New Edition of the Paragon Times and... Issue 11 spoilers???

[RTTingle]

The latest from the Paragon Times...

Outbreak Plague Rampant for Four Years

PARAGON CITY, Rhode Island, September 20th  -- Today marks the third anniversary of the Outbreak pandemic that has swept the city and devastated hotspots around the globe. Memorial services are being held throughout Paragon and around the country today. It was four years ago that the Outbreak virus was identified by scientists at the Rivera Medical Center – to date, the plague has claimed nearly 1 million lives worldwide.

Here in Paragon City, a candlelight vigil is being held in Atlas Park to remember the fallen. While many of the infected are not technically dead, the city's casualties number in the tens of thousands who have been lost to the Outbreak plague. Statesman and Sister Psyche will say a few words in remembrance. Another speaker will be Tammy Miller, window of Doctor Greg Miller, one of the first heroes lost
to the plague and the scientist who identified the virus. The first victims of the Outbreak virus were members of a chapter of the Skulls looking for an alternative to Superadine. They hijacked a Crey Biotech shipment and stole an experimental drug. They tested the drug out looking for a quick fix and an easy high – essentially looking to corner a new product to peddle on the streets. They got their quick fix, but there was nothing easy about "Outbreak," as the street nicknamed the drug. Use of the new drug spread throughout their neighborhood as speedily as its name implied, wiping out many street gangs and homeless, but also severely crippling first responders like members of the PPD, the FDPC, and EMTs.

Users of Outbreak experience a feeling of invincibility and a boost in physical strength, but there is also a corresponding increase in violent tendencies and aggression. A single dose causes physical addiction and will cause a rapid and unstoppable mental degradation resulting in clinical insanity. Doctors have been unable to reverse the loss of memory and personality associated with Outbreak madness.

In addition to the mental damage, Outbreak also causes physical mutations, such as the signature glowing green eyes. Such victims are known as the Contaminated. The Paragon Police Department has created several quarantine areas, or Isolation Zones, in neighborhoods of Skyway City and Steel Canyon, and the entirety of Talos Island.

Heroes without technological shielding, such as hazard suits or fully-enclosed environmental suits, or without some other magical or super-powered resistance to infection, are cautioned to stay away.
"While many of the Contaminated don't seem to be a very dangerous threat," Blue Steel, representative for the PPD, said, "it's all too easy to become infected. And once you've caught Outbreak, you're lost."

Although it is nearly impossible to track all members of the Contaminated, it is believed that a surprisingly large number have vanished from the Isolation ZonesSome suspect theyare drifting to join the rag-tag armies of the Lost, huddled in the sewers beneath the city streets. Others worry they may somehow be making their way to Sharkhead Isle, a section of the Rogue Isles known to be riddled with plague-carriers. "If the Contaminated are getting through our net," Blue Steel said, "this could be disastrous. All we need is for one victim to escape to Mercy Island or Grandville, or reach a major metropolis like Chicago or Empire City, and we'll have the next true catastrophe on our hands."

Coyote, long-time assistant to the Rivera Medical Center said again that no answer is in sight, and it may be years before they crack the Outbreak plague to find an antidote. "We must continue to be vigilante," Coyote said, "and do whatever is in our power to help our lost brothers and sisters. We must do everything we can to break this dreaded plague." Coyote has said in the past that he regrets bringing new heroes into a plague-zone, and wishes he could recover all of those who have been lost.

A new event?  Taking the story a step further?  Will Outbreak spread beyond the training zone?  If you think thats interesting, get a load of THIS...

As part of our continued coverage of the history of the Outbreak plague, the Times would like to remember this year's fallen.

