Radionuclide

I blame you for not learning how to ignore a thread. :P

--Rad

I blame you for thinking there is a problem with beer in any form and playing on pinnacle.

--Rad

I blame you for trying to rig the contest with three entries.

--Rad

I humbly submit my arc for review:

Arc Name: Reflection of Spirit
Arc ID: 66477
Faction: Tsoo
Creator Global/Forum Name: @Radionuclide
Difficulty Level: Medium (one EB at the end)
Synopsis: Help Mirror Spirit recover someone important
Estimated Time to Play: 1-2 hours

--Rad

I submit mine for review, if you get a chance.

Arc Name: Reflection of Spirit
Arc ID: 66477
Faction: Tsoo
Creator Global/Forum Name: @Radionuclide
[b]Difficulty Level: Medium (one EB at the end)/b]
Synopsis: Help Mirror Spirit recover someone important
Estimated Time to Play: 1-2 hours

--Rad

I blame you for winning the Holiday Card Contest on Pinnacle, meaning that I didn't. It is irrelevant that I did not enter, I still blame you.

--Rad

Welcome EMPulse!

--Rad

Ex, Thank you for all you have done for me, for us, to grow and foster this community. I'm sure your next adventure will be great but, I wish you this best of luck nonetheless.

While this is not really good bye, I am sad (but, happy for you).

--Rad

Mission name: Reflection of Spirit
Arc ID: 66477
Morality: Heroic
Length: Very Long
Description: A reflection in a mirror may not always by who it appears to be
What you were drinking when this was created?: Pinnacle Vodka, naturally

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
..... all this effort to make some really intricate and gorgeous magic costumes, and no sign of a simple Wizard Robe variation of the Trenchcoat? Comeon devs, people have been asking for a basic Wiz's Robe for ages!

[/ QUOTE ]

SexyJ has said that with the current engine, player robes are an impossibility, IIRC. Seems he's tried it several times, but could never get the to work.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, it basically comes down to the fact that there are certain powersets (coughmartialartscough) that make true "wizard robes" impossible to animate. Jay explained this as much in the Q&A at HeroCon.

[/ QUOTE ]

Just remove Martial Arts. People are confusing it too much with the initials for Mission Architect, anyways.



--Rad

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I'll be reviewing Radionuclide's arc here.

Also, please check out my fixed-up arc...

Mysterious Circumstances: Redux
Arc ID: 7730
Length: Medium (1 Bank, 1 Casino, and a smallish warehouse.)
Morality: Heroic
Description: A new villain group has emerged in Paragon City. In this arc you must stop them from robbing a bank and fight their mysterious leader.

It may sound pretty dull, but it's a comedy.

[/ QUOTE ]

Hi Super_Tim. I just did your arc. I loved the camp. Might suggest a bit more of it. It did make me chuckle a few times. So, you might take that as a sucess.

Couple of typos (don't we all do those?):
Mission two send off -
He (thinking this should be Hey)
reschedual (reschedule)

On the mission two return to contact text there is a missing space between bit of.


I'm looking forward to arc #2. Where we flight Really Mysterious Guy.


--Rad

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, I just played through and noticed the typos. Thanks for the review. My next arc will involve time travel.

[/ QUOTE ]

I thank you very much for the review. I have an idea for some help in that mission. Thanks for the reminder that not all heroes could solo an EB.

As for the identity of the captured, I think I dropped enough hints (subtle and not so subtle) to let people figure it out.

In your opinion, would this be something I should change, meaning to hide the identity more.

--Rad

[ QUOTE ]
I'll be reviewing Radionuclide's arc here.

Also, please check out my fixed-up arc...

Mysterious Circumstances: Redux
Arc ID: 7730
Length: Medium (1 Bank, 1 Casino, and a smallish warehouse.)
Morality: Heroic
Description: A new villain group has emerged in Paragon City. In this arc you must stop them from robbing a bank and fight their mysterious leader.

