TSCM_Hudson

Well, they called the system for CoH the Omega system back when it was still around the Issue 5 eras.

Perhaps it's because Cryptic and NCSoft are no longer the one and the same that it's now something else.

I read one of the Ten Ton Hammer interviews which was posted three days ago, and this was said.

"But level-capped players will also get theirs, and Matt explained that the team isn’t just extending the purple enhancements grind. “We’re going to have a whole new system that will allow max-level players to take their max-level characters and make them even more powerful.” For the moment, that’s all we were able to find out on that topic."


Source: http://www.tentonhammer.com/node/74507

So is that the long discussed Omega System they are speaking of... or something totally different?

Hm, maybe it's because two days after I16 release, but there were 45 Players in a single zone when I did a /search.

EDIT: Oops, and it was even a different server. Virtue.

My apologies.

We both agree, sign us up then.

Hm, what's the level cap? If I'm not too close to it, you may perhaps add the Shadowstalker Bros.

There's two of them. Shadowstalker Bros and Shadowstalker Bros.

We always play together, my Brother and I. So that will be two slots.

Unless of course we are close to the level cap. What's the minimum and maximum level for it?

Well, I think it'd be fine also if there was a teleporter in the base to go to different zones, and if you went to use the SG Portal in a zone, it would give you the option of going to there too.

A warning message would be good though.

It just looks like some kind of walkway. I've noticed that it has been expanding. It's kind of down the cliff on the side of the Arena which faces the ocean.

One of the construction workers of course, said he didn't know why they were building it, and that no one told him anything. XD

Is it just a walkway that goes from the Mercy Isle Ferry to the Port Oakes?

If so... why does it look like they are building it out towards the ocean..........


(New game content coming! Underwater missions soon, where you discover the Coralax Civilization! J/K, but it would be cool.....)

Alright, I was thinking about Warburg when I came up with this idea. It could be one of the old zones, or a totally new one.

There's a base in the zone, an abandoned one. I don't care if it's underground or what. Anyways, say you have an SG that goes into the Zone and clears out the mobs that have made that base their home. After clearing them out, they don't respawn and you can us that base in that zone as an alternate SG Base and stage operations in that zone from that base. The base may provide some sort of buff to the Heroes/Villains depending on who owns it.

Now, the base, once captured, would have defenses. No Police Drone nonsense, and Arbiter Drones. Just normal defenses, and the opposing force could attempt to storm the base. Perhaps, the winning side that owns the base may get some sort of benefit in PvE zones while the base is occupied.

What would also be interesting is, instead of a shop for temp powers and so forth in that zone, if a side manages to continually hold the base for certain lengths of time, you earn some type of rewards for it.

I thought it would be an interesting thing. Might get people involved in that zone.



Also, there's always the idea of a Zone that's like AoS or DotA. Two bases on each side, NPC's spawn and are sent at eachother. Heroes and Villains can support them, eventually reaching the other base and destroying it. You could earn some type of "Zone Currency" that you could use to purchase upgrades for your troops. Like perhaps upgrade minions who start off with only Standard Powers, to have more powers. Eventually you would be able to hire Lt's, and then bosses. Maybe even Elite Bosses and AV's/Heroes if it went on long enough.

Who knows? Maybe throw in a type of Giant Monster that, if supported after purchasing it, could be the Zone ender. Then after a certain time the zone resets.




Anyways, it may never happen, but I think it'd be cool. Suggestions? Idea's? I think it's a good start.

I coulda sworn there was one, but I can't find it now, and I think I've come up with a pretty cool idea. =P

I've been gone for about one year, and I was wondering if there has been any new info on new Epic AT's.

Also, possibly some kind of Laser Cannon type set. =P

I did speak to a few English Professors, they said the only major error was that "They" should be "It" because "They" can't refer to a Figure.

Thanks for the input though.

(Note: When that this is only the first pages of the book, I'm deciding whether to post more on here... especially the more action-packed parts that arrive soon after this!

