Apogee

I run through a lot of Goldside. I am curious how others run the content. Do you only play through a single alignment? Do you work undercover and run all missions, switching sides as you go? Do you run one arc at a time, or do you run 2 or 3 at once?

I hear you and agree. I enjoy seeing other players but aside from an odd Hami raid I don't really team up.

I shut off at 10 for Nova, 15 for Imperial, and 20 for Neutropolis. I think the difference may be that I do not use Scott and Marchand for introductions to each zone's initial contacts. I simply go talk with them. I do enjoy the undercover conversations with Scott and Marchand. I totally missed that aspect when Going Rogue launched on Live. Edit: I think you call those introductions 'breadcrumbs'. I am on a Keto diet so I have to stay away from bread and other carbs.

Now that is scruffy looking.

I've read the guide, as well as Redlynn's from 2019. More importantly, I have played through the 1-20 content on 20+ characters, doing all arcs, getting all completion badges and not once do I have a problem with out leveling or losing contacts. If you want to hamstring yourself that is fine, you do you. But just because I don't agree with your way does not make me wrong. As I said before, you can shut off XP at levels 5, 10, and 15 and complete the arcs as well. I simply prefer to have more tools available to use while I am running around Nova, Imperial, and Neutropolis. If you want to see it in action, I am running a Energy/Regen Sentinel through Goldside on Torch. You are welcome to watch me get the arc completion badges at 10, 15, and 20.

Those may be your cutoffs but they are by no means a requirement to complete all arcs. You can stop XP at 5, 10, and 15 if you want, but I find that having the extra powers and slots helps survivability. I stick to my previous statement of stopping at 10, 15, and 20. There is no requirement to be introduced to a contact by Marchand or Scott. As a matter of fact, talking with Calvin Scott at level 15+ can easily cause you to miss out on Crow's arc if you are not careful. Once you start doing Scott's mission arc Crow is removed from the game.

He's more of a scruffy looking nerf herder

Another thing to note if you are planning on completing every arc, in Imperial City Underground, the Resistance Crusader contact Vagabond will send you to the next contact (Wardog) before you complete the last mission in Vagabond's arc. It is easy to miss and will prevent you from completing all Crusader arcs in Imperial if you skip over it.

I was not suggesting racing to 20. I suggest race to 10, shut off XP, complete all arcs in Nova, move to Imperial and race to 15, shut off XP and complete all Imperial arcs, then on to Neutropolis and level 20. Every character I have run through Goldside to 20 I have shut off XP at levels 10, 15, and 20. Never had an issue with outleveling contacts or missing the badges. If you want the badges you have to shut off XP. I just like to have as many powers and slots as possible while I am running content with XP off.

I load up on double xp to get to the cutoff levels (10, 15, and 20) faster. You will need to shut off XP regardless if you want to complete all arcs so why not get to the level faster and get the use of your powers/slots sooner? Just be aware that final arc missions give a significant amount of XP and with double XP on you can gain over a full level at once. If you do use the XP boost and are close to the level cap for an area, shut off XP before completing an arc. You will find a few opinions on when to shut off XP as well. I have run early Goldside at least 20 times, and each time I shut off XP at level 10 for Nova, 15 for Imperial, and 20 for Neutroplis. You do not need to be introduced to the starting contacts in each zone, but you will only be able to talk with 3 of the 4 factions at a time. The Crusader (Resistance) and Power (Loyalist) contacts are gated and require the appropriate alignment to access. Be warned, some contacts are killed/removed during the course of the arcs. Doing an arc in the wrong order can cause you to miss out on another arc. Check the wiki. Most mobs will not follow you so you can usually run past (even in the sewers) and take out the objective at the end of the map. This works especially well during a certain mission for Bobcat where the ambush can get quite insane. Most ambushes are staggered and some have npc's to help you. There are a few defeat all missions, and a few rescue/escort missions, but thankfully not a lot. Stealth helps, but is not required. If you don't want/need to defeat all, turn on Sprint and Ninja Run and speed past the yard trash. You may catch a stray rock or energy blast but nothing too worrisome.

I'm holding out for Regen to get buffed for once. I guess I will be hanging out here until the end of time...

