cranebump

I’m always down for old school stuff, but getting it organized enough for regular play is tough. The .38 Specials are dedicated to this, but, after trying to run a couple of events with no luck, I gave up. But I’d be down to have a dedicated stable of OGs who like running Old School. Maybe a CoH version of the OSR?:-)

Hm...that's interesting, because you can obviously solo mishes - like, actually solo, on your own. And it's still an MMO. Weird thing to say, since it proves nothing (and is obviously untrue. I'm not sure they're entirely wrong to be put out with someone who runs off on their own, without any consultation or coordination whatsoever, while obviously part of their team (they're on the roster, right?). I think of it this way: if I just do whatever the f*** I want, I'm saying I know better than everyone else, or that my way/style is better. At the very least, aren't I saying, Its not worth my time to even check if this style is okay with the team/leader, because what I want to do matters more? I mean, don't I agree to some small level of cooperation the minute I accept the team invite? I didn't form the team. I don't know anyone. Why would I think it's okay to run off and leave the team without some small discussion of tactics first? Doesn't NOT doing that make me this guy?:

The Rippers. I just love getting my face kicked in.:-) I guess it'd be Arachnos, but that's assuming this "me" is some other, more ruthless version of "me." The real me would probably be Legacy Chain, because I assume they play D&D on the weekends.:-)

True! Though I don't think anyone's complaining about soloing. It's the "soloing with an audience" thing where it gets prickly.:-) (what do we call that anyway? "grandstanding?") To address the topic, though: Know what? I have zero expectations when it comes to hopping on a team, other than I expect common courtesy. Speeding, splitting off, etc., just is what it is. Toons are tougher, overall. From a strict, mechanical standpoint, we don't need each other as much as we used to (well...depending on level, and Diff, and so on). I'm either on the team to grab some merits, or taking a toon on mish teams as a change of pace. The only thing I try to make sure of is not to enter mish until the leader enters first - unless it completely clear they don't care about that (we usually find this out pretty quickly, if there's a response to the speed buggies in the group). The only aspect of "soloing while teaming" that bothers me in any way is if we're dealing with grindy mishes full of purps, and folks jump out of unfinished enemies to take on other mobs - not to gather a few extras and drag them back. Nope. Just to start fighting a full mob while the rest of us deal with leftover purples. That just feels douchey (if they leave a lot behind, it feels like we're wiping their a** for them). I suspect I'm more sensitive to this because I run a lot of ranged types, and too often end up as "free safety." I'm just, "....oh, come on...I gotta stay here and dance with these guys? They don't even mambo!":-) But truthfully, even that is a fairly minor annoyance. I know why I'm on the team (usually for the merits or the good XP). I do feel like it's a good idea, though, for team leaders to set expectations for the group, particularly for certain tasks we're all familiar with. There really is a good case for splitting up during the interminable kill-alls of Cit. In fact, running in a small pod, or in a duo in those situations is actually quite fun. It's like, "Alright! Me & Super Dude took down that entire mob ourselves! BOOYAH!" I have enjoyed this more, felt more relevant to the team's success, than trailing behind while mobs melt to near nothing by the time I get there. In that sense, I guess I echo the sentiment that teams of 3-5 can be a lot more fun than the full Monty. (speaking of, did anyone ever run that "star-configuration" team idea I remember seeing - basically running a team of 5 through content? maybe I should start that up.)

Change for the new lore? Pshaw! The lore must come to ME!:-) (though I do wonder if any community ideas will be appropriated-there’s enough of them certainly).

