Heroes Arise (Screenshots Inside)

[Rust]

With access to Icon, I can finally revive/update all my old CoH toons.

...this is gonna take awhile.

Regardless, my own fictional stable (Found in the story BURNISH) is finally "alive" again.

First up, we have my ode to the Golden and Silver Age, the Electric Marvel MISTER ASTONISHING:

https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/Heroes/screenshot_130705-15-37-32_zps20c7ccdb.jpg
https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/Heroes/screenshot_130705-15-38-38_zpsd253932e.jpg


Now the Metallic Mentalist THOUGHTFORCE:

https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/Heroes/screenshot_130705-16-13-38_zps76c2debd.jpg
https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/Heroes/screenshot_130705-16-12-16_zps0b1d466a.jpg


And finally, the tragedy of the batch.

https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/Heroes/screenshot_130705-16-27-24_zps8f6b23bb.jpg

High School student and unwilling host to a Demonic Army, Brandon Calloway aka THE DEMON DIGGER:

https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/Heroes/screenshot_130705-16-27-46_zps8f3bafcc.jpg

And seen here in his first demonic Incarnation. The "Flight Form" Mahararat

https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/Heroes/screenshot_130705-16-44-11_zps1d04ff48.jpg

Taking Flight

https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/Heroes/screenshot_130705-16-46-18_zps2199fba5.jpg
https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/Heroes/screenshot_130705-16-46-03_zpsd372ff8b.jpg
https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/Heroes/screenshot_130705-16-46-04_zps84d6d23c.jpg
https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/Heroes/screenshot_130705-16-46-06_zpsc3b8f3cf.jpg
https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/Heroes/screenshot_130705-16-41-34_zps26dba1f6.jpg

[batqueen]

Very nice, I noticed your shiny brand new avatar!  ;)

[Rust]

Heh. I was going to recreate Thoughtforce directly as he was when the servers went down, but then I saw the Tech Knight stuff and yeah...

Coincidentally, this is what Thoughtforce looked like when the servers went down:

https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/Heroes/screenshot_130706-15-38-59_zpscaf7835f.jpg
https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/Heroes/screenshot_130706-15-39-10_zpsb6da48b7.jpg
https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/Heroes/screenshot_130706-15-39-31_zps286ee012.jpg

Coincidentally, now that I know Praetoria loads fine (Also different zone depending on faction chosen), most of my screens will come from there. I'm big on Praetoria's look even though of all my characters only Demon Digger originated from there. Atlas Park is...well. Let's put it this way. To a horrendous Altaholic like myself, I'm not exactly MISSING Atlas Park. :D

[Arachnion]

Great pics, man.

I especially like the redesign for Thoughtforce.

Coincidentally, now that I know Praetoria loads fine (Also different zone depending on faction chosen)

By the way, if you haven't already seen... you can change maps in Icon to practically all of them!

http://paragonwiki.com/wiki/Titan_Icon#Load_a_Map

:)

[Rust]

Nice! Much obliged!

Though I do have to ask: What's the trick to taking Screenshots in the Character Creation screen? Every time I try, the Screenshot isn't saved and trying to Copy it to the likes of MSPaint just brings up a big black mass. It'd make this catalog a lot faster if I didn't *have to* load up into the world.

Regardless, on a Thoughtforce kick (He was my "main" at the time of shut down), so I decided to revisit a concept for him that never really got off the ground - his Praetorian Counterpart, Mindcrack

https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/Heroes/screenshot_130706-18-10-56_zps1a166e89.jpg

Basic gist of Thoughtforce is it's a piece of military hardware originally - all the perks of a powered combat skin (Flight, Energy Manipulation, Enhanced Strength/Stamina, etc) combined with what's called the "Mental Harness" - allowing someone who is already registered a psi-sensitive to unlock their potential and thus become psychic in their own right. The reason this had to be a psi-sensitive and not just stick a psychic in the suit is because the Harness was tied in with the suit itself, meaning it caused interference for a regular psychic's abilities and never showed the amplification effect that mere sensitives get (Causing more then a few ruffled feathers during testing phase - as barely registered psychics are overshadowed by "mundanes" in a metal suit).

