Steampunkette

Standardized Code Rant applies.

And yes. i did mean Standardized. You see, to alter the way SFs reward merits on the 18 hour limit of Diminishing returns they'd have to revamp how the game sees them, as I'm sure it's identical to TFs except for their names. You'd need to create a separate code-base in order to get it fully functional. The separate code-base being "Strike Force" as opposed to Task Force/Co-Operative Task Force.

That, in itself, is an incredibly amount of work just to implement this idea. However it gets a bit more difficult when it comes time to implement due to coding artifacts, glitches, and updates. You see, even when two items seem -utterly- unrelated there's still the chance of coding conflicts and glitches or bugs. This is why the Female Arachnos Soldiers recently lost their collars for no quantifiable reason.

So I'm going to vote "No". If you want to farm merits run the Strike Forces, then the Co-op TFs, and then hit Oroborous to run some story arcs. And anyone who can run ALL of the Heroside TFs in 18 hours or less is a danged MACHINE. I mean ALL the Shadow shard TFs and the others? -wow-.

-Rachel-

The US Government is not the Evil Empire you see in the X-Men movies. Superheroes would not be dragged off to containment centers for vivisection, dissection, or any other brutal surgeries.

Why? Because it's an incredibly public figure doing an incredibly public service. Sure you can make Joe Schmoe, cornerstore deli owner vanish without -too- much trouble. But do me a favor and disappear Paris Hilton. The backlash of her disappearance and societal upset would be pretty harsh. And if the conspiracy theorists were right, and they would be, there's a -chance- that the action would be traceable back to the government. One "Daily Show" book-push later and the Government's got a huge issue.

Ultimately it would be in the Government's best interest to handle the situation -delicately-. Not only for the PR/backlash from the populace. But the last thing anyone wants is to create a super-villain. For the most part I imagine the government would handle costumed crimefighters like it would handle war heroes. So long as they're not -too- destructive and actually save people, rather than endangering them.

At least some portion of the government would want to quantify the superheroes, of course. And you'd wind up with a Hero Registration act on the floor of congress. Who knows if it would actually -pass- or not. But it would be there.

But no. They would not capture, contain, quarantine, study, and vivisect or dissect a superhero. Supervillain? Plausible. Vigilante? Possible but not Probable.

-Rachel-

Awesome idea!

Functionally impossible.

The reason you get shunted back to where you were when you exit a supergroup base is that it's an instanced map. Sure, multiple people can share that map without teaming, once it's open. But for all intents and purposes it's an instanced map. The game keeps track of where you enter an instanced map so it can return you to the same door you left the map on. This avoids players entering a mission in Salamanca and exiting it in Atlas Park.

This technology was applied to the Base Teleporter only because the Supergroup base is an Instanced map. It's why you can walk out to the same base-entrance you left instead of loading into one blue particle field and loading out in another zone. Again, Salamanca and Atlas Park.

However, the Pocket D is a zone-map or Static map. Multiple instances can be opened when the zone is considered "Full" but even when noone is in it the zone still exists in the server memory.

For this functionality to be applied the D would have to be turned into an instanced zone as opposed to a static one. And I can't imagine all the problems that could and probably would from trying to alter it so radically.

Though, still, I'd love to see it.

-Rachel-

I don't know if I believe heroes would be harassed by the paparazzi. I think it entirely depends on their method of doing things -and- their method of travel.

For Example!

Batman style hero: Always in poor lighting, uses alleyways and rooftops to travel around stealthily, strikes hard and retreats out of sight. Also: Has no problem crushing cameras. Assuming the Paparazzi could even -find- him to take the pictures or question-assault him, he's a vigilante. Broken cameras, destroyed film, and late night intimidation visits of a Dark knight standing at the foot of your bed, glowering down at you with the hate and pain of all of your nightmares! "Don't. Do it. Again. I know where you live. I know where you sleep." Sure there'd be bad press... But would Batman give half a damn?

