I think beating it completely has less to do with just raw DPS and more to do with buff/debuff/mitigation. Teams who pull out a ton of devices for Duraclad tend to be the ones most likely to lose at Firewing while I think shared damage types and with the main aggro being competent tend to better.
I'm not really bothered by the cutscenes. I know tastes vary but I'll always be more put off by Green Dragon being literally incorrect (and the devs noting that but noting they don't know when they can fix it). That said, about half are filler for the timer and not actually "important". More importantly, I highly agree that the last few rounds could stand to have better enemy choices. I really like the suggestion of making at least one round involve Nemeses in some way (round 9?). Perhaps have it randomly pick a player to use their Nemesis minions and if they lack a Nemesis, then it could fall back on regular enemies. Problems are possibly need to re-record the voices (which costs money) and the fact that the Thugs minions are still broken.
"Interesting builds are born from limitations not by letting players put everything into one build."
I really like the suggestion of making at least one round involve Nemeses in some way (round 9?). Perhaps have it randomly pick a player to use their Nemesis minions and if they lack a Nemesis, then it could fall back on regular enemies. Problems are possibly need to re-record the voices (which costs money) and the fact that the Thugs minions are still broken.
Also, less human gangs. Add another alien group, such as using the aliens from the Nem minions, or the Ro'inesh.
Duraclad timer is fine. If your group gets to that round, you've already completed the alert.
It just means the rewards are crap, which is why there aren't very many people running this. Either the timer needs to be changed or they need to have their health nerfed otherwise it's just going to continue to frustrate players, frustrated players are less likely to actually spend money on a game that is frustrating them.
The fight was built around having vehicle weapons that have since been nerfed. Since they nerfed the weapons the fights that took their prenerf values into account should be adjusted to take their postnerf values into account. This is what happens with nearly every other game. Nerfs happen, but when they do players are either compensated or encounters are nerfed.
I really like the suggestion of making at least one round involve Nemeses in some way (round 9?). Perhaps have it randomly pick a player to use their Nemesis minions and if they lack a Nemesis, then it could fall back on regular enemies. Problems are possibly need to re-record the voices (which costs money) and the fact that the Thugs minions are still broken.
OH! Or a Nem team! 5 players vs 5 Nems!
Because fighting five Liliths or Death Metals would a great time.
Then nobody should care about getting all the way to the end of the alert, right? :'3
I think he means that the we-lost-to-the-ironclad-and-duratok-timer-yet-again reward is crap, which is accurate. Bear in mind that every other custom alert yields its full reward for completion. In contrast, FM only gives a partial reward, as the rest of the prize is gated behind beating up 2 beefy meat sacks against a timer--something stacked rather heavily against most pugs. Checking "Forum Malvanum" off the Vigilance list is pretty much the only part of the partial reward that's worthwhile, and thus, I suspect I'm alone in running it only once per rotation that reason.
That said, you probably don't need to worry. They're about as likely to improve the quality of the Ironclad/Duratok encounter as they are to go in and prune the cutscenes. So you can continue to enjoy your cutting-edge, engaging, challenging content while everyone else can enjoy having little reason to endure "Take too long...and everyone LOOOOOOOOSES!" more than once every couple months.
(Hopefully) Useful CO Resources: HeroCreator (character planner), Cosmic Timers/Alert Checklist, Blood Moon Map, Anniversary Cat Map, and more (eventually, anyway).
Then nobody should care about getting all the way to the end of the alert, right? :'3
I think he means that the we-lost-to-the-ironclad-and-duratok-timer-yet-again reward is crap, which is accurate. Bear in mind that every other custom alert yields its full reward for completion. In contrast, FM only gives a partial reward, as the rest of the prize is gated behind beating up 2 beefy meat sacks against a timer--something stacked rather heavily against most pugs. Checking "Forum Malvanum" off the Vigilance list is pretty much the only part of the partial reward that's worthwhile, and thus, I suspect I'm alone in running it only once per rotation that reason.
