Memphis_Bill

Pet buffs may wear off, but pets can run at down to -2 from the caster level *and* pets die - sometimes frequently. Which means a resummon and rebuff to get them back to their "proper" ability. And it's not just an Incarnate trial issue - 18-24 tend to be horrid levels for a mastermind, with only one T2 (typically a source of support) pet, DOs at best, and AOE-happy enemies (especially Demolitionists.)

If it were a blaster power, it would become unavailable (aside from recharge) for some amount of time, then MORE endurance would have to be spent to bring its damage and range (for instance) up to where it used to be.

Except that for MMs, it's also their resistance and HP. They bounce from "high" HP with full pets in bodyguard mode (ok, theirs doesn't actually change, but if you consider pets HP by proxy) to the lowest and squishiest in 1-2 good AOEs. And when that happens, they also lose their offensive ability.

The closest analog I can think of are tanks with crashing T9s - but you'd also have to have their entire secondary vanish at the same time.

Yeah, that last bit is what throws me the most. Unlocking alpha has a solo component, so the solo path is to team so you can send a voucher to another character to skip the team AND solo component.

What I'd expect on a solo/small team path would, admittedly, be hard to balance - especially given the wide range of abilities. BZB's IO'd out monster is going to have a much easier time than, say, my SO'd out Ice/Psy dom (ok, used the SO build on her for Ramiel, which is why I'm using that example - does have some IOing done on another build.)

If we call each set of unlocks a level -
Alpha - level "0" (it's the unlock getting you into the whole thing, still, to my eyes,) Judgement/Interface - level 1, Lore L2, and so forth -

I'd expect to see two to three decent length arcs for level "1," probably an additional one on level "2" - for each side of the tree. Grinding the trials would still be faster, yes. The iXP would probably be rewarded at arc completion. They'd be a pain to come up with, write, and balance, I'm sure.

I'm half wondering if there's some sort of queueing system for pet commands that's getting stuck - I've had that happen, where I'd told them to attack something, they didn't, told them "fine, passive/follow" or something - and THEN they'd run off.

If so, perhaps that needs clearing...

*shrug* I have no idea. Just throwing a random thought out there.

/agreed.

*chuckle*

For the next act, can he question Arcanaville's math skills?

Sorry, Tony, but you are way off here.

"Pet spam?"

This isn't early COH. We can't cram enough recharge in to have five Rockies or fifteen sets of fire imps. Pets - and *upgrading* the pets - are the point of MMs. The pets already have recharge and END costs, and are often squishy as heck.

And of course, no other AT has to do the MM summon - buff before actually being useful. Blasters don't have to wait, get a power ready, buff it, buff it again, then have it finally at full (or even nominal) power. Controllers and DOminators don't - fire up and go for the pet. They've got plenty of other things in *both* the primary and secondary to do if the pet isn't up. Nobody else is as dependent on the pets as the Mastermind - for obvious reasons.

If any pet comes close to being "spammable" - and this is by design, as it's so squishy - it'd be the Tier 1s. Of course if any T1 is still out there, it reduces the number of those resummoned - unlike Controller pets, typically - so if you "spam" early you may well still have one getting killed (so you'd be at less than full strength *even faster.*

Sorry, I can't buy "pet spam" as a serious reason against.

So there you are, playing a game you're perfectly fine with and have been fine with for years. Someone applies a power to you you haven't been hit with before.

*Bam*

Migraine. Siezure. Whatever the case may be.

It's not "powers blasting, masterminds, enemies all over the place." It's often ONE power, which - in the case of Barrier - you may not have been exposed to before, in hundreds to thousands of hours of playing.

So, no, "So maybe you should just unsub and go away" is not an answer. Getting the graphics fixed is. Being able to avoid the issue by *not* having said graphic applied to you is. "Leave" is not.

My *suggestion* for you is, before making such a statement again, you actually learn a bit about the issue instead of making assumptions and pronouncements. It's not like this is new information.

Searched on global channels -
http://wiki.cohtitan.com/wiki/Global_channels

Still showing 10. If you edited it earlier, don't know what to tell ya.

Heh... At least Raymond was to blame for one. He should've remembered to send the data.

And /em throwconfetti /em rosepetals at damning the torpedoes and going on with this. (And great art, too!)

I'm ... eh, when it comes to scrappers (and, to a point, brutes... yet I enjoy stalkers and tanks. Go figure.)

That said, by "complex" are you looking for... I don't know, "busy?" Because I'd probably put "Dual blades/regen" there. Play with the combos, and it's up to you to stay alive. Willpower if regen's too clicky. /DA if you want to add a bit of control, though I think you lose some of the "flashy" there. (Alternately, you're a dustbunny of doom.)

Or, moving away from melee - I'm not fond of most veats, but a Huntsman, though you lose melee (end up being more bane going for melee, not to mention redraw.)

Alternately - answer more questions.

Where do you tend to start finding yourself "bored?"
What do you find interesting - visuals, power, support, "busy-ness," ? (For instance, for that last - I had a Bots/FF Mastermind that nearly put me off the whole AT. Set up bots, buff bots, give orders... um.... wait... pick next target. *yawn.* Was recommended a Thug/Poison, and loved it. Bots/Traps is fun, too. Because I have "stuff to do.")

