New Villain Zone: Isla De Los Muertos

(Edited to make more-readable)
(Edited for a number of things)

Isla De Los Muertos, or 'Island of the Dead' is a place in the Rogue Isles that has previously been sealed off by a vast number of mystics with just enough money to rent a senator or two to keep the place off-limits to anyone. With the senator's unfortunate charges of corruption sticking to him, the island has been recently opened up, and it's looking to claim the souls of more victims...

Level Range:
34 - 45

Backstory:

Isla De Los Muertos was 'discovered' by Spaniard conquistadors, who looted all of the town within it dry. The island was notorious for it's golden architecture, it's jewel-encrusted knick-knacks, and the lavish tastes exhibited by it's ancestors... All of which, has been picked clean.
However, something strange happened to the Conquistadors... They never made it back to Spain. In fact, those who took so much as a sapphire-encrusted spoon began to act abnormally... Captains would order their crew to turn back. Sailors who could not convince their captions to go back simply jumped overboard, and swam back to the island without notice. They came back in droves, almost possessed, without care other than getting back. Unfortunately for you Villains, they were lost... Without notice, nor reason... Just lost, along with their riches.
Since then, a number of people have been swarming over it, but for different reasons... The mystics knew well to seal it off, but since they can no longer legally contain the island without being shot by patrollers, it's time the Isla De Los Muertos has been explored!

Enemy Groups:

- Goldbrickers - Dive deeper into their storyline, and why the infamous King Midas would resort to a life of crime, despite being able to turn things into gold with a touch. More importantly, if he could produce such valuables, why would he have so much interest in the valuables of Isla De Los Muertos? Is there no end to his greed, or is there something far more valuable than gold that the king looks for, so valuable that he's chosen to reside there, himself?

- Banished Pantheon - The real mystics in the equation... Shamans, husks, and spirits have inhabited Isla De Los Muertos en masse... They believe that Lugehbu (Sorry for the poor spelling) can be summoned to this island, and with his summoning, they can rule the world... Most villains wouldn't bat an eyelash, aside from one small problem; their new allies.
-- Conquistadors - Part of the Banished Pantheon, these Spaniards, wielding rapiers and pistols seem far more willing to serve the servants of Lugehbu than any other corpse... Their mere connection to the island appears to make them more alert, and more like a foe, and less like a husk.

- Circle of Thorns - The Circle doesn't put much faith in the island, to put things mildly... They think it's a waste of time, beyond a bit of Mysticism. However, it's not to say they don't enjoy a bit of a rumble with their 'rivals' - The Banished Pantheon. It's all but common to find Mystics battling the Shamans and the undead in the streets, though their presence, like their faith in the island's power, is ever-diminishing.

- Arachnos - Arachnos maintains a strong presence on the island, but Recluse isn't having them bust open every last raid; he keeps them around to have them spy on the Banished Pantheon... Their works were enough to pique his interest momentarily, but not enough for him to venture forth and look for himself... They do a nice job of keeping nearly all Longbow off the island, and keeping a note of all the Banished Pantheons' findings. Rumors say that Ghost Widow spends a lot of time along Isla De Los Muertos, spending time with the dead, like herself, but few were willing to say anything about it.

- The Family - Gold? Jewels? Mystic BS that people are willing to search for, while IGNORING the Gold and Jewels? The Family has no desire to get into the mystic aspects of things. The Family have no real qualms with the other groups, aside from those that just don't want ANYONE intruding on 'their turf'. This comes from mainly the Banished Pantheon, though they've had a number of fights with numerous gangs. Some of them were won, and a few lucky (or rather, unlucky) Family members found some of those forgotten valuables. And guess what?
-- Possessed Family - Imbued with mystic insight, those who have been possessed by the horrid island became doomed to serve upon it, either until they are killed, or until the island is 'done with them', whatever that means. They will fight anything, and everything, but somewhere deep in their remaining subconscious, they must recognize their own brethen, as they only rarely fire upon members of the Family.

- Ghosts - Wraiths, Specters, Spirits, Ghouls, whatever you want to call them, they haunt Isla De Los Muertos, always muttering something about The Great Imprisoner, and how they don't want to follow him wherever he goes next to imprison souls. While they don't really matter to a great villain looking to perform evil deeds, they can be annoying when they get in your hair... Sometimes it's best to just take care of them the best way possible. Who ya' gonna call?!

