Notes from a Super Hero #2 – Champions Online User Interface Features

Hello all! Welcome to the second edition of my “Notes From a Super Hero” in Champions Online.  Today, I will be going over the really neat features of the Champions Online (CO) user interface (UI).  First I would like to point out that the CO UI is completely movable, and resizable.  Also everything you would possibly need to understand CO while you're running around, is on your MiniMap.  Your Crime Computer is one of your best friends when soloing to level up, and once again your MiniMap will save your butt when clicking missions in your log.  The Social Panel is a pane I barely use, to be honest; it is a very powerful tool.  Lastly I will cover your costumes, builds and roles within CO.

Instead of needing frivolous AddOns to customize your UI, Cryptic added a nice feature to enhance your gameplay, by allowing you to move anything from your UI to anywhere on the screen.  Also you can drag just about any other frame to where ever you want it to be, while you take on the bad guys.  You can access this feature by binding it to a key (I believe, by default it is bound to the F12 key).  If not press escape until you get the game menu, select options, then go to key bindings, scroll down until you find the Windows title.  Look for UI rearrange mode then bind that to a key!  You can bind just about anything and everything to a key or mouse function.  While in the key binding section, if you mouse over each name on the left you will see that there is a forward slash (/) command for everything.  There is also a separate bar for a game pad (if you own one).

Your MiniMap contains several important buttons, where you can access your Mission log, the Hero Games (PvP), Social Panel, Mail, etc.  The MiniMap tells you a lot; you can also access the C-Store.  With purchase of CO you get 400 Cryptic points that you can use in the C-store in game.  The little “action figure” pets are an example of something obtained from the C-store.  One of the handiest features on your MiniMap is the mail.  You can access your mail from anywhere in game, so you do not have to hunt down a mail box anytime you want to send a mail.  The MiniMap will also tell you which instance of the zone you’re in, as well as having a compass.

The Mission log and your Crime Computer are some of the best tools I have seen in an MMO.  Mainly the Crime Computer, though every MMO has a log for your quests or missions.  I started receiving a ton of mail one day, to find out that it was from Socrates (sort of a hero notification system).  She/he (it?) was sending me missions through mail that told me to check my Crime Computer for further details.  I investigated, and they were pretty easy missions; they could have been more fun if I had a team.  Another cool feature that MMORPGs have been using, which is a fun part of CO, is the “open mission” concept.  Everyone can participate and the player that works the hardest gets the best reward.  They are marked on your MiniMap and your world map by an icon.

By clicking on quests in your log, your MiniMap automatically pans to the selected quest, saves you a lot of time trying to hunt them down on your world map.  Your active quest also highlights in orange, while the others remain green.

If you’re stuck and really can’t find a place to level up, check your Crime Computer.  It has a list of every quest giver (for your level) and the area that they are in.  The Crime Computer button is located in the bottom left hand corner of the mission log.

Perks are something fun added to the game.  You can get many titles from them, and even rewards such as gear and costume pieces.  The costume pieces that are weapons are all character bound, but the armour pieces are account bound.  I’m level 25 and I have over 20 titles; titles add to your character, in my opinion.  That and I didn’t know that werewolves could be doctors (in case you missed my first entry, my character Paygan is a werewolf).  They also give you a search box for when you have too many titles to sift through.

The Social Panel is something I rarely find myself using, with all of its amazing features you can do a lot to find a group doing the missions you are.  The find team button is useful for finding teams that already have a leader and are doing something.  What would an MMO be without friends? Unlike most MMO's, when you add a friend in CO, you don’t just add that character; you add their entire account.  Useful so you know when your friend is online.  You can also browse your Super Group (SG); manage the options of your current team and your futures that you make.  I haven’t had a chance to really explore the Ignored tab; I guess that is a good thing.  I have chosen to take a screenshot of the Search tab, because of its extensive features.  You can search people that are LFG and those that aren’t, by level, and by ANY location in the game.  There are many options for you to set as well; you can choose to be anonymous to your friends and incoming searches.  The anonymous function is very handy when you want to play incognito.  You can also set your status; I set mine to “Regen tank LFT!”

 
This brings you to the build section of my article.  Builds are something really cool and unique to your character.  You can set your role, equipment, abilities and costume.  Since my character is level 25 and in a SG, I have three costume slots.  You get your second costume slot at level 15, then your next at level 30.  You can also unlock more through missions, joining a SG, and the C-Store.

Your role is something you can change in the build section (accessible by pressing B, by default) in the top right you will see a drop down list where you can choose from one of five roles.  Each role has its own benefits and drawbacks, depending on what you wish to accomplish with your character.  

• The Guardian role is a basic tanking role, the default, and the “all around” choice.
• The Protector is your advanced tanking role, granting you bonus health and energy regeneration.  
• The Brawler is the best melee DPS (damage per second) role.
• The Avenger role best for making the bad guys go boom at a distance.  
• The Sentinel role is for healing.  You get a fancy buff when you’re in this role, increasing your healing and energy regeneration.

I would like to see a title changer when you set and change your build; it would add a bit more role-play to the game.  You can also name your builds; I have one for tanking, DPSing, and one just for fun.  
I have seen a lot of MMO UIs, and Cryptic has put together one easy to use UI.  It is very functional right out of the box, and if you don’t like it, you can rearrange it!  Overall, I would rate the Champions Online UI 9/10.  There are still a few features that I would personally like to see added, like the title changer for example.  It is the little things that make the big game go around.

See you in game, and drop some feedback please and thank you!

Want to learn more about Champions Online? 

Check out their official website: www.Champions-Online.com