History YMMV / ChampionsOnline

* EvilIsSexy: In Multifaria, though her costume reveals about as much skin as her counterpart, Lapis Lazuli wears fishnets, a thong, and heavier makeup.

* {{Altitis}}: A common complaint at the start of the game was that Cryptic hadn't set up the option to buy more character slots yet - accounts were limited to 8 or 16 slots, depending on subscription. This has since been dealt with; even free-to-play players (who start with 2 slots) can get more character slots.
* AntiClimaxBoss: Warlord Zarn. Most named villains in CO that are the targets of missions are usually a master villain (three health bars) at the very least. Warlord Zarn is a mere villain type mob (two bars) in a high level instance. It doesn't help that he isn't that much different from other Lemurian villain mooks.

* EvilIsSexy: In Multifaria, though her costume reveals about as much skin as her normalverse counterpart, Lapis Lazuli wears fishnets, a thong, and heavier makeup.

* GoodBadBugs - One forum member found [[http://forums.champions-online.com/showthread.php?t=133804 a way to call NPC contacts remotely]].

** To be exact: The remaining 99% of the game follows a simple goal - replenish {{Mana}} as fast as possible, and convert it to damage as efficiently as possible. But in this 1%, the damage you take scales rapidly with the amount of {{Mana}} you have stored, and the arena will quickly recharge it. If you don't have an attack that burns energy quickly enough, you will take horrendous damage.

* ThatOneLevel: Lemuria. Perpetually laggy, with unbalancedly powerful mooks, mission objectives that are impossible to find, instance entrances that are even harder to find, terrible quests, perpetually broken open events and the rubberbanding from hell, there is very little to like about this Zone. Oh, and it wasn't beta tested.

* {{Altitis}} - A common complaint at the start of the game was that Cryptic hadn't set up the option to buy more character slots yet - accounts were limited to 8 or 16 slots, depending on subscription. This has since been dealt with; even free-to-play players (who start with 2 slots) can get more character slots.
* AntiClimaxBoss - Warlord Zarn. Most named villains in CO that are the targets of missions are usually a master villain (three health bars) at the very least. Warlord Zarn is a mere villain type mob (two bars) in a high level instance. It doesn't help that he isn't that much different from other Lemurian villain mooks.
* DemonicSpiders - Demonlings, Inchoates, Fleshrippers; all have tiny postures, the tendency to spawn in droves, and disproportionately high damage output.
* EvilIsSexy - In Multifaria, though her costume reveals about as much skin as her normalverse counterpart, Lapis Lazuli wears fishnets, a thong, and heavier makeup.
* FandomRivalry - with VideoGame/CityOfHeroes; not only is Champions Online a newer and shinier Superhero MMORPG, it was created by the company that originally developed VideoGame/{{C|ityOfHeroes}}oX. The "rivalry" has more or less ended, with Champions players welcoming ex-[=CoX=] players almost like refugees in the wake of the announced closing down of the latter's servers.

* PlayerPunch - The [[spoiler:deaths of all the Champions]] in Vibora Bay Apocalypse. In addition, the possibility to [[spoiler:fail the mission and thus doom the two people you rescue from their nightmares with ''no retries'' in Aftershock]].
* ScapegoatCreator - Not one, but two! VideoGame/CityOfHeroes's Jack Emmert and VideoGame/HellgateLondon's Bill Roper.
* ScrappyMechanic - Poor Power Armor has to suffer ''three'' of these. First of, there's the lockout system that imposes a cooldown on all but some Power Armor powers (including non-damaging powers, so no healing until you stop attacking and wait for a second before you can heal). Second, the same lockout system makes it irritatingly difficult to make a Power Armor build with powers from any other powersets. Finally, the powers eat up so much energy that you are practically forced to make Intelligence one of your superstats to be able to hold three PA powers up for longer than even three seconds, and even then you might have to heavily invest in energy stats. These combined makes Power Armor a very unpopular powerset in the community. Needless to say, players have been begging for the devs to fix these problems for the next Power Armor review.
* ThatOneBoss - The finale of the Lemuria Crisis. For some builds, it's an easy boss in an environment that actually favours you. For others, it's impossible without help.

