cranebump

When I do team, it’s with PuGs. When it gets dicey, due to new people (or old people brain farting) I don’t mind the chaos at all. Makes for some fun, via the expected. As far as the many well-oiled machines I’ve run on, I’m neither giddy or despondent. I simply have no emotional connection to them. They’re just not memorable. Like an OK cup of Joe. Gets the job done (and that’s about it).

Agree with @Ultimo that durability for bosses is a biggy, if you want them to hang in there a while. Also, your boss tier setting makes a difference as to how they appear in mish, depending on player settings. For example, an AV will appear as an EB for players who don't have AV settings on (I believe--someone can fact check me on that). Remember, too, that something like an AV should have AV resistances in there somewhere (again, someone fact check me--I'm going on anecdotal evidence along here). On the whole, though, your average player running an AE story mish is probably not running them to level up. I always assume an exemplared toon, and a vet (since they've run everything else). So I expect them and their character to be pretty adept. I don't worry too much about them getting debuffed or being in, you know, actual danger. Mind, I don't go out of my way to make things tougher. But, as I stated, above, smart foes will prep for superpowered incursions. This should include the occasional nasty surprise.* Long story short: I wouldn't be afraid to challenge the players. They get plenty of rolling stompfests in the default game. They shouldn't be surprised (or pissed off) if they have to make use of an insp somewhere along the line. *In some cases a surprise to me, like a group I had with a limited number of lieutenants in it, running vs. a full team. There were singularities everywhere. I ended up going back in to diversify the offering, because it really was simply annoying, rather than challenging.

Our own @LordRassilon runs AE vids on Monday, during the wee hours. Here's the latest.

Well...here's a few of 'em. I tend towards short and sweet. Acrobattle (who's now "retired"). Most of mine have little more than a snapshot: KR Devil: Like his compatriot, the King's Row Angel, the King's Row Devil guards the back alleys of the overlooked sectors of Paragon City. The Devil has close ties with KR's own Juan Jiminez. Some say he might even be Juan himself, but that's never been proven. Gym Beam: Well, sir, I's just makin' mah rounds on the ranch, checkin' on that meteorite, and durned if I didn't find a dead alien and a big ol' gun. Thang seemed to attune wi' me, fer some reason. Made me all fast and ath-a-letic, an' a crack shot, too! So, I come to the city to do some good with it. I mean, what else could I do? Whipsmart: The "personal bodyguard" to Fletcher Finley of Steel Canyon's FinnCo, Whip spends half his time touting his exploits via social media. The other half is spent getting into trouble and getting bailed out by other superheroes. If you can consider him a "superhero," that is. Maybe someday, when (if) he grows up. Finally, this one from Torch: Souler: Ilario "Lari" Ramirez was chosen. He's not entirely sure why. Maybe it was his nature - always there to help, to lend a hand. When the Rikti Invasion hit, he was out there, in the thick of it - all 135 pounds of him. Took a blast from a Rikti weapon, and that should have been that. But then...the voice...something from beyond the veil. A familiar one. A spirit of strength, of peace. The Aurum Avi - the Golden Spirit. "You REALLY want to make a difference, Lari. Then make a difference!" Now imbued with the all-encompassing righteous spirit-fire, Ramirez accepted the mantle, taking up the defense of his City as SOULER! [Costume is based on Golden Age hero, "Superhombre" {not kidding...Super...hombre...}]

For customs, I go by the % showing when I select powers, shooting for 100% for every critter in the range. Powers are apropos for the group. Which means I have no problem throwing debuffs, if something like Rad or poison make sense. If enemies are smart, or well funded/supplied, you’d expect them to have effective countermeasures against supers, as well. I mean look at Malta. Of course, one way to stay “balanced” is to make heavy use of in-game enemies.

This.

Perhaps. Certainly a threat of retaliation might shift some folks off their soap box (I doubt it, though -- a lot of folks don't understand that there are limits to "free" speech). Of course, the social contract, in a community context like this one, is a stated code of conduct that we agree to when we enter the world and engage with others. I generally avoid engagement (and avoid General chat completely) for a few reasons, not the least among them is what Shaw said about wrestling a pig.:-) What gets me in all this --not just here, but in the public in general -- is how swiftly people judge, and how eagerly and readily they remain ensconced in their judgment. In this situation (as I understand it), the complaint was that, however things began, the situation quickly descended into name calling, and then, a call for censure (blocking). Of course, I don't know what was said. None of us do. Which is why you end up getting the devs involved so they can suss it out. That's their job, in this environment. I can make it mine, but then I end up being like the thought police, wherever I go. And my thoughts have not been agreed upon as the the community standard (too bad...everyone would get pancakes).:-) People are hasty. And I do think that being that swift on the trigger is, all around, part of the overall communications problem, in general (and in General). Hastiness is, at best, indicative of a lack of patience. At worst, it indicates rigid orthodoxy and a lack of empathy. Which can't help but bring out the worst in all of us.

People don’t engage with the same level of manners as they do in person. I don’t know why, because manners are manners, but they do. We also live in the age of “because I believe X, I must be right (and therefore must remain unchallenged).” You get a mob of people together who think that way, they erect walls, and shut people out in order to keep their bubbles clean and comfortable. Nature of the echo chamber beast these days, my friend. I left two rpg sites, ironically due to being middle of the road politically. I once had to report a user on a baseball discussion website for attacking a pair of users for being teachers (and “indoctrinating our youth”).* These days? I just don’t take any bait, either way. And here, my default settings have General just OFF. There’s enough ambient yowling from the fringes everywhere else. I’m not sure why people feel the need to bring it to their video game world. Especially one that puts heroism at the forefront. Intolerance is not heroic. Yet, how often do we see people exercise it IRL, while somehow thinking they’re protecting it? *man, don’t they know kids don’t listen to anything?:-)

Okay, scratch the branching: I just got 5 new slots. I'd be using three of them to plot 10 mishes (4 in the initial arc; 3 in each of the branches). I'd rather tell additional stories, at this point.

