Glacier Peak

@Apparition Totally agree. I play this game at maxed visual settings at 1440p/144hz, but it's not super taxing (unless I jump in to a Hami raid lol) - I tend to overclock my hardware when I play other games though, to keep the frame rate high. The fact that this game can run on really old systems and hardware is a benefit in my opinion - keeps the door open for anyone to be able to play it without high specification requirements.

Those are some pretty broad sweeping statements or generalizations, but your opinion nonetheless. Welcome to the community!

Last update with completed info for the story arcs and enemies counting towards the badge: These five are found in the Admiral Sutter Task Force(Badge: Land, Sea, & Air / The Sky is Falling): 1. Primal Col. Duray (thanks @Grouchybeast) as “Pirate” 2. Praetorian Col. Duray (thanks @Grouchybeast) as “Commander” 3. Harbinger (thanks @Piecemeal for the final clue/answer) as “Mute” 4. Jane Temblor (thanks @Grouchybeast) as “Lovebird 1” 5. Fusion (thanks @Grouchybeast) as “Lovebird 2” The next three are found in Striga Island 6. Archon Burkholder from Ernesto Hess Task Force as “the bane of caldera” (Badge: Burkholder's Bane) 7. Heracles (thanks to @Grouchybeast) from Stephanie Peebles story arc "Ring of Peebles" as “humble the son of Alcmene” 8. Arakhn from Moonfire TF as “the cyst-maker” (Badge: Honorary Peacebringer) Steel Canyon Story Arc 9. Sun Xiong (@Lines) from Graham Easton's story arc "Last Rites" as “art thief” Faultline Story Arc from Jim Temblor "Rumblings of the Past" introduced via Doc Delilah contact: 10. Night Widow Nocturne (thanks @Ironblade) as “the widow whose sub is a goner” 11. Kurse (thanks @LQT) as “deranged little psychic” Kings Row Story Arc from Eagle Eye "Lords of Death" 12. Chernobog Petrovic (thanks to @Grouchybeast) as “Lord of Death 1” 13. Veles Petrovic (thanks to @Grouchybeast) as “Lord of Death 2” Hollows Story Arc from Talshak the Mystic "Heart of the Hollows" 14. Atta (@Lines) as “met on your trek to the gate” Synapse Task Force (Badge: Synapse Cohort/Betrayer) 15. Clockwork King from Synapse TF as “went to court and toppled the monarchy” Positron Task Force Part Two (Badge: Dam Hero, with prerequisite of Rule of Three Badge) 16. Dr. Vahzilok as “de-tenured Ph.D.” Story Arc from Marvin Weintraub (Talos Island) or Collin Larson (IP) "Freaklympics" 17. Freaklympics Gold Medal Souvenir (@FoulVileTerror great guess!) as the "honor of gold medal fame"

Maybe the bombs in the second mission?

@Lines I totally agree, the 30-40 level range seems much higher. But if it is Admiral Sutter (lvl 20-40) who is the mute?

Let's hope we get it! Page 10 version with the closest guesses I believe the community has made (again I bolded the guesses which I believe are solid): Story Arcs and Enemies counting towards the badge: 1. Primal Col. Duray (thanks @Grouchybeast) from Admiral Sutter TF as “Pirate” 2. Praetorian Col. Duray (thanks @Grouchybeast) from Admiral Sutter TF as “Commander” 3. ??? (thanks ...) from Admiral Sutter TF as “Mute” 4. Jane Temblor (thanks @Grouchybeast) from Admiral Sutter TF as “Lovebird 1” 5. Fusion (thanks @Grouchybeast) from Admiral Sutter TF as “Lovebird 2” 6. Archon Burkholder from Ernesto Hess TF as “the bane of caldera” 7. Heracles (thanks to @Grouchybeast) from Stephanie Peebles story arc as “humble the son of Alcmene” 8. Arakhn from Moonfire TF as “the cyst-maker” 9. Sun Xiong (@Lines) from Graham Easton's story arc "Last Rites" as “art thief” 10. Night Widow Nocturne (thanks @Ironblade) from either Jim Temblor's story arc as “the widow whose sub is a goner” 11. Kurse (thanks @LQT) from Jim Temblor's story arc as “deranged little psychic” 12. Chernobog Petrovic (thanks to @Grouchybeast) from Eagle Eye story arc in Kings Row as “Lord of Death 1” 13. Veles Petrovic (thanks to @Grouchybeast) from Eagle Eye story arc in Kings Rowas “Lord of Death 2” 14. Atta (@Lines) as “met on your trek to the gate” 15. Clockwork King from Synapse TF as “went to court and toppled the monarchy” 16. Dr. Vahzilok from Positron Two TF as “de-tenured Ph.D.” 17. Freaklympics story arc (@FoulVileTerror great guess!) as the "honor of gold medal fame"

It makes sense to me as well, but the Olympics are once every four years (except for this year 😞). I think it is the closest the community has come up with for #17. I'll add it to my list.

