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==Facts and Myths==
== Overview ==
*The game client is used to play both City of Heroes and City of Villains.  Both games are available regardless of the background image.
[[City of Heroes]] uses a program which runs on your computer called the '''Game Client''' (and its associated game files) to generate the graphics you see and the sounds you hear. It figures out what you have clicked on and it handles the typing you do at your keyboard. The client is constantly sending information to the [[Server]] to tell it what powers you activate, what attacks you make, how you move and turn, and the messages you type to other people.
*All character data is stored on the servers. You can access your account and character data from any computer that has the game client.
*Patches are installed prior to logon and the latest version is required to play.
*The client loads in two stages: the ''Updater'', which downloads patches and checks the client for the latest version, and the game itself.
*The updater can be downloaded to install the game without the original CD/DVD's (Download [ftp://client.coh.com/US/CohUpdater.exe here]).  '''Note''': this is a 1-2 GB download and may take a long while.
*Skipping the Updater is not supported by NCsoft/Cryptic.
*You can change the install directory after installation is complete (registry: HKCU/Software/Cryptic/Coh )
**This does not modify any Cryptic owned resource/file. This adds a directory which the game client then interprets as replacing the resource once the game is launched. Removal of this change simply means deleting the \data directory. More info below.
*You can replace almost any resource you want using the data directory, however this action is not supported by NCsoft/Cryptic nor their EULA.


==Launching the Game==
The [[Server]] is constantly sending information to your client to tell it what everyone else in your [[zone]] or [[mission]] are doing. The client shows you their actions based on that information. If something interrupts the flow of that information then everyone else will stop moving on your screen. If the flow of information is interrupted long enough then you are disconnected from the server, typically with the message: "Lost connection to [[mapserver]]".
These can be run from the command prompt or entered into your shortcut.


'''cohupdater.exe''' (no switches)
When a new version of the game client is available it has to be downloaded to your computer before you can use it. A program called a '''Launcher''' checks for and downloads new versions of the client and all its associated files.
*Launches the Updater which will check for updates and modify/verify files if needed. City of Heroes skin/branding.
 
'''cohupdater.exe -compatiblecursors 1'''
The launcher is used to start City of Heroes, or any other game it is programmed to update (including Beta Services).
*Uses compatible 16-color cursors to solve compatiblity issues with Windows Vista and others.
 
'''cohupdater.exe -usetexenvcombine'''
== Facts ==
* The same game client is used to play City of Heroes, City of Villains, and City of Heroes Going Rogue on ALL operating systems. (During Live, Paragon Studios merged all of the 'City of' games into a single client in preparation for City of Heroes: Freedom, the final live client release from NCSoft/Paragon Studios.)
** Windows OS runs the client natively.
** MacOS (under Intel processors) and Linux use WINE to run the client on a Windows Subsystem layer.
* All character data is stored on the servers. You can access your account and character data from any computer that has the game client.
** One caveat: files such as [[Architect Entertainment]] save files, Character Select sorting, and Player Ratings, are stored in text files on the player's hard drive and are not accessible from other computers.
* Patches are installed prior to logon and the latest version is required to play.
* The client loads in two stages:
*# The ''Launcher'', which downloads patches and checks the client for the latest version.  Examples of Launchers include Tequila & Island Rum.
*# The ''Client'', which contains the game itself. 
:::*The client cannot be run directly by players if the version of the game residing on the player's computer is different than the version of the game on the Homecoming servers. Updating prior to running the game can be done through the command line by using the [[Homecoming Launcher Manual#Command Line Use|launcherCLI.exe command]].
* Since the [[Sunset]], NCSoft's keys, game cards, and promo codes no longer work.  There is no CD Key required to install the game client.
* The Launcher can downloaded to install the game without requiring any CDs or DVDs.  <span style="color: red;">Use of NCSoft Client files pre-Issue 24 will cause issues in patching, and should not be attempted.</span>
** '''Note''': A new installation using the Launcher will download the entire client, and may take a long while depending on your internet download speeds.
* The game is now a "portable" application. Once installed, it exists only in the folder it is installed in with no Windows registry keys, libraries, or other components required. Backup and moving is as simple as copy & paste.
* Mac/Linux users will follow the WINE convention of installation, which will be located on their "Wine C Drive".
**Depending on their Wine toolset used, this may be referred to as a Wine Prefix, Bottle, or Cask. (Generally the same concept across all of them: a mini-Windows C: drive filesystem just for that app.)
** Mac Users using the [[LaunchCat]] or Island Rum installer from [https://telstar.powermad.net/ PowerMad]: your COH directory will be linked to your Applications folder.  The folders and files in "Applications/coh" will be your client files same as Windows.
* It is possible to replace almost any resource (in game map, sound file, etc.) using the data directory.
** This does not modify any resource/file. This adds a directory which the game client then interprets as replacing the resource once the game is launched. Removal of this change simply means deleting the \data directory. More info below.
 
