Who Will Die Part 2 SSA - Thoughts
By
2short2care,
Posted on: 2011-10-11 03:50 in CoH and CoV General Discussions
Wade is the new Flambeaux.
Speeding Through New DA Repeatables || Spreadsheet o' Enhancements || Zombie Skins: better skins for these forums || Guide to Guides
I think it says something about how much faith I have left in the mission writers that I'm *still* not sure if Darrin Wade is playing the long con, or if the writer of this arc just didn't read Wade's arc through to the end and assumed stealing artifacts from the Midnighters for his own use was his entire shtick.
Character index
Quote:
I didn't even know who he was when he came running in |
Originally Posted by Zombie Man
Wade is the new Flambeaux.
|
@Golden Girl
City of Heroes comics and artwork
Quote:
Yeah. Was a bit of a "bwuh?" moment for me as well. Lots of cooks in the kitchen I suppose.|
Originally Posted by Silver Gale
I think it says something about how much faith I have left in the mission writers that I'm *still* not sure if Darrin Wade is playing the long con, or if the writer of this arc just didn't read Wade's arc through to the end and assumed stealing artifacts from the Midnighters for his own use was his entire shtick.
|
While I liked Part I, this mini arc felt like "say hello to my little deus ex machina!"
*shrug* At least the bad writing is worth an alignment merit.
Edit to add: Finding the cell phone was silly.
Also found the chained map, where you take chase, felt a bit hamfisted. Particularly because the legacy lab map didn't feel like the place for the Rulu-Shin to say "You have invaded our home." Really? You guys live in a clean room? Dressed like that?
I also wasn't sure if the Hamidon at the end was supposed to be a maw of Rularuu or it was just coincidence that I ended up in the Abyss. The map locations in the first arc made much more sense as scenery moving the plot along and capturing a unique feel for the arc. Where here it felt like someone trying to make the most of the library of pre-existing maps, not fully articulating what was repurposed and what was supposed to represent the original source material for the map. In other words, the conveyance of map choices felt like something one would expect of a more amateurish fanfic AE arc rather than a for sale Signature Story Arc.
But on the plus side: I did like seeing those Shadow Shard portals as a means of bouncing from map to map. Out of all the legacy features, always thought those were some of the best bits of environmental artwork in game!
And though I didn't really find the third chain of maps to be well executed, the first two maps worked fine from my perspective for the story. I liked the black sand version of the big caves map.
Quote:
Ah, I didn't talk to the guards, so that's probably it. Now I think about it, one of them said something to me, but I just ignored him as insignificant (redside).|
Originally Posted by Finsplit
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).
|
Also, Numina should really encase Tommy's skull in a bowling ball or something.
Something I've been wondering about since running this arc; according to the Guardian in the second mission (heroside at least), the Watchers are more important in Rularuu's hierarchy than Brutes or Wisps. Also, the Rulu-shin have unique chest and glove details with prominent Rularuu eyes on them. What I'm wondering is if the Rularuu = eyes thing is part of the original Rularuu canon for the game, or a recent development. As far as I can remember, the eye focus started when Back Alley Brawler made the Rularuu weapon models, and according to him he didn't even intend to make Rularuu weapons. He said that he had the idea for the look, and it wasn't until after he noticed that the weapons' prominent eyes reminded him of Rularuu Watchers that they got the Rularuu weapon names. Also, in the Shadow Shard and its missions, eyes never show up as an important symbol to Rularuu. His aspects certainly don't display any eye-like markings.
Issue 16 made me feel like this.
Warning: This poster likes to play Devil's Advocate.
Did anyone else notice Mr Teller up on the 2nd floor of the store map? He was at one of the counters but, not targetable.
the villain version of this is just amazing, definitly interesting story line and i love some of the costume pieces on the rulu shin (i so want a giant eyeball as a chest detail lol)
Quote:
The eyeball bosses are called Overseers - both their description and the badge for them (dating back to I2) implies that they do oversee the other soldiers of Rularuu, which would mean they have some measure of authority.
|
Originally Posted by Vanden
Something I've been wondering about since running this arc; according to the Guardian in the second mission (heroside at least), the Watchers are more important in Rularuu's hierarchy than Brutes or Wisps. Also, the Rulu-shin have unique chest and glove details with prominent Rularuu eyes on them. What I'm wondering is if the Rularuu = eyes thing is part of the original Rularuu canon for the game, or a recent development.
