Massively Speaking http://massively.joystiq.com This is the Massively podcast http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Massively SpeakingJoystiqMassively Speaking<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: That's really super, Super Pack]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/07/a-mild-mannered-reporter-thats-really-super-super-pack/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/07/a-mild-mannered-reporter-thats-really-super-super-pack/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/07/a-mild-mannered-reporter-thats-really-super-super-pack/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

A Mild-Mannered Reporter header by A. Fienemann
So, the Super Pack is out. Not a whole lot has changed in City of Heroes as a result. The skies have not been raining fire any more than they already do on a regular basis (superheroes, you know the deal). People still log in and play and enjoy themselves. And my enormous ranting diatribe still sits in the archives for anyone who missed it the first time or just wants to take a second look for posterity.

My feelings haven't changed. But while launching into a full-on rant was certainly cathartic and managed to hit a lot of good points, there were a lot of good points brought up in the comments that I simply hadn't touched on. So it's time to address some of the those ideas and complaints, both the good and the bad. (Although under the circumstances, it's pretty much all bad in varying flavors.)

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: That's really super, Super Pack

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: That's really super, Super Pack originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 Mar 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-mannered-reportercity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxculturef2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreedommicrotransactionsmild-mannered-reporterncsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiossuper-packsuperherosuperheroeswhat-is-this-i-cant-evenWed, 07 Mar 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Why I Play: City of Heroes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/07/why-i-play-city-of-heroes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/07/why-i-play-city-of-heroes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/07/why-i-play-city-of-heroes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

City of Heroes
When I first sampled City of Heroes, I was just recovering from a nasty break-up with Star Wars Galaxies and looking for a new roleplaying paradise. What I found after a month was that I had a lot more fun planning my next character using the little booklet that came with the box than I actually did grinding my way up through the levels. That early version of the game... was not good.

Fast-forward a few years to the Paragon Studios takeover and the implementation of the Mission Architect. I fell in love all over again. It took several years (and all the improved content those years enabled), but the game eventually became something I wanted to play.

And I'm going to tell you why.

Continue reading Why I Play: City of Heroes

MassivelyWhy I Play: City of Heroes originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 Mar 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>architect-entertainmentcity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxcustomizationf2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreedommission-architectncsoftnostalgiaopinionparagonparagon-studiossuperherosuperheroeswhy-i-playWed, 07 Mar 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[City of Heroes launches Issue 22, and it's going to be a killer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/06/city-of-heroes-launches-issue-22-and-its-going-to-be-a-killer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/06/city-of-heroes-launches-issue-22-and-its-going-to-be-a-killer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/06/city-of-heroes-launches-issue-22-and-its-going-to-be-a-killer/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Alas, poor Statesman! I knew him, Manticore.
If you've been looking forward to Issue 22 of City of Heroes, your wait is finally over. The new issue, Death Incarnate, hit the live servers just this afternoon. That means the inclusion of new powersets for Controllers and Dominators, a newly revamped experience in Dark Astoria for solo Incarnates, buffs for Stalkers and Gravity Control, and new content for low-to-mid-level characters. In other words, no matter how you want to play, you're likely to find something in the latest patch to get excited about.

Need a little more convincing? Well, there's a lovely new trailer for the update to help get everyone ready to charge into the newfound circus of death. There's also a new developer diary discussing the fine points of Darkness Control, the new powerset included for free for all VIP subscribers. All told, it's a good collection of toys for City of Heroes players, even if it might behoove said players to fear the reaper just a little bit more.

Continue reading City of Heroes launches Issue 22, and it's going to be a killer

MassivelyCity of Heroes launches Issue 22, and it's going to be a killer originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Mar 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxf2pfree-to-playfreedomincarnateincarnate-systemissue-22ncsoftnew-patchesparagonparagon-studiospatchpatchessuperherosuperheroesupdatesvideovideosTue, 06 Mar 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[War Witch conjures up a new producer's letter for City of Heroes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/01/war-witch-conjures-up-a-new-producers-letter-for-city-of-heroes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/01/war-witch-conjures-up-a-new-producers-letter-for-city-of-heroes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/01/war-witch-conjures-up-a-new-producers-letter-for-city-of-heroes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

It kind of feels like cheating that they're fighting on a beach instead of a bamboo forest.
If you've been missing the wit and wisdom of Melissa Bianco, better known to City of Heroes players as War Witch, then you're in luck. The game's newest producer's letter is penned by none other than Ms. Bianco, revealing that she has just recently been moved into the role of producer for the game as a whole. But there's more to the letter than just revelations about her recent career moves -- there's also more information about what's coming for the game beyond Issue 22.

