Ruin Mage

They're fluxuating in prices, which is nice.

I made 6.8bil inf off Aether. I'm happy with Page 4.

Hard / Challenge Modes? Hard or Challenge Modes are a reference to an optional 1-4 star setting for two task forces (as of this post) - The Aeon Strike Force & The Imperious Task Force. This guide is a quickfire & constantly updated post to introduce you to each Challenge Mode and what they offer. It will go over their introduced mechanics and fights ONLY. Team compositions will be covered in a future update with reccomendations but NOT requirements. This will be getting constant updates as I figure how to describe and detail things. Universal: Scaling stats from 1 to 4 star New abilities for familiar mobs (Goldbrickers, Cimerorans, Arachnos, etc) Additional fight(s) - some optional Scaling disables for inspirations up to No Insps bar Wakies at 4 stars Length will vary from 1 to 4 star - with 4 stars taking 2-3 hours at first. Aeon Strike Force: Introduces: AU-Rifters, Smelters, and Brickernauts Description: Smelters are a boss class mob that uses Melt Armor that stacks, AU-Rifters do a pull-in that acts as high damage field, and Brickernauts Self-Destruct at a low level. Brickernauts require Line of Sight movement to not be gibbed. Optional Fight: Vanguard Fight [ Requires Master Of badge by the team leader ], 4-star/Relentless Details: A future update Other Details: This SF has several ways to be skipped that are easier at lower stars. The Aeon Strike Force primarily pits us against Goldbrickers, but you will see buffed enemy groups across the board - Arachnos, Crey, 5th Column, Devouring Earth, and Vanguard. Imperious Task Force: Introduces: Dwarf/Nova Alphas, Hostless Nictus, Colossi Fight, Vandal, Revamped Romulus Fight Details: The thing to know the most about is the Hostless Nictus Aspects. These are body-snatching doppleganger spawners. You have a small window (15 seconds?) to hold them OR defeat them to interrupt them. They spawn off Bosses/EBs as a chance. If you fail to stop them someone will die and then that Hostless transforms into that player. They inherit almost everything from that player. Colossi Fight is...something special. It's a two Monstrosity/AV fight with an ambush from Vandal. Dexero and Laeva (will edit with proper names) do cold/fire damage and makes that damage hurt from the other. They can be kited around, but that has its risks. They will spawn on the beach of Mission 3. The Romulus Fight is better to be seen first, but an edit will explain the fight in detail. Essentially, you are now also taking on Barrier Nictus that prevent him from being damaged. He also GAINS new abilites every time he revives - which can and will one shot you now when he does it. There's a second phase. I'll keep that secret for now. It will be pointed out on the map though. New Abilities to Cim Traitors: Rage Teleport (Surgeons) / Teleporting YOU Void Judgement (Shadow Crystals/Cysts)

I'm 29 going on 30. I was there for the dawn and the dusk of live.

Taunt is still marginally useful, but the AI wonkiness could use a look at for sure.

It is stuffed! Full of boosted rewards as per Page 4 and optional tougher fighting meant for a team. Anyway, Dark Souls isn't quite the apt comparison given that Dark Souls and Souls-esque games don't exactly have an easy setting where as the HM TFs are an optional selectable setting built off much easier stuff. I just don't know what would be the better comparison. Mythic+ from WoW doesn't quite work given these don't punish you for taking your time. also yes i realize what you mean by stuffed.

Sure, new arcs. I can't disagree there.

A forum poll says nothing of value, and ceasing the production of something just because of a forum poll is not Good Development Decision 101. Otherwise, the slope we slide down will be long and slippery. I don't think "do you want to see more." style questions don't work out for stuff like this - having only two options of HMs is not a good idea, for example, and giving all / almost all the Level 50 SFs/TFs a HM version would allow for choices and spread. In a more crass way: Who gives a shit that only a certain amount of people do the content. It's still valid content because its being played. In the logic used, they should not make new powersets ever or remove less played powersets. That's where this line of thinking leads to.

The topic was on Hard Mode Content. The question is on topic. What is and isn't the best use of time is, thankfully, in the hands of the devs.

It doesn't have to be, given we just play here. None of us, thankfully, have much say in the direction of the server. Nothing will be 100% beneficial to the playing population, and its better that they do it this way - where they deliver their vision and sometimes walk back ideas based on Constructive Criticism & Proper Feedback (i.e testing the change out and not going "it's a shitty change" like what happens with stuff like the Attack Type Changes)

LMAO.

A month? It feels like its just been a day.

What level 50 TF/SF would people, in theory, like to see get the Hard Mode treatment next?

