FrozenFyre wrote:

Well thanks for clearing that one up anyway, I guess Veil likes to have a different look in the real, probly handy for sneaking aboard HvCft too! I think that's it for what I feel I need to see really, but some people who haven't accessed the missions might like to see the Wright programs and stuff like the new look Kid etc.

Here they are then. The Kid with his scar:

A Wright Accelerated Succubus:

Vinia wrote:

Rarebit's response to Veil and Shimada's look in the real compared to within the simulation...

Rarebit wrote:

I had some fun coming up with how Veil and Shimada would look in the Real. I didn't want to give them radically altered bodies or anything like that, but Veil looks different without her glasses and makeup, she's probably a little leaner or more wirey, which was an attempt to give her a more "Real-istic" physique--showing muscles from hard exercise and a thinner face from maybe subsisting on synthesized chicken-flavor, and I thought it would be an interesting contrast too to give her short dark hair in the Real, vs the long white hair on her RSI, and her costume is black rather than white, and doesn't have any non-utilitarian additions like flowing coat tails or high heels. It is quite a bit different from the usual redpill garb, though, which also serves to illustrate that her source of equipment is not Zion.

Shimada's costume is closer to the standard torn sweater and dark sailor pants Zion sported in the movies, except that I couldn't resist giving her more stylish pants that are closer to her RSI. I didn't change her hair length as much as Veil's--only shortened it a bit--but pulled it back in a ponytail so that it looks different--you see her forehead rather than her RSI's long even-cut bangs, which I thought gave her a more hm monkish or at least serious appearance--and more suited to wearing on a combat ship.

A good reason why Popper actually shows his scars in the Simulation instead of looking his normal self is probably down to his injuries making a deep mental scar as well as physical.

Great point Vinia (and Cloudwolf too )! Thank you guys for pointing that out, I haven't thought about this myself at all.

Quicksilver79 wrote:

Does anyone know how many Missions are in each Chapter?

Except for the Chapter 1, there are 5 missions per subchapter, thus - 15 missions per chapter for each org.

Well, I'm certainly not a specialist in drawings, but I like what you do, Rare. Mostly. 

Steelle wrote:

Rarebit wrote:

Shinryu wrote:

Hmm.. the Architect and a very ticked off Pace, this should be good.

Oh, and Rare, is there any way you could at least let the loading area music keep playing during the cine if not use one of the already in game tracks for the "soundtrack?"  In my eyes, the total silence was the one let down during what was an excellent first outing for the new cines.

It was something we discussed here last time, and I ran the idea by Dracomet, but didn't manage to get definite word on feasibility. He's the guy who had to *disable* game music for the old cinematics, because it used to play over their own sound tracks; so now we'd have to have a sort of two-tiered system where it doesn't play over the old ones but does over the new ones. Probably doable but there've been some higher-priority things we needed him to get done, so I haven't been leaning on anyone about it yet.

 

Then would it be easier to just add in one of the in game tracks?

To be honest, I also like this idea. But Rarebit said it would considerably increase the download time, which he obviously didn't want to happen.

Anyway, as I rather download the cinematics to my HD than watch them ingame, I find it sad that they have to be completely silent...

Shinryu wrote:

Hmm.. the Architect and a very ticked off Pace, this should be good.

Oh, and Rare, is there any way you could at least let the loading area music keep playing during the cine if not use one of the already in game tracks for the "soundtrack?"  In my eyes, the total silence was the one let down during what was an excellent first outing for the new cines.

I second every word here.

I'd like to invite everyone to repeat the same thing we did for the Chapter 11.3: post here the logs, summaries and/or screenshots (if necessary) of the new missions, so that we can gather the whole story. The Zion part is coming soon by me, and in the meanwhile I suggest that the Merovingian and Machine operatives do their part of the job.

Here is the first Zion mission.

Zion mission 12.1.1: Self Image

Tyndall:

As I'm sure you've learned already, Ghost was able to locate the program in Ikebukuro; he... well, it looks like he found it by checking places he'd been with Trinity when they operated together in the Matrix. And I'm not sure how this could be possible, but Ghost seems certain that the program... Well, I'd better let him explain it. He's trying to locate the program again after they were interrupted.

Mission part 1: Talk to Ghost

Operator:

Yeah, this is--

I'm not gonna say anything until I hear what Ghost has to say.

Ghost:

She was just here; I know it. The others must be closing in.