Masterminds can look forward to a new powerset, Beast Mastery, hitting the Paragon Market at some point in March. Everyone can also look forward to new temporary powers and minipets as well as the conclusion of the current featured story arc. There's also a teaser about something else exciting coming along for the summer, although the letter remains mum on what the next two major patches will bring for the game. Fans will no doubt want to read closely between the lines to see if they can tease out any other nuggets of information, but it's clear that the team at Paragon Studios has plenty of irons in the fire.

MassivelyWar Witch conjures up a new producer's letter for City of Heroes originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Mar 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcoh-issue-22covcoxf2pfree-to-playfreedomissue-22melissa-bianconcsoftnewsparagonparagon-studiospreviewssuperherosuperheroesupcoming-contentupcoming-patcheswar-witchThu, 01 Mar 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: City of Heroes 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/29/a-mild-mannered-reporter-city-of-heroes-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/29/a-mild-mannered-reporter-city-of-heroes-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/29/a-mild-mannered-reporter-city-of-heroes-2/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

A Mild-Mannered Reporter header by A. Fienemann
Before the comments light up, I'm just going to say outright that City of Heroes 2 does not currently exist. We've heard no news about it, no announcements, nothing beyond the speculation of many City of Heroes players such as myself. I'm deviating (again) from the set schedule and talking about a purely hypothetical sequel that all of us are kind of expecting but that does not, at this point, exist. But considering all of the recent talk about Guild Wars 2, I think it's apropos.

Let's assume, for the purpose of this article, that Paragon Studios is knee-deep in development of City of Heroes 2 and simply isn't telling anyone. What sort of things would the game need? What would be the best possible route for the game to take? How could it satisfy fans of City of Heroes while drawing in new players? I don't have the absolute answers... but it sure does make for some interesting speculation, based on the things the team has been doing over the past several years.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: City of Heroes 2

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: City of Heroes 2 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Feb 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Screenshot -- City of Heroes
City of Heroes players better prepare themselves for another descent into the realm of Dark Astoria because in the upcoming Issue 22, Paragon Studios is sending them right back to the twisted realm. Of course, there's a catch: Dark Astoria is being twisted and transformed "into a Level 50 Incarnate co-op zone, with missions that can unlock Incarnate abilities for both Heroes and Villains."

But high-level Incarnate players aren't the only ones getting goodies in Issue 22; a new low-level trial -- morbidly titled Drowning in Blood -- is also being introduced in the update. And who could forget the new powersets? Not us! Controllers and Dominators are being given access to the Darkness Control main powerset as well as the Darkness Affinity and Dark Assault secondary sets (for Controllers and Dominators, respectively).

For the full preview of City of Heroes' Issue 22, just click on through the link below to the game's official site.

MassivelyEmbrace the darkness with City of Heroes' Issue 22 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Feb 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxdark-assaultdark-astoriadarknessdarkness-affinitydarkness-controldeath-incarnatedrowning-in-bloodf2pfree-to-playissue-22ncsoftparagonparagon-studiospatchpatchespowersetpowersetsupdateupdatesWed, 29 Feb 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[City of Heroes lets low-level players go Drowning in Blood]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/28/city-of-heroes-lets-low-level-players-go-drowning-in-blood/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/28/city-of-heroes-lets-low-level-players-go-drowning-in-blood/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/28/city-of-heroes-lets-low-level-players-go-drowning-in-blood/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Okay, it's more like drowning in vines and gelatin, but that isn't as evocative.
Designing a low-level instance is a challenge that's rarely discussed. High-level challenges are of course the marquee elements of any game, but the low-level content needs love. How do you introduce the concepts to players? How do you make the rewards meaningful while still making room for later improvement? City of Heroes is tackling precisely those problems with the new Drowning in Blood trial, a level 15-30 trial in Bloody Bay coming with Issue 22.

In a recent developer diary, world designer Cord Carney explains how the team tried to balance both storytelling aspects and gameplay elements, keeping the second lower-level trial as engaging for new and returning players as the recent introductory trial Death From Below. Carney also explains how the trial will offer players a chance at obtaining a buff that lasts up to level 30, giving everyone a reason to participate with lower characters without unbalancing the endgame. It's an interesting look at making lower-level content engaging, epic, and fun.

MassivelyCity of Heroes lets low-level players go Drowning in Blood originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 Feb 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It's called a Pummit, people. Get with it.
City of Heroes players, have you ever wanted to meet with the Paragon Studios devs and spew your ideas at them? Of course you have. Well, your chance to do just that is on the horizon, as City of Heroes' second annual Player Summit (or Pummit, for short) will be taking place on April 28th of this year at Dinah's Garden Hotel in Palo Alto, California. Tickets are on sale now via Brown Paper Tickets for the discounted price of $40 US. Tickets will also be available at the door for the slightly higher price of $50 US. The price of admission includes access to the event (durr), a City of Heroes t-shirt, dinner, and "a promo code [that the studio will] announce at a later date."

