Nitro

Well, I just ran though the intro arc and first arc and jotted down a rough timeline of events.

Tuesday 6th, Day 0 + beforehand

• Series of unusual deaths in Paragon
  • Some suicides, some murders
  • All had some religious symbolism behind the deaths
  • Victims believes they had done something wrong and deserved punishment
• People will connection to DA (such as having lived there) find themselves drawn back
• Detective Hopp sent to deaths investigate and went missing
  • Heroes then sent to investigate deaths and went missing
  • Small super groups sent to investigate deaths and went missing

Wednesday 7th, Day 1

• KoA clash with Talons of Vengeance in DA
• Mot Awakens!
  • People drawn to DA/stupid enough to be there anyway flee/die horribly
  • Quite a few civilians take shelter in a warehouse, die horribly
• Super powerful monsters began spilling out of DA
  • Blue Steel and “super” PPD Kheldians were able to hold off the monsters
  • Doors of DA sealed
  • Midnighter Club set up portal in Peregrine to access the city
• Arachnos starts investigating
  • Begins preparing a team to find out what is happening
  • Midnigher Club sets up portal in Grandville
• Circle of Thorns routed

Thursday, 8th, Day 2

• Some powerful heroes pulled into DA by Mot
• Large group of the KoA inner circle breaks off to join the Talons of Vengeance
  • Become known as the Knives of Vengeance
  • Start mutating into monsters
• Mot starts devouring people within DA who give up all hope
• Tub Ci goes to DA to assist Tsoo

Friday 9th, Day 3

• Kadabra Kill becomes hopeless, gets taken by the Knives of Vengeance
• Mu’Vorkin, Sirocco and Ice Minstral sent to investigate DA
• Tsoo begin enacting their plan to summon the Goddess Tielekku in an attempt to defeat Mot

Saturday 10th, Day 4

• Kadabra and wife are freed from the Knives of Vengeance
  • They decide DA is too much for them and leave

General stuff

• People are being summoned to DA to “pay for their sins”
• Mot has woken due to all the recent wars etc
• Mot is empowered by death and suffering
  • the more anguish someone feels when they die, the more power Mot gets
  • Currently Mot can only absorb on those who have been weakened/have given up all hope
  • Mots power twists people’s minds, makes them more hopeless
  • Absorbing evil people, or hopeless people empowers mot
• The Talons of vengeance go after oath breakers/sinners
  • They tend to have pretty derpy vies as to what constutues breaking an oath
  • They think people who escaped DA and didn’t die have broken their oath
  • They think Kadabra broke his oath by… allowing his wife to sacrifice her soul to save his
• The Dream Doctor is doing… things
• Detective Hopp is in DA, alive and well and still investigating
• Strange barrier have been set up to keep the monsters at bay

Going through the storyarcs of issue 22 there are references to pretty much all the level 50 task forces (and some earlier stuff). I tried to make a list of all the things referenced by the new content and gave up. Seriously, though, there is a huge amount of plot development and tying up of older mission content, which, just like the SSAs, we kinda need to address.

Massive spoiler warning

For example, remember Battle Maiden’s attack on Steel Canyon that we sort of ignore because no actual damage is done in game? In 22 it’s revealed she was captured after the attack and is being held in Siberia (well, at least until Malta breaks her out).

Remember the Honoree from the LGTF and then Mender Ramiel’s arc? He's now working with Vanguard.

Remember Director 11 from the Tin Mage TF? Held in the Zig. The Stinger from the LRSF? Captured by Arachnos and forced to work on Reichman’s empowerment machine after Lord Recluses Web Array (from the STF) was destroyed.

We even have Requiem returning from Cimerora, having obtained something to empower his troops, and regaining control of the 5th Column for Reichman. Oh, and Gyrfalcon was there.

And let’s not forget the actual story of DA itself. Mot awakens, grows in power (to the degree that he begins devouring entire cities, such as Chicago) and is then, finally sealed again, and everyone who is devoured is brought back. It is a nice self contained plot that really does need to get tied up IC, otherwise we are left with the somewhat silly situation of Mot waking, devouring DA, poised to destroy he entire world!


…and then just kinda sitting there, forever, not doing anything, and with no-one bothering to seal him again.

