Live Feedback: Issue 14: City of Heroes (Blueside)
By
Alpha_A,
Posted on: 2009-04-16 14:34 in Developers' Corner
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Have there been any responses from the developers re: the concerns brought up? I'm sifting, but not finding anything so far. Just "thank yous" for the tons of stuff loaded onto MA so far.
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The only comment I've seen so far was the one from Positron a week after Issue 14 came out. Issue 14 Follow-Up From Positron!
That's just great, Posi -- when you're all done with the group hug, can you please address these MANY issues that people have been bringing up on the forums, rather than keeping us in the dark?
I know you've all been busy with the Anniversary thing, but in a couple of hours, that'll all be over. Time to get back to work, if you ask me.
"But it wasn't anything some purples and oranges and lots of screaming in fear couldn't handle." -- Werner
30 level 50's: 12 scrappers, 7 other random melee types, 11 blaster/blapper/support squishies, two accounts, and a TON of altitis since 4/28/04
DDDDDOOOOOMMMMM!!!
Just give it some time, imho it will go back to normal. It's just the new thing, and most of you are right it gets old fast. The ones that leave would not have stayed anyways.
I feel it adds a much better way to get the enh I want for my toons, and a lot of the mission are just really well thought out and fun to play. I would hate to see the heavy hand come down and nerf what this system can and is doing, just because a bunch of people are crying DOOM less than a month after a issue comes out and is the new thing. I have seen it with almost every issue with a new zone or feature for almost 5 years now with the game.
Have a nice day! 
Broomhilda BS/Regen/BM Scrapper, Fiddle Faddle Shield/ElecM/BM Tank,
And many others..
Dev's With all the Great new content, Please!! dont forget to fix the bugs with the old content. There is a storm a brewing because they are not getting fixed. If its a problem that no one is reporting them? Well Maybe you need to look at your tech support then..
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I have seen it with almost every issue with a new zone or feature for almost 5 years now with the game.
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As some other posts point out, we've had a LOT of "doom!" over the past five years, and I've been around for it all, too.
"Ohmigod, Enhancement Diversification sucks! I'm outta here!"
"Oh noes, Winter Lord powerlevelling has killed the game!"
On the other hand, the game wasn't as multi-layered as it is now. Did those affect the in-game economy? Yes, but only slightly -- the Winter Lord farming did since all those level 20's had no influence as a result, but with no market system and no IO's, it wasn't a huge "hit." And while people had to BUY some new enhancements with ED, that didn't exactly break too many people's banks.
I'll be honest -- I can't recall exactly HOW fast people were getting their 1st level toons in Steel Canyon up to level 20, chasing Winter Lords. A couple hours? Four hours? (I'm sure someone will correct me, and they nerfed the Winter Lords, didn't they?!) Now, going from level 1-50 in four hours is possible, while five or six is more common for some of the people using MA, and the ticket/reward ratio is certainly affecting the economy. Those seem to be BIG changes.
While I'm not screaming "doom!" from the rooftops, it's my opinion that the new system certainly isn't perfect, nor finished, and I'd LOVE to get a developer's take on things. On the other hand, maybe they're being quiet because of the "we don't comment on exploits" policy?
"But it wasn't anything some purples and oranges and lots of screaming in fear couldn't handle." -- Werner
30 level 50's: 12 scrappers, 7 other random melee types, 11 blaster/blapper/support squishies, two accounts, and a TON of altitis since 4/28/04
Agreed. no DOOM here, though I'd love to scream that just once
It just seems that no one anticipated the huge response, good and bad from this issue. And hey, this is the feedback forum after all! If folks want to PL their brains out, go for it. Since it's so much fun, let 'er rip. But since they started this ticket economy anyway, why not go all the way and have a separate market for tickets, and not drop inf at all?
Who knows. Maybe I and those who agree are now the unsilent minority. I suspect that Broomhilda is right and that it will stabilize. Just hoping it's soon
I really like the Mission Architect, it is fun to create arcs. I can spend hours searching information about whatever theme arc I am making. For my arc The Return of King Minos, I read pages and pages of information. So I put a lot of research and creativity into my arcs.
