Fire_Away
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Posts
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Joined
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Quote:(1) Yeah, I would rate a relook of base and personal storage needs pretty high up on the priority scale of base development need. Do the devs? Who knows?Originally Posted by Thunderforce
This is something I keep saying, so naturally I think it's spot-on. :-)
A lot of the leftover stuff just doesn't make sense unless you think of the original design as being to waste your time EQ-style.
I don't think the developers hate bases - taking base-building from being expensive to relatively cheap shows that. But that has had an unforeseen consequence - the rise of the personal SG and personal storage base (of course, people did it before, but it's a lot more viable now).
I think if you want to see bases - and supergroups - rise again, part of the answer is to cut that short. Account-wide storage is an often-made proposal, but it has to not be viable to take that _and_ a personal storage SG. I've suggested before - you can have account-wide storage, but then you only grant the 20K prestige to SGs you join once, not once per toon. That stops you from setting up a personal SG with 300,000 prestige, and makes using the account-wide storage and joining an SG with other players more viable.
I agree that base raids are basically a no-hoper given the overall failure of PvP (but, more controversially, I don't think that failure has anything to do with the i13 changes.)
(2) My personal opinion is that base raids have a history of being a quagmire of development failure. I'm not convinced that throwing more development resources at this aspect of bases is worthwhile or will even work at all in the end. But the devs clearly disagree. In fact, it's one of the very few things I've heard about in terms of commitment of development to do anything for bases. Despite this history, despite the PvP population and despite that there are many other areas where others would like to see base development resources applied... we appear to be headed for at least one more attempt at what Positron calls "Base raid awesomeness". -
I was thinking along the lines of one influence based market access point and one infamy based market access point ... not additional currencies (or markets).
[Edit add: And what would be horrible would be to not give the people starting in Praetoria the same 1-20 lvl market opportunities as any hero or villain starting in Paragon City or the Rouge Isles.] -
Quote:I'll take that bet and counter with that there will be two separate markets in Praetoria.Originally Posted by Galactor
I bet there isn't a market at all in Praetoria.
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Quote:I asked about SG/VG bases in light of GR switching sides a couple of times at HeroCon. The details were not revealed then but I did hear that bases would accommodate many possible player preferences.Originally Posted by Stormfront_NA
Mmm, was thinking...
Could we establish Grand Powered Groups (PG) bases, where the base and PG can have members on both sides. In our minds one could justify this as one group having "double agents" on the other zone (blue/red). This a base heroic SG, can have members in red side, acting as spies in Grandville or a basic villain VG, having members infiltrating Paragon City. With this in mind, then the SG/VG can have members from either camp and the bases have portals to either blue/red side. A flag could be made to prevent a blue or red character from entering the wrong zone.
Hugs
Stormy
That said, I do not think (my read) the intent is that toons can effectively act as "double agents" or spies in the opposite camp. The way it was described to me was that characters go through a process whereby their moral compass eventually changes from good to evil or vice versa. I suppose you can RP it anyway you want (and that's great). But the effect is that of good guys actually becoming bad (and then play exclusively redside unless they change back) and vice versa. -
"War Witch enjoyed the Valentine card so much that she invited TheOcho out 'clubbing'. Til now, he didn't know Jack about what she really meant."
If I am a winner, I permit NC Interactive, Inc. and NCsoft Europe Limited to use my name, likeness, photograph, hometown, and any comments that I may make about myself or this contest that I provide for advertising and promotional activities. I also certify that I am at least 13 years of age and am eligible to participate in this contest. -
Congratulations. Your selection was a great choice in my view. You always impressed me as a straight shooter with a firm grasp of both "what's right" with CoH as well as "what could be improved".
Please allow me to echo the sentiment of SuperTim, Redlynne, Impish Kat and Golden_Ace here and many others elsewhere. Isn't it time to deliver on the promise to make sg bases more "fun and functional?"
Thank you for your consideration. -
I keep having this image of Oliver Twist and we are the orphans on the outside looking in ("MORE???!!!!...You want MORE??!!!!").
This opposed to say AE which doesn't appear to have any problems garnering both hype and dev attention.
Here you enter a contest announced in mid December and a month and a half later... who cares? It's time to play AE arcs with the devs anyway. (If I sound jealous, it's because I am.
We don't even know for sure we have an advocate anymore.)
Most disheartening. -
Quote:Everybody scram. It's the color police. Leave it to the forums...BTW this from Wikipedia on the definition of violet "may refer to a shade of purple, that is, a mixture of red and blue light...".Originally Posted by Ninus
Only two "color names" registered within the last 5 days: Carnie Lyn and Doc Delilah. Further deponent saith not. (And even I am not that A-R to check further back when intell doesnt indicate another 'Purple Name' existing... hmmm, not 'Purple' anywho; it's a 'Violet Name')
Welcomez t'both!
