So, I recently upgraded my PC from Windows XP to Windows 7, and I've been quite happy with it... with one exception. Due to changes in the way that "always on top" works in 7 (and Vista before it), HeroStats and other overlay windows cannot be placed on top of COH in fullscreen mode. The author of HeroStats has confirmed that there's nothing he can do about it, and the only workaround is to run COH in "windowed" mode -- which means losing screen space to the title bar (and the taskbar, unless you autohide it, and even then it can pop up when you don't want it to).

However, thanks to a freeware utility called AutoHotkey, I've discovered a workaround. I've compiled a small script and made it available for download at http://tinyurl.com/cohwindowhelper (source is at http://tinyurl.com/cohwindowhelperscript, if you feel like tinkering further). When you run this file, it will start up a background process (which only uses about 2 MB of memory), which in turn will set up the following hotkeys:

WindowsKey + ]
Sets the Windows Taskbar to auto-hide, and hides the COH window's title bar (if COH is running).

WindowsKey + [
Sets the Windows Taskbar to always visible, and unhides the COH window's title bar (if COH is running).

(NOTE: Be sure to maximize your COH window first. If you don't, there isn't much point. :)

As an unintended (but entirely welcome, to me) side effect, this also causes the auto-hide taskbar to NOT appear when the mouse is placed at the edge of the screen and the COH window is active. Yay, no accidental taskbar clicks while playing! (You can easily get the taskbar back by pressing the Windows Key, and auto-hide will still work while any non-COH window is active.)

Put the EXE file in your startup folder, hit the hotkey when you're at the login screen (doing it while in-game will cause the in-game windows to shift around), and enjoy the use of every bit of screen real estate.

(The program icon is one of Liz's, and is used with permission.)

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DISCLAIMER: This is something I slapped together this evening, with a tool I'd never used previously -- there may be quirks. I have no idea how well this will work in a dual-monitor setup, or really any configuration other than the one I have. But, hey, it's free. :)

As a matter of fact, I just found one quirk. Once in a while, if I tab (or Windows key) out of the game, do some stuff in other windows, and go back, my overlay window (HeroStats) will get pushed behind the COH window until I manually select it from the taskbar again. Pretty minor, though -- it doesn't happen all that often (never when I'm just playing the game), and it's quick to fix.

"...when drawn-weapon sets were kind of a pain in the butt."

From BABs, on the official forums:

Good news everyone, I think I have figured out a way to bypass weapon redraw in combat. I've tested it with with various non-weapon powers or weapon powers from completely different sets, and it seems to work out. This means that you will be able to use any power in a chain with a weapon power, and not have to redraw the weapon...even completely different weapon powers. It will just instantly appear in your hand and play the attack animation. If you're not in combat, out of range, or have no target selected...then it will play a non-rooted, interruptible version of the weapon draw animations.

Some minor issues with consistently playing a weapon draw animation outside of combat, or the weapon draw animation playing when it really does need to...but that shouldn't interfere with combat.

Unfortunately, I'm not going to be able to get to every powerset at once, but I was able to get the following powersets done.

* Broadsword
* Claws
* Dual Blades
* Archery
* Battleaxe
* War Mace
* Trick Arrow
* Thugs Mastermind Dual Pistols
* Robotics Mastermind Pulse Rifle
* Arachnos Widows
* Arachnos Soldiers
* Patron "mace" powers
* Munitions Ancillary Pool

The rest will have to wait until sometime after GR:

Visually, this may take some getting used to, but I think my new /TA controller just got even more enjoyable.

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EDIT: It was too good to last. The change has been cancelled. BABs again:

Head's up, I've had to retract my previous statement. I've run into a complete roadblock related to shields and weapons that makes this method I was using un-workable. So it's back to the drawing board with the whole thing.

They're testing PREVIEWING the Winter event on the live servers right now. No link, because it still has 'publishing live build' on the forum instead of patch notes for today.

Here's the link.

( Patch notes for those at work. They updated the cape mish! )

http://www.onrpg.com/MMO/World-of-Warcraft/news/World-of-Warcraft-Taiwanese-player-beats-WoW

this post made me wonder what all it would take to "beat" CoH...in the same sence of the word.
I wonder, across all servers, who is the closest to obtaining all actual obtainable badges? (not counting the 1-5 year anniversary badges and the badges for account time)
What count would you all give for the total number of badges that ANYONE could get?
I guess we might would have to count even badges....and with that probably 6 to 12 months of play time.
anyhow, this is a cool feat reguardless the game. grats to the taiwan guy!

GameFAQs is about to hold it's 8th "Character Battle" competition.

http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/nominate_entry

I'm nominating Ghost Widow. I think she's the most striking, distinctive, and interesting character the City franchise has released. I think that her dark sexy look may help her win even with those not so familiar with her. In order for her to actually make it into the character battle, enough people with GameFAQs accounts have to nominate her. If you agree, and have a GameFAQs account, please nominate her as well!

(Mod's feel free to delete and scold if this is inappropriate)

I just wanted to share the deal I got on an Nvidia GTX 260 at Microcenter today. The list price is $189.99 but when I got to the store, it was only $159.99 with an additional $20 mail in rebate. One word of caution, the one in the link is the EVGA version. The one I purchased in store was BFG Technologies.

Not sure if folks are planning on upgrades for xmas, but hey this was a pretty sweet deal and much less than I expected to pay.

It's a HUGE card, if you get one of these puppies, make sure you have plenty of room in your case and at least a 600W power supply.

Tags: technical: misc
Current Location: Chicago, IL
Current Mood: excited

Ever since I started playing CoH, I've wanted a little metal Sprocket or Cog or Tesla Prince to stand on my desk and be adorable. Sadly, they don't make them as real statues, and I've never seen any fan-made, so I went about making my own. The head ended up too small and the weight of the ... winder thingy on its back overbalances it too much to stand up on its own, but overall, I'm actually pretty impressed with myself.



( Five Pictures! )

Tags: art, people stuff
Current Mood: accomplished

So I noticed this event being hosted tonight: RV Badge Grab on Infinity.

I teamed with the host last weekend on a couple SFs; great player.

Anyhoo, instead of Saturday Night SF, how about Saturday Night Event! I wouldn't mind picking up the signature defeat badges on Dark-stream, and the host already has at least one team set up. The more the better, really.

So count me in as team lead 2. This event starts at 8pm EDT/5pm PDT, however; that's an hour earlier than my norm (which is fine). If the event is a bust I'll host a quick SF/TF to make up for it afterward, depending on time and based upon team feedback.

Let's meet at the statue of Lord Recluse beginning about 10mins before start time. Hope to see you there!

Tags: events, pvp, server: infinity

Letter from "Ruin"

Letter from "The Prestidigitator"

Letter from "Plum Blossom"

Letter from "Glacia"

Letter from "Bearer of Aegis"

Letter from "Tin Mage"

Additional letters

Discussion Thread

Tags: game lore

Hello guys,

I intend to run a Sara Moore tf tonite at 8pm CST on Virtue server. You need to be minimum lvl 40 to join. 7 spots available. Let me know if interested and I shall add to roster.

1. Sofacat 40 scrapper (me)

Tags: server: virtue, task forces/trials
Current Mood: excited