Suck it up Snarky

Yes, I know the AH is cross server. However, if someone wanted to sell/give the IO to the OP directly (outside of the AH) they would need to be on the same server or have to go through swapping servers which would be more of a pain than the good deed is worth. I come across the particular IO often enough but I usually keep converting for something else.

What server are you on? Maybe someone can get you one directly.

I'm literally dying of figurative laughter at the moment...

Nerf Regen

When I run my characters gold side I level up to 10 and turn off xp until I complete all mission arcs in Nova/Underground. When I move over to Imperial City I turn xp back on until I hit 15 then it is off again until I complete all arcs in Imperial City/Underground. Then on to Neutropolis/Underground where I turn off xp at level 20 until the arcs are complete. I go through all story lines (Warden, Crusader, Responsibility, and Loyalist) on each character, switching alignments as needed along the way. It is important to note that when you are aligned Loyalist you cannot access the Crusader arcs or contacts (Underground Resistance contacts), and when you are aligned Resistance you cannot access the Power arcs or contacts. On one recent playthrough I switched to Resistance in Nova before completing Reese's solo mission which removed the mission from my list. I kept xp off (at level 10) and went to Imperial City and completed the Crusader arc (Hatchet/Beholder/Vagabond/Wardog) and changed sides to Imperial then went back to Nova and completed Reese's final mission. I lost access to the mission because my alignment was wrong but was able to complete it once I changed alignment because I had not leveled past 10. The other thing to be aware of in trying to do all of the arcs is that certain contacts are killed during other story arcs and if you do not complete the missions from that contact before he dies you will not be able to get the accolades (Rising Star and/or True to the Last). Redlynne has a good guide that was linked above that details the contacts to be careful with in this regard. There is also some good info on the Wiki for all of the Praetorian contacts and missions. Be careful when you get to Neutropolis as Calvin Scott has missions that will skip Crow and Helix if started too early. Also, in Imperial City Underground, Vagabond will send you to see Wardog even though he has one more mission to complete. Make sure you complete all of Vagabond's missions before you level to 16 or you will miss out on the Rising Star badge. Have fun gold side, the stories are great! Just be wary of the third mission in Bobcat's arc ;)

I have done the 1-20 Praetorian arcs on over 30 characters and never had a problem. There are other reasons aside from level that will cause contacts to stop talking, usually based on your given alignment at the time or if the contact was killed during a previous arc. You are more than welcome to turn off xp at earlier levels but in my experience having the extra attacks and slots is beneficial. Also note, you do not need to be introduced to a contact. As long as your alignment is correct you can walk up and introduce yourself just fine. This actually makes it easier in Neutropolis as talking with Calvin Scott can have you take his mission arc out of order which can really screw up the Crusader arc for those trying to get the badge.

You can level up to 10, 15, and 20 and still do all of the arcs just fine. The extra levels come in handy.

You can have all my ignore slots. I don't use them.

Looks more like a brook...

Or you can always just run past the ghouls unstealthed, once you leave their aggro range they do not follow (except for certain ambushes which will find you regardless of stealth).

Some things that would help to know: 1. What are your Primary and Secondary? 2. What powers have you chosen so far? 3. What server are you on?

I have run through Praetoria on Blasters, Brutes, Corruptors, a Defender, a Dom, Scrappers, and a Tank. I am currently running through a Stalker and it is by far the easiest run of all. I always do all arcs (for the badges) so I spend a lot of time stuck at level 10, 15, and 20 with xp turned off. Because I don't really care about xp at that point I tend to avoid a lot of the trash mobs (especially Clockwork and Ghouls) by simply running past them (they may take a pot shot or two but unless there is an ambush they do not follow). The only time I do a kill all is when it is required for the mission and thankfully there are few of those in Praetoria. edit: Forgot I have a couple of Sentinels going through as well (20 characters in all are Goldside)

Heard from Resistance fighters during an ambush in Praetoria: Resistance Recruit(1): Go! Resistance Recruit(2): Wolverines! Resistance Recruit(3): W....what? Resistance Recruit(4): Really? Resistance Recruit(5):: Wolverines?