cranebump

True. But the game itself is just stuck at that point in time. Even if additional stories eventually resolved the issue, if it begins in the same era, then those particular conditions represent the era's zeitgeist. You'd have to move the start point ahead to where the threat is lessened, or non-existent (even though we know there are people who are going to jump at phantoms anyway, regardless). And you're right - from a propaganda perspective, it's pretty tame, compared to real-life historical examples.

Good question, actually. But, having seen billboards with REALLY blatant messages on them propped up in certain places, I am thinking they'd be protected by the first amendment, if the entity buying the space is a private citizen or group. Which makes it seem like Vanguard really wouldn't be engaging in this sort of advertising (But would someone like Malta do so? Or maybe the Council, who ALWAYS seems to have tons of recruits?).

@SarahTheM1, I'll readily concede there's all sorts of anachronisms, etc. in the game/lore, which are readily apparent with even a cursory glance. That said, I think the presence of such only proves the canon timeline is messed up (and/or the presentation of it is). However, none of that negates the fact that the events are canon, because something in the narrative world led to them, even if they're not presented in proper sequence. That's my whole point - whether the narrative jibes with what's happening today is immaterial to what happens in the fiction, because the fiction is its own universe. Whether it makes me uncomfortable is immaterial, really. In fact, from a narrative perspective, it might be better than it does, since the last reaction I want to elicit with my story is apathy (which a completely sanitized campaign world would most certainly lead to). I'm neutral on the billboard issue, honestly, beyond merely stating that, if it's part of the campaign lore, that's enough justification to have it there. Beyond that, I would like to respond to a couple things here: If there's a narrative explanation that justifies its inclusion, that is absolutely all that's needed. Mentioning "obvious subtext" here is impugning the world builders by insinuating they have some other agenda than representing the denizens of the game world. Further, it would have been colossally stupid to try to intentionally alienate anybody in the real world back in the day, when people paid to play this game. Beyond that, I can't tell here if you're saying this particular "vibe" is due to people offering their argument, above, or the billboard itself. It really doesn't matter, as far as this particular situation goes. We're a small population, playing a dead game. And most fiction, in and of itself, doesn't matter all that much. A lot of it is bubble gum entertainment, and ours here is no exception. This isn't to say all fiction cannot make a true impact on society, but a billboard alluding to what seems to be a single story arc on Redside is small fish. A minnow, maybe. Like, a baby one...that you can't even see most of the time. It's really not worth the amount of time either of us has spent discussing it, honestly, because, as you so correctly noted: First statement: Sums it up. Second statement: Correct. And the reverse is true, as well. All I can do is go back to the fact that the billboard actually is based on in-game lore, granting it a narrative reason to exist, which, if you're storytelling is the only justification you need to include it. And... ...since it IS there, why can't we get an arc that explores the issue, and lets people who want to beat up on the group that bought the billboard if they want to?*:-) *Hmmmm...sounds like an idea for an AE story.

I am positive. I have some of my older missions where there’s a lot of dialogue popping. I think there’s less of it in the later missions. But part of it too I think is that you run our missions in stealth mode. So I am wondering if they’re not noticing you as quickly because of that?

All good. The fact you're even doing this is amazing.

Just pulled it up. It's all there - and not really a hint. Was there any follow-up on this?

It already came. It was dealt with. Mostly...* *(please see (PLAY! PLAYPLAYPLAY!) my AE Mobius arcs for details). {ahem...} Apologies. Here ends my:

Assuming you start a character from level 1, your journey occurs right after an alien invasion (or WITH it, if you do the GC tutorial). This is perpetual with every toon you start (assuming you run anything associated with the story). The billboard reflects what is happening during that time, and seems pretty logical, from a narrative perspective. Beyond that, I'm not sure what the issues are with it, since this is a fictional world.

Welcome to the club. This is but one pain in the ass you'll be dealing with (and I mean the issue, not me).:-) Dialogue pops are just not something you can fix, but they can be worked with, to a degree. One of those is by placing additional obj's on higher floors (on maps that have vators). The other is to set fewer simultaneous objectives to spawn. In all honesty, though, issues like this will ultimately make you a better story teller, since you'll have to winnow things down you what you really need to tell the story. The textual element involves synergy between the contact screens, in-mish clues, pop-ups, and NPC dialogue. Treat them all as pieces of the puzzle.

