So is COH finally dead?

[goodtime]

I always felt that IO sets were for the serious PVPer, where everyone was looking for the "perfect" build, where every last percentage point mattered.

IO's were another part of the depth of the game that compelled me.   Early on I didn't do much more than slot standard IOs in my most used powers for a little extra damage, or a little more END.  But I eventually kitted out almost all my 50s (lots of them) with IO sets, and purples and very rare sets on my favorites, and curse the PVPers and architect farmers for the billion+ INF sales.   I hated running out of end, so every character I'd run through morality missions for hero merits to buy Numina's and Miracle +ends.   I loved the character info pages that had lots and lots of IO set bonuses.  I ran my tanks through AE missions for tickets to buy rare salvage, to craft those, and whatever sets I didn't use so I could sell those at Wentworths.  And when I was bored of playing for merits and tickets, I'd run task forces or incarnates.  Or get tired of all those, too, and edit my base.   And when that bored me, I'd go back and start over again.   I took advantage and enjoyed the hell out of almost every facet of the game (except PvP).

[Nyx Nought Nothing]

I always felt that IO sets were for the serious PVPer, where everyone was looking for the "perfect" build, where every last percentage point mattered.

i was never much of a PVPer, but i loved tinkering with IO builds to facilitate doing Stupid Hero Tricks. i usually started with a concept, chose powersets that worked with that concept, and then came up with builds to make the concept more efficient. The addition of procs that added the occasional visual flair was a nice bonus.
Even before sets i used to play with friends who understood the strengths and weaknesses of powersets and enemies well enough to pull off unlikely seeming feats using non-FotM characters, especially in teams, through a combination of skill and build design. i'm still amused by a Stone Tanker a friend had who could run faster than most other non-SS characters while in Granite form.

[Pinnacle Blue]

I never number-crunched. Ever.  Every characters powerset choices were determined by their concept.  I did have a few IO Sets on my main villain...but only has those for the last year and a half of the game.  My main hero?  AR/Dev blaster i started in 2004.....hit 50 pre-ED, so I had too many hami-o enhances to want to respec to "recover" from that.  Nobody else had any IOs.  ton of alts, but did have 5 @ 50+3.  only the Brute messed with IOs.  I faffed with that for like 2 weeks, and said "too much grinding/market stuff"

I always felt that IO sets were for the serious PVPer, where everyone was looking for the "perfect" build, where every last percentage point mattered.

PvPing was never my cup of tea.  That said, I had a kin/fire scrapper I built using that point of view.  He could hit like a friggin' Mack truck.  A lot of the time, however, he was laid out like he'd been hit by one.  Turns out anything that wasn't hitting him with fire or cold pretty much got a free shot, as hard as they could hit him, because I didn't even know there were numbers to crunch.

On the other side of that spectrum, I knew of someone who had a blaster with softcapped defenses.  I was never gonna go that far, but I was working on patching the holes in my scrapper's defenses when the shutdown happened.

(Suffice it to say my Staff/Invuln scrapper never came anywhere near those problems.)

[Thunder Glove]

I didn't number crunch in the sense that "must...get...most...optimal... character!", but I did enjoy watching the numbers change, so I usually had the most relevant numbers visible on-screen (Damage bonus for Brutes and Blasters, Smashing Defense and/or Resistance for all melee characters, XP and Inf for everyone, etc), and focused on making them higher.  (That's how I know that my namesake Brute had 10% higher S/L Resist on I24 than he did in I23, thanks to set bonus changes)

I'm a math geek, and I'm a superhero geek, so given the chance to keep one eye on math as it affects a superhero...

Yeah, I liked CoH on all sorts of levels.

[Mantic]

I don't PVP. Not only was it never a viable option with dialup or satellite internet, I just don't like that kind of gameplay.

But, once I finally gave it the attention, Mid's turned out to be just as fascinating as a creative tool as the costume creator. Just like how throwing around costume parts might spark an idea for a character concept, Mid's could reveal concepts that otherwise were not obvious. Like my character Smoke Factory, a dark/rad Corruptor concept, who belched smoke in the faces of enemies; Mid's showed me the possibility and how it could be viable. It was a great concept (in that the power visuals and their effects supported the conceit of the character), and well-suited to how I liked to play:

Spoiler for Hidden:

Villain Plan by Mids' Villain Designer 1.96
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Smoke Factory: Level 50 Technology Corruptor
Primary Power Set: Dark Blast
Secondary Power Set: Radiation Emission
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Concealment
Power Pool: Leadership
Ancillary Pool: Dark Mastery

