Xyzor

Looks like you haven't slotted any of the ST attacks, except for Sky Splitter, with any dmg sets. Is this toon meant to be a Tank only, with the ST attacks set up as mini-taunts?

Without really digging deep, here are few small things I noticed:

Fast Healing is overslotted. I know the DW bonuses are decent, but you can/should 2 or 3 slot FH, get a proc in there, and be done. Re-distribute those slots into Health and Stamina for 1 basic IO and 1 proc (or appropriate 2-pc set bonuses for a basic and Proc IO in each). QR doesn't need 3 basic IOs in it, either. Use 1 IO and 1 proc, or 2 IOs and proc (or or some combo that allows you to use either 2 or 3 of a set including at least 1 proc). It'll work just as well, and you'll be better rounded and squeeze a little more out of the same number of slots.

Depending on the set bonuses, you have Integration and MoG overslotted as well. If you could pull 3 slots out of those 2 combined, you could mule an extra Kinetic Comabt set into Kick for more S/L Def. Again, that suggestion is made without looking closely at the Doctored Wound and Luck of the Gambler set bonuses you'd lose.

Here is the build for my main, who is DM/Regen/Soul. I am very happy with it...plenty of layered mitigation, solid attack chain, and a few fun toys as well. It's expensive, but inf. is pretty easy to come by these days.

The highlights, if you don't care to look over the whole build:
Perma-Hasten and DP
750% regen
230% Recovery
33.8% S/L Def and 31.6% S/L Resist (could split up Scrapper set to get more, but it's fine as is, IME)
170+% Recharge


Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.954
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Xyzor: Level 50 Science Scrapper
Primary Power Set: Dark Melee
Secondary Power Set: Regeneration
Power Pool: Flight
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Leadership
Ancillary Pool: Soul Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Smite -- KntkC'bat-Acc/Dmg(A), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx(3), KntkC'bat-Dmg/Rchg(7), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(7), P'ngS'Fest-Dmg/Rchg(9), P'ngS'Fest-Acc/Dmg(9)
Level 1: Fast Healing -- Numna-Heal(A), Numna-Heal/EndRdx(3), RgnTis-Regen+(11)
Level 2: Reconstruction -- Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx(A), Dct'dW-Rchg(5), Dct'dW-Heal(11), Dct'dW-Heal/Rchg(13), Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg(13)
Level 4: Quick Recovery -- P'Shift-EndMod(A), P'Shift-End%(5), P'Shift-EndMod/Acc(15)
Level 6: Fly -- Winter-ResSlow(A)
Level 8: Siphon Life -- Hectmb-Dam%(A), Hectmb-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(17), Hectmb-Dmg/Rchg(17), Hectmb-Acc/Rchg(19), Hectmb-Dmg/EndRdx(19), Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx(21)
Level 10: Dull Pain -- Dct'dW-Heal(A), Dct'dW-Rchg(21), Dct'dW-Heal/Rchg(23), Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg(23), Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx(25)
Level 12: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(25)
Level 14: Hover -- Srng-EndRdx/Fly(A), LkGmblr-Rchg+(43)
Level 16: Integration -- Numna-Heal(A), Numna-Heal/EndRdx(27), Mrcl-Rcvry+(27)
Level 18: Boxing -- KntkC'bat-Acc/Dmg(A), KntkC'bat-Knock%(29), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx(37), KntkC'bat-Dmg/Rchg(43)
Level 20: Resilience -- ResDam-I(A), ResDam-I(40)
Level 22: Tough -- S'fstPrt-ResDam/EndRdx(A), S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+(29), GA-3defTpProc(31)
Level 24: Weave -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(31), LkGmblr-Def(31)
Level 26: Soul Drain -- Armgdn-Dam%(A), Armgdn-Dmg/Rchg(33), Armgdn-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(33), Armgdn-Acc/Rchg(34), Armgdn-Dmg/EndRdx(34)
Level 28: Instant Healing -- Numna-Heal(A), Numna-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg(36), Numna-Heal/Rchg(36)
Level 30: Touch of Fear -- Abys-Fear/Rng(A), Abys-Acc/Fear/Rchg(42), Abys-EndRdx/Fear(45), Abys-Acc/EndRdx(48), Abys-Dam%(48)
Level 32: Midnight Grasp -- SScrappersS-Acc/Dmg(A), SScrappersS-Dmg/Rchg(37), SScrappersS-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(37), SScrappersS-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(39), SScrappersS-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(39), SScrappersS-Rchg/+Crit(39)
Level 35: Dark Blast -- Apoc-Dmg/Rchg(A), Apoc-Dmg/EndRdx(40), Apoc-Acc/Rchg(40), Apoc-Dam%(42), Apoc-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(42)
Level 38: Moment of Glory -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), RechRdx-I(43)
Level 41: Shadow Meld -- LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(A), LkGmblr-Def/Rchg(45), LkGmblr-Rchg+(45)
Level 44: Soul Storm -- BasGaze-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg/Hold(A), BasGaze-Rchg/Hold(46), BasGaze-Acc/Hold(50), BasGaze-Acc/Rchg(50)
Level 47: Maneuvers -- LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(A), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(48), LkGmblr-Rchg+(50)
Level 49: Revive -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 0: Freedom Phalanx Reserve
Level 0: Portal Jockey
Level 0: The Atlas Medallion
Level 0: Task Force Commander
Level 50: Spiritual Core Paragon
Level 50: Void Core Final Judgement
Level 50: Spectral Radial Flawless Interface
Level 50: Cimeroran Core Superior Ally
------------
Level 2: Swift -- Flight-I(A)
Level 2: Health -- Numna-Heal(A), Numna-Heal/EndRdx(46), Numna-Regen/Rcvry+(46)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Jump-I(A)
Level 2: Stamina -- P'Shift-EndMod(A), P'Shift-End%(15)
Level 1: Brawl -- KntkC'bat-Acc/Dmg(A), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx(33), KntkC'bat-Knock%(34), KntkC'bat-Dmg/Rchg(36)
Level 1: Critical Hit
Level 1: Sprint -- Clrty-Stlth(A)
Level 2: Rest -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 4: Ninja Run

Spectral isn't too bad from a dmg perspective. Not as good as reactive, but it almost is, and not as many people use it, so you don't have to worry about stacking issues.

