Yikes - just realised I posted this thread early by accident.... I was still editing.
Errrr.... arc ids and indeed the arcs will appear when th eservers are back up!
By my mohawk shall ye know me!
my toons
Funny: Ee-Ai-Ee-Ai-Oh! #3662 * The foul-mouthed Handyman! #1076 * City of Norms #132944
Serious: To Save A Single World (#83744) * Marketing Opportunity (#83747)
Hmm, sounds intriguing.
I will give them a shot later on (probably not before Saturday). But remembering the bad mouth talk from Mr Handyman whose fist spoke even more louder, I better not try with my most squishiest of my squishy toon collection. 
Well - that was a right SNAFU... prematurely posting the OP, then the devs take out the prisoners group that is used in 'To Save a Single World', then I realise I need to unlock a couple of extras on that account to publish... what a kerfuffle.
Anyway - the arcs are now published, so here's the details including the arc ids:
First, the arc details:
arc name: To Save A Single World
arc id: 83744
author: @Electric Barbarella
morality: heroic
lvl range: 29 to 40
arc info:
It's rumoured that the Council is developing a new secret weapon, so you infiltrate a base to find out more - but soon things take a turn for the unexpected...
arc name: Marketing Opportunity
arc id: 83747
author: @Electric Barbarella
morality: villainous
lvl range: 30 to 40
arc info:
Discrete freelancer required to market Crey services to parallel dimension. Applicants with dynamic, go-getting moral framework preferred.
Additional Notes:
* The Prisoners group was removed, but it looks like the prisoner mobs that I had in a custom group still remained valid. As such I've been able to keep prisoners in the mission - although not the whole 'Prisoners' standard villain group.
The system passed these mobs, no text file editing was involved and the mission certainly ain't exploiting them... so hopefully they can remain in the mission. Sadly though, it does mean that only a subset of Prisoners Lts/Boss has made it in to the mission.
Hopefully when the devs return Prisoners to general use I can replace the custom group with the standard and save some arc space!
By my mohawk shall ye know me!
my toons
Funny: Ee-Ai-Ee-Ai-Oh! #3662 * The foul-mouthed Handyman! #1076 * City of Norms #132944
Serious: To Save A Single World (#83744) * Marketing Opportunity (#83747)
These two arcs are now listed at cityofguides - so you can go there to comment, review and find out what others had to say about these!
By my mohawk shall ye know me!
my toons
Funny: Ee-Ai-Ee-Ai-Oh! #3662 * The foul-mouthed Handyman! #1076 * City of Norms #132944
Serious: To Save A Single World (#83744) * Marketing Opportunity (#83747)
[ QUOTE ]
The Prisoners group was removed, but it looks like the prisoner mobs that I had in a custom group still remained valid.
[/ QUOTE ]If newly uploaded groups also pass the check that's a huuuuge exploit, since you can freely edit the group files.
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
The Prisoners group was removed, but it looks like the prisoner mobs that I had in a custom group still remained valid.
[/ QUOTE ]If newly uploaded groups also pass the check that's a huuuuge exploit, since you can freely edit the group files.
[/ QUOTE ]
I don't actually know if that's the case - as my existing group only had Lts and a boss from the Prisoners group and since I don't know exactly why the Prisoners were removed it's possible that it was an exploit using Prisoner minions.
If they told us more detail about why they removed the darn group we could maybe judge for ourselves.
Best not tell them though - because the heavy handed let's use an A-bomb to crack a nut approach that the devs use for dealing with exploits would probably mean that they decide to remove standard mobs from custom groups altogether... If it's not WAI I certainly don't have faith in the devs dealing with it in a manner that addresses the root issue and causes minimal disruption elsewhere.
Yeah - a nights sleep and I'm still pee'd off. 