Mindcrack - on the other hand - wasn't a volunteer for a military testbed. He was the unfortunate "recruit" by Anti-Matter to serve as a trump card against Praetor Tilman in the event the others turned on him. Anti-Matter created a device - a "Mental Collar" - that would awaken the psychic potential of a sensitive individual without alerting the Seers. He then proceeded to bolt the device into Mindcrack's head.

https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/Heroes/screenshot_130706-18-08-47_zps009509dd.jpg

Originally just a full on Olympian Guard Costume without the shoulders or the mask, I decided to change it up a bit by giving him chainmail. I think it looks good - evoking that "armored warrior" look. He was a Dual Pistol/Mind Blaster.

Since the closing of CoH and the development of BURNISH (My own comic universe), Mindcrack occupies that sad region of being a City of Heroes creation that I can't fold over into BURNISH (Like I can with Mister Astonishing, Thoughtforce, and Demon Digger). He never even really got off the ground in-game, as most of my Praetorian efforts went into Demon Digger the last few months.

Still, I do like the design and he probably was my best "Alternate Universe" take on one of my characters.

[Arachnion]

Though I do have to ask: What's the trick to taking Screenshots in the Character Creation screen? Every time I try, the Screenshot isn't saved and trying to Copy it to the likes of MSPaint just brings up a big black mass. It'd make this catalog a lot faster if I didn't *have to* load up into the world.

Use windowed mode.

I use it all the time, it works for character creator screenshots.

Then you just need to crop the screengrabs.

If that doesn't work, the only other thing I can think of is using a program to get screens for you.

You can back out to the old login screen and change your game options there, for use within Icon.

[daveyfiacre]

i just posted this in the other thread with ideas for group shots, but it might fit here better. :)

'Months after the cataclysm, so earth shaking and world altering that it woke the long dead Merulina from her eternal Slumber. Revived by the pleas and prayers of her people, at the last instant she enveloped them in her power at the bottom of the ocean. Shielded from the apocalypse, some few did survive, protected by the Leviathan herself. Today is the day that they rise again to the surface, to begin building anew, searching for survivors, and understanding the new world... after the end.

All hail Merulina, Goddess of the Sea. Even Hequat and Lilitu bow to the superior glory of a real God for salvation.'

long live C.o.X.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/q71/s720x720/1044068_10101712820835350_1059174029_n.jpghttps://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/q71/s720x720/1000702_10101712820825370_1402809501_n.jpghttps://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/q71/s720x720/1044151_10101712820875270_1635579360_n.jpg

[again, sorry for the low res quality xD]

[Rust]

Merulina looks great!

Did some tinkering on Mister Astonishing tonight (Mostly he was too scrawny), and thanks to the tip by Arachnion I can now show these guys actually doing some stuff.

https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/Heroes/mra006_zps744bda20.jpg
https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/Heroes/mra007_zpsa7071323.jpg


Tinkering on Mister Astonishing inevitable brought his alternate universe version to the fore. I created this guy long before "Going Rogue" - indeed, he was my second villain ever made. Mister Atrocity:

https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/Heroes/mratrocity001_zpsc200e4b7.jpg
https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/Heroes/mratrocity002_zpsb3969087.jpg

Why a Rad/Rad Corruptor? Because I always loved the Radiation power sets and wanted an excuse. Seriously, that's the reason Avery Aston's Praetorian counterpart was inexplicably radioactive. Thankfully years later when I revisited the concept, I decided to not be so cut and dry about it.

https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/Heroes/mratrocity003_zpsc802e155.jpg
https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/Heroes/mratrocity004_zps134290c2.jpg

This version of the character wasn't a alternate universe double - it was a Crey attempt at creating a "copy" of Mister Astonishing utilizing technology. Instead of a Lightning Elemental, what they got was a sapient vapor that was none too happy. It believed it was Avery Aston, and somehow the Lightning Elemental had "stolen" his identity. Crey did utilize trace particles of Aston's atomized physical form in the creation, so who knows how much of the creature's story was genuine. When Crey started experimenting with the clockwork from Praetoria, the creature lept at the chance for freedom - managing to escape its containment facility, and infiltrate a clockwork body for its own use. Determined to "get his life back", this monstrous version of Aston fails to grasp that whatever he is - whatever legitimacy he might have to Avery Aston the Man - poisoning people is the wrong way to go about reobtaining your humanity.


