bluedarky

Favorite - Wretch, believe it or not I have a soft spot for poor Pablo, probably comes from the O' Wretched Man story arc, surprisingly after checking out some of the other arcs it came as a shock to realize that out of all the interesting characters that Arachnos has, the ones with the most characterization in game are the dumb hulk and the dead girl.

Favorite Hero Sig - Back Alley Brawler, he's probably the most go get them member of the phalanx, he's also supposed to be retired but doesn't mind sticking the old glove on and pounding a few villains every now and then, especially to help heroes he views as up and comers like Apex.

Least Favorite - Sirroco, "Oh look, I'm a tortured hero, forced to become a villain because I stole my powers." Get over yourself and commit some real crimes stupid.

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I find the security guards getting beat up highly offensive and demand nc to change every npc in the tutorial into pink fluffy bunnys hugging each other.

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Excuse me...

Mr. Deathbot 9000 here disagrees with you, would you like to take your point up against him or change your opinion.

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Well, when something big does turn up you can say "I told you so"

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It'd better turn up, I already went to the trouble of putting "I told you so" on gold embossed business cards.

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...Or IS SH- No. No, no, I won't start down that path. Figuring out Nemesis plots leads to people taking me to the funny farm, where life is beautiful all the time, and I'll be happy to see those nice young men in their clean white coats and they're coming to take me away, ha ha!

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You think it's bad figuring out a Xantos Roulette, try writing one.

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What have they been brewing?

It's something big. Stupendously big. You just won't believe how vastly, hugely, mind-bogglingly big it is. I mean, you may think it's a long way down the road to the chemist's, but that's just peanuts to how big this is. Could it be this mythical singular overworld? Could they be making an upgrade to CoH that satisfies our every expectation? Have they indeed created something so awesome that it will silence all naysayers, beat CO into submission, cure cancer, and end all wars? Who knows. But until they play their hand, all we can do is try to read their poker face.

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This is what I've been trying to tell people since August, the problem is that the naysayers are so wrapped up in their own little world they think that because we're getting no information, they're doing nothing at all.

Here's one of Bluedarky I did for fun, hmm, may have to consider doing a quick comic of this.

[Quick Note - This is set at some point in the future compared to most of my work, Amanda has left the group to find her own path, her impending marriage was announced a week previously, but Stephan has discovered a plot to "eliminate" her.]

Bluedarky rushed into the station in Atlas Park, he quickly glanced around, seeing Amanda look around, he ducked within the crowd and made his way around the station trying to stay unnoticed and hoping Amanda wouldn’t realize the psychic void was him, he almost tripped over the beggar as a plan occurred to him.

Amanda sat on the train, the car was empty apart from a homeless man on the back seat seeking comfort from the cold, he refrained from scanning his mind, men like him had few sanctuaries and their mind was one of them, she felt a strange kind of unease as the train began moving but ignored it.

Five minutes down the line she realized that the train wasn’t stopping at any stations, it was a trap. She got up and went to the back of the car as the door opened and two Carnival members step through, the masks on their faces impassive as ever. Amanda flew down to the other end of the car as that door opened bringing two carnival strongmen, as she scanned the train edging into the centre of the car she realised it was full of Carnival members.

She dropped as one of the Strongmen threw a punch at her, using her telekinesis to enhance her punch she knocked him into the other end of the car, as she stood the second grabbed her from behind, she struggled as she realized the beggar from the back was up and running towards her, she ducked her head as the mans punch collided with the Strongman’s chest.

She was dropped, she quickly turned her attention to the Psychic members of the carnival in the car as the beggar engaged the strongman in hand to hand combat, they put up little resistance to her, probably wanted her mind intact for Giovanni.

The beggar reeled into her back from a punch of the strongman, another strongman who’d entered whilst she was engaged with the psychics grabbed him from behind, as she aimed a telekinetic blast at the strongman the beggar pulled out of the coat and hat to reveal Bluedarky.

Amanda had never been so pleased to see him, even through all her training, she realized he must have exchanged his trenchcoat for the hat and coat but didn’t have time to care, the car was filling up quickly, as it became difficult to fight Bluedarky grabbed her and headed for the window, he dived through backwards protecting Amanda from the glass.

As they fell for the ground she used her powers to slow their descent, as they landed Carnival poured in from the streets.

“Got a plan?” she asked.

“Not a one,” he replied, “Backup is on the way though.”

“Then lets do our best.”

“To take down these?” he asked laughing, “They’re barely worth our time, backup is for what else is coming.”

“And what’s that?” she asked.

“Your fiance,” he replied as the army of carnival members attacked.

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I simply adore when you go all Carebear to hide that rugged lone wolf barbarian stance of yours. Difference being that instead of having a heart painted on your tummy tums you have an actual one, retrieved from the last person who refused to put a little umbrella on your drink.



