PumBumbler

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Dark's heal, Twilight Grasp, also has a -Regen component that can be stacked, the same as Kin's Transfusion. Between Twilight Grasp and Howling Twilight, I think Dark Defenders have more -Regen than anyone on an ongoing basis. Yes, the -Regen in EM Pulse is huge, but it doesn't last very long.

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Could be true...however, most AVs don't last very long when you have Lingering Rad and EM Pulse on them, so even though the debuff doesn't last very long it usually drops them pretty far down in health during the debuff period (10s?) when you have a full team on the AV. I don't have a 50 Dark Def but I have a 50 Bots/Dark that can solo most AVs, so as far a direct comparison of Dark/ vs /Rad, I'm not too sure about which is faster at dropping an AV.

If you are running Vista, you may have to execute the updater with Admin privs to get it to update properly.

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The thing with rads is that they are pretty much the best at AV killing since they have so much -regen in their set. The -to hit is just gravy on top of things.

storm also has -to hit with hurricane but it's pretty much useless since you have to close in to make it work, which increases the chance of getting hit by PBAoEs. A dark defender works better in those types of situations, and has -regen from HT.

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-regen is resisted by AV resistance, -resist is not, therefore, -regen is less effective than -resist

also, Dark is 1. not available to controllers, and 2. does not fair well against purple patch or AV resists.

Using Darkest Night and Fearsome Stare (both slotted for 3 to-hit debuff) against a level 53 AV gives a whopping 5.7% tohit debuff, while Defender TA will provide 9.75%

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If you read carefully, I said Dark def, and neither a 5.7% or 9.75% to hit debuff are anything to write home about. Besides I was talking comparing the to-hit debuff of utility of /storm to being next to useless in that particular context since you have to close in. Besides, arguing about the accuracy rate of an AV trying to hit Phantom Army is a bit useless, don't you think?

/TA, like rad, has -regen powers that even when highly resisted, can floor an AV's regen. Try EMP arrow, it works like EM Pulse. The -resist component(s) of TA is nice, but at 15% each, doesn't compare to using a tier 9 -10,000% -regen (before resistance).

Of course, using both is even better. It's just that rad has a bit better balance than TA with AM and a slight heal. I'd take a /TA any day over /storm to fight an AV (or 4 or 5), but I'd make sure I had a rad first. My point was that even Dark defs have a massive -regen component in Howling Twilight, and storm has no -regen components to bring to the table.

I always thought it would be coconutbra@gmail.com.

The thing with rads is that they are pretty much the best at AV killing since they have so much -regen in their set. The -to hit is just gravy on top of things.

storm also has -to hit with hurricane but it's pretty much useless since you have to close in to make it work, which increases the chance of getting hit by PBAoEs. A dark defender works better in those types of situations, and has -regen from HT.

Time to pack yer bags! We're going on a guilt trip!

Yes, I'm single, why do you ask?

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Hmm, torch and pitchfork time.

And fire ants...

I wonder if I can make a fire ant torch.

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May I suggest Bullet ants?

Uh, nvm. Forget I even brought it up.

Um...better your unhappiness than mine?

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I am not going to run, cause I didnt say anything wrong.

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*watches from around the corner as Markus gets mowed down for 'being a man.'*

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I would normally agree, but women belong in the kitchen, not wasting time on an Internet messageboard.


*runs away*

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Dude, it's the modern age. Women have internet kiosks in the kitchen now so they can look up recipes.

*hides in garage*

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When you afk and someone has taken over, they are assuming the risk, you are sharing in the reward. Same with pacting.

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Even though the burden is being taken on by a different player, the risk is still being assumed. So long as both parties are consenting and the other player is okay with taking on said additional risk, I don't have a problem with it.

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Heh, I never said there was a problem with it

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you could afk the whole thing and not be bothered

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I have often done this. Its a form of power leveling, and we have often traded or taken turns. I enjoy being able to go afk and accomplish real life things, and come back to some new levels. In fact I think that is what the whole leveling pact thing is about.

As for risk vs reward. I had never heard about that until I started this game, and you know what? it's stupid.

What they are really talking about when they say "risk vs reward" is managing your addiction. They want to make sure they give you enough to satisfy you a little but not so much that you don't come back for more.

