Will Incarnates ever be finished?

[Psi-bolt]

6 minutes ago, bAss_ackwards said:

One of the remaining Incarnate powers would build a small cottage.

You joke, but could you imagine how awesome it would be if you could instantly build a small cottage that had services like crafting stations, stores, trainers and the like? 😌

[MTeague]

14 minutes ago, bAss_ackwards said:

One of the remaining Incarnate powers would build a small cottage.

 

As long as: 

 

    

 

[Scarlet Shocker]

1 hour ago, bAss_ackwards said:

One of the remaining Incarnate powers would build a small cottage.

 

 

Cottaging in public is generally considered to be illegal

[8 Ball]

I'd be happy with more options on the currrent powers, maybe a bit of rebalancing (Ion outshines all other judgements by far etc..) lots of new groups to make Lore pets from etc...

[golstat2003]

On 8/29/2025 at 12:43 PM, El D said:

I think the second bit is more of a sticking point to introducing any additional Incarnate powers. How 'OP' something is is just reflective of numbers and mechanics, and the devs can add and/or modify those as freely as they wish to engineer greater challenges. The real problem is the sheer amount of stockpiled threads, shards, and components that players have built up over the years entirely negates the 'run content to earn this!' aspect of the system. As is, any new Incarnate powers could be immediately unlocked and maxed out just by logging in. Not on every character or by every player account but by more than enough that it's an instant blitz on the staying power of any expanded options. It also means there's no point to developing additional trial or task force content to earn new powers from as is, because there's no incentive for many of the players with characters able to run it to actually do so. Which just leaves playing the same existing content with even more gonzo abilities, and without a baseline of expanded difficulty there there's no reason for further player powercreep just to give them something to spend horded resources on.

 

None of which to say I'm opposed to new Incarnate stuff. I just think it'll only come after expanded difficulty options (makes existing content more fitting and provides more room for new stuff) and with some kind of requirement on how players can earn it. Possibly 'run X in order to unlock New Shiny' if a new trial or task force is made, though some kind of currency trade in could also be possible. The higher tier the power, the more steep the exchange rate. The only solution I have doubts for is another alternate currency. It'd put everyone on the same playing field starting over again, sure, but that's also the one option basically guaranteed to anger a lot more folks. The exchange rate would at least make all those stockpiled Incarnate components feel like they have some use again.

 

I'd prefer and exchange rate from threads to whatever new currency. Just a new currency that everyone will have to earn again from zero, would pretty much mean I'm done with any further incarnate slots. The absolute LAST thing this game needs is yet ANOTHER Currency that we have to farm up from 0.

 

It's one of the reasons I have grown to hate the Aether Costume system and simply don't participate in it.

 

It's also one of the large reasons I don't bother with Champions Online now adays except once in a blue moon.

Edited September 2 by golstat2003

[golstat2003]

On 8/30/2025 at 2:39 PM, Jiro Ito said:

Genesis was coming next, and the basic concept for the slot was creating “patches” or fields that buffed allies and debuffed foes. The Core branches of Genesis powers would get larger areas of effect, while the Radius branches would let you make up to 4 small patches at once at the very rare level. Imagine Sleet or Tar Patch + Accelerate Metabolism or Regeneration Aura + Incarnate-worthy, and you’re on the right track.

 

https://archive.paragonwiki.com/wiki/Lore_AMA/Sorted#4

 

 

In the 2013 Ask Me Anything ("Loregasm"), further powers were discussed.

Q: Do you have any insight as to what the Omega Incarnate slot might be? The others seemed badass enough already. PBAOE kill everything?

A: Jeff Hamilton would know. I don't remember if this was Omega or not, but I know one of the latter tiers did allow you to nuke minions through your magnificence. There were also abilities that let you trade off one stat for another. (HOSUN)

A: I've said this in a couple places but the primary trees which had been sketched out on paper were Arete (instant recharge on all powers for a period), Majesty (cause foes to instantly fight for you and then self-destruct), Infinity (summon dopplegangers of yourself), Transcendence (immune to everything and can attack into Phase), and Fulfilment (major PBAOE +Level Shifts).

 

Yeeeeeah most of these are probably a non starter. Folks already complain about the existing OPness of the current Incarnate Slots. This would not fly under HC. LOL

[Jiro Ito]

that was just a direct quote from the AMA, not a personal opinion.  i'd kinda prefer incarnate powers be disabled for all but hardmode or incarnate stuff, and really only want to see more incarnate powers if we get more incarnate content in which to use them.

