Zapping

I will definitely contribute. I can also see if I can put my fundraiser experience to use, although I think you have your audience here.

Unfortunately I'm not much of a coder so I wouldn't be much help on the server replication effort.

Thank you everyone for the advice. I'll go back and incorporate it into my build.

Any recommendations on incarnate types to focus on? I was looking at either end, recharge or damage for the alpha slot.

I'm recently back from an extended break and looking to upgrade my original stormer. I figured I would add on to this existing thread since I am looking for a similar build. I have been playing with Mids and came up with the following build. I would typically put a few more slots in leadership, and I do worry that they will eat away at endurance, but slots seemed really tight.

Do any of you have recommendations for different sets or slotting? I want to be fairly versatile. I do a lot of solo content, but also want to contribute on teams (one of the reasons I like offensive defenders is the ability to do both).

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.957
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Zapping: Level 50 Mutation Defender
Primary Power Set: Storm Summoning
Secondary Power Set: Electrical Blast
Power Pool: Flight
Power Pool: Leadership
Power Pool: Leaping
Ancillary Pool: Electricity Mastery

Hero Profile:
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Level 1: O2 Boost Numna-Heal(A), Numna-Heal/Rchg(3), Numna-Heal/EndRdx(9)
Level 1: Charged Bolts Entrpc-Acc/Dmg(A), Entrpc-Dmg/EndRdx(3), Entrpc-Dmg/Rchg(9), Entrpc-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(17), Entrpc-Heal%(25)
Level 2: Lightning Bolt DefendersB-Acc/Dmg(A), DefendersB-Dmg/Rchg(5), DefendersB-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(5), DefendersB-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(17), DefendersB-Rchg/Heal%(25), DefendersB-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(43)
Level 4: Snow Storm EndRdx-I(A)
Level 6: Steamy Mist Aegis-ResDam/Rchg(A), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx(7), Aegis-ResDam(7), Aegis-EndRdx/Rchg(11), Aegis-Psi/Status(15)
Level 8: Hover Srng-Fly(A), Srng-EndRdx(27), Srng-EndRdx/Fly(42)
Level 10: Freezing Rain AnWeak-Acc/Rchg(A), AnWeak-Acc/DefDeb(11), AnWeak-DefDeb(13), AnWeak-DefDeb/EndRdx/Rchg(19), AnWeak-Acc/Rchg/EndRdx(43)
Level 12: Hurricane DarkWD-ToHitDeb(A), DarkWD-ToHitDeb/EndRdx(13), DarkWD-ToHitDeb/Rchg(23), DarkWD-ToHitdeb/Rchg/EndRdx(27)
Level 14: Fly Frbd-EndRdx(A), Frbd-Fly(21), Frbd-Stlth(21)
Level 16: Aim RechRdx-I(A)
Level 18: Assault EndRdx-I(A)
Level 20: Zapp Mantic-Acc/Dmg(A), Mantic-Dmg/EndRdx(31), Mantic-Acc/ActRdx/Rng(36), Mantic-Dmg/ActRdx/Rchg(37), Mantic-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(39), Mantic-Dam%(46)
Level 22: Ball Lightning Posi-Acc/Dmg(A), Posi-Dmg/EndRdx(29), Posi-Dmg/Rchg(31), Posi-Dmg/Rng(36), Posi-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(36), Posi-Dam%(37)
Level 24: Thunder Clap Rope-Acc/Rchg(A), Rope-EndRdx/Stun(37)
Level 26: Tornado S'bndAl-Dmg(A), S'bndAl-Dmg/Rchg(34), S'bndAl-Acc/Rchg(40), S'bndAl-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(40)
Level 28: Tesla Cage G'Wdw-Acc/Rchg(A), G'Wdw-EndRdx/Hold(29), G'Wdw-Dam%(31), NrncSD-Dam%(42)
Level 30: Combat Jumping Ksmt-ToHit+(A)
Level 32: Lightning Storm Apoc-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(A), Apoc-Dmg/Rchg(33), Apoc-Dmg(33), Apoc-Acc/Rchg(33), Apoc-Dmg/EndRdx(34), Apoc-Dam%(34)
Level 35: Voltaic Sentinel SvgnRt-PetResDam(A), SvgnRt-Acc/Dmg(42), SvgnRt-Dmg/EndRdx(43), SvgnRt-Acc/EndRdx(46), SvgnRt-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(50), SvgnRt-Acc(50)
Level 38: Thunderous Blast Ragnrk-Dmg(A), Ragnrk-Dmg/Rchg(39), Ragnrk-Acc/Rchg(39), Ragnrk-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(40)
Level 41: Electric Fence Acc-I(A)
Level 44: Charged Armor S'fstPrt-ResKB(A), S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+(45), ImpSkn-Status(45), TtmC'tng-ResDam/Rchg(45), TtmC'tng-ResDam(46), TtmC'tng-EndRdx(50)
Level 47: Power Sink Efficacy-EndMod/EndRdx(A), Efficacy-EndMod(48), Efficacy-EndMod/Rchg(48), Efficacy-EndMod/Acc/Rchg(48)
Level 49: Tactics EndRdx-I(A)
Level 1: Brawl Acc-I(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Dash Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Slide Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Quick Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Rush Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Surge Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint Run-I(A)
Level 1: Vigilance
Level 2: Rest RechRdx-I(A)
Level 4: Ninja Run
Level 4: Swift Run-I(A)
Level 4: Health Numna-Regen/Rcvry+(A), Mrcl-Rcvry+(23)
Level 4: Hurdle Jump-I(A)
Level 4: Stamina P'Shift-End%(A), P'Shift-EndMod(15), EndMod-I(19)
------------

