Abraxus

Sometimes, you gotta push forward, even if it's the harder thing to do, in order to make the greater strides for the long term. It's understandable that some who play the archetypes most affected by the bug are frustrated, but unless there is some willingness to jump over to Pineapple, and help test, the only thing that will assuage that frustration is a little patience. You can take as a fact nobody is doing this to push players away intentionally. However, this appears to be a group of changes that are more easily fixed than rolled-back, so demanding they be rolled-back anyway is asking for a little too much. This isn't a billion dollar development house. It is a community/volunteer effort, and they are doing a darned good job at it, given their resources, and available time. So, cut them just a little slack, and let's try to keep our expectations realistic.

Here's my take. The Homecoming team says what it does, and does what it does. Nothing more, or less. It doesn't disparage the other teams, and typically wishes them well. They are not obliged to do anything beyond what they said they would do, which is to keep their servers open, and available for us to play. Their actions to date have been in-line with their stated goals. If their have been any ulterior motives, or ill will, it was only that which was ascribed via conversation threads like this one. Where someone asked a question, it was answered, and somewhere along the line it skewed into perceptions of relationships between the Dev teams on the other servers, which gave rise to speculation on a number of things. We are a community, and like any community, we have differing opinions, and preferences. We typically discuss them without devolving into anger. There have been exceptions, but fairly infrequent. So, I see no reason for any of that to change. Yes, some servers have some neat-o features that HC does not. HC has done some things that none of the others have done. The population center is still pretty much HC, but that doesn't mean the other servers have nothing to offer due to lower populations, if that's your thing. On the question of ownership, I agree. Right now, everything is equal. They are all rogue servers, operating because NCSoft has allowed them to. If that were to change, CoH would not go away. It would just splinter into many smaller shards spread out all over the world. So, one would just have to find one that they liked, and that would be that. However, that being said, Homecoming is negotiating for legitimacy with NCSoft. If that is successful, that will have an effect on the current landscape. There is no denying that. What effect, nobody can say, because we don't know what exactly that will mean until it is announce. We can speculate, and supposition the possibilities all day long, but the truth is NOBODY except the folks doing the talking know for sure. Until they do finalize things, and make it public, we go on as we have. Nothing changes, and there sure is no cause for in-fighting over who will still be standing when those talks are over. It could be everybody, it could be just one (legal), or it could just not work. To me, it is another of those things that HC is attempting to do that none of the other hosts have done, and we don't know what it will mean, until we do. What we cannot do is let the fear of the unknown do what it typically does, and create divisions over the mere possibility of changes which, at this time, have yet to even be defined. I have no doubts that once it is said, and done (assuming it is successful) there will be those who refuse to recognize it, or be a part of it, just because it is NCSoft. Others will dislike it for other reasons of their own, and likewise refuse to have anything to do with it. In the end, we will all make our own decisions on where we want to play, based on all the information available at the time. Right now, there is a lot we don't know. So, until that changes...I will just play the game.

👆 Yup. This!

Probably hard for them to make specific promises, or commitments before the negotiations are completed. I have no doubt they WANT to do the sexy stuff. But, these things require the roadblocks to be cleared before they can talk about them, let alone get our hopes up about them.

Nobody here can speak for what the Devs have in mind for the future of HC. However, we know that they have been concentrating on two main things for the past few months. Getting folks weaned off the safe mode client, and over to the 64-bit, which has been (and continues to be) a lot of work. They are also working behind the scenes on their negotiations with NCSoft for legitimacy. I'm sure there is a lot that they'd like to do that is contingent on the successful out come of that process. Both of these are unique to Homecoming, as is the fact they they are running the I25/26 code, while everyone else went with I24. So, their development tract will inevitably be different from the rest. Some of those things could come our way at some point, though perhaps not in the same order, or priority. What I do know is that Homecoming is working on the long-term viability of CoH as a presence in the gaming world, as well as the future-proofing of the code, and the client. So, while they might not be doing the sexy stuff that other servers who are not concentrating on the same goals, they are playing the long game, rather than the short-term. They have done some mission works, some AT stuff, some new power pool, and some tuning of powers. I think that, in addition to everything else they are doing is a lot for a group of all volunteer developers, who do this for love of the game, rather than reward.

Basically, you're gonna play. In the course of play, you will have questions, and all the resources quoted here will contain the answers. If not, there is the Discord, and forum communities to help. In essence, play how ya like, with what ya like. When you want to explore things, or have some mystery solved, the answers are out there to help the game really come alive for you. Before you know it, it will have become a part of your life, as it has ours. Then, like us, you will be playing for as long as the game is available to play. Just know that there is no wrong way to play so long as you are respectful to others. You will make mistakes in your builds, you will re-roll characters to do them better the next time. You will discover your preferred progression plan, and do that until it gets old. The nice thing about a mature game like this, there are MANY routes to take from Level 1 through Level 50+3, and each of them are fun. And, in the end, that is the only thing necessary. To have fun, enjoy your time on the game, and in doing so, perhaps form associations with other players that can make the experience even better. I have found all of this to be true for myself. I can only hope it is the same for you. I don't claim to be the best, most knowledgeable player ever. But, that was never my goal. My goal was to have fun, and enjoy the game on my terms. That is what I have done, and the only real recommendation I can make for you.

If you want to speed things along, perhaps take a trip over to Pineapple where the fix is being tested, and help them figure out if what they've done, actually resolves the issue. Folks familiar with the problem are the best qualified to test the solutions, and with that kind of participation, the next time they patch "Live", it will be a done deal! Then we can move on to some NEW fun stuff!

