Discussion: The Intrepid Informer: Issue #17
By
Agent White,
Posted on: 2012-01-17 10:51 in News, Events and Announcement Discussion
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That's an utterly [Pancake] contrast and you know it. Return of the King is Part 3 of Lord of the Rings, where it's only a small part of the overall story.|
Originally Posted by Golden Girl
In "The Retrun of the King", Aragorn is crowned 4 chapters before the end - it's made me rage ever since I first read it.
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No, this is more like someone finishing reading the Two Towers, before the publishers go "Oh, by the way, in Return of the King Frodo destroys the Ring."
Sure, you can guess that's what might happen, but you don't know.
And this is worse than that, because until Part 5 we HAD NO IDEA who it was who was going to die, because there were 8 options out of the FP.
But no, apparently spoilers are cool and awesome, because we get to finally get rid of the last vestige of Jack. And believe me, I dislike him as much as the next person, but that's no [pancake] excuse for bad marketing and ruining of story. End of.
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Originally Posted by Zwillinger
GG, I would tell you that "I am killing you with my mind", but I couldn't find an emoticon to properly express my sentiment.
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Originally Posted by Captain_Photon
NOTE: The Incarnate System is basically farming for IOs on a larger scale, and with more obtrusive lore.
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I can't help but notice that neither Manticore nor Sister Psyche are in that picture... hmmm...
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Originally Posted by JayboH
Does anyone have a larger version of this?
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That was very beautiful and touching. Nice work.
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Originally Posted by Dark_Respite
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Synergy Lvl 50 Def FF/Electric/Psy - Protector
Cimarron - Protector Mascot
My DA Page
Also the chick with red boots and short black hair...
Seems like she is getting some spotlight there. Who may she be?
She is behind the supers with the coffin, and she is not a longbow...
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Psyche is very likely still in a coma. |
Originally Posted by Zemblanity
I can't help but notice that neither Manticore nor Sister Psyche are in that picture... hmmm...
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Also, lol, werewolf. <3 I think that's the Studio 55 dancer >>
It's pretty cropped as well. You're seeing maybe 60% of it?
David Nakayama, Lead Concept Artist
COH Concept Art Gallery now open at http://pixelsaurus.deviantart.com/
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Okay, so that means you're gonna show us the rest so we can see who you cropped out, right?|
Originally Posted by Noble Savage
It's pretty cropped as well. You're seeing maybe 60% of it?
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(This is obviously meant to give David time to repaint the picture after he doodled in Dr. Aeon loading up a tomato gun to fire at the funeral procession...)
Michelle
aka
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Dark_Respite's Farewell Video: "One Last Day"
THE COURSE OF SUPERHERO ROMANCE CONTINUES!
Book I: A Tale of Nerd Flirting! ~*~ Book II: Courtship and Crime Fighting - Chap Nine live!
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THE COURSE OF SUPERHERO ROMANCE CONTINUES!
Book I: A Tale of Nerd Flirting! ~*~ Book II: Courtship and Crime Fighting - Chap Nine live!
MA Arcs - 3430: Hell Hath No Fury / 3515: Positron Gets Some / 6600: Dyne of the Times / 351572: For All the Wrong Reasons
378944: Too Clever by Half / 459581: Kill or Cure / 551680: Clerical Errors (NEW!)
I'm sure someone at Paragon has thought of this, but with all the talking about removing Statesman from the game nobody has mentioned Wade himself. He's quite clearly gone past the point of no return, and I'm sure everyone on blueside and quite a lot of redside isn't going to stand around idly while he threatens to end all of existence. But when all of this comes to a close, he can't just be hanging around giving out his arc with passing villains patting him on the back and saying "better luck next time".
A circle forms, everybody comes round
Just to hear the incredible sound
Of a genius smashing expectations
- Jonathan Coulton
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If you show us the full picture, we'll be able to tell if it's 60% or not |
Originally Posted by Noble Savage
It's pretty cropped as well. You're seeing maybe 60% of it?
