Darmian's AE arcs reviewed

[DougGraves]

I have not started them yet.  @Darmian what level of detail do you care about?  Are these done and you don't care about detailed comments on the text, costumes etc?  Just a general "the first mission was fun" type of thing? 

 

I have done one of Darmian's arcs.  I believe it was selected as a Dev Choice. I think it is Darker Deeds Part 1.  But I am not sure.  The one I did was good, so I have high expectations for the others. 

[Darmian]

Hi, @DougGraves! They are all finished, however I'm happy to take notes from any players, I mean how else am I going to get better? But detail is cool too, and if I have a single request, let me know if the through line of the plot hangs together.

 

There's a few things I've done that I hope worked, but the AE limits are what they are.  And I hope you have fun!

 

If you squint a bit it slides into canon just about, with some standing in the shadows going on LOL.

 

Usual caveat I gave people too, read the clues, they help!  And while you're an old hand at this, no sprint or you'll lose the escorts!

Edited April 6, 2021 by Darmian

[DougGraves]

So Dark Deeds Part One is the one I did before I think, but I don't recall the end of it. 

 

This is what I want arcs to be.  Each mission is not just a bit a part of a story but a story in itself.  Do this, do that, things unfold.  Lots of dialog.

 

In the last mission this was a problem.  I missed a guy right at the start.  I am not even sure how I missed them, but I had to go back from the end to the start and then back to the end.

 

The ending of the last mission was tough, I was defeated twice on my blaster.  But the ending is pretty epic and satisfying.

 

The maps are good.  I like having the variety.  And I really like having custom enemies.  It is nice to have AE provide variety of everything, not just different stories with the same enemies.

[Darmian]

I don't know if you do this @DougGraves, or others, but I keep a small floating tab 4 between my Target and Nav reticules that only has NPC Dialog and Cutscene Captions in it. Saves me scrolling through chatter and I see if anyone has spoken, even if it's only text movement caught out of the corner of my eye.

 

 

[DougGraves]

I have a tab just for NPC dialog.  I don't have it floating though

[Darmian]

10 minutes ago, DougGraves said:

I have a tab just for NPC dialog.  I don't have it floating though

I find it handy when testing, never mind playing stuff.  Did the boss speak?  Oh hell, they all spoke at once!  Gotta fix that, and so on.

[Darmian]

While this is probably blindingly obvious to you, the order of the AE arcs is in my signature. Feel free to try the Pre War Praetorian ones, but they're a separate story, an attempt to write more for Gold side that fits in.  Whether I succeeded or not is up to the players really. I hope I did.

[Sakai]

17 hours ago, DougGraves said:

floating 

Floating?

[DougGraves]

12 minutes ago, Sakai said:

Floating?

 

You can have your tabs in the lower left where chat normally is, or you can have tabs by themselves that you can put anywhere on your screen

[Sakai]

Ahh gotcha..thank you. Never occurred to me it had a name. 

[DougGraves]

On the second arc.  Have to stop to walk the dog.

 

I don't like the story.  The name of the arc is clear - Dark Deeds.  I just normally wouldn't play an arc like this where I am committing crimes.  Although it is ironic that this is very close to the Falcon and White Wolf plot line.

 

I like the first mission content.  Good map.  Nice details.  I am running this at lower level so the enemies are a bit overpowered but I can generally handle them.  The boss beat me and then I came back in to find him beaten up by other NPCs. 

 

The second mission map is great - I've never been on it.  But the end is super hard.  I was defeated multiple times.  Then I had one last task to complete and it gave me an ally.  The end would have been much easier with the ally.  Maybe the rest could be gated on finding the ally as it was very hard on a blaster without him.

 

Again, I like the individual missions but they don't feel all that connected to the storyline and I'm not excited by the storyline.  I just feel like a stooge being used.

 

I'll get to the other missions later.

[Darmian]

Well, you're in the Rogue Isles and the rules are different there, and you're effectively being morally manipulated by GW because one of the team is still missing and so on.  But if you're going for a "pure hero" feel then yeah, you're not supposed to feel good about these! And if you step out of the mission and speak to her she says things like this (from M1):

 

" Ghost Widow is not impressed by your return: You haven't forgotten that I know where you live? Where everyone you know and care for lives? Yes of course I'm threatening you. Now go back and do what I asked."

 

As for the ally in M2?  They should have appeared at the beginning.

 

{Brief pause while I check]

 

Yes, there he is.  Sign in to the security desk and he appears, all suited up.  It's literally the first set of glass paned rooms after the entrance lobby and corridor. So he should be with you from almost the get go until the end, though he's set to defensive so that he doesn't just go for anyone you meet! 

