Gerswin

I made a DP/Devices blaster that completely skipped all but the initial primary power picks and just doubled down on devices, taking and slotting every power. He was situationally pretty decent.

It runs completely painlessly for me using Lutris on Mint Cinnamon, and frankly think it runs better on Linux than Windows. I ended up with a half dozen each of 2018ish AMD laptops and barebones desktops with wiped SSDs after covid, and I use them for everything gaming, entertainment, business, and kids education that my windows desktops can do. I don't think I will ever purchase a Windows, Office, or Acrobat license again. Honestly, the only time I have ever had trouble getting CoH to run was on newer windows laptops, and the issues are related to DirextX, OpenGL, and the odd defaulting to integrated graphics. I (knock on wood) have never had even the slightest hiccup on any of my (14 and counting) Linux installations.

I have about 90 toons that have not been played because they are due for a respec after the previous round of nerfs/changes and I haven't had the time to do the respecs. This round will probably put another 50-60 on the shelf. I know I have more alts than most players, and I probably hate respecs more than most as well, but these changes just seem unnecessary and unfocused. I loved the recent patch with all of the new content, but then this patch is such a downer. I have very little faith in the powers devs and their bait-and-switch tactics of releasing a powerful set like marine mastery, giving me time to make 20 of them, and then nerfing the fun away.

Overall this is my new favorite TF in the game, soundly beating out Aeon for first place with Tin Mage in third. This feedback is based on normal (not advanced mode) tf completion. Design aspects I liked, in no particular order: -Mission objectives are clear and their completion status is well communicated -Maps are mostly well designed (possible exception is bottom floor Arachnos map from mission 2) and easy to navigate -Lots of smashing robots and opportunities to use all types of powers. Knockback, repel, and even caging/phasing are very useful. Definitely not just fold space into patch and nuke like many other tf's. -Range of damage types and resistances so no powerset is needed and all can contribute. -dialogue is funny and engaging -Immersive use of enemies. not just a bunch of random rooms filled with groups of mobs. It really feels like you are invading a well defended base -Great AV fights. Especially on last mission at+5, strategy is needed. Can't just "Cowabunga!" and bum rush Nemesis. Incoming damage with venged up mobs will shred most tanks, so AV fights are balanced offensive/defensive, not just a pure DPS check Design aspects I don't care for -Not a big fan of cutscenes, but at least they are short Implementation aspects that could use some care -Mobs that must be defeated to secure computer can spawn in ceiling/off map in mission 2 of Arachnos map. Can be frustrating to target/find them, especially with the incoming cannon damage. Not sure how to fix this. -Nemesis duplicates can get knocked into geometry so that it is difficult to knock them off the train, Maybe give them tp mechanic like Midas in last mission of Aeon to periodically put them back in play

If you don't have a few hundred billion in outstanding lowball bids for high value items, you aren't even really playing the game.

I agree with you. I would like a third leg of Tinpex with a DD vibe, although preferably not exclusively Banished Pantheon. There is so much cool lower level Gold/First/Nightward art and enemies that I think it deserves a TF, much like the Emperor's sword arc. However, since Praetoria is "dead" , in terms of adding new lower level story arcs, I think the assets could be used the way they were for Tin Mage and Apex as a primal crossover. I am not really concerned about the lore or story, more the maps, art, gameplay, and ambience.

Tin Mage and Apex are very popular endgame content. The Praetorian aesthetic aspect is fantastic. The rewards and challenge level are great. I would love to see a third tf with similar design (hard AVS, locked at 54, itrial-like mechanics, based in RWZ, no cutscenes, no tedious hide-and-seek maps) but using the more... occult aspects of Praetoria for the enemy types as well as overall vibe. I would love to see what the devs and writers come up with, but this is an example of the concept I am looking for: The invasion/counterattack described in Tinpex was countered, but Primal earth is not safe from Praetoria. The Circle of Thorns (or another occult enemy group) has opened a portal and started pulling Ghouls, Talons, and other Praetorian enemies to a staging base in the Rogue Isles on primal earth. Because Praetoria is dying and Primal earth is thriving, the increased life force on earth causes these otherwise low power enemy groups( to have higher (incarnate) power levels. The tf has 3 missions, the first is to protect a hero zone from an arcane attack, the second is to destroy the staging base in Nerva (or another Vil zone with cool maps) and the third mission is to travel to Night/First Ward and destroy the gate and prevent it from happening again. I am sure the writers could come up with something more interesting and nuanced, but I think an incarnate level tf fighting something other than robots (and Malta) would be a big hit, especially if the choice of mob factions encouraged a wider variety of damage types and resistance/defense options for players.

It is trendy to complain about fascists, but at least the trains ran on time. Not like the urine soaked habitually late transit service we have in Paragon City.

The whole "bathroom" problem has been solved.

There are tons of ways you can afk farm in both zone and instanced content, both native and AE, with masterminds and many other ATs. The only real benefit to doing it at the motel (or other busy ToT location) is that you can get the badges and associated prisms. That being said, the badges take about 20 minutes afk in an active ToT location, so day-long afkers are just being obnoxious. Avoiding the afkers is easy; just ToT somewhere else. If you really want to flex on them and claim the territory, though, drop a Kronos on them.

Gravity manipulation Powerset Power Level Effect Gravity Shield 1 Ally Buff +res(S/L), +def (all), +res(def debuff) Increase Gravity 1 Ranged, Minor DMG(smash), Foe immobilize, -res High Gravity Field 4 Location AOE (Foe -speed, -dam, -rech) Special Relativity 10 Team +DMG, +rech, +regen, res (tohit debuff) Event Horizon 16 Fold Space clone except AOE is large 90 degree cone Graviton Boost 20 Toggle: Self +Dam, +Recovery,+ regen +range Null Gravity 24 Team +range, +fly, res(slow), Resilient Dome 28 PBAOE Bubble, Team +res(all but psi), Foe -range Gravity Lord 30 Auto: Self +Hp, +Res(Taunt, fear, Disorient, Slow) I envision gravity manipulation as an offensive/utility focused powerset that focuses on team mobility, positioning mobs, and providing strong defense from physical (smash and lethal) attacks. I could imagine a slightly different version for controllers and masterminds but this is a very rough draft.

I could get on board with a revamped synapse and citadel. Posi was already revamped, and Numina and Manti are pretty short already. Aside from the ones mentioned, I am not sure if anything outside of the Shadow Shard (which is a different animal entirely) really needs a speedier alternate. Synapse in particular is the critical need, as the 15-20 level range is quite fun but lacking in tf options.

I keep rarely 'used' lvl 50 toons for testing. This is preferable to using the test server for me because then I can keep the drops and other rewards. I have 40-50 toons that are experimental in this way, but as it turns out there are a lot of things I like to test so they end up getting regular use... even if it is just to sitting with an attack on autofire to measure the impact of different buffs from other toons.

All redside strike forces and story arcs should be double merits for 30 days.

I would like to commend the devs for responsibly rejecting nearly all of the slop that is posted in this forum.