Ukase

I agree. Any of you read through the Q & A from the Paragon Studio devs? One of them quoted/paraphrased Positron (Matt) as saying players are always going to find a way to get as much as they can with as little time investment as possible. Something like that. Lower level players are always going to find a way to get more/faster xp. Higher level players are always going to find a way to get more/faster rewards. If the lower level player with speed boost can help the higher level stone tank who loves granite, then they're going to team up. What's that 10 dollar word...symbiotic? Now, I was in one of the fancy, schmancy Instanced MSRs the other day. And a level 2!!!! was in it. My greedy for VG Merits mind said, "Glad they're not on my team!" But, you know what - they died at least half a dozen times -which tells me they were trying, at least. (tho, I'm still glad they weren't on my team) If I want to run an MSR that's 35 and up, which I've done...the result is you only get about 20-30 players interested. It's enough, but the rewards aren't as good when you have a full league. So, there is an element of symbiosis there in allowing the lower level players, not so much leaching. And in the case of MSR - don't kid yourself - there's a number of level 50 players who openly (and proudly) confess to dropping their HVAS, targeting their HVAS and putting an attack on auto fire and coming back 29 minutes later. Are they leaching too? There are some ideas in this thread worth looking at and considering. Let's not throw the baby out with the bath water. First - we need to make a choice - do we want to be "City of Options", or "City of Equitable Contribution"? (truth be told, we're really City of Procs & Fold Space. Anyone not using both is just doing it poorly. Not wrong, just poorly. I AM KIDDING. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT. Just a joke, folks)

Damn, I already had one cup, now I want another!

In all seriousness, this term you use "well built combat-focused AT" that can carry a team on a +4/8 ITF. What do you mean by "carry" ? Are you essentially taking out all the surgeons and managing aggro at the same time? And dispatching with all the npcs while the other 7 are spamming you with Adrenaline Boost, speed boost and fort and overgrowth and fulcrum shift? You're right in one respect, if you can't do it, recruit more wisely. But, I like to think my characters are well built and combat focused - but I cannot carry 7 other players in +4/8 ITF - not that I've ever tried. That would so be out of character for me to even do an ITF in the first place at any setting. (I intensely dislike the yelling, but I love the crunch of my mace knocking heads, so turning off the volume isn't an option. I should really use the city modder!) Can you humor me and just elaborate what you mean by carry, so I don't suffer from inadequacy issues?

Fair enough. On retail, MSRs would from in RWZ. iTrials would form up in Pocket D and Dark Astoria. They only started forming up in Ouro because of Luna. (that's my thinking anyway) In the grand scheme of things, it doesn't matter. I was just curious (and a bit annoyed at having to type out someone's code to participate when they could have easily gone to some other co-op zone.)

I don't disagree. But I am eagerly awaiting a day when there is more information readily available within the game. Granted, for most of us, it seems kind of silly that someone interesting in finding out more wouldn't just hit the url links we give them when they ask. But one thing is clear to me: Relying on external sites for information is problematic. Eventually, the people running those sites will find something better to do. Then what? Go the HC Wiki that hasn't been updated in X years? (that's an example of what might be in the future - no reflection on current state) The forums here are also a treasure trove. It's just a shame the search feature is so quirky. It's probably just me, but I have better luck using Google than the forum search function.

