Guide to Upcoming Epic Archetypes (I6)


Akillion

 

Posted

man, this whole thing is such a bummer, with the paid expansion we'd get more content because we'd have issues 8, 9, 10 and box. no we just have 8, 9, 10. it also bothers me that they decided not to charge for the box and then said that they couldn't afford to make shield primary for tanks. is nictus the EAT they mean? if so boooo! more content not re-hashes. this whole thing is turning into a series of bad calls.


 

Posted

well the nictus aran't goin 2 be the only ones and why would u wanna pay more money think what ur sayin u kno how much pressusre they would be on with the box people would be sayin u said its coming out on this date and then it was another. and we get the same amount of content as if we got the box. and this way people can still play CoV


 

Posted

this means that we do not get the free content and the paid content. we only get one of them. what would have taken up issues 8, 9, 10 are replaced with what was supposed to be the box. hence net loss on story and content.


 

Posted

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this means that we do not get the free content and the paid content. we only get one of them. what would have taken up issues 8, 9, 10 are replaced with what was supposed to be the box. hence net loss on story and content.

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No. The presence of a paid expansion box on the horizon does not magically double Cryptic's artwork time-budget or the number of writers or programmers they have on staff. They have a given, more-or-less static amount of development. We'll call this development X. Now, you can either divide X between a free issue and a paid box (giving you X/2) or you can give it all away (X). You don't get less than X at either point.

You might argue that without a paid-expansion, Cryptic will get less money and thus have less budget (for new programmers and such) but I doubt they'd do this if they thought they'd lose money. I expect they believe that larger, more consistent Issues will draw in more subscribers/keep more subscribers which, in the long run, will result in more money than a paid box that only die-hards pick up.

Put another way, we're getting Incarnates with or without a paid box. The lack of a paid box won't deny us any sweat EATs.


 

Posted

is that confirmed, because my understanding is that the EAT which was to be in the box IS nictus and 'warbringer'. has that been changed to include more EATs?


 

Posted

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is that confirmed, because my understanding is that the EAT which was to be in the box IS nictus and 'warbringer'. has that been changed to include more EATs?

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Here is EXACTLY what Positron said in the W00T interview:

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From Positron's interview at W00T:

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"The Incarnates are planned to be an Epic Archetype. I do not know when the Incarnates will come out, however. They don't really fit into the story line. But it is probably the first epic archetype that we want to do after putting Nictus into CoV."

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"Yeah, that's our plan, is to get Nictus into City of Villains as soon as possible and get them there as a reward for getting your villain to level 50."

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"They will probably be alot like Warshades, and there will probably be an evil version of a Peacebringer as well and with some tweaks to some of the powers to kind of put them more on the villainous side."

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As far as EATs go, here's what he has announced:

1. The Nictus (and evil PBs) coming ASAP!

2. A new EAT that was supposed to be in the expansion box (Boomtown interview.) Positron said he wanted to do the Incarnates after the Nictus, so I'm not sure if this new EAT (which CANNOT be the Incarnates for reasons explained on #3) has been cancelled but as far as we know, it still hasn't and will be included in the expansion box (now issues I10, and I11 if I recall correctly.)

3. They want to do the Incarnates after the big finale of the expansion box (now issues.) I assume that they will after the expansion box (now issues) because he exactly said, and I quote, that they don't fit in to the storyline of the expansion box (now issues I10 and I11.)

So basically, I8, I9, I10, and I11 is going to be one big story arc.

PS, For those who don't want to take my word for it, you can listen to the W00T interview, the time is 51:51.


 

Posted

I honestly don't mean to be argumentative, but my interpretation of things is slightly different. I think there's less chance of seeing an "all-new" EAT soon. Here's what I take from those quotes, combined with previous interviews and announcements:

1) The Devs want to put Nictus and probably a villanous counterpart to Peacebringers in CoV as soon as possible. They will be unlocked by reaching 50 with a villain. All of this is subject to change and will happen "Soon(TM)."

2) At one time, an EAT (Coralax, BotBS, Avilan, Incarnate, or something else never publicly mentioned) was to have been released as part of the boxed expansion.

3) There will no longer be a boxed expansion. What was to have been in it will be in i10 and i11. This is subject to change (i.e., the contents of those issues could change, and the material from the former box could be spread out further, concentrated, or scrapped).

4) i10 and i11 are planned to relate to a single storyline. This is subject to change.

5) That storyline does not relate to Incarnates. This is subject to change.

6) The devs plan to do future EAT's in this order: (1) Nictus/maybe evil Peacebringer; (2) Incarnates. This is subject to change.

All together, this suggests to me that the earliest we are likely to see an EAT other than evil Kheldians is after all the material that would have been in the boxed expansion is done. The only way I could see them straying from this is if they figure out a way to work one or more EAT's into the storyline of i10 or i11. Apparently, this is most likely to be the Incarnate, since the devs currently want to tackle them next.

