Dr_Mechano

Well not sure how things are on the US server but this evening, thanks to the amazing Damz and Sgt. Nick our record on the BAF was 2 fails, 1 bugged when we were just about to win and 5 completions, so far ran one Lambada and got one completion.

I think the bonus we had with the BAF was that it was always the same core group for the 8 of them I ran, the very first one failed on the Prisoner stage as was expected but we nailed down a setup which reduced the escaping prisoners by a lot (think our best was 8 escaping) the second failure was on the last stage because of the boss spawn spam on Seige but after that people made a note to pause and clear out the bosses.

Lambada is...interesting but it pretty much just resorted to 'throw acid grenades at portals, throw pacification grenades at Marauder, leap out of Nova Fist then rehuddle and smack him around'.

I'd say the BAF is difficult mostly because of coordination and despite their being an award badge for keeping Nightstar and Seige seperate, that actually seems to be the best way to do it.

Lambada is difficult not so much on coordination but just on the amount of stuff to keep track of during the final fight.

I will admit the system looks ridiculously grindy primarily for one thing which I absolutely despise.

The luck based table reward system.

Basically if you're unlucky you have to grind your backside off to get the very rare and play the 2 trials an ungodly number of times, if you're lucky you probably have to play the trial 10 times at most to unlock the very rare.

The Alpha system was pretty much fair for everybody who could run the same content, yes Shards were a bit random but not to the level of the trial reward table

Well currently on Union the group I'm running with (hello Damz and friends!) we're 2 failures on the BAF, one bugged dumped out of the BAF while we were within seconds of beating it and 5 completions.

I'd recommend when running the trials to use threads to make any components you need for the common and any spare being used as Incarnate XP, it unlocks a hell of a lot quicker that way.

Give it another 30 minutes or so and I reckon the servers will be up...just in time for me to go to work.

The fiends!

Well

1) On different timezone (here in good old Blighty).

2) Shifts varies, today just so happens to be one of my short shifts (6pm-9pm).

So nya!

Annoyingly that means I'll be at work as the Issue is released though.

yup just downloaded and updated.

Damn the NCsoft launcher is ruddy fast.

Yeah I'd recommend 2 Steadfast KB protection IO's if you can fit them in, 2 is enough to cover pretty much anything except being hit by a Fake Nemesis's force bolt.

Wait...if a redname celebrates being first post after me, does that make me more powerful than a redname, like a GOLD name.

Can I have a Gold name, it'd be awesome..I'd lord it over all the peons who ever question my science! Called me mad they did, claiming that a Death Laser powered by a washing machine was both silly and unpractical!

Woo!

Also first post after a redname.

Damn I've waited years to be able to do that

I can't help but wonder if my particular post created this thread (mentioning that the 5th Column and Council could be split into three factions which were Nictus, Jetpack Hitler comic book style Nazis and Italian Faschist with a metahuman program).

World War 2 played out pretty much how it played out in our universe, however when an en masse deployment of meta humans was made at D-Day (I believe) it was discovered that not many of them could take a direct hit from a tank shell or even a machine gun nest (Statesman and Invuln/* or */Invuln Tankers, Scrappers and Brutes were probably the exception) so instead of deploying them as a huge metahuman army they were formed more into Commando groups (think Sergeant Fury's Howling Commandos but with metahumans or rather Nick Fury's Howling Commandos).

The Storm Korps was the Nazi version of this, the Dawn Patrol was the British version (a metahuman SAS) and the Japanese version was called the Imperial Wind.

The Fifth Column were Nazi infiltrators put in place by Hitler before the war had even begun to try to stop America entering the war and to sabotage any of the war efforts.

Oh hai thur!

U wanted Crazee yes?

Villain Plan by Mids' Villain Designer 1.93
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Level 50 Magic Brute
Primary Power Set: Electrical Melee
Secondary Power Set: Electric Armor
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Medicine
Power Pool: Leaping
Ancillary Pool: Earth Mastery

