Who interacts with the Mission Architect with consideration to its stories?
By
Aisynia,
Posted on: 2010-05-12 18:59 in CoH and CoV General Discussions
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I just click the options i want then click the random button until one pops up that i like the sound of. Problem solved then really.
| Eventually a fellow SG-mate gave me his arc number which was entertaining. But I could have been there all night trying to find something worth playing unless I stuck to the HoF/Dev Choice arcs or ones gleaned from the forums. Pretty depressing news for the story minded. |
@Damz Find me on the global channel Union Chat. One of the best "chat channels" ingame!
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Ah yes, the "random" button. It would be nice if it were actually random. It would be even nicer if it gave you a whole page of arcs that were actually random so you didn't have to keep clicking it to get the same farm three times in a row.
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Originally Posted by EU_Damz
I just click the options i want then click the random button until one pops up that i like the sound of. Problem solved then really.
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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
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Yeah, stars are stupid, even YouTube migrated to thumbs up/thumbs down.|
Originally Posted by SpittingTrashcan
Second, I would make the default sort order by "hotness", this being a function of time since the arc was posted, time since the arc was last played, total number of plays, number of positive ratings, and number of negative ratings. Examples of these sort algorithms are available; the particulars should be tweaked to meet the needs of the MA. The goal is to keep good fresh content on the top of the list.
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| Finally, I would ditch DC/HoF as it currently functions. Any mechanism that requires that arcs be frozen against editing in a system that is frequently updated in a way that requires editing arcs to make them functional is simply not going to work. Instead, award authors a badge and a free arc slot for getting a certain number of positive ratings on an arc, but don't lock the arc, and don't stick it on top of the default listing forever. |
I think DC is fine how it is, I think the search function and default searching and the entire interface is .. just backwards. I wouldn't be against the common suggestion that DC, HoF, and Guest Authors be moved to their own tab in the UI, but that doesn't actually solve any problems. Fixinf the ratings system, as mentioned above, needs to be first priority. It is horribly broken.
As for a badge and an extra slot. We DO get an extra slot. On top of that, we HAD a badge.. you know, one we actually earned through talent and hard work. People whined en masse and took it away.
I'm only ladylike when compared to my sister.
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Fixed for accuracy.|
Originally Posted by Aisynia
As for a badge and an extra slot. We DO get an extra slot. On top of that, we HAD a badge.. you know, one we actually earned through talent and hard work and luck. People whined en masse and took it away.
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Because there are plenty of arcs that demonstrate talent and hard work that are not Dev's Choice.
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
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True, the developers are very cool about this sort of thing. I went through pretty much the same with Ghost Falcon in Beta and he basically told me "Don't worry, I trust you." I can't tell you how much I appreciate a developer like. This is really the sort of thing that keeps me with City of Heroes even when I burn out.|
Originally Posted by Aisynia
As the holder of two DCs, Dr. Aeon is extremely approachable and available. I just edited 1008 The Wretch's Gift yesterday because of a bug on the devs part. I sent him a PM it needed to be re-DC'd. Done. Yay.
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But at the same time, the system of permanently freezing arcs unless developers circumvent their own security feature is just BAD. In fact, one of the reasons you are told about Developer's Choice status is so that you can refuse it if you want to keep updating your arc, or so it was said in Beta, and that's just not good design.
I realise why it's needed - so someone doesn't get Developer's Choice and full rewards, then turn around and change the arc into something completely different. But can't we still get some kind of system where players can submit updates to DC arcs and just not have them forwarded unless they are reviewed or something? I don't know, it just seems really counter-intuitive to lock arcs against any change, since just about every time someone plays one of my arcs, I'm notified of still more spelling mistakes.
By the way, would it be too much to ask to get an automatic spell check in large text fields? That REALLY bites.
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Originally Posted by Arcanaville
Samuel_Tow is the only poster that makes me want to punch him in the head more often when I'm agreeing with him than when I'm disagreeing with him.
