Fodder for the Canon: Ask your lore questions here
By
Abraxxus,
Posted on: 2009-05-29 10:25 in Developers' Corner
During the contest to create the in-game Theatre Marquee there was historical background published on Galaxy City which mentioned it used to have a film studio and movie lot. (The contest winner was the marquee that is now on all the theatres: "Rise of the Council: The Broken Column starring Fractured Dawn")
At the same time the Paragon Times article about the "Orion-Majestic Theatre" came out, but if I remember correctly the contest details had additional information about the old movie industry in Galaxy City.
Was there a Film Studio in Galaxy City's Nebula District?
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"Chew Electric Death, Snarling Cur!"
The Nemesis army is my favorite villain group, so I have a few questions about their ever plotting leader, Nemesis.
What is Nemesis' name?
What is known about his life before he became the super villain he is now?
Finally, is it really all a Nemesis plot? 
Carnival of Shadows question:
What, exactly, are the Strongmen?
The track star mission (and possibly several other things) point to them being undead. Casey actually says that she thinks they're animated corpses, and Samson's examination shows that he, at least, definitely is.
On the other hand, the in-game info on them suggests that they're alive--the Bronzes' info refers to their training regimen, the Irons' says that they earn their rank after serving for a year and a day, and the Steels' info says they have served for five years and a day. It's plausible that the Bronzes are trained, then soul-drained and reanimated, but the "loyal service" for the other two types doesn't make sense in that context. For that matter, I would expect a corpse--animated or not--to be pretty obviously dead after 5 years (and a day).
As a final point, the Undead Slaying Axe does not deal extra damage to them, so they're not classed as "true undead". I asked Castle about this way back, and he said, "I'm not sure on the fiction behind it, but I am assured by the writers that Strongmen are not undead."
So, what are they? Alive? Undead? Living shells inhabited by fragments of Vanessa's soul? Telekinetically animated corpses? Some mix of those options?
The Way of the Corruptor (Arc ID 49834): Hey villains! Do something for yourself for a change--like twisting the elements to your will. All that's standing in your way are a few secret societies...and Champions of the four elements.
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The Nemesis army is my favorite villain group, so I have a few questions about their ever plotting leader, Nemesis.
What is Nemesis' name?
What is known about his life before he became the super villain he is now?
Finally, is it really all a Nemesis plot?
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Not all of it, most of it. And while I don't have the info in front of me, yes, all these have been answered before. You'll have to wait for me to get home tonight, or wait for someone else who has the info closer to post. 
There are no words for what this community, and the friends I have made here mean to me. Please know that I care for all of you, yes, even you. If you Twitter, I'm MrThan. If you're Unleashed, I'm dumps. I'll try and get registered on the Titan Forums as well. Peace, and thanks for the best nine years anyone could ever ask for.
My question is in regards to the Korean version of the game that closed down.
(If any of this is already out there, I apologize in advance, and I would love the relevant links)
Okay, here goes:
Was there a completely different storyline and setting for that game, or was it a more or less a translated version of what we have here?
Additionally, if it was it's own entity with unique story, lore and locations; what happened to all of that data? Is it still floating around, or does it require translation (If so I'd love to have a crack at it)?
Thanks, and I hope I didn't sidetrack or derail too many people's lore questions.
Optimism_Penguin aka @Unchained Malice
Virtue
Ooh thats a good one Penguin, can we get a European answer to that as well?
The European game is identical to ours, aside from the language it's presented in. You can check that yourself by looking at the Euro website(s).
I've always wondered- was it the Rikti War that trashed so much of the Rogue Isles, or what did the damage? There are very modern-seeming roadways and bridges that look like they've been bombed, especially in St. Martial.
I still find it stupid that the Malta named some of their titans after Zeus, given that Zeus and his fellow gods defeated the titans.
Okay, maybe I'm dumb and just missed it, but I can't seem to find it anywhere. What's the official name of the emergency teleport system that sends you to the hospital after being defeated, or did I just answer my own question?
"I may," he said with a grin that would have sent sane men scampering for the trees, "have been imagining it."
http://wiki.cohtitan.com/wiki/Officer_Flint
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Medicom and Defeat
The Medicom is a state of the art analysis and healing device. It will analyze the current medical status of a friendly target and teleport them to the nearest hospital upon defeat. Equipping every Hero with a Medicom patch is the only thing keeping Paragon City from being overrun.
If you have an associate that can revive you, you may wait for that instead by not clicking OK in the dialog box that appears upon defeat.
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...I forgot what experience means.
I've got two questions in this, so I'll list them and the research I've found.
1) Are Agent Indigo, Shadow Spider, and Agent Crimson Mutants?
We know that both Agent Indigo and Shadow Spider were originally Knives of Artemis and they each have the exact same abilities. However, Indigo's biography states that she can see the future and Crimson's states that he has super human reflexes. Does all this come from just being exceptionally well trained or is it mutated?
