Incarnate System

Overview

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The Incarnate System is the name of the end game content, first unveiled in Issue 19: Alpha Strike.

The system features new content, abilities, and rewards for level 50 characters. As player characters work through the content, they will be given rewards to unlock special Incarnate slots and special salvage to craft boosts and powers that will increase the capabilities of Level 50 characters. In turn, these characters will need the added abilities in order to work through subsequent and more difficult content.

A VIP subscription is required for players to access the Incarnate System. Players that alternate between VIP and Premium status will be unable to access Incarnate content, Incarnate powers (including crafting), and Incarnate vendors while Premium.

Incarnate System Storyline

!! Incarnate Story Spoilers !!

Summary originally Official Forums member Xzero45. Expansion and alteration has occurred in whole or in part.

Behavioral Adjustment Facility Trial - Where prisoners go to become mindwashed and reintroduced to society. Mother Mayhem planned to release mindwashed Resistance members into the public to ruin public opinion of them. You dismantle it, destroy the androids Nightstar and Siege in the process, and rescue the Resistance members.

Lambda Sector Trial - Factory of Praetorian weaponry. You rush in, destroy and dismantle the area, and come face to face with Marauder. He's supercharged thanks to a serum from Neuron. You defeat him.

Keyes Island Reactor Trial - Keyes fumes over Praetoria being dismantled, Emperor Cole still not trusting him, and Praetor Duncan spurning his affections. He hooks his armor directly to the reactors to get a massive power boost, as he refuses to let his life's work go down without a fight. You subdue and defeat him after shutting the reactors down one by one.

Underground Trial - Vanessa DeVore of the Carnival of Light discovers a secret about the Hamidon. You, alongside Desdemona, travel into underground tunnels inhabited by Devouring Earth. After defeating one of the Hamidon's more powerful creations, you discover Vanessa was killed. Desdemona, upon taking her mask, discovers the secret: Cole never beat the beast! He arranged a deal with it. If humanity could prove their worth, Hamidon would spare them. Ergo, Cole creates a controlled society in the form of Praetoria. The current war set Cole into a panic, and he attempted to control us so Hamidon wouldn't get mad. He failed massively, and Hamidon's furious.

TPN Campus Trial - Armed with the knowledge gained from The Underground trial, you raid the Total Praetoria News network to broadcast this secret to the people. Maelstrom stands in your path, but is defeated. HD, the main guy behind the TPN, airs everything about Cole's deal and the people discover the truth.

Minds of Mayhem Trial - With the people in an uproar, Mother Mayhem uses her mindwashing techniques on all the people of Praetoria and beyond. Metronome, the Praetorian Clockwork King, is now inhabiting Siege's body and working with the Resistance at this point. You, alongside the Resistance, defeat Malaise, separate Shalice Tilman from Aurora Borealis's body, and free the Seer Network. You effectively kill Mother Mayhem, ending her forever. Also, Calvin Scott discovers he never was married to Aurora, but was instead a patient at the Mother of Mercy hospital and went insane, making up a fictional backstory and motivation.

Dark Astoria - In recent years, Dark Astoria has been a dangerous place, but now that the last strands of Mot's bindings begin to erode, the city exerts its mysterious pull, drawing the doomed to its streets to struggle or serve. At long last, Mot has finally been freed and his minions flock to Dark Astoria in greater numbers than ever to revel in his power and witness as he devours all life on Primal Earth. Diabolique, always searching for more and more power, has also come to Dark Astoria.

Dilemma Diabolique Trial - After the events of Dark Astoria, Diabolique has captured the Freedom Phalanx, the Vindicators, and the "reformed" Dominatrix. She plans to absorb Mot's essence, as well as those of the heroes, to become death incarnate. You foil her plans, destroy her, and put an end to the terrors of Dark Astoria once and for all. Dream Doctor offers his aid, and explains the Dagger of Jocas used to seal Mot could be useful in defeating Cole.

Belladonna Vetrano - Black Swan and Praetor Sinclair escape and summon Shadow Hunter from death to Night Ward, the spirit world version of First Ward. Rescuing Pendragon from the Imperial Defense Forces, you team up to defeat Shadow Hunter a final time. Afterward, you assist Pendragon reclaiming Excalibur from the Lady of the Lake, only to find out that both the Lady and Excalibur have been corrupted, twisting its new bearer into "Nega Pendragon". Sinclair and Nega Pendragon escape to Imperial City, where you assist Desdemona restoring Pendragon's "goodness", and force Sinclair to flee his territory and any control he had left.

Magisterium Trial - Praetoria is effectively dismantled and everyone evacuated. The Incarnates, Resistance, Dominatrix, and Dream Doctor team up to finish things. Emperor Cole sends his last remaining lieutenants after the Incarnates, but to no avail. Seeing the ruin and his deserted city, Cole launches a nuke over Nova Praetoria to completely destroy it while tapping into the Well's Power entirely. Using the Quills of Jocas, you separate Cole from the Well and finally defeat him within the crater that was once the Magesterium. Victory is yours, for now.

Incarnate System Mechanics

• The effects of the Incarnate System Abilities function exemplared down to Level 45. Under that level, they stop working. At level 45 and higher, they work for all game content, not just Incarnate content.

Ability List

All Incarnate Abilities can be seen in the Incarnate Abilities window, though their effects and names could change before their release. In order by tier, the abilities are:

	Incarnate Ability Tree
Tier	Basic Tiers
	Psychic Branch	Physical Branch
Tier One	Alpha (Abilities): Functions as a universal Enhancement that affects all applicable powers. Portions of its boosts bypass Enhancement Diminishing Returns.
Tier Two	Judgement (Abilities): Grants characters new upgradeable multi-target attack powers, which can take the form of a Fire Targeted AoE, Cold Cone, Energy Chain, Negative Energy PBAoE, or a Smashing Cone. Judgement is not affected by buffs or set bonuses but is affected by Alpha and Interface Slot modifiers, except for the Agility or Spiritual Boost Recharge Reduction. Recharges in 90-120 seconds.	Interface (Abilities): Provides the player with a Permanent Proc effect, that will affect enemies with each hostile attack. Base percentages of Procs firing is variable depending on choice chosen, with some allowing two procs going off at the same time. Pet powers including the Lore pet will also trigger Interface procs.
Tier Three	Lore (Abilities): Functions as a Very Long Recharge power that allows the user to summon one or two pets from a variety of different NPC groups. These pets are controllable in the same way as Mastermind pets are, even to non-Mastermind characters.	Destiny (Abilities): Functions as a Very Long Recharge power that allows the user to buff a large amount of allies for 120 Seconds. Tier 4 powers allow for increasing of Resistances to 90% etc.
	Advanced Tiers
Tier Four	Hybrid (Abilities): Unlocks various ways to either shore up a character's weaknesses or make their strengths even stronger, via four trees: Assault, Control, Melee, and Support.	Genesis: Nothing is known about this Incarnate Ability.
Tier Five	Mind: Nothing is known about this Incarnate Ability.	Vitae: Nothing is known about this Incarnate Ability.
Tier Six	Omega: Nothing is known about this Incarnate Ability.

Slot Details

Alpha Slot

The Alpha Slot can be unlocked by defeating foes at level 50. It used to be normally unlocked by completing Mender Ramiel's arc, which is still interesting since it introduces players to the Incarnate System by advancing the in-game story-line and lore, and explaining the mechanics of how the Incarnate System works.

A character can access their Incarnate Abilities Window even before any Incarnate Slots are unlocked, where they can manage all their Incarnate abilities.

Once the Alpha Slot is unlocked, the character:

• can fill the Alpha Slot with an Alpha Slot Ability which can grant universal power aspect enhancements, a level shift, and bonuses to certain in-game tasks.
• starts getting Incarnate Shards as a drop from defeating foes.
• starts getting Incarnate Components or Incarnate Shards as a reward for certain Raids and Task Forces.
• can access a third build.
• can join activities restricted to Incarnates. This includes the Tin Mage and Apex Task Forces.
• can receive the Notice of the Well Incarnate Component from the Weekly Strike Target.

More details can be found on the Alpha Slot Abilities page.

Judgement Slot

The Judgement Slot is unlocked by accumulating Psychic Incarnate Experience by defeating foes after the Alpha Slot is unlocked.

Once the Judgement Slot is unlocked, the character can fill the Judgement Slot with a Judgement Slot Ability which unlocks new area attack powers.

More details can be found on the Judgement Slot Abilities page.

Interface Slot

The Interface Slot is unlocked by accumulating Physical Incarnate Experience by defeating foes once the Alpha Slot is unlocked.

Once the Interface Slot is unlocked, the character can fill the Interface Slot with a Interface Slot Ability which grant different enemy debuffing effects.

More details can be found on the Interface Slot Abilities page.

Lore Slot

The Lore Slot is unlocked by accumulating Psychic Incarnate Experience once the Judgement Slot is unlocked.

Once the Lore Slot is unlocked, the character can fill the Lore Slot with a Lore Slot Ability which summon essences from the Well of the Furies in the form of vanquished foes to battle by your side. These pets are controllable using the Mastermind interface, even to non-Mastermind characters. They spawn at -1 to the character's level, but inherit any Level Shift or Incarnate Shift the character possesses.

More details can be found on the Lore Slot Abilities page.

Destiny Slot

The Destiny Slot is unlocked by accumulating Physical Incarnate Experience by defeating foes once the Interface Slot is unlocked.

Once the Destiny Slot is unlocked, the character can fill the Destiny Slot with a Destiny Slot Ability which grant large-scale buffs and heals to players.

