In my experience, red side has always had a lower population than blue. Some will even cite that as a merit of playing red side. I wouldn't be surprised if the population has gotten even more sparse since the ability to switch sides came about, not to mention the ability to just *start* with most villain ATs on blue side.
Goodbye may seem forever
Farewell is like the end
But in my heart's the memory
And there you'll always be
-- The Fox and the Hound
I recently went Villain on Freedom server to run story arcs and collect badges... Freedom is the most popular server and the red side is pretty dead. It has about 1/4 of the population of the hero side 
Move over to Freedom or Virtue for a higher villain population. By sheer virtue (lol) of being the highest pop servers, they have more villains.
That's not to say either one is covered in villains, but there's more there than anywhere else.
Paragon Wiki: http://www.paragonwiki.com
City Info Terminal: http://cit.cohtitan.com
Mids Hero Designer: http://www.cohplanner.com
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Dispari
I don't know why Dink thinks she's not as sexy as Jay was. In 5 posts she's already upstaged his entire career.
|
I play on Freedom, and here, while red is definitely less populated than blue, it's still not terribly difficult to get a team, especially if you're willing to lead. The weekly strike target (http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showthread.php?t=251519) is a popular task for teams, and I see teams running tip or newspaper missions quite often.
There's also the option to turn rogue now, allowing you to travel to Paragon and team with heroes rather than being locked in the Isles.
It's curious how often people prefer playing the hero to the villain. It would seem to fly in the face of so much of human nature.
Quote:
Can't say I agree with you there.
|
Originally Posted by RuthlessSamael
It's curious how often people prefer playing the hero to the villain. It would seem to fly in the face of so much of human nature.
|
Quote:
Maybe if one's views of human nature haven't progressed since Thomas Hobbes's. Fortunately, the study of evolution has illuminated the universal phenomenon of altruism considerably.
|
Originally Posted by RuthlessSamael
It's curious how often people prefer playing the hero to the villain. It would seem to fly in the face of so much of human nature.
|
Quote:
In my experience, the way people act and the way they perceive themselves are often two very different things.
|
Originally Posted by RuthlessSamael
It's curious how often people prefer playing the hero to the villain. It would seem to fly in the face of so much of human nature.
|
(Sometimes, I wish there could be a Dev thumbs up button for quality posts, because you pretty much nailed it.) -- Ghost Falcon
Red's been dead for nearly 6 years. It had its initial launch rush but people kept dwindling away.
All that's left are die hards and VEATs leveling up to 20 to side switch.
It's a bit of a shame but I suspect Praetoria is also not a thriving hive of activity either?
total kick to the gut
This is like having Ra's Al Ghul show up at your birthday party.
Quote:
+1|
Originally Posted by mousedroid
In my experience, the way people act and the way they perceive themselves are often two very different things.
|
People are masters of self delusion and rationalization.
total kick to the gut
This is like having Ra's Al Ghul show up at your birthday party.
Quote:
I didn't really see anything mentioning humans in that article. And what about the articles stating that in groups humans are less likely to act in large groups because they're all waiting for someone else to do something. It has been shown that people will be more likely to act when they feel solely responsible, but less likely in groups since responsibility is diluted.|
Originally Posted by TrueGentleman
Maybe if one's views of human nature haven't progressed since Thomas Hobbes's. Fortunately, the study of evolution has illuminated the universal phenomenon of altruism considerably.
|
Bystander Apathy Experiment
Oh and the Good Samaritan Experiment.
Quote:
There's a difference between outright villainy and the mere Bystander Effect.|
Originally Posted by Mad_Scientist_JC
And what about the articles stating that in groups humans are less likely to act in large groups because they're all waiting for someone else to do something.
|
In any case, to get this thread back on its rails:
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Rimoran
I've been playing CoH for about 4 months now after a lapse of many years. When last I played CoV wasn't out yet!
 So, I've enjoyed the Villian content a lot, but feel the lack of actual people populating the red zone.Ideas on how to get more people interested? |
- Stop folding Blue and Red Side together in end-game content and give players actual choices on how to run iTrials based on their characters' alignments;
- Get Lord Recluse off the sidelines where he's been relegated since Going Rogue, especially now that he needs a raison d'etre after Statesman's death;
- Reinvigorate PVP, e.g. revisit the post-Issue 13 balance rules, restore Base Raids (and give them some in-game benefits/penalties), sponsor PVPEC events (or, better yet, introduce them officially in game);
- Revise Red Side arcs so the NPCs who assign missions aren't locked behind arbitrary grinds; and
- Add another zone or two to Red Side or refurbish existing under-used Blue Side maps as co-op zones—villain access to a refurbished Shadow Shard could be the next big post-Praetoria project for CoX.
Quote:
I agree with all above statements there. I mean I've just started playing heroes more often and I am tripping over contacts, everyone giving me even more and then I can just walk up to some and talk to them if I'm in level range.|
Originally Posted by TrueGentleman
The most obvious ones rest with the devs:
|
I would love some more villain maps, but how would they add to the isles? I mean Recluse can't really make more islands. Some people would argue that asking for more separation in red and blue side stories and more co-op zones is contradictory. Granted, I would say the devs are trying, the DA story arc in Beta does give a more villainous tint to them, and I enjoyed that, but I'm almost sure that won't please everyone.
