Mission Hub/Social Instance: Kountry Komics

Kountry Komics, in Westside, is an intriguing backdrop and since game launch, people have wanted to go inside. A new mission environment and social instance would be nice, and here are some ideas on what to do with it to make it a little more than a place to hang out in game.

1. Vendors
A good comic book store has a lot of memorabilia: which in a superhero world, can be realized in any number of ways. There are a lot of (way overpriced, mostly vanity) collectibles on sale at Kountry Komics, including:

A. Devices

Item: Vanguard Decoder Ring
Effect: 5 minutes of Heroic Flight (w/ fanfare)
Cost: 100 Globals.
Description: Manufactured in 1962, this ring is said to have magic powers, though mostly to make money for those smart enough to squirrel it away!

Item: Rare Poster
Effect: Unlocks a New Hideout Option
Cost: 300 Globals
Description: A poster of the player's most recent comic cover appears as an option for the wall of his penthouse or basement.
(This may be tricky from a programming standpoint, obviously. If there's no cover in the player's screenshot folder, a random piece of hero art appears in its place)

Item: $Random_SG_Member Super Crisp Cereal Box
Effect: A level appropriate heal
Cost: 20 globals
Description: $Random_SG_Member Super Crisp! Breakfast of Super-Champions, Millennium City's Choice to start the day! Now with added sugar!

Item: Rockstar's Super Axe
Effect: Unlocks a costume piece and an air guitar emote.
Cost: 200 globals
Description: This guitar belonged to Detroit Rock City's most flamboyant hero of the 1970s, Rockstar, whose "Rock Crime" superhero/crimefighting tour was a national sensation in '76.

B. Vendor Category: New Comics
Available only on Wednesdays, these comics are available on a separate tab. Each comic is compilation of strings. The book description will stay the same, regardless of how long it is stored; next week's comics are always the next issue number from the previous week's, and they may be traded and stored (as long as the buff hasn't run out), and multiple issues may be purchased.

Item: Hero Comics Featuring $heroname
Gives: +1% Offense bonus "Inspiration Buff", lasts 1 hour.
Cost: 20 globals.

[$heroname] #(random number 30+1d120)+(1/week)
Text: [$heroname] battles (Random string: Baron Nihil, Black Paladin, Foxbat, Herculan, Leech, Leviathan, Madam Mayhem, Professor Muerte, Rakshasa, Rockjaw, Signal Ghost, Stormfront, Tachyon, Viper-X, Warlord, $Nemesis) in the heart of [$random zone]. (Random string: "Can even our hero survive the appearance of our surprise guest villain?" "But wait until you see the shocking twist!" "Only one shall survive this conflict!" "But things are not as they appear!" "Who will triumph when titans clash!" "One must stand! One must fall!")

Item: Vigilante Comics Featuring $heroname
Gives: +1% Defense bonus "Inspiration Buff", lasts one hour.
Cost: 20 globals.

[heroname$] # (random number 20+1d50)+(1/week)
Text: [Hero Name$] faces down against (Random string: Blowtorch, Bodyjacker, Card Shark, Deuce, Diomedes, Eclipse, Jade Phoenix, Mechassassin, Pokerface, Scalpel, Stalker, Thunderbird, Utility, $Nemesis) in a gruesome, blood-soaked showdown in the corrupt core of [$random zone]. [Random string: "But when treachery strikes, how will our hero survive?" "But how will the last honest hero in a city of corruption cope with what awaits?" "But will anyone survive the tragedy that's about to unfold?" "But victory turns to defeat when the psychopath strikes even from the grave!" "Meanwhile, the embattled mayor forms a task force to take down our hero once and for all!" "But who lurks in the shadows, observing our hero?")

Item: Arcane Comics, Featuring $heroname
Gives: +1% Energy bonus "Inspiration Buff", lasts one hour.
Cost: 20 globals.

[$heroname] # (random number 12+d35)+(1/week)
Text: [$heroname] must confront (Random string: Archimago, Black Paladin, the Black Shepherd, Bromion, the Crowns of Krim, the Demonologist, Josiah Brimstone, Vladic Dracul, Kigatilik, Nocturne, the herald of Tyrannon, the Vandaleurs, $Nemesis) in a harrowing battle in [$random zone], (Random string: "Will failure bring Armageddon?", "Can our hero defeat such a monstrous foe before thousands of innocents succumb to a terrible curse?", "When defeat means hell on earth, failure is not an option!", "And if our hero fails, their beloved's soul will be lost forever!", "But an even greater horror awaits, and even in victory, our hero will never be the same!")

