Rainbow Avenger

The Legion of Freedom has a functional Repel Ball court on Virtue. PM me if you'd like a tour.

[u]Name[u]: The Legion of Freedom

[u]Currently Recruiting[u]: We are looking for adult and adult-minded players of all ATs, levels and degrees of experience. We do not limit recruitment by age but find that older players tend to mesh better with the group, which ranges in age from mid-30s to early-60s. We are GLTB-friendly with a large proportion of GLTB members.

[u]RP Level[u]: RP-light. We are very RP friendly and frequently RP in teams. We are tolerant of MRP, meaning we explore mature themes in RP, -not- cyb0rz. You can certainly do that on your own time if you like but we reserve the right to tease you over it.

[u]Theme/Concept[u]: The Legion is a old school, silver-age JLA-type supergroup, drawing together heroes of all backgrounds in a mutually supportive community. Members may RP within the context of any origin or background.

[u]Activity[u]: Our members are split between the east and west coasts of North America and are mainly active during the evening hours. We are looking to expand our membership, which has shrunk with the departure of some of our oldest members.

[u]Requirements for Membership[u]: We accept players of all ages, backgrounds and orientations. The only requirement is an open mind. Our members includes Christians and Pagans, gay and straight, right and left, but all united by our appreciation for the game and our mutual respect for ourselves and each other.

[u]Leadership[u]:
Many, many alts!

[u]In-Game Contact(s)[u]:
@Rainbow Avenger (Ringleader)
@Manes
@Razakel
@Synergy One
@BeowulfinIA (recruiting)

[u]Out-of-Game Contact(s)[u]:
CoH Forums: Rainbow_Avenger

[u]URL[u]: The Legion of Freedom

[u]Coalition(s):[u] Paragonian Knights. Cross-server mutual assistance coalition with Rainbow Alpha Force (RAF) (Victory).

[u]Other Details[u]: Founded by SnipeFu in 2004 and among the oldest SGs on Virtue. Private global channel. Two raidable hero bases, 2 VG bases (1 raidable). We also have a 50's SG which after 2.5 years operation is nearly full so we're looking forward to the cap bump!

We have an optional SG uniform, active forums with build advice, open RP threads and a core of highly knowledgable veteran players eager to help out newbies, whom we value as the lifeblood of the game. We prefer characters under lvl 30 be played in SG-mode but will happily disburse funds to lower level characters as needed. We do not demand prestige quotas of any kind.

[ QUOTE ]
So I saw this thread and joined the VirtueUnited one. and tested to see if it worked, and well got a bunch of rude comments back. So in my oppinion that channel is just a bunch of high school elitist jerks.

[/ QUOTE ]

This was in the afternoon Eastern time I assume? VU tends to be a bit of a toilet in the afterschool hours. Try it in the evening when the adults are playing.

Nice guide Star! My Ice/Fire's been 50 for a while and I get SG mates asking me for advice. I'll point them to this guide for sure. A few things that jumped out at me:

- Taunt, IMHO well worth taking. Ice may be the best aggro manager in the game but there are still times you need to taunt from range.

- Permafrost. Completely skippable. At 50 I herd CoT regularly without Permafrost and have never missed it. Yes, I'll take a bit more damage then if I were herding, say, Council, but if it's the difference between dropping to 60% health instead of 80% then who cares? There's no toxic damage past the low 40s, when Devoured mostly disappear and since DE are weak to fire they are not a challenge, toxic hole or not.

- Between Hoarfrost and Hiberate, Medicine is a complete waste. My Hoarfrost is on a longer recharge then yours but it's still generally there when I need it. I seldom have to use Hibernate and Energy Absorption makes endurance management a no-brainer.

- Re IO set costs - Since Ice/Fire/Pyre is arguably the best herding Tank in the end game, earning influence for the best sets is not a problem.

- The genius of Ice/Fire/Pyre is that you don't have to choose between being a Tank or being a Scranker. You can build a good, solid "meat shield" Tank who also has superior damage. If you go skipping the best attacks, you've missed the point of the set completely.

- Personally I'm not a fan of Hasten. I prefer to boost recharge with set bonuses, which feels more organic. Obviously this is up to player preference.

- Group Fly. Yes, I know. Stop laughing. It's a raid tool. :P

Here's my current build for reference. This is not an ideal or projected build - It's my actual what-I'm-working-with current build. It's not finished or ideal but it's a build that runs ship raids, herds Carnies and tanks the Hamidon.


Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.21
http://www.honourableunited.org.uk/mhd.php

