Calibre

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You're Joe Scrub Hero/Villain. You're in a whole freaking CITY of heroes and villains. You're just not that special.

That's the problem.

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2) Don't let the PCs play "second fiddle" to NPCs:

Second only to having their characters taken prisoner, players hate having their characters play "second fiddle" to NPCs -- or even worse, having NPCs rescue them when they're in trouble. The PCs are the focus of the story and the campaign; they shouldn't be directly overshadowed by NPCs. This is not to say the PCs have to be the most powerful characters in the world. You can have NPCs more powerful than the PCs, even much more powerful. Such NPCs can act as sources of information for the PCs, or as inspiration to show them what they're capable of becoming. Just don't rub the PCs' noses in their inferiority, or have the NPCs outdo them at every turn. Keep the use of NPCs who are more powerful than the PCs to a minimum.


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-- Champions, 5th Edition, #2 on the list of ways to ruin your campaign

It's certainly true that the demands of an MMO differ from those of a tabletop RPG campaign. It's a lot harder to make thousands of players the center of the story than just the six guys across the table.

And yet, CoH did a fair job of that, at least up until now. The signature characters were kept out of the spotlight. Their main function has been to delegate tasks to the PCs. You actually get to save Statesman at one point. Your Contacts are all people who need your help. No individual player is the center of the story, but the players in the aggregate sense are -- they are the new generation of heroes society is depending upon in the wake of the Rikti War.

CoV is a different story. Villain Contacts are employers -- a completely different dynamic. The newspaper offers nothing but petty thefts and turf wars against other villain groups. (Mayhem Missions may be a step in the right direction here.) You only get to "save" Ghost Widow from an inconvenience. Patron Powers and the content associated with them are going to have the signature villains cast a very long shadow over the PCs. Villain PCs are much more subordinate to the narrative than hero PCs already, and can expect to be more so in I7.

Things are not really moving in the right direction here. The monthly comic was changed from centering on characters the players could identify with (poorly written though they were) to the signature heroes. Sidekicks of the signature characters were accorded AV status, only rescinded after an outcry. The new content appears to be largely geared towards impressing upon the players that their characters are bit players. If this is the shape of things to come, the players have every right to be concerned, and they should start expressing it now.

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QFTAE

Exactly. This is what I've been trying to say but my annoyance got in the way of my writing abilities, yet again *sigh*

I need a destress session somewhere heh.

Cal2

For me, this issue is one of personal choice, the freedom to explore the stories of my character in an cohesive and immersive universe. While I agree that a unified Story must provide the cohesion and, perhaps, animus for the good of the game as a whole, I prefer that the over-arcing elements of this story impact my characters' stories as an option, only.

It may well be that I will choose to make a character for the explict purpose of engaging the mainline Story of the game. In that case, I wouldn't at all mind being cajoled into irreversible choices: both in story and game play. Actually, I probably wouldn't see this as 'being forced' into anything.

But for MY characters I have designed for other purposes, I prefer to interact with the game story only as seems good to me, the storyteller of my own characters. This was the original premise of CoH---or, well, one of them, at least. The primary Story on the hero side was in the background, so to speak. You couldn't ignore it, of course, as evidence of it was all round. But you could write stories for your characters that minimized it or gave it a cameo role.

I'm not seeing the same options in CoV and this, along with other disappointments (rehashed powers, effects, ATs and so forth; failure to launch non-combat gameplay, the various costume issues and cheap marketing ploys) is leading me to consider that my time in Paragon City and environs may be coming to and end.

But, as I've said above: our discussion is moot. Cryptic only publically announces game features that are 100% guarranteed to be launched. Our window for arguing the cons of the PPPs is long past. Now, we must simply decide to love it or leave it.

Cal2

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Clint, I get what you're saying and I don't necessarily disagree with this as an OPTION. But for me, I write up my character background/history and then I use it and stick to it. I seriously do not want to engage any more of the narrative than I have to.

There are reasons for this, many of them, but the primary one is simply this: I don't like the narrative.

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That's fair. I hope that there are non-patron PPPs (I recognize the paradoxical usage of terms.) along the lines of CoH's APPs (which is, realistically speaking, unlikely at this stage) or that one can do one or two missions for the patron and then ignore the patron if one chooses - just for this reason.

