What I like about Issue 20
By
AmazingMOO,
Posted on: 2011-04-26 08:43 in CoH and CoV General Discussions
I like all of it - although I've only heard about the new SF, but it seems to give plenty of chances for twirling by red siders, so that sounds fine 
@Golden Girl
City of Heroes comics and artwork
Mortimer Kal SF > A. Sutter TF
Inf Sink - think the prices on Rare and Very rare are ridiculously high.
@Blood Beret(2)Twitter
I am a bad speeler, use poorer grammar, and am a frequent typoist.
MA ArcID: 1197
You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life. Winston Churchill
Quote:
Agreed. I also hope they increase the uncommon shard drop ratio in normal missions for my 50's trying to slot alpha lol|
Originally Posted by Blood_Beret
Mortimer Kal SF > Inf Sink - think the prices on Rare and Very rare are ridiculously high.
|
Nothing. But at least nothing was removed so I don't dislike it either.
@Doctor Gemini
Arc #271637 - Welcome to M.A.G.I. - An alternative first story arc for magic origin heroes. At Hero Registration you heard the jokes about Azuria always losing things. When she loses the entire M.A.G.I. vault, you are chosen to find it.
I have to admit that going in (I didn't go to the open betas, bad bad me) I was a little apprehensive of the Mortimer Kal SF from what I had heard, but I was pleasantly surprised.
[SPOILERS!]
You kidnap someone's daughter in order to force them to help you? Cool, but even better, you keep her at the end in order to make sure he stays loyal.
You free some Circle of Thorns from Numina's grasp and when they turn on you after beating Numina, you show them exactly why you're on top! And giving Infernal a beating is just icing.
You attempt to force a war between the Warriors and the Midnight Squad who are currently at peace, and though you fail, you kick both of their ***** in the same mission.
But best of all, you go to Positron's base, in his own home turf, defeat him leaving him with more than just a bruised ego, you take what he was tasked with guarding for yourself.
I still prefer the end of Vincent Ross' arc where you take down an entire army of the Legacy Chain with the coup de grace being taking down a task force of 8 heroes all at the same time.
[/SPOILERS]
Having also now run both the Sutter and the Kal, they're both great. (I prefer the Kal.) You feel pretty damn heroic during the Sutter, and DEFINITELY villainous during the Kal - doublecrosses, looting, and much smack talk that you back up with some serious beatings. Paragon getting TRASHED definitely ramps up the feeling of "we are at WAR here!", and it's nice to see earlier established plot threads start coming back into play. 
Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite
Dark_Respite's Farewell Video: "One Last Day"
THE COURSE OF SUPERHERO ROMANCE CONTINUES!
Book I: A Tale of Nerd Flirting! ~*~ Book II: Courtship and Crime Fighting - Chap Nine live!
MA Arcs - 3430: Hell Hath No Fury / 3515: Positron Gets Some / 6600: Dyne of the Times / 351572: For All the Wrong Reasons
378944: Too Clever by Half / 459581: Kill or Cure / 551680: Clerical Errors (NEW!)
THE COURSE OF SUPERHERO ROMANCE CONTINUES!
Book I: A Tale of Nerd Flirting! ~*~ Book II: Courtship and Crime Fighting - Chap Nine live!
MA Arcs - 3430: Hell Hath No Fury / 3515: Positron Gets Some / 6600: Dyne of the Times / 351572: For All the Wrong Reasons
378944: Too Clever by Half / 459581: Kill or Cure / 551680: Clerical Errors (NEW!)
Issue 20 has been pure win in my book. I didn't do either of the TFs during beta so I had something new to play with. WOW, Sutter is amazing. I can't wait to do the Mortimer Kal.
The City of Heroes Community is a special one and I will always look fondly on my times arguing, discussing and playing with you all. Thanks and thanks to the developers for a special experience.
I've enjoyed all the i20 content. I like running the trials, I adore the new TFs, and I love my new Incarnate powers. I'm looking forward to i21... or 20.5, if that comes instead.
Quote:
Depending on how many new trees they add to Lore and Judgement, they could make those the main focus of a I20.5, or they could just add the new trees with the new Trial/Trials in I21.
|
Originally Posted by Inazuma
I'm looking forward to i21... or 20.5, if that comes instead.
