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Pre-Alert Content Still More Fun

Archived PostArchived Post Posts: 1,156,071 Arc User
edited July 2012 in Missions and Content
Yesterday I was levelling Platinum Girl (classic 4-colour super strength super-con hero) and because I had gotten so utterly bored of alerts I was going around Canada doing pre-alert content.

Man that stuff is far more fun than alerts. You get a semblance of story and context (It's no SWTOR but it's better than "Here's Black Fang go kill him") you get a difficulty slider and you get bigger groups if you're in a team. I actually found that pre-alert content even on Difficult with a group of 3 of us was harder than your average grab alert due to the sheer number of enemies (I don't like "Tough" enemies I feel like they are cheating)

Crowd Control was even useful in this stuff (although not Sleep. Sleep is never useful in a group with even one AoE).

My only complaint about it is the same one I had 3 years ago: Master Villains need to be more dangerous and sneak needs to be more effective (That bonus to melee damage is worthless when you can't get in melee range without being seen or it drops because somebody else in the group gets aggro).

But I had FAR more fun with lots of non-bulletsponge enemies than I have had in an alert. It's just a shame that there is no practical incentive to do this content anymore due to the rewards for a 2 minute smash alert being so ridiculous.

In short: More of this please.
Post edited by Archived Post on

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    Archived PostArchived Post Posts: 1,156,071 Arc User
    edited June 2012
    The number of Mobs however only scales in APs and CSs .. not in "regular" content.

    But i also recently enjoyed again leveling 2 chars from 30-40 on Monster Island and Canada and even a bit
    in Lemuria .. only did a Black Fang now and then to refresh the Exp-Buff ;)

    Intersting found was .. that the 30-33 Mission at the start of Monster Island now give more Exp then later
    34+ Missions :confused:
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    Archived PostArchived Post Posts: 1,156,071 Arc User
    edited June 2012
    Beldin2 wrote:
    The number of Mobs however only scales in APs and CSs .. not in "regular" content.

    But i also recently enjoyed again leveling 2 chars from 30-40 on Monster Island and Canada and even a bit
    in Lemuria .. only did a Black Fang now and then to refresh the Exp-Buff ;)

    Intersting found was .. that the 30-33 Mission at the start of Monster Island now give more Exp then later
    34+ Missions :confused:

    I think they fixed this (unless it was the difficulty slider at work) because I did a number of random door missions in Canada while in a group (that weren't even in the zone) and was getting groups of enemies numbering around 12-15 rather than the usual 3-4.
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    Archived PostArchived Post Posts: 1,156,071 Arc User
    edited June 2012
    schizoslayer wrote:
    I think they fixed this (unless it was the difficulty slider at work) because I did a number of random door missions in Canada while in a group (that weren't even in the zone) and was getting groups of enemies numbering around 12-15 rather than the usual 3-4.

    Oh really ? .. yeah it was last year December i think when i leveled a character all the time in a 4 man group.

    Funny is also however when they outdoor run away and come back with other mobs when you play
    with 3+ ;)
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    Archived PostArchived Post Posts: 1,156,071 Arc User
    edited June 2012
    Beldin2 wrote:
    Oh really ? .. yeah it was last year December i think when i leveled a character all the time in a 4 man group.

    Funny is also however when they outdoor run away and come back with other mobs when you play
    with 3+ ;)

    Yeah I always liked that. I actually wish they did it even when you're on your own.
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    Archived PostArchived Post Posts: 1,156,071 Arc User
    edited June 2012
    schizoslayer wrote:
    Yeah I always liked that. I actually wish they did it even when you're on your own.

