The Chronicles are pleased to announce the hiring of veteran blogger Paragon Pundit. The Paragon Pundit is a relatively low-level scrapper on the Champion Server who pretty much stayed on the sidelines until the release of Issue 11, which gave him the opportunity to go from being a bystander to an actual participant. The Paragon Pundit’s chief weapons are his blades. He wields both a powerful broadsword and a smaller elfin sword. Although he doesn’t possess superhuman abilities, he does have incredible force of will which allows him to hold his own against the street thugs and other criminals that plague Paragon City. The Paragon Pundit will be bringing his unique commentary to the Chronicles as well as the occasional interviews with other noted personalities both in Paragon City and the Rogue Isles.
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2008-01-29
New Reporter: Paragon Pundit
2008-01-27
Frostfire Apocalypse
Frostfire… damn.
It’s barely 10am and I’ve already been drawn into another Frostfire mission.
I suppose I have only myself to blame for this. I’ve been out of it for several years, forced by the damage that I suffered during the First Rikti Invasion to revert back to square one. Having to re-learn all of my skills, go through all of the hassles to get back the past that I was missing… but I’m still in the lower levels, and because of that, I still get missions in the Hollows… and Frostfire.
Frostfire… damn.
There’s a part of me that wishes I remembered my old black ops days with Uncle Sam. The “old” me probably would have had no problem making sure that Frostfire was only dealt with once. But then again, those were different times, and I’m certainly not the same person that I once was.
I don’t hate Frostfire, per se, but I certainly hate the mission, especially after you have to go through it over and over again with a different collection of fresh-faced heroes each time. The team-members will change, but the game stays the same. It doesn’t help when every contact you meet forces you into the Hollows, and the rookies foolishly feel that they must complete every mission there before moving on. And EVERYONE faces Frostfire at some point in
It’s a multi-floor mission, with members having to pass certain obstacles each time before being allowed to move on to the next level. Each time you have to face dozens of Outcast gang members with various mutant powers. Sometimes defeating them is the obstacle itself.
On the first floor, you have to destroy a mystical altar. Nobody knows why the Outcasts need it, but they do. I’m told it gives the Outcasts that guard it extra health. You’d think that something that potent would be a lot closer to Frostfire, wouldn’t you? Sloppy. You blow that up, and you can move further. But be careful when you do. If you’re too close to it when it blows up, you get knocked on your butt and disoriented for a bit. Not good if there are still any punks in play. It’s best to let your ranged-powered members hit it from a distance. It’s gravy if you can blow it up with some of the punks right there.
Moving up, you have to go through several groups of Outcasts. They seem to be around every corner. Some are right there as you get off the elevators, so you can’t take the ones that are closer to the threshold.
New people make big mistakes here. They think they can mow on through to the B3* himself, but it doesn’t work like that. They gotta be careful and they gotta work as a team to get through it all. They get everyone killed quickly if they can’t pool their resources and use all the skills they have as a team.
This is probably the biggest of reasons why folks like me hate Frostfire missions. It’s because this is the first real team task for many heroes. They don’t know what to expect and they don’t want to rely on the advice of the veterans who have been through this over and over again. They think that numbers make the day, or that loading up on ranged heroes and scrappers and tankers would somehow do it. They’re impatient and inexperienced. They just want to get through the mission and get it done with.
The worst parts of this mission before you get to the B3 are the ones where the gangs are waiting for you around the corner or from above. The ones on the overhead balconies are the ones that really get you. They just drop on down, or else they’ll fry you from a distance.
The ice doesn’t help either. You’re always sliding on it. Frostfire loves to freeze the rooms up, so everyone is sliding around. One room looks like a ski slope with all of the ice slides in there.
Oh, by the way, if you have any Kheldians on your team, you should know there is always one quantum gunner, and you know how Kheldians and quantum weapons don’t really mix. And you thought this was going to be a cakewalk!
Finally there’s the B3 himself… Frostfire.
Frostfire’s usually at the other end of the room, but if you barge in there, he’ll know it and he’ll come after you. And he won’t come alone either! Frostfire has some of his most powerful stooges in there with him watching his back. You gotta get as many of them out of the room as you can before tipping him off.
Even when you start whittling down his forces, this B3 still has a neat little trick up his sleeve. Frostfire lives up to his name in that he controls both fire AND ice, and not only will he freeze you solid and then fry you where you stand, he can also summon his little fire drones and his ice-cubed friend Jack Frost. So Frostfire still has plenty of backup, even when he’s by himself.
