Anann

[ QUOTE ]
I'm trying to do your test. Unfortunately I get the following error when clicking the "On to the test" button:

URL: http://www-cgi.york.ac.uk/~psyc8/cgi-bin/wr.pl

malformed header from script. Bad header=flock() on unopened filehandle: /~psyc8/cgi-bin/wr.pl

[/ QUOTE ]

Sorry about that. Unfortunately the site does occasionally pop up errors that our IT people can't replicate (or so them tell me ) and we really have no idea why. All I can suggest is maybe trying it again later.

Also, if people don't manage to finish it all in the same sitting, as long as you can remember your ID code, you can pick it up again later (there are links to do this on the page you get your ID from).

First up, apologies if this isn't the right place for this (there isn't after all an Off-Topic discussion section). If the mods feel this is inappropriate, please feel free to remove it.

I'm currently looking for people to take part in my PhD research into personality and social behaviours. I'm looking to recruit a selection of high functioning adults from all walks of life. So I figured the CoH boards may be a good place to try, given the variety of people I meet in game.

All you need to do to take part is follow this link: http://www-users.york.ac.uk/~gcw102/ and complete the personality questionnaire.

It generally takes people about 40 minutes to complete. In return you will have my undying gratitude and you will be entered into a prize draw for a £20 Amazon gift voucher. Since this is the second round of data collection, I'm looking to recruit about 50 participants, so that's quite good odds. If you have any questions about the study, feel free to e-mail me at gcw102 @ york . ac. uk.

Well I finally got my Mercs/TA to 50 and actually towards the end she was highly enjoyable.

Big teams are definitely the way to go as it allows the AoE spec ops mez (and the TA debuffs) to have max effect.

Don't give up on em yet, but devs please give them a bit of a boost. Personally I think replacing serum with something useful could be the way forward (following the military theme something related to leadership as mentioned before or even the ability to call in an airstrike?)

Yes it can be done. After about a year of play, my Mercs/TA Lady Theta finally made it to 50.

Thank you to everyone who teamed with her through the levels... after all, it's not like I could realistically solo .

Build and a brief guide to follow if anyone is interested (if rumours are to be believed Mercs/TA are a rare breed).

I currently have a Mercs/TA at 35 and I'm finding.... they're not actually that bad. Do I underperform compared to a thugs/bots of similar level, probably and I'm not going to say I won't be immensly happy if they review mercs somewhat.
BUT I can happily and relatively easily solo missions on Ruthless (I can theoretically do relentless, but the AoEs work better on more low-level minions), and this is without any damage procs.
I can also happily run two leadership toggles without stamina.

In my opnion: do mercs underperform - Yes. Are they gimped - No!

I'm not actually sure you can outlevel the Kheldian arcs. Due to ridiculously fast leveling, I know I was doing the final missions of the 5-10 arc at level 13 and still getting lvl 14-15 mobs.

Also, a point always worth emphasizing in these threads. CoX is NOT balanced for PvP. It is predomiently a PvE game and there are some ATs and some powersets who just won't be able to PvP. Others are wonderful in PvP but don't team in PvE well (however, they usually do solo well).

All defender sets will either buff or debuff in someway, however it would have to apply retrospecively really, ie to buffs/shields applied before the effects became apparent, or else it would really only benefit heals and debuffs

Also, again, there is the argument that if a defender is doing their job, they should never use it, so again it's rewarding bad play.

I... have no real suggestions as to what could be an alternative however. It's really quite diffiuclt. One thought could be something related to the team size, since defenders are ultimately team toons and their job does get harder the more team members there are (more mobs to debuff or more team-mates to buff/keep an eye on). Possibly, again, a decrease in end cost as team number increases or a boost to the effectiveness of buffs/debuffs or even a slight increase in recharge by team memeber.

Been playing around with Mids during lunchtimes in an attempt to get together a nice IO-based WS build, using bits of sets to generate optimal enh %. Any feedback would be appreciated (yes, this is somewhat on the wishful thinking scale). This does include some I11 enh, since by the time I have the level, inf to buy them, I11 should be out.

Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.21
http://www.honourableunited.org.uk/mhd.php

Grey Huntress: Level 50 Science Warshade
Primary Power Set: Umbral Blast
Secondary Power Set: Umbral Aura
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Fitness

Hero Profile:
------------
Level 1: Ebon Eye
(A) Thunderstrike - Damage/Recharge: Level 40
(3) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge: Level 40
(3) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance: Level 43
(5) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage: Level 30


Level 1: Absorption
(A) Steadfast Protection - Knockback Protection: Level 30


Level 2: Gravimetric Snare
(A) Devastation - Accuracy/Damage: Level 43
(5) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage: Level 43
(48) Thunderstrike - Damage/Recharge: Level 30


Level 4: Gravity Shield
(A) Aegis - Resistance: Level 43
(45) Aegis - Resistance/Endurance: Level 43
(46) Titanium Coating - Resistance/Endurance: Level 40
(46) Titanium Coating - Resistance: Level 40


Level 6: Dark Nova
(A) Endurance Modification IO: Level 45
(15) Endurance Reduction IO: Level 20


Level 8: Hasten
(A) Recharge Reduction IO: Level 45
(34) Recharge Reduction IO: Level 45
(50) Recharge Reduction IO: Level 45


Level 10: Shadow Blast
(A) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage: Level 43
(15) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge: Level 30
(42) Thunderstrike - Damage/Recharge: Level 30
(48) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance: Level 43


Level 12: Sunless Mire
(A) Recharge Reduction IO: Level 45
(13) Cleaving Blow - Accuracy/Recharge: Level 45
(13) Scirocco's Dervish - Accuracy/Recharge: Level 45


Level 14: Swift
(A) Run Speed IO: Level 45


Level 16: Shadow Cloak
(A) Endurance Reduction IO: Level 45


Level 18: Gravity Well
(A) Crushing Impact - Accuracy/Damage: Level 43
(19) Ghost Widow's Embrace - Accuracy/Hold/Recharge: Level 43
(19) Essence of Curare - Accuracy/Hold/Recharge: Level 43
(43) Crushing Impact - Damage/Recharge: Level 30


Level 20: Black Dwarf
(A) Resist Damage IO: Level 45
(21) Resist Damage IO: Level 45
(21) Resist Damage IO: Level 45


Level 22: Stygian Circle
(A) Performance Shifter - End Mod / Recharge: Level 43
(23) Performance Shifter - End Mod / Recharge / Accuracy: Level 43
(23) Performance Shifter - End Reduction / End Modification: Level 43
(50) Performance Shifter - Recharge / Accuracy: Level 43


Level 24: Health
(A) Healing IO: Level 40


Level 26: Gravitic Emanation
(A) Stupefy - Accuracy/Recharge: Level 43
(27) Stupefy - Endurance/Stun: Level 43
(27) Stupefy - Accuracy/Endurance: Level 43
(37) Stupefy - Stun/Range: Level 43
(43) Stupefy - Accuracy/Stun/Recharge: Level 43


Level 28: Unchain Essence
(A) Detonation - Accuracy/Damage: Level 43
(29) Detonation - Damage/Endurance: Level 43
(29) Detonation - Damage/Recharge: Level 43
(46) Detonation - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance: Level 43
(48) Detonation - Damage/Endurance/Range: Level 43


Level 30: Starless Step
(A) Accuracy IO: Level 45


Level 32: Dark Extraction
(A) Recharge Reduction IO: Level 45
(33) Recharge Reduction IO: Level 45
(33) Blood Mandate - Accuracy/Damage: Level 45
(33) Blood Mandate - Damage: Level 45
(40) Sovereign Right - Accuracy/Damage: Level 45
(40) Sovereign Right - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance: Level 43


Level 35: Quasar
(A) Cleaving Blow - Accuracy/Damage: Level 43
(36) Cleaving Blow - Damage/Endurance: Level 43
(36) Cleaving Blow - Damage/Recharge: Level 43
(36) Multi Strike - Damage/Endurance/Recharge: Level 43
(37) Multi Strike - Damage/Recharge: Level 43


Level 38: Eclipse
(A) Reactive Armor - Resistance/Recharge: Level 40
(39) Aegis - Resistance/Recharge: Level 43
(39) Titanium Coating - Resistance/Recharge: Level 43
(39) Impervium Armor - Resistance/Recharge: Level 40
(40) Accuracy IO: Level 45