That said, there are a couple of things that I feel would make the MA much better. 1st, the ability to place objectives, decorations, and spawns where we want them on the map. In other words make a map editor similar to the base editor.
2nd, is the 100k size limitation. I understand the reasoning behind this, but I was really looking forward to creating two large custom groups (because I love making groups), one of which would be enemy, one would be ally, and having them battle it out like a huge war in the last mish.
3rd, is the inconsistency of available maps and costume options. There are lots of cool choices in the costumes, but I want to be able to create custom characters using the Sybil style costume from the Cimerora, and the Cabal style costumes. Take things like that into consideration and apply it to some of the other groups whose costumes are found lacking in the MA editor. For maps, I feel there could be a better variety, there are tons of caves and warehouse maps. But it would be nice if we could use the Pocket D map, Cimeroran outside maps and inside the fortress, unique maps like the caves from some of the trials, like the one with lava in it. There are surely other maps that players would be interested in. We already have enough cave/warehouse/office style missions in the game, lets branch out a little for more unique maps.
4th and final complaint, the high amount of bugs in the MA mishes. Like in the large graveyard map you are allowed 20ish destructable objects, but they arent always all there. Sometimes you will be missing one or two, then you can't finish the arc. Also allies and rescue captures seem to complete shortly after you enter a mish. So if I had an ambush set to go off after an ally is found, it happens shortly after I enter the mish, and they rush to me at the entrance instead of waiting for me to go to the location where the ally is standing.
Now that alllll of that is said, I still think that i14 is a great issue. It just needs some special attention to a few key areas. And I agree the farming/PL thing sucks, but I think we have established that so lets talk about some other issues! The AE thing is huge right now because it is new, so after a while people will get bored of it and then teaming, tf's, and other social activities will be popular again. The same thing happened when Ouroboros was released.
Great job on I14 guys, lets get those bugs and issues addressed shall we! 
Be sure to drink your
Yea i already seen it posted, but i feel like i should say it too.The architect missions were an amazing idea...if people didnt use them to just farm. cause because of architect theres no one doing anything else, the economy is hell, and now people can get a 50 in 2 days.
I do think this is the end of CoH, and to bad Aion isnt out till September so im gonna be waiting a bit for another mmo 
Subjective Feedback:
I think one of the main issues Ive found is that everyones got a knee jerk reaction to this. Farming has been happening regardless of this tool. Yes. It is easier now, but it will occur whether you wish it to or not. I agree with those that say its their money they should be able to play the way they want. I performed an experiment the other night and in one hour as a level 1 dominator I went from 1 to 18 in less then 45 minutes on one run.
Alot of the following is my opinion and a theory, take it as much!
This is somewhat frightening, but not doom. There may need to be something implemented and probably IS going to be. The reason they more then likely arent doing anything is that would skew their numbers. A launch that was delayed this long more then likely made shareholders or someone higher then Positron nervous and they wanted proof it was worth while. Solution? Reactivate all accounts. Full Exp and Inf for everything AE based. DO this for x amount of time. Datamine your numbers. Present. Then when its deemed alright, go in and fix the issues some have with it being a farm fest. This also frees up content to be created for a possible sequel game, a graphical upgrade, and pre-planning against the onslaught of CO and DCUO. You may lose some in the mix, but those are acceptable losses. Lets face it, were not important. The money is. Thats the way its always been whether anyone admits it or not, its about bottom line. I dont like it, but I accept that.
End Theory
Now onto the feedback!
