Welcome,
my friends, to the exciting, two-fisted, jaw-busting,
evildoer-smashing world of economics in Champions Online!
What’s that you say? We already had this discussion before in
Ten Ton Hammer’s href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/co/guides/introtocurrency"
target="_blank">article
on the basics of currency? I hate to tell you, but there’s a
lot more to talk about! In our intro guide, we discussed the two most
basic forms of currency: resources and acclaim, but there’s a
few more forms of currency to talk about in Champions Online. In fact,
there’s five more. Yes, five! That makes a grand total of
seven types of currency you can use within the game.



The seven types of currency in Champions Online are:

• Resources
• Acclaim
• Snake Gulch Snakebucks
• Nemesis Tokens
• UNITY Key Fragments
• UNITY Merits
• Perks

A total of seven different currency types can be daunting at first, but
all the currencies have some similarities. The main differences between
them is how you accumulate them (I prefer rifling through the pockets
of unconscious henchmen), and what you can spend them on. To see how
much of each currency you have, open your character record screen by
hitting ‘C’ and then clicking on the Record tab.
Voila! Displayed for your benefit and gloating privilege will be the
totals for all seven currency types.

For each currency type, your pals here at Ten Ton Hammer will provide
the what
and the where.
The what
is how you get that type of particular currency, while the style="font-weight: bold;">where
is where you can spend them and for what you spend those points for.
Please remember that this guide is here to provide an overview, and
that the information provided here can be subject to patches in the
future. Well, enough jibber-jabber, let’s get on to the
moolah!





style="font-weight: bold;">Resources

What:
Resources are currency (local, national, and global) that you
accumulate by defeating bad guys and by selling items. You’ll
automatically get them when you defeat villains. Resources are the most
basic type of currency you’ll receive as a hero. More
detailed information can be found in Ten Ton Hammer’s href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/co/guides/introtocurrency"
target="_blank">article
on currency basics.



Where:
You can spend resources at any vendor throughout the game. Most of the
time, you’ll be spending them on blueprints for your crafting
path. In addition, you can spend them on costume changes and basic
items.



style="font-weight: bold;">Acclaim

What:
Acclaim is achieved by participating in PvP. You’ll receive
more Acclaim by winning than by losing in a match. Even if you get your
butt kicked (and you will), you’ll still receive Acclaim for
being in a match.



Where:
You can spend your Acclaim at any Hero Games booth found in Millennium
City. You can buy a few basic items (such as stims or shields), but
mostly you use them for action figures and costume unlocks. Some items
for purchase require a perk as well as Acclaim.



Hint:
Action figures are little figures that you can activate that will
follow you around. They don’t do anything, but they are darn
cool. Plus, there are tons of them available. Tons!



style="font-weight: bold;">Snake Gulch Snakebucks

What:
You receive Snake Gulch Snakebucks by fighting all the crazy cowboy
robots in Snake Gulch in the Southwest Desert. These are dropped
randomly so check your character record screen often.



Where:
You spend Snakebucks at Belle Steel’s Saloon, which is
located in Snake Gulch. Inside the saloon, you go to the vendor,
Bargainin’ Bill. He sells five different types of robot
action figures, ranging in price from 25 to 300 Snakebucks. Just
remember to keep your shooting iron handy as you approach the saloon,
as that the area is crawling with robotic gunslingers and Grond wanders
through from time to time.



Hint:
While in the saloon, talk to Sister Sata. She’ll unlock four
pieces of Mechanon lore, which will unlock a Perk for you.

style="font-weight: bold;">Nemesis Tokens

What:
When you hit level 25, you can create your Nemesis. The Nemesis system
is what sets Champions Online apart from any other MMOG. Basically, you
can create your own personal arch-enemy. Yes! You get your own,
personal villain that stalks your hero. As you gain in levels, so do
they. Plus, you can decide on what type of minions your nemesis uses.
While a little dated, this href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/node/71128" target="_blank">Nemesis
Showdown video shows nemesis
creation and combat. You gain Nemesis Tokens by defeating your nemesis
and his minions. Please note that you do not gain Nemesis Tokens by
randomized encounters with the minions. On the plus side, the higher
your level, the more tokens you will receive.



Where:
You can spend your Nemesis Tokens at the Nemesis vendors outside the
MCPD (Millennium City Police Department), which is where you also
created your nemesis. (You create your nemesis at the Unity Terminal
outside the MCPD.) You can purchase action figures and purple (level
40) upgrades.



style="font-weight: bold;">UNITY Key Fragments

What:
Unity Key Fragments are obtained by doing daily UNITY missions. These
missions are obtained at the super-secret UNITY HQ, which is located
under the Heroes Inc. building in the Renaissance Center in Millennium
City. You can get up to six fragments in a day; one per mission. There
are five missions normally, but once you do all five, a sixth mission
opens up.



Where:
You can exchange your fragments at special vendors at UNITY HQ. There
are two ways to exchange your fragments. First, you can exchange your
fragment for a Unity Merit (one for one). Otherwise, you can exchange
your fragment for a one-shot instance Lair key. Lairs are for full
groups, but you get a lot more UNITY Merits and drops from Lairs.



Hint:
You can't enter UNITY HQ until you are level 40.

style="font-weight: bold;">UNITY Merits

What:
You receive UNITY Merits from
completing UNITY missions and by turning in Unity Key Fragments.
According to the devs, a solo player can gain up to 14 Merits a day (8
from the daily missions and 6 from the Key Fragments), whilst a group
player that goes into the Lairs can gain up to 48 Merits in a day. On
the average, it’ll take a solo player 3 times longer than a
player that groups all the time to buy an upgrade from the UNITY
vendors.



Where:
You spend your UNITY Merits at the vendors located in the UNITY HQ.
From them, you can purchase action figures and purple upgrades.





style="font-weight: bold;">Perks

What:
You receive Perk points by getting Perks. Simple, eh? Perks can be
considered little milestones in your superhero career. You can get a
Perk for various reasons: exploring, learning the lore of the setting,
fighting bad guys, achievements, PvP, and other ways. Each time you get
a Perk, you’ll get a number of Perk Points to spend. href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/co/guides/new/perks"
target="_blank">Here’s
a great article that gives an introduction to perks.



Where:
You spend your Perk Points at the three Perk vendors located in
Millennium City in the Renaissance Center. The three vendors each have
their own specialty. One sells action figures (you can never have
enough!), another sells devices, and the third sells costume parts.



I hope your brain hasn’t exploded with all the knowledge just
dumped onto you. (Luckily for me, I have enhanced cranial capacity due
to my industrial accident!) While there are many different forms of
currency, the premise is similar. Beat up bad guys, and then spend your
loot on upgrades, new costume pieces, or action figures. Now, hit the
streets and lay down some justice on those low-lifes!