Fire_Cat

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To be clear: the code for sharing costume pieces between City of Heroes and City of Villains is NOT yet in...heck, it isn't even written yet. BUT we'll do it after release - hopefully very soon after release. Then heroes can have access to the new options.

To be honest, this idea came specifically from this thread. Since people wanted the new costume options, I checked with Software - who said it could be done. Just wanted to let you know that yes, we do take suggestions!

FYI - for those who don't like the idea because villains should look different than heroes - remember that villains already have hero options. They can create a character identical to one that exists in City of Heroes.

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Thanks Easter Bunny!

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Very good tips. I like to think that I'm a bit proactive in my healing. If I'm not dumping a heal other into someone and 3 or 4 people are down a sliver... why not top them all up with an aura. That blinking splinter later may be the only thing between them and debt.

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Thank you!

Nothing wrong with being proactive if that is your playstyle. I beg to differ for these reasons:

The aura requires you to be closer to the target than may be possible (or safe).

You also have a slightly longer recharge on the aura. You risk using it to top off when not necessary, then not having it available when it is necessary.

And topping off lends itself to spamming heals which is boring (once again IMHO.)

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*edit so it was not so much of a postjack*

Sorry Cat I forgot to thank you for the insite on Emp
I play a DDD and have not ventured into the world of Emp
I always like to know what other sets can do. It makes it easier to team with them.
So thank you great post on Emp

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Thanks and no problem about the postjack. It is the nature of the beast.

Welcome!

Pshh! Like *heroes* know how to use elevators in those more-than-3-floors missions! "Were we going up or down?"

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Ok, I've PMed Statesman, Positron and Geko about this. Hopefully they'll be albe to straighten it all out.

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You spammer! You sicken meh!

Glad Baby Clock okay.

I meant how I was using the word vigilant - to be aware the majority of the time you are playing. And not letting yourself get into those "hitting the fan" moments very often.

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Didn't know people liked this thing so much.

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This is why people should give feedback more often, and I'm sorry I haven't done so!

Your guide is a good complement to LadyMage's.

If you follow my guide, I believe the new defender inherent Vigilance - despite its name - will not kick in as often. It kinda goes against EVERYTHING what I was getting at...

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and having it show you the Player AT icons is another eassy way to tell your squishy from your tank...incase the auras arnt enough.

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I hadn't heard that suggestion before. Very helpful!

Does waitress wink at Bo when him get hashbrown? Bo have admirer!

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Good work on the great post!

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Thank you!



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I also would like to add two great powers that really help the pure healer: Hasten and Recall Friend.

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Some people may want to go a "pure healer" route. However I'm not championing it with this post.

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I would also like to point out that no matter how good or vigilant YOU are as a healer, there are IDIOTS that play Blasters (not to say ALL Blasters are played by idiots, but y'all know what I mean) that require healing for the entire mission/outdoor hunt generally because THEIR OPENING MOVE IS AN AOE ATTACK. Rather than put up with that BS, politely inform them of the error of their tactic. If they continue, do your best to keep up.

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I don't like to baby-sit. Enabling someone's bad playstyle isn't something I would suggest.

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The last cardinal rule: NEVER WITHOLD HEALING FROM SOMEONE NO MATTER HOW MUCH OF A PAIN THEY ARE. I've teamed with healers that do this and this IS a terrible thing. It ruins your reputation and moves you up the list.

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How about this rule: NEVER STAY ON A TEAM WITH SOMEONE WHO IS BEING A PAIN.

...double post...

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Remeber also that you must be willing to get you hands dirty. Recovery Aura ROCKS! Coupled with Hasten power to bring it back faster you and you team should never run out of breath. Make sure you "GATHER" your team mates and have them stop form time to time to make sure everyone gets a little loven for the BIG Dee.

Throw Fortitude in there and clearminds and your force will be all most to good to beleive.

Once you reach level 16 you should most worrie about the controllers and blasters who deal teh mob. Esspecially if you don't have a Tank.

There are two type of tanks I like to run with. Damage Takers and the Scapper/Tanker. Scanker I like to call them are Scaps with Melee attacks and Inv as a second. Tough enought to take a few hits be for needed to much healling but have the blow per blow to deal enough damage to hold them off. But they offten forget to complete their Scanker by not taking Provoke powers after 6th. Taunt is a must for all tankers to sever there Deffender well.

I am running a Empathy / Rad Blast as a second. This combo allows the average tank the def debuff so they are able to keep up with Damage dealing at a rate they could even be near Scapper levels if slots are done right.

Remember to Pattern heal as needed. Me-You or You then ME works. Blaster Blaster me Blaster tank Blaster Blatser RUN.... are all different Pattern Heals. Create your's today.

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I think you are covering far more than I wished to.

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When you are on a team and in a fight, don't even look at the screen. Select your target hero, then the appropriate power from the team tray, keeping a close eye on those red and blue lines.

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I gasped when you said don't look at the screen. But then I read further. Anyhoo, you can also put the red and blue lines above your teammates characters...

I haven't read all of this, but what I have seen looks pretty good. Nice job!

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AASQ #1 is causing all sorts of nasty browser problems so - it must die.

Is it TEOTWAWKI? (The End of the World as We Know IT?)

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A: For some people it will be.

Q: Did I get first reply?

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A: No you didn't....

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q) Is this the new AASQ?

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A: No! We must start with te correct question!

Q: Where are the Lost in Kings Row?

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A: Same place they were last week

Q: Do you like the new box I have, it has racing stripes!

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A: It needs speed holes.

Q: How long will this take to die?

Very nice!!

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Nice suggestions

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Good job

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Thanks! This means a lot coming from you two. I continue to look for guidance from you both on the defender boards.

