Eleven

In answer to the original question....

But I am not playing the game.

I have not logged in since the second week of I20's release. My subs are paid up until, ironically enough, October when Freedom is due to launch. I have been a constant subscriber for 5 years, i.e. never cancelled my auto renewal subs. Not that I have never taken breaks from the game, I have. However in previous times I took a break not because of something I found wrong with the game, it was just to prevent burnout and because there were other things I wanted time to check out.

I let my subs continue because I knew at some point I would return to the game. On this occasion however I stop playing due to my disdain for the iTrials and the fact they were the only viable way of progressing any of my characters. With this time away from the game I am also considering allowing my subscription to lapse and not auto renew, stopping any more spending I would do on this product.

I use that term on purpose as my feelings and decisions over the situation is coming more as a consumer rather than the gamer and that is a different kettle of fish.

In my case, I have used up my available slots on my chosen server and I have nothing but level 50's. They are not all IO'd out but at this stage, it does not take me very long to IO out an individual character. So the advent of end game progression for my characters with the Incarnate system was exciting. When the Alpha slot was released, I embraced it with many of my toons. Was prepared to do specific TF's for the Notices in WST's because all other parts I could build by doing any content I chose to do ether solo or in traditional 8 person teams in TF's.

With the trials and the next four incarnate slots open I first sent my main tanker into the furore. Admittedly the idea of getting involved in mass teaming for the trials was a little daunting. Mothership raids were fine as all that was needed was numbers to hit things and that was it. However after a few Hamidon raids I was put off the stress and madness needed to keep a successful run together, even as just one of the foot soldiers, never mind someone in the position to to lead. This was more so with the Rularuu trial which I just do not do at all.

Not one to never give something a go at least once though, I tried out the trials on I20's release. The unnecessary stress and carry on was there and only did them causally between other things going on. On that week I did not have a chance to have any full days of gaming ether because of usual work or the fact that real life took over the weekend. Still though after a week of the trials release my Tanker was Tier 4 everything. I figured “Hmm, not too bad really”. Spend a week casually doing the trials with a toon then do the old content with the toon to finish the IO build out and then move onto the next character.

But with the next character I started the trials with, it soon became clear that I would have to grind the trials more than just casually in order to get a sniff of anything. The stress of mass teaming with headless chickens and the arguments between know it all's was too much after getting little in return in rewards, so I logged out the during the second weekend after the trial's release and have not been back since.

End game content that I would find enjoyable and accessible is a main factor in keeping me subbed and playing the game as that is all I have left. Fixing the issues still in the trials or offering more trials to try and stave off repetitiveness will not be enough as I just do not want to be involved in mass teaming. It is not worth the stress, and stress should never be involved in playing a game. I get enough stress from my day job. I would rather play CoH to unwind, not get more stressed.

The new powersets won't be enough as I do not have the server space to create any more toons, and do not want to move to another server as my friends and close community are based on Union. If I were to come up with a concept to take or re-roll and try out Titan Weapons and Staff Melee that is only going to guarantee 2 months of game time at most to get them to 50. After that I am back to the problem I have again and therefore going to feel I have wasted a good chunk of my subs.

I have tried to be a bit more reasonable and diplomatic than some screaming for solo content by liking the suggestions in some areas of making existing TF's in the game, of all levels and allowing players to set them on Incarnate difficulty (Level 54) and get the rewards that way if they choose to rather than trials.

The lack of response from the Devs though is another factor. I had made an equally long post in response to one of the many threads made on the subject of alternative ways to progress in the Incarnate system and the post was deleted for genuine reasons of some posters getting out of control. I stated in a PM to one of the Moderators that I understood if that was the reason that the thread was removed but if I could get assurance that my post that did not get involved in the flame war going on was acknowledged and refereed to Dev feedback. I did not get any response.

I took part in the first Facebook Q&A and posed the question if the team acknowledged that not all players liked the trials but wanted to still carry on in the Incarnate system and therefore was alternative content going to be coming shortly after the release of CoH:Freedom? Still no response.

With my consumer head on, forgetting any previous attachment I had for the game and everyone I played with it, if I am not getting much of a response from those selling me this product that I have concerns with then it is no wonder that I have to consider keeping my money and spend it elsewhere.

