Rebel_Scum

Trying to buy it again this morning, fully 24 hours after I first tried. Still the same damn error message. NCSoft is just really desperate to not have my money, apparently.

So, I just went and actually made a paypal account in the hopes that it might let me buy it that way. No such luck, still just "We're sorry, but we are unable to accept your order at this time. Please try again later or tomorrow. If you continue to have problems, you may wish to visit one of our retail partners." So either I'm doing something horribly wrong, or NCSoft just really doesn't want my money today.

Count me in as another who's wanted this combination. Ranged characters with defense are a little iffy, though. I know, assault sets aren't entirely ranged but you can build them that way. So there's going to be concerns over tankmage characters there, especially once you add IOs but the game isn't balanced around IOs, right? That and we already have the spiders, two of their power sets are almost entirely ranged and they have significant defenses.

Chalk me up as another one who can't buy it because their store apparently can't handle this many people at once (And by this time it really should be able to, this has happened with EVERY booster pack and they really should've done something about it by now) and also as another one annoyed by not being able to put animal fur on normal hands and feet.

I fully support this idea, but I can see it being a nightmare for the devs to make. Normal, flying, shield and flying with shield animations * however many weapon sets * however many powers = a ton of animations. And I know you said animations focused on the shield for shield characters but the ones for other sets still need 'with shield' animations since the shield combat stance is entirely seperate. And making shield focused animations adds another two (normal and flying) animations * weapons * powers = another half a ton of animations.

I'm not saying it's a bad idea, like I said I'd be all for it and it'd be awesome. Just wanted to point out the sheer amount of work involved in doing something like this.

So I was looking at the new stuff in the pack on the test server last night, and one thing just leaps out as being a glaring omission. The animal fur tights option is only available, as far as I can tell, is only available on the default 'smooth' boots, at least for female characters. Haven't looked at males or huge yet. Every other option as far as I know is available on all boots that don't have their own unique texture. So why isn't this one?

Unless I'm misunderstanding how the system works internally, which I'll admit is possible, then it shouldn't be too hard to change. So can we please have it on all of them? (Smooth, Stilettos, Platforms, Folded, Flare, Spiked, Finned, Large, Banded and Flat - All of which, to my knowledge, use the same textures. Hence why it shouldn't be too hard.)

Edit: Just checked, it's missing off all the others for males and huge as well.

(( Part 2 of still don't know how many, also written with Leo. ))

The tiger didn't feel any humiliation at eating on the floor and even embraced it by letting his belly rest on the cool floor as he sank his fangs into the fresh meat. He didn't answer any of the questions first off, his thoughts and jaw was too occupied with the food to do much else. It was as if he expected someone to try and steal it from him if he didn't eat it fast enough. In a manner of minutes, he was already finished with the medium sized dish of flesh but he was still careful not to get his snowy white fur around his face soiled with blood.

<Shifter?> he asked as he sat up again, his wide tongue cleaning the corners of his maw. <Is that some sort of clan?...Anyway, just like you, I'm not normally like this. I'm a human too. Rarely am I ever seen like this...that's why I said I'm an infrequent visitor.> The tiger carefully gripped the empty dish in his teeth, rose up to the table, resting a foot on it and a nearby chair then gently released the plate there, indicating he had finished. <Not to sound too needy but...would you be able to teach me how to do that? That changing on command thing?>

Amelia looked down at him in surprise when he said he was human, one eyebrow raised. <You don't look very...>, she began, but broke off as he went on to explain. <Umm... maybe. If you really are a shifter then it should be easy enough, you just focus on the other form and sort of will yourself to be it. If you're not, then no idea sorry.>

Then the tiger nudged the plate closer to Amelia. <And more food? I'm still hungry.> He added a toothy grin as he try his best to say 'please' in human tongue but came out as a rough snarl. <Uh, that was suppose to sound like please.>

<More? Greedy and impatient, sheesh. Alright, fine... But only cause you asked nicely. Might want to work on the pronunciation though, that one took me a while too.> Amelia took the plate and got up to go get some more food, leaving the tiger to follow.

