< < < DEAR DEVs: A letter from the Base Builders > > >
Anyone remember the Paragon Dance Party?
We have Pocket D because some of the code team thought it would be cool to put in a dance club. If someone in the Development Team liked Bases at all, then they would be upgraded or at least the major issues would be addressed.
I think one of the major issues is that not enough of the developers still play the game for fun. If they did, then they would realize how unfun the current Base system is and something would be done about it.
"SARS, Bird Flue, 9/11, Anthrax in the Mail, Mad Cow Disease. Pope John Paul didn't die, he preboarded." - Christopher Titus "5th Annual End of the World Tour"
They claim that they do not have the resources to direct toward the issue, yet they just donated $5 million to the relief efforts for Japan.
I'm not saying doing so was wrong, I'm just saying the devs have been blowing smoke up our arses for years on this issue.
The problem isn't that they can't add things, but that the current code is at it's limit. Adding just about anything needs a whole rewrite of the code. Add a polygon here, an item there, yep, whole rewrite.
|
I read this in the recent post regarding the PAX: "Supergroup functionality -- especially bases -- is being looked at, albeit with no real timetable. The idea of having a personal base is a fantastic one, but the team realizes there are a lot of technical hurdles in place. "
I've also read over the years about a lot of things the Devs said they couldn't do because it 'wasn't in the code' or because it was 'baked into the code.' Anyone else remember the days before we could color-shift Powers? Players asked for years and were told the colors were affixed to the code of each Power and to change them meant rewriting every Power. I went away for a while and look...colorable Powers!
I also read about a lot of things the Devs said they wouldn't do like free Fitness for everyone. 'End issues are part of the game balance' and all of that. Or posting the actual numbers for Powers. Every time the top-deck administration changes we get new rules of what the Devs can't or won't do.
Statesman left and we got color tintable Powers and Power Descriptions with real numbers and a whole slew of other nifty things. Now we have Incarnates for better or worse. With Castle gone what will happen to the next generation? Only time will tell.
Personally I like Bases, Base building and design and many of the SG features available through Bases. CoH players can be a very creative bunch. The myriad of costumes proves that. I've played some wonderful AE content too...all written by players. Some of the screenshots of Bases stagger my mind.
I don't agree with an all-Base issue any more than I agree with an all-Anything Else issue. I'm only one player, I don't PvP and if they had an all-PvP issue I'd be pretty salty. But we DO need and, I think, deserve some attention.
"Comics, you're not a Mastermind...you're an Overlord!"
The problem isn't that they can't add things, but that the current code is at it's limit. Adding just about anything needs a whole rewrite of the code. Add a polygon here, an item there, yep, whole rewrite.
It's not even just bases, but the whole SG system. SG v1.x is done, it's buggy beyond repair, wasn't made with the future in mind from the beginning, and needs to be scrapped and rebuilt from the ground up. |
Adding existing items would mean we have to improvise less, which would reduce the number of items we have to use. It would help avoid the item limit.
They claim that they do not have the resources to direct toward the issue, yet they just donated $5 million to the relief efforts for Japan.
I'm not saying doing so was wrong, I'm just saying the devs have been blowing smoke up our arses for years on this issue. |
Oh, and you're "not saying doing so was wrong", you're just criticizing it. What a disgraceful and contemptible post.
Paragon City Search And Rescue
The Mentor Project
They claim that they do not have the resources to direct toward the issue, yet they just donated $5 million to the relief efforts for Japan.
I'm not saying doing so was wrong, I'm just saying the devs have been blowing smoke up our arses for years on this issue. |
Sorry A_Angel, as Ironblade said, there is a difference between NCSoft and Paragon Studios.
If you want NCSoft to increase the budget for PS so that we can get some Base Luv, it would be better to couch your arguments in terms of the game itself, not what they are doing outside of the game.
You want Base Luv?
So do I.
But criticizing NCSoft for giving humanitarian aid dollars is not the way to get it.