...The program is Trinity, IntegratedOne. I don't know how that's possible, but that's how it is.

Now we've got the Machines and several strangers -- who I can only guess are more of the freeborn "Oligarchs" whose override programs the Machines fear -- trying to recapture her. I don't know how you or the rest of Zion feel about this, but I'm not going to allow it to happen.

Computer:

>

Ghost:

I've spent a lot of time since she left, questioning what I've been doing. Now those questions are gone. That's how I know.

Mission part 2: Search the area

Tyndall:

I trust Ghost's instinct on this... but even if I didn't, whatever Trinity or the program is now, the Council had already decided that Zion would do what it could to ensure its safety, and we're not going to give up on that now.

I've got a possible reading in Murasaki. Take a look please, IntegratedOne.

Operator:

Trinity! Jeez! How could it be her -- years after we all thought she died getting Neo to the Machines to make the Truce, and now... like this? And what the hell do the Oligarchs have to do with her? Man...!

Computer:

How well do you know yourself?
Are you sure?
I thought I knew. But this_

[Note: the message was not displayed in white, as it was before for the BIP messages, but in green, as usual]

Tyndall:

I'm reading potential hostile signals inbound in your vicinity, IntegratedOne. I'll have a position for you momentarily.

Mission part 3: Eliminate the hostiles

Tyndall:

The indications we've had since Ghost's encounter with Trinity are that the Machines are cooperating with the two new Oligarch arrivals; that's consistent with the "hands off" approach they've taken with Oligarchs who've entered the Matrix in the past, namely Halborn and Carlyne -- even though those two caused a great deal of damage to Machine and other programs.

We have to anticipate that we may end up facing both Machines and Oligarch override routines there.

Operator:

I've got Machine signals in there, all right. No override activity showing... We can hope that the Machines are still antsy about keeping their programs near override sources.

Machine Destroyer:

You think that changes things? You haven't been paying attention.

Tactical Security:

Zionite sighted.

Final message:

Tyndall:

This isn't going to be easy, IntegratedOne, but I think we're making the right choice, and I think she's going to try to contact us again.

When you're ready, we can use your help in Shirakaba. Our teams looking for her there have been hit hard by the Machines, and now we're getting override readings in the area as well.

Garu wrote:

ZippyTheSquirrel wrote:

...Thanks for the Zion stuff! Man, their missions must be so much more interesting than ours..

Agreed.

I'm very curious to hear about Zion 12.1.2 and 12.1.3 now!

It's coming, it's coming!

Following the Tyndall's lead, Zion operatibes fought Accelerated Machines in Shirakaba, and found some "override traces" on them. The Zion contact in Ikebukuro exchanged it for a 12.1.2 ticket.

The 12.1.2 mission could be ran only in Dowtown.

Zion mission 12.1.2: Angel

Tyndall:

IntegratedOne, we've received data we think may have been from the interface program -- from Trinity -- in Downtown.

We know that the Machines and the reprsentatives of the Oligarchs -- who our sources within the Machines identify as two individuals, "Helian" and "Tesarova" -- have been working to locate her. We're going to have to move quickly if we want to stay ahead of them.

Mission part 1: Search the area

Operator:

Got some electronics readings in there, but nothing fittinf the profile of a sentient program.

Computer:

>Yes._

[Trinity appears, with the following text in Details: "This "biological interface program," said to have been written by the Oracle, appears to some to be a manifestation of the woman once known as Zion's top hacker, who perished while transporting Neo to the Machine city."]

Operator:

It's... That's... her?

Trinity:

I don't have much time. I don't know what... this means.

Before... I thought I died. I was with him... I said goodbye. I don't remember... until--

I don't know how to make it make sense.

... They're getting close. I have to go.

Mission part 2: Eliminate the hostiles

Tyndall:

We're reading programs approaching that location, operative. It looks like the Machines have already tracked her to Downtown. We need to try to buy her some time.

Operator:

All right. Give 'em hell.

Blood Drunk:

Hi there.

Operator:

Exiles? Does that mean the Merv's getting in on this, too?

Uh-oh, they've managed to get you surrounded. Watch it.

Elite Guard:

Leave programs to programs, human.

Mission succesfully completed.

Tyndall (final message):

It was only a matter of time before the Frenchman made his play. One thing at least that we can count in our favor is that his relations with the Machines have been very tense lately due to his attempted manipulation of Oligarchs and their resources in the simulation.

