[Gaming] City of Heroes

I know we've talked about this a bit in the past, but the official launch of City of Heroes is but a week away.

I've been in the beta test via a pre-order for a little under a month now and am very happy. The game differs from a lot of other MMORPGs in that the "grind" isn't as bad and the game is better suited to casual players. (I've beta'd/played Everquest, AC, SW Galaxies, WWII Online, and DAoC.)

First, there is no crafting at all. Thank God! Also, no looting or PvP. Thus, you take out bad guys and automatically receive Enhancements or Inspirations. Defeating villains also nets you Influence, the currency of CoH. That's it.

There are five origins that really have no bearing on your character, except for style. Five archetypes that dictate the power trees you'll have access to: Tanker, Scrapper, Defender, Controller, and Blaster. Each archetype selects a Primary and Secondary power tree out of five (each) to choose from. There's very little overlap. As you level additional powers and Enhancement slots open up.

Death past fifth has a small measurable effect as you take an XP debit that you have to pay off. It isn't that bad. You can never lose a level.

Teaming up with friends or total strangers is cake and very exciting. There are special team channels and team abilities, too. Also low-level friends can group with high-level friends by using the Sidekick feature -- the lower sidekick gets a sizable boost in ability to hang with his/her mentor.

Overall, CoH is a great game. I've had fun in the beta and will be playing for a bit. Sometimes the level grind gets to you, but I prefer CoH's style (and lack of PvP) over all other MMORPGs. Two thumbs way up!

(At this time the "live" servers are still being finalized so no word on what server you'll find me on.)

I've followed the development of City of Heros on Gamespot for months now. Looks promising.

I've been playing on the beta for the last week or so, and can only echo Don's praise of the game.

I've enjoyed it so much that I cancelled my Star Wars Galaxies account. Even better, my wife enjoys the heck out of it to, as it's really easy just to go out and play together without any expectations of maintaining equipment or competing with KSers for loot.

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Originally posted by Sea Tyger
I've enjoyed it so much that I cancelled my Star Wars Galaxies account. Even better, my wife enjoys the heck out of it to, as it's really easy just to go out and play together without any expectations of maintaining equipment or competing with KSers for loot.

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Me too. Bye, bye SW Galaxies. The grind in that game is just so horrible. I'm sure some people love it but, for heaven's sake, a baker as a profession? :rolleyes:

Don, I've heard that PvP is so popular that the developers are considering adding the option at some point. Any truth to this? Also, I'm a bit taken aback that flying isn't an option that is available until you reach a certain level. Any ideas on what the basic story will entail? other than the whole aftermath of the alien invasion bit. I've heard all i can about that part and wish to know what the campaign will basically be like. I'm not a MMORPGer, and I don't want to invest a chucnk of money in something that ultimately won't appeal, after all.


Strictly Speaking

PvP will come at some point, probably through duel or arenas. The idea of playing villians has been tossed around. Personally I think the game works a lot better without villians as-is.

There is a plot. In fact, towards the end of beta the aliens have started their invasion. Freaky stuff. :D

All travel powers (4 groups) open up at level 6. You can grind that out in less than 4 hours. The serious travel powers are available at 14. It's not a big deal and it works well. If everyone was flying/jumping/teleporting/super-running at 1st level it'd be pretty wonky.

Looks like I'll be on Justice for the moment.

I played a little bit at a buddies place (my M&M group) and have to say it seriously made me to want to buy a PC so I could play.

though the fact that every name I could come up with for my character had been taken annoyed the crap out of me. ;)

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Originally posted by AslanC
though the fact that every name I could come up with for my character had been taken annoyed the crap out of me. ;)

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All characters are being wiped tomorrow. Every beta tester and pre-order customer are allowed to login to each of the four launch day servers and reserve ONE name. Those names are relinquished on May 15th if not claimed by the user (on that server).

So chances are really good that you'll get the name you want on the server you want.

(For the record, I got my name on 3 of the 4 servers.)

