Chronomancer gives us details on the state of Champions Online in this latest state of the game letter posted on the official Champions Online website.

The letter focuses on a few key points: the Nemesis system, planning pre-order bonuses, crafting, and UNITY missions.

A bit on crafting:

Crafting Specializations

Heroes enter into the research and development in one of the three crafting schools by talking to a trainer. After this, they also now choose which of three specializations within that field they want to pursue. There are different items available to craft within each specialization, and even some of the items that are similar across specialization may have different visual effects that players can choose to display.

A hero can change specializations at any time. To change specializations within a school, simply talks to the trainer and choose to switch to the new specialization. Be forewarned that there is a cost, however. All accumulated skill points will be lost when switching to a different school OR a different specialization within the same school. The skill point cap will also be set back to 100 in both cases. And don’t worry, blueprints are not be lost as a result of changing schools or specializations. They can, however, become temporarily unusable if your skill points are too low. Also, you can only buy blueprints that are in your field of specialization.

You can manufacture any item that is in the same school, even if it is a different specialization, as long as you have the blueprint and you match or exceed that blueprint's minimum required school skill points. This means that you never lose the knowledge required to craft an item, but if you want to hold more than a single specialization, you will need to rebuild your overall ability to create items within that school. Dedicated crafters can learn all three specializations within a school and then be able to craft everything within that field of research and development.

For the full State of the Game letter, go here.

I guess their not going by way of powers and enhancements like coh/v.   Almost sounds like copying all the other mmo's out there.   Too bad.

Originally posted by Shreddi

I guess their not going by way of powers and enhancements like coh/v.   Almost sounds like copying all the other mmo's out there.   Too bad.

I guess..sort of.  In the sense that you have your typical "action bar."  Other than that you can put any power on any toon you want.  It is level based, but not class based.  I know that doesn't make a whole lot of sense, but I don't know a better way to put it.  For example you can be an armored warrior like Iron man, and have psy abilities as well, or healing abilities, or martial arts abilities.  I'm not sure how I feel about that as far as realism goes, but as for character creation and progression, its interesting.  The only concerns i have are about once you hit 40.  I know they have nemesis, and they spoke of..well whateverit was U.N.I.T.Y i think it was?  I've been drinkin a bit, so, I'm not 100 percent about what it's called.  It sounds like a series of group quests...or a series of solo quests, followed by a group quest.  While if ind it interesting, I'm just not sure if it is interesting enough to keep ME interested at 40 for more than a couple weeks, if that.   I really enjoy the leveling up, I think they have done a good job with it, but it's the level 40 content that I'm concerned about.  (And no, I'm not worried about their billing/MT that they have, I'm ok with that)

So far I am not very impressed by Champions comparing it to COH/V. But I am being biased on graphics. To watch Cryptic Studios do the same type game and see the freedom COH/V has had since they left makes me love COH/V even more. So far it shows that NCsoft is about pleasing thier paying customers. When CS was running it, things we wanted were ignored.

Its also not kewl to see some of the same options they make for creation on COH/V on Champions. Too many things look alike and same story concepts with aliens...

I must say NCsoft is doing a great job both with COH/V and Aion. Both games are way ahead in graphics and flexibility to change for what comes in the future. COH/V Just revamped thier whole creation tools for creating toons.

Aion yes! WOW No!

Champions NO! COH/V 4 EVER!!!

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Originally posted by Thunderpeel
So far I am not very impressed by Champions comparing it to COH/V. But I am being biased on graphics. To watch Cryptic Studios do the same type game and see the freedom COH/V has had since they left makes me love COH/V even more. So far it shows that NCsoft is about pleasing thier paying customers. When CS was running it, things we wanted were ignored.
Its also not kewl to see some of the same options they make for creation on COH/V on Champions. Too many things look alike and same story concepts with aliens...
I must say NCsoft is doing a great job both with COH/V and Aion. Both games are way ahead in graphics and flexibility to change for what comes in the future. COH/V Just revamped thier whole creation tools for creating toons.
Aion yes! WOW No!
Champions NO! COH/V 4 EVER!!!

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Sorry but "pleasing the masses" just doesn't work. Look what CoX has turned into? Yay lets go grind in AE and get all the badges from the Ouroboros so I can get my accolades.

Yeah.. Great job!

Originally posted by Heretique

 

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Originally posted by Thunderpeel
So far I am not very impressed by Champions comparing it to COH/V. But I am being biased on graphics. To watch Cryptic Studios do the same type game and see the freedom COH/V has had since they left makes me love COH/V even more. So far it shows that NCsoft is about pleasing thier paying customers. When CS was running it, things we wanted were ignored.
Its also not kewl to see some of the same options they make for creation on COH/V on Champions. Too many things look alike and same story concepts with aliens...
I must say NCsoft is doing a great job both with COH/V and Aion. Both games are way ahead in graphics and flexibility to change for what comes in the future. COH/V Just revamped thier whole creation tools for creating toons.
Aion yes! WOW No!
Champions NO! COH/V 4 EVER!!!

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Sorry but "pleasing the masses" just doesn't work. Look what CoX has turned into? Yay lets go grind in AE and get all the badges from the Ouroboros so I can get my accolades.

Yeah.. Great job!
 

Yeah it was that way alot at first when AE came out. I have noticed alot more people doing regular mishes again including myself.

i just dropped 57 bucks on this thing. i hope i didnt waste my damn money like i did on AoC.

