Memphis_Bill

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  1. Quote:
    Originally Posted by quickfire View Post
    Steady, yes. And I don't mean to imply doom, or that the game is dying. Only that it perhaps did not meet expectations, has less subscribers than it launched with, and is probably in sub 100k territory at the moment. I don't think it's a stretch to make those contentions, though they are speculative I will admit.
    Let's look at your assumptions:

    1. Did not meet expectations.

    Whose? NCsoft's? Look at the history:
    Eight years of a fairly steady user base (yes, decline over time, but that's standard for an MMO.) They *purchased the IP outright,* as well as hiring the development staff AND set them up in their own office. And that's been several years, now - that's not something you do if it "does not meet expectations."

    Compare, instead, to two other NC games: Auto Assault and Tabula Rasa. Or even Dungeon Runners. This game has had a fairly steady base for *nearly eight years.* That's a good run for ANY MMO.

    2. Fewer subs than it started with.

    Let me just answer this with "Duh."

    Look at those charts again. See how most of them go - including COH? Spike, drop, slow decline... if they're lucky. (Look how many go spike-crash to 0.) Most of the ones that have been around for a while share the same curve - spike, drop, easy slope. (With the occasional spike around expansion releases.)

    3. Sub 100k territory:

    So what? What does that mean? The game's still profitable for it to still be alive, with as many (soon to be more) servers, more than enough people to play with, and enough for NC to continue funding development instead of announcing sale or closure. Again, nearly *8 year old game.* Very few get, or stay, over 150,000 - and if you think the only way for a game to be successful is to have multi-million users, well... think again.

    I think you have to re-examine your assumptions.
  2. Quote:
    Originally Posted by Purge View Post
    Yeah you HAVE the right, it's called freedom of speech..."
    Just to point out - you do not have "freedom of speech" on these boards. The first amendment does not give you the right to say whatever you want, wherever you want, anywhere you want.

    The boards are essentially private property. You have only as much freedom as NCSoft/Paragon Studios and the mods allow you. They can remove your post for overuse (or underuse) of the word "pink" if they so choose, and you have no recourse. They can mod or remove your posts for no reason whatsoever, if they want.

    NC *lets* you vent/complain here. If they said "That's no longer allowed," then it's no longer allowed.

    There is no "freedom of speech" here.
  3. Quote:
    Originally Posted by Hellguard View Post
    Aren't there only 2 "Collector's Edition" capes? One from the CoH CE (Cape of the Four Winds) and one from the CoV CE (cape w/ Arachnos symbol)?

    They're both showing up for me on male characters. They're not selectable from level 1 like the capes purchased as part of special packs, but they're definitely there for me on male characters who have capes unlocked.
    /this

    Works fine for me as well.
  4. Sounds right, just from what the energy room/generator run (300,000 prestige on their own.)

    Of course, don't use the link to Wikia in the initial post - updated link to base items here.
  5. Quote:
    Originally Posted by MaestroMavius View Post
    Is there a way to bind it so I can have more than one command connected to the mouse buttons? Say like I have above but then have holding shift and clicking turn them off? I'm still learning the ins-outs of binds and macros.
    Yes, shift+button, ctrl+button and alt+button are considered "different" macros.

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Stone Daemon View Post
    I would probably try doing like how Bill recommended, and removing the underscores, see if that works for you. Watch for spelling errors (I know I find myself adding an "r" to powexec all the time) and watch your system messages for any errors.
    Thinking you misread me The underscores are ignored by the game (thus mentioning you could do p_o_w_e_x_e_c... and have it work - they're in to make it easier for us to read.

    He can, of course, just export the binds and go over them (or copy them to here) to see if there are any errors - /bindsavefile wsbinds.txt for instance.

    Edit: Side consideration, though I'm not 100% sure what the effect would be - did you type them in directly or copy/paste? I seem to recall the curly "smart quotes" (not what you'd get from just typing them in, more like copying them from word) causing problems.
  6. Not sure what's with the forms on those binds - other than the order of the numpad keys, my binds are pretty much the same and work fine.

