Obsidius

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Meet "Jimmy the IT Guy" our newest team member!

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He took my jorb!
/e curseyou

<Considers sending Jay some action figures for more costume idea references >

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You scared me, I thought you were going to move to boards to better software...


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Same.

"Moving?! AAAAHHH! DOOOOOM!"

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Moving to new forum software would be awesome.

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Agreed. But apparently, as the decision would be company-wide from what I was told at the M&G, it's a hefty decision. But one that I heartily endorse!

Glad you're all getting settled in Ex! Seems like the lull before the holidays is probably the best time to do it to!

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People fighting over presents isn't very Christmasy.

The ski chalet part though is great.

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Ever been to a Black Friday sale?

<rimshot>

Thanks, I'll be here all night!

But seriously, it's too bad more time couldn't be spent doing some tweaks to the even this year. Changes for next year should include making the present-spawned Snow Beasts level-less (ala the Rikti invasions), and having them randomly drop Candy Canes upon defeat, in the same fashion as Merits (you could even tie it to a Winter badge just like Merits are tied to a Vanguard badge).

That's my 2 Inf

Otherwise, game on all!

From the Impressions article:

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There were several groups in attendance sporting supergroup t-shirts as proof of their solidarity.

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Guilty!

If I could do this all again, I would! Especially now that I have the proper tire iron for my rims

On a related note, my SG mate who flew in from VA got his rental car broken into and lost all his stuff, including the gift bag After talking with Ex, she's offered to send him a replacement bag

So I couldn't agree more with the Impressions article:

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People flew in from Australia, Florida, Delaware, Minnesota, all over. When I asked them why they came all that way for a one night event, then all said the same thing. People. The game was great, they loved the game, but it was their friends online that drew them to the Meet n' Greet.

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If it weren't for the people, it would just be another game. But the people in CoX rock!

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Where is the contact that sets you up with the Ouroboros?

I remember someone saying it, but I forgot

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First, you have to be lvl 25 AFAIR.

Second, you have to be Entrusted with the Secret. This involves completing a stroy arc that involves time Travel, like Echo Down the Aeons, the Mysterious Mr. Ubelman, the Psychochronometron arc (from Faultline), etc.

When you are Entrusted with the Secret, you'll get an Ouroboros power that places a teleport pad on the ground. Go through this, and you'll go to the Ouroboros sanctuary. Talk to Pilgrim to get started.

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Or you can hop into someone else's portal, and get the chrononaut exploration badge at the top of the tower in Ouroboros to then get the "Secret" badge.

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Yep, as long as you're lvl 25+.

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Where is the contact that sets you up with the Ouroboros?

I remember someone saying it, but I forgot

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First, you have to be lvl 25 AFAIR.

Second, you have to be Entrusted with the Secret. This involves completing a stroy arc that involves time Travel, like Echo Down the Aeons, the Mysterious Mr. Ubelman, the Psychochronometron arc (from Faultline), etc.

When you are Entrusted with the Secret, you'll get an Ouroboros power that places a teleport pad on the ground. Go through this, and you'll go to the Ouroboros sanctuary. Talk to Pilgrim to get started.

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It is my understanding that you are withholding these tools from everyone, though you already have them all on-hand, in order to give people a chance to get rid of their old, still-functional sets, buy brand-new cars, and assess their vehicles to find the exact problem and predict any future problems that may arise.

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Here's the problem:

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tool
Pronunciation - /tul/
–noun
1. an implement, esp. one held in the hand, as a hammer, saw, or file, for performing or facilitating mechanical operations.
2. any instrument of manual operation.
3. the cutting or machining part of a lathe, planer, drill, or similar machine.
4. the machine itself; a machine tool.
5. anything used as a means of accomplishing a task or purpose: Education is a tool for success.

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gift
Pronunciation- /gift/
–noun
1. something given voluntarily without payment in return, as to show favor toward someone, honor an occasion, or make a gesture of assistance; present.
2. the act of giving.
3. something bestowed or acquired without any particular effort by the recipient or without its being earned: Those extra points he got in the game were a total gift.

