Manofmanychars

You've heard the hype, you've seen it on the Test Server, but now, for the first time, it's on Live!

Arc ID 311775: Two Great Tastes (Author's Note: I hope players get the reference, a more expository title would ruin the surprise, not that this thread doesn't spoil it a bit)

Length: Four Missions (Two medium, one short, one medium-long)

Level Range: 40-54

Suggested Level Range for Players: 26/32-54 (give or take, depending on AT/power set and when the best powers show up)

Maxwell Christopher needs your help, Nemesis seems to be colluding with the Freakshow. Are you a bad enough dude to save the city? Watch out, because waiting for you is a match made in Hell: The Nemeshow! These bizarre fusions of 19th century steampunk technology and leet-speaking cyborg processes are ready to knock you into next week! Luckily, you may get some help from an old friend...

Meet your enemies (an informed hero is a safe hero):

Minions: These lowest level of "Steam Freaks" (as Nemeshow call themselves) feature nasty cybernetic enhancements as well as their Nemesis Rifles (normally capable of only single-shot and semi-automatic fire).

-Ruffian: This guy's got muscular stimulators that give him the strength of ten men with handlebar moustaches. He can throw punches and boulders, and when he claps his hands, you won't want to applaud.

-Striker: This fellow has agility boosters that let him perform high-flying kicks, be careful they don't leave you dizzy. He's so cocky, he'll sometimes just throw a sharpened piece of scrap metal at you!

-Surgeon: This guy's got a liberal interpretation of the Hippocratic Oath. His rifle is equipped with a beanbag launcher to perform on-the-fly anesthesia, and his internal medkit can not only heal wounds, but it can also extricate others from all manner of disabling predicaments.

-Zapper: Be careful with this one, he's got advanced implants that allow him to fire bolts of electricity. He can even charge up and launch a ball of lightning at you! Don't get too close, though, his implants let him drain your power, too (WARNING: That last attack is especially effective on robots).

-Tactical: This Steam Freak is as bad as they come. His rifle is equipped to fire shotgun shells as well as normal ammo, and he has an enlarged hand to store a few nasty gadgets, like Web Grenades, Caltrops, a Taser, and even a remote-controlled Targeting Drone.

Lieutenants: These two don't get along very well, but they're nothing to sneeze at. Their electrical implants allow them to use lighting to attack or defend, and their rifles can fire shotgun shells and M30 Grenades in addition to the normal ammo types. You can find them before they see you by listening for the tell-tale crackle of the field of electricity that's always at their feet.

-Tesla: This dude modified his rifle to fire in fully automatic mode, and he's got some wicked fisticuffs (boosted with his electical powers). He can even send out lightning to stick your legs together with static cling. Avoid melee engagements with him, his standing ovation is worse than a Ruffian's.

-Edison: This Steam Freak is a point defender. He's got beanbag ammunition to take you out of the fight, and he uses his electric powers to block your attacks. Stay frosty, because if you let your guard down, he can activate his Power Sink and drain your energy.

Steam Freak Tank: This guy's the boss, and his equipment's no laughing matter. He's got all the different ammo and firing types used by the other Steam Freaks, plus he has a flamethrower attachment (luckily, the fuel he uses doesn't Ignite things)! Worse yet, he has the same electrical powers as a Zapper, and he can also trap you in an electric cage, unable to even defend yourself. His Excelsior Distribution Unit is equipped with a unique system that lets him release an extra-large dosage to boost his accuracy and damage for a few seconds, so duck behind something when you see him use it.

Lord Chesterfield: Nobody knows what name he goes by now, but this guy was the first person to volunteer for the Nemeshow program, and his strength shows it. His hands are too big for a Nemesis Rifle now, so he just uses his mastery of electricity to compensate. He doesn't have very much for crowd control, but he has a large number of very powerful electrical attacks, both up close and far away (though reports state that he prefers to get close). He doesn't have any enhancement systems like the Tank does, but he doesn't really need them, anyway. When he's backed into a corner, though, he can unleash all his power in a single Thunderous Blast. Fortunately, he's no faster than an average giant cyborg, and he can't fly or teleport or anything, so if you can slow him down or speed yourself up, you can escape fairly easily when things get too hot.


