BurtHutt

I haven't gone into new characters for a while. I have a lot of toons and don't want to start a new one until I do more research and put together a build. Or maybe a new powerset comes along that I like. Honestly, a new AT is beyond due and that would be cool. I really like some of the ideas the other servers have in regards to new AT. Anyway, for the new toons, I usually hit a DFB, maybe do the opening arc. I then usually jump into a Posi 1 then 2 and maybe Synapse. I will also jump in on some red side SFs. I may also dabble in some radios/papers. This easily gets you to 20 and then some more decent TF/SF options open up. I really dislike Citadel and have done it maybe twice since I found HC (late 2019). Anyway, there are also events that help a bit like Rikti invasion and maybe trick or treating and so on. Maybe DiB, Summer Blockbuster etc. I am in no rush and play sessions are more fun this way. It's ideal when you can actual team with some online pals that also like to level up or just enjoy the game and some content. CoX really does have a ton of options. If I'm feeling rather nutty, I will join a goldside team (when they're around).

Is there much point in applying to the Dev team? I did this years ago and not a single word or reply as to what is going on with the application and so on. Nada. I actually reached out to a few Devs about ideas etc. I organize large teams in my real life and helping HC enticed me. Not sure if it was just me or everyone that didn't make the cut got ignored (if anyone did make the cut, that is). Regardless, I appreciate the HC team and all they do. This is big and great news. Hopefully adding the Paragon and Victory Devs to the team may result in some more content and some new ideas.

Some exciting news. Victory and Paragon have some unique features - will those be added to HC or...? Also, HC clearly hasn't done much towards adding costume pieces. Are the new crew able to add some significant amounts of costume pieces? I will admit the HC arcs and SF haven't been for me but it seems like there will be some other good stuff in this update. HC, awesome work here!

This is the same entity that was in Star Trek The Motion Picture. VGER aka Voyager. But as a younger, less powerful entity. VGER will be the new Hami. Instead of a blob, we have a wall of light.

I think it may have also been a good time to reduce the number of initial character slots handed out to players. There's obviously been a huge influx of new/returning players and I am sure many proceeded to name hoard. Le sigh. OP, I will say I've also come across this and took it as a challenge to find a new name etc. It will take a bit of getting used to but it'll be ok. I will never have a toon name where it's all caps with spaces between letters, ends in a 1, . or -. The worst is xX _____ Xx. No thanks :)

Same. I can't do it. I won't do it. You can't make me! I think it looks awful.

As long as they're not just re-skinning an old powerset - which was/is the norm. We have too much of that.

Lies! It isn't in her powerset!

I'm still amazed her and other NPCs can be at the same place AT THE SAME TIME! Which one is the original and which is the clone?!

Oh hey thanks for that. It was always a piss off during Live. They kept the numbers so secret. Glad it's not a thing here.

I also note I can't see how many people are on the various servers. This is the same old non-sense that the Live game used. It's an archaic way to operate. Or did I miss where this data may have been moved to?

I really like my Dark/Savage tank. Softcap RES on all but tox (still high) and the DEF isn't bad either. I took the Force of Will pool and when I click on Unleash Potential, I'm softcap to all DEF as well. It's a nasty build! 🙂

Yes and I would rather not see it anymore. Dialogue boxes are fine to get info to the rest of the team. However, this AE v.2.0 doesn't have to be at that level. It's more towards doing to easy missions and adding variety/content to the game. Adding new missions every couple months would be great. I think it's been almost 8 months since our last update? No issues with this and this AE option gives us a bit of a remedy.

It isn't missing info but there are times when the leader is the only one able to read the info. Also, some of the caption boxes overlap and aren't easily read. The new arcs have big time info dump and I couldn't be bothered to go and read up on the stuff. They're too convoluted and I haven't played any of them more than once - due to the noted issues and they just were not fun to play.

Well, that's the beauty of AE v.2.0 - we can have both. We might even have contacts that just provide one arc created by a player because it was crafted in a very professional manner. Personally, my belief is that this is a game and the visuals and fun play are more important than detailed and complex narratives. I look at the Aeon SF and HC arcs - too much info dumped and it isn't easy to read as you play. When someone suggests you go to the Wiki if all of the info wasn't there for you = issue with the mission.

Yep. For sure. That's the entire idea. I like AE but it went right where I predicted it would back when it came out. It's such a powerful tool and it's not being used to it's full potential. Add to that, the HC Dev team is volunteers and very limited so they can't add a lot of content all the time.

This. Also, reviewing the arcs could be done by non-Dev HC team. There could be a small volunteer group that was only AE v.2.0 quality assurance. That's all they'd do. Sure, there are a lot of poorly done missions but those wouldn't get added due to the QA team. Again, I'll emphasize these missions would be pretty straightforward and basic. I think many could make decent missions. It would allow for some variety and originality to the game...I'd be more than happy to run some radio-style missions that didn't have any Council etc in them.