IntegratedOne, I'm getting a report of an unusual signal in Baldwin Heights. Override use has also been picked up in the area. Look into it, and report unusual findings to our contact in Ikebukuro.

Zion operatives found and fought multiple "Override Functions" in Bladwin Heights. The enemies dropped some "function fragments", that were to be traded for the 12.1.3 mission ticket.

The 12.1.3 Zion mission runs in International.

Zion mission 12.1.3: Impersonal

Tyndall:

Operative, we've received a coded alert from Ghost, who's been looking for Trinity across the International District.

I'm sending you to his position now. I don't know what caused him to send the alert, so please be careful.

Mission part 1: Talk to Ghost

Operator:

That's the spot. I'm getting some override readings, but it looks like Ghost's still holding steady.

Helian:

You've been in contact with it. What is your interest here? It can be of no use to you.

Tesarova:

Hmm... I'll bet *I* know.

Tesarova:

I've seen this before... Usually it doesn't last very long.

Helian:

Your organization's belligent attitude in this matter will not serve you well.

Perhaps it will help you understand what you are dealing with if I tell you that we have disposed of Carlyne. His irresponsible handling of the program and his sharing of restricted information with your group had made him a liability. When we stopped at his compound to question him on our way here, Tesarova and I found him recovering from the loss of his android host at the hands of the woman called Wright; it was the perfect opportunity to eliminate him.

Ghost:

Forget about me. Just make sure she's safe. Have Tyndall check with Sparks for the information you'll need.

Ghost:

Go on!

Mission part 2: Search the area

Tyndall:

Yes, I'm checking with his operator now.

...

IntegratedOne, I have a location for you: this is where Ghost's information indicates Trinity may have been attempting to escape from the Oligarch scans.

Operator:

I'm getting override interference from that position. If their programs have trapped her in there...

Operator:

What the heck is that thing?

[The operative eliminates the "Override Executable"]

Operator:

Yikes.

Well, I don't see any sign of Trinity in there, so hopefully that means she got away from those goons.

Mission succesfully completed

Tyndall (final message):

I think we managed to stop their programs in time, IntegratedOne.

Keeping Helian and Tesarova from reaching Trinity is going to be very difficult. It might be worth looking into reports that the Merovingian has obtained some sort of access into an area they've been using inside the simulation, cut off from normal means of entry. We're not sure what the Merovingian's found, but we're seeing an unusual amount of activity by his operatives around rooftop areas at the extreme northeast end of Downtown.

Procurator wrote:

Pretty hypocritical of Helian, though, saying they'd killed Carlyne 'cos he shared restricted information. Helion just confirmed that they use android hosts! We'd only been able to speculate that until now.

Good point indeed.

Well, at least the last Merv mission was good. It's odd to put it that way, though, 'cause I got used to the Merv missions being the most interesting and revealing... Anyway, two thumbs up to you, Zippy!

Now we just have to wait for some good Machine operative, bringing in his part of the story.  

Great job, 00Zero!

I know from my own experience that the task to retype all the mission texts isn't the most exciting one, but we still hope you'll come up with the Machine missions 12.1.2 and 12.1.3 soon!

00Zero wrote:

Thank you Deimoslvov and Zippy, I really appreciate the summaries.                                                                                         I should have 12.1.2 out tomorrow, but 12.1.3 I will have to leave to another operative as I have iinsufficient clearance.

Great! Now we wait for your 12.1.2 log, and hope that some Machine operative can be motivated enough to post the 12.1.3.

Oh, and thank you too for you summary, mate!  

That being said, we still miss the Machine mish 12.1.3! Hey, Machine operatives!

Fractor wrote:

I have just started the 12.1 collector missions and I'm at the point where I need 10 function fragments to get the 12.1.3 mission ticket. I personally think this is too much and it's a huge leap in difficulty from collecting just 1 Override Trace for the 12.1.2 mission ticket.

I understand the items being a grind as they're something to aim for, but for those of us who care more about the story it's not really fair seeing as in the old days you just had to complete the previous mission.

Keep a bit of collecting since it's part of the sequence of events but probably just 1 function fragment is enough. Save the big collections for the big rewards.