The other thing has driven me away is the often lauded community. True enough, the other super hero themed MMO's (They are the only kinds of MMO's I am interested in playing) just do not have the community that CoH has. Unfortunately the subject of alternative Incarnate progression has caused a sour divide here. Just as another poster here has felt necessary to do, I have used the ignore feature quite a bit lately on the forums which is something I have very rarely used before.

Its been the case that those of us that want to see an alternative to iTrials are not just been disagreed with, it has felt like we are being attacked for just even suggesting it. In the responses I have ether seen and had been given to me, it felt like they might as well have said “We do not want your kind playing our game then!”. That is no longer a community that can be celebrated in the game's promotion again and another good reason as any, to me asking myself do I wish to continue paying for that.

But hey, I am just one person so what does that matter? True enough except I could point to close to 10 others I am on Skype with every night that started because we all played CoH together but currently are not playing for pretty much the same reasons. Will be funny in September as most of us are also going to the CoH meet up in Birmingham as we are already paid up to go there but have since stopped playing CoH.

Other thing is there are many other friends that know I have been playing CoH for so long and have been interested in playing based on what I tell them about the game or what I previously showed them but did not because they could not afford subs or were not keen on the idea behind MMO payments in general even if the game looked good. News quickly got round about CoH going Free to Play and most have come back to me asking questions and looking forward to finally playing the game with me. Ironically though I am now telling them I am not playing right now and questioning if I should carry on playing subs for the game and ever returning. After explaining my reasons they have gone “Oh, right. Might not bother then”.

My subs and continue playing of the game will be ensured if Paragon Studios announce that they understand that iTrials are not for everyone's taste and therefore alternatives will be available in Issue 22 (I'll admit that realistically its not likely with Issue 21 with everything else being developed for that at this time) and offer details as to how the alternative progression works. I'm serious. If they simply just say something like that, I'll keep the auto sub going and return to the game and keep myself occupied with other things knowing that an alternative is on its way, because yes, I do love this game.

If not, then I am just wasting money on something I am not playing and simply take my money and business elsewhere.

I currently have a Brute that is War Mace/Willpower with the weapon choice being a War Hammer. Character is appropriately named Arngaar Hammar (Rough use of old Norse to say Angry Hammer)

He is already nice and smashy and looks great. However by the sounds of these two handed titan weapons they sound, concept wise more fitting for the character.

As such I might be tempted to re-roll the toon once I see the powerset in action. That is of course if I return to the game. The introduction of this powerset alone is not going to bring me back from my current sabbatical until other issues I have with the game at this time are dealt with.

Don't take this the wrong way, I am very much Anti-iTrial but isn't the problem of not getting a release time of any alternative Incarnate content from the Devs, and being pelted by Pro iTrialers with rotten fruit, simply because we are asking for solo content in the game when there has never been solo content made in it's history?

I know you can solo in the game a lot if you have a toon build that can, I do myself if I am not offering TF's on sals global channel. However I was under the belief that all content created was made with teaming in mind.

Is is possible that we might get a better response to our requests/frustrations if we did not use the phrase "Solo Content"? What will make me log back into the game after all this time offline and ensure I renew my subs when Freedom comes round is viable Incarnate progression without needing to take part in the iTrials. But might as well build content in the mind set that they did before, i.e. built with traditional teaming in mind and if we choose to solo it, then so be it, its possible to do so.

I hope they don't offer the Incarnate powers as purchasable items. Costume pieces or sets are fine as they are aesthetic extras.

But even though I want to have Incarnate Powers on most of my toons but hate the Trials to get them, having the powers purchasable with real cash or Paragon Points is a line even I do not want to see crossed.

My main Tanker has Very Rare everything after just 1 week after I20's release. No full days of trailing ether. I only played on evenings during the weekdays and only managed Saturday morning for 3 hours and a few hours Sunday night and then I was not necessarily only doing the trials. Some nights I was still doing the regular TF's.

Was getting rare and very rare tables frequently, hence done in a week.

My Corrupter though since Tuesday night........different story altogether. And that's after nothing but trials and a full day on Saturday.

Frustrating as hell.

I'm putting up with it for now. 3 Evenings and 1 morning of play later and I have my Very Rare Judgement and Interface and Rare Lore and Destiny on my main Tanker.

I am hoping the other 2 trials currently under development are out soon in the form of I20.5, if anything just to offer a bit of variety in doing trial runs.