<You can speak like a human when you're a cat too?> the tiger asked as he followed behind her, his tail eagerly flipping to and fro. He suddenly felt guilty. <Thanks for all your help but I don't even know your name,> he said looking up to her. <I'm Ian and would like to learn more about this transforming thing you do...that is, if you're willing to deal with me.>

<Yeah, I can>, Amelia replied as she grabbed some more meat for him. <Sounds a bit weird but it's understandable at least. Took me ages to get it right though, so don't worry if it takes you a while too. And I hope you're gonna pay me back for this once you get turned back into a human, this stuff's getting expensive.>

The tiger bared his teeth in a grin. <Of course, if you're not just feeding a stray out of the kindness of your heart...>

<Name's Amelia, by the way>, she added as she paid for the great heap of meat she'd piled on a plate. The guy behind the counter gave the tiger a disparaging look, as if to ask how it could possibly want so much. But it was paid for, so he had no objection. <And I dunno about willing, but... not like I have much else to do over these holidays. Besides, heroes are supposed to help people, right? I see a guy in need of help>, she told him with a laugh and a playful poke on the nose. Ian gave a funny snort at the poke and followed her and the smell of meat back to the table.

When he ate this time, he occasionally stopped between swallows to speak. <I've done visualizing to help me change back but it seems to be more complicated than that,> he said, his maw hovering over his meal just before he took another bite. <So when can you take me through the lessons of this Shifter clan? I'd hate to resort to scratching on your door every time I'm hungry.>

<Umm... I dunno if there's 'lessons' really. I've been able to do it since I was born - Dad says I was the most adorable kitten>, Amelia replied, looking down at him now since she'd finished her own meal. <A couple of questions though... How long have you been like that? And if the answer to that isn't 'from birth', have you ever been bitten by an animal on the night of the full moon?> She sat back, waiting for him to finish chewing so he could answer.

The tiger chewed on flesh as he thought about these questions and how they related to this clan of Shifters. <A few years, actually. The changes come and go but I rarely ever have any control over when.> He licked his whiskers as he thought about the other question. Was this girl like a werewolf? <I've never been bitten by a beast in my life. I'm just too fast,> Ian boasted with a smirk. <But are you telling me this...feature is contagious?> He didn't mean for it to sound like he thought shifters were a disease but it just came out like that.

<Only on the night of the full moon>, Amelia told him, not making an issue of being treated like a disease. To some extent it was, in her view. Just not a harmful one, not at all. <And don't ask me why only then, I don't know>, she went on. <But if a shifter bites anyone on that night, that person becomes a shifter. Generally, we try not to. Likewise, if a shifter has a child, even with a normal person, the child will be a shifter too.>

He stooped his neck down for another bite but stopped. <Oh, and just in case you ask how I got like this...I think a witch did it.> Blunt explanation but that's all he knew.

<Then you're not a shifter and I probably can't help you, other than feeding you>, Amelia replied equally bluntly. <If you want, we could go see a magic expert and I'll translate for you>, she offered a little hesitantly.

He had expected such a response. <I have spoken with a magic professional once before. He classified the magic as a type of therianthropy curse upon the victim.> He took the last few bites of his meal then finally pushed the plate aside with a paw to look up to Amelia as he spoke. <Since then, I've researched this phenomenon a bit. From memory, the transformations have no outside pattern like using the full moon or night time. But what they all had in common was how I felt when it initiated the change. When I get mad, it forces the change so that inclines me to believe I might be able to control the changes.> He tipped his head to the side to finally ask the question he had been thinking of while speaking. <What's the difference between a bite on a full moon and a magic curse? Don't they impart the same effect?>

<Outwardly maybe>, Amelia answered, leaning down to grab the plate before adding it to her own and getting up. <But on the inside it probably works differently. If it's affected by emotions though... if being mad made you transform, maybe the opposite will change you back? Being really calm or whatever. Or it might be something completely random... you'd have to go through the whole range to find out probably. I assume you've tried though, right?> She paused as the tiger nodded in answer and the both of them walking off toward the exit after dropping the empty plates off. <Cause really, I'm not gonna be much help. I've been able to do it since I was born, it's as natural for me as breathing. So I really don't know what to tell you.>

The tiger rubbed his flank along her leg in pleading. <Please, I really need someone that understands this stuff from experience. I just need to know how it feels, how it works, anything.> He cast his shining green eyes up, again pleading. <I'm a fast learner and a good listener.>

<I didn't say I wouldn't help, cause I will>, Amelia replied, raising a hand to reassure him. <I'm just saying, I dunno how much help I'll be. Your situation's a lot different to mine.> At this the tiger stopped buttering up the shifter and instead smiled at his success and kept walking with her. <Anyway, do you have a place to sleep? Out in the snow's kinda rough, even with fur.>

Ian pondered this extensively. But it was only a manner of a couple of paces if you were watching him. <Well...I've slept outside in the snow before when I was human...but it would be nice to sleep inside for a change.> Rather than keep walking, the tiger stopped and took a seat on their path. <It's kind of embarrassing...I bit through my keycard. I won't be able to freely enter an leave my room anyway. -Sigh- I really need to figure this whole thing out soon.> He hadn't even seen or spoke to his mother in days. She'd have to be getting worried.

