AspieAnarchy

I've made some refinements since then, but I swear I first made this long before 2020.... DISEASE (Buff) Available to: Defenders, Corrupters, Masterminds Set Color: White-on-Medium Dark Hazel Diseases can be devastating (or in a few cases, helpful), and are usually contagious, but with the exception of Computer Virus (and Rabies in the case of certain Masterminds), robots and machines are immune to their effects, and most spectral or ghostly beings are likewise unaffected. It has few, if any, rivals for its breadth of debuffs, and thanks to contagion, they often continue to do their work even without the vector’s (that’s you!) continued effort; depending on the movements of infected enemies, other enemies in turn might wind up suffering their effects before you’ve even encountered them! 1) Creeping Cold – infects the target with a relatively mild, but highly contagious, strain of the common cold. The target’s speed, accuracy, recovery, and perception are all decreased for a little while, and nearby enemies are very likely to contract it in turn. Recharge: Moderate 2) Antibodies – incites a single ally's immune system to purge whatever ails it, temporarily increasing the target’s regeneration rate. Recharge: Medium 3) Influenza – reduces the target's damage, defense, attack rate, and endurance recovery. The flu is extremely contagious. Recharge: Moderate 4) Blight – infects a target with a vicious parasitic fungus. Most organic foes will suffer a moderate decrease to their regeneration and slight decrease to their accuracy and resistance, but plant-based foes, as well as certain unnatural beings (zombies, for example), face much more severe versions of these effects, as well as some reduction to maximum hit points and a much greater rate of contagion. Recharge: Fast 5) Computer Virus – infects an electronic or robotic target with a vicious (but only weakly contagious) computer virus that may have any number of deleterious effects, potentially including 1-4 of the following: Slowing, to-hit debuff, defense debuff, reduced recovery, disorientation, immobilization, sleep, blindness, placation, and/or confusion; some organic enemies, particularly cyborgs, have been known to suffer weaker versions of its effects. Recharge: Moderate 6) Polio – Causes complete paralysis in a target. Nearby enemies may contract a milder version and become immobilized. Recharge: Slow 7) Invoke Symbiosis – stimulates a defeated ally's mitochondria, reanimating it and protecting it from debt for 90 seconds. The target will benefit from increased endurance recovery for a while after reanimation. In addition, whatever germs and parasites happened to have been residing in the character's body are prompted to seek out new hosts, generating a cloud of pestilence around the beneficiary that lowers the accuracy and resistance of nearby enemies. When these effects wear off, the subject will suffer from decreased endurance recovery and attack speed for a while thereafter. Recharge: Very Long 😎 Ebola (Defenders, Corrupters) – infects the target with a horrible flesh-eating virus that very gradually deals massive damage. Nearby enemies may contract a much weaker (but faster-acting) version. Not usually too helpful against your typical gaggle of Minions, but can be very effective if unleashed at the start of a tough fight. Damage: Extreme Toxic (DoT) Recharge: Very Long OR Rabies (Masterminds) – you infect one of your own henchmen with a rapidly-advancing form of rabies (or a software analog, if your henchmen are robots). The target's movement, attack rate, and damage are all drastically increased, but the subject immediately collapses once the disease has run its course. Recharge: Very Long 9) Plague – Unleashes a terrible plague epidemic on your enemies, starting with an initial target and spreading more rapidly and at longer range than other contagions. Victims are subjected to slowing, severe endurance loss and retarded recovery, reduced damage and damage resistance, and possibly a substantial reduction of their maximum hit points (that can be strengthened with Healing Enhancements). Recharge: Very Long Example Character Concept: The Remorseless Guns Germs & Steel! (Villainous Robotics/Disease Technology Mastermind)

Okay; I guess I was confused by the word "shown".

Sorry if I'm a yutz, but in this case, what do you mean by "the OP"?

