Teldon

I Just wish Mojack would have sent his in that I sent him This weeks submissions I got back have all been excellant, thanks in part to feedback I have gotten from other posters. If you have any questions for X please post them here in the thread. If you have any feedback for me please send it via a pm or in game tell.

Today's interviewee has gotten a bad rap along with his VG. Lord knows I have gone at it with him. He is here to let us know a bit about himself and remind us of an important lesson. It's all a game.

So tell me a little about your self? Your current age, where you live, etc.

31,M,Outskirts of Detroit, Michigan. Typical middle-class midwest upbringing. I believe in working hard and playing harder. I currently help run a very busy Irish pub and play COV in my off-hours. I was a varsity track and basketball star in H.S. and I worked for 8 years as an apt. maintenance man so I can fix anything but a broken heart (awww) I'm an against the grain individual, I try to be unique in everything that I do. I've always been an avid gamer ever since the atari 2600. It keeps me off the streets and out of trouble!

Do you have any pets?

Yes i have a cat, her name is Kitty, original, i know, but she also responds to Sh*tty and T***Y. She enjoys treats and sleeping.

Do you have any borthers and sisters?

Yes I have a Brother who is going to be 21 this fall. He's a gearhead and enjoys working on his mustangs.

What is your favorite movie?

I prefer comedies over any other genre. I guess Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas or The Big Lebowski would be my two main favorites.

What is your favorite type of music?

Growing up in the Detroit area i'm 20 mins away from the ghetto one direction and 20 minutes away from cows in the other. I enjoy everything from hard rock, classic rock, rap, hip-hop, and a lot of dance/electronic music. I also DJ part-time so a lot of different remixes as well. I can pretty much listen to anything that isn't on MTV. No country or pop garbage really.Or that emo stuff...bleh

Who is your favorite author?

To be quite honest, I don't really read all that much. I probably should but if i do read a book, it would probably be sports related. I do read a lot online. Whatever catches my eye. I do enjoy the weird counterculture stuff.

What is your favorite series of books?

Probably the only series of books I own would be a few Star Wars paperbacks from back when I was younger. Never really a big fan of superheroes or comic books. Was into G.I. JOE and Transformers comics as a kid though.

What is your favorite Simpson's quote?

Don't really watch the Simpson's all that much so I can't really think of a quote. However my favorite episode is the one where Homer turns the toaster into a time machine and bounces between a few diferent realtites before he comes to one where the family is dressed nice and well behaved and he asks for a donut, to which they respond "What's a donut" He then flips out and activates the time-machine toaster, only to reveal it rains donuts in that reality. Classic stuff!

So how did you get introduced to MMOs in general?

A friend of mine had a decent computer back in 2004 and He was playing Star Wars Galaxies. I wound up building my own gaming pc and decided to pick up an MMO once it was finished. It was a toss-up between COH and Star Wars and i took SWG.

So how did you get introduced to The City of series?

Well basically Sony screwed up SWG in a major way and there was a mass exodus. I went out and got COV and found out that a few of the people i used to pvp in SWG with (NITES) were playing on the Pinnacle server. I made my own VG with a few people at first, got to level 20ish and quit the game because I had a lot of trouble finding teams. Waited a couple months and decided to give it another shot, and got hooked.

Who was your first character and do you still play them?

My first character was X-FUNK and yes i still play him daily. It's funny, the first screenshot i took was X holding up a number 1 sign in Breakout, which for those in the know, that's quite funny.

What, if any, powersets would you say are your favorite?

I would have to say Dark. I have a 50 Dark/Dark corrupter whcih I enjoy, and i am also working on a dark/dark brute and a dark/dark stalker. I try not to go with what everyone else is playing. What's the fun in playing a toon that everyone else has?

What ATs or powersets do you hate and why?

I don't really hate any, I believe that if slotted properly, anyone with some skill can get the most out of a powerset or at least be useful.I applaud seeing someone with a non-conventional powerset.

What is your favorite zone in the game and why?

Without a doubt...Warburg. Being an NRG/NRG Brute as my main, he's built to be a Pseudo-stalker so I have a lot of fun in there with him. Yes it's true, I do enjoy killing people getting nukes, and people getting badges. I do feel St. Martial is underrated. I enjoy grinding in there as well.

Any particular story arcs or contacts that you love to do? Even when you have done them a million times already?

TV contact rocks. I'm not so much into the story arcs, but I don't like fighting in caves, that much is for sure. I love the spaceship/tech designed maps and anything you don't see in paper missions. Killing longbow never gets old

What is your favorite feature of the game?

I really enjoy the fact that low and high level toons can play together with the LK/MF system. Adn the fact that there is no hardcore looting or spawn camping. Basically after you grind to 50 you can still be functional without devoting a ton of time into the game.

What was the most amazing moment you had while playing the game?

Well besides some underdog pvp wins, I would have to say running an RSF when there were a lot of crashes and basically finishing the last mission with a 5 man non-optimal team in a very fast time.

What is your favorite enemy group?

Silly Heroes, Nukes are for NITES!

What is your least favorite enemy group?

Carnies...without a doubt

What is one feature you would like to see added to the game?

Player housing or a revamp of the base system to include more items and better variety.

What would you say is your greatest strength in the game?

Without a doubt my natural leadership skills. Even in pick-up teams i'm usually the one to take charge and try and hold the team together. Judging by the number of tells i get daily from people wanting pvp or RSF teams or advice, i must be doing a good job. Even in RL i'm always the one organizing events and i guess taking a leadership type role when it comes to my friends and things we're doing.

