Techwright

Congratulations @Icanav !

I am surprised to read this considering 1/4 of the episode qualifies. I felt it was a solid start, and I really liked the guest appearances and those first 10 minutes. Speculations:

The idea of running it on max is a misconception that the setting equals maximum XP. Missed hits, multiple deaths, and lower DPS all contribute to a LOWER XP/minute than running it at a far more comfortable +1 or +2. And the risk of resignations might end the TF, especially when the guy with only 1.5 hours free realizes this is going to drag in far beyond his time budget.

Looks like it should be a character from the movie "Small Soldiers".

I've played this way at times. I have led teams, but I will not lead a team if A) I'm a tank or brute. I find it too much for my "slow" fingers to both type out leadership dialog and refill recruitments and lead from the front. B) I'm playing a character with a lot to juggle, like say a mastermind or my illusion/storm controller. This for the same reason as "A". If they truly see it as a desirable reward. I suspect what DougGraves was alluding to was something universally desired. Some folks could care less about badges, but XP and INF are desired until at least 50, and for many, long beyond that.

I've seen all of M.A.S.H. (I think), yet I saw it after Trapper John, M.D. so I always think of Pernel Roberts' take on the character first. Speaking of porting from TV characters, I don't know who created them, but I occasionally see some pretty good Greatest American Hero homages in-game.

And in the same vein of costuming colors, I'd say palate choices. It's annoying to get different palate selection for different functions in the creator, especially if you had goals of using costume colors with power colors, or skin tones. Much rather have one master color palette with all the colors (and possibly a few more. They don't do a range of tans very well, for example) Also costume finishes. I keep running into just the right costume item only to find it's only in matte finish when I need metallic, or leather when I need cloth, etc. Tab targeting grabbing some crazy out of range, out of the way target, sometimes even behind you out of camera shot, when it should be grabbing one of a dozen close and in front, at least in cone arc, if available.

Magistrion Titan Weapon/Rad Armor Trying to get the "power cosmic" look right, I used so much kinetic costuming that I had a dickens of a time getting him in a still shot that didn't wipe his facial profile using the aura, or had other shot issues like lighting and sizing, so I settled for a pair of .gifs. Costume file Magistrion-1 is attached. Magistrion-1.costume

Had to double-check just to satisfy myself, but you are correct. Thanks for that correction!

Yeah, I've known of special metals in the game already, and I used the well-known claws just to make the point. What I was really suggesting was something previously unknown and rare, or at least forgotten knowledge rediscovered.

That line gave me a thought towards one possible storyline. What if the Warriors got wind of a new metal, or a new metalworking technique, one capable of creating bladed weapons virtually indestructible? Their efforts to acquire and master this to forge powerful, natural weapons might shake things up in their path to possess it, necessitating a hero response (or a villain response to get to the mcguffin first). Sort of like adamantium claws, if you will, but materials within the Paragon universe, rather than the Marvel one. This way, they increase their power and performance without sacrificing to magic, science, or in a sense even to technology. The metal or alloy may be said to have special properties: stronger, lighter, even building an electrical charge from frictional usage. This could give reason for stronger hits, faster moves, or the occasional electrical discharge.

*Raises eyes from smartphone* Wait, wait...I know this one! He was in that old British band...something with an insect in the name.... Oh, right! The Bugaloos! Yeah, he and that other British guy, the one who guest starred in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, you know...Davy Jones.

Ice Blast / Cold Domination Corruptor Went for a Mr. Freeze-styled look and feel (with jet boots), but decided the suit was more about containment of powers than survival. But now the gloves have come off...

Have you considered participating in a beauty contest? Your speech is perfect.

Getting a bit of an Ascendant vibe from this, which is a good thing.

That was you?! Wow If I'd been there, I would surely have greeted you. (Sounds like you had fun!)

Agreed. With respect, you're talking like a seasoned veteran. We still have new players coming in. In fact, I've been in talks to encourage 3 new starts hopefully soon. As I've given it some consideration on their behalf, I've come to realize just how many details they're going to need to absorb quickly to function at least competently. So a design that eases that transition is worth the effort. I think this is the heart of the matter. We've got a lot of seasoned vets, myself included, who can figure things out and adapt, but the system should be considering just how overwhelming the newbie experience is, and adapt for their needs. This has been one of my major beefs regarding Twinshot. The arc should start with level 1, level 2 at the latest, but even then, if I recall correctly the player is directed towards a trainer to explain how that works, so yeah, level 1, not level 6. (After that's fixed, I'd want to see the NPCs stop doing the jitterbug in every mission, and especially stop clinging to the player avatar.) On live, I ran over 500 Frost Fire missions in a year and a half before I stopped counting. That's not an exaggeration, and the real number might be closer to 750. In homecoming I've run it twice...I think, over the same time period. I usually do not even think of Wincott or the Frost Fire arc. I'm not sure what the best solution would be, especially with powering through the first 20 levels using the PW2 XP bonus gifts, but I do think the game has evolved enough that Matthew Habashy should be offering introductions to several contacts, Wincott included, rather than two. If the player is still below the Hazard zone recommended level, maybe frame the contact's nameplate in the same colors that our NPC opponents rank in: purple, red, orange, yellow, white, green, blue, gray...but still offer the opportunity.

I know I'm kicking a badly bruised horse, but I don't believe there's set with an inherent mechanic for Knock Down. Yeah, you can get Energy Blast to convert to it, but it is not native, and costs an enhancement slot for conversion. As many players testify, Knock Down is functionally different from Knockback, though both leave an opponent on the ground, just in very different spots.

Eh...it's more or less SPAM. SPAM, SPAM, SPAM, SPAM...hey, Monty Python! Link found.

I'm trying to recall: is there one where the powers focus on stuns and heavy stuns in the same way that energy blast specializes in knockback or ice focuses on slows?

Hmm... Since they had the wireframes, I am surprised we didn't see more animal types in the game.

How do you know he'll accept cookies? He may be gluten intolerant or on a sugar-free, wheat-free diet. I suggest pollen-free flowers instead, and maybe a good audiobook on investing on a guard's salary.

In a broad sense, I'll agree with some other comments I've read that having some sort of outfit insignia of rank would be appropriate to these guys. Would colored berets be an option? For that matter, do costumes extend so far as to allow them to wear trophies from battles past? Clockwork parts, Circle of Thorn costume bits, etc. It would kind of be the concept of mythological Hercules wearing the Nemean lion's skin. How about adding a dash power to the Warriors? I'm not talking super speed, more like taking the Council warwolves ability to cover ground quickly and modifying it for a brief dash for highly trained warriors. Close ground before opponents are prepared. For that matter, is there an NPC version (or similar) of shield charge? Rather than charge with a shield, charge in with an axe or sword before players might react. Crazy thought: Would Warriors have a deep respect for an animal of power, to the point of occasionally having a trained one in a mob? I know there are NPC opponent canines and big cats out there, though their wire frames might need reskinning. Are there NPC options for something as crazy as a bola attack? I could see throwing the weighted cord as a natural origin immobilization tactic. And speaking of immobilization, can you give the guys using fist fighting a chance on some powers for a targeted nerve hit creating temporary hold or immobilization?

panthers, perfect! Any others?

Covering all sides: blue, red, gold...what animal NPC opponents are out there? I know there's the Ritki monkeys, and I'm trying to remember if there are canines on the NPC side of a fight. How about big cats? Anything else?