Discussion: Castle Talks on w00t Studios Podcast!
By
Aisynia,
Posted on: 2008-10-07 17:18 in News, Events and Announcement Discussion
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1) Yes, outright changing powers is bad. Unfortunately, it's the only way we *could* proceed that met with the goals we had in mind, the technical limitations presented and the timeframe allowed. I hate "building cottages" but it was the only path in this circumstance.
2) I misspoke re: Weapon Mastery getting Focused Accuracy. It's Targeting Drone. Functionally, it's *identical* to FA, it just has the visuals and display name of TD.
3) Web Grenade is the power that is being replaced in Weapon Mastery.
4) Yes, various PPP's now have access to FA.
I'm certain a complete list of the changes will be up here on the forums within an hour of Beta starting (soon!(tm)) and I'm looking forward to the feedback (positive AND negative) at that time.
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[u]Movement (and now Recharge!) Protection for Temperature Protection[u]
1. Did it for kicks, seemed like the right thing to do at the moment.
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Glad we finally have confirmation that it's recharge protection also. But ah... just for the hell of it? Hearing that made me want to cry.
Edit: First Post after Redname... by complete accident.
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[u]Topic: PvE Power Changes.[u]
[u]Patron Pools and APP[u]
1. They all got looked at by Posi, Castle, and minion. Datamined which ones were taken and which were ignored. Buffs, nerfs, and power replacements!
2. If powers are replaced, when you log in, you'll have the new power. No grandfathering.
3. About 20% of the A/EPPs were replaced.
4. As one example of the Epic/Patron changes, Castle mentions that Weapon Mastery for Scrappers will now include Focused Accuracy. If his memory is correct.
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Hmmm. No 'grandfathering'? I remember hearing that term, but I'll need a quick refresher course.
I wonder if this'll mean that if we don't like the replacements, we'll have to 'respec' them. Would be nice if this means we'll get a free 'spec with this update.
[/ QUOTE ]This means they are getting rid of caltrops and possibly conserver power just so they can sanitize ninjutsu and energy aura before being ported to scrappers. 
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Great, the squishy/melee divide just keeps getting bigger. I'll be pretty pissed off if they remove caltops. Why weaken the one set scrappers can use to force melee?
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4) Yes, various PPP's now have access to FA.
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Soooooo Good 
Doms? O.o
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The Weapons Pool is one of my favorites, I sure hope I don't lose any powers from it due to the addition of Focused Accuracy. It would kinda ruin the gadgety quality of the set. I'm not a fan of FA at all.
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At least it fits in under weapon mastery... oh, wait...
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Let me specify with my opinion on changes and the fear of changes. As most know, I LOVE Force Fields. In a very unhealthy way, some might say.
However, if the devs changed one of the powers completely and/or replaced it with another... let's say they changed my FAVORITE power in the set, Repulsion Field into a power that "built a small cottage at your chosen location"... then how would I react?
Well, I would look at it as a challenge, as a new interesting mechanic. I would look for ways to make use of the change. I would see if I could summon the cottage around corners to see if it could aggro enemies for me in safety. I would see if it could be targeted and used for Howling Twilight...
There are a thousand possibilities... but the moral of the story is this: change happens. It just does. You can either complain about it endlessly or you can embrace it. One will lead you to being upset and will affect the way you face the rest of the world in a negative way, the other attitude will let you face the world in a positive way.
I TRY to never let anything bother me too much in a negative way. (TRY being the operative word here) Why? Because it only ends up hurting me in the end. And why allow something that I can control within myself to harm me when I can choose to NOT allow it to cause me grief?
How do I benefit from being upset? I don't, so I try not to let things upset me. Because it doesn't benefit me.
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Or, if a larger chunk of players didn't like the change, they could say so, strongly, and the devs, in a bizarre effort to please their clients and continue to make money, might listen to them.
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1) Yes, outright changing powers is bad. Unfortunately, it's the only way we *could* proceed that met with the goals we had in mind, the technical limitations presented and the timeframe allowed. I hate "building cottages" but it was the only path in this circumstance.
2) I misspoke re: Weapon Mastery getting Focused Accuracy. It's Targeting Drone. Functionally, it's *identical* to FA, it just has the visuals and display name of TD.
3) Web Grenade is the power that is being replaced in Weapon Mastery.
4) Yes, various PPP's now have access to FA.
I'm certain a complete list of the changes will be up here on the forums within an hour of Beta starting (soon!(tm)) and I'm looking forward to the feedback (positive AND negative) at that time.