By my mohawk shall ye know me!
my toons
Funny: Ee-Ai-Ee-Ai-Oh! #3662 * The foul-mouthed Handyman! #1076 * City of Norms #132944
Serious: To Save A Single World (#83744) * Marketing Opportunity (#83747)
Done Marketing Opportunity and it surely was an evil wicked plot. Sure the story been told before but participating in this sort of thing makes you feel rather evil.
Wasn't to fond about the multiple remarks that people died but that is a personal thing.
You used the option to customize your own groups with a vengeance and that resulted in a few interesting opponents. Best thing was that the opponents, even if they were the same group, kept adapting to the story. Clever use of the possibilities that MA offers here. Only problem I had was with the appearance of Rippers. That was breaking the 4th wall a bit.
I must say that this is an arc where a bit of ghosting is to be recommended. As some of the maps (the last one particualry) is to big to just fight everybody. And I didn't get paid to fight everybody in there!
If you got space, then a bit of pimping up might be worth it. Your custom characters are a bit bare on their info. Another small thing was the evidence I had to plant, would be more interesting if you could elaborate on that.
All in all, I am interested enough to try the other side here as well
Firstly - thanks again for playing the arc & commenting!
I'll reply to a couple of points in spoilertext (just in case...):
[ QUOTE ]
Only problem I had was with the appearance of Rippers. That was breaking the 4th wall a bit.
[/ QUOTE ]
Not quite 4th wall breaking, surely? It would certainly be very odd & contrary to canon if it happened on our Earth - but it's happening on an alternate Earth of relative peace, no rikti, little crime etc... so no reason why Paragon and Rogue Isles would be enemies (after all - no Lord Recluse or Statesman etc...) If the MA editor supported it, I would rename/re-info the RIP mobs, but I don't consider it too bad given the 'an alternative dimension did it' escape clause!
[ QUOTE ]
If you got space, then a bit of pimping up might be worth it. Your custom characters are a bit bare on their info.
[/ QUOTE ]
Lack of space was the reason why the info got reduced in the past few days - they did have much bigger info/bios until the size went over 100%! IIRC Each of these arcs come in at over 99%...
[ QUOTE ]
Another small thing was the evidence I had to plant, would be more interesting if you could elaborate on that.
[/ QUOTE ]
The evidence was the equipment and insignia picked off the raid leader and his men in the mission before you plant it. This equipment & insignia is mentioned in a clue - I did originally say something along the lines of 'You'll keep this just in case it comes in handy...' but that felt too much like spelling out the obvious. I think that being more explicit could come across as patronising to some players.
[ QUOTE ]
All in all, I am interested enough to try the other side here as well
[/ QUOTE ]
Hope that you enjoy that one - it hopefully meshes quite well - the bits I'm not entirely happy about are generally the places I've had to fudge a little due to the MA game mechanics not quite doing what I want...
Hopefully the story in my head meshes well, it's whether I managed to get anything close to that into the arc!
By my mohawk shall ye know me!
my toons
Funny: Ee-Ai-Ee-Ai-Oh! #3662 * The foul-mouthed Handyman! #1076 * City of Norms #132944
Serious: To Save A Single World (#83744) * Marketing Opportunity (#83747)
I understand the reasoning, but why would they need RIP to be there in the first place? Their own very heavily armed and armored policeman should be up for the job. Why get squishie cops from RI come over then?
Shame, you ran out of space to add more details. Can't be helped I guess. Despite that, it is well worth the time spend to play it.
Done the hero part as well. Still a shame that you are at your space maximum again. The two stories fit nicely together with the little in continuity i told you about in a tell.
I recommend doing the villain side first btw. All in all, to me you have proved that: Yes you can do serious.
Responding to points from tells that may be raised by others, on To Save A Single World:
[ QUOTE ]
One thing that did seem wrong however was one of the 5 having survived to come here.
[/ QUOTE ]
Well that was set up from the start, though space willing I may try to make it a little more obvious (maybe using the Scientist who knew Red Flame in TSASW #3 or a clue in MO #4).
Red Flames bio in MO states: "No-one knows which planet Red Flame came from, but her natural control of flame lets her protect Tau-Phi-71 as part of The Five."
