Ex_Libris
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Edition 41 of "The City Scoop a publication for Supers by Supers!
The City Scoop continues to deliver player news, events, and flavor directly to your doorstep! This edition features some Issue 12: Midnight Hour recaps, as well as highlights from PvP, upcoming events, and more tasty treats.
The Scoop is LFM (looking for moar!) So if you have a talent that would fit in nicely with this weekly publication please contact Snow_Globe or Pants_Stealer
If you have concerns regarding the content of the Scoop please direct your comments via PM to Lighthouse or Ex Libris.
If you would like to do a feature article, have an event covered, or join "The City Scoop" team please PMSnow_Globe or Pants_Stealer
If you or someone you know should be considered for Behind the Mask Teldon or Encounters please contact MrsAlphaOne
If you need some Advice contact Lady_Athyna or would like to Ask The X contact LiquidX
Finally if you have a Classified Ad you would like included please contact: Lady_K
Discussion on the latest edition of "The City Scoop" is located here. -
Edition 41 of "The City Scoop a publication for Supers by Supers!
The City Scoop continues to deliver player news, events, and flavor directly to your doorstep! This edition features some Issue 12: Midnight Hour recaps, as well as highlights from PvP, upcoming events, and more tasty treats.
The Scoop is LFM (looking for moar!) So if you have a talent that would fit in nicely with this weekly publication please contact Snow_Globe or Pants_Stealer
If you have concerns regarding the content of the Scoop please direct your comments via PM to Lighthouse or Ex Libris.
If you would like to do a feature article, have an event covered, or join "The City Scoop" team please PMSnow_Globe or Pants_Stealer
If you or someone you know should be considered for Behind the Mask Teldon or Encounters please contact MrsAlphaOne
If you need some Advice contact Lady_Athyna or would like to Ask The X contact LiquidX
Finally if you have a Classified Ad you would like included please contact: Lady_K
Discussion on the latest edition of "The City Scoop" is located here. -
Classifieds
Do you have an event coming up? Are you going to attend an upcoming event? Do
you want to see or even write an article for The City Scoop? Drop a line to
LadyK a week in advance and you too could be a guest writer for The City Scoop.
Hiram Giovanni's Deli and Pizzeria
Food, Fence and Forgery
"Everything's Kosher"
Lost: Paradigm Shift Device. Contact Demented Cynic at Portal Corp. by Friday.
Remember to bring Hawaiian shirt.
Oh
hai - Mantid
Rats for sale. Contact Richard Ellsworth.
That's a coded message from your broker. Some guy named Richard Ellsworth has
been selling secrets to the Circle of Thorns, and there's a reward on his head.
All you can eat taco night at El Super
Mexicano. Tuesday at the Atlas Park store.
Lost: One Apex. If found, please return to the Ghost of War Witch.
Lost: Hub of the Wheel of Destruction. If found, please contact Azuria. P.S.
Please do not use to construct deadly wheel of Destruction. Thanks. -Azuria
Help Wanted: Writers for The City Scoop. Please contact Snow_Globe,
Pants_Stealer, or Marcian_Tobay for submission details.
Need to sell something? Post it in The City Scoop Classifieds. Send PM to LadyK.
o_o
*poke*
Buh! - Pepsiman
The City Scoop Staff
-
Food
& Recipes
Italian Food
Part II
Time for Part II. This is where you will see that not all Italian food is pasta.
Roast Chicken with Fennel
Ingredients
[*]
3 1/2 lb roasting chicken
[*]
salt and pepper
[*]
1 onion, quartered
[*]
1/2 cup olive oil
[*]
2 medium fennel bulbs[/list]
[*]
1 clove garlic, peeled
[*]
pinch of grated nutmeg
[*]
3-4 slices of bacon
[*]
1/2 cup dry white wine[/list]
1. Preheat oven to 350F. Rinse the chicken in cold water. Pat dry inside and out
with paper towels. Sprinkle the cavity with salt and pepper. Place the onion
quarters in the cavity. Rub the chicken with about 3 tablespoons of the olive
oil. Place in roasting pan.
2. Cut the green fronds from the tops of the fennel bulbs. Chop the fronds with
the garlic. Place in a small bowl and mix with nutmeg. Season with salt and
pepper.
3. Sprinkle the fennel mixture over the chicken, pressing it onto the oiled
skin. Cover the breast with slices of bacon. Sprinkle with 3 tablespoons of the
olive oil. Place in the oven and roast for 30 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, boil or steam the fennel bulbs until barely tender. Remove from
the heat and cut into quarters. After the chicken has been cooking for 30
minutes, remove the pan from the oven. Baste the chicken with any oils in the
pan.
5. Place fennel pieces around the chicken. Sprinkle the fennel with the
remaining oil. Pour about half the wine over the chicken, and return the pan to
the oven.
6. After another 30 minutes, baste the chicken again. Pour on the remaining
wine. Cook for 15-20 minutes more. To test, poke the thigh with a fork. If the
juices run clear, the chicken is cooked. Transfer the chicken to a serving
plate, and arrange the fennel around it.
Beef Stew with Red Wine
Ingredients
[*]
5 tablespoons of olive oil
[*]
2 1/2 lbs of boneless beef chuck, cut into 1 1/2 inch cubes
[*]
1 med onion, finely sliced
[*]
2 carrots chopped
[*]
3 tablespoons finely chopped parsley (fresh)
[*]
1 clove of garlic
[*]
1 bay leaf
[*]
a few springs of fresh thyme, or a pinch of dried thyme leaves
[/list]
[*]
pinch of ground nutmeg
[*]
1 cup of red wine
[*]
1 14 oz can of plum tomatoes, shopped, with their juice
[*]
1/2 cup of beef broth (you may use chicken broth instead)
[*]
15 black olives, stoned and halved
[*]
salt and pepper
[*]
1 large red sweet pepper, cut into strips[/list]
1. Preheat oven to 350F. Heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large, heavy
casserole. Brown the meat, a little at a time, turning it to color on all
sides. Remove to a side plate while the remaining meat is being browned.
2. When all the meat has been browned and removed, add the remaining oil, the
onion and carrots. Cook over low heat until the onion softens. Add the parsley
and garlic, and cook for 3-4 minutes more.
3. Return the meat to the pan, raise the heat, and stir well to mix the veggies
with the meat. Stir in the bay leaf, thyme and nutmeg. Add the wine, bring to a
boil and cook stirring, for 4-5 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes, broth and
olives, and mix well. Season with salt and pepper. Cover the casserole, and
place in the center of the oven. Bake for 1 1/2 hours.
4. Remove the casserole from the oven. Stir in the strips of pepper. Return the
casserole to the oven and cook uncovered, for 30 minutes more, or until the
beef is tender.
Stuffed Turkey Breast with Lemon
Ingredients
[*]
1 1/2 lb Turkey Breast, in one piece
[*]
1 carrot, cut into matchsticks
[*]
1 med Zucchini, cut into matchsticks
[*]
1/3 cup of ham, cut into matchsticks
[*]
2 thick slices of white bread, crusts removed, softened in a little bit of milk
[*]
10 green olives, stoned and finely chopped
[*]
large clove of garlic, finely chopped
[*]
4 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
[*]
2 tablespoons of finely chopped fresh basil
[/list]
[*]
2 tablespoons of finely chopped fresh basil
[*]
1 egg
[*]
1/8 teaspoon of freshly grated Lemon zest
[*]
2 tablespoons of freshly grated Parmesan cheese
[*]
salt and pepper
[*]
4 tablespoons of olive oil
[*]
1 cup of chicken broth or stock, warmed
[*]
1/2 lemon cut into wedges
[*]
2 tablespoons of butter[/list]
1. Remove any bones, skin, or fat from the turkey. Using a sharp knife, cut part
of the way though the turkey breast and open the two halves out like a book.
2. Pound the meat with a mallet to obtain one large piece of meat of as even a
thickness as possible.
3. Preheat the oven to 400F. Blanch the carrot and zucchini pieces in a small
saucepan of boiling water for 2 minutes. Drain. Combine with the matchsticks of
the ham.
4. Squeeze the bread, and place in a mixing bowl, breaking it into small pieces
with a fork. Stir in olives, garlic and herbs, and add the egg. Add the lemon
zest and grated Parmesan. Season with salt and pepper.
