Snow Globe

This is a reply to the ENTIRE thread.

What you do not understand is that a lot of times, such as the _Castle_ interview, there are rules as to what they can and cannot say publically. Anything official has to be vetted through "proper" channels first. We don't have to like it, but that is the way things are run around here. This happens a lot in the business world.

If anyone thinks that only the scoop and the forums are limited in this way, I would suggest that ask Forbes or some other business publication about interviewing businesses.

That all being said, the developers from the hints we've been getting are working on the game. Doing what amounts to a denial of service to the lead developer's inbox will not help get bases looked at any sooner.

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weird, I can no longer seem to edit my post... :/

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there is a time limited on editability of posts. IIRC its long (12 hours or so) but it is present

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It is somewhere between 48-72 hours, actually.

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Third: It doesn't have to REPLACE the current sytem, but rather be an addition. Current bases made w/ the old system can stay as they are. You could have the option of choosing which system to use. That way if this new system were incorporated current bases would be un-affected and ppl would have the OPTION of created a new one w/ the new system. Upon completion the old one would be replaced. It should also go w/o saying that the pres spent on the current base would be available while making the new one.

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From a cost/benefits ratio for development time that will never happen either. Maintaining two codebases for base design would be a logistical nightmare, make bases more prone to errors, and mean even less time for developers to add new things to bases.

Again, it will never happen.

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They'd place the heavy, and the *player* would go into the base and go AFK. Not the heavy. The *player* would be completely safe. The Heavy would be sitting out there blasting at whatever patrol went by, and the player would be pulling in INF, recipes, and the like.

Clearer?

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Then the simple solution should have been to eliminate the ability to be AFK for more than 15 minutes, even if on a Task or Strike Force.

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Longbow and Arachnos Heavies used in Recluse's Victory can no longer be healed.

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My Empath badger will see perma-debt in RV now. Additionally the Pillbox badges are now further out of reach. This is a bad change.

Suggestions:
Reduce Pillbox badges (the third one a LOT) 10-50-100.
Buff the damage output/speed of the heavies.

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Make the base editor more like common FPS level designers (ie. UnrealED). To be quite honest, I'm suprised the current system even works. It seems like it's barely holdin' together.

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After using UnrealED and other FPS level desingers, I would have to say that this suggestion should NEVER be used by the developers. Given the amount of re-coding needed, and potential copyright abuses this would enable not to mention making some bases unusable, I am thankfully glad that this will never happen. Also given some of the load times for FPS maps, a lot of people would surely mapserve before one of these base maps would be loaded.

While simple, most of the times it is easy to get a base made using the existing system. I do enough programming that I would instantly give up building bases if this was put in place.

Adding more items, textures, fixing prices, etc I can see, but not this.

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At the very least, a primary suggestion would be to re-code where... I guess "collision markers" (or something like that) are. Atm every item is placed on a squre grid and each item takes up a certain amoutn of squares. This means you cannot place something "inside" of obvioulsy open-spaced items like that giant arcane cirular floor thing... the one w/ the "hooks" forming a circle and closing up at the top.

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(Hopefully corrected to say what you meant, context being everything.)
That would be art time, not coding. Art time is often cited as having even less free time than coding.

I am sorry folks, I messed up. I submitted a few bad links, at least one was caught by the layout staff ( I blame, as always, school. At least I'm getting "A"s there ).

Last week's black and white solution.
Color solution for last week's puzzle is fine, but incorrectly labeled as the maze solution <- that is not my fault )

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Many thanks to the previous two posters for providing updated information. However, I have a question.

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It's only past due if you don't have enough.

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Not true.

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Understood, but what IS true? Does the rent get paid automatically, or do we have to visit the contact?

Thanks in advance.

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Rent does not get paid automatically.

8x8 plots have no rent.

Rent is paid based on the following cycle:

1. Base or rent cycle started
2. 2 weeks later rent notice appears (you could pay, but don't) (note 1)
3. 2 weeks after rent notice appears rent is due (again you could pay, but don't) (note 1)
4. 2 weeks after rent is due, base is powered down (do not pay until after base is powered down see note 2)
5. 2 weeks after base is powered down, base cannot be entered. (note 1). Rent does not continue to increase if left for long periods during this time.


Note 1: After payment go to beginning of rent cycle (step 1).

Note 2: If paid after rent is due, but before base is shut down, rent cycle acts as if the due date was the start of cycle. So if you paid on day 13 after the rent was due, on day 14 you'd get the new rent notice.