That said, you probably don't need to worry. They're about as likely to improve the quality of the Ironclad/Duratok encounter as they are to go in and prune the cutscenes. So you can continue to enjoy your cutting-edge, engaging, challenging content while everyone else can enjoy having little reason to endure "Take too long...and everyone LOOOOOOOOSES!" more than once every couple months.
I've beaten Firewing twice this rotation. once on the first day. and that's only 8 or so fights. It's not THAT hard.
I've beaten Firewing twice this rotation. once on the first day. and that's only 8 or so fights. It's not THAT hard.
The first day or so generally tends to yield better results, with chances of success getting progressively worse as the next rotation approaches. My guess is that most people send in their favorite (and often best) characters first.
Still, 1:4 sucks compared to the success rates of literally every other alert in the weekly rotation.
(Hopefully) Useful CO Resources: HeroCreator (character planner), Cosmic Timers/Alert Checklist, Blood Moon Map, Anniversary Cat Map, and more (eventually, anyway).
I have to say that I've never gotten to Firewing with someone in the tank roll, there may have been people in the hybrid roll who had tanking builds, but I've never gotten to Firewing with a tank in the group. I have had success with people in the support roll, a good aura like AoPM or AoED can boost the DPS of the group, but a pure healer really isn't much use in this alert as the fight you usually need to get past, Duraclad, doesn't really need that much healing to survive.
Given that the other ones have crappier rewards? I'm cool with that.
In the other alerts, you get access to the full loot table, including a shot at any of the alert's rare costume/etc drops when you complete it, and they all have extremely high success rates. In FM, the pity prize--the one that most pugs will be getting in the end due to the alert's low success rate--leaves out the good stuff.
(Hopefully) Useful CO Resources: HeroCreator (character planner), Cosmic Timers/Alert Checklist, Blood Moon Map, Anniversary Cat Map, and more (eventually, anyway).
I have to say that I've never gotten to Firewing with someone in the tank roll, there may have been people in the hybrid roll who had tanking builds, but I've never gotten to Firewing with a tank in the group. I have had success with people in the support roll, a good aura like AoPM or AoED can boost the DPS of the group, but a pure healer really isn't much use in this alert as the fight you usually need to get past, Duraclad, doesn't really need that much healing to survive.
Oddly enough most of the times I've gotten to firewing there was a tank in the group. I'd love to have a good tank in every FM group personally - actually prefer that to a healer. Both is nice too.
Given that the other ones have crappier rewards? I'm cool with that.
In the other alerts, you get access to the full loot table, including a shot at any of the alert's rare costume/etc drops when you complete it, and they all have extremely high success rates. In FM, the pity prize--the one that most pugs will be getting in the end due to the alert's low success rate--leaves out the good stuff.
Since I anticipated peeps would say that I recorded the rewards from the last one I did.
beat Firewing: 6 mods, 700 Q Beat Cybermind: 2-3 mods and 30k resources Red winter: 1-2 mods and Green Dragon? doesn't drop much of anything.
Since I anticipated peeps would say that I recorded the rewards from the last one I did.
beat Firewing: 6 mods, 700 Q
Beat Cybermind: 2-3 mods and 30k resources
Red winter: 1-2 mods
and Green Dragon? doesn't drop much of anything.
The key factor here is "beat Firewing." Since your own numbers in a previous post indicate only 1 in 4 runs actually results in this, let's use those. Now, the numbers are more like:
Forum Malvanum: 1-2 mods, 125 Questionite on average, which is far less impressive. If you factor in the time required to clear FM, things get even worse. Let's say you can run 5 Red Winters during the same time it takes to run a single Forum Malvanum:
Red Winter: 5-10 mods
Forum Malvanum: 1-2 mods, 125 Questionite
Still think it has the best reward?
Note: The data for the pity prize is missing and needed to give a proper idea, but either way, FM's rewards aren't that impressive when you factor in things like success rate and time required.
(Hopefully) Useful CO Resources: HeroCreator (character planner), Cosmic Timers/Alert Checklist, Blood Moon Map, Anniversary Cat Map, and more (eventually, anyway).
