"Fix and bring back the Cathedral of Pain and Items of Power"
/signed, but this is more of a 'Bases' suggestion than a 'Shadow Shard' one.
"Revamp the zones"
/unsigned - so many people have never seen the SS, and to me, it's still gorgeous, and I love it. Perhaps raise the mob level a bit (I tend not to head to the other zones, just Zulu itself) but otherwise, I feel it's fine. I take level 40's there from my SG for short missions and a nice change of scenery.
"Open the Shard to Villains"
/signed, to an extent. I agree that you could probably tie in the 'Shard to a villains story, but there would have to be good reason for Recluse to want to shift into the SS, since he's usually determined to take over Paragon.
"Leave Firebase Zulu a Hero-only zone."
Yes
"Turn one of the zones Villain-only"
Makes sense, since it's so big, it's not a loss to heroes.
"Turn one of the zones into a co-op zone like Cimerora and the Rikti Warzone"
/unsigned - There's enough co-op zones, I feel, and the SS won't add anything.
"Turn one of the zones into a PvP Zone, including the jump geysers for random fun. (Also, keep working on PvP to make it more popular.)"
/unsigned - You don't need MORE PVP zones right now. There are plenty. Since you've stated it needs to be 'more popular', that leaves the assumption (perhaps) that the current zones aren't used 'enough' - so why add more?
"Create new and shiny alternatives [TFs] for Villains, based around seizing portions of Rularuu's power or something"
/signed - I'm sure it'll keep you evil-ones happy.
"Add some arcs. Repeatables get dull so fast"
I'm not sure. The 'stories' in the zone are based on the contacts introductory arcs, and then the TFs, which are the big plot ones. A few extra contacts wouldn't hurt...but I can't see it being too necessary.
"Add more Stargate references and tributes."
References are nice, but this isn't Stargate, it's CoH. I'd like more original concepts based on the history of Portal Corps, what their aims are with the SS other than exploration, how it affects the rest of Paragon and the Heros. Perhaps it's time for an SS-based hero-type?
"Trim the Task Forces down a bit, make them more interesting. Nobody wants to do Defeat-All or Hunt missions for two days for Doc Q's Task Force, unless 90 merits is really attractive to them, or they want the badge. Shorten them, add new and exciting AVs."
/unsigned - I've run all four task forces in the SS, and none have taken more than one evening (standard TF time, I feel). Yes, they are long. There's a lot of running around - but they are DIFFERENT to your standard TFs which are just 'train to here', 'enter this building next door'. I like how they are, and again believe that more people need to take part in them before they get changed. Besides, if the merits are high, then it's worth being long. If you want to run a Tf that doesn't take as long...well, there are plenty to choose from. Hell, there are even flashbacks. Crank up the settings / criteria / difficulty, and a story arc becomes a TF (usually with a better plot). Badges and merits a-go-go. Flahbacks are almost like 'make your own Task Force'
"Add an Accolade for completing all Shadow Shard Task Forces -and- getting the Visionary badge. This Accolade should also unlock a funky Rularuu Armor costume set with awesome animated eyes on the shoulderpads, and maybe in the middle of the breast plate. And maybe on the gauntlets and kneepads. Everyone loves tintable animated eyeballs. Especially if there'd be a helmet with a huge eyeball in place of a visor for a nice cycloptic look."
/signed - but ONLY if you keep the Task Forces as they are. There's no point in 'earning' this accolade if you go and make it easy to achieve
"Add more... stuff in general. Poor suggestion line there, but the place is huge; there's got to be some zone events, GMs, anything you could put there to make the place more attractive. With Darrin Wade's arc foreshadowing the return of Rularuu, and telling of a Rularuu-worshiping cult in existence, you could focus the events of a new Issue in a revamped Shadow Shard. The place is really well designed and the concept is interesting, the only problem at the moment is that there's no real reason to go there, because it's almost void of actual content."