 

Yes, this set of missions does tie together, but they're more jigsaw puzzle pieces than the first arc.

 

Edited April 19, 2021 by Darmian

[DougGraves]

I finished the arc.  The plot made no sense to me by the 3rd mission.  I free somebody and then hunt them down?  I just basically seemed to do whatever GW wanted me to do without understanding why or there being a reason I should do it. 

 

I did get defeated several times.  It is too much  for a level 19 blaster.  So many enemies have knockback and other CC.  I will have to try the next ones with a higher level character with mezz protection.

[Darmian]

You free someone that the rogue faction vitally needs, and then track them down because they'll be taken in by the faction, and those are the ones you are actually hunting.  Any suggestions on how I can clarify that further? Looks like I failed in finding a balance between "this is the plot!" and "let the players discover the plot". 

 

Level 19?  Ah, they are labelled not suitable for lower level.  Dark Deeds in Galaxy City: Part One doesn't have that though, because I can't edit it since it is Dev/HOF status.

Edited April 8, 2021 by Darmian

[DougGraves]

29 minutes ago, Darmian said:

You free someone that the rogue faction vitally needs, and then track them down because they'll be taken in by the faction, and those are the ones you are actually hunting.  Any suggestions on how I can clarify that further? Looks like I failed in finding a balance between "this is the plot!" and "let the players discover the plot". 

 

Level 19?  Ah, they are labelled not suitable for lower level.  Dark Deeds in Galaxy City: Part One doesn't have that though, because I can't edit it since it is Dev/HOF status.

 

I don't actually have any characters in the 40's.  I stop leveling at 34, but I can pull one of those out.

 

I would be more explicit in the dialog.  I think it is GW who says something like "our rogue scientist is..."  I was not sure who she meant by the rogue scientist.  If DeBurgh is doing what we want him to do the dialog should sound like that.  But it came off as he was not following the plan and we had to hunt him down because of that.

 

Something as basic as "Now that DeBurgh has made contact with the faction you can track them through him."  I think something like that was said for the trip to Warburg, but I think it was about tracking him and did not make clear to me that this was going as planned.  I'm not saying it isn't in the text - but I didn't get it.

 

Also Crey gets mentioned a few times but never shows up.  Every time they got mentioned I was confused as to what their role was.

 

I did like all of the missions.  The detail is great. 

 

 

[Darmian]

Cheers for that.  I'll have a ponder on how to rephrase it. Plus Burgh DID go off book, since he made a bid for freedom from GW by contacting the Family.  (I know I'd run!)

Edited April 8, 2021 by Darmian

[Darmian]

I've added a Mission End Clue to M1.

 

Spoiler

"Elliott Burgh Recruited:  Ghost Widow's plan to spring a former Crey Chronal scientist is successful thanks to you. Now, if he values his life, he will follow her orders and put out feelers to contact the rogue Arachnos faction she, and you, are hunting. Once embedded he is to contact you giving their whereabouts. What could go wrong?"

 

M2 now has an insert: 

 

Spoiler

"As for our errant scientist, Elliott Burgh? We'll get to him presently, give him time to settle in."

 

M3 is rephrased thus:

 

Spoiler

"You can feel the cold presence of Ghost Widow as she materializes behind you. $name, I have a job for you. Burgh has activated his homing beacon so we know where some of our time travelling friends are. You will meet with Captain Gerhardt of Arachnos and aid him in raiding a rogue Arachnos facility on Warburg. Of course Blitz's forces would harbor them... She pauses. Yes? You have an issue aiding the government of the Etoile Islands in a UN sanctioned action? I mean, It's not like you're, I don't know, organizing a prison break, is it? All done? She continues. Intel has confirmed a sighting of Burgh there, and the device we secreted on him last pinged on a ship heading that way. No, I doubt the enemy found it but Warburg's actual structure interferes with signals. I suspect those two factions have an uneasy alliance but Blitz's contingent would welcome their aid nonetheless. There will be a flyer to pick you up in an hour."

 

And Arbiter Kinsey now says this when at low health:

 

Spoiler

" You want Burgh? Ha! He is beyond your reach! He left yesterday! His gangster friends came for him."

 

That might add SOME clarity.  We'll see.

Edited April 8, 2021 by Darmian

[DougGraves]

Okay - I definitely did not get why I went to Warburg and then Burgh was not there.  This might help.

 

Is Burgh said to be friendly with the Family earlier on?  They mention Crey, I don't recall the Family.

