by Chris Noll on Jul 23, 2009
What do you want to know about Champions Online? We've likely got the answer right here in our Ten Ton Hammer Champions Online FAQ. We have covered a lot of the questions you may have about the game, but it doesn't end there. This FAQ will continue to be updated right through launch, so be sure to check back often.
Have a question about Champions Online that's not covered here? Ask in our forums, and we may just include it.
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Minimum System
Requirements
* OS:Windows XP/Vista/Windows 7
* CPU:2.5GHz Single Core or 1.8GHz Dual
Core
* Memory:1GB RAM
* Video:NVIDIA GeForce 7800 / ATI Radeon
X700 or HD / Intel Graphics with Dual Core
* Sound:DirectX Compatible Soundcard
* HDD:5GB Free Disk Space
* Network:ADSL / Cable Modem
* Disc:DVD-ROM
* Driver:DirectX 9.0c
Recommended System
Configuration
* OS:Windows XP/Vista/Windows 7
* CPU:2GHz Dual Core or Better
* Memory:2GB RAM or Better
* Video:NVIDIA GeForce 8800 or Better /
ATI Radeon HD3850 or Better
* Sound:DirectX Compatible Soundcard
* HDD:5GB Free Disk Space
* Network:ADSL / Cable Modem or Better
* Disc:DVD-ROM
* Driver:DirectX 9.0c
To check if your computer meets the minimum system specifications:
1. Click Start, then Run.
2. In the Open box, enter dxdiag.
a. Vista users will have to click through any approval dialogs which
appear due to User Account Control settings
3. Click OK to launch the DirectX Diagnostic Tool.
4. Click Yes.
5. Review your system specifications by clicking
on the related tabs:
* System: Operating system, processor, and RAM. Note that Intel
Dual-Core processors are named "Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU"
* Display: Graphics card manufacturer and chip type
* Input: Keyboard and mouse
(
href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/node/70828">Source)
Champions
Online can be played either with a standard keyboard and
mouse set-up, or with a wired XBox 360 controller. To utilize the
controller, simply plug it into an open USB port on your PC, and the
game will automatically recognize it as a control device, adjusting
on-screen key prompts to reflect the use of a 360 controller.
The North
American PC launch for Champions Online is September 1, 2009. The
European PC launch is set for September 4, 2009,
with the option to purchase the downloadable version when it becomes
available on September 1st. No firm release date has been announced for
a console version, currently in development for the XBox 360, though it
is expected to launch sometime in Q1 2010. (
href="http://champions-online.com/node/47780">Source)
Currently,
players are able to create 8 characters per
account. There is a reward system, however, that will allow players to
open up additional character slots on an account level by simply
playing the game. (
href="http://champions-online.com/node/92892">Source)
The
current level cap is set at 40.
You obtain
your first 2 powers at character creation, with your first
additional power selection becoming available upon reaching level 5, or
roughly around the time you complete the Champions HQ instance at the
end of the Millennium City tutorial zone. You 'level up' your character
by visiting the Power House, located at either Project Greenskin in the
Southwestern Desert or at Force Station Steelhead in Canada.
Additionally, you obtain your first 2 Advantage Points upon reaching
level 7. These can be applied to increasing the Rank (think of Ranks as
inherent potential of a power) of a power or adding in a new Advantage
(these typically add something new to how a given power functions).
By the
time you reach the current level cap of 40, you'll be able to learn a
total of 14 standard powers and 2 travel powers.
Standard powers can be selected from any of the 18 available power sets
by visiting the local Power House provided you meet certain
requirements which will be listed in the individual power descriptions.
You obtain your first travel power at level 5, and can select a second
one at level 35.
Champions
Online's server set-up is not like most other
MMOGs. Instead of operating on many named servers, the game
is set up with one massive server with many different shards.
You and your friends will never have to worry about starting Heroes on
the same server. You will simply have to find out which
instance your friends are in and go there. This way all
players will be able to play with each other at any time. (
href="http://www.champions-online.com/dev_blog/ask_cryptic_06-11-09">Source)
The game
will have a single server for both North American and European
players. Each zone within the game will have a maximum number of
concurrent users, and once that limit has been reached additional
"copies" or instances of the zone will open up to accommodate more
players. You can switch between instances by pressing the 'M' key on
your keyboard which will present this as an option when available.
