-
Posts
92 -
Joined
-
Chapter II
Clarion Call
File Tape 20041225-1012-PCCB-A743 FSBA ARCHIVES
Marker Alpha Blue One-+24
Move! Move! Move! comes the command from Casus. The team starts moving, Casus taking to the air, Freight ducking around, trailing, moving from cover to cover. Maxim flicks the bipod on the barrel of his MPAR, rolls over prone and sets it down on a pile or rubble, triggering off a long chain of grenades and following up with long, controlled bursts, red tracer fire screaming down range into the gaggle of Malta around the building Portal. Sheol wraps himself in layer after layer of darkness then follows an already sprinting Anthelios, flanking the Malta.
Slow down lass, whats the rush, plenty for us all his hollow voice rings in her ear
I need to kill something, comes her strained reply. Lord Sheol wisely holds his tongue
The dimunitive Debutaunte hops over a blackend half-wall of masonry, skirt flapping over shapely legs, pony-tail bobbing behind her as she charges the Malta.
Hey little boys, turn your toys this way, she yells at them, a mocking grin on her face. A pair of Gunmen oblige, rapid firing their pistols. Most of the shots smack into Debutaunte and bounce off, momentum spent. Unfazed, she starts picking up speed. A Sapper steps around the reloading Gunmen and takes careful aim.
Eat plasma you filthy MHI! he growls as she closes the distance. Deb winces hoping for a miss at the speed shes moving. Given a choice between bobbing and weaving, she chooses to stay straight and close distance, knowing it makes her an easier target. She can imagine the evil grin on the Sappers face as he pulls the trigger and a bright, actinic blue stream of plasma gouts out at her. Then it sputters out, splashing harmlessly off Debs chest. Her grin widens as the sapper is thrown forward in a jumble of arms and legs, backpack exploding.
Great job Faith! she waves at Faith Angeleeds, then turns the wave into a fist and brings it square on the jaw of one of the Gunmen raising his gun to fire again. Where the sapper stands, Faith stands tall and proud, her glinting claws raising up for a strike on the other Gunman. Casus turns his attention elsewhere, knowing Deb and Faith have at least some of the attention of the Malta now. They will be joined in a moment by Lord Sheol and Anthelios, which will only serve to pull more Malta to that corner of the fight. Casus ducks another pair of corkscrewing rockets as they flash harmlessly past him and explode. Shrapnel twangs harmlessly off the back of his suit.
Parabellum, bring your team around to where Maxim is, pick off what you can from where Deb is, focus on sappers. Freight, break off and support Maxim.
You got it, boss-man, Freight quips from below then speeds over to Maxim, adding his Energy blasts to the firepower from Maxim & Parabellums fire team.
How may I assist? comes a whispery voice from behind Casus. Without turning to look he responds.
Turin OWay, Heizenberg, glad you and your Kheldians could make it. Lay down some fire on the far side of the melee, try to keep their heads down, Casus says, pointing at the far end of the Malta mob under Altas. More and more of them are starting to focus on Deb and he knows he needs to relieve the pressure on that flank. The Operations Engineers remain well guarded and dogged in putting the Portal together. Casus ducks again as twin Sapper beams cross where he was standing. He sends an energy torrent back in the direction of fire. The two Sappers go flying back, one of the crushed up against on of Atlas huge stony legs.
Sunspot, Slamdance, youre up. My target, Gunman, get in there and hold their attention, Ive got an idea. A twin set of acknowledgements come back as a fiery Sunspot and shining Slamdance leap into the fray, laying about with fire and steel. The Malta are now fully committed, the Operations Engineers continue to work feverishly, without cover for the moment. Casus zooms up, up to the top of the globe where the scene looks peaceful, regardless of the cacophony of war from below.
Command Authority, Nova release request, Casuss communication antennas encrypt, compress and blurt the request to a Geostationary CommSat farm over Paragon City. The signal bounces around and a squawk comes back.
Approved, acknowledged. Power dump, build up flash capacitors, rerouting cycles to targeting, he says himself, his voice growing hollow and tinny as the suit starts shimmering and glowing, a subsonic hum emanates form his suit. A mere three seconds later he launches himself back down, hugging the contour of the Atlas globe back down. The swirling fight comes into sight.
