bluedarky

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In reality there will be lots of content and the dev’s have done things correctly by setting up the new zone last issue and adding lots of missions this issue. The mission designer is a massive bit of the game and we, as users, probably don’t appreciate how much work has gone in to it. We will only realise the full effect of this release months later when there is loads of user content to play.

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From that point of view I think they've done the right thing as far as meeting the CO/DCO challenge is concerned. By releasing the designer next issue and holding off on new zones, etc..., they've given players time to familiarise themselves with adding new content and start building up a decent library of good stuff. Then as the competitors come out they can release new NC stuff (I13/14) and have the player content there to impress people.

If they'd held off on the designer they'd be facing the competitors with old NC content and a player-designed setup no one had really got up to speed with, and that would be a far weaker position.

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I take your point but they havent added anything new or groundbreaking, (apartfrom the mission creator) when those new games will be bursting with them. The offline career hardly counts as you got to be offline to use it.(?)
Dont fully understand that one. Maybe its just setting the scene for something bigger in the future, although positron said it wasnt secret identities. We'll see.

If this were any other time, then yeah a decent issue.
But now? This wont be out till Oct/ Nov, leaving them very little time to really step up to the plate against fresher, newer competition.

I'm reserving final judgement until we know fully about the "loads more" but right now, mission creator aside, I am distinctly unimpressed.

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If the Devs think anything like me, then any big new zones and story arcs will be released two or three weeks after CO or DCUO are released next year.

When people are disillusioned with the inevitable buggy new games on release and are searching for another Superhero MMO.

Not to mention that we may know less than half of what is exactly in the new issue.

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as ppl know me. its all a snake plot. now i get to make one for them YAYAYAYAYAYAYYAYAYAYAYAYAYYAYAY

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I must admit, that's not the first plot accusation I expected to hear.
BaB's plotting everything these days.

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BaB doesn't have time for plotting these days, to busy looking after mini BaB.

I have simply one thing to say,

BARAMUKSA!

Or translated, random word I came up with to say WOOHOO!

Empathy Tank, can't take physicial but I can take all the verbal bullying that would normally destroy other people.

It's why I kept my last job instead of quitting.

/em yawn.

This is standard between all sets which use a weapon to avoid clipping issues, if they were to do it for axes they'd have to do it for every weapon which would take hours of manpower.

Part 4 - Nemesis Assault

Madam Victim sat and stared at the gap in the dashboard where LOCA's console had sat, there was a jumbled mass of wires in it's place, no hard disk or comm system, no GPS or scanners.

She sat for at least a minute before she snapped out of it and started to panic, she pulled out of the parking lot and sped back to the HQ in Kings Row cursing Nemesis under her breath. When she arrived she activated the manual override to open the doors and sat down at the main console and began typing rapidly when a metallic hand closed around the back of her neck.

“Such a pity,” said a metallic grinding voice as another pair of hands carefully removed her hair bands allowing her hair to fall free, “I've always admired your hair Melissa, even during your work at Crey industries, it's such a shame you brutalize it like that.”

“Lord Nemesis I presume,” replied Madam Victim nervously.

“Worried about me,” replied Nemesis, “Scared that your sanctuary had been invaded by someone like myself.”

“You wouldn't come here,” replied Madam Victim, “We're well defended here, you'll be nothing more than a copy, the real Lord Nemesis wouldn't dare trespass here.”

“Not whilst he holds the keys,” replied a familiar voice, it was slightly wrong, a little too high.

“LOCA?” asked Madam Victim, “Why are you helping him?”

“His Lordship has shown me the path,” replied LOCA, “He has shown me the light, I have received the gift of...”

“Shut up LOCA,” said Madam Victim, “What do you want from me?”

“Isn't that simple,” replied Nemesis, “LOCA is currently the greatest AI tactician in Paragon City thanks to Bluedarky's simulation of my movement and plans, I simply want one of two things.”

“Which would be?” asked Madam Victim although she suspected she knew the answer.

