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OK, thank you FS. That made sense.
But, since there is no identifying who has posted what on the market, how am I supposed to know who to contact to buy the object that I cannot possibly by through the market? -
OK, I know I'm numerically challenged but that just sounds wrong. How can something sell for 2.5 billion but nobody can ever have more than 2 billion in their pocket.
Even if you somehow manage to buy it, the seller can't take in their profits. Well, perhaps with the market fees but there's still something wrong with that picture. -
Quote:Yeah but if you were just guessing where did you come up with something like "just shy of a trillion"?
Why not exactly one trillion or even a googolplex while you were at it?
Actually, I was shooting for the odds. Since the game can register 1 billion, it made sense that the counter could go up to 999 billion.
Hence, just shy of one trillion. -
Nice clip. Very well done. Very slick.
Still not enough to make me want to spend money on it.
I'll wait for cable. -
Quote:nope, I'm just as entitled to post wild guesses based on little actual fact as anyone else on this forum.If you mean the most one individual character can hold, it's 2 billion. Also, I think jwbullfrog might wanna double-check the information he has before he makes hypothesis like that.
2 Billion? really? ok, I now know. -
I think its just shy of one trillion. NOt really sure on this since I don't think anyone has ever gotten even remotely close to that number.
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Quote:Well, thats why. There is a finite amount of awesome in the universe. With you hitting 50, there's just no more room for States.Isn't it a bit ODD that I announce my actually having a Tournament Structured character reach 50th level is a harbringer of really bad things happening in the near future...
.... and the very next day they announce Statesman is going to die?
...
......
..... just sayin'...
Congrats (and this coming from someone who's played since 2007 and has only 2 50's) -
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Hm, downtime on tuesday. I know it's the usual day for such things but??? perhaps???
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Quote:In this sneak peek, Troughton shows how his performance could differentiate itself, even in the face of a scenery-chewing mad scientist villain.
Wow.Now THAT is a plan worthy of a true mad scentist. You taking notes there Doc Aeon? -
Aloha readers, JWB here with a quick author's note before we get to the next chapter.
Thanks to all of you that have followed along so far. The PLAN (note the capital letters there) is to post a new chapter every week, until I reach the end of the story. And, to be honest, I don't know exactly how far this is going to go. The new posts should happen late on Saturdays so you have fresh reading for your Sunday morning.
With that said, back to our tale. When we last left our Intrepid Heroine....
<<keep going...>>
Hiya Paragonners, Alexis Alexander here.
Readers, if you've ever doubted the integrity of the press, please remember that we're asking questions of people who don't like answering questions (Unless, that is, we're covering the local flower show, and in that case, the problem isn't getting people to talk, it's getting them to shut up.) Sometimes, in order to get to the truth, it's necessary to walk very close to (and, sometimes, right on top of) that line between law-abiding, and law-breaking.
Having exhausted all of the more traditional methods for getting things done I decided to put on my tightrope walking shoes and get creative.
My first step was to place a few phone calls to a few very select, very secure phone numbers. In fact, I'm not exactly sure that some of those numbers officially exist. These were to persons that might be able to help me but were under no obligation to do so. I would have to wait and see if any of those came through but, in the meantime, I sent out an e-mail to someone I knew would help.
"Wentworths. Atlas Park. Dusk. Bring a Latte."
I knew that would get his attention. I also knew that it would annoy him. Either way, it it would be all but guaranteed that he would show up. You see readers, due to our past work together, I am one of the few people in Paragon who has the explicit right to make fun of Etherfalcon.
He was stating in the shadows by the loading docks. Punctual as usual. This of course meant that he was about 30 minutes early. He's like that.
That's why I got there an hour early.
"Mr. Falcon, " I said in my best deep, dark, sinister voice. "Did you bring ... the coffee?"
It was hard to tell in the poor lighting but I could see the tell tale signs of someone who was trying not to sigh out loud. With very deliberate movements, he held out a small styofoam cup and stepped out of the shadows.
"You're making waves, you know, " he said. "People are starting to notice."
"Are they upset?"
"No. Not yet. But it won't be long before they start making 'polite requests that you cease and desist that line of questioning.'"
