The City Scoop! ~Front Page~ August 8, 2008
By
Ex_Libris,
Posted on: 2008-08-08 17:02 in Announcements
Anarchy in the USAYes, the Etoile Isles and Paragon City corner the market on evil villains in the east corner of North America. But you know what? There's a great big world out there, ripe for the plucking and big enough for you to crush in your hand. So I'm urging you all to think outside of the Zig, and to venture out into America to spread your evil. As a bonus, I'd like to give out some pointers for all of you aspiring conquerors. New York City is a perfect city for young ne'er-do-wells to raise some righteous hell. Since it's a big city with lots of cops, you'll get your Outlaw badge in no time. Massachusetts: Come for the Lovecraftian horrors from the beyond, leave when you get your butt handed to you at Fenway. New Jersey: Stranger than Massachusetts. But honestly, a great place to relax on the beach while you contaminate the crops. A quick overview of some North-East states: Pennsylvania: Whoo! History and cheesesteaks! Vermont: Whoo! Socialism and ice cream! Connecticut: Whoo! Rich people to mug! New Hampshire: Whoo! Canadian border? Maine: Whoo! Fish HOLY CRUD STEPHEN KING'S WORST NIGHTMARE. Florida: The entertainment empire has one heckuva chokehold on America's stump, and incredibly lucrative for a young performer/scheming mastermind. Bleed 'em dry! The Midwest: A great area to control! They've got corn, potatoes... uh... hmm... the government... Canadian border... hmm... wide open spaces with jack-nothing... ah! Easy to take over! Nevada: Social services or gambling: Which do you want to control? Wisconsin: All the liquor and cheese anyone would ever want, and some of the toughest fans this side on Yankee stadium and Fenway. You've never fought until you've run the Pain Triad: Green Bay, Red Sox and Yankees. Unlocks a special accolade if you live! Wyoming: Umm... government secrets. That's basically it. Seriously. It's the government's sandbox. Also looks like Colorado. Arizona: Pull one of the biggest acts of destruction ever by blowing up the dam. And then get arrested. All in all, it's hot but a nice place to visit. Idaho: A myth perpetrated by the American government. THERE'S NOTHING THERE. Have you ever met anyone from Idaho? I thought not! And so that's a couple of pointers for all of you aspiring villains. So get cracking! And if you believe my tips, I've got a farm in Idaho for sale super cheap.
| Writers BlockHey there Scoop fans and writers alike! Here at the City Scoop we try to bring the community together and make sure that this paper by supers for supers gives as much insight as it does aide to its readers. In the grand spirit of helping the community and connecting people, I would like to present this new column: Writers Block. No, not the horrible disease that plagues most writers when they cant continue to write, but a block or two for writers on how to go ABOUT writing, with advice from featured fan-fiction writers. I know youre asking, But HM, what makes YOU so qualified to do this? How can YOU give US advice? With that question I would like to give this response: Im NOT qualified. No one truly is unless they have a degree in advice giving. Im here to provide some insight from other writers, as well as, some insight I have to offer as a fellow reader and non-featured writer. So with that in mind, lets get started! I recently talked to Blue Battler, the July 25th featured writer in the Fan Fiction Spotlight, about his magnificent piece, Survivors. If you havent checked it out or, havent read Mr. Greys review on it, you really should. It exemplifies the greatest aspects of fan-fiction dealing with canon characters of City of Heroes. The characters seem very human and believable, which is a hard feat to achieve with fan- fiction of characters you didnt create yourself. This isnt the first piece Blue Battler has written concerning characters not of his creation. His other more notable piece is The Conscious of a King, which dealt with the Clockwork King. While Blue Battler and I chatted on writing, I congratulated him on achieving his goal of making Statesman a more likable character than most make him out to be. I asked how he did this, as well as how he provided a different version of Sister Psyche that many have not presented before and he replied, I think that if youre writing about someone you need to put yourself in his shoes, so to speak. You have to think about what makes them tick before you can write them. For those of you starting to have an interest in writing fan-fiction and feel you dont know HOW to go about this, think Christian Bale, or Daniel Day Louis. Thats right folks, METHOD ACTING for your characters. Be the characters; try to imagine what your character will feel or how they would feel it. This also brings to mind a great standby