I16: Super-Sidekicking Explained

Weatherwoman · 08-12-2009 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nights_Eclipse

Not that I really care, but I am going to put this out there. Did you take into consideration AE currently cuts out the need to bridge? This will effect a lot of people with in AE who are using the AE mechanics to be the 'bridge'. I'd be willing to bet that if you looked at the numbers just before i14 and architect came out, you'd see that they were a lot larger.

Even look back to when the first Double XP was (can't remember, that was awhile ago. . .). While we didn't have the ability to freeze XP to bridge back then, several people would get to 46 themselves, then shoot up to 50 REALLY fast, because they bridged. On the server I play on at least, that was pretty much accepted, and people were excited when they could finally be asked to bridge. Most would put it in their search comment, as would the few that didn't want to.

So I guess my question is this, how is it going to effect the AE missions? Are you also eliminating what I'm going to call the "System Bridging"?

I hadn't considered this. You are right though.

/t @Flame Enchantress, /em sends tell

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Lothic · 08-12-2009 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lothic

I always wondered when the Devs were going to pull a Colonel Nicholson and blow the PL bridge in this game. Better late than never I guess...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Human_Being

Thought of that too, did you?

And if you'll recall, Colonel Nicholson had to build it first, then say "what have I done" before destroying the Bridge.

I'm glad somebody got the reference I was going for.
I never knew they spoofed it on Magnum P.I. but it still counts I guess.

Basically the Devs allowed PL bridging to happen, they finally collectively said "What have we done?!?" and now they are setting about to blow it up.

Loth 50 Fire/Rad Controller [1392 Badges] [300 non-AE Souvenirs]
Ryver 50 Ele� Blaster [1392 Badges]
Silandra 50 Peacebringer [1138 Badges] [No Redside Badges]
--{=====> Virtue ♀

Perfect_Pain · 08-12-2009 12:30 PM

The very first double exp weeken happened on the weekend I got married.
Saturday July 22nd 2006.

CoyoteShaman · 08-12-2009 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tarkenchi

This is pretty awesome. You guys really need to offer a lifetime subscription option.

I'll start saving up now! Yes, please! Do this!

And since people who buy this will be certain to get all the vets rewards, they might as well be all given as soon as they come out...

That last part is sort of a joke. Sort of...

Robin

--If we can have huge sig images, why can we have only five lines of text?
--...faceplanting like a Defender pulling an AV (Nalrok_AthZim)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Techbot Alpha

...I have the patience of a coffee-fueled flea...

Ice_Ember · 08-12-2009 12:32 PM

What happens if the team leader crashes and the star is passed to another?

If the star is passed to a higher level will everyone go to that level, or the opposite, the star is passed to a lower level and everything spawn is the deepest shade of purple?

Another question on the exemplaring down and TF's. Does this mean you will keep powers if you XM down to the now dreaded Positron TF? Does this mean you will no longer have the level spread of level 10's and level 15's (etc) in TF's?

YMMV---IMO
Ice Ember

Chaos Creator · 08-12-2009 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Perfect_Pain

The very first double exp weeken happened on the weekend I got married.
Saturday July 22nd 2006.

So for your honeymoon you farmed behemoths?

Tealeaf · 08-12-2009 12:34 PM

This issue is full of win. Now my husband and mine low level heroes and villians will be able to group with one another! I have a feeling that this is going to make finding a group or TF much easier when there are limited numbers of people on, say at 3am when I'm usually on.

Loving the email change too. I think that if the RMT'er start using paid accounts to send advertising /tells, they'll risk losing them since we can report those accounts as spammers. With the paid accounts now identifiable, they are now bannable. I'm not seeing a downside here.

I'm Tealeaf, and I approve of this message.

See [URL="http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showthread.php?p=2134817#post2134817"]Useful Tagging for the good of the Forum[/URL], my guide to tags.

Perfect_Pain · 08-12-2009 12:34 PM

Please tell me that one of the QOL features being added to this issue is:

If the team leader of a TF/SF Crashes/DCs whatever... That they have like 3 minutes to relog and will still retain the star???

