Tubbius

Hi there, folks. Just wondering when/if this thread were due for another update. That's all.

This ain't over yet, folks. I've been talking in occasional messages with Bubbawheat about what to do next. Stay with us, and watch this space!

As of late, I've been seeing the occasional new plays on my arcs, mainly the couple sitting currently at five stars. So far, so good. I'm not really unmotivated to write a new arc (my last given my current number of slots), but I'm in a position where I don't really have the time to write up another arc with all the stuff I have to do for work.

It's sad that real life must intrude sometimes.

Maybe I can come up with something. We'll see.

Actually, let's see how this goes over the weekend, Hound. It might get some more plays yet. . . .

Glad to have someone else back in the AE. If I can play the arc, SupaFreak, I will. I just have to find time in the middle of all the stuff I have to do for worrrrrrk.

Thanks for the review and play! To address a few of your main points:

1. In the games I've played, which are a good many, the Mechanic usually doesn't survive to the end unless there's a dedicated Empath keeping him around. It's odd that he made it to stomp Toxin solo, but thank you for letting me know about this.

2. Manuel Pistola is a recurring villain of mine who appears in a few of my arcs. As for how he acts in the mission, sometimes he goes ape killing everything in sight, and sometimes he hangs back and doesn't do much at all. It's really weird seeing the different reactions.

3. Tovarisch's name is most definitely Russian.

4. I'll see what I can do regarding the second mission. I like the "Use the MA interface to dig around in Toxin's head" bit, but I can certainly understand your confusion about who's being whom at the start.

5. I don't like seeing tons of backtracking in missions if I can help it, and I'd rather end mission 5 with the medical supplies cabinet right there near New York Sickle than to make the player(s) arbitrarily run back through an empty map just to click a glowie that might have been forgotten about already.

Thanks again for the feedback. I'll keep tweaking, of course. I'm just glad it's getting sore more runs! Feel free to try out one of my other arcs or to review one of the many fine arcs already in this Arc Club--and welcome to the Club!

Oh? My apologies. We'll grab yours next week, Gemini? That cool?

Just dropping a line to say I've not forgotten this! Life has had me running like mad.

This week's upcoming arc of awesome? The Hound/ @Royal: Spawning Chaos #469020

Arc ID: 469020
Arc Name: Spawning Chaos
Morality: Villainous
Length: Five Missions
Groups: Freakshow, Vanguard, Cage Consortium, Longbow
Description: The next Freaklympics is rolling around and you've got some free time. Form a band of loyal Freaks to cut, shoot, blast and smash your way to first place!

I liked the Freaklympics in game. I might just have to give this a shot if I can make time. This arc will remain up until NEXT FRIDAY MARCH 4th.

Got any more submissions for the club? I THINK we're out, but I wouldn't swear to it. Send 'em in, folks!

Long story made short. . . .

For the past few years, I've been using a computer Frankensteined together with parts from NewEgg and my ooooooold machine.

My girlfriend is looking at getting me a new machine for my birthday in a couple of months.

I want something that's going to be able to run Ultra Mode at least reasonably well that won't be outdated the minute I buy it. Computer upgrades are a rarity for me, so I'd like to have a system that I won't have to replace in the next couple of years or so.

I'm probably not building this one from scratch. The guy who helped me with my current system is someone I've not seen face to face in about three years, so I'm probably going to go with something off the shelf, with probable upgrades.

So what I'm asking is this: what desktops on the market nowadays would be a solid option for COH in Ultra Mode, from top to bottom, and why? What, overall, would you folks recommend? Are there any out there that would be great buys EXCEPT a minor change or two?

I'm not going to stick to a price range. I'm looking for low/mid/high end. I need to know where things stand, as I know next to nothing regarding PC purchases nowadays.

Thank you all for your help in advance!

Hmmm. It's not a matter of custom enemies but a custom ally instead. Have you ever tried PENGUIN (29205)? 3 missions against Crey wherein you're trying to find out about the PENGUIN Project. If you like it, I have two sequels designed; they are PENGUIN Part 2: Waddle's Revenge (302196) and PENGUIN Part 3: Waddle to the Big Top (402239).

Check one or two or three of 'em out if you like and want something a little offbeat.

And now it's time for an update to the Mission Architect Arc Club!

This week's Arc of the Week is put out by Burning Brawler. It's arc ID # is 475246. Stats for the arc, from post 187 on this very thread, are as follows!

Name: Bringing A Lord to Power
Arc ID: 475246
Level: 40-54
Morality: Villainous
Length: Very Long
Description: Blightlord has a task for you. Can you rise above and prove yourself in a City of Villains?

Be a bad guy this week and let Burning Brawler know what you think!

One Night Bridge: arc 477906
5-starred in-game. I like it for the most part. Thus, thumbs up.

