City of Heroes Issue 14: Architect

Issue 14 is undoubtedly one of the most ambitious issues ever released in City of Heroes. It is certainly on par with the release of "Inventions," in Issue 9: Breakthrough and proves that you CAN make sweeping major changes to existing games. "Changing the whole game" need not be a fiasco such as SWG's NGE release; no, it can be something positive that adds to the game experience, brings old customers back, and attracts new ones.

The key is that you add by adding, not taking away. You must add something to the game that doesn't take away from it. Oh, I know, whenever you add something, there are always those that do not enjoy the addition, and there are those who feel they "lost" something because THEY did not get something, but that's not the same thing as pissing off your customer base with unwanted change.

This is pure adding. What will be lost are the lagless nights of an empty server -- people are back and playing in droves. Last night, Freedom server was no longer taking any visitors.

So what is this patch about? It's about telling your own stories, making your own missions, and sharing them with your fellow players. The folks at NCSoft have given players the keys to the kingdom.

Similar but superior to the Star Wars Galaxies' "Storyteller System," players get to choose between long, intricate plots with many rooms, tasks, and bad guys, or quick and dirty get in beat the guy up and get out deals. Missions created by player architects DO provide experience and loot, so there is a reason to try them.

I checked it out last night, took the tutorial, and played through someone else's scenario. It was FUN. Pure fun. I can see how these are very appealing to veterans who have already ran two or three (or more!) characters and have done all the content.

This adds a potentially unlimited amount of new content to a game that sorely needed it. It gives players the power to make the game bigger, better, and more fun.

Wow, what a great patch.