Overview
Issue 13 introduced Merit Rewards, which included a reworking of the reward system to obtain Invention Recipes from Task Forces, Trials, and Story Arcs.
Task Forces give an average of 1 merit every 3 minutes of average time (20 merits an hour), Trials give an average of 1 merit every 2.5 minutes (24 merits an hour), and Story Arcs give an average of 1 merit every 7.5 minutes (8 merits an hour). The reason for this major difference is due to the considerable time and effort Task/Strike Forces can take to set up and complete, so naturally these tasks grant a much greater reward.
For the following summaries, there are various options that an activity can involve, as follows:
- Door Missions: An instanced mission that only teammates can enter.
- Defeat All: Requires defeating all enemies in the instance.
- Talks: Deliver information or items to or obtain information or items from an NPC other than the contact.
- In a regular Story Arc, only the mission holder may complete the talk mission.
- In a Task Force, Strike Force, or Trial, anyone on the team may complete the talk mission, not just the mission holder.
- Hunts: Defeat enemy critters, sometimes restricted to a particular zone.
- Ambushes of the required enemy faction often accompany hunt missions.
- Patrols: Explore a zone by "calling in" at (clicking on) specific items, including pay phones and other items.
- Contains tough enemy critters:
- EB: Contains an Elite Boss, which does not upgrade into an Archvillain/Hero, even when Notoriety and team size is high enough.
- AV: Contains an Archvillain/Hero, which may or may not downgrade into an Elite Boss, depending on Notoriety and team size.
- AVs in most Task Forces, Strike Forces, and Trials do not downgrade.
- Ouroboros Task Forces and Strike Forces are Story Arcs that utilize the TF function, thus AVs/etc. will downgrade like in a Story Arc.
- Monster: Contains a Monster, whose defeat is usually required to advance the story.
- GM: Contains a Giant Monster, whose defeat is usually not required to advance the story.
Strike Forces and Trials
Name |
Merits |
Contact |
Summary
|
The Beast Beneath the Mountain |
12 |
Virgil Tarikoss
|
6 Door Missions (1 Defeat All), 2 AVs
|
Pirates of the Sky |
35 |
Silver Mantis
|
6 Door Missions (1 Defeat All), 1 AV
|
Temple of the Waters |
22 |
Operative Renault
|
5 Door Missions, 2 Talks, 3 Hunts, 3 AVs
|
The Crystal of Serafina |
25 |
Ice Mistral
|
6 Door Missions (3 Defeat All), 1 Hunt, 1 AV
|
Lord Recluse Strike Force |
25 |
Lord Recluse
|
5 Door Missions, 1 Talk, 1 Monster, 18 AVs
|
First Respec Trial |
15 |
Sparcetriel
|
2 Door Missions, 1 Hunt, 2 EBs, 1 AV
|
Second Respec Trial |
15 |
Trepsarciel
|
2 Door Missions, 1 Hunt, 1 AV
|
Third Respec Trial |
15 |
Ractespriel
|
2 Door Missions (1 Defeat All), 1 Hunt, 1 AV
|
Mender Lazarus Task Force |
6 |
Mender Lazarus
|
4 Door Missions, 5 AVs
|
Mender Tesseract Strike Force |
4 |
Mender Tesseract
|
3 Door Missions, 4 EBs, 2 AVs
|
Mender Silos Strike Force |
6 |
Mender Silos
|
