vidicate

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You guys want to see some of the bestest stories ev-ar? This is the (un)official thread for stories of playing with newbs, n00bs, spazzes, crack-smokers, goofballs, and jerks, and even the occasional good PuGs too.
How to know you're in a pick-up group
Currently over 1,600 posts and growing.
Enjoy!

Edit: Just a couple of my favorites are from EvilRat on page 100, and JackONight on page 153. (at 10 posts per page)

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In nearly every other MMO out there, the levels leading up to the max level “end game” are just gravy. They are meant to make you “put in the effort” or “grind” to reach the fun: max level raiding, equipment, crafting. Essentially, the meat of the game occurs after your level is maxed out and you are fine tuning your “stuff” (whether that be powers or equipment or rabid chipmunk pet of DOOOMZXORS)

[/ QUOTE ] You know, that's where I'd disaggree with you. Right there. I haven't yet seen anyone who can claim with a straight face that WoW's endgame is where the fun is.

Au contraire, every single co-worker that's tried WoW, plus for example both Gabe and Tycho from Penny Arcade, seemed to quickly find that end-game grind non-fun. In the words of one co-worker who reached level 60 in WoW, he quit when he noticed that he needed a few hours just to assemble the massive teams needed for that end-game raid. That's it, literally: a few hours wasted every day before the "fun" even begins.

And how much "fun" such a massively repetitive affair is... again, let's just say most WoW players would quickly disaggree.

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Ok, I'll keep this short. The OP made the almost exact same point that you are, he just did it via a different route and with plenty o' snark. Essentially you're proving his point. You both are on the same page, maybe his "humor" threw you off? It's funny that you come off all like you're in disagreement.

Here are some more ideas:

Many people's toons have between 4 and 10 (very rough estimate) pool powers by level 40, the average being somewhere in the middle. I think I like this layout: one pool available for random selection at level 6 or later (the pool you get is still a choice between all, or almost all - if there's pools you are absolutely avoiding, of them). A second one opens up at level 12, being limited to only the 4 travel pools if you didn't get one already. The third at 18, and the fourth (if desired) at 24. By default you limit yourself to two 3rd tier powers and one 4th tier pool power - this can be scaled up depending on if you got very useful pools or not (or STILL need that darn travel power ). Anything I haven't mentioned is still the same as described in the original post. All in all, these changes give a more conservative method of attaining non-primary/secondary powers, and a travel power.

Also. Since many people are finding this useful for trying new things, then when you're first creating the character feel free to exclude all power sets that you already use on your main toons.

I'm very glad to see that people are getting the idea that there really is no set in stone rules to all this, and is open to your personal tweaks.

My (minimal) experience thus far. I ended up with a blaster. (This is actually my second randomite, but I'm not counting the first one.) Fire/Electric, named Dynamo Manhunter - the best I could do using Lee's Useless Super Hero Generator , after a few dozen tries, that fit with my powers and the costume I eventually ended up with (thanks again to Mantid, or Miss_Kitty, or is it Kittys_Present? What's up with all the name changing, anyway? Okay, back to the topic). Dynamo Manhunter fights baddies on Virtue - I don't usually play there, but I have a couple of co-workers that do. (Hi Boresight (see post above)) Long story short, at level 7 I do lot's of crazy DoT and a big blap with Charged Brawl. I did end up with a pool also. I excluded Leadership from my choices - I will throw it back in as a possible once I'm going for the third pool at lvl 18. "So which one did you get, already?" I ended up with the other pool I was considering to exclude . Presence. single target, single target, single target... Provoke. D'oh! Well I just came back from playing on a team where I was the highest level. Provoke came in handy when the lvl 3-5 mates were in the mix, and since I'm kind of blappy it worked out just fine. (Not that I need any help getting aggro as a fire blaster. Oh well, I can use Provoke to snag the runners.) Plus I'm looking forward to possibly seeing how the Fear effect powers in Presence come in handy.

