opprime28

Actually, only the 1st power is in any way similar to anything from the Leadership pool, and even then it's solo, not team oriented.

Think of it like Batman or the Question or Rorscach. Each of them is good at what they do because they are keenly aware of their enemies and able to deduce their enemies weaknesses, strengths, motives, and methods. This gives them the advantage by allowing them to stay "one step ahead" even when they're behind. Do they sometimes use this to help the team? Sure. But being primarily solo movers, like most detectives, they aren't focused on helping friends so much as get the job done. Shaking down bad guys for information and knowing the details of a location before you enter it (the tier 1 powers) are crucial aspects of most comics detectives. Likewise, being skilled fighters who can identify and use an enemy's weaknesses agianst him is a core aspect (the tier 2 power) and finally, knowing how to get out of a situation when they may be overwhelmed, often by fooling the bad guys, is another key aspect. None of those except the defense bonus are really related back to the leadership pool, EXCEPT maybe the +damage, but that really doesn't fit what's being described here. Likewise, you're still ignoring the ability to find "hidden" objectives and also get yourself out of the really bad situations.

Actually not only does weave offer significantly higher defense (it runs between 3.5 for the LOWEST archetype up to 5% for the highest) it also offers heavy resistance to immobilize (48%-73%.) So in essence this is offering a lower defense to all but AoE, with only an equal defense for AoE, and no immob resistance. The 3.5%-5% defense suggestion was meant as the median defense buff, running higher or lower depending on archetype.

Manuevers offers anything from 2.28% on its lowest archetypes to 3.5 at its highest archetypes, but buffs an entire team as opposed to single target. Hover offers between 1.8% and 2.5 defense but also offers the unlimited vertical movement, which is no small benefit (think sniping, travel, combat, etc.)
Combat Jumping offers the same as hover, only it also adds in a mag 8 immob protection and a 200% increase to jump height and an increase to jumping speed. Again, in no way a small matter when it comes to combat.

So in essence you're trading benefits to vertical movement and speed in combat for an additional 1-1.5% defense, or trading 2.28% defense for the entire team for 1.5% defense for yourself.

That being said, I originally had it set at 3% and then 4.5% but felt, after comparing those percentages to the powers above, it wasn't enough.

Sure...




You just said you haven't even played very many arcs, and the ones you HAVE played are the ones that were "rated" by the very people you seem to suggest have destroyed the AE.


Here, I'll repost it for you since you couldn't scroll up to find it.

And for the record, you not only responded to it, you quoted from that post in your response, which immediatly follows the post. As you can see, I was saying I'd like the contacts serve the purpose of truly driving the ongoing storyline, since you have more time and scope, just like in monthly issue comics. I'd like TFs to function in the same way special issues do, generating a new excitement and fresh new feel. This is no differen than when YOU said you'd like them to mirror Manga/anime-style storytelling. You can't put "episodes" into a game either, but I was intelligent enough to understand the comparison you were making. I assumed you were with mine, as well.

Yeah. So tell me which part of what I wrote was wrong? You don't run many TFs? Check.
You have a hard time following TF storylines when they're run? Check. You'd prefer TFs not have crucial lore? Check. You still want them to be about established groups? Check.

You know, you could always form the TFs yourself, as the leader. That way you control the reading. Just a thought.


I'm not sure why you're having trouble reading, but clearly you are since I've only suggested one thing, and gone on to explain how that one thing could address the issue in a way that SHOULDN'T harm your...unique...gaming style.

To that, I would agree, except for the times you seem to contradict yourself in your repetitions. Most of those you've gone on to explain satifactorily, though.




I don't really mind that you don't want it, but your dismissive attitude to the OP, describing his idea and mine as "wastes of time" and "filler" and touting your own concepts as superior. It just screams more "arrogant" than actual, well thought responses to a suggested concept. I have both undergrad and graduate degrees in writing, so it's not like I don't appreciate a good story. Trust me on that. But I don't think that's "all" there is to this game, and if it -is- I would disagree with your tastes in a good story, because there are much better game-centered storylines out there. Not slamming this game, just saying if that's your number 1 and only concern, you may want to try some other venues. If it -isn't- then you have to recognize other people have other desires and concerns besides epic storylines as well, and respect that.

