Red Pills = Inferior ?

For every Live Event and for nearly every instance where bad guys are spawned we are made to face 10 or so level 60's. In some cases we are made to fight twice as many, if not three times as many, level 55's. Basically, what I am asking is how do players stack up against anything other than another level 50 player in terms of combat? For the most part, in every scenario, a live event character should be able to outmatch (and will outmatch) a red pill or two or three? Or perhaps even between five and ten...

I can understand not wanting the live event characters to die when they are not supposed to, but it removes the satisfaction that this game once promised. Being able to alter the course of the storyline is a big selling point and yet it's not very often we're catered to with something course-changing. Instead, we're forced into an outrage over the shattering of previously-thought course-changing status symbols, such as the passing out of beta clothes.

If devs can deactivate PVP flags, why don't we see more level 30 and level 50 event characters or perhaps more NAMED event characters that can potentially become cannon fodder? Instead, we're forced to gather numbers even when we roll solo so that we can take on the unbeatable level 55. I just killed Taskmaster the other day and I can't even scratch Hypatia! Waaah!

Who the Hell is Hypatia!? Hypatia is a level 55 Data Miner. Why is this particular operative level 55? You're saying she's up to par with Ghost? Personally, I can't stand the fact that Niobe is level 60 and Ghost is 55. They should both be equal, to keep it in synch with 'Enter the Matrix' and the movies. Are we also saying that Niobe and Gray are equal? It would seem so.

Also, Pace is only 55. She's less of an Agent? Raise Gray to 255 to reflect continuity.

Who the Hell is Hypatia!? Hypatia is a level 55 Data Miner. Why is this particular operative level 55? You're saying she's up to par with Ghost? Personally, I can't stand the fact that Niobe is level 60 and Ghost is 55. They should both be equal, to keep it in synch with 'Enter the Matrix' and the movies. Are we also saying that Niobe and Gray are equal? It would seem so.

Also, Pace is only 55. She's less of an Agent? Raise Gray to 255 to reflect continuity.

Fair point actually, when mission contacts appear as level 55's IE same level as Agent Pace it is a tad unrealistic. Agent Pace's level is realistic to her role as she was created to liase. Not fight. I'd say they also don't need to be cast iron 50-55-60-65, you should be able to get 53-57 etc etc. I don't think we should have even the slightest chance of killing Niobe/Ghost because whilst we can influence the story to a degree, they chapters are pre-written so killing off a character like that with such huge influence with out some kind of story to follow after it, would be detrimental to the storyline and it's progression.

Whilst again, you're "Named characters" idea is a nice idea, one would argue that unlimit commanders such as Phinney or Maxson would fall under that category. It's just during this storyline there is no real need for a named character. It doesn't fit with the whole story of the commandos.

Technically, it would be okay to make Ghost and Niobe, and other redpill event characters level 50. This is because of the auto-jackout sequence, as well as the ability to rez. I would assume that both these abilities are "canon". The auto-jackout of course has been mentioned repeatedly in storylines...

However, it does seem to get overlooked sometimes. For example, why when we are doing an assassination mission, do we have to kill some EPN guy? He's just going to come back. Or, why in some critical missions, do we have to kill a redpill in order to scare another redpill in to doing something, when they could just come back. It seems this rule is conveniently ignored.

Anyway, my point is, they should be able to make certain live event characters, killable and more equal in power to other players, without compromising the storyline. In fact this should work for other live event characters, as something could be created to explain this - For example, Systematica, who is a Machine liason, and a program, does some sort of "Reconstruction process" in area chat when she is killed. Someone kills her, she's not just dead, and gone forever. Why couldn't this be the same with Agent Pace for example?

It's a fine line, i guess.

I think level 60 probably is too high for Niobe, *however* didn't she get that increase after drinking the vial? i forget tbh, but if that was the case then thats fair enough. I suppose it's all about realism too...would Ghost in the movies be able to take on near 100 commandos alongside his fellow Zion operatives whilst keeping a close eye on the Mervs trying to knife him from behind? They need to have a certain level of strength to last out in situations like that, because if they just quit that kind of event with the mass NPC spawns...then we'd have nothing to do in Events. I mean, even with Ghosts level at 55, the amount of times Mervs almost ganked him in that Zero one event with the General and his commandos was unreal. He came within about 175 health of dying, whether they could have killed him or not is a different story, *but* it was cool enough to have that kind of battle.