We remember:

Aaron Shields, Agent Davis, Alicia Robinson, Amber Reeves, Amy Graham, Andre Rogers, Andrew Mitchell, Armando H. Sanders, Arnold Decker, Ashlee Hale, Audrey Yoo, Betty Cope, Bonnie Muniz, Captain Sherman, Carol Wiles, Charles Drake, Charlie J. Lovely, Colleen Hathaway, Craig Castro, Cynthia Bray, Deann Rodriguez, Derek J. Mooneyhan, Devin Mcleod, Elizabeth Bartels, Ernesto Hess, Everett Daniels, Genevieve Sanders, George Givens, Helen Voss, Jacob Covington, Jacob Nadel, James Hannigan, Jeffrey Boone, Jimmy Dortz, Joan Curtis, John Rich, John Walker, Johnathon Murphy, Josef Keller, Joseph Narcisse, Joyce Edwards, Juan Holden, Karen Cortez, Karen Parker, Kathleen Verdugo, Kathryn Swingle, Katie Hannon, Dr. Kryten, Lori Smitherman, Lottie Heaton, Louise Joy, Mark Carpenter, Maxwell Christopher, Merisel Valenzuela, Michael Moreland, Mikey the Ear, Nancy Wilson, Pamela Graham, Patricia E. Jimenez, Perry Venuti, Rachel Price, Rachel Torres, Rachelle Clemmer, Ramon Stephenson, Ray J. Dempsey, Richard Campbell, Richard Tyler, Robert Harden, Robert Rosenblatt, Roberta L. Fain, Roslyn Schreiner, Samuel O'Reilly, Sandra Caballero, Sanjay Chandra, Sara Moore, Saul Williams, Scott Allen, Shawn Ledford, Shelli Jimenez, Shondra Her, Stasia Deweese, Sylvia Demello, Theresa Phelan, Tony Magruder, Veronica Woods, Viola Johnson, Virginia Montez, Virginia Thomas, Walter Daschle, William Spiers.

Those names look familiar?  The possibility of what this could mean... has me intrigued!!!

Zigursky Guards Put Down Riot and Foil Breakout
By Jackson Turner

BRICKSTOWN, Paragon City – The still night of Brickstown was shattered at about 3:30 a.m. when a group of terrorists attempted to penetrate the Zigursky Maximum Security Penitentiary, or the Ziggurat. The terrorists planned to help a number of prisoners break out, but were foiled by the Zigursky security officers who were supported by a contingent from Longbow. Numerous casualties were reported to both guards and prisoners, but tough vigilance ensured no prisoners escaped.

Responsibility for the break out attempt has been laid at the feet of Lord Recluse and Arachnos soldiers from the Rogue Isles. The plot was uncovered by Longbow, Ms. Liberty's anti-terrorist division of Freedom Corps. A captured Arachnos agent named Jenkins gave up the details of the mission, and when Ms. Liberty brought this information to Captain Nakayama, head of Ziggurat security, Longbow was invited to bolster the Ziggurat's forces with open arms. An elite Ballista agent was stationed in the Ziggurat along with her compliment of Riflemen, Eagle Units, and a squad of Nullifiers, while another Ballista remained on patrol outside, braced by Minigun and Flamethrower wielding agents.

Located in the heart of the Brickstown zone, the Zigursky Penitentiary, called the Zig on the street, is known as the preeminent super-powered holding facility in the United States. For nearly 5 decades the Ziggurat has been the answer to the super-powered villain crisis that bedevils Paragon City. Although the Zig takes in several levels of prisoners, it is most commonly known as a "super-max" facility, and is Paragon City's highest security prison, used to incarcerate the city's most deadly and dangerous criminals.

Under the direction of Warden McGoohan, the prison constantly upgrades its security protocols. "We known that our inmates are a crafty bunch, always probing for a weakness in our system, for a way out. Well, it won't happen on my watch. We hire the finest minds in security to counter any attack, and back it up with a heavy hand. No one has ever escaped from the Zig...and no one ever will!" McGoohan declared.

"This is the sort of stuff we train for," said Ballista Agent Soulban. He described it, saying, "But to actually have it happen is a different story. It was hell down there. Pure hell." One of the prisoners, Jimmy Dortz, witnessed, "...a big explosion tore a hole in the outer wall, and it seemed to signal a riot amongst the gen. pop." Longbow and Zig security managed to round up all the cons who tried to escape from the Yard, although prisoners Hard Time and Angel Lopez were killed in the chaos.

Recluse's Wolf Spider soldiers were airlifted in by daredevil Arachnos Pilots, but  Longbow was able to capture them all. Some claim Lord Recluse himself was there, but no confirmed reports have been made. Rumors abound regarding who Lord Recluse wanted to free from the Zig. Was he searching for a single villain with a great destiny, or a whole host of villains to strengthen his armies? This reporter will continue to investigate the story, no matter where it takes him. In the meantime, the Zig continues to stand as a monument to justice and watchfulness.

