Poll: What do you like most?

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While the storyline and there are some awesome arcs, it's the costume creator and the near-infinite powerset combinations that keep me coming back.

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I picked the storyline, although if powersets were up there, I would've gone with them.

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Agreed...that really should have been an option .

well is deffinately not the pvp, really missed the mark there... I'm going to say the costumes, really getting better as the game progresses

None of the above.

Its a superhero game

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Favorite Villians? The 5th. I miss my Nazis

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Me too. My favorite mission of all time was a stop the 5th column mission that had banners everywhere, and some hitler like voice giving a speech in what sounded like german. Raised the hair on the back of my neck... I loved pounding the Nazis in that mission...

Draugadan

I love the costumes.

As a side note. Please come up with some way to add player crafted costume parts. I think this would allow for truly unique characters, and if we can then trade the created items to each other then it could set up a true economy in the game. It would also give me a reason to put some long hours back into this game. I love this game and don't plan to go anywhere but I really love my 50 and don't want to make anymore new charaters. Craftable costumes would have me doing any and all missions I need to do to get the ingredients then set up my little shop and go nuts.

Even though I'm voting storyline, I agree with other posters that we need more of it. A lot more of it.

The storyline this game had at launch was phenomenal. A deep, detailed history that slowly unravels, small villain groups leading you to larger villain groups leading you to super villain masterminds, and clever plot twists that had me focusing on story arcs over all other aspects of the game.

The 40-50 content introduced to CoH in i1... well, there were some nice things. Praetorians are a classic spin on the JLA's Crime Syndicate counterparts, but then we don't really get what we needed from them: more insight into Statesman and the other signature heroes.

The Carnie arcs work a lot better, since they refer to events before and during the Rikti War. But then we have the Malta. They're a conspiracy, they look cool, aaaaaaaaand that's it. It still amazes me how Crimson can save up so many secrets for the end of his missions and still not surprise you in any way, shape, or form.

We all agree that the Shard is pretty devoid of story. Hollows re-invented the Hazard Zone system, so I gotta give credit there, and then Striga gave some nice build up from contact to contact that ends with a major crescendo.

But Croatoa just doesn't tie into the rest of the storyline. Very well designed zone, interesting missions, and you've pretty much forgotten you were ever there five levels later.

CoV has the same problem all the way through. Every five levels, you meet a new contact and start a new story arc. The story arc then comes to a screeching halt and never connects with any others.

You don't get the gradual unfolding of "An Unnatural Order" - "The Unity Plague" - "The Terra Conspiracy" - "Eden Spire Trial" and then Hamidon in The Hive.

There's no build up like the links from Skulls to Trolls to Family in the development of Superadine. And Lord Recluse, the main villain of the game, is less interesting/scary/well-defined than Nemesis. Arachnos pops out of nowhere and just sits there being evil. There's no great mystery to compare with the origin of the Rikti.

But, again, this is where CoH gains strength from its original storyline. All the events swirling around the Rikti War that involve so many villain groups.

So, yeah, I voted for The Storyline. Because you guys made a good one that's been left idle far too long. Give us more. ^_^

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The storyline for me. I like the feeling that my charecter is part of an epic story.

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Epic, yeah... and my characters are all bit players in the story of Statesman and his über buddies that will always be better than me and my teammates no matter how much I grind away.

I'm supporting cast, I have no story of my own.

Since the comunity isn't listed there,(which is the best I've ever played with, minus a few exceptions... ) I'm gonna have to go with costumes as well.

Edit: Though the story is a close second.

Although it wasn't on the list, I'd say I like the gameplay and powers the most so if this poll is to give the Devs an idea of what new stuff they should work on, I'd say new powersets and power customization.

As for the choices on the list, costumes wins over the storyline. Custominzing my characters is one of my favorite parts of the game (add carnie costumes). Anything you could put in (carnie costumes) that'll add more diversity (carnie costumes) to the character creator would be great (carnie costumes).

Storyline would be third on my list. Some (but by no means all) of the missions from when the game was first released were somewhat bland, but ever since Striga the storytelling has really been a fun aspect of the game. Some of the 40+ villain mission stories especially are awesome. So that would be my top three choices in order of preference.

I can't really pick off that list, although if I had to, I'd have to say costumes.

What I really love COH/COV for is the multitude of ATs and power sets. Playing new and unique characters is what keeps me here by a mile.

Hands down, the storyline.

I'm going with Storylines, though of course the ability to customize your characters via the Costume creator is a close second.