Oh thanks for telling me!

But since I don't have the game or a PC, I guess it just won't happen :(

Oh well... c'est la vie.

By the time I get a PC (say 6 months) I will be left with SuPr^DoOd~8197 ;)

Hey, PCs are cheap. You can get a decent one for around $500 if not less.

Give in to the power of City of Heroes. :)

I'll keep on the lookout for SuPr^DoOd~8197! :D

I wish I could, Don, but I have never been a fan of pay-2-play MMORPGs.

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Originally posted by Don Mappin
Hey, PCs are cheap. You can get a decent one for around $500 if not less.

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Best Buy has refurbs on for about $(CAN)500. As long as you don't mind deleting any viruses or e-mail from the previous owner. Otherwise you are looking at $(CAN)1000-1500.

Best Buy? Can't think off hand where one exists in Vancouver. Aren't they an American company?

Last time i checked the site, i did not see any system requirements listed. have they put them up?


Strictly Speaking

"Best Buy? Can't think off hand where one exists in Vancouver. Aren't they an American company?"

They're an American company, but they have stores in Canada. unfortunately, their store locator on their site, http://www.bestbuycanada.ca/ , shows that the neaters store to you is in Edmonton - 3 locations there, though... ;)

From tonights end-of-beta "invasion." It got a little...insane.

Upwards of 50 people on the screen, blasting away, with little to no lag. Very impressive!

And another

One more

One more for fun.

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Originally posted by AslanC
Best Buy? Can't think off hand where one exists in Vancouver. Aren't they an American company?

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You're not in Montreal anymore? Hmm, stop by every 2-3 months and things change.

TTFN

I beta tested this game and though Im very happy that you all enjoyed the game so much, I can honeslty say I will not be buying it in it's present form. It's a combat sim. Yes it's neat to be a superhero and most comics these days are kill, kill, kill, beat up the bad guy, but I cannot see myself paying for a combat sim played on a pc. I felt like I was playing a multiplayer online game better suited for a xbox or playstation.

There is no real roleplaying, no economy, no capes, no wings. And no real debate on the forums about it because when you mix a comic fanboy with a online fanboi anyone who offers criticism is flamed to the other side of the sun.

Origins really didnt mean much and I found that if I did not make my avatar huge I couldnt make out the details and lord help the lilttle heroes, half the time I couldnt even see them, let alone any details of their costumes.

It takes 14 levels before you get true flight, and though they tweaked this endlessly during beta I'll tell you right off. Unless you're a power gamer it's going to take two months or more to get there -- that's 20-30 dollars to do what most heroes do in the 1st panel of their books.

Personally, as a sci-fi roleplayer, I found that EVE: 2nd Genesis was an online rpg that I enjoyed and kept me interested as a role player. I really wanted to like CoH, I wanted to play it monthly, but in it's current form, I'd rather pay and play Freedom Force or it's upcoming sequel and not pay a montly fee to smite evil.

I'll stop now, I hate raining on people's parades, but I say ask yourself what you really want from an online gaming experience and what are you paying a montly fee for.

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Originally posted by Atlirith
I'll stop now, I hate raining on people's parades, but I say ask yourself what you really want from an online gaming experience and what are you paying a montly fee for.

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To get together with friends, create some heroes, and pound the bad guys into submission.

I'm getting exactly what I want out of it.

I'm bored, so I'm going to add a little commentary here. Some of these I can see Atlirith's points and others I feel he/she is off base. Ultimately, yes, the game may or may not be for you. (And isn't that what asking questions and reading reviews is for?)

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Originally posted by Atlirith
There is no real roleplaying,

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Of course not, it's a MMORPG! :D

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no economy,

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Yes, thank God. The reason I like CoH is because it supports casual play. I can login for two hours, do a mission, and feel like I've accompished something. My buds and I can hook up, form a team, and the game scales the difficulty accordingly. Otherwise I can hook up with some other people at random (do it all the time), have a mission and a good time. Quick, easy, and fun.

