Weatherby Goode

oh boy, now I know why you wanted the SG to download Splasher :P

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Hurrah, Castle sounds happy!

Let's try not to change that.

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Happy Castle?

I smell DOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

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*Hides his Force Feedback and Achilles' Heel procs*

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Add Manticore to that list too.

Lighthouse and Ex Libris are design support?

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Do you think you could get them to *not* say something while looking over the shoulders of their coworkers?

Manti's not in the NC building, is he though? I was under the impression he was still in Austin?

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That's correct.

Edit: and until NC bought Co* Manti had nothing to do with the game. He' only recently come back because everyone works for the same company (NC Soft) now.

Here is a quick avatar that represents one of the many duties of the Mod.

Noooooooo, they've retaliated.

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How about this one

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my eyes! my eyes!

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Aha! We've got one!

Strap him down, boys! He needs an avatar!

Check out the SuperMod's avatar.

I would stress the importance of freaky hair. She looks a too calm to be freak.

Also: my freak

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@Bystander: Apocrypha PM'ed me with that pic from the comics, before I even put this contest together. So I felt the need to add him to the list and the picture is awesome.

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Ahem.

And Gratz to the winners! There were some excellent entries!

I've updated and organized the list again. If anyone has links to threads that discuss any of these issues in a constructive manner, please post them so Ex can mark them not to purge.

Updated
Civilized List of Villain Issues, 6th Draft

Priority Issues
<ul type="square">[*]Patron Pools: Functionally and aesthetically they are vastly inferior to Hero APPs. (Suggestion: Add APPs for villains, ie you do your patron arc and get their pool (which you are locked into as usual) BUT you also get access to other APPs similar to the Heroes. Rebalance the APPs in general. Alternately, Make Patrons respec-able and add in pools for the Signature Lackeys)
[*]Stalker Teaming Issues: Stalkers need a buff to PvE team survivability and usefulness. (See stalker forums for some good suggestions)
[*]Strike Force Gap: Villains are lacking SFs in the 10-15, 30-35, and 40-45 level ranges. Also, the Silver Mantis SF should be made accessible to those without VGs or those in small VGs.
[*]Villain Accolade Requirements: Remove/Replace all PvP badge requirements. Damage and Debt badge requirements in particular are set too high. Hero-Slayer requires 100 signature heroes, while the equivalent badge heroeside (Villain Disruptor) requires only 25. A re-evaluation of villain badge requirements would be nice (This also applies heroside for things like Illusionist)
[*]Enemy Variety: Why do the Legacy Chain and Wyvern drop off the radar at level 25? Longbow is already too prevalent, lets change it up. Same goes for Arachnos. Also, Warden bosses don't get demoted to lieutenant when solo.
[*]The Black Market: Detailed thread can be found in the market forum about this. Long story short, it's broke and needs fixing[/list]
Quality of Life Issues
<ul type="square">[*]Lord Recluse Strike Force: Generally accepted that it needs reworking to be more friendly to a wider team variety. (Suggestion: Space the Freedom Phalanx further apart, so that pulling is easier. However, have the entire Phalanx aggro if Statesman is aggroed.)
[*]First Respec Trial: Many teams at the lower level requirement are not equipped to handle the number of vines and the ambushes. (Suggestion: Lower the number of vines and remove the ambushes)
[*]Grandville Elevators are not marked on the map
[*]Black Helicopters: Many Black Helicopters are parked right next to the ferries. They should be parked at the opposite ends of zones for ease of use (ie Near Thorn Isle)
[*]Mayhem Missions: Mayhem missions are far harder than Safeguards, although they are arguably more interesting as well. Reducing the size of the ambushes would go a long way towards making Mayhems more team friendly.
[*]Costume Pieces: Some way to unlock the Witch Hat and Task Force Commander costume pieces would be nice.[/list]
Major Bugs and Performance Issues
<ul type="square">[*]General Zone Performance: Get rid of the extra geometry in the zones! Grandville is particularly bad, but PO and Sharkhead have issues as well.
[*]Mastermind Pet AI: "Dumb as a post" is a good way to describe them, especially the melee pets. Attack cycling and range/melee behavior are the major complaints here.[/list]
Thematic and Content Issues
<ul type="square">[*]Theme and Atmosphere: Most of CoV is dark and gritty. While this is a nice change of pace from CoH it gets monotonous after 40+ levels. (Suggestion: Revamp some zones, or parts of zones, to get a different feel. If St. Martial is supposed to be a prosperous and popular tourist destination, it should look the part.)
[*]Mercy and Port Oakes: These zones represent about 1/3 of the zones in CoV, yet the average character spends very little time in them. (Suggestion: Expand the zones with some high level content (a la Seer Marino). This serves to provide alternate leveling routes for villains and ,if organized correctly, could turn create a more universal meeting place that CoV lacks)
[*]Secret Contacts: Many players are completely oblivious to these gems (Doc Buzzsaw or Veridian anyone?). (Suggestion: Have the contacts send a message via the newspaper when you unlock them. Also, extend their level ranges to provide more leeway for getting the badges. Remember, promoting the unlockable contacts is almost as good as adding new content.)
[*]Lack of Trials: Villains only have the three respec trials, heroes have the three respec trials plus the Hollows, Eden, and Sewer trials.
[*]Contacts: Most contacts treat the player as a mercenary. Some variety in the types of evil a character can partake in would be nice. (Suggestion: Contacts that are intimidated or coerced into working with the villain. Also more branching story arcs that allow the villain to choose how to react to a situation. More player directed evil is a good thing)[/list]

