AlabasterKnight

Oh and for the record, I didn't get either of those names until well after Excelsior was very populated, so yes, originality seems to have gotten me first - and if it isn't clear in what I posted: I actually care less who got what Idea and where - you do you. I just want them to fix it, so that when we create, we're not any of us hamstrung on scrapping for a name.

So, a little while back, it's been a couple of months, my compatriots and I in our SG were tooling around on Excelsior. We started playing on that server when this all went legit, and you know, the coolness of it's server name giving it an authentic comics sounding name is the reason we chose it. And, judging by server traffic, I guess it's the place to be... We felt crowded and 'laggy' and well, that as I am sure we can all agree is just no way to live. So we began migrating our toons to Torchbearer because well, a lot less server traffic (ironically, a fitting COH server name there too). Strange things occurred that first day we migrated some toons. We'll chalk it up to zeitgeist and conincidence, but this happened several times since: In the beginning we were just going to do this as a trial, so we selected some toons, and moved them over. In our private chat servers while talking about this in real time, we all acknowledged there was a chance we wouldn't get our names on the new server. With that in mind, we would go back immediately after any transfer and recreate our toons as placeholders. That seemed to work at first, but then the strangeness. Several of us have experienced having our names successfully transfer, but then as soon as we returned to remake the toon (the same moments later kinda thing, not very long at all), somehow our names were taken before we could generate a new toon... Here's a couple of examples: I was One-Eyed Jack on Excelsior. I moved the toon to Torchbearer and bummer, had to put a different punctuation - it sucks, but okay, it's a cool name right? I went back to Excelsior, whipped out a new toon (I knew what to make)... and within ten minutes, I was screwed out of the name on Excelsior. Again with the being forced to use different punctuation... I was Arachness on Excelsior. I moved the toon to Torchbearer and again, bummer, had to put a different punctuation -again, totally sucks, but okay, it's a cool name. I went back to Excelsior, made out a new toon (again, I knew what to make)... and five minutes later... BAM! I was screwed out of the name on Excelsior again. Again with the being forced to us different punctuation... Now I know what your thinking, "boo hoo, tuff titties, etc. etc." cry some moar. But I don't rightly care what you think about this opinion of my disgust... I'm calling some mild shenanigans. Maybe even a glitch somewhere in the database. I can live with it to a point, it's just a game. I love playing and I love playing with you guys and enjoying the parks and recs. I'm just wondering why on God's green earth the dev team hasn't done global account markers so we don't have this stupid name competition, that not only screws a lot of people the right to creatively stoke a concept, but also causes lots of people to throw up their hands and create stupid names that mess with immersion because "all the good names are taken". Sure it means you can only have the name once on your own account, but if you want the character on another server, you can move it over there. And I really don't care if there's another Arachness out there: I did it first and better (imo of course)and I don't really care what you think. And a final note: If you're the kind of person who sees a really neat character I have on one server and then runs over to another server and makes your version of it, I am flattered you liked the idea - the rest of the thought though is that is in fact "stealing" someone else's IP, just because you did it here doesn't change anything. If you're going to get all sanctimonious and start your squawk box about Marvel, DC, Image or whatever and rant about your limited knowledge of fair use, copyright infringement or other armchair lawyering, then your just a hypocrite. In real life I publish toons, and if I see one running around I think that'd be cool. The hypocrisy is that you defend the famous ones because you're afraid to challenge the right they have to a concept - which isn't protected in this medium, but then you don't preserve the rights of your fellow players to maintain creative freedom in good taste and hold harmless limited use. TLDR: Global account tags on our character names (that can remain hidden) so when we make or transfer characters, no one loses anything. Only your own duplicates of your own ideas would ever need the punctuation of shame. It's something that can certainly be solved, so why don't they?

What was your point of saying that?? - I was talking about NOW, you know, Now? I was saying Brutes needed some reason - some thing that the others *don't do* and you just can't see past your forum 'leetness to brain that. If you can't answer the serious question or find rational thought than perhaps saying nothing is your best option. IRL you wouldn't be a douche, right? So why now? (I apologize in advance to the devs/moderators -- but F*** this guy. Grow up. --- Go ahead call for a ban, Snarky and anyone else who thinks that kind of douchebaggery is okay... as you can see, I don't live on here like you thousands of post folks. So tired of forum jockeys being dicks. Good night.)

You missed the point: What is it that a Brute is supposed to do that the other three major melee archetypes do not? (Notice That I didn't ask about numbers and procs and technical issues...) Tanks hold aggro and tank best. Scrappers are damage damage damage. Stalkers are stealth kings. What role does a Brute fulfill that these do not? You solve that Snarky, and the only toupee you need fits on that nosferatu lookin' avatar of yours.

