It Shouldn't Feel Like a Hoop, Even While You're Jumping Through it.

I recently did the cape missions a couple times and came to a conclusion: This is pathetic. You make a couple of stops then you end up in Perez Park where you find a secret, high-tech base where the shrine of "Hero One" is just sitting in some room that looks like a reactor. (What the hell's it doing there??) Man, this feels contrived. I know you want the cape mission to feel significant, but it doesn't. How about something more like this....

City Representative: (paraphrasing) "You need to learn more about Hero One. You should talk to his old teammate, Justin Greene. Greene's in the field... Sgt Suzanne Bernhard coordinates with him. She probably knows where he is right now... Go tell her what you're up to." Mission: Talk to Sgt Suzanne Bernhard.

Sgt Suzanne Bernhard: "I don't bother Greene with every cape-craving wannabe who comes along. You want this, you've gotta earn the privelege. You wanna show Hero One your respect, you've got to show respect for all the heroes who have fallen in the pursuit of justice. Dr. Vahzilok defiles those fallen heroes by using their stolen bodies to create those horrible Eidolon of his. Get out there and defeat 10 of those things so their bodies can finally be put to rest, and I'll tell you where you can find Greene." Mission: Defeat 10 Eidolon. Protect each defeated body until city representatives can arrive to retrieve it. (Combining a serious hunting mission with a standard "protect" mission. The hero must defeat each Eidolon then prevent 2 or 3 waves of Vahz from recovering its body until city reps arrive and cart it off.) Upon returning to the contact: "Well, you've caused quite a stir. Dr. Vahzilok has heard about what you've done and has ordered a retaliation, so be careful. I've marked Greene's location on your map, but you'll have to move. Dr. V's minions will likely catch up with you within the hour." [When the mission is selected, a 60 minute countdown clock starts.] Mission: Carry out assignment from Justin Greene.

Justin Greene: "Hero One was laid to rest in the Paragon Cemetery where I'm sure by now the Vahz will have laid traps for you. Hero One never considered himself above other heroes, but one of them and carried this belief with him to the grave." [Click "NEXT"] "You will find him in the cemetery in one of the... ...GAAAHH!!" Greene crumples to the ground, struck down. A Vahz ambush attacks while the timer continues to tick. The mission destination reads "Board the train." Mission: Find Hero One's grave. Pay your respects.

The train deposits the hero on the cemetery map (the one with lots of mausoleums, cliffs, and the very large mausoleum). Scattered all around the cemetery are groups of Vahz with a larger group, led by a Mortificator named Dr. Sin near the large mausoleum ("If [hero's name] wants Hero One, we'll give him Hero One. He will be our finest Eidolon! Find his grave!"). There is a higher than normal number of wandering groups of villains. There are no glowies here, nor has the mission changed to "defeat all." The hero will have to learn (which will certainly happen as he moves around) that every grave and mausoleum is clickable, just like the memorial plaques scattered around Paragon City. When clicked, every grave will display the name of who's buried there and a small epitaph. The hero must check graves and mausoleums until he finds Hero One's grave (which is one of the common graves, not a mausoleum... something Justin Greene hinted at) and click it to read the epitaph. At this point the mission ends. The epitaph reads: "Here lies Hero One, an extaordinary hero who insisted he was no better than the common man. He fell in the Rikti Wars, struck down by the Chief Mesmerist leading the invasion. His body was displayed in the Paragon City Hall for 3 days, watched over by representatives from every super group in the city. On the day he was interred, not a single crime was committed in the city." Mission: Return to City Representative.

City Representative: "We got Justin Greene to the hospital, and he's going to be fine. He wanted me to ask you a question to see if you truly learned about Hero One." The contact screen then displays one of two or three possible multiple choice questions about Hero One, based on the information displayed in his epitaph. If the hero bothered to read the epitaph, the answer should be easy. If he answers incorrectly, the City Rep says "You have earned the right to wear a cape in Paragon City. I hope you will continue to fight the forces of evil and become the kind of hero that Hero One always believe the city had in her." The "New costume part" message is displayed and the hero may buy a cape at the taylor. If the hero answers correctly, the Rep says "I believe you truly understand what it is to be a hero cut from the same cloth as Hero One. Please accept this token of a grateful city." In addition to the new costume part message, the fee for the hero's costume change is waved.

Now that's got some balls and some meaning. It rewards players who actually pay attention to the missions while not penalizing those who just want to click buttons only as a means to get to the next mob. The mission is achievable but not a cake walk and might make a hero feel a little more proud about being able to wear a cape.