Inventions, PvP, and a few other thoughts

First off, I'd like to say that I think the new IO system is frelling cool if only for the opportunity that it gives you to further customize a character. It's like there is no longer one "Uber build" for any given powerset combination. It gives you the opportunity to make a weaker character a little more survivable, give an rp character a little more personality (like a psi character who can do damage when they confuse an enemy), or just do something cool with a character that you wouldn't have been able to do before (like have a chance to heal yourself every time you use an attack power). I like that it's easy to understand, reasonably easy to implement (granted, some things take more time/inf than others), and that it's OPTIONAL.

Let's face it. SO's didn't feel optional. They felt like a necessity if we wanted our character to survive beyond level 25. Making enough inf to buy your SO's on a server where you didn't have a 50 or friends with 50s to bankroll your lowbies? Hopeless unless you got really creative with your financing (using your freespec at 22 to sell back all your DOs at full price and hope that gave you enough for your 25 SO's or exemp 2 or 3 task forces...or beg).

It's funny to think of the PvP'ers bitching about set bonuses being lost in PvP zones where they're exemp'd while the RP'ers bitch that the Invention system was created for those PvP'ers. If I remember correctly, RP'ers were part of the group crying out for more customizable options for their powers. I really am learning as I read everyone's take on I9's Invention System that people need to bitch about something, so they'll complain about everything. I'd hate to be a dev trying to please as many people as possible in this game. It's a lost cause.

So far, I've got a +Stealth on Scorp's fly (which just makes me giggle, damnit, and I can see how useful it would be for a lower level char trying to get through a zone filled with a lotta purples), a sweet recipe I just picked up for Nysorm Death that will give her a chance to heal every time she hits with a ranged attack, and started collecting recipes for some nice pet damage sets that will help add to Star's FF defenses. And I'm loving it!

I'm not, however, loving Syn's PvP build. I spend so little time in PvP, I've decided it's totally not worth it. She used to be so much fun - like a little mini-blaster that was uber enough to tank bosses for Mike's emp - and now, she frustrates the crap outta me. While it's been nice to have the Invis set to help out in getting people around and stealth missions, I miss her "boom" power and her area damage, especially since psionics got that nice boost a while back. So, respec'ing is in order. I'll keep her PvP build on Test, though, just in case.

Anywho...those are thoughts swirling around my head whilst I sat here eating my lunch and reading a few things around the net. No matter what your take is on I9 or CoX in general, remember our motto: Have fun, damnit! :)