Johnny_Velocity
-
Posts
250 -
Joined
-
Quote:I've been lurking in these discussions, but not contributing since I don't have a lot to offer in terms of hard data collection (my opinion based on play: something ain't right).Originally Posted by Chyll
My experience is backing up the general trend, and I've stayed away from my 50s as a result - other than MA arcs to collect tix (that doesn't seem broken).
However, I have noticed that no one is complaining about the ticket drop rates having changed. Since tickets substitute for other drops like recipe drops, this could be a clue as to where a possible bug may be lurking.
If the hypothetical bug affects regular missions but not MA ticket drops, that factoid should limit the search parameters in some respect.
Has anyone tested Developer's Choice missions specifically? That's a hybrid animal that could be different enough to offer some insight.
(Sorry to offer advice and not help, but I simply don't have the time right now.) -
I'm looking for period pieces set in the 1930's or 1940's - even 1950's will do. I've created a toon that, in my mind at least, is based in that time period, and I want to run missions true to that theme.
If you know of any arcs, or of any search terms that you know will help me find such arcs, please let me know.
I'd prefer arcs with close to full xp under the new I16 rules, and I don't mind a challenge. (I'm leveling this "theme" character in parallel to a conventional character that runs dev-only content, and I want to compare progression rates and rewards on down the line. No PL'ing here, just me soloing content.)
I'm also crafting a period piece MA mission myself, so eventually I can reciprocate.
Thanks in advance if you have any arcs that will help! -
"Meltdown" was someone else's example. For simplicity's sake, I just continued to use it. Actually, I'm reasonably happy with my current names, with almost 2 columns full. But that 3rd column of potential alts? Unlikely to be filled at this point.
Jay Garrick has been active during Wally West's, Bart Allen's, and Barry Allen's runs. (I'm not currently reading JSA or the new Flash title, but I think both Garrick and Allen are active right now.)
Quote:Because we don't have to settle for that. Another competing company has demonstrated that alternatives are available. This a feedback board. Oddly enough, we are actually encouraged to speak out on features we might like to see in this game. I also think it would be positive for the game in terms of subscriptions and subscription retention.What I don't understand is people's refusal to accept "first come, first served". Yes, you wanted that name, but someone else beat you to it. Think of something else.
This idea would be especially a good for the casual player who doesn't spend all day at the console, alternating between the forums and his/her dual box. People who live this game are all about first come, first served. But people with other life priorities might see things a little differently.
Now that I've explained that to you, can someone answer my question - why the hate against the idea? Is it just asthetics, or is something else in play?
Memphis Bill:
Can I have the name "Memphis Bill" on your home server? I think it's taken, so the source of the restiction is NOT just me. It is the game code (and you, I presume).Quote:Then the only name restriction in your game is with *you,* and that's the one you've got to deal with.
But why would you advocate for any limitations? Why vehemently oppose the change? The thesaurus club can continue to be witty and clever and unique, but more ordinary mortals can also be happy. It would appear that much of the tech is already in place - we have invisible globals already. -
Quote:Go for it, Memphis Bill!Originally Posted by Memphis_Bill
Does it fit the character? Who are you to say it's a "valid" or "acceptable" - or even "pleasing" name, on a character not of your own?
Some people don't like numbers in names. Well, I have a character who's a Seeker - on his native world, a combination cop, bounty hunter and military "elite." Being a cop, he made enemies, one of which framed him. To protect his family from disgrace, he dropped his name and is known only by his designation - Seeker209.
I have characters that don't *need* "heroic" names (or villainous ones.) They just go by their own names. And it's perfectly fine for them - because that's how the character is. Or, like my forum handle, a partial name with something to go along with it that hints at his background.
I have characters that go by designations of the items or armor they use - I've got a series of Crey armor prototypes with a designator and name (CTI Dreamer, for instance - Crey Tank - Illusion.) Much like military hardware, especially aircraft (see "F6F Hellcat, F-14 Tomcat, F-22 Raptor.")
