Incorporate AE options into Masterminds
By
Ad Astra,
Posted on: 2009-07-23 06:49 in Suggestions and Ideas
A few issues:
1. Sending all that information over *each and every time* you summon a pet. (Now multiply by a team of masterminds.)
2. Stored clientside = lose the computer, or move to a different one? You lose the customizations.
3. You still have more work to do. Sure, you have the initial appearance... then the appearance for upgrade 1, and upgrade 2. Right now, we just switch out models (say, from pre-rendered Thugs1_Base - to make up a name - to Thugs1_Upgrade1.)
Additional problem:
Currently, summoning (for example) Thugs pulls three random Thug models from a preset list. There would need to be a way to specifically link one minion to a costume. Since the game is capable of linking a name to each individual minion, this may not be so hard, but something to take into account.
Other problem:
Bots. They are unique from Player models. The Devs would have to build an entirely new custmization system for them alone. And if you allow full customization for other minions, but only a preset list for Bots, you can bet the forums will be swarmed by angry Bots MMs crying for equallity. In short: You can't please everyone that easily.
Nitpick:
Themes. If you customize a Zombie's appearance, is it still a zombie? Can the powerset still really be called Necromancy if you're summoning catgirls that happen to have zombie powers?
The off-beat space pirate...Capt. Stormrider (50+3 Elec/Storm Science Corruptor)
The mysterious Djinn...Emerald Dervish (50+1 DB/DA Magic Stalker)
The psychotic inventor...Dollmaster (50 Bot/FF Tech Mastermind)
Virtue Forever.
[ QUOTE ]
Themes. If you customize a Zombie's appearance, is it still a zombie? Can the powerset still really be called Necromancy if you're summoning catgirls that happen to have zombie powers?
[/ QUOTE ]
Now I'm picturing several Catgirls using variations of vomit attacks.
"Uh-Oh. Looks like someone set up an open bar too close to Otacon again..."
[ QUOTE ]
I'm sure that the subject of Mastermind Pet customization has been discussed ad nauseum, but I came up with what seems to be a workable plan to do it, since the necessary pieces are now in place.
With all of the options in the AE for custom critter design, and now color customization for pre-designed NPCs, it seems a relatively minor leap in design to cross-implement that into mastermind pets.
I see the process working thus:
When creating a Mastermind, you would still start by selecting one of the existing primaries, but then you would have the option to customize the appearance of your pets. This would be time-consuming, yes, as you'd have to pick specific designs (no more random appearance) for each of the six pets, but once you did, said choice could be stored client-side (like AE costumes/custom critters are).
Option 1 (Good): You could choose from a pre-defined list of already-existing NPC models, which would then be applied to the appearance of your pets in-game. This would allow people to have female pets (an often expressed wish by those I know), other hero/villain groups, etc.
This could also be an option at a tailor (take your pets for a makeover) to allow you to change their appearance (so if you had thugs, for example, and you switched sides, you could have your thugs join Wyvern, or Longbow, and take on that appearance).
Option 2 (Best): You'd have option 1, but also have full access to the custom critter designer, and you'd be able to make unique pets. These costumes would be stored client-side, and the data pulled upon pet creation. This would allow for a variety of themed masterminds (such as SG-themed MMs, RP-themed MMs, etc.)
All of the code is already in the game, so it would be a matter of adding the AE code to the character creation process. I'm an avid fan of the Mastermind, and I've been thinking a lot about the impending side-switching, and lamenting that I couldn't have a Mastermind become a Longbow Commander or something along those lines with other hero groups.
Letting players customize Mastermind pets would allow for that type of theme-creation without undermining game balance, since the pets, regardless of appearance, would still be using the pre-set power pools.
This idea I humbly submit to the Devs in the fragile hope that such a thing might someday be possible. Thank you. 
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I really don't see why the devs don't just put in a MM set called "Minions" and use you idea for that.
The only problem I have is MMs becoming too plentiful because of such a cool power set.
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Themes. If you customize a Zombie's appearance, is it still a zombie? Can the powerset still really be called Necromancy if you're summoning catgirls that happen to have zombie powers?
[/ QUOTE ]
Now I'm picturing several Catgirls using variations of vomit attacks.
"Uh-Oh. Looks like someone set up an open bar too close to Otacon again..."
[/ QUOTE ]
Hairballs.
Altoholic - but a Blaster at Heart!
Originally Posted by SpyralPegacyon
"You gave us a world where we could fly. I can't thank you enough for that."
I'm sure that the subject of Mastermind Pet customization has been discussed ad nauseum, but I came up with what seems to be a workable plan to do it, since the necessary pieces are now in place.
With all of the options in the AE for custom critter design, and now color customization for pre-designed NPCs, it seems a relatively minor leap in design to cross-implement that into mastermind pets.
I see the process working thus:
When creating a Mastermind, you would still start by selecting one of the existing primaries, but then you would have the option to customize the appearance of your pets. This would be time-consuming, yes, as you'd have to pick specific designs (no more random appearance) for each of the six pets, but once you did, said choice could be stored client-side (like AE costumes/custom critters are).
Option 1 (Good): You could choose from a pre-defined list of already-existing NPC models, which would then be applied to the appearance of your pets in-game. This would allow people to have female pets (an often expressed wish by those I know), other hero/villain groups, etc.
This could also be an option at a tailor (take your pets for a makeover) to allow you to change their appearance (so if you had thugs, for example, and you switched sides, you could have your thugs join Wyvern, or Longbow, and take on that appearance).
Option 2 (Best): You'd have option 1, but also have full access to the custom critter designer, and you'd be able to make unique pets. These costumes would be stored client-side, and the data pulled upon pet creation. This would allow for a variety of themed masterminds (such as SG-themed MMs, RP-themed MMs, etc.)
All of the code is already in the game, so it would be a matter of adding the AE code to the character creation process. I'm an avid fan of the Mastermind, and I've been thinking a lot about the impending side-switching, and lamenting that I couldn't have a Mastermind become a Longbow Commander or something along those lines with other hero groups.
Letting players customize Mastermind pets would allow for that type of theme-creation without undermining game balance, since the pets, regardless of appearance, would still be using the pre-set power pools.
This idea I humbly submit to the Devs in the fragile hope that such a thing might someday be possible. Thank you.