Hyperstrike
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Posts
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Joined
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One of the things triggering this is that, on some of these other games, it's a complete black-box system. All the players know is that they CAN get something. But they don't know what, and don't know the odds.
Cryptic sidestepped that a while back by publishing the percentages.
Whether or not it's still "gambling" is debatable. Personally, my opinion is "yeah". But having this get legislated would probably be the absolute WORST thing that could happen.
In short, when the US Government gets involved in ANYTHING, expect them to **** it up royally, and waste a bunch of money doing so (both yours, and theirs (which is also "yours")). -
Quote:I'd be careful with this. The single-card SLI offerings have historically had issues in CoH.Originally Posted by CoyoteShaman
Just looked up the GTX 690 specs. When I can figure out how to write it off as a business expense that baby is mine.
And more, you're likely to see a performance DECREASE in CoH as the 690's cores are down-clocked from the 680. -
Quote:This explains much...Originally Posted by BrandX
You know, I actually saw Highlander 2 before I ever saw Highlander 1. Having seen it that way, I quite enjoy the movie, though dont care for the directors cut.
So Highlander 2 is actually what got me interrested in Highlander, and then catching the series when it came on.
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Quote:GG, you've got nearly 65,000 posts ofOriginally Posted by Golden Girl
I'd do the same stuff that I do now
. You might give it a rest before your face freezes that way...
Oh wait... Nevermind...
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Quote:No problem.Originally Posted by Jordan_Yen
Neat suggestion! Thank you
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Quote:Are you asking for a LEVELING build? Or a finished build.Originally Posted by Tethers
Thank-you if you stopped in to help! I'm trying for a hit-me-in-the-face so my doggies don't splat build. Details below. I'd really appreciate the help. If I use your build, I'll use your name as my battle cry, and fill my char info with your praises. Really.
I have about a C- grasp of IO builds. To keep from making silly mistakes and wasting tons of money, I'd like your help! Oh, yes, I have mids, of course. So that's a fine format.
Restrictions: About 500-800m is my budget. No RP considerations. No Accolades or Incarnate slots. (I'd like to earn them with the build, not need them for the build).
Basic Strategy: Bodyguard + Provoke + AoE Healing. Possibly throwing in a switch off of Invoke Panic and Flash Freeze on alternating mob groups. I am totally open to suggestion on the way this 'keep my pets alive to kill you' strategy is achieved, but would like to stick with the BG + Provoke style. No self status protectin in Pain, I know, and I'm prepaired to suffer for it.
Required Powers:
Beast Mastery: Summon Wolves, Train Beasts, Summon Lions, Summon Dire Wolf, Tame Beasts.
Pain Summoning: Nullify Pain, Suppress Pain, World of Pain.
Power Pools: Provoke.
Travel Powers: Highly Optional. Ninja Run with empty swift, hurdle, and sprint is good enough for me.
EPP: Patron or Standard Epic is acceptable.
Powers to Include if it's not a huge pain:
Beast Mastery: Call Hawk. Fortify Pack.
Pool: A procced out Boxing or Air Sup FTW (No, seriously.
) And Invoke Panic.
Chill Mastery: Flash Freeze
IO Thoughts: Procs do temp damage scale. Masterminds do sissy-girl damage scale. Conclusions: Procs are a useful way to up MM damage. Procs in pets can be cool for the same reason.
IO Dream: Leave 1 slot open in Nullify Pain for the Panacea Proc (and don't consider it for cost), which I will get 78 years from now, and die happy. I heard it (uniquely) does proc on those healed and not just the caster. If this is true, then this is my dream IO. If it's not true, then it's not.
Build Goals: Some survivability for self. AoE defence is most important, can most easily lead to a wipe in BG mode. Mitigation through things like AE sleep epic, or oppresive gloom, or the slot intensive Invoke Panic (open to suggestions). And procs make me stupid happy in low damage attacks and T1 pets.
Please share a build or give me advice! Thank-you very much for your time! Remember, if you post a build and I pick it, I will sing your praises in every flavor text I have. Oh, and I'll put an homage to you in my forum sig too.