I'll be darned! There's actually a phrase for that? I guess this day, and age, there almost had to be! 😉

Aye! Hat's off ladies, and gents! 💝

I really need to jump back into the Red Side content again. I have been exclusively Blue Side since returning in May, so it may be time to create a solo-able character over there (so I don't have to necessarily depend on teaming), and just do it. I remember really enjoying it back in the "live" days. Hopefully, it has only gotten better!

Welcome back! I think 10 years is more than enough time to not only appreciate the game once again, but also to have gained enough maturity, and self-discipline to keep oneself from going at it so hard, that it becomes something you have to walk away from. We are all a little older, wiser, and have the benefit of hindsight when it comes to the game (hopefully, for life in general as well), which helps keep things in proper perspective. I feel it is a lot more fun now. I play when time permits, and am quite content with that. It was an obsession way back in the day for me too, and I much prefer the approach I have now.

I hope I get the opportunity to call you on that someday soon. 😉

Thank goodness another attempt at a fix is on the Pineapple server! You sound like someone whose feedback on the fixes would be invaluable in making sure that it does what it's intended to do. If the bug has made your characters on "live" unplayble, copy one over to Pineapple, and see if the fix over there cures that situation. The more testing they get, the higher the likelihood that it will REALLY be fixed the next time they update "live'. 😎

The pain of working through the back-end stuff is something that has to be faced sooner, or later, by ALL of the respective servers running out there. Homecoming chose to do it sooner, to provide a stable platform, that will stand up to future OS changes/updates for many years to come. They are dealing with the pain up front, rather than kicking that can down the road. If Microsoft said they were abandoning the 32-bit platform tomorrow (not gonna happen, but hypothetically), Homecoming would be in great shape for that change. Other servers would have to scramble, and probably be relegated to catering only to those that refused to upgrade, until such time as they could do similar work on their own client. I'm not denigrating, or casting aspersions on the other servers out there. They are doing good work on their own development tracks, and perhaps someday, some of that can be adapted for use here in some way. However, when it comes to a choice of doing the hard stuff first, and saving the good stuff for later, when things are future-proofed to the extent possible; or having our dessert first, I choose the former. I suspect a lot of others would too. It's hard to have patience while they are out there doing the stuff that looks more fun. But, it will all pay off in the long term, and that's the way I look at things these days.

Travel powers become available at level 4, via Power Pool selection. Until then, you are just running/jumping to get where you need to go.

Sometimes, when the concept is really strong, I even have something of a backstory established, which is great when it happens. Makes the rest much easier. The character you see in my avatar is my main (the one I've been going on about), and it was that way with him.

I always start to form an image of my characters in my mind while creating them, of approximately what I want them to look like. Then, it is a matter of finding the costume pieces, and effects that bring that closest to fruition. Then, selecting the powers that complete that image. Once those are done, the image before me usually helps me find a name. That's my process in a nutshell, though when doing it, things don't go quite as quick as it might seem. 😎

It took me three hours to create my first character, and that was 2 weeks after the game went live, when the choices weren't as expansive as they are today! So, I completely understand. I played that character off, and on for the 8 years that the game was around in it's first life, and I recreated him here when Homecoming sprang into existence. I just recently got him to L50 again, and am now working towards getting his Incarnate, and I/O enhancement, and set bonus configuration planned, purchased, and built. I guess the thought there is, your first one is always special. They will probably go through changes over time, but that's part of the fun of it. Likely, that character will always be your favorite, and an active part of your collection.

There is also a Discord server for Homecoming. There should be a link to it somewhere here in the forum, but if you're interested, and can't find it, I can post it here.

Welcome to CoH on Homecoming! The most populated server right now is Excelsior. The rest run a bit lower, but all of them have plenty of folks who are willing to lend a hand if you put a question in the "Help" channel in-game. Out here, this forum has a lot of guides, and archetype-specific threads to browse through, to get a better idea of what to do. Also, there is a link right at the top of the page for "Paragon Wiki". Lot's of good information there too. But, if you have specific questions, or don't know where to go. Hit me up. I'll be glad to help, or at least let you know where you can find it if I don't know.

Which is exactly what Homecoming is doing, and probably the main reason why NCSoft has not launched any legal efforts to close things down thus far.

Perhaps, someday the answer to that mystery will be known as well. Though, it sounds like about the same odds as the question I asked, so don't be in too big a hurry. 😂

I'd love to know the thinking on their part, regarding not just divesting themselves of the IP for cheap, and being done with it. I'll probably never get the satisfaction of knowing that, but it does seem counter intuitive that they would resist any efforts to sell the IP when the offers have come (and there have been a few), when they clearly see it as a western-player only kind of game. Why not sell it to a western-based group who had a genuine interest in making something of it in the only area(s) of the world where it could succeed? They could have washed their hands of all of this years ago, but didn't. There is a business reason for it. I just can't fathom it, because I don't have all the information at hand to do so. But, I'd dearly love to know before it's all said, and done.

Probably easier to just remain camped at Pocket D long enough to get the Pocket D transporter. Much handier than a tunnel that you must find on a map. 😎

I agree completely that legitimacy is, and should be the preferred scenario. However, I disagree a little with the latter part of your post, about the feasibility of shutting things down wherever it might show itself. Yes, they could choose to pursue every pop-up that shows itself, or work to bar hosts from allowing it to function. But, all that costs money, and corporations don't like spending money on anything that they don't deem high enough priority. It all cuts into the almighty bottom line, which is, of course, their number one priority. Always has been. Always will be. There are a lot of variables that would go into calculating whether it would rise to the level of priority to devote any significant resources. Especially when one considers that the ingenuity of the combined population of the web is practically limitless. There would be ways of playing, albeit perhaps more limited if they decided to really be aggressive. But, it would all be rendered moot if the negotiations are successful, so let's hope that's the way it goes, so we never have to find out for sure how the alternative plays out. 😎