What is your greatest weakness in the game?

Hmm can't really think of anything, but I will say that I don't dissect my characters builds to give myself the mathematical advantage. I don't know what the stats are of the powers. I choose things that are fun,useful, or just plain look cool. I fare pretty well but I guess a little more time could be spent in researching the game mechanics. I don't take a certain power because it gives a 6% bonus to this or that. I take what I feel will be useful to me or my team and roll with it.

If you were any AT in the game which one would you be?

I would have to say a Brute....I like being the anchor, the main damage dealer and surrounding myself with support toons. I'm working on different AT's but I know that I do prefer the Brute style of play.

With I9 "Breakthru" almost getting here, what feature of it are you most looking forward to?

Looking forward to having something fun to do in the off-peak hours! Can't wait to see the Hamidon instance and how this loot/auction system will work.

How bad is your badge lust?

Well on my mains, Blayze is my badge [censored]..currently around 200ish and X-funk isn't far behind. On those two i'll make an effort to get badges when the opportunity arises.

Which ones do you like to get the most?

Mostly just the ones that are for the accolades powers. If it's not useful in some way it's not really my thing to try and get.

What one lesson would you learned in game that would be helpful to share with everyone else?

Surround yourself with good, active people that you have fun playing with. That's the point of an MMO. If you're bumming around in a small sg or solo, you might as well save your $ and play a console game.

Any other advice you would like to give to new players and other players that are learning the game?

Grinding sucks, But stick with it, because COX is one of the best MMO's out there today. It will take a while to get things figured out but once it clicks you'll have a ball!

Any final things you would like to say to everyone before we go?

Well just like in real life, in an MMO, you aren't going to please everyone. I do a lot of pvp killing, most of it unnecessary and just for S***S and giggles. My VG gets a bad rap a lot of the time but outside of pvp zones, if you're on a team with us or in vent with us, we're all about having fun and getting the job done efficiently. Not everyones play styles are going to mesh, but we are here to have fun just like you, and i would like to thank Teldon for including me in his Behind the Mask series, and anyone that needs a hand with something or an RSF invite i can help with please feel free to send me a tell at @X-FUNK

I would also like to add that I'll be getting my 15 month veteran reward badge in a couple days and it's been a pleasure playing with 99% of the people on Pinnacle!

Today's interviewee is one of the most outspoken and controverisal members of our community. She always has something to say and no matter what you are in for a surprise. Without further adiu here we go.

So tell me a little about your self? Your current age, where you live, etc.

I’m a 28 year old female living in Illinois. I was born and raised in Indiana and moved out to Illinois to live with my fiancé. We are getting married this October. I also have to odd hobbies, Bird watching and gardening. I’m also a believer in animal rights but I don’t take it as far as not eating meat or protesting.

Do you have any pets?

I have 2 Yorkshire Terriers, 2 Cats, 2 Koi Fish and 2 Parakeets. My pets are like my kids. In the future if I do own a bigger house I’ll probably get another Yorkie.

Do you have any brothers and sisters?

I have a brother who is 26 and a sister who is 22. My sister just got married this past August and has a beautiful baby boy. They both still live in Indiana.

Has it been hard getting respect as a woman in a hobby mostly inhabited by men?

Not at all. I’ve been playing video games all my life mostly with guys. Guys usually think there lady wants to go out to a nice dinner and a movie. Not me, I rather sit at home with a pizza and play a game. The point is when I tell guys this they usually want to hang with me because I’m not some stuck up prissy girl who screams every time I break a nail. Truth be told I get along a lot better with guys then girls. I grew up as a tom-boy and I’ll die as a tom-boy.

What is your favorite movie?

Aliens all the way.

What is your favorite type of music?

Well I’m an Abba fan. But my general taste is rap and rock and roll.

Who is your favorite author?

This is a trick question right?

What is your favorite series of books?

I don’t read books. Its bad enough I have to read gaming boards or a gaming guide. Wait does Playboy and Hustler count?

What is your favorite Simpson's quote?

Homer: Oh, Lord! Why do you mock me?
Marge: Homer, that's not God. That's a waffle Bart stuck to the ceiling. (Marge pries the waffle off the ceiling.)
Homer: Lord, I know I shouldn't eat Thee, but... (munch munch munch) mmm... sacrilegious

So how did you get introduced to MMOs in general?

Honestly if a review or the back of the gaming box sounds good I buy it. And if it sucks ah well there's E-bay.

So how did you get introduced to The City of series?

My conscious told me I must!

Who was your first character and do you still play them?

Lady-Dee was my first character. I do play her from time to time. Still pissed about I.H. but what can you do, ya know?

What, if any, power sets would you say are your favorite?

I use to say all the time blasters suck and I never be caught dead playing them. But after lady I became addicted to ice powers. I made an ice/ice blaster and I love the set.

What ATs or power sets do you hate and why?

Invulnerability/Super Strength. It’s not that I loathe the set it’s just a rather boring set to play.

What is your favorite zone in the game and why?

Brickstown or Crey’s Folly. Brickstown just seems to have a life of its own apart from the other zones as Crey’s Folly. I can spend hours in either zone street hunting and I never get bored.

Any particular story arcs or contacts that you love to do? Even when you have done them a million times already?

I really enjoyed “The Terra Conspiracy” arch from Ginger Yates in Founder Falls. I make sure that with every character I have to do that arch.

What is your favorite feature of the game?

Badges!

What was the most amazing moment you had while playing the game?

