Airman_America

Yes, that is my "theory". All you need do is look at the numbers lost, and, at the same time look at the new numbers that appeared for CoV. That was the point that the game dropped to 200k and never rose again to it's former glory.

Yes, my "theory" is the negative press, the negative opinions were the coffin nail. How many encounters later did I bump into saying that other games dont massively (and proudly) nerf.

The nerfs, how they were done, were part of some sit down between Cryptic and others at a conference. I only recall vague memories about it, but I do recall that SWG did the same thing (and they attended that conference). We all know what happened to their numbers right after...

Go back, look at the numbers, I think they still can be found, but that is about the point CoH fell from a million players to 200k and never recovered.

I have not posted in quite a while, and though I kept playing quietly, I had long cooled down my playtime here. I suppose it might have been the fact that I toiled through 30+ level 50s (no "gimmies" I knew how to use and play every single one). Maybe it was that each, also, were carefully designed with the maximum toys and upgrades that I won or my influence/infamy could buy. Heck, my base still has a secret spot that holds billions in inventions. Maybe it was my SG(s), which I allowed to slowly die, once honestly earned a spot in the top 10 and is till in the top 100. Once upon a time, Airmen on Liberty were a strong group. When we showed up for a mission, we were held in esteem. We had strict rules of conduct. We had a true, written story.

Ahhh but when did CoH jump the shark? Was it the endless nerfs that resulted in one massive insulting nerf between issues 5 and 6? That really drove a coffin nail into the game that it never recovered from.

Maybe it was the massive groups of villains on maps. Perhaps it would have been better if they upped the XP and removed 3/4 of them rather than nerfing herding or encourageing PL. But the nerfs of Issues 5 and 6? Were they really necessary? Not if they had done the upping of XP and removal of such large and close groups.

Maybe it was listening to the whines from kids who would have quit anyway about some guy that kept beating them up in PvP that resulted in a balancing (nerf) that again drove a coffin nail.

Maybe it was the mysterious dissaperance of the 5th Column? Long suspected was a politically correct decision to remove them just before the opening of a German Server. Perhaps it was the silly addition of Romans? What about Croatoa? Why were the Devs quiet about Apex for so long? Why was low level War Witch suddenly promoted to such an esteemed status associated with Croatoa? AND WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THUNDERCLAP? Dont get me started on Stringa, I never saw a true need for that zone.

Why was the original cut through, via the OLD dance zone removed? Hmmm? I still miss it.

What about the lonely lonely lonely Shadow Shard? A very under used and beautiful area that left people stranded if you did not have the right travel powers.

Maybe it was the sudden appearance of a police force with super powers? Maybe it was the fact that Paragon City NEVER celebrated the 4th of July or was so politically correct about things that they never showed kids, houses, the city airport, or, heaven forbid, a religious reference like a church (well if they did they might show some others too).

What about when they changed the Hami? He was fun to fight, thanks to a parting gift by Cryptic, we got a absolutely awful and no fun to play fight.

Oh but the nerfs of Issue 5 and 6. Oh they were painful. I recall tanks logging into the game, falling out of the portal faceplanted. No herding (do you know how much fun that was?). What of the 7 issues of nerfs to Regen that resulted in a toon that now has to be micromanaged to such an annoying degree that I never play my primary toon anymore?

No, it was the Issue 5 and 6 nerfs, followed by the competition, that killed the game. CoH lost so many people that it never became cool to play again. It never helped that the endless nerfs up till the time NCSoft took over left such a bad taste in peoples mouths that... well... it just took all these years to finally pull the plug.

There used to be a time, and it is still here, that the basic Accolades (like the Vanguard, the Crey Pistol, and so on) marked the difference between a player interested in getting the maximum from the game and the new 50 or new player. With inventions some of that has changed. Just Tuesday night we formed a team to earn a rather oddball badge when a player remarked "why are we doing this again?". The player was again advised to which he replied "what good are badges or Accolades... I/Os out do them anyway". That set me to thinking of how our game economy is a bit (not totally) ruined with cheap influence/infamy purchases from Gold Farmers (which inflate prices) and how I see so many 50s now without even the basic Atlas Medallion (that includes some pretty awesome PvP builds).

