gameboy1234

Srly? Thanks for pointing that out, I didn't realize. That does improve the ITF as a substitute for a Trial quite a bit.

Because if the solo path gave something equivalent to Trial XP to single players, then a team of 8 could do the solo content at something like 10x the current Trial rate.

Slower pace > no pace. So what?

Sorta, partially correct. ITF was the best task force to run when the Alpha slot first came out, so a lot of players still think you should start there. However, you can get components for the Alpha Slot, and threads, and Incarnate XP on the regular Incarnate Trials, so I think it's actually better to just run those instead. Whereas on a TF you just get Shards, which are like lesser threads, and none of the other stuff.

If you see an ITF form up, jump on it. But if you have a choice, run a trial.

The other big huge thing, as mentioned already, is the Weekly Strike Target. This is a task force (and a strike force) chosen by the devs to get extra rewards. The rewards include shards (which you'd get on the ITF too), extra XP, extra Reward Merits and a Notice of the Well. The Notice is huge because it can be "upgraded" to 40 threads, and that's a lot.

As the name implies, you can run a Weekly Strike Target for extra rewards once per week per character. (That's character, not account. Run as many as your alts as you like, they all qualify once per week.) Since there's only one (or two, if you count red and blue separately) there's usually a pretty good number of these forming up. Especially right on Tues. when the new one comes out.

Shards can be used for the Alpha slot (and only the alpha slot). But I think it's faster and easier to use the Incarnate components now. Shards can also be upgraded to Threads. You don't get a lot of Threads for your Shards, but every little bit helps.


Your next step should be to plan out what Alpha slot abilities you want for each of your toons, as well as your Judgement and Interface slots (*). Then note what kind of Incarnate Component it requires (i.e., what kind of salvage). Note it down per character so you aren't too confused when the reward menu splashes across the screen at the end of a trial. (I was totally confused by that thing for like three weeks straight. I'm only a bit better now.) As a general rule, picking the wrong Common or Uncommon component is not a big deal. Sidegrades are cheap. You do want to try to get the right Rare and Very Rare components correct however, as those are darn near impossible to change (in terms of them costing a lot of threads to do so).

My 2 Inf.

(*) For Judgement, Ion is never bad. You can just plan on Core Ion if you don't know what else to do and if it makes the planning easier.

http://paragonwiki.com/wiki/Signature_Story_Arc

Alignment Merit -- not really part of any system, it's a reward. Spend for phat l3wt at Fort Trident or The Crucible. I recommend getting the Alignment Merit as a reward, it's generally much better than any others, although it's not Incarnate related at all. Note that you must have completed a Morality mission to qualify for this (11 Tip missions, basically; the first time you might have to do that twice--22 missions for your new toons).

Reward Merits -- R-Merits are now rewards for all TFs and SFs. Basically they replace the random recipe rolls. Spend at a merit vendor for recipes and other goodies.

Astral Merit -- An Incarnate reward, these can be converted into incarnate components, but serves mainly as a reward. Talk to Astral Christy and Empyrean Michael in Ouroboros to see what you can buy.

10 Threads -- An Incarnate reward, these can be converted into incarnate components, and it's probably the better choice if you need incarnate loot. But I think grinding trials is a better option, you get plenty of threads. Only choose this if you know you need it or if Alignment Merits and Astral Merits are unavailable.

Honestly, those global channels are your best bet. Well, the global channels and these forums. You can ask questions as issues come up and get reasonably well-informed answers.

The best source of reading material is ParagonWiki.com. Here's some links:

Mender Rameil:
http://paragonwiki.com/wiki/Mender_Ramiel

Alpha Slot, your first incarnate power:
http://paragonwiki.com/wiki/Alpha_Slot

Alpha Slot abilities (you'll need to ask questions on this, it's complicated):
http://paragonwiki.com/wiki/Alpha_Slot_Abilities

The rest of the Incarnate System (put an ice pack on your head and lie down after reading):
http://paragonwiki.com/wiki/Incarnate_Abilities

Just FYI, we how have a 2nd build which you can access any time. You could easily have a primary build with all your existing IOs, and a second build with SOs for F2P. Something to keep in mind if you do ever drop back to freemium.


