Mission Architect Handyman

Does your arc need some help but you don't know where to turn? Send them this way and I'll gladly help with mechanics and typos. In fact, post up a schedule and I'll even try to run them with you either in published form or in Test mode.

"Making the Architect a better place." @Zamuel

Dear god help my arcs. I know there's a story I wanted to tell in there somewhere. but with all the changes the devs hit me with it got lost.

Arc ID's in the sig.

I would love some feedback on my arc. I have tried to make it interesting with complex mechanics, chained objectives, and surprises. Some people seem to like it, some don't. Always looking for more feedback.

17006

Zamuel just ran through "Husk" and found a couple of typos I'd missed. It's so easy to think you catch them all, but your eyes start to bleed after editing for a bit. Plus, if you write it, it's harder to see your own mistake.

He had another decent suggestion, too...one that I half implemented.

I'm also thinking about going back and adding a custom group around the AV at the end (they would be similar, smaller and much weaker versions of the AV). I have the memory space to do so, and I think it would make more sense for the story.

All in all, it's a better arc because of the feedback, and I like the results much better than my first arc. I'm just wondering how the changes in I16 are going to affect it.

Does anyone mind if I post here? Might be a tad easier than send tons of tells in-game. However, I can respect if an author doesn't want spoilers posted.

not at all

If people are looking for honest feedback, I'd be happy to also run any arcs posted here (though I can't start on this until tomorrow night).

As far as spoilers, I would suggest trying not to give too much away to the curious. It should be easy enough to say:

"Mission 3, front ambush -- trigger seemed funky as 200 minions attacked"

or

"Mission 2, hostage 'Michelle' -- typos in dialogue." (I actually had this one.)

Of course, if there's a flaw in the story itself, it might be hard to avoid spoilers.

If I'm on at that time I will take you up on the offer. I'm sure my arc needs it.

I'd love to get some feedback on my arcs, but I would have to also post a warning:

1. They are all at least 4 missions
2. They are for lowbies
3. I am trying something where there is an integrated story for all 3. I'm not sure how well I am pulling it off.

I wanted to try something where a significant part of a character's leveling was based on one story. I have 3 done now, but plan to purchase more slots.

I am at work so I cannot look up arc IDs. My global is tehHippeh, same as here. The phase "power of magic" is also in all three titles.

Thanks to any and all who offer feedback

Add them to your signature when you get the chance, Hippeh.

Okay, ran through Calash's arc, 17006. This would have been too many tells, so here it goes:

Overall impressions: story was good, and the arc used a lot of very innovative construction dynamics, which I liked. I'm going to have to figure out how you did a couple of those. I think you may have overdone the dynamics on the final mission, though (see below).


TYPOS, GRAMMAR CORRECTION:
Mission 1: Clue: Assault Bot Memory Chip: "Dark Veil" is spelled incorrectly.

Mission 2: Mission Briefing: the phrase "She is going to follow on...between the two of us he can" should probably have been "She is going to follow on...between the two of us we can"

Mission 3: Mission end briefing: "I was worried about this cutie." should read "I was worried about this, cutie."

Mission 4: Mission briefing: "This is it sweetie." should read "This is it, sweetie."

Mission 4: Mission end briefing: "You did it honey." should read "You did it, honey."

Mission 4: Objective: "Communication" is typoed.

STORY ISSUES:
Mission 2: the Susan Veil clue about the toxins is repeated pretty much verbatim by the contact in the mission end briefing. You might want to change the clue to "Susan Veil hands you some important looking documents" or "Susan Veil hands you a computer disc" or some such, that way the same thing isn't being read twice.

Mission 3: the MK-IV Android Clue where he spits out all the information about his boss. Androids (as well as robots and other constructs) will not defy their programming. Assuming he was created by the villain, the villain would not have put in programming that says, "Blab master plan to the authorities if captured." I would remove this clue, but add a desk with a Shipping Manifest with the information this clue gives. Also, if the authorities take him away, he probably should not be present in the next timed mission since it would be unlikely he'd return to that destination in time. (The last bit is a minor thing, as it could be rationalized.)

ISSUES WITH DIFFICULTY:
I think the key at this point is to ask yourself if this arc is meant for solo play or for a group. It could easily be changed so that it is playable for both.

