Zone Travel Updates in Issue 27

[Uun]

4 minutes ago, Jacke said:

You can see which Accolade Badges are for Exploration by their sideways spikey look, with the centre gem Blue in Paragon City, Red in the Rogue Isles, Yellow in Praetoria, a special Hazard Gates icon for Hazard Zones.  And every one of them when earned has a label that says which zone they are for.  It could be improved though.

You only need the accolade badge to unlock LRT. The additional zones are unlocked by a single exploration badge in the zone. 

[FundamentalyConfused]

I’ll go on record in favor of an account wide unlock for the LRT. Kinda like how HEATS and VEATS had to be unlocked by getting a 50 back in the day. That was account wide when it unlocked. 
 

I’m also from a time where you had to dodge close cluster of mobs in the hollows trying to get across the map for the Frostfire mish. That was hard, compared to nowadays the instant gratification of mission door tp we have it easy and should not complain. 

Edited November 25, 2020 by FundamentalyConfused
Spelling error

[Jacke]

14 minutes ago, FundamentalyConfused said:

I’m also from a time where you had to dodge close cluster of mobs in the hollows trying to get across the map for the Frostfire mish. That was hard, compared to nowadays the instant gratification of mission door tp we got it easy and should not complain. 

Oh, do I remember that.  Getting Perez Park missions where the mobs on the way were worse than in the mission.  In Steel or Skyway at level 10 and getting a mission at the far end.  And running down the exact centre of roads in the City zones as well as dodging the mobs on the street.

 

There's a reason why I go for full stealth on all my toons.  By level 20 at the latest.

[amusingsn]

One of the important things to keep in mind with having some people with access to fast travel and some people without is that this is a team-oriented game.  If everyone was playing solo, not having travel powers would only inconvenience the one player.  But no matter how much time/effort/work I put into getting the fast travel abilities that make the game convenient for me, there are likely to be people on the team who do not have those powers, leaving me with the choice to sit around and wait for them, or to play without them.  

 

This is not fun.  No matter how you look at it, its not an improvement to the game play experience.  If you're someone who only plays with friends, or only plays with super group members, and never plays with pick up groups, maybe this doesn't make much of a difference to you.  But when you are playing in pick up groups and adding and losing players with each mission of an arc, or taking the lottery with a Task Force or Trial, you never know who you are going to end up with.  And having new players come into the game and ask "how do I get to Striga?" and wondering why it is that everyone else can just pop over there in three seconds while they have to fly between trams and ferries or alternatively explaining to them that they need to go stand in Pocket D for an hour and then earn an exploration badge in Striga after that so they can fast travel there ... I don't know.  I started City of Heroes before Enhancement Diversification, so its been a long time since I struggled with traveling around, but I sympathize with new or returning players who don't know how to get around and now there are drop down menus and afking in zones to earn accolades and day job charges and millions of influence "prestige" powers to explain to them.

 

It's been characterized by people that "fast travel" is cheating unless you jump through hoops to earn it.  But why is that a problem when having capes or the fitness pool or travel powers before level 14 not considered cheating?  The jetpack at the P2W vendor is remarkably cheap, its practically cheating.  And that dagger they sell there.   Or the recover-boost serum.   What about the Knockback to Knockdown enhancement?  All cheating.  

 

Then there's the fortune telling cards.  Literally free.  Or the origin prestige attacks.  Ninja run.  Are they cheating too?

 

Warshades and Peacebringers get a bunch of power sets with just the cost of one or two picks (Nova and Dwarf forms).  Cheaty cheaty!

 

Consider this also:  When I team with someone who doesn't have influence for SOs or IOs and is inexperienced in how to play the game, it makes things harder for me, but WE BOTH still get to actually PLAY the game.  When I team with someone who can't get to the mission -- well, I can either wait, or hurt his feelings by playing without him.   Sometimes (often) it's SEVEN people who are waiting because ONE person is slow or lost.  Making it faster and easier to get to game play, at least when teaming, should be seen as a benefit.  This is why a lot of MMOs teleport you straight to instances now when you group, they don't make you wander like nomads between dungeon entrances using 5 different travel methods.

 

I love travel powers.  One of my favorite memories of City of Heroes was getting Flight for the first time and flying around Atlas Park.   I still fly or super-jump around the city for fun, because it is fun.  People will use these powers because its fun for them, and if they aren't, maybe they can be made MORE fun, rather than making not-having-them LESS fun for people.

