Null the Gull

Overview

Null the Gull

Null the Gull is an NPC in Pocket D where players can go to accept or deny several team buffs and travel powers, see progress on the Dimensional Warder Badge, change character alignment, and send you to special maps. He is located on the "villain side", on top of a box van, at coordinates (-168, 12, -864) .

Reality Altering Powers

Null the Gull is a contact at which a player can change the effects of several powers. Null has several screens of dialogue, most leading to his "reality-altering powers":

• Accept or deny speed altering buffs from other players. (Other portions of speed-altering buffs will always be applied; only the speed increase will be ignored.)
  • Affected powers are: Speed Boost, Increase Density, Inertial Reduction, Enforced Morale, and Accelerate Metabolism.
• Accept or deny Group Fly/Group Energy Flight/Team Teleport.
• Always accept, always deny, or always ask to accept Mystic Fortune.
• Show your progress towards the Dimensional Warder Badge.
• Alter your Alignment.
• Send you to maps created for Special Events.

Note: Null is in the class of contact that will not talk to characters who are in an active Task Force.

Options Dialogue

Null the Gull Dialogue

Whoah, guy/girl... What am I doing here? Wait... Don't tell me. I'm Null the Gull (tm), a seagull with reality-altering powers, I should be able to figure this one out.

(Null the Gull pauses for a moment.)

I've got it! This must be exactly where I'm supposed to be. Am I right, or am I right?

• Uh... / or / I guess. (Same dialogue results)

I suppose you don't really care who I am. I seem to know an awful lot about you though. For starters, you're quite obviously insane, talking to a seagull and all, but I'll overlook all that and gladly share with you my fantastic reality-altering powers! At least until the System discovers I've Gone Rogue (tm) and tracks me down, that is.

• Tell me more about these powers. (OPTIONS LIST)
• The System?

You don't think I got this name because I come from a land of magical talking gulls, do you? You know... the System? Wink wink nudge wink and all that.

• So tell me about those powers. (OPTIONS LIST)

• Who are you?

Null the Gull takes a deep breath.

...

Well, I'm a talking seagull, for starters. I also have fantastic reality-altering powers! Powers I will gladly employ to making your life that much more quality. Or qualifying your living. Or... well it will come to me some day, I'm sure.

• Tell me more about these powers. (OPTIONS LIST)
• Can you make me more powerful?

What do you mean, can I make you more powerful... I have reality-altering powers. Of course I can make you more powerful!

Let's see, I could give you a +10 level shift, whatever that is. Or I could give you a massive buff to your defense. Or a massive buff to your damage. Or I could buff your recovery. What am I listing things off for, I could just buff everything, whatever a buff is. I am a reality-altering seagull, after all.

What an interesting hypothetical question! That was just a hypothetical question, right?

• Yes, it was hypothetical. Tell me about the other things you can do for me. (OPTIONS LIST)

• No, it wasn't. Make me more powerful.

You should learn to walk before trying to run. Metaphorically that is. Unless you actually can't walk, in which case I suppose that was terribly rude for me to say. But the point is that you're just starting to learn how to develop power on your own! Get out there and level up a bit, whatever that means.

It's really probably quite inappropriate for me to even consider giving you more power. Then again, I've heard people say it's quite inappropriate for a seagull with reality-altering powers to be in Pocket D in the first place, yet here I am. I am still here, aren't I? Oh yes, good.

Alright, alright, I guess I can give you a bit of a boost. Are you really and truly sure you want this? To be made more powerful than you can even imagine?

• Yes, I'm sure. Make me more powerful.

Very well. Here goes!

A huge surge of power hits you, turning you into a seagull.

Bam! You're now the most powerful creature in the multiverse: a reality-altering seagull like me!

Null pauses as he "notices" your incapacitated state.

Well, maybe that wasn't such a good idea after all, you don't seem quite ready for that kind of power. Don't worry, I'm sure it'll wear off sooner or later... probably.

