I gave it another shot

Ok so I got extremely bored with Star Trek online and honestly just waiting for other games to come out with their expansions. So about 1 week ago I downloaded COH/V game again. Logged in and was amazed by the range of choices that are given when creating a new toon. Now dont start trolling me on what I am about to write now. I mean if you love this game then go for it.

Seriously tho. I had fun and it was exciting to run around and do a few missions for a few days here and there. Even got into what you call a Supergroup here and is called a guild in other games. That was over a week ago and I have not seen anyone online in my Supergroup since. The very first day I was grouped and had alot of fun with a few people all day and all night when I was playing but then the next day nobody...after that nobody either and that has been going on for a whole week now.

I see a few people running around and doing things but they ignore my tells about wanting to group with them.

Are some servers that empty? Perhaps I chose a wrong server? Or maybe I keep telling myself that and in reality they are all just pretty much empty? And I thought that Everquest 2 servers were empty.

I wanted to give it another shot and see how the game is now after a few years away. But now I realize why I left to begin with.

Its just like with all Cryptic games. They are pretty cool and exciting for about a week or even a month at best then the excitement wears off and I realize there is no real content and that most others realize that also after awhile and then all you have left is the hard-core and Fanbois of whatever Cryptic game you are playing. And that small percentage of a population playing on a giving game does not make it into a fun MMO. It makes it into some mediocre Single player with a small Multi-player online experience that if your lucky you might group up with some people or catch someone run past you somewhere or catch 3 or so people dancing in some Club.

No thanks...have fun

The player population dropped noticibly (to me) when Champions and then Aion came out. This past week or so also includes a lot of players going to the Test Server to beta Issue-17 with the new powersets.

Edit: links

Dual Pistols Closed Beta

Ultra Mode, Issue 17: Dark Mirror and Going Rogue!

well be that as it may it does not impress me very much when I log into a game and there is hardly anyone around. No matter what server I log in. And dont tell me that I need to log in a certain time of day. I am not planning my day around to having to play a game because thats when people are playing mostly. I should not have set my alarm clock to get up at 1 or 2:15 in the morning just so I can get together and have a remote chance to seeing someone online at the same time I am. Btw I am on Eastern Standard Time zone...I am not even in some weird timezone.

Either or. I dont care. Its not a good first impression to see hardly anyone online. Makes me feel like I wasted my money.

Most games, you'll see a bunch of people around because they're having to run around outside where all the mobs are, gathering fig leaves, waiting for a world boss to respawn, etc. Here, everyone's in instances. If you're calling it "dead" because you don't see many people on the street, well, nobody has to *be* on the street. (Mission teleporters, base teleporters and the like make it even faster to get places - and completely skip some of the travel involved.)

As far as "time of day," well, when ARE you playing? Some servers do end up with (say) much of the Oceanic crowd. No, you don't have to "set your alarm clock" or "plan around a game" - if you're playing now, when you're posting, you've got people (aside from the dual pistols beta) at work, in school and the like.

Hell, I'm eastern time, and at work now. My schedule means I don't get to play except very late at night or in the mornings - hardly prime time - and I don't have issues getting a team, regardless of server. (And no, it's not name recognition - I keep my global private, and have quite a few characters. Besides, not much of the population is on the board.)

Besides - if you think this game is content light, I don't know what to tell you. (Plus, Cryptic doesn't own or run the game, hasn't for years.)

See my Guides and Tutorials

Some stuff that might help:

Join one of the big badge channels like Cozmic's Playground, Infinity Badges, BMT of Champion...lots of teaming through there.

People are often in mission instances so you don't see them outside. Use the search tool and send them a tell, ask if they need help or want to group up.

Some servers are just population light. Try Freedom or Virtue for non-stop zaniness.
Nice having you around.

im at work myself. So no im not playing at the moment.

The game is pretty cool all in all. I like how u create ur style of character. I like the powers and such that you can work towards.

When I do play its in the evening time between 6-1am or so. Not that whole time tho. Sometimes only an hour or two.

The lack of people and lack of interaction is really starting to drive me away again.

Perhaps that is just the way the game is meant to be. Like you mentioned. Its more instanced based. So if you dont know anyone at all like myself then most likely you are going to be alone quite often more than being grouped and actually seeing the fun instance areas.

Am I correct in my assumptions?

Right.

In your case I'd head over to your chosen server forum and find their main teaming network and go from there. Or post in that server forum that you're new and need a head start.

