Storylines - sidelined?
By
Adeon Hawkwood,
Posted on: 2011-02-24 06:29 in CoH and CoV General Discussions
I'd certainly like to see the Shard revamped, but I understand it's a very special situation given just how massive each of the 4 zones are.
I want to see the Shard redone, but I've wanted to see that happen pretty much since I finished the Shadow Shard arcs the first time.
[ edit ]
Didn't finish my thought doh.
But honestly, I consider if I would rather see '4 new zones' instead. And I tend to accept putting the Shard on the backburner.
Let's Dance!
This thread isn't talking about zone revamps, it's to talk about the stories themselves, and finishing up the stories. That can be done without doing anything to the maps themselves.
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I knew I lost another thought. That's prolly the big problem with finishing up anything involving the Shard though. It involves putting stuff in the Shard |
Originally Posted by Westley
This thread isn't talking about zone revamps, it's to talk about the stories themselves, and finishing up the stories. That can be done without doing anything to the maps themselves.
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.Although in general, ya. I mean how long have we been waiting for Darren Wade to let us know when he's further along?
At least, that arc, has some hints cropping up with the Malleus Mundi showing up in tips supposedly [have yet to see them myself]. Given Silos' remarks and the other lore remarks with I19 though, the Coming Storm may have been repurposed into the Incarnate storyline, at least somewhat.
Let's Dance!
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Not unless they add something faster for travel than the jet packs.|
Originally Posted by Westley
This thread isn't talking about zone revamps, it's to talk about the stories themselves, and finishing up the stories. That can be done without doing anything to the maps themselves.
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Those zones are freaking HUGE to just sprinkle mission doors willy nilly like they do in the regular zones.
I think a shard storyline revamp would have to go hand in hand with a zone one.
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It again depends on how you define "revamp". A Hollows style revamp which just focused on sprinkling these new mission doors in a sensible way would certainly be needed, but nothing more really.
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Originally Posted by Aura_Familia
Not unless they add something faster for travel than the jet packs.
Those zones are freaking HUGE to just sprinkle mission doors willy nilly like they do in the regular zones. I think a shard storyline revamp would have to go hand in hand with a zone one. |
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The mission doors would all have to be pretty close, which would wast a vast majority of space of the zones. The current doors (based on tfs) in the zone are NOT very close together.|
Originally Posted by Carnifax_NA
It again depends on how you define "revamp". A Hollows style revamp which just focused on sprinkling these new mission doors in a sensible way would certainly be needed, but nothing more really.
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Now if they added an insta porter to mission doors then that's another thing.
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Or portals from the Hospital / starting point to different sectors of each map perhaps (where the contact for that sectors story arc is).
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Originally Posted by Aura_Familia
The mission doors would all have to be pretty close, which would wast a vast majority of space of the zones. The current doors (based on tfs) in the zone are NOT very close together.
Now if they added an insta porter to mission doors then that's another thing. |
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Then I would like this new writer to tackle Malta. I would like them to explain why they've gone from a shadowy conspiracy few people know about to publicly blogging about their evil plans. I would like a wrap-up of the Nictus invasion/Path of the Dark storyline, which would probably tie into the return of the 5th Column. I'd like a continuation (not a wrap-up, because there's too much potential to just wrap it all up in a single issue) of the Shadow Shard story, Shiva, and the Coralax/Merulina/Leviathan storyline. I'd also like to know why nobody bothers to explore dimensions other than Praetoria anymore. A trip to the Rikti homeworld would be nice, now that the war is over and some of them are our friends, as would Axis Amerika since we beat up their leader again, and the dimension should be ripe for liberation by heroes and looting by villains.
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I'm curious, what were your issues with Praetoria? Was it solely mechanical stuff, or on the storytelling level too?
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Originally Posted by Eva Destruction
One who hates [. . .] Praetoria
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Having Vengeance and Fallout slotted for recharge means never having to say you're sorry.
