This morning I got to check out the new features that are on the way with latest CoH/CoV Issue. Issue 9 will bring a crafting system known as Invention. This will mean that enhancing your character will become an even better experience than before. New loot items will be added to the game known as Salvage and Recipes. Combining the two will result in the ability to make things from hi-tech wings to rocket boots. Below are a couple of examples of the costume items that can be made.

Costume pieces aren't the only thing that players can make however. Enhancements that are better than Single Origins and Temporary Powers can also be invented. The cool part about the Enhancements is that there will be named sets. These work to give additional bonuses the more pieces of the set you decide to put in your slots. That's right, it's like player-crafted raid gear.

Of course, once you make this stuff, you may want to sell it. What better place to do so than in the new Auction Houses for Heroes and Villains. Sure the Villains get their stuff off the back of a truck, but that's where I get most of my best deals anyway.

The most interesting thing about these Auction Houses is that items from all the servers will be listed for your when you go shopping. I could be on Virtue and buy things from Justice and the transaction will not be hindered. This should prove interesting as now the phrase "this server's economy" could become obsolete.

The Heroes get another high-level Task Force mission, this one from Statesman himself. We didn't get to see too much of it, there are somethings that Cryptic wants to keep a surprise.

Something coming up for both sides is a new Hamidon fight. This one should be fun, and the design incorporates some ideas like allowing the players to have a little more to say in the tempo of the encounter.

I'm really looking forward to getting a chance to play this for myself. Mostly because of the Invention tutorial. There's a familiar looking cheerleader in there and we need to remember:

Save the Sorority. Save the School.