Almafeta
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Posts posted by Almafeta
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I was helping a Croatoa monster badge team with summoned pets when I noticed my Vanguard HVAS taking damage. I come back and here they are, fighting - and dealing significant health damage to Annah, the Halloween salvage vendor.
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For Level 50, just do the Dark Astoria prologue story, no fighting, just some talking and running around in PI and DA.
Confirmed to work redside.
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I would recommend The Origin of Power instead, here. 5 missions: talk to person ×4 (should be 5, but I haven't seen the fifth), door mission with ten glowies and boss room. It's listed under 45-50 but awards 25-29 badges.
Tested: mission is in level 20-24 range, but awards level 1-15 badges. Added and kept original as an alt for people who are in the 16-24 range.
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Perma haten...
Regen already has that.
Perma haten nerfen Regen!
"Call me Ageless, because my foes are perma haten'"
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The magic bullet you're looking for is the /powexec_location command. Full docs in the Guide.
How do you get powexec_location to work in a bind? You have to type it in directl.
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A water blast / fiery aura sentinel with the Fishbowl head.
The Hot Tub Crime Machine.
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Are the badges the same for heroes and villains? If so some of those suggested missions sound easier than others, I might have to take a trip to Null The Gull at some point to run through them a bit easier.
They are. Added.
Maybe add the story arcs that also award the Ouroboros Portal for those who don't want to just take the easy way of piggybacking another player?
Added. Also mentioned the PvP badges and task forces that do it.
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Made a silly Twitter bot that generates a new flavor of the day, every day:
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Saved for future expansion (individual mission badge guide?).
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NB: I have written and tested this guide, and believe it is substantially correct. However, I have not yet personally earned every Ouroboros badge on a single character, so there may still be a few surprises in there, and I think some of the newer story arcs may be even better so I'm testing as I go. I'll update this guide with my findings.
Ouroboros offers the Flashback system - a way for you to 'revisit' past missions, or missions you never played, changing 'your' history. And this system offers - you guessed it - badges. Lots and lots of badges.
This guide is based off of two threads archived from the boards: St. Angelius wrote the blueside one, and Nericus wrote the redside one. I wanted to have an updated copy that I could update as I experimented with the various Issue 25 updates.
Unlocking Flashback
First, you need to become Entrusted With The Secret. To do so, once you're level 14, ask a player to open an Ouro portal for you (Pocket D is a busy place to ask, what with all the incarnate trials forming there), then climb to the top of the Ouroboros spire. Doing so will unlock the Ouroboros Portal power. You can also earn it accidentally a few other ways:
- Complete Marshall Brass's 'Echo Down The Aeons' storyline (Cap au Diable, 15-19).
- Complete Agent G's or Doc Delilah's story arcs (Faultline, 20-24).
- During Vincent Ross's story arc (Sharkhead Isle, 20-29)
- Complete the Ubelmann the Unknown story arc given by Ashwin Lannister or Laurie Pennington (Independence Port, 25-29).
- Complete Holsten Armitage's mission (Brickstown, 30-40).
- Complete Tina MacIntyre's Praetorian story arc (Peregrine Island, 40-44).
- Complete any Patron story arc (45-50).
- Complete the Barracuda Strike Force (Grandvale, 45-50).
- Complete the Dr. Kahn (Founder's Falls, 45-50) or Ms. Liberty (Independence Port, 45-50) task forces.
- Complete the final Kheldian story arc from Shadowstar or Sunstorm (45-50).
- Earn most any badge in Recluse's Victory (Enter from Atlas Park City Hall, 50).
You now have access to the Pillar of Ice And Flame, the big magic supercomputer in the middle of the Ouroboros tower. This will allow you access to any mission that in 'your past' - which is to say, you've completed or outlevelled.
What Flashback badges are there?
Oh, so many, 76 in all. They're the same for heroes, villains, and Praetorians:
- 10 badges for number of Flashback arcs run; up to 50 runs total.
- 3 badges for speed of completion; one for each setting.
- 4 badges for limited lives; one for each setting.
- 8 badges for completing a story arc with debuffed players; one for each level range.
- 8 badges for completing a story arc with buffed enemies; one for each level range.
- 8 badges for completing a story arc without travel powers; one for each level range.
- 8 badges for completing a Flashback arc without temp owers; one for each level range.
- 2 badges for completing a Flashback without epics (ancillaries or patron pools); one for each level range you can have epics.
- 8 badges for completing a story arc without inspirations; one for each level range.
- 8 badges for completing a story arc without enhancements; one for each level range.
- 1 badge for completing any Praetorian story arc.
This is in addition to the badges you can get from the missions themselves, which could be its own guide...
