cranebump

Or I am. Works either way.:-)

With SGM Acrobattle at 40, he's going into semi-retirement (to run Sweet Eats bakery in KR, and hang out with his son). Oh, he'll be there when called upon, hombres. Make no mistake. With our millionaire tech genius Fletcher Finley (aka Whipsmart) aboard, and now at MSG rank, he's brought on a down-and-out rogue looking to start over. I give you TRACKLASH! Name: Galen Blake Codename: Tracklash Power Sets: Dark Melee/Regeneration*/Super Speed (looking to have lotsa rapid-fire fistage):-) Source: Technology Origin: Rogue-turned-hero with a score to settle After I lost my legs, I thought it was over. I thought I - me, myself, everything - was over. But then Fletcher Finley constructed me some some legs. Fashioned me a suit. So now...I'm back out there. Mixin' it up with the bad guys. It's a long road, starting over, but I can tell you this - the Family are gonna regret not finishing me off. *Yup...taking my life into my own hands with that one. RIDE, HOMBRES! RIDE!

Understood. The Riders do allow Merit conversion to grab cash, fyi. Trekking to 50 is fine. Just no Incarnates. We'd like to get enough to have some regular team runs, likely on THU evenings, my usual scheduled play night. As for teaming, it's cool if you want to/have to solo. The main thing is exploring the story content. It's casual, hombre. Kick off your shoes. You're in Willie's Roadhouse.:-)

Speaking of, how often do you see all these guys together?

Oh, the life of a vigilante...I guess...

Hey, there! The Long Riders are on Torch. Both of us.:-) We'd love to have another. I'll be logging in this morning for a run. You can find me in game and global email using @cranebump.

Indeed. Just ran the Anton Sampson arc. 47 merits! Our quartermaster has been hard at work filling in base details (thank God, bc I suck at it).:-) Could use some more peeps, though, fer sure. Anyhoo, we're on Torch, if anyone's looking to join us. In the meantime, everyone enjoy all those baked goods.

...a nice...long....slow...ride...with THIS SG! Come on...you can grind something besides coffee.:-)

I’d show a screenshot but afk for the night.

If you set them as patrols you can set them as allies. If I recall correctly, you can also select the minions surrounding an Ally to be friendly as well. Don’t believe there’s any way to make the inherent mobs all friendly. But if you set mish to empty, then use patrols .or allies, that should allow you to create groups that won’t attack the player.

Design Notes: Another gritty story from The Row. Capped at 20, due to villain groups used. Tested with a L38 Brute Staff/SR (exemp'ed down to 20). Second round of tests: L23 Elec/Nrgy Blaster (exemp'ed to 20 also). Both test toons had only regular enhancements (albeit all SO's). No real issues, though Finale boss demanded some Insps. Mission Titles are inspired by the works of James Baldwin. Story title is a play on Kurt Busiek's Justice Systems (my all-time favorite story of his, though this bears no real resemblance to it). This arc was inspired by an idea my wife came up with for an actual superhero novel (one I will, of course, never write, because I really hate writing [and especially editing] lengthy prose) . Had to heavily modify the original plot, but used the same main perp, as well as a version of their backstory, and the named coined for them. Mer-happy Hannakwanzamus all, Crane

I take no responsibility for the insanity of your current idea, Six.:-) But, honestly, I can't imagine how hard that must be. Perhaps I'll try it...someday...when I'm really drunk and feeling extra masochistic.:-D

Boo Six-Six! BOOOOOOOO!!:-) Sorry we can't have you along, but I totally get the reason why. And thanks for the info! I'm hoping merit conversion allowance will be something that encourages more people to "story up." I've already managed to get some drop, craft and sells, though you have to watch the return rate versus cost from time to time. Still, ol' Acrobattle is kitted out with the SO's. Hoping to get lucky on the current arcs he's toiling through. Meanwhile, Whippy is bouncing through the 20s, running into BP, of all things. Have to say, I'm enjoying the ride. It'll be better with more peeps, of course, but, for now, HIYO, CRANEBUMP! AWAAAAY!

Did some base work today. Created storage for Insp's, salvage and enhancements. Crafting bench, Merit Vendor and Mish Computer is available. Bit of window dressing. Still need some TP pads. Plenty of room for window dressing, if we can recruit a quartermaster. I'll be online (but not necessarily in game) most of this morning (pending a quick trip to the post office). If anyone interested in joining or needs an invite, lemme know and I'll hop on.

It’d be nice to see Statesman there in some capacity. Harks back to game’s origins. And now that I think about it, there really should be more BaB stuff early, too, especially as the lowbie baddies feature gangs and drugs. Instead, he gets shut out of the Lords of Death arc because Deadlock kicks his face in (the idea being, I guess, that BaB would just shut down the Petrovic Bros himself if he were hale and hardy).