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Well the AE text editor is just generally very bad.
I'm only ladylike when compared to my sister.
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Easy to start thinking you're one of the sainted few when you happen to get lucky enough to catch a dev's attention. Grow up and get over yourself. I don't make arcs myself, but I've played a number of arcs that were FAR superior to any of the DC arcs that just didn't get any attention because the authors didn't have the time/desire to ***** themselves out on the AE channel or PM the Devs 24/7 in order to get noticed.
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Originally Posted by Aisynia
you know, one we actually earned through talent and hard work. People whined en masse and took it away.
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You want to add even more processing overhead to the editor? Definitely not unless they can fix the lag and buffer problems that it already has.
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Originally Posted by Samuel_Tow
By the way, would it be too much to ask to get an automatic spell check in large text fields? That REALLY bites.
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*looks at the forum avatar*|
Originally Posted by Aisynia
Well the AE text editor is just generally very bad.
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Originally Posted by Marcian Tobay
If you interact with the Mission Architect primarily because of its story capabilities, what are your current thoughts on it? Are you bored with it because you've played all the good stories? Happy with it because the stories are endless? Do you get a fair rotation of players?
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I like finding good stories in AE. Good rewards for them are a nice bonus, and avoid me having to decide between grinding for rewards and enjoying a story, but I do head there to find a good story arc sometimes (and grind other things in paper missions).
I don't do this as often as I thought I would, because it's a PAIN IN THE *** to find good stories in there. Far too often I've found something that sounds good, only it turns out to be total crap, or an EXP grind/farm. (Yes, some of those do have interesting but misleading descriptions.)
Some of my first stories are still up, and they're crap. I have some later stuff that's much better, but the older stuff actually has better ratings. Many arcs with good stories are rated far below simple EXP/Inf/Ticket grinds. Something needs to be done about the rating/sorting systems to make it easier to find stories that interest the player.
Until then, I'll take an occasional shot at it, but I find I actually play my own arcs more often than I try new things now. It may not hold any surprises for me, but at least I know that I won't be disappointed.
"I do so love taking a nice, well thought out character and putting them through hell. It's like tossing a Faberge Egg onto the stage during a Gallagher concert." - me
@Palador / @Rabid Unicorn
I've always been much more interested in the stories (both creating and experiencing) than maximizing reward over time. However, some degree of reward is necessary or no one will bother. Even folks like me are reluctant to sink two hours into an arc for no return at all.
I was very enthusiastic about this feature at the start, made my two arcs in beta, even bought extra slots as soon as they went on sale. However, the Devs have dropped the ball in so many ways on this feature that my ardor has cooled quite a bit. I'm currently waiting for MA to get some real fixes, not just quick exploit patches that break other things... but at the rate we're going, that probably won't be until next year (after GR and the round of fixes that it will inevitably require) if ever.
My characters at Virtueverse
Faces of the City
Our SG (The All-Star Sentinels on Virtue) utilizes the MA quite a bit to further the lore of our group and their adventures. Wednesday Warriors is what we call our main night for it and its rare not to have a full group.
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God yes, this is my credo as well.|
Originally Posted by Lazarus
I'll play an arc with a good story once.
I'll play an arc with a good story and good* rewards more than once. * Good meaning "equivalent to a Dev arc of the same length and difficulty". |
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Originally Posted by Marcian Tobay
New Question: Why does everyone keep referring to the "Comedy" arcs? Are there a surplus? Are they actually funny?
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Originally Posted by Suzumebachi
When I visit the AE it's to nearly always to earn tickets for invention salvage that is overpriced on the auction house. I read enough of the description to find an arc without any custom mobs or AVs in and don't really give a crap about the story.