"Why?"
Etherfalcon looked both ways and reached for a small box at his belt. "It might be better if we took this conversation elsewhere. Transport two. War room."
The last words were directed into the small box and I felt the familiar, and completely unwelcome feeling of a matter transport beam. Readers, don't believe anyone who tells you that teleporters are the family car of the future. I have never been in any motor vehicle that made me want to vomit quite as much.
A moment later, an all too familiar room coalesced around me. While I tried to keep from spitting my coffee back out on the tiles, Etherfalcon stepped over to one of the multiple workstations and started typing.
"As you've learned Ms. Alexander, Paragon officials have instituted a total shutdown of Galaxy City. Once search and rescue operations have ceased, phase two of their WCS plan will be activated and Galaxy will be considered little better than Pripyat."
"Where?"
"The small town near Chernobyl that is still abandoned today."
"Ok, " I asked, " But why? What is in Galaxy that has the City that spooked?"
Etherfalcon looked up at me before answering. "We don't know. I've checked all known lists of class 7 hazards and the only thing that comes close is the MAGI vault under Freedom Plaza. Nobody is sure how much of that is accounted for but, if any of those items had gotten lose, we'd already know about it."
"Ok I can understand keeping the general public out of the way, but why Heroes?"
"Another very good question Ms. Alexander. The official line is that the Shivans are too much of a threat but, between you and me, thats a very thin excuse. You and I both can name dozens of persons, including myself, that would have no trouble dealing with that level of threat. And I know for a fact that all of those persons have repeatedly volunteered to go into Galaxy. I also know that all of us have been politely, but firmly, refused."
"So how do I get in there?"
"Other than an engraved invitation from Statesman, I'd say its impossible. But, knowing you, that's not an answer you can accept." Etherfalcon stepped away from the computer and took a few steps toward me. "If you do go in there, we can't help you. The city is keeping very close watch on the superhuman community right now. The best I can do is set up some false electronic trails to keep you off of their radar for a while."
"Thank you, " I said sincerely. I knew that he wouldn't lie to me, not on this at least. If he could find a way in, Etherfalcon would already be there.
"So," I said. All seriousness put aside for the moment, "Is there a way out of here that doesn't require having my atoms scrambled?"
"There is," he replied, indicating a steel lined hatchway. " Take that door and head straight down for about 500 kilometers or so."
"Wait a minute, we're in space? You didn't tell me anything about going into orb..."
The nausea of matter transport took over before I could finish the thought. At least he was considerate enough to make my landing next to an open trash bin.
Later that evening, after getting my stomach and head back on speaking terms, I reviewed my options. It didn't take long since there didn't seem to be many. I was facing the concept that I just wouldn't be able to get into Galaxy when my blackberry rang.
"Ms. Alexander, "came the polished, very feminine, and faintly Castilian accented voice from the other end. A voice that I immediately recognized.
"Madam sends her regards and wonders if you would be available for lunch tomorrow. She has some information that you might find useful."
Readers, It seemed like one of my phone calls came through. Since the City won't help, and the Heroes can't, I had to look elsewhere. Because sometimes, as the song said...
I've got friends in low places.
Stick with me readers. Things are beginning to happen. We'll get to the bottom of this. -
Quote:That does leave 1-5 to a single contact, as you mentioned, but 1 to 5 is less than an hour of playtime of a character's 'life'. Even just street sweeping.
This has become my SOP for new characters now. I really do not like the new tutorial, Twinshot, or Matthew's arc so I simply avoid them. I street hunt up to 5 or maybe hop a quick sewer team. Then I slide on over to Kings Row for "COH as usual'.
I would like the option to play the original contact arcs in Atlas AND in Mercy. I happened to like those mission arcs, old and passe as they were.
Also, although this is slightly off topic, I would like the option to shut those spinning coin things off over the heads of contacts. They bug me. -
Hiya Paragonners, Alexis Alexander here with more on the Galaxy City situation.
More information is coming in daily and most of it isn't good. Every day, more bodies are recovered and more names of the dead are released. As a result, the lists of the missing have grown shorter and its harder to maintain hope.
