The Howard Zaine Trilogy - Coming Soon!
By
Ankylosaur,
Posted on: 2011-11-16 15:32 in Mission Architect
<-- Intrigued...
This is what i'm talking about!
Well if this can stick to the level of quality shown in the video, I think we will remember your name...
Hot!
(Are there gonna be a lot of ambush mobs for my SS/Fire Brute? Im kidding!)
Looking forward to it E....
"Forum PvP doesn't give drops. Just so all of you who participated in this thread are aware." -Mod08-
"when a stalker goes blue side, assassination strike should be renamed "bunny hugs", and a rainbow should fly out" -Harbinger-
Cutscenes? CUTSCENES?!?!
I am eagerly awaiting this, having played your MA arcs in the past and felt they approached a movie-like feel better than most of the official content in the game. You've written great story content in the past; now I'm intrigued to see what sort of gameplay innovations you have managed to create.
I'll assume from your past work that these mishs will feature the kind of mobs that present a real challenge, but one that can be overcome if you think about the combat instead of just madly clicking.
The only thing I need to know now is: how many points will these arcs cost us? :-D
Thanks everyone for the excitement! A lot of hard work has gone into this so hopefully it lives up to expectations.
-Evangel
Hey everyone. As a special buildup to the launch of the Howard Zaine Trilogy I'm release this little prelude arc. Details below. Feedback welcome!
Release - Arc ID 529478 - "A Long Time Ago In A Zone Far, Far Away"
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As a special pre-release of the Howard Zaine Trilogy, Arc 529478 - "A Long Time Ago In A Zone Far, Far Away" is a very short prelude arc that introduces the mystery of the trilogy. The backdrop of the story is introduced through a canon-related storyline. The arc is a very low xp arc that focuses more on introducing some of the concepts used in the trilogy. The main trilogy is very xp-balanced but has various missions that are story-focused with non-combat mechanics. This arc introduces those methods and prepares the player for how some of the trilogy's missions will work. The arc is very short and serves very much as a "tutorial" for the Howard Zaine Trilogy.
Synopsis
----------------
Officer Flint - the first contact your hero ever made in Paragon City - has called upon you for a special announcement: the last of the Contaminated has been cured, and it's all thanks to the work of you and other heroes all those years ago! But when you travel to meet with Flint and others for the celebration a surprise attack causes you to embark on an investigation into a brand new villain organization in Paragon City!
Details
----------------
Arc ID: 529478
Title: "A Long Time Ago, In A Zone Far Far Away"
Level Range: 45-50
Length: Medium - About 30 minutes
Difficulty: Very easy - Soloable on your normal solo difficulty
Alignment: Heroic
XP: Very low - tutorial arc focused on story
-Evangel
Release - Arc ID 530481 - "The Seventh Project"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 1 of the Howard Zaine Trilogy is here! Complete with optional objectives, hidden clues, and cutscenes! The arc is challenging but definitely soloable - albeit perhaps on a lower difficulty than your character is used to. The villain group is challenging but able to be fought at appropriate difficulties on any AT. Going above and beyond the mission objectives is encouraged as some features will only present themselves if you search for them. As with the prelude, this arc is very story-focused, but Chapter 1 is also very xp-balanced with a solid villain group and plenty of objectives.
To avoid spoilers I suggest searching for the arc via title or ID number, not by author.
Synopsis
----------------
A calm man with a piercing glare stands in the Mission Architect building. When you approach him the story begins and your destiny begins to unfold - starting with an investigation into a mysterious new criminal organization in Paragon City. Your search for clues and answers leads you down the rabbit hole as you pursue the mastermind behind a weapon program like no other!
Details
----------------
Arc ID: 530481
Title: "The Seventh Project"
Level Range: 45-50
Length: Long - About 45-60 minutes
Difficulty: Medium - Soloable but challenging on your normal solo difficulty
Alignment: Heroic
XP: Balanced - comparable to an average City Of Heroes story arc
-Evangel
Played through the prelude and Chapter 1 tonight. VERY impressive with a rich story, great customs and great mechanics, and the cut scenes really take it over the top. 
Going to dig into that side arc some time too.
Great stuff! I encourage everyone to give it a go...
Looking forward to Chapter 2!
Try out my AE Arcs! (solo friendly, canon related, & some contest winners)
| #529832 Rularularian - Heroic - 41-54 | #515140 The Serpent Beyond the Horizon - Heroic - 46-52 | #183832 Save the Diver, Save the World - Vigilante - 25-30 | #245534 Condemning Croatoa - Villainous - 25-33 | #540585 Robolution - Villainous - 25-34 |
Thanks for everyone who has run the arc so far! I have gotten a lot of good feedback and the reviews have been very positive! Spread the word if you know any people that like to run AE missions, look forward to more feedback!
Some teases for Chapter 2 will be coming in the next week or two, so look forward to some previews of where the story goes next!
-Evangel
I've loved everything in these arcs so far, from the writing to the clever use of mechanics. And cutscenes... That's such a great idea!
Looking fwd to the next installment!!
This is a good thing you are doing to get attention to a quality arc.
Clearly you took a lot of time putting this together and it shows. I have to say I really enjoyed how you did the cutscenes for this arc.
Nice job on the customs.
Very well done and a fun arc to play. Cheers.
The development team and this community deserved better than this from NC Soft. Best wishes on your search.
