Champions Online

[Remianen]

Get this game. Srsly. It's currently in open beta and man is it fun. Not fun in the typical MMO sense. Fun as in Dragon's Lair and Space Ace. The animations are cool, some powers have built in particle effects (like Ice, for one) and you get to rip lightposts out of the ground and hit mobs with it (even if you're not a super strength type). I'm having tons of fun.

 

Open Beta client is available on FilePlanet: http://www.fileplanet.com/203771/200000/fileinfo/Champions-Online-Open-Beta-Client

 

I've been playing it hardcore since OB opened on Monday and just signed up for the lifetime subscription. It has its issues (what game doesn't?) but between the character creator (which is easily the most in-depth ever, but what do you expect from the folks who made City of Heroes?) to the powers (come on, Acrobatics travel power? Burrowing travel power?) and the animations, it's crazy! Plus, when you save your characters' costumes (yes, you can do that), they come out on the cover of a comic book. Look:

 

http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/2127/costumeremianenencienda.jpg

 

Screenshot at the character select screen looks like this:

 

http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/5038/screenshot2009081916360.th.jpg

 

Anyhow, it's a serverless game split into instances. So while you and your friends will all play on the same server, you have to be sure you're in the same instance of that zone to actually see each other. Easy enough to switch instances though (and doesn't require you to log out). I'm seriously recommending this to anyone who may not vibe with traditional MMOs.

[Antithesis]

<p>Any kind of crafting in the game? What about gear slots or rumors of end game content?</p><p> </p><p>

Ya know, basically all the stuff CoH never had. <img alt="" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/biggrin.png.929299b4c121f473b0026f3d6e74d189.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p>

Seriously though, how's it stack up to CoH?</p>

[masterded]

I have been playing this too. I just keep making people though. I start playing having fun, then think man it would be fun to be a... So I go start a new guy.

[Remianen]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Antithesis" data-cite="Antithesis" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="24256" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Any kind of crafting in the game? What about gear slots or rumors of end game content?<p> </p><p> Ya know, basically all the stuff CoH never had. <img alt=":D" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/biggrin.png.929299b4c121f473b0026f3d6e74d189.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p> Seriously though, how's it stack up to CoH?</p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> 1. Yes, there's crafting in the game. From what I've seen so far, you craft pretty much the same gear as you get from drops. I'm sure there are limits though. You get components from 'glowies' all over the world, basically, and you can break down stuff you get from drops into components that you can use to make other stuff. The three major areas are Arms (basically weapon type things), Science (self explanatory) and Mysticism. Within each area is a specialization which only changes the naming of the item, from what I've seen.</p><p> </p><p> 2. Gear slots are basic. You have Offense, Defense and Utility. Within each, you have 3 slots: one for 'Primary', and two for 'Secondary'. In essence, your primary is going to be the strongest enhancement and the two secondaries can sometimes add up to about half a primary (at least at low level).</p><p> </p><p> 3. High end content is Supervillain lairs (basically single mission task forces, in CoH parlance). You enter a Supervillain's lair and clear through his/her minions until you get to the supervillain. Supervillains are supposedly as strong as 10 Master Villains (Master Villains can be solo'd sometimes. Supervillains are group only or you'll get owned. Essentially, a Master Villain is like an AV in CoH while a Supervillain is like a giant monster). You also have PvP (with a queuing system, like Warhammer Online).</p><p> </p><p> They haven't shown all their cards yet though. For example, while you can get a cape from creation, they don't have cape patterns in yet (so only solid color). I dunno if that's earned later or not but I'm hearing they're not doing aesthetics yet, choosing to concentrate on hammering the game's systems. Also have to keep in mind that they're pulling a CoH. Max level right now is 40 (and will be at launch) but the first update is going to increase the cap to 50 and roll out all the high end stuff they've been working on.</p><p> </p><p> I'm like masterded though. I have 16 slots and like 9 of 'em are filled already. <img alt=":p" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/tongue.png.ceb643b2956793497cef30b0e944be28.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p> It beats CoH as far as character creation, powers, and individual freedom (no ATs, you can take any power from any set at any time you want). I think it beats CoH graphically too (primarily due to the depth of the character creator). The powers look and feel comic booky. Breakaway Shot from Munitions is eerily reminiscent of The Matrix (backflip away while continuously shooting then falling into a crouch and continuing to shoot). Acrobatics is freakin' sick in that you run and do flips depending on how you turn while in midair (I've done corkscrews, largely by accident). They have WEB SLINGING and ICE SLIDING ffs!!! Also the hovercraft thing (think Hobgoblin, Green Goblin, etc). I think somebody was watching Spider Man & His Amazing Friends because I can't think of any other reason to have Fire flight and ice slides.</p><p> </p><p> CoH (post NCSoft acquisition) beats CO when it comes to polish. But duh, it's 5 years old. If you can't be polished in that time, you need to shut it down. CO is A LOT better than CoH was at launch though.</p>

