New Ideas: Shivans, Cole, the Future?

I have explored in this game for awhile, haven't played all the content but I've noticed there's a serious lack of complexity.

I love strategy, I love to overcome an enemy, I love to feel like I've actually made a difference. Or on the opposing side; I love to feel like I'm failing no matter HOW powerful I am. Give me a reason to say WTCRACKERJACKS?! to an enemy's strength.

Praetoria almost felt like that but from the ''impending threat'' feeling you get when you watch the ''Going Rogue'' trailer, the way Cole seemed to get ready to invade; it all came up short. However, the man has potential to be a pivotal plot changer.

This game needs a Leader, not just an evil do'er like Recluse, not just a group of Heroes like the Phalanx but a solid military that looks just like what it's presented to be. I want to see Cole take his stance as an Emperor a little more seriously, we need to feel as if we're accomplishing something. The flow of the SSA's so far just isn't cutting it, there is a lot of build up but it's just not the same as feeling you've got to do something now or the world as we know it will be jeopardized. Or that a combined force is needed to stop an impending threat.

New game dynamics might be needed to make one feel like a difference was made in the game, to feel that their consequences really did impact their world. Galaxy City was a nice touch (failure to stop an invasion caused the collapse) but we need to be able to see that damage other than in the trials. You need that zone opened with those shivans constantly assaulting, a destroyed realm with enemies that are tough to all levels like the Praetorian events. Make all enemies like that, make it feel like a struggle. After the intro/trial we're just thrown back into a city and go about our days and lives as a happy go lucky hero/villain without fearing what may happen (same in Praetoria) -- It's just nonsense. You want to sell an invasion then make it feel like it's happening instead of throwing in some contacts expressing their discontent or stories of how they ''just made it out..'' only to keep the city blocked off.

Between Cole and the Invasion I feel it's been short lived with so much more potential for epicness. I may not be a leading voice or even have much experience in this game but I strongly doubt I'm the ONLY one who wants to jump into the Shivan fray and really feel that it's a near hopeless cause to even try in Galaxy City. Oxy Moron? Possibly. I would love to fight countless hordes of insanely difficult, wave after wave, tough as all enemies - and to sweeten the deal, to be in the midst of a War/struggle for survival. Burning buildings, rubble, destruction, craters, meteors falling and crashing that could damage you if they strike you. I mean really go crazy with it, even if for a little while, and don't just make it a zone event where the whole city is dead for a period then wham meteorites strike.

Why not throw in confusion? Make it a Villains/Heroes/Praetorian zone that all three factions can enter with a possibility to attack each faction? What if the Praetorians that are part of the Dangerous side to the Resistance are wanting to seize control during the chaos? What if Cole believes his might and militant strength is enough to suppress this other worldly threat so sent out the call for any Loyalists to secure the area (ulterior motive not withstanding.) Recluse (as seen in the comics) decided to send in the Villains to do as they wish and capitalize off the situation, and of course the Heroes who tighten up their spandex, done their capes, and rush in to save the day while dealing with the constant threat of being invaded and other factions wishing to do as they will? Add some excitement, and yes I know I'm suggesting a PVP type environment (OH NOES!) but it'd be something different.

If not fighting against each other then why not allow for them to work together (league/team) and join together to fight off a threat that could eventually spread to Praetoria (via portals) or in the Rogue Isles? I mean really use this as a forward momentum. If not for that zone then maybe a new one (aside the DA) that fits a certain D00Mfactor.

TL;DR Version: Need moar excitement plz

Anyone else got any suggestions?

I think Recluse has taken a backseat unnescesarily to the current Incarnate content. I think he deservers a response. It's even been implied in the Praetorian content. The same could be said for those agents still loyal to Emperor Cole (level 30+) and in the Incarnate content (why can't we get some of that power of the Well to help him?)

That aside, in addition to that, there needs to be progression to current groups, and as Samuel_Tow has pointed out in another thread the current story and background should be expanded upon through the level ranges to lead up to what we currently know/act on in the upper levels. Including, as others have posited on other threads, our origins (Magic, Science, etc) through those levels.

Why did the Oranbegans change their look? Did they find a new armory or way of creating armor for themseleves? How do the Mu respond? More imporantly, do the Mu find the strength to break away (counting the Rouge Arachnos and others) to form another group of powerful mystics away from Arachnos in the later levels, due to their seemingly weak and indecisive leadership (the Scirocco Patron arc)?

What about the storyline beyond the Vanguard vs. the Traditionalist and Loyalist Rikti?

What about the Progression and possible meeting/conflict with the Primal and Praetorian Hamidon? (That might go somewhere...).

Now that we know about the Knives of Artemis and Malta through high level hero and villain contacts, what now? Are Crimson and Viridian all we have that stand between them and us?

etc, etc, etc. More can be developed and built upon, from the 5th Column/Council battles for power to the Rularuu and newly introduced Rulu-Shin, to the Midnighters or even the little heard of Legacy Chain. What about Longbow? What can we do as Vigilantes to help the Rogue Isles, or help Arachnos (or other villain groups) bring Paragon to its knees as Rogues?

I'd like to see these things expanded upon before introducing new things, or more specifically introduce new things to expand upon the already rich lore this world contains

Have you tried the Rikti War Zone? There are already quite a few of the things you're looking for there -- death and destruction, lots of high-level enemies in big groups, the pylons, some fun story arcs, a nice TF and a fun zone event with the Mothership Raid.

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Originally Posted by Lulipop Add some excitement, and yes I know I'm suggesting a PVP type environment (OH NOES!) but it'd be something different.

No, it really wouldn't. It would be as empty and dead as all the other PVP zones in the game.

The zone you want for all practical purposes exists. It is called Warburg and most of the time it is deserted. So much so that a few weeks ago I spent some time in this PvP zone opening Christmas presents so as to avoid fighting over presents with players in PvE zones. (Now thats Irony)

It has 2 of the three groups you want, fighting it out for control of nuclear missiles. It has confusion where anyone can be against anyone. It is unused and unloved by most of the players and if not for the Free Nuke Temp Power and badges I doubt I would ever see anyone in there. Unless there is some concrete evidence that by adding a third faction we will suddenly see this zones population boom, I don't think the Devs will feel it is worth taking resources away from developing parts of the game with proven demand.

If you don't believe me about Warburg being the zone you describe, I simply changed a few names in your description (Statesman for Cole, Rouges for resistance, Hero for Praetorians) and as far as I can tell we have a near perfect match.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lulipop Why not throw in confusion? Make it a Villains/Heroes zone that all two factions can enter with a possibility to attack each faction? What if the Rouges that are part of the Dangerous side to the extremist are wanting to seize control during the chaos? What if Statesman believes his might and militant strength is enough to suppress this other worldly threat so sent out the call for any Loyal Heroes to secure the area (ulterior motive not withstanding.) Recluse (as seen in the comics) decided to send in the Villains to do as they wish and capitalize off the situation, and of course the Heroes who tighten up their spandex, done their capes, and rush in to save the day while dealing with the constant threat of being invaded and other factions wishing to do as they will? Add some excitement, and yes I know I'm suggesting a PVP type environment (OH NOES!) but it'd be something different.

I was assuming with Shivans coming to the fore in the intro in Galaxy City and their link to the Coming Storm that the latter will liven things up a bit.