Where is Croatoa?

[inkblaster]

WHERE IS CROATOA!

I don't know, I'm asking, Here's what we know:

Tram goes to it, so it's not an Island like Peregrine
Levels 30-39 potentially.

My theory, North of IP. I can be added to the Green Tram line, and it could possibly be the devastation of nearby Boomtown kept it closed off.

Thoughts?

[Krypto]

Dunno where it is, but what do you think of these?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v204/SVTBert/croatoafield.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v204/SVTBert/croatoauni.jpg

[Cold Quake]

:o

Those pics genuine?

[Krypto]

Genuine? What wouldn't be genuine about them?

[suburbanhell]

WHERE IS CROATOA!

I don't know, I'm asking, Here's what we know:

Tram goes to it, so it's not an Island like Peregrine
Levels 30-39 potentially.

My theory, North of IP. I can be added to the Green Tram line, and it could possibly be the devastation of nearby Boomtown kept it closed off.

Thoughts?

What are you talking about?

[Krypto]

What are you talking about?

The new zone, listed as an Issue 5 release. Get on the ball, Major!

Now drop and give me 50!

[suburbanhell]

Sir yes sir! How the hell did I miss that?

[Magna Harrier]

I assume that large, institute looking place was planned to facilitate the SSOCS that will be pushed out till issue 14 or the like.... even still, I hope that the zone maintains the foggish look, if it was intentional. I could live with a suburban/ country style city zone.... perhaps a series of large estates for the city's wealthy, because A) It would be cool and B) Depending on the level range and location, it would a cool place for an SG base.

[MaligneFamily]

Croatoa sounds aquatic and has the sorta same spelling as Coralax... possible connection?

*EDIT* Also is could be a bubbled underwater section of the city...

[Stalking Shadow]

Isn't Kroatoa a volcano somewhere?

[Libertyman]

i thought they said early on that Coratoa was a Island in the ocean somewhere

[Krypto]

Croatoa sounds aquatic and has the sorta same spelling as Coralax... possible connection?

*EDIT* Also is could be a bubbled underwater section of the city...

No.

And no.


:p

[MaligneFamily]

No.

And no.


:p

Bah.

And bah

:shinner:

[inkblaster]

Krakatoa is the volcano. Croatoa, what was written on the trees on the island of Roanoke when a colony went missing. But, demo hacks and Pigg searching and Dev comments lead the speculations that:
There will be a Tram
There will be a University
It will have mobs and missions for levels 30-39.

I'm thinking bases will be able to be put there, and mansions sounds good as one of the main themes they were working on for bases was mansions.

I love the pumpkin patches and orange trees, very swank, very New England. Sleepy Hollow anyone? Good stuff, maybe we'll see some Coven or T'ir whatever those guys were, that'd be swank.

On with the speculation! Anyone got guesses, I was also pondering maybe south-east of Brickstown, near Eden, thus the down homey farm-type atmosphere.

[Magna Harrier]

If it shapes up like that, I may just have my new favorite zone. One of my favorite things to do in MMORPG's is to set up a little hidy spot for myself, far away from where most folks usually go. In CoH, it's Circe Island (in Talos). If you look around, there's a kind of small alcove under one of the islands where you can hang out... it's a nice peaceful place to hang around and chat.
Just to make sure... Issue 5 will be hitting before CoV, right?

[inkblaster]

I'm thinking it'll be close on the release dates. CoV is slated for 'this fall', as well as the new novel Web of Arachnos. the Issues are typically 4 months apart.

Now, they've already said Skills won't be in :mad: , so that shouldn't stretch it out.

4 months is September-ish.

[ShadowHands]

Any more pics? :chuckle:

[vyxzuw]

You are all assuming one thing:

That it will be only ONE zone. What if it's several zones, with a Tram connecting them? (Or the tram could be used to add other zones, later...)

[Seadevil]

Pfft... You're all wrong.

We all know it was really an island that attacked the X-Men.

