Issue #17: Dark Mirror [Live Release Notes]

Release notes for Issue #17: Dark Mirror.

This issue contains a significant upgrade to the look of the game, some new content, and many quality of life improvements.

Ultra Mode

• Ultra Mode is a superior graphics rendering process that gives City of Heroes a heightened level of detail in lighting, reflections, shadows, and water effects.
• Ultra Mode is intended for players who have higher-end graphic cards. Each feature can be enabled or disabled in the graphics menu options and will be scalable. Ultra Mode works on both Macs and PCs. To be specific, it offers dynamic shadows, screen-space ambient occlusion, and dynamic environment reflections (including planar reflections and environment mapping of reflective surfaces).
• At the log-in screen, there will now be a one-time pop-up window if the client detects that your graphics card can handle Ultra Mode features. You'll be able to chose from Ultra Mode's Quality or Ultra settings or cancel the choice.
• Some graphic options do not appear until Apply Now is selected. In the Options Menu, the "Apply Now" button will change colors when you select any graphics change that has not been applied yet.
• Known issue - Catalyst 10.2 drivers have a conflict with Ultra Mode features. After toggling between graphics quality levels and pushing "Apply" in the UI the game framerate may drop dramatically until you quit the game and restart. In order to avoid this issue please update your drivers to the latest 10.4 version.
• Menu Options for Ultra Mode:
  • "Graphics Quality" slider
    • Previously there were 4 notches in this slider. With Issue 17, we have expanded it to include a 5th notch, "Ultra". The notches currently behave as follows:
      • Minimum, Performance, Recommended - these 3 settings remain unchanged from Issue 16. No new graphics features are enabled.
      • Quality - enables all of the new Ultra Mode features (shadows, building/character reflections, water reflections and ambient occlusion), each in a "fast" configuration.
        • Shadows set to "ShadowMaps" at Low Quality
        • Environment Reflections set to Low Quality
        • Water Effects set to High QualityAmbient Occlusions set to High Performance
      • Ultra - enables all of the Ultra Mode features in a high quality configuration.
        • Shadows set to "ShadowMaps" at High Quality - Real-time shadows and self shadowing. The sun now casts shadows that are relevant to the time of day. Characters cast shadows on themselves.
        • Environment Reflections set to High Quality - Windows and reflective materials mirror the world around them.
        • Water Effects set to Ultra Quality - Water ripples, reflects and moves realistically.
  • "Advanced" settings
    • "Water Effects"
      • The "Water Effects" Option was changed from:
        • None
        • Low Quality: refractions without depth
        • High Quality: refractions with depth
      • To:
        • None
        • Low Quality (same as before)
        • Medium Quality (old High Quality)
        • High Quality: Medium Quality plus some reflections
        • Ultra Quality: Medium Quality plus lots of reflections
  • Full Screen Anti-Aliasing (FSAA) - We have moved this setting out of the advanced graphics options and placed it on the main graphics options pane.

• Issue 17 introduces the Demon Summoning power set. Like Dual Pistols, this set is tied to the Going Rogue expansion, but will be unlocked in Issue 17 for players who prepurchase the Going Rogue Expansion.
• Demon Summoning is a primary power choice for the Mastermind archetype and is also the power set used by the Going Rogue signature character Desdemona.
• This power set allows the player to summon elemental demons that can manipulate flame, cold and hellfire. However, what truly sets this power set apart from other Mastermind primary power sets are the summoner's hellfire whip attacks that deal both fire and toxic damage and reduce the target's damage resistance.
• The Demon Summoning Power Set is comprised of the following powers:
  • Corruption
  • Summon Demonlings
  • Lash
  • Enchant Demon
  • Crack Whip
  • Summon Demons
  • Hell on Earth
  • Summon Demon Prince
  • Abyssal Empowerment