Where the hell is Casus!? Anthelios grunts out in between trying to get in a blow, parrying rifle butts and ducking pistol rounds. She glances up in time to see Casus land in the cluster of Operations Engineers. Every available Malta in the area turns to face Casus. He hunches down, elbows close to his side, hands balled into fists close to his chest.
Get down! his suit speakers blast. Heroes drop, grab cover, duck as best as they can. Anthelios, veteran that she is, ducks knowing whats coming next. Even braced as she is, she rocks and is bodily lifted as Casus Bellis suit, to all appearances, explodes in a titanic, bright blue explosion, energy hammers out all around and above him several yards in all directions. Malta bodies, and more than a few Heroes, go flying out in all directions. Many of them slide for several yards more, some coming to a crushing stop against the landscape, others bowling over whoevers left standing.
Heroes come back to their feet in a rush and the only sound thats heard is finishing blows as the last of the Maltas and an errant Hercules are taken down and restrained. The Portal stands complete, but slightly askew, and definitely not activated. Casus stands in a circle of broken bodies and shattered equipment. His suit is already dumping excess heat and energy. With vents flanged-open Casus looks like hes puffed up, like some ancient lizard, crest spread out, standing victorious. Police and Fire Rescue show up to collect the Malta and put out a myriad of small blazes.
Anthelios is striding in his direction, other Heroes pick their way to him as. She comes to a stop in front of Casus as his vents start closing up again. Arms akimbo, fists on her hips, suit shredded in a dozen places, her hair trying to stand up in the diminishing static field, she glares her best at Casus. The unfathomable red-visored gaze drives her over the edge.
Are you mad? Are you completely and utterly mad! We could have been killed! she lays into him verbally, poking him with one stiff, angry finger in the chest with every third word.
Relax lass, Lord Sheols voice comes up to her as if from far away, even though hes right behind her., still wrapped up in layers of inky, starless night. The Malta are defeated, our fallen compatriots teleported to safety, all ends well. She turns her glare to Sheol, only to be even more frustrated as she stares into deep, swirling darkness. She barely avoids stomping her foot and turns again to Casus.
Relax my [censored], this idiot comes in from nowhere, orders us around then almost kills us AND the Malta with that cute stunt, Slamdance comes up behind Anthelios. She knows Anthelios famous rages and is getting ready to restrain her. She motions Sunspot in with her head. It usually takes the two of them.
Thats enough, Casus speaks at last, You lot, especially you Anthelios, could do with some tactics instead of haring off devil may care into every other villainous mob.
Were heroes buddy, not some military unit-
Exactly! You're individuals with no cohesion and team work. Youre all off in one direction or another, until you find yourself surrounded, then you start praying that theres an Empath nearby. Last I checked, girl, you still have to get in spitting range to use that pointy stick of yours. Slamdance and Sunspot both leap for Anthelios arms and restrain her from pulling her sword out.
Let it go Thelia, let it go, Slamdance urgently whispers into her ear. They cant, however, gag her. Not without letting an arm go.
Who died and made you God, buddy!? she screams, infuriated.
Billions of years of foolish bravehearts with antics instead of tactics. Casus responds calmly, crossing his arms and staring back at her. She swears hes daring her to make a move. Slamdance and Sunspot hold on to her.
You arrogant [censored], you grandstanding, insufferable tincan! She roars back.
This is exactly what I mean. You lead with your mouth instead of your eyes and brain. Casus says, shaking his head sadly. Anthelios retort stops, leaving her mouth open as a harsh, ragged cackling comes from somewhere. She glares around angrily looking for the source. Everyones eyes lock on to the broken, shuddering form of a Malta Gunman, a command detonator in his hand. Everyone lets out a variety of expletives. Casus and Anthelios both make a dive for the device.
Neither gets there in time.
Crap, Casus and Anthellios mutter at the same time. The world seems to dim for a second and everyone looks up in startled surprise as the Portal springs to life. Space around the portal bends in mind-maddening patterns and some Heroes swear they hear time and space screaming in agony. With an earth shuddering roar the Portal snaps to life. Casus is first to his feet, backing away from the Portal, motioning and pushing the other Heroes back.
