City of Heroes: Live Forum Archive

Captain Fabulous

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  1. Captain Fabulous
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by MrHassenpheffer View Post
    The idea behind my postings was to bring any and all info I could to the table,

    Part of my troubleshooting teachings is, bring everything possible to the table. My oddball approaches at least cover the "way out there" theories and for the most part get them out of the way. To dispel my ideas on what is causing the problem doesn't make me upset, it simply helps single out everything until a solution is brought to light. I really hope it can be found soon.

    I like the info that is being brought up regarding how i17UM is part of the game and only certain features can be disabled. Sounds like a step in the right direction for troubleshooting. There has got to be a bigger population that is experiencing this and not using the forums.

    aside from that, I wish folks would stop tearing into each other. Personal attacks don't solve the problem. <Notice how I respond to personal attacks?>

    Fab, what are those two tests please?
    Prime95 and Memtest86 are the two standard tests to run in order to rule out problems with the CPU and memory. Combining Prime95 and AquaMark will push both the CPU and GPU to the max, and should expose any overheating issues. GPU-Z is good for monitoring your GPU temps, providing it has a thermal sensor.

    And I don't think it's fair to use the term "ultra mode" like it's something you can turn on and off, cause you can't. It's not some kind of alternate rendering pipeline you can choose to use or not. It's merely a few graphical enhancements that you can choose to enable or disable in any combination. If you were to choose not to "enable Ultra Mode" when given the option all that will happen is that the new features will be turned off. That's it.

    It would be like saying if I have antialiasing and anisotropic filtering on I'm in "super duper graphics mode" and thinking this is some kind of special graphics renderer.

    Now it's entirely possible changes were made under the hood in order to allow the ultra mode features to work -- changes that could alter the way the visuals are rendered even with those new features turned off. This is not to say you're in "ultra mode" tho, it just means they reworked the graphics engine. There is no way to go back to the old engine.
  2. Captain Fabulous
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Kurrent View Post
    I've been having the exact same problem for the last two days. Fixing the cohupdater file gets past the /tempfile hurdle, but then it just falls into the eternal nightmare of "downloading file manifest," then "fixing cityofheroes.exe," repeated endlessly. I've already sent a ticket to tech support, but no response yet. I'd certainly appreciate any info that could help me get past this. Thanks!

    Jo
    Did you try "run as administrator"?
  3. Captain Fabulous
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Ice_Ember View Post
    Burn (shudder) could be adjusted again. (I shudder even thinking that knowing how badly the power has been nerfed from the issue 4 hayday.) If it could be changed to affect 16, be a contact DOT instead of a placed DoT, I would welcome the change. Leaving the animation and the placement, but making the damage "stick" to the enemy from when it is placed.
    Either that or give it the Shield Charge/Lightning Rod treatment so it does full damage at melee range and a slightly reduced damage at a greater range (say 15'?)

    Isn't there also an issue with Burn not properly inheriting damage buffs from the caster?
  4. Captain Fabulous
    Did you try running the game as an administrator? Right click the shortcut and select "run as administrator".
  5. Captain Fabulous
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Kosmos View Post
    Yet you assert definitively that Ultra-Mode is optional.
    Because it is. There is nothing magical about "ultra mode". It's a set of 4 graphics options that enhance shadows, reflections, and water, and adds ambient occlusion. If you're in safe mode (which sets all graphics options to the bare minimum) you can be sure all of the ultra mode options are disabled.
  6. Captain Fabulous
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by sblinks View Post
    I've found after logging off, and relogging on, while getting all my toons thier annvisery badges that I'd keep getting the 'you are still logged on' message.
    Not a big deal, but odd as the 30 sec count down would run through fine going back to login screen.
    This is fairly common and has been for a long time. Sometimes there is a slight mis-sync between the client and server when you log out. So if you immediately try to log back in you get that message because the server isn't yet aware you've fully logged out.

    The solution is to just wait a second or two before you log in after logging out.
  7. Captain Fabulous
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Evangel View Post
    you could try turning off any of the options that were enabled by ultramode

    or

    restore a backup (you do those right?) to a point from before I17 release and then when the option comes up to use ultra mode or not, you choose not.

    or

    reinstall CoX from scratch and then select not to use ultramode

    or

    go into options>graphics and click the enabled button beside the advanced options so it changes to disabled.

