Captain-Electric

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  1. Quote:
    Originally Posted by BrandX View Post
    I wouldn't mind taking all the small mask options, giving them some real detail, and giving them the white eye treatment ala Batman, Nightwing, Robin (especially with the domino masks)
    I don't know HOW or WHY I left this out of my post. I have wanted this look ever since I started playing, and it should have been second on my list (below real eye masks). It is one of the most obvious "missing elements" in City of Heroes. Those of you who read comic books know I'm not kidding.

    Also, Golden Girl mentioned costumes with clear boundaries and seams. I think she was essentially describing my eye masks idea (I'm sure it wasn't MY idea first ), but for the whole head or body. I think that makes more sense than my request. If the technology can be built (gentlemen), then duh, Paragon Studios would probably want to maximize its potential.

    Some of you have expressed confusion about the difference between real 3D eye masks (or skin-tight costume layers) and the "painted on" costume pieces we have now. If you missed my previous example, think of how you can actually see your characters eyebrows through an eye mask. Now, put on a real fabric or plastic eye mask (I'm sure we all have one ). Can you see your eye brows? No. They're hidden behind a 3D object.

    I'm not disagreeing with the painted on pieces--they work quite well for many concepts, as we've all proven over the years. But actual separate layers for skin-tight pieces would make previously inaccessible concepts possible. Real eye masks would make BrandX's "white-eyed" masks idea an attractive possibility. And slightly thicker layers of tight costume pieces would open up options for sleeker, more sophisticated body armor--another request of mine that confused some of you (my apologies for not being clearer).
  2. I see the cavalry finally showed up.

    Took you all long enough.
  3. For RP I think it would be cool if you could link a base to an entrance out in the world, like a building in Steel Canyon. Or for SGs who RP as communities, you could link your base to the entrance of some apartment buildings in Atlas Park or Faultline. Maybe your underground themed base could be linked to a manhole or cave entrance. I've had this idea since my first week playing, hope I'm not the only one.
  4. Quote:
    Originally Posted by Nalrok_AthZim View Post
    Already requested a mod add a spoiler tag.
    Which is, admittedly, what I should have done, and then left it at that. Rabble-rousing isn't a hobby for me, pointless arguments stress me out, and after making a dozen posts in this thread, I wholeheartedly believe I achieved nothing at all. If you've seen one Internet thread where two parties reinforce their own opinions for several pages without budging an inch, you've seen them all.

    In the time I spent arguing on the Internet about spoilers, I could have run some RP mission teams, worked on some AE arcs, written, drawn, produced something. This wasn't productive. Really, I'm bothered more by not being able to get that time back than I am by the spoiler.

    If you loathe spoilers, let me be an example for you. A stupidly bad example. To paraphrase the community, "Spoilers are here to stay, but the door's right over there." If it were only that easy. Without the General Discussion forum, I wouldn't have known about Von Krieger's Coffee Talk Highlights, Golden Girl's comics, Zombie Man's guides and tips, Venture's insecure machismo, Steelclaw's comedy, and most importantly, Electric Knight's pancakes. All good reasons to visit this forum.

    They say that if you can't beat 'em, join 'em, but I'm never going to spoil the game for anyone.
  5. Quote:
    Originally Posted by dugfromthearth View Post
    It is a computer game, there cannot be real eye masks, just the pixel fiction of one
    Sorry for the misunderstanding, but I'm referring to an actual thin object, like in that other super hero game (one of the few good things I can say about that game). In City of Heroes, you can actually SEE your eyebrows through the eye mask. That is because it is not covering your eyebrows, it is just painted onto your eyebrows.

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by dugfromthearth View Post
    I would rather say consistent blast origins. All eye, all hand, all mouth. Not random firing for each power
    Iron Man would SO flame you, if his lawyers let him post on these forums.

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by dugfromthearth View Post
    without going through each of JB's items I generally like his list. I especially want talking apes and stretching powers
    Talking apes would be cool. And I also think CoH could do giant bugs better than...other studios. But stretching powers aren't something the City of Heroes game engine is capable of, unless something has changed in the last few issues.

