Best advice I can think of is to run the Invention Tutorial, and run the AE tutorial just to refresh and learn those 2 major systems. Don't get too hung up on learning the Auction House UI, because it's going to have a revamp when Issue 17 hits in a few weeks. You will get an introduction to either Montague Castanella (hero) or Ashley McKnight (villain) and they're your path to learning about the Midnighter Club and from there Cimerora.
Welcome back.
"Null is as much an argument "for removing the cottage rule" as the moon being round is for buying tennis shoes." -Memphis Bill
Not sure what you might want to know. Issue 9... hrm, no real major changes (ala ED or GDN) since then.
I guess you could browse ParagonWiki?
Head of TRICK, the all Trick Arrow and Traps SG
Part of the Repeat Offenders
Still waiting for his Official BackAlleyBrawler No-Prize
Well there has been a lot of new stuff since then. The Highlights:
1. The Invention system adds a lot of potential power, but SO builds are still perfectly viable. Soft-capped Defense and perma-hasten are probably the most popular goals
2. The Rikti Crash Site got replaced with the Rikti War Zone which has a series of story arcs starting at level 35, a co-op task force, a raid on the mothership and (after doing the first mission) Vanguard Merits to buy the Vanguard Uniform costume pieces.
3. Ouroboros allows people above level 24 to re-run any story arcs or badge missions that they have out leveled
4. The Midnight Club has a story arc that once run allows you access to Cimerora: a Roman themed zone with repeatable missions and a co-op TF (min level 35)
5. Day Jobs mean that your characters get bonuses based on where they logged out and for how long. All logged out characters (regardless of location) gain Patrol XP which is basically anti-debt. You gain 50% more XP as long as it lasts.
6. The Mission Architect allows people to make interesting stories and share them with other people (Sturgeon's Law applies). It's also used as a PL'ing/Farming tool but the devs try and smack down the worst exploits.
7. It is now possible to change the colors of your powers in the costume editor (some exceptions apply) and choose between different weapon models for the weapon sets.
Well, I think the main thing to know about is that each server now have Global Chat Channels for teaming, task forces, etc. So your best bet is to join one and ask questions as you run across unfamilair issues during gameplay.
There is also the "Help" channel (which is a tab located in the upper chat window of your UI) that you can also ask questions to.
Other than that, all I can think of is to watch out for AE babies. XD
There's also Super Sidekicking, no more having to find a mentor on the team. Team members automatically adjusts (sk up or exemplar down) to the team leader or whoever has the active mission. In addition, XP all the time, even when exemplared. There was a post of someone wanting to try to level a new character to 50 only by joining lowbie Sewer teams in Atlas. The world has gone crazy!
Teams are the number one killer of soloists.
Welcome home, MrNoj 
EDIT: Also, there are no noobs - only inexpereinced veterans
@Golden Girl
City of Heroes comics and artwork
There have also been a lot of power changes; the Stalker and Dominator changes come to mind immediately, but Blasters also got Defiance changed and so on.
My best bet is another user's suggestion to head over to paragonwiki and rattle off the issues over there to see complete versions of the changes.
Questions about the game, either side? /t @Neuronia or @Neuronium, with your queries!
168760: A Death in the Gish. 3 missions, 1-14. Easy to solo.
Infinity Villains
Champion, Pinnacle, Virtue Heroes
Quote:
I can't remember when this happened, but if you want to talk on the Help channel, you must now type: /hc message
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Originally Posted by MrVacant
There is also the "Help" channel (which is a tab located in the upper chat window of your UI) that you can also ask questions to.
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Teams are the number one killer of soloists.
Since you've already gotten some good replies, let me just say that I dig the term "re-noob". 
Blue
American Steele: 50 BS/Inv
Nightfall: 50 DDD
Sable Slayer: 50 DM/Rgn
Fortune's Shadow: 50 Dark/Psi
WinterStrike: 47 Ice/Dev
Quantum Well: 43 Inv/EM
Twilit Destiny: 43 MA/DA
Red
Shadowslip: 50 DDC
Final Rest: 50 MA/Rgn
Abyssal Frost: 50 Ice/Dark
Golden Ember: 50 SM/FA
Thanks everyone, I really appreciate the input.
So recap;
-Perma-hasten is actually possible now (it was briefly during beta, but they smacked that down quickly)
-Architect missions are mostly crap, but can be entertaining if done right.
-Day Jobs (WEWT!)
-Lots of new power sets and power sets available to different archetypes than they were previously.
-Invention tutorial and architect tutorial should be done.
-Auction house UI is getting fixed.
-This; There's also Super Sidekicking, no more having to find a mentor on the team. Team members automatically adjusts (sk up or exemplar down) to the team leader or whoever has the active mission. In addition, XP all the time, even when exemplared. There was a post of someone wanting to try to level a new character to 50 only by joining lowbie Sewer teams in Atlas. The world has gone crazy!
To the last one; awesome.
I woudln't really say Architect missions were moslty bad - it's just that the ones made just to exploit and farm will often rise to the top part of the search list because they get high raings from to other exploiters and farmers.
@Golden Girl
City of Heroes comics and artwork
Quote:
Global Channels have been around since around Issue 4.
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Originally Posted by MrVacant
Well, I think the main thing to know about is that each server now have Global Chat Channels for teaming, task forces, etc. So your best bet is to join one and ask questions as you run across unfamilair issues during gameplay.
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"Null is as much an argument "for removing the cottage rule" as the moon being round is for buying tennis shoes." -Memphis Bill
Quote:
Sturgeon's Law says that 90% of everything is crud. Ignoring the farm missions completely AE missions are essentially fan fic and like fan fic everywhere it falls afoul of Sturgeon's Law. There are some good missions out there but there are a lot more poorly written ones.
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Originally Posted by Golden Girl
I woudln't really say Architect missions were moslty bad - it's just that the ones made just to exploit and farm will often rise to the top part of the search list because they get high raings from to other exploiters and farmers.
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Oh, money. You may find yourself making silly amounts of money selling things in Wentworth's or the Black Market. You may find yourself wanting things that cost silly amounts of money in Wentworth's or the Black Market.
How you feel about this probably depends on which one happens to you first.
Welcome back!
Mini-guides: Force Field Defenders, Blasters, Market Self-Defense, Frankenslotting.
So you think you're a hero, huh.
@Boltcutter in game.
Quote:
Haha. Great line Fulmens.|
Originally Posted by Fulmens
Oh, money. You may find yourself making silly amounts of money selling things in Wentworth's or the Black Market. You may find yourself wanting things that cost silly amounts of money in Wentworth's or the Black Market.
How you feel about this probably depends on which one happens to you first. Welcome back! |
And just want to echo the Welcome back.
--Rad
/whereami:
I've recently delved back in to the City Of universe and I find that things are quite different than I left it. I quit playing right around Issue 9 (invention system), and after looking around I find that I'm quite lost. I've briefly glanced at the summary information about the issues since then, but I'm curious if there's anything in particular that I should be warned about or informed of in order to make my gameplay experience the best it can be.
Thanks.