http://www.cohplanner.com/mids/downl...C4FC078F96E16D

Very exciting feature. I'll definitely be using my 6 free slots quickly, and will probably purchase more at some point down the road.

Now if you could just find me more free hours in the day!

Welcome back!

I know CoH is not your full focus, but does this mean the return of novels and other CoH related stories outside the actual game?

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These look great!

Still waiting on Zapping's reaction.

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My reaction is you rock! Thanks for the picture, I love it! And best of luck with the wedding.

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you're only picking one weapon type for the entire powerset, correct?

i.e. assault rifle -- you can't pick the sniper rifle for your snipe and then another rifle for a different attack in that set. can you?

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Sounds like it, although you can have a different weapon for different costumes. If you got really creative with binds you could probably set it up to change to identical costumes with different weapons as you activate certain powers.

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To be critical this doesn't come across as a "State of Game Address", more like an "Issue 9" press release, and we've had enough of them.

I'd much rather hear about the things that are going to be addressed in I10 and what Cryptic considers the current top concerns. If you have to talk about Inventions I want to hear that you are going to review the new economy and consider adding IO base storage once its up and healthy.

In short, more info please.

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I'd agree. I was looking forward to this for some insight into what is coming. I appreciate the hints, but can't wait for i9 to launch, not because of inventions but because I want to see what's next.

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Leave the tantrum comment by the wayside next time, and we might have a worthwhile conversation, instead of mutual recrimination bracketing summaries.

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Agreed

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Bother me that much? I didn't mention the game bothering me that much. What bothers me is that for every step forward, we get two steps backward for reasons which are ambiguous.

This 'we wrote a word somewhere' thing isn't real; it's pandering. Fine. Fun. Great. As opposed to so many other franchises which put the word 'hideous boils' up on their white boards first. You don't get an award for knowing that games should be fun.

So CoH is the best you've found so far. Same here. But, that's among a very small crowd. The number of MMOs currently available is still small compared to the overall game market, especially when you group them by broad similarities. There's at least a dozen which are basically Everquest with minor adjustments.

My problems with this game are very specific; How is it fun to do that same damn thing 100 times, when it's an automated process overlaying rolling dice? It's not. It's something I, and most people, can certainly be sucked into doing, but that's not why we play this game. Nobody, I think, would argue that pressing the same 2-5 buttons repeatedly when soloing or playing on a small team, is really what they're looking for in a game. It's not a game at all, it's a cash register with pretty lights. The innovative parts of this game have been consistently hemmed in; like freedom of movement, truely heroic battles against masses of enemies, and treadmill shortening methods. Games with gameplay that people *like* don't need to railroad people into long, slow, upgrade processes. Leveling up is not a journey, or a game. The *game* is the game. And the designers consistently screw with the game for the sake of keeping the mindless leveling up in place.

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First part of your post isn't worth replying to.

For the parts that are worth responding to. Yes, this is a bit of PR. Should I hold it against them that they want to get good publicity for having the game that many consider to be different and a welcome change from the other MMOs available? If it makes me a fan boy to say that, fine.