The Pummit itself will be chock-full of events that are sure to pique any CoH player's interest, such as a variety of panels, workshops, and -- most importantly -- cocktail hour with the development team. Between the Design a Costume Set and Design a Power Set workshops, the story and endgame panel, and booze and karaoke with the team, players of all types are bound to find something that tickles their fancy. For the full details on City of Heroes' 2012 Pummit, just click on through the link below to the official announcement.

MassivelyCity of Heroes announces Spring 2012 Player Summit originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A Mild-Mannered Reporter header by A. Fienemann
In a subscription game, the developers have a certain degree of built-in obligation to the playerbase. You pay $15 a month, and while some of that goes toward the simple logistics of running the game, some of that also goes toward keeping the game in development. When you're putting down money, there's a tacit understanding that you are owed something in return. Strictly speaking, we know the only thing we're owed is access to the game, but even that is something.

City of Heroes has entered the realm of free-to-play, though, and that means the expectations of what players are owed has become all kinds of skewed. There's a huge pile of content available to players who haven't paid a cent. What do free players actually deserve in this environment? What do paying players deserve? Where do you draw the line between what should be free for everyone, what should be free for subscribers, and what should just plain cost money?

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: You owe me for this

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: You owe me for this originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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City of Heroes
Incarnate Trials have proven to be some of the most challenging -- and interesting -- endgame content in City of Heroes to date, and players who have enjoyed them are undoubtedly anxious for the latest one, Dilemma Diabolique, which is coming with Issue 22.

Senior Designer Chris Behrens wrote an informative dev diary in which he outlines five lessons the studio's learned from past Incarnate Trials and how these lessons will affect Dilemma Diabolique. These lessons include adding rest periods between fights, giving players clear information, keeping trash mobs from exhibiting super-powered (more so than usual) abilities, delivering attractive rewards, and tuning special mechanics so they don't overwhelm players.

Dilemma Diabolique looks to be a quicker trial than its brethren, although Behrens sees this as a virtue: "We feel that the faster pace of the trial for maxed Incarnates is reward in itself, since it makes accumulating Empyrean Merits for our most dedicated Incarnates a faster endeavor."

MassivelyCity of Heroes' newest Incarnate Trial learns from past mistakes originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Screenshot -- City of Heroes
It's time for yet another issue of The Intrepid Informer, and this time the spotlight is on one of City of Heroes' upcoming new power set, Darkness Control. Darkness Control does exactly what it says on the tin, granting players dominion over the powers of darkness in order to subjugate and control their enemies. With a number of roots, debuffs, and even a couple of pets, the Darkness Control powerset is sure to please Controllers and Dominators of all varieties. But wait, that's not all. In addition to the Darkness Control power set, Paragon Studios is introducing two new secondary power sets: Darkness Affinity for Controllers and Dark Assault for Dominators. All of these new power sets will be free to VIP players, though premium players will have to purchase the Darkness Control set on the Paragon Market. Oh, and before we forget, be sure to drop into City of Heroes March 16th to 19th for a double XP weekend.

For the full details on the new power set as well as some handy tips and tricks from the designers, just click on past the link below to the City of Heroes official site.

MassivelyCity of Heroes takes to the shadows with new Darkness Control info originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxdarkness-controldouble-experience-weekenddouble-xp-weekendf2pfree-to-playintrepid-informerncsoftnew-power-setnew-powersetparagon-studiospower-setpower-setspowersetpowersetsWed, 15 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Assume I'm making a pun about the Super Pack]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/15/a-mild-mannered-reporter-assume-im-making-a-pun-about-the-supe/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/15/a-mild-mannered-reporter-assume-im-making-a-pun-about-the-supe/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/15/a-mild-mannered-reporter-assume-im-making-a-pun-about-the-supe/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

A Mild-Mannered Reporter header by A. Fienemann
It doesn't seem that long ago that I was looking back on my past year of writing this column, mentioning how negative I had gotten overall and sort of quietly wishing that I could spend the next year being more positive. I don't really want to write a column on City of Heroes once again that winds up being full of complaints.

But if Paragon Studios is going to do something to induce rage, I'm not really given many options. Case in point: the Super Pack.

