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Behind the Mask: The best defense isn't a good offense

Patrick Mackey — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, Game Mechanics, Opinion, Free-to-Play, Champions Online, Behind the Mask

Blocking is one of the elements that separates Champions Online from just another MMO. Along with combat movement, blocking turns CO from another game of "1, 2, then 4 until dead" into a dynamic action experience.

Blocking reduces incoming damage by a ton, even with no investment in upgrading it. It also gives you sizable energy boosts for every attack you block, which gives you comeback potential. Many players block only charged attacks, and even more simply never block. While it's important to block charged attacks, blocking isn't just for the few times when those happen.

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Behind the Mask: The best defense isn't a good offense originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Sep 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Behind the Mask: Resistance

Patrick Mackey — Thu, 19 May 2011 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, Expansions, PvE, Free-to-Play, Hands-On, Champions Online, Behind the Mask

I know I promised I'd cover tanking techniques this week, but Resistance, Champions Online's newest adventure pack, just launched, so I think that it's worth postponing my writeup on tanking for a bit. Don't worry, though! We'll get to tanking soon!

Resistance, being the latest pack in CO's new content offerings, is also going to be the last adventure pack before the team starts doing the Comic Series. Although it wasn't quite as hyped up as Demonflame was, it was still a highly anticipated content pack. Does it live up to the hype?

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Champions Online: Long live the Resistance!

Larry Everett — Tue, 17 May 2011 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, Galleries, Screenshots, Trailers, Video, Events (In-Game), Champions Online

Despite the breaking news of Atari's divesting of Cryptic Studios, it is business as usual for the superhero MMO Champions Online. In fact, the studio has just launched its newest adventure pack, Resistance.

According to Resistance lore, the inventor James Harmon unveiled his latest invention: the Trans-dimensional Teleportal. With a name like that, nothing could go wrong (/sarcasm off)! This device will take our heroes to another dimension called Multifaria, where an evil Citizen Harmon rules over Millennium City with an iron fist. It is up to players level 11 to 40 to join the underground resistance of Multifaria and stop Harmon's reign of terror.

We have added Resistance screenshots to the Champions gallery and have the full Resistance launch trailer after the break. The adventure pack is available for purchase in the C-Store, and for added excitement, the GM team will run Resistance with you May 17th through the 19th starting at 1:30 p.m. EDT in Millennium City. Join the Millennium City chat and wait for GM Tiyshen's group invitation.

Gallery: Champions Online Main Gallery

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Champions Online readies Resistance adventure pack

Jef Reahard — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, MMO Industry, Patches, News Items, Free-to-Play, Champions Online

Ready for a new Champions Online adventure pack? Cryptic Studios is polishing up its Resistance content offering, which features a new story, new locations, and rewards according to a blurb on the official Champions website.

Players will join forces and travel through a dimensional portal to Multifaria, a dystopian version of Millennium City where evil is running amok. Outlawed superheroes are humanity's only hope, and you'll need to rescue the imprisoned leader of an underground resistance movement to set the wheels of change in motion.

Resistance, and all Champions adventure packs, features level-scaling content that allows for players between 11 and 40 to tackle the challenges either solo or in groups. Would you like to know more? Click through to the official website for details.

Champions Online readies Resistance adventure pack originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Apr 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Behind the Mask: Big weapons, big news

Patrick Mackey — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, Classes, Game Mechanics, Opinion, Free-to-Play, Champions Online, Behind the Mask

It's an exciting time for Champions Online. Although there was a lot of speculation about the level of success of the Free-for-All expansion, we know just by the increase in content being output that the F2P launch has been a very big success. In the recent State of the Game, Rob Overmeyer announced all sorts of new content, including the Resistance Adventure Pack currently on PTS, the new weekly Comic Series, and the most asked-for feature: player housing!

I could write a whole column speculating on the SotG, and while it'd be kind of a fun read, we all know I like writing informative stuff, and we have a lot of things to cover. Heavy Weapons has been live for a week now. Some of you guys have been waiting with bated breath for me to answer one question: Is Devastator worth buying?

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Behind the Mask: The numbers are coming

Patrick Mackey — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, Game Mechanics, PvE, Free-to-Play, Champions Online, Behind the Mask

Last week threw a bit of a wrench in my plans. I intended to interview a very prominent member of the Champions Online community for this column, but I was sidelined by the flu and some dental work. This delay means that things must be pushed back and shuffled around while some old ideas will come to the fore.

