Rroht

I recognize that some Invention Sets end at 30 and 40, but why not just make a single IO that scales with the character?

For example, If I acquired a Karma: Def/End at level 10, why not just let it scale with me all the way to its endcap? (30 in this example). What's the intention for requiring a level 30 to replace a level 10? Just make one, and let it level up with the player.

I know this affects the economy (and the salvage reqs) needs for building, but the system seems unecessary. And on a side note, if you get a recipe that has a process (for example, Karma: Knockback Protection) it functions the same at all levels.

(I guess I was more curious than anything else, this isn't really a complaint.)

Hey Kiri,

Your comments are fair; I probably haven't been a PvPer as long as you have. I've been PvPing since 2007 or before the Invention system (whichever came first) and I don't claim I know all the in and outs of the system.

As far as playing a bad stalker, I'm not really a stalker-player. I am willing to admit that my stalker pvp is limited knowledge.

Disclaimer: I know most of you will disagree; I'd just like to humbly make my case.
Disclaimer: tl:dr

I've been playing CoX for a few years, and PvP is about the only real endgame, for me, in this MMO. I am also mostly a zone PvPer.

Here is what I think is wrong with PvP:

Range Exploitation: The one thing I have noticed in this game, different from every other, is that range is more easily exploited. I'm not saying that range isn't exploited in other games, just that it's easier in this one. Because of Super Speed, mostly, and that's pretty much why a majority of heroes and villians have super speed. Not because they want it, but because they need it competitively.

Anyhow, in my opinion, that's why they implemented Travel Supression. Because you could speed by an opponent, melee or ranged power, and be out of range before a counter attack. I know many of you prefer the fast-paced action and running; I really don't; I try to come up with other combinations. That's ok, though, I accept that nearly everyone (and every stalker) is going to have super speed. I wish it didn't have to be that way, but you use what works. Right?

Stealth/Invisibility/Hide: Nearly every game has a problem with their Rogue/Thief counterparts in PvP because they use stealth and have an awesome backstab. What did City of Heroes do? They created the Stalker, so now, he gets weakened and declawed, step by step, because he is (or was) the easiest Archetype to play.

My problem with the Stalker is that it takes little effort to be stealthy. You don't need to use shadows or darkness. You don't have to worry about making sounds. And in PvP, you can stand right next to your opponent without being detected. Even if your opponent is maxed in perception, you have to within about 5(?) feet before he can see you. In any event, this is why I feel the Stalker is having such a difficult time; you gave him the tools to be the perfect "PvP take-down machine", but didn't even him out. Now, his Assassin Strike gets weaker and I can only imagine what they'll take from him next patch.

THE HUDDLE: Egads, It's an abomination. For just one day, I would like the devs to implement "friendly fire". If you go into RV, you'll see each side standing in their prismatic huddle of effects. For some reason, if a hero produces a Rain of Fire, all the other heroes can stand in it. Anyhow, that's why I feel CoX suffers in particular. Because of AoE effects and how they work, no one spreads out.

Just for one day, I'd like to see a group fight within the bounds of friendly fire. I suppose Warburg is the closest indication of what it would be like.

Targetting Reticule: I know the developers can't, or won't do anything about it, but it seems sorta silly that I can use the TAB button to find people. And once in my reticule, the range doesn't matter. If you are close or far, if I am standing still or running at super speeds, my ToHit factor is the same.

Zone Spawning: I don't know if this would make a difference, but I'd like the ability to spawn in different areas of the map in a pvp zone. Seems like most of the game is base camping when one side has more than the other side. I don't know if this would change base camping, but it's just an idea.

BUILD UP: No. Just no. Now everyone is Goku. And so everyone practices spike damage. Devs, your world would have been a lot easier had you avoided these. Obviously, I know many of you like the BU/AIM stuff...or course, that's why they have been downscaled in effectiveness in pvp.

Defense: I don't know how you can fix defense anymore. It's basically useless with the level of +ACC in Purple IO's, Pvp IO's, etc. Now days, I don't even slot Defense powers for pvp. To me, it's all about resistance. If you focus on defense, you either don't PvP, or you slot up and work around your Eluder power.

