20||0|1711|0|yes 0|0|0|||1||City of Heroes%3A suggestions%3F|Sofaspud||13:17:16|04/09/2007|[updated:LAST EDITED ON Apr-09-07 AT 01:19 PM (EDT)]When Ye Olde Tax Returne arrives%2C I%27m kicking my World of Warcraft habit and giving City of Heroes a try. I seem to recall that there are quite a few CoH players hereabouts... y%27all care to give a noob some pointers%3F Server suggestions %28if you get a choice%3B I assume you do%29%3F Gotchas that aren%27t covered in the documentation%3F%0D%0A%0D%0AIf it turns out that I like CoH%2C I%27ll be bringing some friends%2C too. I get to be the guinea pig. %3A%29%0D%0A%0D%0AOh%2C while I%27m at it%3A it appears that CoH is offering a free month of play time if you sucker someone else into playing. Anyone need the freebie%3F I haven%27t signed on the dotted line yet%3B I%27ve got no problem with hooking ya up if you want to save the cash.%0D%0A%0D%0A--sofaspud%0D%0A-- 1|1|0|||1||RE%3A City of Heroes%3A suggestions%3F|Gryphon||14:00:33|04/09/2007|%3EServer suggestions %28if you get a choice%3B I assume you %0D%0A%3Edo%29%3F%0D%0A%0D%0AVirtue and Freedom are the two most populous servers. Freedom is the unofficial PvP server%3B Virtue is the unofficial roleplaying server. There%27s also an unofficial %22playing while drunk%22 server%2C but I forget which one it is.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EGotchas that aren%27t covered in the documentation%3F %0D%0A%0D%0ADon%27t even bother with the documentation%3B it was out of date when it was printed and is %5Bi%5Dhilariously%5B%2Fi%5D so now. If you need background information or whatnot%2C you%27re better off consulting %5Blink%3Aparagonwiki.com%7Cthe ParagonWiki%5D. Yeah%2C it%27s a wiki%2C with all the shortcomings that implies%2C but at least it%27s maintained by players%2C who at least vaguely have some idea what%27s going on.%0D%0A%0D%0AGameplay is pretty straightforward and the learning curve isn%27t very steep. The trickiest thing for a new player is picking an Archetype for one%27s first character. A lot of people get off to a poor start%2C picking an AT that either requires more skill to be fun or just doesn%27t mesh with the way they like to play.%0D%0A%0D%0AIt%27s largely a matter of personal preference%2C %5Bi%5Dbut%3A%5B%2Fi%5D for a starting character%2C I would tend to recommend a Scrapper %28on the hero side%29 or Brute %28on the villain side%29 - they%27re the best-balanced Archetypes%2C viable as soloists but useful in teams%2C and have the simplest play styles %28they%27re straight-up offense-oriented melee combatants%29. From there you can branch out to the more complicated strength-vs.-weakness game most of the other ATs have to play. %28Tankers%2C for instance%2C have tons of defense but pathetic offense%2C making them easy but rather boring to solo%2C and only really shine when they%27re taking it in the face so the rest of the team doesn%27t have to%3B Blasters%2C on the other hand%2C are all %28mostly ranged%29 O and no D%2C making them exciting but sometimes messy.%29%0D%0A%0D%0AOr%2C hey%2C if you%27d rather just do a bunch of %22what does this button do%3F%22 and don%27t care about getting whupped a lot before you figure it out%2C start with a Mastermind. That%27s what I did when I was in the %5Bi%5DCity of Villains%5B%2Fi%5D beta. %3A%29%0D%0A%0D%0AAlso%2C beware the Vahzilok%2C especially with new characters who don%27t have many powers. They%27re more powerful than their threat-level color codes imply.%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Admin%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0A 2|2|1|||1||RE%3A City of Heroes%3A suggestions%3F|Mephron||16:13:01|04/09/2007|Despite how cool they may seem%2C Martial Arts is a gimped attack set%2C and Super Reflexes is a gimped defence set. Both are for scrappers%2Fstalkers. Together%2C you will learn the taste of Paragon Floor And Paving%27s finest products%2C or you will gain such immense skill that no one will be able to stop you.%0D%0A%0D%0AMake lots of friends. While I did a lot of soloing%2C the game is a lot more fun when in a team.%0D%0A%0D%0AIf you can%2C find a good solid supergroup. They will be gold to you.%0D%0A%0D%0A--%0D%0AGeoff Depew - Darth Mephron%0D%0AHaberdasher to Androids%2C Dark Lord of Sith Tech Support.