Direct all feedback to this thread, rather than the in-game comment system. I'm always trying to improve my work, so feel free to let me know what you think. In particular, I'd like to know how my custom group does against large teams (I'm afraid it may be a little too powerful in large numbers, but I need some confirmation). If you'd like more detailed power set descriptions for my custom NPCs, let me know, I'll be happy to post less dolled-up descriptions of the enemies (NOTE: Their in-game descriptions are different and, usually, less informative, consider this post a sort of manual to the arc, like the old NES days).

This latest patch made my story arcs baloon in size. Like, they're way over 100%. Also, the "Custom" setting for enemy powers no longer works. Finally, Buckshot is once again being forced for custom critters using AR. Stop forcing Buckshot on me, my custom NPCs don't need/want it!

EDIT: Was the Paragon Protector map removed? It's the only overtly Crey-themed map! I was using it for one of my story arcs!

Hey, I'm running Co* on Windows XP, and I've noticed a bug in that the custom character window goes off the right ride of the screen, preventing me from scrolling up and down my list of custom minions. I can't shrink it, because the button to do so in in the upper-right corner. I think the default resolution for that window is set to extra-widescreen.

[ QUOTE ]
I was thinking about doing a Jenkins arc, too. It's just too good of an opportunity to pass up. Maybe they could put Jenkins in i14 as a usable contact or character, and you can get the "Hired Jenkins" badge from putting him into an architect mission!

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, my arc has you literally hiring Jenkins. The souveneir being his letter of resignation.

The conspiracy continues with Issue 14, in which a certain Minister of Awesome makes a story arc about Jenkins. Play it! (for more info on finding it, click the first link in my sig)

ARC:8481
Name: Mastermind Mayhem!
Enemies: Longbow, Arachnos, multi-factioned robots based on level, Custom
Difficulty: Extremely variable depending one player(s) and which mission, though the arc tends to start easy and end hard.
Notes: The bosses of each of the five missions is an MM of a different primary.

ARC: 10429
Name: Two Great Tastes
Enemies: Nemesis, Freakshow, Custom
Diffuculty: Moderate
Notes: Four missions with a super-special ally on the last one, and a custom EB, too.

ARC 11622
Name: Absurdly Meta (which is also the best way to describe it)
Enemies: Council
Diffuculty: Easy (but amazingly fun)
Notes: This one-off mission features the best NPC ally you could hope for: Me! Also the guys pictured in my avatar. Just be sure to defend the object.

See my sig for a link to my collected feedback thread (I think it'll make responding to my arcs more efficient than hunting down each and every arc's thread).

Well, looks like my annual checkup came just in time. I hadn't noticed, but this thread hasn't been stickied yet. I think we need to fix that. I mean, if the "Gone to the Americans" thread could get a sticky, so can Jenkins. Also, I got a new story for you guys:

Jenkins: Wow! I can't believe I got invited to Manticore and Sister Psyche's wedding! And I haven't been horribly maimed in months. Things are really looking up for me. Maybe I'll join Longbow. Wait, this invitation looks funny. Did the Freedom Phalanx always have a spider as its emblem?

(the usual lines take place, we've all likely seen them, heroes get ready to pummel the villains)

Jenkins: Oh, Lord Recluse snuck us in with these invites, that makes much more sense. Well, so much for my record, time to set the horrible maiming counter back to zero. Maybe I could try running away. The portal's locked. Oh, bloody hell.

Hey, I been in this thing for as long as any of you, don't tell me how Jenkins works. Anyway, where's all these so-called "new Jenkins posts?"

Hey, anyone here about the recent Cheetos-related attack? Maybe Malta and Jenkins were involved. Anway, with all the new enemy and even hero groups out now, there could be new Jenkins posts maybe?

You know, it's been mentioned that some of the pets aren't very thematic/heroic/possible, and I have some counterpoints.

Clockwork: They obviously have the ability to think, as Clockwork bosses actually make comments as to your hero's fate (and with so much happening in Paragon involving his bots, I doubt CWK has the time/patience to make one of them speak for him just for some meddlesome hero). So, if they can think, they can probably rebel, too. The Clockwork in the Isles are the complicated ones, as Baat'zuul doesn't have them think. I suppose since you do a lot of stuff that hinder Dr. Aeon, Baat'zuul may just have the little guy follow you to see if there's some way he can use you to destroy the PTS (nobody said that getting the tiny companion has to be YOUR decision).

Column Bot: It could be following you to gather information, but it's made of the same stuff as a black box, so it's indestructible, and nobody really cares because the think the 5th Column is gone for good.

