Lore AMA: Difference between revisions

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Q) There were several villain group names in the original trailer (Revelation, Twilight Men, Seraphim, Fear Factor, Killing Crew) that we never really, or ever, saw in game. Were there plans for them? Did they end up getting sidelined by other groups? How wicked awesome were they?  (@bpphantom) [IIRC, Twilight Men became Malta, Fear Factor became the Carnies, but I could be wrong - @Samuraiko][I seem to recall Killing Crew becoming the Freakshow... Felderburg]
'''Q) There were several villain group names in the original trailer (Revelation, Twilight Men, Seraphim, Fear Factor, Killing Crew) that we never really, or ever, saw in game. Were there plans for them? Did they end up getting sidelined by other groups? How wicked awesome were they?  (@bpphantom) [IIRC, Twilight Men became Malta, Fear Factor became the Carnies, but I could be wrong - @Samuraiko][I seem to recall Killing Crew becoming the Freakshow... Felderburg]'''


A) Matt Miller (Positron) Samuraiko and Felderburg are correct. There was some trademark issues with the original names and/or better names were thought up. Also some groups were concepted but cut (Revelation and Seraphim I think) long before real production started.
A) Matt Miller (Positron) Samuraiko and Felderburg are correct. There was some trademark issues with the original names and/or better names were thought up. Also some groups were concepted but cut (Revelation and Seraphim I think) long before real production started.


Q) While I understand it wasn’t truly completed yet, how were the upcoming villain groups powers being designed to fight against a fully powered Incarnate?  What was the idea about long term opposition viability against the characters who were starting to get more powerful than the first trials threat levels.
'''Q) While I understand it wasn’t truly completed yet, how were the upcoming villain groups powers being designed to fight against a fully powered Incarnate?  What was the idea about long term opposition viability against the characters who were starting to get more powerful than the first trials threat levels.'''


A) Chris Behrens (Baryonyx) - We started to get a bit more creative about the things we would allow villains to do. There were quite a few rules that we started to bend and then outright break at the end. This started with the Going Rogue VGs, from Protean, Castle and Synapse, but really broke loose with the First Ward groups, which Arbiter Hawk, Black Scorpion, Zillionaire, Protean and I designed. The best (worst?) example here were the Psionic-damage Awakened, which had some unusual mechanics where they would synergize with each other, forcing choices as to which part of the group was most threatening to your team’s make up, or bosses with mechanics that forced a lot of movement or management of adds. The First Ward groups generally were really risky, given the level range, but they generated an interest in more challenging fights that we wanted to build on.
A) Chris Behrens (Baryonyx) - We started to get a bit more creative about the things we would allow villains to do. There were quite a few rules that we started to bend and then outright break at the end. This started with the Going Rogue VGs, from Protean, Castle and Synapse, but really broke loose with the First Ward groups, which Arbiter Hawk, Black Scorpion, Zillionaire, Protean and I designed. The best (worst?) example here were the Psionic-damage Awakened, which had some unusual mechanics where they would synergize with each other, forcing choices as to which part of the group was most threatening to your team’s make up, or bosses with mechanics that forced a lot of movement or management of adds. The First Ward groups generally were really risky, given the level range, but they generated an interest in more challenging fights that we wanted to build on.
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Another thing we focused on, though, was creating an epic feeling. We spent time trying to make these powers and the creatures using them feel like you were facing something you’d never seen before. It wasn’t enough for a Keres to have a death-energy ice blast; she needed to do it with a titan weapon slung on her shoulder and blackened shadow ice. It wasn’t enough that the Siren sang; it was her song itself that took physical form and tore into you. It wasn’t enough to have a death creature running you down; it needed to be a skittering, chittering nightmare that would be memorable because it felt different than anything you’d really seen before.
Another thing we focused on, though, was creating an epic feeling. We spent time trying to make these powers and the creatures using them feel like you were facing something you’d never seen before. It wasn’t enough for a Keres to have a death-energy ice blast; she needed to do it with a titan weapon slung on her shoulder and blackened shadow ice. It wasn’t enough that the Siren sang; it was her song itself that took physical form and tore into you. It wasn’t enough to have a death creature running you down; it needed to be a skittering, chittering nightmare that would be memorable because it felt different than anything you’d really seen before.


Q)Did Paragon City have plans on how they were going to rebuild The Hollows? (@AtomikSteel)
'''Q)Did Paragon City have plans on how they were going to rebuild The Hollows? (@AtomikSteel)'''


A) Matt (Positron) We hadn’t really planned on rebuilding the Hollows, we threw a lot of design time over the years to fix its initial implementation though. In hindsight we probably should have scrubbed it and started over with it.
A) Matt (Positron) We hadn’t really planned on rebuilding the Hollows, we threw a lot of design time over the years to fix its initial implementation though. In hindsight we probably should have scrubbed it and started over with it.
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Tim (Black Scorp) One of the crazier EAT ideas involved the Battalion and the Rikti civil war moving forward- some Rikti becoming tenuous allies (and therefore Rikti EAT pcs). One of the underutilized hazard zones would become terraformed to be their home on Primal Earth. A similar concept involved the Recovered Devoured EAT concept and possibly one of the DE zones.
Tim (Black Scorp) One of the crazier EAT ideas involved the Battalion and the Rikti civil war moving forward- some Rikti becoming tenuous allies (and therefore Rikti EAT pcs). One of the underutilized hazard zones would become terraformed to be their home on Primal Earth. A similar concept involved the Recovered Devoured EAT concept and possibly one of the DE zones.


Q) Instead of just demolishing the older zones (Galaxy CIty) was there any plans to rebuild or renew the older zones (Perez Park?) @MetalMountain
'''Q) Instead of just demolishing the older zones (Galaxy CIty) was there any plans to rebuild or renew the older zones (Perez Park?) @MetalMountain'''


A) Sean McCann (Dr. Aeon) - I had a design document written up for a revamp of Perez Park. It was going to be a mix of a high level/low level zone. The Circle of Thorns would have completed a ritual and caused the main “park” to come out from beneath the ground and rise into the sky, and they would’ve begun remaking part of Oranbega there and on the ground. The ground portion would’ve remained the same level band, while the island would’ve been a high level zone. The idea was that you would see the floating islands as a vista from the city zones that surrounded Perez.  We were planning on re-doing Perez Park for Freedom launch, but decided against it, as we were doing a lot as it was and the quality of the content would suffer. I wrote the doc in preparation for that, but we cut re-doing Perez Park early on.
A) Sean McCann (Dr. Aeon) - I had a design document written up for a revamp of Perez Park. It was going to be a mix of a high level/low level zone. The Circle of Thorns would have completed a ritual and caused the main “park” to come out from beneath the ground and rise into the sky, and they would’ve begun remaking part of Oranbega there and on the ground. The ground portion would’ve remained the same level band, while the island would’ve been a high level zone. The idea was that you would see the floating islands as a vista from the city zones that surrounded Perez.  We were planning on re-doing Perez Park for Freedom launch, but decided against it, as we were doing a lot as it was and the quality of the content would suffer. I wrote the doc in preparation for that, but we cut re-doing Perez Park early on.
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One of the things I really enjoyed talking about with Oranbega, is how it would have enjoyed U.N. protection, what with being a sovereign nation in its own right. The fact that it uglied up the Paragon City skyline with some nefarious dark wizard mojo was just salt in the wound. I had some ideas involving Oranbega playing a much more political game in the future from their base right in the heart of Paragon City.
One of the things I really enjoyed talking about with Oranbega, is how it would have enjoyed U.N. protection, what with being a sovereign nation in its own right. The fact that it uglied up the Paragon City skyline with some nefarious dark wizard mojo was just salt in the wound. I had some ideas involving Oranbega playing a much more political game in the future from their base right in the heart of Paragon City.


Q) One of my favorite additions to the game was Faultline’s update. It really made the CoH world feel “alive” or dynamic. Were there any plans to wreck different zones or rebuild others? Thanks again for all of the great times and stories. (@Peter_Chess)
'''Q) One of my favorite additions to the game was Faultline’s update. It really made the CoH world feel “alive” or dynamic. Were there any plans to wreck different zones or rebuild others? Thanks again for all of the great times and stories. (@Peter_Chess)'''


A) Matt Miller (Positron) Faultline’s update taught us a ton of things, primarily it was pretty much exactly the same amount of work to overhaul an existing zone as it was to make an entirely new one. Adding a new zone makes the game bigger, whereas overhauling a zone makes the game the same size, and removes something that some players liked.
A) Matt Miller (Positron) Faultline’s update taught us a ton of things, primarily it was pretty much exactly the same amount of work to overhaul an existing zone as it was to make an entirely new one. Adding a new zone makes the game bigger, whereas overhauling a zone makes the game the same size, and removes something that some players liked.
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Still love Bianco's restaurant, I had to beg to get that in there.  
Still love Bianco's restaurant, I had to beg to get that in there.  


Q) What with Talos. Kings Row, Steel Canyon, and Skyway being trashed in various task forces, were there ever plans to revamp those zones? Talos was kinda nice as it was, but Christ did Skyway ever need an overhaul… and were we eventually going to take back Galaxy City after the Shivans wrecked it? (@Samuraiko)
'''Q) What with Talos. Kings Row, Steel Canyon, and Skyway being trashed in various task forces, were there ever plans to revamp those zones? Talos was kinda nice as it was, but Christ did Skyway ever need an overhaul… and were we eventually going to take back Galaxy City after the Shivans wrecked it? (@Samuraiko)'''


A) Sean McCann (Dr. Aeon) - We had some ideas of having players go back to a wrecked Galaxy City as a level 50+ zone, but to that, we would’ve had to make the Shivans way more impressive to fight.
A) Sean McCann (Dr. Aeon) - We had some ideas of having players go back to a wrecked Galaxy City as a level 50+ zone, but to that, we would’ve had to make the Shivans way more impressive to fight.
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A) Melissa Bianco (War Witch) I wanted to revamp Boomtown back into Baumton, complete with amusement park, fairgrounds, but there would be absolutely no asset reuse there and it never made the list for touch up.  
A) Melissa Bianco (War Witch) I wanted to revamp Boomtown back into Baumton, complete with amusement park, fairgrounds, but there would be absolutely no asset reuse there and it never made the list for touch up.  


Q) Prometheus at one point brings up “Ascended” wells and renegade Ascended, using Rularuu as an example. Was there more intended for this concept of ascending into that kind of power in it’s own right, either for NPCs or as a further stage of Incarnate abilities waaaaay down the line? Further, who were some of these others who either ascended by circumvention or went renegade? (@Twi)  
'''Q) Prometheus at one point brings up “Ascended” wells and renegade Ascended, using Rularuu as an example. Was there more intended for this concept of ascending into that kind of power in it’s own right, either for NPCs or as a further stage of Incarnate abilities waaaaay down the line? Further, who were some of these others who either ascended by circumvention or went renegade? (@Twi)  


[Q) The Dimensionless created the Wells, but it also seems like people / beings can contribute power to Wells, or even become Wells themselves. Additionally, it seems like beings of great power can have their power transferred in whole to a new being (Zeus -> Statesman, Merulina -> Leviathan) rather than just having it reabsorbed into a Well. Can you explain more about this? (Felderburg)]
[Q) The Dimensionless created the Wells, but it also seems like people / beings can contribute power to Wells, or even become Wells themselves. Additionally, it seems like beings of great power can have their power transferred in whole to a new being (Zeus -> Statesman, Merulina -> Leviathan) rather than just having it reabsorbed into a Well. Can you explain more about this? (Felderburg)]'''


A) Chris Behrens (Baryonyx) - There isn’t really a good way to answer this without tackling the second question first, so here goes.
A) Chris Behrens (Baryonyx) - There isn’t really a good way to answer this without tackling the second question first, so here goes.
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(Matt) Why? You covered it better than any of us could.
(Matt) Why? You covered it better than any of us could.


Q) What was the lore on the Trashcan man located inside Fort Trident? If memory serves, him and his… trashcan were clickable, the latter function as a contact but had no missions. Just a little joke or was there to be more for him down the line?
'''Q) What was the lore on the Trashcan man located inside Fort Trident? If memory serves, him and his… trashcan were clickable, the latter function as a contact but had no missions. Just a little joke or was there to be more for him down the line?'''


A) Matt Miller (Positron) It was originally designed that EVERY Contact have a unique story arc associated with them. In an effort to make our release date, the story arcs were condensed down into Origin-specific arcs and multiple Contacts would hand out the same arc.
A) Matt Miller (Positron) It was originally designed that EVERY Contact have a unique story arc associated with them. In an effort to make our release date, the story arcs were condensed down into Origin-specific arcs and multiple Contacts would hand out the same arc.
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A) Tim Sweeney (Black Scorpion) The joke was his power was that anything anyone “trashed” wound up in his hands. Hence the name and the goods.
A) Tim Sweeney (Black Scorpion) The joke was his power was that anything anyone “trashed” wound up in his hands. Hence the name and the goods.


Q) Why would you have Operative Lo Pan be a named Arachnos paper mission boss instead of a Tsoo one?
'''Q) Why would you have Operative Lo Pan be a named Arachnos paper mission boss instead of a Tsoo one?
     [Arachnos can have Asian members too. (Felderburg)]
     [Arachnos can have Asian members too. (Felderburg)]
     [Beyond that, all Arachnos paper mission bosses were named after movie villains. Operative Bligh, Operative Lo Pan, Operative Gruber, Operative Kurgan (have to remove the head FULLY!), the list goes on. (Kadmon)]
     [Beyond that, all Arachnos paper mission bosses were named after movie villains. Operative Bligh, Operative Lo Pan, Operative Gruber, Operative Kurgan (have to remove the head FULLY!), the list goes on. (Kadmon)]'''
 
A) Matt Miller (Positron) Yeah, newspaper missions were randomly generated, and that name just was on a list. No thought put into it.
A) Matt Miller (Positron) Yeah, newspaper missions were randomly generated, and that name just was on a list. No thought put into it.


