The Players' Guide to the Cities/User Interface/Help Window/Powers

The following is found in the Powers tab of the Help Window

Opening Up Powers

Powers in the Primary and Secondary Power Sets open up over time. As a player gains Security Levels, he will gain access to more powers in each set.
The powers in the Primary Power Set open as follows:
Power #1 – 1st level
Power #2 – 1st level
Power #3 – 2nd level
Power #4 – 6th level
Power #5 – 8th level
Power #6 – 12th level
Power #7 – 18th level
Power #8 – 26th level
Power #9 – 35th level
The powers in the Secondary Power Set open as follows:
Power #1 – 1st level
Power #2 – 2nd level
Power #3 – 4th level
Power #4 – 10th level
Power #5 – 16th level
Power #6 – 20th level
Power #7 – 28th level
Power #8 – 35th level
Power #9 – 38th leve

Power Descriptions

The name of a power appears if a player mouses over its icon. A player can read an abbreviated summary of a power's effects by right clicking on the icon. To read a more detailed description, a player can right click the power icon, then select “Info.”

The following are the abbreviations of various Power Effects.
- : The power negatively affects the attribute. A “debuff.”
+: The power boosts the attribute. A “buff.”
ACC: “Accuracy.” The power affects the chance to hit.
Ally: The power affects only other heroes.
AOE: “Area of Effect.” The power affects everything within a certain range of the target.
Auto: “Automatic.” The power is always on. It has no Endurance cost.
Cone: The power affects everything in a conical area.
DEF: “Defense.” The power affects the chance that attacks will hit the hero.
Disorient: Affected targets can move, but cannot use powers for a time.
DMG: “Damage.” The power deals damage.
DoT: “Damage Over Time.” The power continues to deal damage over a period of time.
End: “Endurance.” The power affects Endurance.
Foe: The power affects only enemies.
Heal: The power provides Hit Points.
Hold: Affected targets can't move or use powers.
Immobilize: Affected targets can't move.
Intangible: The hero cannot be affected by powers. He cannot use any other powers.
Knockback: Targets have a chance to be tossed backward.
Knockdown: Targets fall down and must take time to get up.
Location: The power must have a target location.
Melee: The power is for use at close range (15 feet or less).
PBAOE: “Player based Area Of Effect.” The power does not need to be targeted. When activated, it affects everything within a certain radius of the hero.
Ranged: The power can be used at a distance.
Recharge: After activation, powers must recharge fully before being used again.
Recovery: The power affects the rate at which targets recover Endurance.
RES: “Resistance.” The power decreases the effect of specified types of damage.
Rez: “Resurrect.” The power resurrects heroes.
Self: The power affects only the hero.
Sleep: Affected targets can't move or use powers for a time. They can be awakened by successful attacks.
Slow: The power decreases the recharge rate of powers.
Speed: The power affects moving speed.
Stealth: The power increases the chance that a player can avoid detection by enemies.
Taunt: The power attracts the attention and attacks of foes.
Team: The power affects only heroes teamed up with the player.
Terror: The power has a chance to frighten the enemy into fleeing.
Toggle: The power remains on until deactivated. While on, the power drains Endurance.

Power Pools

Power Pools are sets of powers that any hero can select. Beginning at level 6, players can choose one of the first two powers from any Power Pool set. Players can choose the third power in the set once they reach Level 14, provided that they've picked one of the first two. They may choose the fourth power at twentieth level, but only if they've chosen two out of the first three powers. Players can select up to four Power Pool power sets.

Power Tray

A player activates his powers through his Power Tray Window. The Power Tray Window is open when a player first starts the game, but it can be closed and opened by left clicking the Tray Button in the hero's Status Window.

At character creation, a player's powers are automatically placed in his Power Tray. When a player gains additional powers, he must move them into the Tray himself. To do this, he left clicks the Powers Button on the Power Tray. This opens the Power Inventory. Then he left clicks the new power and drags it to a slot on the Power Tray.

To move an icon once it's in the Tray, a player left clicks on the icon and drags it to a new position in the Power Tray.

To remove an icon from the Tray, a player right clicks on the icon and selects Remove from Tray.

To quickly add and remove powers, players can left click the power icons in the Power Inventory. If the power is not already in the Power Tray, it is placed in the first available space. If it is already in the Power Tray, it is removed.

The Power Tray contains ten slots which are hotkeyed to the number keys. Hitting a number key activates the power in the same numbered slot.

There are nine Trays, each of which have ten slots. A player can cycle through his Trays by clicking on the arrow keys to the left of the Power Tray Window. This allows players to create Trays appropriate for different situations.

A player can open two Trays<color> simultaneously by <color pink>clicking the arrow on top of the Power Tray Window. This allows the player to access up to 20 powers easily, though only the bottom Tray is hotkeyed to the number keys.

Temporary Powers

Heroes occasionally receive Temporary Powers in the game. A player can access the Temporary Power by clicking the Power Button on the Power Tray Window. This opens the Power Inventory. He can then click and drag the Temporary Power to the Power Tray. Players possess Temporary Powers for only a limited time. When a Temporary Power expires, the power disappears from the Power Tray and Power Inventory.