Edit: Thanks everybody for the great ideas so far!

Great suggestions!

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Remind players that there is a HELP button (F8, as I recall). That works a lot quicker and easier than "Heal plz".

[/ QUOTE ] Yes, if you find yourself unable to keep track of who needs your help - then by all means have your team use that button. Once again, IMHO you shouldn't end up having to hear someone say help to perform your job. But I realize these times do happen.

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Be proactive. If the Controller is running forward to open up the battle with an AoE Hold, have him targetted already. He'll probably be taking some damage.

[/ QUOTE ] My point exactly. You should find out how far your tank can get away from you while herding in order for you to heal. You should find out who is going to alpha-strike. Is someone about to use their "big" attack? Be prepared to heal them up.

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Check team powers to see who has Phase Shift or similar powers, and who has Absorb Pain or MoG. That way you don't waste time trying to heal the same person twice when they're Phase Shifted.

[/ QUOTE ] I made a suggestion in the other forum that the letters PS and AP get added to the icons, so at a glance you can quickly tell who is PS'd etc.

Disclaimer: This is based on pre-40 experience. For the sake of this guide I am focusing on healing only.

First of all, healing is not about taking Healing Aura, Heal Other, Absorb Pain and Regeneration Aura, slotting them to the max and spamming them through missions. Perhaps the players who have done this coined the term heal-bot.

It doesn't work that way. And why would you want it to? One, it is inefficient. Two it is boring. When you spend that much time, slots and effort on healing powers - you are left with little else to put towards buffing, debuffing or attacking.

With that said, here are my suggestions:

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[*]An empathy defender has to be vigilant! I can't impress that enough.

Why is this important? You have to be aware of what is going on in the game. And that is important because you have to be ready to react. Healing Aura, Heal Other and Absorb Pain are all reactive heals. The few seconds you take to cast them can mean the difference between life and death.
[*]No AFK for you! You do not have the luxury of doing a silent AFK. If you are a chronic AFKer, empathy defending is definitely not for you. In fact, if you have to go AFK a few times a mission it will be noticed more than other ATs (besides tankers) because sometimes it is dangerous to move ahead without you.

Why is this important? Well besides the obvious that people get impatient? As soon as you come back from AFK "the team goes wild" Its like an itchy-trigger finger. In fact more often than not, the team won't wait for you to come back. And you return to see Jonestown.
[*]Check the map. I find myself checking the map frequently. Not just for single errant player, but for the groups that get split up (in places like caves its very common with paths so close to each other). One thing that will surely wipe a group is when half the team runs one way into a mob and can't retreat.

Why is it important to check the map? Because you can't heal what you can't reach.
[*]Watch the levels that end up on a team. If a player (more than likely a blaster) is several levels below the mobs you are facing, you are going to end up either babysitting that player or leaving them face-planted a great amount of time. Either option doesn't help the team.

Why is this important? Rezzing (or running somewhere to Recall Friend and rez) takes time and endurance away from the team that you are defending.

I have this theory that dead players, even the most insignificant ones to the team, affect morale. And until players realize you can't stop every death, you are going to be held (even if its not true) responsible.
[*]Inform your teammates. Very few people know every powerset and how it is used and how it effects the teams. Whenever possible, explain that in order for your healing aura to be effective, well - they need to be in the aura. Your heals require endurance. If you are out of endurance you can't heal. No matter how many times someone yells for it. Remember many players don't watch other players health or endurance bars.

Why is this important? It helps to let your team know you are low. If your teammates can't give you some Catch-A-Breath inspirations, they can otherwise adjust until you have rested.
[*]Don't take any crap. Do not let someone yell at you to heal. If you are vigilant, as you should be - the only time you can't heal is because it is out of your control. Once again heals are reactive and the time it takes for someone to type "Heal Me!", you should have already cast it.

Why is this important? No one should be more capable of playing your character than yourself. Once again - if you are vigilant, you have already made the decision if it is best for the group that the person yelling "Heal me!" needs to be healed at that time.
[*]Don't take the blame for everything. Yes we want to be good defenders. People dying meant we didn't defend successfully, right? Of course this is wrong. Even the most vigilant defender will have deaths on their watch. Find out what happened and see if there was something you could have done. If it turns out there was, adjust your playstyle to compensate. If it wasn't, suggest to the player what they should or shouldn't be doing (if you have that knowledge.)

Why is this important? Because empathy is not the be-all end-all (what a pun, eh?) It will only help to let others know the limitations of your power. Don't let a simple statement like "just keep me healed" slip by. That is a loaded statement. The other player is setting *you* up for failure. Until you are granted an unlimitless supply of endurance and full damage/mez protection - you will never be able to garauntee that you can "keep someone healed".[*]Empathy defending is not for everyone Many players say empathy is passive. Or that they find it boring. Since this is a game, it is sad that people choose to play a powerset they don't enjoy. Perhaps they stick with it because they are able to find teams easier, but if you aren't having fun then what's the point? (Also the teams you end up on aren't always ones you'd want to be on anyway.)

Why is this important? If you feel that empathy is passive and/or boring how vigilant can you be at it? Not very. And I believe vigilance is the key to success.
[*]Did I say vigilant?

Why is this important? Maybe you should read my post again. [/list]

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"Look," say Svrgyn. "Svrgyn no biggest Troll, but Svrgyn no two-feet either, and as for that one day in Red River...it was really cold."

"What you talking about?" say Beovark. "It like 70 degrees that day at least."

Svrgyn beat chest.

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Fire_Cat_Troll say size do matter. Svrgyn need get promoted with fat raise.

Almost ran to look for costume entries....almost.