BrandX

Agreed! It's over the top animations are what make me enjoy the set more than any other blast set.

The other blast sets I feel like I'm repeating the same motion over and over. With Dual Pistols, I don't feel that way at all. Thusly, allowing people to pick a variety of options to suit them.

Well, my post was entailed towards in general, not just to you. More of a things I've seen happen.

But the shy type can be hard for others to get to know as well. The players assume they don't want to talk or RP and go on to those they know will. Or go to those who do whatever they may like to do.

As for what happened in your experience with the Teen Phalanx or those others you mentioned, I have no idea. It could of just been you and those groups didn't mesh. Could of been bad timing. Could of had other stories going on. I know, i've been active and missed quite a few storylines (and this may have been what happened with you...)

Though I think part of it might be the shy toon concept. I find these take a bit of time and work to get intergrated into any group I've been in. We've had quite an influx on new players the last few months, and they've gone over pretty well.

But here's hoping, I'm sure you can find a RP SG that works well with you. Always welcome to give the Teen Phalanx another shot.

Well part of the problem may be, that blasters are easier to find, so when some is looking for a blaster specifically, they know they have leeway in getting what they want from a blaster.

If they're looking for a blaster, the can decide between an AR/Dev, Fire/MM, or AR/MM, they're likely to go with the Fire/MM, as they'll have less risk of a really really bad player.

With the /MM side, they know they're likely to see a bit more AOE (not always the case mind you), and a possibly if they're going up against hard targets, added -regen.

AR/ vs Fire/, they'll likely look at it and go, since they don't know any of them, they don't know how good the AR is at controlling the knockback, and pick the Fire/ just for that reason.

And I've seen some of those with KB, who just went in and scattered mobs left and right. And while I can usually handle such a thing, alot of people can't or just don't want to.

KB isn't fun when it's knocking enemies off of Ice Patches or out Tar Patches...ect...ect.

Much like how Dark Melee can get an even more awesome single target DPS?

As for Total Focus, the change from mag 4 stun to mag 3 stun didn't bother me.

The only change that bothered me in regards to ET was not only that the animation was ugly (this is a personal opinion, i admit), but it took SO MUCH long to activate. We had Total Focus for that.

But maybe that's the change that needs to be made. Lower TF's animation down to match ETs. Shave .7 seconds off it's animation time. Maybe the set will start to feel a bit faster again.

Hmmm...I can see what you're saying, I think I just don't care for the waiting on my single target attacks to recharge, and don't want to keep using the AOE attacks for a single target, not to mention I love the ES animation. All that makes me keep it in.

As for the placate proc, I have it, havent slotted it into a power yet, so I haven't seen it in action in a PvE setting. Since it wouldn't hit all the time, I don't figure it will be all that great, but I was thinking it may have some use if I did use Flash Freeze.

Same. It's a Super Hero MMO. I never understood why you'd say super heroes don't exist.

I've seen this as well. A player will say, I miss out on everything, and we'll tell them to come on over and jump in. At which point they'll say they can't for whatever reason...helping another SG/VG out, helping friends out, farming, getting some levels.

Also the players who once they hit 50, abandon the toon and make a new one to RP. In a mod-heavy RP SG, that doesn't always work out as well (which may be why some people make multiples of their toon...which I understand completely).

Well, in a mod-heavy RP SG, you're less likely (in my experience), to abandon the toon once it hits level 50.

When I came to Virtue, my only real intention was to find teams to basically talk ICly when I was on missions. That's probably more light RP centered, where you go level 1-50 on the games story, and then end it, because you hit level 50.

I mean, I run LOTS of TFs, I don't think my toon would be finding out Hero One is now a Rikti, over and over again.

Heh...I don't mean a golden-age style superhero transported (or incased in ice) and transported to the modern times. I mean, actual golden-age. I think you know what I mean.

As one of the leaders of the Teen Phalanx, I know I've seen this problem. And I've commented on it.

But I also know, sometimes it's the concept that just isn't clicking (which I've put my own alts in, and they just didn't click, even if I loved the concept).

That said, I'd need to know more, to know why the Teen Phalanx itself didn't work out for you.

Some things in general that I find that cause new members some problems (not only to the Teen Phalanx but other RP SGs I've been a part of)...

1) Concepts. People come in with the OMG powerful concepts, that haven't proved themselves to the members of the SG whether it's IC or OOC or both.

Couple of examples...

The INV/SS that can take all the damage in the world and inflict it just as much. Basicly the superman. This doesn't have to be limited to INV/SS, just using it as an example. Even if another is able to bypass it, they say it just doesn't work.

The healer concept. I've seen people complain, my toon is able to heal people, that's the concept but the other person isn't being healed! Because that player doesn't want their toon healed, and want to RP being injured. Basically healers get called god-modders, even when their primary is Empathy which is all about healing.

Now when used on my main, this is a non issue, as part of her is that she can very easily be healed by anyone who can heal. So a little less a worry when dealing with my toon, but others say it takes away from their RP. I've found this to be a general RP problem.

