[Title Graphic on Screen: "PRT Public Update – April 10, 2011"]
[Background: evening skyline of Brockton Bay; ambient city sounds fade under soft, unobtrusive music.]
[Camera cuts to the grandfatherly Deputy Director Grant Renoch at a simple desk. He sits comfortably, hands folded, warm lighting, slightly leaning forward as if speaking directly to viewers at home.]
Grant Renoch:
"Good evening, Brockton Bay. I want to take a few minutes to talk about what happened yesterday. Many of you may have seen the images, the videos online, maybe even heard it happening live: Uber and Leet staged a very public, very flashy event across the city. Their goal was to grab attention — to create chaos that anyone watching would notice immediately. And in that, they succeeded.
While all that spectacle was going on, some of their associates attempted to hit multiple locations — cash offices, pawnshops, a few technology stores, and even one of our own PRT depots. The idea was clearly to take advantage of the distraction and move quickly before anyone could respond. There was property damage, and while minor injuries occurred, thankfully, there were no serious injuries or loss of life .
Now, in the middle of that chaos, something important happened that I think bears mentioning. At the Dockside depot, one of these teams was actually intercepted and stopped. That was made possible by a combination of quick, professional work on the ground and the guidance of Phoenix, our PRT-Ward, who maintained overwatch from above in her bird form. Phoenix is someone we've seen develop quickly and effectively, and she brings a level of focus and judgment that makes a real difference in situations like these. Because of her presence, the team on the ground was able to intervene safely and recover the stolen equipment without escalating the risk to bystanders or our personnel.
I want to emphasize that Phoenix's contribution highlights a broader point: the PRT benefits when our field teams have the opportunity to work directly with capable heroes. She's young, she's talented, and she's committed — and seeing her in action yesterday was a reminder of how coordination and trust make all the difference in real-time operations.
For the other crews, the ones who weren't intercepted, the events downtown and across the city mostly remained part of the spectacle. That kind of situation is always challenging because the villains are using distraction as a weapon. They want eyes on them, they want chaos, and they want normal responders tied up while secondary operations unfold elsewhere. Our teams did what they could to keep civilians safe, manage the crowds, and monitor all of the activity. In situations like this, the primary goal is protection first , and yesterday's response reflects that priority.
We'll be reviewing all the details carefully: how the response unfolded, where gaps appeared, and what we can do to be better next time. Every incident like this teaches us something — about technology, about tactics, and about how to make sure the city is safer in the future. One thing yesterday showed clearly is that having Wards like Phoenix, who can act quickly and coordinate with PRT teams in the field, is a tremendous advantage. It's a capability we want to continue developing and expanding.
So while yesterday was challenging and, yes, disruptive, it also gave us lessons to carry forward. We saw the difference that focus, preparation, and collaboration can make. We saw that when trained teams have the right support, dangerous situations can be contained safely and effectively. And we saw that our citizens, by remaining alert and following safety guidance, play a crucial role in helping the PRT maintain order.
In closing, I want to thank the community for staying safe, for reporting suspicious activity, and for supporting the work that we do every day. We'll continue to improve, to learn from every operation, and to ensure that Brockton Bay remains a city where people can live without fear, even when parahuman threats try to make themselves seen.
[Graphic overlay: "Stay Alert – Report Suspicious Activity" with a subtle PRT logo]
Thank you for listening, and thank you for supporting your PRT."
[Fade to city skyline; ambient music gradually fades out. End of broadcast.] Like Quote ReplyReport Reactions:Reading fiction, noka133, S1m0nWr1t3 and 4 othersOblationDec 5, 2025Reader modeAdd bookmark Threadmarks Threadmarks 53: PRT: Internal Assessment – Uber & Leet Operations, April 9 Threadmarks OblationProfessional Wet-Paint ObserverDec 5, 2025Add bookmark#57From: Deputy Director Grant Renoch [email protected]
To: Head Office – PRT Operations [email protected]
CC: Emily Piggot [email protected]
BCC: Internal Intelligence Oversight [email protected]
Subject: Full Internal Assessment – Uber & Leet Operations, April 9
To Whom It May Concern,
I am submitting my personal assessment of the April 9th operations involving Uber and Leet. The events of Saturday illustrate several critical points about operational capacity in Brockton Bay, as well as the distinct advantages that come from directly integrating parahumans into the PRT structure.
Uber and Leet staged a citywide spectacle designed to monopolize attention and overwhelm conventional response structures. While their associates carried out multiple simultaneous raids on cash offices, technology stores, pawnshops, and one PRT depot, only a single crew was intercepted. This interception occurred at the Dockside depot, thanks to coordinated action by Firewatch in the field and Phoenix, our PRT-Ward, maintaining overwatch in her bird form. Phoenix's involvement was decisive: the crew was stopped safely, equipment was recovered, and civilian risk was minimized.
This stands in stark contrast to the broader Protectorate response. Their Wards were largely occupied with monitoring the spectacle itself. Despite having more numerous parahumans available, the lack of coordinated cross-training or integrated operational doctrine rendered them largely ineffective in stopping secondary operations. From my perspective, the majority of Protectorate Wards function as little more than observers when compared to what can be achieved by embedding Wards directly within a single chain of command — a structure we have implemented effectively with PRT-Wards like Phoenix.
The contrast could not be clearer: Phoenix and her team's direct integration with the PRT resulted in tangible, measurable outcomes. The Protectorate's Wards, by contrast, contribute little in scenarios that demand rapid, multi-site decision-making and cross-unit coordination. While I do not question their intent, Saturday's events reinforce the principle that decentralized Wards without consistent integration into operational planning offer marginal value in high-complexity situations.
Given Uber and Leet's demonstrated ability to combine distraction, mobility, and targeted raids, I recommend the following:
Consider raising the threat rating of Uber and Leet to reflect both their tactical sophistication and the operational challenge they present.Continue expanding the PRT-Ward program, emphasizing the direct embedding of capable Wards into field units. The Dockside success illustrates how quickly and effectively such integration produces results.Review current policies regarding cross-agency coordination with Protectorate Wards. While formal partnerships have symbolic value, they do not, in practice, offer the rapid tactical benefit that direct PRT-Ward integration provides.Explore additional training and operational scenarios that leverage the unique advantages of PRT-Wards in dispersed, citywide threat environments.In conclusion, the April 7 events demonstrate both the risks of dispersed, spectacle-oriented threats and the operational advantage of a cohesive, fully integrated parahuman strategy. PRT-Wards are an invaluable tool; Phoenix's performance is a tangible example of how this structure works in practice. As we move forward, I recommend continued investment and expansion in this model, with a focus on fully utilizing our Wards as active, integrated partners rather than peripheral observers.
