Bubbawheat

Here's a question for the club, would I be better served to try and play up the comedy elements more, or keep it as a more or less serious arc with comic relief thrown in?

Edit: decided to go ahead and try to punch up the comedy. In the process of updating now.

Changes made:

Tried to punch up the comedy. Especially in Mephit's dialog.
Added a Dr. Mephit Clone to the custom group in place of "The Green Guard"
Lowered Dr. Mephit from EB to Boss.
Removed morality fluff at the end, which I had put in to punch up the Going Rogue aspect for the Aeon Challenge.

I think one thing we could use is someone (I considered doing it, but haven't had the motivation to do one detailed enough) to collect what we think are the biggest problems in the MA including suggestions on fixing them into a single thread. It's something they've done in the bases forum - though hopefully the MA is a higher priority than bases.

Sounds like you might want a buggy name that's not a spidery name? Here's a few punny ones.

Eight Legged Cricket
The Beetle with 8 Legs
Skeeter Shooter
Lady Deathchirp

And made the random roll for this week's arc:

Arc ID: 453091
Arc Name: A Clone of Your Own?
Author: @Bubbawheat
Morality: Rogue
Level Range: 35+
Description: Just when you thought you could make a quick honest buck selling some tissue samples for SCIENCE! It comes back and bites you in the butt. According to Dr. Mephit, the samples have been stolen and as long as you want to keep your involvement quiet, you better be the one to bring it back.

If I remember correctly, even though we allowed arcs to be nominated in more than one category last year, we did take other categories into account when judging to generally make sure an arc wasn't placed in more than one category during the final voting stage.

And a reminder: Nominations close at 11:59 pm Eastern time tonight

Ok, I made one, should be pretty easy, not sure if I need to adjust the timer or not.

Freedom Phalanx - in order

Decided to make a list of all the arcs the team has played. Up to date through post #378

Getting to Know Crey Financial: The Teaser by @NiteLash Arc ID: 1034

Future Skulls by @Justice Blues Arc ID: 4727

Simple Times by @Justice Blues Arc ID: 70801

Future's End by @Justice Blues Arc ID: 255895

Sibling Rivalry by @Sister Flame Arc ID: 118690

Like taking candy.... by @Lazarillo Arc ID: 1075

Taken! by @Nova Flare Arc ID: 180704

Saving Private Bryan by @Dresidio Arc ID: 320574

Defeat Anti-Grammar by @Vyxxen Arc ID: 319922

Every Rose Has Its Thorns by @Thief of Lives Arc ID: 320934

The Guardian of Time, Chapter One: Curiosity by @Levv Forester Arc ID: 188173

Whack a Mole! by @Bubbawheat Arc ID: 2711

Mission: Awesome by Dr. Aeon Arc ID: 337438

More Tsoo Shenanigans? - Part 1 by @Teh Hippeh Arc ID: 67487

Good for Teams + Canon Related + Magic got us:
Sisters in Magick by @Chiaroscuaro Arc ID: 316962

Custom Characters + Cannon Related + Romance produced:
For Zazu v2 by Dualbeam Arc ID: 338825 (We did not play this one since we all agreed it was pretty much a farm).

Solo Friendly + Cannon Related + Romance brought up:
My will by @Petal Mist Arc ID: 136438

Cutthroat Competition #10171 @Frozen Northman (dislike)

Bubbawheat's "Ctrl + Alt + Reset #137561 (like)

The Invasion of the Bikini-Clad Samurai Vampiresses from Outer Space! #61013 (like)

Teen Phalanx Forever! #67335 @PW (like)

Polar Emergence neutral Government User Interface Network (PENGUIN) #29205 @Tubbius (mixed)

The Monster Hop by Big Daddy Vio Arc ID: 27861

Escalation #6143 @FemFury

TV Casualties! by @Toxa Arc ID: 6777 (like)

The Storyteller: Sabrina's Tale #1237 by @Redbone

15+ minute tutorial - Knowledge is Power: Architect Entertainment #28470 by @Paula

Halloween Night by @BinkDeBook Arc ID: 227436 (Mixed)

The Amulet of J'gara by @Lazarus (like)

Hallows Eve and The Pumpkin Master by @Ms Liberty Too Arc ID: 102372 (dislike/bugged)

