blacktomcat

With some of the new content that's recently come out and is in the process of developement, I thought the newly emerging character would be Coyote.

I've been putting a lot of thought into this (a LOT of thought). I've been doing a lot of observation since I first suggested a powerset like this several years ago and think I finally found a decent compromise.

Seeing Titan Weapons in action got my creative juices flowing again and I've decided to revisit the idea for a quick-draw sword style. I took my influences from fighting game characters such as Ukyo Tachibana, Baiken and Setsuka and also looked at anime such as Ninja Scroll and Battle Arena Toshinden.

Iai Blade would be similar to Titan Weapons in that it would have two sets of animations for most of the powers in the set. However, it would have two different stances: one holding the sheathed sword and the other holding the sheath and sword separately (which I will refer to as its "Release" form. It would have the weapon held with the sheath in the right hand with the blade drawn by the left. Like Titan Weapons, the initial portion of the first attack would seem slow, but then speed up for several seconds using the second set of animations.

The stylistic idea behind it is for the swordsman to sort of coil up and then spring forward, drawing his sword, release a blinding flurry of attacks and then sheath his weapon again. The effect is to make the set feel precise, deliberate and just plain quick. Unlike Titan Weapons, Iai Blade is primarily lethal damage, mostly single target and operates with more damage over time than burst damage (emphasizing a speed-over-power approach).

I'll lay out the attacks below, giving my thoughts on both the mechanics and the animation and feel of them.

1) Razor Wind: This is a basic initial attack. Weapon is drawn in a backhand (right-to-left) horizontile arc or a forehand arc if already in Release form.

2) Twin Vipers: Another basic attack that hits harder than Razor Wind but does more damage. The weapon is drawn and swung twice to the left and then back to the right (or reversed if in Release form), similar to the tier 1 power in dual blades.

3) Earth and Sky: This stronger attack draws the sword in a swooping, vertical arc that launches the target upward (Knock Up) while doing good damage. Release form uses a simple upward swing.

4) Vengeful Raven Strike: Much as an angry raven, you go for your opponents eyes (or optic center, or viewing ports, etc.) in a singular lunge. This attack decreases perception and accuracy for the target. This attack requires the sword to be in Release form to use.

5) Release the Spirit: This power, when activated, immediately brings your sword into Release form and adds a good amount of damage and a small amount of accuracy for a brief time. (This power basically mimics Titan Weapons' 'Build Momentum' for purpose of effect.)

6) Lion's Tail Lash: Borrowing and improvising from battoujutsu, this attack swings the sheath in the right hand, smacking the opponent before it is then pulled away and the then exposed blade thrust into them. Release form would simply strike with the sheath and then stab with the sword. This attack can stun an opponent briefly.

7) Thousand Stinging Hornets: One of the two cone attacks in the set, the sword bearer stabs and thrusts the sword repeatedly in quick succession, causing damage to all enemies in its area of effect (similar in size to Shadow Maul). This attack requires the sword be in Release form to execute.

8) Fate is Sealed: This attack can only be achieved in Release form. The attack itself is deceptively weak, but holds a hidden secret power. The swordsman can choose to open previously unseen wounds by exerting his will through the sword. There is an additional amount of damage it can deal based on other attacks done in release mode. The attack is a simple flourish followed by sheathing the sword. This prematurely ends Release mode. Every attack done during Release form before activating Fate is Sealed adds to the additional damage (much in the same way as the critical system used in Street Justice). (Note: I took my influences from Baiken who had a finishing move that used this, causing her to slice once and then sheathing her blade causing the opponent's death. Setsuka has a similar maneuver that is also highly damaging, though not a finisher.)

9) Flight of the Dragon: Moving with blinding speed, the swordsman blurs toward a group of foes, slashing in a broad arc, possibly knocking them down. This is a teleport maneuver that uses the lightning speed anime swordsmen have (i.e. flash step, etc.). The horizontal attack arc is right-to-left if the sword is sheathed or reverse if it is in Release form.


There you go. I hope you like it. If you don't, let me know why. Thank you for your time.

I too would like to know when the Celestial pieces are going out. In my opinion (the only one I can offer) the Celestial set is SO much cooler than the Ice/Fire sets. By and large, the Ice/Fire sets feel sort of "meh" with a few select pieces I find awesome and would use (fiery wings, the waterfall backpack, weapons). On the other hand, I love every single Celestial piece I've seen out and about, with the exception of the energy wings underwhelming me a bit.