Villain Profile:
Level 1: Gloom -- Cloud-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(A), Cloud-Acc/ToHitDeb(3), Cloud-Acc/Rchg(9), Cloud-ToHitDeb/EndRdx/Rchg(9), Cloud-ToHitDeb(11), HO:Centri(36)
Level 1: Radiant Aura -- Mrcl-Rcvry+(A), Mrcl-Heal/EndRdx(3), Numna-Regen/Rcvry+(7), Numna-Heal/EndRdx(21), HO:Golgi(23), RechRdx-I(25)
Level 2: Radiation Infection -- HO:Enzym(A), HO:Enzym(5), HO:Enzym(11)
Level 4: Accelerate Metabolism -- P'Shift-Acc/Rchg(A), P'Shift-EndMod/Acc(15), P'Shift-EndMod/Rchg(15), P'Shift-EndMod/Acc/Rchg(19), P'Shift-End%(19)
Level 6: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(17)
Level 8: Jump Kick -- B'ngBlow-Acc/Dmg(A), B'ngBlow-Dmg/EndRdx(17), FrcFbk-Rechg%(43), FrcFbk-Dmg/KB(46)
Level 10: Enervating Field -- EndRdx-I(A)
Level 12: Combat Jumping -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(13)
Level 14: Night Fall -- DampS-ToHitDeb/Rchg(A), DampS-ToHitDeb/Rchg/EndRdx(25), DampS-Rchg/EndRdx(34), DampS-ToHitDeb/EndRdx(36), DampS-Rchg(36)
Level 16: Dark Pit -- EndRdx-I(A)
Level 18: Torrent -- FrcFbk-Rechg%(A), DarkWD-ToHitDeb/EndRdx(21), DarkWD-ToHitDeb/Rchg(37), DarkWD-ToHitdeb/Rchg/EndRdx(37), DarkWD-Rchg/EndRdx(40), DarkWD-ToHitDeb(40)
Level 20: Lingering Radiation -- TmpRdns-EndRdx/Rchg/Slow(A), TmpRdns-Dmg/Slow(46), TmpRdns-Acc/EndRdx(48), TmpRdns-Rng/Slow(50), TmpRdns-Acc/Dmg/Slow(50)
Level 22: Mutation -- EnManip-EndMod/Rchg(A), EnManip-EndMod(23)
Level 24: Grant Invisibility -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A)
Level 26: Life Drain -- Mrcl-Heal(A), Mrcl-Heal/EndRdx(27), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(27), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(29), HO:Golgi(29), ToHitDeb-I(48)
Level 28: Choking Cloud -- BasGaze-Acc/Rchg(A), BasGaze-Rchg/Hold(31), BasGaze-EndRdx/Rchg/Hold(31), BasGaze-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg/Hold(31), BasGaze-Acc/Hold(34)
Level 30: Stealth -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(50)
Level 32: Tenebrous Tentacles -- DampS-ToHitDeb/Rchg(A), DampS-ToHitDeb/Rchg/EndRdx(33), DampS-Rchg/EndRdx(33), DampS-ToHitDeb/EndRdx(33), DampS-Rchg(34)
Level 35: Super Jump -- Winter-ResSlow(A)
Level 38: Blackstar -- DampS-ToHitDeb/Rchg(A), DampS-ToHitDeb/Rchg/EndRdx(39), DampS-Rchg/EndRdx(39), DampS-ToHitDeb/EndRdx(39), DampS-Rchg(40)
Level 41: Oppressive Gloom -- RzDz-Immob%(A), RzDz-EndRdx/Stun(42), RzDz-Acc/EndRdx(42), RzDz-Stun/Rng(42), RzDz-Acc/Stun/Rchg(43), RzDz-Acc/Rchg(43)
Level 44: Dark Consumption -- Oblit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(A), Oblit-Acc/Rchg(45), Oblit-Dmg/Rchg(45), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(45), Oblit-%Dam(46)
Level 47: Soul Transfer -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(48)
Level 49: Maneuvers -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A)
Level 1: Brawl -- Dmg-I(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Surge -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Dash -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Quick -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Rush -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Slide -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Jump-I(A)
Level 2: Rest -- IntRdx-I(A)
Level 2: Swift -- Run-I(A)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Jump-I(A)
Level 2: Health -- RgnTis-Regen+(A), Heal-I(7), Heal-I(37)
Level 2: Stamina -- EndMod-I(A), EnManip-EndMod(5), EnManip-EndMod/Rchg(13)
Level 1: Scourge
Level 4: Ninja Run
Level 50: Void Radial Final Judgement
Level 50: Diamagnetic Radial Flawless Interface
Level 50: Ageless Core Epiphany
Level 50: Cardiac Boost
------------

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Without such planning, not only would I probably have never stumbled upon the concept, if I had, it never would have been as much fun to play.

The more you messed with Mid's, and played with different kinds of characters in the game, the more it revealed. Between Mid's and tinkering with "ally" critters in AE, I found some of my favorite characters to play.

It's no wonder I had over 200 different live toons by the end. And it seemed I was only just starting to get good at it.

[Archlight]

I did not PVP and thought PVP was broken/dead by the time IO's came out.

One thing i did was use Io's to break down the Archetype boundries. I had an Armored Corruptor i just loved. a Fire/Sonic Corruptor that just rocked. Had nearly capped S/L resistance high Energy resistance and roughly 35% ranged defense. I remember doing speed ITF runs and being assigned to clean out the traitors while the rest of the team took on the SV. The leader said go do it i have seen what you can do and were going for speed clean them out.
Another was my Fire/Earth Dom that played like a brute. Or my FF/Psi Defender that was tanker tough.