Quote:
Can't make more islands? What kind of attitude is that for a mad scientist?! If a Silicone Valley billionaire can come up with a scheme for an artificial island, why can't a supervillain?
|
Originally Posted by Mad_Scientist_JC
I would love some more villain maps, but how would they add to the isles? I mean Recluse can't really make more islands.
|
Like some have said, Freedom/Virtue is the way to go for redside activity. I wanted to focus on red toons years ago and left Triumph to find a thriving villain community on Freedom.
I play Freedom/Virtue mostly redside now...use the channels and get into a cpl of active VGs/coalitions and you will have more to do than time to do it.
"Forum PvP doesn't give drops. Just so all of you who participated in this thread are aware." -Mod08-
"when a stalker goes blue side, assassination strike should be renamed "bunny hugs", and a rainbow should fly out" -Harbinger-
Or post a thread in your servers forum and ask for an active VG or group that teams during the times you are usually on. There are dedicated redsiders out there on every server. You just have to seek them out sometimes.
@Mental Maden @Maden Mental
"....you are now tackle free for life."-ShoNuff
Quote:
Would you trust an artificial island around the villains? The first mission there would be to blow up all the supports and drop the thing into the ocean. Clearly Vernon Von Grun needs to find out how the Devouring Earth generate their cairns and quartz and find a way to do it on a grand scale!
|
Originally Posted by TrueGentleman
Can't make more islands? What kind of attitude is that for a mad scientist?! If a Silicone Valley billionaire can come up with a scheme for an artificial island, why can't a supervillain?
|
Quote:
Yeah there has to be a certain critical mass of bored people lounging around waiting for something to do for something to not look "dead". Redside doesn't have that - not least because the traditional red ATs were built more for soloing!|
Originally Posted by SwellGuy
Red's been dead for nearly 6 years. It had its initial launch rush but people kept dwindling away.
All that's left are die hards and VEATs leveling up to 20 to side switch. It's a bit of a shame but I suspect Praetoria is also not a thriving hive of activity either? |
Praetoria is its own case because some of the mechanics (the moral choice missions for example) don't work at all with a team, and unless you turn off XP, you're going to straight up outlevel some of the more interesting missions if you run with a team. And you miss out on badges doing that! Praetoria was made for soloists.
@Mindshadow
Quote:
Better red than dead!
|
Originally Posted by Golden Girl
Well, the game is called "City of Heroes"
 |
Thought for the day:
"Hope is the first step on the road to disappointment."
=][=
Quote:
I can think of a few examples from around the world of precisely that happening.|
Originally Posted by Mad_Scientist_JC
I mean Recluse can't really make more islands.
|
And Arachnos probably wouldn't have to worry about running out of money like they did.
Global- @SailorET, Justice Server
Sheryl Fiero, 50 AR/Devices Blaster
Louise Fiero, 50 Merc/Traps MM
Various assorted alts
Proudly serving in our military so you don't have to.
Before Going Rogue, the Devs said that the ratio of Heroes:Villains was 2:1.
Now that the game has Rogues and Vigilantes... the idea of redside v. blueside is a bit muddled. Any Vigilante can join in redside content and can even start redside TFs.
Speeding Through New DA Repeatables || Spreadsheet o' Enhancements || Zombie Skins: better skins for these forums || Guide to Guides
If i play any of my villains i tend to want to ALWAYS go solo, more of a character feel to it of being extra evil if you are doing all those evil deeds by yourself.
@Damz Find me on the global channel Union Chat. One of the best "chat channels" ingame!
Why don't I play villains?
Simple, the chaos I would expect to see doesn't exist in the game. When people are locked into either a complete dictatorship or complete anarchy the results are either Preatoria where you are required by law to be happy and orderly in the Orwell 1984 way - or chaos.
We should either have a shining city on a hill with an underlying corruptness (think Washington DC) or uncontrolled madness where the buildings are random - much like the Winchester house.
No codes on one hand means you build what you like where you like and the resulting confusion is what you want. The City of Villains seems like a Vanilla world with a too dark and grim look. You aren't really a villainous leader - you are just another lackey. It was done completely wrong.
What would I have done?
1. Contacts - they would come to you! They offer a cut of the profits on jobs and you can stiff them if you want keeping the money for your self and making an enemy who then seeks to ambush you as payback or you play along gathering some - respect - for your skills (not trust or loyalty).
2. If I rob a bank - I want the money. If I rob a bank and it is on another villains territory, they will contact me and say either come across with the cash or do a job for them.
3. I want TERRITORY. I want to be able to make areas under MY influence and then if someone butts in (NPC's) I want to have the chance to go after them and then the missions could play out that I am attacking the Lost because they encroached on my turf.
This depth could be simply added but would be a HUGE draw to players. You would be a villain living in your world and your "team" would be the lackeys you hired to help you sort out the interlopers.
4. I want to go into Paragon City and cause trouble. No really travel there and do mission there where I thumb my nose at the heroes.
I've been playing CoH for about 4 months now after a lapse of many years. When last I played CoV wasn't out yet!
So, I've enjoyed the Villian content a lot, but feel the lack of actual people populating the red zone.
Ideas on how to get more people interested? Or anyone want to team up on late evenings?