I was playing my Illu/Emp and my friend was playing there Rad defender. Well it was late and no one was on to help us out and I had of course gotten the mission to defeat Terra the AV. In any case it took us a long time to bring her down but we felt really good when we accomplished that. Granted Terra is not the most powerful Av in the game but putting her up against a Defender and Controller NOW that’s saying some thing.

What is your favorite enemy group?

Crey.

What is your least favorite enemy group?

Malta and Knives, damn sappers, damn caltrops.

What is one feature you would like to see added to the game?

Loot the dead bodies =D.

What would you say is your greatest strength in the game?

My mouth.

What is your greatest weakness in the game?

My mouth.

If you were any AT in the game which one would you be?

Uh a ferret with Uzis.

With I9 "Breakthru" almost getting here, what feature of it are you most looking forward to?

Wait! There’s a new issue coming out? When?

I remember your "Where's Dee" contest you had. What was the reason you did it and do you have anything else planned to do?

The reason I did it is because I’m nuts. It just popped in my head one day and I figured I give it a go. I hope to in the future to shave Lemur Lad and have folks tar and feather him as fast as possible with in a time limit. If they win they get my respect and if they lose they get a pair of undies made completely from Lemur’s shaved fur.

How bad is your badge lust?

My lust lies in other things, thank you very much!

Which ones do you like to get the most?

Does not matter, I need to have close to all of them for all my characters.

What one lesson would you learned in game that would be helpful to share with everyone else?

To have fun and not take the game so seriously. Sure, I’ve gotten frustrated with a few things here or there but there are some that take to the extremes. I see people complain about the same things weeks or even months later.

Any final things you would like to say to everyone before we go?

Yes, Beef Cake is a hottie! Go get him you single gaming girls!

The final interview this week deals with one of the lesser known lights of our server. He leads a few of the S/VGs in the Pinnacle RPCongress. He is a great guy and his associates are always fun to team with. They definatly get my creative juices flowing. You know the rules. Have fun.

So tell me a little about your self? Your current age, where you live, etc.

I'm a twenty-one year old on again-off again College, student I work at a store that one of my football coaches runs. I play coh and hang out with my friends.... I like long walks- Never mind that.

Do you have any pets?

Yes I have two cats.


Do you have any borthers and sisters?

Yes, I have two brothers, one who is in the Navy, going through the nuke program, and another that's in high school, they're both younger then me.

What is your favorite movie?

I would have to say that my favorite movie is "Serenity" at least for the time being, I missed out on the Firefly craze, and people kept telling me I should watch the movie even as it sat there for months unopened. I finally watched it and to say the least I love it.

What is your favorite type of music?

I really can get into any type of music. On my playlist there are thins ranging from Heavy Metal, to rap, to classical, to country. You name it I probably have it.

What is your favorite Simpson's quote?

Homer: Aw, twenty dollars! I wanted a peanut!
Homer's Brain: Twenty dollars can buy many peanuts!
Homer: Explain how!
Homer's Brain: Money can be exchanged for goods and services!
Homer: Woo-hoo!

So how did you get introduced to MMOs in general?

I used to be a big First person shooter person. Then the group of people I played with heard about this little game....

So how did you get introduced to The City of series?

.. Called City of Heroes, I got into the beta and Didn't like it for some reason, then about two weeks after Graduation that year I picked it up and really got into it and I have hooked set.

Who was your first character and do you still play them?

Fire Curtain. He was my first character and I played him all the way to fifty, This was before I heard about Blapping and the such. I ended up respecing him into Tough/Weave/Fire Shield/Acrobatics and I was able to get a decent amount of Resistance and stopped falling on my face. This was before ED when you could 6 slot things. He was my favorite character and I still play him.

What, if any, powersets would you say are your favorite?

Energy Blast/Melee, Fire Aura, Dark Melee, Katana, Regen

What is your favorite feature of the game?

What was the most amazing moment you had while playing the game?
Hero Side: When pinnacle as a server defeated Hamidon for the first time ever.
Villian Side: When me and 3 other friends Did the first 3 Missions of the RSF without Shivans or Nukes.


What is your favorite enemy group?

Crey, they have so much you can do with them from a roleplay prespective.

What is your least favorite enemy group?

Knives, Caltrops and Web Gernade. *cries*

What is one feature you would like to see added to the game?

Side switching, I have one character who's entire backstory was based around that eventually coming out.

What would you say is your greatest strength in the game?

Making things that shouldn't work, work, when they work out it's cool....

What is your greatest weakness in the game?

... But on the flip side, you can fail in many many horrible ways.

How bad is your badge lust?

Eh, Decent amount. Not too bad I have 295 on my hero and 205 on my villian badge-...hunters.

Which ones do you like to get the most?
`
Accolades, no doubt. They come in useful at diffrent points.

Any particular story arcs or contacts that you love to do? Even when you have done them a million times already?

Terra, it's one of the few arcs, that even if you finish, you feel like you failed.

Please tell me about the S/VGs in the RPCongress? What type of groups are they?

Hero:

Alliance of Champions: Standard "heroic" group. They are the squeaky clean group. No killing unless life is in danger.

The Knights: Defintly a More Vigilante Group. Looser restrictions on how Villians are brought in.

Shadow Guild: Has an ear to the street, and take care of things in the background, Tied into The infiltrators.

Coallition of Communist Crusaders for the Proletariat (CCCP): Soviet themed group,

Second Nature: People who are more Animalistic AKA "Cat Girls" But we also have people who are reptialian and another person with Dragon Aspect to them.