Yes, NCSoft is "the boss" now, so Paragon Studios needs to have solid, logical reasoning to justify spending the resources on a game feature that has proven to be extremely difficult to manage. Seriously, if you don't think the base coding is like a giant Jenga tower, you have a short memory of the things that got snafu'd when they tried to work with it.
This is about the game.
It's about business.
.
Don�t say things. What you are stands over you the while, and thunders so that I cannot hear what you say to the contrary. - R.W. Emerson |
YUMMY Low-Hanging Fruit for BASE LUV

You two are so far off base that it's amazing. Putting aside the obvious political correct agenda here for a moment, I did not say NC Soft was wrong for contributing the $5,000,000 to Japan relief. READ IT AGAIN.
For years, we have been told that the budget was too small to allow them to contribute ANY resources to bases.
Yet, when relief is needed elsewhere, however legit it is, money magically appears in the coffers.
The point is not that they helped Japan...the point is that by doing so, they exposed themselves as lying to us. They say they cannot aford to put someone to work on bases...hiring someone special for it might cost well under $100k annually, yet in the span of a month, they came up with $5 million, regardless of the reason.
They have been lying to us.
You know...I want to be open and honest for a minute here.
The devs have put a lot of work into this game. I mean, in the past year or so, we have seen so very many additions to the content. They surely have been busy little beavers.
So, looking back, I can garner some understanding from within myself for them.
But here's the thing: Although I have enjoyed the new content, there is only one overwhelming reason I still play this game. Bases.
I know...some people will see this and think I must enjoy boredom!
Well, to understand me, you should know that I am a full-time novelist. I spend all day, nearly every day, working on books, contacting agents, editors and doing research for my projects. And I cram studying as many books as I can on improving my writing skills (I have over 200 writing books) and I make time to read other authors work to learn from them.
So when I finally get time to relax (and I usually have to force that time on me), I log on and I think...which character do I want to level or play?
And then I think about the repetition involved. Boring. So I think, "Maybe I'll work on getting incarnates for one of my 50s?" But then my brain tells me it doesn't want to focus on figuring thinkgs out there.
So I log on my main and go to work on my base. Why?
Think of a clothes drier. It heats up and spins, does the hard work, and then it has a cool down period.
Base building is my chance to do something creative but non-intensive. It's my cool down period. If I didn't do it, I would likely be up till 4 in the morning working almost every night.
But then we have the way base builders are treated in this game. It's like a coach saying you are one of his best players but never backing it up and putting you in.
That's the way it is between the devs and the base builders. They are quick to compliment our creativity, saying how amazed they are by what we can do, but they never give us the chance to do more. They never put us in the "update" game. We are ignored completely.
After a year, it was fine...there is, after all, a lot going on in this game. After two years, it was concerning, but still, plenty of other things going on. And now, after over half a decade, we are still being ignored.
Now, it's downright insulting. By their lack of action, the devs are telling us we do not matter - do not count amongst the other players of the game.
I have to tell you...I am beyond frustrated. So far beyond the point of anger that I am almost disgusted with the way base builders are treated. Every update is like a slap in the face by the devs because every issue proves once again that we do not matter.
If this were not a game...if people were being treated like this in society...how would you feel then? Would the devs be "polically correct" in the way they treat base builders? Seriously?
Make no mistake. I am not saying we are women demanding the right to vote. I am not saying we are African Americans forced to ride in the back of the bus. I am not saying we are being denied our rights as citizens.
But certainly there are some similarities. In a way, we're not even permitted to get on the bus. We are not represented among the devs. Sure, occasionally a politician (dev) mentions us or says something to give a little hope, but nothing EVER comes of it. And a year or two later, the process repeats.
Paragon Studios works on the game, but NCSoft runs the show. NCSoft provides the resources.
I have it on good authority that Bases come up at nearly all developer meetings...but never as a serious topic. Simply put...we do not matter to them.
Sure... we all know having 5 million dollars for humanitarian donations means you have 100k laying around for whatever business development a tiny segment of customers wishes for!
100k for base lovers, 100k for PvP, 100k for one of NCSofts BIGGER titles...
What a bunch of rotten "liars"...