Greatful for any help! Thanks!!!
They're two different styles of build setup that can be COMPLETELY different (trying to play a finished build as you're leveling can leave you BADLY gimped). -
Quote:If you're looking to give them away, might I suggest contacting Sultry Siren or Mr. Wentworth about possibly making a donation to Real World Hero and their charity auction? Granted, they only operate during the holiday season for this, but I'm fairly sure that if you wanted to make a donation in your business' name, they'd pimp that up on their site in return for bringing in a couple grand worth of auction donations (16 years worth of cards at full price is roughly $2900, or about 1/3rd of what they raised last year).Originally Posted by Jordan_Yen
Hello all, I could use your help with an interesting situation.
I worked on a webteam for a City of Heroes partner site and online store of sorts, but the site ended up not working out. Now I have over 16 years worth of timecards and I want to give them away (the owner gave them to me and said I could do what I want with them).
I was thinking of promoting my speaking business and asking for links/leads in return, but is that something I'm allowed to do here?
I won't mention the site/business until I get confirmation (trying to be polite).
Thanks!
P.S. These are not for sale at any price. I highly doubt that it would be the "right" thing to do under the circumstances not to mention the possible legalities. I'm also not running a contest or drawing (there are crazy rules about that too). Just looking for advice right now. -
So let's take a bunch of development time to build the query PROPERLY (so it doesn't nuke legitimate data uninentionally), purge the database, possibly tick some people off and leave a bunch more STILL griping because they didn't get what they actually wanted.
Right?
RIGHT?
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Quote:No. There is no "general consensus" for the purpose of this thread.Originally Posted by I Burnt The Toast
The general consensus for the purpose of this thread has been... 3 years
There's a general consensus of those who agree with the purpose of the thread. But that's not the same thing. -
Quote:And people griping is no reason to actually DO it either. As you said, no matter what, someone's going to gripe.Originally Posted by BrandX
Well, that'll happen no matter what. Still no reason not to do it.
I understand what you're saying. Please understand that when I use "you" or *I* when talking about this, I'm utilizing a rhetorical abstract. Because, at some point, there's ALWAYS self-interest involved. Even if the person making the argument at a given point has no real plans to benefit from said actions, SOMEONE who's following the argument IS.Quote:And this isnt even me trying for some name for myself (though...I can think of three I wouldnt mind getting on Virtue), I was actually thinking of others. -
Quote:As is doing something for the same reason.
Not doing something because people would complain even more about doing something seems a bit of a fallacious argument..doncha think?
We simply disagree on whether or not implementing this plan would result in "better".Quote:People complain about everything in this game from itrials, super packs, tier 9 rewards, costumes, alignment switching, kb, etc etc... Yet sometimes that complaining results in better things for the majority of the community....not doing something out of fear that it will not appease a few people seems silly when the nature of this playerbase seems to bi**h about everything 
You obviously feel that it would.
I, just as obviously, don't. -
Quote:What can I say?Originally Posted by Father Xmas
Do you know how hard I tried so I would NOT use that song reference in this thread ...
I would need a couple shuttle-launches worth of booster rockets to even get my mind NEAR the underside of the floor of the gutter...
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Here's a rework of your build with a few power choices swapped around.
Note: This is NOT taking your budget into account.
To make it more budget friendly, you can ignore the slot used for the PVP defense IO.
You'll STILL be capped to S/L/E/N.
Musculature is going to help your defense debuffs, but isn't going to do a whole hell of a lot otherwise. Rage-doubling is going to cap most of your most-used attacks.
In the case of this build, I'd look at maybe Agility Core for a bit of additional defense (especially nice without the PVP defense IO), Endurance Modification (already 23%), and Recharge so you can:
- Pull fist back
- Slam into enemy's face
- Repeat
Such a move would, in crowds of enemies, put you above the Incarnate soft-cap on all Typed defenses (save Psi).
Also, with this slotting, you're sitting at 48.8% permanent recharge (no falloff from having to run Hasten).
