Snow Globe

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
IMHO, the number should be 500 hours. If I set out and "be a healer" for 500 hours, I should expect that's enough to convince the game that I'm dedicated enough to deserve the last badge. Obviously, weaker healers (ie: Storm, Aid Other) may take longer, and stronger healers (those who average larger teams, or defender primaries instead of controller/corruptor secondaries) may be a little faster. But for an "average" Corr or Controller on an "average" team of 5, it should be 500 hours of gameplay.

[/ QUOTE ]

In my opinion, 500 would be too low for the last healing badge, unless you subscribe to the belief that at least for anyone for which it was achieveable at all, all badges should be achievable in reasonably short periods of time by casual players. I don't think I subscribe to that specific restriction on all badges (although I've described my opinion on how badges should be designed in general).

If it was my decision to make, and assuming I could close all loopholes on achieving the badge inordinately faster, I would calibrate the final healing badge to peak reasonable healing performance of a dedicated healer for one year at level 50.

[/ QUOTE ]
Back up a second. If the average gamer plays 10 hours/week. That is 520 hours/year. Seems pretty bang on.

[ QUOTE ]
My rough rule of thumb calculation in that case would be a minimum of three hours of teaming per day, seven days a week,

[/ QUOTE ]
The goal here is not to promote unhealthy game play.

[ QUOTE ]
1100 total hours of healing, averaging a maximum heal generation of about 200 points of healing per target, averaging eight targets, at least every sixty seconds.

[/ QUOTE ]
In a regular team you have (usually) maximum SEVEN potential targets, (self healing doesn't count). You can't count on having a pet to heal, and you are making the assumption that full teams of 8 people are normal these days. I can rarely count on those these days.

[ QUOTE ]
That would set Empath at about 100 million points healed. I'm not saying that is what I would set Empath to, but it would be my point of reference for what I would consider "the ballpark" for an epic maximum heal badge. By my estimates, Empath is currently ten times higher than what I consider a reasonably high value, far outside the margin for error.

[/ QUOTE ]
Missed the bit where MadScientist said that a [b]group of characters[b] could not achieve 100 million after 2 years? Then you want to set that so a single character needs to do that?

[ QUOTE ]
Well, before we do that, how about a theoretical argument?

How many hours should one be expected to play a healer before the game recognizes that, indeed, you are a great healer?
...
But for an "average" Corr or Controller on an "average" team of 5, it should be 500 hours of game play.

[/ QUOTE ]
Ok, I can get behind that. It wouldn't be handed to players, but it would be achievable through play.

30,000 Hit Points/hour (theoretical number!) at 500 hours is 15 million HP healed. You would still need to be level 50, on level 50 teams to get that number. It might be achievable (needs testing). The Medical Specialist (10 million currently) and Medicine Man/Medicine Woman (currently 50 million) badges would have to also be adjusted.

It would bring the top personal healing badge under the top group healing badge (as it stands now, having the top group healing badge at 1/10th the top personal badge is a bit insane).

[ QUOTE ]
Let's get some different perspective on that number...

At 6-8 hours a day at 500k per hour we're looking at ~14 thousand hours to get 1 billion healed.
So instead of saying Empath is 1 billion, consider Empath as 14,000 hours running at maximum healing capacity.

[/ QUOTE ]
If it were 500k/hour that would be 2,000 hours. On the other hand the only character that could possibly achieve this might be a Rad Corruptor healing 7 Masterminds with all their pets sitting on a red CoT crystal.

Now if you change that to 500k per hour to per day, then the rest of numbers make a bit more sense, but still might not achievable.

This is why I wanted to wait until the CoH Vault opened, so I could get an approximate value of healing an hour by various means. This is because any numbers I can post/remember (last testing I did was almost a year ago) are bound to be rough guesses, and 500k for an 8 hour day is a really rough guess. Also, thanks to healing farms, etc I can't get an accurate count most of the time from the info booths. It may be impossible to achieve that 60k-85K an hour to get the 500k/day value.

