Feedback: "Who Will Die?" Part 1
By
Agent White,
Posted on: 2011-09-20 02:41 in CoH and CoV General Discussions
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Yeah, just ran on a hero and discovered where I'd missed opportunities to get the badge progressing on my vill.|
Originally Posted by reiella
Not sure if it awards hero-only, but it does progress while a villain.
[ as a sidenote, now, I've run through the first mission 5 times to check... sucks trying to take out the boss as a MM  ] |
Thanks for the help.
City of Heroes was my first MMO, & my favorite computer game.
R.I.P.
Chyll - Bydand - Violynce - Enyrgos - Rylle - Nephryte - Solyd - Fettyr - Hyposhock - Styrling - Beryllos - Rosyc
Horryd - Myriam - Dysquiet - Ghyr
Vanysh - Eldrytch
Inflyct - Mysron - Orphyn - Dysmay - Reapyr - - Wyldeman - Hydeous
Ran the arcs with a level 22 human-only peacebringer and a level 22 dark/dark corruptor. (I know that doing content with characters of the level it's written for is a strange and unfashionable idea, but that's how I roll.)
The endless, rapid, you're-playing-a-squishie?-screw-you ambushes in the second mission are the polar opposite of fun. With the peacebringer, I tried -- and failed -- to get all the glowies, because I simply couldn't keep up with ambushes staggered 30 seconds apart. With the corruptor, the moment the ambushes were announced, I ran out of the mission, went to make a sandwich, and went back in once the timer had run down. I can't imagine that was the devs' ideal solution, and it certainly isn't mine, but it worked and it's probably what I'll do if I run these arcs again. (Sandwich optional.)
Love the map for the third mission. Kal'mant is useless as an ally, though -- I'm not going to subject myself to the hassle of steering a NPC through a lava-filled map. And anyway, I didn't need him, since Lemkin is nearly helpless against a flying enemy.
And as someone who has, for nearly six years, wished and hoped to have a genuine superspeedster in COH, you better believe I deeply enjoyed the end of the villain mission. I hope this is a trial run for a Speed Melee powerset.
34 heroes,
20 villains, Victory, Justice, Infinity, Virtue, Triumph, Exalted -- some more active than others
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I'm playing the new TF right now and let me tell you, I hate being exemped. With a passion.
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Originally Posted by Clouded
Lots of people dislike being exemped.
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Virtue: @Santorican
Dark/Shield Build Thread
I like the arc but my only complaint is I wish these scaled up to 50. I don't know but I guess I had assumed these were going to be level 50 arcs being they give incarnate rewards and such. It's not like we don't have enough mid level content now anyway.
Friends don't let friends buy an ncsoft controlled project.
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I've played them. It's 3. The two sides are essentially the same, with slightly differing mobs and flavor text.
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Originally Posted by reiella
6 missions a month.
Just because you don't want to play the other 3 doesn't mean they aren't there. |
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I can confirm that I got a reward (10 threads) two times tonight on a Hero.|
Originally Posted by Quasadu
I saw the bit about getting the reward twice if you can do both the hero and villain mission in the same week, but are you saying that you can get one of each reward choice per week also? If so, that's awesome. I had thought that it was one per week, period. Not one of each.
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I'll be going for 2 Astrals tomorrow!
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Play a level 20 character through it.
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Originally Posted by Santorican
I'm playing the new TF right now and let me tell you, I hate being exemped. With a passion.
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Where to find me after the end:
The Secret World - Arcadia - Shinzo
Rift - Faeblight - Bloodspeaker
LotRO - Gladden - Aranelion
STO - Holodeck - @Captain_Thiraas
Obviously, I don't care about NCSoft's forum rules, now.
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I dunno about that.|
Originally Posted by Necrotron
What I WILL say that is while the heroside arc was okay, the VILLAIN arc was... villain-tastic. It's broadly the same story, but... y'know, just go run it. Then you'll know what I'm talking about.
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Maybe it was because I wasn't the mission holder, but I didn't find anything villainous about it. Then again, I do not find the Galaxy City tutorial particularly villainous, and that caused an uproar in Beta.
I certainly wouldn't put it on par with the "continuing training" missions (Graves) redside.
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Originally Posted by Lazarillo
My bet's on them swapping out the dead one for Desdemona. Devs seem to really like her for some reason.
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Originally Posted by Dark_Respite
Also, for those who've done it heroside and gotten the vision of a 'ghostly woman and a man in armor... who shake hands, the man looking grim.' My first thought was Numina and Positron... but I'm not too sure.
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Feedback (reposted from this thread since this one is specifically about feedback).
Overall I would say that the Signature Arcs are a lot like lower level iTrials. (Incarnate Trials for those unfamiliar with iTrials.)
