Stormistress

Hello, everyone!

First, thank you for all the help.

I confess that I was not totally sastified with the answer I received. So, I sent my question to Support, and here is what I heard back.

As I suspected there is indeed a link shown at the left of the NCLauncher window that is titled "COH Subscriber Beta". The folks at Support inform me that I must Update that to gain access to the VIP Test server.

Once updated, the "COH Subscriber Beta" header will move from the "Not Installed" section to the "Installed" section. I will then be able to access the VIP Test server.

Otherwise, the "City of Heroes Test" link takes everyone to an environment that allows testing of all aspects of the game as they are persently operating in Live.

To access upcoming content, you must be a VIP subscriber and use the "COH Subscriber Beta" link.

It is not necessary to create shortcuts on your Desktop: although that may work perfectly well.





Stormistress

Thank you for posting about this.

I am still a bit confused myself. I would expect the VIP Beta server to show up in the NCSoft launch window when it opens. However, it does not. I see "City of Heroes" and "City of Heroes Test" under the header "Installed".

In this case, is the Test version equal to the VIP Beta? If I update it will that lead me to VIP Beta, or do I have to perform a totally separate download and installation to reach the VIP Beta server?

I am a full VIP subscriber. Perhaps I'm expecting a type of behavior that isn't supported.

Thank you in advance for the help!




Stormistress

Hello, and welcome to the game!

The most powerful character I ever played was a Fire/Storm controller. I soloed most of the content to 50 in under 60-days. Laying down Flashfire and Freezing Rain while your Imps eat up the enemy is amazing.

The most thematic combination is Storm/Elec defender. Better in groups.

I've also played in groups with three or four Lightning Clouds out at once, combined with overlapping Hurricanes and Steamy Mists. Most targets don't stand a chance.

Having said that, Storm takes some finesse to keep targets from flying away from melee characters. Walls and corners are your friends, and you can just "kiss" targets with Hurricane to debuff their AC without sending them flying. So, with the right terrain you can keep bosses pinned while your teammates take them out.

I have found the Electric secondary for tanks quite good. My favorite combo is Superstrength/Elec. You never have to worry about running out of End, and you are nearly immune to Sappers.



So, my picks are:

Fire/Storm controller

Storm/Elec defender

SS/Elec tank



Enjoy!




Stormistress

Hello, everyone!

I have a concept for a character that fits the power sets of the Arachnos Soldier, but not the look. Now I know that at lvl 10 I get access to another costume slot to make my toon look the way i want. So, that's not too much of a problem.

However, I noticed that when I try to make a new Arachnos Soldier, I am not given the option to bypass the tutorial, and I cannot select whether I want to be a Hero or a Villain. Is that because of the type of character it is: an Arachnos Soldier? Can I go through the tutorial and select whether to enter the Isles or Paragon, or perhaps I must go through a special process instead to become an Arachnos Soldier?

Its been awhile since I made one of these, and I just don't recall. I also wondered if the new tutorial might have changed the way it works.

Thanks for your help!





Stormistress

Hello again!

I've applied the balance of my reward points, and thought I'd pass along some comments for those that were following this thread.

Each of the markers has a circle or disk that turns light green when it becomes a valid choice for applying your reward points. So, when I picked the balance of the Tier-8 line, all of the Tier-9 markers then became valid choices. That included the three costume markers.

As stated, I was then able to select any of the costume slots without taking any Tier-9 items.

It certainly would be useful if there was a "help" pop-up that detailed the process. In the mean time, we have this wonderful community for help.

Thanks again for all your great comments!





Stormistress

Thank you for the very informative replies.

I felt that you had to take all of one Tier before moving to the next. I just wanted to be sure since I only have 6 points to spend. That was also why I asked about the up-arrows. It gives the impression that the markers advance to the one above them. I was wondering if they tied together in some way I couldn't see.

Its also useful to know that the Tier-9 markers can be re-selected. That wasn't obvious from the chart.

