This episode’s title says it all! Join Ben and Michelle as they discuss Alak’s hot, chiseled abs, the addition of badass Linda Hamilton to the show, and the newest changes to the Defiance Game that make it so much more like the frontier. Have a listen after the break!

Listen now:

Relive Defiance Finale!

Best scenes of the episode

So many great scenes in this episode, so why don’t they actually add up to a good episode?

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  Datak and Stahma – why, oh why, would she have let that “new trick†slip? But, this led to a great scene of Stahma in the voting booth after Datak finds out – still one of her best scenes all season
  
  
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  Last scene with Amanda and Kenya – so many regrets Amanda will have as she looks back on that in season two
  
  

Tweets from the fans:

But now #ReliveDefiance is over, what do we do till then!? :o @defiancepodcast @womenofdefiance @HellbugsInLove

— Daz Watford (@ThatsWhatUGets) April 11, 2014

So if Alak has to at least be the figurehead of the Tarr empire, who takes over as chief hipster of the town next season? #ReliveDefiance

— Angeleeta (@MFAngeleeta) April 1, 2014

So what questions are we left with that need to be wrapped up?

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  I’m still really fuzzy on what happened to Irisa… and how Nolan figures out that he needs to simply “find her 
  
  
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  Datak – did he try to get away? How far did he get before he was caught?
  
  
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  How does Stahma break the news to Alak? Does he find out what his father did?
  
  
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  When does the babymaking start? (wheres the honeymoon?)
  
  
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  What happens to Doc Yewll?
  
  
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  How does Pilar find her way back? And why now?
  
  

Segue into Season 2 with Defiance The Lost Ones!

Last time on Defiance Reporter, we tore apart and analyzed the first minisode of The Lost Ones and speculated about Nolan’s predicament, so lets begin there. Who was behind the barrel of the shotgun pointed at the back of Nolan’s head?

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• YAY SNAKE CULT ISN’T COMPLETELY GONE!
  
• Brother in Arms in the New Frontier code? Betray your brother for a bit of scrip, hang back to watch him die or have a change of heart, and when everything turns out ok, all is forgiven? I’m torn with this being a true Nolan move. I wouldve thought he would have slugged Lenny, THEN forgiven him.
  
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  • Yeah, you really just can’t rely on people in New Earth
    
  
  
  
• Nolan’s parenting skills are quite intriguing – the relationship development between the two of them is very good (knives as a form of combatting PTSD)
  
• Chicago? Are we going to see the downfall of the Snake Cult in the first episode or two before we move on to the inevitable taking back Defiance plot?
  
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  • I really hope so. I hope this is all settled within a couple of episodes and we get back to the other plotlines – that snake cult is one scary group
    
  • We really will see so many new areas in season two, which is really exciting: Chicago, Los Angeles
    
  
  
  
• Love the minisodes – wish we could have gotten more with various characters, but this is a great start to the season
  

Other Season 2 News

Check out the Defiance Season 2 Extended Trailer!

http://youtu.be/uoIHzO2sGsw

‘Defiance’ first season 2 trailer, Linda Hamilton to guest star – EW EXCLUSIVE

http://insidetv.ew.com/2014/04/08/defiance-season-2-trailer/

New cast members include James Murray as Niles Pottinger (the new mayor), William Atherton as Viceroy Mercado (an Earth Republic official), and Anna Hopkins as Berlin (an Earth Republic soldier). Plus, we can reveal Linda Hamilton will guest star on the show as Pilar McCawley, Rafe’s (Graham Greene) estranged wife.

“Her character will simultaneously make you cry and scare the crap out of you,†Kevin Murphy teased of Hamilton’s character. While co-star Julie Benz said, “I think my response was … ‘Holy s–t. How the f–k did we get her’?â€

Linda Hamilton Tapped for Season Two of Syfy’s ‘Defiance’ – Variety

http://variety.com/2014/tv/news/linda-hamilton-tapped-for-season-two-of-syfys-defiance-1201155639/

Linda Hamilton has been tapped to join the season two cast of Syfy’s drama series “Defiance.â€

Known for her breakout performance as Sarah Conner in James Cameron’s “Terminator†franchise, Hamilton will take on the recurring guest role of Pilar McCawley, the wife of Rafe McCawley (Graham Greene) and mother to their three children. Following a bout with mental illness that led her to attempt to murder her children, Pilar is back, but the motives for her return are still unclear.

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  Linda Hamilton is Pilar McCawley!!  IMDB lists her in episodes 9 and 11 of Season 2. It also lists Justin Rain (Quentin) as only being in episode 11. I hope IMDB is woefully incomplete. There HAS to be more screentime with the whole family.
  
  
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  Didn’t Kevin Murphy say the same thing about Stahma being just as scary at some point?
  
