Fire & Ice Playtest Livestream, 10/25 at 6pm PDT

trailturtle · October 2013

A deadly duo of villains is coming to Millennium City soon, in the brand-new Fire & Ice Rampage Alert! This new Alert is on PTS now, and TrailTurtle's going to be doing a playtest livestream today (Friday), complete with AF giveaways!

The livestream starts at 6pm PDT today, and will be at this link. (Right now it's being used for a different event, so it might show as Private.) Get more details in the blog...

Unknown · October 2013

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ramthananax · October 2013

"Frosticus"? Really?

I mean, "Kenina Blaze" is decent, but the other guy's name...

pwmiykael · October 2013

trailturtle wrote: »

A deadly duo of villains is coming to Millennium City soon, in the brand-new Fire & Ice Rampage Alert! This new Alert is on PTS now, and TrailTurtle's going to be doing a playtest livestream today (Friday), complete with AF giveaways!

The livestream starts at 6pm PDT today, and will be at this link. (Right now it's being used for a different event, so it might show as Private.) Get more details in the blog...

Pardon me Mr. and Mrs. Devs. I mean no disrespect, but I have a humble request.

Please, please, PLEASE stop devoting so much attention to new alerts? Pretty please? Alerts are NOT expanded content, and are mostly just annoying and stressful. The majority of the community has been asking for things like new power trees and zones...not alerts and lockboxes. I for one would LOVE to see some new powers...and I don't mean "mini sets" added to the existing trees.

So...I can haz new powerz? Pweaze?

Maybe even a higher level cap so I actually have a reason to finish every single story arc in the game, other than the epic plot development woven into "Go out and kill X number of X"?

Again...no disrespect intended. But it seems the things people are actually asking for are being largely ignored in favor of...well...this.

enixonbb · October 2013

ramthananax wrote: »

"Frosticus"? Really?

I mean, "Kenina Blaze" is decent, but the other guy's name...

It's better than what it originally was, Freon, a name that was already taken by a in game villain. I think last time this was on the PTS they were calling him Freon II or something, so by comparison it's a step up, in my opinion anyhow.

theravenforce · October 2013

ramthananax wrote: »

"Frosticus"? Really?

I mean, "Kenina Blaze" is decent, but the other guy's name...

Kenina Blaze and Stan Hoarfrost?

"Blaze" and "Hoarfrost" ALLLLLLLLLLLLURT!

gfnotaku1 · October 2013

Frosticus sounds like bad Roman-esque.. but he doesn't even LOOK Roman nor does the origin say anything like it (something about a magic freezer IIRC..). Frigidare or something would be better but eh..

Honestly though, I still don't see how they won. >.> the costumes aren't even that impressive and the concepts are so... boring. But eh..

pwmiykael wrote: »

Pardon me Mr. and Mrs. Devs. I mean no disrespect, but I have a humble request.

Please, please, PLEASE stop devoting so much attention to new alerts? Pretty please? Alerts are NOT expanded content, and are mostly just annoying and stressful. The majority of the community has been asking for things like new power trees and zones...not alerts and lockboxes. I for one would LOVE to see some new powers...and I don't mean "mini sets" added to the existing trees.

So...I can haz new powerz? Pweaze?

Maybe even a higher level cap so I actually have a reason to finish every single story arc in the game, other than the epic plot development woven into "Go out and kill X number of X"?

Again...no disrespect intended. But it seems the things people are actually asking for are being largely ignored in favor of...well...this.

Ehem.

This has been promised for a bit over a year now when the On Alert system launched and they held the "make a new villain" contest. So it's refreshing to see it put in game over Gravitard. Also, this means a new contest might be around soon.

As for new powers.. WE'VE HAD SOME. The minisets were requested abilities we've had for a while (Power Armor Sword being the big one.. hated stacking that debuff and never taking advantage of it like it's Single Blade counterpart). Same with the Telepathy addition.

WHile I would like to see more power sets released, I still say that more content to use them on is better.. and this is more content. Just hope it doesn't get stale.

monaahiru · October 2013

voice chat killes chat window o.O

jonsills · October 2013

monaahiru wrote: »

voice chat killes chat window o.O

Radio kills the video star? :eek:

:biggrin:

darianlancaster1 · October 2013

Foundry. Then we can make our own alerts and Cryptic will be able to concentrate on new zones/powers. It's the only way to make everybody happy all the time.

flamingbunnyman · October 2013

gfnotaku1 wrote: »

Frosticus sounds like bad Roman-esque..

I am Frosticus!

