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Paragon City, the City of Heroes setting place, and the Rogue Isles, the City of Villains locale, are full of organizations that players must confront. They range from local street gangs, such as the Skulls and the Hellions, to vast world-threatening organizations, such as the Council (formerly the 5th Column), Nemesis, Crey, the Rikti, and the Circle of Thorns.

Many groups are present in both games. Heroes deal with them as villains to capture. Villains deal with them as rival organizations. On the other hand, some enemy groups are unique to one game or the other.

Contents 1 Both CoH and CoV 1.1 Arachnoids 1.2 Arachnos 1.3 Banished Pantheon 1.4 Carnival of Shadows (Carnies) 1.5 Circle of Thorns 1.6 Clockwork/Psychic Clockwork 1.7 Contaminated 1.8 The Council 1.9 Crey 1.10 Devouring Earth 1.11 The Family 1.12 Freakshow 1.13 Hellions 1.14 Hydra 1.15 Knives of Artemis 1.16 The Lost 1.17 Malta Group 1.18 Nemesis 1.19 Outcasts 1.20 Prisoners 1.21 Rikti 1.22 Shivans 1.23 Skulls 1.24 Sky Raiders 1.25 Soldiers of Rularuu 1.26 Spectral Pirates 1.27 Trolls 1.28 Tsoo 1.29 Vahzilok 1.30 Warriors 2 City of Heroes Specified Groups 2.1 5th Column 2.2 Cabal 2.3 Fir Bolg 2.4 Ghosts 2.5 Igneous 2.6 Nictus 2.7 Praetorians 2.8 Red Caps 2.9 Shadow Shard Reflections 2.10 Spectral Passengers 2.11 Tuatha de Dannan 2.12 Void Hunters 3 City of Villains Specified Groups 3.1 Cage Consortium Guards 3.2 Cap au Diable Demons 3.3 Coralax Hybrids 3.4 Freedom Phalanx/Freedom Corps 3.5 Gold Brickers 3.6 Legacy Chain 3.7 Longbow 3.8 Luddites 3.9 The Mooks 3.10 Paragon Police Department 3.11 Rogue Island Police 3.12 Scrapyarders 3.13 Slag Golems 3.14 Snakes 3.15 Wailers 3.16 Wyvern 4 Fifth Column controversy 5 Sources

[edit] Both CoH and CoV

The groups listed below are found in both City of Heroes and City of Villains.

[edit] Arachnoids

Genetically-engineered human/spider hybrids, with human appendage-like spider legs growing from their backsides (similar to Lord Recluse's mechanical spider legs).

Although they are more common in CoV, there is a good deal of them in the PvP zones Warburg and Recluse's Victory, making them available to both sides.

[edit] Arachnos

Known Leaders:

• Lord Recluse (Stephan Richter) (main)
• Ghost Widow (Belladonna Vetrano)
  • Wretch, Ghost Widow's lieutenant (Paolo Marino)
• Black Scorpion (Ernesto Rodriguez)
  • Silver Mantis, Black Scorpion's lieutenant (Tamura Shirai)
• Scirocco (Imad Malak)
  • Ice Mistral, Scirocco's lieutenant (Irena Rudenko)
• Captain Mako (Gideon Ray)
  • Barracuda, Mako's lieutenant

Primary organization in the Rogue Islands. Led by Lord Recluse, an organization of high military operations and use of magical items. In City of Heroes, they used to only appear in the PvP combat zones. Recently, with the release of the Police Band missions and the revamped Faultine zone in Issue 8, Arachnos now has a much larger presence in City of Heroes, though they still have a larger presence in City of Villains.

[edit] Banished Pantheon

Significant members:

• Adamastor (Giant Monster)

The true undead of Paragon City (in contrast to the scientific undead of the Vahzilok). Animated corpses, shamans, mask spirits, and the powerful Totems make up this mid-level group.

[edit] Carnival of Shadows (Carnies)

Known Leader:

• Vanessa DeVore
• Giovanna Scaldi

A strange and mystical group of carnival performers. They entertain their audience into a state of mind-control and take their souls. The Carnival of Shadows only appears in the high-level game (40+ in City of Heroes, 30+ in City of Villains).