Villain Profile:
Level 1: Havoc Punch -- KntkC'bat-Acc/Dmg(A), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx(15), KntkC'bat-Dmg/Rchg(15), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(29)
Level 1: Charged Armor -- RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx(A), RctvArm-ResDam/Rchg(5), RctvArm-ResDam(5), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(7), RctvArm-EndRdx(11)
Level 2: Jacobs Ladder -- Oblit-Dmg/Rchg(A), Oblit-Acc/Rchg(31), Oblit-Dmg(31), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(31), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(36), Oblit-%Dam(37)
Level 4: Conductive Shield -- RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx(A), RctvArm-ResDam/Rchg(7), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(9), RctvArm-ResDam(9), RctvArm-EndRdx(11)
Level 6: Boxing -- KntkC'bat-Acc/Dmg(A), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx(33), KntkC'bat-Dmg/Rchg(33), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(33)
Level 8: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(34), RechRdx-I(34)
Level 10: Aid Other -- Heal-I(A)
Level 12: Combat Jumping -- DefBuff-I(A), DefBuff-I(13), DefBuff-I(13)
Level 14: Super Speed -- Empty(A)
Level 16: Tough -- S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+(A), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx(17), RctvArm-ResDam/Rchg(17), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(27), RctvArm-ResDam(27), RctvArm-EndRdx(29)
Level 18: Aid Self -- Heal-I(A), Heal-I(19), RechRdx-I(19), RechRdx-I(23), IntRdx-I(25), IntRdx-I(25)
Level 20: Weave -- DefBuff-I(A), DefBuff-I(21), DefBuff-I(21), EndRdx-I(23)
Level 22: Kick -- KntkC'bat-Acc/Dmg(A), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx(34), KntkC'bat-Dmg/Rchg(36), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(36)
Level 24: Flurry -- KntkC'bat-Acc/Dmg(A), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx(37), KntkC'bat-Dmg/Rchg(37), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(39)
Level 26: Whirlwind -- FrcFbk-Rechg%(A), KinCrsh-Acc/KB(39), KinCrsh-Rchg/KB(39), KinCrsh-Rechg/EndRdx(40), KinCrsh-Acc/Dmg/KB(40)
Level 28: Jump Kick -- KntkC'bat-Acc/Dmg(A), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx(40), KntkC'bat-Dmg/Rchg(42), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(42)
Level 30: Super Jump -- Empty(A)
Level 32: Acrobatics -- KBDist-I(A), KBDist-I(42), KBDist-I(43)
Level 35: Resuscitate -- Heal-I(A)
Level 38: Stimulant -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 41: Stone Prison -- Enf'dOp-Acc/Rchg(A), Enf'dOp-EndRdx/Immob(43), Enf'dOp-Acc/EndRdx(43), Enf'dOp-Immob/Rng(45), Enf'dOp-Acc/Immob/Rchg(45), Enf'dOp-Acc/Immob(45)
Level 44: Salt Crystals -- LgcRps-Acc/Rchg(A), LgcRps-EndRdx/Sleep(46), LgcRps-Acc/Sleep/Rchg(46), LgcRps-Acc/EndRdx(46)
Level 47: Quick Sand -- ImpSwft-Acc/Slow(A), ImpSwft-Dmg/Slow(48), ImpSwft-Acc/EndRdx(48), ImpSwft-Rng/Slow(48), ImpSwft-EndRdx/Rchg/Slow(50), ImpSwft-Dam%(50)
Level 49: Fossilize -- Acc-I(A), Dmg-I(50)
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Fury
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 4: Ninja Run
Level 2: Swift -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Health -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Stamina -- EndMod-I(A), EndMod-I(3), EndMod-I(3)
------------
Set Bonus Totals:

• 3% DamageBuff(Smashing)
• 3% DamageBuff(Lethal)
• 3% DamageBuff(Fire)
• 3% DamageBuff(Cold)
• 3% DamageBuff(Energy)
• 3% DamageBuff(Negative)
• 3% DamageBuff(Toxic)
• 3% DamageBuff(Psionic)
• 34.56% Defense(Smashing)
• 34.56% Defense(Lethal)
• 4.875% Defense(Fire)
• 4.875% Defense(Cold)
• 8.625% Defense(Energy)
• 8.625% Defense(Negative)
• 3% Defense(Psionic)
• 25.81% Defense(Melee)
• 5.813% Defense(Ranged)
• 6.75% Defense(AoE)
• 3% Enhancement(Immobilize)
• 3% Enhancement(JumpHeight)
• 3% Enhancement(FlySpeed)
• 3% Enhancement(JumpSpeed)
• 4% Enhancement(Sleep)
• 8.75% Enhancement(RechargeTime)
• 9% Enhancement(Accuracy)
• 3% Enhancement(RunSpeed)
• 112.44 HP (7.501%) HitPoints
• Knockback (Mag -3)
• Knockup (Mag -3)
• MezResist(Held) 2.2%
• MezResist(Immobilize) 19.25%
• MezResist(Stun) 4.4%
• 2.5% Resistance(Smashing)
• 1.875% Resistance(Negative)
• 3% RunSpeed

actually...

I kind of would like 5th column robot lore pets.

I have always wanted the 5th Column robots as options for Robots MMs when they finally get Pet Customisation.

Plus it would match the little 5th Column mekman non-combat pet.

I'd call him Heinrich and pretend that he constantly complains about being reprogrammed by a decidedly non-nazi mad scientist.

