Discussion: Issue 13 New Missions

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Do I read things correctly? Is.. this..... exclusive Villain Content? Not just more.. Co-op?

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I'm not jumping for joy yet. I got the distinct impression it was just "save the world... villainously".

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At Hero Con, Bruce spoke enthusiastically about having more exclusive villain content. And from what he said there, your statement above could not be more wrong. I would not be surprised if this is just the tip of the iceberg that he has up his sleeves.

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@Arwen Darkblade
Proud Member of Hammer of the Gods and Sanguine Syndicate
Arc ID #86194 "Cry Havoc"
Arc ID #103934 "Dr. Thomas' First Day"
[URL="http://tobyfife.blogspot.com/"]Hero Girl[/URL] - my geek culture blog

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From the Ten Ton Hammer interview:

"Like writing a novel, mission arcs in CoX constantly evolve and spawn even more arcs."

What??? Since when? Please name one mission arc that's ever changed, ever. The above quote from the Ten Ton Hammer page is quite simply an untrue statement. The mission arcs in CoH/V have never evolved.

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Peregrine_Falcon,

I consider that the article is written Bruce Harlick's perspective and from the flow of mission writing that goes from Issue 12 to Issue 13 - which is what Bruce has been involved with.

While the statement may not be characteristic of the entirety of CoH/CoV development, it's accurate from the perspective of a mission developer who recently joined the team: Bruce.

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I initially took it as an author's point of view of the writing process and was surprised to think that some had read it as about actual in-game arcs.

When I wrote my first fan comic, I had a single story in mind. As I thought through the story, it changed several times- even the storytelling voice changed to a first-person narrative. That's the "evolved" to me. That story left me with a few "what if's..." that eventually led to my submission to the CBC contest. That's the "spawning new arcs" part.

As Bruce explains his process, you see just that. The initial idea went through several revisions for both technical and creative reasons. The second sets of arcs were arose not out of intentional sequels, but in ideas that came out of the 'thinking behind' that goes on as you're crafting the original arc.

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That said, saying that the actual missions and stories in city of heroes don't evolve or inspire others is rather ridiculous. There are quite a few story arcs in the game since launch that build off of previous discoveries, giving you additional insight and evolving your view of the situation... and the game.

Look at the Circle of Thorns (spoilers):
<ul type="square">[*] They're introduced as cultists doing weird ceremonies on the unsuspecting. They have a history, but in the first few arcs, it's unclear where fact and fiction separate. [*] You eventually hear the name of Baron Zoria and allusions that, despite being ancient by now, he may still be leading the Circle. [*] About that time, you stumble into the first underground missions using the Lost City Tileset. Suddenly the mythical city is real, and maybe these guys really were on to something. Not only that, but spectres and demons become more prevalent. This isn't just some cult of arcane wackos.[*] Eventually, you learn that even Zoria isn't Zoria... that he hasn't been for quite some time...[/list]
Through it all, the reader's perception- what he thought was real- what he thought the "story was" was.... well... wrong (need I mention the Lost/Rikti revelations?). The story evolved... and one mission inspired another and another.


I guess some can find controversy in anything...

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Well, to be fair, there was that whole Sister Psyche, Aurora Borealis, Malaise storyline that did change some of the task forces that were available. Yjay's about as close as I can get to a ture evolving story, but its something.

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More Villain-exclusive content where I'm not just tagging along with the Heroes pretending that saving the world is something I'm interested in doing? Hooray! I'm sure I'll shuffle over to Blue-side and visit Daedalus too, eventually.

Hopefully, these two contacts with two arcs a piece aren't everything new story-wise, though... Villains still need more Strike Forces, and Heroes still need more regular arcs that aren't full of gratuitous street sweeps, FedExes, zone hopping and Azuria filing the Spear of Longinus in the Lost and Found bin...

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@Eisenzahn
GW2 - Melchior.2135
AIM - Euroclydon23
Email - scorpany@yahoo.com or <sameasmyAIM>@aol.com (for the sheer novelty of an almost 20 year old email address that hasn't been overwhelmed by spambots yet)

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Well, to be fair, there was that whole Sister Psyche, Aurora Borealis, Malaise storyline that did change some of the task forces that were available. Yjay's about as close as I can get to a ture evolving story, but its something.

