New Villain Zone: Isla De Los Muertos

As far as the GM an idea.

In the Conjuring SF One could have a similar approach as Babbage. Perhaps part of the Pantheon's plan is to summon Lugehbu in a 'incarnate' totem.

The SF stops the summoning but the idol breaks out onto the island. not powered by the god, but still a menace in it's own right. The design team could have fun building this GM Super-totem. (as a joke the contact could have. "Well you managed to stop Lugehbu from gaining a physical body, of course the Totem is now wandering around trying to destroy bits of the island. But a few of your nefarious cohorts should be able to put a stop to that..") The hess and ITF both have had the "stop the giant weapon" but you never really fight them.

---

~ I am Mender Sirbil Xe I do not know who this Ex Libris is that you speak of. ~

[ QUOTE ]
As far as the GM an idea.

In the Conjuring SF One could have a similar approach as Babbage. Perhaps part of the Pantheon's plan is to summon Lugehbu in a 'incarnate' totem.

The SF stops the summoning but the idol breaks out onto the island. not powered by the god, but still a menace in it's own right. The design team could have fun building this GM Super-totem. (as a joke the contact could have. "Well you managed to stop Lugehbu from gaining a physical body, of course the Totem is now wandering around trying to destroy bits of the island. But a few of your nefarious cohorts should be able to put a stop to that..") The hess and ITF both have had the "stop the giant weapon" but you never really fight them.

[/ QUOTE ]

A Lugehbu Giant Monster is VERY possible, or a Lugehbu Totem of some sort. Rest assured, Isla De Los Muertos WILL have a GM or two. I'd just rather not have one expressly tied to the Strikeforce. That's all well and good, but it creates 2 problems:
1. Makes Monster Hunting much more difficult, since people have to go through the rest of the taskforce just for the ambush.
2. It brings the possibility that it won't be defeated. Villain-side is much lower-populated than Hero-side, and doesn't always have an available team on the side to help with the GM, especially if the team is level 34, or somewhere.

Don't get me wrong, it's still a possibility, although Banished Pantheon DO already have a GM of their own.

---

I liked the Lusca idea for a GM.

---

[ QUOTE ]
I liked the Lusca idea for a GM.

[/ QUOTE ]

All respect meant, I want Villains to have their own GMs, and everything. I want a completely new zone that's nothing re-hashed from Paragon City. Something ENTIRELY new would entice a lot more people to play their villain characters a bit more, don't you think?

---

I'm usually in favor of villains having new, not regurgitated content, yes. I did think Lusca fit into your new zone idea, though, and in fact with a series of islands in general. I also like the idea of a seafaring GM in general.

*thinks*

You know, we're always going to Pargon via submarine, wouldn't they come at us in a submarine, too? Although I'd really rather not fight more Longbow.

I'm having a bad brain day. I know I can do better than that. Someone please send coffee via the universal speed boost port.

---

First I gotta say: Wow. For a stream-of-consciousness writing that's one hell of a venture.

Second comes the compliment: I WANT! I love villains but hate the contacts and story arcs because if I'm a villain who thinks s/he's the Destined One, I'm sure as hell not going to be cow-towing to any putz in a suit who says jump.

Third comes the question: One of the SFs you've listed involves planting some of those mind-altering items on the persons of targeted enemies. How would you do that without being mind-altered yourself by having them in your possession while transporting them? That seems a bit thin (and since I had to stretch that far to find something that seems thin, I'd say this whole idea is pretty rock-solid).

Lastly comes the suggestion: One of the posters asked about why people would come to this isla, knowing how dangerous it was and that they really couldn't get anything out of it. Spread around some (false?) rumors that there are ways to break that curse on specific items found and you've got treasure to be had. Put one of those cursed items in the hands of one of the Villains and tell them it's only a matter of time before it takes them over if they don't get it back to the island and you've got a major motivation to go there. Those are in game reasons. For reasons why the players would want to go there: DUH! It sounds like it could reasonably be the best zone in the whole of the Rogue Islands.

I'm very impressed.

---

--If we can have huge sig images, why can we have only five lines of text?
--...faceplanting like a Defender pulling an AV (Nalrok_AthZim)

I love a post with great substance! Thanks!

[ QUOTE ]
First I gotta say: Wow. For a stream-of-consciousness writing that's one hell of a venture.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks! I figured out the meaning of life like this.

