So, I'm gonna get this game today.

[Spam]

I plan on going to my local mall to pick this up later today. I'll hopefully make a character today and play... But I'm excited to finally get this to play this game. It'll be sweet, IMO.

Any tips, or peices of advice?

FORIAMSPAM!

[ow_tiobe_sb]

Which game: CoH, CoV, or both?

Welcome aboard, lad! :) Though, you are not likely to see me online anytime soon due to a crippling lack of free time at home...

ow_tiobe_sb
Phantom Bunburyist and [THIS SPACE AVAILABLE FOR LEASE TO NEW DUAL TITLE TENANT]

[B A D]

Never played it, Myself.

[BlueBard]

#1: Play through the tutorial mission(s), at least once.  Pay special attention to the threat-level color code and the explanation of how enhancements work.

#2: You level faster if you team up, especially if you're running around with folks who are higher level than you.

#3: Join a 'sewer' team.  The XP is generally good and you'll level faster if you're on a good team.  BUT, try to take along 'Awaken' inspirations if you can because you're going to get KO'd sooner or later.  The sewers are okay up to about 6th level or so, at which point you'll probably want to switch to doing more traditional missions.

#4: For your first character, you might want to try a Scrapper.  It's a melee type that has offense and defense and can generally do well against higher level enemies.  That translates into leveling faster.  Scrappers also solo well.  If you're more of the "snipe and run" mentality, go with a Blaster.  Or if you just want to wade into the thick of things, you can't go wrong with a Tank and the defensive powers that go with that AT.  If you want to be invited to every team on the server, play an Empathy Defender... you'll be very, very popular.

#5: Find a good super/villain group.  They're equivalent to guilds and clans in other games.  Hopefully their base has a med-bay that will let you heal up and then transport right back into whatever map you got KO'd on.

#6: Learn to use binds and macros, ASAP.  One of the simplest things you can do is this bind command:

/bind g "powexec_name sprint"

Which basically lets you turn the sprint power on and off with your 'g' key.  This is one of the first things I do when I set up a new character.  You want to turn it on to move and turn it off in combat to save endurance.

#7: Generally, you are going to want to be able to attack as much as you can at the earliest levels and you should probably take at least one attack power at level 1 and a second one at level 2, even if attacks are your secondary powerset.

#8: Stay out of the Hollows until you hit level 8, unless you're a Tank or Scrapper and maybe not even then.  Don't say I didn't warn you.  After you get some experience with the game you can try it at level 6.  You are going to get one mission to go see someone in the Hollows which you can't really avoid.  Go see the contact, but don't take any of his missions right away.

#9: You will have a lot of character slots available.  Don't go crazy making new characters until you get the hang of the game.

#10: Don't worry too much about dying/KO.  You can't build up XP debt until level 10, so there's no penalty for throwing yourself into fights where the enemies are tougher than you are.  (Avoid reds and purples, though)

That should be enough advice to help you get to level 6 relatively painlessly.  You should be able to reach that in a few hours of gameplay.

[captainspud]

Hopefully their base has a med-bay that will let you heal up and then transport right back into whatever map you got KO'd on.

As we've mentioned, BB, this is a glitch and not something you can count on having happen.

And I'll second the recommendation to do a Scrapper for your first toon. It's CoH on training wheels.

[Raptor]

Make sure you allow approx. 30 mins to an hour (depending on your ISP speed) to download and apply the latest patches and updates after you install the game.  This will happen automatically when you try to start the game.  Just be patient, it's normal, required and definitely worth it.

[Camma]

Most of this community and the associated supergroups/villain groups are on Freedom Server, but alt groups are branching out to Infinity, Virtue and Champion.

IMO the most important first step in game is to get on the global chat channel.  Sure you can find teams with random people but its much more fun to play with friends and the global channel is key for communcation across servers and such.

After you log off come back here and post us your global chat handle which by default is the name of your first character with an '@' in front.  So if you create Spam your global handle is @Spam.  The @ signifies a global name that will send messages cross server as oppossed to a message to just 'Spam' which goes to that character and only from others on that server.

