3dent
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Posts
577 -
Joined
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Quote:It runs contrary to your own "restrictions create diversity" maxim. What power pools do? They allow an AT to pick powers not normally available to it. So, the extreme case of "more power pools" would be no AT powersets at all, with powers that can be chosen a la carte by any AT.Originally Posted by RemusShepherd
I still maintain that the game needs additional power pools, to increase character diversity and customization and to give more gameplay options.
No matter how you reduce power picks in such a setup. and in fact, the MORE you reduce them the stronger the pressure to just select absolutely the best powers available, and these powers quickly crowding out everything else. Scranktrollblastermind quickly becoming the only build. There were some actual games that had this particular problem, so it's not just a theoretical exercise.
It's quite difficult to balance such thing as a power pool for this reason, and Fitness was simply badly balanced. Yes, you could build staminaless, but why bother? It had way too much "benefit per pick." Fighting I'm afraid falls into similar category, though not as drastically.
Now, a game with infinite and perfectly balanced diversity... Won't actually be a good thing either. No meaningful choices, whatever you pick works as good as anything else.
So almost any MMORPG needs classes and certain class boundaries should be there. Means to work around them to create "blappers" or whatever may be there, but in moderation, and in fact too much of these HURTS playability, either by leaving no choice or making it devoid of any meaning. -
Hmm... I started with the next-heaviest item in task manager... Got 30-50 FPS on the same settings (no renderscale, 1024*768, minimum FX.) That's 20 FPS gain from JUST CLOSING NCSOFT LAUNCHER. /em headdesk.
It's still not entering any FPS contests, but at least it's closer to playable now.
I doubt there's more stuff I can really get rid of for any similar gains, but it strongly supports the CPU theory. -
I've got 35 FPS not with these settings, but with 800*600 resolution and renderscale moved all the way to the minimum.
These settings are more like 20-25 FPS (again, standing in Oro, doing nothing.) -
And to keep Hyperstrike happy:
Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.4
Scan saved at 0:05:43, on 03.11.2011
Platform: Windows XP SP3 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v8.00 (8.00.6001.18702)
Boot mode: Normal
Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG9\avgchsvx.exe
C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG9\avgrsx.exe
C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG9\avgcsrvx.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ZoneLabs\vsmon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG9\avgwdsvc.exe
C:\Program Files\3 Mobile Broadband\3Connect\BecHelperService.exe
C:\Program Files\Cepstral\bin\CepstralLicSrv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\CTsvcCDA.exe
C:\Program Files\Creative\Shared Files\CTDevSrv.exe
C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jqs.exe
C:\Program Files\Keyboard & Mouse Driver\KMWDSrv.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\LogiShrd\LVMVFM\LVPrcSrv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvsvc32.exe
C:\Program Files\SigmaTel\C-Major Audio\WDM\STacSV.exe
C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG9\avgnsx.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG9\avgemc.exe
C:\Program Files\TortoiseSVN\bin\TSVNCache.exe
C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG9\avgcsrvx.exe
C:\WINDOWS\sttray.exe
C:\Program Files\Keyboard & Mouse Driver\StartAutorun.exe
C:\Program Files\Keyboard & Mouse Driver\KMConfig.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\AVG\AVG9\avgtray.exe
C:\Program Files\BOINC\boinctray.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Java\Java Update\jusched.exe
C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\RunDLL32.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Creative\Creative Media Lite\CTZDetec.exe
