Heavens_Agent

Nope, not available at this point.

In all honesty, I'd simply recommend one avoid farming in the MA altogether; there are numerous other places and methods to do so, and you might as well not risk the trouble that might come of it.

I try to read everything; if the author thought such text was worthwhile to include, maybe it's worthwhile to read, too.

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Sounds like fun but maybe we should have a random drawing to see which one we do first then everyone do that one first and then so on...

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Good idea, but it might be better for a separate game, along the lines of the Color Palette Costume Contest

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I was just thinking wouldn't it work better if we only exchange descriptions and stories? Not pics or Costumes? I mean if we trade pics or anything visual, that already gives us an idea.

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I agree completely.

Sounds like fun to be had, and I don't start my new job for a couple of weeks yet. Count me in.

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Then you'll have to deal with the headache of getting it added back, and your publishing slot returned. Possibly several times.



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It was already stated that if your arc gets pulled and you get it back up it's permanently flagged so it can never be banned again.

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It was also stated that if your arc is edited and republished, said flag is removed. So probably after every patch, or at least every patch with any focus on the MA, such an arc will face being pulled again.

As someone who runs arcs solo, in my experience more than one or two EBs ruins the arc. Even if they're at a level that's beatable, having too many seriously detracts from the storyline and fun of the arc; EBs are supposed to be somewhat rare, and when they're not I start thinking how the author must have simply given up on being creative (whether that's true or not), and forget about enjoying the story and play. As a result, such arcs usually receive a lower rating from me.

In regard to AVs, they're OK occasionally. But they should probably be the big bad at the end of multi-arc story; just as every mission doesn't need an EB, every arc shouldn't have an AV. Use them sparingly, and be sure folks know when they first load up the arc that an AV's waiting for them; if I can't complete an arc due to an AV, but I was given fair warning, I don't count it against the author when I rate the arc. If I wasn't given warning, it gets a rating of no more than 2.

In your case, I'd recommend buffing the EB at the end if you feel it's needed. But the bosses don't necessarily need to be a huge barrier to the player's progression. You want they EB to be the climax of your story, so the bosses shouldn't impede play, but should be used where appropriate to build the plot. Occasional you can use a tougher boss as a mid-boss, as seen in several popular games over the years, but generally bosses shouldn't be too challenging.

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Some thought it was "gay-bashing", when in fact it is making fun of anti-gay propaganda, and the whole "recruiting" business. Some people with this complaint might not have played far enough into it to see that.

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I imagine this is why it would have been pulled. Or at least it sounds as if it's your problem. Someone offended by a mission's content may not play through the arc, instead opting to quit and report. As a result, they will not see that it's a play on the theme they percieve; they'll just experience the part that offends their values and beliefs. And this in particular is an issue that raises hackles.

Alternatively, the folks opposed to the issue usually base their stance on their beliefs and values. Once they see your ending, they might be offended and report the arc as such.

In essence, such a plot is a lose/lose. You're offending one side of a heated debate ealy on, and they won't likely play the rest. You're offending the other side at the end of the arc. In essence, the plot ends up offending everyone.

Some things to consider.

If your intent is to recreate the farming potential of the sewers, you should be fine in the eyes of the Devs as long as you avoid the use of exploits to do so. However, if that's the purpose of your arc you may have issues with players flagging it and it getting pulled. Then you'll have to deal with the headache of getting it added back, and your publishing slot returned. Possibly several times.

I don't know if this would even be used; the real reason the sewers draw so many is that it offers good xp without annoying travel. However, with MA missions there's no travel involved. They tend to have a greater variety in opponents, be less dangerous, and can be used for leveling purposes just as effectively at low levels. In short, they're more enjoyable to many the something designed to replicate the sewers would be perceived to be.

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wait, gotta be very clear when talking about this stuff.

Are you talking about the Hall of Fame CATEGORY LABEL for missions? Because that's a recognition.
Or are you talking about the Hall of Famer BADGE that accompanies getting a mission into that category?
Because the issue from a badge collector perspective is that the category is griefable and subjective and should not affect the badging mini-game. (Though I see that the category is useful for searching and such, plus enabling the Evaluator line of badges.)

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I'm talking about the badge itself.

I'm actually glad you brought this up; this is what I'm getting at. BADGES were intended as recognition for accomplishments in the game. The badging mini-game, as you put it, is something the community did by taking the earning of badges out of context. They're not necessarily there so everyone can earn them. The "gotta to earn them all" mentality that has developed ignores what badges themselves are meant to signify, and I feel should be ignored in regard to issues such as these.

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hold on here. in light of your replies about quotes and misquotes.
you've taken a comment about the badging mini-game and turned it into a need to earn them all.
I didn't say that. My statement has nothing to do with earning all of them.

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I was under the impression the goal of the supposed badging mini-game was to earn them all. If I'm wrong please enlighten me, and I'm sorry if I'm mistaken.


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to be clear: the ability to earn another badge, or all other badges, does not in any way address issues of balance and fairness with this one badge. The same as the ability to beat every other AV in the game would not excuse one AV being 100% immune to your character's attacks, that one would still be broken - whether you're out to accumulate a kill of every AV or simply take the ones that pop up in front of you.


So where do the other badges matter? for comparisons about general qualities of all badges. Every other badge in the game is an accumulation or a singular challenge. The first category being things like total kills, total healing, total missions, the second category being your MOSTF or Obos Challenges. That's not to say other types of goals don't exist - everything from beating TFs in certain times to uncovering every square of the map to winning costume contests - but those things have not had badges if they didn't meat those 2 types of very particular unbiased actions.

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And that's what I'm saying. Keep the badge, quantify its requirements, even though they may be extremely difficult for some to acquire (impossible in the minds of some, but that's a matter of perception), and keep it in game. The entire point of my post was to say that it should modified so that it cannot be awarded subjectively, and kept in the game, rather than simply removing it.