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Unfortunately, that Calvin Scott TF example was simply a one off instead of a trend. Though I understand that investing time and effort in creating content that doesn't stick around for ever is probably hard to justifty on a cost/reward basis.

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Heroes
Dysmal
Lumynous
Sam Steele
Pluck
Wile
Slagheap
Pressure Wave
Rhiannon Bel
Verified
Stellaric
Syd Mallorn

Villains
Jotunheim Skald
Saer Maen
Jen Corbae
Illuminance
Venator Arawn
Taiga Dryad
Tarranos

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Yes, always the victim That might sound trollish, but given the OP's posting history and writing style, it's hard for me to have any sympathies. Being combative then claiming to be the victim when "Newton's law" inevitably occurs is not being victimized. Heck, you don't even have a rooster to catch the flack for you

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At no point have I ever claimed to be a victim of anything. I made a statement wherein I disagreed with what was written in the article.

Instead of simply dismissing me Lighthouse actually took the time to find out more information and then post it in response. I was honestly thanking him for that, nothing more.

Please quote one post of mine wherein I claim to be a victim, or have the decency to admit that you're wrong.

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People are still complaining about the Positron Task Force what... 3 years after it came into existence? Why is that? Because it has never changed, it has never evolved beyond what it initially was


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rescue the FEMA works used to be a find 2 hostages, now is an escort them to the door mission.

Posi HAS evolved.

Now do you have the decency to admit that you're wrong ?

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@Catwhoorg "Rule of Three - Finale" Arc# 1984
@Mr Falkland Islands"A Nation Goes Rogue" Arc# 2369 "Toasters and Pop Tarts" Arc#116617

Hey guys - Can we please dispense with the back and forth about who's wrong or not? Thanks! The thread is for the discussion of the Dev Diary.

If you have further comments for each other, please take it to private messages. Thanks!

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Lighthouse
Community Relations Manager

If you have a specific in game, account, tech or billing problem please contact our Customer Support team via The Knowledge Base "Ask A Question" page.

Roger Lighthouse.

*drags back to topic*

Anyway I found it an good read about the process but especially interesting in the sidebar of 'similar news'

http://www.tentonhammer.com/node/47128
Artist David Nakayama Joins CoX Team

Was this announced here, and I just missed it ?

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@Catwhoorg "Rule of Three - Finale" Arc# 1984
@Mr Falkland Islands"A Nation Goes Rogue" Arc# 2369 "Toasters and Pop Tarts" Arc#116617

of all things, it popped up in comic culture a few weeks ago, yeah its nice news.

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I love the notion of cyclical time - and woot for Daedalus and Airlia being contacts. Now if we can just get Parthenon, Orion, and Marathon into Cimerora...

Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite

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Roger Lighthouse.

*drags back to topic*

Anyway I found it an good read about the process but especially interesting in the sidebar of 'similar news'

http://www.tentonhammer.com/node/47128
Artist David Nakayama Joins CoX Team

Was this announced here, and I just missed it ?

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We announced that David was joining the CoH Dev Team as a concept artist at Hero-Con. David's such an all around great guy and we're all very excited about him joining the team.

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Lighthouse
Community Relations Manager

If you have a specific in game, account, tech or billing problem please contact our Customer Support team via The Knowledge Base "Ask A Question" page.

Looking forward to meeting that Fabricator thingy.


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it's interesting that "This has all happened before, and will happen again." Does that mean that time is cyclical?

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Where'd this come from?

I don't like cyclical time. Those within are doomed to never develop better technologies. Almost every book by Diana Wynne Jones I've read contains elements of this, so reading them makes me cross.

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Meben, 38 Kat/SR NPK Stalker (Defiant)

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Roger Lighthouse.

*drags back to topic*

Anyway I found it an good read about the process but especially interesting in the sidebar of 'similar news'

http://www.tentonhammer.com/node/47128
Artist David Nakayama Joins CoX Team

Was this announced here, and I just missed it ?