[mike b]

<p>I have been beta testing this game and i can now say it looks good. The character creator is very good even better then city of hero's which these guys made. Though in the next few years they will be seriously tested when DC Online comes out (2010) and in a few more years when marvel releases there game.All in all i had fun and you get your travel powers right off the bat. And the nemesis system rocks. Being able to create your own arch enemy then getting to fight him (or her) and their minions in the game is what sold me.</p><p>

Well I'm a superhero mark anyway and i probably will get dc online when it comes out also. No correction i will be getting that game cause i just wanna whoop some bat but and as of now in Champions you can only be a hero.</p>

[Remianen]

<p>Marvel's not releasing an MMO. Champions' base is what would've been Marvel Universe Online but Marvel doesn't want their characters depicted any way other than the way they say. Plus, Marvel doesn't want to contribute any money to the development of their game. So a developer would have to pay for the Marvel license (which is what Cryptic did) then relinquish all creative control over the background of the game <em>at their own expense</em>. Marvel wanted a WoW killer game (so you're looking at a total cost of over $100 million just to make the game) and Cryptic couldn't do that, so Marvel backed out. Last minute, Cryptic got the Champions license and that's what we have today. What's funny is, Marvel contacted SOE to see if they'd be interested and SOE had to turn them down because they had already gotten the DC license. In fact, one reason Cryptic sold CoX to NCSoft was because they needed the cash to develop the two major license games they had planned (Marvel's and they were hoping to get Star Trek or Stargate Worlds and wound up with the former).</p><p> </p><p>

If they started development today, you wouldn't see a Marvel MMO until 2014 (with beta possibly in late 2013). I wouldn't be so optimistic Marvel would actually do anything. And DCO has its own issues atm.</p>

[mike b]

<p>Ummm sorry better read again marvel has announced they are coming out with a MMO though it is not set to be released until 2012. And yes i know cryptic was hired to do the previous marvel attempt at a mmo but it fell through</p><p> </p><p>

<a href="http://www.ripten.com/2009/03/28/marvel-announces-tentative-date-for-marvel-mmo/" rel="external nofollow">http://www.ripten.com/2009/03/28/marvel-announces-tentative-date-for-marvel-mmo/</a></p>

[mike b]

<p>Oh and about DC. Its still in pre Alpha stages of game so yes it has a ways to go BUT those who have played it at comic con loved the game.</p><p>

And don't get me wrong I'm not knocking Champions its a fun game its just going to be interesting a few years down the road to see who is winning the online battle of the superhero games. For me more the merrier <img alt="" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/biggrin.png.929299b4c121f473b0026f3d6e74d189.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p>

[Vladamire Dracos]

Thanks Remianen, I had yesterday off, now I know what I'll be doing for most of it! <img alt="" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/tongue.png.ceb643b2956793497cef30b0e944be28.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" />

[AlaskanHero]

I played the closed beta and it was enjoyable for the most part, though I never got really far, mostly because everytime I made a hero I would think of something else, and start all over.

[Irish Wolf]

You know why I sopped playing Champions the RPG. Because yes character creation was in-depth but it also took a calculus degree to get through. Hopefully the MMO is good though but I won't be playing.