Couldn't something be done to either expand the basic Accolades, like one that gives better recharge or accuracy (they seem more focused on Health and Stamina)? How about ones that offer small amouts of Mez Protection or ones that earn Knockback protection? These basic Accolades took time, effort, planning to achieve and are not exactly able to be purchased. Couldn't something be done to re-encourage players to seek them? It need not be a serious need, nor an adjustment that causes the game to flop over to Accolades over I/Os, just something that makes players pause and reconsider them into their builds.

Hello and Happy Holidays.

When, lately, I go into a PvP zone, I note a majority are on hide. It is almost as if "Johnny does it, maybe I should too". From all I can see, it may help for all of 10 seconds and that is it. Psychologically, we could argue till the cows come home about wether knowing your enemy is there or not causes more worry. For me, like in RV, I auto check to see if the robots are in use, cruise the area a couple times tapping TAB, check for broadcasts. I also pop a broadcast to draw people out like "only cowards globally hide". You would be suprised at how many that draws out of the closet. Arguments like "I want to farm quietly" hardly holds water, I check the back areas often. It is funny how noisy some are even though they are "hidden", so, other than the "Johnny does it" thing, what is the purpose? You are busted pretty quickly anyway.

Hello and welcome to the game.

1. The days of this being a "new game" and the "latest craze" are long past. You will not see masses of people making new toons as in the old days due to so many others have higher level toons now or are playing some other "latest thing".
2. Some people prefer to "hide" the fact that they are on. Whatever the reason, they hide for either personal reasons or some other advantage.
3. You are not the first person or game I have seen this type message on. I tested another game lately (not Champions) and the first thing I was greeted with online was a broadcast of "is this game still popular?". I broadcast back "is that important?" and he/she replied "yes". I then said "you should play games for fun and amusement... not for what others will think of you..." I never got a reply.

A game is a game. Monopoly is still fun, it may not be the rage, but it is fun and who cares what your friends or neighbor thinks. Have fun and enjoy yourself. However I am 55 and I could really not care what is popular anymore, maybe I did once, but I cannot remember anymore (the one advantage of getting older I guess).

I have asked for 5 years for a Ray Gun Blaster set (for the sci-fi fans), at least once a year. Each time I get loads of positive replys. The last suggestion I did on it was this past summer.

I note from the build that either he intends to solo/small specific team a lot (some servers are more solo/small team orientated than others) or he does not want to be a "buff bot". I also note that he intends to be very pro-active and not a person who sits on the sidelines in the first part of their career. At least that is what I get from the build. If that is not the personality you want to portray, then reverse it a bit on the personal bubbles if you want to be less agressive and more of a "buffer". Either way is a personality and should be (firstly) enjoyable to the player so that they will want to grow the toon to 50.

Have a great day and have fun!

I left a great deal of my in depth knowledge (not that it was very deep) with the Great Defense Nerf of 2005 and went on to build resistance based toons. After 5 years of play, and 21 honestly made (meaning NONE were of the "shake 'n bake" overnight kind or where the "PLMEH" variety) Level 50 toons I decided to make my first SR Stalker. Looking at the build I note 2 types of defense... that of Melee/AoE/Ranged and then specific type of defense like Energy or Psionic. In the game calculations, which type is done first? Is it like To-Hit and how it is figured in first, ahead of Accuracy, in the calculations? How is Defense figured if (just giving a number here) you have 10 Melee Defense and then have 10 Smashing Defense? One last question, I was always told that SR was hard to play, heavy cost to endurance, and only really good for PvP. I have found that to be untrue personally, he survives as well or better than my Regen/Dark Scrappers I made and seems average to light on Endurance, did something change? The only real nemesis I have found so far has been DE Guardians with that crystal pet of theirs. FYI the build is Dark/SR and I mostly solo at a 3/+1 since level 23 and the toon is now 44. Oh has anyone else found the level 32 big power of Dark Scrapper/Stalker to be rather anti-climatic as I did? Thanks to any who take the time to answer and Merry Christmas to all.

1. How about an temporary emergency teleport power you can craft. As said "emergency" meaning you do not aim, you simply press, it activates, and the result could be great or you find yourself only 5 feet away. I would be a one shot "OMG!" use only. Some of the results would result in a w00t to a ROTFL. I do not see why this could not be used in PvP as everyone would have access to the power via common drops - not rare. Something else, the power is a one time use device.

