What if you were in charge of Issue 21?

Tossing in my two inf 's worth... And not in order of importance, btw.

1. For Fire/Ice/any other elemental scrapper/blaster/tanks that uses weapons-More selections! Add elemental versions of katanas, broadswords (that don't look like that phallic monstrosity already in the selections) ,lightswords, short swords/axes...and add staves! The animation for staves can't be that hard!

2. Put in a radial or option menu to let you *actually* sit down in chairs instead of hopping up onto the chair to sit down properly..You don't have to have the animation....just give us that ability...

3. Ditch the war walls. We should be able to FLY from Atlas Park to Talos Island. (And keep the T/ferries for those who can't fly.) I wouldn't put in the option to fly from Paragon to the RI because I would imagine Arachnos has radar..

4. Fix the lag in the incarnate instances! And the mapserve problem...if you have to get chinchillas or catgirls instead of hamsters to put in the wheels, so be it!

5. The next part of Incarnate- whether that be two or four boxes...

6. More hair options- Hair bows, barrettes, feathers,beads,hairbands, hair veils, whatever you might want in the hair. and more style options for the men!

7. More skirt options- Would like long skirts for those elegant rp occasions. Kate Middleton did not go down the aisle in a minidress.....

8. More back options-If I want a dragon on the back of my jacket, I should have a dragon on the back of my jacket, dang it!
(and any way we can put the ability to have wings on Magic Robes again? I know people who managed to keep that look, but are now afraid of switching out that costume due to fear of losing that 'option'.)

9. Total Power customization- this means Epic powers and those powers that also need colors from the option menu!

Edit: 10. Let's do more with the Shadow Shard (could it be an entrance into the Well? Is Ruularu a god?)

As I said, this is not in order of importance...just more like a shopping list of things that would make me happy!

1) Make Hero epics archtypes on par with Villians epics archtypes with no one Klehdians spawns and mez res plz.

2) Crits ONLY FOR SCRAPPERS ONLY.

3) New powers for controllers I.E. water powers.

Tailor:
*Female muscle (mesomorph slider and skin texture options)
*Patterns available for tops with skin and shirts
*Power customization for pool powers and epics

Mission Architect:
*Power customization for creatures
*Temporary powers, like grenades in Lambda
*Allow triggered effects, for instance a nuclear explosion on mission fail, or an airstrike when boss has 75% health.
*Allow grouped glowies (aka glowies with the same name) to trigger something for each completed and something other for completing all. That's good for making something like the Diablo encounter in Diablo II, where each seal triggered a spawn, and the boss was triggered on complete all.
*Timed triggers

IO system
*Visual cue for proc damage type

General
*I love the complex mechanics in BAF, which actually require strategy and team coordination. I hope for more like that in new contents.

If I was in charge of Issue 21.....

I do not have any major suggestions for game mechanics or exchange systems that would take a whole issue. Nor do I have any comments on powers or player versus player balancing. My primary concern at the moment is that Architect Entertainment is becoming an increasingly dominant source of game play. I have played City of Heroes on Freedom since the games release and I will be the first to admit that I have farmed people and been farmed before. Nonetheless, the level of farming occurring day to day is a huge problem. For one thing, new players are subjected to rampant AE farming messages the second they enter Atlas Park, which has always been a large gathering force for lowbies, both new and old alike. People are inherently lazy in my opinion, you throw them in a game and give them the option to skip all the work and go straight for the reward and they are likely to do so. Second is the appalling decrease in low to mid-level teams. Where once Sewer teams, Hollows hunt teams, and various other mission groups where only a click away I now find myself often soloing when, regardless of time, the average population of any zone other than AP and PD is below 20-30 when once it was not uncommon to see numbers of 60+ and even opening of clone zones to accommodate more people. So what would I do?

I do not want AE to be fully removed because it is a fun addition to the game, when used the way the devs intended. It is also true that I do not want to nerf the AE system beyond belief because it is not the system that is problematic but the players who decide to use it wrongly. If I had the choice, I remove the AE building building from any zone with a level range less than 28-30, excluding RWZ where it would also be removed due to its ease of access from Atlas Park. While this would not eliminate farming it would, in my opinion, heavily reduce the problem at hand. It would take a period of time of course because habits are not easily broken. However, eventually mass farming would eventually phase itself out due to the relocated farming hubs. Yet, in order to keep veteran players on new toons entertained we could place a sort of AE outpost in lowever level zones. The way these would work is exactly the same as normal AE, however, with one condition. Any Arc selected at these locations will be set at the level of the highest level person within a certain level range. For instance, Atlas Park has a level range of 1-7. So, If a team of 8 people formed with 6 people within the 8-40 range, a lvl 50, and a level 5 the mission arc would be set at level 5. If a team was formed of all high level toons in AP, the mission arc would be set 7, as is the max level in the zone. So, people would be Exemplered to the appropriate level with appropriate powers. This would still allow veteran players and new players to experience AE creativity, however, limit if not remove the farming potential from lower level zones.

