Memphis_Bill

Dwarf is also mez protection, and a good bit of resist. You can switch to it even while mezzed.

Oh, I like the costume.

I wasn't going with that for her full heritage, just a starting point. Arcson = family name. Mr. Arcson's an electrician as well.

You can do it that way, but even "natural" (not talking about origin) Rikti would be science origin. They see a human and talk about "birth form," after all. Mutant (origin) tends to be "You're born with this that makes you different from everyone else of your race" - a human from primal earth with wings, for instance. The Rikti and Lost are mutated after birth with a scientific process (though the Rikti Mages could probably start being classified as Magic now.)

No, I don't stick to it either (leaning the same way as you described on several characters - was mutated, so mutant) but being really strict by the game's description, the Rikti and Lost would be science.

It did, but it's still pretty readable. (I'm working on a "raising a Peacebringer" guide in the Kheld forum and have it linked there.)

I'd say Never is far closer to when it'd be done.

Let's walk through "Let's make motorcycles!" shall we?

First, what type of motorcycle? Dirt bike? Sport bike (aka "crotch rocket?") Touring bike? Chopper/customized? All four? This is important to start with, as the player skeleton will have to be positioned differently for each.

Second, people ARE going to want to customize these, at the very least for color.

Next, we need to make sure that model can scale without looking exceptionally stupid. And it needs to work with all three body types - so, really, we're likely making this three times. What works for an average male build likely won't work well with a Huge, Short model at max sliders. And don't forget designing all 12 (4 types x 3 body types) to try to minimze clipping as much as possible - looks *are* important to a good chunk of the population in game.

Finally, after quite some time, you have everything looking ok... while sitting still. Now we get to work on movement. We can move in ways motorcycles can't (strafing, for one.) How is that handled?

Oh, you want to go from the south side of Nerva to the North? So you're driving underwater? Um... looks stupid, sorry. Back to the drawing board.

You're in the shard, trying to use a jetpack? Every other travel power toggle will let it run while using one. How is THIS animated on a motorcycle?

You're trying to use the elevators in Grandville... again, looks really, really bad.

So, the devs get brain damage and decide to ignore all that. Next we get to deal with powers. Armors can be shiny still, not really an issue. Except perhaps Granite, which slows you down (and adds another consideration to the design of the motorcycle... back to animation for a while.) And don't forget shields. Or are those disabled? What if you're attacked?

How about Dual Blades? How is that animated with a motorcycle?

How about Assasin's Strikes? Lightning Rod? Shield Charge? Martial Arts?

You now have to go through *every single powerset* and figure out how to animate all this. Yes, some are easy (say, most of Fire Blast, where you're really just "throwing" with an arm.) Others, like the prior examples... not so much.

Compare to the work for the other travel powers - which is essentially "none." Teleport doesn't matter, it's not a toggle. Superspeed? You're standing or sprinting, done anyway. Superjump tends to use the standing animation. Fly? Again, often the stand animation, telling the skeleton to crouch slightly - not having to work through every single power.


When it comes to motorcycles, the best I'd say you could hope for would be a generic, limited use "Teleport to mission" type power that puts a generic avatar on a generic motorcycle and "speeds off," to reappear at the mission door (and maybe have you step out of a cloud of dust after for the "costume change.")

When we're told the devs can't do things, it's for one of several reasons:

1. They can't. The engine doesn't' support it at this time and they don't see it happening. (See also stretching powersets.)

2. It's too expensive to do. Power Customization falls in here. Asked for for years, we were given an explanation of just what they were looking at to do it - the studio was at 15 people or so for quite some time and this would take up ALL of their time (literally, we were told "If we did this, don't expect anything else for a year or so while we work on it.") They were bought by NCSoft, turned into Paragon Studios, given money and put on a hiring spree (now over 60 people) so it became doable, and they did it.

3. They won't. It's completely doable but against the direction they want to take the game (or otherwise hazardous.) Complete respecs (switch AT during respec, switch primary/secondary, etc.) fall in here. Something major has to change for them to change their minds on this. For example, merging the markets. There are people crowing about it without giving much thought as to *why* they changed. When GR was announced, the devs were talking about "gun runners" moving things from one market to another. The currencies were separate, and their projections - at the time - were that a market merge would be bad. What tipped that? A third market, with a third type of "money," as well as people switching sides (initially with INF going "into escrow" until you came back.) It went from bad to a better solution than what they were working on.


As far as the OP?

1. Post in Jay's costume request thread. He does read it, though he's apparently "overwhelmed" at the moment at work.

2. If you want more points to put things (legs, arms, etc,) we've been told there's basically one anchor point left that they can go on, so it's not a small undertaking.

