Not once, not twice, but three times...
By
008Zulu,
Posted on: 2006-01-10 16:26 in Developers' Corner
I got some incentive; give AV's the xp worth of pre-i3 Hatched Kraken. =)
Once you kill the AV; mission complete. Keeps people from farming, and makes killing a demi-God baddie feel triumphant.
[ QUOTE ]
First...I confirm that we're working on right now (as in pohsyb in the next room) to add CoV costume parts into CoH if you own both games....
Then we repeal the hated stealth nerf. The reason why: many well reasoned posts. It's that simple. You guys pointed out the problems.
AND now...we're changing the way Archvillains spawn. A ton of forum goers disliked adding so many AV's into missions a while back...so we've come up with a solution. If the team size and mission difficulty are ABOVE a certain level, an Archvillain spawns. Below that, players will face only an Elite Boss. If the mission is set on the first two levels of difficulty, it takes 4 heroes or more to spawn an Arch Villain. On the third level, 3 heroes or more. On the fourth level, 2 heroes. On the highest (Invincible), a solo hero will spawn an AV. Note this works in BOTH City of Heroes and Villains.
In order to incentivize larger teams, Positron is going to add a bonus to AV rewards!
[/ QUOTE ]
Wow...positive changes. I'm impressed.
Cynicism aside, tho, I do like these changes Statesman, and I think this is a step in the right direction. But I do have a question:
Suppose a player is sitting on 3 AV missions that they (for whatever reason) cannot get rid of. Will this retroactively allow them to drop the slider (provided they had it up) and complete these missions?
I'm just here to play the game...take my money! *exits out of internet explorer to play CoH*
[ QUOTE ]
First...I confirm that we're working on right now (as in pohsyb in the next room) to add CoV costume parts into CoH if you own both games....
Then we repeal the hated stealth nerf. The reason why: many well reasoned posts. It's that simple. You guys pointed out the problems.
AND now...we're changing the way Archvillains spawn. A ton of forum goers disliked adding so many AV's into missions a while back...so we've come up with a solution. If the team size and mission difficulty are ABOVE a certain level, an Archvillain spawns. Below that, players will face only an Elite Boss. If the mission is set on the first two levels of difficulty, it takes 4 heroes or more to spawn an Arch Villain. On the third level, 3 heroes or more. On the fourth level, 2 heroes. On the highest (Invincible), a solo hero will spawn an AV. Note this works in BOTH City of Heroes and Villains.
In order to incentivize larger teams, Positron is going to add a bonus to AV rewards!
[/ QUOTE ]
Thank you, thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!
Silas Dark
D.E.F.E.N.S.E. Incorporated
[i]"City of Heroes is at its best as a Superhero game that's implemented as an MMO, rather than as an MMO that just happens to be about Superheroes..."[/i]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
First...I confirm that we're working on right now (as in pohsyb in the next room) to add CoV costume parts into CoH if you own both games....
Then we repeal the hated stealth nerf. The reason why: many well reasoned posts. It's that simple. You guys pointed out the problems.
AND now...we're changing the way Archvillains spawn. A ton of forum goers disliked adding so many AV's into missions a while back...so we've come up with a solution. If the team size and mission difficulty are ABOVE a certain level, an Archvillain spawns. Below that, players will face only an Elite Boss. If the mission is set on the first two levels of difficulty, it takes 4 heroes or more to spawn an Arch Villain. On the third level, 3 heroes or more. On the fourth level, 2 heroes. On the highest (Invincible), a solo hero will spawn an AV. Note this works in BOTH City of Heroes and Villains.
In order to incentivize larger teams, Positron is going to add a bonus to AV rewards!
[/ QUOTE ]
Just to calrify: The Archvillain thing is ONLY for Mission AV's, Archvillains in Task Forces/Strike Forces and World Spawns will not be changed.
In City of Villains, Archvillain-class enemies are called "Heroes" and this change applies to them as well. (With the exception of Strike Forces and World Spawns of course).
[/ QUOTE ]
Ok, for clarification, this change will STILL effect the Archvillains in CoV that are NOT classified as Heroes, and also NOT part of SFs?