As an added benefit the market prices, which have recently become extremely inflated and fluctuate randomly, would slowly begin to be more stable. Prices for mundane salvage like a common Ruby would no longer be 500,000 influence per piece as I often have to spend in order to get one in any quick amount of time. Recipes and salvage would become more common so to speak as more and more people played actual game content throughout the leveling process.

Please keep in mind that this is just a suggestion based upon my observations and opinion and insults against my knowledge, experience, or whatever troll technique is used on forums now days is not necessary. A simple ‘I agree or disagree’ followed by a brief or detailed explanation will suffice.
Thanks for reading!

I would just like it to rain once in a while in Paragon City. Is that too much to ask?

Oh, and I am probably the one millionth person to ask for this, but a stick fighting powerset would be nice too..

As well as what it listed before my vote goes for if nothing else, Ice Def for brutes.

and maybe the ability to do all of the new stuff that has been added for the last year without needing to get a group together. (in other words, let me try to solo the stupid TF if I am so inclined to try) Even if I am doomed to fail, it should be my right to try.
There is no mission that should require a certain # of people, this goes double for the solo only ones in Preat. The only reason that should be required is for that annoying one that you have to click X items at the same time, and that one you can get solo! (and is stupid anyway).

Give us the option to turn off the prompt for the fortune buff. or re do the recharge so that it can be recast in 10 sec so if someone misses the button (that can be hard to click on, especially if you are not expecting it) it can be re cast with out a long wait.

I also like the expanded Pool powers idea from another post, as well as adding new pool powers, something I don't think has been done in the whole 7 years.

yeah, we have been asking for a staff melee for almost the whole 7 years. (or even just as a costume piece)

Oh and please give us an option on the team window that gives light colored bars on a dark background so that we can see the bars. This new 'classic' team window is like classic coke, similar, but different!
I want normal bars with a high contrast so I can easily see them. I am getting old and going blind, I can't read the numbers on the enh's I cant see the bars, OR since it is part of the UI make it so we can choose the colors like we can for the rest of it.

and for the 700th time, more long hair options for men! preferably ones that are longer than the medium one you call long, if it is not below the shoulders, it is not long hair, it's medium.

oh, and a headband option for men, similar to the tiaras for the women. Just merge all the pieces, everyone should have access to every piece, seriously.

I'd fix the performance issues ; after that, I'd probably tackle world hunger and invent the cure for death, as either can't be any harder than that first thing.

I was thinking more of a costume version for two blades, with short fighting sticks like tonfas or those escrima fighting sticks. You wouldn't have to change the animations any.

well, as i said in a similar thread, i wouldnt make money with this, but here's my id's wish for an issue 21. we know some hints, soemthignt o do with magic, somethign with the carnies of light, new zone that doesnt have a specific story arc, proliferation including ice armor for srappers. but heres my wants

1. new costumes, every issue. right now, for reasonability sake, id say the idf and a form of the carnies stuff we were asking for in the enemy costume thread, masks, corsets, those cool boots, the swords, those would fit the hinted theme of the issue. maybe something else magic-y since the carnies ara a lot less option heavy for males and huges.
2. customization, start with high demand stuff on the pools(hasten, looking at you) and some magic looking options for the med pool. also, maybe see if we can sneak over some kicks from ma into alternate animations for some of the elemental sets and kinetic melee,a swell as some open haded strikes from kinetic melee into MA. also, see if we could add one or two new weapons for elemental sets, maybe an ice katana, fire longsword, electric scimitar?
3. well, ham undergroundi is about 50/50 but another trial would deepen the pool a bit, and its about time for the hami to assert himself as a threat again.
4. for the proliferation, dark assault for doms OR martial assault for doms, ma/kin attacks mixed with shuriken and caltrops, dark control for trollers and doms, martial manipuation for blasters. poison defenders, martial arts brutes(see a theme?) super strength scrappers, ice melee stalkers,for tanks, i dunno, how about katana? not married to that one.
5. if they are super awesome, 2-3 missions on a timer that can allow you to start getting threads solo/in small groups.
6. base stuff, i dunno, they have lists on their subforums, just go there and pick some low hanging fruit, i bet they will be happy.

maybe some new tip missions? i love them and want more.

