Excellent Statesman. Excellent.
Thank you
This is a home run, States!
I don't think I could have asked for a better post. The only comment, is make it very clear what the group xp bonus is, have it show separately.
Fabulous news!!! 
I want to make this very, very clear...these changes are due to not only the "data", but the well reasoned posts on these boards.
I really do read & really do listen! The "devs" aren't cooped up in an ivory tower; we love this game just like you do! In the end, we're all players. I have the privilege of being the lead designer. I want to do what's BEST for the game.
OK.. that does it.. this is the last straw.. I QUIT... na... kidding ya'll... States.. IMHO this sounds about as fair as its gonna get...Yes.. I think that by default the missions are too easy for some builds.. but.. thats what the slider was put in for.. if its too easy for ya.. turn it up.. I did and its working great for me... and the XP bost for the ones that do team.. as I do as much as I can is great. I think ya hit a winner here States
Pft. States at first I was like "[censored] I HATE ISSUE 3!" but slowly I came to realize that it made tankers better. I mean in the defense game i'm not as good nowadays. but with a group I'm kicking butt and taking names. I love it.
I know you're going to get negative feedback, but me being the lowly Invul Tanker I'm happy you're making these changes.
Cryptic knows what its doing. I've definately found the MMO i'm going to play till you all turn senile 
You guys are definately the best developers out there. I'm not saying this for e-love, or sucking up ( though I am sucking up, but i'm speaking out of truth ) I've played every MMO out there and Cryptic is the only MMO producer that knows what its doing.
Just dont worry too much about the negative feedback you're going to get on this. They'll soon understand that if they want these hard bosses back, they just have to consult the mission difficulty slider.
Thank you My confidence in this game is restored many times over. Would like it though, if mission slider was on highest level, that the boss maintain it's +1 status, that would rock, lol.
Have to say I dont agree with the change, but in the long run, your pleasing a larger fan base which is good. You can please some of the people some of the time or none of the people all of the time.
Ive enjoyed the boss difficulty, ive had a lot of fun with it. Just a question though.
How will the difficulty settings compare. LIke the difficulty now, will that be equal to Rugged?
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Just dont worry too much about the negative feedback you're going to get on this. They'll soon understand that if they want these hard bosses back, they just have to consult the mission difficulty slider.
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Yup, pretty easy for the player to make a game harder. Not so easy for the player to make it easier.
Now if Cryptic would just make my wife's Mutant on Champion back to being female, it would be perfect!
Good changes, I like the long term ones
Might i suggest if possible.....that on "Bomb" missions, those all be timed. There is no sense of urgency on a bomb being defused if you have unlimited time to worry about it.
@PlasmaStream
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Three cheers for Statesman! Hip hip, hooray! =p
Really great news, keep up the good work.
Wow, States. I'm impressed.
This sounds like an Excellent solution! I love that teams are getting an XP bonus now. I definately think it encourages teaming more, as I've always felt a little something extra for teaming would be nice.
This also returns a lot of fun for my squishier characters.
So in short ::gives Statesman a HUGE hug::
You nailed it, man. Head on!
What I would like to see, for groups, is the ability to complete the same mission from multiple team members at the same time.
That seems like a reasonable solution that gives every player in every AT a chance to solo if they want to. At the same time, grouping becomes more appealing, which is also great. 
This is an outstanding example of why this development team has what it takes: they have the ability to design a compelling game experience, implement it, update it, but they also are able to look at the way it is being played, listen to the players, and they have the willingness, above all, to alter the game when doing so will make the experience richer for the players, even when it means taking back a reasoned change recently made - we are indeed lucky to be invited to play here, in your playground!
[For the record I had no opinion on the boss changes, as none of my alts are high enough level to be affected.]
Wonderful! Best post on these boards EVER!
My faith has been 100% restored. You guys are the best development team in the business!
The City of Heroes Community is a special one and I will always look fondly on my times arguing, discussing and playing with you all. Thanks and thanks to the developers for a special experience.
Beautiful. Thank you Statesman, for listening to us.
Choice is indeed the key. It's what brought many of us to this game (see the costume designer).
Please try my custom mission arcs!
Legacy of a Rogue (ID 459586, Entry for Dr. Aeon's Third Challenge)
Death for Dollars! (ID 1050)
Dr. Duplicate's Dastardly Dare (ID 1218)
Win the Past, Own the Future (ID 1429)
Excellent, States. I'd say this is two or three steps in the right direction. You may cater to every playstyle yet. And if any game can do it, it's this one.
