Nemo_Utopia

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Hmm. I'd prefer it if you didn't blow yourself in my thread, please...



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lol


I was not!!


I was blowing the smoke out of the way!

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Well, geez, if all you're doing is blowing smoke, send the ladies my way. They certainly won't be dissapointed

((glad I could share, and even more glad to see it turned out to be the story I intended ))

[edit] ((Actually, I'm still working on the origin story for my Peacebringer. The story is done, but the devil's in the details...I'll post it too, when I get the chance after a final edit, and it's an extension of Gregory[Star Scout MK-4]'s story since it's a continuation effect))[/edit]

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Essentially, anything over 3 slots of the same type of enhancement is a complete waste (well, effectively).

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This is correct. 6-slotting for damage WILL still give you more damage than 3-slotting. But it's such a little boost that it's really not worth it. (like 5% per slot, as opposed to the normal 33% per slot)

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Please note that if you choose to add more than three enhancements of the same type in a power, you may as well use a TO in that slot rather than an SO. The enhancement from the TO exceeds the amount allowed, so using a DO or SO is a complete waste.

For example, under Schedule A, Enhancements 4-6 give only a benefit of 5%. Schedule A Traning Enhancements give 8.5%, which is, of course, greater than the 5% cap. Adding three extra slots will give you a benefit of 15%, and you should only use TO's in those slots.

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Erm, no. Adding three SOs will add an extra 15% (or very close to it). Adding three TOs will only provide about 3.825% extra damage. If you're going die hard damage, it's better to get +~115% than +~103.825%.

Scout's sensor visor registered a buildup of electromagnetic energy...normally, this wouldn't be a problem because of its diffusion systems, but they weren't active yet! Two timers counted down in Scout's processor, one for his systems to finish integrating, and one for the incoming pulse. While to a normal human this would have registered in only zero point six eight seconds' time, to a robot that viewed the world with nano-second processors, it seemed like an eternity...the countdown's both hit zero within a microsecond of each other. Scout found itself unable to utilize its servomotors...it was stuck until auto-reintegration could commence, and all the robot could do was watch and store the lesson learned in its databanks as it waited to be able to move. It would take approximately one five point three three three three three seconds for its systems to overcome the surge, and so much could happen in that time...

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Great info, any chance of forumlae for schedule C (interrupt, 40/20/10) and D (knockback, 60/30/15) enhancements as well?

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Red, the formulas you want should look like:

Schedule C:

y = x ; [0%,80%]
y = 8% + 0.9x ; (80%,100%]
y = 28% + 0.7x ; (100%,120%]
y = 94% + 0.15x ; (120%,INFINITY)


and Schedule D:

y = x ; [0%,120%]
y = 12% + 0.9x ; (120%,150%]
y = 42% + 0.7x ; (150%,180%]
y = 141% + 0.15x ; (180%,INFINITY)

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Anyone can feel free to check, and a confirmation would be good, but that should be right.

((Well, here goes nothing. I just finalized the backstory on my main hero, and I guess this is the best place. Let me know what you think. It's a bit long, so bear with me. Enjoy, and send feedback if you like it, find a typo, or see something that can be improved ))

A Star Is Born

Dark. No. Light. Not bright…just there. Where? Here and there? Eyes flutter but won’t open…a woman’s gasp. The beeps of a heart monitor…not in sync…who’s? Someo…Darkness

Voices “Son. Gregory. It’s dad, I need…I need you to watch them for me.”
“Brother, please, wake up…”
“Sir…sir, he can’t hear you…he’s barely with us.”
“Son, if you can hear me…I have to go. I might not come back. It’s war, now.”
Dad? Marie? Another voice…who…?

A raspy voice managed to breathe out, “Dad…?” His own? So dry…a grip, on his hand. Could only be dad. Where?

“Son?! Gregory, talk to me…”

Eyes fluttered open weakly, seeing the strong face of Howard Ridgevue. “Dad, what…” Gripping his father’s hand as tightly as he could. “Where?”

“You’re in the hospital, Greg, there was an explosion at the lab. You’ll be fine, son, just stick with us. Something…something else has happened, just yesterday. You can learn about it later. You need to know that I have to go…it’s war.”

“Wa…r?”

“Son…I need you to be strong. I might…I might not be able to watch over you anymore and I need…I need to know you’ll come through. Take care of your mother…your siblings…for me.”

Sobbing in the corner…Marie?

“Da..d. I…I love you, man…” Gregory managed, with a weak smile.

