Op_Megs
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Posts
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Had this problem myself on a team. Ironically, of our three people playing, it was me on my Mind/Elec Dominator that got her powers back, not the Brute that could've handled Citadel and Castillo as EBs back to back
The priceless moment was when she managed to get Citadel with Confusion during his Purple Triangles drop and he promptly Explosive Blasted the guards trying to break up the fight between Odysseus and the Family mook. They conned grey. :lol: -
Huh. I have to admit, I'd figured on a few of the tricks you pulled with Grandville (deliberately antagonizing Arachnos' enemies into fighting each other, using the Fortunata as a Seer network to make undetected infiltration impossible), but a few others I didn't, and I should have.
The portal tech being used to supply Arachnos' manpower and resource needs despite being locked in a (relatively) tiny geographical area is actually a really smart one, and if Recluse is playing it even cagier, I can see him using the various portals much the same way various powers used the Stargates in that franchise. The various Portal Corp missions seem to imply there are *dozens* of dead alternate Earths out there that Arachnos could send strike teams into and secure entire continents of raw resources. Because while Recluse can't be everywhere, I'm pretty sure he can spare an hour to crush the Psychic Clockwork King's brain under his boot and then leave reclaiming the entire city of smeltable materials to his minions.
Hell, Grandville could become a proper capital again, with "Arachnos Dimensions" popping up where he's gone inter-dimensional conqueror while feigning weakness in the face of the revolts in the Isles proper. And your mention of integrating DDP conscripts into the Bane Network does wonders for explaining their apparent expendable status. All the *valuable* Banes are probably staying back in Grandville, while the photocopy brains are on the front lines.
I really like this idea, because Recluse as presented in the novels has almost always been portrayed as ruthlessly intelligent (the Freedom Phalanx novel especially has him conspiring to take out all the given superheroes in Paragon before he makes his strike at all), but the game itself tends to lend him more towards theatric supervillainy that should be Nemesis's purview. This readout makes him more of the master of webs of intrigue his name and characterization suggest, and provides a way for him to actually be a threat to the Double-Googleplex Incarnate villains running around. Recluse may not be as powerful, but he's able to be a lot smarter than the Well-empowered Superbrick that thinks he's hot stuff.
About the only thing I can think of is that there should be further mention of Recluse's Incarnate-related experiments, especially with that origin making such a huge resurgence. We saw some of it in the DA arcs where he's planning to siphon newly Incarnated Destined Ones to empower his army, and even pushed back to Grandville as he is here, I think Recluse still has the resources to pursue that.
...and if it happens to make Recluse a god in literal fact as well as in effective authority and power within his domain, well... I imagine the other Isles have *many* reasons to hire out Destined Ones to sabotage those plans. -
Quote:...I find it far too amusing that you managed to pick out the two *exact* songs I'd always hoped you'd toss something Praetorian together alongside. Mind you, they fit here just as well, but literally, if someone'd walked up to me and said "theme and song. Samuraiko vid. Pick two", those'd be the ones.Originally Posted by Dark_Respite
And now my brain is saying I need to make a video of this to Disturbed's cover of "Land of Confusion." Or maybe Muse's "Uprising."
While you deposing Dr. Aeon is a bit harsh, you could always try to find a hole in the geometry and sneak your way in.
Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite
Clearly, I need to go get my Seer resistant tinfoil hat reinforced some more. -
Quote:This was actually my main concern as well with this idea, as Arachnos has always been a fascinating thing to me in terms of how it has to work internally just to prevent just this sort of collapse. In the face of just that sort of collapse, I suspect Recluse basically has two choices.Originally Posted by Samuel_Tow
I don't aim to diminish Arachnos as a significant threat, I just mean to bring it a little more in-line with all the other threats of the Isles. And you have to remember - I still haven't gotten to Grandville. That's still Arachnos' capital and the largest city of the Rogue Isles, and it's well and truly in Recluse's hands, even if it's under siege. As you'll notice, I've left Arachnos soldiers in almost all the islands leading up to that. What I want to do with this is to keep building up Arachnos as a threat until the player reaches Grandville and Bane Spiders open up, when the REAL might of Arachnos is revealed. Johnny Sonata or Emil Marcone might control cities, but Recluse BUILT a city (on top of another city) and he still has a frighteningly large army locked away inside. The point of recalling all Arachnos forces back to the capital is to ensure that Recluse can exercise an overhwelming show of force when he's ready to move, and not risk his break-out attack being countered.
