City of Villains FAQ's

[Detomah]

What is City of Villains™?

City of Villains™ is the standalone sequel to critically acclaimed MMORPG City of Heroes®. Using a staggering assortment of new powers, abilities, and customization options, players will experience sinister game play from the other side of the mask. With diabolical craft and guile, players forge new super-powered villain characters in an attempt to dominate the world. Heroes and authorities of Paragon City will do all in their power to thwart these evil plans of destruction. It will take a supreme effort for true domination.



What are some of the Key Features in City of Villains?

Become an infamous Villain:

Players can advance from low-level thugs to eventually fulfill their destiny as legendary arch-criminals.

Design and build infinitely customizable fortresses of evil:

Players repel intruders with vicious weaponry and diabolical defenses.

Heroes and Villains collide:

Now players can choose to take on the most challenging rivals of all time…each other!

Features a huge variety of villain missions:

including heists, kidnappings, infiltrations, and more!

Incredible villain variety:

including new archetypes, powers, villain costumes, and the deadly new villain group Arachnos!



How much does City of Villains cost?

The suggested retail price is $49.99.



How much is the monthly fee?

Active City of Heroes subscribers pay no additional monthly fee to play City of Villains! They have full access to all content from both games and still only pay $14.99 per month. For City of Heroes players who purchase City of Villains, simply add the City of Villains serial code to your existing City of Heroes account using the UPGRADE button on your PlayNC™ account management page and then set off for The Rogue Isles!

City of Villains is also available as a stand-alone game. Players who do not own City of Heroes and players who choose not to upgrade their existing City of Heroes account will pay the full monthly fee of $14.99.



If I already have City of Heroes or want to reactivate my City of Heroes account, will I still get the first month of included time when I purchase City of Villains?

Yes, the included time from your City of Villains purchase can be applied when reactivating your existing City of Heroes account as long as you use the UPGRADE button to apply the City of Villains serial code.



What is included in the Standard Edition of City of Villains?

A CD-ROM version of City of Villains
One exclusive HeroClix figure
One exclusive City of Heroes collector card from Alderac Entertainment Group
Two-sided poster featuring: Villains vs. Heroes battle scene and Rogue Isles ancient map
First Month of Play Included Plus Game Trials and Other Offers


What is included in the Collector's DVD Edition?

A DVD version of City of Villains
Collector’s exclusive in-game items – The Arachnos logo for characters’ capes and chests
Seven limited edition HeroClix figures
Art Collection Book from both sides of the law
A preview deck of the City of Heroes collectible card game from Alderac Entertainment Group
One exclusive City of Heroes collector card from Alderac Entertainment Group
Two-sided poster featuring: Villains vs. Heroes battle scene and Rogue Isles ancient map
First Month of Play Included Plus Game Trials and Other Offers


How much does the Collector's DVD Edition cost?

The suggested retail price is $79.99.



Are there City of Villains Game Time Cards?

Yes, City of Villains game time cards are available at your local retailer. City of Heroes game time cards also work for City of Villains.



What will I have access to with each game?

CoH Alone CoV Alone CoH and CoV Together PvP Zones √ √ √

Bases and Salvage √ √

New Costume Options √ √

New Villain Archetypes √ √

All Villain PvE Content √ √



Do City of Heroes and City of Villains share the same servers?

Yes, City of Heroes and City of Villains share the same universe and, therefore, they must coexist on the same servers. Many of the existing (and yet-to-be-released) features and zones within City of Heroes and City of Villains require that Heroes and Villains be able to interact fully.



For customers who have purchased both City of Heroes and City of Villains, how do they manage their hero and villain characters?

There are a few distinct changes. Players manage their heroes and villains from the same menu interface. The villain and hero menu themes alternate based on the player’s most recent selection. For example, if you have selected a villain, the interface will reflect City of Villains.



How many character slots does City of Villains have?

Whereas people with only City of Heroes or City of Villains have the normal eight character slots per server, those with both games use a new interface with twelve character slots. Those twelve slots accommodate both heroes and villains (so if players choose to, they can fill all twelve with heroes or with villains).



Can existing City of Heroes users purchase City of Villains just for the additional four character slots per server?

Absolutely! However, City of Villains has far more value than extra character slots, including the ability to carry base building over to City of Heroes, base raids, and some very cool features to come in the future.



Do I have to purchase City of Villains to have access to the new PvP zones?