I do hear you though, it's empty at times out there.

perhaps I will give it a try on Freedom server or is there a different one I should try and see how its like? Its not like I have a high lvl toon yet and I dont mind starting over somewhere else just to see the difference.

But honestly I dont expect much here.

btw NCsoft/Cryptic they are all the same in my book. their games are mostly eye candy and besides that not much else.

well thanks for the tips everyone. I will create a toon on Freedom tonight.

One last thing tho. What would be the better choice as in most likely I will have to do alot of things solo, which class or whatever you call it in this game is best for someone that is going to be soloing alot when there are no groups around?

I mean I dont want to create some healer type and not being in a group being a healer is a kinda pointless.

Its like in Everquest I had a Cleric at lvl 68ish. The lvl cap last time I played was 80 or maybe its higher now. But anywho. Groups were so frickin hard to find and when you did find some the people in those groups were so hard-up on what sort of gear you had and such and such.

Things like that drive me away from games really fast.

For example:

I have a toon that I want to get a certain piece of armor or weapon...but in order to get said armor or weapon I need to get into a raid or group in a certain zone....but once I get invited to said raid or group in said zone or instance I am asked if I have certain armor or weapons, which of course only drops in the zones and instances that I am trying to enter in the first place. Its very frustrating. Its very retarded. Its the elitists in games that make up these rules about gears and such that in actuallity your toon does not even need or require in the first place to enter such areas in the game from which you are trying to get those things from.

But thats off-topic I guess..thanks again.

so a Brute? what sort of powers? there are many to choose from and if I decide to stick with him to higher lvls I would hate to end up like "one of those guy" . You know the ones that did not choose wisely and should have chosen something better. I know all things work but somethings work alot better. Somethings are broken and some arent. So whats ur opinion with Brutes and power choices early on from lvl 1?

claws/wp? whats that mean? sorry I dont understand all the lingo for this game quite yet.

Don't know if the OP is still reading this thread but a word of warning: you expressed concern about server population. Well, there are usually about 2-3 times as many people playing heroes as villains at any given time. So you might want to roll a scrapper instead of a brute.

As for powerset suggestions, Willpower (WP) is solid and doesn't require expensive enhancements (loot) to perform well, so it's great for a first character. Lots of good primaries to choose from. I lean towards Super Strength, Katana, and Claws.

Also you don't have to reroll. I believe they're still handing out free server transfers through the end of this month.

As others have said, teaming in CoH is a bit different than other MMOs...people aren't playing around outdoors, but they ARE there (especially on Freedom - I recently transfered from another Server and find Freedom very lively compared to my old server).

The most sure-fire way to guarantee you'll be on a full, fun team is to FORM YOUR OWN TEAM.

I do this EVERY NIGHT. I form full, 8-man teams (or PuGs = Pick-up Groups) in under 5 minutes EVERY NIGHT without using Blind Invites.

Here's how, it's very simple:

Use the Search window: "Team" tab & Find button or type /search in chat line.

Play around with the drop-down menus to find various ways to refine your search. Start out basic, by selecting the appropriate levels you're looking for (1-10, 41- 50, etc).

Make a bind: you can copy/paste this into your chat line if you'd like (ctrl-c, ctrl-v): /bind L "tell $target, Level $level-ish team LFM - join us?"

Go down your Search window and target players not on teams (not greyed-out), not showing "Not accepting Invites" (red circle with line thru it, to left of player name), and not in missions already (check Status line).

Click on an eligible teammate and hit your bind key L.

and the next one

and the next one

and the next one...etc.

If you're still having trouble filling the team, consider targeting players who ARE already in missions. I'm always surprised at how many people will happily dump the mish they're in to come out and join a good team.

As I said, I ALWAYS play on a team, and it's ALWAYS a team I form and Lead. It's the best way to be sure of being on a good, full team that keeps things moving and has fun.

The more you do it, the easier and funner it gets. Start now, as a young'un, and you'll be a pro in no time flat.

Do be aware, that as Leader you'll be expected to select the mission for the team, and select a new one on Mission Complete, as quickly as possible.

And basic leadership skills are generally appreciated, e.g. "Regroup on the Tank, please", "Everyone target the Crystal please", "Fall back to elevators NOW PLEASE!" etc. I also use the Kick button sparingly, but without hesitation, if someone is chronically not contributing or being hostile or abusive to other team members. A Private Tell "...this is your only warning." precedes every potential Kick, unless it's about insulting/rude behavior, which gets no warning.