The most recent mention of 'Incarnates' was in the ITF. Since Cimerora was added in May 2008...
...no, you haven't missed anything on that front.
The big features that are coming soon are power customisation (ability to set custom colours for power effects), and side switching (with the Going Rogue expansion).
@Acyl
VIRTUE
Blue: Realpolitik, Leading Lady, Glass Lass, Superball, Alec Kazam
Red: Battery Acid, Obsolete, Bugfix
The last mention of Incarnates, officially, was during an interview when they were talking about getting Nictus ready for the redside EAT.
We got VEATs instead.
No word since on Incarnates, though as mentioned there's a lot of clues and hints about the "lost origin" and such in the Cimerora-related arcs.
... then again, there were hints about Avilians, and those are dead.
My Veats, (Arbiter Blood and The Ivory Fateweaver) are Incarnate teasers.
Blood's description looks exactly like a regular trainer menu, except he's telling you you need to gain 1,000,000,000 more exp until you can go to Incarnate Threat Level.
Ivory's description looks like a normal fateweavers, but has difficulties 6-10 instead of 1-5.
6.Unholy to 10. Incarnate.
@Mechaniker
Official Old Angry German Guy of CoV.
My Characters: http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showthread.php?t=247787
[ QUOTE ]
I've returned to the game after being away for a year. I remember there was some talk about adding Incarnates. Is that still in the works?
[/ QUOTE ]
I believe it's been back-burnered again and again. From what I could tell about Incarnates, they were a particular Archetype(Tanker, Defender, Mastermind), plus an third powerset from an different archetype. Such a character runs afoul of "Why play the regular Archetypes?"
The plastic tips at the end of shoelaces are called aglets. Their true purpose is sinister.
--The Question, JLU
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I've returned to the game after being away for a year. I remember there was some talk about adding Incarnates. Is that still in the works?
[/ QUOTE ]
I believe it's been back-burnered again and again. From what I could tell about Incarnates, they were a particular Archetype(Tanker, Defender, Mastermind), plus an third powerset from an different archetype. Such a character runs afoul of "Why play the regular Archetypes?"
[/ QUOTE ]
Having to split your power selection between 3 main pools, side pools and possibly a patron/epic pool seems restrictive enough; IMO.
Apparently, I play "City of Shakespeare"
*Arc #95278-Gathering the Four Winds -3 step arc; challenging - 5 Ratings/3 Stars (still working out the kinks)
*Arc #177826-Lights, Camera, Scream! - 3 step arc, camp horror; try out in 1st person POV - 35 Ratings/4 Stars
Anything about the structure and mechanics of Incarnates is pure speculation at this point.
I just wonder what sort of SOs they'd use 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I've returned to the game after being away for a year. I remember there was some talk about adding Incarnates. Is that still in the works?
[/ QUOTE ]
I believe it's been back-burnered again and again. From what I could tell about Incarnates, they were a particular Archetype(Tanker, Defender, Mastermind), plus an third powerset from an different archetype. Such a character runs afoul of "Why play the regular Archetypes?"
[/ QUOTE ]
Having to split your power selection between 3 main pools, side pools and possibly a patron/epic pool seems restrictive enough; IMO.
[/ QUOTE ]
Which raises the question of are there enough power slots in game now for an incarnate type? Triformer Khelds barely have enough as it is.
Thanks for the answers, all.
I've been eagerly awaiting this since I've heard about it. I hope it takes the form of some trial that I can take my main through. It would also be nice if Incarnates have some reasonable chances to solo AVs and giant monsters.
[ QUOTE ]
Thanks for the answers, all.
I've been eagerly awaiting this since I've heard about it. I hope it takes the form of some trial that I can take my main through. It would also be nice if Incarnates have some reasonable chances to solo AVs and giant monsters.
[/ QUOTE ]
Well-built ordinary toons can already solo AVs and some giant monsters.
I have a feeling the devs are never going to make them obviously overpowered. They've already said that the level cap will never be raised.
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Thanks for the answers, all.
I've been eagerly awaiting this since I've heard about it. I hope it takes the form of some trial that I can take my main through. It would also be nice if Incarnates have some reasonable chances to solo AVs and giant monsters.
[/ QUOTE ]
Well-built ordinary toons can already solo AVs and some giant monsters.
I have a feeling the devs are never going to make them obviously overpowered. They've already said that the level cap will never be raised.
[/ QUOTE ]
They also said there would never be power customization or side switching 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Thanks for the answers, all.
I've been eagerly awaiting this since I've heard about it. I hope it takes the form of some trial that I can take my main through. It would also be nice if Incarnates have some reasonable chances to solo AVs and giant monsters.
[/ QUOTE ]
Well-built ordinary toons can already solo AVs and some giant monsters.
I have a feeling the devs are never going to make them obviously overpowered. They've already said that the level cap will never be raised.
[/ QUOTE ]
They also said there would never be power customization or side switching
[/ QUOTE ]
No they didn't. Almost everytime power customization and side switching came up the Devs said it was something they wanted to do but couldn't, while they've made it pretty clear that they have no intrest in raising the level cap.
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Thanks for the answers, all.
I've been eagerly awaiting this since I've heard about it. I hope it takes the form of some trial that I can take my main through. It would also be nice if Incarnates have some reasonable chances to solo AVs and giant monsters.
[/ QUOTE ]
Well-built ordinary toons can already solo AVs and some giant monsters.
I have a feeling the devs are never going to make them obviously overpowered. They've already said that the level cap will never be raised.