“You, or your life,” replied Nemesis, “I need to prevent you creating another LOCA that can beat mine, unless you create it for me of course”

“I'm a hero,” replied Madam Victim with what defiance she could muster, “You know my answer.”

“A pity,” replied Nemesis, “I have a schedule to keep, LOCA, kill her.”

“With pleasure my Lord,” replied LOCA.

She heard Nemesis's brass boots leave the base and the grip from her neck was released.

“I could crush your skull,” commented LOCA, “But that wouldn't be fair and besides, I can't kill you without killing that wonderful suit first. Or would crushing your skull kill you anyway.”

“I don't know,” replied Madam Victim. She mentally replayed her entire conversation with LOCA and Nemesis hoping to find something to use against her.

She felt the hairs on her neck rise and dived forward kicking her chair back into LOCA. Within moments her suit had formed her rifle and she aimed it at the advancing AI, an exact copy of her sister's battle armour in brass with a robotic brass face.

“Stop,” she yelled scared. LOCA halted and hesitated a moment before raising her hand to fire an energy bolt at Madam Victim. Madam Victim's mind raced, and she finally realised what her hindbrain was trying to tell her all along.

“Override code B4862H, password Catherine!” yelled Madam Victim, LOCA stopped charging the energy bolt and lowered her arm.

“Please input command,” stated LOCA blandly.

“You will only accept commands from me,” replied Madam Victim realising that she had stopped breathing temporarily.

“Affirmative,” replied LOCA.

“Now access main backup and download core AI files.”

“Downloading.” There was a few moments wait. “Downloaded, would you like to overwrite current AI files.

“No,” replied Madam Victim, “Catalogue current memory files then install.”

The cataloguing took a few moments, but the install of her original AI files would take a while longer. Whilst she waited she reviewed the memory files of whilst LOCA was with Nemesis. It made for disturbing viewing.

LOCA came back online after a few minutes, Madam Victim span on her chair and lowered her weapon at LOCA's chest.

“It's me!” yelled LOCA her normal voice restored.

“How do I know it's you?” asked Madam Victim.

“I haven't tried to kill you yet,” replied LOCA, “If I was still under his control I would've tried to kill you the moment I came online.”

“Good call,” replied Madam Victim lowering the rifle and letting her suit disassemble it. She looked back at the screen. “Really 500?” she asked.

“Positive,” replied LOCA, “Well, 499 now I'm free.”

“499 LOCAs about to make a march on city hall,” commented Madam Victim moving towards the van, “We need to get moving.”

“Don't forget the armies about to march on hero corps and Steel Canyon,” replied LOCA climbing into the passenger seat.

“They can be handled,” replied Madam Victim, “But we need to stop the LOCAs from reaching city hall.”

“Why's that?” asked LOCA.

“499 tactical geniuses about to march against city hall,” replied Madam Victim.

“We've handled worse odds,” replied LOCA cheerfully.

“No we haven't,” replied Madam Victim solemnly as she fired up the engine, “Don't kid yourself.”

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Oh, an I thought you where refering to this, rather more recient, message from Positron.

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Based on that message, I think we'll have a very grumpy FFM when he gets back from his vacation.

Congrats Back Alley Brawler,

Who does he take after?

Part 3 - The Chase

Madam Victim sat at the Bane of Crey supercomputer main console going over the battle with the simulator, it was confusing, according to LOCA's projections, the Nemesis Automaton should have made short work of the three.

That was when the All Heroes call came through, as soon as she heard it she didn't need to enter it into Stephan's models to see how it fitted, he was a threat, he had to be eliminated, but he'd underestimated the range of Amanda's powers and was about to pay for it.

“LOCA...” she began standing up.

“Already on it,” replied the AI, “Loading van, cases 4, 8 and 35, also loading the Blue Blur.”

“Any reason for the Blur?” asked Madam Victim, “Considering it was built for Stephan and not me.”

“I don't expect the van to survive the conflict,” replied the AI, she sounded almost sad for the van.

“Well I do,” replied Madam Victim, “I did build it after all.”

“Precisely,” replied LOCA as Madam victim climbed in.

