Shaytanah

Hi all!

I'm going to hold a costume contest on Canada Day--July 1st, at 9 pm Eastern, in honour of Canada's birthday. Prizes:

1st place: 10 million
2nd place: 5 million
3rd place: 3 million

best bio: 2 million
The Pierre Trudeau memorial prize for Most Canadian: 5 million

The cc will be under Atlas unless there is enough red side interest to hold it in Pocket D. The contest is open to all, except members of DarkGuard and its sub-groups.

Hope to see you all there!

Done school now, happily. Working for the government here in Canada, and getting moved around a lot, potentially. Married with kids...

Not a bad idea!

I'd love to be able to build little one character bases. Gaining enough prestige to have fun is the challenge. They could always mitigate this by making the amount of prestige you earn inversely proportional to the size of your SG--i.e. in a 3 man SG, a lvl 50 would earn more prestige per kill than the same character in a 40 toon SG.

But this would be a massive headache and potentially lead to a disintegration of large SGs. And this would /suck.

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http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/idolatry

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Soooo....a satirical 'superheroization' of Obama is idolatry. According to the guy with Clint Eastwood brandishing a hand cannon as an avatar?

Idolatry bad, horrendous violence good! Woot!

*heads red side*

Check this:

City of Heroes: Washington Edition

http://www.theadmonition.com/?p=1013

I challenge you not to smile!

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I'd like to (once again) toss my guide out there.

coh-tog.home.comcast.net

It's about 350 pages of stuff intended to get new player into the game and up to level 20.

I'm almost done with a new version of it (just need to do the zone info), but the basic layout will remain the same.

Please have a look at it, and if it would suit your needs, let people know where to find it.

Thanks.

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Looked over your site and it's a good one. Adding the link to our site when I get home today!

And remember, those of you who've pointed out that many players don't want help...well, we're not demanding anyone come to the site, just telling them that its there. No pressure, and we don't recruit site members in game, beyond letting our SG and coalie-mates know we've set one up.

It's kinda like Paragon Wiki....its there if you want it, but you don't have to use it
I'm enjoying it myself...I'm getting some great advice on a new toon I made, the powersets of which I am not very familiar with.

I'd like to quote Atmosphere's 'Woman With the Tattooed Hands':

"I've got a lot to teach and even more to learn."

Awww...Miss Shay thanks you for the good words, B!

Well, some seem interested in contributing, but some are also leary of contributing to something attached to a different SG.

Here's a suggestion....guildportal.com gives free webspace for SGs and such. It also allows you to form 'alliances' between them on-site, which is kinda like a 'site coalition'. Why don't othre folks who are interested set up SG / VG sites and then we can ally them?
This way, each SG has its own space, yet we can still pool resources collectively--be that server or game wide--for those interested in creating such a commonly-held resource?

I'd be glad to help anyone with Guildportal.com although its pretty easy to use!

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Seems like an absolutely wonderful idea..... much support on this endeavor. Although, it may not be advertised, this is something that many in my network work toward and would support 100%. An awesome idea. Bravo!

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Hi Steel and thanks for the encouragement! If this is something your lads would support I'd be glad to join forces or figure out a way to pool our efforts.

Greatly appreciated!

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Having 5 members quit AOW for DG in one week and having 3 return within a couple of days because DG was ignoring them as well as having 2 others say DG was soliciting them makes me think you guys are targeting us, especially since we never had anything like that happen, ever!

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Why did they quit? And I might be wrong here, but didn't you quit AOW for ToS at one point?


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If you were really serious Shay, take these new people into DG and teach them on your team, take them on missions and explain how they can get better.

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Um.....you criticized me in this thread earlier, saying I wanted to use this site as a recruitment tool for DG and now you're....telling me to use this site as a recruitment tool for DG. Of course we take these folks on our teams--in fact, I threw together a Cavern Trial tonight for our newer members, as well as others from other groups. The site is a supplement to playing the game and learning, not a replacement for the actual experience!

I'm sorry you've got issues with some of our members but I can only judge people based on my own experience--and my experience with DG, its coalition and Braije have all been excellent. B and Sinny have always been loyal friends, mentors and allies for me. I have nothing but mad love and huge respect for them.

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AOW does not openly (spam) recruit, we team and invite the good heroes into the sg). Actions speak louder than words!

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I do spam the occasional recruitment message, but I team with interested parties first. While tons of spam is an annoyance, if it wasn't for occasional advertising none of us would be here playing :-) But if we only extend invitations to the 'good' players, how do the 'bad' players get to be good? On a server like Champ that isn't stuffed coalitions and SGs are important tools in finding teams.

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I AM DIVINE

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And I'm just finishing my Masters in comparative religion and theology. Never in all my years of matriculation did I catch mention of any religion venerating a Felecia Divine. Calling shennigans on this one!


Still, I repeat my previous invitation. You can slam the door, but I'll still answer it if you knock.

I won't quit CoH for Champs, though I will likely try Champs out. But CoH has been the only MMO that really kept my interest so I couldn't see abandoning it all together...

