New player : Things I have learned levels 1-25

[JMacClear]

1) The single most deadly foe in the game is Major Overconfidence ! Nonspecifically associated with any faction he has whipped my arse multiple times 🙂

 

2) The probability that an Orange (or higher) foe is successfully hidden in a niche / around a corner/ at the top of stairs is directly proportionate to: (i) how squishy your character is (Blaster Defender etc) (ii) or how low your Endurance has slipped 🙂

 

3) The number / type of 'shiny'  clues / objects required in a mission is determined by a special game engine photo-electric cells that measure direct sunlight / spotlight on your screen 🙂 

 

4) When you reach mid 20's and dive down the 'rabbit hole' that is Invention Origin and Enhancements Sets it is strongly recommended that you: (i) carefully read the descriptions of the type / results and (ii) use the Auction House to estimate what the total cost in INF will be. In the latter case - double the estimated cost at a minimum to allow for dumb arse mistakes - often caused by the  Psionic Attacks if aforementioned Major Overconfidence 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 9 by JMacClear

[Captain Fabulous]

[Healix]

[Clave Dark 5]

Regarding 4, that gets easier with time.  I don't farm (except perhaps for monster hunting during Halloween), I don't play market games, and yet I'm always able to pay for the IOs I plan for (it helps to ignore purples, for example); might help to download Mids and work with that too.    Have fun, stop and punch the roses.

[DoctorDitko]

I don't like Mid's personally, though it is really useful, it feels too much like work to me.

You should certainly try it, though.

I also suggest:

 

https://forums.homecomingservers.com/topic/49175-city-mod-installer-released/

 

And the first things to install should be the Vidiotmaps mod, and the double-loud glowie mod.

Vidiotmaps not only shows you where the zone badges are (collect 'em all for 5 merits per zone) but, importantly, tells you where various enemies like to hang out. Essential for the "Hunt N of X enemies in zone Y" missions some contacts are fond of.

 

And, if no one has said it before, Welcome Home!

[UltraAlt]

18 hours ago, JMacClear said:

The single most deadly foe in the game is Major Overconfidence !

 

"....And the night got deathly quiet
And his face lost all expression
Said, "If you're gonna play the game, boy
You gotta learn to play it right

You've got to know when to hold 'em
Know when to fight'em
Know when to run away
And run on out that door..." - slaughtered paraphrasing of "the Gambler"

[GM Crumpet]

14 hours ago, DoctorDitko said:

I don't like Mid's personally, though it is really useful, it feels too much like work to me.

You should certainly try it, though.

I also suggest:

 

https://forums.homecomingservers.com/topic/49175-city-mod-installer-released/

 

And the first things to install should be the Vidiotmaps mod, and the double-loud glowie mod.

Vidiotmaps not only shows you where the zone badges are (collect 'em all for 5 merits per zone) but, importantly, tells you where various enemies like to hang out. Essential for the "Hunt N of X enemies in zone Y" missions some contacts are fond of.

 

And, if no one has said it before, Welcome Home!

I use it to open a build someone gives me then slavishly follow it. I'm so bad at making builds myself, but some people are happy to spend hours frankenslotting for the elusive last 1% and I would feel churlish to not take advantage of their efforts.

[AmeliaHealYa]

On 3/9/2025 at 7:09 AM, JMacClear said:

3) The number / type of 'shiny'  clues / objects required in a mission is determined by a special game engine photo-electric cells that measure direct sunlight / spotlight on your screen 🙂 

 

4) When you reach mid 20's and dive down the 'rabbit hole' that is Invention Origin and Enhancements Sets it is strongly recommended that you: (i) carefully read the descriptions of the type / results and (ii) use the Auction House to estimate what the total cost in INF will be. In the latter case - double the estimated cost at a minimum to allow for dumb arse mistakes - often caused by the  Psionic Attacks if aforementioned Major Overconfidence 🙂

 

I've found
@Lithobraker's "Loud Glowie" mod (among others) to be invaluable. I felt like the other glowy sound mods I tried made the game unpleasant, but those 5 extra decibels really do make a huge difference and make it so much easier for me to find them.

