biostem

Yes it does - there is literally an item listed called "Influence". It's further down in the list. Here's s screenshot, for reference:

On your powers tray, click the "Combat attributes" link, then from the resulting menu that comes up, right click any attribute you want to track and choose that option. It''l then show up as a mini menu/window on your main screen, which you can move to wherever you want.

It'd also be nice to know which specific OS you're running, and perhaps a screenshot of the error message. Cheers!

It'd be nice if they could add various belt options, (maybe shoulder?), that consisted of suspenders or other overall-like straps that went up the front, over the shoulders, and down the back...

Or, and just hear me out here... let everyone use whatever costume pieces they want, and you can have your vaunted "Vanguard Prime" badge to display above your name, instead of taking options away from someone else.

Inflection doesn't carry over very well in a text-only forum. your use of all caps in the word "crazy" could mean that you think, completely seriously, that yes, people should have to put in effort to earn things like costume pieces, or it could be an indication of you being sarcastic. You wrote it, so obviously you know what you meant, but don't make the mistake of thinking that intent is "obvious" to other readers...

And why is your background story any more valid than someone else's? What if their gear is simply a facsimile of actual Vanguard tech? What if that person is actually a Vanguard soldier form an alternate universe where the Rikti won the battle?

The way you phrased that, it leads me to believe that putting in the "effort" to unlock stuff isn't actually an accomplishment at all. If that is indeed the case, then why bother locking it behind a badge, number of kills, or mission at all? If the tasks necessary to achieve something are actually negligible, then why have them? Wouldn't any such accomplishment be empty? If playing the game itself isn't enough of a reward for you to "unlock endorphins", then maybe you're looking in the wrong place...

Where the uniqueness comes into play is the symbiotic nature they have with their host; You can RP that however you like and/or stick to the human form, if the nova and dwarf forms are that much of a turn off for you. I'm not against adding a new shapeshifting AT, as Obsidius pointed out - I just don't think trying to modify Kheldians into them is the correct approach to make.

Then ask for input from others regarding challenges/milestones you can work toward. Don't advocate to lock everyone else out of stuff because you can't come up with personal goals anymore...

Nothing is taken away from those that want items locked behind some sort of achievement; It's actually quite simple - just don't use the costume pieces/temp powers/etc, unless you feel you've met whatever arbitrary requirement should be met. Other people, who don't subscribe to that sort of limitation, can then use the stuff as they see fit. Why is a self-imposed limitation bad, but one placed upon you by the game ok?

Well, there are basically 2 groups in this thread: 1. Those that want stuff to just be unlocked right from the get-go. 2. Those that want you to have to earn stuff in-game. As for for your point about vitriol - This is the internet, and as much as we'd like to think of ourselves as sophisticated debaters, people feel strongly about particular topics, and things tend to escalate quickly...

It could be fun to play a set that is more weapon based. I'm not a fan of the martial set, so this could be interesting. I'd like to see the sword attacks benefit from the different ammo types as well - just have it be a special blade or something.

Very cool design! I so wish we could get those eye pieces without the little bit of color on the eyebrow... Cheers!

Can we please stop it with these strawmen and/or false dichotomies. That isn't a real representation of any circumstance that we've been presented with...

Not if it's "in your opinion"...

Saying "because that's how it used to be done" isn't really a valid argument, though...

That's the problem with anecdotes - they aren't indicative of the whole picture. If I say that I *did* have that problem on live, does it suddenly vindicate my stance? That's why I'm advocating for the less restrictive approach...

And your character couldn't just pick one up off of the numerous Lost that they defeated, or be gifted one by someone else in there backstory, why?

I get where you're coming from, but you cannot satisfy both the people who want to have to earn the costume pieces and those that want them freely accessible from character creation. Given this, isn't it prudent to go with the less restrictive approach?

Well, back on live, quite a few. I remember spending a lot of time to unlock that energy shield with the armature, for instance...

So then it's about the meta, and not actually about character accomplishment; Might as well just give it away for free...

The costume creator and the ability to realize all sort of varied and unique characters is one of the biggest legs up that CoH has over other MMOs, (especially so at its launch). I can't imagine how you could gloss over that so easily...

Let's say you have a character concept where you are a former Nemesis soldier. Perhaps you even stole a Nemesis staff as you fled. Maybe this act is central to that character. Why would you deny that player the ability to wield a Nemesis staff until they're able to get to PI and kill all those Fake Nem's, or wear the brass armor pieces until they accomplished some other arbitrary feat? What you could do, if you felt the need to "earn" such items, would be to limit your own use of them, until you reached whatever goal you set for yourself - then you could eat your cake and have it too...

Hang on a sec - let's say you aren't against a system where you have to unlock costume pieces through gameplay. That is diametrically opposed to someone else's preference to have all costume pieces available right from character creation. You cannot be in favor of both vantage points, so which is it?