WinterFlare

Ok - in my mind, CoX lore states that Heroes can't have capes until level 20 in honour of Hero 1 (that was the original story). You had to 'earn the right' to wear one.

So - with the Valkyrie pack out, you can have a cape from level one.

Have we stopped caring about Hero 1's sacrifice?

Animation unlocking recipes?

I suppose you can get 'extra' emotes with bonus packs.

/signed.

Anything has to be more inventive than the curret costume missions.

The RSS feature has not been accessible since the new site went up - this includes GR's community blog, as well.

Is there any news on when we can expect this to return?

The animation for an ice charactercould be the 'ice armour' (that cryo armour from siren's has the animation I'm talking about) swirling up around the character, and then as it 'swirls down', you're in your next costume

And GG told me there was never a rush to get badges.

Thank heavens I earned this the second the Rikti missions came up.

You've said that elsewhere - you are right though, the 'surprise' isn't always there. But then again, if the 'suprise ambush' kills you and sends you to hospital - what did you lose? They won't catch up with you for a long time. Is this about taking them down so they stop hunting you?

The only thing good about the 3rd vid is the regulation spandex line. Otherwise, I thought it was the worst of the three tbh.

Well, as far as the MA goes, I'm happy to see what happens. My SG has discussed a few ideas that we're putting together for it, to encourage its use, grab whatever badges there are for those that want them, but to also expand upon our SG's history a bit, and to also give it a bit of a continuous 'story'.

As for the OP's other suggestions - I really like the newspaper idea. If we can stand and listen to 'current events' on a police scanner, why can't we listen to 'events we've missed' in the paper. Get did of the announcements of SOME events, then you can have things like "Strange monster spotted in lake of Crotoa. Heroes removed the threat, but locals suspect it will return".

Didn't your parents or teachers tell you that throwing rocks is NOT a way to get someone's attention?

LRMs. That's how you get people's attention.

Paragon's 'neighbourhood watch'? With UNIFORMS?

"I go to help out sometimes, if I'm not in a hurry. Groups of villians in Steel Canyon don't look too happy when an LRM rocket lands amongst them. "

Your rockets don't explode?

Well, given my base is now well-defended, I'd like to TEST those defences!

Filth!

I agree - if I fly past a civilian getting harassed, I throw an ice-bolt their way (at the civilian ;o) ) - you know the PPD aren't gonna do anything. Hell, why do you think they're recruiting heroes as PPD's for their day jobs?

If you ask me, they're all on the take.

/signed /signed /signed

I can't keep running around the corner to get changed, and there aren't enough open phone booths for me to dash into.

A smoke pellet, a flash, a spinning around emote - these are all brilliant ideas. It's even MORE necessary now that we have 'day jobs', and are more likely to go from civilian clothing to spandex-goodness. Costume to costume was one thing - civvies to super-hero is another.

Yes - it's about time we have costume changing emotes!

You know, it's not a bad idea. To me, it fits into the genre of comics and superheroes well. It's not always heroes chasing down the villains in conveniently placed warehouses - sometimes the villains come to you (I wouldn't mind NPC attacks on bases - the Masters of Evil once raided the Avengers Mansion in a classic story...) and villains 'jump' heroes all the time in comics - even when they have 'better things to do'

True, however, the idea needs some boundaries. Perhaps only in hazard zones? Perhaps only in teams? Perhaps (as above) there are warnings?

I like the 'bounty hunter' type approach - but I also like the 'super villains' approach...

Ok - I was going to post, but the stupid forum ate my response.

1) Gachnar reference
2) No, I think Posi's needs to change. But I like SS TFs
3) Portal / strange new world references go way back, not started by stargate (comics doing it for decades)
4) Rularrooooooo aspects as future AVs - good idea

This one had better get posted.

"Fix and bring back the Cathedral of Pain and Items of Power"
/signed, but this is more of a 'Bases' suggestion than a 'Shadow Shard' one.

"Revamp the zones"
/unsigned - so many people have never seen the SS, and to me, it's still gorgeous, and I love it. Perhaps raise the mob level a bit (I tend not to head to the other zones, just Zulu itself) but otherwise, I feel it's fine. I take level 40's there from my SG for short missions and a nice change of scenery.

"Open the Shard to Villains"
/signed, to an extent. I agree that you could probably tie in the 'Shard to a villains story, but there would have to be good reason for Recluse to want to shift into the SS, since he's usually determined to take over Paragon.

"Leave Firebase Zulu a Hero-only zone."
Yes

"Turn one of the zones Villain-only"
Makes sense, since it's so big, it's not a loss to heroes.

"Turn one of the zones into a co-op zone like Cimerora and the Rikti Warzone"
/unsigned - There's enough co-op zones, I feel, and the SS won't add anything.

"Turn one of the zones into a PvP Zone, including the jump geysers for random fun. (Also, keep working on PvP to make it more popular.)"
/unsigned - You don't need MORE PVP zones right now. There are plenty. Since you've stated it needs to be 'more popular', that leaves the assumption (perhaps) that the current zones aren't used 'enough' - so why add more?

"Create new and shiny alternatives [TFs] for Villains, based around seizing portions of Rularuu's power or something"
/signed - I'm sure it'll keep you evil-ones happy.

