Alvan

There will be room, or we will make room - the third shards TF has no AV to fight so if there are more than 8 people around we can s juggle characters a bit to get multiple smaller teams than 8 people started.

Attention all Heroes!

The Christmas Cheer might be upon us here in Paragon City, but in the Shadow Shards, things are much more dire! Faathim the Kind, the Shards version of our mythical Santa Claus, has gone missing!

On 23rd December, at 12:00 (that's noon) British Time, all available Heroes with high enough (45+) Security Level shall gather at The Chantry area of Shadow Shards next to the man called Justin Augustine and we will organize into search parties and find the Spirit of Shadow Shards Christmas!

The fate of how the children of Shadow Shards will enjoy XMas this year will depend on YOU!

--

So, for us who are going to spend the XMas weekend at CoH, some Task Force Fun. Specifically SSTF3: The Saga of Faathim. 33 missions, but most of them are either click-a-glowie or defeat 50, so the Task Force is quite fast to complete.

Nofuture Page

Holiday themed costumes will be appreciated

Welcome to the darkly twisted world of Domination. Started my first proper one last thursday, and haven't been able to stop. It's the fastest-leveling toon I've ever touched. The ability to control and blast makes it really something even at low levels, and of course there is that lovely orange Domination that really makes the day when it pops up.

Hasten and Stamina are really wonderful tools. I would add Aid Self amongst the nifty stuff from pools - once you've controlled the enemy, you can shrug off the damage they did in case you happen to miss a hold.

I think I could use some Arena training, so I'd love to be there with something or another.

Mondays don't sound half bad.

Everything else than Stalker (when on Villain Side or Warburg) is a waste of stealth powers - the stealth cap for Non-Stalkers is half of that of real Stalkers. Which pretty much means that Heroes, who have enough +Perception going (to fight the Stalkers), will laugh at the pitiful attempt to hide and have the character for lunch.

The way I would see it - a buffbot following you in combat would die in seconds - squishies are always the first targets and if there is no-one to guide them, they're as good as dead... But having a toon inside the hospital, spamming heals might not be a bad idea

You can get a good stalker once at most with Trip Mines They learn fast. (One of the reasons I dropped them from my build)

[ QUOTE ]
Trust me, Targetting Drone is awesome.

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Quoted for the awesome truth.

Both Tactics and TD affect the same things, but on a Blaster, the +ToHit gained from TD is almost twice of that gained from Tactics, and Tactics costs more to keep up than Targetting Drone. The +Perception from TD is also better than the one gained from Blaster version of Tactics.

Also, activation of Tactics takes longer and roots you in place, TD's does not. Might not be a big thing for some, but it means that TD goes back on nice and quick after you get toggledropped, Tactics does not.

I think I can speak for a great majority (3) of those of us playing at the moment - we'd be more than honored to join up with you guys as it seems no-one wants to take charge of the VG.

I'll send you an ingame @tell next time we both happen to be online at the same time and move my own things over.

[ QUOTE ]
well they have bitter freeze ray, which is like a wannabe snipe that does pitifull damage and holds them instead, yeah i hate that power considering freeze ray is better in general (apart from range), getting rid of when i spec.... (i have a lv 50 ice/ice/cold btw)

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Hardly a "wannabe snipe", more just a "wannabe". It's just a damaging hold with a long activation time. It cannot be interrupted, has no inherent accuracy bonus and the range is pitiful.

(Hasn't stopped me from taking it on my Ice/Dev)

Coldest War will be there to get another HO

Grats to us on a great raid! Coldest War got a nice Acc/Mez to his primary hold (after some trading), making hold stackage easier fun for the whole family.

I never really manage to run anything by the book - almost every successful campaign in the past ten years has been more or less homebrewn.

Currently playing in a friend's political D&D-ish (using the rules of but not really doing things in the "spirit of D&D") campaign and another's Aberrant superhero campaign. On gamemastering side of things, I'm running a game set in the goth scene of mid-90's Coventry (sort of exploring what used to be cool about Vampire: The Masquerade's early editions without the burden of having to deal with Vampires) and starting one supernatural conspiracy game set in 2005. The first one's system is completely homebrew while the latter will be somewhat based on True20 with lots of self-made additions and alterations.

Published stuff that I've really enjoyed in the past few years include (these are the ones that come to mind at this hour) Mutants & Masterminds, Buffy/Angel, Shab-al-Hiri Roach, Serenity and True20.

/ Go. Play.
// Damn, 5 am, should sleep.

Yes, it works nicely in PvE as everything in melee range likes to stay in melee range and use their melee attacks.

What I was saying is that it is not nearly as bad an attack to be used in offense as usually claimed (at least if nofuture is to be trusted on the damage values). And that in PvP the additional defense gained from slotting slotting it might not be worth it on a character that has no other defense based protective powers. Many people try to maximise their +tohit to counter defense or don't like to stay in melee/use melee typed attacks.

No snipe until 47.