The idea was always that Red Flame appears dead but isn't - and all due to the wizard-doping of being an alien (with amazing regenerative qualities).
And when you defeat her she says: "I will burn you for eternity. You cannot snuff this flame so easily."
Why can't you snuff the flame so easily? Because she can regen/resurrect... so there is a set up there, though fairly subtle.
Paraphrasing next point:
[ QUOTE ]
It wasn't clear in mission 1 of TSASW that Red Flame wasn't a friend of the Council.
[/ QUOTE ]
Of course, most of the story is based upon mistaken belief that Red Flame is a villain as she turns up at a Council base when you're investigating there.
If you could spawn bosses without any accompanying enemy group then I would... as it was she has to have some baddies around her - which is one part I'm not too happy about. But it's the only way under the current MA engine.
However... she is set as 'Rogue' so she will attack Council units and I've seen her attack patrols and even the base commander once (hey - I was on a squishy and had to beat a strategic retreat).
BTW - don't know if you spotted these touches:
* Red Flame has a different info screen each time you meet her, she goes through:
--- mission 1: "This must be a new villain aiding the council."
--- mission 4: "Red Flame is a heroine trying to save her home dimension of Tau-Phi-71. After initially believing her to be a villain, you need to gain her trust..."
--- mission 5: "Red Flame is trying to save her dimension from Crey interference."
These are all different to her info in MO#4.
* The clue when you disable/destroy the security console in TSASW#1 reads:
"As you disabled the security console you noticed that the alarm system must have some wires crossed - it wrongly identified the security breach as a physical breach at the front door rather than computer hacking. Hopefully the Council won't realise that you were after their data..."
It actually identified the breach as being at the front door as it was Red Flame breaking in that triggered the alarms... your hacking was not detected. This is never made more explicit - but hopefully some will notice it and make the right deduction that maybe it was something/someone else - pointing to Red Flame maybe not being with the Council...
By my mohawk shall ye know me!
my toons
Funny: Ee-Ai-Ee-Ai-Oh! #3662 * The foul-mouthed Handyman! #1076 * City of Norms #132944
Serious: To Save A Single World (#83744) * Marketing Opportunity (#83747)
Note that I have had feedback stating that the end confrontations of To Save A Single World are not soloable:
[ QUOTE ]
I enjoyed this arc until I hit the last stage when I came across an Elite Boss with a 3 Boss bodyguard.
I seriously would not consider that to be soloable.
[/ QUOTE ]
Source at City of Guides
What rep/teamsize were you on?
The end bosses are both EBs and the guard group has a mix of levels.
Soloing on challenge levl 1 (heroic/villainous) I have always seen the EBs downgraded to bosses. You also have an ally who is naturally a boss, but may be downgraded on low reps.
IIRC this has always been very soloable even with my squishies (e.g. a lvl27 controller or various levels of blaster) with me usually facing EB + non-boss guards with a lt ally!
If the boss was an EB with 3 bosses as a guard on heroic/villainous then the server spawned incorrect mobs - i.e. a bug! If you were on higher difficulty then it doesn't invalidate the arc being soloable at lower reps!
Given the trend for cramming EBs/AVs into arcs I try to avoid them, or make sure that you have some assistance available for EBs!
I also try to test solo on a wide variety of ATs/levels - before the last 2 levels were complete I even ran through with various team-build defenders... they had a hard time, and chewed insps at points, but even they could just about manage...
I try to err towards story and a too-easy-for-some arc rather than a too challenging arc - you can always up your rep if it's too easy, but if it's too hard then people drop out and the best story in the world is tarnished/unread if the player feels they are banging their head against a brick wall!