== Launchers ==
There are two launchers for Homecoming: City of Heroes.
 
[[LaunchCat]], which is a Mac installer for Homecoming.  It is maintained by Manga, and handles the installation of Wine, the HC Launcher, and Mac-specific adjustments before play.
 
The [[Homecoming Launcher]] was released on October 13th 2020 as a replacement for [[Tequila]]; it allows launching the game on Windows natively, and on Linux and MacOS via Wine.  It also receives hardware and security fixes to run on newer systems.
 
The first patcher made available with Homecoming: City of Heroes, Tequila, is no longer supported by Homecoming.  Players can continue to use it, but it will probably stop working in the future.  Island Rum is supported for now, but it will stop working at the same time.
 
== Launching the Game ==
[[File:ExtraLaunchParam.png‎|thumb|250px|Homecoming Launcher Settings window]]
=== PC ===
These can be run from the command prompt or entered into your shortcut.  You can do the latter by adding them to '''"Extra Launch Parameters"''' in Homecoming Launcher--> Settings--> Homecoming. The file "logs/launcher/launcher.log" shows the [[Command Line Parameters|parameters]] the HC launcher launched the game with last.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
{| class="collapsible wikitable"
|-
! PC Game Client Command Line Parameters
|-
| '''CityOfHeroes.exe -compatiblecursors 1'''
*Uses compatible 16-color cursors to solve compatiblity issues with Windows Vista and others. Please note that this has since been integrated into an option in-game.
'''CityOfHeroes.exe -usetexenvcombine'''
*Enables simple rendering path, which may help fix issues with certain video cards and drivers.
*Enables simple rendering path, which may help fix issues with certain video cards and drivers.
'''cohupdater.exe -renderthread 1'''
'''CityOfHeroes.exe -renderthread 1'''
*Forces the game to run using both processors on a dual processor computer, rather than just one.
*Forces the game to run using more than one proccessor/core, rather than using only one. '''NOTE:''' Though the game does this by default now, this command is still a valid option.
'''cohupdater.exe -cov'''
'''CityOfHeroes.exe -renderthread 0'''
*Launch the Updater as above, however with with the City of Villains skin. Login screen will be City of Villains.
*Forces the game to run using only one processor/core, rather than using two.  This may be needed to work around buggy drivers, or on Linux.
'''covupdater.exe'''
'''CityOfHeroes.exe -maxinactivefps 5'''
*Launch Updater, use City of Villains skin.
*Limits the graphic display update to 5 Frames Per Second when COH is not the foreground application.  The number can be set to whatever maximum framerate is desired. (This also works as a slash command in-game.)
'''cohupdater.exe -test'''
'''CityOfHeroes.exe -stopinactivedisplay 1'''
*Launches the Updater, uses registry settings in HKCU/Software/Cryptic/Cohtest instead. Allows access to Training Room.
*Freezes the graphic display update when COH is not the foreground application.  This can greatly reduce processor utilization when running multiple game clients on the same computer.
'''cityofheroes.exe -console'''
'''CityOfHeroes.exe -fullscreen 1'''
*Makes the game launch in full screen, regardless of what options are set in-game. To force the game ''not'' to launch in full screen, -fullscreen 0 should be used. (This also works as a slash command in-game.)
'''CityOfHeroes.exe -screen x y'''
*Makes the game launch in a window with a width equal to ''x'' and a height equal to ''y''. (This also works as a slash command in-game.)
'''CityOfHeroes.exe -UseCelShader 1'''
*Makes the game launch with a "comic book" look. To force the game ''not'' to use a comic book look, -UseCelShader 0 should be used. (This also works as a slash command in-game.)
'''CityOfHeroes.exe -gfxreset'''
* Causes the game to reset all graphics settings and launch the game in windowed mode.
'''CityOfHeroes.exe -vis_scale 5'''
*Sets the World Detail distance to render at 500%. The number can be set to anything between 0.0 to 20.0. (This also works as a slash command in-game.)
'''CityOfHeroes.exe -lodbias 5'''
*Sets the Character Detail distance to render at 500%. The number can be set to anything between 0.0 to 20.0. (This also works as a slash command in-game.)
'''CityOfHeroes.exe -project "coh"'''
*{{red|NOT SUPPORTED}} Launches the game client without looking for the launcher, using the North American servers. If any patches have been applied since the last time you used the launcher, you ''may'' be able to login, but you will get a version conflict.
'''CityOfHeroes.exe -project "eucoh"'''
*{{red|NOT SUPPORTED}} European Servers version of skipping the launcher.
'''CityOfHeroes.exe -project "cohtest"'''
*{{red|NOT SUPPORTED}} Training Room version of skipping the launcher.
'''CityOfHeroes.exe -console 1'''
*{{red|NOT SUPPORTED}} Launches the game client displaying a console with each element being loaded. Useful if your client is freezing on load, if you want time statistics for how long it takes to load, or to see other debugging info.
*{{red|NOT SUPPORTED}} Launches the game client displaying a console with each element being loaded. Useful if your client is freezing on load, if you want time statistics for how long it takes to load, or to see other debugging info.
'''cityofheroes.exe -project "coh"'''
'''CityOfHeroes.exe -exitlaunch [command line]'''
*{{red|NOT SUPPORTED}} Launches the game client without looking for the updater. If any patches have been applied since the last time you used the Updater, you ''may'' be able to login, but you will get a version conflict'.
*{{red|NOT SUPPORTED}} The game will execute the given command line on close. Used internally for issue preloads, but can be set to execute any program when you finish playing.
'''cityofheroes.exe -project "coh" -cov'''
'''CityOfHeroes.exe -project coh -launcher'''
*{{red|NOT SUPPORTED}} same as above with City of Villains skin
*{{red|NOT REQUIRED SINCE HOMECOMING}}Starts the game as if it had been run from the NCsoft Launcher, unlocking the Wisp Aura.
'''cityofheroes.exe -project "cohtest"'''
|}
*Training Room version.


