Master Zaprobo

Legend
  • Posts

    1169
  • Joined

  1. Huh, seems like you've handed me a worthy challenge PRAF - the ambushes have been tough and your third mission (AEONNNNNNNNNNNNNN!) saw me give up for the day due to lack of fieldtest time.

    But I'll be back.
  2. I tended to get the message whenever I opened the forum in multiple tabs - only the last post opened had a valid entry form. Had to refresh any other tab I wanted to post on.
  3. Unfortunately not - was something they popped in a little while back. I don't find it too galling once you're used to it.
  4. Custom Groups With Single Level Mobs
    Any custom groups with mobs that have a fixed L42 on them will render the group invalid and any missions with them in unplayable.

    Editing the group and trying to save it will result in a "invalid standard mob" error.

    (Had a custom Robots faction that had 42-42 Improved Drones in it for my first arc - removed them and it was fine)
  5. I've got testers using both channels before now - best to make sure you do so from the RWZ so both heroes and villains can pitch in.
  6. Yep - and the Global Channel "Mission Architect" already exists (and Defiant Architects if yer a Deviant needing local help)
  7. MA101681 - Through Rose-Tinted Glasses
    For the illiterate: Excellent entertainment despite an unrealistic initial premise!
    Rated: 78% Entertainment Value


    Well, today sees myself and my lab assistant at a loose end so we decided to see what "illustrious writer" has bestowed his gifts upon us, their unsuspecting public. So, @Leese would have me looking "Through Rose-Tinted Glasses"? Not truly my colour, but let us see what unfolds...

    A fictional tale, the hologram resolved into an elderly lady by the name of Elspeth Wallace wearing said-titular glasses. One can only assume that she is blinded by them as she was under the mistaken delusion that I was Manticore... never the one to ruin a good narrative, nor to disappoint the lady I played along.

    It seems she wanted to retrieve some baubles that President Marchand had secreted in some caves prior to his assassination. While the period of history (pre-Arachnos) holds little interest for me, I dutifully had my lab assistant access the Datastream with me to watch the scene play out.

    It would seem that Arachnos were likewise searching the tunnels which were infested by those vile Arachnoid creatures. Baubles were an apt description for all that we found - jewellery and not much else. Of course, the fact someone else had been rummaging was... curious. And the Arachnoid King? Yes. Well.

    Going back to Ms Wallace, it would appear that one of the rings belonged to her. The sight of it loosened her tongue enough to let slip that she had a list of locations that Marchand had stashed his valuables. She pointed out the one location that he had told her she was never to forget.

    On arrival, it appeared that all the Arachnoids in this cave had been purged and Arachnos troops had taken up resident. Working our way past them we finally discovered something truly intriguing - an elderly computer. Alas, the security was tight enough that even I and my vast intellect could not breach it onsite but it did identify itself as Project Ragnarok. A palpable plot hook!

    It is here that the story picks up a-pace as I decide to no longer pursue the myriad of baubles a frightened man may have stowed away for a rainy day but rather to investigate the presence of a system named after a mythical apocalypse. I love a good doomsday weapon, more so if its attached to a better robot!

    After some prompting, the witless Elspeth revealed that Marchand kept journals that Arachnos had long since seized. This sees you going into an Arachnos compound to reclaim the fragments. Dr Darkespark had some minor issues in this mission when facing the compounds' Archivist (likely due to her lack of Aegis shielding - if I don't let her fight on her own on occasion, she'll never learn effective control of her nanobot technologies) but otherwise it was a profitable rampage. The journals reveal the Ragnarok system is a serious of large explosive devices, keyed to Marchand's DNA, designed as a "last resort" for early Arachnos invading the Etoille Isles. Seems that Longbow were also onsite, perhaps likewise looking for the information?

    Ms Wallace, upon return, told us that her son (the spitting image of Marchand) has been targeted by Arachnos for kidnapping. It would appear that a scion of Marchand was indeed available for activation of Ragnarok. Unfortunately, on arrival I found that not only was it Arachnos that was after him, but my own Research and Development division - Black Scorpion was in attendance. After a heated debate between myself and the big lug he "agreed" to let me continue the investigation.

    There was an interesting snippet overheard from one of the Longbow agents who were likewise trying to rescue Philip - it seems that my arrival was expected. Could it be the wily old lady was actually playing both sides of the fence and was not as near-sighted as she wants to appear...

    Regardless, extraction of the Wallace kid was simple and next up it was back to the Project's Computer Cave to activate the device. It would seem that tales of me "impersonating" Manticore had reached the man himself and he came along with a cadre of Longbow to stop me. With a lack of any level of shielding (for delusional fool puts too much technology into his weaponry, and not enough into defensive output - an elementary mistake!) he fell faster than Ernesto.

    The Arachnos Team Leader was pitiful and I let Dr Darkespark deal with him while I investigated the computer. Unfortunately, it seems that the network connection from this terminal has been severed though probing of the machines memory banks revealed other terminal locations. Something for another day.

