Grey Pilgrim

I didn't have time to adjust a costume yesterday for the theme. I'll definitely try for it if you do a Tim Curry theme sometime (or are you going for the evil butler/evil character Tim Curry always seems to play?).

Having actually been on the terminal team, it is more active, but they can both be fun. Count me in wherever I need to be in the future.

New Dawn, if you truly believe this, why on earth are you posting on the forums? No one is qualified to comment on the game but the developers, so why even talk it over? That's what this post and your others keep suggesting.

Certainly, we're obliged to make a strong argument for why powers aren't working if we want the developers to agree with us AND do something about it (there is a difference between the two).

I've already posted adequately enough in this thread as to why I am disappointed in where the changes are for Kheldians. And even if the developers would like to change things, I've also noted why it can easily feel that they are "sitting on their laurels" and not doing anything more.

For all I know, Arbiter Hawk would like to do some more things to Kheldians, but we have now way of knowing that, and the development decisions since I22 have showed that any changes to Kheldians are not as important. I've also covered why that is an issue to my mind.

The issues, as already stated numerous times, is that there were changes that said should come, and some kind of look at our powers after I21... and nothing has come of that since then. Yes, we don't KNOW that for sure, but that's just the thing, we don't know where we are. We've even had a kheldian player talk to Arbiter Hawk in person and ask him to post, and he didn't say anything.

I'm hardly one of those that thinks the devs should bow to our every whim, but a little word at this point would be more than nice and helpful, given the situation (which has been gone over more than once).

Professional is certainly the name of the game. If one is a professional, they can think through cutting criticism to see if any of that criticism is even merited (as a teacher and a writer, believe me, I know how difficult but possible that is). Certainly you prefer more positive and constructive criticism, but you can use negative criticism as well.

I'm not exactly sure what New Dawn is reading, but if honest disappointment is cutting criticism, the words "I wish you wouldn't do that" from someone New Dawn cares about must truly cut to the bone. I'm honestly not trying to be mean with that, but I don't know how else to take these earnest posts that there is something quite negative with this overall thread. Certainly Two-Headed Boy calling New Dawn a troll is negative, but the actual comments on the state of Kheldians are at worst disappointed.

And New Dawn, this quote can be a good approach to life: "Buffs are icing because I am not jeopardized without them. Fun happens when you are free of certain things that bother you. Not a lot bothers me so any buffs would be icing." I feel much the same way about how you should react to things in life, whether it's a game or much more real. But such feelings don't hold as much water when it comes to any kind of design. A developer/designer/artist that is content to sit on their laurels and be safe is going in a bad direction.

In other words, I still enjoy playing my Peacebringer, and there is a certain truth to the goofy Monty Python song "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life." But holding to that no matter what with where Kheldians are at is just ostrich head in the sand foolishness.

"Enjoy the game, but don't just settle," for an even more TLDR version.

I actually to read other responses to this post to figure out what you even mean. You actually think this thread is harsh? I know you hang out in the Tanker forums... Johnny Butane can be quite harsh about the devs and tankers. Expressing disappointment that promised work has not yet been done is not a harsh thing in the slightest. I'm not even angry, really... just disappointed. Kheldians are one of the more interesting ATs in CoH, and I hate that they keep getting ignored like they do.

And "any buffs are icing" is an odd and broad thing to state. Given that approach, you could say any old change to an AT or powerset that is not working as well as it should is icing... but that ignores pesky little things like if the changes actually fix the problem, or fix it enough. Which has not happened yet, alas. I'm happy that changes were made to Kheldians after they first came in the game, and I11, and I21. Yet for all that list, there are still issues with the AT. If anything, it's the attitude that "any buffs are icing" that has caused them to continue to have problems.

Partial changes often don't get the job done. Castle supposedly had a great, overall plan for improving PvP, and the changes were only half put through... and they have just sat there, without anyone (including him when he left) being happy about the state of things. Get it done right the first time is the way to go, or at the very least, if you are going to start changes, follow through on them soon.

I thought I would love the class as well, but I just do not like the playstyle at all. I don't like buffing teammates, and I want to be the one hitting my opponents.

I'm getting close to the same dislike of Defenders and Corruptors. They just don't do enough damage for me, and being able to debuff or buff isn't an obvious enough bonus to me for playing them.