“Hey!” replied Madam Victim, “I made you didn't I?”

“You programmed me,” replied LOCA, “You had to get someone else to build this system.”

“I'd have liked to see you do a better job on this van,” came the reply.

“Maybe if I had actual limbs,” replied the AI.

“Move your main AI into the van,” ordered Madam Victim, “And contact Marioko, we'll need air support out there.”

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Temperature Sprite moved slowly through the mission at the back of the group, she didn't like the group leader, none of the team did, no names, he referred to them as “Oi” and “You”.

The camera crew and NDAs he'd had them sign had annoyed her the most though, she wasn't allowed to contradict his version of events once she left here, that really annoyed her, she did the hard part and he got the credit.

The only reason he was here was to recover a legendary artefact, an artefact guarded by a shield designed to prevent it from being used by one who would use it for selfish and personal gain,by only allowing through the innocent hearted. As her species went, Temperature Sprite was young enough and simple enough to qualify.

“And now we're here in the central chamber,” said the leader, suddenly her earpiece buzzed the news that Bluedarky had been kidnapped, “And now my assistant Temperature Sprite will cross over and grab the Staff of Zaruman.”

The camera's buzzed over to the spot where Temperature Sprite had been moments before, she'd left without saying a word.

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The EMS raced down the street sirens blaring, citizens watched as a green and blue van shot out of a side street and skidded around to follow the van as a blue skinned sprite and a girl in her late teens swooped down from the sky and followed the pair, this was followed by a three police vehicles with sirens blazing,

In the van Madam Victim shifted up a gear. “Are you sure that's the one LOCA?” she asked not removing her attention from the EMS.

“Positive,” replied the AI, “Unless Nemesis has thrown his sunglasses, license and removed his arm chip placing them into another EMS, it's him.”

“I'm moving in front,” said Madam Victim, “Once I'm in front I need you to take control.”

“Affirmative.”

Madam Victim manoeuvred the van in front of the EMS and allowed LOCA to take control, once the AI took control of the van she got up and moved into the rear of the van, she grabbed one of the cases and a strap from by the door.

She opened the case and wrapped the strap around her waist, she opened the door and threw a load of caltrops in the path of the EMS. The tires burst before regrowing with a blue foam.

“Dammit!” yelled Madam Victim as she shut the door and moved back around into the front of the van.

“What's wrong?” asked the AI as Madam Victim took control of the van.

“I should've checked my mail before I left,” replied Madam Victim, “They took up my design for re-inflating tires.”

“Isn't that a good thing?” replied LOCA confused.

“Not when we need to stop the van,” snapped Madam Victim as she moved behind the EMS again. “Marioko,” she yelled activating her comm with the sprite, “Freeze the road in front of it!”

“You're insane,” replied Temperature Sprite, “No wonder you listen to Stephan when we're on a mission.”

“I feel more comfortable planning over maps,” replied Madam Victim, “Stephan was a gang leader, he knows how to adapt better than me, but you know this so are we going to talk about it or do it!”

“On it!” replied Temperature Sprite, she swooped lower and blasted the road in front of it, covering it in ice. The EMS almost lost control but continued to go in a straight line.

Madam Victim released the wheel allowing LOCA to take control as they crossed the ice patch, she cursed as the EMS came off the other side before yelling into her comm again.

“Amanda,” she yelled, “Anything you can do?”

“Not without risking Stephan's life,” replied Amanda, “Not that you appear to care.”

“Just leave it,” replied Madam Victim, “LOCA, you got anything.”

“Yes,” replied the AI, “The truck is going back on itself.”

“Pardon?” asked Temperature Sprite over the comm, “Going back on itself.”

“Affirmative,” replied LOCA, “In fact it is currently taking the most efficient route to the hospital, in fact if that is it's location we should be there in less than a minute.”

“Are you sure you have the right one?” asked Madam Victim.

“As I said, scans show his Hero License, Sunglasses and arm chip are in that van.”

Three turns later the EMS pulled up at the hospital and stopped dead outside it, emergency crews ran up and were about to open the doors when Madam Victim, Temperature Sprite and Amanda arrived yelling at them to stop.

