Memphis_Bill

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  1. It doesn't matter which box you use, it will automatically update to the latest version.

    (Edit for further info) - Even the Architect Edition will have an update to download. Also, even finding a "side specific" box (City of Heroes or City of Villains, as opposed to, say, Good vs Evil) won't make a difference - you get access to all of it.

    The main difference between editions is what comes with them.

    (edit 2, for the heck of it.)

    You could actually buy one of each edition (if they're cheap enough) and "stack" them. For instance, put in an original City of Heroes disk, get the free month with subscription, add the collector's edition, get its goodies and another free month, get the COV collectors edition, get its goodies and another month, then GVE, the Mac pack (works on a PC, yes,) and Architect edition - each of them will add the free month. You just can't have more than one of a specific edition on your account (for instance, going to Big Lots and buying 5 COH DVD editions - you could only use one on your account, the rest would be rejected.)

    This is also why you'll see, on occasion, a comment to buy the online version of the Mac Pack, for instance. The "stuff only" code costs $10, the whole "Mac pack" costs $20 - but that's with the stuff and a free month, which would be "worth" $25 ($10 for the stuff, $15 for a month's playtime) so it turns out cheaper.

    (Also please note "booster packs" like the wedding, magic, and science packs add no time, just neat stuff.)
  2. Of course, if you DO get hit with something... it can be a pain to remove.

    I've got AVG on one system, Avast on the other - they're 95% the same (better video card in one system) and I don't really see a performance/lag/latency difference.

    Can't stand Norton, though. Too invasive.

    (I also tend to have a toolkit handy just in case something does make it through - malwarebytes, root repeal, combofix for the exceptionally nasty stuff and the like.)
  3. Memphis_Bill

    Disable Email


    [ QUOTE ]

    Common topic : Email changes in response to RMT Spam

    There are quite a few ideas floated typically for dealing with RMT spam. Trial account limitations were one thing tried by the devs, and worked reasonably well until lately (early 2009.) This is a common topic in the suggestion forum.

    Since it is, a tip on searching.
    1. Click on "Search" up at the top of the forum.
    2. On the left, under "Forum(s) to search," select "Suggestions and ideas."
    3. On the right, Keyword Search Terms. This is probably where your problem was if you did search. Try the following, exactly as typed:

    +mail -"re: "

    This will search for anything with "mail" in the title. Why not "email?" Because not everybody spells it the same. Some will call it email, others "e-mail" or "e mail," and still others may just call it the "mail system" or "Filters on Mail." This gives you a better chance of catching all of those. The -re: portion of it removes replies, so you'll see the root of every thread that comes up, letting you see just how many threads there are on this. (The last helps for other subjects, as well.)

    4. Click the "In subject and body" radio button. Normally I say just in the subject, but this comes up in a few different ways, so for this search - both.

    5. Leave Username Search blank.

    6. Date range, Newer Than, change the 1 to a 3, and the time to Months.

    7. Result format doesn't matter. Click on "Submit."

    What do we see with this result? There are 34 returned threads as I type this (3/23/09.) My first page? Here's part of it.

    Give me an option to block emails, Im sick of spam
    Change email to mail system
    We need another ignore list
    Lock out e-mail until 15
    Be able to disable or restrict e-mail
    Maybe the worst idea ever, or maybe not.
    Tired of RMT Emails?
    Shared storage slots
    Email link not turning red
    In-game E-mail spamming

    Going to just one month would have cut it down to just 13 results, in this case. Three months, though, is a decent search range. You can see already the reason for putting in "Mail" instead of "Email." And those without it in the title have it in the body somewhere.

    Personal Opinion

    I am, as always, strongly in favor of client-side filtering. Something like:
    Accept email from:
    o Friends
    o Global Friends
    0 Supergroup
    o Teammates
    0 Coalition
    0 Any

    with "Any," honestly, being the default - I use the system and help people I run across in PVP zones, for instance.

    Why not keyword filtering (blacklisting?)

    Well, say I'm spamming from www.infspammer.com (to make one up, I don't know that it exists.) I can tell you right now, just from *regular* email experience, that the second you block the entire name, it's going to get changed. www. infspammer. com is not the same. Block infspammer? 1nfspammer. i n f s pa a m m e r. in fs pa mm er. And if you finally manage to blow all that time and money setting up and testing the blocks for all the permutations of that - I spend five bucks and get buymyinf.com, and you get to start all over again. A blacklist is just more work for less gain. After all, years after the huge push from overseas, I still get the occasional creative spelling of "viagra" showing up in my own (whitelisted) junk mail filter.