C:\Program Files\Philips\GoGear Mix Device Manager\main.exe
C:\Program Files\Keyboard & Mouse Driver\KMProcess.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\taskmgr.exe
C:\Program Files\3 Mobile Broadband\3Connect\Wilog.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Java\Java Update\jucheck.exe
C:\Program Files\Opera\opera.exe
C:\Program Files\CPUID\CPU-Z\cpuz.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\notepad.exe
C:\Program Files\Far\Far.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\msiexec.exe
C:\Program Files\hthis\Trend Micro\HiJackThis\HiJackThis.exe
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = about:blank
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHelperStub - {18DF081C-E8AD-4283-A596-FA578C2EBDC3} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelperShim.dll
O2 - BHO: WormRadar.com IESiteBlocker.NavFilter - {3CA2F312-6F6E-4B53-A66E-4E65E497C8C0} - C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG9\avgssie.dll
O2 - BHO: Google Toolbar Notifier BHO - {AF69DE43-7D58-4638-B6FA-CE66B5AD205D} - C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbarNotifier\5.2.4204.1700\s wg.dll
O2 - BHO: Java(tm) Plug-In 2 SSV Helper - {DBC80044-A445-435b-BC74-9C25C1C588A9} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jp2ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: JQSIEStartDetectorImpl - {E7E6F031-17CE-4C07-BC86-EABFE594F69C} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\lib\deploy\jqs\ie\jqs_plugin.dll
O2 - BHO: ZoneAlarm Spy Blocker BHO - {F0D4B231-DA4B-4daf-81E4-DFEE4931A4AA} - C:\Program Files\ZoneAlarmSB\bar\1.bin\SPYBLOCK.DLL
O3 - Toolbar: ZoneAlarm Spy Blocker - {F0D4B239-DA4B-4daf-81E4-DFEE4931A4AA} - C:\Program Files\ZoneAlarmSB\bar\1.bin\SPYBLOCK.DLL
O3 - Toolbar: TextAloud - {F053C368-5458-45B2-9B4D-D8914BDDDBFF} - C:\PROGRA~1\TEXTAL~1\TAForIE.dll
O3 - Toolbar: (no name) - {CCC7A320-B3CA-4199-B1A6-9F516DD69829} - (no file)
O3 - Toolbar: PROMT - {FF284F5C-7CF9-4682-8701-D467C1DBB99F} - C:\Program Files\PRMT78\PRMTIE\prmtie.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IMJPMIG8.1] "C:\WINDOWS\IME\imjp8_1\IMJPMIG.EXE" /Spoil /RemAdvDef /Migration32
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PHIME2002ASync] C:\WINDOWS\system32\IME\TINTLGNT\TINTSETP.EXE /SYNC
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PHIME2002A] C:\WINDOWS\system32\IME\TINTLGNT\TINTSETP.EXE /IMEName
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SigmatelSysTrayApp] sttray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IgfxTray] C:\WINDOWS\system32\igfxtray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HotKeysCmds] C:\WINDOWS\system32\hkcmd.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Persistence] C:\WINDOWS\system32\igfxpers.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [KMCONFIG] C:\Program Files\Keyboard & Mouse Driver\StartAutorun.exe KMConfig.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AVG9_TRAY] C:\PROGRA~1\AVG\AVG9\avgtray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Java\Java Update\jusched.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ZoneAlarm Client] "C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\system32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvMediaCenter] RunDLL32.exe NvMCTray.dll,NvTaskbarInit -login
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [nwiz] C:\Program Files\NVIDIA Corporation\nview\nwiz.exe /installquiet
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [CTFMON.EXE] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [CTZDetec.exe] C:\Program Files\Creative\Creative Media Lite\CTZDetec.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Google Update] "C:\Documents and Settings\Noir\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Update\GoogleUpdate.exe" /c
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [swg] C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbarNotifier\GoogleToolbarNo tifier.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [EA Core] "C:\Program Files\Electronic Arts\EADM\Core.exe" -silent
