What if you were in charge of Issue 21?
By
Adeon Hawkwood,
Posted on: 2011-04-06 11:31 in Suggestions and Ideas
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This, this, this!|
Originally Posted by FloatingFatMan
Easy. Dump ALL the new currencies and salvage garbage brought in for the Incarnate system, and convert everything over to "Incarnate XP" that you earn to gradually unlock your next slot (you get to nominate which slot you want to earn it for).
Simplify the entire stupidly over complicated system that's taken a pick up and play MMO, and turned it into a number crunching borefest that's almost as interesting to play as EVE. |
Seriously, i would just looove if I21 did this, but eh,.. fairly certain we'll gain currencies in the next issue, instead of losing them.
Aside from many of the suggestions already listed:
Revamped atmospheric/environmental effects. Sounds frivolous, but..
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Pounches? |
Originally Posted by BrandX
4) New costume pieces!
Pounches to go along with those guns |
I hope you meant holsters cuz I have no idea what pounches are. 
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That. That will occupy the balancing and scripting team for a bit.|
Originally Posted by FloatingFatMan
Easy. Dump ALL the new currencies and salvage garbage brought in for the Incarnate system, and convert everything over to "Incarnate XP" that you earn to gradually unlock your next slot (you get to nominate which slot you want to earn it for).
Simplify the entire stupidly over complicated system that's taken a pick up and play MMO, and turned it into a number crunching borefest that's almost as interesting to play as EVE. |
And a revamp of at least one Paragon City zone and one Rogue Islands zone - new missions and a new look, preferably without war walls, using all the tricks of the trade they learnt by making Praetoria (and quite a lot of the tech). That will occupy the world builders and writers, and possibly an artist or two.
The programmers will not be without work. They will have to assist balancing and scripting, but they will mostly be working with a new generated content system for villains and rogues, called Schemes. Schemes are not that different from Paper Missions, in that they are randomly generated from templates, and not that different from Tip Missions either in that they can generate Scheme Points, and also have a tinge of Invention System, in that it is you who decide what to do with the resources you have.
Schemes would be generated from your origin and salvage, in order to build something -- a spell, a machine, a chemical compound or whatnot -- to take over the world. You would get a selection of these missions, and you pick the one that looks suits you best.
Schemes could be:
- Set up a force field around Atlas Park, holding the area hostage for ONE MILLION DOLLARS!!!
- Rob a bank.
- Spread a nerve agent in King's Row, turning people into your complacent slaves.
- Cast a magic spell that drops Talos Island into the Netherworld.
- Hack NORAD and instruct their supercomputer to launch a nuke at PortalCo.
- Turn off the War Walls to get Rikti invading.
- Release Kronos Titans on King's Row.
- Break-out of superpowered villains in the Zig.
...you get the idea. The important thing is that you would instigate the Scheme, using the resources that you have available.
Schemes would generally have three parts: First, you assemble/distribute/release your nefarious invention somewhere in Paragon City. Next, you do your evil deeds, while smashing cars and barrels and post boxes as you would in a mayhem. You can do your evil deeds by activating stuff, defending places, defeating things or people, or escorting big monster while they stomp about - or in any other way.
Third, someone tries to stop you. Exactly who it is depends on how many Scheme Points you have; at low points, it's just regular PPD detectives, but as the points go up, you get PPD psychics, longbow, minor heroes and even signature heroes. If you are defeated, there's the fourth part: breaking out of the Zig.
If you succeed, you get a Scheme Point, which opens more nefarious schemes. It also makes you a bigger threat to the heroes, so they send in tougher opposing forces. You also get your salvage back, in addition to all the salvage you looted during the Scheme.
If you fail, you lose the salvage. You also have to break out from the Zig, and you are no longer a threat to Paragon City, so your Scheme Points drop to zero.
In addition to Schemes, Jay the Sexy would have to work a bit doing cossie pieces: a few assymetrical cossie sets; a proper hakama; bokken for katana, sword and mace powersets; and chainsaw for swords. He would also work really hard making headcapes (i.e. same tech as Ghost Widow's hair and the veil of the Wedding set) available. This is just a freebie for Golden Girl, but an important one.
