-
Posts
639 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Reputation
428 ExcellentAbout Ankylosaur
- Birthday 01/01/1004
Recent Profile Visitors
The recent visitors block is disabled and is not being shown to other users.
-
PW searches for level 12-20 story-focused mission arcs
Ankylosaur replied to Police Woman's topic in Mission Architect
It does, thanks - but as you say, some of what you are looking for does play out over the course of the series rather than in a single arc. That does not mean there are not things I could improve within here. But, for example, being a little uneasy with the police is part of the intention for an arc or so - but such is being a Wyvern adjacent vigilante agent in Paragon - it'll happen from time to time. Similarly - Langston, a legitimate business expanding into Hazard Zones to reclaim them, is something the city supports - since no one else is willing to put their redevelopment money there after 20 years - and if they need high-powered security in the form of Gold Brickers - well the city can turn a blind eye since its obviously a dangerous zone. That premise though is my conceit that justifies having a Gold Bricker series in Paragon at all - so can't be resolved in a single arc. (You'll notice by arc title that most of them are in a Hazard Zone.) But, that does not mean there are not things that maybe could be resolved. As to motivation, the x.3s tend to be where you get some closure (and motivation for the next set). I was hoping that coming off of 1.3 there was enough suspicion there to carry investigating Langston forward, but clearly, for you, that is not true - so something for me to think about how to improve. The other thing here, in writing it for Vigilante, is that I was picturing the player generally being a bit more motivated to act based on what they already know of Langston and maybe needing a bit less justification in a "presumed guilty until proven innocent" sort of way. But maybe a bad premise. I can definitely try to build more motivation here and more context for stopping their expansion. Fair warning though - it's not the only time you are cast in a role that has Langston doing some potentially good things for very questionable reasons and as we have no real decision options in AE - you are cast against them because of those questionable reasons. Lots to think about - and again - thanks for the feedback! -
PW searches for level 12-20 story-focused mission arcs
Ankylosaur replied to Police Woman's topic in Mission Architect
Exciting to see Arrow Girl dig into All That Glitters! Love her Wyvern costume too - Ollerus and Hornet are glad you're part of the team and can talk archery with you. The series evolved A LOT from its beginnings as this was my first foray into mutiple arcs. It has been through a lot of rewrites and rejiggering, from me realizing more opportunities to bolster the Praetorian refugee presence in early missions (like Vagabond, Helix, et al) and then throughout as they find a home in the Gold Brickers (or council etc) to doing more call backs to the 1.1 Mercy mission (like Burke instead of Delia, and Dr. Creed finding a new home) to the introduction of higher-level Gold brickers with the Aeon Strike force (thankfully replacing my mediocre customs) to the Aeon Strike force - effectively changing the leaders in my story by fleshing out Mr. Rodney, introducingPrincess Zoe and changing my whole premise for who King Midas is - which meant a bit of a plot shift, to tightening the sprawling higher level arcs by consolidating three of them into one So thanks for the continuity and typo catches! (As Mollymauk called them - "literary kidney stones" 🙂 ) The continuity issues are part of that constant evolution. (e.g. with Hornet in 2.1 - I decided you needed additional allies in 1.3 and forgot I had that line in there.) 2.1 was actually the first of the series I wrote and leans heavily into the Vigilante role, which is why you were at odds with the Union - misperceptions of your role and all that. Was a challenge to balance what's "right" in that situation. There is less of that over time with some arcs really being much more Heroic - but as you are always tied to Wyvern in Glitters so there's always a little vigilante in it. Once Arrow Girl gets into her twenties, multiple paths open up - though not sure she will want to pursue them all - it's a lot. 🙂 Glitters is about Praetorian tech proliferation (and much more) Glimmers is about the First Warders and magic as they find a home in the now Mot-free Dark Astoria (and a bigger plot you uncover) Glints is about the Council bringing psionics into play through the Awakened after the Striga fiasco (and of course that goes well) Glows is about the 5th Column Nictus schism from the Council (and Nictus who are fed up with a lack of progress after 2,000 years of failed leadership) Monkey Business is ancillary and uses some of the later folk from Glitters to to tie in the one group the others missed - the Syndicate. I wrote it all with someone playing through from 1-54 in mind, presuming that one day people would be looking for new content to level with. That has not really happened. 🙂 Most people who have been through it tend to play a series from beginning to end with a high-level toon and so they evolved to support that - often with very small gaps in timeline between arcs. For example, you'll see this in 2.1 and 2.2 - which is why the ending felt unresolved (often it is the x.3 that is a big finale to that sequence). As someone leveling with it - will be interested in your take. What would have taken 2.1 to a five from a four for you? Whatever bits you play - will be great to get your feedback on the journey. I really appreciate the feedback and typo catches! Helps me make it all just a bit better for the next person. Thanks again! -
Not sure - presuming you are timing something running to the door? Which means you need to be able to place it in the back. If that is true then not going between floors is nice so you don't have loading transitions. There are two pretty large "new" Cimerora maps which allow you to place in the back. I also "feel" like some of those DE granite caves are really long.
