How do you feel about the Incarnate System?
By
2short2care,
Posted on: 2010-12-04 05:26 in CoH and CoV General Discussions
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Of course. And I have the shard that you get from completing the arc, along with the Alpha slot. That's still my only shard.
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Originally Posted by Electric-Knight
Did you complete Mender Ramiel's arc in order to unlock the Alpha Slot?
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Other than converting characters to inherent fitness, I haven't played a character that isn't 50 since i19. I suspect I won't be leveling anything up anytime soon. Maybe when all my 50s have their alpha slot slotted.
H: Blaster 50, Defender 50, Tank 50, Scrapper 50, Controller 50, PB 50, WS 50
V: Brute 50, Corruptor 50, MM 50, Dominator 50, Stalker 50, AW 50, AS 50
Top 4: Controller, Brute, Scrapper, Corruptor
Bottom 4: (Peacebringer) way below everything else, Mastermind, Dominator, Blaster
CoH in WQHD
I'm intrigued about the potential of the higher tiers and how they will work. I am happy about the level of work needed for the Alpha slot, but cautiously sceptical about an exponential increase in shards and components for the higher tiers.
See the crafted travel power grind in the other Superheroic MMO for how to pee-off your subscribers with an unachievable goal.
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As a person who has a lot of 50's the drop rate to me is just fine.
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Originally Posted by CapnBarcode
Actually, I think the drop rate is too fast as it is. I mean, I'm glad that I would be able to craft a common boost in a week or two by playing an hour a day if I wanted to, but it seems a bit fast for something that's supposed to be rare.
If they dropped as rarely as purples, I'd be upset. I think I've only gotten two purple drops across all of my characters since those were added to the game. But that might be due to not playing my 50s as 50s very often, given the lack of end game content before this issue. I think I've played them more in the past week than I have in the past year. |
The hard things I can do--- The impossible just take a little bit longer.
If numbers are so much more important than a teammate who is fun to play with, forget about the game altogether and go play with a calculator instead. -Claws and Effect-
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Good, hehe. I just thought it was worth making sure, in the slight off-chance that you were a poster who did not realize.|
Originally Posted by Mirai
Of course. And I have the shard that you get from completing the arc, along with the Alpha slot. That's still my only shard.
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No offense intended!
@Zethustra
"Now at midnight all the agents and the superhuman crew come out
and round up everyone that knows more than they do"-Dylan
and round up everyone that knows more than they do"-Dylan
It is a neat system but, yet again, it is primarily another system. The Ramiel arc to unlock it boring and weak - you can fly through it and it isn't interesting at all. Just old enemies and maps (for the most part) slapped together with a not-so spectacular story.
I do like the actual powers and system. It is a decent idea and prompts us to play level 50 stuff. Unfortunately, it is the same level 50 stuff we've had for a while now. IMO these new arcs and stories are weak - the same old maps with some new tale to tell. Nothing compelling or interesting to me when you consider this is a video game/MMO.
The two new TFs are much of the same old, same old...again. Same old maps, same old enemy groups (for the most part) and a button-mash fest (for the most part).
I think the system could benefit from some original materials and content. The game is almost 7 years old and we keep seeing the same major players that we've seen for years. It is tired.
Just my 2 cents
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I honestly think that if this is really how you feel about things, that there isn't much that the devs can realisticly do to make the game feel 'fresh' to you again. |
Originally Posted by TheJazMan
It is a neat system but, yet again, it is primarily another system. The Ramiel arc to unlock it boring and weak - you can fly through it and it isn't interesting at all. Just old enemies and maps (for the most part) slapped together with a not-so spectacular story.
I do like the actual powers and system. It is a decent idea and prompts us to play level 50 stuff. Unfortunately, it is the same level 50 stuff we've had for a while now. IMO these new arcs and stories are weak - the same old maps with some new tale to tell. Nothing compelling or interesting to me when you consider this is a video game/MMO. The two new TFs are much of the same old, same old...again. Same old maps, same old enemy groups (for the most part) and a button-mash fest (for the most part). I think the system could benefit from some original materials and content. The game is almost 7 years old and we keep seeing the same major players that we've seen for years. It is tired. Just my 2 cents |
As you said, the game is 7 years old, it is what it is. You can't expect drastic changes to mechanics and gameplay at this point.