- Legacy Chain - The secretive leader of the Legacy Chain, Cadvan Arctus, decided soon after the mystics had taken down their seal of off Isla De Los Muertos that there wasn't a second to lose. There was corruption in the very air of the island, and the arcanes were being tainted more and more every second by these Shamans. Cadvan is no longer taking chances with this, and decided not to send the typical ranks. He chose those who were a part of the Legacy Chain for more than some kind of act of community service; he chose those who had devoted their life and soul to training themselves in the arcane arts, hoping to protect them from the corruption faced right here. When word of Ghost Widow came around, Cadvan himself came to the island in search, to see if he could kill two birds with one stone.
(Thanks, Dr_Darkspeed, for the idea of adding in the Legacy Chain)

Zones:

Ciudad De Sangre: The City of Blood was nicknamed this after the Spaniards had slaughtered many of the inhabitants of a once-pleasant village, whose name was long since forgotten. It lays in utter ruin, aside from a number of Arachnos Arbiters and Quartermasters instructed with keeping a look-out on the insides of the island, to make sure nothing goes afoul. Dark, dreary buildings are the highlight, and empty, cobblestone roads... Some say that you can still see ghosts walking the streets, as if they still lived their lives.

The Grim Harvest: A large field-like area just west of the city... Although nothing has been growing in this field for hundreds of years, ever since their food was replaced with gravestones... No one knows who exactly put them into the ground, but either some compassionate/mourning Conquistadors had taken the time to give them honorable deaths, or the dying simply buried the dead.

The Digsite: Ground Zero, the dig site is where you can find the highest level of enemies in Isla De Los Muertos, simply because it's a descending series of holes in the ground that can lead VERY far down into the earth... Similar to the Shadow Shard, if you fall, you'll arrive in the Ciudad De Sangre. However, I think it would be nice to double it as a mission door to the last mission of The Conjuring.

The Barren Coast: A zone along the outskirts of the island, this zone is in the middle of the difficult levels you'll find... It's got it's share of spirits, Goldbricker sub-bases, and a few Arachnos operatives looking for good places for reconnaissance. The Circle also has most of it's presence here, since they would sooner look for live specimens for their rituals, rather than dead spirits trapped on an island.

Strikeforces:

Strike Force 1: The Conjuring
Level Range: 34-50
This strikeforce would center around-- you guessed it-- The Banished Pantheon. It would involve stealing their research, spying on their rituals, and looking to steal their loot. However, the more you spy on them, you learn that summoning Lugehbu is more serious than you'd thought... You're not exactly scared of an Ancient God who enjoys horror and carnage, but it would put a damper in your plans if it killed off all life on Earth, including yours. Your strikeforce soon becomes less about big heists of 'possessed' riches, and more about stopping this thing in hopes to save your own backside... Even if it saves some people. Of course, you're not the only one looking to stop this...
King Midas is also an Archvillain in this strikeforce. He came to Isla De Los Muertos to stop Lugehbu's conjuring from completion, since a world of gold wouldn't do him much good if he were alone. Show King Midas that he's not wanted in the Rogue Isles, and stop this beast from being summoned, either way... Good times.

Strike Force 2: The Don's Involvement
Level Range: 34-39(Will be Mal'd down otherwise)
The Family have been getting more and more worried about those possessed, and your contact has promised you quite a pretty penny to... Spread the wealth around. Your assignment is to take down the Family from the inside-out by turning them into possessed freaks with little will of their own. It's a chance to rid yourself of a nasty thorn in your side, so it's best to take it. As you plant more and more possessed riches into the hands of higher-ups, they lose just a bit of their own strength. Of course, the Legacy Chain isn't happy with what you're doing (are they ever?!) You're spreading the evil, and corruption around, and making it VERY difficult for them to control and manage. Pretty soon, Cadvan Arctus will be on your heels, looking to put a stop to your villainy. Show The Don and Cadvan Arctus that Isla De Los Muertos is too much for their petty meddling!

Contacts:

I couldn't honestly think of the contacts that would need to be added, but I would be willing to bet that it would be a lot, to give it a lot of flavor... I foresee arcs about uncovering the secrets, maybe even snagging an unpossessed piece of loot for yourself as a souvenir! There's all kinds of things to explore with these possibilites

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Some Things you might be Wondering...

