View source for Issue 19

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== Overview ==
[[File:Issue19.jpg|left|350px]]
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'''[[Issues|Issue]] 19''', ''Alpha Strike!'', was a major revision to City of Heroes and City of Villains. The title references the Alpha Strike [[Task Force]], which is one of the ways [[Level]] 50 characters could make themselves more powerful with the [[Incarnate System]].

This article summarizes some of the major features in Issue 19. For more complete details, see the [[Patch Notes/2010-11-30|release date's patch notes]].

*[[Closed Beta]] testing on the [[Servers|Going Rogue Beta Server]] and the [[Servers|European Test Server]] for Issue 19 was scheduled to start on the week of October 11, 2010; however, the server was not available to players until Monday, October 18, 2010.
*On Thursday, November 11, 2010, testing was opened up for Issue 19 [[Open Beta]], though, again, server problems kept the open waves from full access until the following Monday.
*At some point in mid-November, the U.S. Test Server became Issue 19 active without any official announcement as such.
*Issue 19 was released to the [[servers|Live Servers]] on November 30, 2010.

==Badges==
:''Main Article:'' [[Issue 19 Badges]]
*New [[Hazard Zone]] [[Exploration Badges]] and [[Accolades]].
*[[Praetoria]] was opened up to [[Primal Earth]] characters, allowing them to obtain Praetorian badges.
*Three new badges for completing [[#Praetorian Zone Events|Praetorian Zone Events]]
*Two new badges for completing the [[#New Incarnate Task Forces|Incarnate Task Forces]]


==City Zones==
[[File:PTA-MonorailSelect.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Updated Monorail Menu showing all available zones in Paragon City.]]
* '''Merged Monorails, Ferries, and Black Helicopters''': The Transit Authorities in Paragon City and the Rogue Isles have made major improvements to the [[Paragon Transit Authority|monorail]], [[Ferry|ferry system]], the [[Black Helicopter Line|Black Helicopters]] by merging their respective routes. 
**All monorails can now travel to every monorail station on the [[Green Line|Green]] and [[Yellow Line]] (the two [[Steel Canyon]] and [[Skyway City]] stations differentiated with a North v. South designation)
**All [[Ferry#Villain Ferry Locations|ferries]] can now travel to every ferry station in the [[Rogue Isles]] (zones with more than one Ferry stop are split up via direction like the monorails). 
**Likewise, the Black Helicopters are now one line. 
**Also, the Smuggler's Cargo Ship now shows a full selection when traveling among [[Talos Island]], [[Independence Port]], and [[Striga Isle]]. 
**Note that the ferry between Talos and Peregrine Island is still self-contained 'warp' gate. The Smuggler's Cargo Ship is a separate entity from a ferry.
**[[Train Mission]]s will appear at the top of the list of zones with a star.
**All these zone selector windows from these transports have had their GUI upgraded. Zones show their level (or the level of the neighborhood of the stop). Zones in which the character has missions will have an orange dot next to their name.
* '''Hospitals In All Zones''': Hospital gurneys in all [[Trial]] and [[Hazard Zone|Hazard]] zones. And a nurse or medic selling [[inspiration]]s in all hospitals.
* For those who have purchased [[Going Rogue]]:
** '''[[Primal Earth]] Characters Can Enter Praetoria''': Non-[[Praetorian (Alignment)|Praetorians]] can journey to [[Praetoria]]<ref name="grreqd" /> through [[Pocket D]]. The manhole that Praetorians had been using is now a portal mounted on a wall (behind the hero-side big portal ramp). In Pocket-D, enable "Lounge" on the mini-map drop down menu for a marker.
***[[Primal Earth|Primals]] can not initiate any missions from any contacts in Praetoria. They can, however, team and be [[Sidekick|Super Side-Kicked]] to a Praetorian doing missions there. 
***[[Primal Earth|Primals]] can initiate and participate in [[Issue_19#Praetoria_Zone_Events|Praetorian Events]].
** '''Praetorian Mission Difficulty Slider''': [[Praetoria]] gets [[notoriety]] adjuster contacts.

==Costumes==
Issue 19 includes two free auras for all City of Heroes players. These auras are customizable.
* '''Fireflies''': Your character can be surrounded by glowing, tintable fireflies.
* '''Snow''': Celebrate winter and be showered by snow.


==Incarnate System==
*'''Overview''': The long-awaited [[Alpha Slot]]<ref name="grreqd" />, the first part of the new [[Incarnate System|Incarnate system]]<ref name="grreqd" /> that gives high-level characters access to new powers and challenges is unveiled in [[Issue 19]] . 