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Timeframe? Castle, what timeframe? You guys reported Architect because you felt it wasnt good enough. Why not rethink the Epic replacements a bit more and report it as well?
Whatever plans you guys may have, people will get screwed and thats not even considering how much money and IOs will be wasted if we also lose our Set IO enhancements.
You said Web Grenade is being removed? There... That was my only -fly power for my scrapper... Thanks, a Targeting Drone will surely help me alot against flying foes. And i also lose the -Recharge effect and the Pace of Turtle IO sets i had in it?
Wah! 
I may disagree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.
Voltaire
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3) Web Grenade is the power that is being replaced in Weapon Mastery.
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This is makes it even harder for scrappers to force melee combat. Why would you want to nerf scrappers in this regard? One of the few means scrappers have to hit from range and slow/immobilize an opponent. This is a terrible choice. I'd love to hear your full thought process behind this move.
3) Web Grenade is the power that is being replaced in Weapon Mastery
That's the only power in the set worth keeping. It grounds fliers, stops or slows runners and slows recharge.
Current Blog Post: "Why I am an Atheist..."
"And I say now these kittens, they do not get trained/As we did in the days when Victoria reigned!" -- T. S. Eliot, "Gus, the Theatre Cat"
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3) Web Grenade is the power that is being replaced in Weapon Mastery
That's the only power in the set worth keeping. It grounds fliers, stops or slows runners and slows recharge.
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Yeah, it's like they saw lolmelee, but want it to be LOLMELEE.
Scrappers, speak up, this is a horrible change to weapons mastery. I could live with replacing one of the redundant and weak shuriken powers, but not one of the two truly useful powers.
more toons getting FA, there goes my SR scrapper.....
No one goes there anymore, it's too crowded...
"The potato goes in the FRONT."
re: Web Grenade
Can't you buy a temp power in Sirens' call that's Web Grenade? ((Sure pop some Yellows first)) I think the Arena also sells them, although only for use in the areana.
I remember because I was on one of the SC skyscrapers getting harrassed by a flying tank. I webnaded him and he dropped like Wile E. Coyote over a cliff.
There was much lulz to be had.
"Steady as a mountain, attack like fire, still as a wood, swift as the wind.
In heaven and earth I alone am to be revered."
- Motto on the war banner of Takeda Shingen (1521-1573)
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I'm certain a complete list of the changes will be up here on the forums within an hour of Beta starting (soon!(tm)) and I'm looking forward to the feedback (positive AND negative) at that time.
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Closed or Open Beta? (I'm figuring Open, but one can hope.)
"Steady as a mountain, attack like fire, still as a wood, swift as the wind.
In heaven and earth I alone am to be revered."
- Motto on the war banner of Takeda Shingen (1521-1573)
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re: Web Grenade
Can't you buy a temp power in Sirens' call that's Web Grenade? ((Sure pop some Yellows first)) I think the Arena also sells them, although only for use in the areaa.D
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They can't be slotted, they run out, and they don't allow you to work in set bonuses.
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re: Web Grenade
Can't you buy a temp power in Sirens' call that's Web Grenade? ((Sure pop some Yellows first)) I think the Arena also sells them, although only for use in the areaa.D
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They can't be slotted, they run out, and they don't allow you to work in set bonuses.
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The shruiken should go.
Unless Castle wants to tell us that more folks choose the shruiken then the web grenade.
Blazara Aura LVL 50 Fire/Psi Dom (with 125% recharge)
Flameboxer Aura LVL 50 SS/Fire Brute
Ice 'Em Aura LVL 50 Ice Tank
Darq Widow Fortune LVL 50 Fortunata (200% rech/Night Widow 192.5% rech)--thanks issue 19!
Seriously, I just made the choice that I wanted that web grenade... Yup, to stop fliers and jumpers from getting away from me in pvp, and in PVE. I suspect you'll find that people who DO pick that power are picking it because they are very sure they want it. What good is hitting if they run off anyway?
I guess that's unavoidable to some degree, but... blah i hope there is some kind of pvp movement change to go along with this.
--
mu
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re: Web Grenade
Can't you buy a temp power in Sirens' call that's Web Grenade? ((Sure pop some Yellows first)) I think the Arena also sells them, although only for use in the areana.
I remember because I was on one of the SC skyscrapers getting harrassed by a flying tank. I webnaded him and he dropped like Wile E. Coyote over a cliff.
There was much lulz to be had.
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You can only buy it if your faction has control of the zone in sirens - and you only get 5. In the arena, having perma webnades is a huge advantace.
