The combat makes other mmos weak, nothing can compare to it and AOC shoulda used this method instead of the dumb combo swing crap. IN champions it is more intelligent gameplay and the mechanics speak ZOUNDS!

The power combinations and the active ability to participate in combat with blocking, Body Slams the cookie cuter rock paper scissors mmos. If you want out of that crap, champions is the place. Most mmos are stupid. Lets take WoW for example…this class based pile of dung is the old school type mmo where one class = x and y classes you beat and z you lose to. End of discussion.

This type of mmo requires no skill, you cant even block attacks! AoC failed because with out the ability to actually time a block and reduce damage you don’t really get to the next level of combat like CO has. Plus this being classless and highly strategic in putting your powers and stats together, you better be able to think because there is no min/maxing here sorry calculator heads you don’t have an I win button. Every attack can be countered if you have the skill.

All these people in here talking trash are just scared you will leave their whipping post and go to CO where you will have the most balanced and perfected gameplay every conceived of in the HISTORY of MANKIND!

I'm not sure I came to the same conclusion as you. However I will say that Champions plays more like a console game than any prior MMO and is fun to play. Champions Online has balance issues. Some powers or power combinations are just far and away better than others...this may lead to cookie cutter heroes all about. I expect a lot of tweeking with powers and abilities  in champions just like other MMOs

Originally posted by Czzarre

I'm not sure I came to the same conclusion as you. However I will say that Champions plays more like a console game than any prior MMO and is fun to play. Champions Online has balance issues. Some powers or power combinations are just far and away better than others...this may lead to cookie cutter heroes all about. I expect a lot of tweeking with powers and abilities  in champions just like other MMOs

Well that’s really a subjective perception because you are in control of the powers you pick and put tog ether. Now granted if you pick powers from different power sets that spread out the primary stats for them it will make it more of a challenge for you.  The idea is to choose powers from sets that overlap a little. Power Armor and Sorcery is going to make it a challenge for you but with the ability to work on your Skill based blocking you can overcome the deficit. 

This game uses Skill Based Defense, not Skill based offense like a FPS so you need to think differently. 

If you want to play a game just like any other mmo out there but with different graphics.Give it a try.

Is the OP being sarcastic? I really hope so... So far the combat in Champions seems awfull to me.

and btw, there have been MMOs with active blocking for many years.

Originally posted by SpeedMann

If you want to play a game just like any other mmo out there but with different graphics.Give it a try.

I agree completely

It is a decent MMO however I found the interface to be a bit clunky. I really liked the Character Creation alot but the rest of the game just doesnt seem like my bag.
I do agree with the majority of players in that there really isnt anything new about CO, that hasnt been done before in the MMO market.

Champions Online is not a true next gen MMO. It's a fun "lite" MMO. It's good if you want to play something for some quick entertainment but don't expect much depth from it.  I can only play for about an hour before I get bored and go back to Darkfall (that says a lot!).

CO still is the same old formulaic game we've all seen. Mobs that stand around in groups. Turn-based combat i.e press 1 2 2 wait for energy regen then press 3. Mob dead. Rinse and repeat.  So far, missions are very linear. Same old "go kill this" and "go find that" missions. Linear level progression too. I do like that they added their own version of WAR's public quests, but, unlike Mythic, have not peppered them all over the place.

I'll buy this game and play it but I just don't see it ever becoming my "primary" MMO.

Originally posted by Horkathane

Originally posted by Czzarre

I'm not sure I came to the same conclusion as you. However I will say that Champions plays more like a console game than any prior MMO and is fun to play. Champions Online has balance issues. Some powers or power combinations are just far and away better than others...this may lead to cookie cutter heroes all about. I expect a lot of tweeking with powers and abilities  in champions just like other MMOs

Well that’s really a subjective perception because you are in control of the powers you pick and put tog ether. Now granted if you pick powers from different power sets that spread out the primary stats for them it will make it more of a challenge for you.  The idea is to choose powers from sets that overlap a little. Power Armor and Sorcery is going to make it a challenge for you but with the ability to work on your Skill based blocking you can overcome the deficit. 

This game uses Skill Based Defense, not Skill based offense like a FPS so you need to think differently. 

It's not subjective if some power sets actually do have more numbers attached to them. There are definitely objective ways to make one powerset overpowered and another underpowered. You're getting a little close to fanboy on everybody here.

Originally posted by Vespers

It is a decent MMO however I found the interface to be a bit clunky. I really liked the Character Creation alot but the rest of the game just doesnt seem like my bag.
I do agree with the majority of players in that there really isnt anything new about CO, that hasnt been done before in the MMO market.

