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With SSKing, why is this even an issue?
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Originally Posted by rsclark
Just because people keep saying something doesn't mean it's true. Even if you do know how to use the search function, you still run a real risk of only finding 30 people within 10 levels of yourself and 75% of them having LFG messages saying they only do trials and TFs (or bizarrely telling you they will purposefully get you killed if allowed on your team).
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| but to say that it's not more difficult to find groups now than it used to be seems more based on wishful thinking... |
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Powers, slots, and enhancements. A real 45 is just better than a 15 SKed to 45. It really matters if you're killing an AV instead of running radio missions.|
Originally Posted by Memphis_Bill
With SSKing, why is this even an issue?
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| Replace "Wishful thinking" with "Experience" and "Teaming changes in the game, such as SSK." |
I mean the game used to have good teaming, so something that made it even easier should make teaming breathtakingly wonderful, instead of meagerly passable - that is unless the improvement was being used to offset a noticeable decrease in teaming.
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whatever the cause may be (if there is any "cause") people are not teaming(as far as you and op are concerned). forcing me, or anybody else that does not want to team, onto a server with more people is not going to make me team more, just tell more people "no, thank you". i like the lower pop servers, and want them to stay.
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Originally Posted by rsclark
Just because people keep saying something doesn't mean it's true. Even if you do know how to use the search function, you still run a real risk of only finding 30 people within 10 levels of yourself and 75% of them having LFG messages saying they only do trials and TFs (or bizarrely telling you they will purposefully get you killed if allowed on your team).
When trying to tell someone why I like this game more than most MMOs, I give an example of a random Wednesday afternoon from several years ago, where we were able to put together a successful TF pick up group with 6 strangers who had never met before or since - something I have not seen in any other game. But it's also not something I see in the game now. Now, I don't know whether to blame any changes on lower population or simply on the effect IO sets and the new difficulty settings have had on the ability to solo content, but to say that it's not more difficult to find groups now than it used to be seems more based on wishful thinking than on anything resembling reality. |
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It works the other way around, too, you do realize this, yes?|
Originally Posted by rsclark
Powers, slots, and enhancements. A real 45 is just better than a 15 SKed to 45. It really matters if you're killing an AV instead of running radio missions.
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Did it ever dawn on anyone that they had to make the SK changes to in some way help combat the decreased teaming opportunities. I mean, assuming it does have a positive impact on getting teams together, shouldn't the end result be a vast improvement over how the game used to be? I mean the game used to have good teaming, so something that made it even easier should make teaming breathtakingly wonderful, instead of meagerly passable - that is unless the improvement was being used to offset a noticeable decrease in teaming. |
Oh, wait, no. Has to be dooooooooooooooomthegameisdyingmergeeverything. Yep. Only explanation.
and eliminating bridging ...
@Catwhoorg "Rule of Three - Finale" Arc# 1984
@Mr Falkland Islands"A Nation Goes Rogue" Arc# 2369 "Toasters and Pop Tarts" Arc#116617
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A friend who tried Aion described in hushed tones of horror people piling up, camping to get one particular low-level spawn that was a necessary gateway for other content. The problem got to be so bad that, spontaneously, the players formed a line and waited their turns.|
Originally Posted by Memphis_Bill
/this. Going between here and Aion, I can see how people coming from games like that (mostly not instanced) can think this game is "dead," since everyone's inside missions for the most part (not to mention most travel powers being able to keep people out of sight for most of the path, mission teleporters, base teleporters, etc.) Though, honestly, I really *missed* instanced missions when I was over there!
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While that's admirably fair-minded, it means you were standing in line to play your game. *Shudder*
If we are to die, let us die like men. -- Patrick Cleburne
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The rule is that they must be loved. --Jayne Fynes-Clinton, Death of an Abandoned Dog
Thanks saves me time.
to the OP ::
Welcome back.
Server merger comes up as a subject all the time. I am adamantly against it.
If you don't like the server you are on, you can play on another one. If you want to move a character, you can do that.
If Justice seems to be a ghost town - then actively running/forming-your-own team there will help reverse the trend and get more players back there. That is don't give up on Justice just yet. Give it a chance by putting your own effort in to make it the kind of server you want to play on rather than screaming "the sky is falling" and running away.
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I wish I got an inf every time this was posted, because then I'd totally be a THOUSANDAIRE!!11
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Originally Posted by SwellGuy
I wish I got a new character slot each time this was posted.
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The Nethergoat Archive: all my memories, all my characters, all my thoughts on CoH...eventually.
My City Was Gone
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That's not just Aion. I remember the Tabula Rasa beta far too well. I wish I still had the screenshot of the line of people huddled around the first logos youhad to click, stretching out, up to the next level of the entrance, out the cave and back to the first village. |
Originally Posted by Sailboat
A friend who tried Aion described in hushed tones of horror people piling up, camping to get one particular low-level spawn that was a necessary gateway for other content. The problem got to be so bad that, spontaneously, the players formed a line and waited their turns.
