cranebump

Thanks for giving it a run. For the record, I ran it with a L32 tank with IOS. Like you, I had to pop Insps for some parts of it. I ended up doing minor nerfs on the three end bosses (each of whom is connected to previous arcs the character has run, if players run the whole meta-arc, which is a tall order). I would agree with your assessment that players who prefer story will appreciate it (especially since there are plenty of cookie cutter arcs they can breeze through). You play to your strengths. Mine’s narrative and metaplot. Because of that, jamming in the story given MA’s limitation requires me to make certain concessions. Which leads me to my main disagreement with you about mission #1. You talk about “time wasters” a lot in your reviews (as if there’s a specific number of objectives allowed?). And, while I won’t defend someone plopping in 12 glowie# where 3 will do (guilty), some choices we might make are driven by what pushes the story along. More simply, we have to use what the MA gives us. For example, in the first mission, above, each early glowie is followed by a clue drop so that I can include dialogue and information for the player. If the damned clue box were bigger, or I could spawn text on screen in a substantive way, I’d use fewer of these. But, it’s not, so I have to extend the narrative over multiple blocks. The number of objectives is determined by plot (one of them adds the Dagon spawns, which are sent by the BB to stop the player). As for “running back and forth,” most of the glowies are on the lower level of the map, with the bosses spawning on the middle level. Well, usually. If I could sticky things in their places, I would. MA doesn’t allow me to do that. It took many runs just to get things where they are now. Wish I had more control over that, but I don’t. Well, not much. In short, I attempted to group these in the same map “regions” (upper, middle, lower). I was limited to spawn points, because (if I recall correctly), FL Echo doesn’t have wall spawns, so, I’m sharing floor space with NPCs. I ran that mish a LOT. Sometimes it spawned like a dream (albeit you go from back to front after grabbing Angevin). Even when it didn’t, finding stuff was pretty easy. Map isn’t that big, really. Overall, I feel your assessment is fair, as to what kind of players would want to play it. Typically, there’s not much evaluation of the narrative, which is on par for your style (which I think makes my arcs suffer in these reviews, because my strong point is narrative—substance over style, for good/ill). Even so, thanks for taking the time. Twice. That’s a big commitment, because it is not a short arc. As for follow up, Arc is still in test mode. Instead of a tank, I’ll try a squishy to test bosses again. It should be doable, after all. Appreciate the time and the review, Crane

Feels like home

Messed up on original posts (wrong thread). Fixed. Derrrrrr...

For the record it was a Tony Lama. Snakeskin. And we filled it with champagne. I can see my house from here! (hate it when work calls...)

The Gang, +1 Epic run. Freaks never knew what hit 'em. Council neither. And...all those other guys we mezzed, and capped, and blasted, and face-kicked and such...(if i'd-a known I could mni-tank with support like that, I'd taken taunt or something).:-)

Just realized I posted to wrong thread. Moving material

I wrote an arc with amalgam "spirits" of heroes that perished at FL. Used the randomizer to create various minions. But AE has its favs, so it kept spawning the weird cowhead thing (Thugs/DP). I think designers who've worked on this have kept things fairly uniform, because, really, there isn't much to work with lore wise (except all the Kheldians have been devoured). Course, I never had to develop Batt, since it was buried in the backstory (that's my get around for not knowing every scrap of game lore--I write around it).:-)

Wrong thread. Moved.

Mispost. Moved

One of the lore nuggets (can't remember the Dev said it) was that Batt was going to look like amalgam humanoids. Like they pulled elements from everywhere and smusched them together

I've been carrying ring awhile. Got it with the scroll power (used).

I've had some come and go, but the Cryonite and RoP seem to be on timers (1 hour and 10 mins, respectively). MU might be Bloechi's arc. That one will go, for sure. Y'know, woulda been cool to have some of these awarded after capstoning a contact. How cool would it have been to keep SoM after finishing the Talos contact (or series of them?). 'Course, you can buy your way to excellence these days. No putting that genie back in the bottle. In any case, it's pretty cool to call on these when I need them.

So, these IP/Talos contacts LOVE to give me temps. Right now I have: That's right--SANDS OF MUUUUUUUUU! Oh, you long lost friend! (but can we even use these in ''04 mode? And do I care if I'm not supposed to? [no, I do not...]_:-)* *But really, what's the story on these things?

Just eat your green beans, OP. Then you can go out and play.

I'll have to check this one. I used a scenario in my Mobius arcs (see sig) wherein Battalion came, conquered, and, through a desperate act, was imprisoned in a "time loop." Unfortunately, the loop had consequences that were worse. I was toying with the idea that, once the "bigger" threat was ended, they might be freed again. Of course, now I need more arc slots.:-/ Thanks for the work, and keep it up! I'll jump on sometime and check it out, maybe as an "under the radar review." Cheers, C

Sometimes the answer is right in front of you...

We need more votes!

We're up and levellin' folks! Valkyrie's better side:-) (btw, ain't NO one getting us confused in a police lineup--check out them colors!):-)

Blue and I is runnin' right now, folks!

Early morning run with Craney. Tried to farm some Raiders again in TV. Got my arse handed to me. If only I had... an angel on my shoulder? (Went SJing back to tram and happened to land here. Honestly didn't know this was here.)

Like 9 out of 10 times. Maybe because I'm running full-on redside. Anyway, I got tired of that, so: Say hello to my little friends... But, seriously--I never had so many naughty results. I feel like somebody be up to sumpin'.

Okay, I'm all in for "We have a few issues," if and when it kicks off. Tutorial and level 3. Sam Meanwell is off to hit snake holes (eventually).:-) Yeah, that's my ride. Nah, Recluse don't mind if I borrow it.

Woot! Lvl 24. Now maybe I can go to TV and finish off that Raider culling mish (we'll not speak of what happened the first time I tried). I am a GOD! (or not...yet...)

Bunkered myself in the writing shed for a few days and knocked this out. If you've played the whole thing, I am hoping it will be a satisfying capstone. Vaya con Guacamole. Crane

I guess the redside version of this would be “We have a few issues.” That’s near when I came in, actually. I got the Good vs. Evil edition with the free jump pack and Pocket D TP.