Master Zaprobo

My previous compilation of these...
http://uk.boards.cityofvillains.com/...;Number=377906

See if there's any you missed

The alert on the Supercomputer screen cleared to show the face of Silver Mantis. Master Zaprobo screwed up his face in disgust.

"You know better than to contact me direct Mantis - I only speak with the organ grinder, and not the monkey", the elderly scientist spat.
"Black Scorpion can't get to the comms right now". She smiled, very slightly, "He's a little tied up".
The professor shook his head, "Anything else inappropriate you want to share before we get to the point of this call?"
"Actually yes - orders from the top and I'm having to play secretary. Code Black."

Master Zaprobo widened his eyes slightly - the last Code Black he had encountered was one that was targetted at him, and not in a good way.

"Lord Recluse has got wind from several of his Fortunatas that some of his Soldiers and Widows are going rogue and breaking their way into the Destined One program.

"The orders to all Arachnos-loyal Factions is to claw as many of these 'Destined Ones' back into the fold. Arachnos Research and Development is one of the most established of these factions - you should be looking to recruit as many of these soldiers as possible."

--

Arachnos Research and Development is an established supergroup on the Defiant server - now entering our third year of operation. We are themed around technology, science and robotics - loyal to Arachnos.

While we continue to accept new members on this basis (and to our sister group Arachnos Mutagenics and Divinators, for Mutation and Magic origin characters) we are now opening up the SG recruitment to all Villain Epics.

As these are pre-made Soldiers of Arachnos they are instantly themed and perfectly suited for our SG.

We have a fully functional SG Base (Lab themed) with all the PvE trappings you might need (Storage, Teleporters, SG Mission Computer, Pillar of Ice and Flame, Vault and Crafting Stations) in the Rogue Isles.

Contact @Doc Bot, @Master Zaprobo, or @Dr Zweistein ingame for more information or invite. Also, please see our forums at http://arachnos.pia-fidelis.com/ for further information

Guide Now Live

I find "Defiant Events" a better announcement channel for SF's and the like. Looking forward to i12 when I can get into more global channels though!

New section for the beginning...

Epics in the CoX Game
In the "City of" series of games an Epic Archetype is not designed as an "uber" build, but rather a versatile one. Much like the Kheldian Hero Epics, the Soldiers of Arachnos Villain Epics can fulfill a variety of team roles (though the roles between the two sets do differ).

Epic AT's are designed as an integrated part of the storyline - having a custom storyline only available to their AT (unlike the rest of the game content). For instance, no Soldier of Arachnos begins in Breakout and instead has a different introduction contact (they can still get the jail Bird badge from the Breakout Ouroboros Flashback mission).

Okay, here's the revised guide (more comments on this version please!)...

MZ's Game of Two Halves: A Soldiers of Arachnos Primer

So, you've got your Mastermind (or lesser Villain AT!) to level 50 and you've unlocked the Soldiers of Arachnos! Congratulations, you're on your way to possibly the most confusing way of levelling a character ouside of a Kheldian.

This guide is not a build guide, or a powers comment guide. This is a general overview of the SoA AT's (Soldiers and Widows) so you can find out what you will be experiencing with their unique features.

Costume Sets and Slots
The first difference with the SoA AT's is the sub-costume creator. At character creation, you will be locked out from the regular costume creator and only be able to use custom built NPC parts to build your Soldier or Arachnos costume.

Your customisation is limited to only a few options, some of which are recolourable.

This will be the only slot where you can make use of the custom SoA Costume Creator. All your additional costume slots will be made using the standard costume pieces available to all.

The only notable exceptions to this is any Arachnos Soldier that chooses the Crab Spider track - they will be forced to have a Crab Spider Backpack on all costumes.

Soldiers of Arachnos also get early access to their second costume slot - at level 10, your SoA contact will send you on a mission to the Facemaker in Cap Au Diable that will open up your second slot.

Powersets and Tracks
You may spot something odd about the powerlistings when you're creating a SoA AT. There's not just one primary and one secondary powerset. In fact, you'll see three primaries and three secondaries.

At character creation you will only have access to the first primary and first secondary powersets. As you level pre-L24 you will only have access to these sets.