* ThatOneLevel - Lemuria. Perpetually laggy, with unbalancedly powerful mooks, mission objectives that are impossible to find, instance entrances that are even harder to find, terrible quests, perpetually broken open events and the rubberbanding from hell, there is very little to like about this Zone. Oh, and it wasn't beta tested.

* HolyShitQuotient - Vibora Bay Crisis has a rather high one. Also Stronghold Prison, though to a significantly lesser degree.

* MemeticBadass - Grond Smash Puny Internet Meme!
* MemeticMutation - "We have to shut down ALL of those Beacons! They're driving the Qualaar CRAZY!"
* MostAnnoyingSound - See MemeticMutation, above.

* ScrappyLevel - Lemuria. Perpetually laggy, with unbalancedly powerful mooks, mission objectives that are impossible to find, instance entrances that are even harder to find, terrible quests, perpetually broken open events and the rubberbanding from hell, there is very little to like about this Zone. Oh, and it wasn't beta tested.
** Largely averted with Lemuria at present (2010) after it suffered a particularly horrific bout of lag and had some real attention poured on it. It's still got a poor reputation though.

* ThatOneBoss - the finale of the Lemuria Crisis. For some builds, it's an easy boss in an environment that actually favours you. For others, it's impossible without help.

* {{Altitis}}: A common complaint at the start of the game was that Cryptic hadn't set up the option to buy more character slots yet - accounts were limited to 8 or 16 slots, depending on subscription. This has since been dealt with; even free-to-play players (who start with 2 slots) can get more character slots.
* AntiClimaxBoss: Warlord Zarn. Most named villains in CO that are the targets of missions are usually a master villain (three health bars) at the very least. Warlord Zarn is a mere villain type mob (two bars) in a high level instance. It doesn't help that he isn't that much different from other Lemurian villain mooks.

* FandomRivalry - with VideoGame/CityOfHeroes; not only is Champions Online a newer and shinier Superhero MMORPG, it was created by the company that originally developed [[VideoGame/CityOfHeroes CoX]]. The "rivalry" has more or less ended, with Champions players welcoming ex-[=CoX=] players almost like refugees in the wake of the announced closing down of the latter's servers.

* PlayerPunch - The [[spoiler:deaths of all the Champions]] in Vibora Bay Apocalypse. In addition, the possiblity to [[spoiler:fail the mission and thus doom the two people you rescue from their nightmares with ''no retries'' in Aftershock.]]

* TheyChangedItNowItSucks: Naturally, one of the reactions to the change to the crafting system with the On Alert update, which functionally switched out a [[VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft WoW-style]] system (with the added ability to break down equipment into components) for a [[{{VideoGame/Diablo}} Diablo II]] style system with fewer maximum sockets and no runewords.
* VillainSue, turned Canon Sue - Madame Mayham, one of the player-created villains selected from a contest. She wears ridiculously overdesigned armor, leads a personal army of MechaMooks, and claims to be the daughter of Doctor Destroyer. Regardless if this is true or not, her description informs that she is a fierce and very dangerous villainess. Furtunately, her role in the game is limited to merely being one of the (tougher) Alert bosses, preventing her from gaining as much attention and influence as usual examples.
** FridgeBrilliance - She might actually be intended as a ParodySue, or at least picked by Cryptic to be used for that purpose. Either way, as a delusional copycat fangirl, her character makes almost too much sense.

* TheyChangedItNowItSucks: Naturally, one of the reactions to the change to the crafting system with the On Alert update, which functionally switched out a [[WorldOfWarcraft WoW-style]] system (with the added ability to break down equipment into components) for a [[{{VideoGame/Diablo}} Diablo II]] style system with fewer maximum sockets and no runewords.