<If you want...>, Amelia offered, a little hesitantly. <Cait's away for the holiday, you could sleep on her bed for a night or two at least. Presuming you can stand being in the girl's dorm without getting all excited and pervy at us all.> She couldn't help but laugh at the thought of that last bit, causing a passing student to give her an odd look for apparently laughing at nothing. She paid it no mind, it wasn't the first time she'd attracted weird looks for talking to cats.

The tiger didn't laugh. Instead he shifted a glance to the passing student then slowly let his gaze sink. He was obviously thinking about something...and considering he sat with his eyes cast to the snow for over ten seconds, he was thinking about it intensely. Eventually, he brought his eyes back up to Amelia with a nod. <I'm harmless, really,> he said, defying the earlier intent of eating the girl when she took the form of a cat. <I guess one night wouldn't hurt. Maybe sleeping in a bed will help me relax or something.> He then followed behind her again.

<Alright then. But if you snore I'm kicking you right back out again>, Amelia replied, heading toward the dorm. <And I'll bet you're not as harmless as you look... were considering eating me after all...>

(( Part 1 of no idea how many, written with Leo. ))

[And about a week After Christmas]

This was misery by its definition. Ian was alone, hungry and stranded.

He was alone because he had no one he could turn to or wanted to turn to in this form. He was a beast, a tiger and wild looking. Not like last year, where he looked like a puppy-sized tiger cub that people thought was so cute and cuddly. Now he was at least 5x that size now. Anyone that saw him probably avoided him, unsure if he was wild creature, a domestic stray or just some practical joke waiting for a sucker to walk into.

He was hungry because...well, he'd been like this for the past few days. After losing that tournament and finding himself without any knowledge of what he was, his form reverted to this. He dare not barge into the cafe and ask for a raw steak, no one would understand his growls and roars and might even ship him off to a zoo or something. No birds or squirrels to hunt this season, the lakes were mostly frozen over so no fish...he could probably manage to catch a stray dog or cat but no telling if he could muster the courage to eat it...

He was stranded outside. Since he couldn't very well use his hands, he accidentally bit through the keycard when he tried to open his room with his teeth. And although he could probably leap over the perimeter wall to leave the campus as he pleased, there wasn't many other places he could go. Much of the cover at the park was shed in autumn and the alleys were most likely occupied. -Sigh- It was just better to find a corner or a rock somewhere and hide in it to wait this transformation out...it's been 3 days and in the past, they usually didn't last much longer.

In the meantime, Ian hid under a naked tree and bathed in the snow. He clawed various words in the white slush in Portuguese and Spanish to take his mind off of his stomach. At least he wasn't cold...

In his musings and misery, he may not have seen or heard the other cat coming up behind him. It was after all much smaller, and made little noise on the soft snow. She certainly saw him though, the sharpened senses of the animal picking him out almost before she left the cover of the nearby building along the wall of which she'd been walking. The students around the place paid her little mind, there were some - mostly the ones who were or had been in a class with her - who knew who and what the little ginger cat was, but to most she was simply a stray cat. One of many and not worth concern.

Him, though... to her he presented a mystery. She'd never seen him before, yet his scent was somehow familiar to her. It made no sense. And, cats being the curious creatures they are and Amelia no less so for not being a true cat, she just had to find out why. So over she went, somewhat cautiously but none the less she went.

His feline ears perked when he finally decided whatever was creeping around him was getting too close. He squashed his writings with a thick paw as he raised to a seated position and aiming his yellow and hazel eyes off into the distance, as if he hadn't noticed the prowler's approach. <I wonder if it's a stray...you never know...could taste decent> he said aloud to himself.

Amelia stopped dead in her tracks when she heard that, tempted to just pass on by but she still wanted to find out why he smelled so familiar. <You know I can hear you, right? And for your information I'm NOT a stray, I'm a student here>, she snapped back at him in exactly the kind of imperious tone one would expect from a cat. She stayed right where she was however, not coming any closer in case he decided to try to eat her anyway. She might need the room to run if it came to fight or flight and she chose the latter, him being so much bigger and all.