Here's how I see it playing out, assuming all the devs' current plans and assumptions are realized:

1) Nictus and possibly the evil version of PB's are introduced in CoV, probably in i9 but possibly as early as i8 or late as i10.

2) The storyline that runs through i9, i10, and i11 (what was to culminate in the boxed expansion) completes.

3) Once that storyline is over, a new issue, featuring Incarnates as an EAT, is released. By this time, we're well into 2008.

4) All of the above is subject to change.

Notice that I repeatedly said "subject to change." All of us, including me, frequently forget that the devs often don't have a much better idea of where things will be in six months or a year than we do. Things are simply too mutable that far in the future. The fact that an EAT was once planned for the boxed expansion/i10 and i11 but can't be worked into the story bears this out.

Thoughts? Is there anything I missed?


"Bombarding the CoH/V fora with verbosity since January, 2006"

Djinniman, level 50 inv/fire tanker, on Victory
-and 40 others on various servers

A CoH Comic: Kid Eros in "One Light"

 

Posted

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1) The Devs want to put Nictus and probably a villanous counterpart to Peacebringers in CoV as soon as possible. They will be unlocked by reaching 50 with a villain. All of this is subject to change and will happen "Soon(TM)."

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Correct.


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2) At one time, an EAT (Coralax, BotBS, Avilan, Incarnate, or something else never publicly mentioned) was to have been released as part of the boxed expansion.

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Correct. Do note that the idea is still up in the air.


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3) There will no longer be a boxed expansion. What was to have been in it will be in i10 and i11. This is subject to change (i.e., the contents of those issues could change, and the material from the former box could be spread out further, concentrated, or scrapped).

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Correct.


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4) i10 and i11 are planned to relate to a single storyline. This is subject to change.

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Actually, I10 and I11 is the final issues of the story. I8 and I9 are included in there as well. I8 is where they introduce a "fat loot" system which derives from the Legends system. This system will continue on in I10/I11.


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5) That storyline does not relate to Incarnates. This is subject to change.

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It would be hard for them to change it. Do note that I'm not being biased. I really find it hard to believe that they can change a big story such as this unless the change is very minor and/or an extension.


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6) The devs plan to do future EAT's in this order: (1) Nictus/maybe evil Peacebringer; (2) Incarnates. This is subject to change.

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This is a hot topic. We know the Nictus will come. After that, is either (a) a new EAT in I10/I11 or (b) the Incarnates after I10/I11.


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All together, this suggests to me that the earliest we are likely to see an EAT other than evil Kheldians is after all the material that would have been in the boxed expansion is done. The only way I could see them straying from this is if they figure out a way to work one or more EAT's into the storyline of i10 or i11. Apparently, this is most likely to be the Incarnate, since the devs currently want to tackle them next.


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We don't know the story for I10 and I11 yet, and being that Positron announced that they are planning on introducing a new EAT during this storyline, it would be easy to assume that this EAT does have something to do with the storyline. Let's not forget that one of the zones in the "which zones would you like to see" poll is an Underwater zone. If that were to be introduced in I10/I11 (or whatever expansion box issues), then it will be highly likely that they will include the Coralax. Again, I'm not being biased about this.

So basically, there are many things that are still up in the air.


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1) Nictus and possibly the evil version of PB's are introduced in CoV, probably in i9 but possibly as early as i8 or late as i10.

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Agreed.


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2) The storyline that runs through i9, i10, and i11 (what was to culminate in the boxed expansion) completes.


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You forgot I8. Assuming I8-I11 will cover the storyline, I agree.


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3) Once that storyline is over, a new issue, featuring Incarnates as an EAT, is released. By this time, we're well into 2008.

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Agreed.


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Notice that I repeatedly said "subject to change." All of us, including me, frequently forget that the devs often don't have a much better idea of where things will be in six months or a year than we do. Things are simply too mutable that far in the future. The fact that an EAT was once planned for the boxed expansion/i10 and i11 but can't be worked into the story bears this out.

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No, not "was". They never said it was cancelled. Posi was referring to the Incarnates when he said it doesn't fit into the storyline since the question was about the Incarnates. There's still a chance that there will be an EAT in I10/I11. Again, this is all from an unbiased point of view.


 

Posted

Thanks. That was helpful.

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Quote:
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5) That storyline does not relate to Incarnates. This is subject to change.


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It would be hard for them to change it. Do note that I'm not being biased. I really find it hard to believe that they can change a big story such as this unless the change is very minor and/or an extension.


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I was thinking they might change the AT to fit the story, not the other way around.

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. . . Positron announced that they are planning on introducing a new EAT during this storyline. . .

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Was this during the recent w00t interview, or in an earlier interview? I was thinking it was the latter, but I could be wrong. If I was indeed wrong, then they must be planning some EAT between Nictus/evil PB's and Incarnates.

