Picking Origins by Desired Enemies

[stageIII]

The following is a summary from numerous sources and serves only as a suggestion to those wishing to optimize as much as possible their collecting of 'dropped' enhancements. Ultimately you should fight the bad guys you enjoy beating the most!

Natural
=====
Level 15-19
Clockwork
NOT Vahzilok or Tsoo

Level 20-24
Banished Pantheon or Freakshow
NOT Sky Raiders or Tsoo

Level 25-29
Banished Pantheon or Freakshow
NOT Sky Raiders or Tsoo

Level 30-40
Crey
Freakshow (SO will be Tech)
Nemesis (SO will be Tech)
NOT 5th Column or Devouring Earth

Natural Career:
Up to level 20 Clockwork. Ignore Vahzilok, Tsoo, and 5th Column.
20-30 Start and finish Banished Pantheon and Freakshow. Ignore Tsoo, 5th Column, and Sky Raiders.
30-40 Finish Freakshow, start and finish Crey & Nemesis. Ignore 5th Column and Devouring Earth.
Summary - Clockwork is early, Banished Pantheon is middle, Freakshow, Crey, and Nemesis are end.

Science
======
Level 15-19
Vahzilok
NOT Clockwork or Tsoo

Level 20-24
Sky Raiders
NOT Banished Pantheon or Freakshow or Tsoo

Level 25-29
Devouring Earth or Sky Raiders
NOT Banished Pantheon or Freakshow or Tsoo

Level 30-40
5th Column (SO will be Mutant)
Crey (SO will be Natural)
Devouring Earth (SO will be Science)
NOT Freakshow or Circle of Thorns or Nemesis

Career in Science:
Up to level 20 Vahzilok and 5th Column. Ignore Clockwork, Circle of Thorns, and Tsoo.
20-30 Continue 5th Column, start Devouring Earth & start and finish Sky Raiders. Ignore Circle of Thorns, Tsoo, Freakshow and Banished Pantheon.
30-40 Finish 5th Column and Devouring Earth & start and finish Crey. Ignore Circle of Thorns, Freakshow, and Nemesis.
Summary - 5th Column is lifelong, Vahzilok is early, Sky Raiders is middle, Devouring Earth and Crey are end.

Magic
====
Level 15-19
Tsoo
NOT Vahzilok or Clockwork

Level 20-24
Banished Pantheon or Tsoo
NOT Freakshow or Sky Raiders

Level 25-29
Banished Pantheon or Tsoo
NOT Freakshow or Sky Raiders

Level 30-40
Circle of Thorns (SO will be Magic)
Devouring Earth (SO will be Science)
NOT Freakshow or 5th Column or Crey or Nemesis

Career in Magic:
Up to level 20 Tsoo and Circle of Thorns. Ignore Vahzilok and Clockwork.
20-30 Start Devouring Earth, finish Tsoo, start and finish Banished Pantheon, continue with Circle of Thorns. Ignore Freakshow, 5th Column, and Sky Raiders.
30-40 Finish Devouring Earth and Circle of Thorns. Ignore Freakshow, 5th Column, Crey, and Nemesis.
Summary - Circle of Thorns is lifelong, Tsoo and Banished Pantheon are middle, Devouring Earth is end.

Tech
====
Level 15-19
Clockwork
NOT Vahzilok or Tsoo

Level 20-24
Freakshow or Sky Raiders
NOT Banished Pantheon or Tsoo

Level 25-29
Freakshow or Sky Raiders
NOT Banished Pantheon or Tsoo or 5th Column or Devouring Earth or Circle of Thorns

Level 30-40
Freakshow (SO will be Tech)
Crey (SO will be Natural)
Nemesis (SO will be Tech)
NOT Devouring Earth or Circle of Thorns or 5th Column

Career in Tech:
Up to level 20 finish off Clockwork. Ignore Vahzilok, Tsoo, Circle of Thorns, and 5th Column.
20-30 Start and Finish Sky Raiders & Start Freakshow. Ignore Tsoo, Circle of Thorns, Devouring Earth, and 5th Column.
30-40 Finish Freakshow & Start and Finish Crey along with Nemesis. Ignore Circle of Thorns, Devouring Earth, and 5th Column.
Summary - Clockwork is early, Sky Raiders is middle, Freakshow, Crey and Nemesis is end.

Mutant
=====
Level 15-19
Vahzilok or Tsoo
NOT Clockwork

Level 20-24
Tsoo
NOT Banished Pantheon or Freakshow or Sky Raiders

Level 25-29
5th Column or Devouring Earth
NOT Banished Pantheon or Freakshow or Sky Raiders

Level 30-40
5th Column (SO will be Mutant)
Devouring Earth (SO will be Science)
NOT Circle of Thorns or Freakshow or Crey or Nemesis

Career as a Mutant:
Up to level 20 finish off Vahzilok, start immediately 5th Column and Tsoo in teens. Ignore Clockwork and Circle of Thorns.
20-30 Finish off Tsoo, continue 5th Column and start Devouring Earth. Ignore Banished Pantheon, Freakshow, Circle of Thorns and Sky Raiders.
30-40 Finish off 5th Column and Devouring Earth. Ignore Circle of Thorns, Freakshow, Crey, and Nemesis.
Summary - 5th Column is lifelong, Vahzilok is early, Tsoo is middle, Devouring Earth is end.