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-19\..\Run: [CTFMON.EXE] C:\WINDOWS\system32\CTFMON.EXE (User 'LOCAL SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-20\..\Run: [CTFMON.EXE] C:\WINDOWS\system32\CTFMON.EXE (User 'NETWORK SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-21-1292428093-1960408961-725345543-1009\..\Run: [CTFMON.EXE] C:\WINDOWS\system32\CTFMON.EXE (User 'UpdatusUser')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-18\..\Run: [CTFMON.EXE] C:\WINDOWS\system32\CTFMON.EXE (User 'SYSTEM')
O4 - HKUS\.DEFAULT\..\Run: [CTFMON.EXE] C:\WINDOWS\system32\CTFMON.EXE (User 'Default user')
O4 - Startup: AutorunsDisabled
O4 - Global Startup: AutorunsDisabled
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport uz programmu Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~4\Office12\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: Sutit uz programmu OneNote - {2670000A-7350-4f3c-8081-5663EE0C6C49} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~4\Office12\ONBttnIE.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: S&utit uz programmu OneNote - {2670000A-7350-4f3c-8081-5663EE0C6C49} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~4\Office12\ONBttnIE.dll
O9 - Extra button: Run WinHTTrack - {36ECAF82-3300-8F84-092E-AFF36D6C7040} - C:\Program Files\WinHTTrack\WinHTTrackIEBar.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Launch WinHTTrack - {36ECAF82-3300-8F84-092E-AFF36D6C7040} - C:\Program Files\WinHTTrack\WinHTTrackIEBar.dll
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {7A2EFD41-E6B3-11D2-89E3-00E0292EE574} - C:\Program Files\PRMT78\PRMTIE\prmtie5.htm
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Перевести - {7A2EFD41-E6B3-11D2-89E3-00E0292EE574} - C:\Program Files\PRMT78\PRMTIE\prmtie5.htm
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {7A2EFD41-E6B3-11D2-89E3-00E0292EE575} - C:\Program Files\PRMT78\PRMTIE\options.htm
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Настройка параметров перевода - {7A2EFD41-E6B3-11D2-89E3-00E0292EE575} - C:\Program Files\PRMT78\PRMTIE\options.htm
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~4\Office12\REFIEBAR.DLL
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: @xpsp3res.dll,-20001 - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O16 - DPF: {0A5FD7C5-A45C-49FC-ADB5-9952547D5715} (Creative Software AutoUpdate) - http://www.creative.com/softwareupda...31/CTSUEng.cab
O16 - DPF: {814EA0DA-E0D9-4AA4-833C-A1A6D38E79E9} (DASWebDownload Class) - http://das.microsoft.com/activate/ca...ail/DASAct.cab
O16 - DPF: {F6ACF75C-C32C-447B-9BEF-46B766368D29} (Creative Software AutoUpdate Support Package) - http://www.creative.com/softwareupda...5035/CTPID.cab
O17 - HKLM\System\CCS\Services\Tcpip\..\{DA0F957C-ABEA-46EF-B7BF-6CABC0B9711F}: NameServer = 217.171.132.1 217.171.135.1
O18 - Protocol: linkscanner - {F274614C-63F8-47D5-A4D1-FBDDE494F8D1} - C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG9\avgpp.dll
O18 - Protocol: skype4com - {FFC8B962-9B40-4DFF-9458-1830C7DD7F5D} - C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\Skype\SKYPE4~1.DLL
O18 - Filter: AutorunsDisabled - (no CLSID) - (no file)
O20 - Winlogon Notify: avgrsstarter - avgrsstx.dll (file missing)
O22 - SharedTaskScheduler: Browseui preloader - {438755C2-A8BA-11D1-B96B-00A0C90312E1} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\browseui.dll
O22 - SharedTaskScheduler: Component Categories cache daemon - {8C7461EF-2B13-11d2-BE35-3078302C2030} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\browseui.dll
O23 - Service: AVG Free E-mail Scanner (avg9emc) - AVG Technologies CZ, s.r.o. - C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG9\avgemc.exe
O23 - Service: AVG Free WatchDog (avg9wd) - AVG Technologies CZ, s.r.o. - C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG9\avgwdsvc.exe
O23 - Service: BecHelperService - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\3 Mobile Broadband\3Connect\BecHelperService.exe
O23 - Service: Cepstral License Server - Cepstral, LLC - C:\Program Files\Cepstral\bin\CepstralLicSrv.exe
O23 - Service: Creative Service for CDROM Access - Creative Technology Ltd - C:\WINDOWS\system32\CTsvcCDA.exe
O23 - Service: CT Device Query service (CTDevice_Srv) - Creative Technology Ltd - C:\Program Files\Creative\Shared Files\CTDevSrv.exe