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. . . it would be easy to assume that this EAT does have something to do with the storyline. Let's not forget that one of the zones in the "which zones would you like to see" poll is an Underwater zone. If that were to be introduced in I10/I11 (or whatever expansion box issues), then it will be highly likely that they will include the Coralax.

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Agreed.

However, what about the other potential zones? The only other match that springs to mind for me is Desert and BotBS. For instance, how do any of the announced EAT's relate, if at all, to the Rikti Homeworld, another popular choice in that poll? Are we left with no EAT at all, then?

(By the way, I think this is a good time to remind everyone that the devs specifically noted during the zone poll that the voting wouldn't necessarily determine which zone was built; it would just be something they considered before starting development.)

It just occurred to me that I might be committing another error of assumption here. Who's to say that the new zone will have anything to do with upcoming EAT's at all? Maybe the two things are separate. We could have, say, Coralax without an underwater zone, just as we have Kheldians without outer space. This subject is like some Escher drawing, getting more and more elaborate the longer you ponder it.

By the way, I am not stalking Oceanborn through the fora tonight, despite appearances.


"Bombarding the CoH/V fora with verbosity since January, 2006"

Djinniman, level 50 inv/fire tanker, on Victory
-and 40 others on various servers

A CoH Comic: Kid Eros in "One Light"

 

Posted

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Was this during the recent w00t interview, or in an earlier interview? I was thinking it was the latter, but I could be wrong. If I was indeed wrong, then they must be planning some EAT between Nictus/evil PB's and Incarnates.

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Boomtown interview. He said:

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There’s an epic archetype planned for the retail expansion, but until then we are looking at introducing Warshades to City of Villains. You’ll not get access to the new epic AT just by hitting level 50 this time. Instead we’ll send you on a special Strike Force or trial.

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However, what about the other potential zones? The only other match that springs to mind for me is Desert and BotBS. For instance, how do any of the announced EAT's relate, if at all, to the Rikti Homeworld, another popular choice in that poll? Are we left with no EAT at all, then?

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It just occurred to me that I might be committing another error of assumption here. Who's to say that the new zone will have anything to do with upcoming EAT's at all? Maybe the two things are separate. We could have, say, Coralax without an underwater zone, just as we have Kheldians without outer space. This subject is like some Escher drawing, getting more and more elaborate the longer you ponder it.

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Yeah, I believe the Rikti Homeworld was one of the most popular (if not THE most popular) voted zone in the Poll. I don't know, it makes me wonder. Anyway, you're right about them not being tied with the zones. They really don't have to. I guess we just need to wait for the complete premise of the story to come out so we can make more solid speculation.

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(By the way, I think this is a good time to remind everyone that the devs specifically noted during the zone poll that the voting wouldn't necessarily determine which zone was built; it would just be something they considered before starting development.)

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I do specifically remember that. Although, I'm afraid I also remember another quote from a dev stating that the 'winner' of the poll will be in the expansion box (now issues.) But again, plans may change, so who knows. I believe the story for issues 8, 9, 10, and 11 are already written in stone, so I'm not sure if they can change that much. Maybe some minor things on the 'side', but that's all. The coming of an EAT has to be planned beforehand. I mean, IIRC, the Kheldian's introduction was still an event of it's own, so any other future EATs has to have that solid story. With that said, a solid story can't just intrude on a big storyline such as the one being introduced in the expansion 'issues' (if it is as big a story as we're led to believe.) So basically what I'm saying is, they have to had planned the EAT to fit in the story a long time ago in order for it to make sense, otherwise, we'd have two seperate stories, and I'm not sure if that's what thedevs will be planning on doing.

That's just my opinion though. A bit long-winded, sorry about that, lol.


PS, I'm not delusional, at all, but I have a theory:

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Another very important challenge is the story. It’s okay to make changes in the world, indeed it is great to do so, but they have to make sense, and continue with a story that is fluid. Going to put Arenas in the world? Add in a construction site first, with construction workers talking about what they are making and how their kid is going to clean up in Arena matches.

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With that said, we do know that there's a small pool that let us go underwater in Grandville. What's funny is, before, you just fall in like it was a hole, but the devs fixed it. They made it so you would still have the wading animation like you're underwater. Later on, they also added Coralax-Hybrids in the pool doing different emotes (I'd consider that as the devs making fun of me for my obsession with the Coralax.) Also, if one would look closely, you'd realize that the Coralax-Hybrid's skin, when underwater, shimmers with the light, like it's really underwater.

What am I saying? well, it somewhat shows that the devs are working on underwater mechanics. Now, like I said, I'm not delusional, and I'm not gonna assume that this is a clue that the next new zone will be the underwater zone, but it's definitely a nice hint. The devs wouldn't improve that small water-hole for nothing, right? Anyway, that's just a small theory.

