Your suggestions are a good start, what else they want to buy kind of depends on the player. They might want powersets, they might want costume bundles, they might want extra Enhancement trays, they might want the Alignment System, they might want some powers like the Hover Board or Ninja Run - it's going to be different for everyone.
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Yes, I was looking for things that are more "needed," as in everybody needs to have, rather than options.
Another thought, by at least level 30 or 35, buy the Alignment System ($15). Primarily to get Tips and Alignment Merits, which are really handy once you start to IO a character. Consider buying this earlier, as you can make a ton of cash selling good recipes on the market, or you can just slowly accumulate Alignment Merits to have when you are ready for them.
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An alternative to buying the system is see if at a local computer or bargain store or somewhere online for a cheap copy of going rogue. If it's your first box it should give one token and another for the month of VIP.
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Originally Posted by gameboy1234
Yes, I was looking for things that are more "needed," as in everybody needs to have, rather than options.
Another thought, by at least level 30 or 35, buy the Alignment System ($15). Primarily to get Tips and Alignment Merits, which are really handy once you start to IO a character. Consider buying this earlier, as you can make a ton of cash selling good recipes on the market, or you can just slowly accumulate Alignment Merits to have when you are ready for them. |
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I would spend $50 in the store instead of $40, since that's a one-time purchase and grants a higher bonus percentage. So spending $10 more gets 1160 more points, which is worth almost $15. 
Spending $40 requires two $15 purchases and two $5 purchases, which awards a total of 3440 points instead of 4600 for $50.
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Originally Posted by Dispari
I don't know why Dink thinks she's not as sexy as Jay was. In 5 posts she's already upstaged his entire career.
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Is that due to the current sale, Aggelakis? I thought all purchases would yield the same amount of bonus.
No, buying more points at a time grants a bigger bonus.
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Originally Posted by Dispari
I don't know why Dink thinks she's not as sexy as Jay was. In 5 posts she's already upstaged his entire career.
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Wow, OK, that, I didn't know. Buying $50 in one go looks like the better option to me now.
(There's just all sorts of new stuff to learn with the new market. Seriously, I think a bit more education slash advertising is required here.)
Looking for a cheap copy of Going Rogue is a good idea.
Otherwise, if they're really enjoying the game so far, I'd still suggest buying a three-month sub. Because:
- It gives a nice little discount on the monthly rate (I can't find the US rates, but the UK is £7.99 per month rather than £8.99).
- They can try all aspects of the game, including lots of slots to try out different characters, all the ATs, AE, etc, and then have an informed basis for deciding what parts they think are worth spending points on in the future.
- They'll have access to all channels etc for the duration of the sub, plus three tokens waiting when they're downgraded which will get them a fair way towards unlocking all channels permanently.
- They'll accumulate 1200PP, which they can use at the end of the three months to buy access to some of the stuff they want to keep, or for licenses.
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This is actually a good idea too. It's one reason why I think that new players should be handed a "menu" of options which are already worked out, because there's really a ton of work in deciding how to spend your money.
I'll point out at then end of your three months you'll only have 2 server slots to go around. You'll likely have to spend your points for slots (which I think you can only afford 3). However, in addition to the points you'll also have 3 server transfers, so that might help you consolidate on one server, if you wish to.
Both your and my suggestions permanently unlock all chat channels. $45 - $50 spent will do that.
another reason its a good idea to buy $50 at once too is that it will give you enough tokens to have access to all the chat functions as well (since it takes an estimated $45 to get to end of tier 3)
personally i think the main focus should be opening up the chat options, they can use the points for darned near whatever they want (sure recommending character slots is a good way to go too), but the main thing they need access to is chat options
Free to try the game... however long that takes.
VIP for 1-3 months depending on how much cash you have floating around. Then unless the game is really great drop down onto point purchases, as and when you feel the urge.
Would be my suggestion.
Free try so you can decide whether to drop that $15/£8.99/etc. VIP to give you a much better overview on what is on offer. Then unless Incarnates are your thing drop to Premium and keep access to stuff through point purchases.
But then I buy points and pay a sub so I may be clueless about real world economics... 
Here's the gist of a conversation that happened over Champion's help channel today. Given that a free player wants the best bang for their buck, and that they are free and not returning (i.e., no high level characters), what should the buy from the market?
Assume they want to stay Premium for now (let's say they have no 50's so Incarnate content doesn't appeal to them), and other content like First Ward isn't pressing because all the legacy content is still novel and interesting to them.
Here's a rough outline I came up with.
This way you can play for 10 months for about the same cost as a brand new game, while having access to the most important systems that a new, low level player will need to make progress with his characters, plus 7 characters on one server to play with.
(Personally I think the rewards and market are baroque enough that some "education" (read: advertising) about how to get started in CoH as a premium player would be helpful. As an aside, there was also some commentary in the help channel at the same time as the Premium discussion about how WoW "sucks ballz" and City of Heroes is much better. And this is from the new players. Give yourself a pat on the back, devs!
So what would you advise a new player to get, as the most beneficial purchases for premium play?