The pre-24 primary sets are Arachnos Soldier (for Soldiers) and Widow Training (for Widows). The pre-24 secondary sets are Traning and Gadgets (for Soldiers) and Teamwork (for Widows).

At L24 you will have the option to choose your first "Track". This means Soldiers choose between Crab and Bane, and Widows choose between Night Widow and Fortunata. Each of these tracks have their own primary and secondary set - the other two you see at creation/on the powers list.

You will be forced to respecify your powers when levelling with an Arbiter at L24 - at this point all three powersets will be unlocked. Make sure your allies are aware and give you some time to do so! The two sets of track powersets are mutually exclusive - once you choose a power from one of the track specific primaries or secondaries it will lock you out of the others. You will be able to select powers from the original Widow/Soldier primaries and secondaries irrespective of track chosen - useful to round out your build.

This is not a permanent lock out like Patron Powers - you will be able to change your track any time you respec in future.

Powers Overview
Finally, a brief overview of some of the key powers of the SoA AT's. This does not discuss the specific powers, but more looks at the theme and style of them.

Inherent: Conditioning
Both SoA's (Soldiers and Widows) come with the Conditioning Inherent. This is a combination regeneration (health recovery) and recovery (endurance recovery) bonus - increasing the base numbers for the AT.

Arachnos Soldier/Training and Gadgets
The primary powerset focuses around the use of a rifle, much like the Assault Rifle powerset for Corruptors. It has a mix of ranged attacks, a couple of melee attacks and some mezzes. The secondary set is mainly based around team buffs akin to the "Leadership Pool" with additional auto self buffs (including some mez protection at L1) and a pet summon.

Arachnos Widow/Widow Training
The primary set is focused around the use of Widow Claws - a mix of melee attacks, a couple of ranged powers and some self buffs. The secondary set is mainly based around team buffs akin to the "Leadership Pool" with additional auto self buffs (including a mez protection toggle at L10).

Crab Spider Track
The primary powerset is based around powers firing from the Crab Spider Backback - a mix of ranged and melee attacks culminating in a summonable "nuke" attack. This set also has the Aim power. The matching secondary gives some improved resistances, a Dull Pain clone, and a pet summons

Bane Spider Track
The primary powerset is based around the Bane Mace - a mix of melee and ranged attacks along with the Placate power. This set also has the Buildup power. The secondary gives access to improved resitances, a Stealth power (with critical hit capability), a debuff and a hold.

Night Widow Track
The primary for this track adds far better melees, some psionic attacks and an AoE blind power in Smoke Bomb (much like the NPC Widows). The secondary adds stealth (with critical hit capability), some superior ally buffs, a lightning reflexes clone and Elude.

Fortunata Track
The primary grants a mix of psionic blasts, mind control powers and is very AoE orientated. The secondary gives access to stealth (with critical hit capability), some superior ally buffs, a lightning reflexes clone and Aura of Confusion.

[ QUOTE ]
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Both SoA's (Soldiers and Widows) come with the Conditioning Inherent. This is a combination regeneration (health recovery) and recovery (endurance recovery) bonus - increasing the base numbers for the AT.

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are you sure about this? I thought it was +regen and an end discount for all your powers rather than +regen +recov.

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Increase of base recovery. 1.75/second instead of 1.67/second. Might be a endurance discount factored into the powers as well, but no real way of measuring that benefit since only SoA's get the SoA powers

I'm really enjoying my Necro/Poison MM at the moment. It doesn't have a lot of tools for dealing with large groups in the secondary (Neurotoxic Breath is a decent cone slow though) but then neither does the Primary do a great deal of AoE either.

Not got a lot of Trick Arrow experience under my belt, but I don't know how well you'd cope with the aggro as your necromancy pets can only deal with things so fast...

heh A couple of my faves from my own stock have been The Mountain Roars (Stone/Fire Tank, now deleted) and Doctor Digitalis (Necro/Poison MM)

Loved the article

Have a read - it's an early draft but should give you an idea of some of the unique selling points of the SoA AT's.