Could this be... a hint at... a Task Force for the Zigg?  Finally?

Speculate away!

[MJB]

**EDIT**

Did you notice the Issue 11 wallpaper?

**DOUBLE EDIT**

I had another response here but, to tell the truth, I didn't really read the whole Paragon Times.

It seems that they are reporting about an alternate reality. One where the outbreak isn't stopped in the tutorial and where you never make it out of the Zig in CoV. The list of "infected" people mention a few contacts. I don't know where all of this is going but I like it.

Could this mean that Issue 11 is a lot closer than they have led us to believe? Perhaps sometime early November?

-MJB

[Uncle Yuan]

I have at time runs into the Contaminated in other zones.  But never more than a couple, and always in low zones.

[Bugbear]

I have at time runs into the Contaminated in other zones.  But never more than a couple, and always in low zones.

Are you sure they were "Contaminated" and not "Infected"?  Infected are a similar looking low-level faction that originated in CoV (Mercy Island), but have been found in Galaxy City ever since I7 or I8 (I forget which exactly).  I know their presence caused a lot of confusion and false hope among those hoping to get the Isolator badge.

-BG

[Bugbear]

It seems that they are reporting about an alternate reality. One where the outbreak isn't stopped in the tutorial and where you never make it out of the Zig in CoV. The list of "infected" people mention a few contacts.

I noticed around 15 names of contacts in that list.  Also, the article mentions the entirety of Talos Island being made into a quarantine zone.

So they're either reporting on an alternate reality, or else I11 is going to be by far the most transformative issue ever.  I'm betting on the former.  I'm actually hoping for the former.  If the devs ever do plan to change the game world so drastically, I'd prefer it be at the hands of a more dynamic faction than the Contaminated.  I mean, come on!  Even the RIKTI couldn't effect permanent change to a city zone.

-BG

[BlueBard]

ALL of Talos is an Isolation Zone?  A LOT of existing contacts succumbed to the Outbreak virus?

Certainly not true today, but who knows?

What I find interesting is the warning about how infectious it is and how there's no cure.  How would they handle such a thing in-game if it can affect players en-masse?  The scope would have to be limited somehow, wouldn't it?  Will Talos become a Hazard Zone then?

It could signal a sort of a facelift.  Maybe the Outbreak scenario will be replaced with another.  Remove old contacts and bring in new ones to provide a bit of atmosphere.  Introduce new mission opportunities.

I'm not so sure that there is a real difference between the Contaminated and the Infected.  The story really makes them sound like one and the same.  I confess that I am not all that familiar with the Infected storylines in CoV, so I can't be certain.

The wallpaper image seems to be that of the Ouroboros (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ouroboros).  It could also represent a form of the Midgard Serpent (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J%C3%B6rmungandr).  What that means in the context of the game, I have no clue.

There were always Longbow Agents in the Breakout mission, but they were usually seen at a distance.  No idea what the significance of that story is.

[MJB]

The big talk on the official boards is that Issue 11 may be some type of time travel issue. I don't know if the devs would do time travel before getting the Moon map in game but who knows.

So they're either reporting on an alternate reality, or else I11 is going to be by far the most transformative issue ever.  I'm betting on the former.  I'm actually hoping for the former. If the devs ever do plan to change the game world so drastically, I'd prefer it be at the hands of a more dynamic faction than the Contaminated.  I mean, come on!  Even the RIKTI couldn't effect permanent change to a city zone.

I gotta agree with Bugs. I love the idea of really transforming parts of the game to refresh the content. I also don't see the Contaminated as a real threat.

That being said, you could take those infected contacts and turn them into Avs and introduce the people behind the infection. This would give lots of baddies to beat up. The article does mention that the source of who or what was behind the infection hasn't been found yet.

-MJB

[El Condor]

The big talk on the official boards is that Issue 11 may be some type of time travel issue. I don't know if the devs would do time travel before getting the Moon map in game but who knows.

Moon map?  :huh:

[BlueBard]

Consider...

The Outbreak scenario mentions the Rikti as the source of the Contamination, if memory serves.  The Paragon Times article mentions it as a hijacked Crey Biotech shipment.

