Why Fighting Cole should not be a Trial

With the upcoming issue, we will have effectively run down the list of Praetorian AVs with the exception of Diabolique (who's pretty much thrown aside into the First Ward) and Infernal, leaving only Emperor Cole himself to throw down with.

Now it's likely we'll be fighting him in a trial, but I want to voice my opinion that I hope we do not. Rather I would prefer a sort of special TF/story arc, much like the Ouroboros and Signature story arcs where we CAN solo it but we can also team it, but this time as a good old eight man team.

The reason is so that we have a better sense of just how far we've come as Incarnates and in our power. I can't help but feel the full effect of an Incarnate character's power gets drowned out in the sea of 18-24 other players, and at the same time still have a better measure than just turning regular stuff up to +4/x8. (Especially since in regular content, we can't use all of our level shifts)

Plus, a by not having it be a trial, it could let players take the story and weight of the scenario in more, make it feel more personal. Make it feel like after wasting all of Cole's croonies, he decides to settle things with you face to face.

This also would let the individual player feel like a greater contribution to the battle than just another small tick off of HP from an endless, eroding wash of damage.

As far as trying to keep Cole from feeling like a pushover when you do invite seven other friends, a possible suggestion is to give Cole a special Self-buff aura that draws on players-characters only that boosts his max health and other stats per-player on the map.

Edit: I realize only after I posted how condescending the title sounds, I probably should of worded it: "here's why I hope the fighting Cole will not be a trial"

Quote:

Originally Posted by Samuel_Tow City of Heroes is a game about freedom of expression and variety of experiences far more so than it is about representing any one theme, topic or genre.

I that think Tyrant will be in a Trial, but there might be a twist on it

Let me say that I like your idea. I dislike that the trials lower the significance of the individual, and would love it if my characters could go one-on-one with Cole and be the sole savior of Praetoria.

That being said, I do not see this happening for a couple reasons. First, the Devs promised seven Praetorian Trials. We have now seen six, and since (as you say) Tyrant is really the only one left, it is pretty clear that "Cole's Tower" or something will be the final Praetorian trial. Second, Cole is the Well's champion (according to the game). Until we have access to the Omega slot, I cannot imagine us currently having the strength to take down Cole single-handedly.

Again, I wish it were so, and indeed, I hope in the future that we can be on the same solo-strength level as Statesman, but I do not see it happening with Cole.

We still need to take out Chimera, don't we?

Anyway, I'd REALLY like it if, at the end, we told Promethius to go jump off a cliff, and delt with Cole our own way.

Forget whatever stupid plan he may have. We have our own way of doing things. Ways involving mad science, and letting some of our villains call the shots. WE should be the ones responsible for our winning the fight. We shouldn't be there as someone's minions.

Protean mentioned a few months ago that they were kicking around a few ideas for the Tyrant Trial - and going by the in-game hints we've been getting, it seems quite possible that we'll end up fighting more like an avatar of the Well rather than the human Tyrant.

There's also a chance for some kind of twist where Tyrant could end up helping us defeat the Hamidon, but at the cost of his life - like we might discover that it's an Incarnate, and the only way to destroy it forever would be through the sacrifice of another Incarnate - so Tyrant could find some kind of redemption, and fulfill his self-procliamed role as the protector of Praetoria.

What's remaining for Dimensional Warder (Villains have to have a way to finish the badge without crossing sides):
- Black Swan
- Chimera
- Diabolique
- Dominatrix (Undoubtedly going to be with Tyrant)
- Infernal

Then there's Tyrant.

Even if Tyrant is the final Praetorian Trial (with Dominatrix) that means, if 7 is the golden number, that FOUR AVs will be in the penultimate trial.

Unless.

Before or while Tyrant's Trial Comes out we get two more TFs Like Apex/Tin Mage - one with Diabolique/Infernal, and one with Black Swan/Chimera.

Then Trial 6 could be Dominatrix/Tyrant, and Trial 7 the Praetorian Hamidon.

I'm personally rooting for the second possibility.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shubbie Im very good at taking a problem and making it worse.

I get the feeling the final Trial will be a multiple signature AV face off, similar to Statesmans or Recluses TF, with Cole being the final boss (I have a hunch he won't be the final final boss... I'd love to see that Cole either is Hamidon in human form or made a deal with it in order to gain more power). Like the OP, I'd love to see this be a regular TF... but I doubt that will be the case.

Actually... I think it would be pretty cool to get help from both Recluse and Statesman to defeat Cole... which could be a way to help demonstrate Coles amplified levels of power. I'm thinking Recluse develops a device to help debuff Cole and Statesman joins you as a tag-along.

Actually... what I'd really like to see is a giant gateway being built to Primal Earth... and we find out it's for Hamidon... and we have a killer Hami VS Hami showdown!

You might want to make a seperate tab devoted entirely to NPC chatter. That's what I do, and it makes keeping up with the story a lot easier.

There's always paragonwiki too, I guess. That's how I *used* to figure out what was going on in a Task Force while I wasn't the leader =D

depending on the direction they go...Cole should not be soloable if the Well is giving him more power than we get.

Just leave Cole alone. Maybe he'll go away. Or die of natural causes.