 

 

[cranebump]

Just FYI: I ran all of Darm’s arcs with a L50 with some IO sets, in default diff, that I know how to run pretty well, and still had some tough fights (especially the story capstone).  I’d take one of your best ones in. 

Edited April 8, 2021 by cranebump

[Darmian]

No, it isn't said then, but you don't really get time to talk to him much. Crey is mentioned but mainly as a former employer.

 

And just rephrased this part of M4's intro:

 

Spoiler

"Ghost Widow told you she would return and so she has. Ah, waiting up for me, $name. Endearing, but we don't have time for that now. We can have a little chat when this is over.  We have tracked our runaway scientist to a Family owned ship heading for Paragon, still with his rogue faction bodyguards too. No doubt heading for another tedious secret base there, but that's not Arachnos' problem. Freedom Phalanx can deal with that, or whoever. You need to board that ship and take out Burgh, and whoever else has the temerity to defy us. She continues on. As you know, we had Burgh freed because his skill set is exactly what our quarry needs, especially since you destroyed their generator in 1966. No doubt stranding these stragglers here in the present. With their dwindling numbers we anticipate a minimal force aboard, and I doubt the Family will give someone like yourself much trouble. Now, before you give me your usual indignant look, are there any questions?"

 

Ok, thanks for that, @DougGraves. As we all know, you can get too close to your own text sometimes, so that what is crystal clear to you may not be to everyone else!

[Darmian]

And added this in M1 of Dark Deeds in Galaxy City: Part Two. Intro Accept text:

 

Spoiler

" Ghost Widow smiles sweetly at you. Because it would please me? No? Very well. Burgh is a scientist, specifically working in chronal teleportation. Yes, that's a thing apparently.  He used to work for Crey, but due to some Marcone Family issues he now languishes in the Zig. Which is where you come in. So he can get out."

 

 When you find Burgh he says:

 

Spoiler

"Oh, company! Did the Marcone Family send you? Or Vinny?"

 

Edited April 8, 2021 by Darmian

[DougGraves]

that should help.  It gives the Family tie. 

[Darmian]

6 hours ago, DougGraves said:

The boss beat me and then I came back in to find him beaten up by other NPCs. 

I love when that happens.  Ok, you don't get XP perhaps, but JUSTICE!

[DougGraves]

I finished the arc, defeating Lord Richter.  I did some of the missions one day and then finished this morning.  I remember the general plot but not the twists and turns.  Partly it is so long and there are so many twists and turns, and partly I played it over a week or so.

 

I really like the details and how the missions play.  I enjoy them even though I am at this point basically ignoring the larger plot that ties all of the arcs together.  I wish you just had each arc as its own story, but I understand you have a story you want to tell.

 

I have never done the Seraph map before.  It was great.  It took me awhile to find Kip outside, but it wasn't hard once I started looking for him instead of clearing.

 

In the Seraph building, I loved seeing things through the windows.  I saw a longbow agent fighting arachnos and had to search through doors to get to him.  It had a cool story feel to it as reinforcements arrived.

 

You really do great missions.

[Darmian]

Well, I understand the desire that each mission be a "standalone" to a certain extent, but the intent of the entire series - gimme a sec -

 

- the intent is pretty much laid out there.  To write a longer form, almost TV series style thing.  So you just finished "Season 1". 

 

And that was the challenge really.  To write a story that could cover 15, 30, 45 "episodes".  So you get a few that are definitely almost standalone, but you get cliffhangers and surprises, and mystery people showing up.  And other challenges too.  Like

Spoiler

how to include Blue Spectrum without undoing the choice mechanic from the Galaxy City tutorial

. Things like if you visit the Freedom Corps Building in Galaxy City

Spoiler

you will find Ghost Widow's bones.  And so on.

 

And with things like the SERAPH map, you have to lay the groundwork for some stuff!  In Mission 1 of Dark Deeds in Galaxy City: Part Three you are picked up in an Arachnos Flyer, and that's what you step out of on the SERAPH map.  And if you go to that exact spot in Steel Canyon, that building is an Exchange Bank!

 

If you decide to continue on, the first one in the next arc has an EB!

 

But thanks for playing!  And I try my best to give a decent story, but like many a thing that is subjective.

 

I will say I have grown to love the Meteors as a little super team though!

 

(And there's going to be stuff that won't get resolved - oh, don't get me wrong, the major plot in this series DOES get resolved - because I like to leave hooks for myself in case I want to go back and write some more!)

Edited April 11, 2021 by Darmian