The Daily Grind: Got Champions Online questions?

by Kyle Horner May 5th 2009 at 8:00AM

Filed under: Super-hero, New titles, News items, The Daily Grind, Champions Online

We've done three features packed to the brim with information about Champions Online's beta, but we'd like to answer some of your questions directly. So, if you were unable to find an answer to that niggling question of yours, this is the place to ask it! Today is recording day for the Massively Speaking podcast, and this particular blogger will be on the show answering as many of your questions as possible -- at least until Shawn Schuster kicks him off in a fit of rage.

In case you hadn't seen them yet, we covered character creation, combat intricacies and the first five levels of the game experience. Still, we're quite sure that many of you have burning questions yet to be answered. Just promise us you won't ask us to pick a favorite power framework, because that's just too hard a choice for anyone to make.

Tags: atari, beta, champions, champions-online, cryptic, cryptic-studios, kyle-horner, massively-speaking, the-daily-grind

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

MrGutts said on 8:17AM 5-05-2009

1) Is collision detection on in the game for players and npcs?

2) Do you have to lock ( aka: tab) onto a NPC in order to shoot them with a power or is it free aiming?

3) Can I run around in my fruit of a looms as a hero?

Chris said on 8:19AM 5-05-2009

Any chance you have more information on the "Nemesis" feature? Not sure if I skimmed over it in the coverage or if it wasn't part of the first five levels or whatever.

Also, what are your impressions of cell-shading vs. not cell shading? Is it gimmicky or does it add a certain flavor?

Yahree said on 8:21AM 5-05-2009

I'd like some more specific information on the customization of powers. I thought the game was going to be all about making the character you want but when I read the articles here I got more of a "dual-class" feeling.

Am I stuck with the powers that are put in each of the power sets? Are you able to choose powers out of those sets instead of being stuck with those and only those? How customizable are they? Can you get bonuses added to the powers you like? They are upgradeable but that just sounds like you go from set power a to set power a-2 with no decision making or choice available.

Finally, I'd like more details on the visual effects of the powers and how much you can change them. Thanks

Skatanick said on 8:23AM 5-05-2009

Hi,

1) I was woundering how the swinging works VS flying ? Are you able to swing on the sky or you have to be near a building ? Is the swinging faster then the flying ?

2) Did you heard anything about the 360 version ?

3) Do you know when the Open Beta will be activated ?

Thank you,
Regards,
Skatanick

OrganiClockwork said on 8:34AM 5-05-2009

How is PvP looking? Balanced? Not so much? I'd really like to know that. Not that I'm a big PvP junkie or anything, but I am curious to know about it.

ScytheNoire said on 8:35AM 5-05-2009

1) Reading so far, it seems much like an improved version of City of Heroes (minus the mission architecture). So other than the expected improvements over CoX, what sets it drastically apart from CoX?

2) Is it fun? Does it have more long-term possibility? I played CoH for the first 30 levels when it came out, but past level 20 to 25, it was painful, and past 30, just horrible. Have they added content for the entire game that is fun?

3) Raids? Parties? PvP? Anything else?

4) Can I play?

5) Collector's Edition?

6) Microtransactions to buy new content?

7) With DCO coming and CoX having seen many improvements, is there room for Champions Online?

Hexagar said on 8:50AM 5-05-2009

1. can we lift cars/objects and use them as weapons or throw them on our enemies?

2. i would like to know the recommended system req for this game

Shanks said on 4:34PM 5-05-2009

I'd also like to hear minimum/recommended system requirements. I know they must exist, even if they aren't written down in an official back-of-the-box way. I'd ask a friend who is in the beta, but that pesky NDA is in the way.

Kazrin said on 8:59AM 5-05-2009

I would like to know more about summoning powers. Can you tell us about any other summons we probably haven't heard about yet? Are they permanent duration or on a timer? Just how customizable are they?

