ChaosExMachina

The cape is the big attraction to me, as well as the wings.

I'd buy it if the power recharged in 1 hour, but at 2 it's a maybe.

Day jobs are a neat concept but in order to use them effectively please set them as "number of uses" instead of a timer. I've received like 2 enhancements from day jobs and I got both doing speed newspapers I wouldn't have done otherwise just to experiment with it.

I suggest that the powers that grant mission complete bonuses should be either X number of missions or a click power that can be activated just before completing a mission.

The stat bonuses such as clubber could be toggles.

[ QUOTE ]
I don't really have much objective feedback.

Subjectively, I have lots to say, but I think I'll focus on something not many people have discussed.

Merits as presented in the game feel horribly "artificial". A "reward merit" is an awful, generic-feeling name in my opinion. I could stand that, indeed it might not even have dawned on me, except for "Merit Vendors". That is a really deeply immersion-breaking name and concept.

Whatever people think of merits functionally, I think there was a missed opportunity here to integrate them better into the ongoing theme of the game. For example, when Inventions were presented, there was a significant "roleplay" presentation by Dr. Brainstorm, describing the system in terms related to the powers origins system, and indeed to the AT/powerset system. Not everyone may have thought this was the best fictional effort, but at least it was an effort made. In contrast merits feel "cold".

Perhaps ironically, I think "brainstorms" would have been a great name for merits. Instead of being some bling that you get for doing stuff, they could have been presented as a sudden inspiration in figuring out how to create a recipie from scratch instead of just seemingly finding it on a foe or at the end of an adventure (mission/TF/SF/Trial).

Finally, I will touch subjectively on something mechanical about the system. I think the implementation you guys are using for figuring out how many merits content should be worth is terrible. Ultimately it focuses overly on how your powergamers are running the content and leaves the less-frequent players and less power-gaming-oriented with reduced reward. There are going to be flaws in any system of flat reward per content, because you're never going to be able to tweak it right for all comers. I'll just say that I think you need to come up with something more dynamic on how you reward content completion.

[/ QUOTE ]

These are very good points. I agree that "brainstorm" would have made a lot more sense and perhaps something like that (training? learning? elite experience?) would make the system more integrated. Seeing a merit vendor gives off a "this is a beta version system" vibe.

Objective:

While being able to get the super powerful recipes is convenient, some of the normal recipes are more expensive than luck of the gambler.

With such a system, the normal recipes that are currently easy to get at the exchange will become rare as everybody gets the elite recipes. So if a person actually wants a normal recipe, they must either pay LotG prices or get randoms. There will probably be very few non-elite recipes at the exchange.

Besides lowering prices, I suggest adding pool C and D recipes to pools A and B with a low ptobability so that some don't become impossible to acquire for inf.

Subjective:

I find that, while looking for a TF to do for merits, there are no villain TFs that are even close to the co-op TFs for value. One reason for this is that malefactoring is inconvenient and the only TF at level 50 is the LRSF which is far harder, awards less merits, and offers HOs which are arguably better.

Please add TFs at level 50.

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Holy crap, I'm gonna have to roll a war mace something-or-other (brute I guess... not one for tankers) then. That's just too funny to pass up.

Won't be pairing it with EA, though...

[/ QUOTE ]

If you go */*/mace on any COV AT you now get the mace weapon options too. So you can use your bat on your corruptor if you wish.
-Teklord

[/ QUOTE ]

Holy crap, who can confirm this? I just asked on the help channel and they said no.

I'm getting a new computer with E8400 core 2 duo and want to max everything (at a 1400x900 resolution).

The prices to buy them independently are closer, but this is what the custom build sites are charging:

GeForce 9600 GT $109
GeForce 8800 GT $134
GeForce 9800 GTX $234

I read that 9600 GT < 8800 GT < 9800GTX = 8800 GTS < 8800 GTX.

How long would each be viable? I want a long term card.

Can 9600 run max settings at 60ish FPS, and if not how much better is the 9800 or 8800? What settings would yield 60FPS on each?

Can anybody recommend software, fonts, or graphics to make banners like those on some virtueverse pages?

Thanks for the amazingly open and thorough post, and your posts in general, BAB!

I came here expecting gushing and it's a bunch of complaints.

These look awesome and have a trivial buff to distinguish them.

@thermo healer

bots/dark (no black hole)

I may or may not be online that day but I can probably come.

Hilarious. Very good comic, better than the top cow ones.

Inflation isn't that fast. Most don't even know about this yet.

There is going to be insane inflation though as people solo the first missions of TFs.

The inflation is going to be insane.

Not only is the supply going down, but now people can get their own farm map by starting a TF. Inf is going to be worth nothing.

Name: Inevitable Evolution

Currently Recruiting: Anybody whose membership makes RP sense.

RP Level: RP SG with group RP arcs. SG channel is IC with OOC in parentheses.

PvP Level: Casual, hardcore, RPVP, and we are considering raids

Theme/Concept: Inevitable Evolution is a revolutionary group for true individuals who won't be pawns of the establishment. We take in those with special abilities and fight the oppressors who would exploit the super community.

Immigrants flow into Mercy Island seeking liberty from the establishment, but what do they find? Arachnos, another establishment even more corrupt and exploitative. Don't bow to the tyranny of Arachnos or to self-proclaimed heroes who would label us villains simply for not conforming to their arbitrary rules.

