Useful Tricks/Features for new and old players.
By
Aakan,
Posted on: 2005-12-13 03:13 in Player Guides
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- There is a similar little green arrow in the global friends window. Clicking this will allow you to see more info about your global friends such as: what server they are on, what character they are playing, what level, what archetype, and the size of the team they are on.
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...really?
Okay, I didn't know that.
Very nice summarization and especially useful for new players and even for some older players 
Thanks for putting it together Starflier.
You have to set an option to be able to hear enemies in the PvP zones. (I was _wondering_ why they didn't reply to my taunts...)
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You have to set an option to be able to hear enemies in the PvP zones. (I was _wondering_ why they didn't reply to my taunts...)
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In the options menu, there is a selection to "Allow hero private chat" (for CoV) or to "Allow villain private chat" (for CoH). Enabling these lets you receive /tells from hero to villain and vice versa.
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The print screen button (PrtScr button, near the Scroll Lock or F12 key) will take the picture and put it in the CoH folder under screenshots. Screenshots will not have any interface or windows in them. The game will also take a screenshot with the windows/interface in it and put it on the clipboard. If you want this image you need to open up an image program, Paint will do, and paste it in there and then save it. This will only be saved until the next screenshot is taken.
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You can also type:
/screenshotui 1
This will take screenshots with all the extra windows in it, saves you from having to paste into an image program.
/screenshotui 0 - Will turn it off.
Something I didn't know/realize/see in the manual possibly at first but is VERY useful especially for when you're changing your enhancement type (TO to DO, for example) - enhancements can not just be combined with extra enhancements in a tray, slotted enhancements can be combined with OTHER slotted enhancements of the same type within the same power. (Say you have two end reduction TOs in a power. If you have only enough inf for one endred DO, then, rather than overwriting one of the TOs, you can combine them and keep the TO effective a little longer, while opening up an enhancement slot)
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Something I didn't know/realize/see in the manual possibly at first but is VERY useful especially for when you're changing your enhancement type (TO to DO, for example) - enhancements can not just be combined with extra enhancements in a tray, slotted enhancements can be combined with OTHER slotted enhancements of the same type within the same power. (Say you have two end reduction TOs in a power. If you have only enough inf for one endred DO, then, rather than overwriting one of the TOs, you can combine them and keep the TO effective a little longer, while opening up an enhancement slot)
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I played for almost a year before someone keyed me into this fact. Good addition.
Be well, people of CoH.
Another one on the enhancement side:
If you have 2 DO enhancements that both enhance the same attribute (eg. Damage), and one of the origins of each is the same as your character's origin, then they can be combined and the enhancement takes the form of the higher level DO.
Example:
1 Lvl-5 DO (mutant/Magic) Damage enhancement + 1 Lvl-6 DO (science/mutant) Damage enhancement = 1 Lvl-6+ (Lvl-7) DO (science/mutant) Damage enhancement.
For those who like to play with their costumes;
The new SuperGroup settings allow you to really customise how your basic colours and SG colours are applied- and now you can change the SG colours!
Zapgrrl, 45 EleEle VIRTUE
Darkgrrl, 50 DrkDrk INFINITY
Nuqular Skwirl 37 IllKin VIRTUE
Bayushi Rei, 50 KatReg CHAMPION
Corvus Corone 32 NinDrk INFINITY
...and too many others to admit
"Don't dream it- be it"
Frank'n'Furter
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- A general guideline for making a "good" costume is to stick to 3 or 4 colors. Fewer colours can make the outfit look bland and more often make the outfit look hideous. Having colours and patterns match up can go a long way to improving your look, but don't be afraid to experiment. It's a great system with tons of options to try out.
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Sorry, but that's your opinion and should be stated as such. Two color costumes aren't always 'bland' just like 3-4 color costumes aren't always the most beautiful thing in the world.
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- At level 20, 30 and 40 you can get new costume slots and a free costume in them. You will need to talk to the head tailor in the level-appropriate Icon store (Steel Canyon - 20, Independence Port - 30, and Founder's Falls - 40), They will give you a mission and after completing it you will be able to make your new costume.
