Rathulfr

My regular SG lives on Excelsior. I solo or team with other friends and HC Discord folks on Everlasting.

/em cues up his usual screed railing against Hasten and the +recharge metagame... /em pauses, reconsiders, and exits quietly. "Let them descend into madness without me," he mutters as he goes.

If it's as easy as you describe, then I'm sure it will get the attention it deserves.

My understanding is that the issues associated with clipping and redraw are very complex with the current game engine. This is why I doubt we'll see any significant changes to anything that involves them unless/until the HC team can afford the right resources to dig into the code and address them. And that won't happen any time Soon™, unless there's a break through in the negotiations with NCSoft. That's why it's probably more achievable to get an "invisible" shield that's technically still a shield, and so follows all of the same animation rules as any visible shield. And that's also probably why it's far less achievable to get an invisible/ignore shield that has different rules than all the other shields (without a completely different power set with different animation rules). (edit) These are the kinds of issues you can get when you start messing with the costume parts and animation rules (credit to @positivegamer and Thunderspy).

Welcome to CoH!

I agree with you: I'm not opposed to that. But I don't think that's what the request is really about.

I got what you were saying. I was just pointing out that there's not an easy way to accomplish this without potentially creating new problems for someone else. I'm sure that someone would select "Ignore Shield" and also select a visible shield. The "Ignore Shield" option would suppress the altered animations that go with the Shield Defense power set, reverting them to the default animations. But then that would mean that the visible shield would clip through the player avatar and animate strangely while moving/fighting. If the "Ignore Shield" option suppressed the altered animations and made the selected shield invisible, then the player would ask, "Hey! What happened to my shield?" Not a catastrophe, but still confusing and frustrating nonetheless. We already have to deal with this issue now, when players select the Arachnos Crab Soldier backpacks. Players are routinely confused that these backpacks don't appear in game, when they're clearly selectable in the character creator. I've had players tell me that they created an entire costume built around the crab backpack, only to be dismayed when it didn't appear on their avatar when they logged in, because they did so with the wrong AT. So we're back to the nut of the problem: you want the Shield Defense power set without the shield, which is kind of the point of the whole set. They're a package deal, just like Assault Rifle, Dual Blades, Titan Weapons, etc. I'd love to have Titan Weapons without the stupid titan weapons themselves, but that's not a reasonable ask (I really wish I could get Bio Armor without the stupid green lightning effects, which isn't unreasonable, but that's a different issue). If you want Shield Defense without shields, pick Super Reflexes, instead. Or recommend a new defense-oriented power set that's similar to Shield Defense, except without requiring a shield. Otherwise, the closest you're going to get is the energy shield in my screenshot, above.

Stop, that tickles! 😄

I want an invisible jet costume piece, too.

An "ignore shield" option would have to be limited to when the "invisible shield" was selected in the character creator, to prevent it from being used with a regular shield. Reverting to the default animations with a regular shield equipped would just mean that the visible shield animates oddly and clips through everything. Again, not impossible, but probably a lower priority on the developer's to-do list.

Like all TFs, DFB will automatically exemplar you down to its level, so you'll start at level 2 and with only those powers you have up to level 7. You'd still have your enhancements, of course, but they'd be scaled down in effectiveness, as well. And I'm not sure that any of the set bonuses work that far down: maybe the purple and PvP sets. I honestly don't know about that. Anyway: it's a cake walk for level 2's without any Enhancements, so it definitely won't present any challenge for higher levels, either.

What you're describing is not just "invisible shield", but also a completely different set of animations determined by which shield is selected in the costume creator. I can imagine it would be fairly easy for the devs to create an "Invisible Shield" costume part that is just that: nothing. But as far as the game logic is concerned, there's still a shield there, even if it doesn't display anything visually. Consequently, you'd have no visible shield, but you'd still have all the same underlying animation logic, so you'd still have all the problems you describe above. I can imagine it would be more complex for the devs to alter the animation logic to change its behavior on which shield model you choose. In fact, why stop there? Why not change the animation logic to change behavior on which weapon you choose? Or which gloves? Or your chest detail? You can see where I'm going with this: doing this would add a lot more complexity to the game code, which is already fragile enough as it is. I'm not saying it's impossible: I'm just saying that it's not as easy as simply saying, "Give us an invisible shield." An invisible shield is still a shield, as far as the game engine is concerned, so it would still have the same animation code as any of the other shields.

I meant no disrespect to Regen with my comments.

