TheDeepBlue

I'm wondering why no one has yet noticed that this guy has both blue and silver parts.

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Wow, you fit a lot of objectives into this map. The nav does look a bit cluttered so you might consider replacing the kids names with "4 Kids to Rescue"

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Iunno how to do that, though. I'm not even sure if its possible. They're all custom characters. Same thing with my clues.

Thanks for the rating.

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In the Shadow of the Towers, arc # 1402
(is this a reference to the twin towers by any chance?)

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Absolutely not. Lee Towers is canon, and important to the game's plot, but rarely mentioned.

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I'm a bit confused about the skulls motivation. They're intent on getting into this building, and yet have no idea what they'll find. Seems like a lot of effort and resources for a street gang to spend on this.

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Skulls are stupid.

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Be careful with big leaps in the story that don't directly effect the overall plot. For example, you say there's a list of addresses that might possibly have explosives and then say it is unimportant that we find them all.

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I think Rivers said that the cops couldn't find them all on their own and that they needed your help, but there might be something else in there that I can't remember at the moment.

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I think there are a couple things that could be wrapped up and clarified in this arc, even if you want to leave other things open for a continuation.

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May try to clear up some subtext at a later date, based on this and past reviews. As for a sequel, I'm worried that it might break canon.

Thank you for the review.

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The Next War on Drugs
Arc ID: 245042
Levels: AutoSK to 18-20 but completely playable by lower
Length: 5 missions (most are short). 45 min
Description: Street crime and drug trafficking are on the rise in Paragon City, and Back Alley Brawler wants your help to fight back. Learn about the history of the War on Drugs and investigate new threats. (More story than XP. Short quick missions, for lowbie/teen heroes. AutoSK)

Notes: For those who don't mind a lot of story in their story arcs. It's admittedly text heavy, but I hope I've somewhat made up for it by making the missions quick.

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4-starred. Some comments:

Mission 1: The Troll dialogue seems a little low key. That's me being nitpicky though.

Mission 2: I'm not sure that Security Guards are a good pick to be watching over the warehouse and mission objective. Why not the Skulls? They seem appropriately low tier and in line.

Mission 3: I liked this one. I've been pondering how to do an ally-filled mission for a while, and I think this has given me a few ideas. Also, I won't ever again complain about the amount of text that ends up in my own arcs.

Thanks for putting me in the queue.

All of the arcs in my signature should be fairly low level. Not sure on playtime, however. In any case, if you decide to give them a look, you'll have my thanks.

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I have been kicking and screaming to get it back for a while. I was very happy to see it back when I15 was in beta.

Screw you, simple belt! You are a blurry, pixelated, unsavvy beast and I will never use you again with office belt around.

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Perhaps, perhaps. But you cannot color Office Belt.

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As a minor point, can we get a bit more backstory in the Schadenfreude's bio about who this character is? My initial impression was that he was the Axis Earth version of Nosferatu, but that's just a guess.

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It says in his bio that he stayed with the Column when the Center made his move, and rose up through the ranks in the ensuing power gap.

It's not supposed to be considered 'money.' That's why it's called 'influence', because folks around the city are willing to help out the hero who's helped the city out so much.

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Under pants, yes. There are a few boot types that make excellent shoes like that. Last time I used the Cowboy Boots to simulate fancy pointed men's dress shoes

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This is actually what is done in one of the business suit preset costumes.

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Steam power doesn't necessarily mean high temperature or burning coal.

A nuclear reactor is a steam engine, as people have already pointed out.

A steam engine doesn't have to power a mechanical machine. It could be used to create electricity to run things like computers, electromagnets, etc.

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It's very true. The bummer thing is that nuclear power is a known technology, and it'd be kinda easy to figure out if Nemesis was using nuclear material. Doesn't mean it's out of the question, though...there just aren't many clues ingame as to how Nemesis' technology works. Part of the appeal, of course, but somewhat frustrating when trying to write anything about it, eh?