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Woodsman’s Task Force (the “Eden Trial”) and the Maren MacGregor Task Force (aka the “Sewer Trial”) now have choice tables upon completion. Choice can be a Task Force recipe (i.e. a recipe from the Task Force pool), or the Multi-aspect Enhancement reward that these missions have normally given. Choosing the recipe counts as your “once every three hours” Task Force recipe reward for that character.

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Part of the patch notes from 5/24/2007, and I know from personal experience that the eden trial has dropped me TF only recipes in the past(a Lotg +5% and a Numina Unique to be exact) I haven't done the Cavern of Transendance since before inventions came out so I don't know wether or not it is actully dropping trial or TF drops.

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I believe that the non-respec trials were changed to pool C specifically because the villains have no equivalent to them. Still, that doesn't change the fact that villains still lag behind in large scale group activities for lower levels.

I've updated the list again. If anyone has links to threads that discuss any of these issues in a constructive manner, please post them so Ex can mark them not to purge.

Updated
Civilized List of Villain Issues, 5th Draft

<ul type="square">[*]Patron Pools: Functionally and aesthetically they are vastly inferior to Hero APPs. (Suggestion: Add APPs for villains, ie you do your patron arc and get their pool (which you are locked into as usual) BUT you also get access to other APPs similar to the Heroes. Rebalance the APPs in general. Alternately, Make Patrons respecable and add in pools for the Signature Lackeys)
[*]Stalker Teaming Issues: Stalkers need a buff to PvE team survivability and usefulness. (See stalker forums for some good suggestions)
[*]Strike Force Gap: Villains are lacking SFs in the 10-15, 30-35, and 40-45 level ranges. Also, the Silver Mantis SF should be made accessible to those without VGs or those in small VGs.
[*]Lord Recluse Strike Force: Generally accepted that it needs reworking to be more friendly to a wider team variety. (Suggestion: Space the Freedom Phalanx further apart, so that pulling is easier. However, have the entire Phalanx aggro if Statesman is aggroed.)
[*]Lack of Trials: Villains only have the three respec trials, heroes have the three respec trials plus the Hollows, Eden, and Sewer trials.
[*]First Respec Trial: Many teams at the lower level requirement are not equipped to handle the number of vines and the ambushes. (Suggestion: Lower the number of vines and remove the ambushes)
[*]Mercy and Port Oakes: These zones represent about 1/3 of the zones in CoV, yet the average character spends very little time in them. (Suggestion: Expand the zones with some high level content (a la Seer Marino). Possibly the rebuilding of Mercy and the construction on the Rocket in PO. This serves to provide alternate leveling routes for villains and if organized correctly could turn create a more universal meeting place that CoV lacks)
[*]General Zone Performance: Get rid of the extra geometry in the zones! Grandville is particularly bad, but PO and Sharkhead have issues as well.
[*]Grandville Elevators are not marked on the map
[*]Secret Contacts: Many players are completely oblivious to these gems (Doc Buzzsaw or Veridian anyone?). (Suggestion: Have the contacts send a message via the newspaper when you unlock them. Also, extend their level ranges to provide more leeway for getting the badges. Remember, promoting the unlockable contacts is almost as good as adding new content.)
[*]Villain Accolade Requirements: Remove/Replace all PvP badge requirements. Damage and Debt badge requirements in particular are set too high. Hero-Slayer requires 100 signature heroes, while the equivalent badge heroeside (Villain Disruptor) requires only 25. A re-evaluation of villain badge requirements would be nice (This also applies heroside for things like Illusionist)
[*]Black Helicopters: Many Black Helicopters are parked right next to the ferries. They should be parked at the opposite ends of zones for ease of use (ie Near Thorn Isle)
[*]Enemy Variety: Why do the Legacy Chain and Wyvern drop off the radar at level 25? Longbow is already too prevalent, lets change it up. Same goes for Arachnos. Also, Warden bosses don't get demoted to lieutenant when solo.
[*]Contacts: Most contacts treat the player as a mercenary. Some variety in the types of evil a character can partake in would be nice. (Suggestion: Contacts that are intimidated or coerced into working with the villain. Also more branching story arcs that allow the villain to choose how to react to a situation. More player directed evil is a good thing)
[*]The Black Market: Detailed thread can be found in the market forum about this. Long story short, it's broke and needs fixing
[*]Theme and Atmosphere: Most of CoV is dark and gritty. While this is a nice change of pace from CoH it gets monotonous after 40+ levels. (Suggestion: Revamp some zones, or parts of zones, to get a different feel. St. Martial is supposed to be a popular tourist destination, perhaps a lighter tone in the casino district and less rubble throughout the zone would lighten things up.)
[*]Mayhem Missions: Mayhem missions are far harder than Safeguards, although they are arguably more interesting as well. Reducing the size of the ambushes would go a long way towards making Mayhems more team friendly.[/list]

