BUG: Missing Capes - Vet, Paid, and 1st level

We all know you need to be level 20 to unlock capes, *except* if you have the Veteran Reward of Single Shoulder capes, or, you bought the Mac Edition or the Magic Booster which gives you the Valkyrie and High Collar Capes.

However, what is and is not available to a level 1 character with all the cape extras is wildly inconsistent. The following examples are from an account with the Veteran Single Shoulder cape and every other Paid-For Cape from collector's editions, regular editions, and boosters.


Let's start with the Veteran Single Shoulder Cape. You get this option from level 1:

Single Shoulder > Long | Short > standard patterns

However, it is missing these 'patterns': Valkyrie, Occult, Arcane, DVD Edition Cape (Four Winds), COV DVD Edition Cape (Arachnos).

Now, you might say that they're separate goodies and one shouldn't expect these patterns to be available on all other cape styles, and to that I respond: oh, but it has. All those patterns show up on the High Collar cape from the Magic Booster. The Valkyrie pattern used to be available on the Single Shoulder cape but is now missing. If I earned and purchased all these styles and patterns and they do get crossed over in some cases, then they should be crossed over in all cases. There's no rhyme or reason for saying that some can be mixed and matched but not others. Let's be consistent.



Double Shoulder Options

From level 1, all the other Double Shoulder mantle options (Full, Half, Asymmetrical, Over Shoulder Mantles) have the Valkyrie Pattern. So... why can't they also have the Occult, Arcane, DVD Edition Cape (Four Winds), and the COV DVD Edition Cape (Arachnos) patterns? Let's set a consistent policy that all Paid-For capes are available at level 1 in all styles rather than just one (High Collar).



High Collar Options

From level 1, the High Collar has these options for Male and Huge Models:

Basic > no detail2
Occult > no detail2
Arcane > no detail2
Long Cape > all standard patterns
COV DVD Edition Cape (Arachnos) > no detail2
DVD Edition Cape (Four Winds) > no detail2
Valkyrie > no detail2

Notice how having the Magic Booster High Collar Capes allows you at level 1 to basically have any cape in the game. You want a cape with the fire logo or the Arctic cape? Just chose High Collar and Long and you can have it from level 1. The only thing missing here is a High Collar Short Cape option with all the standard patterns.

Now, notice I said these were the options for Male and Huge Models. For the Female Model at level 1 only this was available under High Collar:
Basic > no detail2
Arcane > no detail2
Valkyrie > no detail2

Not only were the Long and DVD capes missing, but so was the Occult Cape which is very much a part of the Booster Pack. The Occult Collar was also missing for the Female Model.



Now, once capes are unlocked at level 20, new bugs appear:

The Female Model has High Collar > Short Cape as an option, but the capes are not short, they're still long. (Also, Occult is still missing.)



And that's it. There are some obvious bugs here, but also an inconsistent policy, namely, a decision needs to be made as to what will or will not be available to a character that has not 'unlocked' capes at level 20. If exceptions are made, then those exceptions should be evenly applied to every Model. And if some exclusive patterns are 'proliferated' to some exclusive styles, they should be proliferated to *all* styles for maximum choice and customization.

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Wow, hadn't noticed this before, but while reading your post, I confirmed every single point on my other monitor ('cept the 4 winds cape; don't have that).

This is going to bug me now every time I start a new character...

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"My inner mind has become a reality-cracking overgod. He torments me! Help!"

While I agree with you that all patterns should be proliferated consistently where they're made available (Females need the Occult cape pattern, in particular), I personally disagree with ANY of the full capes being available prior to capes being unlocked. (I make exception for the single-shoulder cape, since it's not really a "cape" per se.)

Yes, I understand that those capes are part of a booster pack and were paid for. But you know, the Four Winds cape and the Arachnos cape were part of special editions previously, and they weren't available prior to having capes unlocked.

The in-game storyline treats capes as a very specific reward tied to accomplishing specific deeds/honoring another's specific deeds, and shouldn't be given out willy-nilly to every brand new hero/villain on the block.

(That being said, if the devs insist on allowing all of the "paid for" items to be accessible at level 1, they should at least block out the non-booster capes. By this I mean that using the High Collar option to get a cape prior to properly unlocking capes should only get you access to Basic, Arcane, Occult, Arachnos, Four Winds, and Valkyrie capes - depending on which sets were purchased for your respective account.)

"Earning" your cape in-game used to be a big deal. It should still be one.

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Well, the mechanical reason of delaying capes to level 20 came about because capes were added after the game launch. It seems to me, in my opinion, that they came up with a poor introduction of capes with an in-game reason of Hero-1 and the omega team sacrifice. So they basically said to players, "The reason your toons didn't have capes, but do now is that capes were banned in the game world as a sign of mourning and respect for the Omega Team." OK, a sign of mourning. But when that mourning was over, they allowed capes... but only for security level 20 and higher. Which is really odd.

It would be like banning US flag lapel pins after 9/11 as a sign of mourning. And then when they allowed the pins again, only those in the government of the rank of governor or senator or higher could wear them. That suggestion would be roundly mocked in the real world. And yet, the cape back story is accepted in the game...

Even though there are half capes from level 1...

Even though there are magic and valkyrie capes from level 1...

Even though villains have to abide by the same rule even though they don't give a carp and aren't under Paragon City's jurisdiction...

Even though the Omega team has returned.


Perhaps since we have hints that the Omega Team time capsule is going to play a role in the story if I15, the Devs will do away with the cape mission and allow capes from level 1.


I wonder what reason they'll give that Praetorians can't have capes until level 20?

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