Amygdala

Amen.

I tested this recently and unfortunately you cannot enter the league leader's base from another team within the same league. I do intend on using the league system to invite everyone to the event and then switch around the team leaders/teammates. This will be largely improvised depending on how many people show up. Despite having an idea of how many bases there are to show, I cannot predict how many will want to view them.

The goal will be able to show/see as many bases as possible. I'll be prioritizing SGs/VGs who can only make it tonight since we also have tomorrow night if we miss any.

Sorry to hear, Dinah. I still remember parts of your base from a tour years ago.

As I understand it, there have been some comments made on Ustream along those lines, though in vague terms such as "fun stuff on the VIP server". However, Beastyle confirmed here (and more recently here) that there will be no difference in content between the current servers and VIP server.

I wouldn't necessarily equate a concern about F2P players with a dislike for new players. I can't speak for everyone, but there are many veterans on this server that have assisted new players with the game and welcomed them with open arms. It's more the fact that in other games F2P has attracted a certain crowd known to be... generally unpleasant. Many people have experienced that first hand and therefore are concerned as to how that would affect our community as it currently is.

Yep, there is that possibility. I also had to ask myself how I generally find teams. Usually I start with my SG then move onto BMT. If I really need to, I'll use Search. When I use Search, I send out tells before inviting. Seeing as the F2Pers can't join global channels, they won't be in BMT or whatever your global channel of choice is. If they can't accept tells, it'll be pretty easy to tell if they are on a free account if you send them one. The only way you might end up on team with them is if they send you a blind invite and you accept it or if your team leader has sent them a blind invite. From my personal practices alone, it doesn't seem very likely I'll be interacting with them at all if I choose not to. Of course, this may vary for others.

I understand why you would be concerned after having a bad experience with another game. I also share some of that concern. However, like others have said, F2Pers are limited to Local and Team chat. They can't send mail and they can't join global channels. It appears that they can't even use Broadcast. It looks like it would be entirely possible to go about business as usual. Worst case scenario, you could take Local out of your chat tab. It's not like it is used that often anyways.

I also have to wonder why they didn't just make a new server for the F2P players instead of one VIP server for vets across all servers. It seems like that would be less of a hassle.

I guess the real question for me is how many Champion players plan on heading for the VIP server. I love this server, but that is because of the people/community on it. If that is gone, well, then it's just another server and I would consider moving. Conversely, if the majority of the vets from all the servers merge onto one VIP server, the level of potential lag on that server would discourage me from playing there. Sure, you would be able to avoid the F2P crowd, but there could be an entire host of other clashes between veterans.

Looks like there will be no way to know for sure until the changes take place. Since there's nothing I can see that prevents people from trying out the VIP server while keeping some characters on their home server, might as well do that and see how it goes.

I lead a Lambda and a BAF trial around the time you said you were looking and I'm fairly certain someone else kept them going after I had left. I usually ask that people send me a tell so I can click on their name and invite them. This makes it easy if I'm flipping between channels/chats looking for people. It also helps if there are multiple trials forming up at once. If you had sent me a tell and not been in the queue, you definitely would have received an invite from me.

In terms of channels, if I'm the one leading the trial I will advertise in Broadcast and BMT of Champion. I've seen many other leaders start with Broadcast and then move onto the channels if they can't fill it from people in zone. This makes RWZ the best place to be if you really want to get in on a trial.

Alternatively, if you don't want to wait for one to start, there is always the option of forming one up yourself. If you have any questions about leading either trial, send me a tell @Amygdala and I'll be happy to help. There are still plenty of people interested in running trials these days. Going to another server is unnecessary.

If you have been wanting to show off your base or check out what other base designers have been up to, here is your chance! On Thursday June 23rd and Friday June 24th I will be organizing tours of various bases on Champion. I wanted to keep this as flexible as possible in terms of scheduling, so I have provided two separate days. You can sign up for one or the other or both so long as you are able to meet in Pocket D at 9pm Eastern.

***Keep in mind that some bases will be SG and some VG. Your alignment will affect your access. In order to access an SG base, you must be either hero or vigilante. In order to access a VG base, you must be either villain or rogue. You may switch during the event if necessary.***

If you are a base designer...

...and would like to allow tourists into your base, please respond in this thread and fill out the following information:

All you have to do is show up on the date that you indicated above and make sure people on your team will be allowed into your base. (To do this, go into your SG window, click on 'Settings', click on 'Pick Permissions' and under 'Base Entry Permissions' set 'Leader Teammates' to 'Enabled'.)

After you are finished showing your base you may tour other bases that interest you.

If you are a base tourist...

...show up in Pocket D at 9pm Eastern on either Thursday June 23rd, Friday June 24th or on both days. Someone who is showing their base will invite you to team so that you may access it.

Screenshot Contest

Aside from enjoying the tour, both designers and tourists are encouraged to take screenshots of what they like the most. Feel free to include yourself in the screenshot interacting with the environment if you feel inspired to do so.

Once the tours are over, pick ONE screenshot you feel is the best and post it in this thread for a chance at a prize! You will have until Monday June 27th to post your screenshot. Prizes will be emailed out on Thursday June 30th.

First place will get 600 million INF
Second place will get 400 million INF
Third place will get 200 million INF

Depending on the level of interest I may make adjustments to the schedule/format. I look forward to seeing you there!

Out of curiosity, what kind of Corruptor were you playing?

One of my favorite parts.

This. I wouldn't take it personally that people have lost interest in raiding while there are other means of improving their characters via the new Incarnate trials. It's just the way it goes. New stuff comes out, and people would rather do that.

Also, just recently many players experienced intense lag that made it impossible to play during Hamidon raids. At one raid I was at, the lag itself almost caused it to fail. It has since been improved, but that's not to say it hasn't discouraged many players from running large scale raids. Some servers have gone so far as to cancel Hamidon raids because of it. It's part of the reason why you see many people leading 16 man BAFs instead of running at full capacity.

As for the 'drama', since I was not at the last raid I can't comment on that specific incident. However, I will say that whenever you get a large group of people together, the probability of personality conflicts and disagreements increases. This will occur regardless of who is leading the raid itself.

I appreciate the fact that you stepped up to lead Hamidon raids for the server. However, instead of viewing the situation only in terms of cliques and drama, try to realize there are other factors at work and that those factors affect other people as well.

Just wanted to add that this was on Champion.

I lead the BAFs just prior to Celestial Lord's petless, smaller league size BAF experiment. The lag was so terrible in the first two runs that we experienced sudden jumps in the AVs HP. For example, one run both AVs were around 60% HP then dropped to 15%. When the health bars aren't being displayed accurately it is extremely difficult to complete a task based on coordinating teams to damage certain targets. A large number of people voiced their frustration and many quit the league, saying they did not wish to run any more BAFs until the lag improved.

Afterward, I joined Celestial Lord's BAF. While I don't think a single run proves anything one way or the other, from a subjective point of view the lag went from an unplayable level to nonexistent. I likely won't be excluding Masterminds from runs, but I will try to keep the league size down to two teams until the lag issue is resolved.