In mission 3, the Mark IV robot was easier to handle because you gave an ally to help. In mission 4, the Mark IV robot took 10 minutes to defeat due to: Healing flames going off every 60 seconds or so and healing 1400 damage AND the ambush with the healer bots running in and hitting him with Healing Aura. When my Elude dropped he was back at full health. I have only one character that would have been able to defeat this Elite Boss, and I was only able to do so with a full tray of inspirations.

Later in the mission, the main bad guy appears to be a Robots / Willpower elite boss. Unfortunately he starts standing next to two Healer Bots, so I had to immediately contend with Willpower's regeneration levels AND two Healing Auras. When the ambush hits, two more Healer Bots ran in and repeated the process. It took 10 minutes to take down this one Elite Boss. (As a comparison, I can take out most elite bosses in 90-120 seconds.) I have no other characters that could have defeated this boss. The pet robots you littered for me to pick up didn't survive to this encounter, so they were of no help.

At the 5 minute mark these things tend to be tedious instead of challenging.

What I would recommend:
Put less annoying powers on both characters and change them to Archvillains, this way they'll be tougher for teams to deal with and solo capable as Elite Bosses for a wider range of characters. This would also enable you to preserve your healing ambushes, though you may wish to test this out a bit.

If you do want to keep the EBs the way they are, I would recommend adding a "WARNING: suggested only for teams" in your mission description.

Okay, this brings us to the last part of the last mission, the "Stop two robots from escaping." A couple of notes:
1) A large team would have seen multiple bosses and it would not have been easily discernible WHICH robot you need to prevent escaping. Amidst the chaos, it might have been too easy for him to run.
2) I'm not sure if you used a random map or not, but they spawned too close to the elevators. If I'd missed once, the mission would have failed (and after 20 minutes of pounding on 2 EBs, this would have been a cheap way to fail).

And that's it. I think if you consider these things, you'll have a really strong and fun arc on your hands. You did a great job of repurposing COX artwork to create robotic villains and combined that with some really clever mission dynamics.

And I have to ask...how did you make it so I got robotic pets? This one is boggling my mind.

I didn't have a problem with the robot blabbing the plan since his text mentioned that he was becoming self aware. Likewise, it mentioned that he escaped police custody so I was okay with him showing up in the next mission.

I'll be perfectly blunt that I faceplanted hard, repeatedly the first time I went through the finale. I thought the regular Longbow were going to be useless when I saw them (they sorta were...) but I was happy for the giant robots. I managed to beat Mark IV with some effort but timed out on the true big bad. My second pass I told myself to "think like a Stalker". I ignored Mark IV (Hyper Stealth) because he wasn't required. I took the time to clear the entire map with the exception of M-IV and the final boss. Then I summoned the Longbow patrols. Searching the map, I got three giant robots for my army and then charged the boss. Carrion Creepers + Seeds of Confusion + robot allies + Mastermind EB = glorious chaos. I managed to have enough control to beat him, though I did die once and I lost a robot. Probably the most awesome battle I've been in so far and while I can see where more sane people would have ragequit, I loved it.

TYPOS (some of which are just nitpicky comma placement...)

Mission 1: "From what I have found he is starting his master plan code named "End Game."" should be "From what I have found he is starting his master plan, code named "End Game.""

Replica Electrode description:
"Looking to bolster the strength of his army Dark Veil turned to the technologies of other dimensions for guidance. Having captured some of the forced of Neuron he designed a near duplicate of his robotic minions."

should be

"Looking to bolster the strength of his army, Dark Veil turned to the technologies of other dimensions for guidance. Having captured some of the forces of Neuron, he designed a near duplicate of his robotic minions."

Mission 3: "I can get use to having you visit me sweetie." should be "I can get used to having you visit me sweetie."

"As for the MK-II android unfortunately it escaped before Longbow could get there. It is still a small price to pay for what we accomplished today." Um, shouldn't that be the Mark-IV instead of MK-II?

I just ran the first arc from ScooterTwo. I personally curl up in a ball in the corner most of the time that I hear the words "time travel" but I stuck with it. There were some weird issues with enemies not scaling up properly. I'd say attempt a simple Republish after a few typo fixes and that might clear it up on it's own. Not sure if the arc truly needs to be in the 45-50 range with the current enemies.