5. Spread the bread mixture in one layer over the meat, leaving a small border
all around. Cover with the ham and veggie mixture. Roll the turkey up. Tie the
roll in several places with string.
6. Heat the oil in oven proof casserole dish slightly larger than the turkey
roll. When the oil is hot, brown the meat on all sides. Remove from the heat,
add the broth or stock, and arrange the lemon wedges around the meat. Cover and
place in the oven.
7. After 15 minutes, remove the cover, discard the lemon and baste the meat.
Continue cooking, uncovered, for a further 25-30 minutes, basting occasionally.
Allow to stand for at least 10 minutes before slicing.
8. Strain the sauce. Stir in the butter and taste for seasoning. Serve the
sliced roll warm with the sauce. If you wish to serve it cold, slice the roll
just before serving and omit the sauce.
Pork Chops with Mushrooms
Ingredients
[*]
3 tablespoons dried porcini mushrooms, soaked in 1 cup of warm water and
drained (reserve the soaking water)
[*]
1/3 cup of butter
[*]
2 cloves of garlic, peeled and crushed
[*]
11 oz of fresh cultivated mushrooms, thinly sliced
[*]
salt and pepper
[/list]
[*]
1 tablespoon of olive oil
[*]
4 pork chops with fat trimmed off
[*]
1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves OR 1/4 teaspoon of dried thyme
[*]
1/2 cup of dry white wine
[*]
1/3 cup of single cream[/list]
1. Filter the mushroom soaking water though a later of paper towels, and
reserve. Melt two-thirds of the butter in a large frying pan. Add the garlic.
When the foam subsides, stir in all the mushrooms. Season and cook over med
heat until the mushrooms give up their liquid, 8-10 minutes.
2. Remove the mushrooms to a side dish. Add the remaining butter and the oil to
the frying pan. When hot, add the pork in one layer and sprinkle with thyme.
Cook over moderate to high heat for about 3 minutes per side to seal in the
juices. Reduce the heat, and cook for 15-20 minutes more. Remove to a warmed
plate.
3. Spoon off any fat in the pan. Pour in the wine and mushroom water. Cook over
high heat until reduced by about half, stirring to scrape up the residues at
the bottom. Add the mushrooms and the cream, and cook for 4-5 minutes more.
Serve the sauce poured over the chops.
Thats it for this weeks folks! Thanks again for reading. Next week I will be
bringing you some Easter stuff. It threw me off this year with Easter being in
March, but I will have some stuff next week, so see you then!
~ MistressNoire
-
Behind the Mask
Staff Spotlight
Sooner
Where do you live?
Norman, Oklahoma
If you do not mind what is your gender and age?
Female and [mumble mumble] years old.
What do you do for a living?
I'm a veterinarian.
What has been the most unusual thing to happen at your job?
Hmm... Well, most of these stories involve objectionable bodily fluids, but
there was the one who didn't understand that a "neuter" was NOT a vasectomy.
When he realized what had actually happened, he really, genuinely turned green.
Do you have any pets?
Yes. The actual number and type is subject to change without notice, but at
present, I have:
Chance - a 12 year old Dalmatian,
Max - a 12 year old orange tabby cat,
Taju - an 11 year old husky mix, and
Sammy - a 4 year old cattle dog mix, also known as the most spoiled dog in
Oklahoma, and my avatar. Say hi, Sammy!
Are you seeing anyone special right now?
Nope. Why? You interested?
What is the most interesting place you have visited?
I spent several years in Europe as a child (military brat). It was wonderful.
What are your top three songs of all time?
Very difficult question to answer, but I can tell you that whenever "Paradise
by the Dashboard Light" by Meatloaf comes on, I turn up the radio as loud as it
will go. The same is true of "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen, and "Only the Good
Die Young" by Billy Joel.
What five TV shows could you not live without?
*turns on TiVo* The top five shows on my season pass manager are: Survivor, The
Biggest Loser, Grey's anatomy, Heroes, and Scrubs.
I want to add in Firefly, even though it's off the air, but I rewatch it on DvD
every few months.
What was the best book you last read?
Last book I read was... um... "The Select" by F. Paul Wilson. An excellent
writer, I cannot recommend him highly enough, and I read everything of his that
I can get my hands on.
What is your favorite pop culture quote?
"Trust me" - Indiana Jones
What other hobbies do you have?
Reading, writing, and movies. Oh, and I'm a member of Toastmasters -
surprisingly fun!
Who is your real life hero?
My parents.
What is your home server, and why did you end up picking it as your home
server?
Protector. I picked it because I liked the name, and stuck around because I
LOVE the community.
How were you drawn to this game?
A good friend of mine tried it and enjoyed it. I would never have bought it if
I'd realized it was an MMO, and that I would have to pay monthly. 3 years
later, I have two accounts.
What is your favorite aspect of the game?
At this point, it's social. I have so many great friends online. Just last
night, I came home after a very rough week, and found myself welcomed by
virtual hugs and even a virtual hot toddy.
What was your biggest n00b moment in game?
My team was getting ready to take on Frostfire. We had him in sight, but not
aggro'd yet. I had him targeted, and was adjusting my postion, and instead of
hitting [D], I hit [F]. The team wasn't ready, I certainly wasn't ready, and
since I had no clue why I suddenly charged straight at an elite boss, I
couldn't stop. Team wipe ensued.
What was your favorite OMG moment in game?
The first time I flew.
Who is your namesake character, and what are they?
Sooner Spirit is a dark/dark scrapper. She is now joined by her sisters Sooner
Magic, a MA/SR scrapper and Sooner, a DB/WP scrapper.
Do you prefer Heroside or Villainside and why is that?
I prefer heroside. I think I just prefer to be heroic, but also until I
upgraded my memory, my poor computer just couldn't handle red-side. The
slide-show lag just frustrated me so much, I'd give up and go back to heroes.
Which type of character would you say is your favorite to play and why?
Scrapper. Hands down, no question. Scrappers easily transition from solo to
team play. They have a great role on a team as a damage dealer, but are
self-sufficient enough to easily solo.
What would you say is your playstyle?
I am a team player, and no matter what I'm playing I'm trying to make sure I'm
working with the team. I'm a fairly aggressive player, and I do get impatient,
but I always try to remain a good team player.
Which zone is your favorite?
Talos Island and Founder's Falls are both just beautiful zones. I have been
known to stop just to watch the sunset in Talos. On red-side, Nerva is a
fascinating zone and great fun to explore. In fact, in my fiction, my SG's base
is located in Founders, and my VG's base is located in Nerva.
What is your favorite storyline in the game?
I really like the "Titan named Joe" storyline. I always love it when the game
can provoke an emotional reaction from me, and that one did.
Last year saw three incredible issues to the game. Out of all that was added
what would you say is your favorite new feature?
Ouroboros was a great addition. I LOVE Ouroboros. And, of course, the invention
system added so much in the ability to customize your characters.
However, I'd have to say the Rikti War Zone is my favorite. The ability to team
up with the other side, the new content, the ship raids - I really love it.
What advice do you have for any new players to the game?
I was afraid to team up when I first joined. I had had some bad experiences
with online gaming in the past, and avoided teaming up for quite awhile. When I
finally started trying it, I met some amazing people and have a whole new world
of friends.
Any closing comments?
Don't forget to leave the house and interact with real people. This is a great
game, with a great community, but go outside and see the real world too.
Staff Spotlight
Neuronia
Where do you live?
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
If you do not mind what is your gender and age?
I'm in my late 20s and female, though the partner (and account owner) or a
niece sometimes hops on to play heroes.
What do you do for a living?
I'm a freelance editor and translator.
What has been the most unusual thing to happen at your job?
I did a lot of editing of immigration petitions a while back, and really odd
stuff goes on there sometimes.
Do you have any pets?
I have a cat whom likes to jump on my keyboard while I PvP. [img] /images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]
Are you seeing anyone special right now?
Yes. I got this CoH account from him (and he's still paying for it! [img] /images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]
).
What is the most interesting place you have visited?
Charm City! Baltimore is wonderful and I got to visit some of the more historic
areas as well some tourist traps. Had LOTS of crab and crab dip too.
What are your top three songs of all time?
Gloria - Van Morrison
Crystal - New Order
Twilight Zone - Golden Earring
What five TV shows could you not live without?
I don't watch television.