The tiger looked left then right then he turned to the cat with blinking eyes. <Who said that?> he said after turning up his gaze to make sure no one was silently flying above him. <You can hear what I'm saying?> Ian asked further as he finally narrowed his gaze on the feline...or he would have if his stomach hadn't started grumbling. A short gurgle at first, then a long steady growl which made him blush had he not been covered in thick fur. <...that wasn't me> he tried to explain. <I mean, I wasn't being aggressive...> Although his stomach didn't sound anything like his rumbling growl, he felt it better to at least make it clear.

<No, you just haven't eaten in a while. That much is obvious>, Amelia replied, laughing quietly. <And if you must know, I said that. You WERE talking aloud, you know.>

<Great. How can I eat something that talks back to me?> he commented to himself as he let his body collapse back into the snow.

<You could always NOT eat me. Just a suggestion>, Amelia offered. <If you're really desperate I could get something from the cafeteria.> She still stayed right where she was, not approaching him in case it turned out to be a terrible and entirely possibly fatal mistake.

Still lying on his empty belly, Ian eyed the feline curiously. To tell the truth, Ian didn't like cats. Not because he just wasn't a cat person...it's just they've always lead to trouble for him so learned to not trust them, for good reason. But like she said, he was starting to get desperate. <Okay, little cat, I suppose I'll trust you. But how do you plan to get into the cafeteria?> he asked as he sat up again. <Or carry anything out?...I am pretty hungry, I could eat something a lot heavier than you.> The tiger anxiously yet slowly paced. He had to stop himself from circling the cat so he didn't seem intimidating and instead walked a path in front of her, his paws trailing a path in the snow. He seemed slightly taller than before now that he was in motion, his tail dexterously swaying side to side.

<Oh I dunno...>, Amelia replied. <I have my ways. One thing though before I go... How is it you were talking and didn't know it? And come to think of it where'd you come from anyway? I've never seen you around here but your scent is familiar for some reason. Would you care to explain why?> And there was the cat's natural curiosity kicking in, apparently. Something about him just didn't add up and she was determined to find out what before she went anywhere, cafeteria or otherwise.

As the cat asked her questions, the tiger continued to pace but even slower. <Wow, you ask a lot of questions,> he commented with a laugh, probably the first one he'd had in quite a few days. <I knew I was talking, I just didn't know anyone could understand me. The times I tried asking for help, I'd just get weird stares and stuff.> At the other questions, the tiger leisurely approached and stopped several feet away. <You can say I'm just a non-frequent visitor. I've been around once before when I was a bit smaller but beyond that, you're not familiar to me at all.>

Now staring at the curious cat from the side, he started to become curious himself but not quite curious enough to forget about his hunger. His stomach growled again but he put it aside long enough to ask a question of his own. <Why'd you say you were a student? Did you mean a student's pet?>

<Nope, if I had a pet human I would've said so>, Amelia replied, laughing a little. <Well... Cait might count, maybe. But anyway, no. I'm a student here.> She sounded so very smug about that, too. <Now since I answered your question, you answer mine. Where'd you come from and why do you smell so familiar?>

This cat seemed to be getting bold, as she held her ground when he approached. He took another step when he answered. <You tell me. Have you been following behind me, smelling my tracks? I wouldn't know why I'd smell familiar to a feline I've never met.> The tiger took another step closer, his nose inching closer. A quick couple of sniffs followed by a breeze of warmth from his nose accompanied a small fang-bearing smirk. <Well, I've met you now...the smart little cat that thinks she goes to school with humans> he half growled and purred in a laugh after obtaining her scent. <Sorry, I didn't mean to sound discouraging. I believe you go to school here...I have to believe weird things in a city like this. It's just amusing to think about. As for where I'm from? Here. I just don't come out very often.> Just then, his stomach rumbled again and his mouth began to water. <Perhaps it'd be easier to talk after getting a bite? I wouldn't want to slobber all over you when I say something.>

<Alright, alright. Sheesh, so impatient>, Amelia replied, almost as if offended by it but not really. She shrugged, or as much as a cat can shrug anyway, and turned to head toward the cafeteria. Before she was out of sight, however, she with no fanfare or dramatic flourish whatsoever shifted back to her human form. She didn't even look back at him as she went into the cafeteria building, but had he been able to see her face he would've easily spotted the amused grin on it. But, what to get for the tiger. She was pretty sure the dragon she'd seen in here a few times preferred his meat raw, maybe they'd let her have some?