[ QUOTE ]
Dude. Frosfire the AV. Now I know I'm going to be running the Hollows again.
[/ QUOTE ]
Heh, good point. Good ol' Frostfire... I hate him so much. 
[ QUOTE ]
Um...
Wow...
Holy....
You guys just keep finding new ways to earn my money.
[/ QUOTE ]
Indeed. The AV thingy is much needed. I was surprised by a couple missions which I had done where the main villain had been an Elite Boss in previous runs with other characters only to see them changed to an AV whith another character later on. Lets just say the Hospital was tired of seeing my face. 
CatMan - some form on every server
Always here, there, and there again.
Bwaahaha! Frostfire as an AV would rule. Great way to introduce players to AVs. 
Holy Fan-F-Ing-Tastic Batman!
Ok, after not hearing a thing after two months of AV-hating, I expected the dev consensus was "working as intended". Talk about a surprise from left field... Only it's something good.
It woudln't be fair for me to jump down Crytpic's throat for everything I don't like without giving equal compliments for the good stuff so, very very nice guys.
So, when do we get this? Next week? (I keed, I keed.)
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
WOW!! OMG!!! YOUARETEHBEST!!!
Not really. ED still sucks. Supression still sucks. PvP is still awful compared to the other PvP choices out there(5 million customers=doing something right). The game is awful compared to I2-I3. Almost all the people I enjoyed playing the game with have left for greener pastures, and all you can do is give out more nerfs? Yes, you did undo this nerf, but not entirely. You still are going to introduce it again, just in a different way. There is no reason to play a superhero game where you feel more like a minion than a hero.
[/ QUOTE ]Attention customer:
Piss in someone else's Cheerios. That is all.
[/ QUOTE ]
Yeah! You tell him!
::Grabs Aaron and jumps around screaming with him in her arms::
Yay for the devs.. and yay for cute Conan!
[/ QUOTE ]Ack! X_X
::Squishes him to her bust::
So cuuuuute! Dancing and everything!
Will the EB'd AVs still count towards the AV badges? Specifically on the CoH side: Dimensional Warder
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Dude. Frosfire the AV. Now I know I'm going to be running the Hollows again.
[/ QUOTE ]
Heh, good point. Good ol' Frostfire... I hate him so much.
[/ QUOTE ]
This would be nice if it worked the other way around. If some of the existing Elite bosses who were never AV status were able to be upgraded to that status due to these new changes on the way. It would be a lot of fun for those who want the added challenge. Frostfire the AV would be fun
[ QUOTE ]
WOW!! OMG!!! YOUARETEHBEST!!!
Not really. ED still sucks. Supression still sucks. PvP is still awful compared to the other PvP choices out there(5 million customers=doing something right). The game is awful compared to I2-I3. Almost all the people I enjoyed playing the game with have left for greener pastures, and all you can do is give out more nerfs? Yes, you did undo this nerf, but not entirely. You still are going to introduce it again, just in a different way. There is no reason to play a superhero game where you feel more like a minion than a hero.
[/ QUOTE ]
Two questions,
a) If you hate it so much why are you still playing?
b) If you aren't playing, why are you still posting, just to be nasty when they actually announce good news?
[ QUOTE ]
AND now...we're changing the way Archvillains spawn. A ton of forum goers disliked adding so many AV's into missions a while back...so we've come up with a solution. If the team size and mission difficulty are ABOVE a certain level, an Archvillain spawns. Below that, players will face only an Elite Boss. If the mission is set on the first two levels of difficulty, it takes 4 heroes or more to spawn an Arch Villain. On the third level, 3 heroes or more. On the fourth level, 2 heroes. On the highest (Invincible), a solo hero will spawn an AV. Note this works in BOTH City of Heroes and Villains.
In order to incentivize larger teams, Positron is going to add a bonus to AV rewards!
[/ QUOTE ]
*drinks some coffee so he can spit it*
You're actually taking that suggestion?! I honestly never thought you'd change this. We really needed this, as often as AVs are popping up in CoV, but wow. This seemed like one of those things you were adamant about. Maybe now my 20-35 characters will quit getting pleas every hour to come help defeat Barracuda. 