    Exported:
    NUMPAD1 "powexectoggleon Dark Nova$$goto_tray 7"
    NUMPAD2 "powexectoggleoff Dark Nova$$goto_tray 8$$powexectoggleoff Black Dwarf$$bind_load_file c:\binds\wshumantp.txt"
    NUMPAD3 "powexectoggleon Black Dwarf$$goto_tray 9$$bind_load_file c:\binds\bdwarftp.txt"

    (The underscores don't make a difference. You can have them your way, my way, or p_o_w_e_x_e_c (etc.) and it won't care.)
  7. Sell it. After making sure (a) there's nobody out looking for it ("Apple presses charges after loss of iSuit" - no thanks) and (b) I get some sort of legal contract set up not just to give me a percentage of whatever profits come from it, on top of the initial cost, but that the tech is used as widely as possible - military, police, fire being the obvious ones, but also construction, disaster rescue, returning mobility conveniently to those that have lost it, who knows what else.
  8. Memphis_Bill

    Praetorian EAT

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Remaugen View Post
    I have done most of the Arc with a Warshade (Now level 50), and some of it with a PB (Still mid 20s).

    My point is, were the Kheld arcs/back story there before the Kheldians were in game?
    No. There were, in fact, tweaks to existing lore when they were introduced (such as Requiem going from a "dark" being to a Nictus.)

    You'll also note that you cannot access them with anything BUT a Kheldian, which would make having them pre-existing rather silly, wouldn't you say? Regular characters only touch on it in two (now 3, somewhat, with the ITF/Cimerora) areas - Moonfire, and the mission where you see requiem's diary.
  9. Nice.

    ... though I tended to prefer War in the Pocket.

    And, honestly, I want to see a decent copy of Turn-A.
  10. Memphis_Bill

    Praetorian EAT

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Remaugen View Post
    I have been giving this some thought and I am still not sure where Memphis_Bill's objections are coming from. The existing EATs didn't really have very much "Epic" in terms of pre-existing story or mission arcs, as I see it, the EAT "Epic" story began with their creation. I see no reason why the Praetorian EAT should have to be different. . .
    You've never looked at the 1-50 arcs Khelds got, then, I take it? That goes into their background, the ongoing Kheldian war, what the Nictus are doing short and long term, the attempted genocide by the Nictus, the Council infighting and the attempt to take over the Earth and turn it into a Nictus homeworld?

    See, again,
    Quote:
    1. noting or pertaining to a long poetic composition, usually centered upon a hero, in which a series of great achievements or events is narrated in elevated style: Homer's Iliad is an epic poem.
    2. resembling or suggesting such poetry: an epic novel on the founding of the country.
    ... which has always been the meaning meant by the devs, regardless of what you may think.
  11. It's been years, and the forums have been purged several times, so no, I don't have a list of SO-based GM soloers. Might as well ask me who got the best grades on mid-year tests in third grade, I'd have as much chance of remembering that. I do know full well it was done, though. (And frankly it was far more impressive at the time, which is why the fact of it being done stays with me.)

    And SO or IO makes little to no difference as far as "shine." They *ALL DO WELL* at what they do, generally speaking. And they're all going to have certain considerations while building. If I were giving someone a recommendation for new players, it wouldn't be "Does it work on SOs," it would be "How complicated is it?" For instance, I wouldn't recommend a Mastermind or anything running Storm Summoning as a first AT or powerset - not because of SOs or IOs, but because they're a bit more of a handful to use well no matter *what* they're slotted with. After that it's more a question of play style and finding the best fit.

    The only things that shuffle around are going to be consideration of why certain sets and powers - for instance, you're not going to be looking for "proc monster" powers, since you'll have no procs to worry about. You'll take, for instance, the first blast from Radiation Blast if you make a rad/ blaster because it's fast and can be fired while mezzed, not because it's able to be loaded down with X many different procs. Slotting will be shuffled, and maybe pick order of powers.