Back, back, get the wounded and civilians out of here, move! Form a perimeter! A loud, malevolent, living machine noise comes out of the Portal. Casus rapid-fires orders, forming a defensive Perimeter and takes to the air with several score heroes. Others are porting, leaping and speeding into postion, still others helping the wounded civilians away.
The ground shakes again, not a sharp jolt, but an on-going rumble that shakes bones, chatters teeth and skews reality. Blue smells like oranges and the hanging ozone taste like meat. Smoke feels like broken eggshells and everyone sees the screams of their fellows. Everything suddenly snaps back into normality and theres a massive metal hand and foot emerging from the Portal.
Open fire! Give it everything youve got! Casus yells. Fire, Ice and gunfire rain down. Mental and magical energies fly. Boulders, arrows and piercing sonics are hurled at the emerging machine. All of them seem to stop short and shatter or fail just short of the machine, now half out. The attacks die out as the rest of the machine emerges, and stands as if stretching, sweeping the vista with a malevolent, red scan.
It is a massive Malta monstrosity, easily the biggest titan ever seen, half again as large and studded with weaponry as the Kronos titan that the Malta menaced Paragon City with the prior year. In the stunned silence, a booming, machine voice speaks out.
Targets acquired for Termination. -
Chapter I
Casus Belli
File Tape 20041225-1012-PCCB-A743 FSBA ARCHIVES
Marker Alpha Blue One
Act of War - Chapter I
Casus Belli
File Tape 20041225-1012-PCCB-A743 FSBA ARCHIVES
Marker Alpha Blue One
Day follows days into weeks of desultory, sleet-driven weather that leaves everyone with icy spikes that drive numbness deep into their bones. This day, however, dawns bright, crisp and clear, greeted by the citizens of Paragon City with cautious optimism, knowing that the Winter Lord was sighted the prior night in the islands North of Peregrine Island. If nothing else, the annual Christmas Day parade promises to bolster any flagging spirits.
People are starting to congregate around Atlas Park, some hoping to catch a glimpse of their favorite hero, most sampling the wares of the street-side food and arts and crafts vendors. Smells travel, further in the cold air, leaving a potpourri of delicious scents drawing grumbling stomachs. Everyone is waiting on the Parade. Rumor has it the vaunted Freedom Phalanx might even make an appearance. Certainly, if nothing else, Atlas Park promises to be the safest place to be in Paragon City this Christmas Day. After all, thats what the network chatterboxes yammer on about in between spewing a veneer-covered spate of half-baked commentary. They always speak the truth, dont they?
The crowds milling takes on a purpose as the first outriders of the parade come through Atlas Park and the Mayor strides out of City Hall to take his place with dignitaries and luminaries at the reviewing stands thrown up overnight under the statue of great, big old Atlas himself. A thousand, thousand conversations grow, mute, swirl and merge seemingly all at the same time into a new level of white-noise as the first float comes around the corner, sponsored by Crowne Memorial.
Uniformed and plain clothes security move through the crowd. Here and there stand out the proud Hero Corps in their blues and the Longbows in their Red & Whites. Supergroups mingle with each other and the crowd, hugging strangers made old friends by rescue, signing autographs and more than one flexing to the localized, squealed delights of their fan club. Such is their frequency and volume, this festive events feels like a convention for Sonic powered heroes.
Streetcams, real-time satfeeds and good, old trustworthy Mark I Eyeballs take all this in and report it back to a secure facility where human and cyborg analysts and quantum computers churn through the data looking for patterns, picking out faces and trying to anticipate trouble. It will be a lesson learned from. Trouble always comes unwanted, unanticipated and not where or when youre watching for it. Trouble also brings friends.
It starts innocuously enough with the Hellions up to their usual shenanigans, torching several buildings in Steel Canyon. A few minutes later, a call goes out for reinforcements to contain Troll Ravers in Skyway. More minutes pass and the ghost of War Witch appears to several Magical heroes, teleporting them to Croatoa to contain a small army of Red Caps marching on the University. By this point, most of the older super groups put out an alert call to all their members. The ICONS start gathering around Atlas Park, Chrysalis converges on Galaxy City where a smaller if no less loud parade is getting underway.
