I'm not going to answer the question you asked. I'm going to be that old guy yelling at the kids.
GO OUTSIDE ! DO SOMETHING !
The Architect Entertainment system has a whole lot of farming and powerlevelling in it. MOST people advertising in broadcast for teammates are farming and powerlevelling. There are people doing cool things and interesting story arcs, but they don't tend to shout at the top of their lungs.
If you're new to the game... walk around. Get some sun. Stop some muggings. Do the missions your introductory contact gives you. Skip the Hollows your first time -it's optional content- and go to Kings Row at level 6. Do some radio missions, get a jetpack, fly around. Follow either the Dr. Vazh or Clockwork storyline from start to end, around level 17. Find out about the world. Team a little. Maybe after doing the clockwork storyline, do the Synapse task force.
The AE gives you a chance to run through new stories, if you're bored of all the old stories. Or you can get to level 50 in a week and go "What's the big deal about this game? Why do people think it's fun? All I did was stand there and watch big rock guys stomp cyborgs for no reason, over and over."
If you don't like the "get mission, read text, do mission, find out about the world" part of this game... it's probably not the game for you. But you should at least TRY that style of game.
Mini-guides: Force Field Defenders, Blasters, Market Self-Defense, Frankenslotting.
So you think you're a hero, huh.
@Boltcutter in game.
First off, welcome to the game.
Second, don't get too fond of AE teams. There's alot more to the game than AE. I'd take the time and explore other zones. Outside of Atlas Park, AE teams become less common and you'll be recruited for other types of teams.
Also, there's a bit of a stigma of just leveling up with AE and being ignorant of the other aspects of the game, especially since AE tends to favor combat against enemies that are weak compared to the amount of xp they give.
If you can't find a team, try starting your own. CoH has a great looking for team feature. Use it. Most players are often too shy to start up teams on their own and will join if politely asked via tells.
Virtue is active just about on all hours. What I'd recommend you do is to go to the Virtue boards and ask to join one of the various teaming channels. That's where a lot of the information for taskforces, badging, raids and yes, even farming are advertised.
Link to Virtue teaming channels sticky
Welcome to the Game 
.
What the previous posters have said about AE teams I'll concur with. If you're doing AE, you're missing much of the game and a lot of important lessons.
But, I've got a question for you: are you on a Trial Account? That of course limits your communication possibilities and will change the advice we should give.
Also, is there anything else you've been wondering at and would like to ask about? (Just so's you know, "newb" is not an indictable offense in this game. We're funny that way 
.)
Get outta Atlas Park as soon as you can, I'd say avoid the AE until you're officially bored with non-AE content. You'll grow bored of farming much sooner, trust me.
If you're playing on off-hours, you can try a different server. (making new alts is quick and easy, the game encourages it) Justice, for instance, has lots of Australian and other off-peak players, so it's more likely to be populated 24/7 by someone or other.
Hello and welcome.
Here's a list of the servers and what their populations may be like. I play on Victory, since I play mostly in the Eastern US day/Euro evening hours.
Bookmark Paragon Wiki. It is a neigh indispensable source of information about the game.
Have fun with your characters. Find a play style and archetype that suits you.
Cannot find a team? Form your own!
Also, make sure your team-search flag is set properly, with an informative search comment.
Join server-specific badge/teaming/task force channels.
Join an active supergroup that doesn't treat you like an indentured servant.
Put good helpful players on your friends list, and chat them up once in a while, taking care that they may not remember you!
Put complimentary notes, and high-star ratings on good and helpful players to pick them out of the crowd.
AE content can be challenging, funny, and interesting. It can also be mind-numbingly boring grind-fests.
There is much this game has to offer. There are many helpful people willing to answer questions and help you out.
And, the game is designed so that any archetype can solo as well.
www.paragonwiki.com is a great source of information for this game.
New or returning to the game? Want advice from experienced players who want to help YOU?
The Mentor Project: Part of the New Player Council.
[ QUOTE ]
TCM_doc: I am really new to this game. Just started 3 days ago.
I play on Virtue server.
One thing I've noticed is that I cannot find a group.
I had a group running 3~4 runs of AE team then we went to sleep.
However, yesterday and today I have had no luck at all.
Is it because I am playing at a later schedule?
PST 9:00pm~12:00am ish.
What are your suggestions for me so that I will have an easier time to find an AE team?
