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Devices are just a scam, give me more powers options
psychicslug
Posts: 725 Arc User
Wonder as to why we don't get new powers, well devices that you can get, that are bound to the character are a way to limit powers and make money. Where as before they would make a power or set of them and then all could make many characters using them. This limits it to only one, power unlocks were the start of power limiting. Another was limits of number of characters you can make, this has gotten out of hand and i for one am tired of this game being little more than a fashion show of which i can't make any more characters as i am at 140 or so so way over the limit. this has stifled my creative ability to a point i rarely even log on long any more as even getting something you are now force to do things like 10 times or so.
I am just going to log off for maybe a year or so and do something more fun like watching paint dry or hit my head with a hammer. The forced game play and constant hurdles you make a person jump through just for a different power look or some cosmetic costume option is just stupid. The game was fun this would not be as big an issue as it is, but the fun has been sucked out beaten to death skinned and the hid tacked up and tanned and cryptic is wearing it as a suit to board meetings with a smile.
I am just going to log off for maybe a year or so and do something more fun like watching paint dry or hit my head with a hammer. The forced game play and constant hurdles you make a person jump through just for a different power look or some cosmetic costume option is just stupid. The game was fun this would not be as big an issue as it is, but the fun has been sucked out beaten to death skinned and the hid tacked up and tanned and cryptic is wearing it as a suit to board meetings with a smile.
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Which is why, I don't think anything of that will ever be actively targeted. We never got anything of true major significance post-F2P. Most of that content was already being worked on around 2010.
As for the Toxic Melee PVDs, I have a Dual Blade Toxic melee build and I'M NOT sacrificing my Dual Blade weapon skins for Radioctive Ego Blades, it ruins my aesthetic for this reason alone!
EDIT: after some calculations and PTS testing, I gave in because the PVDs make the Theme build more optimized and stable, RIP Dual MA Blades
At least that Mutated Axe skin from TT available in TK skins is a nice replacement for what i was using
In my opinion the PVDs, even though they can be fun and creative, they are causing a lot of damage and extended Gaps to the unrevamped powerframes which inner core is still stuck on Pre-Alert era!
Gadget Powerframe is basically a JOKE now
Not only that, Melee PVDs have their respective debuffs stuck on range only (Sonic and Electric damage for example but TOXIC blades PVD was given a melee Debuff WTH?) creating a whole GAP between Theme and Build Efficiency!
Take Electric Vengeance PVD for example, oh cool Electric Melee power, but no melee power to apply the Electric Debuff!
Also it's freaking hilarious they wasted DEV Time to create the Havoc Hammer PVD only to waste additional DEV time to nerf it and make it useless! WELL DONE!
As good as NERFING the entire vehicle system instead of fixing and revamping an entire powerframe, 10/10
The Devices/PVDs are the Carrot on the Stick and the CO playerbase is the Donkey that keeps falling for it!
I wished for ELEMENTAL Melee powers, and the Monkey Paw has corrupted my Wish!
Can't wait to get Fire Melee PVDs with Bestial as Base /s
In-character-wise, the concept of PVDs can be stupid too. It's like being Human Torch, except he needs a flamethrower to function instead of relying on his own powers.
I really wish I'd get an answer though - is this a database issue that's making new powers "hard?" From a scripting standpoint, how the devices function should practically be the same as the powers. PVDs even cross reference power ranks (which could potentially even spiral into more spaghetti code) so... what is going on here?
Using these and some other stuff in regards to cybernetics and fantasy stuff:
"Mystic Gadgeteer: This character functions similarly to a Techie Gadgeteer, but his devices are magical in nature, and he’s usually an Occultist rather than some kind of technological wiz."
"A Gadgeteer uses devices in place of actual superpowers (such as a laser gun instead of an innate laser blast, or a jetpack instead of self-powered flight). "
"TECHIE: The “pure” Gadgeteer; a gifted inventor, engineer, and/or scientist who uses his skills to design and build amazing technology."
"Often, the character builds these gadgets himself; other times, he’s the beneficiary or agent of someone who provides the items to him. Examples include wearers of powered armor and space-policemen with astonishing will-powered superweapons."
