Game Tips Thread

[GM Miss]

Hey guys! 

 

So this week over on our discord - (if you haven't joined you really should! Here is the link: https://discord.gg/cityofheroes) Every week we do a weekly discussion where we talk about a topic that you guys have voted on. This week you guys voted on making a guide of tips and tricks for new players. Down at the bottom of the post you will find the names of everyone who helped with the guide - thank you for continuing to make CoX a helpful and happy place to game.

 

Before Rolling a Character:

Setup and Install:

• Here is a guide on Installation.

Options: 

• Try using 'Free Camera Mode'. Set it up in your options under Controls -> Mouse.
  • It enables the camera to rotate and behave much more like a modern MMO instead of locking it to where you rotate it. - Helpful for anyone playing CoH for the first time after playing newer MMOs.
• If you want to save your options for new characters - try using these commands. (Just type them with the /in the chat window!)
  • /optionsave (The doesn't need a load command, it does it automatically.)
  • /bindsave - /bindload (Binds)
  • /wdwsave - /wdwload (Window)
  • /chatsave - /chatload (Chat)

 

Starting the Game:

Character Creation:

• Have realistic expectations for toons. Not every build is gonna be crushing +4×8 at endgame, most are doing good at +2×2 and that's fine. Some builds just won't solo well at all. Players need to understand that in CoH playing what's fun for you is more important than power builds because teams can always shore up weaknesses.

Costumes:

• Before level 10 it is free to change your costume so if you want to make changes after your character is already made - make sure to do it before level 10 when you start getting charged!
  • Changing between body types and male/female/huge is expensive - so do that before 10 as well!
• You can save your costumes and load them on a new character using the save and load icons in the bottom right of character creation! 
  • Keep in mind for the tip above (free until level 10) that you can save your new costume and load them into your new character slots as well before you start getting charged at later levels!
• Also do the 20, 30, and 40 costume slot unlock missions early as you can. (You can swap sides and do their costume unlock as well.)
• Take your time and make sure to customize your powers to suit your characters flair as well!

P2W Vendor:

• Here is a link to a guide on what is available at the P2W vendors.  (Keep in mind you can use the vendor in Pocket D during TFs)
• Take inner inspiration first from the P2W Vendor (Under prestige utility powers) and use it whenever the cool down is up. Then proceed to sell the inspirations in the AH. Sometimes you get lucky rolls and can sell stuff for a decent amount of influence.

Null the Gull:

• Check out the Gull on the red side of Pocket D (You can get to PD via Kings Row, Faultline, Talos Island, Founders' Falls, Port Oakes, Sharkhead Isle, St. Martial, & Imperial City) on top of the white van.
  • You can change your alignment to and from Hero, Villain, Vigilante (Hero side that can do Villain content), and Rogue (Villain side that can do hero content)! 
  • You can always accept mystic fortunes (Available in the P2W vendor), turn off the speed from speedboost - and more!

 

Leveling: Enjoy the ride!

• You get a free respec every 10 levels, so don't fret about picking a few powers early on to test out! 
• When you are low level and get something nice - sell it and use the money. Influence (money) is more valuable to you than the single item early on.

Zones:

• Make sure to check out hazard zones like the Hollows, Striga, Terra Volta, and more while leveling. They have super fun story arcs and lots of great content to share!

Task Forces (TFs):

• If you complete the signature TF's (Positron 1 &2, Synapse, Citadel, Yin, Manticore, Numina) you will receive a badge and accolade power.

Praetoria:

• Praetoria is not for the faint of heart. It is a place where you will most likely spend a lot of time solo and the content can be difficult. Make sure to go in with a strong solo build, or some friends! 

Architect Entertainment (AE):

• Here is a link to a guide for tips and tricks for AE!

