NCSoft Meet & Greet - Pictures & Info

Protonic_Flux · 05-16-2006 01:04 PM

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Actually, I'm talking about individualizing through moral choices made during the course of gameplay. Example:

Lets say a Story Arc in City of Heroes involves you having to track down a Hero who has suddendly taken to a life of crime. So, as the story arc goes on, you learn why: His daughter got deathly ill, and the only ones who could cure her was the villain group he was working for. So, you would have a choice: Let him escape, because his intents are noble, or arrest him, because no matter what his intents are, he was still breaking the law.

Letting him go would result in the "Angel of Mercy" badge.

Arresting him would get you the "Letter of the Law" badge.

Obviously, it wouldn't make sense to allow access to BOTH badges. And this would help personalize your character, by showing what moral decisions he/she/it has had to make. Plus, each badge could "unlock" a different contact, allowing story arcs showing the consequences of your decisions.

For example, if you let him go, the villains would now have access to the stuff to build a doomsday style weapon that threatens everyone in the city, with you having to stop it.

But if you arrested him, you would have to deal with him breaking out of jail and seeking revenge (As you essentially sacraficed his kid).

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Now I wouldnt be against something like this with new story arcs and such. But doing it for past missions and then changing it for players would cover 2 areas that I have to disagree with.

1. The cost. As I stated above I would rather have the money go into new zones, or zone revamps (The reconstruction of 2 of our hazard zones come to mind) and powersets then to go back and change how the past badge system works.

2. Your messing with characters badges, that's going to get you ill will from the playerbase, and Cryptic doesnt need any more ill will from those who are still with the game. Even if it swaps out one badge for another (Say, a new badge for failing the warwall mission instead of winning it) your still going to alter people characters. And all I have to do it point to any of the many flame wars on the forums to show that people do not like change...Even if it is neccessary and inevitable in a MMO. Plus, your always gonna have a small percentage whining that they want BOTH badges. If there's something that can be cried about, it will be.

'If Champions Online is what "CoH was supposed to be", I'm glad that I have what I have rather than "what it was supposed to be".' - The Alt oholic
"I solo'd Hamidon...but I also totally cheated." - Back Alley Brawler
"It is still early. Someone is going to get stabbed tonight I can feel it." - Ishmael (said in Jello Shooters chat)

ColdThunder · 05-16-2006 01:26 PM

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Speculation time. I seem to recall that the invention system was supposed to be launched with an event featuring some new enemy faction that you would need the inventions to fight. This sounds to me like an oppertunity for Hero/Villain teaming.

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I seem to remember one of the devs posting a while ago, (Issue Five-ish I think) That with the inventions system would come an enemy group called The Batallion, which would be so difficult that the temp powers from inventing would be neccessary to defeat them. Maybe that group is coming with the universities being made useful.

ColdThunder · 05-16-2006 01:26 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Speculation time. I seem to recall that the invention system was supposed to be launched with an event featuring some new enemy faction that you would need the inventions to fight. This sounds to me like an oppertunity for Hero/Villain teaming.

[/ QUOTE ]
I seem to remember one of the devs posting a while ago, (Issue Five-ish I think) That with the inventions system would come an enemy group called The Batallion, which would be so difficult that the temp powers from inventing would be neccessary to defeat them. Maybe that group is coming with the universities being made useful.

Edit: sorry for double post

Egos_Shadow · 05-16-2006 01:31 PM

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I seem to remember one of the devs posting a while ago, (Issue Five-ish I think) That with the inventions system would come an enemy group called The Batallion, which would be so difficult that the temp powers from inventing would be neccessary to defeat them. Maybe that group is coming with the universities being made useful.

[/ QUOTE ]

Hey, yeah. Whatever did happen with the Batallion?

@Mindshadow

Dysmal · 05-16-2006 01:48 PM

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I seem to remember one of the devs posting a while ago, (Issue Five-ish I think) That with the inventions system would come an enemy group called The Batallion, which would be so difficult that the temp powers from inventing would be neccessary to defeat them. Maybe that group is coming with the universities being made useful.

[/ QUOTE ]

Hey, yeah. Whatever did happen with the Batallion?

[/ QUOTE ]

Wasnt there a magazine article mentioning them a while back. Maybe in CGW or some other magazine.

Hmm, all I can dig up about the invention system is this quote from Posi.

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GameSpy: With each issue, it seems that the new base features come closer and closer to a true "crafting" system. Is this where the game is heading, a real crafting system?