[twozerofoxtrot]

Monkey's Paw Curls:

 

We get a finished incarnate system with all 10 slots and even more options to choose from, but all incarnate powers are heavily nerfed to "balance" the power creep.

 

 

Careful what you wish for with this dev team. 

[Psi-bolt]

I was thinking about new Incarnate slots and what they could do and what if, new incarnate slots improved the current incarnate powers.   Something like an Alpha slot but it only works on Interface, Judgment, Destiny and Lore.

 

Genesis

 

Trees

• Force  (Improves Damage & Damage Resistance/Healing [for Destiny])
• Alacrity (Improves Recharge of the activatable powers & Proc Rate [for Interface])
• Precision (Improves base Accuracy & Area of Effect [for Destiny])
• Substance (Improves all secondary effects)

 Obviously, this would have to be heavily workshopped, but you get the general idea.  

 

Edited September 2 by Psi-bolt

[Mopery]

On 8/30/2025 at 4:51 PM, MTeague said:

 

    

 

Baba the Hut?

[golstat2003]

12 hours ago, Jiro Ito said:

that was just a direct quote from the AMA, not a personal opinion.  i'd kinda prefer incarnate powers be disabled for all but hardmode or incarnate stuff, and really only want to see more incarnate powers if we get more incarnate content in which to use them.

 

Oh I know it was from the AMA. I'm saying the way those read are so overpowered that current HC leadership would probably never implement any of those. At least not in the way those read. Regardless of whether they also bring the content for those new slots. lol

Edited September 2 by golstat2003

[Jiro Ito]

I could get behind a power that builds a cottage though.  The old SWG rangers had a campsite kit they could unpack, and everyone sitting in the campsite got boosts to buffs, healing, etc while onsite.

[Xalon]

Until we are allowed to donate more or to have subscriptions, they will never have a budget for more than what they are already doing. And they are doing A LOT with barely any money. 

 

If we can get NCSoft to agree to a percentage deal - like they get 2/3 of sub prices and devs get 1/3 or whatever it may be - that will surely allow them to put more people on CoH full time and then we can see a lot of new things and returning things. 

 

We need to have more Arena and PVP Zones with players in them. But since you can't get threads, shards or merits from pvp, no one wants to do it. I wish more would play for FUN over getting loot. Maybe we can start organizing more pvp events together. Hmu in game I'm always down for that. 

[golstat2003]

21 hours ago, Xalon said:

Until we are allowed to donate more or to have subscriptions, they will never have a budget for more than what they are already doing. And they are doing A LOT with barely any money. 

 

If we can get NCSoft to agree to a percentage deal - like they get 2/3 of sub prices and devs get 1/3 or whatever it may be - that will surely allow them to put more people on CoH full time and then we can see a lot of new things and returning things. 

 

We need to have more Arena and PVP Zones with players in them. But since you can't get threads, shards or merits from pvp, no one wants to do it. I wish more would play for FUN over getting loot. Maybe we can start organizing more pvp events together. Hmu in game I'm always down for that. 

 

Oh I like playing for FUN. Which is pricesly why I don't use this game's pvp system.

[Crysis]

I have one alt with a dual build (a Widow) where I played her through so many vet levels that I made extra T4 incarantes for Agility, Destiny and Hybrid.  I have several others where I’ve made both Destiny>Barrier and Destiny>Clarion just so I have the antimezz to swap in/out for certain TF’s.  

 

But honestly, I seldom if ever actually find the need to switch between the “bread and butter” of Alpha>Agility, Destiny>Barrier or Destiny>Ageless and Hybrid>Assault.  This game is all about max damage and the endurance reserves required to get there.  I think that’s the primary complaint about Incarnates really.  If everyone takes the same things, everyone pretty much is at max output of what their AT can possibly do, and possibly even eclipsing other AT’s “roles” to the point where EVERYONE is just a steamrolling DPS machine.

[Amp Up]

Pls. They are but small indie developers. Must cut slack.

 

Wait they actually are ... Nevermind. But do cut them some slack. They'll get to it eventually. 

 

 

[Techwright]

On 8/30/2025 at 6:44 PM, Psi-bolt said:

You joke, but could you imagine how awesome it would be if you could instantly build a small cottage that had services like crafting stations, stores, trainers and the like? 😌

 

Having recently spent an intense 6 weeks building a large base, I'd be all for an instant-build cottage with services.

[Neogumbercules]

I would like to see future incarnates be more like synergies and modifiers vs new one-off powers. This way you have more interesting choices and gameplay implications, vs another big attack or something.