I hope someone gets the reference, so I don't look totally stupid.

aceretriever · October 2013

flamingbunnyman wrote: »

I am Frosticus!

I hope someone gets the reference, so I don't look totally stupid.

*stands* I'm Frosticus! if only because my teacher brought the movie to class and this was one of the only parts i was awake for :P

I can't believe I missed this... XP Was the alert fun?

gfnotaku1 · October 2013

aceretriever wrote: »

*stands* I'm Frosticus! if only because my teacher brought the movie to class and this was one of the only parts i was awake for :P

Carol Channing: "I'm Frosticus!"

flyingfinn · October 2013

I am Channing Tatum!

jonsills · October 2013

flamingbunnyman wrote: »

I am Frosticus!

I hope someone gets the reference, so I don't look totally stupid.

I'm Frosticus, and so is my wife!

lokikin · October 2013

My uncle developed Frosticus once...

He had to have it surgically removed...

Hasn't been the same since...

psytce0002 · October 2013

Trail,

How about a list of the people who won the Action Figures .......

Thanks!

taitros · October 2013

Man its Awesome Crypt going in New Alerts thats is good to know the game is still fun and new alerts is good to know and if crypt want to develop new power and classes its good too too but take much time to finish and right now i Still Happy with the game and i counting the time Fire and Ice COME out^^ (Sorry for the English xD)

pwmiykael · October 2013

darianlancaster1 wrote: »

Foundry. Then we can make our own alerts and Cryptic will be able to concentrate on new zones/powers. It's the only way to make everybody happy all the time.

This. This, this, and MORE this.

Then I would be able to use all of those really neat, new power trees in missions that other people have made....and not have to do the same beginning arcs over....and over....and over....

"Join the Maniacs! You don't have to be crazy...BUT IT HELPS! AHAHAHAHAAH"

*drools a little at the non-skippable cut scene*.....*deletes a character to make room for alt #18 (which is actually alt #74)*

Not to mention, it would make teaming with friends MUCH more viable, since it would all be instance based instead of open-world questing.

moobucket · October 2013

darianlancaster1 wrote: »

Foundry. Then we can make our own alerts and Cryptic will be able to concentrate on new zones/powers. It's the only way to make everybody happy all the time.

It worked really well for STO, why wouldn't it work even better for Champions?

And could you imagine the implications of being able to work in a straight-up brawl with five heroes and their nemesiseses all at once? Or maybe we could publish foundry missions to flesh out our nemesiseses and give backstory to our characters. In STO, the foundry missions range from everything to non-combat RP environments to story missions rivalling the Cryptic content, to straight up murderbrawls from hell, and I could see that working even better in Champions than in STO ...

... with one problem: the existing storylines are so deliberately campy that even poorly-done foundry missions would rival or even better them in terms of storyline satisfaction. I think Cryptic won't release the Foundry in CO because they're afraid that the community would one-up them and their baseline content would be ignored. They're afraid it would let us throw the gauntlet and actually challenge them to get better.

Unfortunately, that's why many of us get fed up and leave for months at a time, only coming back to check out to see if things have gotten better. They haven't, so we're out for a few more months. Give us foundry and let us make it better ourselves!

tdits · October 2013

moobucket wrote: »

... with one problem: the existing storylines are so deliberately campy that even poorly-done foundry missions would rival or even better them in terms of storyline satisfaction. I think Cryptic won't release the Foundry in CO because they're afraid that the community would one-up them and their baseline content would be ignored. They're afraid it would let us throw the gauntlet and actually challenge them to get better.

Actually, It's because the original dev team couldn't code worth a damn, and we've had so few devs assigned to Champions since Foundry first came out that it was infeasible to fix the engine to make a Foundry possible.

I would guess that after they get the balance changes out of the way and produce some mission content then they'll tentatively put Foundry back on the to-do list.

agentnx5 · October 2013

Looks interesting, TrailTurtle, but I am skeptical. Here's why I'm skeptical:

Cryptic has a history of making campy content (some might like it, the majority of customers don't seem to care for it overmuch), and more recently this content lacks any substantial stroytelling quality. (i.e.: The alert format promotes a jump-in-and-fight with no respect to that different player's characters might have different stories or motivations, let alone making the villian convincingly evil.) This is inspite of an increasing investment in superhero storytelling both in films and in TV series (Agents of Shield anyone?). Show us some plot twists, moral ambuiguity, parallels to real world villians who are needing some justice being dealt, and maybe even some good ol' corrupt politician stuff. I challenge TrailTurtle and Cryptic to raise the bar with the entertainment storytelling!
Can this please be combined with an upgrade to the energy projector tree powersets? You see, here were going to have bosses that showcase these powersets (Fire and Ice in this case), but when players go to play these powersets, they're going to be disappointed. It doesn't have to be like this, you could use this as a ulterior way to advertize the game's design assets as well as showing people outside of our community that the developers at Cryptic North are doing work on all fronts (map making, costumes, animations, bug fixes, new gameplay content, and even polish work). After all, improvements have been asked for -- and criticism of these powersets have existed -- long before On Alert ever arrived, and have still never been addressed fully. Rimfire alone doesn't solve the any of fundamental issues, which include:

Energy Storm is, to be honest, simply terrible. Long setup process (yes seconds spent just setting up matter), it removes many of the useful buffs that users of these very powerset would actually need for energy unlock mechanics and combos... all for... a peashooter? The description is very misleading, it does not do major damage. And it's not even flashy for a person who wants it for theme alone! In my opinion? Energy Storm should be something more like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xy-oUnUPEOI (longer setup, amazing results!)
Ice lacks an energy unlock mechanic. Shatter doesn't return as much energy as it consumes, and even the crushed ice advantage doesn't help (not to mention selecting crushed ice means you won't get to rank shatter up to Rank 3). You have to go to MSA or Overdrive to make Ice actually sustainable, which is alright because that doesn't break theme visually, but it does mean a sizable disadvantage for the Glacier archetypes. Energy builder = wasted time.
The other energy projector energy unlocks (i.e.: Thermal Reverb, Ionic Reverb, Wind Reverb) force you to choose the worst of the 8 superstats (END). There's no redeemable value to END, even after seeing some of Jasinblaze's best END builds they still fail in the face of better stats (especially CON and INT). Why must we be forced to choose END? Just because of archetypes? Don't you want to sell people on the freeform slots or subscriptions?
Fire has no long range AoE attacks, and the ones it does have self-roots you while dealing far less damage than others say... from the Infernal Supernatural toxic set (Epidemic anyone?) that don't root you. Mobility is a combat asset; especially in teamplay, content that requires you to move (i.e.: Gravitar and Cybermind), and of course PvP. If you must be rooted, make it worth it. If fire is forced to be only 50ft or 60ft max range, then make it worth the reduced range.
Fire's most powerful attack isn't even from fire, it's from Strafing Run!
Strafing Run + Fire slotted passive (fire damage buff) + fire snake (fire resistance debuff) = amazing DPS
This is especially damaging to anyone who wants to make a mystical pyromancer character (fire mage) and NOT be using something that breaks theme (jets with guns) to max their DPS potential. Besides, the jet from strafing run doesn't drop bombs, it shoots bullets (which should be piercing damage, not fire).
Thermal Reverb is limited to one energy tick at most per 3 seconds? How is that limitation on fire's energy return fair, at all? There was a time it returned energy continuously, which wasn't particularly game breaking. Yet when the bug with the energy unlock was fixed, it was also given this ridiculously long lockout between ticks of energy supply for quantities of energy supply that don't cut it. Compare to Ego Reverb with the EGO stat as your primary superstat sometime, or Defiance with the CON primary superstat, and you'll see what I mean about it being overly nerfed.
Many of the powers in the set are not forgiving for theme. Take Rimfire for example. To get it's optimal use, you need a way to quickly and reliable apply both Clinging Flames and Chill. Clinging flames is easy enough to rapidly apply with several powers in the fire powerset. But Chill? The only way to guarantee Chill's application is to take frost breath's advantage that gives it a 100% guarantee. Problem? Have you even considered how ridiculous it is to have every character that wants to use Rimfire to it's epitome to also have to puke ice? No really, think about it. Want to make a build around Rimfire? Can't use Avalanche, gotta puke that ice! *BLEH BLEH!* Funny, but quite restrictive for staying in theme, restrictive on creativity in build design.

So to summarize. I do like to see this getting developed, really I do. But I feel this would also be an opportunity to fix up a powerset tree that has fallen by the wayside over the years. And if you're a superhero fan, you'd probably take note that it's not just mighty brutes, ninjas, and guys with guns taking centerstage, many of the most famous heroes and villains are those with energy projection powers of some kind.

guyhumual · October 2013

I wish we'd gotten a little more notice that this was going to be play tested. I'm on most nights but I didn't see this till after is was all over. Would it hurt to give us a week's notice? What about 24 hours?

gavinruneblade · October 2013

I missed it too, how did it go?

Does anyone have feedback who was actually there to try it instead of all the people saying "boo this looks bad" that didn't even play?

shadowzero66 · October 2013

gavinruneblade wrote: »

I missed it too, how did it go?

