The Future - An Open Letter from the Homecoming Team

I hope I didn't bring you or anyone else down with my TLDR writing, but I figured it would be nice to tell my story to a bunch of random strangers who all have a common interest with me-COH Homecoming. One more blessing for me to be thankful for. We all have a story to tell and until you've walked a mile in someone's shoes or lived a day in someone else's shoes, remember they too have their own skeletons in their closets or their own crosses to bear. Remember that person in a drive through window really doesn't want to be there, they need the money. Same as your waitress or casino worker or Uber driver. We all have to work till we die because we are all basically slaves to the .01% of the people who OWN us all. The use us up as soldiers and slaves until they have drained us of our strength and youth, then they toss us out like trash. Happily we are ALL valuable and all mean something to someone or something in this life. Be nice to everyone and smile at someone today, because you have NO idea of what kind of hell they might be going through or how close to the edge they might be. A smile and a kind word go a long way to someone who has nothing. Remember that the next time you think how bad your day is or how bad your life is. There is always someone worse off than you or I. Common courtesy and a helping hand or a smiling face can go a long way....... so can a simple reply to a post. Thank you for your kind words, they meant a lot to me today ...God Bless you to my gaming brother!

Skyeye - this post, is the most meaningful post on these entire forums (as far as I am concerned).  There are truly bigger problems in life than anything in CoH...and you are a Superhero for sharing your story with such honesty, grace and humor.  I chuckled and wiped tears away as I read it.  Thank you sharing it.  I am glad you are surrounded by those who love, and that you have kept your humor despite such trying times.  I love that you are still sharing your message of courtesy here on these forums.  Hopefully we will play together one day, but regardless my hopes and prayers continue to go out to you and your family

Skyeye..thanks for your service, thanks for that wonderful post. I am so glad you are here.

Skyeye..thanks for your service, thanks for that wonderful post. I am so glad you are here.

 

As always, a class act Healix...+1 Inf

I don't get the complaining because I'm just too darned happy to be back.  The other night my duo partner said, "Isn't it great to be hating this map again?"  "Yeah.  Sure is."

I don't get the complaining because I'm just too darned happy to be back.  The other night my duo partner said, "Isn't it great to be hating this map again?"  "Yeah.  Sure is."

That's right where I am!

1)  Quit telling people that other people are "doing fun wrong".  If someone wants to power level to 50 in a weekend and then pleasure themselves all day standing on top of Atlas, hey, to each their own.  If they want to take 3 months to level to 50 by slowly soloing the content at Level -1 difficulty, also great.

Just as a bit of perspective, Kotaku has an article about the custom quests players are creating in Assassin's Creed Odyssey to farm levels and stats with essentially no work. The article mentions that a cardinal rule of video games seems to be the immediate exploitation of whatever tools you give your players. People are going to push the edges of what they can get away with for their own benefit, and trying to stop it because you don't approve of their choice of playstyle just breeds division and antipathy. CoH is big enough to accommodate a wide variety of playstyles.

1)  Quit telling people that other people are "doing fun wrong".  If someone wants to power level to 50 in a weekend and then pleasure themselves all day standing on top of Atlas, hey, to each their own.  If they want to take 3 months to level to 50 by slowly soloing the content at Level -1 difficulty, also great.

 

Just as a bit of perspective, Kotaku has an article about the custom quests players are creating in Assassin's Creed Odyssey to farm levels and stats with essentially no work. The article mentions that a cardinal rule of video games seems to be the immediate exploitation of whatever tools you give your players. People are going to push the edges of what they can get away with for their own benefit, and trying to stop it because you don't approve of their choice of playstyle just breeds division and antipathy. CoH is big enough to accommodate a wide variety of playstyles.

Quite true!  It is big enough to handle a wide variety of play styles.  I don't typically partake of the exploitable aspects of the game, but my son is an avid AE farmer, so I couldn't very well complain about others that do that, without doing the same for him.  However, I don't admonish him for playing differently than I do.  Heck, he is probably a much more accomplished player than I am at this point (having been practically raised on this game).  We just have different goals in terms of what we want from CoH, and we find ample accommodation for whatever we have time to do, and find fun. 

So, it's all good!

