Understanding Popmenus In City Of Heroes Creating Custom Command Menus

Popmenus represent a powerful customization feature in City of Heroes that allows players to create organized, accessible menus of commands within the game. This functionality enables players to streamline their gameplay experience by consolidating multiple commands into a single, clickable interface element. According to available documentation, popmenus function as macro buttons that display customized menus of commands, effectively serving as a centralized location for various game actions.

What Are Popmenus in City of Heroes

A popmenu is essentially a macro button that, when clicked, reveals a customized menu of commands as if all relevant macros had been consolidated into one place. The game includes several built-in popmenus, such as the one attached to chat that displays all available emotes, and the Fast Travel button found in the powers bin. Another example is the Everlasting Base List popmenu, which contains an extensive list of base-entry commands that allow players to quickly browse and select a base to port into.

Players can create their own customized popmenus to suit their specific needs and preferences. This customization capability has led to diverse implementations, with some players creating popmenus that include only their favorite bases, personal bases, favorites on other servers, commands for toggling experience points, frequently used emotes, and even macros that generate other needed macros for different characters.

Technical Structure of Popmenus

From a technical perspective, a popmenu is simply a text file with the .mnu extension. These files are not particularly complex to create, requiring only careful nesting of menus and options using braces or curly brackets. Each option line within a popmenu functions as a macro, while each menu represents a flyout list of macros.

The basic syntax for creating a popmenu file includes: - Menu definitions that group options together - Option lines that define specific commands - Title elements for menu headers - Divider elements to separate options - Locked options that can include additional parameters like authentication bits, badge identifiers, reward tokens, and store products

Creating a Basic Popmenu

To create a popmenu, players need to: 1. Create a text file with the .mnu extension 2. Place this file in the appropriate directory: \data\texts<LANGUAGE>\Menus\ 3. The language directory must match the language of the installed City of Heroes version, which can be one of: ChineseTraditional, English, French, German, Japanese, Korean, or uk

For example, to create a simple popmenu named "BabysFirstMenu.mnu", players would place the file in the Homecoming\data\texts\English\menus directory. They could then load the game and type "/macro BABY popmenu BabysFirstMenu" into chat to create a button called "BABY" that displays their custom menu when clicked.

This menu might include options for opening the Auction House (AH) and performing emotes, with nested menus for creating macro buttons, entering specific hub bases, or summoning an Ouroboros Portal. The ampersand (&) character in the code allows players to assign quick access keys, enabling them to hit a specific letter (such as 'A' for Auction House) without navigating through the menu interface.

Advanced Popmenu Features

Popmenus offer several advanced customization options beyond basic command organization. Players can: - Add custom icons to menu options - Gray-out skills in the popmenu if they don't own them or if they're recharging - Create complex nested menus for organizing commands hierarchically - Implement conditional logic based on character status, available powers, or other game conditions

Many players find popmenus particularly useful for travel-related commands. For instance, the Ouroboros portal skill can be customized to drop the portal a few paces in front of the player rather than requiring ground-targeting. This convenience extends to other game aspects as well, with some players creating unique summoning and buffing popmenus for specific character types like Masterminds.

Resources for Learning Popmenu Creation

Several resources are available for players interested in creating or customizing popmenus: - Shenanigunner's City of Heroes Technical Reference Guide, particularly Chapter 7 which focuses on popmenus - Zolgar's guide on the official forums - The official Homecoming wiki, which offers a trimmed-down guide useful for identifying badge/power strings needed for custom commands - DarkWings's Consolidated List of Popmenus, a comprehensive collection of user-created popmenus that can be downloaded and modified

These resources provide varying levels of detail, from basic syntax to advanced implementation techniques, allowing players to gradually develop their popmenu creation skills.

The Popmenu Command

The game includes a slash command specifically for popmenus: /popmenu menuname. This command opens a custom pop-up menu by the specified name at the current cursor location. The game looks for .mnu files in the appropriate language-specific directory, and if none are found, it uses the internal default quickchat menu. If a customized quickchat.mnu file is present, it will replace the internal default when the "Quick Chat" button is clicked.

Players can place multiple .mnu files in the directory, making various menus available through the popmenu command. This flexibility allows for organization and specialization, with different menus for different purposes or characters.

Practical Applications and Customization Possibilities

The versatility of popmenus has led to numerous creative applications within the City of Heroes community. Players have developed popmenus for: - Travel and teleportation commands - Base management and access - Emote organization - Power activation and management - Team coordination commands - Role-playing interactions - UI optimization for specific character builds

The ability to customize popmenus extensively means that players can create interfaces that perfectly match their playstyle and needs, potentially reducing in-game complexity and improving efficiency.

Conclusion

Popmenus represent a powerful customization tool in City of Heroes, allowing players to create organized, accessible menus of commands within the game. By understanding the basic syntax and structure of .mnu files, players can create their own popmenus to streamline gameplay, organize commands, and enhance their overall gaming experience. The availability of numerous learning resources and the ability to download and modify existing popmenus make this feature accessible to players of all technical skill levels.

Sources

1. MassivelyOP - Working as Intended: City of Heroes Macros and Popmenus for Noobs
2. Paragon Wiki - Popmenu (Slash Command)