Major Deej

SG name: Protectors of New England
Website: http://protectorsofnewengland.webs.com
Global: @Major Deej
Type: Casual SG
Method of Contact: On Forums or send in-game tell to @Major Deej



Greetings from New England!

The "Protectors of New England" SG is looking for new patriots to join our dedicated band of freedom fighters!

Since the game is based out of Rhode Island, the theme of this SG is related to New England in and of itself, powers and character names related to the region (character name: 'Lexington', for the town in Massachussetts, ice/snow powers=Vermont; Revolutionary War fighter=dual pistols with flintlocks/dual sword with rapier; New York=tank-type street fighters with manhole cover shields, New Jersey/'Garden State'=plant control powers, etc) Although our theme is based on the New England locale, any and all character ATs and styles are more than welcome to join!

The Protectors of New England are a casual SG on Liberty Server, with no mandated interviews to join or any other 'mandatory/'must-do-x amount-of prestige-per-week' play style, other than to be in SG mode up to level 25. Promotions within the SG are relatively easy and allows you access to the multiple storage bins for salvage, inspirations and enhancements.

Our website has pages and links to SG Events, SG history, a 'who's who' page of members, a calendar of events and a fantastic photo gallery!

Our base is small to medium sized, has teleporters to nearly all zones, salvage, enhancments and inspriation storage, vault, invention table and empowerment stations. Flashback "Pillar of Fire and Ice" and a Medical Bay with an Auto Doc also make up our base's growing list of features!

Most of the SG's members are usually from the US East coast, and play weekday evenings and most of the weekend time, however, we also have a wide range of Australians, European NA players, and west coasters as well!

We'd love to have you be a fellow "Protector" patrolling and teaming throughout Paragon City! To join, or get additional information, reply to this thread, visit our website or send an ingame email or tell to (global) @Major Deej.

From what I've read on the forums from Sexy Jay and Babs, each character has a 'budgeted' amount of actions/items/movements/costume pieces etc that are allowed to make-up a character, so as not to overload the game and character's standard movement and action requirements.

Capes eat the budget a lot. Wings also take a large toll on the charcters' budget. In previous forum posts a few years ago, I remember the discussion of why 'more' capes or 'more' wings (other than the singular pairs currently available to all in one manner or another) were not feasible due to exceeding this predetermined character's design budget.

If you want more details on this, you might want to try to PM our favorite costumes dev, Jay, to get more information about this, since I am, by no stretch of reality, in any understanding or league of the reasoning why multiple wings probably won't work. Go to the pro from Dover.

RSVP message sent, Hilton Boston Back Bay hotel reservations are confirmed, and the wife ("Clipp") and I will be there for the Meet & Greet!

Frantically looking forward to seeing our fellow ostentacious players, our freem-tastic devs, and the most auspicious Community Relations team ever (ok, Stan Lee's over-adjectivized writing caught up with me..)!

Edit: I play on any/all servers (mostly Freedom and Guardian), "Clipp" is a Champion server player most of the time.

I'm 2+ hours away and am planning on attending the Meet and Greet. Just waiting to find out where the location is actuallygoing to be for that.

There's obviously no way I'll be able to get tickets/passes to the session, (since they're sold out for that day) but I'm sure I'll be there for the Meet & Greet that evening; just name the time and place.

Make sure its a big place; lotsa new englanders and east coasters around here that I'm sure will find the time to chat and drink and shmooze with our Paragonian overlords.

If our Paragon Studios crew find the time to drive an hour south of Boston to Providence, Rhode Island that fateful weekend, there happens to be a place with the right name to go to - Cafe Paragon. They have a 10am to 2pm Sunday brunch menu that might fit your schedule, depending on when you're flying back home. It's a small restaurant, but one of the best in the city. Would be a unique place to say you've been to...in Rhode Island of all (game) places!

Unfortunatley, the snow kept me from getting home in time to participate

Hope to see more of these!

The Ocho realizes too late the the "Croatoa Clubbers" is NOT a bunch of partying college students from the Croatoa University going 'clubbing' on a Friday night...


If I am a winner, I permit NC Interactive, Inc. and NCsoft Europe Limited to use my name, likeness, photograph, hometown, and any comments that I may make about myself or this contest that I provide for advertising and promotional activities. I also certify that I am at least 13 years of age and am eligible to participate in this contest.

In the inspiration of the moment:

As I pondered the forums verily
Across a post from Steelclaw I opened merrily

Knowing the humor about to ensue
I set down my soda so as not to spew

Within moments my grin quickly grows
Against my wishes a laugh loudly bellows

My fellow workers peer over the office wall
To see me laughing uncontrollably with 'lol'

I try mightily to expalin what has caused me to be so loud and rude
only to be looked as just another strange 'gamer' dude

As they walk away with an averted eye
I continue with my self-imposed laughing high

I wipe the tears of laughter away once again as times before
Knowing that another post from Steelclaw has made my spirit soar


Thanks again, Steel! I don't know how you do it, but you continue to make some of the most painful days here at work seem all that much better!