I hope I didn't bring you or anyone else down with my TLDR writing, but I figured it would be nice to tell my story to a bunch of random strangers who all have a common interest with me-COH Homecoming. One more blessing for me to be thankful for. We all have a story to tell and until you've walked a mile in someone's shoes or lived a day in someone else's shoes, remember they too have their own skeletons in their closets or their own crosses to bear. Remember that person in a drive through window really doesn't want to be there, they need the money. Same as your waitress or casino worker or Uber driver. We all have to work till we die because we are all basically slaves to the .01% of the people who OWN us all. The use us up as soldiers and slaves until they have drained us of our strength and youth, then they toss us out like trash. Happily we are ALL valuable and all mean something to someone or something in this life. Be nice to everyone and smile at someone today, because you have NO idea of what kind of hell they might be going through or how close to the edge they might be. A smile and a kind word go a long way to someone who has nothing. Remember that the next time you think how bad your day is or how bad your life is. There is always someone worse off than you or I. Common courtesy and a helping hand or a smiling face can go a long way....... so can a simple reply to a post. Thank you for your kind words, they meant a lot to me today ...God Bless you to my gaming brother!

 

Skyeye - this post, is the most meaningful post on these entire forums (as far as I am concerned).  There are truly bigger problems in life than anything in CoH...and you are a Superhero for sharing your story with such honesty, grace and humor.  I chuckled and wiped tears away as I read it.  Thank you sharing it.  I am glad you are surrounded by those who love, and that you have kept your humor despite such trying times.  I love that you are still sharing your message of courtesy here on these forums.  Hopefully we will play together one day, but regardless my hopes and prayers continue to go out to you and your family

Thank you my fried and all the others for your wonderful words. I am sorry if I brought anyone down, it never was meant to do that. When someone asks me a question, I generally like to answer it directly.

Lots of people play this game for lots of reasons. Mine may be different than yours and vice versa. Justice proved that yes we all call have different points of views and he explained it to me in a way which I could understand without berating me. Thank you sir!

My main reason is the the time played helps ease my mind by distracting me with fun tasks and surrounding me with fun people and family to play with. I love the game and the family I have both here and on the game. A perfect example was the other day I (as a lvl 1 Warshade) went in to the AE building at atlas and asked for a group. I not only got a group, but also a super group for the new Warshade I made and some great and helpful advice from him and the Group he invited me to. In those hours played, I got to lose my problems, pains and fears for quite a few hours.... and it was pure bliss.

God bless you all on here and thank your server owners and devs that own and run this place. Bless the friendly, helpful folks I have met on her and I will pray for the very few people that were kind of jerks on here towards me and others in chat, but you cant have great without the bad :) . At least the ratio on here is 1,000-1 great folks to jerks, but that's an awesome ratio that I would love to have on any MMORPG that I play.

Thanks again for all the kind words and I hope to see you all on Excelsior where most of my toons are! Say hi to a stranger.... it might just be me! I am not a great player, but I love the game and always give a 100% (PS I also don't use gale to blow away all the tanks enemies like some people do LOL!!!) .

I hope to see some of you online sometime!

Skyeye..thanks for your service, thanks for that wonderful post. I am so glad you are here.

 

Thank you my friend!

In the VA there's a poster for mental illness that I loved when I saw it. It says " It takes a strong person to be a soldier, but it takes a stronger soldier to ask for help". I was blown away and thought wow,I could have used this a few years ago when I was really going through some issues. In case none of you know the average is 22 vets kill themselves daily across the US. Mental health with us vets is really in bad shape right now. My son has tried death by Cops twice since coming back from Iraq and OD'd and was brought back 3 times from death the last time he tried. I still have nightmares seeing 40 or more laser dots on his chest and still hear the helicopter overhead (not helpful toward my PTSD either). He did get help for his alcohol issues and his mental health issues and has been on the mend now with no incidents for 2 years (thank goodness!). I pray he stays healthy every day for his children and my daughter in law (and me and my wife). This war and these wars all over needs to end. We need our fathers, sons, mothers and daughters back. It only took the soviets 10 years to figure out it's a no win scenario (like Nam was for us) to get out. We have been there since 1990 and Afghanistan just slightly less. They (the Government) doesn't want to give Americans health care, but they could have paid for it over and over with the 29 years straight that we've been fighting all over the globe. What was the figure I saw for the cost-$500 billion a year? Enough is enough. It doesn't matter who we elect. They are all crooked and all work for someone else's agenda, but I better stop before I am called a conspiracy nut.

We all believed and took the oath because we love this country and now it's time to bring everyone home. If the politicians want to fight, let them fight the leaders of the other countries themselves.

