Turgenev

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We have Rose an' Turg left ta run on the JFS Debt Run Contest.
I figger this weekend we kin do'm.

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Can you accommodate 9pm EDT Saturday? I'll block that time out for you and your cohorts.

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Are we talking about LaserCthulhu?

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Sorry, just needed to fix that.

*goes back to his home server*

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Well, that's just terrific. Way to go, man. You just doomed us all to unimaginable horrors.

I hope you are satisfied.

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You bet your Cthulhu fhtagn I'm satisfied.

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Are we talking about LaserCthulhu?

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Sorry, just needed to fix that.

*goes back to his home server*

Update:

Well, I was on Test with this arc and was able to duplicate the bug again. Sent up a petition, and got a GM 30 mins later to check the map out with me (was idling in the mish at work). Here's what we found:

1. The boss never spawned (so it wasn't like he spawned and was off map somewhere).
2. QA seems to think it's the map I'm using (Vaults of Mu), but they don't have anything conclusive as of yet.
3. They also suggested I try to trim back my spawns "just a little" to see if it makes a difference. (Harkens back to LJ's spawn count theory.)

I'll be tweaking the mish on Test tomorrow from work based on their recommendation to see if it's duplicable or not. (Will prolly drop the patrol completely and see if that does anything.)

I'll login around 930ish tonight. Had a small panic moment when I got to my mom's apartment in NYC today - my wireless broadband modem was choking on the drivers, requiring reinstall. Which requires internet access. Which I get from the wireless broadband modem.

You see the repeating loop. Anyway, found another copy on my local disk, installed that, am ready to float this.

You guys pick my toon. I can't decide, and I have to take my mom to an overdue Mother's Day dinner at Punta Dura (apparently, it's where the Sopranos shot a lot of their footage... I love that I grew up in Mafiatown). Gonna focus on the mama for now, but here are your choices:

1. Doc Turg: Ill/Storm controller
2. Blackest Light: Warshade
3. Cerulean Skie: elec/nrg blaster

Choose for me, I'll refresh this page later tonight.

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Or for the cost of say......5000 Architect Tickets you can purcase an Anniversary badge that your character doesn't have. Thus you can obtain it for any character of yours that accumulates enough tickets....or none.

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IF your account was active at that time.

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Which would then lead to farming tickets/merits/etc.

For an anniversary badge that you didn't get for your toon because they weren't around for it for X reason.

...Why have an anniversary badge then if you're going to water down its intent so much?

Thanks for taking the time to reply. (And retroactive continuity is a method, it's not a logic.)

What's the benefit of leaving it as it is? Continuity for one; the badge states "You get this for doing X". It signifies a character presence for an anniversary. It's a visual cue as to when the toon came into being. It doesn't cause harm by staying as it has for the last four years.

For those people who made characters, but want more thematically appropriate sets? I think, instead, there should be an "epic respec", honestly: Where your character is reborn, atom by atom, according to a fresh design. Maybe you ticked off some god. Or you shoved your face into a microwave wearing your tinfoil helmet. THAT's common in comics too. And, it has a much wider scope of impact than just five badges.

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Then there are also those (like myself) who are stuck with characters that are pretty much unfun, but can't/don't want to be deleted due to having the 1st/2nd anniv badges. I've got about 5 heroes on my main server that simply aren't fun to play, yet they have those badges. I don't want to spend $50 moving them to another server, but would like those slots for ones that would be fun to play. If I could delete them without fear of losing those badges, I would do so. But I can't, so those slots are wasted.

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Waste... what? If you don't play the toons, then the badges are already a waste. Or are all five of these toons your only badge hunters? If you don't want the toons, delete 'em. The badge on them isn't doing you any good anyway, right?

What value does this badge have for you that you MUST have it, at extreme cost such as being unable to delete a toon you hate, because it happens to have it?

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And then there are those people who are around, with active accounts, but for some reason can't login. If they can get it with 1 char, then they shouldn't be penalized on the rest of their chars.

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...because it's a per-character badge. Not having isn't a penalization. It's just you not having the badge.

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Finally, since this is a game that encourages many characters per player, what benefit is there to making a person login an absurd number of characters just to get that badge? I've got around 50 alts, no they aren't all active, but they are made. That's a decent chunk of time JUST to log them in.

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My response here is twofold: 1.) If you want the badge, even with 50 toons, that ain't that much time over the course of a month. You're talking an hour total's work, give or take 10 minutes. 2.) ...why do you HAVE to have it on all these alts? Even the ones you don't want to play? (Like the five heroes you mentioned earlier?)

That's my argument here. It's NOT a quality of life issue. It's an obsession issue. Hey: I do it too. But it's a no brainer for me. My Mastermind doesn't get the 1st anniversary badge. Life goes on.

Why is your life ruined by its absence? Because that's how you're painting it to me. Your five heroes that you want to delete, you can't... because of this badge. It leaves you helpless to make new toons, because you HAVE to keep them... because of this badge.