[Fever_Black]

I've been searching for this information everywhere! Thank you so much for posting it.

[Ex_Libris]

Thank you, very nice information :)

[90degrees]

[ QUOTE ]
Natural
=====
Level 15-19
Clockwork
NOT Vahzilok or Tsoo

[/ QUOTE ]

Not true; my natural scrapper has been getting both Tsoo and Vaz missions at 15-16. (Defeat 20 Tsoo, recover cursed weapons from Crazy Phoenix, the Vaz story arc that leads to the infamous disease mission...) I think it really depends on your contact choices, which contacts you outlevel and so on.

OTOH I do like Natural and Magic because the very first few missions from the town hall contact are reasonable. Science has a pretty nasty Vaz mission very early on.

[Quarthinos]

You've misunderstood what the post was about. This lists possible types of DO and SO enhancements by villian type.

[90degrees]

Ah. :)

[Riverdusk]

Yes, thank you. I could not believe the strategy guide had a detailed list and description of enemies and did not list which SO's they dropped!

Now I find out it definitely is not logical. For example I assumed since natural origins get 5th column missions to start that 5th column would be the ones to drop natural single origins, but they drop mutant? Duh.

And here I thought I was avoiding the 5th (and their psionic resistant robots) by making my mind controller mutant, just my luck they end up being the ones to drop mutant SO's :eek:

[Honeybuns]

I've also been looking for this info but can't find it anywhere...thanks a lot.

[Benezal]

this is great info, but I can't seem to get around the vahz missions with my damned magic users.

[stageIII]

The Vahzilok are nasty business if you are not set up for them. The zombie vomit is hard to defend against even at mid levels and the de-buffs from lieutenants and bosses can spell trouble in a hurry.

As mentioned by one of the respondants earlier, this is only a guide. Its use is for those who know which enemy they prefer to fight with that hero AT CREATION. You can still get any missions and run through your contact 'tree' any way you decide, but this helps you optimize those selections for enhancement drops.

Notice the 'gangs' are not included. That is because at any given level they are evidently equally likely to drop just about anything.

[ZealotOnAStick]

Ya know, the information is there, if you do look for it (though it may not be easy to find). This is a good summary that divides things up by origin. Lemme point out something I reposted from the beta boards weeks ago, though: My first post on this thread. (http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=general&Number=290186&Foru m=,,All_Forums,,&Words=&Searchpage=1&Limit=25&Main =290106&Search=true&where=&Name=19002&daterange=&n ewerval=&newertype=&olderval=&oldertype=&bodyprev= #Post290186)

[Jeepers]

Sorry if I'm missing the obvious here, this is meant as serious question:

Am I to assume that I use this posted list as a guide to what I should be hunting for what given origin types? Like fighting Clockworks if I'm a Natural and want DO drops?

[Besserwisser]

Yes. Follow the link posted by ZealotOnAStick and I think you'll understand.

[Ex_Libris]

Great info. Glad I found it. I hate Tsoo Sorcerers so I will definitely shy away from Magic!

[akita51]

nice info, thanks !

[Honeybuns]

I am a level 29 Science blaster and I don't think there are many devouring earths in brickstown..and I think a few in Founders. What are the good enemies for science level 30-40?
I am realizing that a science origin is not really a good origin to get more variety of villains for enhancements. I hardly get any science DO or SO. I think magic, or mutation are better

[Ex_Libris]

What do Family drop?

In beta they were my prefered choice for Magic SOs. Is that still true?

[ADD_Boy]

I've tried to follow this, and if I stick strictly to your advice, I'm not going to get any missions for levels at a time. The contacts seem to hop all over on what gangs they watch, I have no control over this. I go to a contact, he gives me one clockwork, return, he gives me CoT, return, he gives me another clock, return, he gives me a tsoo.

Being as all this controls is what origins drop during these missions, I'm just not going to worry about it anymore. Since the contacts AI isn't set up intelligently enough to keep handing me the types of missions I do frequently, I'm going to do whatever they come up with...

[Vhaeraun]

Nice

[Creole]

Is there a place to buy the Natural Endurance Recovery DO for lvl 15? I think it's either the Nectanebo's Scroll (Nat Magic) or Protection Device (Nat Tech).

[Ex_Libris]

Is there a limit to the number of story arcs you can complete?

I ask because, although these are the ideals, why not just do ALL missions?

[Ex_Libris]

[ QUOTE ]
Is there a place to buy the Natural Endurance Recovery DO for lvl 15? I think it's either the Nectanebo's Scroll (Nat Magic) or Protection Device (Nat Tech).

