The perils of 'official' content
By
Amy_Amp,
Posted on: 2009-08-13 11:19 in CoH and CoV General Discussions
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Since I don't want to make comments on the works of people not currently here, I'm going to say that playing that arc made me feel like a grumpy old man. And that's not a good thing.|
Originally Posted by Nethergoat
hey, I found an arc for Sam to try out this AM.
Fun story, top notch writing, fun custom bosses that aren't too tough, good for lowbies- Arc #301788, Big Ideas by @amazing amazon, with an assist from the market forums own Fulmens (I actually found it by searching for his global). As good as any lowbie arc in the game. It 'feels' like official content, only fresher. |
I really don't like the Architect.
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Originally Posted by Arcanaville
Samuel_Tow is the only poster that makes me want to punch him in the head more often when I'm agreeing with him than when I'm disagreeing with him.
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The writing was equal to or better than 95% of all the 'real' content I've played, the maps were interesting and well chosen and the enemies were 'real' with some fun, different bosses to add spice.|
Originally Posted by Samuel_Tow
Since I don't want to make comments on the works of people not currently here, I'm going to say that playing that arc made me feel like a grumpy old man. And that's not a good thing.
I really don't like the Architect. |
This confirms my impression that your dislike for MA is an arbitrary personal quirk with no relation to the quality of its better storylines. It'll be interesting to see your reaction to whatever dev content we get in the future, since it will also be created with MA.
The Nethergoat Archive: all my memories, all my characters, all my thoughts on CoH...eventually.
My City Was Gone
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The arc was also intentionally comedic, something I HATE, did not give me a SINGLE clue, or indeed a souvenir, had a story that was essentially thee times "go there and do that" and was about as mundane as they come. Granted, it's not worse by some of the old developer content and is probably on the same level as most of the CoV content, but then, as I've said before, that content is NOT GOOD.|
Originally Posted by Nethergoat
The writing was equal to or better than 95% of all the 'real' content I've played, the maps were interesting and well chosen and the enemies were 'real' with some fun, different bosses to add spice.
This confirms my impression that your dislike for MA is an arbitrary personal quirk with no relation to the quality of its better storylines. It'll be interesting to see your reaction to whatever dev content we get in the future, since it will also be created with MA. |
I dislike the architect for how it is set up, so it would take an arc that is actually interesting to me for me to want to deal with it. So far, I have not seen an arc that was actually interesting. Some are well done, some are even great, but few are actually interesting.
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Originally Posted by Arcanaville
Samuel_Tow is the only poster that makes me want to punch him in the head more often when I'm agreeing with him than when I'm disagreeing with him.
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I'm curious what keeps you hanging around since you rate the majority of the game's content as "not good".|
Originally Posted by Samuel_Tow
The arc was also intentionally comedic, something I HATE, did not give me a SINGLE clue, or indeed a souvenir, had a story that was essentially thee times "go there and do that" and was about as mundane as they come. Granted, it's not worse by some of the old developer content and is probably on the same level as most of the CoV content, but then, as I've said before, that content is NOT GOOD.
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Is running the 30-odd percent of missions you do enjoy over and over again really that mesmerizing?
Obviously none of us would be here if we didn't have a fairly high tolerance for repetition, but your position strikes me as extreme.
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| I dislike the architect for how it is set up, so it would take an arc that is actually interesting to me for me to want to deal with it. So far, I have not seen an arc that was actually interesting. Some are well done, some are even great, but few are actually interesting. |
You're a content ideologue, insisting it meet some arbitrary personal criteria rather than judging on its merits.
The Nethergoat Archive: all my memories, all my characters, all my thoughts on CoH...eventually.
My City Was Gone
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I've said it before that I don't hang around here for the gameplay. Haven't, in fact, been here for the gameplay for the past four years. I'm here for the character customization and the interactive action figures. Regular content isn't very good, and the few bits that are truly good I know by heart. But regular content is easier to play than the Architect, does not lock me into the same building for mission after missions, takes me all over the city and gives me drops without me having to bother to think about what I need. As long as I'm going to play content which doesn't excite me, it may as well be the one that's closer to what I do anyway.|
Originally Posted by Nethergoat
I'm curious what keeps you hanging around since you rate the majority of the game's content as "not good".
Is running the 30-odd percent of missions you do enjoy over and over again really that mesmerizing? Obviously none of us would be here if we didn't have a fairly high tolerance for repetition, but your position strikes me as extreme. |
[/quote]MA fails your 'purity test' so you tar all its content with the same brush.