Ouroboros (Ouro): 

• Even if you out level content - you can always go back and do them (story missions) through Ouroboros (and get merits)! 
  • Swap sides and do the villain ones too!
• Cool Story arcs to check out:
  • Who Will Die
  • Pandora's Box
  • Flux the Outcast - Hero side level 5-9
  • Oh Wretched Man! from Seer Marino, out of Mercy Island. (She's a 15-19 contact.) 
  • Here is a link to a thread where more awesome story arcs are covered!

Power Leveling (PL):

• Here is a link to a guide on priming yourself for PLing and some ideas on how to get started.

 

Advancing Your Character:

The Auction House (AH): Type /AH in game to see the AH anywhere! (But in bases)

• Here is a link to a guide on how to make money on the AH.

Badges:

• Here is a link to the CoX accolade powers. Use these powers to give your character extra health, endurance, and more!

Incarnates: 

• Here is a guide on Incarnate Lore Pets!
• USE THREADS - NOT SHARDS. Its cheaper.
  • Here is a list of what you need for a Single Incarnate Power
    • Tier 1: 60 threads total
    • Tier 2: 100 threads total
    • Tier 3: 40 threads / 8 Emp merits
    • Tier 4: All of the above + 40 thread & 30  Emp merits

Enhancements: 

• Here is a link to asmall reddit post on enhancements.
• Here is a link to the IO enhancement sets in the game. Here you can check for set bonuses you would like to stack.

Day Jobs: 

• Here is a link to Day Jobs - a small boost for your character.

Veteran Rewards: 

• Every 3rd veteran level through 99, you will receive a veteran badge and a number of Empyrean Merits. The number of Empyrean Merits starts at 20 and decreases by 5 after every 25 veteran levels. After veteran level 99, you will no longer receive Empyrean Merits as veteran rewards.
  • The full breakout for veteran reward Empyrean Merits is below:
    • 3 to 24: 20 Empyrean Merits ( 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24 = 160 Empyrean Merits)
      27 to 48: 15 Empyrean Merits (27, 30, 33, 36, 39, 42, 45, 48 = 120 Empyrean Merits)
      51 to 75: 10 Empyrean Merits (51, 54, 57, 60, 63, 66, 69, 72, 75 = 90 Empyrean Merits)
      78 to 99: 5 Empyrean Merits (78, 81, 84, 87, 90, 93, 96, 99 = 40 Empyrean Merits)
      Total = 410 Empyrean Merits
• Every veteran level through 11 that you do not receive Empyrean Merits, you will receive 120 Incarnate Threads. After veteran level 11, you will no longer receive Incarnate Threads as veteran rewards.
  • The full breakout for veteran reward Incarnate Threads is below:
    • 1 to 11: 120 Incarnate Threads ( 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11 = 960 Incarnate Threads)
    • total = 960 Incarnate Threads

 

Extra: 

Email:

• When emailing large sums of money or special items to yourself - make sure to always have an email in your inbox that you have already sent to yourself. Then you can just reply to that email and be sure your items are going right where they need to!

Player VS. Player (PVP):

• Indomitable is the unofficial PVP server - check out their discord here (Not maintained by the HC Mods).

Role Play (RP):

• Everlasting is the unofficial RP server - check out their discord here (Not maintained by the HC Mods).

Super Group Bases:

• Here is a link to Base FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

 

Here are a list of other helpful guides people linked that you might be interested in:

• Here is a guide on command controls for Masterminds.  (Keep in mind MMs aren't necessarily a new player friendly archetype.)
• Here is a guide on how the Hybrid Doubt Hit Incarnate works.
• Here is a link to RoboTech Masters Guide of Guides - he has a ton of great info here! 

 

 

🙌Here is a list of people who helped make this community guide possible! 🙌
Robotech_Master, Diamante Loca, Kerevola, Psi, Darin Fletcher, EmmaSky, Ten Thousand Lions, GM Kal, Twin Zero, MaxamillionQ, Arklide, Mainframe, GM Mathison, Veus, Living Brain 3000, Logoriel, Gchpaco, Saleon, GM Korvin, Karumac, AiNyan, Cosmic Tempus, GM Miss, GM Arcanum!