What was the best book you last read?
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
What is your favorite pop culture quote?
"Rock and Roll: Music for the neck downwards" - Keith Richards
What other hobbies do you have?
Writing in my spare time and exploring small parts of my town.
Who is your real life hero?
My mum. She's a lot of crap thrown her way but she's never lost her patience or
good humor.
What is your home server, and why did you end up picking it as your home
server?
Champion. A friend of a friend was there and that's where my nearly all-purpled
namesake resides, along with a bunch of alts.
How were you drawn to this game?
I was looking over someone's shoulder, saw the costume creator and people
flying around afterwards and I was floored. It's the first MMO I've played, and
probably the last I will pay a steady fee for. It's that fun.
What is your favorite aspect of the game?
Seeing Syph get farmed on Test Server (kidding!). Right now it has to be the
PvP ladder on Test. My group, Integrity, is deadlocked with dUmb in a fight for
3rd and 4th. It's also very fast-paced and enjoyable.
What was your biggest n00b moment in game?
Only one?
When I started:
-Where are the Hollows?
-How do I get to the train?
-What, you mean I don't HAVE to put a Range, Accuracy, Damage, Recharge? The
power says it accepts them!
-How do I send tells?
What was your favorite OMG moment in
game?
I was in my first week of play in a PuG in Striga and they went "Want to go
fight Lusca?" I was "Sure!" Then we went to Independence Port and there was
this HUGE freaking octopus! My eyes bugged out of my head. I gained a lot of
debt but it was fun!
If I'm allowed another, I'd have to say doing States TF with BillZBubba, an
inveterate soloer on Pinnacle. Bill rips through Arachnos like a blender! [img] /images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]
Who is your namesake character, and what are they?
She's a Mind Control/Forcefield/Psionic Mastery on Champion server. People told
me over and over it would be slow leveling and to reroll, but I never listened.
It was sometimes frustrating leveling her but I kept on it and with some help
hit level 50. Right now, I am purpling her out, needed a few range and hold
sets to complete. I was lucky enough to join a SG whose leader is a Fire Tanker
and he loves having me around! [img] /images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]
Do you prefer Heroside or Villainside and why is that?
My most active friends all play heroes but I much prefer the content redside.
I'd say I play 70/30 heroside for a variety of reasons, including the market
and Dark Astoria.
Which type of character would you say is your favorite to play and why?
Defender. Buff my teammates to almost invincible levels or use my powers to
debuff and defeat? Sign me up!
What would you say is your playstyle?
Entirely AT dependent. On my Spine/SR I jump into mobs and let Quills and my
attacks finish things. On my Defenders I'm more deliberate and make sure my
friends are buffed. On my Brutes and Controllers I generally draw a lot of
aggro then lock stuff down or smash!
Which zone is your favorite?
Striga Isle. It has nice contacts which grant you great temporary powers
(Stephanie's ring and the War Wolf Whistle), a short task force with a great
ending and a volcano that reminds of "You Only Live Twice".
What is your favorite storyline in the game?
Project: World Wide Red from Crimson (level 45+ heroside).
Finishing the "Wildflower" mission and hearing the telling "KA-CHUNK, KA-CHUNK"
of the Kronos Titan is one of the defining moments that keeps me in the game.
Last year saw three incredible issues to the game. Out of all that was added
what would you say is your favorite new feature?
Stable Arenas woot!
As to gameplay features, it has to be the Invention System. You can go so many
different ways about it but each will make your hero or villain more powerful.
Great implementation as well with recipes dropping off various tasks.
What advice do you have for any new players to the game?
Take the time to do the tutorial and ask questions in game or on the forums.
Join a supergroup but find out their expectations first. Having a group you can
team with will make leveling more enjoyable and a tad faster.
Also, try PvP! There actually is a lot of strategy in team makeups at the high
end and zones can just be a whole lot of crazy and random fun.
Any closing comments?
We just renewed for another period, a wise decision seeing Issue 12 is around
the corner. Keep having fun and exploring the game's options, hope to see some
of you on Champion or the Test Server!
-
The Arena
PvP Memorial Event
A memorial PvP event will be held for Walter Padilla (known as Veil One or
Macron) on Test Server Monday, March 31st at 9 p.m. Eastern.
Please join former members of Have a Nice Day (HVND), members of Old School,
Meltdown and several other test groups as we throw down for fun in memory of a
dearly missed player and human being.
Mr. Padilla served his country in Iraq and developed Post Traumatic Stress
Disorder there, a malady that ultimately led to his demise. Macron found solace
in the City of Heroes games PvP system and friends as well.
perilX passed along some words about Mr. Padilla in an Arena thread: A year ago
our community lost a very cherished member, Walter Padilla also known as Veil
One or Macron. Although test PvP has recently seen a lot of new faces, those
who were around then and knew Veil would describe him as an excellent friend
and an all around pleasure to talk to. Always cheerful and involved. Always
willing to help a friend. Always there for people.
There was a similar event last year, which drew great crowds.
Bring anything you might have on test next Monday, were all going to do our
best to have fun and honour the memory of a missed player and friend.
For more information on Veil One, please visit
Veil One's Myspace page or his
Memorial page.
Alpha One's Group by Juggertha
PVPEC Mixed Super Heavyweight 5 vs. 5
Results
The PVP Events Committee (PVPEC) hosted a Mixed Super Heavyweight 5 vs. 5
tournament on March 8th at 8 p.m. Eastern. Teams consisted of at least two
heroes and two villains with five non-repeating archetypes (in other words,
only one Blaster or one Dominator), with teams squared off in a Swiss format.
Seventeen teams signed up for the event, from team Little Things Kill (captained
by @Celtic Warrior5) through team Is Ownage Still Talking? and team Farm Cinder
Please (captained by @Ownage and @grampa pip1 respectively).
Team compositions were a nice change from the usual test line-ups. team
Unstoppable fielded an EM/INV Brute and Tanker, an EM/Regen Stalker, a DM/Invul
Scrapper and a Warshade while Dominators were present in most line-ups, as with
team Phase fielding a Mind/Fire Dominator, an Ill/Emp Controller, an EM/Nin
Stalker, a Rad/Psi Defender and a Fire/Sonic Corruptor.
Three rounds of Swiss play led to a single elimination round. Afterwards, team
Lab and team Is Ownage Still Talking? emerged from the semi-finals. Team Lab,
fielding an Ill/Emp Controller, Mind/Fire Dominator, Sonic/Sonic Defender,
Ice/Kin Corruptor and Fire/EM Blaster took a 5-1 victory over Team Ownages
identical line-up.
Congratulations to both teams and to all participants for making the 5 vs. 5
event a success!
-
Fan Fiction
Fan Fiction Spotlight
The
Conscious of a King
by BlueBattler
-----
"Um, hello? Is anyone there?"
Who are you? he snarls though if there were anyone to hear other than his
Clockwork it would be an emotionless electronic monotone. Where are you?
Im Penny. Penelope. I can kind of hear people think sometimes. I heard you cry
out. Can I help you?"
Help me? How long has it been since he heard those words?
"Yeah. You sound like you can use a friend "
A friend
And for the first time in a very long while, he feels human.
Almost.
-----
I peruse the RP forum fairly regularly and we get all manner of stories and
character profiles out there. Once in a while, we get a gem like this one. It's
rather unusual that it turns out to be a story about one of the City of Heroes'
most notorious villains.
To summarize, this is the stuff going on when we can't see the Clockwork King at
work. BlueBattler has done a brilliant job with this piece of fan fiction,
largely because it plays out in a way that can run entirely parallel to the
adventures our heroes undertake every day.
The story is a look deep into the thoughts that drive the Clockwork King. We get
to see how he's a confused soul from the get-go, and that his relationship with
Penelope Yin is far more cathartic than he ever really lets on, though it pains
him in new ways at the same time.
As it stands, the story actually holds to the current in-game arcs. One could
believe that the Clockwork King actually goes through all of this before "Our
Heroes" beat the tar out of him in the Synapse Task Force or the Lady Grey Task
Force. I attribute a lot of the authenticity of the story to the fact that Blue
Battler actually put a call out on the forums to research as much as he could
about the character (and the community often gave some very useful
information). While that research thread diverged and went a bit screwy on a
few points, Battler apparently was able to cut the wheat from the chaff, and
produced this gem for the community.