Diamond D - actual ingame: Level 50 Mutation Tanker
Primary Power Set: Ice Armor
Secondary Power Set: Fiery Melee
Power Pool: Flight
Power Pool: Fitness
Ancillary Pool: Pyre Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Frozen Armor -- RedFtn-Def/EndRdx:50(A), RedFtn-Def/EndRdx/Rchg:50(3), RedFtn-Def:50(3), RedFtn-Def/Rchg:30(9)
Level 1: Scorch -- C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg:30(A), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:30(5), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:30(5), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:30(15), C'ngImp-Dmg/Rchg:30(17)
Level 2: Hoarfrost -- Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx:30(A), Dct'dW-EndRdx/Rchg:30(7), Dct'dW-Heal/Rchg:30(11), Dct'dW-Heal:30(33), Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg:30(33), Dct'dW-Rchg:30(33)
Level 4: Chilling Embrace -- Taunt-I:50(A), Taunt-I:50(7)
Level 6: Wet Ice -- EndRdx-I:50(A)
Level 8: Combustion -- M'Strk-Acc/Dmg:30(A), M'Strk-Dmg/EndRdx:30(9), M'Strk-Dmg/Rchg:30(13), M'Strk-Acc/EndRdx:30(13), M'Strk-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:30(21)
Level 10: Air Superiority -- Mako-Acc/Dmg:30(A), Mako-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg:30(11), Mako-Dmg/Rchg:30(15), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:30(34), Mako-Dam%:30(34)
Level 12: Hurdle -- Jump-I:50(A)
Level 14: Fly -- Frbd-Fly:30(A), Frbd-Stlth:30(34), HO:Micro(43)
Level 16: Health -- Mrcl-Heal:40(A), Mrcl-Heal/EndRdx:40(17), Heal-I:50(23)
Level 18: Glacial Armor -- LkGmblr-Def:30(A), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx:30(19), LkGmblr-Def/Rchg:30(19), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx/Rchg:30(43)
Level 20: Stamina -- EndMod-I:50(A), EndMod-I:50(21), EndMod-I:50(23)
Level 22: Icicles -- C'ngBlow-Acc/Dmg:30(A), C'ngBlow-Acc/Rchg:30(25), C'ngBlow-Dmg/Rchg:50(25), C'ngBlow-Dmg/EndRdx:30(27), Sciroc-Dmg/Rchg:50(43), Sciroc-Acc/Dmg:50(50)
Level 24: Build Up -- RechRdx-I:50(A), RechRdx-I:50(27), RechRdx-I:50(31)
Level 26: Energy Absorption -- RechRdx-I:50(A), RechRdx-I:50(37), RechRdx-I:50(37), EndMod-I:50(40), EndMod-I:50(40), EndMod-I:50(40)
Level 28: Fire Sword Circle -- M'Strk-Acc/Dmg:30(A), M'Strk-Dmg/EndRdx:30(29), M'Strk-Dmg/Rchg:30(29), M'Strk-Acc/EndRdx:30(31), M'Strk-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:30(31)
Level 30: Taunt -- RechRdx-I:50(A)
Level 32: Hibernate -- H'zdH-Heal:40(A), H'zdH-Heal/Rchg:40(42), H'zdH-Heal/EndRdx:40(42), H'zdH-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg:40(46)
Level 35: Incinerate -- C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg:50(A), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:50(36), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:50(36), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:50(36), C'ngImp-Dmg/Rchg:50(37)
Level 38: Greater Fire Sword -- C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg:50(A), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:50(39), C'ngImp-Dmg/Rchg:50(39), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:50(39), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx:50(46)
Level 41: Char -- Acc-I:50(A), Acc-I:50(42), Hold-I:50(46)
Level 44: Fire Blast -- Thundr-Acc/Dmg:50(A), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:50(45), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:50(45), Thundr-Dmg/Rchg:50(45), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:50(50)
Level 47: Fire Ball -- Det'tn-Acc/Dmg:50(A), Det'tn-Dmg/EndRdx:50(48), Det'tn-Dmg/Rchg:50(48), Det'tn-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:50(48), Det'tn-Dmg/Rng:50(50)
Level 49: Group Fly -- EndRdx-I:50(A)
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- RechRdx-I:50(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- EndRdx-I:50(A)
Level 2: Rest -- RechRdx-I:50(A)
Level 1: Gauntlet
------------
[u]Set Bonus Totals:[u]<ul type="square">[*]+6% DamageBuff[*]+3.75% Defense(Energy)[*]+5.63% Defense(AoE)[*]+37% Enhancement(Accuracy)[*]+7% Enhancement(Heal)[*]+20% Enhancement(RechargeTime)[*]+4% FlySpeed[*]+72.3 (6%) HitPoints[*]+4% JumpSpeed[*]+MezResist(Confused) (Mag 1.65%)[*]+MezResist(Held) (Mag 3.3%)[*]+MezResist(Immobilize) (Mag 12.1%)[*]+MezResist(Sleep) (Mag 4.95%)[*]+MezResist(Stun) (Mag 3.3%)[*]+MezResist(Terrorized) (Mag 2.2%)[*]+7% Recovery[*]+28% Regeneration[*]+4.41% Resistance(Fire)[*]+4.41% Resistance(Cold)[*]+1.88% Resistance(Energy)[*]+1.26% Resistance(Toxic)[*]+1.26% Resistance(Psionic)[*]+4% RunSpeed[*]+1% Debt Protection[/list]------------
[u]Set Bonuses:[u]
[u]Red Fortune[u]
(Frozen Armor)<ul type="square">[*] +MezResist(Immobilize) (Mag 2.2%)[*] +1.26% Res(Fire, Cold)[*] +2% DamageBuff[/list][u]Crushing Impact[u]
(Scorch)<ul type="square">[*] +MezResist(Immobilize) (Mag 2.2%)[*] +13.6 (1.13%) HitPoints[*] +7% Enhancement(Accuracy)[*] +5% Enhancement(RechargeTime)[/list][u]Doctored Wounds[u]
(Hoarfrost)<ul type="square">[*] +MezResist(Terrorized) (Mag 2.2%)[*] +1.26% Res(Fire, Cold)[*] +4% Enhancement(Heal)[*] +5% Enhancement(RechargeTime)[*] +1.26% Res(Toxic, Psi)[/list][u]Multi Strike[u]
(Combustion)<ul type="square">[*] +MezResist(Sleep) (Mag 1.65%)[*] +0.945% Res(Fire, Cold)[*] +MezResist(Stun) (Mag 1.65%)[*] +1.88% Defense(AoE)[/list][u]Mako's Bite[u]
(Air Superiority)<ul type="square">[*] +MezResist(Immobilize) (Mag 3.3%)[*] +18.1 (1.5%) HitPoints[*] +3% DamageBuff[*] +MezResist(Held) (Mag 3.3%)[/list][u]Freebird[u]
(Fly)<ul type="square">[*] +8% Regeneration[/list][u]Miracle[u]
(Health)<ul type="square">[*] +2.5% Recovery[/list][u]Luck of the Gambler[u]
(Glacial Armor)<ul type="square">[*] +10% Regeneration[*] +13.6 (1.13%) HitPoints[*] +9% Enhancement(Accuracy)[/list][u]Cleaving Blow[u]
(Icicles)<ul type="square">[*] +1% Recovery[*] +1.25% Defense(Energy)[*] +1% DamageBuff[/list][u]Scirocco's Dervish[u]
(Icicles)<ul type="square">[*] +10% Regeneration[/list][u]Multi Strike[u]
(Fire Sword Circle)<ul type="square">[*] +MezResist(Sleep) (Mag 1.65%)[*] +0.945% Res(Fire, Cold)[*] +MezResist(Stun) (Mag 1.65%)[*] +1.88% Defense(AoE)[/list][u]Harmonized Healing[u]
(Hibernate)<ul type="square">[*] +1.5% Recovery[*] +MezResist(Confused) (Mag 1.65%)[*] +3% Enhancement(Heal)[/list][u]Crushing Impact[u]
(Incinerate)<ul type="square">[*] +MezResist(Immobilize) (Mag 2.2%)[*] +13.6 (1.13%) HitPoints[*] +7% Enhancement(Accuracy)[*] +5% Enhancement(RechargeTime)[/list][u]Crushing Impact[u]
(Greater Fire Sword)<ul type="square">[*] +MezResist(Immobilize) (Mag 2.2%)[*] +13.6 (1.13%) HitPoints[*] +7% Enhancement(Accuracy)[*] +5% Enhancement(RechargeTime)[/list][u]Thunderstrike[u]
(Fire Blast)<ul type="square">[*] +2% Recovery[*] +2.5% Defense(Energy)[*] +7% Enhancement(Accuracy)[*] +4% Movement Increase[/list][u]Detonation[u]
(Fire Ball)<ul type="square">[*] +MezResist(Sleep) (Mag 1.65%)[*] +1.88% Resistance(Energy)[*] +1% Debt Protection[*] +1.88% Defense(AoE)[/list]