Q) Did Statesman or Lord Recluse have a weakness? (Mentalshock)
'''Q) Did Statesman or Lord Recluse have a weakness? (Mentalshock)
     [Statesman: Darrin Wade. Lord Recluse: the short-sightedness of obsessive villainy. (DarkGob)]
     [Statesman: Darrin Wade. Lord Recluse: the short-sightedness of obsessive villainy. (DarkGob)]'''
 
A) Matt Miller (Positron) Both of these characters were empowered directly through the Well of Furies. This was their weakness. If you could sever that connection (which was thought to be impossible), then you could kill or destroy them.
A) Matt Miller (Positron) Both of these characters were empowered directly through the Well of Furies. This was their weakness. If you could sever that connection (which was thought to be impossible), then you could kill or destroy them.


A) Tim Sweeney (Black Scorpion) They also were influenced by the elements they were Incarnates of - having drawn that power in as opposed to entirely generating it themselves. You could say that there is an element of “living up to their roles” in how they acted.
A) Tim Sweeney (Black Scorpion) They also were influenced by the elements they were Incarnates of - having drawn that power in as opposed to entirely generating it themselves. You could say that there is an element of “living up to their roles” in how they acted.


Q) Did PCU offer classes in power training/was it possible to get scholarships to PCU through your hero license? ( ParadoxicalOxymoron )
'''Q) Did PCU offer classes in power training/was it possible to get scholarships to PCU through your hero license? ( ParadoxicalOxymoron )'''
 
A) Matt Miller (Positron) They tried to offer classes in power training, but no insurance company would cover them if they did. They did offer free classes on criminal justice to those who had hero licenses though. Better to teach them the limits of the law, and know how to spot crimes in progress.
A) Matt Miller (Positron) They tried to offer classes in power training, but no insurance company would cover them if they did. They did offer free classes on criminal justice to those who had hero licenses though. Better to teach them the limits of the law, and know how to spot crimes in progress.


Q) Could you have gotten a degree in Super Heroing from PCU? And if yes, then was it a BA or BS? Was there a graduate degree program? (@AtomikSteel)
'''Q) Could you have gotten a degree in Super Heroing from PCU? And if yes, then was it a BA or BS? Was there a graduate degree program? (@AtomikSteel)'''
 
A) See above answer.
A) See above answer.


Q)I have always wondered, who was on the take within Paragon City Hall? All the villain groups had to have an inside man in order to pull off all of their hijinks. (@AtomikSteel)
'''Q)I have always wondered, who was on the take within Paragon City Hall? All the villain groups had to have an inside man in order to pull off all of their hijinks. (@AtomikSteel)'''


A) John Hegner (Protean): first, never make a list when that list doesn’t need to see the light of day. Second, i24 had a story arc in Kings Row that dealt with the Family, Skulls, and some political corruption.
A) John Hegner (Protean): first, never make a list when that list doesn’t need to see the light of day. Second, i24 had a story arc in Kings Row that dealt with the Family, Skulls, and some political corruption.


Q) Were there plans for Crey to get involved in the Incarnate arms race? What with Malta forging an alliance with Battle-Maiden, and Crey’s Paragon Protector project seeming like small beans in comparison to the rapidly upscaling power levels, how  
'''Q) Were there plans for Crey to get involved in the Incarnate arms race? What with Malta forging an alliance with Battle-Maiden, and Crey’s Paragon Protector project seeming like small beans in comparison to the rapidly upscaling power levels, how would they have kept viable as a villain group? (@Twi)'''
would they have kept viable as a villain group? (@Twi)


A) Sean McCann (Dr. Aeon) - I had written out an idea that Crey were trying to biologically engineer their own incarnates in an improved version of the Revenant Program, which would involve them trying to scientifically measure Incarnates. The goal was to build an army of Incarnate Paragon Protectors. I really liked the idea that Incarnates started an arms race between high level villain groups that were trying to match the powers that were coming out.
A) Sean McCann (Dr. Aeon) - I had written out an idea that Crey were trying to biologically engineer their own incarnates in an improved version of the Revenant Program, which would involve them trying to scientifically measure Incarnates. The goal was to build an army of Incarnate Paragon Protectors. I really liked the idea that Incarnates started an arms race between high level villain groups that were trying to match the powers that were coming out.
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A) Tim Sweeney (Black Scorp) We won’t talk about the Incarnate artifacts the Countess bought up to become an Incarnate herself. That storyline lives in the same place as the one where Manticore winds up turning to her for solace after he goes fully downhill.
A) Tim Sweeney (Black Scorp) We won’t talk about the Incarnate artifacts the Countess bought up to become an Incarnate herself. That storyline lives in the same place as the one where Manticore winds up turning to her for solace after he goes fully downhill.


Q) Simple question… where were all the buses??  Plenty of Bus Stops, but no buses!  Silly cosmetic thing really, but were buses ever planned?  I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s asked this?  (@Wolfybane)
'''Q) Simple question… where were all the buses??  Plenty of Bus Stops, but no buses!  Silly cosmetic thing really, but were buses ever planned?  I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s asked this?  (@Wolfybane)'''
 
A) Matt Miller (Positron) Sadly no. The Paragon Transit Authority switched over to 100% Monorail system shortly before 2002, but the bus stops still brought in ad revenue, so they kept them around instead of demolishing them
A) Matt Miller (Positron) Sadly no. The Paragon Transit Authority switched over to 100% Monorail system shortly before 2002, but the bus stops still brought in ad revenue, so they kept them around instead of demolishing them


A) Melissa Bianco (War Witch) If someone didn't cap off a monorail correctly, you'd get buses, of a sort. Monorails would hop the tracks and wander down streets with the cars. My question is how, considering how many ambulances were part of the atmospheric SFX no one really noticed there weren't any on the streets.  
A) Melissa Bianco (War Witch) If someone didn't cap off a monorail correctly, you'd get buses, of a sort. Monorails would hop the tracks and wander down streets with the cars. My question is how, considering how many ambulances were part of the atmospheric SFX no one really noticed there weren't any on the streets.  


Q) In general, what was the deal with Praetorian Hamidon?  And in specific, why did it come into being so much sooner than Primal Hamidon, and if it didn’t start with Hamidon Pasalima, why was it still named Hamidon? I asked Protean about this once, and he basically said he couldn’t tell me yet, but that there was actually an important reason for it.  (@TA)
'''Q) In general, what was the deal with Praetorian Hamidon?  And in specific, why did it come into being so much sooner than Primal Hamidon, and if it didn’t start with Hamidon Pasalima, why was it still named Hamidon? I asked Protean about this once, and he basically said he couldn’t tell me yet, but that there was actually an important reason for it.  (@TA)
     [I don’t remember the specifics but if I recall right, someone went overboard with nukes during an earlier war, spurring Hamidon Pasalima to take drastic actions earlier.  I remember that this was mentioned somewhere in the promotional material for Going Rogue but I can’t remember where. @Mekkanos] [Nukes were used in the Praetorian Korean War. I don't remember how that eventually led to Early Hamidon. (@DKellis)]
     [I don’t remember the specifics but if I recall right, someone went overboard with nukes during an earlier war, spurring Hamidon Pasalima to take drastic actions earlier.  I remember that this was mentioned somewhere in the promotional material for Going Rogue but I can’t remember where. @Mekkanos] [Nukes were used in the Praetorian Korean War. I don't remember how that eventually led to Early Hamidon. (@DKellis)]'''


A) John Hegner (Protean): Reading between the lines, when Marcus Cole (praetorian version) disappeared after the nuclear exchange in Korea, he retreated from the world, hating what it had become. This event changed everything in Praetorian Earth. Years later, a young Dr. Hamidon, his life’s course changed by the environmental tragedy of the nuclear crisis, would discover early the means of creating the Devouring Earth. He tracked down Marcus Cole (many believed he was dead) and offered Cole the chance to be humanity’s guiding light and bring them into a new age of peace and prosperity and one-ness with the Earth. Cole dismissed him as a lunatic and thought nothing of it.
A) John Hegner (Protean): Reading between the lines, when Marcus Cole (praetorian version) disappeared after the nuclear exchange in Korea, he retreated from the world, hating what it had become. This event changed everything in Praetorian Earth. Years later, a young Dr. Hamidon, his life’s course changed by the environmental tragedy of the nuclear crisis, would discover early the means of creating the Devouring Earth. He tracked down Marcus Cole (many believed he was dead) and offered Cole the chance to be humanity’s guiding light and bring them into a new age of peace and prosperity and one-ness with the Earth. Cole dismissed him as a lunatic and thought nothing of it.
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Cole is on the fence about invading primal earth, because he knows Hamidon will be unhappy, but he also has the backup plan of simply fleeing Praetorian Earth and sealing the portal up behind him and starting anew on Primal Earth. A third option, becoming the Well’s champion, presents itself and leads to Cole’s final defeat.
Cole is on the fence about invading primal earth, because he knows Hamidon will be unhappy, but he also has the backup plan of simply fleeing Praetorian Earth and sealing the portal up behind him and starting anew on Primal Earth. A third option, becoming the Well’s champion, presents itself and leads to Cole’s final defeat.


Q) How much did the US Government/Paragon City spend per year on repairs to buildings, roads, etc.? (@AtomikSteel)
'''Q) How much did the US Government/Paragon City spend per year on repairs to buildings, roads, etc.? (@AtomikSteel)'''
 
A) Matt Miller (Positron) The U.S. Government was asked not to step in and help, and was told Paragon City could take care of its own. Paragon City had an insane tax rate on the super-rich, and those taxes were used exclusively to pay for damages caused by super-powered beings.
A) Matt Miller (Positron) The U.S. Government was asked not to step in and help, and was told Paragon City could take care of its own. Paragon City had an insane tax rate on the super-rich, and those taxes were used exclusively to pay for damages caused by super-powered beings.


You see, all the Billionaire Playboys are secret (or public) IDs of super-heroes anyway, so they just thought of the tax as a work/hobby expense.
You see, all the Billionaire Playboys are secret (or public) IDs of super-heroes anyway, so they just thought of the tax as a work/hobby expense.


Q) So in the Midnighter arc, the heroes help develop a cure for the Lost. Which (thanks to a bug, until they fixed it) you could actually zap the Honoree with! Was this the early groundwork for eventually restoring Hero 1? (@Samuraiko)
'''Q) So in the Midnighter arc, the heroes help develop a cure for the Lost. Which (thanks to a bug, until they fixed it) you could actually zap the Honoree with! Was this the early groundwork for eventually restoring Hero 1? (@Samuraiko)
     [Much to my amusement, you could also zap the AV at the end of the Lost section of Death From Below. Not much utility there, as it robs the group of XP, but I’ll be damned if it wasn’t funny :) (Kadmon)]
     [Much to my amusement, you could also zap the AV at the end of the Lost section of Death From Below. Not much utility there, as it robs the group of XP, but I’ll be damned if it wasn’t funny :) (Kadmon)]'''
 
A) Matt Miller (Positron) There was a redemption/reversion arc planned but I can’t recall what it involved. I do know that when writing the Lady Grey Task Force, the writer didn’t like the fact that Hero One came back as a Lost. One of the variables in the mission data was “INeverLikedThisStoryArcAnyway”.
A) Matt Miller (Positron) There was a redemption/reversion arc planned but I can’t recall what it involved. I do know that when writing the Lady Grey Task Force, the writer didn’t like the fact that Hero One came back as a Lost. One of the variables in the mission data was “INeverLikedThisStoryArcAnyway”.


A) John Hegner (Protean): We had some discussion on bringing back Hero-1 as well as a handful of Omega Team who had somehow survived all these years on the run on Rikti Earth. IIRC Ruin had taken over Rikti Australia. The restoration of Hero-1 would have been closely related to the reveal of these characters and their work with renegade factions within the Rikti who opposed both the war on Primal Earth and the genetic modification of the Rikti people.
A) John Hegner (Protean): We had some discussion on bringing back Hero-1 as well as a handful of Omega Team who had somehow survived all these years on the run on Rikti Earth. IIRC Ruin had taken over Rikti Australia. The restoration of Hero-1 would have been closely related to the reveal of these characters and their work with renegade factions within the Rikti who opposed both the war on Primal Earth and the genetic modification of the Rikti people.