By my mohawk shall ye know me!
my toons
Funny: Ee-Ai-Ee-Ai-Oh! #3662 * The foul-mouthed Handyman! #1076 * City of Norms #132944
Serious: To Save A Single World (#83744) * Marketing Opportunity (#83747)
[ QUOTE ]
Responding to points from tells that may be raised by others, on To Save A Single World:
[/ QUOTE ]
I had spotted all of your clues. But ashamed I must say that a few were to subtle for my mind. I was probably sleepy at the time (trying to save my face here).
But just for the sake of others who are a bit clueless now and then, you might be a little less subtle, especially about the dead heroine returning thing.
About the arc not being soloable. I did not have any trouble on heroic with my DB/WS scrapper who still runs around with lowly SO's.
I was on tenatious, as a scrapper heroic is a bit too easy.
Edit: And I was solo
[ QUOTE ]
I was on tenatious, as a scrapper heroic is a bit too easy.
Edit: And I was solo
[/ QUOTE ]
The 3 boss guards may have been th eserver throwing a slight wobbly then! The guard group has minions/lts/bosses.
But obviously as a scrapper heroic wasn't a bit too easy for this mission! 
By my mohawk shall ye know me!
my toons
Funny: Ee-Ai-Ee-Ai-Oh! #3662 * The foul-mouthed Handyman! #1076 * City of Norms #132944
Serious: To Save A Single World (#83744) * Marketing Opportunity (#83747)
My philosophy is: If you put in a elite boss for me to fight, I'm gona fight it as an elite boss
AV's are a difent matter as it's very dificult to get them when you play solo
But when you do a run at tenacious then you cannot say that it is not soloable.
why not? That's how I run every Dev arc, even the ones with Arch Villains (admittedly, downgraded to EBs) and I manage to solo those just fine.
Edit to include: You dont see bosses on the street downgraded to LTs if your on heroic, so the way I see it is that the game is intended to play at tenatious. So it is on that I base my judgments on.
[ QUOTE ]
why not? That's how I run every Dev arc, even the ones with Arch Villains (admittedly, downgraded to EBs) and I manage to solo those just fine.
[/ QUOTE ]
But commenting that you don't think a solo player could beat that boss is not the full comment and gives a false idea about that arc. It should have been a soloplayer on Tenacious.
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
why not? That's how I run every Dev arc, even the ones with Arch Villains (admittedly, downgraded to EBs) and I manage to solo those just fine.
[/ QUOTE ]
But commenting that you don't think a solo player could beat that boss is not the full comment and gives a false idea about that arc. It should have been a soloplayer on Tenacious.
[/ QUOTE ]
I would have thaught that including the phrase "Elite Boss" may have been a hint considering if I was on heroic it would have been a "Boss". But then I have the tendency to beleve other people put as much thaught into what they read as I do and am often disapointed. So you may be right there
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
why not? That's how I run every Dev arc, even the ones with Arch Villains (admittedly, downgraded to EBs) and I manage to solo those just fine.
[/ QUOTE ]
But commenting that you don't think a solo player could beat that boss is not the full comment and gives a false idea about that arc. It should have been a soloplayer on Tenacious.
[/ QUOTE ]
I would have thaught that including the phrase "Elite Boss" may have been a hint considering if I was on heroic it would have been a "Boss". But then I have the tendency to beleve other people put as much thaught into what they read as I do and am often disapointed. So you may be right there
[/ QUOTE ]
Remember Murphy's Law. It also goes for writing stuff.
I feel kinda bad now, Just checked out City of Guides and I dont see any way to edit the review I posted to include "Solo on Tenatious" 
Edit: *Attempts to fix transgression by posting a second review based on experiance playing the arc on heroic*
[ QUOTE ]
You dont see bosses on the street downgraded to LTs if your on heroic, so the way I see it is that the game is intended to play at tenatious.
[/ QUOTE ]Well, it's not. Heroic is the baseline, default difficulty, everything else is there to provide an optional challenge.
Thankyou for letting me know my opinion is invalid, are there any other opinions of mine you'd like to casually dismiss out of hand whilst you're here? 
TL;DR - JD does a couple of connected, non-humorous arcs and would like feedback on whether it works or if he should stick to poor puns.