You cannot boost the Winter and ATO sets. You use the Catalysts on these to make them Superior, which increases their stat and bonus values (as described by @SuperPlyx). Or you can just buy the Superior versions on the AH, and save/sell the Catalysts. Yes, because Armageddon is purple, you should not attune it: you should boost it. That increases their enhancement percentages, but doesn't alter the set bonuses. For example, Armageddon: Damage at 50 increases damage by 53%. If you boost it to 50+5, the damage increases to 66.25%. (edit) BTW: attunement/boosting has no effect on static procs, like Miracle: +Recovery. So you don't have to attune or boost those at all. However, if an enhancement has a proc and increases a stat, you may want to attune or boost that (if it's not purple/PvP, of course). Luck of the Gambler: Defense/Increased Global Recharge Speed is one of these that's both a proc and a stat enhancement. The attune/boost has no effect on the Increased Global Recharge Speed proc, but it does apply to the Defense stat and set bonus. Consequently, if you want to use LotG: +Def/Global Rech as part of a set, you need to attune it. Or if you want to maximize its +Defense, you need to boost it. Unfortunately, you can't do both.

Ok, thanks for the clarification. Yes, I ran my spines/fire brute through @brigg's comic con last night, and noticed that, too.

Here's my current build. The main feature is that it's a purely ranged build -- no blapping. I've soft-capped Ranged defense, and almost capped Smashing/Lethal. This build also doesn't include Hasten, which some people insist is mandatory, but I don't think it's necessary. At +81% recharge from set bonuses alone, my rotation cycles through efficiently without any down time. Hero Plan by Mids' Reborn : Hero Designer 2.6.0.7 https://github.com/ImaginaryDevelopment/imaginary-hero-designer Click this DataLink to open the build! Rathstar NRGx2: Level 50 Science Blaster Primary Power Set: Energy Blast Secondary Power Set: Energy Manipulation Power Pool: Flight Power Pool: Concealment Power Pool: Leadership Power Pool: Fighting Ancillary Pool: Mace Mastery Hero Profile: Level 1: Power Bolt -- Thn-Acc/Dmg(A), Thn-Dmg/EndRdx(3), Thn-Dmg/Rchg(3), Thn-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(5), Thn-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(5), Thn-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(7) Level 1: Power Thrust -- Acc-I(A) Level 2: Power Blast -- SprDfnBrr-Acc/Dmg(A), SprDfnBrr-Dmg/Rchg(7), SprDfnBrr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(9), SprDfnBrr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(9), SprDfnBrr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(11), SprDfnBrr-Rchg/+Status Protect(11) Level 4: Build Up -- AdjTrg-ToHit(A), AdjTrg-ToHit/Rchg(17), AdjTrg-ToHit/EndRdx/Rchg(17), AdjTrg-EndRdx/Rchg(19), AdjTrg-ToHit/EndRdx(19), AdjTrg-Rchg(21) Level 6: Power Burst -- SprBlsWrt-Acc/Dmg(A), SprBlsWrt-Dmg/Rchg(21), SprBlsWrt-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(23), SprBlsWrt-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(23), SprBlsWrt-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(25), SprBlsWrt-Rchg/Dmg%(25) Level 8: Sniper Blast -- ExcCnt-Acc/Dmg(A), ExcCnt-Dmg/EndRdx(27), ExcCnt-Dmg/ActRdx(27), ExcCnt-Dmg/Rng(29), ExcCnt-Dmg/Rchg(29), ExcCnt-Stun%(31) Level 10: Fly -- BlsoftheZ-ResKB(A) Level 12: Hover -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), LucoftheG-Def(31), LucoftheG-Def/EndRdx(31), Ksm-ToHit+(33) Level 14: Stealth -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), LucoftheG-Def(33), LucoftheG-Def/EndRdx(33) Level 16: Energize -- NmnCnv-Heal/EndRdx(A), NmnCnv-EndRdx/Rchg(34), NmnCnv-Heal/Rchg(34), NmnCnv-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg(34), NmnCnv-Heal(36), NmnCnv-Regen/Rcvry+(36) Level 18: Maneuvers -- Rct-Def(A), Rct-Def/EndRdx(39), Rct-EndRdx/Rchg(39), Rct-Def/Rchg(39), Rct-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(40), Rct-ResDam%(40) Level 20: Tactics -- GssSynFr--ToHit(A), GssSynFr--ToHit/Rchg(43), GssSynFr--ToHit/Rchg/EndRdx(43), GssSynFr--Rchg/EndRdx(45), GssSynFr--ToHit/EndRdx(45), GssSynFr--Build%(45) Level 22: Kick -- Acc-I(A) Level 24: Tough -- GldArm-3defTpProc(A), ImpSki-Status(36), StdPrt-ResDam/Def+(37) Level 26: Explosive Blast -- OvrFrc-Acc/Dmg(A), OvrFrc-End/Rech(40), OvrFrc-Acc/Dmg/End(42), OvrFrc-Dmg/End/Rech(42), OvrFrc-Acc/Dmg/End/Rech(42), OvrFrc-Dam/KB(43) Level 28: Weave -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), LucoftheG-Def(37), LucoftheG-Def/EndRdx(37) Level 30: Aim -- RctRtc-ToHit(A), RctRtc-Pcptn(46), RctRtc-ToHit/Rchg(46) Level 32: Nova -- Arm-Dmg(A), Arm-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(46), Arm-Acc/Rchg(48), Arm-Dmg/Rchg(48), Arm-Dmg/EndRdx(48), SuddAcc--KB/+KD(50) Level 35: Scorpion Shield -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), LucoftheG-Def(50), LucoftheG-Def/EndRdx(50) Level 38: Assault -- EndRdx-I(A) Level 41: Power Boost -- RechRdx-I(A) Level 44: Afterburner -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A) Level 47: Invisibility -- ShlWal-ResDam/Re TP(A) Level 49: Vengeance -- ToHit-I(A) Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A) Level 1: Defiance Level 1: Prestige Power Dash -- Empty(A) Level 1: Prestige Power Slide -- Empty(A) Level 1: Prestige Power Quick -- Empty(A) Level 1: Prestige Power Rush -- Empty(A) Level 1: Prestige Power Surge -- Empty(A) Level 1: Sprint -- Clr-Stlth(A) Level 2: Rest -- RechRdx-I(A) Level 4: Ninja Run Level 2: Swift -- Flight-I(A) Level 2: Health -- Mrc-Rcvry+(A), Pnc-Heal/+End(13), Prv-Absorb%(13) Level 2: Hurdle -- Jump-I(A) Level 2: Stamina -- PrfShf-End%(A), PrfShf-EndMod(15), PrfShf-EndMod/Rchg(15) Level 50: Ion Core Final Judgement Level 50: Assault Core Embodiment Level 50: Clarion Core Epiphany Level 1: Quick Form Level 50: Agility Radial Paragon Level 50: Diamagnetic Radial Flawless Interface Level 50: Longbow Core Superior Ally ------------

