Notoriety
This article is about mission difficulty/notoriety. For Player Vs Player reputation, see Reputation.
Overview
In all areas of City of Heroes, your character's Notoriety (also known as your Difficulty or Challenge Level setting; or Reputation) affects the size and makeup of the spawns in your missions. Unlike the pre-Issue 16 Notoriety system, there are several ways to adjust the difficulty of instanced missions, described below. In addition, adjusting Notoriety settings no longer costs a character Inf. Changing your setting will affect instance (door) missions that have not yet started.
Issue 16 completely revamped the notoriety system by allowing players to fine-tune exactly how they want enemies to spawn in missions.
While it is still possible to approach the listed contacts, the easiest way to adjust your Notoriety is to click the small bubble at the bottom right of the Chat interface.
Paragon City
Notoriety Options
When a Field Analyst is first approached, the player will be given the following dialogue:
Welcome to the new Hero Corps
Powered Personnel Power Profile, or 4XP as we like to call it. We have you listed on file Character:
-- Capable of fighting enemies at your current security level.
-- Combat equivalent of 1 standard hero.
-- Does not prefer fighting bosses when alone.
-- Does not prefer to fight Arch-Villains.
Does this sound correct?
I want to change the level I fight
- I want to fight enemies that are -1 to my level.
- I want to fight enemies that are +0 to my level.
- I want to fight enemies that are +1 to my level.
- I want to fight enemies that are +2 to my level.
- I want to fight enemies that are +3 to my level.
- I want to fight enemies that are +4 to my level.
- We've updated our data files, you are now marked as wanting to fight enemies -/+X to your level.
I want to change the number of heroes to which I'm equivalent
- I think I'm as good or better than 1 standard heroes.
- I think I'm as good or better than 2 standard heroes.
- I think I'm as good or better than 3 standard heroes.
- I think I'm as good or better than 4 standard heroes.
- I think I'm as good or better than 5 standard heroes.
- I think I'm as good or better than 6 standard heroes.
- I think I'm as good or better than 7 standard heroes.
- I think I'm as good or better than 8 standard heroes.
- We've updated our data files, you are now marked as equivalent to X standard heroes.
I want to fight bosses even when solo
I would like to fight Arch-villains at their full strength, not as Elite Bosses
Notoriety Contact Locations
Hero Corps Field Analysts are the people who are responsible for changing your notoriety. They are at the following locations:
| Zone | Location | Coordinates |
|---|---|---|
| Atlas Park | Behind and to the right (northeast) of City Hall, just west of the statue | (-50, 16, -886) |
| Kings Row | Southwest of Blue Steel, just outside the Paragon City Police Department | (-602, 32, 1459) |
| Steel Canyon | Just south of the large statue where Positron and Valkyrie are located | (-3136, -80, -396) |
| Skyway City | In the western part of the grassy park area where Synapse and Mynx are located | (-74, -27, -5108) |
| Faultline | Near the Overbrook Medical Center | (-414, 0, -1579) |
| Independence Port | Between the Paragon City Monorail and the hospital, just behind the base portal | (-1562, 6, -5511) |
| Talos Island | Just in front of the large statue of Talos | (1714, 13, 7752) |
| Croatoa | Just in front of the University building | (-1101, 38, 2016) |
| Brickstown | Just outside the hospital on the southern side | (265, 0, 1526) |
| Founders' Falls | Just west of the large fountain south where Numina and Infernal are located | (3887, 0, 605) |
| Rikti War Zone | In the southwest corner of the central platform in the Vanguard Base | (359, -1184, -2286) |
| Peregrine Island | Just beside the large Portal Corporation sign in the courtyard | (-1502, 0, -3470) |
| Cimerora | In the northwest corner of the entrance cave from the Midnighter Club | (-596, -40, 4899) |
Rogue Isles
Notoriety Options
When a Fortunata Fateweaver is first approached, the player will be given the following dialogue:
Welcome to the new Arachnos
Strategic Rating of Superpowered Live Yield, or SRSLY as we like to call it. We have you listed on file Character:
-- Capable of fighting enemies at your current security level.
-- Combat equivalent of 1 standard villain.
-- Does not prefer fighting bosses when alone.
-- Does not prefer to fight Heroes.
Does this sound correct?
I want to change the level I fight
- I want to fight enemies that are -1 to my level.
- I want to fight enemies that are +0 to my level.
- I want to fight enemies that are +1 to my level.
- I want to fight enemies that are +2 to my level.
- I want to fight enemies that are +3 to my level.
- I want to fight enemies that are +4 to my level.
- We've updated our data files, you are now marked as wanting to fight enemies -/+X to your level.
I want to change the number of villains to which I'm equivalent
- I think I'm as good or better than 1 standard villains.
- I think I'm as good or better than 2 standard villains.
- I think I'm as good or better than 3 standard villains.
- I think I'm as good or better than 4 standard villains.
- I think I'm as good or better than 5 standard villains.