Yeah I thought that was previously in the timeline though, before Reichsman got introduced.

Since upon his defeat he time teleports to wherever the hell he teleports to...that isn't made clear.

Plus I find it hard to imagine the following conversation going on between a 5th Column trooper and Requiem.

"Erm..hey boss...you know the guys we left back in Paragon while we did our time travelling schenanigans?"

"Yes, what about them?"

"Well it appears a Nazi version of Statesman has escaped containment thanks to some villains (since in the Barracuda SF you let him out, the Khan TF deals with the fallout from the Barracuda SF) and is now leading them...you know...taking your job."

"Eh...I'm quite happy to sit here and let that happen as long as I've got my awesome Roman villa near the sea and my two non-functional giant robots that we need to kidnap an Incarnate to power..."

"Well you know regular heroes can become Incarnates now."

"Well that just makes my job that little bit easier, we'll wait for them to come to us."

It does make me wonder what happened to Requiem though since the Council is lead by the Center and the resurgent 5th Column, bolstered by Axis Amerika troops, is lead by Reichsman.

Did they ever answer the question of what happened to Requiem?

I vaguely recall some fluff ages ago that had Positron arrest Requiem (bugger me if I can remember where I saw that though).

Perhaps we'll see a 3 way split, Requiem leading the Nictus based troops in his own faction with the 5th Column and Reichsman going more along the lines of 'those wacky Nazis' super tech (so they get the Vampyri, War Wolves and given Jetpack troopers etc.) and the Council going more along the lines of developing the Super Soldier Serum type deal with more super powered metahumans in the ranks.

Well...I can dream can't I?

"For those in need of a home, there is a Safehouse that my father uses when visiting Paragon not too far from here, there's food enough for those not native to this dimension and a wide variety of it, you'll have to microwave it though."

"Or for those seeking a more tavernesque feel, I suggest heading to pocket D, the entrance to which is a van not far from here, I would be happy to guide you."

Looking up at Quicksilver, "hey, I'm smaller than you but I'm packing twin plasma cannons, a flamethrower and both incendary and fragmentation missiles...so don't give me no 'shorty' stuff or I'll blow out your hubcaps!"

Though it was said with just a hint of a giggle behind her voice, meaning it wasn't a serious threat.

"And yes, my father, Doctor Edward Johnson better known as the supervillain Doctor Mechano, does occasionally issue villainous threats against Paragon, though so far nobody has ever been hurt..they're more...pranks than anything else."

Edward surveyed the damage and sighed.

"Elise, Drones, gather and we'll address this band of interdimensional visitors."

"Sure thing Dad."

With that all the Drones that still functioned and Elise moved towards them.

They paused infront of them before a hologram projected from the chest of one of the Drones.

It was of an elderly, grey skinned man, dressed in a sleeveless labcoat, a completely cybernetic right arm, including hand and a cybernetic left hand. A bushy white beard and white pony tail stood in stark contrast to the grey skin.

"Right, listen up all of you, my name is one Doctor Edward Johnson, I may have been part of the reason why you're all here...but we'll get to that later, now unfortunately I'm having some trouble sending you home. The portals that brought you here are random as to where they lead to and the multiverse is quite a large place, they could lead anywhere, as you've probably guessed from the giant crab and the so called man of the Almighty."

He sighed and rubbed his forehead, "so...for now I'm asking that you atleast stick together somewhat so I don't have to track you all individually all the time and I can get my regular four hours sleep once a week without worrying about half of Paragon being exploded."

"Blowing up Paragon is kind of my job and atleast I'm stylish about it, now as a precaution I'm having my daughter Elise...that would be the large pink one..."

The assault bot waved her...well...plasma cannon, she lacked hands,"Hi!"

"...yes her, to keep an eye on you all as best she can so I can have my Drones back at my lab working on getting this sorted out, now I've contacted various other dimension versions of me, including the one responsible for launching the same experiment at the same time which caused all this...so with the greatest minds across the multiverse working on this we should have you back home in no time...hopefully...if it all goes well...if the multiverse doesn't implode..."

With that the hologram cut off, the Drones begun to take to the skies.

"Now with Dad off the radio, you want me to help you get to your feet handsome?"

Elise looking down at Quicksilver.

Verified them several times.

Heck I've deleted and completely reinstalled CoH from a USB flashdrive backup.

Edit:

Ok a hard reboot of the system fixed it.

Really weird that.

Ignore for now.

Ok so I've been trying regularly to log into the game since they didn't give us an ETA for about 2 hours of when the servers would be back up to check.

Before this whole craptacular day I was able to log in just fine this morning and play just before the servers went down, no issue, everything was fine and dandy.

Now whenever I try to boot the game up through the updater (old school or NCsoft brand) it gives me this message: