Arbegla

Your also discounting the soft controls available to blasters, which most controllers/dom's don't have.

Rain of fire/ice storm screws up the AI of just about any mobs, minion/LT/boss, doesnt matter, they run the heck out of it. So you blast them while they are running.

Hot feet does the same thing.

Archery has increased range on all three of their single target blasts, plus a ranged nuke, which can down most anything from a very safe area.

Energy blast has KB in nearly all its attacks, same with assault rifle (plus ignite has the afraid tag as well)

Elec blast has some -end, which can be used to prevent you from getting hit by the hard hitting attacks.

Ice blast slows that slow down the enemy, allowing you to get more distance between them and you.

Psi blast has similar slows, as well as more soft controls (sleep, KB)

Sonic has -res, which just gives you more damage.

Fire is pure damage

and dual pistols gives you something for any situation (+damage, KB, -damage, and slows)

If your going to play a blaster like a controller with more damage, your doing something wrong. Blasters are meant to be ranged fighters, until its safe to attack in melee, or its possible to kite.

Taking devices for example, i'd toss a smoke grenade, then throw caltrops. then blast with gun drone, and my primary. or i'd just summon the drone right on top of the boss, so it'll take the alpha, then caltrops to freak the AI, then blast.

1. Lets assuming /8/no bosses for the sake of easy arguments. thats 1 boss(converted to LTs), about 2 normal LTs, 8 minions, or 2 bosses (converted to LTs), 3 normal LTs, 7 minions.
1.a Minions have 430 hps, LTs have 860 hps, bosses converted to LTs have LT level hitpoints
1.b Suvivial is not an issue, due to various things.

2. Assuming Bu and Aim are used as often as possible
2.a Aim is 67.% +dam, BU is 100% +dam plus defiance, AAO is 19.375% +dam for the first mob, 6.875% for any other, capped at 10 mobs, BU is 100%
2.b 95% damage via enhancements, and base recharge
2.c For the blaster your looking at 167.5% damage + defiance bonus (FB = 2% bonus for 8.5seconds, FBr is 8.2% for 10.17 seconds, FSC is 7% for 10.17 seconds, combustion is 6.1% dam, for 10.5 seconds, and Rain of Fire is 2.8% damage for 9.53)
2.d Once you get below 10 mobs, AAO starts dropping off.
2.e Starting outside of each group, say 20ft, so AAO doesn't start saturated as thats about normal gameplay

If chain gets interrupted, assuming next attack in chain will have BU active, but no others *due to travel time*

Elec/shield chain = SC->LR->FB->TS->JL
Total cast time = 1.716+2.772+1.188+3.432+1.848
=10.956 seconds, but JL would be affected by BU in that duration

fire/fire chain = RoF->FBr->FB->FSC->Combustion while running blazing aura + hotfeet
Total cast time = 2.244+2.904+1.188+2.904+3.168
= 12.408, but combustion would be affected by BU in that duration (due to the duration of BU not dropping before combustion is triggered)

elec/shield
LR = 290.28(base) + (290.28 * 1.95)(BU + enhancements) = 856.32 damage
And everything is dead, or close enough.
Repeatable every 90 seconds

SC+FB+TS+JL used on a second group
SC = 113.44(base) + (113.44 * 1.95)(BU + Enhancements) = 334.64 damage
FB = 79.77(base) + (79.77 * 1.76)(Enhancements + AAO) = 220.17 damage
All Minions are dead, AAO drops to only 3 or 5 in range.
TS = 134.88(base) + (134.88 * 1.28)(Enhancements + AAO w/3 in range) = 307.53 damage
with 5 in range of AAO, everything still dies.
Repeatable every 90 second for SC + BU, 32 seconds for FB, and 18 seconds for TS
JL = 103.23(base) + (103.23 * .95)(Enhancements only) = 201.30 damage is overkill damage, while waiting for the big hitters to recharge

Elec/shield took out 2 groups, in the time it took for BU to drop off, accounting for running to the next group.
Elec/shield has to wait about 80 seconds until BU, LR, and SC are available, but only 22 seconds for fireball.


Fire/fire
During 10 seconds, blazing aura and hotfeet tick fives times. To make this easy, lets assume 2 ticks in first group, 3 in the second group.
Blazing aura first tick adds 11.12(base) + (11.12 * 2.62)(BU/aim + enhancements) = 40.25 damage
Hotfeet first tick adds 13.9(base) + (13.9 * 2.62) (BU/aim + enhancements) = 50.31 damage
Blazing aura's second tick adds 11.12(base) + (11.12 * 2.65)(previous + defiance from RoF) = 40.58
Hotfeet second tick adds 13.9(base) + (13.9 * 2.65)(previous + defiance from RoF) = 50.74 damage

Rain of Fire = ((50*1.668)(base for 10 seconds) + (50*1.668 * 2.62))(Aim + Bu + enhancemenets) + ((25*1.668)(reminder of RoF after Bu fades) + (25*1.668 * .95))(Enhancements only) = 301.91 damage(first 10 seconds) + 81.32 damage(after BU/aim wears off)
Fire Breath = 109.8(base) + (109.8 * 2.65)(BU + Aim + enhancements + defiance) = 400.77 damage
Total damage = 301.91 + 400.77 + 40.25 + 50.31 + 40.58 + 50.74
= 884.56 damage
First group dead after 10 seconds

Blazing aura's third tick adds 11.12(base) + (11.12 * 2.73)(Defiance) = 41.48 damage
Hotfeet third tick adds 13.9(base) + (13.9 * 2.73)(Defiance) = 51.85 damage
Blazing aura's fourth tick adds 11.12(base) + (11.12 * 2.75)(Defiance) = 41.7 damage
Hotfeet fourth tick adds 13.9(base) + (13.9 * 2.75)(defiance) = 52.13 damage
Blazing aura's fifth tick adds 11.12(base) + (11.12 * 2.83)(defiance) = 42.59 damage
Hotfeet fifth tick adds 13.9(base) + (13.9 * 2.83)(defiance) = 53.24 damage

FB = 78.83(base) + (78.83 * 2.73)(BU + Aim + enhancemenets + defiance) = 294.04 damage
FSC = 99.54(base) + (99.54 * 1.08)(Enhancements + defiance) = 207.04
Combustion = 83.42 + (83.42 * 1.15)(Enhacements + defiance) = 179.35
Total damage done to second group = 294.04 + 207.04 + 179.35 + 41.48 + 51.85 + 41.7 +52.13 + 42.59 + 53.24
= 963.42 total damage, so the last tick of blazing aura and hotfeet are overkill.

The fire/fire rotation has to wait 80 seconds for BU/Aim, but only 50 to actually repeat the chain without Bu/Aim.

Using your own math, at the recharge cap for an elec/shield your looking this chain

LR + SC + JL + TS + JL + CI + JL + TS + JL + CI (repeat)
here your looking at (assuming base damage again)
(290.28+113.44+103.23+134.88+103.23+90.84+103.23+1 34.88+103.23+90.84) = 1,268.08 damage every 18 seconds, due to the recharge limitations on LR + SC


compared to the FB->FBr->FB->FSC (while running hotfeet + blazing aura) chain you alread made, which pulls
(78.83+109.8+78.83+99.54) + (11.12+13.9*2.5) = 429.85 damage, every 5 seconds

18/5 = 3.6. so you'll be able to do the fire/fire chain about 3.6 times per the elec/shield chain, at the recharge cap.

So, in 18 seconds, the elec/shield does 1,268.08 damage, and the fire/fire does (429.85*3.6) 1,547.46 damage..

Hmmm.. even doing it your way the fire/fire is coming out ahead.

So your comparing DPA, and not accounting for recharge (your just assuming, at the recharge cap) when in actual game play, hitting capped recharge, is pretty rare, and even in the best case, you'll be waiting alot more on LR/SC/TS/JL which will do less damage at the recharge cap, then your FB/FBr/FB/FSC chain.

How does adding in a fire sword circle, or combustion not increase the damage output? so theres no wait?


Edit: Especially when Combustion does more damage then fireball, in the same radius. Yea, 2 second higher cast time, but 1 second lower recharge.

Why don't you explain it, pretty clearly, as you have already tried to stand by it, by saying that the scrapper can use thunderstrike/jacobs ladder while LR/SC is down, even though the blaster can use harder hitting, bigger area attacks in less time.

Edit: When comparing AoEs between ATs, they are balanced around damage/cycle. Its how the dev's do it.

CI isn't a true AOE, as the chain can end once it kills something. Thunderstrike and jacobs ladder have much lower area of affect then just about any other blaster AoE attack.


Edit: Plus i've already listed the Damage per cycle of a fire/fire vs a elec/shield, and any number of AoEs combined, will out damage a elec/shield overtime.

And you pretty much said, that you only need as much AoEs and you have enemy hitpoints, so once you hit the threshold of 400 damage, minions die, and 800 Lts die. and a scrapper (i assumed elec/shield) would be able to do that every 3-4 seconds.

The problem is the recharge limitations, and nothing can kill entire gruops of minions and LTs every 3 - 4 seconds. Yes, LR + SC can wipe them all out, BUT even in a fully IO'ed build, thats once every 30 seconds. During that same time, a blaster can rotate more attacks, and do as much, or even more damage. Its in not as big of a boom, but its still there. Thats my point.

The pretty boom of LR + SC doesnt negate the MUCH lower Damage per cycle it has, which a blaster can easily out do under the same situations.

I don't know, i know quite a few pretty good blaster farming builds.

Fire/mental

Archery/Mental

Archery/EM

Fire/fire

finding a good farm toon is all about what you plan on killing. As any of the above builds can kill just as fast, or even faster then some of the big name builds, depending on what you fight.

ok, so lets do it this way then, if your still not getting it.

Fire/fire Blaster, Counting inferno this time =
Assuming the damage auras only tick once, the total possible AoE damage is 698.57 damage, but lets break it down further.
Fireball does 78.83 damage, every 16 seconds, with 1.188 cast time, so it does 4.586 Damage per cycle (cycle is recharge + cast time)
Rain of Fire does 125.12 damage, every 60 seconds, with 2.244 cast time, so it does 2.004 damage per cycle
Fire Breath does 109.8 damage, every 16 seconds, with 2.904 cast time, so it does 5.808 damage per cycle
Inferno does 472.21 damage, every 360 seconds, with 3.168 cast time, so it does
1.300 damage per cycle
Combustion does 83.42 damage, every 15 seconds, with 3.168 cast time, so it does 4.592 damage per cycle
Fire Sword Circle does 99.54 damage, every 20 seconds, with 2.904 cast time, so it does
4.346 damage per cycle
Blazing aura does 11.12 damage, every 2 seconds so it does 5.56 damage per cycle
Consume does 44.49 damage, every 180 seconds, with 3.168 cast time, so it does .243 damage per cycle
Burn does 132.35 damage, every 25 seconds, with 2.244 cast time, so it does 4.858 damage per cycle
Hot feet does 13.9 damage, every 2 seconds, so it does 6.95 damage per cycle
For a total (counting inferno) of 34.687 damage per cycle

AR/fire blasters have 11 AoEs, and you can count Full Auto, as it doesn't crash.
Assuming the damage auras only tick once and they stay in ignite for the full duration, the total possible AoE damage is 1,075.78 damage but lets break that down like we did fire/fire:
Buckshot does 56.93 damage, every 8 seconds, with 1.056 cast time, so it does 6.184 damage per cycle
M30 Grenade does 56.31 damage, every 16 seconds, with 1.848 cast time, so it does 3.155 damage per cycle
Flamethrower does 121.12 damage, every 20 seconds, with 2.508 cast time, so it does 5.381 damage per cycle
Ignite does 278.05 damage, every 20 seconds, with 4.224 cast time, so it does 11.478 damage per cycle
Full Auto does 178.55 damage, every 60 seconds, with 4.224 cast time so it does 2.780 damage per cycle
Combustion does 83.42 damage, every 15 seconds, with 3.168 cast time, so it does 4.592 damage per cycle
Fire Sword Circle does 99.54 damage, every 20 seconds, with 2.904 cast time, so it does
4.346 damage per cycle
Blazing aura does 11.12 damage, every 2 seconds so it does 5.56 damage per cycle
Consume does 44.49 damage, every 180 seconds, with 3.168 cast time, so it does .243 damage per cycle
Burn does 132.35 damage, every 25 seconds, with 2.244 cast time, so it does 4.858 damage per cycle
Hot feet does 13.9 damage, every 2 seconds, so it does 6.95 damage per cycle
For a total of 55.617 damage per cycle, again assuming ignite runs its full duration