- I think I'm as good or better than 6 standard villains.
- I think I'm as good or better than 7 standard villains.
- I think I'm as good or better than 8 standard villains.
- We've updated our data files, you are now marked as equivalent to X standard villains. Hail Recluse!
I want to fight bosses even when solo
- We've updated our data files, you now want to fight Bosses when solo.
- I don't want to fight bosses when soloing.
- We've updated our data files, you now no longer want to fight Bosses when solo.
I would like to fight Heroes at their full strength, not as Elite Bosses
- We've updated our data files, you now want to fight Heroes.
- I don't want to fight Heroes at their full strength, I'd rather fight them as Elite Bosses.
- We've updated our data files, you no longer want to fight Heroes.
Notoriety Contact Locations
Fortunata Fateweavers are the people who are responsible for changing your notoriety. They are at the following locations:
| Zone | Location | Coordinates |
|---|---|---|
| Mercy Island | About 80 yards west of the Mercy marker, standing against the same building as Operative Kuzmin | (-1292, 245, 182) |
| Port Oakes | Just southeast of the Arena, which is northwest of the Mercy Island ferry | (-1090, 160, 1314) |
| Cap au Diable | Just southwest of Arbiter Howe in the Aeon City neighborhood | (-351, 151, -222) |
| Sharkhead Isle | On the dock just northeast of the Ferry | (-1193, 0, -776) |
| Nerva Archipelago | On the dock with the Mutant and Magic Stores | (2280, 11, 8429) |
| St. Martial | Just east of Arbiter Hayes on the north side of the Golden Giza | (-2229, 128, 1456) |
| Grandville | Just east of the Elite Quartermaster in the central plaza | (2718, -392, 1894) |
| Rikti War Zone | In the southwest corner of the central platform in the Vanguard Base | (342, -1184, -2287) |
| Cimerora | In the southwest corner of the entrance cave from the Midnighter Club | (-595, -40, 4971) |
Praetoria
Notoriety Options
When a notoriety contact is first approached, the player will be given the following dialogue:
Welcome Citizen to the Combat Effectiveness Review Enforcement System, or CERES as it is code-named. We have you listed on file Character:
-- Capable of fighting enemies at your current security level.
-- Combat equivalent of 1 standard villain.
-- Does not prefer fighting bosses when alone.
-- Does not prefer to fight Arch-villains.
Does this sound correct?
I want to change the level I fight
- I want to fight enemies that are -1 to my level.
- I want to fight enemies that are +0 to my level.
- I want to fight enemies that are +1 to my level.
- I want to fight enemies that are +2 to my level.
- I want to fight enemies that are +3 to my level.
- I want to fight enemies that are +4 to my level.
- We've updated our data files, you are now marked as wanting to fight enemies -/+X to your level.
I want to change the number of powered individuals to which I'm equivalent
- I think I'm as good or better than 1 standard powered individuals .
- I think I'm as good or better than 2 standard powered individuals .
- I think I'm as good or better than 3 standard powered individuals .
- I think I'm as good or better than 4 standard powered individuals .
- I think I'm as good or better than 5 standard powered individuals .
- I think I'm as good or better than 6 standard powered individuals .
- I think I'm as good or better than 7 standard powered individuals .
- I think I'm as good or better than 8 standard powered individuals .
- We've updated our data files, you are now marked as equivalent to X standard powered individuals.
I want to fight bosses even when solo
- We've updated our data files, you now want to fight Bosses when solo.
- I don't want to fight bosses when soloing.
- We've updated our data files, you now no longer want to fight Bosses when solo.
I would like to fight Arch-villains at their full strength, not as Elite Bosses
- We've updated our data files, you now want to fight Arch-Villains.
- I don't want to fight Arch-villains at their full strength, I'd rather fight them as Elite Bosses.
- We've updated our data files, you no longer want to fight Arch-Villains.
Notoriety Contact Locations
The are multiple types of contacts who are responsible for changing your notoriety in Praetoria, depending on the zone: Powers Division Dispatchers, Resistance Operative Handlers, and Mistresses of Fate. They are at the following locations:
| Zone | Type | Location | Coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nova Praetoria | Dispatcher | West side of the Magisterium plaza, near Praetor Duncan | (-4804, 33, -256) |
| Underground Nova | Handler | Center of the first horizontal catwalk in the Resistance Hub | (-4136, 528, -299) |
| Imperial City | Dispatcher | Just north of the CTA terminal, near Nightstar | (-2258, -15, 419) |
| Underground Imperial | Handler | Center of the first horizontal catwalk in the Resistance Hub | (-918, 352, -3378) |
| Neutropolis | Dispatcher | West side of Neuron's tower, near Battle Maiden | (1948, -51, -643) |
| Underground Neutropolis | Handler | Right wall of the Resistance hub, near Vanessa DeVore | (-50, -1220, -1657) |
| First Ward | Mistress | On top of the building north of the Survivor Compound, near Nadia | (1857, 196, -2816) |
| Night Ward | Mistress | Standing in the first lighted path SE of the Midnighter Mansion | (342, -1184, -2287) |
Spawns
The primary factors affecting the spawn size and makeup include the experience level of the character when the mission was assigned, the notoriety of that character when the mission is first entered and the number of players on the team when the spawn is, well, spawned. Mobs are spawned throughout a mission as characters approach spawn points.
