Memphis_Bill

Thus the "at most." :P And tentacles!

Of the 50s, probably not, actually. Doesn't "fit" them very well. At most, they'd be vigilante - and that's more likely the original (but lower level) version of one of my PBs who lives over on Virtue.

Ooh...

Um. I've lost track. At least 13 (one of each AT/EAT except Corruptors, and that one's close.) Two controllers, two tanks, two defenders... Let's just say "a bunch." Only one planned to switch, either partially or fully, and that's my MA/Regen Stalker.

Or a rule of only 9 days.

I just make it a point to bring inspirations. *shrug*

/this.

The problems I've run into have been problems with players ("Don't pull with Rain of Fire." "k" *pulls with rain of fire." "No, I said don't do that." "k" *pulls with rain of fire* *kicks*) not ATs. Every AT helps. No, they don't all generate giant orange numbers. So what?

/this. *having just finished Gaussian's arc quite handily with my low-damage Earth/FF 'troller yesterday.*

How would "more reliable information" (given the information given has been pretty damn straightforward) help if you can't be bothered to read the whole thing? (Like the "Will be released earlier if it's ready earlier" for UM?)

Incorrect.

At - was it the prior Herocon? When it was first announced, they said *flat out* that if Ultra mode was ready earlier, it would be released earlier. It was not "Only with GR."

And the other way around. I moved some from Freedom and Virtue to Victory, actually. It and Pinnacle are my main servers... no problems finding people.

*waves wand*
There. It's now something useful. You'll notice it's the exact same.

/this.

Also, /Lemur Lad, for history.

That said, I'd have no problem with "Trial accounts that have not been converted to paid accounts after 90 days will have their names freed." They're already limited, of course, to how high they can level and whatnot (though I don't recall if there was a limit to pre-RMTfest trials,) so what the impact would be - I couldn't say.

Um - that entry is actually based on my guide. And I worded it specifically to indicate there's nothing in the lore that backs up the lowered lifespan for Nictus.
Compare it to some of the other portions that either refer to specific Kheldian arcs (such as (Shadow Science) at the end of some references,) or quote specifically from arc dialog or information.

Just to clear that up.

Also, some malware will actually delete mbam.exe on install, before you get a chance to rename it. There is a link that will let you download a randomly-named version of *just* MBAM - save it to the malwarebytes directory. (The download file, not the link, obviously.)

Here 'tis:
http://mbam.malwarebytes.org/program/random.php

I know precisely where Self Destruct is on all my characters - I've got a tray I make every time that holds it, the Ouro, Pocket D, base, and mission teleports, usually Mystic Fortune, etc. apart from the three basic trays.

Have to disagree. If you were looking at a VW bug frame, you'd have its measurements, compatible engines, and information on which you could make an informed choice as to if it would suit your wants and needs before ever considering fitting a minivan's shell on it - or purchasing or deciding to use the frame in the first place. You would be making an informed decision from step 1, not having it suddenly change for something you already own.

Now, sure, you could just pick it up without looking at any of that, in which case it'd be the individual completely ignoring available information - the point being, though, that the information would be there from the start, not changing years after the fact.

Thus the comment above on "if we were looking at a *new* game, then maybe."

Missed ya too. Know you've been rather preoccupied, though.

Because, of course, it's the character I choose to create, one which would not be doable under your proposal.
Which, by its very label there, is... restrictive. Why do that when so much else allows the player the flexibility and creativity to make their character the way they want - one of the strengths of the game?
But, again, we go to the fact that for the past six years origin *has* meant nothing. Having it suddenly have an effect - whether in costume/animation pieces, powers, etc - is just a *very* bad idea at this point in the game, especially for something that cannot be changed.

So why limit *yourself* to using those pieces as "ninjas" or "magic" pieces? Suggestive pieces may keep the designers to a theme - but isn't it great that you can use them as you want, mixing and matching to create what *you* want instead? I've got Magic characters using Natural pieces, Natural using Cyborg and Valkyrie, all sorts of combos.
Setting up a few really shaky arguments there, Rachel. Costume drops, unlockable pieces and the like are all obtainable (or ignorable) by every single character. Is there some delay for some? Sure. But they are available regardless. You're using "obtainable with a little effort" to argue "not available unless you match something you may have chosen arbitrarily six years ago." The two are not the same.

IF a new game were being started, with FULL disclosure about what origins will affect, what they restrict, what won't be available, etc. then maybe - *maybe* - I'd be inclined to give the idea some leeway. At this point, however? It's like coming up with a new law saying I can't purchase an imported car because I drove a Ford 25 years ago.