[Uncle Yuan]

And once you post your global handle you can be invited to the FR/NRF channel so you can chat with all your FR friends.

[Spam]

Which game: CoH, CoV, or both?

Welcome aboard, lad! :) Though, you are not likely to see me online anytime soon due to a crippling lack of free time at home...

ow_tiobe_sb
Phantom Bunburyist and [THIS SPACE AVAILABLE FOR LEASE TO NEW DUAL TITLE TENANT]

I got both in one neat little package. :) Aw, man. :(

#1: Play through the tutorial mission(s), at least once.  Pay special attention to the threat-level color code and the explanation of how enhancements work.

#2: You level faster if you team up, especially if you're running around with folks who are higher level than you.

#3: Join a 'sewer' team.  The XP is generally good and you'll level faster if you're on a good team.  BUT, try to take along 'Awaken' inspirations if you can because you're going to get KO'd sooner or later.  The sewers are okay up to about 6th level or so, at which point you'll probably want to switch to doing more traditional missions.

#4: For your first character, you might want to try a Scrapper.  It's a melee type that has offense and defense and can generally do well against higher level enemies.  That translates into leveling faster.  Scrappers also solo well.  If you're more of the "snipe and run" mentality, go with a Blaster.  Or if you just want to wade into the thick of things, you can't go wrong with a Tank and the defensive powers that go with that AT.  If you want to be invited to every team on the server, play an Empathy Defender... you'll be very, very popular.

#5: Find a good super/villain group.  They're equivalent to guilds and clans in other games.  Hopefully their base has a med-bay that will let you heal up and then transport right back into whatever map you got KO'd on.

#6: Learn to use binds and macros, ASAP.  One of the simplest things you can do is this bind command:

/bind g "powexec_name sprint"

Which basically lets you turn the sprint power on and off with your 'g' key.  This is one of the first things I do when I set up a new character.  You want to turn it on to move and turn it off in combat to save endurance.

#7: Generally, you are going to want to be able to attack as much as you can at the earliest levels and you should probably take at least one attack power at level 1 and a second one at level 2, even if attacks are your secondary powerset.

#8: Stay out of the Hollows until you hit level 8, unless you're a Tank or Scrapper and maybe not even then.  Don't say I didn't warn you.  After you get some experience with the game you can try it at level 6.  You are going to get one mission to go see someone in the Hollows which you can't really avoid.  Go see the contact, but don't take any of his missions right away.

#9: You will have a lot of character slots available.  Don't go crazy making new characters until you get the hang of the game.

#10: Don't worry too much about dying/KO.  You can't build up XP debt until level 10, so there's no penalty for throwing yourself into fights where the enemies are tougher than you are.  (Avoid reds and purples, though)

That should be enough advice to help you get to level 6 relatively painlessly.  You should be able to reach that in a few hours of gameplay.

Awesome. Thanks for all the advice. I will most definately try to follow it.

Make sure you allow approx. 30 mins to an hour (depending on your ISP speed) to download and apply the latest patches and updates after you install the game.  This will happen automatically when you try to start the game.  Just be patient, it's normal, required and definitely worth it.

My internet wasn't working last night when I wanted to play it, so now I have to sit here in the early morning having to wait for it to download the patches... Me just wants to play! But, I'll try and wait some more... I guess. =p

Most of this community and the associated supergroups/villain groups are on Freedom Server, but alt groups are branching out to Infinity, Virtue and Champion.

IMO the most important first step in game is to get on the global chat channel.  Sure you can find teams with random people but its much more fun to play with friends and the global channel is key for communcation across servers and such.

After you log off come back here and post us your global chat handle which by default is the name of your first character with an '@' in front.  So if you create Spam your global handle is @Spam.  The @ signifies a global name that will send messages cross server as oppossed to a message to just 'Spam' which goes to that character and only from others on that server.

Sweet. :)

And once you post your global handle you can be invited to the FR/NRF channel so you can chat with all your FR friends.

Once again, sweet. :)

[Raptor]

Make sure you allow approx. 30 mins to an hour (depending on your ISP speed) to download and apply the latest patches and updates after you install the game.  This will happen automatically when you try to start the game.  Just be patient, it's normal, required and definitely worth it.