Someone who creates powers sounds something like Vogt from The Boys. Of course, that’s a corporation that’s monetized the results. The “why would anyone create/sell powers” is the central question to answer when it comes to designing an org that engages in that. Is it profit? Making the world “safer?” A future version of humanity? Or just plain power and control? Certainly, the discovery of a single element behind all super transformation would be a commodity that would attract all sorts of attention, from powerful individuals to governments. Frankly, I can’t imagine any powerful entity creating Supers without a control mechanism, especially as you’re basically creating Frankenstein's Monster. If I’m doing that, I’m putting in a dead switch, just in case. Speaking of, that’s a story right there: an organization devoted to a single source of “kryptonite” that takes down all Supers at their (perhaps genetic?) source.

Nemesis goes Raymond Reddington?:-)

Absolutely. I’ll be off a bit for holiday break. Need to do a small amount of work on the Discord channel and I will get that to you as well. Great to have you aboard!

The latter. Outside scheduling events - which is a ways off - I see this as pretty casual. The main focus is to give some love back to the SF mishes. That said, I'm open to any ideas folks want to try that support this mode of play. I think it'd be really cool to have a toon that progresses with a team, be it a dynamic duo, or a full out spread of 8.

Hey there! Thanks for the reply. Hoping we can get some folks who enjoy OS teaming. I coulda used a lil' help tonight finishing off Yates arc versus Terra. Luckily Acrobattle had some temps he could throw out there (envenomed daggers) to whittle her down. 32 merits for that arc! Been so long, didn't remember playing it, so it was brand, spankin' new. Anyhoo, if/when you get an idea, hit me up at my global, @cranebump. I'm on Excel a lot, but plan to get Acro-alt (my main acro is on Excel) to 40, then run my second Long Rider, Whipsmart, up the chain (he's 20 right now, running all story arcs).

Been thinking about this awhile, esp. after the .38 Specials sort of died. And with most of the population having migrated to (or appearing to have migrated to) Excel and Everlasting, was wondering if perhaps Torch's niche could be (among other things), the place where (modified) old-school play still goes on. Maybe the sort of OSR server (without the pompousness, of course). So, proposed an SG dedicated to this idea here. If you're interested in trad (or "slow") play, focusing on the story-based contact missions, hit me up. Gramps wouldn't mind some comp'ny as he trundles about the city semi- slo-mo, Old-School Essentials style.:-)