Round 5 rewards: Globals (equivalent of a regular Smash alert), general Alert rewards (chance for potions, star refill, questionite or catalysts), UNTIL token, 2-3 Ironclad mods.
Round 6 rewards: Globals, Alert rewards, UNTIL token, 2-3 Ironclad Mods, chance for costumes (excluding Firewing Tights).
Round 7 rewards: Globals, Alert rewards, UNTIL token, 2-3 Ironclad Mods, higher chance for costumes (excluding Firewing Tights).
Round 8 rewards: Globals, Alert rewards, 2x UNTIL tokens, 4-6 Ironclad Mods, higher chance for costumes (excluding Firewing Tights), XP (equivalent of a regular Grab alert),
Round 9 rewards: Globals, Alert rewards, 2x UNTIL tokens, 4-6 Ironclad Mods, higher chance for costumes (excluding Firewing Tights), XP.
Round 10 rewards: Globals, Alert rewards, 3x UNTIL tokens, 4-6 Ironclad Mods, higher chance for costumes, XP, Questionite Bag, chance for action figures, chance for Firewing Tights.
Round 5 rewards: Globals (equivalent of a regular Smash alert), general Alert rewards (chance for potions, star refill, questionite or catalysts), UNTIL token, 2-3 Ironclad mods.
Round 6 rewards: Globals, Alert rewards, UNTIL token, 2-3 Ironclad Mods, chance for costumes (excluding Firewing Tights).
Round 7 rewards: Globals, Alert rewards, UNTIL token, 2-3 Ironclad Mods, higher chance for costumes (excluding Firewing Tights).
Round 8 rewards: Globals, Alert rewards, 2x UNTIL tokens, 4-6 Ironclad Mods, higher chance for costumes (excluding Firewing Tights), XP (equivalent of a regular Grab alert),
Round 9 rewards: Globals, Alert rewards, 2x UNTIL tokens, 4-6 Ironclad Mods, higher chance for costumes (excluding Firewing Tights), XP.
Round 10 rewards: Globals, Alert rewards, 3x UNTIL tokens, 4-6 Ironclad Mods, higher chance for costumes, XP, Questionite Bag, chance for action figures, chance for Firewing Tights.
More content should be like this. This is just plain ol' good design.
XP at round 8? Really? I mean, really? UNTIL tokens aren't much better.
Yeah don't even bother trying to make sense of the XP placement. I guess it's pretty useful for all those low-level groups who make it past Duratok/Ironclad.
(Hopefully) Useful CO Resources: HeroCreator (character planner), Cosmic Timers/Alert Checklist, Blood Moon Map, Anniversary Cat Map, and more (eventually, anyway).
Round 5 rewards: Globals (equivalent of a regular Smash alert), general Alert rewards (chance for potions, star refill, questionite or catalysts), UNTIL token, 2-3 Ironclad mods.
Round 6 rewards: Globals, Alert rewards, UNTIL token, 2-3 Ironclad Mods, chance for costumes (excluding Firewing Tights).
Round 7 rewards: Globals, Alert rewards, UNTIL token, 2-3 Ironclad Mods, higher chance for costumes (excluding Firewing Tights).
Round 8 rewards: Globals, Alert rewards, 2x UNTIL tokens, 4-6 Ironclad Mods, higher chance for costumes (excluding Firewing Tights), XP (equivalent of a regular Grab alert),
Round 9 rewards: Globals, Alert rewards, 2x UNTIL tokens, 4-6 Ironclad Mods, higher chance for costumes (excluding Firewing Tights), XP.
Round 10 rewards: Globals, Alert rewards, 3x UNTIL tokens, 4-6 Ironclad Mods, higher chance for costumes, XP, Questionite Bag, chance for action figures, chance for Firewing Tights.
And to this I say: So?
A little silly that you'll pay attention to this but not the beef people have with the timer. Oh, and "Working as intended" isn't really a valid response. At least not a whole valid response.
A little silly that you'll pay attention to this but not the beef people have with the timer. Oh, and "Working as intended" isn't really a valid response. At least not a whole valid response.
Hrm, not really.