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here is a very basic outline after the fact that my sg used on its newest member. 1st 14 lvls I teamed with them on a new toon I was trying out, they were able to play found some friends in game and moved up quickly but still learned the basics of there toon.


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Love this post. Do you mind if I filch it?

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Thanks, Hrist, you hit the nail on the head.

But so long as you're having a blast, you're a good player any way!

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If simply having fun makes you a good player then what is the point of all this?

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Be a good team player and share your experience.

Thanks, Hrist, you hit the nail on the head.

But so long as you're having a blast, you're a good player any way!

LOL, you troll

Thanks for making me chuckle!

Thanks for the good words, prvtslacker. Dinah is right that not everyone plays the same! As I mentioned above, I don't want to teach people 'style'. I want to see people play their own style, but with an understanding of the basic nuts and bolts that help team dynamics.

That being said, I'm also open to advice from anyone here on the topic. Whether the advice is critical or supportive, it all helps. I've gotten some good things to consider from this thread, and thank all of you who've provided input, advice or constructive criticism.

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What qualifies you (or your group) to "teach", or even criticize another player's playstyle?

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Nothing but experience, which we all have. I don't criticize anyone's play style. If they ask for advice I'll give it, with the YMMV caveat. If they don't, I don't offer it.
Technically, one could argue that no one is qualified to teach anything in the game but I'd have been lost early on without advice--some was good, some was bad, all was valuable.

An example of what's there now--I did a quick little write-up on blasters containing some info new players might now be aware of--such as 'knockback frustrates Scrappers and Tanks but this can be mitigated if your NRG blaster hovers right over the fight' or 'blaster powersets each have an additional effect (knockback for energy; slow for ice, etc) and these can be used to strategic advantage'.

I can't--and won't--TELL anyone how to play but I'm happy to share what has worked for me, and am glad when others share what works for them.

Well, here's an example of hw showing someone something small can make a difference. The other day I was running with a pug. Every mob that came along was wiping out the party. By simply suggesting that they all target the tank--which they subsequently did--had them working as a team.

This is the sort of thing we're talking about. Also--build advice for example. Many new players are confused as hell by Mids, so it benefits them to have experienced players to turn to.

Cherry said,

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What i think needs to be addressed is the SG's that are farming these new toons to 50 and not mentoring them the right way. I was on the lrsf a week ago with someone that was proud of the fact he joined COH and hit 50 in 3 days thanks to his sg.. and yet had no idea what vengence did, what the oroboros portal was, or what badges were for. It was pretty sad and extremely frustrating.

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This is exactly the kind of thing I mean. PL'ed toons whose players just can't play, don't know what their powers and temps do, etc. A couple of us with the SG (not the site) have discussed reformatting our promotion scheme to encourage playing content, not farming. Cherry mentioned mentoring--that is exactly what I'm trying to get at. I shudder to think how poorly I'd play if not for folks who gave me advice (not that we can't all improve).

To sum up, one of the main issues we want to address is PL'ed players who can't really play their toons, can't play as a group (ever see a Def who thinks he's a tank? Messy) and approach the game with an eye to 50 and nothing more.

The reason I want to involve as many people as are willing is to give a large sampling of advice--I don't want people to clone their play style, but rather to develop their own. All that advice people ask for in game? The site is just a place to gather it together.

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I also noticed the sg doing this will be named after DG, looks like a simple ploy to get members, if an sg that actually helped ppl normally had posted this, or an sg being formed independantly to help the server, i would be willing to help with this project.

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A ploy to get members? Our main is stuffed, our subSGs are stuffed, and our red side is getting stuffed. When I started playing this game, Braije and the rest of the DG crew were always open and helpful. Dropped mishes they were doing to help me, etc. We put ourselves out there to help--the whole reason for the site we're setting up is to help. We don't require anyone to join the in-game SG in order to use the site--our front page message notes that all are welcome.

Now if you don't want to participate, that's your choice--and its a shame as I was hoping you'd do a little write up on defenders (being a good def player and all). The fact is, many DG members are very excited about this development. In-game feedback I've gotten has been positive.

Anyone on the server is welcome to pitch in all they want. Why's it called DarkGuard Academy? Because the founders of the site are DarkGuard. When we elected to expand and train new members, this site became a good vehicle to do so.

Now no one is [censored] about AOW or the behavior of some of its members--individuals do not as such shape the entire group. I wouldn't turn away an AOW member who signed up on the site; but I'm very disappointed that your own personal issues with people have led you to refuse participation in a resource meant to help every one.
Plus I'm personally insulted. This site was concieved of and designed by me. You and I have never had any issues but you've lumped me into the 'problem' category because of who I play with?

It's. Just. A. Game.

Despite all, you're still more than welcome to come participate, as are all members of your SG. If they're allowed.

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Fantastic idea, but unless you can put a muzzle on your sg leader BRAIJE, we at AOW will not participate, you cannot be mean to others and think we will help you!
I have had many many complaints about your members!

