biostem

Wouldn't want to create a useful guide now, would we. What's the point of providing contextless information? Who cares if an armor set's toggles cost 3x the normal amount, if it also provided with 5x the end or something?

TBH, it seems more like a list of pretty useful superpowers with severe limitation applied to them. It'd be like saying "My character has super strength, but they can only use it to lift single extremely light objects". Also, the ability to change colors is actually extremely powerful - change your opponents' cornea to some opaque color so they can't see, change their costume to extremely bright colors, etc. The touch-based language acquisition can be very useful if said "language" grants other abilities - like if it's a special language that allows you to cast magic or if there's some alien robot that only responds to its native language. The "dishman" one is just telekinesis confined to plates, but are you permitted to change the definition of what constitutes a "dish"? The ice cream creation ability is downright deadly - create some ice cream in someone's brain, (or other sensitive area). If there's some alien out there that eats "antimatter ice cream", can you create that as well?

Yeet Elite Come all Yeet Faithful Defeat by Yeet The Yeeternal

I appreciate you going to the effort to compile this information, but without taking all powers in a set, including those granting extra recovery, an end cost discount, or other forms of end-granting skills, it can create an incomplete picture about an armor set's effectiveness. For instance, radiation armor's particle shielding grants a significant bonus to end recovery, or bio armor can quickly switch between efficient or other modes, on the fly...

Captain Yeet!?

I have a few shark-themed characters; The males are "Megalo Don" and the females are "Meg Alodon"...

I have never run an ITF, except for the very rare "speed" ones, where the team consistently ignored any of the enemies. No attacks = no XP. It seems weird to me that anyone would think they should get XP from an enemy who, themselves, cannot harm you. Even the most team-oriented player character has at least some attacks...

I certainly recommend taking taunt. As for the other power pick, a lot depends upon the rest of your build, but I'm confident in saying placate isn't near the top of my suggestions...

When the only 2 things you care about are getting the job done and it not costing very much, you call in "The RipLizard"!!!

My head-canon is that entities from certain realms need "an invitation" in order to enter primal earth, and if you can convince some rube with a "promise of power", all the better...

Not a perfect solution, but give a battle axe/ninjitsu scrapper a try!

When I'm deciding between a defender or corruptor, my focus tends to be on just how much do I want to focus on my blasts over my buff/debuff/heals, and whether my attacks are more about the upfront damage or if it's more about DoT. If it's the latter, then I feel that leverages "scourge" a bit more, so I'd go with the corruptor. If my priority is on the buffing/debuffing/healing powers, (especially if I want to take and maximize any leadership power), then I'll opt for a defender...

Here's my top 5, in no particular order: 1. I'm an altaholic, and I've embraced it, but I really wish there was a way to easily save and load all my window positions and layout - I find this to be one of the most frustrating hurdles to overcome with each new alt I create. 2. Whether we're the most intimidating edgelord demon from heck or the cutest little creature you can imagine, no enemies react to us one way or the other, and basically fight to the last man; I'd love a way to establish some sort of "air" about our character - like intimidating, calming, or otherwise, and have NPCs occasionally react to it. Further, it'd be great if we could somehow opt for a "non-lethal" option - even if it only results in an enemy playing a "I surrender" emote and an obvious teleport-out effect. 3. Similar or related to the "stealth kill-all" or other such complaints earlier in this thread, and also possibly related to my 2nd complaint, I'd love an ability to "interrogate" enemies to learn things like their "true" strength in that instanced mission, (i.e. getting clearer objectives and enemy positions marked on the map), as well as things like an express elevator key that allows us to head right to the top floor or such, and eliminate having to clear those additional floors. 4. While I appreciate how we can zoom, rotate, and even increase or decrease the light levels in the costume editor, what we cannot do is change the type of lighting we're working under; Anyone whose made a bunch of costumes will be able to tell you that different instances or even outdoor zones can alter how your character looks, and it'd be really nice if we had some tools to take that into account, within the costume editor. 5. The way the chat system handles changing zones/instances mid-conversation is rather annoying - you can be responding to someone's tell, and if you switch zones, it becomes "there is no one to respond to". Similarly, if you're recruiting for a team and get a lot of responses, it can scroll so fast or trying the quick reply key tags the wrong person; I'd love it it the chat system could stop scrolling once you click to respond, or otherwise handle tells/DMs a bit better - maybe highlight the person you're responding to in the chat window as well or something. Also related to this - how about a little icon or color indicator, (customizable by the user), to easily tell if someone you're chatting with is a hero, vigilante, rogue, or villain.

