Mr_Grey

The Psychochronometron was a device made by a mad scientist in a gamble to "alter the past" utilizing psychic power to energize the device. Nobody actually "travelled," but Psycurse (or "Kurse" as we call him nowadays) was able to force his "vision" of specific events on history.

Since he didn't have direct control, nor did he have a true understanding of his opponent, he kind of messed things up for Overbrook when he threw the switch and altered the history of Faultine in a second.

So, that's what it did. It altered history, but it didn't provide for actual "travel."

Mm... I could have done better, but I mostly worked on an Electric/Pain Domination Corruptor I've been meaning to level up for a while. Got him to level 42. T helped me get his initial Patron arc completed, giving him proper Mu powers.

Also got my Titan Weapons Brute to +1

And my Ice Blaster to 37.

Finally, the last bit was a set of 30s and earning their new costumes.

It is, kind of... But you have to think about it. It's never out-and-out SAID who he is. You have to figure it out based on the backstory of DA.

You know what, I'm going to throw this out here. It's worth saying out in public.

I'll concede the numbers point. 2 will always be more than 1. And both are always more than 0. At the moment, the most we can work for is 3, and the argument for the higher-end stuff is that it's best to bring the hardest-hitting characters you can.

And you know what? I'll agree with that. If you can bring the +3s for the DD Trial, then bring them. Heck, the one time I brought a +1 for the DD, it was an ACCIDENT. I didn't even realize it was the DD that had been formed. Had I known what we were doing, I would have swapped to one of my +3s. I certainly did afterward.

Furthermore, this is a part of the challenge that has been bugging me:

By what measure is a flat 50? A character can still be a flat 50 and have Incarnate abilities. In fact, you could conceivably have ALL of the Incarnate powers and still be a flat 50. You don't need to have the Alpha Level Shift to utilize the Lore pet. Nor do you need to have an Alpha slotted to launch a Judgement attack.

As has been stated before, we've already been through this series of events. We've already struggled with the Lambda and BAF when they were first implemented and we only had +1s and more than a few players bringing their flat 50s to the Trials. Heck, we even battled our way through the Keyes when it was set to melt players, regardless of level shifts.

Those challenges can be done. We've done them. They were designed to be done with flat 50s.

Which is pretty much why it's eyeboggling when a player says he would prefer players bring level shifted characters to the Trials and that he feels he's carrying them if they don't. Since we've endured the +4 enemies issue plenty of times before, it's more than a little insulting to players who have demonstrated proficiency and discouraging for new players who have only just reached level 50 and are curious about the Incarnate system.

I'm thinking I should hold my tongue on this issue. Other people have said the points I would have better than I can.

I'm just going to say that the attitude of "You need this!" is really turning me off from I-Trials. Now, I'll agree with T that the Diabolique Trial needs high-end Incarnates... I'm not sure if everybody HAS to be +3, but I will join in with the doubt that flat 50s can complete it. I would like to see what a large number of force multipliers can do at Flat and +1, but I wouldn't hold out much hope for survival in any case.

But I wouldn't so much say the same about the rest of the trials. These are supposed to be a way for players to gather together and coordinate their efforts, utilizing their skills in something that's more than a Hamidon Raid.

First, the fix for Invulnerability that got rid of that nasty hole in its Defense (along with other changes that other players can argue about until their faces turn blue; I like the changes overall).

Second, Invention Origin sets. The mix has turned my Martial Arts/Invulnerability Scrapper into a wrecking machine.

Oh, and the Incarnate abilities have enabled me to turn my stone tank into something truly repulsive. A properly colored Void Judgement looks like a really, REALLY bad fart...

I had a lot of the same thoughts when I played through these arcs. There are a lot of questions that I've posed over the past couple years that finally got answered in these arcs. For instance, what is with Reichsman being so powerful "out of the box" and where was Requiem in all of that mess? The answer? Reichsman was in "limbo" in the box, thus maintaining his power. Requiem was apparently surprised at Reichsman's audacity and bided his time until the M. Bison expy was appropriately weakened to make his move. Is it a cheesy, throwaway answer? Yes. Do I care? Hell no. It's an answer. It could have been done better, but who cares. The Council/Fifth Column stuff needs to get a move on, and it needs to start picking up speed. Glossing over that detail is fine if they can start pushing the story from here on out.

And that's what a lot of the arcs in the New DA do, they set the stage for the future. They answer previously unanswered questions and show that the groups aren't entirely down and out (well, except the Knives of Artemis, I almost feel sorry for those caltrop-spamming girls now).

As for the story, and the way the villains are constantly talking to You, well...

The character who has become my Main Hero does have a brush with death as part of his backstory (Scrapper Invulnerability used to be a JOKE), so there were elements that hit close to home in that regard. Then came the missions where the contact would say "Would you like some help?"