Like a first class idiot (ok - maybe 2nd class - there's always room for improving my idiocy) I had an idea for a serious arc which soon became a couple of connected yet standalone arcs.
Now I'd love people to try them to let me know if the darn thing works at all... but I wanted to give some notes/background/spoiler on what I've tried to do. Since that'd probably hijack a review/announcement thread I thought I'd best stick it in it's own thread...
First, the arc details:
arc name: To Save A Single World
arc id: ?????
author: @Electric Barbarella
morality: heroic
lvl range: 29 to 40
arc info:
It's rumoured that the Council is developing a new secret weapon, so you infiltrate a base to find out more - but soon things take a turn for the unexpected...
arc name: Marketing Opportunity
arc id: ?????
author: @Electric Barbarella
morality: villainous
lvl range: 30 to 40
arc info:
Discrete freelancer required to market Crey services to parallel dimension. Applicants with dynamic, go-getting moral framework preferred.
They are designed to work together, but unlike some multipart stories they are also meant to work well as standalone arcs. The problem is that each arc is possibly better played if you don't know about the other arc...
I'll explain - but whiting-out as this'll contain spoilers:
Both arcs try to tell the story of an alternate dimension's dealings with our dimension. The two arcs involving Tau-Phi-71 are opposite moralities as in the villainous one you play the badguy who wrecks a pretty peaceful dimension, and the heroic arc finds you helping save the dimension from the consequences of the villainous arc.
The whole thing started with the basic idea for the heroic arc: wondering why, when our heroes go to alternate dimensions, do they never get mistaken for villains - even though we usually just turn up and start bashing the crud out of anyone we see!
So I decided to do an arc showing the flipside, where starts with an early misunderstanding about a hero come to our dimension to save her own world being mistaken for a villain.
Whilst the villainous arc is first chronologically, it effectively acts as spoilers for the heroic arc (as you, the player, already knows that the superpowered person is a heroine from TP71 even though you, the character, do not).
Does the idea of heroic and villainous arcs telling opposite sides of the same story work? Or did I need to recap too much about TP71 in the heroic arc?
BTW - there are some minor bugs/annoyances just now and things I wish MA was changed to support:
* In To Save A Single World
--- I used a couple of mission clues to deliver testimony/reports that you get 'after leaving the mission'... not the nicest way to do it, but MA doesn't let you give a clue when returning to the contact after a mission.
--- mission 1: The destructible object sometimes appears in 'odd' places (wich you could chain glowy objectives - then I'd use a glowy) and the 'Secret Weapon' doesn't battle her Council escort until after engaging in combat with you...
--- mission 2: The police and prisoners are meant to be battling near the escort. On one of the test runs, AFAIK, the police didn't bother turning up for the fight and multiple ambushes spawned (instead?). All other test runs have been fine.
--- mission 3: The civilians just stand there when rescued, even the one you escort.
--- mission 5: Why oh why can't you enter a mission with an ally? Instead I had to have your ally race to the mission 5min ahead of you...
* In Marketing Opportunity:
--- mission 3: Again - why can't you have an ally start with you...
So if anyone has chance I'd like any feedback. Especially as some of the feedback may vary depending on whether you play one or both arcs and which order you play them in...
Over the past few weeks, I've played missions from both arcs solo on a few characters - and there's nothing that was too scary. But your soloing mileage may vary and they've not been tested with teams yet. Solo with characters that can solo (even squishies) each arc has usually taken me up to c.30 minutes checking all text/info/clues as I go...
Hopefully you'll like them, but, being way out of my defensive-humour comfort zone, it's very possible that I've just written the biggest pile of tosh so far seen in the MA...
By my mohawk shall ye know me!
my toons
Funny: Ee-Ai-Ee-Ai-Oh! #3662 * The foul-mouthed Handyman! #1076 * City of Norms #132944
Serious: To Save A Single World (#83744) * Marketing Opportunity (#83747)