Community Coffee Talk Highlights: 2-22-12

I did this for my super group's forums so I thought I might as well re-post it here. I'm no VK, but it might save some people an hour.

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Player Summit tickets go on sale tomorrow.

They're going to do a costume design workshop again, much like what was done for the Retro Sci-Fi pack (that is currently in the works.)

They're also doing a "design a powerset" workshop. Which, this sounds amazingly bad ***. Paragon Market panel, which last time was used to announce Super Packs. And a new panel format: "Make your case: Zone Revamp." You get two minutes to tell the devs why your idea should be looked at. So, if you're attending, prepare something in advance. Lastly, an endgame panel.

Special Guest: Clockwork 01

He's the producer for micro transactions, or the Paragon Market. They talk about his past with Infinity Ward and then mention Dink, a character artist on 01's team, that is working on Retro Sci-Fi and also did the Imperial Dynasty pack. They talk about how it's nice that they can put packs on beta well in advance before their release and modify the pack thanks to feedback, like they've done with the Imperial Dynasty pack. (Track Dink's posts for more info.) Also, Imperial Dynasty release is Imminently or Very Soon. (Tuesday? Maybe the first Tuesday in March, as we had the Club D pack already this month.) 01 is part of Zwi-Protean's DnD group. He builds amazing characters. The Gunslinger - Magic - Steampunk pack ports for females are in I22 (I think. Was distracted at this part.)

Retro Sci Fi: Female pieces are done. Glow/non-glow, ring/non-ring, etc. Male pieces are still being worked on. Bubble Helmet for males is a Detail 2 option. They show concept art of the Retro Sci Fi pack, helmets first. They're doing four versions of Option B (base with detail, plain base. Both bases sans bubble.) Also, since it's a Detail 2 option: No beards with your space helmet. Pistols: Option B won, but a ton of voting for Option C as well. They're doing both, with C's version having B's backend as an option. So four versions here as well: B with and without fin, C with and without fin. Zwi mentions something that sounds like the rings on B might be an option as well. Rifles are up next. A won, but people also loved parts of C. So A is being built, with C's nos tank and I believe it's stock as options for A. Backpacks: B won. With and without rings will be the versions. But since B is just two C's with stuff, we're also getting C. Backpacks will also be getting a run through the visual fx department, so it will have a thrust glow during flight mode. Think Rocket Boots. A did get a lot of votes, so they'll keep it in mind. Space Suit: B won. Glow/non glow. Chest Detail from Option A will also be built. "A little something-something" from C as well. Female pieces might be previewed soon. Rings will also have glowmaps (possibly optional?) that can be tinted. Lastly, the Brain Slug hasn't been scheduled as part of the pack, but they are trying.

Zwi smacks Clockwork 01 with his phone.

Hats are just hair. (Random) New powersets of course are coming up, such as Beast Mastery (on beta now) but they'll save that talk for Synapse. Reminder of the Build a Powerset workshop. Something about "news for the store" that they can't talk about just yet.

Q and A time with Clockwork 01:

Q: Circle of Thorns backpack part (Death Mages back piece) and why it isn't available for us.
A: CoT pack was developed by the Live team(pre-Freedom), not Clockwork 01's team. He hasn't had a chance to look at it yet. He can look at it and see if it's feasible.

Q: What powersets get the retro sci-fi rifle?
A: Pulse Rifle, Beam Rifle, Assault Rifle, Arachnos. They are looking at some of the other recent rifles they've done and propagating them to other powersets as well. Not a promise.

Q: Can we have very small costume bits? (Watches, etc.)
A: Dink and him have been looking into it. Debating on how to do it: Like earrings: Detail 1 or 2, or just a bunch of ears with earrings in it? If they do it, it would be part of another pack.

Q: Question about using more realistic textures in new packs, like a new Street Clothes pack. (Aka: The Club D jean's amazing texture work.)
A: That's the goal.

Q: More glowing eyes, like Organic Armor or Biolume faces. Can we get more?
A: Probably. Just need ideas for a costume pack.

Q: When can we expect another set of Super Packs?
A: Can't answer that. Maybe soon, maybe at the Player Summit?

Q: Goldbrickers backpack being sold as a permanent travel power like the Rocket Board?
A: 01 and Black Scorpion recently looked into Goldbrickers costume stuff a couple months ago. The assets are very low res, very old. They'd rather take the geo for the backpack or costume pieces and make entirely new pieces. (IE: They weren't made for players, it's essentially already like making a new costume anyways.)

