Peregrine_Falcon

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I got my Broadsword/Shield Scrapper to level 27. Running my story arcs, no task forces yet. Less than 50 merits. Can't afford anything except a couple of level 20 SOs and some random Inspirations. Yeah. Ok. Maybe when I get to 40 I'll have enough merits to actually get something with.

What's worse is that I don't even know what my goal is. I can't look at meritnpc's list and find a number to shoot for because he won't show me anything that I can't already afford.

*Merits Awarded* "Cool! Let's go talk to meritdude and see what I can get for my merits!" *sigh* "Still nothing."

It's disheartening, and it's not fun.

As a way for level 50s to solo farm flashback storyarcs for merits maybe it's a good deal. I don't know because I don't farm. But for someone who started a brand new character and runs only story arcs in an unsuccessful attempt to get enough merits to do anything with, the system appears like it was build specifically by and for the farmers.

I see a lot of people complaining that the supply of the valuable IOs has gone down. For those of us that didn't regularly run speed-katies and/or play the City of Stockbrokers the reduced market supply means nothing. We could never afford the best IOs before and the lack of market supply now means only that those people will who do put in the time to get them will simply have to do something different to get those IOs.

But now, people like me will actually have a chance to get some of the best IOs. That's a good thing.

However, story-arcs only awarding merits to the arc holder means that people who want merits will be soloing. Better would be a situation where any non-repeatable mission (i.e. non-scanner/newspaper Borea/Marcus Valerius mission) awards a single merit to everyone on the team. This would encourage people to team and to do something other than speed-TFs and scanner missions.

I don't like the idea of merits being awarded globally. All this will do is encourge the arrival of yet more Fire/Kin Farmers in Paragon City. Peregrine Island already runs multiple instances most of the time due to farmers as is, so do we really want to institute a system that will encourage even more people to farm? One could also argue that people that don't have the time to put into it shouldn't necessarily have access to the best gear. Better gear is the reward you get for putting more time into the game. The current system means that I'll be able to get merits and thus the best IOs for some of my characters and making a Fire/Kin Farmer isn't going to help me do that.

Right now I think the best way to tweak the merit system would be to award merits for non-repeatable missions to everyone on the team and then redesign the Task Forces that suck! Fix them so that they can't be speed-run. Fix them so that running them is actually fun and doesn't take 8 to 12 hours. Perhaps then less people will farm and more will simply play the game.

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Being told something is going to be given out on a certain date, and then having it given out on a different date is unprofessional. And yes, worthy of complaint. I know there are a lot of brown-nosers here who refuse to criticize when the devs do anything wrong, but you're only hurting yourself in the long run. If the devs don't feel that their feet are held to the fire, they're going to get even lazier.

[/ QUOTE ]I agree with this, and would like to add:

Currently I rate Arcanaville and a number of other posters as more reliable sources of information than Positron. Which is odd considering that as the lead developer you'd think that his information is the source. However this incident along with several others (like nerfs not showing up in patch notes after Positron assured us that would no longer happen) has led me to downgrade Positron's word to "semi-reliable."

As is usual with any source of information that is only semi-reliable, similar information must come from another source before said information will be considered accurate and credible enough to be acted upon.

This is a horrible idea.

Worse, you know that it's a horrible idea. You're making this post either as a thinly veiled level increase request, or (as I suspect) merely to start conversation.

You're not stupid. You know that restricting a game to only those people who've played the previous game and have at least one level 50 character will absolutely prevent this MMO from acheiving the 50k+ minimum subscriptions necessary to make the game viable and keep the servers turned on.

Look, raising the level cap means that they have to create at least two new zones, one hero and one villain. And you know as well as I do that NCSoft is not going to spend the time to create a new villain zone. Plus they have to create new enemies to fight, new missions, and new task forces.