3 Door Missions, 14 AVs
|
Story Arcs
Soldier (Level 1-15)
'* Badge Missions award Merits in Flashback, but not through the regular contacts
Malcontent (Level 16-19)
Insider (Level 20-24)
Name |
Merits |
Contact |
Summary
|
The Origin of Power |
3 |
Ashley McKnight
|
1 Door Mission, 5 Talks
|
Iron Widow |
4 |
Captain Petrovich
|
6 Door Missions, 1 EB
|
Kings of the Sky |
4 |
Lt. Chalmers
|
3 Door Missions, 1 EB
|
Operation Skyhook |
4 |
Lt. Chalmers
|
3 Door Missions, 1 Talk
|
Coral Bonanza |
3 |
Crash Cage
|
2 Door Missions (1 Defeat All), 1 Talk, 1 AV
|
Breaking the Cage |
4 |
Crash Cage
|
3 Door Missions (1 Defeat All), 1 Talk
|
Any Body Will Do |
2 |
Vince Dubrowski
|
3 Door Missions
|
Disturbing the Dead |
3 |
Henri Dumont
|
3 Door Missions (1 Defeat All), 1 Hunt, 2 Talks
|
Carpe Diem |
3 |
Lorenz Ansaldo
|
3 Door Missions, 1 Hunt, 1 AV
|
A Web of Intrigue |
9 |
Operative Vargas
|
7 Door Missions (2 Defeat All)
|
Undesirable (Level 25-29)
Name |
Merits |
Contact |
Summary
|
Aurora Fades |
1 |
Darla Mavis
|
2 Door Missions (1 Defeat All), 1 Hunt, 1 AV
|
Power Mine |
3 |
Darla Mavis
|
3 Door Missions (1 Defeat All)
|
Sabotage! |
4 |
Kristof Jaeger
|
4 Door Missions, 1 Hunt, 1 Talk
|
Trust and Betrayal |
5 |
Lt. Demitrovich
|
6 Door Missions, 1 Talk
|
Zag Breakout! |
2 |
Shadowy Figure
|
3 Door Missions, 1 Talk
|
Midnight Draws Near |
6 |
Darrin Wade
|
5 Door Missions, 4 AVs
|
Forging the Blackwand |
8 |
Archmage Tarixus
|
5 Door Missions, 1 Hunt, 1 EB
|
Die by the Freak! |
4 |
Doc Buzzsaw
|
7 Door Missions, 1 EB
|
Heavy Metal Doctoring |
3 |
Doc Buzzsaw
|
3 Door Missions
|
The Cult of the Shaper |
5 |
Diviner Maros
|
6 Door Missions, 1 EB, 2 AVs
|
On the Trail of the Leviathan |
2 |
Operative Kirkland
|
2 Door Missions, 1 Hunt
|
Retrieve Crash's Shipments |
0* |
Vince Dubrowski
|
1 Door Mission, 2 Talks
|
Bust Up the Dockworker's Strike |
1* |
Lorenz Ansaldo
|
1 Door Mission
|
'* Badge Missions award Merits in Flashback, but not through the regular contacts
Wiseguy (Level 30-34)
Name |
Merits |
Contact |
Summary
|
Taming the Tigress |
3 |
Crimson Revenant
|
2 Door Missions (1 Defeat All), 1 Hunt, 1 AV
|
Brawling with the Big Boys |
3 |
Crimson Revenant
|
3 Door Missions, 1 AV
|
Snuffing the Light |
4 |
Operative Rutger
|
3 Door Missions (1 Defeat All), 1 AV
|
Into Valhalla |
7 |
Operative Rutger
|
4 Door Missions, 2 Hunts, 1 AV
|
Nictus Dissection |
2 |
Psymon Omega
|
3 Door Missions, 1 Hunt
|
Psymon Sez |
5 |
Psymon Omega
|
6 Door Missions, 1 EB, 1 AV
|
Miss Fortune's Wheel |
2 |
Slot Machine
|
3 Door Missions
|
High Roller's Last Gamble |
4 |
Slot Machine
|
3 Door Missions (2 Defeat All)
|
Strange Memories |
4 |
Timothy Raymond
|
3 Door Missions (2 Defeat All)
|
Breaking the Streak |
3 |
Hard Luck
|
2 Door Missions, 1 Hunt
|
Silver-Tongued Devil |
3 |
Hardcase
|
3 Door Missions
|
Sold for a Song |
7 |
Hardcase
|
5 Door Missions, 2 Hunts, 1 Talk
|
Chaos Unbound |
5 |
Vivacious Verandi
|
5 Door Missions (1 Defeat All), 1 Hunt, 2 Talks
|
Offer Soul of Akarist |
2* |
Archmage Tarixus
