cranebump

I always take a travel power. My preferences in play are to stay ground-based. So I'll often disregard Hover when I take Flight (not a mechanically wise choice, but there you are). I'll take it a bit further, and get IO sets that grant +Run Speed, so I can speed along quickly, naturally. Again...not optimal, but, meh...whaddaya gonna do when you wanna be this guy:

Half the AT is ranged damage. The other half is defense/damage mitigation. I think it's functioning exactly how it's supposed to - somewhat blasty, somewhat tanky.:-) That said, they probably would've had more team utility back before the game turned to a kitfest. Now, you can build decent survivability on a blaster using ancillary pools. Assuming you'd need much survivability after laying waste to everything. (This is off topic, but, if you consider players who build thematically, the Sentinel might be choice #1. We had that Cyclops emulation discussion in another thread, where at least one of the suggestions to build from the get-go was Sent, with RadBlast/WP, taking just the eye beams, then build attacks from the fighting pool. I'm planning on test-driving the idea soon, via a solo run [even though the idea isn't mine, and I really don't like Cyclops]. Speaking of emulation: wouldn't Iron Man be a Sentinel? Just curious about that. IM was my favorite back in the day [and I mean WAY back in the day], yet, I've never done an homage build of any type.)

Yes they are. You get enough of them all kitted out, all running on the same team, it's just a snoozefest. BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! (my turn again?) BOOM! (Hey--someone wanna snipe that runner the...thanks...)

Thank you. I did look him up before I posted. I also found some sort of really old reddit with this guy in it, dated from 10 years ago (iirc). Truly, he is unknown.:-)

Yep. That is exactly what happened.:-)

There go the heroes with their capes like always, The same old Task Force set to run. Every Hydra Head in place. Gonna punch them in the face. Then do it twice again for just the funnnnn....

I'd like to say he's unknown, but that would be too obvious.:-) I've run across him a few times. This time while running in old school "semi-default" mode (all the AP story mishes I can get, set at default level, but making use of P2W freebies, like Athletic Run, Jump Pack and SoMu. He seems to have a thing for the hospital. Wiki gives his full dialogue track and coordinates, but nothing about whether it's a player tribute or anything. (It's weird, but kinda wish we had more of these randos running around...not that you catch 'em unless you're lingering in an area for more than a short while.)

Not sure of the first 2 issues (seems like a glitch or a map problem), but you can use the attached Clues screen to have rescues “talk.” I usually color code the text yellow to indicate speech. You’re limited to 300 characters though. Bosses have a significant amount of dialogue text, so you could make a friendly boss and use some of that. But the player doesn’t get a notification as they do with Clues, so they d need to be paying attention to NPC chatter. I’d use the clues screen, then have the new “mission” objective chained to the rescue. It would then appear in the Nav text (i.e. “Find Nemo!”

So, my friend sleep is only mostly dead?

Heh. Noted (and been there done this).:-) I think a reminder of the efficacy of Sleep powers is useful. I have a plant Troller who makes use of it in certain situations. It's definitely helpful on teams running against huge, packed groups, where maybe you don't have the tankiness to pull in more than 1 mob.

Um...what about this, from Plant? Are you referring to Total Domination?

Heh. True. What was I thinking?:-)

Outbreak does

I think we've hit the nail on the head right here. A lack of memorable content, and the zone TF's are slogs. Since none of them are part of a requirement to get a badge power (i.e., TF Commander), there's little reason to spend the time there. I mean, let's be honest - who among us would bother with Cit and Synapse if they weren't part of the badge chain? That said, isn't Doc Quarterfield worth a ton of merits (is it 112?). You'd think you'd see more frequent runs, just for that.

You can do it, by directing people to the other connected arcs. I’ve thought of doing it, more than once, but didn’t want to use up multiple arc slots to tell 2 versions of a single story. There are plenty of multi arc stories, of course. But branching requires at least 3 AE slots. Big expenditure to present the illusion of choice. If this is your goal, however, by all means do it.