for writers as well - researching your characters. For Blue Battler, this was somewhat easy having established canon about his characters. This was provided to him by the writers for the game itself. Blue Battler commented on the well known lore of City of Heroes, saying, I like the back-story of the game, and thats what has appealed to me as a writer. Again we see another old tradition of writers the world over: Taking ideas from other writing. No, I dont mean you should literally TAKE someones idea, but look at their work and see what you like about it. Say, for instance, that you like the situation in Blue Battlers Survivors. You would look at it, read it a couple of times, and pick out what you like. Then, find a way to make the aspects you like about HIS story reflect YOUR style. For example, if you want two characters to talk about how one of them has changed due to some great tragedy in their life, go ahead! Try making the setting match the mood as well. Blue Battler used a familiar setting for Statesman to talk about an intimate subject, which gave the story a deeper and more emotional feel. If your character has a case of the cold shoulder, try having them in a more unfriendly place so that the two talking are uncomfortable, or try placing one of the characters out of their element, giving their conversation a shaky foundation to start on. That about wraps up our first article. We learned about Blue Battler, who has an English degree from Ball State University, and two wonderful pieces of work. You dont have to be an English Major to have wonderful fan-fiction, although it would give you an advantage, wouldnt it? You can read pretty much anything to get good ideas and you can work hard to produce wonderful fiction. Every writer started out somewhere, so dont worry if your first piece doesnt come out the way you envisioned, or if nobody comments on it. Take your time to perfect your craft and youll have it down. Run it through spell check, get your grammar down, check your characters, and ask others to help you proofread it if you want to. Blue Battler imparted one crucial piece of advice to aspiring fan-fiction writers, Id say keep on writing, and I agree. |
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TPvPL Season 2The Test Server PvP League has resumed in its second season. Thanks to hard work from Old Schoolfs JimmayDean, a draft was held after Independence Day, featuring over 100 PvPers, green and veteran to the Test scene. To ensure variety, Jimmay had each player list five Super Heavyweight heroes or villains that both captains and participants could select from for the matches. The League will last well into September and the mix of veterans and newer Test players should make this a great change from the normal ladders. Nine teams emerged from the draft, led by test stalwarts such as Ajax, Chizakice, .Prodigy and Healer Hank. The team makeups are balanced despite the large amount of players involved (over 130 at last count, when Jimmay closed the sign-ups). Team names are colorful as always, from Team Emo to Team Purple Panda Powergloves, Team King Kong Klan through Team AFK and Hanks Huggers. Since the captains are Test veterans, everyone who signed up will have a chance to play and benefit from the veteran savvy of their teammates. With the League spread over a two-month period, players will be able to make matches some nights while tending to their off-screen life on others. Each team has enough members that fillers were a non-starter this year, as per Jimmay. The matches started July 17th, 2008 and will endure until September 4th, 2008. Make sure you drop by the Training Room in Pocket D on Thursday evenings after 9:00 p.m. Eastern to see some truly off-the wall Arena matches. The winners will receive forum titles, courtesy of our beloved Community group of Lighthouse, Niviene and Ex_Libris. Unlike the usual line-up of Empathy Controllers, Blasters and Defenders, this league should feature a variety of archetypes, each trying to make their mark in a 10-minute slugfest at the Super Heavyweight level (47-50). The last league featured several tankers who kept Taunt on support while their Blaster friends took shots at other opponents. Players who might not have IOs or min-maxed builds will find their teammates helpful in both regards, with many Test vets having bases stocked with Purples and IOs of various flavors. With the two Test ladders in an inordinate amount of flux of late, the TPvPL may be just what many need to recharge their batteries, have a few laughs and find their love for PvP once again. All the best to the other participants, Team Emo and myself will do our best to keep things active out there! For more information about the TPvPL, please visit the Arena section of our forums and browse the various stickied threads concerning the league.