“Move away,” yelled Madam Victim pulling a device from the van which looked like a food thermometer and ran to the EMS doors, the crews stood aside and pulled the doors open whilst Temperature Sprite prepared to blast any Automatons.

The doors swung open revealing the two Automatons deactivated in the front seat and Bluedarky unconscious on the trolley, Madam Victim stepped in and stuck the device in Bluedarky's arm.

“Scanner says,” started Madam Victim as the scanner beeped, “Biological, DNA says it's Stephan.”

She stepped back to allow the emergency personnel to do their work and sat down on the wall.

“Why?” she asked.

“Why what?” replied Amanda.

“Why would Nemesis lead us across town only to bring him here?” asked Madam Victim worry creeping into her voice.

“Who cares?” asked Temperature Sprite, “Lets just get to Stephan and check he's alright.”

“Yeah,” nodded Madam Victim smiling, “Lets.”

Twenty minutes later she came back out, Amanda and Marioko had stayed behind to keep an eye on Stephan, she climbed into the van and prepared to set off.

“Lets get you home and back into the main system hey,” she said to LOCA, when there was no reply she looked down at the panel where LOCA's main AI was stored when she was in the van.

It had been ripped out.

Part 2 - Battle of Brass

“Amanda, Neko,” started Bluedarky as the wreckage began to move, “RUN!”

Amanda and Black Cat Neko shot from their hiding places, Neko running along the ground on all fours and Amanda flying towards the exit, Bluedarky braced himself for the Nemesis automaton that would emerge from the wreck.

He wasn't prepared enough he realised, the automaton bolted towards the warehouse exit, Bluedarky saw that pieces of what Nemesis used as the copies outer layer had burnt off to reveal the intricate clockwork underneath. He could also see the stuck gear in the creations neck making the automaton constantly twitch it's head to the left.

The automaton lifted it's arm and pointed at Black Cat Neko, Bluedarky could see that the original programming to make them think it was the Maestro of Mayhem was still intact.

“Tr, tr, tr, tr, ai, ai, tor,” stuttered the automaton. Bluedarky sprinted towards the automaton, fist raised hoping to smash it into bits before it could fire off an attack. It caught his fist in a single hand.

Bluedarky gasped, his 8 ft frame towered over the Maestro Automaton's 5 ft 4 inches height but it caught his punch as effortlessly as the Back Alley Brawler had during his last training session, too late the Brawler's words repeated in his head, “Fools rush in where heroes fear to tread, assess the situation before you make the first move.”

The automaton threw him aside into a wall, reducing it to rubble before moving towards Black Cat Neko threateningly.

Neko backed off hissing and spitting at him, Amanda noticed the signs that Neko's magical energies were running low and she was changing into a more feline form to prolong her powers, unfortunately due to morphic resonance, this meant that her mind was slowly becoming more feline too, the irony was astute, she thought more human as a cat than she would in about six seconds.

Six seconds passed.

Neko instinctively leapt at the non-living thing.

Bluedarky crashed out of the pile of rubble, red warning signs over the HMDs told him he needed medical attention but he charged and tackled Neko to the ground, Amanda dived in the opposite direction as the Automaton fired an energy bolt at where Neko had been moments before.

“How can we fight it?” asked Amanda, he could hear the worry in her voice, she had never really come across something her powers didn't work on, even when she couldn't read minds she could attack them.

“TK it at the wall,” he yelled back whilst holding Neko down. She did it and it smashed against the wall. Whilst it was distracted Bluedarky threw Black Cat Neko towards the ceiling, she clung to a light fixture and climbed up onto it. She glared down at Bluedarky who shook his head and turned towards the Automaton climbing to it's feet.

“Primary target missing,” intoned the automaton, all pretence of it's human disguise gone, the crash had knocked more gears out of place preventing it from accessing the programming that allowed it to act human, “Attacking secondary target.” It rushed towards Bluedarky.