I'm all for custom options, though it'd look like you were awkwardly punching things instead of, well, clawing them, but if that's what people want...

There's a world detail distance and a character detail distance slider, IIRC...

TBH, I can't see them replacing elec armor's T9. Now, for ATs that don't currently get an elec APP, I could see this being added-in, but, again, since they generally don't duplicate powers a character can already get in their primary or secondary, I don't foresee them doing this for scrappers or stalkers. Perhaps for dominators or controllers...

Electrical Affinity has a rez, but what would you replace from the electrical or electricity affinity APPs or Mu Mastery?

Generally speaking, I use my APP/PPP pick to shore up some holes that my primary/secondary/AT may have. For 'trollers, that's typically defense, so I'd go with an APP/PPP with a defense-based armor. Mace mastery is the obvious choice, since it provides smashing/lethal/energy defense, which are all common damage types, especially in the late-game. The only downside is I don't think the other powers in the set are particularly great, (though you do then gain the ability to display the mace on your costume if you wanted). Ice mastery doesn't require you wield a weapon for the attacks, if that's an issue for you, has a defense-based armor, as well as a way to recover health & end via hibernate. Earth mastery, again, has the defense armor toggle, a self heal, and can stack additional mez effects, (though the hold is melee-based).

Welcome to HC! As for solo builds, I tend to lean toward sentinels or scrappers; If you want something with, IMHO, a lot of utility, I'd start with a dual-pistols/ninjitsu sentinel or a katana/ninjitsu scrapper. Both are solid, very solo-friendly builds that can also do well on a team. If you're leaning toward something a bit more on the control side, may I suggest a gravity/forcefield controller - it may seem like force field focuses mainly on ally-only buffs, (and it has a few), but it will also benefit you via dispersion bubble and personal force field. The former is important because it grants you some status protection, which is harder to come by for a controller. Alternatively, the sonic secondary set also provides some self-status protection AND some enemy debuffs, but the defense from force field is, IMO, better than the damage resistance from sonic, for a controller. The gravity primary is also a bit heavier on the direct damage and easy to utilize the "containment" mechanic, along with its own "impact" mechanic, for even more damage...

Some general thoughts & hopes for a 2nd season:

Love the cybernetic-beast look!

Love the design! Makes me wish we had all those pieces!

For future use...

