MA: I weep metaphorical tears of despair

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Yeah, It was Positron I believe, alluding to the fact that the current engine is capable of more, but they had been holding back on showing just what it was capable of with respect to subscriber's Min/Max PC specs.

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This is exactly the problem as i see it we come on here and whinge about the Devs aren't doing this and the Devs aren't doing that, why haven't they updated they graphics they need to update the graphics or CO will be much better and every one will go play that.

Yet the devs are on record as saying the core game engine is more powerful than what we see and that it is capable of doing far more.

So why don't they up the graphics simple there thinking of us the current player base how many would be strait on here moaning that the game wont run any more or that its to laggy or there PC spec doesn't meet the requirements of the game.

Just look back to when CoV launched and there was the texture update on CoH it made the game look great (hell it still looks good when you have the graphics sliders maxed) now take that to the next step a full on graphics over hall can you imagine the complaints cause i can.

So yes personally i would love to see the graphics ramped up but i have a relatively good PC what about those that don't have good PC is the possibility of getting a more subscribers worth the risk of loosing loyal current subscribers?

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At present, I for one am stuck on minimum the whole time. A laptop is all I have, given the old PC we have is actually, godforbid, WORSE.
Graphical updates are all fine and dandy, but some of us, at the moment in time, wont be able to keep up. Which sucks when you really like a game.

-furthers plans to get a new PC at Uni-

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I believe Positron alluded to the fact that the graphical updates will be optional as are the current graphical frosting under the menu>options>gfx tab.

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I believe Positron alluded to the fact that the graphical updates will be optional as are the current graphical frosting under the menu>options>gfx tab.

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Nifty

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That said I do agree that it would help the games survivability considerably if they upgrade the graphics somehow. I have seen nothing to indicate that this is not in their plans already.

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It wasn't so long ago that it was confirmed the Paragon team are looking at possible graphical improvements.

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I like this little snippet/tease/wink wink, nudge nudge/hint.

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@Crius

Bassai, Canadian Kid, Alruna, Kahi

Mistress Rad, Culpeo, Ms. Demeanor, Celsius

If nothing we do matters, then all that matters is what we do. Let's go to work.

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That said I do agree that it would help the games survivability considerably if they upgrade the graphics somehow. I have seen nothing to indicate that this is not in their plans already.

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It wasn't so long ago that it was confirmed the Paragon team are looking at possible graphical improvements.

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I like this little snippet/tease/wink wink, nudge nudge/hint.

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I've heard so many of them over the years I've learnt to filter them out as irrelevant to what may or may not actually happen in the game.

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That said I do agree that it would help the games survivability considerably if they upgrade the graphics somehow. I have seen nothing to indicate that this is not in their plans already.

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It wasn't so long ago that it was confirmed the Paragon team are looking at possible graphical improvements.

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I like this little snippet/tease/wink wink, nudge nudge/hint.

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I've heard so many of them over the years I've learnt to filter them out as irrelevant to what may or may not actually happen in the game.

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Most things hinted have appeared. Eventually.

And by hinted, I mean hinted. Not things wished for, or wanted, or on player lists.


Personally, I don't mind. I'm still loving CoX. The MA isn't my favourite addition ever, but as a roleplayer, it's a brilliant one that I'll probably get involved with quite a lot over time.

People's general apathy towards Issue 14 isn't towards Issue 14 at all, it just points out the problem. It's the game as a whole. And really, it should just point them in the right direction, which is likely away from the game for a while.

I'll stick to my general chirpy optimism and say Issue 15 will be one to bring many wanted additions, and hopefully some of these graphical updates, no matter how minor. But until then, I'll stay away from the forums full of moaning and whining from the people who should take the hint already.

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@Crius

Bassai, Canadian Kid, Alruna, Kahi

Mistress Rad, Culpeo, Ms. Demeanor, Celsius

If nothing we do matters, then all that matters is what we do. Let's go to work.

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But until then, I'll stay away from the forums full of moaning and whining from the people who should take the hint already.

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I don't really think there's much more moaning going on in the forums than there's always been, there's just less enthusiasm than's been usual. Perhaps because much of the enthusiasm for the MA played itself out in the two betas.

