Hey y'all, probably thinking that most of you haven't seen one of these around, as I don't think there are many people of posting one!
Anywho, after seeing my good friend Irradiator's Rad/Rad guide, I thought I should make the effort, just to show him up.
I know many of you think that Storm is not a very useful Defender set, and those people may be right, to a certain extent. This certain extent, however, is the very short end of the telephone line.
The Storm Summoning set is fantastic in every way in my honest opinion. It is one of the most useful sets I have ever played, as it has a very 'Controllerish' feel to it, which makes it perfect in PvP, and why */Storm Controllers are simply amazing.
Many of the powers are just as good as holds, if you combo some of them up. eg. Freezing Rain + Snow Storm = Gasps from teammates.
Now, onto the good st00f. I have used every single respec given to me on Chi, and I think I have come to the right one, even if it is more around PvP, I can still Solo with the rest of 'em. Don't make the mistake that I did with two of my respecs, don't get all the Storm powers, or all of the Secondary Powers, as quite frankly, although most are great, you don't really want gale, do you?
OK. My Stormy was based on the ever-annoying Tsoo Sorcerer. Two of them are pretty much impossible to beat on your own now aren't they? And they don't even attack properly.
I had always loved these wonderful villains, and after hitting 50 on my Scrapper, and after my few months break of CoH, I finally made what I thought to be the most fun character ever to be created...mua ha haha...ha (sorry, had to)
OK, this is a review of the powers, from both sets.
STORM SUMMONING
Gale
Ranged (Cone), Minor Damage (Smashing), Foe Knockback
OK, this may be slightly useful in the lwoer levels, until you get some other knockback powers, but I believe it is a waste of a good move, when you could be getting your heal straight away.
Slotting Advice: 1 Accuracy
o2 Boost
Ally Heal, +res (Disorient, Sleep, End Drain)
Admittedly, it's not Absorb Pain, but it's still useful if you're the only healer around, or in PvP -> Be warned, will be hunted down if caught using it! Its also useful for the Endurance Drain Protection, and for anti-Disorient (very useful for awakened Heroes). I know it's not the best power in the set, but it sure as hell is a lot better than gale!
Slotting Advice: 3 Heals, 1 Recharge
Snow Storm
Toggle, Ranged (Targeted AoE), Foe -Speed, -Recharge, -Fly
One of the greater powers of the set. It can be a bit of an endurance drainer before Stamina/SO slotting, but worth getting when you can afford to. The immense slow is great for keeping people put in PvP, and is a great way to keep a mob of enemies together for a nuke or more AoEs. One of my favourites.
Slotting Advice: 3 Slows, 2 End Reducs
Steamy Mist
Toggle: PBAoE, Team Stealth, +Def (All), Res (Fire/Cold/Energy/Confuse)
Again, it can be a bit of an end drainer at lower lvls, but a life saver in the higher ones. It also makes stealthing a lot easier, depending on the travel power; although you have to keep moving. A must for 20+.
Slotting Advice: 3 End Reduc, 3 Defence Buff
Freezing Rain
Ranged (location AoE), Minor DoT (cold), foe -speed, -recharge, -res, -def, -recharge.
This is great, even at low lvls. It doesn't cost that much endurance, is a great way to show off, and does a lot to save your team. With Snow Storm, you can keep enemies in there for as long as the Rain lasts, and the recharge isn't that bad either, although, I do always pick hasten when I can perma it. It doesn't say it in the description, but it also has fantastic knockdown, which will keep them in it even longer, it seems to be almost as good as earthquake.
Slotting Advice: 3 Defence Debuff, 3 Slows
Hurricane
Toggle: PBAoE, foe -range, -accuracy, knockback/knockdown, repel
Sorry, another endurance drainer, but also another must, even at lower lvls. It makes you melee proof in PvP, and if you can keep up, can also be Blast proof. It was also a must for me, because who I'm based on, and my urge to RP.
Slotting Advice: 3 ToHit Debuffs, 3 accuracy reductions
Thunder Clap
PBAoE, Foe Disorient
I took this power for a while, but respecced it out ASAP. Yeah, it looks cool, but it's too inaccurate, and the range isn't good either. I found it put me in too much danger, for too little reward.
Slotting Advice: 3 Accuracy
Tornado
Summon Tornado: PBAoE Minor DAM (Smash), Foe Knockback, Fear, Disorient.
