Issue 18: Shades of Gray Overview

[RTTingle]

Issue 18: Shades of Gray Overview

The eighteenth free expansion for City of Heroes? introduces major new game upgrades and is the milestone for the release of the content in the City of Heroes Going Rogue? expansion.

Tips System

The Tips System gives players a new way to find missions. During play, foes Level 20 or higher may drop notes or clues, or offer information. These Tips start new mission arcs, allowing characters to face new opponents and challenges.

One Auction House for All

Players of all alignments, whether they are Heroes, Villains, Vigilantes, or Rogues, can now use any Wentworth's Consignment House or Black Market venue.

Trading Between Alignments

Heroes and Villains can now trade Inspirations in co-op zones. Players can even mail certain items to their own characters using the global email system.

Mission Architect Additions

With the inclusion of doppelgangers, your character can now fight against himself or herself!

New Hardware Support

City of Heroes now supports Alienware AlienFX?.
Cathedral of Pain

Issue 18: Shades of Gray reintroduces the long-awaited Cathedral of Pain Trial. The Cathedral of Pain is the name of one of the strongholds of Ruularu the Ravager, a cosmic entity with unimaginable powers. Inside the heavily defended Cathedral of Pain, Ruularu is attempting to pierce the barrier between his realm and our reality. If he succeeds, Ruularu gains ultimate power, and our dimension will be obliterated.

Only you and your allies can stop Ruularu.

The Cathedral of Pain is one of the most challenging trials in City of Heroes. Up to 24 Level 35 to 50 characters can work together to take down the Soldiers of Ruularu, Psionic Resonators, and ultimately an aspect of Ruularu himself. You have only one hour to complete your mission.

If your group manages to stop Rularuu's insane scheme, your courage will be rewarded! You can earn Merit Rewards, or even earn a rare badge to celebrate this epic victory. But be on guard--Ruularu will return.
City of Heroes Going Rogue Expansion
Buy Now

The free benefits of Issue 18 pale in comparison to the new game features, power sets, customization options, adventures, and brand new world of Praetoria to explore in the City of Heroes Going Rogue expansion.

Find out more about Going Rogue by visiting the official City of Heroes Going Rogue website.

Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice.

[Reepicheep]

Cathedral of pain is pretty awesome.

Am I reading this right... is this the GR release, or just a prelude to it?

[BlueBard]

What I want to know is whether the free issue supports changing alignments and how much of the new content is specific to GR.

I suppose I may have to wait for the release notes whenever it goes live.  Unless somebody here who plays Test can weigh in...

[catwhowalksbyhimself]

This is the issue that will be released at the same time as GR.  The market merger in particular is necessary for GR, but will be made available to everyone.

The alignment switching thing is GR only, that has always been stated.  You must have the expansion to do it or to start in the normal alignment free Praetoria.

EDIT:  Ghost Falcon confirmed this.  If you have the expansion, the Tip Missions will unlock Morality Missions that let you change alignments.  If you don't have the expansion, you'll still get the Tip Missions, but they won't unlock morality missions.

In one of the preview videos, though, they stated there would be rewards for not changing alignment, so non GR players may get whatever that is by default.

They've also said that the Cathedral of Pain will now have nothing to do with Base raids, PvP, or Items of Power.  Speculation is it will be co-op, but that has yet to be confirmed.

[Midnight]

I'll come back for Cathedral of Pain. Geo needs new meat.

[Tortuga]

I'm feeling the vortex...must...resist....resubscribing!!

[Verfall]

I'm feeling the vortex...must...resist....resubscribing!!

I already jumped that wagon, just need to get home once inawhile to use what I've paid for, heh.

The one disappointing thing, for me anyways, about GR is the amount of time it takes to "jump ship" to either side. At my current playing rate, I'll have one toon switching sides within 3 months of release, heh.