Smiling back and gripping Greg’s hand tightly, Howard fought back tears and a chuckle all at once. “That’s fine, son…you’re still not getting my Bud Lite. I love you, too.”

Gregory felt his chest move, an attempt at laughter… Darkness

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Gregory opened his eyes and heard the beep of a heart monitor. Everything was white…he was in the hospital? He had been in the lab earlier, but what…the lab! Gregory tried to rise and fell back on the hospital bed weakly, finding it hard to move. The lab…

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The Accident

The hum of scientific equipment, the lights of computer monitors. Gregory leaned over his station attentively in his white lab coat, monitoring the current energy readings on the new flux-inhibitor. If he could just get the inhibtor right, the cybernetics he had been developing could finally be tested, could help people like amputees. Suddenly the lab shook, and Gregory looked around pensively. He tried to raise Crey’s guard tower on the com unit, but only got intense static. “Station B9-7-RF, calling Main Tower…calling Main Tower…anyone?” He dropped the standard unit in disgust and heard a resounding BOOM and gripped the nearest workbench almost in a panic as another quake came.

“Wha…?” was all he had time to say as a deafening roar filled the room as the far wall exploded and the ceiling collapsed. Unable even to pray, he raised his left arm to protect himself…from the explosion or the ceiling he couldn’t say. Darkness

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The hospital room came back, and Gregory saw a nurse standing worriedly over him, asking something…shaking his head slowly from side to side, he looked her in the eye.

“I’m sorry, I just…memories…was there an accident at Crey? Can I have some water?”

The nurse handed him a cup and spoke gently, “Sir…you…we were afraid you wouldn’t make it.”

Looking a little confused, Gregory wondered why on earth his left hand hadn’t come to grasp the cup with his right. Looking over he realized – it was in a cast…like his legs. He gaped slightly and mouthed like a fish, unable to speak as the nurse continued.

“You were…injured…the doctors…they don’t think you’ll walk…I…”

Calmly Gregory spoke up, coming out of his shock, “No…no. It’s…I’ll be fine. I just…I want to know everything just…not right now.” A weak smile met the same from the nurse, and she nodded as she walked to check on other patients.

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The Road To Recovery, Shining From Dark Space

The next month was a blur as Gregory recovered, learning a little more every day. He learned of the accident. He learned of the lawsuit which Crey settled to avoid the courts (even the Countess didn’t want this publicity at all). He learned of the Rikti attack, how his father with his group of Uncle Sam’s military heroes, Patton’s Platoon, had been among the valiant front line against the invasion…and among the first to fall. The Platoon had been like a crew of aunts and uncles, friends that meant as much as family…and their losses each hurt nearly as much as that of his father. The rest family was safe, and heroes had come to Paragon City.

When he was finally released, he contacted Crey Industries about his research. At first, he was met with the standard brushing off, but the words “volunteer test subject” caught ears. Meeting a representative from Crey in his wheelchair, he had made up his mind.

“Sir, you realize the legal implication of such a thing?”

“Yes. I’ll sign any contract. What I want is simple. I finish my research on the inhibitor. I build the parts and limbs. I’m the first test subject, and as a volunteer bypass all the restrictions and inspections the Countess hates. It’ll be a success, and she’ll have a product for use that’s 100% tested safe. After that, I just don’t care. The patent, the extra funding money, time lost, severance, everything. The original settlement and the limbs are mine. The Countess can take the rest, and will never hear from me again. No more suits, no publicity, no media, no ‘oh, woe is me’, a categorical refusal for inclusion in any documentary or investigative journalism or movie or book, everything.”

A few moments passed, and Gregory knew it was the Countess herself talking to the representative over his ear com-unit. “Crey Industries finds your proposal…mutually beneficial. Sign here.”

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A Day Of Revelation

It was bright and sunny out, and Gregory truly appreciated walking again. The synthetic skin he had designed even made him look like his old self, and he could feel again! It helped that he didn’t feel cold to everyone who shook his hand now, too. He was walking by and a thug suddenly jumped out and started grabbing at a woman’s purse right in front of him. Without hesitation, Gregory swung a left hook (his cybernetic arm) and laid the crook out flat with a resounding “Clang!” Gregory mistook the woman’s sudden staring and started to stammer. “Miss…I just…I was trying…”

“Oh, no need to bother, I’m not calling the cops. You saved me. Where’s your costume?”

Gregory was stunned for a second, and gaped. “Costume?”

“Yes, all registered deputized heroes have costumes, silly. They wouldn’t be called ‘tights’ all the time by hooligans otherwise.”

