Alchemystic

From the context, it seems these are changes Positron would make if he were to completely remake the game, which doesn't really fall within the scope of development for the small volunteer team we have working on the game right now. It's also important to note that this interview was dated 2012, directly after the game's shutdown, and references the state of the MMO genre at the time. The speculations they make might vary when measured against today's MMO scene, or the various new models for multiplayer games that have seen a surge in popularity over the years.

Went back to revisit a few earlier concepts in the thread and made a few updates, most namely Arsenal Blast incorporating some of the unique Arachnobot Blaster powers into the powerset, and removing the Laser and Anti-Matter powers to make space. Not to worry though, those powers have been incorporated into the 'Laser Blast' powerset instead as a new FX theme, where I think they're better suited (with the exception of the rapid-fire ones, which I will reuse in another idea soon!)

I tried my hand conceptualizing something similar called 'Heavy Weapons' a while back, but it was mostly focused on projectiles instead of energy blasts. Still, there's plenty weapon models in the game that could accommodate a similar theme.

Back onto Ancillary powers, I'm gonna take a stab at some more Electric and Dark type sets. I was initially avoiding these since all Archetypes already have access to Mu and Soul Mastery, but I think it's possible to make them different enough so there's not much overlap. Electric Mastery - Controller/Dominator / - Lightning Bolt/Discharge: A traditional blast power for Controllers, and some AoE Debuff for Dominators - Charged Armor: An armor toggle as is customary for these sets - Ball Lightning: An AoE attack that works for either archetype - Surge of Power: A strong buff power that mirrors Mu Mastery too keep it competitive / - Thunder Strike/EM Pulse: A heavy melee attack for Controllers, and another AoE Debuff for Dominators Surge Mastery - Scrapper/Stalker/Tanker/Brute - Static Field: An AoE sleep patch that works similarily to AoE immobilizes - Lightning Bolt: A standard blast power as you might expect - Shocking Bolt: A hold which seems common for these ancillaries - Ball Lightning: A large AoE attack that works nicely here - Discharge: An AoE debuff that some ancillaries of this type possess Shadow Mastery - Controller/Dominator / - Dark Blast/Tar Patch: A traditional blast power for Controllers, and some AoE Debuff for Dominators - Dark Embrace: An armor toggle as usual - Dark Obliteration: An AoE attack power that helps damage gathered mobs - Soul Transfer: A powerful ability that works similarly to Rise of the Phoenix / - Midnight Grasp/Fade: A heavy melee power for Controllers, and an AoE buff for Dominators like Mind Link Shade Mastery - Tanker/Brute - Torrent: Since this is a copy of Darkness Mastery from Scrappers/Stalkers, I've not changed anything - Petrifying Gaze: ^ - Dark Blast: ^ - Night Fall: ^ - Tenebrous Tentacles: ^ Netherworld Mastery - Blaster/Mastermind - Night Fall: A cone attack that mirrors Static Discharge in utility - Dark Embrace: Standard armor toggle as one would expect - Dark Obliteration: An AoE attack that helps increase DPS / - Fearsome Stare/Midnight Grasp: A cone mez/debuff for Blasters, and a heavy melee for Masterminds - Soul Transfer: A powerful ability that works similarly to Rise of the Phoenix

As a side note, I'd also like Bane Spiders to have customisable FX just as Mace Mastery does.

I'd really like to see the Tech Mace, Tech Knight, Carnival of Light/War/Venegeance and the Rulaaru skins ported over, I feel as though those are good thematic fits for a melee weapon that also projects bolts of energy.

for context;

All of these "metabuilds" are created via software called Mids, which is only configurable for up to 4 power pools. And no, it's not as simple as adding the numbers from a 5th power pool onto an existing build, because all the values wouldn't be correct. The only way an accurate example could be provided was if the Mids software was equipped to handle a 5th power pool, so all numerical data could be calculated properly, since the enhancement system is percentile based with all kinds of rules, exceptions and formulas. It is literally impossible to provide the evidence you want, so you'll have to settle for the theoretical materials provided.

@5099y_74c05 please explain to me how anybody is supposed to make a build with 5 power pools with software designed to handle only 4?