The mission officially “ends” when you take down the B3, but I seriously suggest you don’t rush out first. There are usually some stragglers who stick around in the far corners of the room. This is a great chance for you to mop up the area and get some extra experience. If you’re running the team, make sure everyone stays in play until they all hear “Clear”. Then you can all exit the room.
Maybe someday we can get the orders to take down Frostfire once and for all. Until that day happens, though, we just gotta get through those missions and not turn them into fiascoes that piss everyone off.
(* Editor’s note: “B3” is old
2008-01-20
It's Time to Start...
Here's a really fun video featuring a little blue rock-man and a whole cast of characters, including some very familiar cameos...
Appearing in the video: The Vanguard, The Council, The Longbow Division of Freedom Corps, The Circle of Thorns, The Tsoo, The Clockwork, The Carnival of Shadows, The Rikti, DJ Zero, Statesman, Lord Recluse, Ms. Liberty, Positron, and the legendary unstoppable Kraken!
2007-12-26
A Winter Message from Reverend NeoCon
(The following message was delivered to the Chronicler by private courier.)
Good morning and Merry Christmas all you true receivers all across the fruity lands! It is I, your minister of truthiness and deacon of decency, the Reverend NeoCon himself, F. Sean Rush.
Before I dispense with the good news and get all of my loyal and dedicated fans up to speed with your favorite talk show icon, there are a few rumors that I must first dispel.
First, contrary to the rumors being generated by the godless liberalistas in the media, I was NOT killed, nor was I ever sent to prison. In fact, I can assure you that my record has been spotless since the day I was born! I have NEVER been convicted of ANY kind of crime, and you will never see “jailbird” attached to my name ever!
Quite the contrary, my friends, I had been given a RARE and last-minute opportunity to bring my message across to the Rogue Isles as a goodwill ambassador for all of the frustrated neocon believers yearning for truthiness and justice for all. Unfortunately, time was not on my side, so I DO apologize for not telling my true receivers what was going on. My transportation to the Rogue Isles had to be done in secret and without so much as a moment’s notice so the liberalistas and their corrupt friends in the government would not try to stop me. You know how those liberalistas are always trying to stop me from spreading my sermon of truthiness.
My crusade has been some what successful so far. I’ve been busy building a new ministry of decency and moral values here, and I am gaining followers right and left! At some point soon I will be able to secure a broadcast facility and once again bring you a status report of all the things we’ve been doing here.
The good news is that I managed to meet with some very influential people during my journey. The good people at The Faction for a Better Tomorrow have been really helpful in getting my message across and helping me build my ministry of truthiness and all good neocon things.
And I am pleased to announce that I have just secured an endorsement from Father Time himself! Yes, it turns out that the man with time literally on his hands has been a longtime listener of my show and had personally asked ME to help him save Baby New Year from those rabid liberalista monsters. In addition to his endless thanks, he has given me some newfound powers as well… powers which he said would be needed to fight the evil liberalistas.
So be true to yourselves, my loyal neocon receivers, and do not despair, for I have not left you! My message is still going strong and it can only get stronger.
Oh, and by the way, those things you’ve been hearing about me about dark magics? Those are just more liberalista lies. I don’t have any “dark powers”, nor do I suck the life out of people. Those are just the liberalistas trying to explain why their lies don’t hold up against the beacon of truth that is me, F-Sean-bo.
(Pictured: Reverend NeoCon with Father Time in the Pocket D ski chalet.)
2007-11-10
Tale of Halloween Glory (as told by Spartan Warlady)
The following is the recent account of Spartan Warlady’s quest to get the extra costume slot during the 2007 Halloween Event. At the time of this entry, she was a level 8 mastermind (ninjas/trick arrows) with 2 “Spartans” at her disposal.
My loyal Spartan warriors informed me that there was a prime opportunity for glory in the form of an extra costume change. Normally we Spartans do not care about such frivolities. To do battle against an opponent and die with honor is reward in and of itself, and this season called “Halloween” produced many such battles. But then my warriors told me that this glory would require us to travel deep into the Rogue Isles, into lands never before touched by Spartan Warriors since the days of noble Lord Marshand, and locate an old oracle named Granny Bedlam that would not be easily found.
This kind of challenge, facing off against powerful adversaries, and travelling deep into Arachnos territory, is worth the glory it brings.