%0D%0A%22And Remember%21 Google is your Friend%21%21%22 3|3|2|||1||RE%3A City of Heroes%3A suggestions%3F|BobSchroeck||21:35:57|04/09/2007|%3EIf you can%2C find a good solid supergroup. They will be gold to you. %0D%0A%0D%0AIf I might%2C allow me to suggest %5Bi%5Dmy%5B%2Fi%5D supergroup%2C the Legendary%2C over on Virtue. We%27re very flexible about inactivity %28some groups will kick you if you don%27t play for just a few days%29%2C we usually have a couple of people online %28at least%21%29 most evenings%2C we have several level 50s in the group who are very willing to help out with almost anything%2C we have a good-sized base with almost all the trimmings%2C and we%27re semi-RP%2C which means whether you play you%2C or you live in character%2C we%27re cool with it and won%27t get on your case about it. Oh%2C and there are a fair number of folk in the group who frequent both this board and mine. I maintain a %5Blink%3Ap202.ezboard.com%2Ffdrunkardswalkforumsfrm27%7Cdiscussion area%5D for it over on my forum%2C where we talk about policy%2C plans and fun stuff we did or encountered online%2C and publish group-themed fanfic.%0D%0A%0D%0A-- Bob%0D%0A-------------------%0D%0AThe President is on the line%0D%0AAs ninety-nine crab rangoons go by... 4|4|3|||1||RE%3A City of Heroes%3A suggestions%3F|Sofaspud||22:36:39|04/09/2007|%3E%3EIf you can%2C find a good solid supergroup. They will be gold to you. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EIf I might%2C allow me to suggest %5Bi%5Dmy%5B%2Fi%5D supergroup%2C the Legendary%2C %0D%0A%3Eover on Virtue.%0D%0A%0D%0AHey%2C works for me. %3A%29 Tell me%2C have you figured a way to fake good ol%27 Doug in CoH%3F That would be %5Bi%5Dsweet%5B%2Fi%5D.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E We%27re very flexible about inactivity %28some groups %0D%0A%3Ewill kick you if you don%27t play for just a few days%29%0D%0A%0D%0AThis is probably a good thing. I don%27t have much time for playing%2C unfortunately%2C so if I join a group at all it%27s got to be an understanding one. I%27m known%2C in my World of Warcraft group%2C as %27Mr. Two-Years%27%3B because it took me about two years to reach level 60 with my main character. Most hard-core grinders hit that mark in a couple months. Heh.%0D%0A%0D%0AAnybody in your group want the free month%3F I%27m going to sign up%3B I%27m just waiting for fundage at this point %28Friday is payday%29. If you want%2C have someone send me a trial invite and I%27ll sign up under that %28email address is in my profile%29.%0D%0A%0D%0A--sofaspud%0D%0A-- 7|5|4|||1||RE%3A City of Heroes%3A suggestions%3F|BobSchroeck||06:19:26|04/10/2007|%3EHey%2C works for me. %3A%29 Tell me%2C have you figured a way to fake good %0D%0A%3Eol%27 Doug in CoH%3F That would be %5Bi%5Dsweet%5B%2Fi%5D. %0D%0A%0D%0AHe%27s a magic defender with Storm Summoning and Lightning -- Storm Summoning has a remarkable variety of powers%2C and manages to cover most of his common effects%2C and Lightning handles his favorite attack. He%27s taken the Flight pool%2C which in addition to the obvious also gives him a powerful hand-to-hand attack %28Air Superiority%29%2C and as I work him higher I%27ll probably touch another pool or two for the odd special ability.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%3E We%27re very flexible about inactivity %28some groups %0D%0A%3E%3Ewill kick you if you don%27t play for just a few days%29%0D%0A%3EThis is probably a good thing. I don%27t have much time for playing%2C %0D%0A%3Eunfortunately%2C so if I join a group at all it%27s got to be an %0D%0A%3Eunderstanding one. %0D%0A%0D%0AThat%27s what we are. We have a loose 120-day activity limit%2C but nothing%27s automatic%2C and we try to contact you if you approach or exceed that. I think you%27re probably safe. %3Cgrin%3E%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EAnybody in your group want the free month%3F I%27m going to sign up%3B I%27m %0D%0A%3Ejust waiting for fundage at this point %28Friday is payday%29. If you %0D%0A%3Ewant%2C have someone send me a trial invite and I%27ll sign up under that %0D%0A%3E%28email address is in my profile%29. %0D%0A%0D%0AI can do it if no one%27s beaten me to the punch%2C but I%27ve got to go to work in a few minutes%2C so it won%27t be until tonight.