In any event, now that at least one post has been uncovered color me thoroughly intrigued. -
Quote:Thank you Memphis_Bill for the quick link and to others for responding. Good to know I was not (this timeOriginally Posted by Memphis_Bill
Interesting. Made today, one post that can't be pulled up - wonder if it's another department? Shows as citizen...
Edit - Link to profile.
Quick search - it's not just joined today, there are several others listed with regular white names. Future redname? Hidden mod? Something to do with GR?) seeing something that wasn't there. Let the speculation continue.
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What does having a purple forum name signify (see Carnie Lyn for example)?
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Quote:I must agree with your assessment. There was a time when I felt that nobody would be desperate enough or rich enough (inf-wise) to bite at inf to prestige conversion at this horrid rate. But, I've since been proven wrong on both counts by many other players (and have, begrudgingly, converted on occasion myself). So, I too doubt the rate will change to something more favorable anytime soon.Originally Posted by Ironblade
I honestly don't expect the exchange rate to be changed. Yes, it's an appalling rip-off, but I think we're stuck with it.
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Quote:I play 99% Villains but this intrigued me. So I went in search of the Land Locked marker and actually saw it underwater. Guess that new video card I bought in anticipation of CoH "ultra graphics" is good for somethingOriginally Posted by Ironblade
There is also one in Galaxy City. Off the top of my head, I think it's 'Landlocked'. It's in the water and I have never been able to spot the actual badge marker.
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Quote:Good discussion. Hope it continues. Guess you can tell this is a hot button topic of mineOriginally Posted by konshu
And surely, if we have a tool to make new maps, it will eventually be used to replace the base editor. Or at least one would hope it would be so! lol
Though of course if we can make new maps, we'll need about 10x the file space we presently have.
I'm just not personally sold that expanded map capabilty for AE will automatically translate into just the ticket for bases. Also, it sounds like a major effort. Too bad work on it didn't start in '05 like you suggested.
Guess I'm with NinjaPirate and others in saying we haven't totally "hit the wall" yet with what we have. There are several things (already suggested elsewhere) that can be done in the short term both decoratively and functionally for bases that would make an awful lot of people happy... if the devs wanted to do that. -
Quote:[Sigh], you mean Sunstorm the guy who is a white name now? I can't get confirmation that he's even still with NCSoft any longer (In the past a red to white name designation change meant adios. But it's possible I guess it's an error or name change or something.)... let alone working on bases (or anything else).Originally Posted by Red Valkyrja
I asked Sunstorm at HeroCon about bases, and he said that he did have things in the work, but that yes he's been heavily involved with GR.
I'm hoping that, like BaB, he's sneaking a little time hear and there to work on things for the base builders. -
Quote:Ugh... I hear (and agree with) what you said about existing bases being a kludge. I'm just not so sure pinning the future of bases on the future of AE is such a hot idea though. With largely empty AE buildings and people openingly questioning the value of MA in total, I'm not so sure this is a great "rising star" to attach to either. The AE world might be, in the aggregate, in worse shape than the base world (die-hards in both camps aside) in terms of participation (I have no hard data on this however).Originally Posted by Redlynne
Which means that the best hope for upgrades to bases lies in aligning development resources for bases with development resources for AE environments ... which in aggregate sounds like a worthwhile "topic" of focus for an Issue release.
My wish would be to see bases somehow incorporated into the lore or "story bible" of the game itself. If only they could somehow project the pve (and yes optional pvp) environment into bases. If they could somehow be more "fun and functional" as I heard Positron once say... they would, I think, flourish -
Quote:Originally Posted by je_saist
What I suspect, and what actually happens... well. We'll see what the future brings.
You bring an "interesting" perspective to the table here... both in terms of your thoughts on the rationale behind what occurred in the past and what you "suspect" happening in the future. I don't know if your last sentence above hedges everything you said properly but... ok, you are certainly entitled to your world view.
I agree with some parts of your first post and disagree with many other parts. But it's probably not worth the time and effort to parse all of your comments line by line.
All I can say (repeat) about the present and future of bases is what I have first hand knowledge of from direct observation and/or direct discussion with the devs. In short, that is:
(1) Going Rouge development is currently indeed taking precedence over base development.
(2) Multiple devs at HeroCon expressed a desire to work on bases in the future. A return of "base raiding awesomeness" was specifically mentioned by Positron as something they want to do (regardless of your take on PvP interest etc.).
(3) Our "red name" rep for bases is no longer a "red name" on the forum. Who knows what that means? I PM'ed Castle asking about this but did not receive a reply (oh well).
Other than that, yeah you are obviously right... we will indeed see what the future brings. -
Quote:Too bad the "Known Issue" list is never anywhere near complete (pet peeve of mine I readily admit). If it were even close to comprehensive we'd have a much better gauge of what bug info is and isn't getting through. But alas...Originally Posted by DumpleBerry
We've since a continued disconnect between bug reports and the Devs. It's clear that at least some of the information and reports are NOT getting through. These days, it's better to do what Leo did. Post with documentation, then point a dev at it through a PM.
