City of Heroes MMO

The good news its that the game is FREE! Well, it's free to play but there is a pay component and a points store where you can upgrade to a VIP pay account and purchase extra items in game. But let's not worry about that yet.

The download is free and as I mentioned before, there is a Mac client as well.

Getting started is simple and actually some of the most fun you can have. The creation of your character allows you to express yourself and your inner hero or villain to the extreme!

Once you enter the game, you will find that it is quite a friendly atmosphere. Entering Freedom Server, the main server, you will receive navigation directions on your compass as to where to proceed. Missions, contacts, friends lists (and more) are all easily accessible. Unlike some other online games, there really are no add-ons for this game giving other players an unfair advantage. Everything you need is in the interface and it too is fully customizable in look and layout.

Many times you will be invited to a team as soon as you enter or even invited to a Super Group if you are not in one. Accept the invites and explain you are new - the other players are always willing to help out. I guess this is one of the reasons why I have always returned to this game with my husband. We have played EverQuest, World of Warcraft, Age of Armor, Lord of the Rings and several other online games, but this one has always held a special place in my (gamer's) heart.

Unparalleled Character Customization! This is what you get and nothing less. You start off deciding your origin: your origin will determine what type of enhancements your character will use and the particular stores available to you. This is mostly thematic and helps with your character creation concept.

The next step is to decide the type of character you want. Remember that none of your choices are finalized until the last step, so feel free to change it as much as you want during this phase. The options are listed below:


You will have the option to select from a list of power pools available to the character type you chose. There are too many for me to mention, but I have always considered this part my favorite. I won't ruin the surprise for those who have never tried it before. But to give you a taste, you might want to hurl lightning, command fire and ice, use black magic or possibly use weapons. Be it swords, maces, bows, guns or lasers, they are all here! As you progress through the game, you will earn influence which will allow you to purchase upgrade enhancements for your chosen powers. Note: enhancements and salvage used to create items in game drop from playing the game as well.


Next you get to choose your body type and customize the build. You can select male, female or huge (oversized form):


Finally you get to create and customize your costume and look! Be a robot, a cyborg, an angel, a witch, an elf, a zombie or make something completely of your own creation. Get wings, a cape or an aura. Choose the colors of your flames or the look of your lightning, maybe alter the way your ice freezes... it's all possible! Not only can you customize the look of your powers, but you can select where they come from. You hands and your eyes are among the options.


Now it's time to pick a name for your character, anything you want! It doesn't have to be a single word like many MMORPG games require. Then head off into the game and either save the world or cause havoc!

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Many PVE Maps!

Basically, there are maps that you can move through, including the starting map where there is only PVE play. This is Player Vs. Environment. On these maps you only have to worry about NPCs! (Non-Player Characters) Each city or region is tailored specifically to a certain level range and if you participate in the missions on that map within that range you will level at optimal speed. Here is a list of a few of them:


The great thing about CoH is that you can enter a mission team and you are automatically changed to the appropriate level of your team leader. Be it lower or higher, this allows you to participate and earn experience with that team. It also means that higher level NPCs in high level mission will not kill you every 5 seconds! At the same time, if you want to take part in a lower level team, you will be reduced in level accordingly and even lose several learned abilities and powers down to the level you are now playing. Don't worry, you get them back when you leave the team.

There are team missions, story arcs, holiday events and task forces for you to participate in and earn influence (cash for purchases) and experience.

Travel in the game is easy: there are trains and tunnels that will take you to every zone. Some can even teleport directly to missions using powers. Super Speed, Super Jump, Flying and Teleportation are among the primary travel powers within the game and let me tell you: they are great.

The last thing I should mention is AE - Architect Entertainment. It is a simulator where you can create custom simulations of any type of mission you want! Enemy robots, demons, crazy carnies, basically anything you can imagine. Design the game and save it. Others will even play it and rank it for you earning you tickets which you can use to create more elaborate simulations. Unfortunately, many players only play this portion of the game and use it to sometimes cheat the system and level up at incredible speeds!