Despite how irritating it is to see, what in some cases is seen as a meme response "wOrKiNg As InTeNdEd"...it is a valid response.
Interesting to see the rewards per round though, not a fan of XP post DuraClad though, I'm sure someone could, but I'd be hard pressed to find a low level group with enough DPS to fight through DuraClad's fight which essentially is one fat DPS Check.
Round 5 rewards: Globals (equivalent of a regular Smash alert), general Alert rewards (chance for potions, star refill, questionite or catalysts), UNTIL token, 2-3 Ironclad mods.
Round 6 rewards: Globals, Alert rewards, UNTIL token, 2-3 Ironclad Mods, chance for costumes (excluding Firewing Tights).
Round 7 rewards: Globals, Alert rewards, UNTIL token, 2-3 Ironclad Mods, higher chance for costumes (excluding Firewing Tights).
Round 8 rewards: Globals, Alert rewards, 2x UNTIL tokens, 4-6 Ironclad Mods, higher chance for costumes (excluding Firewing Tights), XP (equivalent of a regular Grab alert),
Round 9 rewards: Globals, Alert rewards, 2x UNTIL tokens, 4-6 Ironclad Mods, higher chance for costumes (excluding Firewing Tights), XP.
Round 10 rewards: Globals, Alert rewards, 3x UNTIL tokens, 4-6 Ironclad Mods, higher chance for costumes, XP, Questionite Bag, chance for action figures, chance for Firewing Tights.
But what about our name immortalized?? The host promised us!!
Courage is doing what is right even when it isn't popular or safe. Honor is retaining the dignity and virtue in one's self, so it can light the way for others in the darkest of times. Compassion is showing patience and mercy towards others, even when it isn't returned or deserved. A hero is defined by these 3 words, they set him apart from others as a beacon of hope and excellence.
A little silly that you'll pay attention to this but not the beef people have with the timer. Oh, and "Working as intended" isn't really a valid response. At least not a whole valid response.
Actually, I think it's cool that they were nice enough to demystify the rewards. Unfortunately, the only ones that really matter are:
Failing on Duratok/Ironclad (most pug teams) - Round 6 rewards: Globals, Alert rewards, UNTIL token, 2-3 Ironclad Mods, chance for costumes (excluding Firewing Tights).
Beating Firewing (exceptional pugs & premade level 40 teams) - Round 10 rewards: Globals, Alert rewards, 3x UNTIL tokens, 4-6 Ironclad Mods, higher chance for costumes, XP, Questionite Bag, chance for action figures, chance for Firewing Tights.
That said, I didn't know that you could actually get costume pieces from the pity prize, as the only times I've ever received any was from successful Firewing kills. The pity prize costume droprates must be really, really low or something.
(Hopefully) Useful CO Resources: HeroCreator (character planner), Cosmic Timers/Alert Checklist, Blood Moon Map, Anniversary Cat Map, and more (eventually, anyway).
I don't care about the rewards
I care about the horrible Cutscene spam which keeps interrupting my gameplay in a freaking MMO
POWERFRAME REVAMPS, NEW POWERS and BUG FIXES > Recycled Content and Events and even costumes at this point Introvert guy who use CO to make his characters playable and get experimental with Viable FF Theme builds! Running out of Unique FF builds due to the lack of updates and synergies! Playing since 1 February 2011 128 + Characters (21 ATs, 107 FFs) ALTitis for Life!
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I'm not really bothered by the cutscenes. I know tastes vary but I'll always be more put off by Green Dragon being literally incorrect (and the devs noting that but noting they don't know when they can fix it). That said, about half are filler for the timer and not actually "important". More importantly, I highly agree that the last few rounds could stand to have better enemy choices. I really like the suggestion of making at least one round involve Nemeses in some way (round 9?). Perhaps have it randomly pick a player to use their Nemesis minions and if they lack a Nemesis, then it could fall back on regular enemies. Problems are possibly need to re-record the voices (which costs money) and the fact that the Thugs minions are still broken.
-Sterga
42 40s, LTSer.
