cranebump

Have you created any custom missions in the AE? See my sig. If so do you prefer to build standalone singular missions or create essentially your own story driven taskforce? Both (again, see sig). I interpret taskforces as stories written explicitly for teams. I did a couple of those for an SG I had joined, but the SG didn't go anywhere. I needed the mission slots, so I pulled the arcs. But to actually answer the question, I like both standalone and multi-arc narratives. Standalones have a slight edge, I guess, because I like finishing. Do you create custom NPCs or enemies for your content? All the time. I assume players want not just new content, but new foes (and allies), as well. Does that add to your narrative or just a creative outlet for you? Both. My arcs exist in the "lore cracks" - meaning they tend to be tied to something in the game, but take the game world in different directions (to include introducing new factions and sub-factions). It's a creative outlet for me, since I can explore the various elements of storytelling within the Architect. I liken it to guerilla filmmaking, where you don't have all the tools and bells and whistles, but you're still trying to make something with quality as good as (or better) than those who do. This means your story has to be interesting, which means you need interesting characters, which means either creating new ones (ex: The Autumn Wards in my Mobius Arc)., or putting a new spin on old ones (Hollow Point in the Leviathan series). There is certainly something to be said for revisiting established characters (especially underdeveloped ones, as @Darmian does with Praetorian content). But one must do one's thing (and this one tends towards "partial cloth" creation, because, frankly, it's more work [for me] to hew to what's there than it is to create new fiction). What other elements of the Mission Architect do you use when designing your missions? I don't use anything but what the Architect gives me. One must not quibble with God.:-) Are there RP elements to your story driven AE missions? If you mean NPCs reacting in character to the PC, then yes. However, since there's no real way to spontaneously interact with anyone, it's also a no. The best you can do is script with consistency and enough depth to get the players to feel for the characters. And then KILL THEM! (j/k) How difficult is your AE missions? Welllll....I can do them easily enough.:-) I would say some of the bosses are tough, albeit not unreasonable (thanks to changes after input from testers). My earlier ones, that use timers, can be pretty tough, due to the time constraints. I would say they're about average (which would mean at least 1 tough boss/arc). What drives you to design your own missions or stories in the AE? I like telling my own stories, and I **guess** I like writing (as with Oscar Wilde, it's the paperwork I can't stand).:-) After the first couple stories (which were about, "Hmmm...let's see what we can do here"), it became trying to actually do something with some actual quality, both in form and narrative. That is still - and always - my goal.

When solo (and I assume you're meaning content here), I don't fiddle with the setting switches at all, save for tanks or brutes I feel can handle it (and even then, it's a max of +2/3-4). I don't like slogging too much when I'm running solo content, especially since I don't run a lot of optimized or crowd control toons.

I dug around and found this in the wiki. $supergroup: that character's supergroup; if they have none, then "No Supergroup" will appear instead $class: their archetype ($archetype also works) $level: their level $origin: their origin $name: their name ($target also works) $heshe or $Heshe: substitutes "he" or "she" depending on gender (capitalized will cap the substitution) $himher or $Himher: same as above, using "him" or "her" $hisher or $Hisher: same as above, using "his" or "her" $sirmam or $Sirmam: same as above, using "sir" or "ma'am"

Good question. I've avoided the situation entirely by having NPCs say "There they are!" and such, if only because (a) It's easiest; (b) the PC sometimes has allies in mish; and (c) there's a possibility a team might run it. I'm sure there's some sort of flag somewhere, though. (see below)

Ditto on dark power options being big blobs of blackness. Other than that, I have no complaints.

When you defeat a boss is an AE arc, they can TP away, instead of dying.

It used to be "To the Fray!" Had a baseball bat brute (Gibson Ruth), who shouted "Batter Up!"

You can’t follow up perfection.

Captain Planet says no.

The death corner. I sometimes want to announce it when it comes up, but why spoil the surprise?:-) The big rooms in new warehouse maps can sometimes cause issues, as well, esp with large spawns all waiting to be target-tabbed by the overzealous (have I ever done that? Nooooooooo):-)

Excellent...:-)

Perhaps. But I guess that means it doesn't qualify as "worst combo." Having run a few Sent x/Regen chars, I didn't mind having 0 Stamina issues.

Anything/regen ain’t too bad on a sentinel.