I'm not going to "ruin" Arachnos, don't worry
A. abandon Arachnos entirely, deciding to start over.
or
B. Start playing the game like he used to when he had to subvert and take over Arachnos from the inside on his own.
This is an interesting storyline fracture point for Recluse at this point, because he's suffering some serious motivational swerves lately. Marcus is dead, but Red Widow isn't anymore. The Valentine's arc especially seems to indicate that he's starting to remember what his original goal *was*: to improve the world, by any means necessary.
And given your buildup with the other zones, this is actually a really good place for that domino to fall. Recluse has been driven out of his kingdom. His army is in retreat, collaboration, or surrender. The old Arachnos is failing....and so it must have been weak. So he needs to make it strong again.
Recluse in the modern era relied a lot on Arachnos's unassailablity within their territory. Now, with the revolts, he can't... but unlike some people, Recluse isn't a one trick pony. Statesman, Marcus is dead. He'll never win that argument face to face... but he can win it by surviving and succeeding. Il Recluso was a master manipulator and plotter, and Recluse is going to have to blow the rust off these skills if he wants to survive. But that's what he does. Recluse is among the strong. And the Strong survive.
So while everyone may or may not have their private kingdoms entrenched, the chaos of the Rogue Isles works just as well for a new, leaner, more efficient Arachnos to goad the chaos further, because inevitably, people will turn on Marcone, Aeon, Crey, and all the others. Just like they did on Arachnos....but unlike them, Arachnos survived.
Not necessarily presaging a full-on re-establishment of Arachnos's dominion, but definitely a place to make Arachnos less of a joke of a threat in low levels, with more cloak and dagger work (like Ernesto Hess's task force) in the low levels, sabotaging the new "kingdoms", before uncloaking the fact that the supposedly "weak" Arachnos iron fist is still well and truly alive in Grandville. At present, Arachnos as a villain group scale remarkably well up through the levels (like the PPD, actually). This would be a good excuse to make their storyline do so as well. Thus, it avoids unfortunate questions like why Recluse can't drop his personal honor guard of 54 Bane Spider Executioners on Mercy and massacre every threat to Arachnos dominion there in a week. -
Quote:That's always a fun time, really, when someone's ERP gets dropped into a Global. One of the few times that happened in my primary Global was so patently out of nowhere that it's become a legend.Originally Posted by Schismatrix
i saw the same sort of thing in a global channel a couple weeks ago. The player in question only plays on one server AFAIK and it's not Virtue or Union. OTOH it wasn't that much racier than what he tends to chat about in globals anyway, just as an ERP statement rather than discussing more general interests.
I'm still sad to this day I didn't have chatlogging on at the time. The reactions of everyone (the unlucky MTer included) were absolutely priceless. -
So, regarding the changes to Cloaking Device/Field Operative, is Field Operative going to retain the stealth function of Cloaking Device?
While fighting out of Stealth has never been as much of a benefit to my Blaster as it would be for a Stalker, I have to admit, the sniper changes could make a cloaked Sniper a *lot* more viable, as I'm given to understand the snipes won't have their (highly localized) aggro tendencies changed. -
So, went in to do some costuming today, found out that apparently the Wedding Pack "Wedding Tux" option in jackets has gone walkabout.
When I open costumes with it in Icon, I'm forced to change the costume part like I had an invalid combination (with capes? Really?) and when editing other costumes, the Wedding Tux simply fails to show up. -
As far as I can tell, the head sliders do only minimal modification to Full Helmets.
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Ran into this as well when messing with costumes today.
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So, I have a character who, while being female, uses Male models for her heavier armor sets, because when you slap enough battle plate armor onto your mech suit, secondary sexual characteristics become a little....secondary, in design consideration. However, I'd been toying with a light armor concept for her, and copied over the helmet design I'd come up with recently with the new mecha bits, which I'd absolutely fallen in love with.
The result was....odd.
This is the helmet as it sits on one of her armors that uses the male model (scaled up with physique maxed, etc.)
