Drunkard's Walk Forums

Twitter comments from
Marcian Tobay

- Brief mention of the "Coming Storm" showing up in Cimerora, possibly related to everyone's favorite Sybil Widow, though Jay says he put her
there because it would be hot looking.

Official forums presents the latter list here:

http://boards.cityofheroe.../showthread.php?t=196483
---
"Oh, silver blade, forged in the depths of the beyond. Heed my summons and purge those who stand in my way. Lay
waste."

While I greatly suggest reading through the thread for further clarification, the latter points are stuff I imagine most of our group would be interested in:

Quote: * Release is currently targeted for Q2 2010, with beta starting early
2010.

Quote:

The Praetorian Guard

• These are the Preatorians you may have already met in game: The opposites of the signature heroes
  
• They are all receiving a graphical update
  

Emperor Cole



Mother Mayhem


Neuron


Marauder



The Praetorian Clockwork

• Appearance: Sleek, Robotic, Overly shiny
  
• These are the 'serving race', and act as maintenance for Cole's Empire
  
• Supposedly created by Anti Matter and Neuron (Praetorian Positron and Synapse)
  
• Their costume pieces will be unlockable
  

PraetWorks


PraetWorks
Detail




The Seers

• Appearance: Sleek, smooth, creamy silver
  
• They float around and make sure everyone is behaving appropriatley!
  
• Also known as 'Mother Mayhem's Psychic Friend Network'
  
• All female
  
• 'What's wrong with letting Seers read your thoughts? Just DON'T have bad thoughts.' - Marcian Tobay
  
• May be the Praetorian Fortunatas (?)
  

Seers




The Resistance

• Appearnce: Gritty Steampunk
  
• They are a group of super powered renegades fighting against Cole's regime
  
• They are a career path for players who start in Praetoria that will lead them to becoming a hero
  
  
  
• They are led by the Praetorian Calvin Scott (Who the Seers have been unable to locate)
  
• Also in their ranks is the Preatorian Belladona Vetrano - Better known as Ghost Widow on Primal Earth
  
  
  
• May be the Praetorian Freakshow (?)
  

Resistance




The Praetorian Police Department

• Appearance: Like the Paragon police, but a bit more regal/imperial looking
  
• They are the first line of defense against The Resistance
  
• Super Powered beings 'Volunteer' to be indoctrinated by the PPD, however, only 10% of them survive
  
  
  
• They are also a career path for players who start in Praetoria, but this will lead them to becoming a villain
  

PraetPD




The Syndicate

• Appearance: Yakuza, Cyberpunk, Black colours, Jackets, Multiracial
  
  
  
• They are one, huge group of organized criminals
  
• They have super powered shotguns (?)
  
• They have Motorcycles (?)
  

The Syndicate




The Carnival of Light

• They exist, and are in Going Rogue; That's all we know
  
• They are the Praetorian Carnival of Shadows
  

Quote: Dual Pistols




For Blasters, Defenders, and Corruptors.




Some attacks seem to emit Doves, it is not known if this is final or if it impacts gameplay.




Four types of bullets that change 30% of the damage dealt and the secondary effect:

1. Regular (100% Lethal dmg)
   
2. Incendiary (70% Lethal dmg/30% Fire dmg + DoT)
   
3. Cryo (70% Lethal dmg/30% Cold dmg + Speed debuff)
   
4. Chemical (70% Lethal dmg/30% Toxic dmg + Debuff of some sort(TBC))
   

Possible powers:

1. Epic PBAoE: Character spins around firing bullets in all directions. Best animation EVAR. (Comparable to: Psi Shockwave w/ a
   longer animation (Psionic Assault))
   
2. Cone attack: Character shoots bullets at all opponents in front of him. (Comparable to: Empty Clips (Thugs))
   
3. Targeted AoE (?): Character fires bullets in the air that somehow then rain down on his opponents. (Comparable to: Rain of fire
   Fire Blast)
   
4. Single Target Short: Player fires a single shot at his target (Comparable to: Pistols (Thugs))
   
5. Single Target Long: Player fires two shots at his target (Comparable to: Dual Weild (Thugs))
   
6. Change Ammo: Allows you to change your ammo type (Comparable to: Nothing. It's just that awesome)
   
   
   

Quote: Demon Summoning




For Masterminds only.




Your personal weapon is a Fire Whip.




Your pets' tails will sway.




The pets all have the same general look: Red, demonic, with skeleton masks/heads.




