Memphis_Bill

/applause

So the Winter event is partway over. People are collecting candy canes, skiing, opening glowing presents...

But I've got to admit, it doesn't feel all that winter-y (or holidayish) to me. If you don't go through Pocket D, is the event really mentioned at all? Does it "feel" like a holiday season in Paragon or the Isles?

For me... no. Part of it is that so much is repeated, with only the "winter realm" bit new. I've skated through and just ... basically forgotten anything was going on. So, I have a proposal for next year.

A few things are part of this -

- Supergroup bases. This is someplace people should be able to "personalize" more than the city. For many groups, it's seen as a "home," after all, and I think it'd be nice to be able to decorate for the season.

- One year's work has gone pretty much unused since - the original winter "invasion," where Paragon was iced over in spots. Why hasn't this been brought back? Yes, work would need to be done to do something similar to the Isles, but it'd still be a nice touch.

- Aion envy. Yeah, I'll admit that. I think they've got *just* the right amount of "holiday look" going on - a vendor that sells holiday items, another with holiday costumes (though, being gear, they cost and are out of reach of lower characters - their main drawback) but most of all, the capitols of both sides are decorated for the season. Not gaudily, but enough to have a feeling of "something special going on." And yes, when you're out in the other zones (the active world,) you don't see it - but when you head back to the capitol (and you eventually have to for one thing or another,) there's still that seasonal background.

So, what would I overhaul for next year?

1. Move Snaptooth to Ouroboros. (And have it available just over the holidays.) Snaptooth... is just getting to be a bit "old hat." It's not something I particularly look forward to. Suggesting his mission tends to get more "oh, that creepy kid rescue again?" comments than anything. He'd still be in Ouro over the season for those who want to run him (or possibly through an Ouro-style portal tied to the Chalet somehow,) but something new and interesting would be nice.

2. Costume pieces and temp powers. We get them now (unless we already have them.) However, we get them "fully formed." Add a few new pieces, a new temp power or two - and have them drop as recipes. If you have them already, you can give them away (or sell them.) If you don't, have, say, 1-10 candy canes be the "needed salvage," perhaps. And again, a few new costume pieces would be nice.

3. Decorate the cities themselves. No, it doesn't have to be gaudy, or even "all over." Little touches - wreaths, ribbons, etc. in City Hall, in Galaxy, a decorated tree here and there, even (given our devs tendancy to put little "touches" in here and there,) say, miniature trees on the occasional random desk in a cubicle in, say, the police stations. It's a little harder to figure out where to put this sort of thing villainside - most likely in Cap. Mercy's supposed to be a winnowing-out process, after all, and it's hard to make gun turrets and fortified walls in Grandville look festive. Even little touches like, say, a wreath and bunting in Wentworths - even the BM trucks - would add a little "seasonal air." Doesn't need to be every zone.

4. Supergroup stuff. Easiest to have these tied to SG badges, so they're not stuck "only" on one or two people. If you finish the new Holiday mission from #1 in SG mode, the SG is awarded some minor holiday decoration - all you have to do is have the person in SG mode, nice and easy to do. Then, add a mission to the mission computer, so the SG itself can earn some bigger prize - say, a christmas tree - to decorate with. (As an item, not as in 'just one,' more like an unlock.) This wouldn't be limited to just your SG - know someone with a tiny one, and no mission computer? If they help complete it, in SG mode, even though it's in your computer... they get the award too.

What it basically boils down to is - I'd like to see more of a holiday spirit in the game than "we have a mission or two tucked away somewhere, and a place to ski."

Sorry, it completely slipped my mind. >.<

The prestige isn't yours to lose. Prestige belongs to the supergroup.

If you're now a villain, how are you going to do anything in Paragon? Why would you remain part of an SG?

And yes, you can go over and back.

Pointless trying to discuss anything with N_D_A, so I won't. You just keep on blathering away to yourself.

And no, Ace, they *fortunately* won't scrap the rez, heal, end, and mez. Cottage rule. And I'm VERY glad of it. That's a horrid idea.

I say again - don't like it? Doesn't fit your playstyle? Nobody's forcing you to play it. So don't. And that's my last word. (I'm sure N_D_A is going to come back with more pointless blathering, I don't care. I've got mobs to kill on my fire tanks.)

I'd say Mind/ but I'll also admit to heavy bias. (I like Mind. A lot.) The only issue I've had (so far) with my (admittedly lowbie) Mind/Thorn - who should be getting more play, moved him to another server I'm on more - is Fling thorns when it comes to the fear. But even then, (a) you've done damage twice and (b) they re-fear. The only other one to worry about is Mass Hyposis - yeah, I do take it.

