SSA 2: Guess What It Will Be (SPOILERS)
By
2short2care,
Posted on: 2012-03-28 06:49 in CoH and CoV General Discussions
Considering that parts of it have been playable already, I imagine it's going to focus on the "new" Freedom Phalanx, with additions, deletions, and changed allegiances.
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I think the only way they can top Darrin-friggin-Wade as a main villain, is to use Willy Wheeler as the mastermind behind SSA 2.
Thought for the day:
"Hope is the first step on the road to disappointment."
=][=
"Guess who's BACK!!"
Scirocco will probably never be redeemed, and my thoughts on why are is his function as a plot device. Scirocco is the only villain that can be dropped into these missions that would actually bother talking to you. He's a vehicle for exposition.
He was the one in DA because it's co-op and he's the only villain that wouldn't try to kill you on sight. He's in the SSA because they wanted a more co-op feel there. So I doubt we'll ever see an SSA about his redemption because he's the only tool the writers have at the moment to fill this role.
Now what I would like to see if some info on this so-called fate to do evil nonsense. I want specifics on this. Is he unable to do good? Will things always go wrong? Is there some price for him doing good deeds? If he saves someone does a sand storm destroy a village somewhere to compensate? What is this so-called curse?
Also the next SSA seems to have some focus on Penny apparently, it had leaked on beta a while back, but I would still like to get some more specifics on Scirocco back story and curse.
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This could actually be pretty well done. He would have a bone to pick with Longbow and Arachnos. All he really needs is a mentor or benefactor lending him some spine and brains.
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Originally Posted by Slaunyeh
I think the only way they can top Darrin-friggin-Wade as a main villain, is to use Willy Wheeler as the mastermind behind SSA 2.
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total kick to the gut
This is like having Ra's Al Ghul show up at your birthday party.
I think that SSA 2, on the hero side, will be fleshing out the stories of potential replacements on the Freedom Phalanx. On the villain side, I'm not sure what it will be.
Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson
"I was just the one with the most unsolicited sombrero." - Traegus
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The only thing defensible about the first SSA is it's use of Darrin Wade.|
Originally Posted by Slaunyeh
I think the only way they can top Darrin-friggin-Wade as a main villain, is to use Willy Wheeler as the mastermind behind SSA 2.
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Honestly, the hints have been dropped all over the place, this was actually a natural step forward for the character. (Though I havent heard if he has unique dialogue if you have the badge from his own arc. )
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omg this YES i was thinking about all these things.|
Originally Posted by Mr_Morbid
Now we've wrapped up the first SSA we can begin looking forward to the next one.
So what do you think will be (or what would you like to be) the focus of the next SSA? What I would like to see (and there's some strong evidence of it being possible) is the redemption of Scirocco. The Freedom Phalanx really took it on the chin with Who Will Die, now it's time to shake things up with Arachnos. Scirocco has always been something of a reluctant villain, and recent events have had him acting more and more like one of the good guys. In WWD part 7 he's the Arachnos member to first propose working together, even being a good bit friendlier to heros than to villains. The story of Dark Astoria goes even further in making Scirocco (and even his lackey Ice Mistral) a heroic figure. He's even come so far that (in Praetor Duncan's arc) Serafina is willing to work with him. And Ghost Widow's cutscene conversation with him points strongly to the possibility of him fighting what he has seen as his fate. And what would happen to the Arachnos power structure if one of the patrons decides to go straight? Suddenly Recluse is left with an idiot, a psychopath, and a ghost who continually claims to be unable to change as his chief underlings. Do the three escalate the conflict they've been having behind the scenes? Is there a battle royale among those who want to ascend to patron status? Mu'vorkan certainly wants the job. Is Red Widow interested in it or does she prefer a more, um, intimate relationship with Recluse. Maybe Dominatrix, having burned her bridge to Praetoria, will try to get in good with Lord Recluse (which would cause Ms. Liberty to have a fit.) TL, DR: Scirocco goes straight resulting in a Rogue Isles civil war.. So, what would you like to see (or think we might be getting even if you don't like the idea?) |
that's intense yo. i almost want Mu'Vorkan to become the Rogue Isles Next Top Patron and get a costume upgrade. Scirocco and Ice Mistral make amends with the Order of the Four Winds [along with the release of a new wind-blast powerset] and Arachnos goes through some shifting as Dominatrix becomes the grand-neice he always wanted and miz lib does something crazy to redeem stefan and somehow ends up becoming merged with Dominatrix.