Just as the Redcaps are being contained, Portal Corp put out a Priority Omega alert. The Praetorians are making a break out attempt lead by Antimatter, Neuron, Infernal and an army of Clockworks and Thorns. The members of Freedom Phalanx break off from their festivities and rush to Peregrine Island, accompanied by several dozen super heroes that collect their in passing, reminding one incongruously of waves picked up and flung about by a strong passing wind on an autumn day.
The networks are carefully instructed to continue to focus on the days festivities. Mayhem will fill their coffers some other day.
This still remains a normal, if active, day in Paragon City. Except things go beyond active when Malta and their Zeus and Hercules titans start dropping around City Hall in Atlas Park. The veteran residents of Paragon City, each one rightfully a hero themselves, help the newer residents find shelter and move away from the locus of Malta activity. They knew what comes next.
The Heroes are coming to make the Malta regret their intrusion.
Heroes in the crowd, incredulous at the brazen attack, swing into action. Most of them focus on protecting the crowd and intercepting fire from the Malta intended to cause casualties and chaos. Veteran heroes swung into action directly against the Malta, spear headed by Anthelios, Sunspot and Deadly Nightshade from the ICONS.
The fight degenerates into a wild furball, with no center or flow. Even the Malta seem disorganized. Gunfire & grenades, sappers laying down fire, Gunmen looking for that stunning shot and the massive Malta machines spreading havoc. Ice and fire shoot out from heroes locking down sappers and seeking out hastily dropped auto-turrets. Psykers weave around in the fight, piercing minds. Tankers converge on the Malta machines and scrappers stalk the Gunmen. Here and there a hero falls and in a bright, soundless flash is teleported away. Only one person notices the flurry of activity at the center of the plaza, a beehive over the shattered remains of the reviewing stands. He sends a desperate mental missive into the mind of his compatriot.
Anthelios turns to look in that direction and is suddenly thrown forward hard, skidding along the pavement face first. She rolls and lets the momentum take her up to her feet just in time to take a kick square to the gut from a Hercules. The air goes out of her in one convulsive huff. She looks up into the barrel of the Hercules gun, as it spools up, whining like some malevolent beast, to fire at point blank range. She winces, struggling to move out of the way, bring up her arms, anything she still cant catch a breath. She closes her eyes as the tell-tale blue glow portends her imminent defeat and teleport.
The Hercules unleashes its fire, the world going from dark to blue through Anthelios eyes, a harsh buzzing sound rolling over her. She cracks an eye open, Anthelios, expecting to smell the septic air of a hospital smelling instead a sharp, ozone stench. She blinks light-shocked eyes several times and looks up into the back of a red, blue and white suit, red & white striped cape flapping in the cold, brisk breeze. The last of the Hercules discharge still flickers in tiny blue arcs across the armored suit. She hears another whining spin up as the hero in the suit brings his elbows back and together again palms outwards towards the Hercules. She has enough wit and energy left to duck and cover. A loud, crackling, zapping and an even brighter blue flash is followed by the screeching of metal, distinctive destruction whang of a spinning gyro and the smashing crash of dead metal. She looks up again, this time into the face of the suit, red-visor looking down at her, holding out a helping hand.
You ok maam? The hero in the suit asks. She nods weakly taking the proffered hand and getting helped up. She finally has a chance to catch her breath.
Thanks stranger, she half-mumbles.
Its my duty citizen, stay frosty, theres more of them around. She starts to say something and looks up to empty air. The red, white and blue armor suited hero is making a nape of the earth flying run at a Gunman taking aim at some hapless, downed hero, looking to finish the job. She looks on as the hero, sweeps up in a flying, vertical leap at the last possible instant then comes down with both hands on the Gunmans head. A bright blue mini-explosion blanks out the both Gunman and Hero. When it clears, the hero in the suit is crouched over, a crumpled Gunman laying on the pavement. The Gunman doesnt move, the hero scans the surrounding chaos.
The hero turns again towards her, arm flying out and snapping off another blue bolt of energy. The bolt skims inches from Anthelios golden locks. She ducks, turns to strike and sees a sapper, helmet and mask half ripped off from the blast, slowly crumple to his knees. She turns to glare at the hero, but hes gone again, flying towards a lurching Zues.
Hey! Hey you! She yells after him. The urgent voice in her head calls her back to her original target.
