The Signature Story Arc is Epic

Some interesting replies. I know it's relatively new content, I was levelling while most of it was released. But only now did I reach level 40 and could I do the whole story.

I agree that not all parts are equally good, but it all comes together very well in part 7. I compared it to a Superhero movie, and I think most have a plot of similar quality.

What made it great is that you really feel part of the story. Although from the comments I get the impression that it works less well if you play a Hero. The Villain story line works quite well, especially because Darrin Wade is someone you encountered in Sharkhead as well.

As to the whole Freedom Phalanx acting in or out of character. As I posted in some other feedback threads: I don't know them. I'm level 43 and haven't encountered any of them in game. The same is true for Recluse and entourage. With the exception of Ghost Widow.

Because of this I could easily justify the in game actions of my character, coming from a Resistance background, the Freedom Phalanx just seems to be Primal Earth's version of Emperor Cole and the Praetors. I have no in game reason to believe differently. I do trust Vanguard, as I worked with them in the Rikti War Zone.

Killing a major hero, after (s)he's been cunningly avoiding death for many years is always a stretch in any superhero universe. There probably is a TV trope for it.

OP: Yep, very good stuff. And with Dark Astoria, assuming the same writers, they are getting better and better.

Every silver lining has a cloud!

For the record, I think that the SSA arc is pretty good. It's not completely awesome in every mission of every arc throughout the whole story but the entire arc holds together pretty well and does throw up a few surprises that will have a lasting impact on the game.

I play this game to be entertained.

SSA:WWD entertained me.

Job done!

"You got to dig it to dig it, you dig?"
Thelonious Monk

I liked the arc a lot, excluding the very first mish where I just got utterly beat down depending on what char I played. I am still peeved that they killed lava damage.

I played the hero arcs on a 'rookie' young hero and the villain arcs on an infamous rogue with background ties to the well and incarnates. They seemed to work just fine for them. Did the cast of heroes feel mis-played? Nope. Did my rogue feel railroaded or misrepresented with his involvement? Not particularly more than any other content. Everything did feel a tad rushed though but all in all, it was fine. Not great (although there were some great parts in there) but not bad.

It's no Bioware but certainly a cut above most other content in the game...or maybe because it fit the characters I played them with quite good, which is all that I'd ever expect from this game. Some arcs will run better with some types of character types and not others.

I'll still repeat them, most likely for the rewards but skip over the story for other characters.

The SSA was a promising first draft that had the misfortune of being published. Or maybe it just crams too much into a series of three mission episodes.

Despite being rather rough, episode one was still good enough that I stayed up late waiting for episode two to drop.

Episode two was interesting, but suffers greatly from "who are these people and why do we care?" Numina is painfully underdeveloped and unless you've played red-side, you've likely never heard of Darrin Wade. Although, in Darrin's case that becomes important later.

Episode three: Snuggle that idiot ball. On the upside, I thought the boss fight was fun. Alexis Cole Duncan and Marshal Blitiz were both interesting enough that I wanted to learn more about them...unfortunately. *hugs the idiot ball tighter*

Episode four: Here is where the SSA started to crash and burn for me. Still, I loved many parts of the episode. *pets the idiot ball*

Episode five: I'm so mixed about this episode. Victim tragically walks into a tragically obvious trap. But that's this guy's deal, so YMMV. Pluses include having Darrin Wade get bored and leave...er, run from us in terror, and giving us the chance to try in vain to revive States. Still, the feeling States was killed just to kill him lingers.

Episode six: Welcome to the Penny Sue Power half-hour (or 10 mins, whatevers) This episode felt that a demo for Penny that someone at the last moment realized it was part of a seven part series NOT about Penny.

Episode seven: Heroes (and demonic spider incarnates) In SPACE! Flawed and unfinished, but still pretty awesome. Interesting that I found Lord Recluse the most likable person on the ship of fools. Cap'n Mako was pretty nifty too. Unfortunately, my crowning moment of awesome was made at least partly possible by Penny Sue--or not, my corruptor pretty much just shook off the beam.

On the whole, I liked the SSA. It's only when I think too hard or look at the pieces individually that I don't.