BurtHutt

I do feel a lot of players are taking a break from the game. It has become stagnant and the new stuff doesn't feel too new to me. It's just a continuation of what we had on Live. This has killed a lot of the joy and momentum for me in the game. I feel people might be getting out more now that there is some solid Covid protection. I know I am. It has also impacted my gaming time. The players here provide a lot of good info and suggestions but it all can't be implemented. I would ask the Devs to maybe put down some polls etc. An easy opinion poll for some quick feedback. I know the HC team has done a ton of work and I thank them for it - I just have not really enjoyed the new content. The powers have been cool but the actually missions and SF ... not so much. It's way too much like Live. Again, not a bad thing but the player fatigue came rushing in. I think players will come back but who knows for sure. I really do appreciate the HC team. They're doing a great job and run things on par with the Live crew IMO. I just don't know about the direction of the game and content being added...

Yes, I get that. I was making a sneaky comment referring to some AE ideas I posted back when - I was going to link them but can't find that thread... Essentially, I had suggested making a bunch of new contacts all over the game that were new. These new contacts would be your contact to player created AE missions only. What's the diff between this and AE now? Well, glad you asked! 1) These new missions would be added by Devs only (it could be a monthly contest - players submit fully fleshed out arcs/missions etc) 2) These missions would be at the same level as radio, paper and tip missions 3) They'd be canon and appear as regular game missions with the regular rewards (players would have to supply the full info on new characters etc which could be easily added to HC Wiki) 4) The contact info etc would not have any AE numbers or anything visually connecting it to AE. AE is a very powerful tool in this game. My suggestion would allow players to create a lot of content, have it approved by Dev team and then drop it into the new contacts. This would save the Devs from having to port over the AE mission to a regular contact etc. A lot less work for the Devs and most of the work vetting and approving missions could be done by Devs who have minimal coding skills etc (or none). Having missions made official and not in the massive pile of current AE missions would make it far more appealing to play these missions. We know there are a lot of radio teams running around doing the same missions. Or tip missions or paper. Those hit it and quit it type missions - quick and easy. Many liked this idea back when and it would add a lot of unique content (original ideas should be a priority with new factions etc). There is no way a small, volunteer Dev team could keep up to demand and this way the players get to add what they really want to see as well. I know this had traction from some Devs back when and It's too bad this hasn't been implemented. Maybe one day 🙂 Finally, I really do appreciate the HC team. I barely play now but I am sure I'll be back on a more regular basis! EDIT: Found the old threat (2020)! It's where I posted a lot of my ideas back when.

Did you all forget to mention the 'using AE to have players create missions then add them to game' addition? Isn't that happening? No? 😞

Oh I know. I saw that. A step in the right direction but it still feels kinda like same old, same old. It's too bad they never decided get creative and new. I barely play these days and it's been a while since I dropped in here. Maybe one day 🙂

Devs, well done with this one. It's easy and unique. I know it's just the skinning/look of the characters but that to me is like a coat of fresh paint on a tired old wall etc. In this case, CoX. When you guys add content that features the same old tired characters, lore and arcs....it really turns me off. The Family arc you guys added a while ago, the arc featuring the Freaks, Aeon SF....those all would've been so much better if you made them unique and original. I guess this makes sense since I've always liked creating toons and the costume creator is awesome. Anyway, thanks for adding this.

Sooooooooooo maybe don't do it if you hate it so much? I know many who enjoy it and they seem to run a lot. I don't care for them myself but have done about 3 since I found Homecoming at the end of 2019 or so. I think you have some legit complaints but I am sure it would take a lot of effort to re-work it. The Dev team is limited so I'd prefer new stuff over re-hashing most of the old. Sure, something like revamping Citadel TF might be a good idea but I'm ok with the MSRs.