Updated
Civilized List Villain Issues, 4th Draft

<ul type="square">[*]Patron Pools: Functionally and aesthetically they are vastly inferior to Hero APPs. (Suggestion: Add APPs for villains, ie you do your patron arc and get their pool (which you are locked into as usual) BUT you also get access to other APPs similar to the Heroes.)
[*]Stalker Teaming Issues: Stalkers need a buff to PvE team survivability and usefulness. (See stalker forums for some good suggestions)
[*]Strike Force Gap: Villains are lacking SFs in the 10-15, 30-35, and 40-45 level ranges. Also, the Silver Mantis SF should be made accessible to those without VGs or those in small VGs.
[*]Lack of Trials: Villains only have the three respec trials, heroes have the three respec trials plus the Eden and Sewer trials.
[*]Lord Recluse Strike Force: Generally accepted that it needs reworking to be more friendly to a wider team variety.
[*]Mercy and Port Oakes: These zones represent about 1/3 of the zones in CoV, yet the average character spends very little time in them. (Suggestion: Expand the zones with some high level content. Possibly a push to rebuild Mercy and the Rocket in PO. This serves to provide alternate leveling routes for villains and if organized correctly could turn create a more universall meeting place that CoV lacks)
[*]General Zone Performance: Get rid of the extra geometry in the zones! Grandville is particularly bad, but PO and Sharkhead have issues as well.
[*]Secret Contacts: Many players are completely oblivious to these gems (Doc Buzzsaw or Veridian anyone?). (Suggestion: Have the contacts send a message via the newspaper when you unlock them. Also, extend their level ranges to provide more leeway for getting the badges)
[*]Black Helicopters: Many Black Helicopters are parked right next to the ferries. They should be parked at the opposite ends of zones for ease of use (ie Near Thorn Isle)
[*]Grandville Elevators are not marked on the map
[*]Enemy Variety: Why do the Legacy Chain and Wyvern drop off the radar at level 25? Longbow is already too prevalent, lets change it up. Same goes for Arachnos.
[*]Contacts: Many contacts treat the player as a mercenary. Some variety in the types of evil a character can partake in would be nice. (Suggestion: Contacts that are intimidated or coerced into working with the villain. Also more branching story arcs that allow the villain to choose how to react to a situation.)
[*]Villain Accolade Requirements: Remove/Replace all PvP badge requirements. Damage and Debt badge requirements in particular are set too high. Hero-Slayer requires 100 signature heroes, while the equivalent badge heroeside (Villain Disruptor) requires only 25. A re-evaluation of villain badge requirements would be nice (This also applies heroside for things like Illusionist)
[*]The Black Market: Detailed thread can be found in the market forum about this. Long story short, it's broke and needs fixing.
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Awww, thanks Ex. I feel special now!

Branching, choose-your-own-adventure style story arcs have been suggested many times. If even a few of these are made, it would alleviate most of the complaints about plot railroading.

Hello villains! Inspired by this thread I've made a preliminary list of things that we think are needed villainside. Lets keep things calm and make a list for the Devs.

