By Jin Lovelace; HSM team writer & filmmaker

My time on DC Universe Online has its many ups and a few downs.

The many “ups” comes from the recent release of the fantastic “Sons of Trigon” downloadable content. I’ve been leveling my Combat Rating and just enjoying basking into the the damp city of Gotham Wastelands, while receiving some of the worst beatdowns I’ve ever committed myself to in a long time in a video game.

There’s also my interactions with my Facebook Group, the DCUO Community, as we’re now 260 members strong and dedicated to create a mature stance across the network and every DCUO server.

But then we go into the few downs. It’s not the game itself, for you will have a lot of players complain about what they think is truly wrong whereas Friday Night Legends says (and showcases) otherwise. Improvements have been made in this game as well such as removing unnecessary bugs, more community interaction, and difficulty balancing in a few Raids; this all says that Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) has been listening to the fans that know what they’re talking about.

What I’m conversing on here is an issue that has been subjective for a long while now that needs to be addressed: Controllers (or Support Role).

A Controller’s Loadout on DCUO.

I’m discussing on the factors about being a controller in this game. The factors that heavily weigh in on how much pressure there is when it comes to the role and the social flounder that the players — including myself — receive. Recently I’ve found solace in utilizing such powers as Quantum and Hard Light. I’ve managed to level my characters to the respective CRs of 89 and 78 and took the liberty to even gain enough Skill Points to be efficient to provide enough power to my teammates. I manage my power loadout and cycle through what’s necessary to apply debuffs against enemies and maintain crowd control (aggro control, for the weary). Support roles are oftentimes the equilibrium of the group, where they buff/debuff friends and enemies, give power, and create unison for assurance in team morale; as longs everyone receives power, there’s a jovial medium.

The problem here with that is no one comprehends the work the controllers have to put in.

There has been an uprising of complaints about how Trollers aren’t being efficient with their powers and it has now become one spectrum that’s pretty tiring. While saving the inexperienced players that lack the knowledge on said role (thus is why you create organizations, threads, guides and information for them to help better their skill), lets talk about how the many that would give flak towards the experienced and seasoned players in the game.

If your CR is below 53, I will tell you now you are safe. Anyone above 63 and beyond, expect a barrage of nonsense coming your way.

The common complaints starts when you’re “PUGing” (Pick Up Group) with players of high levels — if not higher — that are a mixed bag of surprises. You’re either paired with the few that know what they’re doing or ones who aren’t. The latter you would think that nicely informing them to pick up their slack would yield better result. Alas, it won’t, as arguments begin to ensue in terms of their seniority in the game and refusal of heeding good advice to make them better players.

If you’re paired with mixed roles in either a Alert or a Raid, be prepared to utilize the “Be Excused” function or suffer at the mighty wrath of the “Knocked Out” screen. It’s one thing that you can possibly get through an instance with two DPSes, a Healer and a Troller. Or two Tanks, a healer and a Troller. But when people don’t practice team balancing in PUG groups, of which being paired with three Healers and you’re the only Troll, or even said lonely role when entered in an instance with three DPSes, you’ll soon be subjected to scrutiny based on their lack of common sense on the matter of you being the only supporter in the group.

Another common issue is when players are defeated in a mission. If everyone is wiped out in the group, never mind working on a good strategy on why your team has been said wiped out against Brainiac; the first thing you will observe is how the Troller — who has done his or her job to appease the group — haven’t purveyed their duties as their chosen role. It’s not how anyone would rush into battle without knowledge of watching the enemy patterns or taking out the aggro when they try to rush you, but it’s the controller with a power out of six-figures isn’t giving enough power to the party.

And, dare I say, when it all boils down to never understanding the situation at hand, just apply the option to kick the person instead of communicating with the player maturely. It’ll socially solve everything and make that player better skilled.

Even I receive this vitriol and have been kicked for it as well. When I try to tell the DPS not to spam their powers, they would get angry and spout obscenities. I’ve seen Sorcery Healers play the role of a DPS while Healing when I tell them “99% of its loadout ISN’T Might-based and you’re DPSing all of your Healing powers.” Instead, I would get kicked or be bashed on not knowing what or how Healers play.

My interests in Celestial powers even have started to wane due to one’s perspective on using the said power, you’re also DPSing, when you’re not. The powers are systematically design to purvey heals to your party members based on your damage output, thus is a precision-based power, not might-based. A lot get confused on that, which is why I don’t bother giving power to them until they see this issue at hand, to which their solution is to kick me.

I’ll admit that I wasn’t a good Troller before, which is why I try to research as much as I can to be the best player that I can for my League, friends, or any group that I’m in. Come to find out, it’s pretty pathetic on how high-level players would talk trash to the underlings who wouldn’t give enough power: their meter count is much higher than what I can output.

A score card of the Controller. His power out is in six-figures.

So my solution to this folly is the following:

-If they spam their powers and complain about how you don’t give out enough, just refer them to the Scoreboard.

-I personally stop giving power and allow them to complain.

-Ignoring them has been golden for me, especially if they’re on Mics. 95% of them are either weed-heads or children who don’t know how to converse and instead get angry immediately towards a human being. If they are texting, I mute it as I don’t comprehend slang abbreviations.

-I don’t argue with them no longer. I simply state what’s wrong on their end. If they see a full meter and then blame me, I just say “okay” and move on. See solution 1.

-If I get kicked, I write down their name(s) and the League their in. Then I do my research so I know who to avoid playing with in the future.

Knowing your role is also key to better mission sessions. A Healer’s job is to heal. A Tank’s job is to maintain aggro, while a DPS is supposed to do what their acronym says: lay waste to enemies. Controllers are a perfect balance to all, as they don’t suffer a damage debuff when switching roles. They are to do more damage than Healers, some times Tanks, but never over a DPS. They have the hardest job in the group by making sure everyone has power to use.

The solutions above have saved me mental anguish and allows me to enjoy this game a lot more. There are players out there in the community who desire to play with actual quality players and not be around negativity that’s lain. As longs as you think you may “know it all”, you’ll be all by your lonesome with whatever knowledge that you have, saved from being humble to take criticism than to be offended by it.

Overall, people like what I discussed aren’t worth my time and no more do I have to give them a piece of it. I’d rather be kicked and cheated out of my loot than to sit and play with gamers that can’t comprehend their issues for another 30 minutes in a Raid or an Alert. If anything, there should be a solution to the issue — but as it stands, I hope this article reaches out to the dedicated players that take this unnecessary rancor. The game’s greatest weakness may be fellow players, but it’s still a great game.

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