Respectfully,
Dr. Grant Renoch, Deputy Director PRT-ENE: Brockton Bay Like Quote ReplyReport Reactions:Reading fiction, noka133, S1m0nWr1t3 and 3 othersOblationDec 5, 2025Reader modeAdd bookmark Threadmarks Threadmarks 54: PRT & Emily: Renoch's Ambitious Strategy Threadmarks OblationProfessional Wet-Paint ObserverDec 5, 2025Add bookmark#58From: Deputy Director Grant Renoch [email protected]
To: All Brockton Bay PRT Personnel
CC: Emily Piggot [email protected]
BCC: Internal Intelligence Oversight [email protected]
Subject: Early-Stage Coordination with Wards
OVERVIEW
The April 9th Uber and Leet incident highlighted both the complexity of citywide, multi-site threats and the advantages of proactive coordination with Wards. In particular, PRT-Ward Phoenix's role during the Dockside depot interception demonstrated how a PRT-Ward can provide overwatch, intelligence, and rapid guidance, enabling field units to stop the raid safely while minimizing risk to civilians.
Historically, interactions with parahumans have followed the Protectorate model: Wards operated independently, often peripherally, or alongside PRT units without meaningful integration. While their presence can sometimes help, this model limits tactical effectiveness, slows decision-making, and reduces overall operational cohesion.
STRATEGIC GUIDANCE
The PRT is beginning an early-stage approach within Brockton Bay and the surrounding county, encouraging personnel to actively build relationships and coordinate with Wards, particularly PRT-Wards, whenever possible. This is not a mandate to assign or re-task Wards; it is a call to make the most of capabilities already present.
Personnel are encouraged to:
Open Lines of Communication – Initiate contact with local Wards, maintain consistent professional communication regarding operations and patrols.Develop Working Relationships – Understand Ward abilities and limitations, include Wards in planning and briefings, encourage input to improve decision-making.Coordinate Operational Activities – Collaborate with Wards on patrols, exercises, and interventions; use them for overwatch, reconnaissance, or intelligence-gathering; document outcomes for lessons learned.Encourage Active Participation – Allow Wards to participate directly where feasible; follow safety protocols for civilians, personnel, and Wards.RATIONALE
Operational Effectiveness: Direct coordination allows faster, better-informed responses in complex, multi-location situations.Enhanced Safety: Wards reduce risk to personnel and civilians when effectively integrated.Developing Future Heroes: Early relationship-building fosters Wards into capable collaborators operating with the PRT.Addressing Protectorate Limitations: Independent Protectorate Wards are less reliable for coordinated operations; PRT-focused engagement improves outcomes without overstepping authority.IMPLEMENTATION NOTES
Include Ward coordination in planning, even for office staff or dispatch personnel handling logistics, communications, or coordination.Document successful interactions, challenges, and suggestions for refinement.Troopers, squad leaders, and support staff should proactively foster relationships.Share feedback with supervisors to refine operational protocols.CONCLUSION
Early-stage integration of Wards within Brockton Bay operations improves cohesion, operational effectiveness, and safety. Personnel are encouraged to engage with Wards wherever possible, integrate them into planning and exercises, and support their development into heroes who work with the PRT , not just beside it.
Respectfully,
Dr. Grant Renoch, Deputy Director PRT-ENE: Brockton Bay
Emily leaned back in her chair, scanning the memo as it filled her screen. The language was precise, all clearly aimed at city and county personnel. She paused at "Phoenix's role during the Dockside depot interception." That part was undeniable, Saga had been the difference between a lost raid and a clean interception.
The memo hammered the same point: PRT-Wards, not Protectorate Wards. Emily could agree with that. Protectorate Wards were unpredictable and often too independent. Phoenix had demonstrated what could happen when a Ward was integrated properly.
Her brow furrowed, though Grant was pushing the edge of his authority. Technically, he couldn't assign Wards or direct Protectorate resources. He could advise, influence, and encourage, but his language made it clear he wanted his personnel to treat Wards as operational partners. Bold, it could work, but it's risky.
Emily contemplated it, in her own jurisdiction (Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine), as one of the PRT's Full-Directors this could serve as a powerful test. If early-stage Ward integration worked in Brockton Bay, the model could be scaled up. But doing the initial testing in multiple cities would be highly politicized and fraught with oversight, complaints from Protectorate leadership, and bureaucratic backlash. Grant, though, as a county-level Director, had the latitude to operate largely as he pleased, as long as his orders remained legally sound and she didn't object.
Still… she nodded. The instructions were practical and actionable for anyone who might interact with Wards from troopers to dispatchers, without actually overstepping any bounds. Emphasis on communication, coordination, and participation made sense. She clicked "Reply" to acknowledge receipt, fingers hovering. Careful, Grant, she thought, but this could work. Like Quote ReplyReport Reactions:noka133, S1m0nWr1t3, Phili and 2 othersOblationDec 5, 2025Reader modeAdd bookmark Threadmarks Threadmarks 55: Interlude: Glenn Chambers: Princess (4/16/11) Threadmarks OblationProfessional Wet-Paint ObserverDec 5, 2025Add bookmark#59The plaza was already buzzing as Glenn arrived, clipboard under arm and eyes scanning for optimal crowd flow. Fountains caught the morning sun in fleeting sparkles, and banners flapped gently over the open square. Today's theme was deliberately whimsical: princess cosplay, designed to engage children and families while testing Phoenix's ability to maintain attention, navigate unpredictable interactions, and test his theory on her mentality.
Phoenix stood near the central fountain, small but commanding in her pastel gown. Ribbons, faux jewels, and delicate lace shimmered with each subtle movement. Her golden hair, neatly braided, reflected sunlight and careful attention to detail. Around her, children arrived in a kaleidoscope of homemade crowns, wands, sparkling skirts, and toy swords. Parents followed, cameras poised, capturing every moment and whispering excitedly to each other.
Glenn's attention was immediately drawn to how Phoenix carried herself. She was calm and stoic, yet every movement conveyed awareness of her audience. She moved fluidly between small groups of children, crouching or inclining her head in acknowledgment. Sometimes, she extended her hands gently, allowing shy children to reach for a small gesture of engagement. Parents occasionally commented to each other, marveling at how cute and approachable she was. Glenn noted: Remarkable, her timing and reading of the crowd is fantastic.
Occasionally, Phoenix would transform into her bird forms, gliding above the crowd with effortless elegance, repositioning herself without disrupting the flow. Upon returning to human form, she continued engaging directly, nodding, bowing, and gesturing. Staff and troopers interacted quietly in the background. A PRT trooper guiding a group of toddlers whispered reassurances to a nervous parent, and a member of Firewatch adjusted Phoenix's gown so that the light would better catch the sequins. Glenn observed the ebb and flow of interactions, noting how children gravitated toward her, yet remained safely distributed.
Over the course of the day, Phoenix developed a subtle strategy. She began flying briefly in one of her Phoenix forms to new spots across the plaza, ensuring attention was spread and that different clusters of children could interact with her individually. Some children received nods, others a small bow, and a few were offered the briefest of gestures that made them beam. Glenn watched, fascinated by her evolving improvisation and the way she seemed to anticipate crowd behavior.
By afternoon, the plaza had erupted into laughter, chatter, and scattered cheers. Parents murmured about how engaging she was, how photogenic, how patient with their small children. Glenn allowed himself a quiet smile. The event had succeeded beyond expectations. Phoenix's poise, strategic thinking, and natural charm had made her the centerpiece of a truly magical experience.
As the day wound down, Glenn reflected on what he had observed. Phoenix had maintained a delicate balance, engaging without overwhelming, moving with freedom but always returning to human form for personal interaction. Her mentality, as he suspected, was that most often seen with movers, constantly seeking vantage, maintaining mobility. He made careful notes for Sunday, knowing the wizard-and-knight theme would raise the stakes even higher.