Just a reminder:
[ QUOTE ]
This edition has a lot of focus on the winter event, and will be the last of 2007, as everyone will be out of the office next week.

[/ QUOTE ]
No Scoop this week. Happy Holidays.

G15 Ignore Spammer Macro creation. - Not Issue related.

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I actually tried this on my character...it seems the system doesn't register a difference between rctrl and lctrl. I figured since it distinguishes between lshift and rshift that it would apply the same to the other keys....unless I am mistaken about the shift keys as well...hmm need to test that tonight....

[/ QUOTE ]Tested...rshift and lshift are not distinguished either...so there ya go

[/ QUOTE ]I did some testing earlier this week. LSHIFT, RSHIFT, LCRTL, RCTRL, LALT, RALT all can be bound only as stand alone keys. The moment they are attached to another key with +<key> they lose the left and right distinction.

While using out of game macros are generally frowned upon, I am not going to show you how to AFK anything here.

What I am going to show is a way to nail spammers with the "/ignore_spammer" command quickly. You need to have a Logitech G11 or G15 Keyboard (either version).

In the G-Profiler, select your City of Heroes profile.

Create a new macro in the macro manager. I suggest naming it "Ignore Spammer".

Export the profile to the desktop.

Open the profile file that you saved with Notepad (right-click, open with, choose notepad).

In the <macros></macros> you should find the macro named above (or whatever you called it). It should look something like (<macro name="Ignore spammer" guid="{B90A42ED-0FBF-4054-AB34-5C9471D722F7}" type="multikey"></macro>

Insert the following before the "</macro>":
<font class="small">Code:[/color]<hr /><pre>
<event type="keydown" keyname="BACKSPACE"/>
<event type="keyup" keyname="BACKSPACE"/>
<event type="keydown" keyname="HOME"/>
<event type="keyup" keyname="HOME"/>
<event type="keydown" keyname="RIGHT"/>
<event type="keyup" keyname="RIGHT"/>
<event type="keydown" keyname="RIGHT"/>
<event type="keyup" keyname="RIGHT"/>
<event type="keydown" keyname="BACKSPACE"/>
<event type="keyup" keyname="BACKSPACE"/>
<event type="keydown" keyname="I"/>
<event type="keyup" keyname="I"/>
<event type="keydown" keyname="G"/>
<event type="keyup" keyname="G"/>
<event type="keydown" keyname="N"/>
<event type="keyup" keyname="N"/>
<event type="keydown" keyname="O"/>
<event type="keyup" keyname="O"/>
<event type="keydown" keyname="R"/>
<event type="keyup" keyname="R"/>
<event type="keydown" keyname="E"/>
<event type="keyup" keyname="E"/>
<event type="keydown" keyname="LSHIFT"/>
<event type="keydown" keyname="MINUS"/>
<event type="keyup" keyname="MINUS"/>
<event type="keyup" keyname="LSHIFT"/>
<event type="keydown" keyname="S"/>
<event type="keyup" keyname="S"/>
<event type="keydown" keyname="P"/>
<event type="keyup" keyname="P"/>
<event type="keydown" keyname="A"/>
<event type="keyup" keyname="A"/>
<event type="keydown" keyname="M"/>
<event type="keyup" keyname="M"/>
<event type="keydown" keyname="M"/>
<event type="keyup" keyname="M"/>
<event type="keydown" keyname="E"/>
<event type="keyup" keyname="E"/>
<event type="keydown" keyname="R"/>
<event type="keyup" keyname="R"/>
<event type="keydown" keyname="END"/>
<event type="keyup" keyname="END"/>
<event type="keydown" keyname="BACKSPACE"/>
<event type="keyup" keyname="BACKSPACE"/>
<event type="keydown" keyname="BACKSPACE"/>
<event type="keyup" keyname="BACKSPACE"/>
</pre><hr />

Save the file.

