vulpish_one

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** This deadline is not an indication that Issue 15 Beta will launch on Monday, we are only informing the community ahead of time while we prepare for the actual Issue 15 Beta Launch.

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This part may need to stand out more. Does UBB support <blink>?

The sad thing is, I'm only half kidding.

I'm getting problems similar to the OP: other PCs and NPCs move all around me, but the game stops taking input for Power activations and movement, leaving critters free to pound me into the ground. Chat commands, such as /loc, work normally in this period.

/netgraph 1 switches from trimmed green grass to a yellow wall in those periods. Sometimes, I get green grass with intermittent yellow spikes, too, but those don't seem to correspond with any perceptible lag.

Feedback is welcome. Feel free to shoot me a PM.

Arc Name: Between Light and Shadows
Arc ID: 8772
Morality: Heroic
Faction: Freakshow, Circle Council, Carnies, Custom
Creator Global/Forum Name: Look to the left.
Difficulty Level: Moderate to High
Synopsis: It isn't unusual for the Midnight Squad's more adventurous members to go incommunicado for long periods. One's back from a hiatus, though, and he's about to put a plan into motion. The question is...what will happen if he succeeds, and is it better than the alternative?
Estimated Time to Play: One to 2 hours

Edit: Typo.

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Just a reminder, guys, the point of this thread is to post feedback on someone's story and then ask for some on your own, rather than just asking for feedback. This isn't supposed to just be an "OMG DO MY MISHONZ" thread, because then people just post their arcs and few of them actually get run...

That way, it is much more likely that your arc will be reviewed because if someone wants to ask for feedback they have to do someone's arc first!

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Yeah...and I feel badly for asking for something without giving anything in return. But work's eating up a lot of my personal time this week. I'll get some feedback out there soon, promise. And in the meantime, I've pretty much given up on getting much feedback myself.

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I'm courting feedback on my creation, as well.

Arc Name: Between Light and Shadows
Arc ID: 7346
Length: Very Long (5 missions)
Enemies: Various, including some custom enemies
Difficulty: Intended to be medium to hard
Alignment: Heroic
Author: @Vulpy

One of Paragon's heroes has been quieter than usual lately. Now that he's back in touch with the Midnight Squad, what sort of adventures might he turn up? Contains 1 Elite Boss. I'm interested in all sorts of feedback, but I'm especially interested in finding out why it might not be a five-star Arc (if you don't think it is).

Thanks in advance; feel free to post feedback here, or in message board PMs. If you'd like my advice with any Arcs of your own, please contact me via PM or global tell.

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And why all the hate for them writing it into the lore? It wouldn't make sense for a brand new set of buildings with this crazy technology to magically appear without anyone taking notice. I approve of this article.

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Don't misunderstand me: I fully accept that, if the Mission Architect has any in-game representation at all, there should be some form of rationale. I mean, it's not like Merit vending machines clad in "technicolor nightmare" plum-and-goldenrod spandex just arbitrarily appear in this game with no warning or explanation.

I just think the execution of this particular idea could have been handled better. Just remember: I only roast the ones I love.

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I love these in character documents about new game features. I think it's wonderful and you should do as many of them as possible.

This one in particular is really well written and fun. Thanks!

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Like many others, I respectfully disagree. Except to explain the potential retexturing of city buildings or the potential introduction of new NPCs, the Mission Architect requires no in-game rationale. Moreover, the mechanics for multi-building will vary from Origin to Origin, and further from character to character. It needed even less of a global explanation. (Then, there was Positron referring to an Inspiration by name. Really?)

If we must rationalize it, a competing Arachnos/Longbow arms race to capitalize on the latest quasi- and potentially-real emergent scenarios (in our universe/timeline or another) would probably be easier to take "seriously." Positron's addendum to this "report" comes off as an egregious hand wave. (Dr. Keyes, the greatest engineer on the planet, can't fix a bloody dam without at least three metahumans. I'm sure as shootin' not trusting his opinion on Dr. Aeon's makebelieveotron.)

For what it's worth, though, the dottering mad scientist schtick was notably well-executed, complete with rambling about his favorite TV shows. And maybe this sort of glib packaging will resonate with most of the community; after all, the internet's a categorically breezy place. If I'm really in the minority about the tone of this piece, then I'll stop being ants at a picnic.

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<QR>

So, I really have this much time on my hands. I went searching for the Architect building's new location in Atlas.

Here's me, with the view from the article

And the block that I believe will be demolished, right below me.

Probably good, it's an eyesore anyway right next to City Hall. It's conveniently across the street from Wentworth's as well.