We also need to see Characters duel more a la Cryptos and The Kid on recursion months ago.

This also isn't the best place for this thread, it'd be better on development round table.

I'd like to add: Perhaps, it would be cool if most Live Event characters (e.g. Ghost, Niobe, Agent Pace, Ookami, Malphas i.e. those who aren't meant to be untouchable) should be between level 50-52, with perhaps a little better armoured clothes than would normally be allowed. Then, aside from when they are giving a speech they wouldn't be invincible, just a little harder. Redpill characters could argue that they used auto-jackout. Exiles could say that they're using a duplicate RSI shell. Programs could say it was a reconstruction sequence.

Characters who are supposed to be more untouchable (e.g. Seraph, Merovingian, Agent Gray, and strong enemies such as The General) could be higher like they usually are.

Of course this probably won't happen lol.

What is this?  Intelligible, thought-provoking discussion on the forums?  This downright violates the sanctity of the EULA, you must cease and desist at once or face harsh reprimands.

My god, it's just madness.  What's next, women driving legally?

Puh, you kids today with your music, and.....stickers.   

What is this?  Intelligible, thought-provoking discussion on the forums?  This downright violates the sanctity of the EULA, you must cease and desist at once or face harsh reprimands.

My god, it's just madness.  What's next, women driving legally?

Puh, you kids today with your music, and.....stickers.   

noctivagus wrote:

What is this?  Intelligible, thought-provoking discussion on the forums?  This downright violates the sanctity of the EULA, you must cease and desist at once or face harsh reprimands.

My god, it's just madness.  What's next, women driving legally?

Puh, you kids today with your music, and.....stickers.   

Your sarcasim and lack of contribution disgusts me.

Its not often I feel motivated to reply to threads on other servers forums, but this one is a good discussion and well, thers been alot of decent points brought up.

Agent Pace is level 55, the fact that she is an Agent makes the increase understandable, but then you have to think "Wait...so Ghost is on par with an Agent?". When the truth is more likely then not, no.

This is going to sound "nerdy" as hell, but I've often wished that the rights to the Matrix had been licensed to a D20 system game, so that I could own a "Matrix Source Book", and simple questions like Iconic characters skill leverl would be answered from an official source.

This is as I see it; this is the way the level comparisons should be to reflect the continuity:

Anome (Controller) - Level 50
Anome (Unlimit) - Level 100
Neo - Level 100
Morpheus - Level 65 (No way Niobe is better than Morpheus!)
Niobe - Level 55
Niobe (After the vial is understandable) - Level 60
Ghost - Level 55
The Twins - Level 52
Tyndall - Level 51-53
The Merovingian - Level 65
Persephone - Level 57
Malphas - Level 55
Ookami - Level 55
Sati - Level 30
The General - Level 60
Agent Gray - Level 255 (to reflect that he IS an agent, or scale Agents down to level 60)
Seraph - Level 60
The Oracle - Level 100
The Architect - Level 100
Agent Pace - Level 55
Mission Contacts - Level 51-53
Let's see some Named Fodder - Level 30-53

They don't need to be either 55 or 60, though. Those aren't the only two options is what I'm saying. Especially since devs can turn an event character's flag off. But this all being said, giving us a few level 30, 40, or 45 event characters could give some of the lower level players some better interaction. It's hard enough for a mission team of players to even scratch an event character, much less possible for a level 38 player to do so.

I wish we had more Agents show up. Agents other than Gray. Also, I'd like to see more random subplots if it's true that CSR's are now getting involved in throwing spur of the moment trivia contests and tournaments. Let's do something slightly more Matrix-like than trivia. The roleplaying potential of this game is in the crapper right this very moment, to be quite honest. Let's resurrect it with some better ability to influence things.

I think the reasons I've heard about Gray and Pace--and I'm not saying I agree--is that they're primarily created for Machine-Human relations, and so they're not outfitted for combat so much. Gray is moreso than Pace, but still not 'Special Agent' standard. Especially considering he was torn inside out and retrofitted for the job just after the Smith incident.

Yeah, thats what i thought. Agent Pace's forum rank is "Machine Liaison", so her job is not combat, first and foremost.

Gray on the other hand...hmm...well, thats debatable.