Want a reasoning for "Boxcar artichoke?" OK. Arthur - or Arti to his friends - was down on his luck. Losing his job, his home, everything he owned, he started riding the rails, hopping on cars when they could to get from place to place. One of the places they passed through, though, was a research facility - one that had had been leaking radioactive compounds and chemicals into the ground for years. The chemicals changed him, though he didn't know it at the time. The way it reacted in him caused him to influence the growth of plants.
He found out when, unable to find food, he hopped back onto the next available boxcar. His needs and his hunger influenced the agricultural goods he was among, and he found himself blessed... with an abundance of artichokes. He sees them as a symbol of hope, now. Though nobody else seems to understand what he means, his oft-repeated comment of something being as "welcome (or lucky, or blessed, depending on the situation) as a boxcar artichoke" led to his nickname, one he wears with pride as a hero of Paragon.
But I am the leading, and sole, authority on what is an acceptable name for my characters. I want the change for my sake, not for the sake of what I see on other characters in the game. That appears to be other peoples' beef.
Not every combination of words is suitable. Can't you admit even that small fact? Its not an issue of how creative you are that you can make anything fit - that may be your game, but it isn't necessarily mine.
And you can't just tell folks to "be more creative." That's like telling someone to compose better or paint better. Not everyone is a writer, musician, or artist.
Some folks just want more common everyday names that say "superhero." What is so hard to understand about that? And why is it such a burr up peoples' butt if it happens? It may be unappealing to some peoples' eye, but by Krypton! there are enough filtering options in this game that it shouldn't be a big problem for anyone (except the selfish "I gotta be the only one" people, who either haven't sounded in yet or have the good sense not to). -
Quote:Originally Posted by SwellGuy
But you can ignore people who lie like you are.
I'm sorry you feel the need to libel me, especially when the topic is a bit of verifiable comic book trivia. Please do not resort to such tactics in the future. -
Quote:I really don't think you want to say "they all look alike" around John Irons!Originally Posted by ClawsandEffect
Uh...yeah. I remember the Death of Superman run, I had a large percentage of those issues.
They were all people claiming to be the "real" Superman, hence the names. And they all had their runs in the 4 Superman titles that already existed. And all were connected in the same storyline.
In the "more than one person wearing the mantle" thing, it almost NEVER happens simultaneously. And there's usually a convoluted and confusing storyline that makes very little sense when it DOES happen.
Bucky took over for Captain America after his death, he was NOT Captain America at the same time. Most of the time when someone takes over a heroic (or villainous) identity, it is because the original is no longer active, be it by retirement, death, dimensional displacement, whatever.
Going back to the Superman thing. All the "Superman" characters that were claiming to be the real one had similar abilities and powers.
Putting it in CoH terms, Superman is an Invulnerability/Super Strength tank with the Energy, Speed, Fitness, Leaping, and Flight pools. (yes, I realize he is MUCH more powerful than that, but that's the closest approximation to him in CoH)
Okay, now you have: A fire/fire blaster, an ice/ice blaster, a BS/WP scrapper, an Earth/Fire dominator, a nin/nin stalker....ALL named Superman. The previous example was 4 characters with the same basic identity, all of which were part of the same story. This is 5 characters that have NOTHING to do with each other....yet all have the same name.
Any time you see the same name on more than one comic title, it is either A) the exact same character in a different book (Spider-Man's many monthly titles springs to mind) or B) characters with a strong connection to each other through an interweaving storyline (the Superman example)
You never see two characters with the exact same name that are nothing alike and have nothing to do with each other.
But I digress...
I don't understand your point. So you'd be okay with non-unique naming if every "Meltdown" has the same powersets and color scheme? Seems like a bunch of unique Meltdowns would be less prone to this "mass confusion" everyone is worried about.
Comics culture and tradition, if you want to play that card, tends to support non-unique naming. It's that simple. You can make distinctions that you didn't make earlier til the cows come home, but at the end of the day the body of evidence in comics lore reflects LOTS of duplicative naming. All the recitations of "alternate universes don't count" and "neither do different time periods" that you want to throw in does not change that fact. -
Quote:*sigh* Yes, those Supermen were at the same time in the same world. Research first, please.Originally Posted by SwellGuy
More than one person but not at the same time in the same world except in that one Superman example which was a gimmick.