There are all sorts of rails in CoH and CoV already, so one can't say that PPPs change CoV from a free-form content game into a railed game. However, it would be nice to maintain the level of free-form choice that long-time players are accustomed to.

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Precisely.

Oh, and, btw, I'm not necessarily saying the narrative is no good. I'm simply pointing out not everyone finds it appealing; I'm one of those.

One of my characters, Mor-Dante, is a member of the Galactic Vangaurd (think Lensmen type galactic police force) who, through the suspicious actions of a fellow patrolman, winds up serving the Space Beast, Celadon (a massive, galactic space entity with unbelievable psychic powers). Once captured and coerced by this monster, one has little choice but to follow it's dictates. Mor-Dante has been sent to Earth to recon and gather data on all the bizarro energies the Space Beast has detected erupting here. He's preparing the way for an invasion by the monster's humanoid criminal organization, the Octagon. Though he believes he's here for his own purposes, Mor-Dante still wouldn't willingly join the ranks of any two-bit, Earth-freak crimelord---Now, of course, he could be made to by his real 'master', but really--I'd only do that if the Story was compelling enough for me to do so.

As I've said, it's not, for me.

One example of why my main villain wouldn't fall for this PPP system and will, not doubt, wind up gimped because of it. How fun is that?

Cal2

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This just ignores reality. Positron stated that the choice is TRULY permanent

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Yes, I'm not saying otherwise. I'm saying that we don't know what it is we'd be permanently committing TO yet. A pool of four powers? Six? Eight? Preset, in a given order, or fluid? Like the hero ancillary powers, or not?

I've shifted my position a bit now, anyway. I'm pretty much convinced it's all about removing the incentive to PL.

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Well, there's that and the mixed signals we've sent to the devs that many of us want to feel more tied into the overall game narrative.

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Clint, I get what you're saying and I don't necessarily disagree with this as an OPTION. But for me, I write up my character background/history and then I use it and stick to it. I seriously do not want to engage any more of the narrative than I have to.

There are reasons for this, many of them, but the primary one is simply this: I don't like the narrative. I like doing my own stories for my characters. Yeah, I'll use some mission stories to augment here and there, but overall, I follow my own agenda. I like the freedom I have to do this in CoH. I want the same in CoV.

I feel focusing more and more on the NPC stories threatens our own character stories to an extent---if we have no means to opt out of this focus. Apparently, however, we're to be cajoled, hog-tied into our chairs and FORCED to read all about how awesome Capt Mako is and how much he hates that ridiculous Scorpion freak. Or, pick any other combo.

No thanks. It's good for the youngsters who enjoy that sort of thing; well, some adults, too, no doubt. But for me, it's a major irritation. Add on to this the fact that once I succumb to the onus of a patron, I can't do anything else but tow the line until the dismal end, is just insult upon injury. Let me say it another way: it's not fun, for me.

I realize I get a little carried away in over-analyzing situations and motivations (RE: my personal digs @ States) but really, I try to figure out what on earth is going through people's minds when they come up with ideas like this. There's just got to be more to it than: hey, what a neato idea! ETC.

Regardless, the design and code is set---publically announced, even. The patron system WILL be forthcoming whether we like it or not.

Cal2

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This thread is barely 24 hrs old and is already 34 pages long......you'd think this would send a message to the devs.

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What message? That's there's a small group of players who get hysterical over incomplete information and post multiple times?

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Feeble attempt at Trolling---specious and disingenuous backbiting.

Cal2

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I see so many post saying "Why not just make it like the heroes EPP's."

So what your saying is,you want the villians to be IDENTICAL to heroes.I say no to that,that's exactly why they are villians,and not heroes.

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I don't think anyone has said 'make them identical'. I believe we were asking for the process to be identical: the player, not the game designer, chooses epic powers and can respec out of any or all of them if they wish.

The coding is in place for this. What needed to be done was simply to add the CoV powers to the code, alter a few variables and voila, done.

Instead, we have a system forcing a permanent choice AND one that directly attacks our own character concepts---because either a: someone on the Dev Team thought it would be cool or b: they want to stop powerleveling (again, even though it won't work and can't be done).