My answer to this specific case is "yes". 10 function fragments is not that much, I got them pretty fast. Plus this part of the quest is strongly story-related - given the absence of the Live Events, the players are meant to fight the new hostiles somehow, and I believe what was done for this part of the quest is the right way. It doesn't mean it can not be improved, it just means the approach itself is alright. IMHO

And I have to state once again that I feel very good about how the 12.1 quest is done as a whole (especially compared to the previous one, 11.3, where only the last part with fighting Danielle Wright was really exciting to me). 

cloudwolf wrote:

I for one liked having to jump around looking for more groups to take down. It didn't feel so much like "farming" in the traditional sense as it was taking the time to get a decent fight in across the neighbourhood.

Seconded.

Vinia wrote:

That said... I wonder how long it will take before each neighborhood has some type of storyline area spawn?

That's why I say these storyline quests have to be archived. And I will stick to this opinion until it's done.

MatrixRefugee wrote:

Whoa...WHOA! *WHOA!!!!*

This stuff is so epic... I hope *someone* is able to step in and flesh it out.

Indeed. I think someone should be hired at least to bring all this stuff ingame.

On a sidenote, I don't know if giving us all this outline was wise... I suppose if SOE hired someone for Rare's place, that someone could continue the story based on thise outline. Now it doesn't seem possible anymore, as we already know what's gonna happen... 

Aquatium. wrote:

I can't see anyone being brought in to help take the storyline forward. Rarebit releasing this a sure sign that the storyline will not continue anymore, in any official capacity anyway.

I couldn't hep thinking about it this way too and that's why I didn't really want these outlines to be posted in the first place.

I just hope we both are completely wrong here. Particularly, because Rarebit said himself:

"So, please don't regard anything in this document as the true story of the Matrix Online, particularly anything past chapter 12.1"

That's what I think: http://forums.station.sony.com/mxo/..._id=36300027582

I think we don't have to do any sharp moves before we know if SOE is gonna make some steps and what will they be. 

Masonna wrote:

While I agree with what Phrack has proposed, I also agree with the idea of waiting to see what SOE does with us.

Though I would support an unofficial 'official' storyline devised by us, the community, I could also see it difficult to agree upon, as people from the different servers might want different outcomes, seeing as they are different RP parties, atmospheres, and sub-communities within each. A committee could probably be established on each server to oversee the course of their storylines, along with developing in different directions from the others. That's just something to throw out there as possibilities.

Basically, that just means chaos. This game needs an official storyteller, it's the core principle of the RP and ADND games.

JEasy wrote:

Rarebit wrote:

Since I'm departing, this particular version of the story has come to an end with chapter 12.1. Any future story will be in the hands of others and, I expect, quite different from the last chapters of the one so briefly sketched out here.

To me this seems to suggest that we may still get a story, but a different version of it.  Anyone think this is possible?

I think it is and hope it will be.

Croesis wrote:

Helian?

Indeed.

Cervacius wrote:

I know it's not real, considering it wasn't the W brothers intention for the Oligarchs to exist...

I tend to see it in a different way. For me Rare's story is canon and as real as Wachowski's one. But of course, it's just my personal opinion. 

GypsyJuggler wrote:

I'll be with MxO until the bitter end, so you can count on my support, but right now I'm waiting to see how SOE reacts. 

I couldn't say it better in so few words.

Cervacius wrote:

cloudwolf wrote:

Cervacius wrote:

Well, I meant that more of a "when the Wachowski's wrote the Matrix, there were no Oligarchs."

In the same way when the Wachowski's wrote The Matrix there was no Reloaded or Revolutions. Exiles, The Cycle of The One, Deus Ex Machina and the Machine City, the One's powers being projected into the real. None of it.

Yes, that is all stuff we look back on the Matrix 1 and rethink it, much like the Oligarchs will make me watch The Second Renaissance and rethink it.

Hrm... I guess you've convinced me in taking this story as real and applicable to the films. 

*cheers*

Phrack wrote:

Fen wrote:

Procurator wrote:

Garu wrote:

Fen wrote:

Okay, I've read this and there's something I really don't get:

Mauser was a freeborn human with no jacks.  Therefore, there's no way that digital information could be forced on him.  How was Danielle Wright able to overwrite him and put her 'essence' into his body?  I'm really confused on this one.  Even if she did do that, how was she able to jack him in?  Even if she had his body, he still didn't have jacks.

Time Travel.

 

XD

Seriously though, I would have said that it was a proxy of some sort to keep her continued existence hidden from everyone until she actually returned to the Matrix via Carylne's interface.