More details can be found on the Destiny Slot Abilities page.

Hybrid Slot

The Hybrid Slot is unlocked by defeating foes once the Lore and Destiny Slots are unlocked.

Once the Hybrid Slot is unlocked, the character can fill the Hybrid Slot with a Hybrid Slot Ability which unlocks various ways to either shore up a character's weaknesses or make their strengths even stronger, via four trees: Assault, Control, Melee, and Support.

More details can be found on the Hybrid Slot Abilities page.

Incarnate Abilities Window

The Incarnate Abilities Window can be found by clicking on Powers over the Power Tray to open up the Powerlist Window. At the top of the Powerlist Window, click on Incarnate Abilities to open the Incarnate Window. Or, use the command /toggle incarnate to open and close the Incarnate Window.

A character can access their Incarnate Abilities Window even before any Incarnate Slots are unlocked, where they can manage all their Incarnate abilities.

Historical

This section contains information about changes that took place in Homecoming: City of Heroes/Villains. It is provided for historical purposes.

Development and Release

• Initially, the first Incarnate level (called the Alpha Slot) was to be available with implementation of the Going Rogue expansion, but due to feedback from Beta Testers that unlocking the slot without new content made the system feel incomplete, it was pushed back[1].
• Issue 19 introduced the Alpha Slot and the Common and Uncommon Alpha Abilities, in addition to the Tin Mage Mark II Task Force and Apex Task Force, which are restricted to characters who have unlocked the Alpha Slot.
  • The original abilities for the Alpha Slot were Cardiac, Musculature, Nerve, and Spiritual.
• Issue 19.5 introduced the Weekly Strike Target and the Rare and Very Rare Alpha Abilities.
• Issue 20 introduced Leagues, the Behavioral Adjustment Facility and Lambda Sector Incarnate Trials, Incarnate Merits, the Destiny, Interface, Lore, and Judgement Slots, and all four tiers of the Destiny, Interface, Lore, and Judgement Slot Abilities.
  • The original abilities for the Destiny Slot were Ageless, Barrier, Clarion, and Rebirth.
  • The original abilities for the Interface Slot were Diamagnetic, Gravitic, Paralytic, and Reactive.
  • The original abilities for the Lore Slot were Clockwork, IDF, Seers, and Warworks.
  • The original abilities for the Judgement Slot were Cryonic, Ion, Pyronic, and Void.
• Issue 20.5 introduced Incarnate Merit Vendors, the Keyes Island Reactor Incarnate Trial, and the following Ability options for the Lore Slot:

Arachnos
Carnival of Shadows
Cimeroran
Longbow
Nemesis
Phantoms
Polar Lights
Robotic Drones
Rularuu
Rikti
Storm Elementals
Vanguard

• Issue 21 introduced The Underground Incarnate Trial.
• Issue 21.5 introduced the TPN Campus and Minds of Mayhem Incarnate Trials and the following Ability options:
  • Alpha Slot: Agility, Intuition, Resilient, Vigor
  • Destiny Slot: Incandescence
  • Interface Slot: Cognitive, Degenerative, Preemptive, Spectral
  • Judgement Slot: Vorpal
• Issue 22 introduced the newly revamped Dark Astoria Incarnate Zone and the Dilemma Diabolique Incarnate Trial.
• Issue 23 introduced the Magisterium Incarnate Trial, the Hybrid Slot, and all four tiers of Hybrid Slot Abilities.
  • The original abilities for the Hybrid Slot were Assault, Control, Melee, and Support.
• Issue 24 introduced the following Ability options for the Lore Slot: Banished Pantheon, Knives of Vengeance, Talons of Vengeance and Tsoo.

Developer Commentary

• On 2011-03-04, Black Scorpion posted the following information on the official Issue 20 Beta Forum regarding the mechanical interaction between the Alpha Slot Abilities and the Incarnate Slots being introduced in Issue 20:

"We're tightly controlling what enhancements and buffs affect the Incarnate powers because their base effects tend to be much higher than standard.

Here's how the rules break down currently:

• None of the Incarnate powers are affected by recharge reductions of any type currently available in game - including the Spiritual Alphas.
• Judgement and Lore are affected by non-recharge "global enhancements" - this currently only includes Alpha slot and Interface slot powers. Regular buffs should not apply.
• Nothing affects Destiny or Interface. For Interface the tech just isn't equipped to handle that aspect of it. For Destiny the base effects are so strong that if we allowed enhancements to apply we'd probably have to tone down the base effect for balance. And we'd prefer to leave it strong by default."

External Links

• YouTube Video (starts at 2:39)
• Massively.com PAX East 2010 article
• Alpha Slot Removed from Going Rogue on the Official Forums
• Issue 19 Overview on cityofheroes.com
• Incarnate Overview on cityofheroes.com
• Incarnate Lore on cityofheroes.com
• Alpha Slot details on cityofheroes.com