No. City of Heroes players automatically have access to the three new PvP zones.



Will you continue to provide updates for both games?

Absolutely. Both City of Heroes and City of Villains will continue to receive Issue updates.



Is this just an expansion to City of Heroes?

City of Villains is a stand-alone title, not an expansion. It may be played without City of Heroes, but there are clear advantages to owning and playing both. If a player only has City of Villains, he/she may only play a villain, not a hero. Also, if players want to build a base for their Hero characters they will need to get City of Villains.



So you’re saying that there are lairs and bases?

Yes, in City of Villains all villain characters are able to create custom designed lairs and bases with an extremely high amount of detail, rivaling that of the character creation for which City of Heroes is well known. With your purchase of City of Villains, the base-building feature also carries over to City of Heroes members who have active subscriptions, enabling them to construct hero bases as well.



What are some of the cool new items I am able to have in my lair or base?

Players are able to create their bases from the ground up. They can place walls, raise and lower ceilings and floors, build hospital rooms, transporters, and more. Textures, colors, and lighting can all be customized, and players can use tons of decorative items in their bases as well. Players can protect their creations by placing turrets, traps, and other defense mechanisms. All of these result in nearly limitless options.



Are we able to raid other Super Group’s bases?

Yes, it is possible to raid someone else’s base! Base raids are entirely consensual as you battle it out with other super groups for items of power.



Are bases useful for PvE?

Absolutely. Bases can be built with many non-PvP features, such as teleporters for quick Zone hopping, Hospitals so you can hide your shameful defeat from the Paragon or Rogue Isles doctors, stores, and even access to new missions!



Other than base raids, what kind of Player versus Player action is there?

In addition to base raids, players can also enter PvP zones, each with a different goal and each with different types of PvP game play.



Does City of Villains require players to participate in PvP?

No. While there are PvP-specific features and events, Player versus Environment (PvE) content is abundantly available. Both games have PvP and PvE elements. Players are never required to play in PvP battles - they are by player permission only.



What types of villains can I create?

There are five cool new archetypes in City of Villains: Dominator, Corrupter, Brute, Stalker, and Mastermind. For more information about these, check out the City of Villains AT walkthroughs!



Can villains have minions?

Yes! The Mastermind archetype enables players to have minions, or “henchmen”, as they are called in City of Villains.



Are there villain badges?

Of course!



The character creator in City of Heroes is amazing. What unique aspects of the character creator tool are there in City of Villains?

The character creator in City of Villains offers many new customizable costume options. Players are able to create characters using monstrous features such as horns, hooves, new villain capes, and much more. Plus, the new bump map graphics technology make metallic and other costume components react dynamically with lighting in the environments.



Are there Task Forces and Trials in City of Villains?

Yes indeed! Villainous Task Forces are called Strike Forces. There are Strike Force missions spread out among the middle-to-high levels of City of Villains. There are also Trials, and some examples of rewards will be Items of Power, respecs and badges.



Is the City of Heroes comic book available to all City of Heroes and City of Villains players?

Yes, the comic book will continue to be available to players of both games. To ensure delivery to everyone including our international customers, the primary method of distribution for the City of Heroes comic book will soon be digital. Starting with Issue 7, we will post a digital copy of the comic book for all City of Heroes and City of Villains players to view and/or save.



What if I still want to receive a printed version of the City of Heroes comic book?

If you would like to purchase printed copies, they are available via your PlayNC™ Account Management page at a reduced rate from the newsstand price and are delivered to your door! As always, copies of the comic can also be purchased at your local comic book store.



What are the necessary system specs for City of Villains?

Minimum System Requirements:

Microsoft® Windows® 2000/XP
Intel® Pentium® III 800 Mhz or AMD Athlon™ 800 Mhz
512 MB RAM
CD-ROM Drive *
4 GB Available HDD Space
NVIDIA® GeForce 2 Series, ATI® Radeon® 8500 or Intel® i865 Series Video Card 16-bit Sound Card
56k modem
DirectX® 9.0c

Recommended System Requirements:

Microsoft® Windows® 2000/XP
Intel® Pentium® 4 2.0 GHz or AMD® Athlon™ XP 2000+
1 GB RAM
16X CD-ROM Drive *
4 GB Available HDD Space
NVIDIA® GeForce™ 6200
16-bit Sound Card
Broadband Internet Connection
DirectX® 9.0c

*The Collector’s DVD Edition requires a DVD-ROM Drive.