Memphis_Bill

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Well, since work today is bound to be DIRT FRICKING SLOW, I might be able to get the next chapter written there.

I had hoped to make a little 20-second video teaser to have you all frothing at the mouth, but I can't get onto the map I wanted without taking a full team through the Dark Watcher's arc, which I don't really want to do. Bleh.


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... hmmm. I sense another use for MA local missions. >.>

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Christ on a saltine?? Thanks Bill, never heard that one before, lol

** Just re-read that, and for clarification that was not sarcasm, I really have never heard that before :-P

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Heh. The (admittedly few) times I have, it's been "a cracker." I just felt like being somewhat more specific.

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If I can just throw my two cents in here...not that anyone will hear it over the complaining, but...


I for one am looking forward to the MA. To me, it represents not a farming tool, or an XP generator, but an opportunity to tell stores, and where appropriate, share those stories with others. I enjoy writing stories in my spare time anyway, and nearly every character I have in this game is more than just a collection of AT's, IOs and badges, they are living, breathing representations of an idea, concept or persona given form. I desperately hope I'm not the only one who sees more than just inherent mechanical flaws, but a blank canvas on which to paint ideas for others to enjoy. Okay, maybe not everyone has the passion for telling stories that I do, but still, it has to be worth something that they're allowing players to do this at all.

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Oh, don't you know, that's a complete and utter waste of time to actually try to enjoy, write, or tell stories. *rolls eyes*

Yeah, I'm pretty sick of the attitude, as well. "Quit wasting time on this, we don't get badges/pvp/uber drops every mob/zomg there's not the big end bonus/etc."

So freaking what. If you (in general, not the poster I'm replying to) don't think it's worth it, *don't do it and quit your bellyaching.* Enjoy the issue where what you DO like is dealt with.

Christ on a freaking saltine.

indeed.

Looks good!

"OK, OK, it's a robe not a dress!"

Thanks, and no - at least not in this particular story.

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It still hints at a transition of work.

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No, actually, it doesn't, unless you're looking for something to cry DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM over.

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I think the mission architect is going to cause a situation where the creative department will almost completely stop creating new quality story arcs.
What a friend told me when I mentioned what issue 14 was going to have he concluded something rather similar.
This is a very dangerous issue. When you put the creative direction in the hands of the community, that gives some of them a message similar to that of Neverwinter Nights.
"You make your own content, we're through."

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One problem (well, more than one, but we'll just go with your inspiration.) Neverwinter Nights wasn't an MMO.

Thanks, and thanks.

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You posted it! YAY!

Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite

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That I did. Thanks!

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Which drivers are you running? It seems that at this time, different drivers are required to run different NVidia cards. For instance, I'm running the Win 7 pre-release drivers downloaded through Windows Update without any issues. Some others though have had to use some of the Vista drivers. Also, are you running 32-bit or 64-bit Windows? Was it a clean install, or an upgrade from Vista?

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The drivers are the ones that came with the download. It's the 64-bit version, and it was a brand new hard drive I installed it on. I tried searching for Windows update drivers, but I haven't found anything.

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Hmmm, that's odd...unless it's already installed it, but the drivers should come up as an optional update when you open up Windows Update from either the Control Panel or the Action Center. If you right click on your desktop, is there an option for the NVidia Control Panel?

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I believe that update had to go through the control panel or dev. manager. (Been a bit.)

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*squeeeeeeeeals!* AWESOME!

*does the dance of happy Rachel!* You rock, Alex!

-Rachel-

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He does indeed.

Easy to work with, too.

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It would also be kind of cool if the Devs could award "bonus slots" to designers that achieve certain thresholds of popular arc, most run, selected for Dev notice, etc. If such developers are really that good at producing arcs the rest of the player base likes to see, why not give them a bit of a larger stage to dispay their talents?

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I definitely think that people who have arcs "blessed" should be encouraged to produce more arcs, even though they might still be restricted to having only 3 "published but unblessed" arcs at a time.

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Dev and Peoples choices will be moved out of the published slots, freeing one up, as I recall.

No word on what other rewards might be.

Also, head over to DeviantArt. Or, better yet, track down one of Thors Assassin's posts and go through his commissionable artists links.

People there will often say (a) if they're available, (b) have multiple offerings, and (c) give you a price list.

Hmmm....

*digs through photos*

Louisville Slaughter came to mind first. Still play her on occasion.

But, to me, she's not quite the same as Sweet Child of Mimes.

Hmmm, so many characters...

How about a newbie, Carine Lucidia:
Image.

Her story -

She was an orphan, never having known her parents, just the orphanage. Still, she was there for everyone, being a big sister to the younger kids. Even when she was finally brought in to a loving family, she went back to volunteer her time and help out.

