Rudra

I always found it odd that sleep left its targets standing. Figured it was an engine limitation. Targets falling down and not getting up while slept would be great!

Nannonots? And no, not everything is magic in the game world. For tech, you could have a robotic shield or other unit that follows you or hovers around you intercepting attacks. You could also be psychokinetically or telekinetically manipulating it instead. Gravitic manipulation of some sort to make the shield keep "falling" after you and into the way of oncoming attacks. The Animus Arcana and the magically floating shield was simplest the easiest example for me to give because other such examples already exist in the game.

How about an animated shield? Like the Animus Arcana swords, crystal balls, staves, and books. That could be interesting. The shield follows you around providing protection.

That doesn't make sense for Phalanx Fighting or Grant Cover. A single armored arm would be limited coverage invulnerablility. It's your arm. You use your arm to shield your ally from ranged attacks and then watch your ally get shot. Insufficient for shield use.

Uhm... what are you saying nope to? The post you are quoting says it is Thunderspy or some other server that has the pet customizations.

Sounds useful. Does changing builds impose a timer? Can the /selectbuild command be used during combat? (I don't have multiple builds. Sorry.)

We are not debating the forums. You are again taking something out of context. I am disinclined to rise to the bait. You are done. Congratulations. I've never bothered ignoring anyone on the forums before.

Not relevant. I never said what customizations you could should or could should not have. I argue for logic. Because again, even comics use logic. It's not slapstick cartoons. I also argue to use what we already have that does what people say they want. Of course not. Devices is devices. A Blaster power set for those characters that want to have an array of gadgets as a power set. Plant Manipulation being made into Devices is what I am against. I fully understand that. Of course I take things literally. That is not an issue I have. It is the only way I can function. Nope. I repeat the things others say and present my arguments for or against. No twisting involved. Just presenting your comments to you as I understand them. YES! Something we agree on! So... Masterminds have wanted changes for years now and been getting them? Just not necessarily in ways we agree with? New animations are great! Especially for sets like Dual Pistols so the player can stop playing a circus trick shot performer acting as a hero or villain! Same with new weapon models. Congratulations. I've been playing that long too. Says who? I mix and match elements all the time. Whatever fits the character. Fire-wielding mutant? Maybe he or she backs up their mutations with gadgets. Fire/Devices. Or maybe I make an Energy/Atomic Manipulation character for a cosmic feel. Or an Assault Rifle/Darkness Manipulation for an outer realms hunter character. Or... pick something. You never have to go Dark/Dark, Fire/Fire, Assault Rifle/Devices, or whatever. You make the character concept. You find the powers that fit that concept. The power sets may not have the specific powers you want, but guess what? They do exist. And in the case of you wanting earth animations for Plant Manipulation? With the exception of two powers, just using a brown color on Plant Manipulation makes it look like the character throws some sand or dirt and the earth twists up a tendril of ground to seize the enemy. (I tried it. It works. There are just 2 powers in the set where the plant still obviously looks like plant.) Why would you think I was missing that? I'm all for new animations. As long as they don't have one power set step on an already existing one for what its theme is. Unless you want this argument to devolve again, we are not rehashing this. Is there a point in this comment relevant to the discussion? Sure, but Dual Pistols lets you shoot ice bullets, which can just as easily be freeze blasts. Where are you going with this? Again, where are you going with this? You highlight the sheer diversity and then ask if it is not enough? What is lacking? Always happy to have problems in the game fixed. You commented that the game is long in the tooth, and then say to not make anything new? I'm having a really hard time following your logic. Now who is putting words in whose mouth? Nope. If you want devices, use the Devices power set. Don't make Plant Manipulation into Devices. New weapon models that fit into a given power set are always welcome. (Edit: Of course, if you want that pistol to shoot beams of energy rather than bullets, incendiary projectiles of some type, chilling projectiles of some type, or toxic/acidic projectiles of some type; then yeah, new power set please.) (Edit again: I take that back. Beams of energy would work just fine for the incendiary part of Dual Pistols.)