I think "Storylines" actually covers most of the other areas - badges (flesh out backstory, especially Exploration & History), NPC groups (lots of creativity there, as well as comic staples [eg, "Mafia" style gangsters]). Still, the ongoing stories are what really makes me want to play through the story-arcs, hit the TFs/SFs, and generally experience all there is to experience. It's one reason I'm so excited about the ongoing plot that (hopefully) will be picking up speed in the near future.

I voted for costumes, but would like to include powersets in that. This games greatest strength is the ability to design a character the way you want. Not just in the costume, but in their abilities and the bio for that character.

The only thing missing is power customization.

Personally I like the varied enemies in PvE, although there are some I absolutely hate (Looking at you KoA) but for that list Costumes shine the brightest.

I chose costumes from the list. Though if you were expand it into 'look and theme' with powers and effects in there, it'd be even more important.

A tie for second, from the list, would be storyline and mob groups.

I like the background of Paragon City. The story of the Ritki war is pretty cool, as are some of the arcs. I do agree that it isn't very well integrated into gameplay, however. I'd really like to be a part of it more and have to make decisions. I like the fact that you can choose a patron in CoV - it becomes part of the personal story. But I'd also like a 'none of the above' option.

As for mob groups, I loves me some Freakshow. The arc where they are working with the Circle of Thorns had me laughing for days.

As superficial as it sounds, I had to choose costumes :-P it's fun being able to make your characters your own. some other games let you choose between a handful of choices, but there is a pretty good chance you'll end up looking just like everyone else. In CoX, the odds of finding someone with the exact same costume as you (unless they were copying you. which I have had happen, and was very annoyed. the original Raye Gunn is on Virtue, and Virtue ONLY, btw.) is very small, and some of the costumes you can create are very fun.

But story and badges are a close second. I love Freaks, too. I'd love to have some Freakshow costume pieces so I could make a decent Freak character.

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CoV has the same problem all the way through. Every five levels, you meet a new contact and start a new story arc. The story arc then comes to a screeching halt and never connects with any others.

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not quite true... though in general, yeah they are more segmented... but Jenkins makes repeat appearances, and....

SPOILERS!
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That fire blaster you turned to villainy, Pyriss shows up level 45+ as a Devouring Earth AV, you have to beat the snot out of the Radio (Free Opportunity!) for Television in an arc that really would make very little sense unless you had done Radio's missions. That reporter you saved after learning the secret of the PTS shows up again, too. there's a few others.

what I really want to see? some reformed Freak contacts, hero side, that came from Miss Francine's school

Costumes!

Don't believe me? Click here.

Oh wow... well, I love the costumes, and appreciate more being added, but I used to right-click-Info on every enemy I met, just to read up on them. I was even taking screenshots, that I'd edit later, so I could have "info cards" on everybody.

So, the storyline would have to be my favorite. Here's hoping for more backstory stuff ingame, rather than on the website. <_<

Gee, I guess I'd have to vote for PvE.

Oh, wait, that's not an option.

<---- Hopes voting for bases will help getting personal housing/bases in Cox.

Of the choices, a big toss up between storyline and costumes. The storyline is fun and engaging, and the costume editor is obviously the best in the business. As a matter of fact, its the lack of individuality that is the second most thing that pushes me away from other MMOs. But CoH's greatest strength is the sidekick/ exemplar system, and tthe number one thing that keeps me out of other games is lack of a similar sytem to allow casual and hardcore gamers to play together painlessly. Also of note, the ability to have fun solo and in a group, and the ready access to travel powers.

I'm also torn between costumes and the storyline. I also really like pve as mentioned earlier by other posters.

Like many before me I chose the storyline.

Like many before me I hate that the game makes you work so hard to discover it.




The costume creator is a close second.

This is a very significant question for me, because it has been the focus of a couple of poignant decisions for me.

About a year and a half ago, I realized that I was taking too much time out of my real life for gaming, trying to play two MMOs and keep up with good single-player games. I had to pick which MMO to keep. I've had cause to revisit that decision recently, and I suspect the change in my answers is informative in many ways.

Really, the issues haven't changed. What has actually changed is that CoH/V has utterly failed to evolve in directions that make it more fun for me; the other game - let's call it "GoSH" - is still not directly aimed at my favorite interests but as part of their general polish it has actually become a great deal more fun for me over that time.

