You're invited!

Who: The Pack Wolves (a new “up and coming” super
group on the Protector Server)


What : Player Meet and Greet, Dance Party, Costume Contest and
Arena Matches


When : Saturday, 08/18/07, starting @ 6PM (pacific) (7
mountain, 8 central, 9 eastern)


Where : Pocket D, Protector Server, City of Heroes


Why : A chance to introduce ourselves (The Pack Wolves) to the
Protector Community and maybe snag a few new members while we are at it.




Greetings fellow Heroes, you are cordially invited to a player get together
this Saturday, August 18, 2007, in Pocket D (Protector Server). The festivities
will be starting at 6:00 PM pacific (7PM Mountain, 8PM Central, 9PM Eastern)
and will include Dancing, Socializing, several Costume Contests (with MILLIONS
in Influence to be awarded to the winners!!) and PvP Arena Matches at various
levels; and never fear, there will be punch and pie!! Your host for the evening
will be the new “up and coming” super group, The Pack Wolves and there will be
DJ’s from W00tRadio playing music for everyone’s enjoyment! This event came to
be because we wanted to take the opportunity to introduce ourselves to the
community and could not think of a better way than giving something back to the
people and game we enjoy so much! So, if you are able to attend we would love
to see you there. Come on down and show off your favorite costume and win some
influence, get your groove on with some great W00tRaido tunes, and join in on
some good natured Arena PvP action…and don’t forget the punch and pie! It’s
going to be a “howling” good time!

Selling: life-like mechanical Ravens useful for my tasks. Long
distance couriering, location, homing and rescue capable. Some units flight
capable, others glider-equipped, land rocket boosted or translocatable. Equiped
with a Virtue system. Contact @GFM for leasing and rental information.


Also seeking qualified mechaneers, effigiers, and assorted other helpers in
creation, production, and maintenance of the Iron Ravens.
http://www.steelravens.net/phpBB2/index.php

NOW HIRING: Motivated vigilante types for immediate placement as
security, side kick, lackey, mentor and malificator. The Extemplary pays top
dollar, fax resume to 1-800-4-EXTEMP.

Hakster

Liberty Server

Where do you live?

I live in Glasgow, Scotland.

Do you have any pets?

I have my pet cat, Attila, who has decided that he can talk to us
and now won't shut up.

Most interesting place you have visited.

Probably Denver. The culture difference there was mind-blowing,
and it really started opening my eyes to the differences between Scotland and
other places in the world.

Your top three songs of all time

“Subway to Venus” - Red Hot Chili Peppers

“Tommy the Cat” - Primus

“I Saw Your Mommy” - Suicidal Tendencies

What 5 TV shows could not live without?

I don't really watch a huge amount of TV, but when I do, it's
“Heroes” and “Spooks” (BBC drama set around MI5 agents in the field).

Best book you last read?

“American Gods” - Neil Gaiman

What is your favorite pop culture qoute?

"Someone set up us the bomb" - blame the Rikti ship raids!

What other hobbies do you have?

I play bass, and have done for around 15 years, and record music
(the wonder of computers!). I read a large number of books, normally a book
every day or two. Mainly though, I play computer games - PC, PS2, Xbox 360,
Wii, and all their ancestors are in use in my house.

Who
is your real life hero?

Probably my stepdad. He married my mum who had two adult sons
already, looked after her when she was sick, and never once complained about
anything. He walked into someone else's family without knowing them a great
deal, and has proven every minute of every day that he deserves to be a part of
that family.

Pants?

Didn't you know? Scotsmen only ever wear kilts.

What is your home server and why did you end up picking it as your
home server?

Liberty. Total fluke mainly - I rolled my first character there,
and one of my real life friends already had a few there, so we both played a
while and ended up making it our home.

How did you get drawn to this game?

You're a hero. You get to fly around and beat on bad guys. What's
not to be drawn into? The fact it was also a very simple pick-up-and-run game
compared to other games with their overcomplicated stat-sheets and economies
helped.

What is your favorite aspect of the game?