Finally, I did some tweaking of my trademark, signature character. Believe it or not, this guy has been rattling around inside my head since I was 7 years old. He's the first Super Hero I ever created. I give you, The Leopard:

https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/Heroes/leopard004_zps1370097b.jpg
https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/Heroes/leopard005_zpsb9142db2.jpg

This is Leopard's "Golden Age" costume. More appropriate to the actual "Silver Age", but in BURNISH this is the suit he wore when he helped form the Security Legion with his brother. After the death of his brother, Leopard had a mental breakdown and made some very questionable life choices, ultimately culminating in several clashes with his old Super Group as a Mercenary and Killer for Hire. The blood he spilled lead to a new name for him (And the one I used in City of Villains, where he eventually resurfaced): Killer Leopard

https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/Heroes/leopard007_zpsdadd2ba6.jpg
https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/Heroes/leopard006_zps08c2cfb8.jpg
(A Ninja Blade/Ninjitsu Stalker)

Now that the Catastrophe has occurred and the Legion is dead and scattered, Leopard returns to the "good guys" in order to rebuild the Legion and get revenge for his fallen former friends. This is his "modern" suit:

https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/Heroes/Leopard008_zps1e5a307d.jpg


And that's all for me tonight. Tomorrow I think I'll make the rest of the "Classic" Security Legion.

[DJMoose]

Void Summoner has returned home to Kings Row. (Spent a lot of time there trying out the new stuff in the Beta.  Go Hunt.  Kill Skuls.)

:'( Is it wrong that I feel like crying?  To be able to put my character ingame and perform emotes is beyond amazing!

https://images.weserv.nl/?url=www.ladymoiraine.com%2Fforum%2Fgallery%2F38%2F2147-070713231642-385321523.jpeg

https://images.weserv.nl/?url=www.ladymoiraine.com%2Fforum%2Fgallery%2F38%2F2147-070713231650-385361388.jpeg

[batqueen]

:'( Is it wrong that I feel like crying?  To be able to put my character ingame and perform emotes is beyond amazing!

No, I feel the same way myself.  These are some great pics from you guys, it's wonderful not only to get my own toons back into their favorite haunts, but also to see other people's  toons returning to the city.

[Rust]

Digging Void Summoner. It's hard to pull off the "Dark Hero" look without going full on villain. Void Summoner walks that line with ease.

Anyways, I promised the Original Security Legion and here they are. Honestly, I'm a bit nervous to share these, because they are my childhood. These are the characters I doodled into the edge of notebooks or drew poorly drawn comics of. These are the genesis of my own Hero universe.

In addition to Leopard and Mister Astonishing (Who was a honorary inductee as he was the first "Original Character" from City of Heroes that stuck), we have:

https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/Heroes/securitylegion001_zpsf939188e.jpg

Fang, Leopard's brother and for the longest time my "primary" hero of my childhood. I outgrew him and just wandered away from the character. In the BURNISH narrative, Fang was killed in action years before the Catastrophe that claimed the rest.

https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/Heroes/Securitylegion003_zpscadde8bd.jpg

Magnus the Mystic, Karl Magnus was my Spellcaster character. His look has evolved the most over the years, with this being a re-imagining of his old look. In BURNISH, Karl technically survives the Catastrophe. I say technically because his mind is gutted in a final confrontation between him and his nemesis, leaving Karl a invalid and his legacy falls to his wayward apprentice.

https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/Heroes/Securitylegion004_zps5cb734d8.jpg

Dynasty, the armored marvel. A pretty blatant rip off of Iron Man in all his incarnations. With the development of Thoughtforce, he became both redundant and unoriginal. It's not an easy process - I remember on drives with my parents looking out the window and imagining myself in the Dynasty armor, flying over the landscape - but ultimately Dynasty was replaceable. He did not survive the Catastrophe.


https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/Heroes/securitylegion005_zpsd05c81ba.jpg

Plant Gal - yes, Plant Gal. Master of Gaia, and one time fiance' of Fang. Like everyone here, she got her time to run around Paragon (And amazingly, the name "Plant Gal" wasn't taken - unlike Fang and Dynasty, who ran around as Savage Fang and Dynasty XVII respectively). She survived Fang's death, but she sadly did not survive the Catastrophe.


https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/Heroes/securitylegion002_zpsfddef524.jpg

This...this is the big one. This is Night Raider. Not only was he the biggest Hero I had (Outlasting all the others in terms of development time), but he's also my first and only 50 within City of Heroes (A Dark Melee/Super Reflexes Scrapper).

