Techwright

12. Backup

Let me be clear, because perhaps my original wording was not. My comments were meant with an in-game view only. I deliberately posted the message about avoiding the real-world politics as I was attempting to have a little fun and NOT trying to drag real-world sentiment into this. I'm not truly offended by any of it. It is just a game. I was trying to look at it as might one of my characters. As such, I accept @cranebump's explanation: in the game there are unsettling viewpoints held and they have access to billboards. That there may be real-world comparisons was also not my point. I really was indeed curious about the first billboard though. I'm not clear why it sounded like visually-different Rikti hiding among humans.

Thoughts on @biostem's thoughts: Thoughts on @ThaOGDreamWeaver thoughts: Random observation from the episode:

Two billboards, two questions: 1.) Left billboard - what was the background story to this one? It feels like it's suggesting shapeshifters, but the only one I'm aware of was Protean. 2.) Why do we have this billboard? It's wrong on so many levels. I gather it's a reference to the Rikti War, but we've got a lot of aliens on the side of the planet, not the least of which are hero warshades and peacebringers. While I understand the "protect our homeworld" pitch, this one is just a vicious, unfocused attack, made worse by abusing a specific nation's patriotism and dragging it into a global pitch. Can we get a redo? (NOTE: none of this discussion reflects real-world politics. Please keep it that way. Well, I do think real Earth should be for humans, and dolphins, can't forget them, but still...)

That whole picture is an in-game billboard? I'm drawing a blank as to where it is. I recognize the icon logo, of course.

I don't see it often, but I personally appreciate the tank that can aggro those last couple, get them to follow him, then hit the next crowd. It's even better if the team realizes what the tank is doing and snuggles close to the tank to aid in that draw, rather than stand there like lunks slugging it out. It's rare though, as I said. And should the team be targeting through the tank or brute, it should be easier for the tank to gain that aggro. Admittedly that's become a rather antiquated mindset though. To be honest though, I also rarely see the tank-led attacks these days. Most PUGs of my acquaintance are the "everyman for himself" variety, and the tank often gets stuck in the middle somewhere. I find it is simply good form to stay in until the lead exits. Once they do, everyone should rush out. The player who feels they have to clean out the room at that point is well-intentioned, but holding up the team. That said, there's still a judgement call. If the lead is being obtuse about a point of obvious departure, chances are a couple will bolt the instance at that point anyway, and others will follow.

That is a remarkably impressive cast!

Which made me wonder if the OG devs had the other two in the code somewhere, or possibly could be recreated from what's available. Worst case scenario, if one could not be recreated, perhaps make that one the mission/task force assigner. Thanks but I'm not after information. The suggestion was for "Page" as in an update or expansion. Like "Issue 27, Page 6".

I did a search in this forum for the W.I.S.D.O.M. super group and saw nothing. So, either there's content under a search term I didn't use, or... A suggestion: Have at least one Page of future content focused around the Korean supergroup W.I.S.D.O.M.. This hopefully would bring the final two characters, Rose Star and Spark Blade into the game, and give all four content together. Bonus points if someone manages to pull off a good task force involving all 4 characters.

I was just reminded of another that I loved back in my youth. I've not seen it in 30 years, I think, so I'm not sure how it holds up today, but there's an early 80s action movie variously called ffolks, North Sea Hijack, or Assault Force. It stars Roger Moore, James Mason, Anthony Perkins, and Michael Parks. It was directed by Andrew V. McLagland, a director known for Hellfighters, Wild Geese, and a sizeable list of movies and TV episodes to his name, especially westerns. McLagland is son of Victor McLagland, who was part of John Ford's acting troop and often paired with John Wayne. Perkins plays the leader of a group that takes a trio of North Sea oil rigs hostage, and Mason is the admiral who recruits the highly eccentric but very skilled Moore to lead the charge to retake the rigs. While it leans towards a stock action film of its time, the movie stood out to me for Moore's performance as a lethal eccentric, and for using Perkins as the villain.

New poster! Welcome to the forums!

