Player2

Let's have a little legal lesson regarding trademark law and why Marvel HAD to sue City of Heroes. A significant piece of trademark law, as opposed to copyright, is that it must be actively defended or the owner can be considered to have abandoned it. For example, if someone made a Spider-Man clone in the old days, technically NCSoft was profitting off of Marvel's IP because they were collecting a monthly fee to play the game where said clone was created. These days, there is no profit being made here, so the chances of Marvel outright suing are a whole lot less likely. There's also chance they can make the game go away now because the code is in the wild and anyone can run it with the proper resources. What that means is that maybe Marvel spends money getting their lawyers to file a cease & desist order and/or possibly get this server shut down. But they'll know it's one server while many more could pop up at a moment's notice. Because no profit is being made, the need to defend the trademark is relaxed. If you're not using the trademark to make a profit, you're not challenging the owner of that IP on whether or not they want to fight to keep it. What constitutes a trademark infringement? This is a good one, because I recall people being absolutely fearful that Marvel's lawsuit would shut the game down and after it was dismissed that they (or DC or whoever else) would sue again ANY time there was a character that seemed to rip something off from somewhere else. As someone else pointed out earlier in this thread, pretty much everything is a ripoff of something else these days. While it can seem a little odd what constitutes an infringement, such as the time that the Fighting American character --a shield throwing Captain America ripoff-- lost the right to throw his shield. It was a thing that was fairly unique to Captain America. While the lawsuit also addressed the whole character of Fighting American as a ripoff, he was allowed to continue being published with no changes to his look or name, other than not being able to throw his shield as a weapon anymore. For a character to be trademarked, it must be legally distinct. Fighting American's costume, although patriotic, differed enough from Captain America's to set him apart as a unique character. As did the name Fighting American. If he were called Captain American, you can bet that would have been changed by court order. I remember seeing a COH character in the past called Firestorm, and people were flooding the broadcast channel with attacks and threats to report him because it would bring down the wrath of DC. However, the word "Firestorm" is a word in the dictionary and cannot be trademarked --not on it's own. To trademark a word or name, it must be unique. One way to do this is to create a unique spelling that makes it distinct from whatever it might be similar to. Another is to add additional words to create a title, such as Fury of Firestorm or Firestorm the Nuclear Man. And yet another way would be to trademark the appearance of the name, such as the uniquely designed fonts for comic book cover titles. As works of art, they are a visual representation of the word(s). The COH Firestorm example above would be exempt from a DC Comics lawsuit because the character looked nothing like DC's Firestorm character and did not claim to be a Nuclear Man. Actually, the character was rather unoriginally named after the chosen powersets of Fire Control and Storm Summoning, again setting it apart from the legal distinction of DC's character. You CANNOT trademark mythology... exactly. Marvel owns Thor? No... no they don't. What they own is a trademark on their likeness of Thor, as well as the various title designs, and some of the title he's most famous for in Marvel Comics: The Mighty Thor. Anyone could publish Thor in a comic, and in fact has. Image Comics had Supreme and at one point mirroring the Marvel Story where Beta Ray Bill took Mjolnir from Thor and Odin put the two through challenges to prove who was more worthy... in Supreme's comic, he defeated Thor and got to keep Mjolnir (and they were calling him Supreme God of Thunder for awhile). While the copying of the overall theme and various elements look like they could be a copyright infringement (but copyright isn't my specialty, so I'll avoid speaking to how they worked around that), Image published their own likeness of Thor, Mjolnir, Odin, and Asgard. Because the mythology exists in the public domain, like words such as Firestorm. You have to be careful of the specifics with using public domain stuff, but essentially knockoff characters can be valid as long as they are legally distinct. Side note: Parody Parody can be a tricky subject with regard to copyright and trademark law. There is indeed a fair use of such material under the heading of parody. However, NCSoft/Paragon Studios made the rules of the game and were ultimately liable for their customers' creations. Rather than risk lawsuits and/or trying to compel the offending customer(s) to testify with their explanation for how the parody should be allowed when a lawsuit from the IP owner comes, it was easier for them to simply issue a zero tolerance policy on anything that looked like trademarked properties to avoid lawsuits as best they could. So relax, Marvel isn't coming to shut this game down because no one is profiting off their intellectual properties. It's no different than if someone were to draw those trademarked characters for their own (or others') entertainment without asking for money or trying to publish them in any way. Adendum: Legally distinct does not necessarily cover specific characters' secret identities. Did you know that Clark Kent appeared in Marvel Comics? It was an issue of Thor, and it was a perfect likeness and he was a reporter on assignment with his partner Lois. The names "Clark" and "Kent" --even in that very well known combination-- are too common and cannot meet the legal definition of legally distinct. Likewise, the mild mannered reporter in glasses look was also too ordinary, even though every fan knows who he really is, to be legally distinct. Some things are just not able to be sued over. Others can. Did Lucasfilm sue a bunch of fan websites for infringing on their Star Wars IP? Yes. How well did that turn out? Yeah, it had some impact in the short term, but it didn't last. And with that as a precedent, you can be certain that lawyers would know that even if they shut down the Homecoming server, others will be out there and even this one could eventually return. The trademark isn't being challenged in a way that needs to be defended, and while Disney has the money to burn, that's all they'd be doing. Well, that and pissing off a number of comics fans, earning them more bad press.