Sorry, AA. You're adding A and X and insisting it equals Y.
I, for one, don't agree.
EDIT:
And to the rest of your post...
I get the disappointment. I do.
You're letting it frustrate you a bit much though (as I'm sure you know).
And yeah... it seems like base development is always on the list of future development, but always stays too far down on the list.
One of these days... the time may be right and it may get focused on.
Maybe not.
My situation is very similar, in regards to my logging in and finding enjoyment in base editing, as a wind-down from my hectic days/nights in a creative industry (musician).
I'd suggest that you relax about it, but I know that never comes off as right or friendly.
I've just decided to embrace the idea that we're never going to see any base development...
If/when we do... that'll be bonus/surprise.
and round up everyone that knows more than they do"-Dylan
Hi everyone.
I'm not a base builder myself, but I did want to offer you guys some encouragement here because my SG has base builders, and like you guys, they do a lot of amazing and unsung work with the tools they have.
I got the okay directly to say this, by the way....I was talking to Beastyle post-Coffee Chat yesterday morning/afternoon and I asked him pretty much point-blank about this very issue. Now, he is bound as is TheNet from saying anything about bases, but please be assured they are reading the threads here a lot and Beastyle himself has made some overtures to speak on your behalf. Don't ask me how this played out, because that's all the detail I got.
But they are listening, even if they can't answer you. I wouldn't even post this if it wasn't true, and several people, including Arbiter Fabulous were there to see the exchange with me asking about this. I did ask also about using existing art assets to include into the base system, and I was told this was noted down and would be enquired about.
I know this isn't a lot for you, but they haven't abandoned you, I swear. They've even been going to bases on tours and seeing your work.
Don't give up hope, guys.
S.
Part of Sister Flame's Clickey-Clack Posse
You two are so far off base that it's amazing. Putting aside the obvious political correct agenda here for a moment, I did not say NC Soft was wrong for contributing the $5,000,000 to Japan relief. READ IT AGAIN.
For years, we have been told that the budget was too small to allow them to contribute ANY resources to bases. Yet, when relief is needed elsewhere, however legit it is, money magically appears in the coffers. |
Paragon Studios has its own budget, that budget is dictated to them by NCsoft. So while NCsoft might be able to donate large sums of money, Paragon Studios has to work with a smaller amount of money.
Yes and NCsoft doesn't have anything to do with the daily development of the game.


Triumph: White Succubus: 50 Ill/Emp/PF Snow Globe: 50 Ice/FF/Ice Strobe: 50 PB Shi Otomi: 50 Ninja/Ninjistu/GW Stalker My other characters
... and *THIS* kind of garbage is why none of this will ever be taken seriously.
Weird how someone who claims to want to help has been one of the largest detractors from the cause.
Its like, "Look at us! We want base stuff! And, we're completely insane! Wait, dont only look at how insane we are, we really have strong issues to talk about, wait, no, its not just how insane we are, quit laughing at us! We have valid points! STOP ONLY LOOKING AT THE INSANE PEOPLE PEASE!"
Fine, I quit.
I'll go stack a zillion boxes again bc its still more fun that trying to watch this train wreck of a thread produce anything noteworthy.
... and *THIS* kind of garbage is why none of this will ever be taken seriously.
Weird how someone who claims to want to help has been one of the largest detractors from the cause. |



Triumph: White Succubus: 50 Ill/Emp/PF Snow Globe: 50 Ice/FF/Ice Strobe: 50 PB Shi Otomi: 50 Ninja/Ninjistu/GW Stalker My other characters
Hi everyone.