Yep, and it looks like a giant-sized razor blade on a handle. Doesn't mean its sharp. I have razor blades I use for cleaning my 3D printer. And even though they have an obvious edge, they are all decidedly blunt to not hurt the screen. And they were designed that way. Look, I'm not going to argue what is and is not sharp in the game. Titan Weapons: massive weapon swung in arc. Pulverizes target. Swords: slashing attack weapon. Dual Blades: insanely flashy use of two light weapons reminiscent of Dual Pistols, but for melee. Odd weapons: fire blades, ice blades, magma blades, shaped energy blades, stop signs, etc. Placed in set because is wielded in same manner in that set and looks cool. Weird weapons: Tonfa/batons. Requires even more suspension of disbelief than the odd weapons but are still used the same way and at least fit the idea of fighting with two light weapons. I'm fine with adding some of the weapon models from other melee weapon sets to melee weapon sets, though very few look to be suitable for transitioning. I'm fine with adding some of the weapon models from other ranged weapon sets to ranged weapon sets. Just not things like a pistols for two-handed ranged weapons or two-handed ranged weapons for pistols. (Though I could be sold on the two-handed ranged weapons for dual pistols if the set wasn't so circus performer acrobat flashy.)

My guess would be that if a weapon looks appropriate for the effect or if it is used in that style, it is a valid model. Retro sci-fi guns for instance were still fired as regular rifles in the shows that had them. Sometimes with a poorly drawn beam and other times like a regular rifle for effects. So they still work because of how they are used. As for Titan Weapons, even greatswords weren't sharp weapons. They had an edge, yes, but their focus was big weapon crumples armor and bone. If you use a greatsword and you're trying to keep its edge sharp enough to slice up your enemy, you're potentially handicapping the weapon. The weight of the weapon and the momentum of the swing does the bulk of the damage, not the blade edge. Also, the way a greatsword is wielded with the large curving arcs to overpower the target is at least similar to wielding a large club. So big weapon swung in wide arcs to obliterate foe would seem to be the theme of the available weapon models. Tonfas, batons, and fighting sticks can be used mechanically in the same way as dual blades. Tonfas are more versatile weapons than the set allows for, and those that learn to fight with tonfa don't fight anywhere even close to how Dual Blades functions, but then again, neither do those that fight with dual blades. With combat philosophy thrown out the window for the flashy style of Dual Blades, tonfa and batons do fit. The only concern there is they would bash their targets instead of slice. However, like fire swords, ice swords, and the other not-actually-a-sword options don't fit for inflicting a different form of harm, the deciding factor here as far as I can tell is that they would be used in the same way as a daito or arming sword. So sure, expand the available weapon models. Keeping in mind the theme/intent of the power set. So not all weapon models would be appropriate for all weapon power sets even with the differentiation of ranged versus melee.

True, but they /are/ still all slashing weapons. Even the fire, ice, and energy ones look like they are slashing weapons.

Lets do a quick comparison. This thread: Increase the damage! The devs: What are the different approaches we can take to improve the game? Someone lacks imagination, but it sure isn't the devs. I expect this thread to be locked soon with where this conversation has gone.

Typically, I'm the team leader when teaming. Unless my brain is fired in which case a friend is leader instead. And while on the team, our difficulty is either +0/x1 if I'm running, or lower if one of my friends (specifically) is running. And I view any increased xp as the price to pay for running around with my friends. Not that it seems like we're actually getting any extra XP. We keep our teams small. Most of them? Nothing. There are a few 50s I use when I am teaming with my friends. Because those are the characters they prefer I run. Otherwise? I'm usually doddering around somewhere on a lower level character. Though sometimes I break out a 50, or an incarnate 50, to run end game content by myself. Depends on my mood. Aside from the perception that it is being forced down my throat? Or aside from the fact having the blue bars of patrol xp triggers something that makes me moderately angry? (Possibly because of the perception that xp is being shoved down my throat unless I spend an unpleasant amount of time finding mobs to just stand in and die from over and over and over before it feels like I can finally play the character.) Like I already said, I can't explain it beyond I just don't. I didn't say that. I said I played all content without having to go through Ouroboros. I'm fine with using Ouroboros aside from the fact that some missions that seem to be critical to parts of the story aren't in it. Even if I burn through all my patrol xp, I still have to turn off xp to be able to play all the content in any given level range short of 50. So playing with patrol xp while gaining xp would rocket me past much of the content. And yes, I turn off xp to make sure that doesn't happen. (So I often wind up having to run papers/radios after all content in any given range is complete to level to the next set.) Yep. That is the reason given for patrol xp. Even if you are at a day job location like Ferryman/Ferrywoman. You're working on a ferry earning patrol xp running around making the city safer or progressing your next scheme. Even if you are working a ferry. Or sitting in Icon fetching apparel for Serge to work his magic updating heroes' costumes. Or working at a store selling whatever origin goods they carry. (Edit: Or just sitting at a dock fishing.) Appreciate the concern. I do actually enjoy playing CoX. Despite its age, it is a much better game with less flaws than some of its "successors". (Looking at you in particular, CO, with your broken item placement literally everywhere, impossibly easy enemies outside of very specific individuals, excessive use of puns for every mission name, ... ... ... I should stop this before it turns into a full blown rant....) Anyway, I do enjoy CoX, even if I might do a very poor job of presenting that. And I apologize for that. It's just things like the patrol xp that does a pretty good job of triggering my smash-maim-kill-make it go away already response.