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Respecs are tools, and for good reason. They give us "a means of accomplishing a task or purpose"; in this case, character respecification. This tool has a value, even as a recipe. Because there is a limit on these tools, it retains value. They make players respect builds, since players can't merely switch out powers and pools at a whim.

In this scenario, the tool which you desire is a gift. Gifts are often "bestowed or acquired without any particular effort by the recipient or without its being earned."

Devs are certainly under no obligation to hand out freespecs at all. They could just tell you that, since there's a recipe for it now, that you have to earn it the hard way, by playing a lot or buying it for a lot.

However, the devs changed some powers and animation/ activation times, and aren't completely heartless. So they grant freespecs. But this only happens 2 or 3 times a year, so people who don't use them outright usually nest them until necessary.

You argue that many new characters who receive this gift do not need it. Since a gift is "something given voluntarily without payment in return, as to show favor toward someone", why does this matter?

Should we not let new characters have respecs for use later, as it could be several months before another is granted?

Should we not let players who are returning to the game with the launch of this issue have a chance to use their previous freespec with an ample amount of time before it is possibly overwritten, so they can save this next freespec for later use?

Your argument is "I need one right now, new characters be darned since they were just rolled". Other characters need them too however. And with changes made to the game, it's prudent to let them have a chance to test out their current builds and use a freespec if need be, before the next one is granted.

Not everyone wants to go to Test to test builds on the newest version. It requires additional setup and HD space. It also spoils new content for those who like to wait until launch. Giving them time after launch to try their builds is a better way than outright overwriting a freespec during launch.

In summary, I suggest you either wait until next Friday, or start saving some Inf for a WW showdown.

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Quick question-
Can you get xp when doing the issue 11 missions from the past that are lower levels than what your toon is at?
Thanks.

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No' it's like being exemp'd: you will get Influence and/ or Prestige, and work of Debt, but will not receive Experience.

Also, Contaminated never grant rewards of any kind, not even Inf.

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Oh, and for those who haven’t noticed 1st post! Expect many many more.

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Excellent! And welcome to the zoo... err, forums

Dear Auto Repair shop,

I am writing this letter to you in disgust in regards to your repair service.

Recently, I discovered that my car needed maintenance and had to take it into your shop for repair, due to harsh driving conditions and my lead-footed acceleration and breaking. However, because of your schedule with other customers and obligations, and because some parts were not readily available and had to be ordered, my car was not finished within the infinitesimal amount of time I would associate with such trivial repairs. I was greatly inconvenienced by this fact, and was actually forced to carpool with a coworker for a day until the repairs on my vehicle were completed.

As my only other option was to use an express repair shop that prices their services far in excess of what I can obtain at your shop, I am highly dissatisfied that your lower-cost service cannot provide the same sort of expediency and workmanship as the faster, much more expensive shop on the other side of town.

Furthermore, my car was also in a need of a new coat of paint. And although I saw your advertisement for Crazy Free Car Paint Friday, I lacked the patience and virtue to wait two whole days to have my vehicle painted for free, costing me money to have it painted immediately after it was repaired.

Please note that, due to these inconveniences, I will be discontinuing the use of your business, and will recommend to others who will listen to not patronize your establishment.

Finally, please expect to hear from my lawyer in regards to a lawsuit filled against you for mental anguish and suffering.

Sincerely,
Disgruntled Customer

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Any new character has three respecs from the Terra Volta reactor, and now more from the respec recipes.

50s who already used their three respecs (and STILL didn't manage to get it right, like me) stand to benefit the most from the new respecs and a free respec.

Currently on Freedom respec recipes are going for 40 million inf... so unless you get lucky and loot one, or want to spend/earn that much, you aren't getting a respec yet.

At this rate, everyone will likely get a free respec right as the prices on the respec recipes drop down into the "barely reasonable" range. If the price goes down (significantly!)sooner than that, why have a free respec at all? Everyone who's not a lazy bum already got one.