And this isn't even going into the fact that there few important developments that happen during the story, such as Battle Maiden getting freed by Malta (as mentioned) and the fact we learn Mu'Drakhan wants to unite the Mu and take Sirocco's place as a patron, choosing Mu'Vorkan as his second in command. We also learn that Mu'Vorkan wants the exact same thing himself, and goes to Lord Recluse personally, who decrees that if Mu'Vorkan is able to kill Sirocco, Ice Mistral, and Mu'Drakhan, then Recluse will make him a patron

I don't think we can keep ingoring plot development, and n order to reconcile what I imagine will become ever increasing divergence between what has happened IC and what the developer’s think has happened canonically, I suggest the following:

• Every single level 50 task force, and Sutter TF has happened at some vague point in the past.
• These all happened long enough ago that any big world altering damage was repaired.
• While people’s characters could have been generally involved in helping the fighting (such as helping to defend King’s Row from the Praetorian attack) no-one’s character can claim they did anything big plot relevant (like be the one who actually defeated Battle Maiden)
• Given the shear amount of supervillain plots that happen, it’s quite conceivable that people might not know about Lord Recluses attempt to take over the world (again) using a giant power stealing device.

As for the story of DA, that’s a tricky one. I generally go by the rule of thumb that plots should last about a month (if not longer) as it gives you enough time to roleplay everything. DA has six story arcs, however, one of them happens in the past, so doesn’t take any time to occur in the present, and one of them, Max’s arc isn’t really a proper story arc anyway.

This leaves is with four and a bit arcs, which means we can have the story progress at the rate of about an arc a week for the plot to last a month.

Practically, this means that, for example, during week one Mot’s power is more or less contained to the zone, although he has begun pulling in various people from outside, and it’s not until week four that Mot’s power has spread to the point where he’s devouring entire cities.

If people think that something along these lines is reasonable, it’ll be pretty easy to flesh out the rough progression events. But either way, it means if people don’t really care, it’ll all be over after a month anyway.

Krimzon Guard Thaumatological Research Division

Experiment log for artifact Aegis Lambda-1

Schedule of experiments

non-destructive imaging [complete]
sample analysis [complete]
restraint of compliant subject [complete]
restraint of non compliant subject [cancelled]
restraint of minor demon [pending]
replication of Aegis Lambda-1 [pending]
power output analysis [pending]


Experiment 3: restraint of compliant human subject

Procedure: Aegis Lambda-1 used to seal compliant human subject for 72 hours. Aegis Lambda-1 monitored via passive scans throughout experiment. Interviews with subject conducted every 12 hours. Subject instructed to attempt to escape immediately after containment, after 36 hours and after 72 hours. Subject released after 72 hours.

Results: Test subject is male Caucasian, 42 years old, 108kg, 185cm tall, procured from [REDACTED]. Subject is briefed on experimental procedure.

Subject successfully sealed using Aegis Lambda-1 after approximately seven hours of casting. Upon completion of sealing, subject disappeared. Analysis indicates that subject was transported to a small pocket dimension tethered by Aegis Lambda-1. Passive thaumatological scanning indicated an increase of thaumatologal energy output from Aegis Lambda-1 during this time.

Interview with subject was conducted as scheduled via thaumatological and psionic methods. Other attempts to contact subject via conventional methods were ineffectual Subject reported inability to mark passage of time while contained as well as loss of all senses and sensation of disembodiment. Subject expressed anxiety and agitation at the loss of external senses and apparent disembodiment. Subject was unable to escape, and reported no noticeable progress in any attempts. Subject became increasingly emotional during captivity, varying between anger and despondence. Subject made repeated requests to be released prior to the scheduled conclusion of testing.

After 72 hours the subject was released via a standard dispellment. Upon doing so, the subject appeared near Aegis Lambda-1, which became inactive. Subject immediately attempted to attack nearby personnel and was contained by on site security. Subject remained violent and incoherent for approximately 24 hours, after which subject continued to show distress and signs of trauma but was otherwise lucid and compliant. During this time subject made repeated requests for termination, which was denied. Memory wipe was successfully performed and subject was released.

Due to efficacy of the seal and total inability for the subject to mount any escape attempt, testing of non-compliant human subject has been deemed unnecessary. Additional testing planed to the determine nature of the energy build up during containment, the nature of the pocket dimension apparently used by Aegis Lambda-1 and reason for the subject frenzying upon release.

Krimzon Guard Thaumatological Research Division

Experiment log for artifact Aegis Lambda-1

Description of artifact

Aegis Lambda-1, commonly referred to as a “bloodstained seal”, consists of piece of parchment, approximately 10 x 18 cm. Inscribed upon the parchment in blood is a intricate pattern. [see attached] Artifact was obtained from Circle of Thorns on the 27th of February 2012.