1) With the Good vs Evil edition, 2006 or ‘07. 2) Yes. It felt like a death in the family, honestly. Made me very sad. 3) I couldn’t believe it. When I actually created a character and entered the game, heard the music, damn near cried. 4) I recreated Major Viktory and Acrobattle. I was happy to get the names. Then I went out and busted heads via Habashy. 5) I played Indomitable at first, only because I read it had a smaller population, and I wasn’t sure how things would run. I ended up Excelsior because it’s easier to team there. I created some variations on old toons, then rolled into AE scripting, which I had dabbled in before shutdown. I ended up spending a lot of time there. I was single before shutdown, so, in order not to be playing all the time, I have one night a week where I can run guilt-free. I’m on and off other days, when I can grab extra time. 6) I like either straight up, cheesy silver age heroes, or street level vigilante types. The former because it’s pure and uncomplicated. The latter because my favorite super heroes are usually “low power” types.

Well...lots of combos, I would think. I know I enjoy just about anything arrows. My AR/Tac Arrow has been fun. Some damage from the bullets, then all the tricksy stuff from the bow: glue, ESD, Flash. Ice Arrow has turned out to be handier than I originally gave it credit for. Plus you get the movement buff along the way (gymnastics). With all the travel stacks, you can motor fairly well with prestige run/Sprint/gymnastics. Grab a jet pack, get your zone TP power via Atlas, grab some Explores in key zones. You can bounce around quick these days. I also REALLY enjoyed Staff/Ninj a great deal. Probably best on a Brute, but I went scrapper.

He likely created it.:-)

Motorcycle, for sure. And a "non-descript van" full of guns for KR Devil.:-)

All of Darm's stuff is so well grounded in Lore than it can be slipped in pretty easily (esp. the Praet stuff). I'd add that there's a slew of arcs with (at the very least) selected missions that could work as radios, or even tips, with a bit of tweaking. As far as "fitting into the game," I liken finding that fit to locating "where the sidewalk ends" (with certain stories), then working in those open spaces. For example, my current Cage arcs are based on the question, "What happened to the Iron Widow after she was kidnapped and released (in the Petrovich arc)?" She seems to be gone for good. But what if she came back, ostensibly to continue "the good fight" on behalf of the Scrapyarders (not to mention in honor of her husband)? Boom! There is a gap to work in right there, so that's where I went (and ended up writing myself into 4 arcs [2 done, 2 I still have to design]). Using a similar "What's missing?" philosophy led me to fiddle around with a low level vill TF arc because there really isn't a Pos1/2 analogue (hence, The Port Oakes Task Force [pts I & II]). Darm's Praet arcs fall into similar spaces (and more firmly than mine, I'd say). Lore-adjacent or not, there's a ton of AE stories that can be wedged into any zone on the basis of the contacts there, and the zone's general feel. For example, I return to KR in original arcs because (1) I think of the zone as home for my street level vigs, and (2) I want that Daredevil/Hell's Kitchen vibe. If it's not already clear from the way several of my stories end, I lean a lot toward the idea that, on the heroic side, at least, you're doing some real good, but, in the end, it's like trying to hold back the ocean. All victory is fleeting, and some wins feel like losses. That's what the Row says to me. Now, if I can just figure out what, say, Skyway says to me, I might trundle on over there for a bit.:-)

Guess I just won’t run vs. purple then.

Just for funsies, clicked 7 times and got: The Lucky Oxman The Hot Sniper The Honorable Dagger The Heavenly Starling Commander Magical Macaw Chief Fancy Eagle Marvelous Spirit Professor Defiant Daggers Black Knight Black Star OF these, 9 & 10 are the least interesting ("I am the night!" "Oh, yeah? Well, I am nightier!") . Other than that, I had a few thoughts on some of these: Lucky Oxman....hmmmm...like...he just stands there...with his Ox...being lucky? Hot Sniper...change a couple letters, and you have a day (er...night) job. (but in the spirit, WECANDOIT!=Sentinel AR/FA? Blaster: AR/FM? Any powerset with a revealing outfit? (like...a dude running around in nuthin' but tighty whities?) Honorable Dagger: Come now - all daggers are honorable:-) Chief Fancy Eagle: "You know, it's not a bad eagle...I mean, we could fancy it up, add a few throw pillows...stuff like that...") I actually liked Magical Macaw. Not sure why we need the rank, but that indicates we have an organization of bird people? "Dat's MAH Caw! Not Yo Caw!" Lest I forget: Professor Defiant Daggers: "So, you're...defiant, and you, like, use knives and stuff..." "(sighs) No. Defiant Daggers is my given name. I just fly and punch myself real hard."