O23 - Service: Служба Google Update (gupdate1c9f41489900e54) (gupdate1c9f41489900e54) - Google Inc. - C:\Program Files\Google\Update\GoogleUpdate.exe
O23 - Service: Служба Google Update (gupdatem) (gupdatem) - Google Inc. - C:\Program Files\Google\Update\GoogleUpdate.exe
O23 - Service: Google Software Updater (gusvc) - Google - C:\Program Files\Google\Common\Google Updater\GoogleUpdaterService.exe
O23 - Service: InstallDriver Table Manager (IDriverT) - Macrovision Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver\11\Intel 32\IDriverT.exe
O23 - Service: Java Quick Starter (JavaQuickStarterService) - Sun Microsystems, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jqs.exe
O23 - Service: Keyboard And Mouse Communication Service (KMWDSERVICE) - UASSOFT.COM - C:\Program Files\Keyboard & Mouse Driver\KMWDSrv.exe
O23 - Service: Process Monitor (LVPrcSrv) - Logitech Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\LogiShrd\LVMVFM\LVPrcSrv.exe
O23 - Service: nProtect GameGuard Service (npggsvc) - Unknown owner - C:\WINDOWS\system32\GameMon.des.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: NVIDIA Driver Helper Service (NVSvc) - NVIDIA Corporation - C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvsvc32.exe
O23 - Service: NVIDIA Update Service Daemon (nvUpdatusService) - NVIDIA Corporation - C:\Program Files\NVIDIA Corporation\NVIDIA Updatus\daemonu.exe
O23 - Service: Remote Packet Capture Protocol v.0 (experimental) (rpcapd) - CACE Technologies, Inc. - C:\Program Files\WinPcap\rpcapd.exe
O23 - Service: SigmaTel Audio Service (STacSV) - SigmaTel, Inc. - C:\Program Files\SigmaTel\C-Major Audio\WDM\STacSV.exe
O23 - Service: TrueVector Internet Monitor (vsmon) - Check Point Software Technologies LTD - C:\WINDOWS\system32\ZoneLabs\vsmon.exe
--
End of file - 11626 bytes -
Quote:3) is a bit misleading. I'm moving around some huge files as I write this, there's usually 10-20 GB available.Originally Posted by Neo Shadowdream
Problems:
1.) Single core Celeron CPU
2.) 2 GB RAM
3.) 3ish GB of free space spaces on C:
4.) GTS 250.
I'm surprised you get 35 FPS on a single core CPU.
Everything else, well, I can't upgrade vidcard or RAM any time soon (budget...) Would changing just CPU to dual-core (MB suppoerts Pentiums D and some earlier Pentium E CPUs.) do much good? -
That is, CPU usage is 100% total (with about 80%-90% of it being cityofheroes.exe) just standing in Ouroboros, doing nothing, fresh after complete reboot. FPS are never above 35, even with a minimum resolution and minimum settings. Typical FPS is 10-20. Ping is more or less fine, netgraph smooth.
I'm reasonably sure the system is malware-free, but just to comply with the guide I will post HijackThis log too in the next post.
So, what could it be?
---System information gathered by CoH Helper version 0.2.0.2---
DxDiag gathered at november 2, 2011 23:38 (+00:00)
Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 3 (2600.xpsp_sp3_gdr.101209-1647)
System Manufacturer: ECS
System Model: 945GCT-M2
BIOS: Default System BIOS
Central Processor: Intel(R) Celeron(R) CPU 2.80GHz
Memory: 2048MB
.Net Memory Report: 1024MB out of 2047MB available
Page File: 3028MB (915MB currently in use)
C Drive: (SAMSUNG HD250HJ) 3274MB out of 219999MB (1%) free
E Drive: (ATAPI DVD A DH20A4P) zero-size drive
Windows directory location: C:\WINDOWS
DirectX: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DirectX Diag version: 5.03.2600.5512 (32-bit version)
Display Notes: No problems found.
Sound Notes: No problems found.
Input Notes: No problems found.
Monitor: SyncMaster 206BW(Analog)
Monitor's Max Resolution: 1680,1050
Video Device Name: NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250
Manufacturer / Chip: NVIDIA / GeForce GTS 250
Video Memory: 1024.0 MB
Driver Version: 6.14.0012.8558
Driver Date: 10.08.2011 4:50:00
Driver Language: English
Sound Device Description: SigmaTel Audio
Driver File: sthda.sys
Driver Version: 5.10.5511.0000
Driver Date: 05.06.2007 9:12:00
WMI Information
Motherboard Manufacturer: ECS
Motherboard Model: (empty)
Motherboard Product: 945GCT-M2
Motherboard Version: ECS
BIOS Manufacturer: American Megatrends Inc.
