Knight_Errant

I've currently got a "Barbarian" Axe/Will brute running around at L40. It's been great fun and the knockdown has been good mitigation. I've not tried Mace but the single target damage output for Axe seems quite potent when compared to my Dm/Fire brute.

Unless I've joined a team for XP I don't have any issues with Ghosting. Sometimes stealth and cunning is a better option than simply slogging through every single mob on the map.
In the case of a TFs,ghosting can be a boon on the really long ones.
Heck, Stalkers are ghosting personified.

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Now try that at him being +2 levels. A level where you find the normal opponents a satisfying challenge.

[/ QUOTE ] Sorry that argument doesn't work. It's that players' fault if he/she chooses to attempt a mission containing an EB/AV at a difficulty level higher than he/she can cope with due to the presence of the EB. You are given full warning by the contact that you may need help.

What you are asking for is to have your cake and eat it. I'm sorry but if you can't cope with the difficulty level [u]you chose to run at[u] because of an EB in your mission then that's tough. You'll just have to [u]lower the difficulty to a manageable level[u] to take into account the higher overall difficulty of that mission.

I'm sorry if this reads as rude/blunt but we've tried reasoning and you don't seem to grasp that it's not the game that needs to be changed to accommodate your problem because it is self inflicted.

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And why did Golden Sphinx or 3k Kelvin or Phil suddenly become a Darth Vader?

That Lord Recluse or Statesman are Darth Vaders. I happily agree. But there are quite a lot of plebs out there that suddenly are EB's. T3h Pwnz0r has every right to be an EB as a nobody like Golden Sphinx and yet he is not.

[/ QUOTE ]Golden Sphinx and Co. are like Ballistas They're supposed to be outstanding heroes that work for, or with, Longbow. Also they don't scale up as far as being Hero/AVs, hence not Vader anyway.

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So a boss doesn't need to be an EB to be a boss.

[/ QUOTE ]Nice try but you're only half right here. Bosses are Bosses. EB's are Elite Bosses, a cut above the armies of pleb bosses. Be it "T3h Pwnz0r" or "Tank Smasher" it's still a pleb, however there is only one Bobcat or Ghost Widow. It's as much about the distinction as it is about the threat they pose. An EB isn't an EB because the Devs decided that they wanted to upset the cart for soloists, they represent characters who are exceptionally powerful/talented according to the game lore.
Also, if you're soloing then alot of the EBs you're facing would have been AVs if you had a team. AV's being the pinacle of power for an NPC character, it would be criminal to downgrade them further, just so someone can blast through them like any other pleb boss. Again we're back to replacing Darth Vader with Rick Morranis in a glorified welding mask.


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Who is Rick Morranis? But back to your arguments. I would not dream of tackling such as Statesman or Lord Recluse alone. ArchVillians are indeed to big and nasty to grade them down. Their might and power is integrated in the background story. Note that I was talking about EB's not ArchVillains. So yes there are some arcs where this option would not apply.

[/ QUOTE ]Ah, but here's where your problem begins. Infernal? He's an AV/Hero, Numina, Bobcat, Positron, Synapse, Black Swan, Sirrocco, Antimatter, Tyrant, etc, etc, all AV/Hero level characters. Because you solo, you're only seeing them as EBs but in actual fact they are supposed to be a whole load more powerful.

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On the other hand why would the big bad boss suddenly be surrounded by flunkies (hero level) instead of his most trusted soldiers (invincible level)? That also doesnt make sense Rp wise does it?

[/ QUOTE ]Difficulty level is set by the player, not the mission design. It is not logical to reason that Invincible difficulty mobs are different to Heroic ones as far as the story arc's design is concerned. The mobs around an EB/AV are his/her chosen bodyguard, whether they are even level or +2s is irrelevent. RP is also irrelevent when it comes to mission balancing.

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Turning of EB's would also be player decision. It would balance the mission also nicely. Instead of having to go to seas of of flunkies and then suddenly 1 speedbump. You now can have a tough fight throughout the whole mission.

[/ QUOTE ]But it would defeat the purpose of that EB/AVs presence in the mission. Also you cannot assume that the EB/AV stands separate from the rest of the "mission balance", they are as much a part of the mission as all the mobs you chewed through to get to them. Having a setting that "Turns off" EB/AVs would degrade the missions and overall epic-ness of the story arcs you claim to hold so dear.
You don't see Obi wan kenobi popping off to downgrade Jango Fett before facing him at the landing pad on Camino, do you?