He is currently sad as an ally with the reaction setting to “do nothing.” When I was running the tests he never did follow me anywhere. I am hoping that it’s just a glitch.

Setting-wise, Vince #1 is an ally. I didn’t have him run away because of his dialog. I guess I could send him to the nearest door, though.

Eek! Vince #2 is supposed to appear back up the map, while Vince #1 should stay put. “Give the all clear” obj should be a yellow barrel next to Vince #1, who basically tells you to scurry off to handle the unwanted guests. Vince #2 spawns in the battle area as the last obj, and is supposed to represent the same Vince. But since mish is over, there’s no reason to revisit Vince #1. I figured the player would just leave. Did they first one follow you pr something?

Have not yet tested with a vanilla toon (used exemp'd Incarnate for building runs). Will run a few with squishies to see what haps. Thanks in advance!

And, yes! We mean that mentally, as well! Annnnnnd, we’re back! Just in time for (a) Fall! Thankfully, that orange bar thingy there is faintly inaccurate. ‘Course, when you’re only level 9, everything seems like Power Supression. Tonight’s Under the Radar Review hidden treasure features: Excellent! I always wanted the skinny on...Okay, who the hell is RCM? M1: I am welcomed to the story by a pair of massive shoulders: Those eyes...how they glisten with compassion and...um, never mind… So, as part of Siege’s personal reformation project, I’m to track down a former NP citizen. And not tell the PPD. No problem. I never tell anyone the things I do - while I’m going them.:-) NOTE: Titles are in plain white text. Give ‘em some color, so’s they can burn my retinas! Praetoria...where they’ve perfected door aesthetics… Okay, so the Resistance is definitely casual these days: Except for that one guy back there, who’s like “LOCK AND LOAD, BI...Hey, can I borrow that paper?” So, missing person found. And, evidently, so is his stuff: Like, seriously...we can replace all that sh*t..l’il help? Rescue is a it of a long run, since Praet tunnels are long, long, long. Btw, the PPD showed up. I didn’t invite them. NOT MY FAULT! M2 So mish 2 is another rescue missing person, and a defeat all. So, I’m thinking….map size…How many Destroyers are there? Well first room sez: ...lots… So, found another homeless guy, and what does he do? Hefty, hefty, hefty! And that’s not all! Take that, h...er, YOU! Actually, right now, this is rather amusing…:-) NOTE: I I have to kill them all, why am I still leading this guy out? I mean, like….who’s gonna stop me? No ambushes. FYI: These guys… ...count in the defeat all… M3: Tour of Praet baddies continues with a visit to Syndicate. And another missing person. Who probably will not DROP HIS GD BAG AND FOLLOW ME! So, offer go and: Deja vu… Getting a dose of my own KB medicine: Either that, or I am auditioning for the circus. Never mind that! Grab your shopping cart and let’s go! So map is TINY, which makes a defeat all, a-okay. Actually was fun. P.S. My glowing head=I just popped L10. M4: Tour continues. Seers now. I havet to eliminate corrupt ones. But, man, ain’t they ALL corrupt? I mean...c’mon...Mother Mayhem? That nut don’t fall far from the...nut bush… Bit more complicated this time. Oh good...disembodied mental voice soothing me indicates Mayhem is here…:-/ Then again...hmmmm,... Okay MY mother never dressed like THIS: Erm...what did you just say? Not spoilering the why, sorry. Now THIS is glowie placement. M5: So now to go after who’s REALLY behind all this. Speaking of: What am I s’posed to do with these guys? ‘Cause if I have a choice? TANGO, MY FRIEND! And what tour ot Praet baddies would be complete without: Ticktickticktick... So, since I can’t spoiler it, I can’t report about the very clever twist in finale. You think you’re going to be facing ‘A,’ but instead, you face ‘Q.’ Not like omnipotent, irascible Q, but something unexpected. Like, you think so-and-so gonna be there, and they’re not, but then they sorta...are? Anyway, clever twist at the end. Good stuff: Clean and edited. Plot twist worked out well, because of defying player expectations (in a good way). All the Praetorian bad people are adequately represented.:-) Solid spawn points. Mayhem’s outfit. Tweaks: Colorize dat arc title, and the subtitles, as well, I’d say. This is a fairly standard practice. The gangs all here (but do they have to be?): Tour of all the bad guys makes for nice variety. I’m on the fence about whether it was necessary, as it fragmented the arc’s, um, “identity,” for lack of a better term. Guess it’s okay, since I’m being sent on a component hunt, and components can be all over. So...maybe this is no big deal. I just know it felt like I was checking opponent boxes at some point. Just my opinion, natch. “KILL ‘EM ALL!”: save for the tiny map mish, I’d get rid of that, mainly as players generally don’t like it. Long run: I personally didn’t care for the long slog back to the door in M1. I have the guy. Must I get to know him (and his shopping cart?):-) Also: Objects are part of defeat all in M3, but they aren’t mandatory objectives. I don’t know that players will skip them, but, if they do, they’ll have to turn around and destroy them if they pass them up as non-essential due to not being listed as such. My kingdom for a verb!: Bit more direction as to what we’re doing in some cases, especially when we need to Defeat someone. Couple of objectives are just the target name. I think this works on Mayhem, because you want her role to be a surprise. But the others? Nothing is really gained by leaving it nebulous. VERDICT: 4/5. Solid Praet arc. Couple of nice twists (I thought “boss” obj in M5 was very clever). Clean and edited. Play if: You can’t get enough of Praetoria (or Barry White). Don’t play if: You don’t like Praet maps, vills, and those beautiful, beautiful doors. That’s all folks. Happy Autumn and all that. Try not to drown in Pumpkin Spice. Vaya Con Frijoles, Crane

