I've been looking for a new MMO for a while (been playing DDO and WoW along with a short stint at Tabula Rasa) and I think it might be time for CoX.  However, I have a few questions I would like clarified before I rush out and buy the game(s).

1) What kind of respec system is there in CoX?  As I understand, the primary and secondary power sets chosen at character creation are permenant.  That's fine with me, but I'm wondering if there is any way to respec specific powers that are chosen over time.

2) From what I've read itemization in this game isn't anything like more standard MMOs.  Can someone clarify for me what the deal is here?  Will I ever be able to improve gear etc.?

3) Somewhat related to #2, is there anything that resembles crafting in CoX? 

4) What different kinds of things are there to occupy players?  My primary complaint with DDO is that (until very recently) there was nothing to do in the game other than kill bad guys and hope they give you good item drops.  No crafting, no professions, no nothing.  It looks like base building is one cool thing in CoX, but are there other things to do besides kill bad guys?

Thanks for any answers, and feel free to add anything else you think might give me insight into this game!

Originally posted by Gabrion2

I've been looking for a new MMO for a while (been playing DDO and WoW along with a short stint at Tabula Rasa) and I think it might be time for CoX.  However, I have a few questions I would like clarified before I rush out and buy the game(s).

1) What kind of respec system is there in CoX?  As I understand, the primary and secondary power sets chosen at character creation are permenant.  That's fine with me, but I'm wondering if there is any way to respec specific powers that are chosen over time.

2) From what I've read itemization in this game isn't anything like more standard MMOs.  Can someone clarify for me what the deal is here?  Will I ever be able to improve gear etc.?

3) Somewhat related to #2, is there anything that resembles crafting in CoX? 

4) What different kinds of things are there to occupy players?  My primary complaint with DDO is that (until very recently) there was nothing to do in the game other than kill bad guys and hope they give you good item drops.  No crafting, no professions, no nothing.  It looks like base building is one cool thing in CoX, but are there other things to do besides kill bad guys?

 

Thanks for any answers, and feel free to add anything else you think might give me insight into this game!

 

 

1) Yeah there's a way to choose new power pools later on; once you go in the game, you talk to a trainer. You can ask him/her all the more common questions, and he/she will give you specifics.

2) There's not really "gear" in the game, as far as I've played. You have your costume, and...that's it. Your powers determine your "gear"; there are Enhancements that you can use to give your powers reduced endurance cost, better range, more dmg, ect...alot of options...and it's really a smart system. No more "Raid X place Y times for Z chestpiece!"

3) There's the invention system, basically reagents drop off mobs that are level 4 or above. Then you can use crafting stations if you have recipes to turn them into enhancements, and since that's kind of like the gear, the invention system is kind of like the crafting.

4) There's alot of fun team missions, very fun and easy to solo, there's PvP at level...20+ I believe, there's also different things like parties, costume contests...basically I've only been bored a few times, and that's just travelling. But hey even that's fun! You can jump insanely high.

Both games are really fun, I prefer CoH but I give big props to Cryptic for making the world with COLLISION DETECTION. It means I can get up to high places by walking on tiny little ledges. And the mob death animations are the most realistic I've seen yet. It's a nice break from fantasy/sci-fi stuff.

Thanks for that reply.  I also thought of one more question - I know the outfits are highly customizable in this game, but what about the visual effects of a given power?

For instance can a character that shoots fire (I assume this is possible) make the fire different colors, or is the visual simply determined by the power you use?

Originally posted by Gabrion2

I've been looking for a new MMO for a while (been playing DDO and WoW along with a short stint at Tabula Rasa) and I think it might be time for CoX.  However, I have a few questions I would like clarified before I rush out and buy the game(s).

1) What kind of respec system is there in CoX?  As I understand, the primary and secondary power sets chosen at character creation are permenant.  That's fine with me, but I'm wondering if there is any way to respec specific powers that are chosen over time.