2. How about some more comedy like watching Freakshow trying to create a flying wing for their tanks... watching the animation of some freak lighting a fuze and the poor tank splattering on a building side, simply blowing up, or shoots up into the air and the rocket explodesl The Skulls could aslo steal the jetpacks with the same results when they try. If a hero or villain comes across one that is abandoned they could claim it, use it, of course they may fair not much better.

3. How about "master of the story arc"? Go all the way through an arc (yours that is) without dying and earn a free level up (of course you can turn it down). If you turn it down you have an option for a rare recipe drop or X amount of influence/infamy. Weaker type toons could bring teammates along but nobody can die. Soloists can keep track a bit easier though im sure.

4. I thought we had some deal coming with a villain or hero that decides to become your most hated enemy and the fun of him attacking you between missions, out of the blue, unexpected, or simply passing out pictures with your face on it and a big reward? Is that idea dead now?

5. How about a teleport beacon to the safe area of each PvP zone, like in a building or just outside the entrance that we can add to our bases?

6. How about occassionally seeing Statesman or any of the other big heros/villains walking down a street discussing hero/villain type stuff before they either take off in flight or enter a building?

have a good day everyone! Happy post Thanksgiving and happy pre Christmas to all

I was hoping that was the answer. Thanks and happy post Thanksgiving to all.

If I place Kismet Accuracy in a slot of Stalker Hide, will it automatically renew when it runs out after 120 seconds of use or must I turn off the power and reactivate it? Thanks in advance for the answer.

LOL... ROTFL even... why hide in a PvP zone? I never do, never have, never will and I simply do not see the tactics of using it - but that is my opinion... First of all the enemy has to actually find you and they have to want to engage you. Just because you are hidden does nothing to help you if I see you and I want to engage you. I really do not see the logic in hiding. If you do not want to fight, you withdrawl to the base, but hiding your name does not save you any more than less. What is actually more dangerous is the announcement of a "new bounty" in Sirens Call, now that might sink your ship.

Still, then they should remove the command, why waste the memory with a command that does not work fully? Regardless of what the rules say... well then the Devs have changed the rules before havent they? Recall all the arguments about sidekicking over the years? I think the present system was proposed many times in the past only to be flamed. Should those who did so apologize? No, they had an opinion that differed. Things can change and they will... check out the last guy who actually ran on change and got elected... like him or not.

My only thought is, why have it if it does not work fully, to say "as intended" is fine, if that is an updated statement, if that was something looked at 3 years ago, and since has collected dust due to other work being more important, then it is not an up to date statement. I am sure EDLINE is working as intended too, but, why use it when it is outdated? The whoall command came out before hide and before pvp as I remember, the game changed since, the command just might need updating. I recall using it in i2, I do not recall hide coming into being until i3 or i4 and pvp came into being in i4. Correct me if I am wrong on this point.

OH and I think I am a Super User... don't you? Well maybe not before you get Stamina anyway...

Actually I expected some resistance from the hide types, makes no difference, I am talking about a command that is inaccurate, so why have it? Just do away with it or enhance it to a generic command that lists players by AT or even just total number of friend/foe in a zone - including those on a mission. As it stands, can you tell me a good reason to keep it or even use it? It is like listing files on your C drive and excluding those that are hidden, that might be fine for noob computer users, but, for a guy like me, I can choose to list them and I can choose the level of detail too. To further the point, how many CoH players actually know the command exists - the savvy ones do, many I venture, do not or do not remember to actually use it.

Due to hidden people, the command gives a false impression of how many are in a zone. I suggest the following improvements:

1.Change the command to whoall-d for detailed, just like now, it lists names and types of who are in a zone not hidden. OR they could just leave the command as it is now.

2. Add a whoall-g for general, it would list all, even hidden, in total numbers, for example: Controllers: 3, Scrappers: 4, Tanks: 1, and so on. This would allow those that wish to be hidden by name to stay that way, but, it would provide more accurate information in PvP zones. Currently, and many know, the information is faulty at best, listing those who are unhidden, but allowing those hidden to stay that way.

3. Simply do away with the command as it can be inaccurate.

I am not here to discuss the merits of hidden or unhidden either way, just that the command is not quite worthwhile in its present form.

I have been asking for years for a Ray Gun Blaster. I have even suggested powersets. HOWEVER, how about an optional gun, animations, and sounds for the Assault Gun powerset? The same damage/results on powers but with a Laser type gun(s), optional beam or circular effect (like the mental powers), sounds, and effect of the blasts? That would suit the Sci-Fi types out there would would like a Buck Rodgers or Flash Gordon type of hero or give a high tech look for others.