There's just a tiny problem - or huge problem, depending on variables. Tackling a 4* cannot be done just willy nilly. For players that leveled up through content, this will almost certainly mean doing a respec and pursuing max recharge and max HP. It means blasters can't just AoE as they please - they have to exercise target control because we wouldn't want the kin's Fulcrum Shift to be any less than it could be, right? It means flight isn't really an option - because those that do this kind of content use the Teleport Pool. Because they kind of have to. If a null field is between you and your team and you're using teams of barrier casting, you can't just SS through the null field, but you can tp through it. And problems may occur if someone isn't arriving in the mission in time for barrier. Or for the incan to the spot for the next fight. SS is just too slow in some cases. SS is relegated for short trips within the mission, usually. It boggles my mind to think teams are now completing the 4* in less than 30 minutes, with under 5 defeats. (the duration is more impressive than the minimal defeats to me) These players are getting exceptional at getting the most out of team synergy with some of the crappiest builds for general content. A blaster with no fight pool; less than 10% defense, and only 5% resistance. A ton of damage. Capped HP, maybe. Proc'd to the gills. Damn near perma hasten. Fold space. All the good stuff. But that same character by themselves, they'd likely be dead against a level 7 hellion if exemplared. (I just made that up - no idea if it's true, just saying the builds I see succeeding in 4* are pure trash outside of incarnate buffs) It's ridiculous how they make it work. And I'm guilty of doing the respec to make my character pure trash, too. I'm looking forward to the next attempt at a 4*. But, no, the idea of revisiting...people are doing this now - in 3 months, those same people may have moved on to a different game or there may be a new patch with an advanced Atta mission where you have to clear the map before the tunnels collapse on top of you and that begins to get everyone's attention. Gotta strike while the iron is hot.

So, just to be 100 clear - Combat Attributes showed the defense boost from Maneuvers at 3.96% in one of my level 50 characters. In Maneuvers, I had an lotg 7.5%, and 3 pieces of a Shield Wall set. I took the level 50 def/recharge out, and replaced with a level 10 def/recharge in, and defense boost from maneuvers dropped from 3.96 to 3.92. So, they do not level up with you, sadly. This is why I use attuned for my level 7 characters, and then remove and replace with level 50's when they reach level 47.

Anyone beside me notice the strange sales of the pvp sector? I think it has something to do with the Advanced mode TFs - as Panacea, Shield Wall and Glad Armor sets share a common stat boost - +HP. The Glad Armor 5 piece gives 2.25%, as does a 3 piece of Shield Wall. The Panacea is a bit smaller, but also offers up some regen to go with it, not to mention the unique and it's goodness by itself. The supply seems to be less than 10 for more than a few of them. But they aren't selling instantly when offered cheaply. It has the look of a player who wants to "buy now!". What I can't make sense of is the player that is buying all the +HP/End Panaceas for 7.1M. Instant sales, those. I mean, it certainly seems like the same player, unless multiple people are offering the bid at the same odd number. What does one do with over 100 of these? I've done this myself before, just stashed the LotG 7.5% in my base, but I can use 5 of those at a time. Not just one, like the panacea unique. They don't seem to be relisting at a higher price. Eh, maybe they are just hoarding them. Fine by me. I'll keep selling.

There's definitely some precedent for this protecting players from themselves. For example, I can no longer sell a very rare recipe to a vendor (by mistake or otherwise) Simply remove any "attuned" purple with the fuzzy edges from the AH. Simply disallow the combination of a catalyst with a purple or pvp IO. If it needs to be said, we continue to allow the attuning of pvp IOs so lower levels can slot them, unlike the very rare (purple) enhancements which require you to be trained to 50.

In these forums, and the help chat, we get to read a lot. Some of it useful, some of it amusing (thank you Snarky) and some it is just plain wrong. Sometimes wrong is well-intentioned, but borne out of the poster's experience. They heard someone say/write X, and in their experience doing "X" seemed to be the right way to go. But, they have no idea half the players are doing something else. They all get the same thing accomplished. But some think their way is the right way. The only right way. Oh - that's another thread. Sorry. Don't attune purples or PvP IOs because they are attuned right out of the box. You can respec, or you can use unslotters, take out the attuned and replace with level 50 versions of the same enhancement. OR - and this may cause some of you to cry - just leave the attuneds in place and go about your merry way. Why make work for yourself? If you are considering the advanced mode tfs, then I would suggest you respec your character and use unattuned and boost your enhancements. If there's room for marginal improvements, take that room. Every bit helps. Or you can elect to use a 2nd build - one with boosted IOs, the other with attuned. In the AH, be reminded of Snarky's comment above. It's true. You'll notice the same sales history for the attuned as the unattuned. There are the same number of each for sale, with the same number of bidders. So, you can certainly sell your attuned. And when you try to buy the unattuned version of the same thing - hopefully, you'll get it back at the same price. But be careful. Sometimes, there aren't any more. And someone gobbles up your attuned version as soon as you list it, and you'll have to craft one from a recipe. It doesn't happen often, but it can happen.