Before we could make the journey, however, we needed some items to bribe this oracle. Oracles are always strange, and this one was no different. She required some useless junk called “Halloween costume pieces”. I am told that these are cheap representations of the masks of Statesman and Lord Recluse, the gloves of Back Alley Brawler, and the representation of a monster named Hamidon. We Spartans do not care for such junk. We would rather display the real items after we acquire them through defeating these warriors and monsters in battle. But this oracle deems them worthy, as do many others, and therefore we must have them to make our quest.
My warriors told me that we only had three of such items, and one that was spare. Although I dislike the market, time was not our ally. It would be a long journey and we did not have enough time to make it unless we had that fourth item. We sold the spare for a hefty price and then quickly purchased the fourth item. With all four items in our care, we began our journey.
We travelled by boat to Port Oaks. From there we took the waterways and rocks to the next boat to Cap Au Diable. From here, the journey became more perilous. We would have to travel deep within the island to reach the Rogue Island Ferry. There were water passages that we took which allowed us to avoid several of the adversaries, but we still had to face combat. My warriors died in battle as I acquired others to join in my quest.
Finally we reached Nerva Archipelago. My warriors told me that this oracle lived on a small island north of Arbiter Frederick. Many of my loyal Spartan warriors died in battle against the dreaded Family, and I was defeated alongside them, only to be granted another chance by the gods to fight and finish my quest.
To travel by land from the hospital was also perilous as I faced not just one but SEVERAL warring enemies. Enemies whose attentions quickly turned to me and my Spartan warriors as we approached. Once again we fell bravely in battle only to be returned by the gods.
Again I made my trek, this time using the special winged chariot provided by the gods to get me closer to the Arbiter, only to once again fall in battle. But the gods were not through with me, and I returned to battle again.
Finally I discovered a small water passageway that went between the warring factions. By the grace of
The sight of such callousness was more than reason for me to make a quick return, but not before visiting the face-maker to change my attire to one worthy of the gods. But this Granny Bedlam had best change her attitude when we next meet, or she will find that Spartans are not above teaching humility to oracles. We have felled messengers; we have felled kings, monsters, and even corrupt politicians in our own camps. Oracles are no different to us Spartans.
We Spartans know that true glory comes from achievement, not in trinkets, but for this season, I can at least boast that we indeed had some tales of glory, and can prove it by my new attire.
Above: Original attire before the quest. Below: New attire after the quest.
2007-11-09
The BIG NEWS!
Well for the past few days there was talk about something BIG in the works. Couldn't say what it was... but people had plenty of guesses. Something new. Something wonderful. Something EARTH-SHATTERING!
So this week it came out...
THE MULTIVERSE IS BACK!
Oh wait... sorry, that was DC Comics.
CAPTAIN AMERICA IS BACK!
No... that's Marvel Comics.
YOUNGBLOOD IS...
Oh, that's Image... and of course if Liefeld is doing it, you can probably expect that to be delayed to infinity again.
No no... THE REAL BIG NEWS IS....
NC Soft now owns 100% of the City of Heroes and City of Villains franchise!
For the longest time, NC Soft has been working with Cryptic Studios on the City of Heroes/City of Villains operation. NC Soft provided the network and financing, and Cryptic would provide the content. Now NC Soft has picked up the whole operation, including most (but not all) of the developers from Cryptic.
So what does that mean? Well it means that NC Soft will be calling the shots now instead of it being a joint operation. They have their own special studio set up just for City of X and the key people are excited about being able to bring the whole game to the next level of interaction.
There are plenty of things in the works right now... and Battlerock X has his ear to the ground on this! So keep checking in with the Chronicles, because things ARE happening!
What's on Paragon TV?
Thursday nights are HERO nights on PBC!
At 8pm, it's the wacky tales of a school teacher who gets an alien supersuit and learns the hard way about being a hero.
It's... PARAGON'S GREATEST HERO!
This week's special guest is the legendary Back Alley Brawler.
At 9pm, learn how a group of dysfunctional heroes manage to live together and not kill each other. You'll laugh! You'll cry! You'll tear your hair out in frustration!
It's... QUEENS OF KING'S!
And at 10pm it's MOON HILL THEATER!
Thursday nights is time for HEROES!
Only on PBC TV!
Paragon City's #1 Network!
Come SOAR with us!
2007-11-03
Halloween Event 2007
Things have been busy in Paragon City and the Rogue Isles. This is the time of Halloween, and this year we have a week-long Trick-or-Treat event.