[/ QUOTE ]
<ul type="square">[*]You are in an awkward time slot because a lot of people are winding down their sessions around the time that you're starting.[*]Regardless, at the top of your chat window, you can set your teaming flag to either "Looking for any" or "Looking for team." You can see what the flag looks like by typing /sea[*]Generally, you're not interested in AE missions because that's user-generated content that won't necessarily help you learn the game mechanics.[*]Instead, speak to your contacts, develop their story arcs, and obtain new contacts as you advance in level.[*]In these forums, you can consult the Player Guides >> Guide to Guides section about how team recruiting works, and for good advice about building/supporting good teams.[/list]
-Johnny
Thank you all for your sincere suggestion!
I am playing on full version, so communication is not a problem for me.
I might try Justice server, so I can play with the Aussies who are 4 or 5 hours behind my time.
It is good to know that I can play any class and still be able to solo, I was afraid that this game is team oriented like FF11 and if I pick a wrong class no one is going to team with me.
I guess I got spoiled by the AE team by having some "power leveling" feeling just the first day.
I will now try the old "quest and level" type of game play.
Thanks again!
Virtue is my main and those are the times I usually play, mainly because that is when I get home from work. Look me up round 10:30 Pacific under global @Kryhavoc. I'll team with you and show you around.
The phrase people use is "This game doesn't start at level 50. This game starts at level 1."
Welcome and have fun!
Mini-guides: Force Field Defenders, Blasters, Market Self-Defense, Frankenslotting.
So you think you're a hero, huh.
@Boltcutter in game.
[ QUOTE ]
The phrase people use is "This game doesn't start at level 50. This game starts at level 1."
[/ QUOTE ]
This.
Get to 50 in AE as fast as you can, and then look for a "Master of Statesman Task Force". If anyone asks if you're new, tell them no, it's an alt account and you're a 60 month veteran on your primary account who has successfully led and completed the MOSTF at least 20 times. Trust me, there's no better way for a newb to learn the game than to run a MOSTF with a bunch of veteran players. Feel free to ask newbie questions while running it, and don't worry about dying, nobody will be upset if you do, since you're a newbie after all.
[ QUOTE ]
The phrase people use is "This game doesn't start at level 50. This game starts at level 22."
Welcome and have fun!
[/ QUOTE ]
Fixed
[ QUOTE ]
Get to 50 in AE as fast as you can, and then look for a "Master of Statesman Task Force". If anyone asks if you're new, tell them no, it's an alt account and you're a 60 month veteran on your primary account who has successfully led and completed the MOSTF at least 20 times. Trust me, there's no better way for a newb to learn the game than to run a MOSTF with a bunch of veteran players. Feel free to ask newbie questions while running it, and don't worry about dying, nobody will be upset if you do, since you're a newbie after all.
[/ QUOTE ]
For the obtuse (or very trusting), this is not to be taken seriously, and is most likely satire.
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Get to 50 in AE as fast as you can, and then look for a "Master of Statesman Task Force". If anyone asks if you're new, tell them no, it's an alt account and you're a 60 month veteran on your primary account who has successfully led and completed the MOSTF at least 20 times. Trust me, there's no better way for a newb to learn the game than to run a MOSTF with a bunch of veteran players. Feel free to ask newbie questions while running it, and don't worry about dying, nobody will be upset if you do, since you're a newbie after all.
[/ QUOTE ]
For the obtuse, this is not to be taken seriously, and is most likely satire.
[/ QUOTE ]
To clarify, the Statesman's Task Force is one of the (intentionally) hardest bits of content in the game. The Master of Statesman's Task Force is a special challenge setting where you attempt to complete it with no Temp Powers used and no deaths whatsoever. MoSTF requires a great deal of game knowledge and team coordination. If you can do it, you get a special badge for bragging rights.
Hence the "humor" (in quotes) of the above where a group's MoSTF run would be botched by someone who didn't know what they were doing yet.
With that said, at Herocon I also saw a group try to PuG the MoSTF with an intoxicated team-lead. They blew it, but they still made a good effort at it .
If you do what I say, you'll definitely learn some important lessons about this game.
Such as "never listen to Not_Rhino"?
Iscariot's Guide to the Tri-Form Warshade, version 2.1
I'm sorry that math > your paranoid delusions, but them's the breaks -- Nethergoat
P.E.R.C. Rep for Liberty server
[ QUOTE ]
I might try Justice server, so I can play with the Aussies who are 4 or 5 hours behind my time.
It is good to know that I can play any class and still be able to solo, I was afraid that this game is team oriented like FF11 and if I pick a wrong class no one is going to team with me.
[/ QUOTE ]
Playing on Justice is a good idea. Of course, there's nothing stopping you from continuing to play on Virtue and making other characters on Justice.
Bear in mind that although Justice is the unofficial Australia/Oceanic server, Virtue has a lot more people than Justice. I've played on both, and I actually have an easier time finding teams on Virtue at strange hours.