 

Here's 10 examples. I know they're all OP as hell:

1. Unleash an existing power you have selected. It is now completely unaffected by ED diminishng returns.
2. Select an element, all of your damaging abilities now deal purely that elemental type and bypass a portion of the target's resistance to that type, increasing to complely ignoring it at max level on one side of the branch, or amping up that element's secondary effects on the other side along with resistance penetration.
3. Global proc slot. Gain a global enhancement slot. You can slot any proc in it, and all of your abilities that could proc that IO will work with it. Global "procs" like KB2KD work here.
4. Gain a shield that absorbs a portion of all damage dealt to you. When the shield is depleted it explodes, dealing damage equal to the total amount of damage dealt to it while it was active. Bonuses to max HP increase the health of the shield, allowing it to absorb more hits thus dealing more retaliatory damage. After exploding the shield recharges on it's own over time, but overflow-healing effects on you (healing past your max health) will fill it up faster. Overflow-Healing effects on you while the shield is active will heal the shield. The longer you can keep the shield up, the more damage it can do. You can no longer be effected by +absorb.
5. Gain a passive that removes your endurance pool completely. Powers now cost HP instead of endurance. Enemies that have been struck by HP spending powers drop orbs that heal you. Orbs can overflow your hp pool up to +200% HP. You deal x% more damage where x is equal to your overflow HP %. Powers and set bonus effects that would provide +end or +recovery instead provide +HP  and +Regen respectively. Your overflow HP quickly drains down to normal when out of combat. You are completely immune to healing and -healing effects (powers, inspirations, procs, debuffs, etc) and +Regen effects have no effect beyond your normal HP cap (they can't contribute to HP overflow). The only way to recover HP is through natural Regen up to your normal HP cap or by picking up the orbs.
6. Toss your coin into the Well and make a wish. You gain a toggle that spends influence and applies a persistent "power build-up" effect. You have increased damage, to-hit, and secondary effects for all of your powers, but are constantly draining influence/infamy while active. Higher ranks of the power will provide stronger effects but cost more. Enemies defeated in this manner only award half the normal inf, as the Well taxes are quite high.
7. Gain a power that lets you mind control a group of enemies. They will switch sides and fight for you. This is a persistent power and the enemies will not leave unless they are defeated or you dismiss them. Enemies controlled this way act like controller pets. They can be buffed/healed but not specifically controlled like MM pets. Using it on lower level enemies will level them up to match your security + incarnate level. (Yes you can go grab those Igneous dudes in The Hollows).
8. Gain a power that applies a curse to a selected enemy. The curse does moderate damage over time, -speed, -recharge, -damage. When the enemy is defeated the curse spreads to all other enemies in a modest radius. When they are defeated they spread it again. There is no limit to how far the curse can spread. Hitting enemies effected by the curse with your judgement power consumes the curse and deals additional high damage. Using this you can create a chaining damage nuke that rips through massive spawns of enemies.
9. Gain a passive effect that causes primary power you use to reduce the cooldown of any secondary powers currently on cooldown by 1 second. Using secondary powers increases the cooldown of any primary powers currently on cooldown by 2 seconds.
10. Gain a passive thorns ability that causes a portion of the damage enemies deal to you to be dealt back to them. Your damage resistance to the damage dealt to you determines the reflected damage dealt to the attacker. The higher your resistance, the more damage is reflected. If you took the passive that converts all damage you deal to a chosen element, the retaliatory damage will inherent that element and the resistance penetration from it.

Edited yesterday at 01:56 AM by Neogumbercules

[madicen]

On 9/2/2025 at 4:15 PM, Jiro Ito said:

I could get behind a power that builds a cottage though.  The old SWG rangers had a campsite kit they could unpack, and everyone sitting in the campsite got boosts to buffs, healing, etc while onsite.

Those old ranger kits got SILLY BIG. Hanging out with your pals getting ready to murder every Rebel in some guilds city in a ranger camp, dancers dancing doctors doctoring. Good times, good times. 

[bAss_ackwards]

I've always wanted the multi-class Incarnate ability.

 

Say for example I am a Broadsword/Shield Scrapper and I've taken Heal Other from the Defender AT - I've now just made myself a Paladin kind of character! This is the idea of taking what Epic Power Pools do and crank it up to an Incarnate level. Probably would need incentive for not having everyone pick a T9 nuke with this Incarnate slot... but we're just throwing ideas out for now right? 😉