Either way, you could link the Contaminated back to either Crey, the Rikti, or both... and that WOULD be interesting.

[MJB]

Moon map?  :huh:

It's been said that the developers want to give us some missions on the Moon. :) The Moon Base map was said to be next on their to-do list. People asked about traveling through time or flash backs and the Devs supposedly said it would be done after the Moon.

-MJB

[ThePrelate]

<--- geeking out atm

[Verfall]

The rumor is that posi's "thing we've always wanted" is the flashback system, aka the ability to restart a 50 at level 1. It does make sense if this is a time traveling issue to tie that into the system.

[Midnight]

Consider...

The Outbreak scenario mentions the Rikti as the source of the Contamination, if memory serves.  The Paragon Times article mentions it as a hijacked Crey Biotech shipment.

Either way, you could link the Contaminated back to either Crey, the Rikti, or both... and that WOULD be interesting.

There's an short badge arc in City of Villains where your character steals Outbreak (the drug) from the Lost (who synthesized it) and plants it in Paragon City.

[MJB]

The rumor is that posi's "thing we've always wanted" is the flashback system, aka the ability to restart a 50 at level 1. It does make sense if this is a time traveling issue to tie that into the system.

I'm confused. You would just get to reboot your character? Re-pick the powers and all that. The only benefit would be that you get to keep your badges. Is that right?

I don't see why people would want to re-boot their 50's just to keep badges. Now if this was a type of respec that allowed you to choose a new power set, that would be cool. I know that a few people have stated that if they gave us the Street Fighting set they would love to re-do their character to use it.

-MJB

[Verfall]

The rumor is that posi's "thing we've always wanted" is the flashback system, aka the ability to restart a 50 at level 1. It does make sense if this is a time traveling issue to tie that into the system.

I'm confused. You would just get to reboot your character? Re-pick the powers and all that. The only benefit would be that you get to keep your badges. Is that right?

I don't see why people would want to re-boot their 50's just to keep badges. Now if this was a type of respec that allowed you to choose a new power set, that would be cool. I know that a few people have stated that if they gave us the Street Fighting set they would love to re-do their character to use it.

-MJB

I assume it will be something more than just "1-50" again.

[Adamence]

Isn't it obvious?  The "thing we've always wanted" is an easier way for older characters to get the Isolator badge.  I know that's all I've cared about since I started playing. :P

[MJB]

*bans Adam*

-MJB

[Figure Fan]

Hm, this moon business sounds kind of cool.

[BlueBard]

Having never gotten any character to 50 and not likely to anytime soon, the last thing I care about is a "flashback" system.  And I hope that every single issue to come doesn't simply focus on more, more, more content for the high-level characters and little reward for those of us still plugging away.

[Durothill]

Interesting an Ouroboros in the shape of an infinity loop, they're definitely hammering the concept home :). I guess the flashback system makes sense in that context but there must be more to it than that for such an unusually cryptic (even by their standards) anouncement.
As far as i can tell the vast majority of the names i recognise are contacts, i suppose in an alternate world where the contacts hae been killed off there would have to be a different way of getting missions possibly one no longer limited to security level?...of course i'm most likely going off in the wrong direction there.

[Reepicheep]

I've seen that symbol somewhere else CoHish... May be a Deja Vu. Anyone may know what I mean?

[Uncle Yuan]

So my thought about the whole snakey wall paper is whether it might have something to do with the return of the 5th column?

[B A D]

Could be a whole host of things. All we know its a reality that occurs because of the absense of *your * character. You weren't there to get the dude out at breakout, and the plague spread. You weren't there  in outbreak, and the plague spread.

The big question involves how. is it an alternate reality, or a fluctuation of the time stream? And then by way of that, which villian group has the most history involving time travel or reality bending?

My bet is away from Reality hopping, since the whole Rikti thing is based on that.

[Midnight]

Having never gotten any character to 50 and not likely to anytime soon, the last thing I care about is a "flashback" system.  And I hope that every single issue to come doesn't simply focus on more, more, more content for the high-level characters and little reward for those of us still plugging away.

Just quickly checking my friends list; 9 (of 70) of them don't have 50s. Five of them no longer play (Syn, RazDawg, Grizz, Gymdawg, Lunarman) and two newish (Kraken, Kalhenna).