By that point, I could practically hear my character barking "Hell no, I don't need help! I'm about to go punch out a GOD! Stand back and watch this!"

Despite the "famous last words," my character was able to make himself a nice leather suit out of all those dead minotaurs and later got himself a freaky head to throw on the wall. Awesomesauce. Rarely have I encountered content that made me FEEL the super of my superhero.

Having done a DD with a +1 level-shifted character, I can finally see what it is that Major T was talking about.

Still, I wouldn't say my character was "dead weight" or "worthless" as has been described by various players, either. I was still hitting enemies leading up to the Sentinel, and I was still dealing damage. Considering the fact that the teams were largely melee and damage types, too, with very little force multiplier support, I would say our ability to bring the Sentinel down to roughly 25% health before failure something of a success. I believe that even if everybody on that particular trial had been +3, with the same builds, we STILL wouldn't have succeeded. With just the addition of two Radiation Emission characters on the second run, we were able to snatch victory out of the jaws of defeat.

I still stand by my theory that well-formed teams, with buffs and debuffs to toss about mixed in with those who primarily conduct combat, will outmatch raw numbers teams that struggle furiously to beat the clock.

I'm like Blackleviathan up there. I LOVE when this happens.

The AV is among them? YES! I get to kick his a** over and over again!

SO MANY EXPEEEEEEEEEES!

Happy birthday, Woodscutter.

You keep knockin' 'em down!

From deep within the clutches of Work, I struggle with this Internet and crappy computer to wish you a happy birthday!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! FOR FREEDOM!

I've been telling you guys time and again, this isn't the story of our heroes and villains, it's the story of The Hero and The Villain. We get to relive moments of their lives. Now, The Praetorian, too. I suppose you could even include The Peacebringer, The Warshade and the Arachnos Soldier to those ranks.

For your own personal story? I suggest you take up roleplaying or writing, because it's the only way you're going to be satisfied with it. Everything else in-game is going to fall short one way or another.

Me? After playing much of the New Dark Astoria content, I gotta say I'm having a blast. Questions I've posed time and again have been answered (albeit in a quick "Oh yeah, this is what happened!" manner, but I'm fine with it). Situations left open have been addressed in a way that serves as a plot hook for the future. The game is PROGRESSING and showing no signs of wanting to slow down.

I'm happy with this. I want more.

I was feeling burned out before I-22. Now, I'm sitting on the edge of my seat again.

Bravo, Devs.

Congratulations!

Finally, something that's pushing the story forward...

Still... The world is becoming so much darker and dangerous... Statesman chose a Hell of a time to die.

Now the fate of the world is in our hands...

God help us all.

Terra... Definitely Terra.

When she's all green, gigantic and has tentacle roots where her face should be... Boy, does that get my blood PUMPIN'!

*claws out own eyes* AUGH!

The only thing that really bothered me about this one was how the "trap" is sprung without ANY warning.

Really? As paranoid as we should be at this point, we don't check for ANYTHING? Manticore doesn't, either!? What the Hell?

Then you defeat Wade's cohort and suddenly, BAM, Psyche's freaking and the world's coming to an end.

My Hero: "I freaking knew it..."

Still, we don't know how this is going to truly end. I just hope the last arc is longer than a couple or a few missions. Tell some more story here, don't just slap us into the situation anymore, dragging us by the seat of our pants by a Concord. It's about time we started wising up if we hope to win this. Enough blood is in the streets.

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Though, really, I'm wondering if we're just reeling from emotional whiplash. We went from a relatively sweet lovestory (well, as much as Recluse and his chief assassin Red Widow can love each other...; did we ever get word if Ghost Widow's patron arc is going to change because of that?) to BAM! DEATH! (Devs: "bwahahahahahahahaaaa!"). It can certainly be disorienting.

For now, Kyo, I'm planning on bringing Pop Roxxy. Kinetic Melee/Electric Armor.

Hm... I'm thinking I could join in for this. I think whichever characters I bring will be variable, though, as I have different characters who could use different things from each TF.

I botched the ritual and was still able to complete the arc.

There was no doom.

No fire.

No brimstone.

I'm disappointed now.

*along with a box of soul chocolate*

OMG I am so sorry I forgot about Valentine's Day! I hope this chocolate... I think it's chocolate... Helps... I had to go to Ye Olde Magic Shoppe, and you know how that place always freaks me out. I hope you don't mind, I had to ask Azuria and War Witch what would be best to help apologize and this is what they recommended.

Also, please don't worry about the missing candy... I couldn't help myself and just had to try one. Still don't know if I ate anything or if it just passed through my body... I took bites, and they disappeared... But it was like I wasn't even eating anything... And it was like the "echo" of the flavor of chocolate, if that makes any sense...

Sorry, I'm rambling.

With sincere affection,

Ray

*opens mouth to speak*
*pauses*
*thinks better of it*
*runs for the hills*

Happy birthday!