Item: Cosmic Comics, Starring $heroname
Gives: +1% to all Healing done to the character, "Inspiration Buff", lasts one hour.
Cost: 20 globals.

[$heroname$] (random number 45+d100)+(month of the year)+((Current Year -2012)
Text: [$heroname] must confront (Random string: Astron the Living Asteroid Belt, Chrono, the Gods Celestial, the Lawbringer, Mechanon, Mordace, the Ultimate Qularr Monster, Revenger, Skarn, Valak, the Warmonger, $Nemesis) in a cosmic epic showdown that threatens every man, woman, and child in ($random zone). ("But what plans does Istvatha V'Han have?" "Is this the harbinger of an even more terrible enemy from the stars!" "But as the battle rages, sinister forces gather to plot our hero's destruction." "Can even [$heroname] withstand such a deadly cosmic onslaught?")

: New Costume Pieces

Item:
Defender Fanboy Helmet,
Defender Fanboy Gauntlets,
Defender Fanboy Chest
Defender Fanboy Shoulders
Defender Fanboy Belt.
Defender Fanboy Leggings,
Defender Fanboy Boots

Put them together to make a Become Defender Fanboy Device.

Home-made Stitched Cape
Home-made Stitched Chest and Arms
Home-made Longjohns
Home-made Mask

Cost: 35 Globals each.

Missions

1. My Pull Order
Purchase all four of your weekly comics. Renews every Wednesday.

Reward: 500 Questionite.

2. "Complete My Collection"
Scour the world for twelve rare comics! There are three issues of each book hidden in various far corners of the campaign world. There will be no guide to finding these items: this is a scavenger hunt that the players will have to work for.

Rewards
Perk: "Chromium Cover"
Globals: 400 Globals x level.
XP: 820 XP* level.
A blue of the appropriate level.

The issues are:

Stormcrow of Vengeance #158 (by Steve Short and Deano Deschesne). The Hudson City vigilante's adventures take a new, dark, tone, with the first issue of the classic team, as the Stormcrow looms in the shadow of the murderous Monster!

Beowulf #337 (by Heinz Scott). The greatest run of Beowulf starts, as Hrothgar makes a fateful choice, Grendel's grandfather begins to forge the greatest weapon of all, and Beowulf must wrestle against the might of Cosmos Stallion Steve!

Vanguard #775" (by Dean Kaos) "What's So Amusing About Being Willing to Stand in the Vanguard?" Vanguard must face down Stuart Snark and his team of pro-active heroes, the Declaration, the self-proclaimed "Heroes That We Deserve" in a battle that answers Vanguard's critics about being out of touch with modern values.

Champions #125 (by Matt Davison and Tom Derek) "Hentai, Hentai, Hentai!". Good lord! It's full of tentacles! The infamous beach party issue that was pulled from the shelves in twelve states, and which forced Defender to publicly vow never to actually build the "summer armor" that was featured in this issue.

Starforce #150 (by Bain Roberts and Liam Lord). It's the wedding issue, as Justiciar at last marries Circ! But what happens when Cyberlord interrupts David Burrell's wedding to his son?

Fabulous Five #50 (by Allen Allstone and "Immortal" Robert Dene) "The Startling Saga of Freeman Cosmos". With the earth in the balance and Amazing Man racing against time, Freeman Cosmos turns on the Creator to help our heroes save Earth from an all-consuming force of nature.

The Stormcrow Returns #4 (by Steve Short). Forty years in the future, Stormcrow comes out of retirement to battle Pokerface and save Hudson City from anarchy in the wake of nuclear war, only to be opposed for no discernible reason by the President and his lackey, Vanguard!

Unbelievable Fantasy #16 (by Donald George and Peter Stevens). It's the first adventure of Honeybee, the superheroine that might be you, as a young teenager copes with personal tragedy and the madness of Dr. Jellyfish!

Inexcusable #1 (by Wade Marks). The first issue of the bloody saga of a superhero's butler whose one act of rudeness after thirty years of perfect service leads to the gruesome death of his employer, and leads him to seek the employ of... Dr. Destroyer?

Pwned #1 (by Tommy Fielding and Ford Robbins) "Drop the Bomb!" Dark heroes senselessly battle each other for no reason in the heart of Millennium's Ren Center while trading childish jibes... and the mysterious organization called "PVP" is determined to understand what force lies behind this madness!

Honeybee #121 (by Bob Carillon and Storm Jefferson) "The Death of Stacy Green!" The Silver Age ends! Honeybee's boyfriend Stacy Green falls off a cliff and dies, thanks to evil of the Scarlet Squirrel! How will Honeybee react to this unexpected tragedy!