* FandomRivalry - with VideoGame/CityOfHeroes; not only is Champions Online a newer and shinier Superhero MMORPG, it was created by the company that originally developed [[VideoGame/CityOfHeroes CoX]]. Expect a case of DuelingGames as they compete.
** So far, ''City'' seems to be having the steadier fanbase, while ''Champions'' and their microtransaction system means that even non-subscribed accounts are still letting the money trickle in.
** The "rivalry" has more or less ended, with Champions players welcoming ex-[=CoX=] players almost like refugees in the wake of the announced closing down of the latter's servers.

* FandomRivalry - with CityOfHeroes; not only is Champions Online a newer and shinier Superhero MMORPG, it was created by the company that originally developed [[CityOfHeroes CoX]]. Expect a case of DuelingGames as they compete.

* TheyChangedItNowItSucks: Naturally, one of the reactions to the change to the crafting system with the On Alert update, which functionally switched out a [[WorldOfWarcraft WoW-style]] system (with the added ability to break down equipment into components) for a [[{{VideoGame/Diablo}} Diablo II]] style system with fewer maximum sockets and no runewords.

* {{Alt-itis}}: A common complaint at the start of the game was that Cryptic hadn't set up the option to buy more character slots yet - accounts were limited to 8 or 16 slots, depending on subscription. This has since been dealt with; even free-to-play players (who start with 2 slots) can get more character slots.

* ScapegoatCreator - Not one, but two! CityOfHeroes's Jack Emmert and HellgateLondon's Bill Roper.

* TheyChangedItNowItSucks: Naturally, one of the reactions to the change to the crafting system with the On Alert update, which functionally switched out a [[WorldOfWarcraft WoW-style]] system (with the added ability to break down equipment into components) for a [[{{Diablo}} Diablo II]] style system with fewer maximum sockets and no runewords.

* AntiClimaxBoss: Warlord Zarn. Most named villains in CO that are the targets of missions are usually a master villain at the very least. Warlord Zarn is a mere villain type mob in a high level instance. It doesn't help that he isn't that much different from other Lemurian villain mooks.

* PlayerPunch - The [[spoiler:deaths of all the Champions]] in Vibora Bay Apocalypse.

** Draconis in Serpent Lantern with his knocks, and Jack Fool with his one-shot-kills and Left Hand for being a LightningBruiser, in Demonflame. Most average players can solo most of the Adventure Packs without trying too hard...but not ''them!''

*** This seems to be dependent on difficulty level. On normal difficulty, at least, solo runs--even using archetypes--can bring down the Spirit Serpent without a scratch if they have an extreme-long-range attack (such as Sniper Rifle), as the serpent is stationary and does not have an attack that goes to that range.
** Now that he got darkness powers, Kevin Poe can be this to newbies thanks to Life Drain. The NPC version of Life Drain is infamous in the community for not only inflicting heavy damage on players, but also for healing the user up fast. Veterans doesn't have much trouble with it as they can tell when to block it. Newbies, however, doesn't necessarily know the tricks to fighting a Darkness Villain beforehand. It doesn't help that Kevin Poe also got a hold power that makes the target vulnerable to Life Drain.
*** For that matter, old force based Kevin Poe used to be murder on newbies as well since his huge AOE knockback didn't have a tell beyond the fraction of a second it took him to wind up.
** Gravitar, the first Rampage Alert supervillain. Powerful enough normally to one-shot non-tanks and wipe a full ten-hero team in seconds if they're not careful, when you get her down to one-third health she starts to ''try''.

* {{Alt-itis}}: A common complaint at the start of the game was that Cryptic haven't set up the option to buy more character slots yet - accounts were limited to 8 or 16 slots, depending on subscription. This has since been dealt with; even free-to-play players can get more character slots.