==Installing the Game==
There are several methods to installing the game client, they all boil down to having an up-to-date copy of the necessary files.
;You do not need your 'CD-Key' to install the game client.:The 'CD-Key' is for the http://plaync.com/ website for the creation/upgrade of your game account.
===Original CD/DVD===
Install as you would any other program. Basically it will extract a copy of the game client as it was when the CD/DVD was created. You can then run the updater and patch to the current version.


*CoH Collectors DVD current through Issue 2
=== Mac/Linux ===
*CoV Collectors DVD current through Issue 6
:''Please see:'' [[City of Heroes on Mac]]
*Good vs. Evil Edition DVD current through Issue 7
:''Please see:'' [[City of Heroes on Linux]]
:''Please see:'' [[City of Heroes on Steam Deck]]


===Burned CD/DVD===
Mac and Linux client options for Homecoming all use the same client strings as Windows. In Homecoming Launcher, you can set these under "Settings" and "Extra Launch Parameters" for the client you want to launch, regardless of the operating system.
Effectively a second copy step similar to installing the [[#Training Room|Training Room]]. One copies the entire City of Heroes directory to multiple CDs or a single DVD. Then one can copy that folder back to his/her computer or give to someone else to copy to their computer. Then create a copy of the cohupdater.exe file, run it and point it to the folder on your HD where you copied CoH back to.


===cohupdater===
== Running the game from Removable Storage ==


You can install the Game Client starting with only the cohupdater.exe file (or covupdater.exe). This file '''cannot''' be in the directory you will be installing to, as it will attempt to create a new cohupdater.exe and will fail if it's already there.
If for some reason you would like to run the game from a USB thumb drive, portable SSD, SD Card, or other removable and rewritable media, this is possible as Homecoming Launcher does not require installation or registry keys. Simply move or copy the game client folder to the device. The game should be located at C:\Games\Homecoming if you accepted the default location when you ran it for the first time.


