Rush_Bolt

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(On the subject of Real Numbers, accuracy of: I betcha they're simply exposing the numbers they are using, rather than adding a system to figure them out for you. My guess is any number you see will be what you're getting.)

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That would be a good bet. Of course, that's only half the story. If they just did that, you'd see "Focused Fighting: 1.85" which wouldn't make sense to anyone except those who already know and understand what the numbers mean. A lot of work has to go into the game client saying "Focused Fighting: [thinking ... 1.85 x scrappermod 0.075 + percent sign] 13.875% defense to melee" for every number in the game.

What we're going to be seeing is the translated version of the numbers that the game uses. Translated into people-speak, from gameengine-speak. What will improve matters greatly from, lets say the Prima Guides, is that there will not be a human editor making interpretation mistakes since the translation from gameengine to human readable text will be fixed in the game code, and converted on the fly to be appropriate for the character being viewed.

One thing players will have to learn is that what they see isn't what everyone else sees. A scrapper who sees "1.875% defense" in combat jump that tells his tanker friend that combat jump is 1.875% defense will be wrong for a tanker. For that matter, I'm pretty certain the devs (pohsyb) will incorporate level-scaling, so things like mez protection and movement powers that scale with level will be giving their security-level appropriate values for the character - meaning what you see at level 15 won't be what you see at level 35.

Basically, because of the complexity of the system, players will have to get used to the fact that what they see is really only guaranteed accurate for them, when on that character, at that level. Unless you understand the system, you will still not fully understand how to translate what you see on your blaster for what you would see if you rolled a scrapper. You'd have to roll a scrapper and see (or break out the pocket calculator and learn the scaling formulas).

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Ooo... and glee!

Bring on the Buffometers!

The City Vault
Woohoo! I can't wait!


Double XP Weekend and Server Hardware Improvements
Yay! 2XPs are always fun for the lowbies. And better server workings? Even better!


Valentine’s Day Event
Hm... new twists you say? That'll be interesting. Maybe ol' Snappy'll have company or something?


Smoothing the XP Curve
Alright! See about shaving that 35-40 speedbump a bit and it'll be great!


Real Numbers
Wait... what?! To use too many exclamation points: YES!!!!!!!!


Fanzine
More community projects is always good. This is a great group of players, Devs and community reps. Let's keep it all working.

While I think Pangea's being a bit much, he's got good points.

You really might be putting too much of your own feelings into the locale itself. Since I don't know, I'll ask: Are you now, or have you in the past, lived in a very large city? By very large, I mean something like L.A., New York, London, etc.

Because that's really what Japan (or at least what I think you're both looking forward to) is. Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto... they're all big cities... just with a bit of individual flavor. To get that city lifestyle, you may not need to go to an entirely different country.

Me? I love big cities. Love New York, loved Osaka, loved Tokyo. And while I, too, want to go to Japan, I know that I don't really need to in order to get my urban fix. It's the lifestyle more than it is the location, you know?



That all aside, with some good corporate experience, notable references and knowledge of the language, you might be able to swing a translator position. But for "breaking into" Japan, a simple teaching job would probably be your best/easiest bet.

(QR)
Grats on getting your stuff, Story. Boo on having to shell out more just to get them to hand it over though. Get semi-used to that idea though. Like BattleWraith mentioned, there's the whole keymoney issue of housing in Japan.

JET's a little better nowadays. They still send you wherever, but they at least ask you where you'd like to go. If there's an opening in the spot you requested, they'll try to fit you in. If not... well, you may end up in the middle of nowhere.

If you do go for a private school route, do be sure to not only use the forums, but also talk to current and former teachers there. There were a few schools that were notorious for making their teachers work longer and longer hours while still paying them base rates.

First of all, good luck! I was fortunate enough to spend the summer of 2005 in Japan. Wonderful place. I really want to go back sometime.

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I'm looking into various options, such as teaching English in Japan. I've still got a lot of research to do, but now that I'm serious about this I've got to cover every angle and make sure I've got all the information I need to do this right. I've taken the first step already and ordered the Japanese Rosetta Stone, costing me about $400 USD for both the basic and advanced sets. I could have started with the basic and picked up the advanced later, but I save myself $100 picking them both up together.

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Teaching yourself Japanese is difficult. That's just a simple thing to say. I suggest you go to the nearest large university/college and post a notice on any community bulletin you can that you are interested in learning the language. You may get lucky and find a student willing to tutor you (or at least serve as a study partner for themselves).