I've been working on lots of ideas for a long time and it's been too long since I've presented one, so here's one I just realized was ready to debut: MARTIAL CONTROL (Control) Available to: Controllers Set Color: Black-on-Rust Not every gritty street-fighter favors simple frontal assault or stoic trading of blows, and not every subtle manipulator is some otherworldly mage, convoluted gadgeteer, or gifted mutant; masters of Martial Control use gumption, cunning, mundane tools, and tricky wrists to tie their enemies in painful knots. Martial Control is very unusual among Control sets for its emphasis on close-ranged attacks and tricks; it makes up for this vulnerability, and for some of its control effects being relatively short or weak, with reasonable endurance costs, better-than-average speed, and most importantly, significantly better damage than most other Control sets. 1) Blackjack – A simple attack with a good old-fashioned blackjack, moderately damaging and severely stunning the target. Damage: Moderate Smashing Recharge: Fast 2) Golf Swing – FOOORE! Your (or maybe somebody else's) trusty nine-iron has a helpful extra bit of reach, and your practiced swing with it both carries a painful punch and knocks the target into the air. Damage: Moderate Smashing Recharge: Fast 3) Nerve Pinch – Secrets of anatomy both ancient and cutting-edge enable you to reach in and press just the right spot on nearly any foe to cause both serious pain and temporary paralysis. Damage: Moderate Smashing/Psionic Recharge: Moderate 4) Boomerang Wave – Boomerangs used in their ancient function as weapons aren't actually supposed to return the way "toy" ones do, but you have your ways (or perhaps just a very large stockpile); an artful toss of one of your boomerangs will ricochet from foe to foe, inflicting mild damage and a lasting stun on foes in a short cone ahead of you. Damage: Minor Smashing Recharge: Moderate 5) Pinata Spin – Using a dirty, dangerous fusion of wrestling and party tricks, you grab a foe and spin it around until it becomes not only so dizzy and confused as to start attacking its own enemies, but with a chance of so enraging it that these misguided attacks do increased damage, besides! Recharge: Slow 6) Sucker Punch – A fearsome sock to the face (or whatever your enemy's got) that not only carries an effective placate effect from the shock of the blow, but deals a great deal more damage if the target is presently under another control effect from this set. Damage: Special Smashing Recharge: Slow 7) Tear Gas – A few household chemicals and a supply of cheap delivery-vessels are all you need to make your own tear-gas grenades, and enemies in a cloud of such gas will be effectively paralyzed by blindness and choking. This mass hold effect is cheaper and faster, but also has a shorter-lasting, compared to similar effects in most other Control sets. Recharge: Slow 😎 Rat King – 'Strength in numbers?' Not on your watch! All you need is a volatile mass of cables, zipties, and superglue at your disposal to put your enemies in a world of collective hurt. Enemies caught in the area are immobilized, suffer reduced recharge rates and damage resistance, and even face a very small chance to lash out at their fellow 'rat-kings' in confused desperation - the more targets are effected, the greater the severity and probability of all these effects! Recharge: Long 9) Come Out and Play – A master of the streets such as yourself commands the respect and fear of friend and enemy alike - and sometimes, you can rope a few into doing you a favor. You summon 1-3 Lieutenant-level henchmen, randomly culled from the ranks of either the Warriors, Sky Raiders, Family, Tsoo, Wyvern, Private Security, Lost, Freakshow, Trolls, Outcasts, Council, Scrapyarders, Knives of Artemis, Destroyers, Syndicate, or Carnival of War, to fight by your side. They can be healed and buffed like any normal ally. Recharge: Long Example Character Concept: The Unflappable Butler! (Vigilante Martial Control/Poison Natural Controller)

My Traps character is an Illusion/Traps Controller; I don't like not using full sets.

In which would you sooner put the [[Armageddon]] set, then: Trip Mine or Poison Gas Trap?

What about [[Soulbound Allegience: Chance for Build Up]]??? I'm literally having a hard time understanding what I'm reading here; could you please rephrase?

This would be a problem; why not?

Seeker Drones do 3 Enhanceable things: - disorient - to-hit debuff - damage My question is simple: What are the options available for optimizing in any of these three directions? Also, I suppose I should ask whether this question varies at all with Archetype. For what it's worth, I use the word "optimize" with some hesitancy, since I've long associated it with dogmatic bean-counters/"powergamers" who claim there is one "best" way to do anything - however, in this context, it is appropriate.

