Flipz

Current Sign-ups for Unlimited Quest: Fields of Glory Avalanche, Level 13.5 Barbarian (Dragonfire) Warlen Melimane, Level 18.5 Mystic Knight (The Chosen Minifigure) Siercon, Level 18 Battle Mage (Siercon and Coral) Erik Tyrvarr, level 25 Battle Mage (Myrddyn) Sign-ups close in 6 days. FM Note: I need each member of that list to bold their own sign-up separately, please.

Kiri smirks. "I like the cut of your jib, Mr. Bruhalv...among other things." Kiri rolls her eyes at the Moon Elf. "I could, if I wanted to pay like a hundred Gold a pop, minimum. More, what with the shortage lately--magic merchants keep jacking up their markup, even though they refuse to pay more than 50 for 'em in the first place. Jerks." Kiri crosses her arms again, tapping her staves against the ground this time instead of each other. "Like I said, you lot are way cheaper right now." "Rules of business, I'm afraid," Mac says apologetically. "The market for magical gear's unstable at the best of times. It's why most merchants don't even bother with things like bones and crystal balls. The ones that do tend to be specialists in the stuff, and in turn they tend to have a pretty hefty markup to keep themselves afloat." He shrugs. "Way of the world, I guess."

Schezerade passes by the group, setting a glass of what looked to be tomato juice mixed with lime and smelling of peppers, garlic, and mustard in front of Warlen, before returning to her post behind the bar. Current Sign-ups for Unlimited Quest: Fields of Glory Avalanche, Level 13.5 Barbarian (Dragonfire) Warlen Melimane, Level 18.5 Mystic Knight (The Chosen Minifigure) Siercon, Level 18 Battle Mage (Siercon and Coral)

Gotta say, I'm loving these "you're guaranteed to kill this enemy this Round" rolls--really gives me a chance to work in some cool roleplay.

Arthur leaps into the air once more, but this time Miirym swoops in with a blast of choking smoke, causing the civilian mob to gag and retch. Arthur stabs through several from the air, then swings his spear over his head (bodies still attached) to slam down upon the last soldiers, destroying them utterly. Miirym and U'Voros resume their attack on Civilian Mob B, this time from the Back Row.

Yeah, the Fields would definitely still be suffering "train to loot-town" syndrome if it weren't for mobs. We also got the Dragoon split, which I would argue is probably the biggest class improvement we've seen all game, as well as a TON of new Expert classes. I think as of the last Henrys we only had Skirmisher, Regulator, and maybe Winged Warrior? Was Infiltrator around yet or was that after 56?