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@Golden Girl
City of Heroes comics and artwork
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We'll kill wade and either get the power, or give States his powers back.
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Originally Posted by Mokalus
I'm sure someone at Paragon has thought of this, but with all the talking about removing Statesman from the game nobody has mentioned Wade himself. He's quite clearly gone past the point of no return, and I'm sure everyone on blueside and quite a lot of redside isn't going to stand around idly while he threatens to end all of existence. But when all of this comes to a close, he can't just be hanging around giving out his arc with passing villains patting him on the back and saying "better luck next time".
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I wasn't really asking from a story standpoint, more of a technical one. Since Wade is a contact with a badge on redside, plus he's an information waypoint for a few other arcs (Mercedes Sheldon and I think Vincent Ross, possibly more), and he's referenced in at least one redside tip mission (Darrin Wade's Wishlist). While he's obviously not at a Statesman level of exposure in the game lore there's still quite a lot of things that will be affected by his absence.
A circle forms, everybody comes round
Just to hear the incredible sound
Of a genius smashing expectations
- Jonathan Coulton
I wonder if he might take on a more villainous name and costume now that he has all this power?
We seen a few bits of career progress from some NPCs, like Fusionette earning her cape and joining he Vanguard, and Apex also joining the Vanguard and getting a new outfit - but Darrin Wade is the first time we've actually seen the rise of new archvillain played out in the storyline - new AVs have always just appeared in the storyline in their finished form, but Darrin Wade's gone from being a small time contact to an Incarnate level supervillain, so I think it'll be very interesting to see if he changes his look and name at all.
@Golden Girl
City of Heroes comics and artwork
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I'd be really disappointed if they didn't take that into account, and I expect better of them. I'm sure that'll be part of the changes being made. Even if he loses his power, there's 'no going back' for him in that regard. At least I hope not.|
Originally Posted by Mokalus
I'm sure someone at Paragon has thought of this, but with all the talking about removing Statesman from the game nobody has mentioned Wade himself. He's quite clearly gone past the point of no return, and I'm sure everyone on blueside and quite a lot of redside isn't going to stand around idly while he threatens to end all of existence. But when all of this comes to a close, he can't just be hanging around giving out his arc with passing villains patting him on the back and saying "better luck next time".
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I really look forward to the rest and how it plays out. This last installment was truly well made, particularly for heroside.
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Originally Posted by EmperorSteele
Though perhaps we're looking at this the wrong way. This isn't a story about Statesman dying... this is a story about WADE and his grab for power... Statesman dying just happens to be a PART of that plan.
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[The Well]: Statesman understands how this works, and seeks to keep me from my game... bored now. Oh? Someone else wants his power AND he's stupid?! Hell yeah!
I'll be happy as long as they don't write it in a way that puts words in your villain's mouth, but beyond that, I see the villain players getting the upper hand on Wade for his betrayal, and the Heroes somehow finding closure and justice for what he's done.
Even if that means our heroes know Wade suffered at the hands of our villains, and have to let it lay at that for now...
"I play characters. I have to have a very strong visual appearance, backstory, name, etc. to get involved with a character, otherwise I simply won't play it very long. I'm not an RPer by any stretch of the imagination, but character concept is very important for me."- Back Alley Brawler
I couldn't agree more.
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Statesman's last wish was to see Darrin Wade behind bars for the rest of his life. I'd like to respect his wishes, if possible, so if your villain would be so kind as to delay his vengeance until my hero arrests Wade, well, I'd appreciate it. Let's just say the key to his Zig cell will be under the rug |
Originally Posted by Lycantropus
And that's the point for the villainside story, in my opinion. I'm willing to bet the villian arc has you get even for his... indiscretions, leading to his death/capture/disempowerment (or all three).
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Oh, you found out what happens in parts 6 and 7 by them releasing one tiny tidbit of info about part 5?
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Originally Posted by Techbot Alpha
Well, what? I expect to at least be allowed to have Part 5 hit live before spoilers. They didn't even manage that! It was just after Part 4 when someone bright spark piped up with "Oh hey guys! In Part 5 Statesman dies!"
