The City Scoop! ~ Front Page ~ June 13, 2008
By
Ex_Libris,
Posted on: 2008-06-13 14:02 in Announcements
Fan Fiction Spotlight
[u]Kid Eros in "One Light"[u] By Olantern Again, this is a comic. It's rather decent, too. The main character, Kid Eros, finds himself on an errand run for a friend. Unfortunately, the errand requires him to go to the Rogue Isles, and Eros is largely unprepared for what he finds there. This turns out to be a rather intriguing romp through the Etoile Isles. Olantern, through his character, Kid Eros, actually gets into the heart of what's driving a lot of the groups on the Red Side. From the fanatical dogma of the Luddites to how Westin Phipps presents himself to anybody who hasn't been properly introduced to him, we readers are introduced to the life we barely get to see as our rogues wreak havoc across Recluse's domain. Now, according to the author, there were some formatting issues when [u]One Light[u] was uploaded. While it didn't change much for the most part, it did alter the fonts on some of the words and caused them to get cut off within their word bubbles or boxes. Olantern has expressed a desire to work with someone who could offer advice on how to fix this. Fortunately, the story is good enough that most readers should be able to work past these little details as they stand. Congradulatios to FlyByKnight!On winning first prize in the Molotov Alva "Your Virtual Life" constent with a City of Heroes Machinima! The winning video: | And Nothing's OnThis summer, many people are gonna try to beat the heat, and while I like swimming or sleeping in front of an air conditioner, there's one place I know where we can keep cool: the movie theater. With multiple locations around Paragon City and the Rogue Isles, most go to relax, escape the heat or watch mindless garbage. However, I appreciate a good film, and I'm gonna give you a quick rundown of the summer movies that will be the most popular. Lazy Sunday: A laid-back Hellion and a fast-talking Skull spend a Sunday night sitting on a stoop in Atlas Park, watching life go by and eventually owe money to a Troll drug dealer. It's great for the buddy action and the conversations and the depiction of thug life in Atlas. You'll laugh your way home and love every minute of it. Dethfest 10,000: A completely CGI movie that deals with one concept: what if every hero, villain and enemy got together in one bloody battle royal? The tag line: "No mediporters, no alignments, no rules. 33% Blood, 33% Sweat, 33% Tears, 10,000% death and chaos." Rated X for extreme violence and content. Only go if you want to scare your children into a coma or kill 75% of your braincells. Screw-Loose: A team of Brutes attempt stupid and painful stunts to prove their manliness and toughness throughout the Rogue Isles. Stunts include: Shotgun to the Crotch, The Nitro Chug, Tazer to the Tongue, The Caltrop Chew and the infamous Free Fall (which involves a rocket, a hacksaw and a cooler full of blood). Not as violent as DF 10K, but ten times more uncomfortable and disturbing. How did this show become so freaking popular to make a movie? MERCS 2: Three wiseacre Council soldiers gripe about their jobs and discuss obscure pop culture references. Absolutely nothing gets done, no guns are fired and all they do is talk. More entertaining than it sounds, and more profane than Lazy Sunday. Rated J67 for extreme swearing, but one of the funniest movies you'll see. Hobo With a Shotgun: An exploitational movie from the '70s that was recently re-released. Before the Lost existed, watch as this homeless hero wages war on the crime of Kings Row with a 12 gauge! Thrill as he rescues captured women and teaches them about love! Chill as he brutally dispatches the Family in some of the most disgusting ways possible! I warned you, and I'm surprised this movie was even made. Tac-Ops Tango: When a Blade of Artemis and a Malta Gunslinger are forced to work together to survive, they have to deal with the authorities, their missions and their growing feelings for each other. Go for the bloody action and violence, leave because of the romance subplot. They could just cut out the dang action and re-market it as a chick-flick, and it will still sell as well. "Does this utility belt make my hips look big?" The Ascendant Action Movie Musical of Comedy, Love and Violence: Honestly, I'm surprised this was produced. With a mouthful title, shoddy acting, free 3D-glasses and a horribly incoherent plot (A man with a laser-sword who rides a talking dinosaur and kills Nazis gives the freaking news from 1982 in song and dance?), this movie makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. I mean it. I saw this video of a woman licking a leaking soda bottle for 15 minutes, and that made it into a museum. But watch it. It's so horrible, so crud-tastic in every which way, it's the funniest movie you'll see. Ever. Directed and produced by Saul Rubenstein. Two things! First, thanks to Ascendant for giving me the permission to reference his hilarious work. Second, three of these "films" are actual films that I'm just making fun of. Tell me which three and what they really are, and you just might get an honorable mention. Do it for the prestige, and keep sending me hate-mail! |
| ||||
Treats for the Kids | ||||
Food Banana MuffinsINGREDIENTS: 2 eggs 1 3/4 c. sifted flour 2 tsp. baking powder 1/4 tsp. baking soda 1/2 tsp. salt 1/3 c. vegetable oil 2/3 c. sugar 1 c. mashed bananas (about 3 bananas) DIRECTIONS: Preheat the oven to 350 F (180C). Beat eggs well in a small bowl. In a medium-size bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In a large bowl, add the vegetable oil. Add the sugar a little bit at a time, and continue beating until the mixture is fluffy. Add the eggs to the mixture in the large bowl and beat well. Add some of the flour mixture to the large bowl and beat well. Then add some of the mashed bananas and beat some more. Continue adding flour, then bananas, then flour, then bananas, until everything is mixed in. Spray the baking pan with nonstick spray. Pour mixture into the baking pan and bake for 70 minutes. Flip your banana bread out of the pan, let it cool for a bit, and cut it into slices to eat and share! Serves: 16 Serving size: 1 slice Suggestion: If you're nutty for nuts, add chopped walnuts before pouring the batter into the baking pan. |
Peaches ParadiseINGREDIENTS: 1/2 c. milk 1 c. sliced peaches (fresh or canned) 1 tsp. sugar DIRECTIONS: Pour the milk into an ice cube tray and freeze until solid. Pop the "milk cubes" out of the tray and put them into the blender. Then put the peaches and sugar into the blender. Put the lid on the blender and blend on high speed until everything is all mixed together and very smooth. Pour your Perfect Peachy Freeze into serving dishes and serve right away. Serves: 3 |
Strawberry Delight |
Fun Fruit Kabobs |
See you next week for some Chinese food!