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My SG also uses chat logging for preserving minutes of meetings and the note takers job has always been an onerous one because of the task of cleaning up minutes. CoH chat logs preserve a record of every channel, regardless of whether they are active in the chat pane or not.

We will definitely give this a try. Good tool!

Also handy for saving those special conversations in teh D me thinks. *cough* cyborz...

[ QUOTE ]
We have to stick a pirate, ninja, robot, monkey in there somewhere...

[/ QUOTE ]

But she did work in a shoulder kitty. *golf clap*

OP, if you really want an informed opinion you need to not take screenies in the middle of the night.

Synapse is totally hitting on him.

Beautiful work!

Mmmm... I'm a Lover, not a fighter.

[edit. Aeclectic Tarot - Illustrations and reviews of hundreds of decks. No need to do a Rider-Waite/Colman clone. I'm certainly not. ]

Exterminate! Exterminate!!

I'd love to try one. It *is* Rainbow Arcana's nature.

[ QUOTE ]
Just for an FYI the OP did say it was their first guide. And as such should be given a bit of help in correcting it.

[/ QUOTE ]

With all due respect, whether it's the OPs first guide or their tenth is beside the point. When one writes and presents a guide (and yes, I have done so on this forum) that author assumes the weight of responsibility for the content and its impact on its readers. The advice in this guide, if followed faithfully, would result in a badly built, badly conceptualised and seriously substandard boat anchor of a character, one that would be difficult to lvl, frustrating to play and painful to team with.

As for being given "a bit of help in correcting it", the OP has been advised politely, constructively and repeatedly by more veteran players. He has rationalised his lack of solid knowledge, ignored and rejected that feedback and denied any responsibility to the player base to whom (by writing a guide) he is presumably attempting to be of service.

Woo! necro'ed by a test pattern! We Rock!

[ QUOTE ]
Well, I started a fire/ps tonight and I don't find fire's control power better than Gravity at the moment. It starts with immob and hold. I took Hold. And then it has access to aoe immob which I am trying to avoid. And then it goes to Smoke, which I really don't find the need for it. People say they use it to build domination but the recharge is "slow" isn't it? How effective is that except it doesn't draw aggro? I am not going to sit there and keep hitting Smoke to build Domination. That's just dumb. (unless the # in the guide is wrong. The recharge is quite slow)

[/ QUOTE ]

This is a bit OT to the thread but do take Smoke and love it. The highest lvl Dom in my VG (bypassed me recently since Venus is retired until they eff'n FIX DOMs) is a Fire/Ice. He never worries about those down times between fights for bio, smoke break, strategy confab, etc., or what they're doing to his Domination bar. He stands there casually spamming smoke on the next mob and by the time everyone is back and hitting F7 he's got Domination ready to fire.

[ QUOTE ]

The Brutes on my party this morning were bragging how easy RSF mish is.... and they were the first ones that REQUESTED for a Corruptor to heal/buff them. They actually ask the leader (who is a Stalker) to find a Corruptor. The first time we tried the mish on relentless, we got owned by those Wailers. I had a feeling they didn't want me... lol

Then they added two Thug MMs and a Corruptor with Warm. The mish becomes instant easier. The MMs were using tar patch, fearsome stare. I don't think they really miss my holds... and my damage was barely noticeable in comparison to Brute/Stalker's AS. Those Energy Brute can stun too and one of the Brutes is a Dark/Dark with fear aura. God, I so wanted to quit my Dom. I could hold the boss which they could kill in like 10s.