I'm not a base builder myself, but I did want to offer you guys some encouragement here because my SG has base builders, and like you guys, they do a lot of amazing and unsung work with the tools they have. I got the okay directly to say this, by the way....I was talking to Beastyle post-Coffee Chat yesterday morning/afternoon and I asked him pretty much point-blank about this very issue. Now, he is bound as is TheNet from saying anything about bases, but please be assured they are reading the threads here a lot and Beastyle himself has made some overtures to speak on your behalf. Don't ask me how this played out, because that's all the detail I got. But they are listening, even if they can't answer you. I wouldn't even post this if it wasn't true, and several people, including Arbiter Fabulous were there to see the exchange with me asking about this. I did ask also about using existing art assets to include into the base system, and I was told this was noted down and would be enquired about. I know this isn't a lot for you, but they haven't abandoned you, I swear. They've even been going to bases on tours and seeing your work. Don't give up hope, guys. S. |
Now, as to base tours, that's great, but what about those of us, like me, who have given up on ever finishing their bases? The biggest issue is the base item crash limit. When you want to make a simple kitchenette for your base (let's face it, that tea you see everyone holding has to come from somewhere

The other problem is that everything costs a lot of prestige, which is doled out by the thimble-full - which doesn't hurt large SGs with lots of active players, but it's the kiss of death to the design ideas of small SGs - especially those made by a single player, like myself, for 12 of their alts.
I really would like to see some help and love here. My worry for years has been that this is yet another part of the game that the devs had an idea of how it should work, saw that it was being used differently, tried to fix/change it, and then eventually gave up and are only giving lip service to it every once in a while.
Global: @All-American Teen
70 toons across 11 servers.
Top hero -All-American Teen lvl 50 eng/invul Tanker (01:10 EST; 1/24/09)
Top villian -Poisoned Plum lvl 30 robots/devices Mastermind
IMHO, there are only 2 things currently in need of repair.
1. Allow storage racks to hold 100 salvage items, not 30.
2. Give us some kind of recipe holder (with more capacity than 30)
Another nice-to-have would be a more reasonable INF to PRESTIGE conversion rate (50 to 1 seems like a reasonable sacrifice. 500 to 1 seems highly skewed)
Dear PlayNC,
Please increase the budget for Paragon Studios substantially.
Please give the Paragon Studios development team the budget they deserve.
Please ensure the longevity of this wonderful game via cash infusion therapy.
Please make sure all features of the game have the well fed development that it deserves.
Please give me a reason to /resub.
Thank you for your time, Mr. H.
Ignoring anyone is a mistake. You might miss something viral to your cause.
Ignoring anyone is a mistake. You might miss something viral to your cause.
The Base Building Committee is currently running an event to try and rally Base Builders. The thread is on the Base Forum.
The BBC has been told by 'persons close to the Devs that Bases get no luv because atm they attract very little attention relatively speaking. We can make all the lists we want but we have to prove that we're interested enough to put forth effort.
The Base Community needs to show the Devs that we're willing to work for Base improvements...not just make lists of wants and demands. The BBC is planning a series of events to raise Base awareness but we NEED people to put forth the effort...not just gripe.
"Comics, you're not a Mastermind...you're an Overlord!"
The Base Building Committee is currently running an event to try and rally Base Builders. The thread is on the Base Forum.
The BBC has been told by 'persons close to the Devs that Bases get no luv because atm they attract very little attention relatively speaking. We can make all the lists we want but we have to prove that we're interested enough to put forth effort. The Base Community needs to show the Devs that we're willing to work for Base improvements...not just make lists of wants and demands. The BBC is planning a series of events to raise Base awareness but we NEED people to put forth the effort...not just gripe. |
Easy solution then...base builders should flood the forums, in all sections. Afterall, that's how other people got their changes. Become more widely visible.
@BruTal
Fine, I quit. I'll go stack a zillion boxes again bc its still more fun that trying to watch this train wreck of a thread produce anything noteworthy. |
People keep coming back because even though they are not stating it in the same manner, they are just as frustrated. Unfortunately, the Devs know you'll quit. They know if they ignore the issue, the complainers will give up.
Go over my history of posts in the Base Section. For years I was one of the big supporters. To this day, the thread I STARTED is one of, if not THE most popular threads.
What you see from me now is the result of years of abuse by the devs. You can only stand it so long before you stand up and say "enough is enough!"
There would be many, many more people complaining...but the larger percentage of Base Builders have quit the game entirely...because of the same reasons.