This is the exact same costume parts for the helmet on a female model
The former is amazing, and I'd love to use it elsewhere. The latter is...painfully awkward. Is there any particular reason the two (which appear to be identical in proportion otherwise) would clip so differently? -
So, running SSA#2, I ran into a certain significant spoiler, but more interesting to me was the backup, a Talon Siren, who had some *awesome* power effects in every sense of the word. Not only did she have awesome visual effects of literally beating me up with musical notation, she was actually *singing* said notes audibly as well.
More interesting than that even, though, was the fact that she had nearly a full powerset's worth of unique abilities herself.
Sorrowful Song 1
Sorrowful Song 2
PainfulSong 1
Painful Song 2
Forceful Song 1
Forceful Song 2
Fascinating Song 1
Fascinating Song 2
Exhausting Song 1
Exhausting Song 2
Debilitating Song 1
Debilitating Song 2
Between this and the vague hints of "Autumnal Control" and "Autumnal Assault" from Sorceress Serene and the Diviner mobs afterwards, and the devs have been giving new powers to NPCs before we PCs get them (Penny/Psi Melee, Pendragon/Absorb, Everbody and Their Second Cousin/Staff Melee), I have to wonder if these are intended to be stuff that we can expect to see as future powersets. Because seriously, weaponized *music* is possibly one of the cooler potential powersets I've heard of.
Also, one can't help but think that listening to someone singing their sonic powers would be more pleasant than the shrieking racket of Sound Blast.
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Quote:Vanessa....yeah. Given everything said about the Carnival's "parties" and the fact they were using Cupid's Arrow for aphrodisiac properties and the like. Then there's her backstory, specifically this part here:Originally Posted by Agent White
I'd peg Vanessa DeVore as Bi, if not pansexual. Mother Mayhem too.
Vanessa being interested in men as well wouldn't surprise me given the Carnival's hedonistic overtones, but I think she's as close to confirmed as bisexual as they can get away with.Quote:When one of her new playmates, Rachel Morris, was attacked by the 8th Street Muertos, Vanessa saw the assault in her mind. Right before they killed Rachel, Vanessa reached out took the poor girls soul. Energized, she hunted the 8th Street Muertos down and forced them to butcher each other.
Vanessa and Giovanna agreed upon a new purpose. Vanessa would create a haven of safety for herself and her closest subjects, keeping them safe in this dangerous city, and woe to any who crossed them. She knew she could not always be on guard, and so she chose her ten favorite subjects, all young and beautiful women, and shared with them the vision of Rachels death. They were horrified and incensed, and vowed to do whatever it took to help Vanessa in her goals, exactly as she had planned. The Carnival of Shadows was born.
Mother Mayhem, meanwhile, is more vague, I think. Before First Ward, I would've looked very, very carefully at the fact that all the Seers were female. But First Ward did confirm there are male Seers, even if most of them apparently didn't make it through the operation to become full Seers.
Then there's the fact that when inhabiting the body of someone said to be one of her closest confidantes, she dresses up like...that.
Mayhem falls under the "wouldn't surprise me, but can't say for certain" category, I think.
Mako strikes me as asexual, mostly because I don't think anything in the way of normal human drives still sticks around with him. We see him get excited about the rush of the kill and potentially getting to tear other people apart, or the power of the Leviathan when it was in his grasp, but he's never really reacted to anyone, male or female, in an attracted way.Quote:Mako or Scirocco wouldn't surprise me. They've got female lieutenants but neither seems on that level of interest, though Scirocco clearly cares for Mistral in a Master/pupil sort of way. Malaise might have been too.
Scirocco, meanwhile, has his longstanding courtship of Ghost Widow in his corner, however doomed it may be. Admittedly, it'd make the perfect "beard" as it were, because Scirocco would genuinely care about redeeming her even if he never really wanted her in a sexual manner, but given his rather flowery language around her and the fact that everyone seems to be able to see it in Arachnos but Ghost Widow, I think we can confirm that he would very much like to tap that.
If I had to guess, I'd take a look at Dominatrix for much the same reasons that I looked at DeVore. Her "parties" are regarded as rather extreme, and in the pre-GR content, her personal faction consisted of male *and* female models using the rather gimp-suit like Eidolon models modified slightly.Quote:Frankly I can't really think of any prominent Hero characters that don't already have love interests or were married, etc. Well, Valkyrie, yeah.
That said, there's still the canon Sally/Lusca as of the Valentine tips...