This is actually the first time I've seen a name for the child, though I don't follow new canon books and comics, so that may be the origin of it. I've known of no source stating that the kid will be back. The team that put together the Sequel Trilogy has a bad habit of deliberately writing in people and events with no context. It's apparently instruction passed along by JJ Abrams whom I'm told has a writing style like this, leaving the audience to fill in the gaps. In other words, it just wasn't something with a context to come later, it was very much a "make your own story" effect. I was told once that Abrams had a term for this writing technique, but I've forgotten it. This "technique" was one of the most despised elements of the Sequel Trilogy, leaving us with no context for characters that should be important like Sith Lord Snoke, the Knights of Ren, and Captain Phasma. The boy-with-the-broom is another such character, though in his case, I suspect his presence was to show that all efforts to corral and control the Force would ultimately fail. It simply is beyond the control of mortals. Having said all that, the announcement of the post-Sequels movie featuring Rey and the Skywalker Academy does seem to give opportunity for bringing broom boy back. I know that for some, speculation immediately went to her friend Finn, the ex-Stormtrooper, within whom, it was strongly hinted, dormant force powers exist. In light of the overwhelming fan displeasure at the Sequel Trilogy, it is heavily rumored that Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni were given a mandate to create backstory context for the characters and situations in that trilogy, which they seem to be doing via current Disney+ works. It's not a stretch therefore, to think that mandate might carry over into the new Rey movie to tie up this dangling thread.

I'm definitely down to see that then. I wonder what "Uncle Denis" is voicing? It would be crazy fun if in a romp like this, they got Denis and nephew Ewan McGregor to do scenes together.

There's a difference and the Shadow Council is where we get a confirmation:

Anything that develops an appreciation of gold side would be welcomed.

Just learned of Versy today, an A.I. that uses text to generate environments. The first thought I had upon seeing it was: I wonder if something like it could build the instances for a CoH 2.0? Procedural generation based off typed input, either keyed in advanced by the development team for specific storyline missions and task forces, or selected by players from a menu of word for on-the-fly generation of radio/paper missions and the A.E. creations. Here's the little blurb that clued me into it, along with a few graphics to aid the explanation. I've set the link to start at the Versy description:

I think one of my favorite animations is not from the primary powers. It's the ninja run. I use it with several characters, and it, combined with a slight jum.p can get a martial arts character to flip over several in a mob, then sweep their legs for a very satisfying display. That said, I don't like that it sticks one arm out regardless of whether there's a weapon or not. I'd rather have an option to sychronize both arms. For wish-fulling game design? An elastic attack set, revamping current animations when it fits. For example, for the set, retool the whirlwind power look to display around the character with extended spiraling arms. A "lash out" attack, could be a straight-lined energy power attack redrawn with an elastic arm and an enlarged fist.

That was more 1990s wasn't it? I started collecting in 1992 when Image Comics launched and the look was definitely a part of that launch.

Into Darkness: ugh, don't get me wound up. So much wrong with that one, however they could have fixed a major element just by inserting one line of dialog for Kahn: "They surgically altered me so that no one familiar with history would recognize me." There. Now Indian Kahn Noonien Singh can be played by a very white British actor. It's well-established canon that Star Fleet has the plastic surgery technology to make their spies look extremely different. Nothing can help the miracle blood screw-up or the precision system-to-system beaming though. Chris Pine and Karl Urban: absolutely great job. Chris' performance was more subtle; Karl's more overt, but both were good. Personally, I also liked Zachery Quinto, and of course, he had the original to guide him. Zachery may not have the deep, melodic baritone of Nimoy, but his performance was noticeably better than the Spock they brought in for Discovery. "I'm from space." That is just weird. I'm not sure I ever heard OG Kirk refer to himself that way. Iowa, yes. It showed Kirk as grounded (pun somewhat intended), not forgetful of his roots.

Small note on a subtle detail. In regards to Bo-Katan, it was pointed out to me....

A great many of them I consider must haves. I probably focus on the monitor duty the most. Having spare base teleports really helps out when I have to zone a lot. The XP and INF bonuses are probably next on my list and the +Max End helps early on. +Regen, +DMG, +To Hit, etc. all are valuable. The ones I tend to "meh" are the salvage, recipe, inspiration, and enhancement bonus ones.

At least it wasn't Popcorn Ceiling Knight.