Picking a Free to Play Archetype

[Pattern Ghost]

I haven't really sat down and tried to learn to play CO since it's gone FTP, but figured I may start a new character today. I've only got access to the 8 free to play archetypes: Inferno, Mind, Grimoire, Marksman, Glacier, Blade, Behemoth, Soldier.

Are any of these better designed overall than the others?

Are any of these so badly designed that they should be avoided?

Are any of these early bloomers or late bloomers? I prefer early, since I'll probably level fairly slowly.

Are any particularly suited to or unsuited to solo play? I prefer solo capability, since I play for very short sessions a lot of the time due to the medical stuff.

[cptpatriot]

I've never played the archetypes, but in general, you can solo most of the content.

[Nolgroth]

Grimoire has been the most useful solo play character I have. They have a strong attack and the ability to heal themselves (and others). Their glyph power distracts most NPCs from directly attacking the grimoire. My son and best friend have had a fair bit of luck with the Inferno. They are not very damage resistant but they are apparently a very high DPS character. I have played every archetype, but have had little luck with the Marksman or Soldier. I solo'ed a Behemoth up to about 20th level and a Blade around the same level. My grimoire got to about 25th level before I got bored with the gameplay and moved on.

[Certified]

I haven't really sat down and tried to learn to play CO since it's gone FTP, but figured I may start a new character today. I've only got access to the 8 free to play archetypes: Inferno, Mind, Grimoire, Marksman, Glacier, Blade, Behemoth, Soldier.

Are any of these better designed overall than the others?

Are any of these so badly designed that they should be avoided?

Are any of these early bloomers or late bloomers? I prefer early, since I'll probably level fairly slowly.

Are any particularly suited to or unsuited to solo play? I prefer solo capability, since I play for very short sessions a lot of the time due to the medical stuff.

This really depends on your style of game play. If you want to avoid danger and lay down damage the Solider is your single target choice and Inferno is the AOE choice. If you want to get close and be able to take a beating avoid the Blade, the Behemoth is a classic brick and the Glacier adds in control elements for a more thoughtful style of play. The Mind, Grimoire and Marksman all are ranged characters that use various tricks and like the Glacier require more thoughtful play. I've had people tell me their Mind character was all but unstoppable and others that are dead consistently. Blade is one of the more interesting Archetypes they throw out a ton of melee damage but you need to know how to break combat and escape as necessary due to a lack of defense.

One thing that will be key to any Archetype is usable items. Once you are out of the tutorial and choose a crafting type you'll be able to create things like medical packs or shields and these can help greatly to increase the survivability of any of the Archetypes. Unfortunately, this isn't something I think about a great deal as I tend to rely support powers so I can't really point you towards which way to go here. Although, I've heard Science may have some of the better crafted heals.

[Pattern Ghost]

Thanks! That's some good info. I've already converted my one character who was basically going to be a flying brick to a Behemoth. I think I'll just try a few of the other choices for my other character slot(s).

Is the Specialist worth buying? I have one character I like the costume on that I wanted to convert, but want the two guns. Provided it doesn't suck too badly. I'd have to buy at least a small bundle of points to get it though. I only have the 400 they give you for doing the tutorial or whatever. (You still can't get points in game, right?)

[Enforcer84]

Thanks! That's some good info. I've already converted my one character who was basically going to be a flying brick to a Behemoth. I think I'll just try a few of the other choices for my other character slot(s).

Is the Specialist worth buying? I have one character I like the costume on that I wanted to convert, but want the two guns. Provided it doesn't suck too badly. I'd have to buy at least a small bundle of points to get it though. I only have the 400 they give you for doing the tutorial or whatever. (You still can't get points in game, right?)

I think you can get points in game
At least each character that went through the beginner zone got 400...
I could be wrong

[Pattern Ghost]

If it's 400 per character through the beginner zone, that's cool. I was under impression it was only for the first one. I'll test that out when I can sit through the beginner zone again. =)

[Certified]

Thanks! That's some good info. I've already converted my one character who was basically going to be a flying brick to a Behemoth. I think I'll just try a few of the other choices for my other character slot(s).

Is the Specialist worth buying? I have one character I like the costume on that I wanted to convert, but want the two guns. Provided it doesn't suck too badly. I'd have to buy at least a small bundle of points to get it though. I only have the 400 they give you for doing the tutorial or whatever. (You still can't get points in game, right?)

Really mixed reviews on the Specialist, and not to sound like a jerk but this is one of those Archetypes that gets held up as an example of why characters need those other 3 powers. Individually there's noting really wrong with the Specialist's powers. However, the Archetype really lacks something to make those powers cohesive such as Dragon's Wrath and really choosing between Lock N Load over Masterful Dodge is just mean.

[Pattern Ghost]

Thanks. Maybe another archetype would work better for the character. Is there a way to edit your existing costume in game? I'm thinking I can get rid of the pistols on the costume to make it fit another archetype better.


@Enforcer84: I just put a new character through the starter zone. I went from 400 points (for the first/existing character, or maybe just got that because I used to have a subscription) to 480 points. So, it's possible to grind points through the starting zone be creating/deleting a character in one slot. It's probably much more cost effective to go earn the money to buy some points, but it looks like it's possible to at least grind out some, if slowly. About to make a new character and go through again, to see if it'll work.

[Pattern Ghost]

Also, I owe Nolgroth rep, it says I've been giving it away like a two dollar hooker for the past 24 hours. (Man, they need to edit that error message . . . )

[Greywind]

80 points for going through the tutorial.

[Certified]

Thanks. Maybe another archetype would work better for the character. Is there a way to edit your existing costume in game? I'm thinking I can get rid of the pistols on the costume to make it fit another archetype better.

What's the character concept or what are you trying to do?

[Pattern Ghost]

Nothing super interesting. Just a hard suit/stealthy type character with high tech gear, inspired by Ghost in the Shell: Standalone Complex. So, shiny metal tech armor with the single lens face mask, tech backpack and a couple of pistols.

I was thinking about the psychic/energy blades or another weapon set instead. Weapon doesn't really matter much, just something high-techish.

[Pattern Ghost]

Looks like it's a one time deal for the tutorial, second character through didn't get any pts. Ah, well, guess I'll pick up a few pts.

Do they run sales on points? Do they offer you any one time incentive to buy some points like Turbine does?

[Certified]

Nothing super interesting. Just a hard suit/stealthy type character with high tech gear, inspired by Ghost in the Shell: Standalone Complex. So, shiny metal tech armor with the single lens face mask, tech backpack and a couple of pistols.

I was thinking about the psychic/energy blades or another weapon set instead. Weapon doesn't really matter much, just something high-techish.

Based on that a few come to mind:
Silver:
The Blade with Smoke Bomb, both Inexorable Tides and Masterful dodge are awesome powers so that's a preference thing both are great at adding survivability. My play style I'd lean towards Inexorable Tides.
The Solider, although this lacks a stealth element most of the Archetypes will.

Gold:
The Disciple with Ego Blade Breach and Mental Discipline, this is mostly based on your commentary. Here I would Talent and slot for Dexterity as a stat for improved critical hits.
The Impulse, this build can go many different ways but Force just strikes me as high tech weapons.
The Inventor with Munition Bots, although let me say I've heard this is a tough build and draws a ton of aggro based on it's Slotted Passive.