Your resting Endurance consumption will be just under double what it is now. But it's only that low because yo are GROSSLY over-slotted in your armors. Your attacks are well slotted for Endurance Reduction.
I've ripped out Tactics. You're going to be running Rage with a 25-30 second overlap. You have NO need for an End hog like Tactics.
Also, you don't need Assault. Doubled Rage will ALREADY kick you up so close to damage cap that if you fart too hard, you smash into it and break your nose.
I slotted Ring of Fire and Fire Blast. Without Agility, they're kinda "meh". But they're providing a decent E/N defense boost and, with Agility, they're up often enough to be semi-decent attacks if your regular chain isn't quite cutting it.
Fireball is slotted for a nice FWOOSH!
Melt Armor shouldn't REALLY be necessary. Rage should keep you FULLY covered. Plus debuffs are resisted heavily. High Accuracy and ToHit bonuses are effectively unresistable.
If you opt NOT to save the slot in Temp Invulnerability for a PVP defense IO, take it and slot it into Jab or Haymaker and slot in the Tanker ATIO proc and catalyze it. It'll help boost your Resists by a VERY nice chunk.
Also, you'll notice I didn't even bother taking Unstoppable.
With this build, you quite simply DO NOT NEED IT. It's a complete waste of a power choice. Anything that's going to kill you through this build wouldn't even really be slowed down by Unstoppable.
Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.956
http://www.cohplanner.com/
Click this DataLink to open the build!
Level 50 Science Tanker
Primary Power Set: Invulnerability
Secondary Power Set: Super Strength
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Leaping
Ancillary Pool: Pyre Mastery
Hero Profile:
Level 1: Resist Physical Damage -- Aegis-ResDam:50(A), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx:50(3), Aegis-ResDam/Rchg:50(3), S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+:30(5)
Level 1: Jab -- KntkC'bat-Acc/Dmg:35(A), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx:35(5), KntkC'bat-Dmg/Rchg:35(7), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:35(7), HO:Nucle(9)
Level 2: Temp Invulnerability -- RctvArm-ResDam:40(A), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx:40(9), RctvArm-ResDam/Rchg:40(11), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg:40(11), GA-3defTpProc:50(13)
Level 4: Haymaker -- KntkC'bat-Acc/Dmg:35(A), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx:35(13), KntkC'bat-Dmg/Rchg:35(15), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:35(15), HO:Nucle(17)
Level 6: Dull Pain -- Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx:50(A), Dct'dW-EndRdx/Rchg:50(17), Dct'dW-Heal/Rchg:50(19), Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg:50(46), Dct'dW-Rchg:50(50)
Level 8: Unyielding -- RctvArm-ResDam:40(A), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx:40(19), RctvArm-ResDam/Rchg:40(21), RctvArm-EndRdx/Rchg:40(21)
Level 10: Taunt -- Mocking-Taunt:50(A), Mocking-Taunt/Rchg:50(23), Mocking-Taunt/Rchg/Rng:50(23), Mocking-Acc/Rchg:50(25), Mocking-Taunt/Rng:50(25), Mocking-Rchg:50(27)
Level 12: Boxing -- Empty(A)
Level 14: Tough -- RctvArm-ResDam:40(A), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx:40(27), RctvArm-ResDam/Rchg:40(29), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg:40(29)
Level 16: Weave -- LkGmblr-Def:50(A), LkGmblr-Rchg+:50(31)
Level 18: Invincibility -- LkGmblr-Def:50(A), LkGmblr-Rchg+:50(31)
Level 20: Knockout Blow -- KntkC'bat-Acc/Dmg:35(A), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx:35(31), KntkC'bat-Dmg/Rchg:35(33), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:35(33), HO:Nucle(33)
Level 22: Combat Jumping -- LkGmblr-Def:50(A), LkGmblr-Rchg+:50(34)
Level 24: Super Jump -- Winter-ResSlow:50(A)
Level 26: Tough Hide -- LkGmblr-Def:50(A), LkGmblr-Rchg+:50(34)
Level 28: Rage -- RechRdx-I:50(A), RechRdx-I:50(34), RechRdx-I:50(36), Rec'dRet-Pcptn:20(50)
Level 30: Spring Attack -- Erad-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:30(A), Erad-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:30(36), Erad-Dmg/Rchg:30(36), C'ngBlow-Acc/Dmg:50(37), C'ngBlow-Dmg/Rchg:50(37), C'ngBlow-Acc/Rchg:50(37)