"Add some arcs. Repeatables get dull so fast"
I'm not sure. The 'stories' in the zone are based on the contacts introductory arcs, and then the TFs, which are the big plot ones. A few extra contacts wouldn't hurt...but I can't see it being too necessary.

"Add more Stargate references and tributes."
References are nice, but this isn't Stargate, it's CoH. I'd like more original concepts based on the history of Portal Corps, what their aims are with the SS other than exploration, how it affects the rest of Paragon and the Heros. Perhaps it's time for an SS-based hero-type?

"Trim the Task Forces down a bit, make them more interesting. Nobody wants to do Defeat-All or Hunt missions for two days for Doc Q's Task Force, unless 90 merits is really attractive to them, or they want the badge. Shorten them, add new and exciting AVs."
/unsigned - I've run all four task forces in the SS, and none have taken more than one evening (standard TF time, I feel). Yes, they are long. There's a lot of running around - but they are DIFFERENT to your standard TFs which are just 'train to here', 'enter this building next door'. I like how they are, and again believe that more people need to take part in them before they get changed. Besides, if the merits are high, then it's worth being long. If you want to run a Tf that doesn't take as long...well, there are plenty to choose from. Hell, there are even flashbacks. Crank up the settings / criteria / difficulty, and a story arc becomes a TF (usually with a better plot). Badges and merits a-go-go. Flahbacks are almost like 'make your own Task Force'

"Add an Accolade for completing all Shadow Shard Task Forces -and- getting the Visionary badge. This Accolade should also unlock a funky Rularuu Armor costume set with awesome animated eyes on the shoulderpads, and maybe in the middle of the breast plate. And maybe on the gauntlets and kneepads. Everyone loves tintable animated eyeballs. Especially if there'd be a helmet with a huge eyeball in place of a visor for a nice cycloptic look."
/signed - but ONLY if you keep the Task Forces as they are. There's no point in 'earning' this accolade if you go and make it easy to achieve

"Add more... stuff in general. Poor suggestion line there, but the place is huge; there's got to be some zone events, GMs, anything you could put there to make the place more attractive. With Darrin Wade's arc foreshadowing the return of Rularuu, and telling of a Rularuu-worshiping cult in existence, you could focus the events of a new Issue in a revamped Shadow Shard. The place is really well designed and the concept is interesting, the only problem at the moment is that there's no real reason to go there, because it's almost void of actual content."
I would say - 'patience'. Perhaps it is coming. Although an SS GM would be good - a giant-floating-inter-dimensional 'thing' would be soooo cool to take down whilst flying.

"Needs more Stargate references."
Again - this isn't Stargate. Sorry.

I'd like a badge for taking down X-number of GMs.

'Monster Hunter' - 100 GMs taken down.

That'd be a fun one.

And remember, heroes change their names a lot.

Ms.Marvel > Binary > Warbird
Captain Marvel > Photon > Pulsar
Captain America > 'The Captain'
Marvel Boy > Justice
Ant-Man > Giant-Man > Goliath > Yellow Jacket > The Wasp

So changing a hero's name isn't that much of an 'out of genre' thing. Remember, Monica (Captain Marvel) became Photon because Captain Marvel (Genis-Vell) wanted his father's title back.

I was quite shocked to find out that the 'New Guardians' were actually a DC super group (but not a very big / good one). It's only the name we share (and also, my original SG was titled "The Guardians", but it disbanded, so following Marvel's theme of 'new', we became the 'New Guardians') and there is nothing in common with the DC team.

The 'Liberty Legion' is a Marvel Super-team, and they exist on Defiant, too. I'm sure 'Freedom Force' is taken, as well.

So yeah - it's about similarities in many areas, not just one (i.e. SG name)

Of course - I'm sure if 'The Avengers' or 'The Fantastic Four' were created as SG's, they would be generiscised.

If we have an SG team together, and we're done running missions, and say have about 30mins to spare before we call it a night, we go GM hunting for fun It's nice to bring down a monster, threatening the city, with your Super Group. Kinda defines the point (one of the points) of having an SG - the Avengers bring down monsters all the time - do you see them saying "Badges! Merits! Give me something or I'll just let it destroy Manhattan!"

Forgive the semi-noobness, but what do you have to have switched on to hear about GM's spawning?

I mean... I've never seen an announcement saying "Lusca is STILL in IP" (ok, seriously, that's because he never leaves).

But on a more serious note, I've never seen an Adamastor (DA), Eochai (Croatoa) or Jurrasik (Crey's) announcement before...

I think a GM or two extra would be nice. Some kind of 'unearthed' CoT villain in Faultline (it used to be TEAMING with CoT) ? Perhaps a big arachnos GM (just not the thing from the end of Silos' TF) ?

Why not release a GM in RWZ, around the base of the ship?

Something in Cimerora? You've got the chance to do some great mythological beast, or some big and nasty nictus baddie.

I think a fresh GM would be nice. I love the classic ones - but that's just what they are - classic.

/signed

I like the idea of a 'sub-base' in that time-stronghold. I'm not sure it'll happen, but it's a nice idea (certainly RP-wise, but also strategically).

Base items (Cimeroran and otherwise) are always welcome!