CrudeVileTerror

Even if there really are that many players who want to make the game more difficult for other players, do you really think the Homecoming Devs would do something like universally increase the difficulty of the whole game? At worst, I think we'll end up with more arcs like Piecemeal's: Something that will be challenging until people adapt to its meta. Ultimately not the most the sustainable or productive development method, but as long as it's balanced with other new content which isn't too difficult, then the team will hit the mandatory checkboxes (for the time being). I'd just like to encourage the Devs to think outside the box some more. Get us the next step in personal play customization, like AE+ or the Ambitions systems. And, when it comes to difficulty; same deal! Hence the Advanced Enemies suggestion from yesteryear.

What's "Reasonable," though? See . . . if they could add some mechanics to the game so that a Scrapper might have to spend as much time as a Controller on defeating a particular type of enemy, while a Controller can defeat that enemy as quickly as a Scrapper can with any of the existing enemies in the game right now . . . I'd frankly consider that a step in a direction which would make the game more engaging for me. I get it that some people just don't think a Controller should ever be able to "Win" as quickly as a Scrapper does. It's a point of view. Can't say that I find it particularly reasonable, though. I believe it was Cipher, or maybe Number Six, who said a while ago that it's REALLY disingenuous when anyone says something is "mechanically impossible." They made a point that just about anything -could- be done with the code, given enough time and creativity (and, naturally, testing. Loads and loads and loads of testing). Just because the game as-is doesn't have all the component pieces to make something like this work flawlessly right now does not mean that it's impossible. And that's what these discussions are about. Sharing ideas about how to move forward with the game. Cooperation for benefit. And please. Please please please please PLEASE remember: The number of people saying they want the game universally more difficult are a rare breed. Most people asking for increased difficulty are asking for it as something optional. A personal setting to improve their personal gaming experience. And, while the point isn't lost on me that this is a social game, and due to that social nature there is a series of collective pressures for players to "play alike," I still think that the fundamental truth of City of Heroes has ALWAYS been: "Make it -yours!-"

@Galaxy Brain: https://hcwiki.cityofheroes.dev/wiki/Council/Ascendants Not to be confused with: https://hcwiki.cityofheroes.dev/wiki/Ascendant

One of these days I want to see if I can arrange to get a League of people with Teleport Target and time the execution of the series of teleports to hit each checkpoint precisely for the absolute minimum time possible.

Based on my understanding, it would be possible to have the Power accept Defense Sets -without- allowing regular Defense Enhancements to be slotted in. I don't know if there's ever intentionally been a Power which allows Sets without allowing the respective regular Enhancements, but if any Power deserves that kind of special treatment, it's definitely Wet Ice.

I've had my laptop for about 8 years, and I bought it refurbished. My spouse's old desktop computer was about 11 years (granted, it was definitely showing its age right before we dumped it). I tend to really hunker down, and customize and personalize my machines, so I hold on to them for a long while. A computer has to completely give up the ghost before I get rid of it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xawpurBc08M

Sorry. Unless the Devs are secretly telling certain people, I think it's likely that no one has the answer to that particular question, @marius666. Heck! The Devs themselves may not even have an answer on that one. I'm not sure how highly it rates on their to-do list.

I feel this topic has ventured far enough down this particular road to invoke @Blackfeather's amazing thread: https://forums.homecomingservers.com/topic/22414-overwhelming-overpower-a-controller-inherent-buff-control-avs-and-gms/ There are definite problems with the Illusionists and Paragon Protectors. But it's not that they have unique behaviours, it's that their unique behaviours are too severe. Support and Ancillary enemies that have high Damage Resistance that is suppressed with Control would be much more interesting, I think. They would increase the challenge of their compatriots, rather than be a direct threat to the player(s). Basically . . . a Defender for the NPC enemies. Like the Sapper (but not as annoying, please) or the Surgeon, ranked up to somewhere between Lt. and Boss (or just straight-up a Boss), which presents the player with a choice: Tackle these supportive enemies hard and fast with damage, to try and bring them down before they ramp up the threat of all the Minions in a mob, OR take down all the Minions in the mob before the support can get them to feel steam, OR use a Control on the support.