Kings Row Police Department - Cape and Cowl Division (KRPD): Superpowered Cops.


Villian:

Parliament: Catch all villian group.

St. Ravens Academy For Trouble Youth: Bascially it's a school for superpowered kids in the isles, Think comic book wise of "Hellions" or an Anti Xavier School.

The Infiltrators: Undercover people in the isles, looking to sabatoge Other villian groups and Arachnos.

League Of Sinister Intent: Not much is known about them at this time.

N.W.O: Paramilitary Force, Pretty much interested in blowing stuff up and swearing., and drinking. Bent on taking down Longbow.

How did you become part of the RPCongress and what does members of it typically do in a week?

It widly Varies, snice we all suffer from altitis we can run groups from 1-50, TF's Trials, etc, you name it we do it.

Any final things you would like to say to everyone before we go?

I'd like to thank you for this chance. Also, if anyone is interested to see what goes into RPing, check out www.rpcongress.com. We also all get together at 10PM EST on Tuesdays, in Pocket D, come check it out, we don't bite. If you want more information on these groups my Global names are @Big Mike and @Big Mike 2 .

Whose that walking down the street? Why it is none other the our very own Mr Pinnacle Kung Pau Chicken. An all round informative player, joker and hecka guy. Enjoy his words of wisdom for us all.

So tell me a little about your self? Your current age, where you live, etc.

I'm approximately 30 years old going on to 16. Right now I'm living in Louisville, where I moved to chase after IT jobs (I’m a programmer) since those are a bit harder to come by in my home state of Indiana. I'm not married, though I'm seeing someone steadily at the moment.

Do you have any pets?

Not right now, since my old dog died. (best dog eva) I've been debating going out and getting a little kitty, but my apartment is a bit too messy for one right now. (also, way too many cables on the floor to be chewed on.)

Do you have any brothers and sisters?

I've got one younger brother (and sister in-law) who's a music teacher (she’s also a teacher) a few states over to the east. My family is starting to spread out so we don't see each other too much anymore, but still gather a few times a year.

What is your favorite movie?

Easily The Usual Suspects. Just loved the movie to death, though I've seen 7 about 7 times to. Not sure if I could watch that one again, but I can watch Suspects anytime.

What is your favorite type of music?

I can listen to a large variety of music, but I tend to really enjoy things with a kind-of, err, Crunchy sound to it. Particularly things like NIN or Tool, though I won't admit to having a copy of Dido somewhere around here...

What is your favorite Simpson's quote?

Ha! Ha!

So how did you get introduced to MMOs in general?

I played MUDS in college, and eventually started doing a little programming here and there for a few DIKU based ones. In fact, that's pretty much how I got started with programming and tracing through code to see what was going on with it.

So how did you get introduced to The City of series?

I'd heard about the City of Heroes a long time ago before the Beta's ever hit, but wasn't at a place where I could play an online game. Around the one year mark for COH, I heard about the Marvel lawsuit and it triggered my "GRRR, That's not right!" internal demo-bleedy-hearty-liberal core. Sooooo, I thought I'd sign up for a few months as revenge against the lawyers.

Who was your first character and do you still play them?

That was the amazing Irani Mon, the Rastafarian Iranian who wore yellow/reddish power armor. (what? what?)

I made it up to 6 and the hollows, where I discovered I couldn't even complete the first mission without cherry picking and getting yelled at for kill stealing. (Oh, you didn't need that unhurt outcast LT!) I was not impressed with blasters About a year later I finally deleted him when I realized I had no intention of playing him.

When I gave up on the hollows as a blaster 3 days into the game, I rolled up Girth Ninja, a MA/SR scrapper. (This would be the second week into April, so he's got the first anniversary badge A vast improvement, and it only took me slightly forever to figure out that mez protection was good. I played up to 42 when I started over with a ill/ff that I hit 50 with. I dust Girth off every once in a while to pick up event badges and still need to finish off all those arcs. (I still got Meteorologist queued up on him.)


What, if any, power sets would you say are your favorite?

I think Illusion was the only set I'd never had power set envy while using. Some other controller primaries are nice, but Illusion is just super. I'm playing a fire/dark corrupter right now, and it's awe-inspiring in PVE so far. (There are better sets, but it's just fun.)

What is your favorite feature of the game?

The story arcs. The story lines are the major reason I continue to play. I'll probably get bored and quit after I finish the last one. I particularly enjoy ones that aren't completely serious, which is what's great about the high level villain ones. (Except Pither. The text you get when you call in the mission to destroy the food for the homeless is easily one of the most disturbing things I've read in a long while.)

What was the most amazing moment you had while playing the game?

I was on Girth for one reason or another when I ran smack-dab into a certain stone giant with car-club. After pulling together a team consisting of me (MA/SR), 2 blasters, and I think a PB and WS, we started in on him. It was pretty intense, but it turns out both blasters took aid-other and kept us alive long enough to down the monster. It was pretty darn impressive and intense. (And I already had the badge!)

Though, if you were to ask me most surprising, I would say it was when a few people were adding me to global friends over the course of a week and all of them said "Holy crap, you're Kung Pau?!?" when I was added. I’ve no idea what that was about. >.>

What is your favorite enemy group?

Depends on what I'm playing usually My MA/SR and illusion controller spoiled me because everything pretty much felt the same while fighting it. (Robots were a bit tougher for illusion to deal with though.) Heck, with Girth I never understood what the big deal with Carnies or Malta was. (Then, I played an invuln scrapper to 50 and found out. I also avoided Castro like the plague for fear he'd give me the arc with the Envoy of Shadows. I hate that guy. The Envoy of Shadows that is. Cadeo’s ok. Even if he does stick you with that arc without asking.)