Of course... it's sorta mean to leave you all hanging, so... I'll let you all voice your opinion... do you want more?)

I woke up from my now dreamless sleep, staring up at the concrete that seemed to float above me. I slowly tested out my limbs, moving them bit by bit trying to figure out how much strength they had regained. They moved with little effort, and I soon found that all my muscles had fully recovered.


How long I had been sleeping I do not know, and whether it was day or night didn't seem to matter, as the dimly lit room seemed to stay at the level of light it was meant to be. I slowly sat up in my bunk while gazing around, noticing another glass of water set on top of a table that had not been there before.


I reached for the glass, and quickly downed the entire glass, temporarily quenching the thirst that had been scourging my mouth. I stood up, stretching, my hands almost reaching the roof of cement. I glanced at the dark hallway that led out of the room, and called down it.


"Hello? Are you there?" I called out, listening to my voice reverberating off the walls and coming back to me with silence, "Anyone?" I tried once more, with the same result. I walked forward, placing my hands on the sides of the narrow hallway and slowly moving down it.


The dark seemed to press in on me, attempting to smother me in its inky blackness while I walked through it. Soon I reached a turn, and moved to the right with it. Then I heard something… a strange sound. Buzzing? I continued along then realized more dim light appearing from beneath what I discerned to be a door.


I knocked on it a few times, to no answer. Placing both of my hands on the cool metal of the door I pressed, as it swung lazily open to reveal another dimly lit room. The buzzing sound emanated from here I realized as I turned in place attempting to locate the sound.


Then the buzzing stopped. I stood completely still as the new silence rushed at me. I slowly turned my head, trying to figure out what was going on, and what this room was for. A red light sprung to life in the middle of the room pulsing, as I winced at the sudden dose of brightness. I studied the room, seeing multiple cages lining the walls. All of the cages were different sizes, from ones only half my size to others easily towering above me. Then I heard the snarls.


Snarls and shrieks from another world that was never seen by man… they grew louder from the multiple cages, some of the cages shuddering from blows on the other side. I got the distinct feeling that whatever was on the other side wanted to harm me… or worse. I turned to leave, growing uneasy from the feeling that I had received. When suddenly the door I'd entered swung shut.


I ran to the door, pounding on its thick metal hull with both fists to open it, but it didn't move at all. It's cold metallic surface seeming to smirk at me as I futilely tried to pull it open. Suddenly a voice blared throughout the room, a computerized voice that mechanically announced that "Training level one" was about to commence.


I spun around eyeing the cages as the shrieks grew to a roar, as if they knew what was going on. I looked frantically around for anything useful to help me get the door open, or another way out, when my eyes landed on the door across the room. I took a step forward then stopped, and stepped back in fear as the cage that was only half my size opened its metallic barrier slowly.


A figure slowly emerged from the cage, as the shrieking and roaring suddenly died down. I squinted with my eyes, trying to make out what it was. When I suddenly felt like it was eyeing me. I drew a deep breath as whatever it was stopped for a moment, gazing in my direction… as if sizing up a challenge. Slowly it moved forward, cautiously making its way closer to the red light pulsing in the middle of the room.


Then it charged forward, straight towards me as I caught a glimpse of sharp teeth and scraggly fur. I dived to the side as it lunged right where my head had been seconds before, wincing as I could hear and feel the force of the creatures jaws clamping shut. I rolled away and stood up, not sure what to do as the grotesque thing turned back towards me.


It lumbered around like a gorilla, but was much smaller, only half my size… but eerie none-of-the-less. It had four inch long needle-like teeth, all arranged into jumbled rows. Its face was a contortion of flesh, as if its creator hadn't known what to do with it. One small eye was overhung by mounds of skin and bits of fur here and there, no nose was able to be seen on the creature as its small eye rolled around for a moment then sunk into the flesh, leaving a hole where it had been.