*'''Unlocking the Alpha Slot''': Unlocking the Alpha Slot is no easy task. Players must first learn what it means to exceed the definition of [[Hero (Alignment)|Hero]] or [[Villain (Alignment)|Villain]] to become an [[Incarnate]]. [[Mender Ramiel]] in [[Ouroboros]] guides players on this journey. Learn the Secret of Mender Ramiel and your involvement in his appearance from the future. Uncover what makes Player Characters different from the [[Incarnate]]s, [[Statesman]] and [[Lord Recluse]].

*Unlocking the Alpha Slot grants that character another (third) build. See [[Multiple Builds]].

*[[Going Rogue]] expansion required to participate in the [[Incarnate System]].


==Missions and Story Content==
===New Incarnate Task Forces===
Challenges already await new [[Incarnate System|Incarnates]]. The [[Praetoria]]ns have begun their invasion of [[Primal Earth]]. Protecting [[Paragon City]] and the [[Rogue Isles]] from such overwhelming forces requires the greatest Heroes and Villains to work together. Two familiar faces will help in stopping the invasion: [[Apex]] and [[Tin Mage]].
*[[Apex Task Force]]<ref name="grreqd" />: [[Apex]] has joined the [[Vanguard]], and he helps organize your team of [[Incarnate]]s to stop the Praetorian initial assault. Face off against the [[Anti-Matter's_Clockwork|Anti-Matter Clockwork]], [[Imperial_Defense_Force#War_Walker|War Walkers]], and the Arch-Villain [[Battle Maiden]] before they can destroy Paragon City. If you succeed in this battle, the war is yet to be won.
*[[Tin Mage Mark II Task Force]]<ref name="grreqd" />: Help [[Tin Mage Mark II]] (reconstructed from the schematics of the [[Omega Team]]'s [[Tin Mage]] which he left behind) coordinate an assault into [[Praetoria]] to stop the Praetorian invasion. Your team strikes into the very heart of [[Nova Praetoria]] to confront [[Neuron]], [[Bobcat]], and a Praetorian army.
*Characters joining these Task Forces must have the Alpha Slot unlocked.
*Characters joining these Task Forces without an Alpha Boost slotted into the Alpha Slot will be at a -4 Level penalty debuff.
*[[Going Rogue]] expansion required for these new Task Forces.


===Return of an Old Task Force===
*The [[Calvin Scott Task Force]] is back as a [[flashback]] arc. It exists in the 30-34 range in the Flashback Crystal as ''A Mind in Danger''. It gives 8 Merits. And you get the Souvenir, Soul Orb, when completed.


===New Arcs===
* Two new level 20-29 arcs that take place in Paragon City or the Rogue Isles. There is alternate text for those originally from [[Praetoria]].
*# A Hero arc (''Bad People, Good Intentions'') investigating the medical transporters and why they aren't handed out to civilians. See [[Roy Cooling]] located outside of [[Vault Reserve]] on [[Talos Island]]. This arc expands on the new game lore of an imminent Praetorian invasion.
*# A Villain arc (''Old Friends, New Enemies, and New Opportunities'') that has to do with finding out what exactly the Leviathan is and what its power source is. [[Vincent Ross]] stands on the beach below the Hospital in [[Sharkhead Isle]]. This arc expands on the new game lore of foreshadowing [[Incarnate]] content.


===More Tip and Morality Missions===
*There are many new [[Tip]]s for [[Rogue]]s and [[Vigilante]]s (while [[Tourist]]s in the opposing zone) including several new morality missions.
*Additional [[Morality Mission]]s have been created for the 40-50 level range.
*[[Going Rogue]] expansion required for these new missions.


===Praetorian Zone Events===
*Live events in Praetoria in which your [[Resistance (Alignment)|Resistance]] or [[Loyalist (Alignment)|Loyalist]] character can participate<ref name="grreqd" /> and choose which side to help:
** '''The Protest''' ([[Nova Praetoria]]): The angry citizens of [[Praetoria]] are staging a protest in Nova Praetoria. Will you join them or shut them down?
** '''Syndicate Takedown''' ([[Imperial City]]): The [[Praetorian Police Department|PPD]] has found a cell of the [[Syndicate]] in the Agilecorp building. The two forces are at a standoff at the base of the building. If you hurry you can capture one of the Syndicate's leaders.
** '''The Great Escape''' ([[Neutropolis]]): One of the [[Failed Experiments]] has remained lucid and sane, and appears to have the ability to influence other [[Ghouls]]. Informants say he is eager to aid [[the Resistance]] in its war against the regime. Will you aid him in his escape? Or will you hunt him down now that he has escaped?

*Rewards for participation in the zone events will be based on the amount of participation, and not just damage done -- (de)buffing and heals are tracked.