There was a time, right here on the forums, when the devs listened to everyone and did what they could to address each issue equally. There was a time when a player could post a request or complaint, and see action taken within a short amount of time. There was a time.
And now...the ONLY completely ignored faction in the game...THE ONLY ONE...are the Base Builders. Even the PVPers get attention from time to time.
But we Base Builders...and I'm talking about the people who love it so much they spend more time in a base than out...we pay the same amount, yet do not get treated equally.
So you can sit there on your pretty little keyboard like some noob and say how wrong our words or frustrations are...but I paid my dues...I was an original beta tester for CoH. I have been active in the Base Building community since Bases were introduced. I am one of the ones that has been constantly slapped in the face by the devs neglect.
And until your cheek is red and burning, you simply have not paid your dues. I have. Snow Globe has. Many here have.
Many who have left have.
And although we all express ourselves differently, we all share a common bond. We all share the same frustrations.
Our voices have been taken away. Period.
I commend the Base Commitee, but I also know that in the end, nothing they do will matter. Because they are not the first. The devs are telling them the very same things the other commitees were told.
some of us are just tired of being strung along.
I understand as well as anyone how frustrating this is. I'm currently working 7 days a week and yet I'm STILL here trying to support Bases and the Base Community.
However aside from all the lists and the pleas and the griping what's been DONE by the players to show they want base support? That's what the BBC are trying to do...rally support.
I KNOW it's rough to be ignored and still keep trying. I understand how tiring it is to beg and plead for just a little respect and get nothing. I no longer edit my own base because the Editor is such a PITA and I simply don't have time to dink with stacking.
We in the BBC are not asking you to die. We're not even asking you to bleed. Just show a little effort for just a little while longer. Put an entry in the current contest at http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showthread.php?t=263555. We have a Redname giving away prizes and that shows at least some attention from upstairs.
The biggest thing is the proposed live event slated for late next month. I've been told by sources close to the Devs that a live turnout really turns heads. If we can spawn a new instance of a zone (so we need 75 players at one time) then THAT will get some attention. Will it sole all our problems? No...but it will show that we can do more than make lists of wants and complaints.
The current contest is to wake up the Base Community. The live event is to wake up the Devs. If we don't get any luv after that then I'm willing to conceed the point. However I don't thing that one more try is so much to ask for.
Blasters waited years to get Defiance fixed. Defenders waited years to get Vigilance fixed. Other players have waited years for what they wanted. I understand that most players in the Base community are not willing to wait for MORE years. But one more try...that's all I'm asking.
Don't let Bases die with a wimper.
"Comics, you're not a Mastermind...you're an Overlord!"
I think the Base Community isn't being "ignored" per se, but lots of people in it seem to be forgetting two basic facts:
- Bases aren't what brings people here to play CoX
- Financially, CoX is one of NCsoft's worst-performing games
The new Free-to-Play model promises to bring in a lot more players, and hopefully NCsoft's revenue will also increase as a result. If that's the case, we'll see the staff at Paragon Studios start to increase once again, rather than slowly, constantly waning or being shifted over to more successful NCsoft titles such as AION (we miss you, Niviene).
As Bases are low on the totem pole, we need to have that level of surplus staff and development energy / money available in order to see anything happen, Base-wise.
As these decisions are driven by the financial realities of the current situation, until things change dramatically in terms of the amount of revenue CoX is generating, griping on the Forums -- whether in the form of forceful rants or gentle, hopeful suggestions -- isn't going to change anything.
In many ways, all we can do is watch, wait and hope for what the Free to Play model will bring to our beloved game.