Then the Rikti came back, and took both her families from her. The only ones left that she could find were two of the younger kids who had wandered away. She did her best to keep them calm and get them to shelter - until she heard the distinct sound of a Rikti portal nearby. She didn't know why they were being targeted, just that she had to watch the kids. She shielded them, pushing them into a corner and covering them with her body as the Mentalist attacked.

Instead of being hurt or killed, the attack instead woke something up in her. Something she used to defend the children. And uses now to help protect the city.

As for her look -

She's still new at this, so there's nothing particularly ornate about the costume. It's comfortable but still her.

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Personally, I'm curious how they're going to present all this player-made content without it seeming overwhelming or greatly diluting of the existing content.

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I don't see it diluting existing content.

The "Overwhelming," though - that I could see as, potentially, an issue. I think the published arc limit is a tentative step towards controlling that - with three arcs per account, even the most prolific creator is going to have to sit and consider strongly what they want published - which in theory could give them time to polish more.

Honestly, I see a lot of opportunity in the Architect. If, say, a host of DA missions come up and stay there, it would probably guide the devs into considering the zone for new content or a makeover. Or a "501st" could happen, where a piece of player-made lore (or player explored) becomes official. I don't see it happening *often,* and Devs Choice selections should not be confused with "Official canon," but I see the possibility.

Plus, to me, it's an extension of how the devs are with the playerbase anyway. They talk here, more freely typically than other dev teams (where you speak through an "official representative" - imagine everything going through, say, Niviene, instead of getting replies from Castle, BABs and the crew) - and now they get to see what *we* see and can do with their world, and give feedback as well.

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*wonders how many more free trailers for the game she has to make to qualify for permanent closed beta access*

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i wonder what makes you think you are entitled to something more than the rest of the playerbase

your videos are pretty good, but they do little to show the features of the new issues in action

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I wonder what makes you think *you* have any place to talk.

Follow the link in Thors Assassin's sig to his commissionable artists page - lots of samples and links and such. It's a good resource.

I've also sent you a PM. I'm not an artist, but I do commission them at times

Happy b'day!

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I should probably either have said something earlier or waited until I see how it has been implimented, but I have one request for the mission architect.

I want recognition of exceptional player written material to be based on merit not popularity.

To put it simply, I want to see the best of the best receive rewards. I don't want to walk into a mission that has received acclaim and think to myself "I could write something better than this" or just as likely "I have written something better than this".


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IIRC, there are going to be two (that we know of) ways to get recognition - one by players (hall of fame,) the other, "Devs Choice." There may be others.

I'm half wondering if we can throw a special category out there - for doing things like writing tutorials. Then again, unpublished missions can be shared (IIRC) anyway.

Hmmm.... *listens to creaks as wheels start turning.*

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Hey Dark, I don't think he means he didn't care about I14 until he saw your vid, just that I14 had lost a fair amount of it's prominance in the public eye until you video brought it back to the for-front.

I mean, before I13 dropped I had literally gotten sick of hearing about "I13's gonna ruin this" and "I13 gonna kill PVP" I mean I had really gotten to the point of HEaring I13 and just blotting out whoever was talking about it. Then I saw your video for it, and I was like "Oh wait. I13 isn't all doom, gloom and destruction".

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Seconding this.

I enjoy the game too much to ignore the forum... and all the I13 (and now "I14's a waste, this is stupid, just do I15 already") nonsense gets grating.

The vid's a big antidote

Three weeks later

It was a particularly dreary day in Paragon. The rain fell colder than was usual this time of year. All the news was about The Doctor and the fuss over jury selection, where the trial would be held, all the technicalities of putting someone away for life. Longbow had made sure the papers included a little blurb about an "unnamed assistant" having pled guilty and "being moved to a maximum security facility, her first chance of parole coming up in fifty four years."

Caitlyn ignored the news. She'd worked on her tan a bit, enjoying being able to go to the beach to just relax instead of send messages, go without a retinue of armed guards, go and wear a bikini. She'd shopped, eaten all the wrong things, caught up with friends, watched a movie (and been able to enjoy it instead of waiting for a contact or having to remember to be armed before she went,) slept 'til noon... She was on vacation.

But she had a decision to make.

In truth, she'd made it a while ago. She told Alex when she joined Longbow that she needed something of hers. And she'd worked her way up to Captain, brought down The Doctor and several terrorist cells. She still felt a little guilty about the people that had gotten hurt, but she'd finally realized that many, many more would have been hurt if not for her.

Caitlyn figured that one of the lessons of growing up was simply "You can't win them all." It sucked, but it was true. And as much as the good outweighed the bad, she figured she could live with that.

She watched as she crossed the street, rain sloughing off her raincoat, the ends of her hair that weren't under the plastic rain bonnet getting soaked. A few minutes later she was in the house.