• There have been some upgrades to the Mission Architect system:
  • Mission Architect Experience Rewards
    • Previously, if the player made any changes to make the enemies they face in Mission Architect easier, they would receive zero experience for those enemies. We've made an adjustment to allow players to handpick the powers for custom enemies and still receive experience for them, but not be able to exploit weaker enemies for unfair experience gain. Now, every power for custom critters has been weighted individually.
  • New Mission Architect Maps
    • Approximately 20 new unique maps have been added to the Mission Architect system.
  • Giant Monsters Added
    • Players can now add giant monsters to most outdoor maps in Mission Architect. Defeating Giant Monsters in Mission Architect will not grant any badges associated with them.
      • Arachnos Flyer
      • Deathsurge
      • Caleb
      • Babbage
      • Clockwork Paladin
      • Stropharia
      • Thorn
      • Eochai
      • Kraken
      • Kronos Titan
      • Jack in Irons
      • Ghost of Scrapyard
  • Exit Mission on Complete
    • Mission Architect Authors can now specify that players have to leave the mission manually on completion.
  • Escort Improvements
    • "Lead to Place" technology allows Authors more control over escort objectives
  • File size for missions has been doubled to 200kb.

• These archetypes are now unlocked as soon as one of your characters reaches level 20 on the appropriate side, instead of level 50.

• Players can now have 7 active missions, instead of just 3.
• Show Last Objective: This allows players to be able to find their last objective on a mission map, making it easier to find something they missed.
• Contacts give out their cell phone number sooner.
• In the mission window and when talking to a contact with whom one has a standing mission, there is now an option to abandon that mission. This does not complete the mission. This is not available during "Task Force mode."

• Evil (and good) has a new face. Check out new story arcs for a new kind of enemy.
  • For Heroes:
    • Field Agent Keith Nance has arrived in Talos Island to investigate charges of treason. He realizes he has the wrong suspect so he needs your help to solve the case.
    • Once you've cleared things up with the government and Keith Nance, he directs you to Special Agent Jenni Adair who has just come into some new information.
  • For Villains
    • Dean MacArthur in Sharkhead Isle has some information on the troublesome hero, Ajax, who has been spotted in the Rogue Isles recently.
    • After you are finished with Dean MacArthur, you can look up Leonard Silmon, who is interested in a new group called "Mane Corp".

• For Heroes:
  • The Positron Task Force has been updated. Please check out this dramatic upgrade of a classic Task Force.
  • The original Positron's Task Force is available in "The New Recruits" flashback arc. Completing either the new Task Force or the original will grant the Positron's Ally badge.
• For Villains:
  • The Silver Mantis Strike Force is now accessed via Silver Mantis, located in Sharkhead Isle. (This Strike Force was previously accessed only via mission computer in a supergroup base.) Players will also be able to run this Strike Force from their Supergroup computer. This adjustment makes the Silver Mantis Strike Force accessible to players who are not part of a Supergroup and ensures that the Strike Force is available both in a zone and in a supergroup base.

• Notoriety Settings will now affect Task Forces and Strike Forces as follows:
  • Setting level to -1 will set level to +0 (not -1)
  • Setting team size will affect spawn sizes accordingly
  • "Allow Bosses" will always be enabled
  • "Allow AVs" will always be enabled.

• There are now at least 8 exploration badges in every city zone. Happy hunting.
• There is now an Accolade for finding all of the exploration badges in each zone (i.e. Atlas Park Explorer, Mercy Isle Explorer, etc.)
• There is now a badge for finding 500 badges. And one for 750.
• All new story arcs have badges associated with them
• The new Positron Task force is split into two halves, each of which grants a new badge. Getting both badges grants Positron's Ally. Players who already have the Positron's Ally badge will keep it, and it is still possible to earn it through the original Positron Task Force via flashback.

• Crafted Temporary Powers - added several new recipes for Temp Powers, and shifted these recipes in the crafting UI to make them easier to find.

• Updated Costumes - certain costume sets have been specially updated to take advantage of Ultra Mode features:
  • Armored
  • Cyborg
  • Enforcer
  • Tech Sleek
  • Valkyrie
  • Vanguard
  • Metallic
• New Costume Part: Animated Tails - most types of tails in the game now have a version that moves.
  • The original tails remain available. Both versions can be found in a brand new costume part, separate from belts.
• Depending on which costume part you are changing, the zoom button now creates new views and stances to better see that section of your character.
• There are new weapon options for Dual Pistols