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It's not interesting enough for all new content to include it. The way it's been written it's a self-contained storyline, with nearly everything neatly wrapped up by the time we move on to Primal Earth. The only things left to do are to get rid of Tyrant and get rid of their Hamidon, which would provide content for two issues at most, unless they get more creative than they seem to be able to of late. But due to the devs' love affair with the place, they're stretching it out with incidental stuff like the BAF. Stopping a prison break is a story for a morality mission, or one mission of a larger Task Force, it doesn't merit a Task Force/Trial in and of itself.|
Originally Posted by Kelenar
I'm curious, what were your issues with Praetoria? Was it solely mechanical stuff, or on the storytelling level too?
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And there are too many ambushes, but that's everywhere now.
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Rularuu is the Coming Storm:
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hth
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Stormwatcher It was here that Earth's explorers first encountered the mysterious entities of the Shadow Shard. Their threat was implicit and the need to keep them contained became a driving force in the establishment of Tempest Sector. As a representative of Paragon City, you have joined the fight to prevent the denizens of the Shadow Shard from extending their range into your home dimension. Some see their discovery of Primal Earth's dimension as inevitable; a "coming storm" which could rival the Rikti Invasion in destructive potential. |
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Rularuu is a "coming storm" and the writers are messing with us. It's been heavily implied if not stated outright that the Coming Storm is a combination of things, and Ruladak is just one of the AVs in the future Ouroboros.
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Originally Posted by DarkGob
Rularuu is the Coming Storm:
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True, I'd forgotten about the wrapped-up thing. It's one I noticed a few weeks after Praetoria came out, myself... by the time you leave, most of the storylines are resolved and it seems like you're up there in the upper echelons of power. Which is good for a standalone experience, but makes it hard to tie into the rest of the game as a whole.
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Originally Posted by Eva Destruction
The way it's been written it's a self-contained storyline, with nearly everything neatly wrapped up by the time we move on to Primal Earth. The only things left to do are to get rid of Tyrant and get rid of their Hamidon, which would provide content for two issues at most, unless they get more creative than they seem to be able to of late.
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Having Vengeance and Fallout slotted for recharge means never having to say you're sorry.
First off,
This is a great conversation. The Lore/Stories are an important and vital part of CoH and a huge reason that many are so invested.
So in reading this I'm seeing requests for continuation of the story of Malta and the Shadow Shard story lines.
What other stories do you feel need to be further explored?
Andy Belford
Community Manager
Paragon Studios
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While they're not necessarily in-game stories, I WOULD like to know the significance of Manticore & Ghost Widow in the GR trailer. Was that a story/occurrence that just never got off the ground? Or am I really, REALLY missing something?
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Originally Posted by Zwillinger
First off,
This is a great conversation. The Lore/Stories are an important and vital part of CoH and a huge reason that many are so invested. So in reading this I'm seeing requests for continuation of the story of Malta and the Shadow Shard story lines. What other stories do you feel need to be further explored? |
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Play through the Kheldian arcs and the Nictus invasion gets wrapped up.
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Originally Posted by Eva Destruction
I would like a wrap-up of the Nictus invasion/Path of the Dark storyline, which would probably tie into the return of the 5th Column.
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*points to the S&I forum*|
Originally Posted by Zwillinger
What other stories do you feel need to be further explored?
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Dark Astoria. Yes, not "a storyline," but a zone with a ton of atmosphere AND story elements in it (COT trying to keep "the sleeper" bound, the BP waking it, and the Tsoo looking for "something" - I know I've made a number of suggestions on it, as have others.)
Darrin Wade, yes. And, again, if we're going "All team, all trial Praetorian invasion," hey, why not some solo/small team stuff fighting another godlike being - y'know, kind of incarnate level appropriate - in the Shard? Ruularu has just been hanging out for quite some time.