Once the Tanker is done I am moving onto my Corrupter as I really, really, REALLY want Ion Judgement on that toon. But likely to be running regular content just to finish off the IO build first before going back the trials, therefore having a break from them.

Shinkuu..........SHHHINNNKUUUUU................HAA AAAAAADOOOOOOOOKEEEEEEEEEN!!!


That is what my already Pyre Mastery, Fire Ball throwing MA/SR Scrapper will be doing once it is unlocked.

Got my uncommon Musculature Core Boost last night......finally!

Had hoped I would get a Kahn TF going since I needed the drop from that to upgrade then get involved in maybe 1 or 2 more TF's to get enough shards to simply make up the other components needed.

Seemed that I missed a Kahn TF just as I finally got in last night after being stuck in the snow for 30 mins coming back from work :-( .

Got involved with a LGTF that on paper would have been hard at the Hami point with the heavy melee based team make up but we actually swatted the blue mitos away with ease and had the TF completed in 1 hour 50 mins. Considering we aimed to do the TF properly and take down all mobs we saw it was a great completion time. Came out of the TF with 7 shards.

Still no interest in a Kahn TF but to be fair it was to be expected as Wednesday is always MSR might on Union. I had already got the component from Vanguard Merits as I amass them on all my toons as I do not use them for anything other than Curse Breakers :-/

Managed to get in on a ITF and figured that if I came out with 16 shards at the end of the TF I would have enough shard to make and upgrade all the items I needed for the uncommon. Another great run that again was done the proper way in order to maximise the mobs we took on yet still completed in 1 hour 15 mins. Came out 1 shard short! :-p

Spent until about 12:45pm trying to get the last shard I needed. Used the shard to make everything else so I had 3 sitting in my tray waiting for a 4th to drop. As I was only after 1 shard and it was getting late I did not want to get involved in another TF so figured I would just do +0 x8 Radio mishes.

Could not get a drop. Tried running a Ourob TF solo at the same difficulty and still got nothing. :-/

My girlfriend offered to team with me on the Mender Silos TF to see if having a team run it, even if it was just us two, would get better results. She dropped a shard in the first mission and I finally got one in the second. We called it a night after that.

So my first toon is kitted out with what is available in the Alpha Slot. Bring on the rest of it! :-)

Interested to see how the devs review shard drop rate outside of TF's based on player responses now. I get involved in enough TF's with most of my toons for it not to be much of an issue for me personally however based on runs outside TF's I did last night, I can see why other players have concerns on shard drop rates in regular Lv 50 content.

They are such teasers! :-D

Will probably get my uncommon for my Tanker ether tonight or tomorrow night. But the slots that will give him the 45% damage increase is being a tease monkey!

As said though can run enough TF's to have all the salvage I'll likely need stored and ready to use when they are released.

And having said that only having half of the Alpha Slot being made available to us is a tease......

.....I have seen click-able info of some of the Justice slot AoE's and the numbers they are dishing out!

0_0

Got my Musculature common within the evening with my main Tanker, Prince Bishop.

Ran unlock arc with my girlfriend and one of my Global friends fairly quickly. Took a while to get an STF running though. The drop was one of the components I needed and my girlfriend needed it for Spiritual plus she had not done the STF before.

TF took longer than it should have done but again the only problem was Super Recluse. Despite Bishops latest IO build with near HP cap and massive Regen off one enemy, he still knocked me down quite a bit with calls that I should have IO'd out and made a Granite Tanker my main (I do have a Lv 50 Granite Tanker that is due to be IO'd but for everything else in game my WP/SS IO'd Tanker reigns supreme)

Came out of the TF with 8 shards though which meant I could convert the other two pieces I needed and slot the first common.

Looking for the next one tonight. Aiming for the branch that will lead to the 45% Damage increase. Will start with a Kahn TF as I need that item and enough shards to upgrade. Already converted Vanguard Merits for one part and maybe fit in another STF for the item again to complete next enhancement if I don;t have enough shards to just make one.

So far though enjoying one shotting any minion with Knockout Blow and taking out 3/4 of most LT's HP with Laser Beam Eyes and a Knockout Blow. :-)

As of writing, I am 3 hours off getting on the train for Birmingham and I am due to arrive around 6:30pm

<em brianblessed>CRY HAVOC, AND SLIP THE DOGS OF WAR!</em brianblessed>

I'm out.