You're a content ideologue, insisting it meet some arbitrary personal criteria rather than judging on its merits.[/QUOTE]
"Purity test?" The stories I see in there aren't interesting for me to play through. They are certainly not more interesting than the standard content, a lot of which isn't interesting at all. You come from the belief that people will play the Architect unless they have a reason NOT to. I won't play the architect unless I have a reason TO play it, and the only reason that'll work is interesting stories. Obviously, there are interesting stories there, there are bound to be. I don't feel like fishing them out and playing through a sea of stories that, while well-written, aren't very interesting in the process.
The Architect doesn't fail. It's just more work for not a whole lot more return.
P.S. - despite the power failing, Firefox had retained my entire post as written. +1 for the forum software.
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Originally Posted by Arcanaville
Samuel_Tow is the only poster that makes me want to punch him in the head more often when I'm agreeing with him than when I'm disagreeing with him.
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Wow, that's a thin reed to hang a subscription off.|
Originally Posted by Samuel_Tow
I've said it before that I don't hang around here for the gameplay. Haven't, in fact, been here for the gameplay for the past four years. I'm here for the character customization and the interactive action figures.
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I mean I absolutely love the character creator- it's consistently been my favorite part of the game for the last 5 years. I often make characters I know I'll never play- I log on just to mess with the character creator at least a few times a week.
But if I didn't enjoy the rest of the game there's no way I'd stick around. Creating characters absent a world you'd like at least some of them to explore seems like a hollow undertaking.
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| Regular content isn't very good, and the few bits that are truly good I know by heart. But regular content is easier to play than the Architect, does not lock me into the same building for mission after missions, takes me all over the city and gives me drops without me having to bother to think about what I need. |
Easier? No freaking way.
I understand that you derive enjoyment from the tedium of running around the city for no good reason, but it isn't "easier" than spending a few seconds scanning MA for something that looks interesting then running it. Not by any rational measure.
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| As long as I'm going to play content which doesn't excite me, it may as well be the one that's closer to what I do anyway. |
I'm bemused by this. I play games to have fun.
I mean we all invent our own fun up to a point, but if I had as dire a view of the vast majority of the game's content as you I'd be gone yesterday.
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| "Purity test?" |
You have ideological requirements to 'enjoy' something- you want contacts that send you around zones, you want things that are 'interesting', as defined by an inflexible bible of requirements.
MA doesn't pass so you don't like it, regardless of the relative merits of individual story arcs.
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| The stories I see in there aren't interesting for me to play through. They are certainly not more interesting than the standard content, a lot of which isn't interesting at all. You come from the belief that people will play the Architect unless they have a reason NOT to. I won't play the architect unless I have a reason TO play it, and the only reason that'll work is interesting stories. |
It doesn't fit your preconcived notions so you reflexivly write it off.
And clearly the overwhelming majority of players WILL play it. I'm not sure why you bring that point up. Put something new in the game, everyone tries it out. If they like it, they keep playing. Most players have founds somethign to enjoy in MA, which is completely predictable since a wide variety of creators is going to generate a wide variety of interesting content.
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| Obviously, there are interesting stories there, there are bound to be. I don't feel like fishing them out and playing through a sea of stories that, while well-written, aren't very interesting in the process. |
I can be very nitpicky, critical and negative, but compared to you I'm Pollyanna.
I'm not sure how you survive on the weak stream of sour enjoyment you wring from the boiled carcass of the game.
The Nethergoat Archive: all my memories, all my characters, all my thoughts on CoH...eventually.
My City Was Gone
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You know what? Screw it. You want to paint me as a fool, and I see no point in arguing that point any more. If it makes you feel any better, I will admit to being an unreasonable fool with absurd standards who only likes tedious stuff. An argument assassinating my character isn't interesting to me, as I've no interest in keeping up any sort of prestige on the forums. If you feel like calling me things, then call me anything you choose. If you want, I'll even drop by and confirm your assessment.|
Originally Posted by Nethergoat
Clearly nobody has talent rarified enough to qualify as "interesting" in the Bible of Sam.
I can be very nitpicky, critical and negative, but compared to you I'm Pollyanna. I'm not sure how you survive on the weak stream of sour enjoyment you wring from the boiled carcass of the game. |
Let me just tell you this - you are a person intolerant of other people's opinions and all too willing to deride them for having them. That is simply not interesting to argue with.