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The costume is not "free". When a new slot opens up, a copy of the costume you're wearing (or the one in the previous slot) gets copied into it. Unless you want to have 2 of the same costume in different slots, it will cost you to change them. At least that's how I've always found it to be, unless I still had the free tailor session from I5 left over.
nice guide though.
@Remianen / @Remianen Too
Sig by RPVisions
Nice post, but:
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- If you play a "squishy" (most often defenders, controllers, and blasters) a useful way to keep from dying is to auto-assist a tanker or scrapper. Target the tank or scrapper. From now on you will attack their targets and cast heals/buffs on them. This is a good way to fight since the melee toon will hold the villains attention.
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Is actually bad advice for at least half of all of Defenders and most Controllers. Especially when dealing with enemy-targeted AOE effects or anchor toggles, assisting is a disastrous tactics. And holding a minion that's likely to be dead soon is just as bad. For sheer damage powers, this might work nicely, but keep in mind that only a single Buff/DeBuff set is a straight-out buffer. Rad, Dark, Kin, Storm all have powers that depend on their target being alive for a bit, in which case assisting is counter-productive.
"If you're going through hell, keep going."
Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
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In the options menu, there is a selection to "Allow hero private chat" (for CoV) or to "Allow villain private chat" (for CoH). Enabling these lets you receive /tells from hero to villain and vice versa.
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If you are sending a tell to one of your global friends (or someone else who's global handle you know) then using that global handle (@whoever) will always be heaqrd, and you will alw3ays hear a reply to your global, regardless of which side each player is on or what each of you has this option set to
Pinnacle
EmpError (Katana/Regen 50)
Now that I've got there, my altitis resistance has dropped immensely
Very nice!
Learned a few thing myself
Thank you thank you.
Creepy - Claws/WP Clown - 50 - August 10, 2008
Juniper's Daughter - Fire/Regen Scrapper - 50 - April 12, 2009
Fae Leigh - Grav/Kin Troller - 50 - May 30, 2010
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The print screen button (PrtScr button, near the Scroll Lock or F12 key) will take the picture and put it in the CoH folder under screenshots. Screenshots will not have any interface or windows in them. The game will also take a screenshot with the windows/interface in it and put it on the clipboard. If you want this image you need to open up an image program, Paint will do, and paste it in there and then save it. This will only be saved until the next screenshot is taken.
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You can also type:
/screenshotui 1
This will take screenshots with all the extra windows in it, saves you from having to paste into an image program.
/screenshotui 0 - Will turn it off.
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There is also a Screenshot toggle command you can set up in options that will do the same thing. I use CTL+PrtScn to toggle between a Ui screenshot and normal.
Thanks Starflier, excellent post
If your going to respec, wait until levels 27, 32, or 37. At these levels you can now buy +3 enhancements (probably expensive SOs) and the respec will cash in all your old yellow or red enhancements which will help cover the cost of the replacements.
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- If you decide you want to chage your outfit, you can go to an Icon store. The first you can get to is in Steel Canyon in the NW corner.
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(I know this is an old guide, but...)
Nitpick: The Independence Port Icon is actually the easiest to get to. It's a block west of the King's Row transition.
Also, on Respec at 27 as a way to pay for new stuff: The brilliance and simplicity of such an action leaves me kicking myself--hard--for never having thought of it.
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Also, on Respec at 27 as a way to pay for new stuff: The brilliance and simplicity of such an action leaves me kicking myself--hard--for never having thought of it.
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Respecing is also the trendy new way to generate income to slot out old toons in IOs, or to unslot Set IOs that you want to replace with better ones and still have the old ones to resell on the market.
Centinull
Making buttons to "do stuff".
I get asked this constantly. "how do I make a button to say 'Gather for RA'?"
Type this:
/macro RA s Gather for RA
you get a button titled RA that "says" (s) Gather for RA on the current chat channel you're on.
I also use this one quite a bit to point at enemies and identify them:
/macro point em point
that makes your character use the point emote... then you right click it and edit it to say this:
em point$$s $target!
Now, when you click, it will point and say "Void Slayer!" or whatever name you currently have targetted. Keep in mind, I use "s" for say so it always goes to the default channel, whether it be supergroup, team, local, broadcast etc...