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Quote:I was mostly just running down the lines of previous examples that would have been an organic development of previous indicators, though after making that post I did a little research and had to scratch a few off. Conner, for instance, is completely out (of the running, not the closet) as the new Superboy is....very different (also, while I like seeing Fairchild again, I'm kinda depressed by what they did to Rose). Harley similarly has been almost completely altered from her previous self and is thus an unlikely example.Originally Posted by BrandX
They made the announcement for one. These suggestion seems to imply multiple. Unless you're saying only one will come out.
Steph and Cass are currently in post-Flashpoint limbo, to my knowledge. Conner has his own book, as mentioned above. So do Diana and Bats. Tim's shown up in the Titans as Red Robin still. Harley's in the Suicide Squad currently (less said the better). Ivy's currently in the Birds of Prey, as is Dinah, with Babs having left leading them to be Batgirl again. Booster's in the new JLI book, while Ted Kord's still in post-Flashpoint limbo. Last we saw, he was still dead as of the end of Brightest Day, and there was a hint of a new Beetle wearing a red version of Ted's costume and gear.Quote:But seeing this list. Haven't all these made an appearance in the new 52 already? -
Hmm. Now, admittedly, I've not really been following DC since the New 52 essentially retconned everything I ever knew, but going by the sheer amount of "oh god, why won't it stop coming out wrong" bits, the possibilities I can think of off the top of my head...
- Conner Kent/Superboy and Tim Drake/Robin. Both have canonical hetero love intersts (Wonder Girl/Cass Sandmark for Conner, Spoiler/Robin/Batgirl/Stephanie Brown for Tim), but people have noted a *lot* of undertones, especially after Infinite Crisis where Tim's reaction to Conner's death was to try to clone him again, *repeatedly*. Given Cass got involved in some weird Kryptonian cult trying to bring Conner back to life, and the parallels are...significant.
- Oracle/Barbara Gordon and Black Canary/Dinah Lance. This is one that's been one of my favorites because the initial writer who wrote them did *not* intend for it to be this way, but the pages his artist drew made his lines have an entirely different context, one long-time Birds author Gail only made even more prominent. The running gag in Birds fandom has been that people are waiting for Dinah to dump Ollie and go back to her girlfriend, and it's not without reason. Again, like Conner and Tim above, both have hetero love interests (Ollie/Green Arrow and Dick Grayson/Nightwing), but both have been in-and-out-of-love with those guys before, and Ollie and Dinah's wedding fell apart rather spectacularly before Flashpoint annihilated history.
- Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy. From what I've heard, this one's actually been referenced outright lately, with Harley wondering how much Ivy's latest actions were based off her "feelings for her". The DCAU versions had this all but canonized, if only because the authors couldn't explicitly make them gay, but the "Gotham Girls" subseries had the infamous line "Are you two....?" "Like they say about you and Supergirl?" If they canonized this, I think the outright reaction would be a resounding "not surprised".
- Booster Gold. The bromance is strong with Booster and Constantly Doomed By Canon Ted Kord's earlier stuff, and while Booster's had more than a few female companions over the years, if anyone told you he was into Ted in more than a friends way, I don't think anyone would be surprised. Given that, like Tim above, Booster spent a significant amount of time, effort, and time travel trying to find any way to bring Ted back.
- Stephanie Brown/Spoiler-Robin-Batgirl and Cassandra Cain/Batgirl-Nightwing-Black Bat. For the longshot, this has been another of the subtext fans' pet couples. Stephanie had a thing with Tim Drake a while back, but Cassandra's always been more of a cypher, due to her unique upbringing. The fact that Steph was the only one that Cass really opened up to at length is generally significant. That said, both Stephanie and Cassandra have yet to debut in the New 52, with Stephanie's identity as Batgirl erased after Barbara Gordon was retconned back into the position, and Cassandra living in the realm of dubious "plans" that DC says they have for her.
- Wonder Woman/Princess Diana. Again, the lesbian overtones of the Amazons in general have definitely been there from the start, given it's an entire island of nothing but warrior women. Combine that with the origin of the word "lesbian" and I can see this being a very easy out, pardon the pun.