Miller: That's the goal. The current base item creation system is the foundation for the "invention system" in City of Heroes and City of Villains. That's not to say you need a base to craft. The Universities were put in for a reason.

[/ QUOTE ]

Heroes
Dysmal
Lumynous
Sam Steele
Pluck
Wile
Slagheap
Pressure Wave
Rhiannon Bel
Verified
Stellaric
Syd Mallorn

Villains
Jotunheim Skald
Saer Maen
Jen Corbae
Illuminance
Venator Arawn
Taiga Dryad
Tarranos

Clintonian · 05-16-2006 02:17 PM

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Skills - Not coming. Ever. They tried 9 different systems and couldn't find a fun one.

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I'm reeeeeally curious as to what each of the 9 different actual systems were. And why did they think every one of them wasn't "fun." I wish they would tell us somehow, because they may end up being pleasantly surprised how much "fun" some of those options may actually be to the players' point of view.

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If the staff couldn't find a way to be interested in the various 'Skills' systems or make them workable, you probably wouldn't want to play with what they tossed out there. It sounds like they pillaged the best elements of the various systems and found a way to use them. It's probably for the best. As consumers, we're better suited to offer feedback on direction, and not so much on the destination until a feature is ready to be fine-tuned.

I think you can second-guess a creative person's priorities, but it's really hard to convince a creative person to reconsider something that they've judged to be a dead end. It's highly unlikely that you can twist someone's arm to spin gold from straw. Things like badges and other things that were on the bubble originally, unless there was someone at Cryptic that really had the desire for them and a bright vision for them, they wouldn't have happened. 'Skills', evidently, never clicked. Instead, we have Accolade powers, base crafting tables, and the upcoming Invention system - all rewards and activities that run just outside the normal run-and-gun mission-oriented gaming.

Futurias · 05-16-2006 02:51 PM

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Whoa, whoa, whoa. Liquid. I have to greatly dissagree with you here. Most people have 1 character they dedicate to badge collecting. Now replay value aside. Your saying that those people should not be able to earn badges outside of missions that our theirs?! Forget that.

There is nothing wrong with the replay value of the game. Playing this game thru as a scrapper is vastly different then playing it thru as a blaster. /End Hijack

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Yes, I am saying that. Especially since then the Dev's would be able to implement Badges where you could only earn one or the other, thus helping individualize the different characters by showcasing what paths they have taken through "life".

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Couple problems with that. 1. Are you going to individualize by archtype, or by origin? And then when you've made that choice, then you better darn well make sure that one AT or origin has the exact same as another, because you KNOW someone is going to complain that magic origins have more badges then mutants, or that blasters have more badges then scrappers do. And then there's the factor that we're going to have to dedicate devs and support to plan this, then impliment it, and test it. Then send it to the test server. That costs money. I'm sorry, but I'd rather have them save that money for a new zone, zone revamp, or new missions/story arcs or even for new powersets.

Leave it to the playerbase to make this distinction in their own minds about their characters, that's one of the reason the biography feature is there in the first place. Also there's wonderful sites like Crey Industries Threat Database and the CoV version of that, whatever it is.

[/ QUOTE ]

Actually, I'm talking about individualizing through moral choices made during the course of gameplay. Example:

Lets say a Story Arc in City of Heroes involves you having to track down a Hero who has suddendly taken to a life of crime. So, as the story arc goes on, you learn why: His daughter got deathly ill, and the only ones who could cure her was the villain group he was working for. So, you would have a choice: Let him escape, because his intents are noble, or arrest him, because no matter what his intents are, he was still breaking the law.

Letting him go would result in the "Angel of Mercy" badge.

Arresting him would get you the "Letter of the Law" badge.

Obviously, it wouldn't make sense to allow access to BOTH badges. And this would help personalize your character, by showing what moral decisions he/she/it has had to make. Plus, each badge could "unlock" a different contact, allowing story arcs showing the consequences of your decisions.

For example, if you let him go, the villains would now have access to the stuff to build a doomsday style weapon that threatens everyone in the city, with you having to stop it.

But if you arrested him, you would have to deal with him breaking out of jail and seeking revenge (As you essentially sacraficed his kid).

[/ QUOTE ]

Choice-badging is cool, not getting a badge because you didn't do "unlocked story arc" that was added later is bad.

I only really did most badges on my first character. I don't even have "all" of them yet, because tracking down specific missions is a PITA.

Still here, even after all this time!

CuppaJo_NA · 05-16-2006 03:28 PM

Whew. I am jet lagged all to heck. Plus I caught the E3 flu that is going around AND had a Howies Monster Energy Drink Hangover (TM). Thanks to Obsidius and his leet camera I still look ok in the pics despite being low on end.

