Musings

Much as that very old and very long email I'd sent out about things I think should be added to the COH game, anticipation as to the surprises that await players in D&D 4.0 this coming 2Q 2008 has made me think a little further. While we played the other night, I couldn't help shake the desire for metapowers, like metamagic in D&D.



Sure, I don't think a direct thieving of the D&D system is in order, though a maximize range or maximize power might come in handy on the Shadow Shard. Yet, the thought of gaining a temp metapower that allowed, say, two of my existing powers to be fired exactly at once was a little pipe dream I couldn't shake. The combinations could be infinite, but more importantly, they would be another functional chance at further individuating our toons beyond expansive slotting. Just thinking.

Then the mental list began:

1) Temp metapower allowing two powers to manifest simultaneously

2) Rogue-like temp power to absorb the powers of those around you

3) Temp power that shows the map location of any enemy type you are hunting

4) Temp metapower that makes one other temp power permanent.

5) Animation flourishes on the final blow of a battle.

6) A standing X-ray machine with large display panel in the hospital

7) Outer space missions.

8) A wall of fame in the Pocket D tiki lounge

9) A temp metapower that allows existing powers to fire off in sequence without cheating at keybinds, but that is interruptable.

10) A temp metapower that gives you a special toggle that doesn't target your next enemy, doesn't target your next friend, but target's the NPCs that have aggroed your teammates only from strongest to weakest.

11) A temp metapower that matches your profit on a market sale, doubling your influence as a great trader.

12) A temp metapower (flourish really) that uses any power with a bright flash to temporarily burn the shadows of those in the fight onto the surrounding environment.

13) A temp power that reflects NPC powers of a certain type back onto the NPC who manifested them.

14) A temp metpower that allows our team to view a camera panning instant replay of the last battle with all names and brackets turned off as in a film

15) A temp metapower that allows visible power manifestations to change colors while in battle

16) A metapower that can customize an aura

17) A temp metapower that allows you to try a fantasy power slotting without a full respec or the actual enhancements

18) A temp power AOE that mixes up everybody else's keybinds while in range.

19) A temp power that allows you to change one other hero's status, temporarily to villain.

20) A temp metapower that allows an "Uncle Istvan" affect. (Deflects all your damage to another friendly on the team.)

21) A temp power that quotes interesting and powerful lines from the U.S. Constitution, The Declaration of Independence, The Pledge of Allegiance, and other meaningful moments in U.S. speeches every fifth manifestation or so as you pound on baddies.

22) A temp metapower that allows you to choose a favored enemy for more damage on that gang.

23) A temp metapower that doubles the effect of the power of your choice.

24) A temp metapower that allows your nova, health, and end' to fully recharge immediately after expending it once.

25) A temp metapower that allows one power to keep being used after end' reaches zero.

26) A temp metapower that allows you up to 12 teammates on a TF.

27) A temp power for PVP villains that automatically sends a multiple angle screenshots of a hero's death to the email associated with the hero's account.

28) A temp metapower that allows a blaster's blast to go straight through the first NPC target, eviscerating it, to do normal damage on the target just behind him.

29) An anti-grav temp AOE power that causes all NPC foes to hover at slowest speeds

30) A temp metapower that offers a menu of death animations for NPCs to be applied to your existing powers. Hence, when you deal the death blow a foe bursts into ashes or burns or gets quartered or crumbles into tiny pieces of ice or changes to a permanent statue, etc.