When I found out there were more expansions and level cap increases coming, I cancelled my newly re-upped account once again.  I'll never play another MMO that invalidates a year or more of raiding just so they can push the reset button on their cash cow.

Originally posted by Raltar

At most I might spend an hour playing with the new character options, picking colors for my powersets and such and then it would be right back to being just as bored as I was when I quit playing.

That was pretty impressive.  I'm looking forward to this game!

Heh, I got pulled in by the title, thinking some sort of announcement had been made about expanding the number of classes to 12.  *sigh*

I have no idea, as I never bought that pack.  I would guess it doesn't cause debt (who would want to use it then?), but this is CoH we're talking about, so you never know.

No prob, bud.  Here is a link to the magic pack.  What you see in those pics is almost what you get (it isn't much).

(Originally posted by Handofgod)

I'm breaking up your post to allow for easier answers. Hope you don't mind. --Sudsboy

I plan on buying the Architect Edition simply to have most of the Issues in one quick install. I know I don't need to buy the new edition, but it also comes with a few bonuses and the free month worth of play (the free month does work on old accounts, right? I believe it did when I bought the DVD two years ago). What I want to know is: will all the bonuses I got from the Good vs Evil edition remain? The Jump Jet, Pocket D warp, etc. Or will they be "written over" because I'm installing a new edition? I think they'll all stay, but I need confirmation.

The free month does work on an existing account.  All your previous bonus items and other stuff will remain.  When you purchased that edition, it asked you to enter a confirmation code when subscribing.  That code enables those goodies on your account, and it doesn't go away.

You might consider just downloading the client from the NCSOFT account page before you decide to buy the MA edition.  You can do that for free, then pay a month's sub to reactivate rather than spending for a new copy of the game.

Also, I know CoH has been pretty good about this in the past, but are my old characters still on the server? When I came back, there was something going on that inactive characters needed to log in or the names would be up for grabs again. Did this happen again in the past 2 years? Did anything happen that would remove or alter my unused characters?

They changed it so that only characters lower than level six (I think, can't remember if that number is right) are affected by name change.  Regardless, it's only an issue if someone else took the name you had.  On my two accounts, I only had one character that happened to over several re-ups once they lowered the level to six.

Finally, does anyone have pictures of the costume pieces in the Magic Booster Pack? I found pictures for the Cyborg set but not the magic. I believe you get one set in the AE DVD so I'd like to see what they look like.

You can find pics of the set on the CoH site unless I'm mistaken.  I bought the magic pack and was underwhelmed, but YMMV.  I'd never paid for a pack of costumes before, and I was imagining more available options.

Thanks in advance for any help and if there's anything else you think I should know after being away so long, I hope that you'll share that wisdom with me.

 

Have fun.  You might also check out Champions Online, releasing September 1st of this year.  It's made by the same company that originally released CoH.

Just as a wild guestimate, I'd say 80% of players have never tried PvP.  It was kinda interesting back when it was first in beta, but the nerfs started right away.  They ended up with a massively imperfect system that they never fixed in any satisfactory way, and what exists in game now is a horrid little homonculus of a system designed to make everyone a cardboard cutout in a game that should be promoting and encouraging exceptional characters.

These developers have consistently missed the boat.

Originally posted by Wikkedbowtie

Originally posted by themilton

Originally posted by sudsboy

I've played off an on since release.  Everytime I renew, the game seems cool for a month or so, mainly because I *love* creating heroes/villains.  After a month, the love affair has cooled and I'm left with mission after dull, repetitive mission.  Leveling in this game is an awful experience.  Over the years, they've made it faster, decreased exp necessary to level, done all sorts of things.  The truth is, if toons leveled twice or three times as fast, the game would still be incredibly boring.  The "game" part of CoX is lame, lame, lame.

The truly maddening thing is seeing them pump out issue after issue (what they call their updates, each comes with expansion-like content to one degree or another) and not address the basic failings of what *could* be an awesome game.

I would not recommend wasting money on this boat anchor of a game, particularly with other superhero offerings in the works.  This one is just playing dress up with superhero avatars without any thought toward what makes superheroes feel super.

 

sudsboy, you say CoX is boring and that the devs don't "address the basic failings" of the game. Other than the repetitive missions, what else do you find boring? What are the basic failings?

 

You can tell what his problem is with it is from his last line. The phrase "makes superheroes feel super" usually follows other statements. Such as "My tank should be able to herd half the mobs in a single zone", "my blaster's nuke shoule wipe out 50 mobs in a single blast", or my personal favorite "my scrapper should be able to solo every AV and GM."

He's not playing to enjoy himself. People who really enjoy this game actually read the storys. the people who get tired of it see every play session as a job. "tonight I'm gonna get to  X level" "Tonight I'm going to run a taskforce to get the merits I need for that cool IO I need." "Tonight I'm going to farm until I get the inf to buy the IO I need to get my character totally purpled out."

