Yamato_NA

Roll a Brute. Making a Stalker and trudging up to 50 was one of the biggest wastes of time that I put into the game. As soon as VEATs were released, I deleted him.

I would go for a Stone/WP Brute. It's gonna be a pain on Endurance (at least, until Quick Recovery and Stamina, if you choose to get both) but the results are very much worth it.

I would slot it into Health/Fast Healing so I can maximize the +HP bonus of High Pain Tolerance.

Adding Healing SOs/IOs to the same power as the Numina's proc is in boosts its effectiveness.

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
After you've critted an AV for 1600 damage with Headsplitter, other sets start to feel ticky-tack.


[/ QUOTE ]

1600? That's, what, critting on a built up hit? Moments like that are proof positive there is a God, and that he loves me.

[/ QUOTE ]

Build Up, with -Resist debuffs on the opponent, and maybe against an already Lethal weak AV (like Carnies).

[ QUOTE ]
what color are the lazers

[/ QUOTE ]

Laser Beam Eyes is colored red

*points to sig*

lol @ HH for <censored> copying me by using <censored>.

His Unstoppable is out of control. He will always cast it at 25%, I don't think his has a recharge.

I can get him to 25%, he will then pop Unstop. I can't beat through the resists and regen, and he gets back to 50-60%. I get him back to 25% and the cycle continues.

lol @ fallenz for being jealous of HH's <censored>-ness.

lol @ HH for being the chief <censored> on this <censored> server.

<censored>

<censored> no u

lol @ HH for bringing up useless information

Hmm...this looks interesting. You think you could see how well my Spines/Willpower stacks up on that spreadsheet?


<font class="small">Code:[/color]<hr /><pre>| Copy &amp; Paste this data into Mids' Hero Designer to view the build |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
|MxDz;1402;710;1420;HEX;|
|78DAA593D94F534114C6E776A12DB49452DAB2236BCB76A16 F2E894645139426541|
|05C1072A9035CADB74DEF65A9BEF8E29B4F9AE81341659177 5CE39FA652CF326D78|
|F726FD7E33A7E79C99F93293D9990A0AF1F28AD01AAFE70DD B5E99CB958C625196F|
|C994DC770CC82E5BDFACC302C9F102256FD6F2523F352EAD9 4D339FB7DB6BD129B9|
|262D5BEA8B102E16B66529326D6DC892B41CBD3A08CE160A7 97D461A45D35AE7C94|
|DD3B1A46D87D4647DC381BF22349BB6B64CDB5C35F3A6538E DC289A39FD5AE17179|
|2563D88E2C955B614BC3F0DBC3BDD157F18835405AB836182 6C1F384F194B080E91|
|AA57B451C065DA22EC16825F8B31AE6F9E708F577091F7CAA 08AAB42D6A54BF4D08|
|EE30CA84C6E78C178445A872F35A6EF7000C92A2699091243 4A7081F21CFCBDD5DD|
|E5D971051D1BCE7C20E2DFB844F90E053CBFBF6A977CB0121 7EC83822B47E661C13|
|EE4349402D1F68A273B447185142678C1087BC06EE2E1A389 48050488542A7147A0|
|0A1B0A6D126C3EC51277BD4CD1EDD8384082FE78ADCA28375 67CF263C8484A8DA4F|
|F40D1DECDC5BC63BC67BC201E4C5D469636C762F9BDDCB66F 7B2D9FD6C763F9B5D0|
|75509EE2E12290A1D42A84D356AFB4DBDFBFF1006FE324E19 15C290702396A0AA43|
|6DB3836D1B62DB86D8B6247BE483BC2E75DEAECB7477927CD 0E402E108127AD4F23|
|D27B4A3E12F8CAF8C6F8491EF8C1F043F54F5A9B67DECD208 BB34C62E2D43C220B7|
|750F8ED04A63A30C9D305E814FCCC36152EA52A50EA872FC8 8714C70419F5165D8E|
|82B0AB921A4ABA3EB7C6127F8C24EF0859DE00BEB81BC4995 37C916A5D9A2345B94|
|668B3A3DB5B729C46D8116CD9C0D0568D5594FED71096D804 CE8F1D45EE97F7D3F8|
|3D53E813BF5A0F328B320DA028E96501EE1741947068E5651 7238ADFC0A56F71A3E|
|8F1BBA807211E512CA6B4CF2E1CB694009A284501A51C2284 D285194384A3BCA2E4|
|AE51FA5C8F591|
|-------------------------------------------------------------------|</pre><hr />

If it means anything, the empty slot in SoW is for the Gladiator's Armor: 3%, which I do have. Unfortunately, Mid's hasn't updated for I14 so I had to leave it empty

bye bye HH

I would have liked a more in-depth guide.