Level 32: Resist Energies -- Aegis-ResDam:50(A), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx:50(39), Aegis-ResDam/Rchg:50(39)
Level 35: Resist Elements -- Aegis-ResDam:50(A), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx:50(39), Aegis-ResDam/Rchg:50(40)
Level 38: Foot Stomp -- Erad-Dmg/Rchg:30(A), Erad-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:30(40), Erad-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:30(40), M'Strk-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:50(42), M'Strk-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:50(42), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:50(42)
Level 41: Ring of Fire -- Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:50(A), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:50(45), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:50(45)
Level 44: Fire Blast -- Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:50(A), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:50(46), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:50(46)
Level 47: Fire Ball -- Posi-Acc/Dmg:50(A), Posi-Dmg/EndRdx:50(48), Posi-Dmg/Rchg:50(48), Posi-Dmg/Rng:50(48), Posi-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:50(50)
Level 49: Melt Armor -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Gauntlet
Level 1: Prestige Power Dash -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Slide -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Quick -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Rush -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Surge -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 4: Ninja Run
Level 4: Swift -- Empty(A)
Level 4: Health -- Numna-Regen/Rcvry+:50(A), Numna-Heal:50(43), Mrcl-Rcvry+:40(43)
Level 4: Hurdle -- Empty(A)
Level 4: Stamina -- P'Shift-End%:50(A), P'Shift-EndMod:50(43), EndMod-I:50(45)
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I registered, going to see if I can juggle staffing to give myself a *GASP!* A NIGHT OFF!
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Quote:You haven't been reading some of the current peer-reviewed science journals have you?Originally Posted by Forbin_Project
"Some" has never equaled "all".
You ask them for something simple, like a confidence level and you get a blank, uncomfortable stare that never ends...
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Quote:I didn't say you were a thief. I, and others, implied that the plan more or less constitutes theft. You may not comprehend the difference. But there's a very distinct one.Originally Posted by Snow Globe
At this point I care less about your argument than your calling me a thief.
Am I stopping you from expressing yourself?Quote:Likewise it isn't YOUR place either. This is the Suggestions & Ideas section, not "Hyperstrike's guard post".
Am I telling you "STFU"?
No. I'm simply disagreeing with your POV and picking apart your attempts at an argument.
If that makes it suck to be you, that's your problem.
The problem is, the number is still arbitrary. I could argue for four years (a college education or a basic military stint) or six (a military stint in a mission-critical MOS).Quote:No... you are slapping that label on it. And after 3 years, most people would consider something abandoned. Software lifespan is usually 5 years. After a 7 year absence most government bodies consider you legally dead.
And I'm saying I disagree with you, and it would be a move that alienates people (and not just those people you think it would alienate).Quote:What I'm saying is that Paragon Studios should have a policy that says that if you can't be bothered to log into the game once every 3 years, then your account gets closed without prejudice.
The problem is, you can't even guarantee that it would do this. You have exactly ZERO clue about the quality or desirability of the names that would be freed up.Quote:I don't know... I would think plenty of people would accept a 1 in 6 chance to get a name they'd want. It would only increase with time & people leaving the game. Shockingly people do leave the game.
And we'd be looking at the same complaint again later on. Or people pushing for an orcish 90-day policy.
In short, slippery slopes are slippery.