"Sweetie, you're soaked!" Therra said, reaching for her coat. Caitlyn just grinned and held her coat close, causing Therra to raise an eyebrow. "I see," she said, letting a little smile through. "John, Alex, would you come here for a minute? I think Erin has something to tell us." She turned, holding out her hand as Erin took off the hat and hanging it to dry in the closet.

"What's up?" asked her father as he and her brother came around.

"I've made my decision," Erin said. "Alex, as far as your offer - I'll accept, but more as a salaried consultant, if that's OK. I need a real job, but it has to deal with odd hours."

"Of course, sis. So you're not going back to Longbow?" he replied, figuring it was what she'd say.

"Nope," she said, removing her coat with a flourish. "I'm going out on my own."

The three smiled at her as they looked at the newly revealed costume she'd just gotten from Serge, the black and green contrasting nicely in a distinctive pattern, the skirt ending with a flare. "I've got one with actual legs for winter. I might be able to control ice. Doesn't mean I want to feel like it." She curtseyed at the applause, reddening a little as she had when they'd done the same thing with her prom dress. Caitlyn still wasn't comfortable with attention.

"And your name?" Therra asked. "What did you register under?"

"I decided I wasn't hiding any more. I've had enough of that." She walked up and hugged her parents. "You two fought in your own names, and Alex, even with a company to risk, hasn't hid his identity. I've been someone else for months, and I'm not leading a double life any more. Besides, I'm proud of my family, and proud of who I am. Let them know my name - the one the Lady chose. Caitlyn Snow."

Caitlyn found herself on the couch curled up against her mother, much as she used to as a little girl. Of course, she didn't have glasses now and Alex wasn't running around or trying to steal the book she was reading. Things were a bit quieter these days.

"So what did you do?" Therra asked, the television playing softly in the background. Alex was leaning forward, and her father was listening just as intently.

"I told them I'd think about it," she said with a shrug. "So I'm on leave, I'm still with longbow, non recallable, for the next month, I'm still a Captain, and if I say so they'll turn the papers in. They did make a good point about needing to decompress, especially after the last week of meetings and such. I just haven't had a chance to."

"Well, when" Alex started, then held up his hand, "If you decide to leave them, my offer's still open."

"What offer?" Therra asked. Caitlyn just smiled.

"He offered to hire me so I wouldn't join Longbow. He has some delusion that I have organizational skills that would help his company."

"I wouldn't call it a delusion, honey," said her father. "Look at what you did. Not only did you set up your own network, but you managed to keep it hidden, and set up a secondary network with the timetables and data to intercept shipments from the first, keeping that hidden from the first network and your 'employers.'"

"Plus I'm the only one who can see that on your resume," Alex added with a grin. "You don't have to answer now. They're right, you need a vacation. But I am serious. And someone has to keep an eye on you so you don't run off like that again."

"Alex, I'm older than you."

"By five minutes. Hardly wisdom of the ages there," he said, his grin growing with their old familiar back-and-forth.

"OK, you two, any more of that and I turn this couch around and nobody gets ice cream," Therra said, chuckling. "Erin, your room's still where it was. You look exhausted."

Caitlyn yawned in response. "Thanks, mom."

As she left, followed shortly by Alex, Therra got up and just stood, watching the door after a stretch. She found her husband's arms wrapped around her waist. She leaned her head against his chest. "I have my baby back finally," she said, feeling months of stress and worry just melt away.

===

Caitlyn was just getting undressed, putting her uniform to the side when she heard the knock. "Just a minute, Alex." She finished getting into her nightshirt and let him in. "Hey." She knew to expect him. They'd never been apart this long.

"So. Now you can tell me. Are you OK?"

Caitlyn just looked at him, and he came to sit behind her on the bed, putting his arms around her waist as she broke down crying, stroking her hair and holding on to her. "Thought so," he whispered, just rocking. "It's ok, I'm here. You don't have to tell me, just let it all out." He handed her kleenex as she needed it.

"All those people, Alex. Every shipment we missed. I knew what the things I was sending out could do, we tried to stop them but if I did, we'd lose him and more people... And the people in his lab, those poor people, the things he was doing to them... and I'm not getting married any more, he left me when I needed him not to, needed him here... and not being able to talk to anyone, and the things I had to do just to get to that madman...." It all spilled out as she sobbed, balled her fists, wanted to scream, wanted to cry more, months of it just coming out.

He just sat there and held her, reassuring her, the two of them talking as she calmed until he saw her head droop, then gently lay her down, tucking her covers up and kissing her forehead. He looked around and smiled, then tucked the teddy bear of his he'd given her as a child on another night she'd been frightened under her arm. He got up knowing she was finally all right.

"Sleep tight, sis."

Alex turned the lights off as he left.