Your ability to change your argument in the face of new evidence is uncanny.

@aethereal sums it up nicely with the LotG example. You can only slot 5 of the Global Recharge Speed enhancements on any one character. With 5 power pools, we can easily just pick Weave (Fighting), Stealth (invisibility), Hover (Flight), Manuevers (Leadership) and Combat Jumping (Leaping). That means you can slot all 5 LotG enhancements in pool powers alone, which means an exponential increase in build performance across all archetypes. Now lets consider that you have at least one defense power in your primary or secondary powersets, or if you opted to pick a defense power in your ancillaries (like Frozen Armor or Scorpion Shield), that means you don't need that 5th pool power pick to accomplish the same result, right? However, that extra 5th pool power choice is likely going to be Hasten (Speed) to capitalise on the recharge boost that LotG offers, which means that any archetype in the game can run this kinda build, since all archetypes can access at least one defense power in their primary/secondary/ancillary powersets. Right now, in order to maximise this setup with just four power pools, you're going to need at least two powers outside of pools that grant defense, which for some archetypes or powerset combinations isn't as easy as others. If you want to make it work, you have to consider your options carefully and make sacrifices in other areas of your build. By introducing a 5th power pool, we just make it easier for people to min-max. So I'd argue this isn't going to bring more build diversification, it'll just create new metabuilds across all archetypes that grossly outperform the ones we have now. That's why if I were to support the idea of a 5th power pool, it would be in the form of swapping your ancillary power pool for a standard power pool, because it balances things a little easier.

Consider the following; do you really think that a suggestion as frequent as this hasn't received some sort of preliminary testing already? The scenario has played out dozens of times prior to this, and despite the popularity of the topic we've yet to see it gain any traction. It stands to reason that it has already been deliberated and tested internally and the HC team concluded that it's not something they're willing to explore further given the amount of resistance to the idea. The reason I draw comparison to Thunderspy is because testing to see if it works is different to testing to see if it's well received, and it seems you're more focused on the former. As I said, Homecoming has no inconsequential amount of feedback on this particular subject, and they use that to decide whether a project like this deserves further testing, so chalking this up to "blocking creativity" is just disingenuous. I'd also like to point out that I never said no to the idea, I just provided a rationale for why it hasn't been implemented yet, figured I'd bring that up since "what you say matters".

@5099y_74c05 what I was implying is that Thunderspy should be a cautionary tale about how testing is important.

Or adding the 'yellow' color palette to water blast

The unfortunate truth is that making changes that rely on good faith that people won't abuse it isn't a feasible development practice. People, mostly power-gamers as you said, will abuse the system if it is possible to do so, which will in turn harm the overall balance and game health. Besides, the only limitation on your creativity is the one you impose upon yourself.

Nobody said anything about sending people to Thunderspy, and I already said I'm partial to the idea of swapping your ancillary for a 5th power pool. And I dunno what having an RP server has anything to do with this kinda change, why should an RP server receive exclusive updates?

Breaking the game for the sake of creativity is why Thunderspy exists.

Alternatively, using the net prop/FX from Net Arrow as a replacement for the Bolas power would fit the same purpose and serve as a thematic second best.

A more reasonable compromise at least, though would this additional power pool be restricted to level 35 as ancillaries are?

I've been waiting to see this here! It's a very nice adaptation of my design😊 Speaking of which, here's Trucker, Rodder's Praetorian counterpart!

I made this, and then I figured "that's my new profile picture"

@Beef Ninja yeah, I agree actually, but mobsters/secret agents were some of the top requested MM powersets back on Live, and I figured they would sit somewhere between Thugs and Mercs. The 'Fuedalism' and 'Elementals' powersets I put forward in the same thread were probably better concepts for new MM primaries.

I agree that the Thumbs Up reaction seems a little redundant considering that a Like or Thanks reaction does the job a little better. As for Thumbs Down? well, the forums are already considered a volatile place at the best of times, so I can't imagine this reaction being used productively, it'd probably get used out of spite more than anything else.

We're now able to lock our power trays to stop powers from shuffling around, so I'm surprised this still happens during a respec. Yeah, this seems like the next logical step, so I'm all for it!