Still, there has been some good news. A team of firefighters managed to reach Galaxy City West Elementary and found that all 150 students and teachers managed to make it to the safety of the basements.
Apparently, the school's principal had, for reasons unknown even to her, wildly overstocked the usual 3 days of survival supplies, so instead of suffering from starvation and disease, it seems that boredom was the worst situation they faced. I am pleased to report that all of them were safely brought to Chiron medical center for observation and treatment. According to hospital staff, they are in very good condition. Several have already been reunited with their families and the rest will be ready for release within a few days.
I can't help but think that this could go so much faster if the city would just let more of our costumed heroes into Galaxy City. In fact, this thought is what has been driving my activities over the last 24 hours.
For those of you who have followed my reports, you already know that I have access to persons who could, through more or less ethical methods, get me any information I want. Unfortunately, this access is a bit of a devil's bargain and I prefer not use it unless I absolutely must. So, in the interests of saving my Journalistic soul, I decided to start with the most simple tool in the reporter's arsenal.
I decided to ask the people who are supposed to know.
In all honesty readers, it is tempting at this point to tell you that my notoriety is so great that everyone from the City Coordinator down to the Dog Catcher considers themselves my friend and will tell me anything I wish to know anytime I ask. I have been a minor celebrity from time to time but, sadly, that isn't the truth. In reality, I am a bit of a nuisance (like all good investigative reporters should be, readers) and it takes a bit of verbal Judo and a little inter-departmental rivalry to get what I need.
Bureaucracies, readers, can be wonderful things. Properly managed and run, they keep things moving smoothly and make it possible for something as large as a city to function. Also, from the point of view of a reporter such as myself, they can, with a little care, be wonderful sources of information. In fact, the larger the bureaucracy, the easier it is to find out what you want to know.
For example: The Coordinator's office wouldn't speak to me directly but at least gave me a referral to the Chief of Police. He bluntly informed me that he was way to busy to deal with me but he suggested that the Fire Chief might have more time. The Fire Chief was far more polite about it but, basically, he also told me to go elsewhere. The Director of the Department of Sanitation told me that he would be happy to tell me anything I wished to know, provided that I could 'Find a way to get the damned monsters out of his sewers' first.
By mentioning that I had already spoken to the City Coordinator (or, at least her office), every other office made the assumption that I had permission to be calling them for information. Normally, this would manifest as a desire to be helpful and informative, but this time nobody was falling for it.
Health Department, Power and Light, Office of Food Safety, department after department gave me the same basic response. 'Thank you for asking but we're not going to talk about this with you.' I was beginning to wonder what my Blackberry bill was going to look like next month.
A lesser person would be discouraged but, as anyone who has dealt with the DMV knows, patience is the key to getting anything done.
In fact, the DMV is where I got my first real success. One of the clerks there is an old friend of mine from school and she agreed to take me to her boss. "Don't expect much 'Lex. And you owe me lunch," she said as she left me standing outside his door.
I made sure my most innocent smile was in place as I knocked on his door and opened it before the sound stopped echoing. "Mr. Jackson, " I chirped eagerly, as I stepped through the door. "I hope you can help me. I've spoken with the Coordinator's office, the Police, Fire and everyone else and they all tell me that I should speak with you."
Readers, that last sentence is technically correct while being very specifically wrong.
Actually what all of those other departments told me was 'go talk to somebody else' but Mr. Merle James Jackson, Director of Roads and Bridges for Paragon City, did not need to know that. I could see in his expression that all he needed to know right now is that a young, attractive woman had (perhaps for the first time ever) been directed to his office to ask HIM for help.
Merle Jackson has held his current office for 23 years and could be very accurately described by the phrase 'career bureaucrat.' He is a physically unimposing, one might even say, unremarkable man with thinning brown hair and a somewhat outdated fashion sense. He may be the most overlooked official in the city but, in spite of that he has managed the herculean task of keeping traffic flowing in Paragon City despite the daily abuse of the City's infrastructure caused by Superhuman activity.
I'll give him full credit readers, he recovered his composure quickly. He rose and stepped out from behind his desk, offering me his hand and directing me to one of the plain wooden chairs sitting in front of the desk.