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@Golden Girl
City of Heroes comics and artwork
Quote:
Link please.|
Originally Posted by Golden Girl
Depending on how many new trees they add to Lore and Judgement, they could make those the main focus of a I20.5, or they could just add the new trees with the new Trial/Trials in I21.
|
Where did they say they are adding new trees to existing slots in the next issue or mid-issue?
My understanding was that they would like to expand the slots later on, later as in issues down the line, and NOT anytime soon.
I'm asking so we don't spread such a rumor around.
Blazara Aura LVL 50 Fire/Psi Dom (with 125% recharge)
Flameboxer Aura LVL 50 SS/Fire Brute
Ice 'Em Aura LVL 50 Ice Tank
Darq Widow Fortune LVL 50 Fortunata (200% rech/Night Widow 192.5% rech)--thanks issue 19!
Quote:
It was mentioned during the Ustream with Zwillinger, Black Scorpion, and Protean - people had asked about whether stuff like non-Praetorian pets would be added, and additional powers types would be included later on, and they said yes, definitely. A timeline wasn't given but it was a known-and-planned-on improvement.|
Originally Posted by Aura_Familia
Link please.
Where did they say they are adding new trees to existing slots in the next issue or mid-issue? My understanding was that they would like to expand the slots later on, later as in issues down the line, and NOT anytime soon. I'm asking so we don't spread such a rumor around. |
Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite
Dark_Respite's Farewell Video: "One Last Day"
THE COURSE OF SUPERHERO ROMANCE CONTINUES!
Book I: A Tale of Nerd Flirting! ~*~ Book II: Courtship and Crime Fighting - Chap Nine live!
MA Arcs - 3430: Hell Hath No Fury / 3515: Positron Gets Some / 6600: Dyne of the Times / 351572: For All the Wrong Reasons
378944: Too Clever by Half / 459581: Kill or Cure / 551680: Clerical Errors (NEW!)
THE COURSE OF SUPERHERO ROMANCE CONTINUES!
Book I: A Tale of Nerd Flirting! ~*~ Book II: Courtship and Crime Fighting - Chap Nine live!
MA Arcs - 3430: Hell Hath No Fury / 3515: Positron Gets Some / 6600: Dyne of the Times / 351572: For All the Wrong Reasons
378944: Too Clever by Half / 459581: Kill or Cure / 551680: Clerical Errors (NEW!)
Quote:
Watch this:|
Originally Posted by Aura_Familia
Link please.
Where did they say they are adding new trees to existing slots in the next issue or mid-issue? My understanding was that they would like to expand the slots later on, later as in issues down the line, and NOT anytime soon. I'm asking so we don't spread such a rumor around. |
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/13692347
The answer you're looking for starts around the 2 minute mark, but I'd suggest you watch the whole thing - there's quite a lot of interesting info in it, as well as some story hints for the future
@Golden Girl
City of Heroes comics and artwork
Quote:
In that chat, around the 4:00 min mark, Black Scorpion says: "So I'm happy to say that, yeah, come the next content release after Issue 20 there will be more choices for Lore pets, there will be more trees added." Nemesis pets are even mentioned, although only as they start to make Nemesis jokes, so who knows if that was real or part of the joke. Regardless, since he does specify "next content release," I'd guess no additions in any Issue 20.5, but it sure sounds to me like Issue 21 will have more Lore pets.|
Originally Posted by Dark_Respite
It was mentioned during the Ustream with Zwillinger, Black Scorpion, and Protean - people had asked about whether stuff like non-Praetorian pets would be added, and additional powers types would be included later on, and they said yes, definitely. A timeline wasn't given but it was a known-and-planned-on improvement.
|
d
Quote:
No need. Look at the post above you. You claimed that it was coming soon. You named an issue. That's false.|
Originally Posted by Golden Girl
Watch this:
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/13692347 The answer you're looking for starts around the 2 minute mark, but I'd suggest you watch the whole thing - there's quite a lot of interesting info in it, as well as some story hints for the future |
They simply said they want to do it. Not when.
Spreading things like that around leads to "devs lied" idiocy that comes when folks don't get things exactly when they think they should have them, cause they read on the forums "that the devs said so!!!!!!!elventy11111!!!!"
Blazara Aura LVL 50 Fire/Psi Dom (with 125% recharge)
Flameboxer Aura LVL 50 SS/Fire Brute
Ice 'Em Aura LVL 50 Ice Tank
Darq Widow Fortune LVL 50 Fortunata (200% rech/Night Widow 192.5% rech)--thanks issue 19!