The vast majority of players in City of Heroes have a high level character, and... at the high level there's simply not much to do. The War Zone was a good start, but my absolute favorite characters don't get played because I have to summon 7 others for a task force, get ganked in PVP, or *shudder* organize a ship/hami raid.

Every single issue has focused on a higher level of content because, cripe, at this point most players can get a character to level 30 within the span of one month. Hell, I've seen Mike do it in under two weeks. But in the upper levels, the levels come very slow and it's easy to get bored. Stop playing. Stop paying.

But that's just my two cents.

[Uncle Yuan]

Every single issue has focused on a higher level of content because, cripe, at this point most players can get a character to level 30 within the span of one month. Hell, I've seen Mike do it in under two weeks. But in the upper levels, the levels come very slow and it's easy to get bored. Stop playing. Stop paying.

But that's just my two cents.

For me it's not about post-50, but the 30-50 grind.  I'd be much more excited about something that could speed that up a bit.  Not hugely, mind you.  But when it takes a half-dozen solo mishes to pick up a single bar I also get pretty unmotivated.

[El Condor]

And I hope that every single issue to come doesn't simply focus on more, more, more content for the high-level characters and little reward for those of us still plugging away.

Wait until you've hit the 40s - then you'll know what "plugging away" is  ;)
And Faultline did get a major overhaul in I8.  The two issues since then have justifiably focused on those upper levels, which were in need of good lovin'.

Personally, I'm elated with the story-driven angle they're giving to the updates now.  One thing that is super-hard in an MMO is to make the world feel like it is dynamic and changing - that time and history are actually passing.  But that's one of the main reasons that playing can often feel like meaningless grind.  I'll be really jazzed if I11 makes me feel more a part of Paragon City's evolving story.

EC

[Tortuga]

I like stuff!

[captainspud]

I like stuff!

And that, I suppose, is where we differ.

[Marmeille]

The big question involves how. is it an alternate reality, or a fluctuation of the time stream? And then by way of that, which villian group has the most history involving time travel or reality bending?

I would say Nemesis, 5th Column/Concil or Arachnos, I'm soooooooo hoping for it to involve the 5th Column and a non-nictus version of Requiem that would not have soiled his faction with squidly Concil lameness.

[BlueBard]

Having never gotten any character to 50 and not likely to anytime soon, the last thing I care about is a "flashback" system.  And I hope that every single issue to come doesn't simply focus on more, more, more content for the high-level characters and little reward for those of us still plugging away.

Just quickly checking my friends list; 9 (of 70) of them don't have 50s. Five of them no longer play (Syn, RazDawg, Grizz, Gymdawg, Lunarman) and two newish (Kraken, Kalhenna).

The vast majority of players in City of Heroes have a high level character, and... at the high level there's simply not much to do. The War Zone was a good start, but my absolute favorite characters don't get played because I have to summon 7 others for a task force, get ganked in PVP, or *shudder* organize a ship/hami raid.

Every single issue has focused on a higher level of content because, cripe, at this point most players can get a character to level 30 within the span of one month. Hell, I've seen Mike do it in under two weeks. But in the upper levels, the levels come very slow and it's easy to get bored. Stop playing. Stop paying.

But that's just my two cents.

Okay, I can sympathize with your frustration to some degree.  Take a moment to sympathize with mine.  I have a stable full of characters under level 20, a handful 20 and over.  Not one of them is 'the' character I love to play.  I have yet to find an AT/Powerset combination that's 'me'.  So, I play different characters based on my mood.  Hence why I don't have any character at level 30 yet.  I wind up playing the same missions over and over again.

The last -two- issues have done little or nothing for me.  The best thing I can benefit from is the occasional Invention drop that I can sell for lots of inf.  So am I getting a return on my 'investment'?  Or am I paying so that you high-level guys can have more to do?

I will admit, some things have gotten better.  If not for the XP debt changes, the changes in drops, radio missions, the changes in Faultline, and veteran awards, I would have quit by now.  Also, some of the new maps make things interesting.  So I am still playing... for now.

I'd like to see new AT's and powersets.  New villain groups and missions to go with them.  It would be nice if more of the trial zones evolved a la Faultline.  The Hollows especially needs a facelift of some kind.  Give me a good reason to go to Boomtown.  You know... stuff.