And another, (for now, anyway): Title: "Testing the Limits" The team had grown. They were larger, more diverse, and, to be honest, Agent Aurum was starting to wonder if it might be more chaotic than efficient. But that was why they were here today—at their secret training facility deep within the heart of the city. They were about to engage in mock combat trials, each sparring session meant to help them better understand their new teammates' strengths, weaknesses, and most importantly, how they could work together. The facility was vast, with multiple rooms designed for different types of combat scenarios. The team stood in the central chamber, awaiting their instructions. “Alright, listen up,” Aurum began, voice steady as his robotic limbs moved with precision, adjusting the display on his wrist. “This is an exercise in strategy, coordination, and adaptability. Each of you is going to face off against a teammate. The goal isn’t to beat each other senseless, but to see how your abilities complement one another. Think of this as a ‘test run.’ I want to see synergy.” He turned to the group. Meg Alodon, towering and ready for action, cracked her knuckles. The Hawk, ever dramatic, leaned casually against the wall, his dual pistols at his side. Spectre, with her steely focus, surveyed the room, ready for whatever was coming. The Warden puffed out his chest, seemingly prepared to deliver a monologue even before the first match began. The Hummingbird bounced on her toes, practically vibrating with energy. Iron Owl, who’d barely spoken since his recruitment, was already tinkering with some gadgets. And The Scribe, standing off to the side, calmly flipping through a book, had yet to say much, but her quiet aura radiated confidence. Aurum gave a nod. “Let’s get started. Meg, you’ll pair up with The Warden. Hawk, you’re with Hummingbird. Spectre, you’re with Iron Owl. Scribe, you’ll be with me.” First Sparring Session: Meg vs. The Warden The first match was between Meg Alodon and The Warden. The towering shark woman cracked her neck as she sized him up. The Warden stood with his chest puffed, cape dramatically flowing behind him as he struck a pose. Meg rolled her eyes. “Is that really necessary?” “Oh, my dear Meg,” The Warden intoned, his voice deep and filled with unearned gravitas. “It’s not about necessity; it’s about presence.” Meg sighed. “Let’s just get to the fighting, alright?” The Warden raised a fist, ready to launch into one of his theatrical attacks—but before he could even make a move, Meg’s claws shot out, slashing at the air. She moved with a swift predatory grace, landing a few clean blows that sent his cape fluttering wildly. “Whoa!” The Warden yelped, stepping back as Meg closed in. “Your power… is impressive.” She grinned darkly. “Keep up, then.” To his credit, The Warden didn’t back down. He swiped his arm, and a gust of wind seemed to accompany the motion, knocking Meg off balance for just a second. It wasn’t much, but in that moment, he sprang into action, using his agility to try and land a few blows. Meg took the opportunity to demonstrate just how fast she could recover. She darted in, pinning The Warden down with her sheer strength, leaving him struggling beneath her grip. “I’m gonna take that as a win,” Meg grinned, releasing him and standing back. “Indeed,” The Warden said, pushing himself to his feet. “But I shall remember this.” Second Sparring Session: Hawk vs. Hummingbird Next up, The Hawk faced off against The Hummingbird. He couldn’t help but notice her endless enthusiasm as she zipped around in circles, the colors of her suit blurring with every spin. “So, uh, you wanna try to stay still long enough for me to actually shoot you?” Hawk said, adjusting his pistols and eyeing her carefully. Hummingbird zipped back and forth, too fast for Hawk’s usual precision. “I’m too fast for you!” she shouted, grinning from ear to ear. “Catch me if you can!” With a deep sigh, The Hawk started pulling out his more unconventional ammo. First, a small net shot from one of his pistols, designed to ensnare fast-moving targets. Hummingbird dodged it with ease, her speed a blur as she circled Hawk. "Nice try!" she giggled. "But I’m way faster than that!" Hawk smirked. "That’s what you think." In one fluid motion, Hawk switched tactics. He fired a stun grenade in her direction, expecting her to outrun it. Instead, she tried to dodge but miscalculated. The shockwave caught her, briefly stunning her and sending her tumbling to the ground. “Gotcha,” Hawk said, walking toward her as she slowly recovered, shaking off the effects of the grenade. She grinned. “Okay, okay, that was cool. I’m still faster, though.” “Well,” Hawk said with a wink, “the team’s got plenty of room for improvement. Just don’t blink next time.” Third Sparring Session: Spectre vs. Iron Owl Spectre and Iron Owl faced off next, and it was immediately clear this would be a different kind of match. Iron Owl didn’t waste time with grandiose gestures or flashy moves. He activated his robotic limbs, his mechanical body whirring with precision