For me, I'd much rather have both simpler, fun content coming out AND complex, more jaw-dropping content. I was thrilled when the new contacts came out with the doppleganger missions, because even though they were short and quick, they were fresh and new. I'd love to see some things like that coming out every issue, even if it meant that the storylines weren't ties directly to existing canon. It looks like the OP and I aren't alone either. We get it, you aren't interested. Cool.



Actually, we had exactly the sort of system you're supposedly looking for. Existing game concepts, characters, and storylines were woven together with a new addition, in an ongoing story that was "deep" enough to last for 35 levels and still have several unforseen twists and turns, all that fell in line with in game lore and backgrounds (specifically, the Destined Ones of Arachnos, the Mu/Circle backstory, the Cimerorans, The Legacy Chain, The Midnighters, Longbow, Manticore and Sister Psyche, and the 5 differing power origins.) Not sure how "puppet show" applies to this anymore than to what -you're- doing, but meh.

I'm fine with what you not being interested in the OPs suggestion. My main beef is how you keep claiming some sort of inferiority of the concept to the current TFs, when it's simply a matter of taste. Just as you find "filler" boring, I find most of the game's factions, many of whom are simply rip-offs of existing comics factions, to have been explored thoroughly enough. I'd like to see some new, fresh, yet still well written threats emerge. I'd also like to have both well thought out arcs that require time to run and offer enough story to spark thought created AND things that are simpler, but still fun, unique, and offered more often. I don't think it needs to be either/or, as I said before.

And, as I said about 5 posts ago, it's simply a difference of opinion. We don't need to sit here and argue with each other personally. We've both stated what we'd like to see more of, less of, etc. I think the OPs original idea has merrit. You don't. We both have our reasons, based largely on our own personal interests and play styles.

Um...that's neat, but it's opinion. And opinion that really could be easily proven misinformed if not flatly wrong. THOUSANDS of arcs have been published since AE launched, and most of them aren't farms.

And you DO realize most people "farm" the ITF, LGTF, etc, all of which are part of your praised ongoing, in game storyline, right? Hell, I run the thing probably 5 times a week. Does that suddenly unconvince you that ongoing storylines and content is a waste of time?

I'm sorry, but that's not addressing what was suggested above.

Oh, also...wasn't the latest TF released the 5th column TFs? Didnt those enemies already exist? Did that somehow make it a "lesser" TF?


If you don't see the immense ways that some of the popular AE arcs influenced Going Rogue, then we need to team up in the AE sometime. That being said, I think you -missed- the point. I wasn't saying making TFs was easy, I said it didn't -have- to be a massive draw on resources. Mini-tfs or new dev-made AE TFs would satisfy many, many people if they knew that they were coming out in a semi-regular basis, and still allow the "real" content of things like true TFs and Going Rogue, etc. to occur. I'm about as avid and experienced a player as this game has, and even -I- get really bored and tired running the same contacts, missions, and TFs, waiting for a new issue so (usually) -1- new tf or contact, etc. comes out. It may be an AWESOME 1, but it's -1- and soon becomes just another thing that gets kinda old. I'd rather see a -small- amount of resources going toward constant -little- things to keep me occupied while I wait for the nice big stuff that DOES move the ongoing storyline along and makes me say "wow." Mini-tfs or AE TFs would be an easy way to do that.

See, I don't see it as an "either/or" like you seem to. Even with limited resources, you can devote a small amount to doing small things. As I pointed out, if a creative person can churn out a decent, well written, suprising and fun arc in the AE in a couple of days, a single decent developer could do so as well. Meaning coming up with 3-4 a year would be a MINOR use of resources. Now get rid of the AE aspect and add in some unique maps and artwork, and you STILL have a relatively minor resource investment for the return you'd get in ongoing player satisfaction at "never" running out of new things to try.

Just my opinion, but I would like to see both implemented.