I fell back in terror as it began lumbering towards me slowly this time. As I watched the horrible thing reach up and rip some of its own excessive flesh off without missing a beat, revealing the small eye once more. I gagged as I backed away, watching it devour the very chunk of skin that it had torn off. I used the wall to stand up as the creature grew closer… using its small eye to watch me as it lunged forward once more.


Instinct took over as one of my legs flew from my side, my foot connecting with its face in midair at the same time it lunged for me. I heard a sticky wet ripping sound as I watched my foot carve into its skin, ripping off more then a handful of the creature's sick figure. I rebounded along the wall to the left as I watched the creature fly to the right, landing on its side from the blow.


It stood up then turned towards me as my mouth fell open agape. My foot had carved a jagged canyon down its face, tearing off the layers of skin… and revealing multiple beady black eyes peering from the fleshy canyon at me. They turned from me to the glob of skin laying on the ground, then rushing over to the skin the creature began gorging it down.


I watched in sick amazement as it did this, then the hundreds of black eyes began to emit a liquid, the liquid ran down the gash that I had created, hardening into more skin, covering the eyes. It had regenerated itself, I thought as it turned back towards me, now only one eye peering through the mountain of deformed flesh that was its face.


I glanced behind me for only a second to view the second door, but that's all it had taken was only a second. The creature shrieked and belted towards me, my head only making it halfway back around before the creature had tackled me to the floor. I felt its rancid breath against my neck as it opened its mouth wide, ready to make the killing blow.

-Anonymous

Once there was a man who pronounced that he had a dream. I also had a dream. Yet, I'm fairly certain that my dream was far different from his. My mind swam with images as I slept… I was sleeping, wasn't I? How else could I explain the images flashing before me?


They were marvelous, titanic battles. Thunderous crashes rang all around me… lightning seeming to pierce the air. Fire flew from another direction, striking someone, or something that let out a roar. The sound of charging muddled with weapons blaring. It sounded like a battle was taking place.


The images danced before me, showing the same being that first spoke to me. They seemed to wink in and out of the thunderous battle. Defeating one contender then warping on to the next. Wherever he moved the Dark seemed to follow him, the strange and marvelous power always at his beck and call.


Suddenly I saw lights flash on… extremely large ones… spotlights perhaps? They pinpointed the dark being… and as they did the light from the beams seemed to diminish, but his Dark Powers shrunk back also. More lights… far more turned on them, their power shrinking back from it all. They tried to fight the best they could, but was soon overpowered by hordes of soldiers… at least, that's what they seemed to be with their heavy boots thudding on the ground, and strange uniforms with masks covering their faces.


With a cry of despair, the strange power seemed to collapse in on its master, as if hiding from the light. The uniformed soldiers grew closer together on them. Still seeming to struggle with the being that the outnumbered greatly. With one last roar of determination the being threw their arms outwards, the dark-like mist exploding outwards from him, fighting against the beams of light and engulfing the soldiers near him where screams of terror rang outwards from.


The Dark was soon forced back by the bright beams of light, leaving empty uniforms where soldiers had been engulfed by the spheres thick substance. The soldiers that had retreated away from the sphere seemed to only hesitate for a moment, eyeing the uniforms, then began surging forward once more. As the soldiers closed on the epicenter of the now rapidly shrinking sphere, treading over the empty uniform husks of their fallen comrades, I could make out the figure of the being that controlled the darks power.


They were lying totally still on the cold looking ground, making no movement at all in their death-like posture. The soldiers drew in on him, multiple personnel reaching down and grabbing the being, and lifting them up. One individual seemed to stand out from the soldiers, their uniform seemed to be slightly different from the others... theirs had more red then gray and black, which seemed to be their main colors.


This individual reached up, removing his mask… revealing the face of a man. His face quickly changed from a composed looking manner, to a sneer as he opened his mouth and seemed to begin speaking. I strained to listen, but couldn't hear anything as he reached down, taking something off of his uniform and sending a blow across the beings face. After the blow the man reached up, grasping the black scarf and tugging it lightly, as if taunting the being.