Freak missions are almost always well written with good dialog. The nemesis weapon supplier mission is a classic source of quotes. Plus, doing a freak-rez dance hoping for freaks to come back is fun.

What is your least favorite enemy group?

I'm guessing either COT or Longbow. On my invuln scrapper I avoided Cadeo because I was deathly afraid of accidentally getting locked into the Envoy arc. For longbow, they're just kind of Bleh. I particularly hate the flamethrowers and the effect that ignite patches have on minions. They aren't hard to fight, just frustrating and Un-Fun with a mastermind.

What is one feature you would like to see added to the game?

Flashback. Leveling past a story arc or badge mission isn't really all that fun, and some people just really, really like playing one particular character. It'd be great if I could take Girth back to Faultline to play through those missions (or Croatoa).

Though, letting us keep accolades while exemping down is a close second.

Now, if you’d ask what Bug I’d like to see fixed, then that’s easily the bug where a story arc is started when you speak to a contact and not when you take a mission. It’s been there for at least a year, and while it’s better now that you can see who you have arcs with, it’s a horrible, horrible play experience. (Mastermind pet AI in particular, and pet AI in general, is a close second for what I’d like to have fixed.)

What would you say is your greatest strength in the game?

No one ever seems to notice when I slack off? Err, I mean, I'm usually pretty quick on picking things up and realizing how groups are working, so I try to work myself into a niche to try to contribute. For instance, the tank and blaster are almost done with a group, so why wouldn't I pull more over while they are still cleaning up and full of health and end?

(Otherwise, I contribute as a fine speed bump as I delay a spawn an extra 20 seconds as they step around my corpse. whatever works.)

What is your greatest weakness in the game?

I've been told I just work too hard! I mean, umm, I tend to always miss a "signature power" that everyone with a set can't live without. With MA, I passed up focused chi (It doesn't last long enough!). With illusion, I passed spectral terror (fear isn't that good is it?) With my ice/rad corrupter I passed up bitter ice blast, yet had frost breath And bitter ice ray. (AOE and stacking holds!) The brute I rolled on villain’s opening day has been respecced 4 times and still hasn't hit 20!

So, yeah, finding ways to gimp myself is probably it.

How bad is your badge lust?

I have two characters that I do heavy badging on (Girth and Father Bob to cover hero and villains respectively) I'm not patient enough to do all the really, really bad badge farms. (reformed being a big one. all night arena camping for the insane epics being another, as well as the inf ones).

I try to collect accolades and any badges that I think fit the theme of a character otherwise. I had to get Demonic and related badges early for my new fire/dark corrupter because it fit nicely.

Which ones do you like to get the most?

I'd say a lot of the sheen has been lost on them. Farming isn't as fun as it could be, but having a large list is its own reward at times. So in that vein, if it's a good group that you're farming with, that's what's most important. Hanging out with a group badge-[censored] is really what I would consider funnest, not any particular badge

Any particular story arcs or contacts that you love to do? Even when you have done them a million times already?

Oh wow. Good question. Hero side is just full of serious, serious story lines. I prefer lighthearted, so I find the villain arcs funner by far. I really wish I could go do Doc Buzzsaw a million times over, but I can’t bring myself to get that infamy badge in time to take her as a contact.

So now that you won the title of Mr Pinnacle what are your plans to help improve the server? The crown is more then just fabulous prizes you know!

[censored] That wasn’t in the brochure! I mean, I’ve been trying to get my henchman out there to pound the pavement but it’s not working so well for me.

Seriously for a second, I’ve been thinking a lot on having more open badging nights and farms. Right now, I think things have been leaning towards SG’s/Coalitions (and second accounts) first, with a call onto the channel to complete the set of people needed. I’ve been debating on dedicating a night every few weeks (or a weekend day perhaps) to just go help others with a farm or badge tour of some kind.

I’ve heard about the Taxi-bots on other servers holding Mayhem (maybe safeguard?) tours to hit every exploration badge, and I’d really like to do something like that for Pinnacle on a semi-regular basis. (I just leeched from a group’s mayhem tour very recently, it’s a bit slower than I would’ve thought, but I think the safeguard could actually go pretty well since it doesn’t have a timer.) I don’t have enough alt coverage to provide all the missions, so if I do try to organize one it’d require some help.

However, I’ve really not put a lot of planning into it. Just something I’ve been thinking about in the back of my head.

Any final things you would like to say to everyone before we go?

…

If I say no, would that be self-contradictory?

Inquiring minds want to know!

I think most of the things I would say would’ve been said elsewhere by someone else and much more better with gooder grammar. It’s all just a game. People login to have fun. If you aren’t having fun, then it’s time to do something different. Change your routine up, don’t take things so seriously.

HERE SHE IS MIIIIISSSSSEEEESSSSS PIIIIINNNNNAAAACCCLLLEEEE!!!! This interview focuses on our newly crowned Miss Pinnacle, Anya Natsaya. Love her or hate her, she speaks her mind and is loyal to her friends. If you can team up with her, you will have an experiance like none other. It is twice as fun if you can get on vent with her. Enjoy the interview and you know the rules by now.

So tell me a little about your self? Your current age, where you live, etc.

19/f/San Francisco. LOL! Wutz ur a/s/l?!!11111


Do you have any pets?

Just a boyfriend!