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Originally Posted by Arcanaville
Samuel_Tow is the only poster that makes me want to punch him in the head more often when I'm agreeing with him than when I'm disagreeing with him.
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I haven't called you any names, I've just described your POV as I see it.|
Originally Posted by Samuel_Tow
You know what? Screw it. You want to paint me as a fool, and I see no point in arguing that point any more. If it makes you feel any better, I will admit to being an unreasonable fool with absurd standards who only likes tedious stuff. An argument assassinating my character isn't interesting to me, as I've no interest in keeping up any sort of prestige on the forums. If you feel like calling me things, then call me anything you choose. If you want, I'll even drop by and confirm your assessment.
Let me just tell you this - you are a person intolerant of other people's opinions and all too willing to deride them for having them. That is simply not interesting to argue with. |
If I'm wrong, correct my misconceptions.
I don't think I'm wrong, which I guess is why you're so defensive about it.
I admit being wildly opinionated in general and fairly intolerant on certain specific subjects. In this instance I'm more confused than anything else.
I've always found your logic regarding what you enjoy and how you go about enjoying it rather tortured & baroque- this sub-thread brought home to me just how internalized & insulated from the wider community your dialog with the game is. It seems tremendously cramped and joyless, but you must be getting something out of it or you'd be doing something else.
The Nethergoat Archive: all my memories, all my characters, all my thoughts on CoH...eventually.
My City Was Gone
This reply is a mistake. I'm aware of it as I am typing it. You are wrong, but there is no point in correcting you, because I am well aware what this will lead to - more criticism and accusations regarding what is essentially my opinion that concerns only me, given only as an illustrative anecdote. This is what trying to explain my opinion to you has led to in absolutely every instance of sharing it with you, and I have no reason to believe further explanations will lead to anything more.
I feel how I feel and I like what I like. Even if you cannot accept my reasons for it, you will have to accept that that is how things are. If you feel that leads to any global conclusions about my character, feel free to keep them or share them. It is irrelevant, because this is no longer interesting to me and addressing it is no longer worth.
If you would, do me this favour: as I try not to speak for other majorities, do me the courtesy of not doing so, yourself, because how "the wider community" feels is not something I want to discuss. Ever.
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Originally Posted by Arcanaville
Samuel_Tow is the only poster that makes me want to punch him in the head more often when I'm agreeing with him than when I'm disagreeing with him.
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Who plays a MMO for the lore anyway?
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Plenty of people do. One thing I really enjoyed about Wrath of the Lich King was how much story they put into each zone.|
Originally Posted by Prof_Backfire
Who plays a MMO for the lore anyway?
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But at the same time, I don't feel it's sacrosanct, and I enjoy seeing what people do with the CoH background in their missions. At first I thought custom group possibilities could be cool (and I've seen two I like so far), but I generally prefer arcs that have the official groups in them, just for feel's sake.
Elsegame: Champions Online: @BellaStrega ||| Battle.net: Ashleigh#1834 ||| Bioware Social Network: BellaStrega ||| EA Origin: Bella_Strega ||| Steam: BellaStrega ||| The first Guild Wars: Kali Magdalene ||| The Secret World: BelleStarr (Arcadia)
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^ This|
Originally Posted by KaliMagdalene
Plenty of people do. One thing I really enjoyed about Wrath of the Lich King was how much story they put into each zone.
But at the same time, I don't feel it's sacrosanct, and I enjoy seeing what people do with the CoH background in their missions. At first I thought custom group possibilities could be cool (and I've seen two I like so far), but I generally prefer arcs that have the official groups in them, just for feel's sake. |
Most of the RP community run by the Lore stuff. Admittedly it get's twisted around and dented a tad from time to time, but it's good and useful stuff.
I can like customised mobs, but they have to be a believable part of the background, or at least something that would be feasible in the background.
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Originally Posted by Zwillinger
GG, I would tell you that "I am killing you with my mind", but I couldn't find an emoticon to properly express my sentiment.
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Originally Posted by Captain_Photon
NOTE: The Incarnate System is basically farming for IOs on a larger scale, and with more obtrusive lore.
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I WOULD play for the lore, but unfortunately I've seen all of the one I have access to, and while I've nothing against fan fiction, I don't count that as lore or canon. Hmm... Come to think of it, perhaps I should look for the canon-related tags in the Architect...
