Greycat

Incarnates came along during the late, late live game. The only thing SCORE or Homecoming has done with it is allow the Hybrid slot and prune the tree above that (and, honestly, simplified things a little.) We *were* going to have another tier of powers above it (with Hybrid at the "root," just like Alpha is for the first sets,) with their own "Advanced IXP" or whatever they were calling it. You'd have Hybrid (finished/enabled here,) Genesis, Mind, Vitae and Omega - presumably all this would have been tied into the Coming Storm. If I'm remembering properly - probably from AMAs - there would have been a tree introduced on top of that, and potentially one on top of that.... all of which, honestly, would have gotten really annoying (and just added to the whole overpowered-ness.) Incarnates have absolutely nothing to do with inventions. You can be an Incarnate and still run on SOs. You may have issues during some incarnate content if you try it, but it's doable. As far as time investment? Spend a little time reading up on and/or asking about the powers. While you're doing that, play content. Play task forces, go on MSRs - you don't even have to go through the Mender Ramiel arc, if you don't want to (though I generally prefer playing it and rushing through it, since it can be done quickly and I hate "wasting" the Incarnate experience to unlock Alpha.) You'll occasionally notice (or, well, not if you're in an MSR... lots of "merit earned" messages there to tune out) judgement, lore, etc. unlocked messages. Don't even have to do Incarnate content (though that'll be quicker.) You'll also just get threads and shards dropping, and every third "level" after 50 (think it's every third) for a while you'll get Empyrians and such dropped on you (through VL99.) That last is a score/homecoming change. Makes it even easier to get your powers built up.

And there are times the horse will try to kick you for trying to take it over there. (See: moving warzone liaisons *out* of the warzone so people don't even have to go in there, click and leave.)

So... that makes the idea make even *less* sense. "Here. We'll give you the good costume pieces for free. This one, though, has horrible clipping/texture/whatever issues, so we'll make this some sort of exclusive/hard to get reward" (granted, "wait for points" isn't hard to get, but still...) just... no. It's like... Oh, a workplace giving everyone a raise. If you've been there a year, you get an extra floaitng PTO day, five years gets two weeks, "And here's jim, who's never missed a day for 25 years, walked to work that winter we had six feet of snow because his car wouldn't start even though he lives 10 miles away, has never taken a vacation... we're giving him... hmm. How about this leaky half gallon of milk. Might be spoiled, too. But only Jim gets that, give him a hand!" Making *worse* or *more problematic* things a reward or "exclusive/hard to get?" ... no. Makes zero sense and would, frankly, make the team and the server look bad. ... not even close.

Ehhh. I'm on the fence with it. On the one hand, it's a *big* heal, single target, and you "taking" the pain and not being able to heal fits thematically. (Plus, honestly, I rather like powers "with a cost." As long as the payoff is worth it.) On the other hand, I rarely take it - but that's part of the issue with "heals" (and why I cringe when someone advertises as a "healer" or worse, "dedicated healer.") They're just not as needed from mid-game onward. I'd half-argue even the RAs don't do much late game if you're on an IO'd team, even without incarnates coming into the picture. The gripping hand, it would be interesting, but I think the splitting between multiple players might be a bear to code. It would still fit the name, granted. It's something I'd probably try on test (give me several MSRs, let me see how it does in Hami, etc.) but .. yeah, not sold on it, not *not* sold on it.

A sticky. Ha. They could make a sticky, make it three times bigger than any other post, flashing red "UPDATE STATUS: NO ETA" or "COMING TO BETA IN 1 WEEK" or whatever and people would still ignore it, post "any news about an update?" and wonder why people just responded with facepalm gifs.

I really hate not knowing where I am, so... (or, more seriously below. )

Not going to worry about it 'til the first few patches are released and/or I have reason to upgrade.

No. Halloween is cancelled. As is Christmas. Hope you're happy. (Serious answer: I would guess the first maintenance in October. Maintenance is on Tuesday, which would make it Oct. 5. They don't just randomly pick a day.)