[-laz-]

il pass im waiting on star trek online :)

[Remianen]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="mike b" data-cite="mike b" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="24256" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Ummm sorry better read again marvel has announced they are coming out with a MMO though it is not set to be released until 2012. And yes i know cryptic was hired to do the previous marvel attempt at a mmo but it fell through<p> </p><p> <a href="http://www.ripten.com/2009/03/28/marvel-announces-tentative-date-for-marvel-mmo/" rel="external nofollow">http://www.ripten.com/2009/03/28/marvel-announces-tentative-date-for-marvel-mmo/</a></p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> I guess third time's the charm (as this is the third time Marvel has 'announced' an MMO project). Starting to feel just like what was mentioned in that article: Duke Nukem Forever.</p><p> </p><p> I know DCU is in Alpha (I know three people on their development team). My issue is with vision. By the time you have a playable Alpha, you should have an idea of what kind/how extensive your remaining systems are going to be. From what I understand, that part is still fluid with the DCU team. A lot can happen between Alpha and friends & family beta, of course, but you don't want to have to go redesigning entire swaths of the basic game function if you can avoid it. Ask Brad McQuaid (and Vanguard) about that. City of Heroes, in beta, was an open system like Champions is now. But Cryptic couldn't get it to work right so they ripped it out and replaced it with the AT system they launched with. That's the kinda stuff you really want to get nailed down in alpha (though it's not always possible, admittedly).</p><p> </p><p> One thing I'm loving about Champions is the 'try before you buy' feature. Basically, you go to a special building to level up and buy new powers. If you stay in that building, you can try out all the power choices available to you and respec for free. It's only after you leave that building that your power selection is locked (though you can still respec later, it'll just cost you resources (ingame money)). The building with the trainers has several 'Danger Room' type areas where you can test out your powers in different environments. It is SO much better than CoH where you have to KNOW how valuable/useful every power is before you level or else you'll have to burn your limited respecs (or buy new ones via RL cash or ingame cash, both of which are kinda expensive).</p><p> </p><p> Oh and -laz-, one of the benefits of being a lifetime subscriber to Champions? First in line for STO beta (as well as an "exclusive" costume set and some other goodies). I'm looking forward to that one too, though I wish Stargate Worlds wasn't completely hosed due to empty pocket developers.</p>

[mike b]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Remianen" data-cite="Remianen" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="24256" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>I guess third time's the charm (as this is the third time Marvel has 'announced' an MMO project). Starting to feel just like what was mentioned in that article: Duke Nukem Forever.<p> </p><p> I know DCU is in Alpha (I know three people on their development team). My issue is with vision. By the time you have a playable Alpha, you should have an idea of what kind/how extensive your remaining systems are going to be. From what I understand, that part is still fluid with the DCU team. A lot can happen between Alpha and friends & family beta, of course, but you don't want to have to go redesigning entire swaths of the basic game function if you can avoid it. Ask Brad McQuaid (and Vanguard) about that. City of Heroes, in beta, was an open system like Champions is now. But Cryptic couldn't get it to work right so they ripped it out and replaced it with the AT system they launched with. That's the kinda stuff you really want to get nailed down in alpha (though it's not always possible, admittedly).</p><p> </p><p> One thing I'm loving about Champions is the 'try before you buy' feature. Basically, you go to a special building to level up and buy new powers. If you stay in that building, you can try out all the power choices available to you and respec for free. It's only after you leave that building that your power selection is locked (though you can still respec later, it'll just cost you resources (ingame money)). The building with the trainers has several 'Danger Room' type areas where you can test out your powers in different environments. It is SO much better than CoH where you have to KNOW how valuable/useful every power is before you level or else you'll have to burn your limited respecs (or buy new ones via RL cash or ingame cash, both of which are kinda expensive).</p><p> </p><p> Oh and -laz-, one of the benefits of being a lifetime subscriber to Champions? First in line for STO beta (as well as an "exclusive" costume set and some other goodies). I'm looking forward to that one too, though I wish Stargate Worlds wasn't completely hosed due to empty pocket developers.</p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Yea i love that feature, test yr power 1st then decide if you want it. You don't know how many times in city of hero's i took a power then later i was why the heck did i take this power for.</p>