Removing him from the narrative was very, very hard. But City of Heroes showed me that Night Raider just wasn't "viable". He's pretty much a Batman clone, and ultimately...he's not all that interesting. It's kind of ironic but the hero whom Night Raider replaced (Leopard), who I repurposed as a villain simply to do something different with, ultimately ended up the more interesting character as a result.

And so, I closed a chapter in my life when I decided to start BURNISH. Prior to that, I'd always left Night Raider's ultimate fate during the Catastrophe up in the air. But now - he is a confirmed causality. But it is his death that galvanized Leopard to return to the side of right. So in that sense, Night Raider still has a presence in the narrative.

[DJMoose]

Digging Void Summoner. It's hard to pull off the "Dark Hero" look without going full on villain. Void Summoner walks that line with ease.

Thanks!  That was the intent.  Tends to be on the ruthless side of the spectrum, but tries her hardest to work for the good of Paragon City.
Dark Control/Martial Assault Dominator.
https://images.weserv.nl/?url=www.ladymoiraine.com%2Fforum%2Fgallery%2F30%2F2147-061212011418.jpeg
Thought to be a villain by many, as her major source of nutrition is the life energy from other beings;  she does not require sleep or food or drink as a result of her diet.  Often seen on the prowl late at night in Kings Row were gang activity is at an all time high, and many a gang member has gone missing in the night, never to be seen again.

Anyways, I promised the Original Security Legion and here they are. Honestly, I'm a bit nervous to share these, because they are my childhood. These are the characters I doodled into the edge of notebooks or drew poorly drawn comics of. These are the genesis of my own Hero universe.

And a wonderful childhood you must have had, with characters such as these. ;D  Fang and Magnus the Mystic remind me of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon.

My first (and only) lvl 50: Serkana.  Katana/Willpower Scrapper, originally rolled as a Praetorian.
Her background evolved quite a bit as I played through the game, but to summarize Serkana was a soldier in from an Alternate Earth where all beings were robust and red-skinned from the radiation given off by the planet's red sun.  The Roman Empire never fell on this Earth, and has spanned most of the globe for millennia.  Due to the meddling of a powerful Sorceror, Serkana found herself thrust into Praetoria, an outsider in a strange new world.  Eventually after the discovery of the insanity of Emperor Cole, Serkana traveled to Paragon City.  There she became heavily involved in the Midnighters, thwarting the Circle of Thorns and other magical foes whenever possible.

Here is Serkana at her true home:
https://images.weserv.nl/?url=www.ladymoiraine.com%2Fforum%2Fgallery%2F38%2F2147-100713175420-386831836.jpeg

Then in Praetoria:
https://images.weserv.nl/?url=www.ladymoiraine.com%2Fforum%2Fgallery%2F38%2F2147-100713175422-386842227.jpeg

And then in Paragon City:
https://images.weserv.nl/?url=www.ladymoiraine.com%2Fforum%2Fgallery%2F38%2F2147-100713175424-38685970.jpeg

[Rust]

Very Cool!

Experimenting more with Icon has resulted in this:

https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/Heroes/securitylegion007_zpsa321d802.jpg

A photo of happier times. (Night Raider isn't present because he's a fuddy duddy)

https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/Heroes/magnus001_zps18d4ccc2.jpg

A back glance at Magnus because I like to look at him. :P


And now, for a Post-Catastrophe Arrival.

https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/Heroes/Jumpstart007_zpsc9bae2dd.jpg

Jumpstart, Niece to Dynasty and a born Mutant. She's got a hyper-active metabolism that allows her to move at super speed (250 MPH is her current "Top Speed").

https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/Heroes/Jumpstart008_zpsdaf1f859.jpg

Her Gloves and Boots aren't just ornamentation. The gel layers and padding in both (Designed by her late Uncle) help keep her from breaking bones when stopping her forward momentum or smashing a fist going 60+ MPH into a baddie's face.

