Memphis_Bill

Not 100% true. I'm using an i7-860, which uses an 1156 socket.

The i5, as I'm recalling, don't havehyperthreading, or virtual cores (my 17 is a quad core, but shows as 8 cores,) as you mention later. That tends to be the difference between the two. The 1156s use dual channel DDR3 RAM, the 1366s go with triple channel. And if you ever want to grab one of the hexacore i7s, you'll need to stay with the 1366.

There are, basically, exceptions to everything. (Part of what makes Intel such *fun.*)

For the OP, Asus is pretty good, and geared (generally) with the enthusiast in mind. I've had decent luck with MSI, as well. You may also want to look into AMD processors - less "Which socket goes with what," and the sockets tend to "live" longer (which gives more time for upgrading.) The CPUs tend to be cheaper - but are slightly lower performence (not that you'll see a huge difference, most likely.) F'rinstance, yes, Intel's six-core CPU runs $1000, just for the CPU. For that, I could put together a Phenom II x6 based system - the entire system. (The Phenom II x6 runs $200-$300, depending on which you get.)

Of course... COH doesn't use all that, very little does currently. But given the budget you mentioned, you can get an AMD quad-core for $100 or so that performs rather well, a matching board, 4 Gb RAM and be just a touch over that $300 you mentioned. $160 or so for a Radeon 5770 and you're pretty well set. Check FatherXmas's signature for one build (a little over budget, but you may be recycling some parts, like the case.) There are other sites with "low cost" builds out there, as well.

Depending on what you want to do, for a non-PB PB, an Energy/Energy blaster works. (I've got a character, actually, who believes she's a peacebringer despite having it pointed out she's not.) Ranged ST and AOE blasts, some close-up smack-around melee - can't do anything with shields 'til you hit your APPs, really (barring something like, say, fighting, just for some resists.)

See, here's the thing.

I've got a group I normally play with. Two of them complain about how bad the lag is, rubberbanding, etc. (Not in the same geographic area, no.) Meanwhile, same server, same zone, and I'm running perfectly fine. Our machines are roughly comparable - I think one of theirs is even better than mine - so it's not hardware. They've played with graphics settings, I'm running in UM. I think I've rubberbanded once, total, and that was a network hiccup on my end.

So, is that a problem with the server? The client software? Doesn't sound like it to me. How is NCSoft supposed to do anything about that?

The reason we got a fifth power was that they initially just flat out replaced a power in the choices. They then looked out the office window and saw the gathering of pissed off players with torches and pitchforks and decided, "You know, maybe we should just *add* the power instead of replacing ones people have already picked, slotted, and like."

OK, perhaps they didn't look out the window, but the reaction on the beta forums when they did some of their replacements (such as removing my Dom's PPP AOE and replacing it which PFF, which I'd never take on that character, for instance) was very similar. Every choice they said "nobody would take" or "would be more useful if replaced," someone had.

It's the only time, recently, they've broken the "cottage rule" * - and, given the backpedal due to player reaction when beta'd, they have incontrovertible proof that it's a *lousy* idea to do, ever again.

Not quite true. it doesn't put zero burden on your character. No, it doesn't cost you END to run stamina, but it DOES cost you two power picks for the power that (generally) is seen to give the greatest benefit.


*Cottage rule - they will not replace a power with one that does something completely different. The only time this has been broken and "stuck" was very shortly after game release, when fold space was removed and Singluarity added to Gravity Control. It's sometimes brought up with things like Energize, but that was something added to existing functionality, not a power replacement.

Here.

Yeah, sorry Virtue's having issues - I have characters there, as well - but this falls under "Stuff happens." This is also why I tend to suggest people branch out to multiple servers, at least one east coast and one west coast.

I just don't get statements like that. The change hurt some situations for ET, but... "Unplayable?"

I like EM, in some situations. My EM/EA brute was my first Villainside 50, and was often one of the last ones standing when a situation went south. Plus, pre-I13 PVP, that character often got cussed out as a "(*&$##$ Stalker" - as well as being warned about in broadcast, because "her stuns are brutal." (Slotted a stun duration in most attacks.) Of course, I also *played* that character like a "heavy Stalker," too. It shines with fewer, tougher enemies.

On the flipside, one variant of my namesake character is a Fire/EM tank. On a tank, currently? No, I don't like EM on a fire tank. (This character hit 50 fairly recently.) That's where the ST focus doesn't help. Also, this character didn't really PVP pre-I13, and doesn't all that much after. I don't think EM works as well as a normal "tanking" set and doesn't have all that much synergy with Fire/. It feels somewhat disjointed.

Pair it with a set that doesn't want a bunch of enemies around to "feed" something or that has some other drawback or AOE focus and you'll probably have a better experience with it.

Front of the GvE box?

Or this?

Or save with the quotes (IE, save as "Type2.ogg" - with quotes.) It does actually override it, whether the extension is hidden or not. (The quotes don't become part of the name.)

Heh. Yeah, I have old screenshots pre-ragdoll - enemies sticking straight out of walls by their toes just looked odd.

Admittedly some of the ways they land now - ouch - but still.

/this. And really.... it doesn't make a heck of a lot of sense, IMHO. Arachnos is trying not to be noticed. Bringing in a bunch of "Destined ones" in that case would be like trying to sneak a full armored division with air support down main street at high noon.

How about a link to my copypasta about why full respecs are bad, with Castle's commentary farther down?

There's an app for that.