Obsidius

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Also, just a thought...

At 10 bucks, what if the Valentines Day Costume Pack also included a free costume change for each of your characters?

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That would add some icing to this for sure. Almost as good as GvE. Throw in a few more male costume options, and it would be on-par IMHO.

Not to cross-post, but here are my thoughts from the other discussion thread:

I will admit, I love the Axle Rose tux (November Rain anyone? )

Regardless, my wife has a secret* V-Day gift from yours truly.

But listen up LH et al - next time, try to give us more. Use GvE as your measure. Costumes and emotes are cool, but hardly enough by themselves. Unless it's a crapload of costumes and/ or emotes

*(Well, not really, since she got an email confirmation thanks to me forgetting to temp change the address on her account )

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yeah the deluxe tux is very nice..i did buy it too..not a total waste of thewhole 10 bucks

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Admittedly, I bought it for myself after I bought my wife's I cannot tell a lie (very well, anyhow).

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this both frightens and fascinates me. so does that mean we can wedding crash?

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Come for the cake, stay for a bruising. You've been warned...

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But, maybe that's not necessarily a bad thing. If males aren't as inclined to buy this, then it won't sell as well, which might give NCNC the indication that either this was a bad idea or that they'll have to try harder next time.

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I honestly wouldn't mind these packs if they went towards the latter. This is light for $10 compared to GvE. Especially for the fellas.

I will admit, I love the Axle Rose tux (November Rain anyone? )

Regardless, my wife has a secret* V-Day gift from yours truly.

But listen up LH et al - next time, try to give us more. Use GvE as your measure. Costumes and emotes are cool, but hardly enough by themselves. Unless it's a crapload of costumes and/ or emotes

*(Well, not really, since she got an email confirmation thanks to me forgetting to temp change the address on her account )

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Mantid wrote:

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Costumes from live

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No veil?

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There is a veil, but as it is bugged atm and shows up as nothing more then a black blanket tied to my character's head, I didn't include it.

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Well it least it's there with good intentions

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While the live roleplayed wedding will be interesting I wonder what they'll do about having someone showing up to ruin it all. You can't seriously expect with 100 attendents that you won't have some jerk(s) messing around and getting a kick out of being disruptive.

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I'm sure that was all worked out in the closed beta.

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Positron will kick you out of the event, and the ushers won't let you re-enter. Plain and simple.

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I get the feeling this is an experiment for future little packs...

Sorry, but I gotta hope it fails. Which it probably will. Well, except for the James Bond character concepts...

Sorry, but no. I don't like where this is going. I already pay my monthly fee for a reason.

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Except that this is exactly what people have been asking for for ages now:

The ability to buy "packs" with special stuff.

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I think they meant "buy the stuff that originally came with the now-defunct boxes", like the DVD or pre-order items. Like what they did with the in-game GvE items.

This? It's kind of twisting our words IMHO. We want to buy in-game stuff that has already been made available through standard retail, not pay for every future costume set, emote, special power, etc.

Admittedly, this is like selling a box without the box. Except this doesn't have enough content to feel like a "box pack".

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Hard to judge anything from this first attempt. It being tailored to the V-Day event probably is a factor too. Imagine if they did something similar for Halloween?

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Actually, that's kind of my fear. IF I wanted more micro transactions, I would play Exteel

To what extent are they going to do this? If I had a better idea of the scope (in terms of occurrence and future content per purchase), I wouldn't be so ill at ease. But if this is going to occur every holiday season for now on, on this scale, I'm not sold.

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I get the feeling this is an experiment for future little packs...

Sorry, but I gotta hope it fails. Which it probably will. Well, except for the James Bond character concepts...

Sorry, but no. I don't like where this is going. I already pay my monthly fee for a reason.

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It's admirable that the company is looking for additional sources of revenue, but I need more bang for my buck. I'm a little worried at this prospect. No wedding veils either (like the one Psyche is wearing in the email).