Something I recommend is that you implement a formula that could possibly punish for farming:
<ul type="square">[*]Use your data collectors to average out the high end levelers. Take the average amount of levels and put that as a cap you can safely attain PER 24 hours cycle. Any level after that runs a 10% risk of losing a level back to the safe cap. Each additional level then runs an additional 2% chance to roll back, capping at somewhere near 75%. This would encourage swapping and alting, one of the rather strong elements of the game. Roleplayers wouldnt have an issues levels arent what RP is about. PVPers wont have an issue since they dont really do much as it is :P Casuals wont be affected. Hardcores will know their numbers as any hardcore would. The only punishment? [u]Farmers.[u][*]Issues a three strike rule on farming maps, but by god make sure your maps your banning are farming maps. Make a support member actually play the thing, most of your support is canned responses from someone who is either too busy to deal with you or doesnt care about their job. (Keyword:Most)
[*][u]1st strike[u]: a warning and an open forum with the support member who flagged it on how you see it as not a farming map and they do. Compromise. [*][u]2nd strike[u]: Ban for [u]72 hours[u], datamine their time and see where their account logs in the most. Hit them THERE at their peak times. Or let them be unteamable, theres a code in there for that, you know it :P Im sure a three day cruise of Im street patrolling will let them think over their stance.[*][u]3rd strike[u]: A 6 month ban from the MA system, and all missions unpublished, remove badges remove any influence and exp obtained from such at no refund possible. Hit them in their superbase as well.[*]Datamine and obtained the names of anyone theyve teamed with on their farms and anyone whose not reported it via cross-referencing. Issue them a warning for not turning in the content. [*][u]Additional Suggesstion:[u] After so many exp runs in the MA, reduce the exp and inf and prestiage gained by a mathematical formula eventually starting to take away from your stockpiles of all. Make this number [u]High[u]. Have the system issue a warning before and after the threshold.[/list]
Extreme? Maybe, but it sounds like everyone wants this to stop NOW. Im not one of them but Im getting tired of watching people argue in broadcast like we used to argue in PVP zones. No I shouldnt have to turn off my broadcast :P Thats like the doctor saying well dont do that!. :P
Now your star / ratings system, thats a [u]whole new issue all together[u]. I understand that the idea of keeping the playerbase busy bickering with each other. Its a fine idea. BUT, you empower them too much, and its possible for it to either explode, or level out. Highwire act in my opinion. :P Again, an entire other issue! =)
Regards,
-C.A.
Personally, MA is the best thing ever. The ability to share player content is <bleep>ing awesome. I mean, seriously awesome.
It's become my favorite thing about CoX, and has completely revived my flagging interest in the game.
Sure, farming is a problem, and it's annoying that the majority of players apparently really want to play ProgressQuest. But even if they don't enact any further controls on farms? MA is the best thing, ever.
I have to say the idea of the MA system was a good one. Allow people to tell the back stories of their characters and/or other stories.
The problems with the "Farms" being created is on that even the devs should have been able to predict. I for one saw it coming. The only REAL solution to end farming in the MA system is to remove xp altogether and just issue tickets and badges...will not stop farming but will stop xp farming. Then the MA system can return to what it originally was meant for.
Since MA has been introduced everywhere I have been has been a ghost town (on pinnacle, freedom, virtue and triumph) where I can not find anyone running regular in game missions. Why bother when you can get from 1-50 in a couple days.
I will wait it out a month or so but really do not see this game as one I can actually continue playing since the core missions are slowly being phased out with no post 50 content of interest being added. Certainly hope I am wrong in this and that they work more on content instead of systems that will most likely be used as exploits with most of the player base then completely empty once it can no longer be taken advantage of.
This of course is just my opinion and feedback to the developers.
For Christ-chex sake, there are so many freakin awesome things to talk about with the MA, and you guys are still stuck on farming. Nothing needs to be done about it because the craze will subside after the serious players get bored. And who cares if some noobs dont know their powerset, that is their problem. If you are teaming with one of them, and they aren't pulling their weight, then kick their inexperienced bum to the curb and grab someone else. I think I'm more tired of reading about your problem with farms, than I am of the farms themselves. Lets get pass this and onto some more interesting issues. Like bugs, so the stuff works the way it is supposed to, and things we would like to see added/changed, to improve the quality of the MA itself. Maps we want to see, custom critter options, enemy costume options, the way that objectives interact with each other. If farms are such a big problem for you, then create an anti-farming thread and discuss it there. *SIGH*
Something I would love to see added, is the ability to create AVs that are larger than the typical custom criter size. Like 10 ft, or 15 ft tall. And stronger as well, somewhere between the abilities of an AV and a Giant Monster. If a good team can take on an AV fairly easily, then a good team plus a handfull of Allies should be able to take on something bigger!