What they've chosen to do instead is to allow you to do 'alternate advancement' if you will. In the form of Hami-Os, IOs, and Purple sets. Positron already announced that they're intending to add some kind of feature that will allow you to somehow add more stuff to your level 50s. If they do that and add a few more Task Forces, it'll be a great way to continue to play and advance your level 50 characters that doesn't involve causing a lot of stuff to become obsolete.

Most players nowdays have never heard of the Titan-Os, which makes the effort that was put into coding them a complete waste of time. Should the devs do the same thing to Hami-Os, all current IO sets and Purples too?

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Saved Baby New Year. Picked the Golden Rings temp power. Didn't get. Got nothing at all, and no notification as to why.

Ran the mission a second time. Same thing. I get offered the reward but then I don't get it.

My SG team was in Bloody Bay the other day. We'd just gotten SOs and decided to get some Shivans.

Near the last meteor we got jumped by some villains. I've PvPed a little before the changes and frankly I didn't even notice the difference. Well... except that no one was bouncing around like a wacked out jumping bean on crack.

We stood our ground and fought. My team lost. But it was fun!

We didn't get insta-ganked. No one was bouncing around like a cracked out wack-tard. No one was two or three shoted. It only lasted maybe a minute, but prior to I13 it would have lasted about 3 seconds. Hint to the "l33t PvPers": getting dropped like a wet-washcloth in 1.87 seconds is fun for you, but for those of us that have lives and don't have the time to purple out a character and practice calling targets for 20 hours a week it is not fun.

It felt like an actual fight between comic book superheroes and supervillains. Perhaps that was the point of the changes?

Please have Sunstorm answer the following questions for us:

1) What is the purpose of rent as it is being done now?

2) Will anything new and not related to PvP be added to bases ever?

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I suggest you try anyway. You've got enough skills that they might just let you pick up the package on the job, especially if you're a fast learner.

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I agree. Apply anyway.

From what I've seen of your videos Samauraiko you could barf on the keyboard and make a better video than the person that made that I13 video.

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The problem is that we can't fix them after being published.

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Really? Ok, yeah. I could see where that'd be a problem.

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These threads exist to actually discuss the articles in the Scoop, yet it seems that instead of discussing the articles, people would rather nit-pick over the mistakes.

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Yeah well... that's what people do. Welcome to the internet.

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Having said all that, I'll warn you now that you are getting really close to being put on my ignore list because of your continual attacks at how things are run and of my responses. As you seem to have some problem with me, I would suggest that you send me a PM and tell me what exactly your antagonism is with me.

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Fair enough. Look, I don't have a problem with you Snow.

From what little I know of the City Scoop and its inner workings it seems to me like you're doing the work of at least 3 people. Because of that more mistakes creep in than probably would normally. I think you need more people Snow, but I realize that you can't make people volunteer. It's a problem that I don't know how to solve.

I think what's happened is that after all of the arguing and bickering on the forums over the last couple of months I've become a bit touchy and overly critical. I think I'll go have a beer and write a note to myself to lay off the City Scoop for awhile.

May I ask what purpose this thread serves?

I mean, if you're just going to jump on everyone who says something that you don't like then logically that tells me that the intended purpose of this thread is only for praise of the City Scoop and its people.

So does that mean that we shouldn't point out (for example) spelling errors, so that you can fix them?

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In the spirit of Christmas greed, is there any chance there could be a name wipe after this is over? I mean, if they check it out and still don't re-up, can we have their names?

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Seriously.

If the cheapskates aren't going to pay to play they why do they get to keep bogarting the names until the end of time?

And NCSoft, if you guys aren't going to announce Freespecs in advance anymore then fine. I have no "Sense of Entitlement." In fact if you're not going to give them out anymore at all then that's fine too. I'd just like things to be consistent. Please do it the same way each time. Whichever way you choose to do it is fine by me. Just have some junior employee write it down fer chrissss sakes and then do it the same way each time.

Seriously, it's not rocket science.