I have to agree with Neithergoat that, because it's the same price as the GvE pack, it's not the same value as what we have received previously for the same price.

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Costumes from live

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Hmmm... the back of that one tux does look pretty rad... but can you wear it with wings Mantid?

I'm just hoping this isn't a precident to buy something for every future holiday party.

But if you offer the pre-order Arachnos helmets or DVD collector's edition goodies as an additional purchase, that would be groovy. Would be a good way to sell the stuff that came in the box, without needing to package and ship a box

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Not much of a deal compared with the GvE pack.
I'll pass.

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Although I might buy it anyhow, I'll have to agree. Sorry to be meh, but GvE spoiled alot of us. Customer parts, Jump Pack, and VIP teleport power, for the same price.

Although the RP crowd will probably pay for this, it might be too much for the casual player, especially since male characters apear to get less costume options, and they being mostly situational.

Can you throw in a formal loincloth for my gargoyle? I might be game then

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QR

Anyone have a cached copy? Seems like the site is down.

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Reference from the link:

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City of Heroes / City of Villains Sucks / Rocks
© Gary Mitchel, Deanna Toxopeus
February 09, 2008
.
I am a spandex addict. I got my first hit as a kid from the 1960s Spider-Man cartoon, and there was no going back.
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I was also hooked early on video games. When they started making them based on comics characters, I spent lots of quarters on them in the arcades, then buying them for my PC. So when I heard they were doing a superhero MMORPG, to be called City of Heroes, I started saving my cash.
.
Now, I played some other MMORPGs, and then quit them when they did not hold my interest, usually after that first free month. But CoH, and its follow up City of Villains, have me playing almost daily since its debut in April 2004.
.
To explain why this game is so good, while also pointing out where its spandex is too tight, I utilize the classic comic tradition of the team-up, partnering with the dazzling Deanna Toxopeus. Come with us now as we strap on our capes, then fly to the heights of Paragon City and plunder the depths of The Rogue Isles!
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Rocks the Hardest: Character Creation! There are five categories of heroes and villains (seven hero-side once you get a level 50 character and unlock the Kheldian options.) Each category has options of powers, which means you can make dozens of unique characters. And once you have done that, the costuming is the most intense and customizable in any MMORPG. You can make anything from a spandex suited fire Blaster, a grim gun-toting leather clad vigilante, or barely dressed giant mutant stripper clones.
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Rocks: Mentoring new players: Unlike many other MMOGs where pwning the n00b is a blood sport, City of Heroes is very friendly to new players. There are plenty of players on all servers who are more than willing to sidekick or exemplar a new player through some missions and show them how to play.
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Still Rocking: With the built-in mentoring system, high level characters can take on a low level character as a Sidekick, or a Lackey as it's called in the villains' Isles, bringing them up to one level under their mentor. This lets various level groups of friends run together, and gives the Sidekicks a chance to take a peek at some high-end content.
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Sucks: Unruly Teenagers. While most people are friendly, there are bad apples everywhere, and they are not all villains. These are the whiny players who don't understand the concept of team play. They are also the ones who don't listen to the team leader and always insist they do "their" missions. Now it may be a gross generalization to say they are teenagers, but in my experience that's who they are. If you get one on your team, they can drag the whole experience right down.
.
Also Sucks: The Moral Minority. You know who you are. The uptight ones who complain about there being giant, mutant strippers and worry about how that might influence the children! Look, Mrs. Lovejoy, the game is for 14-year-olds and up. They know what strippers are. Get your knickers unknotted and realize there are many people who play the game with a wicked sense of humor.
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Rocks: Cool Backstory and NPCs. From the mighty Statesman, to the sexy and sinister Ghost Widow, Paragon and the Isles are stuffed full of comic book staples, including theme gangs The Skulls, minor villains, evil masterminds, mad scientists, and alien races.
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There is a detailed history behind them all, and as you play in the major quest lines, you uncover this interlocking tapestry that ranks right up there with every major comic book universe.