I do not play this game because of an addiction. I play it because it allows me to have a creative outlet. I play to think outside the box, and come up with new and creative uses of the powers, and classes. I understand that a lot of people play for the addiction, but I am not one, nor do I believe it is healthy to play for that reason.
But I respect that others have the desire to play for those reasons, and am happy to let them.

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When you afk and someone has taken over, they are assuming the risk, you are sharing in the reward. Same with pacting. Otherwise you might as well log in and have all the loot and a level 50 as soon as you click 'create character.' Which some people are arguing for anyhow.

And the whole risk vs. reward thing can be viewed the way you do, but it has also been around for heck of a lot longer than MMOs or computers for that matter.

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So my considerable anecdotal evidence, seems to indicate that the idea of people getting bored when stuff is too easy is false.

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Up to a point I'd agree with you. Just remember though that part of the reason why you're engaged is because of a risk/reward ratio.

You are playing because you want to be engaged. If you there was no risk, you wouldn't bother with sitting at the keyboard, you could afk the whole thing and not be bothered. If the risk was too high, you might get frustrated and not continue and quit. In the CoX context, the risk is being defeated.

Similarly, if the reward is too high for that task, it could distort your perception of the rest of the game. If you aren't playing the game for any reward, ie. xp/drops/tickets/etc. then why isn't everyone merely playing in test mode for AE?

Farming is totally acceptable to me as long as the risk/reward is similar to the rest of the game, and that there is challenge enough where you don't disengage from the game entirely or that it is an impossible task. Obviously those metrics are different for everyone's unique play styles and experience.

Interesting links for reading:

Ars Technica

Ancient Article on SWG

AoC interview

From the AoC interview:
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Craig Morrison: You know, I think in normal MMO-and anyone who’s worked on an MMO will probably tell you the same thing: You spend 90% of your time on the last 10% of any design, preventing players from doing stuff. [Laughs]
Because players main disposition is to break things.
And I think that rather than looking at things like that, I prefer to ask the designers to embrace the thought of putting their minds into the minds of a player, rather than seeing it as a challenge almost like, “We must police them, we must force them to play the way that we want them to play!”
I hate that. I know hate’s a very strong word, but I really do. I really, really dislike that approach to design.

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Try turning on your system. After it's up, unplug the monitor video cable and plug it back in. See if the resolution comes back.

I haven't advocated that people quit the game, although I do believe some real, substantive changes need to be made in the community outreach department.

For the players and community, one thing that I can be certain of is that the game will go on with or without you, even if you do leave. I'm not certain that I'll be staying or leaving myself, as I'm paid up until next year.

In a sense, the people that will be hurt the most are the people who are leaving and the ones they leave 'behind'.

I know this because I left for almost 2 years when the troller nerfs and ED were imminent. In the time I left I tried WoW and found it to be slow and pretty boring. The biggest problem I had was that my friends, who had left 3 weeks before me, were so far ahead I couldn't catch up to them, and without a sidekick system, it was pretty pointless to play with them.

It was pretty much no community = no fun.

And while this game will survive without those that depart, it's certainly not as much fun to have a house that is half empty when it could be bustling and alive with energy.

Certainly everyone has their own reasons to go, or stay, but the only real way to effect improvements in this context is to work with the developers and community to make things better.

And while I do acknowledge and realize that this event has been a genuine catalyst for change, perhaps everyone should ask themselves how much of the game has been 'broken' for them by recent events and changes. What percent of the game was 'working' for you? Everyone has a different answer for this, and if the total amount was more broken than working, perhaps a fresh start would be better for you. Just don't forget to include us, the community, in your equation.

If the game is still 'working' for you, then maybe you're in a boat that's similar to mine. Just keep bailing.

When I left before i5 went live, the thing that I realized most was that the game itself became less and less important to me, but the community I left became more important. The insidious draw of joking and hanging around with my friends was more important than the game mechanics itself.

The game did not have to be perfect, but good enough for us to have fun. Nowadays my friends always bug me about my substandard toons, especially given the amount I play them. Many of them are still equipped mainly with SOs and missing accolades, and I always claim to be too lazy to slot them with anything better. Truth is, most of the toons I have don't matter as long as I can play them (half decently) with my friends. I'm not obsessed with having the uberest set bonuses or upping my Level 50 count.