See how the Shivans tie into the Coming Storm. They just kind of hang out (and get controlled, sort of, by Aeon.)
Even if we're not getting them as an EAT because of the shapeshifting or whatnot, going through Gadzul Oil, the Blood of the Black Stream and everything they're doing (something about a worldwide techno/magic computer of some sort) would be good for teen to 30s, at the least.
Giving VEATs a decent storyline instead of the travesty they have now might get me interested in actually playing their storyline again.
Redoing (and making somewhat clearer, more "investigative" and easier to follow from contact to contact) the Skull -> Trolls -? Family -> ... ? and Hellion - Outcast - Tsoo messing with everyone - ? lines would be good.
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/e, Groucho|
Originally Posted by Eva Destruction
...and has access to a six-year-old child. If said six-year-old child finds any holes in their plot, the plot will not be used until said holes are fixed.
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"Why a six-year-old child could understand this report. Run out and find me a six-year-old child. I cant make head nor tail out of it."
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1. I'd like to see stories of people outside of Praetoria city. |
Originally Posted by Zwillinger
First off,
This is a great conversation. The Lore/Stories are an important and vital part of CoH and a huge reason that many are so invested. So in reading this I'm seeing requests for continuation of the story of Malta and the Shadow Shard story lines. What other stories do you feel need to be further explored? |
2. I would like to learn what demon the Skulls bargain with for their powers and what ramifications it has.
3. I'd like a detailed story arc regarding Praetoria's Hamidon wars, giving insights into the physical and metaphysical differences of the two hammi's as well as weaponization potential. Maybe Praetorian Hammi made Tyrant so powerful because it doesn't drop Hammi-O's but special Hammi-Shards?
4. I'd like to know more of the background of the "color crew": Crimson, Indigo, Veridian.
5. I want to know more about Tub Ci's rise to power on Primal Earth.
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All of these. Dark Astoria and the Shadow Shard are the two zones that always come up whenever this topic is raised, and something needs to be done with the Blood of the Black Stream. Also, the Council/Column war. The Kahn/Barracuda TFs re-introduce the 5th Column, but right now, they don't really have any sort of in-game presence outside the TFs and a few street spawns. Give them some story arcs or something to explain what they've been doing all this time and what their plans for the future are.
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Originally Posted by Memphis_Bill
*points to the S&I forum*
Dark Astoria. Yes, not "a storyline," but a zone with a ton of atmosphere AND story elements in it (COT trying to keep "the sleeper" bound, the BP waking it, and the Tsoo looking for "something" - I know I've made a number of suggestions on it, as have others.) Darrin Wade, yes. And, again, if we're going "All team, all trial Praetorian invasion," hey, why not some solo/small team stuff fighting another godlike being - y'know, kind of incarnate level appropriate - in the Shard? Ruularu has just been hanging out for quite some time. See how the Shivans tie into the Coming Storm. They just kind of hang out (and get controlled, sort of, by Aeon.) Even if we're not getting them as an EAT because of the shapeshifting or whatnot, going through Gadzul Oil, the Blood of the Black Stream and everything they're doing (something about a worldwide techno/magic computer of some sort) would be good for teen to 30s, at the least. Giving VEATs a decent storyline instead of the travesty they have now might get me interested in actually playing their storyline again. Redoing (and making somewhat clearer, more "investigative" and easier to follow from contact to contact) the Skull -> Trolls -? Family -> ... ? and Hellion - Outcast - Tsoo messing with everyone - ? lines would be good. |
Having Vengeance and Fallout slotted for recharge means never having to say you're sorry.
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Only with the "better writers" caveat. Because I swear, if Rularuu's origin is tied to the Well of the Furies I'm never reading another scrap of mission text outside AE ever again. And the only reason I want more Malta is for someone to fix what the last few issues broke.|
Originally Posted by Zwillinger
So in reading this I'm seeing requests for continuation of the story of Malta and the Shadow Shard story lines.
