What is City of

N What is City of Heroes?

City of Heroes is a super-hero based, massively multi-player online role-playing game (MMORPG). The game is set in Paragon City, a modern day metropolis full of super powered villains, alien invaders, and underground monsters. Players take on the roles of Paragon City's super powered defenders. You can create your own hero by choosing your hero's statistics, skills, and powers and you can also design your own costume to suit your super-heroes style and powers.

‹ When will City of Heroes be released?

City of Heroes will be released, hopefully, in the first quarter of 2003, but basically "as soon as possible whilst ensuring that the game has a solid, bug-free launch." (official response). However, the planned launch for the game at present will, initially, only be in North America, with roll-out to foreign shores at a later, as yet undisclosed, date.

! Is there going to be a beta test and if so when?

YES! There will be a beta test stage. CoH aren't taking names for the beta yet, but check their web-site frequently for the big announcement as to when they do! In the meantime, your best bet for being included in the testing for City of Heroes is to sign up as a registered member on their forums - members will be given priority during beta sign-ups.

m What kind of super-heroes will you be able to create?

City of Heroes will allow players to create a tremendous variety of hero types. Heroes will fall into several varied categories, called 'Origins'. Each 'Origin' determines how many different powers a hero can have and to what level they can take those powers. The Origin types will be:

Mutant (e.g. Wolverine, Cyclops);
Altered Human (e.g. Spider-Man, The Hulk);
Magical Powers (e.g. Dr. Strange);
Superior Human (e.g. The Punisher, Hawkeye);
Gadgeteer (e.g. Batman, Iron Man);
Mystic Artifacts (e.g. The Green Lantern, Juggernaut);
Cyberware (e.g. Doctor Octopus).
Each Origin has access to the full range of powers and skills.

~ How many different powers will you be able to choose from?

There will be well over 40 different powers, each of which has various sub-powers and stats for players to choose from and advance. This tremendous range of powers will allow you to fine tune your character just the way you want him/her and allows for a wide variety of new and exciting powers, as you progress through the game. Some examples of the available powers are:

Cold Control
Fire Control
Flight
Energy Blast
Density Control

® Can you design your own costume?

You will be able to design your own costume using Cryptic's Costume Creation system. This versatile system will allow you to mix and match clothing pieces, hair, facial features, costume details, colors, textures, and patterns. There will, literally, be millions of different combinations to choose from, allowing you to create a totally unique look for your character.

H Will you be able to own property in Paragon City?

Teams of players (like comic book teams - the Justice League of America and The X-Men) will be able to pool their wealth and resources in order to purchase entire mansions and skyscrapers for use as their base/HQ. As your team gains fame, money, and experience the team can upgrade and improve their base/HQ. Of course, in order to maintain such lavish accommodations players will have to continue to earn reward money and must sustain their fame ratings. In addition, every player will be able store a small number of items in one of Paragon City's numerous bank vaults.

• How will PvP combat be handled in the game?

Player versus player (PvP) combat, in City of Heroes, will only take place in Cryptic's 'Arena System'. Players will, normally, be free to wander the city without fear of attack by other super powered heroes. In the Arena, however, players or teams will be able to fight against one another, in a variety of different environments, and will even be able to place wagers on the bouts, all without the risk of in-game death or loss of experience.

% How will heroes advance and become more powerful?

As your hero completes' missions or defeats' foes, they will acquire experience points. There will be no "levels" in CoH, it is more comparable to a "skill-based" system. These points can then be spent at your base or at a training hall to increase your heroes powers and skills.

[ Are some starting characters more powerful than others?

Every character starts off as a fledgling hero. Many different power levels are attainable over time, but all heroes will start off as 'immature' and with only the lower power levels. However, depending on your hero's origin, you can start with more powers than some of the other origin types. But, things will balance themselves out quickly as players who are restricted to fewer powers will ultimately be able attain a higher level of expertise in that power than a more versatile opponent.

” Is playing in a team a requirement, either in certain areas of the game or overall? If so how do I join a team?

Cryptic are accommodating both solo and team adventuring in City of Heroes. You can go it alone, form temporary groups or create your own self-sustaining organization, with its own base. However, there will be some emphasis in the game on group play. Teams, for example, will receive more choices in the mission selection process than a solo hero will and a team can also pool their resources to build bigger and better bases. You can join an existing team before the game release by applying to one of the teams advertising in this forum - TEAMS. Alternatively, there is nothing stopping you from creating a team of your own and advertising for players to join!

… Can players create super-villain characters?

The ability to play a super-villain will not be included in the first release of the game. City of Heroes will focus on heroes - but Cryptic do have plans to accommodate villainous play in the future.

s Do you want to find out more information about CoH?

Additional information, incorporating the latest data from interviews, with Cryptic Studios staff, the latest official news updates, competitions and forum Q&As, can be found in the community FAQ or in the City of Heroes Forums or on the main CoH web-site.

All the above information has been gathered from Cryptic Studios' - "City of Heroes" web-site and any errors or inaccuracies herein are not their responsibility. Whilst the best efforts have been made to ensure the above information is an accurate portrayal of the original data, please forgive me for any mistake I have made in it's reproduction ;). If you do spot any incorrect data please e-mail me: Webmaster and I will endeavor to correct the error ASAP.