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Peregrine Falcon, your talkign to one of the city scoops fashion reporters


hell yeah i tinker with the costume creator a lot...... a hell of a lot

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As do I! I've even been known to make a character just to go with a good costume that I've seen on the streets or found in the character creator. So don't get me wrong, I really like the character creator and the customizable costumes.

I just wonder why every article has to focus on the costume creator. This game has a lot of other great things too. Why aren't the devs or marketing or whomever talking about all the other great things too???

But if I were someone who didn't know anything about this game and I was just reading those articles and interviews, I'd be saying; "Yeah, ok. Customizible costumes, I get it. Now what about the game? Is there an actual game, or is it just making costumes?"

This is my first MMO. Is the game play here in CoH/V really that shabby in comparison to other MMOs? Is that why the devs refuse to talk about it?

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Is it just me or has every interview and article for the last 6 months stressed the [censored] out of the costume creator?


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Because the costume creator is C.O.X's main feature based P.O.D in the MMORPG world perhaps?

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Yeah ok. But this game actually has some other features that can be seen and used once people are done with the costume creator. I just wonder why more time isn't spent informing people about the game itself.

Do they actually believe that people are going to sign up just so they can spend months dinking around with the costume creator?

Is it just me or has every interview and article for the last 6 months stressed the [censored] out of the costume creator? The article once again stressed the costume creator. The devs must really be convinced that their costume creator is just gonna lure 'em in hard. I mean, it is cool and all, but what about some emphasis on what happens once you're done making your character and you actually log in to play the game?

Secondly the video. Man, I hope NCSoft didn't pay much for that video. If that's the best you guys can do you should just hire Samuraiko right now. Have you seen her videos? They're much better than that.

And notice how nothing in either the video or the article mentioned the PvP changes? I wonder why not?

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I'm not involved with the City Scoop.

I did however try to get one of my bases submitted for the base article. It took me over a month just to get it submitted. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying; "Those lazy bums wouldn't put my awesome base into their newsletter." I'm saying that it took me 5 weeks of multiple PMs and posts in multiple City Scoop threads just to get my base submitted for consideration.

At the time that seemed to me to be a strange way to treat someone who was trying to submit content for this newsletter.

Now I've read and completely agree with what the City Scoop staff has said. It's a volunteer thing that is being done on their free time for a hobby. As such I don't expect it to be of the same quality as USA TODAY or The Seattle Times, and anyone who does needs to lay off the crack pipe.

However,it's obvious to me that there's a ton of animosity and water under the bridge between him and the City Scoop staff. I don't know whose fault it is, nor do I care. But the bad part is that he's made a ton of good points and those points are being lost because of the bad blood between you guys.

I myself have scratched my head more than once wondering why these very important items that Tony has mentioned weren't in the City Scoop. Yes it's sad that Lighthouse has left us, and yes I think it deserved front-page coverage, and no it didn't read (to me anyway) like he had died. But what about all of those other things? $5,000 worth of computer parts being given away in a costume contest that was so controversial that the thread on it was over 100 pages long and two of the contestants were disqualified as obvious Trademark violations, and that didn't rate a single line in the City Scoop?

Perhaps the Scoop should consider bringing more people onboard. And since Tony V has so many ideas on how to do things and so much energy to do them with, perhaps you guys will put him to work. If ALL OF YOU ON BOTH SIDES OF THIS DISPUTE are mature enough to forget the past and move on it just might work. Of course the only people that will really benefit from this would be the City Scoop readers. So I guess you guys will have to decide if it's worth it or not.

Wow. I go and sleep for a few hours and look what I miss. New rednames joining the fray! Niiicce.

Welcome Sunstorm!

(Prestige Refunds and Teleporter Recipes) Thank you for that.


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Q. Salvage Storage Racks, Why only 30 pieces of invention salvage?


A. In short, the market. The market system is designed to have a steady supply of salvage coming in. If large salvage racks were added, it would create a temporary supply problem of unknown duration until the salvage racks filled up.

Since having salvage temporarily dry up would be a big problem for all players, this number was intentionally kept low. Once the impact on the markets as a whole can be measured, we will look at adjusting these numbers again.