Q) Prometheus told us about how the Well of the Furies came to be, and how a person came to embody it - details hazy, text isn’t in the wiki.  The identity of that person was suggested to be someone we’d know of, but wasn’t revealed.  Who was it, and why/how? (@TA)
'''Q) Prometheus told us about how the Well of the Furies came to be, and how a person came to embody it - details hazy, text isn’t in the wiki.  The identity of that person was suggested to be someone we’d know of, but wasn’t revealed.  Who was it, and why/how? (@TA)'''


A) Chris Behrens (Baryonyx) - Prometheus was actually referring to DJ Zero as another Ascended with whom we were already acquainted. The identity of the Well wouldn’t be someone we’d met in game at that point. “He” was already ancient when humanity came to be. Then again, Positron, Protean or Dr. Aeon may have had other ideas…
A) Chris Behrens (Baryonyx) - Prometheus was actually referring to DJ Zero as another Ascended with whom we were already acquainted. The identity of the Well wouldn’t be someone we’d met in game at that point. “He” was already ancient when humanity came to be. Then again, Positron, Protean or Dr. Aeon may have had other ideas…


Q) The Lore Bible suggested that it might have originally been intended for the street gangs of Paragon to remain viable threats all the way through to level 50.  The way things played out, though, that was pretty much just The Freakshow (and to a lesser extent The Warriors).  Were there ever any lore plans to demonstrate truly high-level versions of other street gangs? The Outcasts always seemed to have potential and the lore suggestion that Grendel gave Statesman problems suggest high danger from The Trolls.  (And the mysterious leaders of The Skulls and The Hellions were probably more dangerous than their bottom-of-the-totem-pole members implied.) (@CyberSunset)
'''Q) The Lore Bible suggested that it might have originally been intended for the street gangs of Paragon to remain viable threats all the way through to level 50.  The way things played out, though, that was pretty much just The Freakshow (and to a lesser extent The Warriors).  Were there ever any lore plans to demonstrate truly high-level versions of other street gangs? The Outcasts always seemed to have potential and the lore suggestion that Grendel gave Statesman problems suggest high danger from The Trolls.  (And the mysterious leaders of The Skulls and The Hellions were probably more dangerous than their bottom-of-the-totem-pole members implied.) (@CyberSunset)'''


A) Chris Behrens (Baryonyx) - The Skulls were getting an update for Issue 24 that would have introduced us to the three leaders, Morena, Veles and Chernobog. I believe Protean had some other future plans for them as well, but they’d have at least acquired Arch-villains and made it to level 25. We would probably have found a way for most of the other groups to get higher-level or more powerful versions if the story development merited it, but there weren’t any solid plans.
A) Chris Behrens (Baryonyx) - The Skulls were getting an update for Issue 24 that would have introduced us to the three leaders, Morena, Veles and Chernobog. I believe Protean had some other future plans for them as well, but they’d have at least acquired Arch-villains and made it to level 25. We would probably have found a way for most of the other groups to get higher-level or more powerful versions if the story development merited it, but there weren’t any solid plans.
A) Matt Miller (Positron) There were two “paths” of Streetgangs in the games, the artifact ones (Hellions, Warriors, Tsoo) and the superadyne ones (Skulls, Trolls, Family). This was intended to keep the players fighting streetgangs, although ever more powerful ones, as long as possible if that’s what their character was into. There is a running storyline through the missions and story arcs of the two paths.
A) Matt Miller (Positron) There were two “paths” of Streetgangs in the games, the artifact ones (Hellions, Warriors, Tsoo) and the superadyne ones (Skulls, Trolls, Family). This was intended to keep the players fighting streetgangs, although ever more powerful ones, as long as possible if that’s what their character was into. There is a running storyline through the missions and story arcs of the two paths.
A) John Hegner (Protean) - Part of the i24 revamp of Kings Row was to bring the Superadyne story arc into clearer focus. Before, most of the initial story is scattered through a handful of task pool contacts, which meant a good number of people probably missed them. My goal was to pull those threads out of task pools and turn them into full story arcs or even Task Forces.
A) John Hegner (Protean) - Part of the i24 revamp of Kings Row was to bring the Superadyne story arc into clearer focus. Before, most of the initial story is scattered through a handful of task pool contacts, which meant a good number of people probably missed them. My goal was to pull those threads out of task pools and turn them into full story arcs or even Task Forces.


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Then you had the Circle of Thorns and Vahzilok, who were a bit more marginal and self contained. The CoT and Tsoo, however, did clash over magical matters from time to time, while the nobody really liked to mess with insane Dr. Vahzilok, whose grandiose plans petered out around level 25 anyway.
Then you had the Circle of Thorns and Vahzilok, who were a bit more marginal and self contained. The CoT and Tsoo, however, did clash over magical matters from time to time, while the nobody really liked to mess with insane Dr. Vahzilok, whose grandiose plans petered out around level 25 anyway.


Q) In the Going Rogue promo, Manticore and Ghost Widow were shown with auras around them.  Were there plans for them to change sides at that time?  If not, what were the auras meant to represent? (Liquid)  
'''Q) In the Going Rogue promo, Manticore and Ghost Widow were shown with auras around them.  Were there plans for them to change sides at that time?  If not, what were the auras meant to represent? (Liquid)'''
A) Matt Miller (Positron) I forget. Maybe? I think it was just to represent how those characters saw themselves, Vigilante and Rogue.
A) Matt Miller (Positron) I forget. Maybe? I think it was just to represent how those characters saw themselves, Vigilante and Rogue.


I know we pitched having a “major player” switch sides, but then realized the headache of all the content that character was involved in and came up with two new characters to poster-child Going Rogue.
I know we pitched having a “major player” switch sides, but then realized the headache of all the content that character was involved in and came up with two new characters to poster-child Going Rogue.


Q) Was Mr. G always intended to be Praetorian Protean? (Liquid)  
'''Q) Was Mr. G always intended to be Praetorian Protean? (Liquid) '''


A) Sean McCann (Dr. Aeon) - Yes, John “Protean” Hegner had this planned from the get go.
A) Sean McCann (Dr. Aeon) - Yes, John “Protean” Hegner had this planned from the get go.
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A) John Hegner (Protean) - Yeah, we wanted it to be super subtle (so totally obvious to our massive player base of apparent psychics). If you read the Praetorian content, any character that tends to repeat his last sentence is actually Doppelganger - off the top of my head I think it was just Mr. G and Tami Baker, but I am certain we hid Easter Eggs here and there. The intention was that Protean was damaged goods in Primal Earth. Doppelganger had been playing the game of masks forever and had no issues about discovering his missing identity. After all, he trained Chimera after murdering his parents. Manipulative bastard, ain’t he?
A) John Hegner (Protean) - Yeah, we wanted it to be super subtle (so totally obvious to our massive player base of apparent psychics). If you read the Praetorian content, any character that tends to repeat his last sentence is actually Doppelganger - off the top of my head I think it was just Mr. G and Tami Baker, but I am certain we hid Easter Eggs here and there. The intention was that Protean was damaged goods in Primal Earth. Doppelganger had been playing the game of masks forever and had no issues about discovering his missing identity. After all, he trained Chimera after murdering his parents. Manipulative bastard, ain’t he?


Q) What was the Kheldian “homeworld” like, their government, native culture, etc, prior to their being a big space war? Did they evolve their symbiosis with the Dwarf/Nova races peacefully, or was that a necessity of the war with the nictus? (Spectralent) [Q: And would we ever have gotten to visit? (Memphis Bill) ]
'''Q) What was the Kheldian “homeworld” like, their government, native culture, etc, prior to their being a big space war? Did they evolve their symbiosis with the Dwarf/Nova races peacefully, or was that a necessity of the war with the nictus? (Spectralent) [Q: And would we ever have gotten to visit? (Memphis Bill) ]'''
 
A) Matt (Positron) It was never fleshed out, afaik.
A) Matt (Positron) It was never fleshed out, afaik.


Q)Would Tyrant redeem himself and take Statesman place? (@Night Prowler)
'''Q)Would Tyrant redeem himself and take Statesman place? (@Night Prowler)'''


A) Chris Behrens (Baryonyx) - There were some idle discussions that mentioned this as a possibility. To my memory, it was not settled, however.
A) Chris Behrens (Baryonyx) - There were some idle discussions that mentioned this as a possibility. To my memory, it was not settled, however.
A) Matt Miller (Positron) That was my plan. After he broke Praetoria he would see the error in his ways and redeem himself taking up the mantle of his former enemy. I know some of the writers pushed back on this saying that “Statesman is dead-dead, no backsies.” I would like to point out that this respected that and also got us our marketing poster-child back at the same time. :)
A) Matt Miller (Positron) That was my plan. After he broke Praetoria he would see the error in his ways and redeem himself taking up the mantle of his former enemy. I know some of the writers pushed back on this saying that “Statesman is dead-dead, no backsies.” I would like to point out that this respected that and also got us our marketing poster-child back at the same time. :)
A) John Hegner (Protean) - I had a vision for Tyrant’s redemption as basically playing out similar to Hannibal Lecter. When the going gets tough for Earth, Vanguard turns to the one man who has been the Well’s Champion for some insight into how to stop Battalion. Cole basically points out that what Earth is lacking is a symbol to rally behind. Statesman was that symbol for Primal Earth, just as Emperor Cole was that symbol for Praetoria.
A) John Hegner (Protean) - I had a vision for Tyrant’s redemption as basically playing out similar to Hannibal Lecter. When the going gets tough for Earth, Vanguard turns to the one man who has been the Well’s Champion for some insight into how to stop Battalion. Cole basically points out that what Earth is lacking is a symbol to rally behind. Statesman was that symbol for Primal Earth, just as Emperor Cole was that symbol for Praetoria.


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This truth would come out issues later and cause some massive issues between Ms. Liberty and Vanguard.
This truth would come out issues later and cause some massive issues between Ms. Liberty and Vanguard.


Q)Were there any plans to allow Heroes/Villians to go to the Preatorian zones for badge hunting, exploration badges, etc?  (TheJudge) [I recall that they could do that anyway. The only thing they were locked out of without purchasing GR was access to story content and contacts. @Blondeshell]
'''Q)Were there any plans to allow Heroes/Villians to go to the Preatorian zones for badge hunting, exploration badges, etc?  (TheJudge) [I recall that they could do that anyway. The only thing they were locked out of without purchasing GR was access to story content and contacts. @Blondeshell]'''


A) Matt (Positron) Yeah that sounds right to my knowledge. I think there were some badges that were impossible for a non-Praetorian to attain and vice-versa.
A) Matt (Positron) Yeah that sounds right to my knowledge. I think there were some badges that were impossible for a non-Praetorian to attain and vice-versa.


Q) Was there anything that the team wanted to include plotwise that was deemed too controversial or grimdark? (@Peter_Chess)
'''Q) Was there anything that the team wanted to include plotwise that was deemed too controversial or grimdark? (@Peter_Chess)'''


A) Sean McCann (Dr. Aeon) - The original introduction arc for the revamped Atlas Park involved Matthew Habashy purposefully abandoning his wife to the destruction of Galaxy City. He did it out of cowardice, and his arc was supposed to be a redemptive one where he was out to prove his love to his wife after leaving her to die. However, in our first team playtest, the content was very divisive. Some people loved it and wanted more, other people hated Matthew Habashy for what he did and wanted no part in the rest of his story. We changed it after considering that it might be too divisive for the very first story arc in the game.
A) Sean McCann (Dr. Aeon) - The original introduction arc for the revamped Atlas Park involved Matthew Habashy purposefully abandoning his wife to the destruction of Galaxy City. He did it out of cowardice, and his arc was supposed to be a redemptive one where he was out to prove his love to his wife after leaving her to die. However, in our first team playtest, the content was very divisive. Some people loved it and wanted more, other people hated Matthew Habashy for what he did and wanted no part in the rest of his story. We changed it after considering that it might be too divisive for the very first story arc in the game.
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A) Chris Behrens (Baryonyx) - Minds of Mayhem remains my personal favorite of all the trials I worked on, and it couldn’t have existed without Mother Mayhem, so I second John’s motion!
A) Chris Behrens (Baryonyx) - Minds of Mayhem remains my personal favorite of all the trials I worked on, and it couldn’t have existed without Mother Mayhem, so I second John’s motion!


Q)What was the plot of the third novel going to be? I still re-read the other two novels every so often. (The_Judge) [I seem to remember it being “The Rikti War.” (Memphis Bill.) ] [That is correct. It is even mentioned on one of the last pages of the Freedom Phalanx novel (Lycantropus)]
'''Q)What was the plot of the third novel going to be? I still re-read the other two novels every so often. (The_Judge) [I seem to remember it being “The Rikti War.” (Memphis Bill.) ] [That is correct. It is even mentioned on one of the last pages of the Freedom Phalanx novel (Lycantropus)]'''
 
A) Matt Miller (Positron) It was to be the first Rikti War. I think that what we did in game (with the time capsule) was far superior than anything that the novel could have achieved.
A) Matt Miller (Positron) It was to be the first Rikti War. I think that what we did in game (with the time capsule) was far superior than anything that the novel could have achieved.


Q)With the Praetorian relocation occurring, were there plans to use the formerly Praetorian-only enemy groups in additional content? (IE The Destroyers, Syndicate) (@Carin_McLeoud
'''Q)With the Praetorian relocation occurring, were there plans to use the formerly Praetorian-only enemy groups in additional content? (IE The Destroyers, Syndicate) (@Carin_McLeoud)'''


A) Sean McCann (Dr. Aeon) - I think we had some plans for the Syndicate to start working together with the Family. There was a long villain story arc for i24 that involved Praetorian Penelope Yin going crazy while trying to take control of the Awakened. The idea was that she would become the new leader of the Awakened and become a nemesis for primal Penelope Yin.
A) Sean McCann (Dr. Aeon) - I think we had some plans for the Syndicate to start working together with the Family. There was a long villain story arc for i24 that involved Praetorian Penelope Yin going crazy while trying to take control of the Awakened. The idea was that she would become the new leader of the Awakened and become a nemesis for primal Penelope Yin.
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A) John Hegner (Protean) - In some ways The Talons of Vengeance were the slowly creeping death that would ultimately destroy humanity. Master Midnight has a monologue where he paraphrases what they are about, and basically says that they are the literal reason why the ancient Greeks punished oathbreakers so harshly, because if left unpunished, then the punishment of the Furies (i.e. The Talons of Vengeance) would consume mankind until justice was done. The oathbreaker in this case was Emperor Cole. The oath he broke… ask Praetorian Stefan Richter.
A) John Hegner (Protean) - In some ways The Talons of Vengeance were the slowly creeping death that would ultimately destroy humanity. Master Midnight has a monologue where he paraphrases what they are about, and basically says that they are the literal reason why the ancient Greeks punished oathbreakers so harshly, because if left unpunished, then the punishment of the Furies (i.e. The Talons of Vengeance) would consume mankind until justice was done. The oathbreaker in this case was Emperor Cole. The oath he broke… ask Praetorian Stefan Richter.


