Who Will Die Part 2 SSA - Thoughts
By
2short2care,
Posted on: 2011-10-11 03:50 in CoH and CoV General Discussions
When you start a TF, you get capped to the level you were when you started it if not beyond that range.
IE: I start SSA1.1 at level 13, almost at level 14. I level up twice to 15. The game will keep me exemped to 13. Once I complete the SSA, my level goes to 15. If I start it again, the system will keep me at level 15.
The range is likely 20-30.
I've taken to denoting the SSA's as 1.x, because otherwise it'll get confusing later on.
Who Will Die is the first in the signature story arcs. We've played part 1. So that's SSA 1.1. Today SSA 1.2 is go. When all seven parts are done, we can then see SSA 2.1 and so forth.
Ahh ok, see I don't run a lot of Task Forces. Thanks for clearing that up though.
And we could just refer to it as WWD1, WWD2, WWD3 etc. But yeah your way makes sense too since everyone is going to refer to it as the SSA
Waves of enemies again? Hopefully not the 'see through stealth' ambush types?
Question - can you get the reward table once per week per SSA, or once per week for any SSA?
My characters - all on Virtue.
Gabe's Internet [censored] Theory
RMT spammers WILL steal your credit card.
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Heh, I've never liked abbreviating things with Ws. They typically make the "abbreviation" longer than the actual thing being abbreviated.|
Originally Posted by Agent White
Ahh ok, see I don't run a lot of Task Forces. Thanks for clearing that up though.
And we could just refer to it as WWD1, WWD2, WWD3 etc. But yeah your way makes sense too since everyone is going to refer to it as the SSA |
Examples:
World War One (3 Syllables)
WW1 (5 Syllables)
Who Will Die One (4 Syllables)
WWD1 (6 Syllables)
I know we're typing these, but still...Kind of funny to think about!
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Originally Posted by kusanagi
Question - can you get the reward table once per week per SSA, or once per week for any SSA?
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Subtract 2 rewards if you're under 50.
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The first time you complete an SSA, you can pick 1 thing as your first time completion reward.|
Originally Posted by kusanagi
Question - can you get the reward table once per week per SSA, or once per week for any SSA?
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If you play the arc again straight after, you can pick that same reward again, and then cannot pick that for a week on completing any SSA.
You can pick the other reward (if you're below 50) and the other two rewards at 50.
So, a Level 25 Character this week who hasn't completed any SSA:
Complete SSA 1.1 - Choose hero Merit as first time completion reward
Complete SSA 1.2 - Choose hero merit as first time completion reward.
Complete SSA 1.1 or 1.2 again - Choose Hero Merit.
Complete SSA 1.1 or 1.2 again - Can no longer choose hero merit, can pick 4x5 Reward Merit.
Complete SSA 1.1 or 1.2 again - Can now only pick 5 Reward Merits as the reward.
If Level 50:
I could complete SSA 1.1 or 1.2 twice to get the Astral and the Threads if I so wished.
After that is done, the only merit you can pick from doing any SSA is the 5 Reward Merits.
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Clarification per Posi:|
Originally Posted by kusanagi
Question - can you get the reward table once per week per SSA, or once per week for any SSA?
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Originally Posted by Positron
To clarify the rewards on the SSA's.
There is a "First Time Played" reward, that is independent of the 1-week cooldown. Thus when you first play an SSA, it will seem like you can get two rewards. In the following weeks it will only be one. All SSA's share the same week-long cooldown, so when you have SSA 1.1 and SSA 1.2 and SSA 1.3, you can only get one week-long cooldown reward, not one for each. The above is the reason for the "First Time Played" reward. A player who starts playing SSAs in the middle or the end of the arc isn't gated by the week-long cooldowns. They can play each SSA and get the good reward table every time. Only after they have done the "First Time" will they be gated further by the week-long cooldown. |
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As long as they're the "blunder straight into the vicious traps set out in waiting for us" as they were in #1 I'm happy. |
Originally Posted by Fluct
Waves of enemies again? Hopefully not the 'see through stealth' ambush types?
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I've a habit of playing placeable-based Support characters recently so I actually welcome these sorts of things. My Elec/NRG Dominator breezed through Praetoria, my Earth/Fire domi loves hearing the "Stop [charname]" of an incoming ambush and my Traps/Beam defender had great fun playing with the rock monster swarm in Who Will Die 1.