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Awesome news. That alone could have warranted its own announcement post.

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@Demobot

Also on Steam

Now that the Ghost Sibyl is a contact, who's hotter; Ghost Widow or Ghost Sibyl?

I think this is the most important question I can think of from this article...

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@Van De Graff-X, Liberty

I like the way the storyline is going. Can't wait!!!

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From the Ten Ton Hammer interview:

"Like writing a novel, mission arcs in CoX constantly evolve and spawn even more arcs."

What??? Since when? Please name one mission arc that's ever changed, ever. The above quote from the Ten Ton Hammer page is quite simply an untrue statement. The mission arcs in CoH/V have never evolved.

BTW, you're still calling Issue 13: Power and Responsibility? I ask because it's a new week and I was wondering if it wasn't time to rename Issue 13 yet again.

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Wow. Civility's so overrated.

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who's hotter; Ghost Widow or Ghost Sibyl?



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You mean in an alone in a room with lotion sort of way?

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Roger Lighthouse.

*drags back to topic*

Anyway I found it an good read about the process but especially interesting in the sidebar of 'similar news'

http://www.tentonhammer.com/node/47128
Artist David Nakayama Joins CoX Team

Was this announced here, and I just missed it ?

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Awesome news. That alone could have warranted its own announcement post.

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Does an unofficial announcement count?

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Looking forward to meeting that Fabricator thingy.


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it's interesting that "This has all happened before, and will happen again." Does that mean that time is cyclical?

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Where'd this come from?

I don't like cyclical time. Those within are doomed to never develop better technologies. Almost every book by Diana Wynne Jones I've read contains elements of this, so reading them makes me cross.

[/ QUOTE ]Nah, I think it's just such a classic hero trope that it had to be done. (Think the multiple "past Bruce &amp; Clark stories that DC has done. Or the ones that Marvel did for the Fantastic 4.) It's appropriate for the genre.

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Apostrophe guidelines.

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Looks like 2 3-part arcs for each side? Hmmmm... I hope I'm wrong here, I was kinda hoping for more...

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I read it differently - three arcs per side. A start, a middle and an end arc. So...

I8: 4 new arcs
I9: 1 new arcs (+1 TF)
I10: 5 new arcs (+1 TF)
I11: 5 new arcs
I12: 6 new arcs (+1 TF)
I13: Projected 6 new arcs

I'm not seeing this as being out of whack. It's more than we've gotten in four of the last five issues. (Heck, I12 only technically beats it - one of those arcs is Senator Decimus, who's arc contains no actual missions, and the two Origin of Powers arcs which have only one real mission each.)

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Roger Lighthouse.

*drags back to topic*

Anyway I found it an good read about the process but especially interesting in the sidebar of 'similar news'

http://www.tentonhammer.com/node/47128
Artist David Nakayama Joins CoX Team

Was this announced here, and I just missed it ?

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We announced that David was joining the CoH Dev Team as a concept artist at Hero-Con. David's such an all around great guy and we're all very excited about him joining the team.

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I love David's art style! I thought his work in the City of Heroes comics was one of the high points. I was a little let down when he was relagated to just doing the covers.

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"Steady as a mountain, attack like fire, still as a wood, swift as the wind.
In heaven and earth I alone am to be revered."
- Motto on the war banner of Takeda Shingen (1521-1573)

More Malta Missions =

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"If Pro is the opposite of Con, then what is the opposite of Congress?"

Progressman - Level 50 - Energy/Energy Blaster - 500 Badges

~Virtue~

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Another Signature Character Ripoff?

That Saddens me, Imperious and Deadalous were enough lame for the new zone.

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Yeah, I kinda said the same earlier. I have to say most of the characters and the cannon is kinda weak. Some great ideas but after 5 years you need some new, stand alone characters/stories.

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http://www.tentonhammer.com/node/47534

That Sapper looks. . . odd. . .

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"If Pro is the opposite of Con, then what is the opposite of Congress?"

Progressman - Level 50 - Energy/Energy Blaster - 500 Badges

~Virtue~