I enjoyed reading this.I wish this was out when i first started , it would have saved me a headache or 2. Although i did not learn anything new...... I know this will help alot of people , and at the same time think there are alot of people out there that should read it =) especially the part about focusing on the melee toon, in most cases and sending a tell before blind invites.....=( . I would add guys cut the noobs a break we were all there at one time.
Thanks for the work , excellent guide !!!
Masterwukiller
Well colour me surprised. I'd forgotten all about this.
Nice to see some people got something out of it, and even better to see others adding to it.
- Using a free respec is as easy as typing /respec
- To use a respec you earned through the trial, go to the lobby of the Freedom Corps building in Galaxy City (right behind Back Alley Brawler) and talk to Jack Wolfe.
They ALL float down here. When you're down here with us, you'll float too!
@Starflier
I had no idea you could combine enhancements within a power like that, and I've been playing for almost a year and a half now! Handy!
JUSTICE
Caveman Etc: Inv/Stone Tank, Hyperdrive Etc: Gravity/Kinetics Controller, Terra-Storm Etc: Earth/Storm Controller, Cpt. Thunderstrike: Energy/Electric Blaster, Psicada: Sonic/Energy Blaster, Neon Ranger: Archery/Electric Blaster, Devlin Hellshot: Dark/Dual Pistols Defender
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I had no idea you could combine enhancements within a power like that, and I've been playing for almost a year and a half now! Handy!
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I've been playing for over a year and a half and no one ever took the time to let me know that bit. as well as with the macros. Thx!!
Topher Wade lvl 50 Claws/Regen
The Crimson Heroes Society SG
Chaos Faction VG
Official Naturalized Citizen of Justice since 2007
Here's a tip for when you are looking to put together a team, and want to send a Tell to your prospective members.
First, make a macro:
/macro Team "t $target, I'm putting together a good team to do Level $level missions. Are you interested?"
Then pop up the Search window, click on any characters who might be interested and click the macro. You have sent an instant tell to the person telling him or her that you will be doing your level missions. If the person accepts, then right-click on the name in the search window and select "Invite to Team."
Once the person joins, you can use another macro:
/macro Hi "g Hello, $target! Welcome to the team. While you are on your way here, I will be looking for more folks to join us."
It is polite to let them know that you can't chat while you look for others.
LOCAL MAN! The most famous hero of all. There are more newspaper stories about me than anyone else. "Local Man wins Medal of Honor." "Local Man opens Animal Shelter." "Local Man Charged with..." (Um, forget about that one.)
Guide Links: Earth/Rad Guide, Illusion/Rad Guide, Electric Control
I figured for my 100th post I'd do something helpful, rather that just respond to someone else's post.
Having played CoH for nearly a year I have noticed many quality of life features are not obvious. There are also things that are learned through experience and need to be shared.
Along those lines here is a list of some things which may be helpful to new players and even some old players. I'm still learning about little features which make this great game even better. I would like to encourage everyone to add their own ideas to this as well.
- Change the keybind for autorun (usually R as default). This has killed more heroes than villains, n00bs, and stupidity combined. Suddenly charging into a pile of villains is most often not a good thing. Set it to something out of the way. It can be nice while traveling long distances (so you don't have to hold down the forward key) but it can be a hassle.
- Status protection is a must on a tanker or scrapper. These powers (Unyielding, Rooted, Practiced Brawler, etc) will give you protection from things like sleep, confuse, knockback, holds, to name a few. They are extremely important for a melee character. My tank didn't have unyielding until 26 (its available at lvl 8) and after I got it I literally slapped my noob self for not grabbing it sooner.
- If someone sends you a tell (private message) you don't have to type in a bunch of stuff to reply. Hit Backspace (the default key) and it will set up an autoreply, or tell to that person. Then, just type your message in and hit enter. This comes in handy when chatting while in missions, or just to speed things up.
- To send a tell to someone you will need to type the following: /t Player_name, message. The /t and the , (comma) are very important as is the proper spelling of the players name, so make sure to take your time to get it right. Otherwise you'll have to do it again.
- Your global id is important too. It is represented as @whatever, for instance mine is @Starflier. You can use this in place of a player name when sending a tell. A tell to a global id will be saved for that person, even if they are offline when you send it. You are only allowed to change you global id once so make certain you are sure about what you want.