Mind's biggest plusses (to me) for what you're aiming for *are* the sleeps (ST and AOE,) I'd think. But as youv'e said - you don't know what anyone else is bringing. And if someone else does roll a plant, with Mind you'll have easily confused bosses early on even outside of Domination.

With fire, of cousre - as you yourself mentioned - you'll have plenty of damage, and no sleeps or fears to worry about breaking. And Fire will almost insist you're in the middle of the action. If you're comfortable there (and, really, as a dom... why aren't you?) all I can say is "Melting faces is fun."

Fire's also probably the only set I plan, right off the bat, to take the AOE Immob on when it comes to doms. (I tend to always take it on controllers, regardless, but most of my doms stick with the ST immob, hold, and whatever other tricks fit the assault set.) (Actually, make that fire and plant, to keep everyone in seedss/AOE damage range intead of wandering off to shoot someone else.)

I, *personally,* would lean toward mind - but as I said, I'm really biased there.

Here's the thing.
I get spam from Wannabuymyinf. I petition wannabuymyinf. I know there's no confusion (barring me mistyping, and I can point to the logs) - that name is unique on the server, tied to an account.

I get pestered by HeyImAJerk. I know, if I /petiton HeyImAJerk, they'll get the right guy. There's no "Is that HeyImAJerk@Brattykid, HeyImAJerk@Justkidding, HeyI'mAJerk@SteveMartinFan..." to go on. There's only one person with that name on that server.

I have a great time teamed with AwesomeDom. I don't think about friending them - end of the night, I'm tired, I go to bed. I see AwesomeDom in broadcast and say "Hey, he was pretty cool to play with!" Not "Is that AwesomeDom@Domino, AwesomeDom@MindMe, AwesomeDom@DominickCOH" - that I didn't get to see because "at the time there was only one, but now there's more."

Plus, yes, I *like* being the only one of me on the server. And I've hated the way the various "share the name" solutions came out looking. Usually some monstrosity, or the system is clunky, or otherwise it's just... bad.

Download and install the most up to date drivers for your video card.

Happens every time I've had to install or reinstall an OS - both XP and Win 7. Really bright until I get the video drivers downloaded from the video card manufacturer.

I keep rereading the OP trying to find some way to salvage... *something* from it.

- "Supervirus" - well, as a debuff, we have one. See Dr. Vahz/Wasting disease. Having it as part of a TF (on one or more players) for a mission isn't a big deal. If it fits the story, sure.

- Having the team split, I wouldn't argue with. Not necessarily on separate maps, though - I'm not even sure that can be done. In addition, I wouldn't *mind* being able to start off in a jail. Heck, I wanted that for AE, since it would fit one of the arcs I put out there.

- Not allowing a rez / not allowing you to re-enter a mission / "Defeat and you're done" are all... just bad ideas. Really.

- Confuse... as a map wide effect? No thanks. Limited to certain mobs I'm fine with. Even a "Confuse field" (say, a generator putting out a World of Confusion style field that you have to defeat somehow - somehow other than direct conflict, since you can't mark the generator as "hostile" if you're near it) might be interesting. (Hmm... or targetable via AOE, or by having a Mind/ in there with you, re-confusing you since you'd con hostile... still, alternate solutions to make it interesting.)

- Toggles don't work. I don't like the way you've that as a mechanic, quite frankly... but something like "they've usurped Ouroboros, you've been sent back and don't remember how to use certain powers - find your way back here" could work. It would also be consistent throughout the map.

As long as it loses absolutely none of its current functionality.

Depends what's going on. If we've gone through, say, half of one of the large Orenbanaga maps and you're by the door, and haven't said anything, I'll say something. If it's a repeating pattern (fight the first 2-3 mobs, sit back for a long chunk of the map,) I'll say something.

30 seconds? Pfft. 30 seconds is nothing.

How about no. NO sound good? Yeah, I think I'm going to go with "no" on this one. It sounds distinctly un-fun (especially the "If you get defeated, you cannot go on, quit the TF." See, funny thing, I *like* playing with my friends. Tell me I can't because my (generally squishy) character ate an ambush's alpha, and you'd better believe I'll tell you where you can stuff your TF. Telling me I can't use my pets as a MM, I'll just wait by the door - oooooh, fun. Telling me we need a "healer," I'll tell you you've got bad design.

Just no. There's a difference between "Challenging" and "Needlessly irritating for the sake of being irritating." This suggestion accomplished the second, not the first.

Purely personal preference - I like having two drives. One smaller, (hopefully) faster OS and "heavy use" apps, one for data and other apps.

Mid-build here, as well (well, if you can call case, power supply, optical drive and card reader "mid build" - did use a HD I've had sitting here, too.) I went with the Corsair power supply, as well, but went with a 650. Still gives plenty of headroom for me.

Oh, and you used your private wishlist. Use the public one:
http://secure.newegg.ca/WishList/Pub...Number=8601989