Poll: Issue 9 Breakthrough!
By
4_Thirty_5,
Posted on: 2007-05-30 18:24 in News, Events and Announcement Discussion
I liked the fact that some new content was added to give my semi-retired level 50s (at least to the Hero side) something to do. In fact That was what brought me back from that "other " mmo. Having more high level content is what the game has been lacking. I love the chance to flex those high level powers. So the STF would get my vote. Hamidon, even repackaged is as stale as lasts weeks bread. Perhaps those that have not experienced a Hami raid will try it, and like it.
While I'm impressed with the invention system, I'm not impressed with the whole "phat lewt" grind that goes with it. It smells like "that other mmo". I'd rather be playing towards a goal, wallowing in new content, than chasing some random drop. The tutorial is still confusing and leaves some gaping questions that can only be answered by hitting the forums.
The sets should be purple, like in that "Other" game. The Sets really takes away from the "create your hero/villian" concept and reduces it to "you are your magic items". However, I do like the degree of control you have in placing them. I think "rares" should drop more frequently from bosses and as mission rewards, instead just some SO. You can't give away some recipes and others you cant afford to craft unless you got 30 million influence for the salvage. This makes sets more trouble than they are worth in many ways.
New shineys. I really like the costume pieces..but Sheesh, enuff with the wings already. why not make raptor packs or jumpacks available as costume pieces. How about some origin themed stuff other than wings.
I give Issue 9 3 and 1/2 stars. for trying. Maybe then "recipe" for Issue 10 will include some spice. For some high level content goodness.
I was truly surprised with the results of this poll so far. I have been a long time player of the game and a consumate PVPer. I have found it difficult to afford the creation of the new Invention enhancements and have decided to simply sell everything instead of fumbling about any further. I have no way of knowing what the result of my invention will be until I have created it and can hover it over my enhancement slots to see the results. Uh, too late then fellas. I already had to shoot the wad as it were and cant get it back if the benefit is not great enough to warrant simply slotting a DO or SO. I am going to try again now that I have leveled my current toons far enough along now to have enough money for some experimentation. Thank godness for free respecs so I can recoup some of the cost of my failures. But since the interface does not allow me to make any comparisons so I can make intelligent choices, I expect more failure. I have noticed that there have been a few super players I have encountered in the PVP zones. I have had indvidual discussions with many of them and have found that they are heavily slotted with Inventions. There were of course able to do this by transfering funds from other characters or purchasing influence/infamy from outside sources. So now the game balance is broken for those who do not have large amounts of resources to slot all Invention types enhancements. Huh? Didn't my toon get nerfed a few times already to solve for balance issues? It will just be a matter of time before we see more super players in the game and the power player issue will once again rear its ugly head. This forces me to somehow get more cash to my favorite PVP characters so that I can stay competitive with those that are wealthy. Great!
I wanted to say something about Personal Storage, since it's not doing so well in the poll.
In comparison to the other things to vote for, it's not the biggest or neatest thing I9 gave us. I actually voted for IO Sets, instead.
But don't let it's poor showing here fool you. I think the personal storage is a really big - and really wonderful - addition. I belong to a great SG with lots of storage vaults for inspirs and enhancements. But the group policy is "What you put in there can be used by anyone." I'm good with that, since I get a lot of drops I can't use but other people I know ccan. That's a nice and useful policy.
But it also means that if I got a drop that was too high for me to use, I couldn't put it in the bin and be sure it would be there for me when I leveled. And when you're 47, it can take quite some time to gain two levels so that SO is usable. There's no way to put a note on it - "please leave this one, take anything else." And there's nowhere else to put it except to leave it in my enhancement rack for two levels. Not the end of the world if you only have one, but sometimes I've had as many as 3-4 enhancements I couldn't use yet.
I really would love a personal storage option where I can leave my things for just me to claim later without having to leave my great SG and start my own base to do it.
~Missi
http://tinyurl.com/yhy333s
Miss Informed in 2016! She can't be worse than all those other guys!
I voted on all poll questions and am adding a post.
[u]1. What was your favorite 'feature' of Issue 9?[u]
A: Statesman's Task Force - While I do like the invention system, and did not expect to, I welcome the TF more. High level characters needed something more to do than twink or PvP.
[u]2. What new shiney were you most excited to get?[u]
A: New Costumes - No contest there for me. However, the drop rates and corresponding prices (30,000,000 for Fairy Wings) are pretty scary. The last option of this poll [Personal Storage] is a joke.