2) Do the Knives of Artemis and the Malta Operatives accept mutants and/or supers into their ranks?
Assuming Indigo's premonitions come from mutant powers, we would know that the Knives recruited a mutant into their ranks (perhaps unwittingly). We also know that Malta Operatives work with the Knives often, and Malta are known to not have any particular fondness to metahumans or supers in general. Logically, Knives containing supers or mutants would cause a schism between them and the Malta, hurting their working relationship, thus the question.
Thanks, Spacenut. Forgot about the Hero Tutorial. Should have figured it'd be there.
"I may," he said with a grin that would have sent sane men scampering for the trees, "have been imagining it."
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Assuming Indigo's premonitions come from mutant powers, we would know that the Knives recruited a mutant into their ranks (perhaps unwittingly). We also know that Malta Operatives work with the Knives often, and Malta are known to not have any particular fondness to metahumans or supers in general. Logically, Knives containing supers or mutants would cause a schism between them and the Malta, hurting their working relationship, thus the question.
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Malta don't have a problem with supers per se, just uncontrolled supers, such as our characters. The group was formed by intelligence agents in charge of meta-human operations, after the Might for Right act was overturned. So they're used to supers working for them.
Being a member of the Knives might count as "under control." Then again, we are never told why Indigo left, iirc.
Edit: According to ParagonWiki, Indigo is a mutation origin contact. Eeeeenteresting.
Eva Destruction AR/Fire/Munitions Blaster
Darkfire Avenger DM/SD/Body Scrapper
Arc ID#161629 Freaks, Geeks, and Men in Black
Arc ID#431270 Until the End of the World
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Malta don't have a problem with supers per se, just uncontrolled supers, such as our characters. The group was formed by intelligence agents in charge of meta-human operations, after the Might for Right act was overturned. So they're used to supers working for them.
Being a member of the Knives might count as "under control." Then again, we are never told why Indigo left, iirc.
Edit: According to ParagonWiki, Indigo is a mutation origin contact. Eeeeenteresting.
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That actually raises further questions, specifically what qualifies as "Uncontrolledl?" Some heroes are part of government recognized organizations and have some limits or rules about their powers while others (PCs) are likely free agents. Another point to bring up is that Malta constantly stress that all their members are fully human, bots and technology notwithstanding, and Slingers are the pride of everyone because they can take down a super.
As for the mutant entry in ParagonWiki, that comes from the fact that she sells Mutant Enhancements (Crimson's in there too). Likewise, they show up in MA contacts as Mutation, but then so does Amanda Loomis who is very much not a mutant. It's just confusing all around.
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Malta don't have a problem with supers per se, just uncontrolled supers, such as our characters. The group was formed by intelligence agents in charge of meta-human operations, after the Might for Right act was overturned. So they're used to supers working for them.
Being a member of the Knives might count as "under control." Then again, we are never told why Indigo left, iirc.
Edit: According to ParagonWiki, Indigo is a mutation origin contact. Eeeeenteresting.
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That actually raises further questions, specifically what qualifies as "Uncontrolledl?" Some heroes are part of government recognized organizations and have some limits or rules about their powers while others (PCs) are likely free agents. Another point to bring up is that Malta constantly stress that all their members are fully human, bots and technology notwithstanding, and Slingers are the pride of everyone because they can take down a super.
As for the mutant entry in ParagonWiki, that comes from the fact that she sells Mutant Enhancements (Crimson's in there too). Likewise, they show up in MA contacts as Mutation, but then so does Amanda Loomis who is very much not a mutant. It's just confusing all around.
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It's also worth noting that Malta employs supers when they can. There's a shapeshifter known as Moment working for them in one of the latter arcs (I think it's World Wide Red, but not 100%).
Manticore, is there any history for Wentworth's Fine Consignments? Was it named after a character of the same name, or maybe connected to Hero Corps as they also charge for their hero aiding services?
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.Driver Sweeper * CohHelper * HijackThis * TweakCoH * CPU-ID
* Defraggler * Program Security Scan * PC Performance Scan *
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Malta don't have a problem with supers per se, just uncontrolled supers, such as our characters. The group was formed by intelligence agents in charge of meta-human operations, after the Might for Right act was overturned. So they're used to supers working for them.
Being a member of the Knives might count as "under control." Then again, we are never told why Indigo left, iirc.
Edit: According to ParagonWiki, Indigo is a mutation origin contact. Eeeeenteresting.
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That actually raises further questions, specifically what qualifies as "Uncontrolledl?" Some heroes are part of government recognized organizations and have some limits or rules about their powers while others (PCs) are likely free agents.
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The whole reason the Malta group was formed was because they didn't trust their governments to do what was "necessary." So I doubt that government-approved supers count as "controlled."
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Another point to bring up is that Malta constantly stress that all their members are fully human, bots and technology notwithstanding, and Slingers are the pride of everyone because they can take down a super.