Though, before everyone gets too happy, Statesman probably realizes that many elite bosses are hard enough to practically require a team anyway. -_o Try soloing the Superfreak, for example. Or imagine trying to solo elite boss Infernal. But, at least this opens the possibility for doping yourself up on inspirations and trashing Barracuda solo for those occasions when you're playing at 4 in the morning and nobody's around to help.
Will the AVs who award badges still give them to you when downgraded to elite boss status? Please say yes. It would be a good 'carrot' to get people to team up for full-fledged AVs, but until simultaneous mission completion makes it into CoH, it'll make the Praetorians just as much of a pain as before.
Arc #41077 - The Men of State
Arc #48845 - Operation: Dirty Snowball
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
First...I confirm that we're working on right now (as in pohsyb in the next room) to add CoV costume parts into CoH if you own both games....
.
Then we repeal the hated stealth nerf. The reason why: many well reasoned posts. It's that simple. You guys pointed out the problems.
..
AND now...we're changing the way Archvillains spawn. A ton of forum goers disliked adding so many AV's into missions a while back...so we've come up with a solution. If the team size and mission difficulty are ABOVE a certain level, an Archvillain spawns. Below that, players will face only an Elite Boss. If the mission is set on the first two levels of difficulty, it takes 4 heroes or more to spawn an Arch Villain. On the third level, 3 heroes or more. On the fourth level, 2 heroes. On the highest (Invincible), a solo hero will spawn an AV. Note this works in BOTH City of Heroes and Villains.
.
In order to incentivize larger teams, Positron is going to add a bonus to AV rewards!
[/ QUOTE ]
.
Just to calrify: The Archvillain thing is ONLY for Mission AV's, Archvillains in Task Forces/Strike Forces and World Spawns will not be changed.
.
In City of Villains, Archvillain-class enemies are called "Heroes" and this change applies to them as well. (With the exception of Strike Forces and World Spawns of course).
[/ QUOTE ]
three things, you guys.
1. holy [censored]
2. what address do I mail my firstborn to?
3. holy [censored].
Level 50 is a journey, not a destination.
▲Scrapper Issues List - Going Rogue Edition▲
[ QUOTE ]
So how will this affect Giant Monster spawns, such as Kronos Titan, that aren't connected to TFs?
[/ QUOTE ]
I've been exceptionally vocal on the issue of AVs while soloing. That said...
The Kronos needs to stay a monster. (Not a giant monster, always purple, but a monster.) It's just one of those experiences that I think should stay where they are. First, it's one of those fun encounters. Second, it's something that, at least whenever I've seen someone with it, there's never any trouble getting help. And, if you're willing to accept going to the hospital from the ambush and letting the other mission expire, it's optional.
OTOH, for Baphomet, Adamastor, Babbage within non-TF missions...I'd like them to downgrade, but won't be brokenhearted if they don't.
I like the idea for named Elite Bosses (Hercules, FrostFire, ATTA) to get promoted to AVs when appropriate. My only exception is Longbow Ballistas...AVs should be unique, singular, one and only one of them. (So should EB, but that ship sailed with Ballistas). Again, I won't be brokenhearted, but it doesn't seem right.
My arcs are constantly shifting, just search for GadgetDon for the latest.
The world beware! I've started a blog
GadgetMania Under Attack: The Digg Lockout
First, Thank you.
Sounds all good but,
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
In order to incentivize larger teams, Positron is going to add a bonus to AV rewards!
[/ QUOTE ]
What kinda bonus you gonna add Posi? More XP? How bout some sort of super Salvage drop? Dual SO-type things? Special Inspirations?
[/ QUOTE ]
Great another bonus for large Super/Villian Groups only
[ QUOTE ]
AND now...we're changing the way Archvillains spawn. A ton of forum goers disliked adding so many AV's into missions a while back...so we've come up with a solution. If the team size and mission difficulty are ABOVE a certain level, an Archvillain spawns. Below that, players will face only an Elite Boss. If the mission is set on the first two levels of difficulty, it takes 4 heroes or more to spawn an Arch Villain. On the third level, 3 heroes or more. On the fourth level, 2 heroes. On the highest (Invincible), a solo hero will spawn an AV. Note this works in BOTH City of Heroes and Villains.