Edit: Oh, Rick Morranis played Dark Helmet

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In a lot of arcs you will have to defeat boss huppeldepup. And instead of him being somebody big he is just a boss. It happens often enough in normal arcs.

[/ QUOTE ]That's because there is nothing special about him. He's just another Freak Tank or Death Mage.
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So a boss doesn't need to be an EB to be a boss.

[/ QUOTE ]Nice try but you're only half right here. Bosses are Bosses. EB's are Elite Bosses, a cut above the armies of pleb bosses. Be it "T3h Pwnz0r" or "Tank Smasher" it's still a pleb, however there is only one Bobcat or Ghost Widow. It's as much about the distinction as it is about the threat they pose. An EB isn't an EB because the Devs decided that they wanted to upset the cart for soloists, they represent characters who are exceptionally powerful/talented according to the game lore.
Also, if you're soloing then alot of the EBs you're facing would have been AVs if you had a team. AV's being the pinacle of power for an NPC character, it would be criminal to downgrade them further, just so someone can blast through them like any other pleb boss. Again we're back to replacing Darth Vader with Rick Morranis in a glorified welding mask.
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On the other hand why would the big bad boss suddenly be surrounded by flunkies (hero level) instead of his most trusted soldiers (invincible level)? That also doesnt make sense Rp wise does it?

[/ QUOTE ]Difficulty level is set by the player, not the mission design. It is not logical to reason that Invincible difficulty mobs are different to Heroic ones as far as the story arc's design is concerned. The mobs around an EB/AV are his/her chosen bodyguard, whether they are even level or +2s is irrelevent. RP is also irrelevent when it comes to mission balancing.

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But the same thing is happening already with a lot of the so called leaders you have to defeat so often (not even talking about the radio ones here). So why are those just bosses or lt's instead of EB's?

[/ QUOTE ]Such as?
I can only think of one EB that was downgraded to Boss status (its name escapes me right now).
You're also neglecting that Infernal (and pretty much any other EB/AV/Hero) is some kind of demon summoning juggernaught. Lore wise he is a whole world of power beyond a simple CoT Death Mage.
It's like Longbow agents. Wardens and Officers are the lead field operatives with boss level power. However, when a "big gun" is needed they dispatch a "Ballista". To downgrade them to Boss level would defeat the purpose of their presence.

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I am certain that there are plenty people out there without those resources who will have to avoid missions like that. Thereby missing a nice part of the game.

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The EBs are what makes these missions interesting. Take away the EBs and they would still be missing a nice part of the game.

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EB's are indeed part of what this makes the game interesting and beating them is indeed fun. And I think I got most of them (most often in big teams but with the occasional solo action as well) That's why I don't want to ban them altogether. I just suggested an option to turn them of so I could smash interesting armies of villains to a pulp instead of having to go through white uninspiring mobs to get to the EB that i can't beat at +2 levels.

But nice well written story arcs are part of the game to. They ad variety to the game as well. And shouldn't everybody be able to sample those instead of a newspaper/radio boredom?

[/ QUOTE ]The thing is, with these story arcs where there is an EB at the end it fits that they are of that level of power. Weakening them so they are no more of a threat than a regular Boss is like taking Vader and the Emperor in Return of the Jedi and replacing them with Dark Helmet and President Scroob. Sure the Stormtroopers will still offerthe same challenge but their all-powerful leaders become a joke.

Yup, or the Tsoo. that way it could be incorporated into St Martial aswell.

An honest to goodness Dragon that flies around Talos Island (like the Arachnos Flier in Granville). With all their meddling in ancient artifacts the Warriors are bound to let one loose at some point.

With the combat Teleporting thing I suppose it could be a sort of short duration Defence Buff thing. As you disappear and reappear your opponent doesn't know where to swing/shoot next.
Click power > TP 5ft forward and gain, say 5% Melee and Ranged defence for 10 seconds.
Give it an appropriate, but not crippling, Endurance cost, and a 20-25 second recharge.

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My feeling that having stuff unlockable was to avoid spoilers. i.e. a new player with a level 5 character wouldn't be able to use nemesis units in thier missions, so as not to spoil meeting them for the first time in game.

Likewise, the Eden Spire map might only be available after you have done the trial, to avoid spoilers.

[/ QUOTE ]Sounds about right to me. And it encourages newer players to explore the current content.

