TerroirNoir's "Cable Channel of AE!" Reviews. Part 1.

[Darmian]

17 hours ago, TerroirNoir said:

(@Darmian, who is Thunderclap?)

Ah, well originally that role was taken by a custom NPC (who later migrated over to work for @cranebump). I found a tighter in world solution by using Thunderclap.  Now, he's canon, but he hasn't appeared in game (Yet!  Neither had Incandescent until the Aeon Strike Force was released).  Thunderclap appears in the very first promo comic released for City of Heroes, where he teamed up with Apex and War Witch, and later the three of them met Statesman.

 

 

[Ankylosaur]

That's an amazingly obscure reference. Kudos! 🙂 (Not that I don't have more than my fair share.)

Edited October 28, 2022 by Ankylosaur

[cranebump]

1 hour ago, Ankylosaur said:

That's an amazingly obscure reference. 

 Not just any reference. This is the One Reference, forged in the fires of Mount Easter Egg, and employed by Sauro-, I mean, @Darmian, Lord of the Lore.

[Darmian]

20 hours ago, TerroirNoir said:

I'll bill the Meteors later.  The city's fate hangs in the balance after all.

Hey, check your in game email.  I sent you the price of those two things 🙂

[TerroirNoir]

Just now, Darmian said:

Hey, check your in game email.  I sent you the price of those two things 🙂

Thanks!  You didn't have to but thanks!

[TerroirNoir]

Arc 8 from our first writer on "TerroirNoir's Cable Channel of AE" Reviews is,  @Ankylosaur's All that Glitters 3.2: Suspicious Maneuvers in St. Martial.

 

Mission 1: Ante Up. Ok, the Doctor is on call and in the house! She's joined Wyvern and is looking a bit better (new suit!) Still coming to terms with her Protector-originated powers but happy to be alive again.  (I still have issues with that.  I think that the real Doctor is dead and this woman is just convinced she's her.  Like I say, I'll keep that to myself.  She's nice and I'm not going to upset her)

Anyways, she's been researching Langston and when she was still Zeroes and Ones, she came across someone else in the cloudworld, a guy called Network. He's affiliated to Wyvern and gets paid for intel and so on.  He's got a lead and I have to go meet him. Time to visit the Double Sixes in St. Martial.  Network also does work for the Family.  Great.  Another bunch of people that hate me.

 

Off I go!

 

And there's Network.  Chatting away with those Family guys.  Let's see what he wants.

 

 

Oh you total piece of crap!  Emil Marcone frikkin hates me!  ARGH! 

 

 

Hang on, Network slipped a piece of paper into my hand.  Well, I suppose paper can't be hacked so it's safer that way.  What's it say?

An address and time for a hit.  I wonder of who though?  No time for that!  Emil Marcone wants to kill me!

But before he sees me, I'm just gonna open this safe.  I say open, Network already opened it, I'm just checking. No time like the present.  I love presents.

 

 

And lookee here!  That's useful intel!

 

 

NOW I need to deal with Emil.  Ha, "Deal with Emil".  It rhymes.  Shut up.  My life is one long saga of odd misery and Advil, with the occasional nice bath every now and then.

WOW but he's packing some serious weaponry!  OW OW OW!

At least I'm not on fire!  Did I mention the OW?  OW!

 

 

I really need a new line of work.  Say on the Nature Channel, where I can swim with sharks or something pleasant like that.

Mediporter is activating.  Only trouble is he's very near the door, so I better have Stealth up when I get back in here.

 

 

So stealth back in, drop his remaining minion and turn and...shot!  Why?  Why not?  You're all scumbags, Emil. I know it, and you know what, so do you.

 

 

You know, right now Emil, I don't give a rat's ass how Recluse runs the Rogue Isles.  Why don't you, I dunno, call an election or something?  No?  Then stay down and stay outta my way!

(ow ow ow staggers out of the Double Sixes)

 

 

The Doctor tells Engineria that Network was probably just keeping his cover. Sure, sure.  I am not trusting that guy. First impressions count! 

Looks like everyone in the Mob is using Praetorian style weapons now.  Doc reckons the Mooks are selling it.  Time to check that out too.  I suppose this all leads back to Langston anyway.