• Improved Sorting Options
  • Your Consignment House transactions are now sorted into separate tabs for each category, such as Selling or Bidding. Each tab will indicate how many transaction slots are being used by that tab. There is also an All tab, where you can find all of your transactions. You can resize the transaction pane by dragging the border separating the search pane from the transaction pane.
• For Sale and Bidding Radio Buttons
  • Search results can be further filtered by the "For Sale" and "Bidding" radio buttons. For example, with Bidding toggled on, the Consignment House will only show items with bids. With both "For Sale" and "Bidding" toggled on, only results that are both for sale and with bids will be shown.
• Text Autocomplete
  • The search bar now supports auto-completion of text. Start typing, and press Tab to auto-complete the current word. When you are ready to search for the item, press the Search button. If you turn off Autocomplete (by unselecting the radio button), searching will function as it did prior to Issue 17.
• One Click to find all Salvage used in Recipe
  • Search results for salvage now provide for one-click searching for any recipes that use the salvage. Just click on the text, "Search for Recipes that use this salvage".
• The "More" Button is Replaced
  • Instead of the More button, simply click on an item in your transaction inventory to bring up information on that item. Click on the Find button to search for that piece of auction inventory.
• Warning if Selling salvage that is used in a recipe that is owned.
  • When selling salvage that is used in a recipe you own, you now receive a warning message.
• Item Level Dials
  • We replaced the item level drop-down lists with up and down arrows to dial-in the desired level range. Alternatively, you can type directly over the level number.
• Tintable Window Border
  • The Auction House window is tintable, just like other interface windows. Window color can be changed in the "Graphics and Audio" section of the Options Menu. The Auction House window can also be made transparent.

• The email system can now send to @global names.
• Global emails can have influence or items attached
  • Heroes can only send emails with attachments to Heroes, and Villains can only send emails with attachments to Villains
• The UI for writing emails has been slightly improved

• Sounds now position in 3D space in both Sound Playback Modes.
• 3D Sound option now properly supports 5.1 Surround Sound.
• The Music Volume slider now correctly controls all music in the game.
• Many new and updated sounds (footsteps, vehicles, citizens, flight, swim).
• Cleaned up a number of old sound bugs.

• The Vigilance inherent power has been improved to give benefits to Defenders who are not in groups. To that end, in addition to the increasing Endurance discount in groups, Vigilance now adds a damage buff which only applies fully when solo. The damage buff degrades as more team members are added. The buff starts small and increases until it is a 30% increase to (unenhanced) damage at level 20 and above, minus 10% per additional team member.

• Dig
• Picklock
• Spraypaint
• Jackhammer
• Warmhands

• Added a button that displays the score of an Arena match while the match is still being played.
• Exiting an arena match is now a two-step process: first you open the score window, and then choose to exit the match from there. You can no longer leave the match from just clicking on the Exit button in the navigation window.
• The arena UI no longer resets some settings to their default values between matches during the same client session.
• The options within the upper left master dropdown in the arena window have been broken up into multiple separate dropdowns, allowing for further player customization of match settings.

• Influence from sold items cannot be claimed and Bids cannot be canceled until doing so will not put the character's total influence over their cap (Normal accounts capped at 2 billion, Trial accounts capped at 50k).

• Decreased the 2 piece set bonus from this set from +3.125% Ranged Defense, +1.563% Energy and Negative Energy Defense to +1.25% Ranged Defense, +.625% Energy and Negative Energy Defense.
• Decreased the 3 piece set bonus from this set from +3.125% AoE Defense, +1.563% Fire and Cold Defense to +1.875% AoE Defense and +.938% Fire and Cold Defense.