The tiger nearly couldn't believe his eyes. Had a girl just appeared out of nowhere? And where did the little cat go? As she walked through the cafeteria doors, the tiger bounded after her then slowed to a trot so he could weave through the closing doors. He didn't try to keep quiet as his paws padded the floor and he shook himself free of any snow that clung to his fur. While he was apprehensive of barging into the cafeteria and hearing the gasps or shouts of his presence, these were dismissable if this strange girl gouged for him.

He soon closed the gap, his snout inadvertently bumping the back of her thigh as she moved to speak with the cooks and he followed close behind. Yes, it was the same person, he could smell her. So many questions swam through his thoughts, it seemed an odd choice for the first he decided to ask. <Why aren't you naked?> Apparently, the tiger momentarily forgot his appetite.

Amelia almost jumped when she heard him ask. <Weren't you going to stay outside?>, she asked him in return, not answering his question.

<Well, I thought you were a cat and you were sneaking into a window or something,> the tiger retorted with a growl for being answered with a question. Eh, oh well, she was calling the shots here as he could very well be thrown back out in the snow.

<And since you're here, you can tell me what you want. What do tigers eat anyway? Meat I'd assume. But do you want it cooked or not?> He aimed a narrowed glare up to the girl.

<Tigers eat only what they kill...but I'm very much less picky,> the tiger responded with a snort. <Beef, pork, mutton. Whatever, just no poultry...and raw, please. Also cut to let some of the blood...I don't want to make a mess of myself.> He licked his whiskers in anticipation at the smell of fresh meat, even if it was being cooked. Hopefully there was a good size amount left uncooked.

"You going to order anything?", asked the guy behind the counter. Amelia looked up from the tiger and realised she was holding up the line, so she moved grabbing a few things for herself along the way.

"Is he yours? A pet or something", the guy asked.

"No.... more of a stray", Amelia replied, a little hesitantly. This got a padding to the back of her leg and a cold stare. Being labeled a stray might get him the wrong type of attention. <What? You ARE a stray>, she told him before looking back up. "You don't mind do you? I can pay for anything he eats." The guy behind the counter just shrugged and motioned for her to move on. Apparently a student bringing a tiger into the cafeteria wasn't the strangest thing he'd seen at this school.

After making their requests to the cooks (hopefully there was some butcher in them too), Ian eagerly prodded the girl again, this time nabbing the bottom cuff of her pants in his teeth to give it a little nip. Yes, they were certainly there and real. <When are you going to explain this? How did you change like that? Where'd these clothes come from!?> While he thought more about this new phenomenon, he pondered if she was like him...or him like her, however you look at it. Then it hit him. <Wait...I've seen you before,> he exclaimed after getting a good look at her face...

<You have? Well, that explains why you smell familiar>, Amelia replied, walking backwards towards the tables looking back at the tiger following her. Amazingly she managed to not walk into anyone or anything, even dodging around someone she by all rights shouldn't have known was there. <I don't remember ever seeing a tiger around the place before, though... you're not another shifter are you?>, she asked as she sat down at an empty table. She put the meat she'd gotten for him on a spare plate she'd gotten for that exact purpose and set it down on the floor so he wouldn't have to jump up on the table to get at it.

I would make a character with this in a heartbeat.

/signed as well, but I'd bet if/when they do this it'll come with a restriction that you can have a weapon aura or a costume aura, not both. There's a one cape and one aura rule in place, it's the reason we can't have the sybil outfits or those fancy skirts from one of the ouroboros taskforces - they violate the aforementioned rule.

Personally I don't often use costume auras so I wouldn't mind such a restriction, but I know some people would.

(( Oh look a post. This one written with the help of Leo. ))


[A week before Christmas]

After sending a couple of texts that amount to "Merry Christmas, happy holidays!" "How are you?" and "What's up?", Ian decided to ask Kethara if she'd like to go out shopping with him. And since there was quite a few more nights before Christmas, this was a better time than any to finally get this little task started and done with.

Ian stood outside the gate of the school, bundled up in a thick wool overcoat and some faded jeans as well as his bokken tucked into the belt of his pants. He waited on the snow plowed pavement for his friend to arrive, not very long but the weather made it feel like a bit of time had passed. Several thoughts went through his head, not pertaining to shopping. He really didn't know a lot about Kethara now that he thought about it...like about her parents or her past. Needless to say, she seemed pretty accepting of the hero moniker so perhaps her whole family was in on the business?