The Secrets of Club Caprice #12 (No authors credited ). Finally -- the cryptic owner of Club Caprice, revealed! But when twelve people claim to be the owner, who will emerge on top? Plus -- UNTIL finally steps in to close Caprice and stop dimensional invaders and the villainous schemes that are regularly hatched there. Can Caprice's denizens unite to save the center of their universe, or will they be too shocked by the fact that saying they're an immortal isn't a golden ticket anymore to even defend themselves?

3. Autograph Signing I

Five superhumans appear randomly throughout the day (one hero appearing each hour, their appearance lasting ten minutes. Get all five heroes' autographs and trade them on AceBay for 500 Questionite! (Daily mission).

The five heroes are:
Kinetik
Nightwind
Scarlet Archer
Cavalier
Kodiak

Foxbat also appears in the rotation. When he does, you can get his autograph for a "Foxbat's Pal" +10% experience buff, or attack him and get 500 Questionite when you arrest him! (or get his autograph first, then arrest him. You jerk!) Foxbat adjusts to the level of the character.

4. Competition of Champions

A spokeswoman for Venture Interactive is searching for a company spokeshero. She's narrowed it down to two choices: the power armor hero Cavalier, and you. You may blow her off as not being that type of hero (and still get a Resource reward), or agree to three tests to see who the better hero is.

The first test: Arrest fifteen Cobra Lords and discover the location of the Cobra Lord meeting place. You get to the meeting place, only to find Cavalier has beat you there and arrested the Cobra Lord leader ahead of you.

The second test. Raise money for charity. Go to three business leaders around Millennium City (James Harmon, Burt Jackson, and Sherman Adair. Harmon gives you a pretty large check: he says it'd be more, but they're still rebuilding from what happened to them in the last Warlord attack. Jackson can't afford much, but he's enthusiastic (and willing to give you everything he's got, even the shirt off his back, if you've done "Shanghaied Express"). Adair tells you to take a hike, but as soon as you leave him, he's attacked by your nemesis because he was seen talking to you. Force your nemesis to retreat. Adair grudgingly gives you a token amount of money, and you discover that Cavalier managed to wrangle a huge donation from Franklin Stone.

The third test. Go to Westside High and address each gang group to talk about gang violence. However, somebody unleashes purple berserk gas, and you're forced to defend yourself against high school students (or flee the radius of the fight). The embarrassing incident is caught on film.

Finally, you're to meet Little Trudy on behalf of "the Wishes Come True" Foundation. Whoever cheers her up the most will win the contest. You're met by a WCTF spokesperson at the hospital, who informs you that you probably shouldn't bother -- the clown Cavalier hired will probably win the contest for him hands down.

"But I didn't hire a clown!" Cavalier declares.

Rushing into the hospital room, our hero and Cavalier discover it's Black Harlequin and an army of twisted toys! "Don't sleep, clown will eat you!" he shouts menacingly.

Our heroes join forces and put down Harley and his twisted army. The defeated Harlequin reveals that the whole competition was a stunt by the person who set up the contest to make Cavalier look good at your expense and garner free publicity for the corporation. Everyone was bought off.

"I wish I'd thought of that.." Cavalier mutters to himself. (He didn't know, but he would've been more than happy to play along if he had.)

The PR flack is sent to jail, Cavalier runs away with his proverbial tail between his legs, and a big reward comes our hero's way.

5. Signed and Framed!

Our hero is asked to do an autograph signing, but when our hero sits down to sign, a team of MARS units arrives to arrest him for murder! The hero can surrender (and be released on bail) or attack the MARS unit or flee, at which point they pick up the Fugitive debuff:

The fugitive debuff does the following:
Any non-team member can target and attack the hero. They, however, cannot fight back unless the opponent agrees to duel. (this will be disabled on Alerts, so the player may do them normally.))
All police missiongivers in Millennium City become off-limits to the player.
Random squads of MARS units appears and periodically attacks the hero throughout Millennium City, much like Nemesis minions.

The hero can go investigate the crime scene in Millennium City. This will lead to a report of a witness, a Colleen Dowager, who lives in an small apartment building in Westside.

The hero arrives at the apartment building to find it's on fire, and Dowager is trapped inside. The hero may use Ice powers, Wind powers, or a fire extinguisher to put out fires and escort Dowager safely outside before she succumbs to the heat.

When rescued, she says she saw you -- with another person who thanked you for a job well done. Leading you to the building where that conversation took place, you discover your nemesis has hired the villain Masquerade to impersonate you! Defeat your nemesis and Masquerade to clear your name and remove the Fugitive debuff!