Where Was Hamidon?

[GuyPerfect]

I need some help from some super-long-time veterans. I've noticed an anomaly that I can't explain.

• The patch notes for Issue 1 report that Hamidon was increased to level 50.
• The patch notes for Issue 2 report that the Eden zone was introduced.

So, um... Where was Hamidon at launch? And how did you get to him?

[Triplash]

Well I definitely wasn't around back then, but you got me curious so I went back over the list of patch notes. The notes corresponding to Issue 2's release mention adding The Hollows, The Tunnels of the "Unicorns" (the ones underneath the Hollows), and the four Shadow Shard zones, but say nothing about Eden.

I did find something though. The Crystal Titan Enhancements given out in the Eden Trial, which takes place in Eden, are level 40-43. Their page says that "After levels 41-50 were added in Issue 1, they lost much of their value." If that line is accurate then Eden had to have been around before Issue 1, let alone 2. My guess is the line on the Issue 2 page that says Eden was added, is actually supposed to say the unicorn Tunnels.

Edit: Huh... but then a little further down the Issue 2 page under Trials, it mentions adding the Eden Trial. Now I are confused too.

[Heroette]

Well, I have my original map from when I bought the game (pre-order) in 2004.  On the map, outside Woodvale (then later renamed "Eden") it has a X mark stating "Hamidon Sighting Here" but no zone.  I don't know what that means but Hamidon was in existence at Launch.  I hope that helps.  If I could figure out how to place a picture, I could show you.  LOL

[Codewalker]

My archived copy of the launch client has geobins for both Eden and The Hive. Looks like the wiki was mistaken on that patch note. I don't see the Eden trial map in the launch client, so I'm not sure which update it was patched in on.

[Blondeshell]

I wasn't around at launch, but maps for both Eden and The Hive are in the Issue 0 texMaps.pigg. There are also details for Hamidon in the Issue 0 powers.bin and VillainCostume.bin files. (The Issue 2 notes only say that the Eden Trial was added then.)

It appears to me that Hamidon did exist in-game at launch, but heroes didn't have any way to access it until they reached level 45 and could enter The Hive when the level cap was increased in Issue 1.

[FlyingCarcass]

It's my understanding that Hamidon was level 40 at launch and raised to 50 with issue 1.

[Ironwolf]

I believe Blondeshell is correct. The zone Hamidon was in was not reachable at launch as the cap was 40 and the Eden zone was 45 to enter.

I know I worked with one of the groups on Champion server to take Hamidon down and we found out the actual formula for what each part does rather than the get 20 Rad defs and win way.

We used the sniper squads, healing blanket, designated tanking rotation and all of that stuff.

[Aggelakis]

It's my understanding that Hamidon was level 40 at launch and raised to 50 with issue 1.

I'm *fairly* sure this is correct, but I wasn't actually around until CoV. I'm still waiting for a reply from a couple of my friends who *were* around at launch. But asking questions about launch of these guys is like asking geriatrics what they had for breakfast on April 21, 1988. It may just be lost in the brainmeats.

[slickriptide]

On reflection, I think I'll just assume that without personal experience (i.e., I was in the game at beta/launch but never so much as visited the Hive in the appropriate time frame) that I'm not qualified to say one way or the other.

[srmalloy]

I know I worked with one of the groups on Champion server to take Hamidon down and we found out the actual formula for what each part does rather than the get 20 Rad defs and win way.

I still think the 'get everyone a Nemesis Staff and have a two-minute Hami Raid' solution, back when it was the person opening the crate and not the mission owner that got the temporary power from the 'Find Source of Freaks' Weapons' mission (and it was a much flashier temp power, being both AoE and doing more damage), was more elegant -- and more fun to laugh about. It reminded me of the question from a modern-day expansion for the 'Call of Cthulhu' pencil-and-paper RPG "Yes, Cthulhu takes minimum damage from normal weapons -- but what is minimum damage for a 16"/50 shell?"

[Blondeshell]

Oh yeah, I didn't even think to check the Prima guide. Let's see:

First off, the front door has a pair of Level 40 monsters. [...] The Hamidon [...] is in the center of a group of three types of Mitochondria, all level 40 archvillains, with the nucleus being the actual Hamidon. These assistants do not move, can not be pulled solo, and must all be fought as a group. This encounter is designed for twenty or more Level 40 Heroes.

It lists The Hive as being Levels 38+ with level 40-42 monsters. Of course, Prima lists Eden as a level 50 zone with level 33-39 monsters.  :roll:

[Ironwolf]

Actually - you used to be able to access it from Creys! I had forgotten. They closed it after the level 50 cap rise I believe. Man the things you forget after 9 years.

Yes, at opening the trial was broken I think but was at level 40 and then at level cap rise they closed Creys and the only door was through 45+ Eden.

[Blondeshell]

My memory tells me that the door from Crey's Folly actually went into the Rikti Crash Site, which was then closed after it was converted to the Rikti War Zone in Issue 10.

[Aggelakis]

My memory tells me that the door from Crey's Folly actually went into the Rikti Crash Site, which was then closed after it was converted to the Rikti War Zone in Issue 10.

This is correct.

http://paragonwiki.com/wiki/RCS

[Ironwolf]

Man, I am losing it already!

Quick get this game back before I forget that Talos was holding the world up...........errr

[Dale-Man]

Here's an archived copy of the Issue 2 Overview Page:

http://web.archive.org/web/20040806185508/http://www.cityofheroes.com/features_update2.html

It does not mention adding Eden the zone, just the Eden Trial. Also, considering Eden is where the Numina TF ends, I think it's safe to say Eden was there at launch.

[Ashen Fury]

Here's an archived copy of the Issue 2 Overview Page:

http://web.archive.org/web/20040806185508/http://www.cityofheroes.com/features_update2.html

It does not mention adding Eden the zone, just the Eden Trial. Also, considering Eden is where the Numina TF ends, I think it's safe to say Eden was there at launch.

Oh wow...i just realized that the old coh site is archived way back to 2001...i am getting such a trip looking back on the old pages and info. This is so awesome.

[Ironwolf]

You have to remember at launch many of the TF's were broken.

Positron TF was an absolute mess at launch, I tried it the first weekend and we gave up in the first mission after an hour. So many things were a mess - in Crey's there was one spot where bees would spawn and you could put fireball on auto as a blaster and just spam your way from 35 to 40 without moving.

They didn't have auto logoff either and so a lot of cheats were working in similar fashion.

[Ampithere]

I was around at launch, but I was also extremely young. Like (6th?) grade I believe. So I wasn't particularly interested in leveling quickly, and was more interested in "try every single powerset!" Unsurprisingly, I didn't reach level 50 until about two years later.  :P

So I can tell you lots of things about Atlas Park and Galaxy City, but that's about it  ;)

[Bliz]

If I remember correctly, from stories from SG mates that had been around since launch, Hami was originally in Eden in 'The Hive' area. But raids constantly crashed the zone, hence why The Hive zone was created.