Ten Ton Hammer - Taking MMO Gamers to the Next Level!

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 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 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!


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 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.

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!

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.

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 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.

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.


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.


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. 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!