|
Character index
Quote:
The big orb palaces in the Shadow Shard are also kinda eyeball shaped, and so are the monuments, and Items of Power.
|
Originally Posted by Silver Gale
The eyeball bosses are called Overseers - both their description and the badge for them (dating back to I2) implies that they do oversee the other soldiers of Rularuu, which would mean they have some measure of authority.
|
@Golden Girl
City of Heroes comics and artwork
Quote:
I caught him. Nice touch, was hoping he'd, like, get to say something, or something, even if it was just a "What do you want? Who are you leave me alone." brush off.|
Originally Posted by VincentVapor
Did anyone else notice Mr Teller up on the 2nd floor of the store map? He was at one of the counters but, not targetable.
|
Chalk me up as another who did a big "Wait, what?" at Darrin Wade. I really hope that'll get revisited in an appropriate fashion. And why is he a Nictus?
Overall, this arc didn't impress me as much as the first one did. The writing just wasn't as "there" as before.
Quote:
Cimerora was mentioned during this arc |
Originally Posted by Lazarillo
And why is he a Nictus?
|
@Golden Girl
City of Heroes comics and artwork
Quote:
The only aspects we've met are Ruladak, who is in charge of the Brutes and therefore has their aspects, Lanaruu, who is in charge of Storm Elementals and has storm powers, and Faathim who is in charge of nothing. We haven't met the aspect in charge of the eyeballs.|
Originally Posted by Vanden
Something I've been wondering about since running this arc; according to the Guardian in the second mission (heroside at least), the Watchers are more important in Rularuu's hierarchy than Brutes or Wisps. Also, the Rulu-shin have unique chest and glove details with prominent Rularuu eyes on them. What I'm wondering is if the Rularuu = eyes thing is part of the original Rularuu canon for the game, or a recent development. As far as I can remember, the eye focus started when Back Alley Brawler made the Rularuu weapon models, and according to him he didn't even intend to make Rularuu weapons. He said that he had the idea for the look, and it wasn't until after he noticed that the weapons' prominent eyes reminded him of Rularuu Watchers that they got the Rularuu weapon names. Also, in the Shadow Shard and its missions, eyes never show up as an important symbol to Rularuu. His aspects certainly don't display any eye-like markings.
|
The Brutes are essentially the muscle so it would make no sense for them to be in charge, but I would expect the Wisps to have some authority. I suppose they could be like the bureaucrats of the Rularuu though. You have to admit, the eyeballs are very cool and putting blinking eyeballs on stuff definitely evokes Rularuu.
Overall this arc was very pretty but otherwise meh. The use of the Abyss map made no sense. The splash screen was nice too, and shows that it is actually possible to have a picture of a female character that doesn't focus on her boobs. So of course Numina will be the one to die.
Eva Destruction AR/Fire/Munitions Blaster
Darkfire Avenger DM/SD/Body Scrapper
Arc ID#161629 Freaks, Geeks, and Men in Black
Arc ID#431270 Until the End of the World
Quote:
Good to know for those of us that are concerned more with rewards. I'm going Premium in a few days and was planning to buy all the Story Arcs. |
Originally Posted by Selina_H
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. |
Now I know only to buy one.
Quote:
But Numina is already dead!
|
Originally Posted by Eva Destruction
So of course Numina will be the one to die.
|
I found this arc a LOT less fun than the first, and absolutely ugly to blast through for rewards. Not to mention, the non-interuptable rez was terribly obnoxious. I certainly won't be doing this one again after I get through it for the rewards.
Quote:
True, but even so all of them look very similar. They all share a similar head shape, the etched and engraved-looking skin, the large belt and flowing robes. Even the thus-far unused model of Rularuu himself has these features. But none of them have any sort of eyeball livery.|
Originally Posted by Eva Destruction
The only aspects we've met are Ruladak, who is in charge of the Brutes and therefore has their aspects, Lanaruu, who is in charge of Storm Elementals and has storm powers, and Faathim who is in charge of nothing. We haven't met the aspect in charge of the eyeballs.
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Eva Destruction
You have to admit, the eyeballs are very cool and putting blinking eyeballs on stuff definitely evokes Rularuu.
|
Issue 16 made me feel like this.