Please don't misrepresent my post. I said I was fine with the alternate sizes, so you being upset that I am not makes no sense. I gave the reason why shields are carried the way they are, but I also said that the axis change would work for things like heater shields. Which was what you said you wanted. So you being upset that I am against changing the axis makes no sense since I am not against changing the axis for the example you gave. The only part I am actually against is the no shield part. Because a level of sensibility is still called for in a super hero game. Like I said, even comics adhere to a form of plausible logic. The logic may be based on nonsense, but the comics still try to make sense with things that can't happen in the real world.

Now you are just being insulting. Edit: Dagnabbit! Sorry, @Glacier Peak. Comment not aimed at you.

Yes. Most of the time. No. Never. When I team with my friends, I at least hold my own. Sometimes I do more than my friends. Sometimes they do more than me. What? Mission reward XP does not bother me. I did the mission, I completed it. I'm fine with earning rewards. Yes. I have several 50s. I also have most of my characters in the teens to 30s range. I suffer from alt-itis. (Edit: Actually my level range for non-50s is 6-40. Apologies for the error.) Not relevant. Either as a stand alone question or in consideration that I already have fully incarnated 50s. I stopped RP'ing quite some time ago. I spend most of my time alone. I also don't understand the relevance of this comment. RP'ing won't stop me from leveling. As for turning off XP, as I have said on multiple occasions even in this thread, I do turn off XP. It is the only way to play through all the content without having to go through Ouroboros. Yeah, I agree. However, seeing upwards of 10 bars of blue XP telling me I got that much XP for doing absolutely nothing is upsetting. I can't explain it. I actually enjoy a great many games. They don't force XP down my throat for blinking and sneezing though. I quit Vivid Army (Top War) because everything I did immediately leveled me at least 1 level. So finding a stable point to build up was impossible until you were max level. So your level 80 account would be competing against fully developed level 80 accounts with no means to do anything to anyone. I like earning my progress. I enjoy taking the time to develop a character. I enjoy playing CoX. I hate being made to level to 50 as quickly as other players seem to like, and the fact the game has progressively been moving in that direction even back on Live is aggravating. So... uhm... I'm not sure how to take this... it reads like you are saying to just quit the game, but the rest of the post says otherwise. That was the purpose of this thread. I fully expect this thread to die a horrible death on the forums and be buried under concrete with warning signs posted to not approach the grave. However, I am hoping that even if each and every one of my characters has to pay an exorbitant fee at P2W, that some option to no longer be subject to patrol XP is available so I can stop spending the first 10 minutes of my game time committing suicide with each character I decide to play that day. Edit: Oh yeah. The blue bars of XP don't give a badge or have one associated with them. The badge comment was in response to someone commenting that someone was going to eventually ask for a badge for not getting patrol XP if this suggestion were to somehow be implemented.

I get it is comic book stuff, but comics still use logic. They routinely bend it, but they always try to have a reason that at least in that comic makes sense for why something is the way it is. I will never understand why anyone would take a power set and then not want the powers. Toned down animations? I get that. Not every Fiery Aura character needs to be a raging inferno for instance. Some may only radiate intense heat without the blazing fire. Others may put an inferno to shame for the amount of flame they put out. Power sets with high particle counts being reduced or hidden? I get that too. Some systems struggle with high particle densities and some players are susceptible to induced migraines from them. Shields though? You will probably say I am way off, but this is like asking to have Battle Axe with invisible/no battleaxe. (Use Super Strength.) Or staff fighting with invisible/no staff. (As opposed to translucent axes and staves for energy or maybe the highly unrealistic and impractical diamond weapon/shield. Both options at least make comic book sense.) It's not a question of whether I would use it or not. It is a question of it making sense. Because again, even comics try to make sense. Even when they use Super World Logic, the logic is logical despite being pure garbage. There are powers I will not use. Like Hasten. There are entire power sets I absolutely will not use. Like Thermal Radiation. Others will and do though. I have no problems with that. They enjoy it, more power to them. It is the wanting to take a weapon set or Shield Defense and not have a weapon or shield. That is what confuses me. We have multiple power sets in each AT, and several have the same or at least similar effects. They have different animations, but mechanically would work for any given purpose. So why do people want a weapon or shield set with no weapon or shield? Edit: And before anyone says "Well, the reason was given. The character has a gauntlet or robot hand." That would fall under Invulnerability. You lack the means of using shield powers with a gauntlet or robot hand. You can't form a phalanx formation. You can't use your gauntlet or robot hand to shield others any better than an invul' character. So that makes no sense to me. I'm not the logic police, but I would at least like to understand people's reasoning. Without having to consign myself to a bottle of aspirin.