Course, now that that's hammered out... *nudges him towards Kheldians*
Thanks Statesman. I think this will address most of the problems that some had with the increase in the Bosses HP and damage. Once I get to my next level with my Scrapper to open my new contacts missions I'll be boosting his mission slider, but my Defender will now be more playable because I won't feel I need to run out for help on most missions, just play smart and use some inspirations. My Blaster is a high enough level that I don't know yet what I'll be doing with the slider, but will be able to run my missions either way.
Overall, I've been very thrilled with this game and you and the rest of the Dev team. Thanks for envisioning such an addictive and fun game.
If the game spit out 20 dollar bills people would complain that they weren't sequentially numbered. If they were sequentially numbered people would complain that they weren't random enough.
Black Pebble is my new hero.
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Course, now that that's hammered out... *nudges him towards Kheldians*
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Done! Just playtested today!
I love you.
I think you're going to win a lot of people's hearts with your plan for missions. I think you've thrown a bone to about everybody you can with this. Thanks.
I love to solo, I really do. I like grouping, and I enjoy it when it happens, but I really like to be able to take things at my own speed, not have to worry about other people, or being unable to take minor breaks because of the group situation.
This is just... So beautiful. Thank you for reminding me once again why Cryptic has ruined all other MMOs for me. Regardless of content or style, the company itself, and the way it interacts with its playerbase remains lightyears beyond everyone else. And to me, that's truely what makes the game so utterly wonderful.
*goes to swoon in his fanboydom*
I think this is great news.
Solo and Team Play
The recent change to boss difficulty has brought out a long simmering question: what does a solo player do in City of Heroes. Currently, some missions are for the lone wolf hero, but many are not. With the now sturdy bosses, even the most skilled player has difficulty completing these tasks. Worst of all, some players are surprised by the presence of a boss and defeated almost immediately.
On the one hand, this is a MMP. I believe that some of the best features of the game shine when players join forces with other players. On the other hand, Ive always believed that part of our games strength is the ability for a player to log on for a half hour, have fun, then log off. If a mission requires a team up, players spend a lot of time simply organizing. The quick fun element dissipates.
In the short term:
We will roll back the Boss changes.
Team up XP bonuses will be increased.
Lets not start pointing fingers the whiners had their way or the games too easy, make it harder because I think the Boss changes violated a basic principle. Namely: never let a person make an uninformed decision. And right now, people arent clear when a mission requires a team up and when it doesnt. Plus, they have no ability to drop a mission if they dont feel like doing it. Besides, weve introduced our Mission Difficulty Slider to satisfy the demands of those who want something more challenging in the future.
In the mid-term:
There are two types of missions in City of Heroes. The bread and butter missions are drawn from a generic pool. The vast majority of a players experience are devoted to completing these tasks for his Contacts. We will be making it so that a Boss will NEVER show up on the mission for a solo player at the lowest Reputation level (Hard-Boiled, though were changing that to Hero). Instead, any named villain will be a Lieutenant. That Lieutenant will have the same name, powers and costume as the Boss; his villain rank will simply be lessened. In this way, solo players wont miss out on the flavor of the missions story. If a team or a player with a Reputation at Tenacious or higher enters that mission, the Lieutenant will become a Boss.
Contacts give out another series of missions story arcs. These are linked missions that form a much larger tale. Players normally receive story arcs only after theyve leveled their Contact up to the highest level. Whenever a named character occurs, hell be a Lt. for the solo player at the lowest Reputation level and a Boss for teams or solo players with higher Reputations. Arch Villains, Elite Bosses and Giant Monsters will remain as they are; but, for the early and mid-levels, players will not need to defeat these foes to complete the mission. In the high levels, this is not the case.
Task Forces and Trials will continue to contain Elite Bosses, ArchVillains and Giant Monsters. There will be no changes here.
In the long term:
The Mission UI will be improved to designate various elements of mission: timed missions, team up required, etc.
A system will allow players to drop unwanted missions or do old missions that have been passed over (the infamous flashback).
Only until players can drop missions will we look at the Boss difficulty again.
Whats our goal? Simply put: if a player wants to do something solo, it should be CHOICE. Teaming shouldnt be required, but rather encouraged. If a player gets a mission with an Arch Villain, hell be able to drop it and get another.