Memphis_Bill

I'm pretty sure it was actually one of the community reps - "orange names" - not posi, but yes, it was a purely hypothetical, "For instance if we did something like this that would make server transfers moot" statement.

And as for the OP - one, it's been suggested, yes, two, there was a female Robin. And three, I'd start with arenas and (if they ever bring them back) possibly base raids first, then worry about zones. Start small, then expand.

Dance Dance Obliteration. >.>

As for me...New schedule, so - Read a book, IM friends and bug them at *their* jobs, take care of shopping, watch a movie, catch up on sleep, all sorts of things.

... because they're islands surrounded by a lot of water, as opposed to a large city?

Because the Rogue Isles aren't as big a target as major cities? (Note, Lore-wise, Paris, London, etc. were also attacked... while I highly doubt, say, Powers, Oregon would be.)

Because Recluse made deals? (See also Ambassador Kur'Rekt.)

/nitpick

People did speed runs when rewards other than SOs were introduced. I don't mean stealthing and trying to shorten what would otherwise be a long slog. I mean the "Quick Katie" and "Speeden" didn't exist for all practical purposes until recipe rewards were introduced. Merits are, frankly, just as bad.

And heaven forbid you actually want to *enjoy* the TF, read what's going on or the like - no, no, it's a matter of "rush to get the most merits (now) and don't slow down the team."

Frankly, I think the whole reward scheme has backfired. The devs wanted to encourage people to do content - so some group finds the way to do it the quickest, ignoring the *content* for the reward, said reward gets reduced because of those speed runs, and the speed groups go on to the next target. Fortunately, I'm with a few SGs that just schedule their way through the various TFs and run them for the sake of running them and having fun. I'd love to see the focus moved away from merits and rewards, and see people running Eden because of the unique maps, or Katie to "finish" Croatoa or the like. (Yes, I realize the older TFs need revamping, too.)

Actually... no, no it doesn't. At least from what we've seen. You can override game defaults, for instance, by having the directory structure replicated in the COH folder - Vidiotmaps does this, Vanden's pack (IIRC) does this, and the few "altered" graphics I've seen (it's been a while - back when we had the headache-inducing graphics for sonic resonance) do this.

I think, though, that the big issue there might be naming conventions and telling the game how to understand "Look here for this new, non-canon map for this mission or mission set." Should it become official, of course, then it *would* be added to the COH download, obviously.

You need to actually read what's being said in the various suggestions, I think. For instance, someone suggested user made content (maps, models, etc.) While I have nothing against it, I do point out that there are difficulties in implementing it - that's not being negative (I actually wouldn't mind seeing it,) it's giving things for the person making the suggestion to consider.

I don't *need* to "come up with a better one." It's a discussion. I have, in the past, come up with and posted suggestions from minor changes to full on zones, groups, missions and task forces.

Part of the problem is that some folks come on here and refuse to accept *any* criticism, *any* suggestion that they may be missing some vital bit of information, *any* hint that their idea is not perfect in every way and needs to be implemented RITE NAO with them canonized (with a real cannon) right after.

"We should make cars with square tires!"

Now, should I go on about square tires, or point out that there might be a few problems with non-round tires you had not considered, as well as reasons for round being a generally accepted shape for tires?

Criticism and pointing out flaws is not "bullying."

"Resistance to change" is not the reason for criticism - yes, even when one of the questions that may be asked is, "WHY should this change?" If something's duplicating something else in game (sometimes with more effort than the original,) should it be embraced if it gives the same (or a worse) result?

And which "old-style" game, precisely, are you saying people like so much? The old-style game when I started (i3?) The just-after-ED old-style game? The no-coop-zone old-style game? The pre-IO old-style game? The pre-AE old-style game? Change happens *continually* in an MMO. But those changes aren't (typically) done haphazardly. They are done to grow the game, the benefits outweigh the costs or risks and the like. And in general - you're going to be asked the same questions here as to why it should be done, if it's worth what might be a major shakeup, how many people would benefit and the like.

If you don't want to deal with that? You have another option - PM a dev.

Incorrect. Power customization, with the 15 person team, was so time intensive when it was asked about previously that it was not something that could realistically be done. The team has grown from 15 to 60 developers in the various departments, which makes a huge difference.

There are four general categories of reasons for things not being done:
- Not enough manpower/too time/money intensive - which was the case with the 15 member team.

- Philosophically, it is highly disagreeable to the dev team and will likely never happen regardless of money or manpower - such as full-AT respecs.

- Technically not doable with the current engine.

- Legal reasons

For something like this? We don't know if the current engine supports it, though we have seen (pre-PC) character model reskins, power reskins and the like. I don't *believe* we've ever heard a dev speak against the idea (and AE itself shows a degree of openness to user generated content.) Manpower to filter through all this might still be an issue, and I don't know what the legal issues would be - they'd have to be able to ensure it wasn't something coming from another company's property, which itself might tie into the manpower issue.

