Memphis_Bill

Honestly, the "I hear they're supposed to be funny" *could* be taken either way - as anticipation or as an implied "And I'm still waiting for one to be." When there's a followup of "They are?" ... well... I can definitely see that being how it was read.

And we don't know what else he's been told, how often or by who, either. If he's been getting beaten down by a bunch of "that's not funny, quit wasting time and stop posting" replies, it'd certainly get him in the mindset that would get him to leave. Or read what you intended as a positive, or at least neutral, response as a negative.

Then do it over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and....

Did I mention 28 50s?

BAF and LAM are not that fun. None of the trials are. And DA is *way* too slow. Even in combination - ugh.

Edit:
Thought I needed to expand a bit - the "BAF and LAM are not that fun" should probably have some emphasis on "that." They can be fun, sure. The biggest problems, though, are that there's so LITTLE Incarnate content and that the higher ones seem very unrewarding until you've ground them out for a while - and DA is *very* late compared to the system's introduction.

I'm leaning more and more toward the camp that says "Get rid of/convert shards and recipes and just have everything drop threads/astrals/empyrians when the system's unlocked." Yes, it'll be slower than running iTrials, but it will seriously avoid burnout for people like me that like variety. They can't make the Incarnate content fast enough to avoid burnout, especially for the altaholics the game otherwise encourages.

I'm.... wary of some of those, to be honest. The last two to me are fine. The first one would be invisible - the person would just have the name. The ones in the middle should just be limited to "Name in use." No timers or anything.

I know the wariness sounds a little odd, perhaps, but I just wouldn't want to see people pestered if someone, say, saw a name would be "available in 30 days," had the owner log in 15 days later (they were at school and break started, or some such) and then start getting harrassed by the person who wanted it or whatnot.

Want to trade? New 50 this weekend, think I'm up to 28 now....

Because the V-shaped torso ended up drawn by a pin head?

Corrected form:

It ticks off a very few currently active players who are inflexible on a specific name and assume it's taken by an inactive account (as opposed to someone they never see, blocked for other reasons, etc.)

Really, the only people who can say with anything CLOSE to certainty that doing this "inactive account name purge" bit would give them the name they HAVE to have are those that *know* the name is on an account with no global. And they don't know if it's since been blocked for other reasons. It may get "freed up" (or rather, currently be other than being on that account) only to be on a block list implemented later. Which means, of course, that even with the name script mentioned run, it will always (on that server at least) be shown as "owned" by a name with no global.

Now, those same accounts with no global have *already* had any names under 35 nuked - and that's where the majority of characters are. Globals came in in either issue 3 or 4.

So we're looking at the top 15 levels (in some cases, just 5, as some of those accounts may well have gone inactive before the level cap was brought up to 50 heroside) ...

How many "must have" names do you think can be guaranteed to be in that category?

Assuming about *any other* name is just that - assuming. Having them on a friends list means exactly nothing, as it could be someone who only manages to log on - say - twice a month during hours other than when you're on.

... you're the one that said "son" there, not me. Are you arguing with yourself now?

"Telling people how to play?"

So you never team, ever? Don't point out my edge cases - once I pointed out myself, by the way - and then bring up one of your own.

No, I'm pointing out that you said EXACTLY what I said, while trying to make it a "point" of yours by cutting out where I said it - which is rather dishonest.

"Nitpicking" is something wholly different.

.... not if they're staggering around needing a stimulant. Is your contribution of a few more DPS higher than theirs of maintaining a hold, a/several debuffs, or helping the rest of the team?
More options > fewer. It's nice to have another teammate who can add a few HP or de-mez someone in a pinch (especially if that person IS the support AT that's staggering around!)

Tracking buffs/debuffs? Don't need to - "Look, that person's in yellow/red on the team window" or "they're staggering around" should tell you you can help if you have the power.

Bar's full? You can have up to 10.

END? Your call. *shrug*




At the end of all this, I can't help but wonder how being able to help a teammate - even if just on occasion - is a bad thing to where someone would not want to do it, ever, and call a power that would let them do so, that doesn't need extra slotting (does need an Interrupt reduction, but you don't have to add slots, after all) "wasted." Heck, even for the mythical 100% diehard never-team-ever soloist, Aid Other would help in those rescue/hostage missions with NPCs that can be killed.