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Originally posted by Thunderpeel

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Originally posted by Heretique

 

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Originally posted by Thunderpeel
So far I am not very impressed by Champions comparing it to COH/V. But I am being biased on graphics. To watch Cryptic Studios do the same type game and see the freedom COH/V has had since they left makes me love COH/V even more. So far it shows that NCsoft is about pleasing thier paying customers. When CS was running it, things we wanted were ignored.
Its also not kewl to see some of the same options they make for creation on COH/V on Champions. Too many things look alike and same story concepts with aliens...
I must say NCsoft is doing a great job both with COH/V and Aion. Both games are way ahead in graphics and flexibility to change for what comes in the future. COH/V Just revamped thier whole creation tools for creating toons.
Aion yes! WOW No!
Champions NO! COH/V 4 EVER!!!

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Sorry but "pleasing the masses" just doesn't work. Look what CoX has turned into? Yay lets go grind in AE and get all the badges from the Ouroboros so I can get my accolades.
Yeah.. Great job!
 

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Yeah it was that way alot at first when AE came out. I have noticed alot more people doing regular mishes again including myself.

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Sure hope so, AE made me quit the game. Champions Online is a pretty good game (in CBT going to OBT) but just like every other game "If you're not having the fun, the game isn't for you" type of deal.

Originally posted by Heretique

 

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Originally posted by Thunderpeel

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Originally posted by Heretique

 

 
 

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Originally posted by Thunderpeel
So far I am not very impressed by Champions comparing it to COH/V. But I am being biased on graphics. To watch Cryptic Studios do the same type game and see the freedom COH/V has had since they left makes me love COH/V even more. So far it shows that NCsoft is about pleasing thier paying customers. When CS was running it, things we wanted were ignored.
Its also not kewl to see some of the same options they make for creation on COH/V on Champions. Too many things look alike and same story concepts with aliens...
I must say NCsoft is doing a great job both with COH/V and Aion. Both games are way ahead in graphics and flexibility to change for what comes in the future. COH/V Just revamped thier whole creation tools for creating toons.
Aion yes! WOW No!
Champions NO! COH/V 4 EVER!!!

---

 
Sorry but "pleasing the masses" just doesn't work. Look what CoX has turned into? Yay lets go grind in AE and get all the badges from the Ouroboros so I can get my accolades.
Yeah.. Great job!
 

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Yeah it was that way alot at first when AE came out. I have noticed alot more people doing regular mishes again including myself.

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Sure hope so, AE made me quit the game. Champions Online is a pretty good game (in CBT going to OBT) but just like every other game "If you're not having the fun, the game isn't for you" type of deal.

Well Champions is growing on me a bit now. I guess its sorta hard to compare the 2 games since they are quite different.
 

I played CoH/V for 4 years.  Lost interest when the AE hit and EVERYONE was farming.  It turned the game into something I hated.  I tried the game again about a month ago, and it was still an AE farming extravaganza.  I used to love CoX, but they ruined the game with the AE, in my opinion.

Originally posted by junzo316

I played CoH/V for 4 years.  Lost interest when the AE hit and EVERYONE was farming.  It turned the game into something I hated.  I tried the game again about a month ago, and it was still an AE farming extravaganza.  I used to love CoX, but they ruined the game with the AE, in my opinion.

Strange I just got done doing a TF on Gaurdian server which is a slow server in general. Sure if you play on Freedom or the other busy server thats what you will hear alot of AE stuff but really there is more going on. There are many ways to let people know you are not looking for AE. I got invited to many non AE things tonight. =) Had a great time.

Originally posted by Thunderpeel

So far I am not very impressed by Champions comparing it to COH/V. But I am being biased on graphics. To watch Cryptic Studios do the same type game and see the freedom COH/V has had since they left makes me love COH/V even more. So far it shows that NCsoft is about pleasing thier paying customers. When CS was running it, things we wanted were ignored.

Its also not kewl to see some of the same options they make for creation on COH/V on Champions. Too many things look alike and same story concepts with aliens...

I must say NCsoft is doing a great job both with COH/V and Aion. Both games are way ahead in graphics and flexibility to change for what comes in the future. COH/V Just revamped thier whole creation tools for creating toons.

Aion yes! WOW No!

Champions NO! COH/V 4 EVER!!!

Jesus obvious shill is obvious.

NCSoft is about "pleasing their customers?" Really?

I have 2 words for you champ: Mission Architect.

And on a side note AION is terrible and will fail miserably in the West. And we will dance. And there will be much merriment.

I'm not sure what experience you have playing Aion, but it is a fantastic, solid game. It doesn't do much outside the norm except re-designing the types of instancing you do:

From Aion Source.com about patch 1.5:

1. "- The reward will vary depending on how you decide to clear this instance under how much time. Since you'll be killing dragons, you'll be acquiring abyss points. The final boss will also very depending on your strategy, meaning your reward will vary every time.
- It's up to you if you want to go for all DPS speed run, or full party extermination going for every Named Mob in the instance. The reward is going to be items with a grade or two higher than the currently highest grade Unique items."

2. "- The second type instance is a battleground style instance where Elyos and Asmodians will be battling through to progress. One party from each side will be entering a Dreadgion. They can either fight through or simply try to kill the captain of the Dreadgion first. Abyss points will be amonst the many rewards from this instance. If you die in here, you'll be able to revive in a set point within the instance.
- Players will have to decide how they want to deal with the other party and how to reach the final boss faster."

3. "- This is supposed to be a fun leveling instance for people still stuck in the leveling stage of Aion. This instance will be designed like a ship with evolved Shugos that are hostile to the players.This instance is designed with casual players in mind and will contain many quests."

Also using the work order system from Vanguard for crafting and the numerous amount of crafting recipes, as well as the amount of crafts you can do, make crafting pretty awesome.

I mean this stuff alone, not to mention stigma skill system and the big PvPvE zone the Abyss with castles that can spawn a secret room inside with a timed instance for loot makes the game really interesting.

I have experience playing the game in CB and thoroughly enjoy it, I hope you're not bashing it without taking the time to learn and experience it yourself.