The only difference is this time around I have access to Trip Mine too.
Just ran the heroside version with my level 26 human-only peacebringer. Good fun. I'm happy to see the Rulu-Shin, since I've always thought Rularuu was too interesting an opponent to be locked away in "endgame content" and especially in a bunch of task forces no one ever runs.
I didn't find the ambushes anywhere near as annoying as part 1's, although having a bunch of NPC allies to handle them probably helped. Plus just being able to confront the ambushes head on instead of having to rush to click a bunch of glowies. I AM wondering why (*spoiler*) shows up to help fight them, though -- maybe the villainside arc will explain that.
The voice balloons in the first mission are out of control. Having half a dozen balloons pop up on the screen nearly simultaneously while I'm in the middle of a fight is hardly the best way to present information. I mean, if I have to look at my NPC chat log to make sense of what's going on, why even have the balloons in the first place?
I enjoyed the Horta vine chase in the third mission, and the final location was a fun choice. I was expecting to end up in the Shadow Shard, so seeing You Know What in the distance was a jolt. And the end boss is definitely a tougher fight than Lemkin (not that he could be EASIER, honestly). I barely beat him after a couple of defeats, and then only because he was obliging enough to run in just as I'd queued up an Incandescent Strike.
34 heroes,
20 villains, Victory, Justice, Infinity, Virtue, Triumph, Exalted -- some more active than others
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Oh, they were supposed to help you? My brute just met all the waves in the corridor. Never felt like I was in trouble. Can't imagine my squishies are going to enjoy that though.
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Originally Posted by Finsplit
I didn't find the ambushes anywhere near as annoying as part 1's, although having a bunch of NPC allies to handle them probably helped.
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Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
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The first time they all just gathered around me doing nothing since I was stealthed. The second time you can hide out trembling with Percy and let the NPCs handle it. The third time, they're as difficult as gearlings. This is the blueside version. If anyone complains about these ambushes... well, L2P comes to mind.
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Originally Posted by Fluct
Waves of enemies again? Hopefully not the 'see through stealth' ambush types?
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Speeding Through New DA Repeatables || Spreadsheet o' Enhancements || Zombie Skins: better skins for these forums || Guide to Guides
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Ah that's good, never really liked mob waves that could zero in on anything through stealth.
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Originally Posted by Zombie Man
The first time they all just gathered around me doing nothing since I was stealthed.
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Because I hadn't seen it mentioned and when i logged in there wasn't a pop-up, the villain side contact is in Sharkhead. Name is Vladimir Zolner and he is located right next to the ferry on the dock. Also running it as a level 50 i'm exemped down to to 30.
"while some people would say fish, cow, ambush!"-Ice9
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WW1 is seven syllables.
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Originally Posted by JLane
Heh, I've never liked abbreviating things with Ws. They typically make the "abbreviation" longer than the actual thing being abbreviated.
Examples: World War One (3 Syllables) WW1 (5 Syllables) Who Will Die One (4 Syllables) WWD1 (6 Syllables) I know we're typing these, but still...Kind of funny to think about! |
My level 50 brute was exemped to 30 for the arc.
Tammy does appear at the very end, just after the final cutscene. All she does is say thank you.
I think the Rulu-Shin might become quite a popular choice for tribute avatars 
@Golden Girl
City of Heroes comics and artwork
I was not a big fan of part 1, but I really enjoyed part 2. The Rulu-Shin really made these missions pop for me. The story was cool, but I think the art assets used were the real key.
Types of Swords
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Ran the villainside version with a level 26 sonic/mental blaster. Except for the first mission, it's pretty much the same maps and enemies, with different mission text.
One minor annoyance: apparently if you tick off the guards in the third mission, Harry Stein disappears. I walked past the guards at his office door this time, which of course aggroed them, and after I stomped them, I found Stein's office empty. So if you want to strong-arm Stein, you have to be polite to the guards first?
34 heroes,
20 villains, Victory, Justice, Infinity, Virtue, Triumph, Exalted -- some more active than others
Quote:
I super-speeded into his office and he immediately fled (and then the guards went aggressive). He seemed to just be a normal civilian type with the white targeting box rather than an interactive one.
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Originally Posted by Finsplit
One minor annoyance: apparently if you tick off the guards in the third mission, Harry Stein disappears. I walked past the guards at his office door this time, which of course aggroed them, and after I stomped them, I found Stein's office empty. So if you want to strong-arm Stein, you have to be polite to the guards first?