[u]3. Do you like the addtion of a dynamic economic system?[u]
You may choose only one
A: Yes, I think it adds to the game. - It's a real gift for people who enjoy that element of a game, and even those who don't can play with it, if they choose to. Or not. However, it has changed the game (see comments at end of post).
[u]4. Did you find the invention tutorial easy to use?[u]
A: Yes, I graduated with honors.
[u]5. How would you rate Issue 9 overall?[u]
A: 4 stars and a thumb.
I like (not love) the invention system. I really like the States TF, even though I've only done it once (and failed). I haven't done Hami and don't plan on ever doing it, hero or villainside. I like the costume pieces and am waiting to see more pieces on MY characters.... in time, in time. However....
The game has changed for this issue, more than any other. Issue 9's Invention System and it's corresponding aspects are inescapable.
The tutorial is easy, but it's the kindergarten primer of the learning curve for this system (even worse for the 'who reads the mission/guide anyway' types). I've explained and reexplained this more than once to some of my SG members.
To be invested in this system, there is a lot more. And it's expensive. Unless you're starting out with multimillions tucked under your belt, you had better sell, sell, sell right from the start and know how to play the market. And the market does favor the experienced players who have played games with markets before. This isn't for people on their first game.
Where before taking time out to sell between every couple of missions or upgrade enhancements every few levels took some time, now a great deal more down time is spent on inventing, transfers, auctionhouse trips. Large amounts of downtime are necessary if you really want to play with this. This is a radical change from the COH/COV of the last 3 years which was supposed to be different, simple, jump in and PLAY.
More than game mechanics have changed, but social as well, and often intertwined.
Rare is the TF or trial now that isn't a rush through grind for that rare recipe dangling carrot at the end. I miss the old style TFs and Trials.
Team chat, SG chat, Global channel chat, TF and Trial team building focus a great deal on the Invention system - getting those rare Recipes in those 4 hour blocks of time, rare pieces of Salvage, figuring out just where and how to get the components for the recipes.
The everpresent Invention chat I mentioned --- very, very annoying for the non-I9 fan. It's caused misunderstandings (yes, it HAS), nearly led to the destruction of a 3 year friendship (yes, it almost DID), and I know one 3 year vet and COH beta tester of this game who now almost exclusively solos to get away from it.
So, while most people are at least moderately happy, and I find I-9 inventions diverting and something fun to do on the side, your game has changed irrevocably. And despite the acclaim of this poll, not everyone thinks for the better... especially after we waited so long.
(A lot longer than it first appears if, as I believe, ED was in prep for this.)
PS: A final word. The only way I have been able to afford to play with Inventions is a friend who QUIT the game over this gave me 40,000,000 to do it with. That's what I'm talking about. And the developers need to keep in mind that those answering this poll are the top whatever fraction of a percent in the game who read, answer polls, and are the most knowledgable about this stuff. Who can actually find where to even attempt to get a Pangean Soil or Hamidon Goo drop for their recipes.
Together we entered a city of strangers, we made it a city of friends, and we leave it a City of Heroes. - Sweet_Sarah
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The best part of I9 was the addition of the things that made my heroes' lives a little easier: new trams, stores in KR, and trainer in PI.
I actually laughed when I saw new costumes as a choice under new shiney. We have new costumes? Really? First of all those things some are considering costumes, I don't. They're new inventions. New costumes would be available when I go into the character creation screen. Second, if I wanted those things, I have two chances of getting them: slim and no. Furthermore, if I get them on a character, chances are that I won't be able to use them on that character. And if I make a character that would use them, chances are that I won't get them. This was a totally screwed up way of implementing what are supposed to be costume items. I know there are players out there who don't care about their characters and will slap wings on anything, but I'm not one of those.
I9 has even hurt the shiney that I voted for, badges. Now there are so many with such ridiculous requirements that my interest in badges has dropped significantly.
The only good thing that I can say about the invention/economy addition is that my lowbies don't have to struggle with inf so much since they can sell all the worthless crap that they get now. But even that selling takes time away from, you know, actually playing the game.
I am REALLY hoping there are some worthwhile things in I10, because the idea of quitting again has been crossing my mind more and more recently. And this poll is going to be totally skewed, since a lot of the people who weren't thrilled with I9 may have quit already.
[ QUOTE ]
Second, if I wanted those things, I have two chances of getting them: slim and no. Furthermore, if I get them on a character, chances are that I won't be able to use them on that character. And if I make a character that would use them, chances are that I won't get them.