We operate a school, conduct raids on opressors, provide a sense of community, and assist you in YOUR goals.

IE: We Are Not The Master's Tools.

Go to VirtueVerse for more!

If you are a rogue isle hero or a villain with a conscience, join!

Activity: One of the most active RP SGs on Virtue. 10 members concurrently online in the evenings (US time) is standard and there are many on at other times too. On monday evening conferences about 20 online. Inevitable Evolution is on the top 100 supergroups list.

Leadership: Run Riot, Chaos Ex Machina

In-Game Contact(s): @Thermo Healer

URL: Message Board

Coalition(s): Survivors of Vega, Fifth Remnant, Inhuman League

This is a very cool concept idea but it may not work from a game development perspective.

A lot of the powers buff things that may or may not be easily buffable in the game engine, so this could be a lot of work.

It would also not be worth power slots, and there is some risk of new players buying these powers, gimping themselves, and quitting.

If it was a bonus you could pick like an origin (AND RESPEC!), that would be better. It would be cool to get some PVE-only non-combat RPish buffs like these as such things can be a lot of fun in complex RPGs. However I think in a practical case the buffs would have to be things that can easily be added to the game engine.

The game does need some more non-combat gameplay IMO.

[ QUOTE ]
In the article Positron didn't want these to be only for 'the super rich' heroes.

How is making this a rare drop going to change that? Sure, if you have a L50 / time in game / you may pull it off. But... what about the casual user?

I'm guessing the Devs don't buy much at the auction house. A "rare" drop - usable by all AT's, and all levels - is more than a cosmetic affectation. It's gonna be for the super rich and super lucky, imho.

[/ QUOTE ]

What? I do wonder what they're thinking saying they don't want it to be cost-gated, and then saying it should be more expensive than those.

/signed

This is a huge deal as it screws up the low level game.

[ QUOTE ]
As an explaination, I don't like how IOs encourage me to not level and not play the game. Right now, when I log in with my Rad/Sonic defender, I've got about 4 TFs I need to do... I feel like I _have_ to get those done ASAP or I'll miss out on 5% health I 'need' to have by level 37. For the longest while, I was sitting at level 30 trying to get the eye of the magus and that +10% health accolade. Rather than have fun with the game, I felt obligated to sit there and do nothing until I could hop on a team that was farming said enemies and get my accolades, especially since my character is for pvp.

In short, anything that encourages me to stop playing the game in order to get ahead is a bad mechanic and it should be changed, somehow.

[/ QUOTE ]

QFT

Broken Arrow

Immigrants flow into Mercy Island seeking liberty from the establishment, but what do they find? Arachnos, another establishment even more corrupt and exploitative. Broken Arrow is an association for true individuals who won't be owned by the tyrants of Arachnos or the oligarchs in Paragon who would label us villains simply for not conforming to their arbitrary rules. We cooperate for mutual benefit, to protect the liberty of ourselves and the community, and to improve society.

We fund our operation with the profits from Subjugation Inc. - the premier source for mad science. Is your genius beyond the understanding of people who consider you "dangerous" simply for challenging conventional wisdom? Subjugation Inc. are now recruiting outstanding scientists who wish to work with outstanding colleages!

(OOC: Subjugation Corp - Broken Arrow is an active RP SG with a theme based on [independents/freelancers/chaotic neutral or good/anarchists/benevolent rogues/insert whatever here]. Scientists are a secondary theme.

Non-evil types (at least in their own opinions) are preferred. Our only strict requirement is that you are not loyal to Arachnos. We aren't addicted to drama and silly or jokey concepts are welcome.

Send an in game e-mail to Chaos Ex Machina.)

[ QUOTE ]
I cannot help but feel that he completely avoided the question pertaining to the PPPs (among other problems). That part of the interview felt like a definite disappointment.

[/ QUOTE ]

That was what stuck out to me. Either they don't want to discuss internal discussions on PPPs, or don't intend to do anything about them. Personally I'd like heroes and villains to both get epics and PPPs for balance.

Edict of the Master: Accuracy/Damage/Endurance

I got this on live either from a mob or mission.

I think a buff icon (a single icon, as long as every set has the same range) would be more useful than an animation. Dark has Shadow Fall, so you can use that as a buff icon, but other sets will need it.

Excellent guide. I'd already decided on mix and match options, but you put up hard numbers, and mixed IO/HOs seem to be pretty balanced with pure HOs, while giving the player more specialization.

It's also worth noting that the procs and sets may make some powers worth taking. For example, maneuvers is now as attractive as assault, if not more so, and the 15% hold chance may lead to more use of fast-recharge low damage blasts that might normally be ignored in favor of power blasts.

Kudos to Cryptic on such a great idea for a PVP zone. And being able to fight official characters.

I'd rather they gave force fields some other kind of buff that wouldn't be dependent on toggle dropping. Toggle dropping is kinda lame as a gameplay element, and doesn't make the game feel much like a superhero game.

But force fields definitely need a buff. Maybe repulsion bomb, and to a lesser extent repulsion field and force bolt, could have a hold effect, like some kind of extended knockdown or a force field around the feet that immobilizes.

The shields don't actually take up a full point of endurance, as in equivalent to 3 slotted stamina, per second, do they? And the cone attack is apparently weaker than the burst MM primary attacks.

Other than the hold these look like powers I'd skip even if they were in a pool I already had.