Start with the primary set choices and describe how they mesh with Electric Armor. Justice started off with Ninja Blade and Dark Melee, perhaps you can touch on the others.

A detailed look at the powers would be nice. Even though I am familiar with Electric Armor, I'm sure many reading may not. It'd be nice to explain to them what the power does, when it opens up, if you should learn it right away or push it of, etc.

Since you talk about tanking with your Stalker, perhaps you can share your build and show us how it is a good tanking Stalker. Because, as of right now, I am a bit skeptical. If you mean "tanking with a /Pain behind you," then pretty much any AT can tank.

Also, give some helpful advice or tips on how to play an /Elec Stalker well. So far, the only advice you gave is get Phase Shift...which reflects rather poorly on the set as a whole. Based on that, it seems that the only way to live is to AS and Phase. If you're /Elec is IO'd, maybe you can touch on IO strategies and what to focus on.

Issue 14 Update!

A new issue is out, time for an update on the build. While there were no changes to Spines/Willpower directly in the PvE environment (PvP changes I will mention later), there are new, exciting possibilities with this build.

Mission Architect

As you can probably guess from the high population on Freedom (and other servers), the Mission Architect is taking the City of universe by storm. I have yet to make my own arc but I have played plenty of them...and I gotta say, I'm impressed by the creativity of the player base. Also, there is a reward system with the MA: tickets. Tickets work similarly to merits in the fact that they are trading in for a reward. However, instead of earning them from task forces, trials, and certain arcs, you can earn tickets on any MA arc that someone has created aside from Developer's Choice arcs.

If you want a more detailed synopsis of the Mission Architect system, please read the patch notes

Now how exactly does this affect the Spines/Willpower build? The MA system adds tons of new content to the game. More content = more to do with your Scrapper. As mentioned with the ticket system, it can greatly help you IO out your Spines/Willpower, if you're going that route. With the gold, silver, and bronze reward roles, you have a good chance to score some rare and valuable IOs like the Steadfast: Resistance/3% Defense or even a Regenerative Tissue: +Regeneration.

PvP

Issue 14 brings a few changes to the PvP system...

Phase Powers - You're fighting a Stalker or VEAT with your Spines/Willpower, the target is one hit from death. You manage to get Impale off and you get the 'Unaffected' message.



Well, Issue 14 modifies the phase system. As it has been, you cannot affect a player who is phased but, in turn, that player cannot affect anyone else. With Issue 14, if you activate a phase power while the target is in a phase power, you CAN affect them. So, that Stalker or VEAT might be laughing that he/she got way...until you turn on Phase Shift and Impale finally hits

Phase powers affected by this are:
[*] Phase Shift
[*] Dimension Shift
[*] Quantum Flight
[*] Nebulous Form
[*] Black Hole
[*] Manifold Resonator
[*] Hyper Phase
[*] Phase flight
[*] Ethereal Shift
[*] Spirit Potions follow a different rule. If the target is under the effect of the Spirit Potion, he/she can only be affected by another target using a Spirit Potion.

Melee Ranged Attacks - Ranged attacks offered by Brutes, Tankers, Scrappers, and Stalkers (whether it is from Primary, Secondary, or Ancillary/Patron) have had their damage reduced . They were following the melee damage table which was making their damage a tad too high. Don't worry, I have PvPed with my Spines/Willpower since this change, the damage reduction is not game breaking.

Taunt - Taunts from Scrappers, Stalkers, Brutes, and Tankers will now give a message saying if the Taunt has missed or not. Unfortunately, I haven't had the opportunity to check to see whether the 75% range debuff will still stick but I will test that ASAP.