I suspect it's the first three then. This is quite a fun hunt!

Page 8! Updated list after others have chimed in with great info. I bolded the enemies I am confident fit the hint. First five are mentioned as a squad (big kudos to @TraumaTrain for the first three): 1. Maybe ?? Dr. Hyperbaric from Sgt. Schorr story arc in St. Martial as “Pirate” 2. Maybe ?? Rising Vengeance from Sgt. Schorr story arc in St. Martial as “Commander” 3. Maybe ?? Steve "Mute" Mutombo from Sgt. Schorr story arc in St. Martial as “Mute” 4. Maybe ?? Jane Temblor from Admiral Sutter TF as “Lovebird 1” 5. Maybe ?? Fusion from Admiral Sutter TF as “Lovebird 2” Next ones are on isle of yore (Striga Island): 6. Archon Burkholder from Ernesto Hess TF as “the bane of caldera” 7. Heracles (thanks to @Grouchybeast) from Stephanie Peebles story arc as “the humbler of the son of Hera humble the son of Alcmene” 8. Arakhn from Moonfire TF as “the cyst-maker” Next part mentions getting mean, perhaps changing alignment to villain for these: 9. ??? as “art thief” 10. Night Widow Nocturne (thanks @Ironblade) from either Jim Temblor's or Agent G's story arc as “the widow whose sub is a goner”. Doc Deliah from Faultline as “the Doctor” who introduces you to Agent G, whose final missions you fight Nocturne. 11. Kurse (thanks @LQT) from Jim Temblor's story arc as “deranged little psychic” 12. Chernobog Petrovic (thanks to @Grouchybeast) from Eagle Eye story arc in Kings Row as “Lord of Death 1” 13. Veles Petrovic (thanks to @Grouchybeast) from Eagle Eye story arc in Kings Rowas “Lord of Death 2” 14. Atta (@Lines) as “met on your trek to the gate” 15. Clockwork King from Synapse TF as “went to court and toppled the monarchy” 16. Dr. Vahzilok as “de-tenured Ph.D.” The final hint: Finally, find Freedom at the annual game, And claim the honor of gold medal fame. 17. Freaklympics story arc (@FoulVileTerror great guess!) as the "honor of gold medal fame".

Great find @LQT i'll add that to my running list

I think the first three match really well - but who are the love birds? They come as a squad?

Always happy to snag more! Exploration badges comes with interesting background.

I actually just ran that arc on one of my characters yesterday, and there wasn't anyone tough to defeat aside from the Tsoo leader at the end. But I agree with you about Darrin Wade being too high - I just can't think of any other art thiefs in the game! And I have to agree with you on the 11. as well. I keep thinking it's Penelope, but nothing seems to match besides the Psychochronometron thing.

I like that idea! Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't he just an NPC in that last part? I don't think he can be attacked/defeated.

@Grouchybeast We're close! Updated list after others have chimed in with great info. I bolded the enemies I am confident fit the hint. First five are mentioned as a squad (big kudos to @TraumaTrain for the first three): 1. Dr. Hyperbaric from Sgt. Schorr story arc in St. Martial as “Pirate” 2. Rising Vengeance from Sgt. Schorr story arc in St. Martial as “Commander” 3. Steve "Mute" Mutombo from Sgt. Schorr story arc in St. Martial as “Mute” 4. Jane Temblor from Admiral Sutter TF as “Lovebird 1” 5. Fusion from Admiral Sutter TF as “Lovebird 2” Next ones are on isle of yore (Striga Island): 6. Archon Burkholder from Ernesto Hess TF as “the bane of caldera” 7. Heracles from Stephanie Peebles story arc as “the humbler of the son of Hera humble the son of Alcmene” 8. Arakhn from Moonfire TF as “the cyst-maker” Next part mentions getting mean, perhaps changing alignment to villain for these: 9. ??? as “art thief” 10. Night Widow Nocturne (thanks @Ironblade) from either Jim Temblor's or Agent G's story arc as “the widow whose sub is a goner”. Doc Deliah from Faultline as “the Doctor” who introduces you to Agent G, whose final missions you fight Nocturne. 11. Kurse (thanks @LQT) from Jim Temblor's story arc as “deranged little psychic” 12. Chernobog Petrovic as “Lord of Death 1” 13. Veles Petrovic as “Lord of Death 2” 14. ??? as “met on your trek to the gate” 15. Clockwork King from Synapse TF as “went to court and toppled the monarchy” 16. Dr. Vahzilok as “de-tenured Ph.D.” The final hint: Finally, find Freedom at the annual game, And claim the honor of gold medal fame. 17. Freedom Phalanx related... hmm maybe defeating a Freedom Phalanx member

Interesting take! I wish I knew more about the story cannon to figure out the rest of those questions. At the very least it will be a fun hunt for whatever it ends up being.

