Recommended Story Arc?

[ImperialZombie7]

So I started in February, and am now getting to lvl 40 almost, I have held off on doing the story arcs and stuff like that due to wanted to have a good build and set playstyle before messing with the big story content, does anyone have a recommendation for which arc to start first? or like any info on the order of the arcs? 

[ScrewlooseCohh]

Lots of info in the below post.

 

For Arcs you have out leveled you will have to use Ouroboros.

 

 

 

 

[ImperialZombie7]

Thx!

[Worm_Kalpa]

From an old thread on story arcs, I'll link a post that covers some of early (as in issue 0 and issue 1) blueside story arcs that give background on and develop the major enemy groups in the game.  You'll have to do some of them through flashback but others should be around your level.

 

https://forums.homecomingservers.com/topic/33532-any-flashback-story-arcs-surprise-you/?do=findComment&comment=431826

 

For blueside, I also recommend

 

-Collateral Damage: Laura Lockhart's arc, do it twice

-Freaklympics: fun concept, shows that there are different factions in the Freakshow, and the last map is neat

 

I'm more familiar with redside and the arcs I recommend there are

 

-Echo Down the Aeons: Marshall Brass, time travel weirdness

-The Cult of the Shaper: Diviner Maros, seeing into the future weirdness and the dialogue sells it well

-High Roller's Last Gamble: Slot Machine's last arc, helping a washed-up old villain

 

If you ever make a character in Praetoria, the Imperial City Resistance Crusader arcs are great.  Vagabond's and Wardog's arcs with the neutron bomb are action thrillers in the best way.  Do them as an undercover Loyalist and contact Marchand to get more dialogue and the Loyalist perspective on their actions.

[Zhym]

21 hours ago, ImperialZombie7 said:

So I started in February, and am now getting to lvl 40 almost, I have held off on doing the story arcs and stuff like that due to wanted to have a good build and set playstyle before messing with the big story content, does anyone have a recommendation for which arc to start first? or like any info on the order of the arcs? 

I don't want to be that guy who says, "You're playing the game wrong," but...I'll sort of be that guy.

 

You've already missed some great stories.  This game was designed to have story arcs played as you level.  Most of them are easily soloable, especially now that the power level in Homecoming has increased over what was typical in the old days.  You can play the arcs through Ouroboros, but it's not the same.

 

I know it's not what you're looking for, but honestly?  My advice would be to start a new character and play through the stories without worrying about whether you have a good build or not.  There's a lot of lore and stories that you can miss if you don't start doing story arcs until level 40.

[Scarlet Shocker]

9 hours ago, Zhym said:

I don't want to be that guy who says, "You're playing the game wrong," but...I'll sort of be that guy.

 

You've already missed some great stories.  This game was designed to have story arcs played as you level.  Most of them are easily soloable, especially now that the power level in Homecoming has increased over what was typical in the old days.  You can play the arcs through Ouroboros, but it's not the same.

 

I know it's not what you're looking for, but honestly?  My advice would be to start a new character and play through the stories without worrying about whether you have a good build or not.  There's a lot of lore and stories that you can miss if you don't start doing story arcs until level 40.

 

I agree with most of this. The only reason to skip content and get levels quickly is to reach a point where you can join your friends in playing the same content.

 

There is some truly outstanding content in this game and the OP has missed a tonne. Worth making a new character and starting afresh. I'd strongly advise avoiding DFB and DIB and running actual content, especially the Hollows

[ImperialZombie7]

On 7/28/2024 at 9:42 PM, Zhym said:

I don't want to be that guy who says, "You're playing the game wrong," but...I'll sort of be that guy.

 

You've already missed some great stories.  This game was designed to have story arcs played as you level.  Most of them are easily soloable, especially now that the power level in Homecoming has increased over what was typical in the old days.  You can play the arcs through Ouroboros, but it's not the same.

 

I know it's not what you're looking for, but honestly?  My advice would be to start a new character and play through the stories without worrying about whether you have a good build or not.  There's a lot of lore and stories that you can miss if you don't start doing story arcs until level 40.

I havent misssed anything, i can still play the stories and cry me a river about not doin it right, your playing wrong is the stupidest thing anyone can ever say thanks but no thanks 

[ImperialZombie7]

On 7/28/2024 at 7:44 PM, Worm_Kalpa said:

From an old thread on story arcs, I'll link a post that covers some of early (as in issue 0 and issue 1) blueside story arcs that give background on and develop the major enemy groups in the game.  You'll have to do some of them through flashback but others should be around your level.

 

https://forums.homecomingservers.com/topic/33532-any-flashback-story-arcs-surprise-you/?do=findComment&comment=431826

 

For blueside, I also recommend

 

-Collateral Damage: Laura Lockhart's arc, do it twice

-Freaklympics: fun concept, shows that there are different factions in the Freakshow, and the last map is neat

 

I'm more familiar with redside and the arcs I recommend there are

 

-Echo Down the Aeons: Marshall Brass, time travel weirdness

-The Cult of the Shaper: Diviner Maros, seeing into the future weirdness and the dialogue sells it well

-High Roller's Last Gamble: Slot Machine's last arc, helping a washed-up old villain

 

If you ever make a character in Praetoria, the Imperial City Resistance Crusader arcs are great.  Vagabond's and Wardog's arcs with the neutron bomb are action thrillers in the best way.  Do them as an undercover Loyalist and contact Marchand to get more dialogue and the Loyalist perspective on their actions.

