The Digital Continuum: Champions Online's first content lap
by Kyle Horner 
Oct 6th 2009 at 1:00PM
Filed under: Opinion, The Digital Continuum, Champions Online
My two main heroes are both sitting around level 20, so I'm in that area where I really wish there were more missions to hit up. As it stands now, I'm having to hunt and peck at missions that are either a few levels below or a couple above mine. Will October rid us of this issue? I certainly hope so, especially since it's easy to get bored or frustrated doing quests that just aren't in your level range.
Mission spread would be slightly less of an issue if grouping were more common to the game, or at least long term grouping. It's easy enough to find a group in Champions Online, but keeping one is a whole other story. The mission tracking will definitely help with this, as will the addition of a healing and support power framework. Still, grouping in general needs to become incentivized more -- as do guilds, actually.
Another much needed update is the Power House 2.0, which frankly is a stroke of genius. Being able to test new powers out on real enemies is part of the genius, but what I hope really delivers are the power tips from trainers. So long as those tips make themselves obvious to players who need them and offer concise and comprehensive advice, they'll be a huge boon to the game.
You know, Cryptic should consider putting those tips directly into the character creator somehow.
There's a lot to be happy with this month, so long as all of it pans out as expected. I'm hoping the following months see the game getting a new zone, mostly because it's something the game really needs on a few fronts. For one, it'll add some much needed variety to the game world -- especially in the 20-40 range. Obviously this is something Cryptic is working on given their recent community poll on the topic. I just can't wait for it personally, because it'll help aid my altoholism.
It's been said a lot, but Champions Online really does represent a wonderful opportunity to become a great long-term MMO. Right now it's sitting in that gray area between short and long term game, which is why these October updates are so very key. I can't say until it's all been patched in, but this could very well be the month that cements the game for a whole lot of people.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
MrBounce said on 1:14PM 10-06-2009
Quote: "My two main heroes are both sitting around level 20, so I'm in that area where I really wish there were more missions to hit up. As it stands now, I'm having to hunt and peck at missions that are either a few levels below or a couple above mine."
No, it wouldn't be an issue if people actually explored the game instead of sitting there complaining that the quest hub didn't guide them by hand to the next spot in the game. There's a whole slew of quests you can find just by running / flying / jumping around various areas.
But I guess that's asking for too much from todays gamer? :)
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Wjowski said on 1:54PM 10-06-2009
Honestly it's just pointless ass-kissing when the devs *admit* there's a content gap.
Samael said on 2:06PM 10-06-2009
why do you hvae to defend something the devs already said there was a problem with?
I mean you should not have to do both the crisis zones and both the zones with each and every hero just to level. The xp nerfs were bone headed, I do not mind the power nerfs at all.
JP said on 2:08PM 10-06-2009
You're wrong. Further, if you were right there wouldn't be review after review and thread after thread created addressing the lack of content.
I think you're interpretation of "plenty of content" and ... almost everyone else are two vastly different things.
There's no reason a player should HAVE to explore and hunt down every mission JUST to level. If they want to take the extra time and effort to explore the game world the reward for that should be hidden or off-the-beaten path quests that most players don't see or know about.
As it is, you literally have to take every single quest w/in CO to level at an appropriate rate (meaning quests that are no more then +1 to the character). And that’s ONLY since the addition of the quests in Monster Island. Before that, it was impossible.
Regardless of how you want to spin things, there isn't enough content in this game, for the level of reward xp you receive per quest and mob/kill.
They either need to add a TON really really quickly, or adjust the amount being rewarded. Otherwise, they’ll have nothing but LT players in the game. B/c there was another game that came out w/ the same level of "potential" and its biggest flaw was this one thing - content. That game? Tabula Rasa. Where is it now?
If Cryptic can't turn things faster then any game we've seen in the last 2 years, it's doomed. AoC and WAR have the (minor) advantage of banking on 800-1 mil boxes sold, so retention still keeps their games (if only) barely above water. CO didn't have those types of sales. They had the 150K – 250K mark that TR had.