[/ QUOTE ]just to address this, costume recipies are, like other recipies, tradeable. i have yet to get a costume piece that i used for the character for whom i was using it, but so long as you have one friend who can help you play recipie hocky, you can trade them. thats how i got the 4 costume pieces i am using thus far on the right lowbies..
[ QUOTE ]
A: New Costumes - No contest there for me. However, the drop rates and corresponding prices (30,000,000 for Fairy Wings) are pretty scary. The last option of this poll [Personal Storage] is a joke.
[/ QUOTE ]we need to be fair about one thing, 30 million for fairy wings is only heroside, vllianside it tends to top out at 8 mill.also the price hasnt been true for a several days now. prices tend to spike on weekends and die on monday, but fairy wings tend to float closer to 20-25 mill, still high, but a good bit less than you quote. a few high rolls may hit due to someone with more cash than sense blowing a large wad of cash, but thats a higher than average sale. finally it should be noted that fiary wing are an outlier, most wings are hovering at 10 mill or lower and some boots have often dipped lower than a million. i got my friend piston boots for 500,000 after having the bid up for less than 10 hours. which for a level 50 is 2-3 contact missions(scanners seem shorter) on rugged out of sg mode. maybe half an hour's work
Issue 9 has introduced all the worst qualities of WoW. Auction houses and "uber loot" were precisely the things I left that game over. City's main advantage over said game is character customization in the form of costume options. Locking those up as "shineys" was a step in the wrong direction. These new "features" are a incentive to go back.
[ QUOTE ]
Issue 9 has introduced all the worst qualities of WoW. Auction houses and "uber loot" were precisely the things I left that game over. City's main advantage over said game is character customization in the form of costume options. Locking those up as "shineys" was a step in the wrong direction. These new "features" are a incentive to go back.
[/ QUOTE ]are you really comparing the cordoning off of about 10 or so costume options to the entire loot centric nature of wow? thats not a slippery slope argument, thats an atomic supercollider. i dont like costume parts in inventions, but thats a jump that defies any rational evidence. literally 99.9 percent of the options are still open to you, and loot is never as needed in standard model mmo's like wow and eq2, so rationally, if you are thinking of leaving because of the implementation of loot, then you must have other reasons to go.
[ QUOTE ]
Issue 9 has introduced all the worst qualities of WoW. Auction houses and "uber loot" were precisely the things I left that game over. City's main advantage over said game is character customization in the form of costume options. Locking those up as "shineys" was a step in the wrong direction. These new "features" are a incentive to go back.
[/ QUOTE ]
so i now have to participate in 20 raids lasting 8-12 hours each, in order to get two good drops?
otherwise, wtb (what the bananas) are you talking about?
um, if you have the vet rewards, you get angel and demon wings on all your toons for free. you can buy wings for 10-20m each. with the crazy prices on loots, i've seen/heard of lvl 10-12s with 10-20m just from loot sales.
so um, you're mad because you can't get santa costume pieces as drops? or just looking for something to be mad about?
Political correctness is a stench in the nose of God. Yes, your God(s) also.
Raids dont last 8-10 hours a sitting, ive raided plently and that was also one of the reasons i chose to leave that game. However playing the game for over a year, shelling out 10mill, or farming endlessly to get a costume drop is not for me.
I also dislike that i end up spending more time in the ch than i had to spend in the ah. Regarding other reasons for leaving ill admit thats true. Im growing weary of storming office building #23647b and warehouse #498766a. Im looking for reasons to stay, I really love the characters ive created in my time here and locking up costume options that might be used to extended my enjoyment of the game is not helping. Yes at the moment it may only be a few sets of wings, but think of the future, they will almost certainly add more.
[ QUOTE ]
Was overall happy with I9. The only thing that prevents it from recieving 5 stars from me is lack of Temporary Power Inventions. Hopefully, this will be corrected soon.
[/ QUOTE ]
I hope they go a different route with temp powers. Getting access to a few temp powers for being in a group would be great.
*Points a Sig*
[ QUOTE ]
399% graduated with honors? Obviously they don't teach MATH at the university.
It's too bad you have to have an empath with 36 months veteran badge and 50 million influence to be able to afford a single healing set.
It's too bad they couldn't find a healing set for transfusers and twilight graspers with some accuracy in it.
It's basically a slap in the face to non-empath defenders, the whole I9 spiel. Empath, scrapper, tank, that's all the devs want the community to play.
[/ QUOTE ]
Bingo, spot on. For my defenders:
My 50 Rad/Rad defender is sticking with her Hami-Os and a few generic IOs for fill-ins.