CoH/V strengths:

*** #1 absolute best feature of CoH/V ***[*]Sidekicking and exemplaring mean that I can play with my friends regardless of our differing amounts of playtime. It means we can mix and match alts to match our moods. It make the game a social occasion, which really makes up for the fact that a computer game, and especially an MMO, is a crippled environment for real role playing. (Sadly, this huge advantage only applies when one actually has friends playing the game. Since the lack of progress in the problem areas I mention below has driven most of the folks I'd play with away over time, it's becoming less and less important that I could group with them if they were still around.)
[*]Primary PvE focus: While time continues to be wasted on adding PvP features for me and my friends to ignore, the core of the gameplay is focussed on PvE. I don't miss any substantial part of gameplay because I get no fun from fighting other players.
[*]No rat hunting in CoH: From the very first moments you play your character, you are doing something heroic. Saving little old ladies from muggers means something in a way that no amount of rat hunting can.

Weaknesses of CoH/V:

*** #1 reason why I have cut my CoH/V gaming to one scheduled night a week with my friends, and gone back to "GoSH" the rest of the week ***[*]Exponentially increasing time to level - specifically, by the time you reach level 30 a 6-hour evening of gaming is "good" if it yields a tenth of a level, and it takes 3 levels to gain any new powers. Gaining new powers is the biggest carrot in the game, the way in which play stays fresh as well as the source of the biggest feeling of accomplishment. If it's going to take an entire month of play to get one new power, but I can play another game and get a feeling of growth and accomplishment every night...
[*]Poorly realized enemies, loss of heroic/villainous feeling: Somewhere around level 20, CoH starts to lose flavor fast. Graduating from street punks to small-scale organized threats like the Valhizoks and what you first think the CoT to be feels right. And everybody loves to hate the Nazis. But beating on Freaks on street corners just because they are "bad"? Going into the poshest neighborhood in the city and seeing Rikti - who are supposed to be mysterious and hidden - standing on streetcorners?
[*]Lack of villainy in CoV: "Kidnappings" that are just rescues with a different label, missions that play and feel identical to heroic ones in general, endless fights against Snakes and doing flunky work for "real" villains. Even the newspaper missions, which at least capture some of the flavor of being your own evil master, are all disconnected one-shots. Why does my supposedly arch-villainous character never even come up with a plan for world domination? On the good side, a few of the contacts' missions do feel very villainous - turning a new hero to the dark side, hunting down the old man, etc. But far too many of them could be hero missions with very minor changes.

So, a year and a half ago, I looked at the two games and said "Playing with my friends and not worrying about PvP, I'll go with CoH."

This year, I note that in GoSH the Battlegrounds feature has given a much better venue for the folks who want some PvP on their PvE servers (so PvP no longer interferes with PvE players), that they are working on an expansion that will raise the level cap, that they are retuning most of the high/max-level content for smaller, fun teams instead of massive raids. The things I hated most about that game have been improved greatly *despite my being at the edge of their target market*. They've also managed to fix many class and power (talent) balance issues by retuning and boosting underperforming characters instead of nerf-festing. They've even taken steps to make the classes that heal able to do so effectively in groups even while concentrating their talent choices on more interesting abilities - an unexpected and welcome step away from the EQ tank/healer/dps pigeonhole mentality.

Meanwhile in CoH/V the same year has seen almost no change in the most broken areas. One bright spot was a partial fix to the early disastrous design decision to make accuracy effects additive instead of multiplicative; these days Defense-based power sets are at least playable. But otherwise almost all the real changes in the game have been PvP-related. Most characters' high-level abilities, even if one is patient enough to reach them, are "situational". The powersets that used to be the most flexible have been nerfed into one-trick-pony status, so while an ice tanker does play differently from a fire tanker, a level-40 ice tanker plays almost identically to a level-12 one.

I am not giving up on CoH/V entirely just yet. The veterans' rewards include some nifty things to play with. The invention system in I9 sounds intriguing. I do have three good friends who are committed for the long haul, and it looks like the SG and base fixes will make it much more tenable for us to play as a 4-player, 20-character or so SG.

And not having to worry about aggro when I'm the healer makes the game much more relaxing when my work day has been tiring. I shouldn't forget to mention that.

But when I see the game today and think about where I hoped it was going 2 and 3 years ago, I am disappointed. I really hope that this trend will change. Meanwhile, I can play GoSH three or four nights a week and have fun with that while I wait.

I voted storyline, but I have to agree: Where was "PvE gameplay"?

The story is what drives me to keep doing missions, but the core gameplay is the reason I'm still playing. I've tried a lot of other MMOs, but none of them offer a combat experience like COH.

I even kind of like PVP combat (the gameplay, not so much the interaction with other people) and gladiator combat.