quickfire

I like the base idea. I have as of yet to form a supergroup or join one.

Seems to me, however, something like your superbase idea could be offered for new players as a temporary item to get them started on crafting...perhaps some kind of portal to a crafting hub.

I have to add, and REALLY emphasize the need for putting ALL of the mobs on the mission map. At the very least the last 5 or 6 should show, but why not all of them.

Better yet, display threat level with colored arrowheads as well.

Ok, so how about you set the secondary rechoice to before level 30? Or even better...

Given one total rebuild at level 10 (primary and secondary choices) and one secondary rechoice at level 20.

It's still early...by this time most folks will realize that they don't like the build they have and can change it without need for the dreaded "delete, reroll" that this game's reputation is plagued with at the moment.

Were not really talking about a change of archetype here...that would require a reroll and that is understandable. We are talking about a powerset choice mistake rectified fairly early in the game.

Remember, I say this from the perspective of a new player. Yes, I understand you can get mats from the market and AE. But that really isn't what I meant. There should be somewhere to BUY the mats you need other than the market, like some kind of vendor...grant it it would be for the very low level mats, but still.

And yes, it does seem that money early on is hard to come by, though once you make a toon or two and can mail to yourself that makes making new toon easier (it took me a bit to figure out I could mail extra stuff and influence to myself, giving me access to it on my other toons.).

I still feel that early on crafting isn't really needed, and the mats and such shouldn't even drop until much later...you can just get enhancements instead.

If I were to go even further I would say that things like free costume changes and certain temporary powers (like rocket packs) should be easy to make early on if any crafting is offered at all. Add to that temporary Auras to wet ones whistle for those things, as well as teleports to things like your bank and the nearest quartermaster.

Finally I would have things like cars, motorcycles and the like craftable (temporary of course) as well as custom weapons. Again, to tempt folks to either buy the permanent ones from the store or sub to VIP.

The crafting in this game, early on, is a bit counter-intuitive in design. I'd like to put forth what I see as it's flaws, and what I think should be done to correct it.

Remember...this is from a new player perspective. First impressions are lasting ones.

That said...

1) Items are counted individually, your not given slots.

Materials should stack and count as one item. Almost every game on the market has it this way. The fact that this game does not causes an entire host of problems that are not necessary.

2) Drops for crafting come to early in the game, intro also comes too early.

Crafting is pretty dismal in this game EARLY ON and next to useless sub 30. It should not even be introduced IMO, nor should materials drop prior to level 30 IMO.

3) Benches are in one spot, Vaults are too far from benches, recipes only count what is on you, not what you own (what is in your bank).

This is a big pet peve. This is not the only game that is like this, but other games at least offer a bit more with respect to crafting and storage. This game is pretty limited with both. Not good to throw in running back and forth to try and get the right mats.

4) Only source for mats is mobs.

This is a big one. The only way you can get mats is by killing mobs. In almost every other game on the market there are other ways to get mats. Sub 30 this is probably not the best way to do it, later it isn't an issue.


REMEMBER...we are talking about sub 30 crafting now. Not crafting after 30, where not only does it benefit the player more, players tend to find ways at that point to deal with shortcomings.

We are talking about first impressions.


Now, my primary suggestion would be to remove any clue to crafting from the early game, prior to perhaps level 25, including mats. No mat drops or references to crafting before level 25.

Naturally you would still have enhancements and the like that drop for income or use.

Save that, I would ask that items stacks be counted as one item (or make it 30 slots instead of 30 items), you have the ability to craft in more areas besides the academy and recipes count items you have in your bank as on your person.

Thanks for reading.

Here is one issue I have with this title. It seems that you have complete freedom when creating mobs for missions with respect to the pairing of power sets. A massive, even dizzying array of combinations is available, and it seems to me this is the way the main game should have been.

I am guessing the idea of balance plays into powerset match restrictions. I can understand this, but rechoosing your secondary choice is not allowed. Only respeccing the points.