It may sound pretty dull, but it's a comedy.

[/ QUOTE ]

Hi Super_Tim. I just did your arc. I loved the camp. Might suggest a bit more of it. It did make me chuckle a few times. So, you might take that as a sucess.

Couple of typos (don't we all do those?):
Mission two send off -
He (thinking this should be Hey)
reschedual (reschedule)

On the mission two return to contact text there is a missing space between bit of.


I'm looking forward to arc #2. Where we flight Really Mysterious Guy.


--Rad

Arc Name: Reflection of Spirit
Arc ID: 7666
Faction: Hero
Creator Global/Forum Name: @Radionuclide
Difficulty Level: easy to medium
Synopsis: Help Mirror Spirit recover something very close to her.
Estimated Time to Play: 1 hour or so
Link to More Details or Feedback: Feedback

--Rad

I've ran through a couple of arcs in this thread and sent on comments.

I'm looking for some feedback on my first creation.

Arc ID: 7666
Morality: Hero
Length: Very Long
Missions: 5

Description: Help Mirror Spirit recover something ver close to her.

[ QUOTE ]
<snip>My third concern is that if I ever did make an arc that ascended to the MA heavens it could never be part of the real world of CoH/CoV. It will always be limited to AE, at least till the situation regarding zone-to-map transitions is addressed.

[/ QUOTE ]

I believe it has been hinted at very strongly that there is a chance that some arcs may be canonized into the mythos.

--Rad

[ QUOTE ]
When I read the article at lunch this after noon, I called my wife and told her "I think my head just exploded!"

The MA is an exciting addition to CoH.

However, one line in the description cut into my enthusiasm greatly, unless I'm misinterpreting:

"At the high level we allow you to create your own stories and share them with others in the game."

What does "At the high level" mean? I've been in CoH for 30 months, but I have severe altitis. My highest level character is 32. Is the MA level-gated? If I can't get in and start creating content at release, it will be a *major* disappointment. This is the update I've been looking forward to the most.

[/ QUOTE ]

In the Massively audio, they said you can use MA from level 1. You can do the tutorial at that level. At level 5 you will be directed to it if you have not gone yet.

I take the saying "At the high level", to not mean level in game but like an executive or bird's eye view. A summary if you will.

--Rad

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I wonder if the tier 4 power will still require that you pick 2 before it, or if it will only require that one?

[/ QUOTE ]

There is no Tier 4.

There is the 1st Tier (Where you can pick two powers).

Then there is 2nd Tier, which requires that you have one of the 1st Tier powers and 12th level.

There there is the 3rd Tier, which requires 2 powers of 1st and 2nd Tier and 20th level.

So I'm not exactly sure how this unlock works. Does the badge allow you to unlock 2nd Tier and 6th level along with 1st Tier travel powers? And then you can get 3rd Tier at 12th Level?

[/ QUOTE ]

Of course there is a tier 4 - Group Fly, Group Teleport, Vengence, etc.

[/ QUOTE ]

Those are each the 4th POWER in each pool, which is the Third Tier in the pool.

Powers 1&2 = Tier 1 (Recall Friend + TP Foe)
Power 2 = Tier 2 (Teleport)
Power 3 = Tier 3 (Group Teleport)

The first two powers are in their own tier, then the second power, then the third.

[/ QUOTE ]

As I said before, this is how I always thought about it. But, the point that in your primary you also choose either the first or the second power and there is still considered to be 9 tiers instead of 8 seems to counter this.

--Rad

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
You are give the same opportunity as everyone else including other players who started on April 29, 2004, pay and play for 60 months.

The rest of your post is attempting to justify your position which is flawed by the fact I stated above.

[/ QUOTE ]

I really don't know why people continue to miss my point. Either you're being obtuse, or you're intentionally dodging the issue. "Play or don't play" is a non-choice; it totally defeats the purpose of the question. If someone is interested enough in the game to want the reward, they're also probably interested enough in the game to be playing it regardless of the specific reward. That's the case for me, at least.