The community, definitely. If it wasn't for the people on LBx and
my globals list, I would probably have left a while ago, but those guys all
keep it interesting and every day they make me smile. Badge hunting helps as
well - I can't resist shiny things.

Who is your namesake character and what are they?

Hakster is a Katana/Super Reflexes Scrapper, an alien from a
distant planet where the general use of nanotechnology to awaken a person's
potential is commonplace. As happens in the best sci-fi, they came to Earth.
Since then he has been fused with a Nictus to create the Warshade known as
Hakstor.

Which type of character would you say is your favorite to play and
why.

Kheldians. The potential they have is unmatched, but the challenge
in unlocking the potential makes is more rewarding. It's not uncommon for
people to give up a Kheld in the teen levels because they just can't figure it
out, but sticking with them until you start getting the signature powers will
give you so many "Wow" moments.

How do you normally handle new challenges in the game?

I run away, hide, and hum loudly hoping they will go away. Either
that or I just jump in feet first and see how I get on.

What zone is your favorite?

Striga. It is so well put together, and the story behind it so
amazing. It is also home to my two favourite Task Forces in the game.

What is your favorite Storyline in the game?

For scaring people, the 45-50 Kheldian arc. It has a great story,
and when people zone in and see that there's an AV as well as sex Shadow Cysts,
things get quite hairy! For overall story content, the full Faultline zone
story is the best writing in the game so far.

It has been a busy year for the game so far. Do you feel that I9
and I10 really added anything to the game and why?

Issue 9 I believe opened a great many doors for people. I think
the economy is very unbalanced, but mainly because of the amount of influence
that was in circulation, and it is already starting to level out a bit. Being
able to plug the holes that ED left for some people is always a good thing, and
it's not uncommon now to hear that someone's Regen Scrapper is starting to play
the way they felt it used to. Issue 10, while fun content, didn't really
justify being an "Issue" in the same way that others did. A zone got a revamp
and...well, that's it really. Plus I'm still bitter that I can't use Rikti
Magus bodies for Dark Extraction and Unchain Essence - it's pretty crippling.

What advice do you have for any new players to the game?

Don't ask me anything. I'll either give you entirely the wrong
information or just bite your head off. Besides that, experiment. Don't think
that just because your friend plays a Tank that you want one too. You have 132
character slots to find something you like.

Any closing comments?

Don't listen to Budokai. Seriously. No really. I'm not joking.
Just don't.

Genna

Champion Server

Where
do you live?

My home is Hawaii, but I travel quite a bit.

Do you have any pets?

I have a best friend, a Siamese cat named Meow Yen after the
green-eyed girl in “Big Trouble In Little China.” I have a Great Dane puppy
named Shadow after a good in-game friend, Shadow Wraith, and I sort of co-own a
cat named Lil Mama Stimpers ("Stimpers") after two other players, Stimpack and
Lil Mama, who are great people.

Most interesting place you have visited?

I went to Prague once, which sounds very interesting and it was in
its own way, but honestly I found Washington DC fascinating. I’m a very
passionate person just being in the city makes you want to do SOMETHING
remarkable.

Your top three songs of all time

Well if you listen to my show on w00t radio you can most likely
guess them.

“Hey Pretty” by Poe


“Closer” by NIN


“Leave Your Hat On” by Joe Cocker

I also have a "happy" song which annoys almost everyone else, but
makes me smile.

What 5 TV shows could not live without?

Up until recently, I have been able to dodge the reality show
ball, but “Who Wants to Be a Superhero” got me. Now I have like three I watch.
I'm really ashamed to admit it. Scott Baio is 45 and single. Rock Of Love with
Bret Michaels. I like them because these guys are pretty old and really kind of
sad. Makes me feel better about my life when I feel like I should have
accomplished more.

“Heroes” is a MUST


“Charmed” (I know, I know, and now I’m reduced to reruns.)


“Law and Order”


“Army Wives” (Ya, I surprised myself with that one.)

I like a show called “Torchwood,” which is a spin off of “Dr.
Who,” which I don’t like at all.

Best book you last read?