BIOS Name: Default System BIOS
BIOS Version: AAMMII - 8000716
BIOS Release: 20070816000000.000000+000
Registry Information for Current User
Resolution: 1024x768
3D Resolution: 1024x768 (Not using renderscale)
Full Screen: Yes
Maximized: No
Screen Position: 0, 0
Refresh Rate: 60Hz
Vertical Sync Enabled: No
Physics Quality: None
Maximum Particles: 100
Max Particle Fill? 10,000
Physics Card Enabled: No
Anti-aliasing: 2x
Anisotropic Filtering: None
Texture LOD Bias: Crisp
Water Effects: None
Bloom: 1,000 (turned off)
Depth of Field Enabled: No
Desaturation Effects (Sepia) Enabled: No
Shader Detail: Unknown (4)
World Texture Level: Unknown (3)
Character Texture Level: Low
World Detail Level (Vis_Scale): 0,500
Entity Detail Level: 0,300
Shadows Enabled: No
Shadow Mode: Disabled
Shadow Map Shader: Unknown (0)
Environmental Reflections: Disabled
Advanced Occlusion Settings: No
Ambient Occlusion: Off
Occlusion Strength: Off
Blur: Bilateral
Ambient Resolution: Performance
Gamma Correction: 0,829
Geometry Buffers (VBOs) Enabled: Yes
Suppression of FX When Camera Close Enabled: Yes
Close Suppression Range: 3,000
Show Advertisements: Yes
Audio Mode: Performance
3D Audio: No
FX Sound Volume: 0,600
Music Sound Volume: 0,600
Show Advanced Graphics Options: Yes
Overall Graphics Quality: 0,000
Reverse Mouse Buttons: No
Save Login Username: Yes
Transfer Rate: Unknown bytes/second
Current Game Version: 2100.201109170227.1.0
Installation Directory: C:\Program Files\NCsoft\City of Heroes
Mod files in the Data directory
. has 1 file
.\texture_library\MAPS\city has 2 files
.\texture_library\MAPS\Midnight_Squad has 1 file
.\texture_library\MAPS\NewPlayerTutorial has 1 file
.\texture_library\MAPS\Safeguard has 9 files
.\texture_library\MAPS\sewers has 44 files
.\texture_library\MAPS\static has 40 files
.\texture_library\P_MAPS has 2 files
.\texture_library\V_MAPS\City has 2 files
.\texture_library\V_MAPS\Outdoor_Missions has 9 files
.\texture_library\V_MAPS\Static has 16 files -
Quote:Pretty much agree with all of this. But the less items with a potential for that is introduced, the less risk of this happened for real.Originally Posted by Agent White
If we reach a point where people are getting kicked from raids or trial teams or task/strike forces or just missions because of 'have warwolf or GTFO', then it's a problem. Or if there's a new mission arc that can't be completed without shelling out 5 bucks to unlock the new 'omgsuperzap' power to drop the boss' shielding to let you knock him out, then it's a problem.
As it stand, all of these things they've introduced so far do not cause any of those.
And, well, were I responsible for the store any combat pet would be a bit closer to the line in the sand than I want to. Vet drones/fairies and such may be grandfathered in due to their proven essential harmlessness. -
Quote:Surprisingly long, with a right type of squishy. It tanked Honoree in Mender Ramiel arc for me once. (granted, he was just an EB.)Originally Posted by Obsidius
Pay to win? Let me know how long that War Wolf lasts in an ITF, or an AV battle in general.
But I see your point. I'm still uncomfortable with the direction this may go to.
Re "what is win?" question. Getting in-game rewards for completing content you wouldn't be able to complete otherwise. Although warwolf is no Shivan, it might be that little last thing that makes difference between success and wipe. -
It's not the same Warwolf Whistle you're awarded the 1srt time, IIRC. It's an "echo" version. Never checked if it's actually weaker, as PW implies, but if it's not (or if it is and purchasable version also weakens) then yes, you're right. Puts it on par with stuff like Experienced, - something that may be useful if you have little time and enough money, non-issue overall.
If not, then well, you can see why I'm wary. -
I posted it in the feedback thread but it was drowned in everybody's collective "meh" about everything else in the today's market update.
Warwolf Whistle. 80 points/5 uses. No reward token gate (which at least does limit the issue to a minority of the overall game population). Here to stay. What's next? Shivans? HVAS?
As everyone knows, temp pets can do wonders for squishie survivability solo, and thus are quite useful. So, I'm not quite convinced this isn't too good an offering for a rm-purchasable power. Unless Backup Radio (unlimited and rm-free) does summon a better pets on average (I really didn't check BU radio seriously yet, so I don't know.)
So, what everyone thinks? -
Everyone is missing an elephant in the room. Warwolf Whistle is a very good power, that is only available in weakened version through Ouroboros. Now you can whistle up a tank of your own whenever you want for just $1 per 5 uses.
f2p is in constant danger of eventual degeneration into p2w, and what we're already on that road after barely a couple months is... disturbing. -
Quote:This:Originally Posted by Tenzhi
What happened?
http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showthread.php?t=276978
Quote:Update @ 09:09am PDT : Due to some technical difficulties, the Live Server Publish is taking longer than anticipated. We are working to bring up the servers as quickly as possible, and will keep you apprised of the situation. Thank you for your patience. -
...