You didn't think I was actually going to make you more powerful for really real did you? That'd be cheating! That kind of thing could get me banned from the game. Wait, did I just say game? What game? It's all fun and games until someone loses an eye. Go do something safe and fun, like dance. Once you stop being a seagull, that is. Seagulls are terrible dancers.

Gull Incarnate

Self +Everything (Special)

Null the Gull has shared his awesome reality-altering powers with you! Unfortunately you have no idea how to use those powers. In fact, the sheer magnitude of Null's power has so strongly overwhelmed your senses that you can't even move.

Gullible

Your time spent as a seagull has given you better insights into the nature of reality. One insight in particular comes to mind: be careful what you ask for.

• On second thought, maybe I'll pass.

Good. That's really probably for the best. Moving along, there's a lot of other stuff I can do if you're interested.

• What can you do? (OPTIONS LIST)

• What can you do? (OPTIONS LIST)

Options List

I'm still getting used to this multiverse, you'll have to be a little patient. Ok... Summoning up my fantastic reality-altering powers (tm) now.

It appears that as of now, I can:

Alter how speed buffs/debuffs from other friendly players affect you.
Alter how group travel powers affect you.
Change whether or not you are asked to confirm Mystic Fortune.
Show your progress towards the Dimensional Warder badge.

...

And that's all for now. Not that I supposed you're interested in that in the slightest, I'm sure.

• Could you alter how speed buffs/debuffs affect me?

Ok, here's the deal. Don't spread this around, but via my fantastic reality-altering powers, I can cause you to be unaffected by buffs and debuffs to your movement speed from some powers which can be used on you by other players. This means you'll get the other benefits of those powers, but that your running, jumping, flying speed and such will be unaffected. Course, I can't really tell if you're the one using the power or someone else is, so you'll just have to go with the flow. And I won't touch things like Sprint or Super Speed or Flight or Reverse Radial Umbral Rotation or what have you, just what I mention below. So if this appeals to you, just say the word.

If you select this option, your run, jump, and flight speed will be unaffected by the powers Speed Boost, Increase Density, Inertial Reduction, Enforced Morale, and Accelerate Metabolism. The other components of those powers will still affect you. Other powers such as Sprint and Super Speed will be unaffected by this setting. You can reverse this setting at any time by returning to Null the Gull.

• Could you alter how group travel powers affect me?

Sure, I understand that sometimes you don't want to move with the flock. Be a rebel, and all that. Are we talking about Group Fly or Team Teleport here?

• Group Fly

If you like, I can make you immune to Group Fly. You'll be able to keep your feet on the ground no matter what. If you change your mind later, come back and I can reverse it as well.

If you select this option, you will be unaffected by the powers Group Fly and Group Energy Flight, even if you use those powers yourself. Your pets and minions will still be affected by those powers. Other flight powers such as Fly and Bright Nova will be unaffected by this setting. You can reverse this setting at any time by returning to Null the Gull.

• Team Teleport

If you like, I can make you immune to Team Teleport. You'll be able to remain anchored in space. If you change your mind later, come back and I can reverse it as well.

If you select this option, you will be unaffected by the power Team Teleport, even if you use those powers yourself. Your pets and minions will still be affected by those powers. Other teleportation powers such as Teleport and Shadow Step will be unaffected by this setting. You can reverse this setting at any time by returning to Null the Gull.

• Could you alter my Mystic Fortune preference?

So right now, everytime someone uses the power Mystic Fortune on you, you're asked whether or not you want your fortune read. If you have a consistent preference, I can spread the word: you can choose to always accept Mystic Fortune or always deny Mystic Fortune (meaning no one can use it on you). Should you change your mind, I can change your preference later.

Choosing to always accept Mystic Fortune means that if another player uses the power on you, it will automatically be applied without displaying the confirmation dialog. Choosing to always deny means that another player cannot use the power on you at all. You can change this setting at any time by returning to Null the Gull.

• Could you show my Dimensional Warder progress? Not available to Praetorians

Whew, there are an awful lot of Praetorians swimming about. Let's try to break this down for poor Null here. What section do you want to check?

