City of Heroes: Live Forum Archive

Dr. Aeon's Fireside Chat

Airhammer

By Airhammer,
Posted on: 2009-11-18 11:28 in Mission Architect

 

Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by Evilanna View Post

I think the MA devs and the base devs should get together and build a map editor that can be used for both bases and the MA system. This could be the "shot in the arm" that bases really need while also helping to improve the MA system (not that it needs that type of improvement, but it would be really cool.)
Only the most obsessive-compulsive Arc designer would need the level of customization base designers are used to. Even if they added things base designers have wanted for ages, like walls and floors that don't require stacking up hundreds of desks, it would be an incredibly time-consuming endeavor to simply build a single room, let alone a whole map. Not to mention the testing, testing and more testing to make sure there aren't any problems with the geometry, and of course the potential for abuse.

Oh, and file space. Your supervillain's awesome volcano lair? Yeah, it'll take up quite a bit of space. And cause a lot of lag when someone tries to play it.

The ability to modify lighting and add or remove things like fog would be nice though. I like the Ruladak cave, really I do, but no matter what the pop-up says it's still the Ruladak cave, not to mention huge.

Eva Destruction AR/Fire/Munitions Blaster
Darkfire Avenger DM/SD/Body Scrapper

Arc ID#161629 Freaks, Geeks, and Men in Black
Arc ID#431270 Until the End of the World

 

Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by Eva Destruction View Post
Not to mention the testing, testing and more testing to make sure there aren't any problems with the geometry
From time to time I still manage to knock-back a foe into some non-Euclidean/Lovecraftian fold in space, leaving only his feet visible, rending him unattackable except by AoEs. Every time that happens, I recall about this "I wish to be able to construct my own maps" thing, and think "no you don't."

 

Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by Clave_Dark_5 View Post
From time to time I still manage to knock-back a foe into some non-Euclidean/Lovecraftian fold in space, leaving only his feet visible, rending him unattackable except by AoEs. Every time that happens, I recall about this "I wish to be able to construct my own maps" thing, and think "no you don't."
Try running through the smooth cave or Cimeroran maps on a stormy. From time to time? If you're lucky.

Eva Destruction AR/Fire/Munitions Blaster
Darkfire Avenger DM/SD/Body Scrapper

Arc ID#161629 Freaks, Geeks, and Men in Black
Arc ID#431270 Until the End of the World

 

Posted

Quote:
Try running through the smooth cave or Cimeroran maps on a stormy. From time to time? If you're lucky.
It's for this very reason that I'll only rarely join a team that has a storm anything on it and only if invited by someone I like a lot. I have nothing against the people who play stormies, but ever since that one Synapse TF where the frickin' little flying clockwork kept disappearing and causing us to have to ask for gm assistance, (like 3 times I think), I just won't run with one.

 

Posted

I can haz cheeseburger?

Troy Hickman - So proud to have contributed to and played in this wonderful CoH universe

 

Posted

/em bounces on the lovely Aeon Corp Couch.

Hm... Oh! Will there ever be an AE Terminal in the pocket D? Or a portal to a special map dedicated to a HUGE AE Building? It doesn't have to share a map with the D, it just needs to be accessible.

 

Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr. Aeon View Post
I'd like to start my response by thanking everyone for all their great questions! I'm sorry that I won't be able to answer them all.

Here are five questions however that I am able to answer. I hope it sheds some light on things for everyone.

1. Can X villain group have their levels expanded?

I spoke to Castle about this when I first came onboard. There are multiple issues with doing this. One example is that these critters were designed specifically to be used in that level range - putting them outside of it can cause any number of problems, whether it's balance problems, issues with the powers, even possible issues with the mission they're supposed to show up in. If we were going to broaden the level range of a group, we would want to include more powerful enemies instead of just the current ones at a different level - a good example would be what we've done with the Circle of Thorns. I would say if you wanted to expand the group, you could try creating custom characters similar to that group - one of the Dev Choices did an excellent job doing that with the Legacy Chain.
Humans can generally be replicated within the CC, but non-humans not so much. Access to at least the models would be nice for things you just can't create in the CC.

Quote:
5. Can we have the option on escorts to lead them to a place other than the mission exit?

Yes, this is something that we are definitely going to be putting into Architect in the future, though I can't comment on when this will be happening.
Can't wait for this. There are several instance where I's like to be able to lead an ally/NPC to an object. Allowing us to tie an emote to 'interaction complete' would be a bonus.

*hint* *hint*