See, I'll still disagree with you there, but that's wholly a matter of play style and preferences. I think I have aid self on... two? blasters out of my stable, and rarely use it - and yet I use the prereq (Aid Other or Stimulant) more. Even seeing it, I'll end up using greens first in most instances.

And Doms... well, mez or otherwise disable the biggest threat first tends to be my philosophy, so I can't say I've missed having Aid Self. I don't miss defense on either AT - but again, play style. I see people here say they "can't play" without being softcapped to XYZ, and had someone complain during a nem invasion (actually *stand back and do nothing* which kind of ticked me off) because they lost their Incarnate powers on the team ("All my good powers are gone" was their direct quote.)

So it *sounds* (and yes, I'll admit to assumption here) that you feel it's far more vital for survivability than I do - like I said, I can't think of a single time I've wished I've had Aid Self on a blaster or dom.) But again, that's purely approach to play, IE, opinion, and other than saying "I don't agree" and leaving it there there's not much to argue (besides perhaps seeing what's being done differently.)

You brought up post count, sparky.
And yet they're there and available when they find, gee, I could speed this up by using Stimulant on that person.

And I've shown you where it can be useful. Thus making it not wasted.

Again, your comprehension needs work. Nice cutting out the VERY NEXT line, by the way. You know, the one where I say:
Do you not understand what an "edge case" is? Do you understand it was said to counter your "Everyone wants to stay alive?"

Your inability to think beyond what boosts only your character directly saddens me, especially in relation to a game where you team with others.

They have to HAVE a breakfree (or something to make it with) before they can rest. A stimulant can speed that instead of having them ask or just stagger around.
You have *zero* interest in aiding your teammates?
There's a difference between "I have a heal/stim handy" and "playing support."

OK, I'll concede that point. I read it as you arguing FOR it for min/maxing. Re-reading it, I agree it wasn't exactly "your" point you were making - though I maintain my objection that it's not a good argument for changing the pool pick limitations.

Emphasis mine.

People try for debt badges. Can only get those by dying.
People volunteer to be Fallout and Vengeance bait. Can only do so via dying.

So, not "everyone." Yes, those are edge cases, somewhat.

You're changing your own argument. The only thing I've said about changing Aid Self to an available pick is that I disagree. Again, the rest of the arguments have been over your perception of general uselessness to melee of the other powers.

Do you *never* team? Ever? You have NEVER had a situation where someone has used an awaken and staggered around, not being available for the next fight? Do you not think having Stimulant handy would help both the other person (getting them ready to go) and you (by either not depriving you of support/control/DPS or slowing down the team?)

I'm not the one saying they're useless. I've posted my own uses, hypothetical uses *and* even places they'd be useful to you - I have NOT gone through and said "Most," "Many scrappers," etc. like you have. And I'm getting backed up on their usefulness by other posters. You're the one making assumptions about how others feel. And prioritizing your biases about one AT or playstyle over another - something the power pools are generally not designed around.

I'll also argue that:
is *absolutely* not a reason to change a pool. (edit to add emphasis to say why)

And you have yet to show how assisting someone else by removing a mez or healing them is useless. Which puts THAT argument on exceptionally shaky ground. The flip side being, I've been the only *support* on a team and gotten mezzed - to watch other people, yes, including scrappers, go down. Think someone with Stimulant could have changed that situation? (Yes, they were in over their heads - but that's part of where playing support is fun for me.)

I'm "on his case" for (a) wanting to remove a power (changing Stimulant to a mez, which yes, he does seem to have abandoned) and (b) making arguments he has no place to make. And for (c) putting words into my mouth, which I will not stand for.

I'm perfectly fine with him saying "I want it." Great. That's an opinion. I don't. That's mine. It's arguing that they're "useless" that I have issue with, as the powers certainly aren't. And arguing that "everyone" or even "most" people agree with him - well, I don't recall getting a poll, I don't recall hearing of anyone in any global channels getting a poll, and there's obviously fairly significant disagreement about their uselessness in this thread.

The arguments with us back and forth, if you'll re-read, are primarily (aside from the "remove stimulant" bit) over his perception that a scrapper (or other melee) has zero use for Aid Other or Stimulant.

Strawman.
Why should they be "for all play styles?"
Second time. Stop trying to put words into my mouth. I also just gave an example above on where, even if you DIDN'T, it can be beneficial.
No, they're undesirable to YOU. Not "Scrappers," not "Damage dealers." YOU. Don't try to claim a majority you don't have. And by the way, yes, I do have scrappers and brutes with them. And yes, I find them useful.