Again i hate to do this, but it must be said...AION is praised or is said "well we know there is nothing new but its a GOOD GAME" where CO is thought negatively because it does nothing different.  Listen it does alot of things differently...there are no DAMN classes....thats a pretty big difference then pick a cleric, warrior, rogue, ranger games.  There are no elves, dwarfs, humans...but you can make them if you choose.  I believe this  has the best graphics in any MMO but thats subjective.  Most people havent not create a nemesis, but that should be fairly new.  it has public quests which is a fairly new concept only done by WaR which again most people have probably not done a majority of them.  It has tons of travel powers and is the most fun traveling mechanics in any MMO.  For f'n sakes you can dig a hole in the ground and crawl under travel, or you can just swing...diid i mention fly, jump, superjump, hover, teleport...and several flying options.  It has flight combat...something AION is praised for.  There are tons of power options and customability of each power...it is probably the best customizable MMO ever made.  I dont think the combat is overally enjoyable but its atleast on par or is better than all other MMO's.  So people need to stop this...seriously i think a majority of people are just not fans of MMO's but tries to play them...Look all FPS are pretty much the same but i dont see nearly the emotism(is that a word...i think i created a new word =) that goes on in MMO discussions.
Ai
 

Originally posted by 4Renziks

Originally posted by Vespers

It is a decent MMO however I found the interface to be a bit clunky. I really liked the Character Creation alot but the rest of the game just doesnt seem like my bag.
I do agree with the majority of players in that there really isnt anything new about CO, that hasnt been done before in the MMO market.

Again i hate to do this, but it must be said...AION is praised or is said "well we know there is nothing new but its a GOOD GAME" where CO is thought negatively because it does nothing different.  Listen it does alot of things differently...there are no DAMN classes....thats a pretty big difference then pick a cleric, warrior, rogue, ranger games.  There are no elves, dwarfs, humans...but you can make them if you choose.  I believe this  has the best graphics in any MMO but thats subjective.  Most people havent not create a nemesis, but that should be fairly new.  it has public quests which is a fairly new concept only done by WaR which again most people have probably not done a majority of them.  It has tons of travel powers and is the most fun traveling mechanics in any MMO.  For f'n sakes you can dig a hole in the ground and crawl under travel, or you can just swing...diid i mention fly, jump, superjump, hover, teleport...and several flying options.  It has flight combat...something AION is praised for.  There are tons of power options and customability of each power...it is probably the best customizable MMO ever made.  I dont think the combat is overally enjoyable but its atleast on par or is better than all other MMO's.  So people need to stop this...seriously i think a majority of people are just not fans of MMO's but tries to play them...Look all FPS are pretty much the same but i dont see nearly the emotism(is that a word...i think i created a new word =) that goes on in MMO discussions.
Ai

I agree.  Aion seems to get favorable reviews even though it's pretty much the same type of MMO we've seen for years yet CO critics expect a whole lot more.  Perhaps it was expectation?  For whatever reason, people expected CO to be revolutionary and break the MMO mold.  In reality, it refines the genre but also adds some unique flavor with new types of travel powers and spicing up combat with blocking and destructible environments.  And like they did with CoH, Cryptic tries to move away from the holy trinity setup.

 It's certainly next generation in terms of its subscription model. If the new generation of MMOs means RMT item mall on top of subscriptions, then I'll pass on that generation.

Originally posted by Xasapis

 It's certainly next generation in terms of its subscription model. If the new generation of MMOs means RMT item mall on top of subscriptions, then I'll pass on that generation.

Well, I hope you find a game that you find enjoyable that meets your requirements.  I don't like MTs with subs either but right now it hasn't crossed over my limits because the type of MTs found in subscription games seem to be fairly benign.  If it gets too expensive or ruins gameplay, I'll probably move on myself.  But for now, I'm having fun.

Originally posted by Borkotron

Champions Online is not a true next gen MMO. It's a fun "lite" MMO. It's good if you want to play something for some quick entertainment but don't expect much depth from it.  I can only play for about an hour before I get bored and go back to Darkfall (that says a lot!).

CO still is the same old formulaic game we've all seen. Mobs that stand around in groups. Turn-based combat i.e press 1 2 2 wait for energy regen then press 3. Mob dead. Rinse and repeat.  So far, missions are very linear. Same old "go kill this" and "go find that" missions. Linear level progression too. I do like that they added their own version of WAR's public quests, but, unlike Mythic, have not peppered them all over the place.

I'll buy this game and play it but I just don't see it ever becoming my "primary" MMO.

Oh so you'd rather waste your time playing Darkfall which you can sink 3 hours of time into only to get it all taken away in a Gank? Sorry no thanks. Also I have a career so I dont need a game that has 3 hour raids and crap, need to live outside the game and experience a full life ya know. 

CO is great for Adults with careers, the kids can stay in gank time sinks or raid your life away games.

If I wanted "Console" style combat, I'd play my console.  Leave my PC games the hell alone, thanks.

Originally posted by Vrazule

If I wanted "Console" style combat, I'd play my console.  Leave my PC games the hell alone, thanks.

Freedom of choice is good, take advantage of it!

I'm suprised nobody has mentioned that there will be only one server, which seems pretty cool to me. It guarantees that as long as there are a few thousand subs, the game will never be a ghost town, a problem which plagued WAR for example.