Thank you for being the only one to actually try and explain how to do the arcs, Ik they are still available contradictory to the others statements because i can see the waypoints all over the place, so thank you for actually providing an answer thats very informative, also what is redside?

Edited August 1 by ImperialZombie7

[GM_GooglyMoogly]

I just hid two posts.  Let's roll back the vitriol and not insult each other.

 

 

Edited August 2 by GM_GooglyMoogly

[Without_Pause]

The missions can be overly annoying, but Croatoa still remains my favorite zone. The mission preventing the Fir Bolg from escaping has always been a classic to me. More so as or with Controllers/Doms. Further hat tip for doing the zone with Storm powers involved.

[Demobot]

The Faultline arcs (Jim Temblor, Penelope Yin, Doc Delilah, and Agent G, level 15-25) are personal favorites. 

[ImperialZombie7]

15 hours ago, Demobot said:

The Faultline arcs (Jim Temblor, Penelope Yin, Doc Delilah, and Agent G, level 15-25) are personal favorites. 

Hi! Does it matter which order i do the arcs in?

[GM Crumpet]

There is so much to do as you level and a lot of fun stuff designed for the level range it's meant for. I love Freaklympics and the Vahzilok Plague. I love the Laura Lockheart stuff. The Hollows arcs and Faultline arcs are both fun and explain some of the early lore. Everything can be done via Ouroboros if you missed it, but you are limited to the maximum level of the particular story and you lose powers that are above the level range. If you don't have IO's or attuned enhancement sets you also lose the benefit from them. As far as I'm aware (and someone will take great delight in telling me if I'm wrong) the IO's and SO's scale to the level of the mission too.

 

Where we differ to other games is that there isn't one storyline that goes all the way through the game, and there isn't a vast amount to do once you hit the level cap. There is level 50 content, and getting your incarnate abilities to maximum is always fun, but sooner rather than later all you have left is some trials and raids. 

[cranebump]

25 minutes ago, ImperialZombie7 said:

Hi! Does it matter which order i do the arcs in?

Yes. The order they provided, above, should do it. You get introduced to key players that you run into again later on. 
 

Gonna chime in with @Zhym by suggesting actually playing through the arcs as you level (perhaps in the future). The story will then unfold for you in order. You don’t really need a “good build” for most story content (though the FL arcs do have some tough bosses who could be an issue, depending on AT/experience).

[ImperialZombie7]

On 8/3/2024 at 3:59 AM, cranebump said:

Yes. The order they provided, above, should do it. You get introduced to key players that you run into again later on. 
 

Gonna chime in with @Zhym by suggesting actually playing through the arcs as you level (perhaps in the future). The story will then unfold for you in order. You don’t really need a “good build” for most story content (though the FL arcs do have some tough bosses who could be an issue, depending on AT/experience).

Ohhhhhhh so like there are meant to be played as you level, well if i understand theres a way to replay them right?, cause when i started I assued hey were higher lvl content since one npc i went to for a story arc said to come back at lvl 40, idk kinda a wierd system 

[cranebump]

One of the Faultline crew said come back at 40? That’s strange.

[GM Impervium]

There are some contacts, particularly for Nictus/Soldiers of Arachnos, who have new missions every five levels.

Also, a few Contacts besides that have a low-level story arc, and a higher-level story arc (Monty Castanella of the Midnighters springs to mind)

[UltraAlt]

On 7/28/2024 at 1:42 AM, ImperialZombie7 said:

So I started in February, and am now getting to lvl 40 almost, I have held off on doing the story arcs and stuff like that due to wanted to have a good build and set playstyle before messing with the big story content, does anyone have a recommendation for which arc to start first? or like any info on the order of the arcs? 

 

 Honestly, I would create new characters and do story arcs. You can use the same powers if that is what you want, but playing the content and leveling up during the content will give you more of a sense of accomplishment.

 

The problem with paying story arcs in the Ouroboros is that your team is locked - like a task force. No one else can join you once you start and, if anyone leaves the content, then they can't get back on the team. Sure you can start it one day and then all meet up and finish it the next day, but how often is that going to happen.

 

If you are playing on the hero side, there are arc for each origin that go from the beginning of the game until the end. They start with with the Origin contacts in Atlas City Hall basement. Half way through an contacts arc, they will give you a pick of contacts for different origins. When you get to the end of a contact's levels (sometimes one past), they will give you other contact for their origin. I would suggest trying to follow your character's Origin contacts' arcs through the full game. Some of the stuff has been made a little wonky because of game changes. You will clearly know when that happens; simply go to another zone for those hunts and see if it counts (usually does).

But I will say, though these are fun, they can be quite challenging as you will often be sent on hunts for mobs meant for teams and with enemies above your characters level. These are doable if you are careful and persist!