  
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  Won’t it be awesome to see Stahma deal with some real life crazy? Talk about problems with the in-laws.
  
  

First Look: The New Faces of Syfy’s Defiance – TVGuide

http://www.tvguide.com/news/defiance-syfy-1080461.aspx

Killing an Earth Republic officer with a letter opener is a sure way to lose your gig. When Syfy’s Defiance returns June 19, badass Datak Tarr is out as mayor and E-Rep dandy Niles Pottinger (James Murray) is in, after a seemingly bloodless coup. “Pottinger is incredibly complicated — the kind of guy you want to hate because he’s just so despicable,” says creator Kevin Murphy. “But then he does something really kind that melts your heart.”

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• Sorry. Pottinger will get my ire all season. I will have no conflicting emotions about him as a person within the monster.
  
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    Same – especially if he lays a hand on Amanda Rosewater
    
    
  
  
  

Also new this season is propaganda filmmaker Jessica Rainier (Anna Hopkins), nicknamed “Berlin” in honor of Hitler’s favorite documentarian, Leni Riefenstahl. “This new world is terrifying and dangerous, and Berlin is the voice of the disenfranchised people,” says Murphy. “She has dedicated herself to bringing safety and protection back into everyone’s lives.” In a city like Defiance, that won’t be easy.

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• Is she REALLY out to help the disenfranchised or is she just VERY naive?
  
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    One thing to love about Defiance – the Humans are just as bad as everyone else – there is no “good†race or “evil†race. Human E-Reps are clearly being compared to Nazis.
    
    
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    That said, from the clips with her, she seems like a spitfire
    
    
  
  
  
• I really hope we will get the opportunity to see Berlin’s propoganda videos as webisodes or viral marketing. They can spread across the web or even between shows on Syfy as a show promoter.
  

Doc Yewll Is Coming Out In Season Two of Defiance

http://www.afterellen.com/doc-yewll-is-coming-out-in-season-2-of-defiance/04/2014/

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  Get rid of one gaylien (even if she was a human), replace her with another, right? This makes complete sense.
  
  

Doc Yewll, Defiance’s brilliant but brusque doctor, is an Indogene, a technologically advanced Votan race. Doc Yewll is played by Canadian actress Trenna Keating, who you might have seen in Combat Hospital or Just Friends. Doc Yewll’s coming out came to light when I asked Jaimie Murray about Mia Kirshner’s departure and the possibility of future female love interests.

AfterEllen: Jaime, how do you feel now that you’re on‑screen love interest, Mia Kirshner, has left? And will you have any more female love interests in the coming season?

Tony Curran:  Not if I can help it.

Jaime Murray:  Well, I think Defiance is quite an equal opportunities town and there’s lot of choice out there species‑wise and lots of sexy humans and Votanis to choose from.  I think maybe one of the interesting points this season is we might discover that Stahma’s not the only Votan who likes the ladies.

Kevin Murphy:  We are going to discover that one of our long‑standing characters, in fact, bats for the ladies. Doc Yewll is coming out this season.

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  In my mind, Doc has the hots for Amanda
  
  

Jaime Murray: Well Defiance is set way in the future, so we are hoping at that point that it’s not really an issue. There’s a very casual way it’s revealed. It fleshes out characters, allows you more of an insight, and definitely rounds out Doc Yewll’s character and shows a softer side to her. It’s not a shocker but it’s part of the tapestry of Defiance.

AfterEllen:  So is she coming out as gay, pansexual, bisexual, what?

Jaime Murray: Well I don’t want to give too much away, but you learn that the Votan who was Doc Yewll’s partner is a woman, and you meet her, and you discover that their history of a very rich relationship. Doc Yewll was actually a much more well-rounded person when she was with her wife. She was married actually. She was married to the woman.

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  This means we meet a new character this season – too bad they didn’t write Alethea in as her partner… this may mean that she will just be a quick write-in and not a very large character (which is what we thought when the contest winners were announced)
  
  

Speaking of naked Alak.. Jesse Does Defiance

Becoming Castithan

http://youtu.be/N2oz0Y5plBQ

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• By far the best Jesse Does Defiance (second only to the sack of Doc Yewll faces). He’s got jokes, he’s got sex advise, he’s even got Berlin (Anna Hopkins) next to him!
  
• Its far more fascinating watching and learning about the makeup process than seeing the food line at lunch time.
  
• It takes less time to put on a wig than to dye the hair? I can see that if they have to dye it every day, but if they do principle filming in a few weeks, I would’ve thought it was the the opposite.
  

Dressing the Part

http://youtu.be/lZoJj8IrMMk

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  Prison? Camp Reverie? If they have costumes for prisoners, then maybe we Another morsel for fans to chew on until Season 2.
  
