Wordmaker

Lots. If you people turn my jerk into a nice guy I'll beat you all with your own severed limbs!

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What do you mean? We still talk to Nevermore.

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But you start talking about him as soon as his back is turned. Can't you see his brooding tears of vengeful angst...?

And yes, Alcatraz is developing. Another factor to bear in mind when playing a character who is not generally nice to people. If people see that there's something beneath the surface, even a reason for their behaviour, and a chance to help said character develop, they will latch onto it, talking to a character who is otherwise repugnant, because the character can develop, and helping someone else's character to develop is very rewarding.

If he's a jerk and stays a jerk, no matter what, people will get bored.

Case in point: I made a character called Alcatraz with the intention of playing him as a total jerk. I did, however, warn people I'd be doing it, and make sure to keep his comments strictly IC.

If you're playing an annoying character, don't be surprised if people start to ignore you, and possible future characters you make, especially if they don't know you aside from that first annoying character. It's very easy to blur the lines between IC and OOC if you're not careful, and no-one wants to talk to a character who is perpetually irritating or abusive.

Okay, Global Chat's all nice and pretty (except for the pig ugly font colour...), but needs a bit of setting up on the player's end, aside from setting a user handle.

All of the chat commands can be accessed by right-clicking on your chat window, same as you'd do in order to edit your chat tabs. New options there include "Join Channel" "Leave Channel" "Create Channel", etc.

Handily enough, here is where you also get a list of all the chat channels you're currently a member of, and to send messages in them, you just click on the as you would a normal chat channel.

However, you do have to edit your chat tab to include yoiur Global Chat channels, on every character, otherwise you can't see the messages from it.

The Friends window now has a nice little drop-down menu letting you select friends lists for the server, for Global, for any chat channels you're a member of, and also a Global Ignore list.

The only things I currently can't find out are the limits to how many people can be in any given channel, and how many channels you can be a member of at any one time.

Meanie

I'm at home most of the day, I'll do it once Union's back up.

Much as I'd love to, and I'm sure Jennybear would as well, I sincerely doubt it'll be possible so close to Christmas, and so soon after last weekend.

I presume you mean in-person? Or do you mean in-game?

Actually, I -think- I saw it said that, even if you log out of the game, you still count as being a member of a channel, meaning that the channel will persist even when we all log off, so it should only need to be created and joined once.

Either way, finally, we have our OOC chat channel!!!!

Ah, I see.

Well, I do wish this endevour luck. Roleplaying's what keeps me in CoH, and it's always good to see it promoted.

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I saw no direct insults, i did see a carefully worded response that may be a bit sarcastic of not thinking it through properly.

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If someone told me that something would be obvious if I'd bothered to use my mind, I'd be insulted.

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I'd assume you don't turn up based on real people attitudes in CoH, as then you imply that all that person's alts are exactly how they are in real life. Certainly not the case.

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Actually, no, I never once mentioned what I thought of someone's alts. There is more to roleplaying than IC attitudes and events. I want to roleplay in an environment where I can feel secure that, just because someone disagrees with me, they'll have the decency to accept that our opinions differ, and not make snide remarks about me.

This attitude is of utmost importance to someone who is trying to organise a freeform RP environment, especially when it is based on his own character and SG.

Let me put it this way, no-one will play in a game if the GM running it is known for making fun of his players if they disagree with him.

EDIT: I'm really not trying to start a flamewar here, I was just pointing out one person's interpretation of what was said, and how it could be damaging to an attempt to establish organised roleplaying in CoV. Anyone who feels otherwise can feel free to PM me.

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This is a specific response to Ravenswing the Doomsayer: the simplest and I would think the most likely reason for a multitude of villains to get together would be self-interest, but if such an obvious point failed to escape your notice, perhaps the other even MORE obvious answer would be Paragon City. If I were a villain just recently released from incarceration in Paragon, and trying to make a name for myself in a new place, a place which has a history of conflict with that *same* city, I'd be willing to ally myself with whoever I had to, in order to exact my vengeance, and possibly gain some notoriety in the process... I mean, I could always turn on my allies later, when an opportune moment presents itself... Maybe when I find stronger allies. There... that took me all of 5 minutes. Amazing what the mind can do, when you choose to use it.

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It's one thing to disagree with someone's opinion, but insulting them and calling them out like that is uncalled for. It's also not a great attitude to present when you're trying to set up a regular RP meet for a large group of roleplayers, and if I were a CoV player, I'd be less-inclined to attend based on the manner in which you presented yourself there.

I think this will be a very interesting thing to take part in. For a few reasons.