I still have one more Tier 8 slot to get before I can even grab Tier 9. I'm hoping to at least get a chance at some of the yummy Celestial-ness before it goes away. Or at least get a reasonable way to pick them up later.

I'm curious as to where my Wisp Aura has gone to. The only characters I have with access are those that already have it. I can't alter existing characters to get it nor can I make new characters with it (even from saved costumes that have the Wisp Aura). When can I expect to regain full access to this Aura again?

I wholeheartedly approve of the above message. Thank you!

I'm not reading through everything just to find out if this is posted, so I apologize if this is a repeat, but....

The "Remeber Me" function does not appear to be working for me when I log into the forums. I have to sign in manually every time.


Also, in game, the Wisps aura is missing from my costume creator and has been since the change to the new character creator. I may have glimpsed it once, but I didn't think about it at the time (thought the problem was just remedied). I didn't give it a second thought until it was gone again.

Thanks for listening.

Where are the new ladies corsets located? I haven't been able to find them in the costume listings.

I mirror other sentiments about ladies getting the new long coats, but more importantly, I was hoping that the little jumpjet used for the Steam Jump power was a new wingless option for a flight-based costume piece. It was, however, nice to see the new rifle added for use for Bots MM's since they have very few options.

I should have said I'm looking for something that doesn't REQUIRE IO's for survivability. I'm pretty sure with the right sets, just about any stalker should do about as well as any other. I've been looking at Ninja Blade as primary for thematic reasons, but was also looking at Dark as well for its well-rounded utility. Plus, I seem to remember a long time ago that it was one of the better sets.

I was wondering about the defensive sets in terms of effectiveness. I'm guessing in spite of its overall larger numbers, Reflexes is still not chosen as often as Ninjutsu because of the latters utilities and built-in heal. It seems that both would benefit somewhat from Ninja Blade's +def power. I've heard nothing particularly good about Energy Aura.

I was also wondering about the other sets in terms of survivability since they lack the concentrated defenses of the above three.

I'm wanting to build a PvE stalker that can stick around after the initial strike and fight the rest of a group. What would be the best primary and secondary to do this with?

Could also have a psychic who has some sort of physical malady or frailty and uses a powered exoskeleton to either make them able to move more freely (I have a partially paralyzed hero who works in a robot suit myself) or as life support (aka Iron Man) or even just to be able to stand up to more powerful foes in a direct fight (think the lifter unit Ripley used against the queen in Aliens).

He's my defender, I'm his peacebringer.

True story!

Alas, I don't have any pics because I have trouble continuing past low levels with my sillier toons.

I've made a sparkley, sweet-looking magical girl named Magical Girl Lu, who wielded the spiked mace as her "magical frickin' scepter!".

And the Boyfriends/Bulemia mastermind, Nicole Ritchie

And Martha Stewart

And the shortlived mace tanker, Anime Girlfriend, who could pull a big hammer out of thin air.

*pokes with a convenient pointy stick*

*idley wonders what the benefits would be for logging out at Monkey Fight Club*

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I'm kind of disappointed that they didn't go with Enmity. I suppose it's not thematically perfect but it's a pretty good analog for "Villain Empathy".

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First of all, why was there none of this grumbling over Cold Domination, an existing Corruptor/Defender set?

Second, if it's based at all around the power set I submitted to Lady Jade's thread in January and to Castle directly in April, it really is a set based around the increasing, decreasing and alleviation of pain. Granted, I called it Pain Manipulation when I submitted it, but.... Of course, if it has nothing to do with that, excuse my ramblings.

First, on an unrelated note, I came in here expecting to find someone ranting in the wrong place about the changes to Energy Melee. Lol! Glad I was wrong.

Now then, keep going! You have a really great style and a good energy! The third is my favorite, btw.

Consider also the lab coat for a Sam Spade feel without the Matrix overtones.

For all the whiners:

Technically, the devs didn't HAVE to give us anything. To either side. Heck, I12 was supposedly going to be a SMALL expansion. And this is admittedly only the FIRST WAVE!

Y'all are so busy with the [censored] and moan routine, you haven't even thought about the fact that a year ago, none of this would have happened. Now we are getting tons of new things that devs once said wouldn't balance out or just weren't possible.

So all you whiney [censored], get off your [censored], stop giving the gift horse that dental exam and be happy that things are finally starting to happen!

[censored]!

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My immediate guess as to why Elec Melee/Elec Armor didn't go heroside is because of the necessary color change. If it were THAT easy, we'd have power customization already.

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um that part is doable. is done for other sets now. Corruptors getting electrical blast.. as seen in the article linked previously..