[edit] Circle of Thorns

Known Leaders:

• Baron Zoria (not present in the game)
• Envoy of Shadow
• Lilitu
• Akarist

Significant Members:

• Baphomet (Giant Monster)
• Caleb (Giant Monster)

The most prevalent of villain groups in Paragon City, the circle can be encountered from the early levels all the way through level 50. At lower levels mostly mages and human guards are encountered, but at higher levels various summoned demons and behemoths are found among the circle as well.

Mystics seen around the city chanting and conducting arcane rituals, often involving unwilling subjects. The circle controls a vast city named Oranbega, buried deep beneath Paragon City.

[edit] Clockwork/Psychic Clockwork

Known Leader:

• The Clockwork King
• The Clockwork Lord

Significant Members:

• Babbage (Giant Monster)
• Paladin (Giant Monster)

Windup robots found all over the lower level zones of Paragon City as well as some places in the Rogue Isles. Most often seen scrounging for materials and working to build more Clockwork. All are telekinetically controlled extensions of their leader, the Clockwork King. The Clockwork King himself is a powerful cyborg, with little more than his brain left in a massive Clockwork robot suit. He is able to use a good amount of Telekinetic powers to fight, though he does use the immense weight of his suit to attack also. The Clockwork in the Rogue Isles are believed to be too far away for control by the Clockwork King, but the power controlling this offshoot of the Clockwork is unknown to most people.

The Clockwork also make a return in several high level hero missions, where the player travels to an alternate dimension to face much more powerful Clockwork with psychic abilities, including alternate versions of the Clockwork King and Babbage who also wield these powers.

[edit] Contaminated

Originally only found in the tutorial zone, these low level thugs have been driven to madness by tainted drugs. Defeating a hundred of them grants the character the badge "Isolator". The fact that it was impossible to acquire it after finishing the tutorial was the cause of much uproar by those who did not get it either due to lack of knowledge, or the characters being created before badges were implemented. In response, the game developers have decided to have a single level 1 Contaminated spawn in the game's highest level PvP zone, Recluse's Victory every two hours. This has caused even more uproar, though one cannot say that the badge being "ridiculously hard" wasn't coming.[1]

[edit] The Council

Known Leaders:

• The Center (main)
• Maestro (Vincenzo Alferi)
• Arakhn
• Requiem (same as Requiem in Fifth Column)
• Nosferatu (same as Nosferatu in Fifth Column)
• Vandal (same as Vandal in Fifth Column)
• Archon Burkholder (appears in Ernesto Hess Task Force)

A villain group that traces its root back to Mussolini. This is a group with conquest goals, and the ability to use a wide variety of methods to achieve these goals. Though mostly a science based group, some of its operations cross over into the realm of the mystical. The forces of The Council range from human troops, to large numbers of robots, to dark energy wielding soldiers called Galaxies (merged with the Nictus), to the pseudo-vampiric Equinox and pseudo-lycanthropic Eclipse. The Council is another group with a wide level range, stretching from level 1 to well above level 40.

[edit] Crey

Known Leaders:

• Countess Crey
• Hopkins

Crey is a mega-corporation whose billboards can be seen all over Paragon City. Publicly, they are a benevolent organization, working to use science to better mankind. Privately, they are the epitome of the ruthless corporation taken to super-hero world extremes. Crey wields its own security force, often seen around the higher level zones "patrolling" for trouble. But the security forces are more likely to go after the city's large vigilante (hero) population than to stop actual crime.

Crey Industries is lead by Countess Crey, wife of corporate head, Count Crey, who is currently incapacitated by illness.

[edit] Devouring Earth

Known Leaders:

• Hamidon
• Terra

Significant members:

• Crystal Titan (Giant Monster)
• Jurassik (Giant Monster)
• Lattice (Giant Monster)
• Quarry (Giant Monster)
• Stropharia (Giant Monster)
• Thorn (Giant Monster)

Humans mutated by the avenging wrath of the earth, this mid to high level enemy group is made up of creatures made of stone, crystal, wood, fungus, etc. The Hamidon himself is a gigantic amoeba-like creature that takes careful strategy and dozens (or more) of high level heroes to defeat.