Take the Magic: The Gathering 'What Color Are You?' Quiz.

Have something happen with Boomtown. It's been a messy ruin for seven years now. It's a complete waste of a zone. Since Babbage likes to hang out there, I am thinking that perhaps the Clockwork are starting to rebuild the zone into functional buildings and infrastructure. Why? Guess you'll have to explore the accompanying new missions and storyline to find out!

That, or just some reclamation a la Faultline. I was really happy when that happened, and the Poz TF reworked to utilize it. Then have the Clockwork trying to retake the rebuilt part.

As somebody else mentioned, make the Shadow Shard a co-op zone, and introduce a couple new TFs with villainous goals, though I would be happy enough with just making the current 4 co-op. Villains don't want a mad deity running around either, unless they are the mad deity in question. Simplifying and shortening the Shard TFs would also be in order.

Extend Incarnate experience to some non-Praetorian trials. Cathedral of Pain for sure. Maybe even the sewer trial, as it is just as complicated. And while we're on the topic, an option to break down Incarnate components for IXP so you can progress in your slot unlocking by doing regular level 50 TFs. At least equivalent to breaking down a thread for IXP.

There's only one thing that comes to mind atm.....MORE BASE ITEMS! It would be really nice to be able to get fountains, reflecting pools, statues, stools, etc (even if they come as vet rewards (nudgenudgewinkwink ).

I'd add a new Trial, a new zone with solo and group content, some QoL stuff, and maybe throw in some more proliferation and some kind of revamp for parts of the older lower level content.

Lead Developer Zortel would decree:

Customization:

1: Auras and Capes from Level 1 for all, Gratis. Completing the Hero Cape mission awards you the 'Memorial Attendee' Badge and some reward merits. Completing the Villain Cape mission rewards you the 'Fashion Crime' Badge and some reward merits.

2: Begin the groundwork for opening up the costume system to remove gender specific differences, starting with some of the more requested things (Baron Jacket for Women, Bracers for Men) and the more easy things (Giving males a Sneakers w/o Knee Socks option, tracking down lost costume parts or other discrepancies.)

3: Begin the groundwork for a colour option overhaul, such as make up colour for faces.

4: Bring forward Power Pool and Epic Pool Customization.

5: Increase the number of available costume slots: An unlock for level 10 and an Unlock for Level 50 at least.

Progression:

1: Implement an iXP only system. Solo/small team content grants iXP. Story arcs give an iXP bonus at arc completion. Task Forces and Trials give a larger iXP bonus. Incarnate Trials and Task Forces give the most iXP. iXP is used to unlock slots, acquire powers and is a system that means the iXP can't be hoarded, requiring no new system to prevent day 1 acquisition of new content powers.

2: Begin a pruning of old content, removing the padding from the story arcs, simplifying the mission progress by tying story arcs to one contact only, CoV style, with some stand alone and badge missions in there also. This paves the way for content updates to the old i0/i1 arcs.

3: Run a check on data regarding the levelling from the 30's to the 40's, and find level ranges with large content gaps to start filling (Like the 30-35's for instance.)

4: Allow Safeguard/Mayhem Mission Access from Ouroboros. Optional: Give a mission beforehand attempting to thwart the villain for that range's schemes from causing strife/create a distraction and get away so that it can draw manpower from their efforts to stop you.

Misc:

1: A new page of 12 character slots added to each server, allowing players a potential of 48 characters per server.

2: Adding new locations to the game in zone. Visit a news outlet (like the Paragon Times building) to get a free tip per day to get you started. Drop by a weapons store to get some added firepower for taking on the bad guys (temp powers for purchase, similar and more as the ones you get from recipes), readable books in the unis on the history of Paragon/Rogue Isles/Praetoria

3: Powerset Proliferation: Ice Melee/Armour for Scrappers and Stalkers, Fire Blast/Thermal Radiation for Defenders, Force Fields/Psionic Blast for Corruptors, so on. Expand elemental EPP's also, Electric Mastery for Scrappers and Tankers, so on,

Make zone events for every zone.

Expand content in Praetoria for level 20 - 50.

Allow access to the PvP zone missions badges.

Drunk emote.