[/ QUOTE ]

You've put your finger right on the problem. Dominators are supposed to be the "controlling" AT in CoV but by the late game control is either unneeded, unachievable or both. Brutes have massive damage and excellent survivability. Add Taunt or a damage aura and most can manage mob control on their own. Add Corrupters with powerful buffs and debuffs to support the Brutes and you're set. Add an MM for insurance and you've added more control, more damage and more debuffs in one package.

Factor in that the late game features a long series of EBs and/or AVs who mostly can't be held (only debuffed).

So why, with all this control, survivability and firepower, would you want to include a high-maintenance squishy with crappy damage that you don't need, crappy low-mag short-duration holds that don't work on any opponent dangerous enough to the Brutes to be bothered holding, and who needs to be healed and babysat constantly to keep alive?

Answer: You don't.

Positron, I'm happy to hear that you and States you're enjoying your Dominators. Like States, I enjoyed mine when he was still in his 30s.

If you are planning AT changes based on a toon you have only played to the high 30s then you are going to miss the real point of all the complaints about the AT - That all of the problems people have pointed are immensely exacerbated after lvl 40. It's nice that you like your Dom now. Please stop by and tell us how much you like him after you complete your first patron arc.

I've played for a long time, seen 6 out of 7 issues hit the servers, leveled two 50s, talked my SG through ED panic, but playing a lvl 40 Dominator did something that no other bump or crisis in this game has achieved... A week after I7 dropped I was so disappointed I was ready to quit. For the first time in 20 months of play I felt cheated and wanted my money back.

What Doms need is not better Domination. That's just going to make them more binary then they already are.

- If Dominators are expected to go into melee they need shields and status protection that is available at all times.
- They need hard controls that are recharged and ready to go in every fight, not every second or third.
- They need control over their pet(s) so they can be used strategically and safely.
- They need a hit point boost. No Dominator should ever have fewer HP then their own pet.

So that's what happened to you! If your duties permit, you're still family and welcome anytime.

Fathom doesn't have an active account right now but he asked me to post the following message:


Thanks to RA for posting this message for me. I may of left COH, but I never left the LoF family. So here is to LoF, may the next year be greater then the last! Now everyone bend over for your birthday spankings! =)

Currently playing in WOW:
Kymera - 60 - Mage - Medivh
Theryla - 60 - Rogue - Medivh
Charade - 55 - Warlock - Bronzebeard

History of the Legion of Freedom

Early LoF history from Snipe's own words...

quote:

I am SnipeFu. Been using this name for about 5 years through UT and some other games. I started playing about May or June of last year [ed.2004].

I created Legion of Freedom. Originally I created an SG called The Defenders of Zion, I met Dr. Flo in IP, we duoed and she kept me alive, way back in the day and so I invited her to the SG. She joined but was wary of the religious undertone of the name of the SG. So we came up with Legion of Freedom. MsKnight joined shortly afterward, we met him in Talos, hunting on the islands way out there.

We had a nice little SG forming and Dr. Flo MsKnight and I bumped into this troller on a mission, named Unknown Blaze. Well we noticed he was SGless and scooped him up right quick. Hallucard was also in there quite early, he is a BS/Regen scrapper and back before people knew what Regen scrappers were capable of he was figuring it out and shredding stuff in Bricks while the rest of us tagged along like little wannabes.

The SG grew to a decent size and like most other SGs, once WoW and EQ2 came out, combined with the fact the our mains were hitting 50 and were playing alts and SG communication and global communication wasn't around yet, the SG kinda got quiet.

Until, MsKnight made 1 little post on the blaster forum....Then we blew up over night. It was exhilerating at first, we were so excited to have such veteran players and famous forum posters and what not to get on board with us.

The Great Blaster Migration

In early 2005, the Legion of Freedom was struggling. Players left for other games. The veteran players who remained were scattered on unknown alts and had semi-retired their level 50 characters. The Legion was in active negotiations to join the Virtue Honor Guard. If the proposed merger was finalized, the Legion would have ended.

In early May of 2005, MsKnight (aka EnergyStar) made a post on the blaster forum to come to Virtue server and play with the Legion. It was an open invitation to any player that wanted a friendly environment for their AT. Several blaster forum regulars heeded MsKnight's call to action and joined the Legion of Freedom on the Virtue server with new characters. Among those that joined are a number of prominent members that are with us today: Rainbow Avenger (current LoF leader) and Faou (LoF forum moderator). A few other members, including Kindle, Karma Cop, Freedom Fury, Bayani (formerly Matches Malone) and Kurse Darkstone joined prior to what is now known as the Great Blaster Migration of 2005. The migration attracted a broad cross section of the prominent forum posters of the time, including Cornan, Torakage, Ohms, Gigaton, Iron Vixen, Wintercat, Black December and Cinderblaze.

Almost overnight, the Legion of Freedom exploded from a small SG with a couple of dozen players to a large one containing well over a hundred members. Snipe, MsKnight and Unknown Blaze, the LoF leaders organized these new heroes into four SGs: Legion of Freedom, The Legion of Freedom (with the 'The'), Legion of Freedom - Reserves. Black December founded Legion of Freedom - Delta (for PvP and RP player - yes, both!). Legion of Freedom - Delta was relaunched in response to the SG and Prestige changes in late 2005 and is now the Legion of Freedom - Special Operations. The LoF Universal chat channel unifies them.

"Blasters are Heroes Too", the Blaster Forum Coup and CuppaJo

For the longest time, the blaster AT was considered the ignored AT within the City of Heroes. Tremendous offensive capabilities without the ability to mitigate incoming damage and status effects left many blaster players in a perpetual state of perma-debt. Many blasters recounted how they stayed at the debt cap throughout their entire hero career.

