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Caligari

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Interesting items on Test Server

I noticed a few interesting (potential) changes coming our way that are now up on Test, particularly:

QUOTE

Powers:
* Added new temporary attack powers to all low level characters. Which attack a character receives varies according to the Origin of the character. Once a character reaches level 10, the power is used up.

You can read all the juicy details here.

01/06/06 10:11

Phedre_D

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RE: Interesting items on Test Server

That is cool news. Time to create 5 new toons.

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01/06/06 10:53

IceMizer

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RE: Interesting items on Test Server

My initial thought to this is whats the point. It is already fairly easy to zip through the early levels. Would an added power really improve the game? Further would an added power that you are going to lose at level 10 improve the game? Unless it is a travel power I cannot see how it would. It might look snazzy and help identify you more to other players but after that ehhhhh........

Now if this is how they are testing out future permanent power possibilities its a good idea. To give lower level toons a taste of power and then take it away is a bad idea.

01/06/06 11:59

Phedre_D

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RE: Interesting items on Test Server

I fully agree with you, Ice. I wanted to say something positive, but my first reaction was also "why?". I do like the fact they intoduced something origin related, but it should be with you throughout the levels. Something that could be upgraded somehow. Maybe a origin power pool.

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01/06/06 12:08

Ramier

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RE: Interesting items on Test Server

Does anyone have any idea what the powers are?

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01/06/06 12:55

Phedre_D

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RE: Interesting items on Test Server

This taser dart is one of them. I haven't seen it myself yet. But I suspect Caligari will post the rest later.

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01/06/06 13:08

Nakoma

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RE: Interesting items on Test Server

QUOTE

Does anyone have any idea what the powers are?

Uhm...

QUOTE

How about the power to MOVE you? -Tenacious D

I dunno. I don't really see the point either, unless this is a stepping stone into something bigger. Either way, never look a gift dev in the mouth. Take it now, because it won't stop them from nerfing something else! lol

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01/06/06 13:09

Electro

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RE: Interesting items on Test Server

I would imagine it is something to make the whole origin-thing somewhat useful. Origin has always been one of those interesting sidebars that did nothing to affect the game. This should change that somewhat.

Referencing other changes, this is actuallt CoH-related, but I noticed the Dreck mission - one of the all-time-favorite farming missions, is now timed. It's about time!! (pun slightly intended.)

01/06/06 13:16

RonJ73

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RE: Interesting items on Test Server

Here's the full patch notes in case no one wants to go look at them. One thing I noticed about the Dreck mission is that it's in the CoV section instead of the CoH section, which is kinda weird. Probably just a simple screw up.

-----------------------------------------

Now Testing in the Training Room - 1/5/06

COMBINED NOTES

Powers:

* Added new temporary attack powers to all low level characters. Which attack a character receives varies according to the Origin of the character. Once a character reaches level 10, the power is used up.

Tasks:

* On mission maps with prisons, characters can no longer choose "Go to Base" to avoid going to prison when defeated.

Note: With the introduction of this build, it was necessary for us to deactivate the Cathedral of Pain and to remove the Items of Power. When the CoP is activated again, we will let you know.

CITY OF HEROES

Powers

* Added Sleep Enhancements to Blaster Havok Punch.

Tasks:

CITY OF VILLAINS

Powers

* Updated Stalker Primary power set help text.
* Updated Dominator/Plant Control/Vines help text.

Tasks:

* Dreck mission is now timed.
* Added new Contact for new villains. When talking to the Arachnos Pilot in Breakout, villains may choose to be sent to talk to Kalinda or a mercenary contact.

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01/06/06 14:38

RonJ73

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RE: Interesting items on Test Server

I just went through and created some test characters on the training room server, grabbed some screenies, cropped and posted them. Here they are...

http://cityofvillains.gameamp.com/gallery/...shots/12825.php

http://cityofvillains.gameamp.com/gallery/...shots/12826.php

http://cityofvillains.gameamp.com/gallery/...shots/12827.php

http://cityofvillains.gameamp.com/gallery/...shots/12828.php

http://cityofvillains.gameamp.com/gallery/...shots/12829.php

This is the descriptions of the new pre-10 temp powers ON THE TEST SERVER. These could change before they go live, but likely won't.