@True Metal
Co-leader of Callous Crew SG. Based on Union server.
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Yes, they are. |
Originally Posted by Golden Girl
So the Praetorian Clockwork are "old" now?
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More I19 feelings forthcoming. Ahem.
A week or so ago I unlocked the Alpha Slot on my electric/ice tanker. No problems getting through the arc. Today I finally got around to doing a respec on him to take advantage of inherent Fitness. Whee. Then I decided to run a couple of missions - the last two in the revamped Hero's Epic - to see if I could get lucky with some shards.
I didn't. But that's not why I'm posting.
The main thing I noticed was, my tanker after unlocking the Alpha slot plays just like my tanker prior to unlocking the slot. Which isn't slotted yet, as I only have the one shard. Which I guess means the Alpha Slot, unslotted, does nothing. Right?
I mean, if you take, say, Quick Recovery, it does something for you even before you slot it.
Shouldn't the Alpha slot, even unslotted, do something to let you know, "Hey! I'm an Incarnate now! Well... sorta. Kinda. Almost. Maybe."
Or does it do something and I just didn't notice? My tanker didn't seem any tougher. His enemies didn't seem to fall any faster (yawn/Dominatrix/yawn). His powers didn't seem to recharge any faster. He still ran out of endurance if I forgot to fire off Power Sink every now and again.
So... Alpha what?
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I was wondering about that, too. I'm not even sure where the Alpha Slot *is*.
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Originally Posted by Flarstux
Yes, they are.
More I19 feelings forthcoming. Ahem. A week or so ago I unlocked the Alpha Slot on my electric/ice tanker. No problems getting through the arc. Today I finally got around to doing a respec on him to take advantage of inherent Fitness. Whee. Then I decided to run a couple of missions - the last two in the revamped Hero's Epic - to see if I could get lucky with some shards. I didn't. But that's not why I'm posting. The main thing I noticed was, my tanker after unlocking the Alpha slot plays just like my tanker prior to unlocking the slot. Which isn't slotted yet, as I only have the one shard. Which I guess means the Alpha Slot, unslotted, does nothing. Right? I mean, if you take, say, Quick Recovery, it does something for you even before you slot it. Shouldn't the Alpha slot, even unslotted, do something to let you know, "Hey! I'm an Incarnate now! Well... sorta. Kinda. Almost. Maybe." Or does it do something and I just didn't notice? My tanker didn't seem any tougher. His enemies didn't seem to fall any faster (yawn/Dominatrix/yawn). His powers didn't seem to recharge any faster. He still ran out of endurance if I forgot to fire off Power Sink every now and again. So... Alpha what? |
The Alt Alphabet ~ OPC: Other People's Characters ~ Terrific Screenshots of Cool ~ Superhero Fiction
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It took me forever to find the damn thing. If you click on the Powers tab of your tray, it's there, next to Combat Attributes and in the same grey-on-grey font.
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Originally Posted by Ironik
I was wondering about that, too. I'm not even sure where the Alpha Slot *is*.
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Arc#314490: Zombie Ninja Pirates!
Defiant @Grouchybeast
Death is part of my attack chain.
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Originally Posted by Flarstux
Yes, they are.
More I19 feelings forthcoming. Ahem. A week or so ago I unlocked the Alpha Slot on my electric/ice tanker. No problems getting through the arc. Today I finally got around to doing a respec on him to take advantage of inherent Fitness. Whee. Then I decided to run a couple of missions - the last two in the revamped Hero's Epic - to see if I could get lucky with some shards. I didn't. But that's not why I'm posting. The main thing I noticed was, my tanker after unlocking the Alpha slot plays just like my tanker prior to unlocking the slot. Which isn't slotted yet, as I only have the one shard. Which I guess means the Alpha Slot, unslotted, does nothing. Right? I mean, if you take, say, Quick Recovery, it does something for you even before you slot it. Shouldn't the Alpha slot, even unslotted, do something to let you know, "Hey! I'm an Incarnate now! Well... sorta. Kinda. Almost. Maybe." Or does it do something and I just didn't notice? My tanker didn't seem any tougher. His enemies didn't seem to fall any faster (yawn/Dominatrix/yawn). His powers didn't seem to recharge any faster. He still ran out of endurance if I forgot to fire off Power Sink every now and again. So... Alpha what? |
Mostly because you unlock it then pick what it does. rather than trying to make a one size fits all solution.
