Community-Built COH Style MMORPG

[downix]

I guess we have the freeform concept because we were under the impression TPP was going to be CoH's successor and in that sense, we were (at least I was) very surprised that any freeform talk was not disregarded from the very start or firmly reconducted to be like Kheldians and Arachnos Soldiers since pretty much any other kind of freeform would make it much akin to CO than to CoH.
If memory serves, full freeform was one of CO's biggest selling points.

If freeform is kept as an option and that option means a couple ATs with more power choice flexibility like Kheldians and Arachnos were, that'd be awesome however, if having freeform as an option means whoever wants to stick with regular ATs is free to do so while whoever wants to design, dunno, let's say a Fire Blaster with Granite Armor is also free to do so, then it's a no deal for me since any AT will be subpar on a team of minmaxed optimized clones of whatever freeform powerset combination (who knows, maybe Fire Blasters on Granite Armor).-

Well, a full CO-style freeform is right now due to engine limits if nothing else.

There have been other options discussed, like branching tree freeform (where you get a multiple-choice at a tier level, so instead of taking the snipe you grab a hold) but in none of the designs were you capable of being a Granite with a Nuke.

On the other hand, we do have an AT which combines defense with the Dominator secondary, which has a mix of melee and ranged attacks, but not the most powerful ones from either Fire Melee nor Fire Blast.

[Triplash]

On the other hand, we do have an AT which combines defense with the Dominator secondary, which has a mix of melee and ranged attacks, but not the most powerful ones from either Fire Melee nor Fire Blast.

I would like to put in my request right now for one of those, where the melee attacks are with a sword in one hand, and the ranged attacks are with a gun in the other hand.

Thank you please! :)

[downix]

I would like to put in my request right now for one of those, where the melee attacks are with a sword in one hand, and the ranged attacks are with a gun in the other hand.

Thank you please! :)

*puts you in the "Gun-Sword combo" request pile*

This makes an even three dozen requests for this particular configuration.

[Triplash]

*puts you in the "Gun-Sword combo" request pile*

This makes an even three dozen requests for this particular configuration.

The more the merrier! Every request is one more notch toward it happening sooner rather than later :D

[downix]

The more the merrier! Every request is one more notch toward it happening sooner rather than later :D

Everyone seems to focus on this combo (defense/Assault) but for me, the *other* tank AT is the exciting one (defense/manipulation), combining defense with some melee attacks *and* lite controls....

[Nightmarer]

Well, a full CO-style freeform is right now due to engine limits if nothing else.

There have been other options discussed, like branching tree freeform (where you get a multiple-choice at a tier level, so instead of taking the snipe you grab a hold) but in none of the designs were you capable of being a Granite with a Nuke.

On the other hand, we do have an AT which combines defense with the Dominator secondary, which has a mix of melee and ranged attacks, but not the most powerful ones from either Fire Melee nor Fire Blast.

Obviously the Fire Blaster with Granite Armor was just an example. Of course, if you guys feel that most of the playerbase to whom the game is aimed for demand freeform then you guys will have to make freeform at the end of the day business is business.

For me, a freeform game is as far from being a CoH successor as if you had told me that TPP will be a fantasy game with gear system which will make people feel like they were playing CoH, but that's just me.-

[pewlagon]

The problem I have with CO is free form is too confusing. If you intimidate a player with character builds odds are they will move back to what they were already playing. Familiarity is key here. The easier it is for a person to grasp how to advance their character the better. CoH worked well because there was a clear road map of what you could do. To capture the community nostalgia needs to be built into not only lore but the game design as well.

[Rotten Luck]

On the CO forum I read of how CO would have been all just Freeform but complaints and (here the insulting part) lack of creativity forced the Devs to make ATs.

I replied that it's not lack of creativity it's lack of skill.  Someone can be creative, but stick them in a full Art studio with no skill you might be lucky to get stick figures with genitals. 

Same with Freeform builds.  Give someone unlimited options but no guidance and you can end up with players with trashy builds.  Or if they crunch numbers a Minmax Omega a build picking only the best powers for no logic other then to be a powerhouse.  However fun in play for some is to figure out the best options and stats to get that unstoppable monster of a build.  Shouldn't they have the right to build powerhouses?  Only downside would be Griefters kill stealing or using the Minmax build in PVP where they have an unfair advantage.  If they enjoy MinMaxing against PVE then why not?

[Triplash]

Everyone seems to focus on this combo (defense/Assault) but for me, the *other* tank AT is the exciting one (defense/manipulation), combining defense with some melee attacks *and* lite controls....

To be honest, my enthusiasm for a Gun/Blade combo is in the Gun/Blade part. Regarding Defense/Assault vs Defense/Manipulation, I have no preference, they sound equally fun to explore and develop. In fact compared to those two, I think Defense/Melee sounds like the boring option ;)

[wei yau]

...you might be lucky to get stick figures with genitals. 

Can I be put in the request file for this feature?