Hello from Airman H.Q. Moonbase Ganymede!

We are looking for mature players!

Tired of teams filled with folks who AFK, do not stick to a goal, seem more interested in A/S/L, are self centered to the point of "Well I got mine!", have 0 tactical ability, filled with people who wait for someone else to do all the work, seem to have massive A.D.D. problems, have "shake and bake" PL 50s they do not know how to play?

Yeah, so are we... we are adults and parents/grand parents who enjoy tactics, peace, no grind, and the game in general. We do not sit about cussing every other word or talk L33t. We actually enjoy missions and TFs. We share build knowledge, have a weekly newsletter, and we keep it light, simple, clean, fun - and SAFE for our kids too.

We are a role play SG (no we are not USAF), meaning that we actually have a written story and a background that fills and makes our "toons" come alive. We have are and always have been a top 100 SG.

If you would like to join us, check us out, or form a Coalition, we await you. Please contact any online Airman for details - and please say you learned about us on the message boards.

... end transmission

In his own way of putting it, he is correct. We have a whole generation of players out there who do not know how powers work and how teammate's powers work. I have personally had people quit AE Teams due to "lack of XP" (meaning it was not a boss XP mission with max XP). I had a person tell me that he was going to give me 3 Stars for a Arc I wrote, all due to "I only give 5 stars when the XP is maximum". I asked what about the story, time spent on custom toons, time spent on their choice of powers... and got a "Screw That".

There are ways to identify exploit missions and I know the Devs have the tools.

First, identify guys who level far too fast - that cheapens 50s and active players. Perhaps a maximum of levels a person can obtain per day - except on double XP weekends.

Second, look for guys who suddenly aquire massive Influence and Infamy. So many buy Infamy and Influence now it ruins prices and exploits SG ratings. Ever notice the sloppy bidding? The excessive prices paid for items? Surely a SG that suddenly goes to the top 10 sets off alarm bells. It is like the guy said who told me the story "I did the math, to do what they are doing would take 100 guys logged in 24 hours a day grinding boss farms". I have direct first hand knowledge of a SG who purchased their way to the top by conversion. I would hate to be the bearer of that credit card bill!!! WoW does it, they look for massive Gold purchases and sudden changes in player money values.

Third, I LOVE AE, I have a chance to make missions, use creative talent, however people like this ruin it for all. Allow AE to everyone. IF a person makes a mission only designed for exploit, give a warning, if they keep it up, remove the power for X period. They have tools to identify such missions and if banned it can be challenged. I know, for some reason my first mission was banned at the start of the new issue. After a month of indignant emails from myself, a supervisor went in and actually played my mission... it prompted a sorry from CoH. So, don't tell me that all boss missions, guys who go 50 in days, cannot be identified.

Even if this gets flamed, the point is, should this type of actions continue? Do we need this kind of player? They are not loyal, they are not interested in the art of the game, they get bored easily and go on anyway. We need to stop the gold farmers, despite the fact that I believe in free enterprise. Before they were just a small pain, today they enable exploiters beyond even what I could have imagined 2 years ago. We need to halt guys who make 50 in less than 24 hours. We need to allow good designers freedom and exploitive designers need a slap on the wrist.

It is a game and people need to be mature enough to remember that. Subjects of this nature should not be tolerated, at least, I do not on my teams or teams I am a member of. For starters, if I am the leader I will diplomatically fix the problem or at length go to the extreme and either break up the team, quit, or boot. If I am a member of a team that will not be mature enough to just play the game, I will finish the mission and politely dismiss myself from the group. There is nothing in the game or rules that forces me to accept an untolerable situation or be anything more/less than polite toward people. Do not get the idea I am suggesting Victorian type talk, I am just saying that being rude, talking trashy, being more interested in sex than play and the like are not fun for me and I won't take it long. Besides, my first thought, as a leader of a team is... suppose there is a child on the team! As an adult of 55 years with a grandson, I would like to think there are others out there that think of children first and guard them when observing bad public language. This the probably the biggest reason I got rid of Vent in my SG.

I tried to make a new story using player pets for the enemy. I recall them being there at one time but could not find them. Were they removed from the choices?