To help combat negativity, Freedom Fury asked that all blaster forum regulars should adopt a forum avatar containing the phrase "Blasters are Heroes Too". FF never thought it would catch on. However, with the help of Faou and other blaster regulars, many blasters began to adopt the avatar and the phrase. There are still forum posters with the avatar this very day. However, this small event was a mere tremor for the great events that were to unfold soon thereafter.

On May 31, 2005, the Legion of Freedom led an assault on the City of Heroes Blaster forum. Sickened by the tremendous amount of negativity within the forum, the prominent blasters regulars posted the following message:

quote:
I, [state your name], Love My Blaster Because...

Well over a hundred posts dominated the forum for the entire day. The complete domination of the forum with "I Love My Blaster" posts made news, and was widely reported in several MMO and gaming websites. It also got the attention of the development team to look at issues with the blaster AT. The great pouring of positive feelings into the forum purged it of the negativity that had haunted it for so long. LoF members monitored the forum for the entire day reading posts and answering questions to ensure that the forum continued to function despite the upheaval.

Due to these events, CuppaJo, the COH forum moderator, joined the Legion of Freedom in game for a SG meeting, where she was made an honorary LoFer.

The Unseen Hand

With the advent of the City of Villains, the Legion of Freedom decided to make a presence in the Rogue Isles. The idea for the Dominion was first presented by Bayani. Bayani, Kurse Darkstone and a number of outsiders formed the Unseen Hand, the VG that was to form the backstory for the Dominion. This group eventually led to the founding of the Moirai and it's sister group, the Fallen Legion.

From Kindle:
quote:

Thanks to Synergy One, we have a new City of Villains SG. The Moirai (link courtesy of Ohms).

The Moirai will share recruitment, behavior, and other policies with the Legion of Freedom. It will be composed entirely of LoF members at the start, and any new members added must follow the same policy and procedure as new members of LoF. It will, in most ways, be a mirror image of LoF.

Freedom Diversification

Because if CoX can do it so can we! As with any SG, people come and go. As our community grew in depth and breadth we were unwilling to lose the company of old friends merely because they were playing a different game. In the winter of 2006 we expanded our forum to welcome discussion from Legion members who were playing games in addition to CoX. Today our website is also the home of Night Requiem, our sister guild in World of Warcraft. Night Requiem is still led by SnipeFu, who remains our esteemed founder and leader emeritus.

Ch-ch-ch-Changes

In July of 2005 Snipefu passed active leadership to Fathom, who instituted our ancient and honourable tradition of e-spanking for minor infractions. On his departure for (what Faou called) Farglefantasyhobbitland the mantle of leadership descended upon Rainbow Avenger who has been trying to chew a hole through it ever since.

Today

The Legion of Freedom is, in the words of our house bard Torakage, "The Seinfeld of SGs - not "about" anything." LoF remains a diverse collection of power gamers, PvPers, role players, forum wh*res and everything in between. We are among the most recognized supergroups on the Virtue servers and have undertaken events that have drawn notice, praise, admiration and threats of mass forum bans.

Current Organisation Includes...

Legion of Freedom (main SG)
Legion of Freedom - Reserves (for alts)
Legion of Freedom - Heroes of the City (for 50s)
Legion of Freedom - Special Operations (for PvP and RP)
The Moirai (for villian breadwinners)
The Fallen Legion (for senior villians)

The Legion of Freedom lives at www.lof-online.com


Written by Freedom Fury. With edits and updates by Rainbow Avenger, Synergy One, Karma Cop and Fathom.

It was one year ago today that SnipeFu taught the band to play. *Lifts a glass* Here's an e-toast to The Legion of Freedom, the finest group of people I've ever had the pleasure to play with.

Very well done!

I do believe you undervalue Stygian Return a bit. True, as self-rez powers go it's not the best. Unlike Rise of the Phoenix it does not affect its target(s) in any way, so you end up rezzing into an alert, undamaged mob who can beat you back down.

However... During the animation you are immune to attacks and can queue other powers. So the best way to use Stygian Return if the fight is still raging is to immediately queue up Black Dwarf and rez straight into Dwarf form.

It's a Quality of Life power that makes you more independant.

(Final chapter of this thread. More to come. Special thanks to ChaosJuice!) Apologies to all for the delay but especially to CJ. Hope the result was worth the wait



White Light. Soft, welcoming sleep. Like an enormous, loving hug...

"Get up!"

No, make the voice go away...

"Get up and Run, Squiddy!"

"Oh what now?" Rainbow thought, his mind snapping into focus with absurd clarity. Gazing towards the heavens the white light shrank to a great, bright star in the dark night twinkling impossibly huge in his bleary vision. His other eye inched open and the blurry impression resolved into a tall figure in midnight blue. Glasses, starry chest, white flames. His eyes travelled down. Waist, hips... "Oh my" he thought, "Nice package!" Deep in Rains abdomen a muscle twitched. His failing heart gave a great answering thump as the wounded man felt a sudden urge to be alive again. Through the pain he broke into a wide, silly grin.

"Can you move, Rain?"

The face snapped into mental focus. ChaosJuice, one of the cities most powerful Fire Blasters. Rain had always wondered just how chaotic his juices were but had never found the right time to pop the question. This certainly wasn't it. Damn.

"You really shouldn't be here, y'know."

*He's right Rain.*

"Nic!? You're alive?" His heart bounded again.

*Barely.* The aliens voice was weak, even humbled in tone. *This isn't our place. Not now. Not yet.*

"I know why you came," ChaosJuice continued, "and I have to respect that, but you can't do much against these guys as you are. Get safe. I gotta get back to the front."