* ScapegoatCreator - Not one, but two! CityofHeroes ' Jack Emmert and HellgateLondon's Bill Roper.
* ScrappyLevel - Lemuria. Perpetually laggy, with unbalancedly powerful mooks, mission objectives that are impossible to find, instnace entrances that are even harder to find, terrible quests, perpetually broken open events and the rubberbanding from hell, there is very little to like about this Zone. Oh, and it wasn't beta tested.

* ScrappyMechanic - Poor Power Armor have to suffer ''three'' of these. First of, there's the lockout system that imposes a cooldown on all but some Power Armor powers (Including non-damaging powers. So no healing until you stop attacking and wait for a second before you can heal). Second, the same lockout system makes it irritatingly difficult to make a Power Armor build with powers from any other powersets. Finally, the powers eats up so much energy that you are practically forced to make Intelligence one of your superstats to be able to hold three PA powers up for longer than even three seconds, and even then you might have to heavily invest in energy stats. These combined makes Power Armor a very unpopular powerset in the community. Needless to say, players have been begging for the devs to fix these problems for the next Power Armor review.

** Draconis in Serpent Lantern and Jack Fool and Left Hand in Demonflame. Most average players can solo most of the 'Adventure Packs'... but not ''them!''

*** This seems to be dependent on difficulty level. On normal difficulty, at least, solo runs--even using archetypes--can bring down the Spirit Serpent without a scratch if they have an extreme-long-rang attack (such as Sniper Rifle), as the serpent is, well, stationary and does not have an attack that goes to that range.

* TheyChangedItNowItSucks: Naturally, one of the reactions to the change to the crafting system with the On Alert update.

* {{Alt-itis}}: A common complaint at the start of the game was that Cryptic haven't set up the option to buy more character slots yet - accounts were limited to 8 or 16 slots, depending on subscription. This has since been dealt with.

** To be exact: The remaining 99% of the game follows a simple goal - replenish {{Mana}} as fast as possible, and convert it to damage as efficiently as possible. But in this 1%, the damage you take scales rapidly with the amount of {{Mana}} you have stored, and the arena will quickly recharge it. If you don't have an attack that burns energy quickly enough, you will take horrendous damage.
** There's also Freon and Spirit Serpent, from the new Serpent's Lantern update. Freon has an [=AoE=] hold power as well as a stealth power. The Hold occurs if you get enough stacks of a debuff he has that is constantly ticking. The only way to remove it is to get too close to a set of generators on either side, damaging you but removing the debuff. Spirit Serpent, meanwhile, is stationary with a damaging fire around his base, and a MASSIVE damaging breath attack, and two Master Villains to help him out that also do quite a bit of damage. Oh, and the alcoves in his room do massive damage if you go too far inside them. Good luck!

*** For that matter, old force based Kevin Poe used to be murder on newbies as well since his huge AOE knockback didn't have a tell beyond the fraction of a second it took him to wind up.

** Now that he got darkness powers, Kevin Poe can be this to newbies thanks to Life Drain. The NPC version of Life Drain is infamous in the community for not only inflicting heavy damage on players, but also for healing the user up fast. Veterans doesn't have much trouble with it as they can tell when to block it. Newbies, however, doesn't necessarily know the tricks to fighting a Darkness Villain beforehand. It doesn't help that Kevin Poe also got a hold power that makes the target vulnerable to Life Drain.

** Now that he got darkness powers, Kevin Poe can be this to newbies thanks to Life Drain. The NPC version of Life Drain is infamous in the community for not only inflicting heavy damage on players, but also for healing the user up fast. Veterans won't have much trouble with it as they can tell when to block it. Newbies, however, doesn't necessary know the tricks to fighting a Darkness Villain beforehand. It doesn't help that Kevin Poe also got a hold power that makes the target vulnerable to Life Drain.

*** Freon was patched to acceptable levels. However, the Spirit Serpent himself can now be a very big problem, especially on large teams.

** Draconis in Serpent Lantern and either Jack Fool or Left Hand ([[YourMileageMayVary YMMV]]) in Demonflame. Most average players can solo most of the 'Adventure Packs'... but not ''them!''