The Church of Snarky has services routinely throughout the day.

So, beyond the scope of my post, but the character I was on was just grabbing the explores, but right at "badge 1" on the vidiotmaps list is a terminal. And I have a vague memory of a contact telling me to click on it...and retail has been ages ago, so I could easily be remembering something else. So, I set out to find General Hammond. And my level 44 character looked to be set to get some missions. I looked him up on the HC wiki - no story arc, just general missions. Well, I am about the merits, not the xp, so I passed. But he did intro me to Dr. Boyd. Same scenario. Just one-off missions, no arc. So, I passed. I can grasp why this area goes ignored. It's nice to visit, but the idea of hopping from island to island to complete an arc...well, that's bound to get old once the mission tp and team tp need a recharge. But, if it were a short arc, 3-4 missions for X merits or so, yeah, I'd probably explore that at least a few times. Given the reasons a lot of players do radios, the shard just isn't suited for those folks - as they want to avoid caves and have the maps fairly close together so there's little down time - I don't think this would likely get a lot of attention. But, it doesn't hurt to ask or suggest it, so I did. But as far as fun goes - that's subjective. I think a new arc could at least be interesting, if not fun. Again, doesn't hurt to suggest it.

I realize I'm not the first one to make this suggestion. At least, I wouldn't think so, but have we considered a path that makes sense for the Shadow Shard to be co-op? I am not saying this should be a priority. But somewhere on the queue of things to do, I wonder if it would be feasible for a story arc or two to take advantage of all this space? Well, some of it. Also - I noticed when grabbing the explorations, I didn't get any tips, which I would get if I were in Paragon or the Rogue Isles. It could be it was never designed to get tips on purpose - no idea there. But perhaps it just got overlooked.

I do agree with one thing - freeze ray on the sentinel should be a hold, not a sleep. Other than that, I think it's just fine. I initially thought you were comparing Sentinel Ice to other Sentinel fire. Comparing to blaster ice is comparing apples to oranges. Both might be tasty, but they're supposed to be different. Don't discount the Sentinel inherent. It is a debuff that goes unnoticed by the npc. It allows for your attacks to deliver more bang. The recent revamp which allowed this is nothing short of great creativity. It was hard for me to understand it at first, because it's not obvious how the opportunity is built - until you're told, or find the info in the forums, and then you smack your forehead in a Homer Simpson fashion.

Can you elaborate a smidge? I thought Life Insurance reduced the debt you acquire when defeated. I would think this is the last thing you'd want when you're heading off to Monster Island to sacrifice yourself to the GMs as many times as it takes to get the Unbroken Spirt/Undaunted badge. Patrol XP is generally what I use to gobble up the debt ahead of time. You have me confused - and I'll confess, other than for badges, a typically avoid mayhem/safeguard because there are no merits involved. The Steel Canyon temp is nice, an extra ATT for a few days. And having extra HP or recovery, always nice. But debt protection? I don't see the utility there.

Props on the designs for the "show" within the base. Really nice!

Just out of curiosity - why are people staging MSRs from their sg base? Recruiting tool? It really is inconvenient. Why not ouro or pocket d or even echo plaza?

I have run a few of these kinds of teams, where we avoid all things from p2w/START vendor that cost influence. If it's free, go ahead, but nothing you pay for, and no 2xp buff. You do enough of these, it becomes the new normal and you don't really miss the faster xp rate. At least, I didn't. Definitely no need to split things up; we can choose to avoid it if we want to.

Could you elaborate on this? The most inefficient way of attaining influence suggests there is a "most efficient", doesn't it? One could argue marketing is the most efficient. But you don't get xp from marketing, no matter how good you are at doing so. I'm a bit obtuse, so not real sure what you're saying here.

I really thought Rebirth would've been the go-to. But I do see the benefit of ageless. Barrier? For the gm phase, right? I thought defense and resistance meant zip to Hamidon.

