The Champions Online official site has been updated with another edition of Ask Cryptic, where Cryptic Studios answers questions about their upcoming super hero MMO.

When you say that any character can pick any powers the phrase "jack of many master of none" comes to mind. My question is if I choose a power outside of my "archetype" (for lack of a better word) will it just be a waste of points because I'll be spending at a premium to get a substandard version of a power? Or will my brick's fire blast be just as good as the energy projector's? (Shofu)

Arkayne: Good question, Shofu. Choosing an "archetype" gives you bonuses with certain categories of powers, not just powers listed under your archetype. For example, if you choose Brick as your focus, any defensive powers you choose are more effective because you're a Brick. Using your fire blast example, Bricks are just as effective as Mentalists when it comes to fire blasts, but Energy Projectors gain a bonus when using them because that's their focus.

The best way to look at it is that a player can select any power framework – they just get bonuses with certain types of powers depending on what type of archetypical hero they choose to be. Bricks are better at soaking up damage, Energy Projectors and Martial Artists are better at dishing out damage, etc. That doesn't mean Bricks never take offensive powers or Energy Projectors never take defensive powers – just that a player can't be the best at everything.

Read more here.

which one of those guys is emmert again?

Originally posted by damian7

which one of those guys is emmert again?

None of 'em. Jack Emmert typically posts as either "Jack Emmert" or his forum handle, "Jackalope".

We already have City of Heros/Villians. WTF? Why waste time and money on more of the same shit?

"Idea" How about some actual "content"

I believe these are the same guys who made CoX. This is CoX2, but they went with a different name based off a different setting.

With more versatility in everything, a more comic book look, and wider spectrum of play.

You could easily say the same about most MMO's. More of the same? LOTRO is WoW 2.0, EVERY asian MMO is the same, etc.

Yeah, if you dumb things down, it's CoX 2. But you're not that dumb, are you?

Originally posted by Wrender

We already have City of Heros/Villians. WTF? Why waste time and money on more of the same shit?

"Idea" How about some actual "content"

We also had ultima online and everquest -- why do we have so many more fantasy mmo's?  That's a silly question if I ever read one.

This game is being made by the same people as City of Heroes / Villans

unlike the UO to EQ example both of these games are made by the same developer which begs several questions.

#1. Will this mean the end of CoX?

#2. Will this be any different or at least different enough from CoX to make it worth their time and our time?

Originally posted by Jerid13

This game is being made by the same people as City of Heroes / Villans

unlike the UO to EQ example both of these games are made by the same developer which begs several questions.

#1. Will this mean the end of CoX?

#2. Will this be any different or at least different enough from CoX to make it worth their time and our time?

 

At the moment, Cryptic seems to be pushing for a lot of the ideas they never could pull off for CoX (more open archetypes and better customization for one). Of course, whether they can pull that off remains to be seen as well.

very interesting!

I myself have played CoX for a few months here and there, very enjoyable game for its ability to just sit down and play and have a good time. Plays a lot like "Gauntlet Legends" or "X-men Legends" or any of those type games.  Which I always thought would play well online.

This game sounds very interesting, I look forward to seeing more from it in the future!

a more open style Hero game would be very fun I think.

Originally posted by therain93

Originally posted by Wrender

We already have City of Heros/Villians. WTF? Why waste time and money on more of the same shit?

"Idea" How about some actual "content"

We also had ultima online and everquest -- why do we have so many more fantasy mmo's?  That's a silly question if I ever read one.

actually, there's 2 or 3 dozen western fantasy mmos and a bazillion eastern ones, and ONE super hero mmo out there right now.

so um, wrender... wtf?

Originally posted by Jerid13

This game is being made by the same people as City of Heroes / Villans

unlike the UO to EQ example both of these games are made by the same developer which begs several questions.

#1. Will this mean the end of CoX?

#2. Will this be any different or at least different enough from CoX to make it worth their time and our time?

 

like someone else said, cryptic is no longer associated with ncsoft/city of.  most of the developers (if not all) of 'city of' stayed on with ncsoft.  so for number one, it means the end of cox about as much as it was the end of uo when eq, eq2, wow, ddo, daoc, ffxi, guild wars, lineage, archlord, etc came out.  except this will only make it a total of two super hero games, while the fantasy games have many more.

the second question, i guess as different as all of the fantasy games i listed, are from each other.

This game will beat COX only if they start thinking of PvP and focus on balance from start. Thats my opinion because thats the only thing where COX   failed.