~Mistress
Noire~
| |
Couples that play TogetherBarron and The Barroness | So how do you two normaly play together? Barroness: Almost routinely. Barron: With leather, whips and chains... OH! The game. Daily, and on the same team. What type of characters do you enjoy playing the most? Barron: I'm usually a melee man, but I'm in love with this controller. I have a level 50 invuln/axe tank, a level 50 EM/WP brute and I am working on my new scrapper. Barroness: I have found I don't really play melee toons well. Just not my strong suit, I guess. I am more the defender/blaster/controller type. What side of the game do you enjoy the most? Barron: Well, I like the blue side for the camaraderie and the scrappers. I like the red side for the brutes and the relentless slaughter of sheep in RV. Red side does lag a bit, though. Barroness: It was hero side for me for the longest time, but then I found the plant/thorn Dominator, and now I can't choose to be honest. They both have perks and downsides to them as with anything. The grass is greener situation. So do you think that playing this game together has been something that has helped or hurt your relationship and how so? Barron: Oi... Helped more than hurt I'd say. When we are bored and broke, we can just waste away the time here. Barron: Plus, if need be, we can go PvP and take out frustration. Barroness: It's done both. When we had only one PC we fought all the time over who should be playing. Now that we have two PCs we team a lot, and it seems to help us find common interests. Plus we run a SG and VG together now. Barron: I've never met a girl who liked video games. I'm the lucky one. Barroness: *blushes* So who is the better player? Barroness: Depends on the AT... Barron: ME! Uh... HER! Yeah, she's right. Barroness: I can't PvP worth a damn, but then he isn't the best healer I've seen either, so... Barron: ...I try. Finally what do you think the future holds for you two? Barron: Ugh... Costume contests? Barroness: We are going to be GODS!!! Well, at least have a LONG happy life anyway. Barron: As far as this game goes, we will probably be here till the virtual simulator comes out for CoX. As for real life, we are gonna go be a lubby dubby couple who spoils their grandkids. Barroness: We have our differences like any couple, but we get past them and find common ground, it's what keeps us together in the end. Well I do wish you two the best! Barron: Thank you. Barroness: Blessed Be, "Merry Meet, Merry Part, and Merry Meet again!"
|
|
 |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Edition 52 of "The City Scoop a publication for Supers by Supers!
The Scoop is missing a few of its regular features this week, hopefully they will be returned next week. If you love what the Scoopsters are doing then give them a shout of support! If you wish to get involved contact Snow_Globe or Pants_Stealer.
If you have concerns regarding the content of the Scoop please direct your comments via PM to Lighthouse or Ex Libris.
If you would like to do a feature article, have an event covered, or join "The City Scoop" team please PMSnow_Globe or Pants_Stealer
If you or someone you know should be considered for Behind the Mask Teldon
If you need some Advice contact Lady_Athyna or would like to Ask The X contact LiquidX
Finally if you have a Classified Ad you would like included please contact: LadyK
Discussion on the latest edition of "The City Scoop" is located here.
The City Scoop
The Frad SuperTeam
By TopDoc
Synchrotron by Gill
Bates
Remember what a SuperTeam is? It's a themed team with specific ATs, power sets,
and individual powers chosen to create a very powerful team. SuperTeams
generally run at high difficulty simply because they can, and level very fast.
Today I'm going to talk about the Frads.
The Frads (Fire/Rad Controllers) are one of the strongest SuperTeams out there.
The team composition is simple - everyone is a Fire/Rad Controller. That makes
it really easy to form teams, since you don't need to worry about balancing
different ATs or builds. The builds are also pretty simple, with everyone
taking a lot of the same powers at the same levels. There's a little room for
variation (like travel power), but not much.
