LunaWisp

DBServer errors this time. This is getting really monotonous now. Are the servers down for some known reason or just broken?

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I found it really funny that most seem to think it is only running for one hour

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That's why sensible people use the 24 hour clock, no confusion there

I like a decent description, it lets you know what's going on and gives you the impression that the author has at least put some thought into the arc.

One of my arcs has some fairly long descriptions but I highlighted the key bits in orange text for the people who don't like reading - not that anyone's bothered anyway

Not seen that happen to any of my toons.

Remember though, /bind_load and /bind_save are your friends - keep a backup copy

Always thought there was something special about Defiant

Thanks for the heads up...

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Nope, not just be a display thing. In your CoH game files is a text file called PlayerCreatedSouvenirClues it's being overwritten completely by new souvenirs every so often (is for me at least).

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My file has three entries in it, all identical
All looks a bit broken to me...

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for some odd reason it was reverted back to office sewers after a few edits. I didn't it, MA itself did

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That sounds very similar to a problem I have with the MA changing my maps to suit itself. There are two Widow Tower maps, it insists on using the one which doesn't allow spawn points to be specified. If it's changing your maps as well, that could explain the spawn problems.

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I think it would be worth filing an in game /bug report on that.
Errors in map ID could be causing some of the other bugs described here.

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Have done so. In the meantime I've left the hostage/ally as none essential. If it gets rescued it can help the player, otherwise it doesn't really matter. I've used a few unique maps and not had this particular problem on any other.

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I think there are two entries for the same map.

Anyone got the game in front of them and can check the spawn point info for the Widow Tower map?

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I've just checked, I need to use the Widow Tower map which does appear to allow a front spawn (it works anyway!). Although I can select the right map and save it to a local file, the moment the arc is published, it changes back to the Mercy Island Widow Tower map. Frustrating to say the least.

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I had a similar problem when I was testing an arc using the Widow Tower map. No sign of the hostage. The map completely ignores the front setting for the hostage. What seemed to happen was that it had actually spawned the hostage and the mobs around it right at the back of the map on a raised platform that was all but invisible from below.

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Check the map description. I'm at work and can't check, but I suspect the map you are using has no "front" spawn points of the kind that can take hostages, so it is using the only available valid spawn point. - the location you are describing is where Ghost Widow is when you have to rescue her.

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Strange thing is the hostage spawned in a different place the first time I tested it. I'm wondering if I accidentally changed the map, just remembered there were two Widow Tower maps. I'll have to check which one I'm using and give the other one a try.

I had a similar problem when I was testing an arc using the Widow Tower map. No sign of the hostage. The map completely ignores the front setting for the hostage. What seemed to happen was that it had actually spawned the hostage and the mobs around it right at the back of the map on a raised platform that was all but invisible from below. I only found out about it when the mobs spotted me and jumped down to attack. Eventually I had to make the hostage/ally a non-essential part of the mission because I really wanted to use that map.

Also had a similar thing with glowies, they spawn all over the place. I've had them spawn inside scenery with just a corner showing.

I think they're going to have to revise their plan about not allowing us to place things in specific places because the current system is too bug prone.

We really really really, did I mention really, need the unique maps modified so they actualy respect the front/middle/back settings.

I created a mission using the Widow Tower map where I set the ally at the front and the boss at the back. That way the ally can be some use. It almost always generates the ally right next to the boss at the back. This is not a small map so I can't see any reason for it to not respect those settings.

Only thing making me restless at the moment is the game going down in the middle of the day, every day, for what seems like ages...

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You all do realise atlas park isnt the ONLY zone in the game right? Im sure not ALL new players stay in just the one zone.

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No but that's where at least 50% of them are likely to arrive and that's where they get their first impression of the game.

They've always said that logout was a security feature so it's not likely to be changed.

If anything, I'd like to see the 30 second timeout dropped when you're in a safe place - the game knows where you are safe now we have day jobs so they can't use that old excuse any more.

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Would definately be useful to be able to edit a submission to the mission list. I've made some major changes to my 'Lucy' arc and the details on that entry are now out of date.

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The author can edit the mission description. When you login and it shows you the listings just for your arcs theres an edit button on the far right (you may need to scroll horizontally to see it - it's normally off the side of my window).

It's reviewers/commentators that can't edit their comments.

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Ah thanks for that, I'll get that sorted when I log back in, seems broken at the moment.

Would definately be useful to be able to edit a submission to the mission list. I've made some major changes to my 'Lucy' arc and the details on that entry are now out of date.

Bowing to popular opinion, I have reduced the ally to a lieutenant and adjusted her powers. I've chopped the two AV's down to EB's so they scale down to bosses and changed the single EB the arc had to a boss for the sake of continuity.

Hopefully that'll help make it more easily soloable without having the ally doing all the work while the player sits back and admires all the activity.

I use the one in Founders Falls mainly. Very quiet there. Those snipers keep the riff-raff away.

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Dying in your own dream isn't a great idea when you're supposed to have some semblence of control over it.

[/ QUOTE ]If your ego gets in the way when doing author insertion, maybe you shouldn't do it at all. Just a friendly tip here.

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Cant remember off the top of my head but are you able to insert dialog if the ally dies? (does it count as losing sight of him/her?)
Would make an interesting twist/dialog to have such low self confidence you have another hero save the day (thinking about scrubs when JD in his own daydream is the sk).

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Can't remember. The problem here though is that the 'ally' is more than just an ally. This is her dream and the player has been caught up in it. Letting her die would create some major complications.

Must admit I was a bit concerned about the strength of the ally. She needs to be there but if she's too weak she dies easily. Dying in your own dream isn't a great idea when you're supposed to have some semblence of control over it. I did try to experiment with toning the end AV/EB down to an EB/boss and reducing the ally to a boss or even a leiutenant just using healing/shield powers but the MA system is down again...would be handy if the ally scaled along with everything else though.

It's a toss up between having a decent boss for a melee toon to fight without making it impossible for a blaster or your average defender.

I tried to make my Lucy's Nightmare soloable for anybody but if there's not at least one AV/EB in an arc you get slated for making it too easy. I added an ally as an EB to help squishier characters out, that of course makes it a lot easier for melee toons so you can't win really. I managed to solo it with my high level blaster but the mobs I created do a lot of fire damage (and she has a lovely fire shield) so might not be too easy for every AT. Also, since nobody has actually played the thing and given me any feedback I have no idea if it's too tough or otherwise

EB's do actually scale down to bosses, AV's scale to EB's, so you're really seeing people going silly with AV's

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In the UK the censored meaning's much more prevalent

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It is? I've never heard it used in that context. I must try to get out more

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What MA does for me is a great new way to get from those irritating below level 20 levels. Story wise(when I play solo...but then everyone wants to put in at least one EB...sigh...Sir Drake not a happy blaster...:

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Hehe. Can't win really, I've concentrated on the upper levels since everyone complains about the lack of high level content. Leave the EB's/AV's out and people moan that they are too easy, put them in and other people find them too hard. I tried to compromise with my Lucy's Nightmare arc by having the seemingly mandatory EB's but having an ally appear as well to help you out.

Strangely enough, it's only by actually trying to create an arc that you realise how hard it is to put something really good together. And of course we have everything already in place, the devs had to start from scratch.

I tried one of those 'farming' missions yesterday, more out of boredom than anything else.Funny thing is, it was actually more fun to play than some of the 'proper' arcs I've looked at. only thing it lacked was a coherent story.

To be honest, I'm not finding this MA thing as enjoyable to use for design or play as I'd hoped and I'm on the verge of just forgetting about it and reverting back to the normal game missions - guess I'll be soloing for a while though