Generally speaking, a Spawn Point in a solo mission at the lowest notoriety will generate either three Minions or a Minion and a Lieutenant. Two players will generate five Minions, or three Minions and a Lieutenant, or three Minions one level higher, or a Minion and a Lieutenant one level higher. More players or a higher notoriety will produce greater numbers of enemies, sometimes producing Bosses over and above the number placed by the mission designer.
In addition, missions attempted by a solo player on the lowest notoriety level will spawn Lieutenants where the mission designer placed Bosses. Missions that call for a "signature character" such as (say) Aurora Borealis or Anti-Matter will spawn that character as an Elite Boss or Archvillain depending on real (not adjusted) team size, as listed below. N.B.: Archvillain or Hero characters in Task or Strike Forces will always spawn as such regardless of team size or notoriety.
Finally a note to players of Kheldian archtypes: Void Hunter and Quantum mobs spawn in addition to the number normally generated by a spawn point. Increases in team size can cause Void Hunter and Quantum mobs to spawn at Lieutenant and even Boss strength as well. For this reason, Kheldian players should exercise caution in raising their notoriety.
Architect Entertainment
Notoriety settings affect spawns in Architect Entertainment (Mission Architect) missions in the same manner as standard instanced missions. For example, if the character has opted to fight Archvillains or Heroes at Elite Boss difficulty, Archvillains and Heroes in Mission Architect missions will spawn at the Elite Boss rank instead.
Pre Issue 16 Notoriety System
This section contains information that no longer applies to the current version of City of Heroes/Villains. It is provided for historical purposes.
The below information describes the Notoriety system prior to Issue 16. It had fewer options than the post-Issue 16 system.
Overview
In both City of Heroes and City of Villains, your character's Notoriety (also known as your Difficulty or Challenge Level setting; or Reputation) affects the size and makeup of the spawns in your missions. There are five Notoriety levels to choose from when visiting a Field Analyst or Fateweaver and paying a modest fee (inf). Changing your setting will affect instance (door) missions that have not yet started.
| Hero | Villain | Level | Size | Challenge Level | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heroic | Villainous | +0 or +1 | Challenge Level 1 | Bosses downgraded to Lieutenants when solo, Heroes/Archvillains downgraded to Elite Bosses in teams of 5 or less | |
| Tenacious | Malicious | +0 or +1 | larger spawns | Challenge Level 2 | Heroes/Archvillains downgraded to Elite Bosses in teams of 4 or less |
| Rugged | Vicious | +1 or +2 | Challenge Level 3 | Heroes/Archvillains downgraded to Elite Bosses in teams of 3 or less | |
| Unyielding | Ruthless | +1 or +2 | larger spawns | Challenge Level 4 | Heroes/Archvillains downgraded to Elite Bosses in teams of 2 or less |
| Invincible | Relentless | +2 or +3 | Challenge Level 5 | Heroes/Archvillains remain even when solo |
Hero / Villain Difficulty Levels
There are five levels of notoriety. In order from easiest to hardest, they are:
Heroic / Villainous
At the Heroic level, enemies will typically be equal to or a level above your character's level and the number of enemies will be at a base number. If you are attempting missions by yourself, bosses in the missions will instead be lieutenants with reduced hit points and power effectiveness, though they will retain the same powers as a normal boss. Similarly, Archvillains will be Elite Bosses when the team has less than six players.
Tenacious / Malicious
At the Tenacious level, enemies will still typically be equal to or a level above your character's level, but the number and rank of enemies will be calculated as if there was an additional person on your team. Enemies may therefore be more numerous and there may be more lieutenants and bosses. If you are attempting missions by yourself, bosses can spawn in them when set to this difficulty level or higher. Archvillains will be Elite Bosses when the team has less than five players.
Rugged / Vicious
At the Rugged level, enemies will typically be one to two levels above your character's level and the number of enemies will be approximately the same as the base number at the Heroic level. Bosses will spawn in missions normally, but Archvillains will be Elite Bosses when there are less than four players on the team.
Unyielding / Ruthless
At the Unyielding level, enemies will typically be one to two levels above your character's level, but the number and rank of enemies will be calculated as if there was an additional person on your team. Enemies may therefore be more numerous and there may be more lieutenants and bosses. Archvillains will be Elite Bosses when the team has less than three players.
Invincible / Relentless
At the Invincible level, enemies will typically be two to three levels above your character's level and the number of enemies will be approximately the same as the base number at the Heroic level. Bosses will spawn in missions normally and Archvillains will be Archvillains, even if the missions are attempted by a single character (i.e. they will not be reduced to Elite Bosses).