Last time I saw one "in service" was... how long has it been, six months to a year ago, and yeah they were doing just that - the badge tour. (Actually, I don't think I was at my current job then, so more than a year.) Edit: Which isn't to say they're not active, but I think work for me overlaps when they do the tours.

They were greatly appreciated back when the Hollows were spoken of with dread.

Current status? Ask TonyV. Think he'll know.

I don't accept that because it isn't true if you pay the slightest amount of attention. And I *do* play them at all levels, not just my 50s. I'm not running an "IO'd/tweaked build." Yes, there's the chance of an unlucky roll -you get that with everything.

Just running into a group without looking? Might as well run a level 5 anything up, solo, and take a swipe at an AV. Just don't complain about the result afterward.

Yes, I scoff at Quants and Voids, because they *are* nothing. I know you don't want to accept that, but they are.

They're nothing but extra-flavor extra-XP.

/this.

I have had the occasional character - very occasional - where I wondered just what I was going to do with a set of slots. But it's rare.

I'm also laughing at the "billions to get to 50." You don't need the high cost sets. Frankenslot. Just *play* and sell drops on the market - not for a million each or anything, just dump them. People will buy most of them - some for 500 inf, some for 500 million or more. Besides - read the patch notes. Do tip missions, earn alignment merits, use those to buy some of the IOs you want. Or mess with AE - I've just been doing random rolls and bringing in money.

TBH... I've got several 50s, even *new* 50s, that are mostly on SOs or common IOs. They work just fine. Might need an upgrade with the Incarnate-strength content coming soon, but other than that... *shrug*

Thinking of mine...
Warshades (late) can get by without it.
I've got a Dark/Dark Scrapper, early-mid 20s, that doesn't have it and is working fine.
One Dom, I believe.
A few masterminds.

... so off my 200-odd characters, at least, I think your guess is close. Some characters I just can't get around taking it (fire/storm controller, for instance.)

I'll gladly eat crow for any time I've said they wouldn't do that.

That said, I'm wondering what they're doing to compensate. Inherent like Brawl (slottable) or Domination (not?) Same values?

And what will they do if it ends up like Kheld form powers - a respec after selecting lets you slot them from level 3. I can't see them liking *that.*

... also, signed NDA...just what big change is coming that they want the extra insurance?

How about not? I like getting the extra XP from getting extra mobs in a spawn. That's pretty much all Qs/Vs are these days.

/bets Zaion's idea was "OMG, knockback, is teh ebil, nobody can do this!"

Yeah, I see this as being a fun team. I don't see what the problem would be. Baddies flying everywhere, Kins and Khelds playing Council Ping-Pong, no END worries, Regen boosted very nicely, beautiful Recharge, damage being increased by the -res of the Sonic and the +damage of Siphon Power, Leadership from the Ill who has some room in the build from having no ally shields, confused enemies helping out then standing there smiling as you beat on them... what's the issue again?

Oh, yeah. Zaion can't find competent teammates, apparently.

I get what Sam and Hex are saying. I am, however, going by what "pull" tends to mean - you don't *want* that entire group for some reason, typically to isolate something.

I've done the other "pull" too - it's part of why I tend to take Taunt. I mention tanking purple Carnies for a full team in the late 30s or so. Spawns would occasionally end up too close together - taunt, grab a corner to break LOS, get them as they come in.

Earlier in the game, though, pull does tend toward the single target/small group.

Nope. But it does turn into one of those *little aggravations* that go into the final decision. (Much like how a certain not-named-no-monthly-fee-sequel-coming NCSoft stable game might as well have castle walls in place of inch high rises on the ground...)

/this. (Two at 50, I obviously like them.)

That said, I'll echo Claws somewhat. What do you like doing? If you like running in and mixing it up, I'm not going to suggest a Defender, f'rinstance.

I'll give you some personal favourites, sure, but my best advice would be "Take advantage of all the slots you have and roll a bunch of stuff. Use multiple servers. Welcome to the alt side."

Mind/Fire Dom. Just got this to 50 not long ago. Cranked up the difficulty at level... oh... three or so. Hell of a ride.
Fire/SS tank. Forum-namesake tank, in at least one incarnation. Grows somewhat slow. Monster at the end. Still have to fit the revamped Burn in.
Peacebringer.
Warshade.
Fire/Fire blaster. Especially when in Dark Astoria.
Fire/Fire Dom.
Plant/Thorn Dom. AOE goodness. Soloed Scrapyard's followers at even level (25, leveled to 26 while doing it) grabbing all related badges in the process (except scrappy himself) and kept going... with very few deaths (3-4 or so.)
Thugs/Poison Mastermind. Still the only character I've "accidentally" soloed an AV on. (As in not expecting, not prepared, won anyway without dying.)