I'll wrap up my opinion. I like playing a hero/villian, and I like PvP. I just wish City of Heroes PvP was much better. I recognize I come from a different perspective than a lot of other long-time PvPers here, but I thought I would offer mine, nonetheless. Some day, I hope the Speedster is more unique, the city has more aerial battles, and pvp zone fights are less predictable. (I won't even bother discussing Regeneration). You're all my friends, and I hope I didn't rub you guys the wrong way.

Here's my last grip and then I'm done.

Break Free does not remove the effect of -fly (or even -jump), but it will counteract the other mez effects.

I'd be glad to partake in a system where I can reduce the -fly effect by some means.

...

...

...Why does there need to be an all or nothing "-fly" component in powers such as air superiority and web grenade? It seems weird that you can attempt to resist holds, immobilization, and so on, but a "-fly" webnade will bring you down no matter what.


Why not remove the "-fly" component and let the mez effects cover it all? Hover has been upgraded in the last few issues to protect fliers against mez effects, but it should never be all or nothing.

I'd like to see more aerial battles; too often, it comes down the guy, with his raptor pack, throwing a web grenade. The damage from the fall basically does it from there.

Well, in any event, I wish the Halloween Event would start in early October as opposed to late October. I've been in the trick or treat spirit since September.

You guys will argue over anything...

Edit: I'm actually in the process of writing a sf/f book focused on necromancy. I'm extremely glad the publishers don't have these concerns.

Hey guys.

Double xp weekend is great (I'll be logged in). Also, I've been wondering what's in store for the upcoming Halloween Holiday.

I did a search and saw nothing; besides that, I figured that the festivities are about to start up.

Does anyone know if some Halloween stuff is starting up this weekend as well? It would be a great promotional in conjunction with the double xp weekend...

Anyhow, if you are aware of a thread discussing it, would you please point me to it.

Arc ID: 318138

For levels: 20-50
Very Long

Halloween: The Return of the Nightmare Lord

3 Mission AE TF

I built this arc just because of coming events. While the AE HUD says very long, it doesn't seem that way in testing.

Mission 1 (Strange Phenomena): Kill All, boss, collect item.
Mission 2 (Protect the Bones): collect item, defend item, boss.
Mission 3 (The Nightmare Lord Returns): 3 Bosses, 1 AV.

I'm working through other ae missions listed here. Hope to share some good critique with the rest of you. One problem I'm having is that I can't test spawn for an 8-man team. I'd really like to examine the arc in that situation first.

...but as it stands, the mission seems balanced.

The correct approach is simply to pull anyone who uses teleport foe out of stealth/invisibility.


Since I'm on the subject, I'd like to reiterate my position of Teleport Foe. I don't really understand why it had to exist in the game. I've got a slotted out /devices blaster; teleport foe isn't necessary for me to pve or pvp. Even before my IO sets, I could work without teleport foe, but I'm certainly going to use it since its available.

Only reason I think it is bugged is because there was a stalker using it in hide, and he remained hidden.

The whole night this stalker Tp'd people while he was in hide. Never attacked, just laughed and stuff. I was played a perceptioned out /dev...never saw him unless I used some quirkly logistics.

Either way, I don't think it was intended that you could tp foe someone and not come out of hiding. Basically it was being used to grief last night. I didn't report it because I figured I'd bring it to the forms.

I disagree with many of the comments here.

A stalker is basically a kill-stealer. If you want to rake in PvP IOs and bounty with the least amount of trouble, choose him.

Every stalker I've ever played or talked to basically has one technique. Wait to attack the hero when he's fighting someone else or in the middle of combat. Build Up. Assassin Strike. Spirit Shark.

If that doesn't work. Hibernate. Become invisible/undetectable while you are waiting. If heroes surround you or throw some aoe on your area, phase shift immediately after hibernate ends.

As a stalker, you are doing one of two things. You are either running in with your super speed and build up for burst damage, or you are running away.

It does not take brains to play a stalker; you do not have to be on a team. All you need, is patience (the ability to wait for a target). Just watch who the other villains are attacking and clean up.

In a zone with 3 or more stalkers in the area, caltrops, perception, etc, no longer matters. You will easily defend against one, but while you're fighting him, the other two will kill you. Obviously, the numbers are arbitrary; if you are a tank, it might take 4 or 5...and so on.