Was there any Shakespeare's play that didn't borrow 90% of its plot from some earlier obscure work, folk tale or history?
Or, closer to home, the first recorded work of literature is... A story about mighty hero with beyond-normal powers and his trusty companion battling evils large and small and having ... complicated relations with various cosmic entities. Very good story too. So good it's still retold in various guises a few thousands years later.
Which all makes a question of originality a bit more complicated than it ought to be. Fortunately, there's another, easier question: what is unoriginality? Unoriginality is a very simple thing: it's when you add nothing extra to that archetypal formula, just change names and file off serial numbers.
Banquo's evolution from essentially a bystander to co-conspirator to one of the victims might have been motivated by political expediency and tastes of various writers of various versions of Macbeth's legend, but it also made the story ring quite different each time it was changed, the way simply renaming the main characters "Smith" and "Johnson" wouldn't.
A superhero receiving his powers from being alien and wearing spandex is, on more through reflection, quite different creature from a demigod-king of Uruk, for all their similarities. A plot about priceless timber guarded by a monster in a modern world would make quite a few people rooting for the monster, for one.So you change timber to another McGuffin... Which then stops being just McGuffin and becomes a metaphor (the way the original story was a metaphor of Sumerian wars and trade.) and somewhere along the road it all becomes a different, original story. -
Accidentally setting up a perpetual rez machine with Crey geneticists... I didn't want to go hosp, for quite a while just to check if it would ever stop.
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Quote:Ok. Mea culpa. I was wrong. Very wrong.Originally Posted by Arcanaville
1. Until around I5ish, the number of people who actually knew exactly how tohit worked outside the devs was probably less than a handful.
2. Prior to I7, most players didn't know how strong lucks were.
The rule back then was actually "pop three lucks and you should be fine" thinking that was +75% defense, but also that "pop two lucks and you should be fine" didn't seem to always work, even in situations where +50% defense should have been more than enough. By habit, I used to pop *four* lucks on my blaster entering tough fights, knowing it seemed to work but not knowing exactly why until I got around to testing them.
Which still doesn't quite make up for a fact that eating lots of Lucks and/or getting a lots of +def in any other way always has been relatively simple way to beat a majority of encounters (and that there were nasties designed specifically to discourage this.) I tried to calculate what a FF defender could do pre-ED, pre-GDN... It's ...impressive. Almost makes me wish I had been there. -
Quote:CoX just never worked that way for me... In fact If it did, I'd probably never return, f2p or no. I never did to another game (since you are somewhat of a f2p games connoisseur, it's one with an exclamation mark in the middle of its almost alliterative name and servers named after various colours) which was so full of this "flow" I could never relax playing it. It is entertaining, but I really feel like I'm working in it... (That's why I never watch TV either. No pause button, no rewind No way to muse about some particularly interesting scene the way you can about an interesting paragraph in a book, no way to put the thing on hold to make coffee... You're slaved to the stupid box for the duration of a show. )Originally Posted by Samuel_Tow
There's a psychological concept called flow, which is in essence the state of mind of a person who is fully immersed and engrossed in an activity,
Team content is inherently like this, but fortunately, teams nowadays make it work exactly the way I like it, - Maps are steamrolled in matter of minutes, then a short break, then steamroll. And solo I often take long breaks inside mission, and wish there was something but mobs there, not something as grand as a "puzzle," and definitely not something requiring to throughly search every nook and cranny of the layer-cake cave* just a little thing like a chatty NPC to further distract me.
In other words, our opinions on what constitutes "entertaining gameplay" are, well, as far apart as they can get. And, although, again, I can't speak for anyone else, I personally want more "un-flow" in the game. And poor dev team should somehow make both playstyles viable.
*Although I might try to explore it anyway, to admire the textures the next day. -
Quote:Hmm... Ambushes... I won't comment on this one, because I'm really in two minds about them. Part of me actually enjoys them, and no, it's not too-kinky-to-torture part, it's "And then they all died anyway, cheating gankers" part. But I can see how they are just irritating if you aren't in that particular mode. (And yes, I completed all the Resistance and Responsibility arcs on a nin/nin stalker in beta. And liked it.)Originally Posted by Samuel_Tow
This is pretty much were I stand. City of Heroes is the game I fell in love with because it made me feel powerful by virtue of allowing me to take on 20 guys and still win.