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone that came by the E3 booth to say hi or that came out to Howies to play Saturday. It was great to meet everyone. I know I took a few more pictures with you guys so I expect to see more out there soon!

I met so many fun people - from finally meeting sweet DJ Jester in person, to Nylonus who brought me a Starbucks card and a stuffed bear on behalf of Virtue, to Dave Williams from AEG who agreed to maybe make a CuppaJo card to Mantid who is a forum star in his own right, to the lovely ladies of MMORadio to discovering that when SagittaryGold and I stand next to each other we create a dynamic force field that makes cameras useless! Plus I got to hang out with the very funny Matt Miller and Serdar a ton. It was a great time - thanks to everyone!

Lady Athyna · 05-16-2006 03:32 PM

Wheeeeeee!

Cuppa's back!

*hides Cuppa_Clone name tag*

John_Roy · 05-16-2006 04:12 PM

The Battalion was indeed mentioned as part of the CGW artice about I7. It stated that they fight both heroes and villains and you need the Inventions temp powers to beat them.

I8 sounds amazing.

I had two questions maybe people could answer -
did they say if Wings will move or will they just be static costume pieces like the wings on Brian Blessed's back in most of the Flash Gordon movie? That would suck.

Question Two - Did anyone ask if the other CoH city zones were getting updated the way KR, AP, and GC are in I7?

Thanks.

Obsidius · 05-16-2006 04:18 PM

WB Cuppa

You, Matt, Serdar, and everyone else from NCSoft ROCK!!!!!

See you next time you're in SoCal

If you're still ill, hope you feel better soon (not to be confused with "Soon")!

Emerald_Cloak · 05-16-2006 04:20 PM

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Skills - Not coming. Ever. They tried 9 different systems and couldn't find a fun one.

[/ QUOTE ] THUMBS DOWN!

I am so diasappointed about this, its not even funny.

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As we get older, we learn the art of letting go. Skills got shelved last summer. No more tears, E_C. No more tears.

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Nope... this is an issue with me.

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besides, wasn't it replaced with the inventions system? I thought that was what they were planning to use the univeristies for in i8...

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Yes, and that is why I have my issues. Salvage, worktables, base items, inspiration stations, and the coming invention systems are all the leftover, working parts --- whats left of skills system as a whole.

Nine times... and they couldn't put it all together as skills? Yet, what they had was enought o dish out into other things.

I'm sorry --- not good enough. A skills system they've gone over nine times and got those systems from is on the verge of coming together. They need to do it. If its not fun... then why are these systems being applied to other things... elsewhere?

Does the "fun" rule not apply to that part and what it is now applied too?

I can't let it go... and neither should Cryptic. I'm disappointed they decided to quit on skills and thought dishing out the smaller peices of the skills system to other things would be sufficient.

EC

Obsidius · 05-16-2006 04:39 PM

Threadjack! I'm calling shinanigans!

HarlyKin · 05-16-2006 04:45 PM

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Threadjack! I'm calling shinanigans!

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"Hi, you've reached Shinanigans voice mail. Please leave your name, phone number and a brief message and Shinanigans will get back to you as soon as possible."

Harly-couldn't resist-Kin

Cuppa_fluff · 05-16-2006 04:49 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
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Skills - Not coming. Ever. They tried 9 different systems and couldn't find a fun one.

[/ QUOTE ] THUMBS DOWN!

I am so diasappointed about this, its not even funny.

[/ QUOTE ]
As we get older, we learn the art of letting go. Skills got shelved last summer. No more tears, E_C. No more tears.

[/ QUOTE ]

Nope... this is an issue with me.

[ QUOTE ]
besides, wasn't it replaced with the inventions system? I thought that was what they were planning to use the univeristies for in i8...

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, and that is why I have my issues. Salvage, worktables, base items, inspiration stations, and the coming invention systems are all the leftover, working parts --- whats left of skills system as a whole.

Nine times... and they couldn't put it all together as skills? Yet, what they had was enought o dish out into other things.

I'm sorry --- not good enough. A skills system they've gone over nine times and got those systems from is on the verge of coming together. They need to do it. If its not fun... then why are these systems being applied to other things... elsewhere?

Does the "fun" rule not apply to that part and what it is now applied too?

I can't let it go... and neither should Cryptic. I'm disappointed they decided to quit on skills and thought dishing out the smaller peices of the skills system to other things would be sufficient.