I have one that has a mix of WWII 5th Column, nazi troops, and my namesake WWII era SG (Allied Fighters) and VG (Axis Force) members in it (even Der Fuhrer is in it!).

It's named "One o' Clock Time Jump". It's challenging, but also has some interesting plot twists in it.

Damn nice costume! Great symbols! Eeerie Tunnel!

OK, interest is getting piqued a tad more...damn, I'm easy....

Thanks, War Witch!!!

"Mellisa!! Seriously, I was joking! I didn't mean it when I said 'Posi is still the boss'! Don't leave me like this in the Virtue Pocket D with this 'ERP Me' sign on my back!"

If I am a winner, I permit NC Interactive, Inc. and NCsoft Europe Limited to use my name, likeness, photograph, hometown, and any comments that I may make about myself or this contest that I provide for advertising and promotional activities. I also certify that I am at least 13 years of age and am eligible to participate in this contest.

Incedible news!

However, I have a feeling Posi is up to something I'd recently started thinking about...the next version of of CoH, maybe?? I'd posted this reply just a short while ago.

This just adds another point on my list!

Again, incredible news!

Although this is pure conjecture on my part, I truly believe there is something else going on rather than the "Going Rogue" expansion and additional issue development.

Point #1: If you look at the trend that our devs have done this past 2+ years, you will notice that they have come up with incredible efforts that we were not even aware of until near the end, key amongst those is power customization and VEATs. They've worked things in the background for years/months without our knowledge, well in advance, well planned out. Keep this in mind for the next few points...

Point #2: Staff has increased. New developers/assistance/team members have arrived since the Freem team's incredible efforts...

Point #3: Going Rogue expansion is coming. This is a perfect opportunity for new members of the development team to 'cut their teeth' on, get used to the system, standards and tools that had been utilized by the Freem team...maybe to be used on something else down the line...

Point #4: The Devs, NCSoft, MMO webzines and the entire player/forum base know that this game is starting to get old. Contents available since Issue 1 still permeate our screens, and age-old CoH Veterans, although content with the much of the game's offerings, have of course, made it known that new material, like changing zone facades, adding new storylines/zones, etc is needed. The devs/managers in charge of this game will NOT state publicly the game is getting old (bad for business), however, as mentioned, they know this...

Point #5: Competition is getting tough. Many of the new relevant sci-fi/comic/adventure based MMOs read the writing on the walls awhile back and saw the niche that CoH/V held was unchallenged. Since then, competition has come in, flags waiving in the wind, with all their new bells and whistles to draw you away from the aging CoH/V...

Point #6: The current game engine is dated and limited to rendering the types of things the player base/developers want to do. As mentioned in many discussions here on the forums, BAB, Posi, Castle and a cast of many have identified shortcomings of the game in regards to the game engine that will not allow them to do certain 'cool' and 'requested' functions. As time ticks on, the effects are felt more each day, especially, with new competition being able to use the latest and greatest to their ends. Even though our ability to bring in "ultra mode" graphics is still a fantastic forthcoming feature (ergo showing how flexible and dedicated our devs are), this unto itself is a stopgap that will help keep those excited about the graphics in the game from running off with the competition; a stopgap that probably is the last major magic they'll be able to do with the existing system requirements, settings and engine (again, conjecture in my part).

Point #7: The player base is eagerly awaiting content. Content that gets us better PvP, closing up the "Coming Storm" storyline, new storylines with new villains/heroes to mix it up with, new zones to 'mix it up' in with said heroes/villains, and more. As an MMO, there will always be a push for new and exciting content. City of Heroes/Villains has already set major antagonistic groups with the Rikti, the 5th Column, Arachnos, et al, however, new antagonists are always in high demand, especially ones that are a few degrees of separation from existing antagonists already in the game.

What does this all add up to? Again, in my opinion, I believe that the next major step for CoH/V has already been started: the next new version of City of Heroes!

Again, in my estimation, everything adds up with the provided points.

-This game is a solid performer.
-It will not be left in the dust by NCSoft.
-Paragon Studios and NC Soft are a business, not a fly-by-night throw together.
-They're still developing material that can fill up the next couple years on CoH/V.