While that's admirably fair-minded, it means you were standing in line to play your game. *Shudder* |
Or in the open bit for CO, where there were people standing around waiting to... think it was break some speedster type out of something or other. Then wait for that to respawn.
The low level spawn in Aion was probably to destroy the first portal - the quest that finishes your training session and lets you into the rest of the game.
Have I mentioned I really, really like how instanced COH is?
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I disliked that aspect of WoW, but I do think this game tilts a little too far in the other direction.|
Originally Posted by Sailboat
A friend who tried Aion described in hushed tones of horror people piling up, camping to get one particular low-level spawn that was a necessary gateway for other content. The problem got to be so bad that, spontaneously, the players formed a line and waited their turns.
While that's admirably fair-minded, it means you were standing in line to play your game. *Shudder* |
Instances are handy but they do tend to suck the life out of the zones themselves. I'd like more reasons to play the game 'in public' so to speak- I like seeing other people's characters, reading their bios and generally feeling like I'm in a City of Heroes, not a City of Conveniently Instanced Content.
The Nethergoat Archive: all my memories, all my characters, all my thoughts on CoH...eventually.
My City Was Gone
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In EQ we had websites with schedules so you could make an appointment to be allowed the chance to kill the rare spawns needed for some quests.
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Originally Posted by Memphis_Bill
That's not just Aion. I remember the Tabula Rasa beta far too well. I wish I still had the screenshot of the line of people huddled around the first logos youhad to click, stretching out, up to the next level of the entrance, out the cave and back to the first village.
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This level of hostility is really uncalled for. Elitist *** hattery never helps anyone.
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Originally Posted by Dechs Kaison
I didn't give the subject any thought because you brought it up. I can't take credit for what I pasted. Memphis_Bill is the original creator of that post back in '08.
Don't think for a moment that you deserve the time it took to create that. You are not unique. You are not clever. You have not given the subject any thought. |
@True Metal
Co-leader of Callous Crew SG. Based on Union server.
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Originally Posted by SwellGuy
Because they value their lazy convience over the needs of those who would then be inconvienced by it.
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This, and there are also those sunny individuals that manage to alienate themselves from everyone on the low pop servers. When a person acts like a jackhole it's much easier for them to run out of people willing to team with them.
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It still happens. |
Originally Posted by rsclark
When trying to tell someone why I like this game more than most MMOs, I give an example of a random Wednesday afternoon from several years ago, where we were able to put together a successful TF pick up group with 6 strangers who had never met before or since - something I have not seen in any other game. But it's also not something I see in the game now. |
I got on a random PUG Manticore Task Force two weeks ago on Triumph (which is usually fighting for the lowest population on the server list). Seven players who, I believe from the all business nature of the team chatter, had never met before, and who I haven't seen since.The same character did a PUG Sister Psyche two months before, about the same time, but the team didn't gel as well, so we had to spread the Task Force over two nights (of the six who started that Task Force, one dropped in the second mission with no explanation and four came back to finish the second night).
Granted, these happened during primetime (starting around 7:30 Eastern) so if you are trying to PUG Task Forces outside prime time, your experience may vary.
New story arcs coming soon (ARC IDs will be aded when I finish the arc):
So, you want to join the Hellions? (level 1-14 Villainous arc)
Sparks & Steel (level 5-20 Heroic arc)
and
So you want to join the Skulls? (level 1-14 Villainous arc)
Three suggestions:
1) Global Server channels.
2) Form your own teams, and take the VIP of the PuG and ask to be a global friend. Recruit, or at least, stay in touch with them in the future. Supersidekicking makes teaming up MUCH easier.
3) Global player notes mean a good (or bad!) reputation follows you across characters, servers or redside/blueside. Be warned.
www.paragonwiki.com is a great source of information for this game.
New or returning to the game? Want advice from experienced players who want to help YOU?
The Mentor Project: Part of the New Player Council.
Sorry, it's not time for this thread again.
Please wait until the full two weeks has passed since the previous merge thread and then make your post. 
My Deviant Art page link-link
CoH/V Fan Videos
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Dammit, that's it. I'm calling for a "server merge thread" thread merge. Consolidate the threads about consolidation! It only makes sense to have all the threads about having everyone in one place in one place.|
Originally Posted by DarkEther
Sorry, it's not time for this thread again.
Please wait until the full two weeks has passed since the previous merge thread and then make your post. |
Merge the server merge threads now!
If we are to die, let us die like men. -- Patrick Cleburne
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The rule is that they must be loved. --Jayne Fynes-Clinton, Death of an Abandoned Dog
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Definitely, but people tend to go where people are. Especially in a social environment. I'm absolutely sure more people moved to Virtue/Freedom than moved out into the more rural settings. I have a sneaking feeling that Virtue saw the largest influx of players.|
Originally Posted by Memphis_Bill
And I do have to point out the flip side of this - there were also people (including myself) who moved characters OFF of Freedom and Virtue to "smaller" servers. Or between them. The transfers didn't just go one way.
