This.
Is true.
[ QUOTE ]
With the introduction of the merit system in CoX its important for players to learn the skills and tactics needed to maximize the productivity of their gaming time.
[/ QUOTE ]
That's all well and good in the business world... but isn't this a game? Played for entertainment and fun?
Well, I suppose some people's idea of fun is to be the most efficient at grinding to get imaginary rewards.
Nevermind, forget I said anything. You guys do what you do, and I'll be happy with my running around in fake tights fighting fake thugs in my pretendy fun time game. 
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11. HAVE FUN. If you aren't having fun go find something else to do. I get an adrenaline rush from a great run because its fun. The reward is just an added bonus.
[/ QUOTE ]
OOps, I must have missed this part. 
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1. HAVE FUN. Not every run is a speed run. Speed runs are you pushing yourself and your team to the limit. The difficulty slider isn't the only way to measure things.
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And maybe this one? Though, I agree with your sentiment nonetheless Phil.
still, I can see "speed runs" on various TFs being a good challenge for different groups.
At least it will mean more than katie is being run.
I believe this is a good idea. Guide writers, go crazy! I await your wisdom
Crime of Fashion Level 50 Rad/Rad Corrupter
My Toons
My Rad/Rad Corrupters Guide
Mindscape - Reworking
<QR>
STF, Moonfire, and Hess need guides for heroes. Ice Mistral, Renault, and the 1st/2nd/3rd respec need guides for villains. ITF and LGTF need co-op guides.
^^ This content is what people will be speeding through. Of course, it'll also get nerfed first wave of merit "adjusting." The STF and RSF will be slightly slower, I think, once Vengeance stacking gets "fixed." If anything it'll just require you to pack purples and oranges.
To be fair, though, a lot of content doesn't really need its own guide - stealth where possible, kill only what is necessary, fail missions where possible. I'll see what I can do regarding contributions, particularly on the STF, LGTF, and Hess, maybe Moonfire as well. I'm already planning ahead of I13 and respec'ing my TF-running characters into Super Speed (almost a requirement for fast-moving teams) and some form of PvE invisibility.
@macskull, @Not Mac | XBL: macskull | Steam: macskull | Skype: macskull
"One day we all may see each other elsewhere. In Tyria, in Azeroth. We may pass each other and never know it. And that's sad. But if nothing else, we'll still have Rhode Island."
"One day we all may see each other elsewhere. In Tyria, in Azeroth. We may pass each other and never know it. And that's sad. But if nothing else, we'll still have Rhode Island."
loot is ruining this game.. ugh double edge sword .. I love my purples and oranges.. hate this...
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
With the introduction of the merit system in CoX its important for players to learn the skills and tactics needed to maximize the productivity of their gaming time.
[/ QUOTE ]
That's all well and good in the business world... but isn't this a game? Played for entertainment and fun?
Well, I suppose some people's idea of fun is to be the most efficient at grinding to get imaginary rewards.
Nevermind, forget I said anything. You guys do what you do, and I'll be happy with my running around in fake tights fighting fake thugs in my pretendy fun time game.
[/ QUOTE ]
I agree good sir...
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[ QUOTE ]
11. HAVE FUN. If you aren't having fun go find something else to do. I get an adrenaline rush from a great run because its fun. The reward is just an added bonus.
[/ QUOTE ]
OOps, I must have missed this part.
[/ QUOTE ]
He is not really having fun he is just saying that so we can not call him a loot [censored] ha! ahahha lawlzor time
Some people enjoy optimizing their gaming expirience. That IS fun to them. The forums are the primary method these people exchange information. Disagreeing with thier posts because you play differently is hypocritical. Posting and sharing this information is actually part of the game for them. Most people wouldn't like it if someone told them that they shouldn't use the costume creator... saying someone shouldn't optimize and share optimazation strategies on the forums is the same thing.
I gotta make pain. I gotta make things right. I gotta stop what's comin'. 'Least I gotta try.
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^^ This content is what people will be speeding through. Of course, it'll also get nerfed first wave of merit "adjusting." The STF and RSF will be slightly slower, I think, once Vengeance stacking gets "fixed." If anything it'll just require you to pack purples and oranges.
[/ QUOTE ]
Not to totally derail the thread but Vengeance-stacking has never been a viable tactic against the Patrons. It simply just does not last long enough and isn't worth the effort for a speed run. There are easier, faster, and overall better ways of doing things than Vengeance spam.
Blue: ~Knockback Squad on Guardian~
Red: ~Undoing of Virtue on [3 guesses]~
[ QUOTE ]
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^^ This content is what people will be speeding through. Of course, it'll also get nerfed first wave of merit "adjusting." The STF and RSF will be slightly slower, I think, once Vengeance stacking gets "fixed." If anything it'll just require you to pack purples and oranges.
