MMORPG.com Champions Online Correspondent Dana O'Shea writes this look at gear in Cryptic's upcoming superhero MMO.

Are you the sort of hero who needs to have the fastest jet-pack in town? Maybe your cape looks cool but you need something that's resistant to gunfire? Perhaps your idea of a superhero involves some sort of flamethrower... or an enchanted pair of gloves? If this is starting to sound interesting then perhaps you want to take a look at the gear in Champions Online.

As the hero progresses they will improve their abilities in several ways. The biggest difference will surely come from gaining levels and new ranks for their chosen powers, but also as the young hero travels and becomes an established champion they will have other ways to become more powerful.

Read A Look at Gear

I was interested before. I am more interested now. Good one.

Sounds good,

kinda like CoX enchancements but this time it wont be silly non game "coins " but actual items that fit your story/progress.
Also like the idea that you can hide the new parts, in manny games better items just look silly/bad  but you use it to gain the stats now your hero can grow deu experiance or new gear.. good for personal lore.

So long it doesnt end in my epics > your epics and total irrelevant loots like a sword wielding super villian dropping a gun im open for everything

 Looks great to me!

I just hope they do loot pick up like CoH as it just appears in your pack or whatever.  I have wasted too much time in other games looking at loot and deciding what to take.  I really love the way CoH does it.

This sounds really fun to me.  The more I learn about this game, the more I like it.  I'm looking forward to trying it out.

I also like the idea that getting gear will be part of game play: either earning loot by defeating baddies, or buying stuff at an auction house, with in-game currency. 

I really don't like other models that just want me to fork over real cash for a virtual item that I'm going to need to be useful, especially when I don't really own the item I just "bought." 

This reminds me of good old-fashioned gaming for fun and getting rewards along the way: a hundred times better than paying someone real cash for a random chance of getting loot too, like in the StarWars game.

Yep it looks good.

I think the important thing is that they are putting in the basic elements for a good economy at launch.

I really am getting excited about this game! For the most part, I've been trying to keep my distance, in case I get disappointed. These days, I don't know if my computer can run the games, and whatnot. However, I can't help but be excited. I hope I get to play this game!

And by the way, it was a well-written article. Really got me even more excited about the game than I was before! I'll have to blame YOU if I can't play it! *laughs*

Excellent article. I especially like the idea of being able to "turn off" an effect but keep the powers/bonuses it gives as if your character just has those powers naturally.

Great idea. Looking forward to seeing more.

I just saw new gameplay footage on G4tv's MMO report, and Champions is looking 100% better than it did before, graphically. I had been really turned off by the cel-shading, but it looks very toned down now, and my reservations about this game have been eliminated. Can't wait for July 14!

The cell shading is a toggle I believe.