*[[Going Rogue]] expansion is required to enter Praetoria in order to participate in these events. [[Primal Earth|Primals]] visiting [[Praetoria]] may freely initiate and participate in these events.


===Praetorian Perpetual Contacts===

*[[Praetoria]]n players have access to [[Repeatable Missions]] content provided by either the [[Resistance]] or [[Loyalist]]s. At level 5 they automatically pop up to let you know you can contact them. They are phone-only contacts -- they don't appear in the zone.
** [[Resistance]] speak to [[Message Man]]
** [[Loyalist]]s speak to [[Clockwork A76-293]]

*[[Going Rogue]] expansion is required to enter [[Praetoria]] in order to participate in these missions.



==Mission Architect==
* '''New Maps'''
**The Tunnels and Tech map sets of [[Praetoria]] are now available in [[Mission Architect]]. They must be purchased from a [[Ticket Vendor]].
**In Unique -> Outdoor maps: Atlas Park Time Capsule (from the new Positron TF); Longbow Sea Base (Agincourt); Siren's Call; Siren's Call: Villain base; Sky Raider Base (Sharkhead); and Nemesis Shadow Shard Base.
* '''New Enemy Groups''': You can now also select the [[Praetorian Clockwork]], [[Destroyers]], [[The Resistance|Resistance]], [[Praetorian Police Department|Praetoria Police Department]], [[Seers]], [[Ghouls]], and the [[Syndicate]] as Mission Architect NPC groups. They must be purchased from a [[Ticket Vendor]].
* '''New Power Sets for Custom Critters''': [[Electric Control]] and [[Kinetic Melee]] are available power sets to give to custom [[critter]]s in your stories.

==Powers==
===Fitness Power Pool is Inherent===
The [[Fitness]] [[Power Pools|power pool]] is now an [[Inherent Powers|inherent power pool]] available to all new and existing characters starting from Level 1. Players can freely choose between any or all of the Fitness powers for available character power slots. These powers can be slotted and will accept the appropriate [[Enhancements]].

* Further clarifications were given by [[Castle (Developer)|Castle]] after the initial announcement 
**Fitness Pool powers have been incorporated into Inherent powers available at Level 2 [http://web.archive.org/web/20120904191736/http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showthread.php?p=3244336#post3244336]
*** All characters will be granted Swift, Hurdle, Health, and Stamina.
*** Existing characters with these powers selected via [[Pool Powers]] will be able to gain the powers they have not previously taken via the normal leveling process. They will not gain access to any of the Inherent fitness powers until they Respec.
*** Upon using a [[Respec]], the [[Fitness]] [[Power Pools|pool]] will not be selectable by the character, but instead, all 4 powers will be granted as [[Inherent Powers]] at level 2. This prevents issues with lost enhancements or slot allocation errors.
**They are still auto-powers and will be always active.[http://web.archive.org/web/20120904191622/http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showthread.php?p=3244382#post3244382]
**The powers will work while in [[Kheldian#Dwarf|Dwarf]] or [[Kheldian#Nova|Nova]] form as a [[Kheldian]], which is different from the Pool versions of the powers. [http://web.archive.org/web/20120904191620/http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showthread.php?p=3244386#post3244386]

===Alternate Power Animations===
*The following power sets have new [[Animation_Customization|alternative animation]] choices for some of their powers in Issue 19. Select the animations and customize how a character fires off its powers at any [[Tailor]]. Each power that has an alternate animation can be separately chosen, just like colorization.

*The following power sets have new alternate animation choices for Issue 19:
** '''Ranged Sets''': [[Dark Blast]] (5 powers with alternate animations), [[Electric Blast]] (5), [[Energy Blast]] (5), [[Fire Blast]] (7), [[Radiation Blast]] (6), [[Ice Blast]] (6), [[Psychic Blast]] (7), [[Sonic Attack]] (6)
** '''Control Sets''': [[Mind Control]] (2 - Mesmerize & Terrify)
** '''Buff Sets''': [[Sonic Resonance]] (5)
** '''Blaster Manipulation Sets''': [[Mental Manipulation]] (3)
** '''Defense Sets''': [[Regeneration]] (1 - Integration)
** '''Dominator Assault Sets''': [[Psionic Assault]] (5), [[Icy Assault]] (4), [[Fiery Assault]] (5), [[Mental Manipulation]] (3), [[Energy Assault]] (3), [[Electricity Assault]] (1 - Zapp)

*Note that [[Martial Arts]] and [[Super Strength]] sets already had [[Animation_Customization|alternative animations]] prior to Issue 19

==Quality of Life==
* '''Log-out Option''': Players can log out directly to the Character Select Screen.