PvP IOs - Issue 14 adds a new reward for PvPing: PvP IO sets. The new sets are...
[*] Fury of the Gladiator (Melee AoE Set) (Recipe Level Range 10-50)
[*] Javelin's Volley (Ranged AoE Set) (Recipe Level Range 10-50)
[*] Gladiator's Armor (Resistance Buff Set) (Recipe Level Range 10-50)
[*] Gladiator's Javelin (Ranged Damage Set) (Recipe Level Range 10-50)
[*] Gladiator's Net (Hold Set) (Recipe Level Range 10-50)
[*] Gladiator's Strike (Melee Damage Set) (Recipe Level Range 10-50)
[*] Panacea (Healing Set) (Recipe Level Range 10-50)
[*] Shield Wall (Defense Buff Set) (Recipe Level Range 10-50)

Now what does it mean by 'PvP IOs'? These sets have 2 different bonus tables. In PvE, they will give a certain bonus while in PvP they will give a different one. One example is the Panacea: +Heal/+End IO proc. In PvE, it will act a self-heal (granted, a minor one) and an Endurance recovery, similar to the Performance Shifter proc. In PvP, however, it now will act like the Numina's Convalescence proc.

With these new IOs, there are alot of new options with the Spines/Willpower build. The 2 that I strongly recommend are the Gladiator's Armor: 3% and Teleportation Resist as well as the Panacea: +Heal/+End. Now, be warned, should you try to purchase these IOs from Wentworths or the black market, you're gonna have to shell out alot of cash. As I recall, the Gladiator's Armor IO was going for somewhere between 175-200 million influence. However, you can PvP to earn these IOs. The drop rates are quite low (as low as purple IOs, as I've been told) but, hey, it encourages you to PvP more .

Conclusion

Well, its time to enjoy what Issue 14 has brought us...and wonder about what Issue 15 will bring us. Again, I thank you for reading my guide and I hope it has been informative. If you have any comments, concerns, issues, etc. with what have wrote, please comment on it. However, should you pursue that topic more extensively, I recommend you post in the Scrapper forum. There, you will find answers to more general Scrapper issues. I want this guide to be specifically focused on Spines/Willpower Scrappers, I may not be able to answer all questions regarding Scrappers in general.

Thank you again for reading my guide and please leave comments/replies!



Regards,
Yamato

&lt;censored&gt;

[ QUOTE ]
I've never found taunt a waste on my scrappers

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I wouldn't go so far as to say its a "waste." I probably would use "unnecessary."

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I find it very handy for runners

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I find Impale, Throw Spines, and Ancillary attacks very handy for runners.

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handy on teams with no tank

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Rise to the Challenge, Quills, and my AoE attacks are handy on teams with no tank

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and I find it very handy against Paragon Protectors...when spines can't hit and cause aggro

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You do know that Rise to the Challenge is an auto-hit Taunt aura, right?

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It's also very nice in PvP...but non-taunting scrappers wouldn't have any idea of what use taunt is in pvp.

[/ QUOTE ]

It is a 75% Range debuff. It also has an Accuracy check in PvP, a contributing reason why most Scrappers don't take it. I know full well what it does and I'm a non-Taunting Scrapper.

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If a team is letting a blaster get hurt then the team's aggro management is deficient

[/ QUOTE ]

Then get another Tanker? I'm not gonna break away from the other 13 mobs I've aggroed to save said Blaster's life for 1 minion that escaped and it now shooting him. And does this Blaster not have attacks? Every Blaster tier 1 secondary is some sort of soft control, an Immobilize (Fire, Ice, Electric, Devices, Mental) or Knockback (Energy). All Blasters have to learn that tier 1.

[ QUOTE ]
A blaster and controller should never take aggro on a team if the scrappers have taunt. I stand by what I said.

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My single target taunt will be real handy against 3-4 enemies. As will a 5 target capped taunt that has an accuracy check (Provoke from Presence pool). Or, I can learn another single target taunt that has an accuracy check (Challenge from Presence pool). That will be useless against Paragon Protectors in Moment of Glory.

At least, I have my auto-hit taunt aura (RttC from Willpower)

[ QUOTE ]
If a controller is taking aggro, the melee players have failed.

[/ QUOTE ]

If the Controller can't use his/her holds, immobilizes, disorients, sleeps, confuses, fears, or (de)buffs to manage that aggro, then they have failed.

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A blaster's job is to blast through aggro, i.e. shoot guys until they are defeated...A controller's job is to eliminate aggro through their holds

[/ QUOTE ]

A Scrapper's job is scrap through aggro, i.e. beat guys until they are defeated...A Scrapper's job is the eliminate aggro through their attacks.

