In your thread - stealing your reviews.

Dalghryn · 06-29-2009 10:43 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Originally posted in I'll try yours if you'll try mine
The Consequences of War (Parts 1 and 2)
Author: Dalghryn
Arc ID: 212069 and 212073 <Poster's note: Now 227331 and 241496>

I rated part one of this arc* * * * *
I rated part two of this arc* * *

[/ QUOTE ]

OK, I've updated the first arc a bit, but the big news is I've re-published the second arc, which is now #241496. It's been almost completely revised, and I think it competes very well with the first arc, if not better. I'll leave it to everyone out there to decide.

The SOLUS Foundation - a Liberty and Pinnacle SG

"The Consequences of War" - Arcs # 227331 and 241496

parkin · 06-29-2009 04:13 PM

[ QUOTE ]

OK, I've updated the first arc a bit, but the big news is I've re-published the second arc, which is now #241496.

[/ QUOTE ]

I will have a look, and maybe post a short re-review.

Originally Posted in Yet Another I'll Play Yours If You Play Mine (Frozen Northman)
Spanks For The Memories
by @Spatch
Arc ID: 21144

I rated this arc * * *

Good Points: Spanky Lore!, Frost Cartel mobs.
Bad Points: A bit too challenging, Ruladak Map, plot holes, not enough lead up to ending.

Spanky. Spanky Rabinowitz. Just for his name he gets above Statesman on the best mayor paragon ever had. Good ol' Spanky. I wish the lore badge Researcher was called Spanky instead. He's the possibly dirty ex-mayor of paragon, but under whom the city prospered. Look at the crime figures now State's is in charge! Vote zombie Spanky for mayor!

Anyway - the arc...

[Spoilers]

Allison Rabinowitz is the granddaughter of Spanky; she want's you to investigate his past because it would get her into trouble at work. Spanky has been dead for years (he born 1878), so she send you to Paragon City records to check on his past. The CoT are there looking for his records too. Why? Well they do have a good reason, but that's for later. Why now - just as I'm going to the City Records department years after anything interesting has happened involving Spanky? No reason that I can tell. Unless the crime riddled paragon city has put in place a ticket system on major city building whereby villain groups must wait til their alloted time to assault them.

Allison afterwards is shocked by the CoT presence and in order to learn more sends you to find the Frost family (big gangster family from Spanky's era). Errm, not say some CoT to get info on this hot lead? No? Did you send the CoT to investigate too, Allison?

Anyway the Frost family are pretty cool, and a reasonable challange for my IO'ed up 32 BS/Regen scrapper. They are a bit of dead end but add some to the Spanky lore; a fine side mission.

When you come back, who would believe it but the CoT have been nicking some Spanky stuff from his old office collection! If only we had the opportunity to do something about this earlier! Anyway - you chase them down, get the map, and learn that Spanky's soul is still "around" in the possession of the "Soul Stealers". These Stealers are the enemy of the Thorns, and right Bad Mo Fo's.

The stealer boss (Soul Seductress) sends me to the hospital twice in a couple of fights that last all of 5 seconds each. Extreme level attacks are fun! I rub myself down in purples and take her down. Her speech and info text indicate "The siren calls of this evil enticer are nigh irresistable.(sic)" and "Oh darling, look into my eyes.....you do not wish to hurt me." but has no kind of mind control power. Just FIRE! I suppose fire is seductive...

Anyway you also find a map of Dark Astoria. While she's decyphering it she sends you off to fight some Soul Demons who are covering Moth Cemetary in their evil burny flappyness. "Funny, you've never seen them here before." Yes it is funny. Why now? Ah the same reason the thorns were in the warehouse! Because of stuff - and things!

When you get back Allison has remembered she can see and read. "Here, on the map, a cave entrance marked by my great grandfather's handwriting." Oh didn't think that was important did you before I went to fight those holidaying demons? Fair enough. I'll head off to hell then...

This map is a PITA. Its the Ruladak Caves. Against some fracking annoying mobs (the worst offender being the mob spelt like Acquiesce, who short circuits you at the first opportunity). The final mob is an EB Fire Melee/Fire Armor. Firey Embrace and Build Up + Greater fire sword = dead. Also Healing flames makes the fight last forever, then I eventually lose when one of the aforementioned hits lands.

I'm going to say this in bold and caps as it's not the first time it's annoyed me. ONLY PUT REQUIRED FIRE ARMOR EBS/AVS IN YOUR ARC IF YOU WANT SOLO FIRE BASED CHARACTERS TO RAGE QUIT. AE should have that warning too.

I laughed at the contact's text when I spoke to her after my fourth defeat. "Don't quit now." How did she know??

Anyway through dogged perseverance I get through and 'save' spanky. Who tells me some stuff. Hmmn. SPOILER Apparently he sold his soul to the Soul Stealers to stop the whole of Paragon turning into Dark Astoria. So therefore he will not leave.
If you are going to drop something like that in an arc, it needs some leadup. How do these stelers have the capacity to do that or stop that? How did Spanky know? It's an annoying end, instead of a sad end as it makes no sense.

This arc scraped 3 stars based upon it's Spanky references. Some background on the stealers may push it to a solid 3, re-writing the whole of mission 5 may make it a 4.

In short some extra Spanky lore if you love that guy, but bring fire tank for the last mob.