01/06/06 15:12

Nakoma

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RE: Interesting items on Test Server

QUOTE

* You are no longer allowed to interact with mission objectives while you are stealthed or untouchable.

Just wanted to bring this little sneaky one to the forefront. Why, you ask? Because all you Stalkers out there, and all you people with any form of stealth, invisibility, or phase shift should take notice. You will NO LONGER BE ABLE TO CLICK A GLOWIE WITHOUT COMING OUT OF YOUR STEALTH. Nice, huh?

And just a note: no promises are broken, because this is not a power nerf. This is a task enhancement.

01/06/06 21:07

RonJ73

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RE: Interesting items on Test Server

As much as that kinda sucks, I sorta have to agree with it. It was WAY too simple for invisible heroes/villains to complete those sorts of missions. But if you think about it, if a bad guy is in aggro range and the box that they're keeping the "Super Secret Magic Thingy" suddenly opens and the "Thingy" suddenly leaves the box, you would know someone is there and shoot them.

I think a better fix for it would be to "supress" those powers when you click a glowie.

01/06/06 23:08

Warclaw

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RE: Interesting items on Test Server

QUOTE

* You are no longer allowed to interact with mission objectives while you are stealthed or untouchable.

Yes, it does help. But 90% of glowies require you to clear the room that they're in anyways. The other 10% are usually contact missions. And I have no problem ASN striking the box gaurd anyways, keeps my blade content.

01/07/06 00:14

Nakoma

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RE: Interesting items on Test Server

QUOTE

Here's my problem... why have stealth powers in the first place then? When this game was first inrroduced, it was said that there would be more than one way to approach things, and more than one way to finish missions than just the straight ahead. But more and more, the options are being removed. Will all missions be a defeat all someday?

As for the "Super Secret Magic Thingy", it also would not be in a big glowing crate all the time if we were realistic. It would come in many forms, and if you don't think the Invisible Woman could get into an occupied room and get out with something, you ain't read enough comics! lol

And lastly, who was this hurting? Yeah, you could "fast forward" some missions... at the sacrifice of a ton of xp. It balanced out nicely. Choose to clear out and really get paid, or do it quick for the small change and move on. Now... less options. And the next thing... less options. Just my opinion.

***THIS POST HAS BEEN EDITED***

01/07/06 02:00

RonJ73

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RE: Interesting items on Test Server

You're right, it does give less options, I'm sure the issue was that people were exploiting it. Particularly with the missions where you need to click 8 glowies, 4 of them are on the first floor of the map and give 500 exp each in like a level 20 mission. People would farm the 4 glowies, reset the mission, farm the 4 glowies, reset the mission, etc etc.

Yeah, it could have been handled better (not awarding the bonus glowie experience until the mission is complete, for example). But, it wasn't. Remember, it's still on the test server, go on the official site and voice rational arguements in the forums.

By the way, where does it mention this stealth change? I didn't see it in the patch notes.

01/07/06 10:30

Nakoma

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RE: Interesting items on Test Server

QUOTE

I refer you to this, also from the patch notes:

QUOTE

* "Glowies" that gave XP and Inf. in missions no longer give XP. The amount of Inf. they give has been doubled.

So we are getting double the nerf, for the same problem.

QUOTE

Remember, it's still on the test server, go on the official site and voice rational arguements in the forums.

Enhancement Diversification created more feedback than anything ever done in this game, most of it negative. We have seen how that went. It kinda took the heart out of me as far as being "the voice of the little people."

QUOTE

By the way, where does it mention this stealth change? I didn't see it in the patch notes.

These are all under the "Tasks" category, and I have copied them directly from there to here, in my posts. Bear in mind that as always, I am not attacking you in anyway Ron, just presenting my reasons for being upset. This all mixes in with the fact that my account comes due in March, and I have to justify to myself the reasons I have for spending the money vs. the reasons I shouldn't. It will make me think quite a bit.

01/07/06 15:21

RonJ73

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RE: Interesting items on Test Server

QUOTE

I refer you to this, also from the patch notes:

So we are getting double the nerf, for the same problem.