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I've never had a problem with Braije--je's always been good and supportive in my experience. If someone has an issue with him I suggest speaking to him about it rationally. A large reason for the existence of this site is to help make people into better players--if you read through everything you'll note we're encouraging people to explore content, not simply farming. This is something I know you support.

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As long as your members solicit AOW members and attack them in PvP zones, no member of DarkGuard is allowed on any of my teams.
Those from PoN, i am giving the same warning.

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I fail to understand the source of your vitriol. You're mad at Braije as well as mysterious, unnamed members. If you've an issue with someone in game then approach them. I've never had an issue with you nor you me as far as I know--so you wouldn't team with me because of who I team with regularly?

That's your perogative. I just enjoy the game, and don't want drama.
As for Braije and DG members, if you're in a PvP zone and don't want to be attacked, broadcast a msg telling folks you're farming pillboxes or whatever. They'll leave you alone, and they'll make sure others do as well. But since you don't farm, I don't see why you'd be in a PvP zone for any reason other than PvP.

I may be a little off here. If so, please clarify. But I find it disturbing that you make it clear that no member of your SG will participate. What if someone in AOW wants to participate? Are they facing expulsion from your SG for doing so?

Thanks to all of you for the support!

Its amazing how quickly folks in-game come around when they see something they didn't know was possible--like everyone living because they target the tank. :-)

I've only just set up the site in the last day or two and am busy writing things for it.

The sign-up link is on the top of the site's page (it means joining the site, not the in-game SG!!)

I'd love to have folks do some intros--I wrote a little 'So, you wanna be a blaster...' guide just to mention things often unknown to new players. Feel free to sign up, and if you have new players in your own SG, or players new to a specific AT, send them our way. If this could become a cross-SG project...well, that would rock!

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An accolade, any accolade should not require side switching. Those of us who are more story driven should not be placed into a position of choose between a specific accolade (especially a cool one) or maintaining character integrity.

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I certainly see your point, and agree, but I bet there will be an accolade or two that relates to new content--especially in the grey areas.

They'd better add some new badges, since the number of MA badges I'm gonna lose is turning my badge [censored] into a merely promiscuous love of shiny things.

Hi all

A lot of us have noticed a lot of crappy players around lately, who PL all the way to 50 and can't play their toons. For example, yesterday I was running with a p.u.g who couldn't take a mob without everyone dying. The simple suggestion that everyone target the tank made a world of difference....

So in that vein, some of us from the DarkGuard SG thought it'd be a good idea to set up a sort of player academy where we could not only teach noobs but also schedule TFs, trials, PVP nights and all sorts of things. I'd like to invite all experienced players on Champion (DarkGuard, our coalies or others) to feel free to participate as well.

While the website has just been set up and remains a work in progress right now, you can still sign up at tinyurl.com/DGAcademy

Our goal is to make good players the norm, not the exception, and thereby make the game better for the entire server.

Thanks all, and hope to see you all come out!

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Basing this on a fixed list of "origin oriented" GMs is a good stab at this. I also like your idea of the random nature of the accolade power. But your proposal doesn't really capture the "defeat all GMs" flavor I think Shaytanah was going for. Also a power like you describe is perhaps too powerful for defeating only a few of the possible GMs out there.

I think instead of creating a blueside version of this accolade based directly on defeating GMs A, B and/or C and a redside version based on defeating GMs X, Y and/or Z there should be just one new accolade badge created -after- Going Rogue comes out based on having the following badges:

Believer
Clockstopper
Devilfish
Knight Errant
Frozen Fury
Giant Killer
Hallow Spirit
Hammer Down
Heat Seeker
Hellbane
Iron Warrior
Keeper of Secrets
Master at Arms
Master of Olympus
Pumpkin King
Surging
The Solution
Unleasher


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I love this, and it really aims at what I was going for. I'd love to see the Devs adopt this!

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But one point worth mentioning is if the Devs created a category oriented badge based on getting "all" of something it'd make it hard to handle what happens if any new versions of that thing were added to the game. Sure we may never get another new GM added at this point, but if we did it'd be weird for it -not- to be part of such a hardwired GM-based accolade.

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Well, in that sense, I wonder what will happen when Going Rogue comes out? Will AVs in Praetoria could towards that badge? BUt I don't think we'll get many GMs added at this point. I agree that if we did it would be odd tho.

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Also Mateo_06 mentioned "fairness" with having a redside version of this accolade. But would it ever be fair when each side has different types and numbers of GMs to deal with. One side would always have an "easier" time getting this accolade than the other. This inequality between the sides and the existing accolades is already a sore point with many people.

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One of the reasons I don't play red side as much is the simple fact that badge hunting is less fun there. I've always thought CoV needs a badge overhaul--more history badges for one!

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Badges ideally should be based on specific unchanging requirements.
Letting a badge be vaguely based on defeating "all category X critters" could lead to problems later on.

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Here, I cite the Praetorian Archvills. I'm crawling through a bloody long FB mish today just to get Anti-Matter.

Who knows....I agree there are potential porblems with this kind of accolade but nothing too severe so long as red side gets fairly done as well. At least it'd get GM hunts going easily :-)