What would you do if you were a DEV?! (Fun Ideas Talks)

[SSR]

Random thought but if I was a dev I would drop the need for boxing/kick and then make tough and weave optional first two picks.  Also I would up Weave defense buff to 10% AND allow up to 5 Pool picks! 

Edited Friday at 07:03 PM by SSR

[lemming]

Not sure if it counts as fun, but...

 

Write a statistics tool to gather various wanted metrics that could then be done automatically every so often.  (trick is to make it low impact as well)

Figure out a cleaner respec that would allow small changes without having to do it all over.

Ability to save and load power tray layouts.

Turn certain queries to the DB that allow only single tries into capable of being grouped.

 

[Techwright]

Fix regeneration?  😉

 

Honestly, though, I suspect being a "dev" is like saying you're a "tech" or a "doctor".  There's all sorts of specialization, and possibly few could do all of the roles.

 

If, though, I could specialize, I think I would tackle either the base and mission designs or work on costumes.

 

Base:  I've been crash-coursing in bases for the upcoming competition, and there's a lot of key things missing or created without considering how the players need to use them.  For example, it is much more valuable to have a brick wall panel, and in multiple different sizes, than to have a single bring wall with a stone cap and leave the player to figure out how to make it useful in any situation.  Also, make everything colorable, and add in pieces that players en masse have been begging for.

 

Mission: similar to the base stuff, but design new layouts so we're not just running through the same hall patterns with a different skin on them.  Also, run an auger through the blue caves.  A. Very. BIG. Auger.

 

Costumes: 1.) Compile all color pallets in a single, easily used color pallet.  2) Create a host of new patterns and Chest Details. 3) Get Chest Details changed so one could have them where the right or left breast pocket would be, or both (if spandex had a shirt pocket). Create the ability to have two Chest details at the same time.  This potentially means that you could have one over another on the main chest panel: a lion in the foreground, a star in the background, for example.   4) Create new categories and move components currently scattered over several categories to those more concise topics.  A "Neck" category for example.  All items related to the neck go there rather than the shoulders, lower face, or chest as they currently do. An "upper arm" category and a "thigh" category also spring to mind.  Finally, and really tough: figure out how to solve the unintended component clipping (such as a cape flowing through legs) while giving a player freedom and choice to use selective clipping, like combining various helmet components that violate each others space, yet create a cool new look.

[Bionic_Flea]

Work on the Insect Mastermind power set:

1. Pheromones: Minor damage, minor debuff, tags enemy with a pheromone that attracts and  take extras damage from insects.
2. Summon Bees:  2-3 swarms of Bees obey your command.  The third has a queen that can apply pheromone tag and when upgraded replace a defeated swarm
3. Stinger:  Throw a large stinger for high lethal/toxic damage-  applies pheromone tag.
4. Train insects: (TBA)
5. Honeypot: Toss a honeypot to a location that does damage, applies a taunt effect drawing foes in, and slows them
6. Army Ants: Summon 2 giant Army Ants (about the size of a dog)
7. Locust Swarm!:  Similar to Gang War.  Summons a devastating swarm that eats everything in its path. Cannot be controlled.
8. Genetic upgrade: (TBA)
9. Summon Dung Beetle: Summon giant dung beetle (about the size of a small car).  This tanky beetle attacks with giant pincers.  Every 3 minutes he creates a dung ball that can capture enemies and roll them around (like a katamari!)

[mechahamham]

I've always wanted to convert the full-screen windows like the costume editor and enhancement manager to modular windows. When CoH was first a thing, it seemed to be optimized for 800 x 600 and 1024 x 768 monitors. The smaller elements become like grains of rice on our newer displays.

 

I know me, and I know my skills at c and c++. The closer I am to real hardware addresses, the less useful I am, so I don't think I'd be a great match for someone to work on the CoH codebase. However, I was *okay* at understanding Win32 calls, and window management like that is *usually*, but not always just window handle properties, and then layout work.

[ZamuelNow]

I'd make tons of new maps for Mission Architect, especially for "simple" things that are missing like shop interiors and apartments.

[Troo]

39 minutes ago, Techwright said:

Fix regeneration?  😉

 

Son of a %=@#!

Spoiler

 

I do like the idea of player created content: Missions, arcs, and even enemy groups.. It seems like a great way to leverage the efforts of many. A force multiplier for content creation.

 

Given the little glimpse into the efforts to pull together newer additional Homecoming content.. it might not be a small or even medium effort. Though chipping away at improvements could pay dividends.

