TPN Campus Trial

The T.P.N. Campus Trial
Team Size	12-24 players
Badge	Spin Doctor
Enemy Groups	Imperial Defense Force Imperial Special Forces
	v • d • e

This article is about the Incarnate System Trial. For the Praetorian TV network, see Total Praetorian Network.

Overview

The T.P.N. Campus Trial (T.P.N. or TPN) is one of the Incarnate Trials connected to the release of Issue 21.5 which takes place in Praetoria. A minimum of 12 and a maximum of 24 players can raid the T.P.N. Campus.

During the mission, a voice will "radio in" information about your progress. While there is no specific contact (the trial is entered entirely through the LFG menu), it is possible that your unseen helper is meant to be Prometheus as he was added in Issue 20 to recruit Incarnate-capable players to wage a war against Emperor Cole and end his quest to become more in-tune with the Well of the Furies.

All Issue 20 Incarnate Components will drop during this trial, and Physical Incarnate Experience is gained towards unlocking the Alpha, Interface and Destiny Incarnate Slots.

Story Summary

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

After finding out that Emperor Cole had made a deal with the Hamidon in the events that transpired in the Underground, a team of Incarnates are dispatched to the campus of the Total Praetorian Network to spread the word to all of Praetoria, since it is the only network on which Praetorians receive information.

Not surprisingly, the Emperor wants to prevent the news from getting out and having all of Praetoria turn against him, so he sends Maelstrom and a group of Seers to stop them. While Maelstrom attempts to stop their efforts directly, the Seers set about their work inciting Praetorians into an angry mob while simultaneously trying to warp the minds of the Primal Earth allies present so that they don't pose a threat.

In the end, Maelstrom is defeated, but the efforts of the Incarnates are in vain as the message is not broadcast across all of Praetoria.

In Detail

The T.P.N. Trial is an incarnate Trial that takes place in Praetoria, on the TPN Campus. The trial consists of a single mission, broken into four distinct phases. A timer begins after the first phase, and the trial will be failed if the timer expires.

Phase 1

Players begin their assault on the T.P.N. campus, taking out the IDF troops while avoiding damaging the cameras which are monitoring them.

Good evening, Praetoria. Here is Breaking News from the Total Praetoria Network, where IDF have taken up positions around TPN's own campus!

Good evening, Character. Has anyone told you how great you are for ratings? You've got one of those faces.

The IDF believes invaders are attacking TPN to broadcast anti-Cole propaganda! TPN is attempting to verify these claims.

So here's a limited time offer: Access to my broadcast stations... IF you put on a good show for the cameras! Win-Win.

A PPD curfew is in effect for Logos or Aureas. Citizens are advised to stay away.

Destruction of my cameras has been known to cause hair loss, chest discomfort and loss of my favor. Don't do it!

Phase 2

The League must enter the main building and activate the broadcast terminals to gain public opinion. Maelstrom will appear to put a stop to those activities.

An update on the developments at TPN Campus: The invaders have breached the main broadcast facilities.

Mr. H.D. here for TPN. Have you grown tired of the Cole regime? Do you fear for the future of Praetoria? Are buried secrets keeping you up at night?

But authorities refuse to release any offical information concerning the assault on TPN.

It is not too late. Simply cast your vote at any of my many broadcast terminals within the main building, and we can begin to spread the truth.

TPN shall continue to report as it happens. For your safety, please stay in your homes!

Put your trust in H.D., and together we'll build the future of Praetoria. Paid for by Friends of H.D.

Maelstrom: Incarnates! By order of Emperor Cole, you are to cease and desist all actions against Praetoria! Failure to comply with this order will be met with deadly force!

Ladies and gentlemen, we have an update for you. Maelstrom has arrived to exert control over the situation at TPN Campus! Let's go live to the scene and see if we can't hear from the champion himself!

TPN Camera: Maelstrom, what do you believe to be your chances of victory against these Incarnates?
Maelstrom: My victory is all but assured. The citizens of Praetoria should not be alarmed by the actions of these terrorists.
TPN Camera: Are you certain of victory? These forces have already dealt a severe blow to the Emperor's forces in the past!
Maelstrom: How dare you question the might of the Emperor and his subordinates! This interview is over!
Maelstrom destroys the camera.

Phase 3

After defeating Maelstrom, the players will fight against telepathists who will try to sway angry citizens against the players. H.D. will also spawn in each campus building to broadcast, requiring players to activate more terminals.

We apologize for the technical difficulties during this evening's broadcast.

What do you see? Do you see a world of possibility? I certainly do. All around, there are so many people waiting to be swayed by the message.

It appears that the IDF and the invaders are fighting over TPN's broadcast signal.

The Emperor has his message and you have yours. He will send Seers to sway the public, but you can use the best in class features provided by H.D.

What the invaders are attempting to broadcast remains unclear at this time.

H.D. will see to it that your message is delivered in style, but only if you head down to your local TPN showroom and keep the technicians from taking away your chance at luxury!

Phase 4

This phase is a repeat of the previous one, while Maelstrom will spawn outside to deplete Public Opinion.

In the last few minutes, some new information has come to light. The first broadcasts from the invaders are coming in....

Maelstrom. You've seen him before. He's tough. He's arrogant. And now he's come back to ruin your fun!

Wait. This can't be right. Have we checked this?

Don't let this happen to you! Nothing works better at repelling pests and Maelstrom than some quick action and tough love. You'll be amazed by the results you can achieve with just a few applications!