Cheers Starscreamer - just the sort of info needed so I don't have to go digging during valuable playtime

Anyone else have any suggestions for additions to the guide keepign in it's original premise (unique features to the SoA over other AT's)

Will have a rummage on some alts and see what I can rack up.

So, so far we have...

Atlas Park / 5 - 9 / Global Threat / Provided by MZ
Kings Row / 10 - 14 / King Maker / Provided by Teduardo
Skyway City / 15 - 19 / Road Raged / Provided by ?
Steel Canyon / 20 - 24 / Steel Worker / Provided by MZ
Independence Port / 25 - 29 / Tyrannical / Provided by MZ/Teduardo
Talos Island / 30 - 34 / Talon of Talos / Provided by Teduardo
Brickstown / 35 - 39 / Brickhouse / Provided by ?
Founders' Falls / 40 - 44 / Anarchist / Provided by ?
Peregrine Island / 45 - 50 / Gate Crasher / Provided by Almost Everyone(!)

I know I have alts in position to grab Steel and a quick Atlas run will be easy enough to get in time. Might be able to do Skyway but need to check.

All,

I've started on a bit of a guide for Soldiers of Arachnos and its turning into a bit more work than I expected.

I'm happy to continue and flesh it our further, but only if people think it'd be useful. Here's what I have so far - I'd like some thoughts and comments please!

---

MZ's Game of Two Halves: SoA Primer

So, you've got your Mastermind (or lesser Villain AT!) to level 50 and you've unlocked the Soldiers of Arachnos! Congratulations, you're on your way to possibly the most confusing way of levelling a character ouside of a Kheldian.

This guide is not a build guide, or a powers comment guide. This is a general overview of the SoA AT's (Soldiers and Widows) so you can find out what you will be experiencing with their unique features.

Costume Sets and Slots
The first difference with the SoA AT's is the sub-costume creator. At character creation, you will be locked out from the regular costume creator and only be able to use custom built NPC parts to build your Soldier or Arachnos costume.

Your customisation is limited to only a few options, some of which are recolourable.

This will be the only slot where you can make use of the custom SoA Costume Creator. All your additional costume slots will be made using the standard costume pieces available to all.

The only notable exceptions to this is any Arachnos Soldier that chooses the Crab Spider track - they will be forced to have a Crab Spider Backpack on all costumes.

Soldiers of Arachnos also get early access to their second costume slot - at level 10, your SoA contact will send you on a mission to the Facemaker in Cap Au Diable that will open up your second slot.

Powersets and Tracks
You may spot something odd about the powerlistings when you're creating a SoA AT. There's not just one primary and one secondary powerset. In fact, you'll see three primaries and three secondaries.

At character creation you will only have access to the first primary and first secondary powersets. As you level pre-L24 you will only have access to these sets.

The pre-24 primary sets are Arachnos Soldier (for Soldiers) and Widow Training (for Widows). The pre-24 secondary sets are Traning and Gadgets (for Soldiers) and Teamwork (for Widows).

At L24 you will have the option to choose your first "Track". This means Soldiers choose between Crab and Bane, and Widows choose between Night Widow and Fortunata. Each of these tracks have their own primary and secondary set - the other two you see at creation/on the powers list.

You will be forced to respecify your powers at L24 - at this point all three powersets will be unlocked. Well, until you choose a power from one of the track specific primaries or secondaries at which point it will lock you out of the others.

This is not a permanent lock out like Patron Powers - you will be able to change your track any time you respec in future.

Powers Overview
Finally, a brief overview of some of the key powers of the SoA AT's. This does not discuss the specific powers, but more looks at the theme and style of them.

Inherent: Conditioning
Both SoA's (Soldiers and Widows) come with the Conditioning Inherent. This is a combination regeneration (health recovery) and recovery (endurance recovery) bonus - increasing the base numbers for the AT.

Arachnos Soldier/Training and Gadgets
The primary powerset focuses around the use of a rifle, much like the Assault Rifle powerset for Corruptors. It has a mix of ranged attacks, a couple of melee attacks and some mezzes. The secondary set is mainly based around team buffs akin to the "Leadership Pool" with additional auto self buffs (including some mez protection at L1) and a pet summon.