So your counter-point doesn't address any of these problems and offer any solutions---except the one already insinuated by the Dev Team: like it or get out. That's why you were told it makes no sense.

Cal2

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I don't have a problem with the current setup for Villains, though if they'd set it up this way for heroes I'd feel differently.

I understand that from a metagame standpoint, people might get frustrated. "OMG, I worked so hard to minmax my character! If I make teh wrong decision, I might NOT BE UBER!!1!!! Damn you Devs for not letting me change my mind!"

...however, from a comic-book point of view, this type of decision-making is perfectly in line with Villain Psychology. "Wow! The (insert item of cosmic power here)! If I can sieze control of that, I'LL BE INVINCIBLE!!!1!" Naturally, as every good comic reader knows, the villain is usually incinerated three panels later.
..What I'm saying is, traditional Comic-Book Villains have always suffered from Poor Impulse Control. The repercussions of the myriad of bad decisions Villains make is what makes their character compelling, and gives them an interesting history.

So, if my character chooses a Patron that turns out to be gimped, well, tough noogies. I'll have to find some other way to boost my wickedness to make up for it.... probably by siezing the nearest (item of cosmic power) and blowing up the planet.

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Except, you won't be able to. Once you've chosen a patron, regardless of your conecpt or story, that's it. You're stuck. You have no other options. There are no 'other ways' except in your own mind where, presumably, you've already created your concept story. heh heh

I find it interesting to see that you believe this system would annoy the powergamers rather than the storygamers---a contradiction of my opinion above. Not being a powergamer, myself, I'm not quite sure I follow that. Unless, of course, you're saying the lack of respec is the choke point? If so, yeah, I can see that.

Cal2

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Preventative, you mean.

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Oh no. You're not forced to do the patron content. This won't prevent anyone from PLing to 50. It'll just remove any incentive to do so. They finally came up with something that doing the content can offer, but PLing can't (other than the story, of course). The reward from doing the storyarcs won't just be XP any more, it'll be patron powers.

I'm sure people will still PL through the odd level here and there, but zooming straight to 50 will be seen as idiotic.

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A choice that really isn't a choice, isn't really a choice.

We'll have to take patron powers because if we don't, we gimp ourselves. Don't forget that the higher level missions usually require a team, especially the AV/H ones. Unless they radically alter that aspect of the game. I think the kinds of teams that will ignore the handicap of 'no patron power' will be few and far between: mostly role-players or casual players who haven't gotten theirs, either. IMO, most teams will be looking for players who have goose-stepped and succumbed to the min/maxing content. If you're one who has decided to protest and rebel, then you're SoL for teams at the higher levels.

Speculation, but not far-fetched.

What I'm seeing here with this Patron Power system is the final nail in the coffin for those of us who want our own stories and concepts for our villains. We're being told: our way or the highway. That's how I'm taking it. The fact that there is no respec for any of it is just a reinforcement, a reiteration of this foolishness.

Foolish because it's not going to do what they want: stop powerleveling; it's going to drive away players who don't powerlevel in the first place. Apparently, they are ok with that.

Cal2

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I think the fact that we're tied to them at all is reason enough to debate the systems merits.

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Sure, but we're already tied to other things in the game, such as our primary, secondary, origin and so forth. I think a lot of the upset here is because a primary and secondary together have plenty of powers in, so if they nerf A you can respec into B or C, whereas a 'pool' has traditionally contained four.

Anyway, I'm trying to look at the broader picture now. They can't be respecced out of because they're tied to the content. They're tied to the content because this will absolutely slaughter any Portal Corp courtyard, Wolf-farming, Dreck-herding equivalent in CoV. If people PL to 50, they will bypass the story arcs that give them their patron powers. Four patrons, with no way to respec out of one and into the other, means four seperate end games that you can't play on the same character - there's the 'can't see everything on one toon' design principle that we've seen before.

I'm 99% convinced that that's what all this is really about. It's been designed this way as a PLing disincentive.

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Preventative, you mean. Yes, I agree. This has to be the reason for this nonsense.

Actually, if you're right, then this isn't nonsense, is it? It all makes diabolical sense, all of a sudden. Rather than do the work to make enthralling, dynamic gameplay such that players of every kind want to engage, they resort to forced gameplay and hack, arbitrary, rationalized 'content' in the most ancient tradition of SOE.

