sturm375

[ QUOTE ]
Unfortunately, that doesn't seem to be an option at this time.

[/ QUOTE ]

Figures, if it's something neat, and cool, and more importantly something I want to do, it's not available.

Don't get me wrong, I am ecstatic about the MA, but there are some gaping holes in it right now. And I seem to run into them every time I try to do something in it.

As part of a story line, the first mission in my arc I want to make, one of the 2 bosses is supposed to run and escape. However the only way to make her run is to set it so they run when there is only "X" number of minions left. That could be a problem if the arc is run by a large team.

When I set her to run at full health, she will run, until she sees the PCs, then she stops and fights. I suppose I could just write it in the other boss' dialogue a reference to the other boss, but I'd like the players to actually see her get a way.

Any way to get a boss/eb/av to run no matter what as soon as the PCs encounter them?

QR:

So I am thinking that Issue 14 should be called: "Mission Architect" (a.k.a. Touch my Awesome Button)

[ QUOTE ]

Emotes: Flyposes will not work when the Blazing Aura or Arctic Air power is activated.


[/ QUOTE ]

Add Deflection (the first toggle in Shield Defense) to the list. If you activate Deflection prior to entering a Flypose, the emote won't work. If you enter the flypose first, then toggle on Deflection, the flypose sticks.

[ QUOTE ]
Tried to install Win7 on my secondary computer, didn't take. Here are the CoHelper Specs:

---System information gathered by CoH Helper version 0.1.1.3---

DxDiag gathered at January 21, 2009 06:55 (-07:00)
Operating System: Windows Vista™ Ultimate (6.0, Build 6001) Service Pack 1 (6001.vistasp1_ldr.080917-1612)
System Manufacturer: System manufacturer
System Model: System Product Name
BIOS: Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
Central Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU 6420 @ 2.13GHz (2 CPUs), ~2.1GHz
Memory: 8190MB
.Net Memory Report: 6701MB out of 8189MB available
Page File: 14952MB (1477MB currently in use)
C Drive: (WDC WD10 02FBYS-01A6B SCSI Disk Device) 622034MB out of 953867MB (65%) free
D Drive: (WDC WD32 00AAKS-00SBA SCSI Disk Device) 305143MB out of 305242MB (99%) free
E Drive: (WDC WD32 00KS-00PFB0 SCSI Disk Device) 305143MB out of 305242MB (99%) free
F Drive: (SONY DVD RW DRU-810A ATA Device) zero-size drive
Windows directory location: C:\Windows
DirectX: DirectX 10
DirectX Diag version: 6.00.6001.18000 (64-bit version)

Display Notes: No problems found.
Sound Notes: No problems found.

No problems found.
Input Notes: No problems found.

Monitor: Dell SE198WFP(Digital)
Monitor's Max Resolution: (blank)
Video Device Name: NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTX
Manufacturer / Chip: NVIDIA / GeForce 8800 GTX
Video Memory: 2791 MB
Driver Version: 7.15.0011.7824
Driver Date: 10/7/2008 12:33:00 PM
Driver Language: English

Sound Device Description: Speakers (Creative SB Audigy 2 ZS (WDM))
Driver File: ctaud2k.sys
Driver Version: 6.00.0001.1242
Driver Date: 2/13/2007 3:50:50 PM

Sound Device Description: SPDIF Out (Creative SB Audigy 2 ZS (WDM))
Driver File: ctaud2k.sys
Driver Version: 6.00.0001.1242
Driver Date: 2/13/2007 3:50:50 PM


WMI Information
Motherboard Manufacturer: ASUSTeK Computer INC.
Motherboard Model: (empty)
Motherboard Product: StrikerExtreme
Motherboard Version: 1.XX
BIOS Manufacturer: Phoenix Technologies, LTD
BIOS Name: Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
BIOS Version: Nvidia - 42302e31
BIOS Release: 20081007000000.000000+000

Registry Information for Current User
Resolution: 1440x881
3D Resolution: 1440x881 (Not using renderscale)
Full Screen: No
Maximized: Yes
Screen Position: 0, 0
Refresh Rate: 0Hz
Vertical Sync Enabled: Yes