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But it doesn't really matter as long as there are "enough" people to partake in the activity of your choice when you choose to do it. For me at least that is my definition of a healthy population in a MMO. If that is true of other servers then great, it wasn't when I started the game 4yrs ago and I doubt it is now, but we each have our own preferences and personal thresholds.
rep said: Always has been enough on all servers.
Agree to disagree, or else I'm pretty sure I would have stayed on Infinity where I started. But then again you just told me I'm wrong about my personal preferences and thresholds so you may just be some sort of deity.
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Some of us prefer to post in the smaller threads, thank you.
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Originally Posted by Sailboat
Dammit, that's it. I'm calling for a "server merge thread" thread merge. Consolidate the threads about consolidation! It only makes sense to have all the threads about having everyone in one place in one place.
Merge the server merge threads now! |
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Originally Posted by PRAF68_EU
Dispari has more than enough credability, and certainly doesn't need to borrow any from you.
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These are instanced forums. Just because you don't see the entire forum base doesn't mean they aren't posting new merge server threads even as we speak...
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Originally Posted by Sailboat
I'm calling for a "server merge thread" thread merge. Consolidate the threads about consolidation! It only makes sense to have all the threads about having everyone in one place in one place.
Merge the server merge threads now! |
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No. Actually SSK was a way to avoid PL, bridging, and mentor-tetris. It made organizing an already-formed team easier. It made the team easier to keep going if someone dropped.|
Originally Posted by rsclark
Did it ever dawn on anyone that they had to make the SK changes to in some way help combat the decreased teaming opportunities. I mean, assuming it does have a positive impact on getting teams together, shouldn't the end result be a vast improvement over how the game used to be?
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It didn't make it any easier or harder to actually form a team.
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| I mean the game used to have good teaming, so something that made it even easier should make teaming breathtakingly wonderful, instead of meagerly passable - that is unless the improvement was being used to offset a noticeable decrease in teaming. |
Now I don't HAVE to worry about what level someone is and if they're one level too high or too low.
Clicking on the linked image above will take you off the City of Heroes site. However, the guides will be linked back here.
Not related to the OP's question, but why do some people write "DEVs" in all capital letters? Do they think it's an acronym for something? Do they not realize it's just shorthand for "developer(s)"? Do they think that by typing it in all caps, they'll magically increase the chance that a dev will pop into their thread and provide an answer?
I MUST KNOW!
Positron: "There are no bugs [in City of Heroes], just varying degrees of features."
This suggestion is made often by new players who come from other MMOs and returning players who have been away for a while (probably playing other MMOs, which tends to color their perception of their previous City of Heroes experience), who don't understand how City of Heroes has evolved.
City of Heroes is a heavily instanced game. More than 90% of the game happens in private instances. When you see people just hanging around, it is usually because they are socializing or recruiting for teams and supergroups. The folks who are actually doing missions will only be seen for the minute or two it takes to cross the zone to get to their next mission door, and then they are off the streets again.
A few years ago, the best way to earn xp was to street sweep. Therefore, you saw tons of heroes out on the streets clearing mobs in circuits around the zones. The Devs noticed that lots of people were completely ignoring the missions that they spent much time creating. To encourage people to experience more of the game than just the streets, they took some actions; they introduced half debt if you died during an instanced mission, they increased the xp awards for instanced missions, they increased (greatly) the xp rewards for completing a story arc, they started awarding Reward Merits for completing story arcs, and they have greatly increased the quality of the writing in the stories from the first batch of arcs. All of this has taken many heroes off the streets and into the instanced missions.
This means that the "Lvl 18 Healer LFT" that used to work in broadcast isn't so effective any more. If you want on a team, you need to take some initiative and learn how to use your global channels (which probably didn't exist or were just introduced before you left) and the team search functions. You can't be afraid to form your own teams, and with supersidekicking, you don't need to play "level Tetris" to make sure you have enough mentors for any lower level recruits. In fact, you don't have to worry about exemping down either, as you now earn experience while exemped. Teaming is easier than it has ever been, provided you put forth a little bit of effort (join a Global Channel if you don't want to lead, or learn how to use Team Search if you aren't afraid of the star).
The reason you got a lot of snark was because you stepped in, looked around for a few minutes, and assumed that something was drastically wrong, and then provided a terrible solution for a problem that doesn't really exist. If you had posted something like this instead:
"Hey, I've been away from the game for a few years, and it seems like it is a lot harder to get on a team now. Does anyone else feel this way, or is it just me? Does anyone have any advice on how to get on teams more consistently? BTW, I'm on Justice server."
You would have been deluged with helpful advice on how to use the search function in game, as well as the names of the Global Channels for Justice Server. You went about it in a negative way, therefore you got negative responses.
Here's hoping that now you know why the response was so negative that you decide to stick around.
i am not trying to be an ***, just saying