[edit] The Family

Known Leaders:

• Emil Marcone (Rogue Isles)
• Sebastian Frost (Paragon City)
• Guido Verandi (Rogue Isles)

"The Family" is a mafia gang. They are a group of typical 1920s-esque pinstripe-suit-wearing gangsters, complete with tommyguns. They are also at war against the Mooks in City of Villains. Also in CoV, they're sometimes found in gunfights with other factions--they seem to be particularly fond of gunning against the Lost and Hellions, though they've also been at odds with the Council and Circle of Thorns.

[edit] Freakshow

Known Leaders:

• Dreck
• Bile
• Clamor
• Upstart

Famous Quote: "A Hero? Great! That'll be worth 200 points!"

Cybernetic "Freaks", the Freakshow is a street gang whose members build up their bodies with bizarre and garish cybernetic implants. Adding to this, the members of The Freakshow are driven mad by their frequently used drug Excelsior. Thrill seekers, the Freakshow often hold contests among themselves for which faction can complete the most complex crimes. A mid-game enemy group.

[edit] Hellions

Known Leaders:

• Tempter (Nick Pocker)
• Duke Mordragar
• Decimator
• Destroyer
• Destructor
• 3K Kelvin

A low level street gang. Though the bosses gain the ability to throw fire, the lower ranks rely mostly on common, mundane weaponry, e.g. pistols, shotguns, baseball bats, sledgehammers, knives, etc.

[edit] Hydra

Significant members:

• Hydra (Archvillain)
• Kraken (Giant Monster)

Inhabitants of an alternate dimension that have become trapped in Paragon City due to the Rikti. The hydra are basically animated blobs of matter. They are first encountered at low levels in Perez Park, and are not seen again until the higher levels of the game in the Abandoned Sewers. The Hydra itself is rumored to be down in the sewers. It is able to send its tentacles around the Abandoned Sewers looking for a Hero who was foolish enough to come down there alone.

[edit] Knives of Artemis

Very high level enemy group composed principly of elite female assassins. Encountered almost exclusively on missions involving Malta Group storylines during City of Heroes, but appear in City of Villains in storylines entirely their own.

[edit] The Lost

A low-level to mid-level group. Homeless people that have been "recruited", often unwillingly. Unknown experiments have been performed on them, mutating them in ways visible and not so visible.

[edit] Malta Group

Significant Member:

• The Slinger (ArchVillain, appears on Lord Recluse Strike Force)
• Kronos Class Titan (Giant Monster)

Very high level group of commandos and cyborgs. They are specially trained and equipped for anti-superbeing operations. The true origin and purpose of this paramilitary group of spymasters is shrouded in mystery.

[edit] Nemesis

Known Leader:

• Nemesis

Sometimes known as the 'Brass Prince' or the 'Prussian Prince of Automation', Nemesis is actually a person as well as a high level enemy group. Nemesis is known to have been alive for over 180 years, mostly through constant mechanical replacement of his body parts. Throughout this time Nemesis has worked from behind the scenes, manipulating world events to his liking. No one knows Nemesis' true goals, as he almost always cloaks his schemes in layers of deception and misdirection. Nemesis' troop and weaponry may look old fashioned, but beneath the surface they are all thoroughly modern and high tech.

[edit] Outcasts

Known Leader:

• Frostfire (Leonard Calhoun)

A teen level street gang. Members are mostly mutants with elemental-based powers. The Outcasts were founded by Frostfire, who was originally a hero but turned to crime instead. The Outcasts' main enemies are the Trolls, although the Tsoo are a close second. The Outcasts occupy Steel Canyon areas and areas in the Hollows, where they and the Trolls go at it. They have elemental powers, with each member aligned with one element. Their pre-members, however, use guns similar to the Death Heads and Fallen of the Skulls and the Hellions.

[edit] Prisoners

Escapees from the Ziggurat, a huge prison that dominates Brickstown zone. The prisoners mostly hang around the zone celebrating their escape until some hero comes along to return them to captivity. Villains will encounter fellow prisoners during the prison riot that comprises their tutorial. Easily recognizeable in their bright orange jump-suits.

[edit] Rikti

Alien invaders. A major part of the back-story of City of Heroes involves the Rikti War, a full scale invasion by the Rikti a few years back. Several of the zones of the Paragon City were all but destroyed in the war, including the zones now known as Boomtown and the Crash Site. The invasion was driven back by the heroes of earth. A number of Rikti mother ships and transports crashed during the invasion, leaving a large number of Rikti troops stranded on Earth. It is these stranded remnants that the heroes of today must deal with. The stranded Rikti hatch a number of plots that vary from trying to contact their home world for help, subverting human populations, and generally causing trouble for higher level heroes.