 

THANK YOU!!

 

 

Edited January 17, 2020 by GM Miss

[Yomo Kimyata]

EDIT 30 September 2022:  Yes, this is an old post, but yes, I am still giving inf away.
 

Also, if you are a new player, hit me up for some get-started inf:

 

 

Edited September 30, 2022 by Yomo Kimyata

[Marine X]

Which way Lab Elevators go can be told from the Mini-Map, sometimes helpful if looking for a missed Objective on a map where a floor has multiple Elevators.

 

This One goes UP:

 

This One goes DOWN:

Edited August 25, 2022 by Marine X

[Akisan]

It's surprisingly easy to maintain an inventory full of medium & large inspirations - keep a burn slot in your inspiration tray, like so:

 

I usually choose 5 types of inspirations per toon (varies by toon) - Health, Defense, Def/Res, Damage, and Anti-Mez for my blaster here.  I'll immediately "burn" (use) everything that isn't one of those types, and only keep the largest available 3-4 of each. 

Seriously though, they drop like candy, the boosts are nice (I typically have 2-3 random inspiration effects up at any given time), and I find that they drop so often that it's very quick and easy to refine my tray so I'm left with just mediums or better (for when I *actually* need the boosts). 

 

While I'm talking about inspirations - if you only need occasional mez removal, it's worth enabling Team inspirations at P2W:  while most of them give up a rank to affect nearby allies (Large team insp. grant a Medium effect), Mez removal inspirations last *MUCH* longer (the medium ones last 3 minutes, compared to regular medium's 60 seconds)

[Marine X]

When doing the "Max" Arc in Dark Astoria, In the Knives of Vengeance Tibetan Retreat in the Finale, ALWAYS follow the RUGS, saves a lot of wandering in Circles and leads you straight to the final fight. 

[laudwic]

Send yourself an E-Mail in-game and keep it.  When your sending Inf, or anything else, between characters, always reply to that E-Mail.  Greatly reduces the risk of a ton of Inf going up in smoke because you mistyped something!

[GM Kal]

Putting a reward merit in an email fills out your own global if you do not know it, or want to make sure you get it right. Then just take it out again.
And as Laudwic said, do keep a email to self reply to.

 

---

 

For new players:
Reward merits are big money. Finish contact story arcs, Ouro arcs, task forces, or giant monster hunts for merits.
 

Go inside City Hall
Go to the Merit vendor
Buy Enhancement Converters using the reward merits. (under Special salvage)
Open the Auction House with /ah
Open your Salvage tab on your power tray
Drag them to the AH window
Sell them for 1 inf (yes, seriously)
You will usually make: 
1 Reward Merit = 3 Enhancement Converters that sell for at least 60,000 inf each.

Also, check price possibilities for Enhancement Boosters. 

[Akisan]

12 hours ago, Marine X said:

When doing the "Max" Arc in Dark Astoria, In the Knives of Vengeance Tibetan Retreat in the Finale, ALWAYS follow the RUGS, saves a lot of wandering in Circles and leads you straight to the final fight. 

 

Also, about that mission: there's a LOT of ambush triggers in that mission - but none of them are in the hallways with rugs.

[Akisan]

Some self-targeting Anti-Mez powers can be activated while mezzed - this includes click powers like Clarion Destiny, as well as things like Practiced Brawler (SR defense), but not toggles like Rooted (Stone Armor). 

[Marine X]

If looking for costume options and all your slots are in use, don't forget you can use Super Group Mode to give you additional looks by adjusting the Colors used in the SG Settings Tab.

The settings are adjustable independently for each costume slot, and to use the look just enter Super Group Mode.

[GM Impervium]

At @Marine X's request, merged his Game Tips thread with the existing one Miss had pinned here. Hopefully it doesn't cause confusion!