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Originally Posted by Memphis_Bill
Play through the Kheldian arcs and the Nictus invasion gets wrapped up.
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Requiem travels back in time to ancient Rome and becomes his own grandfather or something after the Kheldian storyline anyway, so he's obviously trying to take over the world again, and the Nictus are somehow involved, as Romulus is so fond of telling us.Quote:
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Originally Posted by Clave_Dark_5
/e, Groucho
"Why a six-year-old child could understand this report. Run out and find me a six-year-old child. I cant make head nor tail out of it." |
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Originally Posted by Divus
4. I'd like to know more of the background of the "color crew": Crimson, Indigo, Veridian.
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I also second the want for more Dark Astoria. Why are there level 50 Banished Pantheon in other dimensions? Maybe we can go there and find out. Then we'll have to make sure the same thing doesn't happen here.
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Everything everyone posted so far is full of win!
I'd also like some flashback arcs showing off more of the classic COH history stories (and COV and Pre-Praetoria for that matter) that we only hear off hand or read about in plaques.
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Originally Posted by Westley
My number one answer would be the Shadow Shard. You've got four huge, BEAUTIFUL zones with bizarre creatures and a fascinating, but miniscule storyline that just hints at what's to come. But then that's it. We learn very little about the whole place, and I think that's a shame.
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I agree with the general sentiment expressed here. Many zones and locations have little back story available. There's now a "greeter" for many zones to tell you a bit about the zone like level ranges and such, but it's not the same as being told a story.
In contrast, I really like how the back story in Cimerora is done. You talk to several NPCs is the zone and gain an appreciation for the story that is being told. It lends impetus to your actions (beating up Romans) rather than just beating guys up because they're there to be beaten up.
Most zones could use this sort of treatment, imo. Mercy in particular is an engima to me. Why is Arachnos there? Why are there people struggling to leave? What is the significance of two different Arachnos forts? Why is there a huge treatment plant on a small island? Who and what are those snakes? (I realize the snakes are explained further later, much later, around level 45, but that's a bit long to wait for closure.)
Stuff like that. The interaction between groups that are present in a zone too. St. Martinal: why does Arachnos have partial control of the streets, but the Family seems to have open control of other parts? Who actually visits a casino in a country run by a power-mad super villain? Why is the Carnival of Shadows allowed to exist openly (my guess is they have protection from someone)?
All zones are kind of set-pieces where players are supposed to play, but there's not a lot of reasons for those set-pieces to exist. I realize returning to old content and old zones isn't your highest priority esp. with Praetoria, but I thought I'd add a plug.
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Blood of the Black Stream.|
Originally Posted by Zwillinger
What other stories do you feel need to be further explored?
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(and the previously mentioned Rularuu)
It would also be nice to see more of the Coralax (I liked the new i19 arc).
With all the focus in recent issues on Praetoria and the Incarnate content, I feel like there is a lot of story already existing in the City of Heroes world that still has yet to be told. Open threads that have yet to be resolved. What are some of the storylines that you'd like to see resolved in future issues?
My number one answer would be the Shadow Shard. You've got four huge, BEAUTIFUL zones with bizarre creatures and a fascinating, but miniscule storyline that just hints at what's to come. But then that's it. We learn very little about the whole place, and I think that's a shame.
I'd also like to see them do more with "The Coming Storm". What is it? WHEN is it? Is it related to the Shadow Shard or the Incarnates? Have we already avoided it?
In the past, these things were swept under the rug with the explanation that "we want all players to experience all dev generated content" and that's why nothing ever moved forward story-wise. But now, with Ouroboros, I don't see that as a valid reason. Let's go back to those old neglected storylines and pick them up.
I for one know that it would re-invigorate my interest in the game if they were... if the 6 years that I had put into the game started to pay off by allowing me to continue to work on the cases that I started to work on when I first became a superhero.
So, what stories did you never see completed that you would like to?