ShadowsBetween

I originally posted this in Player Questions, and it was suggested that I probably should have put it here instead. So I did. I apologize for the cross-post.

I've recently been trying to finish off some of the Mayhem badges on a few of my characters (it's the only Accolade I actively try to get, since it's relatively easy and has a nice bonus.) However, I've been having a problem that I don't remember seeing before. When I attempt to use Alt+Tab to switch from one instance of the game to the other, it doesn't always work. In fact, it most often doesn't work at all.

Previously, pressing Alt+Tab once was sufficient to switch. Now, sometimes it will work. Most times it will not. If hold the Alt key and press Tab several times, sometimes I can get it to switch. Again, most of the time all that happens is the screen flashes black for a split second, and resumes running whichever client I started on.

I am running Win XP SP3. I do not have any other weird programs running - just a firewall (since broadband connection + no firewall = infested computer.) The only other thing of note is that I have the game shortcut set up with the "maxinactivefps 5" command, to reduce the system overhead of having two copies of the game running at once.

It's not essential that I get this going, but it would be useful, and any suggestions would be appreciated. I'm not quite sure when this might have started happening, but the only system changes I've made recently were to install the latest Windows updates. (Not that Microsoft would ever introduce changes that break older versions of the OS. That would be entirely unprecedented.)

I should note that I run the game fullscreen, and really don't intend to try running it windowed. I've attempted it before, and I don't like it for a number of reasons.

*Edit* My graphics card is an NVidia GTS 250 with the 196.21 drivers. Since these drivers mostly seem to work with everything, I wasn't planning to update the drivers until it's absolutely necessary - several of the recent NVidia driver releases have had what would be described as serious issues, if you were feeling charitable. (If you're not feeling so kind, there's a whole horde of more colorful descriptors just waiting to lumber forward.)

I've recently been trying to finish off some of the Mayhem badges on a few of my characters (it's the only Accolade I actively try to get, since it's relatively easy and has a nice bonus.) However, I've been having a problem that I don't remember seeing before. When I attempt to use Alt+Tab to switch from one instance of the game to the other, it doesn't always work. In fact, it most often doesn't work at all.

Previously, pressing Alt+Tab once was sufficient to switch. Now, sometimes it will work. Most times it will not. If hold the Alt key and press Tab several times, sometimes I can get it to switch. Again, most of the time all that happens is the screen flashes black for a split second, and resumes running whichever client I started on.

I am running Win XP SP3. I do not have any other weird programs running - just a firewall (since broadband connection + no firewall = infested computer.) The only other thing of note is that I have the game shortcut set up with the "maxinactivefps 5" command, to reduce the system overhead of having two copies of the game running at once.

It's not essential that I get this going, but it would be useful, and any suggestions would be appreciated. I'm not quite sure when this might have started happening, but the only system changes I've made recently were to install the latest Windows updates. (Not that Microsoft would ever introduce changes that break older versions of the OS. That would be entirely unprecedented.)

Yay for thread necromancy? No? Back! Back to the grave with ye!

I recently got a similar email making vague threats that my payment info was incorrect for my Guild Wars account. Except that it was sent to the wrong address, and as far as I know Guild Wars doesn't ever charge you for anything if you stay out of the store.

I've also been getting carpet bombed with fake Blizzard emails. Granted, the first one did cause a mild bout of panic, if for no other reason than Blizzard forced everyone to merge all their account info into one ID - I have several non-WoW games on that ID. Plus it has my "real" email and contact info. Fortunately, despite being temporarily stupid enough to almost believe I had been hacked, I wasn't quite dim enough to click their link. I changed my password anyway. I will point out that the phishing email I got was remarkably lifelike, and had clearly been modified from a genuine email, rather than compiled by a drunken babelfish. The main difference is that when I changed my password, the actual Blizzard email addressed my with my actual first name. IE, "Greetings, <your name here>" where the scam just said "Greetings," And as noted, holding the mouse over the link showed an address that was definitely *not* correct.

Unfortunately, the first scam mail wasn't tagged as spam, and I can only assume I tripped some kind of "email has been read" trigger (despite all my security settings.) Because since then, I've been getting about three a day.