His ears perked at the presence of another, the faint low hum of the energy fields used by Peacebringers to fly easily audible to his trained senses. He quickly turned his head up and smiled. "Hey! Kethara!" His hands still dug in his pockets and his boots thudding along the pavement, he walked over to meet her. "Glad you made it. I'd be bored going by myself and can't have my mom seeing what I'm getting her," he said with a wide toothy grin.

The peacebringer dropped out of the sky next to him, flipping gracefully in midair at the last moment to land neatly on her feet rather than on her face. The swordsman simply smiled at the young peacebringer's acrobatics. "Wouldn't miss it. I'd try to be as secret about what I'm getting for mine but she already knows. Even before I know, it's kinda annoying." She paused, looking up at him. "I do have to wonder though, why me of all people? Don't you have friends in your own class? I mean come on, I'm almost young enough to be your daughter." She kept walking alongside him the whole time, talking as fast as words popped into her head.

"My daughter?" Ian laughed and rested a heavy hand on her shoulder. "Maybe a little sister," he added with a warm smile at the thought. He always wished he had a brother or sister, big, little or otherwise, so the diversion of thoughts soothed his torrential mind. "Not to make it seem like you were a last resort or anything but...pretty much all my friends are gone on holiday. I probably would have too but mother decided to stay home this Christmas..." Suddenly, his smile faded and he got caught up in thinking about the family holidays of the past. They weren't always exciting but at least they were together...

"I'd have gone on holiday but I don't really have anywhere to go." Kethara shrugged, it mattered little to her. "Maybe I'll go visit my sister, that's always fun. You're welcome to come along if you want."

"Sure, sounds like fun," Ian agree with a shrug. "It's cool that you have siblings...I wish I did too. Anyway," he quickly continued, so quick in fact, it didn't seem like he had been distracted at all. "So your mom is a psychic or something?" he questioned as they turned the block which revealed Main Street in the distance. "Does she have a hero name like yours?"

"Umm.... not exactly", Kethara answered, a little evasively. Sure, it probably didn't matter in a period where Ouroboros was reasonably well known and time travelling heroes were a dime a dozen, but her mother was always cautioning her about the possible consequences of inadvertently changing history. "She did used to be registered though, under Paxtera. Means something in Latin, I think it was. She told me once but I don't remember", she went on almost as quickly as Ian had, trying to gloss over her mother's true nature with a convenient subject change. "Never was good at dead languages", she added.

"Hmm, P-a-x? T-e-r-r-a?" Ian spelled out, "Sounds like it'd mean peaceful land or something to that effect in Latin," he tried answering Kethara's query without trying to come off as a smart-aleck about it. He quickly perked up when he turned his attention down the street to see a busy little river of people walking along the sidewalks and passing in and out of the street-side shops, their windows adorned with tinsel and lights as well as the shop's fares to entice shoppers to come in.

"Yup, it's definitely Christmas," Ian smirked and laughed then looked over to Kethara. "Since your mom knows what you'll get her, does that mean she already knows what you want this year too?"

"Again, not exactly. More or less, so long as I tell her at some point, she knows before I do. It's complicated", the peacebringer replied, again evasively. Ian tried contemplating how this psychic link might have worked but soon gave up after several the 3rd dozen convoluted possibility hit a roadblock.

Thankfully for Kethara to change the subject, a convenient distraction presented itself in the form of a shop with something that caught her eye in the window. Namely, a computer shop with a display of top of the line components of various kinds. "Ooh!", she exclaimed, running to the window and looking them over before glancing back at Ian. "You mind if I go in and have a look around?"

"By all means," the swordsman smiled and moved to open the door for her before following her inside. "I guess girls aren't into Barbies and dolls anymore, huh?" he joked with a grin. As Kethara shopped around, Ian took a look at some of the accessories the place had: laptop bags, chill mats, wireless chargers. He really didn't know what was useful or not as he didn't really 'own' a laptop himself (technically, he has a laptop for cataloging his work but he never actually uses it outside of that). "Hey Kethara, what would you recommend if you were shopping for a gift?" he asked after rejoining the peacebringer and observing over her shoulder.