Quote:
If it were a joke, it's a bad one to make.|
Originally Posted by bjooks
In that chat, around the 4:00 min mark, Black Scorpion says: "So I'm happy to say that, yeah, come the next content release after Issue 20 there will be more choices for Lore pets, there will be more trees added." Nemesis pets are even mentioned, although only as they start to make Nemesis jokes, so who knows if that was real or part of the joke. Regardless, since he does specify "next content release," I'd guess no additions in any Issue 20.5, but it sure sounds to me like Issue 21 will have more Lore pets.
d |
Hopefully GG is proven right, and me wrong.
Additions to Incarnates would be cool to come that fast.
Blazara Aura LVL 50 Fire/Psi Dom (with 125% recharge)
Flameboxer Aura LVL 50 SS/Fire Brute
Ice 'Em Aura LVL 50 Ice Tank
Darq Widow Fortune LVL 50 Fortunata (200% rech/Night Widow 192.5% rech)--thanks issue 19!
Quote:
So "the next content release after I20" doesn't count as "soon"?|
Originally Posted by Aura_Familia
No need. Look at the post above you. You claimed that it was coming soon. You named an issue. That's false.
They simply said they want to do it. Not when. |
I said it could be an I20.5 release, as filling out the new slots with extra stuff would be like filling out the Alpha slot in I19.5 - or I said it could be I21.
The next content release after I20 is either I20.5 or I21 - what I said was totally correct.
@Golden Girl
City of Heroes comics and artwork
Quote:
We'll see.|
Originally Posted by Golden Girl
So "the next content release after I20" doesn't count as "soon"?
I said it could be an I20.5 release, as filling out the new slots with extra stuff would be like filling out the Alpha slot in I19.5 - or I said it could be I21. The next content release after I20 is either I20.5 or I21 - what I said was totally correct. |
If you're right I'd be very happy.
Blazara Aura LVL 50 Fire/Psi Dom (with 125% recharge)
Flameboxer Aura LVL 50 SS/Fire Brute
Ice 'Em Aura LVL 50 Ice Tank
Darq Widow Fortune LVL 50 Fortunata (200% rech/Night Widow 192.5% rech)--thanks issue 19!
Quote:
Lore Slot expansion! I knew it would pay to wait!
|
Originally Posted by Golden Girl
So "the next content release after I20" doesn't count as "soon"?
I said it could be an I20.5 release, as filling out the new slots with extra stuff would be like filling out the Alpha slot in I19.5 - or I said it could be I21. The next content release after I20 is either I20.5 or I21 - what I said was totally correct. |
"Samual_Tow - Be disappointed all you want, people. You just don't appreciate the miracles that are taking place here."
That info has been kicking around for almost a month - I really, really suggest that people check out the various ways Paragon Studios uses to interact with their players 
@Golden Girl
City of Heroes comics and artwork
Quote:
Problem is the ustream doesn't work on some folks computers, so they skip it.|
Originally Posted by Golden Girl
That info has been kicking around for almost a month - I really, really suggest that people check out the various ways Paragon Studios uses to interact with their players
|
That and some folks DESPISE Facebook and Twitter.
Blazara Aura LVL 50 Fire/Psi Dom (with 125% recharge)
Flameboxer Aura LVL 50 SS/Fire Brute
Ice 'Em Aura LVL 50 Ice Tank
Darq Widow Fortune LVL 50 Fortunata (200% rech/Night Widow 192.5% rech)--thanks issue 19!
Quote:
Then they mustn't get upset if they're sometimes a bit out of the loop |
Originally Posted by Aura_Familia
Problem is the ustream doesn't work on some folks computers, so they skip it.
That and some folks DESPISE Facebook and Twitter. |
@Golden Girl
City of Heroes comics and artwork
Quote:
The community team is pretty good about announcing things here.
|
Originally Posted by Golden Girl
Then they mustn't get upset if they're sometimes a bit out of the loop
|
Blazara Aura LVL 50 Fire/Psi Dom (with 125% recharge)
Flameboxer Aura LVL 50 SS/Fire Brute
Ice 'Em Aura LVL 50 Ice Tank
Darq Widow Fortune LVL 50 Fortunata (200% rech/Night Widow 192.5% rech)--thanks issue 19!