My 37 Kinetic is going Generic IOs with a few sets (eventually).
So is my 24 Dark.
My 17 Storm actually is playing with Miracle, just for the hell of it since I primarily duo with her. Why not? Five-slotted miracle to say in your face, I'm not an Empath, so what? And three other minor sets. At this level it's cheap to slot. She'll grow into their full power eventually.
And my 36 Empath... the one defender heal set that got the lovin', yup, playing with lots of Miracles. Numinas are just too expensive. Forget it.
The way I see it, My blasters and scrappers will eventually play with IOs. My 45 Tank is having some fun, one set and lots of generics. I'm mostly ad libbing my way through this. Who has time for spreadsheets? I already waste too much time on this.
Isn't this supposed to be a game? I want to PLAY.
(My second post, first was my summary and review of my poll answers)
***
One last observation, should have made my first post:
I perceive a difference in drop rate for costume pieces Heroside vs Villainside.
Costume pieces seem to drop Villainside a lot more. And the prices reflect that.
Devs - crunch the numbers and be honest about it.
Together we entered a city of strangers, we made it a city of friends, and we leave it a City of Heroes. - Sweet_Sarah
BOYCOTT NCSoft (on Facebook)
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Governments have fallen to the power of social media. Gaming companies can too.
As a thief in the night I hijack this post so I don't have to type so much. Hope you don't mind Steele.
[ QUOTE ]
I voted on all poll questions and am adding a post.
[u]1. What was your favorite 'feature' of Issue 9?[u]
A: New Emotes, Have been looking for my flight poses since Testing the first go around so new emotes ftw.
[u]2. What new shiney were you most excited to get?[u]
A: New Costumes - Got Fairy wings for my friend.
Personal Storage is only for Invention salvage, so unless you are going to make inventions or store to help your friends it doesn't exist and is a joke.
[u]3. Do you like the addtion of a dynamic economic system?[u]
You may choose only one
A: NO
[u]4. Did you find the invention tutorial easy to use?[u]
A: Yes, I graduated with honors. I liked fighting the council mission is simple and easy and is a nice addition to bad you can only run it once.
[u]5. How would you rate Issue 9 overall?[u]
A: Bleak with some promise.
[/ QUOTE ]
I have said this numerous times, And have replied in several forums about this. I am one of many who felt most of these changes were not needed and were implimented poorly. This issue could have been hands down just plain better. You guys keep asking for my opinion so I will keep giving it. As it is just as valid as all those who constantly gush over how percious I9 is. You guys seem awlfully insecure with this issue as I keep seeing post and polls that appear to be fishing with please tell us how great it is.
There are plenty of people who are enjoying all the aspects of I9, some enjoy inventions and that pleases me.
Some enjoy the STF and since thats the only truly new Heroside high lvl content that is also good.
(I would like to run it again sometime but with a team not worried about time and invention crap and able to actually follow team work.)
I might enjoy building stuff if it wasn't for not being able to get what I need to bulid what I would like to build in my limited time to actually play. And before anyone has a fit I will ask you to go try to build a bed without the need tools or parts and see how far you get and now lets all go to name the hardware store of your choice to buy the missing parts so we can at some time in the next time frame, we can finally finish the bed. Now lets do that 10 times, no wait 100 times. Some people will get my point others won't. Nuff said...
And that is the heart of the problem... Almost the entire I9 is just a huge time sink, weather its farming for a certain drop or farming to do a Hami raid its farming.
I am a casual gamer, I used to enjoy teaming I don't any more, for lots of reasons; Weather its having someone put a mission on hold to help someone do a Transfer salvage / infulence, or having to wait at a mission door because someone had to drop off or sell / invent or store needed salvage so they could continue playing It gets old fast.
How many post say Oh if you don't like it your don't have to be involved. There is only one way not to be involved in I9, and that is to solo, or quit. One of my friends quit. I have turned to soloing, more then before. For the record even soloing you have to deal with I9, the only good thing is you don't have to talk about it.
I am glad people enjoy I9 I am trying to find my way through it with the hope I10 will be better. If you care PTB pay attention to what we are telling you when you ask us. Here is one request you should listen too. Many of us have told you this.
Personal Storage needs to be larger. Don't increase it back to the 100 it used to be on test increase it to at least 200 or 250. Bottom line is I should be able to hold at least one of every type of invention salvage on my character or in my Vault with out having to use the CS as a storage bin.
Ok said my piece, everyone please enjoy the game. Maybe I'll see you in the funny pages.