Rain watched as the Blaster nervously watched him, glancing away constantly around him with mingled concern and fear. He felt a twinge of guilt. "I'm endangering him, wasting his time." he thought. He struggled to find the breath to say a few little words. "Heck" He thought "Might never get another chance."

"...k you... could maybe look me up sometime?"

ChaosJuice grinned and launched himself into the sky.

Rain watched as he vanished into the haze. "Was that a yes I wonder?"

Alone, he crawled slowly and painfully into the shadow of a wall. His whole body was a well of pain. From the west footsteps approached. Three or four sets of heavy shod boots, running in his direction. "Oh Goddess, more Freaks." A pang of fear chilled his heart, then a rising, red wave of anger. Summoning all the meager strength left in his shattered body he summoned the looming hulk of a Black Dwarf. Gravely wounded but still formidable, he waited.

Three Freak minions, one injured, ran into his face as they dodged around the corner. They recoiled, then snarled and drew their weapons. The huge alien lashed out with blind terrified fury.

"I...!"

-WHAM- He slammed his massive arms into the largest, tossing him head over heels.

"Have had ENOUGH...!"

-SLAM- A haymaker from a massive clawed fist stunned another of the gangsters.

"Of YOU!"

-RIP-

He reached deep into the wounded thugs soul and tore away his life force, dropping him to the ground. The throbbing in his head eased. His leg strengthened.

"THAT is for getting me out of bed!"

-WHAM-

"THAT is for peeing on me!"

-SLAM-

"THAT is for hurting Nic!"

-RIP- The great hole of pain suffusing his body faded. Strength flowed into him. He stopped, panting from effort.

The red haze of fury subsided and Rain found himself standing in a heap of crumpled Freak bodies, any one of which could get up again at any moment. He summoned the Nova and darted up, past the rooftops, farther, to the roots of the clouds and floated as light as the crosswinds.

The first glimmering of dawn's light illuminated the battlefield below. Smoke curled from torched and wounded buildings. Everyhere there was the flickering of lightning, or fire, or energy bolts. Gunfire crackled and echoed off the walls of Brickstown. Freaks were everywhere in the streets below, but they were running. Sometimes in organised retreat, mostly in anarchic disorder, but fleeing westward towards the Folly. They were broken. It was over.

Two clusters of flashing light marked where pitched battles still raged. He dipped a bit lower to survey the scene. "Babbage and the Paladin? What the ..." He pushed back his first impulse, his resolve hardened by anger and regret.

"Nic, whatever's going on down there they don't need us. There's more then enough heroes to deal with those two tin cans. We are so out of here." With a flick of his tail he turned and headed north to the tram.

Rainbow reflected on his fate. He had been soundly defeated. He was running but not, in his career as a Blaster, for the first time. He was hurt. He was humiliated. But he was alive. He had kept the faith, made a difference. And deep in his heart Nic was humming in that odd subvocal way he had, like the buzzing purr of an black alien kitten. Rain realised just how much he would miss it if it ceased.

"So my friend, it's a long trip home across four city zones. What do you want to talk about?"

*Talk?*

"That's what friends do Nic. They talk about anything and everything. They share their thoughts, their dreams, their secrets."

*What would you like to know, friend?* Nic's voice warmed.

A wicked smile crossed Rain's face. "Tell me where little Kheldians come from."

*Excuse me?*

"How do you reproduce? You have gender so you don't use budding or mitosis. But you spend all your time in physical hosts. So how do you do it?"

*That's very personal Rain.*

"Ok."

They flew in silence for a time. Transferring at the tram he decided to take the long way home. The early morning light over Talos Island lit diamonds far below them in the waters of the bay. The beauty of the site was well worth the detour.

"Nic?"

*Yes Rain?*

"Is it possible for you to unfuse, to leave my body without harm?"

*Yes, for short periods.* His mental voice carried a subvocal flavour of suspicion.

"Is it possible for you to manipulate physical objects in that form?"

*Small ones, yes.*

"Ah. In that case remind me to give you a quarter and send you to the movies next time Kace and I ...

*Oh alright! I'll tell you!*

Rain smiled.

*It starts when a Mummy Kheldian and a Daddy Kheldian love each other very, very much...*


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


Kid Clockwork shook his head as he heard the laughter from the stairwell. He had become accustomed to Rains new habit of talking to himself but laughing to himself was a new one. A muffled voice traveled through the door. "Well, when you're ready I'll be more than happy to help out...What? Sure, whatever species, I'm game. No, of course I won't laugh. Well not much anyway."

The young Outcast ran to the door to greet his mate. Shocked, he recoiled from the sight that greeted him. "Rain you have a black eye! You're covered in... oh my god is that blood?"

"It's nothing Babe. I'm fine." Rain said, unbuckling his tac belt and tossing it onto the armchair.

"The Freakshow invasion?"

"Under control. The big boys are cleaning up." he wandered past, pulling off his gloves and slapping them in a heap on the top of the television.

"Why did they invade?" the Kid asked, his voice raising with impatience. He hated having to follow Rain around prying bits of information out of him. It was frustrating enough when he didn't come home looking like he had been severely beaten.

"Who knows, who cares?" Rain said, kicking off his boots. "Who knows why Freaks do anything? Let the city reps figure it out." He lifted off the crossbelt and tossed it on the floor. The dirty leather uniform tunic followed it, flung into a corner.

"Speaking of Big Boys," he said, wrapping his arms around the younger mans waist and pulling him closer, "Did you miss me?"

Kace smiled. Looking into Rains eyes he saw peace. Whatever ordeal, whatever horrors he had endured in that place of death, he was obviously ok now. "Yeah, I missed you. Couldn't sleep." he whispered, leaning into the embrace and allowing their lips to brush together just slightly as he spoke.

"That sounds good Kace, because I'm ready to spend about a week in bed."