yesssssssssssssssssssssss and she becomes a fifth patron much to the dismay of Red who feels entiteld as the newly-resurrected friend with benefits, but ends up as second to Domi-Lib.
and Ghost Widow is still a ghost.
I wouldn't call Ice Mistral's actions heroic.
"You better know why I'm doing this!" suggested to me she has unrequited feelings about Scirocco, unless there's something I don't know and she's got some kind of debt to repay him.
The question to me is, was Scirocco suicidally despondent over the situation with Ghost Window, or his own curse? Was the reason he sought out the Sentinel because he could never be with her or because fate was against him? And now that he has renewed purpose, is it because he realizes someone may love him, or because he realizes that he has to fight even when there is little chance of victory?
The fact the personal story was about Mu'Vorkan and not him, miffed me a little, because I want to know what's going on in Scirocco's head.
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I have a better question. What happens when Lord Recluse decides to refocus Arachnos on technology, as the events of the Valentines mission suggests he might. What happens to the Mu then? Does he toss Ghost Widow out? If he did, what are the ramifications because her loyalty is bound to the organization, not him. Will we see a schism of Mystic Arachnos versus Technology Arachnos? The point of the recent SSA Part 7 seemed to be telling us that aside from Vanguard, only Arachnos was organized and powerful enough to respond effectively to the situation. I think they may be setting us up to expect some internal conflict brewing. The Phalanx got theirs in this SSA, but is still standing, albeit weaker. But Arachnos is a power keg waiting to go off. They won't fall apart so much as explode, taking a bunch of the Rogue Isles with them.| And what would happen to the Arachnos power structure if one of the patrons decides to go straight? Suddenly Recluse is left with an idiot, a psychopath, and a ghost who continually claims to be unable to change as his chief underlings. Do the three escalate the conflict they've been having behind the scenes? Is there a battle royale among those who want to ascend to patron status? |
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Too early for that. The "Superhero death" law requires we have several issues worth (1-4 SSA's) dedicated to a "Battle for the mantle" storyline, where contenders battle to see who is most worthy of filling aforementioned hero's void before we can have a "Return arc."|
Originally Posted by Carnifax_NA
"Guess who's BACK!!"
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*Note, this requirement doesn't cover "same hero from alternate reality assuming the mantle" or "undead hero returns from the grave to terrorize" themes. Also keep in mind that all these rules are overridden by subsection DD, whereby any male hero may be replaced/substituted/supplanted/accessorized with a female variant of similar (but skimpier) costume design at any time without warning.
Im sure it will involve Penelope Yin and thus, will unbelievably suck.
Edit: Unbelievable isn't the right term. Cause given the nosedive the first SSA took, it's completely believable that it will suck. Sorry, Im not interested in stories where someone else "HAS THE AWESOME POWERS TO KEEP YOU ALIVE WHILE YOU DO GAME MECHANIC STUFF"
Going from SSA1ep1 and SSA1ep7, SSA2 will be getting the FP's house back in order.
Going from SSA1ep2-6, SSA2 will be a hero idiotball bonanza with cutdown redside missions for blueside. Manti kills BABs when you get in the way of his one shot at Wade and he tries to miss you. Penny accidentally kills Aurora saving you from a left over Wade trap. Aurora2 is inducted into the FP.