Sunday arrived with a cooler, brisk morning. The plaza had been transformed: banners evoked medieval courts, fantastical landscapes, and floating pennants hinted at distant kingdoms. Glenn walked slowly across the cobblestone layout, noting positions for children, PR staff, and troopers. Today, the event culminated in a visit from Hero, America's most renowned parahuman.
Phoenix waited near the central fountain, now fully in her wizard persona: a deep blue robe embroidered with silver stars, a tall pointed hat, and a carefully pinned white beard. Children arrived in wands, crowns, and toy shields, their excitement palpable. The Firewatch crew had worn light cloaks and toy swords to echo the theme, while PR staff carried clipboards and cameras decorated to appear as magical tomes and crystal balls. Glenn observed the scene, mentally noting which of the local staff were managing flows well, which needed guidance, and which were simply trying to stay out of their boss's path.
Phoenix quickly engaged with her audience, alternating between stoic acknowledgment, subtle gestures, and phoenix-form flights to reposition herself across the plaza. She added to the wonder of the event with a magical wand she used to generate some sort of minor illusions: a child's hair flickered pink, a plush dragon glimmered. These were occasional, just enough to add enchantment without stealing focus from her natural charm.
Parents sometimes leaned down to murmur excitedly, "She's so composed!" or "Look at her fly! It's like magic!" One mother commented to another that she had been hesitant to interact with capes but was glad to see her young daughter giggling at Phoenix's gentle bow. Glenn felt a quiet satisfaction: she was not just managing children, she was orchestrating a living tableau.
The other hero's arrival marked a stark contrast. Armsmaster remained rigid, armored, and imposing, while his lines were well crafted, they were just as obviously scripted and read with a sort of stern detachment. Kid Win stuttered through a small presentation, tripping over phrasing and gestures while Miss Militia and Aegis waved and grinned, cheerfulness forced and overblown, clearly transparent to even the children. Glenn's brow furrowed. So unfortunate that so few capes are willing to accept even the barest participation in themed events. Phoenix makes that cosplay seem natural and graceful, while these four look badly dressed in their own costumes.
Finally, Hero arrived, the plaza erupting in attention. Shimmering robes layered over his red-and-gold armor gave him the air of a theatrical magical-knight. His voice boomed, sweeping gestures commanding the crowd. Phoenix responded immediately, adjusting her timing, gestures, and illusions to complement him. They danced through a subtle but spontaneous choreography: Hero's bombastic presence paired with Phoenix's stoic, precise timing. Illusions punctuated key moments: a flash of light here, a burst of sparks there, without overshadowing Hero's storytelling.
The Climax unfolded with Phoenix presenting a small cosplay ring to Hero, in place of the one he's been using for Weeks. As he knelt theatrically, accepting it with dramatic flair, playing along with her stoic wizard persona. Children erupted in applause as she remained still, perfectly composed, letting Hero's performance shine while maintaining her own mystique. With a final sweep of his robes, Hero departed, leaving the plaza humming with excitement.
Glenn reflected as the crowd dispersed. Over the weekend, Phoenix had grown into her role with astonishing poise, improvisation, and strategic awareness. She had maintained audience engagement, navigated complex crowd dynamics, and adapted her movements for maximal impact while respecting her Mover instincts. In contrast, the other heroes' rigid, awkward, or forced performances highlighted Phoenix's skill and natural aptitude.
Parents lingered, taking photos, asking quiet questions, impressed by her presence and composure. PR staff whispered among themselves, clearly learning how to handle a Mover capable of autonomous spectacle. Troopers gave subtle nods of approval, aware they had been part of something truly coordinated. Glenn made final notes: autonomy, improvisation, and respect for Mover instincts were paramount. Phoenix had not only captivated the city but offered a living lesson in public engagement, laying a foundation for future national-level events while remaining entirely safe and professional.
Monday, May 18
(Log opened Mon May 18 07:12:03 2011)
[07:12] SpinDoctor >> Morning, crew. Bay check-in. Reminder: last weekend's Hero appearance wasn't the show, it was just the overture. We're orchestrating a season, not a single aria.
[07:14] StageWhisper >> Ah, music to my ears. But let's be real: our "ensemble" often looks like a high school dress rehearsal. Armsmaster is the understudy who never blinks, Aegis is the chorus member who keeps tripping on the stairs.
[07:15] AdCopyCrash >> Relatable, but tragic. He's like a Buster Keaton gag stretched over twenty minutes, only with a bigger medical bill.
[07:16] AdCopyCrash >> Still, people find the Pratfalling Captain relatable. Like watching a tragicomedy with one really tall, armored extra.
[07:35] SpinDoctor >> Upper brass is aware. Relatability is a commodity, but so is gravitas. We need both. Hero and Phoenix gave us a peak at the extremes: charisma meets spectacle.
[07:43] PR_Paladin >> Shadow Stalker? Not present at weekend, but worth noting. Brooding presence, great for action reels, terrible for small crowds. The contrast with Aegis is telling.
[07:44] Khaleesi >> Shadow Stalker may excel in reels, but never for interactive PR. Audience engagement is an art, and not every cape can hold it.
[07:46] Jester >> Agreed. Engagement = performance. Humor, charm, gravitas, spectacle. Each hero brings a note; Phoenix and Hero hit chords rare for the city.
[07:48] Khaleesi >> Contrast is important. Phoenix rises silent, myth incarnate, the Platonic ideal. A goddess costume doesn't say *trick or treat* it says mysterious and regal. Meanwhile Shadow Stalker, grim, dour, ethically murky, looks like a child sneaking into a Hamlet audition.
[07:50] Jester >> Please, Hamlet at least had existential charisma. Shadow Stalker's brand is "Did someone spill ink on the film reel?"
[08:02] StageWhisper >> True, but some of those kids do have the spark. Vista, for instance. Quiet, understated, actually commands the camera when given room.
[08:04] Khaleesi >> Introverted, yes. Quiet, not so much. But still useful. Can fill B-roll slots without stealing the frame. And that's what matters for some pieces of the narrative.
[08:09] Jester >> Speaking of extremes, Clockblocker. Limited airtime only. Otherwise chaos incarnate.
[08:11] Khaleesi >> Precisely. He's comedic garnish, not the main course. Same goes for Miss Militia - competent, reliable, smile glued on too tight. Background reinforcement.
[08:12] AdCopyCrash >> Clockblocker IS B-roll. He's Harold Lloyd dangling off a clock face. You give him three minutes of screen time, max, then shove him off before he eats the set.
[08:14] StageWhisper >> And yet audiences like him. A spoonful of sugar. Even Brecht knew the value of a song-and-dance between lectures.
[08:16] Khaleesi >> Sugar rots the teeth. Phoenix is ambrosia, eternal. Clockblocker is a custard pie hurled at our credibility.
[08:26] Jester >> But the pie makes the newsprint. Don't underestimate a custard pie.
[08:34] Khaleesi >> Humor is seasonal garnish, gravitas is core. Like icing on a cake that's already structurally sound.
[8:39] StageWhisper >> He's Robin Williams trapped in *Dead Poets Society*, but detention instead of poetry.