    The rest of your criticisms are either fair enough (i.e. pulp, not hero), or not enough of a priority for me to want to argue with you about it.
  6. Quote:
    Originally Posted by Venture View Post
    What's inconsiderate and, to me, more than a little silly is expecting the entire world to walk on eggs when discussing fiction because someone might hear something they didn't already know, and doubly so when in a forum designated for discussing a particular work.
    Do the rest of you feel this is the case? I'm honestly asking. If I'm in the wrong, I'd like to know, so that I can stop being in the wrong. In many forums and wikis, the policy is to speak freely but tag or warn about your spoilers. Are the rest of you of the opinion that this is kind of silly?

    Keep in mind, some of you seem to be confusing "spoiler tags" with "no discussing spoilers". As I said on the first page, I'm not arguing against discussing spoilers. I do it, too. I just don't do it blatantly, without warning, out in the open, with a microphone, and with a bewildered look on my face when someone throws a tomato at me.
  7. Quote:
    Originally Posted by Thirty-Seven View Post
    First off, let me be clear, I agree that a thread title is a poor place for that particular information...

    But I think it is odd that you keep saying "your community," aren't you a part of that community merely by playing the game and/or posting here? You seem to be saying you aren't a part of all this somehow... which is either elitist or bizarre.
    The community of players I've found, and helped build, on Virtue over the past two years is wonderful, fun, welcoming, and mutually respectful. And not many of them visit the forums very often, if at all. A couple of them only come here to leave me a PM. So I kind of see the forums as an insular community away from the game. There is a lot of one upmanship here, and a lot of arguing for sport, rather than arguing for a common understanding of each other. If disdain for those things makes me elitist or bizarre, then take your pick, I'll wear that badge.

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Scythus View Post
    Geez... it's not like the revelation about the Rikti (REAL spoiler below)...
    The last time I argued against spoilers, it was because someone casually spoiled exactly that. Supporters of the spoiler came out of the woodwork, and I lost that argument, too. Apparently, there really is no limit when it comes to this.

    I'll admit that I shouldn't have even brought it up in this thread. Heck, to you folks, *I* probably seem like the negative voice in this thread. And maybe you're right, but I hope not. There's nothing like RPing a "big reveal" mission where a player realizes what's really going on for the first time. I'd like to see more of that, but it feels like I'm being told to "just get over it, it's not that important to us". If that is a good summary of "the community" here, then yes, take it, it's your community.
  8. Quote:
    Originally Posted by MisterD View Post
    Damn..get over it.
    Quite elegantly put, and actually, you're making my point better than I can; but if you're suggesting that your community might not be good place for new players, then I feel badly both for your community, and for new players.

    I am absolutely not being sarcastic.
  9. Quote:
    Originally Posted by Venture View Post
    False. Spoilers don't apply to any content at all.
    Well, yeah. I know you're aiming for blunt, but you're telling me what I've been pointing out about your community. On other forums, and certainly among my friends, when it comes to books, movies, or games, spoilers are a big no-no. We protect each others opportunities to experience the big "reveal" moments. It's part of what makes a community welcoming.

    I play for the stories. I hate the thought of avoiding these forums, and I hate, hate, hate the thought of warding new players away from these forums. But, in the course of running many and frequent RP teams, I do come across many new players who are playing for the stories.
  10. Quote:
    Originally Posted by Chyll View Post
    It is knowledge in no way knowable unless you seek it our or play the arc. It isn't hinted at, discussed, or mentioned in passing elsewhere AFAIK.

    Just because someone that may not play that content for months may read this and forget, makes it no less true. I can present a case for the player that may start that content tomorrow at 1:11pm and have just had it spoiled in contrast.

    As such, it is, in fact, a spoiler. (As an aside, I think that is proper comma placement, but it offends my sensibilities.)
    I'm glad I'm not completely alone here, but I'm beginning to realize that most people don't see it this way. I think a lot of people are just here to mash buttons and punch things (which is fine, it is a game). Our disappointment over a spoiler probably makes no more sense to them than their definition of a spoiler makes to us. This stuff just isn't a big deal to a lot of players.

    The General Discussion forums have been more helpful than frustrating, so it may actually be overreacting to avoid them completely. I just dislike having to accept that I can't persuade people any differently. It's frustrating to see it happen in a thread title, only to learn that the majority of the forum doesn't actually care (I realize that makes it my problem, but it's no less frustrating). I'm realizing that arguing against spoilers on the forums is like arguing against the weather. They're going to happen, it's completely natural around here, so I better just deal with it. On some forums, mods have a stance against them, but that doesn't appear to be the case here. In such a story-heavy game, where the devs put so much thought into "big reveals", this feels irrationally surreal.

