Chad Gulzow-Man

Case in point:

We know, given the first post in this thread, that it will cost 400 Paragon Points ($5) to buy all the costume pieces in a good-sized booster pack. The rest of this is thirdhand... I heard it from someone who claimed to have heard it on a Ustream chat, which I can't listen to at work, so I'm taking it at face value...

Prior to this announcement, it was said that 400 points would be about equivalent to one of the booster temp powers, like Ninja Run. And also that 400 points would net you all the emotes from a booster.

Again, before anyone goes nuts, I can't verify this and even if true now, it could still change before launch.

That's $5 for costumes, $5 for new emotes, and $5 for temp powers. That means the price of one booster pack adds up to $15. (Other threads I've seen have it estimated at around $12.)

Now, VIPs will get $5 credit back per month just for subscribing. They can choose to spend it however they want. If you want the new booster pack, you can use your $5 monthly credit and pay $10 more for it, which means you're still only paying $10 out of pocket for it--the same price you pay to buy a booster pack today.

Or, you could buy the costume pieces now, wait and buy the temp power next month, and then pick up the emotes the month after that, and never pay a dime beyond your subscription fees.

... Or, you could blow your entire $5 stipend on double XP consumeables and choose to pay $15 out of pocket for it.

The point is, we'll have more control than we ever have before over what our money is going towards, but we'll also have more pitfalls as a result. If you "gotta have it nao," then you're going to pay more money than someone who's willing to bide their time and pick things up piecemeal or when they go on sale. It's a good thing, but it also makes us more responsible for our own accounts and expenditures, and some people may be (understandably) wary of that.

I'll direct you to this list I made earlier today in this same thread, as that should answer most of the questions you have: http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showt...58#post3712758

I will answer a couple of your questions from the above post right here, though.

Anything you buy or earn will always stay with you if you go from VIP to Premium (you can't go VIP to Free--Free is just Premium with no perks yet, and you get at least 1 perk just for signing up for a month). There is one exception that we know about now: Incarnate powers and content will be locked out, but not deleted from your characters. Incarnate content is available to VIP subscribers only.

The stuff you keep just for being a VIP is determined by how long you maintain your VIP subscription. Positron has already chimed in that Masterminds and Controllers will be unlocked automatically--for free--on a Premium account if you have somewhere around 36 months of paid time under your belt. Otherwise, you can spend your Paragon Reward Tokens (the new replacement for the Veteran Reward program) on unlocking them. Or, you can pay a one-time fee to unlock them. Once they're unlocked on a Premium account, they're unlocked forever. Logic would imply that the same goes for other common features, such as access to Inventions, the auction houses, Supergroups, chat channels, etc., but so far the locked ATs are one of the things we have concrete developer comments on.

Now, it gets a little trickier when you start factoring in new content... the stuff that's releasing in Issue 21 and beyond. They've already said the new First Ward zone content can be purchased by Free/Premium account holders, but will be available for free if you're a VIP subscriber. I read that to mean that you lose access to the new stuff if you drop your subscription, and will therefore need to purchase it again via microtransaction if you plan to quit paying for good. (But that's just my interpretation on what I've read--I don't have any information that isn't equally accessible to everyone else reading the boards and the Facebook discussions, and I have yet to see an official comment about it.)

I would assume that the answer to the final question in paragraph one and leading in to paragraph two is yes; Free/Premium accounts will get access to everything that went in to City of Heroes prior to Issue 18/Going Rogue (and Premium accounts that already paid for the Going Rogue expansion should thus get all of that content automatically), minus some limitations on a few systems like Inventions, chat channels, Supergroups, etc. They will be able to purchase the individual features that interest them that doesn't come for free, such as side-switching, the new First Ward content, the new monthly Signature Story Arcs or anything I've mentioned previously--again, excluding Incarnate content, which will be for VIPs only.

As a VIP subscriber, you will earn 400 Paragon Points per month just for keeping your subscription active, as well as a Paragon Reward Token. You can use these to pay for any perks that interest you. The way I assume things will work is, you keep all of these tokens and points, even if your subscription drops... at which point you can spend them unlocking the content that you've lost access to (such as MMs/Trollers, Supergroups, First Ward missions, and other stuff listed above). And again, once you've earned or paid for a perk, it stays on your account forever.

With regards to your final questions about character slots on a free account, I'd like to point you to a post by Positron (which quotes a post from me >_>):
http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showt...12#post3706712

The short version: Any slots you earned as a Veteran (1 per year), got with the purchase of the Going Rogue expansion (2 bonus) or purchased previously will be added to the base of 2 free characters on a Free/Premium account.

Small nitpick -- it's actually "whet" your appetite, which means "to sharpen."

It doesn't help the above phrasing that when you drink, you "wet your whistle."

Damn you, inventors of popular English sayings!!!

