SingStar

This is why we need to be able to actually place objects at specific spawn points! Not just random "front" etc. Problem fixed!

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There are more than 4 who've used it for non-farming so far

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At the moment yeah, but their ranks grow thinner every day. By the time the devs have "fixed" MA, they will be about ...four... How do you "protect" the MA by constantly removing stuff? I've given up completely, not even considering making the arcs I had planned. No way I'll put in any time or effort into something that's gonna be broken within a day or two.

...especially since the search system is still rediculously basic. I can't believe they launched it, AND updated it without a proper search interface. It's not exactly rocket science, it's standard SQL queries (I guess?)! My high school kids learn that for cryin' out loud!
(Oh, well, it's Sweden... Guess they might be a few years behind over the pond)

I pretty much agree! Every time there's a problem, Sledgehammer, panic, total over reactions!

They could've removed the xp from RCO's, our green "eggs" etc. There was no need to actually remove them completely. ...and it's not like the problem was fixed. You can still get from lvl 1 to 21 in a single go, they've just nerfed the stories.

And PCninja, if their nuts where cracked they'd have no reason to do anything but PL/grind, would they?

Me too, it's prolly in GR, but I really thought it's in the game already, but not really used yet.

What can we expect from GR really? Let's take a trip down memory lane and "compare" it with CoV. Sure prices etc may differ, but I think it might be interesting anyway, or possibly raise the bar for the devs (yeah, right):

Zones:
CoV provided us with Mercy, P.O, Cap, Sharks, Nerva and Martial. Six zones. Grandville was added later.
GR will have several zones. I imagine we'll see the more popular CoX zones in a praetorian version. If it ambitious all might bere there, possibly except the themed hero ones. Really cool if Emperor Cole has found a way to "merge" the dimensions and we'd have to fight for one of the sides to win, sort of Recluse's Victory style. That's sort of unlikely since anyone not buying the expansion would... well.. Doubtful, but it would be cool.

Story Content:
With CoV we got completely new lvl 1-40 content with several new SFs new contacts etc, and the introduction of paper missions. (somre arcs where added later, but not much). Villains have since been obsessed with desire for new villain-only (esp high level) content, to no avail...
With GR we'll obviously have a decent amount of content, but will it compare to CoV? It seems we need arcs att all level ranges for us to be able to switch sides regularly, unless the side-switching is as easy as clicking a button. My guess is some sort of good/neutral/evil gage.

ATs and Powers:
With CoV we got several new ATs and while many powers where being reused we did see some serious new stuff, mostly the MM AT, but there where several new villain-only powersets. Since then several sets have been added, incuding new MM sets.
GR already promised dual guns and demon MMs. We've heard rumours of a new Spy AT. Seems a bit thin compared to CoV.

Game mechanics:
With CoV we also got 3 pvp zones (+arenas), that initially gave great xp when you did missions on them. RV was added later. With the zones we got some new badges, temp. powers etc.
CoV also gave us updated textures and some new, shiny graphics stuff. Heroes eventually benefitted from it as well, but CoV is still more GFX intense.
There where probably more than that in there that I don't remember. Anyone wanna refresh my memory?
So what will GR have? I for one expect some sort of renewed graphics. I16 promises new power customization, but GR itself will have to deliver something. We should expect some new shiny stuff as well, not just the possibility to change sides even if that's probably a lot of work to implement. (Badges, contacts, accolades, prevent villain from going to atlas unless he really has changed sides etc). With other games on the horizon it's likely they'll look into thoose while trying to be inventive themselves. I fully expect the "multiple choise-dialgoues" to finally make an appearance. Makes sense. ..and why is it only romans that speak (well, scream)? We're all the strong silent types that type? (SW:ToR sets a new standard apparently, with FULL voice-overs - that's something!!!) We've heard there might be unlockable power slots, bonuses for remaining true to your original path etc.

Future:
Since CoV was launched, we've seen some new powersets, lvl 41-50 added, Grandville, RV and power proliferation. Some new contacts and arcs where added, including the latest villain-side 5SF, but basically most of the added content was coop stuff and not villain exclusive. Made sense since most people apparently remained on the blue side, even if they eventually got access for free to the red side.
GR on the other hand might attract most of the player base even if they don't want to change sides. If that's so, adding new GR specific content may very well be a real choise. I most other games, once an expansion is out, the new "free" content usually resides in there while still giving some trinkets to the non-expanded community.

Lessons to be learned:
With villains, us redsiders learned that it was a one-shot expansion barely supported. Yes we eventually got our epics and some new sets and arcs, but any major additions are yet to be seen. It makes sense since most people stayed true to the blue side, but once the red side was opened up for everyone, very little still happened. Much of the expansion was good for the non-expanders as well. Bases etc eventually onened up for everyone. One might ask, why buy the expansion if you eventually get it for free and there's not gonna be much new in there in the future anyway. IMHO villains wasn't quite ready. although not power levelled a lot of us finished of the content quicky and got stuck, grinding at level 40.
GR might be supported more in the future, sinse I feel it's likely more people will buy it, it makes sense to make a new box or maybe even eventually make the "original" free or cheaper (like Anarchy). I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Some time ago, there was talk about multiple choise dialogue. Whatever happened to it?