I started her up many times over the years (She's actually a carry over from an old Marvel RPG I did back in High School), as a Martial Arts/Super Reflex Scrapper, but she never got out of Atlas Park. But after that haunting video tribute done, I decided to take her into Skyway City...to Run.

https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/Heroes/Jumpstart011_zpsddc6623d.jpg
"Running in the Shadow of those that came before"

https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/Heroes/jumpstart010_zpsb3799f2c.jpg
"Intersection"

https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/Heroes/Jumpstart012_zps418b0c81.jpg
"The Lonely Road"

https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/Heroes/jumpstart013_zpsff433c7e.jpg
"The Road Ahead"


And a special treat:

https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/Heroes/securitylegion006_zpse739600c.jpg
"The (Not So) Lonely Road"

[therain93]

Pretty cool.  Jumpstart in particular reminds me of a staff/electric Brute I had started up towards the end.  Her name was Drastic Fantastic:

https://images.weserv.nl/?url=imageshack.us%2Fa%2Fimg13%2F5149%2Ff8cz.jpg

https://images.weserv.nl/?url=imageshack.us%2Fa%2Fimg13%2F6914%2Fqtgl.jpg

[Rust]

And now for something...a bit different. I've been very busy in the Character Creator, and while this is by no means the definitive list...have a gander at some of my alter egos all in one place:

https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/Heroes/groupshot001_zps755ee6c5.jpg

It has to be Galaxy City. That was my starting city. Needless to say, when it was destroyed...I was devastated.

https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/Heroes/groupshot002_zpsd64c334a.jpg

Be Our Guest, Be Our Guest, Put our magic to the test...

https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/Heroes/groupshot003_zpseb40866c.jpg

The (Complete) Security Legion

https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/Heroes/groupshot004_zps5b0746e6.jpg

Those who Came After (aka those "born" in City of Heroes)

https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/Heroes/groupshot009_zps1ff3aeaa.jpg

State Machine, Radial, Thoughtforce, Mister Astonishing, and a bit of Jumpstart in this picture

https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/Heroes/groupshot008_zps56158293.jpg

Broadband, Gladiator, and Lightstyle

https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/Heroes/groupshot007_zps086d6f70.jpg

Demon Digger (New Look), Bankshot, and another of Thoughtforce

https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/Heroes/groupshot006_zps76b35476.jpg

Crystal Dragon and Lightstyle

https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/Heroes/groupshot005_zpsfb97e2cd.jpg

Dead Mann's Hand in the foreground here, along with Crystal Dragon, two Leopards, Broadband, Demon Digger and in the background...Mrs. Astonishing? (Gag character)

[Sin Stalker]

Mahararat looks like he is spitting radioactive chewing tobaccos.

They all look like nicely designed characters. Would have been a pleasure to team with them.

[OzonePrime]

Great alts! Love seeing characters people have created. Miss the costume contests. Loved just seeing everyones imagination at work! Damn I miss playing soooo much!

[Rust]

Thanks guys!

I actually feel like a doofus, as two were missing from the Hero Group Shot!

https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/Heroes/groupshot011_zpsf92eb656.jpg

Medical Man and Guardian of the Dawn, respectively. Medical Man was the very first Defender I ever made (Empathy/Psi) and Guardian was a on-again-off-again Hero Mastermind I tried (Ninja/Storm Summoning) who may or may not end up in BURNISH. Basic backstory is he's a Vietnam Veteran who in his youth inadvertently ended up binding himself in service of a Guardian Spirit (At the time he'd thought it was just a local good luck ritual). Now, decades later, and much to the aggravation of both the Order that serves the spirit and the man in question, the spirit has chosen him as the vessel of its return to the physical world. The downside is a out of shape retiree is now home to a highly desired mystical entity and charged with using the powers entrusted to him wisely and fairly. On the upside, he's now got local control over the weather and a small army of (mostly) loyal ninja followers.

https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/Heroes/guardian001_zps8d34dfd5.jpg

And of course, I can't help myself from making Evil Duplicates.

https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/Heroes/guardian002_zpsf3cd9196.jpg

Guardian of the Dusk arose the same time Guardian of the Dawn did. It's not so much that Dusk is "evil" to Dawn's "good" - it's just that you can't have one without the other. Normally, the Order of the Dawn and Order of the Dusk are largely apathetic towards each other, but with the Guardian Spirits of Dawn and Dusk both re-manifesting in the physical world, conflict inevitably is going to happen.


And speaking of Conflict...

https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/Heroes/organization001_zps9d9b54f8.jpg

Meet the big bads of BURNISH, and the masterminds (heh) behind The Catastrophe - The Organization.

https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/Heroes/organization002_zps7ede7541.jpg

The Rank and File of the Organization is made up by Armsmen. Their uniform is deliberately tailored to make them appear unisex and of identical build.

https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/Heroes/organization003_zpscd81888c.jpg

Shazta, once a Mercenary for Hire, now forcibly co-opted into the Organization. His unique tech has allowed him some leniency in uniform. For all intents and purposes, he is the second in command of the group.

https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/Heroes/organization004_zps2029df4b.jpg

The Mastermind himself - The Zellenleiter. No one knows who he is or where he came from, or how he amassed an army like the Organization to start with. All that is know is he had intimate knowledge of how the heroes of the Security Legion operated and he used that against them ruthlessly.