The first mission was odd since the PPD was actively mixed in with COT as normal enemies and there didn't really seem to be much of a reason. Were the PPD corrupt? Under a spell? Were they actually supposed to be some other group and the PPD were used as stand-ins? If it's reason 3, I15 added some nice tools for recoloring and then renaming standard mobs. I'm assuming the whole Lady/Mother thing will be cleared up in part two so I won't worry about it now.

It's interesting that the player keeps breaking things and the contact's mood keeps shifting. While it can be blamed on time travel, other players might poke more holes in the logic.

The 4th mission had too many clickies. A few fakes are fine but it got a bit tedious. For some weird reason, the name of the clickes had a whole bunch of brackets at the end. Also, was the Innocent just supposed to be some random guy?

"The Vessel" still had the generic "bosses are stronger than LTs" message though it was a novel idea to use the Metal outfit in red to represent blood.

TYPOS

Mission 1
"I have opened a portal to the past. step through when you are ready" should be "I have opened a portal to the past. Step through when you are ready"

"The Circle dropped this piece of paper, it has writing on it that you can't read maybe you should take it to get it translated." should be "The Circle dropped this piece of paper. It has writing on it that you can't read. Maybe you should take it to get it translated."

"It's a bit disorientating to be back the present. Evelyn looks worried Maybe you should talk to her." should be "It's a bit disorientating to be back the present. Evelyn looks worried, maybe you should talk to her."

"Something is not right. What's that? You were actually there! Tell me you didn't do anything. What's that in your hand? I remember that piece of paper it the spell the Cult was going to use to...This is very bad." should probably be "Something is not right. What's that? You were actually there! Tell me you didn't do anything. What's that in your hand? I remember that piece of paper. It's the spell the Cult was going to use to...This is very bad."

Mission 3
"Here's her address, I'm sorry <player> for making you do this, I know you are not feeling good about taken on the PPD. But it is for the greater good." should be "Here's her address, I'm sorry <player> for making you do this. I know you are not feeling good about taking on the PPD but it is for the greater good."

"You feel quezy, you hope that no one interferes too much." should be "You feel queasy, you hope that no one interferes too much."

"For the first time, Evelyn doesn't look mad, concerned but not mad." should be "For the first time, Evelyn doesn't look mad. Concerned...but not mad."

"You have the file, excellent. I know that wasn't easy for you. you didn't kill any of them did you?" should be "You have the file, excellent. I know that wasn't easy for you. You didn't kill any of them did you?"

Mission 4
"You need the confusion of the fire to cover your tracks to get Helena, we must remember her name, out of that fire and back here." The 'remember her name' part just sounds really weird as it is currently written.

"According to the police report, eye witnesses saw a group of Hellions around the building that night. be on the look out I'm sure there will be some inside." should be "According to the police report, eye witnesses saw a group of Hellions around the building that night. Be on the look out, I'm sure there will be some inside."

"Some where in here is a girl in trouble and your beginning to think it's your fault." should be "Somewhere in here is a girl in trouble and you're beginning to think it's your fault."

clue -> "something is not right about these remains it just doesn't fit." sounds a little weird.

Hell-cat
"This the girl you saved from being sacrificed by the Circle of Thorns. Helena how did she get caught up in all of this nonsense. You are starting to feel responsible for her perdicament." should be "This is the girl you saved from being sacrificed by the Circle of Thorns, Helena. How did she get caught up in all of this nonsense? You are starting to feel responsible for her predicament."

"[NPC] Hell-cat: Hey I remember you, get me out of here I must be out of my mind." should be "[NPC] Hell-cat: Hey, I remember you. Get me out of here, I must be out of my mind."