I grew cold… feeling as if whatever lied behind that scarf should stay there. I began to yell and scream, but nothing came out. No sound at all. I could feel my mouth open and close, my lungs wringing themselves out to produce even a whisper, but still the silence pressed on. I attempted to twist and turn, but my body seemed to be frozen in place, only my mouth able to move.


Then my eyes grew wide, as the Soldier turned his head, his sneering face turning into one of surprise, if only for a moment. He reached and pointed directly to me, as one by one the others heads slowly swiveled around, their strange masks staring straight at me. The soldier without the mask began to speak, as if barking orders out and a small detachment of men began moving towards me.


I screamed and attempted to move once more, but my body held still. As the soldiers rushed towards me I began to submit to defeat, when I noticed the Dark Being slowly raise their head, looking at me. I called out to them for help, struggling once more to free myself from the invisible bindings that held me. One of the soldiers grew near enough that I could see their eyes looking at me through the goggles of their mask, reaching out for me with their arms, as if to detain me. I made one more pathetic jerk to free myself….


When I shot upwards in bed… making it about halfway up before my back muscles refused to go any farther. I let out a groan of pain as I settled slowly back down, a cold sweat beaded my forehead. I struggled to move one of my arms to wipe the sweat off, but all I could manage was a slight twitch. I let out a sigh of relief as I turned my head slowly, realizing I was back in the bunk where the Being had placed me.


The cold concrete walls emitted a feeling of solid safety, as if no one could ever harm me there. I moved my eyes around, taking in all the detail I could, listening to the faint dripping of… water? I suddenly realized how thirsty I was, and struggled to twist my head towards the dripping sound. It appeared to be coming from a dark hallway, the dim light ending at the door of the room I was in, and pitch blackness taking over from there.


I yelled out in terror as the sweat was somehow wiped from my forehead. Turning my head quickly around I saw the strange being standing next to my bunk. They held what looked like a piece of cloth, probably what they had used to wipe my forehead. I gazed past them at the concrete wall then shuddered as I figured out that the pitch black hallway was the only way in or out of the room, and they'd somehow gotten in without my knowing.


I attempted to lean up and speak, but they reached down and made me stay put. Still I had to tell them about my dream. I opened my mouth, and spoke in a rasping whisper….


"I… I had a dream… at least I think it was a dream. It started out like a battle and th-"


Suddenly they cut me off by raising their left hand, and producing a cup of water with their other. They placed the cup to my lips, motioning for me to drink as they spoke while I gulped down the liquid.


"That was no dream… at least, none that your mind would have produced on your own. I know what you saw, and what it all means. In fact, that was part of your training itself. It will all make sense in time… and only fully through time. There's only so much I can explain."


I sat there watching a brief moment, wrapping my mind around this… and immediately shot into questions as soon as the cup was removed from my lips.


"But how could you have seen inside my mind? How are you able to have powers like that? Why am I EXACTLY here?" I demanded the best I could, my voice receiving some strength from the liquid.


They stood as still as a statue for a moment or so, before chuckling lightly once more… if they were hoping to make me frustrated and angry, they were succeeding.


"What's so funny about that?" I croaked out, trying to sound fierce but failing miserably.


"Nothing." They answered quietly then seemed to make the cup disappear. "I'll answer all the questions you want when you've regained your strength. As for now, continue resting. I will let you know that you have passed a phase of training."


"Oh, that makes me feel so much better." I grumbled, as I watched them turn and walk away into the blackness of the hallway.


"Don't worry…" I heard their voice echo down the hall. "It's about to get a lot better… much, much better."


I attempted to figure out what this meant for me, as the last echoes of their voice reverberated off the cold concrete walls.

It is time... the last words that had reached my ears before I was engulfed in blackness. The very void that seemed to pulse, collapsing down on me. Pulling me in deeper, and farther away from the world that I knew.



