Epic Power Pools (&builds), questions from a noob.

Hey, this is my first time posting on this, hope I'm doing it right and that it's in the correct section...
I read up on Epic and Patron Power pools, and from my understanding, the level requirement decreased from 40 (41?) to 35, correct?
Anyways, here is my question:
How exactly do you gain access to them? I heard someone tell me that there were missions that I had to go through from a contact ( I want to do the Epic Power Pool one, not Patron), but I have no clue how to find this contact.
Also, maybe it's this but... to gain access to these additional powers, do we need to be a VIP / pay? I'm one of the many new free players...
Also an additional question, how do you gain a build/switch between them? Or at least that's how it was in my understanding, that you can change a build like you can a costume... if not, someone please set me straight!
Thanks very much in advance, I've been trying to google my first question for ages but to no avail ;/

1. Hero Epic Power Pools work like regular power pools, at 35 you can choose a power from one of the four pool options, just like you'd pick Super Speed from the Speed power pool. Ultimately you can have powers from 4 regular power pools and 1 epic.

The Villain Patron Power Pools require you to run one of the four patron arcs first, but after that they work the same.

2. You don't need to be VIP to access these. They've been in the game since pretty much the beginning... at least since the 40-50 game was added. (Patron Pools were added with CoV of course.) Generally speaking, stuff that was in the game at the beginning or with the first few issues is all stuff than you can access for free.

3. Talk to a trainer to create or switch to a 2nd build. The first time you'll have to repick all of your powers as if you're leveling up again, after that you can switch between the two instantly. There's a cooldown period after you've switched, I forget, 5 minutes, 15 minutes, something like that, before you can switch again.

Ancillary (or Epic) Power Pools just show up as an option in the Power Selection screen once you are of appropriate level (just like Power Pools do at level 4). Once you are there, it should be fairly obvious. VIP isn't necessary for them.

At any trainer, one of the options is to switch to (or rename) an alternate build. Every character has access to one alternate build. If VIP, once you unlock the Alpha slot, you get a 3rd build, too.

edit: Slow and scooped.

Ancillary Power Pools, also called Epic Power pools will simply become available to you at level 35. You don't need to do anything to unlock them. Next time you train you will see them by the rest of the power pools. You can only choose one of them, however you are not permanently locked into that choice. You can later respect into a new one if you wish. Any alignment may make use of them.

Patron Power Pools are only available to villains and rogues.. They work the same as Ancillary pools but you must complete an arc to initially unlock them. These arcs come from the Arachnos patrons in Grandville. Completing the first arc from any of them will unlock all the Patron pools. So you can complete Ghost Widow's missions and then select from Mako's pool if you wish. Once you have unlocked access to Patron pools you will retain them even if you later switch alignment to hero or vigilante.

There are a few Archetypes that can't use them, however as a free player you probably don't have access to those ATs anyway.

Edit: Scooped by NurseDonna, nothing to see here.

You can tell that I've only ever leveled one Kheld to 50... :/

Here's another question. If a villain/rogue wants an Epic Power Pool (Not Patron), is it still necessary to choose a patron to select an Epic Power Pool?