Halloween Event 2008
The event was scheduled to run from October 20th through November 2nd, but actually started earlier, on the evening of Friday, October 18, 2008 as a surprise. Announcement link.
Overview
For the 2008 version of this event, there are three main sections to the event.
- First, trick or treating from door to door returns, with some tweaking of the door timers to promote a more mobile version of trick or treat, and discourage door camping.
- Second, the Giant Monster zone spawns and eternal night have returned.
- And finally, a new "Zombie Apocalypse" zone event has been added, with massed hordes of zombies attacking random zones throughout the event.
The event runs in all combat zones in the game except Recluse's Victory, The Abyss, The Hive, Cascade Archipelago, The Chantry, and The Storm Palace. The few zones where the event is not running are all zones for at least level 40 characters, so for any characters below level 40, literally every single accessible zone is running the event. The only exception to this is Bloody Bay. The event is active in Bloody Bay, but a bug prevents anyone in the zone from being considered to be the correct level for trick or treating.
Zombie Apocalypse
The Zombie Apocalypse is a zone event that uses the Rikti World Invasion engine. Random zones throughout the game come under attack for periods of time. The start and end of an apocalypse event are broadcast on the appropriate Hero or Villain event channel. The sky of an invaded zone turns red, and zombie hordes begin to attack very similarly to the troop phase of the Rikti invasions.
When a zone is invaded, the following occurs for all players, Hero and Villain alike, on the server:
- A message will appear in chat windows with the Zone Events channel enabled, warning of a zone that is about to be attacked by zombies. This message gives suitable warning for Heroes and Villains not wishing to take part to leave the zone:
- The message reads: "WARNING: Zombie attack in zone."
- As the attack begins, the skies in the affected zone will change to a deep red color. All normal enemies will despawn from the map and zombies will begin to rise from the ground.
- When the zombie attack passes, a second Zone Events message is sent, announcing the end of the event in that zone:
- The message reads: "ALERT CANCELED: The zombies have disappeared from zone."
- The sky then returns to normal, resuming the perpetual night of the Halloween Event.
For further details about how invasions choose targets and determine what rank of zombies to spawn, see Rikti Invasion Mechanics.
New Badges and Unlockable Costume Piece
New: 4 new badges for zombie hordes
- Apocalypse Survivor grants access to the Pumpkin Head costume piece (Under Special Helmets).
Zombies
A new enemy group, Zombies, appears during this event.
Notes
- Zombies drop tech enhancements, and hybrid (tech/mystic) salvage
- testing for this event was on July 31st from 4:30-6pm Est
Links
Trick or Treat
During this event, players will be able to 'Trick or Treat' by knocking (that is, 'clicking') on mission doors in the various zones. Players can knock on a door once every 10 seconds, as long as they keep moving to a new door. A door that a character knocks on won't be active again for that character for five minutes. If a door is successfully knocked, then either a treat is awarded usually in the form of a random inspiration or costume salvage, or else a trick, which will spawn various enemies in the immediate area.
Players have to Trick or Treat in a zone that matches their current effective level (See list below), or the doors will not give tricks or treats. Sidekick/Lackey and Exemplar/Malefactor can be used to allow Trick or Treating to work, and the auto-exemplar of PvP zones mean that they will work for anyone high enough to enter them (except for Recluse's Victory, which has no functioning mission doors.) The auto-exemplar of the Flashback System can also be used by high level characters to make themselves the appropriate level for any zone.
Temporary Powers
- Rock
One of the treats is the Rock temporary power. It is a one use, ranged attack that does minor smashing damage. Matt Miller was the developer behind this homage to It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. [1]
- Classic Costumes
Knocking on doors can give a "Classic Costume" Temporary Power. These powers last for 13 days real time, are incompatible with any stealth powers, and cannot be used in PvP zones. For costume models that have a single gender (such as Carnie Harlequin or Strongman), activating the costume will force the apparent sex of the character to match. For costumes that have both genders (such as Crey Agent), the character will use the appropriate model. Finally, some of the costumes will have special animation built into it (such as Goldbricker and Sky Raider having animated flightpacks, PPD Hardsuit with rocket boots when in flight, Pirate having ghost-style flight, etc).