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I treat AE like it was initially marketed: as an alternative to the content I've done dozens of times already. While I love a good story as much as the next person, I must have rewards since the primary appeal (reward wise) for me are tickets. Used to purchase salvage and recipes, tickets are more important to me than xp or inf (which I can get in abundance outside of the Architect). I'm not willing to "pay" on the reward side on a promise of a good story, partly because most of the time the payoff isn't there.
There are several arcs that I play literally every day (on both accounts) because I like the story and I like the fact that the rewards are decent. But I don't tend to move outside of that small circle of arcs because it's largely a crapshoot.
@Remianen / @Remianen Too
Sig by RPVisions
When people are counting the xp gotten from AE, are they taking into consideration the lack of downtime between missions?
Even at only 75% full xp, being able to click and instantly get a new mission is going to increase your reward rate significantly above most Dev content, especially since there are stores right there.
Story Arcs I created:
Every Rose: (#17702) Villainous vs Legacy Chain. Forget Arachnos, join the CoT!
Cosplay Madness!: (#3643) Neutral vs Custom Foes. Heroes at a pop culture convention!
Kiss Hello Goodbye: (#156389) Heroic vs Custom Foes. Film Noir/Hardboiled detective adventure!
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The lack of downtime is only relevant as opposed to older hero content. Villain content is mostly contained within the same zone. Zone arcs are contained within their zones. Radio missions are all contained within the same zone.|
Originally Posted by Kitsune9tails
When people are counting the xp gotten from AE, are they taking into consideration the lack of downtime between missions?
Even at only 75% full xp, being able to click and instantly get a new mission is going to increase your reward rate significantly above most Dev content, especially since there are stores right there. |
The way I play AE, the lack of downtime is insignificant. AE arcs tend to use smaller maps, so there's a higher ratio of loading time to killing time, and I actually read the dialogue, so that takes up what would otherwise be travel time. There is far less market/vendor time, that's the only significant difference.
Don't forget that "harder" enemies that give bonus XP outside AE do not do so in AE.
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
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But you also have to factor in the downsides of AE, like the time spent searching for a good arc--for me, this is usually at least comparable to the travel time I'd otherwise have. And the fact that poorly-designed custom enemies can take a lot longer and cause a lot more debt than most developer enemies. Not to mention that I got unlucky the other night and ended up with about five practically reward-free AE missions in a row. 'Lots and lots of glowies with almost no enemies' isn't a good mission design.
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Originally Posted by Kitsune9tails
When people are counting the xp gotten from AE, are they taking into consideration the lack of downtime between missions?
Even at only 75% full xp, being able to click and instantly get a new mission is going to increase your reward rate significantly above most Dev content, especially since there are stores right there. |
Having Vengeance and Fallout slotted for recharge means never having to say you're sorry.
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Originally Posted by Kitsune9tails
When people are counting the xp gotten from AE, are they taking into consideration the lack of downtime between missions?
Even at only 75% full xp, being able to click and instantly get a new mission is going to increase your reward rate significantly above most Dev content, especially since there are stores right there. |
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Originally Posted by Kelenar
But you also have to factor in the downsides of AE, like the time spent searching for a good arc--for me, this is usually at least comparable to the travel time I'd otherwise have. And the fact that poorly-designed custom enemies can take a lot longer and cause a lot more debt than most developer enemies. Not to mention that I got unlucky the other night and ended up with about five practically reward-free AE missions in a row. 'Lots and lots of glowies with almost no enemies' isn't a good mission design.
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And yes, I've tested it extensively. It isn't even in the same ballpark. It might have been at one time, but it's not now.
@Remianen / @Remianen Too
Sig by RPVisions
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You guys make some good points, but have you tried making up a list of arcs culled from the forum sources (review threads and peoples' signatures, etc) before going in? Then you would get good stories and no 'sifting through arcs' downtime.|
Originally Posted by RemianenI
This. Kitsune's point might've been dead on last year around this time, but now? Not so much. Besides, with dev content, I can load up a brute (over 30), crank the diff to +2x8 and raze most missions that I specifically choose to match that character's strengths, without even thinking about it. Can't do that in AE. Even if I make a Freakshow arc, the reward wouldn't be the same (as Eva pointed out - no xp bonus). The fact that I can stack the deck in my favor outside of AE more than makes up for the travel time.