I hope you're wrong, but suspect you are right on the money.

So, in order for my villains to gain their epic powers, I have to corrupt or nullify their concept stories and background or history. Because the Dev Team has decided they will not allow powerleveling or, rather, powerleveling without heavy penalty. Put aside the fact that no gaming company to-date has ever successfully stopped powergamers bent on powerleveling---especially not Cryptic. The only players this draconian measure penalizes are the very ones who don't powerlevel, but try, try to role-play and create stories for their villains. I guess they are no longer even bothering to put forward a pretense of caring about any of this.

So, the only solution I can see is to have a second option available: a way to progress through a completely neutral story-arc/TF that grants epic powers but no NPC master for those of us more concerned with concept and story (our own concepts and stories, I should add).

In either case, I doubt they'll rescind their decision to have no respec for this. Once again, they are forcing an ultimate choice: grin and bear it or get out.


Cal2

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But it doesn't matter how it works! What if I decide, for example, that I actually hate the way Scorpion's Mace looks with my character?
Now I'm screwed in the A. What the damn Mace does doesn't make any difference.

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Then you have the choice of not using the mace and just using normal pools (just like heroes.)

I'm 99% postive that the reason this isn't respecable is that it ties into your badge/souvenir rewards for the Patron Story Arc.

You do the story arc (now the *history* of your character) you have officially pissed off all of the other patrons and only the one you picked will be your sugar-daddy.

A decision with a consequence! My gosh!

How CoV where if you fail a mission, the contact tells you to take a hike and won't *ever* talk to you again?

I'm quite happy to see it, myself.

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That's the very 'thing' I'm annoyed about. Why should I have to follow any NPC to get epic powers?

Answer: because someone on the Dev Team thought it would be awesome!

This will never be so for me. I like concocting my own stories, thanks. I don't need busybody, adhoc, compulsory storytelling assaulting my characters. Give me what the heroes have and I'll choose my own story and rationale.

Naturally, if I decide not to engage this nonsense, then I'm screwed over for epic powers and, once again, story+concept falls to powergaming and min/maxing. The fact that none of these powers can be respec'ed just adds tons of teeth-gnashing factor on top of it all.

I don't see how this 'idea' could have possibly made it past the first strategy meeting. I'd like to know the real reason we're being forced to endure this.

Cal2

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Wow, I was sympathetic to your post until this:

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These NPCs get better powers, costumes and options than the paying customers. I'm happy Statesman gets to recreate his favorite Champions adventures online, but he's doing so at the expense of my stories about my characters.

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Taking things a little personal and going round the bend, aren't you?

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How so?

Oh, you mean my little 'digs' at States. Sorries...I do that when I'm tired and annoyed.



Cal2

I don't like the entire idea of Patron Powers---regardless of their permanence or possible lack thereof. This 'feature' potentially violates my perogatives as the storyteller for my own character, interjecting themes and elements from the Devs stories into my character concepts without my leave to do so.

Big Deal? To the majority, probably not. It is, however, to me. So, apparently, once again, in order to min/max my characters(which seems to be what they want me to do), I'm going to have to violate my concepts---all because some busy-body on the Dev Team thought it would be neato! if each named villain would grant out epic powers.


bah

Why couldn't the epic powers progress as they do in CoH? Then all the choices are mine and respecing would be an option.

I'm becoming annoyed, once again, with the constant bombardment from the Dev Team with their 'signature heroes and villains'. These NPCs get better powers, costumes and options than the paying customers. I'm happy Statesman gets to recreate his favorite Champions adventures online, but he's doing so at the expense of my stories about my characters. These ridiculous 'patron powers' are just another, more insidious version of the same. I don't like it---a lot.

As an aside, I keep thinking about the production resources and time that could've been better spent. Like on non-combat gameplay options! The coding for epic powers is already live. Just copy it over, change it for the villain ATs and bam! done.

Stop trying to force me to play mediocre sidekick to NPCs, Statesman. Not only are these attempts boring and cliche, they are antagonizing, to boot. How about this: on the day these prima donna NPCs start paying my subscription fees, then I'll cow-tow and allow my characters to be patronized by them and you. Till then, try to remember this much: we pay for the game; your corny NPCs don't even exist.