Whenever cohupdater is launched, it checks the registry to see if there is anything in HKCU/Software/Cryptic/Coh. If there is, then the updater proceeds normally, patches the game if needed. If there is no entry under HKCU/Software/Cryptic/Coh, then it asks the user where they would like to install the Game Client (default is C:\Program Files\City of Heroes). Once the user clicks Yes, the updater writes to HKCU/Software/Cryptic/Coh with default settings and the installdir.
For Linux users: you can create a Wineprefix on a removable device for this purpose and install Homecoming Launcher directly on the drive. On the destination system, make sure the same version of Wine is in use before starting HC Launcher. The system will configure itself into the Wineprefix and start normally.


===Training Room===
In any case, please note the default launcher file location: X:\Games\Homecoming\bin\win64\launcher.exe  (Replace "win64" with "win32" if you're trying to play on an older system.)


The simplest way to install the Training Room involves creating a copy of the live game, to avoid downloading the entire client (currently 2.3GB) all over again.
{{Gametip|tip=If you find yourself playing on an unknown or relatively low performance system, remember to click ''Settings'' and adjust the graphics  settings to low, and maybe enable windowed mode. This gives the game client the best chance of running properly. This should be done ''before'' logging into the game with your username and password!}}


To do this, open the Windows explorer, locate your '''City of Heroes''' folder, select it, and drag it to a blank space in the explorer (not above any other folder) while keeping the '''Ctrl''' key held. If done properly, a folder called '''Copy of City of Heroes''' with all your files in it will appear. Change its name to '''CohTest'''.
== Network information ==
=== Servers ===
Your computer needs access to the internet, of course; and to be able communicate with various servers (not just the game servers). Certain ports (see below) may have to be opened.


Afterwards, double-click the '''CohTest''' folder in order to enter it. Locate the file '''CohUpdater.exe''' and drag it to your desktop while keeping both the '''Ctrl''' and '''Shift''' keys held. It will create a '''Shortcut to CohUpdater.exe''' in your desktop. You can now close the explorer window.
Homecoming Servers are located in Canada in the Eastern Time Zone (North/South American players) and in Germany (European players).


Rename the newly created shortcut to a more descriptive '''CoH Test Server''' or similar. Right-click the shortcut and select '''Properties'''. The '''Target''' line will read something like: '''C:\Program Files\CohTest\CohUpdater.exe'''. You need to change this line to read: '''"C:\Program Files\CohTest\CohUpdater.exe" -test'''. Please note how quotes were added to the existing path, and the '''-test''' parameter was added. You must keep the original command line intact, only adding the quotes and the '''-test''' parameter.
{{gametip|tip=Players located outside North America (such as Australasia, Europe, and elsewhere) may ''sometimes'' find that their playing experience is improved if their computer uses a DNS server located in America. An example would be the [https://developers.google.com/speed/public-dns/ Google Public DNS]}}


Now, double-click this shortcut. If you did everything correctly, the updater will start, and then display the following message: '''CohTest will be installed to C:\Program Files\CohTest. Select NO to choose a different folder'''. If the displayed path matches where you made the copy of your City of Heroes folder, click '''Yes'''. Otherwise, click '''No''' and a '''Browse for folder''' dialog will appear. Locate the '''CohTest''' folder and click OK. The first dialog box will appear again, this time displaying the path you choose. Click '''Yes''' to continue.
In the event you have a working internet connection, but cannot play City of Heroes, it's possible there may be an issue with the connection between your computer and one of these servers. If this is the case, you can troubleshoot this problem using diagnostic tools, seek assistance from other players on the [http://boards.homecomingservers.com/ Official Forums].


'''Important note:''' At this point, you might get a dialog box stating '''Error opening file CohUpdater.exe. You may be out of disk space or you may be trying to install to a location where you have insufficient permissions'''. If this happens to you, '''do not close the updater or answer the dialog box'''. Open an Explorer window and go to the CohTest folder you created; inside, you will find a file named '''CohUpdater.exe'''. You must rename this file to something else; anything at all will do. Once the file is renamed, go back to the updater and click OK to the error message. The updater will succesfully complete and copy itself to the original location, so you don't need to worry about the renamed file anymore. You can safely delete it.
====List of related network addresses====
Some players may wish to run manual tests on these IP addresses and ports using tools such as ping and traceroute. A partial list of ports tested, as of June 2012, is shown below.  


==Running the game from a DVD-R==
'''Note:''' these could change at any time at Homecoming's sole discretion, of course; and that failure to test a connection to the port ''may'' not be the cause of any issues with running the game.


