http://uk.pc.ign.com/articles/893/893278p1.html

"It's been more than four years since version 1.0 of City of Heroes launched. Many changes have been made to the heralded game, most notable in Issue #12 when the ability for players to make both Heroes and Villains was unlocked. That meant that players who bought City of Heroes could create Villains of their own and those who bought City of Villains could do the same. The Issue #13 expansion takes that a bit further.

At San Diego Comic-Con I was given a peek at what Issue #13 will bring to MMO fanatics aside from the standard set of fixes and updates. First of all, it's free. It's one of three free content packages that players get to download every year and Issue #13 is the last one for 2008. In it heroes or villains will discover the ability to create user-generated missions to further extend the life of one of today's most popular MMOs.

What does this mean exactly? Essentially players will get to craft their own storylines complete with custom dialogue and characters that can include other non AI-controlled players in the universe. While your adversaries will always need to be a set number of baddies from the standard stable of foes, what they're doing, what you do to stop them, who you work with and the impact that has on the world around you is entirely up to your design.

There was no demo on-hand to give us a look at how this could play out in City of Heroes, but the promise of user-created missions is enticing to say the least. Along with that, Issue #13 will include further proliferation of powers between heroes and villains, beyond what was seen from Issue #12.

We'll have more on Issue #13 as it nears its fall 2008 release."

Good link, now mission customization is officially confirmed for i13.

If they are calling this a "fall" release, that does worry me that they are slouching toward 2 releases this year, meaning they couldn't keep their "3 a year" promise up. I haven't given up on them yet, but I'm watching.

Originally posted by Amarsir

Good link, now mission customization is officially confirmed for i13.

If they are calling this a "fall" release, that does worry me that they are slouching toward 2 releases this year, meaning they couldn't keep their "3 a year" promise up. I haven't given up on them yet, but I'm watching.

It might be a worthwhile trade off, Issue 14 in lieu of 2 separate issues.  Someone on the official forums also made the point that the 3 issues/year was more of a design goal than a promise.

Comicon only started and the CoX folks have been advertising that they will be there so I'm anticipating something fun to be dropped on us besides the UC.

Update -- NCsoft has posted on their boards that nothing reported from comicon is official.  They specifically addressed that there was no timeline for user created content nor would issue 13 be the last free one.

http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=11452745&Main=11452745#Post11452745

"Hey Everyone,

We want to officially let you know that the Comic Con news that is being reported on various web sites is not official. Matt Miller did make an official reference to the mission creator in his Four Year Address, but with no references to Issue number or launch timing. It is also important to mention that the reference on Massively.com to an idea that Issue 13 will be the last free issue for City of Heroes is completely false. We have no plans whatsoever to stop supporting the game with free Issues."
 

Which is a bad quote of a false quote. Not a particularly credible day for anyone.

IGN never said CoH was stopping the free expansions. They said i13 was likely to be the last THIS YEAR. If the mod team doesn't even know what they're refuting, then I'm not about to disregad the rumor.

Originally posted by Amarsir

Which is a bad quote of a false quote. Not a particularly credible day for anyone.

IGN never said CoH was stopping the free expansions. They said i13 was likely to be the last THIS YEAR. If the mod team doesn't even know what they're refuting, then I'm not about to disregad the rumor.

I think i13 being the last free issue was in reference to massively.com.

From Massively.com:

---

IGN have been talking to NCSoft at ComicCon, and have come away with a few pieces of intel about City of Heroes Issue 13. Most surprising is how it's described as the last free Issue for 2008. There's only been one issue so far this year, which was Issue 12: Midnight Hour, so by rights there ought to be one more - unless NCsoft are hinting at some sort of paid expansion? Or it could just be a communications blip.

---

For what it's worth, Back Alley Brawler did come back and say that they might not make the 3-per-year goal because the 11.5 release with Real Numbers was pretty big.

There was no demo on-hand to give us a look at how this could play out in City of Heroes, but the promise of user-created missions is enticing, to say the least. Along with that, Issue #13 will include further proliferation of powers between heroes and villains, beyond what was seen in Issue #12.