Same as if someone goes AFK from TF/SF you can KICK them from the team if they are afk longer than like 5 minutes...

UnicyclePeon · 08-12-2009 12:35 PM

So, $500 for a lifetime membership and guaranteed beta access? Count me in (x3 accounts). Heck, I'd settle for a paid guarantee to be in on beta testing. Say a one time fee of $50 per account and you are guaranteed to be in betas.

Lewis

Random AT Generation!
"I remember... the Alamo." -- Pee-wee Herman
"Oh don't worry. I always leave things to the last moment." -- The Doctor
"Telescopes are time machines." -- Carl Sagan

Perfect_Pain · 08-12-2009 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chaos_Creator

So for your honeymoon you farmed behemoths?

We delayed our honeymoon, and yes we did farm behemoths

Lothic · 08-12-2009 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Perfect_Pain

We delayed our honeymoon, and yes we did farm behemoths

Was anyone surprised by this?

Loth 50 Fire/Rad Controller [1392 Badges] [300 non-AE Souvenirs]
Ryver 50 Ele� Blaster [1392 Badges]
Silandra 50 Peacebringer [1138 Badges] [No Redside Badges]
--{=====> Virtue ♀

Mental_Giant · 08-12-2009 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macskull

1. This doesn't eliminate farming. Might slow it down, certainly, but definitely not eliminate. Notice it's made PLing far far easier outside of the MA because you no longer have to find bridges for the lowbies. It'll be slower XP but farmers will still farm and PLers will still PL - you can't stop them no matter how you try. So yes, you're still wrong. I PL now, I'll be PLing after I16 hits. It'll take me longer (no more 8-hour 50s, oh well), but PLing will always be faster than playing the game "normally."

Much of the speed of PLers was an artifact of the SK system, and the Devs have just removed that. PLers will still PL, but it won't be nearly as broken as it was, and without the need for bridges it will also be less disruptive to everyone else.

Agua Man lvl 48 Water/Electric Blaster

"To die hating NCSoft for shutting down City of Heroes, that was Freedom."

CactusBrawler · 08-12-2009 12:38 PM

As a role player this is great news, no more trying to juggle mentors and side kicks so we can team IC.

Brawling Cactus from a distant planet.

Nights_Eclipse · 08-12-2009 12:39 PM

Another quick question. . .Hazard zones no longer have Level requirements, so. . .will this apply to Cimerora? I ask because you can't get the mission to get into the zone until level 30+ (vilalins side at least), but the zone doesn't have that level req on it anymore?

Chaos Creator · 08-12-2009 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lothic

Was anyone surprised by this?

Surprised no, amused greatly, yes.

bAss_ackwards · 08-12-2009 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ice_Ember

What happens if the team leader crashes and the star is passed to another?

If the star is passed to a higher level will everyone go to that level, or the opposite, the star is passed to a lower level and everything spawn is the deepest shade of purple?

Another question on the exemplaring down and TF's. Does this mean you will keep powers if you XM down to the now dreaded Positron TF? Does this mean you will no longer have the level spread of level 10's and level 15's (etc) in TF's?

If you are in a mission then you will still be at the same level of the mission owner, I assume. The mission level does not change if a person crashes or logs out.

Playstation 3 - XBox 360 - Wii - PSP

Remember kids, crack is whack!

Samuel_Tow: Your avatar is... I think I like it

Perfect_Pain · 08-12-2009 12:42 PM

>.<

Lothic · 08-12-2009 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UnicyclePeon

So, $500 for a lifetime membership and guaranteed beta access? Count me in (x3 accounts).

Heck, I'd settle for a paid guarantee to be in on beta testing. Say a one time fee of $50 per account and you are guaranteed to be in betas.

Lewis

I still enjoy playing this game very much and having a lifetime subscription option would be convenient to me as a player.

But as long as there's a chance that I would still be playing this game -after- I'm technically playing it for free then it would ultimately be taking potential profit away from the folks who make this game.

I like to save money as much as anyone. But I actually don't mind paying a premium for something that is actually -worth- it, and to me I feel this product is worth its continued existence for me.