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Maybe you should try being more selective with your brutality then? |
Originally Posted by Finsplit
apparently if you tick off the guards in the third mission, Harry Stein disappears. I walked past the guards at his office door this time, which of course aggroed them, and after I stomped them, I found Stein's office empty. So if you want to strong-arm Stein, you have to be polite to the guards first?
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I walked in, asked a guard to let me speak to the boss, then tried to convince Harry to tell me the truth - when he denied everything, I went for my own private tour of his store, and found some interesting things - and all without a single punch being thrown
@Golden Girl
City of Heroes comics and artwork
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When I did the mission heroside, I spoke to the guards before entering the office, and I was able to talk to Stein, and there was an option to threaten him (although I didn't take it).
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Originally Posted by Biowraith
I super-speeded into his office and he immediately fled (and then the guards went aggressive). He seemed to just be a normal civilian type with the white targeting box rather than an interactive one.
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34 heroes,
20 villains, Victory, Justice, Infinity, Virtue, Triumph, Exalted -- some more active than others
Quote:
Brutality isn't supposed to be selective. That's the whole *point* of brutality.
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Originally Posted by Golden Girl
Maybe you should try being more selective with your brutality then?
I walked in, asked a guard to let me speak to the boss, then tried to convince Harry to tell me the truth - when he denied everything, I went for my own private tour of his store, and found some interesting things - and all without a single punch being thrown |
34 heroes,
20 villains, Victory, Justice, Infinity, Virtue, Triumph, Exalted -- some more active than others
Quote:
Maybe Harry decided not to act like other CoH bosses, and ran for it the moment he heard his men being attacked? |
Originally Posted by Finsplit
Brutality isn't supposed to be selective. That's the whole *point* of brutality.
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@Golden Girl
City of Heroes comics and artwork
It was nice for the Rularuu to see some action. It's too bad they probably won't factor into the rest of the arc in any meaningful way.
Issue 16 made me feel like this.
Warning: This poster likes to play Devil's Advocate.
Is up. The contact in Talos Island was accepting missions, so I ran it not an hour or so ago.
Level cap seems to be 27, as I started it at 27 with my Necro/Dark Mastermind, hit 28 at the end of the 1st mission and remained exemp'ed at 27. Min level is 20 according to the market
How does it play out? Nabad, pretty fun actually and the finale, while not quite as epic as part 1, has a pretty awesome locale for the final battle. I actually ran the first SSA before I ran this, since the character hadn't done it yet. Actually what made me try if Part 2 was open was running into a Supernatural event in Skyway City. Can't describe it more than that since... well, I don't think I did it right XD But I think the new Halloween event is live. Ooor it's just a new event period >>
Mission 1 is short and just *nuts*. Just wave after wave! I don't look forward to trying to solo this with non-Masterminds, but shoouuld be plenty doable.
Mission 2, pretty quick and easy, honestly nothing much worth mentioning, waaay easier than part 2 of SSA1. In fact overall I'd say this arc is easier than 1, the only actual spots I had any trouble with were the end of mission 1 and the start of mission 3.
Mission 3... the opening map is a bit laggy, aaand it's easy to miss where to go, I spent a few minutes stumbling through, royally cheesing off all the guards XD but after that it went smoothly. The wormhole jumping is pretty cool and it was a HUGE eye boggle moment when i popped out in the final. Luckily... it's mostly a tease, but I won't spoil it. It was my first time seeing him in game so it was pretty 'omg they didn't!'. Again it ends with an Elite boss who.. I dunno, my zombies didn't have much trouble with him, bit easier than Lemkin since he had the super speed and the mass PBAoE knockback. I'm not even sure what tricks, if any, this guy has.
And the story? It's alright, kind of interesting since it involves the Midnight Club and the Rulu-shin. It really focuses on Tommy Arcanus rather than Numina, in fact, I don't think she appears at all in the whole arc. And another hook with Mr. Teller in the back of a bar and some more foreshadowing.
The Rewards table is the same as it was for SSA1.
So how does it rate? Not bad. It doesn't have quite as epic as feel as the first one, but it's got some pretty decent flavor and there aren't any flaws like the first episode had. Everything is pretty straight forward and the mobs aren't too absurd (your mileage may vary, especially mission 1. WAVES!)