It's going to take a lot of people making a lot of positive word-of-mouth for the game, and right now, it's not getting it. If you enjoy playing detective to level, great. That’s not the majority of gamers. They want to be able to accept specific missions if they want and pass on some they feel aren’t fun. Not be forced to do every piece b/c there’s no other choice.
Psychotic Storm said on 5:35PM 10-06-2009
JP TR had content and past six months from release it was quite good, when NCSoft axed it for no real reason other than to fire everybody, it was a great game.
CO has some levelling gap, but it can be overcomed at the moment with civilian missions and travelling in all areas, but I agree more is merrier, I just hope they do not overdo it.
Wjowski said on 6:03PM 10-06-2009
NCSoft cancelled TR for no reason? I suggest you go look at the old commentary on this very site for any TR posts and tally up the number of people who say "I love this game and I used to play it alot but...".
*That's* why TR got the axe.
Psychotic Storm said on 6:51PM 10-06-2009
It was self sustainable, NCSoft axed the development studio, (if RG is to be believed) played a dirty game to RG while he was in quarantine after his trip and most players at the end of TR were saying its a good game but I would like it t have X were X was already 2-3 months implemented in game.
TR died mainly from lack of support no advertisement or any attempt from NCSoft to support it but on the contrary doing anything they could to kill it, as is and if a few people who were inside are to be believed, NCSoft just killed it for no reason other than internal politics.
Lilithsblood said on 11:23AM 10-16-2009
I agree with some of these comments as far as CO needing more content. From everything I read that appears to be true. (I dont own it) There should be enough quests to level you through an area and enough to give you a choice. To be able to quest around, find yourself at the right level to move on, and then move on. Not have to hunt down quests to level up. Like some said.. sure if you want to explore and find quests around thats great, but you shouldn't be searching. Needs more content.
Plus the grouping issue seems big. I mean, social play is a huge part of MMO's. If you didn't like grouping or social playing then this should be a single player game not an MMO. Group focus needs to be key. Bringing people together will keep gamers playing the game. From a business side these things make sense.
As soon as these 2 problems are adequately fixed, I'll probably go buy Champions Online.
steve said on 2:06PM 10-06-2009
odd that people are having a problem finding content so far i have went through 36ish levels and hardly don't ever have my mission log full. i usually have the other problem way to many missions that i have to actually drop them in favor of others odd no?
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Lizardbones said on 2:30PM 10-06-2009
It is odd. I'm at 26 and the only reason my main toon got there was because I searched all three zones available to me for quests around my level. You are in the minority I bet.
I like the idea of using your crime computer to find quests, and having random quests pop up, but there needs to be enough quests that players can choose how they level. Adjust the rewards for those quest chains that have to be searched for or supply additional rewards for finding hidden quest hubs. Make a quest specifically on using the crime computer and Socrates for finding quests.
Even if there was "enough" content, more content is better. There's not "enough" content, so more content is now necessary.
Aganazer said on 3:19PM 10-06-2009
Some of the missions are off the beaten path and there are no missions provided that leads you to them. Combine that with the sad truth that many people are incapable of exploring.
I don't doubt that there were a LOT of people that were not able to find all the content they needed to level up, but that doesn't mean that the content doesn't exist. It exists and its enough to level up through the whole game.
Its funny how people make a big deal of a content gap in CO, but not in Aion where your quests won't even provide half of a level through half the game. Its like people accept that they will have to grind in Aion, but not in CO. Its an odd double standard.
steve said on 1:59PM 10-07-2009
true more content to a point is better i just travel over the land and see ! points just pop up the only thing i really don't like is the fact that once you have a the content you are not alerted to the new content.
kooda said on 3:04PM 10-06-2009
*sigh* god i want this game but i already play wow and not sure i want 2 subscription fees a month this is £8 a month, right?
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LancerX92 said on 3:27PM 10-06-2009
I dont know where some of these people are who are over flowing with quests are getting them from. I have 2 toons one is lvl 30 and the second one is lvl 24 and on both I have always run out of quests.