“Animals in Translation” (not finished)


“Becoming a Pack Leader” by Cesar Milan (not finished)


“M is for Magic” by Neil Gaiman (almost done)

All rate equally.

What is your favorite pop culture quote?

All time: “If you don't claim your humanity, you will become a
statistic.”

Most recent: "Your lips can finish what your fingers started."

What other hobbies do you have?

I DJ on w00t radio. I love working with animals. I recently
started to try and write poetry again, something I haven’t done for a long
time. I’m actually working on finding new hobbies for myself. I love being
outdoors and most sports. Anything active, but I was diagnosed with Lupus
earlier in the year, so I’m having to make some compromises.

Who is your real life hero?

Military, firemen, police officers, EMTs.


Keala Kennelly


On a more personal note: Rob, Tom and Ron.

Pants?

Only okay if you’re commando or wearing a thong.

What is your home server, and why did you end up picking it as your
home server?

Champion. I liked the name.

How did you get drawn to this game?

I hurt my leg surfing, and a good friend of mine knew I wouldn’t
be able to keep off my leg for weeks or months. He had been trying to get me
into PC games with no luck at all. I would glance over his shoulder and my eyes
would glaze over. He had me try this game, and I was instantly hooked.

What is your favorite aspect of the game?

I love that the superhero genre transcends so many demographics,
so all ages, races, and sexes can find something in the game that they like.
Families can actually play together. It can be a real bonding tool.

Who is your namesake character, and what are they?

Anvil's Angel. She is a Natural Emp/Psi Defender.

Which type of character would you say is your favorite to play and
why?

My main is still my favorite, although I have collected quite the
arsenal over the years. Hmmmm. Why? To be honest, she is the only one I really
take REAL pride in being good at. Somehow, I have put more of myself into her,
I guess.

How do you normally handle new challenges in the game?

Challenges...Head On! Let’s do this! Changes...Kicking and
screaming usually.

What zone is your favorite?

Recluse's Victory

What is your favorite storyline in the game?

Ewww. I have to be honest, I was never much of a storyline girl.
When I hear about them, I’m always interested to a point, but I don’t get that
wrapped up in the story aspect of the game. It’s cool that some do. I just like
to log on and play. I have been around since just about the start, and if I
start to get a little burnt out, I will go back and read some of the
storylines. Fortunately, I don’t get bored or burnt out easily.

It has been a busy year for the game so far. Do you feel that I9
and I10 really added anything to the game and why?

I have been busy in my personal life as well, so I am enjoying
getting caught up on all the changes. What I like about the changes is that the
solo players really have more to do. The game has always encouraged teaming
from what I can tell. The scales have been tipped a bit in the other direction
now. Hopefully we will be seeing some balance restored. Being an emp with no
attacks, I’m a BIG fan of teaming.

What advice do you have for any new players to the game?

Do NOT be pressured into joining a Supergroup, especially those
with prestige-making quotas.

While not everyone, including myself, is an RPer, it really makes
the game something special when you bring a heroic mindset to it.

Treat people with respect and patience, and ignore those who don’t
reciprocate.

Any closing comments?

Yes. As a personal crusade, I would like to invite every SG out
there to try a base raid--either on your home server with a group you know to
be friendly, or on test server with our group. When done with patient, friendly
people, it can be one of the most fun aspects of this game. I think it gets
overlooked a lot as something just for PVPers or too buggy to be fun. Neither
is the case. Please PM me at anytime if you would like to try but are hesitant
for any reason. I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Artist Interview:

Sayterra

By
Dirtwolf

q. Hey Sayterra! I don't know what to call you, I'm sorry. Is there
a nickname or particular alias you prefer?

Say is fine. Goat is fine. Those are the two established nicknames
I have in game. I don't particularly care to answer to them in real life. Or
you could be daring and just call me Karen. Very exciting.

q. When did you start drawing and why?

A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away... When I was a child I
was obsessed Beatrix Potter and the Serendipity book series. I'd furiously copy
both artists. It was an escape really, I didn't have to pay attention to the
rest of the world while I was drawing. I was hyper focused.

q. Whats the worst experience you've had as an artist and what did
you learn from it?

