If this works this could set a new standard for MMOs as a whole.  Look at it from a developer's standpoint, they wouldn't have to make as much content anymore as their own playerbase would be doing it... for free. 

The rating system should be helpful to players as well as designers.  Not sure what makes a good mission?  Hop into a high-rated one and check it out.

Originally posted by slask777

It's a good feature and it become more and more common in games to have user-created content. It's by no means anything new, especially if you've been a pc gamer for untold years, but it's kinda new to mmo's. I just hope they let them make long chains, as already in the game from all the contacts scattered around.

Back to dinging my defender

From what has been said on the main site, its not so much a mission creator, as it is a mission arc creator. So yes it will be just like the story chains the contacts send you on. I believe they said you make a 5 mission arc and can have three published arcs at a time. You can have as many as you want stored or in development, but only three published at a time. If your arc gets into the hall of fame or the devs mark it as a Dev's Choice it will free up one of your three published arcs and I believe become a permanant addition to the game.

Originally posted by Slackerboy

The only release date I heard was "soon".

However as this is still in internal beta, not even on the test server. I would bet a month or more before we see it on live servers.

I say let them take the time they need, get it right then release. I really hate bugs. (Makes one wonder why I do so many betas)

Actually, the game has been in closed beta testing since Friday the 13th (Hope there's no bad luck).

I had been a long time player of CoX on and off for three years, but I have to say that this game just keeps going downhill every update. Everything that was ever good in the past was ALWAYS nerfed, which was constantly annoying. And about this new update, missions are missions... and this isn't going to make it any more exciting than it already isn't. Sure it's user created, but it's still the same old boring missions that make up CoX. I for one never did read any of the in-game dialog on any mission whatsoever when I played, what's the point? They killed the end game content with Hamidon way back, there's really no point to get the new enhancements because your character is still able to do just as good with regular SOs at level 50. So there's really no one enemy group or any type of mission that calls for you to have IO's, it's just a matter of preference whether you wanna waste time earning money to get them. If you're REALLY bored you can get all the badges in the game and show them off to people who could care less. I quit playing this game a year ago and went to WoW, and honestly, neither this update or previous updates appeal one bit to me to renew. This game is heading in the wrong direction in my opinion and I'd be surprised if it's still around in another year. I think it's kinda sad when a game comes down to relying on users for content, unless it's for some sorta prize.

Originally posted by BigBroly

I had been a long time player of CoX on and off for three years, but I have to say that this game just keeps going downhill every update. Everything that was ever good in the past was ALWAYS nerfed, which was constantly annoying. And about this new update, missions are missions... and this isn't going to make it any more exciting than it already isn't. Sure it's user created, but it's still the same old boring missions that make up CoX. I for one never did read any of the in-game dialog on any mission whatsoever when I played, what's the point? They killed the end game content with Hamidon way back, there's really no point to get the new enhancements because your character is still able to do just as good with regular SOs at level 50. So there's really no one enemy group or any type of mission that calls for you to have IO's, it's just a matter of preference whether you wanna waste time earning money to get them. If you're REALLY bored you can get all the badges in the game and show them off to people who could care less. I quit playing this game a year ago and went to WoW, and honestly, neither this update or previous updates appeal one bit to me to renew. This game is heading in the wrong direction in my opinion and I'd be surprised if it's still around in another year. I think it's kinda sad when a game comes down to relying on users for content, unless it's for some sorta prize.

If it's just players making more of the same old repetative type missions, I don't see it being that much of a benefit to the players.  If it introduces some new options and variety, I can see it being a nice addition.  I used to like being a GM for old-school pencil and paper RPG's.  Great fun if you're given the tools to do neat, unexpected things.  I don't know if this will be possible in CoH.  I guess time will tell.

I was looking forward to this system when they (A) pushed it back, and (B) introduced drastic, unwanted revamps to the game in the last issue instead.  (A) wouldn't have been so bad if it wasn't for (B).  This move on NCsoft's part simply killed my interest after playing the game for 3 years.

