Dark_Respite
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Posts
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Joined
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If it's available...
Killing Time
Michelle
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Samuraiko/Dark_Respite -
This community is amazing - the lengths some of the players have gone to so I can film videos is absolutely astounding. They have:
a) redone costume designs
b) roped in their SGs as stunt crew/body doubles
c) escorted me around bases
d) run interference in high level zones for me
e) taken on 'second unit' directing and filming
f) sent me demofiles of effects, animations, costume pieces, etc
g) deliberately run certain arcs because I needed to film on a particular map
h) stood around places and danced, beat drums, whatever
It's just unreal. I could NEVER have made most of my vids without this community.
Michelle
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Samuraiko/Dark_Respite -
Re: the whole Incarnates/Well thing... this is something I was discussing with Cende just the other day, and this was my own take on it. (And especially now that Pandora's Box has come up in-game...)
Maybe tl;dr, but this is just MY take. So bear with me.
Quote:Better? Worse? I don't know. Like I said, just an alternate take on how it all works.According to the original WEB OF ARACHNOS novel (and in-game canon), Marcus Cole and Stefan Richter gained their powers by drinking from the Fountain of Zeus (hidden beneath the Well of the Furies) back in 1932, giving them 'divine' powers (or radiation, if you ask Recluse). They then discovered a box hidden in another cavern, and Stefan opened it, releasing the collected potential of humanity for the last couple thousand years out into the world, thus imbuing individuals the world over with powers. (The last time this happened was during the ages of myth, when half-gods and wondrous beasts walked the world.)
All well and good.
We're now 80 years on from that point... and barring accident or injury, this is approaching the upper end of a normal human being's lifespan. During that time, that generation had children, with slightly 'evolved' genetics (or their potential more easily unlocked WITHOUT the need for a major transformational key such as the box or the Fountain), and humanity as a whole evolved slightly. Hence heroes born of heroes, etc.
So it's not hard to imagine that by now, much of that 'generation' has died (or their powers deteriorated/faded with age), and the power returned once again to the box. With the exception of a few holdouts... such as Statesman, Recluse, Psyche and Dark Watcher.
Now, imagine that the great metapowers of the world discover (via Ouroboros, science, whatever) that the Battalion, a genocidal race, is on its way to Earth. Humanity (since the bulk of the population here is human, not to diss anyone's alien characters) as a whole, even as superheroes and villains, is not strong enough to fight them. We need something more... humanity's potential needs one more great boost.
We need the box re-opened.
Statesman (out of noble self-sacrifice, ennui, whatever) figures that if he returns HIS portion of that energy back to the box, it's that much more to help the world, so he finally takes on a challenge that does in fact kill him. His energy returns to the box, but it's also been mingled with the divine/radioactive power of the Fountain. The box's energy is no longer just 'the collective potential of humanity' anymore...
... which unleashes the ability to become Ascended (what we now call Incarnates in-game). Powers that we could never have normally handled now become manageable. We become capable of defending ourselves against the Battalion.
To quote Peter Wayland in his TED video: "We... are the gods now."
Michelle
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Samuraiko/Dark_Respite -
Quote:Anti-Matter has the worst luck with women. He can't score Dominatrix on his own, so he builds a robot variant of her (Nightstar)... who promptly shacks up with Siege. Even Battle Maiden is hanging out by Neuron's Tower instead of over by the reactors...Originally Posted by Rajani Isa
Better than Anti-matter's "I LOVE YOU AND MADE A ROBOT DUPLICATE OF YOU!"
Then again, he's missing the chance for some MAJOR snark against Neuron...
"Oh, sure, you've got a tower. Half of it's hollow. I've got three reactors that go all day and night."
Michelle
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Samuraiko/Dark_Respite -
Quote:To quote (and lampshade) Synapse's comment in the FREEDOM PHALANX novel:Originally Posted by Fista
Why in 8 years has there never been an election for mayor?
"Normal people do not vote municipal."
Michelle
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Samuraiko/Dark_Respite -
Quote:A while back, ZARTAIN and Plasma Warrior came up with the idea that Paragon City's football team was "The Paragon City Enforcers." I think the mock ads they did ("Hi, I'm Flash Masterson of the Paragon City Enforcers") are still around somewhere...Originally Posted by blackjak
I made up the Galaxy City Stars and Steel Canyon Steelers football teams for one of my characters backstory. He got traded to Steel Canyon after he dogged his quarterback in the press. Of course, we know what happened next... He switched to hero-ing because there's not enough fame and money in pro sports in Paragon what with all the capes flying around.
Michelle
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Samuraiko/Dark_Respite -
Yep!
Michelle
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Samuraiko/Dark_Respite -
Yes, the demofile MOV command still works!
Michelle
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Samuraiko/Dark_Respite -
Quote:I try to start interesting threads because I am a total lore junkie, and I'm always curious what sort of stuff the community likes.Originally Posted by King_Moloch
This has been one of the most interesting threads I've ever read on these boards, and I'm thrilled that there are other players out there that are still as interested and involved with the game's canon and lore as I am. I may not find any RP opportunities anymore, but it's great when you can build a character that fits with the game and have a good understanding of where they sit in it.