We all know it takes YEARS to get a new game put out there, but if you add it all up, let's think about it:

· The devs are dedicated to the game; they love this game, and this community; they will not allow the game to die
· Increased number of new employees to take on the task of heralding in a new version of the game
· The newbie developers will come into this new game version with skills learned from "Going Rogue"
· The desire to perpetuate CoH/V is across the board; players, managers, devs, techs and more. The community continues to perpetuate the love of this game.
· It's time to 'up the ante' on the competition; take what we are already; add a few new things from the competition that people like, fix PvP, and WA-LA! A new version of the game that everyone will like.
· New game engine with higher spec requirements (and I’m sure graphics requirements) for all the new computers out now, allowing for greater flexibility of the devs over the coming several years beyond the new version's start-up. No more having to keep developing content to the 'lowest common denominator' of baseline equipment requirements of the existing game.
· All new, all shiny, all flashy wow-gotta-have-da-coolness-now feature unto itself (i.e., "I don't want to play an old game").

As such, NCSoft and Paragon Studios are looking at what the competition is doing, and have already added what they deemed 'worthy' into their growing 'what do we put into the next version of the game" list. With the smart and dedicated folks I have seen at Paragon Studios, I believe this list has already been streamlined, reviewed and approved for content for the next version of the game.

What I believe is happening now if the hard parts of inital design; make the game's world. What zones? What characters? What graphics? What game engine? What stories? What direction do I take this game - a war time period of good vs. evil; space travel, international, what? This is what I'm guessing is going on now; brainstorming session on details of the content for the new version.

Why don't I call the new game version something popularly stated like "World of Heroes", or "City of Heroes: the Next Generation" or the like? I don't know what they have in mind for their theme. I an a trend reader; not a mind reader. Whatever the new version's name is, I am most assuredly positive, again, in my own opinion that the foundation for the next version of the game is already in motion.

And after all that long, drawn out points and discussion, TL;DR version is:

The reason why the devs are keeping to themselves is they are working on Going Rogue, Booster Packs, Issue 17 and 18, and what I'm sure most already knew, but no one else in power at NCSoft or Paragon Studios can say, the initial creation of the highly-expected foundation of the next version of the game (again, in my opinion).

I agree with most all of this!

I think the troopers paratrooping into battle might be a little graphically intensive (neat idea though!), instead just have them appear from the ether on the outside of the invasion battle area, utilizing the same invasion engine used for Rikti and Zombies.

The Mechman GM is perfect! Definitely needs to be added at a timemark in the invasion cycle. Maybe even a max of 2 or 3 showing in the zone if the zone population is heavy.

Zepplins, not blimps! Must be long bodied, slow moving, well-decorated 5th Column Zepplins!

I'd love to see some type of a sky color change during this event also, but the right color should be red. That would mean the zombie invasion sky would need to change to another color, like maybe orange to allow the right color schemes in the sky to herald in this 5th Column Invasion; just a suggestion.

This is part of a 'carry on' from a thread over in the CoH/CoV General Discussion Thread titled "Would you Buy..." from the original OP, Gromar. Rather than toss 'suggestions' into his thread, I figured it would be better to post the suggestions here where they belong (yes, I know, "Base Construction" section couild have profited from this being there, however, since it's also a 'suggestion'...I tossed a coin, thus, the thread started here) :-)

Anyway, here goes....

1st item- dozens of existing (up to issue 16) in-game mish/TF/SF room themes/details/items=available for base editors with each and every issue (for free) starting with Issue 17.

I agree that we need SOMETHING (ANYTHING!) for our bases. We all know there are thousands of existing items strewn throughout the developer's/designer's file 'o many things that are currently used on current mission/TF/SF maps. These items mat be as simple as a vase, to a table, to plants/planters, wall art, pipes, and even computer consoles (say, Council/5th Column computer consoles?). Personally, I believe that any items that already exist in these particular instances (up to Issue 16), should be provided with at least 3-5 dozen items PER issue release starting with Issue 17, to allow base editors something (anything!) to be able to look forward to in updating/designing their bases, to keep them fresh...not stale as they all are now. This would ALSO include themes sets of rooms/walls/floors/ceilings styles that already exist (coiuld be easily transferable to the players) in the game as well. In my opinion, these should all be provided piecemeal for free, per issue, each issue, just as many costume items have thusfar in the past in each issue (yes, I know some items have already been made avilable in issue releases; I'm suggesting a regular 'per issue' rollout).


2nd item- New Stuff=Base Booster Pack.

There is a HUGE and detailed list of requested material and functions in these forums under "base construction" that should/could be added to the bases. Of this list, such things as 'in-base MA consoles', tailor accessible NPCs/Icon Station/Facemaker Station, dynamic (changeable) bulletin boards, 4 vs 2 beacon teleporters, new room themes/room details/chairs/beds/banner styles, etc. should be allowed to be provided in a Base Booster Pack (think of this as "The Sims 2" Expansion packs; university, teen living, nightlife, etc). The funds spend on the base booster packs would go towards CREATING these new and neat things like 'different sized rooms", 4 vs 2 beacon teleporters, et al; things the base building community has been patiently and methodically clamoring for over the last 3 years. It would not see the same volume of purchase as the Costume/Themed Booster Packs currently available, however, I would imaging it would bring in enough revenue to garner at least one artist/designer that could make newer base booster packs, and/or support the 1st item listed above (transferring existing in-game mish/TF/SF map items to be made available to players for free with each new issue release). I'm sure this suggestion has been made before, and as such, I'm sure the community gets the idea behind this.