I've posted my builds a few times. I'm on the phone ATM, or else I'd post again. Search for my posts and you'll find them.

I thought they already were generated randomly, from a finite set of possible maps. I always saw the problem as one of too few maps in the predetermined set. The AE mission creator seems to have a larger set, so why not include those in the set employed by the radio mission generator?

Purple and PvP sets always exemplar down, so they don't need to be attuned. The set bonuses of everything else only exemplars down three levels, so if you want the set bonuses to exemplar down beyond three levels (to the minimum level of the set), then you need to attune. If you don't care about exemplaring down that far, then don't attune: boost, instead.

If everything is "pretty much the same" after a spike in user pop caused by COVID quarantine (4K concurrent users peak), then inflation has been "curbed" (i.e., mitigated -- not stopped). I would consider that validation that the devs were right about the exploit and took the appropriate action.

I don't think anyone rational is claiming that it will "curb" (i.e., "stop") inflation; however, it will slow the rate at which inflation occurs naturally. As you point out, inflation can't stopped, but it can be mitigated over a longer period of time. If the amount of currency injected into the system is now 50% slower, then the rate of inflation is now 50% slower, too.

Not all the time, but usually against bosses and definitely against AVs. Keeping their end/recovery floored is essential to shutting them down. As long as they have 1 point of End, they can attack, so I feel like I gotta keep their blue bar flattened.

Yes! I like the idea of my villain being the instigator of zone-wide catastrophe on Paragon City. That would definitely feel more villainous than merely schlepping for Lord Refuse. I'd love to see a server-wide announcement along the lines of "Wrathstar [my evil twin] has unleashed the wrath of [villain group] on [zone name]!" Of course, that's probably not practical, as I probably wouldn't be completing the SF solo, and I'd want all of my compatriots to get credit for the havoc being wreaked.