If you like iTrials, and I mean for the Trials themselves, not the rewards, odds are good you will like the Arcs.
If you do not like iTrials (even if you like the rewards) odds are very good you will not like the Arcs.
I hope it serves the game well, but I can say without hesitation or reservation that I am not the target audience for the direction the game is going.
How do you get that "level 20 soloable arc is similar to multi-team Trials" thing? 
@Golden Girl
City of Heroes comics and artwork
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But it never occurred to you to use the glowing green door RIGHT NEXT to the entrance? O.o|
Originally Posted by Neuronia
My natural instinct was to go to the entrance...since they double as exits.
Once that didn't work, O-Portal did. |
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Originally Posted by Zombie Man
Feedback:
Alastor and Theoden show up on the mini-map as a trainer and not a contact. Alastor does not show up in active contacts. Text for contact should give level and number of players parameters. Nothing 'happened' when the cavern 'collapsed'. No damage. No awesome rock falling animation. Just a mission kick. Part of second map (Stop the Igneous from stealing the Obelisk) has unavailable map parts. Upon entering the missions, they don't auto-load; you have to click Enter Game. I suppose it's so we can see the awesome art. Hate that! Too many times I sat there and started to wonder why it wasn't loading. ARGH! Get rid of that, please. The bonus merits is actually 10x normal merits, not 5x. |
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Originally Posted by Caulderone
I can confirm that I got a reward (10 threads) two times tonight on a Hero.
I'll be going for 2 Astrals tomorrow! |
Then you can choose 1 new reward for every time you run it within 7 days.
So the first time you pick a thread. Then the second time, you pick a thread. Third time, threads are no longer available - you gotta pick something else (let's say an Alignment Merit.) Fourth time, Alignment Merits and Threads are greyed out. They stay greyed out for 7 days before resetting.
Have run through heroside twice. Thoughts:
1. DUMP the blasted "Enter mission" button. Really. I KNOW I'm entering a mission. That's why I clicked on the mission door. I didn't notice it at first and thought "Damn, that's a long load...."
2. Igneous ambushes... meh. Little more timing between them would be good. Still, on my elec/elec blaster... not a big deal.
3. Find the exit... ok, little more of a clue there would be good. I saw nothing exit-y. First time, I dealt with the collapse. Second time? Ouro portal.
4. Whatsisface, Mr. Speedy-Lost, is nullified by the clever use of... *hover.* Really? OK, I get to watch him run off into the distance, run back, run into the lava, run out, run up to me, run in circles 2-3 times then run away again. Is this where I say "Hover is OP, nerf hover?"
5. Mmmm. Lava. And rather nicely done lava.
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Well, this particular instance isn't the same as Recluse's machine, so different rules may easily apply. And as a life's work of some relatively unknown mage, who until now has apparently kept it more or less secret and/or hidden, it's not unreasonable that nobody has a counter yet.|
Originally Posted by Neuronia
The Lost are draining Synapse's energy. You would *THINK* that Mynx, standing no more than fifteen feet away and having known him for what, close to ten years, would know about this or at least notice. Or, like, anyone. And hey, didn't Lord Recluse also have a device that could drain superpowers from metahumans (Oh, that's right at level 20 you don't know this, but the Phalanx sure do!) and thus Statesman at the very least would have spoken with Synapse about it and they MAY have some kind of counter to this sort of stuff? I sure hope that there is some kind of logic behind all this, since every member of the Phalanx is going to get "bugged" and hey, they never talk to each other or communicate...especially not Numina who is a ghost and in touch with at the very least, Positron...which is going to make that arc particularly interesting for the story writers.
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And for what it's worth, if you do the Villain version the Phalanx do go to save Synapse after he does his run-off-alone thing. They're just a bit late in doing so.
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The overview page for the Signature story arcs already stated it covers all the level ranges, though.|
Originally Posted by Photonstorm
Looks like it might go like this:
Part 1: level 20 Part 2: level 25 Part 3: level 30 Part 4: level 35 Part 5: level 40 Part 6: level 45 Part 7: level 50 |
".This seven-part story, spanning all level ranges, will take the you through an epic journey with a shocking conclusion."
http://na.cityofheroes.com/en/news/f...story_arcs.php
SadysCHICK ALL the Badges! (I can get. 1396)
Full image by David Nakayama
Arc ID 1435: Performing without Annette
Arc ID 7206: Sadystic Tendencies
Arc ID 3864: The Chronicles of (In)FERNIA!
