Champions Online Open-beta First Impressions

[Damionic]

As the NDA is lifted, I can run off a few things.

After Several hours downloading and redownloading and patching the game client at 2:00 in the morning (GWT) I got in......yea don't be so smug...remember lama client....nuff said.
So when in and after selecting a few options like keyboard layout choices. I get to create my first hero...and I just like to point out the customization from CO ****es over DDO for a country mile...everything you can think of is there (you can even add elven ears should you feel inclined)
So after a few minutes (I'm quite like spending my time creating toons..I remember spending hours creating wrestlers on my brothers "Smackdown" games.

I come up with "Nimbus"...always liked the concept of STORM from the X-Men and wanted to create a male one.


His skin has a "Metal" reflexion to it to give it this look (which I may change later on) and the "Eyes" not just glow..but they have a customizable "Twinkle" effect which is quite nice to look at.



GAMEPLAY
Bearing mind I was tired last night I managed to try a few things out.

COMBAT SYSTEM
This is the Crux of the matter (Is this combat system as good or better then DDO) and..I'd say yes..The combat system takes the best bits from your beloved game and improves it. For example casting spells now have a "charge up level" to increase the damage output but this costs more endurance (you SP if you like) but you never run out of it as you have an Endurance builder for each Power set.
If you want to just going round beating things up then you can..the same way you do in DDO.
At the start I don't think there is a designated "block" button (or I haven't found it) but that can be easily keyed via "key settings"

GRAPHICS
This is a comic game and that is reflected in the game so poorly made toons will look very cheesy but I'm sure the already extensive graphics options will be improved over time (I remember DDO from Beta!)

A few things...
Monsters DO Respawn
The Quest system is quite like Warhammer (do one and more open up) which I quite like as it gives a sense of achievement that random quests via DDO didn't.

[captain1z]

You make some bold claims here.
- better combat?
- better customization?

I want to believe but gotta try it 1st. Whats the system requirements?

Ive played or run 6 superhero pnp games to date

- marvel hero game - confusing system with silly ratings like Power level X and Z str..silly
- dc universe game - way over powered but easy to create whatever u want
- heroes unlimited - lots a rules but very open ended character creation
- Champions- played 2 games but was a bit complicated and rules heavy
- GURPS: hero - gurps makes it real e z 2 die
- My own custom created monstrousity, which worked pretty well. The guys generally liked it.

[sephiroth1084]

Is the combat real time, like in DDO? That is, can you move out of the way of incoming attacks? Does facing matter? Or is it like WoW, where your character automatically closes with a foe and then you just stand there pressing a button on occasion?

You have more visual customization, but is there any character customization? Do you have as many choices when leveling a character (classes [3], feats, enhancements, skill points, ability score points, etc...)? Or does this run like many other MMORPGs where you select a class/role and make a few minor adjustments within that predetermined path?

[FluffyCalico]

Looks like it was designed to run a on 386 with 8MB of ram.

[Vivanto]

Is the combat real time, like in DDO? That is, can you move out of the way of incoming attacks? Does facing matter? Or is it like WoW, where your character automatically closes with a foe and then you just stand there pressing a button on occasion?

You have more visual customization, but is there any character customization? Do you have as many choices when leveling a character (classes [3], feats, enhancements, skill points, ability score points, etc...)? Or does this run like many other MMORPGs where you select a class/role and make a few minor adjustments within that predetermined path?

I think even if it had a reasonably good character customization, 1 simple trait can still kill it vs ddo/dnd, multiclass

[Damionic]

1. Combat is real time (oh and I found the block..its the same as DDO = Shift) as in you can move, countermove run down enemy's ect....just like DDO

On Character Customization re level ups...ive not tested that yet.

But re Customization in general..yes you can do what you like...you do get suggestions but then you can pick your own.

Multiclass...lol there are no classes...no restrictions..just powersets and they are unlocked by ranks.

[Pyromaniac]

Interesting - how about the quest design, is it 'fetch 14 of these' or is there more of a point to each quest?

So far what I've heard about Champions Online hasn't been very good, so its interesting to hear a different point of view...maybe DDO has a challenger finally.