Marketing will not be jobless, because this should be marketed in a box, but only in EU. NA will have to make do with downloadable content. By this time, the server list merge should be complete, so if an NA player really would want a box, he's welcome to import it from Europe. (nyah!)
That should have most of Paragon Studios working.
Finally, Influence, Infamy and Information shall be replaced with the new monetary unit, Coffee.
Still @Shadow Kitty
"I became Archvillain before Statesman nerfed himself!"
New Zones and corresponding content. Lately, they've been focusing more on features than content.
One or more of the following:
1. Moonbase ( and orbiting starbase )
2. Underwater Zone (Atlantis) - and the ability to swim...
3. Level 50 extension to Croatoa
4. Another Hamidon-type encounter (I'm sure they could think of someone else as nasty as a giant amoeba 
)
131430 Starfare: First Contact
178774 Tales of Croatoa: A Rose By Any Other Name ( 2009 MA Best In-Canon Arc ) ( 2009 Player Awards - Best Serious Arc )
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And fixed! |
Originally Posted by Forbin_Project
Pounches?
I hope you meant holsters cuz I have no idea what pounches are. |
BrandX Future Staff Fighter
The BrandX Collection
Not limited to Issue 21, but my priorities would be:
1) More Power Customization and alternate animations, including Pool Powers and Epic/Patron Powers. If possible gravitate all assault sets into single palm, dual palm and eyebeam alternatives (3 for each power), and melee/weapon sets into brutish and stylish alternatives (2 for each plus weapon customization)
- Power customization is what makes us reroll sets we've already played in the past.
2) Allow the new Looking For Group tool to have players join any Task Force or Trial, not just the Incarnate stuff.
- I find it harder than ever to join any TF nowadays, and it's a communication issue.
3) Make the initial contact introduction for all Hazard Zone Contacts automatic once you hit the appropriate level (like Jim Tremblor and such).
- It gets confusing getting introduced to these contacts.
4) Rework unused Paragon City Hazard Zones in the spirit of the already existing and totally awesome Hollows, Faultine, Striga Isle, Croatoa, RWZ and Cimerora, so that a hero player can go from lvl 4 to 50 by following good storylines instead of farming outdated contacts and newspaper missions. This includes revamping Perez Park, Dark Astoria, Terra Volta, Crey's Folly, Eden and the Shadow Shard.
- Go hunt 30 Tsoo in Talos Island just doesn't cut it anymore when compared to CoV and Praetoria.
5) QoL improvements to existing sets and powers, like Electric Assault, Gravity Control, Ice Armor, Force Fields, Peacebringers, <insert any set that needs help here>. Is any Dev even working on this?
- It's been awhile and there are sets I wish I could play, if only they didn't stink...
6) Minor graphic adjustments to hairs (mostly female hairs, but also Long and Barbaric male hairs) to prevent conflict with jackets, trenchcoats, capes and Ninja Run.
- Minor stuff, but would be great.
...
7) More incarnate stuff. Though it's really a low priority, it'll be awhile till the average player has maxed the incarnate potential of most of his toons. Still, the power-gamers who're done with BAF in a week deserve a treat now and then, maybe a new incarnate trial every 3 issues or so.
- I guess we all want our toons to be more powerful.
Welllll, I must have written up 10 issues worth of content, but anyway, that's what I want to see in the future
I'd dedicate Issue 21 to three things:
1. Massive bug hunt. I'd hunt down as many bugs in the game as possible and squash them all, or as many as feasible without completely hosing the code for fifty thousand other things.
2. I'd start doing something with reclaiming both Dark Astoria and Boomtown. No reason that the former's had to sit there for X years in the shadows, while the latter, I'd imagine there's a metric ton of people that are still mad that they lost their homes there, and that the city has done zero to reclaim it, unlike Overbrook/Faultline. Task forces, mission arcs, whatever.
3 Weather! Good grief, you're trying to tell me it's been partly sunny and 75 there for HOW LONG? It's amazing that the reservoir has anythign left in it!
"Your voice holds the key to your society
Expose the ones that want to **** it up for you and me
No more of settling for what they feed
The time has come to put the pressure up against the greed"
- Senser, "Resistance Now"
Issue 21!