So, the Character email items are deducted as you claim them until the quantity listed is gone. Got that.

Are you saying that the Account email items are always there, and are never used up? In that case, you can just keep taking them on as many characters as you please. Is that correct?



Thanks again!


Stormistress

Hello, Everyone!

I know that this system replaced the Veteran Rewards program, and I've read everything I could find from the Forums to Paragonwiki, but I'm still puzzled by a few things. I wasn't able to participate in the Beta, and so, I thought I'd ask my questions here.

First, let's talk about the Reward Chart. I have most of mine filled up, and I can mouse over each marker and see what it gives me. I don't fully understand all items yet, but that's ok. I can also see that mousing along the right edge shows me the bonuses for filling all the markers for a Tier.

It also seems to me that these rewards are either automatic, or they can be selected from my email. Correct?

Now comes my primary problem. I have two markers filed in already for Tier-8, and I have the five markers for Tier-9 highlighted with spinning dics around them. At the top of the screen, I am informed that I have six (6) unused reward points.

Are the markers in the Tier-9 catagory highlighted because it is possible for me to choose them? Is it for another reason? Must I selected all of the markers in the Tier-8 catagory before I can select any of the Tier-9? If I take one Tier-9, can I go back and pick any of the Tier-8's or am I locked out of those?

Do the costume sets only become available when I have selected all of the Tier-9 markers? And what do all of the up-arrows mean going from the bottom Tiers to the top, or maybe they don't have any meaning?

The email system seems to indicate that Character selections are single use only on one character. Is that correct?

The Account based selections seem reuseable on multiple characters. Is that so, and can I use them immediately, or do they re-generate each month?

Thanks for all your great help in advance!




Stormistress

Hello, all!

I logged into Virtue about 40 minutes ago, and I was fine for about 2 minutes. Is that about when the maintenance started?

I ask this because my character and my screen just froze with the "Marserver" comment in the background. I was able to pull up the netgraph. It was showing a large solid green, which usually means a delay in info from the server to my computer. The odd thing was the "send" number was cycling down to zero.

I tried using the Menu to logoff, but there was no response. Then I tried to open my Task Manager to shutdown COH, but it would not load. All of my CPU power was being used. Finally, the "Send" amount reached zero, and the game closed.

The odd thing was I still couldn't do anything with my computer. Eventually, I found that the NCLauncher was using 100% of my CPU. Is that normal, and what can I do to stop that?

I was ultimately forced to cold-boot my system to stop the memory hog.

Very puzzling and disappointing. Not sure what to make of it.

Thanks in advance for all your kind replies.




Stormistress

OK.

When the error message comes up, you can click on the left button "Force Launch". The CoH game will go through its normal start routine with the green load bar, and the login window for the game appears.

However, after you enter your password and click login it just hangs. After about a minute, you get the error message telling you the game can't connect to the login server. So, the game is down and not accessable right now.

I just wish the error message at the NC-Soft launch window would say that. That pop-up error window is something I have never seen, and its a bit confusing.





Stormistress

Hello, all.

I am getting this also.

I have tried running the Repair utility as well. It launches, runs the green bar about 1/4 the way across, and then the same error appears. Its almost as if the login server was down.

I see that the game servers are in an unknown state right now too. I'll check anouncements next, but not quite sure what is going on here.

Any ideas?





Stormistress

I just noticed something that you might find interesting.

When I changed my Shader Quality settings up to Medium I started seeing a large increase in Lag. So, I decided to see if lowering the value back down would help and it did. Then I noticed a change in the text for the different settings compared to when I first reported this problem.

It seems that with the Ultramode release there was an alteration in the basic values for each setting. My original setting for Shader Quality was "Low (No World Bump Maps)", but when I tried to revert back to that it only showed "Low" or "Very Low".

On a whim I loaded my MA/SD scrapper to see if there was any change. I had seen good results in the graphics with the Medium setting. To lower my Lag I had changed the value to Very Low. I was surprised and pleased that I could see all shield backgrounds even at the new Very Low setting.