Q) From the Summer Blockbuster Double Feature, was there anything significant about the extra information you could get by reading the bios of the Time Gladiator enemies?  I’ve occasionally wondered if the backstory for Armageddon, Apocalypse, Gotterdamerung (and the never-seen Gehenna) was meant to set up something down the line. (@CyberSunset)
'''Q) From the Summer Blockbuster Double Feature, was there anything significant about the extra information you could get by reading the bios of the Time Gladiator enemies?  I’ve occasionally wondered if the backstory for Armageddon, Apocalypse, Gotterdamerung (and the never-seen Gehenna) was meant to set up something down the line. (@CyberSunset)'''
 
A) Matt Miller (Positron) I don’t think so. That whole thing was a piece of fiction within the fictional universe of CoH. (Like Tarantino’s Kill Bill).
A) Matt Miller (Positron) I don’t think so. That whole thing was a piece of fiction within the fictional universe of CoH. (Like Tarantino’s Kill Bill).


A) Tim Sweeney (Black Scorp) I don’t know about Time Gladiator, but you could learn the oh-so-secret revelation that the devs were big fans of Leverage and Ocean’s Eleven from Casino Heist. Also, the VO for that event’s trailer was done by our lead engineer.
A) Tim Sweeney (Black Scorp) I don’t know about Time Gladiator, but you could learn the oh-so-secret revelation that the devs were big fans of Leverage and Ocean’s Eleven from Casino Heist. Also, the VO for that event’s trailer was done by our lead engineer.


Q) If you have a chance... everything in this post, which also includes questions not answered in previous AMAs as well as general dev opinion / favorites questions that only a few devs answered: http://www.cohtitan.com/forum/index.php/topic,9602.msg138418.html#msg138418 (I will post my most burning questions here, though) (Felderburg)
'''Q) If you have a chance... everything in this post, which also includes questions not answered in previous AMAs as well as general dev opinion / favorites questions that only a few devs answered: http://www.cohtitan.com/forum/index.php/topic,9602.msg138418.html#msg138418 (I will post my most burning questions here, though) (Felderburg)'''


A) Matt (Positron) I would recommend putting questions into next year’s AMA. It’s way more convenient to work in this format than a forum post.
A) Matt (Positron) I would recommend putting questions into next year’s AMA. It’s way more convenient to work in this format than a forum post.


Q) Who or what are the Furies? Would we have ever seen them in-game? Are they the same in both dimensions, or is it just the one set in charge of every single alternate Earth well? (Felderburg)
'''Q) Who or what are the Furies? Would we have ever seen them in-game? Are they the same in both dimensions, or is it just the one set in charge of every single alternate Earth well? (Felderburg)'''


A) Chris Behrens (Baryonyx) - Like Prometheus is a watcher and agent of the Dimensionless, the Furies were watchers and agents of the Well. They work to see its interests preserved, but like Prometheus notes, they haven’t evolved with their master, who has changed with “humanity” through the millennia. Their ideals are ancient and somewhat out of sync with the current mindset of the Well. However, they also still serve his interests, particularly in loosing the Talons on Praetoria to test Tyrant’s mettle, so there’s not much pulling of the leash. There was only one set for all dimensions; they were made immortal by the Well’s power. I like to think they were drawn from three different dimensions, but that wasn’t official at all. Neither was their appearance. I tended to think that they would have multiple forms, and this dichotomy in form was reflected in the beautiful Sirens and the monstrous Keres.
A) Chris Behrens (Baryonyx) - Like Prometheus is a watcher and agent of the Dimensionless, the Furies were watchers and agents of the Well. They work to see its interests preserved, but like Prometheus notes, they haven’t evolved with their master, who has changed with “humanity” through the millennia. Their ideals are ancient and somewhat out of sync with the current mindset of the Well. However, they also still serve his interests, particularly in loosing the Talons on Praetoria to test Tyrant’s mettle, so there’s not much pulling of the leash. There was only one set for all dimensions; they were made immortal by the Well’s power. I like to think they were drawn from three different dimensions, but that wasn’t official at all. Neither was their appearance. I tended to think that they would have multiple forms, and this dichotomy in form was reflected in the beautiful Sirens and the monstrous Keres.


Q) How accurate is the 2004 Story Bible that was released? (http://paragonwiki.com/wiki/Story_Bible) Some of its lore is contradicted by in-game materials, while some of it is seemingly confirmed. (Felderburg) [I think that was “This is what they started with/at launch, it changed during development.” (Memphis bill)]
'''Q) How accurate is the 2004 Story Bible that was released? (http://paragonwiki.com/wiki/Story_Bible) Some of its lore is contradicted by in-game materials, while some of it is seemingly confirmed. (Felderburg) [I think that was “This is what they started with/at launch, it changed during development.” (Memphis bill)]'''
 
A) Matt Miller (Positron) The number of people working on the game when the bible was written as well as the last couple years of the game was TWO: Melissa and myself, and neither of us contributed greatly to the original Story Bible.
A) Matt Miller (Positron) The number of people working on the game when the bible was written as well as the last couple years of the game was TWO: Melissa and myself, and neither of us contributed greatly to the original Story Bible.


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That said, I am not surprised there are contradictions. If someone had an idea for backstory that contradicted something the players were never told, what kind of manager would I be to say no? “Sorry, Joe, you can’t be creative this week. Please use stuff that was written by Rick 6 years before you ever got here, even if the players have no clue about it.” I never wanted to be that guy.
That said, I am not surprised there are contradictions. If someone had an idea for backstory that contradicted something the players were never told, what kind of manager would I be to say no? “Sorry, Joe, you can’t be creative this week. Please use stuff that was written by Rick 6 years before you ever got here, even if the players have no clue about it.” I never wanted to be that guy.


Q) Can you tell us more about the nature of Rularuu, how his dimensional devouring / transferring to himself worked? Or just everything about Rularuu in general? (Felderburg)
'''Q) Can you tell us more about the nature of Rularuu, how his dimensional devouring / transferring to himself worked? Or just everything about Rularuu in general? (Felderburg)'''
 
A) Matt Miller (Positron) Rularuu was a very power super who, in his native dimension, grew so powerful he consumed his entire universe. Unsated, he found an alternate reality, and an alternate version of himself, and teamed up and consumed that one too. Did this over and over and over until he got to our dimension, where the Midnight Squad figured out what was going on and created a “Shadow Shard” for him to consume, and in doing so would trap him there.
A) Matt Miller (Positron) Rularuu was a very power super who, in his native dimension, grew so powerful he consumed his entire universe. Unsated, he found an alternate reality, and an alternate version of himself, and teamed up and consumed that one too. Did this over and over and over until he got to our dimension, where the Midnight Squad figured out what was going on and created a “Shadow Shard” for him to consume, and in doing so would trap him there.


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I had wanted to have Dream Doctor sacrifice himself by merging with Rularuu and containing his dimension consuming power to just the localized area of the Battalion fleet. With Dream Doctor gone, Rularuu could never return. With the Battalion fleet annihilated, Earth gets a fighting chance and moves onto the offensive. None of this was ever given a green light or fleshed out completely in a meeting, but damn we were getting close to having those meetings where I was going to present it.
I had wanted to have Dream Doctor sacrifice himself by merging with Rularuu and containing his dimension consuming power to just the localized area of the Battalion fleet. With Dream Doctor gone, Rularuu could never return. With the Battalion fleet annihilated, Earth gets a fighting chance and moves onto the offensive. None of this was ever given a green light or fleshed out completely in a meeting, but damn we were getting close to having those meetings where I was going to present it.


Q) Who funded the first manufacture of Superadine back in the 70s? According to the 2004 Story Bible, Nemesis didn't know about dimensional travel until Portal Corp's presentation, so I assume it wasn't him (as he would have known about the dimensional discovery of the immoral scientists creating Superadine). (Felderburg)
'''Q) Who funded the first manufacture of Superadine back in the 70s? According to the 2004 Story Bible, Nemesis didn't know about dimensional travel until Portal Corp's presentation, so I assume it wasn't him (as he would have known about the dimensional discovery of the immoral scientists creating Superadine). (Felderburg)'''
 
A) Matt Miller (Positron) The 70’s was a crazy time, man. There was a group of super-villain scientists who called themselves the Mood Ring (Made up of Lava Lamper, Belle Bottom, Rock Pet, Smiley Face, The Streaker, and 8-Tracks of Destruction) who perfected and sold the formula to the Family who used their considerable business interests to see to its manufacture and distribution.
A) Matt Miller (Positron) The 70’s was a crazy time, man. There was a group of super-villain scientists who called themselves the Mood Ring (Made up of Lava Lamper, Belle Bottom, Rock Pet, Smiley Face, The Streaker, and 8-Tracks of Destruction) who perfected and sold the formula to the Family who used their considerable business interests to see to its manufacture and distribution.


Q) Would the True Rikti have looked/acted like the regular Rikti but… bigger? Or would the True Rikti have been even more alien and bizarre?  Would fighting them have been like fighting regular Rikti with lots of crazy defenses and new tech basically?  (I’m similarly curious about The Dimensionless and other long-way-off enemies.) (@CyberSunset)
'''Q) Would the True Rikti have looked/acted like the regular Rikti but… bigger? Or would the True Rikti have been even more alien and bizarre?  Would fighting them have been like fighting regular Rikti with lots of crazy defenses and new tech basically?  (I’m similarly curious about The Dimensionless and other long-way-off enemies.) (@CyberSunset)
     [Would we have fought the True Rikti of our dimension, or the "fake" Rikti's dimension? (Felderburg)]
     [Would we have fought the True Rikti of our dimension, or the "fake" Rikti's dimension? (Felderburg)]'''


A) Matt Miller (Positron) I would have loved for them to be even more alien, on a non-humanoid animation rig for one, but that would have limited what they could do in-game, so they likely would have been humanoid, looking like super-exaggerated Rikti.
A) Matt Miller (Positron) I would have loved for them to be even more alien, on a non-humanoid animation rig for one, but that would have limited what they could do in-game, so they likely would have been humanoid, looking like super-exaggerated Rikti.
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True Rikti would have made their way to Primal Earth and contacted our True Rikti. We were still up in the air as to whether or not our True Rikti were conquered by Battalion or not.
True Rikti would have made their way to Primal Earth and contacted our True Rikti. We were still up in the air as to whether or not our True Rikti were conquered by Battalion or not.


Q) In regards to existing power sets, I believe it had been brought up on the original CoH forums, were some of the underperforming (perhaps perceived as such) powersets going to be tweaked (ie: Energy Melee, Electrical Blast, Icy Assault)? Also what can be mentioned about what the other origins versions of Sorcery, and what were they going to have for powers? (ErrantBlue)
'''Q) In regards to existing power sets, I believe it had been brought up on the original CoH forums, were some of the underperforming (perhaps perceived as such) powersets going to be tweaked (ie: Energy Melee, Electrical Blast, Icy Assault)? Also what can be mentioned about what the other origins versions of Sorcery, and what were they going to have for powers? (ErrantBlue)'''


A) Matt Miller (Positron) That question is in the hands of the powers designers and not the story-guys. Maybe one day Arbiter Hawk will do a Powers AMA or something.
A) Matt Miller (Positron) That question is in the hands of the powers designers and not the story-guys. Maybe one day Arbiter Hawk will do a Powers AMA or something.


Q) The initial contacts whose story arcs were replaced when COX went free to play had their own backstories (for example, the tech contact was the former hero Horatio whose armor was used to help rebuild Citadel). Were there any plans to use them at all in new content? (Blue Battler)
'''Q) The initial contacts whose story arcs were replaced when COX went free to play had their own backstories (for example, the tech contact was the former hero Horatio whose armor was used to help rebuild Citadel). Were there any plans to use them at all in new content? (Blue Battler)'''


A) Matt Miller (Positron) We were always open to the possibility, but as far as I know, no writer was running with that idea.
A) Matt Miller (Positron) We were always open to the possibility, but as far as I know, no writer was running with that idea.
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A) John Hegner (Protean) - The arrival of Battalion, and Earth getting its ass royally kicked, was going to have people come out of the woodwork to fight the good fight. And yes, Katie Douglas was going to have a bad hair day and take it out on a Battalion Warship.
A) John Hegner (Protean) - The arrival of Battalion, and Earth getting its ass royally kicked, was going to have people come out of the woodwork to fight the good fight. And yes, Katie Douglas was going to have a bad hair day and take it out on a Battalion Warship.


Q) There never seemed to be any mention of professional team sports in CoH. Was there ever a thought to expand missions, contacts, or costume sets (besides boxing) in that direction? I referenced American football in one character bio (http://cit.cohtitan.com/character/2089) but rarely heard of or saw mention of anything else even in other players’ character bios. (@Blondeshell)
'''Q) There never seemed to be any mention of professional team sports in CoH. Was there ever a thought to expand missions, contacts, or costume sets (besides boxing) in that direction? I referenced American football in one character bio (http://cit.cohtitan.com/character/2089) but rarely heard of or saw mention of anything else even in other players’ character bios. (@Blondeshell)'''


A) Matt Miller (Positron) Not a lot of thought went into sports in a super-powered world. I am sure that they are around, but how do you know that the guy who hit 90 home-runs last season wasn’t a telekinetic?
A) Matt Miller (Positron) Not a lot of thought went into sports in a super-powered world. I am sure that they are around, but how do you know that the guy who hit 90 home-runs last season wasn’t a telekinetic?
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If we ever put an arena or colosseum into CoH, we would have had to come up with some sports team. But alas, we never did.
If we ever put an arena or colosseum into CoH, we would have had to come up with some sports team. But alas, we never did.


