Darkonne

I'm grateful for the fix, but I sincerely hope this will actually give a stable server for longer than a week.

-D

Can we get some detail on the precise timing of these freespecs?

I'm assuming that the launch of Freedom includes the bit that allows us to select Epic/Patron pools at level 35, and I would definitely like to respec my characters to take advantage of that. But I can't do that until after the patch, so I'm hoping you won't be handing out the new freespecs until several days later.

-D

EDIT: Proper quote now included!

Very interesting analysis, SJ. I hadn't really thought about the inter-form balance in that way.

I'm hardly a Kheldian expert, but here's my idea: redesign Photon Seekers so that it can be used to different effect in each of the three forms. Human form keeps the current explosive pet for alpha strike potential. The Dwarf gets something like Photon Sentry, an intangible pet with no attacks in exchange for some sort of heal/buff. Nova gets a Photon Sentinel, which shoots things for reliable ongoing dps.

Obviously technical hurdles might make this a non-starter, but based on Swap Ammo, I think it's at least theoretically possible. The catch is whether the different powers can be made to share the same cooldown timer; I'm unaware of anything like that having been done before.

Anyway, that's my thought.

-D

Actually, I think EC's point was that selling "power" which could be obtained exclusively via microtransactions would ultimately lead to a split base. People who want the power would feel as though they 'had' to buy the widgets, and might feel resentful about it. People who cannot use MTs for some reason would feel left out and abandon the game.

The video wasn't particularly interested in the balance implications of the specific items offered, because that's not really a function of MT; that's what MMOs are built on regardless of their payment model.


I really don't think EC was saying "you cannot sell things that grant in-game power bonuses for Real Life Money." I think it was saying "you cannot sell things that grant in-game power bonuses exclusively for Real Life Money."

So your example would be fine as long as inspirations are also available via in game currency.


It does seem to skip weighing the inherent value of aesthetic items (like Costumes) against practical items (like powers that alter the game mechanics), if that's what you mean. But I think it's purposely skipping a discussion of how much convenience is the right amount, because it feels those are details that can be dealt with once the fundamental nature of what is and isn't appropriate has been ironed out. So if it's a gross oversimplification, it's an intentional one.

-D

There's also no counter indicating the number of Hellions still to be killed. It's not a streetsweep, unless they've radically altered how those work.

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More likely it's just a descriptive term used for the mission.

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Most likely true. But I really wonder what sort of positive light they expected to shine on this. Maybe El Super Mexicano accidentally burned all the Circle's robes and cloaks and this was all that's left?

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Just in case I haven't posted on a thread you've tallied up yet, count me as extremely opposed to this change. The old CoT look was great. It had a clear theme the suited the Circle perfectly. In addition, it was quite distinctive from the other mobs in the game, so it helped the CoT stand out.

The new look does none of that. They not only don't look like a coven of mages, they look like a random assortment of costume bits. Perhaps the stills aren't doing the new costumes justice, but it doesn't even look like the texture or details are any better than the old ones.

I know it's unpopular to to have NPCs wear costume pieces we players can't use ourselves, but forcing them to wear generic castoff gear instead is a cure that's worse than the disease. Please leave the CoT as they were.

-D

Then I'm going to have to say the new system was a waste of time. Tripling the rate at which we get rewards is nice, but it doesn't solve the fundamental problem. And letting people buy their way into the system, when we're already getting a conventional store, just makes the whole thing into a clumsy hybrid.

I was hoping for much better.

-D

Wait, seriously? That defeats most of the purpose of selecting rewards in the first place. I had assumed you'd be able to proceed to the next tier as soon as you made one pick in the current tier.

Booo!

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What are the qualifications for being a Tier 9 VIP? Presumably you have to be a current VIP, I get that. But do you need to have unlocked a Tier 9 VIP bonus, or is the mere potential to do so enough?

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The devs certainly seem to have settled on total proliferation. That said, I'm still skeptical about giving Controllers Dark Miasma or giving Kinetics to MMs.

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I still think that's a largely illusory benefit. It only helps if you actually want to use the same part on 2+ characters. I suspect most of them, especially the non-Ascension parts, are too specific to have a lot of repeat use.

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Phew! Glad it's being addressed.

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So, how do we go about getting a red name to look into this?

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Thanks to Ouroboros, pre-Incarnate endgame was almost the entire game. That included a lot of solo content.

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Why turn the game into a different game at level 50? You're simultaneously setting the soloists/small ground enthusiasts up for disappointment, and forcing trial lovers to slog through 50 levels before they can get to the good bits.

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Little known fact: prior to his heroic death, Atlas was tasked with picking up the borders of Rhode Island and moving them about 20 miles out in all directions. That's why we can fit several zones in modern paragon!

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Did fully 'leveled' characters really return their share of iXP to the pool? That seems unlikely.

At any rate, I'm not sure what happened, but my rate of gaining iXP is much lower - probably somewhere around a third of what it was before. I really don't think we needed to spend longer unlocking those slots.

-D

Isn't that what the difficulty sliders are there for?

I don't quite understand why it's considered normal to design solo content for the first 50 levels of the game, but then unreasonable to design it for the next 10 pseudo-levels.

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Thank you for the response, but I still have some concerns.

On BAB, I understand the intent, but I don't think it's conveyed very well, probably because the background is rather dark. If the buildings behind him were similarly washed out, it might help. Instead, they're mostly in silhouette. It's a weird effect. For the record, I still think BAB comes across as dark skinned, but it did take me a few seconds to recognize him.

On Sister Psyche, however, I really object. I don't equate those lips with "shock and fear." At all. Even if I did, it would be hard to take that shock and fear seriously when she's thrusting her chest out in that ridiculous pose. Honestly, it looks like she should be clutching a towel to her chest, having just stepped out the shower to find this week's murder victim on the floor.

There's no excuse to keep feeding the notion that female characters are only there to be explicitly female. I hope you can devote the time at some point to rework this cover*; it's not the image I'd want to associate with the new CoH experience.

-D

EDIT: Specifically, her pose. I'm glad you will be tweaking it, but I'm not sure that will be enough.

I've certainly spent a lot of time waiting for trials on your server, Pacur; I've even waited along with you while some of your leagues filled up. I'd have to say the time spent waiting for trials is a large percentage of the entire time I've devoted to trials.

It wouldn't bother me as much if we could actually do things while waiting, but unfortunately we can't.

-D

I'm not even qualified to play a hockey fan on TV, but to my untrained eye I'd have to disagree. Rome clearly accelerated after Horton had passed the puck. I do think Boychuk should have been given an interference penalty, but didn't need to be suspended.

Anyway, being a Bostonian and having a few die-hard Bruins fan friends, I have to root for the Bs tonight. (Besides, Paragon City is close to Boston, right?) Let's hope it's a good game!

-D

That sounds all well and good, but it doesn't sound much like the Incarnate system as it's currently outlined. What does the person who enjoys raid content forgo?

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