 

[Mission 1 = Well, you did warn me, @Ankylosaur! It does say it contains an EB!  But still a great start.  Good call back to earlier actions with Emil. Nice]

 

Mission 2: Opening Bets. Ok, the Doctor has checked the address of the hit, and it's an old ConDev/Langston warehouse.  Looks like that might be where the Mooks are shipping the Praetorian weapons out of.  At least according to Network.  He also says that there may be medical equipment there and the Doctor is hoping it might be Revenant tech.  We will see.

 

Ok, time to go scope the place out since the hit is on!

Ok lookee, the door is smashed in.  Party has started without me.  Well, I've always wanted to be fashionably late.

So, clues to find.  And "remove from use" any equipment they have.  Oh, there's a "Cap'n Walsh" here too.  Wonder does he have a wooden leg?  I mean as part of his anatomy, as opposed to having one on a shelf somewhere.  Forget it.

Stuff to "remove from use"!

 

 

If you really want to break a thing then the old Nemesis staff is an ideal tool. Just sayin'.

 

 

Oh there's a LOT of boxes and crates. I mean a LOT.  Helluva lot.  Oodles.  Plenty.  And a Goldbricker with Praetorian Warworks stuff?  Oh, no. That's not a good thing.  I need to take that from you before you hurt yourself. Or me.

 

 

And I dunno exactly what is happening here but the clear things is, let me emphasize it now, they are ALL shooting me!  No fair!

 

 

Concrete Bill, huh?  You ain't Cap'n Walsh!  You're Family.  And you're here to mess up the Mooks.  I swear to god, if Emil Marcone is here I will fry his head with radiation.  That might sort out Port Oakes.

 

 

Jeez Louise do these guys hold a grudge!  And they're running RIGHT AT ME!

 

 

Only one thing to do!  I take to the air and keep moving fast, popping Break Frees as I go since they're managing to stun me every now and then.  After a minute or so Bill's minions are down and he...runs off?  Weird.  I chase after him, though navigating through a warehouse while flying is tricky. Come back you coward!

 

 

Got him!  It looks like he was running to get help!  Clever!

(Yeah, I know AI NPCs don't do that, but it sure looked like it! That's why I have some more goons to take out now)

 

 

Ok, there's a LOT of goons in here.  And lots of them with Beam rifles.  And who all knows what.  So, having recently gotten a PPD radio, I call in some back up!  And I am very glad I did.  My armored friend is very useful.

He appears to be jumping on a Mook's head here!

 

 

The fight rolls across the entire floor of this area, sweeping through other Mooks and I'm hit numerous times, as is the PPD guy, but we keep going!

GRENADE!

 

 

And finally!

Cap'n Walsh!

Time to take out the trash.  

 

 

What the hell is he firing at me?  Blue beams of something rather painful!  STOP THAT! As well?  Nah, I was pissing off you Goldbrickers WAY before I pissed off the Family. Get your facts straight, bud.

 

 

Interdimensional pirates?  Well, if he's been to Praetoria then maybe.  Again, I was under the impression that place was an irradiated Devouring Earth infested hellhole these days.  But, grab the tech, stick in the dishwasher, new coat of paint, and bingo, dollars! Yeah?

 

 

Nevertheless, as the Rutles sang, nevertheless, down you go, Cap'n!  If you had a ship I'd sink it.

 

 

And with that, it's time to get back to the Doctor and report in.  Job done. I think.

 

So, putting it all together, the Mooks and the Family have the same weapons. Teleporting Goldbrickers (Did I not mention that?  Yeah, Walsh TP'd around me!) supplying the Mooks with the weapons.  Where from?  No one knows.  And Langston were there with odd tech.  Seems old Network's intel was on the level.

 

[Mission 2 = Now that was great.  Wonderful fights, and the rolling fight across the main concourse was so fun.  Good stuff]

 

Mission 3: The House Always Wins? (The Doctor's heard from Network (still don't trust that guy) that the Family itself has been investigating what their enemies, the Mooks, and Langston are up to with the medical stuff. He wants ANOTHER in person meet (oooh, I do NOT trust that guy!) and this time it's in Bamboo Kat's, because the Double Sixes are off limits to me. And I'm to be wary of Bamboo Kat herself.  Ok, ok.

