Golden_Avariel

The lag is bad in Atlas when you are anywhere near the AE building (or anywhere in the zone really) but I haven't noticed AE lag outside of there.

I really do like the fact that I can go to almost any zone and have an AE building almost to myself. Plus being able to look out the windows and see the landscape, and walk out onto the balcony is just TOO cool! I wouldn't want to give either of those two things up.

But that's just my opinion.

Yes. It seems to happen when you exceed a certain number of characters or if you paste from something like a word processor (or maybe both).

At any rate, as long as it looks good in the preview on the right it'll be ok.

I really wish they would fix all the text editing in both the MA and the bio.

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I'd settle for having "front" spawn points which are reliably in the front, and "back" spawn points which are reliably in the back.

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we really need just 2 - entrance, and special spot in last room.

Entrance would be first spawn you encounter. You can set an ally there or whatever.

Special spot is for those maps which have a platform or other special place in the last room and you really want the big boss to spawn there. Instead he spawns in a corner right now.

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To either or both of those suggestions - Amen Amen Amen!

*looks around and quietly goes back to corner*

oh... and the original idea is very cool as well.

I know they run on indoor maps. In fact they run so quickly after the final kill that some people wonder what happened to them when the fight is over. Apparently they shout their thanks over their shoulder instead of running up to the hero to speak before running.

I finally figured out to set the rescued emote to Talk in order to get them to stand still long enough to have their say. If there is a way to make them work like they do in dev missions I haven't figured it out yet.

Guess I'll give this a shot...

Title: Tale of Two Sisters
Arc ID: 125417
Creator’s Global Name: @Golden Avariel
Difficulty Level: Starts out standard difficulty and ramps up in the later missions.

Synopsis: A woman has been asked by her parents to look into her little sister's strange behavior. Her little sister is the famous model Diamond Blue of Silks 4th Avenue. When it turns out she has turned to crime, including murder, it is up to you to stop her.

Number of EB/AVS: 2 boss encounters (1 EB/Boss and 1 AV/EB)
Story Type: Heroic Story
Mission Count: 4
Estimated Time to Play: 1.5 to 2 hours

Notes
The narrowest mission is 5-14 but I recommend it for levels 12-19. Anyone over 14 won't make experience in the first two missions but those are the shortest. My experience is that a party of 14's do very well in this arc. I have soloed the story with my blaster.

All maps are either medium or small. The 3rd mission is a Defeat All and is on the small map. Enemies: Skulls, Trolls, Circle of Thorns, and a small custom group.

An ally escort is in the last mission but since the escort is a required task you should use them only if you don't think you can beat the EB/AV boss. If the ally dies you will fail the mission. If you don't want to use the ally simply complete the escort task. This last mission is the only one that can be failed.

The narrow caves were not used.

Ha! I knew you guys would know the answer. Thanks!

I don't think that's it. I didn't have to do that on my old XP system to get paste to work.

I was hoping someone might know if the print-screen key has to be enabled in Vista to actually scrape the screen to the clipboard. I'm brand new to Vista and I assume it must be some problem like that.

I think you are right. I really really wish we could better customize our custom powers especially having a few NPC sets with a minor ranged or melee attack paired with a minor defence or resistence that gives standard mez protection.

Anyway, my SG was kind enough to run my story last night and I feel a lot better about my customs (and my story in general). Everyone seemed to have a good time even when we team wiped once (accidentally aggroed a 2nd group).

My AV (who spawned as an EB because we were on Heroic) went down pretty quick and he has Fiery Aura at Hard. But then if I had 8 people pounding on me I'd probably go down under the barrage too. I know when I ran it solo the final EB was a very exciting challenge so I'm going to leave him alone.

Thanks for the insights and comments.

In the past in order to take a pic of any full-page UI screen like the tailor screen I would press the print-screen button, alt-tab to Paint and paste it.

With my new system using Vista all I get is a big black picture.

I've tried various options in the shortcut like turning off windows color system and running in compatibility mode but none of that seems to help.

