* Something like this would be nice *
By
Barata,
Posted on: 2009-07-24 14:47 in Suggestions and Ideas
Absolutely. Although, I can't see how you could do this in a paid expansion since it would lock out people who don't buy it; would you have two zones, "Boomtown Classic" and "Boomtown Lite"?
Honestly though I would be happy if they just revamped blueside with all the improvements they made when they made City of Villains. I keep saying this and I keep hoping it will happen: streamline the blueside contact network. Add zone events to the infrequently-used zones you listed. Something.
"You don't lose levels. You don't have equipment to wear out, repair, or lose, or that anyone can steal from you. About the only thing lighter than debt they could do is have an NPC walk by, point and laugh before you can go to the hospital or base." -Memphis_Bill
We will honor the past, and fight to the last, it will be a good way to die...
I am all for it. Except connecting CoH and CoV... there is no logical way to do that as they are roughly 730 miles apart. The sewers are long enough as it is. Just sayin'. 
...Neither myself nor Perfect_Pain are suggesting that CoH and CoV be connected? Besides, they already are connected, in several places -- the Midnighter Club/Cimerora, RWZ, PvP zones...
"You don't lose levels. You don't have equipment to wear out, repair, or lose, or that anyone can steal from you. About the only thing lighter than debt they could do is have an NPC walk by, point and laugh before you can go to the hospital or base." -Memphis_Bill
We will honor the past, and fight to the last, it will be a good way to die...
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...Neither myself nor Perfect_Pain are suggesting that CoH and CoV be connected? Besides, they already are connected, in several places -- the Midnighter Club/Cimerora, RWZ, PvP zones...
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You didn't, but perfect_pain did.
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Boomtown
Perez Park
The Sewers (and please connect them to Villains)
The Shadow Shard
Creys Folly
Kings Row
Eden
Skyway City
Independance Port (TBH Just shrink the zone...)
The Hive (Can there be other level 45-50 content here?)
Port Oaks
Mercy
Sharkhead
Grandville
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lawl
Someday I'll learn to stop scanning things and actually read them in full.
Yeah, that would be quite the extensive sewer system.
"You don't lose levels. You don't have equipment to wear out, repair, or lose, or that anyone can steal from you. About the only thing lighter than debt they could do is have an NPC walk by, point and laugh before you can go to the hospital or base." -Memphis_Bill
We will honor the past, and fight to the last, it will be a good way to die...
The question of revamping zones came up during a Q&A with Positron during the anniversary event.
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* On new content:
04-28-2009 18:06:36 [Local] Golden Girl1: Positron, are there any plans to give older zones a Faultline-style makeover, like Boomtown, for example, or would you rather add new zones to the game first?
04-28-2009 18:06:53 [Local] Positron: Right now, we'd rather add zones
04-28-2009 18:07:04 [Local] Positron: since a revamp takes almost as much time.
04-28-2009 18:31:29 [Local] Positron: So we've done two "revamps" to zones so far.
04-28-2009 18:31:41 [Local] Positron: So we have a good metric on how much time it takes
04-28-2009 18:31:54 [Local] Positron: And for a smidge more time, we can make a brand new zone.
04-28-2009 18:33:18 [Local] Positron: But we can make COOL zones
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What new zones have they added? I count 1 - Cimerora. And yeah, it's cool, but it's relatively devoid of content compared to most city zones, and it's higher-level content to boot. There's really no point in making new high-level content if your players start quitting because they're bored with the low-level content they have to slog through to get to the new stuff.
Hell, even if they do want to stick to exclusively new content, at least spread it out across different level ranges. Give villains a different zone to start in, a la Galaxy City. Give villains a hazard zone or two. Something.
"You don't lose levels. You don't have equipment to wear out, repair, or lose, or that anyone can steal from you. About the only thing lighter than debt they could do is have an NPC walk by, point and laugh before you can go to the hospital or base." -Memphis_Bill
We will honor the past, and fight to the last, it will be a good way to die...
There's nothing wrong with most of those zones. What exactly should they be doing to "revamp" them?
Loose --> not tight.
Lose --> Did not win, misplace, cannot find, subtract.
One extra 'o' makes a big difference.
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What new zones have they added? I count 1 - Cimerora. And yeah, it's cool, but it's relatively devoid of content compared to most city zones, and it's higher-level content to boot. There's really no point in making new high-level content if your players start quitting because they're bored with the low-level content they have to slog through to get to the new stuff.
Hell, even if they do want to stick to exclusively new content, at least spread it out across different level ranges. Give villains a different zone to start in, a la Galaxy City. Give villains a hazard zone or two. Something.