Good stuff: Overall story is fairly solid. There's an interesting take on using the weak and sickly as hosts for Kheldians so as not to cull the best of the best from humanity and to save the lives of those they take.

Less awesome stuff: Like Coulomb2 notes, this arc could use a fair amount of polish. Clues could be emphasized and explained a bit more, especially in the early missions where minimal clues at all pop up. Also, the PPD minions were constantly blocking doors in the final battle, making it more difficult to navigate than it should have been. Lastly, the Cult is a nice touch, but, again, it feels very vague even if you go through and read all of their right-click info (which was, yes, spelled out very well!). Maybe some allusions to the Cult in the first mish or two might work?

Keep plugging away!

Keep writing arcs, folks, and keep spreading the word on getting 'em played. Things should improve!

That extension is actually a good idea, given that most folks playing double XP weren't touching MA with a ten foot pole. So, here's to another week for this week's arc! I'll get around to playing it soon!

I'll gladly fill in for Bubbawheat while he rests up and gets some brain power back for this. Anyone looking to submit an arc for this thread. . . I reckon post here or send me a private message on these forums, and jump right in when the new arc for this week goes up!

And Bubbawheat, I can't edit that first post or two to keep the list of arcs updated. So, I reckon I'll need to start a new list from whatever page we get to on this thread when starting next week's section.

Hey, minor, nitpicky stuff works, too! Thank you, Coulomb! As for Pistola, he's as you've put it: a man working with the Council mainly to further his own ends if the chance arises. He's willing to do what it takes to move up his ladder, and if working with the Council AND the heroes at the same time does that for him, he will.

It just backfires a little for him.

I'll see what I can do to rework the Professor's dialog once I get time. Thank you!

Glad to have you around, Alyssa. It's always good to get new COH players and to get old COH players back, especially on Justice. We need the people!

I'm best known as Tubbius. Just look for the guy cruising Atlas Park on a plant controlling Santa Claus character year 'round.

Ok, cool, someone asked the question I had.

My rollover period for my account is in the middle of February. It's changing payment plans so I can pick up the 12 months + 2 free thing, but it ends February 21st and renews on that same date.

It seems I would be eligible for this, right?

So, who would know an answer to this one: my rollover period for my account is in the middle of February. It's changing payment plans so I can pick up the 12 months + 2 free thing, but it ends February 21st and renews on that same date.

Would I be eligible for all this free stuff or not?

For those who don't know what I'm talking about, check Avatea's post here:

http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showt...17#post3433317

The word "uninterrupted" in her post is what's throwing me.

EDIT: Found the actual discussion thread for this here:

http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showt...15#post3433415

Never mind this post. It won't let me delete.

Thanks, WN.

To Coulomb2, I suspected that about a weird rounding issue, but I don't know why the coding would do something like that. I got it up to 5 stars with 3 ratings from global friends, and then a fourth rating (which counted) sunk it again.

To Wrong_Number, it was a string of global friends who hadn't played the arc. I'm definitely going to lay off the super-aggressive pushing of the arcs, as I know now that sort of behavior just opens everything up to the wrong kind of people and actions.

To Eva Destruction, you're right on that point. Admittedly, though, its feature in that section has possibly brought on as much bad attention as good. I realize that could have happened, now.

Thanks for all of your input, to all of you. I'm going to let this drop and let it go.

I don't recall mentioning such, personally. I might have made a mistake somewhere. I'll double check.

Also, to Bubbawheat, I apologize. I really messed up and turned this page of the thread into my own personal junk regarding the ratings, which I shouldn't have done. That's definitely outside the spirit of what this thread is about; I really should've thought more before I typed in frustration. It won't happen again, sir.

1-15-11, 1 am: 152 ratings, 5 stars.
1-16-11, 6 pm: 152 ratings, 4 stars, 25 tickets to claim.
1-17-11, between midnight and 3 AM: I asked 3 friends to rate it. At 154 ratings, it went to 5 stars. It went up to 155 ratings at 5 stars. One guy double-rated by mistake. 100 tickets claimed total. Within a half hour or so, it dropped to 156 at 4 stars, with the message "Someone has voted on 'Hammer and Sickle of Paragon City.'"
1-17-11: roughly 3 AM: Doctor_Gemini's rating as #157 on Hammer and Sickle of Paragon City. Currently 4-stars overall. 25 more tickets claimed.

As I've put in another thread on here. . . I REALLY hate AE ratings griefers.

And Doctor_Gemini: Thanks a million! I'll keep pushing, and I'll see if I can't do something about the text color some time.

I guess mentioning/discussing anything about ratings on a public forum really is a bad idea. Hammer and Sickle dropped back to 4-star range within a half hour of being at 5 stars.

So how did all the other arcs with ratings in the hundreds get up there? I'm asking honestly--begging, really. I've been pushing some of my arcs as hard as I can since shortly after AE hit. What am I doing wrong? What can I do better?