There is nothing in the game that "everyone" finds desirable. Not power sets, not power pools, not ATs, not sides, not missions, not PVP, nothing. Even leveling (note the option to disable XP) is seen as undesirable at times by some.

No, you can't. You don't have that information at all. You'll note we do have support sets? You do realize there are people that enjoy playing those (and healing other people) more than being "selfish" about it? (Note for clarity: the "selfish" is solely referring to benefiting only yourself, not a personal judgement on the poster.) Besides, even if you don't "like" healing others, or using Stimulant on them, even if you want to be "selfish" about it, the powers *still benefit you* - just indirectly, by keeping support (or even your fellow damage dealers) rolling.

You're pretty much just showing how weak and ridiculous your own arguments are.

Again, stick with just "I want" instead of trying to come up with all this other nonsense. You're going more and more into the realm of your assumptions and things you just can't prove, like what "everyone" wants or likes.

Don't assume.

You ALSO made mention of changing stimulant to a mez. Remember this?
Changing it to something COMPLETELY DIFFERENT = "Getting the axe."

I also NEVER made any claim about Heal Other "getting the axe." Don't try to put words into my mouth, child. YOU are the one saying they're undesirable. You have been shown wrong (edit: as anything but your *own* personal preference.)

Gee, so you can argue about "after the fight," which you JUST DID, but I can't? You're doing nothing but showing just how weak any argument but "I want" is. And you're also describing Aid Self, chuckles. If Aid Other/Stimulant can be interrupted by mobs, Aid Self can be. If Aid Self can't be, then neither can Aid Other/Stimulant on the same character. Hell, Stimulant has the benefit of *not needing more slotting* than in Interrupt reduction (especially higher level common IO.) If you're at a point where you have a power pick you "don't need" but want the following slots, bam, Stimulant. You now have the next set of slots free, AND you have a useful team power.

Are you sure you want to continue with that line of argument?

Pot, kettle. Once more.

You do realize there are more ATs than scrappers? Power pools are not designed for one AT. Pools that are are called "Primary" and "Secondary" pools. What a scrapper doesn't find "useful" (and I find your "logic" highly suspect, thus the ease in shooting holes in your arguments) other ATs may.

If you don't want to take a prerequisite for aid self, pick a primary or secondary with one or more self heals and/or +Regen powers. They give you full power lists when you pick.

I do note you don't quote the OTHER examples on why it's useful. So, pot, kettle.

See multiple posts above. "lel" right back at you.
I hate playing masterminds in the 18-24 levels. Should I get a "Skip levels" power?

Also, do note "things you hate" is not universal... note my arguing FOR it on a scrapper, as I find it useful to not have to wait for someone to stop staggering around from rezzing after a fight or waiting for a mez to wear off so I can get to another mob. YOU hating it does not mean EVERYONE does.

Now, care to come up with an actual argument? Or are you just going to continue throwing personal nonsense around (showing you don't know me, as well.)

In other words, you can't come up with a good reason why not, other than "I want I want." Which is fine, just be honest about it.

You don't want to take the prerequisites, pack some greens.

Also true for the other two powers. Next?

And a scrapper that's killed because the squishy that was healing/buffing them or debuffing the enemy is also not doing damage. So what's your point?

I also find the fact you're arguing interruptability while not doing damage amusing, given aid self is *also* interruptable and that while you use it, you're also not doing damage.

So a scrapper won't benefit by healing or de-mezzing a teammate?

Since when?

... which has jack all to do with stimulant. Heal Other != Stimulant. Healing someone will not help them if they're mezzed and unable to do anything - especially a small, interruptable heal like aid other.

And if you want to see how useless a power pool mez would be, go look at Presence.

And a mez is not "useful almost all the time," and isn't exactly in theme with the rest of the pool. Do you not play much support? Do you not play a mastermind, who would potentially find the ability to remove a status effect from a minion at all helpful?

Turning Stimulant into a mez wouldn't make it "not so situational," it would make it "situational in other situations" - and utterly useless in the situations it's useful for now. (Teammate rezzed? Stimulant. Squishy mezzed? Stimulant. Pet mezzed? Stimulant.)

Not all powers have to be "ZOMG I have to use it every single time it's up or it's useless."