Edit: Take that back, the view looks more accurate from here:

The Aeon view

Zoomed out

Down

Up

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I know where I expected a semi-secret Aeon Corp base to be.

Then again, where it actually may be doesn't seem to be any better.

Very well. Vanguard has my support.

Name: Nagual
Global Contact: @Vulpy
Level of Classification: 50
Origin: Mutation
Super Group: Otontin
Rank: Founder

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And puberty will do things like that. In addition to higher dosage, if you haven't already, consider also more behavioral therapy wherein there is practice in relaxation and focus techniques. If behavioral therapy can do the trick by itself, then it's better than using more meds.

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I whole heartedly agree with this statement.



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Me, too. "That which prescribes best prescribes least." And I sell pills for a living, so I feel compelled to chime in.

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My sentiment? Again, quoting Yahtzee, "a resounding 'ehhhhh...'"

I admit. I usually play "in character". I might sound like one or two of my characters, tops. Still could be useful for across-the-table banter, but I don't do too much of that. (I just go with the flow.)

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This makes me wonder - can we invoke the same /info for NPCs and their powers, or for effects applied on us?

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Purely brainstorming here.

Wouldn't it be neat if clicking on an NPCs name in the NPC channel opened up an appropriate Info window, if such existed? That is,

[NPC] Blood Brother Chopper: Let's get this party started.

Would display as

[NPC] [Blood Brother Chopper]: Let's get this party started.

Of course, for NPCs that don't have info windows, nothing should happen.

Sound cool to everyone else, too? Or am I the only one that plays with the NPC channel on?

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I might be Keyser Soze.

Pearl Charm, however, I am not.

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The person who did the voiceover sounded a little like Patrick Stewart... I know it wasn't him, but it did sound similar. I like that, especially since Stewart is a Shakespearian actor, it lends an air of class to the video. The person could probably do a Stewart impression given time.

Ashes to ashes,
Pheonyx

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You know, while I was watching, I was thinking it sounded like a VO guy trying to do an impression of Tony "Shere Khan/Megabyte/The Elder God" Jay. And doing a pretty darn good job at it, I might add.

Random point of trivia: Tony Jay did the VO work for William the Just in the original Blood Omen video game. Of course, the player may remember William the Just by his other name: Nemesis.

--Vulpy

Well, well. Seems we're playing fast and loose with the fabric of time and space again.

I'm sure someone already pointed this out (looks like I'm late to the party), but "Cisne" seems to be the Spanish word for Swan. Go fig.

What intrigues me the most? The symbol in that wallpaper is a snake eating its own tail, a symbol of eternity...or self-destruction...in the form of an infinity symbol.

Up until now, CoX was lacking one thing that most comics had: a reset button that worked by gumming up the mechanics of the multiverse. (Check!)

Vulpy

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Ahem.

Squee.

That is all.

Vulpy

As a member of the "Brute Suicide Squad" (no EoE for me!), I'll echo one sentiment: the melee rush can be effective, but it will require players with the proverbial patience of Job. I don't know about you, but I don't plan on some two dozen near-strangers being incredibly patient when they're forced to work together, and this plan wagers a lot of potential player rezzing time on an uncertain outcome.

I see a way to ameliorate this, however. Brutes, as Human_Being alluded to, don't start out doing Scrapper damage. Stalkers, however, can cover the "front end" rather nicely, dealing damage up front while Fury is still building. If they can sneak in "clean"--without getting hit--all the better. (So it's not likely, but, hey, every little bit helps.)

In the end, though, each and every member of a zerg-rush team like that has to accept death. And, as I alluded to, I don't think most people are going to be okay with that, especially if you can't promise you're taking the Mito with you. Debuffs could potentially make or break this; if I ran the zoo, I'd be eager to experiment there.

For the record, Tlatoani is the Nahuatl word for "speaker" or "ruler".

Vulpy

(Edited for formatting.)

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<.< maybe Grendal wasn't an AV then... maybe Atta beating him pushed him to improve...

o_o though... you hear the trolls say "For Grendal!" all the time.. they don't seem to care much for atta.. funny thing is, I can picture Grendal as a Troll in an italian suit.. after his defeat, he went looking for a different way to improve and....

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Ask Daredevil or Batman how scary a thinking Brute can be. (Kingpin and/or Bane, anyone?) Personally, I think it'd be neat to see dynamic gang wars in the city--one day, the Outcasts control Cherry Hills; the next, it goes back to the Trolls. Having a schism in Troll leadership, where Atta gets slapped back down to his place, would be neat too.