 

Off to Bamboo Kat's then.

Off to a great start when a horde of people run past me on the way OUT as I I try to get in.  Someone in there is a cheater.  Network. Betcha it's him.

And lookee.  There he is.  He certainly looks caught. THEY think he's a cheater at least.

 

 

 

OW! Those shuriken or whatever they're called really hurt!  Never mind, Proton Blast drops these guys, and finish the last off with the Nemesis staff.  Now, Network, what do you have to tell me?  This better be good!

 

 

I have to get you to a safe?  You're just playing us here, ain'tcha?  It's going to look like I was forcing you to do stuff, I reckon.  At least that's how you'll spin it.  But to who, my sparkly friend?

 

 

And there's Bamboo Kat herself.  The Doctor warned me not to...and you've already pissed her off, Network.  You know, first the Family, then the Mooks (Goldbrickers too) and now Kat and the Tsoo, I won't be able to set foot in the Rogue Isles without being shot at. ARGH.

 

 

Well, let's get this done and I can trudge back to get my next assignment.  I'm regretting hooking up with Wyvern. (Then again Joe Freitag has me hunting fascists and Madame Maven got me involved with time travelling Arachnos, so you never know WHEN you're actually doing ok in this super hero life)

 

JEEZ LOUISE, Network!  What the hell sort of a gun is that?  I mean come on!  We beat her up, we don't need to literally vaporize her head fergawdsake!

 

 

Oh you got some of the new tech, didja?  Dollars to donuts you didn't pay for it!  Just point it AWAY from me, thank you so much!

 

 

And she's down.  Frankly I'm surprised she's not crispy!  What's that?  Doing good?  Yeah, I'm not buying that.  

 

 

And I check out the safe.  What do we have in here then? some cash, business documents about something called "Infini-Life" from Langston, and not much else. Network took the rest.  And left me a note saying "Cubism".  Cryptic much?

 

 

Oh. CUBISM.  Right, the painting behind me.  Because you couldn't just tell me, could you?  What is it with these people and their predilection for "mystery"? Hmm, a packet containing brochures for the "Infini-Life" business. "Opening soon in St. Martial". Again, he could have just handed us that!

 

 

Right, let's get back to the Doctor and see what's what. I make my protests about Network's ridiculous "The Shadow" routine but she's more interested in this Infini-Life thing.  She thinks it's an extrapolation of the Revenant stuff. She worried by it.  Her suggestion is we slow down the opening and expose their true aim.  Well, that'd be nice if we knew what it was.  Oh don't mind me, that Network guy pisses me off is all.

 

[Mission 3 = Short and to the point!  Just pounding along there with plot.  And Network, even though I've only met him twice, comes across as a self serving asshole.  The map is small, so he goes gun crazy almost immediately, which actually adds to the fun.  Nice]

 

Mission 4: Jackpot! So, I'm going to the Red Rook. On the "unfashionable" west side of St. Martial. Old place, not even a sign.  Rooks.  The ConDev insignia was a rook if I recall correctly. And Langston are opening this Infini-Life thind there.  Coincidence?  I think not. Mooks and Rooks. Time to spike their punch.

 

Red Rooks here I come.

 

I step in and MUZAK fills the air.  There's a Ms. Doula and a Mr. Serenity bot.  Ms. Doula?  I dunno, I don't have kids, well this life is not conducive to relationships, just ask Manticore and Sister Psyche.  Well, just Manticore I suppose.  Anyway (yeah, I know Statesman was married and blah blah, I'm not in that league, ok?) the POINT is, a human doula is what I'd prefer.  Now, where was I?

 

Oh yeah.

 

So I drop their guards, and in hindsight that might have been a bad idea. Mr. Serenity is tough but he's going down, serenely in fact.

 

 

But Ms. Doula is made of tougher stuff!  See? And they think this bot is going to be helpful to new moms and so on?  Crazy. And then she runs up the stairs and away.  Weird.

I follow up carefully.  Taking out a few Mooks along the way.

 

 

Ah, there she is.  Or maybe it's another one?  Hard to tell with bots.  That'll probably be some sort of discrimination in the future probably.  For now, I just have to worry about her killing me.  Let's check. Mediporter primed?  Yeah.  Ok, let's go.