Kiri raises an eyebrow as she notices Boris' state for the first time. "Hub-ba..." she murmurs softly, her eyes running unabashedly up and down the cleric's undead form. Fortunately (or unfortunately), Mac doesn't seem to notice. "It should be simple, yes. To tell ya the truth, though, my buddy Sakurai's the one who insisted on Heroes for this. Not that I'm complaining, mind, I just hope ya don't mind a bit o' boredom along the way." "Nice to meet ya, Torald." Kiri just waves half-heartedly, her eyes still glued to Boris. "Don't mind her. She's always prefered the magical sort to us regular folks." QM Note: Ahh, that's where it came from! I'll add it back in in the next stats update. "Your mom sounds supes chill. We should hang out." "Mercutio's beard, you've actually got her interested in something. I suggest ya start running now," Mac says with a joking wink. "Somethin' to pass the time with, I suppose," Mac chips in with a chuckle. Kiri watches with bated amusement as Jinnipher picks on Terry. As the henpecked Mage gives up the fight, Kiri jumps down from her bush (which withers at the lack of contact) and puts an arm around his shoulders, walking him slowly around the group. "Listen. Terry? Terry. When you're a mage, you don't last more than a few days unless you're a little bit crazy." She looks around mock conspiratorially, then "whispers" into Terry's ear at normal volume. "I like crazy." With that, Kiri jumps back up to her bushy throne, which blooms again at her touch. "If someone's gotta lead you lot, might as well be someone crazy as me." "She's only half-joking about the crazy part," Mac warns, earning a glare from Kiri, who clams up again. Seeing that everyone had arrived, Mac nods. "Miss Jinnipher, I believe you mentioned a moment ago that you wanted to know about Kiri's experiment?" "Hmpf. I, like, need a bigger mousetrap for a bigger mouse. Whatever. Stupid ghosty knight-thing...just want the damned scythe..." As Kiri lapses into unintelligible mutterings, Mac picks up the slack. "I don't really get what she's planning, but she's a good kid--" another death glare from Kiri "--so I don't reckon it'll be anything too bad. More importantly, she's helped me out in the past, and I always pay my debts." Kiri nods in confirmation. "I originally asked Mac about getting me the bones. He told me his friend Sakurai had a really great deal for 'em, way WAY less than market price. Like, literally the only thing I had to do was hire you lot to go get 'em, and that's, like, still the cheapest thing ever even at your prices." "Sakurai's asked us to meet him out in the forest just west of the Donauld farm to pick up the bones. Which isn't too odd, comin' from him, really. Still, I'm coming along with you, just to make sure his schemes don't get too out of hand." Mac has joined the party! The Party: Terry Yelnats (played by Endgame) *Party Leader!* Level 6 Mage Health: 10/10 (5+5) Defense: 1 Ether: 10/10 (5+5) Power: 9 (5 +4) Gold: 23 Equipment: Grumpy's Staff (WP: 10), Leather Cap (SP: 1) Inventory: Ether Lash Wand: (WP 3 Wand, at the cost of 1 ether per WP the Wand becomes dual strike for one attack.), Cattle Prod Staff (WP: 3), 3x Potion, Remedy, Sapphire (Wind), Opal (Ice), 2x Bat Guano (can be thrown at an enemy to cause the Blind Effect), Bedroll Jinnipher Buchaire (JimBee) 76-year-old female Moon Elven Knight Level 6 Power Bonus: 0 Health: 15/15 Defense: 8 Gold: 115 Equipment: Brine Blade (WP:5, deals Poison 5; greatsword), Full Moon Shield (SP:5), Moone Mail (SP:3; bodywear) Inventory: The Beheader (WP:15, defies SP; greatsword), Vorpalis Conquerors (Power +0; goes up by 2 for every enemy defeated, drops back down to 0 if the wearer is knocked out or if the battle ends; footwear), 3x Potion, Grand Potion, Greater Tonic, 3x Remedy, Bedroll, Shovel, Letter of Recommendation Boris Bruhalv (Waterbrick Down) 38 year old male vampire Cleric *Immune to Stunned and Poisoned* Level 8 Power: 11 (8 + 3) Defense: 2 (2) Health: 16/16 (16) Ether: 12/12 (10) Gold: 103 Equipment: Simple Mace (WP: 3, mace), Rusty Chainmail (SP: 2, Immune to Stunned and Poison) Inventory: Defender's Ring (Accessory, Rolls of "Heal Less" become "Heal"), Scroll of Sleep (Enables casting the asleep-effect to the target, forcing them to miss its turn for three rounds or until woken up by an attack. Each casting has a 50/50 chance of success and costs 1 ether.), 2 Potions, 4 Remedies, Phoenix Essence, 4 Tonics, 1x Sleep Bomb, 3x Blind Bomb, Military Grade Fire Bomb (Deals 10 Fire damage to all opponents when used), Military Grade Dirt Bomb (Deals 10 Ground damage to all opponents when used), Military Grade Holy Bomb (Deals 10 Holy damage to all opponents when used), Military Grade Lightning Bomb (Deals 10 Lightning damage to all opponents when used), Floral Bomb, Bone, Grating Stone Ezeran Yavarr (MysticModulus) 42 year old human mage Level 1 Power: 4 Defense: 0 Health: 5/5 Ether: 5/5 Gold: 0 Equipment: Staff infested with demonic slime (WP 3) Inventory: 3x Potion, Emerald (Wood) Torald Waruelf (Alfadas) 20 year old male Human Barbarian Level 1 Power: 4 Health: 8/8 Gold: 10 Equipment: Old and Rusty Greatsword (WP: 3) Inventory: Potion, Mead, Tiger Balm Kheyli (K-Nut) 327 years old female fairy Level 1 Barbarian Power: 4 (1+3) Health: 8/8 Gold: 0 Equipment: Barrager (WP:3 Greatsword) Inventory: 3x Potion, Mead Mac (takes suggestions) Has a 1/6 chance to grant Inspired Has a 1/3 chance to grant Encouraged Inventory: 3x Tonic, 3x Potion Note: Mac does not deal or take damage from enemies and cannot prevent Free Hits. Is the party ready to proceed?