Cal2

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I am putting the requirements for Contacts - and their location - in the Prima Guide...

but here was our intent with these Contacts - reward Exploration. Reward people who poke around to find new things. Now, the down side is that once found, these Contacts don't inform the player about what it takes to unlock them.

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I went through and cancelled, uninstalled, re-uninstalled and did all this over twice more for every SOE online because of the abomination of locked content.

Thanks, but no thanks. Been there and hated that. Why would I suddenly find it entertaining in CoH?


This is one shoe falling....

Waiting the for the other before I hit the road.

Cal2

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As several have noted, I7 features content mostly for City of Villains (levels 41 to 50, in fact). This is exactly what we did for CoH. City of Heroes will receive a cool graphics upgrade, new base items (Empowerment stations!) and access to Recluses’ Victory. It’s true that CoV received more attention, but that’s mainly because we needed to fill out the levels. I had the option of releasing I7 or waiting until we could fill out the City of Heroes content. Obviously, I chose the former. New content should get out there when it’s ready. We'll be focusing equally as much as possible on each product moving into the future...


For those who have speculated that Newspaper missions are coming to City of Heroes, they aren’t…yet. That’s coming a little later in the year. I’d like to add something different to the CoH system…

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With all due respect, I don't think you've chosen wisely. Taken together with your recent announcements in various interviews: power customization=no, new powers/ATs=no, new costumes=no, Skills=no, et al, the decision to exclude CoH content in I7 pretty much kills my remaining interest in your games.

How much, exactly, of the features you personally promised us back in CoH Beta are going to happen? Right now, I count zero.

Coincidentally, that corresponds exactly with my continued interest and soon, my subscription figures.

thanks
Cal2

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What i don't get is why they decided to make more villain backgrounds NOW that CoV is out. The only background that changed since launch was the 5th to council. Still, i hope they get more villain backgrounds soon. Maybe they will add the praetorians.

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Um...I think you just answered your own question.

We're adding to them because they are missing from the website, and we would like it to be complete. And fans have reacted pretty positively to learning more about the world of CoH/CoV...

Praetoerians are on my schedule...just not for a little while.

cheers,
Arctic_Sun

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Actually, I'd prefer NOT knowing more about Praetorians. I think this 'villain group' is abyssmally pathetic (and in a few cases, borderline psychotic). Insipid, cliche~, unimaginative and reads as 'filler' content.

In more fact, I'd appreciate a completely tangent story-arc/zone where I don't have to deal with any Praetorians whatsoever.

That's how badly written and conceived I think they are.

Cal2

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A brain in a jar isn't cliché? Robot minions are freakishly original? Welcome to comic books, son. If it's been done, it'll be done again at least twice. Nazis? Cults? Aliens? They're the marshmallows in the cereal of comic book fantasy. The Praetorians are no more ill-conceived than any other group in this game.

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Some people like em. I don't. Even a thousand apologists could not change my mind.

I admit to a certain boredom with 'entities from another dimension possessing humans bent on morbid world domination' as well.

What I'd like to see: aliens from OUR dimension; underwater world; The Moon/Solar System, etc.

Cal2

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What i don't get is why they decided to make more villain backgrounds NOW that CoV is out. The only background that changed since launch was the 5th to council. Still, i hope they get more villain backgrounds soon. Maybe they will add the praetorians.

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Um...I think you just answered your own question.

We're adding to them because they are missing from the website, and we would like it to be complete. And fans have reacted pretty positively to learning more about the world of CoH/CoV...

Praetoerians are on my schedule...just not for a little while.

cheers,
Arctic_Sun

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Actually, I'd prefer NOT knowing more about Praetorians. I think this 'villain group' is abyssmally pathetic (and in a few cases, borderline psychotic). Insipid, cliche~, unimaginative and reads as 'filler' content.

In more fact, I'd appreciate a completely tangent story-arc/zone where I don't have to deal with any Praetorians whatsoever.

That's how badly written and conceived I think they are.

Cal2

What on Earth are you people babbling about???



Cal2

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Hiya Babe,

Just wanted you to know that I've been an avid reader of your posts lately, mostly for morbid amusement, because, to some degree, I agree. That said, I'm getting the feeling that you're starting to lash out more than be constructive with your critism.