The one trick pony concepts. Common among the telepath concepts, when everyone (not 100% but Id say 99%) has a "can't be be effected by telepaths clause even it's just saying well they have a strong willpower".

Which I've said here and to my SG in it's OOC channel, I still don't get. At least with my main I can see it, as she's a DB/WP and a RAD/DP/PSI, both which have Psi Resist shields. Or even my Dark Miasma users. On my non-psi resist, I've let them go down easily enough versus psi users.

I'm told this is more of a OOC trust issue than anything else.

2) Being part of a RP SG, in fact, does take being a bit active. Not saying every day type of deal, but if you're showing up once a week, or showing up at the down times of the majority of the SG, and then just show up when no one knows you or your toon, it's going to cause some WTF moments or who are you moments.

My own RL friend had this problem when he joined my SG. And when he did start showing up, it didnt help that his concept was considered psycho and doing WAY over the top (like some weird anime) type stuff, that people could only look at the toon and go...Ummmmm, how the hell do I even react to this.

3) RP styles. You see it here on the forums as well. Some people factor in enhancements, inspirations and influence as actual tangible things. While others don't. Some factor in security levels. Some don't. Some say if you can't be beaten in PvP then you aren't beaten in RP.

Some people don't mind using the emoticons, others do.

Some people don't want to see abbreviations used in RP chat. When people RP using LOL, WTF, BRB...ect...

Some players won't want to RP with you if you're typing/spelling is just that bad. Typos happen, but if it's just plain bad typing (as in a learning disability) Ive found people will want to ignore you (not always, but some people will).


So after all this is said, it comes back to...it takes finding an RP SG you mesh with. And sometimes this isn't easy. Especially with the varied concepts out there. For example I find it hard to RP with vampires concepts. Why? Everyone with the vampire concept has different rules to it.

Wooden stakes work on this concept. Wooden stakes don't on this concept. This concept automatically turns you into a vampire if they bite you. This concept has to want to turn you into a vampire. This vampire is weak in the sun. This vampire isnt. This vampire is immune to all the things you expect a vampire a hollywood style vampre to be weak too, but has all the strengths of a hollywood vampire.

And amazingly enough most of them say that's how they all are, when another concept would go totally against it.

This is why I personally don't join Golden Age style SGs. Paragon isn't set in a Golden Age setting. It's more a silver/modern age setting.

Nothing wrong with the golden age settings, but I don't see how you can go around RPing with everyone else in the game (and ive seen Golden Age style heroes do such things), when most others arent RPing in that setting.

Golly gee willikers, doesn't mesh well with, @#$%%@$ I'm going to #@$%&$ you with a @#$&%* pony and @$&*@ your skull and $*#*@ kill your @$&$&3 dog.

Yeah, looking at your build I see you have softcap defenses to S/L.

However, I have no idea why you would skip ES. Which has better DPA than DW.

And why not put the placate proc into Flash Freeze? For solo play, the sleep would be useful and for team play, placate while not reliable, at least would have uses.

Okay. Let's go with that. Tell me how this set was lopsided in PvE?

Having played the set myself, in the PvE game, I never once saw Energy Melee be the OMG that other sets where. It wasn't the farm set, that's for sure.

And with the Psychic Shockwave change they up the rest of the set.

With the Energy Transfer change, they left everything as is.

The only time I had heard a complaint about EM, was when everyone thought EM on tankers was producing scrapper level DPS. Which, if memory serves, it didn't.

When this change came about to EM, the only complaint anyone was saying was "OMG PvP".

No one was saying "OMG this is the best PvE set ever!" they weren't even saying "OMG this set is one of the best in PvE" because it wasn't.

Not really for or against it. And Aett's answer seemed to be the best on why to keep the current system.

That said, why do you want the change? With a total of like 12 servers, I personally don't see the reason for it, so I'm just curious.

Hmmm...I don't personally think I agree with the idea of having increased ENDREC/REGEN while out of combat...it'll just make a game that can be pretty easy, all that much more easy.

*run off to next mob, and be healed by the time you get there, because you're out of combat*

Where as right now you have to decide if you want to keep going or risk it.

Rest having no timer I can get behind, as then you have to actually waste some time at least, and you're possibly a sitting duck.

If we're going to go for speed sake here, can we just instantly get full health when out of combat? I get tired of waiting on other players who want to sit back and rest up at half health, when I think I we can keep going and take out that one next mob, while we just push the redline.

Or is this change to END people want, more of a "I don't like to manage end, I just want to hit my next button" type of deal? Because that's really what it's starting to sound like. Which is bad, because while it's that way already, this would just make it more so, and people already complain that it's so easy.

"This game is easy, I'm thinking of leaving! But I hate to manage my END, that's hard, so I hate it."

o.O

I find this funny.

Now I do have experience with Energy Melee as well. 50 levels of WP/EM, plus some now deleted never made it to 50 Energy Melee users.