| Fan Fiction SpotlightAnomalous AAR by DeviousMe A staccato of thunder tore through the dark, spearheading a shower of sparks as ten shaped charges detonated in simultaneity down to the millisecond, blasting the heavy frame of the reinforced door clear off its hinges with calamitous cacophony. With a crash that nearly rivaled the noise of the demolition, the thick slab of metal made forceful contact with the concrete floor, sending several cracks to spider into the heavy-duty material as it threw a mass of fine dust into the air. The bright-white cones of flashlights fingered their way into the room, their light dancing about in the haze as brilliant cascades of illumination. With immaculate precision, they wandered into the darkness, chasing the shadows from banks of mothballed monitors and long rows of dusty databases, sweeping light where there had been none for quite some time, and carefully inspecting each and every shelf, keyboard, phone, and rolling chair for anything even remotely threatening. The seconds ticked by. Cause now followed effect as the flashlight of a cone crept into the gloom at shoulder height, riding atop the finely crafted muzzle of a decidedly high-tech assault rifle. Barrel followed muzzle, trigger followed barrel, and so did the fingers of the weapon's wielder, trained hands in fingerless gloves holding the rifle steady as a rock. It's called an "After Action Report" when someone in a military organization explains what happened in an operation or just after a combat situation to their superiors. Here, the Lady Grey is explaining to the U.N. what exactly happened when she sent a crew of Vanguard soldiers and metahumans into Rikti Earth. This is something like a "What If?" story. It started as a forum roleplaying game where the mission was to stop Nemesis from uploading his mind across the Rikti Psychic Network (or whatever it is they've got) and, as players eventually fell away, the "game master" of the session decided to write it out as a story. What winds up happening is far more complex than a standard "bad guy beat-'em-up." A part of why this story appeals to this reviewer, aside from some of his own characters being in it, is that, for once, our characters take a proactive approach in their lives. This is an adventure, not just a patrol that gets out of hand. The characters find themselves in what should be one of the most hostile territories imaginable, and it becomes their job to help save it. Against this backdrop is DeviousMe's characters. They've had their own story thus-far and it continues here. As convoluted as it may seem to anyone who has followed it to its present state, the plot seems to be coming to a head here as the reptile-like extraterrestrials wage a peculiar war of espionage that only they can understand... Or maybe they don't, and all of the characters are simply being tugged at by invisible puppet strings. |
Why I Joined LongbowThe rain was coming down in buckets in Paragon City, Rhode Island as Jon Lamier ran from street corner to street corner. He had watched the news the night before and the storm system that had ravaged the Mid-West had now reached the Eastern seaboard. A bolt of lightning flashed across the sky and a tremendous crackle of thunder was soon heard. That was close, he mumbled to himself. He finally reached the Longbow office. Posters lined the windows saying Are You Good Enough? and Fighting for a Better Future. He sighed and pulled open the door, quickly stepping inside. Shaking himself off, he had a chance to look around the office. He was taken aback by the numerous pictures on the wall and how unprepared he was to finally sign on the dotted line. He had always been so outgoing and so friendly to others in high school and on the school's swimming team. He smiled to himself as he remembered his first swimming lessons. His father had taken him to his first lesson and teased Jon that being a son of a diver in Longbow not knowing how to swim was going to be disastrous, but then he put a arm around his young son, clad in swimming briefs, and reassured him that even if he couldnt swim, he would be proud that he tried. Jon shook his head; he had enormous swimming fins to fill. That is what he was afraid of most - not living up to his fathers standards of what it was like to be in the Dive Corps in Longbow. Well, take your time there young man, the Longbow officer said, clad in the trademark, skin tight Longbow uniform, his officer cap on a hat rack behind him. That weather outside is nasty today isnt it; might get blown away if youre not careful. Gonna play hell with our Eagle units. The officer stood up from behind his desk and walked over to the youth. Names Larry, he said, offering his hand. Thank you, yes, the weather is quite stormy, Jon said, shaking his hand and taking a seat. I sorta got an introduction on what I want to do in Longbow just by running outside. It was then that he really took a long, hard look at the office. Pictures of Longbow achievements and classes lined the walls - everything from Eagle training to the Dive Corps. On the wall, Jon saw a picture of a group of ten divers swimming with their spear guns out and knives strapped to their calves. A television was heard in the back room, probably where the Officer took his breaks; it was a news channel from the female announcers voice. Usually it was filled with nothing but hero versus villain chatter, but it must have been a slow news day. She was talking about the horrible weather outside as well as the sagging economy. He thought he smelled a slight hint of cinnamon in the air, probably from an air freshener that was connected to the air unit. Yes, yes, I understand, he consoled the young man in front of him. So, I take it you read all of our brochures, watched all of our DVDs, and visited our bases that are open to the public? Twice on weekends, Jon smiled. Yes, I have done all of that. I even know what sub-branch I want to enlist in. Oh, do you now? the officer asked. Where exactly then? The Dive Corps. My father was in it when he was my age and well, I guess I got his swimming genes as well. I have a couple of medals and trophies from when I was younger. The officer nodded as he wrote this down. Good swimmer, relatives in the Corps from before, and knows what he wants to do. Good traits if you ask me. Longbow could use you of course. You would do our regular training that everyone goes through; no doubt youll do swimmingly in our swimming course. Sorry, had to say that, and then if you make it, you can go to the dive training. Oh, you do know how to dive dont you? Yes sir, I do; learned when I was twelve, well, learned how to dive from my father but got certified when I was fourteen; legally that is, confirmed Jon. But what Im worried about is, well, Im a bit slight of build, being a swimmer and all, do you think I can make it through training? Thought so, probably used to the tanks on the back and all that; well we use something different, no bubbles and you dont carry around clunky tanks or wear bad loose suits. We have the top of the line of everything in Longbow, the officer said, some pride beginning to show in his face. Yes, I think you can make it through training. No doubt youve toned your muscles and mind for nothing but swimming for the past decade or so, but well get you trained for any land work we might have you do before you are transferred to the Dive Corps.