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FWIW, those three glowies are pretty close together and the induction is pretty short. So if you pop three or four small purples, you can click all of them while ignoring the mobs. Even on a squishy. Then run down to the end boss and take him out; most of the mobs including the ambushes will de-agro by the time you get down there.|
Originally Posted by Finsplit
The endless, rapid, you're-playing-a-squishie?-screw-you ambushes in the second mission are the polar opposite of fun. With the peacebringer, I tried -- and failed -- to get all the glowies, because I simply couldn't keep up with ambushes staggered 30 seconds apart. With the corruptor, the moment the ambushes were announced, I ran out of the mission, went to make a sandwich, and went back in once the timer had run down. I can't imagine that was the devs' ideal solution, and it certainly isn't mine, but it worked and it's probably what I'll do if I run these arcs again. (Sandwich optional.)
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Edit: and honestly the arc is just silly short like that. My 50s with superspeed can complete it in under 6 minutes. I'm off to try the redside one shortly so I can't comment on that now, but I doubt it's much longer. And that's fine--I suppose--but I'd rather see paid content that's more substantial than paid content with a grossly inflated reward.
And yes, it is grossly inflated. Six minutes for a hero merit, twice a week? No other soloable content has rewards like that. And it isn't a function of the content being challenging. Because it isn't especially challenging. It's a function of it being paid content. And I'm not sure how well that sits with me.
I had an SO drop on a level 11 blaster villianside. I was solo.
More SOs earlier is always a good thing.
I like the arc. One thing that bugged me as it always does, is the map unavailable message on the last mission. Why ? I cannot see any possible justification for this ever happening in the game.
It's true. This game is NOT rocket surgery. - BillZBubba
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Yeah, I couldn't find the exit either. I just Oroborous'd out (though I really wish I found the alternate exit, and would have kept looking if I didn't have to go back to work since I was between shifts). Will have to run it again sometime soon, probably with the SG, just to see if I can find it.|
Originally Posted by Zortel
I got caught out by forgetting to turn my difficulty down due to being exemped, and getting to the exit on the first map only to find out it didn't work, with no other exit I could spot.
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I forgot to turn the difficulty down too, due to the EX'ing. The first mission was... interesting
Anyway, I played both the hero and villain ones and was pleased with both. I liked the contacts, and the 'allure' for villains to gain power, while the hero was following up on leads by a criminal who wanted the same goals for different reasons. Both suited the characters I was playing and I could see it being 'generic' enough that any other character I brought could find a reason to follow along. (that's imporant *coughcoughdoctorgravescoughcough*) and the end missions even encapsulated the essence of what being a hero, and a villain, was about (in my opinion) while keeping them on the same course.
I liked the unique(ish) maps and hope to see more as the story progresses, and as you update other story arcs and zones. Those kinds of things are important to immersion into the story and the world at large. You've done similar with the low level experience and I can't laud it enough.
All in all, it was enjoyable. Short enough that I didn't feel I had to rush through it for time, detailed enough that it entertained me and kept up with each story (note the distinction between short and detailed).
Finally, I like the similar, yet subtle distinctions, between the end cutscenes. I hope you expand on who we're actually looking at and their part in affairs, as well as the obviously obfuscated individual on the other side of the wall.
Now for the few criticisms I had.
I wish the villain contact was a tad more unique. He looked like a common CoT spectral summon for all intents and purposes. I ran the hero arc first and so was a little confused by who this entity was at first and figured the spawn boss was a mistake. This also kind of plays into the 'offscreen' dialogue individuals where you change the color of their chat boxes but not the NPC text if it scrolls by too fast. Makes it difficult to follow sometimes. Also, make NPC text auto-selected in the Chat and Help tabs. Some of my SG mates forget to do that and miss out on story as a byproduct.
I like that villianside you can get rid of the PPD in that one map, but only after fighting stuff around the 'runes' anyway, and after you passed all the PPD. Kinda felt pointless in that perspective, though I liked the idea!
I heard a few complaints in the global channels I subscribe to that the lava was disorienting to look at, though I had no problems personally and thought they were a great touch.
The alternate exit was too hard to find in that first map on either side (though that's not really a complaint, I'll just have to look harder
) if there isn't actually one, that's not cool.Anyway, that was my two cents!
"I play characters. I have to have a very strong visual appearance, backstory, name, etc. to get involved with a character, otherwise I simply won't play it very long. I'm not an RPer by any stretch of the imagination, but character concept is very important for me."- Back Alley Brawler
I couldn't agree more.
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This is actually touched upon in the redside one, where Alastor mentions that Synapse is needed near the thing for it to work. (Unless I misread that)|
Originally Posted by Neuronia
The Lost are draining Synapse's energy. You would *THINK* that Mynx, standing no more than fifteen feet away and having known him for what, close to ten years, would know about this or at least notice. Or, like, anyone.