Q) Were the non-immortal characters (like Psyche and Statesman) supposed to be in their mid-40’s/early 50’s by the time CoH started?  Or was this just sort of a screwup brought about by the timeline introduced in “The Freedom Phalanx”, which had the modern incarnation coming into being in the mid 1980’s.  (@Hyperstrike)
'''Q) Were the non-immortal characters (like Psyche and Statesman) supposed to be in their mid-40’s/early 50’s by the time CoH started?  Or was this just sort of a screwup brought about by the timeline introduced in “The Freedom Phalanx”, which had the modern incarnation coming into being in the mid 1980’s.  (@Hyperstrike)
[This was just the game acknowledging “Comic book time” if I recall correctly. Basically there was no attempt to explain why some character seemed long lived yet youthful, same as Spider-man was introduced as a teenager in the early 1960s, yet is only mid twenties today. (Rune)][Additionally, States was an Incarnate, which I recall being used to explain his youth, while Psyche’s mind-riding was used at least once to explain her youth (her body somehow didn’t age without her mind in it). (Felderburg)]
[This was just the game acknowledging “Comic book time” if I recall correctly. Basically there was no attempt to explain why some character seemed long lived yet youthful, same as Spider-man was introduced as a teenager in the early 1960s, yet is only mid twenties today. (Rune)][Additionally, States was an Incarnate, which I recall being used to explain his youth, while Psyche’s mind-riding was used at least once to explain her youth (her body somehow didn’t age without her mind in it). (Felderburg)]'''


A) Matt Miller (Positron) Comic-book aging, although Dr. Raymond Keyes is in his 50’s during the time of the main game.
A) Matt Miller (Positron) Comic-book aging, although Dr. Raymond Keyes is in his 50’s during the time of the main game.


Q) Were there ever any regrets or apprehension in “The Origins of Power” story line being used in game to explain in game changes and/or mechanical functions of powers (ie: the introduction of diminishing returns/enhancement diversification)? (ErrantBlue)
'''Q) Were there ever any regrets or apprehension in “The Origins of Power” story line being used in game to explain in game changes and/or mechanical functions of powers (ie: the introduction of diminishing returns/enhancement diversification)? (ErrantBlue)
[At least one Dev had regrets about it, per the 2012 AMA question: “If you could retcon any one thing in the storyline, what would it be? Alternately, what’s the one retcon you’ve made that you later regretted?” Don’t know about any other dev’s feelings, so hopefully they answer. (Felderburg)]
[At least one Dev had regrets about it, per the 2012 AMA question: “If you could retcon any one thing in the storyline, what would it be? Alternately, what’s the one retcon you’ve made that you later regretted?” Don’t know about any other dev’s feelings, so hopefully they answer. (Felderburg)]'''


A) Chris Behrens (Baryonyx) - I can’t speak for the others, as this came into the game before I joined the team, but it was certainly in the back of our mind while we developed the background that drives the Well, Prometheus, Battalion, Praetoria, the Dimensionless, the Primordials, etc. One thing we worked on in this regard for Incarnates and up was to emphasize that the Well was not the source of powers; human creativity and potential were instead leveraging the energy of the Source (which we planned to rename), through the Well, to achieve superhuman feats in whatever way they chose. The player should be the driver of their own story, and we wanted the framework to be flexible enough to accommodate that, even though it didn’t seem that way when we had to dole it out slowly.
A) Chris Behrens (Baryonyx) - I can’t speak for the others, as this came into the game before I joined the team, but it was certainly in the back of our mind while we developed the background that drives the Well, Prometheus, Battalion, Praetoria, the Dimensionless, the Primordials, etc. One thing we worked on in this regard for Incarnates and up was to emphasize that the Well was not the source of powers; human creativity and potential were instead leveraging the energy of the Source (which we planned to rename), through the Well, to achieve superhuman feats in whatever way they chose. The player should be the driver of their own story, and we wanted the framework to be flexible enough to accommodate that, even though it didn’t seem that way when we had to dole it out slowly.
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A) John Hegner (Protean) - I think if anything we regretted that we couldn’t tell it all up front without spoiling the story. We heard the outrage and had to knuckled down knowing that the pay-off in the end would more than justify the momentary appearance of lack of character control.
A) John Hegner (Protean) - I think if anything we regretted that we couldn’t tell it all up front without spoiling the story. We heard the outrage and had to knuckled down knowing that the pay-off in the end would more than justify the momentary appearance of lack of character control.


Q) Were there ever any plans to finally rescue/revert Tanya/Terra from “The Terra Conspiracy?” That was a favourite, though somewhat sad, arc. (Memphis Bill)  
'''Q) Were there ever any plans to finally rescue/revert Tanya/Terra from “The Terra Conspiracy?” That was a favourite, though somewhat sad, arc. (Memphis Bill)'''


A) Tim Sweeney (Black Scorp) There were plans for two Praetorian Epic Archetypes on the tables, and quite a few of the powers were actually implemented. One a Praetorian Clockwork, and one a Recovered Devoured. I think that we probably would have used the former as a way to help refresh some of the AI/robot related storylines, and the second to advance Devouring Earth plotlines like that. An way to trigger factionalizing or internal disruption to the DE might have been a good, polarizing plotline. Plus, we could probably have turned her into our own version of Sarah Kerrigan.
A) Tim Sweeney (Black Scorp) There were plans for two Praetorian Epic Archetypes on the tables, and quite a few of the powers were actually implemented. One a Praetorian Clockwork, and one a Recovered Devoured. I think that we probably would have used the former as a way to help refresh some of the AI/robot related storylines, and the second to advance Devouring Earth plotlines like that. An way to trigger factionalizing or internal disruption to the DE might have been a good, polarizing plotline. Plus, we could probably have turned her into our own version of Sarah Kerrigan.
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A) John Hegner (Protean) - Unrelated except for the DE comments above. Many players asked us about what the deal was with Praetorian Infernal (since he wasn’t from Primal Earth initially anyway). We kept him off the radar for a few reasons, not the least of which was a lack of Praetorian CoT costumes. Anyway, I had toyed with the idea early on of Infernal being Cole’s greatest concern because his magic was unrivaled in Praetoria. His master stroke would have been learning of a way to use the Thorns on Hamidon and to effectively possess him and through him all of the Devouring Earth. The temp name I had for him was Hamidaemon.
A) John Hegner (Protean) - Unrelated except for the DE comments above. Many players asked us about what the deal was with Praetorian Infernal (since he wasn’t from Primal Earth initially anyway). We kept him off the radar for a few reasons, not the least of which was a lack of Praetorian CoT costumes. Anyway, I had toyed with the idea early on of Infernal being Cole’s greatest concern because his magic was unrivaled in Praetoria. His master stroke would have been learning of a way to use the Thorns on Hamidon and to effectively possess him and through him all of the Devouring Earth. The temp name I had for him was Hamidaemon.


Q) Were there ever any plans (before or after release) to flesh out, or possibly branch by choice, the VEAT arcs? The later ones always felt disappointingly *rushed* to me (and let’s not get into the speech on the last one…) and given the insight from some of the independent arcs, there was potential in the banes and fortunatas. (Memphis Bill)  
'''Q) Were there ever any plans (before or after release) to flesh out, or possibly branch by choice, the VEAT arcs? The later ones always felt disappointingly *rushed* to me (and let’s not get into the speech on the last one…) and given the insight from some of the independent arcs, there was potential in the banes and fortunatas. (Memphis Bill) '''


A) Tim Sweeney (Black Scorp) It would have been a passion project by one of the staff, as there wasn’t a good case for going back. On the other hand, I could have seen Sean writing additional VEAT only optional or side content into whatever came next in terms of the Recluse/Red Widow plotlines.
A) Tim Sweeney (Black Scorp) It would have been a passion project by one of the staff, as there wasn’t a good case for going back. On the other hand, I could have seen Sean writing additional VEAT only optional or side content into whatever came next in terms of the Recluse/Red Widow plotlines.
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A) Sean McCann (Dr. Aeon): What Tim said.
A) Sean McCann (Dr. Aeon): What Tim said.


Q) I don’t know if any of you were present at the time, but I remember how, early in development, CoH was *very*different from the way it was at release; no archetypes, and origin mattered a lot. If you remember that far back, could anyone expand on the way it was first planned? (@Interface)
'''Q) I don’t know if any of you were present at the time, but I remember how, early in development, CoH was *very*different from the way it was at release; no archetypes, and origin mattered a lot. If you remember that far back, could anyone expand on the way it was first planned? (@Interface)'''
 
A) Matt Miller (Positron) It was before even I joined the game. It was much more freeform, but it was quickly discovered that without a guiding hand in choosing powers, a player could make a completely combat-gimped character that could never gain XP. It was then decided that a guiding hand, in the form of powersets, was the way to go.
A) Matt Miller (Positron) It was before even I joined the game. It was much more freeform, but it was quickly discovered that without a guiding hand in choosing powers, a player could make a completely combat-gimped character that could never gain XP. It was then decided that a guiding hand, in the form of powersets, was the way to go.


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These were very reminiscent of "traditional" gameplay mechanics players were used to at the time.  I believe there were inherent bonuses with whatever origin you chose, but the reward wasn't stellar - maybe something like more Heal for X and more Stamina for Y. But it did incentivize choosing X origin just for the benefits so it was scrapped.  
These were very reminiscent of "traditional" gameplay mechanics players were used to at the time.  I believe there were inherent bonuses with whatever origin you chose, but the reward wasn't stellar - maybe something like more Heal for X and more Stamina for Y. But it did incentivize choosing X origin just for the benefits so it was scrapped.  


Q) Given the I24 changes, Blasters were, IMHO, just about right. In your opinion, were all the archetypes ‘just right’ at that point? Personally I’d say Corruptors needed a bit of love, and Warshades were still a failed experiment, but that’s just my two INF. (I know these aren’t technically Lore questions, but I really need to know.) (@Interface)
'''Q) Given the I24 changes, Blasters were, IMHO, just about right. In your opinion, were all the archetypes ‘just right’ at that point? Personally I’d say Corruptors needed a bit of love, and Warshades were still a failed experiment, but that’s just my two INF. (I know these aren’t technically Lore questions, but I really need to know.) (@Interface)'''


A) Matt Miller (Positron) Again, outside the wheelhouse of what this AMA can easily answer.
A) Matt Miller (Positron) Again, outside the wheelhouse of what this AMA can easily answer.


Q) Can you give us a general description of what the Battalion would have looked like, what they’re powers were, and how they were connected to existing lore? (@Liberties)
'''Q) Can you give us a general description of what the Battalion would have looked like, what they’re powers were, and how they were connected to existing lore? (@Liberties)'''
 
A) Matt Miller (Positron) Battalion’s forces were sort of a mish-mash of hundreds of different alien races all subjugated to work for them. To that end the art direction was a uniform suit of power armor, made from Impervium, that we could throw into the costume creator and then put alien heads, arms, legs, and tails on in hundreds of different ways.
A) Matt Miller (Positron) Battalion’s forces were sort of a mish-mash of hundreds of different alien races all subjugated to work for them. To that end the art direction was a uniform suit of power armor, made from Impervium, that we could throw into the costume creator and then put alien heads, arms, legs, and tails on in hundreds of different ways.


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A) John Hegner (Protean) - IIRC there was Battalion (the race) and then there were the legions of loyal super soldiers. Levied from the myriad worlds Battalion had conquered the Wells of, these legions were equipped with the finest technology in the galaxy. The legions were going to be badasses themselves, but facing down an actual member of the true Battalion race was intended to be nothing short of epic.
A) John Hegner (Protean) - IIRC there was Battalion (the race) and then there were the legions of loyal super soldiers. Levied from the myriad worlds Battalion had conquered the Wells of, these legions were equipped with the finest technology in the galaxy. The legions were going to be badasses themselves, but facing down an actual member of the true Battalion race was intended to be nothing short of epic.


Q) Penelope Yin was revealed to be Vanessa DeVore’s daughter in the Praetorian arcs. Was there a proper backstory built around this, as it seems to really strain the timeline (with Vanessa being a graduate student and finding Giovanna Scaldi’s mask in 2000, Penelope Yin being an older teenager in 2012, and Wu Yin being noticeable older than Vanessa by some 20 years)? Where was this storyline going? (@Phoenicia)
'''Q) Penelope Yin was revealed to be Vanessa DeVore’s daughter in the Praetorian arcs. Was there a proper backstory built around this, as it seems to really strain the timeline (with Vanessa being a graduate student and finding Giovanna Scaldi’s mask in 2000, Penelope Yin being an older teenager in 2012, and Wu Yin being noticeable older than Vanessa by some 20 years)? Where was this storyline going? (@Phoenicia)
[Did this revelation of her mother apply to the Primal Earth side of things? (Felderburg)]
[Did this revelation of her mother apply to the Primal Earth side of things? (Felderburg)]'''


A) Chris Behrens (Baryonyx) - Dr. Aeon had planned out Penelope’s story into Primal Earth, where she would have become the arch-villain Penelope Mayhem, leader of the Awakened. He or Protean could probably go more into her background, though.
A) Chris Behrens (Baryonyx) - Dr. Aeon had planned out Penelope’s story into Primal Earth, where she would have become the arch-villain Penelope Mayhem, leader of the Awakened. He or Protean could probably go more into her background, though.
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A) John Hegner (Protean) - Because the Praetorian timeline is suitably mixed up due to the events following the Korean War and the Hamidon Wars, we had license to determine that some individuals were born earlier or later than they were on Primal Earth. Vanessa DeVore is one such individual. I did have a rough timeline at one point, but I doubt it exists anywhere anymore.
A) John Hegner (Protean) - Because the Praetorian timeline is suitably mixed up due to the events following the Korean War and the Hamidon Wars, we had license to determine that some individuals were born earlier or later than they were on Primal Earth. Vanessa DeVore is one such individual. I did have a rough timeline at one point, but I doubt it exists anywhere anymore.