Superman-powered hero; Heat vision, super-speed, flight. The Red Blue Blur is actually a good description of what the Paparazzi would get of a superman-powered hero in real life. Follow him home? HOW?! Man flies cross-country faster than the human eye can follow. Most people would be aware of the general direction he was flying, but so long as he was careful he'd be fine... And with super-hearing, super-smelling, and Automated Super-Hypnosis from putting on his glasses: We can be sure he'd be fairly careful.

Martian Manhunter: Change Form. Done. This works for most form-changing heroes.

And -then- you have heroes like my Hero in the Isles SG Leader. People who just -don't- take off the mask. She's been wearing it since ""Hardcastle" was created. Even wears it in the shower!

How about Rorschach, Spiderman, The Shocker, and other characters who wear full-face masks over features noone knows anything about?

Ultimately whether they're revealed or not depends on their reactions to the paparazzi, their powers, their methods, and their attitudes toward their status as a hero.

-Rachel-

The only issue is making it visually appealing for every player who wants to play a wizard. Do you imagine wizards having semi-tangible runes appearing at their hands when they cast spells? Or do they -just- cast the spell?

So do we use Dethek runes? Actual runes from Scandinavia? Mu, CoT, or Banished Pantheon runes? The same style of runes the Patron Power Pool sets use? Does it float over the ground or is it like the Legacy Chain rune traps, flat on the surface? Won't always be obvious on uneven ground as parts or even all of the debuff is hidden below ground.

SOME of this problem could be ameliorated with powerset customization and multiple designs of rune or floating rock to choose from. For example I might want floaty rune about my character rather than the orbiting stone.

And then you get into the -balance- issue of having four ground target area of effect powers which, by the way, a player can place from around corners. Don't believe me? Grab an earth controller or dom, get Quicksand, and try it yourself. No line of sight needed. It could quickly get out of hand as you place AoE after AoE without ever being in any real danger.

If they were to put such a powerset in the game I would kindly ask the devs to work on powerset customization for the elemental blast sets that Defenders can choose from to allow for more "Magic" options and appearances. Namely having fire/Ice/Electric/Energy blast swap out the current particle effects and animated projectiles with rune-clusters and the like.

-Rachel-

I'd roll back the PvP changes and add in self-flagging for PvP in any zone you like, including bases.

I'd remove the "No Teleporting in the D" code, as it's unfair to one travel power.

I'd probably hire composers to create music for the game itself, rather than just the opening chords when you zone.

Dozens of new powersets, at least 3 new ATs.

The Moon Zone.

"World of Heroes" opening up dozens of zones in countries all over the world and different parts of the US, as well.

Patron power pools and Ancillary power pools opened to both sides. New patrons would include the Freedom Phalanx, the Vindicators, Longbow, The Midnighters, Vanguard, The Council, and The Circle of Thorns in the first wave. notice the heroes get 3 Patrons, villains get 2 new ones, and both sides can access the Midnighters or Vanguard.

And soooooooo much more. >.>

-Rachel-

As I've said, before. Discussing Good and Evil from different viewpoints is -fine-. But without the same definitions you're discussing apples to oranges.

My definition of Good and Evil is simple, clear, concise, and handles every situation absolutely. If it spreads or inflicts emotional or physical pain it is evil. If it fosters emotional or physical wellbeing it is Good.

Notice that I didn't say "Good" things make people happy, or raises someone's emotional quotient to a positive place. Why? Because you can't expect to make people -happy- with every good act. But keeping them from harm is a damn fine goal.

Is killing a man in cold blood evil by my definition? Yes. You inflict pain and emotional distress on him in the last moments of his existence, and a lasting emotional pain on any family members or friends that might survive him.

Is killing a man in self-defense evil by my definition? Yes. You inflict pain and emotional distress on him in the last moments of his existence, and a lasting emotional pain on any family members or friends that might survive him.