Electric melee/shields Scrapper has 4 AoEs available to it.
Total possible AoE damage is 641.83 damage
Jacob's Ladder does 103.23 damage, every 8 seconds, with 1.848 cast time, so it does 10.482 damage per cycle
Thunderstrike does 134.88 damage, every 18 seconds, with 3.432 cast time, so it does 6.293 damage per cycle
Lightning Rod does 290.28 damage, every 90 seconds, with 2.772 cast time, so it does 3.129 damage per cycle
Shield Charge does 113.44 damage, every 90 seconds, with 1.716 cast time, so it does 1.234 damage per cycle
For a total of 21.138 damage per cycle

Fire melee/shields Scrapper has 3 AoEs available to it.
Total possible AoE damage is 353.74 damage
Breath of Fire does 113.61 damage, every 10 seconds, with 2.904 cast time, so it does 8.804 damage per cycle
Fire Sword Circle does 126.69 damage, every 20 seconds, with 2.904 cast time, so it does 5.531 damage per cycle
Shield Charge does 113.44 damage, every 90 seconds, with 1.716 cast time, so it does 1.234 damage per cycle
For a total of 15.569 damage per cycle

Super Strength/Fire armor brute has 5 AoEs available to it.
Assuming the damage aura only ticks once, and Rise of the Phoenix ticks all three times post rez, the total AoE damage is 522.17
Foot Stomp does 59.22 damage, every 20 seconds, with 2.244 cast time, so it does 2.662 damage per cycle
Blazing Aura does 9.176 damage every 2 seconds, so it does 4.588 damage per cycle
Consume does 16.68 damage every 180 seconds, with 2.244 cast time, so it does .092 damage per cycle
Rise of the Phoenix does 333.66 damage every 300 seconds, with 1.716 cast time, so it does 1.106 damage per cycle, assuming you die every 300 seconds
For a total of 8.448 damage per cycle

All these numbers factor in Arcanatime, and go off base damage and base recharge. Obviously slotting may change it, but its still putting blasters ahead on damage per cycle, which is a far more accurate way of measuring the damage potential wouldn't you think?

If you want to test out the game, a brute/scrapper can give you the best 'feel' for how things work.

If you want to learn the game, play a blaster. The fact your a glass cannon means you have to learn tricks and tips in order to stay alive, which will benefit you later when you start rolling alts left and right.

(they should really make a thread titles 'The things i learned while playing a blaster...')

You do realize, 'Regular Game Content' is 0/1 right? Ya know, as thats the balance point. Anything higher then that, is irregular game content, and can't be counted as such?

I saw my dad play it back when i lived with the folks before i graduated. Not sure how he got into it, but i remember sitting behind him, watching him do frostfire, and wanting so badly to be able to play. Needless to say, he let me have 1 character slot, and Darion was made. my fire/fire/fire blaster. Back then, i didn't know anything about city, i just knew i wanted to catch things on fire, and boy did Darion do just that.

Shortly afterwards, mainly due to me constantly bugging him, he bought me an account, but he only purchases CoV for me, so i had to make a villain, while i patiently waiting for him to activate the heroes for me, so i could play Darion some more. While just feeding my addiction, i created a mastermind, with the goal of having as many pets doing as many things as possible, just to lay waste to things. But i needed a name, and i've never been really creative at making them. So while creating this new mastermind, i looked up, and saw my brothers pre-algebra book.. and i thought to myself... Algebra.. robots, it could work.

Then i realized having Algebra as a character name would just scream nerd. So i flipped it, and Arbegla was made. Once IOs hit, i realized it would just be easier to remake her instead of trying to IO out this already perfect character, and i made Arbegla 2.0.. And i havent ever stopped loving this game, its like a cruel mistress, that i can use to blow things up with..