Rooftop_Raider

So this is pretty exciting. Endgame content, including the Incarnate system and Apex Task Force. Crossover to and from Praetoria. Some updates to mission maps. And the big one - inherent Fitness powers. I'm really impressed!

True. You can use the Jump Pack at level 1, and Ninja Run at level 4, so they should still work if you go down that far, I say.

I could see a couple defense-based sets be without KB protection (ala Ninjitsu), but the resistance-based sets ... it's so easy to be knocked back.

I can play back demos just fine - but there is no audio. I am using Zloth's CohDemoLauncher2 but there is no setting there to either enable or disable sound. Any ideas?


---System information gathered by CoH Helper version 0.2.0.2---

DxDiag gathered at September 2, 2010 19:31 (-05:00)
Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit (6.1, Build 7600) (7600.win7_gdr.100618-1621)
System Manufacturer: GBT___
System Model: NVDAACPI
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Central Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 5200+ (2 CPUs), ~2.6GHz
Memory: 3328MB
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Page File: 5032MB (1621MB currently in use)
C Drive: (SAMSUNG HD501LJ SCSI Disk Device) 204485MB out of 476835MB (42%) free
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E Drive: (ST310005 28AS SCSI Disk Device) 2589MB out of 953865MB (0%) free
Windows directory location: C:\Windows
DirectX: DirectX 11
DirectX Diag version: 6.01.7600.16385 (32-bit version)

Display Notes: No problems found.
Sound Notes: No problems found.

No problems found.
Input Notes: No problems found.

Monitor:
Monitor's Max Resolution: (blank)
Video Device Name: NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GT
Manufacturer / Chip: NVIDIA / GeForce 8600 GT
Video Memory: 1905 MB
Driver Version: 8.17.12.5721
Driver Date: 6/7/2010 6:57:00 PM
Driver Language: English

Sound Device Description: Speakers (High Definition Audio Device)
Driver File: HdAudio.sys
Driver Version: 6.01.7600.16385
Driver Date: 7/13/2009 6:51:47 PM

Sound Device Description: Digital Audio (S/PDIF) (High Definition Audio Device)
Driver File: HdAudio.sys
Driver Version: 6.01.7600.16385
Driver Date: 7/13/2009 6:51:47 PM


WMI Information
Motherboard Manufacturer: Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.
Motherboard Model: (empty)
Motherboard Product: M57SLI-S4
Motherboard Version: x.x
BIOS Manufacturer: Award Software International, Inc.
BIOS Name: Award Modular BIOS v6.00PG
BIOS Version: GBT - 42302e31
BIOS Release: 20071122000000.000000+000


Registry Information for Current User
Resolution: 1920x1200
3D Resolution: 1920x1200 (Not using renderscale)
Full Screen: Yes
Maximized: No
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Refresh Rate: 60Hz
Vertical Sync Enabled: Yes


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Current Game Version: 1850.201007290124.24T2
Installation Directory: C:\Program Files\City of Heroes

Mod files in the Data directory
No modifications found

Time to bring on the Ice Stalkers!

Thank you! My first day in awhile, so I'll be respeccing my Mind/Psi. I wish these changes would have happened earlier, as I solo'd that Dom to 50 (beating every possible EB using SO's) before all the hubbub with the Dom buffs, and before I got into IO's. Would have made things easier, for sure.

I take Fly on pretty much all characters who take a travel power at this point. A few still have superjump/SS, but I've been moving as many of those to Fly as possible. I have one character who only uses NR, and that's my Nin/Nin Stalker. My MA/SR Scrapper has 3-slotted Swift, Quickness, Hurdle, Sprint, and Ninja Run, as well as the Commuter Bonus, and his run speed is 66mph and his jump speed is 69mph. If I specced into 3-slotted Swift I have no doubt my running speed would be over 70mph.

In my opinion, the rest of the development of the game needs to be focused on convergence between the heroes, villains, and the in-betweeners. Any new zones that are made should be done in a capacity which brings these factions together. More task forces and trials which bring them on the same team. More endgame content which all sides can enjoy together. We have enough zones where these players are apart from each other, and some zones which are nonsensical (like Cimerora) which ultimately have been abandoned. And ideally, effort could be put forth to improve the existing zones, and increase the available number of storylines or missions which can be done.

I'm just going through some old posts here - isn't there a special IO that provides knockback protection? I recall there being one, but I don't know how rare it is, or where it would go, but that could be an option for some builds.

I would classify this "Party Pack" as more of a Silly-Booster, than a Super-Booster. So, bring on the Super-Boosters.

(I think this booster is fine for those who want to pay for it, incidentally - so no complaints here)

Practically all EB's melt to my Blasters when I'm at the damage cap, to be honest, and while I agree the melee types have it easier overall, I know how to play the game to my benefit on any AT that I play, and I hardly have elite builds.

So I personally have enjoyed all the Praetorian content - though to be fair, the first time I went through it I was like "WTH" a few times - because I wasn't used to the paradigm being torn to shreds like it was.

Once the content gets tweaked I think we'll hear less complaints. I do feel that a few of the complaints are totally legitimate, however, and I don't think it's fair to bash those who find matter-of-fact issues with any part of this game.