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I'll stick to my general chirpy optimism and say Issue 15 will be one to bring many wanted additions, and hopefully some of these graphical updates, no matter how minor. But until then, I'll stay away from the forums full of moaning and whining from the people who should take the hint already.

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It's hardly moaning and whining now is it?

The criticism levelled at i14 has been constructive in nature on the whole.

If I were to say that I hate this game and it sucks, then would be moaning and whining but I'm not. I'm simply concerned about the game. I've been playing it for a long time - without playing any other game - and I have lots of friends in the game.

The same thing can be said for many people that play CoX.

Most of my friends are basically looking at CO as an alternative to CoX. An alternative with many features that CoX doesn't have right now.

What I'm saying is that the CoX devs need to get the finger out and give this game an overhaul and IMHO i14 wasn't helping things at all.

MA is a terrific tool for the devs to use . It will allow them to produce quality arcs/missions/mobs etc. Giving it to the players was an error IMHO.

We need to see this quality, along with the long time rumoured GFX upgrade - and soon - or CO will take a sizeable section of the playerbase away from us.

There you go. Constructive criticism, not whining

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Proud member of FOXBASE ALPHA and coalition associates.

Hero 50's - 25

Villain 50's - 1

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Perhaps because much of the enthusiasm for the MA played itself out in the two betas.

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I suspect a lot of that has to do with the 70k+ arcs published in the first few days, few of which would win many awards for originality or playablility.

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You know it's odd...I was readily defending the MA from the criticsm of the likes of Shockwave and Londoner, saying it would be great and such...

...though their initially 'it's only for RPers' complaint has proved completely wrong (it's not for RPers, it's for farmers) they did make some good points back in the day, probably should have listened instead of defending it so blindly...

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Badge Earned: Wing Clipper

A real showstopper!

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Most of my friends are basically looking at CO as an alternative to CoX. An alternative with many features that CoX doesn't have right now.

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What features?

Also modified engine still means same core engine that something similar can and I believe will be implemented in CoH

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Shadowplay - Scrapper DM/DA SL 50
Doctor Storm- Brute SS/Elec SL 50
"speed boosts someone in the face" - Cognito

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though their initially 'it's only for RPers' complaint has proved completely wrong (it's not for RPers, it's for farmers)

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I think it aint for RPers or farmers, evident by how many people who use it don't belong to either group.

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Shadowplay - Scrapper DM/DA SL 50
Doctor Storm- Brute SS/Elec SL 50
"speed boosts someone in the face" - Cognito

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I think it aint for RPers or farmers, evident by how many people who use it don't belong to either group.

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Personally, I'm an 8th level Lawful-Evil Farmer with a Hoe +3 against Legumes.

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Lawful Evil Farmer...so you grow man eating plants or you just follow the laws of the land but you sell you product thats amazingly tasty but for such a high margin that only the nobility can afford it, leaving the peasants to starve to death while you cackle because it's all perfect law abidding, not your fault they can't afford your so-good-it's-almost-addicitive produce.

You evil person you...

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Badge Earned: Wing Clipper

A real showstopper!

I think this MA has been more of a success if you just want to create stuff for yourself or freinds, its when you want some global recognition it falls down because of the amount of rubbish that needs to be sifted through.

For me it did what it said on the tin, allowed myself and a few mates to build decent farms villain side.

Sadly im now sick of farming too, and because of the amount of [censored] published its hard work finding anything good.

I also cant see an easy answer to that, because people are not going to suddenly become self critical and stop publishing rubbish, after all why should they, one mans rubbish is anothers masterpiece.

Im just a bit sad they couldnt have added something in this issue for the non creative of us.

Which leads me on to say i just hope i15 really is a stellar event with some wow factor, if not its going to be goodnight nurse from a lot of people.

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That said I do agree that it would help the games survivability considerably if they upgrade the graphics somehow. I have seen nothing to indicate that this is not in their plans already.

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It wasn't so long ago that it was confirmed the Paragon team are looking at possible graphical improvements.