My most active incarnate is conceptually a normal with guns & arrows. He has athletic run+sprint+whatever the speed bump is from AR/Tac Arrow. I purchase jet packs for when I need to fly, and tend to use p2w jump pack a lot when traveling. It’s no SS or SJ, but serves. Are usually don’t eat any of these when I’m on teams because of all the team transports and his own mish TP power.

NOTES: *Working "between the cracks" on a Scrapyarder angle. *Sort of a meditation on the vigilante ethos. *Ran with a tricked out tank, so looking for tests with squishies (which I'll conduct, as well). Thanks in advance, Crane

Yeah that did. Should have tried that first. Apologies for wasting time and space.

This is what I keep getting. Local network settings are unchanged. Everything seems normal. However, none of my accounts are connecting. Gonna just do a shutdown and restart. See what that does.

Can't seem to get into the game. Servers are green, and I'm using the new launcher. I assume it's something on my end, but thought I'd check with others anyway.

Is the person actually a physically large taker of dumps, or are the said taken dumps structurally huge? Or...is it BOTH?

No need to look any further people. Everybody move along. Everybody move along. 🙂 (I’ll TAKE it!)

Okay gents & gentiles...er, gentlewoman...what the hell, gentle-PERSONS (I’m TRIGGERED!) Josh Jones is back! And ready to....well just what IS he ready to do. Let’s see… PERRRRFECT! I’m a whole level 8. I can crack skulls. Including my own. To it, then. M1: Great...I’m working with Nancy Reagan… FYI: as a scriptor, ol’ Crane just LOOOOOVEES this guy: P.S. Check out Ordinary People, parts 1-3, featuring THIS GUY and is buddy Pep (end shameless Crane plug). Okay, so this ISN’T the strip club. Check. Style thing, but I’m not much of an “everything right up front guy.” Feels like it’s all being thrown at me. On the OTHER hand, I know what I gotta do, and this probably avoids the ol’ “let’s run back and forth and find stuff'' phenomenon that AE loves to throw at us designers. FYI: You can clear a small amount clutter by just putting Haul in the Operation Leader, or Arrest Skull Leader (depending on who he/she be). Again? Hey, I only caught you once, dude. Oh, Ed, must I arrest you AGAIN? Okay, then, the FIRST TIME? 2 clues in Eduardo’s Room (which is adjacent to Marvin’s Room, mayhap?). One clue points to another location. Nice job presaging future developments. Alas, poor Yoric. He hath been shotteth (nice job using one of lit’s most famous skulls):-) +9000! Dude...get some sun...seriously… Actually, I’ve got a load of buckshot on yo’ arse, son! Btw, your brother sez “ouch!” DONE! Easy, Breezy, trapeze-y...er, yeah… M2: Why thank you...that IS an apt description of my life...never leaving KR...always at AE...eating the same...hot dogs every day…(sniff) I’VE WASTED MY LIFE, MOM! Ol’ Joe sends me to take out lab equipment, and arrest whoever’s in