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Please try to pay attention. It will help if you take off your DOOM! colored glasses.
1. Positron was talking about future releases.
2. The only reason people are quitting out of boredom is because they are AE babies, and have never left AE buildings.
3. We have I16 just around the corner with long demanded features, and Going Rogue is another coming attraction that will be introducing new zones, new content, new AT's.
4. Villains will be getting access to 30+ zones when Going Rogue is released.
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What new zones have they added? I count 1 - Cimerora.
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Depends on your viewpoint and/or when you joined the game? I've been around since about a month after initial release in '04. Working backwards just off the top of my head, I can think of: Cimerora, Ouroboros, The Ski Shalet, Pocket D, Bloody Bay/Siren's Call/Warburg/RV, Croatoa, Striga, Hollows, Shadow Shard, RCS (now called the RWZ), Peregrine Island (even though it was a long time ago, PI didn't exist at launch).
Main Character: Ice/Storm/Ice Controller (Justice, 1340 badges)
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What new zones have they added? I count 1 - Cimerora.
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Depends on your viewpoint and/or when you joined the game? I've been around since about a month after initial release in '04. Working backwards just off the top of my head, I can think of: Cimerora, Ouroboros, The Ski Shalet, Pocket D, Bloody Bay/Siren's Call/Warburg/RV, Croatoa, Striga, Hollows, Shadow Shard, RCS (now called the RWZ), Peregrine Island (even though it was a long time ago, PI didn't exist at launch).
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Don't forget Mercy, Port Oakes, Cap, Sharkhead, Nerva, St. Martial, Grandville, The Abyss, and the Troll Tunnels under the Hollows.
Don't have the energy, agree to disagree, pointless, etc.
"You don't lose levels. You don't have equipment to wear out, repair, or lose, or that anyone can steal from you. About the only thing lighter than debt they could do is have an NPC walk by, point and laugh before you can go to the hospital or base." -Memphis_Bill
We will honor the past, and fight to the last, it will be a good way to die...
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Independance Port (TBH Just shrink the zone...)
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If your gonna have Independence Port on there because of its length then you should definitely have Nerva up there for length as well. I always dread doing the first respec and one of the other SFs just because of that one huge travel. Ugh..
I don't see too much wrong with most of the rest of your list except the few usuals like Boomtown and Mercy and maybe Grandville.
-Stygian
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and the Troll Tunnels under the Hollows.
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I learned something today. (mostly a redsider)
When I finally dinged 50, I explored the abandoned sewer network because I never bothered to see what was there. Well, I explored it after the shadow shard, which was cool.
Blueside is complicated for me. 
Thanks for the new place to explore!
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3. We have I16 just around the corner with long demanded features, and Going Rogue is another coming attraction that will be introducing new zones, new content, new AT's.
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Let's wait on some actual evidence of the new AT(s), huh?
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4. Villains will be getting access to 30+ zones when Going Rogue is released.
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This statement is patently disingenuous. Villains are not getting access to 30+ zones with Going Rogue. Reformed villains are.
Never surrender! Never give up!
Help keep Paragon City alive with the unofficial City of Heroes Tabletop Role Playing Game!
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3. We have I16 just around the corner with long demanded features, and Going Rogue is another coming attraction that will be introducing new zones, new content, new AT's.
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Let's wait on some actual evidence of the new AT(s), huh?
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4. Villains will be getting access to 30+ zones when Going Rogue is released.
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This statement is patently disingenuous. Villains are not getting access to 30+ zones with Going Rogue. Reformed villains are.
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The latter statement isn't wholly true! Heroes who have fallen are villains, and can go to those zones. Making them zones for villains! =-3
Also, I think it won't matter which side you're on. Going to Praetoria will probably be open to any character and it's -there- that you can reform or fall, if you choose.
-Rachel-
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Let's wait on some actual evidence of the new AT(s), huh?
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Your right AT's was the wrong term to use. I was referring to Dual Pistols and Demon Summoning and those are Powersets not AT's
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4. Villains will be getting access to 30+ zones when Going Rogue is released.
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This statement is patently disingenuous. Villains are not getting access to 30+ zones with Going Rogue. Reformed villains are.
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WRONG.
If Tyrant's Paragon City is as large as our Paragon then that's 30+ zones right there. Furthermore there has been no indication the crossovers are going to be one way. So unless the devs come out and say we can only become redeemed/fallen once per character that means Villains will have access to another 30+ zones. So no matter how you do the math villains will have access to 30+ zones they never had before.
Implying that villains won't be able to "reform" then "fall" again from grace is patently disingenuous, just as claiming heros won't "fall" then "redeem" themselves.