I would personally drop Trops or Shuriken instead of webnade
*looks up at all the posts griping about losing Web Grenade*
*Laughs his [censored] off*
Can you honestly tell me with a straight face that they WOULDN'T get just as many complaints no matter WHICH power they replaced?
No matter what they change, or even if they changed nothing, they'd still piss off a lot of people. The only difference is who would be posting the angry letters.
The Devs are damned if they do, damned if they don't.
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You can only buy it if your faction has control of the zone in sirens - and you only get 5. In the arena, having perma webnades is a huge advantace.
I would personally drop Trops or Shuriken instead of webnade
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Would having Web Grenade and a Focused Accuracy clone in the same Epic set be a good idea?
Wouldn't that become an extremely potent set for PvP?
I'm honestly surprised Exploding Shuriken didn't get dropped. 19 end, 32 second recharge and all. I wouldn't think many people would take that.
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3) Web Grenade is the power that is being replaced in Weapon Mastery
That's the only power in the set worth keeping. It grounds fliers, stops or slows runners and slows recharge.
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Yeah, it's like they saw lolmelee, but want it to be LOLMELEE.
Scrappers, speak up, this is a horrible change to weapons mastery. I could live with replacing one of the redundant and weak shuriken powers, but not one of the two truly useful powers.
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Nope. Changing nothing would be even better since i have taken all 4 powers of the pool! I like my Weapon Mastery! Im a true ninja!
Wah!
I may disagree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.
Voltaire
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I'm honestly surprised Exploding Shuriken didn't get dropped. 19 end, 32 second recharge and all. I wouldn't think many people would take that.
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It's a Tier issue. FA is Tier 1, Web Grenades and Caltrops are Tier 1. Under the Dev's current plan, one of those two powers had to go. With Targetting Drone (FA) a given, which of those two powers Webnades or 'trops do you want to lose? That is the question Castle is faced with.
Of course if he were to see and read my previous post, he might decide we could have it all!
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You can only buy it if your faction has control of the zone in sirens - and you only get 5. In the arena, having perma webnades is a huge advantace.
I would personally drop Trops or Shuriken instead of webnade
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Would having Web Grenade and a Focused Accuracy clone in the same Epic set be a good idea?
Wouldn't that become an extremely potent set for PvP?
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I think that really depends on what the PvP changes are. It might be for current PvP, but it's still on a melee AT.
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The counter-argument to this is that FA is so popular, that people don't take Weapon Mastery, just because they want (or feel they need) FA. Now, with FA available in WM, you may see more people picking powers from the WM pool. So now, those people have more choices.
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I have a strong suspicion that this is exactly what they are trying to accomplish.
They are still looking at APP as pools... Let me present some "ouitside the box" ideas for them.
Eliminate the pools. Retain the tiers. Under my idea, scrappers (since most of this discussion is focused on them at the moment) would now have the following choices when they hit 41.
Tier One: Conserve Power, Focused Accuracy, Torrent, Petrifying Gaze, Web Grenade, and Caltrops. These powers open up to Scrappers at level 41.
Tier Two: Laser Beam Eyes, Dark Blast, Shuriken. These powers open up at level 44 and you must have taken at least one of the Tier 1 powers first.
Tier Three: Energy Torrent, Tenebrous Tentacles, Exploding Shuriken. These powers open up at level 47 and you must have taken a Tier 2 power or two Tier 1 powers first.
That is my proposal Now here is some brief analysis of it. Keep in mind this is just Scrappers; each AT would have the same done with their pools.
In Tier One, you have powers that are an eclectic mix, both in their effects and in appearance. You could do some serious character customizing right here. Most of your garden variety PvPers will take what best helps their build (FA), but many may see certain things fitting their theme. What if I have a Stamina-less Ninja? I might want both Conserve Power and Caltrops.
In Tier Two, you have basic ranged attacks with various secondary effects. Again, you might take one to be uber, or you might take one for theme. Tier Three is the same except it is AoE.
In short, this would level the playing field for all. You could have your totally l33t build or you can make your character fit a perfect theme. The important thing is that no powers, no animations, no fun is lost in this proposal. In fact, I humbly submit that it would increase the fun!
I will be the first to admit that this idea only addresses APP and not PPP. That is partly due to my hero preference, and partly due to time constraints. Maybe someone else can take the ball and run with it for Villainside.
As a totally separate issue, I am willing to bet that as FA starts to be proliferated will be facing a nerf soon.