Rudra

As opposed to giving the players on the less populated servers what they want? Or the players on Everlasting that like not logging onto the red Excelsior server? Merging Everlasting and Excelsior would drive Excelsior beyond what the server can handle. That's the reason for multiple servers, to reduce strain on the servers and give players places to play.

Definite agreement. I've said multiple times that I have no stake in this and was instead trying to point out fallacies in provided arguments. So now I would like to state how annoying it is that I am in a position where I am defending the opposing voices for the OP. So I'm going to break down my stance and hopefully put this to bed. 1) The OP is not an alternate animation request. It is a request to change how the powers themselves work. Changing the request to that would have been fine with me. (And I would have basically disappeared from the thread at that point.) 2) Arguing that the Nova and Dwarf forms are part of the lore and so should remain is not a derailment of the topic. It is an argument by the person(s) making the argument to not have them changed. 3) The Kheldians' lore stipulates they are transforming into a previously bonded race to use those races' abilities. So transforming into those races makes sense just like requiring a ranged weapon to use a ranged weapon power set, a shield to use a shield power set, a melee weapon to use a melee weapon power set, and a gun/claw backpack to use gun/claw backpack powers makes sense. 4) Deciding that established game lore is nonsense because it does not line up with a suggestion/request is an invalid counter. This is a MMORPG after all. The lore is the game. 5) The Nova and Dwarf forms are not the player's character and never were. They were previous characters in the Kheldian's very long existence that the Kheldian transforms the character into for whatever task the player decides it is needed for. So it does not make sense to transform into the current host form from the current host form. 6) The argument that NPC Kheldians use Nova and Dwarf abilities while in human form is false because they are using Peacebringer/Warshade standard abilities (even if 1 of them is a merged form of multiple defensive powers) plus their own unique dev assigned power(s). And a simple comparison of what those powers do against the PC Kheldian powers list shows that. 7) Citing a being from another franchise's universe that has to the best of my knowledge no similarities to the Kheldians for why Kheldians should ignore their established lore is a false argument. That character does not follow Kheldian lore because that character is not a Kheldian. And again, this is a lore-based game and the Kheldians have extensive lore established on them including how and why their powers work the way they do. Edit: Oh yeah: 8 ) Per how the lore reads, if the Nova and/or Dwarf were to have the option of being changed, it would also entail a new set of powers for that new form. Because again, the Kheldian character is transforming into a previously bonded race, and the reason why they transform into Nova and Dwarf forms is to make use of those races' abilities. I'm in favor of more options, believe it or not. I prefer to support things like power customization. The issue I have with the OP and this thread in general are the arguments being made. Like I already told someone else, I had no intentions of taking sides in this debate, I was arguing the arguments. However, it is those same arguments that have drawn me into opposition to the OP. The insistence that the lore does not matter blows my mind. How does the lore not matter in a RPG? How can someone who claims to play and enjoy HEATs not know the lore of those ATs when the game walks you through most of it and claim that all that lore and the missions establishing it mean nothing? What kind of argument is that? Given past precedent, I'm willing to bet my stance is still clear as mud to everyone else on these forums. But there they are.

Those are alternate animations. For a power set that does not belong to an AT that is itself defined with a very specific story. Yes, those are coming from different locations of the player chosen model. Kheldians are not such openly generic characters. Their powers are defined by their lore. That lore specifies transformations. Not power origin points. If you want to ask for the Nova to use alternate animations for their attacks? Or the Dwarf? That would fall in line with what you are arguing. So instead of wherever the Nova's attacks normally come from, they come from a different part of the Nova's body. Or they have a different appearance when the Nova fires the attack. That would be in line with what you are posting here. Or if the Nova's or Dwarf's bodies could be colored differently instead of just their auras, that would fall in line with what you are posting here. The better argument for what you are trying to say is the ongoing request for MM pet customizations to allow for different pets to be used. That would fall in line with what is being argued in this thread. (Edit: Though even the MM pet customization requests isn't a full match either. Because MMs lack the establishing lore Kheldians have defining them. However, it would at least be a better argument.)

Because she isn't a Kheldian. A Psychic Armor/Construct like that, or whatever that character is using, is a novel idea. Simon in Champions uses a psychic power set like that for instance, and it annoyed me in CO that we couldn't use the same power set. So go ahead and pitch it as an armor set or whatever. Kheldians however are already defined for what they are. And that is a shapeshifting energy race that bonds with another race to extend their lives. And the Nova form power even says the character transforms into an energy beast. Not that it powers up the human form, that it is a complete transformation. The lore states that energy beast as described by the power is a previous race the Kheldian bonded with. Again, a full on transformation, not a simple power up. That character you are showing me isn't transformed. She is manifesting a power shell around herself. That is not the same thing. Hells, if players want the tentacle powers they were using in those unofficial comics, request those be added to the Kheldian power sets. By all means. However, even in those comics, Horus went Nova form to fight as a Nova. (Edit: So those tentacle blasts still won't be as powerful an attack as the Nova possesses.)(Edit again: Hells, while I don't remember those comics very well, it seemed less like a powered up attack and more an attempt to catch the foe off guard with attacks from an unexpected source. That was maintained because Requiem showed he possessed the same abilities and Horus didn't want to be overwhelmed by multiple attacks at the same time.)