For my own part, it gives me a tingly feeling in my pants.
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It does a couple of things unslotted--it opens a third build for you, and it unlocks the Apex and Tin Mage TFs. (Of course, I don't recommend actually attempting those TFs until you slot it, though if you're yawning, maybe fighting a bunch of effectively +8 enemies is what you need.)|
Originally Posted by Flarstux
Or does it do something and I just didn't notice? My tanker didn't seem any tougher. His enemies didn't seem to fall any faster (yawn/Dominatrix/yawn). His powers didn't seem to recharge any faster. He still ran out of endurance if I forgot to fire off Power Sink every now and again.
So... Alpha what? |
But no, it does not buff your character until you put a buff in it. It enables you to enhance all your other powers, but you have to choose how to enhance them.
Personally, I like it. Even the common boost made playing my main more fun, and the uncommon is better still. I enjoyed Ramiel's arc, and I didn't find the process of acquiring components too tedious, even though I made most of them from shards.
The Way of the Corruptor (Arc ID 49834): Hey villains! Do something for yourself for a change--like twisting the elements to your will. All that's standing in your way are a few secret societies...and Champions of the four elements.
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Heh, nah, I was yawning because the fight took ten minutes.
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Originally Posted by Balanced
if you're yawning, maybe fighting a bunch of effectively +8 enemies is what you need
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Maybe the Alpha Slot should come with a default enhancement, even just a plain, dull gray one that boosts your Accuracy, Damage, Recharge, or Endurance Reduction by 5% each. That way there's SOMETHING there, and you'd be able to run the Apex/Tin Mage TFs.
It could be like the Origin Temp Powers we all get when we create a new character; useful in a tiny way.
American Dawg, Starblaze, Neanderthal Joe, Shining Dawn, Tokamak Dragon, Stinger Incarnate, Burning Tyger, Dover Tornado, Big Roach, Dark Paladin, Archmage Wylde, Kings Row Hornet, Prancing Deer
Avogadro, Science Lord
Edgar Nightcraft, Doc Cicada, Chupa Macabre, Dr Forchtenstein, Blood Shrew
Pithily: The Alpha Slot is not a power. It is a slot. Specifically, it is an extra enhancement slot on all your other powers. Just like the normal enhancement slots, it does nothing unless you put an enhancement in it. By itself, it is exactly as useful - and exactly as useless - as an enhancement slot you just added to a power.
Incidentally, folks have been saying that with Inherent Fitness, they could use some extra slots. The Alpha Slot is some extra slots. Specifically, it's 31 extra slots - more if you're a Kheld.
@SPTrashcan
Avatar by Toxic_Shia
Why MA ratings should be changed from stars to "like" or "dislike"
A better algorithm for ordering MA arcs
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It's not just a slot. Unlocking the Alpha Slot is the first step toward becoming an Incarnate - heck, they named the issue for it. I feel it should be a little more dramatic, even unslotted, than it is, because after unlocking it on my Tanker I don't feel like he's accomplished anything.
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Originally Posted by SpittingTrashcan
Pithily: The Alpha Slot is not a power. It is a slot.
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Obviously there should be a ticker-tape parade anytime that announces to the entire server every time a person unlocks their Alpha Slot.
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Originally Posted by Flarstux
It's not just a slot. Unlocking the Alpha Slot is the first step toward becoming an Incarnate - heck, they named the issue for it. I feel it should be a little more dramatic, even unslotted, than it is, because after unlocking it on my Tanker I don't feel like he's accomplished anything.