This week, I decided to cover a controversial topic: Inertial Dampening Field. However, IDF affects player survivability in a very particular way, and in my 40-plus weeks of writing about Champions, I've neglected to cover one basic thing: how defense actually works. If you don't know how defense, dodge, and linear damage reduction work in tandem, it's hard to understand just how powerful IDF can be.

I think this week's column would be very valuable to a lot of players, but it is pretty complicated, and the math involved will throw a lot of people off. I'll cover the nitty-gritty math and the rules of thumb, but if you're casual, this is going to be hard to swallow. Like my guide on gear (and the more recent forum post), this is one of those things most people will have to read a few times. As a side advantage, much of this information can be transferred to Star Trek Online, since it uses similar defense mechanics. If you don't want to worry too much about the specifics, hit the jump and scroll to the bottom, where I'll sum up all the essentials.

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Behind the Mask: The numbers are coming originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Questionable freshness

Eliot Lefebvre — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, City of Heroes, City of Villains, Game Mechanics, Opinion, A Mild-Mannered Reporter

We've been on a bit of a kick for new players lately, and that's not by coincidence. Sure, City of Heroes has a well-established playerbase by this point, but it's not like the game is exactly hostile to new players. And while I wanted to do another session of questions and answers, I wanted to wait until I had a good crop of questions that pertain to the newer crowd -- players less familiar with the game or with a given archetype, players who are interested in learning more but unable to find a cogent resource amidst scattered threads on the forums and one-off references in posts.

Let's face it, after nearly seven years, a lot of us don't need or want references to these things any longer. We don't need someone explaining to us about Enhancement Diversification or why someone other than the healer asks what you need for a wakie when you die. A newer player might have no idea about these things, though, and so we're mixing up the format a bit here. Let's get back to basics and look at some questions that might seem simple if you know the answer -- but don't tend to get answered if you don't.

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Share and enjoy in City of Heroes with the Praetorian Clockwork!

Eliot Lefebvre — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, City of Heroes, City of Villains, Expansions, Previews, News Items, Humor

Greetings, fine consumer! You appear to be the sort of discerning individual highly anticipating the upcoming expansion for City of Heroes, much like several of your friends in [SUBJECT_HOMETOWN_HERE]. Going Rogue will be releasing on August 17th, available online or at [SUBJECT_RETAILER_HERE], but perhaps you'd like an opportunity to see some of the most useful automatic companions available before the fact? If so, today is your lucky day, because you have the unprecedented opportunity to take a look at the details behind the Clockwork, the latest and greatest release from Neuron Technologies Unlimited!

Featuring voice recognition, a shiny chrome finish, and over nine thousand home maintenance routines, the Clockwork offer an unparalleled level of safety and security for the entire family. These super-toys last all summer long, with a self-replenishing power source and ample maintenance facilities. And if one of your neighbors challenges the bright new future being assembled by Emperor Cole, you'll be happy to note that all Clockwork are equipped with the best possible threat neutralization capabilities available. Further information, including ordering details and a full description of how you and your robot can share and enjoy your lives, can be found at the official site for City of Heroes.

Share and enjoy in City of Heroes with the Praetorian Clockwork! originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Aug 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Third video diary for Going Rogue explores City of Heroes lore and powers

Eliot Lefebvre — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 22:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, Video, City of Heroes, City of Villains, Game Mechanics, Previews, News Items

With only a short stretch of time left until the release of Going Rogue, Paragon Studios has released a new video documentary about the anticipated City of Heroes expansion. This time, the focus is split between the new characters and powers to be featured within the expansion, diving into the lore that surrounds Praetoria and the Emperor's entourage. Much like previous installments, the documentary both serves to preview some new material to existing fans and show off what's coming for new players or those long absent.

Emperor Cole, naturally, gets to show off front and center, as does Calvin Scott of the Resistance. The designers stress that the intent is to create two sides of very different moral character in Praetoria, rather than a simple choice between good and evil. We also get a look at some of the Kinetic Melee and Electric Control powers in action, and of course, more of the cityscapes players can look forward to with the expansion. Check out the video embedded after the cut, which shows that City of Heroes isn't at risk of slowing down too soon.

