Agreeing with Scarlet Shocker, I think I9 to I12 really was something else.
Faultline and the Rikti War Zone stand out as shining examples of the direction zones and missions should be moving in.
Instance map fatigue is something that gets to me, and the new Midnighter Arcs that were put in were just rehashed maps and enemies, with nothing... unique about them.
If the TF and SF have 5 missions, with each mission being a unique map, that'd be something.
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really when i google city of heroes i get the EU site first when i google city of heroes forum i get EU first. if i purchase through steam i get EU so there's a fair to even chance that they will end up on the EU.
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very odd. I go to google and type "city of heroes" and I get
www.cityofheroes.com/
www.cityofheroes.com/trial/index.html
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_of_Heroes
boards.cityofheroes.com/
www.amazon.com/City-Heroes-Pc/dp/B0001DLLWC
cohvault.ign.com
etc, etc. In fact the EU link is not even on the first page. It is top of the 3rd page. Anyone with those results will go to the US.
Ok so lots of well issue X was better than i15 (how you can tell when its not even on test yet I'm not sure) so of I've trotted to the issues page with pen and pad and compiled a little list lets have a look shall we
i1 (eg stick in all the stuff we couldn't get in pre launch)
2 new zones
the sewer trial
instanced outdoor mission and enhanced indoor missions
extra costume slots
3 new enemy groups (Malta group, carnival and pratonians)
i2
2 more zones (hollows and shard) one of which was hated for a long time the other is just largely ignored
2 more enemy groups
respec, eden and cavern trials
capes
auras
badges
i3
striga
the council
lusca and the ghost ship
Epic ATs (hero)
ancillary pools
i4 aka the issue that brought us PvP
Arenas
Anime inspired costumes well martial arts really
coalition chat
i5 one of my favorite issues
Croatoa and all its associated enemies and missions
new powers
some zone events
i6 a seemingly small issue
the 3 pvp zone
and some QoL features
i7 the villain issue that got all the hero only players complaining
Grandville
RV
Mayhem missions
Patron powers
electric melee/armour,thugs, dark melee/armour (stalkers)
i8 the hero issue that got all the villains complaining
safeguard missions
police band
pocket D Arena
Faultline revamp
i9 much complaining about this issue as well if i remember inventions and auction houses were the end of the game
Inventions
Auctions
STF
New Hami
i10 a small issue that added nothing for the sub 35s
rikti invasion
RWZ revamp
RWZ joint task force
vanguard
i11 the start of the hole coming storm thing
weapon customisation
duel blades and willpower
Ouroborus
i12 as this was the roman issue that introduced the "pointless zone"this should be a bad issue yet many like it especially the ITF that it brought
Midnighters
Roman Zone
Roman Armour
villain Epics
Proliferation
mini hollows revamp
QoL stuff
i13 my least favorite issue
Day jobs
multi builds
shields
Pain domination
Leveling pact
Merits
New Cim missions
some costumes
more inventions
i14
Architect
i15
a villains strike force
a hero strike force 2 forces that's the most since Ouro
new costume sets from the little information given that's 2 complete costume sets not just the odd bit here and there like given with day jobs but 2 complete costume sets more like Exo proto and stealth or sinister and justice sounds good to me and i await screen shots
Costume change emotes if we hadn't had the magic pack this would be something big certainly asked for several times in the past who says the devs don't listen
new faces
Architect update seemingly including some of those asked for features so cant be that bad
So i don't see the problem with i15 ok maybe it doesnt seem as big as it was made out to be but at the same time its doesn't seem smaller in general than previous issues i really think people were just expecting to much from it.
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Then perhaps the devs actually need to start doing something to address all the moaning, instead of just ignoring it?
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There is nothing, absolutely NOTHING the devs could do, that would stop the complaining. Even if there were detailed requests, and they supplied all of them, there'd be a "You just don't listen/understand!" line from some people.
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That's true to a point, but just because there'll always be some people complaining (and some particular people will always complain about anything) doesn't mean all complaints might as well be ignored.
If, over the period of a month or two, a lot[1] of people that have been very supportive in the past all start saying "enough's enough", perhaps there has been a significant change[2].
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Listening and even doing that which has been requested won't stop those that used to like the game, are now sick of it but don't want to admit it to themselves, and know where the forums are.