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"An army is a team. It lives, eats, sleeps, fights as a team. This individuality stuff is a bunch of BS." -General George Patton
-Lord Azazel
Unlike a lot of players I tend to pace myself a bit with new content so a month later I am not bored and longing for the next new thing. I have 26 Fifty levels total and so far I have done respecs and opened Alpha Slots on four of them. Hey the system isn't going to be repealed and I have so many Vet reward respecs available I am hardly worried about losing one freespec. I do have my favorites, of course, but none of those 50 levels farmed or PLed their way to FIVE ZERO they all worked their way up doing TFs, Trials, joining countless PUG, etc so each of them is special to me in some way. The first to log and get slotted was my Badger and between running various task forces she also visited Praetoria and all the hazard zones grabbing up every badge possible.
As for the Incarnate System itself.. I am enjoying it completely and like you I can't wait to see what the future holds. a total of nine available incarnate slots eventually makes one wonder just how powerful we can become and what changes and new challenges it will present in future content.
My badger, a Crab Spider, alone has become awesome with a 33% increase in End along with a 20 % increase in Defense. Just using the other available power choices we have now I can only imagine what she'd be capable of if she could add a 33% increase in damage, a 33% increase in accuracy and a 33% increase in recharge speed on every single power. And we haven't even gained access to the rare and very rare slots yet.. The mind boggles when you think about 9 seperate powers that vastly increase the overall effectiveness of up to 18 or more categories of powers. So basically if all the next three avaialble slots did was offer us the exact same choices as what we have now with the Alpha slot it would eventually be possible to have:
45% increase in End Reduction on all powers
45% increase in Accuracy on all powers
45% increase in Damage on all powers
45% increase in Reharge Reduction on all powers
33% increase in Immobilization time on all powers
33% increase in Hold times on all powers
33% increase in Healing
33% increase in Defense DeBuff
20% increase in Damage Resistance
20% increase in Defense Buffs
Of course we have no clue exactly what those next slots will actually offer but those options alone would make using my Crab Spide for what is now normal 50 level content a joke. She soloed the Incarnate arc before she even had an Alpha slot and had very little trouble with Trapdoor or any of the other Elite Bosses she faced. Give her all that stuff listed above and she'd be mopping the floor with Praetorian AVs in Maria's old or new arc.
�We�re always the good guys. In D&D, we�re lawful good. In City of Heroes we�re the heroes. In Grand Theft Auto we pay the prostitutes promptly and never hit them with a bat.� � Leonard
�Those women are prostitutes? You said they were raising money for stem cell research!� � Sheldon
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Slots that only work when you're level 50. If you're playing at that level all the time, then that's an excellent bonus. If you do a lot of stuff that requires exemping, then the Alpha Slot is not so useful.
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Originally Posted by SpittingTrashcan
Incidentally, folks have been saying that with Inherent Fitness, they could use some extra slots. The Alpha Slot is some extra slots. Specifically, it's 31 extra slots - more if you're a Kheld.
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Goodbye, I guess.
@Lord_Nightblade in Champions/Star Trek Online
nightblade7295@gmail.com if you want to stay in touch
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Just as obviously, there would be no shortage of folks waiting to rain upon such a parade.
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Originally Posted by Lord_Thanatos
Obviously there should be a ticker-tape parade anytime that announces to the entire server every time a person unlocks their Alpha Slot.
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No Mallerick the idea is you EARN your new godlike powers and earn them slowly.. based on the cutscene from the last mission of the Alpha slot arc. Now I realize not everyone has a lot of time to spend on line playing this or any game and for some teaming can be difficult do to aging computers that force you to mainly solo BUT after I completed the arc and opened my Alpha slot I was able to fill it in a matter of three hours or so.|
Originally Posted by Mallerick
Maybe the Alpha Slot should come with a default enhancement, even just a plain, dull gray one that boosts your Accuracy, Damage, Recharge, or Endurance Reduction by 5% each. That way there's SOMETHING there, and you'd be able to run the Apex/Tin Mage TFs.