Actually, legally Paragon Studios/NCSoft may not be *able* to let users create cities and such or otherwise work with the tools that they themselves use - as they don't own the underlying engine, Cryptic still does. They may well stop anything like this dead in its tracks just by saying "no."

If it were possible? Sure, I'd like to see it. Wouldnt' do anything with it myself - I don't tend to do mods and the like - but it'd be interesting to see what people came up with.

Wasn't that a later addition, though? I remember Jack Wolfe being there for the respec contact, but not the registrar for some time. That's pretty much what I did in Galaxy - starting contacts (especially for the Warshade) and turning in and using an earned respec, and having to head to Atlas to start the various SGs.

If I'm remembering wrong, no biggie. *shrug* I just remember only being able to do so in Atlas.

He has been better at this lately, in my experience. That said, Psy is right. (Though I don't know if it's "His AI improves" so much as "There's something else that's much better at getting your target's attention" - especially when Noxious Gas is involved.)

First, why did you need padders? Short of starting a task or strike force - or a farm - you don't "need" a minimum number of people to do *anything.* (Barring the VERY rare "simul-click the glowies" missions. I'd be surprised if there were ten of those in all the game's story arcs any more.)

Second, BEING padders, why would you complain when they drop? By definition, that's what padders DO - bump up the team size so you can alter the spawns, then drop.

Third, when your team size got cut in half, and you started having problems, why didn't you restart the mission?

Fourth, even with one other dropping, why couldn't you duo for a bit, and check for new teammates between missions? You're not stuck with the same people you start with - you CAN add people.

"Failure as a team?" Failure of leadership would be more honest. A good leader will be evaluating how the team's running, restarting if needed, dropping or raising difficulty and more.

Almost a pity we can't...

None of my stoners are high enough for Granite as it is. (That sounds... odd. Anyway.) On the one hand, I have to echo the "transformation into this giant model = cool," but on the other hand, there are only two times the appearance of a set has made me not play it - Sonic (with the old graphics giving me physical pain,) and Villainside Invuln (no longer an issue with the upcoming - er, issue.) I'd say that's a pretty good track record.

I'd be fine with a model change, as long as it keeps the "visual feel" of granite - the massive, indestructable wall coming over to make you reconsider your career choices.

Yes - I almost hate starting low level villains, because it's the same-old, same old. Though, <nitpick,> it's each origin, not archetype.
Basic needs? Both have trainers, stores, a tram to all low level zones, missions, SG portal, etc. And some of us *like* the quieter atmosphere of Galaxy.

The reason Atlas is more crowded - and that you find more "other stuff" there - is inertia. You went there for SG registration. You went there for costume contests. It became a *social* hub. Since the 50s were there, it got the RV entrance. And Vanguard, and a Wentworth's.

That said, I'm certainly not against the idea of refreshing low level content blueside, as well.

Hell no. Brings up more problems than you think, most likely.(Yes, I have a long reply about it, but I don't want to hijack the thread.)

That said, I'm surprised one *other* thing hasn't been mentioned as far as building a list of folks to play with - invasions. Both zombie and Rikti. Teams get thrown together *fast* during those, with people from multiple levels,

Now, yes, the teams *tend* to be from a range of levels - from someone just setting foot in whatever zone it is to the 50 that was at the tailor/WWs/etc. But watch and see if someone's doing a good job leading. See if someone's playing well, or playing like an idiot. Who's a team player and who's not - then *add them to your friends list,* talk to them and ask about regular teams on occasion. Not in a supergroup? Ask how theirs is.

Add to the *normal* friends list first - don't just jump immediately to global. (Unless you ask - and don't be offended if the answer's "No," since some people prefer to keep the global list trimmed - or it's already long - and won't want to add someone new 'til they've played with them a while.)

Other than that, yes, use your SG, your server's channels and more.

/allofthis.

I was somewhat disappointed to see there was no link between AE and the Mission Computer, at the least. I've got one mission out there that, while generally well received by even non SG members who have played it, is really one of our RPs altered for AE playability. Having something like that "stored" in the mission computer, at the very least, would be nice. (Though I do acknowledge the various difficulties, including monitoring for exploit-using farms, this would entail.)

I don't believe any of my heroside SGs have the mission computer - and I've seen a lot of good ideas about the sorts of things it can be used FOR. I'd love to see an SG-centric issue (not just bases) at some point, where the mission computer is put more to use, more stuff is gotten by playing in SG mode (and, even more SG-centric, playing with other SG members, though I again realize the difficulties for single person to small SGs,) and more.