Note that the level ranges for the badges do not match the current level ranges shown by the Aspect of the Pillar; the devs broke up the level ranges for ease of scrolling, since most stories are either right at the beginning or right at the end of level progression. Nevertheless, it's the level that counts for the badges.
Optimizing runs
In the original boards, St. Angelius organized a four-run system: each story arc in each level range, you repeat it four times, to get all the level range badges:
- First, run the story arc with No Travel, Foes Buffed.
- Second, run the story arc with Archetype Powers Only, No Inspirations.
- Third, run the story arc with No Temporary Powers, Player Debuffed.
- Finally, run the story arc with No Enhancements (and later, No Epic).
Each set combines a power challenge with the minor challenge least likely to interfere. With Player Debuffed and No Enhancements, you want all your inspirations and travel powers to stealth/avoid as much as you can - sneakiness is greatly rewarded by Ouroboros. The most powerful restriction is No Enhancements, which is coupled with the least-restricting power challenge, No Epics.
The challenges for lives and speed need only be done once (each), so do it when you've found a story arc you're comfortable with completing quickly. Blueside, I'd do it with Officer Wincott Vs The Trolls (10-14); redside, I'd do it with Eye of Judgement (50).
Each run counts as a Task Force, with all the limitations that implies:
- You can't change team halfway through. Players who drop out can't rejoin!
- You can't do task forces or even talk to other contacts.
- You do each story arc at the level of the story arc.
- You can only exit by talking to the final mission NPC (or quitting the 'task force' in the Team menu of your chat bar).
- Finally, many story arcs award reward merits, like any other task force.
Recommended Story Arcs
Here, I'll list things blueside and redside. Only objectives are spoiled below, no story content.
Level 1-14
Hero: Officer Wincott Vs The Trolls (10-14). 3 missions: defeat 10; defeat all, 4 glowies; defeat all, 3 glowies, boss.
Villain: The Origin of Power (Ashley McKnight). 5 missions (1 door): talk to NPC; talk to NPC; talk to NPC; talk to NPC; 10 glowies, 1 boss. This mission is in the 20-24 list on the server, but awards level 1-14 badges.
Villain Alternate: The Hit List. 3 missions: defeat boss; rescue NPC, escort NPC, glowie; 4 glowies, 1 boss.
Level 15-19
Hero: I Lost My Daddy! 5 missions: rescue NPC, escort NPC, ambush; talk to contact; defeat 10; find boss (beware mezzes); find NPC, escort NPC, ambush (beware mezzes).
Villain: Breakout At The Zig. 3 missions: click glowie; escort prisoners; defeat all.
Level 20-24
Hero: The Sky Raiders Secret. 5 missions: 3 rescue NPCs, clear boss room; talk to contact; rescue NPC, clear boss room; six glowies, rescue NPC (timed!); kill boss mob.
Villain: Operation Skyhook. 4 missions: get glowie; talk to contact; kidnap NPC, escort NPC (timed!); 2 glowies.
Level 25-29
Hero: A Mad Man's Council. 7 missions: 5 glowies; defeat 10 in specific zone; defeat 3; glowie; defeat 15; ambush, defeat boss mob; talk to contact.
Villain: On the Trail of the Leviathan. 3 missions: defeat 20; find glowie, ambushes; 5 glowies, boss.
Level 30-34
Hero: Rise of the Vampyri. 10 missions: 10 glowies; glowie; defeat all, 2 glowies; 3 glowies; find correct glowies, defeat boss mob; defeat 10; defeat 15; defeat 20; click glowie, defeat boss mob; clear boss room.
Villain: Breaking the Streak. 3 missions: Defeat 10; 2 glowies; defeat boss.
Level 35-39
Hero: The Ouroboros Initiation. 8 missions (4 doors): Talk to contact; glowie; talk to contact; glowie, 7 rescue NPCs, defeat 25; talk to contact; rescue NPC, defeat boss mob; talk to conact; rescue NPC, destroy guard mob, destroy glowie.
Villain: Fat Cat City. 3 missions: Find glowie; find correct glowie; kill boss mob, escort NPC (ambushes!).
Level 40-49
Hero: Division: Line. 13 missions: 6 glowies (timed!); 6 glowies; rescue NPC; rescue NPC; 4 rescue NPCs; glowie; glowie (ambush on exit!); rescue NPC, escort NPC; defeat boss mob; defeat boss mob; rescue NPC; 6 glowies; 10 glowies.
Villain: Absolute Vengeance. 3 missions: kill boss; clear boss room; kill boss mob.
Level 50
Hero: The Strange Case Of Benjamin A. Decker. 4 missions: rescue NPC, escort NPC, ambush; rescue NPC, guard NPC; talk to contact; 4 glowies (timed, NO combat allowed!).