______ _ _______

 

New power sets: I would likely campaign to prioritize two separate paths of new power set creation. 

• One would be more economical repackaging of existing power animations and established set makeup & capabilities.
  • (make a toxic set with essentially the same stats, range, aoe, immobs, etc that say fire has with a twist like an initial burst and damage over time)
• The other would be new sets that are essentially revamped old sets.
  • (you want a new version of Regeneration or Dark Armour, DO IT as another new power set. What is the fear of having two similar power sets? Folks can try em both)

This would in no way preclude new creations with unique functions or new mechanics.

______ _ _______

 

Power Set Respecification: Work on allowing folks to repec a primary or secondary power set of a character.

• Cost and level of effort could scale with character level.
• Cost could include dropping a number of levels.
• Availability could be limited to one per character or other responsible limitation.

[TheMoneyMaker]

I'd borrow visual effects from other sources and make the wind control set playable.

 

I'd also unlock more NPC costume parts for player use, split head details 1 and 2 into 1A & 1B and 2A & 2B so more things can be combined, like mustaches and cigars or sunglasses and earmuffs. I'd probably do something similar for auras so you can have 2, 3 or even 4 plus the travel aura. Halo, Glowing eyes, and Electricity all over your body plus the Clouds with lightning travel aura? You bet!

[TheMoneyMaker]

Completely random thought: I'd add a traffic signal to the head options where the pumpkin helmet is

[BassAckwards]

If I were a Dev within the first 5 minutes I would delete Sister Solaris from the ITF, or at least the need to take her to the altar. 
 

Statues would soon be erected in my honor, and national media outlets would pick up the story touting me as a national treasure and true hero. 
 

Then I would pass on my Dev duties (after having them for all of 10 minutes) to the next generation, and continue playing ITFs, unhindered by Sister Solaris’ terrible AI. 

Edited Friday at 02:38 AM by BassAckwards

[Jacke]

I'd push forward a patch for a Mastermind Primary in development.

 

2 hours ago, Bionic_Flea said:

Work on the Insect Mastermind power set:

1. Pheromones: Minor damage, minor debuff, tags enemy with a pheromone that attracts and  take extras damage from insects.
2. Summon Bees:  2-3 swarms of Bees obey your command.  The third has a queen that can apply pheromone tag and when upgraded replace a defeated swarm
3. Stinger:  Throw a large stinger for high lethal/toxic damage-  applies pheromone tag.
4. Train insects: (TBA)
5. Honeypot: Toss a honeypot to a location that does damage, applies a taunt effect drawing foes in, and slows them
6. Army Ants: Summon 2 giant Army Ants (about the size of a dog)
7. Locust Swarm!:  Similar to Gang War.  Summons a devastating swarm that eats everything in its path. Cannot be controlled.
8. Genetic upgrade: (TBA)
9. Summon Dung Beetle: Summon giant dung beetle (about the size of a small car).  This tanky beetle attacks with giant pincers.  Every 3 minutes he creates a dung ball that can capture enemies and roll them around (like a katamari!)

 

Not quite sure what to tweak.  But we all know what that Powerset HAS to have for target reaction.  😺

 

Spoiler

 

 

[JKCarrier]

More story-arcs, more maps, and maybe even a new villain group or two to bring some novelty back to the leveling-up process. I know, I know, most people just speed through 1-49 anyway. But us die-hards who still do things the old-fashioned way would enjoy it.

[Captain Fabulous]

Remove travel suppression
Make pool powers worth taking, including removing prerequisites and allowing more than 4.
Make all team buffs affect the caster

All pets spawn at the caster's level

Vehicle temp travel powers

Reduce Hasten's recharge to 240 seconds

Remove penalties and crashes from all powers
Double base Stamina

Create a slew of craftable temp powers to add flavor and diversity
Add more incarnate judgement powers

Customizeable MM pets
and CLOWN MMs!

[biostem]

5 hours ago, SSR said:

I was a dev

If we're talking "sky's the limit", then MM pet customization.  If we're talking something a little more realistic, at least maybe 1 new MM primary that utilizes existing assets.  Finally, if we're talking something even more doable, I'd say "travel power auras" for costumes.

[Clave Dark 5]

Make the AE count for something other than mindless farming; some of the restrictions added such as half XP mean it's best for nothing but farming, which is just silly.  Leave the AFK farming types to do the work of "stocking the markets" that they supposedly do in addition to making it worth while to seek out missions on it.