Does anyone have feedback who was actually there to try it instead of all the people saying "boo this looks bad" that didn't even play?

There's the feedback thread in the PTS section of the forums. A number of the posters, including myself, did multiple runs of it.

gavinruneblade · October 2013

shadowzero66 wrote: »

There's the feedback thread in the PTS section of the forums. A number of the posters, including myself, did multiple runs of it.

Thanks! I always forget PTS has its own forum. *headdesk*

twg042370 · October 2013

pwmiykael wrote: »

Please, please, PLEASE stop devoting so much attention to new alerts? Pretty please? Alerts are NOT expanded content, and are mostly just annoying and stressful. The majority of the community has been asking for things like new power trees and zones...not alerts and lockboxes. I for one would LOVE to see some new powers...and I don't mean "mini sets" added to the existing trees.

The game just got cured of zombieism. Give it a chance to get used to breathing and blinking again. After that we can start pushing to get it back into the workforce.

Baby steps. Baby steps.

trailturtle · October 2013

guyhumual wrote: »

I wish we'd gotten a little more notice that this was going to be play tested. I'm on most nights but I didn't see this till after is was all over. Would it hurt to give us a week's notice? What about 24 hours?

Unfortunately, right down to the wire we weren't sure whether the build was going to be up on PTS. If it were ready earlier, I absolutely would've pre-announced it more in advance.

chalupaoffury · October 2013

agentnx5 wrote: »

Looks interesting, TrailTurtle, but I am skeptical. Here's why I'm skeptical:

This is probably the most true post I've seen in months.

angelphoenix12 · October 2013

I know champions has/d it rough, but im still on the fence about coming back. and its simple I want true content, such as new missions arcs ala city of. I want levels 41-50 to be put in so the starguards can be put in. I just want more, just so I can comeback.

lezard21 · October 2013

angelphoenix12 wrote: »

I know champions has/d it rough, but im still on the fence about coming back. and its simple I want true content, such as new missions arcs ala city of. I want levels 41-50 to be put in so the starguards can be put in. I just want more, just so I can comeback.

Samesies.

It's been a year since I left CO. I've been keeping tabs on updates every month or so, and seems only things I missed where 2 Alerts (the Lemurian Invasion and the Tron one), and inbetween those the usual Mega Destroid/Bloodmoon events.

I remember before leaving, THIS very Rampage was listed in the community report under "soon". A new mission involving Vladic going back in time was supposed to come out LAST halloween. And listed under "Distant Future" was Dr. Destroyer Island, The Moon and level cap expansion. So if "soon" = 1 year later, then I will be back in 10 years for Dr. Destroyer Island.

This game had potential, but right now, it's just 2nd Life with Alerts

edit: I logged in just for nostalgia's sake. I take back what I said. It's even worse than I thought. They haven't even fixed MINOR easily fixable stuff like the "Master Villain Default" in certain alerts. No new costumes since last year.

nepht · October 2013

Does the design a villain winner know you guys have changed the name of "Freon 2". Wait a year and half till the guy is most likely not playing then screw with his vision.

Naughty, naughty devs.

Oh and for those newbs not in the know, "Freon" or Frosticus as he is now known was bitten by a magically powered Refrigerator or something like that, if his creator is still playing I just want to say kudos on that.

gfnotaku1 · October 2013

nepht wrote: »

Does the design a villain winner know you guys have changed the name of "Freon 2". Wait a year and half till the guy is most likely not playing then screw with his vision.

Naughty, naughty devs.

Oh and for those newbs not in the know, "Freon" or Frosticus as he is now known was bitten by a magically powered Refrigerator or something like that, if his creator is still playing I just want to say kudos on that.

..every damn time I hear "Frosticus" I keep thinking of that scene from Life of Brian.
You know the one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2K8_jgiNqUc

trailturtle · October 2013

nepht wrote: »

Does the design a villain winner know you guys have changed the name of "Freon 2". Wait a year and half till the guy is most likely not playing then screw with his vision.

Naughty, naughty devs.

Oh and for those newbs not in the know, "Freon" or Frosticus as he is now known was bitten by a magically powered Refrigerator or something like that, if his creator is still playing I just want to say kudos on that.

You might be surprised -- we've been trying to work with him whenever possible. He's not always on, so there's definitely plenty that we go ahead on without consulting him, but Frosticus was a name that both we and Fryguy both liked.

nepht · October 2013

trailturtle wrote: »

You might be surprised -- we've been trying to work with him whenever possible. He's not always on, so there's definitely plenty that we go ahead on without consulting him, but Frosticus was a name that both we and Fryguy both liked.