Updated
Civilized List of Villain Issues, 6th Draft

Priority Issues
<ul type="square">[*]Patron Pools: Functionally and aesthetically they are vastly inferior to Hero APPs. (Suggestion: Add APPs for villains, ie you do your patron arc and get their pool (which you are locked into as usual) BUT you also get access to other APPs similar to the Heroes. Rebalance the APPs in general. Alternately, Make Patrons respec-able and add in pools for the Signature Lackeys)
[*]Stalker Teaming Issues: Stalkers need a buff to PvE team survivability and usefulness. (See stalker forums for some good suggestions)
[*]Strike Force Gap: Villains are lacking SFs in the 10-15, 30-35, and 40-45 level ranges. Also, the Silver Mantis SF should be made accessible to those without VGs or those in small VGs.
[*]Villain Accolade Requirements: Remove/Replace all PvP badge requirements. Damage and Debt badge requirements in particular are set too high. Hero-Slayer requires 100 signature heroes, while the equivalent badge heroeside (Villain Disruptor) requires only 25. A re-evaluation of villain badge requirements would be nice (This also applies heroside for things like Illusionist)
[*]Enemy Variety: Why do the Legacy Chain and Wyvern drop off the radar at level 25? Longbow is already too prevalent, lets change it up. Same goes for Arachnos. Also, Warden bosses don't get demoted to lieutenant when solo.
[*]The Black Market: Detailed thread can be found in the market forum about this. Long story short, it's broke and needs fixing[/list]
Quality of Life Issues
<ul type="square">[*]Lord Recluse Strike Force: Generally accepted that it needs reworking to be more friendly to a wider team variety. (Suggestion: Space the Freedom Phalanx further apart, so that pulling is easier. However, have the entire Phalanx aggro if Statesman is aggroed.)
[*]First Respec Trial: Many teams at the lower level requirement are not equipped to handle the number of vines and the ambushes. (Suggestion: Lower the number of vines and remove the ambushes)
[*]Grandville Elevators are not marked on the map
[*]Black Helicopters: Many Black Helicopters are parked right next to the ferries. They should be parked at the opposite ends of zones for ease of use (ie Near Thorn Isle)
[*]Mayhem Missions: Mayhem missions are far harder than Safeguards, although they are arguably more interesting as well. Reducing the size of the ambushes would go a long way towards making Mayhems more team friendly.
[*]Costume Pieces: Some way to unlock the Witch Hat and Task Force Commander costume pieces would be nice.[/list]
Major Bugs and Performance Issues
<ul type="square">[*]General Zone Performance: Get rid of the extra geometry in the zones! Grandville is particularly bad, but PO and Sharkhead have issues as well.
[*]Mastermind Pet AI: "Dumb as a post" is a good way to describe them, especially the melee pets. Attack cycling and range/melee behavior are the major complaints here.[/list]
Thematic and Content Issues
<ul type="square">[*]Theme and Atmosphere: Most of CoV is dark and gritty. While this is a nice change of pace from CoH it gets monotonous after 40+ levels. (Suggestion: Revamp some zones, or parts of zones, to get a different feel. If St. Martial is supposed to be a prosperous and popular tourist destination, it should look the part.)
[*]Mercy and Port Oakes: These zones represent about 1/3 of the zones in CoV, yet the average character spends very little time in them. (Suggestion: Expand the zones with some high level content (a la Seer Marino). This serves to provide alternate leveling routes for villains and ,if organized correctly, could turn create a more universal meeting place that CoV lacks)
[*]Secret Contacts: Many players are completely oblivious to these gems (Doc Buzzsaw or Veridian anyone?). (Suggestion: Have the contacts send a message via the newspaper when you unlock them. Also, extend their level ranges to provide more leeway for getting the badges. Remember, promoting the unlockable contacts is almost as good as adding new content.)
[*]Lack of Trials: Villains only have the three respec trials, heroes have the three respec trials plus the Hollows, Eden, and Sewer trials.
[*]Contacts: Most contacts treat the player as a mercenary. Some variety in the types of evil a character can partake in would be nice. (Suggestion: Contacts that are intimidated or coerced into working with the villain. Also more branching story arcs that allow the villain to choose how to react to a situation. More player directed evil is a good thing)[/list]
What does everyone think? Any other issues to add? Anything that I put on the list that doesn't belong?

Updated list, if you have links in reference to other threads please link up so I can ensure those threads are marked to save. Also my assistance in this thread does not guarantee that these changes will be implemented.

Legacy Chain

Coralax in the Hollows!?
Do we have badges to go with that?

All in all, very nice. It looks like this will make the Hollows a much nicer place to be.

HA! That's great!

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You people are such predictable softies =P

If B.S. has any cajones, he'll man up to his mistakes on a daily basis by using this avatar:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...ele/BSIcon.jpg

^_^

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LOL, thats perfect.

Those are cool, just 36 months to go!

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This is the first thread I've EVER read from page 1-20. Holy moly I don't know how you forumites do it AND keep a sense of humour.

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We're psychotic.

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Thats an understatement.

*runs off to giggle madly in the corner*

The underwater room is also in Grandeville

Cool thread though, I didn't know half of this stuff existed.

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*snip*
-TMS who is, I guess... apocrypha.

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You rang?