This isn't a reward. The way you describe it? It's a cancer.

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Just a question, wondering everyone's thoughts on this. If you feel you need every badge on one or more of your toons I'd like to know your thoughts as I don't quite understand the behavior.

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We do, because we can, and because we want. Why do you level a toon? Because you can, and because you want. Why do I have a badge toon? Because I can, and because I want.

Does that mean I'll make a toon, and go through every explore badge and kill badge, in order, to satisfy a compulsion? No. That's somewhat closer to what OCD actually is, however.

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Then where does the rewriting to suit a viewpoint end, exactly? Your hero/villain "wasn't around" for an anniversary. Your hero/villain may also have not gotten Empath, while another of your toons did. Why not change that too?

Here is the basis of the argument: "We know the badge means this. But we WANT it to mean THIS." What is the benefit of changing the badge's intent? What is it you're "looking" for? It's not the original intent of the badge, because you're saying "that's unfair because a toon wasn't there to get it".

So, what is it? What's driving the need?

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It's called a 'retcon'. Quite common in comics.



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That's a what. I asked for a why. Try to be more informative and less dismissive, eh?

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Thematically, the Rogue Isles "existed" during the 1st Anniversary. Just because they weren't 'playable' then, doesn't mean they just poofed into existence in the fictional, Co* universe, during Issue 5 (or 6, can't remember exactly).

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Yes, but the badge isn't for the Rogue Isles celebrating the anniversary, it's for "my character" celebrating. My villain wasn't "around". Thematically, as it stands right now, it makes sense. I don't see a need for making it global. I see other people desiring it, sure; I just don't understand that desire.

It's okay to disagree. If it passes, yay you. If it doesn't pass, yay logic.

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In a way, unless your villain is a robot/dimensional wanderer/etc, then they were 'around'. Since the villains were all in the Zig, then they existed prior to CoV coming out for some <x> length of time. Now, granted I don't know for sure at what age they throw people into the Zig, but one would think they'd have to be at least a mid-to-late teenager (or developmental equivalent) to get chucked into there.

Again, that whole poofing into existence thing.

And as for the badge text, *shrug*. Text can be changed. It's not like they are unalterable.

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Then where does the rewriting to suit a viewpoint end, exactly? Your hero/villain "wasn't around" for an anniversary. Your hero/villain may also have not gotten Empath, while another of your toons did. Why not change that too?

Here is the basis of the argument: "We know the badge means this. But we WANT it to mean THIS." What is the benefit of changing the badge's intent? What is it you're "looking" for? It's not the original intent of the badge, because you're saying "that's unfair because a toon wasn't there to get it".

So, what is it? What's driving the need?

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Each badge reads:
You have helped celebrate the X anniversary of City of Heroes.

It is for the player logging on, not a character badge.

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And Immortal reads: "You are truly Immortal. You have survived one billion points of damage." The player didn't earn sustain one billion points of damage, the character did.

Same with Empath: "You have helped your fellow heroes by healing them for one hundred million hit points." Again, the character, not the "player".

See? The logic doesn't play. At best, it's being interpreted to suit a viewpoint, but then it would have to apply to all over similarly worded badges - like, all of them. Should ALL of them be global? No. Vet badges, VIP, etc., all of those are "global" to the actual player. Everything else is engaged by action of a toon - including logging in for the anniversary month. See my point?

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Thematically, the Rogue Isles "existed" during the 1st Anniversary. Just because they weren't 'playable' then, doesn't mean they just poofed into existence in the fictional, Co* universe, during Issue 5 (or 6, can't remember exactly).

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Yes, but the badge isn't for the Rogue Isles celebrating the anniversary, it's for "my character" celebrating. My villain wasn't "around". Thematically, as it stands right now, it makes sense. I don't see a need for making it global. I see other people desiring it, sure; I just don't understand that desire.

It's okay to disagree. If it passes, yay you. If it doesn't pass, yay logic.

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While I like how the Anniversary badges can currently kind of tell you "how old" an individual character is I don't think I'd be real upset if these badges became account based. Making them account based would certainly solve the "have to log in dozens of alts" hassle some people have.

My guess (and this is purely a guess) is that if this change happened it would NOT be retroactive.
But once again I would not really be upset if they figured out how to award them retroactively anyway.

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I'm pretty much in the same boat here. The anniversary badges were designed during a time that precluded Vet badges, and were meant to show a given toon's presence during an anniversary period. That's the "design", which is fine with me, and makes sense. Vet badges fill in the "global account" call.

If they did do this, however, it wouldn't faze me. It would just make the anniversary badges feel a touch more homogenized, that's all. I just don't see why a Soldier of Arachnos would qualify for the 1st anniversary badge, for instance.