Different universe, different rules for the military, I guess?

It should also be noted that there are . . . "broken" alignments. I have at least one on each of my accounts. Not sure how many other players could possibly have these as well, though. Or even if they -do- show up in the middle bracket, for that matter, since these characters are effectively operating on the old Blueside alignment code, near as I can tell (ie: Can't talk to Null the Gull, can only enter Blueside zones, can't team with Villains, et cetera).

Something like: https://www.newegg.ca/westinghouse-wh22fx9019-22-full-hd/p/N82E16824569004?item=N82E16824569004&source=region&nm_mc=knc-googleadwordsca-pc&cm_mmc=knc-googleadwordsca-pc-_-pla-_-monitors+-+lcd+flat+panel-_-N82E16824569004&gclid=CjwKCAiAiML-BRAAEiwAuWVggi8cjGksimAxXFEeiNuDjsqepTnVdn4N5fWNFBfwgimHNnlpTBri3BoCv2UQAvD_BwE Then when you use it, flip it upside-down and invert the display using your drivers (I had to do the same thing with my mounted monitor, since the mounting brackets on the monitor were really poorly positioned and forced my hand).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCxrkl2igGY . . . ok, more than three, but that song has stuck with me for decades, and I wanted to share it again.

I believe there are some light-weight ultra-thin monitors out there which you may be able to rest in front of your laptop's monitor without obstructing the keyboard. I have to go pick up the spouse from her dinner party right now, but if no one else can track down a website with information on such a monitor for you, I'll take a stab at it later tonight. In any event, good luck! We can't lose you!

I wonder if one of those expensive running water feeders might pacify her urges? I know many cat don't like to drink still water.

Use a weighted bowl with a flared base that is especially difficult to tip over?

Nope, @Shadowsleuth. If that's what the change had done, then I imagine it might have gone over a bit better, actually (usual complaints about Knockback aside).

@GM ColdSpark, @Galaxy Brain; a potential answer to your question: https://forums.homecomingservers.com/topic/9265-new-feature-in-game-polling-system/

I mean, technically #5 isn't accurate. I'd rephrase as thus: "It's been stated that the Homecoming Team is in negotiations with ncsoft, with an NDA cited as the reason said negotiations haven't been confirmed -by- ncsoft." Not trying to stir up shit, mind you. I just think it's important to reiterate that, at least as far as I'm aware, ncsoft hasn't said JACK about negotiations since the whistle was blown April of last year. If they -have- acknowledged these things, I would definitely be happy to see it!

I think @Omega-202's professional perspective is informative, whether it's speculative or not. Though I will say it's a bit of an apples and oranges situation, even if ncsoft is absolutely loaded these days. A number of suits for various game publisher companies have been known to do some particularly ass-backward decision-making in my experience. While I've never worked for ncsoft, nor do I have any specific or personal insight in to their company, its culture, or their processes . . . I would not be surprised to hear that somebody's feelings of pride were on the line, and they may be stalling the process. *shrugs* I've seen dumber reasons to botch deals.

Teammate? Or Archrival?

It's worth noting that Maneuvers is stronger on a Tanker than it is on a Scrapper, and the other Leadership Toggles than a Brute's. https://forums.homecomingservers.com/topic/23762-best-melee-at-to-take-support-pools/?tab=comments#comment-286778

Maneuvers is one of those Powers which isn't great solo, but in Teams and Leagues it REALLY pays dividends . . . up until -everyone- has it, and everyone is soft-capped for Defense. Mainly it's a good Power to pop a Luck of the Gambler in to if you need one. But Taunt is generally more helpful to a Tank who wants to draw aggro. Assuming anything survives long enough for you to grab its aggro.

And if all increased difficulty modes were -optional- then it's on the player to determine whether the extra challenging content is what they want to enable or not. Not to dismiss Balance wholesale, but the idea (as far as I'm aware) is to give the players who want "MOAR" challenge the option to pursue it on their own terms, not create something which is mandatory. The optional nature means that said challenges don't necessarily need to be "fair." Creating entirely new content requires more effort for balance passes and the like. See Piecemeal's recent arcs as two prime examples.

uh, @cranebump? I think you meant that post for a different thread?