The point is that SoAs have to use the backpack to use Crab Spider attacks. Assault Rifle characters have to use a gun to shoot things. Kheldians have to use Nova to use Nova attacks and Dwarf to use Dwarf abilities. When it comes to the Kheldian PC, the bonded Kheldian and his/her/their presumed human host are using the Kheldian's full array of abilities in human form. If the Kheldian wants to use another race's abilities, like the more powerful Nova or more robust Dwarf, they have to shift to that other race. They are quite literally turning into something else. That something else is not as versatile as the bonded Kheldian in their human form, but that prior race the Kheldian turns into provides its advantages. If the Kheldian were to turn into absolutely anything else, it would not provide those same advantages. If players want more of the Kheldians' previous bonded races? Ask for them. If the devs are willing to invest the effort, they will get more of the previous races the Kheldians bonded with. What won't happen though, is a transformation into another form with its limited attacks/powers that is the same as the Kheldian's current bonded race's form. Because as far as the lore goes, it does not work that way. Kheldians are not Bio Armor characters mutating or shifting their focus for combat, they are fully transforming into a previously bonded species and using that species' abilities. Edit: Though more previous races for Kheldians is probably out of the question until the Changeling exploit is fixed.

You are so close to the point if you jumped you would crush it under the weight of that thick head of yours That none of the NPC Kheldians use Nova or Dwarf abilities without transforming any more than player Kheldians do? Or that none of the NPC Kheldians that I know of even use the transformations and instead just use human form mode for their combat? Other than the named Novas in the ITF Hard Mode and Sister Valeria's story arc which don't use human form at all.

Are they using Nova or Dwarf without transforming? Or are they using their Nictus powers and are more powerful because they are AVs? (It's because they are AVs.) And War Wolves aren't using Dwarf strength. They don't even have a complete Nictus in them to be able to tap into a Nictus recalled form transformation. Just a shard that is being used to amplify their physical strength. The Kheldians players play are using their full force too. And they even amplify that force with the help of enhancements. However, they aren't AVs. Just like a Psychic Blast Blaster uses their full force, but Penelope Yin and Clockwork King hit harder. They have the advantage of being AVs/Heroes. Edit: And the Galaxies aren't using Nova powers. They are using Nictus powers. For instance: Galaxy Archon Warshade Gravimetric Snare Gravimetric Snare (T3) Shadow Blast Shadow Blast (T5) Gravity Well Gravity Well (T9) Sunless Mire Sunless Mire (T7) Essence Drain Essence Drain (T10) Star Punch Does not have a matching power even in Dwarf or Nova (Go Council) Shadow Slip Shadow Slip (T10 secondary) Stygian Circle Stygian Circle (T8 secondary) Stygian Return Stygian Return (T12 secondary) Umbral Shield Is all Warshade shield powers merged. Not even Dwarf has a match. Absorption Absorption (T1 secondary) Edit again: Arakhn: Ebon Eye Ebon Eye (T2) Gravimetric Snare T3 Gravity Well T9 Essence Drain T10 Gravitic Emanation T11 Quasar Does not having a matching power even in Dwarf or Nova Stygian Circle T8 secondary Inky Aspect Inky Aspect (T11 secondary) Resistance It's good to be an AV, isn't it?

You are not reporting a bug. This should be posted on the Suggestions and Feedback forum. (Edit: You can also turn off the buffs applied to you. It's been a while, but I believe you right click the buff icon and select cancel. While that won't stop the buff from disrupting emotes, it will take them away.) (Edit again: You can also ask the buffing player to stop buffing you if it is a ST buff. And they are supposed to stop.)