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Third video diary for Going Rogue explores City of Heroes lore and powers originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Two sides to the story

Eliot Lefebvre — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, City of Heroes, City of Villains, Expansions, Game Mechanics, Opinion, A Mild-Mannered Reporter

I'm pretty excited for Going Rogue. Part of that is kind of inevitable -- I write a column about City of Heroes, I've tried to make a clear point that I'm a fan of comics in general, and quite honestly right now I'm in a bit of a video game drought and could use something new. But there's more to it than that, and it goes right back to my love of BioWare and the motivation to do speed runs of Silent Hill 2 just to see all of the various endings available.

What I'm getting at here is that I'm a big fan of any game that offers me morality or lets the game shift depending on my choices. So when Going Rogue had its two factions explained, I sat up and took notice, because the morals at play are certainly not black and white. No, they're grey and gray -- if not closer to blue and orange -- and that led to the inspiration for what I believe to be two of my most popular columns. And wouldn't you know it, even with both columns written, there's still more to be said.

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A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Two sides to the story originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Angry, desperate, hungry, cold

Eliot Lefebvre — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, City of Heroes, City of Villains, Culture, Expansions, Lore, Opinion, A Mild-Mannered Reporter

Everyone has different definitions of what constitutes a hero. City of Heroes features plenty of them, after all, and even then there's a breadth of different elements that make them heroic. Some of them are bravely fighting against the odds with unreliable powers or no powers outside of training. Some are heroes who have all the power in the world, but they consider the needs of society to be greater than their own needs. But there's one unifying trait so simple as to be almost comical to state.

Heroes do the right thing. No matter what.

So it's kind of silly to try and glorify the actions of Emperor Cole's jackbooted maniacs, rallying under the "loyalist" banner as if stomping on people were something to be proud about. The fact of the matter is that Cole has been named Tyrant pretty appropriately, crushing any chance for an entire world to make its own choices and mistakes and steps forward. And the reward for handing him control has been paradise, sure -- if you consider what he's offering a paradise.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Angry, desperate, hungry, cold

A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Angry, desperate, hungry, cold originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Jul 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Winners of "Declare your Loyalty" contest announced for City of Heroes

Eliot Lefebvre — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, City of Heroes, City of Villains, Fan art, Expansions, Promotions

Sometimes you notice them and sometimes you don't, but the background touches in City of Heroes are always there. They're little reminders that you're moving through a city full of people. The Rogue Isles has its share of shady billboards and decorations (including no-questions-asked investigators and a minion recruitment service), while Paragon City has law firms and socially-conscious advertisements about the Rikti. And Praetoria has propaganda for Emperor Cole... and against him. That's the crux of the now-concluded contest to declare your loyalty in artistic form for Going Rogue, and the winners of said contest have been announced.

There are three winners in each category, for both Loyalist propaganda and Resistance subversion. Two of the pieces of Resistance graffiti and one of the Loyalist billboards have also been adopted by the developers -- they will be featured in Going Rogue, albeit in a slightly-altered form. The gallery of winners showcases both the original submissions and the slight alterations made for the appearance in-game. City of Heroes players who haven't yet picked a side -- or those who are just interested in seeing some nicely-done propaganda pieces -- should head on over to take a look.

Winners of "Declare your Loyalty" contest announced for City of Heroes originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 Jun 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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City of Heroes launches "Declare Your Loyalty" contest

Eliot Lefebvre — Sat, 01 May 2010 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, City of Heroes, City of Villains, Contests, Events (Real-World), Lore, News Items

Any City of Heroes fan will likely recognize and have an answer for the question "Loyalist or Resistance?" It's all part of the ongoing campaign for the game's upcoming expansion, Going Rogue, and ties to the main storyline -- whether you're a Loyalist of Tyrant's totalitarian utopia, or a no-holds-barred Resistance member willing to topple Tyrant at any cost. Paragon Studios is taking the campaign one step further to celebrate both the impending release and the six-year anniversary: they're letting players make a permanent mark on the world of Praetoria based upon their allegiance.