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So yes personally i would love to see the graphics ramped up but i have a relatively good PC what about those that don't have good PC is the possibility of getting a more subscribers worth the risk of loosing loyal current subscribers?

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You have nothing to fear. You can run CoH in a state very close to pre Issue 6 graphics. You can even lower the settings beyond that. It would be wasteful to discard these lower settings.

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PS: The Champions graphics are not so much better then what CoH allready has, they use the same engine for [censored] sake, an engine originaly created back in 2000.

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I don't think the problem with CoH graphics is the engine as much as it's a lot of rather dull and same-y graphics that needs to be reworked.

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Correct. The engine (of which I have many bugbears) is not the only problem. Art also plays its part. You can expect much improved art to take advantage of whatever new swisheries that any graphical beefing-up provides.

As an example, compare the graphics of your average Xbox 360 or Playstation 3 game to that of Metroid Prime 3 on the diddy Wii. Look for full EDTV screenshots. While the beefier console will give you brown-looking areas where everything looks laminated, Metroid Prime 3 looks frankly stunning. And it's running on much weaker hardware at a lower resolution.

With Jay even remotely connected to the art department (I don't know by how much ) you can rest assured that new assets will look Awesome.

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That said I do agree that it would help the games survivability considerably if they upgrade the graphics somehow. I have seen nothing to indicate that this is not in their plans already.

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It wasn't so long ago that it was confirmed the Paragon team are looking at possible graphical improvements.

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I like this little snippet/tease/wink wink, nudge nudge/hint.

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I've heard so many of them over the years I've learnt to filter them out as irrelevant to what may or may not actually happen in the game.

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It was a hint dropped by GhostRaptor on the subject of CoH's future. Seems reliable to me.

Furthering that, a beef-up on the eye candy may be one reason we haven't had much in the way of new art / content.

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Necrobond - 50 BS/Inv Scrapper made in I1
Rickar - 50 Bots/FF Mastermind
Anti-Muon - 42 Warshade
Ivory Sicarius - 45 Crab Spider
Aber ja, nat�rlich Hans nass ist, er steht unter einem Wasserfall.

Also, I think people should think about the size of the current dev team - a 15 person team gave us Faultline and the RWZ - the team is now three times bigger, so either NCSoft have decided to generously help out with the unemployment situation in America, or these extra 30 or so added to the team are actually working on something pretty big

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@Golden Girl

City of Heroes comics and artwork

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Also, I think people should think about the size of the current dev team - a 15 person team gave us Faultline and the RWZ - the team is now three times bigger, so either NCSoft have decided to generously help out with the unemployment situation in America, or these extra 30 or so added to the team are actually working on something pretty big

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All well and good GG, but if the new 'big' content isn't in i15, I'll speculate that a large proportion of the playerbase will leave for CO.

The devs need to respond to the competition - it's as simple as that.

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Proud member of FOXBASE ALPHA and coalition associates.

Hero 50's - 25

Villain 50's - 1

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Also, I think people should think about the size of the current dev team - a 15 person team gave us Faultline and the RWZ - the team is now three times bigger, so either NCSoft have decided to generously help out with the unemployment situation in America, or these extra 30 or so added to the team are actually working on something pretty big

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All well and good GG, but if the new 'big' content isn't in i15, I'll speculate that a large proportion of the playerbase will leave for CO.

The devs need to respond to the competition - it's as simple as that.

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Which is why it may seem like the devs are holding back stuff for I15

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@Golden Girl

City of Heroes comics and artwork

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Which is why it may seem like the devs are holding back stuff for I15

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You can winky away to your hearts content, but we have all heard the "great things coming" speech way too many times now to actually believe it, and if the gap between issues is as long as normal, then Champions will be on its second patch by I15.

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Zhaan, Chakyra, Fiorina 161, Aeryn, Polly Nation, Dee Pression, Shazanne, Night Jester and too many more to mention.

Network Hell 47640
Valley of the Harpies 74519
Green and Pleasant Land 75966

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Which is why it may seem like the devs are holding back stuff for I15

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You can winky away to your hearts content, but we have all heard the "great things coming" speech way too many times now to actually believe it, and if the gap between issues is as long as normal, then Champions will be on its second patch by I15.