Level 41: Stygian Return
(A) Doctored Wounds - Heal/Recharge: Level 45


Level 44: Super Speed
(A) Celerity - +Stealth: Level 43


Level 47: Inky Aspect
(A) Stupefy - Accuracy/Endurance: Level 43


Level 49: Nebulous Form
(A) Endurance Reduction IO: Level 45


------------
Level 1: Brawl
(A) Empty


Level 1: Sprint
(A) Empty


Level 2: Rest
(A) Empty


Level 1: Dark Sustenance
------------
Level 6: Dark Nova Bolt
(A) Decimation - Accuracy/Damage: Level 40
(11) Decimation - Damage/Endurance: Level 25
(17) Decimation - Damage/Recharge: Level 40
(43) Decimation - Accuracy/Endurance/Recharge: Level 40
(45) Decimation - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge: Level 40


Level 6: Dark Nova Blast
(A) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge: Level 40
(11) Thunderstrike - Damage/Endurance/Recharge: Level 30
(17) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance: Level 40
(42) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage: Level 40
(45) Thunderstrike - Damage/Recharge: Level 40


Level 6: Dark Nova Emanation
(A) Positron's Blast - Accuracy/Damage: Level 43
(7) Positron's Blast - Damage/Endurance: Level 43
(9) Positron's Blast - Damage/Recharge: Level 43
(34) Positron's Blast - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance: Level 43
(34) Positron's Blast - Damage/Range: Level 20


Level 6: Dark Nova Detonation
(A) Positron's Blast - Accuracy/Damage: Level 43
(7) Positron's Blast - Damage/Endurance: Level 43
(9) Positron's Blast - Damage/Recharge: Level 43
(31) Positron's Blast - Damage/Range: Level 43
(37) Positron's Blast - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance: Level 43


Level 20: Black Dwarf Strike
(A) Crushing Impact - Accuracy/Damage: Level 43


Level 20: Black Dwarf Smite
(A) Crushing Impact - Accuracy/Damage: Level 43


Level 20: Black Dwarf Mire
(A) Recharge Reduction IO: Level 45
(25) Scirocco's Dervish - Accuracy/Recharge: Level 45
(31) Cleaving Blow - Accuracy/Recharge: Level 43


Level 20: Black Dwarf Drain
(A) Miracle - Heal/Endurance/Recharge: Level 40
(25) Miracle - Heal: Level 40
(31) Miracle - Heal/Recharge: Level 40
(42) Miracle - Endurance/Recharge: Level 40
(50) Accuracy IO: Level 45


Level 20: Black Dwarf Step
(A) Range IO: Level 45


Level 20: Black Dwarf Antagonize
(A) Taunt Duration IO: Level 45


------------
Set Bonus Totals:
+8.75% Defense(Energy)
+1.88% Defense(AoE)
+2.25% Max Endurance
+39% Enhancement(Accuracy)
+5% Enhancement(Heal)
+25% Enhancement(RechargeTime)
+3% Enhancement(Stun)
+9% FlySpeed
+81.3 (6.75%) HitPoints
+9% JumpSpeed
+Knockback (Mag -4)
+MezResist(Immobilize) (Mag 4.95%)
+MezResist(Sleep) (Mag 8.25%)
+23% Recovery
+3.15% Resistance(Fire)
+3.15% Resistance(Cold)
+1.88% Resistance(Energy)
+14% RunSpeed
+1% Debt Protection



------------
Set Bonuses:
Thunderstrike
(Ebon Eye)
+2% Recovery
+2.5% Defense(Energy)
+7% Enhancement(Accuracy)


Steadfast Protection
(Absorption)
+Knockback (Mag -4)


Thunderstrike
(Gravimetric Snare)
+2% Recovery


Aegis
(Gravity Shield)
+5% RunSpeed


Titanium Coating
(Gravity Shield)
+MezResist(Sleep) (Mag 2.2%)


Thunderstrike
(Shadow Blast)
+2% Recovery
+2.5% Defense(Energy)
+7% Enhancement(Accuracy)


Crushing Impact
(Gravity Well)
+MezResist(Immobilize) (Mag 2.2%)


Performance Shifter
(Stygian Circle)
+5% RunSpeed
, +5% FlySpeed
, +5% JumpSpeed
+22.6 (1.88%) HitPoints
+2.5% Recovery


Stupefy
(Gravitic Emanation)
+2.5% Recovery
+22.6 (1.88%) HitPoints
+3% Enhancement(Stun)
+6.25% Enhancement(RechargeTime)