If they offered a lifetime sub offer at this point (which is very unlikely all things considered) I probably would -not- opt for it. I am content paying annually as I have for the last several years so far.

Loth 50 Fire/Rad Controller [1392 Badges] [300 non-AE Souvenirs]
Ryver 50 Ele� Blaster [1392 Badges]
Silandra 50 Peacebringer [1138 Badges] [No Redside Badges]
--{=====> Virtue ♀

Ice_Ember · 08-12-2009 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UnicyclePeon

BTW I am loving the RWZ thing. I would love it even more if they ensure that the generic repeatable missions can be done by level 1 characters. OR ELSE if there is an AE in the RWZ.

Is there an AE in the RWZ? I would love to do some AE teaming in the AE (or RWZ generic missions) with villains and heroes together from 1-50.

Lewis

There is an AE in the RWZ. I am thinking this will allow lvl 1 heros and villains on the same team and move the AE spam from Atlas to there.

YMMV---IMO
Ice Ember

Dedlok · 08-12-2009 12:43 PM

Super-Sidekicking sounds awesome! Can't wait for it! And Whoo! no more spam e-mails! I can clean out my global ignore!

Weatherwoman · 08-12-2009 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Perfect_Pain

Please tell me that one of the QOL features being added to this issue is:

If the team leader of a TF/SF Crashes/DCs whatever... That they have like 3 minutes to relog and will still retain the star???

Same as if someone goes AFK from TF/SF you can KICK them from the team if they are afk longer than like 5 minutes...

You can kick from a TF/SF, what I want is to be able to kick them when they are *offline* so that when someone ditches you can boot them and the spawn size won't remain larger.

/t @Flame Enchantress, /em sends tell

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slave teri · 08-12-2009 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pohsyb

You don't have to be the leader, just the owner of the current mission.

Thank you for the official red name reply.

i guess i'll have to start actually taking missions, instead of doing everyone else's missions.

i've done them so many times that i stopped caring about story arcs anymore.

Xzero45 · 08-12-2009 12:49 PM

This reeks of awesome.

UnicyclePeon · 08-12-2009 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lothic

If they offered a lifetime sub offer at this point (which is very unlikely all things considered) I probably would -not- opt for it. I am content paying annually as I have for the last several years so far.

Yeah, I can see that. I pay annually as well.

I would like a pay-for-beta option.

Lewis

/when right clicking to correct the spelling of anually, make sure you pick annually from the drop down list ... and not that other one

Random AT Generation!
"I remember... the Alamo." -- Pee-wee Herman
"Oh don't worry. I always leave things to the last moment." -- The Doctor
"Telescopes are time machines." -- Carl Sagan

Rodion · 08-12-2009 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Positron

Now we are aware of a couple things that this system doesn’t do so well, and we are attempting to address most of them in the coming weeks. The first of this is the fact that you lose access to powers, especially the most-recently earned ones, when you Exemplar down. We are looking into some sort of fix for this.

This Super Sidekick/Exemp feature is another step in the long road to eliminating the importance of levels in the game.

It started with the SK system, continued with GMs, the Rikti and Zombie invasions, and AE. The next logical step was Super Sidekick.

Following that train of thought, the logical answer to Exemplaring down is to allow the character to retain all powers, albeit with reduced enhancement values, damage, etc., as for the target level.

Yes, it makes a hash of the whole exemping conceit, especially when applied to Ouroboros. For that reason the best compromise is to retain the current exemp system for Ouroboros TFs (where the conceit is that you're going back to a previous you) and PvP zones (where there's a question of fairness), and allow power retention in all other content.

The downside of power retention is that lower-level content can be easily steamrolled with the large variety of powers that higher level characters possess. One solution would be for exemped characters to earn XP at a sliding rate based on the level difference. This could also be controlled by a "Tie One Hand Behind Your Back" option. When exemped you can choose to either earn reduced XP and retain all powers, or lose your powers and gain full XP.

Super Sidekick is a great change to the game. In a single stroke one of the greatest inconveniences and the most exploitative abuses have been eliminated.