Returning player

Hi all! Just came back to the game after about 2 years of break. When i left, 19.5 was just out. I checked paragonwiki to see what i missed, but just to make sure.

Stalker got a big change, how does it change things in pratice? Any other AT got changes?

Aside from the incarnates slots and trials, what's new?

What's the concensus on titan Weapon, Streetfighting, Staff and Laser gun?

Wich sets are good for a free player? With not having access to IOs, endurance management must be harder...

What can i expect to have lost now that i'm a free player? IOs, my alpha incarnate slot. anything else?

-Thanks. =)

Welcome back.

1) Part a) Much more consistent attack chain. AS now is part of your regular standard attack chain, and it does very nice damage in the process. Net result, Stalkers are much better in standard melee combat. They also feel more even keel in such situations. No more frustration over getting interrupted.
Part b) Gravity the powerset got some improvements, so that affects Doms and Trollers. Many ATs have new sets available. But I don't think that any AT was chaged in quite like stalkers since 19.5.

2) There are a bunch of new story arcs, called Signature Story Arcs. The 1st 7 combine to tell one overarching story of some important recent events in the game world. The are fast-ish, solo-able, pretty fun,and have some nice rewards associated with them. They are free to VIPs, but non VIPs can buy access to them. It's say they might very well be worth it, depending on the price they put on them. There are new Zones (only available to VIPs by default I believe, but again, unlock able to others), First Ward (lvl 20-30), a revamped lvl 50+ Dark Astoria, and a new tutorial (which is not limited, everyone can access it). There are also a couple of new story arcs in teh lvl 15ish to 30ish range, if I recall, bother blueside and on redside. Of course, the new zones have arcs aplenty associated with them.

I'm probably missing a good deal more, too. When in doubt, hit the Wiki, and look up Issue 20, 21, etc....

3) No total consensus. In case you forgot, CoXers tend to be a bit more free spirited than some other sorts. Titan Weapon uses a Momentum mechanic. Which is either liked it seems, or really disliked. The set gets good or bad reviews based on that mechanic mostly. Street Justice, Staff, and Beam Rifle all seem well designed, and pretty balanced. So, those seem to be 50/50 splits on popularity.

4) Not being a free player, I really couldn't tell ya. I have my guesses, and suspicions, but they could be way off base. So I won't waste your time with info that's pretty unreliable.

5) I believe you lose all incarnate stuff, all Invention stuff, access to some ATs and Powersets, and all but 4 (or perhaps more) of your alts. Some of this answer is affected by your vet status back when you were playing, so I really can't be more specifc than that. I'll leave it to others to provide more details here.


And again, welcome back to the fun.

Other than the Stalker changes....


Gravity Control got a major boost. Some powers changed function completely, but still maintain the same purpose mostly.
Gravity Control is very good now, and still as cool and fun as ever.

By the way, try Gravity Control/Time Manipulation, if you can. It's the coolest concept character in the game so far, and it is very fun and powerful.



Edit:
You may have IO access depending on how many Paragon Rewards(new veteran system) you have. You need to be working on the 8th tier of that to have IO access.
That same system gives you access to other systems at other tiers as well.

The only thing you will not have access to, ever, is the incarnate system. All previously gained incarnate boosts grey out and no longer work. You also can't play any incarnate missions/trials/task forces.
It's not much of a loss in my opinion considering the fact that it's effectively a "level cap raise" unnecessary for the rest of the game(and not as functional in the rest of the game).


Of the power sets, I can only recommend Time Manipulation, but I do think Titan Weapons is cool. The other sets tend to be boring or have weird mechanics like combo systems. It seems they are making everything smashing/lethal for melee characters, while being less flashy and cool, and with a combo system inspired by the annoyingly complex Dual Blades.

OMG, somehting not the same as an old set!

Staff combines easy dual blades ( no set combo patterns, just two attacks that consume "perfection (your combo points) if you have three levels of it when you use them, and a Dual Pistols style attack-affecting toggle set up.

Titan weapons is very fun, lots of AoE.

Beam Rifle is fun to me. Not necessarily a huge performer (although, having other beams on your team definitely increases it's effects).

And as far as what you have access to for free because of being a former payer

www.paragonwiki.com/wiki/Paragon_Rewards

And the "Tier bonuses" just require you have X tokens, no need to actually slot them - so you can just peek at the total listed at the top of the paragon rewards screen when you look at it in game.

Also, free and premium players (Prem = free player that has spent money on the game at some point previous) cannot do anything other than look at the SSG list at the SG registrar - no creating new SGs or new bases; No paying rent either (note you can have a VIP in your SG do that for you- some people will offer to join your sg for a moment to pay rent for you.)

With staff you can use the powers in any order.

Other than two of the powers requiring you be in the momentum state (which Titan Weapon's build gives you as well as any other attack in the set) same with Titan weapons.

Yes they are both smashing, that's just how it happens. Hopeful the next Melee set is not.

Thanks everyone for the help. =D

I have only 14 reward points and from the link, i need 27 points. =( I'd be much better just subscribbing then paying 100$+. Probably soon, my friend is waiting for his referal bonus.

Is AS still very long to use? Inside combat and while hidden? Or both times are different now?

Don't worry StarGeek, i wouldnt dump an almost purpled build for fun. But thanks for reminding me i have multiple builds, i've been trying to fight lvl 53 with my unslotted build. It was painfull... =p


Funny thing, i have access to First Ward and Dark Astoria. And my purples seems to still be working, at least partly. (3X ultimate fire and cold resistance bonus O.o)