cranebump

Consideration of Knowledge [Arc ID: 65341] by @ZamuelNow This brilliantly-executed idea is a training arc for AE creators, in which you gain helpful hints and tips while you play through the arc. Zammie provides info through various means, including helpful read-throughs in the clickable enemy text. The main thing is, you experience the effects of said tips & tricks as you go. Again, brilliant. As for the deets,you can find the author's own presentation right here: Since Zam has explained this one already, there's no need for me to get into the particulars. Rather, I'll just grant a special, glimmering, holographic Seal of Approval for yet another idea I wish I'd thought of. Just a really cool way to learn about the oftentimes wonky engine of which so many have (like the author of this piece) have made such creative use (sheesh...is that even a sentence? I tried.).:-) PLAY IF: I'd play it just for the experience (even if you're a vet AE author). BUT: if you're thinking of stepping into the clay pit of mission authoring, this gem is a must. Very well done!

Considering you ran the first things I ever wrote, I'm happy they were playable at all.:-) As far as criticism goes, a thick skin and the ability to use anything actionable is worthwhile. I appreciate the "squishy" perspective, as I tend to run exemplared chars on my own and others' mishes. Nice to see how things would actually work in game.

Include yourself, as well, my friend.:-)

Allegedly Your Death (ID: 65297) by @First of Equals (boardsig: @sponazgul) This recent (Dec 5th of this year),* well-regarded arc casts you in the role of Batm-, errrrrr, a vigilante type hero who takes on threats like Puffin, and the Confounder. Thankfully, you have your faithful butler, Alfred Pen-, um…Browith Wingstringham to help you out as you unravel a nefarious, transdimensonal plot leading to...YOUR DEATH (I'm serious here [you'll see]). Since I am, indeed, running a toon named Devil Bat, whose bio reads, in part, Orphaned when his parents were slain in a senseless robbery, I feel, em, uniquely suited to the task.:-) No (more) spoilers here. Just know that it’s a humdinger of an arc that plays on the Chiroptera’s detective side while being firmly connected to our own City of Heroes (and to vigilante playboys everywhere). VERY enjoyable. A shining Seal of Approval floating in the passing clouds of the night sky, hovering like a crusading spectre over the gloom below. PLAY IF: You enjoy a fast-paced, well-written, tongue-in-cheek homage to dark knights and their faithful butlers (also play for a really great [and playful] poke at AE itself). Oh, and you should also play just to hear Manticore being called a chode (g**damn is THAT on point).:-) Worth your time, people! Suit up! *which just happens to be mine and Walt Disney’s birthday (and we know who, among the two of us, has made greater contributions to mankind, don't we? [frantically points to self, while vigorously shaking head in an imploring manner]).:-)

Whoever runs Saturday Night Synapse on Torch (the fact I can never remember the names surely must mean something).:-) @LordRassilon streams various CoH runs on his Twitch channel.

Writing what the character thinks or says. EX: Instead of "Accept the mission," the choice is "I'll be glad to do your bidding, my master." (okay, that's an extreme example, but, you get the idea).:-)

Many people say I taught them how to survive. They also say other people are incredibly dumb about slotting, and I'm very, very smart about it. They even say I invented it. I dunno, maybe it's true. I think it's true because, well... (thunder; lightning; a transformative flash) I AM THAT I AM! THOU SHALT BRING NO OTHER SLOTS BEFORE ME! ALSO (insert other stuff you're doing wrong)! THANK YOU! NOW GO FORTH IN ORTHODOXY!

It has a second name, but I cannot recall. M-A-Y something.

Haven’t done what the OP mentioned, but I could see myself running every variation of Archery on different toons (and putting them all in the same SG-Bowhaven).

I think it’s correctly pronounced, “Oh those f***ers again.”

Because saying Get off mah lawn! 10 different ways doesn't require 10,000 words to get your gist (each time). We usually pick up on it by reading the thread title.

I'd much rather have Statesman standing where Miss Liberty is, but I guess them's the breaks. That said, if I were to approach a way of returning him to the game, the depowered option would be the way I'd go. Make him a Longbow Coordinator or something. Maybe he's over there in the Isles, butting heads with Manticore and his Wyvern faction (and trying to redeem Recluse).

I did my own particular spin on Statesman at the end of the Mobius epic, so…NOT IT!:-)

I should be able to join, Z. Btw this is a GREAT idea.

It puts the lotion on its skin. Nearby lotion. Not that faraway, stupid lotion.

Some really good ideas there. Mish 4 does need some work (starting with making getaway vehicles optional, since that’s easy). My recent issue with fixing any of my older stories was crashing during edits (due to file size, I guess). Putting willie rescue active upon M4 entry is a good idea, though I’d have to tweak the confession and a couple other things. There IS a callback to Willies death in the capstone arc, so the downer ending is entirely intentional, and meant as motivation during the last arc of the story. Really good feedback. I am not sure when I’ll get around to employing any of it, but I’ve put a pin in it for future reference. Thanks again!