SoAs do have to use the Crab Spider backpack to use their Crab Spider attacks. (Edit again: And Arachnos Widows have to use Arachnos Widow Claws with that extendable blade for their melee attacks.) Kheldians do not have to transform into a generic model to use their powers, they use them in human form. They have to transform to a Nova to use the Nova's more powerful attacks and they have to transform into a Dwarf to use the Dwarf's abilities. Their own abilities? Nope, they can use as many of the 14/13 powers as their 24 power slots allows them to, with 1 of the 14 and 1 of the 13 being transformations into another species that provide their own abilities. The lore says that they merged with multiple races over their existences. However, the devs did not provide those other races with their respective powers to PC Kheldians. Most likely because that would be a huge undertaking. And even if they did, they would not provide the same powers as the Nova or Dwarf. (Edit: And who knows how many of those other races provided no combat abilities to the bonded Kheldian? "You are a good host! Let us see what you can do! ... ... ... I see you can bleed and die... with your only ability being to spit a harmless glob 3 feet away... ... You are still a good host! I will not age or die while in your body and that is more important!") You are correct. Per the lore, the Kheldians should have a great number of forms to choose from. (Edit: Though that does not mean those previous races' bodies were any good in combat without the Kheldian using his/her/their own attacks instead. And Kheldians have no need to transform into those bodies to use their attacks/abilities, because they are already using their own attacks/abilities in the player's character.) The problem with that being making all those forms with their respective powers. And maybe the reason why the Kheldians retain their Nova and Dwarf forms is because they are more similar to the Kheldians than more organic forms. I don't know, just guessing here. The practical reason is that making all those races the Kheldians merged with is a massive ask. The possible lore reason may be form compatibility after separation. Edit: And even if any given PC Kheldian had merged with humans prior to that player's current PB/WS character, they still would not use a transformation to turn into a human. Because the only thing the human race offers them is a safe harbor as a host body with no innate racial abilities that would help them fight. And even if they did for some reason choose to transform into a previous host human, they would still be using the exact same powers as that player's current character. For no benefit. No increase in power. No increase in durability. No anything. So that would be a wasted transformation. And transforming into the current character makes no sense because they can't bond multiple times to a single host. So the human form would be the only form for that character. No transformations that retained that character's appearance.

Look at it this way: If you were to change the Kheldians so that your specific Kheldian never bonded with a Nova (whatever their race is called) or a Dwarf (whatever their race is called), then you will not get their powers. You want a lizard form instead of Nova? Okay, but then the Nova's Blast, Bolt, Detonation, and Scatter powers go away. Instead you get whatever natural abilities that lizard race had. You want a human instead of a Nova? Okay, you are another race after the human and you get to use the human's powers. So... uhm... Brawl.... Changing the Nova and Dwarf changes what powers those powers add.

If you're going to quote people, then don't change what they said. Remove what doesn't apply, sure, but don't change what was posted. Otherwise it isn't a quote. Those are fighting games. Using well established characters that are immediately recognized by a large number of individuals that are by no means balanced against/to each other. Having Superman fight Batman without any kryptonite is simply a dead Batman, and that makes for a very poor fighting game. This is an MMORPG where you aren't playing pre-established characters from DC, Marvel, or any other franchise. So there is no need to nerf one character into the ground for a 'fair' fight against another in a fighting game. Then ask for more cosmetic options for your character. Novas and Dwarfs though? Those aren't your character. Those are previous beings that your bound Kheldian remembers enough to be able to assume their form. No, your request was to be able to transform and use the powers without transforming. Previous threads asked to be able to change what previous races their Kheldian had bonded with. Not even. Kheldians have 14 primary powers. Of those 14 primary powers, 1 is Bright Nova or Dark Nova. Bright Nova adds 4 attacks you do not have to devote power selections to. Even if you count the Nova form power itself with the Nova form attacks, that becomes 5 of 18. 4 of which were already available to the Kheldian without taking Nova, they just require power selections. Kheldians have 13 secondary powers. Dwarf has 4 powers. Even if you count the added powers from Dwarf, that makes it 5 of 17 powers. So not even close to half.

Just because you don't like what is being said does not render it nonsense. The game's lore drives a lot. Why the Freakshow are the way they are. Why Crey is the way it is. Where Arachnos comes from and why they do what they do. Where the Kheldians come from, what they did before they got here as a race, why they did what they did before getting to Primal Earth, why they hate the Nictus, why the Nictus focus so much effort on them, and even why they need hosts on Primal Earth. And to change or ignore that is to throw out a massive part of what explains the game and makes it what it is.

Kheldians have an established story for them. Bio Armor does not. Kheldians have specific enemies hunting them that only show up for the Kheldians except in a single mission that I know of where they can be found by others. Kheldians give players the ability to build their characters from 14 primary powers (not counting the added powers from Nova) and 13 secondary powers (not counting added powers from Dwarf), while Bio Armor characters get the standard 9 and 9. So how does Bio Armor invalidate the Kheldian HEATs?

Yes. It is explained in the Kheldian lore. No, it wouldn't, because where the Kheldians went is defined in the lore. What races were there and why they used them as hosts is defined in the lore. So to change those past hosts requires you to change the lore. Edit: It's like us looking at a wolf. Most people can't at a glance tell any differences between two grey wolves. The same goes for the Nova and Dwarf forms. They may have a wide variety of differences, but those differences are invisible to us because of lack of familiarity/understanding.