You know... I kind of wish some of human form's double-dipping ranged attacks had not been implemented in the design phase, and buff powers of some sort were used instead. It's pretty clear that Warshades are supposed to be better mezzers, but you can't really see a clear cut niche for Peacebringers. Probably not going to happen now, but it would help.

Certainly Kheldians are aimed at the jack of all trades idea, but their implementation and some of their specific powers just do not mesh well. Part of the "VEAT envy" people have is just from their better design. They had a clear goal and they are designed effectively toward that goal.

Yeah... to put it nicely, I'm not sure how my post earlier equates with "My rage... let me show u it." It's just simple disappointment. I'll try to let it pass at that.

You mentioned a few things already, but some of the latest posts from Synapse recent can illustrate some of my feeling pretty well. Dark Assault is getting a brand new power/PFX, all scraped together just this week! Isn't that great? But wait... there's that whole formshift animation thing that they STILL haven't found time for from I21 to now. Yes, Synapse said they just barely had time for the new dark power, but the irony from my position is rather rich (I'm happy for the Dark set, don't get me wrong, but I'd be more happy if they had found some time for the promised Kheld animations as well).

Synapse has also noted his reluctance to put Umbral Torrent in the new set, due to its KB. The irony here is especially rich to me. Yes, Doms have melee powers, but they also have a lot of good ranged powers. They're much more range focused than human form Peacebringers are, but Peacebringers still have KB in powers that just do not synergize well (quick aside on that, Energy is great on a Blaster... all that KB is not so good on an AT that works better at melee range--and human form PBs are much better at melee range). I see logic at cross purposes from the dark powers to kheldians, and it kind of drives me nuts.

As noted earlier, I also had higher hopes for the devs with Kheldian changes. I probably read too much into Second Falcon saying I22 would have Kheldian changes, and Arbiter Hawk saying he would continue to assess things. But at the very least, I did not think an animation change for the formshift was too much to ask for (and maybe the Light form option to go with it).

It just all adds up to the same old story that many negative types have held to: that Kheldians just are not a priority for the developers (or in a better light, they don't have the resources to do them justice, which I hold to when I'm most down). I'm a realist, but I tend to want to be positive about things. In the face of all the evidence, it's hard to be positive, hence the OP.

I really, really wish Arbiter Hawk would talk more. Synapse has been great the last two issues, at least acknowledging ideas and saying things might have to wait, etc., and adjusting his plans to feedback. Arbiter Hawk has been quite nice in the PMs I've had with him, but his quietness on the subject is hurting more than helping. I know he doesn't want people hoping for too much or misreading things (as I know I have in the past), but it would be nice to know we're not forgotten.

I would say that's asking for a lot with most requests, but Kheldians have been so neglected it would be nice. And we've been at least close enough to changes that some info would be nice (whereas PVP, bases, and AE haven't been close to anything for a long time, so leaving them to sit isn't going to make that big of a difference).

I'm insulted. Grey Pilgrim is a Scranker? No wonder MP asked if I'd be okay tanking Maelstrom on the TPN. That hurt too, let me tell you. Sheesh.

Not that I don't enjoy GP's extra damage, but he can take the heat, too.

And to you, good sir! *bows*

Hey, that's good to hear. Keep meaning to put one together for Blasting as well: I seem to like the opposite ends of the spectrum quite a bit.

Wait, why am I cursed? Or am I the fire scrapper in this? Grey Pilgrim is a Fire/Fire Tanker...

And if it is that way, why is Chad cursed? There should be no cursing on birthdays! /em Dr. Strangelove "Gentlemen! There is no fighting in the war room!"

The actual death was well done, but as you said, it was blunted somewhat by the announcement. I don't know why they felt the need to do it, and my early conviction that they have something else up their sleeve seems to be contradicted by the official dev posts saying he'll be removed from the game. The sig story arcs have actually been pretty strong for me with their storyline, and I'm kind of disappointed that I knew it was going to happen ahead of time. They even played the death scene like he might be able to rally from time to time, and that was screwed up by their "preview."

I don't know that I agree with the rest of what you said. Wade's overall scheme could fail, but he could easily still be around with super awesome powers for a long while. He's up there with other incarnates now (or should be).