Gregory looked left and right warily, wondering what was going on. No one had filled him in on this ‘hero’ stuff. “Riiiiiiiiight. It’s…um…uh…”

The woman laughed for a second, and then looked ashamed when she realized he was serious. “Oh, oh, you’re not registered are you, here, just take this and it will fill you in.” She scribbled something on the back and smiled as she put the brochure in Gregory’s hand, holding his hand for a long moment. Then she walked away.

“Um…thanks…” Gregory walked slowly back to his basement laboratory (he was a successful independent research consultant now) and mulled over the brochure. As he finished the brochure, he also realized she had left a seven digit number and a scribbled note on the back. Well that was o…?!?!?! Well, she did seem to think he was funny. Why not? At least he could learn more about this hero stuff. And besides…she was cute.

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A Crazy Idea

After being filled in on all the hero info (and getting invited to dinner), Gregory just needed himself to be alone to think. He had never though about actually being a hero hero. But something about it called to him, and he remembered his dad’s voice… He had been working on an exo-suit project, one that could be used to protect workers in dangerous situations. And he’d already converted a prototype over for guarding the lab. And the attack systems needed testing for the MK-4 military version. Grabbing his white and blue lamination tools, Gregory had an idea.

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Testing The Waters

Gregory looked at himself in the mirror, wearing his MK-4 armor. It was new in white and blue…something about it reminded him of old comic books he’d read, but it seemed practical instead of fantastical. He looked almost like a robot, really…but it was fairly clear it was powered armor. Well, the only way to know was to see what someone else thought. And tonight was when Sarah had invited him to dinner. And he could drop by mom and Marie the next morning before actually doing something crazy like registering as a deputized hero.

Knocking gently on the door with his oversized gauntlet, Gregory felt his breath catch as he saw Sarah standing there to greet him. She looked absolutely stunning in a dress and heels that made him wonder why she wasn’t out dancing. She smiled and said, “When you’re done acting like a statue, you can come in you know. I’m glad you found your costume!”

Remembering to breathe, Gregory replied quickly, “Well, you know, the clown suit’s at the dry cleaners and the tutu is in the wash, so…”

Laughing again, she took his oversized gauntlet and led him in. “It looks great. So what’s your name, what do you do? You can’t just be called ‘that guy’ or ‘The Walking Erector Set.’”

Blushing a bit, Gregory timidly muttered, “Uh…well…I hadn’t really gotten the name thing down, I was…uh…I was hoping maybe you could help?”

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What’s In A Name?

The next day, Gregory took Sarah along with him and wore his armor, carrying his helmet under his arm. He could only wonder what mom would say seeing him in this. Marie opened the door, and Anthony was just inside.

Anthony was wearing his service uniform, and when he saw Gregory drawled, “Okay, I don’t even want to know what you did this time. If you need armor and a lawyer to protect you from mom that bad, it’s probably best if I don’t know about it.”

“Har, har, good to see you too. Let’s just get everything in the family room so I only have to go over things once.”

Marie’s voice picked up loudly “MOOOOOOom, Greg’s here to see us! Come downstairs already!”

When everyone had gathered in the family room, Gregory stood up and knew the speech he’d practiced wasn’t going to do. In his public speaking voice and trying not to tremble, he began “Mom, Marie, Anthony, this is Sarah and…”

“You’re getting married already, hon, it’s a little rushed don’t you think? You didn’t have to dress up like that to tell me, you know…”

Anthony and Marie burst out into gales of laughter as Sarah giggled uncontrollably behind him. Gregory sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose in exasperation. “Mom. We’ve been over this. Completing my sentences before you say anything.”

“Oh, alright dear, but you really should look into set…”

”MOM.”

“Okay, dear, calm down.”

Anthony and Marie had managed to get their laughter under control by now, but still had some giggling fits as Gregory continued. “You all remember the accident, and my work. I got cybernetics I made, and I’ve been working on some independent contracts, powered suits to protect government workers and such. Well, I figured that I can help people around here with some of this, that this suit I’m wearing now, a military prototype…I could put my energy research to use and be…well…I could get deputized.”

There was a long pause as the room was quiet.

Marie spoke first, “Are you sure, Greg…I mean…is it safe?”

Anthony interjected, “Of course it’s not safe, it’s like being a police officer. Only you face…all that stuff. I stand by it, I think he knows what he’s doing.

Marie nodded, and Gregory looked at his mom, unsure of what to say. “Mom?”