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Originally Posted by Prof_Backfire
Who plays a MMO for the lore anyway?
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Originally Posted by Arcanaville
Samuel_Tow is the only poster that makes me want to punch him in the head more often when I'm agreeing with him than when I'm disagreeing with him.
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I think this game has a strength and weakness in that it's deliberately made to fit in anything that players can think of (to an extent). There's plenty of freedom... but no real guidelines. Not to mention, the world isn't really developed outside of Paragon and the Isles- we have no idea what Europe, Australia, Asia and Africa are like.
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I think you're overacting.|
Originally Posted by Samuel_Tow
This reply is a mistake. I'm aware of it as I am typing it. You are wrong, but there is no point in correcting you, because I am well aware what this will lead to - more criticism and accusations regarding what is essentially my opinion that concerns only me, given only as an illustrative anecdote.
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My criticisms in this thread have been mild and oblique. What you see as "accusations" I see as observation.
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| If you would, do me this favour: as I try not to speak for other majorities, do me the courtesy of not doing so, yourself, because how "the wider community" feels is not something I want to discuss. Ever. |
I make no claim on understanding how other players feel. I'm not psychic. But there's plenty of empirical evidence that many, many players have wholeheartedly embraced MA. To the extent that its has engendered its own opposition, who complain that they can't find teams for anything except MA.
People play the game they want to play and find their own fun- nothing I say or do can impact that in the slightest, and I've never pretended otherwise. You endow my opinions with more power than they actually have.
In any case, I haven't been trying to insult you and antagonize you here Sam. If that's the way it came across, I apologize.
The Nethergoat Archive: all my memories, all my characters, all my thoughts on CoH...eventually.
My City Was Gone
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Originally Posted by KaliMagdalene
Plenty of people do. One thing I really enjoyed about Wrath of the Lich King was how much story they put into each zone.
But at the same time, I don't feel it's sacrosanct, and I enjoy seeing what people do with the CoH background in their missions. At first I thought custom group possibilities could be cool (and I've seen two I like so far), but I generally prefer arcs that have the official groups in them, just for feel's sake. |
I enjoy a good background as much as anyone- you have to have one, so it might as well be interesting an involving. One branch of my skepticism about CO is their thin, derivative backstory- Champs has great rules, but their 'official' universe was little more than a smudged, blurry photocopy of silver age Marvel.
But I don't view the CoH canon as so inspiring and all encompassing that meddling with it is sacrilege. The success of alterations is dependent, as always, on the quality of the author. A good author will usually succeed in drawing me in to the story and suspending my disbelief- this is as true of 'canon' stories as it is private mythologies.
I will say canon stories have a leg up because we all know the characters and the history- authors are able to use more shorthand, which given the restricted size of MA arcs is a not inconsiderable advantage.
I also prefer 'generic' enemies in MA, but not because they're any more involving than the custom ones- it's because they're balanced for 'normal' characters. I've bailed on many an otherwise interesting arc because the author (inadvertently?) populated it with tremendously powerful custom enemies.
The Nethergoat Archive: all my memories, all my characters, all my thoughts on CoH...eventually.
My City Was Gone
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Let me rephrase that: feel free to state what you wish however you wish to state it. I will simply ignore comments quoting popularity of positions, opinions, practices and so forth. Arguing over them with no actual evidence but anecdotes is both unproductive and uninteresting, because it opens the door to assumed fact, which ruins an argument. Trying to debate what is more popular than what is the equivalent of debating "my dad can beat up your dad." It's pointless.|
Originally Posted by Nethergoat
I make no claim on understanding how other players feel. I'm not psychic. But there's plenty of empirical evidence that many, many players have wholeheartedly embraced MA. To the extent that its has engendered its own opposition, who complain that they can't find teams for anything except MA.
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| In any case, I haven't been trying to insult you and antagonize you here Sam. If that's the way it came across, I apologize. |
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| I enjoy a good background as much as anyone- you have to have one, so it might as well be interesting an involving. One branch of my skepticism about CO is their thin, derivative backstory- Champs has great rules, but their 'official' universe was little more than a smudged, blurry photocopy of silver age Marvel. |
I don't want to get into a Champions discussion because that'll get me banned. Let me just tell you one thing - I have a newfound like for the simple act of just running around a city which suddenly looks more interesting than before and running even the dullest, most old-fashioned missions in the game. In fact, I think more people should venture out into other MMOs from time to time and stick with them for a while. I have a strong suspicion we'd get a lot less complaints about how dull, boring or repetitive the content is and how horribly travel can be.
