Diantane

When LIVE first started everyone just had training, dual origin and single origin enhancements (possibly a HAMI if they did a very tough set of missions). Today many players use special enhancements that give them "sets" of buffs. Since I don't play a toon much past 50 (if I even get there at all), sets are worthless to me. So I always play "old school." Note: I'm 69 years old so I guess I'm an old dog that can't learn new tricks 🙂

Instead they "skim" the post. Not reading most of it and trying to formulate a response from very little information and usually get it all wrong. They just read "this" and then "this" and maybe "this" and then reply. Good luck with that.

Every controller that I played before this one had the ability to lock down the mobs with immobilization, sleep, etc. , but the creatures could still attack you at range. The Darkness controller's power to do this is "Living Shadows" available at level 2. I have it slotted with two single origin accuracy and one immobilization enhancements. According to MIDS, this gives me an accuracy of 125% and a duration of 37.24 seconds. That is of course.... if it worked. This power is definitely broken as it either does nothing at all or lasts less than a second. Now all controllers also get a stronger controlling power with a long 240 second base recharge; so it can't be using every time. On this controller that power is "Shadow Field" which is not available until level 22. But all it does is disorient the mob for a few seconds (which is just enough time for the team to run in and start attacking). The problem with all controllers is that they "can not" perform the alpha (first engagement to the mob). It doesn't matter in I use any lockdown or secondary power, they will retaliate and kill me every time. So I always had to wait for someone else to take the alpha. Here's where the Dark/Dark controller changes everything in the game after level 18 when they get "Haunt." I've seen many controllers use this power but just like any other one. They just keep spamming their powers with no purpose. However sometimes the team would be going through a cave and for some reason, they usually skip the side passages and go straight (thinking that they can skip most of the map), but always have to run all the way back. I never follow the tank. I always go up the side passages on my own. But what can I do as a controller? I reach a large mob. There's no one backing me up. Its just me. I simply cast Haunt at one of the creatures (an incredible dual pet range of 80 ft). This does not make the rest of them retaliate towards me. Their full attention is on the two shades that are attacking them. Then I hit them with "Darkest Night" which affects the entire group and is on a toggle. This power has had three single origin to-hit debuffs in it since level 8. So at this level, they just can't harm the shades or me. So I can take my time killing them even if the shades disappear (they did their job taking the alpha). Later when I train the Umbra Beast and slot it with 2 acc, 3 dam and one recharge single origin, they start doing "fair" damage as long as I keep them healed. If another thermal or cold domination teammate is around, they can put a shield on the Umbra Beast (yes it does work as I can see when I look at their attributes. They have an innate resistances as well). So if you play this controller correctly, you can easily solo with them -- with just SO's. (we were playing at a dif of +3)

Or the shades? Does anyone know how long these creatures will be visible after summoned?

So often I see players running across the map to train when they don't have to. I've been training at the mission or wherever I am for years. The first thing I did was to make sure there was a training NPC, vendor and nurse in my SG. Then I get the Long Range TP Accolade (there's a YouTube video showing how to get it). I get it at level 1 or 2 on every alt. Then when I need to train, I first go to the mission. Then click on the Long Range TP button, then select supergroup base. When I get there I train, buy enhancements and inspirations. Then run out the exit and I'm at the mission ready to go!

I was just joking about going to another account. I started looking for other games to play months ago. Like the game Satisfactory was released in September. I played the early access for over 5,000 hours (over 5 years). Usually play that during the mornings. There will be a time when any thought of this game from me and any memory of you seeing me appear within this forum or game will disappear. I stirred up the forums and game when players made Asherons Call into an emulator after it was canceled. Discussions got so heated that I left never to return; years ago. That time is quickly approaching here.

When choosing a controller you have to pick a secondary that complements the primary some way (not one that just adds more powers to over support the team. If you did that, you wouldn't have enough time to do both the Primary and Secondary at the same time. Like if you picked any primary and took empathy, pain, poison, etc. Those secondaries require so many actions that you won't have the ability to control at the same time. Like i made an Electric controller and augmented it with Cold Domination. This is because all I have to do with the secondary is buff the shields on the team every 4 minutes and use the other powers occasionally. If I picked a theme like Fire Control and Thermal, I would be too busy healing players that I wouldn't have time to control anything. I've made and failed several controllers because of this. Had to really think it through as I couldn't just pick any combination.

Actually I still play "Lord of the Rings Online" and that is 17 years old. They still make expansions for it (another just came out). Just no expansions on this game since 2004 (City of Villains) or in this emulator.

In that case I'll log on with my other account or maybe make a 3rd, 4th or 10th. By the way. How many of the trolls on this post actually play the game? I've heard from some that said they haven't played in years.

Actually I was online with a team on Friday evening for 7 hours and 22 minutes straight. Not farming. We were doing arcs in Striga, IP and TV

Can remember the LFG chat area being extremely busy a couple years ago. Today even at peak times there's barely a message going by. I figured that it would pick up over the weekends. Not anymore. So I look at the server population. Here it is Monday morning. Not going to be many on at this time. Maybe a couple hundred on Excelsior. Then I look at the population of other MMO's this morning: World of Warcraft 325,612 Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn 447,398 Baldur's Gate III: 310,204 Old School RuneScape: 272,713 Path of Exile: 176,929 Warframe: 168,712 There are hundreds of mmo's these days and the gaming population of the world have moved on to the most popular of them. Twenty five years ago, there were only three mmo's - Asheron's Call, Sierra Online and Everquest I used to make a new character (alt) on COH and get others to run the arcs. I'd be level 50 in 2-3 days. This Saturday and Sunday evening I can't find one player. Unless you play solo, this emulator is done for most.

Thought that this was a good idea for a defense: that foes in melee range would attack others instead of yourself. But it only worked for a second or two in low level areas of the Hollows. Even with two accuracy single origin enhancements on it, it never worked again. Had to re-spec it out.

That takes 2-3 hours. My way takes 60-75 minutes (the 'fastest" way to 19). I've done dfb hundreds of times and never gotten to level 8 unless you do it twice (takes too long).

Young controllers against +4 foes have a tough time actually landing a hold power on them. Unless they have at least two Single Origin accuracy \ enhancements on ever controlling power. Almost every young player that I've spoken to don't use enhancements at all until level 25. I always start using SO's at level 7.

Went through my alts and found a level 14 brute. By the looks of his missions he was doing KR stuff. Once they get to 19 or 20 I can level them fairly quickly, but at this level its gonna be slow. So I abandoned him and restarted a new brute with the same primary and secondary. Led a team on "Death from Below" which gets you to level 6 or 7 and a minor buff (I always take endurance). Then I go to the Hollows and lead a team through two outside and two inside missions at +2. Then we do the Flux missions at +3 (Frostfire at +4). This gets you to level 19 (in about an hour - if you don't have a team with more than one controller) and there are lots of good missions from here. Note: Did Frostfire once with four controllers on the team. It took 4.5 hours to complete. Never again.