[Taelan]

So, to answer a couple questions about 'class' customization. Yes, there is even more customization capabilities for CO than DDO. From the very beginning of the character creation process you can choose powers from any 'set.' So if you want to have a fire throwing -- martial artist, feel free to do so. You can even add in some super-strength powers at later levels and then maybe a pet power from the sorcery set.

There is no artificial limit to the power selection choices other than meeting the pre-reqs. But, (and you knew there was a but, didn't ya?) But, the optimal characters will take powers from the same sets as those powers will build on each other allowing you to increase the individual abilities of those powers. There are related sets, such as the Martial Arts sets: Unarmed, Single Blade, Dual Blade, and Claws, that have the same build-up characteristics and should allow you to get the same synergy capabilities from them.

In addition, all travel powers are available to all toons from the moment you finish the tutorial. Which means if you want a Swordsman who tunnels underground? Feel free to do so. None of the travel powers are tied to any of the power sets. The quest design is a general mix of the 'gather x of y' sort of thing combined with 'find my z items' which may be from mob drops or environment glowies and actual instanced adventures. The entire quest system seems lifted wholesale from Warhammer Online (never played WoW, so not sure how it compares to that) changed to reflect the superhero environment.

As far as combat is concerned, this is one problem I have with CO as compared to DDO, once a target locks on to you, your only choices for damage mitigation are avoidance or blockage as the attack will follow you if it is ranged . So, there is no real reason to move about other than to move out of range of the melee toons. Where this is really interesting is in the PvP areas, which Cryptic is really pushing as a part of the game.

I started playing a melee-based toon, engaged in ten Arena PvP battles and lost every single one of them. Oh, I may have gotten a few early kills as I would engage the opposition early and quickly defeat them, but once they recognized the toon as a melee it became a simple matter to hit me with ranged attacks and continue to do so while staying out of range of my melee attacks. As I understand it, Melee-based toons do come into thier own towards the end-game. I don't know just yet as I only leveled a toon to level 21 before the open beta wipe.

Overall though, I would have to agree with the OP, I do like CO and will be playing when it goes live. I don't however believe that I will completely abandon DDO. I would suggest, check it out if you have the slightest interest in superhero games. This one is the best out there currently, and from what I hear it will be better than Marvel or DC when they release.

[noinfo]

I think even if it had a reasonably good character customization, 1 simple trait can still kill it vs ddo/dnd, multiclass

lol if it is anything like the pnp version it would kill ddo for character customisation, mulitclassing is a joke by comparission.

[Vivanto]

lol if it is anything like the pnp version it would kill ddo for character customisation, mulitclassing is a joke by comparission.

Ofcourse it is, I only mentioned dnd since ddo is loosely based on that system, and even tough it still lacks a lot of things, without that great ruleset, ddo wouldn't even exist, including its multiclass model.

Without a great ruleset to back it up, no mmorpg will be able to challenge ddo's character customization.

[Vordax]

So far what I've heard about Champions Online hasn't been very good, so its interesting to hear a different point of view...maybe DDO has a challenger finally.

Being a challenger assumes most DDO players want to play superhero games, I for one have no desire to play them. Not sure how the general DDO population feels about this. Though I am always looking for a second game to play during DDO's slow times.

Vordax

[captain1z]

Read some good stuff........... Think I'll give it a try. The lifetime is only $200, Ive spend more and recieved less.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noayIOJP6EQ travel powers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvIMR...eature=related elemental stuff
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sTSK...1&feature=fvwp brief character creation

more stuff out there but this is neither the time or place to geek out over it.
With DDO being free and a lifetime sub to champions I can save a lot of money and have unlimited play potential.

[Uska]

While I loved the pnp game champions(4th edtion and earlier) champions online holds ZERO attraction from me I played beta awhile back and the game really doesnt use the hero system even the horrible revision by SL all it seemed to be to me was a improved CoX in new clothes but I hope you enjoy your time there but I got bored with the beta of champs almost as fast as I got bored with CoX

[Uska]

Being a challenger assumes most DDO players want to play superhero games, I for one have no desire to play them. Not sure how the general DDO population feels about this. Though I am always looking for a second game to play during DDO's slow times.

Vordax

If champions online had really used the Hero system rules(4th ed ) and not had anything to do with SL then most likely I would have played it but SL has killed any desire I have to do anything with that game.

[sigtrent]

I played just a bit of the beta.