And it's true. Energy Melee was far from the PvE king. On teams, yeah, they might Ooooh and Aaaah when they saw you take a huge chunk out of one enemies life, lets even say ONE SHOTTING, but during that time they were 2-3 shotting the spawn anyways with massive AOE.

Now I love Energy Melee for it's looks. I love the look of the Pom Poms. I love the idea of Energy Melee, and I don't even mind it being a Single Target focused set.

On my WP/EM I had respeced out of WH as it was. I found it's AOE not all that great, and while I LOVED the animation, I found I wanted other powers more for survival reasons.

So, I was more than willing to accept a slower kill speed (well I'd grab a blaster or scrapper along usually instead of soloing) being Single Target focused.

But now...*sigh*

*Total Focus animates* annnnnd *enemy killed by other player before damage applied*

*Energy Transfere animates* annnnnd *enemy killed by other player before damage applied*

Now...I'm sure this happened with TF before the ET nerf, but I didn't notice it, because I could always deliver one quick powerful big hitter with ET.

And I don't even mind the long animations of EM's other attacks...

Barrage...LOVE THE ANIMATION! LOVE IT!

Bone Smasher...the only problem I have with this animation, is that I think it would be better off if Air Superiority was given a different animation, so I could of had both on 1 toon, without repeating an attack animation. Other than that...LOVE IT.

Whirling Hands...I've always loved the jump up and whirl animation. I loved it on my Claws/ Scrapper too!

Total Focus, I LOVE this animation too! It was LONG but I didnt care...

...that was untill a second LONG animation was added.

Energy Melee's ET wasn't changed because the set was OverPowered in PvE, it was changed because it was considered the best PvP power set, and even then that was USUALLY in ONE ON ONE PVP matches.

I PvPed with my WP/EM, and I'll tell you now, I could easily be taken out of the equation...and was!

Nothing like being constantly taunted. Yeah, it kept the other teams tank busy, but it took me out of the fight, as his tank could take EM's damage.

Or that 3 on 3, where the /ELA Brute kept my tank taunted, and the other brute pounded on me.

The change was a PvE nerf due to a PvP whinefest about EM. :/ I was more than willing to take a PvP hit to the set. I was willing to take a damage hit in PvE.

Add to that, I still think the new animation to ET is UGLY, only makes it all worse. I loved the quick punch it was before.

And now, with all that...seeing they could just have easily left EM alone in PvE and reduced it's damage in PvP...I really want to know why we haven't seen it reverted back.

They could change it back and just go "kept it low damage in PvP".

And I'm still trying to figure out what this magical DPS chain is for EM in PvE. What attack chain are people using to get high DPS?

I disagree with a bit of this.../INV and /WP don' have alot of defense debuff resistance, but can be made to do really well versus them.

Hmmm...if only Dark Armor could get a tohit aura as good as darkest night, so it could be as nasty as my Dark Miasa/ defender

While my Fire/Earth is only lvl 28, I can say, that when I have domination up, it's probably the only time I don't feel like I need to be IOed out for defense on a toon.

Go in, release the AOE control and go!

How long ago do you consider long ago? The Teen Phalanx (possibly a bit of a shameless plug, but not really meant to be a shameless plug) is coming up on it's 3rd year.

Mod-Heavy RP SG. In fact, most members would rather RP than actually level. Great group of people.

Actually no. The veats/heats don't have the power customization, to give me much room to deviate from the norm.

Though I have found it weird that people are so oppossed to such an AT being created.

The same ones who say "I don't see how my /WP Brute can't pick up a sword and start hacking away with it" alot of times seem to be the ones who say "No range/defense sets". When I couldn't see why a /WP whatever, could just as easily pick up a gun, and start grinning before shooting things.

With the VEATS/HEATS, it's shown you can balance range with defense...so all we need is fr time to be allocated to make the AT available. Whether that happens or not, no idea.

Okay spawn vs mob, may be were I'm seeing the difference.

I'd say Sheilds has the same problem, and did fine with my MA/Shield. But I also made use of inspirations.

I find myself agreeing with alot of this.

Fully IOed out, I'd put SD/WP/INV all in the top spots, their exact ranking might be decided on by what enemies they're fighting.

INV on a high end OMG THE INFLUENCE I SPENT ON THIS, is still likely tohave the PSI hole, to some degree (ie...might have a bit of defense added in there, but not that much)...but it can become a monster.

Though I can see why people might put SD in the number one spot, it still has it's down sides, but it's easier to get it softcapped and get an impressive amount of DPS out ofthe primary, while harder to do for WP and INV, as they need to use different sets to get their typed defenses up.

For example...I've yet to be able to make a DM/WP with softcapped defenses that could use the MG -> Smite -> Siphon Life -> Smite attack chain. Maybe others have. And if so, I'd love to see the build. But going over and over it again, I havent been able to do it.

7ft melee range and 5ft melee range.

Isn't this kinda like boxing? Where the boxer with the longer reach is consider to have an advantage in the fight?