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Six of one, half a dozen of the other; my play time's certainly fallen off over the past 12 months or so, and a significant factor there has been jadedness with the same old same old. What could have prevented that? More novelty, more new maps, zones, carrying the story forward, that sort of thing. From my point of view there hasn't been enough of that sort of thing, not nearly enough. Was I expecting an unreasonable amount? Well, I can only be subjective here but I'd say not...if there'd been more than what I'd call the "not very much at all" amount, and less undelivered "coming soon(tm)", I'd have been happy.
[1] Maybe 6-10? Which isn't a lot in absolute terms but is a fairly significant fraction of regular posters here.
[2] Brighton closing being an obvious one.
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Its one thing to express disapointment its another to be out right hostile which is what many of the recent posts have been.
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You think this is hostile? Heh. You should have been here for ED. Now, them was some rough weathers, oh aye, winds that would snap the mast in twain if you put as much as a handkerchief on it and every minute or so a wave the size of Essex would come crashing down and snap the keel, sending all of us into the sea. Sometimes we were rescued, and sometimes we weren't.
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I was here for ED and the numerous regen nerfs and yes those times were hostile but that was a different type of hostility and maybe i'm looking back with rose tinted glasses (possibly the same ones others are using to view previous issues) but the forums were far more friendly.
The EU community used to have a good rep for being a friendly bunch now i'm not so sure.
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really when i google city of heroes i get the EU site first when i google city of heroes forum i get EU first. if i purchase through steam i get EU so there's a fair to even chance that they will end up on the EU.
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very odd. I go to google and type "city of heroes" and I get
www.cityofheroes.com/
www.cityofheroes.com/trial/index.html
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_of_Heroes
boards.cityofheroes.com/
www.amazon.com/City-Heroes-Pc/dp/B0001DLLWC
cohvault.ign.com
etc, etc. In fact the EU link is not even on the first page. It is top of the 3rd page. Anyone with those results will go to the US.
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what google are you useing? i use google.co.uk are you useing google.com perhaps?
I'll admit that some of the changes, especially EU side have hurt. I'll freely admit that there have been some poor decisions made. I'm in no way saying the game and world are perfect.
But I still enjoy this game (much more since we got loads of fun new content in issue 14) as an escape, and the general feel of bitterness on the boards gets to me.
I still enjoy the game.
No, that doesn't mean I'm an idiot.
�How do I like my MMOs? I like them the way Paragon Studios used to make them.� - a fitting tribute from kiasa.org
EU, Union mostly.
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even before the 5th aniversery was announced people were complaining that it would just be another invasion and asking why the Devs could come up with new stuff but look what happens when they do its never anuff here we are getting the anouncment of i15 mere weeks after i14 hit and were complaining that theres not anuff being added.
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It's not enough for the following reasons:
a) the Devs have known the exact date of the 5th Anniversary for some time now. They have had plenty of time to get something cool and exciting happening.
b) A large chunk of the dev team has been working on I15 for a LONG time. (I'd guess close to a year.) They come up with 2 TFs, one of which fails to plug a much needed hole in the Villain SF arcs.
c) The rest of the issue is simply shiny bits.
d) When you stack I14 and I15 up against previous issues, they are weak in comparison. ISsues 9 to 12 were excellent. Issue 13 gave us a new zone (albeit a bit wierd and not in any continuity) and an excellent TF.
I14 turned Atlas into CoF
I15 will not redress that.
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a) and had they allocated resources to doing something cool and exciting come next year when they re used it we would be having the same conversation and resources would have been used on something that happens only once a year.
b)but it dose give end game content to heroes and villains something that was constantly asked for only a few months ago also 2 TFs are more than we've had in a while
c)many issues have shiny bits its often these shinny bits (costumes etc) that will see the most use and look at the complaints when there were no costumes in i14
d)see my comparison of issues i15 doesnt seem any worse to me
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I'll admit that some of the changes, especially EU side have hurt. I'll freely admit that there have been some poor decisions made. I'm in no way saying the game and world are perfect.
But I still enjoy this game (much more since we got loads of fun new content in issue 14) as an escape, and the general feel of bitterness on the boards gets to me.
I still enjoy the game.
No, that doesn't mean I'm an idiot.
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I wouldn't dream of suggesting that that makes you an idiot... 