If for some reason you would like to run the game from a DVD-R, or maybe a 4GB flash drive, this is possible. Being a read-only device, a DVD-R will only work as long as you burn the latest version with the current patches. However, if your goal is to play at a Net Cafe during a weekend away from home, this will be more than enough.
{{hidden|Network Addresses, Ports and Paths for City of Heroes|bg1=orange|
;Can the computer get to these ports?
2106
6994
13094
23094
}}


The steps are:
=== Game Ports ===


:*Log into the game and set all your graphics settings to low. Maybe enable windowed mode. This is to ensure the game will work properly in whichever computer you end up running it in. If you're going to be playing the game in a decent computer which can handle your current graphics settings, you can skip this step.
The game client is somewhat Firewall and NAT friendly. However any issues can be resolved by ensuring the following ports are open:
:*Click Start, Run, and enter '''regedit'''. Navigate the left panel to '''HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Cryptic'''. Right-click the '''Cryptic''' folder and select '''Export'''. Save as '''Settings.reg''' somewhere.
* TCP 2104
:*Burn your '''City of Heroes''' folder and the '''Settings.reg''' file to a DVD-R.
* TCP 2106
:*Take the DVD to the computer you want to play the game on. Go to the DVD drive and double-click the '''Settings.reg''' file. You only need to do this step the first time you run the game on a computer.
* TCP 443
:*Click Start, Run, then enter '''"D:\City of Heroes\CityOfHeroes.exe" -project coh'''. Replace D: with whatever letter the DVD drive is.
* UDP 7000-7200
:*Play! You can change the graphics settings on the new computer to whatever you like, and they'll be saved locally.


==Registry information==


{{divbox|red|!!! REGISTRY WARNING !!!|Be extremely careful when modifying the registry. It is Windows' roadmap. Delete the wrong thing and *poof*, you wind up not taking that left at Albaquoiky. It is recommended you backup the registry every time you go in to make an edit.}}
== Registry information ==
{{historical|type=section|customreason=obsolete for Homecoming Launcher as the installation is portable; registry keys are no longer used for playing}}
{{divbox|red|!!! REGISTRY WARNING !!!|Be extremely careful when modifying the registry. It is Windows' roadmap. Delete the wrong thing and *poof*, you wind up not taking that left at Albaquoiky. (Meaning CoX could fail to start. Or another program or programs could fail to start. Or even Windows itself could crash and not be able to start again...) It is recommended you backup the registry every time you go in to make an edit.}}


The game stores its configuration information in '''HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Cryptic\Coh'''; even if you installed City of Villains, the key name is still Coh. If you use the Test server, its configuration is stored in '''HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Cryptic\CohTest'''.
The game stores its configuration information in '''HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Cryptic\Coh'''; even if you installed City of Villains, the key name is still Coh.  
* If you use the Test server, its configuration is stored in '''HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Cryptic\CohTest'''.
* If you use the Beta server, its configuration is stored in '''HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Cryptic\CoHBeta'''.


The '''Installation Directory''' parameter is useful in case you want to move the game client to another directory or partition. Enter the '''full path''' to the game's executable.
The '''Installation Directory''' parameter is useful in case you want to move the game client to another directory or partition. Enter the '''full path''' to the game's executable.


The '''VerifyOnNextUpdate''' parameter is created every time the game crashes. When the updater starts, it checks for this flag in order to decide whether to verify all files for corruption before loading the file. Thus, clearing this flag is a good way to avoid the slow verification process.
The '''VerifyOnNextUpdate''' parameter is created every time the game crashes. When the game starts, it checks for this flag in order to decide whether to verify all files for corruption before loading the file. Thus, clearing this flag is a good way to avoid the slow verification process.