Seems to me DC has run a series where they killed off their alternate worlds to get rid of duplicates as well. Did you miss that or do you only look at things you think minutely support your assertions?
Same with the Flashes, the Green Lanterns (even restricting things to Earth and not the Corps). There are two Wildcats as well.
In. The. Current. DC. Universe.
*scoffs and rolls eyes Comic Book Guy style because you can't discuss comics without emoting Comic Book Guy* -
Quote:Man, I so hope Mr. Sister is available when I get home. Think I could fabricate a nun outfit on a male model with our character creator?Originally Posted by Eisregen_NA
... but don't come running to me if you're stuck with the Flatulent Reaper, Leprosy Lad or Mr. Sister.
-
Quote:You haven't read this whole thread? This was discussed earlier today. Comics have a tradition of more than one person wearing the mantle.Originally Posted by ClawsandEffect
Okay, what about the fact that CoH is loosely comic-book based?
I...
Imagine if you walked into a comic book store and saw 35 Superman titles, all of them a different character. It would kind of lose any sense of what the name means.
To address your example, there aren't *quite* 35 Superman titles per month, but not too many years ago they each featured a different person with the Superman name. It happened right after "The Death of Superman." It sold like crazy.
Amazingly, not one customer reported being confused. True story. -
Quote:Unless you honestly believe that "Boxcar Artichoke" is just as good a superhero/villain name as "Meltdown" (to use the example above), this argument is both spurious and specious.Originally Posted by Westley
I'm going to have to make some sort of copy and paste response like Memphis Bill has for this "problem" of "not having enough free names".
Here is a start, partially pulled from another thread:
A 20 character limit that allows the use of 36 unique characters and equals 3,600,000,000,000,000,000,000 possible character names.... that is just SO limiting!
And considering that there's somewhere between 450,000 and 1 million unique INDIVIDUAL words in the English language..... that you can then pair with OTHER unique individual words.....let's say you can fit 2-3 words in one name with the character limit making conservatively
2-3 million unique names....
..... we're running out of possible names!
Its not a question of "possible." Its a question of "pleasing."
The people who claim that confusion will result greatly underestimate their own intelligence, the intelligence of the average user of this game, and these devs' ability to make a good interface.
Regarding the comments on CO's method, I personally did not think anything was wrong with it, either technically or asthetically. But I haven't played it since it went live. Last I knew, you could hide the "@Duplicatenamesscareme" part of the global address. -
Perhaps the best argument for a change is an economic one: it would help attract and retain paying customers.
Oh sure, you might have the crazy or two who respond to such a change with an "I quit NAO." (All together now, children, "Can I have your stuff?") But I figure those small numbers would be far outweighed by the number of people who are made happier. I think far more people are name-picky as opposed to people who are picky about seeing duplicative names or are so selfish that they have to be the only Captain ______.
And frankly, if you've been around this long, this issue isn't really going to be the one that drives you away. -
Quote:The poster I was responding to stated "there is only one," which is demonstrably wrong. You can quibble that in some of my examples, the careers did not overlap, but you gloss over the fact that for several of them their careers have overlapped. Multiple people are "Green Lantern" (of Earth), multple people are calling themselves "Flash."Originally Posted by Drakmarth
Sorry, but how many comics have had these people appear at the same time under the same name outside some collosal event or cameo? Sure we've had two Nightwings at the same time, but that was because one was a knife-stabbing psycho. If we're wanting to use a comic book format well..
Jean-Paul Valley - took over the mantle from Bruce while he had a broken back. One Batman.
Terry McGinnis - took the over mantle Batman while Bruce is a crotchety old man. One Batman.
Dick Grayson - has taken over now that Bruce Wayne is, for all intents and purposes, dead. Okay so there were multiple Batmen, but heck it was the Battle for the Cowl.
So if you're willing to paralyze, kill or let your Johnny Velocity grow old with dignity and a bum knee, send out the tells and we'll roll a spunky new Johnny Velocity in Outbreak as soon as you shelve him and fighting for roll, first one to 100 Contaminated wins.