Year 1, Day Mangosteen Devil Bat gets FLASHY! Strange dreams inhabit the head of a young man in love... They also flash through half-used craniums like mine. Specifically, "visions of times gone by that never were. " And no, those aren’t Gordon Lightfoot lyrics. But rather, visions of the PAST (that never were). What I mean is, the Bat is headed to the super hot, super happ’nin’ realm of OUROBOROS! …hello…Place sure is…jumpin’, eh? But is Ouroboros “ouro-boring?” I think not! Why? This: FREE CALIMARI Gimme sum o’ dat spongy goodness! After getting trashed by some sort of "Godzilla lobster," I head toward my ACTUAL target. Kal-ee-MAAAAAAAA! Why am I here? To go back in my past (that never was)! Turns out, in my rush to Batty-up, I may have missed a few things, namely long forgotten stories with edgy titles, like this one: …hmmmm…white after labor day…well, strike me off, Tim Gunn. Officer Fields is mah man. So, of course, he immediately sends me away to AP to see Detective Pierce. Good guy. A bit gruff. Mole with a hair in it on his nose (don'tstaredon'tstaredon'tstare!) Interestingly, even "downsized" to L7, some things about my Battage remain the same. Namely: Yep. I still have an airborne Evinrude strapped to my back. So, first, Detective Pierce calls me a noob. I guess, since this is a flashback, I sorta am. Then again, maybe I’m perpetually a noob (It’s how I stay young, man!). Anyhoo, nasty business with missing body parts, which can only mean my old friends, the Vahzilok are…What’s that? I haven’t really met the Vahzilok yet? But I clearly remember the lingering poison, rusty blades and non-elective plastic surgery, so…Ah...very well then (hangs up phone). DAMN YOU, YOU TIME-TRAVELING CONUNDRUMS! (sigh) Okay, then - I’m officially a noob. "Vahz? What’s that?" Thank goodness I’m a detective and can figger this stuff out. So off I go, using my SKILLZ! Alright, I do see blood spatter here, indicating there may be a victim nearby…hmmmm…anybody see anything? Augustus? Tomas?...anybody? Nothing there, so I best question “jaded woman,” a witness, evidently [yeah…sure…like she’s gonna know anything] {see? I can be jaded, too}. Initially, she’s not forthcoming: I quickly put a stop to that: C’mon, whassamatter? You chicken? Bakbakbakbakbakbak! My subtle tactics pay off: Me? Protect YOU? Watch THIS, lady! See? If I can handle re-attaching those powerlines without insulation, I can SURELY protect YOU! Assured by my extreme bravery in the face of lacking my journeyman electrician's permit (plus the fact that I sang Wichita Lineman while I self-spliced the power cables), Jaded Woman gives me the details: Vahzilok! I knew i-, er, I mean, who? Seems these fiends (whom I’ve never, ever heard of, not in any way whatsoever), have headed to the sewers (which I’ve also never, ever heard of, nuh-uh, no-way [what’s a soo-er?]). Before I go, though, something really needs to be dealt with, namely Scared Guy in the background. First off, bruh, your “scared pose:” It's not bad, but I ain’t really buyin’ it. Looks like you’re about to shove a broad-shoulder wombat over a cliff. It’s more like: Start with a contorted scream, then: Bit of a toddler drop-and-roll to the ground, followed by: A pelvic thrust that really drives them craa-a-a-a-aaaazy. Get all that? Good. Now - I have to go to some place I never been, to beat the a$$es of people I’ve never met. Eh. It’s a living. Off we go! Still using the usual tactics: First…the disappearing/reappearing fist to the face. Then Ol’ "Empty Muzzle" gets in on the action: Is that a BOOK!? DAMN YOU AND YOUR ATTEMPTS TO BETTER YOUR LIFE! My Vahz whomping earns me another audience with Officer Fields, who sends me to a starlet. Or a hero. Okay, a starlet that was formerly a hero. Got it (writing it down...making a little doodle to represent things visually...now a flowchart...now drawing a peni$...). Anyway, she’s talking to me and I get…distracted. I…LOVE this movie! I’ve seen it 4,751 times! I’ve been IN it! I mean, not me, but…(swoon) soooo good (I have the autographs of BOTH the hydra heads). I give the beatdown to some Vahz on the streets, where I find a note from Dr. Vahz himself! (er, I mean, who? Does he like me? Do I check the box, "yes or no?"). But it’s not about Doc V (bummer!). It’s about Joseph Botte! (who he you aks?) Well, okay. Shivans and meteors and tests (oh, my!). This simply MUST be dealt with. I hurry off to- Waitaminute…Whoa… ...Banksy? I get his autograph anyway (just in case). Then, into a soo-er (strange name - I woulda called it a “turdhole” or something, but I’m not eloquent). Once in, things get monologue-y. I can hear Botte's voice echoing all over the place (because villains have, like, sonic vocal cords and depthless lungs). He's giving a dissertation that includes this nugget: Oh, my…that’s not proper for a Ted Talk! This will not stand (and if he has a book in his face, it'll stand even less!). I race through the stewage (I like that name better), eventually finding this: What do they call this now? A villainous “lay-er?” After dealing with his invulnerability device (where can I get one of those?), I deal with Botte’s Booty. As in kicking it. But, Joseph, a low-interest loan from your friendly, local lender can accomplish the same thing! WITHOUT all the unnecessary surgery! In the end, I wrap up things in the past in the same manner I often do in the present: That’s right…drool over my badassery…er, I mean, “No problem, citizen!” And, of course, the best thing: I’m ri-...hang on a second… Are we SURE it’s just 3?...uh, huh…oookay…no problem... Excuse me a moment... Why, Uncy Cyrus? WHYWHYWHY? ([sniff] Is that a lifesaver in your hand?)