Robert said on 9:00AM 5-05-2009

I'm curious about Advantage points and increasing the Tier of a power, is this fixed? ie if I have the power Ray blast Tier 1 and upgrade it to Tier 2, do I have a choice as to what that upgrade does? ie make it a cone, or make it more powerful, or increase the range etc... Or is it set, Tier 2 is cone, Tier 3 is increase the range, Tier 4 is more powerful.

I was hoping to be able to customize the powers where one power I might pick increase the damage, for each tier, but Im not sure that is possible.

Savant said on 9:02AM 5-05-2009

1. How does the game cater towards soloing? What about grouping? And will toons built towards soloability/independence be less of an asset in a group setting?

2. What's the current maximum number of character slots per account/server?

3. What PvP options are currently in and/or are slated for release? And do powers work identically in PvP as they do in PvE?

4. How does the leveling "grind" feel in comparison to other MMOs out the market?

ravenlute said on 9:03AM 5-05-2009

Can you explain a little how you get defensive powers like Invulnerability and Regeneration and how they work?

Dlangar said on 9:06AM 5-05-2009

First, great writeup guys. Everything I'm reading about this game is moving it firmly from the "I should check it out" column to the "Must Play!" column. And it sounds like Kyle had *way* too much fun playing..

"Mr. Horner.. you have to go now.. um.. Mr. Horner? Your cab is leaving.."

My question is about quest presentation/story. One of my biggest complaints about CoH was their horrid user interface, especially wrt to quests, with clues thrown at you haphazardly, and hidden away under a tab, with no organization. And walls of microprint on a transparent background that did everything it could do to discourage you from reading it. I always said CoH had some of the best comic book stories nobody read.

Did you get a chance to run a few missions with some story arc goodness, and see if they've improved or modified the quest/mission experience?

Baayne666 said on 9:09AM 5-05-2009

I am aware of power customization for your character's offensive abilities, what about travel powers. Can travel powers be customized, if so what are some of the ways? (swinging & rocket boots in particular)

Dustin Robinett said on 9:19AM 5-05-2009

Greetings and Salutations!

1) I was wondering if there was a strict class structure like COX, WoW, etc, or do you pick powers from a pool and your "class" is whatever you make it?

2) What kind of end-game content is available in the beta?

3) What kind of "Guild" type system is in place and how does it work?

Crunes said on 9:19AM 5-05-2009

Thanks for the write ups.

1) Is there any player or guild type housing in the game?

2) Any secret identity or alias functions for your character?

3) Is there any crafting/building mechanics for us?

Thanks!

Caxxus said on 9:28AM 5-05-2009

1. Can we get some more information on the Omega System?

2. PvP, PvP, PvP, that's what I want to know. How extensive is the arena system? Are there scenario-like systems where you can que from anywhere in the game?

life said on 9:33AM 5-05-2009

1 is ther a good system to finding teams doing the same quests etc ?
2 is ther any fast way to get from one part of the world to another other then the travel powers ?

Bryan said on 9:35AM 5-05-2009

1. Music? What is it like? Does it blow you away like Age of Conan's or WoW's? Or is it less noticeable?

2. Does each zone have a certain "feel" to it? Does it feel like a world and not just a hodgepodge of linked instances?

3. What kind of fluff is there? Housing? Collections? and of course how are the emotes?

Mark said on 9:50AM 5-05-2009

1) Are there auras in the game like COH or is the glow effect in the character creator all there is in this regard?

2) You say you can change the colour of the ice platform and trail for Ice Slide and the other travel powers, can you also change the animation? I.e change the ice platform for a cloud say, or platform od stone or a metal disc, or in the case of teleport change the appear/disappear animations from a flash of light to a puff of smoke or shower of sparkles etc.?

3) Cryptic have said previously about emanation points, what points are available to us beyond hand, eyes, etc..? They have also stated we could change the emanation point to that of an object like a sword or gun etc..so it appears that the power is coming from the item can you confirm this?

4) How exactly do in game switchable Roles work, they have said before there are roles you can switch between while playing, what are these roles and how do they work?