Be sure to drink your
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I have to say the idea of the MA system was a good one. Allow people to tell the back stories of their characters and/or other stories.
The problems with the "Farms" being created is on that even the devs should have been able to predict. I for one saw it coming. The only REAL solution to end farming in the MA system is to remove xp altogether and just issue tickets and badges...will not stop farming but will stop xp farming. Then the MA system can return to what it originally was meant for.
Since MA has been introduced everywhere I have been has been a ghost town (on pinnacle, freedom, virtue and triumph) where I can not find anyone running regular in game missions. Why bother when you can get from 1-50 in a couple days.
I will wait it out a month or so but really do not see this game as one I can actually continue playing since the core missions are slowly being phased out with no post 50 content of interest being added. Certainly hope I am wrong in this and that they work more on content instead of systems that will most likely be used as exploits with most of the player base then completely empty once it can no longer be taken advantage of.
This of course is just my opinion and feedback to the developers.
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Subjective:
I really like the above suggestion of removing XP gain from AE missions. This would be a great way to reduce the feverish farming going on, and align the use of the AE missions for what they were meant for... Content! Farming is definitely throwing the ecomomy for a loop, and allowing for people to level up 30+ full level 50 characters in a week is not what the Developers intended for this game i'm sure (I know an individual who has done this). C'mon developers, think "balance" please.
My New Rig
: Geforce 580 GTX, Core i7 950 @ 3.20 Ghz, 24GB RAM, 240GB SSD for OS, 60GB SSD for swap = Heaven.
There isn't really anything wrong with "farming" per se. Everyone does it at one time or another, even if some don't want to recognize it for what it is.
Having said that, I can't see the developers keeping the level 1-54 power leveling for the long term. I've just got a feeling that the nerf bat will be taken out of the closet. I would hate to see it disappear entirely, for it has done much, in my opinion, to eliminate the mind-numbingly boring, tedious grind to level 50.
My suggestion would be to restrict teams to about ten levels on these farming missions: that is 1-10, 11-20, 21-30, 31-40, and 41-50. Or something similar. Also, perhaps scale back the amount of XP obtainable on these missions by about 25% or so. Then make each of these mission groups available only on one or two particular maps: for instance, level 1-10 missions could only be done in Atlas, and 11-20 in Steel Canyon, etc.
I hope they don't eliminate xp from AE missions. I don't farm at all, my interest has been reignited by AE, and doing that would pretty much kill the game for me.
Shuckins:
Not everyone does it.
My opinions:
1) LEVEL SPEED. People's examples of extreme leveling existed prior to AE, atleast redisde it did. One run through a Lib TV on a 8 man team with a 46 mentor was enough to do about the same thing. The only limiting factor was if you had the bank account to afford the farm price. All that has happened is you removed the pay to farm mechanic, doorsitting, and forced the RMTers into a scramble trying to salvage their income.
2) Economy. Economies are not constant. There is always a state of flux. IF not there would be stores instead of markets. Yes, common and uncommon salvage prices are averaging 100 to 200 thousand each, but rare salvage has also dropped from 3 to 6 million each to around 400 to 600 thousand. Recipies (except purps) have all devalued in price due to increased availablilty. Allowing people without 2billion in their accounts access to the IO's and materials needed for tricked out builds. To me, this is a very very good thing.
3) Teaming. Teaming is still there. I recommend researching Private channels and supergroups that are dedicated on each server to content vs powergaming if that is your intrest. My teams very rarely make it to broadcast. When I am in the mood to do content, I normally ask my Coalition first, then go through my private channels I am a member of. After that, I might look at a LFT list or broadcast once...but normally I will just go with who I have. Just because people don't want to do the same stuff you do, doesn't mean they are wrong. Just because you don't see them, doesn't mean they are not out there either.