How about 1 free point the first time each badge is earned (per account)?

... *casually puts a hand down, covering up his badge total* >_>











Note: This post is facetious, farcical and intended only for funniness.

The ITF can be done in under 20 minutes by people who really want to, and the "AE Baby" fiasco didn't supplant anything you could buy with real money*--powerlevelling to 50 didn't get you access to the Magic Booster.

I see where you're coming from, but I'm siding with Arcanaville on this one... it really doesn't make sense given the pace of this game.

*Well, nothing you could pay Paragon Studios for, anyway. It did put a dent in unlicensed RMTers' wallets, so I guess it's got that going for it...

Harr.

I choose to believe that my wording is a slightly clearer version with the same meaning, but I understand why they chose their phrasing: it is simpler to say "If you give us money, that makes you Premium."

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I just finished my list on the last page (see this post). If you guys could give it a once-over and make sure I didn't miss anything big, I'd appreciate it.

Purchasing points does not, in fact, make you premium. Spending the points does.

Lemme do another list to show the differences between Free, Premium and VIP accounts...

FREE ACCOUNTS:

• Are a completely blank slate--no perks at all. You're only Free if you never had a subscription previously and never purchased anything additional for the game.
• Are limited to 2 character slots among all servers (excluding VIP server).
• Cannot make Masterminds, Controllers or the Kheldian or Soldiers of Arachnos EATs.
• Do not have access to every powerset (such as Dual Pistols, Kinetic Melee, Time Manipulation, etc.)
• Can only use the basic costume options for their characters.
• Can not use Inventions.
• Have limited use of auction houses.
• Cannot create or join Supergroups.
• May be restricted from some content (such as the new Signature Story Arcs in Issue 21)
• Cannot access Incarnate abilities or Incarnate content (trials, etc.) -- VIPs only.

PREMIUM ACCOUNTS:

• Are any accounts that have had at least one perk added on. You may have earned them via previous subscription, via microtransaction payments, or some combination of the two.
• Default to 2 character slots among all servers (excluding VIP server), but can have more added--you get 1 additional for each previous year of subscription, 2 if you bought the Going Rogue expansion in the past, 1 for any character slots you paid money for in the past, and can purchase more tokens via microtransaction (up to 36 characters per server).
• Can purchase access to Mastermind and Controller ATs, or unlock them free as a bonus for a previous three year subscription. (No official word yet on EAT unlocks.)
• Can purchase access to all powersets, or retain access due to veteran status or past purchase (such as having paid for the Going Rogue expansion).
• Can use the basic costume options for their characters, plus any others you have purchased in the past or earned via Veteran Rewards or the new Paragon Rewards program for past subscription.
• Can unlock the ability to use Inventions (no official word on this, but probably also free to those with a previous long-term subscription).
• Have limited use of auction houses at base, but can upgrade (via microtransaction or probably past subscription duration).
• Can create or join Supergroups by purchasing the ability, or receive it as a reward for past subscription.
• Can purchase or earn via past subscription access to most content (Incarnate content is an exception)
• Cannot access Incarnate abilities or Incarnate content (trials, etc.) -- VIPs only. Note that any Incarnate abilities you earn as a VIP will not be deleted, but will be greyed out and inaccessible if you cancel your subscription.

VIP ACCOUNTS:

• Are any accounts with an active subscription to City of Heroes Freedom.
• Default to 12 character slots per server (including VIP server!), but can have more added up to a total of 36 per server (see Premium).
• Have full access to Masterminds and Controllers at the start, and can unlock Kheldian and Soldiers of Arachnos EATs by getting a Hero and Villain to level 20, respectively.
• Have full access to all existing powersets, including the new Time Manipulation set. (Some future powersets may require additional purchase.)
• Can use the basic costume options for their characters, plus any others you have purchased in the past or earned via Veteran Rewards or the new Paragon Rewards program for past subscription. You will continue to earn new Paragon Rewards for every month you maintain your subscription (as opposed to every three months for Vet Rewards).
• Have full access to Inventions.
• Have full access to the auction houses.
• Have full access to create or join a Supergroup.
• Have full access to all the new content in Issue 21 (Signature Story Arcs, First Ward missions, Time Manipulation powerset, etc.)
• Have full access Incarnate abilities and Incarnate content (trials, etc.)
• Have access to the new VIP only server (if you make characters here and cancel your subscription, you can view the server list and transfer characters away, but you cannot log them in)
• Will earn 400 Paragon Points a month for maintaining your subscription, to be spent however you choose--costume pieces, temporary powers (such as those in the Super Boosters), consumeable items, etc.
• Will earn Paragon Reward Tokens every month for maintaining your subscription--you basically earn a new Veteran Reward every month, rather than having to wait for three!
• Get a free Server Transfer Token every month (which can be banked up and used later)

Did I miss anything big?

