Costume Issue

The single shoulder capes are a Veteran reward and are available to all characters at creation (if you're account is of sufficient veteran status). As are the Valkyrie cape (Mac special edition), High collar back detail cape (Magic booster), Arachnos cape (CoV collectors' edition), Cape of the Four Winds (CoH Collectors edition, I believe), and the Origins pack capes.

Of the mantle types; Full, Half, Asymmetrical, and Over Shoulder are only available at character creation if you have the CoH/CoV Collectors edition, Mac edition, or Origins pack. And then - you are limited to ONLY those capes with these mantles. To get these mantles without those packs (or to use them with 'standard' capes) you must unlock capes from Kalinda/Burke in Mercy (villain/rogue) or the City Representative in Atlas (Hero/Vigilante). These cape unlock missions are available starting at level 20, and must be run before you can get the aura unlock mission from these contacts at lvl 30.

The High Collar mantle is a bit bugged (and has been for some time) - From character creation, Male and Huge models can select the previously mentioned special capes (if available) as well as the "Long Cape" option that allows them to use any of the regular capes with the high collar. Female models, on the other hand do not get "Long Cape" option from creation, and must wait to unlock capes at lvl 20 to get long cape with High Collar (but can still use any special capes available to the account from creation).

Single Shoulder mantle is available from character creation if you have the 21 month veteran reward. It comes with all the standard capes (and any specials available), and doesn't discriminate based on gender like High Collar.

Other special cases are;
-VEATs - Their available costume parts for their first costume are strictly regulated. Soldiers have a cape option (A special cape that has the Arachnos symbol on it - unavailable anywhere else, colors only change the unique mantle), and widows have a Butt Cape listed as "Waist Cape" because the devs are party poopers (Only available on the female model, also because they're party poopers). If your soldier takes any Crab Spider power options, it is forced to take the Crab Spider Backpack back option, which is incompatible with capes and wings.
-Some costume options, like the Trench-coat or Magic Bolero will lock you out of back options. However in such cases they lock you out of ALL back options (wings and all cape types), and would not allow just the single shoulder cape. (In the past, some options may have been available - like wings with the magic bolero. If you edit these costumes the pairing of the two costume parts will be removed, but left alone you can keep the combination.)

So To answer your questions, my money is you forgot how capes unlock, and your veteran cape available at creation threw your mind off track. It happens, it's like trying to enter the tram exit. We've all done it at some point. So unless I'm wrong and there IS something going on with your account/client, I don't think a GM can help you unless the unlock missions bug out.

I suspect you just haven't run the cape mission with the newer characters.

Go talk to the City Representative in Atlas Park's City Hall (she's standing in the middle of the room right as you walk in). She will offer you a mission to protect a time capsule, complete that mission and it will unlock your normal capes.

Also of note: You must be at least level 20 to run the mission, if you are below level 20 she will either refuse to talk to you, or tell you to come back at level 20.

Originally Posted by Dechs Kaison See, it's gems like these that make me check Claws' post history every once in a while to make sure I haven't missed anything good lately.