"God, Rain what an ordeal. You must be tired as death."

Rainbow took his lovers hands in his and moved them down to the zip on his leather pants. "Oh Babe." he purred, laying his hands on Kace's shoulders and pushing him down onto the bed, "Who said anything about tired?"


The End

(Next chaper from Blasters Open RP) How could we leave Sgt. Paine dead on the ground? Shame, shame.


The migration of the battle to the streets of Brickstown had saved Rain the dilemma of how he was going to get into Crey's Folly with a security card with the number "50" marked VOID in red and "26" stamped underneath. It didn't make him any safer. Slipping silently around the edges of battle shrouded in Shadow Cloak, he gave Respites to some, Enrages to others. He picked off the weakest of the fleeing wounded. Emboldened by the presence of warriors stronger then himself he darted into the field to tend to another fallen hero. He took the last pale blue vial from his belt and snapped it over the mans face, pouring the contents over his blue tinged lips. He held the young heroes chin and forced the liquid down his throat as he gagged and coughed back to life.

"Better? Now kite it kid. This is too big for you."

"Sgt. Paine looked over the Warshade with surprise. "You're one to talk! You're ..."

"An idiot. Yes, I know. But a good-looking one. Now retreat and regroup."

Rain checked his belt pouches. Empty. Time to retreat and stock up. His head spun with fatigue. &lt;Just a quick rest.&gt; Transforming to the glowing shape of a Nova he ghosted to the roof of a nearby building and slumped wearily against the air conditioning vent. &lt;Just 5 minutes - need to close my eyes.&gt; He bobbed gently in place for a moment before condensing back into human shape.

Nic?" Rain fumbled for the last few drops of water in his canteen.

*Yes?*

"When "I'm dead, will you take my form?"

*I don't understand.*

"The other shapes you taught me: the Nova, the Dwarf. They're the forms of other hosts you had long ago, right?"

*Yes, but...?*

"When I'm gone you'll have other hosts, other bodies. Will you teach them my shape?"

Rains eyelids were growing dangerously heavy as dusk bruised the sky. How long had he been fighting? 18 hrs? 20? "Thousands of years from now perhaps you'll have another host, another species. "When you do, will you remember me or walk in my body again?"

*!?!* The Nictus' emotions fed back into his own twisting in palpable shock. *They were different Rain, nothing to me. Bodies I wore, shapes I use. But you? I can't. I never thought of it. You ... you are...*

"Different?"

*Special. I cannot use you like that. You are my friend.*

Rain smiled sleepily, a ray of happiness in that field of hate and death. "I am?"

*I think so. I've never had a friend.*

Rain chuckled at the quiver of doubt in the aliens voice. "Yes, you are my friend." The warm feeling nudged him closer to deadly sleep. His chin nodded onto his chest. His weary frame betrayed him to slumber.

He was jerked awake by the sounds of raucous shouts. He snapped his eyes open to full darkness "Dammit, how long did I sleep? Of all the stupid, careless..." He peered around the edge of the vent. Freaks, about ten or twelve of them and scarcely six feet away. Three were fighting over a prize, a heroes battered helmet. The two Tanks were grunting primitive strategies for the next assault. Rain cringed back into the shadows as a Swiper walked over toward his hiding place. There was the mingled rustle of clothing and the jingling of chains, then the pattering of liquid against brick and the sour smell of ill-nourished male urine. Rain curled tighter with mingled fear and disgust as the trail of steaming liquid ran around the edge of the flue inching slowly toward him.

Nic whispered, *How do Swipers do that?*

"I have no idea and I don't want to find out."

*But don't you want to see?*

"Nic, a man does things like that to his body, I don't care how big it is anymore. Just keep it away from me."

He edged slowly away from the mob, crawling along the darker line of the shadow cast by the vents in the bright moonlight. Just thirty feet to the edge and out of sight. Twenty-five... He jumped as a round object landed with a loud thud by his head, spraying gravel into his face. He looked into the broken visor of a blue and white helmet. There was a wicked dent in the cranium.

"MINE! I got the first blow! ME!!

"F-ck you! I got the LAST blow! D'ja see her face? I'll smash you for it!

A heavy figure leapt with surprising agility over the vent chased closely by the glowing form of a Stunner. The big Freak ran to retrieve his prize. Scooping up the smashed helmet in one good hand he looked right into Rain's eyes a few feet away and grinned with insane glee.

"HERO! And this one's MINE!"

"Jeezuz, they've seen us. Bailing..." Invoking the swift and delicate shape of the Nova he sped away from the shouting mob of gangsters, trying to zig-zag out of range between the buildings. Bolts, bullets, a grenade narrowly missed him. "Luck is favouring us Nic." As the rooftop receded a Buckshot on the leading edge of the mob raised a heavy misshapen weapon. It's tip glowed with ugly red energy....

*Quant...!*

The pain ripped through Rain like a hot knife through his soul. Nic's wail of agony tore through his mind like a psychic attack. Stunned, he fell limp and helpless into the street below, into a seething crowd of confused, retreating Freaks. A panicked Smasher swung at his head flinging him into the air and onto his back with a sickening crunch of broken bone. The quantum weapon whined its deadly cry somewhere above and Rain flung his arm across his chest in a futile gesture of protection, as if the few extra inches of human flesh would stop the energy that would shred the Kheldian's being like a bullet shreds flesh.

Trying to get up, his left arm dragged weakly through a mess of gravel and sticky blood. Some automatic system registered his broken leg. Through the dizzy shock &lt;why is there no pain?&gt; Rain felt his spirit and body unraveling.

"For Gods' sake Nic, GO! This is over. Go now if you can! Go, and remember me!"

There was no answer, only a weak and fading touch, pale on his heart, slipping its grip. Nic was dying.