Why such a high level?
Developers are always looking for high-leveled content, and I think that 45 is right at the point where it could still have an appeal to villains who've reached 50 but still want a tiny bit of a challenge, and those still rising up the ladder.

Why the Villain Groups? Why GOLDBRICKERS?!
I chose The Goldbrickers and Banished Pantheon for such a zone because they are so... Under-included in this. Pantheon consumes Dark Astoria, and a bit of Talos Island, and the Gold Brickers have some forces in Cap Au Diable... If you ask me? I think they both Villain Groups would be keeping their reserve crew, the creme de la creme, for Isla De Los Muertos.
For instance? King Midas heard about this, and knew that he could find more valuable things than Gold, so he began training special recruits as strong as they could be, and just sent the rest of the lowlives to keep a presence to remind people that he hadn't died off.
The Banished Pantheon don't need just Dark Astoria... They need any place that has that dark, foreboding vibe to it, and Isla De Los Muertos has JUST that. They feed off the island's energy, and it's strengthened them to new heights never reached before.
Family? They weren't too far below... And besides, with the Don so interested in valuables, he's not taking his chances, and he's sending in his best men for the job.

There's a Spanish theme in here. What's up with that?
Isla De Los Muertos has overtones of Spaniard lore because it seems to add just enough finesse to not make the zone look like something out of a horror movie. It adds a startling sense of realism.

Why do Villains need a zone, and not Heroes?
If someone actually asks this question, I'm not answering it. This isn't Co-Op, this isn't a re-hashed Dark Astoria with modified level parameters. This is something for villains to enjoy by themselves.

Two Strikeforces? In one Zone?
You wanted more Strikeforces? You got 'em... Enjoy.

Any plans to change this idea up?
Always. Always. Always. I love letting the Community tear my idea to shreds to refine it into a better idea, and refine that, and refine THAT until you've found something actually worth the effort. I want people to be harsh with it, and critical to make it better, as long as they think it's actually got a chance... If you don't like it, just let me know.

How long did it take you to think this up?
Well, the real question is how long did it take me to type it? Beyond the name of the island, which I thought sounded nice, and the idea that the Banished Pantheon being involved just seemed to come natural. Other than that? I just made things up as I went along. "Who doesn't have a good story? Hellions? Nah... Skulls? Nope... Oooh! Goldbrickers! Midas!" I REALLY thought people were going to be far more critical of the chosen Villain Groups.

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I play mostly blueside, I have NEVER gotten a villain anywhere nearly this high so I have just one thing to say about this suggestion: /SIGN'D!

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Right off, Sigium, I think its a great idea, even if the cursed treasure sounds like um, what's that little Disney film...blacksmith, pirates, Scissorhands...oh well, whatever that film is.

Joking aside, it does sound great and likely something I'd love to spend time in. Just not too much gray in the decor, please.

May I suggest weaving 1 element from a northern island into your tale? I've always been fascinated by Oak Island and the bizarre treasure hunt that has gone on there for decades. Most especially in this case, the theory that somehow it ties into the Knight's Templar and their treasures. Though its not a Spanish treasure tale, per se, it could bring another layer to the tale.
Also you're not far geographically from the fabled location of the fountain of youth. If they ever break down and finally create the Incarnates, another mystical spring likened to the Well of Furies found on your island could be awesome.

Not full thoughts I know, but its late and not all my little gray cells are awake.

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If the devs build this, I am signing on for making the video highlighting the new zone, dude.

Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite

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While I appreciate the idea of the Oak Hills treasure hunt, the very idea of trying to find the treasure that's POSSESSING PEOPLE should be a bad idea to most who would exhibit common sense. Don't get me wrong, certain events would be pretty cool, like perhaps letting Adamastor come out to play? But as for the Oak Hill, I simply need to turn it down because... Well... It's so tourist-y as of now!

As for Pirates (Yeah, I said it). There are some fundamental differences; in that the cast from PotC had only the option to return, and didn't feel a sense of soulbound allegiance to the place, needing to return. There also weren't any ghosts, nor people trying to conjure up Pantheon gods. :P

But I'd like your honest opinion as to what's already in there, rather than adding more just yet. The 'Grey City' I would think would look like a VERY dilapidated sort of Cimerora... Of course, the architecture would vary, and it would look different, but the general 'City on the Hill' sort of feeling would run through it, just much larger than Cim.

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Effin' WANT. /signed signed signed

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Doom.

Yep.

This is really doom.