I was filled with that same cold, yet warm, sensation. Spiraling onwards into it's thick nothingness. I slowly began to lose focus... not just focus on where I was, but also who I was, where I was from, and what had happened.



I grew fainter as time passed. Almost losing myself to the strange comforting feel, that the void provided. When, I suddenly felt as if I was ripped from my place in that darkness, falling and hitting a cold concrete floor.



Then I was being lifted up. Upward into the cool air of this new place. I opened my eyes weakly, struggling to keep my eyelids up, feeling as if I hadn't used them for many years. Then I saw them... the being that had said those words which seemed so long ago.



They were reaching out towards me, but I wasn't being lifted by them, I realized. They had their arm outstretched before me, while that same black substance poured out from where their hand should have been... lifting me off the ground and setting me gently into some sort of bunk.



I glanced around slightly, noticing we were in some dimly lit area... with hardly any light. The only light emitting were from small candles, and one or two lights that seemed powered down. They hung from multiple sections of a concrete wall, its cold surface extending beyond my view as I peered on.



I attempted to sit up, but my muscles refused to respond, when suddenly the being spoke with their heavy, rasping voice.



"Don't bother... that was your first trip through my realm... or power, if you prefer. Many would have died, or succumbed to it. Yet, I had you prepared. Rest for now, and regain your strength. Soon we will begin your Training." They said, their voice seeming to grow softer near the end.



"T-training?" I somehow managed to utter out. I heard the being chuckle softly to themselves, as my eyes grew even heavier. I closed my eyes, listening to the slight chuckle, and began to slip away into sleep.



The last thing I heard was the beings soft chuckle ending, and the words....



"I was right to choose you for this."

Days moved on, as I studied my past... learning everything about me that I could. I changed....



I helped others quietly, without question. I would give comfort where it needed to be given. Listening to the problems of those who asked me to listen. Even asking some if they would like to talk about their problems.



Yet, some things didn't change. I still pulled my own work. Going about the (mostly) sunny, bright days. For some reason I had problems with the sun. It would eat into my skin, and damage my eyes. I was very sensitive to the light, always had been.



Then, one night, as I was sitting down to report that nothing had happened recently. The very light itself seemed to dim down, being suppressed by another unseen force. Suddenly darkness began to pour in from the windows as I looked from one to another nervously. Then whispers… voices, that seemed to be the same, spoke to me in whispers.



I slowly backed into a corner, listening, trying to discern what they were saying. It almost seemed they were speaking some unknown language and trying to give away a secret, continuing on while I was unable to make it out. The darkness began to converge near the center of the room. Bringing the whispers with it, as the same figure a few nights before loomed out of the thick blackness that was now swirling like a vortex in the middle of the room.



My mouth hung agape at this display of strange power. Strange... yet, incredible. The figure took a step forward, some of the darkness moving with it, shielding it. The lights seemed to suppress it somewhat, but it almost seemed that this being could generate, or form, a sphere of darkness around them.



I stood totally still, unsure what to do. The rest of my Family had been away for awhile now, on a trip to the coast. Had this being known this? Had this planned? Had it been watching me until it deduced it was the right time to appear?



More then ever now, I believed that their words were true. That I wouldn't have been able to find them unless they wanted me too. It almost seemed that they could near-perfectly blend in with the darkness that was now around them, making them hard to discern, but still knowing they were there.



They waited... unmoving as the blackness continued swirling around them. Pulsing with an almost life like behavior. Still partially stunned, I forced myself to take one step forward. As I did so the figure seemed to raise their head in confirmation... suddenly stating in that same heavy, rasping voice.



"Congratulations... you are willing to face your fears, and most likely any fears in general. You've passed the last test."



After the being spoke those simple words I went rigid, feeling as if the words had pierced me to the very soul. A chilling embrace, yet... it didn't feel harmful in any way. A soothing feel seemed to accompany it.



I took another step forward, mesmerized by the feeling, almost as if it was pulling me towards the figure. As I drew closer the dark blackness of that void seemed to reach out to me, beckoning me, trying to draw me closer so it could envelope me.