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no capes, no wings.

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You're right. So? If no capes and wings are deal-breakers for you then I suppose CoH isn't for you.

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And no real debate on the forums about it because when you mix a comic fanboy with a online fanboi anyone who offers criticism is flamed to the other side of the sun.

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Kinda like Trek fans? ;)

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Origins really didnt mean much and I found that if I did not make my avatar huge I couldnt make out the details and lord help the lilttle heroes, half the time I couldnt even see them, let alone any details of their costumes.

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The mouse scroll wheel zooms in and out. I have no problems seeing the detail on my "small" 5'8" avatar.

Origins can affect the type of missions you get and the type of Enhancements you can use at later levels. For the most part you're correct on this point, though.

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Unless you're a power gamer it's going to take two months or more to get there -- that's 20-30 dollars to do what most heroes do in the 1st panel of their books.

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Okay, this is flat-out wrong. While subjective I'll grant you, I, as a newbie who hadn't logged an hour in CoH was able to level to 6 in a day via casual play. A friend at work got to level 4 in less than two hours, on his second day in the game.

I made level 8 within two days with my first character. This was without grouping (for the most part), wandering around the city being impressed, and generally just learning the game.

Two months? No freakin' way. As a casual player if I can do 8 levels in two days, you don't need two months to get to 14. Actually, for fun, I'm going to grind during the headstart and see how far I can get. I'll probably have flight by the time the game goes live for the public.

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I really wanted to like CoH, I wanted to play it monthly, but in it's current form, I'd rather pay and play Freedom Force or it's upcoming sequel and not pay a montly fee to smite evil.

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Freedom Force is a great game.

Ultimately you decide how to spend your time and money. CoH is a lot of fun, especially if you're a casual player. No complex skill trees, insane crafting, wonky economic system, or dancing wookies.

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Originally posted by Don Mappin

Two months? No freakin' way. As a casual player if I can do 8 levels in two days, you don't need two months to get to 14. Actually, for fun, I'm going to grind during the headstart and see how far I can get. I'll probably have flight by the time the game goes live for the public.Freedom Force is a great game.

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I have to chime in with Don on this one. I played a character for about a half-hour before I went off to play (or, even better, make) another. Even bouncing between characters every few hours/every session, I had a couple characters up to level 6 and 8, and a bunch more at 3 or 4. Levelling isn't a problem, and you're usually having so much fun, you're not even paying attention to how close you are to levelling. :)

But, to each his own. I'm off to play some MVP 2004. :D

Speaking of baseball, anyone investing on MLB SportsClix? :p

Everytime I see or hear something good about CoH, I see or hear something bad about it too. At first it was minor stuff like no capes. I'm of the school that some supers just gotta have the capes. I don't care if they're stiff...it is the principle of the thing. Then, I thought about all the supers I made for my M&M setting and realized very few of them wear capes anyway, and besides which, I had to deal with a lack of capes in NWN, so, whatever. no big.

Then it was a lack of a single player campaign, which had initially been promised. I hate that. In fact, it turned me away from the bloody game entirely until I saw a preview on X-Play. It just looked too damned cool.

Then it was no flight until level 14 or whatever. Flight is...sort of a big thing for me...I just have a hard time wrapping my mind around the fact that a super needs to "learn" before he can fly. A case can be made that Superman initially just did a lot of leaping before he ever was able to fly...another case could be made that initially, Superman was not intended to fly...what about the native fliers, like Angel? Like Silver Surfer? Martian manhunter? What about Cannonball? Guys like that? Some of whom, flying is their main claim to fame...

There's nothing to be done for this, for those to whom it matters, but I would hope this is something they plan to address later.

At the same time, I realize that everybody probably wants to fly. maybe this creates some sort of logisitical problem. I don't know their reasoning.