The ideal time to pay the rent is a few minutes after the base powers down, and the beginning plot is immune to rent. If the base is claiming rent is due, but you cannot pay or are on the basic plot, you need to send a /petition to get the GMs to open the base.

To pay your rent you have to visit one of three group registrars:
Villains: In the building at the Port Oakes Marconville marker.
Heroes: In the city hall in Atlas Park, or in the Freedom Corps building in Galaxy City.

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I think the clue should have been:
"Learn about: Rikti War. Earn: This history badge."

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Should be fixed now, you might need to refresh your browser.

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The clue for 16 Accross is:
"Learn about: Lost. Earn: This history badge."

I think the clue should have been:
"Learn about: Rikti War. Earn: This history badge."

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Sigh. You are right. I blame mid-terms week. (Passed all with flying colors, pun intended .)

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Also, the clue for 15 down seems a bit ambiguous:
"We bring: To city zones."

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Actually this one is fine, in my opinion. I will say that the bottom box is an "S".

I've tried to make sure that all the answers are spread over most levels, and both "sides" to the game. It is one of the more difficult crosswords for the scoop. Some of the answers are in-game, some outside of it.

I am going to edit a bit to help people read what you have wrote, and to correct some information.

Rent/Upkeep:

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Currently if your base owes rent you are locked out. I'm the highest ranked in the SG and it locks me out unless I go pay it. Luckily I only forgot once. That being said you don't actually have to visit anyone to pay the rent.

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Actually you are only locked out after week 8 of the rent cycle.
After week 6 is when power goes out, and you cannot use items that require power. The storage items and empowerment stations can be used during this period, but not telepads or rez rings.

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It's only past due if you don't have enough.

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Not true.

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Once you get enough you then have to go see the sg/vg guys and pay in person.

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Converting inf to prestige can be done by anyone who has over 1 mill inf.

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And has base edit rights. If you have enough INF, but not the base edit rights, you will not be given the option to convert.

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Just go to the sg guy and he'll ask if you'd like to convert, should be the first option if you have enough.

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Crafted items:
Note on the following:
If your base is locked out, crafted items WILL NOT BE DELETED.

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Crafted base items will be fully deleted; this means no it won't go back to the person who crafted it, no it won't bring back the salvage used but it will refund the prestige used to place it.

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This is true.

Prestige:

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While working in SG mode from 1 to 10 your inf gain is the same as it always was, from 11 to 24 you take a small hit

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From levels 1-24 there is no drop in the INF gain. None. From levels 1-24 there is a slight increase to prestige gain, but that is another story.

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and from 25 to 34 you take the biggest drop until 35 where you make no more inf and all prestige

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For the true INF/Prestige ratio:
http://paragonwiki.com/wiki/index.php/Prestige

Oops.

I didn't have time to replace that text, sorry. I'll see if I can find a bit of time to clean up the image, and re-upload to same spot.

Hey folks, Issue 10 brings a couple new targets!

The Rikti will not be pleased!

Bomb Specialist (should also work for demolitionist): Bomb
Chief: Suit

Master At Arms: kon

Not directly for a badge: pylon

Enjoy!

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Might want to update this, Snow... after the I9 beta, at least four people were awarded the badge, that I know of, definitely moving the number beyond being able to count on one hand

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Noted. How about a dysmally small percentage of the population?

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Personally, I'd much rather see a wide variety of articles and topics, collected through a submission process that is fully explained and open to everyone.

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Well, when someone submits a puzzle to me, I use the following to determine if it is worthy of the scoop:
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Is it based on in-game content, game designers, or comic books generally, or can it be tied into these things?

These things can be fact-checked. This week's sudoku is a prime example. I don't follow sudoku, but a fan submitted a sudoku puzzle with a tie-in to the game. I then refined the idea (finding clear pictures, re-constructing the puzzle to fit the scoop's format, finding a spot to host the file).

Is it based on supergroups, specific players?

This is a good way for a submission to be rejected. I don't want to be seen as playing favorites, and this helps me to do so.

Is it based on random out-of-game things?

Again, I am trying to look at trying to build the community, and random puzzles don't quite work.

Is it in a format that I can use?

I don't really want to have to get a specialty program to be able to be able to see or use the puzzle.