Ms. Liberty joins her new happy family with Recluse and Red Widow. Recluse replaces Ghost Widow with Red Widow, and Scirocco with Ms. Liberty, who is now bent on restoring order to Paragon and making sure a Wade can't happen again, by any means and Arachnos is the only actual 'functional organization' left.
My gut feeling is that all of this will be addressed:
Recluse is redeemed
Red Widow boots Recluse out and takes control of the Isles.
Arachnos takes on a new, more ominous goal and becomes a more dangerous threat to the world.
Scirocco is redeemed.
Mu'Vorkan takes Scirocco's place as (Widow's) henchman.
Freedomw Phalanx tries to pull itself together.
Lastly, the Clockwork King is redeemed but in an unusual turn of events Penelope Yin's body is disintegrated in a toaster accident and her brain is placed in a jar and plopped on top of a Praetorian Clockwork body and she becomes the Phalanx's arch-nemesis, the Clockwork Princess.
American Dawg, Starblaze, Neanderthal Joe, Shining Dawn, Tokamak Dragon, Stinger Incarnate, Burning Tyger, Dover Tornado, Big Roach, Dark Paladin, Archmage Wylde, Kings Row Hornet, Prancing Deer
Avogadro, Science Lord
Edgar Nightcraft, Doc Cicada, Chupa Macabre, Dr Forchtenstein, Blood Shrew
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Truthfully, I'd have been perfectly happy if she'd actually done that instead of hiding behind a rock where I couldn't see her.
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Originally Posted by Haetron
Im sure it will involve Penelope Yin and thus, will unbelievably suck.
Edit: Unbelievable isn't the right term. Cause given the nosedive the first SSA took, it's completely believable that it will suck. Sorry, Im not interested in stories where someone else "HAS THE AWESOME POWERS TO KEEP YOU ALIVE WHILE YOU DO GAME MECHANIC STUFF" |
SSA2: The New Odd Couple
It's a clash of two cultures when Dominatrix moves in with Ms. Liberty, sharing a two-bedroom condo in newly-revitalized Atlas Park! Hijinks and hilarity ensue as the fun-loving, self-centered Dominatrix runs into the serious, always-focused Ms. Liberty's way of doing things!
ep1: Roomies!
ep2: Denial at the DMV
ep3: Groceries and Goons
ep4: He's MY Great-Uncle Too!
ep5: Does My Homeowner's Policy Cover THAT?
ep6: Lonely Nights
ep7: Best of Both Worlds
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She had the power to protect you, you had the power to defeat Wade - multiple heroes teaming up and playing to their strengths to overcome a more powerful enemy is kinda standard comicbook storytelling |
Originally Posted by Haetron
Im sure it will involve Penelope Yin and thus, will unbelievably suck.
Edit: Unbelievable isn't the right term. Cause given the nosedive the first SSA took, it's completely believable that it will suck. Sorry, Im not interested in stories where someone else "HAS THE AWESOME POWERS TO KEEP YOU ALIVE WHILE YOU DO GAME MECHANIC STUFF" |
@Golden Girl
City of Heroes comics and artwork
I say go for the redemption of Ghost Widow and Recluse, and the fall of Manticore who now believes all heroes to be the villains, when we see that Statesman is dead and way to many heroes cheering in the streets about it.
BrandX Future Staff Fighter
The BrandX Collection
I understand the argument that "they'll never redeem Scirocco because of his usefulness plotwise" but a good writer wouldn't let something like that stop them from telling the right story. At the very least, they need to deal with his internal conflict one way or the other.
Redemption stories are some of the most powerful you can tell. I'd really like to see the redemption of one of the signature villains, or Recluse himself.
my lil RWZ Challenge vid
I'm assuming it will involve everyone else in the Freedom Phalanx that Matt Miller didn't make and hasn't been introduced or powered-up within the last couple of issues dying a horrible death that the player hero is too late to prevent, but still able to see in a very lengthy cutscene, while villains are following the orders of a much more important, much cooler villain in assisting those deaths for the promise of "power" which then turns into "for the greater good."