It's friggin' adorable!

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How'd he get that heart on his chest? With glue?

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Trust me, you [u]really[u] don't want to know.

And to the suggestion, I would agree, but if I remember the XP charts correctly, the amount of XP difference between 1 and 5 is less than a bar at about level 25.

Make it a straight 5 level difference and I'd agree.

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Yeah right, it'll be shot down faster than a Longbow Flyer over Grandville.

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What if it was stealthed?

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Have you seen how many enemies have better perception that hide these days? Basic stealth would be gone faster than...a very very fast thing XD
Yes, this IS IDIOCY. They'll be hated by the entire MMo industry and its players if they win...so they need to lose

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To me it stinks of a marketing ploy along the lines of "All Publicity is Good Publicity."

They're gonna be hated either way unless they drop the case, people are going to keep an eye on them as a company and what they make, this may lead to a case of people checking something out and enjoying it even if they don't want to.

Then again, I'm willing to be that if it goes past the opening day of trial, Blizzard will get behind NCSoft to avoid being Worlds.com's next target.

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Ludicrous.
Why they did not go for Second life instead (seems that is more near the mark) i dont know.
But patenting mmo, what have they smoked? And who the heck are they?
Guess Blizzard and every other mmo will help.

/em shakeheadfromthisstupidity

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It'll be shot down pretty quickly, like Khorak said, they've basically hung onto the patent for over ten years, allowed an entire industry to build using their patent, and now only just realized it.

Yeah right, it'll be shot down faster than a Longbow Flyer over Grandville.

Just thought I'd post this for your amusement. Looks to be a funny storyline.

Bluedarky's resolution is to get around to finishing Amanda's training at some point, soon, possibly.

Happy new year.

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"a system and method for enabling users to interact in a virtual space."

Surely something this vague would apply to MUD's as well, and they've been around for donkeys years!

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Afraid not, the patent does specify three-dimensional, look up the patent number with google if you want to check the full details.

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Yes, because Longbow missions are so few and far between red side... *vomits*

Why not Nemesis? Or Tsoo? Would be awesome to see Tub Ci kick some behind! In a pinch the *ugh* Malta... just no more Longbow, they suck!

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*Ducks*

Gah, don't kill me, I don't care who it is in that first mission providing that they are in the correct level range. As I explained, I only use the Council as they appear at all level ranges like Arachnos and Lonbow.

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I would think the mission architect on it's own would be a mission impossible. Considering the almost insurmountable work that needs to go into making such a thing as user-friendly as possible, I'd be impressed if they even had the staff to work on power customisation.

Still, we can always cross our fingers for I16 eh?

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More likely I20

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I've been having this glitch where when i take something out of the auction house i don't get back the money you give when you put it up for sale.

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That's intended, you only get that back if you sell the item.

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Only problem i have is with using the council. They are hardly in the position to challenge LR so why do an assault on his territory?

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Hmm, good point, maybe Longbow.

TBH, I tend to use the Council as a throwaway group if I can't think of a more suitable one due to the fact they are found throughout the entire lvl range.

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Somehow I got the idea of RACHNAPUNZEL. A lovely Tarantula Mistress formerly known as Fortunata Millia. A bit crazed out but somehow just within tolerable parameters to be not incinerated immediately.

Mission 1.
Damsel in the tower. A lovely damsel, a princes perhaps? is looking for a kind heroic villain to free her from the place the wicked witch has locked her in. Of course she got some juicy paydata for reward. Just follow the silken thread.

Mission 2.
The princes wants to meet her true and only love and asks the heroic villain to bring her to this man. A trap needs to be set though to lure the man in. The first part consisting of breaking and entering a storage where illegal consumables are stored. The crate reads schoolbooks what could this mean?

Mission 3.
Having liberated the books, a few prisoners needs to be sprung from the tower. Some dangerous individuals who prove to be a schoolmarm and a Freak tank.

Mission 4.
The trap has been set and her true love will come to the lovenest to clean up the mess before its gotten more messy. All the villains need do is to defeat the troops that try to arrest the individuals and destroy the books of learnings before they can corrupt civilian minds. Non other then Westin Phipps has been given the task to clean this part up.

And see what a lovely thing happens next when the tarantula Mistress climbs back on the long silken rope towards her tower with her screaming, kicking and utterly terrified mate?

Ah Poetic Justice right?

Wrong.......

Explain to that nice arbiter over there why you felt the need to intervene? Nobody said she had forgotten or forgiven him who had helped her beloved to betray her in the first place.

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Hmm,

Contact - Comp. Terminal or something similar - Fortuna Millia

Initial Contact - Lonely, so lonely, even after all these years we feel the minds of our pretties, what is this, assistance, communication, freedom.

