Difference between revisions of "Issue 19"

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Overview

Issue 19, Alpha Strike, will be a major revision to City of Heroes and City of Villains. The title references the Alpha Strike Task Force, which is one of the ways Level 50 characters can make themselves more powerful with the Incarnate System.

This article summarizes some of the major features in Issue 19.

Confirmed Content

The Alpha Slot

Issue 19 unveils the long-awaited Alpha Slot^[1], the first part of the new Incarnate system^[1] that gives high-level characters access to new powers and challenges. Unlocking the Alpha Slot is no easy task. Players must first learn what it means to exceed the definition of Hero or Villain to become an Incarnate. Mender Ramiel in Ouroboros guides players on this journey.

Learn the Secret of Mender Ramiel and your involvement in his appearance from the future. Uncover what makes Player Characters different from the Incarnates, Statesman and Lord Recluse.

New Task Forces

Challenges already await new Incarnates. The Praetorians have begun their invasion of Primal Earth. Protecting Paragon City™ and the Rogue Isles™ from such overwhelming forces requires the greatest Heroes and Villains to work together. Two familiar faces will help in stopping the invasion: Apex and Tin Mage.

Apex Task Force^[1]: Apex has joined the Vanguard, and he helps organize your team of Incarnates to stop the Praetorian initial assault. Face off against the Anti-Matter Clockwork, War Walkers, and the Arch-Villain Battle Maiden before they can destroy Paragon City. If you succeed in this battle, the war is yet to be won.
Tin Mage Task Force^[1]: The lost hero Tin Mage has returned (actually, Tin Mage Mark 2, reconstructed from his own schematics he left behind) to help coordinate an assault into Praetoria to stop the invasion cold. Your team strikes into the very heart of Nova Praetoria to confront Neuron, Bobcat, and a Praetorian army.
- The power of the Incarnate Slots are not required, but highly recommended to attempt these Task Forces.
The Calvin Scott Task Force is back as a flashback arc.

New Arcs

A Hero arc investigating the medical transporters and why they aren't handed out to civilians
A Villain arc has to do with finding out what exactly the Leviathan is and what its power source is
Praetorians have new level 20-29 arcs that take place in Paragon City or the Rogue Isles that explore what their role is there.

Praetoria Zone Events

Live events in Praetoria in which your Resistance or Loyalist character can participate^[1] and choose which side to help:

The Protest (Nova Praetoria): The angry citizens of Praetoria are staging a protest in Nova Praetoria. Will you join them or shut them down?
Syndicate Takedown (Imperial City): The PPD has found a cell of the Syndicate in the Agilecorp building. The two forces are at a standoff at the base of the building. If you hurry you can capture one of the Syndicate's leaders.
The Great Escape (Neutropolis): One of the Failed Experiments has remained lucid and sane, and appears to have the ability to influence other Ghouls. Informants say he is eager to aid the Resistance in its war against the regime. Will you aid him in his escape? Or will you hunt him down now that he has escaped?

Rewards for participation in the zone events will be based on the amount of participation, and not just damage done -- (de)buffing and heals are tracked.

Fitness Power Pool is Inherent

The Fitness power pool is now an inherent power pool available to all new and existing characters starting from Level 1. Players can freely choose between any or all of the Fitness powers for available character power slots. These powers can be slotted and will accept the appropriate Enhancements.

Further clarifications were given by Castle after the initial announcement
- Fitness Pool powers have been incorporated into Inherent powers available at Level 2 [1]
  - All characters will be granted Swift, Hurdle, Health, and Stamina.
  - Existing characters with these powers selected via Pool Powers will be able to gain the powers they have not previously taken via the normal leveling process. They will not gain access to any of the Inherent fitness powers until they Respec.
  - Upon using a Respec, the Fitness pool will not be selectable by the character and all 4 powers will be granted as Inherent Powers at level 2. This prevents issues with lost enhancements or slot allocation errors.
- They are still auto-powers and will be always active.[2]
- The powers will work while in Crab or Squid form as a Kheldian, which is different from the Pool versions of the powers. [3]

Alternate Power Animations

Now players can customize the animation for some characters' powers. Shoot a Psychic Blast or even launch a Fire Breath from your character's hands. Hurl an attack from one or both hands. Select the animations and customize how a character fires off its powers at any Tailor.

The following powers have alternate animation choices:

Primary Sets: Dark Blast, Electric Blast, Energy Blast, Fire Blast, Radiation Blast, Ice Blast, Sonic Blast, Mind Blast.
Secondary Sets: Psionic Assault, Sonic Resonance, Icy Assault, Fiery Assault, Mental Manipulation, Energy Assault, Electricity Manipulation, Integration.