[ QUOTE ]
Second comes the compliment: I WANT! I love villains but hate the contacts and story arcs because if I'm a villain who thinks s/he's the Destined One, I'm sure as hell not going to be cow-towing to any putz in a suit who says jump.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks much. Unfortunately, since every villain zone is gonna need some Arbiters/Quartermasters, there's still going to be an Arachnos presence, though I'm hoping to have it spread out.

[ QUOTE ]
Third comes the question: One of the SFs you've listed involves planting some of those mind-altering items on the persons of targeted enemies. How would you do that without being mind-altered yourself by having them in your possession while transporting them? That seems a bit thin (and since I had to stretch that far to find something that seems thin, I'd say this whole idea is pretty rock-solid).

[/ QUOTE ]

I would think the contact for this Strikeforce could be a Rogue member of the Legacy Chain, and have cast a temporary nullifying spell on said items, and then possibly have tipped off the Legacy Chain themselves about your involvement, knowing your Strikeforce would decimate them. Would be a win-win for him.
For the actual placings? It would probably either be a timed mission to defeat certain enemies, which would automatically plant the possessed treasures on them, similar to how you 'interrogate' some people by defeating them.

[ QUOTE ]
Lastly comes the suggestion: One of the posters asked about why people would come to this isla, knowing how dangerous it was and that they really couldn't get anything out of it. Spread around some (false?) rumors that there are ways to break that curse on specific items found and you've got treasure to be had. Put one of those cursed items in the hands of one of the Villains and tell them it's only a matter of time before it takes them over if they don't get it back to the island and you've got a major motivation to go there. Those are in game reasons. For reasons why the players would want to go there: DUH! It sounds like it could reasonably be the best zone in the whole of the Rogue Islands.

[/ QUOTE ]

Obviously, one reason is to prevent your OWN destruction. Of course, I do hate having to make it so revolved around nobility under duress... Hence the other Strikeforce.

As for Villains claiming to have found some, I could see a GREAT deal of contacts in Isla De Los Muertos either claiming to have found the great sum of treasure, or wanting to find it.
For instance, you could get a contact pop-up about someone excavating the site, and he needs help. With the promise of mystic artifacts, or just plain GOLD, what kind of Villain would willingly turn down their chance to pocket some for themselves?

Thanks for posting.

---

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Second comes the compliment: I WANT! I love villains but hate the contacts and story arcs because if I'm a villain who thinks s/he's the Destined One, I'm sure as hell not going to be cow-towing to any putz in a suit who says jump.

[/ QUOTE ]Thanks much. Unfortunately, since every villain zone is gonna need some Arbiters/Quartermasters, there's still going to be an Arachnos presence, though I'm hoping to have it spread out.

[/ QUOTE ]You don't have to have an Arachnos presence at all. Researchers, magicians, etc. who are FROM the island or working on research there or whatever can be your enhancement sellers. Their enhancements can be gated with missions to explain why they're there, help them and they'll help you. (Like Serafina in Brickstown on heroside, and all the other mid/upper level enh sellers in main zones heroside.) A special zone-related contact can be the trainer. (Like War Witch in Croatoa.)

---

Paragon Wiki: http://www.paragonwiki.com
City Info Terminal: http://cit.cohtitan.com
Mids Hero Designer: http://www.cohplanner.com

In reference to the need for arbiters and such, I wasn't really talking about trainers and stores and all. I meant story contacts. Taking orders from a wimp like that whiney schmoe on Cap or the arrogant damn guy with the big Bone makes me feel like my toon should be ending the arc by ganking the contact.

---

--If we can have huge sig images, why can we have only five lines of text?
--...faceplanting like a Defender pulling an AV (Nalrok_AthZim)

/signed

I'm all for new villain zones.

Edit: And SF's

---

Generally I'm not all for new villain zones because of the fear of the kind of urban sprawl that's affected PC. This one, however, is just too damn good to pass up.

Hey, have you thought about this as a red-side hazard zone?

---

--If we can have huge sig images, why can we have only five lines of text?
--...faceplanting like a Defender pulling an AV (Nalrok_AthZim)

Great idea.