    See? UM is optional after all.

    Out of curiosity, how are you sure that it is heat that is killing your laptop? Do you have a CPU temp monitor running? Is it the CPU that overheating or the GPU or the ram? Are you getting a BSOD?

    as for cigarette smoke: as a smoker, a techie and having had the same PC components for the last 5 years, you'd want to be exhaling 40 a day in a small enclosed space directly into the intake to cause a nicotine buildup like you are describing. I have seen smoke buildup on fans and components but these were in PCs in the environment I described above (non-smoking techies would go into the office at all, neither would thsoe squemish about dead rats ). Also, he's had someone check out his machine, pretty sure they'd see any residue build up on the fan.

    however, having said all of this, if I17 killed all machines with a heat issue then I'd say its a bug with i17. Seeing as only one user so far has discovered this issue [ so far] I'd say that, as it stands, its an isolated issue WITH HIS MACHINE and running CoX i17. Doesnt mean i17 is broken, just means that its broken for you. I'd be more than happy to help in any way that I can but perhaps this is better suited to the technical issues thread than here?

    seriously, ten people swim in a pool, one drowns, the rest swim happily and leave. which is more likely, the pool has something wrong with it or the victim couldnt swim very well?
    I'm still not convinced his problem is heat. I think it's something else. Hard to say exactly what without running specific tests (which he seems unwilling to do), but it could be memory, power, or possibly even a just-starting-to-fail CPU or GPU. The system is destabilizing under heavy combined CPU and GPU stress, so clearly there is something not right.
  8. Captain Fabulous
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Djeannie View Post
    I am not one to excuse shoddy work but I have seen the following scenario in action...Marketing/Division Head says "we don't care if it's buggy, release it now" and programming has to release it. It is possible that QC was doing its job and reported everything only to have a higher up say tough fix it later and release it now for the 6th anniversary.

    EDIT: On your second point they said in i17 or soon after. Hasn't really been soon after yet
    This. Yeah the issue is a little under cooked but they obviously wanted to release it on the 6th anniversary. But to be fair, while this issue might be a bit buggier than usual, previous releases usually take a good 2-3 weeks to settle down after a few post-issue patches.

    Also remember a large chunk of the team is working on Going Rogue, which could explain why things are taking longer to fix than usual.

    I'm not trying to make excuses for the dev team, just trying to put things in some kind of perspective.
  9. Captain Fabulous
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Bardon View Post
    Note: This is often not a very good idea. Cases are designed carefully for optimum airflow. Removing the case means that you've basically opened up all the channels that used to funnel air over components and in fact your fans will provide less cooling than with the case on. Imagine a wind tunnel. Now imagine if you took away the walls - how much less air would be hitting the end of that tunnel as it spills away to the sides?
    Very true, but only if you already have adequate cooling. If your cooling is somehow impaired opening up the case will restore at least some of the lost airflow. You're right tho, if your machine runs cooler with the case open than closed there is a problem.
  10. Captain Fabulous
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Doc_OBay_Jr View Post
    You know dude, I have been gone for what seems to be hours running tests with HP, support and everybody n their brother and come back and u are Still at it.

    This attitude that "Hey my stuff works so you are a liar or it's your fault"
    Where exactly did I state you were lying about the problem or that it was your fault? Oh that's right. I didn't. I did question the extent to which you've run tests, as the only one you've mentioned by name is AquaMark, which is certainly not the end-all-be-all of diagnostic tests.

    Quote:
    My "Proof" is it did not overheat before they loaded I17 a couple hours later.
    Not "proof" as correlation does not imply causality. Again, to use the car analogy, if my car overheats only on the interstate it's not "proof" there is something wrong with the road, only that there is something wrong with my car.

    Quote:
    My "Proof" is that I'm passing All testing and am not overheating anywhere else UNTIL I load the game.
    Then you're not running the right tests. And you keep saying it's shutting down due to overheating, yet you have provided no "proof" this is true. Do you have any idea how difficult it is to get a modern laptop to overheat to the point of critical shutdown?