Mission 1 - Defeat all - Council

One wishes to assist, one wishes to know the dark secrets and treasures of Fortuna Millia, but Fortuna Millia cannot trust just anyone, she has been alone so long, only the witch visits her now, maybe a test to see if you can assist.

Acceptance - Find my tower, trapped within the steel forests of Arachnos, besieged by the Council on all sides, find my tower and protect me from the machinations of the Council child, and I shall reward you greatly.

Terms - Defeat all
NPC Groups - Council
Arachnos

Notable NPCs - Operative Tricho (Tarantula)
Operative Phagia (Tarantula)

Success - You succeeded, my children told me of your great success and I watched from my windows, I have other requests of someone like yourself.

Mission 2 - Get the Crate

My eyes see far, and I see a young man who's soul is a reflection of my own, I wish to lure him here where he will sit and talk with myself for a time, about things we will do to torment the population of these islands.

Acceptance - I knew one such as yourself would be so kind, once you have the crate my children will take it from you to where it needs to be, be swift child.

Mission Terms - Click the glowie
NPC Groups - Longbow
Notable NPCs - None

Success - You got them, so good my child, I am pleased to count you amongst my children.

Mission 3 - Kidnap 33CH@H'Z P3T and Francine Primm

Our bait will be completed through the kidnapping of two people, these have been a thorn in the side of this man before, and combined with the contents of the crate it will bring him to me perfectly.

Acceptance - Of course I knew I could rely on you, your first target is a young Freakshow by the name of 33CH@H'Z P3T, unfortunately Arachnos have disabled his weapons making him all but useless in fight, still, you'll get him out of there won't you.

Following that, I need you to go and get me Miss Francine Primm, once 33CH@H'Z P3T is freed then they will begin to move her, in the hope of stopping our plan. I have a contingency in that case, but I would prefer not to use it.

Part 1 - Kidnap 33CH@H'Z P3T

NPC Groups - Arachnos
Freakshow
Notable NPCs - 33CH@H'Z P3T

Part 2 - Kidnap Francine Primm (90 Minutes)

NPC Groups - Arachnos

Notable NPCs - Francine Primm

Success - Both are here, both are mine, and soon he will too.

Fail - My other children brought me Primm, but do not worry, even through the failure, you are greatest of all.

Part 4 - Rescue Phipps

My plan is done, the web is set most precious of my children, all is ready for my man to enter the stage. You have done well and have earned a glorious place by my side when I descend from the tower.

All is in place, but I must convey a message, sent by the gods, that Arbiter Daos wishes to speak with you child.

Go quickly and return to my side for the glorious celebration.

Arbiter Daos

Millia has woken, don't deny it, I'm not even sure how you managed to pull of so poorly planned escapes for Primm and the freak.

What you believe to be a Fortuna is in fact a Tarantula Queen, possibly the most powerful that we've created. So powerful she took an entire lab out when she recovered from the process. We couldn't kill her, so we stuck her in that tower, until the council destroyed the control systems that kept her there.

Her target is Phipps, no doubt you know him, one of the most vile men on this Island, and that's saying something. No matter how two faced he is, we cannot allow him to perish, she's going to use him to sustain herself kid, both for necessity and vengeance, he was the one who did this to her.

I have troops on standby, enough to level that tower of hers, but I want to send you in first, a second chance you may say, or at least one to clean up your mess.

Bring Phipps out alive and I'll say nothing more about this, the less time he spends off the streets the better, and whilst you're at it, bring back Primm and the Freak.

Mission Terms - Rescue Primm,33CH@H'Z P3T and Phipps

NPC Groups - Arachnos (All Tarantula types)
Freakshow

Notable NPCs - Francine Primm
33CH@H'Z P3T (Freakshow)
Westin Phipps
Queen Millia (Arachnos Tarantula Queen)

Success - Betrayal, you greatest of all my children, now I sleep my eternal sleep whilst the ghost witch watches, watches always, waiting for the day I shall obey. Goodbye, greatest of my children.

Part 7 - Search

Amanda flew towards Founders Fall, Numina and Infernal were usually found there, when she arrived she searched for Numina on the psychic plane, theoretically she could have done this from the school, however it was hard to distinguish even powerful psychics at long range, and to find a specific one would narrow her search radius to a line in one direction. Closer to she could search in all directions at once with accuracy.

As she brushed against Numina's mind she felt Numina enter hers, she mentally moved her defences around Numina's entry to allow her into her mind, she headed to Numina herself, face to face contact was better than just a mental connection, on her way she filled in Numina from her own memories.

“You touched the demons mind?” asked Infernal as she entered, Numina was in a Midnight Club library and pouring over a large leather bound volume.