4) Inexperienced players....let me get this right....the fact that there are new players coming into the game regardless of level upsets you? The fact that they are out of the AE and out in the zones and don't know where something is makes you OMGZOR instead of helping them? THAT was your chance to show them something different...to help them along, talk to them about various other aspects of the game. You would be suprised how few people actually do this instead of just assuming that everyone else knows everything as well. I make it a point to talk to new players, answer questions, ask about difficulties, and then teach them what I can. I offer to have them add my main to their friends list so they can find me again later for further consultation. You would be surprised how many come back weeks later to ask more questions with a new at they are trying out. Any new player is a good thing. PERIOD.
5) FARMING. Farming is not against the rules. Using an Exploit is. Do I feel some mobs need a nerf...yes, and the patch is on test for them. However, if someone chooses to farm, that is their game choice. When the dev's issue the rules saying farming is against them, I will champion the cause. Posi himself says the Dev team has discussed with raised voices the issues of farming and what limits, if any are imposed and that the current system is what they feel is appropriate. Farming is nothing more than powergaming. It is no more an invalid playstyle choice as roleplay, casual, or artist. As long as no exploits are being used, then there is no issue. Let them play their game, and you play yours. When one of them stubbles out of the AE building, do your best to teach and instruct and nurture them...they are the ones you want to try to get to do your content missions remember.
6) RATINGS. Ratings are a beauty contest. Nothing more. While I do not subscribe to griefing, some people are insanly jealous that farm mission are ranked higher than their precious work of art. Farmers care little about ratings. We care about the reward. I do feel a revamped rating system is in order, however, not everyone is going to like your mission either.
My feedback from i14.
And remember peeps, alot of issues are already being fixed with the test patch and the layout for i15 that has been uneiled already.
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My opinions:
1) LEVEL SPEED. People's examples of extreme leveling existed prior to AE, atleast redisde it did. One run through a Lib TV on a 8 man team with a 46 mentor was enough to do about the same thing. The only limiting factor was if you had the bank account to afford the farm price. All that has happened is you removed the pay to farm mechanic, doorsitting, and forced the RMTers into a scramble trying to salvage their income.
2) Economy. Economies are not constant. There is always a state of flux. IF not there would be stores instead of markets. Yes, common and uncommon salvage prices are averaging 100 to 200 thousand each, but rare salvage has also dropped from 3 to 6 million each to around 400 to 600 thousand. Recipies (except purps) have all devalued in price due to increased availablilty. Allowing people without 2billion in their accounts access to the IO's and materials needed for tricked out builds. To me, this is a very very good thing.
3) Teaming. Teaming is still there. I recommend researching Private channels and supergroups that are dedicated on each server to content vs powergaming if that is your intrest. My teams very rarely make it to broadcast. When I am in the mood to do content, I normally ask my Coalition first, then go through my private channels I am a member of. After that, I might look at a LFT list or broadcast once...but normally I will just go with who I have. Just because people don't want to do the same stuff you do, doesn't mean they are wrong. Just because you don't see them, doesn't mean they are not out there either.
4) Inexperienced players....let me get this right....the fact that there are new players coming into the game regardless of level upsets you? The fact that they are out of the AE and out in the zones and don't know where something is makes you OMGZOR instead of helping them? THAT was your chance to show them something different...to help them along, talk to them about various other aspects of the game. You would be suprised how few people actually do this instead of just assuming that everyone else knows everything as well. I make it a point to talk to new players, answer questions, ask about difficulties, and then teach them what I can. I offer to have them add my main to their friends list so they can find me again later for further consultation. You would be surprised how many come back weeks later to ask more questions with a new at they are trying out. Any new player is a good thing. PERIOD.
