Memphis_Bill

If you get an option for setup or whatnot, pick "boot normally," hit enter (if needed) and start tapping F8 again. Sometimes OEMs will put that in for some (exceptionally annoying) reason, probably dealing with a recovery partition.

I'll also suggest getting/doing three things (from another PC that's not infected)

1. Malwarebytes. Useful little tool. It will be blocked by several fake AVs. Install, but don't update or run. Go to where you install it, make a copy of MBAM.EXE and rename it. Run *that.* Update. 99% of the time, that's enough to get around these.

2. "FixEXE." (Link is for vista, has another link for 7, search if running XP.) Small registry file. I've been seeing quite a few of these that essentially turn *every* EXE to "Open with" themselves - so with the virus gone, you can't run a program. Kill the virus, run that, get your EXEs back.

3. Go to Control Panel - Internet Options - Connections - LAN settings (button.) Make sure nothing is checked - *especially* "Use a proxy."

I can give somewhat more detailed instructions on tracking down the virus, as well, but since you mentioned "not computer savvy," - well, they're easy to me, but would probably come out greek for you.

I hope you mean "Threads," since shards drop from regular missions, and even if you mean threads - you're wrong, as there's a conversion from shards.

And 4. Use AE for this? Don't make me *laugh.*

Yes, she is, no matter how many smilies she tries to hide it behind.

If I say to someone they're a <censored> <censored> <censored>-ing <censored>, "but I mean that in the nicest possible way," I've still called them a <censored> <censored> <censored>-ing <censored>.

She seems to think that's perfectly OK because she stuck one of her damn smilies at the end of it. It isn't. Thus her and every worthless thing she has to say being on ignore for quite some time.

Precisely. Your Rogue/Vig is, essentially, "Take your little sister along on your date." True co-op would be the RWZ or Cimerora (to an extent.)

I think those zones - especially the RWZ - highlight the problems this team has with coop zones, as well. The only actual "co op" missions I can think of are the V-day missions, where heroes and villains *must* work together to finish an objective (as opposed to just being "team with anyone.)

When the devs try to write co-op, they inevitably make some (really bad) assumptions or really "write down to" one side or the other. The most infamous (to me) line is the "I know the Rogue Isles don't seem like a place worth saving" in the RWZ - says who? My heroes would generally help anyone, and my villains... you've just told them they're basically trash that came from a trash country.

Now, if we just call them "shared" zones (which is looser than co-op - and more like Cim, with a hero specific and villain specific contact,) it gives a little more leeway - but it also runs into the problem (to me) of having to have a good reason why my hero/villain isn't trying to stop that villain/hero they see running around. But that's a whole other can of worms.

Co-op has the possibility of being more like "real" co-op with the "morality" tech we got in GR, so we'll have to see what happens there. Perhaps R/Vs can even get some specific contacts and missions so they're not just tagging along. But I'm not holding my breath.

No, it is not.

You're thinking "soulbound" or whatever the term is. Here, there are a *very* few things that are untradeable:
- Vanguard merits
- AE tickets
- Tailor tokens
- Reward merits
- Incarnate salvage (threads, shards, etc.) and the abilities (which "look like" IOs, sort of) granted by them.
I'm probably missing 1-2 things.

Pretty much anything else can be transferred. Yes, if you slot an enhancement, you need to use a respec to unslot it, but you're free to reuse, sell, delete, trade or store that afterward.

Glad you liked it
I'd argue against that. Gravity needs some work - mostly in animation time - but to me it's worth it. Wormhole's exceptionally fun. ("Protect the henge? OK!" *fling enemies across map for 15 min.*)

Not sure - but City Info Tracker DOES say when they've last seen the character.

Just to touch on this -

You *will not* see any paid-for extras (either Collectors Edition, or the various packs) given away as veteran rewards. They've stated in the past that that just will not happen.

Pre-order items (like the helmets or prestige sprints) that *didn't cost extra* are fair game (and already in as vet items.)

At times, yes.

If it's a bad enough penalty - or, rather, annoying enough - that it makes the rest of the game not fun because you don't want to take risks, or want to avoid teaming (bad in an MMO) because you can get penalized for other peoples' mistakes or what have you - then that penalty is outweighing the rest of the game and can be a reason to quit.

Is it common? I don't know. I don't have the exit surveys and "I quit" posts from every MMO to answer that.

I can contrast two MMOs (well, one I'd call MMO-lite) for my own experience, Guild Wars and Aion.