[edit] Shivans

Limited mostly to the low level PVP zone, Bloody Bay, the Shivans are fusions of alien energy from a meteorite strike in the area, with human corpses/skeletons to give them internal structure. A rare few base missions within Cap Au Diable in CoV also have Shivans roaming around. Successful collection and processing of shards collected within Bloody Bay into a full sample confers a temporary summoning power to summon a Shivan Elite Boss to fight for the player for a short time.

[edit] Skulls

Known Leader:

• Marrow Snap (Radoslav Petrovic)
• Marrow Drinker (Emil Petrovic)
• The Strong Man

A low level street gang. Though the bosses gain access to dark energy attacks, the lower ranks rely mostly on the most common of weaponry. Ex. Pistols, SMG, Shotguns, Bats, Sledge Hammers, etc.

[edit] Sky Raiders

Known Leader:

• Colonel Duray

This mid level enemy group is mostly high-tech thieves and goons for hire. The group was formerly employed by the U.S. military during the Rikti War, but was abandoned in favor of heroes and has since resorted to crime. Many of them use jetpacks, but their arsenal also includes heavily-armed VTOL Sky Skiffs, and the powerful Jump Bot robotic warriors - not to mention the ever-annoying hovering Force Field Generators.

[edit] Soldiers of Rularuu

Known Leaders:

• Ruladak the Strong
• Faathim the Kind (non-hostile)
• Lanaru the Mad

Very high level enemy group, and the primary inhabitants of the Shadow Shard. They consist of a variety of strange aliens, including gigantic, hovering eyeballs known as Overseers, and the oddly crystaline Brutes. Very powerful, and very dangerous. They once attempted to invade Paragon City, but they didn't make the same impact that the Rikti did.

[edit] Spectral Pirates

Pirate ghosts mostly haunting a fort in the Port Oakes section of City of Villains. They can also be found wandering the forests of the PvP zone, Bloody Bay, allowing characters from City of Heroes to encounter them.

[edit] Trolls

Known Leader:

• Atta (Haripual Atta)

A teen level street gang focused around a drug known as Superadine (also known as Dyne). Long term exposure to the drug has turned the skin of members green, and given increasing amounts of strength to the higher ranking members.

One of the more dramatic achievements of the gang has come to be known as the Hollowing, where they were able to tunnel under a whole neighborhood and cause much of the neighborhood to collapse into an immense sinkhole. This area is now known as the Hollows.

[edit] Tsoo

Known Leader:

• Tub Ci (Tub Ci Tang)

A low- to mid-level Asian street gang who are fairly new to Paragon City. Much of the power of the members of the Tsoo comes from the mystical tattoos they have all over them. The Tsoo have a much larger foothold in the Rogue Isles, often dwarfing their Paragon brothers in power and influence.

[edit] Vahzilok

Known Leader:

• Doctor Vahzilok
• FaceMaker
• Cortex (Elite Boss)

The Vahzilok are scientific undead. Reanimated by the twisted science of Dr. Vahzilok, they roam the lower level zones of Paragon City, looking for victims to haul back to the doctor for further experimentation. In CoV, certain Vahzilok are declared as members of the Freakshow, and others work as costume tailors.

[edit] Warriors

A mid-level street gang that rejects all modern technology, instead relying on various forms of medieval weaponry, from swords and axes to crossbows.

Known Leader:

• Heracles (Elite Boss)

[edit] City of Heroes Specified Groups

[edit] 5th Column

Known Leaders:

• Requiem (main) (Ridolfo Uzzano)
• Nosferatu
• Vandal (Othman Doul)

Neo-Nazi group no longer found in the game. The in-game explanation was that they were absorbed into the Council, a group with similar methods, but without the Nazi overtones. All missions and villains that involved the 5th Column were converted to use The Council.

It has been confirmed by developer Matt Miller (aka 'Positron') that the 5th column will be making a comeback in 2007, stating they will not be a "kinder, gentler" version of the 5th column either.