What part of 'This is a complete spoiler' doesn't compute? I'm honestly confused by this. |
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I only have a couple of characters I consider tied closely to canon. They're already filled with rage and sadness that Alexis is gone and it's something of a sucker punch that Statesman follows so soon after. He's not just an icon of heroism and justice, he is the icon. He was supposed to live forever. His truest ideals were supposed to be forever. People and other heroes come and go, the life of the city ebbs and flows, but always (well, since 1931) there was the Statesman.|
Originally Posted by Dark_Respite
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When the city was in trouble, he was there. When [my character(s)] weren't sure what to do, What Would Statesman Do? But in the end they didn't realize something Marcus Cole could never forget: He was just a man on the inside. He could lift a building but inside he was just as human, just as imperfect as any of us.
[My characters] are angry now, sure. And they'll have their time to grieve too. But watching that video made me realize this was as happy an ending as there could be for Marcus. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Evil is a maze of deceit and the cheese it hides is never worth the running.
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No, but that's only part of the overall story. The POINT of the story, surprise surprise, was 'Who will die?' It's right there, in the title. That's the name, the point of the freaking arc. |
Originally Posted by JayboH
Oh, you found out what happens in parts 6 and 7 by them releasing one tiny tidbit of info about part 5?
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So, explain to me how it's NOT a giant freaking [pancake] spoiler by telling people EARLY 'By the way, this is who dies'? Please, I'm intrigued how this is somehow justifiable, and not just 'Yay, everything of Jacks is finally gone!' which is what I got from the Informer article.
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Originally Posted by Zwillinger
GG, I would tell you that "I am killing you with my mind", but I couldn't find an emoticon to properly express my sentiment.
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Originally Posted by Captain_Photon
NOTE: The Incarnate System is basically farming for IOs on a larger scale, and with more obtrusive lore.
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It's a celebration of independence, which Positron and his team needed alot more than we players do, just as Statesman means alot more to them than it does to any of us. When Jack left, we players barely noticed. All of his previous work remained behind, and as long as maintenance and the occasional update came forth, we were happy. But the remnants of the old team did alot more than just keep the game up and running. Invention system. Mission architect. Power Customization. Praetoria. Morality tips. Incarnate content. Against all odds, they actually made the game better. Always in the shadow of what their predecessors did.|
Originally Posted by Techbot Alpha
So, explain to me how it's NOT a giant freaking [pancake] spoiler by telling people EARLY 'By the way, this is who dies'? Please, I'm intrigued how this is somehow justifiable, and not just 'Yay, everything of Jacks is finally gone!' which is what I got from the Informer article.
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For the Freem 15, I imagine it must mean the world to finally claim City of Heroes as their own, to stop feeling like the crew of a low-budget sequel. It's their baby now, i7 to i22 and still going strong, no one can claim otherwise. I say cut them a little slack even if it is borderline bragging. So the devs couldn't wait to tell everybody they were finally bringing down the portrait of their old boss. Does it matter? They deserve it.
I get that, and appreciate it. Jack, by all accounts, wasn't exactly great for CityOf with his nutty 'vision' and 'my way or the highway' mentality that people so hated.
But, purely for the story, characters and most importantly players sake, why couldn't they have held off and simply not spoilered it? Why not leave all these articles until after Part 5 had come out, rather than shortly after Part 4?
If they could have waited, everything would have been fine. But the whole thing feels soured (for me) by the wrecking of all suspense and surprise.
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Originally Posted by Zwillinger
GG, I would tell you that "I am killing you with my mind", but I couldn't find an emoticon to properly express my sentiment.
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Originally Posted by Captain_Photon
NOTE: The Incarnate System is basically farming for IOs on a larger scale, and with more obtrusive lore.
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Having now played the arc, I just want to say I loved it. It was well written, there were some [Pancake] EPIC set pieces (eat fist, fish-boy!) and the cinematic was one of the best so far. I honestly felt a kind of sad happiness after that. Over-layered with a desire to pound Wade's face into pulp.