“I just…when your father went to face the Rikti…it’s just…I don’t…”

Gregory spoke up softly, “Mom, I understand. It’s something I’ve thought about. I think…I think it’s what dad would have wanted. The mediport system is really good, the chances of preventing anything serious happening with a mediport tag active is statistically higher than any prevention system in the world. I’ll be with other heroes, constantly working on the armor to make it better. The armor can stand up to some serious punishment too. I…” Gregory’s voice lowered to a whisper, “I just wish I’d had this stuff ready for dad and the Platoon. Maybe then they wou…they wouldn’t…”

Anthony broke the tension, “You can’t blame yourself, bro. I think you’ve got the right idea, I think dad would be proud of you making this decision.”

Looking Gregory in the eye, his mother spoke in her determined voice, “Anthony’s right. Howard would be speechless right now, so proud of you. Just…be as careful as you can, okay?”

Sarah spoke up for the first time, “So, what are we going to call this lunatic in his bucket of bolts?”

“Oh, thank you so much for your vote of confidence, Sarah, I’m so glad you’re here.”

She fake punched Gregory in the head, pushing him so he rocked a bit on the couch. “Well, you need a good name. I don’t want to know that I helped encourage some ridiculous name like ‘Mighty Max’ or ‘Serious Steve’ or ‘Man who loves pudding’ get deputized.”

Marie excitedly chimed in, “Well, you were a Boy Scout right? You made Eagle? How about Super Scout?”

Sarah rolled her eyes as Anthony groaned, “Seriously, sis, Super Scout? He may as well paint a target on his chest and say ‘shoot me now, I’m easy!’ I mean, he could at least use a rank name or variation. I’d think ‘The Timid Tender Toes’ works best.”

Marie punched Anthony in the arm, “And you said I had a bad idea?”

Gregory had an idea. “Well, he’s on the right track anyway. Or was, anyway, before his train of thought derailed at the station. How about Star Scout? Life Scout just sounds weird, Eagle Scout’s kind of…well…cheesy. It’s the MK-4 armor, too, so I could be Star Scout MK-4.”

Sarah laughed. “I like it. What do you all say we take this crazy man down to City Hall in Atlas to get registered?”

And so one hero’s story began…

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[edit]((certain names were wrong due to old naming conventions and missing them in the proof-read. Fixed now ))[/edit]

While jumping through the air, Scout had realized too late that its energy diffusion systems hadn't been active since they hadn't been needed for battling the thugs. 01000011011100100111010101100100! The blast hit dead center and knocked the robot out of the air about two feet from the decoys. Knowing that yielding any more would be a mistake, Scout stood and activated all defense systems, unable to act for those precious seconds it took for the power-up cycles to complete. At least the chasis didn't appear to have been damaged noticably...

Star Scout had trouble computing the Phantasm's sudden action, and turned quickly. Seeing the Rikti close on Shinae, Shinae closing on Brawler, the decoys, the rain...there. Recognizing that the floating decoy was a threat but not the source, Scout tried to make out which energy signature was really Hal...but the four all read the same radiation spike. Charging in, Scout used its sound projector to replay the sound of a rushing train projected forward to try and grab attention, and spun around whirling its mighty energy-aided gauntlets amidst the decoys, hoping to knock out or at least distract the source...

Star Scout MK-1 recognized a good tactic when it heard one, but orders from a Rikti? Well, they could sort it out later...Scout was sure Neimand would help set up a brawl if it asked. Jumping forward, Star Scout landed in front of the strange energy signal, unsure of what to do. The old adage "fight fire with fire" passed through Star's memory banks...so it decided why not hit the construct with his own energy? Back to boxing mode in the split second it took from landing to standing, Star tested the waters with a simple punch of energy...

Scout assumed a boxing pose and noticed the Rikti's brusque manner. In a mechanical voice, it responded "So it does, and strange bedfellows it brings." Hearing the burst of the rifle, Scout watched, waiting to respond to the opposing team's action...

Notcing only two thugs left, Star Scout watched as they fell over, burning from the lasting effects of the fireballs. Hearing the roar of the crowd over the show, Star Scout strode over to the one that kept struggling to get up and kneeled down. A well placed "konk" fnished that, with a ripple of laughter from the audience. Standing slowly, Scout waited in a boxer's stance for what might come...

Reacting quickly, Scout lept lightly to re-foot itself on the icepatch, and deftly intercepted a thug sent flying by the Phantasm in mid-air...the fist sent the thug off the patch, but he certainly wasn't getting back up. Seeing most of the thugs flailing to stand up, it decided to go after the one that seemed to not be slipping...who was surprisingly close. A light tap on the shoulder got his attention, and a quick left jab downed the burning thug. Scout realized it was at the edge of the ice patch now, away from the other thugs, and began to trun around deliberatly so as not to slip...