I believe that would be a bug. If *neither* build has *any* Crab Soldier powers at all (primary OR secondary) then the backpack should go away.

I believe the game-mechanics reason it pops up on both builds, is that it is basically a Back Slot item that acts like a weapon. You're only allowed to have one Back Slot item at a time - you can change it on a per costume basis, but not for each build. If either build has Crab powers, the backpack takes the Cape slot. Period.

Since there is no way for the game to "remember" more than one thing per slot, there isn't any way to allow you to switch between Backpack and any other cape slot item. The best they might be able to do, is set it up so that the backpack can be hidden if you switch to a build with no Crab powers. But you still wouldn't be able to switch between having the pack, and having wings, for example.

Also Minuteman from Freedom Force. I have also seen many "patriot" heroes. I've also seen a few on Justice who wore equivalent costumes from other countries - I'm almost certain I've seen a Commander Canada, a Captain Sydney (Australia) and one that I'm fairly sure was wearing the colors of the current German flag. (I can't remember his name, but his backstory was that he was a government sponsored super and had asked to be transferred to America to help clean out the 5th Column.)

I think I have the most recent version of Mids. However, the tooltip popups all seem to have vanished - holding the mouse pointer over a power used to generate a popup that showed the effect of any enhancements currently slotted. Mousing over a Set IO would show the rest of the set, highlighting any other IOs from the set that were slotted and what the combined set bonus was. This feature seems to have vanaished, or been disabled.

Additionally, the new version seems to have a feature to set IOs to a default level, but is defaulting to level 23 or so. I don't remember the program doing this previously.

And yes, I'm aware of the Titan forums, but I don't intend to make an account there, so I don't believe I can post.

I usually dismiss my pets when I leave missions. It's not as much about being nice to other players though. It's mainly because of the bug that causes Mastermind pets to randomly forget who they belong to when you zone. It's simpler just to send them away before I exit. Also, I don't like getting killed because my pets were following along behind and decided it would be funny to take a shot at a Longbow Ballista or a random pack of Romans.

I honestly can't say whether Masterminds are more or less disliked than other "non-uber" ATs. By that I mean AT/Powersets combos that don't work with the "herd them to here and then nuke them" strategies that some of the build-nazis use. Energy blasters, /storm, and generally anything with immobilize that negates knockdown. I was, for a very, very short time on a team with a player who kicked anyone he though was preventing the knockdown from his ice patch. After he kicked the brute for accidentally knocking a minion out of the patch with a melee attack, I quit the team. I've also quit teams after it was painfully clear that they wanted my Necro/Dark MM to be the team healer. Lately, I solve the problem by not teaming with anyone I don't know. And since I have about two other players on my Global list who are still playing, that doesn't happen much.

I'm not a good basis for comparison though, since I actively resist a lot of the min/max playstyle. I loathe Hasten, never take Provoke, and actively use Mastermind personal attacks. So I'm clearly insane anyway.

I have a thugs/poison, and honestly that character is always teetering on the edge of deletion. Firstly, I fully recognize that I have a weird playstyle. I don't team very often, and I'll aggressively resist taking "must have" powers unless they actually fit the character. (I loathe Hasten, never even consider the Fighting or Presence pools, and only have Leadership powers on two characters out of over fifty. And one of those is a VEAT.) I also tend to take the Mastermind personal attacks with the intention of actually using them. I'm aware of the fact that there are tricks for making totally unstoppable characters, but I have zero interest in the theorycrafting needed to achieve it. (I know, in a general way, what the defense softcap is and why it's desirable. I just have no ambition to even try to reach it.)

Even considering all that, I can usually find a build that I enjoy playing. But not with Thugs/Poison. Part of it is simply that the animations don't fit my character - I wanted to make a rogue chemist, not a mutant, yet I'm stuck with a bunch of powers where I'm spitting venom at people. I've tried using the "must have" powers that I'm high-level enough to use, and I don't really care for them. At level 22, I have the "you're stuck with it" heal, Evenom and Weaken. I tried Venomous Breath, and dropped it. My understanding is that Poison Trap is a joke, and I can't see the point of taking Paralytic Toxin - what good is a weak single target hold? Noxious Gas is the only other power that currently looks useful.