Most of my characters will start with 0 and earn their way to getting kitted out as they level. Some of my characters start with a billion, blow through about 50M for start up stuff, and then recoup the investment plus some as they level. Just depends on my mood at the time. They pretty much all get 6% Kismet, 3% steadfast, 3% glad armor, 5% shield wall, 4pt blessing of the zephyr, +recovery miracle, +HP/End Panacea, and as many perf shifter +end and Power transfer Chance for self heal as I can fit in them. Additionally, as many lotg 7.5% as I can fit. Ideally, I'll have the idea for the character ahead of time and have the build ready in Mids before I even think of the name or create it. And I try to have the IOs all ready to grab as needed. Sometimes, I'll be playing the character and discover a power isn't what I'd hoped for and drop the mids build and plan on doing a respec later. And sometimes, never get to it. I've also just built them organically, "listening" to my character in battle to see which stats need the most attention. Sometimes it's endurance. Sometimes it's damage or defense. And then slot accordingly.

I can understand the frustration. It happened to me. AND - what makes it laughable, is a fellow on the help channel just put out a psa about manually installing, and I'm just saying, no - the app will now do that for you. And they say, yeah, you do that and you'll have to uninstall and reinstall it to get it to work. Silly me, I just assumed it was a problem he was having and I wouldn't have it. But I did. Still, it's not like I use mids daily. Just once a week or so. I make the build, then go about ensuring I have the IOs for that build in a bin to just grab as needed. I don't play as often as I used to, (By play, I mean actively play - not market or afk-farm) so a week is about right for me to get to 50. I remind myself - these folks built this for free. They try to improve it for free. They fix their own mistakes for free. It must be something they really like doing! If nothing else, just go to brainstorm and try the random builder, now that's as scary as some of the rng costumes!

You probably already know this - but in case you don't - at levels 10-14, you can speak with Azuria, your origin doesn't matter - and she introduces Trevor Seaborn, a 10-15 contact that gives you the Fortune teller mission. Sometimes, it's the first one he gives, other times he requires you to accept the silly "talk to security chief of Perez Park", and then you click on him again and abandon the undesired mission, and click again to see if he'll give the fortune teller. Sometimes, he's stubborn, but generally, within 2-3 tries, he gives it. I would expect Hugo Redding to do the same thing, but I know the Azuria path, so that's the one I take. Mind you - I don't talk to Azuria until that time at level 10. That's not to say my way is better or anything - just laying out another path you may not have considered. I tend to avoid radios because they don't give merits. The temp powers, in some cases are nice, though.

So, I refer again to my first post in this thread. The debate/argument - whatever it is. While I do appreciate we can all have different perspectives, and many of us recognize the good natured ribbing that's taking place between names that have been doing the whole "Guard-turn-dodge-parry-spin-thrust" in the Daffy Duck style, in the help channel, there's everyone seeing it, and it's not a good look. I get it. Someone says something that goes so very much against how you think, you just want to reach through the keyboard with a 5 gallon bucket of ice water or maybe boiling water and dump it on their ...um keyboard. Yeah. No need to scald people in real life. It is just a game. I've been there. Things going so nuts behind my keyboard and then come here, thinking I'm among friends and get the feeling I'm not, that's not a good feeling. So yeah, I understand some bitter replies to the very concise, logical arguments. A really good friend asked me if I wanted to be wise. Like a fool, I said sure. He refers me to a quote by Sam Levenson. It's so simple to be wise. Just think of something stupid to say and say the opposite. Sam Levenson So, I'm going to try and shut up now. I think I've made some decent points and will call it a win. I got stuff to do anyway.

All valid points. But to be clear, I don't think I took the position that every thing in game should be documented. And if I did, I will publicly acknowledge I was being unreasonable to expect it. I mean, it'd be nice, but with a volunteer staff, not likely to happen. But the power tooltips? That should be a fairly simple thing to do, at least procedurally. Mundane, tedious? Perhaps. But difficult? It's just text. It's probably going to take more time finding the text within the code than anything else. As for your idea - I love it. That's really the kind of thing I'm hoping for, particularly for newer/returning players. And older folks who don't always remember important details like anniversaries and birthdays, let alone some of the lesser known tips/tricks of being a character in CoH.