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== Overview ==
== Overview ==
[[City of Heroes]] and [[City of Villains]] use 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.
[[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]]".
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 '''CohUpdater.exe''' (for NA users) or '''CohUpdater.eu.exe''' (for EU users) on the PC or '''City of Heroes.app''' on the Mac checks for and downloads new versions of the client and all its associated files.
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.


On the PC, the game is actually played through the '''CityOfHeroes.exe''' file; if the client is up to date, the updater can be [[#PC|skipped]].
The launcher is used to start City of Heroes, or any other game it is programmed to update (including Beta Services).


== Facts ==
== Facts ==
* The same game client is used to play both City of Heroes and City of Villains, on both Windows and Mac OS operating systems.
* 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.)
* Both factions -- Heroes and Villains -- are available regardless of the background image or operating system.
** 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.
* 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.
** 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.
* Patches are installed prior to logon and the latest version is required to play.
* The client loads in two stages:
* The client loads in two stages:
*# The ''Updater'', which downloads patches and checks the client for the latest version.
*# 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'', which contains the game itself.
* There is no CD Key required to install the game client.
:::*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]].
* The updater can be downloaded to install the game without the original CD/DVD's.
* 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.
** Installing from CD/DVD will include an option for automatically placing a shortcut to the game in the Start Menu.
* 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>
** Both PC and Mac updaters can be downloaded from the City of Heroes [ftp://client.coh.com/US/ FTP site].
** '''Note''': A new installation using the Launcher will download the entire client, and may take a long while depending on your internet download speeds.  
** '''Note''': Installing from the updater will download the entire 2.7 GB client and may take a long while.
* 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.
* Skipping the Updater is not supported by NCsoft/Paragon Studios.
* Mac/Linux users will follow the WINE convention of installation, which will be located on their "Wine C Drive".
* PC users can change the install directory after installation is complete (registry: HKCU/Software/Cryptic/Coh )
**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 can move the entire "City of Heroes.app" to another folder
** 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, '''however''' this action is not supported by NCsoft/Paragon Studios nor their EULA.
* It is possible to replace almost any resource (in game map, sound file, etc.) using the data directory.
** This does not modify any NCsoft-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.
** 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.


== Launching the Game ==
== Launchers ==
=== PC ===
There are two launchers for Homecoming: City of Heroes.
These can be run from the command prompt or entered into your shortcut.  You can do the latter by right clicking on your shortcut to the updater and selecting properties then adding these to the end of the target box.  So, for instance, if you want to change your game to start up with the villain skin and your target box currently contains:
"C:\Games\City Of Heroes\CohUpdater.exe"
then you would change it to say:
"C:\Games\City Of Heroes\CohUpdater.exe" -cov


'''CohUpdater.exe''' (no switches)
[[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.
*Launches the Updater which will check for updates and modify/verify files if needed. City of Heroes skin/branding.
 
'''CohUpdater.exe -cov'''
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.
*Launch the Updater as above, however with with the City of Villains skin. Login screen will be City of Villains.
 
'''CovUpdater.exe'''
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.
*Launch Updater, use City of Villains skin. This file is only available to those who install from a CoV CD/DVD.
 
'''CityOfHeroes.exe -project "coh"'''
== Launching the Game ==
*{{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. Note that European server users may need to use '''-project "eucoh"''', not simply "coh".
[[File:ExtraLaunchParam.png‎|thumb|250px|Homecoming Launcher Settings window]]
'''CityOfHeroes.exe -project "coh" -cov'''
=== PC ===
*{{red|NOT SUPPORTED}} same as above with City of Villains skin.
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.
'''CohUpdater.exe -test'''
 
*Launches the Updater, uses registry settings in HKCU/Software/Cryptic/Cohtest instead. Allows access to [[Training Room]].
 
'''CityOfHeroes.exe -project "cohtest"'''
 
*Training Room version of skipping the updater.
 
'''CohUpdater.exe -compatiblecursors 1'''
 
*Uses compatible 16-color cursors to solve compatiblity issues with Windows Vista and others.
 