Rikti Monkey: It's just a dumb animal, so it may have just taken a liking to you in one way or another. It's psychic powers may be on the fritz, because he's defective.

Demon: For villains, it could just be a demon that likes the havoc you wreak. For heroes, it could be a gift for services rendered from a demon king, considering how many demons you liberate from the control of the CoT. I mean, the little guy can get you coffee so you don't have to. Also, see Hellboy for another example.

Red Cap: These guys are pretty sadistic in their descriptions, he could just enjoy the pain you cause (as either hero or villain), and jumps dimensions whenever you try to blast him. And some villains may have made friends with him. Or he could be a nice Red Cap that doesn't like all the mean stuff, and wants to help the hero.


You see, any of the pets can be easily explained, you just need to remember, they follow you, they don't necessarily have to be on your side.

(OOC: Well, when Ferd gets back, I still need you to decide whether Knuckles beats the tiny alien man or not. It would be nice to end the fight for a little bit, so that all the people might be properly introduced.)

(OOC: I think we should put this on hold until then, we have few enough people as it is without leaving others way behind. Either way, it seems as though the thread has petered out, if the number of posts over the last few days is any indication. I'm still waiting to see if Knuckles managed to take out the tiny alien dude or not.)

Good luck on Tabula Rasa! If it bombs, please come back. Wait, that conveys a message I didn't mean, but I think you get the idea.

Will you come and visit now and then, like Gilgamesh does?

(OOC: Wow, five pages for the first fight scene. But, I hope the plot moves soon. Here, I'll help a little.)

Knuckles had regained his strength, and stood up. He turned to the small alien that seemed to be the field commander. He started to think about how he could get to him.

"Those aliens just keep blockin' us, and knocking us away. Hm, how do you get to him? ...I've got it! The answer is: you don't!"

He rushed to the body of the large guardian alien he'd knocked out with his ploy earlier. He grabbed it by the arm, and began to spin. It knocked over all the aliens around him, preventing any meaningful interference, and when he let go of it, he sent it flying directly at the small alien.

(OOC: Since only you know of the small alien's powers, you have to respond with the effect, Coldfire.)

Death Wielder was sipping some Earl Grey from a thermos when he felt something. Being in touch with the afterlife tends to give one a form of clairevoyance about potential additions. He began monologuing to nobody.

"Knuckles needs some assistance. Hm, I'd best send someone that can fix him. Luckily, the dead aren't all I can manipulate. The dark serves me just as well."

Death Wielder's shadow promptly disappeared from where it could be seen beneath the streetlight.

----------------------------------------------------

As Knuckles lay unconscious, what litte shadow was being cast by the light from the energy beasts began to darker and enlarge. It soon rose from the ground, taking the shape of Death Wielder. It pointed at one energy beast, which immediately darkened and fell to the ground, and partially healed the wounds of everyone in the vacinity that didn't glow. Immediately afterwards, it sunk back into Knuckles' shadow. Unbeknowst to it, Knuckles came to as soon as his wounds started healing.

"Death Wielder's been helpin' me all night, whether he knows it or not. Guess I owe him one, so I won't kick his [censored] afta dis is ova."

He sat up and called to Rahu.

"Yo, I'm awright! I don't think I can stand, but I gots somethin' for these situations."

He turned to one of the energy beasts and reached up to his sunglasses, and blasted it back with two lasers.

"Not bad, huh? A little gadget I gots, my sunglasses double as laser weapons. Pretty neat, ain't it?"

----------------------------

Death Wielder noticed the return of his shadow, followed by it's thumbs-up.

"Thank you, Umbron, we may survive the night yet."

(OOC: Umbron is a Dark Servant. It is Death Wielder's shadow, given life. Its Twilight Grasp kills "expendables," like those energy soldiers, but works normally on the tough foes. Also, Death Wielder can choose to have Umbron rise from any shadow in a relatively wide radius, but he isn't good for spying, as every report becomes a game of charades, because Umbron doesn't speak.

Also, Umbron, being a living shadow, and therefore modular, can change his powers by harnessing powers from another super's shadow. The new powers depend on AT. MM and Defenders make the normal DS build. Controllers give him Fearsome Stare, Pet. Gaze, Tenebrous Tentacles, Cloak of Fear, and Touch of Fear.