If I play a hero MMO again, it'll probably be Champions.

Originally posted by BigBroly
I for one never did read any of the in-game dialog on any mission whatsoever when I played, what's the point?

About the same point as reading a book or magazine or doing anything other than repeatedly mashing buttons I suppose. 

 The people who've cancelled their subscriptions in the past because of this or that issue not living up to their expectations seem more than a little grouchy and I'm  glad such people aren't playing the game anymore and I cordially invite you all  to not resubscribe. ;)

CoH has a ton of very creative gamers and while there undoubtedly will be a lot of garbage generated by the Mission Architect I expect that they will also do wonders with it and with the map editor which will most likely one day be part of it as there is already a base builder feature in the game.

I know a lot of players, not just in CoH, that don't read the ingame lore.  Personally, I always read it.  I don't want to just know that I have to defeat 20 hellions, I want to know why I have to defeat them.   I'll admit I am a bit of a lore-junkie not just in CoH but in any of the MMO's I have played before.

As far as repetative player missions, I don't see that will be a problem.  Player made missions that are boring will get low rated and few people will play them.  Pretty sure that those people that don't want to make any missions aren't going to start playing the ones everyone rates as "crappy".

Originally posted by DrowNoble

I know a lot of players, not just in CoH, that don't read the ingame lore.  Personally, I always read it.  I don't want to just know that I have to defeat 20 hellions, I want to know why I have to defeat them.   I'll admit I am a bit of a lore-junkie not just in CoH but in any of the MMO's I have played before.

As far as repetative player missions, I don't see that will be a problem.  Player made missions that are boring will get low rated and few people will play them.  Pretty sure that those people that don't want to make any missions aren't going to start playing the ones everyone rates as "crappy".

Still, missions are missions.. they're bound to get old after a few rounds. As usual, players will have seen all, done all in a matter of hours after release of the issue. You might wonder why they separated issue 13 and issue 14 to be released as two different issues.. well, I would argue that quite frankly, City of Heroes just have nothing more to offer anymore and relying on user content as an 'issue' isn't appealing. There's always a huge spike in the number of players for each issue's release and that's why they want to milk this game as much as they can. I'm sure those hardcore City of Heroes players will disagree with me, but whether you want to support trash or not is your decision.

The reason they separated Issue 13 day jobs from the Issue 14 Architect had to do with them adding more features to the Architect.  Before you would of picked pre-made villain models, now you can customize every aspect of the mission you are creating.  This, of course, led to more time having to be spent on the Architect designing.  So rather than have this long draught between Issue 12 and 13, they just released the day jobs and content they  had as Issue 13 and pushed Architect to Issue 14.  Good move on their part.

NCSoft wanting to "milk" this game implies the game is dying.  Which if you look at subscription numbers is not correct.  Since Issue 9 (crafting) the subs have gone up.  They don't match the numbers of That Other Game, but you don't need millions of subs to be profitable.  Heck DAoC is still up and running with only about 50k subs, CoH has thrice that.

Don't forget that the reason numbers spike on Issue release is that NCSoft gives all previous players a few free days of play.  I don't see Blizzard offering people a free weekend of WoW when a major patch comes out.  EA-Mythic hasn't sent me anything about trying out my old Albion characters for a weekend free. 

I think Architect will open up entire realms of possibility for RP groups, and i'm considering resubbing at the end of the month (when I have the monies ) and joining one of them. Whilst in terms of gameplay you'll be doing the same old clearout/bomb/click the glowing things, the context/custom villains and mobs/narrative dialogue should provide a lot of fuel for storylines.

Regarding the complexity of the editors and stuff, I don't really care about not having control over the exact map layout/glowy/mob placement, and I commend NCSoft for streamlining out ultimately unecessary steps and keeping it accessable.

Originally posted by trelliz

Whilst in terms of gameplay you'll be doing the same old clearout/bomb/click the glowing things, the context/custom villains and mobs/narrative dialogue should provide a lot of fuel for storylines.