In that case, my options are narrowed to exactly one: do absolutely nothing. How is that an 'opportunity'? What 'opportunity' did I have to get in on the ground floor when I didn't even know this game EXISTED for the first four years of its lifespan? If I want anything else in this game, I can go out and do something to get it. Want to play khelds/veats? Go out and level a 50. Want purples? Go out and make the inf to buy them. Want a respec? Go out and run a trial. That's an 'opportunity'. 'Sit on your duff for 60 months' isn't. And if I was going to be subscribed *anyway*, that's exactly what your 'opportunity' boils down to.

[/ QUOTE ]

Disagreeing with your point does not equal missing it. As for "being obtuse or dodging the issue". To be blunt, I believe that should be more directed at you. You are claiming that you have no opportunity to earn the rewards. This is incorrect. No matter how you spin it, it is incorrect. I will grant you that you have no opportunity to accelerate most rewards but, then neither did any other player who has them now or will have them before you. The opportunity for you to get the reward is there through the same means as everyone else. They played for X months, why shouldn't you? Because you were unaware of the game? Puh-lease. You are not entitled to it, yet.

If you wish to have alternate "opportunities" to earn the rewards offered through the program here is your stage. But, that suggestion in no ways impacts the opportunity already presented, nor should it. The Vet Reward program is just that; rewarding every player who has remained loyal costumers for X period of time. You not knowing about the game does not justify you receiving the same rewards through this system at the same time as those who have already fulfilled the requirement. The same requirement you too can meet in time. And since you are "interested enough in the game to want the reward, [they're] you're also probably interested enough in the game to be playing it regardless of the specific reward"; you are in no danger of not fulfilling that requirement after maintaining an active subscription for 60 months.

--Rad

You are give the same opportunity as everyone else including other players who started on April 29, 2004, pay and play for 60 months.

The rest of your post is attempting to justify your position which is flawed by the fact I stated above.

--Rad

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Realistically, any player who starts playing now, will actually probably never get the 60 month vet power ever, no matter what he or she does, given the average lifespan of most MMOs.

[/ QUOTE ]

Since my crystal ball is cracked, I can't see that far in the future. The world may end in 2012, the servers may shut down before then or the game may last for 10 years like UO (taking us into 2014 and conveniently 5 years from now). Look, I understand that some may not get every reward. You may be right those starting now may not make it to 60 months to use the reward. But, all of those are factors outside of the veteran reward system. The argument still boils down to the same thing I said in the quoted post - the desire to want it right now. But, if the reward is good enough to be desired, then I believe NCNC succeeded in creating a compelling enough retention incentive (which is of course what vet rewards are). Will some who start feel they cannot keep up with vets? Obviously, the post I responded to reflects just that sentiment. Will some that feel that way leave because of it? I have no doubt. Does it matter in the grand scheme of things? No more than when I, as a vet choose, to cancel my subscription.

--Rad

[/ QUOTE ]

Actually, my argument has nothing whatsoever to do with wanting the rewards 'RIGHT NOW'. It has everything to do with looking realistically at how much they're going to keep stretching the rewards vs. how probable it will be that it would even be possible for a player to EVER see them, no matter how patient they are.

Once you hit the imaginary line dividing the halfway point of an MMO's lifespan (whatever this may be, obviously nobody can see the future) than any future veteran rewards added beyond that point become impossible to achieve, ever by new players. The longer beyond that point you go, the fewer and fewer players, no matter how much they try, will be able to access that content, and beyond a point it becomes a waste of resources to keep developing them as they'll be designing them for an ever-permanently decreasing segment of the population.