[8:47] TrueNorth >> Don't pair him with Phoenix. Comedy plus sainthood is oil and vinegar.
[8:48] Khaleesi >> It's worse: oil and Euripides.
[8:49] AdCopyCrash >> That's the nerdiest slam I've heard all week, and I sit in advertising postmortems.
[08:51] SpinDoctor >> Stay on track. Weekend spectacle: Hero + Phoenix. Weekday grind: Dauntless, Gallant, Vista, others.
[09:08] StageWhisper >> Armsmaster and Dauntless remain interesting dichotomy. Armsmaster = legend, legacy, stiff as a board. Dauntless = credible, grounded, approachable. Both necessary, but only one wins public affection.
[09:16] TrueNorth >> Gallant and Glory Girl? Their dynamic is a textbook PR goldmine, like a better Assault and Battery, even if Glory Girl isn't a Ward yet. Thinker projections indicate she'll join this year, before she's nineteen. Preparations underway.
[09:20] AdCopyCrash >> I remain skeptical. Glory Girl isn't Wards, and until she is, any PR reliance on her is precarious.
[09:26] SpinDoctor >> Agreed, caution applies. We cultivate awareness, not dependence. Phoenix remains the national-longterm mythos, but others form the scaffolding: Gallant, Dauntless, Vista, Clockblocker.
[10:12] PR_Paladin >> Even the ones absent can't be ignored. Battery? Velocity? Assault? Still appear in campaigns. Their PR aura is "underwhelming but dependable."
[10:14] TrueNorth >> Reliability is underrated. Dauntless might not sparkle like Phoenix, but he reads like Atticus Finch in armor. Grounded. Credible. People trust that.
[10:18] ChorusLine >> And yet you'd never sell tickets on Finch alone. Phoenix fills the balcony, Gallant + Glory Girl give you the swoon, Dauntless does the matinee. That's balance.
[10:20] SpinDoctor >> Reminder: balance = point. We can't headline Phoenix every week, we'd burn out the spectacle. Need scaffolding: Gallant, Vista, Clockblocker. Support roles, B-roll.
[10:41] ChorusLine >> Can we talk about Vista? Thirteen years old, understated gravitas. She's like putting Julie Andrews in the background of a car commercial. Subtle, yet the audience leans in.
[10:43] AdCopyCrash >> Andrews? Please, she's Shirley Temple in a trench coat. Cute, but the moment she speaks it gets awkward.
[10:47] StageWhisper >> No, no. You underestimate the "quiet presence." PR isn't just lines spoken, it's camera magnetism. Vista can do more with silence than Kid Win can with a teleprompter.
[10:52] TrueNorth >> Kid Win can't even *look* at the teleprompter without turning crimson. He's a liability.
[10:55] Khaleesi >> He's a cautionary tale. Proof that not everyone belongs on stage. Put him behind a curtain, let him tinker, and keep the spotlight for those who can use it.
[10:59] Jester >> So, the Muppets principle: some are Kermits, some are Fozzies, some stay in the pit playing trombone.
[11:11] ChorusLine >> Speaking of pit players: Assault and Battery. Dependable, flat, safe. They're like the brass section, loud, steady, not very photogenic.
[11:14] AdCopyCrash >> Or like backup dancers in West Side Story. Necessary, but you don't remember their faces after curtain.
[11:17] StageWhisper >> Except when one of them trips. Then you remember.
[11:40] Khaleesi >> And then the narrative collapses. Which is why we need Phoenix's myth to anchor it. Hero is the archetype of power, Phoenix is the archetype of transcendence. All else is scaffolding.
[11:44] TrueNorth >> Myth is fine, but myth doesn't smile at children in a hospital ward. That's Dauntless's role.
[11:48] AdCopyCrash >> Hospitals are fine, but they don't trend. Spectacle trends. Grim jokes trend. If you want week-to-week engagement, you ride humor and shock. If you want enduring respect, you ride myth.
[11:52] Jester >> And if you want Broadway longevity, you pray for both. Rodgers had Hammerstein, after all.
[11:55] ChorusLine >> Hero and Phoenix, then? The Rodgers and Hammerstein of cape PR?
[11:59] StageWhisper >> Careful. One wrote the words, one the music. Hero and Phoenix aren't collaborating, that was a one-off.
[12:02] SpinDoctor >> Which is precisely why we manage the ensemble. Narrative isn't about truth, it's about harmony.
[12:04] AdCopyCrash >> Harmony? More like cacophony. Armsmaster enters and the orchestra drops into twelve-tone. Kid Win sneezes on the cymbals.
[12:07] Jester >> And Shadow Stalker insists on playing the funeral march in 4/4 at every cue.
[12:25] Khaleesi >> Exactly. The audience wants inspiration, not nihilism. A myth, not a morgue. Phoenix proves what's possible. Shadow Stalker reminds them of everything ugly.
[12:27] TrueNorth >> Ugly sells too, in doses. You need your antiheroes. Bogart, Brando, Dean, they all brooded.
[12:30] Khaleesi >> And yet Bogart had wit, Brando had magnetism, Dean had tragedy. Shadow Stalker has none of the above. She's grimdark without gravitas.
[12:32] StageWhisper >> She's *Our Town* performed entirely in shadows, no cast. A concept, not a character.
[12:34] Jester >> Or like Beckett without the wit. Waiting for Godot, except nobody's laughing.
[12:36] SpinDoctor >> Tangent alert. Reel back.
[13:34] TrueNorth >> Let's not forget PR strategy extends beyond appearances. Parent interactions, staff engagement, local media, each counts.
[13:37] Khaleesi >> Exactly. We can't turn a mute 11-year-old into a city spokesperson, even with Phoenix's spectacle, she's for national-longterm impact, not local omnipresence.
[13:41] AdCopyCrash >> So how do we handle weekend spectacle versus weekday grounding?
[13:45] SpinDoctor >> Weekend = high-concept demonstration (e.g. Hero + Phoenix). Weekday = scaffold the ecosystem. B-roll, minor appearances, controlled interviews. Maintain narrative without burning heroes out.
[13:49] StageWhisper >> And PR messaging? Should we emphasize individual hero shine or coordinated ensemble?
[13:52] SpinDoctor >> Ensemble always, headline selectively. Solo headlines = Phoenix or Dauntless. Others = contextual reinforcement. The lesson from April 16–17: spectacle is great, but cannot be sole messaging.
[14:12] PR_Paladin >> Do we need contingency messaging? If someone refuses theme, audience sees dissonance. Armsmaster's stiff, Kid Win awkward, Miss Militia over-cheery - audience notices.
[14:14] SpinDoctor >> Yes. Frame absences and dissonance. Public sees Hero/Phoenix as extraordinary, the rest as supporting cast - intentional, not accidental. Now enough bickering, strategy?
[14:18] ChorusLine >> Fine, strategy:
Phoenix = divine spectacle.
Dauntless = trust anchor.
Gallant + Glory Girl = teen romcom spinoff.
Vista = grounded presence.
Clockblocker = comedy relief.
Armsmaster = stiff legacy.
Kid Win = backstage techie.
Shadow Stalker = action reel only.