charge. I **could** do that, but how about I just push for legislation legalizing ‘dine. You know, CONTROL it. Regulate it. TAX it, and...what? Is this not a good idea? That’s the ice water in my veins, yo! Okay, so what the freaky-deak is THIS? We just got twisty. LIKE! Once again, LOTS to do. All the space in this warehouse, and the Skulls decide to play Tetris. So, after beating up a couple Seers, I find out the new stuff is called “Necrodyne.” Which sounds, I dunno, preternatually dangerous? (mystery deepens…) Hmmm...gee wonder if this could be a reference to, I dunno, the boss? Guess I’m ultimately looking for this guy: Meanwhile, back at the ‘dine ranch... Yeah, well, you evidently don’t see far enough, bro. Another custom. Nice. Didn’t I say this was dangerous? Mo-om! The underboss is coming on to me! Looks like a li’l typo here. Colon followed by ellipsis. Bit of a walkaround finding the last 2 crates, mainly because I don’t game with headphones and couldn’t hear the damned glowies. But we grab ‘em. We also get Undertaker’s address. Strangely, he’s at the morgue (kidding). M3 Nice touch. Okay, I do have plenty of greens, so I feel, “somewhat inspired?” Okay, maybe not so kidding up there… So, eventually.... Bad news for Undie. I dinged lvl 9 during mish, so finale was easier than it would’ve been. Under’s got pets and some grav stuff going, but I still had a big PURP buzzin above my head, so I was good. Then these guys came to deliver my spam and sardine sammies! Okay, so overall: GOOD STUFF: Clean, clear writing. Only noticed the one typo. Customs! Just enough new stuff to keep it interesting. Not overdone on power selections (i.e, not indulging in any of Crane's bad habits). Great use of “window dressing” glowies on the last mish (I forgot to take a pic of the HUGE crate). Bit of a twist on the whole ‘dine (‘dyne?) thing. Spawns not really an issue, since nothing was chained. You could roam around and find stuff everywhere (which has me rethinking the whole, “not too many objectives at once” thing). TWEAKS: I can’t think of anything major. It’s a lowbie arc, and it plays dead on well for a lowbie like ol’ JJ here. It's solid as railroad spike...so to speak...:-) Verdict: 4/5: It’s solid, if unspectacular (this is not a gripe - I’ll take solid time and time again). Got a lot packed into 3 mishes. Bravo! Not everyone can do that. Play this if: You want more Skull action than KR gives you. Now that I think about it, play this, then play Cranebump’s Ordinary People as a follow up (yes, I’m piggbacking here, because man, would this be a great intro to the other thing - you meet ol’ JF, he calls you up later for more stuff...okay @Coulomb and I are opening up a law office). [End especially shameless reminder plug]. Don’t play if: You’re not a fan of lowbie play, or some sort of snooty d-bag who refuses to do the grunt work for the cops.:-) That’s it for now. Adios all, and Vaya con Frijoles. Crane