Villain: Eye of Judgement. 5 missions (1 door): talk to NPC; visit location; defeat boss (solo!); glowie; talk to NPC; talk to NPC; talk to NPC.
Villain alternate: Escaped! 3 missions: Kill boss; kill boss; kill boss.
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- Complete Marshall Brass's 'Echo Down The Aeons' storyline (Cap au Diable, 15-19).
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Did you clear all the roofs?
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Still same issue, with Spring Attack. It seems that the targeting keywork doesn't work.
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- Stand And Deliver: The SENTINELS are here!
- Heroes becoming more powerful than ever! Learn about Custom XP Rates!
- Recruting from across the pond! Hear about our international Reunion!
- Vanguard awarding merits for destroying pylons! Heroes and villains committing mass architectural violence!
- Violent fighting to begin again...?! The Arena is open once more!
- Veteran Levels! It's a number! That gets bigger! Excitement!
- Can anything be more exciting than opening a brand new Super Pack? I don't think so!
- Superbases getting BIG! And being built outside!
- Pay 2 Win Corp. branching out in Grandville and the Shadow Shard! More in the Business section!
- Heroes travelling across "shards!" Give our new neighbors a Paragon City welcome!
- ICON is awarding their own badges now! But what could they award badges for...?
- Heroes becoming picky eaters, rejecting inspirations and recipes! What does this mean for the markets?
- Paragon Police no longer summoning endless reinforcements! Police union demands back overtime pay!
- Need to move with stealth and honor? You need NINJA TRAINING!
- A truce between Paragon City and the Rogue Isles, mediated by Praetorians? Kallisti Wharf is reborn!
- Feeling the summer heat! Cool down with WATER!
- Kheldians coming out of their bubbles? But how?
- Wentworth's teaming up with gig economy service Mook to deliver auction house goods almost anywhere! It's /ah!
- What do the Carnival of Light, Banished Pantheon, Circle of Thorns, and Legacy Chain have in common? They're inspiring MAGICAL fashion at Icon!
- It's new! It's shiny! It's not fully implemented, but it's fun anyways! It's CEL SHADING!
- Why's everyone falling down? They must be subject to SUDDEN ACCELERATION!
- Bows have never been hotter now that Paragon City is stocking Tactical Arrows!
- All that experimentation in Terra Volta's paid off - Heroes experimenting with Atomic Manipulation!
- Is that a nuclear weapon? A Rikti Bomb! No! It's Radiation Melee and Radiation Armor!
- Ever needed more hours in the day? Now you can, with Temporal Manipulation!
- Stand And Deliver: The SENTINELS are here!
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Weird. I thought it WAS the City of Heroes engine from how the physics behaved.
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I know it's a long shot, but did anyone save the voice acting for Statesman, Ghost Widow, and the other Paragon NPCs from the game Master X Master?
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Saved in case of even MORE future expansion
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Saved for future expansion
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Level 30: Manticore Task Force: Following Countess Crey
Forms in Brickstown. 32 merits, 10 missions, part of Task Force Commander
If you did Drowning In Blood, your Drowning In Blood upgrades will expire just before you start this task force.
OPTIONAL: Level 30: Katie Hannon Task Force
Forms in Croatoa. 26 merits, 4 missions
While you normally have to unlock Katie Hannon through a series of linked Contacts, Katie Hannon's task force is short AND easy to stealth, meaning there are almost constantly pickup groups running it. It also gains you the temporary power Amy's Ward, which is a temporary healer ally summon that you'll see here and there from now until level 50.
Level 32: Upgrade: IO Time II!
Level 35 IOs are roughly equal to a +3 SO at this level, so you should make certain to replace any SOs you have left. SOs from here on out are just temporary buffs until you can be bothered crafting an IO, or petty cash.
Level 32: Explore Talos Island
8 badges, 5 historical plaques
Talos Island badges at Paragon Wiki
Level 34: Explore Independence Port
8 badges, 4 historical plaques
Independence Port badges at Paragon Wiki
Level 34: Explore Echo: Dark Astoria
8 badges, 4 historical plaques
Echo: Dark Astoria badges at Paragon Wiki
Remember, Echo zones can only be accessed through Ouroboros.
Level 34: Explore Terra Volta
8 badges, 4 historical plaques
Terra Volta badges at Paragon Wiki
Terra Volta is a zone in the middle of Indepedence Port.
Level 35: Numina Task Force: Soul of the Woodsman
Forms in Founder's Falls. 36 merits, 5 missions plus 16 hunts, part of Task Force Commander
Because of the number of hunts, a coordinated group can knock this task force out in almost half an hour, making this task force a common farm.