The peacebringer on the other hand had no interest in laptops, accessories, or anything wireless. She went straight to a display of prebuilt desktop computers and checked out each one, a quick glance seemingly enough for each one before moving on. "Umm... no idea? It'd depend on who I was shopping for, I guess", she answered Ian when he rejoined her, not looking up from the box she was holding, scanning the info on the back of it. "You know, get them something they'd like or that they would use."

Ian moved in closer to scan what the peacebringer was scanning too. "Hmm, okay. Rephrasing. What sort of something would you like?" He didn't mean to come off so direct about it but Ian wasn't one to beat around the bush about something. "Err...that is, what type of stuff do you use?...Just to get a good kind of idea about stuff like shopping for others," he tried to clarify. He diverted his eyes in an attempt to conceal his rather transparent intentions but you never know, maybe Keth wouldn't care.

Keth put the box back on the shelf before turning to face him, an amused smile stuck firmly on her face. "Why's what I want matter? Were you planning on getting me something?" She doubted it, she barely knew him and he knew her even less. But if he was it presented a problem. She hadn't gotten anything for him, nor had she been planning to get anything. For anyone, not just Ian. Christmas just wasn't something she was used to celebrating.

"It doesn't matter..." he answered, evading the other question, "Think of it like a hypothetical question, I guess. If I knew someone that reminded me of you, then your insight might be of help." Try as he might (or rather, due to often abrasive combative nature) Ian didn't have too many people he'd call friends. So when he found someone he could tolerate (and vise versa) he'd grow a close keenship pretty quick. "Come on, just help me out," Ian asked again with big pleading green eyes.

"As far as puppy dog eyes go, I think yours need work", Keth told him with a faint laugh. "But ok. Umm... to be honest I don't know. Nothing comes to mind immediately." She shrugged apologetically. "If all else fails you can always get them a voucher, or just straight money. Impersonal, I know, but some people prefer that and then being able to choose for themselves rather than being given something they didn't want and might not ever use. Just a thought. Books are always good too, if you know what sort they like."

As Keth explained, Ian nodded and listened. It was apt advice for sure, but definitely not his style. While paying attention to the peacebringer, he searched his memory of their interactions in the past. Well, he remembered seeing the girl's interesting gold-looking cell that she requested custom fitted with the school's teleport grid. As if changing the subject, he returned his attention to the desktop components on the shelf. "So what's your system look like? Anything like your cell?"

"Huh? No, that's a special case, just so I can get in touch with Mum if I need to. Haven't yet, not sre if that's a good sign or not though", Keth replied, after a moment's hesitation. "But no, the one I have back in the dorm is entirely built with the best parts I could find locally. 'Best' being relative, of course, but that's what I have to work with. I even put it together myself." She seemed more than a little proud of that. After all, knowing about what was to her antique technology was one thing, but using it and more importantly using it correctly was quite another. "Stupid Mum and her making me promise..."

"Hmm? Promise what?" Ian asked with a blink. "You're certainly being cryptic today. I get the feeling there's something you're not telling me." He gave Keth one more stare before just laughing it off and giving the store one last look around. Apparently, he got the info he needed. "Is there anything you needed to buy?" He wasn't sure if she still wanted to look around or not but there were still other places they could scope out.

"Nah, I'm always cryptic and I always don't tell people things", Kethara replied with a slight laugh. "Perks of being... nevermind", she added, catching herself before she said something she shouldn't. Ian gave her a little scowl when she did it again but turned it into a smirk soon after. "And no, nothing. Amazing how slow time goes when you have to live every moment of it... Anyway. We can leave whenever, I was just looking around. Still need to get presents too, should remember that."

"Good, I already found what I need here too. Hopefully she'll like it," he responded not-as-cryptically to the peacebringer. "Just don't go peeking into my head or anything." He opened the door for the girl and followed her back out into the cold. "So where to next?" Ian offered her the choice. He didn't want to go telling her he didn't really have any shopping to do except for her.

A few blocks down, a cacophony of barks, growls and twitters came from a corner pet store. At first it was mainly just lots of animal noises but after a small parade of Strong Men and Seneschals came storming out of the store and around the corner into an ally, a loud tussle could be heard around the block. Ian could hear them from a block or two further but the commotion wasn't even that far off. Ian's eyes quickly darted toward the disturbance. "You hear that?" he asked the obvious.

I too must support this idea. More costume slots would be great. The bug with spiders and their ability to get (and use, they just can't modify the sixth) six slots proves the system can handle more than five, it should be just a matter of changing the UI to allow access to them I think. SCR applies of course but still.