%0D%0A%0D%0A-- Bob%0D%0A-------------------%0D%0AThe President is on the line%0D%0AAs ninety-nine crab rangoons go by... 12|6|7|||1||RE%3A City of Heroes%3A suggestions%3F|Sofaspud||00:29:35|04/11/2007|ile%29. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EI can do it if no one%27s beaten me to the punch%2C but I%27ve got to go to %0D%0A%3Ework in a few minutes%2C so it won%27t be until tonight. %0D%0A%0D%0AWorks for me. Send it whenever you get around to it. %3A%29%0D%0A%0D%0A--sofaspud%0D%0A-- 13|7|12|||1||RE%3A City of Heroes%3A suggestions%3F|BobSchroeck||20:24:10|04/11/2007|%3EWorks for me. Send it whenever you get around to it. %3A%29 %0D%0A%0D%0AGRRRRRR. I just tried and got a %22403 Forbidden -- You don%27t have permission to access %2Fcgi-bin%2Freferral_program.pl on this server.%22 error from secure.plaync.com. I%27ll get back to you if I can make this work%3B meanwhile other folks should probably try to invite you.%0D%0A%0D%0A-- Bob%0D%0A-------------------%0D%0AThe President is on the line%0D%0AAs ninety-nine crab rangoons go by... 14|8|13|||1||RE%3A City of Heroes%3A suggestions%3F|Sofaspud||21:56:39|04/11/2007|%3E%3EWorks for me. Send it whenever you get around to it. %3A%29 %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EGRRRRRR. I just tried and got a %22403 Forbidden -- You don%27t have %0D%0A%3Epermission to access %2Fcgi-bin%2Freferral_program.pl on this server.%22 %0D%0A%3Eerror from secure.plaync.com. I%27ll get back to you if I can make this %0D%0A%3Ework%3B meanwhile other folks should probably try to invite you. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3E-- Bob %0D%0A%0D%0AFigures%2C don%27t it%3F %3A%29%0D%0A%0D%0A%22%5Bfont size%3D3%5DRefer a friend and get FREE STUFF%21 Woohoo%21%5B%2Ffont%5D %5Bfont size%3D0%5DVoid wherever encountered%2C offer valid only in alternate reality%2C haha gotcha%21%5B%2Ffont%5D%22 %0D%0A%0D%0AWell%2C as it happens%2C I got my tax return early and am currently in the process of downloading updates. I%27ll create the account and whatnot later tonight... maybe by then it%27ll be working%2C and if not%2C I%27ll fire off an Angry Email or something. %3A%29%0D%0A%0D%0A--sofaspud%0D%0A-- 15|9|14|||||RE%3A City of Heroes%3A suggestions%3F|Meagen||15:38:21|04/12/2007|%3EWell%2C as it happens%2C I got my tax return early and am currently in the %0D%0A%3Eprocess of downloading updates. I%27ll create the account and whatnot %0D%0A%3Elater tonight... maybe by then it%27ll be working%2C and if not%2C I%27ll fire %0D%0A%3Eoff an Angry Email or something. %3A%29 %0D%0A%0D%0AIf you seriously want to give someone referral credit%2C hold off on the account creation. You%27ll get a code from the person that you%27re supposed to use to start a trial account%2C and then %22upgrade%22 that trial account to a full one. 16|9|14|||1||RE%3A City of Heroes%3A suggestions%3F|BobSchroeck||21:33:15|04/12/2007|%3EWell%2C as it happens%2C I got my tax return early and am currently in the %0D%0A%3Eprocess of downloading updates. I%27ll create the account and whatnot %0D%0A%3Elater tonight... %0D%0A%0D%0AAnd this time it worked. I hope you held off on the account creation so you can use the invite.%0D%0A%0D%0A-- Bob%0D%0A-------------------%0D%0AThe President is on the line%0D%0AAs ninety-nine crab rangoons go by... 17|10|16|||1||RE%3A City of Heroes%3A suggestions%3F|Sofaspud||00:00:36|04/13/2007|%3E%3EWell%2C as it happens%2C I got my tax return early and am currently in the %0D%0A%3E%3Eprocess of downloading updates. I%27ll create the account and whatnot %0D%0A%3E%3Elater tonight... %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EAnd this time it worked. I hope you held off on the account creation %0D%0A%3Eso you can use the invite. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3E-- Bob %0D%0A%3E------------------- %0D%0A%3EThe President is on the line %0D%0A%3EAs ninety-nine crab rangoons go by... %0D%0A%0D%0ADoh%21 I did%2C sorta%2C but a buddy of mine sent me one and I went with his.