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Jon began to relax somewhat, as the officer began to open up and relay information to him about the Dive Corps and the training. He looked around the office again as he leaned back in his chair and saw many pictures of the Freedom Phalanx and the Vindicators directly behind the officer. Sir, isnt that Ms. Liberty, the head of the Vindicators? he asked. Yes, it is and she is also the head of all Longbow activities and next time, if you do sign up, you would address her as maam, the officer said a bit sternly, but then he smiled. She really is nice though. She drops by once a month to see how this office is doing with recruitment. The youth only shook his head in amazement. Nice to see heroes like that so common, he blurted out before he stopped himself. The officer only laughed. Son, she can be as sharp as a thumbtack one minute and partying at Pocket D the next. She is only twenty something, but let me tell you, she has Statesmans and Miss Libertys temper, so keep on her good side and well, youll live to see another day. So what will it be, joining up or not? Jon looked around at the pictures one more time and this time he felt himself swell with pride, knowing he was about to make the right decision. His father had told him some great stories about the Dive Corps, and now he was about to continue that tradition. Yes sir, Im joining. Where do I sign? he asked excitedly. Larry produced the necessary paperwork and set it in front of the eager youth. Now before you go signing your life away, make sure you read everything. He made sure this was plainly evident by keeping his hand right on top of the papers before he let Jon read them. Yes sir, I was going to do that. I just felt, I dont know, duty bound? Jon admitted to the Longbow officer. The man across the desk from Jon nodded his head and lifted his hand from the papers. You can use that table over there, he said, pointing to a table along the wall. When you are done reading them, you need to come over here and have me witness your signature to make it official like. Jon nodded and rose up from his chair. Looking outside, it was still raining. He shook his head. Maybe I shouldve brought my swim suit today, he joked as he walked over to the table and began to pour over the contents of the recruitment papers. Each time a paragraph stated what was expected of him, he began to think of the times in his life where his father had been there for him, helping him his swimming career and his school work. He had never realized how much of a presence his father had been on his life until then. He felt sick to his stomach and put his head down on the table. You alright over there Jon? Larry asked a bit concerned. Yeah, just finally calmed down enough to realize what a decision this is, Jon admitted. My father pretty much raised me and well, to be honest, Im a bit afraid that I wont measure up to what he has meant to me all my life and if I fail... Now look here, the officer stood up and walked over to the youth. You will not fail. Many recruits come in here with family currently serving or had served in Longbow and they had the same worries you are having now. They turned out alright and I expect the same from you. You have a good head on your shoulders and pretty soon youll be wearing the proud red and white colors of the Longbow uniform. Now get that notion that you will fail and you can only be as good as you can be; no one else, you hear me? Jon crooked a half smile on the right side of his lips. Yeah, I guess youre right, he admitted. Just it came on sudden and well, I felt uneasy for the first time I thought about joining Longbow. Oh, Ill still join, Jon said, lifting his head up. Pretty much everything I expected from these papers. He lifted them up and shook them twice to emphasize his point. He rose up and walked back to the desk with Larry following. Both took their seats and the officer handed Jon a pen. Just to be sure and I have to ask this to all new recruits, he started in. This decision about joining Longbow, it is a decision made by you and with the support of your family that you are to dedicate yourself to the ideals of Longbow and help where it is needed no matter where it is? Jon took a moment and nodded. Yes, it is what I want to do; no matter if I fail or dont do as well as others, I will do my part to be the best Longbow recruit out there. Good, now sign the papers and well get you started on when and where to meet for your training, the Longbow officer stated. |
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SamuelAfter a horrible mis-adventure trying to find someone to interview in Pocket D, I followed up on a request to interview someone all the way over on Justice, the name of some alternate reality shard thing. No idea what the Portal techs were rambling about. Anyway, this weeks victim goes by the awe-inspiring name of Samuel. My powers were gone, Atlas Park was practically dead, and everything felt terribly off. Frightened and alone, I finally made contact with Samuel, who insisted on bubbling me when we met Patty-Sue Ivanova: Force bubbles. Lovely. Samuel: Painstakingly perfected. It's my passion. PSI: Right. So, you're the famous... uh... Samuel (repressing a slight snicker). Man, this entire dimension is whack. Where is everyone? Samuel: Heh, there are a few under ol' Atlas over there. We like to keep on duty, so most of us are out in the warzone. PSI: Ah, duty minded. Well, that's good. I won't keep you long then. Samuel: (Eyebrow raises) If that's what you've heard, then I guess I've made some friends. PSI: I meant everyone around here as a whole, but yeah... So, tell me a little about yourself, Samuel. Or, our