Q) Was Penny Yin's mother always intended to be DeVore? (Liquid)
'''Q) Was Penny Yin's mother always intended to be DeVore? (Liquid)'''


A) John Hegner (Protean) - To my knowledge, no. I remember connecting the potential dots at one point, mulling it over, and then excitedly dropping the idea on designers to see their reactions. Majority of reactions were positive, so we went with it. It also helped flesh out Mr. Yin as the head of the Syndicate as well. Until then, that villain group had no true heart.
A) John Hegner (Protean) - To my knowledge, no. I remember connecting the potential dots at one point, mulling it over, and then excitedly dropping the idea on designers to see their reactions. Majority of reactions were positive, so we went with it. It also helped flesh out Mr. Yin as the head of the Syndicate as well. Until then, that villain group had no true heart.


Q) OK, *one* last not-really-Lore question then I’m done. You step through a time warp back to ‘04. Axe the Fitness pool or keep it? How about Hasten? (@Interface)
'''Q) OK, *one* last not-really-Lore question then I’m done. You step through a time warp back to ‘04. Axe the Fitness pool or keep it? How about Hasten? (@Interface)'''


A) Sean McCann (Dr. Aeon) - C) Buff the heck out of Pummel. (also, I’m not a powers designer)
A) Sean McCann (Dr. Aeon) - C) Buff the heck out of Pummel. (also, I’m not a powers designer)
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A) Tim Sweeney (Black Scorp) Barring any other changes, making them more like feats or utility powers from D&D 4e would have been a nice move. Several powersets suffered because thematically correct powers were in the 9, though failed to fulfill a clear mission.
A) Tim Sweeney (Black Scorp) Barring any other changes, making them more like feats or utility powers from D&D 4e would have been a nice move. Several powersets suffered because thematically correct powers were in the 9, though failed to fulfill a clear mission.


Q) Were there ever plans to delve further into Cimerora? (Lord Arkasas)
'''Q) Were there ever plans to delve further into Cimerora? (Lord Arkasas)'''


A) Sean McCann (Dr. Aeon) - I really wanted to expand on the Path of the Dark and its connections to Cimerora.
A) Sean McCann (Dr. Aeon) - I really wanted to expand on the Path of the Dark and its connections to Cimerora.


Q) Less of a lore question, more of a general writing question. Were there any stories/characters/ideas you didn’t use because you thought they might be too close to existing comic stories, or would cause potential trouble with Marvel/DC? (@Cooldrew/@Crippl3)
'''Q) Less of a lore question, more of a general writing question. Were there any stories/characters/ideas you didn’t use because you thought they might be too close to existing comic stories, or would cause potential trouble with Marvel/DC? (@Cooldrew/@Crippl3)'''


A) Matt Miller (Positron) We wanted to make a game where comic book fans could feel at home, yet at the same time make it their own. Many, many, of the storylines in CoH pay homage to classic comic book stories. GIFT was pretty much just Xavier’s School, HeroCorp was Heroes for Hire, Vanguard was S.H.I.E.L.D., Altas Park was Metropolis and Kings Row was Gotham, etc. etc.
A) Matt Miller (Positron) We wanted to make a game where comic book fans could feel at home, yet at the same time make it their own. Many, many, of the storylines in CoH pay homage to classic comic book stories. GIFT was pretty much just Xavier’s School, HeroCorp was Heroes for Hire, Vanguard was S.H.I.E.L.D., Altas Park was Metropolis and Kings Row was Gotham, etc. etc.
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I mean, they were our own versions with their own stories and uniqueness about them, but we wanted players to find familiar footing when they played CoH.
I mean, they were our own versions with their own stories and uniqueness about them, but we wanted players to find familiar footing when they played CoH.


Q) What were the ultimate Magic origin and Technology origin threats that were conceived of by time of the sunset announcement, and what made them scarier than what we’d fought before? (Tim Compton, AKA @Draeth Darkstar)
'''Q) What were the ultimate Magic origin and Technology origin threats that were conceived of by time of the sunset announcement, and what made them scarier than what we’d fought before? (Tim Compton, AKA @Draeth Darkstar)'''
 
A) Chris Behrens (Baryonyx) - I don’t know that these were specific to an origin, but the “ultimate” threats included:
A) Chris Behrens (Baryonyx) - I don’t know that these were specific to an origin, but the “ultimate” threats included:


A possible battle against Praetorian Hamidon, though we were also considering other solutions to that story.
*A possible battle against Praetorian Hamidon, though we were also considering other solutions to that story.
A war against Battalion, culminating in showdowns with their well-consuming “True Battalion” leadership, some as early as Issue 26.
*A war against Battalion, culminating in showdowns with their well-consuming “True Battalion” leadership, some as early as Issue 26.
A war against Prometheus, the Furies, and the Well to free yourself from all of them.
*A war against Prometheus, the Furies, and the Well to free yourself from all of them.
A war against the Primordial who came closest to eliminating the Source at the dawn of existence when he returns. You have to rally other Wells (along with some NPCs, that’s you in the post-Battalion, post-Furies world) to your side.
*A war against the Primordial who came closest to eliminating the Source at the dawn of existence when he returns. You have to rally other Wells (along with some NPCs, that’s you in the post-Battalion, post-Furies world) to your side.
A war where the Concepts of Order and Chaos themselves break out of the void, culminating in battles against their personifications and the first Primordial to save (or control!) all of existence. But first you need to survive a civil war tearing the Dimensionless and their Primordial leadership apart, fraying the whole infrastructure keeping it all going.
*A war where the Concepts of Order and Chaos themselves break out of the void, culminating in battles against their personifications and the first Primordial to save (or control!) all of existence.  
 
But first you need to survive a civil war tearing the Dimensionless and their Primordial leadership apart, fraying the whole infrastructure keeping it all going.
 
'''Q) What tabletop RPG system do you feel best fits the power scale, game style, and themes of City of Heroes? Have any of the developers designed any unofficial homebrew City of Heroes pen and paper material? (Tim Compton, AKA @Draeth Darkstar)'''


Q) What tabletop RPG system do you feel best fits the power scale, game style, and themes of City of Heroes? Have any of the developers designed any unofficial homebrew City of Heroes pen and paper material? (Tim Compton, AKA @Draeth Darkstar)
A) Matt Miller (Positron) Jeff Hamiliton and I were just talking about this the other day. IMO, the best “system” for conveying a comic-book game would be something akin to Fantasy Flight’s Star Wars RPG system. Extremely narrative storytelling, less emphasis on making numbers into bigger numbers.
A) Matt Miller (Positron) Jeff Hamiliton and I were just talking about this the other day. IMO, the best “system” for conveying a comic-book game would be something akin to Fantasy Flight’s Star Wars RPG system. Extremely narrative storytelling, less emphasis on making numbers into bigger numbers.


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A) John Hegner (Protean) - Power Scale, Game Style, and Themes. This sounds like you want something that plays like CoH combat. My money is firmly on D&D 4th edition. Hell, Matt even ran a Cimmerora game using 4th edition rules. I’ve seen people playing Justice League using their rules (Batman is a Rogue, fyi). But if you are looking for something that plays like a comic book, well, I would suggest modifying Dogs in the Vineyard or In a Wicked Age to use their rules but match the superhero theme, as they are heavy story games and not so much about min/maxing stats and abilities.
A) John Hegner (Protean) - Power Scale, Game Style, and Themes. This sounds like you want something that plays like CoH combat. My money is firmly on D&D 4th edition. Hell, Matt even ran a Cimmerora game using 4th edition rules. I’ve seen people playing Justice League using their rules (Batman is a Rogue, fyi). But if you are looking for something that plays like a comic book, well, I would suggest modifying Dogs in the Vineyard or In a Wicked Age to use their rules but match the superhero theme, as they are heavy story games and not so much about min/maxing stats and abilities.


Q) If City of Heroes came back would you bring back Statesman and Sister Psyche? (@Nyght Blade)
'''Q) If City of Heroes came back would you bring back Statesman and Sister Psyche? (@Nyght Blade)'''


A) Sean McCann (Dr. Aeon) - Personally, no. I hate it when comic book characters are brought back to life.
A) Sean McCann (Dr. Aeon) - Personally, no. I hate it when comic book characters are brought back to life.
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A) John Hegner (Protean) - Death is such a formative part of life. We had so many places we wanted the death of those two iconic characters to take us. Ms. Liberty and Manticore both have these huge gaping wounds in their hearts now, so many possibilities to go with that. We fleshed out a number of ideas as well, and they shook things up something fierce.
A) John Hegner (Protean) - Death is such a formative part of life. We had so many places we wanted the death of those two iconic characters to take us. Ms. Liberty and Manticore both have these huge gaping wounds in their hearts now, so many possibilities to go with that. We fleshed out a number of ideas as well, and they shook things up something fierce.


Q) Something I actually quite enjoyed about the story in the game’s later years was that the villains (both groups like Arachnos, and the player character) WEREN’T incompetent; they were extremely skilled and organized, and probably accomplished more than the heroes from about Going Rogue onwards. Was this an intentional decision, or did that just happen during writing? (@Cleretic)
'''Q) Something I actually quite enjoyed about the story in the game’s later years was that the villains (both groups like Arachnos, and the player character) WEREN’T incompetent; they were extremely skilled and organized, and probably accomplished more than the heroes from about Going Rogue onwards. Was this an intentional decision, or did that just happen during writing? (@Cleretic)'''


A) Sean McCann (Dr. Aeon) - Villain groups in games fascinated me, and I was a big City of Villains player. I loved being able to advance the stories of villain groups and the player villain. One of my favorite was with Malta, Praetoria, and Incarnates. I loved the idea of Malta rescuing Battle Maiden, since she was totally powered by technological means. It was a lesson I personally learned in the Alpha Strike task force where people said it didn’t feel good to be fighting Malta when you’re an Incarnate - why are they a threat? That’s when I began to think… this must be what the villain groups are thinking. How can we face Incarnates, and what do we do to solve this?
A) Sean McCann (Dr. Aeon) - Villain groups in games fascinated me, and I was a big City of Villains player. I loved being able to advance the stories of villain groups and the player villain. One of my favorite was with Malta, Praetoria, and Incarnates. I loved the idea of Malta rescuing Battle Maiden, since she was totally powered by technological means. It was a lesson I personally learned in the Alpha Strike task force where people said it didn’t feel good to be fighting Malta when you’re an Incarnate - why are they a threat? That’s when I began to think… this must be what the villain groups are thinking. How can we face Incarnates, and what do we do to solve this?
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A) John Hegner (Protean) - A hero is only as good as their villain. Definitely intentional. The writing for Praetoria necessitated that shift in possibility, since a decidedly non-heroic faction had taken power in Praetoria. Furthermore, the capacity for humanity to overcome obstacles basically empowered villain groups like Malta to start catching up. Only the inclusion of Incarnates kept the heroes a step ahead of them. Basically, the heroes shine brightest when surrounded by darkness, and we wanted things to get oh so dark.
A) John Hegner (Protean) - A hero is only as good as their villain. Definitely intentional. The writing for Praetoria necessitated that shift in possibility, since a decidedly non-heroic faction had taken power in Praetoria. Furthermore, the capacity for humanity to overcome obstacles basically empowered villain groups like Malta to start catching up. Only the inclusion of Incarnates kept the heroes a step ahead of them. Basically, the heroes shine brightest when surrounded by darkness, and we wanted things to get oh so dark.


Q) One thing I never really got an answer to was, what was going on with Primal Earth’s Furies while Praetoria’s (insane) Furies were running rampant in our world? Why did they not intervene? (@Lycantropus)
'''Q) One thing I never really got an answer to was, what was going on with Primal Earth’s Furies while Praetoria’s (insane) Furies were running rampant in our world? Why did they not intervene? (@Lycantropus)'''


A) Chris Behrens (Baryonyx) - There’s only one set of Furies. They unleash the Talons of Vengeance, their army of the Well’s will, on Praetoria because of Emperor Cole’s actions when claiming his power. Primal Earth originally did nothing to offend the Well or the Furies, so the Talons had no business there, until Diabolique fled there and Mot started waking up.
A) Chris Behrens (Baryonyx) - There’s only one set of Furies. They unleash the Talons of Vengeance, their army of the Well’s will, on Praetoria because of Emperor Cole’s actions when claiming his power. Primal Earth originally did nothing to offend the Well or the Furies, so the Talons had no business there, until Diabolique fled there and Mot started waking up.
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A) Tim Sweeney (Black Scorp) They trusted Statesman to do the right thing. I suppose they would had some reaction after his death.
A) Tim Sweeney (Black Scorp) They trusted Statesman to do the right thing. I suppose they would had some reaction after his death.


Q) Speaking of Primal Earth’s Furies, they had a resturant in Kings Row at the top of a building. Was that ever planned to be represented in game (or was it and we just didn’t know-if so, where!?)? (@Lycantropus)
'''Q) Speaking of Primal Earth’s Furies, they had a resturant in Kings Row at the top of a building. Was that ever planned to be represented in game (or was it and we just didn’t know-if so, where!?)? (@Lycantropus)'''


A) Chris Behrens (Baryonyx) - There were some talks about it appearing in the Pandora’s Box arc, but I think that was scrapped. Someone else could elaborate more on that arc. If not there, it would have likely been seen when it came time to face them.
A) Chris Behrens (Baryonyx) - There were some talks about it appearing in the Pandora’s Box arc, but I think that was scrapped. Someone else could elaborate more on that arc. If not there, it would have likely been seen when it came time to face them.
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A) Tim Sweeney (Black Scorp) That would have been a great place to use the phasing tech. What has looked like a bunch of vents and water towers on top of that building suddenly appears to be a restaurant now that you’ve completed the story arc.
A) Tim Sweeney (Black Scorp) That would have been a great place to use the phasing tech. What has looked like a bunch of vents and water towers on top of that building suddenly appears to be a restaurant now that you’ve completed the story arc.