Has anyone heard of this problem before? Talking with others it seems like the print-screen+paste thing is pretty hit-and-miss.

---System information gathered by CoH Helper version 0.1.1.7---

DxDiag gathered at April 12, 2009 18:20 (-05:00)
Operating System: Windows Vista™ Home Premium (6.0, Build 6001) Service Pack 1 (6001.vistasp1_ldr.081020-1655)
System Manufacturer: Dell Inc.
System Model: Studio XPS 435MT
BIOS: Default System BIOS
Central Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7 CPU 920 @ 2.67GHz (8 CPUs), ~2.7GHz
Memory: 6134MB
.Net Memory Report: 4618MB out of 6134MB available
Page File: 10813MB (1672MB currently in use)
C Drive: (WDC WD6400AAKS-75A7B2 ATA Device) 518250MB out of 595055MB (87%) free
D Drive: (WDC WD6400AAKS-75A7B2 ATA Device) 8072MB out of 15359MB (52%) free
E Drive: (HL-DT-ST DVD+-RW GH30N ATA Device) zero-size drive
Windows directory location: C:\Windows
DirectX: DirectX 10
DirectX Diag version: 6.00.6001.18000 (64-bit version)

Display Notes: No problems found.
Sound Notes: No problems found.

No problems found.

No problems found.
Input Notes: No problems found.

Monitor: Generic PnP Monitor
Monitor's Max Resolution: (blank)
Video Device Name: ATI Radeon HD 4800 Series
Manufacturer / Chip: ATI Technologies Inc. / ATI Radeon Graphics Processor (0x9442)
Video Memory: 3315 MB
Driver Version: 7.15.0010.0134
Driver Date: 9/10/2008 4:03:24 AM
Driver Language: English

Sound Device Description: Speakers (Realtek High Definition Audio)
Driver File: RTKVHD64.sys
Driver Version: 6.00.0001.5735
Driver Date: 12/22/2008 2:37:44 AM

Sound Device Description: Realtek Digital Output (Realtek High Definition Audio)
Driver File: RTKVHD64.sys
Driver Version: 6.00.0001.5735
Driver Date: 12/22/2008 2:37:44 AM

Sound Device Description: Realtek Digital Output(Optical) (Realtek High Definition Audio)
Driver File: RTKVHD64.sys
Driver Version: 6.00.0001.5735
Driver Date: 12/22/2008 2:37:44 AM


WMI Information
Motherboard Manufacturer: Dell Inc.
Motherboard Model: (empty)
Motherboard Product: 0R849J
Motherboard Version: A01
BIOS Manufacturer: Dell Inc.
BIOS Name: Default System BIOS
BIOS Version: DELL - 20090312
BIOS Release: 20090312000000.000000+000

Registry Information for Current User
Resolution: 1024x768
3D Resolution: 1024x768 (Not using renderscale)
Full Screen: Yes
Maximized: No
Screen Position: 0, 0
Refresh Rate: 60Hz
Vertical Sync Enabled: Yes

Physics Quality: Medium
Maximum Particles: 50000
Max Particle Fill? 10.000
Physics Card Enabled: No

Anti-aliasing: None
Anisotropic Filtering: 4x
Texture LOD Bias: Smooth
Water Effects: High Quality
Bloom: 1.000 (turned on)
Depth of Field Enabled: Yes
Desaturation Effects (Sepia) Enabled: Yes
Shader Detail: Low (with world bumpmaps)

World Texture Level: Very High
Character Texture Level: Very High
World Detail Level (Vis_Scale): 1.000
Entity Detail Level: 1.000
Shadows Enabled: Yes
Gamma Correction: 1.000
Geometry Buffers (VBOs) Enabled: Yes
Suppression of Extra Player FX Enabled: Yes
Suppression of FX When Camera Close Enabled: No
Close Suppression Range: 3.000
Show Advertisements: Yes

Audio Mode: Performance
3D Audio: No
FX Sound Volume: 1.000
Music Sound Volume: 0.600

Show Advanced Graphics Options: No
Overall Graphics Quality: 0.600
Reverse Mouse Buttons: No
Save Login Username: Yes
Transfer Rate: 780150 bytes/second
Current Game Version: 18.20090324.13T2?
Installation Directory: C:\Program Files (x86)\City of Heroes

Mod files in the Data directory
No modifications found

Note: I've updated my ATI driver to 8.12 since this helper info was generated but everything else remains the same

Yes, I would imagine a controller wouldn't have too much trouble in mine until getting to the bosses which do have armor and that usually means player-standard mez protection.