If you crash often and would like to skip the verification process every time, simply create a text file named '''NoVerify.reg''' with the following contents, and double-click it before loading the updater:
If you crash often and would like to skip the verification process every time, simply create a text file named '''NoVerify.reg''' with the following contents, and double-click it before loading the launcher:


<pre>REGEDIT4
<pre>REGEDIT4
Line 103: Line 165:
"VerifyOnNextUpdate"=dword:00000000</pre>
"VerifyOnNextUpdate"=dword:00000000</pre>


==Network information==
===Servers===
In the event of connectivity problems, the route to the following servers should be checked:
*Updater
**cohupdate.coh.com (216.107.250.194)
**cohupdateeu.coh.com (206.127.145.195)
**cohupdate.coh.com (216.107.254.201)
**cohupdate.coh.com (216.107.254.198)
**cohupdate.coh.com (216.107.254.194)
**cohupdate.coh.com (216.107.254.195)
**cohupdate.coh.com (216.107.254.197)
**cohupdate.coh.com (216.107.254.200)
**cohupdate.coh.com (216.107.250.195)
**cohupdate.coh.com (216.107.254.196)
**cohupdateeu.coh.com (206.127.145.194)
*Game Client
**Login: 216.107.249.131
**Login (Europe): 206.127.144.229
**West coast: 216.107.240.3
**East coast: 216.107.248.3
**Europe: 206.127.144.132
===Game Ports===
The game updater allows you to select the port to be used for data transfers. Simply add the -port flag followed by the port you would like to use in the City of Heroes shortcut. Example:
'''"C:\Program Files\City of Heroes\CohUpdater.exe" -port 80'''
The game client is somewhat Firewall and NAT friendly, however any issues can be resolved by opening the following ports.
* REQUIRED
** TCP:
*** 6994
*** 2104
*** 2106
** UDP:
*** 7000-7100.
* One of the following ports:
** TCP
*** 6994
*** 13094
*** 23094


[http://support.plaync.com/cgi-bin/plaync.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=899 Official City of Heroes/Villains] Knowledge Base article on ports required to patch and play the game.


{{wip}}
[[Category:Game Client]]
[[Category:Game Client]]

Latest revision as of 19:14, 14 March 2024

Overview

City of Heroes uses a program which runs on your computer called the Game Client (and its associated game files) to generate the graphics you see and the sounds you hear. It figures out what you have clicked on and it handles the typing you do at your keyboard. The client is constantly sending information to the Server to tell it what powers you activate, what attacks you make, how you move and turn, and the messages you type to other people.

The Server is constantly sending information to your client to tell it what everyone else in your zone or mission are doing. The client shows you their actions based on that information. If something interrupts the flow of that information then everyone else will stop moving on your screen. If the flow of information is interrupted long enough then you are disconnected from the server, typically with the message: "Lost connection to mapserver".

When a new version of the game client is available it has to be downloaded to your computer before you can use it. A program called a Launcher checks for and downloads new versions of the client and all its associated files.

The launcher is used to start City of Heroes, or any other game it is programmed to update (including Beta Services).

Facts

  • The same game client is used to play City of Heroes, City of Villains, and City of Heroes Going Rogue on ALL operating systems. (During Live, Paragon Studios merged all of the 'City of' games into a single client in preparation for City of Heroes: Freedom, the final live client release from NCSoft/Paragon Studios.)
    • Windows OS runs the client natively.
    • MacOS (under Intel processors) and Linux use WINE to run the client on a Windows Subsystem layer.
  • All character data is stored on the servers. You can access your account and character data from any computer that has the game client.
    • One caveat: files such as Architect Entertainment save files, Character Select sorting, and Player Ratings, are stored in text files on the player's hard drive and are not accessible from other computers.
  • Patches are installed prior to logon and the latest version is required to play.
  • The client loads in two stages:
    1. The Launcher, which downloads patches and checks the client for the latest version. Examples of Launchers include Tequila & Island Rum.
    2. The Client, which contains the game itself.
  • The client cannot be run directly by players if the version of the game residing on the player's computer is different than the version of the game on the Homecoming servers. Updating prior to running the game can be done through the command line by using the launcherCLI.exe command.
  • Since the Sunset, NCSoft's keys, game cards, and promo codes no longer work. There is no CD Key required to install the game client.
  • The Launcher can downloaded to install the game without requiring any CDs or DVDs. Use of NCSoft Client files pre-Issue 24 will cause issues in patching, and should not be attempted.
    • Note: A new installation using the Launcher will download the entire client, and may take a long while depending on your internet download speeds.
  • The game is now a "portable" application. Once installed, it exists only in the folder it is installed in with no Windows registry keys, libraries, or other components required. Backup and moving is as simple as copy & paste.
  • Mac/Linux users will follow the WINE convention of installation, which will be located on their "Wine C Drive".
    • Depending on their Wine toolset used, this may be referred to as a Wine Prefix, Bottle, or Cask. (Generally the same concept across all of them: a mini-Windows C: drive filesystem just for that app.)
    • Mac Users using the LaunchCat or Island Rum installer from PowerMad: your COH directory will be linked to your Applications folder. The folders and files in "Applications/coh" will be your client files same as Windows.
  • It is possible to replace almost any resource (in game map, sound file, etc.) using the data directory.
    • This does not modify any resource/file. This adds a directory which the game client then interprets as replacing the resource once the game is launched. Removal of this change simply means deleting the \data directory. More info below.