Physics Quality: Very High
Maximum Particles: 50000
Max Particle Fill? 10.000
Physics Card Enabled: No

Anti-aliasing: 4x
Anisotropic Filtering: 16x
Texture LOD Bias: Smooth
Water Effects: High Quality
Bloom: 1.000 (turned off)
Depth of Field Enabled: No
Desaturation Effects (Sepia) Enabled: Yes
Shader Detail: High

World Texture Level: Very High
Character Texture Level: Very High
World Detail Level (Vis_Scale): 2.000
Entity Detail Level: 2.000
Shadows Enabled: Yes
Gamma Correction: 1.000
Geometry Buffers (VBOs) Enabled: Yes
Suppression of Extra Player FX Enabled: No
Suppression of FX When Camera Close Enabled: No
Close Suppression Range: 3.000
Show Advertisements: Yes

Audio Mode: Performance
3D Audio: No
FX Sound Volume: 1.000
Music Sound Volume: 0.600

Show Advanced Graphics Options: Yes
Overall Graphics Quality: 1.000
Reverse Mouse Buttons: No
Save Login Username: Yes
Transfer Rate: 31676 bytes/second
Current Game Version: 18.20081105.12T5
Installation Directory: C:\Program Files\City of Heroes\City of Heroes

Mod files in the Data directory
No modifications found

[/ QUOTE ]

Same system, tried booting to the install DVD, and it sat there at the mostly black screen with the funky Win7 icon, and the "Starting Windows" for 6 hours. I really didn't think I had a strange computer, other than the PhysX card. Who knew.

I was set up installing Win7 on a seperate HD. I installed it while in Vista, maybe I'll try booting from the DVD, and installing that way, see if that makes a difference.

I dunno what else to say. It appeared to install nicely, up till it had to re-boot, came up to the "starting windows" screen, and stayed there for 10 minutes. I hit the reset button on my puter, tried 3 more times (1 time in safe mode, 1 time in debug mode). No errors were visible to me. It simply didn't get past the "starting windows" screen.

No error, it just hung at the "Starting Windows" screen. When I re-logged to Vista, I got a message saying that Windows could not install, try back later with later versions of Win7.

Tried to install Win7 on my secondary computer, didn't take. Here are the CoHelper Specs:

---System information gathered by CoH Helper version 0.1.1.3---

DxDiag gathered at January 21, 2009 06:55 (-07:00)
Operating System: Windows Vista™ Ultimate (6.0, Build 6001) Service Pack 1 (6001.vistasp1_ldr.080917-1612)
System Manufacturer: System manufacturer
System Model: System Product Name
BIOS: Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
Central Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU 6420 @ 2.13GHz (2 CPUs), ~2.1GHz
Memory: 8190MB
.Net Memory Report: 6701MB out of 8189MB available
Page File: 14952MB (1477MB currently in use)
C Drive: (WDC WD10 02FBYS-01A6B SCSI Disk Device) 622034MB out of 953867MB (65%) free
D Drive: (WDC WD32 00AAKS-00SBA SCSI Disk Device) 305143MB out of 305242MB (99%) free
E Drive: (WDC WD32 00KS-00PFB0 SCSI Disk Device) 305143MB out of 305242MB (99%) free
F Drive: (SONY DVD RW DRU-810A ATA Device) zero-size drive
Windows directory location: C:\Windows
DirectX: DirectX 10
DirectX Diag version: 6.00.6001.18000 (64-bit version)

Display Notes: No problems found.
Sound Notes: No problems found.

No problems found.
Input Notes: No problems found.