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I did not quote you out of context. I directed my statement toward the quoted text. As to the rest of that paragraph, I simply don't agree with it.

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Yes you did. You didn't even address the whole sentence. You took a fragment of said sentence, which changes its entire meaning. That is the definition of taking something out of context.


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If possible to prevent the griefing and exploits that are occurring around it at the moment, it should remain for such a purpose.

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Simply not possible with how the ratings system works.

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Then the ratings system obviously needs changed. It's very much possible, and shouldn't be discarded without looking at alternatives.

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People have been asking as much since open beta to my knowledge, and from other people's statements since closed beta.

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That doesn't make it any less valid.


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I'm actually glad you brought this up; this is what I'm getting at. BADGES were intended as recognition for accomplishments in the game. The badging mini-game, as you put it, is something the community did by taking the earning of badges out of context. They're not necessarily there so everyone can earn them. The "gotta to earn them all" mentality that has developed ignores what badges themselves are meant to signify, and I feel should be ignored in regard to issues such as these.

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What you are missing is that anyone can do those accomplishments, therefore it should be possible to earn them all. This is a game for fun. If a reward (or badge) is put in place, then everyone should be able to get that reward eventually.

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Nope, I'm not missing that. Anyone can create an arc worthy of Hall of Fame status. Just because the effort put forth to earn such a badge is different that that of other badges out there doesn't mean it shouldn't exist.


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Oh, and:
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The badging mini-game, as you put it, is something the community did by taking the earning of badges out of context.

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I did not say that, MadScientist did.

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I never claimed you did. If you'll take the time to thoroughly read my response you'll notice that statement's directed at a quote that you did not make. Unless you made it somewhere else that I'm unaware of.

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A fair amount of folks in this thread seem to be looking at the Hall of Fame badge in the wrong light;

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People can grief the ratings. No additional light is needed.

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If that was what I was talking about, you'd be correct. But it's not; please refrain from quoting me out of context.


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If possible to prevent the griefing and exploits that are occurring around it at the moment, it should remain for such a purpose.

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Simply not possible with how the ratings system works.

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Then the ratings system obviously needs changed. It's very much possible, and shouldn't be discarded without looking at alternatives.


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wait, gotta be very clear when talking about this stuff.

Are you talking about the Hall of Fame CATEGORY LABEL for missions? Because that's a recognition.
Or are you talking about the Hall of Famer BADGE that accompanies getting a mission into that category?
Because the issue from a badge collector perspective is that the category is griefable and subjective and should not affect the badging mini-game. (Though I see that the category is useful for searching and such, plus enabling the Evaluator line of badges.)

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I'm talking about the badge itself.

I'm actually glad you brought this up; this is what I'm getting at. BADGES were intended as recognition for accomplishments in the game. The badging mini-game, as you put it, is something the community did by taking the earning of badges out of context. They're not necessarily there so everyone can earn them. The "gotta to earn them all" mentality that has developed ignores what badges themselves are meant to signify, and I feel should be ignored in regard to issues such as these.

I have as well. But I really want to move up in the world, so to speak, in my arc.

I don't know if I'm remembering things correctly, but I seem to recall a mission on an office map that begins in a sewer or cave and leads into an office space. Is there such a map available in the MA?

As it stands now there's good reason to remove Dev Choice, though I would like to see a better method of attaining the honor and have it kept around. But Hall of Fame should stick around regardless, though admittedly with different requirements.

A fair amount of folks in this thread seem to be looking at the Hall of Fame badge in the wrong light; our pursuit of badges has changed our view into that of one where we think we should be entitled to earn all the badges available. We've lost sight of what badges are truly intended for, to reward an accomplishment performed in the game. That the requirements for this badge may end up more difficult for some players than most badges is not a good reason to remove it. Nor should it be removed because one has to exercise good creative, grammatical, and editing skills in order to earn it, rather than grinding mobs or spending time in a specific area.

Hall of Fame is intended to recognize those that have created content that stands out above the rest, as recognized by the players. If possible to prevent the grieffing and exploits that are occurring around it at the moment, it should remain for such a purpose. That will mean it would remain unavailable to many, but is that really so bad?

Very nice work indeed.

Candy BAD!

... cake good, though ...

... pie better ...

... cheesecake BESTEST!

You make a good point about farming, Logan, but I think you're confusing farming with exploiting in this situation. Farming is the simple act of defeating lots of things over and over again to reap the rewards of such. That's simply a part of any MMO, and its not going anywhere.

The current issue is with Mission Architect farming missions design to utilize one or more exploits in order to increase those gains above standard levels. Fixing these exploits will actually help those that enjoy farming legitimately.

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Second, the boss changes apparently went in. So in Butterfly Effect, the AV now gets Total Focus. Meaning he can one-shot so many characters. I'm already getting complaints. In preparation to these changes, I added allies to the other two arcs in the series, but as it's a dev choice, it's locked.

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That does seem to be something they overlooked. They have to regularly revisit missions after things change to quash unforeseen bugs resulting from updates, and they also add new mechanics and features that were unavailable when a mission was first designed from time to time; they really should allow Dev Choice authors the opportunity to do something similar.

The first expansion, Secret Origins, was released last year. As far as we can tell work hasn't begun on the second expansion (AEG's been busy these past months), but it's been slated for early this year.

I'm still waiting for the next expansion myself; I won a contest last spring, and my hero's going to be a part of the set.

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White Peregrine in action

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It actually looks like that might be a certain other incredibly handsome blue and white clad hero to me.

Logging in as I post this.

Not sure if I have anything going on that day, but if not I'll see everyone there.

Very nice. Now I need to work on my own some more.