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Also Rocks: You can play the game solo, if you like, but it is more fun with teams. About 90 percent of the time, if you want to find a team, all you have to do is broadcast that and you will be snapped right up. There is also a handy "looking for X" option you can flip on to let people know you are not interested, or you are looking for mission teams, or task forces.
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You might hook up with a bad group every now and then (see above), but most of the time you will find some very cool people. Most of my best in-game friends I met by way of pickup groups.
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Sucks: Mandatory Numbers for the Task Forces: The lack of flexibility in team size for the task forces is frustrating. These series of missions can take hours to complete, so finding those seven or eight people to take it on can be daunting. It would be better if the designers had some sort of sliding scale, especially if you are dealing with teams made from supergroups who tend to play together a lot and are, therefore, very different from casual teams.
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Rocks: Supergroups! Sure, it's a spandex version of what other MMORPGs call guilds or clans, but it is just more fun to be able to say you're a member of the Paragonian Knights. These groups can build huge bases, which can have both useful in-game content, like teleporters to the different city zones, as well as being a quiet, safe place for your team to have roleplaying sessions.
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Sucks: LAG! This is the bane of all MMORPGs. There are some parts of Paragon and The Isles that are horrible to travel through, such as near the new Auction Houses /Black Markets and the entire high-end villain zone of Grandville. You will find yourself rubber banding backwards and freezing up, as the AH/BMs cross servers for buying and selling items, and Grandville is where all the high level villains have to go for most of their missions.
.
Rocks: The Auction Houses/Black Markets. These are recent additions to the game, and brought a needed economy to Paragon and The Isles. While fighting NPCs, you gain salvage, which you can sell or buy and use to make cool enhancements to boost your powers, or gain new costume pieces.
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Sucks: After almost four years of being out, anyone playing for a while is very, very familiar with all the low-end missions and villains. The new random Police Scanner/Newspaper missions help to alleviate this somewhat, but it would be nice if the designers would add more new content for the beginning level characters.
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Rocks: Holidays! Every Halloween, Christmas and Valentine's day, the developers open up new cool missions, areas and baddies that fit the holiday in question, like a ski slope and saving Baby New Year from evil gnomes.
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Sucks: CoH/Cov Website: There is some very good info on the official site, but not much of it. Much of the tips/ maps/badge list/ mission specs come from secondary sites like GameAmp as well as several different fansites.
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Rocks: Badges! Badge hunting is a pleasant way to spend some time in Paragon City. The developers have hidden them in landmarks, plaques, and all over the place. It's up to you to find them. You also get badges for completing certain missions or "arresting" certain numbers of criminals. You can get badges for collecting badges. And then you get points and credit for those badges.
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Rocks: In-Game Admin: The in-game admin guys in this game are pretty awesome. They deal with the jerks making homophobic remarks or the spammers selling influence pretty quickly. They also help people diagnose issues like lag and overcome them.
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Sucks: The Out-of Game Admin: Pretty much the opposite of the in-game gang. Deanna says: I contacted them in 2006 to buy some game time for a friend for Christmas. I am still waiting for them to reply, despite numerous requests.
.
Rocks: The In Jokes. The developers have a sense of humor. With villains named Greased Lightning, how could they not? They also have badges in some of the zones to commemorate notorious bugs and that reference things from the comic books, such as scenic Perez Park in the center of Paragon City, its subsection Gaiman Woods, and the badge Around the Bendis.
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Also Rocks: Constant New Free Content: You pay a monthly fee. You shouldn't have to pay for new content. CoH/CoV understands that. They give you free upgrades about every three or four months, such as the recent Dual Blades and Willpower power sets. Or the Time Travel zone, which lets you go back and do lower level missions you missed out on, or the re-invasion by the evil Rikti aliens.
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These new zones added a lot of fun stuff for the higher-level characters. Even a hardcore gamer (and believe me, I know those) finds it difficult to be bored when there is always something new to do.
.
City of Heroes/City of Villains is nearly four years old, but is still stuffed full of more fun than a lot of new games. I get to save the city, or try and destroy it, while running around solo or with my friends. The game is still my favorite MMORPG, and I will keep putting on my cyber spandex as long as those servers still run.
*****
RevolutionSF staff writers Gary Mitchel and Deanna Toxopeus desperately wish they could be bitten by something radioactive.