- Batman. Again, Bruce has a *laundry list* of ex-girlfriends, and at least one biological kid as a result of one (Damien, via Talia Al Ghul). But a lot of people have made the jokes about his closeness to the various Robins, and then there's Grant Morrison's quote from a few weeks ago. I can see this happening, but I find it the longshot of the group, just because Bruce Wayne, billionaire playboy is such an integral part of the character. That said, Bruce pretending to be gay so that none of the socialites he hangs with try to get into bed with him would be kind of funny...
Overall, I can see this as a publicity stunt first, much like Kate Kane/Batwoman was back during 52. That said, I liked Kate and found her interaction with fellow DCU lesbian Renee Montoya enjoyable to watch, so it doesn't have to be done badly.
But given everything DC's done lately to its print continuity, I fear it will be. -
Do I want him killed off?
No, not really.
Mostly because my first major exposure to the lore of the game was the CoX novels I picked up while I was waiting for my boxset to ship.
I admit, I've never read the comics that portrayed the Phalanx as a whole as incompetent, pretentious dickwads and such. So maybe I'm missing some of the reasons for the hate. But even then, I've never gotten the impression that States fits in the Superman slot. At least, the slot that most "deconstructions" give Superman of being an invulnerable god whose flaws mean he should be gotten rid of, because no flawed person deserves that much power.
But then, I got into comics with Marvel comics. And one of my favorite moments was a ways back when Spider-Man joined the Avengers for the first time. Spidey's always been a street-level type, compared to the Marvel U's premier fighting team. But there are moments in that arc where those premier heroes, those "signatures", if you will, would affirm that, yes, Peter deserved to be in the Avengers, and that they weren't any better than him.
That's always been the view I've taken of Statesman. As a benchmark to let you know when you've made it. When he starts looking to you as an equal, that's what you look for. You're not just one among thousands of faceless heroes anymore. You've made it to the big time, and the big names are calling on *you* because they can't handle it on their own. People would see this as "oh, well, they can't handle it on their own. Obviously they're incompetent." Or maybe you're asked in because *your* character is considered vital to the story. You're there to accomplish something. Do something the various NPCs couldn't. This doesn't mean they can't do anything at all. Just that the writers genuinely don't want us to be bored sitting around while NPCs do everything.
That Other MMO had an expansion that recently reached a climax, wherein you confront THE Big Bad, who has been as such for pretty much the entire game since the days before it *was* an MMO. You slog through his minions, destroy his generals, and generally prove that you *can* take him on.
And then he pops a super-power and kills you all in one shot, so an NPC can deliver the finishing blow.
Whatever faults in the writing for Statesman, they've never done that with him (Blue Steel, however...) Yet apparently the main reaction to this isn't even a *non*-reaction. There's the equivalent to cheering in the streets. It's the Wizard of Paragon with States as the Evil Tank of the East. I'm... unsure of why exactly States attracts such venom when he's barely *in* the game aside from a handful of arcs, and in most of those, you're *helping him* handle something *he can't*. There's no sense of being brought along as a tag along. They didn't have Manticore or Posi or Citadel do the deed because they're Freedom Phalanx and thus Better Than You. They had *you* do it because anything that could take States down needed The Best to pull him out of the fire, and that's you. Pretty much every arc I can think of with him in it is highlighting that you're as good or better.
Yet apparently that's not good enough. Apparently the collective skin is thin enough that Recluse being obsessed with his brother-in-law who he feels betrayed him, who he's spent the better part of a century trying to break down and defeat, who he sees as his own Sisyphian rock, and thus references by name instead of the PC... is an incalculable insult against our ego. Because of that *one line*. I swear, it's like you can hear the PCs screaming "YOU ARE GOING TO FEAR/LOVE ME!" while ignoring the fact that, aside from interrupting his master plan (and Recluse has had a *lot* of those), it's not personal to the Boss Spider when he punches you in the face. Pretty much *every* hero that isn't Statesman is just collateral damage to him at this point.
I dunno. If States dies and stays dead, I'm hoping this isn't an excuse to derail *another* hero into pissed off vigilanteism. But then, I'm also one of those people who likes Ms. Liberty too, so I've already got two strikes against me with regards to not "getting" the collective viewpoint of the CoX fanbase towards signatures that *dare* to get in *their* limelight.
...wait, crap. I rescue Infernia every time, and wait through her talking so the poor traumatized war survivor doesn't get killed two steps from getting home. That's three strikes against the collective "NPCs that everyone hates" bar.