    Quote:
    Grow up or go away until you have Helpful Advice and not just this fire you have against anyone saying they are having a problem with your sweetheart.
    I have given you helpful advice. You have chosen to ignore it. If anyone has their head shoved tightly up their behind it's you. But like I said, no skin off my nose. I'm not the one having problems.

    Just curious tho -- did you do *any* of the things I suggested? Yeah, thought not. Don't ask for Helpful Advice if you have no interest in accepting it. It's much more productive to continually whine in post after post. Despite what you may think the devs aren't out to shaft you. I know, I know, it's hard to believe. But so was convincing the ancient Greeks the world was indeed round.
  11. Captain Fabulous
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Doc_OBay_Jr View Post
    hmmm, I have a question for u Fab, are u here so much because U Can't load the game yourself or because you're a Paid spokesman for coh and are on the clock?

    Seems I did pay attention, my fans were checked and they are clean, yet you don't have a new know-it-all answer..........
    I played the game for 8 hours on i17 launch and 14 hours on Friday. I am having no major issues -- no crashes, no mapservers, no overheating.

    And if you were paying attention you still wouldn't be sticking to this ridiculous idea that somehow the game is causing your properly-cooled laptop to overheat.

    Here's an idea. Run Prime95 and Aquamark together and see how fast your laptop shuts down. That is, if it's a heat issue at all. Do you have any proof the shutdowns are heat-related?
  12. Captain Fabulous
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Doc_OBay_Jr View Post
    Geez are you just in a bad mood and want to piss on everyone today and play sir-know-it-all?

    Cool Your Ambient temperature bud.

    I was not going to even bother reading or replying to whatever you had pulled from your backside since you as much as called me a liar but since I have. let me make it clear for you, I played the game for 8 hours the night Before I17, no overheating as with the 48 hours in a row I played before on some weekends. Then I17 and my fan goes nuts, laptop overheats and shut off at about 15 minutes. No Other place has this effect = until I return to loading the game up.

    Now, since I had the "in your own words Imcompient Best Buy Geeks" check my system and there was no problem, My vents and fan Are Clean, all Tests Support sent me to do came up good = can you with all your wisdom of all things tell me what Magical thing happen to my comp at the same time I17 came out that caused my overheating that Only happens when I load the game? BTW while at Aqua with all those very nice high end graphics set at highest setting my system did not overheat.

    Really mister wizard I would love to know where this stalker overheating problem hides when coh is not on and why it only showed up when I17 hit.

    Cool your jets dude or don't read forums, or at least don't Bother writing on them until you're in a better and Helpful mood.
    You're clearly not paying any attention. Oh well, see you in the game. Or not. Doesn't matter to me.
  13. Captain Fabulous
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Fixxer View Post
    Gratz on the completely un-needed rudeness.

    While I am not experiencing the over-heating issue... a program CAN indeed cause your system to over heat. Instead of using junk science as your backing for your hostile opinion; open your mind... do some research.. and learn that not everything is so black and white.
    Sorry, NOT possible. A properly designed and cooled machine operating in normal ambient temperatures will NEVER overheat. This isn't junk science, it's fact. I'd love to see your "research" that proves otherwise.
  14. Captain Fabulous
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Doc_OBay_Jr View Post
    It Only overheats when running coh, it does not overheat running anything else, and I'm not the only one saying something about this or players fans running non-stop since I17 so if you have a problem with this issue or my writing about it, which I thought that was what the forums were for = don't read it, seems to me to be a stupid idea to come to Forums and cry ppl are Writing on them, go look at a blank wall somewhere.
    Your comment of "you've supposedly" impplies you are calling me a liar, hence my veiw of you or anything you have to say.
    By all means, come to the forums and report the problems you've been having. But you've gone way beyond that with multiple posts that are nothing more than repeated rants. It's not necessary or constructive. This thread is not your personal ***** and moan blog.

    And I repeat, if your machine is overheating, even if it's only while playing CoH, then the problem is with your machine, not the game.

    It's like saying "my car only overheats when I'm on the interstate, so clearly there is something wrong with the road". Doesn't make a lot of sense. It's the same for computers.

