biostem

For me, the simplest method is that at each tier, the components have unique 1st letters, so I just remember "I need 2 R1 A's and a R2 B" or something similar... https://homecoming.wiki/wiki/Incarnate_Component

Except that those are kind of the entire AT's schtick - to shapeshift, and *all* it costs you are 2 power picks. It's kind of like playing a petless MM - you are certainly free to play that way, and some people can even thrive despite those limitations, but in the end, it is a self-imposed limitation. You may not like the design decisions behind the AT, but the type of changes you are suggesting would only serve to make the HEATs just another bland baseline character...

Sure, but I meant more like reading - once you are literate in a language, it is all but impossible to *not* read anything in that language that is placed in front of you. Before then, it is literally "Greek to me"...

It *is* an easy system, it just isn't clear or intuitive; What I mean by this is that the actual steps/process to do things like crafting and slotting Incarnate abilities doesn't require any special skills, it just requires knowing what windows to open up and which tabs to go to, with the rest consisting of clicking. This isn't to diminish any sense of confusion this might entail, only that once you "get it" it can just make you facepalm at how you were just before it "clicked"...

So kind of an "Atom Cats" vibe?

I'd imagine that some folks fall victim to the sunk-cost fallacy, and would rather rage and vent than cut their loses and move on, as you pointed out...

I would argue that it is even broader than that; If you have a limited amount of leisure time, you may not have the luxury of stopping to hash out various difference in playstyles and/or place expectations on others; "I'm familiar with the AT or powersets you are using, or with this TF, and therefore you should be able to perform at [insert some arbitrary level of performance]"...

With future crossovers with "The Thing" and "Them"...

If you're willing to consider other ATs, consider a Sentinel; You can then take the fire APP to get a PBAoE heal, and something like fire or radiation blast, or even sonic, could fit the concept. If you aren't fond of the radiation armor FX, something like energy aura has a nice glow option to represent that divine aura. You could go with radiation armor for the PBAoE heal/debuff then go with the Ninja Tool Mastery APP so you can have a sword...

I'd just be happy with some *options* besides looking like every other Nova or Dwarf - even if it only extended to tinting said squid/lobster forms, (and I don't just mean the vague aura coloration)...

That's your mistake right there; They may colloquially be called "Epic Power Pools", but in reality they are there to provide some options that fall outside of said AT's wheelhouse - things like controls or group heals that Sentinels don't normally gain access to...

Apart from simply shortening the animation times in question, what if they applied a significant, but unenhanceable damage resistance buff to the caster during the animation times, to both encourage using such powers mid-battle, while also protecting/not penalizing the caster for utilizing such "anchor powers"?

TBH, I'd rather see some sort of forcefield control or attack set, (or at the very least, perhaps some alternate bubble FX for the likes of gravity or mind control.

I got your farm right here!

If you are playing solo and never team, then it is indeed "your own business" as to how you play when and where. When you're teamed, that ceases to be the case. Now, I'm not advocating for some sort of totalitarian domineering behavior on the part of the devs or others in the community, but the fact that you are on a team, by its very nature, necessitates that you compromise or at least adjust your behavior, even if just slightly...

Does that tech exist? Would it not allow the team leader to select the mission? You'd basically have to turn all content in TFs/SFs with some sort of minimum level requirement - I can't see them implementing this. You are not going to force people into a preferred playstyle, short of implementing such draconian policies that nobody will want to play...

All that'd do is redirect new accounts to wolf, warrior earth, or radios in PI...

So they weren't buffing or healing anyone else? They weren't using *any* of their attacks? Even a level 1 player can contribute "something" if they're willing to put in a little effort...

Kind of working off of the same idea for a carbon-fiber look, but with more of a Judge Dredd/90s vibe, I present "Shadowmace":

Not a perfect solution, but I wonder if they could implement some sort of "tags" system, where a team leader can indicate certain characteristics of their team, (such as "Speed running", "Power-leveling", "Farming", "Door-sitters OK", etc). These would just be informational, but it'd at least give some indication of the team leader's intent. And if they really want to make it full-featured, players could have the option to filter for or against certain such tags. The only caveat would be that they may have to provide some recourse if, for instance, a leader set the "Farm" and "Door-sitters OK" tags on, but kicks someone for doing just that...

But Jane Fonda don't got junk in the back of her Honda.

You should be mixing your primary and secondary together to create said attack chain, though...

It would definitely be a wonderful addition if the game could save/remember all your window locations - it really bugs me, for instance, when the inspiration window randomly gets placed like in the middle of the screen, (seems to happen every time I do a Tinpex/Apemage, especially)...

Going somewhat for a "plain-clothes" look, I present to you "Arsenal Ann":

It's all about leadership; A good leader will communicate to their teammates what is expected - I'm not talking about barking orders, but making it clear that, for instance, players of all levels are welcome on their team, but they must actually fight and not just stand by the entrance. A good leader will recognize if the team is in over their heads and will attempt to direct the team's efforts more effectively, or barring that, adjust the challenges they face to be more in line with what they are actually capable of. Conversely, a bad leader will bark orders, demand total obedience, and have no patience for others that don't fall in line. Stranger yet, a "meh" leader oftentimes is very powerful individually, and really doesn't care what the rest of the team does, barely communicates, and pretty much just soloes the content, only really caring about the star so they can set whatever mission they want and kick people if they take too long to exit...