1. Invisible Shield/No Shield What? Why take shield if you're not going to use a shield? Blocking with a gauntlet or robotic hand is a hand-to-hand/unarmed block, not a shield block. Using a cestus, wrapping your hands and forearms to protect them, and pretty much anything else that localized typically falls under some form of martial arts or brawling. You would probably be better off taking Invulnerability, Ninjutsu, Super Reflexes, or Willpower for that concept. 2. Different Sizes of Shields Okay, yeah. Typically, you would want a shield to more or less fit the average soldier that would be carrying it, so they would normally be a standard size, in as much as anything could be standard sized with industry as poor as it was back then. And the only small shields I know of are targes and bucklers. However, while I did see targes on the list, I didn't see the smaller buckler listed. Not that a sane warrior with a sword or axe would really want a buckler. The only larger shield that I know of compared to what is in the game, is the tower shield. I didn't see tower shields in the game, but they also weren't really used in combat the way people think of shields. You planted your tower shield and ducked behind it for cover. Portable walls for crossbowmen. However, individuals that can't get a properly sized shield for them, like a not terribly tall giant trying to make use of a human shield for instance, isn't something the current shield sizing allows for. So sure, alternate sizes or the option to scale the shields up or down from standard. 3. Different Shield Rotations See Ascendant Shield, Elemental Shields: Dark Shield, Rularuu's Ward, Tech Shields: Tech Shield, Tribal Shield, and Tech Knight Shield. The thing to consider about the way a large shield is used is that you want it to protect you as much as possible. So say a kite shield, is long enough that it affords protection to your trunk, upper legs, and possibly head if needed, while being wide enough that in a combat stance you still have effectively your entire body safely behind it. Now, if you were to turn it onto a different axis, a huge chunk of that shield is now suddenly doing nothing to protect you while you still have to contend with its weight in combat. And now it also gets in the way of your maneuvers and possibly your fellow soldiers. A heater shield could work though, since you aren't losing much protection carrying it that way. Bear in mind, I am not a medieval weapons and armor expert. Just someone that enjoys reading up on it from time to time. So take my comments with a grain of salt. Except maybe the invisible/no shield option. That one has me completely baffled as to why.

No, you can't. The only chat customizations in the options menu is what your character's chat bubble looks like. And the only editable text colors in the chat window are player channels, not set game channels like league.

I thought that was the pitch. 😊

I figured this suggestion would be murdered in the cradle, but would you be willing to explain your opposition? The option would be default off, so no one would even notice it unless they looked for it and they would have to be enabled by the player if they wanted it. It does not empower any power sets or make the game any easier. It does not nerf any power sets or make the game any harder. So the opposition has me confused.

I already turn off xp. I also go out and commit suicide until the blue bar is gone. See my comment 7 posts up for why.

When you log off while in a mission, AE or other, you are in that area, not the mission. So yes, you accrue patrol xp regardless of where you log off. Edit: It is like bases. As long as you are in the vicinity of a base portal, you are at the Monitor Duty day job location. So logging off in your base is you logging off outside your base at the base portal. Instances do not have locations. So your location if you log off or are disconnected while in an instance, base or mission, is at the instance entrance on the zone map your character is on.

I love making bases. Even when the things I make require a ridiculous number of pieces. (I made an incinerator with well over 700 pieces, for instance.) I've never really contemplated self-torture though....

Yes! Please! PleasepleasepleasepleasePLEASE!!!!! I can't tell you how often I try to fit some text in and just can't because the letters and numbers are just one very large size.