Ladies and gentlemen, in all my years bringing you the news, I have never seen a story like this... we're still verifying the details, but there is emerging evidence of a scandal which would rock the Emperor's regime....

Don't forget, though, that Maelstrom can be stubborn. For those extra hard cases of Maelstrom, be sure to apply some extra pressure. He'll get the hint, and you'll be Maelstrom free in no time!

Fools! Do you really think you're changing anything? The Emperor will not stand idly by and allow his people to be destroyed. We will stop this... I will stop this!
We are trying to keep Praetoria safe! Have you even thought this through? Are you prepared to do what needs to be done to keep the people safe?

Phase 5

The final fight is against Maelstrom and his IDF reinforcements.

We are receiving confirmation now. Emperor Cole did NOT defeat the Hamidon as we have been told.

This is it, the main event! Tonight, in Imperial City! One night only! It's the Incarnates vs. the Imperials in a showdown!

Our leadership instead negotiated a peace, a peace that left the Hamidon able to one day wage war on us again.

Watch in amazement as the IDF deploy even more forces to try and cut off the broadcast! Watch as the Incarnates strike back harder than ever before! You've never seen anything like this!

Now, because of this war, the Hamidon has decided that our Emperor has broken his agreement, and readies itself to assault humanity once more!

Hurry down to TPN Campus in Imperial City! This is the event everyone in Praetoria will be talking about tomorrow! Don't miss it!

You may think you've won. You may think you're doing what's right. But, I assure you, that is not the case!

Emperor Cole has always worked for the good of Praetoria! Ask yourselves if you are doing the same! How will you see to it the people are protected?!

This is not over! We will always fight on behalf of the people of Praetoria! You will be stopped!

Epilogue:

Tonight has proven to be one of the darkest days since the founding of Praetoria.

Ladies and gentlemen, we are betrayed. We placed our faith in a man... a man who could protect us.
We lived peacefully, even as the Hamidon still rumbles distantly beyond the fences, secure because our Emperor could destroy it.

Tonight, however, we have learned that Emperor Cole does not have the strength to keep us safe.

Notable NPCs

Maelstrom (Archvillain)

Rewards

Badges

	Spin Doctor	Complete the TPN Campus Trial.
	News Flash	Complete all three 500-point Public Opinion challenges, taking no more than 8 minutes per challenge, and then finish the trial
	Fair & Balanced	Do not allow a single Telepathist to convert 4 or more citizens for the duration of TPN Campus, and then finish the trial.
	Television Addict	Complete all four terminals in all three buildings during each 500-point Public Opinion challenge, while also keeping H.D. above 80% health at all times, and then finish the trial.
	Tonight's Top Story	Defeat Maelstrom within four minutes during each of his three encounters.
	Master of TPN Campus	Earn the Spin Doctor, News Flash, Fair & Balanced, Television Addict and Tonight's Top Story badges.

Experience

Physical Incarnate Experience is earned, which unlocks the Alpha, Interface, and Destiny Slots, if any of those slots are locked.

Salvage

Incarnate Threads drop instead of Incarnate Shards.
60 Incarnate Threads are awarded immediately for completing phase 3, regardless of the final outcome of the trial.
Upon successful completion of this trial, each character is presented with a reward table allowing them to choose one reward from several options. There is a participation threshold that must be met in order to receive an Incarnate Component table instead of a 10 Threads or one Super-level inspiration "consolation prize".
- If a character surpasses this threshold, the rarity of the component reward is a random roll. The options available will either be a choice of: one Common component or two Super-level inspirations, one Uncommon component or three Super-level inspirations, one Rare component or four Super-level inspirations, or one Very Rare component or five Super-level inspirations.
The chances of receiving a Rare or Very Rare Incarnate Component upon completion of this trial are higher than in other Incarnate Trials.
A random Uncommon Incarnate Component is awarded the first time each achievement badge is qualified for.
A random Rare Incarnate Component is awarded the first time the Master of TPN Campus badge is qualified for.

Merits

Two Empyrean Merits will be awarded upon successful completion of the Trial once per 20 hour period.
- Any successive completion of the Trial within that 20 hour window will instead award one Empyrean Merit. This functionality is essentially the Incarnate Trial version of Merit Reward Diminishing Returns.
An Astral Merit will be awarded immediately after defeating Maelstrom in phase 2.
An Astral Merit will be awarded immediately after winning the 500 point Public Opinion Challenge in phase 3.
An Astral Merit will be awarded immediately after defeating Maelstrom in phase 3.
An Astral Merit will be awarded immediately after winning the 500 point Public Opinion Challenge in phase 4.
An additional Astral Merit can be rewarded at the end of the trial for running as an Open League.
An additional Astral Merit can be earned if the requirements for the News Flash badge are fulfilled, even if you already have the badge. It is awarded at the end of the trial.
An additional Astral Merit can be earned if the requirements for the Fair & Balanced badge are fulfilled, even if you already have the badge. It is awarded at the end of the trial.
An additional Astral Merit can be earned if the requirements for the Television Addict badge are fulfilled, even if you already have the badge. It is awarded at the end of the trial.
An additional Astral Merit can be earned if the requirements for the Tonight's Top Story badge are fulfilled, even if you already have the badge. It is awarded at the end of the trial.

Strategy

TPN Campus Trial

Contents

Overview

Story Summary