Ask Cryptic - May 30, 2008

Today we get the answers to community questions about zones, instances, buffing and costumes. Thanks to Arkayne, Heretic, Stampede and Absinthe for taking time to answer these!

Do characters out-level zones? Can a high-level character continue to experience content in zones throughout his or her superheroic career? (Psyche)

Arkayne (Lead Designer): Zones in Champions Online have various challenges of different levels so you will always have something to return to as you progress through your heroic career. While you might start in the Southwest Desert helping Project Greenskin deal with various mutants plaguing the area, you'll likely return later to deal with rampaging robots or escaped supervillains.

While you're there, don't forget to watch out for Grond!

Will there be a larger variety of skins on the maps, hideouts, dungeons, etc then in CoX? (WNxSoelus)

Arkayne: There is a much greater emphasis on invoking a sense of place in Champions Online. Whenever there is a new instanced area, it will have unique elements and gameplay to distinguish it. Two VIPER bases might have similar basic structural details (complete with VIPER banners and insignias everywhere) but one might have indoctrination and training barracks while the other might have lab facilities where VIPER is experimenting with psionics. We're very proud of the diversity of environments players will be experiencing in our game!

I've heard on the boards that a lot of people aren't even expecting there to be buffing or healing as we know it in previous MMOs. Can you shed some light on this topic? (Rilos)

Heretic (Lead Powers Designer): There are innumerable instances in superhero comics of heroes buffing or enhancing their companions' abilities, and while healing is rarer, there are a few examples of that as well. Of the many powers and abilities players will have available to select for their characters, buffing and healing will be represented. It definitely will be possible to build a character who is focused on a support role should that be what you are interested in.

Philosophically, one of the patterns we are trying to avoid is the traditional "Gather for buffs!" This approach is essentially the game wasting your time for no real benefit – if a buff is meant to be able to be on all the time, it should simply be on all the time. If a buff is set up to be reactive, it should be set up to be reactive.

Will costume options be unlocked through various accomplishments, or will I be able to make a caped, jet-booted, monkey-tailed, glowy-eyed freak at creation? (mahooka)

Stampede (Lead Rewards Designer): The answer is both. Champions Online will have robust hero customization at character creation, and then additional costume pieces will be unlocked as rewards throughout the game.

Will heroes like Defender and Ironclad have unique one of a kind costumes, or can I make a fan boy hero that looks similar? (Belstaffar)

Absinthe (Lead Character Artist): There will be pieces of their suits available to the player, but iconic pieces such as Defender's and Ironclad's helms will be unique.

Talk about this in the forums!