• Anti-Matter through Infernal / or / Malaise through Siege Same dialogue results

I know when you're trashing Praetorians it can get a little confusing who you've taken down and who you haven't. Null the Gull knows the score... Let me remind you.

(Null the Gull stares at you.)

Now... Concentrate!

• I suddenly recall I have yet to defeat [name]. (Repeated for each archvillain a character has yet to defeat.)

Don't worry, I'm sure you'll get them soon enough. (Repeated for each archvillain selected.)

• Could you change my alignment? Not available to Praetorians

What is your goal in life, Character?

• I want to be a noble Hero. Instantly sets you to Hero Alignment, as though you had just completed a Morality Mission.

You are now a goody-two-shoes boyscout. Enjoy!

• I want to be a shady Vigilante. Instantly sets you to Vigilante Alignment, as though you had just completed a Morality Mission.

You are now allowed to murder innocents in the name of the greater good. Enjoy!

• I want to be a selfish Rogue. Instantly sets you to Rogue Alignment, as though you had just completed a Morality Mission.

You are now slightly less stinky than a Villain. The devs don't hate you, they merely ignore you. Enjoy!

• I want to be a dirty Villain. Instantly sets you to Villain Alignment, as though you had just completed a Morality Mission.

You are now hated by the devs. You stinky Villain... for shame!

• Could you send me to a different place?

Can I? You bet I can! I have connections all over space and time!

I can send you to a Luau party in Talos Island. Or the Harvest party in Atlas Park. Actually, there is going to be this very spooky Halloween invasion of Atlas Park that I could send you to.

It's always so hard to choose!

• Send me to the Luau in Talos Island. Selecting this will send you to the map immediately.
• Send me to the Harvest Festival in Atlas Park. Selecting this will send you to the map immediately.
• Send me to the Spooky Halloween in Atlas Park. Selecting this will send you to the map immediately.

Historical

This section contains information that no longer applies to the current version of Homecoming: City of Heroes/Villains. It is provided for historical purposes.

Null was a seagull inhabiting Pocket D on Virtue server from May 1st, 2011, to May 2nd, 2011. His coordinates were (-56.0, 18.0, -1076.9). He was an NPC that, when clicked on, appeared to be named "Paragonian Citizen", yet when he spoke (using random lines from actual civilian NPCs) his name appeared as "(null)." When clicked on, he told the time, e.g. "The official time is 12:00 AM." A loyal cult of followers found him and praised him as Null the Gull.

He was removed by Zwillinger on May 2nd, 8:00 PM EST. A torchlight vigil was held after his deletion.

During the Paragon Studios live UStream broadcast on May 10th, 2011, Beastyle hinted at Null's possible return.

After a lengthy visit by Beastyle to Atlas Park on Virtue, a Costume Contest was held. One of the attendees was Null, this time as a PC (an AR/Devices Blaster) named Null D. Gull. He also had a gold title, Time Telling Bird. It's unknown who was playing Null, but it's assumed to be Zwillinger, since he was known to be online at the time.

Null the Gull was then added to Pocket D in Issue 20.5

Zwillinger posted about the reason for using a fourth-wall-breaking contact about functions that would be better placed in the Options Window:

Zwillinger (From http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showthread.php?p=3683844#post3683844)

I'm sure that Black Scorpion can confirm this, but to answer the question as to why Null's wonderful reality bending capabilities are not put into a UI/Options window: UI work takes a significant amount of time. Creating an NPC that offers these toggles takes significantly less time.

It is possible that at a later date these toggles could be turned into options menu item, however it's not within scope at this time. Why not wait until later to add it when we do have time on the schedule to make pretty UI options? Remember, Null is being added as a response to players concerns regarding the AoE buffs QOL improvement.

Null the Gull gained the ability to change a character's alignment, transport them to special maps, and grant a special temporary power and badge in Issue 25.

Gallery

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  Null the Gull

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  Null's cult before his removal

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  Torchlight vigil

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  Torchlight vigil

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  Null D. Gull