Valor
Quote:
|
by Star Ranger 4 WIN LOSE OR DRAW, WE WILL FIGHT. WE ARE HEROES This is what we DO! |
Decide that this will be another day in which you Walk The Talk.
MA #14724 Operation: Discredit @American Valor
Sentinel Of Liberty SG
What was your favorite 'feature' of Issue 9?
I chose Statesman's Task Force. It was a difficult choice, however. There's no denying that the Invention System and Consignment House added a great deal of depth and purpose to the game, but content is content. STF added some nice gameplay mechanics, story and badges. At level 50, when it's difficult at times to fight off stagnation, additional content is absolutley welcome.
What new shiney were you most excited to get?
I chose badges simply because I'm an addict. Love those IOs, though!
Do you like the addition of a dynamic economic system?
Absolutely! Obviously, it still has its kinks and prices are high, but these are all fixed with time and experience.
Did you find the Invention tutorial to be easy to use?
Who didn't?
How would you rate Issue 9 overall?
3 and a half stars, here. I love that an economy has been added along with a deep enhancement system because the game definitely could use some depth. However, as I said before, at level 50, it's difficult to find ways to trick yourself into continuing to play.
I hear I10 will remedy this, however.
Great issue, devs! I absolutley love the direction in which you're taking this game!
I9 is a non-event issue to me and here is why:
One of the first major differences in this game vs other MMO's was the costume customization options. It is wrong to have costume options that are economy driven. Attach them to a badge, whether veteran reward, TF, or something other then a possible drop or an incredible sum of inf.
The other big seperator was the entire non-economy side of this game. I have already seen the change in the play style of people since I9 was released. We have now added greed and covetous behavior to what was a unique world.
I know many do and will disagree, and that is ok. I also know of many that agree with me on the idea of removing costumes from inventions. I know it will never change, and that won't stop me from playing. I just wish the Dev's would seriously look at allowing concept for char's to drive costumes, not farming for rare drops.
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I've not posted in any of the Inventions Forums, and I know a lot of issues have been addressed, and fixed, and some still linger, and such. Maybe some of what I posted below has been talked about before, but this is just my opinion on the subject.
I wish the pole had more Indifferent or Waste of Time type choices. Most of the pole just didn't reflect my view on I9, so I'm posting here.
So the following is about inventions, because the other content I haven't experienced yet, so its not really relevant to me.
I'm just kinda' ((whatever)) on the whole thing. When i get recipes, they aren't for the level I'm on. Mostly I get them for levels above me, I guess that's so I can look for the salvage I need, ((whatever)).
I never find the salvage I need for the recipes I get... I guess the rarer the recipe, the rarer the drop for the salvage you need, ((shrug)).
Then the recipes and salvage are all basically random, so if I need something, I just can't go out and find it. I have to hope whatever I need drops at some point while playing the game or maybe the best place to find the salvage I need it through the Consignment House, which is just a maze of menus to me with no real idea of what I'm looking for, or where to find it.
There is just too much darn stuff to bid on, and then there's stuff that I can bid on but isnt available yet, so its like advanced bidding, I guess, and then there isn't any real list of what's actually out there to find, so finding out the name of the salvage, or recipe you want, you have to rely on player created guides and web pages which to me is a huge ((Whatever))
Then... of course the first time I try to use the Consignment House for real is the night that it goes BOOM and I lose everything while waiting for the server to be rebooted. ((Whatever))
Then to really get a great fun benefit you should get a bunch of them together, you know? Like 2 of a kind do one thing, 3 another... and so forth. But the Rare Recipes you need one of each of the same type. Confused, a bit, but I get it, If you get Manticore's Sting, its not just 6 Manticore's Sting, its six different types of Manticore's Sting... I'm already bored, (shrug)
The entire mess really isn't intuitive, from the menu lists all the way down to what benefits you about any given enhancement.
Then, if you just want to use a simple inventions enhancement, so you don't have to keep buying SO's you actually give up a few points of power to slot them. SO's are still more than worth the money, so... ((Whatver)).
So, for hard-core gamers I guess its a must have thing, especially in PVP. But for me, its much ado about nothing and I'm sad that development time was spent on such an albatros of a game system for a game that has been praised for not having a crafting system. ((Whatever))
Just glad I'm not a casual PVPer or else this new system would really make me sad rather then ((Whatever)).
The one good thing about the whole mess is that it isn't needed for PvE content. That is an extreme relief, and really the only thing I care about in the whole thing. So, for that I give I9 a solid WOOT!
