Arctic_Princess

I have, after some very careful thought, deleted my MA folders and unpublished all of my arcs.

Yes, that includes the DC.

My faith in AE as a viable system in City of... is low. It's the fault of greedy players whose reaction when the original furore over mass exploitation of the AE was commented on by Positron was 'Oh no, we got caught, it's the Devs' fault'.

I liken that reaction to various politicians in the UK who tried to claim that their expenses were legitimate, despite evidence to the contrary. There are other Real Life examples but I have no wish to invoke Godwin's Law.

I would like to request that the hotfix be reverted, as it's not going to stop exploiters (some arcs have already been updated, with the description stating that they have been updated to work around the latest nerfs).

I would then like to see the arcs that contain exploits removed and the publishing privileges of the globals responsible removed.

I would also like to see some evidence of housekeeping, namely the removal of arcs that were exploits that no longer work due to the string of hotfixes.

Then I would like to see more community competitions, to encourage the use of the AE for story-telling: including the recognising of community threads regarding awards, such as the Players' Choice Awards.

If the AE truly was designed as a story-telling device and an alternate levelling method for people who have gone through the content more times than they'd care to mention, then the community competitions could reflect this: A competition to design, for instance, starter arcs (1-5) for Heroes/Villains etc: A competition to design a new arc for the 30-35 range, and so on.

As it stands, the AE is predominantly used by abusers of the system, who will cry out that they're entitled to abuse the system because the tool is there for them to do so. Despite evidence to the contrary.

I'm sick of their lousy attitudes, I'm sick of hotfixes that do nothing except harm legitimate storytellers and designers of alternative levelling content, I feel sorry for those who bought Architect Edition, and this problem needs to be sorted out before GR.

Otherwise there's absolutely nothing to stop lazy abusers rolling a Praetorian, powerlevelling them via exploits in the AE, getting bored, farming tickets and repeating. The longer it goes on the harder it is to undo the damage this player-led exploitation is doing.

A message to Farmers who don't think that AE farms are exploits:

They are.


@Lazarus - that was cheap and I'm assuming you're just annoyed with the patch 'fix'.

Yes I have a DC. I spent time creating my arc. I didn't even win the competition. Doesn't mean I'm a viable target for anger.

There are, as was inevitable, a few posters creeping onto this thread who are farmers, exploiters, cheaters - whatever you want to call them.

I just hope you won't 'whinge' or be a 'carebear' when your arcs are puleld from the AE.

Of course, a sort of compromise (after reading responses on here) would be to have no XP/Ticket rewards until an arc is made a Dev's Choice.

Therefore the process of picking DCs would need to be sped up, as there are very good arcs out there that have amazing stories and are supported by the communities on both sides of the pond.

I say no XP/Tickets because Tickets themselves are pretty powerful and there would still be Ticket Farms, and Inf farms come to think of it.

Personally it's another nail in the coffin of cheaters. Yes, that's right, cheaters.

You know the arcs I mean: Outdoor, City Map 01 etc with 20 allies all with no attacks (because Allies don't matter when it comes to having actual attacks), only debuffs and group protection (like Dispersion Bubble).

That it has affected actual arcs is a shame. If those arcs could be 'protected' from the XP nerf in some way then surely that's the way to go forward?

Now, I am fully-prepared to spend time going through every single cheater arc, list them here and have a GM or other go through and delete those arcs.

I won't put global names in, just the ID of the arc.

Now, if only the punishment of persistent cheaters, including account-holders with multiple accounts, was actually being actioned then that would be a good thing.

You have my support (and the support of my Defenders for mopping up after the intial craziness is met with faceplanting! :P)

But seriously (!), definitely in support of this.

Server list merges = yes, please.

This is a suggestion which pops up with some frequency. I think it's a good, sound one.

However, there must be some reason why... hang on, i17 is in Closed Beta, Going Rogue will be as soon as i17 goes live... ah, maybe right now is not the time to expect an answer.