[/ QUOTE ]Wow, I seem to remember Positron saying that the IO system would remain optional. By saying "all players" it makes it obvious that the dev team believes that all players use the market. Optional in name only is not really optional.

But the biggest problem is the claim that the storage capacity will be looked into at some point in the future. It's been my experience that this generally means years from now. What about those of us who aren't interested in only being able to store 30 pieces of silver for the next 3 years?


(Rent) Since amount of rent that's going to be charged is so small, what's the point in having rent at all?

(Doors) Since the pathing has been deleted can we get the doorways fixed so they can be placed side-by-side? Or made optional altogether? I for one am tired of all of my bases being nothing but a series of blocky rooms connected by the standard 10 x 10 x 10 foot dungeon corridors.

(New Stuff) When will we be seeing improvements and new stuff added to bases?

Right here Synapse said:[ QUOTE ]
The Merit system gives players who don’t like to fiddle with the markets the chance to buy that IO enhancement they’ve always wanted but haven’t been able to afford with influence/infamy. It also gives players a way to have greater control over supply and demand on specific items by allowing players to buy that incredibly overpriced recipe listed on the Auction House, thus decreasing the demand for the item on the auction house.

[/ QUOTE ]So where's that system for giving players who don't like to fiddle with the markets the chance to build that base they've always wanted?

Edit: added in that last question

While it's nice to see this "poll" or whatever you'd call it, I am wondering why? Why now? Why not oh... say months ago when this information could have actually have been used to determine the outcome of Issue 13?

Base Repricing
1) How will the repricing of bases affect you personally?
Cheaper prices and the fact that the 8x8 plot is no longer rent free means that I'll be redoing my 5 bases and possibly 2 others that belong to a friend.

2) Will you dismantle your base to gain the additional prestige from the repricing?
No. I will be redoing them because lower prices will allow me to expand them and to benefit from the new stacking and no pathing rules.

3) How long would this process take you if you were to engage in this practice?
Previously my bases took dozens of hours. My large base (8x12) took me well over 100 hours to get to its current form. I've tested the new base editor so I know that rebuilding won't take as long, but I can't honestly give you an accurate estimate.

4) What are the positive and negative concerns regarding repricing?
Reduced prices is a good thing of course. But once I've regained all of that prestige what am I going to spend it on? Nothing new has been added to bases.

5) How will this feature affect you long term and short term?
Because of the way the dev team appears to have the base building community on perma-ignore I'm going to change my subscription from six month auto renewal to monthly. I don't feel the need to pay months in advance for a game that keeps getting changed into something I don't like by people that refuse to listen to the input of their player-base.


Base Salvage Exchange to Invention Salvage
1) What is the negative effect on your base for this feature implementation?
Previously once my SG had acheived the prestige necessary to add a new item I could simply add said new item. Now (depending on the item) I might find myself working the market trying to buy the necessary rare salvage to create said item. I don't want to play the market. I want to play the game. If I wanted to play the market I could call E.F. Hutton.

2) What is the positive effect on your base for this feature implementation?
None. Base salvage was plentiful. Now we're going to have to save or purchase invention salvage from the market. Zero percent positive effect from this "feature implementation."

3) How long will it take you to adjust to learning this new system?
Oh I've already learned the new system. The problem now will be explaining the new system to all of my friends in our SG/VGs.

4) What side effects to this system do you currently see from transitioning the old to new system?
Well, invention salvage is worth far more than base salvage, and there are still no security features in place to prevent looting. This is going to discourage people from inviting others to their SGs. Small and one-person SG may be on their way to becoming the norm.

5) What security concerns do you have regarding this change?
Myself, none. All 5 of my SG/VGs are composed solely of myself and several real life friends. While I was considering opening up some of our SGs to other players, these changes are causing me to rethink that. Now I'll be waiting awhile and seeing how things pan out on live before I make that decision.