    Finally returning to Elspeth to taunt her? Gloat? I'm not sure why we returned at this point. Especially since only now does she take off her paint-covered glasses and actually see who is standing before her. No wily old lady here, alas.

    MZ's Conclusion: Excellent premise for a tale though since that doomsday project doesn't exist in the real world, I may just have to create it officially. In Paragon City. What? You think I want to destroy the Etoille Isles? Are you mad?!

    ---

    OOC Mini Review:
    A very well plotted arc that had enough twists to keep it interesting for the hour and a half of playtime it consumed. A little slow moving in the beginning and a little fizzle at the end as no bombs go off (its a VR machine, exploding at least part of the Isles or a bit of blackmail could have been good!). Not a lot here to improve really - the premise is sound and the execution is fine.

    Midway I got the feeling that Elspeth might be cleverly using us as a dupe but that was uncovered to be a false expectation in the final denouement. Shame, would have been a lovely twist to see grandma as an evil genius!

    Suggestions for improvement: The contact dialogue does suffer for the final mission where you are describing not going back to the contact when ingame you have to do precisely that - it felt a little incongruous. Likewise, when the dialogue presents you with two choices and it reads "you carry out what you decide", a little more focus on contacts being the ones speaking, not a drive for imposed narrative on the character playing.
  8. Master Zaprobo

    City of Cute...

    [ QUOTE ]
    Here is a crazy haired Master Zaprobo

    and the Small version

    [/ QUOTE ]

    Awwww! Such a cute little evil mastermind!
  9. A year or so ago I was doing a monthly assault on Recluses Victory that was moderately successful and fun on Defiant.

    I'd like to see this sort of thing as while I'm not a big PvPer I do enjoy an occassional fight!
  10. MA34608 - Cancelled in Three
    For the illiterate: An enjoyable diversion from your lab work, though linear in plotting
    Rated: 74% Entertainment Value


    So, the hapless @JamieB is the first to step into the arena with their opus "Cancelled in Three". A fictional piece set in the cut and thrust intellectual world of the comics industry. Yes. Well... I soldier on regardless.

    As this is my first foray I attended in person since my lab assistant was out of the office and my heavier duty AI's in for servicing. I brought a platoon of ZR Autonomous Assault Systems and my trusty ZR Aegis Transponder with me.

    We open on the enigmatically dressed Walt Kurtzberg who duly dispels all thoughts of an evening of evil masterplanning and insteads sends me to a Comic Convention. Not even a science symposium! Worse yet, the booking agent needs dissecting for setting the whole affair up in a warehouse!

    Still, fighting the hordes of Pests, Cosplayers, Messageboarders and Goths was nothing if not satisfying on a purely spreading mayhem basis! The Cosplayers were remarkably eagle-eyed - able to see my platoon of ZR Autonomous Assault Systems at an actual human distance! I would wonder how my Stalker unit Assault ZR-Beta would have faired... At the crux though, it would appear that Paragon Comics has been subject to a hostile takeover...

    Note for self: Audit the AI on Protector ZR-5 who seems to have exited the convention with a broadsword, a shirt, and some form of plush toy with tentacles. Recommend to Dr Darkespark that we reformat it's personality chip.

    Next up, the story took me along to the offices of Paragon Comics. Here, I discovered office workers with a penchant for toys - replica laserswords, rifles and recurve bows. The office culminated in a meeting with The Publisher whose Dark Miasma powers and horde of Thug-ish lawyers did little to hinder my progress beyond a chuckle at his witticisms as he was cut down. A barrel of drugged ink identified the "nefarious" plot du jour.

    After having my suspicions on mindcontrol ink confirmed by Walt it was on to the Paragon Comics publishing centre to stop a special mind controlling issue being published and to meet with the new owner of the company. The click-whirring of the first foe was remarkably familiar, as were their rifles (where do those Automatons secrete such large weap... note to self: self terminate that train of thought).

    A Fake Nemesis, therefore, was no great surprise as the new owner. This plot seems a little simplistic from what I've seen of Lord Nemesis in the past... though well I know how your own robotic creations can wander off with their own agendas. The foolish robot was summarily beaten down - only once being able to breach the shields from my ZR Aegis Transponder.

    MZ's Conclusion: A story arc that was light on plot twists, medium to high on humour, solid on plot overall and I only find myself wishing for more interaction with the Nemesis Automatons for research purposes!

    ---

    OOC Mini Review:
    Overall I enjoyed the arc, and the in-mission jokes and especially the Fanboys' descriptions. I found the Paragon Comics staff descriptions fairly weak apart from the Editorial Assistant and The Publisher's dialogue. The clues were well written and the souvenir a definite keeper.