To the OP, if you play, just play to have fun. Enjoy the scenery, read the storys, just relax and have a good time

I'm not playing to enjoy myself???   Hahahahaha.  You don't know me, what makes you think you can speak for me?

In response to the question from the poster above you:

Strangely enough, a few friends and I were out for drinks last night and we talked about this very subject.  The basic failings of the game (as I see them, obviously opinions vary) are (1) a lack of the "visceral superhero experience", (2) an achievement schedule (i.e. new power picks) that is too long and unevenly spaced, (3) lack of meaningful endgame, even with the addition of Invention Enhancements, (4) very few scenarios that require even rudimentary tactical thinking, and (5) the aforementioned boring missions that are so painfully repetitive that deriving joy from reading the mission text sounds like the only way you *could* enjoy them. 

Personally, I turn to books when I want a good read.  I turn to MMOs when I want a massively multiplayer experience.

In addition to the basic failings listed above, I also feel that the developers have wasted years trying in vain to balance classes (almost always using nerfs rather than buffs), ostensibly for a PvP experience that just doesn't work in any appreciable way, rather than thinking outside the balance/nerf box and creating PvP scenarios that can play to the strengths of different classes.  I still wonder why you should try to make other classes as survivable as a tank or as deadly at range as a blaster; why not create PvP minigames where you need to defend objectives, take out others, or keep an npc healed as he assaults another team's base? 

Instead of exploring ideas that really add to the game, the developers have instead spent five years tweaking the classes over and over and over and over and over again, adding a bit of new content along the way and completely ignoring the lack of endgame.  There is no real reason to play your character once he reaches level 50, unless you just want to OCD out and make up a goal or two for him.  There's literally nothing to do of any consequence.

Boy, they sure do have some nifty text from the quest givers, though.

Originally posted by highlands123

The only reason I ask is since seeing that cinematic trailer...and then reading all the post on the official TOR...talking smack about how the sith are going to dominate etc....the maturity level seems to be lacking..it reminds me of WOW. I am already thinking the safe way to play it is play a jedi as opposed to the sith since most of the comments were coming from future sith players. Right now I am playing LOTRO and the community seems much more mature compared to WOW, which is a huge plus. Everyone is talking about endgame with this game..well for me..community is a huge selling point.

 

So whats everyone thoughts on what the TOR community will be like?

The only thing that worries me more than a large base of immature players in an MMO is what strangers on the internet think.

Originally posted by Draccan

 

New trailer looked sweet and awesome. But what is a cinematics trailer for a game? Nothing. Once you play the game it won't matter. Cinematics trailers are just fun. And this one rivalled some of the best cinematics I have seen.

 

But truth is that Bioware is still keeping major parts of what this game is about under wraps. But for sure some things can be concluded now:

1. Classes. Players will be stuck in one class.
http://www.swtor.com/info/holonet/classes
Seems to be eight classes. Jedi: Trooper, Jedi, Smuggler | Sith: Sith, Bounty Hunter

2. Factions. Players will be stuck in a faction - nothings points to mobility in allegiance.
Treaty of Coruscant = no real pvp
http://www.swtor.com/info/holonet/allegiances

3. Space. Not going to be included. We would have known by now.
Some will add: SWG didn't have it at launch, but this isn't 2003. Market is now very over-saturated with mmos and will be even more in a few years. Companies like Funcom counts on selling just enough copies at launch to give them a surplus. They know their games don't have lasting potential. ToR will have even less longevity than AoC.

4. Instances. Hard to say, but I wouldn't be surprised they go the way of AoC.

5. Crafting. Bioware states time and time again that this game is about story and heroes. Crafting is not part of their thought-proces. It isn't that slick, so why include it. Crafting is about creating your OWN story. And Bioware's idea of story-telling is that THEY need to direct your story.

6. Non-combat classes. This game will center on heroes. Meaning, vanilla gameplay with limited options. Don't expect anything but minor non-combat skills.

7.  Release date. Not going to be before 2011. These games always get postponed. Just wait and see. Could even be later.

8. Gameplay linear? Yes it will be. While technically possible to create great stories in a non-linear environment.

9. Housing? Player Cities? Housing and player cities also goes against the grain of their story-driven mmo where players are heroes, not housebuilder or crafters.

10. Combat system. Not much is known. But it will be smaller variety on the WoW/EQ formula. Sort of like other games like TCoS or AoC tries to change the formula. Don't expect something truly different, but something towards those lines. Maybe with a few twitch elements here and there.