    "But blacklisting would cost them money!" And they care why? They're using stolen credit cards. They just charge Joe Sucker an extra $5 for the new domain. (If that, even.)

    IP blocking

    This also, really, wouldn't work. It's not hard to get a new IP address, and if you cast the net too wide, you'll block legitimate customers - or, rather, ex-customers. And I don't mean those using the service, who would be breaking the EULA/TOS anyway.

    Are they doing anything at all?

    Yes, NC/PS have taken measures in the past and continue to. Unfortunately, it takes time to (a) assess how well measures are working, (b) find how the spammers are getting around *current* measures, and (c) come up with, plan, implement and test new measures. They won't, for obvious reasons, tell us what they're planning, any more than a general would (or should) broadcast their plans for an attack on the ten o'clock news.

    Prior measures are why we have the trial account restrictions (and believe me, it was MORE annoying when we had spam tells coming up every few minutes,) the /ignorespammer command and the "Spam" button on the email window. /ignorespammer and "Spam" both send a report to the administrators with details (and the spam button also happens to clear out email from the same global name, so you may well get rid of several with one click.) All those "Empty" ones? Dead spammer accounts.

    What I'd like to see implemented

    I'd like to see several things introduced at the same time (sub-points optional)

    1. The clientside filter mentioned above.
    2. A larger ignore list, or better yet a separate "Spammer ignore list."
    2a. Allow me to mark people I purposely ignore (/gignore @somejerkingame) as "Permanent, do not remove"
    3. Automatic deletion of emails (even "empty") when an account is deleted as a spammer. (Not just when it's "empty," as I have emails I'd actually like to keep from friends not in the game who are also, now, "Empty.")
    3a. Subfolders for email - move stuff to "SG," "Friends," or whatever folders you want,
    3b. Option to clear all email from a folder, with a warning ("Are you sure?")



    [/ QUOTE ]
  4. Actually, good fights and such aside, one of the more interesting times I had in a PVP zone was during the winter event.

    Presents, of course, spawn in Bloody Bay as well as the other zones. Few people seem to go after them, of course, since standing immobile for a few seconds is just *asking* to have a length of metal inserted into your vital organs, something important shot off or the like. But, since everyone knows this - few people go there.

    Well, last winter event, I hopped in for the heck of it. Don't recall if I was going after presents, shivans, or just killing time, but as I passed the hill by the "ghoulish" badge (or thereabouts,) I saw... Winter Horde.

    I'd just crossed there. They weren't there previously - someone else was in the zone. Friend or foe? /whoall - nobody (including me) on the list. And with the Horde there, recent.

    Spent some time hunting them - yes, I *could* have asked through broadcast, but that's no fun at all. Never did find out who or what they were - they could well have hopped into a mission or left. But the *hunt,* trying to track them down and find out, was fun.
  5. [ QUOTE ]
    What are "Game Sages", and what game has them? How well has that worked for them?

    [/ QUOTE ]

    I met the game sage Rosemary one thyme.
  6. [ QUOTE ]

    2. If you see the "ZZzz's" let the buffer handle it and kill the offending mobs, or failing that use dwarf to taunt the mezzing mob off them. If the buffer is too busy to handle it he is probably doing your job of killing mobs anyways.

    [/ QUOTE ]

    ... Or there's not a "buffer." Not every team is going to have one, or have one that can do jack about a sleep/hold/etc. (There's no "Wake me up arrow," f'rinstance.) As a single-slot power, Stimulant doesn't hurt if you have nothing else. I'd skip Aid Self or Aid Other, true. But pre-Dwarf-While-Mezzed, my 'shade picked it up and it came in handy. It's not a "must have" power, though.

    [ QUOTE ]

    3. If there aren't any bodies around to heal from your not playing aggressively enough and you need to go make some more corpses. Only an idle or hessitant warshade ever lacks corpses to heal (or explode or pet) from.

    [/ QUOTE ]

    Or is in a fight that's taking longer than usual.

    [ QUOTE ]

    Once again I appologize for my annoying manner of saying these things everytime the topic comes up, but I do feel a counterpoint needs to be made so that the consensus isn't "Khelds should probably take medicine to be good".