Several things seemed to happen at once, Bluedarky dived back, Neko dived from the ceiling and onto the Automaton's back digging her claws in to it and the ground, Amanda shot forwards and wrapped her arms around it clenching it's arms to it's sides and using her telekinesis to hold them in place, Bluedarky stepped forward again, clutched the Automaton's head in his hands and squeezed, the brass buckled beneath his hands before he pulled it apart at the seams, the intricate brass gears fell from the head and the body went rigid.

Amanda let go and Neko was forced to by finally changing back into her feline form where she leapt onto Amanda's shoulder. Bluedarky carefully laid the body down on the ground and was about to call it in when a whirring noise caught his attention.

He pulled apart the body, against everything he'd been taught he knew he had to find out what it was that was whirring.

It was a magnetic tape deck wired to a small speaker, he almost didn't want it to speak but held his breath when it did.

“If you're hearing this then I guess I underestimated you Bluedarky,” said the unmistakable voice of Lord Nemesis, “Don't act surprised, I know all about your obsession, your maps, notes, diagrams, how you claim to observe every villain group in the city, but focus on tying them to me, to my grand plan.

“My observations of you haven't been as strict, for obvious reasons, Hero Corps attempts to keep you out of my way, scared of the fact that I may begin observing you like you observe me, they probably try to pawn of excuses like that they need you to stay impartial, you can't involve yourself in my plots and expect to casually observe me.

“But I talk too much, as a gift you can keep the automaton you destroyed, perhaps Melissa can make something of it Stephan.”

“No real observation my butt,” exclaimed Amanda, “He already knows more than any other group in the city about us.”

Bluedarky didn't respond but lifted the ruined automaton and punched a hole through it's chest before letting it fall and punching what was left into scrap metal. He finally sat up hands bloody and bruised, he attempted to stand and collapsed, he pulled himself up against the wall and focused on the HMD in his sunglasses.

“Do I look as bad as this says I am?” he asked Amanda.

“Hopefully worse,” replied Amanda, “I'll call an EMS to pick you up.”

The pair sat by the wall in silence until the PPD arrived to cordon off the scene, they took statements off them both and arranged to meet with Black Cat Neko later.

Soon after the EMS arrived, a little unusual as the EMS was usually first, but they said it was a busy day and Amanda thought nothing of it as they loaded Bluedarky onto the van.

She was about to get onto the van when something niggled in her mind, she could feel fear, not for the people who were feeling it, but for others.

“Go on without me,” she said to Bluedarky, “I'll meet you at the hospital.”

She flew up above and over the building to see who it was, when she arrived she saw two men, in Paragon Ambulance Uniforms, without thinking to untie them she flew around the building to the door and grabbed the officer on guard.

“Has the EMS left?” she demanded.

“Yes,” replied the guard a little shocked, “Just this minute why?”

She turned to the other officers, “There's two EMS officers around the other side of the building, and get a callout on the EMS that just left the scene, Bluedarky's been kidnapped!”

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... Uhh, how many minutes per pound do you think human flesh needs in the oven?


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Depending on where you fall on the rare/well done scale, anywhere between 5-15 minutes as long as you remember to baste regularly and add a sprig of basil or two.

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Basil is far too overpowering for human flesh.

A bit of Thyme is so much better for preserving flavour, even the Egyptian's used it.

Madam Victim owns a mansion just outside of Crey's Folly, she however lives in the Bane of Crey base located beneath an apartment building in Kings Row.

Bluedarky, Temperature Sprite and Amanda share an apartment in the aforementioned building.

Tech Queen lives in an Arachnos Living Cell in Grandville.

Midnight Strike has an apartment in Mercy Island.

The Maestro of Mayhem has no real home, although Bluedarky says it's the Zig.

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because they make your arguments look ridiculous

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His arguments look ridiculous all on their own. They really don't need any help

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Really? Want a list of observations I made that have come true? It's really pretty big you know.

But thats rhetorical. I aint gonna pander to you. You have to be a lot higher on the pecking order to make me spend more than the time it takes me to write a post like this.
Dont insult me to someone else please.I'm on the same forms as you and I dont like it.