- Banished Pantheon Shaman (m)
- Consortium Guard (m)
- Carnival Harlequin (f)
- Carnival Strongman (m)
- Coralax Minion (f)
- Council Galaxy (m)
- Council Penumbra (m)
- Crey Agent (both)
- Crey Power Suit (m)
- Crey Security (m)
- Freakshow Boss (m)
- Freakshow Stunner (m)
- Goldbricker (m)
- Hellion Thug (m)
- Knives of Artemis (f)
- Legacy Chain (m)
- Lost (m)
- Malta Gunslinger (m)
- Malta Operative (m)
- Nemesis Soldier (m)
- Outcast Thug (m)
- Paragon Protector (both)
- Pirate (m)
- PPD Cop (m)
- PPD Hardsuit (m)
- PPD Swat Officer (m)
- Scrapyarder (m)
- Skulls Thug (m)
- Sky Raiders (m)
- Troll Ogre (m)
- Tsoo Inkman (m)
- Vahzilok Eidolon (both) (misspelled in-game as 'Vahzilok Eidolan Costume')
- Warrior Thug (m)
Costume Images
- BP-Shaman.jpg
- Cage-Consortium-Guard.jpg
- Carnival-Harlequin.jpg
- Carnival-Strongman.jpg
- Coralax-Minion.jpg
- H07-Galaxy.jpg
- Council-Penumbra.jpg
- Crey-Powersuit.jpg
- Crey-Security.jpg
- H07-Tank.jpg
- Freakshow-Stunner.jpg
- Goldbricker.jpg
- Hellion-Thug.jpg
- KnivesofArtemis.jpg
- Legacy-Chain.jpg
- Lost.jpg
- Malta-Gunslinger.jpg
- Malta-Operative.jpg
- Nemesis-Soldier.jpg
- Outcast-Thug.jpg
- H07-ParagonProtector.jpg
- Pirate.jpg
- PPD-Cop.jpg
- PPD-Hardsuit.jpg
- Scrapyarder.jpg
- Sky-Raider.jpg
- Troll.jpg
- Tsoo-Inkman.jpg
- Vahzilok-Eidolan.jpg
- H07-Warriors.jpg
Free Costume Slot
The event gives the ability to unlock a free costume slot on any character. Which slot it opens depends on how many costume slots you have already unlocked. Costume slots are awarded incrementally...a level 1 will be awarded their second slot, while a level 50 with all four previous costume slots unlocked will unlock a fifth. This reward does not include a free costume change token; unless you have free costume change tokens left over from previous awards, you will have to pay normal influence or infamy costs to change the costume in this new slot.
To unlock this slot a player needs to gather one each of the four types of Event Salvage that can be found through "Trick or Treating". You need one each of Statesman Mask, Lord Recluse Helmet, Back Alley Brawler Gloves, and Hamidon costume. All four then need to be brought to the appropriate Halloween contact for the character's game. Granny Beldam for villains and Annah for heroes. The contact will then unlock the free slot. There was a 35% chance of any Treat being a piece of event salvage, with even chances for which of the four types of event salvage is received.
Event Salvage
- Back Alley Brawler Halloween Gloves
Event Salvage
These are rubber Back Alley Brawler gloves, perfect for a Halloween costume. Their manufacture makes it difficult to perform simple tasks like opening doors. Heroes can take this to Annah in Croatoa, while villains can take this to Granny Beldam in Nerva, for a reward.
- Statesman Halloween Mask
Event Salvage
This is a Halloween mask of the famous hero Statesman. It's made of cheap plastic, and the flimsy string probably won't last through the night. Heroes can take this to Annah in Croatoa, while villains can take this to Granny Beldam in Nerva, for a reward.