I played CoL a bit a long time ago, using the swing line power. It was weird to swing around with nothing to grapnel, but I just didn’t care. If my “natural” toon can run at a speed of 60 MPH (or more), then hooking to a cloud works, too. SWIIIINNNNNNG!

Still waiting for swingline.

I didn't mean that to sound like a negative. Probably should've said what it was: mainly stock vills with a few customs. Sorry about that.

You have boldly gone where no one has gone before, my friend. Thank you for everything you have done. The heroes of The Row are lucky to have Engineria as an ally (and perhaps the Night Ravens could use another strong mentor):-) Many, many thanks. We hope to see you around the city. Godspeed!

Thanks for the run. That’s the very first arc of the 50 I’ve written. Shoulda seen it before I tweaked it. It was rough. Very rough. Still looks like I could work on it, but at some point, you move on. Didn’t realize I was stealing Powers Division from Praetoria though. Sheesh. That’s what I get for not studying up on the lore.:-)

Yeah, Asa Ronan is a real pain for squishies. Pretty sure you can cruise it with a tank (which is true of a lot content). As for him being more powerful later on, there's at least a narrative explanation for that: he lets himself get captured (by you) so that he can get close to his intended target. Once he has access to his old boss, he drops his guise to pull off the hit. I'm fairly certain that's explained somewhere in the arc, either by clues or via NPC verbiage somewhere. PPD: I can't remember what the Stinger's powersets are, but I'm sure they're no joke. They're elite troops. Temp powers help a lot with them (though I probably shouldn't expect most people to have purchased any). I didn't recall Skullia as a mandatory boss, but I guess she was. She's a tie-in to the Ordinary People arc. Not sure what her mez power is. It's been a long time since I've revisited that arc. I thought she was just a gun toter, but maybe she has darkness. I did see that the story was L5-15 originally, so I guess things just got tougher as I bumped it up. Can't recall why. I never overclock anything (critters rate at 100%,XP gain according to the creature creator). I don't think I ever got killed 4 times during any test run of the arc, on any AT. But then, I know what's coming. And I tend to use exemplared toons, so that likely explains that. May have to revisit it with an on-level toon, just to see. Finally, I DID write the hallway glitch into the narrative, even after running it during tests and seeing it woudn't go away, I just kept it, and described it as some sort of security measure used by the Stingers. Thought it was a quirky surprise. I have no idea why it's that way, though. Thanks for the run.

Nearly? (produces moleskin pad, scribbles) This will not go down well with the Committee.

A Contract in Black and Blood [ID64304] by @Jiro Ito This SEP 2024 entry places you in the L45-54 range, in the Isles, where you’re asked by Mr. Black of Gadzul Oil to grab an old tome while offing the inimitable Mr. Bocor (last seen talking [and doing] some nasty ass shite in Port Oakes). Bocor played a major role in my own magic-themed arc, The Bleed (where I offer a perfectly logical explanation for him being such an asshole {a subject for another time, no?}). We jump right in, raid the place, and get an offer to turn on our employer (um, sorry…nope…and anyway, we didn’t finish the job-part of the book — it’s missing). We then are sent after Virgil Tarikoss, and I’m like YEEEAH! -- I don’t like that bastard either! I find Virg hanging out in close proximity with a MM boss with his pets dropped. THAT was a scrum. Having gotten the book, Malta awaits, where I reprogram a Kronos Titan (which shows up as an Ally and starts zotzing people -- MY BUDDY!). I bring back a Soul-Trapped Gem (because my employers have evidently NEVER heard of Wentworth’s). Of course this gem needs a soul to, um, POWER it, so I get sent into the Zig (because every escaped criminal wants to go back to jail to show his progress out there in the real world). After procuring the necessary, er...COMPONENT, I’m asked to pretty-please help with a ritual (that I’m **pretty** sure is going to involve me having my heart devoured, or something of that ilk). Was I right? Well...I’ll just leave you to play it to see. VERDICT: 5/5. Typically well-constructed, cleanly written. A great example of the quality of work this author always presents. There are a lot of objectives, but most of them are optional. So you can delve as far into the bigger story as you see fit. A bit of an “enemies tour,” with some non-standard map selections for at least 1 enemy group (a boon to those who hate caves). Clever bit with the Kronos Titan (Frieeeeeend...), as well as several cameos from the vill side to, er...engage with. All in all, a solidly constructed arc that allows you to choose your pacing. Well done. A Bloody-Black Seal of Shining Approval. PLAY IF: You’re a nasty vill looking to do legwork for fun and profit. OR: if you demand excellently composed missions, with a wide array of choice. A very well-done arc!

I don't know why, but every time I read the title of this thread I envision a period romance TV series. Longbow...in Agincourt (sweeping music plays)