There have been 'quotes' from WW posted here on the subject re: playing together 'by design'. Not really good enough but not really her quote either and more one of those things that's passeed down from leader to leader of the City of Project.

Perhaps there are legal implications? Contracts with service providers that were taken out for x number of years? Who knows. Any speculation on our part would be wild speculation, leading to doom crying and everyone dead by teatime.

I'd certainly like a server list merge, as stated before. I'm very happy with the proposed list of changes on the website for i17, and the hubbub of Going Rogue too. New shinies tend to do that to me.

For those that need to find conspiracy in everything, or cry doom, or fight 'The Man': relax, take it easy, continue playing.

Theorising on these boards isn't going to change much and will certainly put off newcomers to the boards. Or at worst give them the 'everything is crappy, Devs hate us' attitude straight away.

If you can't sit on your hands any longer then look into asking NCSoft directly. And coming from the point of view of a valued customer and not an angry gamer is usually the best way of approaching a complaint/constructive suggestion.

The files weren't attaching using the add attachment feature and they were naff anyway.

I've updated the thread to reflect that. Fancy doing some badge artwork here?

I was feeling a little bored and decided to wildly speculate on GR stuff.
As this is the best place to do it (the forums in general) I figured why not.

I have badge titles for them.

Mother Mayhem's badge is: 'Mother's Boy' or 'Mother's Girl', another potential name is 'Mommy's Little Soldier'.

Marauder's badge is: 'Hound Dog'.

Both, in my warped mind, would be awarded after doing either a TF/SF or a special story arc.

Mother's Boy/Girl or Mommy's Little Soldier

You've proved time and time again to be the best there is at rooting out the Resistance. Mother Mayhem has commended you with this medal for your efforts in destroying Calvin Scott's supply chain of anti psychic-detection technology and providing her with more recruits for her reorientation programme.

Hound Dog

It takes guts to work as part of Marauder's crack team of soldier specialists. You've been awarded this medal by Marauder for sniffing out escapees from the Praetorian Correctional Facility and preventing a plot to blow up Emperor Cole's tower.


I've put it here because I figured there are quite a number of talented people on the forums who would come up with better badge designs than I can muster on MS Paint (!).

Please feel free to add artwork and further made-up badges.

I would like to see some of the temp powers available in game being added to the existing small list of craftable temp powers.

• Bow and Arrow (gained from Croatoa)
• Iron Blade (also from Croatoa)
• EMP Glove (from Test the EMP Glove)
• Flashbang Grenades (from an early defeat X Skulls in Kings Row mission)
• Cryonite Armour (from Stop the Sky Raiders before they can make off with Balsim's designs)
• Cryoprojection Bracers (from Hit the streets and defeat a few Council Troops)
• Electromagnetic Grenades (from Seek hidden Council supply depots - Lars Hansen, Striga)
• Geometric Gauntlets (from Get the Platonic Solids away from the Warriors)
• Holy Shotgun Shells* (from Rid the Mausoleum of the Banished Pantheon - Tobias Hansen, Striga)
• Med Kit (from Stop the Trolls from hitting the party)
• Rune of Warding (from Retrieve the book - Skipper LeGrange, Croatoa)
• Soul Trap (from Mage-Killer Zukhara's arc)

All information has been gathered from paragonwiki.

The powers I have chosen are either straightforward blasts/holds/immobs/heals/shields or have a special vs enemy type associated with them.

*with the exception of Holy Shotgun Shells, of course. I'd like to see a weapon model change to this either in its original context during the Striga arc and/or its implementation as a craftable temporary power. The weapon model is currently the Frankengun. A simple shotgun model (Fallen Gunners etc) could be used. I'd also like to see its Special vs Banished Pantheon changed to Special vs True Undead, which would make more sense to have it applied only to the craftable version as the original temp power relates to a BP mission.