For a start, it's a great opportunity to promote roleplaying in the game, regardless of which server or group of roleplayers we're with.

Secondly, it will allow us to voice some of our own opinions (hopefully in a mature and respectable manner! ), and concerns about roleplaying content and opportunity in the game.

Most importantly, the fact that roleplaying in CoH is being highlighted like this will hopefully show that it is of interest to a larger than previously believed number of people. If it goes well, it may lead on to the addition of more roleplaying content and tools to the game. But thatis just my optimism showing. I still think it's worth bearing in mind that this is more than just a chance for us to go "yeah, roleplaying's great, my character's cool!"

He doesn't mean those emotes.

By typing "/e looks around" in the chat box, you get a thought bubble over your head with the words "looks around" in it. In the chat window, this appears as "Generichero looks around". So, when we're roleplaying, we use this to denote actions that aren't available in the game's emote animations. This function is what doesn't work in the Arena.

Not offensive at all!

No, we considered the Arena, but decided against it on several grounds:

1: You can't select maps yourself
2: You are cut off from communicating with anyone not in the Arena
3: it's harder for new people to get involved.

I actually think a PvP "flagging" system would be great. Maybe set a 30-60 second delay between when the flag is triggered and when it comes into effect, which would stop people abusing it to get into mobs, or to escape tough fights.

How is what I said biased? I'm arguing against both sides of the argument!!

I'm in! Absolutely!

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None of my post was directed towards anyone in particular at all. If it wasnt relevant to you then it wasnt directed at you

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Thank you for the clarification.

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And if you solo while unable to get missions due to having finished contacts/outleveled etc, then it simply your choice to continue soloing, you do have options whether you say you do or don't.

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This doesn't change the fact that it is claimed that you should be able to solo through the whole game. What other option is there? You have the choice of hunting mobs, or not soloing.

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see now this will be REALLY interesting to hear how PvP effects PvE... whats char builds? The Zones? Chars being in the zones too much? please do enlighten me

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No need to be sarcastic. I will, despite your attitude, answer your question.

In the build-up to the CoV, a huge number of changes were made to the powersets of every AT in the game. Not the least of which was the global defence reduction, and Enhancement Diversification. We also had Controller powersets suddenly and without previous indication changed so that pest became less numerous. In my mind, an obvious move in order to make the new Mastermind AT more unique.

The defensive abilities of the CoH ATs were designed with PvE in mind, following the addition of PvP, defence was dropped across the board. This could not have been a change meant to make PvE more challenging on its own, because to do that alone, improving mob AI and capabilities is a far more logical course of action, since these are elements which the Developers can retain control over, rather than making a change to various powersets which are open to player modification through the slotting of enhancements.

What the defence reduction DOES do, however, is weaken heroes to a more manageable level in terms of being under threat from other heroes and villains. I can see no other justification, purpose, or goal for a global reduction in defence, other than PvP balancing, which would not have been better achieved by adjusting the opponents we face in PvE, someting players have been crying out for.

As for how PvE content will suffer, I should think it's blindingly obvious. There are a limited number of Developers. These Developers once concentrated on producing PvE content for the game. In the last year, attention has shifted away from the addition of new game content (compare new Epic ATs, new villain groups, Task Forces, and at least 2 new PvE zones in the first year of US CoH to 1 new PvE zone, several PvP zones, a new game which was not ready to be released and has less low-level content than its predescessor, and a host of power changes to the first year of EU CoH) to the provision of PvP.

CoV has its own Development team, yes. But the Developers' attention will now be split between adding new PvE content, and adding new PvP content. Hence, PvE will suffer because of the introduction of PvE. Indeed, the only new zone to be added since the EU game went live is bugged, relatively short and small, and uses recycled villains.

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Dear lord, this thread is getting out of hand in my opinion...

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Did you actually read any of my posts? I have tried the PvP zones, and I enjoyed them. I was pleasantly surprised. I have nothing against PvP, merely the attitude a lot of PvPers who post on the forums have towards people who choose not to partake. I'm not saying these people are the majority, or that they speak for all PvPers, merely that they make themselves heard frequently and strongly. You would have noticed, if you'd read my post, that I say exactly the same about people who make unfounded and pointless complaints about PvP zones like "I don't like being attacked!".

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just a quick question here tho as i been reading this for about a good 45 mins now to understand the arguements... SINCE WHEN DOES CoH OR CoV 'FORCE' U INTO PVP?!?!

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The point of my post, was that the kind of person who makes that statement is as bad as the kind of person who goes "suck it up, it's PvP". I wasn't making the statement as an expression of my own opinion.