Quote:
I just want to point out that I'm not at all convinced that this is the right cause and effect relationship. Prices were falling before I20 came out. There are likely changes in both supply and demand that I consider much more likely candidates for why prices have been on a sustained downward trend.|
Originally Posted by AmazingMOO
Inf Sink The costs associated with converting certain incarnate components are not overwhelming, but they are significant. This is already starting to have an effect on the economy, draining some of spiraling inflation we've been subjected to lately.
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The biggest reason we need to produce and sell an ongoing supply of IOs and related goods is because people create new alts. Existing characters change out their total IO build very rarely - the majority of consumption is to add IOs to characters who don't already have them. I19 and now especially I20 introduce reasons to play existing 50s for extended periods of time, reducing the number of new alts people can be leveling up. This should decrease total demand.
My time on the markets as both a buyer and a seller have taught me that level 50 IOs, along with max-level versions of IOs that don't exist at level 50, are the most frequently purchased IOs. People will buy them and frequently pay more for them even when there is a lower-level alternative.* Having tons of people play at level 50 is increasing the supply of at least some of these items, particularly ones that can drop off of critters, including purples.ǂ This means that supply of many commonly purchased goods are on the rise at a time that demand for them may be on the decline.
Also, ever since I18, the price of items like LotG:+Recharge, Miracle uniques and other valuable items have been on the decline. I attribute this directly to the introduction of Alignment Merits. I believe that the purchasing power of Alignment Merits is accessible to more of the playing population at a greater rate than equivalent purchasing power in Reward Merits was previously. This is because there is a barrier to entry with Reward Merits at these acquisition rates - you need access to a Task Force or (non-Incarnate) Trial team. While this is not hard, per se, I suspect that it is a lot less hassle for many players to go into a handful of tip missions solo or with a few friends than get into a Task Force, possibly with folks they don't know.
If some of these people are also buying Alignment Merits, this may be a more likely source of influence drain in the economy than the new Incarnate Salvage costs. I have started to see people discuss buying Alignment Merits in "general" discussion, suggesting it may be becoming something of a matter of course for people with sufficient funds. In contrast, I see lots of grumbling about the costs of Incarnate Salvage, suggesting that lots of people are unwilling to spend this much for the gain involved.
* I attribute this to convenience - there is usually supply at the max and minimum level, and something of a wasteland in between. Bargain hunting in the wasteland takes time, and people spend inf liberally to save time.
ǂ Because the Incarnate trials do not give Reward Merits, supply of pool TF/Trial drops may be on the decline, but there may have been a preceding surge with the Alpha slot ties to TF completion.
Blue
American Steele: 50 BS/Inv
Nightfall: 50 DDD
Sable Slayer: 50 DM/Rgn
Fortune's Shadow: 50 Dark/Psi
WinterStrike: 47 Ice/Dev
Quantum Well: 43 Inv/EM
Twilit Destiny: 43 MA/DA
Red
Shadowslip: 50 DDC
Final Rest: 50 MA/Rgn
Abyssal Frost: 50 Ice/Dark
Golden Ember: 50 SM/FA
I've certainly complained a lot about Issue 20, probably more than my fair share. However, there's a lot to love about the issue as well.
- Admiral Sutter's TF I haven't had a lot of time to play my villains since issue 19 in general, so I haven't gotten to Mortimer Kal's SF. If it's anywhere near as good as Sutter's TF, I'm certain I'll enjoy it. This whole TF is golden. I love the maps. I love fighting the AVs. I love the Air Support Arrows of Death. I even love the cognitive dissonance that you get from realizing that the IDF has fought a bunch of Vhazilok and Lost under Talos. I especially love the Michael Bay-esque Disaster Movie sense of shock you get near the end.
- Complex Trial Mechanics In another thread, I complained about the size of the teams required for the trials. What I do like about the trials are the complex mechanics necessary to win them. In particular, having to have both Molecular Acids and Pacification Grenades in the fight against Marauder, having to play the 'Keep the Loonies on the Path' game, and having to time Nightstar's and Seige's defeats in the B.A.F..
- Power Crafting While there are some downsides to the Incarnate power system, I particularly like that you have to craft your powers
- Inf Sink The costs associated with converting certain incarnate components are not overwhelming, but they are significant. This is already starting to have an effect on the economy, draining some of spiraling inflation we've been subjected to lately.
- Power Customization Thank you, developers and artists, for allowing the Incarnate powers to be customized, at least to some degree. It would be nicer, certainly, if all the aspects of the set could be customized (like the debuff auras on enemies added by Interface), but it shows that, at least for a little while, Power Customization is not dead.