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If the internal pressure of the machine could be maintained below normal atmospheric pressure, the temperature to boil the fluid would be reduced as well. The fluid doesn't have to be water, it could be something that boils at a much lower temperature.

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Also true. I like this. Of course, this method would only seem to hold true for the Automatons; Jeagers and Warhulks still enjoy exploding their guts everywhere, much to everyone's detriment (except Nemesis'.)

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If you've got a Nemesis automaton with a steam engine in it, using lots of heat to make steam and keep it hot, that heat's got to go someplace. You can't just "install a cooling system" to make the machine put out only as much heat as a human body. If Nemesis technology is Exactly What It Says On The Tin, as the writers insist, then the only place for the heat to go is the environment around the robot, meaning not only would it stand out like a sore thumb on any kind of heat or IR sensor, but it may not even be too comfortable standing anywhere near one. If, on the other hand, Nemesis is using the same kind of Applied Phelbotinum as the rest of the world's super-science and superhumans in general (the customary favorite at least since Marvel's OHOTMU, being "extra-dimensional energy sources"), we're back to "Nemesis technology only looks archaic but is really cutting edge", only it's not described that way. It would mean that DATA, Aeon, etc. would easily be able to tell from examining it that the steam parts were useless cosmetic affectations and the real work was being done with the usual tricks, but instead the writers insist on:

1) Steam power
2) ????
3) Profit!

It's not cool, it's just bad writing and there's no justification for it.

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I swore to god I wouldn't get involved in this thread, as it's just really bad for my heart, but I had to, had to, against my better judgement, at least offer up something just to get it out of my head.

The primary problem people keep pointing out about Nemesis' automatons is that if they really were powered by steam, there would have to be a release of steam of some sort and it would be shooting out of their ears and eyes in a terribly comedic fashion and ruin the disguise. The secondary problem is that they would be "noisy."

The second problem can be solved in part through heterodyning, or the mixing of two waveforms. If another waveform is produced that has a structure opposite to the waveform created through the automatons normal operations, the sound it makes could be greatly reduced or completely nullified. They use this on sports cars and submarines and such, I believe.

The primary problem, with excess steam, can be seperated into three things:
1) Heat
2) Vapor
3) Pressure

1) My theory is that the heat can be reduced through energy absorbative materials. Different substances require different amounts of energy in order to be raised to a certain temperature; the concept is specific heat, I believe. What is this material that can absorb so much energy from steam? I dunno, I'll leave that to the writers. In any case, the idea here is that an IR scanner reads temperature, not energy.

2) There could be some sort of condensing system within the automaton's mechanical guts to turn the water vapor into liquid water. How much? I don't know, but it couldn't have been a lot to begin with if it were to fit inside a small engine that could fit within a human sized robot. In any case, if there's an excess amount that needs to be removed, it could be disguised as perspiration, saliva, or other bodily fluids.

3) Excess pressure could be relieved, disguised as normal respiration, perhaps. It wouldn't be nearly as boiling hot or steamy any more, but normal human respiration does release heat and moisture, and this could be considered to be the 'steam release' mentioned way up above, if you're willing to believe it.

I'm not saying that I know exactly what materials or structure this process would use, I'm saying that this is the process one might use. Could it go on indefinitely? Of course not. Even the automatons need recharging. Consider it a lunch break. So what do they do, eat coal or drink water? I don't even know. In fact, nobody really knows how the current line of Nemesis steam engines works. They might not even use coal.

In any case, if people thought you were bumbling and goofy enough to try and use steam technology in the modern era, with all its supposed clankiness and steaminess, and if you used outdated Victorian vernacular and decorated your equipment with fine, expensive details, if your actual level of technological sophistication and competency on the matter were much higher than you let on in public, you too could probably fool people rather easily...when you really wanted to do so.

I've heard that the villain arc in my signature is a little villainous.

Hey there! I noticed you reviewed #1402. Thanks!

I thought I'd offer up a couple of links to clarify a few subtle things about the arc, just for fun.