I almost feel bad about smashing CK to bits after reading this one.
Writing your own Fan Fiction!
There are some fabulously talented amateur writers in our community, and I am
sure there are many more who would love to give it a try, but arent sure how.
Part I - The Very Basics: Character Biographies
Think you have what it takes to write some fan fiction of your own? I think you
do too! Do not be intimidated by that blank word processor page. You already
know more than anyone else about what you need to get started: your own
character.
If you havent written your characters biography yet, this would be the time.
Dont worry about the limited space the game provides, write what you want, how
you want it, and edit it down for the in-game space later.
The biography should answer the question of why this person became a hero or a
villain, and, out of all the random NPCs walking the sidewalks, what made this
person different. Was he born that way? Or did something happen to him?
Start with the information you already have: your archetype, powersets, name,
costume, and origin. A male tank, wearing black medieval armor, wielding a
battle axe, with Willpower as his primary, a natural origin, and named
'Gundorth the Strong' is already a very different character from a female
empathy/electric defender, mutation origin, wearing angel wings and pale blue
spandex tights named 'The Soothing Touch.'
The first clue to what happened is the origin. Magic or Mutant, Tech or Science,
or just Natural? That only gives you a direction, however. A magic origin could
mean the character found a magical artifact, or worked some sort of spell. He
could have been cursed as an infant, or made a deal with supernatural entities.
The next step is to take a look at the archetype. Scrappers, blasters, tanks,
brutes and stalkers are all inherently aggressive to varying degrees and each
in their own way. Play style and concept further define who a character is. Is
your tank a taunt-bot meatshield? Or more of a "scranker"?
The specific powersets go even further. A broadsword scrapper is slow but
powerful, compared to a speedy claws scrapper. An empathy defender concentrates
more on his team while a radiation defender concentrates more on debuffing the
enemy. Plant control is very different from gravity control.
Last, look at your costume and name, which are the most customizable aspects.
That character with more skin than spandex showing is obviously a very
different person than the one covered head to toe in leather, hoods, masks, and
cape. Is he wearing bold primary colors or earth tones? Lots of ornamentation
in the form of chest and shoulder accessories, or is the costume simple and
sleek? What about robotic arms, legs, hooks, peg legs, animal legs, fur, alien
heads? Each of these details tells you something more about your character. The
character name sums it up. Is it just a persons name? Sam Smith? Jewel Jones?
Or a more comic book character name like Stupendous Sam or Sparkling Jewel?
What is your characters real name?
Write it up. Ask yourself the question: What happened to Sam Smith to make him
what he is now? Why does he risk himself daily for Paragon City or why does he
strive for power in the Rogue Isles? Dont worry about how long it is - take
all the time and the space you need to tell your story.
Next time: The basics of plot!
-
The City Scoop
Content Watch
Villainside level 21 to 30
While
you are touring the Rogue Isles dont forget to buy your official compilation
of the Best of CoVs songs including:
Good news everyone! It is finally spring time even though it feels like were
still in winter when you look outside. This is Plater giving you another
exciting issue of the Content Watch. This time after losing my mike in Potter's
Field I came back just in time to find out my Content Watch thread has been
buried with Issue 12 talk. I didnt mind because, like everyone else, I was
eager to learn more about the next big patch.
You can read the last Content Watch issue and also check up the discussion on
the forums that lead to this article here .
The first impression that came to me from reading everything in the thread is
that this level range lacks something on villain side. For most archetypes,
getting in the 20s means a boost to quality of life due to stamina and SOs.
From the comments, there are a couple contacts that are fun to do, while the
rest just end up being boring and repetitive after you have done them once.
Compare this to hero-side, where you have 5 zones for content in this level
range (Independence Port, Talos, Striga, Faultline and Croatoa).
Of all the contacts in Sharkhead and Nerva (levels 20 to 30), the names that
have been popping out as interesting ones are Doc Buzzsaw, Operative Vargas,
Diviner Maros and Archmage Tarixus. They first come out of the pack not because
of their missions, but because of the story. You need to read the clues and the
dialog in between each mission to get the hang of these contacts. If you treat
them as point, talk and mission contacts, they just seem bland. Diviner Maros
seems to have a love-hate relationship with many players. Some like him for the
EBs/AVs, challenge and his missions, while others hate him because you cant
really solo his missions well. Tarixus is well known for his badge mission,
which is needed for the demonic accolade.
For levels 25-30, you only get a quick glimpse of the Nerva Archipelago, but it
is enough for several players to just hate the place. Kanehllfir describes
Nerva as: Boring. It's like taking Boomtown and adding Perez Park on it with
the size of Independence Port.. >. about now. After fully touring this place once, you will agree. It's mostly
water all around and you never see a soul in the Longbow base, Primeva or the
Thorn Isle. Did I just say this place hosts a Longbow base? Well, thats right.
Most contacts in Nerva will hand out Longbow missions at some point.
The level 20-30 villain side also offers two Strike Forces. Silver Mantis,
levels 20-25, available via the SG base computer, sends you to fight various
villain groups before assaulting the Sky Raider base in the end. The main
problem of this Strike Force is that it is not available to everyone because
you need a SG base computer. Sometimes a bug will kick players of other
supergroups that enters your base, so you cant really make pick-up groups for
this one. Operative Renault offers a level 25-30 Strike Force in Sharkhead. He
sends you to explore and gather information about the mysteries of Leviathan
that lives below Sharkhead Isle. It can be another rough and long SF, but its
worth doing once in a while.
Nerva also hosts all the contacts for the villainside respec trials. Like the
hero version of the trial, the first 2 missions will change depending on the
level range but the last mission is the same. However, I feel that taking down
the Thorn Tree AV can be difficult if you have a team that truly needs a
respec, or if you have many players that are unfamiliar with the tree room. The
first respec trial is much easier if you do it in the 30s rather than at level
24-26.
This level range also has quite a few unlockable contacts like Henri Dumont
(Strikebreaker badge), Kristof Jaeger (Villain badge), Doc Buzzsaw (Bling
badge) and Archmage Tarixus (Lorekeeper history badge). ImpulseKing wrote a
good summary of these in the discussion thread so please take some time to read
it.
There are a few really annoying missions, mostly hunts, at this level range.
Hunting in the pit and close to the council base can be quite a pain if you are
level 20-22 since nothing spawns below level 24 in this area. Also the foes in
this area like to hang out in groups which can make it hard for players to take
them down alone. I know we can now drop a mission once every 3 days, but I
think these need to be fixed somehow. There is also a Circle of Thorns hunt in
the Potter's Field which can be taken at level 25 while nothing there spawns
below level 27.
To conclude this article, I think that some of the content in this level range
is really worth doing and I dont mind fighting through some of these missions
over and over. However, there is a lack of content for level 25 to 35 where
Sharkhead is becoming too repetitive and Nerva longbow missions are just
boring. Issue 12 has new zones (10-20 and 35-50) coming up, however nothing
appears to be planned for levels 25-35, which makes grinding these levels an
option that is used too often.
As usual, I would like to thank everyone that posted in the Content Watch thread
and I will try to be more present to keep the conversation going. I have been
busy with Issue 12 and real life over the past weeks, but I should have a
little bit more free time now to post more often. This is Plater wishing you
all a happy gaming experience in the Rogue Isles.
Vol. 1, Issue 41
March 28th, 2008
This Issue:
Upcoming Events:
March 29th:
March 30th:
April 1st:
April 4th:
April 5th:
April 6th:
EXTRA! Powerset Update.
Blaster
New Primary - Psychic Blast
New Secondary - Mental Manipulation
Brute
New Primary - Battle Axe
New Primary - War Mace
New Secondary - Super Reflexes
Controller
New Primary - Plant Control
New Secondary - Thermal Radiation
Corrupter
New Primary - Electrical Blast
New Secondary - Storm Summoning
Defender
New Primary - Cold Domination
New Secondary - Ice Blast
Dominator
New Primary - Earth Control
New Secondary - Electricity Manipulation
Mastermind
New Secondary - Storm Summoning
Scrapper
New Primary - Fiery Melee
New Secondary - Fiery Aura
Stalker
New Primary - Electric Melee
New Secondary - Electric Armor
Tanker
New Primary - Dark Armor
New Secondary - Dark Melee
For the player reaction please see this thread (hero, villain) on the official forums. More reaction next week!