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Presumably that'll be the "oops, we didn't balance the powers right" ED-esque Nerf Patch(TM)

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Atomic Boy Scout
(a) definition of a casual gamer - 3 years in game and first fifty still only on the horizon.

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No, personal opinion. Some subscribers do like official PvE content and a continuation of the 'City of' Story over farming missions and Ego-boost arcs.

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What is the difference? And what is "ego-boost" arc?

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high arcana

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I assume its those badly written arcs about how great your character is, where your honmored enough to get to follow their backstory - and, even better, watch and Av ally of them do all the fighting.

Personally I can't wait to play another arc where I'm overshadowed by a hero I've never heard of!

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Which is why it may seem like the devs are holding back stuff for I15

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You can winky away to your hearts content, but we have all heard the "great things coming" speech way too many times now to actually believe it

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I believe them

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@Golden Girl

City of Heroes comics and artwork

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No, personal opinion. Some subscribers do like official PvE content and a continuation of the 'City of' Story over farming missions and Ego-boost arcs.

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What is the difference? And what is "ego-boost" arc?

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I think that in Ego-boost arcs ML is referring to the arcs that some people throw up that serve merely to star one of their existing in-game characters as a near-invincible super being.

e.g. if I did an arc starring 'Judgement Dave' as an extreme/extreme AV and the text, if any, tells us he's the all-powerful, beats-up-gods-for-fun, bestest hero in the multiverse.

I've seen some posters refer to these as 'Mary Sue' arcs/stories. Which TV tropes tells us came from fanfic:
The prototypical Mary Sue is an original female character in a fanfic who obviously serves as an idealized version of the author mainly for the purpose of Wish Fulfillment.


Regarding what is the difference:
Wanting the official PvE stories continued is fine, and we need them developed. But it is poor and misguided to see MA arcs purely as 'farming missions and Ego-boost arcs'.

The whole raison d'etre of this thread was because there is and can be some great arcs/stories created in MA (even with the MA-engine limitations we have at version 1) but the sheer volume of ill-considered rubbish makes reliably finding the quality works nigh on impossuble. This goes whether you want story/rp/challenge/humour/etc.

And I have absolutely nothing against farms/badging arcs/missions if the author has taken a few minutes to throw together even the flimsiest reason for killing all those badguys... without that I fail to see why we need 1000 authors to publish practically-identical farms...

Some of the stories in MA will rival or exceed the devs official output - that's inevitable. It's sad that many can attack or ignore them merely over the fact that they're non-canon. To some extent: So what?

A good story is a good story.

And many do try to stay within the bounds of established canon, and so are practically canon. If a story is good (or even great) and you'd accept it without blinking an eye if the devs had done it as part of I15s content then what does it matter that it's been done by a player as part of MA content? Heck - if the player is consistently writing arcs of great quality that stick to canon they might even become a dev one day...

One of the harshest criticisms I have of what could be created in MA is that the 5 mission limit (and to a lesser extent the 100k limit) do necessitate producing shorter arcs. Not usually a problem, but some good plots really do need longer if you're to build up tension, throw in the odd bit of misdirection etc...

It's hard to imagine how our steam-powered friend or an X-files-type conspiracy could be introduced and resolved in a single arc without rushing it to the point of triviality. And splitting up a story into multiple arcs isn't really the best way to do it, as we have no way to ensure that 'chapters' are played in order (which, outside of Ouroboros, the devs can do by placing chapters at different level ranges, following each other at the same contact or at different contacts in the zone-arcs)

I've plenty of criticisms about MA mechanics (e.g. search)...
or the way that the devs handle 'exploits' (e.g. removing entire villain groups, like Prisoners - no - I'm not still annoyed at all - no)...
or the general noise of thoughtless pap created by some players.

But criticising potential stories purely due to being created by someone not employed by Paragon Studios is ridiculous.

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By my mohawk shall ye know me!
my toons
Funny: Ee-Ai-Ee-Ai-Oh! #3662 * The foul-mouthed Handyman! #1076 * City of Norms #132944
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