Noting the rain of fire taking place and the panicked thugs, MK-1 gathered the time had come to show off for the crowd. Taking a second to compile his "WWNHMD" routine (("What would Neimand have me do?")), he decided the best course of action. Crouching low, Star Scout MK-1 used all the hydraulic strength in its legs to leap heaven ward....

...and land with a discernable "THUD!" amidst the thugs and fire, a meteor from the sky, one fist aiding impact and the other raised for a blow against the nearest thug.

Star Scout MK-1 took in its surroundings, sizing up the competition. It recognized that Neimand probably wanted him to use what he had learned of boxing and leave his energy aided attacks to a minimum...a confirmed data point: lethal force was a no. Just as this assesment was made there was a bright flash...Scout turned and saw the source, a man concentrating with a strange, floating energy pattern floating near him. Making a note, Scout began to release itself from more structured programming and let itself drop into practiced improvision routines. Assuming a traditional boxing stance, it began advancing towards the thugs, keeping track of the other battlers.

Neimand walked lazily into the room where his gladiators prepared. He raised an eyebrow quizzically to find them all seated around a round table playing what appeared to be a variation of Texas Hold 'Em, Star Scout MK-1 comically too large for a seat and instead crosslegged on the floor. They all looked at seeing Neimand enter. Donna Eerie broke the tension...

"So the first bout is about to begin?" Neimand nodded.

Blauer Bogenschütze spoke softly, "So what's the drop, man?"

Neimand pulled out a small deck of cards, and spread them out fanwise. "The choice is by chance, the round for the spectators."

Each hero chose their card in turn and compared, then set them on the poker table. Neimand chuckled. "Well, Scout, Ace of Spades. Looks like you're the first contestant."

The other heroes shrugged and went back to their game, although the Bowman grunted and grumbled. It was clear they were all listening attentively as Neimand explained the round to Star Scout. Matter of factly, Neimand told, "Two on two. Preliminary. Scripted. Eight thugs. Temperature extremes will cause transport out once they pass high oven or instant freeze. You think you can handle being WWE for a bit?"

Star Scout MK-1 nodded its head and pumped one gauntlet into the other. "Affirmative." With a steady stride, it moved to the waiting area, knowing Neimand would let it know the rest of the details soon. As Scout closed the door on the way out, its auditory sensors picked up Quixotica's whispered wish of luck...

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(OOC:Nice characters, though I kinda like downplaying the resemblance to in-game archetypes. It's a little restricting...)

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((I do too, but just because you're an in-game archetype doesn't mean you can't use the powers in creative ways. After all, you can't really interact with or use the battlefield to your advantage in-game...but you sure can with RP! Expect to see some unexpected uses of common powers, and I hope we get that fourth person soon... ))

((Oh, what the heck. Here goes nothing...))

Master: Neimand Nirgendwo - A man of 6'2" and solid stature, he appears wearing simple, square glasses and a loose ponytail. His hair and eyes are the same shade of mahogony brown, and his skin is the white of one of German descent. He wears simple, loose garb, currently dressed in comfortable jeans, a perhaps one-size too large tee shirt, and sandals. Typically quiet, he has come out of an unknown interest (and a desire to impress with his gladiators). Typically quiet, this simply hides his cordial nature and ability to be rather long-winded. He became a member and investor of the Arena Trust in its early formation to try and get the most gain from any profits. He has no known abilities, but may simply be choosing to not reveal any at this time.

Gladiators - 1) Quixotica. Quixotica is an Energy Manipulator (Energy/Energy Blaster, Force Epic, powers are identical to these pools (she does NOT have PFF)). She has shown the ability to fold space (Teleport) around allies (Recall Friend) and fly (umm...Fly, duh). She is of average height and is a little quick to take offense, but knows her own limits.

2) Blauer Bogenschütze - Blauer Bogenschütze is an American man of twenty-two who found early his skill with a bow. After the Rikti Invasion, Blauer Bogenschütze took to donning a blue body suit of armor padding, his mask, faithful bow, and quiver or tricks to help stop crime in his area. Taking the wasp as his symbol he knows he is not the mightiest or fastest of heroes, but uses his cunning and skill to tilt matches in his favor. ((Generally, he is a Trick Arrow/Archery power setup, having a limited jump capacity in his boots (CJ, SJ) and a few home-grown tricks for payloads.))