That might be the idea, and I'm not saying it's a bad one, but Im just not seeing the usefulness of a mag 2 PBAoE fear on a power that has as long a recharge as Conserve Power (600s) and lasts 90 seconds. I mean, most mag2 powers have a very short duration, and most bosses (and luits if you're fighting anything above you) would remain unaffected. So every 10 minutes you'd be able to briefly fear any minions in melee range of you for a few seconds. It seems almost pointless as a secondary effect. To me, I'd much rather see it give either a minor +recharge or a +tohit alongside the end reduction. Both fit equally well, conceptually.

I do have SOME concern over your numbers for Battle Meditation, as well. All blaster secondaries except Devices get a +100% damge, +15% Build Up power which lasts for 10 seconds. This has NO negative effects except that it costs 5.2 end to activate. Devices, the one deviation, gets a toggle that offers a permanent 14% Tohit buff and a massive perception increase instead of the damage buff, with no negative effects except a heavy end cost. Your power, which I -love- conceptually by the way, offers the following:

1. Increase your +ToHit (+10%), +DMG (+50%) at the expense of -RES (-20%), -DEF (-10%),
2. Increase your +RES (+10%), +DEF (+10%) at the expense of your -ToHit (-10%), -DMG (-25%)
3. Increase your +Recovery (+50%) at the expense of your -Regen (-50%),
4. Increase your Regen (+50%) at the expense of your recovery (-50%)

In essence, not only would you be expending the endurance of a toggle like Targetting Drone, but you're being gimped in some pretty massive ways for LESS of a damage or accuracy buff than any other blaster secondary set. Sure, you can also boost your defense, etc, but like Build up in other secondaries, In Energy Manipulation, powerboost can increase your defense or resistance based powers MORE than the buff you're getting from Battle Meditation, and without the massive -tohit and -dmg components. Drain Psyche can boost your regen -and- recovery more, etc.

I think the concept is fine, but I think the numbers here are off. The "penalty" is too high for the benefit. You could reduce the penalties to half what they currently are and still avoid what I think you fear: being overpowered. Most blasters would NEVER walk around willing to permanently deal 15% less damage than normal (as opposed to your 25%) just so that they have higher defense and resistance, since they're primarily damage dealers. Most I'm -sure- wouldn't go long term with a 10% defense, resistance, or 50% recovery rate decrease just to get a smaller damage boost than is offered by Build Up. I'd say cut the "penalty" aspects way down, to half what they are now, or I don't know if this power is really "workable" (the same argument people make about targetting drone, even now that it's been buffed.)

If you want to keep the numbers as is, however, what I think would work BEST with this power for playability is to swap it from a toggle to a click, giving it a longer recharge than build up or power boost (say, 90 seconds as opposed to their 60), and then having it last for 25 as opposed to 10. That's long enough to use it in any given pinch long enough to really be useful, which is what this power seems more suited for. That way you avoid the heavy end use of a toggle and the "gimp" factor seems to make more sense. In a pinch you're willing to trade damage and tohit for defense to get out of there, or trade regeneration for recovery fighting these malta, or to snipe that guy from a distance and really hurt him you're willing to trade some defense and resistance for that added second of damage. Even then, I'd either up the benefit or decrease the penalties of this power, though, IMO.


Overall though, I really DO love the concept and think your set sounds really fun.

My only disagreement with that is Superspeed. The entire idea of a speedster is that you're moving so quickly you're hard to hit. The +stealth component of superspeed is one way to utilize that. It lets you "wizz right past" enemies without being seen, which is core to a speedster. That is AS useful of an ability in door missions where places are packed as it is outdoor missions, if not moreso.

Though to do this you'd need to have flight keep Hover's +defense bonus, which I could see as problematic. Maybe they should swap flurry for "fighting speed" as the tier 1 speed pool option. This could let you keep the sleath aspect of super speed or give a +def bonus while giving you a more minor increase in run speed, and would fit nicely in line with other power pools (hover +def, combat jumping +def, etc.)

Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go dodge the onslaught of rapid slaps to the face from the 15 people who took "flurry". :-P