For you, and all others (of whatever vintage) that still enjoy the game, that's good - in a completely sarcasm-free way (for a change) I'm happy for you. Different people like different things, and if the recent things that have gone in (looking at MA in particular) tick the right boxes for you that's the way things work out.
Unfortunately my boxes had things like new zones and canon story arcs in, and for whatever reason they just haven't been there in quantity recently.
I'd probably be a bit less bitter and sarcy if there hadn't been so many non-specific "wonderful stuff soon" promises - probably naively I read that as "wonderful stuff you'll like soon", and was put out when that turned out not to be the case.
So unless Posi's announcement unveils a whole bunch of unexpected stuff that's really coming soon I'm likely to be taking a break from Paragon. Hopefully only an au revoir, as the new stuff will come eventually (if not soon), and when it does I'll be back to play it.
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I was here for ED and the numerous regen nerfs and yes those times were hostile but that was a different type of hostility and maybe i'm looking back with rose tinted glasses (possibly the same ones others are using to view previous issues) but the forums were far more friendly.
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I wouldn't say the forums were more friendly back then -- rather the opposite. There was a lot of bad blood and hostility and high tempers. Right now, the forums are the most calm and mild-tempered they've ever been.
The forums were a lot more enthusiastic and positive before, though.
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I was here for ED and the numerous regen nerfs and yes those times were hostile but that was a different type of hostility and maybe i'm looking back with rose tinted glasses (possibly the same ones others are using to view previous issues) but the forums were far more friendly.
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I wouldn't say the forums were more friendly back then -- rather the opposite. There was a lot of bad blood and hostility and high tempers. Right now, the forums are the most calm and mild-tempered they've ever been.
The forums were a lot more enthusiastic and positive before, though.
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Well whatever they were they just seemed more fun 
of course maybe im just becoming bitter as well and havent noticed
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I was here for ED and the numerous regen nerfs and yes those times were hostile but that was a different type of hostility and maybe i'm looking back with rose tinted glasses (possibly the same ones others are using to view previous issues) but the forums were far more friendly.
[/ QUOTE ]
I wouldn't say the forums were more friendly back then -- rather the opposite. There was a lot of bad blood and hostility and high tempers. Right now, the forums are the most calm and mild-tempered they've ever been.
The forums were a lot more enthusiastic and positive before, though.
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Well whatever they were they just seemed more fun of course maybe im just becoming bitter as well and havent noticed
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Come to the Meh Side, we have cookies.
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really when i google city of heroes i get the EU site first when i google city of heroes forum i get EU first. if i purchase through steam i get EU so there's a fair to even chance that they will end up on the EU.
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very odd. I go to google and type "city of heroes" and I get
www.cityofheroes.com/
www.cityofheroes.com/trial/index.html
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_of_Heroes
boards.cityofheroes.com/
www.amazon.com/City-Heroes-Pc/dp/B0001DLLWC
cohvault.ign.com
etc, etc. In fact the EU link is not even on the first page. It is top of the 3rd page. Anyone with those results will go to the US.
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what google are you useing? i use google.co.uk are you useing google.com perhaps?
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ah, yes I use google.com I tend to get better results. Although if I do it I can't believe that I am the only one.
So results vary wildly when using com over co.uk. At least we sorted that one out. We were both right, in a way 
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Right now, the forums are the most calm and mild-tempered they've ever been.
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I'd like to think that's not because I've been absent, though I did contribute quite a bit to those stormy seas from time to time.
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I was here for ED and the numerous regen nerfs and yes those times were hostile but that was a different type of hostility and maybe i'm looking back with rose tinted glasses (possibly the same ones others are using to view previous issues) but the forums were far more friendly.
[/ QUOTE ]
I wouldn't say the forums were more friendly back then -- rather the opposite. There was a lot of bad blood and hostility and high tempers. Right now, the forums are the most calm and mild-tempered they've ever been.
The forums were a lot more enthusiastic and positive before, though.
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Well whatever they were they just seemed more fun of course maybe im just becoming bitter as well and havent noticed
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Come to the Meh Side, we have cookies.
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Meh i don't like that flavour :P
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<QR>
To those accusing people like myself of moaning, I have this to say.
I am a paying customer, and am entitled to make my feelings known. If you don't like that then please, feel free to not read my posts.