Turns out I really DO like the content, the stories, the travelling and the settings here. Really really.
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Originally Posted by Arcanaville
Samuel_Tow is the only poster that makes me want to punch him in the head more often when I'm agreeing with him than when I'm disagreeing with him.
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As someone who's taken one long and a couple of short vacations to foreign games, I agree.|
Originally Posted by Samuel_Tow
Interestingly, with Champions' beta becoming truly open, I have to agree with your above comment and retract my statement that I don't play for story or gameplay. I was wrong, and it took my playing a game with no interesting story or gameplay to remind me that, even if I've gotten so used to these elements and take them for granted, they ARE important. I don't know why that is, but the longer I play City of Heroes exclusively, the more I start to take the good things about this game for granted. It takes my trying another game for me to appreciate just how good we have it.
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There are almost always a few features I really like and wish we had here, but much more often I find myself wishing that Game X had this or that feature from CoH.
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I don't want to get into a Champions discussion because that'll get me banned. Let me just tell you one thing - I have a newfound like for the simple act of just running around a city which suddenly looks more interesting than before and running even the dullest, most old-fashioned missions in the game. In fact, I think more people should venture out into other MMOs from time to time and stick with them for a while. I have a strong suspicion we'd get a lot less complaints about how dull, boring or repetitive the content is and how horribly travel can be. Turns out I really DO like the content, the stories, the travelling and the settings here. Really really. |
Two of my indelible memories of the game are travel related.
One, getting Super Leap as my first ever travel power, and JUMPING all around Atlas plaza like a crazy person. After the seemingly interminable slog to 14th, running all over every square inch of all the lowbie zones, it was like getting out of jail.
Two, taking my first character with Flight for a spin through Steel Canyon.
Breathtaking.
And I really enjoy the hero side zones. Villains, not so much, but there are a couple I like (Sharkhead being my favorite). CoH generally creates a great sense of "place". Being anchored in such a tangibly realized space makes my characters feel more real.
The Nethergoat Archive: all my memories, all my characters, all my thoughts on CoH...eventually.
My City Was Gone
Everyone likes different things, so to each their own. No one is the same. That said, I like traveling around a lot in this game, look at the scenery, admire how much work went into it. It's amazing what unexpected oddity you can run into in some of these zones by just turning off your travel power and running around.
This is probably why Nerva Archipelago is my favorite zone. There's just so much stuff! Toward the south, you have a couple islands covered in the usual Rogue Isle Latin slum, then as you travel further north, things keep getting more interesting. There's the Longbow invasion fort, and then Primeva covered with jungle and ancient Oranbegan ruins (and a wrecked pirate ship!), and at the very north you have Thorn Isle itself with all the glowing spirit lights, spooky trees, and floating rocks. Nerva is just fascinating, and I just don't understand the hate it gets.
"It's too f'n BIG! I like to go where I need to now now now."
That's missing the forest for the trees, really. Nerva's scenery is truly more varied than most of the other zones I've seen in this game. Nevertheless, every zone has its worthy sight-seeing quirks. I remember how awesome it was when I first saw the Lord Recluse speeches in Grandville for example. Used to watch the speech from beginning to end every chance I had.
Some zones do suffer from "cool at first then lame" syndrome, like... oh... Boomtown. At first the wreckage left over from alien invaders looks cool, but then it gets very ugly very quick. I don't like Boomtown. It's only worth finding certain enemy groups for various hunt missions at a certain level range. They really need to do something with that zone.
But y'know what? I like the content both villain and hero side, and can feel the distinct flavor difference between the two. It works. The old hero stuff could use a slight tune-up, like more Arachnos here and there and tighter arcs to bring some loose story together. But the travel doesn't bother me. It just gives me pretty scenery to look at while I go to some area. I like that.
Sam probably won't like the first AE arc I have planned to make. It's going to feature the Kill Skuls joke prominently with a comical plot around it. Can't say I understand a hate for comedy, as it's a good thing to smile and laugh every so often, but then... to each their own.
And yes... Kadabra Kill sucks. Most overpowered boss-level NPC ever.
Kadabra Kill is bad enough, and then you have to fight a Lost boss at the same time...
You're also forgetting you have to fight him twice.