Was that seriously all one sentence?
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Originally Posted by Arcanaville
Samuel_Tow is the only poster that makes me want to punch him in the head more often when I'm agreeing with him than when I'm disagreeing with him.
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So far I've not even seen Penny in the 'moon' mission. Granted the characters I've done it with (so far) have had enough health and regen that hiding under her shield wasn't important.
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Originally Posted by SlickRiptide
Truthfully, I'd have been perfectly happy if she'd actually done that instead of hiding behind a rock where I couldn't see her.
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_________
@Inquisitor
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Bringing Scirocco into the Vindicators and moving Manticoe into Rogue/villaian terrirtory would be possible - although they've said that removing a patron would need even more work than removing Statesman from the game - plus, Manticore still shows up as part of the Phalanx in SSA2.
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Originally Posted by Organica
I understand the argument that "they'll never redeem Scirocco because of his usefulness plotwise" but a good writer wouldn't let something like that stop them from telling the right story. At the very least, they need to deal with his internal conflict one way or the other.
Redemption stories are some of the most powerful you can tell. I'd really like to see the redemption of one of the signature villains, or Recluse himself. |
@Golden Girl
City of Heroes comics and artwork
Redemption story for Scirroco
Finding out what the Vanguard are actually doing with Wade
According to Aeon on the Ustream today, he considers Psyche to be dead dead.
We know Penny is in it... again. o.o
My guess is it'll be the Penny Yin Power Hour.
Starring Penny and her faithful sidekick the Clockwork King. With a special cameo appearace by $target_charactername
"If I fail, they write me off as another statistic. If I succeed, they pay me a million bucks to fly out to Hollywood and fart." --- George A. Romero
"If I had any dignity, that would have been humiliating" --- Adam Savage
Virtue Server: Kheprera, Malefic Elf, Lady Omen, Night Rune, La Muerte Roja, Scarab Lafayette, Serena Ravensong, Kyrse, and Arachnavoodoo among others.
Hoping it continues the Marshall Blitz story some more. I always liked the back story about him and Warburg (even if I don't much care for Warburg), and was ecstatic to see him used and given a model in this arc. I also really enjoyed them fleshing out his story and the new battle mechanic with him, and still hope to see a Warburg TF some day.
Now we've wrapped up the first SSA we can begin looking forward to the next one.
So what do you think will be (or what would you like to be) the focus of the next SSA?
What I would like to see (and there's some strong evidence of it being possible) is the redemption of Scirocco. The Freedom Phalanx really took it on the chin with Who Will Die, now it's time to shake things up with Arachnos.
Scirocco has always been something of a reluctant villain, and recent events have had him acting more and more like one of the good guys. In WWD part 7 he's the Arachnos member to first propose working together, even being a good bit friendlier to heros than to villains.
The story of Dark Astoria goes even further in making Scirocco (and even his lackey Ice Mistral) a heroic figure. He's even come so far that (in Praetor Duncan's arc) Serafina is willing to work with him. And Ghost Widow's cutscene conversation with him points strongly to the possibility of him fighting what he has seen as his fate.
And what would happen to the Arachnos power structure if one of the patrons decides to go straight? Suddenly Recluse is left with an idiot, a psychopath, and a ghost who continually claims to be unable to change as his chief underlings. Do the three escalate the conflict they've been having behind the scenes? Is there a battle royale among those who want to ascend to patron status? Mu'vorkan certainly wants the job. Is Red Widow interested in it or does she prefer a more, um, intimate relationship with Recluse. Maybe Dominatrix, having burned her bridge to Praetoria, will try to get in good with Lord Recluse (which would cause Ms. Liberty to have a fit.)
TL, DR: Scirocco goes straight resulting in a Rogue Isles civil war..
So, what would you like to see (or think we might be getting even if you don't like the idea?)
_________
@Inquisitor