Ah! Great eye! I'll update.

My observations so far.... On July 23rd, @@Piecemeal posted that he has been working on something since October of last year. He says he started with costumes and textures, but managed to figure out other background systems throughout the game on his own. He notes on a post on July 24th that once his ‘thing’ is closer to testing, he will spill the beans and describe it with a proper introduction (assuming no more rhyming hints? lol). The hints really take off starting August 9th when he posts a cryptic (?) rhyming verse that appears to contain details relating to his ‘thing’ he is working on. To paraphrase and summate its contents based on my deductions, see below: This post first begins by addressing the community’s in game characters. The next sentence implies that there will be a feature which is tied to your alignment, perhaps defeating certain enemies spread across alignments will reward you with something. The next portion mentions a “new army”, perhaps this alludes to the screenshot of the multi-enemy costumed parted individuals. This section also has the most interesting part. Again, total speculation on my part. I think the next part, where it totals seventeen “souls” is a list of characters needed to be defeated to gain a badge. I’m going to go out on a limb and attempt to identify them as best as I can. First five are mentioned as a squad (may be Admiral Sutter TF): 1. Colonel Durray as “Pirate” 2. ??? as “Commander” 3. ??? as “Mute” 4. Jane Temblor from Admiral Sutter TF as “Lovebird 1” 5. Fusion from Admiral Sutter TF as “Lovebird 2” Next ones are on isle of yore (Striga Island): 6. Archon Burkholder from Ernesto Hess TF as “the bane of caldera” 7. Heracles from Stephanie Peebles story arc as “the humbler of the son of Hera humble the son of Alcmene” 8. Arakhn from Moonfire TF as “the cyst-maker” Next part mentions getting mean, perhaps changing alignment to villain for these: 9. Darrin Wade as “art thief” 10. Night Widow Nocturne (thanks @Ironblade) from either Jim Temblor's or Agent G's story arc as “the widow whose sub is a goner”. Doc Deliah from Faultline as “the Doctor” who introduces you to Agent G, whose final missions you fight Nocturne. 11. Malaise or Mother Mayhem as “deranged little psychic” 12. ??? as “Lord of Death 1” 13. ??? as “Lord of Death 2” 14. ??? as “met on your trek to the gate” 15. Clockwork King from Synapse TF as “went to court and toppled the monarchy” 16. Dr. Vahzilok as “de-tenured Ph.D.” Last thing I believe implies completing the speed demon challenge at the Ski Chalet. The final part also implies there will be more ‘challenges’ like this, and the reward will also be a badge. On August 8th @Piecemeal posts “coughs in foreshadowing” in response to a comment about swapping alignment. On August 13th he further clarified that origin will not lock out players from getting the badges for this upcoming content. Also, on this day, he somewhat alludes to playing through the content instead of grinding past it may make it easier to obtain the previously mentioned badges. Again, on this day, he implies that in order to figure out what is needed to be done for those badges, players will need to be aware of the lore in the game. He also goes on to say that in the future the actions that players take will affect the nature of their game play.

Okay so what I am imagining from all the rhymed hints is a new system that tracks badges? Probably way off. I love playing crossword and doing word searches, but I am not grasping the rhyming hints very well. It's exciting though! Thank you for the teasing, hopefully I can narrow it down from everything you have posted so far.

I'm actually really impressed with this, I could've sworn they repainted all of those semi-truck assets. Great screenshot and character costume as well!

I've found doing a couple of iterations of these Masters' works better than crossing your fingers one person doesn't screw it up. The two arena badges which require patience and coordination are also a pain, as you said.

In before someone complains for no reason! (joking!) Thank you so much for the update Jimmy! And thank you to the volunteer Homecoming staff, GMs, and development team. I appreciate the tease and I look forward to continuing to play this great game with this awesome community we've built. Keep it up!

Great idea! Looks like we had similar thought progression. I like the idea of tying them more to Ouro as well. You are essentially going back in time using the Fire and Ice Crystal, so it would stand to reason that those zones have a certain level range.

Interesting idea

I'm seeing this comment and others like it as a common response to my suggestion. I appreciate the feedback. Thank you.