I bash recent content (specifically, the AMBUSHES in recent content) because they increase the game's difficulty by too much at too early a level. Sure, ambush waves at level 50 when I have all my toys, bring them on. Ambush waves at level 5 that see through my Stalker's stealth? Pass. That, and the developer's storytelling tools are becoming more and more obtrusive, shoving story in my face at the expense of gameplay, instead of doing like they'd always done and leave the story to the contacts and the clues so that I can follow it if AND WHEN I want to.
As for your other complaint... Well, just let us agree to disagree here. I don't find them at all intrusive, and in fact a great thing precisely for reasons you dislike them. New gimmicks like in-mission talks reduce "chore/game" ratio for me, not increase it.
Old missions were like this:
1) http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/action_movies.png
2) 30 mins searching for the last stupid glowie. When you find it, you're so relieved, you press "exit" before you remember to read clue text.
3) ZOOOOOOOONING OUUUUUTTTTTT.
4) Wall of Text.
5) Wall of Text.
6) ZOOOONING INNNNNN.
7) Back to 1.
New ones (in a perfect world):
1) http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/action_movies.png
2) dialog tree, you're led to by a nav window.
3) http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/action_movies.png
4) Bite-sized texts in NPC chat.
5) http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/action_movies.png
6) ZOOOOOOOONING OUUUUUTTTTTT.
7) Some text.
8) Some text.
9) ZOOOONING INNNNNN.
10) Back to 1.
Or, in other words, less chores, less loading screens, more action. Even when the entire mission is a FedEx chore (like that undercover journalist one in one of the new arcs) new bells and whistles allow to make it look more than "Read WoT, go 10 miles to read another WoT and then report back for yet third one," you feel much more like doing some meaningful stuff.
Those tools aren't yet used to their full potential, but devs are learning. -
Quote:Umm... That's not what archived patchnotes say. (http://wiki.cohtitan.com/wiki/Issue_5) At leasst not if "Base Accuracy" and TH are the same thing (which is implied elsewhere in the same patch notes).Originally Posted by Samuel_Tow
It wasn't always 50%. Base critter to-hit was 75% until the GDN.
No mention at all of base critter to-hit being anything different from 50% and the whole thing make no sense if it was anything else.Quote:Reduced Lt. base Accuracy to 57.5%.
Reduced Boss base Accuracy to 65%
Reduced Elite Boss base Accuracy.
Reduced ArchVillain base Accuracy from 90% to 75%
Reduced Giant Monster base Accuracy from 90% to 75%
Reduced Minion level Turret base Accuracy from 75% to 58%
Reduced Lieutenant level Turret base Accuracy from 94% to 65%
Reduced Boss level Turret base Accuracy from 113% to 75%
Reduced Sniper base Accuracy from 75% to 65%
Reduced Monument Minion base Accuracy from 75% to 58%
Reduced Rularuu Boss bas Accuracy from 90% to 75% -
Quote:That, purple patch and GDN itself were major changes that occurred way before my time, but from http://wiki.cohtitan.com/wiki/Global_Defense_Nerf and historical parts of Arcanaville's guide...Originally Posted by MajorDecoy
Well, it used to be that combat modifiers for being 2-4 levels higher than your target would provide to-hit bonuses. That was changed to being an accuracy bonus around the same time that the Global Defense Reduction happened, I think. Perhaps a little beforehand.
Big purple was always +33%.
Base TH for mobs was always 50% Lts and up used to have much higher TH than they do now though.
+Def powers were ~1.7 times more powerful, several powers that don't have any +def now had it back then.
/em pops 2 purples. Zergs. Rolls a /sr scrapper. Zergs...
Or in other words, I don't really see how exactly those changes would've made defence buffs less overpower back then than they're now. On the contrary, from the sound of it, +defence was even more of a broken must-have buff back then. And one easier to get too. -
on yet third thought... I don't really want the game to ever be like "Christ. OK, uhh well what we’ll do, I’ll run in
first, uh gather up all the eggs, we can kinda just, ya know blast
them all down with AOE. Um, I will use Intimidating Shout, to kinda
scatter’em, so we don’t have to fight a whole bunch of them at once.