Do you have any borthers and sisters?

No.


What is your favorite movie?

I wish you hadn't said we had to keep our answers appropriate! Dark City is great, anything by Tarantino, Metropolis, anything by Kubrick (especially Dr. Strangelove). Can't we talk about books instead?


Well what are your favorite books?

The Idiot, Crime and punishment, The Brothers Karamazov, The House of the Dead (all by Dostoevsky), Dan Eldon: The Art of Life (New), The Sun Also Rises (Hemingway), The End of the Affair (Greene), Lolita (Nabokov), The Stranger (Camus), The Metamporphosis (Kafka), A Woman of No Importance, Lady Windermere's Fan, An Ideal Husband, The Importance of Being Earnest (all by Wilde), Anna Karenina (Tolstoy).
What? You can't choose just one.


Who is your favotite author?

Fyodor Dostoevsky and Oscar Wilde would have to battle it out for that one. (Disregard the fact that Dotoevsky would win on a physical level.)


Which one book would you take with you if you were on a deserted island?

Hmmm. Probably Anna Karenina (Tolstoy) because I would starve before I could finish reading it again, so I'd die entertained.

What is your favorite type of music?

Anything good with a synthesizer, and some older stuff as well. The Cure, Nightmare of You, Depeche Mode, The Smiths, Ladytron, The Faint, The Knife. I also like big band and jazz. I can tolerate anything that isn't rap or country.


What is your favorite Simpson's quote?

"There's a crayon in my brain?" *points to stomach*

So how did you get introduced to MMOs in general?

I have always been a devotee of console and arcade games (The GRID, Time Crisis [any number], Tetris any day and twice on Sundays), but my boyfriend bought City of Villains for himself and it quickly became my game more than his.


So how did you get introduced to The City of series?

See above.


Who was your first character and do you still play them?

Out of loyalty alone, my favorite character would be the original Anya Nastasya, a sonic/thermal corruptor with no buffs and no rez. I don't really play her anymore because I've gotten so used to playing ice/rad when it's corruptor time, but I dearly miss and think about the Screech power on a daily basis. I like /kin for other people on my team, though!


What, if any, powersets would you say are your favorite?

I have a storm/illusion controller that I think is just the bee's knees. Everything about both sets, especially since they work so harmoniously together, is just fabulous. Playing hero side seems so traitorous though, so I'd like it if they introduced those for corruptors.


What is your favorite feature of the game?

Killing people.


What was the most amazing moment you had while playing the game?

That's so hard to say. First PvP kill? When I met my current supergroup? Discovering the teabag emote?


What is your favorite enemy group?

You can't beat the Carnies for cleavage, but for ease of mission navigation, that depends on what character. I would generally say the Council is a safe bet, but I'll root for anything that doesn't land me in one of those awful cave maps.


What is your least favorite enemy group?

I don't really care too much. A mission is a mission.


What is one feature you would like to see added to the game?

Hero/villain teaming in Warburg, as well as better cut screens. Y'know, like cinematics where there are actually voice overs? Oh, and world peace.


What would you say is your greatest strength in the game?

That depends on who you ask.


What is your greatest weakness in the game?

See above.


How bad is your badge lust?

Badges? What are these "badges" you speak of?


Which ones do you like to get the most?

The ones that get me accolades.


Any particular story arcs or contacts that you love to do? Even when you have done them a million times already?

I'm game for the LRSF pretty much any time, providing it's with the right group of people (my supergroup ).


So now that you won the title of Miss Pinnacle what are your plans to help improve the server? The crown is more than just fabulous prizes you know!

I don't know. Obviously complaining to the devs that I want hero/villain teams in Warburg isn't going to be particularly productive. There are certain groups who used to be affiliated with one another that I would love to see reunited in friendship rather than dislike and distrust - fear not, none of the groups I mention begin with "N". More towards the later half of the alphabet. Besides, isn't there a saying that goes something along the lines of "the enemy of my enemy is my friend"?


Any final things you would like to say to everyone before we go?

So long, and thanks for all the fish?

sweet I was wondering when she would get there! Big grats man.

Here is the second of this weeks interviews. Love him or hate him Knight always provides entertainment. He has gotten a good rep at making bases and started one of the more successful chanels for it in the game.

As always please keep your questions on topic and no flaming. With out further adiu here is his interview.

So tell me a little about your self? Your current age, where you live, etc.

Well I live all the way out in the middle of no where, aka Conneticutt, nothing too do but play this game because I live in a very boring place, I'm a guy obviously, I just turned 20 on Feb 25th too. I'm in college right now and I'm probably one of the only college students who dont drink. Although I am a bit of a soda nut, I even have a coke machine form the 1980's in my basement, it works too, only 4-5 choices though.

Do you have any pets?

I have 1 labrador/golden retriver mix and 2 cats and thier all VERY stupid! The dog actualy ate a DS game on me once, (rip mario cart). My cats are real characters though. The big ones basicly a mommas boy who'll actualy run from a mice rather than kill it while the tiny cat is a blood thirsty killer who will actualy bite the head off of a mouse and leave the body in the middle of the floor. >_<

Do you have any borthers and sisters?

Only child here, I wish I had someone too torture but I dont>_< I guess if you count the TV when I was little.

What is your favorite movie?

I mostly like comedy, so I'd have too say the SouthPark movie, soda blew out of my nose when I first saw it.

What is your favorite type of music?

I'll listen too almost anything as long as I can understand it and its real music, non of that rap crap or that ultra heavy metal where everyones screaming like a retard and thier voices are warped. >_< But I listen too the family guy live in las vegas CD everyday at work though. That and comedy sound tracks.

