Cut the filler from the Synapse TF (spoilers)

[Psi-bolt]

On 8/20/2025 at 10:19 AM, Snarky said:

I have suggested before, and I guess am doing so again, one simple solution.  
 

There are times where a team will encounter a “small map” on every kill all in Synapse.  This has a HUGE difference in TF length.  Same merits.  My suggestion is to hard code the TF for these small maps.  Just remove the random factor and pick the smallest map of the normal choices.  Suddenly the Synapse is not a slogathon. 

 

Yes sir, I second this.   ESPECIALLY for the first mission and the fifth defeat all mission.  Sometimes both of those are massive.   But narratively, there's really no reason for it.  The three substations should honestly be very small anyway.  

 

Also can you do the same for the five "defeat all" missions in Citadel.   

[Ghost]

2 hours ago, skoryy said:

 

Why should something some people obviously don't enjoy not be improved?

 

 

How many are asking for the old Posi and Psyche to be added back to the WST rotation?

Again, why do the people who don’t enjoy something have more of a say than those that do?

 

 

 

Were they ever a part of the rotation?

 

 

[Psi-bolt]

7 hours ago, Ghost said:

You’re right about Q - It seems like it’s only advertised when it’s the weekly.

Synapse on the other hand, is advertised daily on Exc.

 

That's because of Task Force Commander.

 

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I still don’t understand the need/want to shorten all the TFs.

Theres a few that can be done in under 30min, a few that push closer to 60.  

So what’s wrong with a couple averaging closer to 90min?

 

Because Synapse is a component of Task Force Commander.    I'm not asking to change the Shadow Shard TFs even though they are very long (and awful).

 

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Some people enjoy a long session, and don’t want to see them removed from the WTF rotation.

 

Literally, no one is asking for this.    Quoting myself from the first post:

 

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Of course, the original could be in Ouroboros.   

 

Nothing would be removed.   In fact, this would technically INCREASE the amount of content because like the original Positron TF and the Sister Psyche, they would be in Ouroboros.   On occasion, I will run the old Positron or the old Maria Jenkins arc in Ouroboros.  I just don't want to have to do that on every character for the TF Commander accolade.   Heck, if you want the Ouro version to count for the WST, I'm good with that.   I simply cannot understand why anyone would object to improving content.  

Edited yesterday at 04:26 PM by Psi-bolt

[tidge]

I dozed off in this thread... did I hear someone ask for an Incarnate level version of the Synapse TF that takes place in the Shadow Shard?

[Ghost]

50 minutes ago, El D said:

 

By assessing the amount of interest for per route and going where the largest interest is. A lot of posters want Synapse either improved or re-done (especially given the history of this topic) and it's not a controversial statement that the majority of players on Homecoming overall prefer quicker content. The game's pace has sped up a lot since 2004, and some players preferring older content doesn't change the fact that design-wise much of said older content is bloated and repetitive and made for a game that - mechanically - CoH hasn't been for over a decade.

 

That said, it's just why a revamp would be the favored choice, not a argument that older content to be shelved or removed for it. If the Synapse TF does get a full re-work, have the original Ouro version also count for the WST when it crops up. The amount of merits earned is already going to be adjusted to fit the difficulty/time investment needed, so I see no quality of life reason not to keep both options.

FFS thank you to you and @mistagoat who at least give some consideration to those of us who do like the longer TFs.

Instead of saying “I don’t like it, so it needs to go!”

Id have no issues with 2 versions of Synapse - put them both as the weekly at the same time.

 

 

 

 

Edited yesterday at 04:28 PM by Ghost

[Ghost]

4 minutes ago, Psi-bolt said:

 

That's because of Task Force Commander.

 

 

Because Synapse is a component of Task Force Commander.    I'm not asking to change the Shadow Shard TFs even though they are very long (and awful).

 

 

Literally, no one is asking for this.    Quoting myself from the first post:

 

 

Nothing would be removed.   In fact, this would technically INCREASE the amount of content because like the original Positron TF and the Sister Psyche, they would be in Ouroboros.   On occasion, I will run the old Positron or the old Maria Jenkins arc in Ouroboros.  I just don't want to have to do that on every character for the TF Commander accolade.   Heck, if you want the Ouro version to count for the WST, I'm good with that.   I simply cannot understand why anyone would object to improving content.  

Can’t TF Commander be earned much quicker through Red Side?

[tidge]

3 minutes ago, Ghost said:

Can’t TF Commander be earned much quicker through Red Side?

 

Specific to Invader... *yes* it can be faster to get Invader but the cost-of-entry can be higher and more complicated (certainly for solo play) if trying to get it ASAP.

 

With that out of the way: for some players, going red side is a non-starter.

[Psi-bolt]

9 minutes ago, Ghost said:

Can’t TF Commander be earned much quicker through Red Side?