 

I personally like the arcs in the Hollows (5-15) and Striga (20-29). Croatoa (25-34) can be fun.

 

All this being said, it is always more fun to play with a team. If you want to run specific arcs, recruit. Players will join you most of the time. Never give up the star and pick the missions you want to play. Some might complain, but most won't. Most of us just want to go on adventures and have fun with a team.

[Ukase]

This game is incredibly huge with content for a new player. 
Unfortunately, our tutorial, while it covers some of the basics, there's so much to absorb, it's rather like drinking from a fire hose. 

With that in mind, understand that you're likely to miss some things along the way. We all do. Even with turning off XP, I don't think there's a way to do EVERYTHING organically. This is why Ouroboros is such a great asset. 

Each account gets 1000 slots. That's an awful lot of characters, so I think starting over is more than silly. Just keep plugging away, and then when you're done or get bored with this character, then you can try something new. 

Or you can keep playing the character you're on, and experience the lower level content through Ouro. The stories are the same. The experience that you, as a person behind the avatar gets may be somewhat different, as your character will have more enhancements slotted than a natural level character would. So it will be at least a little bit easier. No big deal. 

If I'm going to suggest or advise anything - take your time. While this game has a LOT of content, you can get to the point where you've done all of it at least once. But this is probably nothing to worry about as it will take a LONG time. If you play every day, for 15 hours a day, it would probably still take at least 6 months to get through everything. 

[ImperialZombie7]

15 hours ago, UltraAlt said:

 

 Honestly, I would create new characters and do story arcs. You can use the same powers if that is what you want, but playing the content and leveling up during the content will give you more of a sense of accomplishment.

 

The problem with paying story arcs in the Ouroboros is that your team is locked - like a task force. No one else can join you once you start and, if anyone leaves the content, then they can't get back on the team. Sure you can start it one day and then all meet up and finish it the next day, but how often is that going to happen.

 

If you are playing on the hero side, there are arc for each origin that go from the beginning of the game until the end. They start with with the Origin contacts in Atlas City Hall basement. Half way through an contacts arc, they will give you a pick of contacts for different origins. When you get to the end of a contact's levels (sometimes one past), they will give you other contact for their origin. I would suggest trying to follow your character's Origin contacts' arcs through the full game. Some of the stuff has been made a little wonky because of game changes. You will clearly know when that happens; simply go to another zone for those hunts and see if it counts (usually does).

But I will say, though these are fun, they can be quite challenging as you will often be sent on hunts for mobs meant for teams and with enemies above your characters level. These are doable if you are careful and persist!

 

I personally like the arcs in the Hollows (5-15) and Striga (20-29). Croatoa (25-34) can be fun.

 

All this being said, it is always more fun to play with a team. If you want to run specific arcs, recruit. Players will join you most of the time. Never give up the star and pick the missions you want to play. Some might complain, but most won't. Most of us just want to go on adventures and have fun with a team.

i am already doing some stories im a bit confused as to why its a problem i dont play with anyway

[ImperialZombie7]

Just now, ImperialZombie7 said:

i am already doing some stories im a bit confused as to why its a problem i dont play with anyway

I have donee plenty of story stuff i dont understand how this dumb system work, the one and only time i talked to a signature story arc npc they told me to come back at lvl 40

[ImperialZombie7]

8 hours ago, Ukase said:

This game is incredibly huge with content for a new player. 
Unfortunately, our tutorial, while it covers some of the basics, there's so much to absorb, it's rather like drinking from a fire hose. 

With that in mind, understand that you're likely to miss some things along the way. We all do. Even with turning off XP, I don't think there's a way to do EVERYTHING organically. This is why Ouroboros is such a great asset. 

Each account gets 1000 slots. That's an awful lot of characters, so I think starting over is more than silly. Just keep plugging away, and then when you're done or get bored with this character, then you can try something new. 

Or you can keep playing the character you're on, and experience the lower level content through Ouro. The stories are the same. The experience that you, as a person behind the avatar gets may be somewhat different, as your character will have more enhancements slotted than a natural level character would. So it will be at least a little bit easier. No big deal. 

If I'm going to suggest or advise anything - take your time. While this game has a LOT of content, you can get to the point where you've done all of it at least once. But this is probably nothing to worry about as it will take a LONG time. If you play every day, for 15 hours a day, it would probably still take at least 6 months to get through everything. 

wow this might be the first response to this question i can get behind, cause its not like im not getting a ton of story, im having fun the way im going rn 😆

[ImperialZombie7]

20 hours ago, cranebump said:

One of the Faultline crew said come back at 40? That’s strange.

nah it was in atlas park, so i assumed signature arcs where mid to high level content, i mean i have gotten ton of story content without them it just doesnt make any sense the way the people are explaining it

[cranebump]

9 minutes ago, ImperialZombie7 said:

im having fun the way im going rn 😆

This is the way, then.:-)

[ImperialZombie7]

Just now, cranebump said:

This is the way, then.:-)

I hope so, it frustrates me how many people keep being like make a new character you missed this or that, I just asked how to engage with the, I have had so much cool story stuff happen to this charcter im not making a new one because people think theres just one way to play lol its just so frustrating