[/ QUOTE ]
Not to totally derail the thread but Vengeance-stacking has never been a viable tactic against the Patrons. It simply just does not last long enough and isn't worth the effort for a speed run. There are easier, faster, and overall better ways of doing things than Vengeance spam.
[/ QUOTE ]
When lacking Veng, pulling works. But I've never been on a team that failed to finish off all four AV's before Vengeance dropped. I've been on a few that finished off the heroes on the RSF before it dropped, but that usually doesn't happen, and so when the first person drops, we Veng again.
@macskull, @Not Mac | XBL: macskull | Steam: macskull | Skype: macskull
"One day we all may see each other elsewhere. In Tyria, in Azeroth. We may pass each other and never know it. And that's sad. But if nothing else, we'll still have Rhode Island."
"One day we all may see each other elsewhere. In Tyria, in Azeroth. We may pass each other and never know it. And that's sad. But if nothing else, we'll still have Rhode Island."
[ QUOTE ]
Not to totally derail the thread but Vengeance-stacking has never been a viable tactic against the Patrons.
[/ QUOTE ]
Sorry, no. Maybe for the team composition / players you tried it with. I've been on teams that used that many times.
Blue
American Steele: 50 BS/Inv
Nightfall: 50 DDD
Sable Slayer: 50 DM/Rgn
Fortune's Shadow: 50 Dark/Psi
WinterStrike: 47 Ice/Dev
Quantum Well: 43 Inv/EM
Twilit Destiny: 43 MA/DA
Red
Shadowslip: 50 DDC
Final Rest: 50 MA/Rgn
Abyssal Frost: 50 Ice/Dark
Golden Ember: 50 SM/FA
Ummmmm.... Speed is not what you want to be doing with merits. It all based on datamining...TIME
That is why a lot of TFs and content is low for merits. We have sped through them so quick now we are being punished.
What we as players need to do is go at the pace of a turtle till the next data mining comes out.
This is only way to get the merit rewards increased...
SLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW DOWN
[ QUOTE ]
Ummmmm.... Speed is not what you want to be doing with merits. It all based on datamining...TIME
That is why a lot of TFs and content is low for merits. We have sped through them so quick now we are being punished.
What we as players need to do is go at the pace of a turtle till the next data mining comes out.
This is only way to get the merit rewards increased...
SLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW DOWN
[/ QUOTE ]
Sorry, no. I'm going to the get the rewards I can, while I still can. Rather than take the time to fix the content that is able to be done "brokenly fast," they're redoing the rewards system instead (which had nothing wrong with it).
Turtling through content isn't fun for me and many of the people I play with. Some other people might like that, but it's the story they're there for, right? So why would a lower reward matter to them?
@macskull, @Not Mac | XBL: macskull | Steam: macskull | Skype: macskull
"One day we all may see each other elsewhere. In Tyria, in Azeroth. We may pass each other and never know it. And that's sad. But if nothing else, we'll still have Rhode Island."
"One day we all may see each other elsewhere. In Tyria, in Azeroth. We may pass each other and never know it. And that's sad. But if nothing else, we'll still have Rhode Island."
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
11. HAVE FUN. If you aren't having fun go find something else to do. I get an adrenaline rush from a great run because its fun. The reward is just an added bonus.
[/ QUOTE ]
OOps, I must have missed this part.
[/ QUOTE ]
He is not really having fun he is just saying that so we can not call him a loot [censored] ha! ahahha lawlzor time
[/ QUOTE ]
Not necessarily. We've had "TF races" for measly reward, before IOs. It was done for fun and bragging rights between SGs. There are plenty of reasons to do "speed runs" that have nothing to do with reward. Plenty of players solo AVs knowing that isn't the best way to get rewards per minute of playing time. Overcoming a challenge is fun for many, and a good amount will define "doing X TF in a faster time than most players would believe" as a challenge.
Speed ITF Guide
This is the first guide I've written so cut me a little bit of slack. I hope everyone interested in Speed runs of the ITF benefits.
Team Options (what works and what doesn't)
The team makeup of a Speed ITF can be diverse. All Hero/Villian teams can be effective but I find a blending of the two works best, After all it is a co-op TF.
1. Leave the lowbies at home: Speed Runs are not the place for Sidekicks. Be lvl 50 or at least everyone be at the same lvl.