Pictures: 1, 2, 3, 4


 

Posted

... No new subjects? been a dead forum for a week ne1 got a toon on libertiy?


 

Posted

I'll update as news comes in. So far, there's nothing really.


 

Posted

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I'll update as news comes in. So far, there's nothing really.

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I'll post something. Just something I noticed regarding Incarnates and the Infected.

*spoilers, by the way*

In Story Arc "Wierd Science" with Doctor Creed, you investigate the "source of the cesspool contamination that powers the Infected," which your informant reveals that it's caused by "some sort of biological project... led by Doctor Geist."

So, naturally, you investigate further and discover "meta-human hybrids called Arachnoids were being studied in the lab after being shipped from a place called Grandville."

This leads us to a much later tie-in involving Arachnoids, Project Fury, where you discover that the "intent (of the project) was to create a new breed of soldier made in the image of Lord Recluse by injecting them with venom produced from Lord Recluse himself. It was meant to simulate the abilities granted by the Well of the Furies..."

Which, as we all know, is where Incarnates get their power.

Thus the Infected SEEM to be getting their power from Lord Recluse, in a very indirect (three steps removed from the Well of the Furies) manner, but yet a few have managed to develop real powers (I think the one infected hero was Bioluminescence).

It's not much, but it's a nifty tie-in to Incaranates, a bit of lore you guys might not have connected yet


 

Posted

Neh, I didn't bother reading that one. After I got that awesome temp power that can 2-in-1-1-shot an Infected minion, I went on an Infected killing spree. Maybe that's why I didn't read the story arc, too much fun.

Anyway, thanks for sharing that. It's definitely a nice tie in. Not necessarily sure if it ties in directly with the Incarnates, but it does tie in with Lord Recluse's geneology sort of. Pretty interesting.


 

Posted

hmm...no ideas based off the Slag Golem backgrounder?

What's wrong with you Ocean?


@CrimsonOriole

 

Posted

Oh I had ideas alright:

Wait, no, not that.. this one..

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Ah, finally more Coralax news.



The Gaurdian? I assume this is the Leviathan. I mean, what else could it be? It can't be Merulina, but then again it can be, but it's not very likely seeing as it's almost clear that it's the Leviathan that they're digging up, the one entombed beneath Sharkhead Isle.



Although, Merulina could have been made out of coral herself, so her people and the Leviathan could have always been and may always will be a part of her, hence, the "alien presence" they're talking about. Besides, I think it's pretty obvious. Who did Calystix send after the Mu when Hequat raised that Coralax city from the depths of the sea for it to become the Mu's? Yep, the Leviathan, ergo, the Gaurdian of the Coralax.



It's just the red coral I'm thinking about. It can't all be the Leviathan, Merulina must have something to do with the red coral animating those Slag Golems. That, or another powerful Shaper maybe, but I have a feeling it's Merulina, eventhough she's nowhere to be found.




Darn, devs, please tell me this story will be in this "big storyline" for next year.

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Posted

So, nothing in the I8 information about any epic archetypes, but check out the wings .


 

Posted

they do look very delicious, not i just need to pick a character who needs them.


 

Posted

I assume all people with Fly will be given wings after this and no other options will exist for wingless flight.

It'd make about as much sense as everyone in the game having Wolverine claws instead of, you know, regular claws.


 

Posted

I'm assuming that was sarcasm.

In a related note, Posi had mentioned that there will be a zillion Jetpacks to choose from. I'd guess that jetpacks, wings, and trenchcoats will all be like capes are now ,back options.


Centinull

 

Posted

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I'm assuming that was sarcasm.

In a related note, Posi had mentioned that there will be a zillion Jetpacks to choose from. I'd guess that jetpacks, wings, and trenchcoats will all be like capes are now ,back options.

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Too bad we can't have Wings + Cape or Trenchcoats + Capes... Since they can't even fix the current clipping issues. :/ I want a trenchcoat and scarf dammit!


@Ninth Cloud
Justice

 

Posted

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So, nothing in the I8 information about any epic archetypes, but check out the wings .

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Yeah, I've been in the know about them for quite awhile now (before any info came out.)

I'm excited about getting some myself.


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Too bad we can't have Wings + Cape or Trenchcoats + Capes... Since they can't even fix the current clipping issues. :/ I want a trenchcoat and scarf dammit!

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Yeah that would look bad. Assuming Trenchoats will flow like Capes when flying, I doubt it'll mix well with wings.


 

Posted

i'm hoping for a backpack like the skyraiders have on their teleporters.


 

Posted

I'm sure the devs have conjured a plethora of different travel costumes for everyone.


 

Posted

Think the Leviathan will rise? Perhaps that is the story that they're following....

/em shrug

Or maybe it's just the 5th??

LP


@CrimsonOriole