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Did I write that?
Don't get into a flap. It's only my opinion and I'm thick
Arc 56763 Lord Anarchys heaven
2 mission arc. Bring friends cause Lord Anarchy means business...
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<QR>
To those accusing people like myself of moaning, I have this to say.
I am a paying customer, and am entitled to make my feelings known. If you don't like that then please, feel free to not read my posts.
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Did I write that?
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Hey, I'm pretty sure I never said you couldn't make your feelings known. I just didn't usually agree with you at the time.
Times change though. Promises aren't fullfilled and patience wears out. Optimism becomes pessimism and absenteeism becomes increasingly likely.
@FloatingFatMan
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
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Right now, the forums are the most calm and mild-tempered they've ever been.
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I'd like to think that's not because I've been absent, though I did contribute quite a bit to those stormy seas from time to time.
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Nah. I think it's mainly due to certain OTHER people who have also been absent.
I actually think you tended to get crapped on an awful lot back then, for no logical reason either.
@FloatingFatMan
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
To be honest, theres only so much you can achieve with a pre-existing model that dates a while back. I think they're probably stretching the boundaries of the game's capabilities, believe it or not. I believed this from a year ago onwards. It's sort of the reason why I get kind of annoyed when I read people want power customisation, or this or that. Just because you could 20 miles when you were 20 doesn't mean you can run 20 miles when your 30. I honestly think they've already stretched the engine's abilities.
Fury
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I'd like to think that's not because I've been absent, though I did contribute quite a bit to those stormy seas from time to time.
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Nah. I think it's mainly due to certain OTHER people who have also been absent.
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I'm still waiting for The_Question to come back. Though it's unlikely to be as much of a Second Coming, as it is him popping in, calling us chumps, and leaving again.
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I actually think you tended to get crapped on an awful lot back then, for no logical reason either.
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I've got that terrible afflcition of posting what I think, rather than what I think I should say, which did end up bouncing back in my face a couple of times. 
I think I gave as good as I got though, and heck, there's people I tolerate well enough now that I used to be at odds with on a constant basis. I love these forums more than the game itself, to be honest.
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"I love the game (but I'm going to complain constantly)", seems awfully close to "I loved the game, but I'm tired of it and don't recognise the fact".
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Doc, you are a good poster but you're off the mark here. I've been complaning since year two. And yet I have played and enjoyed the game for years.
That's probably over now but I'm not saying i haven't had my £9 a month out of it because I have.
My reasons foe being so cynical are complicated but ultimately lie in two intertwining factors:
That CoH was my hobby and I wanted that hobby to be as good as it could be
And I saw, after about a year the way the dev team, headed by Stateman was thinking and to my mind I judged it to be not up to the standard we needed to really put the game on the map. Or to really make it special.
But, through all that, because I have a certain mind set I played happily.
So moaning and enjoying are not mutually exclusive.
Don't get into a flap. It's only my opinion and I'm thick
Arc 56763 Lord Anarchys heaven
2 mission arc. Bring friends cause Lord Anarchy means business...
Considering the devs worked on I15 since release of I13 the content is really poor.
If you assume the devs use MA to do most of their missions now, 2 SF/TF could be done in like 1 week by one person if you exlude cutscenes and unique totally new maps.
I doubt it would have been too much work to add some new story arcs, considering how pi** easy it is now with the MA.
The devs working on new grafic and effects like new costumes and faces are other devs than the ones creating missions SF/Tf etc or the ones creating new maps.
Thats why i dont understand why we get this poor stuff in I15.
I'm optimistic that Paragon Studios' Devs are working on something big, but pessimistic about their PR and Support handling of the game. I'm pessimistic that the something big will be another MMO unrelated to CoH, but also optimistic it might be CoH2 or a paid expansion to CoH.
I may moan at the lack of content we've been promised, or that the story canon moves forward so slowly in-game, or that issues seem smaller now than they used to, but I still love the gameplay of this MMO more than any other I've played. The game might fill up with farmers and whiners, it might go into maintenance mode one day with very little new content added, but while my friend and I still enjoy duoing our way through an instance I'll still be here - the moment that changes I'll just go - and I'll go quietly because nothing anyone could say will keep me here. Been that way with every previous MMO I've quit, though this is the only one I've ever come back to.