Containment procedures

[REDACTED]

Schedule of experiments

non-destructive imaging [complete]
sample analysis [complete]
restraint of compliant subject [pending]
restraint of non compliant subject [pending]
restraint of minor demon [pending]
replication of Aegis Lambda-1 [pending]

Experiment 1: non destructive analysis of Aegis Lambda-1

Procedure: Aegis Lambda-1 subjected to wide band spectroscopy, radiation scanning, themographic imaging and passive thaumalogical investigations.

Results: Scans confirm the Seal's volatile reaction to teleporting. Analysis indicates successful teleportation may be possible. No anomalous results from parchment. This suggests that the medium the seal is transcribed on is of limited importance. Further testing proposed to test effectiveness of different transcription materials.

As expected, Aegis Lambda-1 contains high levels of thaumaulogic energy. This energy signature follows the inscribed pattern on the surface of Aegis Lambda-1. Energy readings appear characteristic, and it is conjectured that this signature could be used used to identify additional artifacts, and could potentially be traced. New containment measured to shield detection proposed.

Experiment 2: sample analysis

Procedure: Pigment sample taken from Aegis Lambda-1 and subjected to wide band spectroscopy, radiation scanning, themographic imaging, passive and active thaumalogical investigations, mass spectroscopy.

Parchment sample taken from Aegis Lambda-1 and subjected to wide band spectroscopy, radiation scanning, themographic imaging, passive and active thaumalogical investigations, mass spectroscopy.

Both samples destroyed.

Results: Analysis confirms mundane nature of parchment. Sample dates to before 0 CE, appears to be European in origin.

Pigment confirmed to be human blood, type O+ from a magic user, of comparable age to parchment. Sample appears to be Middle Eastern in origin. Thaumatological examination also shows that there is a trace of [REDACTED] energy.

Probably try and obtain a seal or seals and reverse engineer it, or, failing that, finding out how they work.

While normally I balk at the prospect of revealing Venom’s motivation to anything, I don’t think it will be much of a reveal that she would love to have a reliable weapon to deal with the otherwise indefatigable and very hard to neutralise threats she keeps having to deal with.

There was Plot. It had Carnies.

Really, I would advise ignoring the story of Praetoria, or at the very least, ignore the missions your character does while there, especially if they don’t fit. For one thing, while the story is pretty good, it is still a one size fits all plot not tailored to individual’s characters, motivations etc.

The other is the simple fact that, baring genetic missions, in can’t be the case that almost every Praetorian ended up discovering Praetor White’s girlfriend was a traitor and killed her. I mean, not killed her. Wait no, I totally killed her. But this other person didn’t. And how did we both discover this secret in the exact same circumstances....

Like most story arcs in the game, they don't work if you’ve done them IC without altering them heavily, otherwise we are left with the silly situation that every high level villain and their dog has been part of a team that kidnapped Ms. Liberty and beat up Statesman. Not to mention the fact that every Praetorian who goes blueside ends up meeting the Emperor on the other side of the portal.

My only Praetorian, Venessa, completely ignored the in game plot regarding Praetorians. In character, she was a TPN reporter, a resistance sympathiser and secretly psychic. She was very much a civilian. The only time she ended up joining a mission IC was as an embedded reporter, where she ran around taking photos and trying not to get in the way of the horrible people with swords.

She only ended up stuck on Primal Eath because she was doing a story on the place and thought she could sneak in by pretending to be her primal counterpart, which she discovered she had by talking to the nice people in Pocket D. This would have been a... passable plan, unfortunately, her primal counterpart also turned out to be the ever competent Fateweaver Venom, and Venessa was fairly swiftly captured by Arachnos.

Various stuff has since happened, including her being ousted as a psychic (which really prevented her from going home), several of Mother’s goons going after her, causing a fairly nice Praetorian cop to defect, and she even joined Vanguard as part of the Herald. Oh, and she got married. Recently she was kidnapped and replaced by evil Carnies from another dimention. A lot of stuff has happened, almost all of it has been RP plot we made up, and not tied down to cannonical in game missions.

Pretty much the only way I used the in game stories was sifting through them for delicious, delicious lore information, and to build up and understanding of how Praetoria works and the look and feel of the place.

Something that can deal with a unkilling being of immense power? Venom is going to be all over this.

I’d suggest you maybe delay actually starting anything up now though, since we’ve just (more or less) wrapped up the Carnie plot, and am now dealing with the aftermath so I don’t really want to jump straight into a new plot. I imagtine there will be others who feel the same.

Personally, I'd prefer to treat it as a thing which has now happened, but I can see arguements for waiting until issue 23. Also there is this, which is relevent, especially the last part.

Hello, I’m Nitro, I tend to lurk, and provide snark.

Helpfully, I decided to update the pages on Venom and Venessa. I don’t think I actually added much by way of content, but they are certainty updated. In fact, on balance, I think more content has been taken away than added, but that’s incidental.