11. Jedis. This time period is chosen to appeal to all the kids who wants to have a light-saber swining jedi (or sith). It is the lowest common denominator. There is no two ways about. But the uniqueness of the jedi character will drown in the multitudes of them after a while. Will that feeling of "wow a lightsaber" last?

12. PvP. A bit unclear. Except it to be children friendly. But since it is factional there must be some. A cross between WoW and WAR is not unheard of. Can anyone honestly expect something more hardcore with the direction this game is taking?

13. Graphics. Most likely next-gen graphics. Some improvements on existing ways of doing it. Maybe similar to AoC quality.

 

Conclusion:

This game is the NGE that LA always wanted. It will be linear, story-driven, have few hours of longevity, cater to the light-saber crowds, kids - tie in with graphical style of the Clone Wars, little crafting, not hardcore pvp, not many options, but lots of hand-holding and lead you through the maze..

Some might now jump in and say that it is guess-work, that we don't know all the facts; that maybe there will be deep crafting, hardcore pvp, housing, space flight etc. But these comments are ignorant and nothing to do with the truth. Truth is that the path of TOR is already set and it is set up for eye candy and a hollow gameplay. Not a real MMO as it won't be that massive or free.

Games make and break at launch now. There is no time to make space six to twelve months after (and what good did it really do SWG in the long run). There is no time to make that expansion that fixes all the problems (WAR + AoC). Either you make it or you will suffer a slow, suffocating death.

Bioware has taken the easy route of doing everything as simple and dumped-down as possible. It won't be hardcore pvp, it won't be massive diverse game with many play-options like crafting and non-combat professions.

What game companies does not understand is that the whole foundation of mmos is built around the principle that players should have the option of doing what THEY want in the game. Interact in many ways and not just kill-botting each other or npcs over and over. The combat oriented gamer should want the crafters and non-combatees to give flair and atmosphere to their game - to be able to interact with when needing an armour or a new weapon. This is what breathes life into the genre.

What Bioware is doing is to put one more nail in the mmo genre coffin. This game might get close to a million boxes sold or even 1.5 - but in the end it will be like many other mmos out there with empty, EMPTY servers after six months. People will buy it for the name, Star Wars, but leave when they see there is no freedom in this game. For Bioware it will mean not only breaking even, but also making a big chunk of cash - but for the players - the gaming community - it is just one more way to kill PC gaming..

 

Draccan

 

 

14.  Christmas.  Pointless, as Santa Claus does not exist, and you never get what you want for presents.
 

15.  Life.  Only a bitterly cruel ghost image of happier days past.  Must drive car into abutment at high rate of speed.

What a complete wanker...

I thought the video was great.  Hopefully, it's indicative of how much effort and resources are going to be pumped into the development of this game.  You'd have to be a slackjawed mouthbreather to write this game off already.

I'm very much looking forward to this one.  I hope they use the next few months wisely and well finishing it up.

Here's a nicely put together explanation of the whole fiasco, for any who wander in here and wonder what all this was about.

http://cohmapunishment.blogspot.com/

Originally posted by Eladi

Honest and political aswers, Silly questions that have nothing to do whit the game( well  little to do)  and would only serve to anoy anyone from any mmo dev team.

Lost some credit here MMORPG, The amound of contend you have is based on how mutch a game company wouuld like to talk to you. If you ask silly things that do not serve to promote a mmo they will  slowly stop giving interviews.

Or atleast less,  its already fairly obvious, some  other mmo and gaming sites that ask fair questions about games are getting more content.

So take it how you like, but thats how I curently see MMORPG.com  as a lesser mmo site whit sometimes someting new and intresting to say .

 

These interviews only serve to keep the game in the minds of potential consumers.  I don't think Bill Roper is gonna throw a hissy fit because Barbara Walters wasn't doing the interview and decide that his game doesn't need free press if it comes at the expense of sitting through the same questions the last game site asked.

Originally posted by maskedweasel

Originally posted by Nightbringe1

Originally posted by maskedweasel

 Personally, I enjoy PvP ONLY if its good PvP.  CoX was not good PvP, whereas I felt guildwars and Warhammer had good PvP.   CoX didn't originally have PvP in mind and it was thrown in... and you can clearly tell it was thrown in.  After the launch of CoV there were many powerset balance problems which most games have, but I feel CoX's were self imposed. They tried to play the "balance" game, which CO just won't be doing.  They stated there will be some powersets that are just more powerful then others, but there won't be a single "Ultimate build"

  

 

I don't have anything against games being designed for PvP play, to each his own.

Champions is not, however, being touted as having a pvp focus. It seems to be very much focused on PvE, with acknowlegements made from the begining that the classes are not balanced for PvP. As such, I have no expectation of the game being reviewed from a PvP standpoint.

I responded as I did to the individual blasting the review as he seems to be under the impression that PvP should be treated as a central aspect of all games, even those not promoting themselves as primarily PvP.