- Lord Recluse Halloween Helmet
Event Salvage
This is a Halloween mask of the infamous Lord Recluse. It's made of smelly rubber, and wearing it makes you all sweaty and hard to find your breath. Heroes can take this to Annah in Croatoa, while villains can take this to Granny Beldam in Nerva, for a reward.
- Hamidon Halloween Costume
Event Salvage
The most popular Halloween costume among the kids in Paragon City is that of Hamidon. This simple costume is made from coloured plastic wrap. Many kids like to put action figures of their favourite heroes inside the wrap, pretending they are 'raiding' for 'Hami-O's' Heroes can take this to Annah in Croatoa, while villains can take this to Granny Beldam in Nerva, for a reward.
Zones
Trick or Treating only works if the player was in a zone with a level appropriate for their current combat level. The following are the appropriate levels for various zones:
Heroes
- 01 - 11 Atlas Park
- 01 - 11 Galaxy City
- 05 - 15 Kings Row
- 05 - 15 The Hollows
- 07 - 15 Perez Park
- 10 - 20 Steel Canyon
- 10 - 20 Skyway City
- 11 - 20 Boomtown
- 15 - 20 Faultline
- 20 - 30 Independence Port
- 20 - 30 Talos Island
- 20 - 30 Striga Isle
- 20 - 30 Terra Volta
- 21 - 30 Dark Astoria
- 20 - 30 Croatoa
- 30 - 40 Brickstown
- 30 - 40 Founders' Falls
- 30 - 40 Crey's Folly
- 33 - 40 Eden
- 40 - 50 Peregrine Island
- 40 - 50 Firebase Zulu
Villains
- 01 - 10 Mercy Island
- 05 - 15 Port Oakes
- 10 - 20 Cap Au Diable
- 20 - 30 Sharkhead Isle
- 25 - 40 Nerva Archipelago
- 30 - 40 St. Martial
- 40 - 50 Grandville
Both
Since all PvP zones automatically Exemplar anyone entering to a specific level, anyone entering the zone is brought to a combat level appropriate to the zone, so all zones are appropriate for Trick or Treating for anyone of a high enough level to enter the zone.
- 20 - 50 Siren's Call
- 30 - 50 Warburg
Bug! Bloody Bay is currently bugged. It appears to be set to allow trick or treating for levels 10-20, but since all characters entering the zone are Sidekicked/Exemplared to level 25, they are no longer in the level range for trick or treating.
- 35 - 50 Rikti War Zone
- 35 - 50 Cimerora
Enemies
Note: none of these groups counted toward the non-Halloween badges available in the game normally. For example, these Fir Bolg do not count towards the Pumpkin Master/Mistress badge.
- Coven
The Coven is made up of witches also seen as the Cabal enemy group found in Croatoa. Note that this group is the most visually different from their normal in-game spawns of any of the Halloween mobs. The Cabal is primarily colored in shades of grey and black, while the Halloween Coven is much more colorful.
- Fir Bolg
Fir Bolg can also be found in Croatoa at the present. Note that there is no badge for defeating them.
- Spirits
Spectral Demons from the Circle of Thorns were used to create the Spirits faction.
- Vampires
Council vampyri were the models used to make up the Vampires enemy group for the event.
- Werewolves
Council nightwolves and warwolves were the models used to make up the Werewolves faction for the event.
- Zombies
The zombies are Banished Pantheon soldiers.
- Unseelie Court
The Unseelie Court was a new enemy group for the 2006 event. They accompanied the random zone spawns of Eochai and Jack in Irons.