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Someone needs to alert them to red tomax's site, they didn't list it among the fan sites.

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It would be better if one could find Red Tomax's site from the CoX web page. Maybe in the Fan Site section...

<Ribs LH some more>

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Sucks: CoH/Cov Website: There is some very good info on the official site, but not much of it. Much of the tips/ maps/badge list/ mission specs come from secondary sites like GameAmp as well as several different fansites.

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Funny thing is, when I mentioned this at the M&G, the team replied "What do you call this?" (Referring to the City Vault). Then I got laughed at by all in attendance

Still no City Vault. Still no web page upgrades.

LH, I'm giving you all a hard time for having fun at my expense, and will probably continue to do so until the Vault or something else happens. REVENGE!!!

I got a kick out of UnSub's post. I think it wrapped up my own thought summarily.

However, as painful as Freedom (and to a lesser extent, Virtue) was for some people, I think the benefits for the rest of the community, as well as the good press (this is certainly NOT a dead game, thank you very much! ) outweighed one or two servers being locked down (because they broke their record number of concurrent users nonetheless!).

Lessons learned aside, I know Triumph had a great time this weekend, whether it was running Katies or running story arcs and other TFs. Or even helping your friend get a lvl 50 villains by running Serpent Drummer missions on your lvl 50 hero

Now where's our City Vault?

Here's to another year of CoH/ CoV goodness/ evilness

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I wish he'd answered the concern some of us have about the impact on prestige earning, with people reaching the influence penalty earlier.

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In Issue 12 (no release date yet, sorry), we are going to have you never dropping below 50% Inf. earn rate when in Supergroup mode. We will look at the impact of that change and base future alterations on that.

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Finally, an excuse to stay in SG mode all the tiem without having to sacrifice my character's well-being market-side

Now, if only we could select an SG costume slot, or not have the SG colors go funky every time we switched costumes while in SG mode...

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Lighten up Frances.

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That I know (and like).

But what's the deal about people posting about others crying doom and then saying lighten up when you take the time to calmly explain? Eh, whatever.

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Indeed. Which reminds me, I need some lunch

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Any chance of locking the "enter game" button instead of the server button, solely to allow transfers?

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Agreed. People wouldn't have to complain about not being able to play their "preferred characters" if they could simply move them to another server for a day or two. Not the best work-around, but at least an available option.

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*sings the doom song*

[snip]

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...not sure how to have a value added, content focused, conversation with you. But I guess if your song makes you happy, that's a good thing.

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Um ... have you never watched Invader Zim ...?

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No, I have not. Which is an example of why when discussing things that have a bit of a hot button feel to them, it's probably better to overtly state what you mean instead of a reference to something that you are familiar with in your own specific culture.

I still don't know what was trying to be said, what point it made, or how it added content to the discussion.

Perhaps in Invader Zim people say "I apologize if I came across the wrong way, let's have a reasonable discussion on this" and then the protagonist runs around singing a song? Or he(?) sings and she(?) likes singing and thought this was a thread about singing? Or "doom" in Invader Zim-speak means "wow, you're right." Or instead of trying to calmly and rationally stating what the issues were to me I should run around yelling doom and I should be as hostile as people seem to intimate posters are being? Quite baffling, or maybe I'm just the perfect straight man today.

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Lighten up Francis.
(NSFW)

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If I am told I can not log onto my character of choice while other people can... I want compensation. I demand the same opportunity and benefits that every other paying player gets.

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User Agreement (refer to Section 10).

Next machinama - a tourism ad for Triumph!

Thanks for this guide Billz. I always run into the "disk space" issue when making a Test copy, and now I know why. You saved my sanity today