Go back to the G-Profiler, and import the modified profile.

Assign the macro to a G-Key.

Done!

Now, in the game if you get a tell from a spammer, press the assigned G-Key. It will backspace (start a reply), move the cursor to the beginning of the line, delete the "t", replace it with "ignore_spammer", move the cursor to the end of the line, and delete the "comma". All you then have to do is check to make sure that the line is correct (you could accidentally use the command on a non spammer if you got a tell before pressing the G-Key), and then press Enter.

Limitations:
You could accidentally use the command on a non spammer if you got a tell before pressing the G-Key.

You have to press "Enter" to actually send the command.

Couldn't they just be left in the main club on their own side of the club year round? What would be the harm?

Same with a trainer.

[ QUOTE ]
joke

[/ QUOTE ]
I know, but it was a valid point to throw out and discuss.

[ QUOTE ]
snow globe. I think you are reading far too much into this whole thing.

[/ QUOTE ]
I like to think I reading the event perfectly fine.

The developers wanted to do something fun for the players, offer badges for doing new things and were hoping everyone would have a good time. Did I miss anything?

My point, and the point of the post that Lighthouse responded to, was to make the event fall into line with this perception.

My position in all this is not very hard to understand. I want badges to be fun, especially for the holiday events. In my opinion, the ski badges fail miserably at this, especially given all the frustration players are expressing on these forums in multiple sections.

[ QUOTE ]
I am sorry you had such a hard time getting gold or felt that you needed a special build for it. gold can be gotten by anyone with a zero g pack which is anyone over level 10. So if you start a new character, run to pocket D, get in on a team, do the snaptooth missions, once you run that five times for all the badges you can take the pocket d exit to kings row, pick up your radio and run those missions and BAM zero g pack and a gold medal once you get used to the course. Its really not that hard nor exclusive. you dont need a kin or any outside buffs, just a zero g pack and sprint.

[/ QUOTE ]
All but one of my characters on the server I play on most are over level 15. most are in the 30+ range. 6 heroes were over 20 when the safeguards were in place.

I had to ask a friend who had a character in the 10-15 range to help me get a pack for my badge hunting hero.

Safeguards/Mayhems are not a part of the flashback system, so you would have to get another account to get it. If you have already have had the power and used it, you would have to burn a respec or two. Or call in a Kin.

I mentioned in the post that there should have been a temp power for purchase, which would have solved the problem. I've seen mentioned the idea to reuse the prestige power slide (give it a holiday color) animation as a snowboard as a temp power that you could purchase with candy canes.

I have wildly different times. I spent 14 hours "practicing" the run. I still cannot consistantly get under 25 seconds. Even with the zero-g packs and boosted speed.

I got the badges on a few characters before coming to the conclusion that they were not fun.

[ QUOTE ]
I think the ski slope thing is fun and does nothing to invalidate the spirit of the season.

[/ QUOTE ]
If the leader board was in place, they would still have friendly competition, without the need for awarding these badges. Having the badges, with the times that they are set to, is not a "gift" it is holiday work, so I stand by my statement that they are not in keeping with the spirit of the season or the gift that the event was [u]supposed[u] to be.

[ QUOTE ]
Unless Posi was considering that people would farm it... In which case the requirements are much much too low!!

/em ducks

[/ QUOTE ]
Considering that they put in anti-heal-spamming code to prevent it, I doubt it.

Otherwise why build in the fact that only healing actually done (as opposed to the full amount of the healing power) gets credit? As Positron said in that interview, they didn't want people to sit around in Atlas Park spamming heals and getting the badge.

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Overall the ski run mini game still needs work. Please fix for next year.

[/ QUOTE ]

It may well be something that not everyone is going to get by just going there and doing it. Gold is designed to be a challenge. If you aren't interested in working at it, then you won't get it. Not all badges are for everyone, sorry.