Sign me up for the "I want more endgame content" field trip - I'll get in line.

I generally clear the last rooms or take out select targets on the way to there. With the exception of escort missions, where I clear to that point, and kill anything I need to on the way back with the hostage.

Anything/Ninjitsu would be my first recommendation. I just recently played a Ninja Blade/Ninjitsu Stalker with Ninja Run/Sprint as my travel power and that has been a bit of a thematic blast for me, at least.

I've always felt that Doms play like weaker Blasters but with much better "secondaries" - even though Control is the primary set. I feel Doms are generally safer and provide more for a team, but the AT has had problems due to huge balance issues in the past. But the three or so buffs to the AT have helped a bit, as near as I can tell. I am still getting the feel of things, but I still believe Doms are very much like Blasters.

Solo, I feel the play styles are closer. On teams, I feel the Control sets are far more valuable than the utility of "Manipulation" sets.

I logged into all my Doms recently, after hearing about the changes to the AT since I've been away, and it appears that every one will need to use one of the free respecs I've earned. So far, it sounds like the AT as a whole was buffed, but with some side effects like increased endurance (in large part because of increased damage), and some normalization of powers (IE, less ineffective and overpowered attacks).

So last night I spent some time respeccing my lvl 26 Ice/Ice and lvl 25 Plant/Thorns. Both characters had been set used for all-Dom superteams, so were less suited to solo play originally - but now I will be soloing them more often, and with the changes, they were even worse off before the free respecs. Once I got them taken care if, I took them for a spin on some missions.

The Ice Dom was more effective than he had been, but endurance usage was high. I had to abandon using Artic Air, but I didn't really need it because I was able to hold a mob (usually an LT), attack a second one, and in the case of 3 minions, usually I was able to take out one of the three quickly enough to get another hold up, and then take the rest of the group out with practically no injury. But I'm not really high on Ice Control, at this point. Maybe at higher levels that will improve. The Icy Assault set seems very competent, however.

The Planet Dom was just amazing solo. I almost never used the single target hold, as Seeds of Confusion was just as effective as it ever was. I also found this powerset combination to be a little more endurance friendly, though I am not sure why. But I would say this character is just a better solo one than the Ice Dom - at least from last night's experience.

I still have my lvl 50 Mind/Psi to try out, but apparently I deleted my high 20's Fire/Fire Dom awhile back - probably to make room for one of the VEATs - which is unfortunate, because I never really clicked well with them. But I imagine it wouldn't take long to build Fire Dom up as the AT stands, currently.

My first impression so far is _very_ positive for the first two Doms.

Just asking this question, because I can't recall if anything like this has been tried. Has there ever been an attempt by the playerbase to categorize a specific server as a PvP server? IE, we have an unofficial RP server in Virtue - so has there ever been a concerted effort to label one server a PvP server, where people who want to play a PvP-centric toon with a higher number of players?

I'd settle for either Knockup or Knockdown for Crane Kick, as well.

I'm moving at least one Stalker, Dom and MM over to blue-side, myself. I'm loving the crossover aspects of this game, to be honest.

I think this would be cool if any enemy groups involved had their level 50 equivalents used (or created) for this sort of thing. I would provide a lot more variety at endgame for players who want to use their top level characters _at_ endgame.

I am pretty sure most of these ambushes are custom jobs, and specific to each mission - but a few are still either broken by game design, or simply had facets that were overlook. Some are going to be corrected, to be more palatable to the masses. But I think a few are going to remain as they are - because they are supposed to break the paradigm in order to provide variety. The Defeat 100 Destroyers mission might always stay the same, but some of these other missions might very well change. I know some of the ambushes out there are just 1 mob if you are going solo, so we might see that more often. Or something along those lines. And it appears in a few of those cases, new ambushes are not triggered until that one is defeated.

Anyhow, hopefully we see more active work from the devs on making more of the ambushes more "sane" - so to speak.

It's 7am my time and Freedom and Virtue are in the yellow. Just logged on with a Brute and solo'd a mission real quick. Personally, I am happy with the developments in the game - so long as they lead to more integration among players. I don't mind essentially having more "starter zones" as long as the end goal is to get more players to group with each other over time.

I'm not against making new zones here and there, but I think the focus needs to be more on revamping existing zones. For example, if Kings Row was redone - who cares about locations of doors for existing missions? It's one piece of errata which has next to no impact on things.

I consider WoW the true successor of EQ, because they went to great efforts to learn from the mistakes that were made there - something I think even EQ2 didn't quite learn, and didn't adapt until too late. I believe other MMO developers have learned from those mistakes as well, including Cryptic and Paragon Studios, but that isn't to say they haven't still made mistakes in this new day and age. MMO's are a developing genre, just as FPS's and others.

And while I think Paragon Studios has their act together, I don't think they are above constructive criticism, and I just hope they keep focusing on bringing players together, as I truly believe that is the biggest factor in keeping this game relevant - even above the importance of issuing new content over time. That content has to be well-placed. Not everyone can be happy - that's impossible, but the goal is to get as many people as possible, regardless.