Arachnos Widow/Widow Training
The primary set is focused around the use of Widow Claws - a mix of melee attacks, a couple of ranged powers and some self buffs. The secondary set is mainly based around team buffs akin to the "Leadership Pool" with additional auto self buffs (including a mez protection toggle at L10).

Crab Spider Track
The primary powerset is based around powers firing from the Crab Spider Backback - a mix of ranged and melee attacks culminating in a summonable "nuke" attack. This set also has the Aim power. The matching secondary gives some improved resistances, a Dull Pain clone, and a pet summons

Bane Spider Track
The primary powerset is based around the Bane Mace - a mix of melee and ranged attacks along with the Placate power. This set also has the Buildup power. The secondary gives access to improved resitances, a Stealth power, a debuff and a hold.

Night Widow Track
The primary powerset is based around further claw attacks. The secondary gives access to x

Fortunata Track
The primary powerset is based around a mix of psionic damage and mez powers. The secondary gives access to x

I can bring Independance Port on one of my MM's (Doctor Digitalis) and I need Brickstown on Master Zaprobo (who can also bring Peregrine if needed)

Also need Firebug on MZ so happy to chip in on all the Mayhem sessions!

Sell ARAD? You couldn't afford it

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Hope it's not a bug that gets fixed, but when you get your second costume at level 10 DON'T AMEND IT. The first costume gets copied to the second slot, so if you instead alter your primary costume you end up with two Arachnos uniforms.

[/ QUOTE ]

This second costume should then propagate when you get your third costume, etc.

Of course, the trick is how does it react to having the Crab Spider Backpack... Anyone high enough level to test?

Any Arachnos-themed Defiant groups - give me a yell for /coalition - might help you to use our Transporters while you're getting up and ready.

Additionally ARAD/AMAD will accept all VEAT's as well. Hit up our forums to arrange pre-invite

I'll be in - still need a couple of Heroes to polish off the set!

Seems sweet for me. So long as I remember

Date me. I'll be there (unless I can't!)

I already run an Arachnos Themed group on Defiant Good luck with yours though, and be sure to /coalition with us!

(Incidentally ARAD will certainly allow any VEAT in amongst our ranks!)

Oh it doesn't stop here - Journal of a Mastermind has documented MZ from Level 1 to Level 50 and beyond. He has a choice in front of him... how can he stop Lord Recluse.

That won't be the end of his story though - I'll be continuing to play MZ for the foreseeable future with this website running alongside.

I'm glad people still enjoy it despite its almost two and a half years of operation now!

((OOC: I'm afraid my prior post of announcments regarding JoaM have been buried and I guess its a reasonable time to bring this ongoing work of fiction back into the public eye with a key arc reaching its climax!))

In the dark of the labs of Arachnos Research and Development, the supercomputers' soft whirr stepped up a couple of notches as a monitoring process picked up a transmission blinking across the fibreoptic networks of Grandville.

The monitoring process, seldom used of late addressed the finer points of the communication through its analysis circuits. It soon ascertained that this was not a run of the mill memorandum that it could deal with. It woke up a higher-logic function.

The higher logic function, after verifying it had been woken correctly, took over the communique and ran the whole thing through its optical and grammatical heuristics. "Clearance Level Black" and "Master Zaprobo" coupled with surveillance footage that triggered biometric priority signals. This was beyond the logic function - it paged the main Supercomputer Core.

The Supercomputer Core instantly apprised itself of the document and accompanying video footage before opening a priority communication channel. "We have a problem", it thought to itself, being a fully aware artifical intelligence.

Alone, in the dark beneath The Fab the message on the supercomputer screen blinked urgently...

Error:Master User "zaprobo" Is Not Within Communication Range

Wolf Spider SpecOps will be having a life crisis change from AR/Traps to real Wolf Spider

Wolf Spider PsiOps may change into a Male Widow. Not sure yet

As for other characters... I have no idea! I'll be having plenty new slots to play with

As an aside - ignore EndRdx for Assault Bot and Battle Drones as they don't really use any even with the final upgrade applied. Only Protector Bots need any EndRdx