Kadabra Kill was a pain to take down with my MM (second only to the Sea Witch in that level range) by my SS/Inv brute beat him senseless with no effort at all. I've found I'm more likely to rerun the harder arcs like Darrin Wade's, because it's interesting to see how different ATs and power combinations deal with the tougher content.
That, and it's really satisfying to beat the hell out of an enemy who gave a previous character a really hard time. Now if only I could roll a character who could do that to the Sea Witch...
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The thing is, comedy doesn't make me laugh. It makes me cringe or roll my eyes. Generally, I'm a pretty humourless person who's more likely to laugh at accidental humour in real life than at staged, directed comedy. I have a simple rule of thumb - if it's trying TOO hard to make me laugh, it simply won't. And most comedy arcs really DO try too hard. When I run into a piece of content that I read and think "Oh, I see. I'm supposed to laugh at that." it really turns me off. Really, the only things I find truly funny are the things that don't feel like they were SUPPOSED to be.|
Originally Posted by Scythus
Sam probably won't like the first AE arc I have planned to make. It's going to feature the Kill Skuls joke prominently with a comical plot around it. Can't say I understand a hate for comedy, as it's a good thing to smile and laugh every so often, but then... to each their own.
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While I know humour is obviously subjective, but what does it for me are the unintentional slips, like what you'd find at Probably Bad News or the many blooper videos. Things like Friends, Allo Allo, Family Guy and so forth just irritate me.
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| This is probably why Nerva Archipelago is my favorite zone. There's just so much stuff! Toward the south, you have a couple islands covered in the usual Rogue Isle Latin slum, then as you travel further north, things keep getting more interesting. There's the Longbow invasion fort, and then Primeva covered with jungle and ancient Oranbegan ruins (and a wrecked pirate ship!), and at the very north you have Thorn Isle itself with all the glowing spirit lights, spooky trees, and floating rocks. Nerva is just fascinating, and I just don't understand the hate it gets. |
Nerva is kind of like the outskrts of the Rogue Isles. Yes, it starts with the same redundant city design, but it soon gives way to wilderness, and I like that.
I also feel Grandville is a really cool zone. I think that's the only place where that Arachnos architecture does NOT look out of place in the Isles, and about the only place where so much ghetto looks spot on. The zone has impressive visuals, and they work well. But more than that, Grandville is FULL of impressive areas to explore and visit. Little tunnels and canals here and there, a Highlander-inspired elevator above the giant web, that tunnel to the Fab, the Fab itself, with that humongous cavernous underground base. The whole zone is one giant sight to see.
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Originally Posted by Arcanaville
Samuel_Tow is the only poster that makes me want to punch him in the head more often when I'm agreeing with him than when I'm disagreeing with him.
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Ah, one of the things that drives me nuts about ye olde official content is how hard it is to get to at times. I had the urge to fight Dr. Vahzilok, having only done so once or twice before and wanting to share it with a friend. After I found a contact willing to give up the appropriate arc I was immediately redirected twice: once to visit Jim Temblor and again to see the Bloody Bay rep. Third time's a charm? Nope, the only options were an unrelated Outcast mish and a hunt. Finally, on the fourth attempt the contact gave up the Vahzilok plague arc. I'd estimate about 45 minutes wasted before getting to the actual story missions.
Thanks to Paragon Wiki I worked through the arc without the sidetracks that tend to result in outleveling the mish I wanted to play. I suffered through the Vahzilok wasting disease, and when my friend returns from vacation we'll hopefully enjoy one of CoH's first AV's.
On a semi-side note, who's freaking idea was the Vahzilok wasting disease? Seriously. Not only does it kill your recovery, but lowers your total endurance. Did someone think it would be fun to suck even more wind before stamina? I suppose that goes to highlight one of the missteps made in some of the old content.
And some of the repetitive content is really, really, really, really dumb. Let's take a look at Maggie Greene. Her arc is 'The Mind of a King', the one where you look for the Clockwork power source only to figure out that they're directly powered psionically by the Clockwork King.
After finishing it, the next mission I got was... Recover the Clockwork power source.
Or how about Jenny Firkins? She has Not one, not two, but three standalone missions that are little more than 'save people from the Devouring Earth.' Not to mention that some of these missions are shared by other contacts from different origins, so it's possible to do some of them several times. Sure, I guess that the Devouring Earth probably do take people hostage, but it seems like really lazy writing to throw out that many missions that are essentially identical.
Having Vengeance and Fallout slotted for recharge means never having to say you're sorry.