... :notme:

[vyxzuw]

Run! He'll bring the wrath of Marvel down on us all!

[Astartus]

My conclusions on the topic of Croatoa (http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=2840437&page=&view=&sb=5&o=&fpart=3&vc=1).

Summary:
- Croatoa is a city zone (and not a hazard zone as many rumors tried to point out)
- Level range will be similar to IP, Talos, Striga and Dark Astoria (perhaps late 20's to early 40's)
- No island, but will have a huge lake in the middle of the zone
- Salamanca is only neighbourhood with "city" feeling, everything else is either wood or farm land.

[Poison]

And since Astartus and I are the friggin experts on this, he's right, and so am I.
There is a tram in Croatoa.

[inkblaster]

Ok experts, you've said What the zone is, WHERE is it?

[Poison]

Croatoa's tram is the last stop of a line, so it can't be part of the green or yellow line.
Location-wise, I'd guess it to be north or west of IP.

[Astartus]

Croatoa's tram is the last stop of a line, so it can't be part of the green or yellow line.
Location-wise, I'd guess it to be north or west of IP.

Sadly the informatins about Croatoa's location are very rare. Poison is right (Right in, I also think this, and nothing opooisng has been mentioned) that Croatoa seems to be the last stop of a Tram line.

Poison: I just want to point out that this doesn't have to be a dead end station though. Perhaps think of something like "Brickstown" (near the hospital) where the tram turns 180° and goes back nearly the same way.
Edit: Ok, the Croatoa Tram Station seems to be a pocket station to an existing tram track: Parallel tracks (http://www.astartus.de/Croatoa2.jpg)

Other geografic elements like the huge hills in the north- and southeast, and the large lake with a small river going south-west may also point out that the zone is located somewhere in the east (cause the water of the lake would runoff at the river and go west/southwest and perhaps flow into the "Red River" somewhere south of Founder's Falls.

I think possible locations for this zone might be:
1. South of Dark Astoria and east of Founder's Falls
2. North of Independence Port and west of Boomtown
3. Somewhere we would never imagine it

[inkblaster]

I'm putting my 5 influence on south of Bricks, southwest of Skyway/faultline, west of Hive/Eden.

I know topography makes no sense in COH as the Hollows have big hills where a coastline should be, but the mountains could be formed from when Faultline created 'faultline'.

Also, the Faultline trial zone is a big puddle of water, potentially like the big lake in Croatoa, and is upstream so to speak of the Dam in Faultline.

This and the potential level range leaves Bricks as a good area for it, as well as near the Hive/Eden.

My reason for starting this thread is looking at possible ways the devs may see to alleviate some travel issues.

Having another path into founders instead of through Talos would be nice. Potentially through Eden.

[vyxzuw]

Still assuming it's only one zone...

[Krypto]

Because it IS only one zone. Silly. :P

[Krypto]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v204/SVTBert/croatoamap.jpg

[Poison]

Ya, so what? We've been looking at this map since I4 hit Test server. :eyebrow:

[inkblaster]

Actually, looking at that map, unless it's oriented wrong, the direction the Tram is coming in indicates the city will be to the SE, so it may be off of IP.

That would fit the level range, but still sucks for those wanting another way to get to FF

[Tsarmina]

And where the heck did that map come from??

[Krypto]

Ya, so what? We've been looking at this map since I4 hit Test server. :eyebrow:

Not everyone has seen it, Poison. :rolleyes:

And where the heck did that map come from??

PIGG files. :)

[Tsarmina]

You have to share these things with us when you find em dammit! How could you withold such goodness from me?? :grr:

[Poison]

Just cause you people don't read all threads doesn't mean we don't share! :p

Edit: A little search told me that the info on this map was posted April 1st.

[sheld0n]

Am i the only one who cant stop thinking this? (http://www.biega.com/croatia.jpg)

[Jade_Dragon]

Am i the only one who cant stop thinking this? (http://www.biega.com/croatia.jpg)

Yeah, definately. That's actually the way I've been pronouncing it in my head all this time, until I noticed it's actually not spelled that way.