I loved tinkering with IO's they added a level to the game you could play with or not. It also added to my online friends keeping touch as we emailed IO builds back and fourth.

[hejtmane]

I jumped on IO's not because of PVP. I jumped on them because it let me do things I did in the past back in I2 and I3 days. Like soloing AV's and getting basically perma elude back and things like that I could do some fun crazy things.

Now it did not reach the stupid level of the dumpster diving days when there was no aoe target limits but it did get us to some similar fun crazy things we could do

[DarkCurrent]

I did not PVP and thought PVP was broken/dead by the time IO's came out.

One thing i did was use Io's to break down the Archetype boundries. I had an Armored Corruptor i just loved. a Fire/Sonic Corruptor that just rocked. Had nearly capped S/L resistance high Energy resistance and roughly 35% ranged defense. I remember doing speed ITF runs and being assigned to clean out the traitors while the rest of the team took on the SV. The leader said go do it i have seen what you can do and were going for speed clean them out.
Another was my Fire/Earth Dom that played like a brute. Or my FF/Psi Defender that was tanker tough.

I loved tinkering with IO's they added a level to the game you could play with or not. It also added to my online friends keeping touch as we emailed IO builds back and fourth.

+1

[themamboman]

If CoH did come back, it should be for the Amiga x1000 platform.

For me, that would be the most fitting...

Sigh.

Wow, you have one of those?  I just sold 2 of my 3 A4000Ts and even if I sold the 3rd, I'd still not have enough $$$ to get one of those mythical beasts (I'd settle for a Morphos version though, good, cheap hardware!)

[Absolute]

I always felt that IO sets were for the serious PVPer, where everyone was looking for the "perfect" build, where every last percentage point mattered.

Ironically enough, IO sets had the biggest negative effect on PvP. It made more PvE grinding required to PvP effectively, and gated off PvP to only those who could afford it.

IOs should have been free in PvP zones or disabled completely.

I'll have to agree with everyone else and say IOs were not made for PvP. IOs were most likely just to extend the end-game, have possibilities for harder content and be another fun time sink for everyone.

[PunkusJR]

Personally I never played with IOs, but my dad and some friends did and they were insane. >.O I always thought IOs were put in the game so we could get to the level of power we could get to back when we could slot six of the same enhancement and have them all be effective. Just kinda made sense to make that level of power something you have to work for. Because when an eleven year old can tank just about anything, something is wrong. xD

[Kyuuen]

So can someone say something that will cheer me up a little bit and make me not think that the game shutting off WAS the end and whatever?

As long as you remember the game, talk about the game, you'll keep the memory alive.

As long as you keep your own characters alive, and continue to CREATE around them, it keeps the soul of City of Heroes alive. Doesn't matter how. Fanfiction, artwork, or even - someday an animation. As long as the individual residents still have a quest to go on, does it matter if we are looking over their shoulders all the time?

I know of at least one person who isn't finished telling the story of their creations in the Paragon universe.

[healix]

When the world says, "Give up,"
Hope whispers, "Try it one more time."

Think of all the things that have been deemed impossible, and became reality. Hold onto hope and dreams no matter what. I believe we will get our City back.

[LaughingAlex]

I still have plans for my characters, and I roleplay them in CO.  Granted, if something better came along, i'd jump ship and transplant them to that game, cause CO has a very narrow minded community that only seems to be slitting it's own throat(as they often alienate people, with all the trolls in MC and making things worst the fact that they've litterally given up on their own game).  I'd say CoH isn't dead, because unfortunately nothing better has ever shown up.  They all miss the spark and that flame CoX had; it's unmatched and fun to experiment with variety that other MMO developers continue to prove to afraid of touching and utterly failing for it.

[Surelle]

All I have to say is, I've thought for ages now that the compatible server currently underway is our best chance at ever flying the skies of Paragon City again.

[mixedemotions]

I know CoH will be back, It will be a great day, a day where you would finally have no problems recruiting for a Dr. Q TF   :D :D :D

[Pinnacle Blue]

All I have to say is, I've thought for ages now that the compatible server currently underway is our best chance at ever flying the skies of Paragon City again.

You can do that now with Titan Icon.  You can't do much else, but at least you can do that.

[TriNitroToluene]

I know CoH will be back, It will be a great day, a day where you would finally have no problems recruiting for a Dr. Q TF

Sign me up.  I'll jump onto that TF, just let me alt.

Here's hoping we can get it started soon.

[hejtmane]

I only hope I have nothing to play I have tried and become so easily bored with other games.

Man hurry up someone buy it and put it back on line I will start over at 0 if I have to on my characters. At least I will have something to play I enjoy and to throw my money at

[Eoraptor]

My hand to non-existent sky friend, if I can hit one of these half-billion dollar lotteries the first thing I do after my two weeks in Hawaii is get on a plane for Seoul with a briefcase or ten and 80 odd million dollars in them.