BernieGoetz

BTW, RSRobinson. I completely respect your guide and your observations and in no way attempt to detract from the idea of "grinding" which I try only to do in bed. I completely understand that you stated what your guide was and was not and I respect that. I know it's an inevitable position.

I appreciated reading what someone feels is a good build as opposed to a not so good build. Believe me, I am more than a little interested in getting my characters as tough as possible for the tougher missions I expect to see later. And yes I spend a lot of time just taking out random baddies everywhere on the map.

On power gamer and role player being one in the same. Yes I know they cross over.

The MMORPG is more Power Gamer territory, role players might feel out of place at times but still find a lot of excitement. As a veteran of "in character" RPG's (like Masquerade, played in real life with real people) I've seen many Power Gamer types come and feel out of place at real IC RPG sessions, perhaps as much as I do on this message board. Of course I always tried to make everyone feel welcome and that they had legitimate input.

But those who were overly concerned with numbers and powers would lose interest. They wanted to resolve the storyline and dispense with the "game" so they could get more powers. It's a tendency of human nature really so I don't mean to insult anyone. John Lennon said that life is what happens to us while we're busy making other plans. All I'm saying to the power gamer is to stop and take time to smell the Vahzilok (okay, not literally).

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Thats a big misconception that everyone level 40 skipped the content.

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Huh? Did I say that someone lvl 40 skipped content? If the content is riveting eventually everybody will reach level 40. Unless of course there is some skill ceiling in the game which I have yet to encounter, which could be fun.

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Levels dont really matter, time played does. I've done just about every mission and I hit 40 within a month of release. I also helped my SG level up, so I was rarely xping solo, mainly after 34.

So, why should someone who is say level 20 care that a level 40 has not enjoyed the game and skipped all the content, especially since its not true.

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In true "powergamer" fashion, even "immsersiveness" becomes a quantifiable value, proving that the power gamer just doesn't get the RPG.

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I think people are more envyous of others ability to play alot rather than their level.

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I'm just jealous of that cookie I don't get to snack on.

Bernie Goetz

I read the guide, good stuff. I like the info and will use the advice. I mean no disrespect to my fellow CoH gamers when I say...

I was a little "saddened" by the post, although as a newbie to the game I expected it.

I think this game is immersive, lots of back-story. Killing baddies is just part of the fun, gets the blood pumping when you narrowly avoid death or run away with a sliver of life. The more immersed you get, the more actual time you spend reading the contacts information, looking at clues, trying to contribute to the society of Paragon City, the MORE you blood is going to pump from the sheer excitement of the action in the game. Yes, I believe the powergamer misses out on the true "action" in the game even though they think they're all about the action aspect, ironic.

Do you care when a character that hasn't been developed in a movie is killed? No. In RPGs your involvement in the development of your character isn't half as interesting, exciting or pulse pounding if you haven't let yourself become immersed in the world.

I believe the highs you feel running around burning foes with your blaster as a power gamer who has broken the statistics down to their lowest common denominator, built the 'best' on paper character who specifically avoids back-story or development as an inefficient waste of time (IE why bother creating a cool costume for your powergamer character, just take a default) I believe your highs aren't as high as my highs in the game. Sorry if that sounds arrogant or if you think I really can't "know" how someone feels in a game or how much enjoyment he derives, but I do know, and I know you're missing out by being a "powergamer". You're missing out most on the very aspects of the game you purport to specialize in.

This is nothing new. I see it in all computer games. I saw it in dice and pencil RPGs years ago. The DM and his pals who gave out ridiculous magic items and had millions of hit points didn't play D&D very long. Me and my friends who played with a stingy DM and played in a fertile world that unfolded like a story before us would play the same campaign for years and years.

I really don't mean any offence to the powergamers. In fact, for all those of you who got your level 40 in one week of playing and have all your sockets in the mathematically most efficient slots for maximum NPC damage dealing here, I bestow upon you your rightful gift. A cookie. Enjoy.

Bernie Goetz, crime fighter extraordinaire