EC

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theres no reason to be bitter man, u ever say to your wife/GF/mom/dad/friend that your gonna do somin like, oh say, fix the TV? if u couldnt figure it out, would they hold a grudge? most likely not, theyd call the repair man and it would be fixed. no need to be hostile, it was human error, they couldn't figure it out, but in their case there is no repair man and they cant buy a new one. they either keep devoting their budget to this and possibly shortchange other things like new powersets or fixing bugs. 99 out of 100 players would prefer the powersets, bug fixes, zone revamps, new zones etc. etc. etc. it just doesn't seem to be plausible with what cryptic has that they can develop a skill system. don't hold it against them.

Jester · 05-16-2006 04:49 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Whew. I am jet lagged all to heck. Plus I caught the E3 flu that is going around AND had a Howies Monster Energy Drink Hangover (TM). Thanks to Obsidius and his leet camera I still look ok in the pics despite being low on end.

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone that came by the E3 booth to say hi or that came out to Howies to play Saturday. It was great to meet everyone. I know I took a few more pictures with you guys so I expect to see more out there soon!

I met so many fun people - from finally meeting sweet DJ Jester in person, to Nylonus who brought me a Starbucks card and a stuffed bear on behalf of Virtue, to Dave Williams from AEG who agreed to maybe make a CuppaJo card to Mantid who is a forum star in his own right, to the lovely ladies of MMORadio to discovering that when SagittaryGold and I stand next to each other we create a dynamic force field that makes cameras useless! Plus I got to hang out with the very funny Matt Miller and Serdar a ton. It was a great time - thanks to everyone!

[/ QUOTE ]

You had a Monster Hangover??? Hehehehe nothing like liquid pixie stix to mess you up!

Cuppa was such a blast finally getting to hang out.

w00t Radio

LilithDarkweaver · 05-16-2006 06:18 PM

I lurked for a bit at the NCSoft booth (huh...kinda the way I lurk on the forums. Weird) while I was at E3. They definitely had one of the busier booths this side of the ridiculous Wii line (I have friends at Nintendo and STILL couldn't get back there to try it out. *sniff*) Didn't say hello to Cuppa (although I saw her), 'cuz the conversation would have gone like this:

ME: You're CuppaJo!
CUPPA: Yep.
(long pause)
ME: OK. Bye!

Awkward. Very awkward.

My only regret is that, aside from a couple of the I7 trailers, CoX didn't really have a presence at the show.

-SW

JChaos · 05-16-2006 06:19 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Whew. I am jet lagged all to heck. Plus I caught the E3 flu that is going around AND had a Howies Monster Energy Drink Hangover (TM). Thanks to Obsidius and his leet camera I still look ok in the pics despite being low on end.

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone that came by the E3 booth to say hi or that came out to Howies to play Saturday. It was great to meet everyone. I know I took a few more pictures with you guys so I expect to see more out there soon!

I met so many fun people - from finally meeting sweet DJ Jester in person, to Nylonus who brought me a Starbucks card and a stuffed bear on behalf of Virtue, to Dave Williams from AEG who agreed to maybe make a CuppaJo card to Mantid who is a forum star in his own right, to the lovely ladies of MMORadio to discovering that when SagittaryGold and I stand next to each other we create a dynamic force field that makes cameras useless! Plus I got to hang out with the very funny Matt Miller and Serdar a ton. It was a great time - thanks to everyone!

[/ QUOTE ]

I tried to find you at E3, but you were nowhere to be seen! ... It would probably have helped if I knew what you looked like, but still...

Dame Silverwing (50 Kat/SR Scrapper) Virtue
Professor Bikini (50 Bots/Dark MM) Virtue
Dame Silver Fury (41 Peacebringer) Virtue
Operative Velvet (50 Fortunata) Virtue
Petal Dancer (35 Plant/Kin Contoller) Virtue
Tanegashima (Rapidly levelling DP/Ice Blaster) Virtue
(and more)

Emerald_Cloak · 05-16-2006 06:21 PM

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Threadjack! I'm calling shinanigans!

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True. No need to ruin the fun here about the meet and greet. Lemmie take my bitterness elsewhere.

Golden_Ace · 05-16-2006 07:00 PM

Welcome back CuppaJo!

<.<
>.>
<.<

We were good.

O.O

[color=gold][b][size=5]♪ Sometimes you feel like a Tank, Sometimes you don't! ♪[/size][/color][/b]

[url=http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showthread.php?t=114726][color=black][b][size=5]Moon [color=red]Hazard [color=black]Zone![/size][/color][/color][/color][/b][/url]

Lord_Nightblade · 05-16-2006 07:17 PM

GA made me rub his feet!

oh wait, that happened before E3. nm.

anyway, welcome back. now go take a vacation, you deserve it.