[D'Arkaine]

i keep thinking of the southern colony that went missing (on roanoke island)...i know the spelling is all different and such...but it pops in my head immediately...followed shortly by the volcano. ;shrugs

now so thankful that I have kept my account up since prerelease...

*does the happy dance* - *slips sprains mouse hand* NO!!!!

[Astartus]

i keep thinking of the southern colony that went missing (on roanoke island)...i know the spelling is all different and such...but it pops in my head immediately...followed shortly by the volcano. ;shrugs!

As far as I know the missing colony was indeed named Croatoa. The volcano was Krakatoa (sp?). Salamanca is the name of an ancient university in spain. Connought (sp?) is the name of a county in ireland, meant to be the home of the small people, the Fir Bolg.

@Inkblaster: The city doesn't have to be located SE of the zone if the tram has some sort of pocket character. Something like the picture below, where the green line is the normal track as we think it looks like at the moment. The red would be the new track (on the zone sketch it might be drawn as only one track if both tracks run paralell).

[Xielos]

Didn't the Devs say that all the Halloween enemies would be coming back eventualy? This place looks as good as any for giant pumpkin headed monsters.

[Bari Jon]

Didn't the Devs say that all the Halloween enemies would be coming back eventualy? This place looks as good as any for giant pumpkin headed monsters.

That was so much fun!!!! Would it be true? :)

[Tsarmina]

Didn't the Devs say that all the Halloween enemies would be coming back eventualy? This place looks as good as any for giant pumpkin headed monsters.
THAT would be Awsome!

[Jade_Dragon]

The city doesn't have to be located SE of the zone if the tram has some sort of pocket character. Something like the picture below, where the green line is the normal track as we think it looks like at the moment. The red would be the new track (on the zone sketch it might be drawn as only one track if both tracks run paralell).

I'm not sure what you mean by "pocket character". If it adds on to the existing green line, then I'm assuming it would just be adding on a new station. From the standpoint of gameplay, it would just add another option to the menu. (And we can assume that there are LOTS of stations on the monorail lines that we just don't stop at. After all, many instanced missions are entered via the monorail, although we don't see the station when we enter the map)

OTOH, if you're saying what I think you're saying, then a "spur" line that just goes to Croatoa would obviously have to have an "other end". It would have to go somewhere. So either a new monorail station will have to be added to a zone, or one of the existing stations (in IP or Talos Island maybe) will have to have a "spur" option. Maybe an extra room for the tram, similar to the unloading dock. (Although again it could just as easily be another option to the menu, just in this case it would be specific to IP or whatever)

[D'Arkaine]

There was the word Croatoa carved in a tree at the abandoned colony site on roanoke island. I think. But isnt there an island named croatoa or somesuch?

of course, marvel will say it is a rip on Krakoa...

[Magna Harrier]

It was also the name of a local Indian tribe... but the problem was, the Croatoa Indians had been quite friendly in the past, and when asked, knew nothing about the lost colonists.

[inkblaster]

Ok, if I5 is coming out around the same time as CoV, and CoV will introduce PVP zones where Heroes and Villains can both enter, will Croatoa be a PvP zone?

[vyxzuw]

Shouldn't be. Since CoV can be pushed back. (Also, three months from now, CoV should still be in Beta...)

Also, it's a CoH issue zone. Why introduce a new zone that many CoH people can't enter?

[Astartus]

Ok, location is now confirmed:

Croatoa is located northwest of IP and has it's own small tram line. Screenshot may follow. Or if you ingame, check your city map.

[Poison]

Location-wise, I'd guess it to be north or west of IP. Who's the man? Who's the man?! :shinner:

[The Widowed]

You guessed North or West. It's only North, not North and West. So according to the rules for roulette, you're only half a man. :D

[Astartus]

2. North of Independence Port and west of Boomtown


So I'm a man, right?

[inkblaster]

No, you guys are not the man, I am the man for starting this thread! BWAHAHAHAHAAAA!