* '''Alienware Lighting Support''': In addition to the features introduced in I18 which changed the lighting to match the player's current alignment, in I19 more triggers will cause lighting FX. E.g., being low on HP will cause the keyboard to glow red and flash.

* '''Chat''': The ''Help Tab'' can now work again as the ''Active Tab''.
**When the [[H_(Slash_Command)|/h]] command was changed from being the ''Help Channel'' command to the ''Help Window'' command, it caused the ''Help Tab'' to no longer work as the ''Active Chat'' channel. This caused typing with the ''Help Ta''b as ''Active'' to invoke the ''Help Window'' rather than the ''Help Channel'', which then forced everyone to use [[Hc_(Slash_Command)|/hc]] as the only way to talk in the ''Help Channel''. Well, this has been fixed. The ''Help Tab'' can once again be set as ''Active'' and typing in the command line will automatically be parsed as using the ''Help Channel'' without the need to use [[Hc_(Slash_Command)|/hc]].
**[[H_(Slash_Command)|/h]] is still the [[Help (Slash Command)|/help]] command to bring up the Help Window. [[Hc_(Slash_Command)|/hc]] is still a valid way to send to the Help Channel.

* Almost everywhere INF is listed in the UI, it now has comma delimiters (1234567 now looks like 1,234,567).

* Fix: The number of maps for which a character can clear the fog of war has been increased so that any fog once cleared will remain cleared.

* Fix: Portals no longer loop their sounds while loading a mission.

* Fix: Heroes and Villains can now be on the same team, regardless of their zone. However, they must be on the same map, in order to be invited to a team.

* Fix: Praetorian Prestige bump stays with their first [[Super Group]]. Since Praetorians don't generate [[Prestige]] from levels 1 to 20, they give a 100,000 Prestige bump to a Super Group they join. Previously, when they left that Super Group, the 100,000 Prestige left with them, hurting that Super Group. And so, in Issue 19 forward, the first and only the first Super Group a Praetorian joins will get that 100,000 Prestige bump permanently. They will not lose that bump when that Praetorian leaves. And that Praetorian will not give the second or third or any other Super Group that Prestige bump. From a post by War Witch on the official forums[http://web.archive.org/web/20120904200208/http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showthread.php?t=243120].

* '''New Assets''':
** New NPC Faction: [[Imperial Defense Force]]
** New maps with the new [[Task Force]]s
** Warehouses and Praetorian Tech maps have received a cosmetic upgrade as well as a few new end rooms, and their layouts have been modified.
** Goliath-Class WarWalkers
** Designers now have an interface to create zone events without the need of hard coding (similar to what led to the Mission Architect).


== References ==
{{Reflist|2|refs=
<ref name="grreqd">Requires the City of Heroes Going Rogue expansion</ref>
}}


== Historical ==
*Issue 19 was originally going to be called ''Incarnates'', but the name was changed to ''Alpha Strike!'' through a comment made by [[War Witch (Developer)|Melissa Bianco]] (revealed at the PAX2010 Panel). ''Incarnates'' was later used as the name for [[Issue 20]].


== Gallery ==
<center>
<gallery perrow=4>
File:I19 ouroboros1.jpg
File:I19 apex tf4.jpg
File:I19 apex tf.jpg
File:I19 apex tf2.jpg
File:I19 ouroboros2.jpg
File:I19 apex tf3.jpg
File:I19 tin_mage_tf1.jpg
File:I19 tin_mage_tf2.jpg
</gallery>
</center>


== External Links ==
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20121025123352/http://na.cityofheroes.com/en/news/game_updates/issue_19/overview.php Official Feature Update]
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20111201232329/http://goingrogue.na.cityofheroes.com/en/game-info/incarnates/overview.html Official Incarnate Overview]
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20111201232324/http://goingrogue.na.cityofheroes.com/en/game-info/incarnates/lore.html Official Incarnate Lore]
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20111201232441/http://goingrogue.na.cityofheroes.com/en/game-info/incarnates/alpha-slot.html Official Alpha Slot details]
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20120904080717/http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showthread.php?t=241241 Info from the New York City Comic-Con Panel]
* Video of the NYC Comic-Con Panel [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFPogTrkvcg Part 1], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpehu1wkcgk&playnext=1&videos=f4Vky6g8s34&feature=mfu_in_order Part 2], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgt2ZkMcsDQ&playnext=1&videos=cyFO0bHI3tc&feature=mfu_in_order Part 3], [http://www.youtube.com/user/mrdowns#p/a/u/0/mUadGBN-bYo Part 4] of 4 parts.

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[[Category:Game Updates|I19]]