Goodbye, I guess.

@Lord_Nightblade in Champions/Star Trek Online

nightblade7295@gmail.com if you want to stay in touch

Iodine · 05-16-2006 07:37 PM

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Skills - Not coming. Ever. They tried 9 different systems and couldn't find a fun one.

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I'm reeeeeally curious as to what each of the 9 different actual systems were. And why did they think every one of them wasn't "fun."...

[/ QUOTE ]

So am I. I suspect skills are shelved for the same reason they can't seem to get player housing/apts/lairs up and running ... they aren't fun for the devs either.

But it sure is a knee-slapping, keg-of-a-time for them to charge outrageous prestige amounts for a broken base & rent system, right? What FUN it is to emulate an economy in a casual MMO with no valid currency, no markets that influence supply or demand, or worthwhile incentives to invest in it.

<insert eye-roll smiley here>

Dinah · 05-16-2006 08:32 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Whew. I am jet lagged all to heck. Plus I caught the E3 flu that is going around AND had a Howies Monster Energy Drink Hangover (TM). Thanks to Obsidius and his leet camera I still look ok in the pics despite being low on end.

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone that came by the E3 booth to say hi or that came out to Howies to play Saturday. It was great to meet everyone. I know I took a few more pictures with you guys so I expect to see more out there soon!

I met so many fun people - from finally meeting sweet DJ Jester in person, to Nylonus who brought me a Starbucks card and a stuffed bear on behalf of Virtue, to Dave Williams from AEG who agreed to maybe make a CuppaJo card to Mantid who is a forum star in his own right, to the lovely ladies of MMORadio to discovering that when SagittaryGold and I stand next to each other we create a dynamic force field that makes cameras useless! Plus I got to hang out with the very funny Matt Miller and Serdar a ton. It was a great time - thanks to everyone!

[/ QUOTE ]

Ugh, you caught that too? My nose is leaking like crazy. *kicks E3*

It was cool to meet you Cuppa, sorry I didn't stop by on Friday, I got dragged out to the beach

LiquidX · 05-16-2006 10:44 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Actually, I'm talking about individualizing through moral choices made during the course of gameplay. Example:

Lets say a Story Arc in City of Heroes involves you having to track down a Hero who has suddendly taken to a life of crime. So, as the story arc goes on, you learn why: His daughter got deathly ill, and the only ones who could cure her was the villain group he was working for. So, you would have a choice: Let him escape, because his intents are noble, or arrest him, because no matter what his intents are, he was still breaking the law.

Letting him go would result in the "Angel of Mercy" badge.

Arresting him would get you the "Letter of the Law" badge.

Obviously, it wouldn't make sense to allow access to BOTH badges. And this would help personalize your character, by showing what moral decisions he/she/it has had to make. Plus, each badge could "unlock" a different contact, allowing story arcs showing the consequences of your decisions.

For example, if you let him go, the villains would now have access to the stuff to build a doomsday style weapon that threatens everyone in the city, with you having to stop it.

But if you arrested him, you would have to deal with him breaking out of jail and seeking revenge (As you essentially sacraficed his kid).

[/ QUOTE ]

Now I wouldnt be against something like this with new story arcs and such. But doing it for past missions and then changing it for players would cover 2 areas that I have to disagree with.

1. The cost. As I stated above I would rather have the money go into new zones, or zone revamps (The reconstruction of 2 of our hazard zones come to mind) and powersets then to go back and change how the past badge system works.

2. Your messing with characters badges, that's going to get you ill will from the playerbase, and Cryptic doesnt need any more ill will from those who are still with the game. Even if it swaps out one badge for another (Say, a new badge for failing the warwall mission instead of winning it) your still going to alter people characters. And all I have to do it point to any of the many flame wars on the forums to show that people do not like change...Even if it is neccessary and inevitable in a MMO. Plus, your always gonna have a small percentage whining that they want BOTH badges. If there's something that can be cried about, it will be.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm not saying do it with *every* badge, or removing badges that have already been awarded. Hell, I'd be against it if it ment having to remove badges that a player had already earned. However, in the long run I think it would benefit the game, instead of hurt it.

John_Roy · 05-17-2006 01:37 AM

Seems like some people think they heard that Boomtown was being worked on and some heard it wasn't? Any way to mesh the stories and figure out as close as we can whether it is?