You're already light-years ahead of 75% of the returnees we get around here.

Yes and yes. You want "vigilante," which allows you to be a hero but still visit the Rogues Isles. You can't get contacts in the Rogues Isles (unless you go fully villain) but you can team there and also get newspaper missions from the brokers.

Be aware that Tip missions offer sweet sweet rewards if you DON'T switch and stay as a hero. Visit Fort Trident in Atlas Park and talk to B.O.T.L.E.R. Really really good stuff there.


No, visit Mender Ramiel in Ouroboros. Do his arc (its fun and mostly easy; squishies may need some help on missions after the first--definitely solo the first one though, it's designed to let anyone solo it ). That will get you started on the Incarnate content.

Find the global channels for your server (which server are you on, anyway?) and join those. Then you'll be hooked up to get on all the trials that get you incarnate rewards. It takes a bit of grinding, but the rewards do happen pretty quickly, all things considered.

Welcome back!

Thank you for that. Honestly, I was a jerk to someone else on these forums a while back, and now I regret it. So I'm trying to behave better myself.

This is a fair point. Personally, I think it was mostly existing players that bought the Going Rogue expansion. However, I'm sure that some players were new, and I'd being interested in hearing from some brand new folks, too, what they thought.

The biggest problem with Praetoria, imo, is it's a third starting area, in a game that's already heavily tilted in terms of players to one side (Heroes). If there where more experienced players playing with the new players in Praetoria, I think an perceived difficulty would be a lot less.

As it is, both Praetoria and Rogues Isles do kinda have a population problem on any server besides Freedom and Virtue, and that's another issue that leads to "difficulty" for new players.

Super Packs cost 80 points ($1) for one and 1440 points ($18) for 24. That's hardly "never spend a dime."

While true, considering they just did spend $1 or more, requiring another $2 to make that first expenditure fully useful seems poor customer relations. Personally, I don't think the addition $2 should be necessary.

And frankly, I could do without the ROFMAO!, as that comes across as mocking the poster, and their opinions. Let's not throw any more gas on the fire, eh?

Personally I was really happy with the difficulty curve of Praetorian content. I think the increased difficulty did make the content more interesting and more engaging.

I've only taken a brute and a blaster through Praetoria, so take that as you like. (I don't care for defenders.) And my blaster got a Jet Pack at level 5 and said "Goodbye to knockback and melee" so there's that little detail too.

This is a good point. I also wonder if there is a difference between "deluxe" and just the regular box set. If deluxe is just the hero clix figure and the map, there might not be any difference between the type of codes for the deluxe set and just the regular box set.

Have you ever applied a regular CoH box set code?

I haven't, for example. I started with the Good vs. Evil edition and I think I could still apply both an original City of Heroes and a City of Villains code if I could find one.

Actually, I take that back. I applied a "macintosh" code back when the gift for it was the Valkyrie costume, so I might have actually applied a CoH code to my account after all. Dunno but it would be reasonable for NC Soft to treat some of those codes as the same, imo.

Good luck with customer support, but be aware just Alpha said, you might have applied that code already, even if you didn't realize it.

No, in the comedy genre that was "Better Off Dead." But "Death Becomes Her" was a good and really funny movie. Must see if you haven't yet.

Whatever I'm playing.

No.

Nerve Alpha + Power Boost will hit the soft cap for bots and teammates easily. It's actually quite easy to hit the softcap on your pets. Just slot for Def (one is enough) in the Protector Bots. Once you get two the bubbles will double and your pets (at least the Drones and the Assault Bot) will be a lot closer to the soft cap.

Now *you* is a different question. I don't know that it's desirable to hit the softcap for you personally. You can hit the soft cap for teammates who stand in dispersion bubble easily, but you have bodyguard mode. Scorpion shield, one protector bot bubble, dispersion bubble and maneuvers gives enough to not care about the soft cap.