This decision ultimately favors everyone equally, from the new toons and alts who shouldn't need a respec anytime soon to the 50s who've been waiting for one ever since they botched the third TV respec. Sounds like communism to me :P

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I really can't see why this is surprising. You want a respec recipe today, something that just went live today, and are surprised at cost? Shocked I tell you...

Simple economics dictate that low supply and high demand usually will equal heavy pricing. And I believe the demand will be high for quite some time; I doubt even "lazy bums" will miss out on making some nice Inf if they snag one a few months from now. The price on unique Numinas certainly hasn't depreciated much since the launch of I9, AFAIK.

And I'm absolutely amazed that someone complains that a free gift isn't coming sooner (now Now NOW, as it were). Something about gift horses comes to mind. I would just be thankful you're getting anything at all, regardless of tenure, level of character, number of lvl 50s, etc.

Perhaps the prudent thing to do is save a respec for a rainy day? Seems to work well for me <shrugs>. I haven't even touched a single vet respec, even on my main. Needless to say that, if I am fortunate enough to receive a Respec Recipe, it will be another for which you can bid on the Market.

I could go on, but anything else I would have to say would be pretty abrasive.

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Video is up on my YouTube channel! Click on my sig below for instant viewing!

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I'm not trying to be a jerk, but did you even ask if you could post NCSoft's copyrighted material on your YouTube channel? You do realize the video is copyrighted and your posting it without permission is likely a violation of that copyright. I can understand your exuberance, but at least try to have a modicum of respect for the rights holders. Jumpin Jiminy.

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Ex Libris, LH, and others are certainly well aware of my activities, and I have certainly taken no personal credit for the videos themselves. I have not altered the videos in any way (besides resizing for YouTube), and all of the copyright info at the end of the videos is still represent, citing NCSoft and Cryptic as the rights holders.

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I can understand your exuberance, but at least try to have a modicum of respect for the rights holders. Jumpin Jiminy.

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I've always respected the right holders. I've never taken credit for their work, and always labeled these videos as "Official" works.

For someone not trying to not sound like a jerk, you're doing a bad job at it

If they or the company had any personal objections regarding my actions, I'm sure I would have certainly been advised to cease and desist by now, as I do not attempt to hide my actions in any such way. I've been advertising my YouTube channel in my sig for almost 2 months now.

I simply post the videos for ease of viewing for the community, and I'm sure they understand this.

Edit: additionally, these videos are promotional and not for profit, and freely available to the public. Rebroadcasting TV shows and movies, that are sold as videos on a for-profit basis, is illegal. Since these videos are only promotional, I and other CoX fans are essentially providing free advertisement

"The coming storm", eh?

"It's a connection, that's what they wanted! I see it all now! I have seen the great circuit! The shape of the oil sees only the truth! It is the struggle! The circuit, the connection, it is all the blood of the black stream!" (emphasis mine)

Reference

Video is up on my YouTube channel! Click on my sig below for instant viewing!

11 methods of time travel, eh?

Nice play on the issue number

(I think I also see Statesman in the Ouroboros zones for a few frames...

Ooooh, time to update my CoX YouTube channel

My vote is cast!

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Does this mean he'll be able to post here, LH?

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It sure does! Thanks to all for the kind words.

-->M

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RAWR! WB

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Please keep in mind that Mr. Fish's day job is still on the as yet unannounced MMO project at NCsoft North American Headquarters in Austin, TX. However, we are very happy to have him more closely collaborating with the City of Heroes team!

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Does this mean he'll be able to post here, LH?

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I've added him to my address book in case he shows back up

The real questions are: can he make it to Milpitas? Is his wife's redname "Sister Psyche"?

(And a fortuitous FPAARM I might add, but totally coincidence )

Holy 3-toed sloth from ice planet Hoth!

<squees>

BAM! Marriott room reserved. Thanks for the help Ex! As long as there are no problems on the drive up <knocks on wood> we (I + 4 more in my tiny little Matrix) should be there!

I can't count how many times I've used the "Fake Disconnect" excuse

edit: crappy word use

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Happy 1st anniversary LH! You've weathered us crazies pretty well I think