[14:21] TrueNorth >> Add Miss Militia as symbolic backbone. She's practically the flag with legs.
[14:23] AdCopyCrash >> A flag that tries too hard to smile. She's a theme park mascot, not a star.
[14:25] StageWhisper >> Still, mascots have their uses as every sports team could tell you.
[14:27] Khaleesi >> Mascots sell fantasy. Phoenix *is* fantasy. Why settle for a mascot when you can have a myth?
[14:29] Jester >> Because not everyone lives on Olympus. Some people just want a balloon animal at the county fair.
[14:41] SpinDoctor >> Enough balloon animals. Provisional scaffold:
- Phoenix = national myth.
- Dauntless = local trust.
- Gallant (+/- Glory Girl) = synergistic youth appeal.
- Vista = grounded presence with gravitas.
- Clockblocker = garnish/adornment.
- Armsmaster + Miss Militia = legacy symbols.
- Battery, Velocity, Assault = dependable filler.
- Kid Win = backstage only.
- Shadow Stalker = limited to action reels.
[14:58] StageWhisper >> Curtain call?
[15:17] SpinDoctor >> Curtain call. Notes drafted, sarcasm omitted for upstairs version. End scene.
(Log closed Mon May 18 18:17:58 2011)
Spoiler: But now I want to open it up to you, the readers: Like Quote ReplyReport Reactions:noka133, Phili, Araurlis and 1 other personOblationDec 5, 2025Reader modeAdd bookmark Threadmarks Threadmarks 58: Interlude: PR's IRC - Topic: Merch (4/19/2011) Threadmarks OblationProfessional Wet-Paint ObserverDec 5, 2025Add bookmark#62[6:59] SpinDoctor>> Agenda tonight: Phoenix and Dauntless merch lines, integration into series merch, card exclusives, legacy rotations, problem cases. Keep it tight, but vivid.
[7:25] AdCopyCrash>> Phoenix first. She's already halfway myth. Kids call her "the firebird," parents mutter about rebirth. We lean in. Pendants shaped like flame-feathers, gilded pins, heat-sensitive posters that reveal wings when you touch them.
[7:27] Khaleesi>> Cloaks. Not capes, cloaks. Fire-colored lining, reversible. Children love drama, parents love symbolism. She becomes a figure of legend every time one swirls in a schoolyard.
[7:28] Jester>> And every PTA calls us about flammable polyester.
[7:30] StageWhisper>> Solution: small, tasteful. Phoenix jewelry and charms. You sell myth in miniature.
[7:32] TrueNorth>> If she's headed toward a Triumvirate-style image, we need anchors that grow with her. Start with the personal—pendants, posters, small tokens—then transition into "emblem of hope" pieces down the line.
[7:36] PR_Paladin>> Which dovetails with Dauntless. He's already positioned as the reliable shield. Give him leader merch. Replica Arclance scaled for shelves, Greek-style jackets, "Dauntless: Stand Fast" slogans.
[7:38] ChorusLine>> Trading cards too. We frame him as "the anchor" to Phoenix's flame. His card glows less brightly, but it's the one that never leaves the deck.
[7:39] Jester>> Fine, but Phoenix is the foil chase. Otherwise no one drives to Brockton Bay for cards.
[7:41] PR_Paladin>> That's why the National Protectorate Trading Card Game expansion has Phoenix as foil-only, Bay exclusive. Dauntless rare, Aegis uncommon. Gallant and Vista in packs. Exclusives drive tourism, we anchor it with Phoenix.
[7:42] TrueNorth>> And it can't just be glossy. Etched foil, embossed crest. Parents need to feel they bought a holy relic.
[7:45] AdCopyCrash>> Which brings us to team merch. Current slate: "Protectorate," "Wards," and "Full Team." One Brockton Bay Team box, premium foil guaranteed.
[7:49] StageWhisper>> We can theme it "Protectorate vs Wards." Kids buy Wards, get a shiny Phoenix card by default.
[7:51] ChorusLine>> But what about Gallant + Glory Girl? The public already sees them as a pair. Kids want the star couple deck.
[7:52] TrueNorth>> Which we can't sell, because she's not ours.
[7:55] Khaleesi>> Indirect solution. Gallant merch with an implied partner: silhouettes, heart motifs, ambiguous figures. It sells the idea without naming her.
[7:56] Jester>> So we market the romance without ever writing her name. Clever, if a little absurd.
[7:57] PR_Paladin >> Not absurd, necessary. We use Gallant until she signs.
[8:15] SpinDoctor >> Then the legacy lines. Armsmaster and Miss Militia are still strong, but we shift to "Protectorate Legends." High-quality reissues. Die-cast halberds, stitched Militia scarves. Adults and collectors pay thrice what kids would.
[8:17] StageWhisper>> It cleans shelves too. No more half-hearted new figures, just prestige.
[8:20] AdCopyCrash>> Which leaves Shadow Stalker. Her hoodies rot in clearance bins. She's an anchor, and not the good kind.
[8:21] ChorusLine>> Pull the line. Quietly. Before it taints the rest.
[8:22] Jester>> You pull her, and we lose the "dark hero" slot, and that archetype sells itself.
[8:25] TrueNorth>> We can't leave that slot vacant. That'll just get all the brooding kids into Gang merch.
[8:35] SpinDoctor>> Which is why I've been negotiating with NYC. They'll take some of your Phoenix and Dauntless lines if you take some of their more popular Flechette line to replace Stalker. She's already trending in the Northeast, and she fits the "dark but rising" role without the baggage.
[8:38] Khaleesi>> Flechette as the new shadow figure? Yes. She's sharp, already gaining traction, and unlike Stalker, she doesn't sabotage her own interviews.
[8:40] StageWhisper>> It also lets us spin the narrative: "A new star rises." We replace failure with promise.
[8:40] PR_Paladin>> One liability traded for a future star, plus better distribution. That's good business.
[8:55] SpinDoctor>> Then it's settled. Phoenix and Dauntless anchor the Bay. Armsmaster and Militia go legacy. Gallant leans romantic but ambiguous. Shadow Stalker gets quietly retired as Flechette ascends. We align the market, mythos, and message.
[8:57] Jester>> And you expect me to stand in Brockton Bay telling kids to buy Flechette instead of Stalker?
[8:58] SpinDoctor>> You'll tell them, and you'll smile. Merch is destiny. Meeting adjourned. Like Quote ReplyReport Reactions:S1m0nWr1t3, Phili, Araurlis and 1 other personOblationDec 5, 2025Reader modeAdd bookmark Threadmarks Threadmarks 59: Interlude: PR's IRC - Topic: End of April (4/19 to 4/31) Threadmarks OblationProfessional Wet-Paint ObserverDec 5, 2025Add bookmark#63[04/19] 12:12 TrueNorth>> Okay, brass wants us pivoting. Armsmaster is tactical credibility, but not approachable. Dauntless is. We seed him into every "steady hands" narrative from here forward.
[04/19] 12:14 AdCopyCrash>> So, less avenger on the prowl, more Dad fixing the lawnmower. Got it.
[04/19] 12:15 ChorusLine>> Oh come on, Dauntless is dependable but he's not dreamy. He's just… safe. Safety doesn't trend.
