Memphis_Bill

Paragon Studios is a business. Businesses, when they have projects, use project management. If they have a planned arc or set of arcs that requires a new map, but the map-creation folks are busy elsewhere, that does not mean art can't create textures or a new mob design, or that the story people can't get the preliminary arc tested with a stand-in map.

If generic maps work, use them. If they need a custom map, that doesn't mean that other things can't be done (and when the arc-writing team, art team, etc. is done, they can be doing still *other* things while the map people do their part. Including finishing other arcs that DON'T require new maps.)

/disagree with all of this. No reason a "casual" player who's been around couldn't have several 50s, or that they'd not use IOs or the market. I don't think I'd be called "casual" in most respects, yet I have characters at 50 with all (or mostly) SO builds - and I don't really do much with the market at all other than dump stuff there.

It's probably easier to define "casual" subcategories as opposed to an overall "casual player." For instance, regardless of what ladyk thinks, I'd call myself an (upper side of) casual PVPer. I don't have PVP builds, I'm not part of a PVP supergroup or whatnot. I hop in on occasion, screw around a bit, and leave when I'm ready to. Or a "casual" badger is going to grab explore badges, maybe keep in mind they have to kill a bunch of X for Y badge, but isn't going to spend the entire time doing that, and certainly isn't going to set up "heal farms" or whatnot to leave running overnight for a week at a time.

A "casual" player could easily burn several hours in a day on TFs, because they hopped into the game, one was running, it sounded interesting and they joined, someone said "Why don't we run this next" and they hang around for it.

Now, if someone was sitting there with a spreadsheet planning out a way to get .00001 DPS more out of their build to solo pylons and GMs, I'd think we'd be comfortable putting that under "not casual."

"Casual" has to be lumped in with that definition for obscenity (or porn or whatever it is) - "Can't define it, but I know it when I see it."

One thing you're forgetting here (and with the "more work") -

There's not just one guy doing all this, unlike us making AE missions.

Need a new map? That goes to one group, with specifications on looks (which also involves art) and spawn points, any special items, etc. While they work on that, the writer(s) start in with their bit, and so forth.

Comparing "what we can do" to what the devs can do (and have proven, if it weren't common sense already, that they can do things we can't) is a bit misguided.

Besides, there are people working for NC who have that *as their job.* Let them do it.

... says who? Of course, that depends on personal definition of "cool name," too.

Surprised (when I got it, admittedly a while back) since they seemed fairly obvious :
Clair de Lune
Brimstone Cowboy
Theorum

Recent:
Home Fires
Home Guard

True, but...

Well. We have multiple builds available. I've got quite a few PBs, two at 50. One's a triformer, one's human only. Bit different playstyle, but both worth trying out, depending on what you're going for.

Not Aett, but all I can say is - "then play it." (And IOs catch up and surpass SOs earlier than that, by the way.)

I have level 50s, now working on Incarnate content, that did so on SO builds (or SO with a small sprinkling of IOs, like a KB resist IO.)

SOs, really, are fine - if you don't mind the replacement cost. Given the money coming in from elsewhere, I tend not to mind. (No, not typically rich. I dump salvage and old recipes I'm not going to use.)

Why are you replacing IOs every five levels?

Um... ok. Think that's the first time I've heard them described that way ever...

*points to reg date*

Registration date doesn't normally mean anything here, but I point mine out for a reason. The forum reg date is about a week after I started playing, and I've stayed with the game since. 250+ alts, two accounts, etc.

And, again - I run on SOs. Or common IOs. Know what? Nobody can tell the difference without looking at the info screen.

Don't let idiots like that shape how you think you "have to" play. Instead, click their name, add player note, one-star them and don't team with them again. Once THEY pay your $15/month, they can tell you how to play. Really, especially on a team - it's not that big a deal.

Personally, I'd rather play with someone who knows what they're doing (or is willing to learn and work with the team) and is on SOs than someone with a 'purpled out' build and clueless/bossy/otherwise irritating.

*points to the S&I forum*

Dark Astoria. Yes, not "a storyline," but a zone with a ton of atmosphere AND story elements in it (COT trying to keep "the sleeper" bound, the BP waking it, and the Tsoo looking for "something" - I know I've made a number of suggestions on it, as have others.)

Darrin Wade, yes. And, again, if we're going "All team, all trial Praetorian invasion," hey, why not some solo/small team stuff fighting another godlike being - y'know, kind of incarnate level appropriate - in the Shard? Ruularu has just been hanging out for quite some time.

See how the Shivans tie into the Coming Storm. They just kind of hang out (and get controlled, sort of, by Aeon.)

Even if we're not getting them as an EAT because of the shapeshifting or whatnot, going through Gadzul Oil, the Blood of the Black Stream and everything they're doing (something about a worldwide techno/magic computer of some sort) would be good for teen to 30s, at the least.

Giving VEATs a decent storyline instead of the travesty they have now might get me interested in actually playing their storyline again.

Redoing (and making somewhat clearer, more "investigative" and easier to follow from contact to contact) the Skull -> Trolls -? Family -> ... ? and Hellion - Outcast - Tsoo messing with everyone - ? lines would be good.

Play through the Kheldian arcs and the Nictus invasion gets wrapped up.

A-freaking-men.

You mean "Damn, these zones are empty! Hello? Anyone?"

... except the devs themselves brought up "market PVP" as acceptable, or even encouraged.

I think 1000-1500 is reasonable for a luck charm. Any bets on how long it'll take for that to fill? (The last time I had it filled for that was JUST after the market merge.)

... but I can, since the lack of that "must get l33test g34r" nonsense is part of what's kept me here.

Personally getting irritated at the WTFs anyway when I'm the *only* character dealing with two Rikti invasions one after the other - because, when checking through the team search, 95% or better of the people logged on are (a) 50s, (b) in the RWZ, (c) working on a TF.

Yeah. Know what? A level 17 controller can't do a heck of a lot in that case.

MM zombies are whatever the player wants them to be. (Y'know, the whole "pick an origin" thing.)