Anthelios, never mind him for now, look, there, under Atlas She whips around, ducking behind some blackened masonry and looking in the direction the voice urges.
No No, it cant be. How?
Nevermind the how for now, gather the ICONS, weve got to stop them before they finish building that portal Guarded by a cadre of Hercules, Gunmen and Sappers, several Operations Engineers are feverishly working to erect what looks like a full size Portal.
ICONS, this is Anthelios, to me, weve got a problem. Doc, what are they planning?
You mean aside from the obvious, comes back the amused reply, I have no idea, even they dont know aside from their last orders to take this ground and put that portal up. It could be anything. Weve got to stop them, and fast!
So you said, she snipes back as the ICONS start to gather around her.
Whats the plan boss? Taboo asks. Anthelios opens her mouth to speak and is interrupted by a synthesized voice behind her. She turns her head, her face a red mask of anger.
Fall in team, weve only got 30 seconds, the voice speaks, leaving her to vent her gaze down into a familiar, red-visored face.
Who the hell made you leader? she snaps. His only response is to whip up an armored gauntlet to her shoulder and push her down, his other arm snapping up. The only reason he doesnt loose his arm is because Anthelios is a veteran. She knows what the little hairs on her neck rising up means. She obligingly ducks down as a blast of gunfire blows past, twanging and winking off his armor.
Dammit, she grumbles, angry more at herself, Thats twice.
Youre welcome, he says as a small team of heroes gathers at his back. Everyone is crouched down, under cover now. He sweeps up everyone in one glinting, red gaze.
Debutaunte, Lord Sheol, Maxim, Nurse Fro, Freight, Taboo and Anthelios, he says, jabbing a finger at each hero in turn. He gets a glare from Anthelios, nods from most of the rest. Freight, youre with me, stick close, follow my lead. Deb, wait for my fire, then go on in. Sheol and Anthelios swing down and around, up the steps from the east, rush em when you get close. Maxim, move west to that cover, enfilade, suppressing fire, full-auto and grenades, everything you have. Dont worry, theyll be focused on Deb, shes got a special place in her heart for these jokers. Everyone clear? He gets another series of nods, even a curt, angry jerk of the head from Anthelios.
Stay low, use available cover, they can outrange every one of us. You see a sapper, take him down hard and fast keep them off Deb especially, take a hit for her if you have to, it only stings a little. Move it. He scoots a few yards to his left, popped up from cover, largely ignored, and takes careful aim, bracing for a sniper shot.
Freight, my target, Hercules 12 oclock, sensor cluster, he says over his shoulder as Freight stands up off to one side and behind him, taking a similar stance.
Got it, Freight yells back as a brace of rockets roar by them, narrowly missing them both.
At least tell me who the hell were following to Valhalla! Anthelios screams at the suited hero, her rage bubbling over. The hero shoots, Freight a mere quarter-second behind him. A flat, nasal double-crack accompanies two cerulean bolts of energy. Down rage, the targeted Hercules shudders as its sensors blow out, the overload throwing the massive machine up and back on a pair of Operations Engineers.
What the hell are you? Anthelios rages again. The hero looks down at her, visor glinting an unspoken promise.
Casus Belli, the hero in the red, white and blue suit responds. -
[ QUOTE ]
Mission Customization Many existing missions have been updated with hostage escort missions, villain wave attacks and more!
[/ QUOTE ]
Fo' real!?
I am SO coming back to CoH -
[ QUOTE ]
Just to give you a stat side...
The success rate on the respec is a tad over 75%.
[/ QUOTE ]
It ALL comes down to teamwork folks - if you're in a pickup group, be or have a strong leader - or find someone who knows how to lead groups.
Play tactical, play smart, play balanced. There's a reason there's five AT's in the game. -
[ QUOTE ]
16. Adding Tanker damage has become a little problematic. It makes the almost too powerful...but it's an ongoing issue internally. We are definitely adding more aggro control to the Tanker.
[/ QUOTE ]
I've played and seen awesome tankers in action (go go Pain Mistress - uberest tanker on Victory IMO). The entire concept behind tankers is aggro magnets. If I want to dish out some melee damage, I need to play my scrapper. If I want to pull and hold aggro, I need to play the spongy tanker.
A potential way to further elaborate on a tankers role is giving the tanker a bonus to taunt & provoke, much like defenders have a bonus on the leadership power pool.