Enemy Images
- Witch1.jpg
Witch: Coven minion
- Sorceress1.jpg
Sorceress: Coven Lieutenant
- Coven-crone.jpg
Crone: Coven Boss
Streng
Spirit Lieutenant
Vampire Lieutenant
Vampire Lord Boss
Werewolf Lieutenant
Zombie
Unseelie Court
Giant Monsters and Eternal Night
Eternal Night
During the event, the entire game is locked in nighttime mode. This is not just a visual effect. All aspects of the game that depend on a day/night cycle are locked to the night side during the event. Enemies that only spawn at night spawn continuously during the event. Banisher, The Slayer, and Haunted badges (Hero side) and Pirate and Spectral badges (Villain side) are examples of badges for which hunting will be much easier during the event.
Eochai and Jack in Irons
There will be a zone spawn of either Eochai or Jack in Irons in every zone in which the event is active. Once one is defeated, another of the two will spawn in the same zone within a minute or two. For each spawn, there is a 90% chance that it will be Eochai, and a 10% chance that it will be Jack in Irons. Additionally, Jack in Irons only spaws in level 20 and up zones. [2]
Hero zone maps
Atlas Park Eochai spawn sites
Galaxy City Eochai spawn sites
The Hollows Eochai spawn sites
Perez Park Eochai spawn sites
Kings Row Eochai spawn sites
Skyway City Eochai spawn sites
Steel Canyon Eochai spawn sites
Boomtown Eochai spawn sites
Independence Port Eochai/Jack in Irons spawn site
Talos Island Eochai/Jack in Irons spawn sites
Striga Isle Eochai/Jack in Irons spawn sites
Dark Astoria Eochai/Jack in Irons spawn sites
Terra Volta Eochai/Jack in Irons spawn sites
Croatoa Eochai/Jack in Irons spawn sites
These are for Halloween versions only.
Brickstown Eochai/Jack in Irons spawn sites
Crey's Folly Eochai/Jack in Irons spawn sites
Founders' Falls Eochai/Jack in Irons spawn sites
Eden Eochai/Jack in Irons spawn sites
Peregrine Island Eochai/Jack in Irons spawn sites
Firebase Zulu Eochai/Jack in Irons spawn sites
PvP zone maps
Bloody Bay Eochai spawn sites
Siren's Call Eochai/Jack in Irons spawn sites
Warburg Eochai/Jack in Irons spawn sites
Badges
Three new badges are available for this event, in addition to the badges from the Halloween Event 2004 and 2006. They are awarded for receiving faction costume Temporary Powers while trick or treating.
You've collected 10 classic costumes.
You've collected 25 classic costumes.
You've collected 50 classic costumes.
Note: receiving a duplicate costume will give no indication of the duplicate, but it will count towards the badges. Because of this, it will appear that fewer costume drops have occurred than are required for the badge.
All of the previous Halloween event badges are once again available as well.
You have helped defeat a manifestation of Eochai, king of the Fir Bolg.
You have defeated 20 of the nefarious Vampires who rose from their graves on Halloween.
You have defeated 20 ghosts, spirits who have not rested since their original death.
You have defeated 15 werewolves, supernatural creatures created through the disease of lycanthropy.
You have defeated 50 zombies, the walking flesh of the recently dead.
You have defeated 75 witches, sorcerous crones who use dark magicks.
You have defeated the Halloween Jack in Irons.
You have defeated 20 of the Unseelie Court.
Notes
- Trick or Treat costume Badges do not have bars yet, but appear between the Firebase Zulu Security Detail and Tourist badges for heroes and between the Visionary and Visitor badge for villains.
- All Inspiration treats are "tier 3" (large). (Note, in testing, small insps where given, not large, this may change for the live version though)
- Note: Costumes are dropped independently of event salvage, meaning you can get both at once.
- While similar to Freakshow and Arachnos costumes, these DO NOT grant stealth or invisibility. Mobs will attack players who are wearing these costumes, even if it's a costume of their group.
- When Event Salvage is awarded as a treat, two Inspirations are also awarded.
- When Costume Powers are awarded, two Inspirations are awarded. In the case of receiving a duplicate costume, in which event you receive no notification of an award (Event Salvage, for example) in Global log, the two Inspirations can be used as an indication of a Costume being awarded.