Hi board, you don't know me but I have probably played with many of you. I have just registered today to post this message.
Just a bit of background on me: I imported the game from the US and were playing on the US servers before COH came to Europe. I can remember when there was no "mission exit" button and patrolling around Paragon and clicking telephone boxes was considered a mission. So I am a bit of a Veteran, you see
I have seen many good developments and some bad ones. The invention system has to be my favorite addition, with City of Villains a close second, and my least favorite is probably ED.
I was really looking forward to MA, because I consider myself quite creative and wanted to have a bash at making an interesting and enjoyable story. When I14 was released I spent many hours making a 4 mission arc, with an interesting story and carefully created custom bosses. I was very happy with it, and played it several times. But later I stumbled on to a team that were farming a mission with Rikti Com Officers in it. I was using a character that was probably early 20's and by the end of the mission I had picked up an extra 10 levels. Now then, what do you think is going to be more popular: my 4 mission arc with custom bosses and interesting storyline, or a mission where you can level up 10-20 times in a mission? I admit that it took about half a second of being angry, to jumping straight on the bandwagon and leveling up a load of boring, stuck in a rut characters that were sitting at mid 20s. Yes I now have a whole load of newly created level 50's, who would never have gotten there had it not been for MA farming. I have now experienced what it's like to have a War Shade at level 50, and I'm loving it. I have spent approx 600 million on her to make her really special. I am not a fan of melee characters and now I have a scrapper and a tank at early 40s, again I would have not bothered to grind them up to such a high level.
Like many people who play this game, I am in full time employment and don't have time to grind (and it is a grind, especially levels 20-31). I want to come home, kick off my shoes and have a good game; it is my leisure time and I want it to be as pleasurable as possible. MA farming is another facet of enjoyment, along with buying and selling on the auction house, and doing TF's and missions with people we like.
I believe that NC Soft has reacted very badly to a situation that they have created. How difficult would it have been to just nerf the RCO as soon as it was spotted? They did it to the Council spawning pod thing! And what constitutes a farm anyway? And for that matter, what's wrong with farming? If people want to farm let them do it. I've done the TV mish hundereds of times with my dominator. Why? Cos it's fun to take down massive mobs with a super hero. We are super heroes right? Farming is fun to those that enjoy it, it's not everyones cup of tea, but so what?
Although the levels gained from MA farming was totally mad, it was still fun and the level boost was more than welcome. I expected that sooner or later the loophole would be tightened, and com officers would be nerfed (rightly so). What I didn't expect was the threat issued by Posi. He is saying that they are going to "fiddle" with our characters that have gained experience from farming. Oh right, are you indeed? Well since we're making threats here's one to you:
If you so much as look at my level 50 Warshade and restrict her access from me, I will leave the game and never come back. Simple as that! You will lose a loyal subs-paying customer because of your actions. And surely you don't need to be reminded that a certain new superhero MMO is due for release in 2 months time.
I have been with this game for a very long time, I have resisted the lure of WOW, I tried WAR and GW, but none of them compare with the great game of COH, which is still my favorite game of all time. I have tollerated your nerfs up to now, but I will not tollerate you restricting access to my new favorite characters. The power is mine, and I shall wield it in whichever way I desire.