2. Bring Damage: If you kill you can't move on. I prefer a mix of Melee and Range.
2a. If you can't take a beating, don't go: Melee toons need to be able to stand up to a full 8 man spawn of Nictus guards, solo a Cyst Crystal, and escape. They need to be able to do it again 5 seconds later.
2b. You need powerful AOE and solid single target. Plan ahead with lets that can provide both.
3. Bring Stealth: Everyone should have some form of stealth. Cimeroran's agro at the wind so getting past them to your goals is imperative.
4. Bring debuffs: The more damage they take the faster they drop.
5. Bring Buffs that fit the team
My ideal team: 1 fire/kin Corrupter, 1 Cold/X Corrupter, 1 Cold/X Defender, 1 X/Therm Troller, 1 Elec/Elec Blaster, 2 Fire/SR Scrappers, 1 Stone/X Brute.
(Tips: Core team needs to contain Def and Res shields. I like Cold and Thermal because of the debuffs)
Detailed Mission Objectives
Mission 1
A. Free the Sybils
B. Lead Sister Solaris to Altar
Basic Plan: Double Ice Buffs, Fire Buffs and Speed Boost on everyone. While stealthed 2 melee toons speed to the dead end rooms and free the sybils there. Use care not to agro the main room group, its easy to loose the guards in the mix and it takes time to solo the room. Once the End rooms are clear the entire team wipes the T crossing room as a unit. The Sybil placement guarantees side group agro so just kill them all as quickly as possible. Skip the hall groups and go out the door. Jump up the back side of the mountain, rebuff everyone on the fly. Attack just the EB and the Sybils guard, don't go towards the edges or you may trigger the ambush, ignore them if you do. Turn of Stealth when she is free and escort her to the alter.
Time Goal: 5 min
Mission 2
A. Destroy 10 Shadow Cyst Crystals
Basic Plan: Buff the Melees with everything, they run like hell. The Main group stays at the door to draw ambushes and earn inf. Melee's pogo over each cyst until the halls split, each melee takes a path. Ignore everything but the Cyst Crystals. If you die, get TPed back to the buffer group, rez and get back to work. Insaly buffed blaster gets to play tank and AOE god for the Buff group on the ambushes.
Time goal: 4 min
Mission 3
A. 5 Generals
B. Romulus Phalanx
C. Defeat Romulus
D. 100 Cimeroran Traitors
Objective A:
Basic Plan: Buff the Melee's on the way to the bridge. The best scenario is for the EB group to be on the bridge or the flat ground before the aqueduct.
Scenario A: EB group on the bridge- Everyone but one melee hits and kills them. solo melee, finds and spikes the General in the 2nd group on the flat, works forward spiking other generals till the rest of the group catches up. (The ONLY group that is a kill all is the EB group, ignore everything else but the general is the 3 other groups.)
Scenario B: EB group is somewhere else- Team spikes the General and keeps moving till they find the EB group, solo melee splits off to kill remaining Generals.
(Tips: For the Generals in the Boss and Surgeon groups. Kite the general with one hit each and break line of site up on some rocks or stairs. They will typically agro alone or with a small group and are very easy to solo. For the General in the mixed group, kill the 1/2 surgeons first then focus on him.)
Objective B:
Basic Plan: Once all 4 Generals are down everyone go strait to the Romulus Phalanx. Use the ambushes the follow as fuel for Fulcrom Shift. Use a mix of AOE and Single target to kill the ambushes and the Computer at the same time. Stay Buffed and the Phalanx is just fuel for future Fulcrum Shifts. Rebuff and kill the leftover Traitors once the computer is down.
Objective C: Defeat Romulus and Requiem
Basic Plan: Jump up onto the platform with both AVs. One Melee tanks each while the team focus's on the other. Kill one, then the Other. Use the mobs on the platform for Fulcrum fuel.
(Tips: Squishees should pop and have breakfrees before going up onto the platform. Spam Immobilize on the AVs to prevent them from running)
Objective D: If you haven't killed 100 already use Requiem's ambush group or some random ones on the map to top off the kill count
Estimated Time: 8 Min
Mission 4
A. Defeat Romulus and Nictus AVs
B. Defeat 300 Traitors
Basic Plan: Buff everyone at the door and go strait to Romulus. Land on the room for the building behind him and finish buffing. Drop down on his head and go to town. Focus on Romulus. Ignore the Nictus. The blaster should take out any surgeons in the area and then focus on Romulus. Use the Nictus and Traitor ambushes as fuel for fulcrum. Cast vengeance when people go die (yes someone usually does) rez them or have the HP it quickly. Debuff Romulus with everything at your disposal. Make sure he stays Immobilized so he doesn't rabbit and agro the 5th column.