[/ QUOTE ]
Lighthouse, someone in the badge section posted the following, in case you missed it:

[ QUOTE ]
this type of activity is inappropriate for a celebratory event which is supposed to be a nice gift to all the players. I have no problem with this type of activity being in the game, but I think that it detracts from the "holiday spirit" and turns it from a light, fun time into just another achievement driven type-A "me me me" event.

I'd much rather have seen a more cooperative and less competetive event added, more in the spirit of Christmas...and no, requiring a Kin doens't count as cooperative.

[/ QUOTE ]
My reply to that post:

Actually I think this completely sums up my thoughts as well.

This is why I have a problem with the "these badges are not meant for everyone" standard line. It was supposed to be a gift for everyone that got turned into "this is a gift, but only if you work hard enough for it". At the point you have to work for a "gift" it ceases to be a gift.

Had there been a new year-round winter zone (preferably accessed by both sides) with a ski run, these badges would fit in that type of zone.

As it is, the ski badges miss the spirit of the season.

Thanks Lighthouse!

Because to get that the healers would have to get 500,000 hp healed/day at the very least. Outside of arena/lava/crystal farming, I doubt that you are going to get that without 6-8 hour day. Every day for 5 years. At that point I better be on NCSoft's payroll.

Someone has pointed out that the picture of Ghost Widow on the front page is going to another picture.

The full size picture can be found at:
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...nia/GWXmas.jpg

Sorry for the confusion. I would not expect it to be fixed until after the new year, when everyone is back in the office.

Again, I am sorry I did not catch the mistake.

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
There's no way to absolutely prove that the devs didn't intend Empath to require the level of effort it does, short of them actually saying so.

[/ QUOTE ]

They did. Specifically, as I said in an earlier post, Positron said he estimated it would take five years to earn Empath.

[/ QUOTE ]
And until the requirements are lowered to match that estimation, the badge is broken.

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

I remember when one of the top badge idiots bragged about his Leader badge, and someone raised an issue, he INSISTED that he has a life. Oh yeah, I'm sure his son is real glad his dad sat in front of the computer for hundreds, if not thousands, of hours farming influence instead of spending that time reading or playing ball with him.

[/ QUOTE ]

I believe that idiot was me. No kids. I only did it while my wife was at work or watching her soap opera. She would occaisionally say something like "Ugh.. Badging again?" But was generally very supportive. The dogs may have gone to the park a little less than they would have otherwise.


[/ QUOTE ]
Actually I think he was refering to Beef_Cake, but don't let us stop you taking credit as well...

[ QUOTE ]
EIF... might want to pick something besides the green text.

It's impossible to read against the blue...

[/ QUOTE ]
Actually it is hard to read on either the blue (not enough contrast) or red (not enough contrast and the complementary (opposite) colors aggrivates the eyes) forum.

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
How long for non-farmers?

[/ QUOTE ]
This is a better question. When the developers encourage play the game improves. With a goal of 25 million for Empath, at 90,000 HP healed/day my suggestion would get the badge in 10 months (about 300 days). Given that those with aid other, that would be 2-5 times as long, but still should be doable in about 5 years, rather than the 30-60 it would take now.

[/ QUOTE ]
Save me the trouble of digging thru your posts, please...

[/ QUOTE ]
Actually I believe the forums ate where I came up with the numbers for the 1st post in this thread.

[ QUOTE ]
How did you derive a the 90,000 HP/day as the rate of Maximum Speed Healing?

[/ QUOTE ]
Level 50 Illusion/Empathy controller, about 3 hours of play at level 50 with a full team. I think I checked the info booths and got that number. It has been a while though. Well before IOs were introduced.

[ QUOTE ]
What did you establish as a per day rate of Full Speed Aid Other?

[/ QUOTE ]
Full speed Aid Other was about 100k, healing for the max amount by a non-healer at level 50 (6 times a minute), slotted with 3 ++ Heal SOs and 3 ++ Recharge SOs (no IOs or set bonuses thanks to being done before Issue 8). I think it worked out to 100k/hour, providing you were not interupted. See just how ideal that number is?