I would say - 'patience'. Perhaps it is coming. Although an SS GM would be good - a giant-floating-inter-dimensional 'thing' would be soooo cool to take down whilst flying.
"Needs more Stargate references."
Again - this isn't Stargate. Sorry.
[B][COLOR="DeepSkyBlue"]@Winter Flare[/COLOR] - [url="http://sites.google.com/site/thenewguardians"] The New Guardians[/url] - [url="http://www.badge-hunter.com/index.php?/page/view_player.php?id=339"] 1211 Badges [/url][/B]
[ QUOTE ]
"Add more... stuff in general. Poor suggestion line there, but the place is huge; there's got to be some zone events, GMs, anything you could put there to make the place more attractive. With Darrin Wade's arc foreshadowing the return of Rularuu, and telling of a Rularuu-worshiping cult in existence, you could focus the events of a new Issue in a revamped Shadow Shard. The place is really well designed and the concept is interesting, the only problem at the moment is that there's no real reason to go there, because it's almost void of actual content."
I would say - 'patience'. Perhaps it is coming. Although an SS GM would be good - a giant-floating-inter-dimensional 'thing' would be soooo cool to take down whilst flying.
[/ QUOTE ]
How about This Guy as a shadow shard GM ? I don't think i've ever seen him in game and it would tie nicely into the midnighters.
He can't appear as an enemy you could punch because the bounding boxes don't scale properly to mobs that size.
You could make him unattackable, with some other target to destroy in order to banish him.
As for the original suggestion, the Midnighter archivist clues lead me to think some kind of SS revamp is on the cards.
They have also said that the CoP will be fixed when base raiding is fixed, which had to follow on from the issue 13 PvP alledged "fix".
I really should do something about this signature.
I'd like to see more use made of the shadow shards, the place is such a waste at the moment. A lovely place to visit but once you've done the few TF's and gained a few badges for overseers and the like, there's no reason to go back.
A while ago we at least got BIG inspirations in the caves, they zapped that so there really is no point in going there even for those now. I do pop back there every now and then to remind myself what it looks like but there's nothing left there for my mains toons to do.
[ QUOTE ]
He can't appear as an enemy you could punch because the bounding boxes don't scale properly to mobs that size.
You could make him unattackable, with some other target to destroy in order to banish him.
[/ QUOTE ]
Aye - he a big 'ol fella 
(in case anyone is interested enough, there is a picture on the wiki page showing just how big he is in comparison to other GM's & AV's in game)
Hmmm - good thought about attacking other targets to destroy him......
Perhaps by defeating (or freeing in Faathim's case) the seven aspects of rularuu as listed on the wiki page, although some missing ones would need to be added. It would be cool (but more work in dev's creating smaller and smaller versions of Rularuu) if each time one of his aspects were defeated/freed - Rularuu himself shrunk in size until we were left with a teeny tiny 'fella to squash beneath our feet (giving a sneeky 'buffy' reference) 
Good ideas, although;
[ QUOTE ]
Turn one of the zones into a co-op zone like Cimerora and the Rikti Warzone. Turn one of the zones into a PvP Zone, including the jump geysers for random fun.
[/ QUOTE ]
As mentioned above, there are perhaps too many PvP and co-op zones, although there may be a way around it. If Cascade Archipelago is turned into a Villain only zone with Firebase Zulu as Hero only, then the Chantry and Storm Palace could be converted into something like a co-op zone crossed with a PvP zone. In the zones, Heroes and Villains can enter them but they can't team, they run different missions and, say in the top right corner under your xp bar you get a button where you can toggle yourself as a PvPer. You can use it to PvP (run private events?) or you can choose not to fight and just go about normal business.
I am the Blaster, I have filled the role of Tank, Controller and Defender
Sometimes all at once.