3rd Item - Free/Purchasable(?) Superpowered Base Expansion Pack



Related base 'love' can eventually culminate in features that I'd rather see in a nice free issue, but maybe... maybe to get the ball rolling on this, have a new (small) purchasable "Superpowerd Base Expansion Pack"! Such things in the pack could be:

• Base PvP (ala X-Men Danger Room/"Arena" style fighting) with the base layout as a map option
• PvE Base Raids with SG/VG vs. NPC capabilities
• The oft-requested revised Cathedral of Pain mega-mish with or without a retooled singular 'Items of Power' (I'm sure that the devs/designers could maybe allow a SG/VG accolade based on the gain of an "Item of Power" that allows for 1.5x or even double the baseline prestige/infamy per CoP teamate for 14 realtime days or the such for each successful CoP raid (capped at double).
• Dev-created SG/VG missions for the mission computers
• Possibly even...an MA feature for player-edited MA missions that can be made/'accessed' via the base mission computer only (think: player-generated SG/VG mission 'coming home' from the MA building to the SG/VG base's mission computer!).
• Entirely new group of base wall/floor/ceiling theme sets (steampunk, ultra-science, underground, castle-like, etc.
• Vertical Axis plane for placement of items in base editing/building (do away with stacking!!!!)

Again, these are all suggestions that may or may not have already been brought to light in one way or another. I do not intend nor desire to take away credit for those that have mentioned these before; this was simply a train of thought that started in another thread regarding "would you buy a base booster pack?" and morphed into this.

So, is this doable? would this be a good suggestion/set of suggestions regarding some well needed 'base love'?

Hmmmm...interesting dilemma.

I'd buy it, pending on volume of material and what type of stuff was available, however, since my continued response borders on 'suggestions', and I don't wish to get flamed/persecuted/offend fellow forumites for 'suggesting' things in the OP's thread, I'll instead provide a link to here to further expand on where this could/should go, in my opinion.

Darn good question, by the way, OP!

Out of curiosity, how many of you have characters that are the same or about 95% similar that exist on servers other than your prime toon's character?

An example of this would be one of my favorites, Chrononaut. I created this character on Freedom blue side, and while creating him, thought, "hmmm...since he's a time/dimensional traveller as part of his storyline, I wonder what it would be like to have this similar toon on each server?". Thus, I created one on each server; same costume, same powers, same relative bio, however, due to others using the name Chrononaut already, I put either an "s" on the end of his name or a "." just to keep the flow going.

So how about it? Do you do this for any of your characters? Do you have the same toon on all servers, or only a couple? Is this idea out to lunch? Again, curiosity, not any form of judgement, fuels this question.

To parallel much of what has been said, I have bios on each and all of my characters (over 120).

A fair portion of my characters are ones I drew up from my youth when I used to draw and make my own heroes from scratch. I'd written their bios as part of an info sheet I had with each drawing, and for the most part, have closely related bios for the ones I now use in-game (updated for the times, the CoH lore, and improved writing/description styles after years of English classes).

On occassion, I'll update or modify the bios if I have taken the character down a particular path, i.e., now has the Circle of Thorns as his sworn enemy, etc.

I have truly enjoyed using the bios on my characters to simply allow more depth and meaning for the characters' personas, and as such, make them more meaningful to play. ALthough I have many alts, I'll always go back to a toon and run them for awhile simply due to the fact that I love the character's backstory or premise.

I tried to make characters without bios, just to see if I could do piecemeal updates as they leveled, hoping that would create a stronger desire to play them more often, but I'd usually delete the toons in short span instead.

Although I'm not a big RPer, a couple of buddies and I have used our bios as premise for our interaction when we team. An example of one is a character of mine called Irish Fighter (Protector), who is a slow-aging SS/Invul mutant that fought alongside other heroes during WWII. As such, my buddies constantly call him 'old man' when we're chatting in-game. Makes it that much enjoyable.

Although it may be 'passive marketing" or simply "luck of the dice", a few episodes of the TV comedy "Big Bang" have shown CoH/V material; shirts, images etc. in the background or on characters in and around the comic shop in the show.

Granted its not 'direrct' or 'in your face' advertsing, but it's at least present here and there.

Link to YouTube segment showing this guy wearing CoH shirt (a few other related links may show some City of Villains material on the back walls).