“Barely,” replied Amanda breathlessly, “Only surface thoughts to anticipate it's moves, I didn't dare to go deeper.”

“Good idea,” replied Numina inside her mind, “I need to see what you saw for a few moments.”

Amanda brought the memories to the front of her mind for a few moments, psychics respected each others privacy and rarely delved deeper than necessary unless they were facing a rogue psychic. Numina examined them for a moment before pulling back, she quickly flick through the book. Whilst she did this Amanda scanned her surroundings, it was a shock for her to discover that the book had it's own mind, she was wondering about this when Numina thrust a piece of paper into her hand.

“Take it to Bluedarky,” she said, “Don't look at it or transmit it in any form, if it is spoken or sent psychically the demon could pick up on it and prevent it's use.”

Amanda nodded and slipped the paper into her pocket and zipped it up, she'd learnt that lesson when her lose change fell out of her pocket when she first flew, she ran for the open window and was through it and heading for the school before Numina and Infernal could even say goodbye.

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<.<

I've already ran out of available mission arcs...

I hope I get some dev choices.

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I find I often come up with complicated backstories, but they seem to iron themselves out or chnge almost against my will!

It's still fun though, just a little odd to see a character run away with itself.

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It's exceptionally common, I don't roleplay but in my writing I usually find that the plot doesn't define characters as much as characters define plot.

My standard way of saying it is,

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Put the characters in the situation and let them deal with it, if it doesn't turn out the way you want it then adjust the starting variables (Hero is injured, villain is stronger, 6 instead of 3 minions, ect. ect.) until you get the desired result.

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I tend to work to this method, forcing characters to follow a plot that makes them act out of character (without good reason) makes you look bad as a writer.

I spent some time at work thinking about this and came up with some ideas, I'll note what I can pull off the top of my head down.

Hero Contact - Mother Goose

Initial contact -

Hello young heroes, I am Mother Goose, overseer of fairy tales. Unbeknownst to most human's, Fairy Tales hold great power, and if one were to corrupt the tales, well, the results would be terrible.

But there are those who wish this upon us, the Wicked Witch has escaped her prison of stories and took with her one of my enchanted quills, giving her the power to rewrite Fairy Tales so that the heroes lose or become corrupted.

This cannot be allowed, we must change back the tales to their correct states or destroy the corrupted tales, if Fairy Tales become corrupted, then so will the hearts of children.

You must offer assistance Heroname you must.

[u]Mission one[u] - Little Miss Muffet

The witch has used the quill to rewrite Fairy Tales into this world, her powers remain weak as she cannot change the originals, but this does not make her less dangerous.

She has located a young psionic heroine and written her into the story of Miss Muffet, however in her version she becomes a spider herself, an Arachnos Tarantula Mistress to be precise, you must rescue her from this fate. If you cannot then you must destroy Miss Muffet so I may rewrite the story again.

Time Limit - 20.00
Escort Miss Muffet out.
If you fail to reach Miss Muffet before the time limit then you must face a Tarantula Mistress EB.

Ect. ect. Culminates in a battle against the Wicked Witch for the quill.

Villain Side Contact - Wicked Witch

Fairy Tales are pathetic aren't they, good wins, evil is destroyed or redeemed, but not for long little one.

With this quill I acquired from Mother Goose, I can begin rewriting the Fairy Tales so that the villains can win for a change. But Mother Goose is working against me, so that's where you come in.

Help me rewrite the Fairy Tales and I'll reward you beyond your wildest dreams villainname, it's time for us to win for a change wouldn't you say.

[u]Mission One[u] - Miss Muffet

I've managed to locate our first victim and written her into the story of Miss Muffet, only in our new version she becomes a spider herself, a Tarantula Mistress to be precise.

However Longbow arrived before we could complete the procedure, they are attempting to reverse it but we can't allow that. Go to the Arachnos base and reactivate the transformation, if they reverse it then defeat Miss Muffet so we can begin anew.

Time Limit - 20.00
Defeat all - If time limit ends then you have to face Miss Muffet Psy/Psy blaster EB.

ect. ect. ending in a battle against Mother Goose for control of the stories.

BaBs was the one who said it, but IIRC he also said that to achieve it in a reasonable timescale and to avoid (massive) bugs we wouldn't receive any new content for a year.

That would mean no bug fixes, no QoL fixes and most definitely no Issues, the main reason for this is that every time they update the live servers they have to do extra checks to ensure that in development content doesn't interfere with the new data or vice versa, with something on the scale of Power Customisation this could mean another 2 - 3 months work over a bug fix, and a complete rewrite of the system for anything larger.

So I don't see it coming anytime soon.

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I didn't have the travel pack from the Safeguards etc.

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Travel Pack? Safeguards? What are these things of which you speak?

Are they related to that stupid radio device thingy you get at level 5?