1) Upgraded AE UI with new search tools and improved rating system with number of "Liked" and total number of plays. As well as the ability to earn shards on non-dev choice arcs.
2) 2 new Incarnate story arcs that are soloable.
3) New zone for the next level range in Praetoria - players can still leave Praetoria at level 20, or they can choose to remain.
4) mini-revamp in Boomtown, similar to the Hollows.
Given that i21 will be primarily focused on Incarnate slots/trials I am keeping my requests to 3.
1) I never want to be asked which zone number I want to enter again. If I'm on a team the entire team should go to the same instance (RWZ4 or whatever). If I'm not on a team put me in the one with the lowest population.
2) Account wide storage for Salvage, Recipes, Enhancements. Don't bother me with this email stuff, it's nice for what it is but it's a kludge. I still have to go figure out which character has that Mu Vestment I need before I can mail it to myself. And before you talk about the devs wanting to prevent hoarding, this would make it much simpler for me to actually USE the market.
3) Base love, PLEASE. Let me scramble the base up anyway I want but the changes don't take affect until I hit Save. Give me a market terminal I can put into the base. Personal quarters in the base would be nice too. The base editor is great for what it is, but it's been around for 13 issue with minimal improvements.
In retrospect, #3 is probably a LOT of work. And while only base builders would actually see the improvements, entire SGs would benefit from them. But it might have to be put on the back burner until the Incarnate stuff is done.
Check out the Repeat Offenders network of SGs! You'll be glad you did.
Many have covered what I would hope for - one that hasn't been touched that I'd like to see...
Allow any Alignment to go anywhere. It's stupid that you can't even get in to the Rogue Isles if you're a Hero. Longbow goes there - why can't I? Yes, the Isles are looser when it comes to Laws and they are ruled by an evil Dictator, but that's exactly the kinds of place that needs Heroes. Let there be some Hero/Vigilante contacts and Mission Arcs in the Isles. Flip all this around for Villains and Paragon City...
I have no problem with an alternate mechanic letting you know if you are 'less than welcome' if you are a certain alignment. Example: a Villain in Paragon will get ambushed by PPD or Longbow if they are in a non-Instanced zone for say, longer than 5 Minutes. Some areas can be safe from this (ie. Markets, special new places: 'Underworld' areas for villains in PC, 'Partisan' areas for Heroes, etc)
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This
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Originally Posted by dbuter
For the upcoming issue, what if you were the head honcho calling the shots on what got done? What would you include in it?
For me: 1. Power customization for all powers. *Priority Number One. The Must-Have/Issue Theme.* 2. Two complete new costumes from head to toe. Also additional miscellaneous stuff for various body parts that wouldn't normally get a full costume (flat foot animal fur, wings at level one for animal characters, etc). 3. Radio and Newspaper missions could be used in every zone, not just selected zones. 4. Rework the lower level hero missions so that I'm not running to King's Row to get a mission to go to The Hollows. All missions (except maybe the major stuff) would have an entrance on the same map as the mission giver. Exceptions might be to meet new contacts, who would give a mission on the same map they are on, and not send you off somewhere else. 5. Allow capes at character creation. Don't require a mission to get them. 6. Add in a few new travel powers, such as fire flight and hoverboards. |
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And This!!!
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Originally Posted by FloatingFatMan
Easy. Dump ALL the new currencies and salvage garbage brought in for the Incarnate system, and convert everything over to "Incarnate XP" that you earn to gradually unlock your next slot (you get to nominate which slot you want to earn it for).
Simplify the entire stupidly over complicated system that's taken a pick up and play MMO, and turned it into a number crunching borefest that's almost as interesting to play as EVE. |
Balloon travel power.
-------------
@Portland Underground
So many things really need to be done in CoH, it's hard to prioritize.
One suggestion I really liked from another thread is to take the Shadow Shard, make it co-op, and put Incarnate content in it. Expand the lore of the Well to give the local deities (Rularuu etc) a role as the Well's champions to justify putting Incarnate content in the Shard.
This does 3 things:
1) It retasks a very underused zone
2) It is co-op (a dev requirement for most future content)
3) It advances the Incarnate story line and expands on the Incarnate powers available to the players.