Monitor: Dell SE198WFP(Digital)
Monitor's Max Resolution: (blank)
Video Device Name: NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTX
Manufacturer / Chip: NVIDIA / GeForce 8800 GTX
Video Memory: 2791 MB
Driver Version: 7.15.0011.7824
Driver Date: 10/7/2008 12:33:00 PM
Driver Language: English

Sound Device Description: Speakers (Creative SB Audigy 2 ZS (WDM))
Driver File: ctaud2k.sys
Driver Version: 6.00.0001.1242
Driver Date: 2/13/2007 3:50:50 PM

Sound Device Description: SPDIF Out (Creative SB Audigy 2 ZS (WDM))
Driver File: ctaud2k.sys
Driver Version: 6.00.0001.1242
Driver Date: 2/13/2007 3:50:50 PM


WMI Information
Motherboard Manufacturer: ASUSTeK Computer INC.
Motherboard Model: (empty)
Motherboard Product: StrikerExtreme
Motherboard Version: 1.XX
BIOS Manufacturer: Phoenix Technologies, LTD
BIOS Name: Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
BIOS Version: Nvidia - 42302e31
BIOS Release: 20081007000000.000000+000

Registry Information for Current User
Resolution: 1440x881
3D Resolution: 1440x881 (Not using renderscale)
Full Screen: No
Maximized: Yes
Screen Position: 0, 0
Refresh Rate: 0Hz
Vertical Sync Enabled: Yes

Physics Quality: Very High
Maximum Particles: 50000
Max Particle Fill? 10.000
Physics Card Enabled: No

Anti-aliasing: 4x
Anisotropic Filtering: 16x
Texture LOD Bias: Smooth
Water Effects: High Quality
Bloom: 1.000 (turned off)
Depth of Field Enabled: No
Desaturation Effects (Sepia) Enabled: Yes
Shader Detail: High

World Texture Level: Very High
Character Texture Level: Very High
World Detail Level (Vis_Scale): 2.000
Entity Detail Level: 2.000
Shadows Enabled: Yes
Gamma Correction: 1.000
Geometry Buffers (VBOs) Enabled: Yes
Suppression of Extra Player FX Enabled: No
Suppression of FX When Camera Close Enabled: No
Close Suppression Range: 3.000
Show Advertisements: Yes

Audio Mode: Performance
3D Audio: No
FX Sound Volume: 1.000
Music Sound Volume: 0.600

Show Advanced Graphics Options: Yes
Overall Graphics Quality: 1.000
Reverse Mouse Buttons: No
Save Login Username: Yes
Transfer Rate: 31676 bytes/second
Current Game Version: 18.20081105.12T5
Installation Directory: C:\Program Files\City of Heroes\City of Heroes

Mod files in the Data directory
No modifications found

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
CoX runs perfectly for me. Not a single issue. W7-64 with a 9600GT on the Windows Update drivers.

Issues I do have:
CSS FPS issues - but this seems to have worked itself out.
No X-Fi drivers for it (no surprise considering how long it took to get Vista drivers), but there is an unofficial PAX version that runs almost perfectly on W7 without some of the advanced features.

This is possibly the easiest, most stable OS beta i have ever used from MS.


As an aside, why is it always necessary to have these idiotic OS arguments in any thread like this? I'm sure the thread title says "Windows 7 and City of Heroes.".

[/ QUOTE ]Because you will always have haters who will always come into a thread and totally bash something with almost no real justification. It just ends up being a battle of why its good, why you should upgrade to it (via clean install), how well its worked out for you, then someone comes along and tries to make the OS out to be the worst thing ever.

[/ QUOTE ]

It's true.

And Win7 has already shown itself to not be the worst thing on the block for me, and I still haven't found time to test gaming with it. As a work OS, though, I think it'll be ok, barring a few ancient apps that won't run.

Folks like to argue, especially on dis here intarwebs.

Win7 will not being going down in history as the worst MS OS ever. In order, those are Win3.1, WinME and Vista.



[/ QUOTE ]

But what about Bob?

Yup, so 2 of my 4 days off there will be outages, and I work Xmas Eve and Xmas.

As long as I have warning to avoid the lag fest.... I mean raid zone.