 

 

Oh so glad that I primed that mediporter.  Little Ms. Doula is nasty.  So very nasty.  Right, you're never getting near a new mom, Missy!  

 

 

Right, TP out and get bandaged up, then back in here to sort this mad bot out.

Got her!

Ok, time to take out some of these machines and cramp their style in setting up Infini-Life.

 

 

And that's the last of them. Well, the ones that are here at least. Now, to deal with Jimmy "The Mug" Composano. He's the Chief Mook here.  Mook-in-Chief?  Whatever, I'm going to roll up my sleeves and whup his ass.

 

 

Despite his toughness he's still just a man.  So he fights well but he's reeling!

Yeah, you're fighting back but ultimately, you're a criminal, Jimmy.

 

 

Back to the Doctor to debrief. She's putting it together. Infini-Life will be the ability to upload human consciousness into a bot body.  Immortality.  Sort of like Citadel maybe, except he's never been a human.  Ok, forget that.  I get it though. It's fascinating but in the wrong hands, and it IS in the wrong hands, it could be very dangerous.  The Doctor is going to check with Network to see if he's uncovered anything else.

 

[Mission 4 = Another tough mission, tough bosses but good fights.  Again a feeling of seeing the puzzle pieces swim into view but not quite seeing the bigger picture yet. Nice.]

 

Mission 5: Flipping the Table: According to the Doctor, Infini-Life will be officially launched in Kallisti Wharf soon.  Well, it's newly rebuilt and shiny, it's like a model house version of Paragon so of course Langston will want to display its new toy. In the meantime, Network needs an extraction.  The Family types (Mooks included I assume) have started acting different towards him.  My fault somehow. Sgt. Schorr (he's Network's usual Wyvern contact) doesn't want it known that Network is a Wyvern associate.  So it's me gets the job of rescuing the shmuck. As soon as he crosses the bridge into the Flush and goes offline so he can't be digitally tracked, they'll get suspicious and come looking. Annnnd the Doctor REALLY wants his tech suit.

 

Great.

 

Ok, I get in a truck and Schorr drops me off.  Now to find this toad and get him back here, without getting killed by Freakshow or hoodlums or Wailers.  I didn't tell you about Wailers? Nah, they're pussycats.  Don't sweat it.

So we grab Network, dress him as a generic Wyvern operative and he goes out, no one the wiser.

 

Arachnos are here too. Wonderful.

Well, I know how to deal with Arachnos.  And down you go, my black clad pal.  And stay down.  A headache is all you'll have.

 

 

Oh you have GOT to be kidding me!  Emil Marcone may be a grudge-ridden maniac, but he's not ACTUALLY insane.  Mordrogar!  Round 3 then.  I think.  (I don't think fighting the Duchess counts, so this is Round 3 for Engineria vs Duke Mordrogar)

 

 

And he has Wailers with him?  Oh, he's getting desperate for allies I suppose.  Do Wailers do magic?  Or just that really painful sonic attack thing?  Hmm, I wonder is there any connection between Goldbricker sonics and Wailer sonics?  The latter is "natural" I suppose, so maybe not.  Never mind!

 

That sonic stuff can really play havoc with a girl's aim!

 

 

Well, it's been a hot minute or two, but hey!  Look at me!  I'm on fire again!  NOT COOL!  (Ha, I see what I did there)

 

 

I need to back the hell up fast!  And I do!  And by "up" I do mean UP!

 

 

Fortunately it is enough to make a difference and I drop Mordrogar into a slightly radiation crisped heap not far from the old dried up fountain.  His Wailer pals can sing him some healing lullabies maybe.  Still have to find Network!

 

 

Yeah, we're on the WRONG side of Easy Street over here.  The Giza sure is pretty in this light though.  I imagine the view from their side is not so good.  Then again, why would they even look out?

 

 

Mooks and Freakshow battling it out.  I think I'll leave them to it and keep searching.

 

 

JEEZ LOUISE!  Look at the SIZE of that thing!  The smaller ones are already doing me damage with their sonic-y powers. I am NOT going near that....wait, that's the truck I have to get Network to!  Maybe I'll take the LONG way around, yeah?  Plan? Plan.