Um, OK, but, why? Just for people to have something to show off to the 'lessers'? I just do not understand why people have to have something 'written in code' here. If they want to add things as their character progresses, they can do that. What is the point of restricting things in code like this other than to give people access to an e-peen variable? Why do people have this need to show others they are 'better' and 'been through more' content? Because unlocking things gives you a sense of progression. When you have to earn things they're more meaningful to you once you have them. You know what is the best only only sense of progression? Levels, and the powers they bring. Cosmetic changes that have to be earned are an irritant. You want to feel like you accomplished something? Deny yourself, then run the cape mission at level 20 and aura mission at level 30. They're still there. And you can feel a sense of accomplishment for completing them. If I have to earn capes again, I would lose interest in the game and respect for the homecoming team.

I remember back in the day I soloed the clone missions on villain side to earn the Army of Me badge. Tried today with all kinds of inspiration help, not to mention having prestige powers now that I didn't then. I barely survive the first mission against the zombies and the second mission they're kicking my ass before I can lock on target with telekinesis or a group hold. I hit the hospital, come back in armed with a full tray of Large inspirations (various combinations) and try to make a go of it, but again they're killing me before I can do anything.

Too soon? Don't care. :D

I honestly do not see a problem with the Winter Lord attacking in the summer. Actually, seems perfectly reasonable that such a villain might want to annex another season or attack when it thinks everyone is vulnerable or whatever. I'm less inclined to see Baby New Year rescues in the middle of the year or trick or treating outside of October... but alien invasions, zombie invasions, and so on should also be able to happen whenever. The frequency can be bumped up during Halloween, but no need to limit those to only Halloween.

Do what with Sprint now? You know you can have sprint (or the prestige sprint powers) on with Ninja Run or Beast Run or any of the travel powers, right? So I'm not sure what you mean by "let's do that for Sprint too." Anyhow, I get what you're saying about Ninja Run. But it --and Beast Run-- are basically lesser travel powers that you can have for free now but used to be a bonus. It turns off when you activate super jump or super speed because it's not supposed to stack with those powers the way Sprint can. As for Rest... Yeah, what you consider restful someone else might not. However, I could see the easy fix to this being somehow removing the freeze out on animations in the taking a knee pose. So once you've begun the resting, allow players to activate other animations as they see fit.

I know he's not completely absent from the game, but is there any way we could bring his cape's mantle to everyone at this point? When the new one was first introduced, it produced a lot of impressed reactions, but it was special and unique to Statesman only, and talk of bringing it or even something like it was generally ignored by the developers and not reacted to fondly by other players. The general consensus was that they liked the signature heroes having unique costume pieces. Personally, that always bothered me. I play a game like this for it to be about MY characters, not the developers pet characters... so it's bad enough we have to visit them to be trained (sorry, not all heroes have to go to someone else for training; they're either self-trained or pre-trained and get better on their own, and it never made sense why the signature heroes were qualified to train heroes who had powers and even ATs outside their own scope). But anyway... Statesman is dead. I want his cape. Not just for me, but for everyone.