I'll also give you a suggestion or two from my Altaholic's guide - Join or form a group. Either a SG, themed in some way, or - more likely - a "theme team" or "superteam" with people you know will be on at certain times. It can be a set group, or something like the Iron Eagles. (Which is another sort of challenge - death = character deletion.) Basically, find new ways to make it interesting for yourself.

... except, of course, the annoyance of those that (a) don't want/can't deal with specific buffs and could previously ask not to be buffed, and (b) those who would like to consistently honor those requests.

No, really, you don't. If the game looks interesting, that's all the reason needed to decide to play it.

... except you don't. (Mender Ramiel's arc.)

Actually, it's reason for existence is "To provide a world in which you're a superhero fighting various enemies/running missions/etc."

Yahoo Messenger, by contrast, is more "designed to bring a social experience," as it's purpose is "Communicating with other people." But last I checked, we weren't playing Yahoo Messenger.

From experience - Let people know, and ask not to have them applied. In an extreme, avoid certain characters.

*points to "Issues with incarnate graphics" thread.*


Situation now:
I can avoid a buff on someone that has problems while the graphic gets fixed.

Situation with AOE buff:
If I don't notice that person is a little too close, they get buffed, get sick, log off, ruining their night and mine.

I *already* fight to get graphics changed, bring issues to the devs, etc. I have people approach me with their problems *on their own.* Making them AOE *exacerbates* the situation, which is why I argue against it and am *extremely* unhappy with the change mentioned.

I don't see why you don't get that.


... which I can respect and comply with, raising everyone's gameplay experience. That's not "fruitless," and I have no idea how you'd think it possibly COULD be. Interim solution? Of course, while arguing for a graphics change. But it's certainly NOT fruitless.

1. If you buff me *right now,* I can ask you not to and go AFK while the buff wears out.

2. If you CONTINUE to, I leave the team, letting you (and possibly the team leader) know about it, one-star you and not team with you again.

3. If you do so *maliciously* (and yes, I *did* have people do so,) I /petition you for griefing/harassment.

With the new "half issue," you can try not to buff me - but you LOSE that fine control. I might be just on the far edge of the buff (which - I tend to be a "combat buffer." I don't want everyone stopping while I buff, I go down the list as we fight.) You'll still buff me with a buff I can't deal with/don't want.

(And just to get a personal aspect out of it - since the sonic change, I'm good with pretty much any buff, personally. Sonics were the only ones giving me headaches and such. But I do know others that DO have problems with them.)


Don't make me throw lemon merengue at you.

And it's better to let people know *why* you're quitting - even if it's just a PM to the team lead. Helps avoid situations in the future.

I don't play my Stalkers like a Brute or Scrapper. That would be foolish. I play my Stalker like a Stalker. If others want to argue about how it is or isn't the same, that's their business. *shrug*

Yeah, I know. I'm just getting irritated at power creep in general here. And a rather overwhelming (and not talking about the OP here, just sort of a general statement) "gimme gimme why do I have to wait" that seems to be building up everywhere on the forums and in game.

Gets tiring.

There are times when arguing for "more power earlier" makes sense - I still think the -4 level shift in Tin Mage is idiotic. And letting MMs do an AOE upgrade on their pets made sense - nobody ELSE has to go through that much just to be ready to do... well, *anything.* When they make sense, I'll argue for them. But so much of it seems to be "If you won't give me the I Win button, give me something close, I want it now!"

(I don't, by the way, tend to feel all that useless without T3Destiny or Lore in the trials - it makes for actual *fights.* Something other than "I nuke this spawn, you nuke the next.")

"You don't like spinach. You're allergic to spinach. OK, to get our spinach-free menu, you just have to eat this spinach salad...."

No, two different reasons for people to not want buffs - medical and peformance.

Like "Log off and not play." Think that MIGHT be something worth avoiding?

You can move around them - and, hmm, funny, for a game that relies on people *playing* (and paying a subscription,) somehow I don't think "Hey, just sign off" is what they'd want to drive for.

Speaking of fallacious arguments....

I'm pretty sure I could roll an FF/Psi and solo (REALLY solo) the arc to unlock Alpha. Soloed the arc on my Ice/Emp and Earth/FF, after all, and those aren't exactly high damage.

Yeah. Someone missed the point.

Let's see:

- Future sets that have issue-causing graphics, like the old sonic or the current barrier. Can no longer skip someone.

- Can't skip people having problems (PC-wise) with graphics (causing performance problems - UNLIKE some others, "Too bad, go buy a new PC loser" is not what I consider a proper answer.)

- Can't skip people who for whatever reason would LIKE to be skipped (SB is the most common for this.)

Yeah. Awful actually being angry that I can no longer, with this change, let others play without various buffs if they request it. Look out for others? Pfft. Who cares. Screw everyone else, right? If they don't want the shields, they can just run away and hope I miss them. Who cares if they have issues with it. They're only a fellow human being, screw them.

And why does this actually make me angry? Because it *will* affect people I personally care about. Because this will indirectly affect people who would probably LIKE to team, but will avoid buffers all together now - or just shelve characters or dump their account all together because of problems.

And because it shows a distinct lack of care on the part of the dev team (who I've been growing more and more disappointed in) about little things like "Balance" and "Power creep" that keep a game actually playable.

Nope. Forced.

Now shelving several characters, and given how the dev team seems to be on a "moar power regardless" (and not paying attention to what problems that brings,) giving my subscription a serious looking at.

I'm *not* liking the way this is going.

/this.