-
Agreed - I did a few series of AE stories where I tried to leverage a lot of those unfinished plots/hooks, so here are a few answers that are not yet mentioned above, I don't think. Council Fall / Striga / Fifth Column Arakhan stayed with council Nictus Requiem split off (with some Nictus?) to reform Fifth Council unsure if he brought anyone with him, like Vandal I think Nosferatu is in the Zig? UPA is leaderless? Penelope Mayhem Unclear where she is Mr. G's loyalists - include Bobcat, Splice, an Awakened, General Alito, Tub Ci and her dad along with the syndicate are are part of Mr G's arc too arc Infernal (Praetorian) In the "Eden map" of Number Six's arc you can find his axe
-
Caretaker's Plot Discussion Tunnel to Oblivion
Ankylosaur replied to The Caretaker's topic in Developer's Corner
Its a long road to get there - but if you play my All That Glimmers arc, I have a take on what is happening in Praetoria - tied to canon but definitely a fork. -
A big thank you to @Take One who did a run on this "rough around the edges" series. With some typos corrected and some (not insignificant) bugs squashed. I can call this done. His feedback helped me bolster up some of the thinner bits of it in Arc 2, giving me ideas to better show the current state of things outside of Cole's reclaimed city, and the Prime Earth invaders that keep trying to break in. Anyway - with this pass I think I can call it done! (Is anything ever done? Certainly going to polish things here and there - but the story is complete, solid, and mostly typo free - except for maybe some lingering Scorpians that should have been Scorpions - so many!)
-
Made a little overhaul to my lore-inspired Virtea mob that appears in 1.2. This sea-dwelling group that are related to the Coralax have had a few updates over the years as powers keep coming out on homecoming. Marine Affinity is the latest to be added to their arsenal. But in the end, it makes for a nice group with a lot of powers not found in the core game - Melee toons that are war mace or titan weapons (coralax clubs/hammers) with Bio Armor (like they are using crab carapaces as armor) - And some ranged toons with water blast and now marine affinity. - Still have some sonic toons in here too, but one is now sonic/music control So nice to be able to add some variety from what is found in game to make a unique mob
-
Just a small note to clairify why the All That Glitters lineup no longer looks like this in AE. Short version: These four arcs were replaced with one arc, tightening the story, and taking from 12 arcs to 9. Specifically, after Engineria's playthrough it was clear it was way too long and I tightened up this section significantly. Removed 3.2 and 4.1 entirely Originally Glitters was supposed to be 9 arcs - but after a poor initial ending, I wrote several more to carve a path to a new ending. Really though, as demonstrated by the fix - it could easily fit in 9. Cut, cut, cut... A few tidbits did get incorporated into what remained - some even moving upstream in the story - mostly into 2.3. The core of these two arcs were strong though, and had some connected contacts in The Doctor and Number 6. I re-purposed them with a different story in my "Monkey" series (Almost called All That Gleeps 🙂 ) 3.2 got some different players and a new story. This allowed me to also cover the one Praetorian group that made it to Prime that does not appear in my other arcs: The Syndicate The setting of the isles also did not gel super well with the progression of the Gold Brickers expanding into hazard zones in Paragon Was mainly in the isles to involve the wyvern contact and story there - and Wyvern going after the syndicate works just as well. 4.1 touches on the Council and the Nictus after the Fall of Striga, (in Councilvania! 🙂 ) but I cover that in more detail now in All That Glints (Council/Awakened) and All That Glows (5th Column/Nictus). So it was not that important to the All That Glitters story and had a fun Monkey angle I could work in instead. This originally continued the theme of the Gold Brickers moving into hazard zones and brought Vanguard in for the Praetorian connection. But in the end the GB were barely in RWZ, and my "Kingston Heights" zone they rebuilt next to Khalisti became more important. Also this story did not really revolve around them, but more the Rikti Freakshow, UPA, and the Council, so felt a bit tangential. Combined 3.3 and 4.2 Realized there was some overlap and maybe a-little-too-slow reveal of info. A few defining moments were in those two arcs though, so I combined them into one action-packed one - still called Calamity in Kalisti Wharf.
-
no such thing as unlimited spawns - each map has a limit
-
TerroirNoir's "Cable Channel of AE!" Reviews. Part 2.
Ankylosaur replied to TerroirNoir2's topic in Mission Architect
Thanks so much for your kind words! Enjoyed your play-through! A few more tidbits for you... -
TerroirNoir's "Cable Channel of AE!" Reviews. Part 2.
Ankylosaur replied to TerroirNoir2's topic in Mission Architect
Well - because of the extended pause in the review - I have come back and read Engineeria's latest installment through a few times now. Love seeing it all through her eyes. Great pics and a real treat seeing her unfold the story as she explores it. I laughed, I cried, I made a note to self to go to Aruba too. 🙂 -
So I finished the third one - finally. The series is definitely still in its nascent v1, (meaning I bet there are still a few typos out there and maybe the story still needs some tightening) but it is complete if anyone is looking for something new, and even better, if you have a Goldside toon looking for something to do after completing all of Night Ward. As usual, it went in a few unexpected directions from initial ideas, but again, attempts to latch onto unused hooks from the end of Praetoria, the related follow-up in Dark Astoria, and my own little Anky-verse with Neo Tokyo playing a role. Even a small follow-up to All that Glitters explaining some fallout from what went down in Grandville and another Recluse LT shake-up. (It has GOT to be hard to stay a trusted member of his circle.) Always appreciate early players being generous with feedback and stars in these fledgling stages. Will definitely continue to evolve it based on feedback. (A little worried I went a bit Clue crazy in M1 for example.) Hope you enjoy!
-
TerroirNoir's "Cable Channel of AE!" Reviews. Part 2.
Ankylosaur replied to TerroirNoir2's topic in Mission Architect
Exciting to the start of Engineeria's journey here! So great to see her uncover the plot! Little design tidbits since you have finished - spoliers if you have not... ? -
Bosses Not Appearing For "Defeat a Boss"
Ankylosaur replied to Clave Dark 5's topic in Mission Architect
Well - not sure its a rule, but basically, if you want to use that custom boss - you have to choose thier standard version from the standard mob, as a boss - then recolor them, and change their bio again. Just the way it works for some reason. -
TerroirNoir's "Cable Channel of AE!" Reviews. Part 2.
Ankylosaur replied to TerroirNoir2's topic in Mission Architect
Fingers crossed that Ninjas in the wind is still on the list. 🙂