Little Red Riding Hood: A Grimm Tale by @Stars and Stripe (dislike/bugged)

Grim Riddles 1396 @Mantid

Speeding Through Time 51728 @Geek_Boy

Illpracticed Malpractice by @Zamuel Arc ID: 246459

Ideal for Teams, Mystery and Sci-Fi got us:
Measure of a Machine by @Creed Buhallin Arc ID: 267757 (like)


Custom Characters, Origin Story and Kid Friendly landed us with:
Old Dog, New Trick by K10 Arc ID: 81318 (like)

Arc# 250480 BE Prologue: Gangs United

Arc # 335253 Fusionette Must Die! (unfinished)

(Make or Break)
Sister Psyche TF Abridged by @Big Rab Arc ID: 306814

Death to Disco! @Wrong Number ID#:84420

Love spurned 1934

The Paradox Raid #67566 by Echoslaid

Metabolic Invation Arc by @Blue Star Bolt Arc ID: 302723

Paragon City Mad Science Fair by @GadgetDon Arc ID: 254399

Challenge of the Splendid Pals -- Episodes 1 - 3 (of 9) by @guvnor Arc ID: 159140

First was Arc# 266123 ZAGMUCK Act one: The Herald by @Sumerian

Arc# 340274 Big Evil: Evil is Thicker than Water by @Ozzie Arcane

Serious Business by @Artic Princess Arc ID: 339200

Healthcare Nightmare! by @Soberguy Arc ID: 345379

I Will Dance On Your Grave by: @dugromthearth (like)

An Arachnos Slumber Party by: @Zamuel (like)

X8: Monster Mayhem by @Stygian Arc ID: 312167

Russian Roulette by @Cassie Arc ID: 109404 (like)

The Book of Dark Secrets by @Mr. Astounding Arc ID: 155884

Return of the Crimson Bat by @Mighty Nimbus Arc ID: 102899

New Jack City by @SWATGUY Arc ID: 337294 (We quit this since we felt it was a farm)

Who the hell is Captain Powerful? by @Mauve Arrow Arc ID: 345586

The Wentworth's Thanksgiving Day Parade by @Djinniman Arc ID: 347683 (like)

Xhanksgiving at Grandma's by @Electra Creed Arc ID: 347649

The Gates of Darkness Part One by @Lady Blood Rose Arc ID: 152689

Mighty - Man's Task Force by @M I G H T Y Arc ID: 315183

The Rikti Accession by @Mekkanos Arc ID: 278757

Miss Paragon City Contest by @Muldrakna Arc ID: 332748

The Golden Age Secret of the Paragon Society by @Wrong Number Arc ID: 344596

When Santas Collide by @Ultra Violence Arc ID: 348461

Deadfellas by Sand Sultan Arc ID: 322373 (like)

Two Fifths of a Chance by @Aristana Arc ID: 343537 (bugged)

Belated Justice by Grey Pilgrim ID:88003

Diversionary Tactics #347791 by Hammerstar

Matchstick Women #3369 by Bubbawheat

Hempman: Origin by @Hempman Arc ID: 283517

Quest for Glory by @Slacker Arc ID: 328888 (farm)

Beauties v The Establishment by @Bionic Boy Wonder Arc ID: 53148 (bugged)

The Hellsgate Portal (Story Driven Arc) by @B A D Arc ID: 81381

The Maestro and the Thorn by @BlueJack404 Arc ID: 352185

The Toy Box by @Ironik Arc ID: 132772

Tales of Cimerora, Volume 1: Of feathers and fur... by @Nebulhym Arc ID: 12647

Sky Bandits: Heist of the Golden Man by @Outpost Arc ID: 38098

The History of Statesman by @jjac Arc ID: 219484

Hearts on Fire by @Chyron HR Arc ID: 1472

Hopeless by @TalenLee Arc ID: 29262

Sky Bandits: Heist of the Golden Man by @Outpost Arc ID: 38098(like)

The History of Statesman by @jjac Arc ID: 219484 (like)

Hearts on Fire by @Chyron HR Arc ID: 1472

Hopeless by @TalenLee Arc ID: 29262 (like)