Q) Were there any Easter eggs that no one ever seemed to find? (@Crantz)
'''Q) Were there any Easter eggs that no one ever seemed to find? (@Crantz)
[Per previous AMA: “The Producers were the keepers of the Easter Eggs, so bug Melissa Bianco or Nate Birkholz. (Matt)” So if they’re around for this AMA, hopefully they’ll be asked. (Felderburg)] [Oh, okay, thank you (@crantz)]
[Per previous AMA: “The Producers were the keepers of the Easter Eggs, so bug Melissa Bianco or Nate Birkholz. (Matt)” So if they’re around for this AMA, hopefully they’ll be asked. (Felderburg)] [Oh, okay, thank you (@crantz)]'''


A) Matt Miller (Positron) I don’t think anyone noticed that there was a skull on each and every cover of the Who Will Die? SSA.
A) Matt Miller (Positron) I don’t think anyone noticed that there was a skull on each and every cover of the Who Will Die? SSA.
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A) Tim Sweeney (Black Scorp) Null the Gull’s talk tree had a certain path through it that seemed like it was looping, but it was just repeating the same text in different internal states. If you kept going in the right pattern for about 10-12 pages, it did a badgegrantall on your character. No one found that on Live. (WHAT?! - Matt)
A) Tim Sweeney (Black Scorp) Null the Gull’s talk tree had a certain path through it that seemed like it was looping, but it was just repeating the same text in different internal states. If you kept going in the right pattern for about 10-12 pages, it did a badgegrantall on your character. No one found that on Live. (WHAT?! - Matt)


Q) Did Nemesis have a real name? If he didn't, do you want to make one up right now? (@Crantz) [According to the novel “The Freedom Phalanx”, his name was Gerhardt Eisenstadt from Austria in the late 1800’s (@Lycantropus)] [Ah! Thank you (@crantz)]
'''Q) Did Nemesis have a real name? If he didn't, do you want to make one up right now? (@Crantz) [According to the novel “The Freedom Phalanx”, his name was Gerhardt Eisenstadt from Austria in the late 1800’s (@Lycantropus)] [Ah! Thank you (@crantz)]'''
 
A) Matt Miller (Positron) Yes, Mr. Eisenstadt was a gifted clockmaker and toy maker, and well ahead of his time.
A) Matt Miller (Positron) Yes, Mr. Eisenstadt was a gifted clockmaker and toy maker, and well ahead of his time.


Q) If Megan Duncan learned of the ability to resurrect someone who died (per the Valentine event) why did she choose to bring back Red Widow instead of her grandfather or Sister Psyche so soon after their deaths (this Valentine event was presented shortly after the Who Will Die arc reached that point so it just seemed weird)?(@Lycantropus)
'''Q) If Megan Duncan learned of the ability to resurrect someone who died (per the Valentine event) why did she choose to bring back Red Widow instead of her grandfather or Sister Psyche so soon after their deaths (this Valentine event was presented shortly after the Who Will Die arc reached that point so it just seemed weird)?(@Lycantropus)'''
 
A) Matt Miller (Positron) Statesman wasn’t killed, he was destroyed, so no resurrection magic would work. Sister Psyche was killed on the cusp of frying the minds of everyone on Earth. Bringing her back would just resume the countdown, so that was out of the question until a solution to that problem could be found.
A) Matt Miller (Positron) Statesman wasn’t killed, he was destroyed, so no resurrection magic would work. Sister Psyche was killed on the cusp of frying the minds of everyone on Earth. Bringing her back would just resume the countdown, so that was out of the question until a solution to that problem could be found.


Q)We never saw how the Signature Story Arc “Pandora’s Box ended. How was that all going to play out? (@Lycantropus) [Episode 5 did get released to the beta server before shutdown, and both the hero and villain versions are documented at Paragon Wiki. http://paragonwiki.com/wiki/Pandora%27s_Box_(SSA) (@Blondeshell)]
'''Q)We never saw how the Signature Story Arc “Pandora’s Box ended. How was that all going to play out? (@Lycantropus) [Episode 5 did get released to the beta server before shutdown, and both the hero and villain versions are documented at Paragon Wiki. http://paragonwiki.com/wiki/Pandora%27s_Box_(SSA) (@Blondeshell)]'''


A) Matt Miller (Positron) That’s a great resource for that sort of thing. Far better than what we have access to.
A) Matt Miller (Positron) That’s a great resource for that sort of thing. Far better than what we have access to.


Q) Can we just make a big, running doc left open for questions, that devs can answer as they see fit? It seems like it’s sort of a chore to try and gather a bunch of people once a year, and it would also help get more responses to general “what was your favorite ___?” type questions, which seem to be answered by only a few devs at a time. (Felderburg)
'''Q) Can we just make a big, running doc left open for questions, that devs can answer as they see fit? It seems like it’s sort of a chore to try and gather a bunch of people once a year, and it would also help get more responses to general “what was your favorite ___?” type questions, which seem to be answered by only a few devs at a time. (Felderburg)'''


A) Matt Miller (Positron) Then what would we do every April? This is more fun (and less year-round work).
A) Matt Miller (Positron) Then what would we do every April? This is more fun (and less year-round work).
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A) John Hegner (Protean) - I agree with Matt. Having it be a “time of year” brings it more into focus that if it was just sitting there all the time. How often would I be expected to check it? I wouldn’t want you guys to feel let down if I got distracted by something shine-tastic and didn’t answer for months on end.
A) John Hegner (Protean) - I agree with Matt. Having it be a “time of year” brings it more into focus that if it was just sitting there all the time. How often would I be expected to check it? I wouldn’t want you guys to feel let down if I got distracted by something shine-tastic and didn’t answer for months on end.


Q) Is there anything you can tell us about what was going to happen story-wise at Kallisti Wharf?  I know some of the arcs that were in beta made some mention of it apparently being a source of a lot of technology, which seemed to interest Arachnos. (@Mekkanos)
'''Q) Is there anything you can tell us about what was going to happen story-wise at Kallisti Wharf?  I know some of the arcs that were in beta made some mention of it apparently being a source of a lot of technology, which seemed to interest Arachnos. (@Mekkanos)'''


A) Chris Behrens (Baryonyx) - A new friend of the people would present a technologically advanced waterfront development to the people of Paragon City, complete with memorial to Statesman. He would be a totally innocent, upstanding citizen, and not in any way connected to Battalion. Certainly not one of the well-consuming true Battalion, ruler over an army designed to crush resistance before it even notices a... Coming Storm?
A) Chris Behrens (Baryonyx) - A new friend of the people would present a technologically advanced waterfront development to the people of Paragon City, complete with memorial to Statesman. He would be a totally innocent, upstanding citizen, and not in any way connected to Battalion. Certainly not one of the well-consuming true Battalion, ruler over an army designed to crush resistance before it even notices a... Coming Storm?
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I think the ultimate goal was if you summoned Dean, he would have no powers whatsoever, but would just shout out one liners. We also had a mission that we had (sort of) gotten to work where you as the villain had to defend your secret base from incoming heroes. The owner of the mission wouldn’t fight - they would be flying around placing items to fight groups of heroes. If you were teamed, your teammates would be on the ground fighting. If you had NPC allies, they would be your “heroes” who you could order around to move, attack, defend, like mastermind pets. This was all in the extremely experimental phase, but it would’ve been amazing to get it off the ground and in.
I think the ultimate goal was if you summoned Dean, he would have no powers whatsoever, but would just shout out one liners. We also had a mission that we had (sort of) gotten to work where you as the villain had to defend your secret base from incoming heroes. The owner of the mission wouldn’t fight - they would be flying around placing items to fight groups of heroes. If you were teamed, your teammates would be on the ground fighting. If you had NPC allies, they would be your “heroes” who you could order around to move, attack, defend, like mastermind pets. This was all in the extremely experimental phase, but it would’ve been amazing to get it off the ground and in.


Q) The Drudges, and Night Ward in general: What’s going on with the British themes? Is Praetoria actually in the British Isles, or is something else going on? Also, are the Hooded Lanterns supposed to be “unformed” Drudges, or just conjured entities? (@Goblinman)
'''Q) The Drudges, and Night Ward in general: What’s going on with the British themes? Is Praetoria actually in the British Isles, or is something else going on? Also, are the Hooded Lanterns supposed to be “unformed” Drudges, or just conjured entities? (@Goblinman)'''


A) Tim Sweeney (Black Scorp) The Black knights and Pendragon had a large effect on the artistic focus for the zone, and the Midnight Squad being similar to the stereotypical British “Watchers” can also be blamed for this. Night Ward was also supposed to evoke “not of the present time, but containing the past,” and “British” tends to read as “old.” It had a good deal of influence on the art, and also gave the excuse to put a blue police box in Night Ward. Part of Pendragon’s shtick is his deep connection to the ideas and collective spirit of the Isles, so as in-world explanations go it is somewhat plausible.
A) Tim Sweeney (Black Scorp) The Black knights and Pendragon had a large effect on the artistic focus for the zone, and the Midnight Squad being similar to the stereotypical British “Watchers” can also be blamed for this. Night Ward was also supposed to evoke “not of the present time, but containing the past,” and “British” tends to read as “old.” It had a good deal of influence on the art, and also gave the excuse to put a blue police box in Night Ward. Part of Pendragon’s shtick is his deep connection to the ideas and collective spirit of the Isles, so as in-world explanations go it is somewhat plausible.
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A) John Hegner (Protean) - Whispering Coyote mentions that the Drudges took samples of the world of the living to model their enterprise on. He mentions the DMV amongst other things, IIRC. The cruel task masters took a page from Industrial Age Britain for their efficient utilization of labor for profits, those profits coming from shipping souls in exchange for wax to keep their candles burning.
A) John Hegner (Protean) - Whispering Coyote mentions that the Drudges took samples of the world of the living to model their enterprise on. He mentions the DMV amongst other things, IIRC. The cruel task masters took a page from Industrial Age Britain for their efficient utilization of labor for profits, those profits coming from shipping souls in exchange for wax to keep their candles burning.


Q) What was the deal with Number Six from the I24 beta?  It’s implied that he was the AI Executable Number Six from one of the early Crey arcs.  In fact, he outright said that things were simpler when he was Executable Number Six at one point. However, his bio claimed that he was a human with the ability to turn himself digital and his “real” name sounds humanlike.  Which was he; human or AI?  Was he an AI that was pretending to be human, maybe? (@Mekkanos)
'''Q) What was the deal with Number Six from the I24 beta?  It’s implied that he was the AI Executable Number Six from one of the early Crey arcs.  In fact, he outright said that things were simpler when he was Executable Number Six at one point. However, his bio claimed that he was a human with the ability to turn himself digital and his “real” name sounds humanlike.  Which was he; human or AI?  Was he an AI that was pretending to be human, maybe? (@Mekkanos)
A) Sean McCann (Dr. Aeon) - He was Executable Number Six. I wrote that arc. Bonus trivia, we squeezed in that Incarnate Arc when we noticed we had nothing for solo incarnates for i24. His initial character was someone who could turn himself digital, but then I decided it would be much more interesting if he tied back to Executable Number Six. He would have more backstory, and create a conflict between Crey and Vanguard. However, the idea was that he was originally human with the super power to turn himself digital, but that Crey trapped him in a computer for so long that he nearly lost his mind.  
A) Sean McCann (Dr. Aeon) - He was Executable Number Six. I wrote that arc. Bonus trivia, we squeezed in that Incarnate Arc when we noticed we had nothing for solo incarnates for i24. His initial character was someone who could turn himself digital, but then I decided it would be much more interesting if he tied back to Executable Number Six. He would have more backstory, and create a conflict between Crey and Vanguard. However, the idea was that he was originally human with the super power to turn himself digital, but that Crey trapped him in a computer for so long that he nearly lost his mind.'''
 
'''Q) Was there anything planned for the Lord of Frosts from the backstory lore? To recap, he was the leader of the Imperial Japanese supers in WW2, and he "vanished mysteriously" along with his US counterpart Captain Volcano at the end of WW2. (@DKellis)'''


Q) Was there anything planned for the Lord of Frosts from the backstory lore? To recap, he was the leader of the Imperial Japanese supers in WW2, and he "vanished mysteriously" along with his US counterpart Captain Volcano at the end of WW2. (@DKellis)
A) Matt Miller (Positron) Nothing planned, sorry.
A) Matt Miller (Positron) Nothing planned, sorry.


Q) Can you go into more detail on the actual background of Countess Crey, and was the Clarissa van Dorn personality made up by her (Countess Crey) or was it an actual person that she was impersonating? (@Liberties)
'''Q) Can you go into more detail on the actual background of Countess Crey, and was the Clarissa van Dorn personality made up by her (Countess Crey) or was it an actual person that she was impersonating? (@Liberties)
     [Clarissa Van Dorn was a real person.  In fact, in the arc where you find out about Countess Crey’s background (Check it out here), you find Clarissa Van Dorn’s dead body.  That’s what spurs the whole
     [Clarissa Van Dorn was a real person.  In fact, in the arc where you find out about Countess Crey’s background (Check it out here), you find Clarissa Van Dorn’s dead body.  That’s what spurs the whole'''
 
A) Matt Miller (Positron) Looks like someone got cut off writing that, but yes, that was all resolved in-game.
A) Matt Miller (Positron) Looks like someone got cut off writing that, but yes, that was all resolved in-game.