As for a tip from me?  If you submit a petition in-game, specifically for an issue that needs immediate resolution (like a mission that won't end, missing glowie, stuck bad guy/escort, etc), please wait in the mission and be available for at least 5 minutes!

Also, responses to your tickets go both to your account here on the forums (under Support), and sent to your e-mail that you signed up with. However, don't reply to that e-mail, we wont see it!

 

[Marine X]

With the names Policy warning system active, although Renaming not in force, now would be a great time to start moving seldom played characters to areas with no Log Out countdown timers. These areas include City Hall, Pocket D, Hospitals, Universities, Midnighter Clubs, Vanguard Base, AE, Enhancement Stores, Arenas or other indoor spaces. Cuts down the hassle of waiting for the timer to expire when cycling through your characters.

[PsiBug]

Faceplanting a lot and hate heading to the hospital or begging for Rezzes?

Send yourself multiple Awaken inspirations to your @global email for those (VERY RARE) occasions when you are defeated and do not have a self resurrection power or an awaken inspiration in your inventory. Always keep a supply of them in your email. That way, you can retrieve an awaken for yourself (or teammates) from your email on any of your ALTernate characters, even during missions, and trials, and task forces.

 

Are all of your new characters broke?

If you have enough INFluence/INFamy/INFormation on one character to spare, always keep some in your @global email. when you make a new ALT, collect the "INF" keep some of it and email the rest of it back to your @global using the reply email button

 

Have trouble remembering other player's names when ALTing? 

If you want to send someone a /tell (a private in-game message) after you change to an ALTernate character (for example if you are changing to an ALT to join a team), perform the following steps: 1) before you change characters, click the team leader's name in the chat window and select "send <player name> Message" from the dropdown list. Selecting that option will populate the typing field of your chat window with the beginning of a /tell to that player. 2) exit to the character selection screen and select the ALT that you want to play. 3) when you return on your ALT, the "/TELL <player name> will still be waiting in your chat window, just add your message and send the /Tell.

 

=:Psibug

[PsiBug]

Instantly change your difficulty settings! Click the little text balloon icon in the lower right corner of your chat window, and then select "change notoriety". There are four notoriety settings you can adjust. The new settings will go into effect for the next mission you select/enter. (Missions that were started before you changed notoriety will need to be reset, and a few cannot be reset or have unchangeable settings.)

 

Having trouble locating that last hostage or named boss by endlessly pressing the Tab key? Here is a simple bit of code to help you easily target a specific friend or foe (and you can change your target quickly and easily). Copy and paste the following into the typing field of your chat window:

/macro FIND beginchat /bind g targetcustomnext

 

That code is called a macro and it will place a clickable icon, titled "FIND", in your power tray (you can move it to a power tray slot of your choice). When you click the "FIND" icon, it will populate your chat window typing field with "targetcustomnext ", then just add a name or partial name of whatever you are trying to target. For example, if you want to target Frostfire, add all or part of his name so that it says "targetcustomnext frostfire" or "targetcustomnext frostf" etc, then press the Enter key to send it to your chat window. After you do that, pressing the "g" key will target Frostfire, and ignore everyone else, if he is anywhere in your eyeline. Excellent for spotting the last hostage, a named boss, cyst crystals, or anyone in pocket D with the word "dark" in their name. Want a new target? click FIND icon again and type in your next friend or foe name.

(NOTE: you can replace the letter "g" in the macro with any other keyboard key that you prefer, and there are many fancier bits of code you can add to target multiple names, only live foes, nearest, etc. Check out macro threads for much more advanced macros. any time you want to change your target to a new one, click the FIND icon and type in your search word.)

 

Are your power icons moving when you don't want them to, or are they stuck in place? Right-click any empty power tray slot and use the lock/unlock options to set your preference.

 

=:Psibug

Edited September 2, 2022 by PsiBug