Level 35: Levantera Story Arc: Welcome to Vanguard
Starts in Rikti War Zone. 9 reward merits, 7 missions, unlocks Vanguard merits
Levantera is an entry point to the Rikti War Zone story arcs. But most importantly, Levantera's story arc unlocks Vanguard Merits. Vanguard Merits are one of the easiest ways to earn Merit Rewards, are not subject to Merit Reward diminishing returns, and also unlock unique rewards like extra inventory space and temporary Vanguard heavy summons.
Level 35: Join the Midnighter Club
The original method of joining the Midnighter Club involved a nine-mission Story Arc, several of which were in Oranbegan caves.
Joining the Midnighter Club the Praetorian way is much faster. Take the TUNNEL (one entrance of which is right by the Atlas Park monorail) to Night Ward. Look to your northwest; above the hedge maze, you'll see a mansion on a pillar. Step inside the mansion; you'll get the House Hunter badge, which automatically grants entry into the Midnighter Club. The Midnighter Club unlocks Cimerora, another major story area in the game.
This step is absolutely reqired before the Imperious Task Force, below.
(If it's just an exploration badge, why don't I recommend it at level 14, even level 1? Because there's a mob of Animus Animata that like to wander around near the TUNNEL, and who may knock you out. The Night Ward hospital run at level 1 is no fun.)
Level 35: OPTIONAL: Imperious Task Force: Time's Arrow
Forms in Cimerora. 26 merits, 4 missions
Do you dream of hunting down some Nazis through time and space and taking their stuff? Who DOESN'T?
Imperious's task force is fast (groups have got it down to 10 minutes) and gets lots of salvage thanks to its many Elite Bosses and Archvillains. The task force scales all the way up to level 50, as well, so you'll find people running it at all hours; only diminishing returns (reduced rewards for multiple completions within a 24 hour time frame) keeps people from running it continually.
Level 35: OPTIONAL: Unlock Katie Hannon
If you did this the long way at level 25, or are able to wait on pick-up groups, you can skip this one.
Go back to Ouroboros and do the level 30-34 story arc Crossing Over from Buck Salinger. This six-mission story arc unlocks Katie Hannon (and her rapid merits).
Level 40: OPTIONAL: Kallisti Wharf Task Force: Market Crash
Forms in Kallisti Wharf. 20 Reward Merits, free purple IO on first completion, 3 missions
In addition to the free PVP IO the first time you complete it, Market Crash is 20 Reward Merits for just 3 missions. Additionally, the sheer number of Freakshow Tanks you fight are handy for the Tank Buster badge, which is necessary for the Freedom Phalanx Reserve medal.
Level 40: Punch Nemesis In His Pretty Brass Face
The Unveiler badge requires defeating 100 Fake Nemesis, and it's required for Freedom Phalanx Reserve. There's several ways to grind it. From easier to harder, they are:
Streetsweeping: Forming a pickup group in Peregrine Island and clearing out the docks repeatedly for about 80 minutes. Nemesis-hunting groups form frequently in PI, so listen to the broadcast channel there and /lfg.
Pandora's Box: The other involves 3 to 4 runs of the first mission of the fifth chapter of the Signature Story Arc, Pandora's Box. The contact for this Story Arc, Heldenjaeger, is in Steel Chanyon. He's highlighted on your minimap; it's the red 'book' icon on the north side of Steel Canyon. Be sure to bring along a lot of protection inspirations, because Nemesis troops love their stuns and knockbacks. For people coming back from live, this story arc has major spoilers, so you may want to do the non-spoiler-y way by teaming up in Peregrine instead.
Ouroboros: The Level 40-49 story arc 'Nemesis Weather Control' can get you a lot of Fake Nemesis. Be certain to form a large group, to maximize the number of bosses that spawn.
Task Force: The Sara Moore task force - against a rogue Nemesis general - involves a lot of rogue Nemesis forces and several streetsweeps in the Nemesis-rich neighborhoods of THe Chantry. Despite being 'rogue' in story, they all count as fake Nemesis for this badge.
Level 40: Tina Macintyre story arc: The Anti-Matter Colission / The Instant Army
Forms in Peregrine Island. 21 reward merits, 11 missions, part of Portal Jockey
Tina's initial story arc is a pseudo-Task Force, in that it ends in a major battle against a major archvillain, Anti-Matter.
Like Katie Hannon, Tina Macintyre must be unlocked. Click the Contact tab in your targeting recticle, then click through to see if Tina is one of the options you are given. Otherwise:
- If you have Gordon Stacy, Madeline Casey, Maxwell Christopher, Indigo, Janet Kellum, or Angus McQueen as options, do their missions until they introduce Tina.
- Do three 'radio' missions. This gives you a Safeguard mission from Detective Selnum, which in turn may reward Tina as a contact.