5) FARMING. Farming is not against the rules. Using an Exploit is. Do I feel some mobs need a nerf...yes, and the patch is on test for them. However, if someone chooses to farm, that is their game choice. When the dev's issue the rules saying farming is against them, I will champion the cause. Posi himself says the Dev team has discussed with raised voices the issues of farming and what limits, if any are imposed and that the current system is what they feel is appropriate. Farming is nothing more than powergaming. It is no more an invalid playstyle choice as roleplay, casual, or artist. As long as no exploits are being used, then there is no issue. Let them play their game, and you play yours. When one of them stubbles out of the AE building, do your best to teach and instruct and nurture them...they are the ones you want to try to get to do your content missions remember.
6) RATINGS. Ratings are a beauty contest. Nothing more. While I do not subscribe to griefing, some people are insanly jealous that farm mission are ranked higher than their precious work of art. Farmers care little about ratings. We care about the reward. I do feel a revamped rating system is in order, however, not everyone is going to like your mission either.
My feedback from i14.
And remember peeps, alot of issues are already being fixed with the test patch and the layout for i15 that has been uneiled already.
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QFT.
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I really like the above suggestion of removing XP gain from AE missions. This would be a great way to reduce the feverish farming going on, and align the use of the AE missions for what they were meant for... Content!
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This will kill MA. Is this your intention?
MA missions already do not get an end of mission xp bonus. Removing xp entirely will cause the MA to become a ghost town. Forget content, if there is no xp reward then almost noone will play it. As much as I like new content and creative story lines, even I wouldn't want to play in it. MA would be nothing more than a curiousity, something to dabble in once in awhile out of boredom.
Gutting the best feature to come out in years for this game would make me go play LOTRO. And that is no joke.
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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My problem with MA missions lies in the fact that this 'farmable' content is being produced and used in large amounts. This impacts the game in two ways.
One, it causes 'farm missions' to flood out legitimate, original content. One of the key purposes of MA, to my understanding, is to allow players to express and share creative products with one another. The "farms" obstruct this design objective of the Architect - should I be correct in that it is an actual design objective - by limiting the scope and range of content being experienced and participated in to a narrow spectrum of 'what's the easiest to farm.' Progression via the MA is not a detriment to the game, but the excessively-speedy progression present in certain types of MA missions is a detriment to both the MA itself as much as it is the content outside of it.
Two, it makes other parts of the game obsolete. The average casual player simply wants to play the game, and most likely wants to do it with other people, and most definitely makes up the largest fraction of the userbase. The second-largest fraction is incentive-driven, and will go toward the fastest route of progression. When one route of progession is excessively skewed to a point of being vastly superior to all others, the incentive-driven group goes there. Since the 'casual' group needs someone to play with, they'll follow, and it's doubtful they will complain about said skewed rate of progression.
The final, smallest group, is the group that wishes to experience a variety of content and story. They are farther and more scattered than any other group, and with the floodgates to easy-farming open, the casual- and incentive-based players have all left for the "promised land" of easy advancement. They now have to search for dedicated groups to run non-farm content, which in themselves are far and apart, and overall, are harmed - as is the rest of the virtual gameworld - by the prevalence of easy-farm content.
The farmers are allowed to do what they want - and they have a right to, after all - but this does not give them permission to advocate keeping systems in play that are a detriment to other players' enjoyment. Before MA was released, they didn't complain that there wasn't an open floodgate of 'farmable content' for them to quickly advance through, and ergo, they will not be hurt in any rational or tangible way if that floodgate is closed, and doing so will ease the pain of the more minority groups.
Having to search high and low in secluded, private places is a sign that easily-farmable MA's are damaging the rest of the game, and while doing so is a workaround for those who enjoy varieties of content, the fact that they have to do it should be a sign that there is a problem, not the other way around.
EDIT: NVM. This doesn't warrant an actual response as I feel like I've explained the farming side for so long and it's really getting tiresome.
It's hard to fault new issue content when it's clearly so popular. The economy wreck was such a shock. I wish I could have predicted that coming before I decided to make a couple of solos. My bad. But that aside, the rest of the content is still there.