I never played while this Jack character was around so I don't have any opinion on that guy - he just seems to be really hated by the OG community. I also suspect killing off States was a publicity stunt to drum up interest in a game that was slowly losing players (and profitability). It's too bad and they could've done that story with someone else getting killed but it wouldn't have been the same. It is a pretty cool arc and there is some emotion most feel with that cut scene...oh the tragedy! Lastly, wasn't there an AMA with a Dev that said they were bringing States back if the game kept going? That seems silly to me and glad it didn't happen. What are we, Marvel?! Was this the AMA? https://archive.paragonwiki.com/wiki/Lore_AMA EDIT - So, I did go through the start of 2016 AMA and they planned on bringing back States...well...a reformed Tyrant who would take the States mantle. I am SO glad that never happened. Yikes.

Ok, so, this isn't new from me but I thought I'd give it another kick at the can. I've been promoting this for a few years and will give it another push! However, this time I will explain and flesh out the idea in one spot - right here! So, the idea is to have the players create radio/paper/tip type missions using AE BUT at the same time making it not a part of the regular AE we all know. Why? So players can add material to the regular game/canon and the Devs have to do less work trying to make as much content or focus on the items on their agenda (while also getting out far more content). This is by no means an indictment on our wonderful Dev team, it's more of a way to help. In order for this to happen, we'd need a separate AE system (AE v.2.0) and not one that was housed in the regular AE buildings. The idea is to make new contacts at various locations and each contact is loaded up with new AE v.2.0 missions created by players. Initially, players would create their missions in AE 2.0 like they currently do in AE and then leave them there while HC team decides on when/if to add the mission to the game. Anything added to the game will be canon and the creators need to supply write-ups for the wiki and so on. There will be obvious rules and guidelines around submissions. HC team will have a forum that they lock and unlock where players submit their missions. For example, forum gets unlocked, players can add their submissions until the forum reaches 15 total submissions (arbitrary number - 1 sub per player unless there's room). Then at 15, forum locked and the HC community team can look at the submissions, do a play-through and add the ones that meet the criteria. This could be done bi-monthly and maybe players adding content will get a badge and then later maybe some merits? Initially, these AE contacts can be added to areas where the game needs more stuff to do. So, more for the level 50+ content (add contacts in RWZ, Ouros, Kallisti Wharf etc), Steel, Port Oakes etc. Match the mission theme to the zone if possible. These missions will also need to add regular rewards and not the AE tickets etc. For all intensive purposes, they should look and act like regular missions like with radios and papers. (HC will also give everyone advance warning that this entire project could be removed if it all goes sideways etc). Making the mission part of the regular game and canon will incentivize players. HC overseeing this AE v.2.0 will ensure only proper missions get added to the system. Devs may have to do more front end work to set it up but then maybe it will be less work - hopefully missions can be drag and drop and would require minimal Dev work after set up. We'll also get way more content on a frequent basis. I really enjoy this game. I want to see it thrive and I think we can get a bump in players and interest with this addition. It would be a big game changer 🙂 I don't know what else is possible or if this would be too much initial work but I'd love to hear what others think and hopefully the Devs can chime in as well.

A huge pet peeve of mine is not having a unique boss. Not only does it seem lazy to me, it's not as interesting. If the boss is the same as the rest ...it's lame. Sure, I get this for the lower tier bosses when they wear street/gang gear and so on. But not for supers! I don't know how many times my teams have ripped through mobs and didn't even see/notice the boss was in the pile. I also think it'd be cool if the load screens were pics of the mission's big bads. This was part of my AE idea - have teams also submit a pic of the boss as a load screen (as long as it was high quality etc). Anyway, not every mission needs a unique looking boss but most do!

Do we really need new armors and/or powers? Sure, I like getting new stuff but it's just a re-hash of what we have or it isn't too different. I'd prefer new stuff for us to do (such as my famous AE idea!) or other stuff.

I don't mind the system etc. My biggest complaints are the looks of some of the GMs. The Kraken is an iconic creature. However, in CoX, he looks like a blob of human waste. There are some other GMs that're like this. I also thought it'd be nice to add some additional GMs for events etc. I wish the HC team would re-skin a few of the less impressive GMs and then add some new ones for events. Holiday GMs that come around only during that window? There was a player who suggested something to do with the zodiac. I then added a suggestion that they do GMs corresponding to the zodiac and only came out during their corresponding time periods. Getting all 12 would result in a power or something like that.

Can anyone tell me about that wolfman looking NPC that is out on the edge of the map? He doesn't seem to have any purpose...? I know, vague, but I ran into him exploring a while ago. I'm at work and can't provide location.

This reminds of of those classic skits (on talkshows, ads etc) where a rando reporter would go out into the U.S. and ask random people on the street some basic questions. A lot of it ended up being pretty funny. 'Murica!

Well...it's kinda hard to keep it interesting. I don't play much and have tons of toons (many of them hit 50). I guess I'm on an extended break right now. However, what keeps me going is the thought of my AE idea becoming a reality! That's about it. I will keep advocating for it. I do like the game but there isn't a game out there that I can play constantly. I am sure I will come back and play more often that I do now but that won't be anytime soon. I appreciate the Devs and their work and the friends I've made here. This isn't a snipe at anyone or a rant...it's just the way I feel right now....right now...it's your tomorrow...