[04/19] 12:16 TrueNorth>> Safety does trend when your city is burning every third week.
[04/19] 12:17 Khaleesi>> And yet when the city looks to the skies, it isn't for steady hands. It's for the Phoenix. Fire and rebirth. A living myth. A thing larger than safety.
[04/19] 12:19 PR_Paladin>> We're still grounding this in perception. Phoenix is mystical, but also a kid. We can't let the public think she's the second coming of Joan of Arc without a growth arc first. Otherwise when she trips, it's humiliation.
[04/19] 12:20 StageWhisper>> Except the people already love watching her fly. She lands near murals like she's stepping out of her own stained glass window. Vista tries to mimic that gravitas and just looks… tiny. Like a girl wearing her mom's heels.
[04/19] 12:22 Jester>> Correction: she looks like Scooter in "Muppet Babies" demanding to be seen as an adult while holding a juice box.
---
[04/20] 10:01 ChorusLine>> Speaking of juice boxes, Gallant's patrol with Glory Girl played like a rom-com trailer. They smile, they save, they glow. Together they sparkle. Alone? Glory Girl bulldozes, Gallant sighs like a polite apology card.
[04/20] 10:03 AdCopyCrash>> Gallant is cinematic background music. He's the piano riff under Glory Girl's guitar solo.
[04/20] 10:05 SpinDoctor>> Keep them paired then. If the chemistry works, you sell the duet, not the solos.
[04/20] 10:07 Khaleesi>> But compare their warmth to Phoenix's stillness. Phoenix does not flirt with the crowd, she lets the crowd come to her. That's not teenage posturing, it's archetype. This is how legends breathe.
[04/20] 10:08 TrueNorth>> Slow down. Brass wants her slow-build. Myth, yes, but not front page every day. We bundle her with Dauntless: "Sky and Anchor."
[04/20] 10:10 Jester>> Sky and Anchor sounds like a pub down on the docks. Which actually might sell T-shirts.
---
[04/21] 08:50 StageWhisper>> Vista keeps giving her sister those forlorn "notice me" looks. Audience sees it, memes are happening. People aren't sure if they're related, but they sense… something.
[04/21] 08:52 PR_Paladin>> Narrative risk. Vista's been "the cute one" for years, but now she's the older sister looking smaller, less poised. That visual tension undermines her.
[04/21] 08:55 ChorusLine>> Or heightens her. She's the scrappy underdog sister. Cute sells, you know.
[04/21] 08:56 AdCopyCrash>> Cute sells until it sulks. Nobody likes mopey Hallmark cards.
---
[04/22] 14:13 TrueNorth>> Update: Triumph tried pitching himself for more spotlight. He's earnest, but still reads like "overzealous Boy Scout." National brass said: hard pass.
[04/22] 14:15 Jester>> He's like the guy who shouts "thank you!" at the start of every parade float. It's endearing for 30 seconds, then you want the tuba section to drown him out.
[04/22] 14:18 SpinDoctor>> Keep him off the table. He peaked during his Ward days, no need to dilute the field with overreach.
---
[04/23] 12:07 PR_Paladin>> Shadow Stalker is furious about not being on posters. She pretends she doesn't care, but she does. Claims she prefers the "mystery predator" angle.
[04/23] 12:09 AdCopyCrash>> Translation: least competent in PR, period. Her "mystery predator" is basically a teen in a ski mask growling at pigeons.
[04/23] 12:10 Jester>> If she's Heathcliff, it's the moor-stomping, sulk-in-a-corner version. Alone, brooding, no merch sales.
[04/23] 12:12 Khaleesi>> Still, the archetype of the shadowed huntress has its uses. If only she carried herself as if she believed it.
[04/23] 12:14 TrueNorth>> She doesn't. Case closed.
---
[04/24] 09:23 StageWhisper>> Armsmaster. His attempts at PR swing between "distant, too busy for the cameras" and "lecturing about mechanics mid-fight." Neither play well.
[04/24] 09:25 ChorusLine>> He treats interviews like repair manuals. Riveting, if you're a carburetor.
[04/24] 09:26 TrueNorth>> Which is why we shift narrative credit elsewhere. Dauntless. Phoenix. Even Miss Militia when necessary. Armsmaster stays tactical background, not face.
---
[04/25] 11:40 AdCopyCrash>> Miss Militia, speaking of. She's toggling between stoic soldier and "PR smile" like someone with stage fright. Not graceful.
[04/25] 11:42 Jester>> She's the actor who forgets if she's in Hamlet or a toothpaste commercial.
[04/25] 11:44 SpinDoctor>> She's versatile in the field. On PR, we minimize. Don't force it.
---
[04/26] 15:30 TrueNorth>> Velocity, on the other hand, is overenthusiastic but not unlikable. He sells as the excitable sidekick. Just don't make him the headline.
[04/26] 15:31 ChorusLine>> He's like the mascot waving too much at halftime. Fine, if he's not the whole show.
---
[04/27] 09:18 Khaleesi>> Phoenix's unannounced patrol by that mural someone made of her drew a crowd. People lingered, treated it like a pilgrimage. She doesn't say a word, just hovers. The image does the work.
[04/27] 09:20 StageWhisper>> And rumor swirls. Half-jokes about a Phoenix cult. Someone spotted actual people in Phoenix merch murmuring prayers.
[04/27] 09:21 AdCopyCrash>> Terrific. Step right up, folks, worship your neighborhood junior messiah. T-shirts only $7.99.
[04/27] 09:22 TrueNorth>> We control the frame. "Admiration society," not cult. And we do not feed the rumor mill.
[04/27] 09:23 Khaleesi>> Or we lean into it. Myth builds itself when the people want a myth.
---
[04/28] 15:01 Jester>> Kid Win, still background noise. Charming in interviews, if you ask the right questions, but the boy requested lighter PR. Said he doesn't like the spotlight.
[04/28] 15:03 PR_Paladin>> That actually works. If he doesn't want it, the mystique of modesty shields him from criticism. He's functional, not glamorous.
[04/28] 15:04 AdCopyCrash>> He's the guy in the credits who fixes the sound levels. Nobody claps, but everyone would notice if he vanished.
---
[04/29] 07:59 TrueNorth>> Phoenix + Aegis + Glory Girl vs Rune + giant twins: field narrative is messy. Most blame Empire for property damage, some are blameing our trio for "escalating."
[04/29] 08:01 ChorusLine>> Still, Aegis and Glory Girl make for some unexpected synergies. That's a win.
[04/29] 08:03 StageWhisper>> The image of Phoenix streaking ahead alone was cinematic. Vista looked at her like she'd lost something, again.
[04/29] 08:04 AdCopyCrash>> Yes, let's celebrate the child endangering herself to make her sister cry. Great optics.
[04/29] 08:06 Khaleesi>> No, great myth. Firebird against giants. Win or lose, people remember the silhouette.
---
[04/30] 11:11 Jester>> Glory Girl's restraint issues keep cropping up. She nearly smashed a car mid-patrol. Crowd laughed, but online clips don't look flattering.
[04/30] 11:13 ChorusLine>> That's why Gallant smooths her edges. They're a pair package. Separate them and she's a wrecking ball, he's cardboard.
[04/30] 11:15 AdCopyCrash>> "Beauty and the Beige." Box office poison, unless you sell the romance.