Maybe if everyone got on here and let off some steam like I do the world would be a MUCH better place. Go -kill Skuls  :) . I love you all my other family! My brothers and sisters from another mother, or mothers :) !!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey, I just learned the game was back and got rolling a day ago. I am still in awe. This is awesome. I understand a lot of people are helping out and I am wondering if I can do the same. Does the DEV team need any writers etc for future content? I would be game to do some work with the team and volunteer my time and effort. Thanks and do let me know! Until then, keep up the great work!  :)

Hey, I just learned the game was back and got rolling a day ago. I am still in awe. This is awesome. I understand a lot of people are helping out and I am wondering if I can do the same. Does the DEV team need any writers etc for future content? I would be game to do some work with the team and volunteer my time and effort. Thanks and do let me know! Until then, keep up the great work!  :)

Here’s where they are asking volunteers to sign up -

https://forums.homecomingservers.com/index.php/topic,3327.0.html

I am so happy that CoH is back that words are inadequate.
THANK YOU; THANK YOU ALL!

*chuckles* Looking at all the back and forth- it's like we never left!

On 6/15/2019 at 8:11 PM, eldriyth said:

 

Thank you for your service. Respect.

I am not American but value the values and beliefs the flag stands for in my heart and soul and the American anthem and Flag are the only ones I would truly stand up for with my head held high.  Strange as that may sound but that's my personal belief.  As for the quote I also value veterans both from where im from as well American Veterans in a higher regard.  But back to what I wanted to say.  Abraxus I also wanted to say thank you for your service and you got a hell of a lot of respect from me

On 6/26/2019 at 8:51 AM, Skyeye said:

 

Thank you my friend!

 

In the VA there's a poster for mental illness that I loved when I saw it. It says " It takes a strong person to be a soldier, but it takes a stronger soldier to ask for help". I was blown away and thought wow,I could have used this a few years ago when I was really going through some issues. In case none of you know the average is 22 vets kill themselves daily across the US. Mental health with us vets is really in bad shape right now. My son has tried death by Cops twice since coming back from Iraq and OD'd and was brought back 3 times from death the last time he tried. I still have nightmares seeing 40 or more laser dots on his chest and still hear the helicopter overhead (not helpful toward my PTSD either). He did get help for his alcohol issues and his mental health issues and has been on the mend now with no incidents for 2 years (thank goodness!). I pray he stays healthy every day for his children and my daughter in law (and me and my wife). This war and these wars all over needs to end. We need our fathers, sons, mothers and daughters back. It only took the soviets 10 years to figure out it's a no win scenario (like Nam was for us) to get out. We have been there since 1990 and Afghanistan just slightly less. They (the Government) doesn't want to give Americans health care, but they could have paid for it over and over with the 29 years straight that we've been fighting all over the globe. What was the figure I saw for the cost-$500 billion a year? Enough is enough. It doesn't matter who we elect. They are all crooked and all work for someone else's agenda, but I better stop before I am called a conspiracy nut.

 

We all believed and took the oath because we love this country and now it's time to bring everyone home. If the politicians want to fight, let them fight the leaders of the other countries themselves.

 

Maybe if everyone got on here and let off some steam like I do the world would be a MUCH better place. Go -kill Skuls  🙂 . I love you all my other family! My brothers and sisters from another mother, or mothers 🙂 !!!!!!!!!!!!

Skyeye Also thank you for your service.  I just saw this post after making the last post.  I am so sorry to hear of your son.  I knew a vetern once.  Only got talking to him once or twice but he was married to a dear friend I consider a second mother to me.  He died of cancer offical but unofficaly docs said it was probobly the agent orange in vietnam as thats where he saw action but like everything with the iraq war syndrome it was proveing it.  I agree with your statement about all these wars but its profit at the end of the day for weapons companys and there mates in washington that are payed off that are a major part of the problem.  that and resources.

Ben Franklin once said "there can be no freedom without responsibility"  And with the way the government in America currently is especially the fool of a president that is so true at the moment.  Half of them are to focused on getting rid of him that to me there forgetting the bigger picture of the needs of the country.  Its always about who gets that famous white house office first and were better than you.  Well I say  this.   The public that are out there trying to fix there problems with homeless, vets, those who operate free clinics, helping the poor and deprived, Steping in and helping someone in need as well as the first responders are the real responsible ones and truly know the value and price of freedom and not just the power hungry and those that chase nothing but the almighty dollar.

Sorry for the rant

On ‎6‎/‎25‎/‎2019 at 11:31 PM, Skyeye said:

 

 

Thanks again for all the kind words and I hope to see you all on Excelsior where most of my toons are! Say hi to a stranger.... it might just be me! I am not a great player, but I love the game and always give a 100% (PS I also don't use gale to blow away all the tanks enemies like some people do LOL!!!) .