I think I saw this the last time you posted it. It was a rocking idea then, and it's a rocking idea now.

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I think I saw this the last time you posted it. It was a rocking idea then, and it's a rocking idea now.

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I posted this before?

I'd THOUGHT of posting it before, but I told myself 'No, I need to refine it further.'

Maybe it was when I was on Tylenol PM... That stuff knocks ya' out.

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[ QUOTE ]
While I appreciate the idea of the Oak Hills treasure hunt, the very idea of trying to find the treasure that's POSSESSING PEOPLE should be a bad idea to most who would exhibit common sense. Don't get me wrong, certain events would be pretty cool, like perhaps letting Adamastor come out to play? But as for the Oak Hill, I simply need to turn it down because... Well... It's so tourist-y as of now!

As for Pirates (Yeah, I said it). There are some fundamental differences; in that the cast from PotC had only the option to return, and didn't feel a sense of soulbound allegiance to the place, needing to return. There also weren't any ghosts, nor people trying to conjure up Pantheon gods. :P

But I'd like your honest opinion as to what's already in there, rather than adding more just yet. The 'Grey City' I would think would look like a VERY dilapidated sort of Cimerora... Of course, the architecture would vary, and it would look different, but the general 'City on the Hill' sort of feeling would run through it, just much larger than Cim.

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fair enough!

I wasn't actually picturing Cimerora as I read your description. I was picturing a southern Striga, sans volcano. Perhaps the moss on the trees there, as well as the graveyard triggered the thought.

Your Digsite description reminded me of the ever deeper circles of Dante's Inferno. That thought itself is chilling and makes me really want to see it. If the devs could capture that feeling of abandoned hope as one works their way down the dig...wow, just wow

the 3 "big ticket" items on your island (2 strike forces, King Midas backstory) I could easily see driving a villain to the island, but for casual PvE, like a cheap actor I ask, "what's my motivation?" Part of being a villain is self-preservation. I toss thugs to the cannons to spare my mastermind. What drives him to explore an island that he believes has nothing but cursed treasure and death waiting for him. He'd want neither. What sets greed over smarts and self-preservation?

Again, nicely thought out overall. This at high level, would definitely get me to focus more on red side.

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I think I saw this the last time you posted it. It was a rocking idea then, and it's a rocking idea now.

[/ QUOTE ]

I posted this before?

I'd THOUGHT of posting it before, but I told myself 'No, I need to refine it further.'

Maybe it was when I was on Tylenol PM... That stuff knocks ya' out.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm certain of it. I very distinctly remember a colonial Spanish zombie island that Midas is somehow interested in.

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I think this is a great idea. Just unique enough to be divergent from the theme of the other CoV zones, but not so "unique" that people say, "What the F?"

The possessed Family and "Banished Spaniards" sound awesome. Do I smell a new powerset with this? Pistol/Sword Offense? Lol, j/k.

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With a quick read-through, I like it. Seems well thought out.

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[ QUOTE ]
the 3 "big ticket" items on your island (2 strike forces, King Midas backstory) I could easily see driving a villain to the island, but for casual PvE, like a cheap actor I ask, "what's my motivation?" Part of being a villain is self-preservation. I toss thugs to the cannons to spare my mastermind. What drives him to explore an island that he believes has nothing but cursed treasure and death waiting for him. He'd want neither. What sets greed over smarts and self-preservation?

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I'm gonna focus on this part, if you don't mind.

Your motivation as a Villain? Maybe you're curious? Maybe you feel the dark magics drawing you into the Island? Maybe you've heard about all of the fabled treasure? It's all up to you as to why you'd want to go... Heck, maybe you're just trying to kill things to save your own backside from destruction.

And as for the 'Dante's Inferno' going along with the Digsite? I was thinking of something more like those giant holes in the Eden Trial... Of course, there would be a series of smaller holes you'd need to take before you got low enough to fall into the larger hole... Almost like a maze where you fall... Without that bad of a penalty, for those who love their Superspeed

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With a quick read-through, I like it. Seems well thought out.

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Wow... I'm blushing.

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/Signed

PS: And I thought I thought too much about this game!

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"Samual_Tow - Be disappointed all you want, people. You just don't appreciate the miracles that are taking place here."

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/Signed

PS: And I thought I thought too much about this game!

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I swear, beyond 'Isla De Los Muertos', and 'Banished Pantheon involvement' I made this up as I went along...