A Christmas story by @Figment King Arc ID: 352606

Winter Fun Rally by @Rooftop Hero Arc ID: 350165

Welcome to Hollywood Act I by @Firestorm Arc ID: 195993

Die Count Daddy Macula Die! by @Spiral Architect Arc ID: 10619

A GOOD TURN: Lost and Found (Act 1) by @Nova Centari Arc ID: 355168

Out of Place by @minimalist Arc ID: 350577

Two Households Alike by @Venture Arc ID: 126582

The Christmas Zombie Attack by @Desist Arc ID: 353610

The Stop the Generic Plot to do Bad Stuff to the City/World Arc Mission by @mkauf84 Arc ID: 342476

Teh Freakshow Artz Klub by @Geveo Arc ID: 25622 (like)

Fear And Loathing On Striga by @FredrikSvanberg Arc ID: 350522 (like)

Papers and Paychecks by @PW Arc ID: 298290 (like)

Rise of the Drakule by @LaserJesus Arc ID: 51357

Mender Roebuck Taskforce:World War Two-The Time War by @Super Ratz Arc ID: 105839

The Invasion of the Space Ape Armada by @PoptartsNinja Arc ID: 356628

Night of a Thousand Brokaws by @Infernus Arc ID: 359903

The Legacy of the White Rose by @Teravoltt Arc ID: 181358

Hunter of Beasts Part 1: It starts with a riot... by @Lycanus Arc ID: 110465

The Price Of Freedom by @Cybernetic Hobo Arc ID: 359453

The "Easter Basket" by @Simplifly Arc ID: 35335

Arachnapunzel by @Bluedarky Arc ID: 113035

Thriller: Part One by @St0n3 Fir3 Arc ID: 352984

The Union of the Mask by @Sister Twelve Arc ID: 352400

De-Bugging the Architect by @Defender Babe Arc ID: 362676

When The Scales Won't Tip... by @Syncronocity Arc ID: 362630

Atta's Return!! Part one!! by @Starry Arc ID: 285683

SIC Stories: For Whom the Ells Tolls by @Bashere Arc ID: 362689

The Fall of Rapture by @Ari Arc ID: 299507

Dhahabu Kingdom and the Indelible Curse of Hate by @Zamuel (Test)

Crown of Iron, Heart of Steel Part 1 by @Techbot ALPHA Arc ID: 236933 (like)

The Alien Tyrant by @Royal Arc ID: 357388 (like)

Against the WickerWork Khan! #346904 by @Clave Dark 5

Zagmuk Act One: The Herald by @Sumericon (like)

Evil By Inches by @oubliette Arc ID: 349967 (like)

Drakule vs. The Werewolf Bikers From Hell by @LaserJesus Arc ID: 340316 (like)

Attack of the 50 Foot Villain by @PW Arc ID: 363366 (like)

Hammer and Sickle of Paragon City by @Tubbius Arc ID: 351727

End Game - Final Moves by @Calash Arc ID: 17006

Return of the Crime Cabal by Austin Grossman Arc ID: 369272

Mystery on the Boardwalk by Mercedes Lackey Arc ID: 369275 (like)

A Little Night Music by Tro Hickman Arc ID: 369271 (like)

Trouble in Amazonia by @jdubrich Arc ID: 344818

Jennie Bryans vs. the Board of Education by Golden Gadfly Arc ID: 333337

The Descender by @Mr Squid Arc ID: 339222

The Long Road Back by @Sister Twelve ID: 340454

A Mythos of Mystical Mysteries by @Lord Mayhem ID: 84285

Save the Villain by @Gyro the Assembler Arc ID: 364597

The Warburg Connection by @FredrikSvanberg Arc ID: 364832

Quest for Magic, arc ID: 337434 by Bill Willingham of Fables fame

Old Time Fairy Tale Treasure Hunt, arc ID: 149250 by @Green Lama

C. Jenkins: Attorney at Law, arc ID: 204942 by @Jophiel

Wife Aggro by @Tigur Arc ID: 363883

Enter the 80's by @Force and Fury Arc ID: 373062

The Most Evil Crime Ever. Really. by @yasfan Arc ID: 307252

Von Story by @Taihao Fuxi Arc ID: 358697 (dislike)

For the Beautiful People by @Frozen Burn Arc ID: 367921

Death to Disco! by @Wrong Number Arc ID: 84420

ID #375420, Night Calls the Weaver, by @SisterTwelve.