Rumor has it, this was another screw up by the devs. However, it's not what you all were thinking

Appearently, they ment to impliment the fear on players so they could get used to the effect for PvP. When a Boss or bigger gets to 40% HP, it was intended to have them produce a fear aura causing PCs to run, or cower. Again, I was told, this was to get people used to this effect, so they'd be more comfortable in PvP, where fear rules the day. Don't worry, a fix is in the wings, soon(tm) your PCs will be running in fear of those bosses/EBs/GMs/AVs.


















































P.S. I am sooooo full of [blank]! Gottcha though didn't I

Happy Birthday, best wishes, and I am sure you'll see many more happy b-days to come.

Hi, I was..... no make that am, a recovering Alt-o-holic. Though I did not follow the OP's 12 step program (I kept starting, and would get to like step 6 or 7 then start again ). I say I am recovering because I too have been playing since beta. And until I made John Bryne (level 47 Fire/Fire/Pyre tank) I never got a toon above 29.

My trick, change the outside. I went through a job change, which force me to concentrate on 1 toon, since my job kept me from playing CoH except for a few days per month.

What I did differently:

I did not delete all my toons. However I did delete many (90%) of them. I kept my favorites.

I did not advance my highest toon. In fact I created a brand new toon for the express purpose of concentrating on him. It was not important that I optimize the toon, but was vitally important to create a character I could enjoy playing.

As I said, J.B. is now level 47 (just dinged last night), and I am haveing just as much fun today, if not more fun, than when I first started him.

[ QUOTE ]
Fun can't really be measured, so it shouldn't really be brought up in any guide specifically one that is talking about getting rid of useless information in answers.


[/ QUOTE ]

You lost me there. For years the there has been a standard measure of fun.

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

I don't mind that Illusionists can do some tanking. I don't mind that pets can substitute for a tank sometimes. I don't mind that a decent scrapper can do some tanking. But when any one of these three can tank better than I, a tank, for 90% of the content, there is something wrong.

[/ QUOTE ]

They can't tank better. They can tank well enough with the support a tanker needs.

Well, scrappers can't. I hear illusionists can tank pretty well, but I'm not sure how they do it without perma-PA.

[/ QUOTE ]

With Spectral Terror and Phantom Army and Personal Force Field, I can main tank any spawn in the game.

[/ QUOTE ]

The point is that those three examples, and possibly more, can substitute for a tank in most of the content, plus add:

-Scrappers-Bosskilling like nobodies buisness
-Controllers-great lockdown

There shouldn't be a need to pick up a tank, but there should be something we can do better than the rest that makes us desirable. At the moment, I am struggling to find one. And this is the main reason I don't often team with my tanker anymore. Not because I don't like to team, it's because I don't know what I am supposed to do.

Basically, our role in a team has been narrowed down to a razor thin aspect of the game, while other AT's roles have expanded. Given the way of the Devs, I really don't see a solution, other than rolling the Tanker AT into the Scrappers. I never thought that Meatshields held a place (conceptually) in a world of Super Heroes. But then again, I came into this game from Comic books, not from other MMORPGs. So, I am biased in that direction.

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Let's be real honest - when is ANY particular AT needed given a team of competent players?

Seriously - are we asking too much that there be situations when a given AT is required or needed?

It's one thing to have an AT desireable, another to have it needed.

Personally, when taking down an AV, I have, and still do, prefer to have a Tank around. I feel it's just safer that way.

-- War

[/ QUOTE ]

So the new team role for Tanks is to be a placebo?

[/ QUOTE ]

Sure - just like every other AT.

There should not be a single mission where ANY AT is needed. Ever.

-- War

[/ QUOTE ]

True, very true, and I completely agree.

However, there should be SOME incentive to want a tanker. Maybe not for every mission/AV/GM/whatever. There should be something that we can give to the team, in spades, that no other AT can do as well.

I don't mind that Illusionists can do some tanking. I don't mind that pets can substitute for a tank sometimes. I don't mind that a decent scrapper can do some tanking. But when any one of these three can tank better than I, a tank, for 90% of the content, there is something wrong.

Thanks for all the suggestions, and encouragment. I will take a look at all the suggested reading.

This is a fairly long term project, but when finished I intend to post it here somewhere, or submit it to a CoH contest or something.