So I'll end with, if I suddenly find myself with tons of free time, and I suddenly feel that Juvie needs some kind of extra something-something, maybe I'll learn more about what's going on, and I might like it then. But for my Valuable Online Game Time, its just a time sink without significant rewards to justify messing with.
P.S. Concerning the last paragraph and Valuable Online Game Time... I also spend some time playing Lord of the Rings Online, and I enjoy Crafting in that game. No problems, I know where to find the stuff I need, the Auction House is a breeze to use, I look forward to logging on to see if anyone decided to buy any of the items I crafted, and I get a thrill when I meet someone on line who happens to be carrying a Shield that my character crafted. So, take that for whatever it is.
[b] I just wanted to edit in that I do appreciate that the development team, or maybe its NCSoft, for asking our opinion. I'm sure you are getting an ear full, from both sides of the fence, I don't envy you your position. I hope that these comments help you when planing the next set of content, thank you.
I was pleasantly surprised by the invention system. Though with the new economy added to the game the prices have been crazy but that's to be expected with all those deep pockets now finally having something to spend money on. Maybe after all the rich players buy all the wings and outfit all their alts the prices might stabilize abit.
I fear a nerf coming since a well built character is a powerful hero indeed. They've basically made power player/casual player separation even more drastic. And since Cyptic nerfs at the drop of a hat I'd expect we'll see some slicing of the hatchet pretty soon.
I fear small SG's are totally screwed by the system though. No one wants to run in SG mode anymore since they need millions and millions of inf to buy anything. So I think the base system needs a drastic rework of the prestige system. The easiest change is to remove the +25 loss of prestige when in SG mode. Our base really needs a Super Computer now as we only have 5 control left and can't do anything else from now on. But there's no hope now with inventions, everyone wants the cash. So I'm just glad we got the base where we did at this point since it will never see an upgrade again. I feel sorry for those that are starting new bases since they won't really get to build anything fancy.
I'll give this issue a 4 out of 5. Though the fallout to bases probably should knock it down to 3.5. But the one simple change I suggested would restore bases again.
Though for those that don't like crafting or auctions this issue was pretty much worthless. We lost a long time player after this issue came out since he hates crafting and there was nothing for him to get excited about.
I gave it a 4 out of 5.
I really enjoy the States task force...it can be run fairly quickly and it's fun all around.
I love the Consignment house and crafting system. Inventing is unobtrusive and lets you improve your heroes and villains in ways that make you subtly different from other players with the same archetypes and powersets.
I love the QOL changes as well. Stores in Kings Row and trams to Founders' and south Skyway, bravo!
Dislike the new Hamidon encounter...why go to all that trouble when I can do States for the same reward?
Also dislike paucity of costume drops...in the hundreds of hours I have played since issue 9 launch, I've received all of two drops, identical, being rocket boots. No wings, no temp powers, nothing else.
Please increase the costume drop rates!
Questions about the game, either side? /t @Neuronia or @Neuronium, with your queries!
168760: A Death in the Gish. 3 missions, 1-14. Easy to solo.
Infinity Villains
Champion, Pinnacle, Virtue Heroes
I think I9 is long on promise, but short on actual delivery.
I love the STF, but that is undercut by the degree to which Mako and Ghost Widow are broken: Mako simply takes to much +To Hit (and nothing else), and Ghost Widow is unecessarily harsh to melee characters).
Also, while I appreciate the desire to make Hamidon a less boring encounter (and especially to open him up villainside), I think it's been massively overbuffed. The absurd amount of effort, time and planning it takes to run now puts Hami entirely out of reach of the more casual players. But it's also likely to convince those who COULD organize and run assaults not to bother. I think the new Hami is just far too much difficulty, and very little that's enjoyable. The old raids were dull, but at least they could be fairly social. I'm very sad to see this much time wasted making content worse.
The Invention system (the real point of the issue) is very interesting, and it can be very enjoyable. But even here there are significant problems. Most of the low level generic IOs are heavily overpriced: the fact that they last forever is only value-added if their bonus is enough that you would be willing to slot them forever, and that only happens at level 25. Below that, they need to be much cheaper, unless they really are intended to be sold at a loss by badgers.
The IO sets are also a mixed bag. Hunting for them is enjoyable, but I think too many of the sets are not well thought out. Most catagories have very few option in them, and the difficulty in organizing TFs/Trials makes some of the sets much too difficult to obtain relative to their bonuses. Still, even when I get a ~complete set with good bonuses, it feels remarkably theoretical. The total bonuses are never shown, and I only see them at all inderectly (by mousing over a slotted IO one power at a time, or on a long dull list in Personal Info). It's hard to get too enthusiastic over a system that feels so un-integrated with the game. This is further complicated by the way higher level IOs stop providing bonuses when exemplared, with little way to tell what has stopped working. And, as always, in game documentation on how things really work is no substitute for coming to the boards and asking around.