    Check to ensure all the fans are working and the vents aren't clogged. Also take note of the ambient temperature. I don't know where you live but many parts of the US are having a bit of a heatwave. The greater the ambient temp the hotter your machine will run. You should also make sure that vsync is turned on; it could allow your machine to run cooler.
  15. Captain Fabulous
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Doc_OBay_Jr View Post
    I've run thru all the test things support has sent me, 4 now.
    The last one being Aquamark, some bench test thing, pretty graphics there btw, and Passed that one too at 75% of Full All High Lvl graphics settings, Far Above medium settings ratings.

    So far the only thing support can complain about is my CPU is running hot (NO S&*$) it's when I load COH and only since I17 went live.

    So everything checks out my side by all the tests they sent me Hoping it would show it was on My Side and my laptop passed everything they sent at me and checkout as running right at Bestbuys geek squad tests.

    Still tried to run in Safe Mode where they said was the way to bypass All Ultra Mode settings, funny that they are now writing Safe Mode is the only place where UM does not have an effect on the game, and Still overheat to shutdown.

    But No! we are All wrong! it's all Our fault because there is Nothing Wrong with UM and it is completely bug free! ROFLMAO!

    I'm starting to think coh to them is a playground for them to try things out, drive clients for it away and then use what they learned here on Another game they want to make.
    For pete's sake will you give it a rest already. Software can't cause your machine to overheat unless there is a pre-existing cooling problem. A properly cooled computer will never overheat, even when running a game.

    So despite all the tests you've supposedly run and Geek Squad incompetence the fact your machine is overheating clearly means there is a problem with the machine, not the game.
  16. Captain Fabulous
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by EarthWyrm View Post
    It's possible, but it only happens in City, it's only happened since I17 dropped, and from looking around the forums, I'm not the only one it's happening to. I appreciate the help, though.
    Have you tried using a hardwired Ethernet connection instead of wifi?
  17. Captain Fabulous
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by EarthWyrm View Post
    The problem persists in safe mode. Interestingly, I couldn't even connect to the login server the first time I tried in safe mode; had to back all the way out of the program and go through the updater a second time to even be able to log in.
    It sounds like a connection problem not a game problem. You might want to call your ISP and have them check your line, just to be sure.
  18. Captain Fabulous
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by EarthWyrm View Post
    Done and done. Still mapserved and crashed out, mainly just standing there with the options window open in KR.

    Edited to add: Thank you =)
    Did you try safe mode?
  19. Captain Fabulous
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by EarthWyrm View Post
    Physics Quality: Low
    Maximum Particles: 50000
    Turn physics off and particles WAY down (around 5000)

    Quote:
    Bloom: 0.761 (turned on)
    Desaturation Effects (Sepia) Enabled: Yes
    Turn these off

    Quote:
    Suppression of Extra Player FX Enabled: No
    Suppression of FX When Camera Close Enabled: No
    And turn these on
  20. Captain Fabulous
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Derangedpolygot View Post
    Well, one reason is we cannot send bug reports. After using the new Market UI, the various market button are grayed out and do not respond to any click. This carries over to the various other virtual buttons; Send Petition or Send Bug Report doesn't work.

    Another reason is the graphical issue that lag out the game or cover everything with horrifically distorted graphics(not my issue, but have seen plenty of this on the forums). Wither of these makes it unfeasible to make a Bug report.

    Another--albeit 'minor'--is the change to the Enhancement's size. The level numbers are hard to read with a large monitor, and impossible to read with a small one(I have a 14"). Respecs are barely feasible with this change; making the free Respecs granted more of a tease than a treat. This was bugged in Beta, but seemingly disregarded and put to Live anyway. It appears we were(and are) not heard.

    It feels more was broken than was added to the game with this issue. It's as though it were rushed out to meet the anniversary, and before all the kinks were ironed out(Yes bugs always accompany a big Issue, but this really has taken off the shine).
    Live patch on a issue should be an exciting day.
    More or less the feeling (at least mine) from this has been disappointment. No, I'm not whining to whine(I did my share of that back with the debacle that was ED). This is a honest response. For the first time I'm disappointed with the game I love. That just makes me sad.