Michelle
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Samuraiko/Dark_Respite -
Quote:Originally Posted by Arcanaville
In the next patch to the game, Positron in Steel Canyon is thirty feet tall. Do you:
a) Bug it
b) Wait a few years to see if the writers explain itd) Wait to see how long it takes before Dark_Respite actually manages to explain it in a semi-intelligent fashion in her book.Quote:Originally Posted by Cende
c) Come on to the forums to complain about how the Devs screw up every little thing, point out that this is making it obvious that Posi is a Mary Sue who gets all the good toys, and joke about how it's an example of the size of Matt Miller's ego reflected in the game. And indicate that it's yet more proof that the rednames hate villains and pvp.
e) Start checking LinkedIn to see which COH programmer got fired NOT as a result of DELIBERATELY making Positron thirty feet tall in game... but for also increasing the size of Null the Gull so he can stand on Posi's head and cover him in gull poo.
Michelle
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Samuraiko/Dark_Respite -
Quote:Why? I can probably count on one hand (MAYBE both hands) the number of people who even use the thing, and it's not like I'm doing anything USEFUL with it, like finding math errors or discovering powers imbalances or anything. I just make videos with it.Originally Posted by Arcanaville
Fully acknowledging the technical issues, I think this is one of Paragon's more short-sighted errors. It may even be the short sighted development error.Quote:Originally Posted by Dark_Respite
I know... I was told flat-out by Brian "Crosscheck" Clayton at the last HeroCon (not the Player Summits, mind you... HeroCon) that the GMs were no longer being trained on troubleshooting or fixing demorecord bugs. In other words, I'm SOL if stuff breaks in it.
Michelle
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Samuraiko/Dark_Respite -
Y'know, right about now I'm really wishing I had even ONE of the powers that any of my characters have.
Gunman: *pulls out weapon*
Me: *grabs the gunman with Lift and slams him into the ceiling* (or for the nonviolent route, Gravity Field)
Michelle
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Samuraiko/Dark_Respite -
Quote:Originally Posted by Dark_Respite
DEMO-EDITING.
That is all.
Michelle
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Samuraiko/Dark_RespiteI know... I was told flat-out by Brian "Crosscheck" Clayton at the last HeroCon (not the Player Summits, mind you... HeroCon) that the GMs were no longer being trained on troubleshooting or fixing demorecord bugs. In other words, I'm SOL if stuff breaks in it.Quote:Originally Posted by Quinch
Technically that's a feature.
A horribly neglected feature.
Fun recent bugs include:
Four legged rigs not playing back properly (they look like animated kanji or origami)
Auras removing clothing
Costume codes breaking demofiles
Certain weapons not playing back properly
The camera swinging wildly around for no reason
Makes filming in-game a PITA. *sighs*
Michelle
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Samuraiko/Dark_Respite -
I wonder if that's still available in the democode... might need to check!
Michelle
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Samuraiko/Dark_Respite -
DEMO-EDITING.
That is all.
Michelle
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Samuraiko/Dark_Respite -
Quote:I remember having a similar conversation with you at the most recent Pummit about this. It gives me hope that stuff like this is helping to improve the quality of the missions we run.Originally Posted by .Viridian.
I personally find feedback on writing, storylines, lore et al. to be quite useful. When Im putting together a storyarc, I try my best to tap into the kinds of stories that our playerbase is looking for. This is harder to do when Im working on something thats tied to the larger narrative, but even small changes in storytelling style can make a world of difference if those changes are what your audience is after.
The biggest lesson that the community has taught me personally is how to write better villain content. A lot of feedback Ive seen on the forums has asked for villain stories that are self-driven and proactive. Its a lot more fun to hatch your own diabolical scheme than to have one handed to you by Arachnos. Its more difficult to write, certainly, but the payoff is usually worth it. If it werent for direct and critical feedback from the community, I might not have learned that lesson so quickly (if at all).
So personally, I welcome constructive criticism. Sometimes people can get... passionate about the storylines, certainly, but isn't that a good thing? Besides, I already knew Id need to have thick skin if I wanted to succeed in this industry.
I've gotten several from Venture. Granted, they were all about my videos, and not anything I've written (MA or fan fiction), at least as far as I remember. (I'm FAIRLY sure he's not turned up on the TCOSR threads of mine, but I could be wrong.) BUT AT LEAST HE LIKES MY VIDS!Quote:Originally Posted by Kirsten
...I have never run into a positive comment from Venture. It could just be because I'm not active enough on the fora...
This, my dear Doyenne of Digits, is why you are my god.Quote:Originally Posted by Arcanaville
(Beard not optional if keeper is female)
Hmmmm. I could go for that role.Quote:Originally Posted by Kirsten
So...a professional Fanwanker? (It's a perfectly valid term, and any connotations you're attaching to it are your own PANCAKE fault.)