I know some people don't like him being such a threat, but I've actually considered him to be one of the greatest dangers in the CoH universe ever since I heard him hint at wanting to free Rularuu. He's a striker from the shadows as well, and those are always ones to be careful of.

A code rant is always necessary with something like this. I don't know what the code (or animation time) looks like on their end, and it's bad to assume it would not take much time. It certainly was going to take enough time during I21's beta that it had to be put off.

I get that you'd be okay with no animation at all and a sudden change, but I would prefer something. I'm rather surprised that quickening the one we have already looks bad, but I'm willing to accept Arbiter Hawk's statement that it does look bad.

I accepted that the animation for the form change would have to happen later, but I also know that the longer it takes for them to get to something, the more likely that it will not happen. Eg., time between changes for Kheldians I11 to I21, or Fiery Aura, from I11 to... I18 or so. I don't want the formshift animation in another 1-2 years: it's been needed since Kheldians were made, which is a lot longer than 1-2 years.

I also hate partial improvements. Fiery Aura and Stalkers got them a long ways back, and Fiery Aura wasn't complete until I18 or so finally got the job done. Stalkers have been improved, but clearly not enough (I'm hoping the new set does the job). Why do I hate partial changes? Because no new changes happen for a LONG time, or there is a perception that the powers or powersets are now "good enough."

Good enough doesn't fly in my book. Get it done right the first time so you don't have to go back to it. That's my policy with my teaching and writing, and I don't like it anywhere else. I know that there are time constraints (hence my being okay with a little wait for the formshift animation), but overly long ones or ones that are there because things are "good enough" do not sit well with me, and they shouldn't for any designer. Keep in mind that this is a stance that Synapse and the other current devs do tend to have as well. It's not some random preference I have.

The formshift issue is a large one for how playable Kheldians and their aesthetic is. I'd say it's an even bigger problem than the two power changes Peacerbringers still need (Pulsar's anemic mez and long cast time, Solar Flare's KB). I don't care as much about the toggle issue as Two-Headed Boy does, but that's part of the flow issue that Kheldians still have, even after their improvements.

/em Monty Python "yay."

Dante, the animation changes are what I was referring to... I find it rather disappointing that between the I21 beta and I22's, there was somehow not time to do it. Doesn't seem like it would require an entirely new animation, but I suppose the standard code rant applies.

I also took too much hope from Second Falcon saying they were hoping for some Kheldian changes in I22 (this was in June/July before I21's open beta). I'm guessing they were able to fast track everything to I21 and that's... all she wrote at this point.

Don't get me wrong, I like that stuff happened in I21, I just find it disappointing that they STILL couldn't do the animation change a whole issue later, and that nothing else was changed. It's much like the I11 tweaks with Fiery Aura for me. They were nice, but not enough, and I hate it when they just sit and sit in need of help.

No need to feel so pressured. Just join in when you can and it's no biggie if you are behind. Even joining in for a little bit is nice. Sure, we jibe people for being late or leaving early, but that's all part of the group. We'd rather have you than not.

Probably would help not to think of them as "stealth-focused." I usually find it better to see them as two-dimensional Scrappers. Scrappers are pretty much one thing (heck, Brutes often are the same), and Stalkers have a greater tactical capability that can actually make them more interesting to play.

Not sure what my next Stalker will be... maybe wait for Staff Weapons, though I was hoping to use a Tanker for that. Might try KM again, since that is a fun set. Just wish we would get a new defense set (I don't like using the same set twice... EM is the most I've done it with Blasters)... we've been all attack or control sets for a long bit.

I don't know why they didn't up the Stalker max HP level when they upped their base HP. They know that +HP makes a huge difference for melee sets, but somehow neglected to notice that when they made that change. *shakes head*

Yeah, I'm really happy about the team up teleporter working from anywhere. Biggest annoyance for me is waiting on leagues to get enough people... I only have so much time to play and don't want to waste it standing around Pocket D.

Not sure if I'll be making more Stalkers even with the changes. I like my one enough, and I play him when I feel in a Stalker mood. I play him just like my Scrappers, but I for some reason have more Scrappers. Not sure why. I do like the changes and will enjoy them when I am on my Nin/Nin, though.