Something I planned a while back when I was wondering what /Ice blaster I'd do - it's a bit PvP -oriented and thought as a respec build, so if you want to go PvE, you might want to switch some of the double Accuracy Enhas for Accuracy+Recharge. Basically Sigle Target blaster that can keep a good amount of enemies held at the same time. Aim+BU+Blizzard for the actual big AoE Damage. LRM to have something to snipe with.

---------------------------------------------
Exported from Ver: 1.7.6.0 of the CoH_CoV Character Builder - (http://sherksilver.coldfront.net/index.php)
---------------------------------------------
Name:
Level: 50
Archetype: Blaster
Primary: Ice Blast
Secondary: Ice Manipulation
---------------------------------------------
01) --> Ice Bolt==> Acc(1) Acc(3) Dmg(3) Dmg(5) Dmg(5) EndRdx(7)
01) --> Chilblain==> Acc(1) Acc(7)
02) --> Ice Blast==> Acc(2) Acc(9) Dmg(9) Dmg(11) Dmg(11) EndRdx(13)
04) --> Ice Sword==> Acc(4) Acc(13) Dmg(15) Dmg(15) Dmg(17) EndRdx(17)
06) --> Swift==> Fly(6)
08) --> Aim==> Rechg(8) Rechg(19) Rechg(19)
10) --> Freeze Ray==> Acc(10) Acc(21) Hold(21) Hold(23) Rechg(23) Rechg(25)
12) --> Air Superiority==> Acc(12)
14) --> Fly==> EndRdx(14) EndRdx(25) Fly(27) Fly(27) Fly(29)
16) --> Build Up==> Rechg(16) Rechg(29) Rechg(31)
18) --> Bitter Ice Blast==> Acc(18) Acc(31) Dmg(31) Dmg(33) Dmg(33) EndRdx(33)
20) --> Hurdle==> Jump(20)
22) --> Stamina==> EndMod(22) EndMod(34) EndMod(34)
24) --> Ice Patch==> Rechg(24)
26) --> Hasten==> Rechg(26) Rechg(34) Rechg(36)
28) --> Shiver==> Acc(28) Acc(36)
30) --> Aid Other==> IntRdx(30)
32) --> Blizzard==> Dmg(32) Dmg(36) Dmg(37) Rechg(37) Rechg(37) Rechg(39)
35) --> Freezing Touch==> Acc(35) Acc(39) Hold(39) Hold(40) Rechg(40) Rechg(40)
38) --> Aid Self==> IntRdx(38) IntRdx(42) Rechg(42) Heal(42) Heal(43) Heal(43)
41) --> Body Armor==> DmgRes(41) DmgRes(43) DmgRes(45)
44) --> Cryo Freeze Ray==> Acc(44) Acc(45) Hold(45) Hold(46) Rechg(46) Rechg(46)
47) --> LRM Missile==> Acc(47) Dmg(48) Dmg(48) Dmg(48) IntRdx(50) IntRdx(50)
49) --> Chilling Embrace==> EndRdx(49) EndRdx(50)
---------------------------------------------
01) --> Sprint==> Empty(1)
01) --> Brawl==> Empty(1)
01) --> Defiance==> Empty(1)
02) --> Rest==> Empty(2)
---------------------------------------------

I'd slot Aid Other with interrupt reduction instead of Heal...

...

what?

Parry is 84% as good as Slash, damagewise (unless the numbers in nofuture are wrong), plus it has the defense bonus. I'd rather buff up the ST damage chain than add some melee/lethal defense, which is quite easilly negated in PvP by firing energy with a ranged attack.

What I've found extremely useful lately is trusting the rest of the team to be able to take care of the last few enemies by themselves - and run into the next enemy group while there are still some left in from the previous one. The fights are against smaller groups than if you herd a nice roomful, but you have better control over your teammates by keeping them busy.

ie. Non-stop action for everyone and at least the other guys don't manage to screw things up so much.

Sure, the defenders will whinge on the "everyone gather for RA" being impossible with the "insane tank" running forward all the time, but the rate people die decreases a lot when you are the forerunner.

I'm eventually possibly going something like this with mine, but it's a bit geared towards PvP. Currently I have something far less thought-through, just testing whatever power seems cool at the moment

(ignore the level of slottings, I won't be going anything like this until I'm 50)