Primal Earth Characters Can Enter Praetoria

Non-Praetorians can journey to Praetoria^[1] through Pocket D.

More Tip and Morality Missions

From levels 20 to 50, all City of Heroes characters can play and enjoy more Tip missions, while City of Heroes Going Rogue™ characters can choose from more missions^[1] that impact a character's alignment.

Costumes

New Auras

Issue 19 includes two free auras for all City of Heroes players. These auras are customizable.

Fireflies - Your character can be surrounded by glowing, tintable fireflies.
Snow - Celebrate winter and be showered by snow.

Costume Sets

As part of a new, general policy of giving players the costume sets of new NPC groups, there will be a new costume set for players based on a group being more fully fleshed out in Issue 19, the Imperial Defense Force.

Badges

New Badges: We've added new Exploration badges for hazard zones.

Quality of Life

Merged Monorails and Ferries: The Transit Authorities in Paragon City and the Rogue Isles have made major improvements to the monorail and ferry system by merging their respective routes. All monorails can now travel to every monorail station on the Green and Yellow Line (the two Steel Canyon and Skyway City stations differentiated with a North v. South designation), while all ferries can now travel to every ferry station in the Rogue Isles. Train Missions will appear at the top of the list of zones with a star.
The ability to log out to the Character Select Screen
Praetoria gets notoriety adjuster contacts.
Hospital gurneys in all Trial and Hazard zones. And a nurse selling inspiration in all hospitals.
New Assets:
- New NPC Faction: Imperial Defense Force
- New maps with the new Task Forces
- Goliath-Class WarWalkers
- Designers now have an interface to create zone events without the need of hard coding (similar to what led to the Mission Architect).

Mission Architect

Mission Architect Enhancements: The Tunnels and Tech map sets are now available in Mission Architect.
You can now also select the Praetorian Clockwork, Destroyers, Resistance, Praetoria Police Department, Seers, Ghouls, and the Syndicate as Mission Architect NPC groups.
Electric Control and Kinetic Melee are available power sets to give to critters in your stories.

Notes

↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Requires the City of Heroes Going Rogue expansion

Release scheduled for Fall 2010.

Historical

Issue 19 was originally going to be called Incarnates, but the name was changed to Alpha Strike through a comment made by Melissa Bianco (revealed at the PAX2010 Panel).

Gallery

External Links

Official Feature Update
Info from the New York City Comic-Con Panel
Video of the NYC Comic-Con Panel Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 of 4 parts.

Template:Issue Releases

[grreqd-1] ↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Requires the City of Heroes Going Rogue expansion

[1]