I'm not trying to be a "forum guard", whatever the hell that's supposed to be or imply. But nice try (well, not really). I'm disagreeing with your point of view. And because I'm attacking the point of view, rather than you, it's quite hard for you to sic a mod on me. So, instead, you're going to try passing it off as someone who thinks they're a "forum guard" and simply ignore the points made because they're inconvenient.Quote:Looks at forum section... Yup, Suggestions and Ideas. It isn't being the forum guard to protect Paragon Studios from all that you don't agree with.
Okay, that's cool.
You're promoting a plan to make someone remove something from possession of others that doesn't belong to you, ostensibly so you can hopefully obtain it.Quote:You and Hyperstrike keep using the terms "stealing" and "theft" without proving any kind of ownership. The names do not belong to accounts. The names belong to Paragon Studios. If you can prove ownership, which the EULA says is grounds for getting the character genericced, then and only then can you show "theft".
What would YOU call it? -
Quote:You forgot.Originally Posted by BrandX
Let's look at it another way.
If the devs did do this.
1) Those against it, in the end, would most likely shrug and not really care.
2) Those who were for it, would be happy and continue playing.
3) Those who lost their names wouldn't likely notice to begin with.
Might there be exceptions? Hmmm
To 1? Sure. Extreme minority. And likely just to be anal about it.
To 2? Not really. They'd keep playing just as much as they were going to anyways. For some, that's A LOT.
To 3? Sure. Again minority!
And to those minority in 3? Who cares? They quit. They're not supporting the game at all. They're not even playing when it's free to play, and supporting it just by giving other people more team members to team with.
4) Those who STILL didn't get the exact name they want would STILL be griping about "All the good names are taken" and be pushing for a more draconian purge. -
Quote:I call bullschnitzel.Originally Posted by BrandX
You're right. But this isn't a selfish or outrageous demand.
The basic argument is "They have it and aren't using it, free it up so others (implied *I*) can have it".
That's selfish as all hell.
As to "outrageous". Let's just agree that it's a personal value judgement...
I disagree. I think attempts have been made to make it "sound" reasonable.Quote:This is pretty reasonable.
Yet. See the "Give an inch, take a light-year" issue I talked about before.Quote:No one is saying make names available being used by an active account.
Regardless of what's freed up, people are still going to gripe that "All the good names are taken". And then, they'll just push for a more draconian purge.
ALREADY certain individuals here have been talking, lovingly, of a 90 day purge policy favored by large orcs. Ostensibly to make their plan sound more reasonable. But, eventually, that's what's going to be demanded.
Slippery slope.Quote:Hell they're not saying mark names available from recently inactive accounts. They're saying mark names as available from 3+ years of inactivity.
No. It "sounds" reasonable. There's a difference.Quote:That is reasonable. -
Quote:Agreed. Star Wars inspired legions of people to take up lightsabers and make cultural in-jokes.Originally Posted by Arcanaville
So what I should have said was that while Star Wars may have had a very large impact on pop culture, its Star Trek that has had the largest impact on the world.
Star Trek inspired people to become engineers, astronauts, and other people who contribute in a positive way to our society. -
Quote:Which isn't necessarily a qualifier for anything we're actually talking about. This could just mean you couldn't get a job that didn't require you to hoof it for 8+ hours a day. Or you're a glutton for the physical and mental punishment such jobs usually entailOriginally Posted by BrandX
I have worked retail.
All kidding aside...
Sometimes.Quote:You know what keeps customers coming back, giving them what they want.
And if they keep coming back with ever more selfish, outrageous demands?
When does the foot get put down? -
Quote:Please provide some quantifiable evidence that such a purge will have EXACTLY the effect you intend with no unintentional side-effects or problems.Originally Posted by I Burnt The Toast
Forum pvp over semantics and twisting of words is fun to watch.
I really like how it has devolved into stealing names... that made me giggle. Especially liking the backhanded attempt at name calling as well as labeling those who are for the purge as evil, stupid, greedy, etc...
Remember the days when people had civil conversations/discussions?? Me either...well at least not on these forums
For the record I am FOR the purge, not for any personal reasons as my names are unique and I have no problem getting them. To me it is more - stop catering to the non existent customer and start doing more for your paying customers. When you disgruntle current customers in the hopes of getting long lost customers to come back..maybe..that is a poor business decision.