%0D%0A%0D%0ABUT%21 I should have at least one%2C possibly two more people joining me%2C so if you don%27t mind I%27ll forward it on to them. Suit%3F%0D%0A%0D%0A--sofaspud%0D%0A-- 18|11|17|||1||RE%3A City of Heroes%3A suggestions%3F|BobSchroeck||21:07:53|04/13/2007|%3EBUT%21 I should have at least one%2C possibly two more people joining me%2C %0D%0A%3Eso if you don%27t mind I%27ll forward it on to them. Suit%3F %0D%0A%0D%0AI%27m fine with that. The more the merrier.%0D%0A%0D%0A-- Bob%0D%0A-------------------%0D%0AThe President is on the line%0D%0AAs ninety-nine crab rangoons go by... 19|12|18|||1||RE%3A City of Heroes%3A suggestions%3F|Sofaspud||23:50:32|05/03/2007|Hey%2C just FYI%3A one of those buddies just used it tonight%2C and I hope to sucker -- I mean%2C lure -- him in to signing up permanently. Thanks%21%0D%0A%0D%0A--sofaspud%0D%0A-- 20|13|19|||1||RE%3A City of Heroes%3A suggestions%3F|BobSchroeck||18:51:22|05/04/2007|You%27re welcome%21%0D%0A%0D%0A-- Bob%0D%0A-------------------%0D%0AThe President is on the line%0D%0AAs ninety-nine crab rangoons go by... 5|1|0|||||RE%3A City of Heroes%3A suggestions%3F|BZArcher||22:46:43|04/09/2007|In addition to what others have said...%0D%0A%0D%0AThe Archery powers are really neat%2C but if you take the %22Trick Arrow%22 powerset as a defender%2C realize that you will have a very difficult time finding teammates because you cannot heal or buff%2C and that%27s what most teams are looking for out of you.%0D%0A%0D%0AFire%2FAxe tanks are a heck of a lot of fun - if you have an urge to try a tanker build%2C go Fire or Invuln. Earth%27s a finesse set that can be tricky to get the hang of%2C and Ice tanks work on such different principles from the other Tank primaries that it isn%27t even funny. %28And I say this as someone who has an Ice tank in the 40s%21%29%0D%0A%0D%0AThe speed you%27ll move at is going to be a big change from WoW. Movement and Combat in WoW tends to be pretty measured%2C especially at lower levels. Expect things to be at a much quicker tempo%2C especially if you%27re in a larger group. But%2C on the plus side%2C the average CoH mob goes down much faster than WoW mobs that you%27re used to.%0D%0A%0D%0AIf a contact suggests you take some friends along for a mission%2C they%27re usually not kidding%21 That%27s a pretty good sign you%27ll face an elite boss or some other form of Big Bad that can be really difficult soloing%2C but a fun challenge in a team.%0D%0A%0D%0ALastly%2C and it%27s probably on the ParagonWiki%2C too%2C if you%27re playing a Hero%2C for god%27s sake%2C do a SafeGuard mission and get a temporary travel power before you go visit the Hollows - it makes that entire zone so much more fun and less frustrating than trying to run around on foot. 6|2|5|||1||RE%3A City of Heroes%3A suggestions%3F|Gryphon||23:04:30|04/09/2007|%3ELastly%2C and it%27s probably on the ParagonWiki%2C too%2C if you%27re playing a %0D%0A%3EHero%2C for god%27s sake%2C do a SafeGuard mission and get a temporary %0D%0A%3Etravel power before you go visit the Hollows%0D%0A%0D%0AAlternately%2C ignore the Hollows entirely%2A after the obligatory %22go visit the first contact in the Hollows chain%22 mission. You don%27t have to take his missions. Just go see him%2C then go back to the real game. The zone sucks and most of the game%27s Real Winners%99 hang out there%2C presumably because they%27re not smart enough to figure out that you don%27t have to do Lt. Wincott%27s missions.%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A%5Bsmall%5D%2A Yes%2C I know you can be sent to mission doors in the Hollows even if you%27re trying to mind your own business and play in the actual city. That fill me with wrath%2C but eh%2C what can you do.%5B%2Fsmall%5D%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Admin%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0A 8|3|6|||1||RE%3A City of Heroes%3A suggestions%3F|BobSchroeck||06:24:53|04/10/2007|%3EAlternately%2C ignore the Hollows entirely%2A after the obligatory %22go %0D%0A%3Evisit the first contact in the Hollows chain%22 mission. You don%27t have %0D%0A%3Eto take his missions. Just go see him%2C then go back to the real game. %0D%0A%0D%0AThen again%2C if you%27re looking for some fast advancement for some reason%2C the FrostFire mission is a always a very good source of XP. But%2C as Gryphon will probably point out%2C you don%27t have to follow the Hollows plotlines to get it -- just step through the gate and wait for someone to recruit. It%27s one of those %22bring some friends%22 missions%2C although I know of people who%27ve soloed it%2C and I%27ve managed once to duo it with a friend.