    [/ QUOTE ]

    I have yet to see that as a "consensus." Just saying.
  7. Wait 'til the OP runs into a D3 Tankfender. >.> Or just an /em blaster who likes smashing things right up close and personal...
  8. [ QUOTE ]
    Yeah its boring because nobody goes there

    [/ QUOTE ]

    ... Really? Who were those people I was teaming with and doing missions with there then?
  9. [ QUOTE ]

    There are a [very few] things that count as "puzzles" in this game. You can tell because players have been consistently and extensively complaining about them, and avoiding them, for five years straight. Ever get lost in the Perez maze.

    [/ QUOTE ]

    The Perez maze is complained about for numerous reasons:

    - Non-visible openings (that space between two trees that looks like the space between every other pair of trees you can't go through? That's the opening,)
    - No guidance, unless you're going to Vidiotmaps, and the biggie
    - Mobs that often outlevel you on your way to mission doors inside the maze.... yet when you're sent there at 30+, the door's along the outer wall.

    It's not disliked because "it's a puzzle," it's disliked because it's a badly designed deathtrap for the lowbies who get sent into it for missions.
  10. I'd personally like to see *some* of the stuff rescaled. The desks are fine, for instance, but some of the other stuff makes my characters look like a 3 year old in their parents furniture.

    Edit:

    Actually, while we're getting to recolor powers in I16.... I'd like to recolor the items themselves.No need for white/grey selections, pick a primary and secondary.
  11. [ QUOTE ]
    Underwater zone.

    Since we can now swim underwater (the pool in Grandville showed this was possible).

    [/ QUOTE ]

    Befix't.
  12. Separate server with different code - not particularly worth it.
    Finding sewer teams - Haven't had an issue, personally. *shrug*
    Assumption that people would stop "crying about it" - pipe dream.
  13. Memphis_Bill

    Incarnates

    [ QUOTE ]
    [ QUOTE ]
    [ QUOTE ]
    Thanks for the answers, all.
    I've been eagerly awaiting this since I've heard about it. I hope it takes the form of some trial that I can take my main through. It would also be nice if Incarnates have some reasonable chances to solo AVs and giant monsters.

    [/ QUOTE ]
    Well-built ordinary toons can already solo AVs and some giant monsters.

    I have a feeling the devs are never going to make them obviously overpowered. They've already said that the level cap will never be raised.

    [/ QUOTE ]

    They also said there would never be power customization or side switching

    [/ QUOTE ]

    Um, no. Power customization, for instance, was a wishlist item that they didn't have the time or resources to do (without cutting off any other updates for a year or so) back when they had just the 15 folks or so.

    We've had it from Castle (as I recall) that they won't raise the cap, but give alternate ways to improve high level characters. Level cap raising is just more number-chasing (while breaking other things or seriously devaluing them - see Titan Shard enhancement.)
  14. [ QUOTE ]
    How about a Big Orange Word saying "PHASED" if you try to hit someone Intangible?

    [/ QUOTE ]

    It already gives you "Unaffected!" when you try. Not sure that one would be clearer than the other, but I wouldn't argue against it.
  15. Since I enjoy showing off these pieces - and know there'll be more - I figured I'd throw in another "collection" thread of my own.

    The whole shebang (or pretty close) can usually be found over on my Photobucket account. Though I'm considering giving it its own space somewhere. Generally, if a character gets to (or near) 50, I'll start looking into artwork for them. (Alternately, if I'm enjoying RPing/writing them, or just feel like seeing how they look, well...)

    In any case, with his "fastball" commissions, I finally decided to give Playworkart a whirl.

    First, the $9 commission of my Widow (currently 49 1/3 or so,) Sangrenia.

    And then of the overly ambitious archaeologist/graverobber turned necromancer, Narcissea. (Not 50 yet, ways to go.)
  16. Memphis_Bill

    Need Help

    As I recall, it (any patron pet, really - heck, most in game pets) gives you a targeting circle - so you'd still have to use the mouse to place it.
  17. [ QUOTE ]
    First off, your Avatar is extremely irritating.
    Maybe that's the point.
    It is so annoying that I had to cover it up in order to read your post. I won't be doing this again if I come across this same Avatar again.


    [/ QUOTE ]

    Mozilla add on - "Adblock Plus." Right click image, add to filter - no more avatar. Something similar probably exists for IE. Far more fine-grained than the built in "block entire site." You can block a specific image, specific directory (which would be the specific user in this case, as well,) etc.
  18. <qr>

    Mass chaos, debtless deaths (even if debt is not a big deal, it bugs some folks. *shrug*) Good size groups of players in a giant melee. And a psi resist (or was it defense...) accolade.

    And it can just be fun.
  19. [ QUOTE ]

    Actually, I want to speak FOR you because you are those who thinks Stalker's Repluse is so great because it has a PURPOSE!