Yes, I went looking for a sash for females, and all I found was that Carnies thing under belts. Doesn't seem logical that this should be restricted to males only. Also, it should definitely be under belts.

Seems like such an easy fix to reskin the old cellphones with a more modern smart phone texture.

I remember them as well, I had a PPD Hardshell, not to mention a Banished Pantheon Shaman during a Halloween event (and there were a bunch of other costume reward powers as well during that Halloween). Plus there was also a Freakshow mission where you get surrounded by their tank armor... as well as the lowbie mission in Atlas Park where you get turned into a Hellion. I recall reading something on Discord about coming up with new exploration badges. Who knows, maybe they could tie certain of these costume powers to acquiring a specific collection of Exploration badges.

1. I could see that. While the Homecoming Team doesn't necessarily have the resources to build a whole new bunch of animations, we do have some stuff in the game that works already, including the knife throwing origin power for Naturals and shuriken throwing power (just replace the shurikens with knives). Maybe play around with a couple other animations to build the powerset, and I'd see this one being viable. Limitations: No long range snipe, so something else would have to take it's place. 3. I get why this one never made it to scrappers, because it is extremely tanky with it's slow movement. However, I will throw my 2 cents in here and suggest that Scrappers should get Energy Melee. Also, while we're proliferating powersets, Illusion for Dominators. 7. Agreed. It's unfair heroes just get Ancillaries and villains have to unlock them. Maybe if they had their own generic ancillaries in addition to those locked ones, and heroes have their standard ancillaries plus some locked epics as well... that would be different. 8. Yes, we need Wind Control plus pools like Gadgetry and Utility Belt. All those things that were discussed prior to the shutdown. 9. Yes, but keep going. "Squeaky wheel gets the kick!" -Minsc

Exactly. Restrictions are not fun. Maybe some people feel they need some structure to their fun, but ultimately that's a personal preference and not a rule that should be applied to everyone.

The solution to this problem is for people to stop demonizing people who want to farm AE. Yes, I understand that at present it's a server load issue and the Homecoming team wants to discourage it. But listening to people whine about how AE ruins the game for them and AE farmers are bad for reasons of X, Y, and Z only make it so that people who create those farm type missions be discreet with their missions. If they could advertise them as farms without some people getting bent out of shape for others using them or even that they just exist, then everyone would be able to find the missions that's right for them. Farmers could find their farms and story-driven players could find what they want, and everyone could be happy. I'm going to go out on a limb here by "attacking" people, but EVERYONE who whines about farms: STOP. YOU play the game the way YOU want to. If you encounter someone playing a different way and you don't like it... so what? Ignore them and do something else. Go find other players to team with and enjoy the game. You may not be able to understand what enjoyment they get out of playing that way, but maybe they don't care for or understand your preferences. Are they wrong? If you say yes, I say shut it. Everyone play the game however makes you feel happy. Because if you're not enjoying yourself, why bother? However, we do have to co-exist. And trying to establish one way as the right way or the better way is just an opinion. You're entitled to it, but the moment you try to shove it down someone else's throat, then YOU ARE WRONG. Don't bother trying to change my mind. I'm all about freedom, and while I don't share everyone's point of view, I respect their right to live and play however they want so long as it doesn't harm anyone else. And no, someone getting to 50 in a day with a group of experts and not knowing how to play their character spoiling a team experience for you does not actually hurt you. It's an annoyance, but you have tools to remove such people --or yourself if need be-- from your team and move on without ever having to interact with that player directly again. So stop whining about AE and bad players and anything else about how you think the game should be played and just be freakin' grateful to have the game back at all.

An unnecessary complication. Why bother?