Union EU player! Pip pip, tally ho, top hats and tea etc etc
[ QUOTE ]
I've run all four task forces in the SS, and none have taken more than one evening (standard TF time, I feel). Yes, they are long. There's a lot of running around - but they are DIFFERENT to your standard TFs which are just 'train to here', 'enter this building next door'. I like how they are, and again believe that more people need to take part in them before they get changed. Besides, if the merits are high, then it's worth being long. If you want to run a Tf that doesn't take as long...well, there are plenty to choose from. Hell, there are even flashbacks. Crank up the settings / criteria / difficulty, and a story arc becomes a TF (usually with a better plot). Badges and merits a-go-go. Flahbacks are almost like 'make your own Task Force'
[/ QUOTE ]Huh. I bet you like the Positron Task Force just as it is too, then. 
[ QUOTE ]
This isn't Stargate. Sorry.
[/ QUOTE ]Hey, if I enter a strange new world through a technological portal, and the first NPC I talk to is named freaking 'General Hammond' of all things...
And Kheldians are pretty much Goa'ulds as it is, though they have no connection to the Shard. 
[ QUOTE ]
How about This Guy as a shadow shard GM ? I don't think i've ever seen him in game and it would tie nicely into the midnighters.
[/ QUOTE ]Considering Rularuu is pretty much stronger than a god from what I recall from game lore, he'd need to at least match Hamidon in power if his true form were ever made fightable (not counting hitbox issues here).
Technically you could fight him in the CoP as an AV, but that was an 'aspect' of him or something, and a lot smaller.
Ok - I was going to post, but the stupid forum ate my response.
1) Gachnar reference
2) No, I think Posi's needs to change. But I like SS TFs
3) Portal / strange new world references go way back, not started by stargate (comics doing it for decades)
4) Rularrooooooo aspects as future AVs - good idea
This one had better get posted.
[B][COLOR="DeepSkyBlue"]@Winter Flare[/COLOR] - [url="http://sites.google.com/site/thenewguardians"] The New Guardians[/url] - [url="http://www.badge-hunter.com/index.php?/page/view_player.php?id=339"] 1211 Badges [/url][/B]
* Fix and bring back the Cathedral of Pain and Items of Power. Apparently easier said than done.
* Open the Shard to Villains.
* Revamp the zones. Leave Firebase Zulu a Hero-only zone. Turn one of the zones Villain-only. Turn one of the zones into a co-op zone like Cimerora and the Rikti Warzone. Turn one of the zones into a PvP Zone, including the jump geysers for random fun. (Also, keep working on PvP to make it more popular.) Add clones of the Hero-side Task Forces that they would lose access to because of this to Firebase Zulu, or the co-op zone. Create new and shiny alternatives for Villains, based around seizing portions of Rularuu's power or something.
* Add some arcs. Repeatables get dull so fast.
* Add more Stargate references and tributes.
* Trim the Task Forces down a bit, make them more interesting. Nobody wants to do Defeat-All or Hunt missions for two days for Doc Q's Task Force, unless 90 merits is really attractive to them, or they want the badge. Shorten them, add new and exciting AVs.
* Add an Accolade for completing all Shadow Shard Task Forces -and- getting the Visionary badge. This Accolade should also unlock a funky Rularuu Armor costume set with awesome animated eyes on the shoulderpads, and maybe in the middle of the breast plate. And maybe on the gauntlets and kneepads. Everyone loves tintable animated eyeballs. Especially if there'd be a helmet with a huge eyeball in place of a visor for a nice cycloptic look.
* Add more... stuff in general. Poor suggestion line there, but the place is huge; there's got to be some zone events, GMs, anything you could put there to make the place more attractive. With Darrin Wade's arc foreshadowing the return of Rularuu, and telling of a Rularuu-worshiping cult in existence, you could focus the events of a new Issue in a revamped Shadow Shard. The place is really well designed and the concept is interesting, the only problem at the moment is that there's no real reason to go there, because it's almost void of actual content.
* Needs more Stargate references.