[Remianen]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="mike b" data-cite="mike b" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="24256" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Yea i love that feature, test yr power 1st then decide if you want it. You don't know how many times in city of hero's i took a power then later i was why the heck did i take this power for.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> I know it very well. Stun in Energy Melee (wtf?), Power Push in Energy Blast, Taser in Devices, Beanbag in Assault Rifle, oy I could go on for days. Friend of mine is making a Wonder Man clone in CO and he's got it almost nailed.</p>

[Moderndaywarrior]

<p>I downloaded the beta yesterday and I have to say I am impressed;THIS is the super hero game i wanted when I bought COH(which has devolved to nothing but a sucky re-hash of EQ,with 95% of the server just standing around the user content stations playing the same couple "farming/pl"arcs over and over instead of being out saving the city)</p><p> </p><p>

The game play is pretty tight(for a beta) and very fun, lots of missions to do and the little touches like having a defualt "flurry" type attack with my melee hero instead of having to hit a 70 button combo,rescuing people actually meaning something,being able to lift rubble and overturned vehicles off trapped NPC's as well as use your powers to break objects is simply fantastic,and the graphics are absolutely fantastic.</p><p> </p><p>

I also love the level system,every level you get something new(unlike COH),plus you can get your travel power early on(with nice little touches like flight gradually gaining speed and going faster the longer you fly)...and you not resticted to any one AT,you can pretty much buy whatever powers you want as long as you meet the pre-req's,it was also neat to see some differently working powers(some you have to hold the button in and charge them up to make them more effective),I also liked the system for root/hold breaking,by integrating the "Tap a button repeatedly" mechanic they have added an element of player skill as opposed to pure numbers crunching,which should(hopefully) eliminate alot of the griping about root/hold/stun type powers in PvP.</p><p> </p><p>

The only downsides I noticed are the characters by default tend to have "Gorilla arms"(arm length too long,not a big deal as using the cutom body option you can fix it),and it seems like there is only one default type of sword available to the single blade set(unless I missed the spot where you can change it,again no big deal,I'm sure more will be added in the future).</p><p> </p><p>

I mostly play as Lynkriger(Super strong brawler type,a bit like the old Captain Marvel from the Saturday morning TV show),feel free to holler at me if you see me around.</p>

[Remianen]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Moderndaywarrior" data-cite="Moderndaywarrior" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="24256" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>I also liked the system for root/hold breaking,by integrating the "Tap a button repeatedly" mechanic they have added an element of player skill as opposed to pure numbers crunching,which should(hopefully) eliminate alot of the griping about root/hold/stun type powers in PvP.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Yeah, this is meant to appeal to the console gamers (since the game is planned for both PC and 360). It works really, really well. The 'block' mechanic is awesome too, especially when you get one of the powers associated with it. If you're playing a melee type, you probably haven't seen Energy Forms yet but you've probably seen other players with 'em. They're like auras that DO something. That was a really really nice touch IMO. I like Fire's the best but the others I have (or have seen) like Ice, Darkness, and Electricity, look kinda neat too (and they all have effects that you'd expect from their base set. i.e. Ice slows, electricity drains energy, darkness fears, etc).</p><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Moderndaywarrior" data-cite="Moderndaywarrior" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="24256" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>The only downsides I noticed are the characters by default tend to have "Gorilla arms"(arm length too long,not a big deal as using the cutom body option you can fix it),and it seems like there is only one default type of sword available to the single blade set(unless I missed the spot where you can change it,again no big deal,I'm sure more will be added in the future).</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Yeah, some of the alternate pieces aren't in yet. Some of the blades, as well as customization for things like the hover disk, are coming next Monday or Tuesday.</p><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Moderndaywarrior" data-cite="Moderndaywarrior" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="24256" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>I mostly play as Lynkriger(Super strong brawler type,a bit like the old Captain Marvel from the Saturday morning TV show),feel free to holler at me if you see me around.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Lynkriger@? Remember, multiple people can have the same name because they tie it to your global handle. So I'm @Remianen and my characters are:</p><p> </p><p> Swiftshrike, Platinum Dawn, Khadijah, Desinai Dynamo, Danse, Nitrogena, Gigawatt, and Encienda. Somebody's gonna get deleted (probably Dawn since I'm not feeling Might as much as the others) since I still wanna check out some of the other sets.</p>