[Blackbird71]

7 minutes ago, amusingsn said:

It's been characterized by people that "fast travel" is cheating unless you jump through hoops to earn it.  But why is that a problem when having capes or the fitness pool or travel powers before level 14 not considered cheating?  The jetpack at the P2W vendor is remarkably cheap, its practically cheating.  And that dagger they sell there.   Or the recover-boost serum.   What about the Knockback to Knockdown enhancement?  All cheating.  

Making the Ouro portal available at level 1 really destroys the argument that there needs to be a significant cost/barrier to fast travel.

[MWRuger]

How about bringing back Pocket D VIP as a purchasable power?

It would automatically unlock fast travel. I used to buy it on all my toons, still would for new guys. I'd gladly pay 10 million for it.

[MWRuger]

Also, when I start a TF that I know will benefit from team teleport or some other power like  Envenomed Daggers, I always offer to pay for them. 

A lot of times people don't know about them or just haven't done it. Only one person ever took my offer up although most people did buy.

[Glacier Peak]

1 hour ago, Blackbird71 said:

Making the Ouro portal available at level 1 really destroys the argument that there needs to be a significant cost/barrier to fast travel.

Edit for those who are confused: The Ouroboros isn't given out for free. Period. Other forum posters have correctly stated however, that it can be given to another player if it is dropped by someone with the power itself and clicked on by that player (except in the case of Praetorians), but there are many other ways to unlock this power aside from this method.

 

This continues to reinforce the argument that 'Fast Travel' in general is something to work towards and invest time in the short term, in order to gain long term efficiency via travel methods.

 

 

Edited November 25, 2020 by Glacier Peak
To clarify for those confused

[KeepDistance]

1 hour ago, Jacke said:

Perhaps it should have been turned off for general use last year.

 

But /enterbasefrompasscode hasn't been removed with i27p1.  It's been restricted.

I'm aware. Seems like a nitpick on phrasing that doesn't alter my general point, but ok.

[Rubberlad]

I like the Fast Travel Accolade macro. Helpful (and sets a future precedent for doing this with players being able to group actual like powers/chain attacks under one button as well).

 

However I really dislike the proximity limit on base macros. I get it - about a hundred people took advantage of this as an exploit...

 

While thousands of players just enjoyed the ease and functionality of visiting other player bases. The most recent base contest would never have worked (or likely happened) if this proximity limit on base macros had taken effect.

 

Finally - $10m for base functionality powers we used to have/earn for free is ridiculous. Find ways to balance economy within the game and missions themselves than penalize the poor, returning player who's just starting out again.

 

Note: not everyone farms for billions in AE, and there should be a higher cost associated with farming AE missions than paying for occasional utility power at the P2W vendor.

 

Please correct this if/when you can.

 

Thanks,

Rubberlad

 

 

[KeepDistance]

51 minutes ago, Glacier Peak said:

This unlocking of the Ouroboros portal at Level 1 still requires an investment in time by unlocking the power through one of the acceptable time-travel arcs or badges.

Is it no longer possible to acquire by going through someone else's portal?

[GUTROT]

It takes some getting used to,  but so far it's not that bad! We just became spoiled brats by the convience of the base macro hehe  People shouldn't be complaining so much about it, I think we'll survive just fine 😛

 

But what happened to the Longbow Jetpacks? I liked the recoloring to black very much but that seems to have been reverted 😦

 

[Blackbird71]

1 minute ago, KeepDistance said:

Is it no longer possible to acquire by going through someone else's portal?

It absolutely is, and in the feedback threads the devs expressed the intention that it be acquired in exactly that manner.  So no, there is no required investment to get access to Ouro or travel through it.

[Bionic_Flea]

3 hours ago, Jimmy said:

Some quick things based on feedback we've seen that'll be in the next patch:

• Fixed the Faultline Long Range Teleporter unlock looking at the badges in Echo: Faultline rather than Faultline proper
• Teleportation powers in P2W now have text descriptions rather than just saying "Buy me!"
• Zones in LRT are now coloured based on their location
  • These colours are just a first pass and can be adjusted - please give us your feedback!

