Increased NPC Damage

This is good, balancing should be an on-going process.  Anything that makes the NPCs a bit tougher means that my services as Doctor will be needed more, meaning I might have to start charging for res...  This also makes it fun to re-determine which Exile Gang Territory has the right balance of the thrill of victory and the heart pounding fear of defeat.

Ability Tree Modification

That’s cool, especially with the bargain price on leveling them.  We were a bit worried about the two Styles showing up together.  Now to test and see if my Doctor Kungfu still works…

20 additional spaces to everyone's Central Storage

Maybe someday I’ll fill tat thing up with more than just bits, but for now, this is a good upgrade.

No More Double-Tap Rolling

This is a sad day for PS10N.  The very first time I jacked in and was learning the keys, this was the first move I found.  I spent a few minutes rolling around the field by the R.TP(W) Hardline in every direction.  So, this is something that’s been there since Day one and was useful in rollplaying, movie making and escaping from Coding when under attack.  I second the motion for /rollforward, /rollback, /rollright, /roleft.  You already have the animations, so go for it.

Data Node Changes

Yes!  Thank you.  This makes the leisure hours in MxO much more profitable.  It’s nice to have something to do when the day’s killing is done.

Episode 2.0 Event Item Changes

Is the new 10% rating better or worse than the Zion Hardware Requisition did before?  I’ll check some screenshots, but this sounds as if it’s an upgrade and balance at the same time.  Thanks!  I have fond memories of the moment Neurophyte appeared out of nowhere.

Episode 5.1 Begins (and new cinematic style)

Welcome to the next part of the story line!  This is great.  What is past is prologue.  The stage is set; the players are ready.  As someone noted, in more than a year we’ve barely covered the first year of plot.  What I see in this new cinematic style is a writer (Paul Chadwick) who is eager to advance the story and keep things moving.  He probably has a whole office or two full of materials and is frustrated at the time it takes to get his ideas into play.  If moving to a comic style will keep the plot moving fast, I’m all for it.  If you have the very first issue of The Matrix Online Magazine (March, 2005,) check the art in it and you will see sketches of the Assassin, Cryptos, Shimada, Anome and others.  If those characters had been conceived and developed that early on and took so long to get in play, think of what’s ready to role out now.  Bring it on, and make it a double. (This will also save SOE a lot of money, turning what looks essentially to be storyboard drawings into the cinematics, as there are probably stacks of these already drawn up and ready to go.)