New Content Instead of New SSAs?

The first Signature Story Arc is completed.

I have detailed elsewhere my tremendous disappointment with the writing; I am not looking to re-visit that in this thread. But another commonly-heard complaint was that there were too many times in the SSA in which the Player Character was a mere spectator and had ZERO power to affect the events unfolding in the arc, whether it was via cutscenes, off-screen murders or unchangeable pronouncements. The rejoinder that I often saw was "Well, these are SIGNATURE story arcs... they are not about YOU, they are about the events in the lives of the SIGNATURE characters!"

I suppose that part is actually spot on. SSAs will apparently by definition will be stories unfolding about the Signature characters, and thus, by design, featuring plot events that the PC cannot affect or participate in. We will again be primarily spectators in, if you will, an animated comic book story, and we will just have to flow along with the events, with defeating certain foes worked in.

But that suggests my question:

Would you prefer that the time and resources put into SSAs be put instead into additional content?

I would really enjoy seeing some love for lvl 40-50, like some new arcs. A new wave of radio and tip missions would be extremely welcome, too.

The SSAs ARE producing new maps and textures, etc., but those could have come with other new content, too. A in-space arc for lvl 40-50 would be sweet. They did all that space stuff for a single mission in the last SSA installment, but I think it would be better return on the resources to do a multi-mission arc.

I would just as soon SCRAP the SSA project and do additional missions and arcs with those resources.

What do you say?

I'd been asking for something akin to the SSA since the game launched and Calvin Scott made his one abortive test of the feasibility of doing episodic content.

I'm in favor of getting both SSA's and DA-like content. I'm even willing to buy SSA's or other self-contained stories as booster packs, if they're done well and they give better rewards than SSA1 was designed with. A hero merit once a week! Whee! Give me a badge or a costume piece and/or a new power for completing the arc in addition to the weekly hero merit and then we're talking. If the chapters are up for individual purchase, then there'd better be rewards for EACH CHAPTER and they'd better be reasonably priced and not priced artificially high as an effort to promote them as VIP perks.

I thought new SSAs were new content.

I have to agree with Darth_Khasei.

Personally, I do not mind the idea of the signature story arcs, but frankly, I think there needs to be more influence from the character. WWD7 actually got this right in my opinion, at least hero side (haven't run the villain version). Throughout the entire thing, the basic idea is "it's up to you, Character." The NPCs just become allies working for the same cause. You even end up leading Recluse around for the final mission!

As long as the future arcs are more like WWD7 and less like 5 and 6, I am happy to continue seeing resources go towards them.

As for "additional content," I have literally reached the point where I want all brand new content to cease, and for the rest of the game to be polished up first. Underplayed zones like Boomtown need to be made viable. Melee power sets like Broad Sword, War Mace, and Battle Axe need unique animations, on par with current power sets (their numbers are more viable, but they are a lot less enjoyable to watch). Ranged power sets receiving some alternate graphics could open up a metric ton of possible character concepts. Etc.

I lost interest in the story, but still played them all because it was new content LOL. That is not unusual for me as I don't follow the story too closely just casually.

Honestly, I don't mind seeing the signature characters actually doing things, considering this entire game they've been nothing but contacts for missions.

The real problem is, like you mentioned, they need to be done well. So far the only fun thing about these has been seeing awesome, fresh maps. The writing just sucks, and sometimes even the gameplay sucks. Like that "Escort Penny Yin through Oranbega" mission.

But eh, I don't care. Like I've said before, SSA 1 made me not want to play SSA 2.

I want the signature heroes to be more involved - but in our stories

Imperius showing up in the final mission of the ITF is nice.

Positron should help out in his TF.

Each TF from a signature hero should have them in it actually helping you.

But I don't want stories of their personal lives.

1. I fail to see how the Signature STORY ARCS aren't content.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darth_Khasei It's all marketing and revenue driven at this point.

2. "At this point"? News flash: This, and just about every other game ever put up for sale, has always been about revenue.

There was an obvious disconnect with my revenue at this point comment. That was stated in the context of new content vs SSA's new content and which one of those would yield the most revenue for them now.

In the future please read the entire post and the first part of it pretty much explained what I just broke down for you GG and Truemetal.