|
2 Door Missions
|
Eliminate Negotiator and Witnesses |
0* |
Operative Kirkland
|
1 Door Mission
|
'* Badge Missions award Merits in Flashback, but not through the regular contacts
Criminal (Level 35-39)
Name |
Merits |
Contact |
Summary
|
No One Gets It |
3 |
Arbiter Leery
|
3 Door Missions, 2 AVs
|
Crossfire |
3 |
Arbiter Leery
|
4 Door Missions (1 Defeat All), 1 AV
|
A Traitorous History |
2 |
Magus Mu'Drakhan
|
3 Door Missions
|
The Secret of the Circle |
6 |
Magus Mu'Drakhan
|
6 Door Missions
|
Bravo for the Shadow Shard |
5 |
Technician Naylor
|
3 Door Missions, 1 EB
|
Automatic Villainy |
5 |
Technician Naylor
|
6 Door Missions, 2 EBs
|
The Devil's Card Deck |
5 |
Mercedes Sheldon
|
2 Door Missions, 1 Hunt, 2 Talks
|
Blurring the Lines |
3 |
Kelly Uqua
|
3 Door Missions (1 Defeat All), 1 EB
|
Fat Cat City |
4 |
Basse Croupier
|
3 Door Missions
|
Pied Piper |
2 |
Hardcase
|
3 Door Missions (1 Defeat All)
|
Chaos Affair |
5 |
Hardcase
|
5 Door Missions (1 Defeat All), 1 Hunt
|
The Missing Maidens |
3 |
Jezebel Jones
|
3 Door Missions, 1 hunt
|
Johnny's Squeeze |
3 |
Jezebel Jones
|
3 Door Missions (1 Defeat All)
|
Devil May Care |
10 |
Johnny Sonata
|
5 Door Missions, 2 Talks, 1 EB, 1 AV
|
The Unlucky Artifact |
1* |
Hard Luck
|
1 Door Mission
|
'* Badge Missions award Merits in Flashback, but not through the regular contacts
Captain (Level 40-45)
Name |
Merits |
Contact |
Summary
|
Breaking Knives |
4 |
Arbiter Daos
|
3 Door Missions (2 Defeat All)
|
Absolute Vengeance |
2 |
Arbiter Daos
|
3 Door Missions
|
The Arachnoid Cure |
2 |
Terrence Dobbs
|
3 Door Missions (1 Defeat All), 1 EB
|
Arachnoid Appetizers |
2 |
Terrence Dobbs
|
2 Door Missions (1 Defeat All), 1 Talk
|
Building a Better Vermin |
5 |
Terrence Dobbs
|
4 Door Missions (1 Defeat All), 1 Hunt, 1 Talk
|
Project Fury |
3 |
Dr. Forrester
|
2 Door Missions, 1 Hunts, 1 EB
|
Countess Coup |
3 |
Regent Korol
|
3 Door Missions, 1 AV
|
Kuhr'Rekt Diplomacy |
3 |
Ambassador Kuhr'Rekt
|
3 Door Missions (2 Defeat All)
|
Kuhr'Rekt Revenge |
3 |
Ambassador Kuhr'Rekt
|
3 Door Missions, 1 EB, 3 AVs
|
Apt Pupil |
5 |
Number 204
|
6 Door Missions (3 Defeat All)
|
Miss Francine the Freakshow teacher |
3 |
Westin Phipps
|
4 Door Missions, 1 AV
|
The Rebels |
2 |
Westin Phipps
|
3 Door Missions, 1 AV
|
The Bane of the Heart |
5 |
Westin Phipps
|
7 Door Missions, 1 EB, 1 AV
|
Shucking Souls |
4 |
Mage-Killer Zuhkara
|
3 Door Missions (2 Defeat All), 1 Talk
|
The Hunt |
5 |
Mage-Killer Zuhkara
|
---
|
The Circle's Plot |
6 |
Mage-Killer Zuhkara
|
5 Door Missions, 1 Hunt
|
Party Crasher* |
1 |
Dr. Forrester
|
1 Door Mission, 1 AV
|
Selestar* |
1 |
Mage-Killer Zuhkara
|
1 Door Mission
|
Attack Longbow Portal Base |
1* |
Technician Naylor
|
1 Door Mission
|
B4nKbUsTah |
1* |
Basse Croupier
|
1 Door Mission
|
'* Badge Missions award Merits in Flashback, but not through the regular contacts
Made (Level 46-50)
Name |
Merits |
Contact |
Summary
|
Ouroboros Initiation |
3 |
The Pilgrim
|
4 Door Missions, 6 Talks, 1 EB
|
Power from the Past |