---
[04/31] 13:27 StageWhisper>> Sunday. A gathering formed at Phoenix's mural again. This time organized. People kneeling, candles, murmurs. Priests in merch. They left fast when PRT rolled up.
[04/31] 13:29 AdCopyCrash>> Congratulations, we've accidentally franchised Scientology Jr.
[04/31] 13:30 PR_Paladin>> Contain the narrative. "Fan enthusiasm," not religion. Anything else is dangerous.
[04/31] 13:32 Khaleesi>> But do you not see? This is how myths grow. She does nothing but appear, and people gather. It frightens you, but history favors the firebrand.
[04/31] 13:33 TrueNorth>> Careful. We build steady, not wildfire. Dauntless is the credibility. Phoenix is the symbol. Together, they're the balance.
[04/31] 13:34 SpinDoctor>> Keep eyes forward. National brass approves the Phoenix build. But remember: myth must serve stability, not eclipse it. Keep Dauntless close. Don't let this spiral.
[04/31] 13:35 Jester>> Until the mural sprouts a gift shop, we're probably fine. Like Quote ReplyReport Reactions:noka133, S1m0nWr1t3, Phili and 2 othersOblationDec 5, 2025Reader modeAdd bookmark Threadmarks Threadmarks 60: Interlude: PR and Online - Topic: Impressions (4/31) Threadmarks OblationProfessional Wet-Paint ObserverDec 5, 2025Add bookmark#64SpinDoctor>>
Okay folks, brass wants a Bay PR situation report since Hero's event two weeks back. Format is three paras pros, cons, overall. Each cape gets at least a line, your pet projects can get more. Close with your recs for the next month. @StageWhisper, you're first in the batting order.
StageWhisper>>
Pros: Bay's roster has never looked more photogenic. Phoenix is building mystique even when she just floats near murals. Vista remains "adorable in boots," which public eats up, though she keeps trying to posture older. Gallant and Glory Girl tag-team nicely a shining pair with actual chemistry. Dauntless is emerging as steady, a "neighbor hero" archetype. Armsmaster still draws gadgethead loyalty, and Miss Militia keeps some veterans pleased with her poise.
Cons: Glory Girl alone? Too volatile, too many angry-face photos. Gallant alone? Vanilla pudding. Vista's efforts to seem grown up just underline that she isn't. Phoenix's myth aura risks slipping into cult weirdness, priests in her merch‽ Not ideal. Armsmaster is cold fish when not "on," Miss Militia feels tired some days. Shadow Stalker: image is "angry mall cop." Assault and Battery read like sidekicks to a better show. Velocity's overeager, Triumph overzealous.
Overall: Bay is fascinating, messy, youth-heavy. We've got a budding myth (Phoenix), a photogenic duo (G+G), and a grounded anchor (Dauntless). The rest oscillate between assets and liabilities, but the raw material is there.
Recommendation: Phoenix needs controlled myth-building without letting it tip into cult territory; pairing her occasionally with Dauntless would cement her as myth plus steady civic force. Keep Vista framed as "the cute one trying so hard," which plays. G+G should be pushed as a duo never solo. Let Armsmaster and Miss Militia fade into the background a bit. Don't bother forcing Shadow Stalker PR; she's better invisible.
AdCopyCrash>>
Pros: Phoenix looks good in every candid. Dauntless is basically Captain Dad Energy. Gallant and Glory Girl together sell like prom king and queen. Vista plays as "mascot growing up." Armsmaster brings in nerds who buy tinker-toys. Assault and Battery provide occasional rom-com cutaways.
Cons: Phoenix's silent brooding looks like the start of a docuseries cult. Gallant alone is basically store-brand toothpaste. Glory Girl alone is an episode of Cops . Vista's "please see me as mature" act is tragicomic. Armsmaster is a charisma desert. Miss Militia seems like she knows it's all hollow. Shadow Stalker is a PR black hole; even her smirk reads like a shoplifter mugshot. Velocity's just "guy who runs fast," no angle. Triumph is still on probation for overselling himself.
Overall: Ensemble cast, high drama, bad script. They're all strong in pieces, but if you roll them out individually, the audience flips channels. We need to lean on dynamics, duos, trios, myth pairings.
Recommendation: Stop trying to make each cape their own franchise. Package them like an ensemble superhero sitcom: "The Hotheads, the Cool Dad, and the Myth." Phoenix/Dauntless for gravitas. Glory/Gallant for charm. Vista as the wide-eyed little sister. Everyone else? Background extras until they stumble into a narrative.
ChorusLine>>
Pros: Gallant and Glory Girl are magic together. Romantic hints, dramatic rescues, the kind of pairing people root for. Phoenix is beautiful and aloof, which makes every sighting special. Dauntless plays reliable, someone you'd trust to fix your car and save your cat. Vista brings heart, even when she stumbles.
Cons: Gallant is boring without Glory. Glory is reckless without Gallant. Phoenix's aloofness risks coldness. Vista's maturity act rings hollow. Shadow Stalker is just negative PR embodied. Armsmaster is brilliant but unfriendly, Miss Militia comes off stretched thin. Assault and Battery aren't charming enough to carry their duo. Velocity and Triumph feel like filler tracks.
Overall: The emotional center is Phoenix plus Gallant/Glory. Everything else rotates around them. Dauntless as anchor completes the four-point balance.
Recommendation: Build PR on emotion: Phoenix as mythic mystery, Gallant/Glory as aspirational romance, Vista as the heartstring pull, Dauntless as stability. Everyone else exists to reinforce those notes. Think "quartet" not "choir."
PR_Paladin>>
Pros: Phoenix and Dauntless together could project myth and reliability. Gallant has "good soldier" vibes, Glory Girl the celebrity shine. Vista remains the likable kid. Armsmaster and Miss Militia represent grit and discipline. Velocity shows pure enthusiasm, which isn't nothing.
Cons: Phoenix cult rumors are dangerous. Glory is a loose cannon. Gallant lacks charisma. Vista overcompensates. Armsmaster shrugs PR entirely, Miss Militia drifts between overdoing and vanishing. Shadow Stalker's PR competence is nonexistent. Assault and Battery blend into wallpaper. Triumph is overeager, Velocity too goofy.
Overall: PR is fragmented every cape has strengths, but we lack cohesion. Public needs a story, not scattershot personalities.
Recommendation: Develop Phoenix + Dauntless as dual anchors. Frame Glory/Gallant as "young love under fire." Keep Vista in a supporting "earnest little sister" role. Shadow Stalker should be minimized, same for Triumph. Others can fill background slots until useful. Narrative clarity is survival.
Jester>>
Pros: Phoenix floats around like a Shakespearean ghost and everyone claps. Gallant and Glory Girl do the Romeo & Juliet thing without the double suicide (yet). Vista is adorable she's Piglet insisting she's Eeyore. Dauntless is Jim Halpert with a spear. Armsmaster is basically the Swedish Chef with a Swiss Army Knife fetish.
Cons: Phoenix cultists handing out tracts. Gallant solo is cardboard. Glory solo is Hulk Smash but sassier. Vista pretending to be mature is like Kermit trying to play Macbeth. Shadow Stalker is Animal but meaner. Miss Militia is Statler and Waldorf rolled into one. Assault and Battery are Abbott and Costello minus timing.