@@ Line 10: / Line 10: @@
 *On XXXX #, 2010, the Training Room was opened up for Issue 19 [[Open Beta]].
 *Issue 19 was released to the [[servers|Live Servers]] on XXXX #, 2010. -->
 == Confirmed Content==
 ===The Alpha Slot===
+[[Issue 19]] unveils the long-awaited [[Alpha Slot]]<ref name="grreqd" />, the first part of the new [[Incarnate System|Incarnate system]]<ref name="grreqd" /> that gives high-level characters access to new powers and challenges. Unlocking the Alpha Slot is no easy task. Players must first learn what it means to exceed the definition of [[Hero (Alignment)|Hero]] or [[Villain (Alignment)|Villain]] to become an [[Incarnate]]. [[Mender Ramiel]] in [[Ouroboros]] guides players on this journey.
-[[Issue 19]] unveils the long-awaited [[Alpha Slot]]<ref name="grreqd" />, the first part of the new [[Incarnate System|Incarnate system]]<ref name="grreqd" /> that gives high-level characters access to new powers and challenges. Unlocking the Alpha Slot is no easy task. Players must first learn what it means to exceed the definition of [[Hero (Alignment)|Hero]] or [[Villain (Alignment)|Villain]] to become an [[Incarnate]]. [[Mender Ramiel]] in [[Ouroboros]] guides players on this journey.
+Learn the Secret of Mender Ramiel and your involvement in his appearance from the future. Uncover what makes Player Characters different from the [[Incarnate]]s, [[Statesman]] and [[Lord Recluse]].
-===Two New Task Forces===
+===New Task Forces===
 Challenges already await new [[Incarnate System|Incarnates]]. The [[Praetoria]]ns have begun their invasion of [[Primal Earth]]. Protecting [[Paragon City]]™ and the [[Rogue Isles]]™ from such overwhelming forces requires the greatest Heroes and Villains to work together. Two familiar faces will help in stopping the invasion: [[Apex]] and [[Tin Mage]].
 *[[Apex Task Force]]<ref name="grreqd" />: [[Apex]] has joined the [[Vanguard]], and he helps organize your team of [[Incarnate]]s to stop the Praetorian initial assault. Face off against the [[Anti-Matter's_Clockwork|Anti-Matter Clockwork]], [[Imperial_Defense_Force#War_Walker|War Walkers]], and the Arch-Villain [[Battle Maiden]] before they can destroy Paragon City. If you succeed in this battle, the war is yet to be won.
-*[[Tin Mage Task Force]]<ref name="grreqd" />: The lost hero [[Tin Mage]] has returned to help coordinate an assault into [[Praetoria]] to stop the invasion cold. Your team strikes into the very heart of [[Nova Praetoria]] to confront [[Neuron]], [[Bobcat]], and a Praetorian army.
+*[[Tin Mage Task Force]]<ref name="grreqd" />: The lost hero [[Tin Mage]] has returned (actually, Tin Mage Mark 2, reconstructed from his own schematics he left behind) to help coordinate an assault into [[Praetoria]] to stop the invasion cold. Your team strikes into the very heart of [[Nova Praetoria]] to confront [[Neuron]], [[Bobcat]], and a Praetorian army.
+**The power of the Incarnate Slots are not required, but highly recommended to attempt these [[Task Force]]s.
+*The [[Calvin Scott Task Force]] is back as a [[flashback]] arc.
-===New Auras===
-Issue 19 includes two free auras for all City of Heroes players. These auras are customizable.
+===New Arcs===
-* Fireflies - Your character can be surrounded by glowing, tintable fireflies.
+* A Hero arc investigating the medical transporters and why they aren't handed out to civilians
-* Snow - Celebrate winter and be showered by snow.
+* A Villain arc has to do with finding out what exactly the Leviathan is and what its power source is
+* Praetorians have new level 20-29 arcs that take place in Paragon City or the Rogue Isles that explore what their role is there.
-===Praetoria Zone Events===
-Live events in Praetoria in which your [[Resistance (Alignment)|Resistance]] or [[Loyalist (Alignment)|Loyalist]] character can participate<ref name="grreqd" />:
+===Praetoria Zone Events===
+Live events in Praetoria in which your [[Resistance (Alignment)|Resistance]] or [[Loyalist (Alignment)|Loyalist]] character can participate<ref name="grreqd" /> and choose which side to help:
 * The Protest ([[Nova Praetoria]]): The angry citizens of [[Praetoria]] are staging a protest in Nova Praetoria. Will you join them or shut them down?
 * Syndicate Takedown ([[Imperial City]]): The [[Praetorian Police Department|PPD]] has found a cell of the [[Syndicate]] in the Agilecorp building. The two forces are at a standoff at the base of the building. If you hurry you can capture one of the Syndicate's leaders.
 * The Great Escape ([[Neutropolis]]): One of the [[Failed Experiments]] has remained lucid and sane, and appears to have the ability to influence other [[Ghouls]]. Informants say he is eager to aid [[the Resistance]] in its war against the regime. Will you aid him in his escape? Or will you hunt him down now that he has escaped?
+Rewards for participation in the zone events will be based on the amount of participation, and not just damage done -- (de)buffing and heals are tracked.
 ===Fitness Power Pool is Inherent===
@@ Line 46: / Line 54: @@
 **They are still auto-powers and will be always active.[http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showthread.php?p=3244382#post3244382]
 **The powers will work while in [[Kheldian#Dwarf|Crab]] or [[Kheldian#Nova|Squid]] form as a [[Kheldian]], which is different from the Pool versions of the powers. [http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showthread.php?p=3244386#post3244386]
 ===Alternate Power Animations===