[Moderndaywarrior]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Remianen" data-cite="Remianen" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="24256" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Yeah, this is meant to appeal to the console gamers (since the game is planned for both PC and 360). It works really, really well. The 'block' mechanic is awesome too, especially when you get one of the powers associated with it. If you're playing a melee type, you probably haven't seen Energy Forms yet but you've probably seen other players with 'em. They're like auras that DO something. That was a really really nice touch IMO. I like Fire's the best but the others I have (or have seen) like Ice, Darkness, and Electricity, look kinda neat too (and they all have effects that you'd expect from their base set. i.e. Ice slows, electricity drains energy, darkness fears, etc).<p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> Yeah, some of the alternate pieces aren't in yet. Some of the blades, as well as customization for things like the hover disk, are coming next Monday or Tuesday.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> Lynkriger@? Remember, multiple people can have the same name because they tie it to your global handle. So I'm @Remianen and my characters are:</p><p> </p><p> Swiftshrike, Platinum Dawn, Khadijah, Desinai Dynamo, Danse, Nitrogena, Gigawatt, and Encienda. Somebody's gonna get deleted (probably Dawn since I'm not feeling Might as much as the others) since I still wanna check out some of the other sets.</p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Yes,I have seen the auras and they are really cool;one thing I have to give this game is it has the best "flaming/on fire" effect I have seen in any game,but all the auras I have seen definitely look prettier than the counterpart in COH.Block is cool too,I think the integration of those two mechanics will go a ways to eliminating alot of the moaning about PvP since usally your biggest two gripes are about unbreakable chain CC and mega nuking,allowing player skill to be a factor instead of strict numbers crunching is,IMO a big step forward in that department,plus it adds another element of gameplay when taking on your "Boss" type bad guys outside of hitting your attack chain,then babysitting your bars and running if it goes sour.</p><p> </p><p> D'oh,I forgot naming works different(which is also cool since I won't have to sit there "stumped" for half an hour because all my naming ideas were already taken)</p><p> </p><p> I'm @Thrainkell and so far I have Lynkriger(Might,I just love their Beatdown default attack) and El Campeador(a Zorro type sword wielder)</p><p> </p><p> I'll have more coming in the future as alot of the sets look interesting to me (Archery,Munitions,Power Armor,basically all the melee sets)</p>

[i effin rule]

Generally not an MMO kind of guy, but I'm willing to give anything a try. Unfortunately I don't have a fileplanet subscription and thus can't get a key. Perhaps there will be a free trial at launch.

[praguepride]

Hey, where are the beta keys? How do I get in <img alt="" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/biggrin.png.929299b4c121f473b0026f3d6e74d189.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" />

[i effin rule]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="praguepride" data-cite="praguepride" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="24256" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Hey, where are the beta keys? How do I get in <img alt=":D" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/biggrin.png.929299b4c121f473b0026f3d6e74d189.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> You have to be a subscriber at fileplanet.</p>

[Remianen]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="i effin rule" data-cite="i effin rule" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="24256" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>You have to be a subscriber at fileplanet.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Nuh-uh. It was my fault for posting the link I used (as a Fileplanet subscriber).</p><p> </p><p> Try this one: <a href="http://www.fileplanet.com/promotions/champions-online/beta/" rel="external nofollow">http://www.fileplanet.com/promotions/champions-online/beta/</a></p>

[i effin rule]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Remianen" data-cite="Remianen" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="24256" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Nuh-uh. It was my fault for posting the link I used (as a Fileplanet subscriber).<p> </p><p> Try this one: <a href="http://www.fileplanet.com/promotions/champions-online/beta/" rel="external nofollow">http://www.fileplanet.com/promotions/champions-online/beta/</a></p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Awesome, thanks!</p>

[mike b]

Good thing is champions is coming on PC 1st. Bad thing,well for you console players is that from what i hear the console version is still a year off.

[djthefunkchris]

I'm interested in what types of heroe's people are making, Male and Female (perhaps a screenshot?).

 

I'm hoping to create things that other's have not so we can compare notes later, and maybe get into some TEW groups.

 

Also, it looks like the beta is going to be over in like a day. Is that correct?

 

I might pay for this, but I want alot more information first. I'm already set for DC Universe online.