As a final test, I went into the character creator and started a new toon with a shield. All of the options now show correctly even at this low setting. I must conclude that my original choice of setting for the Shader Quality was a legacy value that didn't work properly with the new graphic code. Just a guess really, but it works.





Stormistress

Just wanted to update everyone.

I got a good tip from Tech Support. Increasing my setting for Shade Quality to Medium solved the problem. I am now able to see all options for Shields.

Thanks again for all the useful comments.





Stormistress

Hmmm. First, thank you for the insightfull replies. I appreciate the added perspective.

Well, I can try to increase my settings. However, I have recently upgraded my video card, and I've been running with the same settings for a couple of years. These are the same settings that I created my MA/SD scrapper on and that was with a lower end video card.

Also, I am able to view my lvl 50 MA/SD scrapper just fine in the character selection screen and in game. I haven't tried any changes at the Taylor to see if I lose the background pattern. I will test that next.

I will also test character creation in Praetoria instead of Paragon to see if that makes a difference.

Anyone know where the break point is for the graphic settings where the backgrounds will drop?





Stormistress

Hello, everyone!

A quick check showed me that a few threads have been posted on this, but they are several months old. So, I thought I'd start fresh just to see if I'm missing something.

I had it in my mind to start a new scrapper, and thought that a shield was in order. Now before I go to much further I need to tell you that I have a MA/SD scrapper that I've taken all the way to 50. I've been told that her shield with emblem is very stylish, and I have never had any problems altering it. I certainly had no problems when I created the character.

However, for reasons I can't fathom I just can't get the background to display the second color and pattern when I use the character creator. I've tried male and female body types and all of the patterns. I've also tried a variety of shield types.

None of them will display properly. I'm tempted to take the new character to Live, and see what I get. Its just hard to create a look for the character when you can't see what you are doing.

Any suggestions? I've sent a petition in and have a preliminary response, but I'm not getting a warm fuzzy from that. Has this problem really been around for 6 months or more?





Stormistress

Hello, everyone!

I have sent a Support Ticket into the Devs on this, but I want your feedback as well. I'll describe the problem and related details the best that I can.

I have been playing CoX for more than five years, and have had my share of Lag and Mapserver issues. However, this experience is a first for me.

I have a Rogue character inside a Hero Tip mission. The mission is in Talos on Infinity server. There is a dock worker as a contact inside the warehouse. After speaking to him, an ambush spawns with Cage.

There is one lieutenant and 3 minions. My character is a Dominator with Grav/Energy power sets. I am popping powers off to contain and defeat. I leave the lieutenant for last, and once I defeat all of the minions, I get a "Clue" pop-up on my screen.

Immediately, my entire screen blanks out and reloads all of the game graphics one particle at a time: perhaps I should say in layers. The load rate is very slow even though I am connected on DSL. It recycles a few times until all the powers that were started complete. I am then mapservered. The problem does not stop there, however.

Once back at the login screen, my screen keeps recycling: wiping the screen blank and then loading the graphics like a broad paintbrush. Unsure of what to do, I try to load my Task manager, but cannot. I then decide to Cold Boot my computer.

I wait a minute or so, and then restart. When the first screen appears I have columns of double $$ all over my screen with the normal test embedded in it. The Windows XP load continues, but the launch screens have these red vertical lines running the full height of the screen. They are widely spaced, and I can still read the screen.

The boot-up continues, but instead of the Welcome screen and my desktop, I get rectangular blocks arrayed across my screen. The displayed area is 2/3rds the normal size, and I cannot click on anything. My mouse still moves across the screen, but I can't see to reboot.

I tried cold booting a few times, but the results were the same. I then went into Safe Mode. I wanted to see if the problem was my hard drive, Windows, or a graphic error. Safe Mode loads ok, but the vertical lines are still there behind my icons.

After a few hours of studying the problem in Safe Mode (note that I tried more than one load in Safe Mode), I exit and do a normal start up. Amazingly, my computer starts without any problems. I run an Anti-virus program just to be safe, and find no problems.