• New Devs Choices should be drop fairly often, like a handful or more per "Page."
• Add in a bunch of items/foes/etc. that are currently missing.  Unless the tech is too complex, anything base builders can put in their base should also be available as glowies, for instance. (seems like this one thing would be the easiest to achieve)
• Maybe do something to make the tickets worth taking again instead of drops, like upping their drop numbers, or make stuff cheaper to buying with tickets.  Maybe "take the tickets, get full XP."

I expect Regen will get fixed/nerfed first though, yes.  😄

[Apogee]

Crossbows for Archery sets

[Scarlet Shocker]

Rationalise pool powers (putting them in tier level where you can "pick 'n' mix" the powers you want according to the level of the power you choose. I'd allow more than 4 pool picks so you could effectively run mostly pool powers if you so choose.

 

I'd reduce XP boosters - probably replace the DXP boost with a 10% booster instead.

 

Lots of story arcs have loose ends or just stop without any apparent resolution. I would work on those as priority - let's finish the Praetorian arcs properly once and for all, for example.

 

I'd do more to introduce less well known signature and named characters. There are many many who are super interesting, but only get a tiny bit part.

 

I'd FIX Frostfire's resolution. His arc in the Hollows is excellent but his attempt to sanitise and rehabilitate him is rushed and inconsequential and I'd much rather see him become a real force for in the city and not always on your side. Why can he not tap into the Well of the Furies? Incarnate Frostfire would be a force to be reckoned with and make an excellent story.

[Lines]

I would drink plenty of water, eat healthily, exercise and get a good amount of sleep every night.

[Skyhawke]

For the Halloween event, I'd create a new character. Said character would be a dual pistols cowboy that would have a 1% chance to pop out of a trick or treated door. The cowboy would strike a pose, say "/jranger" and vanish. He'd be untargetable, unkillable and when he leaves you're left with nothing, with no explanation. 

[MrAxe]

I'd give my main tank propel for more TK like fun and make the Lost tv head a costume piece.

Edited Friday at 11:55 AM by MrAxe

[SSR]

14 hours ago, lemming said:

Not sure if it counts as fun, but...

 

Write a statistics tool to gather various wanted metrics that could then be done automatically every so often.  (trick is to make it low impact as well)

Figure out a cleaner respec that would allow small changes without having to do it all over.

Ability to save and load power tray layouts.

Turn certain queries to the DB that allow only single tries into capable of being grouped.

 

for the  "Ability to save and load power tray layouts."  There is a nice little trick that as soon as you respec log out and log back in and most of your powers will be back where they were.

[Darmian]

Clown MM finally.

 

Summon Clowns.  They all arrive in a janky old jalopy the size of a matchbox and yet all pile out of it.  A wheel falls off.

Upgrade them by spraying them from your fake buttonhole flower.

Giant shoes.

Fish and pie throwing.  

Ladder attacks.

Bucket of glitter.

Random chance of them all running off.

Fire one of them out of a cannon for a big effect.

One of them has a unicycle. 

Juggling. (The emote already exists!)

Gang War equivalent summons mimes to surround the enemy in an invisible glass box.

Loads more!

 

 

Plus add in all the missing First Ward/Night Ward maps to the AE.

 

 

Edited Friday at 02:18 PM by Darmian

[lemming]

10 hours ago, SSR said:

for the  "Ability to save and load power tray layouts."  There is a nice little trick that as soon as you respec log out and log back in and most of your powers will be back where they were.

Yep.  It's not a bad kludge, but it could be better

 

Oh, and you don't have to logout, you just have to zone.

Edited Saturday at 12:43 AM by lemming
more info

[Maelwys]

Honestly? Probably power bugfixes.

And not even big sweeping "make Regen and/or Empathy viable again" ones; but smaller stuff like how Tanker Lightning Rod is coded as a power Execution Redirect and all the other AT versions are pseudopet Entity Creations. Or the fact that +Absorb buffs which are flagged as 'overwrite rather than stack' don't actually get their old copy of the buff removed until after their new copy has already been applied (which means that those latter buffs will often encounter and get drastically reduced by the hard cap). Or the fact that the amount of Regeneration granted by certain powers (like DNA Siphon) is affected by enemy level but not others (like Rise to the Challenge).

Things that have in the bugfix pile for aaaaaaages but aren't rated as a high enough problem to ever actually, y'know, fix.
 

Edited Friday at 03:10 PM by Maelwys

[Super Atom]

I'd only make melee sets. Tired of melee? more melee sets.

 

out of ideas? Introducing Melee 2, it's the same power sets but with different powers for variety.

 

Armor sets? Blasts? nope, believe it or not, another melee set.