Tankers, Scrappers, Brutes, and Stalkers give different combos of DM/DA powers. Tanker is a few Dark Melee, with all the toggle shields, and that auto power from the Stalker DA. Scrappers get plenty of Dark Melee, with Death Shroud. Brutes grant a few DM, with the non-Obsidian toggle shields and Death Shroud. Stalkers give Hide, that auto power of theirs, Cloak of Darkness, and a few DM powers that DO NOT include AS.

Blasters give a bunch of Dark Blast powers like Torrent, Moonbeam, and Gloom. Corrupters take away the single-target Darkest Night and grant Moonbeam instead. Dominators give PG, FS, Dark Blast, Gloom, and Moonbeam. Warshades give various Umbral Blast powers (but what're the chances of a Warshade or Peacebringer showing up?). Peacebringers give Gloom, Moonbeam, Torrent, Smite, and Dark Maul, but change it that all Neg. Energy damage is split to Half Neg. Energy and Half Energy. It also makes Umbron turn grey. Umbron will normally look like Death Wielder, but if he harnesses a shadow, he will look like who he's copying until he returns to his rightful place. I really like the idea of a modular DS, but if you dislike it, just let me know and I'll take it back.)

EDIT: Gah, block of text! Must edit!

Knuckles had taken care of one of the guardians and the red alien, if only for a few minutes until they came to. He turned to the rest of the battle to see the magic lady, Rahu, about to be vaporized. His reflexes took over, and he dashed into the path of the energy blast. He knew it was a stupid idea, but he was never too bright to begin with, so he considered it perfectly normal. He was blasted backwards into Rahu, after which he fell to one knee. He didn't seem to be affected on the outside, but the rest of him felt similar to what the contents of a sausage might feel like.

"Damn. Sorry, Rahu, yer on yer own for a while. I probably shouldn't move for a while. Take care of yerself."

At that, he collapsed.

Knuckles was forcing his foe back when a large, red fist slammed into his back. He managed to recover while flying through the air, he was used to fighting multiple enemies. He used his forearms to block the force of his foes' punches somewhat. Unfortunately, his foes were on either side of him, making it much harder to block every punch. Suddenly, he heard a raspy voice in his ear.

"Fool! If they attempt to strike you simultaneously, jump to one side! Try thinking, or you may end up like me, forced to wander, unseen and unfelt, until summoned forth by your temporary ally. You may thank him for bringing me to this side of the veil next time you see him. Farewell."

Knuckles would have been creeped out, if he didn't encounter stuff like that every day. He decided he'd ask Death Wielder about it later, as that was probably who the voice meant. Just, then, he noticed his opponents both drawing back for a crushing blow. He waited for the last possible moment, and jumped out from between them. They got each other right in the gut.

"Heh, youse mooks needs ta woik on yer aim!"

(OOC: That was Ector, Death Wielder's spirit. He can only communicate with the living world most of the time, remaining otherwise intangible and invisible. Death Wielder can bring him forth for short periods, though it doesn't require his henchmen to be defeated, mostly because otherwise, Ector would never see battle.)

"Indeed. Oranbega sits directly under this city, and the artifacts there could grant me control of the Earth. There's no way these glowing gits are going to screw it up. I say, 'If you want something, work for it or sod off.'"

Death Wielder surrounded his and Todesfall's groups with shadows, obscuring their forms and absorbing some of the light from the creatures.

"That ought to help."

(OOC: By the way, Death Wielder is British.)

Knuckles slammed into the behemoth as he heard Coldfire yell his battle cry.

"Alright, big guy, looks like yer buddy's occupied. Let's go!"

He jumped up and gave the giant a solid right hook to the head, and followed it up by picking up one of the energy creatures by the feet, spun around and let go, causing it to crash into its own large comrade.

"How'dya like me now?!"

"I see you also have henchmen whose sentience seems to have come with a wasting disease of the mind. Thank you for the shields. So, what brings you to this neighborhood? I'm looking for mystical artifacts used by the Banished Pantheon. You can probably guess why. I'd have thought you'd be on your way to that Rikti crash site, or maybe Portal Corps."

Death Wielder turned his attention away from Todesfall to glare at the energy beasts, making many of them cower under his gaze, even paralyzing one of them completely.

"You see, the reason my henchmen fear me is because everyone does."

"If we feared you, why would we bug you so much?" Lurch had, for the third time in one hour, caused his boss to sigh in exasperation. "Yay! A new record!"