By Popular Request
This is the thirteenth in a series of "By Popular Request" articles, which looks
at commonly requested player suggestions that have strong positive support, and
reviews the implications and considerations that would need to be considered if
these suggestions were to be implemented.
This weeks subject Extra Server Slots
With the announcement that numerous new power set combinations would be
available when I12 launches, there were renewed calls to grant players a way to
increase the number of character slots they have on a particular server. With
so many new possibilities, and the server loyalty some players have, being able
to move characters to other servers simply wasnt a suitable alternative to
extra slots. So, how could extra slots be offered?
The most likely format would be to pay a flat fee for an additional slot on a
particular server. This allows players to focus on their favorite server(s),
while minimizing the amount of extra space needed. Other alternative formats
include buying extra slots on all servers for one fee or moving a slot from
one server to another. The pricing format could also be different, perhaps
through an addition to the monthly fee per slot, or both an up front fee as
well as a recurring monthly fee. They could also be offered as a veteran
reward, or as a reward for obtaining certain badges.
Here are two threads which mention the possibility of extra server slots:
First
Issue 12: Midnight Hour details!
Any
chance on a Powerset Respec?
Here is the official thread to discuss the subject:
Regarding
Additional Character Slots
From the Editor
Hey all, it's been a busy week for me. I am getting training at work for
management. The bad thing is that I am going to be working some really weird
hours for the next few months. I have some really interesting players, couples,
and families that are getting ready to be interviewed. So, in the meantime,
enjoy getting to know members of the staff here at The Scoop. In the meantime,
I am taking a nap.
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...
-
I don't know bout y'all but wrapping my head around Plant/Therm Controllers, may just inspire me to try out those blasted Heroes...
Course I've tested the Corruptors new set and still think Red side for life!
I am, what I am!
Ex -
[ QUOTE ]
OH I missed that >.>......Though i am no fan of the EA set. It lacks something imo and I can't figure out what it is. Its nice on the eyes, but I can not keep one past lvl 12
[/ QUOTE ]
What it lacks is any mitigation whatsoever other than typed defense, outside of Overload anyway
I suppose you could count Repel but.. thats such a goofy power for a Stalker anyway.
-
[ QUOTE ]
Now here is the thing when it comes to stalkers. What power do you foresee being removed from elec armor to place in hide Lightning Field or Power Sink, hmmmmm? As we all know stalkers never had access to an end draining/restoration power nor a damage aura (which that would make since). Will stalkers finally have the chance to drain/restore end?
[/ QUOTE ]
Energy Aura Stalkers have *always* been able to do this.
Then again, lol EA Stalkers
-
[ QUOTE ]
Since when have Dominators had a Manipulation secondary?
[/ QUOTE ]
Same time Defenders got a Domination primary, apparently. -
Last weekend for submissions, avatar's will be selected by Blue Steel this coming Monday March 31.
This is your friendly neighborhood reminder.
Regards,
Ex -
On Wednesday, March 26 at 8:00AM CDT (1:00PM GMT) we will be conducting maintenance on portions of the PlayNC website.
Customers will not be able to access their PlayNC account or access the Guild Wars® and City of Heroes® in-game store during this period. Players also may not be able to log into COH or Lineage® II. We anticipate this maintenance window to last about three hours and we apologize for the inconvenience of this scheduled maintenance falling so closely with today's update.
Regards,
Ex Libris -
Thread has been stickied but there may be some merit to scrubbing and reposting with the main list as the OP, which can be edited and updated similar to the Guide to Guide sections.
Either way keep me posted if it changes.
Ex -
Edition 40 of "The City Scoop a publication for Supers by Supers!
The City Scoop continues to roll out the win with their 40th edition of this player operated publication. There is something for everyone in this weeks Scoop!
The Scoop is LFM (looking for moar!) So if you have a talent that would fit in nicely with this weekly publication please contact Snow_Globe or Pants_Stealer
If you have concerns regarding the content of the Scoop please direct your comments via PM to Lighthouse or Ex Libris.
If you would like to do a feature article, have an event covered, or join "The City Scoop" team please PMSnow_Globe or Pants_Stealer
If you or someone you know should be considered for Behind the Mask Teldon or Encounters please contact MrsAlphaOne
If you need some Advice contact Lady_Athyna or would like to Ask The X contact LiquidX
Finally if you have a Classified Ad you would like included please contact: Lady_K
Discussion on the latest edition of "The City Scoop" is located here. -
Edition 40 of "The City Scoop!" a publication for Supers by Supers!
The City Scoop continues to roll out the win with their 40th edition of this player operated publication. There is something for everyone in this weeks Scoop!
The Scoop is LFM (looking for moar!) So if you have a talent that would fit in nicely with this weekly publication please contact Snow_Globe or Pants_Stealer
If you have concerns regarding the content of the Scoop please direct your comments via PM to Lighthouse or Ex Libris.
If you would like to do a feature article, have an event covered, or join "The City Scoop" team please PMSnow_Globe or Pants_Stealer
If you or someone you know should be considered for Behind the Mask Teldon or Encounters please contact MrsAlphaOne
If you need some Advice contact Lady_Athyna or would like to Ask The X contact LiquidX
Finally if you have a Classified Ad you would like included please contact: Lady_K
Discussion on the latest edition of "The City Scoop" is located here. -
Classifieds
Date: March 21st.
Time: 8pm EST/7pm CST.
Location: Atlas Park City Hall.
Server: Infinity.
That's right gang, it's time for Paragon City Search and Rescue's 3rd Annual Easter Egg Hunt! We'll also be having a Bunny themed costume contest starting at 9:30 EST/8:30 CST.
Testers Wanted: For a new and exciting video game. Contact Black Scorpion for qualifications. Standard fees apply.
I can has Cheezburger? - Catgrrrl.
Lost: One Apex. If found, please return to the Ghost of War Witch.
Need to sell something? Post it in The City Scoop Classifieds. Send PM to LadyK.
Lost: Hub of the Wheel of Destruction. If found, please contact Azuria.
P.S. Please do not use to construct deadly wheel of Destruction. Thanks.
-Azuria
Help Wanted: Writers for The City Scoop. Please contact Marcian_Tobay our staff recruiter, or one of our Editors in Chief (Pants_Stealer or Snow_Globe) for submission details.
Roses for sale: $12,000.00 per dozen. Contact Mikey the Ear in Port Oaks for
delivery.
Do you have an event coming up? Are you going to attend an upcoming event? Do you want to see or even write an article for The City Scoop? Drop a line to LadyK a week in advance, and you too could be a guest writer for The City Scoop.
All you can eat taco night at El Super Mexicano. Tuesday at the Atlas Park store.
Love Leather
HexGirl
Primitive man used to skin the animals they hunted and used the hides for tents, clothing and footwear.
Ancient Egyptians used leather for sandals, clothing, gloves, buckets, bottles and shrouds for burying the dead, as well as for military equipment.
Romans used leather large scale for footwear, clothing, military equipment including shields, saddles and harnesses. To this day, it is still a heavily used material.
Cowboys wore leather chaps to protect their legs from getting thrashed while riding, and bikers today do the same, but also wear leather to protect against the wind, rain, bug splatters and even the pavement. Bikers have taken leather and turned it into their own style, some with a clean look, others much more intimidating.
Its durability, along with the protection it offers and the ability to treat it to be water resistant makes it a great material for todays hero or villain on the go.
With the right treatment, it can be dyed any color you desire. It can be soft and pliable to use for gloves, or hardened to use as armor. No matter what piece of clothing you want, you can probably find it available in leather.
So the next time you are looking for a new outfit to wear while you are out saving the town, or causing mayhem, think about a little leather. From a pair of boots or a belt to a whole outfit, remember to add some color and mix and match your pieces for a unique look!
From the Editor:
Snow_Globe
Hi folks! I know the Scoop has been getting a bit lean as of late, and I am glad to announce that we are getting a lot more people interested in helping out! Mr. Grey and Sooner have joined our fan fiction section last week. This week we also have Acanous Quietus, Hostile V, and White Gravel joining the Scoop, while StormyOne has joined our group as an art correspondent.
However we are not the only ones getting new people! Two new Rednames have joined the forums: Blue Steel and Mynx. We look forward to hearing more from these new Rednames. For those interested, there is currently a contest (no prizes) to design Blue Steel an avatar for the forums. He will decide on a new avatar on March 31st.