So it’s on red side. Hm. I’ll have to check the wiki.

In general, I like the Content on the red side much better than blue side, but some of that is due to less familiarity with red side. I agree with the issue involving having to run paper missions and banks. Although, when I think about it, hitting a bank would seem to be a bad guy thing to do. It’s been a long while since I dedicated myself to running a character all the way up from one to 50 over there. Maybe I will make that my next goal. I echo the idea that starting read and then converting to rogue or vigilante seems more organic when you start villain. To address the questions put forth in the thread, I would say I spend probably less than one percent running anything red, and that is usually when someone has a task force. I do enjoy the atmosphere. Even just navigating the various areas seems more interesting than running around in paragon city.

Yep. Give us that, plus the ability to link maps within missions, and there's suddenly a lot of drama we can create. I don't know if I mentioned this, but just being able to permanently place objectives would solve most of my time sucking aspects of mission prep.

My main is an vigilante AR/TA Blaster. You bet your ass I'm digging the wider arc. I'm shooting things I can't even see, man.:-)

This is the part I'm most curious about. I know Nem has his simulacrums, but the Rikti? Where are these "aliens among us?" Is there a story arc that covers this angle? We have the Lost being transformed into Rikti, but is this who they're referring to? I feel consistency with the Lore ought to be standard for something like this. If it alludes to lore, then we have an in game explanation for it. I'm guessing here is one for the billboard, though I don't know what it is for sure. As for how offensive it may be, I find it rather tame. Among other things, Paragon City has pseudo-Nazis, occultists and demon-worshippers. We have the Malta Group. For all I know, they're the ones who paid for the billboards. (though I think it has to be a nemesis plot)

Well, I did say we fight some douche bags in the guise of superheroes. I guess the villains get the rest.:-) (Tbh, I miss States in the active game).

Well, first the amended version of this person's formula: it should be "Max Team + Max Difficulty = Max XP MINUS DEBT MINUS FRUSTRATION LEVEL MINUS DISREGARD FOR YOUR TEAMMATES MINUS LACK OF UNDERSTSANDING THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LVL 10 AND LVL 50=one craptastic idea. Can't blame you for bailing on that one.

This is a fictional world. There are fictional douche bags in it (some of which we beat up, while being fictional superheroes).

Too late for that.:-) (desc of Angevin as a maniac=:-D)

I’d say that’s accurate, insofar as, for some folks “the greater good” is themselves.

Agreed. Outside the nature of actual powers, the origin story is a window into the character's drives, motivations and, er...character, if you will.:-) There's a difference between a scientific accident (blinding you as a child) and your X-Gene kicked in while in high school.

Not necessarily "clever," but memorable: in a Katie Hannon PUG the other day, had a teammate wearing CoT Agony Mage costume who was called (fittingly) Agony Mage. Reflexively flinched every time I saw them.:-)

Good idea. I just reran FL's Nocturne mish, which features sewer map, then you exit into an FL outdoor map to destroy sub, take on the boss.

Yup. I slotted all my KB to KD for my AR/TA main. Much. Better for teams, though I wonder how things would fly sometimes.:-)

Eye of the storm. If you miss, it’s still cool break dancing. I REALLY do not like the big psi-fist thungs.

Not the same sit as Snark, but ran on a story mish team yesterday. Leader was very deliberate about instructions: Stay together. We clear all mobs. Don't enter before everyone's ready. This was consistent throughout all mishes. And it was VERY important we follow to the letter. EX: Two peeps go in before everyone else. Leader: Why are they inside? They come out, apologize for their great sin, etc. etc. On we go. About story mish #3, we're clearing mobs on the parking lot map (so old-school farm grindy...). We knock out what looked like all of it, so I buzz over to the parking lot to examine the upper level, report back. While I'm doing this, the rest of group finds a couple groups we missed. I report about the parking lot: Couple mobs here, then head back to help with the mobs they're on. Leader's reply to my report: I said we were finishing there. I'm thinking, Well, fuck me. Our lord and savior spoke and I missed it. (I'm STILL wishing I had sent that in team chat, but I thought better of it, bc hypocrisy, not worth it, etc.) Stayed with group till mish was done, then bolted. Thing is, I'm pretty sure I've run with this I done tol' you once! mannerless douche bag before. Shame on me for not recognizing you, asshole.:-/