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Next I'm thinking of finding some sites online where I can get in touch with actual people from Japan and become pen pals or such and make a few connections in Japan itself so that I have people who can help me become familiar with everything in Japan should I need the help. I'm a little more than nervous about this part, but I'd rather have some connections over there in Japan than having to go it all alone.

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A good resource for you, should you go to the Kansai region (Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe), is the Kansai Time Out. It's a "gaijin magazine" aimed at serving the very sizable foreigner population. There should be a number of similar publications for the Kanto area (Tokyo, Yokohama, etc), but I didn't spend much time there.

Also, I'll give any suggestions/advice I can, but my general info is a bit rusty. PM me any questions and I'll see if I can help you out.


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There are other things to look into, like passports. Do I need any special things like a work visa or any such things? I'll be looking into citizenship as well. So much to do. I hope I can get all the information I need. It's too bad that there isn't anyone in Penticton I can ask for help with this research. All of my support systems have let me down repeatedly in the past and I've basically cut ties with them.

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Japan has very strict immigration laws. You will need a work visa to be there, so that means you will need an employer willing to sponsor you.

One note though: Japanese Immigration officials frown on foreigners coming over to look for work. Don't bring printed resumes and the such. Store those digitally on a jump-drive or bring a laptop and use one of the many copy-centers to print out what you need, when you need it.

I urge you to explore the JET Programme. It's a governmentally-sponsored teaching exchange program. Anyone with a bachelor's degree, under 40 years old and willing to learn more about Japan/deepen their interest is able to enroll. If selected, you'll spend one year teaching English to Junior High/High School students. You'll have the option to re-enroll for up to three more years though.

Woo and yay!

Hero 1, we loves you... even if you are Rikti-fied and somewhat creepy looking now. Oh well.


Great work all around (again). The script worked wonderfully and Mr. Mowry's voice was spot on. Like Lady_Sadako, I loved the "your precious badges" bit. Was dripping with lovely old-fashioned sarcasm/condescension. I can practically hear him rolling his eyes. "Oh, I give you the wonderful tool of time-travel... and you go back and get badges. Wonderful." So good and perfectly in character too!

(QR)
As awesome as that idea sounds, Marcian, I don't think that'll be what this "coming storm" will be.

What We "Know" So Far
- The overarching story that has been stated to span 3 issues began in Issue 10.

- Hints at the story were in place as early as Issue 8:
---- Lost NPC speech in Faultine begins forshadowing
---- Hints of seismic anomalies on the Moon

- Issue 10 brings knowledge of the Battalion to the forefront and roots them solidly in Rikti History.

- Lord Nemesis had/has some part in the "coming storm" that leads either directly or indirectly to the fall of humanity. (Granted, this isn't much since that man's got more fingers in more pies than Lex Luthor. And that's terrible.)

- Space-borne locations have already been fleshed out enough in the story bible to give them actual names: Gagarin Space Station and Armstrong Moon Base.


What Can Be Assumed:
I think it's clear that the major foreshadowing is that the Battalion is coming. Nemesis' scheming is what keeps the Hero/Villain and Rikti factions from uniting against that threat and thus, they both fall.

Issue 12, in my opinion, will see the launch site construction moved along to near completion stages. More information about the forthcoming Space Zone(s) will be moved into the game along with more foreshadowing.

Issue 13 will see the arrival of the Battalion scouts and the opening of the Space Zone(s).

(QR)
I love the script on this one. Silos's VA is also top notch here.

Great work!


Oh, and FIRST!

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LOL did even he give up on the game?

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No.

He's just not a part of NCsoft.

Jack Emmert (Statesman) is part of Cryptic.

NCsoft bought out Cryptic's stake in CoX. Thus, Jack no longer has any say over what goes on here.

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Here's to hoping this announcement is DOUBLE good news for me. Staffing up GOOD!

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For those interested in gainful gaming employment, check out the NCsoft North America Jobs Listing. Positions for "Mountain View" would be in our newly formed NCsoft NorCal Studio.

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Quick! Let's push Arcanaville into the Powers Designer spot! Finally a fix for Defense.