Enhancement Diversification created more feedback than anything ever done in this game, most of it negative. We have seen how that went. It kinda took the heart out of me as far as being "the voice of the little people."

These are all under the "Tasks" category, and I have copied them directly from there to here, in my posts. Bear in mind that as always, I am not attacking you in anyway Ron, just presenting my reasons for being upset. This all mixes in with the fact that my account comes due in March, and I have to justify to myself the reasons I have for spending the money vs. the reasons I shouldn't. It will make me think quite a bit.

Not to worry, I didn't think you were attacking, I honestly just didn't see that in the patch notes.

Regarding the "No Exp for Glowies" thing, I can actually understand that. I never understood why you would get experience for glowies anyway. For the mission completion, yeah, but for each glowie it never really made sense. The Influence/Infamy thing is cool though, at least you're getting some cash for them, and now you're getting MORE cash.

I know the ED thing was a bad example of "the devs aren't listening", but it really makes more sense to argue it over there than over here. At least if it's there, they can SEE people are pissed about it. If it's here, it only serves to get more people pissed about it in a place where the devs won't ever see it. It's good to inform people of what's coming though. The problem with the ED thing is that they *CLAIM* that the game was balanced (the I5 nerfs) around Enhancement Diversification. I'll take that at face value, since I've already ranted about it enough. So the ED nerf was inevitable. Other nerfs that have hit test didn't get to live because people complained/tested/showed that it was a real problem.

I really don't see this stealth thing as being "game breaking". Most of the time, there are only a couple mobs guarding the glowies anyway, stealth in, kill the close ones, de-cloak, get your glowie, recloak. With my Mastermind, when I'm doing Newspaper missions, I don't even summon my pets until I've flown to the "last room". I'll go outside it, summon the pets, kill everything, click the glowie and get a mission complete. I don't even HAVE a stealth power. I'm not sure if that really matters now that I think about it, I'm really tired and my thoughts don't have a lot of cohesion right now. I guess my brain's structural integrity field is weaking...

Anyway, bottom line, while it's a "weakening" of stealth powers, I don't think it's quite bad enough to be called a "nerf". ED was a nerf...that turned many Blasters from Glass Cannons into Paper Pea Shooters. I can't even play my blaster with any effectiveness on CoH anymore.

01/08/06 00:26

Nakoma

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RE: Interesting items on Test Server

An update from Statesman:

QUOTE

We're going to be taking out this "stealth nerf" or "nerf to stealth" or whatever...

The original intent was to prevent riskless XP gain...but I agree that the implementation caused problems as noted here on the forums.

I REALLY like the Suppression idea brought up, but that'll take some time to implement. So we're just going to take it out until we can do it right.

So now we can breathe easy... at least until they figure out another way to do it.

01/10/06 14:35

RonJ73

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RE: Interesting items on Test Server

Woohoo!

Hooray for some faith restored in following the "process". Personally I think the Supression idea makes sense. Even if people don't necessarily like it. I mean, if all of the sudden a file cabinet opens up and files start coming out of it, someone nearby is PROBABLY going to notice.

01/10/06 15:20

oscar bosker

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RE: Interesting items on Test Server

yeah, it make sense. come on its a bit too easy for xp to just walk in stealthed up, open glowy and complete mission without defeating any guards. whats wrong with clearing a room when you skip over the other 80 in the maze? I'm a brute and love the bashing anyway, but whats the fun in being a melee machine stalker and not killing anything?

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01/10/06 16:59

Nakoma

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RE: Interesting items on Test Server

BUT xp will be non-existant soon, due to this:

QUOTE

* "Glowies" that gave XP and Inf. in missions no longer give XP. The amount of Inf. they give has been doubled.

So no xp. And personally, I feel that there should be no influence involved either. It would solve this problem entirely, along with rude people who rush to grab your glowies. Yeah, you would get the mission bonus, but you would be losing a ton of xp, storyline, and possibly run yourself out of real contacts, forcing more teaming. Plus, if you really wanted to be a bugger, you could make more enemies that can see through stealth powers, or have more items like the red crystals that the CoT has. I just feel like the point to having different powers available to you is to be able to go about doing things differently, and there are tons of options left besides Jack getting upset that we are using the powers given to us to the best of their abilities.

01/10/06 18:38

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