Look I agree with you, there are issues with the game. I wish the devs were as responsive as they were when the game launched, I wish there were less nerfs and more buffs when it came to balancing, I wish there was more focus on some of the issues that will directly effect my play style rather then PvP and crafting. Thing is I've lived through worse in other games. I recognize in a MMO not everything will benefit me. I'll make my observations in the appropriate threads so my opinion is known. However, I do like to occasionally offer up the fact that I do enjoy the game. Sorry if that sets you off. I'll go make a R U Healer thread to make sure you have something to keep you busy for the next few weeks.

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Goddamnit. Please don't be so damned smug about that fun thing, when you've missed the mark in so many ways yourself. When you wrote that word up on the board you should have written 'caution: may be subjective' next to it, and used it to remind yourself not to judge your players for pursuing behaviors that you arbitrarily deem not to be fun. You put kill X tasks in the game, and then act surprised when people camp spawners.

UGh. I find it so frustrating when he trots out this 'we're so great' mentality. This game could have been the first *real* game MMO, instead it's become more canned, and more treadmill-like as time goes by.

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And yet you are back here on the boards and playing this game. I realize you enjoy throwing fits, but to be honest if the game bothers you that much take another break from it.

Sure, there are things I don't like about CoH, but having tried many MMOs, including recently trying the beta of the one mentioned by the OP, I don't see myself leaving here. For my playstyle and tastes, CoH is still the best I've found.

I've been a fan of Senator Lieberman for a long time, but this is one issue we've never agreed upon. For those that think he takes this stand for votes, I don't. I believe he truly does believe in the effect the media has on our children. The problem is, he's gone to taking government action rather then focusing on the real issue - the parents.

I was very disappointed to see this video and to see Sen. Lieberman involved. I'll be sure to let him know that whenever I next see him. The intellectual leap that the video takes is beyond the bounds that anyone can take seriously. Putting Statesman into the same scene as Columbine? Seriously? And Flight Simulator is to blame for 9/11? So any educational software that could be used for destruction must be dumbed down to the point where it is no longer educational? Wrong approach, and I can only hope that these videos show how wrong it is rather then accomplishing their goals.

Probably Zapping, but I could be any one of my characters. While I don't RP, I do tend to play out the stories in my head with them having certain traits. Its one reason all of my villains tend to be the misunderstood villain or heroes infultrating Arachnos.

Zapping or Rain King would be my two to choose from though. It might suck to have King's blue hair, but being able to freeze everyone and control the weather would make up for it

Very sorry to see you go Cuppa. Hopefully you'll manage to stop in for a visit as other since departed red names have on occasion.

These look great and definitely some improvement with each piece.

I know you have a long line already, but if you feel like adding one more to the end here are a couple shots of Zapping:
Close Up
Full Front
Back
Side view

Thanks! Enjoy your vacation!

lol

during the recluse vistory auto lvl 40 test I wanted to make a bunch of alts to try so I was just hitting random on the costume generator. Even then I had to hit it a couple time because some of the recomendations were too bad even for a random temporary alt!

Grats on another year Cryptic & NC Soft. Here's hoping to many more. I've said many times, after being completely hooked on DAOC I gave this game a shot in beta, quickly quit my account with Mythic and haven't looked back.

Now I have to go dig up Miss Abyss's Thank You video again!

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Any talk of changing the permanent part of Patrons or something?

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It's really not as simple as "let's let them respec it!"

Since Patron sets are tied to Contacts you receive, you get the set of the Contact you choose. We'd need to add a bunch of technology to take away access to Contacts (something we don't do currently), to make sure you couldn't end up with multiple Patron Pools.

We have talked about it though, and are not through talking about it either.

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How much of the 40-50 Villain content will be linked to these contacts? I've been thinking I won't be taking these pools on most of my villains until at least issue 8, since I really want to see how they work and see if any new ones or changes are made before I permanently lock myself into something. Does that mean I'll be stuck running newspaper missions through those levels?

Castle, thank you for continuing to listen to community concerns and making changes!

Another very happy stormer here

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Can't remember when I've ever killed someone with hurricane. Granted I really never PvP, but last I checked it caused 0 damage, I actually have to use a few other powers if I hope to actually defeat someone. That's like saying tanks rely on their shields in PvP. Of course they do! But they have to attack to kill stuff. Same with stormies.