"So, Miss.." he said as he settled back into his chair.
"Alexander, " I countered. "Alexis Alexander from Paragon News Services. I'm looking for information on access to Galaxy City."
His composure slipped a bit. The pleasant conversation he was expecting to have had suddenly become an interview. This was not part of his job description.
"W-w-well Miss Alexander, was it? I-i'm afraid that I don't have information on that. In fact it might be better if you directed your questions to..."
"All I'm doing," I interrupted truthfully and politely "is researching the ways the city has limited access to Galaxy City. Questions have been asked and I would like to be able to reassure the public that everything is well."
Again, another absolutely truthful sentence. It wasn't my fault that what he heard and what I actually said were two different things.
Vanity, readers, is a wonderful tool. I do not claim to be a grand master of manipulation, but I do know which words will tweak a person's ego. For a man who has been invisible for most of his life, even the slightest hint of notoriety is rain in the desert. I had brought the conversation back to his comfort zone. I wanted to reassure the public and his department could help me do that. He smiled, and quickly typed a short string of commands into his computer..
"We're using the same basic plan that we did with White Plains. You are Familiar with White Plains aren't you?"
White Plains. I nodded calmly as the sickening impact of those words hit me. I could now see how seriously the City was taking things. No wonder people wouldn't talk to me.
As you can see," he continued. "We've shut down all street level access with the exception of the Kings Row tunnel since we are using that to move supplies and personel. The doors to Perez Park have been sealed, and we've rerouted the trains. All those are under constant watch by both PPD and Longbow troops. Nothing moves through their checkpoints without permission. "
"What about access by air?"
"Vanguard." he said bluntly. "The've imposed a no fly zone over the site and have permission to shoot down anyone they even think is trying to cross it."
I nodded politely. "What about the medi port system? Or other teleporter systems?"
"One way only. Out. Even the private ones used by Supergroups have been shut down. Don't ask me how." he replied. "Even then you have to get past the check points to get to a working station."
I thanked Mr. Jackson for his time and left his office. I had to do some thinking to do.
White Plains. Otherwise known as the Rikti War Zone. This was not good news. The city had already written off Galaxy City.
An hour later, after an average dinner (and a glass or two of very good wine) I had reached the conclusion that the City was going to take the same position they always had.
Siege Mentality.
Evacuate... Fall Back... Isolate... Wait for someone to save the day.
Baumton... Astoria... Eastgate... Woodvale...Venice... and now Galaxy City.
It didn't make sense. There have been many other sections of the City that have suffered disasters but the City kept those open and, in the case of Overbrook, is actively rebuilding. Why close off Galaxy? What is there that has the city so worried? There were still too many unanswered questions, and readers, you know I hate unanswered questions.
The only place to get answers was Galaxy City and since I knew Paragon City Hall wasn't going to help me get in there, I'd have to find another way.
It was time to start calling in favors. -
I'd give MIND a try as your primary set. It has a single target hold, sleep, and confuse early on with mob stopping AOE versions of the same later in the set. It also adds a Fear in to the mix about midway through. With the controller inherant ability, you can slowly suffocate just about anything in the game.
For team work combine this with /Empathy or perhaps /Time to make you almost an 'I win." button. For solo work, it pairs well with just about anything. Maybe look at / Rad to add some healthy debuffing to the mix. -
Oh, you know I have to get involved with this....
Lets see. The marvelous, world famous, street gypsy. Everyone's friend and confidant, the fabulous Cassadega Delgado would have to be played by...
Michelle Rodriguez.
What about you Falcon??????? -
Just a thought or two if you can get them.
Entropy (or some variation thereof)
Thermodynamic (as in law of) -
Now, you see, I had a different idea of what a 'defensive powerset' is.
I was thinking that you wanted a different 'defender style' powerset. You know, more support/buff/debuff. I could get behind that.
As far as another variation of armor, meh. I suppose it would be nice but I don't see it as necessary. But, if we could get some kind of purchaseable 'temporary armor' (say, the kind of thing you get with the 'wedding ring' or 'cryonic armor' temp powers) that i might be interested in. -
Quote:So I recently watched The Rite (fantastic movie), and ever since I've wanted to make an exorcist/priest character. I have the name Father Fury, and he's going to be a Fire/Time Controller.