From somewhere behind him the blue torrent of a defending Blaster lashed through the wave of Freaks surrounding him, tossing them back and away from the fallen man like puppets on a string. They broke and ran. Through a half-lidded eye in his crushed skull Rain watched as the Buckshot on the rooftop above him raised his quantum gun again to fire. The gleam of the weapons muzzle pulsed violet against the full moon that rose behind the gunman casting his misshapen silhouette into shadow as dark as the Nictus.

With helpless, hynotised passivity he waited for his deathblow, a tear welling in his eye.

"Oh Nic" he whispered "The moon is beautiful tonight."

((Another bit from the Blasters Open RP thread))


Rain rolled over and opened his eyes. Kid Clockwork was sitting on the edge of the bed playing with his new city issued communicator.The sound was turned down to a murmuring whisper and the blue light of the screen flickered across his face.

"Kace? What's going on?"

The young Outcast started and jerked his attention from the glowing screen.

"Something big Rain. The channels are all lit up. A big Freak attack in Creys Folly is heading for the city. Heroes are responding from all over town."

Rain flung himself out of bed and stated fumbling in the dark room.

"And you didn't TELL ME? Goddammit Kace what were you thinking?"

Kace dropped the comm unit on the bed. "It's in Creys, dude. CREYS. You can't go there - neither of us can..."

"Bullsh-t!" he growled. The walls of the little room shook as he dug throught the closet in the dark, tumbling aside boxes and odd shoes looking for uniform parts. "My armor. Where's my body armour?"

"Off being retailored..."

Rain punched the wall angrily.

"You changed costumes remember?"

Rain fell rather then sat on the bed and started buckling his gloves and boots. The much abused springs in the old mattress squeaked and bounced the comm unit onto the floor with a clatter.

Kace leaned across the bed and grabbed his shoulder. "Rain you can't control your new powers well enough yet. You're going to get killed!"

Rain pushed the hand away and bounded toward the door. "Ow, sh-t!" Navigating the dark room he cracked his knee on a sidetable sending the bedside alarm clock flying with a tinny ring against the window sill.

"Christ Rain, you can't even defend yourself from the furniture!"

"I'll be fine. Someone will help me out, watch my back..."

"You don't know that.."

"Yes I do."

"How?"

Rain picked up the comm unit. Rolling his shoulders to shrug his crossbelt into position, he tucked the unit into his tac belt and snapped it into position.

"They're Blasters."


(to be continued)

Note: This a chapter in the Blasters Open RP thread located here. I have crossposted because it is part of the same story.

Rain sat in, or rather over, a pair of seats at the back of the room one leg flung with casual insouciance over the arm rest, the other on the back of the seat in front of him. The warm Spring day had given birth to a cold Spring night and he was beginning to regret not having changed out of his old Summer whites and into his heavier but warmer body armour. Nic (oh how he hated being called that) was sleeping and only the shadow in Rains eyes, a shade blacker then they once had been, betrayed that he was no longer alone behind them.

It was official: Ennui had set in. Boredom, Weltschmertz. A gaggle of young Blasters walked past the back of his head chattering excitedly about the insights they had gained. Green voices, he could almost hear their pimples. They made him feel old and a little bitter.

His tac belt vibrated. Phone. He fished out the small unit and checked the call display: Kid Clockwork.

"Yes Kace, it's breaking up. I'll be home in an hour."

*I like Kace.*

"You're awake."

*I like when he...*

"I know what you like."

*?*

"It was the sub-etheric screaming..."

*Ah*

"And the way I lost control of my left leg."

*...*

"Am I your first human host?"

*Yes*

"And your first willing one?"

His heart caught in a subvocal wince of discomfort.

"You don't have to tell me that... yet."

He flipped through the steno pad on his lap and scribbled a few more notes for the Electric Blast guide he was writing. Is "doodyhead" a word? No, too judgmental. Scratch. Somewhere backstage a custodian began dimming the stage lights. Rain unfolded himself from the auditorium furniture and tucked the notepad into his belt.

Too bloody cold and starting to drizzle. He started to walk the hundred yards back to the tram. A couple of Outcasts huddled under a building overhang turned their backs as he passed, waiting for easier meat. He flicked a hand out toward them. Nothing. The rancid light of the street lamps reflecting off of his now wet arms caught the white puckered flaw of the scar on his wrist where his torturers electrodes had once burnt through his flesh. He wiped the drops off and gazed at the old burn. How many were there again? Only Kase ever saw most of them. Sick, prurient, hypocritical bastards.

*Why are you agitated?*

"I could have blasted them once." he said, looking at the gang members. "My smallest charged output could have fried them. Gone."

*I cured you. Your body was distorted by drugs, by torture. I don't understand. I wanted to hel...*

"It was the only good thing that came out of that horror. The only meaning I could find in it. Can't you understand? Without my powers it was all for nothing. Without my powers... they won."

*You have others now. And more when you're strong enough.*

"Your powers."

*Our powers. Ours. Not the accidental power of untested chemicals. Our will. Not the will of your tormentors. You took the power they gave you and perverted it as they tried to pervert you.*

Rain shivered as the Nictus shuddered with painful memory.

*I know about control. Power stolen from others is an acknowledgment of slavery. Throw it away and strip the last electrode from your spirit.*

"Oi! What are you staring at?" One of the Outcasts had stepped out of the shadows.

*Do as thou wilt Rain. Do it*

The Outcast pulled a knife out of his sleeve. Two darker gashes in the black night struck him in the chest, flinging him against a wall. The clatter of cutlery echoed across the street as the knife bounced into a culvert. He picked himself up and ran.

"I should have taken him out."

*You will. You're getting stronger.*