I’m not saying replace the jets. Just offer another option for people who don’t want to use them. I know we have jet packs (they’re what I use with my non flyers). I just think you’ll get a bit more play in the zone if people can get around more quickly. Since the name of the game for a lot of players is that next level, taking a slow jog around a massive zone is not the shortest distance between two points. (though I imagine a lot of folks now would tote TT's there to get from mish to mish [and mish TP + ATT] - so maybe transport doesn't really matter anymore)

Well...if I knew what we needed, I'd certainly say so.:-)

I'd replace the spouts with location-TP portals. The name of the game these days is about speed, so offer the quicker option. If people want to take the trad route around the zone, they still can (as with the other zones). I can't offer anything substantive on content, since I haven't run any of the normal stories in ages. I've only gone there to run Doc Quarterhell. I may have to put this on my agenda, since I'm now curious what I've forgotten.

Nice! I've been fiddling with bases back on Excel. I did notice, though, that our own base has no redside TP? I'm not an expert by any means, but I added this: All that red...hard to miss.:-)

No one asked for it… No one demanded it... Deep inside, they wished for the opposite... But... Here it is anyway… Devil Bat - The Nature of EEEEEVIL! (EEeeeeEEEeEEEeeee (slow fade...) EEEEE! e…e…eee (and one to grow on) Day Quatro-Quatro (and some change)... Sometimes you find yourself in a malaise (not that bad-guy dude, but the actual condition). Like…you’re just floating on an endless sea… Or maybe, you’re just floating in this little pool, wishing it were an ocean. Okay, honestly, maybe you were just looking at murky-ass water in Perez Park (so you can use the abbreviation “PP” and laugh like a juvenile. Heh..pee-pee…(sigh) In any case, you’ve realized that (a) you don’t really know what you’re doing, because (b) you’re just too stupid. BUT: Because of (b), you think you’re some sort of philosopher-king or something. So you take the deep dive into the question: What is the TRUE nature of my struggle against EEEEeeeeeEEEeEeEeE..ee.ee.eeeevilllll..? (ill…ill…ill….) [As nearby Hellions look on, wondering, Why is that dude pretending to echo?) In any case, you’re left with one recourse: to understand your enemy, you must BECOME your enemy. Only one thing left, then: GIVE YOURSELF THE BIRD! Whoa, whoa, whoa. I just wanna be SORTA bad. But I ain’t dancin’ in one o’ these cage thingees in here, okay? There, was that so har...Would you get this fiery red ball out of my eyes, please? So now, we bad. Not like Michael Jackson bad (shaMON!), but sorta ZZ Top bad. Except we not nationwide (and not like insurance, but, like, not well known or anything). In FACT: that’s the point. I want the WHOLE bad guy experience. Which means I need MORE than just the bird. I need some special help (which happens a LOT when you’re a special boy, like me). Only one thing to do now… Okay, so, um…anybody know how this thing works? There a..button I press, or…do I…(stick of dynamite?) What the hell guys, I… Ohhh…NOW I remember… This thing again. Derrr…(I get the junior time stone...yay...) Fine then. Let’s do some villaining. FROM THE TOP! Our first task: Now THAT sounds like a good deal! Let’s start there! Okay, first thing I like about goin’ Red. Their love of irony: Really? (snort) Okay… Of course, while I’m here, I REALLY need to look the part. Hmmm, how best to achieve? Well, I DO want to win Arachnos’s favor, so: Let’s fly their colors: Whaddaya think, Ricky? You dig my number? Um…Rick?...Mister Rick? Of course, villains are all menacing looking and stuff, so…let’s tryyyy… EEEEVILLLLLL! (KAFF!) Urgh…these things are smoky! In the end, seems my usual vigilante togs are enough. There’s just one problem… I CANNOT GET THIS STUPID HELMET OFF! Well, as a villain, I can only say BAH! And drive on. SO off we go! First off, lemme say this. When Arachnos sends you somewhere: You travel in style, my friend… Once there: The definition of a good start. And my Arachnos brothers? We’re making “Snake-n-Bake:” An’ theyyy helped! Even so, there's vibe here. 