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Also, is there any way to make the lost cure *not* work on the EB at the end? It's kinda sad when you can just use that and end any real threat, at the loss of the exp.
In regards to the exit on the first mission, I found it when I was suddenly given unlimited time due to there being multiple instances of Skyway. May need to be worked on, too, if possible.
50s: Yumi Eryuha-Arch/Energy, Mirria-Thugs/Dark, Meyami Kitsuna-Claws/SR, Celesta Seusen-SS/Invuln, Lady Mirriella-Illusion/Empathy
Arc 503982 "Dimension Xi Epsilon 22-10" Part one of a multi-part arc.
Quoting myself from another, less appropriate, thread:
I liked the new Signature Story Arc a lot, the writing and the maps were both top notch. I'd give examples (there were plenty, but want this to be spoiler free). I could have done without being exemplared down to level 20, but that's a minor quibble.
As a Rogue however, I did find the choice of rewards at the end rather... underwhelming. Yes, I know Rogues can't get Villain Merits but a choice of one Astral Merit, or 10 threads, or 22 merits seemed a bit light especially considering the Rogue-equivalent of earning a Villain Merit is *60* standard merits!
Perhaps up the reward to 1 Villain/Hero merit (for villains/do-gooders), or 1 Empyrean Merit, or 20 threads, or 60 standard merits, awarded once per week and the current lesser rewards for subsequent runs per week?
Oh, and a shiny new badge would be nice as well.
-Buxley
"Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened." -- Dr. Seuss
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It is rather simple.|
Originally Posted by Golden Girl
How do you get that "level 20 soloable arc is similar to multi-team Trials" thing?
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iTrials - timed "do these things in this order, did you really want to read the dialog / writing while you were at it? Pshaw!"
Signature Arc - timed "do these things in this order, did you really want to read the dialog / writing while you were at it? Pshaw!"
Multi teams or solo never has to play a part of it.
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Incorrect. The 2 merits you get at the end AREN'T the 'normal' reward. They're some other merit award.|
Originally Posted by Zombie Man
The bonus merits is actually 10x normal merits, not 5x.
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If you run it again after picking the merits, you get offered the normal merit reward option of 5 merits, so the 20 is 4x that.
@JohnP - Victory
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Regarding Rogues, Vigilantes and rewards, you can only claim the Astral or the Threads at 50, right?|
Originally Posted by Buxley1
Quoting myself from another, less appropriate, thread:
I liked the new Signature Story Arc a lot, the writing and the maps were both top notch. I'd give examples (there were plenty, but want this to be spoiler free). I could have done without being exemplared down to level 20, but that's a minor quibble. As a Rogue however, I did find the choice of rewards at the end rather... underwhelming. Yes, I know Rogues can't get Villain Merits but a choice of one Astral Merit, or 10 threads, or 22 merits seemed a bit light especially considering the Rogue-equivalent of earning a Villain Merit is *60* standard merits! Perhaps up the reward to 1 Villain/Hero merit (for villains/do-gooders), or 1 Empyrean Merit, or 20 threads, or 60 standard merits, awarded once per week and the current lesser rewards for subsequent runs per week? Oh, and a shiny new badge would be nice as well. -Buxley |
This leaves you with just the merit option to select from 20-49 if you are one of the inbetween moralities. :/
steam rolled it w/ my Kat/EA Broot on the second play through.
it's a decent story w/ good rewards, my only problem was escaping Oranbega...couldn't find the damn exit 
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Did this last night. The team comprised of one Warshade, 2 Trap/Beam Defenders, 1 Sonic/Sonic Corrupter and a Time/Ice Defender|
Originally Posted by Finsplit
The endless, rapid, you're-playing-a-squishie?-screw-you ambushes in the second mission are the polar opposite of fun. With the peacebringer, I tried -- and failed -- to get all the glowies, because I simply couldn't keep up with ambushes staggered 30 seconds apart. With the corruptor, the moment the ambushes were announced, I ran out of the mission, went to make a sandwich, and went back in once the timer had run down. I can't imagine that was the devs' ideal solution, and it certainly isn't mine, but it worked and it's probably what I'll do if I run these arcs again. (Sandwich optional.)
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We had loads of fun battling away. Our only downside was we ranged from level 14-20 so no SOs and our damage was pretty low (I know my Defenders attacks are currently way underslotted for damage).
Eventually they wore us down, but not before we destroyed 100s of the blighters. It was probably one of the most fun fights I've had in CoH in years!
(Which was my point, if poorly made.)
[ as a sidenote, now, I've run through the first mission 5 times to check... sucks trying to take out the boss as a MM
Let's Dance!