- One thing that comes up often is about the chat channels. If someone is talking on Broadcast or Request, they are in the same zone as you. Local is within a couple dozen feet of you. Team, friends, coalition, supergroup, arena channels will let you communicate with people in any zone.
- If you join a team, make sure you are using the team channel. You can change the channel at the bottom of the chat window with the little buttons. This keeps you from broadcasting wierd and annoying stuff over broadcast.
- F10 is the key to execute your battle cry, which you can fill in on your ID page. This will broadcast on your active channel, so try to make sure you're on team or local, so you don't spam your zone or sg with your battle cry.
- F7 will make your character say "Ready!" on your active channel while giving a thumbs up. This can be helpful in teams when people ask if everyone's ready.
- To pan the camera around (so you can take pics of the front of your character) there are 2 methods. Hold the middle mouse button and move the mouse to where you want the camera positioned. You can also hold Page Up while using Q or E to swing the camera around. The print screen button (PrtScr button, near the Scroll Lock or F12 key) will take the picture and put it in the CoH folder under screenshots. Screenshots will not have any interface or windows in them. The game will also take a screenshot with the windows/interface in it and put it on the clipboard. If you want this image you need to open up an image program, Paint will do, and paste it in there and then save it. This will only be saved until the next screenshot is taken.
- When on a team, in the team window there is a green arrow on the right hand side. Clicking this will turn on/off your ability to see powers and effects on teammates. Having this on can be useful if you're buffing others, and turning it off will make it easier to see the action while still keeping your team window open. This will also show what zone your teammates are in ( there names will be on a black bar, as opposed to green if they are in another zone).
- There is a similar little green arrow in the global friends window. Clicking this will allow you to see more info about your global friends such as: what server they are on, what character they are playing, what level, what archetype, and the size of the team they are on.
- If you play a "squishy" (most often defenders, controllers, and blasters) a useful way to keep from dying is to auto-assist a tanker or scrapper. Target the tank or scrapper. From now on you will attack their targets and cast heals/buffs on them. This is a good way to fight since the melee toon will hold the villains attention.
- CoH has a good system for people looking to team. On your team window, if you're not on a team, you can set yourself to "looking for team" and include a message for people looking to invite others. You can also use this window to find teammates to invite to your team.
- When inviting people, it is felt by many that "blind invites" are quite rude. This is when someone invites a player to a team without first sending a tell. It is a matter of etiquette, but blind invites can often result in joining a bad team. When putting together a team, a simple tell like so, "Interested in joining a lvl 20 team for missions in Striga?" goes a long way to finding players who want to join and help. Sending a tell or invite from the search window is easy, as their are buttons for both.
- Not everyone set to looking for team is, and not everyone set to not looking isn't. A lot of people don't change their "flag" very often. Once again, this is where a simple tell helps.
- A general guideline for making a "good" costume is to stick to 3 or 4 colors. Fewer colours can make the outfit look bland and more often make the outfit look hideous. Having colours and patterns match up can go a long way to improving your look, but don't be afraid to experiment. It's a great system with tons of options to try out.
- If you decide you want to chage your outfit, you can go to an Icon store. The first you can get to is in Steel Canyon in the NW corner. It's a small fee to adjust colors, but changing other options can be very pricey.
- At level 20, 30 and 40 you can get new costume slots and a free costume in them. You will need to talk to the head tailor in the level-appropriate Icon store (Steel Canyon - 20, Independence Port - 30, and Founder's Falls - 40), They will give you a mission and after completing it you will be able to make your new costume.
- Also, at 20 and 30 (respectively) you can unlock cape and aura options for your costume. Talk to the City Representative in city hall building to get the cape/aura mission. When finished you will be able to add capes or auras to your costume at an Icon store.
- Selling enhancements at a like store will get you much more money. So try to sell tech enhancements at a tech shop, magic at a Pandora's Box store, etc.
- People are pretty good in this game, so don't be afraid to ask. And don't be put off by the jerks. If someone is irritating you, use /ignore Player_name and you will no longer be able to hear them. Ignorance is bliss sometimes.
Anyway, I hope some of these help you out and I hope you can help others by adding to the list.
Have fun out there.