 

 

And there you are, Network!  Let's get you outta here.  I don't like it one bit.  And I reckon you don't either.

 

 

That'll be a definite NO, if it's all the same with you, Mr. Wailer.  Or is it Ms?  Never mind, have some Proton Blasts in the face.

 

 

Right, Mr. Woozy, let's get you on your feet and out of here.  Save the thanks for later, we're taking a rather circuitous route to our escape vehicle.  Why?  Oh, just look to your right when we get to the truck.  Don't scream.  Then get in and change into the Wyvern uniform. 

 

 

Right, we're here. You didn't scream. That's good because the WAILER LORD is just over there.  Come on! Get in before anyone sees you!

 

 

And so Schorr drives us outta here toot sweet.  

And Engineria reports back to the Doctor.

The Doctor is happy to have Network's suit.  Network is not so happy he doesn't have it, but that's offset by (a) not being dead and (b) actually being pretty wealthy from all the deals he spun along the way.

Infini-Life is still scheduled to open in Kallisti Wharf so that's next on the agenda.  For now, bath time, extra bubbles and a glass...bottle, of prosecco!

 

[Mission 5 = Fun.  Again, well populated and gives a feeling of life to the map.  Avoided the Wailer King because I could!  Here's to the next instalment!]

 

Verdict: Slow building world building is paying off. Lovely callbacks to tie your character in to previous events. Anyway, don't forget to tune in for our next episode which will be All that Glitters 3.3: Calamity in Kallisti Wharf.

 

Next up on TerroirNoir's Cable Channel of AE Reviews is, after the commercials, @cranebump's Leviathan 5: Mantle.

 

Edited November 5, 2022 by TerroirNoir

[Zhym]

BTW, if you want to read the old comics, there's an archive here:

http://www.cityofheroes.ca/media-and-downloads/comic-archive/index.html

 

I was tickled to see Thunderclap show up in one of @Darmian's AE arcs.

[TerroirNoir]

Just now, Zhym said:

BTW, if you want to read the old comics, there's an archive here:

http://www.cityofheroes.ca/media-and-downloads/comic-archive/index.html

 

I was tickled to see Thunderclap show up in one of @Darmian's AE arcs.

Thanks!  I had no idea who he was.

[Darmian]

2 minutes ago, Zhym said:

BTW, if you want to read the old comics, there's an archive here:

http://www.cityofheroes.ca/media-and-downloads/comic-archive/index.html

 

I was tickled to see Thunderclap show up in one of @Darmian's AE arcs.

I tried to get the look as right as I could, considering the style of the art and everything. Though he never went full electrical body when I tested the mission!

[Zhym]

1 minute ago, TerroirNoir said:

Thanks!  I had no idea who he was.

In the original Dark Horse promo comic, he actually shows up before Apex and War Witch—who, if you aren't aware, are also characters from the Dark Horse and Blue King comics.  Apex was a total low-level noob in those comics, so it's still kind of cool to see him as a bad-ass with Vanguard. 

 

The Top Cow comics focused on the Freedom Phalanx and weren't nearly as charming as the ones with Apex and War Witch, IMO.

[Darmian]

1 minute ago, Zhym said:

In the original Dark Horse promo comic, he actually shows up before Apex and War Witch—who, if you aren't aware, are also characters from the Dark Horse and Blue King comics.  Apex was a total low-level noob in those comics, so it's still kind of cool to see him as a bad-ass with Vanguard. 

 

The Top Cow comics focused on the Freedom Phalanx and weren't nearly as charming as the ones with Apex and War Witch, IMO.

Agreed!  I wish they'd kept T-Clap with them though, a foursome, instead of the trio of Apex, War Witch and Horus.  

[Darmian]

@TerroirNoir and @Zhym, here's a better, non combat pic of Thunderclap:

 

[Zhym]

28 minutes ago, Darmian said:

@TerroirNoir and @Zhym, here's a better, non combat pic of Thunderclap:

 

Nice!  I think the legs are a bit different, though.  The legs in the first comic have a pretty clear analogue in the tailor, I think (it looks sort of robotic/clockwork):

 

Edited October 29, 2022 by Zhym

[Darmian]

Just now, Zhym said:

Nice!  I think the legs are a bit different, though.  The legs in the first comic have a pretty clear analogue in the tailor, I think (it looks sort of robotic/clockwork, I think).

