Rudra

Bayonetta.

I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. Never played Bayonetta. Was put off by the gun heels. Contrived is contrived. Others can play it and have fun , no judgement, just not for me. I also disagree with the Lawful Good villain comment, but as I am disinclined to get into yet another argument about the Lawful-Neutral-Chaotic/Good-Neutral-Evil alignment system with yet another person, I'm just going to point out that I conceded the discussion to @PeregrineFalcon and again, walk away.

And with that response, I walk away. I have no way to argue with that.

I'm not running off the "masterminds are evil" premise. My line of thinking is that when you are playing a villain, how do you justify angels robbing banks, kidnapping people, and just generally doing anything evil?

Not all of them. Just 5th Column/Council, Malta, Carnies (probably all 4 types), Rikti, Nemesis, Hellions, Skullz, Family, Tsoo, Outcasts, Hydra, Circle of Thorns, Scrapyarders, Devouring Earth, Red Caps, Tuatha, Firbolg, witches, Vahzilok, Freaklok, Resistance, Wailers, ghosts (pirates and generic), Freakshow, Warriors, Cimerorans, IDF, Warworks, Clockwork (Praetorian and Primal), and Trolls. Probably just those. ... maybe.... 😆

Uhm... why? You just clicked the server name to get to that screen. Until I opened and read this post, I thought you were asking for the server name to be visible somewhere while playing,

Personally, I'd rather Jack spawned more often in Croatoa. Croatia is a bit far and expensive to reach for me. On a side note, sometimes just finding Jack and Eochai when they have spawned can be difficult. Even with vidiotmaps giving spawn points for them. So maybe you just missed them during your search? (I'm all for them spawning more often, just saying it is possible to miss them.) (Edit: I'm for them spawning more often as long as they are not already spawned, not counting the war.)

But... but... but... my animated swords MM!!!! 😭 Never fear! Phantom Army MM is here! Bring out the clones! 😄 Works for me! 😊

I think you underestimate MM players. Sure, a lot stay back and fight from range as best they can. A lot also go running into the melee so their Supremacy inherent boosts their melee pets (ninjas and beasts). Having melee attacks on the MM isn't as bad as you are making it out to be. At least, it is no different than shooting your bow or swinging your whip at enemies in your face. That said, nothing says the devs can't say "You know what? We think the MM's personal attacks need to stay ranged as a theme." and replacing the sword attacks with a bow or whatever. I am disinclined to agree with this being better as a Dominator set. Now, if you want a Titan Weapon or Sword Assault dominator, start a new thread with it as your idea. Flesh out the power set. Show us what you are thinking and how it would work. Not gonna change my approach though.

Nah. I prefer the all swords approach. There is a reason for it. Doesn't mean a more expansive version utilizing the Animus Arcana as a basis isn't an option. Would need to be reworked similar to what I did for the swords, but it is a possiblity. Edit: And a version based on more Animus Arcana would allow the MM to revert to a ranged AT instead of being melee as cast in this idea.

Okay, this is meant as much in jest as in earnest. With the hydra, angels, and monkey MM threads recently, I decided to throw something in too. Say hello to the melee MM: Animated Swords. Tier 1: Sting of the Wasp (as per Katana) Tier 2: Conjure Lightblade (summons 1-3 animated shortswords [use Dual Blade model][attacks: Slash as per Vorpal Sword]) Tier 3: Gambler's Cut (as per Katana) Tier 4: Enchant Sword (See below) Tier 5: Flashing Steel (as per Katana) Tier 6: Conjure Sword (summons 1-2 animated swords [use Broadsword model][attacks: Slash as per Vorpal Sword and Hack as per Vorpal Sword]) Tier 7: Blood Lust (Causes all swords in range to frenzy [PBAoE, pets +Def and +Dam, 60 s duration, 240 s recharge]) Tier 8: Conjure Greatsword (summons 1 two-handed sword [use Katana model][attacks: Hack as per Vorpal Sword and Disembowel as per Vorpal Sword]) Tier 9: Empower Sword (See below) Enchant Sword: Lightblade: Parry as per Vorpal Sword and Hack as per Vorpal Sword Sword: Parry as per Vorpal Sword and Disembowel as per Vorpal Sword Greatsword: Parry as per Vorpal Sword and Whirling Sword as per Vorpal Sword Empower Sword: Lightblade: Whirling Sword as per Vorpal Sword Sword: Head Splitter as per Vorpal Sword Greatsword: Head Splitter as per Vorpal Sword All swords use the Vorpal Sword from the Animus Arcana for their animations. All swords can use any model from their respective type (Dual Blade, Broadsword, or Katana), but all swords in that group must use the same model. (So you pick once for each power and that is what they all are.) All swords are lieutenant strength pets. (Use ninjas or bots for stats?) With the possible exception of Blood Lust, which is patterned after Fortify Pack but does not duplicate the power, all powers and models already exist in the game. (Edit: Enchant sword and empower sword can use the ninja's pet upgrade animations.) Why? Because I felt like posting this to see what happens. Maybe the character is a telekinetic animating the swords. Maybe the character is a mage enchanting the swords and prefers to melee foes instead of hurl spells. Maybe after my bashing of the other threads I want to give them a chance to return the favor. Regardless, here is my thought/idea. Have at it!

