Ask a Dev: Introducing Bruce Harlick!
By
Aliana Blue,
Posted on: 2008-09-09 09:59 in Developers' Corner
I dont have a question. Just wanted to say welcome to your new happy home. 
As a longtime Superhero roleplayer (*dates himself by thinking back to Superhero 2044 and Villains & Vigilantes*) I have been playing Champions, in its various forms, since Flare looked like Farah Fawcet on roids. I have been a big fan for years and certainly glad to have a fellow oldtimer here... hehe
Hey Bruce.
When will you be getting a forum handle so we can berate you for all your perceived mistakes? Like failing to prevent the assassination of Lincoln, and not seeing the stock market crash coming.
Excuses like *I wasn't alive at that time* are not acceptable. You're a Dev.
Hello Bruce!
"It's a dream job." Congratulations on finding it!
Now, a couple of questions:
1) What kind of system are you guys using in-house for version control of the missions? Do you use a repository like Subversion/CVS, a Wiki, or something else?
2) Will we have access to it in the Mission Architect?
3) (Okay, so I lied! I'm playing red side today, muahaha!) Supposing we don't, will the unpublished mission data be stored locally in a human-readable format (i.e., plain text files instead of cryptic hex dumps or something)?
Thank you for your time!
Players' Choice Awards: Best Dual-Origin Level Range Arc!
It's a new era, the era of the Mission Architect. Can you save the Universe from...
The Invasion of the Bikini-clad Samurai Vampiresses from Outer Space? - Arc ID 61013
Hi Bruce and welcome. The question I have, which might get modsmacked, is what drew you to City of Heroes/Villains instead of to that other Superhero MMO that is being developed that you have a pretty intimate and detailed understanding of?
I am not trying to stir up trouble, I am very interested in what you saw as strengths of CoX over that other one, or were you even offered the chance over there?
High Beam - 50 Blaster Energy/Ice - 1228 Badges
Munitions Mistress - 50 Mercs/Traps
Many Other 50's, Too Many Alts, All On Freedom
Just Because You Can, Doesn't Mean You Should!
Welcome to Paragon City!
just one question from me
Being that you are a long time gamer, I know you had to take this job with an idea of the something epic in mind for the City of franchise. what kind of crazy stuff can we expect sometime down the line.
no matter what it is, you won't be able to fool us though, we already know it's a Nemesis plot
With regard to your job of designing systems to help support missions, I was wondering if you'd like ideas from us players. And if yes, do we send them to you privately or would you like an 'official' thread on the forum for ideas to be posted? (Just like the costume suggestion thread.)
[BTW, Welcome!]
Speeding Through New DA Repeatables || Spreadsheet o' Enhancements || Zombie Skins: better skins for these forums || Guide to Guides
Hi, my name is Manbearpig and I'm an Alt-a-holic. *Forum group shouts with enthusiasm* "Hi Manbearpig!!"
One question:
It seems that all past pictures of the team are taken from the knees up. Is this an attempt to hide the ball and chain or shackles?
How come you don't have a superhero name?
Welcome Bruce
It's good to see a familiar face from my favorite PnP Supers RPG. Hours of enjoyment were had portraying the Harlequin and Vagabond back in the day, and I thank you very much for that
Question: How long do you personally believe it will be before we see branching affect mission arcs? Will actions ever start to have consequences? It will be a more interesting world if that ever happens
There is no such thing as an "innocent bystander"
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How come you don't have a superhero name?
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Because his most famous creation is a villain. If he ever gets a forum name, it needs to be a villain
"Null is as much an argument "for removing the cottage rule" as the moon being round is for buying tennis shoes." -Memphis Bill
Bruce Harlick is a great catch for the team. The next thing to do is work on completing the Hero Games Purple IO Set by luring Aaron Allston back into full time game design away from his writing career. heh.
Wow, no questions, but I've been a fan of Hero Games since Champions first started!
I was like wow! BRUCE HARLICK!
Yep, that Bruce Harlick. Cool!
Nice to have you aboard!
Currently: 50s (5), 40s (3), 30s (5)
Red and blue side, mostly Infinity, Virtue, and Freedom.
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How come you don't have a superhero name?
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Because his most famous creation is a villain. If he ever gets a forum name, it needs to be a villain
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Is Capt. Mako taken? 
Man, another writer. Jeas, I wish I could program...and write well..