There are a few that show up that way until you've made some degree of progress. Yes, it's annoying. Almost as bad as trying to figure out which plaque of the ones in five different zones (one of which is an echo) you need.

That's ... fairly vague. Standard disclaimer: Small, volunteer group doing this on their own time and their own dime, as it were. What tools they have they make up as they go along, that sort of thing. Now, that said, did you have anything specific in mind?

My answer is "it depends." My RP now is really spread out - some of it in game, some of it over discord or (as far as *character* progression) writing. And I need that variety, because (a) I like having the characters have *lives,* which means BSing about school, significant others, etc. and (b) there are things I'm having them do and places I'm having them go that just can't - either conveniently, or at all - be done in game. That said, I also have a group that's repurposing the Warshade/Kheldian arcs for something going on with one of our characters. Another group (not an "SG," but a group from all over) RPs a bit on discord, arranges events and sometimes has an AE to designate significant points or play through certain events. Generally, I disconnect "My character is at level ##" from the RP/"Character development" side. One of my characters, for instance, should *not* have access to incarnate powers, is certainly not aware of a "well" or anything, never talks about such a thing - but I still play incarnate content with that one when not on SG nights. They've gone back in time, fought in Cimerora - but the *character* hasn't. As far as the situation with your group? First thing is bring it up with them. Is there some common theme to the group? Even if it's just "we're heroes" (or villains,) you can "patrol" (missions, newspapers/radios/tips) and still RP. Work up a plot, have people contribute to an AE arc about it, even if it's just ideas, or someone can't write but is great at figuring out a look for a character - they can contribute that. I'd say make sure you don't have just one person doing it continually - I did that, with few breaks, and it's a fast path to burnout. If you talk outside of SG meetings (I'd hope you do!) I'd probably broach the subject of "Hey, can we go out and *do stuff?* then, instead of having it break into social time - some people do need that time to be *that,* honestly. But communication is important.

Just like some stories can be told in 3 pages and others need ten thousand-page novels, it completely depends on the person and the character. I've got 100-some characters. Some, I can knock off the basics in a quick paragraph. Some hit the limit and ask for more. And yes, I use the FBSA wiki as well. If I wrote up everything dealing with all the characters just on Everlasting, that's all I'd be doing for the next few months.

If the idea of having an *option* to not have the character spinning (as was requested, the OP wasn't asking to force it on everyone) in response to their physical reaction to it is so offensive to some people, just consider it a request for a costume option, right along with the rest of power customization. Just like making stealth powers able to not be translucent.

What on earth makes you think it's the alternative? "Have it in a way you must pay in game exclusive currency" and "don't have it at all" are not the only options. Your "point system" has absolutely nothing to do with the devs adding or not adding anything. Period.

OK, so there's no flag on server selection that says "Hey, this is the unofficial RP server!" but... this is just odd, to me. At least twice in recent MSRs, we've had people complaining or putting down the fact there was RP going on before the raid at Point du Hoc. One was angry because people asked him to stop spamming buffs because of it breaking emotes and such, the other just poofed. Is this a recent thing I've just been missing elsewhere, or limited to MSRs (maybe hamis, haven't been on those as much as I'd like for a while) because people are looking for "the XPs?" It just seems *really odd* to me, given RP is pretty evident most everywhere on the server... it's like walking down a city street and complaining about all the buildings and cars, to me. Are we getting an influx of players who don't know? Or is this just my perception?

