[Optimist] Steel Crusade: Hope Renewed

foxyperson · September 2014

It started with a silver-age approach, but the story shows promise (even better, it HAS a story, which is a lot more that could be said of Fatal Error or the Lemurian Invasion).

The brain zone has a small "reality is unrealistic" problem, but it was still nice and I liked it.

The dialogues were well written and I liked Mechanon's lines.

You provided lore on the villain and hinted at a third party potentially involved, engaging your audience.

Overall, after finishing part one, I got a distinctive Ultron/Avengers vibe, and knowing this is just part one gives me hope.

I won't say it's the best (those are still Aftershock and Whiteout), but it's finally a step in the right direction and I'm enjoying it lots.

Steel Crusade is a great first step, now let's take more.

tigerofcachtice · September 2014

I'm still exploring the new content, particularly the Automaton Archetype right now. I know many if not most players who tested on the PTS have reservations, but so far, I think it's quite a lot of fun. Archetypes were always harder to play.

I don't know if I'm an optimist or a pessimist or a realist. I just want to say, good work, CN, please keep it up.

riverocean · September 2014

I LOVE the new content. The missions are fun and I won't spoil it, but I played the full arc on test. It really does get even more exciting in part II.

I definitely noticed an "Ultron" type of Avengers vibe. But Mechanon has a unique backstory that's interesting.

I'm hoping that future mission updates like this are coming. The story is engaging, it's fun, and overall very well done.

More please!

meedacthunist · September 2014

Great update, I like it. Well done.

The only setback is the AT and that's a minor one.

captainhunter1 · September 2014

riverocean wrote: »

I LOVE the new content. The missions are fun and I won't spoil it, but I played the full arc on test. It really does get even more exciting in part II.

I definitely noticed an "Ultron" type of Avengers vibe. But Mechanon has a unique backstory that's interesting.

I'm hoping that future mission updates like this are coming. The story is engaging, it's fun, and overall very well done.

More please!

Totally agreed!

Thanks CN, I really am enjoying the new stuff!

kenpojujitsu3 · September 2014

Content is genuinely fun, two of the 3 new powers are fun and different enough from what's available to be useful, the new AT is...not for me in the slightest, I'll just put it that way.

thatcursedwolf · September 2014

At least the AT doesn't have the super stats of the Night Avenger, no con, no energy stat, and this one has a heal.

meedacthunist · September 2014

thatcursedwolf wrote: »

At least the AT doesn't have the super stats of the Night Avenger, no con, no energy stat, and this one has a heal.

Stats aren't big problem with the Night Avenger. Lack of energy unlock and toggle choices no allowing you to capitalise on both its melee and ranged powers are.

Take the Night Avenger as a FF, change it's toggle, give it and energy unlock and it's much better.

The same can be said about The Specialist, it lacks just energy unlock.

Unknown · September 2014

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dddeemm · September 2014

Last month I posted the "Battle for CO's Heart" was in the balance on this update.

The new team completely won me over with a home run to remember.

Question is: Will people return to play CO? Will he receive new players? I'm actually loving the game right now, but there is so few heroes still in the fight. I want this game to be reborn so hard.

arimikami · September 2014

Is this new content going to be a permanent feature that people can play even after this event or, is it one of those things that they add in for a week or so and then yank back out?

trailturtle · September 2014

arimikami wrote: »

Is this new content going to be a permanent feature that people can play even after this event or, is it one of those things that they add in for a week or so and then yank back out?

Permanent.

kallethen · September 2014

As I understand it, this is permanent content, not temporary and not Alert based. (EDIT: And TT beat me to it.)

Also, from a recent blog post, it looks like the outerspace hub we'll get in Part 2 of this storyline will be used as a launching pad for future missions (pun not intended). That's very good news, if you ask me.

spinnytop · September 2014

To be honest, it's the same cardboard cutout fights we've had in the past, just with robot graphics. The enemies do the same "stand there and pew at u ineffectively" type stuff that you can get from the very first group of NPCs you run into in Westside. Once the "it's new!" glasses fall off your face... you realize it's really not, it just has a new coat of paint.

My hope will only be renewed once the new content starts to break away from that same formula. It's quite telling that there's a greater sense novelty from the first part (the part where you spray NPCs to save them) than there is from anything that follows.

It's like, okay.. good job Cryptic... you hired a guy for story, you hired a guy for level design, you hired artists....... could you maybe hire a combat mechanics guy?

We'll see what the rest of this event holds in store.

pantagruel01 · September 2014

spinnytop wrote: »

To be honest, it's the same cardboard cutout fights we've had in the past, just with robot graphics.

Well, the brain missions do seem to have thrown out the standard spawn size rules, though I don't know if that was actually a deliberate decision, since the sewer mission is back to standard.

arimikami · September 2014

trailturtle wrote: »

Permanent.

Good to hear. It's one thing when to have something in only for a short while if it's going to be a recurring event, like the various holiday events but, for some reason, when it's done with other content that's only a one time thing, never to return, it leaves me disinclined to even bother with it.

Unknown · September 2014

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furries · September 2014

I really enjoyed the Steel Crusade a lot played it on Elite. I liked how that one of the NPC based on % on i think it was survivability and I was like "We will see about that. Why don't we test that Theory" And I just mopped the floor with them.

At the vary last part in the sewers.

oddbirdy · September 2014

I'll be honest, I'm incredibly psyched for this content and the upcoming Part II. Especially Part II, in fact, with the Mechanon Recognition.