'Cause sometimes? Sometimes my Arachnos bros aren’t, em, very observant: Or polite. (I’m getting my ass sliced with a scimitar (excuse me, a sssscimitar), and you’r tellin’ me it’s NOT in gear? ) After a while, all the backup seems a bit overkill: Sheesh guys…Do you not think I can handle this? Becomes rather routine rather quickly. But that’s Arachnos efficiency. Only Imperial Stormtroopers are that precise. (What’s that Arbiter Rick? An insult? Really? But I thought that…oookay…but you know you Arbiters DO wear white outfits with helmets and…I’ll shut up now…) Anyhoo, with my edgy red tights and welded-on Spider helm, plus the 1/3rd of a snake skin under my belt (those mace-wielding yahoos took the rest), I’m starting to feel I already fit in. I mean, look at me with this guy - my “fellow,” nefarious baddie: Hi…we’re villains…(pst…I can recommend a good cream for that sunburn ya got there…It’s NOT a sunburn? Yeee…) My gal Kalinda liked “my” work so well, she’s sent me to do some extermination work in one of the Arachno-, er, that is one of OUR bases. So, off we go! Okay, to be fair, it’s only strange because lavender interacts really weird with their skin. And honestly, some people LIKE the smell of bear sh*t! (none that I know, but, hey! This is the ‘everything’s okay’ era!). Regardless, these guys ARE a bit creepy: Now doesn’t THAT remind me of my honeymoon! (Er…Crane? You’re not supposed to interject) Sorry... Yeah, creepy. So creepy, in fact, that, well, let me put it this way: you know how, like, you’re not supposed fight dishonorably. Like, don’t kick someone when they’re already down and stuff? Well… I just don’t believe in that right now… Okay so this: Is actually the result of a good Jump Kick (which actually works at this level). Now, what it LOOKS like is my Cirque du Soleil routine, where I balance an anthropomorphic snake on my nostrils. (which, now that I think about it, is way cooler than jump kick). Deeper in we go, where we soon discover that: Pappa does NOT love Mamba Blade. my GOD, man - that thing's as big as a...a...that thing's BIG! Ultimately, I discover what may be their lair/HQ/bachelor pad/love nest. How do I know this? Oh...I have my reasons... Eventually, all this ex-snaker-nation leads to an encounter with this guy: And yes…I am special. Mom said I was. Right she took me to that specialist. Actually, MY question is, who’s the dude on the right? I mean, we know about Ssssssyrus. But can’t we get a name for “Snakey Redshirt #43?” Otherwise, he might as well be standing there spouting, “Yeah! Simple!” (I’m calling my fan up there, “Guy.” I mean, he’s obviously the plucky, comic relief…) So, now that I’m a villain, how do I start a boss fight? FIRE IN THE HOLE! (what, I’m supposed to charge right in and give them a chance? I think not.) I make short work of Syrus and his crew (sorry, Guy - this what happens when you choose the wrong friends). I am rewarded with glowing praise from Ms. Kal: So, a good start. But it’s just that. Only a start. Ol’ DB intends to learn more about the dark side (but not Darkseid, bc that could be hazardous). Oh course, first things first: SOMEONE GET THIS GD HELMET OFF ME! Redfully yours, THE DUSK!

Not if he does this: Or maybe said name change happens sooner?

Sooooo, assuming my new toon, Spolcyc, were to, um, slightly resemble a certain leader of a group of young mutant super beings under the tutelage of, say, a bald dude with bitchin’ mental powers, how would I best make this work? (Ahem) Hypothetically, of course. I’m thinking I absolutely need: -eye blastage of some kind - leadership - some form of martial combat skill of the kicky and/or punchy variety. -a crippling fixation on a woman who will eventually turn into a mad, cosmic entity. (Optional):-)

The main thing I remember is the doctor telling me I had a “pristine colon.” I wanted to brag about that, but it’s hard to imagine an audience that would be impressed by such an achievement.

Guardian Arch Mage of Agony. Damn that’s a mouthful. Reminds me of this title I gave a PC in a DND campaign - 2nd assistant librarian of Omerton. Yes. He was the assistant TO the assistant (as he always reminded me).:-)

The US Army taught me Russian. Then afterwards put me in assignments where it was not needed. (Shocker, right?)