    [Okay, yes I got very much off topic. I guess this has been just sitting in me for a bit]
    A /bug report will never get you a response. If you're having a technical issue you should go to the support site (help.ncsoft.com) and submit a ticket.
  21. Captain Fabulous
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Avatea View Post
    • Catalyst 10.2 drivers have a conflict with Ultra Mode features. After toggling between graphics quality levels and pushing "Apply" in the UI the game framerate may drop dramatically until you quit the game and restart. In order to avoid this issue please update your drivers to the latest 10.4 version.
    Typing /unloadgfx into the chat box will fix the framerate issue when this happens.

    EDIT: Catalyst 10.3 is also affected
  22. Captain Fabulous
    The only problem I've been seeing are frequent flashing of the screen, like a black flash that lasts for a fraction of a second. I haven't played around with the video settings much to see what might be causing it. I have a Radeon 4770.

    I know the problem isn't just me as someone in chat was mentioning they were having the same problem.
  23. Captain Fabulous
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Bill Z Bubba View Post
    Brutes get higher HP and at the top end do around 3% more sustained damage than scrappers. They get a longer duration on fiery embrace and a higher mag on cloak of fear. They level faster in the pre-SO levels due to fury. Brute.Claws.Spin is ridiculously overpowered compared to Scrapper.Claws.Spin.

    The devs OBVIOUSLY hate villains.
    I'm pretty sure Brutes have a higher damage cap too, unless that's changed.
  24. Captain Fabulous
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Grey Pilgrim View Post
    Fiery Aura can pair with Fiery Melee, though... and get 20 seconds on its damage... which no other set can do with the power. Which is my point of contention.
    I understand your point. I just don't see why it's a big deal. Fiery Aura has a power that better synergizes with Fiery Melee. So what?

    Quote:
    Dark Consumption is in an offensive set, does more damage (about twice that of Consume), AND recovers more endurance per target. I'd be fine dropping the damage (less than that of Scorch) and getting more recharge, myself.

    For other sets, Energy Absorption recharges in 60 seconds AND increases defense. It does recover less endurance and costs endurance, but again, higher recharge on an end recovery tool is more helpful. Power Sink recovers more endurance than Consume and recharges in 60 seconds as well.

    Starting to see the discrepancy? I do. Fine if you like it that way, but it seems off to me.
    I see the discrepancies just fine. I'm trying to tell you they are there for a reason. As Trashcan pointed out, Consume has twice the range of Dark Consumption, hence why the damage and +end is reduced. The other powers you mentioned don't do damage. I'm not saying I like it, but that's just the way it is. I would love to see the damage removed from both Consume and Dark Consumption if it meant reducing the recharge to 60 seconds. But that's just not the way it is.

    Quote:
    We have been told that Fiery Aura's tradeoff for less protection is more offense, yet other sets have far better tools for offense now. Burn has a lot stacked against it, and still shows the evidence that it was nerfed to where it is, rather than designed there. An attack that scares off mobs is little help to the attack, let alone the person using it (especially since it's a melee set, usually).
    I don't want to start a Burn war. But I try to look at the power objectively, and while it's certainly not what it used to be it's not a bad power. It does a nice chunk of damage, recharges quickly, and the fear component is a nice damage mitigator. If you pair it with an AoE control power (which are readily available thru your melee or APP/PPP set) you can easily trap a bunch of critters in it for the full duration.

    Quote:
    I don't like these, either, but the design philosophy seems set on the lack KB protection now. Not sure why. The other problems at least have some leverage, to my mind. But I'd gladly see these fixed, too. It would hardly make Fiery Aura overpowered, heh.
    Dark Armor also lacks KB protection. The reason we have always been given is because they get something else instead. In the case of DA it's psionic resistance. Again, I don't necessarily agree, but that's just the way it is.
  25. Captain Fabulous
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Grey Pilgrim View Post
    My main point was that Fiery Embrace is not as beneficial to other sets than Fiery Melee, and that doesn't really make sense for the game. I have seen people be confused by the difference, and annoyed. It also discourages a non Fire/Fire build, to some extent. The offense you're trading off for Fiery Aura doesn't translate as well to other offensive sets.
    It depends on your point of view. It works fine with every melee set, but just works better with Fiery Melee. It also buffs all the damage in Fiery Aura -- Blazing Aura, Consume, and Burn. So while it might not appeal to everyone, if you're going for maximum damage (such as Brutes or Scrappers) anything that boosts damage is your friend.