Demons


Desdemona
and Demon Pets

Quote:

Heroes can

• Access Paragon City and Praetoria
  
• Access Wentworths
  

Vigilantes can:

• Access Paragon City, the Rogue Isles, and Praetoria
  
• Access Wentworths
  

Praetorians can:

• Access Praetoria (and ???)
  
• (Access ???)
  

Rogues can:

• Access Paragon City, the Rogue Isles, and Praetoria
  
• Access the Black Market
  

Villains can:

• Access the Rogue Isles and Praetoria
  
• Access the Black Market
  

Most badges will change their name, and some will change their art, when you change faction. You cannot obtain two copies of each
accolade power.




Heroes and Villains who do not falter (switch sides) may be awarded with additional perks.

Quote: Praetoria









Environment

• No War Walls
  
• Civilians actually interact with each other and the environment:
  
  • They sit on benches
    
  • They talk to each other
    
  • They drink coffee with each other
    
  • However, in the video, they seemed to be blissfully unaware of the small skirmish happening right in front of them
    
  
  
  
• Tyrant's Tower can be seen from almost anywhere due to his epicness
  
• One of the areas is called 'Nova Praetoria', Nova meaning 'New', as it is the newest part of Praetoria
  
• It's all so freakin' shiny!
  
• Every building has it's own name and backstory
  
• Every mission is assigned to it's specific location for a reason
  

Back story

• Emperor Cole sees himself as the savior of the world
  
• Cole's Empire is not the only nation on Praetorian Earth
  
• Praetoria only has 4 working days a week - Menial tasks are left to the Clockwork
  
• McArthur got to use his nukes, alot
  
• Cole did something to the Korean War in Praetorian Eath
  
• There are no crimes or accidents (Until you arrive... )
  
• The police are 'only there to help', and take up 30% of the city's budget
  
• 'We drive your cars! You don't need firearms!' - Marcian Tobay
  
• 'What's wrong with letting Seers read your thoughts? Just DON'T have bad thoughts.' - Marcian Tobay
  
• 'We reward strength in Praetoia. If you don't like your boss, kill him. If he died, he never deserved the job.' - Marcian
  Tobay
  
• 'I felt fear, then forgot what fear was. Thanks, Seers!' - Marcian Tobay
  
• The Carnival of Light are there. That is all.
  
• Nemesis is a 'nobody' on Praetorian Earth - We have the crazy one aparently
  

Quote: Starting in Praetoria

• New characters can start in Praetoria instead of Paragon City or he Rogue Isles
  
• These characters can side with the Resistance (Hero) or the Preatorian Police Department (villain)
  
• Once they reach level 20 (or before?), they can choose to go to Paragon City and be a Hero, or go to the Rogue Isles and be a
  villain, even if they chose to side with the opposite faction in Praetoria
  
• You can choose any of the base 10 Hero or Villain archetypes, but not any of the Epic (Kheldian/Arachnos) archetype
  
  
  

Quote:

• No word on the new high-level content - More information on that in the months leading up to beta
  
• More Cimerora/Coming Storm content coming
  
• The next Super Booster is ninja related
  
• Upcoming feature: You do not have to log out to switch sides
  
• Upcoming feature (confirmed for I17): Enemies/Objectives will be marked on the mission map when 90% of the enemies have been
  defeated
  
• Upcoming feature: Enhancement prices will be standardized across all vendors/contacts
  
• Upcoming feature: Electricity Control for Controllers (And possibly Dominatiors)
  
• Upcoming feature (confirmed for I18): Full power customization
  

---
"Oh, silver blade, forged in the depths of the beyond. Heed my summons and purge those who stand in my way. Lay
waste."

Quote:Upcoming feature (confirmed for I17): Enemies/Objectives will be marked on the mission map when 90% of the enemies have been defeated

Oh Fuck Yes!
-Terry
-----
"so listen up boy, or pornography starring your mother will be the second worst thing to happen to you today"
TF2: Spy

Further Praetorian info, some discussion about other projects....

Quote: Praetorian Guard:


-The Praetorian signature heroes graphical upgrade does affect their Portal mission counterparts, but anything that requires rewiriting the story will take
place later (not at Going Rogue launch).


-Marauder is known as Praetor (sp?) White. He is an advisor (Chief Advisor?) to Emperor Cole. Marauder is his hero/villain name. Each signature Praetorian
has a side that we see, and a side that Praetorians see. (Tyrant to us, Emperor Cole to Praetoria)


-Manticore is Chimera: He is head of the secret police. He is the reason why 90% of the super powered beings don't survive indoctrination, of why people
disappear who disagrees with Emperor Cole.