Recent events in the "community" have got me to the point where I want no part of the RP scene at all.

I am taking steps to remove my presence from RP related places and people are free to disregard any previous history with any of my toons.

Even if I have had no issue with you or your SG's during my time here I do not want to have any sort of affiliation because even if I am somewhat agreeable to your views I do not want to be seen on anyone's side of any argument now or in the future it what is a clear division in the RP scene and I can not put up with such a split and everything that entails.

I have been alluring to RL issues lately although I am still not going to divulge any more info because that is private but needless to say I see CoX as an enjoyable escape from all that is going on right now but there is something wrong when I find myself turning to vodka in a misguided attempt to calm me down from happenings around the game as I did last night.

So I am taking myself out of the picture. I am not quitting the game but I am not going to put myself in a position where I have to take a stand on any side of the fence in this community. I frankly have bigger priorities in my life than get dragged into a war of words between two differing ideals.

I have already made liberal use of /ignore on forums and in game where I feel necessary, other than that I will probably still fine with simple PvE teaming in game with most of the community. And that's all I am going to have it at for the future.

My many thanks and appreciation for the invite to this specific plot and all previous RP moments I have been involved in that were trouble free and enjoyed by all.

While admittedly short on posting time today, I probably should have been able to clarify my own opinions on specific details on the subject being discussed here.

I agree with those that say the the original death toll what is was is more than likely unworkable for a continuing the story. Again be fair to CB, he has given consensus and lowered the number for the purpose making the plot carry on with a more realistic conclusion.

Now to offer my defence of being over dramatic over the way people have debated in this thread, I have to say that this debate has not been kept within the confines of this thread and has ventured into other forms of conversation that I have had to listen to. As in actually listen to over Skype.

And people have really not been happy! And really I can see their frustration. They have been accused of making big events happen and then not allowing their characters to suffer the consequences. However, I have heard plot plans going for weeks in advanced that would have said characters suffer consequences for their actions and this is coming from the toon's creator themselves.

Now fair enough, that alone would be me being "over dramatic" about this situation. Unfortunately it has become apparent to me that a lot of the arguments between some of the RP'ers here are primarily based on a general dislike of each other because of some past history ether of some argument/fight over something involving this game and in some cases, more personal matters (And no, I am not going to name names or try to sly a pointed finger at anyone!).

That's what I take issue with more so than anything else. Personal animosity towards someone is going to inevitably poison a reasonable group debate and potentially drag others into rivalries they don't ever need to be dragged into. So yes, there are some here arguing for the sake of it because they just do not like each other.

Can't speak for anyone else but I have already made it known on other areas of the RP forum that I hate being dragged into that sort of crap and feel I am forced to choose sides, to which I end up choosing nether and walk away from it all.

Now for the charge of saying people were over analysing when they were not.....

0_o

They were going onto Long Island NY, district council websites to try to say that a school wouldn't hold that many students anyway and that none of them would have been there at that specific point. And then went as far to suggest that Tomb's psychological personality was inaccurate because that mentality would not manifest in a person until she reached her 20's!....among other things.

What on Earth would be classed as over analysing?

Could be said I don't have to get involved in any of this if I am so iffy about it. Thing is I wasn't really expecting to get dragged into all this as virtue of allowing my SG and toons to get itself into Open Season. Then again, no one wants to be accused of being someone who takes their ball and goes home.


I need vodka.

Just to say that train tickets and a hotel booking will be done for me early this week, however my main reason for posting is this.....

Recently there has been, shall we say, "A Spirited Debate" going on involving members of the Union server. And it is still ongoing it seems.

Now I've been holding myself back from diving into that said thread and foot stomping on full fury like a mad man just so I can post here first and even then with some restraint here.

It would be appreciated that those coming to the meet up leave some certain types of "baggage" at home and not bring it to Birmingham with them. If you all must carry on with the debate or any other dark history between yourselves, leave it for the forum and other forms of digital space. If you can't keep any potential conversation with someone on the other side of the fence quiet and civilised, do not bring your issues with each other to a real life meet!

There are going to be people coming that will be spending considerable money and giving up a lot of time and energy to get to Birmingham and the last thing they probably want to see is a mass argument and nerd rage.

If you choose to do so then don't be shocked if you suddenly get asked to leave the premises by those that work there.