'''CohUpdater.exe -usetexenvcombine'''
 
 
{| 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 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.
*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 -maxinactivefps 5'''
'''CityOfHeroes.exe -renderthread 0'''
*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.
*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.
'''CohUpdater.exe -stopinactivedisplay 1'''
'''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.
*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"'''
*{{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'''
'''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 -exitlaunch [command line]'''
'''CityOfHeroes.exe -exitlaunch [command line]'''
*{{red|NOT SUPPORTED}} The game will execute the given command line on close. Used internally to launch CohUpdater for issue preloads, but can be set to execute any program when you finish playing.
*{{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.
'''CohUpdater.exe -mp'''
'''CityOfHeroes.exe -project coh -launcher'''
*{{red|NOT SUPPORTED}} Major Patch; predownloads the upcoming issue data if available. Normally called at the end of a play session, but you can call it manually if you know a predownload patch is ready.
*{{red|NOT REQUIRED SINCE HOMECOMING}}Starts the game as if it had been run from the NCsoft Launcher, unlocking the Wisp Aura.
|}
 


=== Mac ===
=== Mac/Linux ===
:''Main Article:'' [[Mac Special Edition]]
:''Please see:'' [[City of Heroes on Mac]]
The '''City of Heroes.app''' "file" is really just a specialized directory. Attempting any action inside this directory is {{red|NOT SUPPORTED}}.
:''Please see:'' [[City of Heroes on Linux]]
:''Please see:'' [[City of Heroes on Steam Deck]]


[http://boards.cityofheroes.com/archive/index.php/t-143743.html Mac Client guide posted by CuppaManga]
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.
==== Training Room on Mac ====
The developers have a separate City of Heroes.app for the training room.
ftp://client.coh.com/Test/US/
==== Command Line on Mac ====
Launching the game with command line switches {{red|NOT SUPPORTED}}
* Assuming the game is in the /Applications directory, here are some examples that can be ran from '''Terminal.app''':
* <pre>/Applications/City\ of\ Heroes.app/Contents/MacOS/cider --use-dos-cwd c:/coh -- C:\\coh\\cohupdater.exe -coh</pre>
*: Launch updater normally, game client will have blue CoH skin.
* <pre>/Applications/City\ of\ Heroes.app/Contents/MacOS/cider --use-dos-cwd c:/coh -- C:\\coh\\cohupdater.exe -cov</pre>
*: Launch updater normally, game client with have red CoV skin.
* <pre>/Applications/City\ of\ Heroes.app/Contents/MacOS/cider --use-dos-cwd c:/coh -- c:/coh/cityofheroes.exe -project coh</pre>
*: Launch game client directly (bypass updater)
* Note the extra backslashes "<code>\</code>".
*: The Terminal.app application uses bash, which uses the backslash as an escape character.
** Since a space "<code> </code>" usually separates command options (switches/parameters/arguments), we use "<code>\ </code>" to indicate a space in a file name.
** And since Cider is looking for a Windows(r)(c)™ directory which uses backslashes instead of forward slashes, we have to escape the backslashes as well.
**: Although it is possible to use forward slashes instead of double backslash.
* Also note the double dash "<code>--</code>"
*: The cider application can pass arguments to the application, which is any argument/option after double dash.
*:* Any arguments before the double dash are options for the cider application.
*:*: <code><nowiki>cider [options] [--] program_name [arguments]</nowiki></code>


== Installing the Game ==
== Running the game from Removable Storage ==
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 ===
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.
:''Main Article:'' [[Disc Releases]]


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.
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.


* [[City of Heroes (Boxset)]] initial release [[Issue 0]]
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.)
* [[Collector's Edition (City of Heroes)]] current through [[Issue 2]]
* [[City of Villains (Boxset)]] and [[Collector's Edition (City of Villains)]] current through [[Issue 6]]
* [[Good Versus Evil Edition]] current through [[Issue 7]]
* [[Architect Edition]] current through [[Issue 14]]


=== Burned CD/DVD ===
{{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!}}
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 ===
== Network information ==
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.
=== 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.


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


=== Training Room ===
{{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]}}
:''Main Article'': [[Training Room]]


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. Then the flag "-test" will placed on the end of the shortcut to '''CohUpdater.exe'''. Detailed instructions can be found at the [[Training Room]] article.
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].


== Running the game from a DVD-R ==
====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.


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.
'''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.
 
{{hidden|Network Addresses, Ports and Paths for City of Heroes|bg1=orange|
;Can the computer get to these ports?
2106
6994
13094
23094
}}
 
=== Game Ports ===


The steps are:
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


:*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.
:*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.
:*Burn your '''City of Heroes''' folder and the '''Settings.reg''' file to a DVD-R.
:*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.
:*Click Start, Run, then enter '''"D:\City of Heroes\CityOfHeroes.exe" -project coh'''. Replace D: with whatever letter the DVD drive is.
:*Play! You can change the graphics settings on the new computer to whatever you like, and they'll be saved locally.


== Registry information ==
== 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.}}
{{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 155: 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:
*** 7000-7200.
* One of the following ports:
** TCP
*** 6994
*** 13094
*** 23094


[http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showthread.php?t=225106 Official City of Heroes/Villains] Technical Forum article on ports required to patch and play the game.


[[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.)

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).

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.

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.

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