Like I said, I really, really hope that they do the cinematic Civil War differently than they did in the comics, because the side that won in the comics can go die in a fire as far as I'm concerned.

OOC: See, I knew there was a reason I put off submitting my actions. #totallydidntforget "Er...never mind that, I thought I saw an opening. Lady U'Daras, you should switch to Armored Protestors B from the Front Row. U'Voros, Miirym, you should move to Civilian Mob B from the Front Row. Hoke, would you mind joining me in attacking Armored Protestors B from the Front Row?" OOC: U'Voros and Miirym still need their second rolls against their Jinxed foes.

As bidden by the mysterious, magical note, six Heroes head out into the Eubric Plains at their employer's behest. Those Heroes are: The Party: Terry Yelnats (played by Endgame) *Party Leader!* Level 6 Mage Health: 10/10 (5+5) Defense: 1 Ether: 10/10 (5+5) Power: 9 (5 +4) Gold: 23 Equipment: Grumpy's Staff (WP: 10), Leather Cap (SP: 1) Inventory: Ether Lash Wand: (WP 3 Wand, at the cost of 1 ether per WP the Wand becomes dual strike for one attack.), Cattle Prod Staff (WP: 3), 3x Potion, Remedy, Sapphire (Wind), Opal (Ice), 2x Bat Guano (can be thrown at an enemy to cause the Blind Effect), Bedroll Jinnipher Buchaire (JimBee) 76-year-old female Moon Elven Knight Level 6 Power Bonus: 0 Health: 15/15 Defense: 8 Gold: 115 Equipment: Brine Blade (WP:5, deals Poison 5; greatsword), Full Moon Shield (SP:5), Moone Mail (SP:3; bodywear) Inventory: The Beheader (WP:15, defies SP; greatsword), Vorpalis Conquerors (Power +0; goes up by 2 for every enemy defeated, drops back down to 0 if the wearer is knocked out or if the battle ends; footwear), 3x Potion, Grand Potion, Greater Tonic, 3x Remedy, Bedroll, Shovel, Letter of Recommendation Boris Bruhalv (Waterbrick Down) 38 year old male vampire Cleric *Immune to Stunned and Poisoned* Level 8 Power: 11 (8 + 3) Defense: 2 (2) Health: 16/16 (16) Ether: 12/12 (10) Gold: 103 Equipment: Simple Mace (WP: 3, mace), Rusty Chainmail (SP: 2, Immune to Stunned and Poison) Inventory: Defender's Ring (Accessory, Rolls of "Heal Less" become "Heal"), Scroll of Sleep (Enables casting the asleep-effect to the target, forcing them to miss its turn for three rounds or until woken up by an attack. Each casting has a 50/50 chance of success and costs 1 ether.), 2 Potions, 4 Remedies, Phoenix Essence, 4 Tonics, 1x Sleep Bomb, 3x Blind Bomb, Military Grade Fire Bomb (Deals 10 Fire damage to all opponents when used), Military Grade Dirt Bomb (Deals 10 Ground damage to all opponents when used), Military Grade Holy Bomb (Deals 10 Holy damage to all opponents when used), Military Grade Lightning Bomb (Deals 10 Lightning damage to all opponents when used), Floral Bomb, Bone, Grating Stone Ezeran Yavarr (MysticModulus) 42 year old human mage Level 1 Power: 4 Defense: 0 Health: 5/5 Ether: 5/5 Gold: 0 Equipment: Staff infested with demonic slime (WP 3) Inventory: 3x Potion, Emerald (Wood) Torald Waruelf (Alfadas) 20 year old male Human Barbarian Level 1 Power: 4 Health: 8/8 Gold: 10 Equipment: Old and Rusty Greatsword (WP: 3) Inventory: Potion, Mead, Kheyli (K-Nut) 327 years old female fairy Level 1 Barbarian Power: 4 (1+3) Health: 8/8 Gold: 0 Equipment: Barrager (WP:3 Greatsword) Inventory: 3x Potion, Mead The rays of the morning sun filter through the vegetation of the bordering Eubric Forest, casting dappled shadows across their employer and the man accompanying her. The woman, unmistakable thanks to the hair of the same hue as the ink upon her notice, sits atop an unnatural bush likely of her own conjuring, its chalky-looking fruits the color and consistency of bleached bone. The man next to her waves to the Heroes. "Howdy, there, Heroes!" The purple-garbed woman merely crosses her arms and taps the tips of her two staves together impatiently as she waits for the Heroes in the back to catch up. "You're all here? Well, whatever. I need some Ancient Bones for a project I've cooked up, and you lot are gonna--" "Whoa, there, kiddo, shoudn't you let 'em introduce themselves first?" The woman rolls her eyes. "Whatever." The man chuckles. "The name's Mac. I'm normally a driver for the Shadeaux--actually worked with a few other Heroes a while back--but today I'm out here on personal business." Mac jerks his head toward the purple-haired woman. "This charming little lady is your employer Kiri Murasaki." Kiri eyes the Heroes. "Pleasure," she says acidly. "Can they get to work now?" Mac smiles generously at the young woman. "All in good time, kiddo." Mac looks back to the Heroes. "So, 'fore we get started, mind introducing yourselves? You and I will be traveling together on this job, after all." What will the party say? QM Note: Welcome to the Quest, everyone--and for a few of you, welcome to your first Quest as well! If you need anything explained, don't hesitate to ask. Please check to make sure your stats are correct, and if you make any Marketplace purchases, be sure to do so before you post here (and let me know that you have so I can update your stats!). You have 24 hours to confirm your participation in the Quest.