This may get annoying to some Scrappers or Tanks, which is the reason I respecced it out for a while. It is simply amazing for PvP, and is simply a life saver when soloing, or with ranged players only. It should only really be used as a last resort though, as it will completely destroy AoE hopes, and may stray off and aggro other mobs. It has about 10 seconds downtime with Hasten.
Slotting Advice: 2 Knockback, 2 Disorient, 2 Defence Debuff.
Lightning Storm
Summon Storm: Ranged, High DMG(Energy) Foe -End
Woo! Well, a smaller woo now, ED completely ruined it. 6 slot damage was a-ma-zing. Another life saver, with the knockback, and probably the best damage output over time. Uses a hell of endurance, about 40% infact, but that can be fixed, and seeing as it's not a toggle, it's not really a problem unless mid-fight.
Slotting Advice: 3 Damage, 1 Endurance Reduc.
There you have it, a complete guide to Storm. Now, for those Tsoo lovers, onto the Dark. Not only does it look cool, but the accuracy debuff seriously helps with everything, and with a melee user, any attacks with Hurricane makes you pretty much an Ice Armour/Katana/Super Reflexes/Force field user!
Dark Blast
Dark Blast
Ranged, Moderate DMG (negative) foe -accuracy
Well, you have to get it, so don't moan It's not that bad, OK Damage, good for finishing someone off. But if I could choose against it, I probably would
Slotting Advice: 3 Damage, 1 ToHit Debuff
Gloom
Ranged, High (DoT Negative) foe -accuracy
A lot better than dark blast, even if it is DoT. Decent damage and good accuracy Debuff. Me Likey.
Slotting Advice: 3 Damage, 1 ToHit Debuff
MoonBeam
Sniper, Superior Damage (negative) Target -Accuracy
What can I say? It's a fairly decent snipe, can get it at a low lvl, although I'd probably go for the Storm /Primary powers first.
Slotting Advice: 3 Damage, 1 ToHit Debuff
Dark Pit
Ranged, targetet AoE, Foe Disorient
Pretty much the same feelings of it as ThunderClap....very low accuracy, even on blues, long recharge...naah, don't want it.
Slotting Advice: 2 Accuracy, 1 Disorient
Tenebrous Tentacles
Ranged (cone) Moderate DMG (Negative/Smash), foe immob, foe -accuracy
Come on, am I really gonna say no? It's one of the best powers in the set, and is good for keeping enemies in AoEs etc. The accuracy debuff isn't to bad either.
Slotting Advice: 3 Immob, 1 ToHit Debuff
Night Fall
Ranged (cone) Moderate damage (negative) foe -acc
Night fall is a pretty good cone move, and does good damage. Looks great, and can make a good chain attack with itself, gloom, and dark blast.
Slotting Advice: 3 Damage, 1 ToHit Debuff
Torrent
Ranged (cone) Minor Damage (negative) Foe -accuracy, knockback
No, don't even think it. Worse than gale. I refuse to talk about it any longer. Case closed, see you next week.
Slotting Advice: 1 Knockback
Life Drain
Ranged, Moderate Damage (negative) foe -acc, self +HP
I took it only because I didn't have a self heal. Again, a lot better before ED but it is still cool and useful to have. Wouldn't recommend for Empath/Dark Miasma/Kinetics, as they can already heal.
Slotting Advice: 3 Heal, 1 Acc
BlackStar
Close (AoE) Extreme Damage (Negative) foe -acc, self -recovery
I almost liked this at one point, but respecced it out after a few weeks. I loved the damage, but I now think that -recovery isn't good for defenders, as they're supposed to keep their team alive, which is hard when you're resting.
Slotting Advice: 3 Damage, 3 ToHit Debuff.
There you go, you'll never ever ever ever need another post about this again. I hope it helps, and I would appreciate advice/corrections from any other Storm Summoning or Dark Blast users out there.
I also think I should put in, that this was and is by far the most fun character I have ever made. I still play him in mishs and PvP all the time, long after the big ding, and I would love to see other Stormies out there.
Bye!
Edit: Oh yes, almost forgot!
My travel powers: TP Friend, TP Foe, TP self
Mastery powers:
Energy:
Total Focus (High Damage Disorient)
Conserve power (The saviour of the Stormy's endurance)
Temp Invul (The saviour of the Stormy's life, and once again,the end to the Stormy's endurance!)
