Coming Back to Homecoming: Criticisms and Comments

[Monos King]

It's been a while since I've been active on Homecoming. Haven't touched the servers much, the forums even less. So coming in now, it's kind of like a mix in perspective between the total newcomers and the veterans. There's been a lot of excitement, but nothing is perfect. I remember how things were, so I think it's time for someone to finally balance some of that enthusiasm with a realistic outlook. This is the feedback section, after all.

 

The Current State of Homecoming

Missions and Storylines

Let's take a look at this here...Mender Valen. Apparently she's supposed to connect to some other contacts, which just seems to be an excuse not to make original storyline content. Not impressed so far. I'm looking at how this is supposed to connect to Laura Lockhart, things didn't go to well in that arc. Keep playing through missions, normal, normal, did this before, did this before and-

Oh.

Oh shit.

You can change the fate of the character? You can use Ouroboros for what everyone would have always expected you to use it for, and actually change the timeline? This is way too cool. It's legitimately better than content in the original game. You can time travel using Ouroboros to get unique outcomes? Seriously? Alright, I guess that one passes the test. HC: 1. Apparently that's old news though. Going to need a bit more.

 

Alright, well what about this Aeon Task Force? What's that about? A recognizably fodder, weakling low tier level group is now relevant? That's clearly stupid and would never work. Surely there's no way that they could add challenge in a way that is both sensible to the lore and also actually makes use of existing powers. Surely there's no way that they would create Smelters and unique currency, and new enhancements, and set up plot point after plot point in an interdimensional adventure that includes both space and time...and that's exactly what's happening right now. Wow.

 

Yeah, the bait post ends here. I was won over as soon as I got to beat up Flambeaux. I usually call her something a lot less kind than beaux. 

 

There is so much to unravel there I couldn't even believe it. The lore additions, the amazing maps, the flow, the dialogue, this:

 

And that's only one of many storylines that was added. Kheldian lore is my bread and butter, and seeing Requiem have time in the limelight was fantastic. Similarly, Void Harbingers were just...excellent. I think the crowning jewel of it all is the absolute chaos of plotwist and time skips that is Dr. Stribbling. I could not be more happy with how storyline creation is going. The only thing that's lacking is end-game storylines that advance the overall plot but..I'm sure we'll get there. Also on the topic of things I like

 

Masterminds

I think no one would smile harder than me and Galaxy Brain with those Robotics changes that were added. I mean, it felt like HC took them straight from our propositions. They are awesome. Robots feel like murder machines currently, while retaining the debuffs they were known for in a good way. 

 

And don't even get me started on necromancy. That ones just super cool. No other power plays like that. It's a different approach...but I like it. 

 

Challenge Settings

Are splendid. I realize some the implementation is controversial, looking over some of the old threads. But it ended up being exactly in line with some of the concepts I was looking for in one of the threads cited in my signature. Optional, but valuable. Incentive is there to play them. They encourage more diverse team play, and have mechanics that you'd really be best with support if you wanted to survive. The Nictus stealing your body is just sooooooooooo fun to see and

 

Actually that reminds me of something else.

 

EMPEROR ROMULUS AUGUSTUS

He drank from the well, becoming a quick incarnate. He trained his whole life as an elite cimeroran warrior. He's 12 feet tall. And on top of all that...he's the first Nictus-Human merger in history.  This guy should be the big bingo, an elite who is at a level of power everyone should want to be. And he just sucks, he sucks so much in the ITF. I feel more threatened clipping my own nails than fighting him. And lore wise this is even more true...technically he should be capable of drawing upon two wells. That's something else altogether though. So seeing him in his proper glory, as an emperor and incarnate thats freely using black holes and attracting the attention of the Talons of Vengeance was excellent on very many levels. Bravo to everyone involved there.

 

I'm seeing revamps to zones, expanding them and showing everyone that the team doesn't forget about content just because it isn't end game or level 50. I'm seeing QoL changes that are so good it makes jumping to another server feel like deportation. I'm seeing new powers like Storm Blast no one even knew they wanted. And of course, I can't forget that their actually developers like Boop and Fault that actually remember PvP exists and has a playerbase. And again, the storylines and dialogue are just stupendous.

 

So really, I just wanted to say to the Homecoming team you guys are awesome, and I love you all. I've had some pretty depressing things to deal with lately, but I have friends here that help push me through it. We wouldn't have CoH if it weren't for all of you. Even a serial server hopper like me sees that. There's really nothing like the effort and work you all are putting into what was, until recently (nice!) a rogue server. Looks like everything is going as strong as ever. Keep up the good work guys. 

[lemming]

Glad you're enjoying the new stuff.  I'm pretty happy about it as well.    I will point out that the Laura Lockhart arc is from Issue 22, but the new by HC, Dr Stribbling arc does do a bunch of timey-wimey stuff.

[Velvet Violet]

19 hours ago, Monos King said:

I think the crowning jewel of it all is the absolute chaos of plotwist and time skips that is Dr. Stribbling. I could not be more happy with how storyline creation is going.

 

You know, this is the type of reaction that makes it all worth it. Dr. Stribbling was a pain in the ass to get working even 20% right, there were a lot of frustrated nights spent trying to figure out why Marcus wouldn't *&%^ing spawn or why the Dr. kept repeating the last mission over and over (but not in the way I meant it!). But knowing that someone thinks its great is all worth it.

 

I am sure the other devs (who were responsible for the other awesome stuff you mentioned) are feeling the same way.

[Monos King]

2 hours ago, Dev Holymittens said:

Dr. Stribbling was a pain in the ass to get working even 20% right, there were a lot of frustrated nights spent trying to figure out why Marcus wouldn't *&%^ing spawn or why the Dr. kept repeating the last mission over and over (but not in the way I meant it!).

Hahaha I can imagine. You writers are all wearing capes...I've lightly tried my hand at mission creation and honestly the simplest part was actually coming up with the stories. Then actually making it work is a Task Force in its own right. With how often things don't want to show up I'd swear I missed some kind of NPC union strike.

 

You guys ever want the extra hands or help from me, I'd be very enthusiastic to pitch in with all that. Either way, I can tell it's already in good hands!