Here's how it works: you knock on any normal door on the game (also works for the back of delivery trucks and manhole covers) and you get one of three things. You either get an outright TREAT, a TRICK (Halloween-themed bad guys to fight), or a CHALLENGE... namely a really BIG bad guy to fight.
Now you defeat the BIG bad guy and you get serious bonus points including some badges that look good on your profile. You defeat enough regular Halloween-themed bad guys in the TRICK and you get some badges.
But the TREAT has the fun stuff! You get can get one of several temporary costumes, and if you collect enough of those, you get some badges too. You can get "a rock"... which is a temporary power in homage to the legendary Charles "Charlie" Brown. Or you can get some VALUABLE salvage pieces.
How valuable? Well there are four special salvage pieces that are specifically themed for Halloween. They are joke costume parts... such as rubber imitations of Back Street Brawler's trademarked gloves, or a mask of either Statesman or Lord Recluse, or a cheap plastic Hamidon Monster toy. They seem like nothing, but when you have all FOUR of them (one each), you can take them over to a special witch and she will give you an extra costume slot. So for lower-level characters, this is a great opportunity to develop that "alternate outfit" instead of having to wait until you attain that first available slot of Level 20.
Now the bad news... this little deal only applies during the Halloween Event, which ends this Sunday. And the temporary costumes themselves also expire after a certain number of days. The extra costume slot, though, stays. So the badges and the costume slots are really the treasures for this event.
So far there is one hero (Superion Prime) and one villain (Spartan Warlady) here in the Chronicles who managed to get enough pieces together and make the trek to get that extra costume slot. And in truth, it was harder for the villain to make it than the hero (nothing really heroic about simply getting off the Green Line and walking a few dozen yards), so I'll have her give her account of the experience.
2007-11-01
More info on Issue 11
Have some more previews of Issue 11... which should come out SOON!
First is a taste of the whole Ourboros experience:
And now a little behind-the-scenes look at the two new powers and how they got selected. This comes from one of the developers himself!
2007-10-31
Battlerock X: Journal Entry 20071031
I am composing my thoughts as I attempt to rebuild my life and regain the memories that are still missing.
This is what I know… I know that my name is John Helix Battlerock. I know that for several decades I was a covert operative for some government agency before retiring.
I know that I was forced to return to action when the Rikti arrived in 2002. My last memory of that action was in helping to defend Hero 1 and the rest of the Omega team as they prepared their final assault on the Rikti homeworld. I know that I was declared “killed in action” and that for nearly five years I was roaming
I don’t know what brought some of my memories back. Maybe it was my experience with the Rikti that forced me to remember again. Maybe it was a nearby portal that put my brain back into alignment. All I know is that I’m remembering most of who I was before the war.
I do know that someone found me, and they did something to me. There is a metal plate on my face that I can’t get off, and I don’t know why it is there. I don’t think it was for just cosmetic purposes. I’ve gone to the medical center a few times but the doctors don’t want to help me. I can see it in their facial expressions. They have some idea of what this thing is, but they don’t want to get involved.
I know that I have a wife and a daughter who should be 18 now. I have not had the chance to see them yet, to let them know that I am still alive. I am not ready to make my presence known to them yet. I don’t want to put them in danger when I have no idea what this metal plate on my face is about.
Part of my resurrection forced me to start from square one. All that I knew once about fighting and my inherited abilities as a Battlerock Warrior were gone. I had a high security rating before the first Rikti invasion. That disappeared. I have to start from the bottom again.
Since my return I’ve created my own super-group called Omega 2. This gives me the chance to create my own base of operations so I can figure out what the missing parts of my life are and what happened after I was “killed”. I cannot trust the
Part of my “death” had something to do with the Rikti portals. Every time I fight one of those bastards when they just arrive, I have a flash of the life that I used to have. Unfortunately, my fellow heroes have made things difficult, because the number of Rikti invasions has decreased. I will probably have to go to the crash site itself, and to do that, I’ll need to get clearance from the Vanguard. That in and of itself will be difficult since my security level was reset.
I don’t know if I should get my daughter involved with this, but I may have to. I’ve seen reports of a “Battlerock Babe” in the Paragon Times, and she is wearing a modified version of my Rikti War outfit. No doubt her mother tried to talk her out of it, but Joan is a Battlerock Warrior, and my family has a strong history of doing whatever it is that we set ourselves to do. I just hope she doesn’t make the same mistakes that I made in the past.
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