- If you get the chance to join a Tina pickup-group, you can just fight Antimatter and that's it.
- You can wait until you're an Incarnate, and do a Keyes Island Reactor trial. However, that is a long wait.
You may also do this as a Flashback in Ouroboros at level 24, but an 11 mission Flashback is a bit unwieldly, since it has to be completed as a task force (hours with no adding members from your team), so it's far more convenient to complete it along the way if possible.
Level 40: Tina Macintyre story arc: The Hydra Dimension
Forms in Peregrine Island. 3 missions, part of Portal Jockey
This story arc can also be done as a Flashback in Ouroboros at level 45. The badge it unlocks, Multidimensional, can also be unlocked by the Hydra missions given out by the level 45-50 contact Unai Kemen.
Level 43: Explore Brickstown
8 badges, 2 historical plaques
Brickstown badges at Paragon Wiki
Level 45: Explore Founders' Falls
8 badges, 2 historical plaques
Founders' Falls badges at Paragon Wiki
Level 45: Maria Jenkins story arc: A Hero's Epic
Forms in Peregrine Island. 21 merits, 13 missions, 3 talks, part of Portal Jockey
Really, Tina and Maria should be made into task forces...
Level 45: Maria Jenkins story arc: Take Down Nightstar and Take down the Warworks
After completing the story arc, keep doing Maria Jenkins missions until you get the above. This will let you fight Nightstar and Siege, the two last components of the Dimensional Warder badge (needed for the accolade Portal Jockey).
At level 50, you can optionally do a Behavioral Adjustment Facility trial in order to get these two badges. However, you can earn the credit for defeating these archvillains early.
Level 50: Mender Ramiel story arc: Power Overwhelming
Forms in Ouroboros. 5 merits, 5 missions + ~5 talks, unlocks Incarnate
The last major content unlock is the Incarnate system, a series of trials that helps you save not only the world, and time, but reality itself.
You could, of course, just sit around and grind until enough random XP unlocks the slot for you... but where's the fun in that?
So is this the absolute fastest way to 50?
The fastest way to 50 is still tagging along with a high-level group as a lowbie. However, this method is pickup-group friendly (no dependency on dedicated farmers running dedicated builds in dedicated maps), results in all 4 major permanent upgrade accolades (Atlas Medallion, Freedom Phalanx Reserve, Portal Jockey, Task Force Commander), and unlocks access or story content in all locked major content areas (Cimerora, Incarnate, Midnight Club, Ouroboros, Rikti War Zone). Simply getting farmed won't unlock any of the above, and you'll just wind up having to go through these tasks anyways.
Where do I go from here?
Anywhere!
You are now level 50, have a full set of upgraded powers, and have unlocked all the gated story content area. You can join in any mission in any heroside zone of the game. Go exploring!
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- If you have Gordon Stacy, Madeline Casey, Maxwell Christopher, Indigo, Janet Kellum, or Angus McQueen as options, do their missions until they introduce Tina.
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This guide is a 'critical path' document, a quick and pickup-group-friendly way to unlock all the game's key content and all the permanent stat upgrades you can get from accolades. I'm aiming this guide at a few friends who are new to the game but not to MMOs, but I hope it's useful for anyone else too.
If at any time you're asking yourself "What do I do now?", cross off the lowest level thing on the list you haven't done yet. You can skip stuff marked 'Optional' if you want.
After Chargen: Visit Pay 2 Win
Atlas Park
Pay 2 Win offers much of the content that, as of the original shutdown, cost real money... but for free! The vendor, herself, is on the west side of the base of the giant Atlas statue you begin the game in front of. You'll want to pick up:
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Prestige Enhancement: Prestige Enhancements date from the release of Praetoria (Issue 18). Choose one. They give you a powerful enhancement to slot into your first attack power, boosting damage, recharge speed, and giving you a proc (an enhancement that gives your power a percentile chance at a bonus effect) that works until level 20. I'd recommend putting this starter enhancement in your primary attack power (in your power tray, click Enhancements, then Manage, and drag it into the first slot). I prefer Might of the Empire because a bit of crowd control, but you may have a theme in mind.
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Prestige Attacks: These attacks were parts of various real-world boosts, and can help out a lot before your "real" powers can kick in. Pick three of Sands of Mu, Undead Slaying Axe, Nemesis Staff, and Blackwand; the latter two both have versions that get bonus damage if you have a certain Origin. (You also got a small ranged attack from your origin; you can change it out here for any other origin.)
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Prestige Travel: You can choose either Beast Run or Ninja Run for horizontal travel, and Jump Pack or Steam Jump for vertical travel. They're not as fast as a 'real' travel power, but are still deeply fun.