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Of COURSE it's doable. Just not easily. The problem with moving the Electric Melee/Armor to heroside is that the effects don't all exist in Hero blue. On the other hand, between the Mu patron powers and Mu NPC's all of the effects in Electric Blast are already available in red. A lot less effort that having to recolor the remaining Melee/Armor effects to blue, I'm sure.

Like I said, if it were easy, we'd already have power customization.

My immediate guess as to why Elec Melee/Elec Armor didn't go heroside is because of the necessary color change. If it were THAT easy, we'd have power customization already.

I'm still holding out for Ice/Ice stalkers in a future installment. I really think that should have been done this time around.

Still, I am rather excited to see how everything pans out.

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A couple of things. First of all, on the subject of "non-evil" masterminds, no one has mentioned the mercenary, Silver Sable and her organization, Silver Sable Incorporated. I mean, her group's bounty-hunting comprises the majority of the GNP of her country!

Second, the talk of not having a Greek/Roman setting in comics: I can't believe no one has mentioned Wonder Woman's birthplace, Paradise Island/Themyscira.

Just tellin' ya.

BTW devs, this is all fifty-billion kinds of awesome!

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Not enough stuff, but the stuff that's there is very good. Good work, but needs a lower price. That is all.

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one indirectly claims it does the same thing from level 4 to 50

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Um, that was Rad I was refering to.

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I believe this was a reference to the opposing viewpoint, not yours.


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<ul type="square">[*]FF's lack of damage buffs highlights Defender's low damage.

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And it's the only set that does so as acutely.


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[*]FF's Knockback highlights their poorly designed cone attacks.

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Or perhaps it just highlights how limited it is in this context?


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[*]FF's remarkable ability to herd highlights the uselessness of Defender's nukes solo.

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Again, FF is also the only set where this is a serious drawback. Also depends on WHICH secondary is being used. Also, good tank will be able to outherd a FF defender WHILE being able to do some decent damage.


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[*]FF's low Defense for the FFer highlights Defender's lack of a Defensive shield in their Epics.

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I'm in agreement here. Sort of. However, I would reverse this saying that FF's low Defense is further highlighted by the Defender's lack of a Defensive shield in their Epics.


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[*]FF's strong ability to keep a team healthy highlights the poor design of Vigilence.

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Actually ANY defender doing a good job will highlight the poor design of Vigilence.


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[*] The common FF playstyle of shielding the team and then using your other powers means you spend the majority of your time using the flawed secondary.[/list]
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Then maybe CHANGING the FF set to give some more USEFUL things to do (other than be a tank, which I have no desire of doing while playing an FF, nor do I think this was an intended role).


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This doesn't mean that FF couldn't use a tweak here or there. But this thread has been an extremely poor way to go about it right from the beginning. It's been little more than insults, ideas that don't even work with existing game mechanics, and "cry moer" in hopes the new Dev team will throw some +Pie your way just to shut you up. I can only hope no ideas from this thread ever see the light of day.

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And cynicism and blanket-statements go a long way toward truly making this set useful for the average player. Thank you!

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Jade_Dragon , I'm not sure I understand your point. Are you saying an FF Defender is weak because they don't have a 30% damage buff? If so, I'm sure you realize the standard response would be to say FF isn't meant to be a damage buffing set.

Similarly, Mind Control has no pets. That doesn't mean Mind Control is broken.

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Yet another apples-to-oranges comparison. Mind specializes in confusion to compensate for its lack of pets. All other defender primary sets (with the execption of Empathy) get some form of resistance debuff or damage boost that the Defender can use to increase damage output, and Empathy can at least do that for others.

For all that, FF should at least be better at something. Knockdown/knockback? Storm does at least as well in this department, if not better. Buffing/debuffing to make it harder for enemies to hit? In my experience, both Rad and Dark doe this better. Their -acc debuffs trump FF's +def every time. Control? Dark and Trick Arrow both have better means of pure control.

And herding? I still say tanks do it better. While putting out better damage thatn most FF defenders.

I really don't think that FF needs a way to up the damage of an individual or group. But if it doesn't, it needs to be able to do what it does better than anyone else, and that's mitigation.

Frankly, I think we need to just sit down, be quiet, raise our hands and get teacher to come and check out our work BEFORE we start calling our classmates stupid. Frankly, it's not the average forum-goer's job to say this poster or that idea is bad or stupid. The red-names have far more inside knowledge than any of us do. Sometimes we just have to trust them to do their jobs. Once they've considered things, they can throw it back to us for verdict.