Ineffable_Bob

Some final thoughts (saved here for posterity) as the end approaches for City of Heroes.

For the eight years of its life, City of Heroes was more than just an massively multiplayer online role-playing game. It was the dream of a core of hard-working (often over-worked) developers, bringing their vision to life. It was a social club, where people met from around the world. It was a blank canvas, where any character you imagined could come to life.

The City spawned its own mythology and storytellers. Entire communities were built around the exploits of its denizens. It inspired art, and was inspired by art. Families played together, and friendships were formed. In the boundaries of the City you could find any kind of heroics, from stopping a purse-snatching thug to saving the entire expanse of space and time.

During those eight years, when it came to leisure time, my first thought was of City of Heroes. Logging into Paragon City was like taking a loyal pet out for a walk, with the added benefit of pretty costumes and explosions. Every hero had a name, a unique look, and a story to tell. If you felt you'd reached the end of one hero's storyline, you had only to start another. But even more than those heroes that I loved, my City of Heroes experience was about the other players I met along the way.

The Legion of Valor and the Fallen Legion. The Defenders of the Night. The Iron Eagles. Justice Superteamers. The Deckmasters. Groups brought together by our love of the game, but not limited by it. As we made pilgrimage with the rest of the gamer tribe to GenCon, City of Heroes players gathered to discuss the City. When I was in San Francisco on business, I stopped for dinner with fellows from Paragon City. When I had an extra City of Heroes t-shirt, I sent it to my most loyal in-game friend, who lives in Germany. The friendships formed during eight years in Paragon City will outlive it.

Now we’ve entered the final week for City of Heroes. Though the fight continues to save it, the City will be dark and lifeless in just a few short days...or as the myth (Part 21) would have it, the Endless Winter will come. Yet as long as we remember it, Paragon City shall live on.

Skip Franklin
@Ineffablebob
November 26, 2012

From today's patch notes:

Blind Makwa - the allies in the mission can no longer be killed and thus cannot prevent mission progression

We were a week early doing that mission.

Good fun Friday night! Rarely have so many Praetorians been so waterlogged!

I'm hoping we keep going in First Ward once folks hit 20, so I can bring my 2nd toon along and play level-catch-up. I probably won't be the only one that still needs to work their way out of goldside.

Got two toons made and ready for tonight! (Always good to have a backup.)

Big thanks to the Big King for organizing these last week. Had a great time at the ones I was able to attend!

Sounds like you had a bit of bad luck with losing a player, and possibly having under-50 characters, in that summer event run. Even when being exemplared down, being 50 makes a big difference in slots, good IOs, etc. Try it with a team of 4 50s and it's a lot less of a slog.

This sounds like a perfect time for End of the Road (Iron Eagle Ninja/FF MM) to run his first iTrials. I've done all the DA arcs (twice) and lots of daily thread-missions, but haven't stepped into the iTrial craziness yet with him. He's +1 but still a little shy of Judgement/Interface unlock (though I may get those by Friday).

Sounds like fun. I think I'll try to mix my teams and play a superteam Iron Eagle. Now to think up something Watery that is likely to live for a while...

When are y'all planning to start up the next round of toons?

I'm in. @ineffablebob, on Holorad, +3 Illusion/Rad.

I was there! And it was awesome. In just over an hour we got Really Hard Way, formed another league and did the Triple Threat (though no badge due to bug), and destroyed Tyrant so fast that we broke the trial. A good night on Victory!

No travel power, huh? You're a more patient man than I. Even with all the fun temp powers I still find myself taking Super Speed on almost every build.

You're over the cap on your 1.88% HP bonuses, so one can go without losing any HP. Easiest change that takes advantage of that would be to pull one of the Heal/X Numinas out of Physical Perfection and replace it with a Miracle +Rec. Or a Panacea proc. Or move the slot to something where you can slot a defense set and drop in another LotG +Rch.

Here's another build to consider that give you a bit more on the defense side. Almost as much HP and quite a bit more recharge, though you lose a couple of attacks and quite a bit of regen. Not saying it's better, just a different perspective.