I hope this is the right board to ask this question in, so here goes:

I am planning to right a short story based in the CoX world, and I need some advice on what voice(s) to use, and how. Basically there will be several Chapters in this story, each centering on a specific event, but with several key/lead characters. I'd like to give the reader the perspective of the lead character, as well as give a wider view of an omniscient viewer of the events. Also, like I said, the lead character may change, even within the chapters.

Are there any good examples of well done transitions from one perspective to another like this out there? If so can you link to them, or recommend some reading?

Thanks.

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Part of the problem is there is a lot of confusion on what Gauntlet is. My understanding is that the AOE powers mentioned above, Auras, the Taunt Power, temp powers are *not* using Gauntlet at all. Only some single target attacks use gauntlet. Gauntlet is a *small* aoe taunt bubble around a single target when you hit the target and your power is one that makes use of it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Gauntlet is a generic name for a variety of powers which all include an inherent 'Taunt' effect. The text says "Each time the Tanker attacks, he enrages the target, and those around him, enticing them to attack the Tanker."

So, what is an attack?
* Any of your Melee Powers which damage a target, and many that simply apply a Status Effect. Single Target attacks are limited to 5 critters effected per attack. PBAoE's such as Whirling Mace are limited to the number of critters that take damage -- in this case, up to 10 critters.
* Any 'Aura' powers you may have, such as Icicles or Invincibility.

Note that there is no distinction between Primary and Secondary powersets, Epic Powersets or Pool Powers? These all have Gauntlet on them, to one extent or another (Pool Powers version is limited to 1 target, and only the direct attacks have it.)

If you are dealing with +3's or higher, it may be worthwhile to slot a Taunt enhancer or two into the powers you are using. They *do* help.

[/ QUOTE ]

Here's my problem: Gauntlet has NOTHING to do/enhance our Primary, which is DEFENSE. A tanker has a DEFENSE primary, not an Argo primary. We are the only AT who's inherint does NOT enhance our PRIMARIES!

[ QUOTE ]
Will the Gauntlet bugs never cease?

[/ QUOTE ]

The problem is, someone says "Fix the Gauntlet Bugs!", then all the code for Gauntlet is looked at, but Punch-voke bugs remain. Then someone says "Fix the Punch-voke bugs!", and those fixes break Gauntlet again.

[ QUOTE ]
.........
With fewer mobs to manage in each fight, damage became more important in terms of leveling than damage mitigation did. As has certainly been pointed out, a scrapper with enough buffs/heals can certainly manage one spawn's worth of aggro/dmg. Outside of the over ambitious blaster/spawn with too many hard hitting bosses, things are still very manageable. But now the emphasis is put on speed from group to group. Id rather have a battle over faster with more heals, than one that lasted longer with less.


[/ QUOTE ]

I have said for a long time, and others have agreed, that this is nothing new. This game was designed for speed. Quick team ups. Quick missions/fights. Quick resolutions. It's part of the great beauty of this game, you (generally speaking) don't need to sit for 2 or more hours to get a group necessary to take on a rat nest or something.

The exception to this is, and has been, the tank. While all the other ATs enhance teams by increasing the speed at which you go through a fight, tanks slow it down. "Wait while I gain argo" "wait while I gather" and previous to some nice end reduction "wait while I get END back." These are/were all common phrases when having a tank on a team. Yes, it made/still makes for a more safe fight, but ultimatly slower. Tanks have always been "against the grain" of the basic elements designed into CoH.

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
His one posted test involved using the broken version of Invincibility. He also completely glosses over the fact that when buffed, any AT can Tank, so what then is so special about Tanks?


[/ QUOTE ]

The goal of the game is to make sure there isn't an ideal team composition. So, yes, a Scrapper, with buffs, can tank, but not as well as a Tanker. Why? Because 1) a Tanker starts with higher resistances/defenses and 2) he has Punchvoke and thus can manage the aggro better.

[/ QUOTE ]

Must ..... resist ....... pointless ...... comment.

Ahhhhh, I just can't resist.