Detonation
(Unchain Essence)
+MezResist(Sleep) (Mag 1.65%)
+1.88% Resistance(Energy)
+1% Debt Protection
+1.88% Defense(AoE)


Blood Mandate
(Dark Extraction)
+1.5% Recovery


Sovereign Right
(Dark Extraction)
+MezResist(Sleep) (Mag 2.75%)


Cleaving Blow
(Quasar)
+1% Recovery
+1.25% Defense(Energy)


Multi Strike
(Quasar)
+MezResist(Sleep) (Mag 1.65%)


Decimation
(Dark Nova Bolt)
+MezResist(Immobilize) (Mag 2.75%)
+13.6 (1.13%) HitPoints
+2.25% Max Max Endurance
+6.25% Enhancement(RechargeTime)


Thunderstrike
(Dark Nova Blast)
+2% Recovery
+2.5% Defense(Energy)
+7% Enhancement(Accuracy)
+4% Movement Increase


Positron's Blast
(Dark Nova Emanation)
+2.5% Recovery
+1.575% Res(Fire, Cold)
+9% Enhancement(Accuracy)
+6.25% Enhancement(RechargeTime)


Positron's Blast
(Dark Nova Detonation)
+2.5% Recovery
+1.575% Res(Fire, Cold)
+9% Enhancement(Accuracy)
+6.25% Enhancement(RechargeTime)


Miracle
(Black Dwarf Drain)
+2.5% Recovery
+22.6 (1.88%) HitPoints
+5% Enhancement(Heal)






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|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|

[ QUOTE ]
IMHO, it should have been looked at before Defiance. At least with Defiance it makes my last nuke before faceplanting go with a bit extra boom. Vigilance though is less than worthless.

[/ QUOTE ]

Maybe it's because defenders don't whine about it enough? Seriously, you rarely get a discussion about blasters without the poor performance of defiance being mentioned (which is not to say they don't have legitimate complaints, because they do), whereas vigilance is almost never mentioned.

Possibly because it's such a non-event, that most defenders just forget it even exists. Whereas defiance for blasters is just useful enough to get it's poor performance noticed.

For DA, I would say that though you can get all your shields you need by 16, it doesn't become truly playable till 20-21 once you have slotted stamina. Before then, it's just painful!

I have to say having both a scrapper in the 40s and a defender in the 30s have given me a good perspective on both sides of the fence. Above all, it has made me very conscious of KB on my stormy, and appreciative of all types of defenders on my scrapper, it is far too easy to underestimate their impact

[ QUOTE ]

If someone dies it would be nice for them to wait for vengence before accepting there rez(or using an awaken) Love my power boosted vengence and again hate wasting powerboost when i not got time to fire vengence off.(fair enough if they dont relise anyone had vengence on the team but i always make a note i got it when joining one.


[/ QUOTE ]

I have to say on my DA I prefer not to wait too long before using my self-rez because it's reliant on enemies being above me, and if I wait they'll either wander off or get killed But then I don't think I've every actually teamed with someone with vengance

Didn't happen to me, but to a friend's scrapper:
Friend: I see a fake nemesis, Charge! <hack><faceplant>
Friend: Ow, what happen there?
Teammate: Read the mission briefing
Friend: Oh, so that's NOT a fake nemesis

Anann is a BS/DA scrapper, and I do have and love Soul Transfer (have all of DA except CoF), she should be in the level range by next week-end easily. She is on Union and I'll admit I've lost track of which server you're planning on doing this on. I'm available daytime saturday and sunday evenings

I'd be put for this, unfortunatly my highest scrapper, ok highest toon, is a couple of bars off 44 atm, but once she's in level range, it sounds interesting to do I must say.