 

It's available through @Michiyo's City Modder tool (among many, many other useful mods).

 

A newbie mistake that I made on the auction house more than once was putting an item up for sale without paying attention to those numbers on the left that tell you if anyone is actually bidding at all. The numbers on the right showing the price that the last few sold for can distract and tempt one into wasting money on a fee to put up something for sale that no one wants to buy in the first place.

 

These days, TBH, I just post 99% of auction house items for 10 bucks, since that's the highest amount that still gets the absolute minimum $5 fee. I'm not greedy and I'm not patient. I'd rather get the $50K minimum bid right away than the $500K that someone might put down 3 days from now. Obviously, if I start seeing a bunch of people bidding 10 bucks on everything no matter how rare, I'll change that policy. But for now, I just can't be bothered.

 

If I'm just looking to get selling badges and clear out the vendor trash, then I'll put stuff up for a buck.

[Scarlet Shocker]

Clearly this is such a positive assessment of the game I can say only one thing to the OP:

 

YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG!

 

whatever it is, however you do it, that is clearly not the way. Do something else instead. No I won't tell you what to do, you have to work it out yourself.

 

But on a more serious note, welcome to one of the best games in computer gaming history. You've landed on your feet and I wish you many hours of joy and fun.

[Starhawk32]

Just curious, we have a large influx of new/returning players in the last month or so.  Did an article come out?  Excel population is roughly what it was since the license announcement I think.

[AmeliaHealYa]

18 hours ago, Scarlet Shocker said:

Clearly this is such a positive assessment of the game I can say only one thing to the OP:

 

YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG!

 

whatever it is, however you do it, that is clearly not the way. Do something else instead. No I won't tell you what to do, you have to work it out yourself.

 

But on a more serious note, welcome to one of the best games in computer gaming history. You've landed on your feet and I wish you many hours of joy and fun.

😆 To quote a common saying about my religion:

 

There are only 2 rules:

1) Don't tell me what to do.

2) You're doing it wrong.

[mistagoat]

On 3/11/2025 at 3:26 PM, AmeliaHealYa said:

 

I've found
@Lithobraker's "Loud Glowie" mod (among others) to be invaluable. I felt like the other glowy sound mods I tried made the game unpleasant, but those 5 extra decibels really do make a huge difference and make it so much easier for me to find them.

 

 

That loud glowie mod is an absolute game changer, highly recommended!

That plus the larger mouse pointer is all I have installed, it's the perfect "You're old now" package!

[Skyhawke]

Does the larger mounter pointer solve the "wandering pointer" problem? 'Cause I swear that thing is never where I left it. 😅

[AmeliaHealYa]

1 minute ago, mistagoat said:

That loud glowie mod is an absolute game changer, highly recommended!

That plus the larger mouse pointer is all I have installed, it's the perfect "You're old now" package!

Hahaha 👵 yes I do have @12thPower's High Visibility Mouse Cursor mod installed, specifically Set C because it's shiny.

[mistagoat]

6 minutes ago, Skyhawke said:

Does the larger mounter pointer solve the "wandering pointer" problem? 'Cause I swear that thing is never where I left it. 😅

It still seems to wander but it's much easier to find again when it does.

[American Decoy]

Sorry to anyone that already posted this item.  To the OP, the most important thing to do/use/bring/have in CoH is making friends.

[GlaziusF]

Generally I put my IOs on in two waves. At 22 I fill my slots with level 25 IOs. Now I have a baseline I don't need to spend to upkeep. Sets come in after that as I get the purchasing power.

 

One of the most important things to learn is the various little geoms that are assembled into the variety of mission maps, and where enemies are likely to spawn in them. It's all done procedurally, so when you get jumped from a blind corner in the sewers in the long narrow room with two chain bridges over a central channel, every other time you see that room in a sewer map you can remember to check your corners when advancing in.

[JMacClear]

19 hours ago, American Decoy said:

Sorry to anyone that already posted this item.  To the OP, the most important thing to do/use/bring/have in CoH is making friends.

Thank you ! 

 

That is indeed occurring as well ! 

 

My post was merely my middle aged attempt at pure humor 🙂