... Don't hate me?

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This is a really awesome, well-thought out idea. I'd love to see it in-game.

/signed

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<[V]>IRTUE Player
Active 50s: Malevolency: (50+3 SS/WP Brute) / Sky-Scar (50+1 Robots/Dark MM) / Venomvein: (50+1 Crab) / Warlocked (50+1 BS/Shield Scrapper) / Some 50s Inactive

/signed

The name bothered me at first but it made sense as I read further.

I'd suggest a underground area hidden that has a little part of the golden city where you get an exploration badge, or maybe a treasure room that the Spanish never found.

I also suggest maybe a new ghost faction exclusive to this zone of the native people but that may be too much.

This suggestion reminds me of The City of Gold and El Dorado.

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/signed

The name bothered me at first but it made sense as I read further.

I'd suggest a underground area hidden that has a little part of the golden city where you get an exploration badge, or maybe a treasure room that the Spanish never found.

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I'm sorry, but this is a VILLAIN zone... Finding any kind of treasure room would need to involve giving Villains infinite infamy, since there's no way in hell the villain community would tolerate being unable to touch mountains of GOLD!

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I also suggest maybe a new ghost faction exclusive to this zone of the native people but that may be too much.

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Like these?

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- Ghosts: Wraiths, Specters, Spirits, Ghouls, whatever you want to call them, they haunt Isla De Los Muertos, always muttering something about The Great Imprisoner, and how they don't want to follow him wherever he goes next to imprison souls. While they don't really matter to a great villain looking to perform evil deeds, they can be annoying when they get in your hair... Sometimes it's best to just take care of them the best way possible. Who ya' gonna call?!

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This suggestion reminds me of The City of Gold and El Dorado.

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I'll admit, I had A LOT of inspiration from El Dorado, but I couldn't just make it so easy... I needed to add magic, dark Gods, and all that stuff.

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/signed

The name bothered me at first but it made sense as I read further.

I'd suggest a underground area hidden that has a little part of the golden city where you get an exploration badge, or maybe a treasure room that the Spanish never found.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm sorry, but this is a VILLAIN zone... Finding any kind of treasure room would need to involve giving Villains infinite infamy, since there's no way in hell the villain community would tolerate being unable to touch mountains of GOLD!

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Okay, yeah that does make a bit of sense, but if it were like an easter egg like the room in Faultline that is hidden quite well I think it would really matter.

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I also suggest maybe a new ghost faction exclusive to this zone of the native people but that may be too much.

[/ QUOTE ]Like these?

[/ QUOTE ]- Ghosts: Wraiths, Specters, Spirits, Ghouls, whatever you want to call them, they haunt Isla De Los Muertos, always muttering something about The Great Imprisoner, and how they don't want to follow him wherever he goes next to imprison souls. While they don't really matter to a great villain looking to perform evil deeds, they can be annoying when they get in your hair... Sometimes it's best to just take care of them the best way possible. Who ya' gonna call?!

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Ahh I thought you were just talking about Banished Paetheon ghosts.

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Villains need more SFs dammit!

/signed OVER 9000!!!!

That is a really well thought out idea man.

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Reminds me of my idea to open up Striga for villains but this sounds a lot cooler. It would of course mean more work and take more time but it'd be worth it. Also, it doesn't prevent them from opening up Striga for villains as well, since the level range doesn't overlap. More places for villains to go that aren't Nerva is good in my book.

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Winner of Players' Choice Best Villainous Arc 2010: Fear and Loathing on Striga; ID #350522

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Reminds me of my idea to open up Striga for villains but this sounds a lot cooler. It would of course mean more work and take more time but it'd be worth it. Also, it doesn't prevent them from opening up Striga for villains as well, since the level range doesn't overlap. More places for villains to go that aren't Nerva is good in my book.

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Actually, I kinda made this for the sole hope that no one would want to just port over zones from Paragon haphazardly, and let Villains enjoy some of their old content.

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Striga isn't in Paragon. There is no in-game reason for why villains couldn't go there.

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Winner of Players' Choice Best Villainous Arc 2010: Fear and Loathing on Striga; ID #350522

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Striga isn't in Paragon. There is no in-game reason for why villains couldn't go there.

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Touche... Regardless, I'd just like to see some more Villain-unique zones before we get another, single co-op. I know I'm asking for the impossible on that one, but doing the impossible often starts in this forum.

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