The Heart of the Matter by @StratoNexus Arc ID: 374662

A Hero in Need...is a Friend Indeed! by @Wrong Number Arc ID: 375018

Circuit Breaker {Fathom, Part 1} by @White Arrow. Arc ID: 360268

Clan Destiny by @Soberguy Arc ID: 349053

Punk 'n' Pie by @DesdinovaB Arc ID: 148487

Magic Carpet Ride by @Captain VaIor Arc ID:

The Hidden Agenda [Agent Six Task Force] by @Master Koga Arc ID: 356334 (dislike)

Ares Strike Force by @Nylonus Arc ID: 356041 (like)

Hell's Wedding. by @Vypir Arc ID: 365750

Turg Fiction: IX by @Turgenev Arc ID: 351787

The Hero of Kings Row by @Circuit Boy Arc ID: 230187

A South Side Story #49035

Dhahabu Kingdom and the Indelible Curse of Hate #367872

Jabberwocky by @Rodion Arc ID: 1573

The Extadine Lab by @Vanden Arc ID: 2595

Becky's Revenge by @New Age Ronin Arc ID: 60197

To Serve Cookie by @Ullikummis - some 4D arc ID.

Caveat Emptor by @ojin m Arc ID: 385510

Don't Freak by @Gypsy Rose Arc ID: 384767

Invasion on Earth BX1132! by @ARH Arc ID: 98943

Headhunters -- An OPA Adventure by @Grammar Merchant Arc ID 353468

The End of Saturday Mornings by @Zamuel Arc ID: 386240

The Rise of Drakule, ID #51357 by @LaserJesus

Holding Down the Fort, ID #379065 by @LaserJesus

More Tsoo Shenanigans -Part 3, ID #316576 by Teh Hippeh

Wicked, Wicked Wonderland, ID #1224 by Ancient Spirit

Ashley Porter and the Gorilla War, ID #130809 by @suedenim (like)

The End of Saturday Morning, ID #391934 by @Zamuel

Anarchy on the Streets, arc ID 397997, by @Robin Everheart,

Agent Thunder Task Force: The Cracked Mirror, ID #159922 by Ozzie Arcane

The Little Clockwork Who Could - Arc ID #408169

The Audition -Arc ID #221240

Matchstick Women by @Bubbawheat Arc ID: 3369 (like)

As If You Saved the Entire World by @starjammer05 Arc ID: 416094 (like)

A Tale of Two Mistresses, ID #229350 by @New Age Ronin

An Arachnos Slumber Party, ID #335317 by @Zamuel

Escape the Comicon, ID #99187 by @Fanboy

Peril at Para-Con, ID #161318 by @Centenial

Oh no! Everybody has gone to the Comic Con, ID #164999 by @Palas Atena

"Fistful of Suzuki", ID #440157 by @Lazarus

"Chris Jenkins: Superhero at Large", ID #415230


"Project Z", ID #98358 by @Dark Lu

"The Manimals of Dr. Morrow", ID #53411 by @Killershrike

Crisis at Talos Towers, ID #448216 by @PW (like)

American Patriot, Defender of Earth, ID #446711 by @Sardonic Paladin (like)

Made to Wave the Flag, ID #384776 by @LaserJesus (like)

The Doctor Returns by @FredrikSvanberg Arc ID: 1152 (like)

Uranmensch: The Atomic Man by @Stone-Fox Arc ID: 440730 (like)

Golden Age Secret of the Paragon Society, ID #344596 by @Wrong Number

The Lazarus Project, ID #124906 by @Flame Kitten

Doctor Geist and the Scientific Method, ID #111022 by @Scuzzbopper

A Wake for Dead 6, ID #379160 by @ClaveDark 5

A Clone of Your Own, ID #453091 by @Bubbawheat

The Vigilante, ID #395861 by @Gypsy Rose

Beerfest, ID #182758 by @bkstumpf

Arachnos and Beer, ID #93386 by @Sulaiman

Beer-The Nectar of the Gods, ID #170792 by @NJ Raingod

The Quest for Beer, ID #410210 by @Hakar

A Very Special Episode, ID #457506 by @Wrong Number

Who Dares Wins, ID #454805 by @Zaphir

Once A Hero, ID #447488 by @Lord of Storms

Halloween Weenies...The Superguys vs the Stinky Pumpkin, ID #448348 by @Jinkobi

Shadows of Illusion, ID #1137 by @Ebonith

By Any Other Name, ID #398110 by @Fetch

Don't Freak, ID #384769 by @Gypsy Rose

Big In Sumeria, ID #328391 by @Witch Engine

The Power Armor Fashion Showdown, ID #468404 by @Dr. Aeon

Real World Hero, ID #468971 by @Hercules

Ok, I got impatient waiting for Nazghul. Here are the results.