Jimmy, I like the colored listing and the level breakdowns.  I'd have no problem with an option to alphabetize but would not want alpha to be the default or only sort.   I personally would go for a slightly different pallette, but that's me.

[ZacKing]

1 hour ago, Blackbird71 said:

Making the Ouro portal available at level 1 really destroys the argument that there needs to be a significant cost/barrier to fast travel.

yup could not agree more

[Glacier Peak]

17 minutes ago, KeepDistance said:

Is it no longer possible to acquire by going through someone else's portal?

 Entrusted with the Secret

• Moved to the top of the Flashback badge list
• Ouroboros Portals can now be summoned and entered by characters of any level
• The requirements to earn this badge have been cleaned up:
  • Completing any Flashback story arc using the Pillar of Ice and Flame will award the badge
  • Completing any story arc given directly by a Mender will award the badge
  • Completing any of the following missions will award the badge:
    • Follow up on Holsten Armitage's claim that Senator Dybalski has been kidnapped by Rikti
    • Defeat Ubelmann the Unknown in Ashwin Lannister or Laurie Pennington's story arc
    • Recover the PsychoChronoMetron or Destroy the PsychoChronoMetron from Agent G
    • Find "The Magic Man" and recover the Devil's Timepiece in Mercedes Shelton's story arc
    • Meet with Botis during Vincent Ross' story arc
    • Any mission with Professor Echo from Marshall Brass
    • Defeat Professor Echo when you encounter him during Pandora's Box story arc
    • Confront Mender Silos in the final mission of the Pandora's Box story arc
    • Travel to the ruined Cap Au Diable from the future in any Patron arc
    • Travel to the ruined Atlas Park from the Future in any Patron arc or the Lord Recluse Strike Force
    • Travel to the Dark Victory version of Atlas Park in Statesman's Task Force
  • Entering any of the following zones will award the badge:
    • Cimerora
    • Ouroboros
    • Recluse's Victory
    • Echo: Atlas Park
    • Echo: Galaxy City
    • Echo: Faultline
    • Echo: Dark Astoria
    • Echo: Rikti Crash Site
  • Entering one of these zones will also award the Ouroboros Portal power if you have somehow managed to lose it

Edited November 25, 2020 by Glacier Peak
pasted correctly

[Ironblade]

17 minutes ago, GUTROT said:

But what happened to the Longbow Jetpacks? I liked the recoloring to black very much but that seems to have been reverted 😦

Just saw this.  I don't recall any mention in the patch notes.  I'm guessing the packs being black was a bug and was fixed.

Having said that....

 

Can we PLEASE get an all-black jet pack option?

[Glacier Peak]

18 minutes ago, Blackbird71 said:

It absolutely is, and in the feedback threads the devs expressed the intention that it be acquired in exactly that manner.  So no, there is no required investment to get access to Ouro or travel through it.

This is not correct for Praetorian characters.

[amusingsn]

7 minutes ago, Glacier Peak said:

 Entrusted with the Secret

• Moved to the top of the Flashback badge list
• Ouroboros Portals can now be summoned and entered by characters of any level
• The requirements to earn this badge have been cleaned up:
• ...
  • Entering any of the following zones will award the badge:
    • Cimerora
    • Ouroboros
    • Recluse's Victory
    • Echo: Atlas Park
    • Echo: Galaxy City
    • Echo: Faultline
    • Echo: Dark Astoria
    • Echo: Rikti Crash Site
  •  ....

So entering Ouroboros will award the badge.  So just asking someone to drop a portal near Miss Liberty and you get it.  

To not give it to everyone is just punishing people who are too shy or polite to ask for a portal at Miss Liberty.  Or to new players who don't know to ask.  And it creates the awkward dynamic of someone saying :  "How do I get to Ouroboros?"   And having to answer:  "You need to ask someone near you to drop a portal and then click on the yellow glowy portal they summon, and then you'll enter the zone and after that you'll magically have the ability to drop your own portals.  It's weird, I know, but for some reason you need to do that.  *shrug*"

[Bionic_Flea]

Double post for some weird reason.  Sorry.

Edited November 25, 2020 by Bionic_Flea

[Glacier Peak]

1 minute ago, amusingsn said:

So entering Ouroboros will award the badge.  So just asking someone to drop a portal near Miss Liberty and you get it.  

