News Editor Garrett Fuller sits down with Matt "Positron" Miller, the Lead Designer for Cryptic Studios' City of Heroes / Villains about Issue 9, the game's next free expansion.

MMORPG.com:

Give us an introduction into what Issue 9 will offer players for both City of Heroes and City of Villains.

Matt Miller:

Well, first off we have the Invention system, which adds a whole new dynamic to the game. Heroes and Villains will collect salvage and recipes by defeating enemies. In keeping with City of Heroes "casual friendly" game design, the collecting of these items adds extra spice to the gameplay of defeating foes, rather than becoming a hardcore task of "grinding," "camping" or hours of "raiding." With this salvage, players can use the recipes to assemble an all new class of Power Enhancements or costume pieces (depending on the recipe), which they can then use. Unused recipes and salvage can be sold at the new Consignment Houses (for Heroes) or the new Black Market (for Villains).

You can read the whole article here.

i can only read: (except in the actuall post, by that i mean this one)

"News Editor Garrett Fuller sits down with Matt "Positron" Miller, the Lead Designer for Cryptic Studios' City of Heroes / Villains about Issue 9, the game's next free expansion."

then its nothing more, anyone else experienced that?

Originally posted by sacreddaykil

i can only read: (except in the actuall post, by that i mean this one)

"News Editor Garrett Fuller sits down with Matt "Positron" Miller, the Lead Designer for Cryptic Studios' City of Heroes / Villains about Issue 9, the game's next free expansion."

then its nothing more, anyone else experienced that?

Not much we didn't know, and of course the devil's in the details - deciding if the inventions are a "must-have", a waste of time, or something in between will depend entirely on what numbers they choose to assign. And by that I mean not just the value of the boost, but how rare is "rare"?

Based just on the numbers that leaked out so far, I already figure I'd have to be tripping over salvage and drained of inf to make any of the built-in IO recipes of a level other than 45 or 50.

I do foresee however, a nice use of the consignment shops. I'm really curious to see what kind of economy develops in this influence-rich world. I also hope I can deconstruct Centrioles into some useful salvage, as their value is low and set for dropping. I mean dmg/range is already the red-headed stepchild of the Hami-Os, and I only see it getting less desireable with new IO options.

Also it seems like all of this invention salvage falls into the category of "stuff that drops while you're doing what you're doing." Which is fine but still, still not giving 50s anything to do. Sure, now there's both the revamped (nice!) Hami raid and the Statesman TF, but you still have the big grind/raid question - what the heck am I getting better for?? How many of us have 50s that do nothing but get a new HO, technically becoming better, then go back to the bench? I have several.

That said, to end on a high note, sounds good with the Hami raid revamp. I especially like the "rare recipe" option, which sounds fair, and flexible, and I'm very glad you thought of it because had players suggested that it would surely have been met with the same warmth as the "select a Hami-O" idea.

---

Originally posted by Windlion

---

Originally posted by sacreddaykil

i can only read: (except in the actuall post, by that i mean this one)
"News Editor Garrett Fuller sits down with Matt "Positron" Miller, the Lead Designer for Cryptic Studios' City of Heroes / Villains about Issue 9, the game's next free expansion."
then its nothing more, anyone else experienced that?

---

Yep cant read the rest must be in error. :( nevermind it helps if you scroll down ! lol

---

lol, just eralised that too :) but im pretty sure it actually was away for a second, cause otherwise im really stupid. i guess.

Bah, I was hoping this was going to be the issue with villain epic archtypes, guess I'm going to have to wait another 6 or so months.

I'm thinking this invention system is set up as a distraction so players don't level up as fast and complain about the grind.

Originally posted by Amarsir

Not much we didn't know, and of course the devil's in the details - deciding if the inventions are a "must-have", a waste of time, or something in between will depend entirely on what numbers they choose to assign. And by that I mean not just the value of the boost, but how rare is "rare"?

Based just on the numbers that leaked out so far, I already figure I'd have to be tripping over salvage and drained of inf to make any of the built-in IO recipes of a level other than 45 or 50. <snip>

I

After reading on the official forums that Posi doesn't want the new system to overshadow those that choose not to use it, I am wondering how much it will be worth the time investment.

Posi's words:

We tried to make it so that if you had a full set of Set-based IOs, then your overall bonuses were similar in power to straight up SO slotting.