/signed

---

[ QUOTE ]
You don't have to have an Arachnos presence at all. Researchers, magicians, etc. who are FROM the island or working on research there or whatever can be your enhancement sellers. Their enhancements can be gated with missions to explain why they're there, help them and they'll help you. (Like Serafina in Brickstown on heroside, and all the other mid/upper level enh sellers in main zones heroside.) A special zone-related contact can be the trainer. (Like War Witch in Croatoa.)

[/ QUOTE ]

It's possible that there would be some sort of contacts to do this for you, though the possibilities are a bit... Low. All of Rogue Isles uses Quartermasters and Arbiters, though I will DEFINITELY be looking into alternatives to the same faces over, and over.

As for the Arachnos presence: I know NO Villain wants to hear it, but they need to be there. For one; Recluse loves owning everything in the Isles, and would have a hernia if he knew there was a large place full of villains he wasn't monitoring. Secondly, there would need to be contacts for the Soldiers/Widows involving Arachnos... Perhaps involving more information about the Well of the Furies, and some backstory about the magical aspects of Arachnos?

[ QUOTE ]
In reference to the need for arbiters and such, I wasn't really talking about trainers and stores and all. I meant story contacts. Taking orders from a wimp like that whiney schmoe on Cap or the arrogant damn guy with the big Bone makes me feel like my toon should be ending the arc by ganking the contact.

[/ QUOTE ]

Contacts will have a wide variety, I'd REALLY like to think. Everything from Ex-Goldbrickers, to Rogue Legacy Chain members, to normal people just interested in Isla De Los Muertos. This island is different than the rest simply because neither Arachnos, nor Longbow are the dominant force behind it.

---

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Adding a GM giant golden statue, or a cthullu might seal the deal for me.

[/ QUOTE ]

Sorry, but this isn't mythology... The only golden statue I could see being involved would be Lugehbu if Midas just decided to turn it to gold... Which would be pretty cool.


[/ QUOTE ]

Sigium,

I re-skimmed your OP after your updates (third time. still liking it) but didn't see a GM at all. Did you mean to include a special one or any one at all?

Side thought: Does redside ever get a crack at Lusca? The "real life" luscas actually are reported in the Bahamas, not terribly far from where the Rogue Islands are supposed to be. Your island might provide the opportunity for villains to get a Devilfish (or equivalent) badge.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, follow me here on my ideas about a GM...

First and foremost; I don't want a re-hash. Lusca can have her Independence Port, and Heroes can have their Devilfish badge. Lusca is just a turn-off for an idea that's so Villain-dependent.

Secondly; I don't necessarily want to make this GM related to the Banished Pantheon, since they've already got Adamastor in Dark Astoria... Although, I'll admit, the idea of a Lughebu incarnate doesn't sound all that bad to me at this point.

Third; I don't want to make a Ghost Giant Monster... Between Scrapyard, Caleb, and Deathsurge (looks somewhat like a Ghost), the idea just isn't appealing to me in the least.

Fourth; The villain groups presented give me limited options. I mean, you don't expect Midas to have some giant, gold monster, do you Or the family to have smuggled something like that in? :P

Edit: I'm REALLY thinking about a Legacy Chain Giant Monster: The Legacy Beast. I'll post more information on it later.

---

[ QUOTE ]
I mean, you don't expect Midas to have some giant, gold monster

[/ QUOTE ]

And why in the hell not!? That would be awesome.

---

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I mean, you don't expect Midas to have some giant, gold monster

[/ QUOTE ]

And why in the hell not!? That would be awesome.

[/ QUOTE ]

No offense, I simply don't seeing them hauling one around. Monsters typically deal with the arcane, and the unknown, which is why I think the Legacy Chain could have a REALLY nice Giant Monster... Perhaps a Chimera, of some kind? I think all Villains would love a chance to do battle with the 'Legacy Beast'.

---

Solution for the whole Midas' golden GM thing:

He's had his Goldbrickers (obviously a Tech group) capture and reprogram one of the giant Clockwork critters (forget the name) and then he turned it a golden color!

There...see how easy that was?

---

"Comics, you're not a Mastermind...you're an Overlord!"

[ QUOTE ]
Solution for the whole Midas' golden GM thing:

He's had his Goldbrickers (obviously a Tech group) capture and reprogram one of the giant Clockwork critters (forget the name) and then he turned it a golden color!

There...see how easy that was?

[/ QUOTE ]

NO Re-hashes... A re-color is still a re-hash, friend. That's not what I want. I'm asking an incredible amounts of work on the devs part, and I realize this, but I do think that Villains deserve this kind of effort being put in.