All of which would have been twice as strong if it hadn't been spoilered already. Would have been twice the shock and even more impressive. Eh, oh well. Learn the lesson for next time.
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Originally Posted by Zwillinger
GG, I would tell you that "I am killing you with my mind", but I couldn't find an emoticon to properly express my sentiment.
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Originally Posted by Captain_Photon
NOTE: The Incarnate System is basically farming for IOs on a larger scale, and with more obtrusive lore.
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The flip side of that is the whole "We don't want to continue any old ideas, we just want new new new!" that personally I find really, REALLY irritating as an attitude. Blood fo the Black Stream? Nope, screw it, even if what we know sounds interesting. Other epics? Nope. How about just adding content to DA? Nope, have to nuke it and put something else vastly different in (and limit access.) |
Originally Posted by Zemblanity
It's a celebration of independence, which Positron and his team needed alot more than we players do, just as Statesman means alot more to them than it does to any of us. When Jack left, we players barely noticed. All of his previous work remained behind, and as long as maintenance and the occasional update came forth, we were happy. But the remnants of the old team did alot more than just keep the game up and running. Invention system. Mission architect. Power Customization. Praetoria. Morality tips. Incarnate content. Against all odds, they actually made the game better. Always in the shadow of what their predecessors did.
For the Freem 15, I imagine it must mean the world to finally claim City of Heroes as their own, to stop feeling like the crew of a low-budget sequel. It's their baby now, i7 to i22 and still going strong, no one can claim otherwise. I say cut them a little slack even if it is borderline bragging. So the devs couldn't wait to tell everybody they were finally bringing down the portrait of their old boss. Does it matter? They deserve it. |
And "Finally claim City of Heroes as their own?" How many of them were there well before becoming Paragon Studios? It already IS their own, so that argument really isn't one. They've hardly been "in the shadow of their predecessors." Jack lost interest, what, after issue 5-6? He had his "super secret project" (which has yet to see the light of day in anything but some many-years-old concept art) and then the Marvel MMO which siphoned people from COH and eventually became CO.
I don't think they've "felt like the crew of a low budget sequel" since NC bought them, hired most of the team and gave them their own offices and a fresh cash infusion.
Wanted: Origin centric story arcs.
If you've only played an AT once (one set combo) and "hate" it - don't give up. Roll a different combo. It may just be those sets not clicking for you.
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While I really wish they hadn't posted the spoiler, there is one other thing to consider.|
Originally Posted by Techbot Alpha
No, but that's only part of the overall story. The POINT of the story, surprise surprise, was 'Who will die?' It's right there, in the title. That's the name, the point of the freaking arc.
So, explain to me how it's NOT a giant freaking [pancake] spoiler by telling people EARLY 'By the way, this is who dies'? Please, I'm intrigued how this is somehow justifiable, and not just 'Yay, everything of Jacks is finally gone!' which is what I got from the Informer article. |
There's still 2 parts left, and Wade now has Incarnate power. Knowing him from his Villain arcs, it's likely that his ultimate goal is to leverage that to either release or sap power from a much larger cosmic entity. I definitely would not rule out Statesman being just one of several major characters who die trying to prevent that.
It's like playing part 3 and then being upset that Miss Liberty is killed and posting how bad it is that the arc was named for a minor character who died so soon into it.
Maybe they should have instead named it, "Who Won't Die?"
So the "hero" on the Wheaties box isnt from baseball or football anymore (even if those are probably the best marketing "icons")... it's still the same old box and Wheaties! Now, supposedly, my face is on the box. Times change, they'll do what they will, and money will ultimately decide the games fate.
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AKA Iron Smoke @Champion Server
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There! Right there! Dual emotes! Dual emotes! Want! WANT!
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Originally Posted by Dark_Respite
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@Kyuu
...ok, keep being angry, and redirect it back to your own expectations.
What part of 'This is a complete spoiler' doesn't compute? I'm honestly confused by this.