3) The Stinky Avenger - A devout man of faith who considers himself a skunk furr and has a love of superheroes. One day after the Rikti Invasion, an ancient force granted his every wish: He is now a superhero with Skunk and Faith based powers ((this correlates to an imaginative expression of Radiation Emission and Blast)), and take the fight to the bad people wherever they are! He has come to train himself, after a recent string of mishaps on missions related to allies avoiding him.

4) Star Scout MK-1 - The first iteration of the Star Scout armors, MK-1 was originally a 7'6" exo-suit. Converted to a sentient robot for guarding the lab, MK-1 is an extremely resilient model. Energy attack systems imbed its giant fists, giving each punch a lot of added "umph." ((Invul set, not truly invulnerable, Energy Melee attacks [he's a Tanker, folks].)) Internal hydraulics allow for great jumping capacity, and it has learned to box from a friendly marital artist ((has Boxing, Tough, and Weave)). Quirky in nature, it seeks to better itself to help others, but doesn't always fully compute situations well.

5) Cuore Luminoso - A Peacebringer of unknown origin, it is believed that he is a current hero of Paragon City who chose to alter his physical appearance using his power to shape himself and fight in the Arena without being "himself." Under the guise of Bright Heart, he has come for a good rumble. He is rather fixated with women and can be a sucker at times, but is otherwise generally pretty bright (no pun intended). ((Cuore is an experienced Peacebringer (whose identity may be later revealed!) and has most PB powers and no power pool powers.))

6) Professor Eerie - A mystical sorceress, Donna Eerie has control over sound and air. She is generally book-wormish and comes off as something of a know-it-all. ((Her powers don't have true in-game analogs, but are closest to to a Stormie/Sonic. This is a generalization, and her magic requires mystical focus and concentration, and control requires all of her senses. Broken concentration and lost senses can result in sporadic results and fizzling.))

[edit] ((Oh, and Super Roby is awesomeness )) [/edit]

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Codepiece of Glory?

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)_)...(_(...I'll let Clint explain that one...

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<ul type="square">[*] Trench Coats will be part of the Veteran Rewards System. You will earn this Prestige item after ~3 months of having an active account.[/list]
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Shouldn't that be 3 years? 3 months is still relatively a new player. I don't understand how a player is considered to be a Veteran after only 3 years.

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Veteran rewards system scale. Some rewards come early, others late. So you might get silly stuff (like the trench coats) after three months, but something with more prestige (and possibly some small, in-game effect) after, say, three years.

Best way to find powerset guides is to check the forum for that AT, click the guides thread, and see who has posted there. Many guides will be on the front post (regularly updated via admins by players) and checking the back page (most likely to have guides that were posted after the last update).

Name: The Bowlers

Shard: City of Heroes (possible for Villains)

Overall Theme: The Bowlers bowl...the idea is that a group of people in the Paragon City Bowling League have decided to help the city fight crime with their unique talents!

Group Makeup: This team is just like the Spectacular Seven Makeup one, but not restricted by AT. Instead, any AT is welcome but maximum KB is a must. Stormies or those with Repel/Repulsion Field are very welcome, Energy Blast is standard across Defenders and Blasters. Tankers should be Super Strength and Scrappers should be Martial Arts, but secondary doesn't matter. Controllers should be Gravity, but a Mind or Illusion will do in a pinch. Again, slotting and power selection is for Knockback (and enough Acc to reliably hit).

Backstory: This is really just a crazy idea I had, but the backstory is that every member is part of the Paragon Bowling League.

Strategy and Powers: KB, KD, KB, KU, KB. Knocking enemies around is what matters. The only real strategy is to keep enemies on their butts to mop them up (like any KB theme group). Assault and Tactics are likely musts, since slotting for KB precludes slotting for other things.

Costume, Names, Design: Puns. The Costumes should all look like a standard tournament bowler's uniform, and all be the same. Alternately, two teams can have different colors and be competing teams (even on the same team, this can work). Names should be things directly related to bowling: Strike, Spare, Double, Turkey, Gutter, Split, Approach (for the bowler's step up), Arsenal (yes, this is a real bowling term: think a golfer's set of clubs...this is the set of balls), Baby Split, Backswing...you get the idea. Obviously, no copyrighted names, but try looking up Bowling terms and the best way to thematically pair them up with ATs or RL friends. Enemies (NPCs or, in PvP, other players) will always be reffered to by the PBL as "pins" or "pin-heads." Tankers are thought to carry all the equipment "between lanes" (missions). You get the idea. Nova is also a must take power, and remember that the Blaster needs to get a strike, cause the team can't spare him if there's a split

