Silver Gale

On one hand they allow more than one character per name... on the other, I tried to make a character called "Silver Fox" in the Beta and nope, "Fox" is banned.

I think a few CoH forumites found that handles they've had for years in this game are banned over in CO, as well. I don't know if "Animorph" would be allowed - it's used in a fairly famous YA book series, isn't it? - but I don't have a CO account and can't be bothered to check.

Assuming everyone's out to get you is not paranoia, just common sense. Paranoia is when you think they're all organized.

And both our standards are of equal relevance to prospective MA authors: none whatsoever. The only relevant rules are the ones imposed by Paragon Studios and their GM team, who are the people actually running the game.

Here, let me explain using bullet points:

Things you're not allowed to put in your Mission Architect arcs

• Farms
• Copyright infrigment
• Malicious code that breaks the arc server

Things that are perfectly okay to put in MA arcs

• Bad spelling
• Mary Sues
• Nonsensical plots
• Sweeping assumptions about the player character
• Specifically, treating the player character as a moron unable to spot the most obvious trap
• Spreading one clue across multiple fields to get around the character limit
• Breaking unspoken expectations the players have about plots
• Other kinds of playing with the format or conventions

Sure, some of the things on the second list may annoy other players, and if an author cares about making a good impression and getting favorable ratings, they can try to avoid those things. But that alone does not make them "outside the provided framework".

You can complain about the arcs not living up to your personal standards (I'll leave aside the question of how one person's standards can be "better" than another's), but if you want any authority over what belongs in player-created missions, *you're* the one who's going to have to design and produce their own game.

And since Venture is the one who signed an agreement with every existing arc creator allowing them use of the Architect as long as they make an arc that fits his standards, it's entirely his call what the framework is and how much deviation from it is acceptable.

Oh, wait.

No. What he's saying is that just because some players use the MA for farms does not make it "not content". Similarly, just because you personally don't like/use the MA doesn't make it "not content". Therefore, your assertion that "the last few issues had barely any content" is wrong.

As an example: I don't enjoy PvP, I stay out of PvP zones, I don't go to the Arena, but if there was a Issue that was mostly PvP focused and added dozens of new maps and some new PvP modes, I wouldn't say "this issue has no content". I would say "There is not much in this issue for me", and "maybe next Issue will have something that interests me".

So if before the MA, the vast majority of people looking for teams in Peregrine Island (the level 50 zone) were looking for farms, that means even before the MA CoH had very little level 50 content that wasn't farms?

The Abandoned Sewer Network is little more than a really big generic sewer mission, but it still inspired the OP.

"More exposure" is not "giving more info about upcoming features to people who are already fans". It's "putting the same basic info in various places where people who aren't following the game closely are more likely to stumble on it".

In short: because they know the heroes will kick their ***** anyway.

In long, here's the new dialogue of the four AVs.

[NPC] Reichsman: Already no one can stand before me. I bring you here to demonstrate my power and to let you know that I am now the one in charge.
[NPC] Reichsman: So I tell you this: I am supreme. Acknowledge that and you will continue to enjoy your freedom. Dispute that, and you will be crushed, like I am crushing the pitiful resistance in this Boomtown.
[NPC] Countess Crey: I was lured here thinking you had a business proposition for me, Reichsman. I'm not interested in any merger with your cause, especially with you in the top slot. You're wasting your time!.
[NPC] Vanessa Devore: You amuse me, Reichsman. You in charge of everything? Ha.
[NPC] Nemesis: I need not fear you, Reichsman. You bluster and threaten, but in the end you cannot harm me. My plans remain unparalleled.
[NPC] Gyrfalcon: Why would you think the Malta Group would throw its resources in with your bunch of fascists, Herr Reichsman? It is a good thing I'm restrained by this bubble, or I'd show you exactly what we do with your type.
[NPC] Reichsman: Once again, you heroes seek to thwart me. And once again, I shall send you running back to your mothers like little children scared of the dark!


[NPC] Reichsman: I cannot fail! You will not stop me! Nemesis, to me!
[NPC] Nemesis: Fool! Do you think I am truly the real version? Nevertheless, I shall indulge your request, simply to show you that even with MY help your plan will not succeed!

[NPC] Reichsman: What have you done to me? Countess, you will assist me with these heroes! It is your only option if you wish to remain free.
[NPC] Countess Crey: Ugh, I knew coming here was a bad idea. I'm done with you Reichsman, but I'm not about to let this bad press get out!

[NPC] Reichsman: Your talents can aid my cause, Vanessa Devore!
[NPC] Vanessa Devore: *Your* cause? Hah! Don't make me laugh darling, I work for *myself*. But I'm not just about to pass up this chance to add some more souls to my collection!

[NPC] Reichsman: Gyrfalcon, come aid me!
[NPC] Gyrfalcon: Hero intervention! You can't control your own base. I'll do what I have to to save my own skin, but don't come near me after this, Reichsman.

But if you're told to "get from point A to point E through points B, C and D", it's not exploration, it's just a guided tour. Exploration can only happen when it's something you decide to do for yourself, for no reason other than the fun of it.

The only "required formula" for Statesman is "eight people who know how to play well". Master Saturday regularly sees all sorts of teams achieve Master of STF, and many more teams come close (ie. finishing the TF, but with a few deaths).

I think I love Synapse in a totally platonic brotherly way.

Yeah, sorry about that. Although the "I can't see the point so it has to be pointless" subtext is depressingly common, you of all people probably *do* mean "please help me understand this" when you ask that question.

I never go to bars. I don't enjoy meeting random people in bars. None of my friends enjoy meeting in bars and most of them don't live in the same country anyway. There is no reason I would ever want to go to a bar.

I am not *perplexed* by the existence of bars. I do not ask people "yes, but what is the POINT of bars?", with the implication that if they can't present a good answer, then there is no point and bars should not exist. If someone tells me "I meet my friends at the bar", I do not insist that I meet my friends in a CoH global channel, and therefore one of us is Doing It Wrong (and it definitely is not me).

I do not argue that since I am an intelligent person, and I don't enjoy bars, then no intelligent person can possibly enjoy bars, and anyone who goes to bars is thus in some way limited compared to myself. I do not see the existence of bars as some symptom of the decline and upcoming ruin of society.

I just don't go to bars.

Quote from Positron in Boomtown interview:

That's not speculation or stuff they'd like to do, that's something Marketing let him say will specifically be in the expansion.