[batqueen]

...I wouldn't want to meet an Armsman in a dark alley... I think it's the masks...

[Rust]

Would you like to hear a sad story?

https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/Heroes/darkartisan002_zps82491d5e.jpg

Meet Juan Vasquez, known throughout the Super community as The Artisan. He crafted the arms and armor of numerous heroes and Police Departments worldwide. He had a loving wife and a beautiful daughter.

And then, in one terrible incident...he lost everything. His wife. His daughter. His eye. His arm. His mind.

Unable to cope with the grief - nor reconcile the fact for all his contributions to the Hero community, when he was the one in need none gave him aid - Vasquez turned his tremendous talents upon himself. He reasoned that strip enough of the flesh away, and there would never be any pain again. But such a undertaking was not one to be done rashly. There were experiments to run...trial versions to prototype. And of course, you need money for all of this. So Juan began catering his services to..."the other side", shall we say. In return he got the funding he needed...and the subjects he required.

https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/Heroes/darkartisan003_zps0a6602df.jpg

Hounds, as they are called, are the all too common end result of Vasquez's mad tinkering. They could not take the strain demanded of their bodies or minds and simply...snapped. Their vitals all read zero, the only thing keeping them upright is a power reactor and fiber optic "puppet strings" running along the spine. Cybernetic Zombies, Vasquez keeps them as guards and cannon fodder.

https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/Heroes/darkartisan004_zps125bf971.jpg

As with any great person of renown or skill, there will always be loyal retainers. Vasquez is no different - his work is lauded such in the halls of Engineering Schools and Mechanic Courses that to this day there are those that seek him out to learn from the master craftsman. All too often, those that come to learn end up as a Hound.

Those that don't however become his Servants. Benefiting from Vasquez's research and thus are more machine then man, entrusted by Vasquez to oversee the Hounds - indeed, every Servant comes equipped with command codes and overrides to the Hounds so that they obey the Servants every command.


And as the Servant grows in knowledge and practical experience, they inevitably start tinkering on themselves. The unfortunate ones, more eager then smart, often end up as Hounds in the end. But for those who are patient and apply the lessons taught, they...ascend.

https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/Heroes/darkartisan005_zpsa25b9113.jpg
https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/Heroes/darkartisan006_zpsa474b995.jpg

The Ascendant are at the right hand of Vasquez himself. They have taken his lessons to heart and thus conducted their own improvements and modifications to their frames. They are the Artisan's overseers, often given command of entire manufacturing complexes with Servants of their own.

And what of Vasquez himself? His boons have been great, but at the cost of his humanity.

https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/Heroes/darkartisan008_zps37270921.jpg
https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/Heroes/darkartisan007_zps6feb697f.jpg

The Public Face of Juan Vasquez now. And yet...only a mask. You see, this is a False Artisan - a mechanoid copy (Fully robotic, a departure from Vasquez's usual work) of the man himself (or what is left of him).


https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/Heroes/darkartisan009_zps1fb3cdff.jpg
https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/Heroes/darkartisan001_zps8966efd0.jpg

The ultimate fate of Juan Vasquez, the Artisan. Now a Dark Artisan, a mirror of what he once was. It is worth noting he has succeeded in his goals. He's cut out enough of his Humanity that he doesn't feel the pain any longer. He doesn't feel anything any longer. The only thing left for him is the building. Always the building.

https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/GuardConvoy/Heroes/darkartisan010_zps2987e09b.jpg

Some in the hero community insist Vasquez can still be saved. They fall into one of four categories:

- Those that insist
- Hounds
- Servants
- The Dead


Juan Vasquez aka The Dark Artisan was a Robotics/Traps Mastermind I was running just before CoH's shut down. He was also going to have a natural "progression" of replacing more and more body parts with technology as he leveled. "Juan" was his starting persona (Though with a Eye Patch rather then a Cosmic Corsair Monocle) and the Dark Artisan was going to be his Level 50 Persona - which never happened.