Alternate Suggestions: This kind of team can just as easily work with Gravity Dominators, Energy/Kin Corruptors, Super Strength Brutes, and Robot/FF Masterminds. KB must still reign king, and in this case, would be the RIBL. Also, Leagues can be named by zone, or teams can designate by zone. So, in the PBL there could be the King's Row Kangaroos, the Peregrine Island Hawks, and the Perez Park Petitioners, andthe RIBL could have the Grandville Galley and the Port Oakes Pilferers (alliteration = good, puns = better, unexcpected = best). They can even "cross bowl" in the PvP zones

If someone actually got even a single team of 4 off the ground with this...words cannot describe the mirth. Anyway, I hope someone has fun and runs with this idea.

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It would be awesome to do this, and have everyone with a set of bind/macro attacks that announce some martial art sounding technique with each attack: Kameh-ha-meh-ha! (fire ball) Utan-ikki-ryo-do! (fire breath)
I don't know how quickly it'd get old having everyone announce every attack, but it'd be simple to have a chatty-macro attack bar, and a quiet attack bar, and switch between them.


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I can tell you from experience that this is both humourous and gets annoying fast. The more novel you are about it, the better. All of my characters have a macro for every power they have, and I have an alternate tri-bar setup for them that's the "noisy set" (usually bars 4, 5, and 6) and the "quiet" setup (actual icons, bars 1, 2, and 3). Since they're setup identically (and named for memory retention), it's an easy switch. I've found it's good occasionally for flavor, but just learn to lay off before it annoys the team. One thing I love is actually on my PB, is his Dwarf and Nova form Macros. They get laughs and I actually have startled the heck out of more than a few heroes, but novelty is really only novel once. Use at your own risk!

Other note, LR's true numbers are being tested. The Prima info appears to be (pretty dern) wrong on this, and the suspected numbers have proven accurate through testing. Once testing is done on a distribution percentage and such, that info will be posted here (and included in a later version).

Thanks, I missed that post. I can't edit it in now, but it will be noted for v1.2 and thanks for the heads up!

Here's one I had a while back:

Name: The Startling Seven (any adjective can be chosen)

Shard: City of Heroes

Theme and Purpose: The purpose of the Seven is to build a team that has a basic pentad and one of each Kheld, and mesh their powers into a true super team. This means that multiple "team themes" can be chosen, but a KB heavy team is relatively the easiest and buildable. Versions 1 and 2 are posted, 1 being KB heavy, the other being a "no-one is the same" group that syncs differently. This is for example purposes, there's plenty of other options.

Backstory: The Backstory will vary with the seven. Childhood friendships and ru-unions are the most likely, but a family organization (and ties by siblings and spouses) is easily doable. Being family easily explains power-syncing (like KB heavy) and would help move Origins to unification. Being a group of friends better allows for one each different origin, whether they sync powers or not. For variation, try different origins from a family that split-up and found different callings, and re-unified after the Rikti War (or other earth-shaking event) to use their differences as strengths. Variations can also include the Khelds being twins (your choice may vary) for contrast and interesting backstory.

Group Makeup: Makeup 1 - This is the KB oriented group, and has a limited amount of stackable Stun capacity. No matter how they got their powers, the focus is control through KB. At the early levels, this is harder to attain. The Scrapper is a Martial Artist, and while any armor will do, but while Invulnerability is likely the most thematic, it is also likely the least likely to get benefit from scattered mobs. The Tanker is a Super Strength or Stone (SS prefered, more KB/KU/KD) with his/her primary likely being Ice. Ice because of slows and defense, and a slowed mob who is KBed is one that is coming back that much later to the fight. Fire and Invul get the least benefit from scattered mobs, and Stone is very slow, so Ice is likely best. The Defender is very definitely a Stormie (Hurricane and that storm are great KB), but varying themes could use a Kineticist (MUST have Repel!) or a Force Fielder (must have Repulsion Field and/or Force Bubble, and MUST have Force Bolt). Energy Blasts are a defenite, and Energy Torrent and Explosive Blast are musts. The Blaster is very definitely Energy Blast (and gets Torrent and EB), and has Energy Manipulation (Power Thrust is good throughout the game, and the Stuns will help with having a Marital Artist and Super Strength teammate). Power Boost for more Knockback is a bonus. The Controller is Gravity or Mind, and should be a Stormie (but might be Kin or FF, same reasons as the defender). This controller takes their AoE controls for if things get too hairy, but uses them as panic buttons and not a standard tactic. The Peacebringer and Warshade focus similarly on their Nova and Dwarf Forms, and can co-ordinate so that each has the one the other does not, syncing for Knockback. Later on, they will focus more on their Human forms, to provide utility/support and a boatload of KB and stunning capacity. The Warshade provides free Taxi service for the team, at no cost to their own power selection (most of whom can easily skip travel powers).