Wow, there are so many. And I don't mean that in a negative light,
I've had sculptures blow up in kilns, I've had to repaint things. Though I
think one of the worst experiences I had was painting a visual development
piece at school and I was so incredibley proud of it because it was a city
scene and I hate doing cities. Two days before finals, I spilled pink lemonade
over it, and the original line drawing. Oh, I forgot to say, this was in
watercolor. So the piece was ruined. I tried to paint over it, to no avail. The
sugar just tore apart any paint I put down. It was about 40 hours of painting
lost. I still have the piece and it's a constant reminder to keep liquids away
from me while I paint.

q. What are your favorite pieces of work you've done and why? How
long did they take and what mediums did you use?

I tend not to have many favorites if at all. Every piece is a
learning experience really. Now things I learned the most on individual
pieces...that's easy.

Last year I was given the task of working on the visual
development of an Alice in Wonderland project. The stipulation was that they
had to be in a style like Peter de Seve. It was a wonderful time for me to
learn that I could draw solely in ink and produce images that weren't like
anything I'd done before. There was a great moment for me at a gallery showing
where the White Rabbit won me an award at my first juried show.

Chibi Ghost Widow was a breakthrough for me in regards to color in a more
comic-color sense. It wasn't a long or involved piece, but I still like it.

This
was an interesting sketch for me since this came six months after I thought I
was going to quit art back in 2004. I just didn't enjoy drawing. I feel it was
the most successful sketch I did that year. I did it while on break while
working at Sony Games (as a game tester, Hi Dar, Masa, Gabe, Tim!) and it was
just, this weird realization that this is what I wanted to do with the rest of
my life. I wanted to draw. It's also a favorite because I like doing dramatic
stuff I just rarely have a chance to.

q. If you were asked to design costumes for CoX, what would you do?
Would you add designs, prints, pieces and what would they be like?

Even though the devs already nixed it out: long skirts. I'd love
to see robes, and better hair styles for both men and women. Wavy or curly hair
for gals that isn't an afro. For guys? Zoot suits. It'd also be nice to have
tunics, proper vests, and perhaps coattails instead of just trenchcoats. I'd
also like to see gowns for women, non-worn hoods...

q. What has been the biggest influence in your life dealing with
art?

Talk about tossing the book at me. That's like asking "how do you
draw?" My friends. My family. The love of my life. Other artists. There's
always this urge to be better, do better, draw better. Animation and comics are
a really cutthroat industry, so constantly striving to learn more and change
your portfolio is constantly gnawing at me. I'm in the process of redoing my
portfolio for the third time this year.

q. Who are your favorite artists?

Right now, I'm going to give some attention to an artist who
recently passed away, Mike Weiringo. He was a major influence for me as a
teenager with his series Tellos. He was insanely talented, and a nice guy. I
think that's the basic prerequisite for liking a particular artist, they have
to be fantastic and be a good person. Other favorite artists: Edmund Dulac,
Arthur Rackham, Claire Wendling, Bruce Timm, Lynne Naylor, Alex Ross, my fellow
artist friends... really too many to name.

q. If you could only have one sense (sight, hearing, touch, taste,
or smell), which would you choose? If you had to lose one, which would you
lose?

The senses are a very strange lot. Many link up. So if you lost
your sense of smell, things would taste awful, or vice versa, if you lost your
sense of taste, then what good would it be to smell wonderful things like cakes
and roast chicken if you can't taste them. If I could have only one sense, I'd
have to go with touch. I could get used to lacking sight or sound, maybe even
smell and taste, but being unable to feel someone hugging me, or reaching out
and stroking the fur of my cat, I think that would be the worst. I'm a very
tactile person.

As for losing just one? Oddly easy. Sight. I could still do art
(sculpting), I could still hear the music I love, taste and smell. Very easy,
sight would be the first one to go.

q. Why do you think that art is important?