It depends on when you issue the command, I think. If you send the pets a "defensive follow" command, it basically seems to suppress their AI for a few seconds. I suspect this is probably intentional, to keep them from attacking immediatly and regaining aggro during a fight. If this is what's going on, the only workaround I know of is to issue the command about ten seconds before you attack. For me, that generally gives them time to wake up and start targeting normally again. Tell them to follow you, then refresh their shields/buffs or whatever. By the time you're done, they should be running again.

If the command didn't disable their AI for a few seconds, it would seem like the command didn't work at all. You'd issue the command. Attacks that were animating or in-transit when you gave the command would hit you. The bots would immediately aggro on those targets and run off again. Sadly, neither solution is ideal. The current functionality is more team-friendly though, since it gives a dedicated taunter a few seconds to try to build up more aggro than you. And in the meantime, the bots are at least in Bodyguard mode, so they're all sharing any damage you take.

Out of curiosity, for the upgrades and trinkets you can purchase - is there any way to get more casual outfits, or are you limited to the six or so you start with? I'm just wondering.

Nothing as such. I assume you mean the sort of special effects used in games like Neverwinter Nights, or World of Warcraft. (Where a mystic-looking circle or sigil appears as part of the attack.) None of the powersets in this game are quite that specific. How your character got their powers, and exactly how they work, are all basically just role-playing details in this game. With that said, there are lots of powers that would fit various magical themes - Ice and Fire for elemental mages, Darkness for the gothy types, and Gravity Control and the various psychic-themed sets for more traditional "magic missile" wizards.

There aren't any parts that specifically match. (I assume you mean the Metal outfit from the "with skin" sets for females.) However, depending on what you're trying for, there are several other themes that seem to work well with it. The Bone gloves and boots (with and without spines,) as well as Bio and Chitin all seem to work. Just play with the various gloves and boots and see what's there. Also, be aware that you can layer some other items over it as well - robes, jackets, shirts, the chest slot armor pieces, belts, skirts, and shorts.

Or you can just drag the window to one side and ignore it until it times out. I've done this with people who won't take "NO!" for an answer with teaming.

*Edit* In some cases it would be nice to be able to block such things, but I can't see it being a very high priority.

I'm curious, doesn't the Winter Event end tonight? I haven't seen an announcement about server downtime - don't they usually take down the system to turn off an event?

For some reason, several of the base components are actually crafted items. The basic teleport pad is one of these. You'll need to drop a basic worktable somewhere, and build them. If you can afford the ingredients and influence, go ahead and craft a bunch - it doesn't cost much if you have the parts, and you don't pay prestige until you place them.

Also, once you have them, they still won't show up in the editor - you'll have to use the "Place Personal Item" button instead of Edit Base. Once you've placed them, you can move them around in the standard editor. However, if you delete them it will refund the prestige, but *not* the parts or Inf you spent to craft them. To connect a beacon to them, simply use the normal editor and place the beacon near the pat - by default it'll lock onto the one closest to wherever you drop it (as long as they're both in the same room.)

One thing to keep in mind is that *most* of the time, there's no difference in functionality between the Tech and Arcane versions. However, there is often a very large difference in size. I'm not sure that we (the players) have ever been given a reason for this. In most cases, it's the Arcane version that is bigger. For example, the mid-range power and control items are *much* larger for Arcane - the Tech versions can be crammed into a 2x2 room, but the Arcane version can not.

I've noticed a small problem with the animation on the female VEAT Widow Poison Dart attack. The forearm is twisted around almost upside down, and the elbow is bent at a very awkward angle. This appears to also affect whatever routine is used to line up your character's with the target, because it also often causes the character to lean weirdly to one side. I've tried to get a screenshot of it, but it's hard to get a static view that makes the problem really clear.

Think of it this way - in an Open Beta, your job is to run around and try to break things. In a Closed Beta, your job is to go around and find what's broken. Because at the Closed Beta level, stuff *will* be broken. Which is why I find it so weird that sites like Fileplanet toss out closed beta keys like it's some kind of demo or something.