^__^ Fryguy ( He likes SMB2, it seems the man has taste

), thats his name. Glad to hear he is still around I've always been a fan of his FRIDGE MONSTER :O glad to see it finally appearing.

But I aint gonna mince mah words should have been up way last year I've been looking forward to this for such a long time

echozeero · October 2013

Frosticus

/facepalm

Unknown · October 2013

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agentnx5 · October 2013

chalupaoffury wrote: »

agentnx5 wrote:

[long post of heartfelt stuff]

This is probably the most true post I've seen in months.

LOL @ that image! And thank you.

angelphoenix12 · October 2013

lezard21 wrote: »

edit: I logged in just for nostalgia's sake. I take back what I said. It's even worse than I thought. They haven't even fixed MINOR easily fixable stuff like the "Master Villain Default" in certain alerts. No new costumes since last year. Please plug the cable off already. Game is dead.

this is where we stand apart, even though I complain about this game, ive never said this game is done. I think it will come back and im willing to wait and see.
also they have spent a month working on bugs. to me that shows they are more invested in co.

meedacthunist · October 2013

I think that instead of making two generic and unknown (and hardly worthy of care) creations as powerful as Gravitar (if not more), Cryptic could finally use their own purchased IP and do this alert with real Champions villains taken from sourcebooks.

It shouldn't bee to hard to find fire and ice villains for this fight.

Current models for Blaze and Frosticus could be used in custom alerts, or even regular alerts with a novelty factor of being dual bosses with shared XP.

They are simply nothing worthy to stand out at this power level in this universe.

wrathsoul1 · October 2013

meedacthunist wrote: »

I think that instead of making two generic and unknown (and hardly worthy of care) creations as powerful as Gravitar (if not more), Cryptic could finally use their own purchased IP and do this alert with real Champions villains taken from sourcebooks.

It shouldn't bee to hard to find fire and ice villains for this fight.

Current models for Blaze and Frosticus could be used in custom alerts, or even regular alerts with a novelty factor of being dual bosses with shared XP.

They are simply nothing worthy to stand out at this power level in this universe.

In hindsight, besides the characters and the backgrounds, this game is really not like the source material.

meedacthunist · November 2013

wrathsoul1 wrote: »

In hindsight, besides the characters and the backgrounds, this game is really not like the source material.

Honestly, at this moment would be the best if Cryptic stopped pretending and returned IP to Hero Games.

They will never make any proper use of it, CO level of writing will remain a disgrace to any IP, and frankly, the very fact that this IP is owned by Cryptic is harmful for Champions continuity.

bulgarex · November 2013

meedacthunist wrote: »

I think that instead of making two generic and unknown (and hardly worthy of care) creations as powerful as Gravitar (if not more), Cryptic could finally use their own purchased IP and do this alert with real Champions villains taken from sourcebooks.

It shouldn't bee to hard to find fire and ice villains for this fight.

Current models for Blaze and Frosticus could be used in custom alerts, or even regular alerts with a novelty factor of being dual bosses with shared XP.

They are simply nothing worthy to stand out at this power level in this universe.

Well, if they absolutely had to have a "fire and ice" theme, most of the villains in the IP with either Special Effect tend to dislike or fear the opposite, so assuming Cryptic wanted to stay faithful to published characterization :rolleyes: I could see them wanting an original duo. I admit the frequent campiness of Cryptic creations is becoming tiresome to me, though.

Otherwise I might have chosen Geothermal and Glacier for this alert -- real powerhouses who need no further justification to start rampaging. Blowtorch and Snowblind are much less powerful in the lore, but might be more fun from a personality standpoint (and could be nicknamed "Snow and Blow"

). Or make this a VIPER-based incident, bring back Freon, and pair him with a fire-based Dragon Branch villain who hasn't been written up yet, like Spitfire or Whitefire (both mentioned in VIPER: Coils Of The Serpent).

I have some sympathy for Cryptic devs who would rather create their own original characters than play with someone else's. But I also agree with meedachthunist -- why buy the IP if you aren't going to take advantage of it? A lot of the work is already done for you.

rexhavok · November 2013

Wow. Terrible.

dantheiceman1 · January 2014

whatever happened with this?

was it canned again?

sistersilicon · January 2014

dantheiceman1 wrote: »

whatever happened with this?

was it canned again?

Everybody's back from the holidays, so they placed an updated build on PTS last Friday.

http://co-forum.perfectworld.com/showthread.php?t=258771

Fire & Ice Playtest Livestream, 10/25 at 6pm PDT

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