If I was solely here to work the mechanics of the game, I think I would have been bored or maxed out my slot count years ago. But I do enjoy tweaking or breaking the game when I can. It's simply part of human nature to explore and experiment, and then optimize. For others, the game mechanics do have an important bearing on them, especially when massive changes are made.

I didn't have this attitude when I left the game, it only came over me gradually as I felt less attached to the game and more to the community. Note that the community had changed massively when I returned, but enough people were still here that I still felt 'home'. And with time, I made more friends and things were rocking again.

For the devs and mods who do read this (if ever), I give you this advice. It is the community which is your greatest strength and hidden asset. The greybeards and veterans here are the ones you need to keep and hang onto; they are the ones who pass on the best parts of the game itself.

Let's face it, the documentation of the game hasn't been updated since i1, yet somehow new players are able to learn the game by interfacing with the community to find out how things work. Without the community, new players would be hopelessly confused and frustrated by the many issues that haven't been documented.

Yes, the mechanics of the game are important, but just try to keep a thick skin and realize that 'most' of the attacks directed at you are trying to provoke a reaction. People that don't feel like they are getting heard/recognized will just go to more extreme measures just to feel like their voice counted.

Those that feel like they can't be heard will feel helpless and will have no choice but to quit. And that's a shame because some of them may never return. I think the game suffers the most when you've lost people who were willing to volunteer their time to help others, or give aid and advice to help their fellow player.

While you might feel that there are existing structures to handle things as they are, it is evident within the rank and file here that the existing structures didn't work in preventing such calamities. Something has to change.

Perhaps appointing community ombudsmen, individuals within each server who play regularly and with many other players, and are not a part of any existing structure or organization, whom you will regularly meet with and chat, would be a good start. It would help get you an ear to the ground in a way that a formal structure wouldn't necessarily give you. I'm not sure how this would be done, but conceptually I think it would be a good starting point.

Now obviously we all know that the people leaving here won't tank the game, but those people will not help make it a success either. Most everyone has heard the term 'Star Wars Galaxies survivor,' and no one wants to have a phrase like that for this game. Yet those who leave disappointed or bitter may have such a term. I believe that you have the opportunity and ability to make this game great, bigger than it was originally. I believe the management at NCSoft and you see that as well, else there wouldn't be a big push to grow the game into what it could be.

Just remember that in order for this game to grow into the vision that you and NCSoft may have, it will take the coordinated efforts of the community to help you achieve your goals. Just don't forget that we're here.

Too late. You've been outed.

One more thing, bringing a mind controller works really well for sleeping AVs in case you get more aggro than you intended.

You must ensure that your display is capable of receiving a 120Hz (or now advertised 240Hz) input. Like Miuramir said, most displays simply take 24Hz or 29.97 or 30Hz and interpolate the frames in between to provide a 120 frame experience.

My single 280GTX at 2560x1600 display doesn't come close to 60fps unless I turn down the eye candy (AA especially) just as an indication of the graphical power you'd need to do 1920x1080 @ 120 fps.

Use immobs, PA and max range her. /rad is also the key, especially if you can zip in and EMP her. When all else fails, vengeance works quite well too.

I just had a vision of BaB and Posi on youtube.

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I just looked at your reg date....youve been here a long time for the amount of hatred your harbor towards your fellow CoH players lol.

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oh it's not just CoH players. Also for the record I agree with everything you just said. I'm not a big fan of the 'it's just a game line'

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What's your deal then? I really am curious why you're so singular of scope and bitter.

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Suffice it to say I've had a long, hard, and not entirely pleasant life. I've been on these games as long as it's been possible and I've seen all this come and go plenty of times.

Most of you have already decided who and what I am, so none of my life matters anyway and I'm comfortable with that.

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Welcome to the community, Dead. FWIW, if you want us to hate, you we can do that too. But we'd rather get to know you before we hate you. Who knows, we may wind up liking you.

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So, Champions Online, anyone?


What? I had to say it.

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I dunno about CO but L4D is good for a bit til some of the others hit.Smooshin zombie face relieves aggressions!!!

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don't forget one shotting the witch

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still havent done that

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I have but then I had to stay the rest of the night.

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1977 – Star Wars, a science fantasy film written and directed by George Lucas, was released, becoming one of the most successful films of all time.

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They just remade that movie except the Mookie thing was replaced by a pointy eared guy.

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Pum owes me an industrial sized vat of bactine.

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I'm still picking cho's hairs out of the vat.