Is there a limit/deadline to getting the rewards promised by this challenge? I've been playing my entry at the same breezy pace as all my other characters, so it could be a while before it reaches level 30.

OKAY! I actually did it (about a week ago now, but I wasn't sure how soon it was important to post a screenshot): Introducing PLASMA-SCREEN!!! (Fire Control/Electrical Affinity Controller)

Okay; anything else I should know?

So I made three rolls, and one included a jackpot; what do I do now?

What I really want is for the damage to vary significantly based on what you throw - that should be doable, shouldn't it? Whatever RNG determines which object shows up, add to each result a separate damage range.

...when the car appears, hard liquor-time! Consider it a show of good faith to your foes: They're not the only ones getting smashed.

I must say...I am impressed. I don't think I'll actually do this, but part of me does feel tempted to make a Claude Rains tribute-Blaster....

I had a Mercenaries MM back on Live, and I honestly don't know whether they're as "bad" as everyone says they are or whether it might just be groupthink; that said, your changes are certainly respectable. My feedback, however: - Why totally deprive Spec/Tac-Ops of rifles? It would seem appropriate for Mercenaries to have an element of conformity to their weapons. - Maybe replace (in the case of those who don't get Pummel) Brawl/Heavy Brawl entirely with something like "Combat Knife" (a slightly better version, perhaps of the switchblades used by some Hellions/Skulls/etc)? - Maybe at least some of them should receive Bayonet from upgrade powers, too? - An idea I heard floated for "fixing" Mercenaries was "double down on the debuffs"; that could be a good approach for Spec-Ops. - Why not keep Serum, just make it better? I like your Field Support pets, BUT I think every Tier-7 Summon power should aspire to be unique. Admittedly, this is different enough from Gang War and Hell On Earth, but a sufficiently good Serum power would be moreso. - Maybe "medical support" abilities could be watered down and distributed to all the Soldiers as part of Tactical Upgrade; maybe all Mercenaries could have the Fitness Pool benefits. Even better, maybe dispense with healing entirely and go with your "Equipment Support Unit" abilities; I really like that (and had similar a similar idea for a new Summon set idea I've been working on). Maybe just replace "3rd Soldier is a Medic" with "3rd Soldier is a Quartermaster".