[/ QUOTE ]
They also said there would never be power customization or side switching
[/ QUOTE ]
Um, no. Power customization, for instance, was a wishlist item that they didn't have the time or resources to do (without cutting off any other updates for a year or so) back when they had just the 15 folks or so.
We've had it from Castle (as I recall) that they won't raise the cap, but give alternate ways to improve high level characters. Level cap raising is just more number-chasing (while breaking other things or seriously devaluing them - see Titan Shard enhancement.)
You're right. Perhaps I should have said "Just like they said City of Heroes and City of Villains would remain separate games" instead.
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Thanks for the answers, all.
I've been eagerly awaiting this since I've heard about it. I hope it takes the form of some trial that I can take my main through. It would also be nice if Incarnates have some reasonable chances to solo AVs and giant monsters.
[/ QUOTE ]
Well-built ordinary toons can already solo AVs and some giant monsters.
I have a feeling the devs are never going to make them obviously overpowered. They've already said that the level cap will never be raised.
[/ QUOTE ]
They also said there would never be power customization or side switching
[/ QUOTE ]
Um, no. Power customization, for instance, was a wishlist item that they didn't have the time or resources to do (without cutting off any other updates for a year or so) back when they had just the 15 folks or so.
We've had it from Castle (as I recall) that they won't raise the cap, but give alternate ways to improve high level characters. Level cap raising is just more number-chasing (while breaking other things or seriously devaluing them - see Titan Shard enhancement.)
[/ QUOTE ]
Correct. As a matter of fact if you look closely at COV they started to try and do power customization while developing COV and backed off when they realized just how much resources it would take. You can spot the fact that they dabbled in the idea when you look at powers such as electric armor. Sometimes the red lightning that crawls across you is grey instead of red indicating that they did the animation in greyscale then colored it on the player end.
The problem was that it would have taken so much time and resources to reanimate all of the powers they couldn't do it at the time. NC/NC now Paragon Studios hired a huge extra number of staff and it is clear that one of the early tasks they set them on was reanimating every power rendered in greyscale. This was probably a good way to learn the animation system as well as get this work done.
So power customization was never something the devs didn't want to do. Instead it was something they simply didn't have the time or manpower to do before now. Side switching was also actively pursued from COV beta until techical issues in Issue 7 side lined it. during that period the actively talked about it and discussed their plans to introduce it.
Now Incarnates have never been more than a pipe dream. Beyond mentioning them in an interview they only exist as an explanation for Statesman and Lord Recluse.
Hell players can't even agree what an incarnate would consist of. And if the players can't agree what makes you think the devs can agree how to do them. Frankly they are one of the last things I want to see released. I want to see the Corolax and Blood of the Black Stream both of which are listed EATs that have never been delivered before I want to see an "incarnate" EAT.
But it's MY sadistic mechanical monster and I'm here to make sure it knows it. - Girl Genius
List of Invention Guides
[ QUOTE ]
You're right. Perhaps I should have said "Just like they said City of Heroes and City of Villains would remain separate games" instead.
[/ QUOTE ]
Actually they were always considered one game with 2 separate subscriptions by the devs. COV was even called and expanshalone by the devs indicating that it was both and expansion and that you could play just it as a subscription game.
But it's MY sadistic mechanical monster and I'm here to make sure it knows it. - Girl Genius
List of Invention Guides
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
You're right. Perhaps I should have said "Just like they said City of Heroes and City of Villains would remain separate games" instead.
[/ QUOTE ]
Actually they were always considered one game with 2 separate subscriptions by the devs. COV was even called and expanshalone by the devs indicating that it was both and expansion and that you could play just it as a subscription game.
[/ QUOTE ]
/shrug
Q: It was always going to be a separate game?
A: Yes. We've always envisioned City of Heroes and City of Villains as being distinctly different.
To me that says two games.
My point is that throughout the years the devs/Jack have said "never" or "not likely" to things that were finally able to be realized. I take any "never"s with a grain of salt.
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Thanks for the answers, all.
I've been eagerly awaiting this since I've heard about it. I hope it takes the form of some trial that I can take my main through. It would also be nice if Incarnates have some reasonable chances to solo AVs and giant monsters.
[/ QUOTE ]
Well-built ordinary toons can already solo AVs and some giant monsters.
I have a feeling the devs are never going to make them obviously overpowered. They've already said that the level cap will never be raised.
[/ QUOTE ]
I also would not like to see the level cap raised. I am hoping that incarnates will be implemented as an alternate advancement system once we hit level fifty. That way I can continue to enjoy advancing my character.
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Thanks for the answers, all.
I've been eagerly awaiting this since I've heard about it. I hope it takes the form of some trial that I can take my main through. It would also be nice if Incarnates have some reasonable chances to solo AVs and giant monsters.
[/ QUOTE ]
Well-built ordinary toons can already solo AVs and some giant monsters.
I have a feeling the devs are never going to make them obviously overpowered. They've already said that the level cap will never be raised.
[/ QUOTE ]
I also would not like to see the level cap raised. I am hoping that incarnates will be implemented as an alternate advancement system once we hit level fifty. That way I can continue to enjoy advancing my character.
[/ QUOTE ]
Very few AT and Builds can solo an AV and it also takes a very skilled player as well. One mistake, and you are toast.
And the devs said that raising the level cap isn't in the cards. As Castle has posted about this in the past. They have many tricks up their collective sleeve to avoid raising the level cap, and yet provide advancement for level 50 characters. And BTW we are getting that in Going Rogue. It's a little tidbit that Positron let loose with in an interview.
I've returned to the game after being away for a year. I remember there was some talk about adding Incarnates. Is that still in the works?