This week also brought about some details of the Hollows revamp. Among the changes are that new groups are going to be present in the hollows: Skulls, Hellions, Lost, Coralax, Devouring Earth "Bees", Legacy Chain, Hydra, Tsoo, Vahzilok, and Longbow. Not all these groups are there for players to fight, as a few are going to help out a bit against the forces of evil.
There will be a path between contacts, the contacts other than Meg Mason will only give missions in their "area". Speaking of Meg, she will give repeatable missions throughout the zone. She will be located at the Supergroup Teleport exit point. If you are looking for a discussion thread about this hollows revamp, you can find it in this thread.
The City Scoop Staff
-
-
Horoscopes
Blaster
(Aquarius)
Cycle of Unique Creativity
Transiting Neptune Conjunct your Natal Uranus
Sudden flashes of inspiration and intuition will enable you to see everyone and everything around you in a new light, and come to the original and practical solutions to problems which have, till now, constantly plagued you and seemed insurmountable. Goals and ambitions will also seem much clearer. During this time you may discover some latent psychic power, or become more involved in religious or spiritual teachings.
Brute
(Virgo)
Transiting Mercury Square your Pluto
Taking life more seriously, thoughts will be directed inwards. However, someone may burden you with a secret, or you may find that you are prying into affairs, which do not really concern you. Powerful emotions may reawaken painful past memories, but use this opportunity to learn from past experiences. Problems may arise concerning joint finances. Also, take special care when you travel.
Controller
(Pisces)
Transiting Venus Conjunct your Natal Sun
This is a lovely period when you will be feeling very loving, affectionate and looking for fun. Do not be surprised if small gifts or presents come your way. Health will be good, as long as you are not too self-indulgent. The magnetism of Venus attracts love and this could be a happy, fun-loving and sociable few days.
Corrupter
(Libra)
Transiting Sun Opposite your Natal Mercury
Although compromise may be almost impossible today, try not to lose your temper and remain open-minded. If possible, postpone important negotiations and meetings until the 23rd when communication skills improve dramatically.
Defender
(Aries)
Transiting Mercury Square your Natal Saturn
As you may have trouble in getting your message across for the next few days, much of what you do and say may be misunderstood. Your reaction may instinctively be one of frustration and anger, but ask yourself have you become too set in your ways? Are you truly considering the thoughts and feelings of others? At work, you may be burdened with additional responsibilities.
Dominator
(Scorpio)
Transiting Mars Trine your Natal Venus
Full of energy and raring to go, nothing will be able to stop you during this week. Around the 25th though, thoughts will shift inwards in a serious manner. Secrets may be revealed to you that you really don't need to know. Also, during this time, your pride will be easily bruised. Resist the desire to control friends.
Mastermind
(Sagittarius)
Transiting Saturn Sextile Natal Venus
Being more willing to consider your partner's point of view and feelings, a practical, no-nonsense attitude to love and romance will ensure that any personal differences between you should now be satisfactorily resolved. This is a time when the head will rule the heart and not the other way around as is usually the case.
Peacebringer
(Taurus)
Transiting Venus Sextile your Natal Sun
Feeling confident, optimistic and outgoing, this should be an excellent time for being with friends and loved ones. Business negotiations should go well as should meetings or job interviews on a one-to-one basis. A good impression will be made.
Scrapper
(Gemini)
Transiting Mercury Square your Natal Sun
During these next few days you should be busier than usual. Nevertheless in your haste to accomplish as much as you can, you may inadvertently tread on a few wrong toes and alienate colleagues, friends or family. If you have a point to make, state it and then allow others to make their own decisions.
Stalker
(Capricorn)
Transiting Mercury Sextile your Natal Sun
During the next few busy days, your active and curious mind will ensure that you do not miss a trick, nothing will escape your attention. Unexpected good news may literally fall into your life, seemingly from nowhere. Also, confidence and optimism should be very high this week.
Tanker
(Cancer)
Transiting Mercury Trine your Natal Sun
Your thought processes should be much more clear and concise over the next few days. Knowing what you want, this would therefore be an excellent time to plan for the future. Discussions and communications via phone calls and letters could take up much of your time especially if they involve business and career matters.
Warshade
(Leo)
Transiting Sun Trine your Natal Jupiter
A lucky, pleasant day awaits you. Just sit back and enjoy all of life's pleasures. Be willing to take a few calculated risks as the results should prove quite lucrative. As travel may be linked to work, you might find yourself mixing business with pleasure.
-
Behind the Mask
Bonding Experiences
Brother Frost and
Sister Flame
Freedom Server
Where do you two live?
Brother Frost: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Your ages and relationship to each other?
BF: I'm 35 and proud father of Sister Flame.
Sister Flame: I turn 7 in a week and I'm the daughter of Brother Frost.
So Sister, how did your dad get you involved in the game?
SF: When I was little, like 4 1/2, I liked to watch dad play. I asked if I could play and he'd sit me on my lap and I would move his toons around Atlas Park. That was my first time playing.
Well what did you think when you start to play?
SF: I thought it was so cool that I could fly and run around. I like to swim in the big pool over in the park nearby, but the bad guys would show up. Then Dad showed me how to fight and I really liked it. Now, I want to do missions and beat up the bad guys.
Well Dad how did you feel when Sister wanted to join you?
BF: I was pretty excited. I thought it would be fun to play together to get some "daddy/daughter" time every once in a while. I never expected her to be really good at the game or play this long.
Well how do you two normally play together?
BF: We play both CoH and CoV. Typically, we'll play Brother Frost and Sister Flame and try to get into a "big team" as Sister Flame calls it. She likes them. Sometimes, we'll just team as a duo and run story arcs as we get them.
SF: I really like big teams. I like playing with lots of people, especially on City of Villains with my Mastermind. Sometimes, I play by myself, but my dad helps me read some of the harder words.
So Brother, what has this game shown you about your daughter that you did not know?
BF: The game has shown me how determined my daughter can be. As time has passed, Flame calls on me less and less to help her. I'll sit and listen to her slowly read mission text or watch her get into a team and be a productive member. The game has also shown me what a big heart she has. Now, my littlest daughter (Princess S, age 4) tries to play. Sister Flame teaches her sister all the things she knows and shows her how to play. It is amazing to watch.
Sister, what have you learn about your dad?
SF: I learned that he dies a lot. *laughter*. I dunno. I all ready knew my dad likes games and superheroes and that he loves me. I guess I learned that even daddy had trouble with certain bad guys.
Well Sister, I know you are a young lady. Do you have much trouble playing with older players in the game?
SF: No. My dad is usually playing with me so I have him to help. He tells me when to use Rain of Fire or to run. Sometimes I get on a team by myself, but no one minds me. I follow the red star, wait until someone attacks and beat the most dangerous bad guy in front of me.
What type of characters do the both of you like to play?
BF: I'll play anything at least once. I tend to use melee types and scrappers are what I am into know. When Flame and I start new toons, I let her pick first and I'll pick an AT that complements hers....
SF: I like blasters because you can shoot at things. I also like the aliens because they can fly right away. I don't like the punchers because you have to get close and they don't seem like much fun. Right now, I like to play fire blasters.
Which side of the game do you like to play on and why?
BF: I tend to like CoV more because I find the story arcs really interesting and the powers are fun. I just started playing a dominator and was surprised at how uniquely they played.
SF: I like both the same amount, but I really love robbing banks on City of Villains! It is so fun to beat up the hero and to try to get away.
What other things do you two like to do together?
SF: Play games. I like to play boardgames, card games and video games. If I could, I'd play games every night with my dad. I also like to read and draw with my dad.
BF: She is a gaming monster. We do a lot of things together and it would be easier to name things we don't do together. *smile*
Has the game helped either of you two in real life?
BF: I don't think it has helped me so much. You could argue it strengthened the father/daughter bond, but it was pretty strong to begin with. If I had to pick something, I'd say that the game has helped me craft some interesting short stories. I write as a hobby.
SF: The game has helped me practice my reading. I only started in school to read this year, but the game helped me learn a lot of words like "Atlas" and "Skulls". The game also helped me with numbers and something my teacher calls "strategy". I know that I am a much better reader than my friends thanks to the game.
Well here's to many happy hours spent together playing the game!