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Utility: Inner Inspiration lets you get free inspirations on demand, Mystic Fortune lets you give your friends a random buff, and Secondary Mutation lets you give yourself a random buff. I really like Secondary Mutation on my melee characters and Inner Inspiration on my control/buff characters, but it's entirely your call.
OPTIONAL: Cheese Pay 2 Win with influence!
If this is your second character, you can email yourself a lot of influence (use your global @handle - in the Menu, choose Chat Handle (X) to see what it is) and start off with a lot of powers. Ten to twenty million should be enough for my suggestions:
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Buffs: An hour of buffs costs 3000 influence (1000 for each of 3 types of buffs) times your level squared. This makes it dirt cheap to buy eight hours of buffs (the max) and enjoy blazing through your early levels at effectively half a level above your current level.
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Inspiration Drops: I disable Accuracy drops and Small drops entirely. Make sure to enable Dual, and Team inspirations!
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Travel: Rocket boards are almost as fast as the Fly power, and really fun to look at. They also don't have that bothersome recharge period that the jetpacks use.
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Teleports: Assemble The Team, Mission Transporter, and the Pocket D VIP Pass are all handy. Team Teleporter is really important for some Shadow Shard task forces, but none of them are in the critical path.
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Utility Powers: It costs 10 million influence, but I think Portable Workbench is worth it just to be able to quickly craft and slot some shiny recipe you found before you forget you found it. Reveal is handy for all the Oranbegan and Council cave missions you'll be doing in the older task forces.
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Recipe Drops: I disable common recipes, as I can get those from my Portable Workbench, saving my recipe inventory for more worthwhile drops.
Levels 1: Death From Below! (4x)
LFG Queue
Death From Below is an instanced trial, one of many in the game. You can either join a team where someone else is starting, or you can form your own team. (Once you've got four to eight heroes, start the queue by clicking LFG in the chat bar, then clicking Death From Below, then clicking Queue.)
You are doing Death From Below four times, picking each power once. This will get your character level to the teens, and get you four special buffs that will last to level 22: +To-Hit, +Damage, +Defense, and +Recovery. (The exact benefit depends on your archetype, but are roughly equivalent to half a SO each.) Additionally, it will get you a lot of Single-Origin enhancements early, which will help out with levelling (while selling unusable enhancements for early pocket change).
If you played before the shutdown, the LFG queue has more restrictions than it used to. You can no longer enqueue if your team or league is in multiple zones; it also has issues automatically combining teams or teams and solos. So form your full team and assemble together before you hit the button.
Level 8: Positron Task Force 1: The Rule of Three
Forms in Steel Canyon. 11 Merits, 7 missions, part of Task Force Commander.
This is the first Task Force: a series of missions that tells a major part of the story of City of Heroes, usually pitting you against an archvillain. Positron actually gives out two task forces...
Level 11: Positron Task Force 2: Dam Hero
Forms in Steel Canyon. 15 Merits, 7 missions, part of Task Force Commander.
...because in Paragon City, it's usually one dam thing after another.
The two task forces used to be one long, four- to six-hour task force, but they got revamped. The two both need to be completed to earn the badge necessary for Task Force Commander.
This task force will also get you a temporary 1-hour jetpack power, which will be very useful in going through Fautline and the Faultline Dam.
Level 11: Explore Atlas Park
8 badges, 7 historical plaques
In this guide, I recommend hitting up a zone's exploration badges and historical plaques once you are at the zone's max level plus 5 (with one exception later). This way, you are too high level for any normal enemy there to be a threat, letting you explore at your leisure.
I only recommend zones that have badges or plaques required for the four Accolade upgrades; however, while not all badges or plaques are necessary, if you stop to grab one, you might as well complete that zone and not have to worry about it ever again.
Atlas Park Exploration Badges at Paragon Wiki
Level 14: Visit Ouroboros and become Entrusted With The Secret
Ouroboros is the first of many major content areas in the game. Ouroboros is in control of the Flashback system, through which you can view or alter historical events. Being one of the major factions in the time travel war, they're also tied into a lot of endgame content as well.
The easiest way to get to Ouroboros is to hitchhike. Go to Atlas Park and ask (in local!) at Ms. Liberty if you can get a portal to Ouroboros. Enter the portal, and climb the tower to the top - this will get you the Ouroboros Portal power for yourself.
Level 14: Explore Echo: Galaxy City
8 badges, 5 historical plaques
While still in Ouroboros, go to the opposite end of the circle from the entrance. You'll find a second Ouroboros 'portal'. This leads to the Echos: versions of maps that were destroyed in the 'current' City of Heroes timeline, but which can still be visted for lore, curiousity, nostalgia, and most importantly, badges.