Mariner:
This design is so simple and elegant I can't believe I haven't really thought of it before. I really like the color choices for the lower half as well as the flame aura.

ZNRGY_XERONUS:
This is an interesting choice, it really screams futuristic and somewhat alien to me. I like the flares used for the flames and I hadn't thought of that sparkle aura for the head before, but I kind of like it. Though the lower half is a little bit too plain for my tastes.

Powerstream:
I like the direction this is going, and the hair is a good chioce, but I don't really feel the chitin armor or the grey color works for me.

Henri:
This is another one where I really like the direction, and I haven't thought of something like this before. I'm not really feeling the veil, but I really love everything else about the outfit.

In the end, it was a very close choice between Mariner and Henri, and while I like Mariner's concept, I think I'm going to end up with something much more similar to Henri's design, and so Henri is the winner!

Bah, forgot about Stalkers... I guess that's because I never play them :P

I'll edit in my twitter notes later, but just wanted to toss in one thing I thought could be changed, though it's mostly a matter of personal taste. The busy text. Most people don't read it, all teammates can't read it, but I find it's a great place to put little nuggets of extra flavor. Nothing critical to the story of course. In this arc, Lazarus chooses to just have a single sentence about Iron Samurai being gone or busy. And mainly, the only reason I chose this to nitpick on is there isn't much else to pick on.

Also, on mission 3, you might want to pick one of the destructibles in the back to have an optional objective in the map along the lines of "Bust up anything Dr. Aeon shouldn't have"

Play through notes - not much suggestions, mostly just summary - so SPOLIERS below.

#CoHMA Running Breaking the Barrier (And Putting it Back Together) # 347029 by @ Lazarus from the MA Arc Club
#CoHMA Contact is Iron Samurai who might have been a high ranking Praetorian and now works for Vanguard and Portal Corps.
#CoHMA M1 "It Begins With a Crack": I always like when arcs use comics style notations when connecting arcs together.
#CoHMA M1: Police Scanner cuts our talk short, and clue fills me in on the Nagans - aliens who tried to steal Portal technology.
#CoHMA M1: The nearby alien attack turned out to be Rularuu and not Nagans. Still, time to clear the place out!
#CoHMA M1: One thing I remember about this arc is Iron Samurai spawns on the first office overpass. Skipped him first time, almost did again
#CoHMA M1: Something is working with or using Storm Elementals to open a rift into the Shadow Shard.
#CoHMA M1: The hostages speak of what probably are the Nagans, come along with Rularuu for the ride.
#CoHMA M1: Seems like the Nagans beamed in by accident and brought the Rularuu with them. I guessed backwards.

#CoHMA M2 "Nagans Shouldn't Play with Portals": Iron Samurai goes off to fight stray Rularuu while I go and investigate another Nagan portal
#CoHMA M2: Fought Suziku, the head tech of the Nagans, and found that a part of their portal device is missing... I think.
#CoHMA M2: Captured Suziku and now she's willing to work with us to restore the problems with portals.

#CoHMA Continuing Breaking the Barrier (And Putting it Back Together) # 347029 by @ Lazarus
#CoHMA M3 "Grand Theft Suziku": The Nagans were playing with portals to try and free their friends trapped by Dr. Aeon.
#CoHMA M3: And in exchange for her help, Suziku wants me to rescue them... and get the data they were stealing in the first place.
#CoHMA M3: Lots of random destructibles, nice to get a chance to bust up Aeon's lab.
#CoHMA M3: Saved a bunch of Nagans and we teamed up on weak-fake Aeon.