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Hmm... Now this makes me wonder if I have to buy my friend the Good vs Evil edition for Christmas Afterall... *Scratches head*

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Since I haven't seen many other versions on the shelves (except for the awesome cool stack of CoVs at Half-Price Books for $10 a piece), I'd say yes.

Besides, you get cool goodies with the GvE pack.

I doubt the "Prestige" powers'll be handed out here.

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All players with City of Heroes retail* accounts will now have access to City of Villains, and all City of Villains retail* accounts will now have access to City of Heroes. Players that didn't previously have access to "the other side" will find that they do now. Just log in to check it out!

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So I just bought both versions of the game...does this mean that I wasted my money and if I had waited a week, I could have paid half as much?

Fabulous!

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Exactly. I am really pissed about this, there needs to be some form of compensation for those who did buy both games. Like maybe a free month or2 or something because this is totally unfair to those who spent their hard earned money on both games.

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How long ago did you do it?

I bought COH a few years ago. COV when it came out. I don't expect anything. I wouldn't *argue* if they gave me something, but IMHO the only people who should get some sort of compensation are those who bought seperately, picking up the "other half" within, oh, the last month.

Hell, I bought the COH DVD Edition and COV CE. Bought the COV CE *twice,* in fact. I'm not pissed at all. I got to play *both,* with 12 slots per server, since COV's release. I think that's been pretty cool - and now there won't be any artificial barriers to things like SG entry for *anyone.*

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I bought CoH at launch, CoV CE at launch, so someone owes me some money on this.

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Will you stop complaining if I give you a quarter?

(QR)
I honestly don't know how to feel about all this.

Is it cool? Yeah. We're gonna get a full company devoted to just us. While I understand Cryptic always did have a staff for just us, now those who doubted otherwise will have to stop the rumor-mongering.

But what about the Devs? I see we'll still be keeping Positron on board as the head of this new division, but what about the others?

_Castle_?
BackAlleyBrawler?
JLove?
War Witch?

Ravenstorm?

Over the last years (and the last months even more so), I've come to enjoy seeing, talking with, and even just reading what the Devs here write. Is this goodbye to many of them?


EDIT: Whew! Thanks for the listings, Lighthouse! I was beginning to get worried there.

YAY! We get to keep our Devs!

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It's the coolest thing since they built the Cool Train to Cool Town where all the cool kids drink Kool-Aid. OH YEAH!

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I find the use of that phrase humorous in probably not the way you intended.

(QR)
Looking good, looking good!

I can't wait for this Issue to go Live!

(QR)
I was certainly expecting 11 to go Beta this month, but today? Color me surprised.

Looking forward to it going Open Beta even more though!

Ignoring the doom 'n gloom part you just had to put in, but I did want to address one portion of your post, Veteran.

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It is kind of strange that everyone is complaining about this powerset as it supposedly got the popular vote in the poll.

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Everyone (Note, not everyone is complaining; just some.) is complaining because it's not the Dual Blades they had imagined. We (I say "we" because I expressed this complaint earlier which seems to coincide with what many others here are saying) are complaining because the swords don't look "right." They aren't what we were expecting.

This sort of thing is to be completely expected since the poll was based on rather vague terms ("Dual Blades"? What kinda blades?). The Devs didn't ask and nobody answered... because there was no real option to answer that particular unasked question.

I, personally, don't very much like the look of the swords and to be honest wouldn't want swords at all in a "Dual Blade" set. Now people are also defending the look by saying, "But this is only for the Scrapper set. The other ones might look different." That's completely fine and also beside the point.

We're not decrying how the set will work (because we don't know how it will work), but those who are, are complete fools complaining just to complain. Right now, we're arguing on pure visual/aesthetic values... which, considering how vast and varied our Character Creator is... well, CoX has always seemed to place a high priority on good looks. At present, I cannot say that Dual Blades carries through with that outlook.

(QR)
Dual Blades look neat. Personally, I would've wanted them to go with Short Swords or Daggers (ala the Red Caps), but even though what we're seeing now isn't exactly what I hoped for, I still approve of them.

As for Willpower, I'm definitely going to wait and see. While the images do seem a bit... busy, nothing can really be told about how it'll look based on a couple of still images. For all we know, this is just a spot where every graphic pulsed at the same time.

Considering what we've been told about these two sets and that the meleers are getting some long overdue loving, I can't wait for these to hit Test.

(QR)
Alas, I won't be able to make it...