I've also omitted the travel powers associated with Safeguards/Mayhems and PvP zones, and the -endurance +/ - recovery powers that a few select temp powers in the game have for PvP purposes. Summons (Loa Bone, War Wolf Whistle etc) are out, as are Veteran Reward powers that originally featured as temp powers.

Disguises are also omitted as they work only in context. (Freakshow disguise and Arachnos disguise specifically, plus the Midnight Visage is quite powerful as it is and works as an excellent reward for the Darrin Wade arc)


As an additonal suggestion to 'new' temporary powers (not craftable but for rewards/help in certain arcs) I would like to see the following:


From the Defeat all Tsoo in parlour mission

• Blue Tsoo Ink (5 charges) - replicates the Tsoo power Siphon Speed
• Red Tsoo Ink (5 charges) - replicates the Tsoo power Siphon Power

The Hollows

As a reward for achieving the Trolls Taskforce Member badge

• Rusty Shovel (10 uses) - ST, moderate smashing damage, long recharge, chance to stun

As an additional reward for achieving the Efficiency Expert badge

• Adrenaline Booster Shot (3 uses) - Self, +Recovery, +Regeneration, +Recharge

I think that's it for now.

I'm not sure if this qualifies as 'strange' but A Heart Breaking Story has received the comment:

"easy"

That's it, nothing more. What is strange is that the comment has made me chuckle.

Hello Soulie.

I would like my arc, "A Heart Breaking Story", to receive your talented graphical treatment please.

Arc ID 378511
Level range 5-10

If you can fit the following into the image then I'd be exceptionally thrilled:

A radioactive symbol, a Vazhilok Eidolon, a Council gunner (lower levels), the Hero Corps symbol.

Not too much to ask (!) I hope.

I would like to nominate @Soul Storm's Duplicity

Arc ID: 85847

Level Range: 45-54
Morality: Neutral

Contact: Romulus, the Warshade

Description: Romulus the Warshade has stumbled across a situation that needs your help specifically. Will you help him draw out possibly one of the deadliest villains of our time?


Excellent arc, enough attention has been paid to canon, and the author has skilfully avoided delving into the thin lore regarding Kheldians. As a result, he manages to tell an interesting story with a twist.

It's duoable, perhaps not soloable except on certain characters but then this is a high-end arc as opposed to a starter.

There are mixtures of objectives, none of which grate (in fact, they are great ), and enough warning is given to 'find some friends' before the more taxing missions.

I'm all for stories where the Hero/Villain isn't exactly triumphant but which give a sense of achievement. Blueside there are several (older) arcs which do this, most of them having already been mentioned. The Iron Hand one also features as that kind of arc. And the failure really sits with the contact who, for the purposes of the story, didn't get a Hero involved in time to 'save' the guy.

What I'm not for is sudden shifts in story that suddenly make everything you've done so far redundant and result in an Epic Fail. I place these in the 'I woke up and it was all a dream' category (i.e. bad writing).

There are some of these in the MA but I don't believe I've come across any in the canon. Perhaps I've just been lucky.

I am also against contacts who never shift their opinion of you, especially those who constantly treat the player character like a moron. There's quite a few of those too in the MA, including one Guest Author arc.

I'd like to see more contacts who are, well, a little pathetic. Their own self doubt prevented them from seeking help and so by the actions of the Hero/Villain they can hope to have some closure or redeem themselves a little and be very grateful for the player character's assistance. Even if it all ends in tragedy, at least the contact will realise that it is not the player character's fault but their own inaction (I suppose in literary terms this could be dubbed a 'Hamlet Scenario', but then I'm just being pretentious ) that caused the outcome.

As long as there is reward (in story terms, XP-wise it's all the same) of some kind then I think it can be done very well.

The rules:

A song which adequately, for you, sums up either;

a) your experience as a Hero in Paragon
b) your experience as a Villain in the Rogue Isles
c) your combined experience on both sides
d) your experience on the forums

Keep it clean although the odd diagram to explain is always handy.

