Patron Power Pools
Overview
Patron Power Pools (PPP) are the villain equivalent of Ancillary Power Pools, and attempt to balance the Archetypes' builds. Unlike Ancillary Powers, Patron Powers must be earned by completing a story arc that becomes available for a Villain at Level 40 (though the powers themselves cannot be chosen until 41). The Villain can see Arbiter Rein, who then outlines the gravity of the situation in choosing an Arachnos Patron: Black Scorpion, Captain Mako, Ghost Widow, and Scirocco. Once selected, the story arc leads the Villain on a quest to become a true disciple of the Patron, with an Accolade rewarded at the end and the PPP being unlocked within the level selection screen.
The powersets also have the same name for each patron, regardless of Archetype. There are only four Patron Powersets to choose from with any Archetype, however the powers within them are complementary to the Villain's Archetype, similar to Ancillary Power Pools.
You must select a Patron before you can take any PPP powers. Also note that it is possible to play through CoV without choosing a PPP. The power-enabled levels (41, 44, 47, and 49) will still present the available legal choices from your primary and secondary sets and from the general Power Pools.
- Leviathan Mastery (Captain Mako)
- Mace Mastery (Black Scorpion)
- Mu Mastery (Scirocco)
- Soul Mastery (Ghost Widow)
Note that with Issue 18/Going Rogue's side-switching, only characters with true villain alignment can unlock Patron Power Pools. However, after unlocking the pools, they remain as legal choices even if the character then changes alignment away from villain, and can be respec'd into and out of at will.
History
- Prior to Issue 13, Patron Power Pools were locked in after selection. A villain could not respec into and out of a patron at will. If a villain took Mace Mastery, the villain could never choose anything from another mastery. Issue 13 updated the Patron Pools to act similar to Ancillary Pools. Villain characters still only has access to one Patron Badge, but are no longer restricted to only that Patron's pool, allowing Patron Pool changes during respecification.
- During Issues 14 to 16, the Patron Pools were opened up to have five powers available, two at level 41, two at level 44, and one at level 47.
- Issue 18 unlocked Patron Power Pools for the City of Heroes archetypes.