[Rotten Luck]

Can I be put in the request file for this feature?

I'm sure you can find one on Google.... OH MY GOD... yup you can find them on Google.

[downix]

To be honest, my enthusiasm for a Gun/Blade combo is in the Gun/Blade part. Regarding Defense/Assault vs Defense/Manipulation, I have no preference, they sound equally fun to explore and develop. In fact compared to those two, I think Defense/Melee sounds like the boring option ;)

It may sound boring, but it is the set with the maximum damage for the Defense/ based sets. So, the others you get more flexibility, at the cost of total dps.

[downix]

Obviously the Fire Blaster with Granite Armor was just an example. Of course, if you guys feel that most of the playerbase to whom the game is aimed for demand freeform then you guys will have to make freeform at the end of the day business is business.

For me, a freeform game is as far from being a CoH successor as if you had told me that TPP will be a fantasy game with gear system which will make people feel like they were playing CoH, but that's just me.-

The fact is, there isn't demand for freeform. We have request for some freedom, but not the a la carte approach you find with CO. I strongly feel that CO's approach hamstrung the design. And our engine design won't handle CO-like freeform regardless.

[Triplash]

It may sound boring, but it is the set with the maximum damage for the Defense/ based sets. So, the others you get more flexibility, at the cost of total dps.

And that's called Balance. I like it.

I should clarify though, it doesn't actually sound boring. I'm sure it'll be just as much fun as ever. After all, "A Tanker, by any other name, shall Taunt as sweetly."

[Triplash]

I'm sure you can find one on Google.... OH MY GOD... yup you can find them on Google.

AAAGH MY EYES

https://i813.photobucket.com/albums/zz55/KansasCrawford/Funny%20Pics/WhatHasBeenGoogled_zpsf7507d84.jpg

[Nebularian]

If they enjoy MinMaxing against PVE then why not?

Well.....If this had been available in COH to that degree....you would have had msg like the following going out over LFG: "Lvl 23 team lf members......freeforms need not apply!"

[Blue Pulsar]

Well, as neither H&V nor TPP have transitioned from ATs to freeform, I am curious who has....

I have actually heard a few people from the TPP team mention that some of the character building style will borry a few ideas from some of the freeform templates of games. Not that the ATs will be completely abandoned, but that they will be a bit more open to crossing AT roles.  Again, it's just what I have heard.

[Nightmarer]

If they enjoy MinMaxing against PVE then why not?

I enjoy minmaxing, I also love the feeling of overcoming through minmaxing the weaknesses of a particular powerset. See, the good thing about CoH is that it allowed minmaxing to a degree where lots of different minmaxed builds were equally effective while freeform, if not handled correctly, leads to minmaxed clones so, maybe the loss of diversity does not bother you, or neither maybe being outclassed and subpar on a team does, but it annoys me, I refuse to be outclassed by an army of clones.

Anyway, as per Downix post, that kind of freeform is not happening in TPP, in fact, at this stage, nothing that holds the minimum interest for me is happening in TPP. I know there are posts asking to join MWM forums, I did so and checked out a few things, still, nothing there for me for now so not going to bother until such time TPP is a fully accomplished game and by then, who knows, I might have changed my view about freeform, or about MMO's, heck, I might have even found already an MMO of my liking and consider TPP launch as merely anecdotical.-

[downix]

I have actually heard a few people from the TPP team mention that some of the character building style will borry a few ideas from some of the freeform templates of games. Not that the ATs will be completely abandoned, but that they will be a bit more open to crossing AT roles.  Again, it's just what I have heard.

I think you might be confusing freeform templating with the focus system. Focus is where the crossing can happen, but it is more akin to the difference between a Scrapper, Brute and Stalker. All three are technically the same AT in our system, but there is a focusing system to allow all three playstyles (boss-killer, fury-building, stealth-alpha) from the same base AT.

[Blue Pulsar]

I think you might be confusing freeform templating with the focus system. Focus is where the crossing can happen, but it is more akin to the difference between a Scrapper, Brute and Stalker. All three are technically the same AT in our system, but there is a focusing system to allow all three playstyles (boss-killer, fury-building, stealth-alpha) from the same base AT.

I mean, if you guys have already decided on that and have abandoned the 10(12{14}) seperate ATs, then I guess it's just how it's going to be with TPP. I guess I just liked CoX the way it was.

But, I guess my only question is "why?" and for two reasons. (I ask why lot.) 1: If everyone on here that wants to see TF:HM, HaV, TPP, and/or SEGs work out essentially wants get some semblance of our home back, why would you change such a basic thing? I mean, I almost find it a bit insulting. "We had the best game ever! Help us make a new game that will kinda look like it, but different!" And 2: If you start with a base "melee" AT and then can/have to make it into what you want by building it a certain way, then why not just stick with 4 basic melee toons and take the guess work out?

Forgive me. It is not my intent to be expressly argumentative. I am really asking those questions out of pure curiosity.