It could be like the Origin Temp Powers we all get when we create a new character; useful in a tiny way. |
I did one LGFT (1 Hero One DNA sample earned plus shards), one ITF (1 Ancient Nictus fragment earned plus shards), and then used 150 Vanguard Merits to buy 1 Gr'ai Matter. At that point I had all the elements I needed to create a Cardiac Boost and equip my Alpha Slot without using a single one of the shards I had earned. One day later I had a Cardiac Radial Boost slotted and now I have both the Cardiac Radial and Core available along with 40 shards and 8 different elements [3 Ancient Nictus fragments, 2 Hero One DNA samples, 2 Gr'ai Matter and 1 Essence of the Incarnate] as I save up for the Rare and Very Rare slots to come. Okay I am retired and can sit down at my computer at 6PM and play until 2 0r 3AM if I feel like it.. and no I never do that {I'd go insane LOL} But even a casual player that can only play a few hours on the weekends should have no problem opeing their Alpha slot and having at least a common slotted by the end of one weekend of casual gaming.
I think for once the Devs are making us earn something rather than just handing it to us and it seems to me most players enjoy the new challenge.
�We�re always the good guys. In D&D, we�re lawful good. In City of Heroes we�re the heroes. In Grand Theft Auto we pay the prostitutes promptly and never hit them with a bat.� � Leonard
�Those women are prostitutes? You said they were raising money for stem cell research!� � Sheldon
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Oh, I wouldn't say that. Thanks to a few leaks, we've got a pretty good idea what the Judgement slot is going to be. We've also got hints about the Lore and Interface slots, I believe. Nothing official, of course, and nothing is certain until they go live, but we do have a few clues. If those clues are anything to go by, none of the other slots will offer the same type of benefits as the Alpha slot--which is a good thing, in my opinion. "Another Alpha slot" would be rather boring.
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Originally Posted by Wicked_Wendy
Of course we have no clue exactly what those next slots will actually offer....
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The Way of the Corruptor (Arc ID 49834): Hey villains! Do something for yourself for a change--like twisting the elements to your will. All that's standing in your way are a few secret societies...and Champions of the four elements.
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I know what you are saying but until I see something official like this:|
Originally Posted by Balanced
Oh, I wouldn't say that. Thanks to a few leaks, we've got a pretty good idea what the Judgement slot is going to be. We've also got hints about the Lore and Interface slots, I believe. Nothing official, of course, and nothing is certain until they go live, but we do have a few clues. If those clues are anything to go by, none of the other slots will offer the same type of benefits as the Alpha slot--which is a good thing, in my opinion. "Another Alpha slot" would be rather boring.
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http://goingrogue.na.cityofheroes.co...lpha-slot.html
I tend to dismiss just about anything that the rumor mill produces here. I had one person here tell me it wasn't possible to earn shards during a Rikti invasion and he made a pretty sound argument ... Despite having no assigned level most of the recipe drops you get from an invasion, even as a 50 level, are 30 levels recipes so he argued that the Rikti had an unofficial level of 30 and therefore would not drop shards. Well low and behold the other night I was selling off a few things I'd gotten on an ITF when the Rikti attacked Cap Au Diable and I decided to help out. I ended with several new pieces of salvage, one or two new recipes, and one new SHARD. So much for that THEORY! {lol} The chances are each new slot will have it's own unigue power enhancers but even if a few were just copies of some of the Alpha slot abilities can you REALLY say being able to enhance every attack you have so it does 45% more damage, uses 45% less end, recharges 45% faster and is 45% more accurate is boring?
Oh and Lord_Nightblade in response to your comment ....
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| Slots that only work when you're level 50. If you're playing at that level all the time, then that's an excellent bonus. If you do a lot of stuff that requires exemping, then the Alpha Slot is not so useful. |
Issues 20 and 21 already promise the addition of more 50 level End game content to challenge us so I seriously doubt they ever plan to change things so the Alpha works below the big Five Zero.
�We�re always the good guys. In D&D, we�re lawful good. In City of Heroes we�re the heroes. In Grand Theft Auto we pay the prostitutes promptly and never hit them with a bat.� � Leonard
�Those women are prostitutes? You said they were raising money for stem cell research!� � Sheldon
People who get more drops than I do are clearly farming exploits and should be banned.*
* Hey, that's no more retarded a statement than asking a veteran if they're PLAYING THE GAME CORRECTLY. Jesus H. Sidecar, some people, I swear.
The Alt Alphabet ~ OPC: Other People's Characters ~ Terrific Screenshots of Cool ~ Superhero Fiction