I'm not a fan or MMORPGs. I wanted to become on for SW: Galaxies, but that sucked a big sweaty butt-cheek. What? i'm supposed to traverse the Dune Sea on foot? Dancing Wookies? Gah!

I would like to try CoH and even Matrix Online...genres that I love, that have very little exposure in the CRPG market...But I just don't know. Might have to just hang my hopes of Freedom Force 2. That's sure to be a winner, even though I know it still won't be perfect...

I guess every game has its good and its bad. Still trying to weigh that out with CoH...

Strictly Speaking

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Originally posted by strict31
Then it was no flight until level 14 or whatever. Flight is...sort of a big thing for me...I just have a hard time wrapping my mind around the fact that a super needs to "learn" before he can fly.

At the same time, I realize that everybody probably wants to fly. maybe this creates some sort of logisitical problem. I don't know their reasoning.

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First, I totally agree with you. My character concept (based on my old MSH character from 15ish years ago) is built entirely around flight. However I've found it's not that big of deal in CoH. By sixth you can get Hover and do most of the important stuff, although it's slow. You can make six in as many hours, casually.

However you might be surprised that Flight isn't as popular as you'd suspect. It's the most interesting to be sure, but Leaping is the most fun, Superspeed the fastest, and Teleport is incredibly useful. I don't have any numbers to prove this, but in my experience in the beta most of the travel powers are divided equally across characters.

Flight = Traditional "cool" power, the slowest (without buffs)
Leaping = Fast and fun
Superspeed = Fast but drains END, excellent defense
Teleport = Best utility (Teleport Friend / Team) but sucks up the END

The pre-launch was yesterday after all the servers were wiped. I got my character to 9th. :D

Had lots of fun with my buds.

So, on what servers are y'all? I'll be joining this weekend probably and it would be really cool to hook up and stuff.

I have to pick up my copies of the game tonight (one is for the wife :) ).

Main characters on Victory server:

Celtic Cross -- healer/mentalist
Justicar -- armored tech blaster
Lady Steele -- superstrength
The Czarist (I think he's there) -- broadsword/dark armor
Mercury Hg (I think he's there) -- speedster (or, will be)/martial artist

I also took the time to make a character for each of my girls on a different server. Only one may actually be old enough to figure the controls out, but be on the lookout for Katiekatt, Cyndicatt and Ellicatt. :D Likely, it'll be me running the character while they tell me what to do. ;) I'll let you all know what server they're on when I get home. :p

I'm on Justice. Just made 11th. Unfortunately my retail pre-order hasn't arrived yet so, ironically, I'm locked out! :D

Nearly 14th level, a week after release, and ready for my Flight power. :D

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Originally posted by Don Mappin
Nearly 14th level, a week after release, and ready for my Flight power. :D

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Excellent. :) I have one character at 10th, two at 6th. The other four are 2nd level. And I just found out how to do multiple color schemes last night. Grrrrr! Oh, well. The high-level ones look good as-is anyway, and the rest are low enough it didn't hurt me to change them. :p

I have way too many characters to play. ;)

I'm also interested in playing this game.

I've played ALOT of online games in my spare time. From Asheron's Call to Shadowbane and CoH looks like a game I may like.

One thing I am always worried about is long term; is the game something that will survive more than 2 months?

Take StarWars. Apart from the weak combat system, and the laughable PvP (read: no real skill, button mashing is not skill) there was little to do.

Shadowbane had massive amounts of PvP, but in the end it was inevitable that everyone would be drawn into a major server wide war. Coupled with awful net coding it stopped being enjoyable.

Final Fantasy XI has some nice questing/missions, and a very nice world. Leveling and pt'ing is awful and the game is not guild friendly at all.

Asheron's Call was all about items, and the PvP on Darktide was more like Gankfest Unlimited (tm).

Excluding Shadowbane, I stopped playing all the other games after 2 months.

I guess I want to know, is there something to do after 2 months? Any content worth staying for? And how is the community?

Yea, I can fly! I nearly weeped with joy! :)