As for the actual purge; like I said, I doubt many sought after names would be made available, but again it's not really about the names to me - it's more about doing for your current customers.
Have a nice day. -
Quote:Ah. Look at the dancing goalposts.Originally Posted by Snow Globe
Are these long term inactive accounts "customers", yes or no? It is a fairly simple question.
Since all accounts are technically "active" now. As in they can be logged into?
Also, the question is. Are they "potential" customers.
In your opinion, no. Of course, you're ignoring the broadness of the term "potential" in a case of trying to narrowly define a term to maximize your chances of winning an unwinnable argument.
Quote:- If they aren't customers, then why are you wasting everyone's time defending them?
- If they are customers what, exactly, are they currently providing to offset delivery of service?
- If they were customers, but are not customers now, then can you offer any data that their worth would be greater than currently active subscribers?
- Irrelevant.
- Irrelevant.
- It isn't on me to disprove your argument. It's upon you to prove yours. That there's a justifiable monetary benefit to NCSoft/Paragon for stealing these player's names.
If the server is bought-and-paid-for, that's a pre-set sunk cost. How it ammortizes out in the long run is largely irrelevant, so long as the server pays for itself.Quote:Data storage is data storage.
Keep telling yourself that.Quote:They don't deserve the same consideration because they haven't invested anything into the game, speaking specifically of long inactive trial accounts.
Luckily, it's not up to you.
Again, if the disk space is bought and paid for, and they're not exceeding their diskspace IT DOES NOT MATTER TO THEM. Also, you apparently missed my point about freeing names NOT freeing disk/database space. You can't simply blank those spaces (they're a unique value field remember?) and leave them thus. On the whole you'll probably INCREASE the size of the database.Quote:Unless their server contract provides an unlimited amount of storage space, records take space. They have approximately 1.5 million characters across all the servers, if I recall the numbers correctly. Are you trying to say that approximately 250k characters or 1/6th the total amount of characters isn't a waste of space?
So your argument is pretty much moot here.
My response to this is "You don't know. Neither does Paragon in most cases." Instead of digging in and hand-stitching data you THINK is correct, leave it be.Quote:I noticed you didn't actually say anything about this.
In short, I don't care.
I dunno about that. You're arguing fairly vigorously for someone who's uncaring.Quote:And to be blunt, I don't care.
That you know of...Quote:They are not customers.
That you know of...Quote:They aren't "owners" of anything.
First, it's not up to you to determine someone's "rights" here. But keep trying! It's quite amusing.Quote:They do not have any rights to a name if they have abandoned the game.
Second, you have no clue whether or not they're "abandoned". You simply slapped an arbitrary time period on your "I want it. Gimme gimme gimme!" argument.
Now you're getting it.Quote:Heck, we don't have any rights to the names. The only group that does have rights in this is Paragon Studios.
Since they can't guarantee that what they're freeing up will be what people want anyhow (and will just set a bad precedent that even greedier individuals will try a combination of "Well you did it once" and "take a mile" will attempt to exploit), it's simply better business for them to do nothing than risk damage to a multi-million entry user database.Quote:Go to your business class and ask which is better: an existing customer or a low-to-nonexistent potential customer. I'm pretty sure the answer you'll get is to look to customer retention.
Yet you're arguing that they should supply a commodity that they have zero control over (quality names).Quote:Customer acquisition is costly. Customer retention is fairly cheap, yet yields good results. This is why Paragon Studios is focused on subscribers as their main income source.
No. That's MY question. You are laboring under the assumption that a database purge with your parameters will free up certain "quality" names.Quote:How would you know?
You have exactly ZERO reason to know (or expect) this. You're operating on a hunch, not data.
No. I'm saying you have exactly zero data to back up your assumptions about this.Quote:All you are expressing is Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt.
You: I am the emperor!
Me: Where's your clothes?
Capisce?