The figure stood there while I moved closer, showing no emotion that I could tell as I continued inching forward. When I was within grabbing distance, they reached upward with one arm... but not to grab me. they held it there, in a gesture... showing that it was my choice to take hold of it. I watched their hand carefully, studying it to make sure there were no weapons. Who was I kidding? This thing... or... they, could control darkness itself. I'm pretty sure that was their weapon.



I slowly reached forward, taking hold of their hand. Feeling that same chilling, but comforting, stab when I touched it. The black vortex seemed to pulse ever more violently now, as I suddenly realized there was probably no turning back.



I got a distinct feeling that the figure, whoever they were, was smiling behind that darkness and black scarf that they wore. Not a bad smile, but one of genuine care and happiness. They slowly reached up and placed their other hand on my shoulder, making one last simple statement....



"It is time."

Please note, that this is a book I am currently writing, but I thought that most of you would enjoy this then the average readers. There are some mistakes that have to be corrected, but most of it is concrete... obviously I haven't started the Final Draft yet!

So without further introductions, I would like to present to you the first pages of the Paradox.

The Paradox.

Chapter 1: A Shadow in the Midst.

I walked along on the sidewalk as the cool night air was carried by a slight breeze, creating a very crisp and rejuvenating feel. I glanced up at the stars that shone ever so brightly, happy that no clouds were in the sky as I turned the corner of an old apartment building on the street, so I was now in an alley of sorts.



I lived around the old part of town. You could easily judge how old some of the buildings were with their worn down bricks, and crumbling bits falling off various places. Still... it was home. It was also about to get a little strange.



As I turned the corner of the apartment building a figure was standing before me. They donned black clothing, from head to toe... so they were very hard to pick out in the night. In fact, if I hadn't been alert as I usually was I'd have probably missed them.



I studied them as they lifted one arm to show that they were no threat, or to not be afraid. Still, I kept my guard up as I tried to discern their features but their clothing completely hid near everything... and the darkness of night certainly didn't help.



They lowered the arm and seemed to wait a moment, perhaps seeing what my reaction was going to be like, before they suddenly spoke out. Their voice was deep, and heavy. It seemed to have a bit of a rasp to it as they spoke. They began by saying...



"You need not know who I am... but more so, who you are, what you do, what I do, and what you can be. As one of my fellow compatriots once said, 'Eventually, everyone has the opportunity to awaken and become who they've always wanted to be. Some people just hit the snooze button and go back to sleep.' ...indeed, how true those words are. So now I'll leave you to ponder this on your own. Once you figure out who you are, I will find you to begin the next step. Until then, don't bother trying to seek me out. I'm found only when I wish to be found."



With those words, the figure seemed to move with the darkness. Spinning around and walking away, heavy boots thudding against the pavement, as they turned a corner and the sound died away. I was tempted to go after them... but something told me that those words they spoke were true. This certain being would only be seen when they wished to be.



I slowly turned in place, trying to make sense of all that happened as my thoughts jumbled together. Slowly I treaded home under the few lights near the street; and the little light that the stars gave... giving the area an almost supernatural look.



Entering my home, I sat down at my computer, where I am typing this now. Placing my thoughts here, and what had occurred during the night. This is where you choose to believe, and wish to continue on... yet if you do not believe, I understand, and you may go on your way.



Things happen in the world that are unexplainable... things like a simple shadow in the midst of the night.

First!

Seems not much is new though for these.

You guys... did you know on one of the VERY first Snake Missions, the open one where you save all those Arachnos Lt's. and they help you fight? Well... you CAN click on the Flying Arachnos Ship, and it has info and everything. It was labelled as not a Giant Monster but as a "Vehicle" The info stated "This is an Arachnos Assault Ship, if you see one of these... run."

Hmmmm... so many options, I would want some new things like Push Ups, and Sit ups, besides just Jumping Jacks.