Whether or not something is justifiable becomes the subjective part.

So, OBJECTIVELY, the act of killing is Evil. SUBJECTIVELY it can be the right thing to do by being the lesser of two evils based on personal perception.

Without a definition for evil you're going to waste your time arguing in circles until someone starts quoting a Bible. And then the thread will lock and we'll all be annoyed. Agree on a definition of evil and stick with it as a -group- or expect a mod-hammer.

-Rachel-

*waves at Electric Knight!*

Ultimately the whole topic is fairly subjective. I prefer to use objective terms on Good and Evil, personally. but some people simply can't accept absolutes, and thus argue the semantics of my point rather than the point itself.

Good and Evil, as I've defined them, are objective. If it causes emotional or physical distress and pain it is evil. If it fosters positive emotional wellbeing then it's good.

Right and Wrong are, to me, the subjective versions of Good and Evil.

For example: Killing a baby to bring in a good harvest for the village. Good or Evil? Well the -act- is evil, even if the intent and result are good. is it the Right thing to do? Possibly, based on the community's moral and ethical structure. But the act itself, the murder of the baby, is still evil.

By the definition I've set forth, that Evil spreads (or in this case inflicts) emotional or physical pain, killing the baby is an evil act. If you're working with a different definition of evil, feel free to define it. And then show me how the murder of an innocent is not, in fact, evil.

-Rachel-

Firstly you've got to define Good and Evil... Since different people have different definitions.

Personally I prefer the following definitions.

Evil: Generally Selfish acts or acts which spread emotional or physical pain.

Good: Acts which are altruistic in nature, helping others, supports emotional well being.

Now with Good and Evil so defined...

If you mean Good (Altruism, Helping others, Supporting Emotional Well Being) but do something Evil (Spreads Pain) then you've performed an Evil act... Regardless of motive.

If you mean Evil (Selfish Acts for Selfish Reasons) but do something good (helping Others by doing it) you've performed a good act for an evil reason.

As you can see, the Act itself is unchanged based on motivation... The person is either good or evil by their own nature. A Good person who spreads emotional and physical pain by committing an evil act, with the best of intentions, is still vilified by the act.

An evil person who does a good thing for evil purposes is still an evil person, even though he's held aloft as a hero.

It's not a question of Good or Evil, under this definition. It's a question of Right, Wrong, and public opinion of the acts.

-Rachel-

Well for those of you actually interested -in- Hero in the Isles based Roleplay I'm starting a Supergroup on Virtue, Redside, called The SPEAR.

It stands for Supers Protecting the Etoille Against Ruin. In character we've got people lobbying for recruits in both Paragon and the Rogue Isles. Don't have a "Functional" base, yet, since we're just starting... But it involves being openly heroic in the Isles and seeking out allies to help defend yourself against Recluse's Revenge.

There's actually been some confusion over the "Might makes Right" Darwinian law of Recluse's. The fact is, YES, might makes right in the Isles. But he's the Mightiest and specifically -hates- heroes... So expect IC reprisals in the form of AE arcs and the like in which powerful Arachnos Agents or Destined Ones come after the Supergroup.

Contact @Steampunkette or @Dynama for more detailed info or questions!

-Rachel-

I'd rather see specific wing-sets rather than multiple unlockable wings....

It's hard enough on my suspension of disbelief that we still have to wait until 20 for capes even after the opening of the capsule, Having Anime characters running around with six wings lording over two-winged people as "Lower Level" just boggles the mind.

If they put in multiple-wings it should be like the Insect Wings: A recipe craftable at level 1. Not a level-gated status symbol which makes next to no sense. "I'm level 20?! Huzzah!" *sprouts -another- set of wings*

-Rachel-

Eh...

I'd rather not have my heroes going to "Heaven" kicking butt, and then coming back. I don't think there's a way to make it anything but nonsensical.

Aquatic Zone and Moon Zone, please.

-Rachel-