Tips on using a 20-sided die for your choices:
If you have a whole set of role-playing dice, or can steal one from your uber-nerd level 12 fighter/wizard roommate, then you'll have access to all sorts of dice with varied facets . But you can do it all with the mighty twenty-sided die. Examples:
<ul type="square"> [*]odds for choice #1, evens for choice #2 - simple[*]10 choices, an easy one. 1 or 2 = choice #1; 3 or 4 = choice #2; 4 or 5 = choice #3; etc[*]9 choices. Same as 10 choices except 19 or 20 = roll again [*]3 choices. 1,4,7,10,13 or 16 = choice #1; 2,5,8,11,14 or 17 = choice #2; 3,6,9,12,15 or 18 = choice #3; 19 or 20 = reroll [*]4, 5, or 6 choices can be easily modeled after the 3 choice method, while 7 and 8 choices can use the 9 choice method as a guide[/list]There are other ways to do this, but the goal is the same - even chances to select between several things.

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3HeadedHero:
But, at least I have a LOT of attacks to compensate for my non-tanking tanker.
Oh, well. I'll bet "real" superheroes get power envy sometimes, too.

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Excellent point!

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SwellGuy:
I like it. Something to do on the last day of the rocket packs.

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Yes, the jetpacks do make taking this guide to heart a bit more enjoyable, eh?

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CaptainFlamo:
I've wished before that I had never come to the forums because I know of the wealth of info here and always think "I better check this out online before I get it! Even though it looks fun, is it useful enough!?" etc. This is a great way for me to get away from that.

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Yes! This is the type of insights I'm hoping people will figure out on there own. Kudos.

And Evil_CoH and Wormy_Sid, you guys are sick freaks indeed; the perfect type of player to check out my guide!

Well, looks like I'm doomed to do a 2.0 guide someday in the distant future. Please keep bringing in the ideas, stories, and things that have worked for you.

Vidicate

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http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b8...0-23-13-51.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b8...0-23-13-47.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b8...0-23-13-44.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b8...0-23-13-40.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b8...0-23-13-37.jpg

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oh yeah, looks like we totally pwned you villains.
Just kidding. Like most other CoH players, I play a hero , not a scumbag. Funny thing is, when the stalker jumps over the helipad in my "safe" zone, ports me and nukes me, I don't mind too much -- I get a kick out of it, he's being very "villainous". I guess the heroes are confused about what dignity and honor really mean.
Edit:
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Now Testing in the Training Room - 12/13/05

COMBINED NOTES

City Zones:

* Bloody Bay, Siren's Call, Warburg: When players in a PVP zone are revived at the hospital, they will be immune to PVP for 30 seconds.

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You gotta wonder if they're going, "We really should have anticipated this."

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Or let Lee's Useless Super Hero Generator come up with a name for you!

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Yay, a famous forumite has bestowed some wise words to my humble thread ...flattery will earn me respect on the boards... &lt;crosses fingers&gt;
Thanks Mantid, that's very helpful. And oops, I realize I didn't include selecting an origin, and it's too late to edit. Just include that part in step #1, guys n gals.

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I'm just sick enough to give this a try.

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CoakAroach, I was considering having the possesion of a mental disease be a prerequisite for this guide.

Well I'm hoping to spur some discussion on these ideas. There's been a lot left unsaid on purpose. So I'll shamelessly bump my own thread, I really would like to hear some input -- other players' ideas along this same vein; if anyone's done something similar in this game or other games like it. I know this was my first thread (on this forum account), but I am a long-time forum goer, and armchair CoH enthusiast. (Which might have something to do with my wife getting into this game recently. (Yes, I use parentheses a lot.)) So I hope you've enjoyed this "guide" in any case.

Nothing in this guide will help you gain xp, or beat down the baddies better. It's just a layout of an interesting, and hopefully fun, way of building up a toon. I'm sure that others have done similar things with their heroes/villains, so I won't claim originality on this. But, who knows, maybe I'm the first to make a post/guide about it. Wouldn't that just be neato.

First of all, let's get some of the basic ideas laid down. There are three thoughts that serve as the basis for me wanting to devise a method for making a Random Character:
<ul type="square"> [*]It's something interesting and new for people to try. [*]The devs have tried to make all the powers and builds/combinations thereof viable choices for players, and this will be a great way to test that. [*]I'm just wacky overanalytical enough to get my jollies from this sort of thing. [/list]The following step-by-step process is from the point of view of City of Heroes (I don't currently own CoV), but will work for both games I'm sure. Several of the steps are optional and will be marked as such. Also, to do this you will need some method of random-number-generation in which a set number of choices each will have the same probability of being selected by the generetor. Sorry, I'm leaving it up to you to find your own method for doing this, I've found I can do most of it (so far) with my buddie's D&amp;D dice-set.