Originally posted by TheStarheart

Originally posted by Horkathane

Originally posted by Czzarre

I'm not sure I came to the same conclusion as you. However I will say that Champions plays more like a console game than any prior MMO and is fun to play. Champions Online has balance issues. Some powers or power combinations are just far and away better than others...this may lead to cookie cutter heroes all about. I expect a lot of tweeking with powers and abilities  in champions just like other MMOs

Well that’s really a subjective perception because you are in control of the powers you pick and put tog ether. Now granted if you pick powers from different power sets that spread out the primary stats for them it will make it more of a challenge for you.  The idea is to choose powers from sets that overlap a little. Power Armor and Sorcery is going to make it a challenge for you but with the ability to work on your Skill based blocking you can overcome the deficit. 

This game uses Skill Based Defense, not Skill based offense like a FPS so you need to think differently. 

 

It's not subjective if some power sets actually do have more numbers attached to them. There are definitely objective ways to make one powerset overpowered and another underpowered. You're getting a little close to fanboy on everybody here.

You’re incorrect. As any person has the chance at anytime to switch to another power set. Go to the Powerhouse and switch, it is very easy to do. If you don’t like what you have or feel it is gimped, you can switch.

And frankly the power sets will not do good against the defense of the same power set.
 

Right now, I have created a Supernatural/Sorcery character called Andarial (Diablo 2 of course). I used the Beastly Fury power builder with Eldritch Blast as my first attack. Eldritch Blast will either do a small amount of damage on a tap or charge to produce a very strong attack with a rooting effect.

After reaching 9th today, I now have Venomous Spray from the Supernatural tree and Arcane Healing from the Sorcery tree. The spray does AoE damage which can be channeled for any length of time as long as you have endurance. The same goes for the Arcane Healing which is a cone in front of you while channeled.

There are several "builds" or stances basically which sets certain abilities and stats for the particular situation. Right now I have a balanced, offensive, and defensive stances. They effect how endurance is gained, what effects you receive for blocking, how much damage you deal, how much healing you deal, ect. Each of the builds can be set up to have different equipment and different skill sets.

Also, there is powerset points you can spend to add effects to each of your abilities or just upgrade the abilities for more damage, effect, ect.

----------------------------------------------------------

I dont know, it seems the game is quite fun for me. Sure, there are things in here that every other MMO has, an auto attack, a heal/mana bar, ect. But there a lot of differences. I see the game as of right now, in a rough state. But it will only get better as time goes on. The release of new powersets, bug fixing, new costume pieces, more territory to explore. Hell, they might even produce a villian counterpart, we never know.

For what I am looking for in an MMO, I am seeing it right here.

Originally posted by GaryM

Originally posted by Vrazule

If I wanted "Console" style combat, I'd play my console.  Leave my PC games the hell alone, thanks.

Freedom of choice is good, take advantage of it!

I'm suprised nobody has mentioned that there will be only one server, which seems pretty cool to me. It guarantees that as long as there are a few thousand subs, the game will never be a ghost town, a problem which plagued WAR for example.

And what happens when 90% or more of the PC MMO industry embraces console style combat?  Do we blame ourselves for never putting up a fight and telling developers to leave our beloved, slower, but more tactical friendly combat alone?  Do we allow them to mostly, if not completely remove the character's skills and stats and replace them with player based twitch combat, effectively eliminating the RPG aspect of these games?  More and more companies are pushing for console / pc hybrid games and yet focus solely on console control schemes, leaving PC gamers with reduced control and the inability to even map the keyboard to their preference.

They already make MMOs for consoles, why force PC users to join them at the expense of our preferred play styles?  I like combat that gives me time to make decisions without suffering from an embolism.  I chose this genre specifically for it's slower pace and it's emphasis on the avatar and not the player.  You don't have to be an insider to see the current trend towards twitch / console style combat and the likelihood that it will completely overwhelm traditional MMO combat.

Not seeing "Blocking" as being particularly next generation.  DAOC had not only blocking with a shield but parrying with a sword, and it gave players countermoves if someone did chose to block or parry you.  Perhaps Champions is more FPS like in its responses, but its certainly not bringing anything new to the table.

The classless system is pretty cool, but again, not new, as is the single 'world', again also not new.

In fact, someone hit the nail pretty much on the head when they said it was a lot like Aion, better refrinement of existing concepts, sort of what you might expect from COX2 I suppose.

Taken all together, its probably a pretty fun game experience if you want a game designed like this, but I can see where other folks might be less enchanted.

OP is being disingenuous when he decries people who raid as having no lives, or no careers, sounds like sour grapes to me from someone who doesn't have as much free time as others.  (yes, I have a very busy career and family life, and can't raid too much, but I don't try to belittle those who do)

If you want a game that you can jump right in and out of with console style gameply it seems like a game more like Gears of  War  on the 360 is the way to go.