I will start with a song from category d):

Remember Me - Blueboy

An homage to having to login every other session to the forum...

Before I do a Gwinnie and start thanking dead relatives for giving me 'strength' and 'courage' - *blush* - hilariously I just heard from friends in a Global Channel and rushed on here.

See now, Doc A's summary with pic makes the arc much more interesting-sounding than I could

And FYI this arc was an entrant to Doc A's Second Challenge so the level range is 5-10.

Thank you again.

/signed

While I'm not holding out for a Sims 3-style voice slider, two per body type would be a nice start. Possibly three.

Female

Young
Adult
Mature

Male

Young
Adult
Mature

Huge

Young Male
Young Female
etc etc

I'm proposing Huge be male/female as, with the introduction of the body changer, the Huge model can be used as some kind of gargantuan power armour which doesn't necessarily have to equate to being one gender or the other.

Of course, if they actually introduced a Female Large (Amazon?!) body type then all the better (plus that would work with the $himher stuff in MA and some newer missions).

I think any more than that would be too much work (i.e. having a crazy animal noise voice for if you happen to have a character with one of the monstrous heads, or a reptilian hiss for if you decide to create a snake character with an animated tail) and too specific but I'm all for a few choices of voice.

I'm not sure I'm down with the idea of sound effects for falling over, doing Martial Arts moves and the like (especially on Stalkers and such - they are supposed to be silent killers you know :P).

This has been suggested a lot. However, I was thrown off by the Powerpool thing so I had a gander.

Did you mean Staff as a Primary/Secondary set or as a Power Pool (four powers in total)?

I'm not sure, especially with things like weapon redraw to consider, that a Staff set would work all that well as a Power Pool.

However, I'd like to suggest that some kind of Staff (and no, not the Nemesis Staff or Blackwand :P) be given out as a temporary power reward for something. Could be a PBAoE clicky doing damage in a full circle? Smashing, moderate damage, limited use?

Make it craftable and it might be fun but I think, until a full Primary/Secondary set is ever considered, I don't think we'll be seeing one anytime soon.

IF the idea was implemented as a way of consolidating existing early-level Hero contacts then I would be for this wholeheartedly. As it stands the early levels on blueside have little or no meaning, with multiple contacts giving out the same arcs/special badge missions.

I am heartened to hear about the changes to the Positron TF as a change, much-requested by players, that will be coming in i17. That TF was one of the original pieces of story and it will be updated. Seeing as the total number of missions for characters in the 5-10 range on Blueside isn't that far over the total number of missions given out by Posi at the moment, I doubt there would be a huge increase in memory required to 'rewrite' that content.

As it stands those early missions are a mixture of defeats and one-off specials which the paper system now deals with in a more concise way. The defeats are there for the purpose of making new characters explore their environment. I'd argue that places like Perez are defunct and so would make an interesting zone to implement the OPs idea. With Ultra Mode coming it'd be a neat 'Wow!' introduction to new and old players alike to see a revamped Perez with the lake/swamp surrounded by trees and with the taller buildings round the edge.

Negotiator, for badge hunters at least, is the only significant mission at this early stage and I'd like to see more made of it, with an update to it being Skulls vs Clockwork (which makes very little sense when it's described as gang warfare, to me anyway).

The 'major arcs' in the 10-14 range could also do with a little contact consolidation: The Bonefire Plot, The Clockwork Captive and the Vazhilok Pollutant Plot. Basically anything that is flashbackable (I know, it's not a word...) needs its own contact with, perhaps, the OPs idea for group affiliation contacts picking up the rest.

A lot of the newer contacts are written in this way, mainly because they tell the story of a zone (Faultline, the entirety of redside content). As the contact system grows on blueside some contacts become critter group storytellers and I like that. Also the word 'newer' is important.