I'm out. -
I've always had a strange love-hate with granite. On the one hand, I like the shapeshift option for the aforementioned "tiny thing into towering giant" bit. On the other, customization is always good. Unfortunately, powers aspects would keep it from combining with other armors visually, so the Granite armor would have to stand alone.
Would it be possible, I'd kind of hope for similar customization to existing stone options (rock/lava/crystal Granite). I know the possibility to make a "diamond tank" would vastly outweigh the old granite model for me if the new model looked good. Hopefully it'd be symmetrical. The other stone armors looked...clunky in their asymmetry, compared to more symmetrical Granite. -
And, following up on the above post, the following is my given Bane build, so as to back it up with some real numbers. It's a bit heavier on the ranged attacks than most Banes tend to be, but I built her as more of a solo brawler than someone followed around by pets, so.
Villain Plan by Mids' Villain Designer 1.92
http://www.cohplanner.com/
Click this DataLink to open the build!
Operative Widowsbane: Level 50 Natural Arachnos Soldier
Primary Power Set: Bane Spider Soldier
Secondary Power Set: Bane Spider Training
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Leadership
Power Pool: Speed
Ancillary Pool: Mace Mastery
Villain Profile:
Level 1: Bash -- C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg(A), P'ngS'Fest-Acc/Dmg(34), C'ngImp-Dmg/Rchg(40), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(40), P'ngS'Fest-Dmg/Rchg(42)
Level 1: Wolf Spider Armor -- S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+(A), ImpArm-ResDam(3), ImpArm-ResDam/EndRdx(3)
Level 2: Combat Training: Defensive -- LkGmblr-Def(A), LkGmblr-Rchg+(5)
Level 4: Bane Spider Armor Upgrade -- RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx(A), S'fstPrt-ResKB(5), RctvArm-ResDam/Rchg(11), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(15), RctvArm-ResDam(17)
Level 6: Build Up -- AdjTgt-ToHit/Rchg(A), AdjTgt-ToHit/EndRdx/Rchg(19), AdjTgt-Rchg(19)
Level 8: Mace Beam Volley -- Posi-Acc/Dmg(A), Posi-Dmg/Rchg(9), Posi-Dmg/Rng(9), Posi-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(11)
Level 10: Tactical Training: Maneuvers -- RedFtn-Def/EndRdx(A), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(13), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(13), LkGmblr-Rchg+(15)
Level 12: Combat Jumping -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A)
Level 14: Boxing -- KntkC'bat-Knock%(A)
Level 16: Poisonous Ray -- Achilles-DefDeb/Rchg(A), Dev'n-Hold%(17), Achilles-ResDeb%(37), Dev'n-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(39), Dev'n-Dmg/Rchg(39)
Level 18: Shatter -- C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg(A), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx(29), C'ngImp-Dmg/Rchg(37), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(42), P'ngS'Fest-Acc/Dmg(42), P'ngS'Fest-Dmg/Rchg(43)
Level 20: Maneuvers -- RedFtn-Def/EndRdx(A), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(21), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(21), LkGmblr-Rchg+(27)
Level 22: Venom Grenade -- Posi-Acc/Dmg(A), Posi-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(23), Posi-Dmg/EndRdx(23), Posi-Dmg/Rchg(25), Posi-Dmg/Rng(25)
Level 24: Pulverize -- C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg(A), C'ngImp-Dmg/Rchg(27), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(39), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(43), P'ngS'Fest-Acc/Dmg(45), P'ngS'Fest-Dmg/Rchg(45)
Level 26: Cloaking Device -- RedFtn-Def/EndRdx(A), RedFtn-Def/Rchg(29), RedFtn-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(31), LkGmblr-Rchg+(31)
Level 28: Surveillance -- Achilles-DefDeb(A), ShldBrk-Acc/DefDeb(31), Achilles-ResDeb%(34), ShldBrk-DefDeb/EndRdx/Rchg(37)
Level 30: Mental Training -- Run-I(A)
Level 32: Tough -- RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx(A), RctvArm-ResDam/Rchg(33), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(33), RctvArm-EndRdx(33), RctvArm-ResDam(34)
Level 35: Weave -- S'dpty-Def/EndRdx(A), S'dpty-Def/Rchg(36), S'dpty-Def(36), S'dpty-EndRdx/Rchg(36)
Level 38: Crowd Control -- Sciroc-Acc/Dmg(A), Sciroc-Dmg/Rchg(40), Sciroc-Dmg/EndRdx(43), Sciroc-Acc/Rchg(46), Sciroc-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(50)
Level 41: Mace Blast -- Dev'n-Acc/Dmg(A), Dev'n-Dmg/Rchg(45), Dev'n-Hold%(46)