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Yeah, if I was going around telling everybody how dangerous supers are, I'd hide my own supers too. It is mentioned in a few of the missions that they try to get supers to work for them, through various nefarious means, there is one from Indigo where you have to prevent Malta from making a young superhero look bad so they can take advantage of her. And as SMerc pointed out, Moment.
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As for the mutant entry in ParagonWiki, that comes from the fact that she sells Mutant Enhancements (Crimson's in there too).
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I know, but it is eeenteresting.
Eva Destruction AR/Fire/Munitions Blaster
Darkfire Avenger DM/SD/Body Scrapper
Arc ID#161629 Freaks, Geeks, and Men in Black
Arc ID#431270 Until the End of the World
I have a question on morals for statesman/manticore.
Statesman frowns upon manticore's under cover way of doing things, such like his TF involving crey. Though statesman himself sends heroes to stop recluse undercover. How can statesman deem what is okay and manticore cannot?
I just finished reading the Blueking print of the CoH comic on the site. At the end I got a chuckle from the last panel then I got to thinking... What ever happened to Apex after all that?
With love,
Me! <3
My Characters
Story Arcs Looking for Feedback:
Serving Vengeance:#419748 (For Villains/Vigilantes) (Drama/Mystery) (Viable Within Canon)
Dark Moon Rising: #13170 (For Heroes/Vigilantes) (Horror/Mystery) (Non-Canon)
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I have a question on morals for statesman/manticore.
Statesman frowns upon manticore's under cover way of doing things, such like his TF involving crey. Though statesman himself sends heroes to stop recluse undercover. How can statesman deem what is okay and manticore cannot?
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Errr... because Statesman is a self-righteous, egotistical jerk? 
"Don't you know who I am? I'M ZEUS, [censored]!"
"OK, first of all... Shut Up." - My 13-Year-Old Daughter
29973 "The Running of the Bulls" [SFMA] - WINNER of the Mighty Big Story Arc Contest !
- The Stellar Wind Orbital Space Platform
Odd question: Are there/were there any factions that advocate/advocated basically "returning the favor" to the Rikti for their Invasion?
WOLVES AND BEES 2012
Okay, now for some silly questions that I am nevertheless quite serious about receiving an official answer to.
[*] When Manticore started out as a Trick Arrow/Archery Defender, how did he deal with "r u healr" tells?[*] So, Blue Steel has Shield Defense. What's his other powerset(s)?[*] Aside from the fact there's no pole-arm powerset, is there a reason Valkyrie uses a sword instead of that spear she always carries on her back?
Formerly known as Stormy_D
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The Nemesis army is my favorite villain group, so I have a few questions about their ever plotting leader, Nemesis.
What is Nemesis' name?
What is known about his life before he became the super villain he is now?
Finally, is it really all a Nemesis plot?
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I can answer those first two:
Nemesis' real name is Gerhardt Eisenstadt, according the Web of Arachnos novel.
Born in 1804, his family ran a very rich arms dealing company that produced weapons for the Prussian, Austrian and Russian armies. Gerhardt, as such, was a rather spoiled child. His criminallity started to come around when he got a life-size clockwork horse for his 12th birthday. He was fascinated with it, and after it broke down, he became interested in learning how to make Clockwork devices of his own. Gerhardt quickly learned how to surpass the creations of the engineers who made the clockwork horse, and eventually made a humanoid clockwork machine (which he promptly used to kill his brother, Tobias Eisenstadt, who was jealous of his abilities and had constantly hassled him to make something "practical").
That's basically where he stopped being innocent little Gerhardt and became the Prussian Prince of Automatons. He was also involved the American Civil War, where he attempted to aid the South, but was stopped when the war ended at Appomatox, and his little hideout was bombed by the Union navy.
Re: Paragon City - How does Paragon map on to the real world? I recall that someone (Jack?) once said that Paragon City is roughly the equivalent of Providence. Whether this meant that Paragon took over prominence from Providence (so Providence might still be the capitol, but otherwise a smaller city of less significance) or replaced it entirely is unclear.
Re: Croatoa - What are the roots that the Cabal are digging for so desperately? Sasparilla? Mandrake? Something magical? I can't find any explanation for this behavior anywhere in or out of the game.
Re: General Lore - While I'm the first to appreciate that the lore of the game is a complex tapestry, I'm of the opinion that when players find themselves unable to reliably answer basic questions about the setting such as "What is Freedom Corps and what do they actually do?" and others that are being asked/clarified in this thread that the back story is a bit TOO obfuscated.
This situation is exacerbated when a significant chunk of the lore resides on the website in the form of either red-name forum posts that are subject to deletion when threads are trimmed or entire arms of the website, like the Paragon Times, that disappear when the website is re-designed. What are the odds that someone will make the content of the "story bible" and other backstory content available as a kind of "Handbook of the 'City Of' Universe"? Is the Paragon Times gone for good or are the website people going to put it back online where it belongs?