 

Technically, no.   At least if you do it the way its intended.   Invader, the villain analogue, requires you to get the exploration badge in each of the 9 Mayhem missions.  That's easy if you have access to the contact that will give you all Mayhems.  Which you need the Hero Slayer badge to use.  Which, again, is a bit wonky to get unless you farm the relevant signature arcs.  I actually switch over to hero side to earn it.

 

EDIT:  I guess I want to note that to actually get the Mayhem missions on the character, you need to be of the appropriate level unless you're teaming with someone else with the mission.  So it's not exactly "quicker" in the sense that you have to be a higher level than TF Commander which has a minimum completion level of 35.   But if you have someone's help, you can get Invader quicker.

Edited yesterday at 04:40 PM by Psi-bolt
Clarification on what is meant by "quicker"

[Snarky]

1 hour ago, tidge said:

I dozed off in this thread... did I hear someone ask for an Incarnate level version of the Synapse TF that takes place in the Shadow Shard?

Pretty sure that exists already…

[Hedgefund]

"Cost of entry" for Invader, huh?  There's no cost other than being redside.  I get it at level 1 for all my non-Praetorian characters, not even remotely complicated.

[tidge]

Just now, Hedgefund said:

"Cost of entry" for Invader, huh?  There's no cost other than being redside.  I get it at level 1 for all my non-Praetorian characters, not even remotely complicated.

 

So, solo or do you tag along with someone else who has paid the cost of entry?

[Rudra]

50 minutes ago, Hedgefund said:

"Cost of entry" for Invader, huh?  There's no cost other than being redside.  I get it at level 1 for all my non-Praetorian characters, not even remotely complicated.

You get the Invader badge at level 1? The badge you get by getting all the Mayhem mission explores? With the Mayhem missions all having different minimum and maximum levels to get with the first Mayhem mission not being available until level 5 and can't be finished until level 46 unless you have the Hero Slayer badge and are at least level 10 to be able to talk to Lord Schweinzer. (Edit: Hells, even if you unlock Lord Schweinzer at level 10, you still can't finish Invader solo until level 46 because Mayhems are still not available to players until their character is at least of the correct level for it through him.) You get all the Mayhem mission explores, at level 1, as a red sider? Yourself? No one else helped you?

 

Edited 19 hours ago by Rudra

[DrRocket]

On 8/17/2025 at 9:30 AM, Ghost said:

Devs should eliminate all the Kill All missions.

Then figure out a way to set the reward merits to be based off how long you spend on the TF.

The faster you go through, the less merits upon completion.

The longer you take, the more you get (with the max being whatever it is right now).

 

 

I think, a factor for the merits should also be based on the complexity of the TF's mission, such multiple AVs at a time such as Lady Liberty or Recluse for example, also the mobs and maps may be tricky. But I do agree how long may be a reasonable metric.

[Jacke]

18 minutes ago, Rudra said:

You get all the Mayhem mission explores, at level 1, as a red sider? Yourself? No one else helped you?

 

I'm guessing the player in question has found another use of a 2nd Account Toon, probably a L50.  I do a lot of things with 2nd Account Toons, but that's way too excessive for me.  What does a L1 need with Accolade Passive Boosts?  Mine are too busy at L1 going through Outbreak, Breakout, or the Praetorian Tutorial.

 

 

[Rudra]

8 minutes ago, Jacke said:

 

I'm guessing the player in question has found another use of a 2nd Account Toon, probably a L50.  I do a lot of things with 2nd Account Toons, but that's way too excessive for me.  What does a L1 need with Accolade Passive Boosts?  Mine are too busy at L1 going through Outbreak, Breakout, or the Praetorian Tutorial.

 

 

That was actually my point to the individual in question. That the individual in question is using either someone else or a level 46+ on another account of said individual to bypass the 'cost of entry' for a badge the individual claims has none. I don't care if people use alternate accounts to help achieve whatever goals they set for themselves. Just the dishonesty of claiming that no such considerations exist.

[tidge]

11 hours ago, Jacke said:

 

I'm guessing the player in question has found another use of a 2nd Account Toon, probably a L50.  I do a lot of things with 2nd Account Toons, but that's way too excessive for me.  What does a L1 need with Accolade Passive Boosts?  Mine are too busy at L1 going through Outbreak, Breakout, or the Praetorian Tutorial.

 

For my play: The list of "things to do red-side, as a non-red" can include Invader, but typically it does not... simply because the other things that come for participating in the blue TFs far outweigh the effort of popping into the Mayhem missions and skipping the content therein. Typically when 'vacationing' red side, I'll do this stuff:

• Get the Shady badge from the Vahzilok Conference
• Get Demonic Aura
• Get High Pain Threshold
• Unlock Patron powers (and if high enough level, unlock LRTF)
• Get the 5 merits per zone exploration

If I care about it, and I am high enough level, I will come over with Bloody Hands to do some Mayhem.