BF: And here's to many more to come!
SF: I just wanna say hi to War Witch! She's my favorite!
-
Playing Support in PvP Zones
So you've heard things about the almost esoteric PvP in the City of Heroes, and it caught your interest- only to find out from some hawker that you can't PvP because your build isn't "Leet", or because you've chosen the wrong Archetype. The more supportive people tell you "Perhaps you should find a team".
Well, while the team comment is actually a good idea, in the zones, the rest of it can be a lot of bunk. I've seen well played Corruptors and Defenders take even the most tweaked out Spines/Regan to school.
How, you ask? Tactics.
Surviving with solo support in a PvP zone is all about two things: Movement, and Line of Sight. If you can stay out of melee range, do it. Don't fall into Scrapperlock with your TA/A Defender. Use the tools provided for you: Enemy mobs, blocking terrain, and allied mobs where applicable.
Strafe through alleyways, laying down a well placed Tar Patch, Ice Slick, or Caltrops where your opponent isn't likely to notice until after he rounds the corner. Breeze by mutual enemies with Steamy Mist or Shadow Fall while your opponent catches their aggro.
Be mindful of enemy lockdown, and break line of sight wherever possible by ducking into tunnels, behind buildings, under the foliage of a well-placed forest. Attack on YOUR terms. Keep your enemies unsure of when or where you'll strike next.
Even the much-berated Fly can be useful to you for staying out of melee range while still being able to lay down your debuffs and blasts. Just watch yourself, because there's a lot of -Fly out there, and a flying person is rather easy to spot from far off.
What did you build for? Try to swing fights towards the types of situation you're good at. The holes in your build are covered by the PVP "Fog of War", and the only thing your opponents see is what you show them. Show them your best.
An important thing to remember is that support characters catch a lot of "player aggro". Defenders and Corruptors are usually the first ones singled out if you're with a team. You can use this to your advantage, as well. Set yourself up as bait, and lead the enemy on a wild goose chase while your allies win the hotspot, get their scientist, or down a firebase. Lead your foes back into your awaiting team once they're ready. You can score a lot of great wins this way.
One thing I will advise in preparation is that you bring a few breakfrees with you. There's a lot of mez used in the zones, and while you don't have to pop out of it every time, if it's the difference between a win or a loss - do it.
Arachnophobia by MCG_Warface
The Uproar Caused By Issue Twelve
I12 is finally almost here fellow villains and heroes! I don't know about you, but this reporter is definitely excited about this Issue. Not only will there be some new powerset combining going on, but there will also be some new zones! If that isn't enough, new villain epic archetypes are now going to show their ghostly faces. With such a huge expansion to gameplay it is causing quite an uproar in the community. This reporter decided to take some questions to the streets to see what normal players like you and me have to say about this upcoming change.
My first interviewee was a lovely lady named Kat in the Hat. Kat was a 36 month vet and spends time on the Liberty Server.
Q: "Hello Kat, are you excited about the up and coming I12?"
A: "Hey WG! Yes I am. It sounds like it is going to be very interesting and fun."
Q: "What is your favorite part of the issue?"
A: "I think the new storyline along with the new zones will be a nice addition to the game."
Q: "I'm guessing that since you didn't say Villain epics that you don't have a lvl 50 villain?"
A: "Actually I do have a villain, but it will be a long time before it hits lvl 50. I'm hoping that these new villain epics will speed up my progress a bit lol."
Q: "Lol what would you like to see in coming issues?"
A: "Well for one thing I'd like to see is to fix the SG coloring system so we can add more color."
I agreed and we said goodbye to each other. I continued on my way, ready to risk it all villain-side. That's right this reporter was willing to risk it all just to get the scoop for you fellow readers. Even if it meant... going to Mercy Island.
My journey to Mercy was absolutely horrible. The city itself reeked of sewage and blood from gang wars on the streets. This hero was scared, but I knew that I needed to do my mission and find out what the villains think about this new Issue. While I was cowering in the corner (with granite on, I might add), I happened to run into a pretty wretched looking villain named Kandirma, a level 50 brute who was terrorizing all the lower level convicts.
Q: "Hello ummmm sir? Umm what do you think of the new Issue coming out?"
A: "Ha hello pipsqueak. I'm always excited about a new Issue. The Dev's put a lot of work into them, I guess."
Q: "I'm pretty sure your right on that one..What's your favorite thing in the issue?"
A: "Probably the co-op zone, or the villain epics, though everything certainly sounds decent."
Q: "You mentioned the new epics, what are your exact thoughts on those?"
A: "At first I hated the idea, I mean COME ON, I was going to be a person that I can easily kill with my eyes closed? But after I cooled down I went out to Grandville and killed a couple Arachnos and found that they are quite strong and the idea slowly grew on me. Plus, it's like 2 new archetypes but with 4 new build possibilities."
Q: "Lastly, what would you like to see in upcoming issues?"
A: "More villain content for sure! I'm tired of all the crap that all those Do-Gooders are getting. I mean think about it, they already have more zones then us and now they're getting a new one we can't access? I mean common, we may be bad but we like nice things as well."
This last comment caused Kandirma to go into a spiraling depression, and as he knelt on the ground crying I noticed a softer side of the villain. This reporter is happy to say that most the people, both heroes and villains are excited for this new change. I personally want to close this report by saying thanks to the Devs and to keep up the great work!
-W.G.
-
The Arena
Sunday Night Fights
Sunday, March 16th 2008 dUmb vs. Integrity
The battle for Infinity's best raged on again on Sunday, March 16th 2008. dUmb is coming off a defeat to Whirligig while Integrity has recently lost to Old School. At stake is the 3rd rank in the Hero Test Ladder, currently held by Integrity.
We would like to take a moment to wish the best to all members of Justice for All League (JAL), who recently removed themselves from the Hero Test Ladder after a stellar stay, including holding top spot for a period of time. Their presence will be missed.
ArcticShu volunteered a few words about dUmb prior to the match:
"dUmb is Infinity based. Every single person in our SG has the majority of their characters on Infinity. The PvP SG dUmb was based on the League of Extraordinary Stupidmen's motto "We put the 'U' in dUmb!" We were very close to some members of the Anointed Brotherhood (ABH), and some of their members joined us when ABH retired. We also have members from the 13th Sign and the Inner Group on our Test roster giving us some of the best PvPers on Infinity (in our opinion).
"We've been on the ladder roughly six months now and are having a blast!"
Excentric, Integrity's leader (also known as Proj) had a few words about Integrity:
"We have worked extremely hard to get where we are now. I'd like to give a huge shoutout to everyone in Integrity for sticking with me, we've earned this spot regardless of any SG's dropping from the ladder. Our match against dUmb is going to bring us back home though, being the only SGs based on Infinity. They have us beat 1-0, but I firmly believe we'll even the score this Sunday."
This match promises to be interesting from your scribe's point of view, as I will be playing a support role on Empathy for a portion of the play.
Match 1 opened in the Atlas Park map. We loaded in south of Ms. Liberty's location and quickly buffed up, throwing RAs and single-target buffs while dUmb did the same at their end of the map. The action was furious off the start as everyone started dodging and weaving around Atlas's statue. Atlas Park makes it particularly difficult to evade because of the open spaces. dUmb's debuffs and spikes were very hard, forcing me to use many Sturdies and an occasional Healing Aura to counter them. Meanwhile, dUmb's Blasters kept on the pressure, backed by Sonic and Radiation debuffs to make Integrity do split-second decisions in targeting and buffing. Our Blasters were caged for a fair portion of the match, with Yosef lamenting the fact more than once on our Ventrilo server. Integrity spiked dUmb's support while occasionally throwing a debuff on their Blasters. It was all yours truly could do to keep buffs on my fellow Empathy Defender and the rest of the team. Integrity won Match 1 11-2 , with their kills coming from Excentric.P (6) Yosef-Vanya (3) Moar Pew Pew (2) vs. dUmb SMRT Welldone (1) and Target Hibernoobed (1)
Match 2 gave us the Breakout map, offering a lot of chances for quick buffs and debuffs to both teams. Again in this match, Integrity's Blasters were caged as Excentric.P spent an early part of the game in a cage while dUmb accumulated quick kills on AfllicShiN and Star Stryker, Integrity's Kin and Emp respectively. As the match progressed, both teams congregated toward the center of the area while dUmb enjoyed an early lead. Integrity's spikes were slower in this match, and as the last minute counted down Integrity's support was caged while dUmb evaded masterfully. Integrity lost one of its members halfway through the match, making their potential to score kills even smaller.
dUmb won Match 2 4-2 with their kills scored by Fridgerator (2) and Azhriaz (2) while Excentric.P (1) and Yosef Vanya (1) responded for Integrity.