Personally, when I fought Atta in-game, I was disappointed with how small he was, though...

Vulpy

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Sheesh! So only Cuppa likes being a melee so far?

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Well...I have to admit, I don't see many of the others throwing themselves into the meat grinders the same way she does. Now, to find that Fire/Fire/Energy Tank...

Vulpy

Hmm...

Five CoV Archetype walkthroughs, and all five of them make some allusion to mysticism, old gods, or the like. (Ixtab, Sakhmet, and Ghede take their names from polytheistic religions; I seem to recall having seen a description of the classical Oborotaen as Russia's version of the British Black Dog. Even the psychic-type Stalker is given a Magic Origin.) Noteworthy in absence is any villain with a Technology Origin. Five AT's, five Origins; I liked the fact that all the hero walkthroughs had one of all. Instead, we have two Magicians in our villains and no cyborgs. (Or nannite-wielders. Or what have you.)

The longer I watch, the more it looks like the creative team is biased toward Magic types. Odd, since the magician was usually the last person any Supergroup wanted to listen to. (The Justice League may have had Dr. Fate on the speed dial, but they'd much rather have Batman solve their problems. Then again, the Freedom Phalanx doesn't seem to ask Numina for help that often, either...)

City of Archmages, anyone?

I miss super-science comics; Hell, if a comic-book mutation can give you the ability to control the weather, there's no need to pigeonhole oneself.

Vulpy

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Sister Psyche:
“C’mon boys, give me a hand with these bad guys.”
“Time for you monkeys to head back to the Zoo.”
“How many of you losers are working for Ghost Bimbo?”
“I can’t seem to find any minds to read around here.”
“The weaker the will, the easier it is to control.”
“Don’t hate because I’m beautiful, hate me because I’m kicking your butt!”
“The teleport to the hospital is ready for departure, I’m Sister Psyche and I’ll be your cruise director.”
“After reading your mind I realized that actually is the best you can do.”


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Uh... You know, in her Task Force, she sounds more like the generic quasi-omnipotent seer than the generic Irish redhead... I always thought Manticore was supposed to be the wittiest. (Didn't Psyche even say as much in the comic? Or was that Aurora...?)

May be time to revisit her Task Force text.

Vulpy

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The character was chosen because we liked the background *and* the costume. I had the idea to tie him in to the Blood after he was chosen.

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Well...judging is always subjective, but...

Anyone familiar with Jack "Statesman" Emmert's work knows that he seriously likes Egyptian mythology. In Children o' the Atom, a book he co-wrote, an Egyptian-flavored character class was added to a post-apopalyptic, Western tabletop RPG. One of the "demo" characters for CoH drew from Egyptian mythos, as well. It even seems CoH is getting an Egyptian zone (in or near Rhode Island, no less).

...I just wish I knew beforehand that not having an Egyptian character would negatively impact my chances at winning this contest...

What might be helpful now is some insight into the judging system. For instance, were entrants supposed to submit a picture? My memory may be flawed, but I don't recall that being mentioned. Who were the judges? Were they picking something they could use with canon for canon's sake?

Crying sour grapes,
Vulpy

(Edited to clarify expectations.)

Thanks again, Positron, for taking the time to clarify this. It speaks well of Cryptic that the programmers can take time out of their busy day to answer these sorts of questions.

Vulpy

Man...

I do not envy you right now. That's a whole lotta readin'...

Vulpy

Like oh-so-many Testers, I've created a Sonic Blaster. My initial response--as soon as Outbreak--was that the powerset was too powerful. I found myself using Shriek on Contaminated and reducing their hit points by 3/4ths in one shot...far surpassing my Assault Rifle and Electric Blaster damage at low levels. (And is damage done over 1 second really "Done over Time", as the power description states?)

It gets better. The damage Reistance debuff means that long fights may actually turn to favor the Blaster. My Sonic build was based on my Electric build, which featured Energy Manipulation to really amp up the Endurance Drain. So, my Sonic build inherited that. It only took me a short length of time to do the math...

Sonic Blast + Build Up + Power Boost + Perma-Hasten + Defiance + (at high levels) Vanguard Medallion = ...Nemesis, Schmesis. Invulnerability builds crumple beneath me (not that this is saying as much as it used to). What is the lower cap on Resistance Debuff? If I can lower an enemy's innate Resistance to 50% of base, I'm effectively doing twice as much damage. Factor that into the maximum of 500% (with Defiance or Kinetic Defender buffs), and I'm doing 10 times what I would normally do.

...I'm not really a fan of powergaming.