Procs? Hmmmmmmm. Yeah, I'd say the incarnate system is worse. That's something that shouldn't have happened. And please, spare me the raise difficulty etc piece. Anyway, we're stuck with it and it isn't all that bad. Also, I don't get why players feel taking on a pylon or Trapdoor in some speedy manner = OP. The game doesn't entirely play the same way. Yes, I know it's a fun metric and I am not here to poo poo on that. It's a fun idea that I may get to with some toons...maybe one day. You will never have the game balanced around incarnates especially with a small Dev team. I don't think they should try. I don't mind the game as is and I'd rather see Dev resources go to adding content and not changing too much of what's in game already. Sure, they may need to be a slight adjustment here and there but put most of the work into new stuff. I have no doubt, even if the Devs nerfed procs and nerfed Incarnates, there would be people complaining about something being OP. It's how some people are wired. There's nothing wrong with it and nothing wrong with expressing your opinion....kinda like I just did. Glad to be in the City and glad all of your passionate supers are here.

This is really neat! Did you make something completely unique or re-purpose old powers? Join the Dev team! I am told they need coders! 🙂

That's too bad if he is actually gone. Maybe he's taking a break? Seemed like a solid guy and did a lot of hard work learning how to work the guts of the beast known as CoX code.

I can't say I have any real complaints for the HC devs. I don't think most do. HC runs at a level that seems to be on par with Live. They don't usually release things until they're ready and look professional. I've tried some of the other servers and the content and items added do not look....good...or professional. I definitely will supply my feedback and hope the HC Devs consider all of the feedback they get. I'm happy the game is back but I am not playing as much which isn't too unexpected. HC Devs had a chance to update the look and feel of content. I like some of the power ideas but they can be more. It's great that they add arcs and, finally, an SF - some of which had some cool new innovations. Sadly, the new content is based off of old arcs and characters so it feels....not new. I just saw a posting about letting players design some costumes for Hero Corps. This is kinda neat and exciting but it could be so much more. Sometimes it just seems the HC team is taking the safe road which is too bad. It really takes away from the new content when it 'feels' old and just a continuation of what we were getting back when.

Yes, I know. I just kinda went off on a tangent. I am tired of easy mode in this game. I say leave the mission as is.

I take no issue with harder missions. I am tired of going through stuff where the team blows through it without issue. I really do feel the incarnate powers are a detriment to the game. I know the Devs wanted to add end-game stuff but that's just it: there will always be a situation where you hit end game. You have to be careful when adding to it. Giving us incarnate powers has, somewhat, broken the game.

I was hoping the Dev team would do this and somewhat depart from what was being done before. So, new signature NPCs. New content involving new characters, groups etc. A change to the style and look as well. As much as possible. Instead it feels like a lot of the same old which is a bit deflating.

The Dev resources are very finite. This is a non-issue IMO and I would prefer the Devs look at other things and not spend any time at all on this.

I think many of us have made some great suggestions over the years. But I am not sure what the Devs plan to do or make. I will be brutally honest and say I am not a huge fan of the direction in some areas. This game is old. It went away (for most of us) and now it's back! Thanks to the HC team! This is a chance to make some new content and make some huge changes. We've loved and played this game for years and have great memories and so on. It seems like the current Dev team wants to continue in the same stylistic manner as the Live Devs. This is fine but I will say I am not loving it. It's a lot of stuff that's way too familiar. I will say the Aeon SF shows us things can be different but we got hit with a lot of looks and characters that have been around...for a long time. Please don't take this as a complaint. It's not. I wanted to provide feedback. Devs can't read our minds so I just hope they'll get really creative and, if need be, look at some of our ideas in the Suggestions forum. I understand they're the Devs and make the decisions but I feel it might be a good idea to consider the players that play and some of their ideas. Anyway, thanks for listening and see ya out there!

This is really cool of you. I was also wondering a few things. 1) Has the Dev team considered making most of the new TF/SF etc in a co-op zone so there isn't any preference for any of the sides AND it would make for less work for the Devs (Ouros, K. Wharf, Cim., Pocket D etc)? 2) It seems like the Death From Below type TFs are quite popular. Any thought on adding more along those lines?