A pink envelope bursts into existence in front of Terry Yelnats, bearing his name inked in purple. Inside is a list of names, a note, and a map. Chosen Heroes for Quest #141: A Bone to Pick Ezeran Yavarr, Level 1 Mage (MysticModulus) Boris Bruhalv, Level 5 Cleric (Waterbrick Down) Torald Waruelf, Level 1 Barbarian (Alfadas) Kheyli, Level 1 Barbarian (K-Nut) Jinnipher Buchaire, Level 6 Knight (JimBee) Terry Yelnats, Level 6 Mage (Endgame) *Party Leader* Meet me at the marked spot on the map. And, like, don't make me wait. QM Note: Go ahead and make your Marketplace purchases, if any--the Quest topic will be up ASAP. ------------------------------------------------------------ Current Sign-ups for Unlimited Quest: Fields of Glory Avalanche, Level 13.5 Barbarian (Dragonfire) Warlen Melimane, Level 18.5 Mystic Knight (The Chosen Minifigure)

OOC: Not that it matters a ton, but U'Voros needs a second roll for attacking a Jinxed enemy "Put U'Voros and Lady U'Daras at the top of the Order--we need them to have better odds, before anyone else attacks. Hoke, do you think you and Torc can take care of the second unit of Pongcanis?" OOC: Also, Mirror Sentinel should protect all of us but only reflect the damage to the Southern front, right?