We'll have more on Issue #13 as it nears its fall 2008 release.

so, they're going to make it like champ online, before champ comes out and you can pick any power for any toon?  i would hope they throw in a couple of new sets in the new issue as well.

they're saying that user-created missions won't be in on i13.  if i13 is the second and last issue this year, and no expansion is released...  well, i'd hope there are a new pvp zone, a new villain-only zone (or at least a revamp or two of hero zones to turn them into co-op zones), and a normal zone added (not like that bogus new zone in the last issue).

who knows...  i've heard there will be a lot of "stuff" added for bases.  FINALLY.

we'll see.

Originally posted by damian7

There was no demo on-hand to give us a look at how this could play out in City of Heroes, but the promise of user-created missions is enticing, to say the least. Along with that, Issue #13 will include further proliferation of powers between heroes and villains, beyond what was seen in Issue #12.

We'll have more on Issue #13 as it nears its fall 2008 release.

 

so, they're going to make it like champ online, before champ comes out and you can pick any power for any toon?  i would hope they throw in a couple of new sets in the new issue as well.

they're saying that user-created missions won't be in on i13.  if i13 is the second and last issue this year, and no expansion is released...  well, i'd hope there are a new pvp zone, a new villain-only zone (or at least a revamp or two of hero zones to turn them into co-op zones), and a normal zone added (not like that bogus new zone in the last issue).

 

who knows...  i've heard there will be a lot of "stuff" added for bases.  FINALLY.

 

we'll see.

I'm not sure how recently you've been back in game or following along but Powerset Profilferation is more about giving access to powersets to more archtypes.  So, before Issue 12, the powerset Plant Control was only available to villain archtypes but after i12, Hero Controllers (and I think defenders) now have access to it.  Therefore, it's not really like they're trying to make it like CO -- just figured I would clarify.

Originally posted by therain93

Originally posted by damian7

There was no demo on-hand to give us a look at how this could play out in City of Heroes, but the promise of user-created missions is enticing, to say the least. Along with that, Issue #13 will include further proliferation of powers between heroes and villains, beyond what was seen in Issue #12.

We'll have more on Issue #13 as it nears its fall 2008 release.

 

so, they're going to make it like champ online, before champ comes out and you can pick any power for any toon?  i would hope they throw in a couple of new sets in the new issue as well.

they're saying that user-created missions won't be in on i13.  if i13 is the second and last issue this year, and no expansion is released...  well, i'd hope there are a new pvp zone, a new villain-only zone (or at least a revamp or two of hero zones to turn them into co-op zones), and a normal zone added (not like that bogus new zone in the last issue).

 

who knows...  i've heard there will be a lot of "stuff" added for bases.  FINALLY.

 

we'll see.

 

I'm not sure how recently you've been back in game or following along but Powerset Profilferation is more about giving access to powersets to more archtypes.  So, before Issue 12, the powerset Plant Control was only available to villain archtypes but after i12, Hero Controllers (and I think defenders) now have access to it.  Therefore, it's not really like they're trying to make it like CO -- just figured I would clarify.

so none of the below powers (like fire/dark) were available to heroes (or villains, respectively) before i12?

Blaster
New Primary - Psychic Blast
New Secondary - Mental Manipulation

Corruptor
New Primary - Electrical Blast
New Secondary - Storm Summoning

Controller
New Primary - Plant Control
New Secondary - Thermal Radiation

Dominator
New Primary - Earth Control
New Secondary - Electricity Manipulation

Defender
New Primary - Cold Domination
New Secondary - Ice Blast

Mastermind
New Secondary - Storm Summoning

Brute
New Primary - Battle Axe
New Primary - War Mace
New Secondary - Super Reflexes

Stalker
New Primary - Electric Melee
New Secondary - Electric Armor

Tank
New Primary - Dark Armor
New Secondary - Dark Melee

Scrapper
New Primary - Fiery Melee
New Secondary - Fiery Aura

Well some of those shifted between ATs on the same side (e.g. Dark from Scrapper to Tank). Others shifted sides entirely (Earth from Controller to Dominator). But in virtually every case it was just moving powers from between related groups (melee to melee, control to control, ranged to ranged...)

It likely will continue with i13. I'm actually not a fan, I think Plant Control is a lot less special now that both sides have access to it.