And yes, I've tested it extensively. It isn't even in the same ballpark. It might have been at one time, but it's not now. |
Heck, you could even start a thread of your own, requesting arcs with the parameters you want.
Story Arcs I created:
Every Rose: (#17702) Villainous vs Legacy Chain. Forget Arachnos, join the CoT!
Cosplay Madness!: (#3643) Neutral vs Custom Foes. Heroes at a pop culture convention!
Kiss Hello Goodbye: (#156389) Heroic vs Custom Foes. Film Noir/Hardboiled detective adventure!
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Freakshow no longer have an XP bonus. If you were fighting Rikti, yes, you'd be ripping yourself off doing it in AE.|
Originally Posted by RemianenI
This. Kitsune's point might've been dead on last year around this time, but now? Not so much. Besides, with dev content, I can load up a brute (over 30), crank the diff to +2x8 and raze most missions that I specifically choose to match that character's strengths, without even thinking about it. Can't do that in AE. Even if I make a Freakshow arc, the reward wouldn't be the same (as Eva pointed out - no xp bonus). The fact that I can stack the deck in my favor outside of AE more than makes up for the travel time.
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Originally Posted by Kitsune9tails
You guys make some good points, but have you tried making up a list of arcs culled from the forum sources (review threads and peoples' signatures, etc) before going in? Then you would get good stories and no 'sifting through arcs' downtime.
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If an arc is promoted in a recommendation thread you know that someone else has vetted it for you. If an arc is authored and promoted by an MA forum regular, you now that at least they care enough to keep it up to date, and that it won't be a farm.
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
The only time I run any AE missions it's for the stories that people have made. If I run into a farm, I one star it and go looking for something worth my time. I stopped caring about earning max XP per mob a long time ago. I've even quit an AE team in the first mob because they were running a farm.
�Let there be truth, happiness, and waffles�
-Vagabond, Dark Lord & Avatar of Gnarr
The Justiciars
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Downtime for heros maybe, and some of that is going away now that heroside contacts are no longer making you do a dozen missions just to get their damn phone number. Villainside arcs are generally shorter, don't make you hop from zone to zone all the time, and the contacts have always given their number pretty freely. This travel downtime is really becoming a bit of a myth these days.
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Originally Posted by Kitsune9tails
When people are counting the xp gotten from AE, are they taking into consideration the lack of downtime between missions?
Even at only 75% full xp, being able to click and instantly get a new mission is going to increase your reward rate significantly above most Dev content, especially since there are stores right there. |
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I'm not interested in Max XP, but adequate XP.
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Originally Posted by DocArcus
The only time I run any AE missions it's for the stories that people have made. If I run into a farm, I one star it and go looking for something worth my time. I stopped caring about earning max XP per mob a long time ago. I've even quit an AE team in the first mob because they were running a farm.
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I don't suffer from altitis, I enjoy every minute of it.
Thank you Devs & Community people for a great game.
So sad to be ending ):
I think a lot of people would trade xp for story if the story is astounding. But almost no stories are.
The Alt Alphabet ~ OPC: Other People's Characters ~ Terrific Screenshots of Cool ~ Superhero Fiction
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This. I don't have four servers full of 50s so the majority of my characters still value xp. However, that doesn't mean 'max xp is the only xp'.|
Originally Posted by tanstaafl
I'm not interested in Max XP, but adequate XP.
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Originally Posted by Ironik
I think a lot of people would trade xp for story if the story is astounding. But almost no stories are.
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@Remianen / @Remianen Too
Sig by RPVisions
The Alt Alphabet ~ OPC: Other People's Characters ~ Terrific Screenshots of Cool ~ Superhero Fiction