• Player Buff fix. Some buff powers had been recently changed to affect a max of 16 player allies (including pets), which had implications in some groups and in large outdoor fights. These are now fixed to affect up to 255 targets. The powers affected are:
  • Power Pool - Flight/Group Fly
  • Power Pool - Leadership/Maneuvers, Tactics, Assault, Vengeance
  • Power Pool - Teleport/Team Teleport
  • Arachnos Soldier - Teamwork/Training and Gadgets Tactical Training/Assault
  • Arachnos Soldier - Teamwork/Training and Gadgets Tactical Training: Maneuvers
  • Arachnos Soldier - Training and Gadgets Tactical Training/Leadership
  • Arachnos Widow - Fortunata Teamwork/Mind Link
  • Arachnos Widow - Fortunata Teamwork: Tactical Training: Vengeance
  • Arachnos Widow - Teamwork Tactical Training/Leadership
  • Cold Domination/Arctic Fog
  • Cold Domination/Heat Loss +Recovery effect
  • Dark Miasma/Howling Twilight Rez effect
  • Dark Miasma/Shadow Fall
  • Dark Miasma/Twilight Grasp Heal effect
  • Empathy/Healing Aura, Recovery Aura and Regeneration Aura
  • Kinetics/Transfusion Heal effect
  • Kinetics/Transference +Endurance effect
  • Kinetics/Fulcrum Shift +Damage effect
  • Kinetics/Siphon Power +Damage effect
  • Pain Domination/Nullify Pain, Soothing Aura, World of Pain
  • Peacebringers/Luminous Aura Group Energy Flight
  • Plant Control/Spirit Tree +Regeneration effect
  • Police-bot +Perception effect
  • Robotics/Protector Bots Dispersion Bubble
  • Storm Summoning : Steamy Mist
  • Traps/Force Field Generator Dispersion Bubble
  • Traps/Triage Beacon +Regeneration effect
• Dual Pistols\Dual Wield (All): This power now accepts Knockback IO sets.
• Mystic Fortune buff is now automatically granted. There is no longer a pop-up window to accept or decline the buff.
• Stealth and Invisibility powers will now cause your character to cast no shadow. This does not apply to the Stealth from SuperSpeed.

• It is no longer possible to use Teleport Foe on enemies while they are inside Hospital recovery rooms.
• Dual Pistols (All)/Bullet Rain: Fixed a bug that would cause this power's secondary damage effect to be slightly higher than normal in PvP.
• Dual Pistols (All)/Empty Clips: Fixed a bug that would cause this power's secondary damage effect to be slightly higher than normal in PvP.
• Dual Pistols(All)/Swap Ammo: Fixed a bug that would cause the ammo powers granted to the player by Swap Ammo to not apply if the player was in an environment where temporary powers are disabled.
• You now respawn with full health and endurance when you spawn in a hospital in Bloody Bay, Siren's Call, Warburg, and Recluse's Victory.

• The color of the splash notices for recipe drops now correspond to the color-coded rarity of the recipe: White for common; yellow for uncommon; orange for rare; and purple for very rare.
• Now when you respec, there is a "Current Respec Level" counter in the upper right when you're picking powers
• Fixed a bug which sometimes caused the cursor not to appear in fullscreen mode for Windows Vista.
• The command "show_bind <key>" shows what commands are bound to the key

• Dual Pistols/Piercing Rounds: Fixed a bug that would cause this power's PvP damage to be lower than it should be.

• Traps/Caltrops - this power no longer accepts Melee AoE Enhancement sets.

Umm, What happened to The Chantry and the Storm palace? The giant sphere buildings, the outer wall used to be see through, now it's opaque and white, is this a bug or is this an art decision? Doesn't look as good now IMO.

They should just add a option under team option like they did with "prompt team teleport" and "Collaborate missions". With this this hole problem will disappear and then well have the added bonus of not being prompted every time someone cast this.

Knowledge is power.
Power corrupts.
Study Hard. Be evil.

As far as reading fortunes are concerned: thematically, I thought that a player should request his/her fortune be read and then the reader would have the option to read or refuse but w/e. Probably have the same impact as pre-i17.

Castle, why not just flag the Temporary Powers granted by Mystic Fortune as Deletable? IIRC, that functionality already exists within the current powers system, and would seem to be a decent workaround for the folks who don't want to be stuck with the buff for 20 minutes.

As I can not get on currently, (at Work) I have two questions,

1) Does/Can the Walk power Deactivate/Suppress external buffs?

2) Following that what is the Feasibity of the creation of a slash command of canceling or suppressing (all) Toggles and Buffs on the player. Not exactly the most elegant solution, but would help for when you didn't want the extra powers to be running. (Ie Screen shots)

I'd Ask #2 to Television, but last time he turned me in to a TV. (But then that may of been from hitting him was a bat and shouting 'Up with Aeon' >_>)