Are you sure it's non-functional - or just not mechanically functional?

"We learned as we grew, the source growing stronger as well. With the advent of crossbows, guns and cannon, we could no longer rely on the mystic swordsman - they would be torn apart before they reached the foe.

"At first, we tried just opening a hole in the armor, letting the energies just spill out at our enemies. This proved fatal to anybody nearby, harmful more to those we swore to defend, wiping out families and nearly driving us to extinction. We learned we needed guides and a focus. You know the popular image of wizards using wands or a staff? That's partially from your ancestors. Though, given Church attitudes towards wizards, we adapted the form of guns soon after their introduction...."

Those eye and shoulder-cannon? Guides and focuses for the energy to direct it the way it's needed.



Though your wording's a bit off. "Origin-specific" - or "origin-suggestive," perhaps, is fine to start with - what won't fly, for me, is "origin restricted" "origin locked."

*points at sig - Kheldian backstory guide*

Shadowstar, the Warshade contact, specifically - the Kheldian has been around since at least ancient Egypt. The host, no - in fact, part of the story arc revolves around the current Shadowstar's daughter being slated to be "the next Shadowstar."

And no, it is not stated that Nictus (or Warshades) have a shorter lifespan. Their experiments that turned them INTO Nictus were meant to extend the lifespan from the short natural Kheldian lifespan, not least from siphoning it from other Kheldians - but there's nothing there about it being shortened itself (barring war, weakness from Cyst travel, etc.)

As far as the name - the NPC is named Romulus Augustus before becoming Nictus. That's all we have to refer to him as in any case just *after* the merge - he doesn't suddenly say "I am now Biggus!" or some such. While I wouldn't mind seeing a progression over time, there's no reason to say the name's "anything but similar." It'd be like me insisting the Hispanic father living a few miles away named Jesus is the same person the Christian faith is based around.

Do they?

If my character's "family" has, in the past, animated trees, suits of armor, scarecrows and the like by magic - no mechanical abilities - to help "defend the downtrodden," is that tech? The current generation builds a "robot" shell for the energies since that fits the "current world," but they're just that - a shell. There's no "tech" involved. Without the magic to empower them, they can do nothing. The magic is the source of the ability... so, no, they would not apply equally.

Picking "tech," in other words, would not be true to the character, and would be a case of metagaming as opposed to - well, just designing the character truly to themselves.

Of course, this does also ignore (again) the millions of characters already created, whose origins are "corrected" in bios or just picked randomly or because Magic (say) is the first group in the higher level SO vendors. Retrofitting this sort of thing is, frankly, a bad idea in general.

Can't ever agree to it - who is to say why you're using a specific animation? What actually defines an animation as a specific origin?

First, let's look at the "circle" of origins. All you need to do is visit anyone who sells DOs to work them out -

Science >> Tech >> Natural >> Magic >> Mutant >> Science

So, restricting "eye beams" to tech means your Magic warrior, who's been doing so while fighting criminals with the "eyes of justice," no longer can. Unless, of course, we grandfather everyone in. In which case, (a) what's the point, and (b) why are we restricting new players and new characters again?

OK, ok, so let's go to the particle choices. Magic runes. Which can be used by Natural and Mutant - so why can't my Tech Controller, who used to work in pyrotechnics and advanced displays, use them in a "Technomage" theme, or just to throw off anyone who may want to counter him into believing he's using magic instead of "tech with a light show?"

The argument's come up before with weapons, too. I mean, Broadsword looks pretty natural, right? Except my BS/SR Scrapper (only 50 scrapper I have) is Magic. The powers are sourced from the sword itself. Or you can get a very Tech looking sword. Or perhaps the crystals in the sword were placed there by an ancestor, who knew his family was a bit "different" and they plus the materials activate a Mutation which allows them to become exceptional warriors.

I can never, and will never, accept a suggestion to tie animations or costume bits to origin, and tend - outside of epic ATs (due to being tied to their storyline) and temp powers - to greatly dislike tying powers to them.

Most SGs that have a kick policy, at least that I've encountered, do a few things -
- Mention it right away ("Inactive for 30 days = kick, so be sure to log on") and
- email the member when they are kicked.

If they know ahead of time that they could be kicked, it shouldn't be a surprise. If they don't, and you need to clean house, send them an email (or global tell, which IIRC is going to be stored 'til they come back) saying "You were inactive, and we needed to clean house a bit. If you'd like <charactername> back in the SG when you're back, email <name>"