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The fight was built around having vehicle weapons that have since been nerfed. Since they nerfed the weapons the fights that took their prenerf values into account should be adjusted to take their postnerf values into account. This is what happens with nearly every other game. Nerfs happen, but when they do players are either compensated or encounters are nerfed.
My super cool CC build and how to use it.
That said, you probably don't need to worry. They're about as likely to improve the quality of the Ironclad/Duratok encounter as they are to go in and prune the cutscenes. So you can continue to enjoy your cutting-edge, engaging, challenging content while everyone else can enjoy having little reason to endure "Take too long...and everyone LOOOOOOOOSES!" more than once every couple months.
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Still, 1:4 sucks compared to the success rates of literally every other alert in the weekly rotation.
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[at]riviania Member since Aug 2009
My super cool CC build and how to use it.
beat Firewing: 6 mods, 700 Q
Beat Cybermind: 2-3 mods and 30k resources
Red winter: 1-2 mods
and Green Dragon? doesn't drop much of anything.
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Epic Stronghold
Block timing explained
Forum Malvanum: 1-2 mods, 125 Questionite on average, which is far less impressive. If you factor in the time required to clear FM, things get even worse. Let's say you can run 5 Red Winters during the same time it takes to run a single Forum Malvanum:
Red Winter: 5-10 mods
Forum Malvanum: 1-2 mods, 125 Questionite
Still think it has the best reward?
Note: The data for the pity prize is missing and needed to give a proper idea, but either way, FM's rewards aren't that impressive when you factor in things like success rate and time required.
Round 6 rewards: Globals, Alert rewards, UNTIL token, 2-3 Ironclad Mods, chance for costumes (excluding Firewing Tights).
Round 7 rewards: Globals, Alert rewards, UNTIL token, 2-3 Ironclad Mods, higher chance for costumes (excluding Firewing Tights).
Round 8 rewards: Globals, Alert rewards, 2x UNTIL tokens, 4-6 Ironclad Mods, higher chance for costumes (excluding Firewing Tights), XP (equivalent of a regular Grab alert),
Round 9 rewards: Globals, Alert rewards, 2x UNTIL tokens, 4-6 Ironclad Mods, higher chance for costumes (excluding Firewing Tights), XP.
Round 10 rewards: Globals, Alert rewards, 3x UNTIL tokens, 4-6 Ironclad Mods, higher chance for costumes, XP, Questionite Bag, chance for action figures, chance for Firewing Tights.
My super cool CC build and how to use it.
[at]riviania Member since Aug 2009
And to this I say: So?
A little silly that you'll pay attention to this but not the beef people have with the timer. Oh, and "Working as intended" isn't really a valid response. At least not a whole valid response.
Despite how irritating it is to see, what in some cases is seen as a meme response "wOrKiNg As InTeNdEd"...it is a valid response.
Interesting to see the rewards per round though, not a fan of XP post DuraClad though, I'm sure someone could, but I'd be hard pressed to find a low level group with enough DPS to fight through DuraClad's fight which essentially is one fat DPS Check.
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Courage is doing what is right even when it isn't popular or safe. Honor is retaining the dignity and virtue in one's self, so it can light the way for others in the darkest of times. Compassion is showing patience and mercy towards others, even when it isn't returned or deserved. A hero is defined by these 3 words, they set him apart from others as a beacon of hope and excellence.
- Failing on Duratok/Ironclad (most pug teams) - Round 6 rewards: Globals, Alert rewards, UNTIL token, 2-3 Ironclad Mods, chance for costumes (excluding Firewing Tights).
- Beating Firewing (exceptional pugs & premade level 40 teams) - Round 10 rewards: Globals, Alert rewards, 3x UNTIL tokens, 4-6 Ironclad Mods, higher chance for costumes, XP, Questionite Bag, chance for action figures, chance for Firewing Tights.
That said, I didn't know that you could actually get costume pieces from the pity prize, as the only times I've ever received any was from successful Firewing kills. The pity prize costume droprates must be really, really low or something.I care about the horrible Cutscene spam which keeps interrupting my gameplay in a freaking MMO
My super cool CC build and how to use it.
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