Moving on, I think the consigment system is a mess. The decision to so closely limit the number of slots you can use in the CH is a bad one: it makes it very difficult to leave large numbers of small-market recipes up for auction for a long time, and eventually I can't help but think that is going to cripple the market. I also think the double blind payment system is a waste; just letting us see what people ware willing to pay will save us all a lot of time.
On the issue of storage, I think we have too little. I understand that the devs fear people hording, but I think they need to get past that. The degree to which people would horde more with extra storage space would, IMHO, be offset by the ability to store and eventually sell less popular items. We'd have a more robust, less volotile economy, and I'm in favor of that. I also think we need some way to directly transfer salvage/recipes to off-line SG mates and alts. Again, it might prevent a few items from hitting the market, but it will lead to happier people and SGs. In the long run, that will be better for the economy, and the game. Lastly, I think the personal storage is a complete joke. It serves NO useful purpose, since it could just be added on to our on-character storage directly. It's just forces us to run around more before we craft something. Either make it different in some useful way (can transfer between alts, can store more than just salvage), or just eliminate it and roll it into our on-character inventories.
Finally, but most importantly, the seemingly arbitrary decision to tie costume parts into the invention system really ticks me off. I understand that people like their l33t items, but this is just a terrible blow to the best part of the game: the marvelously creative costume creator. This was not necessary for the Invention system, and the fact that every costume added to the game in I9 comes as an extremely rare drop fills me with dread of the future. If costume parts must be part of the invention system, they must either be specific versions of parts already generally available, or there must be a better way to get them than random chance. In addition, the system means you must by costume parts sight unseen, since there is no way to see how a given part would look on a character until you have bought it at least once. Just further evidence of howly badly thought out this aspect was.
So in total, I9 is a fair-to-middle addition to the game, but it could have been much better. The good news is that many of the flaws can be corrected after release. But most of that will take further time and effort.
-D
Darkonne: Pinnacle's (unofficially) mighty Dark Miasma/Radiation Blast enthusiast!
Be sure to check out this mighty Arc:
#161865 - Aeon's Nemesis
I have to say that Issue 9 for me is one of the worst Issues to come out ever. I do not care for the invention system and I always thought that not having a crafting/market system was one of the things I like most about City of * . I now fear that all new in-game items will be added to the game through this hellish system and that the recipes will be so expensive that only the uber rich supergroups will be able to afford them. For example the bug wings. I have been keeping tabs on them as I have a bug character "The Blazing Flea" and thought having one costume with the wings would be kind of cool. Well at Wentworths the recipe is going for I think right now 10 million infulence? Who has that kind of money to spend on a recipe for a costume piece? For 10 million I better get the actual costume piece on all characters I create from now until infinity. This has to be the worst system ever. There is nothing in the system to prevent dubious people from hording items and driving up the price. There is NOTHING in I9 that I like. I HATE the crafting oh sorry Invention System, I never like the Hami raids, and Task/Strike forces are not all that appealing for me. There weren't even any new costume pieces that I could get without going through the stupid invention system. This issue blows. I think they need to equal out the issues more to maybe add a powerset or a new AT or a new zone with each issue along with the mainstream stuff like the invention system so that everyone has something they like about it. Yeah there are some cool new costume pieces that came with I9 but there is no way to get them because the prices have been driven up to astronomical limits. So I will just play the game as I always have and try to ignore the invention system as much as possible. I have absolutely no plans to use it except to unload trays when they get full of stuff. So I will sell salvage and things I come across but I do not plan on crafting anything. Single Origin Enhancements do me just fine. And I guess no more new free costume pieces in the game either so I guess I will just use what is currently available. DOOOOOOOM!!!!
On Victory
Justice Bruiser DM/Regen Scrapper - LVL 50
Pocket Loki � Rad/Sonic Defender � LVL 50
And Many Others
On Protector
Warden of Hades - Fire/Fire Dom � LVL 50
Debt Bomb � Fire/Kin Corruptor
And many others
I think one of the biggest issues for me is not knowing where to go to get what I need. Say you need a rare magical salvage, you can look in the drops list and see that Carnies, Arachnos and CoT drop that, and so you farm them. But you can farm them for DAYS and not even get a single drop of rare salvage, sometimes you can farm for hours and not even get a single piece of salvage.