Thanks everyone for the great feedback on the arc so far! I've really enjoyed the positive response I've gotten!
Also, next week I'll be releasing a little tease for Chapter 2 - so be sure to check back here early next week for a look at where the story goes next!
-Evangel
Thanks a bunch to Bubbawheat for selecting The Howard Zaine Trilogy as a spotlight for his excellent series of "On Your M-Arc" reviews. The interview is linked below.
For anyone not familiar with the series it is a great set of video reviews for some truly amazing arcs in AE. I have found many arcs through this series and the quality of the review is always great - giving good feedback with respect for the author. Check out the review and browse the rest of the thread for some other great arcs as well!
http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showp...&postcount=135
-Evangel
Chapter 2 Announcement!
Hey all. So I slacked off a bit with the holidays and so the release of Chapter 2 will be backed up a few weeks. Here is the official teaser for Chapter 2, which gives a little insight into what Zaine has been up to in the past weeks, and what he's preparing to do next...
Enjoy!
"The Offer" - Chapter 2 Teaser Video
-Evangel
Nice new trailer. Very well put together and makes me want to do the next part 1-23-12.
The development team and this community deserved better than this from NC Soft. Best wishes on your search.
Thanks! I'll have another small tease coming tonight or tomorrow as well, and putting the final touches on Chapter 2, hopefully it will be as fun to play as it has been to create!
-Evangel
Slight delay...
Chapter 2 was supposed to launch today but sadly due to some personal commitments it looks like I'll be delaying the release for about one week. I have recently started a new job and am in the process of moving to a new apartment. So free time to tweak and prepare this arc for launch has fallen by the wayside. I in fact didn't even realize today was the 23rd until about an hour ago...
But I do hope to have things ironed out within the next few days! In the meantime here's a little something to further tease you about the next chapter of the trilogy! Sorry for the delay!
The Manifest
-------------------
A few weeks after your capture of Project 3 you received a phone call from the lieutenant in charge of the investigation. After sorting through the members of Crey's security forces and the few guards of The Embassy that you managed to arrest, the lieutenant discovered a curious item in the pocket of one of the men.
Of course the guard refused to speak of the matter, but the lieutenant called you down to the precinct for a word about the discovery. Crumbled up in the pocket was a two page note - a manifest. It reads:
And as you finish reading the note you receive a page from Officer Flint. The Man in Green is requesting your services once more...
The story continues, soon!
-Evangel
OK, you've had a week to settle into the new place...now get back to work!
We want more Zaine!!!
:-)
Release - Arc ID 530481 - "The Seventh Project"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 1 of the Howard Zaine Trilogy is here! Complete with optional objectives, hidden clues, and cutscenes! The arc is challenging but definitely soloable - albeit perhaps on a lower difficulty than your character is used to. The villain group is challenging but able to be fought at appropriate difficulties on any AT. Going above and beyond the mission objectives is encouraged as some features will only present themselves if you search for them. As with the prelude, this arc is very story-focused, but Chapter 1 is also very xp-balanced with a solid villain group and plenty of objectives.
To avoid spoilers I suggest searching for the arc via title or ID number, not by author.
Synopsis
----------------
A calm man with a piercing glare stands in the Mission Architect building. When you approach him the story begins and your destiny begins to unfold - starting with an investigation into a mysterious new criminal organization in Paragon City. Your search for clues and answers leads you down the rabbit hole as you pursue the mastermind behind a weapon program like no other!
Details
----------------
Arc ID: 530481
Title: "The Seventh Project"
Level Range: 45-50
Length: Long - About 45-60 minutes
Difficulty: Medium - Soloable but challenging on your normal solo difficulty
Alignment: Heroic
XP: Balanced - comparable to an average City Of Heroes story arc
Release - Arc ID 529478 - "A Long Time Ago In A Zone Far, Far Away"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Details
----------------
Arc ID: 529478
Title: "A Long Time Ago, In A Zone Far Far Away"
Level Range: 45-50
Length: Medium - About 30 minutes
Difficulty: Very easy - Soloable on your normal solo difficulty
Alignment: Heroic
XP: Very low - tutorial arc focused on story
Announcement Teaser Trailer
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Teaser Trailer - "Remember": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFzc2duEt90
The Howard Zaine Trilogy
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The Howard Zaine Trilogy is the story of a simple man with an evil smile, who seeks ultimate power. A heroic-oriented arc, the story brings your character into the mix when a mysterious contact enlists your aid. As your journey continues you are pushed closer and closer to realizing your true destiny. Your character is challenged, tempted, and subjected to pressures that would break normal men, and if you're not careful you may find yourself falling into the darkness of evil. Building its own intricate story, the trilogy is nested firmly in the lore of Paragon City, expanding to encompass your character's fate in this "City of Heroes".
The trilogy challenges the norm of mission development, using many unconventional objectives, including non-combat missions, side storyarcs, and more. It is designed around a story-driven tale where players are encouraged to do far more than just click "Accept" and enter the mission. But despite its grand approach the trilogy leaves much of the extra content up to the discretion of the player, allowing many things to be skipped over if the player only wishes to complete the missions for xp. But at its core the trilogy is a complex tale - and it is encouraged to read everything, play everything, and search for optional objectives not listed in the navigation window
-Evangel
"Memories" - The Evangel Farewell Video