    The above is mostly whining, I guess. No need to call the whaaaambulance, I have a WhineyComm badge.
  11. Quote:
    Originally Posted by Hopeling View Post
    It's not a spoiler, it's the basic premise of the zone.
    Well, I didn't realize that the Midnighters creation of the Shadow Shard was common knowledge, or that it was implied by the premise of the zone. I was frustrated to have part of the mystery of the place unraveled on the forum instead of in the game; but again, I'm getting the impression this isn't an issue for others.

    I'm more of a reader than a gamer, and I'll admit that some of my tastes and preferences can probably run idiosyncratic here.
  12. Quote:
    Originally Posted by Scythus View Post
    Yeah, it's not really a spoiler. In fact I'm pretty sure you can find the information in the history articles of the main website.
    Okay, okay.

    It's frustrating, but pretty obvious that most of you feel differently than me. Which means I'm the one with the problem. I'm more than willing to admit it when I'm wrong, and I apologize for derailing the thread.

    No hard feelings (honestly), but I think I'm going to steer clear of the General Discussion forum until I get some more years (and spoilers) under my belt.

    P.S. There isn't any history given on the website for the Shadow Shard. I don't mean to overreact, but this isn't the first time I've had this argument in the General Discussion forum. This isn't a spoiler-free forum (in fact they're quite common), and if I have a problem with spoilers, I ought to avoid this forum. (IOW, this is me being rational, not angry.)
  13. Quote:
    Originally Posted by Hopeling View Post
    Right, but for people who don't know what the Shadow Shard and the Midnighters are, nothing is spoiled, and by the time they find out what those things are, they've already learned this information. If "you didn't learn it at the start of the game" makes something a spoiler, there's really NO part of lore we can discuss here, except possibly the destruction of Galaxy City.
    You can easily know who the Midnighters are, while only having a vague idea about the Shadow Shard, because hints are sprinkled throughout some early missions. Enough to make it interesting, but mysterious. And its mystery is part of the intrigue. This seems to be flying over some peoples heads. Analogously, you're saying it's no big deal to blurt out some information from chapter 5 of a book, while I'm still reading chapter 3.

    I'm not going to attempt to change anyone's mind here. I wouldn't be so foolish. But I guarantee you're going to irritate people by carrying this line of reasoning around with you.

    Please keep spoilers out of thread titles. And by spoilers, I mean spoilers to new players.
  14. Quote:
    Originally Posted by Hopeling View Post
    I wasn't aware that this was a spoiler, anyway. I seem to remember it being one of the first things you learn about the Shard, as part of the answer to "what is this place and who is Rularuu".
    Yes, and we all learn about the Shadow Shard at the beginning of the game-- Oh wait. No, we don't.

    I'm probably starting an argument I can't win on these forums. I don't know whether that says more about me, or these forums.
  15. Quote:
    Originally Posted by Agent White View Post
    If the content has been around more than a year plus I'd say it's fair game at this point. There's always going to be new players that haven't hit every nook and cranny of the plot yet, I think it's a bit silly to keep everything sacrosanct because of them.
    I'm not asking to keep spoilers out of the forums. But, thread titles? Really? Really?

    Wow.
  16. Quote:
    Originally Posted by Ultimus View Post
    If that was the case, if I was a new player I'd look at what I just wrote and be like "I have no idea what he is talking about" and forget about it.

    It would be like if I told you the narrator is Tyler Durden. Are you going to remember that?
    Players who come to a game like this for the stories--such as myself and many others I've met in the past two years--DON'T take it as trivial when spoilers are thrown in their faces. Maybe you would, but I want you to think about how many times the letter "I" appeared in your post above.