This just in: all of my best ideas are based off of apocalypse - tier Dad Jokes. (Yes this is related to future plans. Yes, I intend to inflict these pun-filled horrors upon you at some point. No, I don't have any shame, why do you ask? )

The problem is, that foul taste is still in the mouths of many, many people who would have otherwise played the game, and that dampens our enthusiasm for it. Now, if LMO had started off as buy-to-play with no continuous subscriptions or anything, I would have been much more likely to forgive it some of its flaws and just enjoy it for what it is. I probably would have played LMO on a semi-casual basis, like I did LU, and probably would have bought all of the Minifigures series along the way because of it. (Side note: IMO that's the most valuable thing TLG can do with a game: create a digital product that can directly push physical sales through in-game rewards for doing so.) However, because Funcom showed their more predatory side right away, it colored my impressions and thus resulted in me buying neither LMO nor the more recent Minifigures waves. TL;DR, Funcom actually has it right when they speculate that the previous FtP release is a big reason behind the game's current financial failure, they just don't seem to understand what about the FtP release drove customers away.

The best way to keep an MMO going, IMO, is to not insult your player base by trying to rob them blind with blatantly exploitative microtransactions. I'm not against microtransactions, I'm really not. But make the prices reasonable, and make earning the currency in-game difficult but not tooth-pulling-without-novocaine painful. Now, I did stop playing long, long ago, so perhaps things were adjusted--but it still wouldn't get the sour taste of the old prices out of my mouth, constantly reminding me of how little the company thought of me. Oh, and also make the game fun to play, even when you've already collected everything. I remember just running around, using abilities and emotes and chatting with people in LU. It was fun. There wasn't nearly that level of replayability in LMO.

Seeing that Hybros has his targets better covered, Arthur moves to attack Civilian Mob B from the Back Row.

There we go, all the more explanation that will ever be needed for Z-Mail. Enjoy.

Byblos rolls his eyes and hands Lind a sheet of pink parchment and matching envelope from his desk. He points out the fine print at the bottom.

What characters would be best for a DW CMF line (keeping in mind TLG's design rules per wave, i.e. "counterparts" so that figures are harder to differentiate)? For the sake of pleasing as many people as possible, let's assume non-Doctor characters only, and a roughly even split between Classic and Modern Who.

OOC: U'Voros should have done more damage thanks to Fragile. Also, isn't Mug x3 instead of x2? U'Voros, Miirym, and U'Daras repeat. Arthur attacks disgruntled soldiers A from the Back Row.

OOC: U'Daras gets four rolls--Lucky versus Jinxed.

Eh...speedsters OP. I'm very interested to see now how Civil War goes down in the MCU. I just watched through ComicsExplained's video series on YouTube, and if they go with the same ending they did in the comics, there will be riots. Enough people then seemed to feel it was a "The Bad Guy Wins" type of scenario, and America has only gotten further and further from those ideals since then. Incidentally, I think I like the movie versions of these characters way more than the comic versions--the comic versions are dicks.

Rocks fall, everyone dies. On the one hand, non-Marauder dual-strike ignores Lucky from the secondary target. On the other hand, the Maurader class' whole schtick is high-risk for the high reward, so maybe they should have to roll twice and take the worse roll if either enemy is Lucky (after all, they take damage from the secondary target when normal dual-strike doesn't, so why should they get to ignore the positive effects of the secondary target?).

Irritates and harrasses party members, check, goes on enormous Motive Rants for evil actions, check, thinks he's an awesome min-maxing strategist, check, plans to go on a big finale Quest with the intention of siding with the main villain, check... Seriously, do people read the old Quests to see just how badly things turn out when that path is taken? I'm putting my money on the Heroes having to choose whether to revive Masson or Octavyn (with the other perma-dying), and then when they make their revival they realize five minutes later that the other one would have lived anyway only to die in a cutscene. Great minds, Pie. Johon used it in that one Quest with Lyren and Nuitan. I think Sandy's policy with it there is the best in general for Z-mail. ...although it actually makes sense for Arthur to have access, considering his parentage.

Z-mail is just a roleplaying thing we handwave, long as it isn't abused. I feel like over-explaining it would be more detrimental than anything else.