Player2

It doesn't (and probably shouldn't) cover all the bases in the way you're describing. It's an ancillary pool, not a full melee primary/secondary set. One toggle for defense, maybe one for a +Health/+Resist auto, a click version (with long recharge time) of Grant Cover, and a lesser (moderate Damage) version of Shield Charge attack... and maybe add in the middle a single target Shield Slam attack using some left-handed melee attack animation. Obviously this would need to be varied for the different ATs to suit each each one's needs, but it's about filling in some holes for non-melee types and not making the full Shield Defense powerset obsolete.

Can't teleport through time? Try using the mission teleport, LRT, or other teleport powers to get out of the Echo zones, Ouroboros, or Cimerora. Seems like the zone teleport system is powerful enough to travel through time after all.

Want to tank enemies and need to draw aggro? Pick up Provoke from the Presence pool.

I decided to take a stab at a character who utilized the full effects of Bio Armor... God Awful Spines / Bio Armor Scrapper

Surgestorm Water Blast / Storm Summoning Corruptor

Apotheosis Jones Peacebringer (Humanform)

Gravity Smash Gravity Control / Energy Assault Dominator

Grudge Match Super Strength / Regeneration Brute

A simple sword maiden... Heritage Katana / Ninjitsu Scrapper

Nothing fancy here... just an elegantly simple concept of a down on his luck hero who's given up on the idea of capes and tights, but still charges in for a fight when he's needed. Tough Break Street Justice / Regeneration Scrapper

I'd love to see an ancillary shield pool for the non melee types. I'm not going to try my hand at it because I don't have as good a feel for how the ancillary pools fit together for each different AT... but obviously it would need to be locked out for weapon sets like archery, assault rifle, and dual pistols. As far as using other powers & animations with a shield on the arm, I don't really see an issue. Just animate those powers normally with the shield on the arm. It shouldn't look any more unusual than seeing other powers like Sands of Mu or any powers swinging the shield around.

Mr. Hot Wings Thermal Radiation / Water Blast Defender "Eat me."

The Corporate Icon Radiation Melee / Fiery Aura Brute Green and gold, the colors of money...

Badbow Archery / Ninja Training Blaster

Where are you getting 4 months of snow and ice? I suggested one additional month of snow on the ground without the constant flurries, to acknowledge that it's still winter. As far as you avoiding Atlas Park for any length of time, that's on you. It's only the "central hub" of the game because it's the familiar zone that everyone starts with (excluding tutorial). Aside from starting a supergroup and collecting badges (exploration, history, and City Official day job), everything you can do in Atlas Park can be done in pretty much any other city zone. I say "no" to your no. Just because someone who doesn't like the change says we shouldn't doesn't mean we shouldn't.

And now, presenting the most fearsome foe ever... based on the most dangerous predator in the animal kingdom: Goose Girl Super Strength / Regeneration Brute

If I had to describe the look, I'd say it looked like something between classic Iron Man (golden armor) and a Power Ranger.

I like it.

Let's see, some of my other punny and funny names. Windy Skye (Storm/Electric defender) Hot Spell (Fire/Thermal controller, with Sorcery pool and a definite witchy theme to the costume) Terrorformer (Dark/Nature controller, with Presence pool for added fear stuff) Double Jeopardy (Dual Pistols/Martial blaster) Excalibro (Broad Sword / Bio Armor brute, with a surfer dude costume and fancy sword) Miss Perception (Mind/Time controller) Coldsore (Pain/Ice defender) Inaction Hero (Stone/Psionic tanker) Miss Truth (Energy/Bio Armor sentinel in patriotic costume) Cold Cuts (Dual Blades/Ice Armor scrapper, with a pair of ice swords)

I simple, classic design but with different colors to avoid any infringement issues... and viola, a new ultimate villain is created! Prime Evil Dark Melee / Dark Armor Brute

There is already work being done to allow for multiple auras, and one of the devs showed his results of his efforts (basically a mess of auras at once) but was still working on a practical way of implementing it into the game. His idea seems to allow various auras all at once, though each could be selected as applying to different parts. Personally, I'm all for it. I really want a character with a halo but also glowing eyes... as well as a character with flaming aura on one hand and energy glow on another. Hopefully we'll hear more about his progress in the next year.

That's on you. If you want to grossly misinterpret my words as an attempt to chase you away, then you are doing it to and/or for yourself. Leave me out of your decision making process.

It's not about the servers or the players... it's the location the game is set in. Paragon City is in Rhode Island. Everyone should feel free to discuss the game regardless of where they live. But where you live doesn't alter the facts about other parts of the world. Winter in Rhode Island, as with the rest of the U.S., starts on December 21st. Being from Canada where Winter starts at the beginning of November does not change or influence winter in Rhode Island at all. Jeez.... don't take things so personally.

City of Heroes is set in Rhode Island in the United States. Canada winter has no bearing on anything in this discussion.

There's more to it than just the date. As I explained, there's a definite holiday theme to the "Winter Event," and it starts before winter does. But yeah, those news agencies are wrong. If a snow storm hits prior to winter beginning, it is JUST a snow storm. If you have warm, wet, windy weather in January... that would be a winter storm because it is occurring in winter even if it feels like an early spring or late fall storm. They wouldn't care at the news agencies because they're all about ratings and they misuse words in ways they know will hook viewers attention... because ratings = money, and to them money is more important than using words correctly.