Blog of Heroes

The full DevChat transcript from today is here. A few items that caught my eye (there are a number I do not quote below — read the whole thing, if you’ve an interest):

[18:40] <@cryptic_chronomancer> The goal is to have you feel challenged enough that being a hero means something without being frustrated or feeling overwhelmed. As you can expect, it isn’t easy, and no MMO comes out perfectly balanced. But we’re dedicated to getting there. PVE is the main focus of the game, but we’ve found that our PVP system is fun and popular.
[18:40] <@cryptic_chronomancer> As for a focus on balance, the game should be fun for both styles of play. We’ll continue to create new content for both PVE and PVP. As for support, there are powersets already that are more geared towards this. Sorcery is a good example. The upcoming Celestial set is going to be great for players that want to focus on support powers, as well.
[18:41] <@cryptic_chronomancer> As for balancing, our goal is to only decrease the effectiveness of powers if they are honestly broken (doing multiples of expected damage, for example). It’s better for us focus on fixing broken powers that aren’t effective enough before we lower the effectiveness of powers.
[18:41] <@cryptic_chronomancer> Basically, we’re thinking more surgically moving forward in regards to how we address balance as opposed to dropping huge bombs.

Which all sounds good (esp. the focus on PVE and the ability for “support” characters to shine).

[18:43] <@Cryptic_AntiProton> Two villains is meant to be a challenging normal pull. You’ll definitely want to be blocking, or using LOS, or using a hold power, or all of those tricks at once. Using a consumable device, either one of the healing things crafters make, the ones the stores sell, or one of the rare critter drops would also help.

I’m always forgetting to use heal devices. Or else I feel I need to horde them, since they’re a pain to build or acquire.

[18:50] <@Cryptic_Ignoble> We are still working on the pricing of the retcon system and will make changes as needed. We are actively working on additional functionality for the retcon system, as well. Some of the changes that have been requested are more complicated than others and so they’ll require time from the technology team.
[18:51] <@Cryptic_Ignoble> Our goal with the retcon system is to provide targeted retcons for characters that are specifically affected by changes. For example, if we made a significant change to a powerset – or even a single power – we could issue a retcon to just the heroes affected by that change.

Targeted respecs is an interesting idea. But, honestly, it’s not that big a deal for folks to have respecs, whether or not a power that’s changed is one that they currently have. I think they’re over-thinking this.

[18:52] <~COquestionbot> <Revik> Q: Why do meleer’s get the weakest roots when we need it the most due to Charge skills being rendered useless if they just back away.
[18:52] <@Cryptic_Balseraph> Roots and melee: yes, if your target backs away from your charge, well, there will be a bit of distance between you. However, the root that’s built into Mighty Leap should affect them regardless. If it isn’t, that’s a bug, and we’ll fix it. In practical terms, I melee roots should fee powerful, because they can be applied very quickly. That being said
[18:52] <@Cryptic_Balseraph> if you really want to be a melee character that can take on ranged people, you need to either have a charge or a “yoink” (our name for Shuriken advantage “Chained Kunai” or Iron Lariat)

I’ve avoided Shuriken on all the characters that could use it … so far. Knowing that I can use an advantage on it to pull people to me may change my mind.

[18:53] <@Cryptic_Balseraph> Melee powers, based on how you’re stated, do between 30% more damage than ranged powers over the same period of time, for the same cost. Some players have the impression that melee attacks are weaker than some ranged powers, because some fully charged melee attacks don’t do as much damage as some fully charged ranged attacks. Well, that’s true, until you look
[18:53] <@Cryptic_Balseraph> at the time it took to make the attack. Most melee attacks get fully charged in just 1 second or less, compared to a 2.5 to 3 seconds for some ranged attacks.
[18:54] <@Cryptic_Balseraph> Melee attacks can get up to an additional 20% bonus to their damage from your strength score. This bonus is completely separate and distinct from you Characteristic Focus bonus; it’s in addition to that. We just put a change in where you need much less strength to get to that 20% bonus. The intent of this change was to allow melee builds that didn’t focus on
[18:54] <@Cryptic_Balseraph> strength to be more viable. You still need to pay attention to it with your gear, but its no longer required that it be your Characteristic Focus (i.e. Super Strength) to get the full benefit.

This is a shining example of information that’s really important for players to know, but which is not at all explained by the game. It’s good to know — but it shouldn’t require following the forums or a particular DevChat to know it.