Match 3 occurred in the Siege map. Integrity fielded a Run & Gun team while dUmb switched to a Storm to disrupt and impede range and targeting. Storm teams can be quite a nuisance as the reduced range from multiple Hurricanes can make buffing and blasting near impossible. Integrity got a series of quick kills by Phenomenal and Yosef-Vanya early on, while dUmb stuck very close to the left side of the map, dropping Freezing Rain and Lightning Storm, both mingling with Decoys to make targeting a painstaking procedure.
Falcon Punch, one of Integrity's Sonic Defenders, spent most of the latter part of the match glued to the ground through an Arena-bought Webnade. Still, Integrity hung on for the win against dUmb's Storm team, with a 9-2 win. Integrity's kills came from Yosef-Vanya (5), Phenomenal (3) and Excentric.P (1) to dUmb's Fire Assailant (1) and Burning Majestic1 (1).
Integrity retains the 3rd rank on the Test Hero Ladder. Good game dUmb
-
Food
& Recipes
Magnifique!
Italian Food: Part I
Well as I was reading the forums a few weeks back, I noticed the conversation about Lasagna. This got me to thinking about Italian food and the huge book I have of it and recipes I have made on my own. Italian food is really rich in taste due to the cheeses and meats they use, but when the meats and cheeses are put together the taste gets even richer and so delicious!
So.. If you love Italian food, you have made your stop. Let's get started shall we?
Note: All 'Italian Food' isn't just pasta.
Linguine with Pesto Sauce
- [*]3/4 cup fresh basil leaves[*]3-4 cloves of garlic, peeled[*]3 tablespoons of pine nuts[*]1/2 teaspoon salt[*]5 tablespoons of olive oil[*]1/2 cup of freshly grated Parmesan cheese[*]4 tablespoons of freshly grated pecorino cheese[*]freshly grounded black pepper[*]1 - 1/4 lb of linguine[/list]
1. Place the basil, garlic, pine nuts, salt and olive oil into a blender or food processor and process until smooth. Remove to a bowl.
2. Stir in the cheeses (please note if you don't have pecorino you can use all parmesan) and taste for seasoning.
3. Cook pasta in large pan of boiling water until it's al dente. Just before draining it, take 4 tablespoons of the water and stir it with the sauce.
4. Drain pasta and toss with the sauce. Serve immediately.
Serves 5-6
Spaghetti with Bacon and Onion
- [*]2 tablespoons of olive oil[*]1/2 cup unsmoked streaky bacon, cut into matchsticks[*]1 small onion, finely chopped[*]1/2 cup dry white wine[*]1lbs of tomatoes, fresh or canned, chopped[*]1/4 teaspoon of thyme leaves[*]salt and pepper[*]1lb of spaghetti[*]freshly grated Parmesan cheese, to serve[/list]
1. In a medium frying pan, heat the oil. Add the bacon and onion, and cook over low to med heat until the onion is golden and the bacon has rendered its fat and is beginning to brown - about 8-10 minutes. Bring a large pan of water to boil.
2. Add wine to bacon and onion, raise the heat, cook rapidly until the liquid boils off. Add the tomatoes, thyme, salt and pepper. Cover, and cook over med heat for 10-15mins.
3. Meanwhile, add salt to the boiling water, cook the pasta until its al dente. Drain, toss with sauce, and serve with the grated Parmesan.
Fusilli with Peppers and Onions
- [*]2 large yellow peppers[*]6 tablespoons of olive oil[*]1 large red onion, thinly sliced[*]2 cloves of garlic, minced[*]4 cups of Fusilli (or you may use another short pasta)[*]salt and pepper[*]3 tablespoons of fresh parsley, finely chopped and grated Parmesan cheese, to serve[/list]
1. Place the peppers under a hot grill and turn occasionally until they are black and blistered on all sides. Remove from heat, place in a paper bag and leave for 5 minutes.
2. Peel the peppers. Cut them into quarters, remove the stems and seeds, and slice into thin strips. Bring a large pan of water to boil.
3. Heat oil in large frying pan. Add the onion, cook over medium heat until soft, 5-8 minutes. Stir in the garlic, and cook for 2 minutes more.
4. Add salt and the pasta to the boiling water, and cook until the pasta is al dente.
5. Meanwhile, add the peppers to the onions, and mix together gently. Stir in about 3 tablespoons of the pasta cooking water. Season with salt and pepper, stir in the parsley.
6. Drain pasta. Tip it into the pan with the veggies, and cook over med heat for a few minutes (3), stirring constantly to mix the pasta into the sauce. Serve and sprinkle Parmesan on top just before eating.
Serves 4
That's it for this week folks! Next week I will be bringing you Italian food Part II. That is where you will notice not all Italian food is just pasta.
Thanks for reading!
~Mistress Noire
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The City Scoop
The Whitmoore Apartments Roleplaying Thread
In the 'For Fun!' section of the Official Forums are the Roleplaying Threads. This is where storytellers go to tell the stories of their villains and heroes. The roleplaying threads are a little on the fickle side. Many threads don't make it past three pages. Some will start out hot and fast, get many pages very quickly, and then the writers get overwhelmed and drop it. Others move steadily along, telling deep stories over months or years. The Whitmoore Apartments thread is one these steady, long term threads. It started on June 18, 2004 and hit 10,000 posts on December 4, 2007, and is still going strong. The Whitmoore moves along slowly at a working person's speed; the average day sees the various writers post once a day per character.
The Whitmoore Apartments were first introduced in Reason, a short story by Slipshod (Matthew Miller) submitted on June 3, 2004. It was so popular that he decided to start the Whitmoore Apartments thread on June 18, 2004. People started posting immediately. Since then, the thread has had over 80 contributors, over 10,000 posts, five spin offs (Paragon University, The Two Six, the Blakmoore Safehouse, Tales of the Council, and the Cult of Mu), and hours of enjoyment.
The Whitmoore thread follows the stories of the residents of cheap housing for superheroes. The apartment building is located in Steel Canyon. If you were to get off the Yellow Line in Steel Canyon's southeast corner, and your home sweet home can be found northwest from the exit archway. Slipshod suggests to go stand on the roof at /loc -4205.9 228.1 1613.2, and you can get from the roof corner to top of the tram with one good superjump bound. Or you could try the front doors at /loc -4146.5 -100 1600.0 just 248 yards north-northwest of Yellow Line in Bronze Way.
Over the years, the Whitmoore Residents have dealt with death and rebirth, love and loss, power and weakness, failure and redemption. Their first major story arc was against a Hellion assassin, and the second followed a former Lost scorcher to redemption. Over the years, however, the most resilient of their foes have been the Fifth Column and their successors the Council and the Rogue Columns.
While the first generation of writers for the Whitmoore - Slipshod, 0_Celsius, Geariven, Prodiguy - started a great saga, some of the second generation - Dark Harrier, Sol-Ar, Averick, Murat, American Valor, and Pseudodonn7 are still actively writing, and Steele Magnolia is still actively following the stories.
In addition to the stories, Seikon has produced a few pieces of digital artwork for the Whitmoore, in particular a picture of Dark Harrier, and Mithril Zeta is constantly updating the Whitmoore resource website. Mithril Zeta is also working at creating novellas of the Whitmoore Apartment sagas. The first one, called The Whitmoore, is just about done and should be available for download within the month.
There is a certain amount of pride involved in the storylines, and sometimes feelings and egos get bruised, but that is true in most creative endeavors. The Whitmoore community welcomes any creative writer who would enjoy interacting, writing stories, and developing their characters with other creative folks. The best way to enter the community is to read at least the last twenty pages, introduce yourself, and start posting. If you have questions about joining, pm Mithril Zeta, who is the unofficial 'keeper of knowledge' and who would be happy to answer them.
Vol. 1, Issue 40
March 21th, 2008
This Issue:
Nova Fire Juggertha
Citenik whiteperegrine