 

I agree with you to an extent.  PvP is not the sole purpose of many games, in fact, its a very small part of many of the games out there right now.  Its been said, and I have said and believe that this was meant to be a PvE game.  When I say that I don't mean that I don't plan on PvP'ing in the game. On the contrary, I actually believe that CO might be some absolutely fantastic PvP simply because, its not balanced.

Personally I would love nothing more then to review the game solely on a PvP standpoint.  I'd love just to test the game, and write something more in depth then I can provide here, but now is not my time.   PvP is part of this game, and although its not the main focus of this game, I always like to think of PvP as that added spice that makes a game great.

 

I *think* I read in one of the many preview articles about Champions that PvP was going to be available early on, and that you could earn experience and other rewards for participating in it.  I apologize for not having the link handy, but that sounds like more than an afterthought, assuming I am remembering correctly.
 

In response to Madeux in post #52:

"  And the reviewers intent was completely obvious, unless you're trolling and just looking for something to pick at.

I'm all for being critical, but the negativity so often seen here is disturbing.

"The reviewer said something wrong, so this game is going to suck!! Everybody run!!!!"  "
 

His clarification is exactly how I read it, FWIW.  I also didn't see a negative connotation, though I can see how some would infer one.

<Edited to add what I was quoting, because I'm a doofus.>

I couldn't agree more, Eric.  I hope they focused on an endgame for this one.   It would be nice to see it expanded upon with updates too.

To the poster above you, I don't think this game has auto attacks (I noticed that in the article too).  Everything I've read sounded like the attacking in this game is a very hands-on proposition.  I think the author mistakenly used the phrase while referring to lower tier energy building attacks.

This game looks like it's gonna be fun.  I can't wait to install this sucker and start rolling up some toons.  The action oriented combat sounds more fun than the typical MMO fare to me.  I'm also looking forward to seeing the comic style graphics myself, rather than looking at screenshots.  Some screens I've seen made the graphics look bad, and some made them look great.

All in all, this should be a fun game, and I'm pretty psyched for it.

Originally posted by Wikkedbowtie

Originally posted by sudsboy

"The warning is in the EULA. They are allowed to take any action up to and including deletion of characters leveled through exploits and/or banning the account of the person taking advantage of the exploit.

They are also restoring the characters of the people that should not have lost them, apologising to them, and I heard they have credited those people with a free 30 days.

Sounds to me like they are taking care of it. If you still want to leave you should feel free. I guarantee most of us won't miss you."

 

Honestly, I'm still puzzled by reations like yours.  Your statement that I won't be missed makes it sound like you are emotionally invested in this situation.  Through this entire debacle, apologists for the developers have been up in arms against people who spoke up about what was going on, and I just don't get it.  Why do you guys care so much if a customer has a complaint?

 

The "it's in the EULA" is a tired, worn out argument at this point, and it wasn't particularly relevant to the current difficulties to begin with.  If you'd examine the situation with a detached, calm eye, weighing previous policy against what happened, you can't come up with a rational argument against people being unhappy with the actions of the developers.  In any case, I've said what I had to say, so enjoy the thread.

Doesn't matter how tired the "its in the EULA" might be to you. You play the game you agree to the EULA. You break the rules you get punished.
 

Emotionally invested? Not really. The only who seem emotionally invested are the ones screaming and crying that Posi hurt thier feelings. I'm still having fun in game so I'm still gonna play. Only partially emotional response I have is annoyance seeing the same 9 or 10 people saying that they are leaving. Leave if you want, how many times do you really have to tell us about it?

Apparently, one fewer times than you guys need to make a big melodramatic show about telling people to shut up and leave, as if you can physically hear our little posts on the internet.  Seriously, take a Mydol.  The cramps will pass.

"The warning is in the EULA. They are allowed to take any action up to and including deletion of characters leveled through exploits and/or banning the account of the person taking advantage of the exploit.

They are also restoring the characters of the people that should not have lost them, apologising to them, and I heard they have credited those people with a free 30 days.

Sounds to me like they are taking care of it. If you still want to leave you should feel free. I guarantee most of us won't miss you."

Honestly, I'm still puzzled by reations like yours.  Your statement that I won't be missed makes it sound like you are emotionally invested in this situation.  Through this entire debacle, apologists for the developers have been up in arms against people who spoke up about what was going on, and I just don't get it.  Why do you guys care so much if a customer has a complaint?

The "it's in the EULA" is a tired, worn out argument at this point, and it wasn't particularly relevant to the current difficulties to begin with.  If you'd examine the situation with a detached, calm eye, weighing previous policy against what happened, you can't come up with a rational argument against people being unhappy with the actions of the developers.  In any case, I've said what I had to say, so enjoy the thread.