Makeup 2 - This makeup is more diversified, and intentionally brings non-synicng powersets to the table. There should be a minimum of overlap, and a maximum of diversification. This is both the easiest make-up to create and the hardest to collaboratively build and play (especially building the Khelds). Team-mates will need a tremendous understanding of each other to make this work, but can be supremely effective. A good example makeup would be a Dark/Rad Defender, an Illusion/FF (or Sonics) Controller, a SS/Invul Tank (or an Ice/Ice), a Spines/* Scrapper, and a Fire/Dev Blaster. You can see this team has next to nothing in common, but by co-ordinating their mix of buffs, debuffs, and fomrs of control can have a very controlled chaos and reap a lot of benefit. This is true round robin team, and the Khelds will have their work cut out. The Khelds will focus more on support (and very probably be expert tri-formers) and filling in what the team needs against specific enemy types.

Combat Strategy / Powers: Makeup 1 - This team co-ordinates heavily (and should probably have TeamSpeak or some such ) to alternate KB powers to keep enemies on their keisters, and will be on the road to stacking stuns to keep KB resistant opponents stunned. One interesting trick to note is to have an AoE Hold/Sleeper slot for accuracy but NOT duration. This could allow a Kineticist to safely buff the team from a mob, and then the team could easily revert back to their KB fun. If there IS a Kin, they need to co-ordinate their targeted buff/debuff/heals for best effect, or be wasted on a whole. IR would allow the team better mobility without travel powers, however (as would Speed Boost). Having a back-up "fall back!" formation is also a must, the strategy being for a team to get through a narrow passage and cluster themselves inside a hurricane until they can get any over-large spawns figured out while safely not being attacked.

Make-up 2: This team is more like a bunch of soloers brought together. This makes syncing their powers difficult, but amazingly worthwhile. A focus on debuffing from the defender, perma-PA and buffing from the controller, and utility (Trops, Mines) from the blaster are a must. Working together, this team can easily utilize their AoEs to great effect while hitting single targets hard with little fear or retaliation. Khelds are again support focused and likely tri-formers, so they can bring whatever the team lacks against a specific mob type and can provide both the taxi service and still Tank as needed, Blast as needed, and support as they can. This team is more likely to take fitness than Make-up 1.

Both Makeups - Both makeups will benefit tremendously from each member having leadership (although build 2 may have a human form who takes it and an alien former who doesn't). Slotting for the secondary aspects of their attacks is a road to success, and managing of this is the key to having slots to spare and powers to spend. When the team gets APPs, they can round out their capacities and become amazingly super. Recharge enhancements are more imporant to team 2, since team 1 can be very round robin, but team two is made up of "each person is the one who does what they do", so slotting for effectiveness matters a lot, and being able to chain key powers is curcial. Both teams will want a single accuracy (but never need more) with their Leaderships up, and heavily slot the powers they use most.

Costumes, Names, and Design: Think the Fantastic Four. You want color co-ordinated outfits, likely uniform-esque, but you all can still look dramatically different. An alternate road is for the re-union types. Find a costume that fits your origin/theme, and then choose a chest emblem and two or three costume pieces that are musts. Each member has one slot devoted to "their" costume (with own colors), and one that is identical but has the two-four pieces (same belt, same gloves, same cape, same aura, whatever) and is made for being in SuperGroup mode. The SuperGroup mode is set for that second costume, and while complete color overs are nice, it can be more visually entrancing to have a costume that meshes your old colors smoothly with the SG (this is harder to do and look fashionable, but the rewards of "wow" are astounding).

Alternatives: Alternates abound, and this is a really flexible type that takes off of a common, flexible, likeable comic type and real life feel. Mechanically, it can easily be adjusted to "pure damage" team, a Hold/Sleep/Immobilize team, a Slow team, or a End Drain team. It's also easy to combine two aspects and divide the seven into a group of four and a group of three, each providing one aspect. The core of this specific idea, however, is the pentad + both Khelds concept. This bring something of everything the game can offer, and it's not the seven without the enhanced pentad star.