All Frads start with Char (single target Hold) and Radiant Aura (PBAoE Heal) at
level 1, then Fire Cages (AoE Immob) at level 2. Stacked Fire Cages from a full
team of Frads will immobilize any spawn, and enable the Controller inherent
power of Containment which doubles all their damage. Bosses and Lieutenants get
held with Char, and the team heals as needed.
At level 4 everyone gets Accelerate Metabolism (AM). Stacked in a team of 8,
that gives everyone +160% damage (which is MAJOR at level 4), enough Recovery
that they'll never run out of Endurance, capped status resistance (so status
effects only last half as long), near Super Speed, and +240% Recharge
Reduction. It only takes a little slotting to make AM permanent. The team can
spam Char and Fire Cages and defeat mobs fast. At level 8 everyone gets Hot
Feet, a large PBAoE damage aura. With Containment and the major damage bonus
from AM, minions die within seconds. This is where the steamrolling really
begins.
At level 12 and 18 the Frads can take Flashfire (AoE Stun) and/or Cinders (PBAoE
Hold) and things get safer. Everyone should also pick up Leadership: Maneuvers
at level 6 or 10 for more safety, as it'll eventually provide around 32%
Defense in a team of 8 when well slotted. Leadership: Assault and Tactics are
also required, but they can wait a bit. Stacked Assault adds another +120%
Damage, while the ToHit buff from stacked Tactics means you can hit just about
anything.
All of the buffs means you hardly need to slot your powers. Thanks to AM and
Leadership you're almost damage capped, you hit anything, you never run out of
END, and powers recharge REALLY fast. You don't really need to slot for Damage,
Accuracy, End, or Recharge. But you should on general principle, as you won't
always play in a full team of 8.
Everyone takes Choking Cloud at level 28, and there's little need for Flashfire
or Cinders. Choking Cloud is a PBAoE Hold toggle, and 8 of them stacked will
hold an entire spawn within seconds. The Fire Imps appear at level 32, and
damage takes a major leap. Remember, these Imps benefit from 8 stacked AM and
all the Leadership buffs. They hit anything 95% of the time, they hit HARD, and
they hit often.
The Ray by Juggertha
The Rad debuffs are normally very useful powers, but this SuperTeam rolls so
fast that there's barely time to use them. A couple people should take
Radiation Infection (RI) at low levels to open up combat, but it usually gets
replaced by Flashfire, then Cinders, then Choking Cloud. Everyone will want
Enervating Field (EF) and Lingering Radiation (LR) for Arch-Villain fights, but
that's about it.
For Epic Power Pools, Psi Mastery is nice for the status protection of
Indomitable Will. It covers the one major weakness in a pure Frad team. Before
Indomitable Will, the team can easily suffer a cascade failure. An AoE Hold or
Stun can knock down Maneuvers on several chars, making further AoE status
attacks more likely to hit. Since you tend to fight very high level mobs, and
Trollers are a bit squishy, Total Party Wipes do happen.
This SuperTeam works well with Group Fly and Team Teleport. Group Fly with AM to
help fly speed gives everyone including the Imps a fast versatile movement
power, while Tactics easily counters the ToHit debuff. Team Teleport lets you
bring the entire team, Imps and all, right into the middle of a spawn. Mobs are
immediately hit with stacked Choking Cloud and Hot Feet, while the entire team
remains close together for Leadership buffs and healing.
If you're only running a single team, one stronger variation is to replace one
Fire/Rad with a Fire/FF Controller. The bubbles will let the team hit the
effective Defense cap (45%) fairly early on, making it much safer. The status
protection of Dispersion Bubble will usually prevent toggles from dropping,
though the team is still vulnerable to Sleep. I started a team like this at
level 1 during the 3rd Double XP Weekend (I was the Fire/FF), and half of us
hit 50 by the end of it. A similar team (again with my Fire/FF) won the
Timeforce II event, a Statesman TF race.
If you want to see a different SuperTeam in action, I'm currently running a VEAT
(Villain Epic AT) oriented one on Justice. All VEATs are welcome, as well as
*/Rad and */Kin Corruptors. Just join the "Buffer Overrun" global chat channel
and ask for more info, or check out
this thread.
Next time: The Mostly Scrapper SuperTeam
Vol. 2, Issue 3
June 12th, 2008
This Issue:
Fan Fiction Spotlight
And Nothing's On
Food & Recipes
Behind the Mask
Comic
Last Issue's Crossword
Solution
Upcoming Events
June 14th:
Triumph:
Paragon
Regulators Fourth Anniversary
Virtue:
Fight
Night 114: Biff, Pow, Wham
Victory:
Statesman TF
June 15th:
Justice:
125
Million Influence 1v1 PVP Event
Pinnacle:
Kickball
Pinnacle
Virtue:
Recluse SF
June 16th:
Victory:
Badge Tour
June 17th:
Victory:
Synapse
TF
June 19th:
Liberty:
PvPEC
Presents Around the World
Triumph:
PvPEC
present Around the World
Victory:
Ice
Mistral SF
June 21st:
Liberty:
Capture
the Lost Soul!
Virtue:
PvPEC
present Around the World
The Legion by
ScorpiusRisk