On my lvl 30 I did the 2 lvls higher thing and then had huge gaps where I had to grind out 150K on viper agents to lvl. And thats after flying around and saving civs in the hopes of a door mission. Which only gives like 2.5K xp. On my lvl 24 i am tring to stick with my lvl quests but i still have to grind out 50K or so each lvl. i guess thats why i am not that excited to jump on CO each day anymore.
I would rather have seen to much content in the game then not enough. But I am sure the small amount of people that have pleanty to do in the game are happy and thats good enough for Cryptic. Hope those small amount of people pay enough to make up for the people leaving or its going ot share the same fate as TR.
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drjones said on 4:05PM 10-06-2009
Once I noticed that the crime computer tells you where to go for quests I never had a problem again. But Champs is an alters dream with its crazy customization up the wazoo so it would still be great if they added variety to the low level stuff especially.
Personally I think the only real comparison for this game is COX for obvious reasons. For me it wins based entirely on not being old and not being as grindy/repetative. I don't recall if I had as many quest options in COX at launch but I certainly had much much worse mission variety from the randomly generated system.
Will it be a money success? I dunno. None of the posters here do.
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Samael said on 4:26PM 10-06-2009
Yes, they realize its an alters dream. Hence they only provided it with 8 slots. Anything more you have to pay for. They know where to hit for money. I think they will stay afloat for a while because of these MTs.
Wjowski said on 5:12PM 10-06-2009
Better character slots than game-breaking buffs ala DDO.
ZombiBambi said on 11:05PM 10-06-2009
At the risk of sounding like a fanboy (which I don't think I am)...
1) check your inventory for quest-giving items. It's easy to overlook them
2) check your crime computer for possible quests
3) if citizens offer you quests, take them
4) check back with previous quest givers to see if they have anything new
5) do repeatable quests
6) do PQs (err.. 'Open Missions')
CO doesn't have the 'quest hub' system that WoW/WAR/LOTRO/etc have. Sometime you have to go back to where you were before. Some quests can be repeated. Check previous zones (ie, Canada/Desert if you are in MC)... you will get sent back to both zones from MC at around level 20.
Could CO use more quests? Absolutely. I hope they add a lot more. It's also all too easy to miss quests because the map is not terribly helpful. If they showed all quest givers in the zone on the map, that, I think, would be a big help, and is something they could add without adding new content.
I am really warming up to CO... but yeah, there's a lot that could be improved.
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Sente said on 1:56AM 10-07-2009
Adding a few more tips:
* Explore. There are areas which trigger new missions and some are a bit off the beaten track. You can also find mission givers which do not show up on crime computer.
* If you see a citizen in distress, consider rescuing them; they might give a mission
* Some missions open up for other missions without directly directing you to it. One example is "Your friends in the force" (escort police officer near prison through cobra gang area), which opens a line of missions related to the purple gang starting with police chief Surhoff.
* Check Crime Computer 2.0 (http://www.ebonmists.com/co/index.php)
I have not had any content gap issue for my characters so far, with highest at 28. But yes, that does require to do most missions that can be found and you have to do the same missions with every character. Given that you pretty much have to do +1 missions in early 20s it would certainly be a gap there if you have missed a number of the earlier missions.
There is no doubt that there could be more mission content. But I would not want them to fall into the trap of creating a bunch of grind missions just to hand out a bit more XP - there need to be some quality aspect to it. Grind missions would be worse IMHO than the current state where you have to explore the world.
Carrie said on 1:59AM 10-07-2009
I think the main reason CO lacks in quantity of quest content is simply lack of space. The zones are simply too small to fit any more quests in. If they tried to pack in more NPCs then you'd get the Lemuria Lag Syndrome in every zone. (Lemuria is underwater, and thus they made it "three dimensional", stacking the mobs up in multiple layers causing huge lag problems.)
If you look at WoW or WAR, they have way more quests than you will ever need to level up with, because they have tons of zones and a huge game world.
Simply put, CO needs more zones. More zones equals more quests at all levels, more fun enemies, more storylines, more leveling paths, more variety, more everything. Except lag. Doesn't need more lag.
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