He called it Punchvoke, not Gauntlet. Proof Positive that Punchvoke is the proper name, and Gauntlet should go away.

Sorry 'bout that States, but I just couldn't resist, it's one of my many weaknesses.


I do have to say, that is one of the great strengths of this game. I love joining a Pick-Up Group, and finding a way to adapt my abilities with the mostly random group make-up. It is great fun to find the "groove" for a partictular group.

There is still a problem, and maybe it's only in the early levels. As a tank, If I don't go the a-typical Taunt+Massivly stressing defence (especially HP increasing powers like dull pain), I end up being much more of a drag on the team, as opposed to a benifit.

I suppose that in the upper levels, Punchvoke increases effectiveness to the point where it will draw the ire of villians. This is not the case in the early levels. I, for one, have basically given up teaming with my tanks until much later in levels because of this problem. There is nothing I hate more than being a drag on a team. It's embarising.

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]


I think the one you should be comparing is:

Tank + Scrapper + Blaster + Blaster

vs

Defender + Scrapper + Blaster + Blaster

[/ QUOTE ]

Any team of good players that know each other well should work. Regardless of AT complement. The playstyle involved, however, will be different.

By substituting a Defender for a Tanker, you immediately cause the aggro to be shared a lot more. Your battle will have to be more mobile and, likely, more swift. The team would need to avoid presenting a solid target and also avoid aggroing extra opponents. The blasters will be less able to concentrate on specific targets as they will have to watch their own life more often. The defender will be busier healing, assuming you have a healing defender.

A controller would be a more equivalent trade for a tank. Tanks and controllers do the same basic job=keep the enemies from attacking the vulnerable party members. In a team with a tank, the controller's job is to handle flankers and specific threats while the tanker holds the front. In a team without a tanker, the controller takes responsibility for holding the main enemy.

[/ QUOTE ]

Irrelevant. Defenders and Controllers and Tanks are all Support ATs. The point of the test is to see how one support AT plus some Damager dealers does against another support AT with the same damage dealers. The performance SHOULD be just as effective all things being equal.

Feel free to add Controller + Scrapper + Blaster + Blaster

PS: I tend to focus on Defenders because since I stopped playing my Tank my Defender has become my Main and he out performs by Tank by a significant margin IMO.

[/ QUOTE ]

See, and when I read: Tanker = Frontline Fighter in the manual, I don't think of them as "support ATs." But then again, my only other MMO experiance was about 9 months of SWG, so I don't have Tank=Meatshield ingrained into my brain.

Well, I have a very different opinion. Tanks, pre-SOs are nothing. On a team, they are not worth taking, unless you absolutly want one.

<------------Is in serious need of counsiling, of Alt-o-holism

Recently took my newest project out to play (Level 10 Inv/SS tank). I had planned this character to primarily be solo, but thought he'd have some use in a team. Up to level 10, I had soloed everything. Sometimes having to go get a level, then come back to defeat a mission, but it was fun, and challenging (since level 6, ran on Tenacious, prior, Heroic). It was difficult, and I think the Risk vs. Reward is a little unballanced. I go through missions much slower than any other AT, including controllers, and have almost as much risk of defeat as "squishies."

Anyway, I finally put my "looking for team" flag up, with the disclaimer of "Skanker" in the note box. After some time, maybe 30-45 minutes, I got invited to a team in the Hollows. We started doing Troll missions (almost everybody had the "disarm 2 bombs" mission.) First one was easy, as the level of villians were at best -1 to me, and I was one of the lowest levels on the team, and the only tank. I found I was very much useless, as I did not take taunt, I could not gather much of a crowd with gauntlet. the team blazed through, I slowed them down if anything. As the missions got harder (up to +2s), I found that I could bearly withstand the onslaught of the few trolls I could gather with punch-voke, with the assistance of a very good healer, and timely inspirations.

Even if I had taunt, I wouldn't dare use it, as I would gather so much debt, I'd be going backwards in XP. There is no doubt in my mind, I was next to useless as a team mate, and so I soloed the rest of the day, very depressed.