Q) Were there any future plans concerning the Freedom Phalanx and their HQ? In the SSA, their meetings seemed to take place mostly within the underground/cave base in Atlas Park, but it seemed kind of lackluster compared to the likes of Grandville and Cole's tower in Nova Praetoria. Expanding on that, were there ever any past plans to give a group a headquarters that didn't work out, or any headquarters that you had planned to introduce in the future? (@Scitenik)
'''Q) Were there any future plans concerning the Freedom Phalanx and their HQ? In the SSA, their meetings seemed to take place mostly within the underground/cave base in Atlas Park, but it seemed kind of lackluster compared to the likes of Grandville and Cole's tower in Nova Praetoria. Expanding on that, were there ever any past plans to give a group a headquarters that didn't work out, or any headquarters that you had planned to introduce in the future? (@Scitenik)'''
 
A) Matt Miller (Positron) The Freedom Phalanx “main HQ” was more of a gathering point than a Watchtower-like HQ. Each member had their own base that fit their own needs, and they only gathered at the main FP HQ when briefing the team on a crisis worthy of their combined talents.
A) Matt Miller (Positron) The Freedom Phalanx “main HQ” was more of a gathering point than a Watchtower-like HQ. Each member had their own base that fit their own needs, and they only gathered at the main FP HQ when briefing the team on a crisis worthy of their combined talents.


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A) Shiny bases exist to get blown up (cf. Tyrant’s Tower, and every action movie with a cool base ever -- how many Helicarriers are they going to go through at S.H.I.E.L.D.?). I’m sure this would have happened to the Moonbase, should we have ever gotten there.
A) Shiny bases exist to get blown up (cf. Tyrant’s Tower, and every action movie with a cool base ever -- how many Helicarriers are they going to go through at S.H.I.E.L.D.?). I’m sure this would have happened to the Moonbase, should we have ever gotten there.


Q) Did you guys have any plans for future storylines involving S.A.M. (Superpowered Activities Monitoring) or FBSA (Federal Bureau for Super-Powered Affairs)? (@Scitenik)
'''Q) Did you guys have any plans for future storylines involving S.A.M. (Superpowered Activities Monitoring) or FBSA (Federal Bureau for Super-Powered Affairs)? (@Scitenik)'''
 
A) Matt Miller (Positron) There would have probably been a time in the future where we had to do our “Government Taking Control of Supers” storyline, but that wasn’t in the next few issues planned (that was all Battalion).
A) Matt Miller (Positron) There would have probably been a time in the future where we had to do our “Government Taking Control of Supers” storyline, but that wasn’t in the next few issues planned (that was all Battalion).


A) John Hegner (Protean) - S.A.M., for the record, was intended to be annoying and redundant, like any good overfunded government program. Some group decided that they didn’t like how FBSA ran things and figured they could annoy the piss out of Congress enough to warrant them slipping in a loophole to give S.A.M. traction and legal authority. This was intended to make friction and provide a hook later for some government vs. government infighting.
A) John Hegner (Protean) - S.A.M., for the record, was intended to be annoying and redundant, like any good overfunded government program. Some group decided that they didn’t like how FBSA ran things and figured they could annoy the piss out of Congress enough to warrant them slipping in a loophole to give S.A.M. traction and legal authority. This was intended to make friction and provide a hook later for some government vs. government infighting.


Q) Were there any plans for Praetorian zones after Night Ward? Or in continuing the Resistance/Loyalist storylines in the Primal Zones (similar to the arcs that were available in the i24 beta that involved the fallout from Tyrant's Trial)? (@Scitenik)
'''Q) Were there any plans for Praetorian zones after Night Ward? Or in continuing the Resistance/Loyalist storylines in the Primal Zones (similar to the arcs that were available in the i24 beta that involved the fallout from Tyrant's Trial)? (@Scitenik)'''


A) Chris Behrens (Baryonyx) - We thought about filling out Praetoria to 50, including going out into the Hamidon Wastes, but it was hard to justify it given concerns about Praetoria fatigue and the fact that Issue 24 spelled out the world’s fate.
A) Chris Behrens (Baryonyx) - We thought about filling out Praetoria to 50, including going out into the Hamidon Wastes, but it was hard to justify it given concerns about Praetoria fatigue and the fact that Issue 24 spelled out the world’s fate.
A) Matt Miller (Positron) Yeah, players made it clear that they were getting sick of Praetoria, so we expedited its demise.
A) Matt Miller (Positron) Yeah, players made it clear that they were getting sick of Praetoria, so we expedited its demise.
A) John Hegner (Protean) After working on Praetoria for nearly 4 years, I was getting a bit sick of it too. Though, we did have a plan to take players to Neo Tokyo at one point for 40+ content.
A) John Hegner (Protean) After working on Praetoria for nearly 4 years, I was getting a bit sick of it too. Though, we did have a plan to take players to Neo Tokyo at one point for 40+ content.


Q) Was the Prime/main universe the only one with Kheldians? It always seemed strange that they never showed up ‘canonically’ in multiversal arcs. (@Tab)
'''Q) Was the Prime/main universe the only one with Kheldians? It always seemed strange that they never showed up ‘canonically’ in multiversal arcs. (@Tab)'''
 
A) Matt Miller (Positron) Battalion’s existence ties directly with why Kheldians are on Earth. Battalion doesn’t exist in other universes like it does in ours, hence why Kheldians never play a role in multidimensional stories.
A) Matt Miller (Positron) Battalion’s existence ties directly with why Kheldians are on Earth. Battalion doesn’t exist in other universes like it does in ours, hence why Kheldians never play a role in multidimensional stories.


Q) Were there plans in the making for a special event for this year, 10 year anniversary of the game. And is it possible to get the badge for this (@Dark Energon)
'''Q) Were there plans in the making for a special event for this year, 10 year anniversary of the game. And is it possible to get the badge for this (@Dark Energon)'''
 
A) Matt Miller (Positron) We hadn’t got to this point yet in our planning.
A) Matt Miller (Positron) We hadn’t got to this point yet in our planning.
Q) Can you explain how the CoS strongmen were recruited/created? One arc suggested they were dead, but the wiki talks about their loyal service.  (@Sooner)
 
'''Q) Can you explain how the CoS strongmen were recruited/created? One arc suggested they were dead, but the wiki talks about their loyal service.  (@Sooner)'''
 
A) Matt Miller (Positron) The dead can be extremely loyal.
A) Matt Miller (Positron) The dead can be extremely loyal.


Q) Why were the remaining members of  W.I.S.D.O.M.,  Rose Star and Spark Blade never added to the game?  Were there plans to add them?  Also, what is W.I.S.D.O.M. an acronym for? (Peacemaker - copied from Titan forums by Felderburg)
'''Q) Why were the remaining members of  W.I.S.D.O.M.,  Rose Star and Spark Blade never added to the game?  Were there plans to add them?  Also, what is W.I.S.D.O.M. an acronym for? (Peacemaker - copied from Titan forums by Felderburg)'''


A) Sean McCann (Dr. Aeon) - Art time to do their costumes.
A) Sean McCann (Dr. Aeon) - Art time to do their costumes.
A) Matt Miller (Positron) Pretty much. They had elaborate costumes that didn’t justify the art time needed to put them into the game. And I have no recollection of what WISDOM stood for, but it was probably something Korean.
A) Matt Miller (Positron) Pretty much. They had elaborate costumes that didn’t justify the art time needed to put them into the game. And I have no recollection of what WISDOM stood for, but it was probably something Korean.
A) John Hegner (Protean) - I strongly supported having Rose Star step up her game to fill in for Statesman as primary tank on the Freedom Phalanx. I thought it would be badass to have her take the hits and show Spark Blade and the other gents that she doesn’t need protecting, but the backup is nice to have.
A) John Hegner (Protean) - I strongly supported having Rose Star step up her game to fill in for Statesman as primary tank on the Freedom Phalanx. I thought it would be badass to have her take the hits and show Spark Blade and the other gents that she doesn’t need protecting, but the backup is nice to have.


Q) Did Katie Douglas survive the destruction of Praetoria - and if she did, was she going to appear in any further content? (Golden Girl - copied from Titan forums by Felderburg)
'''Q) Did Katie Douglas survive the destruction of Praetoria - and if she did, was she going to appear in any further content? (Golden Girl - copied from Titan forums by Felderburg)'''


A) Sean McCann (Dr. Aeon) - Katie Douglas did survive everything and was part of the Praetorian refugees who arrived on Primal Earth. I had an idea that she would one day join the New Praetorians if the Praetorian Aurora Borealis ever left it.
A) Sean McCann (Dr. Aeon) - Katie Douglas did survive everything and was part of the Praetorian refugees who arrived on Primal Earth. I had an idea that she would one day join the New Praetorians if the Praetorian Aurora Borealis ever left it.
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A) John Hegner (Protean) - Katie Douglas is such a fun character for me. She evolved from what was intended to be a glimpse into the life of a seer and became pretty much the poster child for Praetoria and gained a cult following. Definitely psychic manipulation going on there.
A) John Hegner (Protean) - Katie Douglas is such a fun character for me. She evolved from what was intended to be a glimpse into the life of a seer and became pretty much the poster child for Praetoria and gained a cult following. Definitely psychic manipulation going on there.


Q) I've got one more - when the 5th Column returned, during some of their street fights with the Council, a 5th Column soldier would sometimes unfavorably compare the Council's base on Striga with their own secret base, which they claimed was in the heart of the city - where was it located, and was it going to play a role in any future content? (Golden Girl - copied from Titan forums by Felderburg)
'''Q) I've got one more - when the 5th Column returned, during some of their street fights with the Council, a 5th Column soldier would sometimes unfavorably compare the Council's base on Striga with their own secret base, which they claimed was in the heart of the city - where was it located, and was it going to play a role in any future content? (Golden Girl - copied from Titan forums by Felderburg)'''


A) Matt Miller (Positron) Weird, I don’t recall that. I mean, the 5th Column base was on the moon, why would they claim otherwise?}}
A) Matt Miller (Positron) Weird, I don’t recall that. I mean, the 5th Column base was on the moon, why would they claim otherwise?}}

Revision as of 20:56, 28 April 2014

Overview

The Lore AMA (Ask Me Anything), or "Loregasm", is a series of documents document created by Positron to answer questions City of Heroes players had about the game's story following the Sunset announcement. In the thread announcing its creation, Positron stated that anything it contains "SHOULD be considered canon when concerning anything to do with Issue 24 and previous. Anything after that is speculative and should be treated as such. We'll note in the answer if it's anything different." On September 18th, 2012, Positron posted a link to the first Lore AMA as a Google Doc in a City of Heroes forums thread.

In an interview of Positron and War Witch at OnRPG discussing the closure of the game, Positron stated that he would do yearly AMAs as long as people had questions:

MeticulousMeta: There are still a lot of questions after the Lore AMA. Is there any chance of getting another?

Matt: I’ll make a deal: I’ll do AMA’s about CoH lore every April 28th until the questions stop coming in. I’ll give more details as we get closer to that date, and I can’t promise everyone who should be involved will be.

After taking questions in a now closed Google Doc, the first of the yearly AMAs was announced at OnRPG on May 3rd, 2013, and released as another Google Doc.

City of Heroes AMA 1 (2012)

The first Lore AMA was linked in a forum post by Positron titled "Loregasm" and includes a key of the answering developers' initials:

City of Heroes AMA (part 1?)

That's a link to the doc, in case these boards get shut down, and because I don't want to clean it up for our forum posting format (if someone ELSE does, feel free to pad your postcount).

Some answers are not satisfying. Some answers are made up, and that answer only exists in that doc. I tried to get everyone who was involved in the stuff at the end to answer the questions as best they could.

MM: Matt Miller (Positron)
JH: John Hegner (Protean)
JAH: Jeff Hamilton (Arbiter Hawk)
SM: Sean McCann (Dr. Aeon)
RG: Ryan Greene (Viridian)
TS: Tim Sweeney (Black Scorpion)

If there is a miracle and somehow CoH is saved, we reserve the right to change any and all answers given in the doc, to maintain suspense and surprise.

The Lore AMA itself at its time of release is as follows:

City of Heroes AMA 2 (2013)

After taking questions in an open Google Doc, the first of the yearly AMAs was announced at OnRPG on May 3rd, 2013, and released as a closed Google Doc. In most cases, the name of the dev giving an answer is listed after the answer. The devs that answered are:

Editor's Note:

This is the most likely list of developers who answered AMA 2, as there are multiple devs with some of those first names.

Some questions do not have a dev name, and it can be assumed that they were answered by Positron unless the context indicates otherwise. Several questions were unable to be answered, and are marked as "Answer hazy, ask again later (Matt because he couldn’t find someone to answer this right now)." It is unknown if they will be taken up at the next AMA, or if players will have to re-ask those questions.

The second Lore AMA at its time of last revision (May 7, 2013) is as follows:

City of Heroes AMA 3 (2014)

An unofficial thread was started on the Titan Network forums for gathering questions. Positron was contacted and said: "I plan on doing it a bit differently this year. Doc will only be up for a short window." On April 17, 2014, at 8:45 AM PDT, Positron posted a Google Doc that he was left open for only 24 hours. Positron also put in some general rules for asking questions, largely prohibiting questions not related to the game's lore:

Following the initial 24 hour period, there were 76 questions. A copy of the document seven minutes before its takedown for answering can be found in a Google Doc. Positron noted in a tweet on April 23rd, 2104, that all question for the 2014 AMA had answers.

On April 28th, 2014, the tenth anniversary of City of Heroes, Positron released the answered questions as a Google doc.

The third Lore AMA at its time of last revision/release (DATE) is as follows:

City of Heroes AMA 4 (2015)

See Also