My internet wasn't working last night when I wanted to play it, so now I have to sit here in the early morning having to wait for it to download the patches... Me just wants to play! But, I'll try and wait some more... I guess. =p

Once you are in and set up, go to this thread to post your global handle. 

[GhostMachine]

Regarding sewer groups, they're good until lvl 6 or 7, then the xp slows down and they're just not worth it. I'd suggest heading to King's Row instead of the Hollows, if possible, once you're done with your starting contact's missions and the sewers. The Hollows are a pain to do missions in without a travel power and you definitely don't want to do any missions for contacts in there beyond the initial one (ie, don't even go near Flux!) unless you're a glutton for punishment. HOWEVER...if you see a FF (Frostfire) team looking for members, its worth joining as the xp is quite nice, even if you're defeated a couple times on the mission. (And without a good team, that'll definitely happen)

You'll run into missions involving Vahzilok quite often, and unfortunately Vahzilok are a bit overpowered due to having toxic attacks and some of the mobs being able to rez defeated ones. Once you hit level 10, if your contact offers a Vahz mission and non-Vahz mission, take the non-Vahz one if you're soloing.

Definitely agree with BB's suggestion about starting out as a Scrapper. For anyone new to the game who wants to try a Blaster, though. I definitely suggest avoiding Devices as the secondary power unless you like soloing a lot and don't want to do PvP; a few of the powers you get later on you'll be lucky if you even get to use while you're on a team, and Trip Mine and a few of the other abilities take too long to set up to be worth using in PvP.

[Verfall]

I'll call this my COH guide for dummy's.

Roll a scrapper.

Pick Mutation as his origin, all the enhancements literally tell you what they enhance in their names.

Pick any primary really, they all work. I find martial arts or dark melee to be good starting points.

Pick regen as your secondary and take every power except Revive and Moment of Glory. As soon as you see Quick recovery pop up as a power choice, grab it, hug it, make sweet love to it.

Pick a travel power pool by level 12 so you can get your travel power by 14.

Never put more than 3 of any enhancement type into any single power. This means most defense powers only require 3 slots for their resist/defense/healing enhances, and possibly one extra for end reduction if needed. All attacks should be slotted 3 damage, 1 or 2 accuracy, and than whatever else you think you need. End reduction and recharge are your two next best choices.

Go out and beat the crap out of things till you're 50.

There ya go, COH on braindead mode. You can solo, you can team, it's all the same, flip out and kill/arrest things.

[RTTingle]

Nah, don't listen to 'em Spam.

You want play the game... or do you want to play the game?

Be a natural blaster, take assault rifle and do take devices.

Don't take ANY travel powers.

Make it a point to do the Hollows --- since Faultline is just not what it used to be.

After that, I have a very special game of Super Mario Brothers for you too.

RTT

[El Condor]

Here's a couple of awesome web sites that will be like your "guide on the side" as you learn the game:

Red Tomax

Paragon Wiki

Both of these are comprehensive storehouses of information pertaining to just about every aspect of the game.  Note Red Tomax's listing of contacts and story arcs, which can help you organize your journey from level 1-50.

Lots of great tips on this thread so far.  I'd just say set some goals, then explore the world, play, and have fun. Oh, and DO get onto global ASAP!  :D

EC

[captainspud]

The only thing I'll add to Vage's advice: Don't ever, ever listen to anything RTTingle or Alaric tells you. They are filthy, filthy liars. They will whisper lies into your ears, like "[some power] isn't actually necessary". And you will believe them because they are usually credible. But not here. Never here.

They feed off the misery of others.

And kittens.

And miserable kittens.

:blink:

[Spam]

XD Wow, you guys... Those poor little kitties...

Anyways, after about two days worth of play I'm already level 10. I'd say that's decent...

I made a Martial Artist Mutant Scrapper, and made him resemble my avatar to the best of my abilities.

Thanks for all the advice everybody. I can't wait to play with all of you sometime. :)

So, I have a question... what should I make for my next character? I was thinking a Tank, but I don't really know... hmmm... any ideas?