@@ Line 53: / Line 62: @@
 * Primary Sets: [[Dark Blast]], [[Electrical Blast|Electric Blast]], [[Energy Blast]], [[Fire Blast]], [[Radiation Blast]], [[Ice Blast]], [[Sonic Attack|Sonic Blast]], [[Psychic Blast|Mind Blast]].
 * Secondary Sets: [[Psionic Assault]], [[Sonic Resonance]], [[Icy Assault]], [[Fiery Assault]], [[Mental Manipulation]], [[Energy Assault]], [[Electricity Manipulation]], [[Regeneration#Integration|Integration]].
 ===Primal Earth Characters Can Enter Praetoria===
 * Non-[[Praetorian (Alignment)|Praetorians]] can journey to [[Praetoria]]<ref name="grreqd" /> through [[Pocket D]].
 ===More Tip and Morality Missions===
-All City of Heroes characters can play and enjoy more [[Tip_Mission#Alignment_Tips|Tip mission]]s, while [[City of Heroes]] [[Going Rogue]]™ characters can choose from [[Morality Mission|more missions]]<ref name="grreqd" /> that impact a character's [[alignment]].
+From levels 20 to 50, all City of Heroes characters can play and enjoy more [[Tip_Mission#Alignment_Tips|Tip mission]]s, while [[City of Heroes]] [[Going Rogue]]™ characters can choose from [[Morality Mission|more missions]]<ref name="grreqd" /> that impact a character's [[alignment]].
-===Other Enhancements===
+===Costumes===
+====New Auras====
+Issue 19 includes two free auras for all City of Heroes players. These auras are customizable.
+* Fireflies - Your character can be surrounded by glowing, tintable fireflies.
+* Snow - Celebrate winter and be showered by snow.
+====Costume Sets====
+*As part of a new, general policy of giving players the costume sets of new NPC groups, there will be a new costume set for players based on a group being more fully fleshed out in Issue 19, the [[Imperial Defense Force]].
+===Badges===
 * New [[Badges]]: We've added new [[Exploration Badges|Exploration badges]] for [[Hazard Zone|hazard zones]].
-* Merged Monorails and Ferries: The Transit Authorities in [[Paragon Transit Authority|Paragon City]] and the Rogue Isles have made major improvements to the monorail and [[Ferry|ferry system]] by merging their respective routes. All monorails can now travel to every monorail station on the [[Green Line|Green]] and [[Yellow Line]], while all [[Ferry#Villain_Ferry_Locations|ferries]] can now travel to every ferry station in the [[Rogue Isles]].
-* [[Mission Architect]] Enhancements: The Tunnels and Tech map sets are now available in Mission Architect. You can now also select the [[Praetorian Clockwork]], [[Destroyers]], [[The Resistance|Resistance]], [[Praetorian Police Department|Praetoria Police Department]], [[Seers]], [[Ghouls]], and the [[Syndicate]] as Mission Architect NPC groups.
+===Quality of Life===
+* Merged Monorails and Ferries: The Transit Authorities in [[Paragon Transit Authority|Paragon City]] and the Rogue Isles have made major improvements to the monorail and [[Ferry|ferry system]] by merging their respective routes. All monorails can now travel to every monorail station on the [[Green Line|Green]] and [[Yellow Line]] (the two [[Steel Canyon]] and [[Skyway City]] stations differentiated with a North v. South designation), while all [[Ferry#Villain_Ferry_Locations|ferries]] can now travel to every ferry station in the [[Rogue Isles]]. [[Train Mission]]s will appear at the top of the list of zones with a star.
+* The ability to log out to the Character Select Screen
+* [[Praetoria]] gets [[notoriety]] adjuster contacts.
+* Hospital gurneys in all [[Trial]] and [[Hazard Zone|Hazard]] zones. And a nurse selling [[inspiration]] in all hospitals.
+* New Assets:
+** New NPC Faction: [[Imperial Defense Force]]
+** New maps with the new [[Task Force]]s
+** Goliath-Class WarWalkers
+** Designers now have an interface to create zone events without the need of hard coding (similar to what led to the Mission Architect).
-== Notes ==
+===Mission Architect===
+* [[Mission Architect]] Enhancements: The Tunnels and Tech map sets are now available in Mission Architect.
+* You can now also select the [[Praetorian Clockwork]], [[Destroyers]], [[The Resistance|Resistance]], [[Praetorian Police Department|Praetoria Police Department]], [[Seers]], [[Ghouls]], and the [[Syndicate]] as Mission Architect NPC groups.
+* [[Electric Control]] and [[Kinetic Melee]] are available power sets to give to [[critter]]s in your stories.
+== Notes ==
 {{Reflist|2|refs=
 <ref name="grreqd">Requires the City of Heroes Going Rogue expansion</ref>
 }}
 * Release scheduled for Fall 2010.
 == Historical ==
 *Issue 19 was originally going to be called ''Incarnates'', but the name was changed to ''Alpha Strike'' through a comment made by [[War Witch (Developer)|Melissa Bianco]] (revealed at the PAX2010 Panel).
 == Gallery ==
@@ Line 93: / Line 132: @@
 == External Links ==
 * [http://www.cityofheroes.com/news/game_updates/issue_19/issue_19_overview.html Official Feature Update]
+* [http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showthread.php?t=241241 Info from the New York City Comic-Con Panel]
+* Video of the NYC Comic-Con Panel [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFPogTrkvcg Part 1] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpehu1wkcgk&playnext=1&videos=f4Vky6g8s34&feature=mfu_in_order Part 2] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgt2ZkMcsDQ&playnext=1&videos=cyFO0bHI3tc&feature=mfu_in_order Part 3] of 4 parts.
 {{Issue Releases}}
 [[Category:Game Updates|I19]]