1. New Powersets: Staff Melee (Scrapper/Tank/Brute/Stalker), Pulse Rifle (Blaster/Defender/Corruptor), and Martial Manipulation (Martial Arts Secondary for Blasters)
2. Allow MM pets as critters in AE missions so we can put them in custom groups.
3. Epic pool, Patron pool, power pool, and MM pet customization.
4. Revamp Boomtown, Dark Astoria, Crey's Folly, and Eden as Co-op zones where heroes and villains have their own contacts and are at cross purposes with one another.
5. More varied Judgment abilities.
6. Revamp 1-20 level content for Blueside and Redside to be more inline with current technology. Cut out excessive Defeat Alls and fetch quests. Begin revamping of all old Blueside content.
7. Start revamping zones with current tech, eventually bring down the warwalls. Bring Paragon City and the Rogue Isles up to the standard set by Praetoria.
8. Revamp Costume Creator UI to be more user friendly and organized.
9. And of course, more costume stuff.

1. All 'elemental Weapons' for powersets have an alternative 'non-weapon' based animation.

2. Defender and Controller's Forcefield's 'Forcebolt' power has been increased in damage to make up for Forcefield's lack of support during solo play.

3. Many older contacts have been improved and give more modern versions of their older missions. The stories these contacts are a part of have not been altered but their missions have been improved.

4. Eviscerate of the Claws powerset now has an alternative animation that says planted on the ground. This enables Stone Armor Brutes to pick the Claw powerset but forces their eviscerate to use this alternative animation.

5. Repel from the Kinetic Powerset now actually 'repels' enemies instead of knocking them back. Endurance cost has been reduces as well.

6. Whirlwind and Hasten have been switched (lolololololololololol, cry moar)

7. Creators of 'farms' in the Mission Architect will have their ability to use the Mission Architect revoked. People caught using farms will be warned twice then have their ability to gain EXP from the mission architect revoked (this is account wide).

8. Caves suck, we know. We've made a new caves map style that is betterer and no longer sucks. Old cave maps will be replaced with this new one unless specified. Old cave maps will still be available in Mission Architect.

9. Ice Shields have had graphic improvements to make them less of an eye sore.

10. Dispersion Bubble has had a graphics improvement to make it obstruct people's vision less when looking through it.

11. Poison no longer is mediocre for Masterminds in comparison to.. every other powerset available. (insert various changes here.. insert any change really)

12. Dr. Quarterfield is no longer a ridiculously long taskforce. Many of the 'kill 50 rularuu' missions have been cut out to streamline the experience.

13. Mastermind power 'Serum' now affects all soldiers but at only 33% power.

14. Ice Armor for Stalkers. Oh and Ice Melee.

15. Gravity Control's 'Propel' has had it's cast time reduced. Damage and recharge has been adjusted to make up for this change.

16. All single target 'Foe Intangible' powers now have a recharge of 16 seconds and a duration of 7 seconds. Recharge does not affect these powers in any way. This will make this powers more attractive to soloers and slightly more helpful in groups. AoE intangibles are left untouched for now.

17. We deleted Peacebringers. Because nobody likes peacebringers (just kidding)

18. Heroes are no longer required to go 'full villain' for PPPs. They must simply go to a Trainer in either a shared co-op zone or the Rogue Isles (Vigilantes only) to receive a PPP.

19. The time it takes to go back to a 'hidden' state for Stalkers has been reduced greatly. This is to help Stalkers in longer fights against AVs and to encourage multiple Assassin Strikes in a single fight.

20. 'Cloak of Fear' no longer exists (Due to oppressive gloom having a stun with the same magnitude and less endurance cost). only a toggle that gives all of your attacks a chance to inflict fear on your opponent. Longer recharging powers have a higher chance and a higher magnitude. (This power still provides the badass screaming skulls while on)

21. Endurance cost of Dark Regeneration has been reduced. Healing provided has also been slightly reduced to make it less attractive against single targets.

22. Lightning Rod damage nerfed by 20%.

23. When starting a TF, the Contact will tell you what to expect within the TF (highlighting main features such as enemy groups, locations etc), Number of merits rewarded and any other rewards that come with it (Badges, Respecs, Hami-o's, etc)

24. Respecs can now be purchased for 350 Merits!

I would make PVP Bank Missions that is not limited to the bank itself but a whole zone. If heroes die and go to the hospital, villains can be there destroying the place; if villains go to jail, heroes can be there to try to stop them from escaping. A lot of different types of side missions villains can cause and heroes would need to prioritize, split and try to save the day.