Launchers

There are two launchers for Homecoming: City of Heroes.

LaunchCat, which is a Mac installer for Homecoming. It is maintained by Manga, and handles the installation of Wine, the HC Launcher, and Mac-specific adjustments before play.

The Homecoming Launcher was released on October 13th 2020 as a replacement for Tequila; it allows launching the game on Windows natively, and on Linux and MacOS via Wine. It also receives hardware and security fixes to run on newer systems.

The first patcher made available with Homecoming: City of Heroes, Tequila, is no longer supported by Homecoming. Players can continue to use it, but it will probably stop working in the future. Island Rum is supported for now, but it will stop working at the same time.

Launching the Game

Homecoming Launcher Settings window

PC

These can be run from the command prompt or entered into your shortcut. You can do the latter by adding them to "Extra Launch Parameters" in Homecoming Launcher--> Settings--> Homecoming. The file "logs/launcher/launcher.log" shows the parameters the HC launcher launched the game with last.





PC Game Client Command Line Parameters
CityOfHeroes.exe -compatiblecursors 1
  • Uses compatible 16-color cursors to solve compatiblity issues with Windows Vista and others. Please note that this has since been integrated into an option in-game.

CityOfHeroes.exe -usetexenvcombine

  • Enables simple rendering path, which may help fix issues with certain video cards and drivers.

CityOfHeroes.exe -renderthread 1

  • Forces the game to run using more than one proccessor/core, rather than using only one. NOTE: Though the game does this by default now, this command is still a valid option.

CityOfHeroes.exe -renderthread 0

  • Forces the game to run using only one processor/core, rather than using two. This may be needed to work around buggy drivers, or on Linux.

CityOfHeroes.exe -maxinactivefps 5

  • Limits the graphic display update to 5 Frames Per Second when COH is not the foreground application. The number can be set to whatever maximum framerate is desired. (This also works as a slash command in-game.)

CityOfHeroes.exe -stopinactivedisplay 1

  • Freezes the graphic display update when COH is not the foreground application. This can greatly reduce processor utilization when running multiple game clients on the same computer.

CityOfHeroes.exe -fullscreen 1

  • Makes the game launch in full screen, regardless of what options are set in-game. To force the game not to launch in full screen, -fullscreen 0 should be used. (This also works as a slash command in-game.)

CityOfHeroes.exe -screen x y

  • Makes the game launch in a window with a width equal to x and a height equal to y. (This also works as a slash command in-game.)

CityOfHeroes.exe -UseCelShader 1

  • Makes the game launch with a "comic book" look. To force the game not to use a comic book look, -UseCelShader 0 should be used. (This also works as a slash command in-game.)

CityOfHeroes.exe -gfxreset

  • Causes the game to reset all graphics settings and launch the game in windowed mode.

CityOfHeroes.exe -vis_scale 5

  • Sets the World Detail distance to render at 500%. The number can be set to anything between 0.0 to 20.0. (This also works as a slash command in-game.)

CityOfHeroes.exe -lodbias 5

  • Sets the Character Detail distance to render at 500%. The number can be set to anything between 0.0 to 20.0. (This also works as a slash command in-game.)

CityOfHeroes.exe -project "coh"

  • NOT SUPPORTED Launches the game client without looking for the launcher, using the North American servers. If any patches have been applied since the last time you used the launcher, you may be able to login, but you will get a version conflict.

CityOfHeroes.exe -project "eucoh"

  • NOT SUPPORTED European Servers version of skipping the launcher.

CityOfHeroes.exe -project "cohtest"

  • NOT SUPPORTED Training Room version of skipping the launcher.

CityOfHeroes.exe -console 1

  • NOT SUPPORTED Launches the game client displaying a console with each element being loaded. Useful if your client is freezing on load, if you want time statistics for how long it takes to load, or to see other debugging info.