I think it's because you like, dare I say, love this game. You've slipped into mortal disappointment, like being lied to by your girlfriend/fiance/spouse. You don't really play the monthy-fees-dienfranchisement angle. This is my tip-off that I may be onto something here--you're passionate about this game.

Why am I say this? It's because I want the Devs, if they ever read this, to understand that severly-ticked-off people like the Captain here care and love what happens to their heroes and this game.

Hang in there, Captain Amazing. Maybe a hero *will* hear our pleas and swoop in to save US this time.

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Sure, I buy that. But throwing rancorous insults out? Why? And why would anyone care to read anything like this when it's full of idiotic insult and outright fabrication?

You'd have to pay me much more than 15/month to read this garbage.

Cal2

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All this crap from someone who dosen't PLAY a blaster.

Defiance is worthless. none of your gobbly [censored] changes that.

Not that it matters.... a damage buff isn't what we needed anyways.

How about playing a blaster into the late game and then come back here and make those lame [censored] assertions. and those MINOR controls and defenses you speak of? When compared to what others have IT'S NOTHING. And since I've played three archetypes into the late game my experience trumps yours 6 ways to sunday. Blasters pay WAY to much for too little extra damage and the illusion of range.

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Er, um, Hepheastus is correct (though needs to display a bit more tact heh): try playing a Blaster from 0 to 50, then tell us what we need. Until then, alas, you know not wherefore you speak.

Cal2

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We're making some tweaks with Defiance in the upcoming patch.

It is not getting a major overhaul though. Just tweaking the defiance so it starts to kick in earlier. The overall buffs posted earlier are staying about the same (getting only slightly better), but you will be recieving a damage buff earlier in your health bar now.

This will be reflected in the Defiance meter as well. We've made some tweaks to that as well.

I want to stress that you actually can end up being buffed over 500% with Defiance. (500% is the max buff for Blasters) This actually does nothing except protect you from damage debuffs.

This is one of the rare instances in Issue 5 where a solo character is able to reach a cap without help (or inspirations).

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Posi, nice power design and all---but really, I won't be using this power on my 50 Fire/Fire blaster, ever. Well, not intentionally. The moment I'm in the yellow, I'm popping heals or if out, I'm running for the door. If a team-healer type plays around with me trying to boost up my damage by letting me hit low health, then I'll quit the team and run for the hills (never to group with said experimentor again).

Sorry, but I truly feel you should give this power to Scrappers. They like living on the edge like this. More power to em, so to speak.

Blasters, OTOH, need something much more logical and substantial. The HP buff and damage cap raise (we did get one, right?) are much more logical and 'blasterish'. Thanks indeed for those.

Nice try, tho

Cal2

Dear Manti,

When will Synapse have his revenge against you for sending him, a poor, noble, brave and, of course, wise Blaster, into Lord Recluses' lair to 'scout'?

Scout what, btw? Did you really think none of the Bad Guys were in there, having defeated their guards already?

I'm suspicious of your motives heh heh heh.

Here's a suggestion: Synapse, finally fed up with Manti's obnoxious arrogance, turns bad, joins Lord Recluse and becomes his second in command. At this point, he eagerly awaits the return of the FP to the base. Intentionally, he sets up death-traps in every room and taunts Manti into 'scouting' the base, cleverly tricking him into leaving the rest of the team outside.

Sound good?



Cal2

I'm still mad about Manti sending in a poor, brave, noble, and wise Blaster into LR's lair to 'scout'.

Not-so-subtle, obvious ploy to demoralize Blasters?


hmmmmmmmmm?

Or something personal against Synapse?

It's just wrong, wrong, wrong.



Cal2

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I completely concur that the Wet Ice Def buff is so slender that it's pointless to slot Def Enhancements...but people already have done so.

Here's what we'll do: Wet Ice will no longer accept Def Enhancements. We'll increase the base def somewhat. Def Enhancements that are currently slotted will continue to have an effect, but players won't be able to slot new Def Enhancements into it.


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This is a bad idea, "grandfathering" always creates the illusion of haves and have nots. Make the change and suck it up.

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I disagree with the Dev Team solution for this. It defies logic:

Why can't I put a Def. Enhancer in my Defensive Power?