Only reason I brought up biblical references is because the OP opens with the reference. I am curious though. How would you set it up and what justification would you have for angels engaging in or supporting villainous behavior? Demons supporting heroic or villainous behavior is established in several formats, but not angels. I'd be interested in your reasoning.

Here's a question: how would the multiplying upon defeat Hydra affect Bodyguard Mode? Edit: Also, since you are referring to existing monsters in the game, which range from minion strength to boss strength, how would you balance them out against the all lieutenant strength pets of other MMs? Minions for how quickly they would die and boss for how powerful it would be in comparison.

Here's a dumb thought that goes against what I said but could work: Tier 1 pet: Summon Acolyte/Holy Warrior. (Summon 1-3 human followers.) Tier 2 pet: Summon Angel (Summon 1-2 angels. For whatever reason, you get up to 2 angels to aid in your crusade.) Tier 3 pet: Summon Archangel (Summon 1 archangel to aid you in your crusade.) The question of why angels would help the character if the character is committing evil as a villain or rogue, if the character is a villain or rogue, is still a problem. Fallen angels perhaps? Stick with the demons then. ... Yeah... I can't find a rational reason for this to thematically work... disregard this post.

I've been in several situations where my minions get killed off quickly. Particularly the tier 1 pets. Never so fast that I couldn't just summon more after a second or so though. My tier 1 pets have a less than 2 second recharge. And though they drop like flies in some situations, I keep summoning them as fast as they drop. Edit: The tier 3 pet usually can't be killed as long as I can spam my heals, so its recharge is not a consideration, but its base recharge is only 15 seconds before all the recharge reduction bonuses I have to use my heal affect it. The tier 2 pets are a little more robust than the tier 1s, but even they have a less than 5 second recharge and my MMs can survive some rather insane fights long enough to summon more tier 2 pets. So no, never been in a situation where having a pet that drops to 0 and becomes two weaker pets would ever be useful compared to just summoning replacements at full strength.

So... you want a MM set that summons minions instead of lieutenants?! And why the downgrade upon defeat? As fast as MM pet summons recharge these days, wouldn't it behoove the MM to just resummon the pet rather than have weaker pets? Interesting theme, but pass on the mechanics.

*sigh* Dominions, not dominations. Angels are lowest tier. Archangels are tier just above them. Just because anime and similar cast archangels as the top angels does not hold true if you're going to go the actual biblical route the way it looks like you want to. Also, I could only really see angels and archangels as combatants. They are the only ones with the numbers for it and the only ones who really serve that purpose. That said, I'm against this thematically. Demons may be willing to pretend to bend knee and serve for the sake of accomplishing their goals, but angels have always been portrayed as not being subservient to humans for any reason. Instructive? Yes. Protective? Yes, but only a single angel. A human summoned army of them? Never. Maybe if this was a control or buff set with the tier 9 power being Summon Angel, I would agree, but not as an MM primary set with you summoning 3 different tiers of angels. (Maybe if you expanded the base, it could work. A divine MM summoning angels, devas, and kami perhaps? That still makes no sense though....)