    As far as Titan and Hydra... no. Mostly because they expire. If they made them NOT expire, they'd be useful - but to do what they do and fizzle a few levels later? Not really worth it.
  12. Quote:
    Originally Posted by Lachlin View Post
    Awesome post. Looking through the oldest site it has, all the links work. The Heroes desktop and 5th column desktop files....now saved. lol

    And we had villian groups called Fear Factor and Killing Crew in the works back then? lol wonder who they became? Skuls? Hellions?
    *points down to guides*

    Bit of discussion there - in the guide to the old COH E3 trailer (which, apparently, no longer exists at that location as a video.) Including the old groups.
  13. "Don't go monthly, buy a year in advance."
    "Bookmark paragonwiki."
    "Beware of people who overuse smileys."
    "Anyone who tells you you're playing wrong is wrong, but don't take well-meant advice as criticism."
  14. Quote:
    Originally Posted by JakHammer View Post
    Having just learned from ClawsandEffect's post of the fact that IO builds are not available to Premium accounts unless you pay a fee in points each month for a special license, I would like to start a list of power set choices for each Archtype, if possible, that will work well on a pure SO basis.
    That would be "All of them."

    Need KB protection? Breakfrees for temporary, Acrobatics for more permanent protection - just like we did for years. Not sure what all_hell's talking about (with getting immobilized,) since the Leaping pool has both Acrobatics (KB protection) and Combat Jumping (Immob protection.) Recharge? Slot for it. Slot hasten. And if you don't think you can do anything on SOs, I'll remind you we had people soloing GMs back then. On SOs.

    /soloed Mender Ramiel's arc on SOs on multiple characters.

    PVP's about the only place they'd be at a disadvantage... but if they go into the zones, they're not going to run into PVPers most of the time anyway. Freedom server - Arena, and maybe RV, they'd be in trouble. Other than that, the zones have been dead since they broke the system.
  15. Memphis_Bill

    Freedom? Hardly

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Virfortis View Post
    No salvage, no recipies, an anti-farming tactic perhaps, but to cut out loot entirely? That's a major issue, and it means free players cannot gain any funds. No funds = no enhancements = always dying = no fun = uninstall day one.
    Um... you do realize that way back in the days of yore, we didn't have IOs, salvage or other "loot" and made INF *just fine,* right? And that these things called "TOs," "DOs" and "SOs" still drop? And are still completely usable?

    And by the way, you're not gimped by using them.

    Quote:
    No Trading, I don't even need to go here, again, it didn't help Blizzard or Jagex, why would it help here? The influence cap I can sort of get along with, but why not just come out and admit that a free player is never likely to hit one mill, much less 25?
    If you're *assuming* that because of the above, well, you're wrong. On SOs, 30-50 million is fairly easy to hit. 1 million is cake. Always has been.

    Quote:
    I get that you want new accounts and players to get interested, while keeping the VIPs happy and that's fine, but this is going to do more harm than good. I can honestly say that I could go find a game with far less restrictions without any problems, so why bomb right out of the gate?
    And the second they buy *anything* they move from Free to Premium, with fewer restrictions.

    Quote:
    this system is nothing more than a bait and switch scam.
    I'm thinking you don't know what "Bait and switch" means. All the information on what they get - and don't - is publicly and easily available.
  16. Quote:
    Originally Posted by Techbot Alpha View Post
    ...wut
    No, seriously; What the hell?

    I'd like to have serious words about that. A bat with nails through it might be necessary too...
    I take it he's never PLAYED one, then? Ever? I mean, bloody hell...
    Apparently he rolled one up during beta.

    Yeah, it was my reaction, as well. After quite a bit of incredulity and laughter. It goes into "Ridiculous dev statements," not quite as high on the "WTH" scale as Jack's "Gameboy" story though.

    As for the question on masterminds:
    That's actually one place I don't argue with that change so much, such as was done with Lich's Torrent, for one simple reason - you're not *directly* controlling the bots. Yes, you're giving them orders, but they can turn and fire at something and knock it back in a way you don't want it to go. You can try to minimize it, again, with positioning. But they'll do things you don't expect thanks to the wonky AI.

    If they were more reliable, I'd answer (again) positioning.