Villain Plan by Mids' Villain Designer 1.957
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Level 50 Magic Brute
Primary Power Set: Titan Weapons
Secondary Power Set: Electric Armor
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Leadership
Ancillary Pool: Energy Mastery

Villain Profile:
Level 1: Defensive Sweep -- C'ngBlow-Acc/Dmg(A), C'ngBlow-Acc/Rchg(3), LkGmblr-Def/Rchg(3), LkGmblr-Def(5), LkGmblr-Rchg+(5)
Level 1: Charged Armor -- GA-ResDam(A), GA-Res/Rech/End(7), GA-End/Res(7), GA-3defTpProc(9), GA-RechEnd(9)
Level 2: Crushing Blow -- KntkC'bat-Acc/Dmg(A), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx(11), KntkC'bat-Dmg/Rchg(11), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(13), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(13)
Level 4: Conductive Shield -- TtmC'tng-ResDam/EndRdx(A), TtmC'tng-ResDam/Rchg(15), TtmC'tng-ResDam(15)
Level 6: Build Momentum -- AdjTgt-ToHit/Rchg(A), AdjTgt-Rchg(21), RechRdx-I(21)
Level 8: Super Speed -- Zephyr-ResKB(A)
Level 10: Static Shield -- TtmC'tng-ResDam/EndRdx(A), TtmC'tng-ResDam/Rchg(23), TtmC'tng-ResDam(23)
Level 12: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(25)
Level 14: Boxing -- KntkC'bat-Acc/Dmg(A), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx(25), KntkC'bat-Dmg/Rchg(27), KntkC'bat-Knock%(27)
Level 16: Grounded -- S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+(A)
Level 18: Rend Armor -- KntkC'bat-Acc/Dmg(A), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx(29), KntkC'bat-Dmg/Rchg(29), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(31), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(31)
Level 20: Lightning Reflexes -- Run-I(A)
Level 22: Tough -- RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx(A), RctvArm-ResDam/Rchg(31), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(33), RctvArm-ResDam(48)
Level 24: Weave -- LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(A), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(33), LkGmblr-Def(33), LkGmblr-Rchg+(34)
Level 26: Whirling Smash -- SBrutesF-Acc/Dmg(A), SBrutesF-Dmg/Rchg(34), SBrutesF-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(34), SBrutesF-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(36), SBrutesF-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(36), SBrutesF-Rech/Fury(36)
Level 28: Energize -- Numna-EndRdx/Rchg(A), Numna-Heal/Rchg(37), Numna-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg(37), Numna-Heal(37)
Level 30: Lightning Field -- Oblit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(A), Oblit-%Dam(39), Erad-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(39), Erad-%Dam(39), Armgdn-Dmg/EndRdx(40), Armgdn-Dam%(40)
Level 32: Arc of Destruction -- C'ngBlow-Acc/Dmg(A), C'ngBlow-Dmg/EndRdx(40), Erad-Dmg/Rchg(42), Erad-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(46), Erad-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(48), Erad-%Dam(48)
Level 35: Power Sink -- P'Shift-EndMod/Rchg(A), P'Shift-EndMod/Acc/Rchg(46), P'Shift-Acc/Rchg(46)
Level 38: Maneuvers -- LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(A), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(42), LkGmblr-Def(42), LkGmblr-Rchg+(43)
Level 41: Tactics -- GSFC-ToHit(A), GSFC-ToHit/Rchg(43), GSFC-ToHit/Rchg/EndRdx(43), GSFC-Rchg/EndRdx(45), GSFC-ToHit/EndRdx(45), GSFC-Build%(45)
Level 44: Superior Conditioning -- Efficacy-EndMod(A), Efficacy-EndMod/Rchg(50)
Level 47: Physical Perfection -- Efficacy-EndMod(A), Efficacy-EndMod/Rchg(50)
Level 49: Vengeance -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A)
Level 1: Brawl -- Acc-I(A)
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: Fury
Level 1: Sprint -- ULeap-Stlth(A)
Level 2: Rest -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 4: Ninja Run
Level 2: Swift -- Run-I(A)
Level 2: Health -- Mrcl-Rcvry+(A), Numna-Regen/Rcvry+(17), RgnTis-Regen+(50)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Jump-I(A)
Level 2: Stamina -- P'Shift-EndMod(A), P'Shift-EndMod/Rchg(17), P'Shift-EndMod/Acc(19), P'Shift-End%(19)
Level 1: Momentum
Level 50: Musculature Radial Paragon
------------

Shouldn't have any trouble making it on July 1st. @Ineffablebob, Holorad, Illusion/Rad controller.

Cool idea!

Your Forum Handle: Ineffable_bob

Your Global: @ineffablebob

The Character who will be doing the tour: End of the Road

The name of your SuperGroup: Iron Eagles hardcore SG

Your Home Server: Justice

A brief description of your base: The home of the Iron Eagles, the only (to my knowledge) hardcore City of Heroes supergroup! Only characters who have never been defeated in battle (after level 10) may be members of the Eagles. The small corner of inter-dimensional space which the Eagles call home is fully functional, with teleporters, crafting stations, salvage racks, enhancement tables, etc. But no hospital room! Plus, the base hosts our tribute room for the mightiest of the fallen Eagles!