    I know you don't realize it, but you're basically saying, "I know you don't like oranges, but I do, so have some oranges. I don't see what your problem is, sheesh." Like I said, that is a myopic perspective. Most people can be persuaded to understand this.
  17. Quote:
    Originally Posted by Ultimus View Post
    I don't really consider that a spoiler... it would be like me saying Battle Maiden comes from Warrior Earth!
    That is a myopic perspective. The difference is in the ease with which such information can be reached. Always something to keep in mind. Just because you're familiar with some tidbit of content, that doesn't mean many of the new players are. There are actually people on these forums who think spoilers don't apply to any content that's been out for a while. Instead of maintaining the mysteries of the game for new players, they have an "I don't owe them anything, I can post whatever I want" attitude. Which is unfortunate (and disrespectful), because for every seven-year vet, there are any number of players who are entering the tutorial for the first time today. This is their game too.
  18. Spoilers are so awesome, we're putting them right in thread titles now.
  19. Quote:
    Originally Posted by Kierthos View Post
    Here's something... you want to make this feel more like a superhero (or supervillain) game? I mean, even moreso then it is already?

    Add secret IDs.

    It would be a costume change into a (selectable) generic human body, with it's own name. Put the same restrictions that the walk power has on it (no power use), and there you go.

    I mean, right now, I can have Brass Reactor (my rad/rad defender) flying around Paragon City in his massive power armor, but even when I costume change into his normal form, he still has the name Brass Reactor floating above him.

    Add secret IDs.
    I hate poo-pooing well thought-out ideas, but this could probably be simpler. Secret IDs are a good idea, but it isn't necessary to place arbitrary power restrictions on players in this case; and forcing generic costume options on players would lead to a bigger, angrier thread than the CoT debacle. You gotta remember that some players have MORE civilian ID costumes for their characters than spandex, especially on Virtue.

    Instead, players should be able to tie a new over-head tag to a specific costume slot, or multiple costume slots if needed (delineated by brackets or a special color or font or something). Like I said, many players have multiple "secret identity" costumes, which is why I suggest multiple slots. What's to stop players (who don't want to play along) from using civilian ID tags on normal super hero costumes? Nothing. But on the other hand, it could be a statement that the hero's identity is publicly known--like Iron Man or Reed Richards.

    On some of my characters who aren't in super groups, I've set up one-man SGs in order to hijack that tag for this purpose (by putting my civilian name in the tag). When players are put in the position to find weird workarounds like that, it's a sign that improvements could be made.

    P.S. Regardless of our two suggestions, or which has more value (could be yours, I don't know), I see this as a low, low, low priority compared to other suggestions being made in this thread for costumes, powers, and zones.
  20. Quote:
    Originally Posted by Kierthos View Post
    You got your underwear over your pants model. What else do you need?

    *runs and hides*
    Scroll up and read my post.
  21. I would love it if more superhero stuff made it into the game!
    • Real eye masks, not painted on.
    • Symbol options on belt buckles, backs, and capes, not just on chests.
    • Grapple-hook gun emote (I know the real thing isn't feasible, but this would be good enough followed by a super leap).
    • More bracelets, arm bands.
    • More "floaty bit auras", like crystal shards, or metallic spheres, or sea-horses, or cubes, floating around your character.
    • Working holsters, quivers, sheaths (hip, thigh, boot).
    • Sleeker, more sophisticated power armor.
    • Chest and eye blasts for ranged power sets, not just hand blasts.
    • Linked costume emotes with animated transitions (hoods pulled back, helmets removed/opened, power armor assembled over body).
    • Hoverboards inspired by the modern comic era.
    • Customizable "Mood" stances to replace default standing idle stances, more reflective of your character's personality (heroic, flirty, arrogant, relaxed, studious).
    Anyone else have some cool ideas?
  22. Quote:
    Originally Posted by Nos482 View Post
    Aren´t you forgetting something?
  23. Tropes are not clichés, they are just loose definitions that help to explore plot elements, devices and mechanics found in stories. A good trope might be something we don't see enough of, which is not something often said about clichés.

    True, the tropes website--that Venture and some others often quote--aims to celebrate tropes, and is not meant to be borrowed as a resource for angst. Not to sound sarcastic, I never thought about it before, but I can actually see why good stories, laid bare on the operating table, might lead some people into a kind of existential angst against tropes. Sometimes a trope is a golden goose ripped open. I can see how, then, a trope might become something not so celebratory, a way for someone to say, "I'm utterly unsurprised (or at least unimpressed) by this."

    Kind of weird to think about.
  24. Quote:
    Originally Posted by Frostbiter View Post
    OMG I think I saw that thing in Dark Astoria!!!