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farmers are the reason for everything bad in life.

[/ QUOTE ]Indeed they are, and when we find them we'll roast their figgin on a spike!

Nice critique PrincessDarkstar. I still can't believe how wrong and, in 99% of it, totally contrary to tried, tested and accepted wisdom on Kelds the OP is!

Light Form is all well and good if you're playing a Human or Dual-form, but it's no where near as useful if you're a Tri-form. It's a mediocre shield at best and a shackle at worst. In order for it to be a viable "Godmode" you need to have the other toggle shields active. Then there's the nasty crash at the end.

And here was me logging in to give advice to a newish player on how fun PBs are.

But nooooo!

And I left my troll slaying axe behind when my WAR sub expired. How absent minded of me.

Now all I need to do is find out the OP's global so I can add him to my ignore lists for being "an individual of detrimental personality to the community".

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bumping into an eb every od mission

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A massive exageration of the frequency of EBs.

[/ QUOTE ]Indeed, in the 30+ run there are 27 Arcs consisting of 302 missions (including Hunts and Talks). In those missions there are a total of 33 EB/AV spawns. 14 of which are confined to a single arc.

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I am indeed not asking for an easier setting then heroic (though for my squishies that would'nt be a bad idea). But yes I like to be able to run a mission at a setting that is challenging (sometimes that is heroic mind you) and then encountering an eb is not something you can deal with.

[/ QUOTE ]So you want a challenge but don't...
Just lower the diff for the missions with EBs in them.

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For those who argue that not everything is meant to be soloed. There should be a viable way to level up solo without bumping into an eb every od mission or having to resolve to boring radio missions. I love doing arcs. I hate not being able to solo them. If i occasionaly have to ask for help thats ok but not multiple times for each single arc.

[/ QUOTE ]Like it or not, that's the way the higher level arcs were designed. The game still gives you options for levelling solo even if you find them boring.

I can't support this suggestion. With a few exceptions EBs are signature or exceptional characters that are supposed to be a cut above the rest. Most EBs are only EBs when soloing as their "normal" status is that of an AV/Hero.
So no, making them anything less than an EB would be a double downgrade and they'd become just another mob instead of a notable opponent.

By the time you've reached the 30-40's it's pretty much a given that you've teamed at some point (unless you're deliberately trying to avoid getting involved with the rest of the community) and it's not unreasonable to expect teaming to be a staple for most players at that level of the game.

If you can't take an EB on your own then ask for help, I'm sure there are people in your SG or friends list that would be willing to help. Unless you've been playing CoX as a single player game.

Finally, remember, not every AT was designed with the idea of going one on one with an EB.

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Of course, this is no different to many powers in the game; use it right and it's awesome, use it wrong and it's either useless or disastrous. KB just happens to be one of the tougher ones to use right, and it's VERY obvious when you get it wrong. *chuckles*

[/ QUOTE ]This is the real key. Used right, with due consideration for the powers of your team mates KB can be great.
KB isn't bad, it's the n00bs who use it without consideration for their team that give it a bad name.

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Q: What did the Zombie say to the Kings Row ******?

A: Keep the tip.

[/ QUOTE ]Eeeeeeew!!!!!!

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Thanks for the well wishes, everyone.

My position is 'potentially redundant' within the Brighton office, and at the current time I intend to accept voluntary redundancy. I'm not interested in living in the US.

[/ QUOTE ]Sorry to see we're losing you GR. Wishing you the best of luck for the future.

Looks like the economic bugbear's come home to roost.
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And I looked, and he opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake. And the sun became as black as sack cloth, and the moon became as blood.

[/ QUOTE ]This post is brung to you by DOOM Inc.

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Why does everthing seem determined to go to hell in handbasket on Wednesdays?

I pray you're wrong FFM, I really do.

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No one more than me wishes that I *am* wrong, trust me on that.

But if this IS all true, and it's looking like it is, I don't see how I will be, except maybe in the fine detail.

It could be worse... When they closed the Korean servers, they just gave them all US accounts; no character transfers at all.

[/ QUOTE ] I think I'll just go curl up in a corner.

I think it's important to remember that although Kelds may be able to fill in for Tankers in a pinch, they aren't supposed to equal or replace them in their role.
"Jack of all trades, master of none" and all that.

Why does everthing seem determined to go to hell in handbasket on Wednesdays?

I pray you're wrong FFM, I really do.