Not all auras are about showing a progression of power. Besides, not everyone wants to follow that idea of starting as a nearly powerless nobody and working their way up to Superman status. Maybe they want their story to be they are already full of power, enough to blow up a whole city, but just don't know how to channel it yet. Do you think it would have made Ghost Rider in the comics seem more believable if he started as just a leather-clad skeleton and after he "hit level 30" he was suddenly able to surround himself with the Hellfire that was the source of his power? Besides, there are low level enemies with auras: Circle of Thorns with their glowing eyes... Oh my gosh, they can blow up the city at level 5!! Don't be ridiculous. Also, bright, shiny light does not necessarily indicate a measure of power. So who cares if someone is glowing brightly? If they're level 5 and glowing and that bothers you, then don't team with them. Go ahead and do your own thing, and leave everyone else alone.

No! I always found it rather irritating that you had to earn a cape. What, people are allowed to dress up funny and run around enforcing brutal justice but they better not dare to wear a cape because of some outdated implausible excuse that was initially given to justify why there were no capes at all in the early days of the game? The idea was that when Hero 1 was lost, Statesman and all the heroes took off their capes as a sign of respect? Then when they finally could add capes, you "earn" it by completing some mission? If people WANT to follow a tradition, that's fine. When you enforce it, it's not a tradition or a sign of respect. It's the beginnings of tyranny, which has no place on the side of heroes. And then let's look at the utter absurdity of applying that to the villain side of things. We play ruthless lawbreakers... and the rule we have to follow in the Rogue Isles is that Arachnos makes the rules. And they limit capes to people who have completed a mission why? And you have missions where you even fight against Arachnos, demonstrating that their rule is not absolute, so why would anyone restrict the attire that they wear by not wearing a cape? No, story reasons are extremely stretched, and they had no place in restricting us from capes outside of story reason either. It made some people feel good. I say fine, give them a shiny badge for completing the mission. Do not restrict my creativity for story or outdated game mechanics reasons.

You've Awakened my curiosity. Wyvern would you people do this?? You should be Outcasts from this form for such wordplay. Until something gets done, we're all Prisoners of your torturous game. I'm surprised no one has complained of an ache in their Skulls. But we shall Resistance you by not joining in. I'll bet you didn't Seers that coming.

I can't remember which group, but one of the enemy groups in City of Villains had energy blast with golden ray of light type beams instead of the effect that players have. It wasn't just a recolor, it also didn't have the bubbles of energy around the attacker's hands or on the target impact. Would love to see that available as an option for energy blast.

I would suggest that one option that doesn't exist in any other set but could feasibly be pieced together from other sets would be to have a blast that is the opposite effect of propel that drags the target to the blaster, and does it so quick & painful like that it causes damage. From there, the blaster could then use whatever melee range attacks they have available. As for mechanics, I see it as something like a combination of Telekinesis and Teleport Foe plus DOT damage. In essence, it would be similar to teleporting the foe to you, but should look more like Telekinesis in reverse, dragging them painfully toward you as they try to resist (and this being what causes the damage). It should be able to be slotted with KB enhancers, but the knockback is actually knocking them forward toward the blaster. Yes, it should be able to affect bosses, EBs, and AVs (I believe Teleport Foe does not), but only as much as Telekinesis is able to... meaning you really need to stack up your KB effect on some to overcome their resistance. An initial strike use of this power shouldn't necessarily be effective on more powerful foes, but as it builds on them (and drains your Endurance), it should be able to kick in. Why a blaster would WANT to drag an AV closer is beyond me and out of my swim lane. Just saying, I could see that. Why should this power get damage when Telekinesis does not? I'm going to go for the simple game balance answer of: Because it's a blast set power, not a control power.

Terrifying.

Windows Snip tool also works.

One more for today... Just moved on to the Excelsior server: Halloween Girl Dark/Storm Corruptor ...because I thought a necro mastermind would just be too cliche.

Crazy Train SS/Invul Brute

Thanks. That's good to know.

Yeah, but I want the environment as well, not the indistinct, off-kilter city in a hazy shade of red