Thank you, Horatio! *Khan TF Spoilers*

I finally had time to run the Dr. Kahn Task Force again (on live, I haven't seen it in I16), for the first time in maybe a month. Many of my criticisms regarding the story and canon issues have been fixed, and I think Horatio deserves a public thank you for delivering on his promise to fix up the canon errors. (Just FYI, Horatio, I don't know if you remember me, but I spoke with you very briefly at Comic Con about concerns with the storyline on the first or second day.)

I specifically noticed the following:

• The Reichsman is now specifically referred to as the 5th Column's new leader. No longer is it assumed that he's always led it.
• Axis America is called Axis America again!
• Tina Macintyre gives a much more detailed explanation of what is going on.
• Axis Americans are back in Axis America, and the dialogue for the boss ambush is great, referring to the Axis winning WWII in that dimension (I don't know if the dialogue is new, as previously people have always killed him before I even had a chance to see him)
• The final encounter with the Reichsman has greatly improved dialogue. It fits him, and now all the dialogue (both before and after their release) by the NPCs with him also fits their individual personalities.

Did it clear up some confusion on how Reichman came out of stasis at full strength? Also, did the suggestion of "defeated allies lying around" in the Boomtown invasion get added?

Just trying to bring up some things mentioned in beta. I don't have any characters able to run either version.

One thing's troubling me about the last mission of the TF. Do we actually get to know the reason why all the captured AVs are so keen to attack us, instead of ganging up with the heroes against their captor?

Nemesis I can understand, since it's a fake and just there to toy with the Reichsman, but the others are more difficult. They did get captured once, so what makes them think that they can first beat 8 heroes and right after that, take on Reichsman himself?

-Countess Crey runs an empire of evil and yet somehow makes it all look like legitimate business to outsiders. You'd think she'd be more pragmatic.

-I'm not sure about the Malta guy. Somehow I had an impression of the Malta Group as having been sort of "ultra-nationalists" who want to continue the Cold War. Wouldn't allying with a super-nazi be sort of antithetical to their beliefs. Or maybe not, since they're all "the ends justify the means" kind of guys.

-With Vanessa DeVore on the other hand, you just never know. She's kind of loopy, after all.

Would've been refreshing if 1-2 of the AVs would turn out to be temporary allies. That'd make more sense with their usual motivations anyway, IMHO.

Eh, it kind of screams "rewrite," and is very expositiony, but it is an improvement.

It might work if he didn't say "support my cause" to people who obviously are not loyal to him. He could call to their desire to fight a mutual enemy instead.

For comparison, here's the launch-day dialogue:

[NPC] Reichsman: Already no one can stand before me. I bring you here to demonstrate my power and to let you know that I am now the one in charge.
[NPC] Reichsman: So I tell you this: Join me or perish.
[NPC] Nemesis: I need not fear you, Reichsman. Your plan seems flawed, while my planning remains unparalleled.
[NPC] Vanessa Devore: You amuse me, Reichsman. You in charge of everything? Ha.
[NPC] Reichsman: Once again, you heroes seek to thwart me. And once again, I shall send you running back to your mothers like little children scared of the dark!
[NPC] Countess Crey: You are mistaken if you think we have common cause, Reichsman. You are wasting your time!.
[NPC] Gyrfalcon: Why would you think the Malta Group would throw its resources in with your bunch of fascists, Herr Reichsman? It is a good thing I'm restrained by this bubble, or I'd show you exactly what we do with your type.


[NPC] Reichsman: What have you done to me? Countess, assist me with these heroes!
[NPC] Countess Crey: Heroes here? Stop them!


[NPC] Reichsman: I cannot fail! You will not stop me! Nemesis, to me!
[NPC] Nemesis: I was prepared for this!


[NPC] Reichsman: Your talents can aid my cause, Vanessa Devore
[NPC] Vanessa Devore: Even here, these heroes interfere. They shall learn the folly of their actions.
[NPC] Reichsman: To me!


[NPC] Reichsman: Vas? What is happening? How did you get so powerful?
[NPC] Gyrfalcon: Hero intervention! You can't control your own base. I'll do what I have to to save my own skin, but don't come near me after this, Reichsman.
[NPC] Reichsman: Gyrfalcon, come aid me!



So, Gyrfalcon's dialogue was fairly untouched (which is good, because his was already written quite well), and the others were updated. I definitely think the new dialogue is better.

Awesome. More awesome, in my opinion, that they didn't just come out and tell people in his bio or something lame. They let us come to that discovery largely on our own. Nice!