as he adjusted his armor for the fight. Spectre stood still, her golden crown gleaming, a stoic expression on her face. As Iron Owl advanced, she moved with inhuman speed, darting to one side and unleashing bolts of concentrated darkness. But Iron Owl was quick to adapt, using his mechanical arms to deflect the blasts, his enhanced reflexes allowing him to dodge or block with surprising agility. “You’re good,” Spectre said, narrowing her eyes. “But you’re not fast enough.” Iron Owl’s eyes flashed behind his goggles. “Speed isn’t always the solution,” he said, his voice mechanical but steady. “Sometimes, it’s about precision.” At that moment, one of Iron Owl’s robotic limbs shot forward, releasing a blast of energy that caught Spectre off guard. She staggered back, briefly losing her focus. She quickly recovered, but it was clear that Iron Owl’s combination of tech and tactics was effective at handling her speed. “You’re right,” Spectre admitted, now more impressed than ever. “I underestimated you.” Iron Owl didn’t speak further, simply nodding before re-engaging. It was clear the two had found an unexpected balance—her speed with his precision. Fourth Sparring Session: The Scribe vs. Agent Aurum The most anticipated match was set to be between The Scribe and Agent Aurum. While Aurum’s technological expertise and tactical genius made him a formidable opponent, The Scribe’s quiet, calculated nature made her a wildcard. No one was entirely sure how the two would face off. Aurum stood with his robotic limbs flexing, his golden armor gleaming under the bright lights. “Ready, Scribe?” he asked, his voice both confident and curious. The Scribe closed her book with a snap, her gaze sharp as she tilted her head slightly. “I’m always ready, Aurum.” Without warning, she darted forward with an unnatural speed, launching herself into the air with a single powerful motion, her dark robes swirling around her. Aurum raised an arm to deploy a series of small energy blasts—but before he could fire, The Scribe was already behind him, narrowly dodging the incoming shots. “You rely too much on your gadgets,” The Scribe said, her voice calm as she materialized a bolt of concentrated darkness in her hand, aiming it at Aurum’s back. But Agent Aurum was no slouch. He pivoted swiftly, using his robotic arms to deflect the attack just in time. “Not just gadgets. Strategy,” he replied, deploying a drone to assist him, its eyes glowing as it hovered above. The Scribe smirked, evading another blast. “Strategy is only effective when you can anticipate your opponent’s movements. You’re too predictable.” Aurum frowned slightly. He tried to deploy a net trap to corner her, but she flicked her wrist, sending out a dark wave that shattered the net before it even got close. “You’re good,” Aurum admitted, adjusting his stance, his robotic arms whirring as he recalibrated. “But I have a few tricks left.” And so the battle continued—The Scribe using her speed and precision with darkness to evade his attacks, while Aurum countered with his drones, calculating every move with military precision. The fight was less about brute force and more about outsmarting each other, each test of will and intellect pushing the boundaries of their abilities. In the end, The Scribe managed to land a final, well-placed blast of darkness, forcing Aurum to retreat a few steps, her calculated precision earning her the win. She stood back, wiping a small bead of sweat from her brow. “Well,” she said with a smile, “that was more fun than I expected.” Aurum, catching his breath, nodded. “I underestimated you. You’ve got a mind for this.” Unexpected Teamwork: Warden, Hummingbird, and Hawk The team took a break, and after a quick analysis of the previous rounds, Agent Aurum decided to switch things up. This time, they would work together in smaller teams—one team per scenario. “Warden, you’re with Hummingbird and Hawk. Let’s see how you all work together in a real scenario. And remember—use your brains as much as your brawn,” Aurum instructed. The three stepped into the arena, each one eyeing the others, trying to predict what might happen next. The Warden struck a pose, thinking he could lead the charge, but Hummingbird zipped past him in an instant, already scouting the field and finding a weak point in the training simulation’s structure. “Follow me!” Hummingbird shouted, her voice trailing behind her as she took off. The Warden blinked in surprise. “Wait for me!” But it was Hawk who proved to be the most surprising. He calmly assessed the field, using his pistols to deploy an array of munitions, while Hummingbird darted to confuse their mock adversaries. Warden, in his usual dramatic fashion, swooped in to make the final blow, but only after Hawk’s precision disabled their enemies’ defenses. By the end, it was clear that while each team member had different strengths, their real power came from how they worked together. Even if they weren’t always the most expected pairings, each of them brought something to the table that complemented the others' skills.