I don't like PvP and would rather the devs spent their time elsewhere. There. Said it. (Edit again: Just because someone pops onto a thread and says they don't want it to exist doesn't invalidate the thread. It just means that person or persons are not being particularly helpful on the thread. They need to at least say why they oppose something, and the reason needs to be rational.) I don't think I need to re-iterate my feelings on PvP for the umpteenth and a half time. However, PvP'ers are also CoX players and do need consideration too. So if something can be implemented that makes PvP more fun and gets more people to do it? Good for you, I'll do my best to help you come up with whatever it is. If something can be implemented that somehow makes people like me willing to do PvP? Consider me suitably flabbergasted and ready to adore the ground you walk on. (Edit: Seriously. I just might go find where you live and steal some of your lawn or sidewalk to worship.) The problem with PvP is also what is good about PvP. The people. In PvP, you have to face an opponent that knows not to just run into your tar patch or bonfire. You can't rely on AI stupidity to get you by. And lets face it, there is a LOT of AI stupidity helping players like me get by. Actively thinking about how to use your powers is good and can be rather fun. Dealing with the people is also the problem. I don't have mobs standing over me emoting things like 'teabags <character name>' when I lose in PvE. And that is just to keep the example civil. So if you want to expand the PvP base by roping in PvE'ers? I really don't see it happening. I wish you the best of luck, but I just don't see it happening. While adding PvE content like a Jade Spider event or anything else in that line may work to get PvE'ers in there once or twice, you will quickly see them either trying to catch the event when they think there won't be PvP'ers or simply stop going. Like the Praetorian events. Those are mostly abandoned. They are good events! Doesn't stop them from being ignored. I will give you any feedback and ideas I can when it comes to adding PvP content or making PvP seem a little more enticing to PvE'ers if you want. However, it will be done so with the awareness that it is not likely to accomplish the stated goal. And not because the requested content is bad, but because the PvP-PvE divide has become so deeply ingrained in so many people that it is less an uphill battle and more like trying to rope the sun with a daisy bracelet. Especially with the dichotomy of how powers work between the two. Sorry for this comment derailing the purpose of this thread.

As far as I know, all TFs/SFs allow inviting others from outside the zone, but not start. All members must be in zone to start. And rogues and vigilantes must be on correct side to be invited. So no inviting that filthy rogue for a Posi' until (s)he becomes a good rogue by being blue side. Same thing for scumbag vigilantes blue side until they become freed vigilantes by being in a red zone for an Ice Mistral. Edit: Except for Mender Silos who insists only heroes and vigilantes do his TF and only villains and rogues do his SF.

*points to own edit acknowledging the existence of bombardment attacks that can already be used indoors/underground*

They have that and an airstrike power in CO. Makes for a rather odd experience when you use them indoors or underground. So, nice idea, but I'm against it for the 'how is that getting through to the targets?' question using it would elicit. Edit Then again, we already have the Warburg rockets and they hit whereever, so... whatever.

This is already possible. On the very rare occasions I ventured into a PvP zone on Live and did not immediately leave seething, I actually saw heroes and villains engaging in 1 on 1 and 2 on 1 (with agreement) fights. It was a rare sight, usually I saw 8 on 1 gank jobs, but it did happen. (Edit: And if I was on my MM and a pair of heroes challenged me and no one else jumped in, I would even fight them from time to time.)

Hammer space. Using purses. Sounds good to me!

Dang it, @arcane. I was about to make a cats and dogs living together, end of world is happening right now comment, and you went and dashed it.... 😄

As much as I hate PvP, I'll throw my hat into the ring and see how badly everyone tries to crucify me. Okay, here goes.... 1) Go back to the Rock-Paper-Scissors approach CoX's PvP used to be. If you have protection against something, you retain it even in PvP. The magnitude of protection can be cut in half or to 1/4 so mezzers have a chance against brutes and tankers, but otherwise kill the two-versions of powers dependent upon where you are schtick. 2) If you are subject to the PvP timer, you may neither attack another player nor be attacked by another player until the timer finishes counting down to 0. I don't PvP, so I don't know if that is how the timer already works. I am just covering my bases. 3) For those that seem to love the Jade Spider and want it to be a GM, throw it into its actual zone. An event where the Jade Spider is no longer the unique entity only accessible through Lord Nemesis... I mean... Mender Silos... but is a true GM that spawns in Siren's Call for up to 1 hour or its destruction, whichever comes first. Not to occur more than once every 4 hours since last despawn/destruction. Red side players would see it as an ally while blue side players see it as an enemy. (No badge since it is allied with players dependent on their current faction. Instead, it can award 6 or so merits.) If you want to make it a dual-side protection gig, then the Jade Spider is out to destroy an armed Longbow construct of some type in the zone. Maybe a platform not far from the base is being developed into a forward operating base in the zone and the newly rebuilt Jade Spider is sent to destroy it. Heroes get the merits for destroying the Jade Spider while villains get the merits for destroying the construction. As I've said on multiple occasions, I detest PvP and started playing CoH because it had no PvP element at the time. However, this is my ha'penny of thoughts on the matter. (If only because I think they are worth at least more than a red cent....)