[18:54] <~COquestionbot> <NeoWolf> Question: will we EVER be able to see weapons in the costume creator/tailor screen before we have to pay to add or recolor them?
[18:55] <@Cryptic_AntiProton> We totally want to get that working eventually, yes. What just got in with being able to select them in character creator (though not see them) was ahead of schedule, which is awesome. The artist that did the setup work for the weapon geos to even be able to be swapable and I both really want to see it fully working in both the tailor and the character creator
[18:56] <@Cryptic_AntiProton> like a lot of features we had to put it on hold for launch, but now that we are released it is on the list of things to get done.

Yeah, this is something that needs work.

[18:57] <~Cryptic_Daeke> <Antis3al> What are your plans to fix the leveling gaps? A player can still level if they dig for every single quest out there, but currently they don’t connect in any logical way; and the content is still spread thin, sometimes requiring a player to do quests several levels above their own. Is there a coming solution or even awareness of the problem?
[18:57] <@Cryptic_Ignoble> We are currently working to add a number of additional missions and instanced content to help fill several content gaps we have identified. These will begin making their way out to the server over the next few weeks and will hopefully integrate seamlessly with the content that already exists.

I hope one of the areas is early Millennium City content, around Lvl 12-13. Right now it’s all pretty much 14+, but it’s easy to wrap up some major threads in Canada/Desert and figure it’s time to hit the city. Frustration ensues.

19:00] <~COquestionbot> <ian33w> Is it possible to increase the range of Sorcery’s Auras as most powers are 50 to 100 feet?
[19:00] <@Cryptic_Balseraph> Sorcery: Sorcery is, right now, getting a major “quality of life” overhaul. some bits (like the sigils) are being made stronger. Other parts are just being made less difficult to use. One big thing, Circles of Summoning are now being flagged as “Rituals of Summoning”. They look exactly the same, and work exactly the same, but now are cumulative (stack with) C
[19:01] <@Cryptic_Balseraph> Circles of Power. Additionally, we’re elminating the property where they eat ALL your energy, so you can get back into the fight more quickly with them. And, yes, we’ll be increasing the range of the auras. =)

Good to know.

[19:02] <~COquestionbot> <Vahn> Q: in single blade powerset, why theres no love for two handed weapons?
[19:02] <@Cryptic_Balseraph> Single Blade: We’re going to give BIG GIANT two handed weapons so much love, they’re going to get their own set. Eventually. =)

That will make many people happy.

[19:10] <~COquestionbot> <WebGuest69> What are the end game plans for champions online? What reasons are there to continue to keep playing a character after you hit the level cap?
[19:10] <@cryptic_chronomancer> We have end game content in several areas of the game: PVP, Crafting, Missions, Perks, and Nemesis. All of these systems have content that you can only accomplish after reaching level 40.
[19:10] <@cryptic_chronomancer> The Stronghold Apocalypse opens in PVP. There are crafting components that can only be gained in level 40+ maps and the blueprints to use those are going in soon.
[19:10] <@cryptic_chronomancer> The daily UNITY hot-spots and repeatable high-end lairs are in for mission-fiends There are very long-term perks that will require lots of play to accomplish.
[19:10] <@cryptic_chronomancer> And you can build and defeat up to 18 different Nemesis. The best part is we’re going to build on all of these systems moving forward as well as creating new end-game things for heroes to do.

Which will be interesting. It seems to me, though, from my (limited) experience is that the big problem with Level Cap toons is that, except for incremental wealth improvements, they don’t really advance after they cap out. Regardless of content, that isn’t going to change.

[19:18] <~Cryptic_Daeke> <Kahleek> Will we ever be able to cherry pick which powers to retcon?
[19:18] <@cryptic_chronomancer> While this seems like it would be simple, it actually isn’t. With all of the associated characteristics, talents, advantages, tier requirements and so on, it is difficult to just pull out a power in the middle of the stack, as it were.
[19:18] <@cryptic_chronomancer> Making a change like this will require a lot of work on the technology side, so unfortunately while we’re looking into it, it won’t be any time soon.