Even more recently (September 2006), Miller has stated that events over the next few years will ultimately result in heroes and villains having to join forces to fight an "old familiar villain group". Many players have speculated that this is direct reference to the 5th column.

[edit] Cabal

Known Leader:

• Mary MacComber

One of several groups introduced with the Croatoa zone, they are exclusive to that zone. The Cabal is a group of storm witches. Along with their allies, the Fir Bolg, the Cabal stands in eternal opposition to the Red Caps and the Tuatha de Dannan.

[edit] Fir Bolg

Significant Member:

• Eochai (Giant Monster)

One of several groups introduced with the Croatoa zone, they are exclusive to that zone. The Fir Bolg is a group of tree figures with pumpkin heads. Along with their allies, the Cabal, the Fir Bolg stands in eternal opposition to the Red Caps and the Tuatha de Dannan. Based on the Fir Bolg of Irish mythology.

[edit] Ghosts

Another group introduced with the Croatoa zone. Ghosts that haunt the zone at night. Use the same images as the Spectral Passenger group, but are considered a separate group.

[edit] Igneous

Significant Member:

• Koago (Giant Monster)

A low level group of animated rock monsters, mostly limited to the Hollows zone. Also found in the Cavern of Transcendence trial found also in the Hollows.

[edit] Nictus

Enemies associated with Kheldians. The Warshade hero player characters are (reformed) Nictus (Nicti?) as well. The Nictus encountered as enemies are rogue elements of both types of Kheldians. They do not spawn on their own, but are seen occasionally as bosses that will spawn among almost any other type of enemy if a Kheldian is among the players. Mostly seen as Bright/Dark Nova/Dwarves. The most dangerous of Nictus spawns are the Shadow Cyst Crystals.

[edit] Praetorians

Known Leaders:

• Tyrant (Statesman)
• Anti-Matter (Positron)
• Battle Maiden (Valkyrie)
• Black Swan (Swan)
• Bobcat (Mynx)
• Chimera (Manticore)
• Diabolique (Numina)
• Dominatrix (Ms. Liberty)
• Infernal (Himself, but corrupted)
• Malaise (Himself, but unreformed)
• Marauder (Back Alley Brawler)
• Mother Mayhem (Aurora Borealis)
• Neuron (Synapse)
• Nightstar (Luminary)
• Shadowhunter (Woodsman)
• Siege (Citadel)

The Praetorians are from a mirror universe to the main one of Paragon City. Very similar to the Mirror Mirror episodes from the various Star Trek series, the Praetorian universe has counterparts to all the major NPC heroes of City of Heroes. And like the Mirror Mirror universe, these counterparts are generally of a villainous disposition. The villains are listed above, with their better halves in parentheses. It is also worth noting that the villain-group, Carnival of Shadows, exists as the Carnival of Light in the Praetorian dimension, where they fight the Praetorians as an underground resistance movement.

[edit] Red Caps

Known Leader:

• Snaptooth (Elite Boss)

Significant Members:

• Jack in Irons (Giant Monster)

One of several groups introduced with the Croatoa zone, they are exclusive to that zone. The Red Caps are a group of troll like creatures who wear red caps. Along with their allies, the Tuatha de Dannan, the Red Caps stands in eternal opposition to the Fir Bolg and the Cabal. Based on the Redcaps of British mythology.

A cross teaming mission (heroes and villains) available during the Valentines Day event also spawned a large number of these enemies, which, for a short time, made the group available to villains.

[edit] Shadow Shard Reflections

Very high level enemy group, present only in the alternate dimension of the Shadow Shard. They are ghostly images of various high-level villain groups from Paragon City. 'Reflected' groups include Nemesis, Circle of Thorns, and Crey.

[edit] Spectral Passengers

Mid level special event enemies. Ghostly passengers that spawn from a ghost ship that occasionally passes through Talos and Independence Port zones. The ship crosses land as easily as water, and where it crosses land, it spawns the Spectral Passengers in its wake.

[edit] Tuatha de Dannan

One of several groups introduced with the Croatoa zone, they are exclusive to that zone. The Tuatha de Dannon are a group of earth spirits resembling a cross between humanoid deer and werewolves. Along with their allies, the Red Caps, the Tuatha de Dannon stand in eternal opposition to the Fir Bolg and the Cabal. Based on the Tuatha Dé Danann of Irish mythology.