Specific PVP maps!

There are maps you can enter that involve PVP (Player Vs. Player). Once there, you have to realize that you can be attacked at any time by an enemy! You may go to these maps to hunt other players or maybe you are just completing a high-level mission that has tasks in the PVP zone. Either way, you must take care since there really are no rules here. Invisibility comes in pretty handy in places like this if you are just trying to complete a mission. Best thing to take with you into a PVP zone is a team of fully armed and equipped friends. Bring it!

Some PVP zones are themed. For instance, one zone requires you to launch missiles against the enemy and to do this you must battle NPC's and other players.

Anyway you look at it, it's great fun!

Join a super group or form one yourself!
There are Hero and Villain super groups that have benefits that you just don't get in other MMOs. Many MMOs have guilds and such, but a super group has another special attribute: the super group secret base!

That's right, the super group leader can design or delegate to other members in the group to design and maintain a secret base. This base can be entered through portals in every city. Here you can heal yourself, stock up on supplies, build new gear, teleport anywhere in the game or even take part in PVP battles where another super group attacks yours! That is of course if your super group builds up enough prestige from running missions and task forces and generally causing a lot of damage to build all these items in your base.

You can equip your base with weapon systems and defenses to aid in the PVP battle. The bases can be themed any way you like. From an Inca temple to steampunk, futuristic or a mixture of many other styles. You design the floor plan, the placement of items within and so forth! This is truly one of the best features I have ever seen in an MMO.

Some super groups even have their own specialized uniforms - this way every member can wear the uniform for group identity during large campaigns! It looks fabulous! Others decorate the SG Base with ornaments to give it a more thematic feel!


There are many different sizes of SG Bases and Groups. It all depends on what you want to create. If you are not into creating, try joining one.

On of the main things you should know when entering the game is some of the language used. No, I don't mean swearing! I mean the lingo of the land.

Here are a few samples:

dfb team lf3m
This means that a Death From Below sewer trial team (a trial for any level and a good place to start at to level fast) is Looking for 3 Members to join their team.

12 blaster lft
This is something you might type. It means Level 12 Blaster Looking for Team to join.

lft
Of course, just typing this means you are looking for a team and is simple and quick.

AOE
Area of Effect. Some weapons you may have will hit multiple enemies at once. Be careful not to use these if the team leader asks you not to. Always watch the chat window for team information. Team comments appear as green, so they will stand out.

Noob
An inexperienced player

Lowbie
A low level experienced or veteran player. Usually a long-time player who has started a new character.

* Some lower level players will ask you to PL (Power Level) them for a fee, or sometimes for free.
* You might also receive Blind Invites to PUGS (Pick-Up Groups), accept them if you feel like it.
* There is also a chance you will be offered a free farm to door-sit. This basically means that you enter an AE simulation with a higher level character and possibly other teammates. Don't fight, just let the high level character do the destruction and you will gain all the experience. This is the fastest way to level up, but it is also a cop-out of actually playing.

Remember: Apologize if you have done something to offend your team and explain you are new. They will understand.

A couple built-in options:

/ignore player-name
This will allow you to ignore another player whom you find offensive

Note: in the chat window at the line where you type your comments there is a symbol on the right: click it to bring up a list of actions to use. You can dance, sleep, do push-ups and much more. It's a real hoot to watch.

The Good:
1 - Superior character customization
2 - Advanced alignment selection (good / evil)
3 - Friendly environment (many veterans willing to take you under their wing and help)
4 - Graphics greatly improved
5 - FREE to play

The Bad:
1 - AE (Architect Entertainment) - Still ruins the game at times (leveling to MAX in a day or two)
2 - Priced at top end - $14.99 per month
3 - Smaller player base

Overall:
If you are tired of the fantasy only MMORPG, give City of Heroes a try. I think if you give it a chance, you just might get hooked!



Now go and save some citizens in distress!

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