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Instant Healing never killed anyone either directly. It helped keep me alive and make me unstoppable. Sort of the purpose Hurricane has. I have to attack to kill things. I don't have range so I have to run up and get in everyone's face. I have to use more then one power to take someone down which includes my actual attacks, Int, and Focus Chi. Hell, I even have to chase after everyone because I can't snipe them being melee.

Most stormies I see in PvP just use Hurricane... They proceed to be the bowling ball against a whole bunch of opponents that surround them but that's all they do is use one power. Thank God we have a blaster amongst us. Otherwise the 7 others on the team would have a problem even touching the Stormie because they're melee. See the problem? Everyone should be able to have a chance at each other in PvP. I know blasters who can take me down because I can't touch them because they're far away. If I get close, watch out. But I have to be able to get close and it's something that doesn't always happen. Why we have travel powers. Run away, chase, etc. But to sit there and watch someone with Hurricane use one power, not even their travel power is really being used, it says there's a problem.

Either give stormies more dmg to some powers or something. I had hoped for a Hurricane nerf for some time because in PvP it's overpowered for various reasons. People should have a chance to be able to get through and hit a stormie besides having to use MoG or try to jump on his/her head. No one should have to switch their travel power to SS just to be able to take on Hurricane. PvP will never be balanced unless all our ATs ended up doing the same things and having the same powers.

Do I think that PvE and PvP should allow for powers to work differently whether you're in PvE or PvP, YES. I'm tired of the nerfs I see with the devs trying to say "it's not because of PvP". Please. Spare me the making themselves look even worse lying excuses.. Some powers are overpowered. Sometimes when you nerf one, you make another overpowered. The whole thing is a mess to sort out that's ongoing. Does anyone like being nerfed with a toon they love, no. I feel your pain. In this situation I feel it WAS necessary though. Will I have people name call me and stuff, sure. Whatever. I did it when they rolled into the Scrapper forumn and were laughing at all our nerfs and said it needed to be done. Nerfs happen. And unfortunately, the powers that be can't seem to figure out how to do them without messing with all our favorities powers.

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Actually Kid, I kind of agree with you on some of this (I know you're amazed). Look, I knew a hurricane nerf had to be coming at some point, I've been around MMO's too long not to see it. Its not that I felt it was needed but I saw it coming. I feel this may be a bit too strong,l but then again nerfs tend to be (like some of your multitude of regen nerfs).

My problem is dealing with storm defenders, where many people have problems with storm controllers (I have both so I feel I can speak knowingly about them). The Devs really made some problems for themselves with the storm set. Its not a heal set like empathy, and its not a strict debuff set like dark or rad. Its not simply defense through bubbles like FF. Storm is in many ways the jack of all trades master of none set. And a lot of the way it defends is through positioning and controlling the battlefield. Hence why storm controllers tend to be more effective the defenders. This is the fatal flaw of the set and one that players have long recognized.

I've already said I don't really PvP. I've tried it but its never been my thing. I just don't have the time to really get good and in with the good teams to be able to truly compete. But really the storm defender has a massive amount of tools at his disposal when facing an enemy. But Hurricane is the most noticeable. Storm was designed to keep squishies safe from melee. Its why tanks and scrappers have had issues with us since day one and blasters have learned to love us.

So now that this defense is being taken away, what is the role of a stormer? We have slows (snow storm), assuming you stay in range. We have freezing rain to debuff, but once again you have to stand in the effect, which PvE has never done let alone PvP. We have thunder clap and lightning storm to detoggle you. Thunder clap was never used much as its range was less then hurricane, expect to see it more often now (although with detoggle changes who knows). We have gale for positioning, but t has horrible base accuracy. We have O2 which has a reasonable distance heal and can help resist status effects and end drain, but its not enough to keep someone dieing alive (especially for the end cost). We can offer some resists and stealth, but in the age of perception steamy mist doesn't do much for anyone. And finally we have tornado. A wild uncontrollable power that can be very nice, but if the stormer doesn't know how to use it its likely to get them killed instead. So where's this leave us? We had one thing we were really good at, and hence that's what you saw us do. Now we can do a lot, but none of it as well as another defender set.

Wow, this post rambled much more then I intended, my apologies. I guess I'm just voicing some frustrations. As I've said, based on testing my stormers will be fine. I'll adapt and keep moving. I've made stormers since before the game was released. I've been kicked from teams for being a stormer before ever getting to a mission to show what I can do. If that age come back I'm fine with it. I'll be sad because a lot of people will miss out on a great set, but I'll keep rolling along.