I can use the following with ease: .GIF, .JPG, TIF, .TIFF, .PNG, .TXT, .DOC, .HTM, .HTML

If you have a "finished" puzzle, it should be no larger than 768*1024 in one of the above graphics format if picture based. If text based, the remaining four will do.
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Even after all that, and even if I disagree with the puzzle, I will still bring a summary to the Editor-in-Chiefs for their consideration. It is easier to get a puzzle submitted if it follows the above guidelines.

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All of you who write the City Scoop now seem to have new unique forum titles and...

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I will point out that I've had my forum title since January 2007, well before the scoop was started.

Flareback:
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They even formatted it from my original and cleaned it up. (a BIG thanks for doing so btw)

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You are welcome. The original was a bit blurry .

Ok, here is a stop-gap measure for tracking your progress for the Dimensional Warder badge:

Full Color Checklist

Black and White Checklist

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It gave some folks a feeling of superioity and made some turn into jerks.

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I know it was responsible for my slow descent into megalomania.

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Slow?

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I was already there .

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[Draft] Guide to Common IO Crafting Octavian [I9 Beta]

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Dead link.

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Is there a printer friendly version of Sudoku puzzle? Great issue by the way

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Sorry, it was so graphically oriented that I didn't convert it to a print-friendly version. The original submission did include the number guide, which I kept in so that people can make their own with a pencil and paper.

Use the in-game print screen function (usually the printscreen key).
In your cityofheroes folder (where the game is stored on your computer), there will be a "screenshots" directory where all the screenshots go.
Take the picture you want and post it on an image hosting site like photobucket or imageshack, or your own webspace, etc.
Finally link to where you've put the picture.

Edited to add links.

Well, here is a somewhat minimalist design. It is a transport hub base mainly to give alt goups a common means of transportation.

Top down view.

Isometric view. (only background was photoshopped .

Telepad rooms 1-3 go to city zones, while telepad rooms 4-5 are to hazard zones.

The only zone left out is Crey's Folly, thanks to easy access from either Brickstown or the Rikti Crash Site.

This base has grown recently to 8x12.

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Ordinarily, this is where someone with a higher level of administrative priveleges would intervene.

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Only if the person of a higher level of administrative privileges needed to add, clarify, or remove information.

So far this discussion reads true, while some opinions have been expressed there has been no factual misnomers.

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Besides, what has been said above hardly needs admins to protect anyone .

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Titles are granted as an appreciation and point of contact reference. While we hope that those who contribute to our forum resources will maintain a level of demeanor, if they are not breaking forum rules we have no greater expectation then this.

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I try, and I would like to think that if anyone felt that I had stepped over the line, that they would let me know.

I will point out that if Kellis hadn't fully quoted me and sent me a PM, that I most likely would have revised what I posted. On the other hand, after I get fully quoted, there is no point in a retraction .

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Why? Why does a title given for just caring about an aspect of the game enough to do something for it mean someone has to be yelled at or held to a higher standard than anyone else?

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Why? Because that person is by default placing him/herself in a position of presumed authority and admiration, not to mention the "public" eye. I didnt say they have to let themselves be yelled at. But there are better ways to handle things than being "harsh".

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I was content to leave well enough alone, but here is my take on the title:

I spent over a week compiling the Badge FAQ, I spent another making sure it was accurate. It is about 12 pages long in MSWord. The title was a "thank you".

I did not recieve admin or deity-powers on these forums. People can presume anything, that does not make it accurate.

I'll give you an example from years ago, I was a sub-contractor to a large cable company to install high-speed internet. I had to dress up in a business casual attire. One time I was installing in a computer in Radio Shack, and someone who mistook me for a Radio Shack employee even though I had a totally different ID tag visible. When I told them that I did not work for Radio Shack, they got mad and went to the manager and complained. I laughed all day.

I don't work here, I made a tool to help my fellow players and was given a "badge". One that I must point out will disappear when I reach 5,000 posts (Renowned). Given the amount of people assuming I must somehow be more responsible thanks to a tiny bit of text, that will not come soon enough. Just wait until I hit "Forum Cartel" status .

The title is akin to the gold titles given out by developers at the various events, nothing more.

Eep! Well, I guess it shows depending on one's outlook, the crossword is of moderate difficulty.

Yes, but as a search of "+glass +cannon" over all these forums for a period of 5 years reveals a general consensus about the term. It might not be entirely accurate, but it is a common term here.

The dark servant's nickname is -frequently used- on these forums. Ask anyone in the Mastermind, Corruptor, or Defender sections.