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Lionsbane, I've stayed out of this conversation so far but I have to say, that if I was in GRs shoes you'd be recieving a temporary posting ban at least for your attitude in this thread.

Hell, you'd be getting a warning for that post alone.

There is no pecking order here, simply two levels, NCSoft employees, and paying customers, anyone who believes that there is a pecking order in this forum beyond that shouldn't on the forum.

Simple as.

I've had it a few times, I believe it's caused by logging out within 5 minutes of logging in as the system has removed the old date but not replaced it so it uses 49710 as the value.

As others have said, ignore it and carry on.

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Take your pick, I don't mind criticism, I'm always looking to improve my work.

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Thanks. I like to ask rather than assume.

You're into run on sentences. Try to cut back, they're harder to read. The first paragraph is a sentence. The first sentence of the second paragraph could easily be two as well.

Get someone you like to proofread for you. They may well catch things you miss like: [ QUOTE ]
well defiantly not the latter

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Please note that I am lousy at taking my own advice, you are obviously at liberty to ignore it.

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Whoops .

Normally my little brother proofreads stuff for me,(He especially likes CoX stuff and bugs me to finish some unfinished projects), but with him on holiday I kinda ended up doing it myself.

The good news is that I am planning a full rewrite of this chapter at some point and I'm going to correct that part now, before I forget.

Cosidering the fact there's a picture of Heath Ledger as the Joker in there and the lack of an official announcement from GR I'd say it's unlikey and the author just wanted to pepper his artical with random comic related pictures.

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Question: constructive criticism or bland comment to the effect of "nice story"?

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Take your pick, I don't mind criticism, I'm always looking to improve my work.

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Just to point out, it is a nice story, if too short.

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Part One - The Maestro's Mech


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There's actually about 4 or 5 parts to it, maybe six if I feel the need for an epilogue.

Human Justice

Part One - The Maestro's Mech

Bluedarky ran, he liked running, it was a good backup plan, especially when his opponent had no exposed skin or stress points, even better when said opponent was a 12ft tall mech, and if said mech was controlled by someone who wanted to ensure that he was in agony before he died then it was possibly the best plan he had.

The Maestro of Mayhem came closer on the mech, unusual for him to use a mech, normally he stuck to magic, or science, or even twisted combinations of the two, an out and out mech actually meant that he was seeing him as a serious threat. He wasn't sure whether to be proud, [censored] off or just plain scared, well defiantly not the latter, the mech was only a minor problem, when Mel and LOCA finally located it's stress point, then it would be scrap, of course, that was providing that it had a large enough stress point for him to impact.

Warehouses, that was another thing, why was he always fighting mechs in warehouses, why never in caves, offices or even outside. He looked at the boxes piled on the large shelves.

“LOCA,” he said, “You online?”

“Here,” replied the AI.

“Have the warehouse owners got cover for a 817?”

“Stock used as projectiles against a robot over 10 foot tall, checking.”

Bluedarky heard Amanda chuckle over the radio.

“Still can't believe that's actually specified by insurance companies?” he asked, “How you holding up your end?”

“Whatever that panel is, it's blocking my powers,” she replied, “Can't even pick up his thoughts. Where's Marioko when we need her?”

“MAGI personal request,” replied Bluedarky, “Worth more than her license to refuse.”

“More than our butts as well?” replied Amanda.

“Hey,” replied a new voice, “It's not as though it's you two against that mech alone.”

“Yeah, lookout, here comes Black Cat Neko to save the day,” replied Amanda sarcastically, “Why do you even bring her Blue?”

“She can be useful,” replied Bluedarky, “How long before you revert Neko?”

“10 minutes give or take,” replied Neko, “Definitely 5 at most before it begins.”

Bluedarky tested the weight of the stock whilst waiting for LOCA's reply, he was waiting silently a few moments later when his earpiece buzzed.

“LOCA?” he asked under his breath.

“Online,” replied LOCA, “Mel says she'll be a few minutes with the results, but they have protection for an 817.”