It's fun stuff to do, Troy. A little different at first, but fun.

Marb out here being a true lad getting the thread back on track. EDIT: Excraft, you hand out thumbs downs like a candy store.

Opinions are like assholes, everyone has one. Usually.

This is what you said. It came with the implication that you yourself need a healer against minions. Be a little clearer and you won't get the sort of response you've gotten.

You must play in some sub-optimal teams if even the minions are giving you trouble. Or you play some wacky builds. In which case: More power to you, but you did that to yourself.

iTrials are a breeze unless doing some badge runs and can get you 3. 1-2 star HM TFs aren't Hard-Hard, but 3-4 star give you the most because they require the most effort. That's it so far, but they'll be observing things on how much hits the market etc.

Sure, you can get carried on a 4-star HM TF/SF but where's the fun in that? Perhaps not, but knowing some people they think stuff that doesn't cater directly to them is bad stuff. Nothing can, with a 100% guarantee, get people to come to CoH or come back to it. Burn out is only really healed by time.

Believe it means Emps/Astrals because by the time you do HMs you should be done with Incarnates or nearly so. The reward merits get beefed up (a bit) now in return since the Emp to Reward merit conversion is gone.

It's harder content in the sense that it requires actual team work and actual builds (read: you can get through the lower 2 stars with sub-optimal teams, it may just tickle) as you go up. There's an introduction of new powers into mobs on both new TFs, new fights, and an Incarnate-level approach to stats. Is it tedious? Sure, 3/4 star can be tedious. It is optional content that's not for everyone. I think that can go forgotten. It's not a "this is the only option of content.", but rather something on top of what is already there. It's also a scaling thing so that if you want to experience a touch of the new mechanics/abilities/etc? 1-2 star. Want to gather a team that's pretty optimal? 3 star? Got a great time with IOs, Incarnates, and 1-3 hours to spare? 4 star. 4-Star ASF when it initially came out was 3-4 hours. Why? Entirely new SF, Hard Mode was new, and people weren't used to an actual challenge at the time. The optional Vanguard fight was a great test for a team. Then a team managed to 4-man it. Things change as you do more of it. The big difference with the next TF is that it's an old TF. Everyone knows the ITF maps, and those who have done the x-Star ASF know to expect new abilities/higher stats. The AV fights are going to be lengthy, but then people will figure out strategies to cut down the time. Don't have the time? A regular ITF is still there for you and unaffected. In terms of bringing in new people / bringing people back, it's not going to make waves. Nothing can do that with a 100% certainty because some people are just too busy or get burnt out. Yes, there's other options too and those are just as valid. However, no one should be trying to use HM stuff as 'its bringing people in'. There's other avenues to the whole "get new people"/"bring people back" stuff, but I don't think the intent was to do either on a grand scale. There's going to be better stuff for that I imagine as the Pages go on.

MoonSheep: I also happen to go by the name Satan. You are cruel, MS.

That's my guess at least. Dual Blades is bladed weapons. Axes are sharp weapons. Blades are, generally, sharp cutting weapons. Maybe some exceptions exist. Dual Blades would need to be renamed, because tonfas/batons are blunt.

I don't entirely disagree. So instead, have me going off random tangents related to the topic. 4-star gives the MOST rewards, but it requires the most work. I don't think 4-star will be a 3 hour struggle shuffle after people get used to the fights and the mechanics. It's a meatgrinder, but you'll see a set of people able to get it down to lower and lower. Incans aren't disabled on HMs after all and Incan is a life saver for speed. Plus ITF has well known maps by now so some adjustment and you'll see similar tactics to get stuff done. It's not for everyone, and it was never meant to be for everyone to do on a daily basis. The new rewards and the boosted Reward Merit costs will give it a small incentive, but you're right in the idea that it won't be done much after a while. People don't have All The Time In The World these days, and that's fine. I like these Hard Mode things because it's something tough, its a team effort to complete, and it forces people to actually think rather than snore their way through +4/x8 Council Radios. I will say the added fight of HM ITF is something everyone should experience, but the fun part? All 4 star settings have it! If you have a less than optimal team, 1-2 star is the way to go. You get the boosted mechanics but nowhere near the grinder of 3-4 star. Got a great team that works together and is a slaughtercyclone? Hit that 3-4 star and wreck its face. That, and I am spitballing here, might require more time than HM TFs. Or maybe it'll take roughly the amount of time it took to do the HM ASF. It would require Hard Versions of Malta, Council, Arachnos, Rikti, Carnies, and Circle I believe. We have 1 of those done due to the ASF.