As for the Batgirls they are all currently under different names: Flamebird, Oracle, Huntress, Cassandra Cain and Misfit and The Spoiler has gone and become the new Batgirl. So in the end you have persons taking up a single role and then taking up a different name entirely once someone else wants a go, so shall we play pass the name on a bi-monthly basis?
Could really try this all day, Green Lanterns are all numbered, we can already do that; see PONY-01, PONY-02. Scarecrows in DC and Marvel? Isn't that like two wholly different universes, kinda like servers.
But lets not stay with the examples, the Supergirls, Superboys and Supermen! Sure they're lots of them, but you have them actually distinguished by the people as Power-Girl, Matrix, Cir-El (wiped from the continuity!) and Kara Zor-El, Kon-El, Superboy-Prime, Ultraman, the Reign of Supermen arc with Cyborg Superman aka The Cyborg (not to be confused with Cyborg, small difference), Eradicator & Steel.
So, no, the opposite isn't true. The opposite is more confusing. They allow multiple persons to take a role for when the story suits it, allowing multiple name instances because the story requires it and allowing Hugo Strange to be the Batman because he really-really-really-really wants it.
CoX mechanics do not let me "take on the mantle" of a retired hero except in very limited instances, and NEVER for a hero over level 5, unless that hero is deleted. I with those who think that should be changed.
Trotting out the "comic book tradition" argument supports my position, not that of the "unique namers," no matter how confusing you find it. (Though I daresay that if you can grasp comics continuity as well as you clearly do, your brain can handle seeing two "Captain Awesomesauces" at the same time. I promise it won't cause you any lasting damage.) -
Quote:Alan Scott, Hal Jordan, Kyle Rayner, Guy Gardner, and John Stewart disagree with you. So do Jay Garrick, Barry Allen, Wally West, and Bart Allen. And Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, Tim Drake, and Damian Wayne. The Marvel and DC Scarecrows beg to differ. The Golden Age Daredevil takes umbrage with the second sentence in your third paragraph, while Dick Grayson, Jean-Paul Valley, and Terry McGinnis vehemently disagree with the following one. All the Batgirls concur. Jim Hammond and Johnny Storm are burning with anger over your comments (sorry!) and Steve Rogers, James B. Barnes, William Nasland, Jeffrey Mace, and John Walker similarly disagree. Ben Reilly was unavailable for comment.Originally Posted by Sailboat
One of the hallmarks of the superhero genre is the uniqueness of the characters. Each has a distinct name, look, powers, style. Some teams with similar uniforms or similar powers have declined in popularity while the mixed teams of very different characters thrive.
In other genres, we know in our heart of hearts that if 007 goes down, somewhere there's a 008. If Sgt. Rock takes a does of Nazi lead, Sgt. Smith or Sgt. Jones will be called up from the replacement pool. If the Shaolin priest fails to dodge, or chooses to stand still and accept death, his temple has a dozen earnest acolytes in training.
But there's only one Professor X, by God, and the world needs him. There's only one Dardevil -- if he perishes, no one else will help Hell's Kitchen. There's only one Dark Knight between Gotham and mayhem.
And that's part of the reason we're here.
Etc, etc.
The evidence actually supports opposite of your assertion - comic book tradition is actually one of multiple heroes having the same name. Sure, each one has had its own conflicts, individuality, and sometimes costumes, but that is what made their stories worth telling.
The same would apply in CoX if it went in that direction - even if you absolutely coveted the name "Johnny Velocity," I'm sure yours would be unique. -
I'd love to see non-unique naming.
And the totally self-righteous "use a dictionary, be more original" cult of people would just have to deal with it. -
I don't know the answer, but its really good for the hundreds or thousands of NEW characters that will be created the next few days.
-
Swinging would be great in this game. Not everyone thinks it looks stupid or is a bad idea because CO implemented it first.
It is incredibly fun, and thats what it's all about, right?
Sure there will be the "no-funs" who want to know what the string is attached to, but my suspension of belief is already on 24/7 in this game. A little swinging isn't going to break anyone's brain. And if you don't like it, don't pick it.
Bring the swing! -
Y'know, if it weren't for threads like this and similar CO-bashing threads, no one would have a reason to ask "who's Jack?"