readers, rather. Samuel: Well, I'm a high ranking member of the Crimson Moon, I am a very passionate defender, and I enjoy my work very much. One thing I would like to stress to your readers is that if you are a defender out there that isn't an empath, don't feel pressured to learn medicine, it is a real insult to empaths out there, and you can do so much more with what you were given naturally PSI: (blinking slowly) Okay. What about personal details? Where'd you get your powers and stuff? Samuel: Ah, well, that's a good question. I grew up in a different dimension, actually. A world much like this one. Life forms needed to adapt to survive, and it would seem that my birth produced some very beneficial complications. PSI: 'Beneficial complications'? That phrase kinda contradicts itself, doesn't it? Samuel: You would think. My mother died giving birth to me. However, I was told that it was her actions that produced my ability to shape and form forcefields. PSI: Oh, how sad... and what actions were those? Samuel: I was going to miscarry, something about my radiation powers giving me cancer rapidly, I couldn't control them, and with her last breath she siphoned her own power and abilities into mine, and shielded my body from being consumed with such a disease. PSI: Whoa. |
Samuel: My radiation powers have always been something I have feared, but over the years, I learned to use them for good. I'm fortunate I had that chance. PSI: And why good? You could've just as easily gone nuts over your mom and become a menace to society. Lord knows I've almost crossed the line a few times... Samuel: Never knowing my mother, and living with the despair and sadness of her loss whenever I looked into my father's eyes, I could never inflict that kind of damage to another. It would tarnish and insult her sacrifice. That's what started me down the road of heroism, but I continue to walk that path for myself, and for my fellow heroes in the Crimson Moon. Believe me, the way we fight crime, I need to be on top of my game. PSI: Okay then, one last thing. I'd be a horrible reporter if I didn't do my research. What's this about you being some kind of War God? Sounds like it contradicts the whole "peace loving, never-hurt-anyone Defender thing. Samuel: Ah... Well, I have put that life behind me. The world that I was from was wrought with war. I helped those close to me survive at the time I rejected my control of radiation, I took up a blade. It was a name used by my enemies, not my friends. And it is a name that tends to get me in trouble, for those who remember the deeds I was made to do. PSI: A defender that did damage. Now Ive heard everything! Okay, one last question: Your name. Not that I'm one to talk, but... just "Samuel"? Do you seriously bust into a room and be all "Halt, villains, SAMUEL will put an end to your deeds!" or something? Samuel: It's unremarkable, to some. It was the name my mother gave me. And what I am doing is fighting crime. When I burst into a room of villains, my eyes, my stance, my resolve shows them who they are dealing with. PSI: Ooooh, good answer! That wraps up this edition of Spandex Spotlight. Tune in next time for more dirty secrets and misadventures! |
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The View on BlueDouble Inf WeekendWhile most players were enjoying Double XP Weekend, some of us were reaping the rewards of Double Inf Weekend. Not only did defeated enemies drop twice as much influence that weekend, but the resulting flood of funds raised prices in many areas. The enterprising players who frequent the Market section of the forums devised several schemes to take advantage of the situation. Here are the most popular: 1. Stockpile stuff before the weekend (like crafted common and set IOs, recipes, and salvage). Sell them during and after. 2. Place lowball bids on valuable items before the weekend. Hope to get some cheap buys during the weekend. 3. Craft, craft, craft memorized commons. 4. Flip, flip, flip salvage and maybe recipes. I personally tried my hand, at least briefly, at all four activities. 1. I stockpiled about 150 common crafted IO's, mostly accuracy, damage, healing, and recharge, levels 25-40. I initially tried to sell them for 250,000 inf each. I made some sales, but not as many as I wanted. On Sunday I dropped my prices to 200k and sold almost everything by the end of the weekend. There were times when prices went up to three or four hundred thousand influence each, but it was hard to take advantage of those price swings. They were short-lived, and seldom happened when I happened to be online. I also stockpiled about 25 Crushing Impact recipes. I was disappointed to find that they didn't sell at all during the big weekend. Crushing Impact is a popular set, and I hoped people would buy them even while they were rushing to level, but apparently not. After the weekend ended, I really expected them to take off, but no such luck. I guess I got greedy. When I lowered my prices, some sold, but slowly. I had a few higher priced items up for sale as well, at extra high prices. The Numina unique sold, but the Performance Shifter +End hasn't yet (as of this writing). I stockpiled salvage, but I used it to craft. I could have sold some of it for a profit, but I made a bigger profit by using it. 2. I tried to place lowball bids on certain items. I aimed for items which have high value, but drop to low level characters, like the knockback protection recipes. Sadly, this scheme was disrupted by a market hiccup. All of my bids vanished, and my influence with them. The GMs restored the influence after a few days, but they couldn't restore the opportunity to score some bargains. 