To not give it to everyone is just punishing people who are too shy or polite to ask for a portal at Miss Liberty.  Or to new players who don't know to ask.  And it creates the awkward dynamic of someone saying :  "How do I get to Ouroboros?"   And having to answer:  "You need to ask someone near you to drop a portal and then click on the yellow glowy portal they summon, and then you'll enter the zone and after that you'll magically have the ability to drop your own portals.  It's weird, I know, but for some reason you need to do that.  *shrug*"

If a new player does not know about the Ouroboros portal, or other means in the game to travel around quickly, how do they know they are missing out on it?

[Darmian]

11 minutes ago, Glacier Peak said:

This is not correct for Praetorian characters.

True.  You need to have accessed an ouro crystal in a base and done at least one mission.

 

 

[amusingsn]

16 minutes ago, Glacier Peak said:

If a new player does not know about the Ouroboros portal, or other means in the game to travel around quickly, how do they know they are missing out on it?

I had someone join a pug team doing flashback missions just two days ago, and someone didn't know how to get to ouroboros.  It's obvious you take a lot of pride in your service to the community, the forum, discord, beta testing groups, etc.  But there are a lot of people who don't read forum posts, don't check the patch notes, etc.  I ran a team with my supergroup and someone in the group didn't know how to get to Kalisti Wharf, and this was someone who was not new to the game at all.  Not everybody knows everything about the game.

I don't know what sort of bubble people might be in, but I play the game several times a week for an hour or two each time, and I've encountered all manner of skill levels, game-proficiency, and system knowledge.  I don't just limit myself to playing with veteran pro players or elite gamers, I'll play with anyone who is looking to play.  Playing with people who are better at or have more knowledge of the game is how new players learn.  

 

I don't mind telling someone to use the tram to get to Kalisti.  But I do draw a line explaining to them that they need to beg people at Miss Liberty to put down a portal before they can make their own portals.  It's actually kind of embarrassing to explain to a player something like that, imo.  But what's the alternative?  To say: "Oh, you don't know how to get here?  Well, you're not ready to play this leet flashback arc we're doing.  Look me up when you know how to get here.  Kick!"?

 

Maybe the tutorial can be updated to teach people all that stuff, that would be helpful.  I realize Ouroboros was supposed to be a "secret" originally, but the cat has been out of the bag for years.  And the same thing about Praetoria.  Maybe as part of the Tutorial, the Menders could contact the player and let him in on the secret.  It's better that than to find out the truth about Santa Claus from the other kids on the school yard.

[Glacier Peak]

17 minutes ago, amusingsn said:

Maybe the tutorial can be updated to teach people all that stuff, that would be helpful.  I realize Ouroboros was supposed to be a "secret" originally, but the cat has been out of the bag for years.  And the same thing about Praetoria.  Maybe as part of the Tutorial, the Menders could contact the player and let him in on the secret.  It's better that than to find out the truth about Santa Claus from the other kids on the school yard.

I dig this suggestion. At least in the destroyed Galaxy City tutorial. Perfect place to plop down a time traveler from an organization worried about the coming storm, right before you fight a giant enemy whose origins are linked to that coming storm.

[Archanarchist2]

Never understood why people 'fix' things that aren't broken
(then onto of removing that, you put in a long range teleport accolades for mains/badge hunters, so the main excuse of making people run to tram is void anyways)
(don't even get me started about the 'levelling' out and making generic all the powers to same same them all, might reduce my urge to make alts though since its mostly just animations that are different in a lot of cases now)
Base teleport wasn't stopping ANYONE running the long way if they wanted to, it was just making the game a lot more enjoyable for a pile of people who like me will probably play a lot less in future and when i do since ill need so much cash to buy all these stupid temp powers i wont be fire farming random people asking for help levelling on fukashima or yellowcake for free anymore because ill be needing the cash for my alts because for some reason you decided you would make it 10,000,000 to buy SG base access for a char:(, not 100,000 or even 1,000,000
I have 70+ chars and convenient base access now costs as much as it costs to equip them with IO's
but i know whats more annoying having to run about the place or having non enhanced powers ill go with non enhanced powers every time
ill ill probably patch back up a few games and be a little less obsessively immersed in coh :P

Edited November 25, 2020 by Archanarchist2
spelling mistake