I noticed when I soloed them with my blaster that as long as my immobilize got them I was pretty safe. Despite having various blaster powers the melee types never did use them. But I notice the trolls and skulls did the same thing so I don't think it is a problem with my customs.

That's good to know someone has gotten to 13 fighting custom mobs. I've started a new character on Protector that I'm going to get up to 5th so I have someone to test with.

I've heard a lot about EB's and AV's too. But I assume anyone who doesn't think they can handle those just needs to run at Heroic. Even with my characters at the level cap they still spawned as Boss and EB's respectively. They were tough but not unbeatable.

*sigh* I think I need a break from this. The frustration level is too high.

I like that idea Thumbs up or not and send a comment. Then on the browser we need real numbers indicating how many started the arc, how many finished it, and how many gave it a thumbs up.

I also agree that something MUST be done about the lousy text editing. Cursors suddenly missing, typing not going in until after you re-arrange things, whole sections missing after a paste, especially if you paste to add, and yes where are my freakin paragraphs (applies to my personal Bio as well)!?

I have a lot of other things I want but it doesn't sound like they are addressing those unless they are in the "And More!" category... standard mob name editing, NPC powers availability, more options to make testing easier (I hope that's the toolbox thing).

There is an option in the settings about what the rescued escort will do once rescued. Stay or stand is an option as is follow and wander randomly. Might want to check your setting on that.

You can also set an option about what they do when delivered - if you don't want them following you forever even after being taken to the door be sure to set that one to leave via nearest door.

I created a small custom mob. Most have only attacks, a range and a melee, no armor. I tried to make them beatable while still a challenge. I put in some skulls to the mission to make it scale to level 14 and some trolls to make the minimum 5.

I know the mission can be done at level 14 by both a blaster and a scrapper. The custom guys are rough but I liked the challenge.

My wife saw the mission was 5-14 so she went in with her level 6 scrapper. She got killed 3 times and finally gave up promising to try again at 10th.

Is it my imagination or do the custom mobs NOT scale down very well? Do they have all their powers regardless of level and just the damage scales down? Is there no other throttle on those guys?

Just curious what those playing the MA at the very low levels have experienced. I'm not sure what I can do to make my arc actually work for the full range. The only thing I can think of is to not use custom critters at all.

Subjective: Allow us to access the ID screen on standard mobs added to custom groups. It would be nice to also allow us to create a new look for them as well (I realize you can't actually edit an npc's existing look).

Subjective: Can't agree more with others - we need to have additional power sets possibly listed under "All" or a new "NPC" category that has a grab bag of various npc/invention powers. A Jab with Pistol, a Shotgun with Crowbar, a Snapshot with Bat, a generic defence ability with some minor resist and/or defence that scales up from standard/minion to extreme/boss well and uses the standard npc mez protection scheme.

I hate having to sacrifice defence to get both a melee and range, and I hate that so many things have a secondary effect that turns out too powerful when put on a minion.

lol no thanks, I'll stick with my problem. At least I know how to fix mine.

Same as Eva, I haven't even opened the custom groups tab. So far I only have one mission with one goal that uses the custom group and I'm tweaking it from there. I figure once I like them I'll start adding new missions and goals involving them.

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So, there's no way to like take any NPC's and re-name them as a custom mob for instance?

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I can't find a way but I'd love it. Mooks would go well in one of my custom groups to limit their level range but the name is a huge turnoff. Even if all edit did was go directly to the ID screen to set name, faction, and description I would be happier. If I could also make him look like I want that would be awesome. I have no interest in changing their powers, only their name and sometimes their look.