Michelle
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Samuraiko/Dark_Respite -
Quote:If the interest is safety and per the old level restrictions on hazard zone access, following the streets, you could either head north and follow the main tunnel to Steel Canyon, proceeding west past the tram and Wentworths, with the University downhill and on your right, following the external War Wall until you were nearly to the Natural origin store...Originally Posted by Zemblanity
So, new writer, if you were to bring your toon from Atlas Plaza to Gimry Ridge, what route would you take?
OR
You could head west from Atlas Park, taking care while passing through the Argosy warehouse district, enter Perez Park, follow the streets (trying to avoid the gangs), and head first north then west, pass through the Zone Gate, and emerge directly behind Gimry Ridge in Steel Canyon.
Mind the Circle of Thorns, though - although if you do get injured, the hospital is just north of the Ridge, so you wouldn't have far to go to get back into the action.
Michelle
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Samuraiko/Dark_Respite -
Quote:Good God...Originally Posted by Chazzmatazz
I'm feeling particularly lucky to be alive today. The theater in Aurora is MY theater. I was planning on attending the midnight showing there until I started getting a headache and decided to do a morning matinee instead. Best headache EVER.
Psychos suck.
Given what he was doing, though, no telling if he was the type to also deliberately shoot anyone actively trying to help someone else via first aid.
My deepest sympathies to your hometown.
Michelle
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Samuraiko/Dark_Respite -
Quote:DEAL! That's one test I KNOW I can do! The lore equivalent, I mean, I know jack about driving in London. (Except that I know Mekkanos can do better than I can, coz he beat me on the Trivia thing at HeroCon by ONE BLOODY QUESTION! No, I'm not bitter or anything...)Originally Posted by Arcanaville
There's a special test London cab drivers have to take to become licensed to drive a taxi. One element of the test involves being able to recite, from memory, the precise route from one location to another location without the use of maps which obeys the traffic requirements, including honoring one way roads. This must be done from memory and its pass-fail. I have often thought that writers whose job involves writing stories within an established canon should be required to take such a test.
Michelle
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Samuraiko/Dark_Respite -
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Quote:To quote a post of mine from another thread:Originally Posted by SlickRiptide
Precisely. All of that prior lore is summarized inside the game in book form.
Our studio has a "story bible" which contains much the same sort of world lore within its pages. Most of it is probably as not as thoroughly developed as that other game's past history but is that really a reason for NONE of it to be accessible inside the game?
I have to think that even if they only put a single summer intern to the task each year that the past eight years would have been plenty of time for most of it to have been typed up and formatted and fleshed out and inserted into the game.
The fact that a forum thread like the Canon Fodder thread can exist or that I could write Manticore or Arctic Sun or Hero One or (apparently) Protean and get answers means that there are answers to be had.
They just don't want to give them to us and for the life of me I can't understand why. Well, I DO understand: the whole straight jacket thing, which is my point - other games don't seem to feel that their lore is a straight jacket. They feel that it adds value.
Why does our studio treat player access to the lore as a liability?
MichelleQuote:I have long since been lobbying for the devs to make this info available to the playerbase (supposedly it's a word document, but now they have an internal wiki - or at least that's what Joe Morrissey told me at one of the HeroCons).
If it's no longer being used because it's outdated/irrelevant/whatever, let us see it as an example of how a game's canon lore was initially conceived. How much did THEY flesh out certain groups? Why were certain things changed (names, origins, whatever)? Why were certain things brainstormed but NOT developed?
However, I *SUSPECT* that the reason why they don't do it is because a) IF they ever go back and mine it for ideas, there's a major potential for spoilers, b) if they don't do it exactly as they detailed it (especially if the idea was a good one), the players will howl about it/bait and switch/we were lied to/not what was promised/insert other player rant here, or c) the players will immediately point out why they SHOULDN'T have used said idea because of how it breaks SOMETHING (canon lore/their own personal history/whatever).
Still wish they'd release it, though.
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite -
Quote:This is more me being curious what people want to know more about in the lore (and hoping that Protean, Dr. Aeon, .Viridian., and company notice). I answer questions if I know them, but I don't know everything.Originally Posted by Zemblanity
Michelle, are you answering cryptic lore questions?
Michelle
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Samuraiko/Dark_Respite -
*clears her throat loudly*
ANYWAY...
Michelle
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Samuraiko/Dark_Respite -
Protean.
Michelle
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Samuraiko/Dark_Respite -
Quote:Ore-uhn-BAY-guhOriginally Posted by _Tacitala_
How the [PANCAKE] do I pronounce Oranbega? I can remember how to spell it because it starts like oran berry, but how do I pronounce the place's name?
Orangebagel works too.
Not sure about WWII, but following the collapse of the Soviet Union, their first major group was the Valiant Defenders of the Motherland. One of my main characters' brother is currently a member.Quote:Originally Posted by SpyralPegacyon
Ooh, let's see...
We know the Western Allies had the Dawn Patrol and the First Hero Brigade, the Germans had the Storm Korps, and the Japanese had the Divine Wind Somethingorother. So... what did the Russians have?
Michelle
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Samuraiko/Dark_Respite