But anyhow, I've seen it and tested it numerous times in RV.

Recently, I gave up playing stalkers; it did not challenge me. Now I like to play against them. I've built the /dev blaster and done the other effects to negate a stalkers chances. To be honest? It really doesn't matter.

I've found that the best way to take out a stalker is to use another hero as bait. Don't really bother with a tank or a /regen. Stalkers avoid them unless they know they have the numbers. But follow a controller, defender, or blaster. When one of them strays to far from the rest of the "hero huddle", the stalkers begin salivating. An attack is merely seconds away. During that time, you will probably see the stalker dedicate his time to the assassin strike/build up, maybe a placate, and a follow up spirit shark.

If he goes through that chain, you will likely have the opportunity to build up/biggest attack. Or your hold. Or whatever it is you do. The stalker is a dead man.

The other side of the equation is the stalker that follows another stalker. Sometimes a vet stalker will let the other stalker attack, and draw attention, and then he will attack the attacker.

...meh. Whatever. As you can see, pvp is fairly simple here. Be patient and wait. Lol. "When you are ready, the target will present itself!"

Yeah, you'll still die. There's no way to fight while invisible burst damage is breathing down your neck...but let's be honest. Death doesn't mean anything in this game. So, just come back and do it all over again.

I forgot to add.

It also bothers me that the scrapper power, Eviscerate can only do 249.00 damage, 15% of the time, but the Blaster power, Total Focus, can do 197.97 damage all the time.

Usually, the scrapper will do 124.50 damage, the blaster, 197.97.

I have been playing with two characters. One is a claw/super reflex scrapper; the other, a sonic/energy blaster. Both are level 50.

In all honesty, I'd like some opinions and knowledge. My scrapper's best attack comes from his Primary Set: Eviscerate.

Eviscerate (Melee) Superior
124.50 Lethal
(15% chance) 124.50 Lethal

My blaster's best attack comes from his Secondary Set: Total Focus.

Total Focus (Melee) Extreme
55.61 Smashing
142.36 Energy
+11.92s Stun (mag 3)

Now I'm sorta confused, not by the numbers, but by the fact that my blaster does more melee damage than my scrapper, with an added Disorient. Was this intended?

Those numbers were for PvE. Here is PvP numbers.


Eviscerate (Melee) Superior
137.02 Lethal
(15% chance) 137.02 Lethal


Total Focus (Melee) Extreme
67.2 Smashing
172.8 Energy
+2s Stun (mag 3)

One of the reason I pose the PvP numbers is because, aside from the PvE play, I've also worked with them in Recluse's Victory. Consistantly, my blaster racks up the kills. My scrapper is severely lacking. And yes, I know that super reflexes has difficulties at this time, but even with the Eluder power in effect, he can't seem to "finish the deal" on a villain with his attacks.

But, either way, I'm curious why my scrapper is unable to do the damage, in melee, that my blaster can execute; not curious from the numbers, but curious as to why the developers created their powers this way. It's strange to me that the Blaster's Secondary Powerset has a Melee attack that is more powerful than anything in the Scrapper's Primary Powerset.

I'm not hating on Blaster's; I just want to know the logic. This question is both PvE and PvP, so I posted it in this section. If the problem is how I'm using the Claws Powerset, please explain/teach me how to work it.

This might be an inappropriate suggestion, but what if the developers added three instances of the same zone?

For example: Recluse's Victory.

Instance #1: With DR, TS, etc.
Instance #2: PRE Issue #13 rules.
Instance #3: No suppressions, no restrictions, etc. (FFA)


I wonder which zone people would play?

Seems to me that giving the players the options to choose, in the game, the zone they like the best would show the developers what forms of PVP are favored by the community. My guess is that they would learn that the non-PvP crowd favors Instance #1 (lol, the beginner PVP zone) while the advanced would be more inclined to free for all play.

Right now, my opinion is that people who begin PvP need access to a beginner zone to learn the ropes. Once they start learning all the tricks and techniques, they'll realize that all these restrictive systems actually inhibit them from getting better.

While I don't know how much extra space, time, cost, etc., it would take to make 2 or 3 instances of the same zone, they do it with Atlas Park all the time.

Idk, is this a bad idea?