#CoHMA M4 "Containment": Using Aeon's research, they know how to close the portals. But for now, they need me to keep back the Rularuu.
#CoHMA M4: Not only have the portals sucked Rularuu to Earth, they sucked Earth people and stuff back to the Shadow Shard.
#CoHMA M4: Including random things like a Superadyne lab complete with confused looking Skulls member.
#CoHMA M4: These missions are as packed full of objectives as possible it seems. Though most are optional and don't feel like work.

#CoHMA M5 "Would the Real Dr. Aeon Please Stand Up": The plans are ready, but suddenly Arachnos headed by Dr. Aeon attacks!
#CoHMA M5: There's an awful lot of little Aeon's running around here. But I've got a lot of Nagans giving backup.
#CoHMA M5: Ran through all the chained objectives, all appeared nice and easy in the final room. Though I passed Iron Samurai once again.
#CoHMA M5: I think I did pretty well without his briefing, I wonder if it should be required?
#CoHMA M5: I suppose that's a story point that probably should be there.
#CoHMA M5: I take it back, I read his clue, and it's totally optional.
#CoHMA M5: Portals closed for good, Nagans on our side, even Suziku, though they're keeping a close eye on her.

I'm not sure I'd like flat keys as they described them, but I don't think the backlight would be useful for me outside of a neat gimmick, as I typically use the feel of the keyboard to find my correct place.

That's great that they kept the convention of them interacting with the book like they do in the original. I always loved that part.

My nominations:

Heroic: Legacy of a Rogue #459586 by @Night-Girl aka Liquid

Comedy: Too Clever by Half #378944 by @Samuraiko aka Dark Respite

Lowbie: Past Echoes of Tomorrow #379399 by @Equation aka Arbiter Fabulous

Short: By Any Other Name #398110 @Fetch

I haven't played that many Villainous arcs that stand out this year yet, though I may try to find some this next week, and I can't remember any villain groups that notably stand out other than the one that's already been seconded.

Here's hoping for more nominations, less than a week to get them in!

With only 4 arcs I hadn't played, this arc makes me want to reconsider not playing them all. We'll see... Running my after-the fact request by playing Liquid's

Legacy of a Rogue # 459586 by @ Night-Girl

The Hero's Fall From Grace: In this arc, your contact is an ex-heroine that left the scene when she became crippled. She used to be Condor Girl, sidekick to Rogue Falcon and would like you to take on his son as your own sidekick. He wants to live up to his father's name Rogue Falcon, but takes the name Harrier for now. But temptation proves too much for him when you recover an artifact that promises him great power, and he becomes possessed by it and you eventually have to defeat him. Along the way, you are also asked to do some wrongdoing in breaking the Crimson Cricket out of jail, and ends up helping you defeat demon-possessed Harrier, revealing that she is also his mother, and getting a reduced sentence for her help. And yet another qualifier to the challenge is the more subtle fact that your contact herself turns out to be using you to gain control of Rogue Falcon's massive computer system with built-in android defense force. It's not clear that what she will end up using it for, but it is painted in a somewhat negative light.

The Arc as an Arc: This arc is well-written, even if it uses a lot of arc conventions in it. But I did find that even within those standard plot points, they were done well, they were interesting, and most of them had a little bit of a spin that I don't normally see, or haven't seen at all. There was the typical jail breakout mission, but it wasn't populated by a bunch of PPD to fight. There was the base investigation mission, but it had an interesting self-defense mechanic in it. There was the respawning/evolving boss fight, but it had an ally with appropriately timed, fitting dialog, as well as respawns that appeared in the correct room, very close to each other. And to top it all off, there were several different plot threads that actually came together in a satisfying way at the end.

As usual, tweets below.

#CoHMA Playing Legacy of a Rogue # 459586 by @ Night-Girl aka Liquid on the forums, entry in the third Aeon Challenge.
#CoHMA Contact is Gertrude Bellstaff, an ex-hero once known as Condor Girl who retired when injured and is now a computer programmer.
#CoHMA M1: Condor Girl used to sidekick for Rogue Falcon who died in the first Rikti War, and now she wants me to take his son under my wing
#CoHMA M1: Apparently, he's working his way up to the name Rogue Falcon, starting with his father's old sidekick's name: Harrier.
#CoHMA M1: And our first task is to clear out some Banished Pantheon some spelunkers accidentally ran into.
#CoHMA M1: Found so far: some bones of a miser with an odd shaped skull, and a book I can't read.
#CoHMA M1: Fought The Crimson Cricket with a button man by her side, she says Carter will be pleased, for some reason.
#CoHMA M1: Heh, rescue clue for Harrier mentions taking him "under my wing, no pun intended." I think I already made that pun tonight.