What is your favorite Simpson's quote?

Chief Clancy Wigum: "Whats that floating mask, you want me too shoot everyone?"

So how did you get introduced to MMOs in general?

I used too go too a crappy cyber cafe and saw a few people play coh alot, I tried playing it but it said I needed an account, ( I diddnt even know what an mmo was before then, bare with me) so a couple months later I got coh and endured one year of hell at the crappy cafe until I got feed up with the jerks thier and spent alot of money too upgrade my home pc too play coh, some of my freinds from the crappy cafe still play coh though.

So how did you get introduced to The City of series?

Heh, I answered that before, crapy cafe, spent a crap load of money on my home pc, yadda yadda yadda.

Who was your first character and do you still play them?

Knight was my first character that I actualy stuck with, hes a broadsword/invul scrapper, he's gone through alot of changes though, story line was and apperance wise.

What, if any, powersets would you say are your favorite?

I'd say that assualt rifle set, that and devices, but I like AR more, alot of cones and aoes, plus munitions mastery realy makes the best use out of that power, you can make alot of toons with that set, a super soilder, assassin or a drunk gun totting redneck.

What is your favorite feature of the game?

I'd say the customization, the badges are more of a side thing too me really, that and bases.

What was the most amazing moment you had while playing the game?

When i5 first came out and I went into croatoa on Knight and Ed, coh looked like a steven king nightmare, like a technology VS the arcane kinda thing.

What is your favorite enemy group?

I have a few, I'm partial too the DE and Malta, the de because they have unlimited posibilities and they seem like one of the unearthly ultimate threats while malta are friggen sweet because of the mechs they (wants a kronos titan as henchmen pet) Plus, they also seem like something you'd see in the X-Files, they really add that man in black feel too the game.

What is your least favorite enemy group?

Rularuu, story line wise thier great, but too friggen hard too kill >_< a mob of level 40's almost killed knight once and he's level 50. >_<

What is one feature you would like to see added to the game?

I'd like too go in alot more buildings in this game, and not just for a mission, it would be nice too go into supermart or the movie theater and watch a game demo or maybe even a real movie or buy things inside the super market.

What one thing would you change about the game?

Suburbs and neighborhoods, that and more places like croatoa, not the croatoa model, I mean northern neighborhoods with normal houses, it might be a city but it could be a suberb.

What would you say is your greatest strength in the game?

That im not too sure about that, you know the old adege, thiers always gonna be someone better than you at something.

What is your greatest weakness in the game?

Heh, shooting my mouth off in PinnacleBadges, I'm just not politicly correct like everyone else.

How did you get so good at desiging bases? Which S/VGs were willing to let you toy around with their designs?

All through trial and error, not as much as I hoped for but a few though, I built a base for a laid back relaxed vg called weenie tots, I also do the building for my sg last division, for thier level 50 dvision, and WWE even let me build a repel ball court for them, I put too much work into it though, thats right too much. they had too delete it after because it was causing everyone too get dc'd the second they went into the base. >_< It had everything too, it had the court, WWE spelled out in giant letters, a ticket office, a public bar, a waiting/seating area and too top it all of it had 4 private skyboxes for each of the leaders with thier own library, mini seating area and a bar, it really did come out well too, but like i said, I put so much detail into it that it had too be deleted, no biggy though, I wouldve done the same. The story behind BaseBuildersInc. started back when I looked at the base contstruction forums and saw a few builders on freedom do a tour on thier server, they asked me too join too, but this is how I got the channel too really pick up, I made the channel after a few people got dumb founded in PinnacleBadges one day when they were asking about how much prestige it takes for a large teleporter room. The channels a big success now though, we have over 140 people now.

What drew you into an obsession with getting badges?

I started going nuts over them around i6 when I was going after trail blazer, ( I wanted too get all of the X amount of badge badges back then.) Plus I get them because the designs are nice.

Which ones do you like to get the most?

I like badges that have good designs and ones that have a set too them. Like the winter event badges from this year, especialy Frozen Fury, I had it on an old toon but she got deleted after someone got into my account, im just glad I finaly have it on knight now and a 2 other characters, I like the deisgns on the accolade and achievment badges too. Alot of the cov accolades have some really nice designs too, I wish I could get them knight if side switching ever comes out.

Any particular story arcs or contacts that you love to do? Even when you have done them a million times already?

My favorite story arc has too be all of the TV missions, even reading it was fun too, the last mission had something from the X-Files which made it seem like I just regained control from something before it was too late. Plus all of the tv show references where hillarious, except for the radio mission, it was fun, but its a frigge radio, even I can destroy a radio with my chainsaw, c'mon. >_<

Any final things you would like to say to everyone before we go?

Voices in my head, these are, the voices in my heeeeaaaad. But in all seriousness, don't be afraid too let loose, if some politicly correct little dink says what your saying is wrong, ignore em, crap happens, people get over it, (well at least most of the time.) As long as you mean well and have a good outlook on life, things will always look up, that and have a sense of humor and learn too laugh at yourself. Stay frosty.

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We are thrilled to present a preview teaser on Issue 9’s upcoming Statesman’s Task Force, directly from the desk of Positron (Matt Miller).

Check out the preview here, along with a series of exclusive screenshots of the tremendous action that awaits you in "Breakthrough!"

