cranebump

I would be interested. I can easily port my issue 0 toon over. He should be near 35 right now. And I would certainly play another toon or two. Interesting. Last 3 arcs I have been scripting are 30-35.:-)

Oops. double post

There's what we think we know, and what is actually happening (or not). The breadth of what matters often depends on what the concerned actors can do about it. More specifically, the inconsistencies only seem so because we haven't been given all the information (or the right information). This is why "Nemesis plot" works so well as a rationale. Sow chaos, so that your real agenda can hardly be identified, much less resisted. Not related, I guess, but I enjoy Lore gaps, or Lore that hasn't been fully fleshed out. I can use it as creative grist in AE (EX: Mobius is all about what the Battalion threat really was/is; current Leviathan arcs focus on the Storm Korps).

Not sure what is meant by this? Agree with the first statement. As far as making teams more interesting, of the many suggestions offered, I really like the idea of "Star Configuration." You announce you're running SF Mishes, Star Fig" and do it enough times, and maybe it become a regular and viable option. Just have to get the word out that a "Star" team consists of 5 ppl.

I gotcha. Thanks for elaborating.

Well, that's not what I was trying to do. I wasn't saying I wanted a mandatory cap. On the subject of smaller teams, all I personally said was, "I'm in." What I was trying to figure out with my question up there was whether the preference for running 8 had any other motivation other than maxing out return. I've made it pretty clear I don't have an issue with how others play, and was not trying to imply otherwise. As for my other comment: Recognizing that the current game does feature many teams that are such in name only (i.e., 2-3 soloists giving the beatdown and a bunch of XP-bumping fillers) isn't taking a shot at anything. It's just recognizing an aspect of play that is , oh, we'll say somewhat prevalent, and part of the topic about what is considered a "boring" team. Full disclosure: On those types of teams, I'm usually one of the "filler" guys (or slightly above, depending on what I'm running), since I don't have anything close to a completely maxed-out toon. When Johnny Beatdown does their beatup thing, I just tag along and do what I can, because these are almost always TF's, and I'm just there for the merits. No biggy. It's a legit mode of play. But it would get pretty old if that's all there was. The issue, of course, is that to ensure it's not all there is, you can't just hop on any PuG. Well, above a certain level, I guess. You have to invoke some sort of restrictions, or fiddle with the switches, or both. Or play in "near classic" mode.:-)

Is that a personal preference or a mechanical one? I ask because I find smaller teams often to be more engaging because every members counts. My assumption is that most teams of 8 aren't formed for anything other than maximizing XP return. You grab 8 people, and half of them are superfluous, because player A,B,C & D are bumrushing the joint, and only want you there to bump up the mobs (sometimes it's only players A & B). It is then not so much super team as "Captain Beatdown and the Cyphers."

I'm for it! Call it a "Star Configuration" or something (like the Clan Stars in Battletech [there's somethin' I haven't thought of in ages]).

Heh...yeah... Y'know, in thinking about this, feels like it's not so much having a subpar build, but rather having a normal (and good) build being made subpar by by easy acquisition of goodies. Not saying we should all go back to grinding and such. Some people play just to rise up and max out, so that's part of the deal. But if I can belabor the whole "classic mode" a wee bit more, the game plays just fine in its near-original form. You just can't get that same type of teaming, though, unless you take dedicated steps. So maybe your subpar build threat idea ain't so far fetched.:-)

I’d be down for “classic lite,” meaning limiting to SO’s, doing a bit more traditional travel, focusing on story arcs more, etc. When we ran the ‘04 emulator, we were waiting to purchase travel until level 14 (iirc), and picking Powers we didn’t use to simulate picking the inherent fitness pool. There’s an in-between method for sure. I’d be down for it.

Sounds accurate, esp. on the IOs. When tricked-out incarnates come out to play at lower levels, they can make a mockery of default content. Unless I am misunderstanding now attuned IOs work? The comment about people soloing when we're ostensibly supposed to be teaming is apt. I've just accepted that as the current norm.

I feel like it's sorta up to me to determine my own level of entertainment. So, if "Teams that do X are boring," then the solution's simple--don't join those teams. On the other hand, if I'm saying, "Teams that do/are X are my favs!" then it's up to me to find or form those kind of teams. Getting exactly what you want from a PuG is just asking to be disappointed, especially if the criterion is, "I MUST be challenged!" That's why diff switches and certain AE mishes exist. That said, I must say I agree with the previous assertion that, after the 30s, things get pretty easy by default. Also agree that the ease of acquiring attuned IO sets (or simply IOs), changes the game fundamentally. However, I would use neither as an argument to change the game's default setting. Having played a character in "Classic" mode allows me to experience something close to the original mode of play (when I feel like doing that). As always, it's on me to shape the game to fit me, rather than the other way around. I'm just one person, after all.

First draft of last of the "Hollow" arcs is done. Feedback welcome.

No one's heritage is an excuse for a lack of manners. Nor is being on the other end of life's timeline (I'm 58, if that makes s difference). If anything, the more, ahem, "seasoned" among us should probably be trying to set a good example?

Maybe should be called Assault Weapons to cover the breadth of what you can do. I have an AR/TA toon with all the KBs proc’ed to KD. Pretty decent solo, great on teams, due to the soft controls. Damage is fair, but I don’t worry about it much. I figure I’m there to lay down glue, oil slick, Flash, etc. just straight up laying down bullets would make him less useful. I figure if I want to do that, I’ll just run Dual Pistols.

The inability to separate AE farms from SF mishes in the select menu.

I led teams pretty often back in the day. I don't do so as much anymore out of pure laziness, more than anything. As an advocate of story-focused stuff, I should probably do my part and form more story arc teams, but it's just not high on the agenda. The fact that I spend a lot of in-game time scripting AE mishes cuts into that, as well.

Not to mention the county judge who held a grudge.:-)

If you know Band on the Run, you know Wings.

Who’s Paul Mcartney?:-)

Huge fan of the CCG. Thought about checking this out, but, after viewing playthroughs and reading some reviews, decided to pass on it. For supers, I run rules light games like Supers! Revised, Triumphant, and FATE. I have a copy of Capes, Cowls and Villains Foul, which looks really interesting. Have never tried to run it, though.

Time to take to the streets and dole out some justice! So says Virgil Lante!:-)

When it doesn’t say “185 days offline” under the name.:-)

"Pleasepleaseplease can I touch the hot, glowing, stove?" (sigh) "Okay..." "OWWWW! I can't believe that happened! AGAIN!":-)

I don't think we'll be fully successful until we can teleport the mission door to a spot 2' in front of ourselves, then TP everything in there outside the door, whereupon we mass confuse everything and let them kill themselves (or TP everything into a water "Toilet Swirl to Hell" flush power) while we sit there in our WAL-E chairs, knocking back slurpees an' countin' XP's. 🙂 Pos 1 Flush Team LFM. Must definitely NOT have travel power.