Additional Notes:
Can we please get doors changed so that multiple doors can be placed side-by-side? Some of the great designs that were possible with double-doors are going to be no longer possible.

Since my SG/VGs will never be participating in base raids what new items/systems/events will the dev team be adding to bases for players such as myself?

Since rent is so small what's the point in having it at all?

If you really believe that reducing base storage to a mere 30 items is going to prevent market manipulation then you know less about how free markets work than I do. May I suggest that you visit your own market forum and do some research on this? People were manipulating the market before and they're going to keep doing it until they decide not to.

When are you going to add new decorative and functional items to bases? I'd like to know if bases are going to receive more good stuff or if they're going to be ignored again for the next 3 years.

By the way, since I believe that smaller and one-man SGs are going to be more prevalent, I should also point out that it's going to be very difficult for one-man SGs to participate in those base raids that you guys seem so hell-bent on forcing us to participate in. May I suggest some things be added to SGs/bases that will make it easier for people to invite others into their SGs and motivate people to be in an SG?

Can we get a new person appointed as the base community liaison? Preferably someone who actually codes for bases, like say... Pohsyb?

Mad... I have a lot of respect for you, so please just realize that any snark you're seeing in this post isn't directed at you.

That being said... why? Why waste our time making yet another list that they're just going to flush down the toilet like they did the last 2 lists we made, like they did the list the PvPers made.

Seriously man, why?

Your post is in violation of the Message Forum Rules and Guidelines

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5. Non-Constructive posts are prohibited.

<ul type="square">[*]"NERF X!" threads are removed for much the same reason as "I'm leaving" threads. They can turn into threads with little or no constructive information.[/list]
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Congratulations on fixing Defense Arcanaville!

I should say congrats to the devs too, they probably had something to do with it as well.

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I'm just going to craft my new teleporter pads now.

I won't be using this new IO salvage to base items system. Ever. My base salvage is going to sit in the salvage bin until this insanity is un-nerfed.

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[u]Why does it still cost so much to build a small starter base?[u] Isn't this supposed to help them?

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No.

The only changes that were done to bases this time were strictly in ways that will help PvPers. Nothing was done to help brand new people and the prices changes are not there to help you and me. They are very specifically there to help people get their bases ready for PvP.

This issue the devs were very obviously focused on PvP. I'm not personally happy about that, but PvP has been neglected since its inception in this game. Now that CoH/V is completely owned by the Korean company NCSoft you can believe that the devs have been given direct orders to make PvP better or else.

However I'm still hoping that the devs will let us know if there are going to be any more changes to bases in Issue 14.

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Excellent work, devs. Anything to include more people is a good thing!

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I couldn't agree more. Good work!

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Yes, always the victim That might sound trollish, but given the OP's posting history and writing style, it's hard for me to have any sympathies. Being combative then claiming to be the victim when "Newton's law" inevitably occurs is not being victimized. Heck, you don't even have a rooster to catch the flack for you

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At no point have I ever claimed to be a victim of anything. I made a statement wherein I disagreed with what was written in the article.

Instead of simply dismissing me Lighthouse actually took the time to find out more information and then post it in response. I was honestly thanking him for that, nothing more.

Please quote one post of mine wherein I claim to be a victim, or have the decency to admit that you're wrong.

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In a clarification from Bruce Harlick, the picture caption Like writing a novel, mission arcs in CoX constantly evolve and spawn even more arcs. that you reacted to was not written by him. Likely it was added in by Marketing or by TenTonHammer in the placement of the pictures.

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I want to sincerly thank for that response Lighthouse.

Instead of simply dismissing me as a troll you took the time to actually speak to Bruce about this issue and then post a response to me. I honestly appreciate that.

Believe me, nothing would make me happier than if CoH/V story arcs really did evolve, if they really were rewritten and improved based on the years of player feedback. If the pathways through the missions really did change based on the actions of the players. With the recent upstaffing of NCNC and the new mission pathing tech revealed in Issue 12 it is my hope that that will one day happen.