Scarlet Shocker

I'm reading this thread as polarizing into two camps:

On the one hand you've got those who just want to run through content with as little challenge as possible and move onto the next thing, and any impediment to that is a PITA.

The counter to that is that with no challenge there's no sense of achievement, and there's a far smaller but still significant portion of the posters in the thread that actually want the game to be more challenging.

I've made no secret of the fact that I find the lack of challenge in this game very bothersome - but on the other hand I've only ever had about 3 months out since I started playing 5 years ago so I can't hate it that bad.

It's one thing to say "Screw you I'm gonna play the game the way I want to and that's fine up to a point but MMOs are largely social experiences and that attitude has a limited lifespan. There's probably an interesting pseudopsyche point about regression towards the mean here but I CBA to get into that too deep.

The real thing here is that most humans are lazy and will gladly get spoon fed rather than having to work for any reward. Maybe it makes for a less interesting experience but it's kind of understandable in the wider context of survival.

I have few hopes for the new zone but some interesting comments about the existing content and zones.

The biggest problem with many of the arguments about "the bad guys" is simply this: Nobody ever sets out to be evil. Even the most heinous dictators in history had an argument (however warped) that they had to take some damnably tough decisions for the greater good. Cole, Recluse and even Statesman believe they are on the right side! Very few people accumulate power for its own sake. They want to actually take that power and use it to fulfill their vision of a greater good.

The biggest problem with that notion in this game is the one who fails most is Statesman because he has no vision, fails to even be reactionary and stands for a big fat zilch. He actually holds Paragon back in the face of adversity rather than protecting it - and that's not a accusation you can level at Old King or Spidey

I won't be leaving Defiant because it's home to my main. However I've got some good friends who play on Pinnacle and Liberty so I am looking forward to teaming with them with a few toons.

I like to think that the EU will benefit from more players coming to us rather than a mass migration from Defiant and Union. I imagine there will be a period of flux after which things will level out.

I used to care about the story. Then the Devs broke it so now I'm "meh"

He's not an incarnate. He's a very naughty Tyrant

I should add that I also really like Sutter. It's rapidly becoming one of my favourite TFs but I also recognise there are huge problems with it.

I mostly play controllers and blasters and they don't have a problem getting around too much, especially with fly or a jetpack but being ranged are more flexible than others. I think I'd probably HATE to take on the Duray bros with an MM though.

It is significantly tougher for lower level characters - I've done it a few times and if on my IO'd 50s, it's a fun whizzthrough. If it's on a level 20 or thereabouts it's a seriously tough challenge that requires commitment and forethought.

And when I first saw the carnage in Skyway I was seriously taken aback - I was like "look what the bastards did to our home" - and that could be a serious story breaker because Skyway is fine the moment you come out of the mission. But now, players into RP would want to take the Skyraiders apart so we have a situation where the players are encouraged to move the story forward but unable to.

GG is kind of right, in that it does give the feel of our home being under threat - that atmosphere is very well created (even bombing the hospital - personally that's just another challenge to be avoided and it's easy enough to do as a non-pet player but I think MMs and some trollers could find it a problem) but once complete it's like it never happened.

Came out of Silver Mantis last night and just hung for 10 mins on the last screen.

personally I love the cut scenes. Frostfire got even better once he got his

I've seen all options.

Some raids I've felt useless and got a rare, others I've felt like I led from the front and got threads.

I've not kept a record of it but it does feel random to me.

What are you?

I think it's more than that. I think there are a number of zones that carry textures and solids that are essentially out of sight of the player. But they still need to be rendered and that rendering cost is exacerbated the more that goes on. If it's just one solid rock with a texture on the inside, so be it but when it's 200 piles of rubble that have unnecessary texturing and there's a bunch of other stuff going on it just serves [sic] to put extra pressure on the system.

love the cut scenes and they also provide the perfect opportunity to grab another beer!