    Suggestions for Improvement: Re-review the character descriptions for your NPC's and pop in a line or two about their powersets and how it relates to the NPC (I liked the thematics of the Goths but their IC info gave no indication of their abilities). Maybe pop in a patrol or two to make the con seem more lively and give the attendees more personality. Same for the Comics Office. The printing house was fine due to the amount of destructible objects and associated chatter involved there making it much more lively.
  11. Nope, afraid not. Maybe make EB1 as a new Boss Spawn, and an ambush as well of EB1's "minions" to put across the idea that he's arrived and is helping out.
  12. Citizens of the Rogue Isles, hated adversaries of Paragon City,

    Yes, it is I - Master Zaprobo of Arachnos Research and Development who has breached the so called security of this "forum" to address all you "fans" of Aeon's flimsy entertainment system - the Mission Architect.

    I have found myself using the system a little of late and find that there is a depressing lack of fine quality villainry to be had and that which is there is both hard to find and difficult to ascertain its worth.

    So, I come to you with an offer... all you authors who think that your tale is one worthy of my attention - contact me with your "story" and we'll see if it can withstand both the might of my ZR Autonomous Assault Systems or hold the interest of the vast villainous intellect that founded Arachnos Research and Development.

    I'll be waiting, in the name of SCIENCE!

    MZ


    ---

    Yes, its a new review thread but this time with a twist. I won't be reviewing your missions from the point of view of myself, but from the point of view of mad scientist Master Zaprobo. Of course, if he deems your mission below his notice he may send one of his robotic creations or allies from ARAD (my varying alts).

    Some things that MZ will be looking for...

    - Villain or Neutral content (don't expect saving the day to resonate well with him)
    - Well written and engaging storylines (he doesn't cope will with just a smashfest)
    - Well engineered foes (he's an artist who spent years on his robotic creations, a quickly mashed together foe will irritate him)

    The reviews will be incharacter from MZ's perspective and mirrored to Journal of a Mastermind. The forum version here will also have a short OOC review and suggestions for improvements.

    So, with the offer on the table, who wants to take up MZ on his offer? Otherwise he may just subject people to his whims!
  13. Hi! I'm Master Zaprobo (formerly Zap Robotnik of CoH Comic "Fame"), a 5 year veteran transferred to the EU from the US servers at the launch of City of Villains.

    I'm not going anywhere.

    I may even play Heroes a bit more once my current fascination with the Mission Architect passes (if it passes!)
  14. Ah, the MMO of choice. My casual fling that turned into five years of gaming.

    Lets hope that you have more surprises like City of Villains up your sleeve...
  15. I'd add see "Tidebringer" as an example for scaled up mobs using the Custom Editor - a newer version of the Spectral Pirates from Fort Hades in Port Oakes.
  16. Farming for tickets has a minor benefit over other missions as you can roll for a class of reward rather than it being completely random assignment.

    That said I don't farm but farmers can make their own missions same as anyone else. Just don't expect them to get great ratings
  17. Master Zaprobo

    Mystic Fortune

    You're worried about that over a game where powers explicitly state they are summoned from the Netherworld? Ye-eah.....
  18. Master Zaprobo

    MA text files

    Yup - manually edit away - though if you make a mistake the MA editor ingame will just flag the file as red and not allow you to do a thing with it!
  19. I've created a custom group for my (currently) only mission that is purely non-Arachnos robots (they feature in mission 4). It scales from 1-50 absolutely fine.

    Your key groups to doing the same are... Council (Mekmen, Hoverbots), Sky Raiders (Jumpbots), Rikti (Drones), Malta (Titans), Clockwork (Any).

    To be fair I would have excluded the Clockwork except for the fact I had a hole in the 1-20 range. I considered Nemesis Automatons but they weren't actually robotic enough at all.

    If you need a uniform group of robots, then the only option is to make a fully custom faction. I'll be doing the same in my upcoming mission arc "Arachnos Research and Development: Reap What You Sow" (Coming to an AE Terminal Near You Soon)
  20. Not my site at all, but I'd like to punt http://www.cityofguides.com/ma/missions.php as a viable alternative to the official engine.

    It at least has space for reviews so you can tell the world if there was a problem with the arc
  21. I've had the same problem locating Black Scorpion. Got both the EB and AV Arachnos unlocks and the big lug isn't in there.

    I think you can get Tyrant on a save/rescue objective as that gives you access to more character models (like the varying citizen ones you can't use anywhere else)
  22. URL: http://www.cityofguides.com/ma/missions.php

    City of Guides has got a fledgling resource that could prove very helpful for those trying to find good solid storyarcs and missions among the weight of arcs still being tested/refined.

    One of the key features (so far) is that the arcs can be publicly reviewed and marked if they have EB's/AV's in them.

    I recommend everyone who has an arc in the ready to play category (pobody's nerfect!) post their arc over there so it can be reviewed/advertised.
  23. I really recommend (until things settle down) that people join the channel "Mission Architect" (and if you on Defiant then "Defiant Architects" as well) and contribute to the word of mouth and testing of arcs.

    I've played some good fun arcs this way, and been able to share my own (which I'm moderately proud of) where it might otherwise be buried in the dross.