I know all about strange hours, since I'm a) not in the US, and b) used to work rotating shifts. Sometimes early morning, sometimes evening.
But that's my experience - your milage may vary. See what works for you.
City of Heroes/Villains is very solo friendly compared to other MMOs. Everyone can solo. It's just that some will solo faster than others. It's not just your archetype (class) that matters, but also your power choices.
But honestly, play what you want. Any combination can work in this game. Some work better than others, but anything will work - pick what's fun to you, and make the superhero you wanna play. Don't worry too much about efficiency and cutting edge builds. There's folks who push the limit in this game, but the majority of players are quite laid back.
@Acyl
VIRTUE
Blue: Realpolitik, Leading Lady, Glass Lass, Superball, Alec Kazam
Red: Battery Acid, Obsolete, Bugfix
[ QUOTE ]
But honestly, play what you want. Any combination can work in this game. Some work better than others, but anything will work - pick what's fun to you, and make the superhero you wanna play. Don't worry too much about efficiency and cutting edge builds. There's folks who push the limit in this game, but the majority of players are quite laid back.
[/ QUOTE ]
You also don't need the normal MMO-trinity of Tank/Healer/DPS. You can run a team with 8 Blasters and do just fine; what matters is if everyone understands the strengths and limitations of their powersets.
So: don't stress of your AT selection, don't stress of team composition, do work up hands-on experience with your chosen powersets.
Hi all, thank you for your input and tip!
I am now happily playing on Virtue. I've found out that AE team isn't everything. I am enjoying solo time and also team time during weekend (I can play on earlier hour than weekdays). I am currently lv 16 fire blaster/dev on Virtue.
The game got very interesting after I got my Superspeed (grr no more walking =P)
@kryhavoc - I've never seen you online @_@
Virtues my home as well and i'm almost always on, look me up and we can talk traditional chinese medicine as well lol
Your first travel power is always a very nice thing to get. It's one of those big stepping stones as a character.
Incidentally, you'll get a major power boost at 22 when you gain access to Single Origin enhancements (you can buy them at the shop of your origin in Talos Island), so you have something to look forward to. In the meantime, I suggest you put your next few power picks into the Fitness pool, to get Stamina- most characters in the game benefit from this power, that dramatically increases your endurance recovery, meaning much less downtime.
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[ QUOTE ]
The phrase people use is "This game doesn't start at level 50. This game starts at level 1."
Welcome and have fun!
[/ QUOTE ]
Fixed
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Unfixed to not be wrong.
I have to agree and say LEAVE the AE buidling and learn the game. AE was, supposed to be, created for older players with multiple 50 levels that were tired and bored with original content they have seen dozens of times or more. It can be fun, it can lead to fast leveling but it does skip some added bonuses only found outside. Run the TFS.. Posi, Synapse, Sister P, Citadel, Manticore and Numina and you earn the TF Commander Accolade (you just 5% to your total hit points something you can never get on a farm). Do the Moonfire TF along with acquiring a couple Exploration badges, a History Badge and the Spelunker badge (from a contact) and with a little hunting on Striga Island for the rest of your war wolves and Vamprii you have the Atlas Badge and a 5% increase in endurance. You'd be amazed at the amount of temporary powers you can add doing certain mission in Striga and Croatoa, Founders Falls as well ... I have characters with an entire Icon tray full adding extra defenses and attacks I can use .. None of that exists in the AE building. Fight some Rikti during invasions and grab the accolade for that ..it gives you Elusive Mind a permanent Accolade power that provide Mez protection when facing villains like the Rikti, COT, Carnival of Shadow. etc.
At some point you'll meet and become friends with other players from those TFs or other teams you find and can actually team with them on a regular basis.
Want more costume options including some really cool looking weapons? Take out enough of the right Villain group and you can get them. The Katie Hannon TF gets you a witches hat. Take out an elite Zombie during one of their invasions and earn a Pumpkin head costume piece. There are a LOT of things out there beyond Atlas Park that make the game enjoyable and you've been here 3 days. Go find them.
�We�re always the good guys. In D&D, we�re lawful good. In City of Heroes we�re the heroes. In Grand Theft Auto we pay the prostitutes promptly and never hit them with a bat.� � Leonard
�Those women are prostitutes? You said they were raising money for stem cell research!� � Sheldon
Hi all,
I am really new to this game. Just started 3 days ago.
I play on Virtue server.
One thing I've noticed is that I cannot find a group.
I had a group running 3~4 runs of AE team then we went to sleep.
However, yesterday and today I have had no luck at all.
Is it because I am playing at a later schedule?
PST 9:00pm~12:00am ish.
What are your suggestions for me so that I will have an easier time to find an AE team?