Magical flamethrower acting like a power ring that imbues the user with:
- Flame Aura: "A sheath or mantle of flame covers the character’s body. Anyone who touches him, or whom he Grabs, gets burned."
- Fire Shield: "The character surrounds himself with a mantle of fire that protects him from attacks. It has greater effect against energy attacks than physical attacks."
While having access to Everburning Fireball eqv. (Maintained/Constant AoE Blast) or Everburning Fire Blast eqv. (Maintained/Constant ST Blast), etc(additional powers).
An integrated power core (power armor via cybernetics) with the power core active:
- Flame Aura and Fire Shield, toggle/maintain/constant etc.
- Hands can transform and combine into a flamethrower do the same as above.
Or, be a half-elemental of fire who needs a foci/focus that just happens to be a flamethrower, etc.
Even if these act like extrinsic powers/"Devices" they are in fact CP-purchasable(Online eqv: level-purchasable) as intrinsic powers.
Rather, than have performance deficiency against Everquest, World of Warcraft, and Perfect World. Cryptic needs to restart and look at the RPG and convert and improve that to a MMORPG.
Single Framework of F2P "Pure Energy":
Energy Bolts -> Palm, Fist, Head, Weaponry(think Link(Max HP)+Master Sword for sword), etc "premium" Emanation points
Energy Melee -> Fist, Sword, etc "premium" Emanation points
etc. (all powers converted to the single "energy" framework).
Use Convert points at power house. Converts go from free "energy" framework to a reskinned premium "flavored" framework. All advantages should be shared between same outcome powers.
For someone like me (100 characters) this math doesn't work. I'd much rather the devs spend 3x the time to revamp/create powers that I can potentially use on many characters than on a device that I will only use on one character.
Even if I'd like to use the device on a few characters, the chance of getting ONE drop, let alone multiples is very low. So many players never see a single drop for themselves, while others can get multiples. And, if it is new, then the price of the new PVD is so outrageous on the AH due to it's rarity.
I suppose THAT is the point though. Make the players PLAY (farm) in order to (maybe) get one as a drop. At least the ones released during a Blood Moon(?) event were added to the SCR store. So, you could farm tokens and, as long as you had the requisite perk, you could just outright buy it there.
-=-=-=-=-=-(CO in-game handle: @WarCan )-=-=-=-=-=-
"Okay, you're DEAD, what do you do NEXT?"
Frenzy/Shred -> Replace the Slashing+Bleed => With Fire+Clinging Flames, Ice+Chilled, Electric+Negative Ions, Dimensional+Fear, Magic+Mystified/Hexed/Jinxed, Earth+Stagger, etc.
or
Strafing Run and Orbital Cannon -> Replace the Fire(SR) and Particle(OC) => With Ice+Chilled, Electric+Negative Ions, Dimensional+Fear, etc.
or
etc. locked to a single theme powers.
Without needing a device to eventually do it.
Champions RPG (Blasts w/ no additional sub-mechanics)
Energy Blast = 40 pts
Fire Blast = 40 pts
etc other blasts
EB = Generic Energy visuals
FB = Fire visuals
etc other blasts = other visuals other than the above.
It is really annoying when my costume doesn't match my planned character. As there isn't enough diverse powers because Cryptic shot themselves in the foot.
I can't even go from Superhero MMO 1.0 "Midnight Hour" character to whatever we have now. As the powers I used then happen to still not exist in 2.0. Nevermind whats going on in "Second Chances" currently.
"We are using systems that are essentially the same, but fit the MMORPG genre somewhat better. In Champions Online, we will have Dark Blast, Ice Blast, etc. Now, a player will be able to affect how these things develop, but this won't be an orthogonal to the choices in the HERO system.
Our inspiration from the Champions RPG is to allow players to customize their powers. Rather than trying to copy the specific power advantages and limitations (and the +/- fractions), we're trying to achieve the same goal of power customization."
This is before the 2K Games -> Infogrames/Atari publisher switch: December 2008 versus March 2008. If 2K Games was still publisher we would have probably have "Energy Projector - Blast Template Power." After Cryptic got out of the unique power self-inflected wound. Which could then be developed from:
Energy Blast: Generic Energy Damage // The character can project a blast of energy.