There are two halves to the contest, based upon one's affiliation. If you're a Loyalist, you are tasked with designing a suitable propaganda poster for Emperor Cole, extolling his virtues and those of his society. On the other hand, Resistance members will design graffiti to spread the message of freedom and encouraging others to rise up. There's a lot of fun to be had with the contest, and the prizes are pretty substantial -- even without the fact that the best entries may very well wind up in Praetoria when Going Rogue launches. Take a look at the full rules, and start declaring your City of Heroes affiliation -- the contest runs until May 14th.

City of Heroes launches "Declare Your Loyalty" contest originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 01 May 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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City of Heroes: Going Rogue takes a look underground

Eliot Lefebvre — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, City of Heroes, City of Villains, Expansions, Lore, News Items

There are four months to go before the release of the second City of Heroes expansion, but the development team has been doing a lot of work to keep Going Rogue on everyone's mind. The announcement of Issue 17 certainly did quite a bit in that direction, as did the early release of Dual Pistols for prepurchasing customers. Now we've been given the first major update to the site since the biography of Tyrant, and it's a meaty one. Information and screenshots have been posted for both Calvin Scott, the leader of the Resistance, and the tunnel-dwelling nightmares known as Ghouls.

Calvin Scott's biography may be of interest to many players because it gives us something that the community had wondered about -- a heroic Mastermind, leading the Resistance troops against Praetoria's fascist regime. Ghouls, on the other hand, are at once more straightforward and more unsettling, crazed undead that lurk beneath Praetoria and threaten to devour anyone who strays into their territory. The black-and-white world of City of Heroes is getting many more shades of gray in the upcoming expansion, and both of these lore tidbits hint at just how blurred the lines will get come July.

City of Heroes: Going Rogue takes a look underground originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 20 Mar 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EVE Evolved: The art of tanking - Shield tanking

Brendan Drain — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, EVE Online, Classes, Game Mechanics, Guides, PvP, Tips and tricks, PvE, Hands-On, EVE Evolved

In part 1 of this series on the world of tanking in EVE Online, I introduced the concept of tanking as it applies to EVE and explained how to select which type of tank to use with your ship. I then went on to give a complete overview of armour tanking, including the equipment and skills you'll need to succeed. In this second part of the guide, I explore the art of shield tanking.

Shield tanking:
In addition to the differences mentioned in the previous article, shield tanking differs significantly from armour tanking. Shield boosters can repair damage a lot faster than armour repairers due to their faster cycle time but are less efficient and will use up a lot more capacitor. An active shield tank is characterised by the use of hardeners to resist damage and a shield booster to repair damage that makes it through. However, since shield naturally recharges over time, it's possible to make a completely passive shield tank that relies on a high recharge rate rather than a shield booster. Different sets of equipment are used for these two different types of shield tank.

Read on and find out all you ever wanted to know about shield tanking, including what modules and skills you can use to boost your combat performance.

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EVE Evolved: The art of tanking - Shield tanking originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Jan 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EVE Evolved: The art of tanking - Armour tanking

Brendan Drain — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, EVE Online, Game Mechanics, Guides, PvP, Tips and tricks, PvE, Hands-On, EVE Evolved

Back in 2005, I became obsessed with the art of tanking in EVE Online. Before writing the definitive tanking guide for EON issue 2 (for which the EVE community dubbed me "the tanking guy"), I spent a lot of time working out the mathematics behind the art. At a time when people preferred a trial and error approach to combat, I went as far as to create a spreadsheet to automate calculations on the strength of your tank. Over the years, more advanced tools like EFT (EVE Fitting Tool) have been released which have this functionality and more. In this short series of articles, I aim to cover tanking from start to finish in a concise and informative manner. In this first part, I begin with an introduction to tanking and follow up with a brief guide on how to select which type of tank to use and a complete overview of armour tanking.

What is tanking?:
Any MMO player will know the role of the "Tank" but the word's usage in EVE Online is a little different. Broadly speaking, a tank is whatever you use to keep yourself alive and it's something every ship can do. The MMO holy trinity of tank, healer and damage-dealer are combined into every ship in EVE. Because of this ability to self-heal, the word "tank" in EVE generally refers to the combination of both resisting damage and healing it. Fitting your ship then becomes a matter of balancing between tank and damage.

Read on to find out how to select what type of tank to use and learn all about armour tanking.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: The art of tanking - Armour tanking

EVE Evolved: The art of tanking - Armour tanking originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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