3. My primary focus this Double XP Weekend was crafting. I was impressed during the last such event by the high purchase prices for common IOs. I wanted to get in on that action. I seldom managed to score truly ridiculous prices, but I was able to make a steady profit. At the end of the day, though, I felt it was just too much work. It takes time to gather up the salvage, run to a crafting table, craft, run back to the market, and list items for sale. In my rush, I listed a whole tray full of items for two million instead of two hundred thousand, and had to sacrifice the listing fee and try again. 4. I was so busy buying salvage to craft that I seldom bought salvage to flip. It was easy to find common salvage that I could buy for a few thousand and quickly resell for twice what I had paid. It was not worth the time, though. If I had tried my hand at more expensive salvage it might have been a different story. I'll try to remember that for next year. I certainly wasn't the only person who was more interested in Inf than XP that weekend. The Market forum is full of war stories from Double Inf Weekend. Some of the biggest bonanzas were redside, but plenty of heroes are reaching for Bruce Wayne levels of wealth as well. | 1. A lot of people stockpiled all sorts of things before the weekend started. In general, sales of set IOs were disappointing. Common IOs flew off the shelves at higher prices than usual. At 200k per enhancement, a lot of people sold out by Saturday morning. Prices sometimes jumped over a million Inf for an enhancement, but mostly stayed around 250-350k. An entire table full of 100 enhancements, selling for a profit of 200,000 influence each, only nets 20,000,000 profit. That's nothing to sneeze at, but it's not a great return for the amount of time involved. People who stockpiled recipes and salvage and relisted them for high prices during the weekend were very disappointed. Prices on those items did not rise during the weekend. Crafted set IOs didn't sell very well during the weekend either, but on Monday people settled down and began to do some serious shopping. That's when the set IOs, fancy purple IOs, and super-expensive IOs began to move. The biggest single item sale I know of was a Luck of the Gambler +7.5% Recharge selling for a cool hundred million infamy. 2. A few other people tried placing lowball bids before the weekend started, and most of them had better luck than I did. One person reported buying 19 Regenerative Tissue uniques for well below the usual price. He hopes to make 10,000,000 inf profit on each one. I was not the only person to have my bids wiped out by that market hiccup, though. 3. Crafting common IOs was enormously profitable for anyone who was willing to make time for it. With double XP available, it's easy to understand why so few people chose to spend their time crafting. Of course, that's exactly why the people who did craft were able to make more profit than during a normal weekend. 4. At least one person did flip valuable salvage during the weekend and made a mint. Tiglath Pileser reported over 150 million inf in profits. He also felt it was the easiest and most efficient of his market schemes that weekend. A couple of other people tried to flip items, but apparently chose the wrong items or the wrong price points and they didn't sell a single thing during the weekend. (If you are wondering what "flipping" means, and how you can do it, keep reading this column. I'll write all about it in a few weeks.) An honorable mention goes to FourSpeed, who earned a million influence buying end mod recipes from the crafting tables and reselling them to players on the market, just like I discussed in a previous article. He made a lot more money actually crafting the IOs and selling them, though. The big winners? The farmers. Because defeated enemies dropped influence at double the normal rate, people who spent their weekend defeating enemies earned a lot of inf. Thanks to a feature, or perhaps bug, in Ouroboros, some people earned quadruple influence. One player, whose name I won't mention (to discourage paparazzi) claimed to have earned 1,000,000,000 inf after 25 hours of hard core triple-box farming! I've never heard of an evil market manipulator earning anything close to that amount in a single weekend. Even though Double Inf Weekend is over, you can still make moolah if you know where to look. Just go, hunt, kill anything. Lots of salvage prices are still really high! |
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Vol. 2, Issue 10
August 8th, 2008
The City Scoop a publication for Supers by Supers! With this issue we have many of our regular features back and moar!
Read the latest publication and then join in on the community discussion!
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 PM Snow_Globe or Pants_Stealer
If you need some Advice contact Lady_Athyna or would like to Ask The X contact LiquidX
Finally if you have a Classified Ad or Recipe you would like included please contact: LadyK or MistressNoire
The City Scoop
The Rogue Isles Legend
By
Blood Spectre
Welcome to Rogue Isles Legend! This column is dedicated to exploring the many
different zones of the Rogue Isles. In my few years of playing this game, I
still find many players unaware of the details of our digital environment, and
in this series of articles, I will work to change that. I will explore each
neighborhood in detail, showing the threats, badges, plaques, and contacts,
both ordinary and hidden within each neighborhood. The information will be
presented spoiler free, where possible. After all, I am hoping to show you
where to find the game's content, not spoil the ending for you. With that in
mind, let's take a closer look at our first subject, Potter's Field, on
Sharkhead Isle.