So I guess the answer to the OP's question is "Jack is a long-departed developer who is the object of a ridiculous self-perpetuating hatred among certain CoX forum-goers." -
Lousy greedy controllers.
Now gimme lava claws! -
This isn't such a bad news cycle! I say get out some news during CO's lifetime subscription offer period, while people are wavering.
News me!! -
Quote:Well, it should make it a bit easier to spam for AE missions!Originally Posted by McNum
I never thought to look for a Scandinavian channel, but I'm interested, too.
After all, what's the point of having an "Æ" key on my keyboard if all I type is in English?
-
Fantastic, Jack!
-
I went to an engineering school for undergrad (Georgia Tech) and one of my roommates was aerospace - he works on space shuttle engines.
My advice:
You are likely one of the smartest people in your high school class. Once you hit your engineering courses, you will be surrounded by people who were also among the smartest people in their respective classes. You cannot afford to be as lazy as you might have been in high school - develop good study habits. (I didn't have to study much in high school, and never really developed good study habits, and suffered.)
If you struggle in your early calculus classes, consider a different major. If your early physics classes do not interest you, do likewise.
You seem like an independent and critical thinker. That's fantastic - keep those traits. However, on tests, you should always give the credited answer. On essay tests, do the same, but if time allows, go back and add your spin on things in a final paragraph, but only after you've finished everything else.
If all else fails, pick C.
Don't be afraid to break up with the person you are dating if things aren't great chemistry-wise. You'll NEVER be in this environment again, and it is your best chance to meet a lot of eligible single people who have a lot of shared experiences with you.
Try to live off campus after your freshman year, but one year in the dorms is good for you.
Good luck! -
Quote:And with that, you have eliminated the last viable reason to have closed beta testing for individual issues.Originally Posted by Castle
(QR)
My understanding is that some of the code which has been written has a side effect of locking out anyone who is not supposed to be authorized from getting to Server selection, much less character creation. Earlier, that code did not appear to be working, which is why folks were able to see the character creator.
The servers have been taken down (meaning, not even Beta testers can get to it at the moment) until this issue is fixed.
Now, amid the cries of "Unfair!" and "Why change this now?" I'll explain the purpose of this code change. What we've done is instituted a "Queue" server, so that on really busy weekends, Freedom won't be listed as "unavailable" if it is full, it will simply put you into the "next available slot" queue. Hopefully, this will alleviate some of the issues that crop up from the full server problem.
Without closing the servers to the general population, you now have the ability to:- Filter player "noise" on the forums by continuing to have a closed forum for desired testers
- Filter player "noise" in game via private chat channels for desired testers
- And now, with this feature, you can limit server load to a desired level (which historically has only been a minor issue of the first day of a beta patch anyway)
- Has not reduced average total beta time for each issue.
- Has not resulted in less buggy issues, on average.
- Has not resulted in more issues per year, on average.
- Has resulted in strife, grief, and a two-tiered player base (have's and have-not's)
- Has resulted in disruption of both player testing of personal character build and base testing issues and use of the unofficial cross-server PvP server
The only real reason I've ever seen offered by any dev for this process is to streamline the feedback process. That can be accomplished by other means.
So, really? Why not go back to the old all-open process. It wasn't broken, and hasn't been improved upon. -
Quote:QFT, regardless of how BaB's tweet is interpreted.Originally Posted by Gr33n
well what a load of you know what....
well back to that other beta that i am actually in.... -
[ QUOTE ]
*perks up* wha? who? bwah? I hear Phoenix? yer coming down here? cool! what kinda job ya gonna be out here to interview for?
on yer way down here can you drag Rich with you and make him try the get a job thing here again?
oh yeah.. 2XP weekend..... not sure my plans. prolly just solo as I usually do, maybe jump into some TF/SFs, get the chars I have around the 40s to 50, I dunno
[/ QUOTE ]
I did not know you lived in Arizona, Heri. It's an attorney position with the Federal government. To say more would be to jinx it! But if you have any Federal contacts....
But do you like Phoenix? I'm bringing my wife and turning into a long weekend so I can experience the city a bit. At worst, it will be a nice short mini vacation.
Yes, Ulli, I could be leaving your neighborhood. I expect you to eat my cookies - I do not take offense!