    For some builds that could be maybe not so funny .. Inferno ATs and things like that ;)
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    Archived PostArchived Post Posts: 1,156,071 Arc User
    edited June 2012
    Beldin2 wrote:
    For some builds that could be maybe not so funny .. Inferno ATs and things like that ;)

    You'd soon learn to kill the runner first :)
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    Archived PostArchived Post Posts: 1,156,071 Arc User
    edited June 2012
    schizoslayer wrote:
    You'd soon learn to kill the runner first :)

    Yeah .. but the problem especially with fire is .. Conflag doesn't follow :D
    And .. no 100ft powers :o
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    Archived PostArchived Post Posts: 1,156,071 Arc User
    edited June 2012
    I'd definitely agree, the real content was more enjoyable than alerts. But when it takes 5 minutes (or less) to earn about the same xp in an alert that would take 10+ in the regular game world....
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    Archived PostArchived Post Posts: 1,156,071 Arc User
    edited June 2012
    SeCKSEgai wrote:
    I'd definitely agree, the real content was more enjoyable than alerts. But when it takes 5 minutes (or less) to earn about the same xp in an alert that would take 10+ in the regular game world....
    That's why CO is called a "MMORPG" not a "MMOFPS" :D

    Put down the cup of coffee, or the can of soda.
    Put on the rose colored glasses and take a moment to smell the immersion...

    ...Otherwise, why even bother? :confused:
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    Archived PostArchived Post Posts: 1,156,071 Arc User
    edited June 2012
    Y'know, I've run a few Alerts. Even did the Harmon Labs Heist, because I heard a rumor that you could get costume drops from it, but all I ever got was a substandard pile of Resources that could be easily outmatched by selling the drops from just one Canadian or Desert mission, so I've given that up.

    Now, the only Alert I ever run is the occasional Dockside Dustup (usually Black Fang or a Nemesis), in order to get the XP buff - then I go back to running content missions, and earn XP faster while I have fun. :)

    (I might break this resolution if/when we ever see Red Winter again, because that one's a lot of fun, at least with one of my Tempests...)
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    Archived PostArchived Post Posts: 1,156,071 Arc User
    edited June 2012
    JonSills wrote:
    Y'know, I've run a few Alerts. Even did the Harmon Labs Heist, because I heard a rumor that you could get costume drops from it, but all I ever got was a substandard pile of Resources that could be easily outmatched by selling the drops from just one Canadian or Desert mission, so I've given that up.

    Now, the only Alert I ever run is the occasional Dockside Dustup (usually Black Fang or a Nemesis), in order to get the XP buff - then I go back to running content missions, and earn XP faster while I have fun. :)

    (I might break this resolution if/when we ever see Red Winter again, because that one's a lot of fun, at least with one of my Tempests...)

    Funny you should mention Red Winter. It's back.
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    Archived PostArchived Post Posts: 1,156,071 Arc User
    edited June 2012
    JonSills wrote:
    Now, the only Alert I ever run is the occasional Dockside Dustup (usually Black Fang or a Nemesis), in order to get the XP buff - then I go back to running content missions, and earn XP faster while I have fun. :)

    Yeah .. also .. when doing regular Missions on MI you find quiete some nice mods, and not just the crap
    you get out of alerts ;)

    One thing is however .. its also much easier to level with Black Fang with a Build with Energy issues, but
    when you start playing normal again you notice suddenly how much the energy problem sucks when you
    compare it to a 40 with maxed +Energy Cost items :o
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    Archived PostArchived Post Posts: 1,156,071 Arc User
    edited June 2012
    Interesting point (bout energy issues).
    Mind you not quite so awesome as going from normal to leet can be/used to be I'm thinking.
    Hah my lev 40 TK ranged has enormous fun building up ego leech by one shotting small mobs with TKB. And then I run frantically around looking for a Manipulator or somethng else big to hit with TKL and voila one shotting MV (well sometimes).
    And then you finally, grudgingly make the switch to Elite and go through Bunker Buster.
    I know what you're thinking...
    Yeah the boss battles are pretty nasty if you're not totally ready...
    Wrong...
    The Infernal Nemesis minions stopped me cold and stripped me of all my stars before I got to the first boss and me with 2 self heals and Support drones. Ouch that hurt.
    Go to leet as soon as... It toughens you up for that cruel world.
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    Archived PostArchived Post Posts: 1,156,071 Arc User
    edited June 2012
    Beldin2 wrote:
    The number of Mobs however only scales in APs and CSs .. not in "regular" content.
    :