I think Multiple choises in general would be a huge leap for CoX. Imagine this simple scenario:

You go into a mission to extract data. To do that, you need to kidnap a scientist, but you can choose which one to kidnap on the map. Different choise, different challenge. Once you kidnap victim is your's he/she may ask you if you want to go straight to the mainframe or if you want to turn off the alarm first.

For a single target dam dealer team, the alarm might be the best choise, face an EB turn off the alarm, get to the mainfram without being interrupted. For a team with good defense against minions and a lot of AoE, it might be better to face a horde of security "ambushes" by going straight to the mainframe.

Once done, you call your contact. He gives you a choise, act on the information directly, or first do a "side-mission" to boost you're likelyhood of succeeding (getting temp. power, causing a diversion to get an AV out of the main mission so you don't have to fight him, etc).

Of course you could do way more interesting things, but as an example I think the above is enough.

Just imagine the impact on TFs and SFs if this could be implemented, not to mention the MA.

Don't care!
...and will just be annoyed about other changes, since I'm sure the old engine can't handle it -> more lag.
The invasions will be top quality lag fests... Hooraaah!

It's still an old outdated engine, no matter what card you use...

Anyone can get defense powers... Few can get that many resist powers...

Yeah, keeping customers is as important as getting new ones. I think way too many companies worry about new customers instead of taking care of their customers. Mobile phones are a good example: Noone tries too keep you as customer, everyone wants you as new customer.

The best marketting you can get is happy, or at least content - customers. The referral programme was a great idea. Unfortunately all mu real world(tm) friends take a quick look at the game, then at the forum, and ask me if I'm insane for paying every month. I probably am...

Well, I didn't make it either - as I suspected - due to...summer! Pretty much expected, I can't keep appointments until about late august, too much real life(tm) goodies!

Well, have to go! X-rated stuff imminent!

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And don't give me any dribble about it being endemic to what they are, because the exact same reasoning can apply to green fireballs or pink ice

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Bad choice. Fire can burn pretty much any colour. Didn't you do flame tests for detecting metals in chemistry? And ice could refract any colour as well. Red dark powers does seem a bit odd, but the idea is to vary the roleplay aspect.

Now, Khelds do have a specific roleplay background...


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This is the in game reason.

The other reason is EATs are played by a smaller proportion of players, and have a greater number of powers to be altered.

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Not to mention that many of those powers would take more extreme work to customise.

And there's the BOTH reason: if you aren't playing a kheldian 'as designed' then you aren't playing a kheldian. You should, therefore, not be doing the kheldian arcs, but those are hard-wired into the kheldian ATs.

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Ok, here's a tip! IT'S A GAME!
..and if you can live with everything else in the game that makes very little sense... Schesus!

Sorry for the no-show yday! Had no way of getting to a computer to inform ya.
Should point out, it's quite likely I'm not showing up today either.
....summer...

Don't be silly... Of COURSE we'll get the standard cot demons and the malta gunslinger powers.

No 1 rule: Anything that can be recycled shall be recycled!

That said, I still hope for something very different with the pistols, and actual four(+)-legged new demon creatures.

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I do agree, occational useless PuGs are a great way of rekindling your love for the game!
...It's the ONE unexpected surprise you still get out of the game. Seeing that domintar/defender run into a big mob with an AV, or pulling them all to the team when half the team is AFK, laughing out loud when someone TP's to ouroboros when on ITF last mission, watching an almost team whipe, but a brute with vengeance stays up wokring for 30 minutes while the rest of the team just rest on the floor doing nothing not even thinking of going to hosp. It's top quality entertainment!

I once had to fight Rommie dark solo on my healer because 7 (hero) corpses where doing abso-diddely-nothing for 30 minutes! Defining in-game moment!

If khelds in different colours doesn't make sense, how do you defend a MA/stone brute's ability to jump kick and back flip while stil unable to pass over even a minute little obstacle?

Well, at least I can finally have an evil Nictus once GR comes. Annoyed I'll have to pay for that, but I'd still pay for the questionable content anyway.

Yup, better get a karma: knockback asap!
But I think he has right in one thing: You're not knocked BACK, just knocked "DOWN". Might be wrong!

It gives the bonus for all your powers, and I'm surprised it still possible to use more than one, unlike Numinas and the other special ones. Happy, but surprised. Like all bonuses, you can have a max amount of five of the same type. ...and it does show up on the bonus list doesn't it?

f.x. you can only have +12% regen on five sets, if you have a 6th that gives +10% that doesn't count.

..but just in case: Have you checked your "real" numbers - or haven't you dared to slot a 6th? Nothing is true until tested and re-tested!

Well, I can honestly say I don't find repeated lag hill assaults any fun anymore. ..as for drop rates, not only my gut feeling, but it's rather hard to present actual numbers. A lot of people have started the no-xp feature at pre-50 nowadays because they have the same "gut feeling".

...would be nice to have it confirmed, and fixed!

I mostly play it for the total 8 man team mayhem/slaughter. I rencently was invited to try a mission in the MA with densely packed mobs that also caused ambushes. Going through the purple insps as they dropped, having a hard time surviving the onslaught, I finally couldn't stop myself from dropping off the chair in convulsions. I was laughing so hard my stomach hasn't recovered yet. It's that sort of things + the people I play with f'coz, that makes me stick around.

....oh, yeah, we all crashed btw!