2 |
Sister Airlia
|
3 Door Missions (1 Defeat All), 1 AV
|
Politics, Cimeroran Style |
3 |
Sister Airlia
|
6 Door Missions (4 Defeat Alls), 4 Talks, 1 Hunt, 1 EB
|
Midnight's Hand |
2 |
Ashley McKnight
|
3 Door Missions
|
Vindication |
3 |
Abyss
|
3 Door Missions, 5 AVs
|
Light and Darkness |
2 |
Abyss
|
3 Door Missions, 1 AV
|
Ancient History |
2 |
Operative Grillo
|
2 Door Missions (1 Defeat All), 2 Talks
|
Escaped! |
2 |
Operative Grillo
|
3 Door Missions
|
Snake Fest |
6 |
Operative Grillo
|
5 Door Missions (1 Defeat All), 4 Talks, 1 AV
|
Alone in the Darque |
3 |
Efficiency Expert Pither
|
3 Door Missions
|
Indigo Hunt |
3 |
Shadow Spider
|
3 Door Missions, 1 EB, 1 AV
|
Crimson Hunt |
2 |
Shadow Spider
|
3 Door Missions, 1 AV
|
The Code Merlin |
4 |
Tavish Bell
|
3 Door Missions (1 Defeat All), 1 AV
|
Vigilante Justice |
4 |
Tavish Bell
|
6 Door Missions, 6 AVs
|
The TV Report |
5 |
Television
|
3 Door Missions (2 Defeat All), 5 Talks
|
Video Killed the Radio |
2 |
Television
|
2 Door Missions, 1 Talks
|
The TV Invasion |
3 |
Television
|
3 Door Missions
|
The Conference of Evil |
8 |
Viridian
|
6 Door Missions (1 Defeat All)
|
Von Grun's Science |
3 |
Vernon von Grun
|
3 Door Missions (2 Defeat All), 1 EB
|
The Great Grun Gathering |
3 |
Vernon von Grun
|
3 Door Missions (1 Defeat All), 2 Talks, 1 AV
|
Von Grun's Lament |
2 |
Vernon von Grun
|
3 Door Missions, 1 AV
|
Von Grun's Redemption |
7 |
Vernon von Grun
|
6 Door Missions (2 Defeat All), 1 Talks, 1 AV
|
Video Games Made Me Do It |
1* |
Television
|
1 Door Mission
|
'* Badge Missions award Merits in Flashback, but not through the regular contacts
Patron Arcs
Name |
Merits |
Contact |
Summary
|
Armor Wars |
5 |
Black Scorpion
|
5 Door Missions (1 Defeat All), 1 Talk, 1 AV
|
Chink in the Armor |
5 |
Black Scorpion
|
5 Door Missions, 2 Talks, 1 EB, 2 AV
|
The Destiny Raids |
5 |
Black Scorpion
|
6 Door Missions
|
Time After Time |
--- |
Black Scorpion
|
5 Door Missions, 5 Talks, 3 EB, 1 AV
|
Killer Instinct |
5 |
Captain Mako
|
5 Door Missions (1 Defeat All), 1 Talk
|
The Perfect Killing Machine |
5 |
Captain Mako
|
4 Door Missions , 2 Talks
|
Iron Fist |
5 |
Captain Mako
|
5 Door Missions, 1 Talk
|
Time After Time |
--- |
Captain Mako
|
5 Door Missions, 6 Talks, 2 EBs, 1 AV
|
Mystic Mayhem |
4 |
Ghost Widow
|
6 Door Missions (1 Defeat All), 2 Talks
|
Life and Death |
5 |
Ghost Widow
|
4 Door Missions (1 Defeat All), 1 Hunts, 2 Talks
|
Brain Power |
5 |
Ghost Widow
|
5 Door Missions
|
Time After Time |
5 |
Ghost Widow
|
5 Door Missions, 3 Talks, 2 EBs, 1 AV
|
A Wind Called Serafina |
5 |
Scirocco
|
6 Door Missions (1 Defeat All), 2 Talks
|
Hammer of the World |
5 |
Scirocco
|
7 Door Missions (1 Defeat All), 3 Talks
|
The Spirit City of Hequat |
5 |
Scirocco
|
6 Door Missions, 2 Talks
|
Time After Time |
--- |
Scirocco
|
5 Door Missions, 5 Talks, 3 EB, 1 AV
|
'* Not in Flashback.
Soldiers of Arachnos Only
Events
Arc Name |
Merits |
Contact |
Summary
|
Spring Event (1-50) |
2 |
Scratch
|
2 Door Missions
|
See Also