[/ QUOTE ]

Nope, you have to wait until level 17 (they are level 20) and buy them from Talos Island or Independence Port.

[Terahertz]

Great post! Thanks.

[Ogrebear]

This is a great post and the sort of data I have been looking for for ages! Thanks.

[Barbed_Barbie]

thank you!

[Doctor_Phogg]

Thank you ever so much.

[Ex_Libris]

Nice.

Better than the patch notes from beta :)

[Ex_Libris]

excellent guide - explains why I'm never getting the drops I want... I'm fighting the 'wrong' critters :)

[KinCross]

Anyone have an update to this list for the new factions?

Where do Nemesis, Malta, Carnival of Shadows, etc. fall in?

[srmalloy]

[ QUOTE ]
I am a level 29 Science blaster and I don't think there are many devouring earths in brickstown..and I think a few in Founders. What are the good enemies for science level 30-40?
I am realizing that a science origin is not really a good origin to get more variety of villains for enhancements. I hardly get any science DO or SO. I think magic, or mutation are better

[/ QUOTE ]

A few in Founders' Falls? Go into FF, and follow the entrance road around to the right and down the west side of the zone. About halfway down the side, the mobs to your right will switch from Circle of Thorns to Devouring Earth. From there all the way around to the northeast corner, the rim area is full of Devouring Earth, running from about 30/31 where they start on the west side up to 40 in the northeast corner.

[Thrudd_Amok]

I have been fighting the Family in IP, and they only seem to drop Natural and Mutant DOs.

[Tealeaf]

Excellent post. Congratulations, this made it into the of Archive of Good Stuff to Know (http://p079.ezboard.com/fcityofheroesunofficalforumsfrm32) at the Unofficial Forums!

[go4broke]

[ QUOTE ]
I am a level 29 Science blaster and I don't think there are many devouring earths in brickstown..and I think a few in Founders. What are the good enemies for science level 30-40?
I am realizing that a science origin is not really a good origin to get more variety of villains for enhancements. I hardly get any science DO or SO. I think magic, or mutation are better

[/ QUOTE ]

Wait till post 40, you get tons whereas the other origins don't get very many.

[Enantiodromos]

Heh! I can't believe it took me this long to find this thread!

Observations based on the summaries:

There may be some sort of logic to the villain orientations if we look at it from their point of view instead, based on combinations of competition and hatred.

Vahzilok: Science & Mutant lowbies
Clockwork: Natural & Tech lowbies
5th Column: Science & Mutant, lifelong.
Circle of Thorns: Magic, lifelong
Banished Pantheon: Natural & Magic, Mids
Sky Raiders: Science & Tech mids
Tsoo: Magic & Mutant mids
Crey: Tech and adjacent, tops
Devouring Earth: Mutant and adjacent, tops
Nemesis: Natural & Tech, tops

Getting creative:

Dr. V is pure science, but presumably he'd be interested in using mutant parts. Right?

As a rehash of "Machine Rights," (however delusional that may seem), maybe clockwork see themselves and technology generally as legitimate ordinary citizens, or something.

It's not hard to imagine the 5th Column having a special animus for "inhuman" freaks of nature (mutants) and science. No smash the messenger, Mr. Hulk, please. ^_^

The Banished Pantheon is the real group of ordinary citizens learning a form of magic on their own.

The sky raiders are obviously pure tech. Maybe they're at war with science folks, who're constantly trying to kidnap them to feed them super-soldier formulas? ^_^

Maybe the Tsoo, like the fifth column, just can't stand mutants, in addition to being magical competitors.

Crey, making a grab for everything remotely tech-related.

Devouring Earth-- a standard "competition with like" clause, except here it makes no sense.

Finally, Nemesis as another competition-with-like group, simply exemplifying tech/natural soldierliness.


OK. Maybe that doesn't make any more sense.

The availability of groups to fight, I rank as follows, based on the assumption that a lifelong foe is three times as available as a villain only at the beginning, middle, or end, and on the assumption that X many villains at one stage is worth the square root of X:

Science 6.4
Mutant 6.0
Magic 5.4
Natural 3.7
Tech 3.7

Within an origin, Natural and Tech peak hard at high levels, Science peaks modestly high, Magic has a slow spot at low, and mutant is steady low to high.

Anyway, my proposal to broaden and even things out; extend nemesis and clockwork into the mid-life range, and Tsoo into the high range. [1]

Frankly, I miss fighting Tsoo, because they're my main's relatives, and I enjoy spontaneously declaring "Auntie Po is going to be VERY disappointed in you, Eddie!" in the middle of a combat with Viridian Fear, before I confuse him.


[1] Yeah, I realize now there's a whole range above what's called "high" here, about which I yet know nothing, except that I can survive sappers better than other ATs my level +3.

[Rainbowmonkey]

Great Origin Link

http://coh.nofuture.org.uk/contacts/

[Party_Kake]

Is there a list like this for red side?