Art is life. We eat, drink, breathe art. Someone had to design
your computer screen and keyboard. Your food, your beverages. We listen to it,
we see it. There isn't a single thing on this planet that wasn't inspired by
the design of another design.

q. Do you listen to music when you draw? What do you listen to?

I cannot live without music. Music is my life. I listen to
everything (well perhaps not much rap or polka, but it doesn't mean I don't
like it). Neko Case, Tom Waits, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Imogen Heap,
Flogging Molly, Ekova, Danny Elfman, Hans Zimmer...

q. What do you do when you get artists block/a lack of inspiration?
Do you have a personal cure?

I start pouring through artbooks of artists I like, websites,
anything to get inspired. I listen to music, I get up and walk around the
neighborhood. Sometimes the best cure for not knowing what to draw, is to get
away from your pad of paper, your tablet, whatever you're working on, and take
a breather.

q. What is the best advice you can give to artists?

Draw and keep drawing. Every artist has so many bad drawings built
up in them, that we have to keep drawing to get them out. And once all the bad
drawings are out, then we'll start to learn. I don't remember the quote if it's
a 1000 bad drawings or 10,000 bad drawings... It really doesn't matter. Draw to
draw and don't sweat the small stuff.

Advice From the X

Greetings boys, girls, and beings of indeterminate gender! It's LiquidX, back
from the Spiral Zone to give you crazy kids your weekly helping of advice!

"Dear LiquidX,




I've been fighting crime for 3 months and I've earned my trench coat, which I
absolutely love. Here's my problem, I am a costume addict, and I use the
majority of my influence on costume changes instead of IOs. When I hit the
streets most members of my SG ask what I'm wearing this week. Am I a lone freak
in this or are other people like me? Also I try to be modest in my appearance,
and I'm a major SexyJay fan, but I seem to be running out of modest options
that don't make me feel like I should be working in a burlesque Theater - How
can I continue to keep my proper Southern image in a town where it's okay to
bare it all? I guess I'm just a Paragon prude.



-Sincerely,

Asking Questions in Paragon"

Dear Asking Questions,



Don't feel bad... There are many Heroes (and Villains) that love being on the
cutting edge of fashion. In fact, the Backalley Brawler himself is known to be
quite a fan of the ICON Tailors, and is always wearing the latest in designs
from Serge and Co. Meanwhile, many Heroes and Villains swear by the talents of
the mysterious rogue tailor SexyJay, who has no qualms in outfitting both the
Heroically and Villainously inclined persons.



Also, you can rest easy knowing that you are not the only person to feel uneasy
at the amount of skin most modern Heroes and Heroines show. There are actually
several advocacy groups that support a return to the more modest style of
outfit. The largest such group is "M.A.S.C." (Mothers Against Skimpy Costumes),
which is currently working with ICON in an effort to provide more modest
costumes.



And there you have it! Now if you folks will excuse me, I'm off to sort the
latest batch of restraining orders that have filled my office while I was
away...

Get
your answers from the X!

Lucretia by John Becaro

By Popular Request

By
Bowfling

This is the fifth in a series of By Popular Request articles,
which reviews commonly requested player suggestions that have strong positive
support and discusses the implications and consequences that need to be
considered if these suggestions were to be implemented.

This week’s subject: Recipe Management

Easier management of recipes involves the increased utility of the
invention system with regards to recipes in whatever format that can be
accomplished. This would include the creation of IOs from recipes, and the
acquisition of recipes and salvage to make them via the CH. This article will
not review the concept of making recipes and salvage easier to swap between
characters because the points and counterpoints of such a modification has been
covered in the sixth P:CP article, which you can review
here.

There are a number of ways recipe management can be improved. The
salvage you have in a character’s personal storage could highlight in a
different color when looking at a character’s recipes, making it easier to
avoid purchasing redundant salvage. Salvage that can be used in any of the
recipes you currently have could also be highlighted in some way, on the
character and at the CH. The CH interface’s user friendliness could also be
increased by allowing the components of a particular recipe to be selected more
easily, like allowing a player to click the name of the salvage in the recipe
and instantly be shown the information regarding that piece of salvage.

Moggie by JTran