Q: Beast Mastery. Can the Dire Wolf be anything other than a Dire Wolf?
A: No, not at this point. It's already done for the set. It was considered as an option earlier, but the time to make a new rig would make it impossible. The Wolf and the Cat were very time consuming to create, as they also had to be made like they were players (Oh really?). So, back movements, strafing, strafing, etc... animations. So if they did the bear rig, as suggested, you have to create all the four leg animations as well as having it do two legged animations. (As Bears stand up to fight, etc.) So no, too late for a Bear.

Q: Zero G backpack as a costume part?
A: All things are possible.

Q: Quivers, blades, etc as back parts?
A: The problem comes as people expect it to be a dynamic costume part. (I assume taking arrows out of the quiver/drawing the blade from the sheath) They also expect it to be extremely customizable, so that your idle animation is the weapon selected (such as Impervium katana) being sheathed as opposed to it always being the legacy katana in the sheath, no matter what weapon you've chosen. If they're ever able to do these, they want to do it *right* (unlike Champions Online), such as it being dynamic and having the extreme customization. It's not on the schedule now.

Q: Ouroboros mini-pack? Zwi mentions it's interesting the requests for mini-packs as opposed to a head to toe costume pack.
A: Something they're intending to try out later this year (minipacks in general, I think)

Q: Possible to do faction packs per month, like the CoT, Roman and Vanguard packs?
A: Not on a monthly basis, but 01 does like the idea. They have definitely heard the requests.

Q: Golden/Silver Age costume bits?
A: Like the idea of it. Looking at finding it time in the schedule.

Some discussion on ATIO's and the effects on the market. Zombie Man predicts Enhancement Converters will have a huge impact on the player economy.

Q: Ripped Costume pieces, like Superman or the like.
A: An interesting technical limitation. In a ripped costume piece, the part showing skin takes up one of your color options.

Q: What happens if you catalyze a boosted enhancement?
A: You can't.

First!

Thanks! Ustream died on me just as my question (about glowing eyes) came up. Could not get back on at all, so huge thank you.

Thanks!
I actually got to watch the Ustream today... but I have a question I am hoping someone knows the answer to...

Early in the session, Clockwork01 pointed to a question (asked by Psychoti) and he said that he could answer that question right now and gave an answer, while Zwill was trying to stop him to hold it off until the Q&A segment... Clockwork01 said something about "It'll be getting some love soon" or some such thing and I didn't hear any reference to what the actual subject of the question was!! And I don't think they returned to it during the actual Q&A bit.

The curiosity is gnawing at me...

The question was about claws.

Thanks, GG. I couldn't make out the Claws part after several replays and as such, left it out.

Thanks BasilAcid!

Edit:


Design a power set workshop? Oh really now?!

Can those that aren't going to be there in person at the Player Summit submit ideas...like...I don't know...in the Suggestions & Ideas sub-section?


Also for anyone to ask next time:

Will there be some way to have that "what do you like/not like about CoH" survey emailed or sent to VIPs that can't go to the Player Summit?

Gutted about the Dire Wolf.

Wolf, cat, wolf just doesn't feel right to me.

Why bother with the cats at all, just go three wolves then.

The backpack/quiver/scabbard point makes me meh

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zwillinger GG, I would tell you that "I am killing you with my mind", but I couldn't find an emoticon to properly express my sentiment.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain_Photon NOTE: The Incarnate System is basically farming for IOs on a larger scale, and with more obtrusive lore.

A zone revamp panel huh. That's kinda cool. Would have to think about that some, though I think turning Eden into an end-game zone would probably be my top pick.

In their defense for City Vault, word is they tried but..it broke things, as in unplayable broke.

Also, if I recall correctly, Z mentioned something special will be happening tomorrow. He almost said something like "Smissue" after that so wasn't sure if he was trying to create an i22 red herring or what. This was mentioned early on and prior to the Pummit tickets going on sale.

Edit: I just watched it again, says its at about the 2:30 mark then immediately goes in to Pummit talk so not sure if it's related or not.

There was a lot of stuff in the CoT set we didn't get.

Also, I see the point about scabbards. His reason for those not being done is really good. However, quivers is a different story. All they need to show are shafts, and fletching. It can be static, because arrows are not really that customizable on the back end.