Yes, agreed. It won't be for everyone. I will add that the game seemed to move more towards the short-ish TFs/SFs etc as the content grew. The old run arounds and lengthy TFs were poor game design IMO and there as a time sink so you'd play longer and keep paying for a sub. I feel these long arcs aren't really for me but I don't know what others think. I can speak for me only. It is odd that the HC Dev team is adding these longer missions etc while adding more shortcuts to other parts of the game (a Pocket D entrance in Atlas, not having to wait until lvl 14 for an Ouros portal and a few other things). Count me in as a player who does not want everything handed to you or an easy mode or stuff like that - and, yes, I do want shorter missions that the ASF or that last story arc. I would also suggest maybe not having such a huge info dump of text in these missions and TFs/SFs. The leader usually gets all of the direct access and other players are challenged to get a chance at reading all of the material. This happened in that last new arc of missions and again in the ASF. Again, just my opinion. Finally, thank you and the rest of the Devs for adding stuff to game. I love how you're making new maps and trying some new wrinkles.

It's nice to get a little behind the scenes on new content. I am so happy to see this game is still being innovative despite the age. Awesome. I will admit, I don't enjoy the ASF due to the info dump, unclear messaging and length. I feel it is a bit of a step back in those areas. I still haven't been able to read all of the material while playing the SF due fast moving teams.

Yes. I realize that. Thanks. But, any thoughts on this build? Is it lacking or am I missing something...a glaring error....etc etc

I was wanting to roll a stone armour toon but I am waffling on tank or brute. No idea which would be more for me. Anyway, I liked a lot of the OP and changed the one of his rad/stone builds. Here is what I cam up with. Anyone see any issues or concerns etc? https://www.midsreborn.com/builds/download.php?uc=1435&c=685&a=1370&f=HEX&dc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

I appreciate your input and everyone else's as well. I am sure the Gaus proc works as I mentioned - there are multiple posts on it and lots authored by @Bopper. Check 'em out.

So, this is just an idea and I always like the versatility of changing your toon around on the fly etc. Some note this power would make him a jack-of-all trades and master of none. Well, I kinda think that's the AT. However, he could become more useful in various situations with these options. So, 6 toggles might be a bit much so maybe taking 3 options out of the pool would be ideal. I would call this power VERSATILITY and you can take it in your Sent power options. You can take the power then take 3 toggles out of all of the options available. Since there are 3 toggle powers, you can make these powers a bit more potent. One toggle power could be added UNTYPED damage (like Hami etc) which would make things even more unique and desirable! Opportunity needs to be adjusted. I would also add the inherent power I noted earlier - maybe call it OBSERVATION. It gives the AT an inherent +ToHit/accuracy of 10%, allows you better protection against Blind, Confuse etc.

It was something that just came to me and I literally noted it down as it came to me. Why would you have to lower the damage when the complaint is the low damage output of the AT? That's part of the point to this - it can up the damage of the AT or it can help the team by debuffing an enemy and so on. I appreciate the replies to the idea though. I actually like the toggles that allows you to change up your play a bit (like in bio armour and dual pistols). Yes, you do get some of these options in the powers you take that is why you pick from a pool and you can take the ones you don't have or duplicate them to increase the damage type....it allows you to pick. Also, instead of picking 6 options, you can pick 3....I just like toons that can be versatile and work in a variety of situations.

Cuz with this system you can have a small bit of it all. So, for example, if you pick fire then you can hit a toggle and add some poison damage to that fire blast..or you can add a to-hit debuff...or you can hit them with a slow and so on. Now, these toggles aren't meant to be so powerful that you don't have a need to create any of those other power set combos but rather a buff. Also, you have to pick a finite amount of abilities for to toggle (I proposed 6) so you can't apply every power. The six toggles I may take would be 1) poison damage (2) to-hit debuff (3) cold damage (4) negative damage (5) defence debuff (6) resistance debuff...or something like this. Now your Sent can cause more damage or whatever and will have something unique and some appeal.

Yes, this is what I was getting at. I don't think it's too ambitious or complex as the mechanic is already in game. It's a bit more clicky as you can change settings a lot if you so choose. I feel it would help the Sentinel become a sought after ally in teams and an AT people would want to play as it is a bit different. Anyway, just an idea. I do like the idea of the Sent but they don't really offer anything better than any other AT. Maybe this mechanic allows them to become that toon along with the other ideas.