"At first I thought you had done it, the instant you stepped into the portal the file changed. It said that there survivors and one resident is unaccounted for. This is the problem with messing with the past. You never quite know what the butterfly effect is going to be. Look at this. Nevermind I'll tell you, it says you were seen. By whom? Oh yeah, the people you saved from the fire. Look I totally get it <player> I used to be a hero you feel the need to save lives I get it. then I decided to keep reading. But this is bigger than all of us, I know it was my mistake for sending you back there, but you could've just walked away. No one made you change the past." should be "At first I thought you had done it, the instant you stepped into the portal the file changed. It said that there were survivors and one resident is unaccounted for. This is the problem with messing with the past. You never quite know what the butterfly effect is going to be. Look at this. Nevermind I'll tell you, it says you were seen. By whom? Oh yeah, the people you saved from the fire. Look, I totally get it <player>, I used to be a hero. You feel the need to save lives, I get it. Then I decided to keep reading. But this is bigger than all of us, I know it was my mistake for sending you back there, but you could've just walked away. No one made you change the past."

Mission 5
"Okay this is our last chance. The date of her arrest is only a month before the day I sent you back to 'borrow' this file. We connot allow the PPD to capture her. once she is custody it will become infinitely harder to get her back here and exorsize the demonic spirit possesing her. Be careful I'm not sure what else is going be going on there. The area she was arrested in was is disputed territory between the Hellions and Skulls. This police report doesn't really have a lot of information not pertaining to Helena, other than it was a Longbow Sergeant that made the arrest. I fear we may be losing her." should be "Okay this is our last chance. The date of her arrest is only a month before the day I sent you back to 'borrow' this file. We cannot allow the PPD to capture her. Once she is custody, it will become infinitely harder to get her back here and exorsize the demonic spirit possesing her. Be careful, I'm not sure what else is going be going on there. The area she was arrested in was a disputed territory between the Hellions and Skulls. This police report doesn't really have a lot of information pertaining to Helena, other than it was a Longbow Sergeant that made the arrest. I fear we may be losing her."

"Some where in here is Helena find her before the Cops do." should be "Somewhere in here is Helena. Find her before the Cops do."

The Lady
Is this the same girl you save from the Circle? Something is happening to her She's changing or being changed. What happened to her? should be "Is this the same girl you saved from the Circle? Something is happening to her...she's changing or being changed. What happened to her?"

"She was holding your hand as you stepped through the portal. At the last second she let go. What the heck is going on here. Evelyn looks about ready to cry." should be "She was holding your hand as you stepped through the portal. At the last second she let go. What the heck is going on here? Evelyn looks about ready to cry."

"And if you were curious NO I can't send you back to the night she was kidnapped. If you were to meet yourself in Steel Conyon it start a Paradox that could destroy the universe." should be "And if you were curious, NO I can't send you back to the night she was kidnapped. If you were to meet yourself in Steel Canyon it start would a time paradox that could destroy the universe."

Wow I'll fix and republish.

Thank you both. Great feedback.

The last mission balance has been a bit of a pain for me. I am trying to create a challenge that requires some thinking before charging in. It seems to work better with some AT's and players than others.

I will get the typos updated and take a look at the layout of the final mission. I may be able to put a weakened MK-IV in, to simulate damage from the first encounter.

Quote:

I missed those bits of dialogue, so I think it would make it okay. I'm still a littel sketchy on a robot (becoming self-aware or not) ratting out the plan.

To fit everything I wanted and not have the text be too long and boring I had to remove some of the reasoning behind this. The MK-IV (Previously called MK-II, that is why the text is confused in some parts) helps you because it knows if Dark Veil is arrested he will no longer have a master and will be free. Upon it's defeat it helps you for no other reason that to gain freedom.

I can try to work a bit of that back into he story however I am worried about putting in too much "Fluff" and have it take away from the core missions.

Quote:

And I have to ask...how did you make it so I got robotic pets? This one is boggling my mind.

As of I15 we are able to pick Pets for Allies. Before that we could do it as Boss Spawns only. They spawn with no upgrades as allies and you can not control them but I found the -regen to be helpful in the final encounters. It is odd since spawning them as bosses gets full upgrades, but it works well for the mission context.



Going over my notes along with both of your posts I have a few corrections in mind

- Remove MK-III from auto spawn. They will still show up as Boss Spawns, and it will make the final escape spawns more managable.

- Clone MK-IV for final encounter and remove some powers. This will simulate him being weaker due to your previous battle. I may also move him to the back end of the mission.

- Increase spawn size of Longbow help + Ally Assault bots. Longbow is a throw away but they can disrupt the healing spawns a bit.

And correct the typos