2) From what I've read itemization in this game isn't anything like more standard MMOs.  Can someone clarify for me what the deal is here?  Will I ever be able to improve gear etc.?

3) Somewhat related to #2, is there anything that resembles crafting in CoX? 

4) What different kinds of things are there to occupy players?  My primary complaint with DDO is that (until very recently) there was nothing to do in the game other than kill bad guys and hope they give you good item drops.  No crafting, no professions, no nothing.  It looks like base building is one cool thing in CoX, but are there other things to do besides kill bad guys?

 

Thanks for any answers, and feel free to add anything else you think might give me insight into this game!

 

 

1.) There are special missions to get respec tokens -- Veterans also get these as a reward for every character (First one is at 9 months -- http://www.cityofheroes.com/community/veteranrewards.html).  When you respect, you can rechoose the powers in your primary and secondary (but not change them as you said.)  Additionally, you can choose different power pools.  Finally, as part of the resepec, you can alter where enchancement slots are placed and reinsert enhancements as you wish.

2.) There really aren't any "items" in the game.  Mobs drop enhancements, inpsirations,recipes and salvage.  Enhancements are, as you could imagine, items that can improve a power (accuracy, damage, slow, taunt, etc.)  Inspirations are temporary buffs -- heals, accuracy, self-resurrection, defense, etc.  Recipes are used to craft enhancements, new costume parts and temporary powers.  Salvage are the ingredients necessary to create something from a recipe.

3.)  Yes, but I wouldn't say it's a thriving crafter's game.  It seems that more often than not, most people craft their own items.  There's no training involved - just a recipe, ingredients and some influence (equivalent of cash)

4.) No, the game is pretty much about arresting the bad guys.  There are variations on it but it's all about defeating mobs -- it's a fast-paced combat game.

Originally posted by Gabrion2

Thanks for that reply.  I also thought of one more question - I know the outfits are highly customizable in this game, but what about the visual effects of a given power?

 

For instance can a character that shoots fire (I assume this is possible) make the fire different colors, or is the visual simply determined by the power you use?

That depends...

As you become a higher level, you can have auras surrounding your hero/villain -- those are customizable.  Currently powers are not.  The developers have begun taking steps towards that though.  In the last released issue, we got customizeable weapons.  This is considered to be one of the first steps towards getting shield powers (like capt. america) as well as power customization.

1: Respec by doing mission at level 24, 34, 44. You also earn Free Respec for your Vet reward (the amount of time you played) @ 9 months, 21 months, 33 months and 45 months reward respecs. There is also a recipe for a respec invention that allows you, once crafted to respec once. (This recipe sells for around 25 mil influence at the Blackmarket)

2: The only "gear" in the game are Invention Origin recipes and Enhancments. There are Invention Origin sets that will give you a bonus when you have 2 or more of a set slotted into your power. Some bonus examples are increased regeneration, damage resistance, buffs. Some Invention sets have some bonus as a chance to disorient or chance to deal lethal damage.

3. Crafting is the Invention Origins. You gain either tech or arcane salvage from mobs. That salvage is then used in Invention recipes to craft enhancments.

4. You run missions to either kill mobs, escort NPC while dealing with ambushes, Kill a boss, find the glowie (locate specific items and click them to either place something or steal something), or destroy the glowie. These missions are instanced and will scale depending on the size of your group.

The non-violent alternatives:
There are usually player events that people will do such as costume contest or badge location hunting with a lowbie group in a high level area.

There are areas in the game that will give you titles, if found you will be able to add it to your name, such as in Atlas Park, if you get to the top of the giant globe you'll get a "Top Dog" badge. There are also history plaques that you can locate that when you find the "set" you get another title badge.

You can not customize how your powers look, such as changing the color of the flames or where the powers are coming from. You can choose how your weapon looks if your character has taken a powerset that has a weapon (ie Archery Defender, you can select from different bows for appearance. Duel Blades Scrapper you can select what blade your wielding.)