Keep up the good work, CN!

horripilante · September 2014

Who knows, maybe next year we will get a Champions Online : Castles In The Sky with Wand and Fencing powersets, and we all can't pretend we are Utena

rianfrost · September 2014

its ok, i like it, it started weak, the run around and click a mcguffin on a bunch of npc's thing was a weak start and the idea, individually spritzing victims of a fatal contagious disease is beyond silver age stupid. but from the second mish on, the maps are good, the new enemies have a fair amount of variety in appearance, and the instanced mission maps work. have not messed with the at at all, apparently there are very few original powers so that kind of deflated me a bit, was hoping it would introduce a more bionic feeling set of powers but maybe they didnt have time to make a fulls et because they are making a plant set finally, right? overall its a set of perm missions with new enemy groups, custom maps and a real villain, I like it. its still a little small, but what is there is good. given how long the lead in has been for new stuff, hopefully other stuff is in the works for when this adventure pack concludes. and we wont be waiting 8-9 more months for something new...like a plant powerset.
if stuff of this quality does start coming out one a 4-5 month interval however, then its going to undo a lot of my negativity to cryptic/ncnorth and pe.

nepht · September 2014

rianfrost wrote: »

.... individually spritzing victims of a fatal contagious disease is beyond silver age stupid..

Shut up its FUTURE SCIENCE!

gaarafrednorrisp · September 2014

....

-.- whatchu got against the Silver Age, mortal?

logandarklighter · September 2014

I've seen worse "Comic Book Science" before. So the first bit with dousing the civvies I'll give a pass in that regard.

Agreed on the rest being very good.

I'd like to offer specific kudos to whoever did the voice for the Overseer bot in the sewers - AND the sound design behind altering his voice. The overall effect was appropriately harsh, mechanical AND arrogant. Everything I'd expect from Mechanon based on the lore from all the old sourcebooks.

His design as well - it's obvious that this is a subordinate unit and not Mechanon proper, but the design is "Old School" Mechanon all the way. I imagine that the true Mechanon will look more like his modern version from the most recent 6th Edition sourcebook. The overseer by contrast looks a lot like the old 4th/5th Edition sourcebook Mechanon designs. So in effect this could be a slightly "obsolescent" Mechanon unit itself.

biffsmackwell · September 2014

logandarklighter wrote: »

I'd like to offer specific kudos to whoever did the voice for the Overseer bot in the sewers - AND the sound design behind altering his voice. The overall effect was appropriately harsh, mechanical AND arrogant. Everything I'd expect from Mechanon based on the lore from all the old sourcebooks.

I loved his monologue, too. Totally spoon-feeds you the whole plan. It was perfect. :biggrin:

decorumfriends · September 2014

rianfrost poo poos:

its ok, i like it, it started weak, the run around and click a mcguffin on a bunch of npc's thing was a weak start and the idea, individually spritzing victims of a fatal contagious disease is beyond silver age stupid.

While true, it's a quick and easy 500 q daily, so I'm pretending not to notice. :biggrin:

markhawkman · September 2014

decorumfriends wrote: »

While true, it's a quick and easy 500 q daily, so I'm pretending not to notice. :biggrin:

True.

the second part of the mission where you go inside someone's brain.... um.... lol wut? enemy mobs seemed to have totally random sizes. I might fight a group that's JUST a henchman, then have to fight a group that's 2 villains, a henchman and a master villain. the most annoying part? The upgraded version of the big bruisers was MORE difficult to fight than the mastervillains... I had to respawn until I ran out of stars, but I managed to solo it anyways.

decorumfriends · September 2014

I made it to the end with my Grimoire main, but didn't have enough oomph to take the boss down quickly enough without dying. Running someone more tanky through it now, but I'm in no hurry. It's not going anywhere.

markhawkman · September 2014

I had to resort to summoning pets via items to take down the boss in the second brain map.

jonsills · September 2014

When I ran this on PTS with a Tempest, no problem.

My Soldier on Live ran out of heal items some time before Nanobot Prime was summoned; he barely managed to get his Targeting Computer to lock on before he got aced - again.

Gonna have to try this with one of my Freeforms, I suppose. Now the question is - Captain Punchfist (melee), Starbolt (ranged DPS), or the Lawgiver (based on Automaton)?

flyingfinn · September 2014

Got angry on 2nd brain. With lvl 26 Awakened AT. Couldn't just get past a group of bots. Lots of retreating and trying to heal, Circuit heal must be broken...Left and logged out.
Oh, was this a positive thread?

zedbrightlander1 · September 2014

nepht wrote: »

Shut up its FUTURE SCIENCE!

I think you meant to say...

SUPER SCIENCE!
-

-

:biggrin:

Thankfully, no one is turning into giant caterpillars.

markhawkman · September 2014

flyingfinn wrote: »

Got angry on 2nd brain. With lvl 26 Awakened AT. Couldn't just get past a group of bots. Lots of retreating and trying to heal, Circuit heal must be broken...Left and logged out.
Oh, was this a positive thread?

If this is the room I'm thinking of... yeah it was a PITA. It's one of those where the enemy mob sizes are wonky. There's six enemies in the room. They are divided into 2 mobs. On the right, is a mob with a villain and a henchman. On the left is 3 villains and a henchman.... WTF???

[Optimist] Steel Crusade: Hope Renewed

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