Enjoy!

I’ll be on THU during the day and, hopefully the evening. Hit me up if anyones around!

Ditto on watching teams travel across the zones. Now that I’m older I miss the break between mishes. You get some of that when you’re humping to each kill all in the new Pos. The other day I was on my groundbound gun toter. It was cool to watch the flyers zoom above, the TPers popping in and out, while the rest of us sprinted and hopped here and there. Really gives that “here we come!” feeling. That’s part of the whole super thing, too, ain’t it?

The whole thing on that passed right by me. Last time, I just hoarded the various temp bow attacks. My tech blaster whipped them out every now and then. It was months after the event, so I almost felt I was doing something wrong (Not to mention that I’m using a “love” power to attack people. The delicious irony!)

Sez you, buddy. I'm always flying blind, even with my eyes wide open.:-)

There's a few things I do as a designer that I seldom do when I run my normal characters (mainly because I'm running old content). For example, in AE, when I'm testing an arc, I keep 3 boxes always open where I can cleary see them: the default message box (for results from clickies), a separate Clues box (so I don't have to pop into the tab above), and a box just for NPC dialogue (which is often integral to story). If I'm just tooling around in the actual game, I hardly EVER do this. And, for a while, I carried that habit into SFMA's, and, for some stupid reason, didn't even think about dedicating specific chat boxes to just these things. Once I started doing that, the benefits of just having all that info in front of me while going through the story became obvious. Because of that, I'm thinking it might not be a bad idea to suggest this to others who want to get the most from an SFMA arc. Have the info boxes on display, so you can track them as you go. Now, you all may already do this anyway (because you're smarter than crane ever was and ever will be).:-) But, if you ain't, open them boxes up! Makes all the difference (plus, you can talk sh*t about your stupid past self).:-)

Good idea. At the moment, though, I'd have almost nothing to contribute {knocks on a stack of 2x4's).

When I say "hurry up!" I mean hurrythef***upgditbeforeitstoolate!:-)

You're the reason I bother to look at signage in the city.:-)

Hey, Riders. I've been busy with Devil Bat (and trying to get Excel Whipsmart to 50 so I can keep the name). Haven't done much soloing here. But I'll be on this THU, FEB 16, during the day and eve, if anyone needs a hand with anything.

It's been so damned long, I went back and played The Bleed. I'm not a big fan of magic-based stuff, but thought I'd do it, since it was so out of my wheelhouse. But I thought the story was pretty good. And Pretes was TOUGH. Sheesh...I took my 50+ in there, and the alpha hardly scratched her. I have to get some more slots, but I've got one long range project going. Been mulling a lot, but only started laying down some actual notes today. Should be a one-shot. IF I can get it to work. I say if because the approach is a bit different.