I don't really care about the badges, but I can help just for the fun of it. Holorad, Illusion/Rad troller, is one of my two Hybrid-ized toons, so I'll bring him.

The Iron Eagles supergroup is the home of hardcore City of Heroes players, where any defeat at level 10 or higher requires the character to leave the SG. This is a bit of background on the one Eagle (so far) to reach Incarnate status with all available slots unlocked (and survive). I hope this is interesting reading and perhaps encourages those who find idea of hardcore intriguing to check out the Eagles! We play every Thursday night at 8 PM US Eastern time, on Justice, and everyone who would like to join is welcome.

Back in the early days of City of Heroes, I was an altaholic. (This has not changed.) Back then I played mostly on Freedom, and I quickly filled up all my available character slots. You couldn't buy more slots back then, so to indulge my character-creation habit, I ventured out to servers where I didn't play often. One such character was Ayburn, an Invuln/Fire tank created because I wanted to use the word "pyrokinesis" in a bio, and I'd already used different backgrounds for my Fire/Fire tank, Fire blaster, etc. Most of these characters never made it to double digit security levels before I went back to my main server or created yet another alt.

Fast forward 6+ years, to early 2011. I've migrated around to Guardian, Liberty, and finally settled on Victory. There are alts who haven't been played for 5+ years in the dusty corners of Infinty, Pinnacle, and Justice. I've gone through several cycles where my interest in the game has declined then rebuilt, and I'm on the "decline" side. Then, I ran across the Iron Eagles thread on the forums, and that perked up my interest a bit. Adding a bit more risk to the game, that sounded like fun.

I showed up for a couple of the team nights, and soon I was hooked. Running hardcore adds excitement to the game that I haven't felt for a long time. Sure, sometimes you get unlucky, but for the most part good teamwork and smart play keeps heroes safe. It also brings some under-used powers, tactics, and team play styles to the forefront. Snipes and taunts are really good in a hardcore team, helping to pull dangerous mobs apart. Good team buffs are critical. Slow and steady progress is better than high-risk, high-reward slugfests.

Still, when it only takes one mistake to fall, you go through quite a few characters. I've lost easily a dozen Eagles in the last year or so. I enjoyed the hardcore play enough that I started running my Eagles outside of team night, doing missions with teams from Justice United and Justice For All. Several of those years-old characters on Justice joined the Eagles, and all but one have fallen in battle. Ayburn remains.

Last November, Ayburn made security level 50. Her alpha slot followed quickly. A month of so later, after many BAF runs, she had unlocked the next two slots. Then Lore and Destiny. And finally, just this past weekend, Hybrid.

As far as I know, Ayburn is the only 50+3 hardcore character out there. (Not sure if you've ever died? Check your badge progress on debt badges. Ayburn has no debt badges, and doesn't even have a debt badge progress bar.) She's able to solo DA missions at +4/x8, although I usually run +2/x8 since progress is a lot faster and less risky in case of a lag spike. She's not able to solo AVs, but I have yet to meet an Elite Boss that gives me any serious trouble. She tanks BAF, Lambda, and TPN regularly. The other iTrials are a bit too random for my taste, since all have areas that are effectively insta-death if you get unlucky, but I may yet decide to give them a try.

Here's Ayburn's current build. It's easily the most expensive of all my characters, because I want all the advantages I can get for her. Between hero merits to buy recipes and converters to get pvp/purples that I need, it's a lot easier to build this today than it would have been even a year ago.

Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.957
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Ayburn-PLAN: Level 50 Natural Tanker
Primary Power Set: Invulnerability
Secondary Power Set: Fiery Melee
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Fighting
Ancillary Pool: Pyre Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Temp Invulnerability -- RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx(A), RctvArm-ResDam/Rchg(3), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(3), RctvArm-ResDam(5), S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+(5)
Level 1: Scorch -- SMotTanker-Dmg/Rchg(A), SMotTanker-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(7), SMotTanker-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(7), SMotTanker-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(9), SMotTanker-Rchg/Res%(40)
Level 2: Fire Sword -- Hectmb-Dmg/Rchg(A), Hectmb-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(9), Hectmb-Acc/Rchg(11), Hectmb-Dmg/EndRdx(11), Hectmb-Dam%(13)
Level 4: Dull Pain -- Dct'dW-EndRdx/Rchg(A), Dct'dW-Heal/Rchg(13), Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg(15), Dct'dW-Heal(15), Dct'dW-Rchg(17)
Level 6: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(17)
Level 8: Unyielding -- RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx(A), RctvArm-ResDam/Rchg(19), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(19), RctvArm-ResDam(21)
Level 10: Taunt -- Mocking-Taunt(A), Mocking-Taunt/Rchg(21), Mocking-Taunt/Rchg/Rng(23), Mocking-Acc/Rchg(23), Mocking-Taunt/Rng(25), Mocking-Rchg(25)
Level 12: Combat Jumping -- LkGmblr-Def/Rchg(A), LkGmblr-Def(27), LkGmblr-Rchg+(27)
Level 14: Combustion -- Armgdn-Dmg/Rchg(A), Armgdn-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(29), Armgdn-Acc/Rchg(29), Armgdn-Dmg/EndRdx(31), Armgdn-Dam%(31)
Level 16: Boxing -- Acc-I(A)
Level 18: Invincibility -- LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(A), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(31), LkGmblr-Def(33), LkGmblr-Rchg+(33), GSFC-Build%(33)
Level 20: Build Up -- AdjTgt-ToHit/Rchg(A), AdjTgt-Rchg(34), RechRdx-I(34)
Level 22: Tough -- RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx(A), RctvArm-ResDam/Rchg(34), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(36), RctvArm-ResDam(36)
Level 24: Weave -- LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(A), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(36), LkGmblr-Def(37), LkGmblr-Rchg+(37)
Level 26: Tough Hide -- LkGmblr-Def(A), LkGmblr-Rchg+(37)
Level 28: Fire Sword Circle -- Erad-Dmg(A), Erad-Dmg/Rchg(39), Erad-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(39), Erad-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(39), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(40)
Level 30: Resist Energies -- GA-3defTpProc(A)
Level 32: Resist Physical Damage -- Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx(A), Aegis-ResDam(40), Aegis-Psi/Status(42)
Level 35: Incinerate -- KntkC'bat-Acc/Dmg(A), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx(42), KntkC'bat-Dmg/Rchg(42), KntkC'bat-Knock%(43)
Level 38: Resist Elements -- ImpArm-ResPsi(A)
Level 41: Char -- BasGaze-Acc/Hold(A), BasGaze-Acc/Rchg(43), BasGaze-Rchg/Hold(43), BasGaze-EndRdx/Rchg/Hold(45)
Level 44: Melt Armor -- ShldBrk-Acc/Rchg(A), ShldBrk-DefDeb/EndRdx/Rchg(45), ShldBrk-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(45), ShldBrk-%Dam(46)
Level 47: Fire Ball -- Posi-Dmg/EndRdx(A), Posi-Dmg/Rchg(48), Posi-Dmg/Rng(50), Posi-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(50), Posi-Dam%(50)
Level 49: Super Speed -- Winter-ResSlow(A)
Level 1: Brawl -- Acc-I(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Surge -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Dash -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Quick -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Rush -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Slide -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- ULeap-Stlth(A)
Level 2: Rest -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 2: Swift -- Run-I(A)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Jump-I(A)
Level 2: Health -- Mrcl-Rcvry+(A), Numna-Regen/Rcvry+(46)
Level 2: Stamina -- P'Shift-EndMod(A), P'Shift-EndMod/Rchg(46), P'Shift-EndMod/Acc(48), P'Shift-End%(48)
Level 1: Gauntlet
Level 4: Ninja Run
Level 50: Agility Partial Core Revamp
Level 50: Pyronic Partial Radial Judgement
Level 50: Diamagnetic Radial Interface
Level 50: Phantom Partial Radial Improved Ally
Level 50: Barrier Partial Core Invocation
------------

I suppose I'm getting a bit ahead of myself since End of the Road (Ninja/FF) is only 48.5, but I hope he'll be 50 in the next week. I'm trying to decide what alpha to use. What I'd really like is a boost to both defense and damage, but there's no such animal. So I'm debating mainly between Agility and Musculature, though I'd be willing to consider something else if there's good reason.

Build plan for 50, most of which I have already:

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Which alpha would you use?

Can't stay past 8 PM so I won't sign up, but if there's an open slot on the first run I might speak up in Limitless.

I just realized that I forgot to reply to this with a "thank you" - I've been using a macro similar to the above and it's working really well. Thanks, Yorukira!

Given that we already have archetype-specific enhancements, I'd be surprised if the devs aren't already working on something origin-specific. It may not take the form of enhancements or inspirations, but I'd be surprised if we get to year 9 without something interesting coming along.