And I say that to everyone! Regardless of which side I might take in a debate, if you start any trouble, even if I agree with your viewpoint, I'll be voting to have you removed from the building by it's staff.

That is all


All the best and see you down there.

I have posted a response to Tower being dropped into the sea. He will be out of the picture for a few weeks minimum. There will be some form of plot or mini plot when Tower gets back to the Isles but that will not happen unless it is allowed to be a mini plot within Open Season or likely to be held off as a new plot once Open Season closes as it were.

I have also wrote a bit of Leon Tasker giving orders to The Dunelm Group to respond to request for help from The Nighthunters or anyone else affected by something involving Open Season. If you are doing something in game and IC, send a tell and I will bring an appropriate character.

If you are making a story/post on the forum instead and want to make use of some of my toons (who are operating in pairs for their own safety) then you can try to find me in game or send me a PM. Happy to let other write in and use my toons for a story, just obviously need an idea of how you want to use them and will offer advice on how they might react to something or if you want me to write a direct piece of dialogue.

Enough!

I'm getting enough crap as it is from my day job, I am not going to have trouble from anyone or any side when it comes to my gaming time!

As far as I was concerned we had managed to build a consensus through diplomatic means. Yes I might have preferred things to go a little differently but I think compromises were met and most people got what they wanted.

I mean hell, after the impression of success and enjoyment I got from most involved with The Dunelm Group and the Nighthunters the other night, why am I getting dragged into some heat all of a sudden?

Admittedly Pious, your character is difficult to build plot with most of the time it comes off as being too perfect. However there was still room to work with so I think it is safe to say we still came to an agreement without any fuss. It has got Tower and The Dunelm Group noticed, Ghost of Death (Who has been very accommodating, much appreciated) has got what she wanted and inflict loss on Liz Bathory by placing one of her main bodyguards out of reach, which leaves Liz with even more excuse to go knock seven kinds of crap out of her enemies which is what she wants. Wasn't exactly to original plan but we got pretty much the result we were looking for.

I do agree with Erik's (Liz) mentality though. This is a world of Super Heroes and Villains. We operate in an environment where everyone's characters are expected to battle within the game, ether in PvE environments or sometimes PvP, or a story written here on the forums or on the Union Wiki. I say I am part of the RP crowd on Union but not many people see my toons in the social gathering areas much and its because since I am playing as Super Powered beings, I work on the philosophy of "Less talk, more smash!"

I prefer IC missions and fighting than standing around all night somewhere talking. Now there is a need for character to talk to each other at some point outside of battle otherwise nothing would get done, or would not make any sense. Sure some people would have found the walls of text at the meeting the other night boring. In my defence though I'll say yes it can be but it let it happen once in a while in order to establish something character do not know. Many there had no idea who I was or my characters and came away knowing exactly who we were. Now that has happened once and the coalition has been established now we just go smash!

Hell my sig is a jokey 300 like comment on professions in game.

I'm going to finish here so, my point is, we have all got an idea of how everything to going to turn out. We might have different ideas how we get there but I have proved that consensus can be found without breaking the essence of what makes our characters who they are.

While I appreciate being asked to become involved in this plot ans the kinds words I have got so far for my contributions I am admittedly not that good at forum RP specifically mostly down to the fact that I can not guarantee I kind find the time to make frequent and adequately detailed posts. I am willing to allow others to write stories on the forum that involve my toons and can give pointers and offer direct dialogue suggestions. I am more an IC, in game smasher and happy to get involved in this from the game perspective through the existing missions in game or missions people make in AE and even PvP if necessary although I am not a fan so much of the PvP engine in this game.

But if any bickering is going to continue and I am going to be dragged into choosing sides, then all I am going to do is choose no ones side and say "screw this" and walk away to find something else to do with my time on my own in game.

Eleven replies "You haven't dumped it far away enough!"

Leon turns away for a moment to use his communicator. "Dr Roberts! Dr Roberts, this is Leon. Impervium Tower is active and is being used by someone in the Rogue Isles! To make things worse, we have confirmation that it was Impervium Tower that assaulted Talos Island to attack the Reverend Pious in Dark Astoria! Better start getting Freedom Corps and other organisations to start APB's for Tower!"

Leon turns back to Pious "OK, Reverend, I'd like to ask about this "Court". Who are they, who leads them and if you know anything concerning their use of Impervium Tower"