Obviously, some of these are what you'd call 'Sensible', others 'Silly', a few 'Slightly Silly', and some 'Very Silly'. The listings here are basically what the costume menu would refer to them as, and should in most cases be evocative enough to give one an idea of what it would mean. Those names/concepts that are based on the material they're supposed to be made of will be indicated with '*'. Those names/concepts based on some broader aesthetic will be indicated with '""'. References to within the CoX universe will be indicated with '!!!'. Note there are several repeats of names/concepts that would work well/be adaptable to different weapon types. I'll try to explain those that need it and provide picture-links or other explanations where possible, but feel free to ask for clarifications. Assault Rifle/SMG: -Spandau -Lewis -Schwarzlose -Nemesis!!! -3-D Printed Plastic* -Submarine Sandwich -Large Fish -Cannibalized Clockwork!!! -"Psychotic Circus" -Doombrella (a la The Penguin) -Electric Guitar -Trombone -Flower-Box -Gumball-Machine Broad Sword: -19th-Century Saber -Shotel -Macahuitl -Bone Sword* -Ceramic* -"Rococo" -"SynthWaveWare" -Demon Barber (huge, bloody razor) -‘Letter-Opener’ (what the 'bad kid' in high-school metal shop class made) -Large Fish -Vorpal (something far-out fantasy) Katana: -Estoc -Scythe -Bone Sword* -Ceramic* -Monomolecular* -"SynthWaveWare" -Buttered Blade (it's a giant butter-knife, what else???) -Origami* -Doombrella (see above...but sword) War Mace: -Royal Sceptre -Pharaonic Flail -Branding Iron -"Rococo" -Gavel -Fasces -Aspergillum -Turkey Leg -Squash of Squashing -Humanoid Arm (I could provide a good picture, or a safe link...but both???) -Sunday Edition -Lawn Gnome Battle Axe: -Cleaver -Macahuitl -Bone Axe* -"SynthWaveWare" -"Rococo" -Fasces -Scales of Justice -Demon Barber (as above, but even bigger) -Electric Guitar -Very Large Nose of Doom (©) Staff: -Baguette -Shepherd's Crook -Bishop’s Crook -Dandy Cane -Barber Pole -Maypole -Human Spine -Hourglass -Rainstick -Weaver’s Distaff -Cornstalk Staff -Caduceus -Didgeridoo -Stick Insect -Butter Churner Bow: -Mongolian -"Rococo" -Blind Seer’s Bow (some quirky fantasy-thing, probably ocular motifs) -Accelerator (i.e. miniaturized, weaponized Large Hadron Collider) -Spider Bow ("HE'S a Wyvern agent turned to Arachnos! SHE'S an Arachnos agent turned to Wyvern! Together, they're...CROSS-BOWS!") -Talisman-Covered (lots of pretty jangly bits) -"Apollo" -"Artemis" -"Asura" -Violin -Bass Violin (as previous, but bigger) -Cannibalized Clockwork!!! Blades: -Tomahawk -Kirpan -Jambiya -Kerambit -Tessen -"Rococo" -Demon Barber (normal-sized, bloody razor) -Jr.’s Trusty Scout-Knife -Tuning Fork -Bouquet -Quill Pen Pistols: -Mauser -Walther PPK -Wheellock -FP-45 Liberator -3-D Printed Plastic* -Cannibalized Clockwork!!! -Wand of Bullets (AKA "Clarke's Law on a budget") -Swingline Stapler -Banana Claws: -Bagh Nakh -Kerambit -Cestus -Spiky Cestus -Filaments (too thin to see but as a glint) -Bio-Filaments (a la Carnage) -Tessen -Pimp Rings -Origami* -Dinner Forks -Tuning Forks -Poker Hands -Foam Hands -Scissorhands Spines: -Urchin -Bio-Filaments (as above, but...MORE) -Fungal Growths (Know what? I'm scared to even try looking for images....) -Rebarr -"Gigeresque" -"Burtonesque" -Tube-Worms -Noodly Appendages Shield: -Madu -Tessen -Mirror -Unlucky Mirror (as previous, but shattered) -Ostrich-Feather Fan -Lucky Cast -Pizza Box* -Human Skin* -Human Face* -Reliquary -Guardian’s Gauntlet -"Rococo" -"SynthWaveWare" -Ring of Protection -Singularity -Rafflesia Titan Weapon: -Flail -Fist of the Tyrant -Barber Pole -Melon-Smasher -Scales of Justice -‘Letter-Opener’ (as above, but absurd-sized) -Monofilament (as above, but bigger) -Aspergillum -Xylophone -Electric Guitar -Bouquet -GE Corn -Singularity (fits under your fingernail; hits like a Titan Weapon) Beam Rifle: -Vanguard UltraWand!!! -Science Fair Project (looks like it was made out of LEGOs and papier-mache or something) -Cannibalized Clockwork!!! -"SynthWaveWare" -Power-Flower -Golden Age Film Camera -Electric Guitar -Violin -Saxophone -Hurdy-Gurdy -Singularity -Gumball-Machine -Amazing Ball Machine -Squid