Link 1

Link 2

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Arc Id #2260 (5 stars. And I don't mean 'it just barely made the grade.' This was a *solid* 5 stars, IMO)

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Thank you for the review!

Good luck with your character!

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This one in particular I think is his best.

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And the setting is in freakin' Galaxy City! Oh, irony. XD

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Blue, you just blew my mind. Mind you, I find your ideas silly and their thought process to be flawed and terrible like your braincase, but that is an insightful observation, and for it I will opt to not eat your brain. Case.

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I see how it is. You're just not capable of appreciating art this pure.

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Arc Name: Stop the evil gang group
Arc ID: 39874
Why you think it deserves to be played/discussed: Super duber girl is my contact and informs me that "Not a mission to take lightly" and sends me on mah way. I zone into the mission (1 room map) and the navigational text has "All Consuming Hatred" as my mission objective.

So I'm wondering what in the world that is when suddenly a tiny-sized fire/kin controller comes zipping in and starts attacking. It's name is, of course, All Consuming Hatred (or the ACH as I call it).

After a quick beat down the mission completes and I get my briefing message of: WOW!!!!! you have returned.

Total Playtime: About a minute because ACH got off one heal.

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If I may.

Many of you might think, at first, that this one mission arc is a prime example of the laziness and ineptitude that can be found riddled throughout the Mission Architect in its present form. I'm going to ask you to stop that train of thought right there.

Bear with me.

Everyone understands that the purpose of the Mission Architect isn't just to allow us to collect a bunch of badges or grind experience through new content, it's a way for players to express their feelings, opinions, and creativity in a unique and contemporary way that other people can experience firsthand. Consider the synopsis of the arc that Talia has provided above: the player enters the map, easily finds a villain named All Consuming Hatred, and defeats it just as easily.

On the surface this appears to be nothing more than a simple and unelegant throw-away mission created by the author. A message, however, must be clear enough for the intended observer to understand and appreciate. The message that the author wishes to convey, obviously, is that hatred is easy to find, be it on a one room map, outside of that map, or even within ourselves if one only chooses to look for it, and with even a minimal amount of effort this hatred can be defeated.

I expect the Mission Architect to provide more of this deep, thoughtful content in the future, and anticipate further releases by this author.

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No offense to anyone but is it me or is Stateman's speech sounding something along the lines of what President Bush gave to the public before invading Iraq.

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Little does Statesman know that the Web's true purpose is to pirate free cable TV to the citizens of Grandville and all of the Rogue Isles!

Although, considering the brain-rotting capabilities of television these days, it really could be a WMD...

On the sixth day of Christmas, the gaming gods gave to meeee,

Six Morts a-rezzing,
Fiiiiive Super Arachnoids!
Four Master Illusionists,
Three Nerva Spectral Lords,
Two Air Thorn Casters
And a Sapper in a Devouring Earth Treeeeee!

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While there IS a huge flying saucer in the Rikti Crash Site, I have yet to see any evidence that it is capable of space flight.

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From the Paragon City History

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And so it went across the city. The aliens outnumbered the heroes at least one hundred to one, maybe more. It was impossible to get accurate numbers as the portals had allowed them access to the entire city at once. The fighting raged on through the rest of the night. After six hours, the heroes had managed to clear the skies of the large attack craft, some of which had retreated either up into space or out over the ocean (none of the aliens ever went back through the portals). By the dawn of the 24th, Paragon City had been effectively divided into a patchwork of human and alien controlled neighborhoods, with constant combat raging at every border. Both sides began to erect walls and other static defenses to secure their territory. Many of these border defenses eventually became the walls that currently divide Paragon City into its many neighborhoods.

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C'mon, dude. It's a flying saucer.

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And "100 times" isn't accurate, it would actually be 100 minus however many Infected you actually did defeat in Outbreak. You have to defeat at least 9 (IIRC?) to get out of Outbreak, so 91 times at the most

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The thing is, the number of Infected you defeated didn't start getting tracked until Issue 2.