(Tips: Break line of Sight when he is defeated or you will get stunned, distance doesn't matter. Stay focused. AOE's will eliminate the ambush mobs)
Once Romulus is down clear the platform and any remaining ambushes that come. You should have about 225 traitors left to defeat. Team moves to the Left tower, triple heard the mobs into a corner and AOE them. Move to the 2nd platform and repeat. Move to the street level or a 3rd tower to get the remaining Traitors needed for the 300.
Time Estimate: 8 Min
Total Time: 25 min
Average Time: 30 min
The Key: Keep Moving all the time. Defeat the bare minimum needed to complete the objectives. Practice.
"If a system can be exploited, it will be exploited. And if a developer thinks their system cannot be exploited, it'll be exploited like a new actress in her first porn movie." Sanya Weather MMORPG Examiner
Here is my speed guide to any lvl 50 TF.
1. Screw melle and get a group of 8 Cold Dom/Sonic Defs.
2. Own everything.
Good Post James!
Thanks Feihung
I am trying to decide what to do next, any suggestions?
"If a system can be exploited, it will be exploited. And if a developer thinks their system cannot be exploited, it'll be exploited like a new actress in her first porn movie." Sanya Weather MMORPG Examiner
[ QUOTE ]
Thanks Feihung
I am trying to decide what to do next, any suggestions?
[/ QUOTE ]
Give all your stuff to me, Unsubscribe and then erase your characters and forum posts?
Crime of Fashion Level 50 Rad/Rad Corrupter
My Toons
My Rad/Rad Corrupters Guide
Mindscape - Reworking
With the introduction of the merit system in CoX its important for players to learn the skills and tactics needed to maximize the productivity of their gaming time.
We all know CoX's history of very generous community members who are always willing to help, teach and learn from one another. I'd like to use that sense of unity to help each other with the transition from a Roll TF reward system to Merits.
To accomplish this its important that we pool our resources. So I'd like to see an influx of new guides on how to do Speed runs for each Task/Strike Forces.
Guides should contain the following:
Team Options (what works and what doesn't)
Detailed Mission Objectives (What really needs to be accomplished)
Effective Strategies (Tips from veteran players or new ways approaching mission objectives.)
Estimated Completion times for each mission. (Benchmarking)
Any other information you may find relevant to the TF.
If you're way is different that the existing guides, please post your own. The more ideas and options we all have the more successful we will be.
Please don't post exploits. Only methods that use existing game mechanics should be posted.
Here are some great links for TF information: Everything you need to know to do speed runs is there.
Badge Hunter: Each TF/SF Badge has a link to a TF guide:
http://www.badge-hunter.com/view_bad...ype.php?type=3
Paragonwiki:
http://cityofheroes.wikia.com/wiki/Task_Force
To start it off I'd like to post some notes on how I approach running speed TF's.
1. HAVE FUN. Not every run is a speed run. Speed runs are you pushing yourself and your team to the limit. The difficulty slider isn't the only way to measure things.
2. This isn't for everyone: Lets just all be honest with ourselves and admit that not everyone is going to be capable of doing this. Its not the build, or the method. Its the Player.
3. Speed: GO FAST, it sounds obvious but your not going to accomplish your goal of a Speed TF by standing around and talking about what you going to do before each mission.
4. Form an A-team: Find a group of players who enjoy doing speed runs and do them together. The more you play, the better your communication, the faster the runs. Adding PUG players can come later when your good enough to just need a few pads.
5. Have a Plan: Know exactly what you and your team is going to do before you step foot in the mission. This takes practice.
6. Play on PUGS be aware of the action: Someone may do something different that can be incorporated into your tactics. Plus they are great for showing you what Not to do.
7. Game Mechanics: Understanding the buff/debuff system and how it relates to your objective is critical. NPC's are designed with weaknesses. Speed Runners take advantage of them. Its not an exploit, its how you play the game.
8. Focus on the objectives: Anything that isn't directly related to the objective is fluff, skip it. Speed runs aren't about smelling the flowers, its about SPEED.
9. Ghosting: Just Do It. Stealth is part of the game for a reason.
10. Pads are Fillers: They get the reward by staying out of the way and not slowing the team down. That's their job.
11. HAVE FUN. If you aren't having fun go find something else to do. I get an adrenaline rush from a great run because its fun. The reward is just an added bonus.
I'll be posting a few guides to my favorite speed TF's in the coming weeks, no, not Katie or Eden, but if you want to know how to do a 25 min ITF keep an eye out.
"If a system can be exploited, it will be exploited. And if a developer thinks their system cannot be exploited, it'll be exploited like a new actress in her first porn movie." Sanya Weather MMORPG Examiner