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Exported from Ver: 1.7.6.0 of the CoH_CoV Character Builder - (http://sherksilver.coldfront.net/index.php)
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Name: Ruby Heart
Level: 50
Archetype: Scrapper
Primary: Broad Sword
Secondary: Dark Armor
---------------------------------------------
01) --> Hack==> Acc(1) Acc(3) Dmg(3) Dmg(5) Dmg(5) EndRdx(7)
01) --> Dark Embrace==> DmgRes(1) DmgRes(7) DmgRes(9) EndRdx(9) EndRdx(11)
02) --> Slash==> Acc(2) Acc(11) Dmg(13) Dmg(13) Dmg(15) EndRdx(15)
04) --> Murky Cloud==> DmgRes(4) DmgRes(17) DmgRes(17) EndRdx(19) EndRdx(19)
06) --> Combat Jumping==> EndRdx(6)
08) --> Build Up==> Rechg(8) Rechg(21) Rechg(21) EndRdx(23) TH_Buf(23)
10) --> Obsidian Shield==> DmgRes(10) DmgRes(25) DmgRes(25) EndRdx(27) EndRdx(27)
12) --> Parry==> Acc(12) Acc(33) Dmg(33) Dmg(33) Dmg(34) EndRdx(34)
14) --> Super Jump==> EndRdx(14)
16) --> Dark Regeneration==> Rechg(16) Rechg(29) Acc(29) EndRdx(31) EndRdx(31) EndRdx(31)
18) --> Swift==> Run(18)
20) --> Health==> Heal(20)
22) --> Stamina==> EndMod(22) EndMod(34) EndMod(36)
24) --> Acrobatics==> EndRdx(24) EndRdx(36) EndRdx(36)
26) --> Cloak Of Darkness==> EndRdx(26) EndRdx(37) EndRdx(37)
28) --> Disembowel==> Acc(28) Acc(37) Dmg(39) Dmg(40) Dmg(40) EndRdx(40)
30) --> Hasten==> Rechg(30) Rechg(39) Rechg(39)
32) --> Whirling Sword==> Acc(32) Acc(42) Dmg(42) Dmg(42) Dmg(43) EndRdx(43)
35) --> Head Splitter==> Acc(35) Acc(43) Dmg(45) Dmg(45) Dmg(45) EndRdx(46)
38) --> Slice==> Acc(38) Acc(46) Dmg(46) Dmg(48) Dmg(48) EndRdx(48)
41) --> Oppressive Gloom==> EndRdx(41) Acc(50)
44) --> Focused Accuracy==> EndRdx(44) EndRdx(50) EndRdx(50)
47) --> Laser Beam Eyes==> Acc(47)
49) --> Soul Transfer==> DisDur(49)
---------------------------------------------
01) --> Sprint==> Empty(1)
01) --> Brawl==> Empty(1)
01) --> Critical Hit==> Empty(1)
02) --> Rest==> Empty(2)
---------------------------------------------

Loving it. 40' might still be too long, but it's a good step towards the right direction.

Next step is to nerf regen again. We haven't had a proper regen nerf in ages.

You are playing a blaster exactly like it should be played

The only difference at higher levels it that you'll be teaming with people who have Rez and you'll be introduced to your new best friend, Mr. Debt. And you'll get addicted to Awakens when soloing and call them Blaster candy like the rest of us...

... Regarding Ice/Ice - Ice Patch is great, Bitter Ice Blast is awesome, Freeze Ray, that melee hold from /ice and a hold from your Epic will make controlling fun.

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was wondering if the slow effect would stack up nicely with the holds to effect Hamidon during the hold phase, I dont know these things ( first raid ) hence asking

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The reason only Holds (and no other effects) are important, is that if Hami breaks the Hold while being at less than 50% of health, he will retaliate by summoning The Yellow Death.

TYD means one Mitochondria for each person on the zone, which a) kills everyone, b) usually crashes the server. Slows will make the power recharge a bit slower, but since it only needs to use it once, it doesn't matter (as it already has it ready).

The respected and famous (up and running since CoV Beta) Villain Group E.V.I.L. University (EVIL-U) has been in serious problems lately and as a result is now looking for new management to take over its operations.

The net worth of the University is estimated to be 3.176 M Prestige, which makes it a nicely sized one for a group that's just starting.

The terms of the transfer of power are:
1) The new Archdean is granted full control over the Villain Group with the following exception: Each of the original 7 members of the Supergroup are allowed to keep one character in the Group no matter how long they stay idle. None of us are very active on the villain side, but it would be nice to know that we have a place to stay when we get back. It might take months, but we're the sort that always come back.
2) College of War stops co-operation with EVIL-U webpagewise. The CoW website will go through a major renovation shortly after the transfer is complete and all references to EVIL-U will be removed at that point. This means that if the new management wants a website or a Forum, it will have to do it by themselves.
3) All current coalitions EVIL-U has will be broken - The new management will start with a clean slate.
4) The new management will be active and eager to build up the Villain Group.

In short - we don't have time to run the Villain Group and are more CoH -people than CoV -people. You'll get nice Prestige but will have to stand for 7 people idle in your corners (who will play in SG mode when they happen to play, so no need to worry about that). Perfect if you're starting a VG or want to move your alts to an alternative SG (E.V.I.L., I'm looking at you guys )

Contact us, the current management, by replying to this message and/or sending an in-game tell to @Alvan or @aldwych and/or an in-game email to Coldest War or aldwych.

(Edit) PS. Applicants for the post will be interviewed, and the one that impresses us most will get the VG.