Again, I HAVE the 54 month badge already on my characters. Wanting the rewards 'right now' is a total non-issue for me. I'm fine with having players have to wait 5 years for the rewards, that's fine. My entire point is that there comes a point, somewhere, where the vet reward system becomes silly, because you have an ever-growing number of veterans who will never, ever, see many of the rewards coded into it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Actually, my point was to another poster whose very post was very much about right now. You just jumped in.

I agree with all of your points. And it would be delusional to believe that at some point it does become a waste of resource. As you indicated, no one can know if this is that point. I have no issue with the devs stopping now, I really could not care less if they do. It was only vaguely related to my point.

I realize you are a vet from your previous post. I was not implying that this applied to you. I was however responding to your post as it relates to my response and in that context.

--Rad

[ QUOTE ]
Realistically, any player who starts playing now, will actually probably never get the 60 month vet power ever, no matter what he or she does, given the average lifespan of most MMOs.

[/ QUOTE ]

Since my crystal ball is cracked, I can't see that far in the future. The world may end in 2012, the servers may shut down before then or the game may last for 10 years like UO (taking us into 2014 and conveniently 5 years from now). Look, I understand that some may not get every reward. You may be right those starting now may not make it to 60 months to use the reward. But, all of those are factors outside of the veteran reward system. The argument still boils down to the same thing I said in the quoted post - the desire to want it right now. But, if the reward is good enough to be desired, then I believe NCNC succeeded in creating a compelling enough retention incentive (which is of course what vet rewards are). Will some who start feel they cannot keep up with vets? Obviously, the post I responded to reflects just that sentiment. Will some that feel that way leave because of it? I have no doubt. Does it matter in the grand scheme of things? No more than when I, as a vet choose, to cancel my subscription.

--Rad

[ QUOTE ]
You're missing my point. I *AM* saying such a thing as being able to skip a prereq should have downsides. As it currently stands, though, there is absolutely no penalty whatsoever if you weren't using the prereq for anything. Those with this reward can get the benefit without paying any cost, unlike everyone else.

And, second, my complaint is that this is being doled out to only *some* of the population. Skipping travel powers entirely by relying on temps is not a "HUGE advantage over everyone else" because said everyone else has the option to do the *exact same thing*. But only those with this reward even have the *option* to skip a travel prereq while still getting a real travel power. And, again, only those with the reward have the option to save a power choice while using anything but fly.

Really, this is about the 'haves' and the 'have nots'. Unlike almost every single other division in this game (rich/poor, high level/low level, uber PvPer/newb PvPer, etc), the vet/newbie division *cannot* be erased by any effort on the part of the newbie. No matter what he does, the vet will *always* be X months ahead of him in the endless vet reward treadmill. And *that's* why I resent things which are actually game-changing (rather than simply conveniences or perks) being doled out based on the one distinction I can do absolutely nothing about. (And, yes, this is game changing. It would drastically change how I build many of my characters, and so, *at least for me*, this is a game changing ability - one that I have *no possibility* of getting any other way.) Look at the veteran rewards: respecs you can get other ways. Costume sessions you can get other ways. The temp powers are mostly conveniences to let you do faster something that you can already do (kill stuff, get places, etc) or are almost totally fluff (pets). But this, this is something you can't mimic any other way. (And, yes, I have almost the same complaint about the costume parts, but it's more of an intellectual concern for me since I'm not focused so much on looks.)

[/ QUOTE ]

Everyone has the same opportunity to get this reward. Everyone bar none. It is being 'doled' out to all of the population. It is being 'doled' out to all of the population. The only difference between the 'haves' and the 'have nots' is that the later are not are getting it right now. They still have the ability to get it in the future. And as a result, you do have control over it; continue to pay and play the game. That's it. Plain and simple.

--Rad

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Not to be dumb.

But how do you get 4 tiers of powers in a set with only three tiers?

1: Swift/Hurdle (No prereqs)
2: Health (One prereq)
3: Stamina (L20 and 2 prereqs)

[/ QUOTE ]

You lumped Swift and Hurdle into one tier, which is not the case.