Level 44: Disruptor Blast -- Posi-Dmg/Rchg(A), Posi-Acc/Dmg(46)
Level 47: Shatter Armor -- T'Death-Acc/Dmg(A), T'Death-Dmg/EndRdx(48), T'Death-Dmg/Rchg(48), T'Death-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(48), T'Death-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(50), T'Death-Dam%(50)
Level 49: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 50: Cardiac Partial Radial Revamp
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Level 1: Brawl -- KntkC'bat-Knock%(A)
Level 1: Conditioning
Level 1: Sprint -- Run-I(A)
Level 2: Rest -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 4: Ninja Run
Level 2: Swift -- Run-I(A)
Level 2: Health -- Numna-Regen/Rcvry+(A)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Jump-I(A)
Level 2: Stamina -- P'Shift-EndMod(A), P'Shift-EndMod/Rchg(7), P'Shift-EndMod/Acc(7)
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I note that the Wolf and Bane armors are actually worthwhile if you have a few "slotless" powers like Mental Training, Hasten, etc. that don't take up slots. Reactive armor slotted into Wolf and Bane armor, along with Tough, can net you considerable (50-ish) res to S/L, as well as some great def numbers. I don't have the build at hand at the moment, but my Bane's target build is looking at softcapped typed-def, with over softcap on positionals, and fairly robust S/L res and regen, mostly because of Reactive Armor allowing you to turn the normally "useless" res powers into def boosters as well.
It also allows you to be a bit more crunchy when something punches through your defenses, as most powers with a -def component fall under Lethal (bullet spam, broadswords, etc). The other two major ones aren't quite as common, be it energy (rad users, PraetClocks) or Tox (which is all but impossible to get res for without huge sacrifices) -
On a trial related note, what's the precise story behind the Hamidon in the Abyss? I get the impression the Hami blueside is immobile within the Hive, but the Abyss badges suggest it used to be a Jurassic Park style tourist attraction. Such a thing definitely wouldn't happen in Paragon, so is redside Hami a clone, different manifestation of the same Hamidon, or what? I imagine Praetorian natives would be rather scared out of their minds if we had -two- Hamidons on the loose.
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I'm going to chime in in favor of altering the Deadly Apocalypse.
Subjective Feedback:
As someone who -enjoys- the Apocalypse, I often don't participate because it's a major hassle to succeed at the event. A single team of 8 is insufficient to complete it and finding enough people to buff up your numbers is often implausible, especially given the hard locked timer.
My suggestion would be to eliminate the "someone must be at every banner" mechanic. While clever, it requires people at four widely spaced areas and often splits the smaller groups that could handle one banner efficiently into piecemeal groups that can't handle the spawns. Especially the Abomination banner.
This would theoretically allow a team of 8 to solo the event, but 8-10 is the average size of a maxed out zombie group in my experience, 12 or so for Rikti. The DA event currently requires about 12 minimum to manage, 16 or more to make it tractable and resistant to attrition from team member loss.
Making the mechanics easier may lessen the challenge, but this is an event, not a trial. It shouldn't -have- to be this hard to manage.
Also, I'd also suggest buffing the Mystic Aspect. Whenever he spawns, it's often a race to get to him in time before the mob flattens him, preventing you from getting the badge if you don't track him quickly enough. Frustrating when you managed to complete an already tricky event to have to wait till the next one that may or may not succeed. -
Interesting things abound here, but one thing I noticed was a change in Ajax's character model between this and the image we saw at PAX.
The initial slideshow design looked a bit more Optimus Prime-ish and I recall a lot of people not particularly being happy that he'd lost a lot of his signature look. There were, of course, some alternatives proposed.
Now with the new release, Ajax appears to have undergone some changes.
Fascinating. -
Personally, I'm somewhat torn between the two options. On the left hand, change upwards is good, and so I kinda lean towards Option 1. On the other, not losing stuff and getting new stuff is also good, so I lean towards 2 as well.