I am sick of this universe revolving around Statestard and his "clones". Cole is just Statestard showing his true colors. Nice, but hardly earth shattering. We have actual deities we could be fighting in the Shadow Shard, not just wannabe's.
Check out the Repeat Offenders network of SGs! You'll be glad you did.
1) Villain only content. Redside is the red-headed step-child of the CoX universe. It really hasn't gotten any specific attention since VEATS came out. All the co-op TFs are crap. i mean, they're fun and cool, but from a villain's story/RP standpoint they suck. Throw in another island in the RI, or a more villains TF/SF in the RWZ or Cimerora.
2) Freaking back costume options. People have been asking for this for years, and it's got to be easier that power customization. Give us backpacks, jetpacks, quivers, sword sheathes, etc etc already. Geez.
3) The next level or two of the Incarnate system.
That'd be it. I know that's a lot, but based on previous updates, I don't think it's out of the realm of possibility.
My main priority would be: The shadow shard.
I tried to start a weekly TF in it but the system was so outdated that I cancelled after the first two. It needs to be made simple and it needs to be updated, since it hasn't been updated since what, I9? I10?
Also, Since I'm about to start one (see union forums), They need to sort out Hamidon. They need to make it a trial!
Hamidon FTW!
Pet cutomization. Either full pet customization (costumes, etc.) - leaving powers exactly as is. OR allow option for any pet to be generic'd to a standard person or (*best) little glowing ball of light. Again-not affect the powers at all. You coose ninjas, your little gloweing balls do ninja stuff, you choose zombies, balls of light attack like zombies, robots, etc. this includes vet pets and Incarnate pets. This will not affect game balance, because it will alter not a single attack. Although with balls of light, you may want to dial all attack animations into either rays, a pulsing glow from the ball, or nothing.
The reason behind this - Unless you are deep into having your character have a backstory that fits deeply into CoH history (in other words, if you got pets, by definition you are a local yokel, not a extradimensional traveler) then it looks very weird. "Hi, I am a Necromancer from Arcanaville, which has zombies created with electromechanical parts. I know that my pets here look like grave knights, lichs, a strange little robot, and a seer, but really, trust me, they are all zombies created with electro-mechanical life"
I recommend this though I have never ran a Mastermind. And i never will as long as pet customization is the way it is - nonexistent. It kinda bothers me that vet and incarnate pets mark you as deeply entrenched in local political battles.
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I agree with everything you just said. I totally understand making new content for people who've been around since the dawn of time, but all ANYONE is doing right now are the incarnate trials.. and for what? To have a little minion walk around next to you? To have another nuke? I am a number cruncher, a little bit, but this is fricking ridiculous. Making it so that if you're not doing the incarnate stuff religiously, you're out of the game, makes the game a complete waste of time for anyone who likes socializing or playing alts that aren't lvl 50 already.|
Originally Posted by FloatingFatMan
Easy. Dump ALL the new currencies and salvage garbage brought in for the Incarnate system, and convert everything over to "Incarnate XP" that you earn to gradually unlock your next slot (you get to nominate which slot you want to earn it for).
Simplify the entire stupidly over complicated system that's taken a pick up and play MMO, and turned it into a number crunching borefest that's almost as interesting to play as EVE. |
On another note, I would really like to see some new power sets. Bo staff for melee?? Water blast/control?
I would also like to see a complete fixation of all of the bugs in the costume creator that make EVERYTHING clip. All these great costumes I've got planned and there's always a glove that protrudes through my shield, or a tail that comes out from nowhere behind my cape.
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Yes to backpacks and quivers etc!!!
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Originally Posted by Emperor_Justin
1) Villain only content. Redside is the red-headed step-child of the CoX universe. It really hasn't gotten any specific attention since VEATS came out. All the co-op TFs are crap. i mean, they're fun and cool, but from a villain's story/RP standpoint they suck. Throw in another island in the RI, or a more villains TF/SF in the RWZ or Cimerora.
2) Freaking back costume options. People have been asking for this for years, and it's got to be easier that power customization. Give us backpacks, jetpacks, quivers, sword sheathes, etc etc already. Geez. 3) The next level or two of the Incarnate system. That'd be it. I know that's a lot, but based on previous updates, I don't think it's out of the realm of possibility. |
1. No new incarnate slots.
2. Two more trials for all 5 existing slots, with chance to drop both shard and threads. Eliminate inf cost for conversion of shards to threads.