GET OVER HERE!!! It's time for some Macabre/Horror/SPOOOOOKY Powerset ideas...! CHAIN ASSAULT (Assault) Available to: Dominators Set Color: Dark Red-on-Dark Grey You torment your foes with one or more wicked spiked chains. While you do not quite have the range of other Assault sets, the chain's weight and your skill make it more accurate. 1] Score – a straightforward ranged strike that leaves a deep, nasty wound that bleeds for additional damage over time. Damage: Minor Lethal Recharge: Fast 2] Garrote – a melee strangling attack that deprives the victim of some endurance and slows its endurance recovery. Damage: Moderate Lethal Recharge: Fast 3] Sweep of Scorn – a powerful melee attack that knocks your target far away from you. Damage: Moderate Lethal Recharge: Moderate 4] Scarring Strike – a stronger ranged attack that leaves a hideous wound that bleeds for additional damage over time. Damage: Moderate Lethal Recharge: Fast 5] Torment – a cruel follow-up attack of moderate range that increases your accuracy and damage for your next few attacks. Damage: Minor Lethal Recharge: Slow 6] Constrict – attempts to squeeze the life out of your target, dealing a great deal of damage over time and leaving it gasping for breath, deprived of a great deal of endurance and with its future endurance recovery slowed. Damage: Superior Lethal (DoT) Recharge: Slow 7] Scorpion Lunge – you harpoon your target and yank it into melee range. This traumatic maneuver usually leaves the victim disoriented. Damage: Moderate Lethal Recharge: Moderate 8] Touch of Hades – a short-ranged attack that enervates your victim, depriving it of endurance and lowering its recovery and damage. Damage: Superior Lethal Recharge: Moderate 9] Dancing Chain – a section of your chain animates of its own accord, taking a stationary position where placed and making independent attacks against enemies within range. Damage: Moderate Lethal Recharge: Very Long Example Character Concept: The Relentless Cania! (Vigilante Ice Control/Chain Assault Magic Dominator) Notes: - Special kudos to the Homecoming team for (I've been informed) having devised a functional "pulling" mechanic, without which this set (which predates my discovery of Homecoming by a wide margin) would have a lot less going for it! - I'd originally intended for Touch of Hades to have a chance to do additional Negative Energy damage, but I understand that might get in the way of more character concepts than it would've opened the doors for - and there's always IO sets for that, right? Thoughts? - An ALTERNATIVE way to do Dancing Chain would be to make it a character-centered toggle power, sort of like a "damage aura" but doing much more damage to just one nearby opponent per interval. The peanut gallery is open to which would be better (but I think I'd actually prefer this way).

A PC. I begrudge "phones" their very existence. I imagine my Primal characters (who aren't psychics or aliens or whatever) mostly have normal mid'-'000s (which I pronounce "ooze") cell phones. My Praetorians (Loyalists especially), on the other hand...I have no trouble thinking those damned things are the order of the day there (each bearing the Sinclair Seal of Approval!).

First, apologies, if this is not the ideal Forum for such a query; I welcome being moved elsewhere if so. I just want things like "8)" AKA "😎" or ":P" "😜" et cetera et cetera to not automatically turn into smiley-faces or whatever when I type them in here; That's all. If you could tell me how to turn it off - or failing that, even do something behind the scenes for me if necessary and not too much work - I would appreciate it.

Admittedly, I came up with this in the LIVE era, before it was at all possible for Brutes to be good guys. Sometimes I wonder whether lifting as many of the old restrictions as they have hasn't actually restricted some potential future creativity. Deregulation is known to have consequences, after all.... Maybe they should institute some way to make case-by-case exceptions (picture the Freedom Phalanx or the Grandville 5 showing up to personally judge you, but it's really a couple of fully in-character DMs) - or perhaps (and this is the part of me speaking that made my father sound eerily like the Hogwarts Sorting Hat when he once told me I "might do well in Marketing") they could roll this and certain other powersets (like my Cult Summon set I also posted on here) out as a new wave of "SPECIAL NEW Alignment-EXCLUSIVE SWORN ETERNAL CHAMPIONS OF GOOD & EVIL Powersets!!!" - i.e. be any AT you like, certain powersets are ONLY available to certain Alignments, and choosing them is making a commitment.

NOW you're getting the idea! 😄

Because it's "send in the CLOWNS", not "send in the CLONES" - why would I want a "clone" when I could do something ORIGINAL? No other Summon set to date has a tier-7 power like this one - and shouldn't EVERY tier-7 Summon set power aspire to be unique among its kin? Besides, the clown car can still be featured by being the literal vehicle by which the Augustes show up; I think that would be fun-on-a-bun.