-- Vivian
I think the Base Community isn't being "ignored" per se, but lots of people in it seem to be forgetting two basic facts:
The new Free-to-Play model promises to bring in a lot more players, and hopefully NCsoft's revenue will also increase as a result. If that's the case, we'll see the staff at Paragon Studios start to increase once again, rather than slowly, constantly waning or being shifted over to more successful NCsoft titles such as AION (we miss you, Niviene). As Bases are low on the totem pole, we need to have that level of surplus staff and development energy / money available in order to see anything happen, Base-wise. As these decisions are driven by the financial realities of the current situation, until things change dramatically in terms of the amount of revenue CoX is generating, griping on the Forums -- whether in the form of forceful rants or gentle, hopeful suggestions -- isn't going to change anything. In many ways, all we can do is watch, wait and hope for what the Free to Play model will bring to our beloved game. -- Vivian |
Which is exactly why there is at least one thread regarding a Base Packet (before they announced the F2P/paragon points model). Creating a better Base Editor and adding some of the existing decorations (the famous 'low hanging fruit') would generate immediate income.
And I know of several players who have either left the game or are going to Prestige statue when F2P launches because Bases have been ignored. If Base permissions and availability could be purchased by Free players there's yet more revenue.
I understand that Paragon Studios is a business and it's their job to make money but our goal at the BBC is to show that ignoring a large source of potential income is a bad idea.
We just need to prove that the player support is there and the Devs will (hopefully) see the possible income stream.
"Comics, you're not a Mastermind...you're an Overlord!"
I would like us to take a step back and try to give it an objective look.
Rhetorically, in your opinion, how many base builders are there in the playerbase right now that would pay real world money in the form of microtransactions to build their bases? One hundred? Two hundred? Five hundred? A thousand?
Among that number of base-builders, among those who would spend real-world-money under a microtransaction model, you'll find a wide range of money spent -- wealthy builders will plop down hundreds of dollars, whereas more frugal souls will eke out single dollars for specific, highly-desired items and grind to make the rest.
Let's say the average builder's "buy" for base items is around $20. That means that the average base builder will spend $20 on base items. Fair, right? Some few may spend more, but the vast majority will spend less -- or nothing.
Let's take the largest number above -- a thousand base builders -- and multiply that by $20... it's $20,000.
But let's say there are two thousand base builders -- let's say that the new base shinies and larger population from F2P will attract more folks, and double the number of buyers! Yet... that's still only $40,000.
Let's be crazy and double that again for no apparent reason -- it's still only $80,000.
This is not a "large source" of revenue... large sources are several millions of dollars. Moreover, and perhaps more importantly -- this is not "recurring" revenue.
Much like a Pack, Base Item Purchases would be one-shot, one-time purchases. Packs are inherently risky, as they cost a certain amount to develop, and each player will only buy one of them. If they don't sell enough to cover their cost of development, then NCsoft winds up breaking even -- or losing money on the Pack. Not exactly ideal.
In order to prosper, CoX needs recurring revenue. That's money that keeps coming in, month after month. This is needed in order to be able for Paragon Studios to afford more permanent staff and for CoX to rise on the ranks of NCsoft's Annual Earnings Reports -- for that is truly its only safeguard against eventual dissolution.
Bear in mind that the cost of overhauling SG Bases involves several months of work by a team of programmers, modelers, texture artists, riggers, animators, effect artists, designers, testers and producers. That labor represents a cost of many hundreds of thousands of dollars, not including the other overhead of the company surrounding them.
However -- that being said, and that sobering dose of reality having been handed out, I do have a suggestion that would make all of this possible:
If SG base "rent" was ACTUAL rent -- in other words, if it was a real, recurring monthly cost in real-world money -- that would serve to justify the expense of a Base Overhaul. I.e., if a case could be made that the income from a base overhaul would see a Return on Investment within "X" months for NCsoft, we'd probably see it happen.Yet -- I cannot help but think that the base builder and player community would wholeheartedly reject any such extra recurring monthly cost for something they have received for free for so long already.
So, we are at an impasse -- and thus, in my humble opinion, Bases will probably stay exactly where they are until and unless the Free-to-Play model injects a ton of cash and changes the current dynamic.
-- Vivian
This is a song about a super hero named Tony. Its called Tony's theme.
Jagged Reged: 23/01/04
I think it's a load of boloney myself.
The coding is there. All they have to do is add it to the base system and update the menu with pricing. While I can see they would like to do an overhaul, coding did not seem to matter when they added permissions to storage, changed the beaker shelf and other things they have done.
The coding thing is a thin excuse.