Character building is pretty involved with lots of options. What you don't have so much is transparency of the rules. Its not totally clear what the things you are selecting do exactly. Its not the straight up PnP rules turned into a game from what I could tell.

Character design was great, just like city of heroes which is awesome for that. Blows D&D and any other game right out of the water.

Quests seemed much more traditional MMO so if you love dungeons and hate zone kill quests, its not going to be that satisfying.

Story seemed stronger than DDO, always a weak spot for me here for some reason. The stories are here, but they just don't come across well in play except when the narrator is going.

Combat is a mixed bag. It is more real time than any game other than DDO, but just a bit less interactive in that you can't actually dodge attacks except to get out of range of melee strikes. Still its faster than most MMOs much like DDO is and non bosses drop fast and furious. Mobs are still spawn and tether types though and more densely packed like EQ or WOW. All in all I liked DDO better but I'm much more familiar with DDO and only played 4 levels of Champions.

My biggest gripe were the graphics. I just didn't like them. Too high contrast, kind of a riot of colors and hard to pick things out, plus not much detail. And the comic fond they use is hard on the eyes, making reading text kind of a pain. Its very true to the comic vision and style but I'm not a big comic fan.

I also played a city of heroes trial and despite liking the Champions combat system better, I overall found COH to be more "fun" to play and my character to be more interesting. I was surprised as I was excited to try Champions and blaw about trying COH.

I'd play Champions if I had freinds doing it but I don't think I'm playing otherwise. I got more thrill playing DDO for the zillionth hour than my first two hours in Champions which is kind of a bad sign. But again I'm not much of a comics fan although I did play the PnP of champions a few times.

[Kordan]

I installed CO last night and decided to be the OBeta a try....
Character creation as you've heard many times before is pretty dang nice. The number of options are just mind bottling. (Yeah, mind-bottling. You know, when things are so crazy it gets your thoughts all trapped, like in a bottle?). I created a few different heroes... a melee, a blaster type, and a telekinetic... fun fun stuff..

After the character creation everything was down hill...

I understand they are going for a comic-bookie feel with the graphics but this isn't a comic book, it's a game and the graphic are just too foreign for me to deal with.. I just can't get over it...

The combat really is dumbed down... there's no dodging or positional attacks... you can just stand toe to toe and mash 1, 2, 2,3.. done, tab, 1,2,2,3 tab, etc etc...

Quests are the typical MMO quests.. go kill x mobs, go collect x items, go talk to x.... I didn't really see any creativity in the quests.. (well, I did run into some public quests that were kinda cool)

I was soooo excited for this game being a big CoH fan I thought this would be the next level for me but it just fell short.

I'll be monogamous with DDO for now...

[Mindspat]

Looks like it was designed to run a on 386 with 8MB of ram.

Keep in mind that those screen shots are from the OP's machine. I have a EVGA GTX 285 SSC and the grapphics look pretty damned good on my system; it appears to scale to older/budget systems well.

OP, can you share with us what video card you're using and how you have the graphical settings?

I've been playing Champions since march and think the screen shots look as if they were taking at low settings. Also, the metal texture looks absolutely awesome which a screen shot can not do justice.

[nycgamer]

I was in the beta from the very beginning.

I'm sure there are plenty of people who might really enjoy what Champions Online has to offer, I am not one of them.

I never played for more than 30 minutes. I couldn't bear to.

I was bored and never felt drawn into the game.
I've been in Aion beta as well. Although Aion is not going to be a purchase, I was drawn in enough to play the game until level 10. Champions Online - level 2 was as far as I got.

I didn't like the interface. It seemed clunky to me (including the character cutomization interface). There was just something clunky and very unrefined to the whole thing. It felt like a placeholder.

Gameplay - bleh. It just wasn't fun.

I rather just play City of Heroes if I want to play a comic book genre game.

Others will disagree. Objective opinion works like that.

I would just be cautious to purchase that pre-order lifetime membership offer they got going. Try it out first. I think this game is going to be another small blip in MMO history.

[Quanefel]

Meh...I am still waiting on Star Trek Online to come out myself.

[Eelpout]

Meh...I am still waiting on Star Trek Online to come out myself.

I think that is very brave of you. I am not quite sure of the significance of Star Trek Online, though. Maybe it is because people are more accepting in the future?

Either way, Bravo, good sir, bravo.