%0D%0A%0D%0A-- Bob%0D%0A-------------------%0D%0AThe President is on the line%0D%0AAs ninety-nine crab rangoons go by... 9|3|6|||||RE%3A City of Heroes%3A suggestions%3F|BZArcher||07:36:22|04/10/2007|Also possible%21 %0D%0A%0D%0ABut%2C if you can bip around the zone with a leaper pack or a falcon%2C some of the story arcs are actually pretty good%2C I think. 11|3|6|||||RE%3A City of Heroes%3A suggestions%3F|VA_Wanderer||10:30:42|04/10/2007|%3E%3ELastly%2C and it%27s probably on the ParagonWiki%2C too%2C if you%27re playing a %0D%0A%3E%3EHero%2C for god%27s sake%2C do a SafeGuard mission and get a temporary %0D%0A%3E%3Etravel power before you go visit the Hollows%0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EAlternately%2C ignore the Hollows entirely%2A after the obligatory %22go %0D%0A%3Evisit the first contact in the Hollows chain%22 mission. You don%27t have %0D%0A%3Eto take his missions. Just go see him%2C then go back to the real game. %0D%0A%3E The zone sucks and most of the game%27s Real Winners%99 hang out there%2C %0D%0A%3Epresumably because they%27re not smart enough to figure out that you %0D%0A%3Edon%27t have to do Lt. Wincott%27s missions. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3E--G. %0D%0A%3E%5Bsmall%5D%2A Yes%2C I know you can be sent to mission doors in the Hollows %0D%0A%3Eeven if you%27re trying to mind your own business and play in the actual %0D%0A%3Ecity. That fill me with wrath%2C but eh%2C what can you do.%5B%2Fsmall%5D %0D%0A%3E-%3E%3C- %0D%0A%3EBenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Admin %0D%0A%3EEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F %0D%0A%0D%0AQuoted for truthiness. Once you meet the Hollows contact%2C you have no obligation to take any missions from him. Though there a few fun runs in there %28Atta%2C Frostfire%29%2C the low-level lack of travel powers can make runs through there outright painful. Newbies%2C turn around and seek missions from your contacts elsewhere- Hollows running is not for the meek or newbie.%0D%0A%0D%0AI didn%27t know better as a newbie. This is why I took Flight for travelling%2C a few days of Hollows runs and I never wanted to touch the ground in an outdoor zone again. %3A%29%0D%0A 10|1|0|||||RE%3A City of Heroes%3A suggestions%3F|VA_Wanderer||10:22:42|04/10/2007|I%27m on hiatus from the game %28computer available not good for CoH%2C old and grumpy%29%2C but plenty of tips.%0D%0A%0D%0AFirst off- CoH%2FCoV has a weak point in it%27s documentation. The best by far is learning from other players- the CoH boards are very good in pointing newbies where you want to go. Lurk beforehand%2C read up a bit on the stuff that interests you. CoH has respecs%2C but that%27s only within the power sets you choose at character generation- it%27s not like WoW allowing a Priest to go from Holy to Shadow and back%2C but rather being say Holy%2FDisc and being able to redistribute your points in those trees.%0D%0A%0D%0AHave fun with the costume generator. You%27ll be able to redo the costume later%2C and even have multple costume changes as you level up. It%27s addicting. %3A%29%0D%0A%0D%0AScrappers and Brutes are reasonably straightforward%2C but look around- everyone has their ideas on being a super%2C and as long as the powers work%2C go wild %28again%2C read up on those powersets%21%29. Once you have an account%2C DO register on the forums and DO ask lots of questions. It%27s a helluva lot more friendly than %22L2P%22 or %22QQ n00b%22 there since the players are usually the best source of game info.%0D%0A%0D%0AEvery server has it%27s oddities. I%27m on Justice%2C which is home to some of the more...eccentric %28in a good way%29 people. The server boards aren%27t a bad way to get a feel for the locals. %0D%0A%0D%0AIt%27s fine being a soloer%2C and it%27s good being in a SG as well. Don%27t feel pressured to join up with anyone%2C I was most of the way towards 50 before deciding to hang out with some friends in theirs. %3A%29