:inkblaste :spoison:
:inkblaste :grumble: <-substitute smiley for Astartus, cause he ain't got one.

Someone make Astartus a smiley SO I can blast what proper!

[Astartus]

Someone make Astartus a smiley SO I can blast what proper!

I have a smily, they just forgot to upload it http://www.astartus.de/frost_phantom_smily.gif

[Poison]

I won't upload that smiley. I'll only upload it halfways. >:}

[Astartus]

Ok, I asked Positron, if I may talk about this, or if this might have been an error by some tech-guys.
Well Positron replied that he thinks that some other guys already talked about it on the forums (although I can't remember having seen it).

So it seems it is legal to talk about it.
Ok here is a screenshot of the updated City Map (http://www.astartus.de/map.jpg)

Edit: Ok, Poison, should I cut your micro in half?

[Poison]

Hehe, okay, I'll upload it. ;)
And okay, that's farther west than I had thought. I was thinking the darker green area next to Boomtown.

[suburbanhell]

Ok, I asked Positron, if I may talk about this, or if this might have been an error by some tech-guys.
Well Positron replied that he thinks that some other guys already talked about it on the forums (although I can't remember having seen it).

So it seems it is legal to talk about it.
Ok here is a screenshot of the updated City Map (http://www.astartus.de/map.jpg)

Edit: Ok, Poison, should I cut your micro in half?

Looks like that answers where it will be then.

[MaligneFamily]

Bah its in the middle of nowhere!

[Tsarmina]

It may be out in the middle of nowhere... for now. Imagine all that blank space being new zones!!! :thumbup:

[suburbanhell]

Bah its in the middle of nowhere!

Thus the vegetation, and non-city like pictures...

[inkblaster]

I'm hoping for no war walls, if it's just big trees and mountains that's cool, one of the reasons I love Striga and Peregrine is no war walls, I don't care that I run into an invisible force field, it's just nice to be able to watch the sunset over the ocean without those huge walls in front of it!

Thanks Astartus, that is a really cool post, and thusly, I'll continue to blast Poison since your smiley hasn't been uploaded yet.

http://www.astartus.de/frost_phantom_smily.gif :inkblaste :spoison:

[suburbanhell]

it's just nice to be able to watch the sunset over the ocean without those huge walls in front of it!

AH HA!!! That's why I found watching the Sunset in Striga to be so interesting looking the other day -- I hadn't actually seen one before cos of the walls!

[Jade_Dragon]

Looks like that answers where it will be then.

So it is a "spur". But that's only graphically, probably as far as the Monorail interface is concerned it will only be an additional name on the menu.

[thinks for a moment] It's no longer possible to just "go to the next stop", is it? You HAVE to pick an option from the menu. So the order of stops on the Monorail is something we can't determine any more. Right?

Actually, according to the map, it doesn't have war walls. Which is interesting, because it will be the first of that kind not to have the zone boundary out in the middle of the ocean. You will actually be running into the boundary while near usable terrain. (i.e. there can be spawns) So I wonder how they will handle that.

Also, it also appears as if the zone won't have "ground" exits, again like Striga and (I guess) Peregrine.

Come to think of it, what's with that slanted zone boundary, near the top? Will there be a "You are about to leave this zone" sort of red exit, like in instanced missions? Can I come up with any more questions based on this one picture? (I'll have to keep looking at it and see...)

[Astartus]

From my demo editing excurses I can confirm that this zone will not have War Walls. You will most likely run into a blue force field, but I can't say how this event may trigger, if you simply go to the next zone like swimming out of Peregrine or not.

@Jade_Dragon: From what I have seen on my demos the tram wil lhave 2 parallel tracks although they only show up as one on this city map. Perhaps Croatoa will be the logical next station and you still could go from one stop to the next one.

So the green line would chnage from:
Steel Canyon - Independence Port - Brickstown - Talos Island
to:
Steel Canyon - Croatoa - Independence Port - Brickstown - Talos Island