[edit] Void Hunters

A group dedicated to hunting down and destroying all Kheldians. Void Hunters wield quantum energy weapons specifically designed to disrupt Kheldians.

Not found anywhere on their own, Void Hunters spawn along with almost any other enemy in the game as long as there is a Kheldian nearby. They will occasionally be found outside with random street spawns, but they are mostly encountered in missions when a Kheldian is on the player team.

Some players fear these types of enemy. It should be noted that for the most part, fears of this group bear almost no merit because Minion and Lieutenant level members of this group do pitiful damage to non-Kheldian heroes. Bosses and above however, can be a major threat to anyone. Some other players will take the time to eliminate Voids they see in 'the open' as a general service to others, though this is far from universal.

[edit] City of Villains Specified Groups

[edit] Cage Consortium Guards

Mid-level replacements for Private Security Guards found earlier in the game. Found in such places as Sharkhead Isle working under Kirk Cage.

[edit] Cap au Diable Demons

Significant Member:

• Deathsurge (Giant Monster)

Electrical demons called "Gremlins" that spawn around the power stations of Cap au Diable.

[edit] Coralax Hybrids

Known Leader:

• Calystix the Shaper

Low-level enemies found primarily in Port Oakes. Also found at a higher level at the Sky Raider base in Sharkhead Island on various occasions. The Coralax Hybrids are humans infected by a unique strain of coral, turning them into blue/green/red humanoid monsters bearing a resemblance to their infectors. Reportedly, a Coralax civilization exists somewhere near the Rogue Isles, under the Atlantic.

[edit] Freedom Phalanx/Freedom Corps

Known Leader:

• Statesman (Hero) (FP)

Significant Members:

• Back Alley Brawler (FC)
• Blue Steel (FC)
• Citadel (Hero) (FP)
• Foreshadow (Hero) (FP)
• Infernal (Hero) (FC)
• Luminary (Hero) (FC)
• Malaise (Hero) (FC)
• Manticore (Hero) (FP)
• Mirror Spirit (Hero) (FP)
• Moonfire (Hero) (FP)
• Ms. Liberty (Hero) (FC)
• Mynx (Hero) (FC)
• Numina (Hero) (FP)
• Positron (Hero) (FP)
• Ravenstorm (Hero) (FC)
• Rose Star (Hero) (FP)
• Sister Psyche (Hero) (FP)
• Spark Blade (FP)
• Swan (Hero) (FP)
• Synapse (Hero) (FC)
• Valkyrie (Hero) (FC)
• Woodsman (Hero) (FP)

The Freedom Phalanx is a long standing organization, originally formed by Statesman. The members of it provide a reasonable challenge to villains, considering they possess several Heroes. Freedom Phalanx members are sometimes accompanied by a Longbow or Wyvern. The Freedom Corps, or the First Hero Corps, is another major superhero division within Paragon City. The Freedom Corps differs from the Freedom Phalanx, aside from its greater number of members, because not only is the Freedom Corps not a supergroup, but it is considered Paragon City's designated hero organization.

[edit] Gold Brickers

Known Leaders:

• King Midas

High tech thieves, low level enemy based in Cap au Diable. Equipment consists of bulky golden jetpacks and sonic weaponry, while members typically wear double-breasted black leather jackets and leather helmets. Funded by the famed candy company owned by King Midas, most especially for his "Gold Brick" chocolate bar.

[edit] Legacy Chain

Another hero group; low level group that believes that magic should only be used for noble purposes, and aim to cleanse the world of those who would use it for evil.

[edit] Longbow

Known Leaders:

• Ms. Liberty

Not only is Longbow a division of Freedom Corps, but it is also the enforcement arm of the United Nations, which officially has jurisdiction over the Rogue Isles. As Lord Recluse and Arachnos generally reject this claim of jurisdiction, the forces of Longbow are regularly at odds with his efforts.

[edit] Luddites

Known Leader:

• Martin Henri

Taking their name and basic ideology from the real-world Luddites, they are a violent anti-technology organization based in Cap au Diable, where they oppose the existence of Aeon City and its leader Dr. Aeon, who are aligned at least nominally with Arachnos. As they oppose technology, low-tech variants of weapons replace typical villain armaments, i.e. crossbows and wood-burning torches instead of guns and flamethrowers.