Praetorian Clockwork:


There are normal, female, huge and something humongous (a la Babbage size) in the clockwork sizes. (If no one has pictures of this, I can post it up when
pictures become available. I was just sitting kind of far to get a good pic.




Praetoria:


-We would call Tyrant's rule Totalitarian. Tyrant would call it a Meritocracy.




Misc. Info:


-Arachnos still exist, but remember there is no Lord Recluse. How would the Arachnos organization be like?


-Devouring Earth has taken over a lot of the world thanks to Hamidon. They seem to be a huge problem for Emperor Cole and the rest of Praetoria.


-Tyrant acts the way he does to protect humanity. That is why he wants to prevent any government from launching nuclear weapons for example. Which is why he
got involved in the Korean War because MacArthur launched (was about to launch?) nukes over there.


-The Rikti does not exist in Praetoria. Remember, we are the ones that found their homeworld first.


-There was a lot of talk on various panels to make the Shadow Shard a Co-Op zone. This surprised the devs. But if they did this, it could take time away from
making new zones since they would have to remake this zone.

---
"Oh, silver blade, forged in the depths of the beyond. Heed my summons and purge those who stand in my way. Lay
waste."

Massive Praetorian infodump from the storytelling panel

Quote: OK now for Praetoria. I'm summing up all of the invivudal things into a narative rather than just a brain dump.




The history of Praetoring was written from the moment of Stefan Richter's birth and Marcus Cole's birth. They noted that slight changes to the
character's life early one lead to major changes to the world later one. Macrus Cole of Praetorian Earth is very similar to Marcus Cole of Primal Earth.
Their motivations are very similar. They are much more alike then different. But their methods different drastically.




The mustard gas exposure and hunt for a cure is pretty much the same on both Earths. But the events a the Well of the Furies happened much differently. We
don't know why, but Marcus Cole killed Stefan Richter. Another branching point was the Korean War. Combat was very different on the two earth. It's
ended much differently on Praetorian Earth than what's know on Primal Earth. Macrus Cole made a bi difference on the Korean War.




The only really two effective weapons were Powers and Nuclear weapons. It's well know that on out Earth and Primal Earth that General McAurther wanted to
use nukes in Korea. Well he did use in Korea on Praetorian Earth. Marcus Cole really didn't like that at all. It went against his ideals of trying to
protect people. It's probaly a big factor towards his path of taking over.




Also the world governments of Praetorian Earth are very careless towards the Earth and it's environment. This caused a zealous scientist by the name of
Hamidon Pasilima to unless his creation, The Devoured Earth, upon the Earth (much earlier than on Primal Earth). The Devoured Earth ravaged the entire
Praetorian Earth. Marcus Cole was asked by the people of Praetorian Earth to save them. Emporer Cole was determined to do that and more. He was going to save
the people from themselves once and for all. So he took power and created Praetoria was a safe haven for humanity against the ravages and forces unleashed on
the planet.




There is no want or need in Praetorian. Basic necessities of life are provided for water, food, shelter. There is no manual labour. All of those tasks are
performed by the Clockwork which work and exist among the populace. There is no crime nor discontent due to the due to the Seers and Praetorian Guard on
every corner. Due to the increase amount of leisure time available, the arts and sciences have greatly advance to new levels.




Praetoria is the ultimate Meritocracy. You can choice not to do anything at all for a "living" as everything is povided for your. But if you want
you can advance in sociterty to a position of power. If you can should the burden for something, you are allowed to do so are long as your able able. If you
can show you can do a better job than you boss, you get to replace him.




Emperor Cole has Praetorians (might be wrong name, memory is failing me ATM) which are his right hand people which run the day to day operations of
Praetorian. They are the best of best at what they do. We know them are the Praetorian counter parts of the many Primal Earth NPC heroes.




Maurader is know as Praetorians White. He oversees the Power's division. Any super powered individual is a member of the Power's division. ... ANY
super powered individual is a member of the Powers Division, if they can make it through the indoctrination program (10% pass rate).




Certain members of the Powers division might be assigned duty "overseas". Those invidiuals never seems every come back or even send back messages
to home. They must be very busy serving Praetoria. The Praetorian government even graciously offers to send family and friends "overseas" to see
those inviduals. Funny things those famly and friends are so glad to see the powered invidual they aren't even seen or heard from again in Praetoria.