It seems to me that having that kind of freedom, or at least allowing an early rechoice of the secondary power sets would serve to allow players the opportunity to correct mistakes in the build, especially considering the freedom when creating mobs.

However, I recognize this could create balance issues in the game (and perhaps that is why the system is set up as it is now) and other games have had open system with obvious problems.

My question would then be this...Why do the restrictions on power sets in character creation exist, and why can't you change your original power set choice when respeccing?

Thanks for your input.

I appreciate all of the comments and the discussion, please keep them coming, even if they criticize my opinion. All are welcome.

That said, I must point out that I feel the mob placement, despite whatever sensible reasons for the random spawn may exist is one of the largest flaws of the system.

I can't even count the amount of times I have had to scour a map, once for almost a half hour trying to find the last two mobs. The map only displays the location of a final mob or item, so more than one mob or item left and you are playing treasure hunt.

This is extremely boring, and detracts from many otherwise fantastic missions.

We either need to have more spawn location control OR the map should display ALL mobs required for the quest. The latter would remove the problem and still allow random spawning.

You can add checkboxes by a list of objectives on the map screen to allow display of objectives on the map to be toggled on and off to avoid clutter. You could also simply limit the display to the last 5 or 6 mobs or items you have to find to avoid making it too easy, if that is a problem.

I would prefer to see a full list however, and think in lieu of removing random spawning it is the best and most prudent solution.

Ok, this is going to be pretty harsh, so before I begin let me say up front that it is fantastic that folks can create missions, and that you offer so many options. I also understand some restrictions are in place to prevent farming.

That said, I have some complaints I want to share.

First, the idea that there is no dialog option. This is a big one in my opinion. It's difficult for me to understand why a system, whereby one would give certain responses and have certain outcomes based on that response.

Perhaps it's fear of language? If that is the case, it is very disappointing, but I suppose I would have to accept that. It's a real killer with respect to the system, as it makes the missions rather bland.

Note, if you can add dialog for descriptions and comments, I don't see the difference with interactive dialog.


Second, the lack of ability to place mobs. I remember someone telling me that this is a farming issue. With minions and lieutenants though? I could see this restriction for bosses, but why lower toons? I can't even place minions that I designate as bosses (to create single encounters)...obviously the rewards are low based on the difficulty status.


Third, the idea that you have to fill the map with trash, IE spawned mob groups, with no control over how many spawn. I don't have the ability to limit this, or just set them all to patrol. Instead I have groups of mobs standing around doing nothing, which really detracts from the storylines.


Fourth, the idea that every boss, no matter the difficulty level or status has to have a minion. This is ridiculous IMO. It seems that the concept of a single opponent is lost in this system. If you had to fill the area with trash mobs, why then have minions for bosses that are forced?

Note, I understand minions for a BOSS status mob. But not a minion or lieutenant that is placed as a boss so it can be a single encounter, as easy as that might be.


Fifth, the lack of ability to have other win scenarios when killing bosses other than actually killing them...like they stop fighting, or become unattackable at a certain health level. What if you want a Matrix sparring program kind of encounter? What if you want to have someone that fights until defeat is inevitable? Then they give up, making some kind of comment.

This is also where lack of dialog, if this option was added as a win scenario would be a bad thing...it would be great to defeat the mob and then strike up a conversation as an option.


Sixth, the lack of ability to create your own custom maps, even if it was just modular. Also, no ability to place things like environment barriers and the like. There are certainly lots of maps, but essentially you can only create smash and kill missions with the maps available, which tends to make the missions very hollow.

Where are the options that would allow you to create a bank robbery? How about vandals ransacking an office? People to save and talk to to get information on what to do next.



On a side note, I find it a bit amusing that creating bosses allows you to put together fun combination of abilities, but actual character creation does not allow this. A good example is a character that has dual swords but also has martial arts. It seems to me that if enemy mobs should be able to mix together interesting combinations we should be able to as well.


I may add more later as I discover them, but I have to say that they above items were VERY disappointing. I expected more options, more powerful tools to use when creating missions.

Thank you for your time.