I don't need to tell a lot of you why this is a bad idea. I shouldn't even really need to say this is a bad idea. This is one of those ideas that shouldn't have ever made it past the conceptual stage. The moment it was suggested in a board meeting, everyone else in the room should have rushed for the person who suggested it, driving him or her into a closet for safety. That this did not happen speaks volumes.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Assume I'm making a pun about the Super Pack

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: Assume I'm making a pun about the Super Pack originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-mannered-reporterbig-nocity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcolumncovcoxf2pfeaturedfree-to-playmmrncsoftopinionparagonparagon-marketparagon-studiossuper-packwhat-in-the-worldwhat-is-this-I-cant-evenWed, 15 Feb 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[City of Heroes introduces the super pack, players respond with rage]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/14/city-of-heroes-introduces-the-super-pack-players-respond-with-r/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/14/city-of-heroes-introduces-the-super-pack-players-respond-with-r/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/14/city-of-heroes-introduces-the-super-pack-players-respond-with-r/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

I feel like everyone is staring at us. And not in a good way.
It's the latest craze sweeping the free-to-play marketplace -- the grab bag! Pay money, open it up, and roll the dice to see what you get. City of Heroes is getting in on the action with the Super Pack, a random grab bag containing a chance at pieces from a new costume set, special Enhancements, and various other gewgaws for players to purchase. Or more accurately, for players to hopefully purchase, seeing as how the grab bag is totally random and may contain nothing of use.

Do you want to pay money in a store for a chance at getting valuable rewards for your in-game character? Judging from previous community responses, we'd guess the answer is "no." However, the reaction from the City of Heroes community has been... well, still "no." While some players are reporting that the drop rates aren't too bad on a whole, there's a definite discontent about this grab bag among the players. Even if it does contain neat new pieces, the addition has a ways to go to win over the hearts of the players.

MassivelyCity of Heroes introduces the super pack, players respond with rage originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 Feb 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Total paycheck for this bit of roleplaying: $0.00.
One of the most persistent misconceptions about what we do here at Massively is this idea that we play games for a living. Allow me to be perfectly clear in this: What you're seeing right now? This article? The one I wrote? Writing this is what I do for a living. I write about games, and I enjoy games, but if I decided to not write any of my columns for a month and just play Star Wars: The Old Republic, I would be fired. That is not my job.

Now that we've gotten that out of the way, it's time for another installment of Ask Massively, this time featuring questions about gambling and the latest City of Heroes cash shop offering. If you've got a question you'd like to see in a future installment of the column, mail it to ask@massively.com or leave it in the comments below. Questions may be edited for brevity and/or clarity.

Continue reading Ask Massively: We do not play games for a living edition

MassivelyAsk Massively: We do not play games for a living edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask-massivelycity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcolumncolumnscovcoxfeaturedgamblinggambling-minigamesminigamesopinionThu, 09 Feb 2012 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: The obligations to the useless]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/08/a-mild-mannered-reporter-the-obligations-to-the-useless/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/08/a-mild-mannered-reporter-the-obligations-to-the-useless/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/08/a-mild-mannered-reporter-the-obligations-to-the-useless/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

A Mild-Mannered Reporter header by A. Fienemann
I'm going to let all of you in on a secret. Actually, it might not be a secret; everyone might have figured this out by now independent of any admission on my part. But here it is, just the same.

I'm not actually a very good City of Heroes player.

I mean, I'm "good" in the sense that I play the game, enjoy it, think about it, try to improve my character appropriately... but I'm not actually very skilled at the game. My rotations look awkward, my slotting is usually sub-optimal, and my ability to recall important data is pretty paltry. I understand the mechanics just fine, but when it comes time to log into the game, somehow I wind up as the guy who just subtly makes the entire team worse. I'm not terribly skilled. And for all that I'm going to be playing the game for some time to come, I don't think that I'm ever going to reach the point that I say I'm really any good.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: The obligations to the useless

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: The obligations to the useless originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A Mild-Mannered Reporter header by A. Fienemann
It's been a little over two years now that I've been writing a regular column on City of Heroes, and in one sense that still feels very strange to me. I'm guessing that the novelty of doing this for a living is never going to entirely go away, for reasons that really have nothing to do with the topic of this column. But I'm not going to dwell on the more meta facts here; I'm going to focus instead on the past year of the column.

This year was a try for something slightly different in both the tone and approach that I'd been taking with these columns. I finished off one major project, started another one, and along the way, I found that I gathered a very different attitude over time. In relationship terms, the first year of A Mild-Mannered Reporter was apparently still the "gushing" phase of a new relationship. This year has been much more about the flaws that City of Heroes has, both in structure and in design choices.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: A critical year

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: A critical year originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A Mild-Mannered Reporter header by A. Fienemann
On Christmas, Ms. Lady and I received a power juicer.

