Super Strength

I suppose this applies to Brutes too, but I figured I'd start here since Tankers are what I play.

I think we can all agree, Super Strength is arguably the most iconic of all comic book powers. Despite this, many of us think that its depiction in CoH is somewhat unsatisfying.

I have a couple of suggestions I'm toying with that might make Super Strength more pleasing as a set, but I wanted to run it by the population first before making a formal suggestion. Maybe there's a downside I'm not seeing (it wouldn't be the first time).

As far as performance goes, I don't see that we can do much to it. It performs pretty well overall, even if it doesn't behave quite as Super Strength "ought" to (ie. heavy hitting, slow action, low endurance and so on). As such, my suggestion shouldn't affect overall performance.

The problem that I see that can be addressed is presentation.

It just doesn't "feel" like Super Strength. I think this has to do with the fact that most of the powers do things that are not especially strong. In the comics, Super Strong characters lift heavy objects, hold up bridges and so forth. In CoH, we just hit things. Yes, we can knock things down, but so does Martial Arts, a NORMAL strength set (which also does more damage...). Unfortunately, the engine doesn't support environmental interaction like we would need, so we can't add any way of lifting cars or trees or what have you, so we must work with what we have: HURL.

Hurl is the only power in the set in which we lift a heavy object. As such, it is the most "super strong" of all the powers in the set (possibly excepting Foot Stomp). Unfortunately, it comes very late in the set, making the set feel pretty weak all the way through. This brings us to the suggestions.


First, I think the set needs a sprucing up. Add a little more screen shake, and add a bit of dust and debris to the attacks. This will help make it seem stronger right off.

Second, let's switch around Hurl and Hand Clap. Getting Hurl earlier will let the set feel strong sooner, making it more fun to play. Further, it will add the ranged attack earlier, making it easier to fight flying foes. Hand Clap at the higher level could recieve a little buff by adding a bit of damage, if desired. Just swapping them around shouldn't affect the balance of the set at all, so I see no reason not to do this.

Hand Clap is often skipped because it scatters foes when you want them crowded around you. Thus, it should get a little buff to make it more valuable. Moving it to L35 and adding a little damage would do this, I think.


As I say, I don't see any downside here. Maybe I'm missing something. What do you think?

It feels pretty damned super strengthy to me. When I punch someone in the face, it does the same damage as the guy swinging a flaming sword. Also, everything I do makes the whole universe shake, apparently. And the sound! My $deity the SOUND! Anything with those sounds has to be strong.

What more do you want?

I guess I just don't understand how you'd want more. Honestly, I can't play SS for very long as I start to get headaches. Every attack does the shaking, and the sound eventually stops being awesome and starts being grating.

I mean, what more can you do to make the set feel like "super" strength that isn't adding more of the same? Honestly, I'd like it if all the attacks did knockback. That would make me feel strong as hell.

Yeah you don't really know super strength till you see it in something like champions online, but like u said the engine cant support that kind of stuff. I don't think there is much we can do about super strength but I certainly wont turn down your suggestion, it certainly has some presentation issue's as compared with other powers.

I really, really like the way Super Strength is delivered in-game. Screen-shaking goodness combined with the explosive sound of punching someone square in the face? Ain't nothin' else like it, son.

There's not much that makes me feel more super than punching a guy so hard he goes flying up into the air or stomping (or punching) the ground so hard that it knocks everyone off their feet.

Also, I don't even have Hurl on my SS Brute. I don't really think it's so good that it would be worth rearranging the set for it.

Wild Streak - Lv. 50(+3) Beast Mastery/Sonic Resonance Mastermind, Amnesty - Lv. 50 Staff Fighting/Dark Armor Stalker

I love SS the way it is.
To make it better I think we can only have handclap doing AoE moderate damage.
The camera shaking is more than enough by now. Try to get the zoom closer to your character.

I spent the afternoon playing my SS brute today. (yay for time off work).

I certainly felt super strong the afternoon.

As far as the set goes, The only thing I would like is for handclap to gain a significant damage component (probably medium damage like claws/spin).

However I don't see this as something likely to occur without a balancing ie reduction of another power(s).

I'm not seeing a cogent argument against this idea. Obviously some people like it the way it is, but this change wouldn't be that significant, so why would you oppose it?

Many people don't take Hand Clap, so I don't expect it would be missed if it was delayed til later, especially if doing so would mean it could get a damage component.

I actually agree with ultimo here - those changes would be nice, if rather unlikely.

People take hurl?!

Hurl with a shield equals a big boulder-sized one-handed fastball.

That was reason enough for me to take it.

Eh, only way to really make it feel for super would be to change the 'rock' you throw with hurl into a car.

Use the code from propel, but limit the items to statues, cars, and rocks. (or other, really big stuff you would pick up and throw at someone)