    [/ QUOTE ]

    Let's see, you say you won't speak for me, and then proceed to do so, using something I've never spoken in favor of. In fact, that's a power I *have* called questionable and counterproductive for that AT. Oh, look, you're trying to speak for me, and are wrong again. What a surprise.

    So learn (a) what you're talking about and (b) WHO you're talking about. And quit deigning to speak for me, as you're only making yourself look more and more foolish.

    [ QUOTE ]

    You can keep talking about how great Dimension Shift is because I don't believe you.

    [/ QUOTE ]

    "Situational." Am I singing praises? No. I'm calling it "Not useless." I'm saying "I have a use for it." I don't *care* if you "believe me" or not - at this rate, your opinion of my use or opinion is roughly as important to me as what the driver of cab #37 in New York City had for lunch last week wednesday. And you're rapidly falling behind.

    [ QUOTE ]

    The moment people talk about how "unpractical" Dimension Shift is you get offended because you think EVERYONE ELSE IS JUST LAZY. That's the mentality that I hate.


    [/ QUOTE ]

    No, what is offending me is a little twit deigning to speak for me, assume he knows exactly what I mean even though he's saying *exactly the opposite* or twisting what I'm saying.

    [ QUOTE ]

    It's not a hard concept to understand. I don't know why you keep giving me so many reasons to LOVE Dimension Shift. I don't love that power.

    [/ QUOTE ]

    RE READ what I've said. I'm not saying jack about you having to "love" it. I'm saying *I* have a use for it, it CAN be useful, but if you don't like it, fine - just don't say you know everyone feels the same way, because, sparky, it isn't true.

    In fact, you quoted me:

    [ QUOTE ]

    It is situational, absolutely. If you think there's another power you need more, there's nothing wrong with *not* taking it - it doesn't fit into everyone's playstyle.


    [/ QUOTE ]

    Hmmm, sounds different from "Yes, you must take and love this power!"

    So do not speak for me or tell me that "everyone" thinks like you or agrees with you. Don't try twisting what I'm saying, or call me a liar for saying I *do* have a use for it, or that I say you "have to love it."

    Do you understand that, or do I have to use smaller words for you? On second thought, have someone else do it. I'm not putting up with some nitwit who has never played with me, knows nothing about how I play, makes mistaken assumptions about what I think about certain powers (and when I state it flat out calls them lies) yet feels qualified to speak for me.
  20. Memphis_Bill

    New base

    I'd say "It depends on your needs."

    Personally, I'd leave out things like the invention worktable, since that's available elsewhere. A basic worktable/forge will come in handy until you have a few teleporters (for instance.)

    If you and your other members don't mind using up some slots, make some alts (even if you don't plan on playing them right now) and get 15 members in the SG, as you get a bonus for each up to that point. (20,000, with 7 more members - another 140k.)
  21. Basically, the point of the message is to let you know that if your account gets suspended, banned, or has other acton taken against it, "It wasn't me, it was my friend/brother/kid on my account" isn't an excuse.
  22. [ QUOTE ]
    Hows about yes. that zone SUCKS. Its BORING. Its GRAY. It SUCKS THE FUN OUT of the game.

    SO YES, Lets SPICE it up.

    I didn't say make it so you can't do any of the stuff you listed...

    I said let the heavens RAIN BIG ROCKS down on it.

    [/ QUOTE ]

    "Until it's on fire!" In a way that would make it difficult to use. Or your own quote:

    [ QUOTE ]

    And then every 45 minutes or so *randomly more meteors fall from the sky... and destroy stuff... Until the whole zone is consumed in FIRE.


    [/ QUOTE ]

    Guess what, all of Redside is "Boring and grey." Should we just eliminate that entire side in a way that is unpleasant for those trying to play it, and those that may actually LIKE it?

    If you can't handle the zone, don't go to the zone. Simple. Some people like it. Some people hate Dark Astoria. I like it. Some people hate the Shard, while others like it.

    Imagine that. People who like different things, in the same game! Obviously a sign of the end times!
  23. No.

    There may be times I don't *want* a specific tier of pets to have a certain upgrade. I don't want that control taken away from me.

    Masterminds can already have... well, zero END issues. Having run several - upgrading pets is not an issue, and at least makes me feel like I have a bit more to do than sit back and watch the game. Plus, frankly, if you DO have to watch your END (see upcoming Thermal shields/buffs/etc,) you may be less inclined to just throw minions away.