You can
adjust any aspect of your character’s costume at any time by
visiting your friendly neighborhood tailor. Tailor NPCs can be found at
Renaissance Center in Millennium City, Project Greenskin in the
Southwest Desert or Force Station Steelhead in the Canadian Wilderness.
To alter your costume, simply speak to the Tailor which will bring up
the full costume editor where you can fine tune any of the visual
elements of your hero. Each adjustment you make will add to the overall
cost of the alteration, which also scales depending on your current
level. Any costume parts you unlock during normal gameplay will be
automatically added to the list of available options, and will be
highlighted to help you find them more easily.
Players
can select a crafting profession from one of three available schools;
Arms, Mysticism and Science. Each of these schools allows players to
create upgrades, devices and even special items that can alter or
enhance the visual effects of certain powers.
To begin your crafting career, speak with either Justicar (located at
Force Station Steelhead in the Crisis in Canada zone) or Robert Kaufman
(located at Project Greenskin in the Desert Disaster Zone) to obtain
the quest “A Crafty Contrivance” which will get you
started.
Beginning
at level 10, players can participate in PvP matches by speaking to the
Hero Games organizers in Millennium City, or by simply clicking on the
appropriate icon located along the left side of the mini-map to bring
up a list of available PvP matches. You can queue for PvP from anywhere
in the world and will be alerted by an on-screen message once a new
match becomes available.
There are
three main types of PvP in Champions Online, some being officially
sanctioned by the Hero Games organizers located in Millennium City
while others are ‘unsanctioned’ free-for-all events.
The three main PvP match types open up at different levels as described
below:
Ultimate Tournament of Champions – Sanctioned PvP arena
matches that open up at level 10
B.A.S.H. – Unsanctioned free-for-all PvP matches that open up
at level 20
Apocalypse – Sanctioned PvP arena matches that incorporate
PvE elements and open up at level 30
The
Nemesis system allows players to create and customize a unique
supervillain which opens up a series of dynamic mission arcs beginning
at level 25. Not only will you be able to choose the exact look of your
Nemesis, but you can also select exactly which power set they use and
even what type of henchmen accompany them during missions and beyond.
While the ultimate goal will be to defeat your Nemesis and have them
shipped off to Stronghold, their henchmen have a nasty habit of showing
up when you least expect, often dropping clues that lead you to more
complex, interesting missions that advance the overall Nemesis
storyline. (
href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/node/71911">Source)
At level
20 players will begin finding a series of clues that will eventually
point them towards creating their Nemesis at level 25. To do so, head
to the Millennium City Police Department (located NE of City Hall) and
speak to MCPD Captain Martin who will offer a quest to enter the data
for your Nemesis on the nearby Crime Computer.
From there you’ll be able to use the complete costume editor
to fine tune the exact look you want for your Nemesis. You can also
select their personality, power set and what type of minions will
accompany them as your Nemesis begins sowing seeds of destruction
across Millennium City and beyond.
You can
add friends to your Friend List in one of the following ways:
- Through the Social screen, which can be accessed by pressing F10 on
your keyboard (or the 'Back' key on your 360 controller)
- By running the /friend CharacterName command
- By using the Search screen
You can view your Friend List by clicking on Friends in the chat
window. On the Friend List, you can view your friends and their current
level and location. The Friends window also includes a Search screen.
On this screen, you can search for players by name, league, account,
location, level, and LFG status. After searching for a player, you can
right-click on a name and send a tell, invite to a team, invite to your
guild, or add to your friend list.
Upon
completion of either the Desert Disaster or Crisis in Canada
crisis zones, players will be able to form their own Super Group by
speaking to Red Talon or Cyber Hive. In the Canadian Wilderness they
will be centrally located at Force Station Steelhead, and in the
Southwest Desert you can find them stationed near the massive statue of
Grond at Project Greenskin.
In order to create a super group,
you need to have 5 players in a team, all on the same map as the super
group contact, and none of them already in a super group. These team
members will become the new super group, with the player who spoke to
the super group contact as the leader.
From there the process is pretty straight forward; select a name,
colors and emblem for your Super Group and you're good to go!