    A player is, in theory, smarter.
  17. Think the farthest I can get is a post and maybe a refresh before it kicks off again.
  18. Quote:
    Originally Posted by Daemodand View Post
    People like to pretend they are protecting the game from a lawsuit by getting people genericed, but the above is the actual truth of the matter. It's a form of PvP, people destroying a character just because they can.

    The lawsuit was settled a long time ago, there is no threat at all of a new lawsuit, and there is no need whatsoever for any player to report TM violations. Absolutely none. Except the above mentioned PvP.
    You are completely and totally incorrect.

    Just so you know.
  19. Do it with an Ice/Emp controller. >.>
  20. Quote:
    Originally Posted by Forbin_Project View Post
    I never said anything about giving them away for free Bill.
    It was a general reply to the last several posts. Free was more looking at Chaos's post to clarify why it wouldn't be. But the "exclusive" bit does play into it - it's a part of a specifically purchased SKU.
  21. yeah... have to go with 37 and Photon here. Pools being generic work much better.

    That said, use this as a basis for an Egyptian themed EAT and expand on it - including just why we're dealing with Egypt to get that theme - and I'd be for something like it. (For instance, a "counter" for the Blood of the Black Stream, also not introduced at this time.)

    Which goes for the Gothic themed (don't really like the name, honestly) one as well, though for the most part that might fit into a regular power set.
  22. Quote:
    Originally Posted by Aura_Familia View Post
    The fact that the game is called "City of VILLAINS" is more than enough to put off some people. My point was it doesn't matter what the ACTUAL content is. A lot of folks have a natural hang-up on playing a villain, based on what they traditionally saw/read/heard a villain do.

    What the content the devs actually built in this game is irrelevant, for those types of people.
    Oh, I agree with you there, not arguing that's *not* a point (see Smileytroll.) But the way it was handled cuts off another chunk of people who could otherwise enjoy it - who would like to be a scheming, plotting Lex Luthor and instead become Unnamed Mook 1029374 To Be Beaten Up In Scene 7.
  23. Think it goes into "not spectacular, but not bad" for me. Probably one of the ones I'll end up forgetting - I think there was a fair bit of potential, but that... yeah, it felt watered down to be a kids episode. And the landlord seemed a bit... forced.

    Though I find it rather amusing (putting myself in the father's head) where he's coming back into the room and the Doctor's going "No, don't open the cupboard, the monsters are real!" after just being told "Ah, it's nothing" a minute before.
  24. Quote:
    Originally Posted by Aura_Familia View Post
    You don't get it.

    Most players do not like being evil or playing bad guys.

    On a recent competitor mmo that launched in January of this year, the hero to villain split on their servers is 3 to 1. And that mmo launched with EQUAL content for each level range on each side.

    Folks don't like playing the bad guy. There isn't much the devs can do to change that.
    There's another item that falls into what I said earlier, though. COV, for the most part, doesn't have you being the bad guy (and for about 2 contacts has you doing stuff that jumps way over the line, really, to where someone would probably feel uneasy.) It has you being a thug, not really working your way to being the boss or doing things *you* set in motion.

    AE's about the only way to give that experience, though, and most people don't particularly want to write their own way to 50 (especially with the way XP is set up in there, etc. thanks to exploits.)
  25. Quote:
    Originally Posted by Forbin_Project View Post
    When they released the digital hero kit in response to player requests it stopped being exclusive.
    OK, time to clear this up:

    *NO* item that was released as part of a specific edition has been "released" for free. ONLY items that were released as part of preorders - which you did not pay more for - were. (The four preorder sprints and the helmets.)

    The devs have (properly) stated that they *will not* release things people paid (sometimes extra) for (the collectors edition items, essentially) for free. They never said anything about releasing packs that others *would* pay for. And they never guaranteed they wouldn't release the preorder items to everyone else - in fact, when we were getting COV preorders, they told us to expect it later.

    Prestige Power Slide was not part of a preorder. It and the Cape of Four Winds were part of the COH CE release (and later the Hero Gear kit.) It will not be given away free.

    I have no argument with them releasing, and charging for, the items, much like they did for the GvE items, Mac Pack items, etc. Yes, even though I paid for them when they came out.