Hell, make it a booster pack if needed. Ten bucks and every character on your account gets two more slots, or some such.

Count the number of enemies in the game that can apply defense debuff effects. Then count the number who can apply resistance debuff or regeneration debuff effects. Last I checked the defense debuffing mobs had a pretty clear lead. Defense may be easier to get but it is also far easier to lose, both because of the number of debuffs out there and because of the mechanics involved in how those debuffs work. Thus, it is balanced.

I might also point out that even when softcapped, defense still has a 5% chance to do absolutely nothing to prevent that Archvillain oneshotting you. So there's an element of luck involved too. Resistance is less available, but also more reliable.

Both Paxtera and her daughter hung back as the little fairy and the Marbles went about their business of summoning. Neither of them had any particular magical experience, and Paxtera in particular had no desire to get involved with fae of any kind. "Always diamonds... why can they never use anything else? Sapphires maybe, or rubies...", the elder time traveller muttered to herself.

Otherwise they were much the same as Jade, awaiting either a request for assistance or the end result. Though perhaps with a little less enthusiasm than the dragon.

(( <-- still here, but three people doesn't really make a thread any more than two would. ))

Welp, if we're sharing memories...

First I heard of the game was reading a thread about it in the games forum on somethingawful. I forget why, probably was just bored. But anyway, I thought it looked cool and hey, they had a link for a free trial. So I thought, why not. I was getting bored of WoW at the time so yeah. So I made an account, waited while the game took some 20 hours to download. (My parents' internet connection was and often still is a steaming pile of crud)

I remember thinking at the end that the game better have been worth all the time it took to download, especially since due to the aforementioned not very good internet it basically locked me out of doing anything else online for all that time. But eventually I got in and made if I remember rightly, a spines/regen scrapper. (Before you ask, no at the time I didn't know it was a popular build at all) And the costume... oh god, the costume. In three years of playing this game, I'm pretty sure I haven't come across a costume more unintentionally eyebleeding than that one. But whatever, in I went. Started in Galaxy City, wandered around stabbing stuff for a bit, found the guy I was supposed to talk to, got his missions and did them. Usual newbie stuff.

Then, this guy tells me he wants to introduce me to another contact. So it gives me a guy in Kings Row, the one on a roof near the train station. I forget his name. However at the time I didn't know the game had trains. I was used to WoW with its having to go everywhere at least once. So off I went to the marker at the edge of the map labelled 'Kings Row'. Loading in and running down the road a bit, I find myself suddenly stomped flat by a giant robot. I just sort of sat there going 'wtf?' for a bit, before realising that yes, a giant robot did indeed just kick my *** with no warning.

Ended up on a team to kill that robot and all, if I remember rightly. But anyway. Pretty much right about then I decided I wanted this game. Though I didn't actually get it until some six months later, when I had some money left over after buying textbooks for university. So I figured I'd shoot down to the mall and buy a new game to pass the time when not studying, and when I get there I notice a single CoH box and a single CoV box on the shelf. I bought both, plus the two 60 day cards they had. I remember they were $30 each, which was kickass since that's New Zealand dollars. WoW cards here were and still are $50 each.

Sadly I don't have that scrapper still, as I for reasons I don't remember deleted all my characters leftover from the trial when I bought the game. No, that doesn't make sense to me either. I do however have the first character I made after that, which was also a spines/regen scrapper. Though with a far less eyebleeding costume. She was my first 50.

And I even managed to pass most of my courses that year too. Was the next year that I didn't, after discovering roleplaying and getting more obsessed than is healthy.

Kind of amusing though that after all the time I've put into this game, both parts of the reason I got it at all were more or less pure random chance.

Apologies for the wall of possibly nonsensical text.

I know it's not quite what you're talking about, but I would kill for a Vanguard pistol option for dual pistols, using a design along the same lines as the Vanguard assault rifle and unlocked the same way. That or Rularru pistols.

I could be wrong but as I recall there's something you can add to the command line to make the game load the hero, villain or GR splash screen when it first starts up.

Edit: Yup, checking on Paragonwiki confirms. For CoV you add '-cov', and for GR you add '-uiskin 2'. I suspect '-uiskin 1' would give the CoV one too, just it has an easier alias while the GR one doesn't.

We just had a graphical upgrade. Not saying it wouldn't be cool if it works as you say, but I'd think there's better things to focus on than more shiny graphics when we just got those a couple of issues ago. Some of us play games for things other than the latest shiny technology, after all.