So that said, my initial thoughts are if Invention salvage drops at anywhere near the rate of Base Salvage, I don't see getting 2 or 3 powers slotted out worth the time investment/effort.  It was nice he did say they will NOT make mobs tougher with the new system.   Yes, I can still play the game without this addition but I'm pretty bored with the game as is so I really don't want a huge grind with this system just to gain an extra 2-5% performance boost(but I guess that is par for MMOs and unfortunately Cryptic has been moving closer and closer to the standard formula).

As far as the cost, I'm not so worried about influence IF(and that's a big if) the leaked info I've seen stays close.  Such as a level 50 IO for defense buff only costs 64,000 influence.  I can't see a dual IO costing 10 times as much but we will see.  The biggest factor for that single effect enhancement was it used 3 pieces of salvage.

They really need to get this system on test soon(as in the next couple weeks not Cryptic's Soon^TM)

I don't know if anyone will find this interesting but here is a little more info on IO sets.

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

I should also point out that because of this, you will only be able to slot in ONE of a particular Set IO into a particular power. So in the Sting of the Manticore example, you can't slot in 6 SotM: Damage/Accuracy IOs into your Sniper power.

---

Answers that question, and sounds like sets are indeed comprised of specific IOs. Thanks for the info! :-)

So, while you're here, can we drag more out of you? Are there multiple possible sets for a given power: if you don't want the Sting of the Manicore set for your snipe, could you use Long Arm of Blue Shield instead?

-D

---

Posi's response:

Sure, there are 5 different Sniper sets: Exploit Weakness, Calibrated Accuacy, Executioner's Contract, Extreme Measures, and Sting of the Manticore. All of them exist all the way to level 53, but some "start" later than others. The earliest starts at level 10 (slottable at level 7). Sting of the Manticore starts at level 35 (so slottable at level 32).

Originally posted by volumeone86

 

Bah, I was hoping this was going to be the issue with villain epic archtypes, guess I'm going to have to wait another 6 or so months.

I'm thinking this invention system is set up as a distraction so players don't level up as fast and complain about the grind.

Borriinnngggg!!!

This is boring news, nothing exciting, nothing really new.  It's just a whole lot of the same, same as WoW's expansion, boring!

Originally posted by PowderBurnt
So we're getting phat lootz?

In some ways this sounds sorta like runes an sets in diablo 2 .

I'm really excited about Issue 9.  I'm loving the team style combat as a healer in the CoH and CoV games.  I'm looking forward to the added dimension of being able to make some ehancements and costume pieces.  My supergroup jokes with me about having an addiction to visiting the tailor as it is lol.  Being able to make my own costume pieces?  I'm nearly speechless 0_o.

I enjoyed Issues 7 and 8 as well.  I like the way Cryptic adds to the game without breaking or ruining what we already have and enjoy.  New additions that I've experienced really add to the game without seriously altering the general feel.  This is very important to me as a gamer in general and as a survivor of the Star Wars Galaxies fiasco in particular.

I have also enjoyed that the free exapansions have been fairly polished upon release.  Having expansions that actually break your game was such a let down in the past.  CoH is a refreshing improvement.  Thanks for all the hard work guys, it's appreciated!

Arc

Finally!  It's nice to see that the devs are actually improving the game, a concept long forgotten by many mmo's.  I would still like to own my own house or apartment... I guess that's the swg in me.

---

Originally posted by airborne519

Finally!  It's nice to see that the devs are actually improving the game, a concept long forgotten by many mmo's.  I would still like to own my own house or apartment... I guess that's the swg in me.

---

Well ina way you can.if your not in a sg your toon could form one an use the base a small plot one as a home with no upkeep.

Originally posted by Axeion

 

---

Originally posted by airborne519

 

Finally!  It's nice to see that the devs are actually improving the game, a concept long forgotten by many mmo's.  I would still like to own my own house or apartment... I guess that's the swg in me.

---

 

Well ina way you can.if your not in a sg your toon could form one an use the base a small plot one as a home with no upkeep.

Originally posted by airborne519

Finally!  It's nice to see that the devs are actually improving the game, a concept long forgotten by many mmo's.  I would still like to own my own house or apartment... I guess that's the swg in me.

They did say that personal apartments are being discussed, possibly could be added later on.  Not a high priority I'm sure, but they are aware that there is enough people that want it to put it on their "To DO" list.

Would be nice to get villain epic AT, but I'd rather they take their time and get them right rather than just make an "evil warshade".  I got enough alts that I can keep myself busy with my non-50's.