... but seeing the NCsoft guest list, someone had better ask Crikette (aka our former Cricket) WTH is going on with Exteel!


Anywhos, hope everyone who goes has a blast!

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Howdie Jay,

A couple of issues I have. If you look at this picture, you see the odd neck alignment that is prevalent in the entire "Full Helmet" set. You can only see it when your running or in a combat stance, but it is really distracting. Also in the "Tech Sleek" set, also in the picture, it would be nice if the mesh could be set a different color than the plate. The neck issue has been around for quite some time (Beta I think) I was hoping that the tech has advanced enough to address this in some way.

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+1 on the "neck sleeve" that comes with Full Helmets. That's bugged me quite a while.

As for Tech Sleek, I know the mesh can be a different color than the plating. There is sometimes two versions of Tech Sleek: normal and Masked. Check to make sure which version you're set to and then try changing patterns and colors.
I have a character that has a suit of the Tech Sleek set with Blue plating and Black mesh. It can be done.

A winner is you!

It seems we do, Xeno. Had a blast over there!

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So do kin powers like siphon speed/siphon power work on the slick? Howling does seem to be most useful, but having a immobile put it anywhere enemy for any sort of foe required buff/utility power is pretty nice.

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Yes, those work as well.

During the pre-assault buffing, I put down a Slick for a Kin nearby to spam Siphon Power and Fulcrum Shift on. Added in just a little more buffing to the herds of heroes.

*Reads... smiles... laughs...*

Waitaminnit... "her"?




Don't make me pull an RS on you, Zom.


EDIT: and in light ot this, I'm changing my sig.

EDIT2: Adding in a quote of the relevant portions from my chatlog of that night:
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03-30-2007 22:19:02 [Local]Techbolt3: Actually I gave it to War
03-30-2007 22:19:03 [Broadcast]Zombie Man: DO NOT RUN TO OTHER PLAYERS FOR SAFETY
03-30-2007 22:19:06 [Local]Ryko Nailo1: So? Anyone know a good mortician?
03-30-2007 22:19:11 [Broadcast]Living Viking1: *points at warborn*3
03-30-2007 22:19:12 [Broadcast]Nurse Bambi2: [color=grey}/signed[/color]
03-30-2007 22:19:17 [Local]jumpinjude: I still think when we get them all down to just one mito left we keep it as a pet
03-30-2007 22:19:18 [Broadcast]Zombie Man: [color=grey}free[/color]
03-30-2007 22:19:23 [Broadcast]Living Viking1: he did it ^^
03-30-2007 22:19:25 [Request]Redwinged: If you have Hamidon Aggro, run THE OTHER WAY.
03-30-2007 22:19:37 [Request]Lemur Lad3: ok there are 2 yellows left? maybe this time we can get both
03-30-2007 22:19:42 [Broadcast]Ryko Nailo1: Killing yourself is better then killing 50 others
03-30-2007 22:19:43 [Request]Lemur Lad3:how does that sound?
03-30-2007 22:19:43 [Broadcast]Screaming Meme: Time to give us some slick twilight.
03-30-2007 22:19:49 [Broadcast]Girl Vicious: Sounds great to me
03-30-2007 22:19:50 [Broadcast]Tarrasque1: Who needs a team?
03-30-2007 22:19:50 [Broadcast]Ryko Nailo1: HUZZAH!
03-30-2007 22:19:54 [Broadcast]Techbolt3: Ready, Zom?
03-30-2007 22:19:54 [Broadcast]Zombie Man: k, since no one else is inviting me for tp and rez, oil slick plz
03-30-2007 22:19:58 [Broadcast]Quixotic2: i DO!!
03-30-2007 22:20:01 [Broadcast]Freedom Warrior3: Any mind or illusion trollers? Maybe we can have a mito as a pet
03-30-2007 22:20:18 [Local]Suraht Arromin1: I'm not taking care of it. I can't imagine that would be a fun litterbox to clean.
03-30-2007 22:20:20 [Local]Back Alley Brawler: Oil Slick? WTH?
03-30-2007 22:20:21 You have defeated Oil Slick

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(QR)

Recipe Name: Stupefy (ACC/END)
Drop Circumstances: Completed a Scanner mission
Likely Pool: B


EDIT: Adding another that I wrote down a while back. Can't remember the exact circumstances though.

Recipe Name: Essense of Curare (END/HOLD/RECH)
Likely Pool: A