Caretaker's Plot Discussion Tunnel to Oblivion

[Benchpresser]

Any chance we'll see the UPA expanded more in Khallista Wharf?  Hopefully?  I always felt there was so much potential with the UPA post Praetoria

[Jiro Ito]

What year is it in City of Heroes?  The first Rikti invasion was 2002, followed by the second in 2007.  The Praetorian invasion began in 2010 and the war ended in 2012 with Tyrant's defeat.  Is it still 2012?

[keyguardactive]

I asked this once and the answer I almost universally got is that we're on the MST3K rule. 

 

If you're wondering how he eats and breathes and other science facts,
Just repeat to yourself "It's just a show, I should really just relax"

[Vic Raiden]

Cool and all, but that doesn't really help me determine the canonical "now".

 

Also: where is the 5th Column's main base located? I find it weird how they don't have any visible overworld strongholds while the Council has several.

[The Caretaker]

Canonical now is in a gray area of time in which bits and pieces of convenient modern technology like drones and social media exist, but the year will probably never be cleanly defined. We'd much rather choose the haves and have-nots of the modern world's amenities and vices within Paragon City than to chain ourselves to a time and therefore the things that concretely should be available.

 

TL;DR It's a fugue state of existence between 2012 and 2025.

[Glacier Peak]

22 minutes ago, The Caretaker said:

Canonical now is in a gray area of time in which bits and pieces of convenient modern technology like drones and social media exist, but the year will probably never be cleanly defined. We'd much rather choose the haves and have-nots of the modern world's amenities and vices within Paragon City than to chain ourselves to a time and therefore the things that concretely should be available.

 

TL;DR It's a fugue state of existence between 2012 and 2025.

Yeah this - and the fictional world has time travel. It can be whatever year the writers want it to be.

 

For example, the plaque in Kings Row needed for the Bicentennial history badge says it was placed in 2023.

 

"This plaque was placed in 2023, alongside a number of others, to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of the city. "

[Starhawk32]

And cars from 1973!

[starro]

8 hours ago, Starhawk32 said:

And cars from 1973!

Speak up I can't hear you on the big box monitor I am using from 1999

[agentx5]

On 9/23/2024 at 7:28 PM, The Caretaker said:

 

I feel like Praetorian Hamidon is, in essence, a wildlife dark mirror to the Borg. Or the Phyrexians.

 

I agree 100%.

 

That part where you meet a projected vision of the Praetorian Hamidon and be talks to you about humanity's inherent cruelty and destructiveness is quite chilling.  First time I ran it, I kind of expected to die instantly. I wish the conversation wasn't so short or limited on dialogue options, as it's a rare opportunity for your character to demonstrate their own beliefs.  You know, roleplaying and all that jazz?

 

Also speaking of, any chance the tentacles in First Ward could get an upgrade instead of just being static props?  Or maybe explaining they are frozen in place to where skyscrapers leaning at such angles are collapsing?  Magic stuff?

 

Or at least upping the craziness finale fight of the Number-Six mission arc? (the one you pick up from the RWZ Vanguard base at level 50+, and no I'm not counting Reese getting his comeuppance). Like Avatar monsters are interesting, but fighting them while a massive horde of regular weaker enemies also rushes you the entire boss fight (like in that one Pandora's Box lab mission with endless regular Nemesis minions); that combo fight would elevate it to super.  And it shouldn't be an easy fight, since Praetoria's Hamidon is an Omega level threat even against your Incarnate powers...

 

Also any chance that statue could be a global world state?  Like Dana Habashy?

[Starhammer]

It has been my opinion for some time that the universe of City of Heroes (like many other MMOs) exists within a temporal anomaly that prevents standardized entropy, and as such, the perception of the forward movement of time. Certain powerful beings are partially immune to this, progressing forward themselves (gaining levels, acquiring badges, etc), and their immunity even extends outwards from them to a limited extent, allowing for the defeat of enemies in the nearby vicinity, yet also explaining how the same enemies will soon once again be trying to steal the same purses from the same civilians as if noting had happened. And even these powerful beings are only able to break through to forward movement in time for short periods, often remaining unknowingly static for short or even very long periods of time (among the lesser powered among them, they may remain dormant for so long they forget who they are, and when they become active again, may start going by a similar but different name (or even a very different name). Certain events seem to come and go, often coinciding with their thematic counterparts in real life, though rarely for the same precise amount of time. But even as they come and go and even return the following year, they are usually just a repeat of the previous year, soon to end and be forgotten by the world at large until they return yet again, likely with few changes, if any at all.

[Starhawk32]

On 2/5/2025 at 10:27 PM, Starhammer said:

It has been my opinion for some time that the universe of City of Heroes (like many other MMOs) exists within a temporal anomaly that prevents standardized entropy, and as such, the perception of the forward movement of time. Certain powerful beings are partially immune to this, progressing forward themselves (gaining levels, acquiring badges, etc), and their immunity even extends outwards from them to a limited extent, allowing for the defeat of enemies in the nearby vicinity, yet also explaining how the same enemies will soon once again be trying to steal the same purses from the same civilians as if noting had happened. And even these powerful beings are only able to break through to forward movement in time for short periods, often remaining unknowingly static for short or even very long periods of time (among the lesser powered among them, they may remain dormant for so long they forget who they are, and when they become active again, may start going by a similar but different name (or even a very different name). Certain events seem to come and go, often coinciding with their thematic counterparts in real life, though rarely for the same precise amount of time. But even as they come and go and even return the following year, they are usually just a repeat of the previous year, soon to end and be forgotten by the world at large until they return yet again, likely with few changes, if any at all.

My head hurtz