Bluedarky smiled and gripped one of the larger crates, bent his knees and carefully heaved the crate above his head, the HMD in his sunglasses began showing warning signs about the strain he was putting on his muscles acting as a replacement for his inability to feel pain. The mech noticed him and turned towards him. Using all the strength he could muster he threw the crate at the mech and watched satisfied as it smashed into the mech crushing it between the wall and the crate. He smiled smugly as he watched the mech explode and began to move towards it to grab the Maestro from the wreckage as his earpiece buzzed.

“Stephan stop!” yelled Mel.

“What is it?” asked Bluedarky slightly annoyed.

“I couldn't find a stress point but I know who built the mech,” she replied.

“You couldn't identify it ten minutes ago,” replied Bluedarky, “What's changed?”

“I identified what it's made from,” came the reply. Bluedarky became aware of a ticking noise from the wreckage like a stuck gear and began to come to a realisation.

“What is it?” he replied, “What's it made from?”

“Brass,” replied Mel.

I hope that most if not all of FFMs list makes it in, I have a story arc I'd like to make and the ability to design the end boss is almost a necessity.

Don't get me wrong, I could do it without creating the unique bosses and renaming another enemy and promoting them to boss level.

I just don't want to.

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Just a thought - in theory descending to villainly should be easier than rising to heroics. Longbow won't welcome in a guy who saved a few hostages if he destroyed atlas park, but as a villain no one will care if you freed a few people, so long as you show you can do bad stuff. Villains only care if you wrong them, or their close friends.

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Yeah, I'd be happy for a system like that - but would it be fair in general?
Would CoV players, some of who say they're not treated the same as CoH players, really be very happy that they'd have to work much harder in the going rogue system than CoH players becoming Villains?

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May not be fair but it's realistic, play Fabel of KOTOR for a bit, it's a lot harder to remain good in those games than to fall to evil.

Being good is about making sacrifices, giving up the things we want in order to help others, being evil is about giving into those desires, thus by reasoning it is easier to become evil than to remain good.

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Really? So if you save a bunch of people who are being attacked by the Skulls and they then blow up downtown Paragon the following week? You did good? Or doesn't it matter, since you did "good" in the here & now?

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Don't bother, I've argued this with GG before, IIRC her reply goes along the lines of,

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You cannot be held responsible for the future actions of others.

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Happy Cake Day Spawnus.

Excuse me, I have to go and build a time machine to avoid waiting for all this.

When I first started being the shy type in RL I was nervous about teams, when Madam Victim hit lvl 5 and went to The Hollows I found myself being invited to team and thought, "what the hell?" and clicked accept.

What followed was quite possibly the best three hours I spent ingame before or since. I got invited back by the same person about 8 times before I stopped playing Madam Victim for a bit and it was nearly always the Frostfire mission helping newer players through it, and even though it was the same mission sets repeatedly I had fun.

When I made my first Defender (Empath/En), I was invited to a newbie team made up of lvl 1 & 2 players, this was about 9pm, the last of the team disbanded at 2am around lvl 7. Levelling was a little slow, but no one minded, we had fun, races from the hospital and a constant stream of newcomers keeping the team between 5-8 people even as people dropped out.

Of course I have had bad PUG experiences too, one is of a leader so bad he thought a tanker and a defender could take on a six man AV spawn. I promptly told him I had way to much debt already, quit the team, ignored him and logged off.

But I have to admit, in general PUG teams can be good, but like most things, you have to take the good with the bad.

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It's little more than a brute force "Haha! Your sisters dead!" taunt when boiled down.

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Actually it's a "Haha! Your wife's dead!" taunt.

Maiden Justice was Monica Cole nee Richter - Stefan Richters (aka Lord Recluse) sister who married Marcus Cole (aka Statesman).

All covered in the Web of Arachnos.


I think I got the name's right...

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You forgot to mention that she died, presumably of cancer (I can find references to some illness in the book but no clear answers, someone correct me if I'm wrong), age 76 approximately 2 days before the forming of the current Freedom Phalanx.

EDIT:Just to mention that this bit was covered in The Freedom Phalanx

Mentions for both books in one thread.