As for the new players, hey. If those of us "old-timers" have to spend some quality time teaching some new kids the ropes on team play out in the non-MA world, so be it. Maybe they'll teach us a thing or two. These guys won't stay in the MA world forever, and we might as well be ready to receive them and become the sensei's we all are capable of becoming.
On farms and the current trend of MA---
First...this trend won't last forever.
Second...
It seems to me that if a significant amount of CoX gamers are in the MA doing "farms" or whatever---then there's a significant amount of PAYING CUSTOMERS who are using their nickels to enjoy the game the way they want to enjoy it.
It'd be nice if we could all do the same and not worry about whatever anyone else is doing with THEIR PERSONAL TIME AND RESOURCES SPENT on and in the game.
~ Jonathan
IMHO, if they cannot stop the endless farming which turns this
MMO into a single player superhero game,
this will be last (and worst update ever) in COX history.
Farms will take over and peeps will cancel due to boredom.
If I can't have new content without the mind numbing endless farming
then, take please take MA back.
I am exhausted by the farming and and the lack of anyone to with whom to team.
I am soloing a MMO something is very wrong, what gives ??
When you opened Pandora's Box you let the Seeds of Destruction loose.
Close it quick before its too late.
OK, the developers ignorance to the farming problem has forced my hand.
DOOOOOOOOOOOOM !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
50's on Freedom--12+ Lone Eagle INV Tanker, Crey Avenger NRG Blaster,
Dnase EMP Defender, Paradox? GRAV KIN Troller,FireFox FIRE Blaster,
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They're not ignorant to the Farming. They just know the majority want to farm.
But yes, I don't mind if they take away M.A. It'll stop the endless crying from the anti-farmers.
Shrug, aye, take the MA back and we just go back to Pay farms and RMTer's
I think that the Farmers should be restricted insofar as their methods are having a serious impact on the rest of the game. I don't care if they can get a 50 in 8 hours...let them. If they leave out of boredom they would not likely have played long anyway. If they stay and they play well I'll team with them and not care how long they took to get there. If they play poorly I'll move on and drop a note not to team with them again.
However the game can no longer be segregated into 'casual' and 'hard-core' because of the Market. It connects everyone, high and low, and is my one gripe in all of this. I can stay in my own teams with friends and avoid Farmers and be all happy right up until I hit the Market. Now their playstyle is affecting my play and I feel that I have a right to gripe. However, I hate to gripe without presenting a possible solution so here goes:
1) Put Common Salvage Drops into the MA missions but at a reduced rate. Make them ALL of a General catagory, instead of Arcane or Tech, so that nobody can set up a Salvage Farm (and you know they would...just to say so...). The reduced rate is so that high-speed farming doesn't suddenly glut the Market. Just enough to bring it back to sanity.
2) Restrict the MA to the typical level-spread for SKs and so on to prevent the massive surge of lvl 1s entering lvl 40+ missions and getting 20 levels in an hour. By this I mean that a character either has to be within 5 levels of the highest character or they need to be SKd which will reduce the number of characters getting the free ride.
3) Extend the Studio B power suppression to cover the entire top floor of the MA. This has nothing to do with Farming but with lag. Standing midway between the MA and the Market in AP on Virtue can potentially tear the fabric of space and time and cause all kinds of other problems. Just extend the suppression field to cut out all of the auras and power effects and the lag goes away.
Soapbox time: I have long been an advocate of merging the Markets from red and blue side. The MA and the Farmers abusing it have so damaged the Markets on both sides that I strongly feel that now would be a good time to merge them since the result could not possibly be any worse. Many players that I have spoken to say that they love playing villain side but the Market there is not worth the effort. So I say merge the two now while things are at their ebb and then when the dust settles there will be equilibrium.
"Comics, you're not a Mastermind...you're an Overlord!"
Have there been any responses from the developers re: the concerns brought up? I'm sifting, but not finding anything so far. Just "thank yous" for the tons of stuff loaded onto MA so far.