Because to be entirely honest, if she had a sure-fire means of possessing any body that she wanted, she wouldn't really have needed the BIP, aside from the limitless power it would give her in the Matrix.

You both suck.

 

Procurator wrote:

Thankfully, Rare's just explained the Mauser issue. It was a fault on his part.
http://forums.station.sony.com/mxo/...578#36300540779

Given that it was a genuine error, I'm willing to accept an explanation that didn't involve jacks. Whether someone will try to explain it fully or not, I don't know. But I don't think it's too critical, not with all the other human-Machine-program interface plot points going around.

 

Totally did not read that.  Thanks, Procurator!

So, basically, 'program' Wright found her way into the Mjolnir II system, then when the virus hit and fried the system, she jumped out as an electrical current, shocked Mauser, and took him over thataway.

...Yeah.  Kind of like the Electric Gremlin, from Gremlins II.

Pretty Matrixy, right?  RITE?!

Nah, the only thing that's matrixy is the Machines-Humans war! :p

Sorry, didn't mean any offense, I just couldn't help it  

Rarebit wrote:

cloudwolf wrote:

Remember the bros supposedably O.K'd the storyline up to and including Chapter 9. That includes the Oligarchs and their background.

The same can't be said for Neo/Trinity though

No, that part was in there too even way back then. 

Glad to know that, cause I happen to like that part of the story too.

Oh, that makes me think of another construct, the Sati's Playground. Didn't you imagine a backstory for it too?

Rarebit wrote:

deimoslvov wrote:

Oh, that makes me think of another construct, the Sati's Playground. Didn't you imagine a backstory for it too?

Just what it says on the collectors or somewhere, that Sati made it for fun.

 

Mhm, ok. I hoped there was a little story behind the Kunoichis, but I can take it as it is. Thanks for asnwering.

cloudwolf wrote:

Rarebit wrote:

Mach: (after Zion event) Cypherites, Cryptos, and the Morph sim; Morph sim eventually agrees to listen when Cryptos offers to tell him why Morpheus was so obsessed with obtaining the One's remains--they go off for a little private chat [note that players are *not* going to be told what they talk about...and actually I still have to figure that out at some point, but it can wait for a later subchapter]

Was this ever "figured out"?

Oh, that's a good question. Seconded.

cloudwolf wrote:

The overwritten/copied statement from Smith in that scene actually adds some great value to the MxO storyline where Neo/Trinity were BIPs as part the interface program being copied onto Smith would've been what allowed him to overwrite Bane.

While I like the way you're thinking, don't forget that the Machines often overwrote humans later - and they didn't have any BIP in their posession.

A great fight tonight, with a lot of suspense and a successuful outcome for EPN in the end. In a few moments it felt like we were being totally zerged.

Oops, I really didn't mean to miss this one, but I have a lot of work IRL at the moment. It's a shame there was no EPN/Zion participation at all this time. Guess the Courier felt lonely...

Ic3b3rg wrote:

I am going to be honost, I stopped caring about the storyline once the pew pew lazer eyes came out. We know SOE isnt going to hire anyone else to take over, so whatever chapter 14 was going to be thats it, in my opinion. To keep it going is a noble effort to be sure, but I doubt the majority of the players who are currently subbed are going to regard it as cannon.

Maybe you are right. The only storyline I'll be seeing as cannon will be a storyline run by an official storyteller. It's not to offend the players that'll try to do their own thing, not at all - it's just the way I see it. And as I am a big fan of the Matrix story, I still hope we will get a replacement for Rare.

ZippyTheSquirrel wrote:

It's canon if it's accepted by the Wachowskis.

Well, contrarily to the question of a new storyteller, that is one thing we can really say we are 100% sure not to get.

ZippyTheSquirrel wrote:

Our current situation is what happened last. Namely, Ghost is protecting Trinity/BIP from two Oligarchs, the Cypherites are being all anti-Oligarch with anti-Oligarch codes, EPN has had some interesting encounters with Oracle-like beings, and the Merovingian is... well, being the Merovingian (i.e. making the most profit out of all this mess) and flirting with the female Oligarch.

This. At least for now.

-Mercidos- wrote:

Early reports indicate that Cypherite operatives from Reviled Restoration along with Brommerz77, Epsilon, Bayamos, and Sachiko have prevented today's delivery with ease.

This had to happen one day. But with all the Cypherites' previous failures EPN now has more red pills than they will ever need.