1. Randomly select the archetype, the primary power set, the beginning power choice from your primary, and the secondary power set. (optional)
This is really several choices in one (der, really?), any of which are optional.
Examples: You're willing to go with any archetype but a blaster; I want an ice/* tanker and the rest will be random.
When you roll/generate/whatnot, feel free to do a few practice rolls, but when you say to yourself "this is it" then you must stick with whatever result you get next. I mean no one's monitoring you, you're really defeating the purpose of this idea if you have to cheat. And no hitting the back button during character creation. If you find you have an overwhelming desire to do so, then this guide just isn't for you.

2. Choose a random body type. (optional, I suppose)
I recommend randomly choosing between the 3 body types, then roll/coin-toss/whatever to choose between Slender, Average, Athletic, Heavy. For the height just stick with default, or pick something that fits your toon as he/she is built so far.

3. Choose a random costume. (highly optional)
I recommend either making a costume from scratch to try to put some sense of coherence on this randomite, or, better yet, click the random button several times until something looks close enough - you know, maybe with a color change if needed. On a side note my random alt was created totally randomly and I'm stuck with quite an odd costume (some kind of alien Sailor Moon female arch-nemesis or something).

4. Name your toon.
Here's your first chance to go "all right, let ME decide something for once".

5. Every new security level in which you get a new power you must randomly choose one from certain choices.
This is pretty simple at the beginning. Once you hit level 6 it starts to get interesting. Treat your potentially available pools as one power each. Ok, so at level six you would have a 3 out of 7 chance of getting one of your main powers, and a 4/7 chance to get a pool (any pool). If you get a pool, then roll/flip/button-click/rub-the-magic-8-ball to see which one (out of ten) you got, then do it one more time to select the 1st or 2nd power of the set. Until lvl 14 only one power in each pool will be available. In this way you won't have both the first two powers in any pool. (Unless for some reason you want that option available for a specific pool you have, but you still would need to gain it randomly of course.) So, in our above scenario, when you hit lvl 8 the odds switch to 4/7 for a main power, and 3/7 for a pool power (next choosing out of nine untouched pools). Once you hit 14 all previously opened pools are available for the lvl 14 (duh) power in them.

The following addendums are highly recommended, but tweakable to your tastes and previous selections:
--It makes sense that the fourth, and final, pool shouldn't even be available until in the early to mid 20's (or maybe not at all depending on your AT).
--Limit the eventual total of lvl 14 pool powers to 3 (or 2 depending on which pools you have (but you still can't pick which pools they are, silly)), and the lvl 20 powers to 2 total.
--I also wouldn't hold it against you if you removed Leadership as an available choice for an AT with lots of toggles.
(note: keep in mind - the more we tweak, the less random this will prove to be, and random is our goal, right?)
"But Mr. Vidicate, there's a good chance I won't get a travel power at 14, or maybe even ever!" Listen, I'm not holding an assault rifle (or a broadswoard) to your neck. You're still free to do what you feel is necessary. This isn't the place, but concept-character-builders/RPer's have made posts on this matter of a travel power not being absolutely essential. Take a handful of comic book heroes. How many have real travel powers? It's just too bad that the Paragon DMV won't issue driver's licenses to heroes.

6a. Every new security level in which you get more enhancement slots choose where you think you should put them.
Yay! Hallelujah! Now you can make the most of your odd build and stick those slots where they're needed most, to take advantage of its strengths, or offset its weaknesses. Keep in mind that you still have to actually USE all your powers. You ever see a Marvel or DC hero that has an ability they never do anything with?

6b. Earn and use respecs judiciously, only changing your slots, not powers.
Hindsight is 20/20, and here's your chance to benefit from that and slot those powers the way you would have if you knew how the build would turn out. I'll even be nice and let you go ahead and attain your powers in a different order so you can be a better exemplar. What do you say to that?

Well that's it. I trust you can figure out how random any remaining details should be on your own (titles, costumes, ancillary sets, Kheldians, etc.). Another thing - if one of your toons has a respec, you can apply this guide without starting at the beginning. In a way, doing this random character totally goes against the grain of our RP-minded players. But I think some will take it as a challenge of impromptu role-playing. It will also be interesting to see people who take the concepts in this guide all the way through to the high levels and try to make the most of it. We'll see them coming back "earth/rad/fighting/presence/concealment is teh pwn!"