Ultimo_

I can't say I'm disappointed, or suprised. City of Heroes certainly had its day, but it was really showing its age. It's just time.

The graphics are almost laughably bad compared to newer tech, and the gameplay is pretty dull compared to some newer games too.

Now, the Architect system still stands as one of the best UGC systems I've seen, and of course, character customizability remains awesome, but in most other areas, the game just falls short of expectations in today's market.

I have (mostly) enjoyed my time in Paragon, but I can't say I'm going to miss it all that much.

Imagine my suprise to be in agreement with Bill. Alas, I've been saying this for a few years now. It's a shame, and I think it's the beginning of the end of gaming as we know it. I suppose we'll see.

And I used the Big Mac analogy as a bit of a joke to make a point. I think the point got across, so the analogy accomplished it's purpose.

So, I went into McDonalds today and ordered a Big Mac. They said I couldn't have one, there weren't any left. I looked behind the cashier, and saw several on the shelf. "There's some right there," I said. The cashier shook his head and said, "Oh, no. That one is reserved for a customer that came in yesterday. He might be back today for one, so we're holding it for him. That one there is for a customer we had last month, and this one is reserved for a customer we had two years ago."

Now, if this happened to you, would you settle for a Quarter Pounder, or just leave and go somewhere else?

It's not always a matter of creation either. I have all my Marvel homage characters on one server. However, before I started that, I had previously made a Mastermind based on Dr. Doom on another server (Triumph). I went to move him to the server with the other characters, but found I couldn't because his name wasn't available.

Now, I suppose I could rename him, but he's been Lord Dire for many years now, and it would be frustrating to have to do that, especially if the reason I can't is because someone made a character with that name then left the game 5 years ago. As it is, I haven't been able to bring myself to make the move because of the naming issue, and as a result, the character hasn't been played in over a year.

Now that's my particular situation, but suppose someone is on a dead server (Triumph comes pretty close, in my experience, but whatever) or has some other reason to change. They might find themselves unable to do so in a manner satisfactory to them.

(Woo, 100th post in the thread!)

My two cents.

Paying customers have to take priority over non-paying or prospective customers. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. This is a basic principle of ANY business.

I'd like to see characters on accounts that have been inactive for lengthy periods have their names unreserved. The precise timeframe involved would need to be determined, but let the paying customers have access. That would mean that as long as the account is paid for, the names will remain reserved. Once it's been inactive for a period of time, the names are unreserved.

I know the argument has been made that there are times when people have no choice but to take lengthy breaks, such as when military service occurs. In this case, the individual would merely have to ensure his account was paid for before departing. Perhaps NCSoft could add a new level of account status: paid, but unplayable (say, $5 a month), which would keep the account active but not cost as much.

Knockback is often reviled, but many of us really like it. As I say, it's something that's pretty definitive of superhuman strength, so I don't think it should be removed completely. I refer you back to the suggestion I made earlier.

That is, change all knockback in the game into knockdown. Then allow any knockdown to become knockback by adding a knockback enhancement. Finally, make knockback do a bit of damage; more knockback = more damage.

This would allow people who don't like knockback to slot damage enhancers (retaining knockdown) while those that DO like knockback can have it. Giving knockback a damage component would ensure that these people are not severely disadvantaged by needing to slot knockback enhancers rather than damage enhancers.

As an update, it's been happening to my Scrapper (already a Hero) as well. 16 radio missions later, not a single tip.

well, since we're wishing into the wind, here's mine.

First, I'd change the way knockback works. ALL Knockback in the game would be changed to knockDOWN. Slotting even one Knockback enhancer in the power would make it knockBACK. More enhancers would mean more knockback. Additionally, Knockback would do damage (it should hurt being dropped on your head after flying 30 feet). Again, more knockback would do more damage.

Second, the set should have SLOW, EXTREMELY DAMAGING attacks that use low endurance. This is at the base level before "Rage." The idea here is the unmodified attack is refelctive of the character holding back. You can rationalize it as a subconscious or a deliberate self-control. "Rage" would be renamed and would become a toggle. It would increase damage, but also greatly increase endurance use, and possibly slow attacks even further. I don't know, balancing would be needed.

Third, Super Strength is defined, not by just hitting things, but by other feats - by lifting, holding, carrying and by collateral damage. I'm sure you've all seen this, but if not watch it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2BvSqqmidM
THIS is how Super Strength works in comics. Observe the titanic knockback. Massive environmental damage, dust and smoke. Lifting heavy objects to clobber each other with. Thus in my perfect world, the set would incorporate these things. There would be fewer attacks based on punching things, and more that make use of hitting things with objects (it would probably have to be chunks of ground in each case since we can't interact with the environment). I once posted a thread that included a new list of powers but it seems to have been purged when they changed the forums. I'll see if I can find it again.

I recognize and sympathize with the urge to lament the performance of the set, and specific powers in the set, but that's not really the point of the thread. On the other hand, I did just name it "Super Strength," so I suppose anything is fair game.

For my part, I think the set is pretty decent. It performs well, and the Rage crash has never really bothered me. I don't anticipate them making any major changes to the set, though. It's my understanding they said flat out they wouldn't make any more major changes to any sets. That's why I thought to suggest adjustments that are not major. Switching the order of two powers would not alter the power of the set, and adding some cosmetic effects might make it seem more powerful without actually altering performance.

I've spent two days, roughly 8 hours total, grinding bad guys in IP and Talos trying to get tips to convert my Stalker to a Hero, but I haven't had even ONE. Is there something I'm not doing? Is there something I'm missing?

I'm not seeing a cogent argument against this idea. Obviously some people like it the way it is, but this change wouldn't be that significant, so why would you oppose it?

Many people don't take Hand Clap, so I don't expect it would be missed if it was delayed til later, especially if doing so would mean it could get a damage component.

They have unique heroes appearing as ambushes... I wonder if that would work...

Is there a way to get NPC heroes into patrols?

I made a mission, and I want to have NPC heroes wandering around engaging the enemy as they encounter them.

I tried putting them all in a single group and making a patrol that chooses from that group. However, this usually results in multiple iterations of the same NPC character (when they're supposed to be unique). Further, they all stick together.

I tried making them allies to rescue with no guards, but then they won't wander unless the PC first frees them, then stays close to them.

I'm kind of at a loss at this point.