The tankers and scrappers may now proceed with one starring me into oblivion. -
Or at least let my tanker take off a chain mailed glove and hurl it at the fleeing culprits head
Sweet work Cryptic, sweet work. -
Pfft.
Not only have I gotten all six badges on one alt, but I'm planning on doing it for a significant number of the rest.
That's how much fun this is -
Serious:
- A slightly bent-kneed, slightly hunched-over pose, one arm akimbo and slightly back, other arm extended, palm facing up, fingers slowly crushing into a fist
- Fist pounding into palm - either emphasizing a point or 'drats foiled again'
Silly:
- The classic "i'm crushing your head" pose
- The "i'm not touching you, i'm not touching you" pose
- A talk to the hand pose (c'mon it would be hillarious!) -
This sounds pretty cool - but seriously - will the even be on all weekend long or just the 31st? I'm hoping all weekend long so I can wedge in a couple hours on Saturday to get in there and get some treats
Between work, RL and trick'n'treating (gotta when you have little ones), I'll have maybe a couple hours to myself between midnight and 2am
Pleaseeeee can we have it run Fri to Sun ... -
It might be possible to do so by doing the following:
Start a new character
When you get in game, do a /bindsave
Log out and log back into your main character
Do a /bindload
That should return you to your default set of binds ... however, YMMV and all other CYA TLA's apply -
[ QUOTE ]
Since it mentions design is underway for PvP, so it's recent, because that's what I've been doing.
Am I going to tell you what we're planning? At this stage? Are you mad?!
[/ QUOTE ]
Muwahahahahhahaa*hackhackcoughcoughwheeeezzze* -
What about the rest of us, the - I imagine it to be a vast, silent minority - who play to have fun ... ?
-
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Who in the heck is Babbage?
[/ QUOTE ]
The first BIG gaming moment in your CoH career.
[/ QUOTE ]
Wasn't that Doc Vahz ... ? Close enough the two are I suppose, but both are equally FUN! -
[ QUOTE ]
Statesman said
[ QUOTE ]
Yes.
[/ QUOTE ]
Which confirms that its a Devs vs player game that they get to cheat to beat you.
[/ QUOTE ]
Oh Puh-lease. I say bring it. A well-lead, balanced group that stays smart and plays tactical is going to take those "cheats" and mush them into atomic bits and peices. Folks who are used to street-hunting are going to get their heads handed to them. Street hunts require far less team coordination and almost no tactical coordination. Missions- given their higher level mobs and concentrations - do. The one exception may be street hunts in hazard zones, but I'm still undecided.
So, unless the Devs go over the top (ala very hard mode in TW or emp mode in Civ), a balanced, coordinate, tactical group will pwn the cheaterz
And by tactical I mean simple stuff like don't stand there after a pull, grab a corner - and don't have the rest of the team standing in the open getting picked off by ranged weapons - set tactical ambushes around corners\behind terrain features, etc. The best team work I've ever seen, circumstances allowing, have been the cross-fire tanker taunt\provoke. Talk about complete destruction of your opponnents. -
[ QUOTE ]
I believe the fix to the number of +1 mobs is in a patch being tested. I do not know when that'll go live; it depends upon what we find in it.
Mission difficulty slider - I won't make any promises until I'm sure of a date, but I have stated I want this as soon as the schedule allows. Issue 3? I'd love it; but there's a TON of things to consider and I don't want to roll something out that isn't satisfactory.
[/ QUOTE ]
Tell ya the truth, I was kind of enjoying the +1 mobs - added a lot more variety to those indoor missions! I thought it was a new feature!!! Very cool to be a L20, start a misson with L20's then hit mobs ranging from 18 to 22. Keeps you on yor toes.
In the meantime, I'll wait with baited breath for the difficulty slider
... you sure you can't leave this bug in? -
[ QUOTE ]
There is an NPC Store next to the trainer in Skyway. That store pays full price for trainings (unlike the NPCs in GC and AP) and can be reach safely by low-level PCs. Just don't fall off the walkways.
[/ QUOTE ]
Any more specific directions to this store? I haven't been able to find it ... -
This is why I'm here and will never again play an MMO from SOE or any game from Luca$fart$