

The clock on the wall showed it was just before 20:20. Milly looked back at the list of flights and the 20:30 Paragon to LA plane that was highlighted.

She screamed his name before he could hang up and watched her mobile phone disintegrate in her hand. As her wail died away the dark office building was left in silence.

Excellent! Another well written entry. The description was great, making it easy to read with just enough balance between the dialogue and the prose.

Now I’m not sure if I want to post mine.

Also, if you start playing with the lighting, very bright light can make the white desks and cabinets glare like a smooth pond on a sunny day.

I agree. An excellent and well written story that really captured the mood. It certainly gave me the impression of being there and had a wonderfully peaceful flow to it.

Hi guys,

A while back I started to think about writing some short stories on how bleak or horrific the future may become. While mulling ideas over three other stories came to mind which appeared to suit the world of City of Heroes. In all cases while I have tried to keep as close as I can to the setting and the characters portrayed in the game, I have taken slight liberties to make things fit.

No responsibility is taken for the blurbs sounding better than the actual stories. That’s just my failure to realise a good story.

Hopefully you’ll enjoy them.

(Feedback, direct or on here, is always welcome. Constructive or just, meh, is fine - honesty above all else. )

Lost and Found - PDF Link
An elderly woman finds a stray in an alley in Founders’ Fall. She decides to take it in and care for it. (Word Count: 1,800.)

To Die For - PDF Link
A newly qualified doctor takes up a job at the hospital in Kings Row. One night she sees green fire leaping from the top of a nearby building and decides to undertake some investigation. It leads her in to a dark world she never knew existed. (Word Count: 6,000.)

Where Do Alt’s Go - PDF Link
A man dreams of taking to the skies once more, to return to his crime fighting days as a hero, but his motivation has left him. (Word Count: 1,000.)

Yes, I do like this. I especially love the style of the wings. Another excellent drawing.

The again I like the in game character as well – I’m always envious of the ability to design toons that look good. If you can sing and play the piano I’ll really dislike you.

Many thanks to Omega for organising this. It was great fun with plenty of robots to bash. The GM hunting afterwards was good as well.

Some links to screen shots below.

Robots not in disguise at all. One, two.

Just a head left. Looks fishy to me. One.

I'd rather Jack than Fleetwood Mac. Then again. One.

It's the wreckers yard for you and your engine. One.

We had a Kraken time. One, two, three.

Park your rocky but. One, two.

Just sorting out another one as well.

Again, it'll have to come via the SG base. I'll speak to you later.

I’ve got one sorted. I don’t have the Pocket D TP power, so I’ve left the character with just mission nine to do and I’ll ‘port to the base and then Kings Row in time.

Hopefully there will be a second one with me if one of my friends gets on in time. Certainly I’ll be bringing one Kronos to the party.

It’s not marked on Events by the way and I didn’t have chance to hunt down an op’.

This place is full of artists. Writers were nerfed when ED came out. Anything over three is a good number in my opinion.

Many thanks sorting out the competition.

As I always enjoy reading the stuff on here, I'm looking forward to the entries being published.

Um. Having just re-read my story I have found one comma I've missed out. I won't re-send for that, but apologies for one of the sentences reading slightly out of kilter.

I'm actually finding myself excited about this competition. I had so much fun writing my story I'm really looking forward to reading everyone else’s. As with other literary awards the stories should be published before the winner is announced – i.e. 25 July.

There are very few things you can do in the joining corridors, or doors as I think they are called. It’s a shame, but some of us are holding our breath for the next issue.

With regard to the lighting, one of the tabs lets you change the lighting levels for the bottom, middle and top sections of the rooms and you can alter the base colour as well.

Um, I've not had a problem with the caves, motion sickness or otherwise.

In fact I don't mind the caves at all, it's those out door missions that bother me, or maybe that's just because I like to be led through the map by the nose.

I’d like to offer up a big congratulations to two players who probably won’t read this, but who both deserve it as they’ve been playing for far too long and it’s their first characters.

Both made an extra special effort to get online a couple of times this weekend to make use of the double XP.

Purdy – I’ve teamed with her for all my time on CoH and she was the forth member of our SG. Two and a half years of flirting with the boys and now she wants to tart in the Task Forces.

Carabraxis – My regular Thursday night team mate. Level 50 and he’s just working out what all the powers do.

Done and sent.

That was fun. As my initial notes came to 500 words and my first draft to 950 I didn’t think I’d get it down to 800 words, but I did it. Yay me!

Thanks again for the competition, it made me do a lot of self editing. Are you going to publish all the entries when it’s done or leave it to those who entered to publish them in the forums?

I should pay attention to the boards more often.

An excellent competition.

I should be sending something to you in the next couple of days although I'm only going for the prize of honorable mention as I don't have any heroes on Union.

Yeah. I like the look of that. Good stuff.

Quality!

I nearly spat alcohol over the keyboard it was that good.

By all means post more.