[/ QUOTE ]
I didn't mind having to team to deal with AVs, but thank you nonetheless. This is a greatly appreciated change that will allow soloers to feel more at home in the game (me included), and mitigate a great deal of the problem faced when teams aren't working well together.
[ QUOTE ]
In order to incentivize larger teams, Positron is going to add a bonus to AV rewards!
[/ QUOTE ]
And thank you again. Extra incentive on AVs isn't necessary, but definitely appreciated.
[ QUOTE ]
First...I confirm that we're working on right now (as in pohsyb in the next room) to add CoV costume parts into CoH if you own both games....
Then we repeal the hated stealth nerf. The reason why: many well reasoned posts. It's that simple. You guys pointed out the problems.
AND now...we're changing the way Archvillains spawn. A ton of forum goers disliked adding so many AV's into missions a while back...so we've come up with a solution. If the team size and mission difficulty are ABOVE a certain level, an Archvillain spawns. Below that, players will face only an Elite Boss. If the mission is set on the first two levels of difficulty, it takes 4 heroes or more to spawn an Arch Villain. On the third level, 3 heroes or more. On the fourth level, 2 heroes. On the highest (Invincible), a solo hero will spawn an AV. Note this works in BOTH City of Heroes and Villains.
In order to incentivize larger teams, Positron is going to add a bonus to AV rewards!
[/ QUOTE ] 
[ QUOTE ]
First, Thank you.
Sounds all good but,
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
In order to incentivize larger teams, Positron is going to add a bonus to AV rewards!
[/ QUOTE ]
What kinda bonus you gonna add Posi? More XP? How bout some sort of super Salvage drop? Dual SO-type things? Special Inspirations?
[/ QUOTE ]
Great another bonus for large Super/Villian Groups only
[/ QUOTE ]
I'm not quite sure I understand the problem. this will be good for a solo player because they don't have to team if they don't want to, and because they made AV's completly optional they added a bonus for people who are willing to fight harder and work together to bring down a super enemy
[ QUOTE ]
Great another bonus for large Super/Villian Groups only
[/ QUOTE ]
That's called the 'carrot' approach, as opposed to the 'stick' approach (nerfs, leaving AVs as they are). The bonus will probably be increased XP and inf. rewards. That way you CAN solo AVs if you really can't find a team (which happens often), but the reward for a full power AV is such that you'll WANT to gather a team.
Arc #41077 - The Men of State
Arc #48845 - Operation: Dirty Snowball
If the rewards haven't been decided yet and still open to suggestions:
(1) Every AV gets a badge, for defeating them "at the peak of their power". You don't get it for the EB version. (EB versions should count for portal jokeys, I think that's the only AV-related badge.)
(2) Instead of picking one lucky person to get a random SO, everyone at the end of the mission gets to pick and SO, set at their level +2 or the AV's level+2, whichever is lower.
My arcs are constantly shifting, just search for GadgetDon for the latest.
The world beware! I've started a blog
GadgetMania Under Attack: The Digg Lockout
Perfect solution! Don't even worry about making missions droppable now, as far as I'm concerned. My only standing request now regarding missions would be to make completing a mission count for every member of the group who has that exact mission (i.e. Not having to defeat Clockwork King 3 times, because three people in your group have the mission.)
Thanks!
--------------------------
on Virtue
Cetyo, 50 Nrg/Nrg/Force Blaster
Pikti Vox, 14 Peacekeeper
I'll offer my suggestion of reducing it to 3 for the first 2 difficulty levels, 2 for next 2 levels of difficulty, and 1 for highest difficulty. This way only way a solo player see's an AV is on highest difficulty.
My friend and I team on middle difficulty missions, but would want AV's. I think we can handle an AV on medium diff, but don't want to goto next level where the AV's difficulty is increased.