[edit] The Mooks

Known Leaders:

• Guido 'The Mooch' Veranti

Low level enemies. This is a splinter group from The Family. Italian mafia.

[edit] Paragon Police Department

Known Leaders:

• Police Chief Conrad Bochco
• Blue Steel

The Paragon Police Department, or the “Blue Shield” as they are colloquially known, is a long established institution of Paragon City. Until late 2005, they were ill-equipped to handle to increasing threat of super-powered criminals. Now, they have increased their ranks and created several new divisions to deal with these new threats, including armored units (The Powered Armor Cops), psychic officers (Psi-Division), new armored drones, and Kheldian merged officers (The Awakened Division).

[edit] Rogue Island Police

The Rogue Islands' police force, apparently in the employ of the Arachnos organization as evidenced by the symbol worn on their sleeve. Identical to other private security forces in City of Villains. Although cast as the law and order of the island, they are frequently seen brutalizing civilians.

Despite the fact that actually enforcing the law seems to be low on their list, their acts of violence seem to keep crime low. In all likelihood, this is not intentional.

[edit] Scrapyarders

Known leaders:

• Iron Widow (Hero)
• Sea Witch (Hero)
• Spinnerette (Hero)

Significant Member:

• Scrapyard (Giant Monster)

Enraged builders, miners and other construction workers found mostly in Sharkhead Isle. They had a leader called Scrapyard, but he was slain by Captain Mako. His ghost occasionally appears in Sharkhead Isle as a Giant Monster.

[edit] Slag Golems

Mysteriously animate amalgamations of industrial waste and metal scrap found on Sharkhead Isle. Mid-level enemies.

[edit] Snakes

Known Leader:

• Stheno- Sister of Medusa, one of the three Gorgons of Greek mythology

Very low level enemy group, although level 46-50 villians can come back to Mercy for a string of missions involving evolved versions of the low level snakes. Man-sized snake-creatures living on Mercy Island and in Port Oakes. Speculated to have descended from magically-transformed original colonists.

[edit] Wailers

A breed of demons infesting St. Martial, bent on obtaining the soul of the famed Johnny Sonata. They use sonic attacks and tend to speak using Sinatra-esque slang.

[edit] Wyvern

Known Leader:

• Manticore, in a sense

Vigilante group reportedly founded and funded by the hero Manticore. Dedicated to doing the things that need to be done to protect the world, even if the means are... dirty.

[edit] Fifth Column controversy

With the advent of Issue 3, the removal of the neo-Nazi Fifth Column villain group and its replacement by the Council caused some adverse reaction among the playerbase. The protestors claimed that Cryptic had removed the group and replaced it with a more politically correct organisation, near-identical in capability but differing in backstory, in order to allay potential objections from German players, as Issue 3 marked the game's release in Europe. Many story arcs featuring the Fifth Column were rewritten to feature the Council instead, and one in-game landmark, the statue of Atlas, notoriously rewrote the death of this hero, replacing a last stand against Fifth Column soldiers with a demise while rescuing kidnapped politicians.

A widely linked article by Eric Burns of Websnark summed up the critics' position. Burns correctly observes that the Fifth Column would not have caused problems with any existing German legislation prohibiting the use of Nazi propaganda and symbols, though other critics often make the erroneous assertion that games featuring Nazis are banned outright in Germany.

The developers have stated that there was no such motive behind the removal of the Fifth Column. Players from Germany and from other parts of Europe have repeatedly explained that the Fifth Column did not break any German laws; some players had in fact been playing from Germany since before the release of Issue 3. It has also been pointed out that the backstory for the Council explains that they are an Italian Fascist group, so avoiding negative potrayals of Europeans cannot have been a priority. Nonetheless, the belief that the developers acted out of fear of causing offence, even if they would not have broken any German laws, has persisted.

Sean Michael Fish (known to players as Manticore), one of the developers, has recently stated on record that the Fifth Column are set to make a return in 2006, led by Reichsman. Although this has yet to happen in-game, the Atlas Plaque has now been changed and once again refers to the Fifth Column as the agents of his death, and a 5th column gladiator has been awarded to characters with both anniversary badges.

[edit] Sources

• City of Heroes Website [2]
• City of Villains Website [3]
• City of Heroes the game
• City of Villains the game