---

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I mean, you don't expect Midas to have some giant, gold monster

[/ QUOTE ]

And why in the hell not!? That would be awesome.

[/ QUOTE ]

No offense, I simply don't seeing them hauling one around. Monsters typically deal with the arcane, and the unknown, which is why I think the Legacy Chain could have a REALLY nice Giant Monster... Perhaps a Chimera, of some kind? I think all Villains would love a chance to do battle with the 'Legacy Beast'.

[/ QUOTE ]

A Chimera would be very nice. How do you envision it? Some sort of modification of the arachnid wire frames? or a humanoid version? I can't recall any 4-legged creatures in game, so I'm guessing there's no pure 4-legged skeletons to build from. (Why I don't know. You'd think there'd at least be guard dogs with some of the more militant groups)

---

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I mean, you don't expect Midas to have some giant, gold monster

[/ QUOTE ]

And why in the hell not!? That would be awesome.

[/ QUOTE ]

No offense, I simply don't seeing them hauling one around. Monsters typically deal with the arcane, and the unknown, which is why I think the Legacy Chain could have a REALLY nice Giant Monster... Perhaps a Chimera, of some kind? I think all Villains would love a chance to do battle with the 'Legacy Beast'.

[/ QUOTE ]

A Chimera would be very nice. How do you envision it? Some sort of modification of the arachnid wire frames? or a humanoid version? I can't recall any 4-legged creatures in game, so I'm guessing there's no pure 4-legged skeletons to build from. (Why I don't know. You'd think there'd at least be guard dogs with some of the more militant groups)

[/ QUOTE ]

That DOES pose an interesting question, as well as a challenge.

I was thinking of the Chimera you'd see from Gauntlet Dark Legacy, which actually had three long necks with the head of a Snake, Lion, and an Eagle... I think it would be an interesting concept to have to fight a sort of three-in-one Giant Monster... Maybe even make it into a raid, I don't know. All I know is that it would be a challenge.

Admittedly, the biggest challenge of creating a brand new Giant Monster is the developmental challenges it presents to the devs. I'm caught in a conflict of wanting new Villain-side content so badly, but realizing the limited resources of which the devs have to work with.

I'd kill to have BABs give a recommendation of what kind of Giant Monster he'd like to see in Isla De Los Muertos.

---

Anything with more gold brickers and my boy King Midas in it, I'm more than game

x[u] MIDA$[u]

---

@.MIDAS

BIG BROTHER MIDAS, Ice/Ice Dominator, 1314 Badges
* Any toon you see with Midas in the name is probably me *

I'd like to see this as a new zone for villains. They don't have near as many as Heroes do and it does fit the theme for the Rogue Isles being an Island community persay so yeah. Go for it Devs.

---

[ QUOTE ]
Anything with more gold brickers and my boy King Midas in it, I'm more than game

x[u] MIDA$[u]

[/ QUOTE ]

Glad to know I've got the support of Midas to add Midas into the game!

I'm also REALLY looking for some more community input/critique. If you've got an idea for a Giant Monster for the zone, or something else to give the zone some more 'spice' to it, then I'd LOVE to hear it.

And yeah... I'm bumping my own topic after requesting the critique.

---

[ QUOTE ]
I'm usually in favor of villains having new, not regurgitated content, yes. I did think Lusca fit into your new zone idea, though, and in fact with a series of islands in general. I also like the idea of a seafaring GM in general.

*thinks*

You know, we're always going to Pargon via submarine, wouldn't they come at us in a submarine, too? Although I'd really rather not fight more Longbow.

I'm having a bad brain day. I know I can do better than that. Someone please send coffee via the universal speed boost port.

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh please, No Longbow, they are over used in villain side...

Stormy

---

[ QUOTE ]
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

[/ QUOTE ]
I don't know if the CoH engine will do it, but if it could, make each level you descend into the pit reduce the saturation on all colors being rendered, so that as you go deeper into the pit, the world around you, and even the most colorfully-garbed villains, fade into shades of grey with only your powers bringing brief splashes of color into the area.

---

"But in our enthusiasm, we could not resist a radical overhaul of the system, in which all of its major weaknesses have been exposed, analyzed, and replaced with new weaknesses."
-- Bruce Leverett, Register Allocation in Optimizing Compilers