I say, again, you are not the arbiter or right/wrong in this.Quote:The problem with the previous name purges is that it was far too restrictive to be any good. It was designed to fail. It was designed from the ground up not to free a lot of names. They lacked the courage to do right by their actual customers at the time.
If Paragon isn't bothered by this, I fail to see why you are. Especially if, as you have stated, you're not really interested in stealing someone else's name.Quote:The current system is more prone to name-squatting (and I'm as guilty of this on some servers as others) than actual use. -
Exactly. Then, when that doesn't get them what they want, they'll be looking for a broader purge. Then another. Then another.
It's best to just nip it in the bud right now with a gently worded "No. Period." -
Quote:No it wouldn't. Because nobody has any idea what names are actually available in your "to be freed" pool.Originally Posted by Snow Globe
Freeing names would leave a more favorable impression on new players when they get a name they want rather than a name they've settled on.
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Quote:Because it's all about how the 800 pound gorilla of the industry does thing and we should strive at every opportunity to emulate everything about them.Originally Posted by Snow Globe
So what? The company isn't obligated to keep that policy. Besides which, most people that kept names 6+ years have paid for that. That snowstorm company with the 800-pound orc in the MMO room has a 3 month "use it or lose it" policy.
Yeah. Right.
And you're simply trying to sweeten an argument for a company-sponsored theft of virtual property, used or unused. The way to do that is always to demonize the people you're going to be taking things from.Quote:It can't be taken from them if they are actively playing. You are making excuses for players that couldn't be bothered to play a free game. They aren't customers. They aren't even potential customers at this point. They are dead data.
And you should know better than to assume you actually know anything about their server setup and data retention systems.Quote:And you should know better than to confuse active content usage with data storage.
Open channels aren't the same thing as player names though.Quote:Okay, the developers have put the channel timeout command in game to automatically purge channels of accounts that don't log in during a specified time. With a 6 month inactivity purge Triumph's largest channel went from nearly 2,500 accounts to well under 1,000. So roughly 1,500 accounts went dark. That is roughly 18,000 characters at 12 characters per account. Now multiply that by 14 servers. Now we're talking about a quarter-million characters, if not more.
I didn't say these customers deserve consideration. I merely said that you've failed to detail a legitimate reason why they DON'T. "Someone else might want the name they aren't using" isn't a legitimate reason. Sorry.Quote:No, I get that you believe that your definition of the argument is valid, however you have completely failed to establish why these former players (some not even customers) deserve any consideration. You are trying to say that these people should have more rights than an active player (whether paying or not).
Who says they have to draw a line?Quote:Where, exactly, should Paragon Studios draw the line? Should they be forced to preserve a resource drain until they close the doors? Take a look at what they are doing with the localization to French & German, and those are active AND paying subscribers. You seem to think that more rights should be applied to accounts that have been essentially dead for the past 3+ years? Give me a break.
Who says that it represents a real, truly appreciable resource drain?
The French and German localization IS quantifiable as a drain. They required staff time (paid staff time) to do translations, and the localization takes up actual space in the client install (and possibly on the server). That requires bandwidth (for the client downloads), as well as ongoing, dedicated Q&A and support personnel (paid support personnel).
How, precisely, does an unused PC name in the system even APPROXIMATE the same thing?
What if the player is dead? Are they ever coming back to play the game? Do they care if someone can get "their" name? Should we bar another player the use of the name?
Classism, plan and simple. "I'm paying, they're not, therefore I am right."Quote:Yeah, I should have been clearer.
From most to least rights:- Active Subscriber
- Inactive, but paying subscriber (ie. still have an active account, but not playing currently)
- Active non-paying player
-------------------------- - Inactive non-paying player
- Inactive trial account
This is that ugly little underbelly I'm talking about here.
Take a business class before making statements like this. They're STILL "potential" customers. Even if the potential is low-to-nonexistant. This, again, is why your attempt to put a temporal qualifier on your argument is pointless.Quote:And to be really clear as to how I feel, groups 4 & 5 should have the characters purged from the database(s). The have ceased to be potential customers after 3+ years of inactivity.