Echo: Galaxy City badges at Paragon Wiki
Level 15: Synapse Task Force: The Fall Of The Clockwork King
Forms in Skyway City. 58 merits (+6 optional merits for fighting Babbage), 15 missions, part of Task Force Commander
The longest single Task Force in this guide - 2 hours at the fastest, 3 or more hours if common - if only because the Clockwork like to rebuild after each defeat and ruin your 'Defeat All' tracking.
This task force will almost certainly get you enough gears for the Gearsmasher badge, part of Freedom Phalanx Reserve.
Level 15: Explore King's Row
8 badges, 5 historical plaques
Kings Row badges at Paragon Wiki
Level 15: Ouroboros mission: Rescue the Mystic from the Circle of Thorns
Part of Atlas Medallion
Use the Ouroboros portal you picked up, then click on the Aspect of the Pillar (one of the smaller crystals in the main building). Choose 'Access Mission List', then choose Protector of Innocents (Level 10-14), and then choose Rescue the Mystic from the Circle of Thorns.
You are now in a Flashback Mission. Since this is changing 'your' past, you will be limited to Level 14 (and your powers limited to the ones you picked before Level 19). Complete the mission, and return to the contact; you will get the Spelunker badge.
OPTIONAL: Level 15: Drowning In Blood
LFG Queue.
While not as powerful as the DFB bonuses, the bonuses you get from Drowning In Blood last longer (until level 30). They also stack with the bonuses from Death From Below.
If by the time you reach this point in the path you are lagging behind in XP, doing a few runs of Drowning In Blood is a good option. It'll also help you with your Freakshow defeats badge (which you'll need for one of the accolades in this guide).
OPTIONAL: Level 15: Null the Gull
Pocket D
Once you can safely go through King's Row, you can visit Pocket D and talk to Null the Gull.
In addition to unlocking Gull Incarnate (ask for a powerup!), Null can change your alignment from Hero to Vigilante, allowing you to join pickup groups on both sides of the line. (You can still only start task forces on your side.) Additionally, Null can disable speed boosts and Group Fly for you, if you need it. (If you don't do it here, it's on you!)
Level 17: Upgrade - IO time!
Invention Origin Enhancements (IOs) are like the regular enhancements that have been dropping in your travels - except they never expire. So upgrading as early as is practical is in your interests! Level 20 IOs can be equipped at level 17. They are roughly equal to a -3 SO at this level. Since SOs won't start dropping normally until level 22, and won't drop reliably until level 41, upgrading now will save you lots of hassle. A lot of people like to do it at Level 22 - when they can get level 25 SOs for the same salvage and negligible influence increase - but there's really no wrong answer.
There are two ways to get IOs:
- Type in /ah in chat and buy them directly from the player auction house - there are so many players crafting excess recipes for pocket change and for IO-creating badges that the price will be cheap.
- Go to a University (like the one on the south side of Steel Canyon) and talk to the Admissions Officer. Go through the missions there, and not only will you get a free IO, you will get to punch some Council on the way there.
Level 19: Explore Perez Park
8 badges, 5 historical plaques
Perez Park badges at Paragon Wiki
Level 20: Penelope Yin Task Force: A Clamor For The People
Forms in Independence Port. 20 merits, 4 missions, part of Task Force Commander
Note that Penelope Yin is one of the earliest task forces you can really 'farm' for Merit Rewards, since it's only 4 missions long. So you may get some extremely good people tagging along if you advertise this one.
Also has the advantage of one of the coolest AVs in the game. Ah, Clamor, not even the council could stop your hard-rock soul.
Your Death From Below upgrades will expire midway through this task force (when you hit 22), so it's important to upgrade to IOs and make certain you have your powers set up the way you want before you start this one.
Level 24: Explore Boomtown
8 badges, 5 historical plaques
Boomtown badges at Paragon Wiki
This area is not on public transit! The entrance to Boomtown is on the north side of Steel Canyon.
One of the history markers (Scholar accolade) was moved. It is now at -1668 0 4523, about halfway between The Fuse marker and the Steel Canyon entrance, near the entrance of a tunnel.
Level 24: Explore Skyway City
8 badges, 4 historical plaques
Skyway City badges at Paragon Wiki
Level 25: Citadel Task Force: Citadel's Children
Forms in Talos Island. 40 merits, 11 missions, part of Task Force Commander
This mission is extra long due to the number of Defeat All missions... in caves!
OPTIONAL: Level 25: Unlock Katie Hannon Task Force
Levels 25 through 30 are a bit of a slow point in the XP curve, so if you don't want to do Drowning In Blood or Penelope Yin incessantly, you can unlock the later KHTF through a series of contacts. There is a faster way available at level 35, but it offers XP to do it here, so it's up to you.