    This is simply not true.
    From Thick as Thieves to Vibora Bay dungeons, mob numbers scale with your team size and difficulty slider.
    Teams above two thats is, although I think I saw some changes in "Out of town visitors" with just two players.
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    Archived PostArchived Post Posts: 1,156,071 Arc User
    edited June 2012
    iteamalot wrote:
    This is simply not true.
    From Thick as Thieves to Vibora Bay dungeons, mob numbers scale with your team size and difficulty slider.
    Teams above two thats is, although I think I saw some changes in "Out of town visitors" with just two players.

    Then it has to be changed in the last 6 months like i already mentioned.
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    Archived PostArchived Post Posts: 1,156,071 Arc User
    edited June 2012
    Not all the pre alert missions were fun. There are quite a few stinkers. Really any mission that has you collecting things I hate, depending on the character some of the escort missions were near impossible, and I kind of disliked any mission where you had to kill patrols of things. But apart from those missions most of the original content is still pretty fun. One thing I liked was the goons and villains were quite predictable in their difficulty, different alerts seem to scale differently the power level of the goons, and that really ruins the fun for me. The stories were sometimes good as well. I do wish you could skip cut scenes. Kevin Poe's little speech was fun the first time I saw it. After leveling up 16 or so characters I find it less and less fun.
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    Archived PostArchived Post Posts: 1,156,071 Arc User
    edited June 2012
    AngelOfCaine wrote:
    That's why CO is called a "MMORPG" not a "MMOFPS" :D

    Put down the cup of coffee, or the can of soda.
    Put on the rose colored glasses and take a moment to smell the immersion...

    ...Otherwise, why even bother? :confused:

    Already have done a majority of the content a few times, some of it has been broken since I started. Can only get so much "immersed" in something you've done a number of times.

    I don't rp, but I'm still playing an MMORPG. And really, it's hard to get immersed in the content when my first experiences were lackluster to begin with. SWG, WoW, CoH, FFXI, all made better first impressions on me. The tutorial has gotten a lot better than when I first started tho.
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    Archived PostArchived Post Posts: 1,156,071 Arc User
    edited June 2012
    I lie to mix t up.. get a few levels (usually, dependent, around 10), then switch to Alerts up to 15, then hit Canada for the Crisis/early missions there to get some better gear going (and break up the slog).. back to Alerts until 20-21, maybe hit Queen City (still la favorite arc of mine) and the early HP arcs (they're all clustered together and a pretty good time)... Mixing in the Alerts and the regular content.

    Alerts alone make you start to feel a little.. burned out, I've found, and doing nothing but Alerts from 6-40? *shudder*
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    Archived PostArchived Post Posts: 1,156,071 Arc User
    edited June 2012
    schizoslayer wrote:
    Funny you should mention Red Winter. It's back.

    ^

    I wish Grabs were more popular. Plowing through the mobs on the way to the boss breaks up the monotony and the bosses don't have as much HP as they do in Smash alerts.

    Also wondering how long until people realize that Baron Cimitiere still drops Q. And is a valid target for "Day at the Mall" and "Dockside Dustup".
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    Archived PostArchived Post Posts: 1,156,071 Arc User
    edited July 2012
    SeCKSEgai wrote:
    Already have done a majority of the content a few times, some of it has been broken since I started. Can only get so much "immersed" in something you've done a number of times.

    I don't rp, but I'm still playing an MMORPG. And really, it's hard to get immersed in the content when my first experiences were lackluster to begin with. SWG, WoW, CoH, FFXI, all made better first impressions on me. The tutorial has gotten a lot better than when I first started tho.

    Honestly, the only MMO that I felt any real immersion with was DCUO. Between the ENTIRE mission logs / quest descriptions being voiced over well and having so much B-list talent doing the rest of the voice overs... it was a lot easier to "get into" the game.

    CO has probably the worst immersion of the 3 Super Hero MMOs out there. As I find the "stories" quite weak and I don't really feel anything for the heroes/villains in the lore.
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