Title: "A Call for Reinforcements" It had been a long day, and the team had just wrapped up another successful mission. The Council had been foiled again, but with each victory, it became clearer that they couldn’t do it alone much longer. Agent Aurum stepped out of his power armor with a sigh, shaking his head as he surveyed his team. “We need reinforcements,” he said, wiping some dirt off his gleaming golden suit. “We can’t keep going at this pace without fresh blood. I’ve got a list of potential recruits we should check out.” Meg Alodon, already peeling off bits of armor, rolled her eyes. “Recruits? Sure. As long as they’re tough and can keep up. But let’s skip the speeches, alright? I’m not here for any ‘heroic monologues’ or soul-searching.” The Hawk, lounging on a nearby crate with a drink in hand, smirked. “I’m all for a few good speeches. But you know what, Meg? I like your style. I’ll talk to whoever has the best flair. Gotta bring in the drama.” Spectre, who had been silently watching the city through the window, spoke up. “I’m not sure what kind of recruits we’re looking for, but... maybe someone with some subtlety. We don’t need someone who draws attention just to draw attention.” Aurum nodded. “I agree. But we need a diverse team, and that means we’ll have to step out of our comfort zones. Let’s see who’s out there.” First Recruit: The Warden Meg Alodon took the first lead. With her no-nonsense attitude, she was the perfect fit to recruit The Warden, a self-proclaimed legendary hero who was known for his grandiose speeches and flair. A little too much flair, in fact. His dramatic poses and constant talk of his “storied legacy” often made him more of a city-side attraction than a real hero. She found him standing on top of a building, cape billowing in the wind, gazing off into the distance like he was in the middle of an action movie. Meg rolled her eyes and walked up, not bothering with pleasantries. "Hey, you," she shouted up to him. "You done staring into the sunset, or are you ready to join a team that gets things done?" The Warden turned slowly, struck by Meg’s blunt approach. “Ah, the strong, silent type! You are one who understands the gravity of my mission, aren’t you? You see, my cape represents—" “I don’t care about your cape. You’ve got skills, and we need someone who can handle themselves in the heat of a fight, not just pose for pictures.” Meg cut him off, her tone blunt but not unfriendly. “You in?” The Warden looked at his cape, then back at Meg. “Well... I suppose I could tone it down. For the greater good.” “Fine. Just no speeches on missions,” Meg grinned. “We don’t have time for that." Second Recruit: The Hummingbird Next up was The Hawk, who was given the task of recruiting The Hummingbird, the hyperactive speedster who was known for her bright, almost painfully colorful attire and her limitless energy. Normally, The Hawk would be more drawn to a dark, brooding type, but today, he was embracing the idea of mixing things up. When they found The Hummingbird, she was zipping around a local park, running circles around some confused pedestrians. Hawk watched for a moment before stepping forward with a grin. “Hey there! You’re quick, I’ll give you that. But we could use someone who knows how to have fun on the job. You in?” The Hummingbird stopped mid-spin, appearing right in front of him so fast that he almost flinched. “Fun? Fun? Oh my gosh, I love fun! I love speed! I love everything! And I’m so fast I could be everywhere and still get back in time for smoothies after!” Hawk smirked. “Smoothies, huh? I like the sound of that. How about we make it a deal? You join us, you get to keep the energy, but you also learn how to throw a punch or two. Sound like a plan?” “YES!” The Hummingbird practically screamed, bouncing up and down. “I’m totally in! Let’s go fight villains while drinking smoothies and having fun! This is going to be amazing!” “Uh... alright then,” Hawk said, slightly stunned by the enthusiasm but too entertained to back out now. “We’re gonna have to work on your focus though.” Third Recruit: The Iron Owl Spectre was tasked with recruiting The Iron Owl, a mechanical genius known for his quiet demeanor and his focus on innovation rather than heroics. Spectre had her doubts about bringing someone so focused on gadgets and machines, but there was no denying his talent. She wasn’t sure how he’d fit into the team, but she knew it was worth a try. When she found him, he was hunched over a workbench in his cluttered workshop, surrounded by a dozen half-finished robots. Spectre cleared her throat, unsure how to approach him. “You’re not busy, are you?” she asked softly. Iron Owl didn’t look up from his tools. “Depends. Are you here for the next build, or are you here to ask me to join your team?” Spectre glanced at the mess of wires and robotic limbs. “I’m not here for a gadget, though I’m sure you’ve got something good. I need someone who can think outside the box. You’re good with machines, but what about... taking on the unexpected?” Iron Owl stood, finally looking at her. “Unexpected? Sounds inefficient. But I suppose... if you're looking for someone who can design solutions on the fly, I could be of assistance.” “Good enough for me,” Spectre nodded. “But we’ll need more than just your gadgets. We need someone who can keep their head in the game.” Iron Owl gave her a rare, tiny smirk. “I’ve always been good at that.” He turned back to his workbench. “I’ll need a few adjustments to my systems, but count me in.” Final Recruit: The Scribe For their last recruit, Agent Aurum took the lead. He was tasked with finding someone who could bring an intellectual edge to the team—someone who could analyze situations from an angle the others might miss. So when he approached The Scribe, a quiet, scholarly hero known for her detailed knowledge of ancient texts and magical lore, it was a bit of an odd pairing. The Scribe was deep in thought, her nose buried in a tome in the library when Aurum found her. She looked up with mild surprise. “Can I help you?” she asked, her tone calm but curious. Aurum crossed his arms, looking over the dense collection of books surrounding her. “Actually, yes. We need someone who can bring a strategic mind to the table. You’ve got the knowledge and the intuition, but can you fight when it matters?” The Scribe blinked. “Fight? I... well, my knowledge is more in the realm of ancient magic and history. But I suppose if the situation calls for it, I can adapt.” “We need someone who doesn’t just adapt—we need someone who can think on their feet and work with the rest of us. You in?” Aurum asked, his voice both respectful and direct. The Scribe closed her book and stood up, a slow smile forming on her lips. “I’ve faced more than a few challenges in my time. I’ll join your team—if you can promise no one tries to steal my books.” “No stealing,” Aurum said with a grin. “I’m sure we can work something out.” The New Team After a long day of recruiting, the team reconvened at their headquarters. They had all managed to secure their new recruits, each one an interesting mix of personality and power. “Well, we’ve got a wild crew now,” Meg said with a grin. “Smoothies, capes, gadgets, and books... this should be fun.” Spectre crossed her arms. “I’m not sure if they’re all what I expected, but... I suppose we’ll see.” The Hawk laughed. “I’m already imagining the chaos we’ll cause.” Agent Aurum nodded. “It’s going to be a bumpy ride. But with this team, we might actually be able to take on the Council... and whoever else tries to stand in our way.”