Warning: This poster likes to play Devil's Advocate.
Really enjoyed the new arc, I expect to see those Rulu-Shin costume pieces in the store soon! I'd also love to see more out of this villian group, I've always wanted to see more with Rularuu.
Quote:
Well the dialogue box voice asked for a portal out of the base when you arrive, and he didn't care where it led. He should have been more specific I suppose, as the Zealot dude says they are pretty much trapped between your Hero and the Hamidon, and they made the right choice to try to fight by you rather than Hami.| The use of the Abyss map made no sense. |
They could have used another map I suppose, but the "Oh crap is that...?!" reaction I had upon seeing Hami was worth it's use I think.
Quote:
| That's where my question is coming from; I'm just wondering if someone thought the same thing and made it the official Rularuu symbol as a retcon. |
"I accidently killed Synapse, do we need to restart the mission?" - The Oldest One on Lord Recluses Strike Force
I have to say I love the Who Will Die story, part 2 was something I really enjoyed playing. It was nice to a new enemy group and the last map heroside made me 0.0, when I saw the big guy in the back. Only thing that made me sad was the team I was on wanted to go fight it and we couldnt.
Quote:
My thoughts exactly.| I think it says something about how much faith I have left in the mission writers that I'm *still* not sure if Darrin Wade is playing the long con, or if the writer of this arc just didn't read Wade's arc through to the end and assumed stealing artifacts from the Midnighters for his own use was his entire shtick. |
I found the arc to be just as meh-tastic as the first one. I also got a good laugh out of the YouTube promo bit that basically comes out and says they're greasing a character as an attention grab, which is one of the worst reasons to do it.
Current Blog Post: "Why I am an Atheist..."
"And I say now these kittens, they do not get trained/As we did in the days when Victoria reigned!" -- T. S. Eliot, "Gus, the Theatre Cat"
Quote:
Maybe the aspect in charge of the eyeballs is covered in them.|
Originally Posted by Vanden
True, but even so all of them look very similar. They all share a similar head shape, the etched and engraved-looking skin, the large belt and flowing robes. Even the thus-far unused model of Rularuu himself has these features. But none of them have any sort of eyeball livery.
|
The clue in the SSA seemed to say that the eyeballs were simply the favored of Rularuu, which kinda makes sense. Sending them to our dimension is kinda like his version of the Food Network.
Quote:
| That's where my question is coming from; I'm just wondering if someone thought the same thing and made it the official Rularuu symbol as a retcon. |
Eva Destruction AR/Fire/Munitions Blaster
Darkfire Avenger DM/SD/Body Scrapper
Arc ID#161629 Freaks, Geeks, and Men in Black
Arc ID#431270 Until the End of the World
Quote:
I did the villain side 1st, then when I saw Wade in hero side I assumed that (beware spoilers):|
Originally Posted by Silver Gale
I think it says something about how much faith I have left in the mission writers that I'm *still* not sure if Darrin Wade is playing the long con, or if the writer of this arc just didn't read Wade's arc through to the end and assumed stealing artifacts from the Midnighters for his own use was his entire shtick.
|
- Rulu-Shin is Wade cult.
- He and his cult attack the Midnight Club.
- Your hero arrives and go upstairs, start fighting Rulu-Shin waves.
- Wade steals the skull and uses the Horta Vine ending in the fight and then he poses like if he's there to help.
- Your villain arrives and go downstairs
- The waves end, Wade flees, and the Midnighters notice that the skull was stolen.
- Your villain arrives at the Midnighters vault, but it's already looted.
- The Midnighters arrive and they see your villain, assuming you're helping the Rulu-Shin to loot the vault.
- Your villain uses the Horta Vine to flee.
I think that any revamp or Peregrine Island should replace the Rikti and DE with Rulu-Shin.
@Golden Girl
City of Heroes comics and artwork
I enjoyed this one more than the first. Need to try the villain side to get the full impact, but the Enter Game button really needs to go.
I also like the way the Rulu-Shin were presented, art-wsie and story-wise - in spite of all the recent attention given to the CoT, I never actually thought of them while fighting these new hooded, faceless cultists with swords, man-skirts and lots of spikes.
@Golden Girl
City of Heroes comics and artwork