No they said you can switch back and forth... I read that already.
Do not ask for a link. I dont know where I read it.
I am leaning towards a redname here on the forums...
But it might have been tentonhammer interview >.>
While a sewer link could be handled in a way to guarantee no PVP actions except in a single zone, I can't see the Rogue Isles having a vast sewer system.
I could see it having something claustrophobic... dark, long, and wet... but not the vast system full of Rikti in Paragon City.
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WRONG.
If Tyrant's Paragon City is as large as our Paragon then that's 30+ zones right there.
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Complete and absolute conjecture, obviously. As awesome as our devs are working right now, I really don't see them replicating all of Paragon City.
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Furthermore there has been no indication the crossovers are going to be one way. So unless the devs come out and say we can only become redeemed/fallen once per character that means Villains will have access to another 30+ zones. So no matter how you do the math villains will have access to 30+ zones they never had before.
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My point is, people want new villain zones because people want, surprise surprise, villain content. Opening up Paragon City to villains doesn't do jack for those that actually want their villains to stay evil, and please don't say "just pretend you're being evil...in Paragon City!" since I've played at least 90% of the heroside content. Old content is old content, no matter who you're playing it as.
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Implying that villains won't be able to "reform" then "fall" again from grace is patently disingenuous, just as claiming heros won't "fall" then "redeem" themselves.
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It's a good thing that I implied no such thing.
Never surrender! Never give up!
Help keep Paragon City alive with the unofficial City of Heroes Tabletop Role Playing Game!
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WRONG.
If Tyrant's Paragon City is as large as our Paragon then that's 30+ zones right there.
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Complete and absolute conjecture, obviously. As awesome as our devs are working right now, I really don't see them replicating all of Paragon City.
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Doesn't change the math. Going Rogue will open up the 30+ zones Paragon City has as well as however many zones Tyrant Earth will be bringing, and whatever new zones new storylines will be implemented. 30+X= more than 30.
The simple fact is that the devs have a history of adding new zones to the game. 20+ zones have been added since the game launched.
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Furthermore there has been no indication the crossovers are going to be one way. So unless the devs come out and say we can only become redeemed/fallen once per character that means Villains will have access to another 30+ zones. So no matter how you do the math villains will have access to 30+ zones they never had before.
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My point is, people want new villain zones because people want, surprise surprise, villain content. Opening up Paragon City to villains doesn't do jack for those that actually want their villains to stay evil, and please don't say "just pretend you're being evil...in Paragon City!" since I've played at least 90% of the heroside content. Old content is old content, no matter who you're playing it as.
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Content you've never played before on a character is still new content.
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Implying that villains won't be able to "reform" then "fall" again from grace is patently disingenuous, just as claiming heros won't "fall" then "redeem" themselves.
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It's a good thing that I implied no such thing.
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Yes you did. You said the crossover content was only available to "reformed" villains, which implies the crossover is one way.
Also I'd like to point out that Redemption is only one plot device that can be used to explain why a villain might switch to being a hero. The spy/double agent is another plot twist that gets used frequently.
But if it makes you feel better to accuse someone of lacking candor, or simple frankness, be my guest.
Edit: Added highlights to refute accusations that I'm trying to hide a statemnt I made.
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While we are getting all these great and wonderful things. There are some parts of this game that need to be revamped, for lack of a better term.
I would *pay* for some of our existing zones to be Super up abit. If it came in a boxed expansion, or a Zones Booster pack... I would buy it for sure.
Granted if it came in a FREE ISSUE, I would likely be all the more happy.
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I totally agree with this. About a month after I started playing, around May in '05, I could see how so many, many things even then needed polish, updating, and replacement. If the invitation was there, I'd work for free to fix it.
Yes, the devs have made various changes and improvements over the years, but they never quite addressed things the right way. For example, all of those dumb errand missions - if you play the game, you know the ones! These should have been made optional years ago. The code is there to do it, so what's the problem? Let's get it done! It would probably take one person two days, max - blueside and redside. Also, Hollows should have had a field hospital from day one, and KR should have had stores. Why did we have to wait YEARS for this to happen when the changes were so easy to make? They put a second train terminal in Skyway; when do we get a second one in IP ... a much larger zone? If for some reason you can't make both of them on the Green Line - enabling travel from north to south in the same zone - put the new one near the KR exit and on the Yellow Line. That would at least help with travel relating to Sister TF and first respec trial. Heck, I guess if it is possible you could even put in both train stations; the 2nd Green Line terminal could be just north of the Bricks exit. Alternatively - or additionally - you could prioritize the doors in IP so that missions in an arc are grouped to occur more in the north or more in the south.