"You know, I thought it would be a good idea to give them their souls. You know, have someone to talk to. What's worse is that I actually let Lurch pick out the other two unarmed zombies. He just went and found his drinking buddies. But the thing that scares me the most is that they were probably like that while alive, too. I pity everyone they met."

------------------------

Knuckles saw the new aliens emerge from the pod, and knew he had a task to perform.

"I'll take onea da big guys, youse focus on da otha two. I may be a meathead, but I'm a meathead wit big muscles! Yo, bad guy, meet my fists! Fist, meet the bad guy!"

Knuckles lunged at the large creature on the left, battering it with his massive fists.

(OOC: If you can figure out where I coined Knuckles's battle cry from, pat yourself on the back, just remember to eat .)

Knuckles was able to hold off the energy creatures long enough for him to make an introduction to the ever-increasing group next to him.

"Hey, youse guys, name's Knuckles. Any of youse catch who's doin' this? I mean, I like a good fight as much as da next guy, but this is ridiculous."

"What is that madman doing? How can one legion of robots hold the gate. Let's go, henchmen, he may need our help!"

Death Wielder and his undead reached the gate soon enough. Lurch was the first to speak.

"Hey, dude, we're here to help out. And that's not how you say it. Death Wielder has a great impression of it. C'mon boss show him."

"I am NOT going to show him. And I told you never to speak of that. That's why I no longer drink."

"C'mon, pretty please?"

"Oh, all right."

Death Wielder stepped forward to the front of the gate and spread his arms wide. His cape and hair billowed in a wind that only seemed to affect him.

"YOU SHALL NOT PASS!"

Lurch, Shamble, and Decay shared a three-way high five.

"Now will you go and fight, you idiots?"

"You got it boss," the three zombies said in unison as they went after their fellow cadavers.

Death Wielder turned to Todesfall, "I am Death Wielder, king of the idiots. And you?"

"Hm? Don't know where they came from, only that they can sure as hell take a punch betta den mosta da villains in town. I try ta let my fists do tha thinkin'. Follow me, we should try to find more people."

Knuckles noticed that the fight was starting to move into the city, and he fought his way over to where Death Wielder was fighting.

"Youse okay, DW? Youse gots some rock in your hair."

"That's what happens when you get knocked through a statue. By the way, the three heroes next to me are Coldfire, Rahu, and... Carlos. I'm not sure, but I think I've seen Rahu before.... Nevermind, just try to help us, you know, not die."

"Youse got it, it's what I'm good at. By da way, dis one wit' me is called Flyin' Squirrel."

"Charmed, I'm sure. Now can we please get back to staying alive?"

"Aw right already!"

(OOC: Unless there's a reason for doing so, I usually don't identify who is who in my dialogues, as my characters are easy to tell apart, although in cases where one of Death Wielder's henchmen is talking, I will, of course, identify which one in my writing.)

"I'll live, my suit is enchanted to prevent broken bones and the like, but it can still hurt like it."

Seeing harm come to their master and, though he didn't often show it, friend, whipped the undead into a frenzy. They charged forward, slaughtering the soldiers with ruthless effieciency.

"Yo! Nobody messes with the boss but US! And even then, we only mess with his head!" Once again, Lurch managed to ellicit a sigh from Death Wielder with his challenge to the invaders. Of course, he just considered his point proven with that, "See, like I said!"

Well, maybe one more thing:

(gray afternoon, overcast, a large robot that appears to be contructed around a DVD player approaches a grave, and drops some flowers)

Jenkinite robot: Good-bye, father (sniff).

(the robot walks away)

Jenkins (muffled): Wait, did that robot I sorta made visit me? Come back! Come back! I'm stuck in here with a lunatic! Help!

Skull-face guy: You know what, Robin, I'm just going to buy the pickles myself. Try not to grab hold of me, lest you be dragged into my teleportation portal with me.

Jenkins: Wait, no! Let me grab hold of you! Wait, he's gone. Oh, bloody hell. Well, better start clawing while I still have my sanity. Luckily I can live without oxygen. I don't even KNOW where I got that. Wait, lemme try something.

(five seconds later)

Jenkins: Well, managed to last a hole to the surface, but the coffin was wooden. These burns are gonna take hours to heal. I need to get out of here before someone ELSE pronounces me dead and buries me alive.

(he walks off into the sunset)

The real end, but it leaves it open so if people really want to bring him back, they can.

Bloody hell to you all, and to all bloody hell.