#CoHMA M2: Eek, woken up at 3 am of all things. A hero never sleeps. And Azuria's always in trouble.
#CoHMA M2: I call Harrier on my way out. Apparently he's not very practiced at witty banter yet as we go off to fight "Dumb Wizards" aka CoT
#CoHMA M2: Pop-up mentions that Harrier got here quickly, and casts it in a curious light. I wonder if Harrier has an ulterior motive.
#CoHMA M2: Rescued Azuria, she was curious how we knew she was there... Harrier continued practicing his witty banter.
#CoHMA M2: contact suspects that Harrier took the indecipherable tome and used it to gain more powers. Now to check the Hawkmind to be sure.

#CoHMA M3: Contact has lost her hero cred, and needs me to believe in her and help break Crimson Cricket out of Zig to break into Hawkmind.
#CoHMA M3: Contact warns me about the <Prisoners> and <Arachnos> might be there as well. Will be a first if no <PPD> are there.
#CoHMA M3: Love the 'Destined One' humor from Arachnos.
#CoHMA M3: Red mission title, nice touch. Colors aren't used enough in the Nav bar.
#CoHMA M3: Busted out Crimson Cricket. Only PPD were guarding her, ambush came after but I could have just clicked out.

#CoHMA M4: Harrier called my contact and sounded different. Only way to find him now is through Hawkmind. Can someone say "Possessed"?
#CoHMA M4: Interesting defenses: robotic birds.
#CoHMA M4: I'm glad when an arc pleasantly surprises me, and this has done so twice so far. Even if many plot points have been done before.
#CoHMA Like M3, the breakout has been done many times before, but I enjoyed fighting mostly Arachnos and Prisoners, not PPD.
#CoHMA And M4 is a typical empty base raid/investigate, but has a unique automated defense system trigger - a "hologram" of the old owner.
#CoHMA M4: Though I think there are costume options to make the "hologram" look more "hologram-y"
#CoHMA M4: With all the bird names, was kind of disappointed that the head of security was named "Head Security Robot".

#CoHMA M5: We're not using Hawkmind to track Harrier, but to predict where he went, which is the cave where we found the artifacts. Deeper.
#CoHMA M5: The book gives the reader what they want, then feeds them to a demon deep underground. Though I'm reading a bit between the lines
#CoHMA M5: What the heck? I've been in the big Oranbega room with the big valley. Never saw a staircase leading inside 2 a hole in the floor
#CoHMA M5: Nicely done, ramped up multi-boss fight in the big room at the end, with allied ambushes, and ally dialog working in-context.
#CoHMA M5: And an extra surprise betrayal at the end, kinda. This arc was a pleasant surprise. Glad I was asked to run it.

It's things like this that really irritate me about the AE. Like I said before, there are hundreds of great stories out there, there are dozens of great authors that consistently put out fun arcs for others to play and get none.

I do my best to try and promote the best arcs out there, even going so far as to offer over a billion inf to the winners and I barely get any notice. Some random poster makes a comment about the exploiters and in just a few days gets more attention than what I've been trying to get attention for weeks. And if you would rather support the authors rather than the exploiters, then go nominate great arcs that you've played. tinyurl.com/2010PlayersChoice

I was playing a level 38 fire/fire tanker. I hosped once or twice on the EB Behemoth (fire resist + healing flames just wore me down), a few times on Sunstorm, and I think once if there was an EB on M3 or M4 - I forget exactly.

Yes AE farming still exists. Yes it is probably more popular than the honest to goodness story arcs on there. But that doesn't mean that there aren't hundreds of arcs as good or better than dev created stories in the AE. The only problem is finding them under all the trash.

I also ran into this bug. I wanted an escort to be led to a glowie then betray. While I did manage to be able to lead him to a glowie, he would never betray.

I wrote up all the judging, just waiting for Nazghul to post it now.