Guild Wars, yes, the death penalty is frustrating enough for me to quit. Deal with the debuffs - which stack - each time you die... even though it (as I recall) sets you on a corpse run? I dont' want to take risks, then. The game, to me, is somewhat dull admittedly, but I'd go through some "dull" for what looked like an interesting set of storylines. I've complained about movement (IE, not being able to hop over a small rise - or "skip over a pebble," as I tend to put it,) but I've put up with that in other games. Those are minor and overlooked. The futility of trying to do a corpse run while debuffed (not the corpse run in and of itself to me) - and being penalized STILL afterward - is what really did it in for me. It is the main reason.

Aion, the death penalty is irritating in that it costs you money on top of *everything else* costing far too much money - but it's a minor thing on a list. I wouldn't call it "the" or even "a major" reason for quitting.

As far as "why just not die?" well... show how to ensure doing that 100% of the time in every game, and I'll be happy to.

So that's why you do it. See, I can *quote* something to *give an opinion* on that part. Especially when the part quoted is a *question.* It's not, like you seem to think, a personal attack.

Oh, thought "you were finished," by the way.
Yeah, there it is right there. Hint for you: If you want to be taken seriously when you say you're done, *be done.*

And yet, it's given in this very thread as a reason... including by me.

Scroll back to the beginning. You'll see others giving the same sort of thing ("this is the reason I don't play X game/X unnamed game any mroe.")

Like it or not, "popping a wakie" still gives lost time - the XP debt slowing down leveling slightly. Die more, more time is lost to it. Lost time in an MMO is more of a penalty - you're paying for the time to access in most cases. Single player? You *generally* have the option to minimize that lost time. "This looks like a tough fight - save game." The penalty is minimal.

Funny, I don't see your name in red. Seems you have exactly zero right to tell me to "shut up and sit down." And there was nothing hostile before YOUR replies, sparky. Unless you somehow think "stupid" is a term of endearment. Or, of course, think trying to *order* me is somehow nice.

Did I respond supporting "no penalty at all?" Or was I replying to the "Other genres have a penalty" bit - you know, the thing I quoted?

Or are you having trouble reading?

Here, let me show you what I quoted from YOU that I replied to:
Hmm. Looks like I was answering that.

Here's a suggestion:

If you don't want a question replied to, DON'T ASK IT.

Stupid? You're the one going "Other genres of games penalize you, why don't MMOs?" in this portion of the conversation. (Paraphrased.)

Meanwhile - hmm.

Portal 2: No penalty other than starting over, and if it's too far back, you can start from where you left off.
Most RPGs: Save games. maybe you wander around a bit. Bypassing any penalty other than a bit of time... rather like an MMO.
Flight sims - You crash. You start over from a save, or are starting over from a point partway through.
Driving/racing sims - Crash? Most start you within a few feet of where you crashed.
RTS - Again, save games. Or you start from the beginning or a predetermined point.

Now, are you sure you want to, oh, make yourself look stupid by essentially saying "Other games penalize the player more than MMOs?" MMOs, with "corpse runs," losing equipment (and not being able to get it back, sometimes permanently losing it if something like a disconnect happens,) deleveling, debuffs and the like, have been the *most harsh* of any genre. Especially for something you don't (in most instances, Guild Wars being an exception) pay for just once, but are paying for *time* to play.

Yes, I know you've said you're generally fine with how COH does it - but you DID ask the question. Don't like the answer, don't ask in the first place.

That's called "being a leader," not "Alter the game to penalize people." You have tools in your *own* arsenal - "lightening up" for one, playernotes and friend/global friend lists for another. Team chat and tells.

Take the time to help them *yourself* in a *social* game.

Do you think Berlin in 1938 would have looked like a dump?

Yes, there would be *areas* that would be higher crime, have graffiti, etc. That would be true of any big city. But not the entire thing. And some of the areas that look like garbage dumps make no sense whatsoever. I mean:

St. Martial - Straight out from the Giza there's a section of road *completely missing.* This, of any area, is where you'd have tourists come in and spend money, which they won't if it looks like garbage. Yes, the zone is "compressed" somewhat, but still - any list of areas that should be "clean and shiny" and in great repair should include a good chunk of this zone. No burning garbage piles right in sight of the big pyramid.

Grandville - This is the *capitol.* Recluse's lair. The "Most fortified city in the world." All reasons NOT to have broken down buildings, garbage and vagrants in it! Even if you want to say "Recluse would never leave his tower, and so he doesn't care," looking at it *militarily* you wouldn't want someplace, oh, easy to catch fire and that provides *great* hiding places for people working against you.