[ QUOTE ]
I know how to play scrappers, and I like em with taunt.

[/ QUOTE ]

Learn Confront on your Scrapper if you want. That decision won't bother me in slightest.

As I pointed out in my last response to your position, this is about Spines/Willpower Scrappers...you keep bring scrappers plural. This is not a 'how to' to the Scrapper AT. It is about a specific build. Write a guide on how to make a Scrapper if you feel you know best.

If you want to continue this, make a post in the Scrapper section and I will offer my opinions on the matter. I don't want my guide derailed on a taunting Scrapper vs non-taunting Scrapper debate. I have no problem with you disagreeing with me on certain points in my guide and you're at liberty to bring them up. But, if you want to carry it along, let other Scrapper players offer their imput.

lol @ HH for being a &lt;censored&gt; &lt;censored&gt; &lt;censored&gt; who looks like a &lt;censored&gt; &lt;censored&gt; in a &lt;censored&gt;

&lt;censored&gt;

[ QUOTE ]

I didnt know about the Stealth thing. Im fairly new to the game.

What percentage is cap?

[/ QUOTE ]

Stealth functions best in PvP environments, though for Stalkers and VEATs mostly, due to their higher stealth caps. In PvE, if any enemy, like Rikti Drones, Knives of Artemies, and others, has some form of +Perception, they will see through any layer of stealth you have engaged.

In PvP, Scrapper's stealth caps at 571.5 feet at level 50. In PvE, the cap is 200 feet from level 32 onward.

Just a reminder, the +Perception cap is 1153 feet. Stalkers can achieve a max stealth (or -Perception) of 1143 feet. This means that a Stalker with that much stealth can only be seen within 10 feet.

lol @ Mylia for necro-posting in a thread that Karl killed

[ QUOTE ]
How come you choose to use the last 2 skills in the fighting pool.

[/ QUOTE ]

I took Tough to stack with my existing Smashing/Lethal resistances from Mind Over Body. With that, MoB, and SoW, I can cap my resists to Smash/Lethal.

Weave stacks very well with Willpower's existing defense. Short of soft-capping, I tend to aim for about 30-35% to all types. Smash/Lethal defense will be less but it is offset by a decent Smash/Lethal resist.

[ QUOTE ]
I got Stealth instead of Weave and they both do the same but Stealth looks cooler.

[/ QUOTE ]

I find stealth on a melee, DPS AT to be wasteful but that's just me. I hope you are aware that Stealth suppresses in a fight; the defense bonus will drop significantly. Plus, I don't really like Stealth's -Speed debuff.

[ QUOTE ]
I disagree with skipping taunt.
Scrapper players that don't take their taunt are the reason blasters quit teams.
Non-taunting scrappers are a waste.


[/ QUOTE ]

By that rationale, 98% of the Scrappers I've seen are a "waste." I haven't taken Taunt on any of my Scrappers...no Blaster (or any squishy) has quit my team on the basis that I didn't take Taunt. The reason why I don't recommend Taunt is that the Scrapper version is single target, the Tanker version has a cap of 5 targets. It is much more viable for them to learn it as opposed to Scrappers. Now, you can say "Why don't you learn Provoke from the Presence pool?" You could, but I don't want to slot for Accuracy in a power that is a shorter Taunt duration. I don't want to dedicate slots to a power when I have 2 powers that can accomplish the same thing, essentially...

...Which brings me to that aggro options that Spines/WP has. Rise to the Challenge is a Taunt aura, though I'll admit, a rather weak one. But, you do have Quills (should you choose to learn it) to get enemies to attack you. From my experience with these 2 powers, I had 0 trouble holding aggro.

lol @ EnD for being a "@" nazi

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Actually, most Fire Blasters tend to skip Nova.

They take Inferno instead

[/ QUOTE ]

Yay you made a funny! good for you Daniel-san. Nova= lvl 32 power for every blaster.

[/ QUOTE ]

Actually, Nova is the level 32 nuke for Energy Blast. So, his comment was accurate.

[/ QUOTE ]

Lacrymosa probably meant nuke instead of Nova...

As for the guide...it seems to be just outlining the concept behind your character as opposed to letting players know the strengths and weaknesses of a Dark/Rad/Dark Defender.

*** You are ignoring this user ***

lol @ HH for spreading lies