Been toying with the idea a bit, but, as a fan of throwback play, looking for folks interested in making this a thang: SG NAME: The Long Riders Premise: The Long Riders is an SG dedicated to (a slightly updated method of) traditional, or, as it it sometimes called, "slow" play. The focus is the story, as it spools out into character history. Bottom line: Running to 50's cool. But how about enjoying the languid (nostalgic?) pace of the game as it just is? Preferably on teams that actually need each other beyond just filling a team to the sacred 8? Rules & Regs: Yeah, we have a few. Mainly, though: aiming for a bit of flexibility, while keeping it simple. Anyhoo, here they are (for the moment - cnosidering dropping the crafting aspect). Making and running a Long Rider: 1) **Ethos & ATs**: All ATs & ethos’s are welcome! We want to run on both stories on both sides of the fence. 2) **Prestige powers and such:** P2W is open from the get-go. Well, to an extent. Take any prestige power you can afford after conception and birth, with *one exception*: no purchasing XP enhancements from Lady/Laddie! We’re here for the “long (slow) ride,” after all. Now, Day Job XP boosts? Go for it! Get ALL them extrees! 3) **Taking the Ride:** We focus on story-based contact missions, on default setting. We collect those souvenirs that show us who we are, where we've been. We strive to experience the game just as it is. Um...more or less (prestige powers and all that, plus the way we enhance is a bit, erm, 'updated' [see below]). 4) **Making $$:** The Ride requires seed money, but ya got to go get it. No sending cash from that nasty a$$ fire farming Dutch Uncle who's always there making you weak.:-) Your toon has to earn their way. That said, do what you gotta - grab those AP explore merits, exchange them for Enhancement Converters and sell, sell, sell. Turn that rare storage into dough so you can keep your Rider enhanced (but not too enhanced [see below]). 5) **Enhancing Your Ride:** You may freely purchase any TO (I mean...if you want to), DO or SO you can afford. Now, IF you can scrounge enough cash to craft IO’s, feel free. Here’s the thing, though. Your recipes have to come from drops. No cheater-pantsing to buy those precious procs and such. Luck of the draw is part of the game. So, bottom line: you can purchase enhances from a typical trainer, and/or craft what drops in your saddle bag. You can hit the Merit Vendor for exchange purposes only (as in turn in the merits to acquire things you will sell for $$). You can also scrounge from base storage and trade with other members...well, when we get those things.:-) NOTE: You are allowed to play the market to grab components for your recipe drops. If you have the cash, make market purchases to get the stuff you need to craft those recipes. Again: can't buy the recipes from the market, but you can build what you earn. And yes: you can exchange hard-earned merits for sets, if you got 'em. But you cannot shift merits from one toon to another. They're yours, hombre. Use 'em wisely. 6) **Task Forces:** Wanna solo ‘em? Give it a shot! But when you team, team with other Riders, please. In fact, if you're planning a TF run, put out the word in advance. Especially for us old Cowpokes who might need time to mosey over (because adultin' is all about schedulin'). 7) **The Limits of Power:**As you probably figgered, there ain't no Incarnates in the Long Riders. In fact, L40 is a ripe age for retirement. That said, if you simply MUST get to 50, do it. Then retire that a$$, because you're too godlike to be in the saddle with us, brutha. 😎 **RP'ing:** This is a casual group. If ya wanna RP, go fer it! If others want to join in, that's a-okay. No one is compelled to do so, however. A Note on Travel: As far as travel goes, we like to mimic how a "real" team might work. Meaning not everyone has their own personal, multimillion $$ Team Transport. Honor system for this one, but the TT is used by senior leadership when running teams (meaning I can't go bebopping around in the company car when I'm solo). So, you'll need to achieve L30 (Master Sergeant Rank) to access one. When you do, I'll send the $$ to buy it from one of my lazy-a$$ other toons tooling around on cheater farms and stuff in that alt-dimension of weaklings called Excelsior (kidding! kidding!). Now, you wanna pay for your own TT access when you achieve MSG rank, feel free to send dough from your other bad (alt) selves and do it. Saves me from havin' to raise extra $$. As for that whole LR TP, ATT, Ouro, and all that? That genie's kinda out of the bottle. If you acquire/earn them, or can afford them, they're yours. On this topic: I already picked up a TT for Acrobattle, because it seems like, being the so-called leader and all, he should have one (and because I had to do something with those procs he had that I removed from his slots when I transferred and respec'ed him).:-) He'd already earned LR TP, Ouro, Rapid Response and some other nifties from day job log outs. Rank Structure, Permissions & Perks: We’re here to work for a living. So, naturally, our ranks are U.S. NCO-based. Further up you go, the more you can do. Sergeant Major (SGM) (there can be only one): Head of the group (yours truly), running as Acrobattle (global: @craneump). Mostly ceremonial, once I grind him to 40 (he was frozen at 38 when on the .38 Specials) First Sergeant (1SG) (L30): Need this rank to edit the base, promote/demote members, and other stuff. Master Sergeant (MSG) (L25): As Staff Sergeant, plus Promotion of members. Access to Team Transport (if you have one). Staff Sergeant (SS) (L20): Minimum rank needed to invite members. Sergeant (SGT) (L15)/Corporal (CPL) (L1): Gotta pay a few dues to move up, kemosabe. If you're a greenhorn and make rank, be sure to contact an MSG or higher to give you your bump. Administrative positions: No minimum level. Quartermaster: If base editing is your thing, I’ll immediately push you to the effective rank of 1SG and cut ya loose to get us a decent base. What we’d want: TP’s Storage Flavor! (got some ideas for a sort-of run-down-but-we’re-holding-it-together feel? We want YOU!). Scheduling: I’m usually on THU evenings/FRI mornings (USA, Eastern-Time). I happen to be on WED right now by luck of the draw. Discord: I've created one. Plan to send invites as we recruit solid members. It'd be nice to have a reg'lar posse. That's it fer now. I'll check back in to see if we got any nibbles. Torch is a quiet shard. Any super team working there is gonna feel like they have the run of the place if they're regulars. Esp. if it's a weekday (THU) group (or a morning team). Addendum-Costumes: There's no requires, but it might be cool if, when we ran as a team, we fit the motif. That could be an article of western (cowpoke) gear, or just wearing the longhorn emblem. The SG costume colors are red, accented with white, but that's also completely optional. It's your character, hombre. P.S. Don't knock morning gaming! One of my best experiences was a TT group we called Dungeons & Donuts. Had a solid couple years of good, SAT morning gaming with that team.:-)

Bit of a tangent, but: I always assumed the final confrontation with Veles marked the end of that particular enterprise. I assumed as much when tied in one of my AE arcs (Match Point) to the Eagle Eye story by positing that the Skulls were working for an more powerful entity intent on taking over the entire 'dine trade (to inevitably fund a personal vendetta vs. Kirk Cage). In my connected version, the PC doesn't actually take on the escaped Veles, but instead targets the fund source, coordinating their activities with EE's TF. Thus, the entire enterprise collapses when Veles's lab is burnt down as the real big bad (in the AE story) is defeated. No lab. No funding source. The whole thing just ends there. Unless, of course, I want to somehow drag all this into the Leviathan storyline I previously scripted.:-)

That took a while to read... On the discussion of “contrarian” attitudes of lowbie players: I have a few incarnates. I have a fire farming tank. I exploit the market for quick cash, and send tons of Inf to starting toons to buff them up. I team more than I solo. I also have a few characters who run pretty “vanilla” (gain $$ on their own, slot DOs early, SOs later; maybe IO, maybe not, depending on cash situation). What I have found through vanilla play is that much more of the game’s content suddenly becomes naturally relevant and challenging by default. I don’t have to fiddle with diff switches. I can just sort of play through. Further, the story mishes, by sending me hither and yon, have me exploring more of the zones and their maps than my typical rush through characters. It’s a nice change of pace. Now, do I want that ALL of the time? Nope. But it’s there. Advocates of slow /vanilla play remind me that the base game has a lot to offer, and I appreciate that.

On this track: I still haven’t managed to play the new Aeon thing. Does that cater to a certain playstyle?