I've always felt the exclusive one-handed use of BS adds to the sense of epicness, the whole "I don't care if this massive lump of steel weight almost as much as I do, I'm hardcore enough to wield it in one-hand"

I concure with the BS/DA advice. My first toon in CoH was a BS/DA (chosen because it looked cool), and though it was quite hard going at first, the sheer sense of satisfaction once she hit the mid-20s and really started coming into her own was well worth it.
Spines may have more AoE damage, but as mentioned BS gives a good level of AoE (whirling sword and slash) whilst also offering the satisfaction of being able to go toe-to-toe with the big bosses and beat them into the ground . Just remeber to slot lots of endurance reductions and you can rock

If you right click (or possibly left) on powers in the enhancement management screen it tells you what sets they take as well as which enhancments

'We Are Legion' is a very small but active concept VG (the concept being, you are green and black, f'ed up and your name is Legion [x]), but that's mostly due to core of players who bring out their Legions regularly

Ah... every time someone mentions doing a DA build, everyone jumps on it with the endurance problems. As someone playing a BS/DA, really, they're not that bad.
You have to be a bit smart pre-stamina and not run the toggles you don't need, but once you have stamina and slot your shields for endurance reduction, really you'll have no problems.
I know DA used to be immensly endurance intensive, but they reduced it about two issues ago, which may be why people still have the "Oh noes!!1! DA will eat all my end!" reaction

I have a level 38 BS/DA scrapper, and yes, the endurance stings pre-20, but once you have stamina it becomes significantly easier. As she is at the moment, with stamina and attacks slotted from end red, I have no endurence problems at all.
On the power front, the AoE capability of BS is often underestimated, Whirling Sword is an awsome power and slice is immensly useful. Added to DA powers such as Death Shroud, Dark Regen and Oppressive Gloom, and it's an immensly effective combo against large groups: OG locks the minions down, the DOT from WS and DS generally takes care of them (with possibly a slice in there), leaving you free to use the big ST attacks on the bosses and Lts.
So i think a BS/DA super-team could be amazingly effective, though I would suggest the Oppressive Gloom/Death Shroud combination over Cloak of Fear... DS and CoF don't work well together, and DS is too awsome not to have (consider have 8 sets of constant DoT overlapping, things will jsut be falling over before you even touch them)

I did BS/DA with my Magic scrapper (also outlandish backstory involving celtic war goddesses... it always fits nicely). She was quite hard going till Stamina, but once i hit Stamina and then SOs she's been immense fun, being able to both mookinate and dish out immense amounts of ST damage. Though BS/DA, or indeed any DA benifits most from large teams (therefore large mobs)

[ QUOTE ]
Take Dark as the secondary because it offers defence to allmost everything, but from looking @ the powers it seems i will have to be constantly switching togles (unless i keep the sheilds on permanently and strugle with End)

[/ QUOTE ]

As a BS/DA scrapper, you should be fine with your shields and end usage once you have stamina. I have all 3 constantly up + death shroud without it causing significant problems, though slotting end red in all your attacks is a must. The big issue with DA I find is the lack of knockback protection, though acrobatics will of course sort this.

[ QUOTE ]
When have you ever seen a realistic male body around CoH?

It's not about realism.

[/ QUOTE ]

[ QUOTE ]

NB: Of course, if you scale up one item (in nature), then the rest of the items usually scale up with it. Usually.


[/ QUOTE ]

Ok, I admit I was making a very sweeping statement, and I do take the point about this not exactly being a realistic game... also, I was not meaning to imply that I had sole judegement over what is realistic and what is not, I think that most people do probably have a decent handle on the sorts of body types that appear in real life. But I do think that women will probably have slightly better idea on realistic female body sizes and men of male, simply through personal experience and the fact of what you see in the mirror every morning.

I think it's more of the point that a) as a rule people don't scale the rest of the body to fit the EE breasts they've given their characters. Now being on the non-straight persuasion, I enjoy looking at gratuitous female super-heroes as much as the next fanboy, but there does come a point where the breasts are so mismatched to the body type that it's really not attractive any more.

b) Consider that even if you put the sliders on minimum you have a toon which would nonetheless be considered well-endowed if they were real... on maximum they would give someone serious back problems and are probably unlikley to happen *on the generally accompanying slender if not anorexic frame* without artificial aide.

I think use of nakedness comes down to how you use it. Two of my female characters are essentially naked - both using the 'metal' costume parts and non-human skin colours (light and dark blue on Tempest's Herald, dark green and black on Legion Wildfire) and I have been reliably informed, both manage to avoid gratuitousness. Both are designed to look non-human: Tempest towards being an 'elemental' and Legion Wildfire as a nanotech construction.

Of course the fact that the first thing I do with any of my female characters is take the Chest slide bar down the minimum probably helps. I'm female, I have an idea what is a 'realistic' breast size, and I don't see it often around CoH.