I take their word for it, but it’s unfortunate. It would be great to be able to simply say, “Y’know, that power 8 lvls down was a mistake …”

[19:19] <~COquestionbot> <Per_Ignim> Question: Is it intended that a full retcon cost more than 50 times as much as it is reasonable to expect a character to have at any given level?
[19:19] <@Cryptic_Balseraph> Retconning and the Economy: First, there isn’t enough money flowing into the game right now. This is a completely known issue, and we have several different options that we’re testing. Basically, yes, we knowingly erred on the side of a too restrictive money supply to see what trends happened, and be able to catch issues (like dupe bugs) very quickly. Now
[19:19] <@Cryptic_Balseraph> we’re getting ready to make some significant changes to drop rates of items and resources from critters… and all of them are basically going to be “more”. =) The question, of course, is how much more; since neither we nor you wants the economy to be something that changes several times. For retcons in specific, I think that the cost scaling when you go deep
[19:20] <@Cryptic_Balseraph> might be found to be too high even after we’ve inflated the economy to where we want it to be. If so, well, we’ll change it. Easy. The current balance goal is that all of the money you earn in a SINGLE level should allow you to retcon back FIVE steps.

Drops are definitely broken — but, really, that still seems like too expensive a proposition. Maybe I’m spoiled by the steady stream of freespecs on CoX.

[19:24] <~COquestionbot> <draulfox> Question: How often do you guys visit the suggestion forums ? When you do, do you go back many pages and read every thread? How do you select what you read?
[19:25] <~Cryptic_Daeke> Every day. A ton of the higher-ups here are always asking us what players want to see most in the game (aside from the constant balancing and fixes that may be needed). I go through and collect a bunch of the most popular ideas and pass them on.
[19:25] <~Cryptic_Daeke> We also grab ones that we happen to think are really cool ideas as well.
[19:25] <~Cryptic_Daeke> In fact, earlier in the chat we took a question about adding a “Danger Room” to the Power House, and I definitely remember seeing that in the Suggestions forum.
[19:26] <~Cryptic_Daeke> So, even though we don’t respond to the Suggestions forum very often, we’re definitely following it very closely.

Also good to hear.

[19:30] <~COquestionbot> <Shiroi98> question: when will claw powers be revisited? right now its damage is really horrible compared to the other martial arts
[19:31] <@Cryptic_Balseraph> Claws powers: Claws powers are intended to inflict excellent damage over time for their energy cost. If it isn’t, we’ll look at it. Additionally, the “Shredded” debuff that they can inflict raises not only your own dps, but that of every team mate with you. That being said, Claws is a crit – happy set, and you should really spec for a high crit rate to get th
[19:31] <@Cryptic_Balseraph> to get the most out of it.

Margie’s very much enjoying a claws solo toon right now (even as I type).

[19:31] <~COquestionbot> <Feigr> Question: Are there any plans to add a gray scale the palette for powers?
[19:32] <@cryptic_chronomancer> We’re looking into the potential technical issue behind this (hues vs tints) but we have heard your desires and are working to make it happen! I know I’d use it to make a noir munitions character.

Huzzah!

This has been on Test a few days, and it goes live tonight. There’s a lot there, but here are a few highlights that caught my eye.

• A full Retcon is available for any character created before 2009-09-10 08:30 UTC. To use it, visit the Powers Trainer, choose “Retcon,” and click on “Use Free Reset.” 
• This patch provides a number of changes to various power sets. Please check the detailed patch notes before making any decisions regarding power purchasing (or before redeeming your free Retcon).

Both very important notes. First off, they’ve decided not to finesse the respec to just characters that were created during the Early Start. Either that was more difficult than believed, or they figured they’d just do the right thing and give everyone a respec (which, given it’s a new game, and they’re doing some further power changes this time, makes sense).

So RTFM!

General

• […] Changed the way Strength adds to physical melee damage powers. Damage bonus is still capped at 20%, but this cap is now much easier to reach, and can be reached just through some modest effort at collecting gear, without a Characteristic Focus in Strength. This change has NO EFFECT on damage added from taking Strength as a Characteristic Focus. This is a distinct and separate bonus.

I don’t particularly understand this one, but I don’t understand the normal Strength bonus for melee vs. what it sounds like comes when you take Strength as a Characteristic Focus.

• The help UI now includes an internal game manual.

The more in-game help, the better.

• Reduced quantity of posts to Twitter and Facebook.

Well, that doesn’t explain much, does it? I’ll have to look and see. I wonder if that will address the 408 error that was being generated by Twitter.

User Interface and Chat

• The in-game mouse cursor has all-new appearances based on whether you’re pointing at a friend, an enemy, etc.

Good.

• The minimap now has a settings button on the right side (indicated by a gear). Under settings you can toggle what kind of icons you want the minimap to display.

Useful.

• Added a new social button to the minimap which will open the social window.

