Doctor_Gemini

For the first time since I came back to the game 3 years ago, a new issue's features are announced and I could not care less. It's also the first time I'm feeling burned out on the game and a new issue announcement isn't getting me revitalized to play.

What this new issue does do for me is solidify what began with creating a new universe to play in for GR - that the gulf between the direction this game is being taken in, and what I personally find to be enjoyable about the game, is growing wider with every issue.

I20 sounds good for those who like TFs and the endgame. It would have been nice if they had put something in for the rest of us.

Actually, mine has yet to be played, but I'm having to take a little hiatus from the club due to CoH burnout.

When did Jane Foster take off her shirt?

I'd put money on the assumption that they will completely ignore Wonder Woman's origins, there will be no secret island of amazons or Greek gods behind her origins. She'll gain her powers (if she even has any) from something her company invented.

I checked about a half dozen characters and only one had empty trays when I logged in. I hadn't logged in for 34 days, but a couple of the others had been inactive for more than 100 days. It seems to be a random bug.

Might want to keep the current one up for two weeks (effectively taking a hiatus for this week) given that this is x2 XP weekend. I know I, for one, won't be able to play it unless they actually do end the event on midnight Sunday (which would be a first).

I think it's the only thing I never put in my power tray.

With thugs on every corner I don't know why we see anyone on the street anywhere, I sure as hell wouldn't let my kids out of the house!

Everything people do is about reward. Usually that reward has to do with what goals you're trying to achieve. In bowling the reward is how many pins you knock down (or beer, which is its own reward), in CoH it can be having a purpled out level 50 or an incarnate.

In both activities, how much time you're willing to spend at activities that most find boring increases your reward. For example, no pro bowler became competitive simply by bowling with his buddies. He spent hours and hours bowling alone (and some people actually enjoy it). In CoH, those willing to farm or market can get the best rewards (some of them actually enjoy it as well).

The reward for playing catch with your son is spending time with him. If he spends the entire time on his phone with his buddies while you're tossing the ball around you're going to end the game quick. Same with the reward for spending time with friends, if they ignore you you're likely to leave.

All activities are reward driven, it just depends on what rewards you're looking for.

This is one reason why I keep thinking that we should make a ratings thread here in this forum, using whatever ratings system the majority of the AE community thinks is what it should be changed to. It won't get anyone in the Hall of Fame, but it will at least create a resource for finding arcs that more than one person thought were good and would be much harder to grief.

Sorry I missed last week's arc, luckily I managed to squeeze in enough time to run this weeks.

Hammer and Sickle of Paragon City

Run by Magikman L35 Willpower/Energy Melee Tank

General Pros: I liked this arc as it felt like one you could plunk down in the game and not tell it from any dev-created arcs. Those are the ones I especially look for in AE. The custom bosses were well balanced, even the EB was a fun fight (which is saying alot for me, as I generally hate EB due to the mechanics of them).

General Cons: I really have none. My only issue in the entire arc were mission briefings with red words. Anything done in red in this game is extremely hard to read for me, and since I'm running pretty high-end graphics and monitor, I'd assume it is for others as well. (Although I'm sure part of it is my eyes aren't what they once were either...dang aging)

Mission 4: The mission end text box tells the player what his character does after completing the mission on the ship. I would suggest changing it to say what the character should do. It's usually better not taking over a character's actions even if what you describe is what most heroes would do.

...and that's it. Despite my usually verbose reviews I've nothing more to add. It's a very good arc that will go on my replay list, and I give it a Thumb's Up (5 stars).


Addendum: Having looked back over the previous review, I wanted to say that I did not encounter custom bosses as LTs as Glenn did, they spawned as bosses.

Also, on the subject of your fluctuating rating. When I started the arc an hour or so ago, it was still at 152 plays and 4 stars. When I finished, after rating it, I checked it again and it was at 157 plays and 4 stars. It would be interesting to know how many tickets are waiting for you now to see just what those other 4 plays rated you at, because if all you have are the 25 from my rating it sounds like someone is messing with you.