Overall: It's a Muppet Show where only a few acts sing on key, but the audience still tunes in for the chaos.
Recommendation: Let Phoenix be the phantom myth, pair her with Dauntless when we need grounding. Push Gallant/Glory as the teen drama arc. Vista as comic relief heart. Everyone else stays backstage until they accidentally deliver a classic sketch.
TrueNorth>>
Pros: Dauntless is emerging as the most credible adult. Public trusts him, feels steady with him. Phoenix has potential to be a myth on national stage. Gallant and Glory Girl are a proven duo, popular. Vista still charms. Armsmaster's technical chops appeal in niche circles. Miss Militia remains respectable.
Cons: Dauntless can show strain photos catch the tension. Phoenix risks drifting into aloofness, cult rumors. Glory is volatile, Gallant bland. Vista overreaches in maturity. Armsmaster is stiff, Miss Militia inconsistent. Shadow Stalker is a liability. Others lack spark.
Overall: The Bay has talent, but raw edges. PR focus should be on credibility and stability: Dauntless as the civic face, Phoenix as the myth rising. Glory/Gallant as secondary draw, Vista as supporting.
Recommendation: My stance: build Dauntless + Phoenix together myth plus man of the people. That pairing anchors the Bay, shows balance between dream and duty. Manage Glory/Gallant as the flash. Everyone else rotates in as necessary. Keep Shadow Stalker out of frame.
Khaleesi>>
Pros: Phoenix is the story. Aloof, luminous, untouchable. The fact that murals spring up of her already, that's living myth. Dauntless complements her with grounded reliability. Gallant and Glory Girl are the mortal heart, Vista is the child striving upward. Armsmaster and Miss Militia represent the old guard.
Cons: Phoenix's silence breeds rumor, cult imagery may spiral. Dauntless risks burnout. Gallant/Glory could sour if split. Vista's struggle for maturity may backfire. Shadow Stalker is irredeemable in PR. The rest are forgettable.
Overall: Bay has a chance to craft a mythos, Phoenix as transcendent figure, Dauntless as anchor, Gallant/Glory as drama, Vista as innocence. Everything else is noise.
Recommendation: Think long game. Phoenix must be built carefully, steadily, to reach Triumvirate status in a decade. Dauntless should be tied to her, stabilizing the myth. Push Gallant/Glory as secondary drama, Vista as emotional pull. Let others fade.
SpinDoctor>> Alright, solid spread. I'll pull these into the draft for brass. Next week we pivot to messaging trials, controlled pairings, one-offs, myth seeding.
---------
Online Reactions:
Phoenix
FlameIsLife >> She descended in light. The fire did not burn. She is proof that the end has been delayed. (Celestial Temple IRC, crossposted here)
CoolHeaded1 >> Or she's just another cape with fancy powers. Chill.
BBMomForumRep >> If she really is that strong, she should take leadership. I'd feel safer with her than Mr. Redshirt over there.
3HoundsofEmpire >> All smoke, no steel. PR will pump her up but we see through it.
CapeCardsCollector >> There's already a Phoenix cult sub-forum. Half prophecy memes, half serious(ly creepy).
Armsmaster
OldGuard >> He's still the general. Period.
TechBoi88 >> Saw him yell at a kid for touching his bike after a photo op. True story.
AltRightBay_3 >> I trust the man who builds his own weapons. Not some brown chick with a gun.
1MerchLord >> Legacy line Armsmaster minis are selling out. People love nostalgia.
Dauntless
UnionJackal >> He's the wholesome face. And that's exactly why he'll never be number one. Too nice for the Bay.
DockyardDan >> Nah, he's the only one I want my kid looking up to.
CynicalWatcher >> If he was really leadership material, Armsmaster wouldn't still be in charge.
Miss Militia
RedWhiteAndMom >> She's the only one I can show my daughters without worrying they'll imitate reckless behavior.
BoredPoster1991 >> Let's be real, her "magic gun bag" is just cosplay-tier compared to Dauntless's Arclance.
CapePolitics >> She's not flashy enough to headline, but she's the glue keeping the team respectable.
Aegis
BBWardFanClub09 >> Toughest kid alive. Don't argue.
shitpost80085 >> Man's literally Humpty Dumpty, always getting put back together again.
3HoundsofEmpire >> Don't care how many times he gets back up. He's not our people.
ConcernedMom78 >> He's proof kids shouldn't be fighting. Watching him "die" on livestream was stomach-churning.
Gallant
HeartEyes77 >> He's gorgeous. Also sweet. Where do they *find* these kids?
Cynic42 >> He's just another rich boy with a flashlight.
ShipJunkie69 >> The Gallant + Glory Girl merch is gonna print money once it's legal.
Glory Girl
BB_Teen11 >> She's the hero we *actually* see, not those guys stuck in meetings.
CynicalWatcher >> Wildcard. She's going to either save the Bay or accidentally kill someone on camera.
thirsty_anon >> She could bench press me any day.
OldGuard >> She's not even officially on the team. Don't trust her.
Vista
LocalKid98 >> Literally changed the playground so we could keep playing tag. Iconic.
PHOsEdge >> She's a baby cape. Stop pretending.
Sulis-Iterum >> No, she's got the most broken power in the State. You'll see.
Kid Win
GamerMech1337 >> That hoverboard? Straight out of my dreams.
BBTeen11 >> He looks like the tech in a cartoon who blows up his own lab.
ShipperCentral2 >> The Kid Win + Vista ship is underrated. Don't @ me.
Clockblocker
1ForumClown >> MVP of banter. He could solo any villain with jokes alone.
BB_Local_Mechanic >> He froze my truck for three days. PRT never paid me back.
TeenShipper2 >> He and KW have the best energy.
Assault + Battery
ShipJunkie69 >> They literally already *are* a couple. Stop teasing and print the merch.
CynicalWatcher >> Their lovers' spats in the field are unprofessional.
BatteryFan >> She's the powerhouse. Assault's just noise.
Shadow Stalker
Ghostblade99 >> Her hoodies were top tier. Shouldn't have been pulled so fast.
BBTeacher66 >> She's a terrible influence. My students think acting like her is "cool."
3HoundsofEmpire >> At least she understands real justice.
One_ConcernedParent >> She terrifies my kids. How is she a "hero"?
Team-Wide / Merch
CardGameKid1977 >> National Protectorate cards are busted. Phoenix foil is already the chase card.
MerchHawk >> Full Team posters are cluttered trash. Protectorate-only line looks sleek, though.
LegacyCollector >> Moving Armsmaster and Miss Militia to legacy lines was smart. Higher quality figs = higher value.
DarkshotDebate >> Rumor that Shadow Stalker's slot in the line might get replaced by Flechette? About time.
Wild Takes
BBCelestialTemple >> Phoenix is the sign. The old world burns, the new rises.
TrollPoster93 >> Imagine stanning Dauntless. Couldn't be me.
ShippingOverload9001 >> Gallant/Glory Girl is over. Gallant/Dean is the REAL power couple.
DoomPatrol_Local >> Doesn't matter. Bay's still a dump. No cape can fix it.