Better than using the menu system,

• There is now a sell confirmation for double-clicking an item in the store, and by right-clicking an item in your inventory while the store is open. There will not be any confirmation if you click the sell button at the bottom of the store window.

Yes! I’ve sold several things inadvertently that way. “Hmmm, do I want to sell this? No, let’s put it in my … wait, where did it go?

• Added /itunes and /winamp to set the active music player and open it.

Um … okay.

• Added search button to social UI.

That sounds helpful.

• Large windows no longer auto-close fixed-position windows when opened (they still close other large windows, though).

Powers

Margie observes that “now functions properly” usually means a nerf (if not further explained).

Many Power tweaks. Worth reading in detail.

Crafting

• Added Competent, Skilled, Very Skilled, Highly Skilled to all component descriptions to clarify what band of skill levels they are used in Blueprints.
• If you have no crafting blueprints, you now get basic instructions in the crafting UI when you open it.

Anything they can do to make this more transparent and easier to understand is well worth it.

By the way, is there a way to tell what school and subspecialty in crafting you’ve taken with a character?

Anyway, as noted, there’s a ton more. Not surprising at this stage of the game, and good that they’re responding as quickly as they are to problems.

I love the Acrobatics travel power. It’s coolness in the extreme — the leaping, the tumbling, all that. It’s even better in a bestial stance, but even for normals it’s extremely keen.

I’ll never take it agan. Nor Super-Speed. Possibly not Super-Jump (on the principle that what goes up must come down), though I remain open on that; Teleport might be similarly of concern.

Here’s my problem. Aggro. As in, “there are angry mobs everywhere, you can’t avoid them, and as soon as they aggro you as you run / caper past, you slow down, and they shoot you from afar and follow you to the ends of the Earth.”

I was running Kitsune in Canada (Phase II) yesterday. We had fishy business up by the river, and it was a freaking epic quest for me to get from Steelhead to mission sites, time and again. I felt like I was infiltrating behind enemy lines. Meanwhile, Margie’s Surprise waggled her little fairy wings and flitted above the fray. “Do you need me to watch over for you?”

Feh.

If Travel Powers didn’t suddenly slow down when you aggro or when you’re aggroed, but only when you actually attack someone, it wouldn’t be a problem. As it stands, though, it’s a serious pain, and one that I can easily avoid by simply not taking some delightful powers.

Related to that — is it too much to ask for radio messaging with contacts? Even CoX realized a long time back that having to trot back to the contact every time is a real Quality of LIfe annoyance, and given the above concerns, it can be hazardous to one’s health, too.

Sure, the desert is subject to radiation interference, and the auroras in the tundra are something fierce … but surely we can get a secure radio contact with Dr. Fred or Lt. Joe-Bob after we run a mish or two for them. Not to mention Justiciar …

Well, this looks like it could be fun …

There is a chill wind blowing through Millennium City. It’s late October and the moon has taken on a sinister aspect, staining the sky a bloody red. The superhero Witchcraft, of the Champions, warns that this is a dire portent of an approaching mystical threat. There have been sightings of strange creatures emerging across the world, those of savage werewolves and flesh-craving zombies. Even worse, they bear with them the tidings of a great evil returning to the world… Takofanes, the Undying Lord!

Eek!

When Takofanes last strode across North America he killed all who crossed him to swell the ranks of his undead army. The first attempt America’s superheroes made to stop him resulted in the death of half a dozen of them. A second more concentrated attempt managed to drive Takofanes from the battlefield, but he could not be defeated. Now Takofanes has returned once again with hordes of his minions, citing prophecies of doom and proclaiming his coming reign over humanity!

Gasp!

   * Explore the new Celestial Powerset. Use the power of the Seraphim to heal and strengthen your allies, or release the fury of the Nephilim in a battle against evil.
   * Beware the Zombie Apocalypse rising in Canada! Battle against zombies in PVP, but no matter what, do not fall there. Should you die, you shall return as one of the undead horde, bound to fight in Takofanes’ name.
   * Fight off ravenous werewolf packs, but be careful lest you get bitten and infected with their dark magic.
   * Stand against undead heroes who once fought in the Battle of Detroit, and do your best to free their souls from Takofanes’ necromancy.
   * Challenge Takofanes to drive him from our land, but beware – you must fight the dark sorcerers who serve him before you have any chance of facing the Undying Lord.

So it sounds like there are some lycanthropy/zombification aspects where you can be “turned” into something wicked this way coming. That could be very fun indeed, if (true to the comics genre) all is set right in the end.