BAD MECHANIC: Praetorian toons can't unlock EATs.

According to support, Praetorian toons can not unlock EATs.

THIS IS VERY BAD.

If Praetoria is billed as 'the new starting zone for new players'. This means new players who only use Praetoria as their starting zone WILL NEVER UNLOCK AN EAT.

That's not good. And if that information is right, it should change.

From support:

Question Why can't I make an Epic Archetype character in City of Heroes?

Answer There are four unlockable character archetypes in City of Heroes. Two begin their careers as Heroes and two as Villains. They include:

• Heroes: Peacebringers, Warshades (also known as Kheldians)
• Villains: Arachnos Soldiers, Arachnos Widows

The requirements for creating a new "Epic Archetype" character is to first have a character on the same gameplay account that has advanced to Level 20. A Hero character at Level 20 or higher will unlock Peacebringer and Warshade at character creation. Likewise, a Villain character at Level 20 or higher will unlock Arachnos Soldier and Arachnos Widow.

It is not possible to change archetypes for existing characters, nor is it possible to start a new character as a Praetorian Epic Archetype (if you have Going Rogue).

I have a Level 20+ character, but I can't create a new Epic Archetype character!

Log into the character that's Level 20 or higher. Wait about 30 seconds, then log off. The option to create a new Epic Archetype character for the Level 20+ character's "side" should be available.

Note: Level 20 characters that started as Praetorians do not currently unlock Epic Archetypes, though in-game messaging might suggest otherwise. Only characters created as a Hero or as a Villain will count.

Note: Epic Archetypes used to require a character be advanced to Level 50. This was changed in April 2010 with the release of Issue 17.

-faqid=7822

Maybe we are going to get a new Epic AT for those that do start in Praetoria,

Considering that any player that only uses Preatoria as a starting zone can't create an EAT even if they've unlocked them, I don't see it as an issue.

I think this fits into "annoying" rather than "VERY BAD!"

But yes, the information support gives is correct. What they should fix is the misleading "Epic AT Unlocked!" message you get when you hit 20 in Praetoria.

And if they were to unlock something, what would they unlock? they hit 20 prior to being able to chose a side. They'd either have to add programming to allow them to chose which they get, add programming to delay the choice until they pick which side they want to go to or up the level requirement for epic ATs to say...25 or so.

This isn't particularly good from a marketing standpoint. Marketing is trying to bring in new players and GR is supposed to be one of the tools they are using to market to new players. If new players are using GR's Praetoria as their starting zone, as one might expect they would, then they will never be able to unlock an Epic AT until such time as they level a new alt as a hero or a villain.

Other games unlock special character types by levelling a character of any origin/alignment/faction to the specified level. Honestly, I don't see the problem (from a game play standpoint - programming is obviously a different issue) with unlocking both types of EATs when you've levelled one character in either faction to the appropriate level. When the level was still 50, I had multiple PB's and WS's blue side, but because I didn't play red side often, my highest level character there was only approaching 30 so I didn't qualify to get a VEAT.

Ah well. It would be great if they change this mechanic completely (allowing you to create a hero or villain EAT once you've levelled a character of any faction to 20. But, barring that, they need to make it clear right when starting a Praetorian character that this character will not qualify you to unlock Epic Archtypes for either hero or villain factions -- and then also remove the "Epic AT Unlocked!" message when the Praetorian character reaches level 20.

Just my two bucks.

Storm

Er... I thought the entire point of moving EAT unlocks to 20 was so that new players starting in Praetoria could access them as the Praetorian content ends.

Maybe you have to hit 20, AND exit Praetoria to actually unlock them?

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It leaves it open to develop a third Epic AT for goldside.

It also makes sense to me, in terms of that the AT are epic in story line not powers, so you need to expereince so of that story line side forst.

A guy from Praetoria isn't really going to know what an Arachnos or Kheldian is when they step out, so it doesn't really make sense that they should unlock the EAT. The EAT's are too heavily integrated into the story of the rest of the Game to just plop them down in the Praetorian's lap.

A new player is eventually going to start in Paragon or the Isles', just to experience all the game has to offer.

Still, I'm betting the reason the EAT's don't unlock is because Praetoria is going to have its' own faction story going on. There's tons to pick from. Clockwork, PPD, Ghouls, and Syndicate to name a few.

Eh, I'm guessing GR will eventually have it's own EAT, though it's hard to tell what, considering there's always at least two different EATs with the same storyline, so it can't be PPD/Resistance or something like that. Maybe PPD/Seer or something new altogether.

Not really seeing much of an issue here either. It's entirely consistent with how the EATs are unlocked:

Get a Hero to 20, unlock Khelds.

Get a Villain to 20, unlock Soldiers/Widows.

Get a Praetorian to 20... no EAT to unlock.

Still waiting for his Official BackAlleyBrawler No-Prize

If it's not going to be a reward/incentive to new players starting in Praetoria, then it's back to being ******* stupid to unlock at 20. 30/35, maybe. But 20? Pants on head retarded.

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Biggest Troll on the forums? I'll give you a hint:

I'm not sure what all the fuss is about. When you first try to make a toon in Praetoria, you can't make an Epic, even if you already have a +20 lvl toon. Its not like its HARD to get to 20 anymore. If it was still 50 (sigh), then maybe would be something to complain about. Just chill and play the game. and yes I think the text that tells you the EAT is unlocked is not good but what can you expect ? No one is perfect and we all know how bad bugs are in any new update.

I still don't know why they changed it to begin with. Having them unlock at 50 made more sense to me, as you'd have more experience with the game and could look to the EAT's for more of a challenge.

A new player fresh out the gate at level 20 would be so lost trying to roll a Kheld or soldier it would prove more frustrating to them, I'd think. Causing them to forget about them.

That said, since they are being advertised as being unlocked at level 20, then they should be unlocked at level 20 regardless of which side you start on.

Have you tried training your Praetorian to level 21? Maybe that will activate it.

I think it should be left alone. There should be some reason to roll in Primal.

However, I have little doubt this will be changed.

There are two possibilities as to why a level 20 Praetorian does not unlock either Red or Blue EAT:

1. There is a bug that need to be addressed by the developers, be it an overhaul of the unlocking mechanism or a simple fix, that will eventually be implemented.

2. There is going to be a created and implemented access to a new EAT (or similar mechanism) for toons created in Praetoria. Personally, I hope for this. Praetorian stories are all but over at level 20 and I would really like access to a high level reward/content for playing the Praetorian toon in lieu of access to the EAT found red and blue side.

I prefer the latter.

Hmm. Well. I hope this does not get changed, but rather gets clarified in the in game text . I'm of the mind that the epics were already too easy to get - expecting them both to unlock for a Praetorian seems odd.

I expect/hope the Praetorians will get their own epic archetype (although reasonably that would be like, I21 at least, definitely no time soon) and that would be their unlock.

At minimum, as others have pointed out, leaving them tied to H/V is a good incentive to check out that content.

Wow, I asked Support this very question last week and got the exact opposite answer. Unfortunately, I was betting that they were wrong after reading so many threads on the problem with Praetorian characters not being able to unlock them