After reading all the back and forth, I kept thinking how everyone is splitting hairs slinging numbers and overlooking the fact that despite nuances, the ability to choose from four dedicated melee types (scrapper, brute, tanker, stalker) doesn't leave much room for differentiation if they all don't have a unique purpose - numbers be damned. Arguably - the four since they were not intended to occupy both red and blue are going to step on toes. All have offense and defense that makes them survivable regardless depending on a player's affinity and ability to use them. So maybe better question is to ask what can you have a brute *do* that one of the other three doesn't already do? Brute was a role you needed red side in ancient times... but now they're extra... They need purpose.

Bumping this up for some post-Thanksgiving love. I love some of the tweaks/suggestions above. It could be a really useful gap filler for immersion. Hope everyone had a warm holiday with family and friends. AK

Yes, but at pool level, it would be slightly better maybe? And why relinquish the origin stuff if it can be in the pool and *not* be P2W? And really the gem here is the shield.

SPECIFICALLY to address including costume pieces that usually only appear in other sets/limited places. Hello, I had commented on a thread where the OP had wanted to have access to having a Shield costume piece even though the character might not be a Shield archetype. This brought to my mind the difficulty in bringing the animations and things associated. So I thought, maybe if we had another set of miscellaneous pool powers available (at level 4/6 like the rest) that was simply made up of copies of existing powers to accommodate the game recognizing you need the costume piece. It makes the makes the idea useful in a build too. Since my original comment, I thought more and think a decent name might be "Combat Utility". Some suggested powers in the pool might be: A shield defense toggle to allow the shield to stay on while running and still have some value/also unlocking the costume piece option in Icon/costume creator, A single (*not dual!*) pistol shot for some folks may want their guy to carry a sidearm, even if the rest of the powers are different, I mean, there are the temporary shotguns, pistols and machine guns already, so is this a stretch? The throwing knife (<---- I have always wanted to have this without having to compromise origin) that recharges quickly, Choice of one of the jet packs as a travel option. I know people can simply purchase one, but maybe this one is a little faster and comes with an afterburner type acceleration? Maybe a cool helmet toggle option that allows you to resist stun/mez and see hidden enemies. These powers don't have to be super powerful like their primary/secondary set counterparts, but if available, they would commit the option for the costume part/animations with little adjustment to code. A flavor set to be sure. Just spitballing. Comments?

The ability to display existing symbols on the front, back or both might be a good addition.

Symbols, etc.... yes....

I was thinking this through and thought about the animations and things associated. Would that be an issue? If so, maybe manufacture another set of miscellaneous pool powers available at level 6 that were clones of existing powers to accommodate the request. It makes the idea useful in a build too. Maybe call it "merc combat" or some smizzle... A shield defense toggle (to allow the shield to stay on and still have some value/also unlocking the costume piece option in Icon/costume creator), a single (*not dual!*) pistol shot (some folks may want their guy to carry a sidearm, even if their powers are different), the throwing knife (<---- I have always wanted to have this without having to compromise origin), and maybe the zero g jump pack as a travel option. The powers need not be super powerful like their primary/secondary set counterparts, but if they were there, they would commit the option for the costume part/animations with little adjustment to code. A flavor set to be sure. Just spitballing.

Nevermind, enjoy your thrones.

@GM Impervium, with all due respect, the request to turn off PvP isn't unreasonable for anyone. If there are goodies, who cares in a game that now has a P2W vendor? Ripe with Farms and farm builds? AH economy driven by farms <sic>? Billions of influence piling up putting some sets in IO way out of reach to the casual player? Maybe, just maybe, some people want to simply disable it and have a look around and have uninterrupted play, to which you're all saying, "no risk no reward". In a game that has such a miniscule PvP following to begin with, you're actually catering to present a possible target to those people that GET OFF on that style against other players in zones you already declare a 'minimal' risk. If those people want to PvP, they can leave it ON and *they* know the risk - if they can find someone like minded to duel with, bravo! The rest of us just don't have to worry about the thornpricks that do. I have zero anxiety about PVP. I'll smoke the next guy like a pack of lucky strike and use their skull as an ashtray. Yet my wife detests it. We play together. That said, I have friends who do avoid those specifically - nuff said. Like I said, if this doesn't affect the reader of this suggestion or change their choice to PVP, move along, nothing to see. Otherwise, why not stick a fork in the dead PvP intentions and give people an option to play a game that was not intended to have it in the first place?

What is the big deal about players wanting to turn off PVP??? Really? Is everyone here being contrary, or being affected by it? EDIT: Seriously, you don't have to like it or even think about it if it's not your style, but all the 'reasons' above simply mean if you get to turn it off, you don't participate in that content. Keep this simple. And "Arcane", if you have nothing to add...

I'd sure love to go into the zone and turn off PvP, but still be able to PvE and collect badges and tool around to explore. And since no PvP, no autoexemplar that overrides the team level. At that point mobs would gray out and no XP would be available anyway, right? (And opposing factions would appear yellow and unattackable?) That's it. The option to disable PvP. No big splash. Apologies if this has been suggested before. Thanks.