Darmian's AE arcs reviewed

[Darmian]

I found this screenshot I took of a run through Dark Deeds in Galaxy City: Part One.  You might recognize this as being from the fifth mission.

 

[DougGraves]

I just did Bridge of Forever.  Again, I love the missions but am confused by the story.

 

In this case it became clear t me that I just don't know enough lore.  I don't know if Transmuter is an existing character that should mean something to me.  So the story is confusing because I don't know how it all fits together.  I suspect if I knew the lore it would make sense.  I assume Mr. G is the Faultline contact - but I did not put that together until afterwards. 

 

I was still able to follow the basic outline of the plot.  

 

I enjoy the variety of the missions and the details.  The underground mission was my favorite with the ghouls and the resistance.

[Darmian]

This trilogy is very much Gold side niche, designed to give Praetorian players at least a bit more time Gold side before they either leave for Primal or head on to First Ward.  The three arcs are labelled as a continuation of the Power storyline in pre War Praetoria.  Transmuter is indeed an Imperial City contact.  I'm not sure about the mention of Faultline.  Mr. G appears post War in St. Martial, with a rather cool arc. Provost Marchand has a parallel arc to Mr. G's post War one, set in Brickstown. And Praetor White = Marauder.

 

Here's a list of NPCs that might help:

 

 

Spoiler

https://hcwiki.cityofheroes.dev/wiki/Transmuter https://hcwiki.cityofheroes.dev/wiki/Alec_Parson https://hcwiki.cityofheroes.dev/wiki/Mr._G https://hcwiki.cityofheroes.dev/wiki/Zane https://hcwiki.cityofheroes.dev/wiki/Officer_Welks https://hcwiki.cityofheroes.dev/wiki/Warrant 

 

And you were supposed to meet this person:

 

Spoiler

https://hcwiki.cityofheroes.dev/wiki/Stern

 

And this guy gets a mention too.

 

Spoiler

https://hcwiki.cityofheroes.dev/wiki/The_Major#Total_Recall_2

 

And Bridge of Forever even has a little Easter Egg in the form of a "Post Credits" scene in the final mission.  If you complete and DON'T leave but go exploring you run into someone 🙂

Edited April 19, 2021 by Darmian

[Darmian]

And since we're looking at Bridge of Forever and it's sequels, I got this today.  Sometimes when you've had a crappy day a little thing can cheer you up 🙂

 

 

(I messaged the player because I was unsure as to whether or not they had missed the first two parts and inadvertently spoilered things for themselves, but they had just waited to comment until the end.)

[Take One]

13 hours ago, Darmian said:

I'm not sure about the mention of Faultline.

 

There is an Agent G in Faultline, inside the dam, but he has nothing to do with Mr. G

[Darmian]

26 minutes ago, Take One said:

 

There is an Agent G in Faultline, inside the dam, but he has nothing to do with Mr. G

Ah yes! Forgot about him!

[DougGraves]

I did catch that this was a continuation of the Powers storyline.  I was confused when the first mission said something like Powers Mission #7.  I was wondering if I was doing them in the wrong order and tried the next one. 

[Darmian]

The in -game Imperial Power arc ends at #5.

 

 

Edited April 21, 2021 by Darmian

[DougGraves]

Just finished the Cassini Division.  The missions were great.  I followed the story pretty well even though I played it over several days.  But the ending was disappointing.  I was expecting to face Mr. G.  I felt let down when it was over. 

 

I did love the last map.  At the end the mission felt short, but I realized it was because I had forgotten about the earlier part of the map in the sewers.  I really like the maps with multiple area types.  They feel more like stories than just grinding through a giant office or warehouse.

 

I also liked the use of the crystal for the contact.  It was odd at first but when I started the mission by using a transporter it had the right feel for that. 

[Darmian]

The ending was disappointing?  Well...that's because the finale ending is in "The House of Gaunt Saints." And the Crystal is the one you recovered in "Bridge of Forever".  

[DougGraves]

But it didn't feel like the end of an arc.  It didn't really feel like the end of a mission.  I defeated some clones I had never heard of and some arachnos.  Which was a fine battle.  Then I had to blow up some device I had never seen before.  And then it was over.

 

I get that the device was used by Mr G to get around, but it just didn't click for me.  It didn't feel like a big win. 

 

Had I heard about the clones before?  Was there some reason that defeating them should feel important?

[Darmian]

Well, throughout Chimera has been ranting about G's cloning labs, so you finally met them.  

 

Couple of questions: How was the base on fire mission? And the plant clues one?

 

I'm wondering if I should retitle them like the Dark Deeds missions, Part 1, Part 2, Part 3?  What do you think?

Edited April 23, 2021 by Darmian

[DougGraves]

I did the base on fire and the plant clues one a few days ago so I don't remember all of the details.  I liked them both. 

 

I always love the base on fire map.  I had to run back and forth through the whole thing a few times.

 

The plant missions felt the most like a full story in a mission with the different stages making sense.

 

 

[Darmian]

I've grown very fond of old Recall.  When next you see him it's in The Major's vigilante arc.

[DougGraves]

I just finished Gaunt Saints.  This one I had no trouble following. I also played it all in one sitting.  So I have to wonder if the others would have made sense to me if I played them all at once.

 

Great missions as usual.  Nice variety.  And I love having the mix of enemy groups for variety within the mission.  My only complaint is escorting people on the underground maps with the giant stairs - the NPCs just do not do the stairs well.

 

 

[Darmian]

10 minutes ago, DougGraves said:

I just finished Gaunt Saints.  This one I had no trouble following. I also played it all in one sitting.  So I have to wonder if the others would have made sense to me if I played them all at once.

 

Great missions as usual.  Nice variety.  And I love having the mix of enemy groups for variety within the mission.  My only complaint is escorting people on the underground maps with the giant stairs - the NPCs just do not do the stairs well.

 

 

Oh god those stairs!  But it is written in the holy scrolls of the AE that an arc in Pratoria must contain at least one Underground Map!  Verily!

 

Some recurring characters from earlier.  Officer Welks makes a welcome return.  And her hapless "First Day on the Job" assistant is there too!

[DougGraves]

31 minutes ago, Darmian said:

And her hapless "First Day on the Job" assistant is there too!

 

At least he wasn't going to retire and get married as soon as he finished one last mission

[Darmian]

2 minutes ago, DougGraves said:

 

At least he wasn't going to retire and get married as soon as he finished one last mission

No!  That trope is done to death.  I hope he did what he was supposed to, and basically be confused when he got to the barge/dock area.

[DougGraves]

They were confused.  But I was running about searching for glowies so I can never tell if their being confused is part of the plot or because I am running around ignoring them. 

 

I did catch their line in game about it being their first day.

[Darmian]

I was playing a bit with the escort mechanics, and Martins leads you to a vacant spot, and then is confused why there's nothing there because he has a map that has that spot marked.