It's not a hard stretch of imagination to guess that the act of purchasing Paragon Points will behave very similarly to the way one purchases a server transfer, rename token or additional character slots now: in-game, on the character select screen.

I can't speak for those who bill via time cards or PayPal, but for those who pay for their accounts via credit card, it just charges the card you have on file.

Seven people, last I heard. And that was back in late April, so it could be more now.

(I admit that I don't know if Praetorian 50s via levelling pacts were excluded or not.)

I'm still toying with the idea on the dude in my sig. I'm still less than half way through soloing every arc in Imperial City, though, so it's a long way off if I do. >_>

You are. You're probably thinking about the new VIP server--there are no names already taken on it, because it doesn't exist yet.

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As Aett mentioned, the script is not on all the time, it has to be run manually (and it has been years since the last time it was run). The number of names that were freed up was determined to be insignificant compared to what the playerbase expected to be released.

As BruteSquad mentioned, there's a level cap on the name purge--though I'm pretty sure it's actually level 6 and not 10--so any character above that cap, no matter how long they've been inactive, cannot have their name removed. (Unless, of course, they're genericked for a violation of the EULA... but that's just going to throw the name in the list of banned names, not available ones. )

It also can't pull names away from active accounts. For example, even though I've only played "Helena Handbasket" on Guardian or whatever server I made her on a couple times, and 4+ years ago at that, no one can ever take the name away from me. (By the way: if anybody specifically wants the name, PM me and I'll delete the character.)

Well, there WILL be a 4th (if not more) in Issue 21, which will be out in September or October... so it'll only be grinding those three trials for the next 2-4 months. >_>

(And yes, I realize this will just mean grinding FOUR trials instead of the current three...)

Good for you. I only get to play 1 or 2 nights a week now, and half the time I'm on too late to catch the trial crowd.

My gut says that everything in the Astral and Empyreal stores--excepting the Ascension Armor sets--will be purchaseable with Paragon Points sometime after CoH Freedom launches. You'll probably only be able to buy the Ascension Armor from the Ast/Emp stores, unless they decide to do something like the Vanguard pack as a loyalty subscription bonus in the future.

Best of both worlds: the people who "want it nao!" can pay a few bucks for the parts, and the people who think microtransactions are the devil and just paying for the devs' Porsche upgrades* can earn them via in-game means.

I sincerely doubt many of the devs for this or any MMO actually owns a Porsche.

The Paragon Market will be completely inside the game. No more needing to go to NCSoft's website to buy stuff.

It's kinda like buying character slots or server transfers on the character select screen now. For instance, they said that the costume pieces could actually be bought straight from the trailer.

*raises hand* That's me, right here. I HATE SUPER REFLEXES. And Willpower fits the character concept a lot better, anyway.

I would gladly return to level 1 if I got to keep all my badges and swap SR for Willpower. (Bonus points if I got Energy Melee as a Scrapper option, too!) It'd take me a couple months to get back up to 50, but I'd be much happier with my character's powers and performance as a result.

I wouldn't quite pay $50 for it, but I would definitely pay $20 each to get my Scrapper and Stalker both Energy Melee/Willpower.

The game is telling you to quit being a dirty farmer and come do more iTrials with me!

Didn't BABs get banned from the boards for two weeks once?

I will probably make one immediate purchase of $50 worth of points (or whatever the largest Bonus Point package under that is) on my primary account. I will use it to buy just about every non-consumeable item that appears in the shop that tickles my fancy. I will continue to do so every year as long as the game continues and I can afford it. $50 will be my limit for the year for "fluff" items, though--outside of powersets, new ATs or story/character advancing content, that's all they're getting.

On my second account, however, I will pick and choose and stretch my points as far as they'll go. I won't add more points to the account unless it becomes necessary to access content, or something I really enjoy on my primary account goes on a sale that's too good to pass up (like with the half-price Booster Packs this past Cyber Monday). There may even be times where I drop my subscription on my second account for months at a time.

This is one of THE BEST Mastermind ideas I've heard.

I mean, we've got Robotics for Tech, Necromancy and Demons for Magic, then Thugs, Ninjas and Mercs for Naturals. I mean, obviously, they're not limited by origin in any way--you could say your Necromancy powers are "cyber zombies" or people in costume in your bio if you wanted, and I know at least one person claimed the Demons were "hard light holograms"--but it would be awesome to see a set that is specifically Science-based.

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For a Mutant-based set, something like "Abominations," perhaps? I'm thinking lumbering, misshapen creatures. Perhaps the minions behave like the Ghouls in Praetoria and the final pet something with a similar body-style to Wretch? Your personal attacks could use some of the ranged Thorn Assault/Spines powers, etc.

Nothing! You get to keep them on all existing characters and every new character you make on that account, PLUS you get bonus rewards from the new Paragon Rewards Program.