So, I restart CoX, but have it Verify all files. No probpems are found. I load the game. I purposely load a different character, check my Graphic settings, and log my Report. The Graphic settings were unchanged.

I then load the character that started the problem. The load proceeds normally, and I am able to complete the mission that gave me the trouble. That seemed odd, but I was relieved. I do some selling and proceed to the next Tip mission. In the middle of that, I get the same problem.

I summon my patience. I wait to be Mapservered, then position my mouse to click the proper buttons to close out the CoX game. My screen adjusts back to my normal desktop without any hint that a problem just occurred.

As a test, I insert a DVD movie and play it. No graphic or computer problems.

So, what do you think?

My intial reaction is to replace my graphics card. I'm running a NVidia GeForce FX5700LE, 128MB, AGP-8, Rev 2, made in 2003. I have my drivers up to date, and have never seen this problem before.

Sorry for the windy length of this post. I just wanted to include everything I could remember. Thank's for your time, and I look forward to reading your replies.




Stormistress

Thank you for posting this thread.

My question was slightly different, and I have already sent to Support for a reply. Please understand that I intend to buy the GR expansion as soon as I am able.

In the mean time, I thought I'd enjoy the new Issue-18 content. So, after spending several hours on a couple of characters running Alignment missions, I was ready to switch my Stalker to Rogue status. Imagine my surprise when I am informed that I must purchase the GR expansion, and they even give me a pop-up window to buy it on the spot.

Now, its all well and good if I need GR to change alignments. However, there is no mention in the Issue-18 patch notes that I must have GR to switch, and what's the point of having me run the new Tip content when I can't switch without it. Would have been nice to let me know when I tried to run the first Tip mission.

Seems a bit odd to title the Issue-18 update "Shades of Gray" when there's nothing gray about it. Just my two cents.




Stormistress

I was able to log into Justice without problems.

Then switched to Infinity, and almost flawless. Login was quick, and almost no lag at any point.

Beats me what happens, and I never get a creditable answer as to the cause.

It pretty hot outside. Wonder if that's affecting the equipment?




Stormistress

You are not alone.

Just came here to see if it was just me. Waited 10 minutes for a mission to load, then closed the CoH program down. Re-start the program without having to verify files (odd). Another ten minutes later, and I end up right back at the login screen.

It seems to me that these types of problems are increasing in frequency. Any word from the Devs on the cause?




Stormistress

Having the same trouble here.

I was on this morning. No problem. Tried about two hours ago, and still can't get in.

I tried Verifying files. No good.

I was able to get to the login screen, but then the game hangs for almost five minutes when I try to enter. After that, I get a message about Firewall issues or the login server not being up. It tells me to check the status of the game servers, but they check as "Up".

Note that I have tried several times without success.

I have filed a Support Ticket, but have no response in over an hour. This problem must be widespread, or very hard to solve.




Stormistress

Hmmm. I just wanted to update anyone reading this.

I think I found the problem. Its not all me, but you may find it useful.

It seems that sometimes, the tabs along the top of the details window get de-selected. If that happens, then it looks like you can't get to the details. In that case, try left-clicking on the "All" tab. That restored them for me.

Sorry if I wasted anyone's time.





Stormistress

Hello, everyone.

I've had this problem on two separate characters on two different servers. Is it just me, or are other people having this issue?

I place a salvage item in the market for sale. I am able to set a price, and "post" it. Right after that all of my market details vanish. I can see the headers telling how many are sold, for sale, etc. However, I cannot interact with the details at all.

I did have one partial success. When I placed another salvage item for sale, then I could see the first one briefly. After that nothing.

In the first case, I was on Virtue. While I was typing my Petition, I got mapservered. Subsequently, that server went down. So, off the Infinity where I am trying to clean out several items from a character. I was very dismayed to find the problem had followed me. I thought maybe it was just Virtue.

Please let me know what you think. Thanks!




Stormistress