*tosses two cents in* I'll say, for me, playing someone else's build usually = a character getting a respec soon because I feel like I'm playing someone else's character. I did it once with a Warshade I was familiar with back on live and ... nope, not doing that again. Made me appreciate the multiple builds we have available, as I didn't have to trash what I had to try it. That's with "a character I'm playing," though. The power selections tend to vary with what I'm facing and what I need in the moment, and end up being as much a part of their "story," in their way, as their costume and bio. I rarely farm, but for that sort of - to me, "utility, not character," yeah, I'll grab a build. For me, though, wanting that sort of character is *rare,* and I generally appreciate seeing the "why and wherefore" along with it. (Part of why I like, for instance, the "low budget guide to fire farming" as opposed to "here's a build," or did a CEBR back on live before that got nerfed, farm-wise.) Regardless, I'll generally say "I don't do builds," probably half because of the above, and half because it seems so many are geared towards perma-this-capped-that gameplay that I'm not after. (Eh, maybe 65/35.) I find it boring. I don't want to be "untouchable," I want to need to be aware of what's going on and react to it. As far as others asking for builds? Doesn't affect me. I'd just hope they've played through the game at least once, that they've got some idea of what powers do - or why they're being taken in builds and slotted X way, past "I need an extra .71% S/L... What does S/L stand for anyway?" And that they're not doing it because of the other issue comparing COH to other MMOs - they're coming from somewhere where "playing the game" = "rush to the end and get in raids to get the good gear for the next expansion that is mostly a level cap bump that invalidates all your gear."

Would love to see it, but I'd want the wonky editor (used here and elsewhere in game) to be addressed first. In the meantime, https://fbsa.cityofheroes.dev/wiki/Main_Page

Discussed elsewhere, that's not the only reason some of those costume pieces aren't available. Some flat out *do not work* with player characters. They're custom-mangled for specific NPCs, "bleed over" into other areas, etc. There are actual technical reasons we don't have some of them that go beyond clipping. Aside from that, no, I do not think locking or limiting a costume piece is a good thing at *all.* Just like it was frustratingly stupid to have "My character is a Vanguard such-and-such," but having to grind V-merits to get costume pieces (only available on that character, and not at creation,) this would just be an annoying, arbitrary limitation. People get inspired for characters by costume pieces, among other things, and should be able to use them, not be "The Rocketeer, but right now just a guy with a leather jacket and guns because he can't get a rocket pack or helmet yet."

It's simple, as far as I'm concerned: If you're joining a team, play as a teammate. If you want to speed things up / stealth / etc, ask first. And don't assume "yes, this mission is long, that will help" = " do it with every mission." Some people might be fine with that. Ask and be sure first. (Where that's been *really* frustrating is when I've been with an RP SG, worked up arcs with clues, ambushes, etc. and had someone decide "Well, I can run off and find the glowie." No, don't do that. Especially while everyone else is fighting and nobody notices until "hey, what's that path that's going through the rest of the map, where's that NPC dialog coming from..." )

No, but there are a few other things that could happen, from in-game (someone checks it, either a visitor or through remote access, and does something in-game either to your characters or "up to and including getting your account deleted/banned,") to "People tend to use the same or similar passwords elsewhere, and this kept it in plain text," so even if someone had no interest in COH, it could be a gateway to affecting things that *do* matter. Not a liability anyone wants.

I've heard of odd things causing odd problems, so I'm not going to dismiss the thought that someone gets motion sick / vertigo / dizzy watching their character spin.

Dear god, no. If it's a toggle, it would be an offensive toggle - and thus drop when the player is mezzed. I've had this be *the* source of damage (at times managing to get the last bit of damage to kill the thing that keeps mezzing me) more times than not. If it becomes a toggle, it loses that ability, and I'd only really use it on my Sentinels with their built-in mez protection.

(A) Redside already has patrons, and (B) Blueside has police as well, y'know. More specifically, the RIP are there mostly to terrorize lowbies and Skulls in Mercy. The PPD show up throughout 1-50, either as part of missions (and upgrading through things like Awakened and Psi police) and just as part of the environment (NPCs and contacts.) Redside, you don't even see the RIP in Oakes. (I just went and looked to double check my memory - I saw one person who looked police-ish and was labeled as "Security Guard." That's the closest thing to a police presence.) Not really "patron" material.

This, really. I've been sort of "eh" about the option before, but thematically it still fits, given the graphic (as I'm recalling) still looks like a whirling cone of force/wind/whatever around the character, it'd still fit the name/idea *and* open up the power for concepts that don't involve hyperballet. ;)

That change came later on live, as I recall.