[ QUOTE ]
I agree that a dedicated healer you play multiple times a week should have the last badge in a year, which probably means 10 months at the level 50 rate. We may end up needing to debate what is an average play time per week of a dedicated player. Though I think both the healing per hour from such characters AND the play time could be datamined by the Devs and back-filled into the calculation if they accept the 10 month value by itself.

[/ QUOTE ]
Personally I look forward to the city vault, so that I can see exactly how much I am healing in a hour. Then I will revisit the the original post's calculations and remove the ideal values.

[ QUOTE ]
Doesn't this sidestep the foundational question of, "Should everyone be able to acquire Empath?"

I've not seen one argument that addresses that question. Because if the devs never intended for most people to get Empath, then it certainly bears on the remaining questions, wouldn't it?

[/ QUOTE ]
I am pretty positive in thinking that the developers never intended tanks, blasters, and others with out aid other/healing powers to get the healing badges.

[ QUOTE ]
If something can be gotten in 5 years farming, and 25 years not farming, my hope is that only the people who truly enjoy farming will even try for it.

[/ QUOTE ]
The problem as it exists right now is that it can be had in about 9 months (sooner if you have multiple accounts, longer if you don't have a "perfect" farm) from farming and over 30 years if you are a dedicated healer (more if only using aid other) to get it. I think a lot of the people disagreeing here clearly do not understand the time scales involved here.

[ QUOTE ]
If the thing can be gotten in a year if you don't farm, and 2 months if you do, then MORE people will farm for it.

[/ QUOTE ]
Again, you need to take farming completely out of the question. Farming will occur, no matter what. Farming at the level needed for a few weeks is a sign of "I need to get it now", farming for most of a year for one badge is counterproductive.

[ QUOTE ]
Won't change my personal gameplay either way: I don't have the patience or inclination to farm for anything, in general.

[/ QUOTE ]
Those of us who don't want to farm shouldn't have to feel forced to. Currently the badge is so far out of reach of normal play that to get it through play would likely exceed the game's lifespan several times.

It isn't "got to catch them all". The problem is that it pretty mch at this point is that it is an established fact that the top healing badges are impossible to achieve through play.

[ QUOTE ]
How long should it take to acquire Empath?

[/ QUOTE ]
That is what this discussion is about.

[ QUOTE ]
How long for farmers?

[/ QUOTE ]
This should not even be a consideration. You should not design a game based on extreme behavior. Heal/arena farms are extreme. They are not playing the game, they are setting the game up to play itself while they are away. Do we really want to encourage this?

[ QUOTE ]
How long for non-farmers?

[/ QUOTE ]
This is a better question. When the developers encourage play the game improves. With a goal of 25 million for Empath, at 90,000 HP healed/day my suggestion would get the badge in 10 months (about 300 days). Given that those with aid other, that would be 2-5 times as long, but still should be doable in about 5 years, rather than the 30-60 it would take now.

One thing I forgot to add:
Christmas Mystery Gifts: gift

[ QUOTE ]
I got married on Wednesday

[/ QUOTE ]
Congratulations!

[ QUOTE ]
Loc: Pacific NorthWet

[/ QUOTE ]
Initially I was going to say that you forgot an "s" there, but living near Vancouver, B.C. all my life, I would say that is a fair description of the region from B.C.-Oregon.

[ QUOTE ]
...

Okay, I'm flattered, but, you put my drawing of Patty-Sue ivanova in when it had already been featured in a past Scoop.

Aaand that image of patty in her winter outfit leads to the larger image of Singularitee. *shrug*

But other than that, great issue... and like others said, big, too!

[/ QUOTE ]
Let's just say it was a last minute replacement for another image.

I'll see if a fix can be put in place.

Edit:
Until then, here is the full size image of patty in her winter outfit.

Last edit:
The link has been fixed. Thanks Lighthouse!