Not arguing that either. All I am saying is that not all powers are divorced from their appearances. Some still require specific alterations to the character, be it a wielded weapon or a shield. Those requirements have a variety of options for what models they use, and so what appearances they have, but they still have that requirement. Edit: And as far as VEATs and their costume pieces go? Uhm, yes they are. They are still limited to the single Crab Spider backpack if they have any builds on that character that have Crab Spider abilities. (Edit again: We have the option of color changing the backpack, but we are still required to have the backpack.) Edit yet again: And as far as the Kheldians go? I would like to point out the obvious. The character's human form is the current character. The Nova and Dwarf are previous hosts from a specific planet where there wasn't the sheer variety of races like on Earth. One of the races, the Nova I think, is from a gas giant. So you shouldn't get to change the Nova or Dwarf based on the lore because those were past hosts. Not defined by the character, but defined by what the Kheldians did before getting to Earth.

Except as you yourself said in this post, they are not just cosmetic options. You literally have to enable another suite of powers that you stack on top of the suite of powers your human form is using. The human form has its own version of everything the Nova form and Dwarf form have. So you can very much play a human form only and get access to all the same powers. I don't have a stake in this argument because I won't play a Kheldian. So I'm not arguing in favor of or against the OP. I'm letting others with a stake do that. All I am doing is pointing out that you are not asking for a minimal FX option, you are asking for how the power works to be changed. You can't use a particles effect slash command to make the Nova or Dwarf go away, so they won't go away with a minimal FX option. They can only go away if the power itself is changed, not the associated animation(s). I'm not going to argue the merits of having a separate Nova or Dwarf form appearance. On that argument, all I am saying is it is not a derailment of the thread to argue whether or not having those appearances is required or not.

Sort of. Weapon attacks still call for weapons and shields still call for shields. And Kheldians get as much variety in their main (human) form as any other character. So they can still be any race currently, but their previous hosts were not so diverse in appearance. (Edit: And SoA Crab Spiders are still required to get that one Crab Spider backpack no matter what. They just get a color change option for it.)

The point was that the forms are their appearances. Like you said, the human form has the same powers. So the forms are basically just the appearances with some modifications to the character's stats. (Higher damage for Nova and higher resist for Dwarf, I think.) Edit: So the argument wasn't a derailment. It was an argument against taking away the forms' appearances.

While not the same as what you are saying, the OP is functionally the same. For instance, if you craft a Judgement power and a Side Branch 1 power, you can either slot that Judgement or you can slot that Side Branch 1 power, but you can't slot both. So it would still for all intents and purposes be an instead of power.

The author has stated (s)he/they already play on the most populated server.

It's not meant to penalize you for going to the hospital. As best I can remember, it works this way so there aren't players earning badges or mission rewards for content that they weren't present for. For that matter, even entering the mission isn't enough. In my experience, you have to be in the mission for an unspecified amount of time while it is being done to earn credit. I've been on teams that just fast completed missions for TFs while I was still enroute to the mission. So I would finally reach the mission door as they finished and exited. That's xp and inf' I didn't get. A few times, that was a badge I didn't get. Sometimes, I would finally reach the mission, get inside, and start racing down the halls to get caught up, and the mission is over. No xp. No inf'. And if the mission had a badge, no badge. To be fair though, I did miss most or all of the mission. (Though there were team members other than me that also had Recall Friend. So them recalling me and any others not at the mission yet would have been greatly appreciated.) And there were other members that on a few missions were asking for Awakens or a rez, were told to just hosp', and the team finished the mission while they were at the hospital or on their way back from the hospital, denying them any reward. I tend to view that more as sucky teams being unwilling to wait for anyone than bad game design though. However, I do understand your frustration.

Yes, visiting a tailor and changing your character to either of the other character model types is a model change. The difference is that changing into a Nova Form Kheldian or a Dwarf Form Kheldian is a power instituted model swap. And those powers change what model is used and what animations are used. That isn't a VFX. (Though I believe someone told me that the Dwarf Form's attacks do use the same animations as the human, so there is that.) Someone way more knowledgeable on Kheldians would really need to be the one to answer, but you aren't talking about changing VFX for the Nova. You are talking about changing how the Bright Nova/Dark Nova powers work.

It could always be done, just under specific circumstances as best I can remember. For instance, there were players that would use this to knock other players off the tops of buildings or window ledges while waiting for Magisterium trials to start. I'm not sure what the trigger is, because normally players block other players, but it has been a thing even as far back as Live.

To the best of my knowledge, there can't be a minimal FX version of Nova or Dwarf forms to maintain a human appearance, because those aren't just VFX. Those are complete model replacements. So basically, if you want to use Nova attacks and Dwarf attacks, and the human form already has those attacks, you are going to be limited to using human form if you want to maintain a human appearance.

What? Why?!