This wasn't a bad present by any stretch of the imagination, but it was a present that left us momentarily baffled. We hadn't asked for a power juicer, we didn't feel a great need for a power juicer, and we weren't even sure exactly what to do with a power juicer. (Make juice, obviously, but beyond that?) It was a great present but one that struck us as so far out of left field that we really weren't quite sure how to use it at first, much less what it would offer us.

Issue 22 of City of Heroes strikes me in much the same way. It's not that the update is bad or unwanted or unnecessary; it's that the entire thing is essentially aimed in a direction away from my own playstyle. I imagine a lot of free players are going to run into the same issue because even though it's being touted as the game's newest free update, there's precious little in there that's actually changed on the free side.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Issue 22 is all juiced out

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: Issue 22 is all juiced out originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-mannered-reportercity-of-heroescity-of-heroes-freedomcity-of-villainscohcolumncolumnscovcoxdesignf2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreedomincarnateincarnate-systemissue-22ncsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiospatchespowerspowersetsupdateszonesWed, 25 Jan 2012 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[City of Heroes' Matt Miller answers our questions about the death of Statesman]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/23/matt-miller-answers-our-questions-about-the-death-of-statesman-i/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/23/matt-miller-answers-our-questions-about-the-death-of-statesman-i/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/23/matt-miller-answers-our-questions-about-the-death-of-statesman-i/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Alas, poor Marcus! I knew him, Manticore.
Statesman has been the face of City of Heroes since the game has launched. He's been the man at the forefront of the game's lore and the setting-defining hero for players. He earned a lot of ire from some players due to the designer who had chosen him as his avatar, but that didn't diminish his importance to the game as a whole. But after surviving war against the Rikti, the machinations of his rival Lord Arachnos, and the invasion of his alternate self from Praetoria... Statesman has finally fallen and is no more.

Of course, this brings up some pretty hefty questions about the future of the City of Heroes setting, since such a death is about as high-profile as in-game-deaths can be. We had the opportunity to ask Matt Miller a few questions about the ramifications of Statesman's death, the team's motivation, and what players can expect in the wake of his passing. After all, even though the hero is gone, the villain responsible is still out there...

Continue reading City of Heroes' Matt Miller answers our questions about the death of Statesman

MassivelyCity of Heroes' Matt Miller answers our questions about the death of Statesman originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A Mild-Mannered Reporter header by A. Fienemann
I have a nemesis, but it's not a person. It's an idea, and that idea is optimization.

Given enough time (about seven minutes), people will figure out the best builds and abilities for pretty much every single character class in any game. This is great if all you're interested in doing is banging out the best possible character to tackle endgame challenges, but it's kind of disappointing if you like creating odd characters, ones that play strangely or feature under-utilized abilities or specs. That's the sort of stuff that I like, the things I find fascinating.

City of Heroes is hardly the first game to do this, so I've had plenty of time to learn how to fight my nemesis. And so I offer you today the lessons of nemeses, the path to figuring out how to make your bad character into a force to be reckoned with. There are certain rules to being a nemesis rather than simply an adversary, and some of them aren't what you think.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Be the nemesis

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: Be the nemesis originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Jan 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-mannered-reporterabilitiesbad-characterscharacter-abilitiescity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcolumncolumnscovcoxculturedesignfeaturedgame-mechanicsmetancsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiosunderpowered-charactersWed, 18 Jan 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[City of Heroes sets the date for the next Freedom Player Summit]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/18/city-of-heroes-sets-the-date-for-the-next-freedom-player-summit/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/18/city-of-heroes-sets-the-date-for-the-next-freedom-player-summit/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/18/city-of-heroes-sets-the-date-for-the-next-freedom-player-summit/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

First item on the summit, more carnival attire.
Did you miss the first City of Heroes player summit? It's understandable -- no matter how much of a fan you might be, a trip to California in November is hard to swing sometimes with the holidays fast approaching. But perhaps you'll have better luck in April, as that's the announced month for the second Freedom Player Summit taking place (once again) in the San Francisco Bay Area. Specifically, the summit is planned for Saturday, April 28th, 2012.

It's also quite possible, of course, that you did attend the first summit and found certain areas of the event to be sorely lacking. That's something that the staff at Paragon Studios is looking at very seriously; it's made a change to a single panel track rather than multiples and will host more interactive panels instead of static ones. Keep an eye over the next few weeks for more details on pricing and location if you're interested in going; for fans of the game, it's a great chance to get your feedback heard in person.

MassivelyCity of Heroes sets the date for the next Freedom Player Summit originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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