Regarding the complexity of the editors and stuff, I don't really care about not having control over the exact map layout/glowy/mob placement, and I commend NCSoft for streamlining out ultimately unecessary steps and keeping it accessable.

 100%!

I had great hopes for the mission architect but is's turned out to be a bit of a double edged sword for the developers. They seemed to be caught out by the use that a number of players put it to. It seemed quite obvious to me (and a lot of other people) that the farmers and power levellers would be onto this faster than you could blink and that's exactly what happened.

The devs are now having to clean up the mess by asking people to 'report' dodgy missions and they are looking at levelling rates for toons to see which ones have obviously benefitted unfairly from specially created low risk high reward missions. They are now in the unfortunate position of having to contemplate deleting powerlevelled toons with all the potential problems that can cause.  Even worse, they are backpeddelling on the badges that were awarded for use of the MA, even removing badges from people who were using the thing in the way it was originally intended, saying it was too easy to earn the badges - fair enough  but who put them there and set the parameters in the first place?

I think a better system of rating missions is needed. With the current method, the person in the largest supergroup or the one who has the largest number of 'friends' gets the highest number of votes so their mission shoots to the top of the list. Some of the highest scoring missions I've seen are some of the worse to play. With no ability to leave comments we are having to rely on people creating external websites to rate MA missions.

By far the worse problem though, in my opinion of course, is that the mission architect is available in virtually every zone including the starter zones for new players. Some of them are getting sucked into the thing and being powerlevelled and are in danger of missing out on the best parts of the game. I think the MA should be removed from Atlas Park and Galaxy City, at least give the new pleyers a chance to see a bit of the game as it was meant to be played before hitting them with that thing.

Releasing the mission architect to the player base  was a bold move, whether it not it will turn out to have been a good move we'll just have to wait and see.

Originally posted by korat102

By far the worse problem though, in my opinion of course, is that the mission architect is available in virtually every zone including the starter zones for new players. Some of them are getting sucked into the thing and being powerlevelled and are in danger of missing out on the best parts of the game. I think the MA should be removed from Atlas Park and Galaxy City, at least give the new pleyers a chance to see a bit of the game as it was meant to be played before hitting them with that thing.

I agree with this. It was a good idea, that they wanted to let characters of any level be able to take part in MA, but there's no way to regulate it like this. People will make a character and play 1-who knows what level in MA and skip content. Plus, they wont learn how to play their character if they've just done "fluff" missions in the architect. They should have MA buildings in Steel Canyon and Cap. And the zones after those. This way a new person has a chance to get their feet wet, a bit.

AE is the greatest gui Ive seen making available tools to create such content.   I quit ryzom before Ryzom ring came out so sorry cant compare.   In the begining there were exploits yes,  exploding objects killing mas mobs for mass exp.   Now it seems they are gone.  In fact take out a clock do an hour of AE and an hour of newspaper or radio missions back to back and total the exp.  There is no completion bonus for AE except the awarded ones.   Another great idea is the AE tickets making it possible to buy salvage and other items you can not find or afford in market.   I have played some of the best missions in the game in AE.   And then again  some of the most boring,  those being farms.  Whatever, if someone wants to grind through a farm rather than run through the streets doing the same without earning tickets so be it.   For those who complain about farming and AE here is the best solution,  Dont Go In AE.   Its that simple and who cares if someone levels up fast?  Really,  Why would anyone care?  Some pay very little now to get leveled to 50 by who ever sits over there in what ever third world getting payed to play games.   Who Cares?   Its Cheating?   Only cheating themselfs out of the experience of a great game.   And again,  Why should we care?  Thanks to AE there is content available in game that would have never been put there.   Look how many different creative people are now working on the game.    Some suck but guess what?  there is a little icon saying something to the effect of Mission Architech Options,  Click it and opt to quit.   Done it plenty of times.   Your not going to miss out on a completion bonus so what the hell.    Have fun with whatever part of the game you like.  Dont play the parts you dont like.   There are so many other games out there to choose from for those who dont like coh/v.   In the End  Who Cares?