This game needs "stuff"

The one thing this game is missing that is common in most other MMORPGs are items ( i.e. rings, belts, necklaces, etc. ) We have the generic concept of an "enhancement", not exactly something that would inspire a new player to stick with the game. Lets face it, people like "stuff".

What I'd propose are the following item slots:
1. Necklace ( Focus: Buff, Debuffs, Control, Special )
2. Left Ring ( Focus: Damage/Accuracy )
3. Right Ring ( Focus: Damage/Accuracy )
4. Belt Buckle ( Focus: HP/Endurance Regeneration )
5. Left Kneepad ( Focus: Defense/Resistance )
6. Right Kneepad ( Focus: Defense/Resistance )
7. Left Ankle Bracelet ( Focus: Running/Flight Speed )
8. Right Ankle Bracelet ( Focus: Running/Flight Speed )
9. Cape Brooch ( Special )

I would not make these items overly powerful - more like "nice to have", but not a huge advantage.
Examples:
Necklace of Control: 2% extended duration on hold powers
Ring of Domination: 2% extra single target damage
Ring of Fire: 10% of your smashing/lethal damage is converted to fire damage
Buckle of Fortitude: 1% increase to endurance regeneration and 2% extra hit points
Bracelet of Akira: 2% increase to flight speed
Brooch of Arachnida: 1% chance to spawn several spider pets ( 10 min cooldown after proc )
Crimson Kneepads: 3% increase to fire resistance
Kneepad of Conversion: 10% of energy damage taken is treated like S/L damage.
Kneepad of Punishment: 1% of damage taken is mitigated and reflected back to your attacker.



I'd have items specific to certain origins and rare items only dropping in certain task forces. There are too many task forces that simply arent run that often - this would give an incentive.

Rarity: Varying from common to purple, with bonuses varying depending on the rarity.

I just feel enhancements are a bit too generic - this would give a hook that new players from other RPGs would feel comfortable with, and possibly help with retention. The devs would have to be careful, of course, not too make them overpowered. I'd leave it up to the devs whether these items would be visible or not.

Unsigned. Way, way unsigned.

Like Memphis Bill said, one of the good things about the CoH's gameplay is the separation of costumes and abilities and I don't want practical concerns messing up my look or vice versa.

Now if those were costume parts...

An open letter to NCsoft

I hate to be part of a general, but polite dogpiling, but the seperation of look and effectiveness is a key and integral part of what I enjoy about this game.

Having to get a kneecap +3 Def global with a set look is far less apealing than getting a Steadfast +3 Def IO dropped into a power, than has zero effect on my look.

So sorry OP, I cannot agree that this suggestion is good for the game.

I don't like the OP's suggestion, but I do wish the game offered more options for visible stuff that reflected accomplishments. I like things like the Rularuu and Vanguard weapons and the Cimeroran armor. Some folks dislike unlockable costume bits because they have a character concept that they want to start with at level 1, to which I reply: *shrug*. I like the idea of having visible stuff that implies "I did something to get this." I'd like to have glowing costume pieces in GR for doing the new end game content. I'd like to have special auras only available if you have 500 badges. Etc.

So much animosity; I have never felt it over a single post.

Short answer: No.

Long answer: Man falling off a cliff: NNOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo... [splat]

The lack of 'epic gear' is what keeps me playing THIS game. If it ever decided to go with a WoW style of looting, I'd be the first out. It may not seem like a big issue to some, but it is.
Not only that, but most values only go from 0 - 100%. If you were to give one piece of equipment every 2 levels, you'd still have 25% of something augmented/resisted/enhanced- Not a specific power, but your character. That's not even taking into account all the useless 'gear' between the different archetypes, since our Multiple Builds system does not grant us any new powers beyond power pools and ancillaries.

Even Champions Online, that does have gear that actually affects your character, doesn't allow the gear to affect your character's costume. If CO hasn't done it, that's a major reason for CoX not to even contemplate doing it.

Now, if you were talking about gear-items that we could craft ourselves (or go on quest-lines to obtain) and then enhance, and obviously re-enhance so that we could maintain a favorite look and our required stats — something like items with general boosts that are controlled by placing SO's into them for example — that I would actually like!

EDIT :: OK, after re-reading the OP, I have to say I initially missed the point where the OP says the Devs would decide whether the items are visible or not. Essentially, I'd like this decision left to the player, not the Devs, and I would still like to be able to modify the stats/enhancements on those items.

This could liven up the gameplay at Lv50 and allow the game to reward us in a way that appeals to the roleplayer and hardcore player at the same time. I still maintain that these items should be upgradable only by placing SO enhancements on them so that the effort of upgrading an item doesn't become a time/INF-sink, but rather obtaining the item itself is.

It'd be even nicer if each item would have several different upgrade paths allowing us to decide if the Helm of Ubberness would contribute to our overall HP and healing with the placement of Healing-SO's, or overall Endurance and stamina with the placement of EndMod-SO's.

I agree with everyone that doesn't like this idea. One of the best features of this game is that it doesn't have the very thing the OP wants.

I, too, like the lack of gear.

The reason why IOs aren't "gear", to answer the question being asked, is because the developers have taken a definite stance in making sure the game is balanced against "non-geared" players, those without IOs. IOs are bonuses, and not necessities for a higher tier of play.

My biggest fear is the Going Rogue, with its hints at "higher challenges" and "end game play", is going to change this.

/unsigned.

This is why we have enhancers instead of "Codpiece of Junk Protection +2".

The enhancers allow us to specialize our powers and tailor them in specific ways without affecting the look of our toons.

In these other games where the equipment IS the enhancer, you get a bunch of people all running around with the same stuff, looking like clones of one another.

No thank you.

Clicking on the linked image above will take you off the City of Heroes site. However, the guides will be linked back here.

No.
Just no.

If I wanted to be playing That Other Game, I would be.

All in favor of adding more attachment points to skeletons for bling. Rings, bracers, etc. no problem.

But not costume bits that look the same and add to scores. Doesn't go with the concept of the gamem which has always been that we design our powers and modify them with enhancements, and choose costume look to suit ourselves, whether that costume matches our powers in some visual way or not.

*looks at OP* ... Nope. no it doesn't.