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hey is u guys check out the screenshots, u will a Samurai (i think its a scrapper) having like a pole coming out of each of his hand, and then when he fights a giant robot, he have like a sword that is glowing.
Does that mean we will have a new powerset r am i just crazy lol?

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Isn't that "robot" Black Scorpion? I want to know about this powerset also. Is it a new animation for spines or what?

Also, I think that there will many chances to fight Villains (GW, BS, Scriocco, etc.). In the preview Matt Miller states he does not want to divulge all the info about the TF as to spoil it's surprises.

Another item, I am finally glad I can break some ish on hero side lilke in villain mayhem misions. Woot and double Woot!

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The robot is a toxic from the looks of it.

The glowing sword is becuase of build up.

The spike shown in the other pic is the character's sword.

Sad thing is the Recluse SF is very well done and challenging. Up to the final 2 mishes of the SF and that is where all your carful planning on how to do it falls apart and it just devolves into a veng bait, shivan, beat down.

I know I know that it can be done different ways other the nuke/shiv/veng combo, but it still frustrating when you don;t go that route and have team wipe after team wipe, after team wipe on your hands.

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We wanted there to be a reason to have Archetypes other than Blasters and Defenders on your team. Controllers will find themselves greatly desired in the final battle if the team wants to have any chance of winning.

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I don't quite see how they can say they learned something and then say this. Having a certain AT be required, which is basically what this says, is no better than having one or more be marginalized.

At best this needs to be clarified.

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Agreed. I am already dreading logging my empath on for any other purpose then this TF.

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Will heroes get Heat Seeker (Arachnos Flier GM badge) before villains get Heat Seeker or is the Arachnos Flier attackable?

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It would be funny if they did. It would also be very very wrong.

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And if the STF is being toned so that all hero AT's can contribute((which they'd be able to do anyway, if a controller can't control they can still buff/debuff not true of Dominators.Blasters/Scrappers won't have the issues a stalker does. Tanks are always wanted for things like this and Defenders would be too.)) then the RSF better recieve a similar treatment!!!!

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If they would just change the last damn mish set up it would be a non issue. Hell easiest way to fix it would be set it up like the Katie hannon TF. Have each member of the Phalnax come out one at a time in waves. you have only so long to take down whichever hero comes at you before the next one gets there.

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Actually, I was a little disappointed to see so many familiar maps in the screenshots (and - and - and oranbega no less!)

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You know the mantra. Hmm what should we have them face now? Not sure boss. I know lets use the CoT!

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We accomplished that goal, but in the end some of the Archetypes felt left out, since they didn’t have the build to contribute to the huge Archvillain fights that the Lord Recluse Strike Force was built around (we took our learnings forward from this).

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SOME of the ATs felt left out!?!?!?! Um try more then half. It has been proven that Doms, Stalkers, and MM can contribute to it. Though usually ATs just still come along mostly as veng fodder.

I am hopeful that they are not goning to make the same mistake they did with the end of Recluse's challenge.

Hey I respec my empath every freespec he gets. There is always something new you can do to make them play just a bit differnt.

Also Grats to you!

Great to hear Sky!!! Who is your next project?

SG/VG Name: Pinnacle Pride

Public relations: none too lazy

Peak teaming hours: Whenever we are on. Usually a few on at all hours

Amount of PvP: only if anyone feels like it.

Amount of Powerleveling: none unless a member is feeling squirly and offers it.

Amount of Drama: none we are pretty laid back

Size of Base: We have all TP beacons to all CoH zones, med bay, and work shop with tables.

Requirements: Be a GLBT player or are not bothered by it.

Other: We try to plan a TF every week and try to help each other when needed.

Guild Description: We Take It For The Team So Paragon Doesn't Have To!

Leader or Recruiting Officers: @teldon

Voice chat: none as of yet

Preferred Method of contact: Talk to a member or pm me on the boards or in game @teldon

(I appoligize if I should bitter in advance of what I am about to say.)

From my time playing Dark Age of Camelot I bring you my wisdom of making a PvP character that applies to any game.

Step One-- Make what ever the FOTM is.
Step Two-- Power level it to 50
Step Three-- Load it with the most l33t gear you can get.
Step Four-- Play it in PvP
Step Five-- Scrap it when the next issue makes it obsolete (whining about the nerf optional)
Step Six-- See Step One

Cool I am glad she got that!

OMG I did not catch that. I love it!

wow how the heck did you ding 50 in AP? inquiring minds and all that.

read the info on them they have a timer and last untill used.

I have done the PI safeguard mish 3 times in the last 24 hours. I have notcied the following bug with the stop the breakout sidemish. Everytime I go in if I lose one of the carnie minions if my camera pans away from her, she disappers and I am not able to save the police officer there. This is the first spawn of them. I am usually able to get the other two officers freed but they, like the carnie minion disappear on me. I go up the elevator to the holding cells and clear that out and the cops FINALLY come in. Two seconds later they run into wal and disappear again. Though whenever I exit the building and go into another side mission they come in but do not move. They just stay at the door doing nothing. They will exit the sidemission when I do but will not follow me as well. This is the only map that this happens to me on.

I for one do like spending some free time in faultline. Like many others I skipped it entirely with my main and only went there with my alts when I had to. Though when my main was getting up in lvls and finally hit 50 I decided to finally get all the exploration badges in the game. It was then I finally went to Faultline and was amazed at how well the zone actually looked. I spent a few hours just exploring the zone once the badges were added and the plaques read. Now that I am hero of the city I still go there to patrol and try to make a difference in the zone.

Even though I play on another sever. I salute you guys!!! How did you get past the last leg of it?