Now here's the issue. God is a touchy subject on all fronts. I can make him Natural Origin, or Magic Origin.
Natural origin imples that God is natural, and that rubbed a few of my friends the wrong way as "religion isn't technically of a natural origin."
Magic origin will likely result in people going "OMG GOD ISN'T MAGIC."
What would you do?
Would you prefer he have throwing knives or apprentice charm?
You can justify the powers however you want since most people wont notice anyway. Those that do, well, its not their character now is it? -
Quote:Actually, I find it has a pretty good place as crowd control. In a small enough space, you can pin mobs to the wall while the rest of your team (or your own pets) tear them up. Yes, it is a bit endurance intensive but I find its best used in small doses.I honestly can't think of a good use for Froce Bubble in today's game ...
And I agree with Hyperstrike's "Never have enough 'get the hell offa me.' -
Quote:Noob question regarding Paragon Rewards (Tier 9) If I was rewarded 5 enhancement boosters in my mailbox, is that account-based meaning I can use 5 boosters for each of my characters or is that just one character of my choice?
Those are character specific. You can use them all for one charcter or spread them out over multiples. -
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I'm going to hazard a guess and say that its some form of 'coming soon' marker. Perhaps contact 4 for who will die?
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I know I'm going to draw some fire for this one but for me its...
Empathy.
Yup, I am the person who actually enjoys standing back and flinging buffs while the rest of the group 'has all the fun.'
Actually, depending on what you pair with it, Empathy can turn into you into a team's 'I WIN' button (All you Mind/ Emp Controllers out there, you know what I mean.)
That's me, where do the rest of you stand? -
Hiya, Paragonners. Alexis Alexander here.
I guess my normal, cheerful welcome seems somewhat out of place given the events of the last few weeks. But, like so many others, I'm taking small comfort in familiar routines.
It's hard to believe that Galaxy City is gone. Even for those of us who make our living with words, there aren't words appropriate enough to describe the sense of loss and despair that has settled over Paragon. The displaced number in the thousands and there is no accurate estimate of the missing, wounded, and dead. There may never be.
Like many others in Paragon city, I lost friends on that day. Most of them are confirmed dead which, in a strange way, brings me comfort. Unlike those still on the lists of the missing, I no longer have to worry about them. I can offer them my prayers and farewells while sharing my grief with those who also mourn. At the same time however, I find comfort in those that are still missing. There is always the hope that they will be found alive somewhere in the rubble and that they can be returned to us.
The Paragon Police and Fire departments have not stopped working since the strikes occurred. City officials have called for assistance from State and Federal sources and International agencies have also offered assistance but all search and rescue efforts have been hampered by the presence of the alien beings known as Shivans. Longbow, Vanguard, and some of Paragon's most notable Superhumans have been called in to provide security but private sources tell me that this may not be enough.
"It may be the beginnings of another invasion," said one source inside Vanguard. "We have to operate under the assumption that it is. We're shifting all available assets to this front as quickly as we can." When asked if this would leave them short handed in the Rikti War Zone, my contact simply shrugged and replied "What else can we do? With luck, the Auxilaries can pick up the load."
Readers, its important to note that when a member of Vanguard refers to 'the auxiliaries' they are referring to the hundreds of Superhumans from both Paragon and the Rogue Isles that have joined that organization's fight over the years.
Vanguard, and to a similar degree, Longbow, has an institutional distrust of Superhumans. Considering that both organizations were founded by and employ several operatives that easily classify as 'Superhuman,' this is an odd stance to take. Both organizations have been extremely reluctant to admit that they cannot do their jobs without assistance.
Assistance that the heroes of Paragon City are eager to give.
To date, only the Freedom Phalanx and a select few have been asked to assist in Galaxy City. As someone who has worked with the Superhuman community for some time, I have to ask, what is the city waiting for? The city boasts heroes that can lift mountains, see through steel, and walk through walls. In fact, saving people is what they DO.
Something is not right readers. The powers that be are keeping something about Galaxy City a secret and I intend to find out what it is. Stick with me readers, there's a story here...