To:
Fire Blast: Fire Damage // The character can project a blast of flame capable of inflicting severe burns and injuries on targets.
Dark Blast: Dark Damage // The character projects a blast of inky black energy that strikes with devastating force.
Ice Blast: Ice Damage // The character can injure his enemies with a blast of icy energy.
etc.
The issue now is one-road theme min-maxing. If all attack-style themes had same potential of min-max then it wouldn't be an issue.
Thundering Kicks (Base) => Crushing Damage // "Martials Arts Melee10ft - Dodge - Combo Template Power."
To: (Cleave-like)
Crushing + Fire
Crushing + Ice
Crushing + Electric
Crushing + Earth
Crushing + Particle
Crushing + Dimensional
Crushing + Magic
Crushing + Poison
Or: (Pure Energy-like :: lean heavily on an evolution of Champions IP Martial Arts' "Empty Force" )
Ditch the Physical damage all together.
etc.
Since, DECA Games will be picking it up; current CEO quote: "Under Gearbox, for our live games, they were operated independently. We did not utilize Gearbox talent or tech while supporting these games. Most of the support we received from Gearbox was focused on the new games we were spinning up.
With DECA, we're moving the games to them. It's a vastly different approach. DECA is building a team to operate these games with some support and expertise from Cryptic."
I feel like new staff will have a higher chance for an overhaul than old staff.
I agree. I was praying, still am, that Gearbox was aware enough to see what they inherited on the Cryptic deal, and develop a CO 2rd Age, or some sequel game that appeals to both returning and current player as well as new players who want a good, quality cbm mmo.
But there doesn't seem to be an awareness surrounding what they can do going forward, and the gameplay/writing just doesn't excuse the poor character aesthetics.
I've tried to get a few people, ex-DCUO players on CO, but it just didn't click when it should have on paper.
Not unless they (new owners) think that what they do (putting money into CO) is going to bring in more return on ivestment, which no owner of CO since the beginning seems to have believed. Throwing good money after bad, and all that.
I feel kind of bad of all the wasted resources that went into dead end vehicles and the inept Onslaught system. How many better things could those resources have been used on. Sigh.
DECA Games however is operating completely differently. Where Champions Online will be a focused product under them. With this it is likely that DECA Games WILL spend money on Champions Online. Where an overhaul is likely to get an improvement in general marketability. I don't think majority of new players even survive to the PVD/Onslaught/Vehicle mod grind.
The actual strategy that would be correct is to end all additional content. Shortly after Champions Online failed to hit initial subscription targets. Which was a sign of:
- Failure to attract Champions RPG players
- Failure to attract City of Heroes players
- Failure to attract Fantasy MMORPG players
Which should have lead to a build-up to something like A Realm Reborn. Restart and try again and hoping for success is better than taking the hit and bulldozing through failure. Cinematic Potential is the thing we need. Where to solve Champions Online visual/lack of coolness issue. All they need to do is commission a Cinematic. Then, have the overhaul be built around that.
Cinematic-ness can actually be shrunk down to how well Dual Pistols look.
City of Heroes = Top-tier
DC Universe Online = Top-tier
Champions Online = Good thing the main staple of Dark Champions/Hudson City didn't get transferred. The Harbinger of Farts would not be intimidating or cool at all.
For example of cinematic potential being converted over to coolness:
City of Heroes has four cinematics (Base, Asia, Villains, Going Rogue). DC Universe Online has two cinematics the fan-esque one based on the 2008 trailer and the actual cinematic both shown in 2010. Champions Online does not have a cinematic thus doesn't have any sustained hype aka converted coolness via trailer.
RotMG Exalt Official Release Trailer <-- 45 seconds of a cinematic. Where for Cryptic's library especially Champions. It would actually work without it being a divisive release.
- David Brin, "Those Eyes"
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+1
Another Device slot bar (5 slots) would be welcome.
-=-=-=-=-=-(CO in-game handle: @WarCan )-=-=-=-=-=-
"Okay, you're DEAD, what do you do NEXT?"