Located in the southwestern portion of Sharkhead Isle, the cemetery known as
Potter's Field is nearly an island unto itself. The graveyard is located behind
The Hellforge, but extends quite a distance behind it, separating from the main
island and continuing out toward the sea. Today, Potter's Field is a cemetery
where the Cage Consortium's workers bury their dead, but in ancient times it
was a power center for the Mu, a race of powerful mystics. Even today, this
aura of supernatural power lingers, drawing potent magical beings to linger
over the mass graves.
DANGERS OF POTTER'S FIELD
Potter's Field is one of Sharkhead's most dangerous neighborhoods. With a high
concentration of Bosses in spawns ranging from level 25 to 30, Potter's Field
could easily be quantified as a Hazard Zone. Of course, in a Hazard Zone, you
need to meet a level requirement to enter, but any young villain could blunder
into this cemetery unaware of the dangers afoot. With that in mind, here is a
list of the dangers that lurk behind the scrap metal tombstones and cavernous
mausoleums of Potter's Field.
The Scrapyarders: Easily the most recognizable threat to villains in the
cemetery are the disgruntled employees of The Cage Consortium. You'll find
these bitter souls mostly within the cemetery walls, kneeling at the graves of
lost comrades, most notably the fallen hero, their namesake, Scrapyard. These
are no mundane mourners however! These are bitter, desperate men who've had
their basic human dignity flayed from them, layer by layer, by the Cage
Consortium. Something about costumed villains lurking near the graves of their
lost loved ones taps into their barely contained rage, and they're quick to
respond to your presence with violence. The most common danger from them are
the Demolitionist Lieutenant mobs, whose prodigious dynamite blasts generate
enough knockback and general AoE to draw in other nearby spawns. If picking a
fight with broken, desperate men is your cup of tea, make sure you silence
these mad bombers first, or you may find yourself in over your head.
Of course, the greatest danger The Scrapyarders can throw at you is The Ghost of
Scrapyard. Although this hero was murdered years ago by Captain Mako, his
spirit still rises from his grave when The Scrapyarders are suffering. A Giant
Monster of prodigious physical and spiritual power, Scrapyard's spirit rises
from his grave and calls his living comrades to him in vast numbers. Lead by
the spectral giant, The Scrapyarders march from Potter's Field, through the
Hellforge and into Port Recluse, in a violent riot that bears an eerie
similarity to the infamous march in which Scrapyard gave his life. When this
happens you will see an event in your chat box that reads "Miner's strike in
progress on Sharkhead Isle". Scrapyard will spawn in the center of Potter's
Field, at the site of his own grave, and quickly begin gathering followers.
They do not linger in the graveyard for long though, quickly marching into less
hazardous and more populated zones. Defeating Scrapyard will earn a villain the
Hammer Down badge, which unlocks the Contact Crimson Revenant on Nerva
Archipelago. Defeating enough of the rioters around the ghost will earn a
player the Hammerhead badge, but as a Giant Monster, Scrapyard is extremely
powerful, and should not be challenged unless you have a well prepared team on
hand.
Vol. 2, Issue 10
August 8th, 2008
This Issue:
Anarchy in the USA
Writer's Block
Community
TPvPL Season 2
Fan Fiction Spotlight
Why I Joined Longbow
Encounters
Market Watch
Classifieds
Comic
Upcoming Events:
August 9th
Protector
Rave
on Protector Server!
The
Hunt: Mid-Summer Monster Mash!
Virtue
SG
Recruiting Fair
August 10th
Tampa, FL
Tampa
Comic Con
Infinity
Meet and Greet
August 15th
Infinity
The
Guns of Paragon 4th Anniversary Extravaganza!
August 16th
Virtue
The
Fire Within SG Top 100 SG Celebration
August 17th
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Midas'
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Presents: Zone Rumble
August 22nd
Protector
New
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Front Elf D by
EnD-Reitanna
The Circle of Thorns: Mages and demons from the Circle of Thorns infest the
entirety of Potter's Field, drawn to the aura of magical power that lingers
over the graveyard. Within the walls of the cemetery, the spawns are smaller,
consisting mainly of Defenders, Soul Mages, and Agony Mages, with the
occasional Succubus mixed in. Outside, the blackened beaches of the island
prowls all of these, and Hellfrosts, Spectral Daemons, and Nerva Spectral
Daemons, as well as Behemoth Lords. In addition, the Circle is openly hostile
to the other factions in the area, and it is not uncommon to discover a group
of them attempting to steal the body of a lone Freakshow, Scrapyarder, or even
Coralax. Rescuing these victims will do you no good, as they invariably turn on
you as soon as you get aggro from the CoT spawn.