  
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  Of course the best costume is the most complicated to put on.
  
  
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  More morsels for the fans in this video is the abundance of Season 2 clipettes througout the video, from all the scenes with Irisa and Sukar to Alak being kicked around by E-Rep grunts. Why is Irisa standing in the street crying? Even her hair looks sad in this scene.
  
  

Talking Tarr

http://youtu.be/hXcqMOYjZ_A

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• David Peterson, if you’re listening, we want you on our show!
  
• HOLY COW I have to learn Casti. If David released a word a day app for Casti, I’m down. I HAVE to know what the cast is saying on screen.
  
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    Perhaps during air time, David can live tweet what is actually being said?
    
    
  
  
  
• Was Alak yelling at his mother? Is he finally becoming the head of the household?
  
• How about Stahma standing up to those E-Reps in the street? She’s really coming into her own, it seems. And I’m more than certain it will backfire at some point.
  
• This was the best for some season two goodies – definitely good to rewatch these closer to the premiere
  

REMINDER! Defiance Season 2 to premiere on June 19 at 8pm (eastern). What are your predictions for the upcoming season?

Nerdsbians in full effect on Twitter:

@womenofdefiance @defiancepodcast we learn what exactly is in Stahma’s diary.

— Angeleeta (@MFAngeleeta) April 18, 2014

@womenofdefiance @defiancepodcast I predict @MsJaimeMurray will make out with everybody. #Defiance

— Lauren Furze (@TheFifthSister) April 18, 2014

WELCOME TO THE ARKTECH REVOLUTION

http://community.defiance.com/en/2014/04/10/arktech-revolution-begins-april-15/

Paid Content

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  One Chimera Arktech Kit

  
  
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    1000 Arkforge

    
    
    
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    The “Arktech Revolutionary†title

    
    
    
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    The “Chimera Ark Hunter†outfit

    
    
    
  
  
  
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  Chimera daily contracts which reward Caeruleum Cores for completing expert tier co-op maps.

  
  
  
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  Access to the Chimera vendor, which offers a unique line of legendary weapons and legendary mods purchased using Caeruleum Cores.

  
  
  
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  The Chimera mod synergy.

  
  
  
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  Six new pursuits offering unique titles and EGO rating increases that reward three pieces of legendary equipment:

  
  
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    The Chimera Claw (shield).

    
    
    
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    The Chimera Horn (rocket launcher).

    
    
    
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    The Chimera Fang (charge blade).

    
    
    
  
  
  
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  Access to 15 new perks for ark hunters who choose to join Chimera in the Arktech Revolution:

  
  
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    Conflagration: Increases damage to health from your incendiary attacks.

    
    
    
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    Flash Point: Increases damage to shields from your incendiary attacks.

    
    
    
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    Heat Shield: Reduces incoming damage from incendiary attacks.

    
    
    
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    Corrosion: Increases damage to armor from your bio attacks.

    
    
    
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    Virulent: Increases armor penetration from your bio attacks.

    
    
    
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    Immunized: Reduces incoming damage from bio attacks.

    
    
    
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    Bloodsucker: Increases health and shield damage stolen from your siphon attacks.

    
    
    
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    Deadly Apparition: Increases damage from your siphon attacks.

    
    
    
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    Strong Soul: Reduces incoming damage from siphon attacks.

    
    
    
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    Live Wire: Increases damage to shields from your electric attacks.

    
    
    
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    Electrical Fire: Increases damage to health from your electric attacks.

    
    
    
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    Grounded: Reduces incoming damage from electric attacks.

    
    
    
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    Gamma Rays: Increases armor penetration from your radiation attacks.

    
    
    
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    Radiation Burns: Increases damage from your radiation attacks.

    
    
    
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    Lead Lined: Reduces incoming damage from radiation attacks.

    
    
    
  
  
  

Free Content Update

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  EGO Rating Cap Increased

  
  
  
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  EGO Rating Progression

  
  
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    For ark hunters, a higher EGO rating will now impart a much larger effect on damage, health, and shield capacity. Similarly, the damage output of weapons will now scale based on their power rating.

    
    
    
  
  
  
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  New Enemy Difficulty Tiers

  
  
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    In addition to the difference between standard and elite enemies being more pronounced, new enemy difficulty tiers featuring enhanced abilities and updated designs will be introduced.

    
    
    
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    Now that enemies scale in difficulty, “elites†as a designation for all mobs no longer exists. Instead, different types of mobs have different prefixes depending on their difficulty tier:

    
    
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      Hellbugs, Scrappers, Infected

      
      
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        Adapted, Superior, Evolved, Apex

        
        
        
      
      
      
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      Mutants, Raiders, Dark Matter

      
      
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        Experienced, Veteran, Hardened, Formidable

        
        
        
      
      
      
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      Volge, 99ers

      
      
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        Reinforced, Enhanced, Augmented, Ark

        
        
        
      
      
      
    
    
    
  
  
  
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  Expert Co-Op Maps

  
  
  
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  Dynamic Event Scaling

  
  
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    Events will now dynamically adjust their difficulty based on the players participating in or joining them. Low EGO rating players will be able to stand in fights with these high-level foes by means of a special temporary buff.