To finish (At last...) I think it would take a lot of time to do this. I don't think it's as simple as a bit of housekeeping of files. I would love to see it.

Just wanted to add my two inf to this project:

I heartily commend some aspects of it, specifically updating the look of various contacts. Yes, it's only a cosmetic change BUT with additions like Ultra Mode on the horizon now I don't see why our existing contacts don't deserve a bit of glamour. I especially liked Talshak's new cossie.

As for 'rewriting' arcs, the lowbie ones (imho) aren't the ones that necessarily need all that much of an update*. Hollows arcs, in particular, are pretty well-designed for teams which was the original intention for a hazard zone - dealing with stronger enemies and in a larger quantity, especially on the streets themselves.

My beef is with the 30-35 and 35-40 arcs. But mainly the 30-35 ones: Maxwell Christopher in particular but also the other missions at that level that were designed way back when, when having a 'Click 50 glowies' (seriously) objective was considered challenging.

* Of course, having MORE lowbie content is what I'm lobbying for here. The lowbie content will naturally become stale because, whenever we roll a new character (especially blueside), the same tired 'introductory' arcs are available to us. Redside is becoming more like that too because of age. But the arcs on Redside are, imho (again), better written. All of them are. They were written after the initial blueside arcs after all.

So, to summarise:

• Cosmetic changes are very welcome
• More new lowbie content please
• An update of 30-40 content, please (if anything this may well reduce the size of files due to a reduction in several missions which do the same thing (Destroy this generator in Perez, Destroy the next generator in Skyway, Destroy the next generator in Brickstown, Click 50 glowies and fight a boss in Crey's Folly, talk to someone in Indy Port, defeat 50 Crey, defeat 50 DE etc etc))

Of course, the joy of AE is that there aren't 'defeat X number of Y in a small neighbourhood' missions. And you don't have to travel. But that is my basic standpoint on updating content.

Yesterday's patch to introduce Dual Pistols to the Live Server appears to have resolved the updater problem for me in as much as the Updater for EU launches without quitting (obviously trying to find the 'correct' version) and reopening.

Kudos to Sam for admitting why he posted like that. Very few people do. It is very frustrating, especially as (again for me) the game is very enjoyable.

Can this annoying glitchy patch be taken off, servers restored and some more quality testing done by NCSoft please?

The fact that the quirk isn't even persistent just smacks of poor implementation.

I really do not like having to go and do the same thing every other log in (well, it's not even that consistent) just to play a game.

Also if you'd like to offer some screenshots for the 'new and updated updater' just to know that if i do happen to stumble on it, I'll be filled with a sense of relief and joy, then knock yourself out.

UPDATE: I decided to copy my MA folders to a backup drive and reinstall, thinking that the new updater would be available from the NCSoft website. I was wrong. The updater (for EU) is currently hanging at Connecting #10. This is a warning to others who may decide to follow suit.

@FredrikSvanberg

"Fear and Loathing on Striga" - Arc ID 350522

Why? Because it's freakin' awesome, that's why! I'm so sorry to the author for not spotting this and nominating him in the Player's Choice awards for January. The missions flow well, characterisation is brilliant, objectives and maps are used professionally.

Okay, here's a suggestion but a very basic one:

Give Tankers Vigilance (so that if the team is falling in health then the Tank gets an endurance discount) and give Defenders 'something else'.

The something else bit is beyond me and is covered a million times over in other threads.

I'm sure a lot of Tanks could gain a lot from Vigilance (plus it makes more sense for a Tank than a Defender - if the team is falling in Health then at least the Tank will have its endurance protected/bolstered, whereas Defenders are generally there to defend the team and so Vigilance makes very little sense for them).

Oh and if Vigilance was kept with the same criteria (i.e. Health low = endurance discount) then why not give Defenders a recharge rate reduction and make any powers with an interrupt time, uninterruptable? Just a lame thought.