The presence of so many Hellfrosts here is important for the Cold Hearted badge.
This badge is one that is essential to the Demonic Aura accolade, and requires
the killing of 250 Hellfrosts, or Hordelings, both of which are rare in
missions, and difficult to find outdoors. However, by circling the perimeter of
Potter's Field, you can normally find between ten to a dozen per "sweep". Be
sure to check between the rocky outcroppings of the beach for common spawn
areas that are easy to miss.
Coralax: While moving around the beaches, beware of lurking Coralax that hide
under the surface of the water, near the shore. Spawn sizes usually number
between a few Green Hybrid minion and a single Blue Hybrid lieutenant to a full
blown school with several Blue Hybrid lieutenants lead by a single Red Hybrid
boss. They rarely come too far ashore, but can provide an unpleasant surprise
to players patrolling the beaches for Hellfrosts.
The Freakshow: The Freakshow have one of their scrap metal fortresses on
Sharkhead Isle, but hostilities between the Freaks and Cage Consortium mean
that the Freaks aren't welcome beyond their own territory. This means that The
Freakshow needs to wander far and wide in search of a good time, and with this
in mind large numbers of them have taken to holding impromptu raves in the
graveyard. I'm sure the Meat Doctors have their own interest in the shallow
mass graves as well.
Freaks are rare within the cemetery walls, but not unheard of. Mainly they hang
around open areas, away from Scrapyarder and CoT spawns, digging up loose metal
and partying with groupies near the beach. Large groups including multiple Tank
bosses are not uncommon, but most dangerous are the Meat Doctors, who can
resurrect any Freak that you defeat.
The Banished Pantheon: Potter's Field is one of only two locations in all the
Rogue Isles where Banished Pantheon can be found outdoors. As a magic centric
villain group, the Banished have come to the graveyard in search of magical
power, and while they do not have the same amount of presence that the Circle
of Thorns do, there are still many of them lurking within Potter's Field.
Within the walls and without, their shambling Rotting Husk servants can be
found. Sometimes these spawns will be lead by one or more Shaman lieutenants,
including Death Shamans, who use dark blast attacks and summon more zombies,
Avalanche Shamans who use Earth attacks, mostly knockdown effects, and Storm
Shamans that use Storm powers. Drifting among these are the Spirits. Often
called "masks" by the players, these are the boss spawns of the Banished
Pantheon. Spirits of Death, Pain, and Sorrow all fight basically the same,
hover-blasting you with various damage types and playing bizarre tiki island
music. Curiously, these bosses don't spawn above level 25 here, making them
surprisingly little threat.
HIDDEN CONTACTS
Potter's Field has only a single contact, and that one a hidden one. However,
that contact, Archmage Tarixus, offers significant advantages to players
willing to unlock him. These rewards include a powerful negative energy ranged
temporary attack, a temporary Phase Shift power, and an essential badge for the
Demonic Aura accolade.
Archmage Tarixus: Archmage Tarixus was once one of the ancient Mu, a mystical
race who practiced magic as a way of life. He is long past dead, but his
ancient spirit has persisted throughout the centuries, preserved by his
mightiest magics and unyielding force of will. His plans involve evoking
unspeakable powers and have been culminating for centuries. With your help,
they can come to pass.
The Archmage isn't willing to entrust his aid to just any random thug in spandex
however. To earn an association with Tarixus, you must become a student of his
history. This can be accomplished by earning the Lorekeeper history badge. To
do this, first go to Mercy Island, 107 yards due west from the Mercy Door
marker, and read the plaque outside the walls of Mercy. This is the hardest
plaque to find, as it is hidden behind a ramshackle, rusted out building. Then
ride the Ferry to Port Oakes, where you will find another plaque 118 yards
south of the ferry, on a rocky outcropping. Your next stop is Cap Au Diable. Go
to New Haven, and find the plaque in front of the wall that separates New Haven
from Mount Diable, 300 yards northwest of the Mount Diable neighborhood marker.
Finally, return to Sharkhead Isle, where you will find the last plaque behind
the Arachnos fort in Port Recluse, 119 yards south of the Ferry. Once you have
read all four plaques, you will be awarded the Lorekeeper badge, in the History
section of your Badge list. Once you have the badge, you will find Archmage
Tarixus' spirit hovering over the caskets on a rocky cliff at the very edge of
Potter's Field. Because of his floating animation, you need to place your
cursor over his legs, rather than his chest to talk to him.
That concludes this edition of Rogue Isles Legend. I hope you found this article
informative and useful. Join me again next time, when I once again explain the
map.