CityOfHeroes.exe -exitlaunch [command line]

  • NOT SUPPORTED The game will execute the given command line on close. Used internally for issue preloads, but can be set to execute any program when you finish playing.

CityOfHeroes.exe -project coh -launcher

  • NOT REQUIRED SINCE HOMECOMINGStarts the game as if it had been run from the NCsoft Launcher, unlocking the Wisp Aura.


Mac/Linux

Please see: City of Heroes on Mac
Please see: City of Heroes on Linux
Please see: City of Heroes on Steam Deck

Mac and Linux client options for Homecoming all use the same client strings as Windows. In Homecoming Launcher, you can set these under "Settings" and "Extra Launch Parameters" for the client you want to launch, regardless of the operating system.

Running the game from Removable Storage

If for some reason you would like to run the game from a USB thumb drive, portable SSD, SD Card, or other removable and rewritable media, this is possible as Homecoming Launcher does not require installation or registry keys. Simply move or copy the game client folder to the device. The game should be located at C:\Games\Homecoming if you accepted the default location when you ran it for the first time.

For Linux users: you can create a Wineprefix on a removable device for this purpose and install Homecoming Launcher directly on the drive. On the destination system, make sure the same version of Wine is in use before starting HC Launcher. The system will configure itself into the Wineprefix and start normally.

In any case, please note the default launcher file location: X:\Games\Homecoming\bin\win64\launcher.exe (Replace "win64" with "win32" if you're trying to play on an older system.)

Tip

If you find yourself playing on an unknown or relatively low performance system, remember to click Settings and adjust the graphics settings to low, and maybe enable windowed mode. This gives the game client the best chance of running properly. This should be done before logging into the game with your username and password!

Network information

Servers

Your computer needs access to the internet, of course; and to be able communicate with various servers (not just the game servers). Certain ports (see below) may have to be opened.

Homecoming Servers are located in Canada in the Eastern Time Zone (North/South American players) and in Germany (European players).

Tip

Players located outside North America (such as Australasia, Europe, and elsewhere) may sometimes find that their playing experience is improved if their computer uses a DNS server located in America. An example would be the Google Public DNS

In the event you have a working internet connection, but cannot play City of Heroes, it's possible there may be an issue with the connection between your computer and one of these servers. If this is the case, you can troubleshoot this problem using diagnostic tools, seek assistance from other players on the Official Forums.

List of related network addresses

Some players may wish to run manual tests on these IP addresses and ports using tools such as ping and traceroute. A partial list of ports tested, as of June 2012, is shown below.

Note: these could change at any time at Homecoming's sole discretion, of course; and that failure to test a connection to the port may not be the cause of any issues with running the game.

Network Addresses, Ports and Paths for City of Heroes

Game Ports

The game client is somewhat Firewall and NAT friendly. However any issues can be resolved by ensuring the following ports are open:

  • TCP 2104
  • TCP 2106
  • TCP 443
  • UDP 7000-7200


Registry information

This section contains information obsolete for Homecoming Launcher as the installation is portable; registry keys are no longer used for playing City of Heroes/Villains. It is provided for historical purposes.

!!! REGISTRY WARNING !!!
Be extremely careful when modifying the registry. It is Windows' roadmap. Delete the wrong thing and *poof*, you wind up not taking that left at Albaquoiky. (Meaning CoX could fail to start. Or another program or programs could fail to start. Or even Windows itself could crash and not be able to start again...) It is recommended you backup the registry every time you go in to make an edit.

The game stores its configuration information in HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Cryptic\Coh; even if you installed City of Villains, the key name is still Coh.

  • If you use the Test server, its configuration is stored in HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Cryptic\CohTest.
  • If you use the Beta server, its configuration is stored in HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Cryptic\CoHBeta.

The Installation Directory parameter is useful in case you want to move the game client to another directory or partition. Enter the full path to the game's executable.

The VerifyOnNextUpdate parameter is created every time the game crashes. When the game starts, it checks for this flag in order to decide whether to verify all files for corruption before loading the file. Thus, clearing this flag is a good way to avoid the slow verification process.

If you crash often and would like to skip the verification process every time, simply create a text file named NoVerify.reg with the following contents, and double-click it before loading the launcher: 

REGEDIT4

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Cryptic\Coh]
"VerifyOnNextUpdate"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Cryptic\CohTest]
"VerifyOnNextUpdate"=dword:00000000
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