- Talk to Gordon Bower, at Croatoa University.
- After his story arc, he introduces you to Skipper LeGrange.
- After his story arc, he introduces you to Kelly Nemmers.
- After her story arc, she introduces you to Buck Salinger.
- After his Story Arc, you unlock Katie Hannon's Task Force.
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Prestige Enhancement: Prestige Enhancements date from the release of Praetoria (Issue 18). Choose one. They give you a powerful enhancement to slot into your first attack power, boosting damage, recharge speed, and giving you a proc (an enhancement that gives your power a percentile chance at a bonus effect) that works until level 20. I'd recommend putting this starter enhancement in your primary attack power (in your power tray, click Enhancements, then Manage, and drag it into the first slot). I prefer Might of the Empire because a bit of crowd control, but you may have a theme in mind.
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Pet-based ATs and powersets need it as a workaround for the game's pathing.
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I have two concerns about the IO set.
1. The name is generic. 'Sniper Blast'? Why not something like "Chimera's Edict" or "Nemesis's Longsight?"
2. The set benefits seem to be a 'best of all worlds' set. Range, health, damage, endurance, defense, and an ANIMATION-time reduction global; and on TOP of that: regeneration, accuracy, recovery, and recharge in PVP. It'll be nearly mandatory for anyone, PvP or non.
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Massive database backend changes. The servers now support both ODBC and LibPQ, the former being recommended for Microsoft SQL Server and the latter for PostgreSQL server. There are major improvements all over that we expect will greatly help the servers when they're under load.
A lot more ado should be being made about this change. It may introduce some bugs, but shifting to PostgreSQL should result in massive return on investment in terms of stability and maintenance.
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Handicapped logo at approx. 2058.6 41.0 847.4
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The base idea of the build is really no more complex than 'I like dash-explosion powers, here's a build with three of them six slotted for maximum dynamic entry funtimes.'
My big concern is with power order - making certain I have a half-decent attack chain at least down into the teens - and I thiiiink it's viable, between global recharge and attack recharge?
1 - Havoc Punch 6
Touch of Death 6
1 - Deflection 6
Luck of the Gambler 3 (D, DE, global)
Steadfast Protection 3
2 - Battle Agility 6
Red Fortune 6
4 - True Grit 3
Miracle 3 (H, HE, proc)
6 - Kick 1
Mako's Bite 1 (ADER)
8 - Thunder Strike 6
Superior Unrelenting Fury 5 (ADER, ADR, DER, DR, proc)
Force Feedback 1 (proc)
10 - Hasten 2
IO Recharge 2
12 - Combat Jumping 6
Blessing of the Zephyr 3
Luck of the Gambler 3 (D, DE, global)
14 - Super Jump 2
Blessing of the Zephyr 2 (J, JE)
16 - Against All Odds 1
IO Endurance Reduction 1
18 - Chain Induction 5
Efficacy Adaptor 3 (AM, AMR, ME)
Hecatomb 2 (ADR, DE)
20 - Spring Attack 6
Ragnarok 6
22 - Active Defense 1
IO Recharge Reduction 1
24 - Phalanx Fighting 1
LotG 1 (global)
26 - Acrobatics 1
IO Endurance Reduction 1
28 - Build Up 6
Gaussian's Fire Control 6
30 - Weave 6
Luck of the Gambler 3 (D, DE, global)
Reactive Defenses 3 (D, DE, global)
32 - Lightning Rod 6
Superior Brute's Fury 6
35 - Shield Charge 6
Obliteration 6
38 - Grant Cover 1
Luck of the Gambler 1 (global)
41 - Superior Conditioning 2
IO Endurance Modification 2
44 - Physical Perfection 2
IO Endurance Modification 1
IO Heal 1
47 - Tough 3
Unbreakable Guard 2 (R, global)
Gladiator's Armor 1 (global)
49 - Focused Accuracy 1
HO - Cytoskeleton Exposure
Auto - Health 3
Numina's Convalescence 3 (H, HE, global)
Auto - Stamina 4
Performance Shifter 4 (M, MA, MR, global)
Incarnate
Alpha: Agility Core, Cardiac Core
Judgement: Ion Core
Interface: Diamagnetic Radial
Lore: Cimeroran Radial
Destiny: Rebirth Core
Hybrid: Assault Radial
Set Bonuses
Accuracy +24%
Damage +18%
Endurance Discount +2.5%
Health +20.3%
Recharge +30%
Recovery +22.5%
Regeneration +46%
Vanguard HVAS attacks Halloween salvage vendor
in Bug Reports
Posted
I'll test that tonight. Annah got down to about 20% health, but then a teammate summoned Amy who healed Annah and allowed her to win.