 

 

 

 

I would be happy to team with you my friend, even if you do denigrate us wonderful Stormies out there! Hurricane is your friend!!

🙂

On 6/20/2019 at 6:51 PM, srmalloy said:

 

This. My personal opinion about how they choose to play, so long as what they're doing doesn't throw obstacles in front of me, isn't important to anyone but me. That said, I have to feel a little sad when I see "Level 50 [archetype] lf anything" or "Level 50 [archetype] lf AE farm" in the LFG channel, because i know that there's enough content to keep people busy for a long, long time, and I have to wonder how much of it is people wanting their old characters back as fast as possible, and how much is from other MMOs teaching people that everything you do prior to level cap and getting twinked out for endgame raids is just makework, and the game doesn't really start until level cap, so they come here and treat it the same way, even though CoH is (at least to me) more about the journey than the destination.

 

But, hey, if they want to bumrush the level cap, twink themselves out to the limit, and then spam chat looking for something to do that won't exemp them down off their carefully-crafted peak of power, my only objection is with the latter. I think they're missing out on what made CoH what it was, but if the devs had genuinely wanted to stop people doing things like that, they could have easily made it impossible shortly after the first level-50 "AE babies" that didn't know how to get to Kings Row appeared.

There is very little great content in the majority of the game. Almost nothing below 32. Very little between 32-50. Slogging through hordes of Vhazilok and Tsoo while you are gasping for endurance hoping that the second *insert pain in the ass mob* coming around the corner won't aggro before the *really important power to deal with this crap* recharge is not the most fun that can be had. Running that content at will will a decently built exemplar makes that grindy ass nonsense tolerable and sometimes fun. Why should I have to deal with it when my character isn't built when I have the option to play it at my leisure when I have the character how I want it?

Why do so many people just not get that?

3 hours ago, cejmp said:

There is very little great content in the majority of the game. Almost nothing below 32. Very little between 32-50. Slogging through hordes of Vhazilok and Tsoo while you are gasping for endurance hoping that the second *insert pain in the ass mob* coming around the corner won't aggro before the *really important power to deal with this crap* recharge is not the most fun that can be had. Running that content at will will a decently built exemplar makes that grindy ass nonsense tolerable and sometimes fun. Why should I have to deal with it when my character isn't built when I have the option to play it at my leisure when I have the character how I want it?

 

Why do so many people just not get that?

Just because you don't enjoy the lower level game, that doesn't make it a universal opinion, or anything remotely close to a fact. That being said, I've been asking for just adding an "I Win" button that insta-levels people to 50 almost since Homecoming started. I started it off as a joke, since I *LIKE* the content at all levels, but the more I hear these arguments, the more I think it should be real. Set it there in City Hall, right next to the SuperGroup registration desk. Just a little non-descript bell that people can choose to click on or not. If they click on it, they instantly become level 50, and have to go to Miss Liberty or whomever to train to pick their powers. However, no free influnce or slots will be given, you'll have to figure that part out for yourself, either from your other alts supplying the funds, or from farming easy farms yourself.

But I think this buttons' existence would DRASTICALLY reduce the "PL me plz" and "DFB LFM" nonsense in the primary chat. And I don't think that's a bad thing. Let's make it happen people!

I don't mind if others want to rush to max, but I personally love the lower levels and think they go by too quickly as it is.

My one worry would be that if everyone could instantly get to max it could (1) make people feel they've 'finished' the game and lose interest or (2) mean that new development starts to skew to endgame trials instead of covering all levels.  The second possibility concerns me more than the first.

This game can be finished!? 

So, with this, Tony V has announced his departure, and the "merging" of Homecoming, and The Titan Network.

Tony V announces departure, and future of Titan Network
 

Thanks for the update on that, Abraxus.  I have to admit, I've seriously shirked my responsibility to myself on keeping abreast of Titan Network ever since Homecoming came out.  I think I visited it twice between when I started my first account here, and just now.

Tony has some very inspirational words in that post.  I hope they take root in the right places!

1 hour ago, Abraxus said:

So, with this, Tony V has announced his departure, and the "merging" of Homecoming, and The Titan Network.

Tony V announces departure, and future of Titan Network
 

 

Kinda feels like something Homecoming should comment on.  @Jimmy, @Cipherwhat’s the word here?

Just a guess, but I think they were already working on a communication about this.  Likely the reason we have not seen it yet, is because like everything else, it's complicated by what they can, and cannot say on things that cross into the negotiations, and the folks involved with them.  I don't envy them the task, quite honestly.  But, I do understand why it's not as easy a thing as it might seem.