Teapot

I might have chosen the storyline (which I do happen to enjoy) if what we did in the game made more of a difference with non-contact NPCs. (I chose costumes.)

If we were remembered by the various mobs for whom we have worked, for example, it would feel more integrated.

It would be more immersive if we could earn or lose "faction points" when doing missions for the various mobs that affected the way they greeted us when we run into their members elsewhere.

If we were "in" with that particular mob, members of that mob would be friendly (or not attack on sight) and maybe even help out if we were in a jam with a rival mob.

Conversely, if we have been interfering with that mob's business (by doing missions that are targetted at them or by just killing lots of them), then we would lose faction points. Based on how negative we are with them, they'd be aggressive and go out of their way to make life difficult. Attack and then maybe follow us more doggedly if we try to run away.

This might also help engage us in the storyline(s). Someone in this thread said it's possible to get to level 50 without really knowing them; if our choices mattered more in gameplay with NPCs it might make that less of an issue.

Sorry for the inelegant sentence structure; still drinking my first cup of coffee.

Tempestina Teapot

"It appears that the Shag hairstyle isn't being properly applied to heads with very low Cranium height settings, resulting in the bald spot. "

I can't be as specific as you have, but I have two characters with the shag hairstyle. One with black hair, the other with silver. The one with the silver hair has the bald spot.

I haven't tried applying dark hair to her. I will try it next time I am on.

You could be right about the cranium settings -- I don't *think* I used young face #9, and I know that I didn't use "Average 3" for the head shape.

At any rate, I'd love to see this fixed! I may have to resort to a hat otherwise or Rogaine...

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Went into brickstown, solo, level 40 corruptor set to villainous. Went directly to the bank after reading these posts. fight fight fight and then get Swan as an EB! Death death death. So I dont place a great deal of stock in people who post here saying its dependant on not destryoing stuff before you go in casue I didnt and there ya go.

Fun none the less.

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Level 39 Rad/Therm Corruptor, here (set to lowest level for mishes -- that's villainous, I think) -- during this same mish, which I attempted solo, I hit level 40. I did explore a lot of the map, blowing stuff up, killing longbow, psicops, etc. Had fun, but had a hard time figuring out what REALLY added bonus time to the mission. I thought everything you destroyed would add time, but this was not the case, so there is some kind of formula at work here.

I, too, had Swan (who appeared to be a level 39) at the end of the bank heist. I didn't stand a chance. Died in four or five quick shots (happened very fast, she appeared behind me and got those shots off very quickly), broke out of jail, ran around and got some bonus time, went back, ate inspirations, went for Swan and barely made a dent -- her health bar was at 98%. In less than what seemed like 15 seconds she had killed me again.

I love a tough fight, but this was NO contest at all. While I had no real trouble dealing with ambushes and all the other NPC foes, Swan was impossible for me.

I'll be trying more mayhem missions -- perhaps I was just having a bad night. But based on the one experience, I would say that the difficulty of the ambushes and other NPC action could be kicked up a bit, and the hero at the end toned down just a tad -- enough to feel one has a sporting chance.

Teapot