Content-wise, there are a lot of changes that would be worthwhile. The Transcendence trial desperately needs a re-write, for example. So does the Posi TF. There are lots of things like that. And you could definitely enrich the mission content in all the old zones without violating the canon; there's a ton of room to squeeze in refreshing new slants on the old stories, and there's a ton of existing lore that is there but under-represented.
One place you could start with a revamp would be with removing all or nearly all of the hunt missions. If you want to provide zone hunts as an alternative to door mishes, then take each of the Security Chiefs and make them contacts who give zone hunts. It's a sensible change, and I'd estimate it would take maybe two days to revise all the old content for the first five zones on blueside (and that's including re-writes on mission intros given by contacts).
So what are we talking about ... maybe a week to make some sweeping changes to old blueside content? Making the errands optional (on redside too), removing the hunts, and assigning hunts to the security chiefs. Heck, depending on what's involved, the same person might even be able to place one or two new train terminals in IP as well.
Unfortunately, the devs seem to be of the mentality that once something is released it is engraved on impervium and never to be revisited. Instead, they should be thinking of all their work as being like perishable fruit, which is closer to the truth. It will only be good for so long, and then it needs to be updated or replaced. It would be acknowledging the reality of the situation.
And yes, they can make new zones, new arcs, and do it about as easily as they can re-write old zones/arcs, but if the old material is beginning to stink, please refresh it.
If Paragon Studios was to conduct a poll on whether they should take an issue to do a revamp on the older parts of the game, I think they'd see the players want it. Especially if they talk about making the hunts and errands optional. However, I think the better strategy for them would be to have one or two people employed full time to go back through the older content and continually tweak it, re-writing and revamping as needed, just to keep it all fresh.
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There's nothing wrong with most of those zones. What exactly should they be doing to "revamp" them?
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Not all of the zones need things done to them, in my opinion.
Boomtown should get some sort of renewal, and theoretically work has already been done toward that - it just hasn't been finished and released yet.
Additionally, little things can be done to improve play in certain zones. IP could potentially benefit from another train terminal and maybe better localization of mission doors within an arc.
Skyway could use something to renew interest, as it sees little action outside of transiting TF teams.
AE buildings could be removed from all zones designed for play under level 10. So AE could be removed from Atlas, Galaxy, KR, and Mercy. I guess my decision would be to leave the AE in Port Oakes, as it is difficult for even a veteran lowbie to enter the AE building in Cap, and the non-AE players in Cap may already suffer from overuse of their AE.
On redside, the helicopter near the ferry on Nerva could allow transit to a new copter near Primeva. That would get players entering the zone up to Primeva faster, and from the hospital back to Primeva missions as well. Those already at Primeva could take the copter back down to the south part of the map to sell and store things at their base.
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Content you've never played before on a character is still new content.
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Since you accidentally hid it inside the quote, I want to make sure this gets seen, since it speaks for itself.
Never surrender! Never give up!
Help keep Paragon City alive with the unofficial City of Heroes Tabletop Role Playing Game!
While we are getting all these great and wonderful things. There are some parts of this game that need to be revamped, for lack of a better term.
I would *pay* for some of our existing zones to be Super up abit. If it came in a boxed expansion, or a Zones Booster pack... I would buy it for sure.
Granted if it came in a FREE ISSUE, I would likely be all the more happy. But here it is.
Please REVAMP:
Boomtown
Perez Park
The Sewers (and please connect them to Villains)
The Shadow Shard
Creys Folly
Kings Row
Eden
Skyway City
Independance Port (TBH Just shrink the zone...)
The Hive (Can there be other level 45-50 content here?)
Port Oaks
Mercy
Sharkhead
Grandville
Fixing up all these zones in 1 Issue or in a boxed set would be awesome.
Not just visually, but strategically. Mercy shouldnt be such a Major PITA for lowbies to manuver. Grandville >.> Is a death trap... while PI is like walking through heavens clouds...
Skyway City is obnoxiously vertically challenging, couldnt this be toned down abit.
IP - Just shorten the length of this zone... Make the Entrance to TV a Cave in the middle island...
Brighten the sky for Villains zones. Really, just because I am evil does not mean I need grey skies all day everyday.
Eden and the Hive... Couldnt we have some awesome level 45-50 content in these zones giving them more of a purpose???
Boomtown. No one goes there... Ever... Xept for that 1 TF.
1 of the many things this game does right is Contacts and story arcs. Well, its been a long while since we got ALOT all at once. And granted I expect that Going Rogue will give us a bunch of content. But we have zones right now no one uses... Fix them up and give us new stuffs to do