FORIAMSPAM!

[captainspud]

Using a Scrapper as the baseline, here's how the others work. I'll rate difficulty based on soloing, since even the gimpiest builds of the worst ATs can team well.

Tanker: Way more armor, way less damage. Very easy to solo, but very slow.
Blaster: Way less armor, way more damage. Requires caution to solo, but levels fast due to the sheer killing speed.
Defender: Mostly team support. Compare it to a tank-- similar levels of damage output, but instead of resisting damage, you mitigate it. You heal it back, or cast defensive bubbles, or make your teammates kill things before incoming damage becomes an issue.
Controller: Most people play these for team support. It's the most complex AT in the game; it's all about creating combos between your various powers. Very few powers are effective alone, they become powerful due to the interesting ways they stack. I don't recommend a Troller until you've played most of the other ATs in the game.

[Uncle Yuan]

See, I didn't have this advice and so my first character was a Controller.  He rocks now, of course.  But maaaaaan was it a long time coming.

[Raptor]

Spam,

If you are wondering what to make for your next toon, I would suggest a blaster over a tank and here is why.  You have a scrapper and you are getting the feel of what it takes to take out baddies in melee.  A tank is just more of that, just with less damage.  I suggest rolling up a blaster next and learning how to play that AT.  A blaster makes you learn how to use line of sight and other techniques to solo effectively.  Those lessons that you learn as "opposite" ATs help you with every AT. 

For example, if you play as a scrapper you may never understand why your teammates get mad at you for charging into a group with your scrapper.  If you normally play a blaster, rolling up a tank and playing that will help you understand what tanks on your team need you to do for them to be more effective when you team with them as your blaster.

The bottom line is, every AT you can play helps you be a better all around player.  Next step for you that I would I suggest is a blaster.

[GhostMachine]

I agree with Raptor; running a blaster is a great idea.

However, if you plan on grouping some on the blaster, avoid energy blast; energy blast has knockback of a component of almost all its attacks, and that will upset any melees you have on the team.

[Lionheart]

I agree with Raptor; running a blaster is a great idea.

However, if you plan on grouping some on the blaster, avoid energy blast; energy blast has knockback of a component of almost all its attacks, and that will upset any melees you have on the team.

Depends on how you play it. Energy/Energy is my favorite blaster (of course, I soloed a lot too, and knockback is wonderful then). I also tend to play them as Blappers. :)

You do have to pick your targets carefully when in a group. However, there have been a few very grateful melee teammates who like my energy torrent and other knockback powers when they were getting overwhelmed by adds.

I really haven't found any bad power sets; it all depends on how you play them. Different styles for solo, duo, and larger groups are necessary. And of course, you will only discover the differences by experience, which means you will make mistakes that you have to learn from.

Folks who give a new player grief for their inexperience are not the ones I'd want to team with anyway.  Good veteran players are more patient and willing to give helpful tips to new players. :)

[Stopman]

Actually, I'd recommend either a stalker or a brute as your next toon.

Stalkers and brutes are yet another twist on melee characters, which are good foundations for understanding the game. Plus you get to explore the other "City".

[Dweomer Knight]

Pretty good ideas here.  Nevertheless I would say don't be afraid to experiment.  If something sounds interesting to you, roll it up.  It doesn't take long to get to level 10 so have fun with it.  If you end up not sticking with the toon you haven't lost much time but may have gained some good insights.  Also, some people pick one or two toons and play them exclusively until they hit 50.  Other makes dozens of toons and play them all.  You'll discover for yourself which suits you best but neither is, IMO, wrong.

DK

[BlueBard]

I made a Martial Artist Mutant Scrapper, and made him resemble my avatar to the best of my abilities.

You made a Martial Artist Mutant Scrapper... that looks like a Care Bear?  :blink:

[Stopman]

I made a Martial Artist Mutant Scrapper, and made him resemble my avatar to the best of my abilities.

You made a Martial Artist Mutant Scrapper... that looks like a Care Bear?  :blink:

"Owie Bear"?