I fear for the GR beta. -
Quote:Me too.Originally Posted by MrHassenpheffer
THIS.
I think base editing tools would have been a better investment. -
What a great idea; and selfless cause! Bravo.
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Hmmmm... anyone else notice that Sunstorm's name is no longer red... in this thread or elsewhere?
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Quote:Originally Posted by GeneralHospital
As well as informing that there are....[settable SG Rank permissions on each storage bin]...why a few of the requests will never happen....[portals to WW/PvP zones]Quote:Originally Posted by PyberTrading Terminal (allows connection to Wentworths or Black Market)
- Not likely to happen for various reasons
Gee Wally, I dunno (Leave It to Beaver reference FTW)... about the market deal. Do you have some intelligence on this that I do not?
There's multiple ways to get from point A to point B in game already (via base, O-portal, public transportation). There's multiple ways to gain a respec (TF/SF, Vet reward, new issue, patron accolade, buy at market). Heck, there's multiple ways of doing lots of stuff. Why not have multiple ways of accessing the market... to include a "Trading Terminal" in a base? Seems like a natural fit given that's where needed item storage is located. What am I missing that makes you so pessimistic about this? Just the fact that you can purchase a token to get to a market now? -
You may want to look at the whole thread entitled "Base Manifesto" below if you have not already done so. I'm not real optimistic of much more base info coming to players in the near term than what is contained there (but if you do learn something please share if you can).
Like others have said (I should say the ones that "get it" but that would be unkind), I would speculate that there's a lot of downside and not a lot of upside to a "big reveal" for bases atm from a dev perspective. Not only does it detract from the main current focus (GR) but it could actually generate a huge (unneeded) "firestorm".
Consider the following (admittedly near worst case) scenario. Let's suppose "the plans in the wings" for bases are focused primarily on bringing back base raids (something the devs have gone on record that they want to do). I guarantee you that an early announcement of same would trigger an "immediate nuclear launch" by those people who have no interest in pvp saying the dev priorities are "all screwed up"... and worse. Heck, I'll be surprised if my mere SUPPOSITION above doesn't bring out a venomous post from somebody.
Now let's compound the situation. This "big reveal" hits a snag. Now, have you not only torqued off the people who wanted something other than base raids in the first place... now you have disappointed everybody who heard about (and prepared for) raids to return.
Yes sir, lots of risks and not many rewards for the devs to say a whole lot more right now about bases... especially with the focus being GR and all. -
Yo, it's not just about the look of pistol grip type weapons. It's the GLOVES (or robotic implants). Overhand fist... underhand fist...pew, pew...FTW.
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The way I heard it, CoX ran (some would say quite well) with fifteen people once. Presumably, if the bottomline dictates, it could do so again and the game would indeed remain afloat...most likely with continued West Coast development. If Hero-Con (between those that attended and those that wish they could) is any representative indication, there are enough "hardcore" aficionados to sustain the franchise into the foreseeable future at some minimum development level.
That said, I don't think we should trivialize the potential importance of Going Rouge. In my mind, GR, is Paragon Studios' "bet" that they are doing the "right thing" with a beefed up organization. One way to gauge how that "bet" pays off is with the impact on subscriptions. I'm sure that those mainly concerned with NCSoft's profitabilty will make a connection between "new hires" and the "bang for buck" that resulted.
The fact is, there are a lot of things (development directions) this, now resource richer, franchise could be undertaking. For example, I happen to be a "nut" for base development. We get a lot of empathy (even on the "cruel" forum and even from the devs sometimes)... just not a lot of action. I think the pvp community, the "revamp zones" community or the "pick your development gripe" community could easily make a similar case.
My hope is that the Going Rouge "bet" pays off... not only in terms of new and exciting game play... but in terms of sustaining the larger resource commitment. My further hope is that GR's success will eventually lead to long promised development in other areas.
The opposite conclusion (from a GR "bust" perspective) is not something I want to think about. -
Quote:After attending Hero-Con I can say with some certainty that the devs are more aligned with you above than my "quick and dirty" solution.Originally Posted by Smurch
2.) Yes, it's a great idea to duplicate an already broken system on a smaller scale to compound the problems we already have rather than fix them. Base builders have been asking for alot of things for a very, very long time. Personal housing as a PART of the base is one of them. But frankly, bases need alot of love and are loooong overdue for it. Your "I can't be bothered to go to the crafting table in my current SG base so I demand developer resources to accomodate ME" plan by no means should take precedence while there's a feature of the game listed ON THE BOX that still doesn't work right.
Oh well, it was a good "spout off" on my part at least.