3. New or convert some existing high level TF/SFs (Apex and Tin Mage are prime candidates) that drops threads instead of shards for people who don't want to run trials.
4. Bug fixes, bug fixes and MORE bug fixes! Especially the crashing and server side performance issues.
5. Update existing costumes to high-resolution versions, maybe add some new ones too.
6. Modify the graphics of certain zones to more accurately reflect damage from the upcoming Praetorian invasion.
7. More power proliferation.
8. Fix MM pet AI! Or more accurately, the lack there of.
Mastermind changes
1. pet AI (STAY MEANS STAY)
2. Mercenary Buffs
3. Mastermind bug fixes
1) Scrap the new zones idea. We have way too many and most of those are kinda dead. Use the new art to re-vamp the old hero TFs (like almost all of them) but start with one in i21 and maybe do one per issue.
2) Some decent costume pieces. Also we were told back in October we were getting a lot of NPC costume pieces too (not all but a lot). What happened to that idea?
3) Stop adding Praetoria stuff for now. Add something different for a bit.
4) I am curious to see the new innovation they talked about (to solo and level your incarnates) so that might be worth seeing.
5) Stop adding low-grade/low-quality stuff. By that I mean constant use of the same old maps etc. It might be nice to make more super stuff and epic stuff (Sutter TF is a battle amongst battle ships and old enemies - not that great. The new SF was just weak to look at and had some very dull enemies in it).
Additions to my earlier Post:
6) Toggle to turn off/disable lag-inducing lighting effects on some newer maps.
7) Restoration of setting "0/0" to the actual pre-GR setting "0/0"
8) a system of zone-wise exemplaring for "newbie" zones (aka, level 10 and under).
It's 106 miles to Grandville, we got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark and we're wearing faceless helmets
... Hit it ...
... Hit it ...
1) Power Proliferation!
Blasters: Primary Only - Dark Blast
Controllers: Secondary Only - Traps
Defenders: Fire Blast / Thermal Radiation
Scrappers: Super Strength / Ninjitsu
Tankers: Primary Only - Energy Aura
Brutes: Primary Only - Martial Arts (Increased Damage/Recharge with new Brute Style Animations which will work with all Martial Art Users)
Corruptors: Psychic Blast / Force Field
Dominators: Primary Only - Illusion Control
Masterminds: I'd announce they're geting nothing! Just to give people something else to complain about, especially the MM only players. Then reveal Sonic Resonance in a last minute addition to testing.
Stalkers: Ice Melee / Ice Armor
2) TWO NEW EPIC ATS!
Dual Pistols/Defense
Blade & Gun/Defense
3) Weapon Customization!
CoH GOES BIG! Buster swords! Guns that would make Liefield proud!
4) New costume pieces!
Pouches to go along with those guns They'd have 2 styles with a One Leg or Both Legs option, each style would be added on to most if not all Tights and With Skin Options.
Cybernetic Arm option for Shirts/Jackets/Robes/Magic Pack Jackets.
Syndicate Design given to female models as per the male models.
5) Vet costume rewards given to everyone! Replaced with [Click to Claim Random Suprise] which will have a 50/50 chance of rewarding either 10 Merits or 10 Shards (basically items that can't be traded).
6) Two new Incarnate Contacts (but can run with any team...sooo there will be many many mobs, and hard to take out, but hey anyone can tag along)...one blue side and one red side, which open up two story arcs, that deal with both sides trying to change the past, and in the end, each side only half succeeds which leads to...Issue 22: The Retcon! (which will fix some story holes, change up content a bit, get rid of some of those mess of a story arcs...*cough*Origin of Power*cough*
7) Tell everyone we're also looking into changes in PvP and really hype it up, then reveal we just increased eluscity and gave Mez Protection back to those with Mez Protection, and tell everyone after the fact "We're just getting started" then likely have them ignore it for 5-8 issues! \o/
[EDIT! I forgot!] 8) Increase the damage in all Stalker Attacks, but not the end cost. Get them equal to Scrappers in damage, but make them more end efficient.
BrandX Future Staff Fighter
The BrandX Collection