Ahhhh...yeah, forgot about team expectations. Tanker might be better after getting feet on the ground.

I whipped up the Ice/FA Sentinel last night. Picked up explores in AP (for Zone TP), did a little street sweeping, then headed to Mercy. Ran through the Weber arc there (the finale of which I totally forgot about-take THAT Psi-lass!). Finished up at L6, parked. Could NOT come up with a good name that someone else hasn't already done, so I went with Blizz Ferneaux (because I almost went with Blizferno, which, for some reason I thought was more embarrassing than the one I settled on). I'd post a pic, but I believe I have used up all my graphic space.

Echoing the tank choice. Fire/Dark is a good combo, with some nice AoE's. It's got a heal, and 2 Endurance siphons. You can swing it to fire farming later on, if you wanted to (I am far from a build expert, and my own version of this set farms well [or well enough, anyway]). For ranged, I'd go with a Sentinel for soloing. Just about any combo (I haven't done 'em all, but every one I've done has been effective enough for default play). I'd also like to throw in a vote for stalker, since you have invis and a big alpha strike. Great for walking through collect mishes where you don't feel like clearing everything, or for smashing an end boss. I don't run these guys much at all, which is weird, because I like scrappers, and I tend to give them stealth via power pool or procs. (hmmmm...makes a brutha think he needs a new stalker toon, other than that ONE he ran to 50).

No doubt! But I am leaning toward the sentinel and goin redside all the way. Been a while since I’ve done that 🙂

46 14 95 Dom Fire Control\Earth Assault I have a Fire/Earth toon, but it’s not a Dom. Been awhile since I ran one, so it’s a contender. 99 57 33 Tank Radiation Armor\Fire Melee Easy to envision thematically.and I do like tanks. But not a fan of the swords. I’d have to deviate a bit, using Fighting. 77 65 41 Sent Ice Blast\Fiery Aura Yin yang theme. And I do enjoy Sentinels. Will mull and create soon!

Oooh…is it the time again? I had much fun with Tsumurai!

I can’t. I have to make 2 additional arcs and let the player choose the next to play. Hence “branching.” 🙂 (I should have said series of arcs). That said, @Kyksie managed to simulate a “choose A or B” outcome in the arc I reviewed under Crane’s Short Reviews. Worth a look!

Current project: a “branching arc,” where you choose which direction to take after the initial. This oughta be interesting. or torture…

Say it ain’t so, Snark!

Kudos! And here I thought something like that was the kobayashi Maru.

Welcome home, hero

There was Tsomething about the title that tseemed to draw my atsention. Tso I tsook a chance on it.:-)

Okay, gang, I managed a couple runs this morning. Here's your frenzied, flavorful post-Groundhog Day offerings: Der Nachtzehrer Kommt (ID: 55600) by @Maris (board and author sig) A cleverly constructed arc that has you investigating the Council/5th Column's latest forays into upping the vampyr ante. Extra points for creative use of maps which “connect” with other maps, (ex: you fight outside a drydock ship, then proceed “inside” the boat next mish {nice touch!]). Great use of clues. Lets you ponder the pieces before any reveal (so you can see how wrong you are in your assumption that Adolf Hitler was frozen or something).:-) Some tough bosses for my not-so-big-on-damage tank. Ambushes galore! (hold on to your butt if you’re a squishy). Cleanly written, with clear plotting and objectives, all well-placed. Nice customs, judiciously used. Canon-connected, with very good writing, esp. the contact who behaves and comments logically, considering their station. Worth a run! (esp. with a team). PLAY THIS IF: Just play it. It’s an arc that touches all the bases. A blood-spattered Seal of Approval (don’t worry–you can clean that nasty vamp-sh*t off after the last bloodsucker falls). Tsoo Faced (ID: 25649) by @Therra Arcson (board sig @Greycat) A straight ahead arcane romp that puts you up against the Tsoo and Banished Pantheon (with a bit of Circle action thrown in). It’s your basic “things are not as they seem” story that focuses on (what else?) dangerous magic, a deadly ritual, and a boatload of everyone’s favorite speed/power-sucking Ink Men, TPing Storm Sorcerers, and your friendly neighborhood Shaman (accompanied by those gun-toting zombies). Clean writing, uses a in-game contact (Kung Bao of Skyway), with a couple of those huge, open graveyard maps. Great for mowing down mobs, if that’s your jam. A solid seal of approval from a move-cratered Crane, whose fire tank sometimes ran at the speed of light (if light were an iceberg…who had taken an entire bottle of melatonin…washed down with 4 bottles of gin). PLAY IF: You’re looking for a no frills scrap with a bit of mystery. (extra points for not-quite-your-typical finale). Solid, well-put together arc. Happy trails, hombres. Winter is no-longer a-comin' (fingers crossed), Crane

I prefer teams that actually feel like teams, rather than 5-6 companions and a 2-3 soloists. That said, if there’s some good banter and things are lighthearted, everything is pretty much “good,” regardless (well…for me, anyway).

My toons are probably slotted okay, but I myself could use much better slotting. At level 60, I seem to be having problems with endurance, recharge, health...well, every gd'ed thing.:-)

Just an update: the non-profit I was working for is shutting its doors by the end of March. I am in the process of seeking a new job. The best prospect I have currently has a much different schedule than the REALLY nice one I currently have (soon to be "had"). I'll continue with this, but transitioning will have an effect on new postings until everything is settled. In the meantime, keep playing those SFMA's!