Good afternoon:

For years, I've been wanting to write the story of Atlas, with some human background, as well as his final battle at Independence Port. Is there ANY story bible information you can provide that goes beyond what we find in the history plaques? Specifically:

1. What was his origin?
2. What were the scope of his powers?
3. What was his identity? Did he have any surviving relations?
4. What were the details of his final stand?

I'm looking to see how much "wiggle room" I'd have for when I finally make my next maxi-arc, retelling his story. Any info you can provide on Atlas would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

-T.

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been with freedom off and on since the prerelease.made alot of friends and had a great time.i will be loging in my 4 accounts to give out a few hundred mill and some enhances then it is game over.
even without the badges being taken away,i have been spending more and more time out of town going to car shows.so perhaps it was time that i moved on anyways.
take care everyone.

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You've always been solid in my book, man. Shame to see you go, but go well wherever you find yourself. Peace, Woody.

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Are planning to redo their arcs entirely with the new tools in issue 15 and how many are pretty much happy with their arcs as they are and are just looking forward to having more details to play with and finer controls over the powers of their custom critters?

I'm firmly in the later camp, how 'bout you?

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Same. My 2nd arc was an exercise of frustrated compromise to get it to fit under the 100% file size limit, while still telling a good story. The net result was chaotic as I tried to jam too many square pegs into round holes. However, I loaded the same arc into the I15 editor, and with the additional flexibility of toon selection and placement, I'm able to remove custom groups that I'd whipped up entirely to replace problem default critters, and saved myself 17% right off the bat.

I'm pleased by the changes, and will revamp one Act definitely; maybe revisit 1 again as well for a "Director's Cut" edit, if I can get them to unDC it long enough for me to upload tweaks...

Well, some good news. I loaded Act II on Test, and with the greater flexibility in mob placement, I think I can weed out one custom group entirely, and get the 5th "tie 'em all up" mish I've been complaining about needing with all the bytes I'd be saving.

I'm going to futz with Test this weekend, and if it pans out, I'll unpublish Act II for a rework of a final release that's more story and less technical compromise.

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I saw you on test last night Turg as a group of 4 of us ran the new TF. All I will say is the end AV is a beast. Best the 4 of us managed was to get him down to 15%.

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*cracks knuckles*

Can't wait to intro the end AV to my crew then. I've heard other comments about the TF that I'll leave off for now for spoiler issues, but the end AV sounds like he'll be a nice sweatfest.

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I don't know why you guys think it shouldn't be attack-chain worthy. By the time you unlock it you should already have a full attack chain of much better primary or secondary powers anyway.

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Oh, I completely agree: IMO the cycle time should be 30 seconds. BUT, since they haven't budged on this since its inception, I'm assuming they want to keep it in the 30 minute recharge timeframe. I was just toying with the idea of, "Okay, if we have to wait that long, what could make it better?" That's what's driving my idea. Ain't perfect. Wrote it up with about five minutes of pondering.

Throw in a moderate cold DoT too for a period of 30 seconds for that added damage component. And yeah, make it interruptible, WITHOUT wasting the casting.

Just remember, Training 2 has all Freedom resources from about a week or two ago, so if you wanna run it from there, it'll be to the benefit of local players. If you want broader resources, that'll be TR1.

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(QR)

I agree this is a novelty at best.

Look at the other click powers. Insane amounts of Def or Recharge for 30 seconds.
This power should compare. Once every 25 minutes you should have an insanely powerful hold/immobilize.

what would deserve that description? Mag 4 Hold for 30 seconds, perhaps. Still may be seen as weaker than other powers because of the limit to one target, but drawing lots of aggro with an AOE may still seem pretty useless.

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My redesign:

25 minute recharge time
Targeted AOE, Mag 3 AOE Immobilize + Slow (for any mez resists), snow-and-ice effect, with a default 15 second mez time
10 second activation time, with a "revv up" power cycling like a base teleporter, and the resulting blast sound is upgraded from the dainty "pew pew" to anything - ANYTHING.

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One Reich to rule them all, and in the darkness bind them?

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You heard it here, Dark Bondage powerset

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Long as I get to pick my own safe word.

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Fluggaenkoechioebolsen?

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Easily one of my top ten favorite films. Nice one, JV.

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I found this on the EU boards!! let the DOOOOOOOM Commence!

I15

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*unlocks his Nazi War Blimp travel power for having all five anniversary badges*

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Edit: downloading 103M

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Jesus... there's gotta be something in there we haven't been told about yet. That's huge.

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Or they have the giant Council/5th Column robot running around loose now....

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That would make me a happy panda.

[/ QUOTE ]Or secret Moon Base Zone?

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Why not giant robot running around loose *on* a secret Moon Base Zone?

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Noob. It's all about Nazi War Blimps.

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So, the obelisks aren't set to spawn on a condition?

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No, they're there on the onset. Completing the obelisks triggers the boss spawn; completing the captives triggers an ambush.