And when are they going to fix team drop rates? I like playing buffset characters, I have a lvl 43 Grav/FF who cannot solo and can't get a team because soloing produces better loot drops. Thanks for killing teaming.
Im not a fan of the invention system its just a big massive time sink and inf sink to get the benefits you want. You only get set bonuses when set enhancements are placed in the same power? Lame! Cant use the same set enhancement multiple times in one power? Lame! New costume pieces that are tied into the invention system instead of just being available for character creation from the start like in the past??? Lame! I9 gets 2 big thumbs down from me.
For the most part, I like I-9. Did the Statesman's Task Force and had a good time. I don't mind the time sink with the Market. It actually gives me something to do during those times when people I team with really have to take a 10 minute break for real life reasons.
Despite reading up a lot on IO's and how they work, I have to say that they have made it so that you won't really learn until you mess up badly. Things thought out badly IMO: Selling something you posted incorrectly by mistake and getting overcharged for it. A timer, an " I definitely want to sell for this price " backup check button... just anything to prevent you from loosing 2 million for something you wanted to sell for two million but posted wrong by mistake. (Trollers on this topic, just don't bother to reply, please)
Biggest let-down: Costume recipes. You've taken my favorite part of even having a character other than powersets and turned it into a thing of frustration. I've been running my alt low-level characters because it has been noted several times that they get the best chance of costume drops based on chance percentiles. I'm about frustrated all to heck after running a bunch characters through 3 levels each yesterday and have nothing but a bunch of common salvage to show for it. I think I got 2-3 Uncommon on each character I played. No Rare drops at all. This is villain side and I'm starting to read claims that Heroes are getting more of the costume drops than Villains. I hope this isn't true.
I'd rather run a hard as heck solo TF given by the Tailor to get these items with at least a certaintly of a costume drop. This NOT getting them with as many alts that I have and the time I spend playing every day is just maddening.
Biggest Positive ( for me ): IO set bonuses. I am very happy that my Dom's and Corruptor's can ( with the right recipe) get things like 10% bonuses for recovery. Small bonus percentages to overall Hit Point additions are great for squishies to get. I have one character who has a 3% resistance for Psi dmg and has an aura before level 30 because of it, which was kind of a nice surprise. The bonus isn't large, but it's a bone being thrown my way at least.
Hi Veneficus.
May I use this for a sec?
[ QUOTE ]
Complexity wise: trying to balance enhancement bonuses, set bonus, and the effects that exemping has on both of those... driving me nuts. Throw in hundreds of different salvage items that I never know the full use of and the requisite inventory management... ug.
[/ QUOTE ]
Thanks.... sounds like alot of the people I have talked to in game....
I asked a Dev(who shall remain nameless) at an event that shall not be named, how he was planning on EXPLAINING all
of this invention stuff to the normal non forum going
players due to the complexity. His response: What would be the fun in that? Complexity is fun. (paraphrased).
I responded: Chess is a complex also.... but ya don't see that flying off the shelfs...... (paraphrased).
Suggestion for making this more "ME" friendly.....
1). Global server account storage and more of it.
I know the H word.... Hoarding.... but I have stuff on toon A
that toon E needs, and stuff on Toon F that toon B needs.
SUre I can put the call out for my friends to come help with the transfer. Why should I have to? Seems a bit selfish to
even expect them to drop what they are doing to assist in
these transfers on a regular basis.
2). Reduce the the cost to create.
3). Reduce the IO's... currently all IO's(non-set) of a given type share salvage within an given range, (15,20,25),
(30,35,40) and (45,50).
Reduce this to three groups of recipes and allow us to select
the level we wish to create.... and adjust price accordingly.
4) up the bonuses on the lower lvl sets.
Show of hands.... who is really using the lower lvl ones on their lower lvl toons? Procs and Uni's don't count.
5) More set slotting options(complete sets).... this default,
across the board, you must use options 1-6 to get the set
bonus, really wacky.
6) Increase the drop rate on magic stuff...... not one Goo drop
since this went live. and all the sets I want to build..... ya got,
Need the Goo.
7) Fix the soloing for the most drops issue.... I wanna team again, but not in farming missions.
And, what I like.
1). Some old friends have shown up to give it a spin. (down side, they are not staying long... See Veneficus take on this.
2). I can see a reason to play my shade again.... if I can just
get enough Goo.
3) I like the idea of Inventions.... it's the farming for stuff I need that sucks.
BC