I think I remember that when building him.  I'll look at it again.  Memory tells me that I went with that look because of the rocket boots.  I'll have to check.

[Zhym]

1 minute ago, Darmian said:

I think I remember that when building him.  I'll look at it again.  Memory tells me that I went with that look because of the rocket boots.  I'll have to check.

I just added a screenshot from the comics to my post above.

[Darmian]

14 minutes ago, Zhym said:

I just added a screenshot from the comics to my post above.

I've adjusted him a bit in the leg department!  (And updated the mission to reflect that)

 

[Zhym]

5 minutes ago, Darmian said:

I've adjusted him a bit in the leg department!  (And updated the mission to reflect that)

 

It's too bad you can't color the cables in the legs gold without the waist also getting that color.  But I think having the waist be gold wouldn't quite look right.

Edited October 29, 2022 by Zhym

[Ankylosaur]

Thunderclap looks great!  But I might look at metallic flared gloves with a gradient too as an option...

 

And you know The Doctor, is this Doctor, yes @TerroirNoir?

Edited October 29, 2022 by Ankylosaur

[Darmian]

1 minute ago, Zhym said:

It's too bad you can't color the cables in the legs gold without the waist also getting that color.  But I think having the waist be gold wouldn't quite look right.

Yeah, the CC is pretty awesome most of the time, but there's some stuff it just can't do....yet.

 

Hmm, this has me thinking.  An Apex and Thunderclap AE at some point!  I'd love to include War Witch, but she's only available as a spectral sort of contact and you can't make her hair so as to build a custom model.  I tried a while back.  Got it almost right.  No stripey hair though!

[Zhym]

2 minutes ago, Darmian said:

Yeah, the CC is pretty awesome most of the time, but there's some stuff it just can't do....yet.

 

Hmm, this has me thinking.  An Apex and Thunderclap AE at some point!  I'd love to include War Witch, but she's only available as a spectral sort of contact and you can't make her hair so as to build a custom model.  I tried a while back.  Got it almost right.  No stripey hair though!

Come to think of it, I wonder if there's a belt option that would cover the upper legs.  It sort of looks like the comics version has something like that.

[Darmian]

6 minutes ago, Ankylosaur said:

Thunderclap looks great - but you might look at metallic flared gloves with a gradient too...

 

And you know The Doctor, is this Doctor, yes?

Ah! I see where you're going with that.  Just tried it.  It's good but the flare at the elbow ends up being far too wide unfortunately.

[Zhym]

23 hours ago, TerroirNoir said:

Right, and when I get to the bank it looks deserted.  No staff.  So something is happening here.  And from further in a voice.

 

 

BTW, this?  I really wanted it to be some version of Efficiency Expert Pither.

[Darmian]

2 minutes ago, Zhym said:

BTW, this?  I really wanted it to be some version of Efficiency Expert Pither.

There's already a LOT going on in this series, Pither will need to wait for another!

 

Added a belt. Nearest I could get. 

 

[TerroirNoir]

17 minutes ago, Ankylosaur said:

And you know The Doctor, is this Doctor, yes @TerroirNoir?

I did not!  Thank you!  Broadening the entire world view again.  Honestly, between the three of you there's so much stuff just crammed in in terms of game lore.

[Zhym]

On 10/28/2022 at 9:56 PM, Darmian said:

There's already a LOT going on in this series, Pither will need to wait for another!

 

Added a belt. Nearest I could get. 

 

Here's my take on him, FWIW.  I looked at the first strip again, and the different colored wires are only prominent in one panel.  For the rest, it's all blue.

 

 

That's Tech Wired for the chest (which is definitely what the comics are modeling—the silver bit on the upper chest and the back details give it away) with Valkyrie 2 for the shoulders.  The gloves are large Tech Sleek, which also look to me to be just what the comics are trying to do, with the blend effect.  The legs are also Tech Wired, with rocket boots.

 

I didn't work too hard on the face—you seem to have that nailed.

Edited November 4, 2022 by Zhym