Uhh, when my Shouts are done, uhh, I’ll need Anfrony to come in and
drop his Shout too, uh so we can keep them scattered and not have to
fight too many. Um, when his is done, Bass of course will need to
run in and do the same thing. Uhh, we’re gonna need Divine
Intervention on our mages, uhh so they can, uhh, AE, uh so we can of
course get them down fast, cause we’re bringing all these guys, I
mean, we’ll be in trouble if we don’t take them down quick. Uhh I
think this is a pretty good plan, we should be able to pull it off
this time. Uhh, what do you think Abduhl? Can you give me a number
crunch real quick?
Abduhl: Uhhh.. yeah gimme a sec… I’m coming up with thirty-two
point three three, repeating of course, percentage, of survival."
type of game. There's already PLENTY of games where you need this to succeed.
It's just that we get in a sense the worst of all worlds, - first extremelly nerdy (but fairly simplistic, and thus kinda boring the nth time around) number-crunching and gear-grinding to get those 45% def and whatever global rech is needed for the best attack chain/perma buffs, then beat most of the things in the game by just leeroying around. Or even just skipping to success by leeroying around.
ADD: Which is all a question of balance between "hordes of mooks" and "gimmicky final bosses," of mutually contradictory requirements (a polite way to say that everyone likes challenges but nobody particularly likes to fail at them,) technical limitations, fairness to hardcore AND casual players, and the fact that whatever happens, there always would be cookie-cutter OP builds and one-size-fits-all non-stratagems. So, unless Paragon Studios has a game design super-genius on staff, I don't expect anything that would really solve complaints in this thread. That's just how MMORPGs work.
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Unless there used to be some mob to-hit nerf in the distant past I'm not aware of, "Pop a purple. Zerg." always had been pretty much universal "I Win" button, that should've been fairly obvious to anyone who thought for a moment about how a to-hit roll in this game works or had any experience with D&D.
And it's not like devs weren't trying to make it less so. RIP with leadership toggles, Nemesis with venge, Cimerorans with their buffs/debuffs, Praetorians with their higher TH... Latter are the newest major mob group in the game, and measures devs went to to discourage softcap-zerging them aren't exactly light. That doesn't even count gimmicky bosses with unavoidable damage.
So, it's definitely not the game changing. It's more and more of the playerbase discovering the 45% magic, either on their own, or through reading forum guides.
FWIW, I dislike how to-hit roll in this game works, precisely because of this, - answer to the question of Life, CoXverse and Everything is 45, and no amount of tactics, heals, damage resists or anything seems to be EVER as effective as simply crunching half a dozen numbers untill they all add up to 45% (or 59%.) Or just becoming a purple-shield junkie. The only thing that even comes close is AoE permahold, for a few ATs that have tools for that.
But again, this was the flaw of the game mechanics FOR AGES. Even before EDIT: dev team /EDIT relented and made Real Numbers available, people knew how to-hit worked well enough to figure the softcap. Knowledge might be more widespread now, but the issue was always there, it's just that more people know of it now. And developers tried to do what they could to discourage it, short of total redesign of TH roll (Which would be much less popular than ED ever was, for all the long-term good it may do to playability and balance. And thus it is totally off the table.)
ADD: And although I don't think Samuel_Tow is right in bashing all the recent content for too much story-focusing and as "another Dr. Graves," ability to defeat hordes of mooks with contemptuous ease is the reason why super-powers are called "super-powers" in the first place, and yes, the game ought to have more of that. AND good stories and innovative mechanics. Tall order, I know. -
FF defenders are nothing compared to FF masterminds in this regard.
Anyway, short of griefing your team... NRG means Nova... FF means lots of LOTG-slottable stuff... Built-to-nuke Defenders with retoggle issues aren't exactly optimal* (I tried it with my Rad/Rad) but they might be thrilling.
*To put it mildly. -
I already set visscale fairly low even on otherwise high settings. If only there was slash command to lower the # of particles... But I couldn't find one on PW.
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Doesn't work for me. /optionsavefile saves everything except graphics settings. I checked the contents of the file too, - only UI settings are there. So, what am I doing wrong?
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As in, fully two custom sets of settings? Or a standard and a custom? Or some other way that doesn't involve monkeying with sliders nd switches every time you are out of something too FX-intensive for your card on your usual settings?