I would, to some extent, caution against trying to find out large amounts of information ahead of time, as your characters obviously wouldn’t be there and, for the most part, wouldn’t know the people. I also find the wiki pages are quite often lacking, even when they have lots of detail they quite often fail to encapsulate what the events were actually like.

Also, I am of the school of thought that it’s often much better not to work out all the character details ahead of time, preferring only broad strokes and maybe pinning down a couple of points. Of course, this does mean my characters occasionally evolve in totally unexpected ways, but that’s half the fun. Anyway, I would very much suggest that the sooner you start getting involved the better; as most things can be sorted out on the fly and it means you start getting involved and doing things, which is, after all, the fun bit.


I look forward to seeing you in game.

Oh god, a zombie thread, aim for the head!

Anyway, yeah, this thread is old. Like really old. We should probably update it but… to be honest, I don’t disagree with much of what was said, although I have to admit, I probably use English colloquialisms rather than American ones, but, as long as they aren’t egregious, I don’t really care.

When it comes to consistent lore, well, that’s just world building really, and sharing the same sandbox with everyone else more than anything. Union has its nice fancy (mostly) consistent universe, and it doesn’t work if people don’t stick to what has already been established. You have one character claiming something or doing that cannot be reconciled with another character. To take an extreme example, I can’t have as part of my background that I blew up Pluto, or am The Destined One, who went to the future and punched LR in the face.

As for working out how to get around when people say “I’m totally invulnerable” or “I’m immune to psychics”, I personally consider it a challenge, and make a sport out of coming up of ways around it. If you have been on URP you may have even witnessed me brainstorming ways of killing allegedly invulnerable characters. Throwing them into the sun usually works.

Unfortunately, and I am generalising here, bad roleplayers tend to blanket no sell attacks more often than good ones.

People can be invulnerable to psychics, or just straight up basically impossible to kill, but really, there should be some kind of explanation for this, something that people can either try and run with to work out a way or countering it, or just something that makes sense as part of the characters. It’s understandable that a dumb robot wouldn’t really be susceptible to mindreading.

For example, one of my characters, Fateweaver Venom, is really rather difficult to kill. Mostly because she has foresight, and then therefore manage to avoid most attacks. Something she can’t dodge or avoid? Or somehow negating her precognitive abilities (tachyons apparently do this). Yeah, she has some armour, but beyond that she’s a squishy human.

Somewhat unfortunately, Thursday would be very bad for me, but I can do Saturday.

Yes, the event is IC, it’s part of a the Vanity Fair.

I think it would be rather fitting if Carnies infiltrate a fashion show week.


Also the plan seems reasonable, although I have to say, planning anything after step two is probably a mistake. Well, accurately, I think we should havethe Carnie’s full plan laid out (in broad strokes), with what their actual end goals are. Obviously this’ll never happen because the heroes will foil them, but I think it should be helpful if we have more of a plan than:

• Capture and replace primal citizens
• infiltrate society
• ???
• profit

There is the question of how evil the Carnies are, or to be more accurate, how evil they think/claim they are, as well as their motivations for invading. I imagine on a practical level, the carnie empire will need to perpetually expand to supply DeVore’s ever increasing demand for souls. It does seem to me to be the kind of system that only works if it is constantly expanding and gaining new… people. However, this might not necessarily be the reasons given (after all, it’ll be about spreading Fun, and Happiness, wouldn’t it. Look how wonderful things are with the Carnies….)

Brace yourself, I had a potential idea.

There’s going to be a renaissance themed fashion event being held in the Midnighter’s Club, and I thought we might be able to get some carnies coming along, since, well, let’s face it, my illusionist already looks the part (evil sinister glowing eyes aside).


This is an entirely random idea, but I thought I’d throw it out into the wild for consideration.

Hello people, I thought I'd pop in to say I've developed a movement bind for people who want to be illusionists, which you can download via this elegant and hand-crafted link.

1. Extract all the files to C:\binds\carniefly
2 .Enter CoH and type /bind_load_file C:\binds\carniefly\powers.txt

You'll need to have hover for them to work. What will happen is when you press tilde (well, what the Americans think it tilde) you will switch to Carnie Mode.

Now whenever you move using the WASD keys hover will automatically turn on (if it isn’t on already). You can then enter the rather cool looking villain stance 2 by pressing z (once you’ve stopped moving completely). Even better, for very small adjustements to your position, villain stance 2 will automatically activate (mostly, you might need to press z anyway).

To revert to normal, just press tilde again.

Also, Kornak.
Strongmen.