O.O I just realized I never finished helping someone with a Tech Origin Illusion/Fire Background >_< Jeas....
Anyway.
A) What server do you play on?
B) Who would win in a fight, Blue Steel or God? Consider your answer carefully.
Hi Bruce,
I have been a player since roughly issue 4, and I've seen the content get more and more expansive. Not that this is a bad thing for people who are working on their 4th 50 and want replay value. My question: For someone new to the game what would you say are the stories/arcs that are "Not to be missed". Thanks for all your hard work.
Pinnacle Forever
Lords of Retribution: Bluring the lines between brave and stupid since 2005.
CrmsnConundrum 50 invul/SS tank - "I love stomp!"
Jimmy Buff-it 50 emp/rad defender - "Waste them away again!"
Faded Glory 50 ill/rad troller - "Only believe half of what you see"
what are you doing for the city of hero/villains comunity and what is your dev agenda( ie if you could do anything for the 5 in the next 5 min what would you do)
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What is you forum persona going to be?
We need to get you a cool hero/villain name/avatar.
Edit- Out of my head Greydog!
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QFT Pick a fake name like the rest of us, dammit!
I wonder if any of the signature characters are left without a person behind them...
Anyways, glad to have you aboard Bruce. No questions here, just eager to see what you have in store for us!
Bruce:
Welcome aboard. I do hope you enjoy your time at Cryptic Studios.
To what extent are you involved in the mission creator? Also, these fantastic tools that you and your fellow mission designers have access to -- will those of us on the outside have access to ALL of them as well?
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I do hope you enjoy your time at Cryptic Studios.
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Psst! It's not Cryptic anymore, it's just NCSoft! 
nice soundly like a solid gameing history there about the same as me.
gratz on your dream job
questions
question one: what storyline would you want to pursue
question two: if you where a fantasy creature what would you be 
question three: will you be one of the people we can turn to for help with are mission creator or is that more open scource
sincerly yours:
Bzald of TopTen
Welcome to the community Bruce! Big props from Justice server!
How do you feel the CoX development team works together versus other development teams you've been on in the past, chemistry-wise? Where do you feel the team's strengths lie? Do BaBs, Castle and Positron really get into girly slap flights whenever one of them doesn't get their way? If so, can you sneak us a video? I haven't had a good laugh all day...
JUSTICE
Caveman Etc: Inv/Stone Tank, Hyperdrive Etc: Gravity/Kinetics Controller, Terra-Storm Etc: Earth/Storm Controller, Cpt. Thunderstrike: Energy/Electric Blaster, Psicada: Sonic/Energy Blaster, Neon Ranger: Archery/Electric Blaster, Devlin Hellshot: Dark/Dual Pistols Defender
Welcome, Bruce! Let me be the first to ask you something, will you be designing a Task Force in the future? And if so, let me be the first to say make it EPIC!
Also, Bruce, Juggernaut or Superman?
One more thing, will you ever be taking suggestions or ideas for Story Arcs, missions, or Task Forces? If you will be, then I'm your eye-dia man
Welcome to our noisy City, and I hope you have a wonderful stay 
-Bookkeeper Jay
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Is Capt. Mako taken?
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Yes, but that one left.
http://cityofheroes.wikia.com/wiki/C...ko_(Developer)
Triumph: White Succubus: 50 Ill/Emp/PF Snow Globe: 50 Ice/FF/Ice Strobe: 50 PB Shi Otomi: 50 Ninja/Ninjistu/GW Stalker My other characters
I had a friend leave the CoX universe because he felt that he didn't have any chances to make RP choices with the missions. Now that you have the ability to check origins and give multiple answers to the contacts are there any plans to;
A) Use branching story arcs, with player choice, origin, and/or failure on previous missions affecting the outcome of the arc?
B) Use the tech from the PvP zones to have a CoOp PVE zone go through updates like Recluse's Victory based on player choice and/or failure on missions?
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B) Who would win in a fight, Blue Steel or God? Consider your answer carefully.
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Hey, this isn't Ask a Dev Trick Questions.
Hey Bruce,
Is it possible to make a mission with something to do with a clone of you? There are all these paper missions that say "character 'X' selling secrets to group 'Y' ". What if you made a mission where it really was you, or at least someone who looked like you and had the same powerset. THAT would be an awesome end mission boss.