But one thing that I'd like to see, just as a global thing? A warning in the tailor that "if you open this costume file, it will not be compatible" or some such. We already have it when loading new costumes from saved costume files. "This costume is invalid due to pieces X, Y, Z."
A little warning when entering a tailor with outmoded pieces would be appreciated, if only so that losing those legacy pieces wouldn't be so easy. At least one of my characters went from matte metallic to tights when I went into the tailor because of the graphical update, without so much as a "by your leave" because she had the "old" piece. Just a "Warning: You Have Old And Dusty Costume Parts. Do you REALLY want to edit this?" would be great. -
A widow and a mystic meet on a balcony.
"So it is done. The killers shall feel agony beyond that of any living. And perhaps, beyond that of any of the dead. I have seen to that," the mystic says, gruff and to the point.
The widow nods, a single elegant gesture as she purses black lips in thought. "I could say I was grateful, but your punishment of them means little to me. Only his safety, and that was assured by another."
"Indeed. His savior has great power. He'll go far within the organization. Perhaps he is the one that DESTINY calls for."
"You would wish it so, would you not?" the widow says, looking over at him. "Better he than the one who smashed your dreams."
"Perhaps, perhaps not. Your Fortunatas already suspect that DESTINY applies to many instead of one, do they not?"
"Indeed," she says with an amused smile. "There are many that could be the sacrifice Lord Recluse seeks."
"Will you protect yours, even after they foiled your own plans?"
"...perhaps. They are useful."
"And because you've come to care for them. As you have for Wretch."
"You overstep yourself. I am long dead, and the dead cannot change. I cared for Wretch as I died, and I care for him now. Beyond that, everything is my best efforts to serve Arachnos, as I am bound."
"Hmm. Perhaps if you cannot change, one day Arachnos will," he said, looking out over the lights of Grandville.
"A coup, my poor deluded peer? So soon after your failure? Recluse would put your head on a pike for future generations to look upon."
"No....no, not I. I may spite Recluse by proxy, but I no longer have the will for such a gamble. But one day, one may rise who does. When Arachnos changes from within, will you still remain?"
"I am bound to it, Scirocco. I must. But your optimism is misplaced. One who could topple Lord Recluse would never be so noble."
"Perhaps...perhaps not. You say Arachnos cannot change, just as you cannot change, yet you do. You care for the Wretch, and you serve Arachnos best as you are, yet you tried to convince him to leave you for his own good and you yearned for a mortal's life once more. And you say you care nothing for your servants, yet you still protect them after they foiled your attempt to return to the mortal coil. You are changing, as impossible as that may seem. And I believe if you can change, then so can this bastion of villainy."
She stands, looking at him with dead eyes, silent against his words as the mystic turns to the door.
"We all change, for better or worse. And despite my failure, I believe that there is still change for the better to be had. When it comes, what will you do, oh Pale Light in the Darkness? Will you stay the same, as you claim? Or will your perspective be born anew?"
The mystic retreats inside the fortress from the storm coming in upon the Rogue Isles, but long into the rain-streaked night does the widow remain, silent, upon the balcony. -
I've currently found them in the following locations:
Racer Jacket, Male, Sleeves pattern
Lower Body, Male, Pants pattern
Baron Jacket, Male, Dragon pattern
I can accept (if not particularly like) that Baron jackets are male only in the current set, and thus the (awesome) dragon emblem for the Syndicate jacket is male only.
But I'm not sure why Syndicate patterns for costume pieces that female models *have already* aren't showing up. This seems rather ridiculously specific. -
As someone who's maxed out one server and basically started moving other alts into others due to lack of play, I have to admit, the concept of free server transfers appeals to me.
While I play around with a multitude of people, most of my alts belong to SGs run by friends who have enough alts in this game that prestige isn't a really big concern.
This kind of thing would be perfect for me, as shifting an alt I'm playing more *right now* into an active server while putting others in reserve opens up a HUGE degree of flexibility regarding character slots. Unlimited server transfers effectively gives you unlimited alts....or at least, by any reasonable standard. I suppose one could theoretically exceed the limit if they tried for every POSSIBLE power combination....
Nonetheless, /signed because someone needs to think of the altitis sufferers, dammit!