1: Swift
2: Hurdle
3: Health
4: Stamina

My understanding is that the tier-4s will still require level 20 and 2 previous powers in the pool to unlock them. Your earlier example of taking team teleport without any pre-reqs is not (or should not) be possible.

[/ QUOTE ]

Nope, Swift and Hurdle are both Tier 1s. They are both opened for availability at level 6.
Level 14 opens Tier 2 - Health
Level 20 is the Tier 3 power - Stamina

There is no tier 4 Pool power.

[/ QUOTE ]

I have a distinct feeling that the devs would not agree with that assessment. It's the way I always thought about it. But, based on Posi's response that there are, in their view, four tiers.

--Rad

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I think they should just allow people to buy Vet rewards early. That way you can wait get em for free, or if your one of the noobs screaming DOOOOM!! you can just open up your wallet and pay $5 per reward.

[/ QUOTE ]

Now wait a sec. I paid 720 dollars to get the 60 month reward after "waiting" for 5 years, and a newbie gets them all for $100. Granted I understand that would be upfront and I could see a discount being applied for shelling it out in a lump sum, but that is one hell of a disparity.

--Rad

[/ QUOTE ]

Look, I personally don't care. I have 36 month Vet rewards and I'm good with that. I wouldn't buy them if they were available. With that said I have three things to point out.

1. You did NOT pay $720 for your Vet rewards. You paid that money to play the game for 5 years and your Vet rewards are a FREE bonus thrown in to show appreciation. If other people could buy them it doesn't affect you in the least. In the immortal words of James Brown "I gots mine, so don't worry bout his" Letting players purchase Vet rewards for $5 each would not reduce the value of your Vet rewards, yours are still free to you. It would however bring in a bunch of extra income, which is a good thing for all players.

2. If you think these great rewards at 3 years - 5years keeps people playing longer your crazy. I promise you noone is going to play for an xtra year just to get some boxing shorts or a Nemesis Staff. For people just starting this game, well who knows if this game will even be around in 5 years? Even if it is, they will have 10 year Vet rewards by then so a new person can never get half this stuff. The idea that Vet rewards keep people playing longer is just false. The money they'd pay to get these rewards immediatly is quite real.

3. If players were aloud to buy the rewards, I don't think they should be able to pick and choose. They would be aloud to buy them in order from whatever reward they are currently on. So if you have 9 months of Vet rewards and want the 24th month vet reward, you'd have to buy 12, 15, 18, 21, and then 24. That's $25 that just went to the game and that helps now, not in 2 years when this player will supposedly still be playing just so they can get this reward. Just don't include the Badge with the rewards, this way you can still see how long people have actually been playing.

[/ QUOTE ]

1. My reply is the post directly above yours. Though I never said it affected mine don't know where you came up with that.

The other two points were never said by me.

--Rad

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Now wait a sec. I paid 720 dollars to get the 60 month reward

[/ QUOTE ]

No, you didn't. You paid to play the game, or else I want to be able to play for a discount without accumulating Vet badges.

[/ QUOTE ]

Mine and all players fees go into development and operational costs. This fee allowed access to the game. Not arguing that. But, my point was not that I am against the idea per se. More on the dollar amount proposed (this was particularly in the portion you snipped out).

--Rad

[/ QUOTE ]

The dollar amount in question was irrelevant due to the fact that whether it's $5 for all of it or $100 it's still more than it actually cost to get the bonuses the normal way.

[/ QUOTE ]


We will have to agree to disagree on that. Currently the only charge that can be associated with it is the monthly fee and was there for the basis of my figure. The requirements are to pay and play for that period of time. The proposal is to eliminate both of those requirements for $5 each (the $100 dollars was based off that amount as there is a total of 20 rewards to be bought).

Does it give $100 more then the might have have received from the player if they leave before 60 months? Certainly, there is no disagreement there.

--Rad