    
    
    
  
  
  
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  Weapon damage types are getting a major overhaul to increase their impact on gameplay.

  
  
  
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  Armor Plates

  
  
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    Armor is a new damage-mitigating buff granted passively by shield equipment and temporarily by perks, stims, or spikes. Unlike shields, armor does not regenerate when excessive damage breaks it but it can be repaired at extraction points.

    
    
    
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    Armor repair stations have appeared all over the Bay Area. Travel to any fast travel point to find a station.

    
    
    
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    Two new stims have been added: armor repair and ablative armor.

    
    
    
  
  
  
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  Universal Grenade, Spike, and Stim Charges

  
  
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    As of Arktech Revolution, enemies will drop universal consumables (called “chargesâ€) of each type that refill one use of the specificied item type in your current loadout. Can’t carry any more of that item? Don’t fret: you’ll automatically salvage any excess charges upon picking it up.

    
    
    
  
  
  

Game Updates

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  A number of perks have been rebalanced to match new armor and scaling mechanics:

  
  
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    Detachment – Now adds between 1 and 3 plates of ablative armor.

    
    
    
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    Juggernaut – Now adds between 2 and 4 plates of ablative armor.

    
    
    
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    Thick Skinned Basic Description – Now adds between 3 plates of ablative armor.

    
    
    
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    Time Out – Added 15 second cooldown.

    
    
    
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    In the Trenches – Drastically reduced effectiveness.

    
    
    
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    Fortitude – Changed to a percent of health rather than a flat number.

    
    
    
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    Rear Guard – Drastically reduced effectiveness.

    
    
    
  
  
  
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  Replaced Reset Weapon Mastery XP with Reroll Weapon Mastery bonus.

  
  
  
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  Players now gain weapon skill when using mastered weapons.

  
  
  
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  Personal and group boosts are now play time based instead of absolute time based.  (Except for Clan boosts. They are still absolute time based.)

  
  
  

Defiance Arktech Revolution Difficulty Balancing

http://forums.defiance.com/showthread.php?156063-Defiance-Arktech-Revolution-Difficulty-Balancing

Its only been 2 days since launch and we’ve already had a hotfix and another one is in the works. Community manager Scapes has posted on the forum that the Defiance team have “been closely monitoring the game and forums for feedback so that we make appropriate adjustments to the Defiance’s new difficulty levels and address gameplay-affecting issues.â€

Upcoming changes include the following:

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  EGO boosting will now scale more reliably to match high threat level events.

  
  
  
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  Event threat levels will scale (and degrade) more dynamically to match the EGO rating of the players present and their actual threat level.

  
  
  
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  Volge Troopers will be (much) less challenging.

  
  
  
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  Damage-over-time from nano-effects will have more consistent scaling.

  
  
  
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  High-level enemies loot drops will be improving overall and will provide more ammo drops to address the new ammo consumption rates.

  
  
  

They are also working on more changes to include a “new player experience†that will scale in the player’s favor and lend to a generally easier open world experience. Now what that will look like is anyone’s guess.

LAST MINUTE ANNOUNCEMENTS

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  Season 1 of Defiance is no longer available on Syfy Now, but do not fear! Thanks to an extensive content deal with NBCUniversal, subscriber’s to Amazon Prime can now watch the first season of Defiance exclusively through Prime Instant Video.

  
  
  

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  And those of you who want to complete the rewatch experience, you can play all of the Season 1 Crossover events IN THE GAME. Meet Nolan and Irisa before they leave for the New Frontier, then follow (and take part in) their adventures as you watch and play Defiance Season 1 side-by-side. Its the perfect time for new players to experience Syfy’s transmedia adventure as it was intended, so download the free trial today!

  
  
  
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  Join our PC clan IGNI FERROQUE! <defiancereporter.guildlaunch.com> No registration required, just look for one of these officers in-game, Corso Vanlocke, Jack Thundersteele, or Almazar to get an invite!

  
  
  

CONTACT US!

Email: defiance@mmoreporter.com

Website: defiancereporter.com

Voicemail: 616-666-6778 (and our new widget on the ride hand side of the page)

Facebook: facebook.com/defiancereporter

Youtube: youtube.com/user/mmoreporternetwork

Twitter: twitter.com/defiancepodcast or @defiancepodcast

Michelle: twitter.com/womenofdefiance

Ben: twitter.com/nebsinsane