However, I do have concerns that PvE content will suffer for PvP.

Rock_Eagle, I can't argue with you about people who think that the use of tactics etc is unfair and go so far as to petition people for simply playing the game.

Let me put it this way, as regards the damage I feel is being done to the community:

There are two kinds of people currently becoming extremely vocal. The kind who love PvP and don't care how others feel about it, or about being killed repeatedly, the kind whose response to many (if not all) PvP complaints is "tough, I see you in a PvP zone, you're dead", regardless of whether or not the concerns are legitimate.

The other is the "I'm being forced to PvP, I didn;t buy a PvP game! Why can't you all just leave me alone?" type, who, while their personal opinion of PvP is valid, don't seem to be able or willing to construct a decent argument to back up any of their concerns.

Both of these people are a minority in terms of the game's playerbase. However, they are a vocal element, each of them projecting a negative image, and those of us with legitimate concerns and complaints, with the experience and evidence to back up our claims (on both sides), have our posts tarred with the same brush.

I agree that some people do simply rant about not liking PvP, with nothing constructive to add. Personally, I think it's unbalanced. Cryptic can't even keep all of the powersets balanced for PvE, let alone PvP. The disparity between Defence and Resistance powersets is a stark highlight of this.

And yes, there are some roleplayers who do present themselves badly, and give the rest of us a bad name. I've argued with many roleplayers on differences of opinion. Thing is, it has to be admitted that roleplayers are a secretive bunch. And in all honesty, the Roleplaying forum has seen a lot less flaming than the PvP forum.

Also, I'd like to point out that I've never seen a post by a rolplayer I know simply ranting aimlessly about PvP. All of the reasons I've seen those I know express for not enjoying PvP are valid concerns, in my opinion.

On assumptions: As Ravenswing has repeatedly said, he HAS tried the PvP zones, several times. He and Aisla, and a lot of toehrs I know in-game, spend a lot of time in Warburg doing the missions.

I'm not saying PvP is ruining the game. I'm saying the attitude most people get when they express a dislike for it is ruining the -community-

On RP in PvP zones: Been discussed. Many PvP players have posted on such threads saying they'd attack anyone in a PvP zone, regardless of why they were there. It's not worth the hassle, if that's the kind of attitude we'd get if we sent someone a /tell saying "we're roleplaying, please don't attack us".

Aside from which, the level restrictions on PvP zones and the trouble getting to them make it difficult for roleplayers who use level 1 alts as characters, like myself, for secret identities, or characters who are RP-only.

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Never designed to have PvP in it? Can any of us be sure of this?

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The fact that every single AT has had to be re-balanced since the addition of PvP would be an indicator towards that. As would the stark difference between the effects of powers in PvE and PvP, the difference of play style in terms of how to slot and use powers, and the fact that there is no reward or risk to base PvP combat.

Also that the original marketing for the game stressed players teaming up with friends online to take on evil threats, not mentioning the potential for combating fellow heroes or villains.

If PvP -was- always intended to be a feature of the game, then judging by the evidence, there is a serious lack of quality control and forethought at Cryptic.

Then again...

Well, actually, to argue a point...

I've given PvP a shot. It was a bit of fun. Not something I'd be willing to spend more than maybe a half hour at, but that's just me. I can't level for longer than an hour without getting bored, either. I prefer my RP.

However, what you cannot deny is that many people fell VERY strongly about PvP, on both sides. Many people bought CoH to get a break from PvP, because they don't enjoy it.

When these people express the reasons why they don't enjoy it, they get jumped on for saying it. Within the first five posts on any thread involving the words "I don't like PvP", you'll get at least one person who says "Suck it up" or "Stop whining". The person who does this is usually a PvPer, of the type who feels no shame in bashing any character they can.

Is this representative of PvPers as a whole? No. Does it create a bad image of PvPers? Yes. Does this attitude, where people can no longer feel free to express an opinion without being told to more or less shut up and be harrassed, harm the CoH/CoV community? Most definitely.

Sure, you could say "we've all heard how some people don't like PvP, why do we have to hear it again?". Well, the same could then apply to complaints about game bugs, requests for more content and Quality of Life additions, discussions on AT builds, etc. This is a forum, paying customers of Cryptic/NC Soft are entitled to express their views in a reasonable manner, and to expect to be treated with maturity and respect.

No-one can deny that the community spirit has suffered greatly since the launch of CoV and PvP in general. Half the threads in the PvP forum are rants between people who don't like PvP and people who think anyone who doesn't like PvP has no right to complain about it.

I honestly feel sorry for new players coming to these boards for the first time.