RavenWitch

I've been playing CoX off and on since somewhere in early I2. I have several fifties, HEATS, VEATS and have more or less done it all. When MA came out, I had fun! I made my own missions, did missions friends had created and made half a dozen new characters to run over and over and OVER through the farming maps. Yes I farmed. Yes I got PL'ed... but I had fun. I don't regret it.

About a week after MA launched, I took a hiatus from the game. I just came back for the launch of I-16 and was perplexed by the half dozen or so characters on my account that I literally did not remember making. The highest of these strangers was level 32, and the lowest was 24. How could I play approximately six characters well into their twenties and not remember creating them??

I logged into my mystery toons and quickly realized why they had been so easily forgotten. No enhancements, no real money to speak of, no second or third costumes, no capes, no auras and the only badges they had were mostly MA badges. I had fun playing these toons, I had a blast rolling up things I had always wanted to try but never had time for... but a few short months later, I didn't even remember they existed.

I thought about keeping a few of them... but it somehow disgusted me to think of running around at level 28 with nothing but MA badges and no real idea how to play the character. Yes, I'm a vet and could probably figure it out without too much trouble but there's just no pride in it.

I had fun farming MA but there's no sense of accomplishment in it. So a couple of days ago I deleted them, all of them and without any real sense of regret because I didn't know them, I didn't put anything into them. Most of them had ugly costumes and hastily thought up names. They weren't important to me.

So even though I'm a little sad that I can't level to stamina in a single play session anymore... overall, I have to say I'm glad that things are more or less back to normal.

- RW

Last year, 7 other people (not really friends, just random coalition members) and I teamed up for a task force day. After several hours of talking and joking and teaming, we decided to make matching 'Task Force Costumes' for the remainder of the weekend as we had decided to stretch out the event. Mostly because I didn't need the slot, I didn't change the costume until recently, to get my vanguard armor so yesterday, when I saw someone else wearing it, I recognized it instantly. The name of the character didn't ring any bells but I couldn't name a single person I went on the TF weekend with, but that costume was a dead give away. I sent her a tell....

Me: I can't believe you still have the TF costume. I had mine up until I10 to get the vanguard armor.
Her: ???
Me: I was on the task force team with you that made up those costumes.
Her: Ok.
Her: How do I get to Peregrine Island?

When we did the TF Day, we were all level 50, so that means she's been 50 for over a year, not to mention, I highly doubt you could get to 50 at all without stepping foot into Peregrine on a regular basis.

Me: You're joking right?
Her: I can't find it on the train.
Me: It's through Talos....
Her: Thanks.
Her: I've been away from the game for awhile.

Ah, I thought. She probably hasn't played in a year or so, that explains it. A few hours later however, I came across her in Peregrine standing at the ferry talking in local with a guy about how she bought the account on ebay. They were having this discussion, it seemed, because he was thinking of selling his account and was curious how much he could get for it.

I'm never sure what to think of accounts that have been bought. It seems a messy way to go about getting into a game, starting off at the top. I mean, the entire game is about the journey, not the destination, so why would you want to start at the place where all the fun ends? I only enjoy playing my 50's because I remember the work it took to get them there and continue to want to improve them and catch up on content I missed and get the badges... I don't think I'd enjoy just hopping onto the game at level 50 at all.

I hopped on ebay out of curiosity to see what accounts are going for and was pretty shocked to see them in the neighborhood of $500 - $800. You spent hundreds of dollars to jump to the end of a game which has no end content?

Okay, I can see a few benefits, namely, veteran rewards, kheldians and influence/infamy. But is that really worth $500? If you could pay Cryptic a one-time fee of $500 for every single veteran reward, kheldian access and 50 million influence/infamy... would you do it? I know I certainly wouldn't.

Yay! Another commission complete. This was SO challenging because of the MASSIVE light source.

Reference Screenshot

First Draft

Final Portrait

I don't think I like this as much as my first commission, Final Requiem, but I think that's because there was a lot less to work with. Most of his face was covered up and all the LIGHT everywhere made the picture mostly light and darkness. But I am pleased with it.

Whew! I just pulled an all-nighter to finish this and I'm really proud of it. This was a commission for @Griever (should you want a reference, he has kindly agreed to vouch for my services) for a sum of 7 million influence. After so many hours of work I think I should have asked for more. Hehehe

This is the screenshot I took for my reference. I groaned as soon as I saw the torn up shirt and wings, but hey, a challenge is fun, right?

This is the draft he gave his approval on, the basis on which I would create the final portrait.

And finally, in its completion, Final Requiem. This took me about 48 hours to complete from the time we arranged everything.

Hope you like it Griever! You may contact me @RavenWitch if you're interested in a character portrait.

Hocus-Pocus, a magic-themed (all origins accepted) SG is now recruiting!

Members Excluding Alts: Approximately 34
Website: No (Eventually)
Teamspeak: No
Ventrilo: Yes
Costume Restrictions/Uniform: No
Prestige Requirements: No
Activity Requirements: Inactivity exceeding 60 days without prior notification will result in being kicked.
Coalitions: Older Wiser Niser, G.H.O.S.T. Squad, Paragon's Triumphant, The Perturbed Crispy Dawgs, Universal Knights of Justice, The Silence Within, and Fortune's Favorites

Base Size: Smallest
Features: 4 teleporters with 8 beacon locations, personal storage vault, invention crafting table and base salvage storage. We have plans to eventually include inspiration and enhancement storage.

Activities & Events: Every Saturday evening we group up with our Coalition members for 50's night. Bring your 50 or bring your sidekick for a BEWITCHING good time!

Every Tuesday evening we hop over to the Virtue server for VIRTUE VILLAINS TUESDAYS. C'mon, you know deep down you just want to be bad! Sponsored by The Naughty Nuggets and The Mapservers of Virtue Villain Groups.

Supergroup Meetings take place on the 1st of every month.

@RavenWitch if you have any interest.

*scratches head*

Are you looking costume suggestions?

CLICKY!

Clicky Me Too!

Was fun to make. Now I just need to blow it up, use it as reference for a real panel and add some dialog although I think you can get the gist from the pictures. We gonna do this the easy or hard way? Hard way it is! KABOOM!

Comic Panel

Also just for kicks because I love these screenies...

Sunrise in Paragon City

ZAP!

It's okay, nothing fabulous. I do like the blend colors tho, gives it a sort of wintery shiny feeling.

All right let's see what you can do for me.

Name: Reverie
Origin/AT: Mutation/Defender
Powerset: Empathy/Radiation

Backstory: Anna Keyes aka Reverie grew up a Southern Texas Beauty Queen and went on to claim the title as runner up for Miss America, and soon after pursued a successful career in runway/fashion modeling. Self absorbed and busy with her own life Anna gave little or no thought to others until one day, while putting her make-up on in the car, she caused a horrific car accident that claimed the lives of two people. Of those three people that were inside the mini-van Anna plowed into, one survived, the recipient of Anna's fledgling mutant abilities. The court did not imprison Anna but ordered her to ten years service in the Paragon Elite where she joined forces with other uniquely abled individuals to put a stop to evil and stand up against injustice. Still struggling with guilt over the lives she claimed, Anna has vowed to live a selfless life helping those who cannot help themselves and putting right the wrongs of evil-doers.

Mmm pitchforks.