Touble makers for society just disapparent to prevent the disruption of the social harmony. Chimera knows that's individuals are going to disappear
before they know. Chimera leads the clandestine and secret division of the Praetoria government. I presume he's also reponsible for Intelligence gather
as well.




The Syndicate is the super organized remnants of the original organized crime organizations which got crushed...hard. The biggest problem and major goal they
have is to remain hidden. They Seers are all seeing. So the Syndicate obviously has discovered methods to remain hidden.




The Resisance is lead by Calvin Scott. He's got a obvious beef with Mother Mayhem because she is still mind-ridding Calvin's wife Aurora Borealis.
He's an effective leader for the Resistance because his hidden from the Seers. They cannot location/find him.




Marcus Cole is know as Emperor Cole by the peoples of Praetorian Earth. Tyrant is who he is when he dons him armor and comes to Primal Earth. Emperor Cole is
his "day job". Similarly Cole's Praetorian Lieutenants are know by different names in their day jobs of running Praetoria. Maurader is who
Praetorian White is when he dons his fighting clothing and goes off to rend people limb from limb.




Mother Mayhem heards the Seer division. They are truely the thought police. The Praetorian Police and Seers are on every street corner. They made sure there
are nor dissident thoughts to disturb the harmony of Praetoria.




In talking with John Hegner, the main writer for Praetoria his direction in his writing is how much are you willing to pay for piece of mine and a
comfortable life. He says the stuff that you are willing to do starts off small. But it will continue to snowball are you along. He wants stuff that
player's characters do so evenually snowball so much they get uncomfortable doing them. (I made the comparison to the missions of red side contact
Pithers. Those missions really make be feel bad when I do them Thats'a good'a writing).




Also they are taking all they've learned about mission designs to date. When you get sent to a missions door, it will be a specific building with
specific signage. The building will have a specific purpose and it will make sense on the setting of the city it's in. AS the devs put it the bulding
will have it's own underlying story, and the reason for placing the mission in that building will make sense. So if the building is is gang X's
terriority, the mission will be popluated with gang X and not gang Y.

---
"Oh, silver blade, forged in the depths of the beyond. Heed my summons and purge those who stand in my way. Lay
waste."

Quote: - Water based power sets won't happen...(GU settings would have to be raised)


- Possible future: mailing items.


- By making the full transition from Hero>Vigilante>Villain, your former Hero can transport items from inf between sides, like a gun
runner.


- wut woah : Posi just corrected me: He never said that a fallen hero or redeemed villain carries inf to the other
side.


- You may be able to mail items/inf in the future.


- Zone events will be getting fleshed out and upgraded in the future. More complexity.


- Enhancement prices will be standardized across all vendors.


- MM pet customization is a long way off, if ever. Totally new technology not similar to current power set customization.


- Paraphrase: "We won't have recipe storage. The need to unload recipes is vital to the
economy." - Posi


- Electric Controllers WILL happen. No ETA.


- The option to decline buffs will be strongly considered


- Superspeeding over water. Posi says do it!


- Devs trying not to do as many defeat all missions.

Other non-quoted bits picked up from various points:

- The Shadow Shard was discussed, and the Devs were frankly surprised as hell at the response that suggesting revamping it got. Apparently, they thought
it'd been written off by most of the player base. However, unlikely to get done fairly soon for reasons cited below.

- GR is most likely going to coincide with i17 if only because they're focusing pretty much the entire development team on it. There may be a tiny
half-issue i17 in between, but it's seen as unlikely at this point. Further revamps of zones and such are similarly under consideration but on hold until
GR is launched.

- The big question suggest was Shadow Shard as a co-op zone, which got a huge response. General commentary is that, if this was done, it'd literally be by
ripping out the old Shadow Shard from blueside and building a new Shard from the ground up for co-op, hence a huge time investment.

- Boomtown is suggested by someone to have "things in the works for it", implications of 5th Column shenanigans.
---
"Oh, silver blade, forged in the depths of the beyond. Heed my summons and purge those who stand in my way. Lay
waste."

More pictures from the
"Designing A Character" panel.

Including GM Clockwork and what I suspect is Praetorian Ghost Widow (officially just "a Resistance
leader")
---
"Oh, silver blade, forged in the depths of the beyond. Heed my summons and purge those who stand in my way. Lay
waste."

Dangit. I stopped playing CoH because I just don't have any money to spare months ago and my PC fried a while back so I couldn't play it even if I
wanted to. My altitis should be a moot point by now so why the hell do so many character concepts keep going through my mind?

*Feels an enormous NEED to make a Praetorian Police Department character*