I had a lot of problem trying to delete standards out of my groups. I kept pressing remove but everytime I came back they were in. I couldn't get them off my big custom critters list either till I went into the folder on my computer and manually deleted them.

I thought of that a little bit after I posted. I remember he was the one that remarked they were grey to him. That would explain it.

I guess I was stuck on the idea that these are task-forces where the highest level regardless of leader is the level of the TF (for non-signatures). It obviously a hybrid with rules taken from both TF's and normal contacts.

Sorry. I should have thought it out more before I posted.

The whole front/middle/back thing is messed up. Things I place in the back end up in the middle before things I placed in the middle, etc.

On topic - I ran into an AV the other day that dealt enough damage in a single blow to put my level 38 Dark tank (auto-exemp'd to 30) on the ground. I never even had a chance to trigger my heal, I was just dead. I encountered him just inside the entrance. *waves to waiter* Check please!

We were running an arc last night designed by one of our supergroup members. It was fun but a little too easy. I was the leader and that character is set for Heroic.

When we entered the last mission and the minions were gray to some and blue/green to me he made us pull out and reset the mission. This time he was the leader set to Rugged.

It was like night and day. The minions were orange and red and some of the bosses were purple. It turned into a completely different mission.

Why the big diff between heroic and rugged? I REALLY thought it was going to go from blue/green to white when we reset it.

The other thing I noticed was that his minions used power sets I've read over and over shouldn't be used but they were fine. Super Strength, Dark, Regen on Hard Lieutenants and Willpower on Hard bosses etc. Has anyone with real experience (if such a thing exists yet) thought about writing a How to Design Custom Critters guide? I've read the one in the Wiki but it needs fleshing out. Especially the section on selecting actual powersets.

Maybe creature difficulty is too personal to make a good guide on what powers work well together in an NPC. *shrug*

What about the two Ouroborus missions?

In the first you rescue the guy in the kilt who becomes an ally for destroying the Shivan meteor.

In the second you rescue numerous "fashion victims"... then again, that's probably a different Atlas Park map. Cool map though. I love seeing the limos and red carpets.

[ QUOTE ]
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Read the EULA and you will probably figure it out.

No Drug references

[/ QUOTE ]

Does Superadine count?
How about Council Super Soldier Serum?
How about Shift?


[/ QUOTE ]

Yep, exactly my point. But he was obviously paraphrasing from memory because there is no such prohibition that I can find.

Bah, All I see is the standard Rules of Conduct that says "You may not use sexually explicit, harmful, threatening, abusive, defamatory, obscene, hateful, racially or ethnically offensive language." and an additional in the release notes about attempting to bypass the profanity filter.

Drugs aren't mentioned in either place that I can find.

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No Drug references, no sex references, no racial remarks, no copywritten (non-COH) names, no obscenities (this is one has a VERY wide net, poopy probably qualifies) and so on and so on. A LOT of people fall down on the drug references and get genericized for it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Does that mean mentioning a particular drug or is any reference to drugs (generic) or addiction going to be a problem? I mean, the game is full of references like that.

I'm with you on this one. What Can we use? If I can't use either Defense-based armors OR Dark armor what does that leave? fire?

I'm going with my guys as is set to "Standard" except one boss. I'll see how it goes in testing.

This is getting annoying. I wish to heaven they had allowed us access to the npc powers or given us the ability to edit standard npc's added to custom groups. I'd love it if I could "Add to Custom" then have the edit pop up with the costume creator that includes a "Skip" button if you don't want to change their look and proceed to the name/description page.

Mine are in Cuppamanga's thread but there are my two main bugs:

Feature Name or Description: Supergroup Base & Teams

Operating System (Vista, XP, OS X version): Vista & XP
User Client (Mac, PC, Linux): PC

Bug Description:
1) Sometimes the leader of the team is unable to select a teammate's mission. This seems to happen most when the team is co-op playing a contact and all have identical missions but I haven't tested that.

2) All banners in my base are now white with the SG symbol. The banner's pattern seems to be missing.

Link to Forum Discussions: CuppaManga's thread