This is what I'd be asking myself as a newbie Ice Tanker as soon as I got the power. No convoluted mathematic rationalization would satisfy me, alas.

I'd suggest a complete redesign of this power rather than forcing functional illogic into it.

Cal2

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I couldn't possibly agree more. Honesty is one thing, but being proffesional when speaking to customers is another. It's almost as though he's saying that we're a lower class of people so it's ok to be a jerk.

I am honest every day at my job, when someone is wrong or has misunderstood something, I have to tell them. But I do it nicely. What's wrong with that?


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Nothing's wrong with that. But we're not co-workers. And there is a significant minority of posters who don't feel the need to say things politely or courteously. In fact, the amount of personal mud that has been slung at the developers in general and Statesman in particular is simply embarrassing. Moreover, when I explain something to a client more than once, I tend to get testy too. The client's don't leave, they start listening because I am providing a service that it's difficult for them to get elsewhere, as is Jack. Clearly, the game is meant to be played differently in I-5. While it's clearly not, as some folks have claimed, 1 hero=3 minions, clearly the spawn described in the post that's got everyone's attention was not meant to be soloed. And Jack's response was, as most are, taken out of context. He said the ZONE was meant for groups of 5+ players, not that particular spawn. He was driving home the point that the hazard zones are no longer a place for solo farming.

Whether or not you (and for this and the rest of this post I don't mean you, TheMiddleman, it's just a general rant)
agree with this vision is one thing, but the vision has been laid out and we can try and change it or adapt to it. But ignoring it, as many posters are doing (And I still see quite a few posts complaining how difficult it is to HERD in I-5) is going to get you snarked at.

However, I don't recall Statesman ever calling a poster or the player community a *censored*, *censored*, or even a *censored*; things Jack gets called all the time on these forums. People feel free to call him things that if said to a number of people (including me) in RL would lead to a fistfight.

If the player community wants courtesy, then it needs to start by giving some. If it wants answers, then let Statesman give them without worrying about whether it might hurt someone's feelings. Geezus, these are the forums. If folks are going to be insulted or upset by sarcasm, then maybe the forums aren't for you. Heck, the game very well might not be for you. I've noticed far more sarcasm than RPing in the game.

Anyway, thanks for the vent. And to Statesman, as I said above, I hope your brother's tour in Iraq is boring and uneventful and that he returns home ASAP.

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Forgive my laziness...but I complete agree with Quickshadow here. I feel a lot of ppl on the boards are more about whining and less about playing and having fun. Remember, we are here to play heroes, not crybabies.

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Forgive my compounded laziness. I wish to associate myself with Quickshadow's remarks above. Strongly associate myself with his remarks, even---hyper-strongly associate; hell, even uber-l33t-hyper-strongly associate...you get the picture.

Good karma and blessings from the Gods to your brother, States. While I disagree on many levels with our real life heroes having to do what they are doing, I nevertheless stand firmly behind them, wish them all good vibes and cannot adequately describe how proud I am of their noble sacrifice on our behalf.

As for I5, don't pass out or anything, but I'm tired of waiting for it to go live heh heh

Cal2

Final analysis of Defiance from me:

Bad Idea.

Sorry, Statesman, but this 'special ability' places Blasters in more jeopardy (risk) with no compensating reward. That's right: NO reward.

You already know why: because it demands we violate good Blaster gameplay tactics. It's a debt magnet waiting to happen. It will piss-off all the 'healer' heroes/heroines amongst us.

The ability activates when the Blaster is already in the danger zone. There is no time to 'weigh options or consider choices'. When you are at the point where this power activates, you're already dead, you've already pissed-off your team and you're sucking asphalt or soon to be. Oh, did I mention you've already pissed-off your Healer, as well? Who in their right mind is going to piss-off their Healer???

Whoever conceived this ability obviously has never really played a Blaster from 0 to 50. There's no way you can convince me he or she has. If they had, then they'd know that you don't have time to make any other decision but this one: fly/run/jump/port away or die.

Jack, this is a waste of coding resources and time. It doesn't address a single one of the issues we Blasters have brought to your attention for the last four months. I'm astonished at the lack of response to our issues and HOPE you've got something better up your sleeve.

thanks for trying, though.

Cal2