And when the immob actually procs on something that might otherwise run away, it is very satisfying (it's a rare confluence of events, but really nice when it happens).

Build for +Recharge, +Recharge, +Defense, then +Recharge.

Absolutely grab Hasten and build for perma-hasten. Along the way you'll end up with perma-Dull Pain as well for the huge HP (and therefore Regen) bump.

The Soul Patron Power Pool has a power called Shadow Meld, which has fantastic symmetry with the Regen set. It is basically a mini-MoG that recharges really quickly.

You only really need to 'buy' it with real $$ if you don't have points saved up and you want the set right now. If you want to wait, in 2 months your monthly stipend will allow you to get Staff for 'free'. Or is my math off on that?

I've been playing a Staff/Ela Brute on Beta to try to decide whether I want that combo or a Staff/Ea Scrapper. I am really enjoying it so far. Especially with Form of Soul for early leveling (to combat blue bar issues), Ela is a lot of fun.

I've wanted to try a dmg aura and resist set for a while (my main is DM/Regen), and I like the concept of Electric, which seems to be much better for a Brute than for a Scrapper. Plus, I heard somewhere that Staff is low on the DPS , so a Fury-boosted dmg aura might be a nice equalizer.

Plus, with all of the dmg bonuses from forms not having crit potential, the general Fury dmg boost seems like a nice advantage.

/semantics

Arrogance: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/arrogant?s=t

/endsemantics

Just throwing this out there, but the idea that in a game literally played by millions of people, with a full company of developers behind it, that you are, in any way, crucial to the end results of a power set, is incredibly arrogant and a bit silly.

The fact that Beast Mastery wasn't changed because you were too busy to test it early enough is laughable.

I know it will be hard for this to not seem like a personal attack, but I truly do not mean it that way. I just want to point out that you are not the sole voice of reason in the entire CoH gaming community, which is kind of how you've characterized things thus far. I mean all of this with the utmost of respect, because I think you are still expressing your ideas in a constructive and amicable manner, which can be a rare thing around here.

You have identified some important issues, both about the powersets in question and the Beta setup in general, but they are issues that I am certain the developers know about and have the data to review. If there were serious mathematical issues with Staff's ability to compete with other sets, they would have been fixed. If they feel that the open Beta doesn't give them adequate information, I am sure they will change it. They do this for a LIVING, and we do it as a hobby (at least, I do ). I seriously hope they spend more time thinking about these issues that we do (and expect they do).

Please do not stop testing, reviewing, and sharing your results and opinions, but please remember that yours' are only the viewpoints and experiences of one person, representative of a small subset of the overall player base.

I'm not saying the endgame performance wasn't tested, or even tested well, by a few people. My point was that there is a fundamental flaw in the way the Beta server is set up that limits the NUMBER of players who will be able to test endgame performance. Therefore, the available data for devs to examine to see if a set is under- or over-performing, is more limited and less likely to be used as a factor in determining necessary changes.

I would be happy to test endgame level items, for example, but barely have time to lvl 50s on my live servers, let alone on the Beta. I play on Beta, but rarely get past the 30s. I suspect the majority of players on the Beta server are similar to me in their available playtime and speed of leveling.

I'm not disagreeing with the more moderate parts of your argument. I agree that new sets should be in the same league as other sets, they shouldn't be vastly inferior or superior. What I disagree with is the 'sky is falling' argument that sub-par damage on a new set that is still fun and still effective (and has lots of other flexibility merits) will result in the utter annihilation of quality in the online gaming industry. We understand you feel strongly about this, and I, for one, respect that, but don't get Glenn Beck-y on us and tell us that unless we see it your way, the world is going to end.

Wait, so every new set needs to be both the best looking, most fun and most mathematically awesome min/max set ever, or its not worth paying for? Is that seriously the standard we are 'trying' to enforce.

Staff IS fun, and it is effective. Is it the best dmg-based set in the game? Absolutely not. Could it use a dmg buff? Probably. Is it broken or unplayable if it doesn't? No. To people who want to play a more AoE-oriented, fast, fun, survivable/utility set, this will be great. Because of the flexibility for various playstyles and situations, especially for casual players who never get more than a couple of lvl 50s, this set will be great.

It is silly to think that every new set is being implemented for the benefit of the endgame min/max community. We may be the most vocal minority of the gaming community, but we are still the minority. Time to accept that.

As for the endgame performance testing in Beta - Until they give out bumps to 50 (or offer some other fast way to hit 50 on new sets on the Beta Server) for significant endgame play in the Open Beta, endgame performance will never get the testing it requires. The number of players with PL capabilities, let alone PL capabilities on the Beta server with the time to implement them, is very small.

You could wait until Tuesday and try a Staff/?? Combo, along with everyone else in the world. Might be FotM, but it is a damn fun set!

Although, remembering the OP, maybe this won't be your best bet, since Staff is more balanced/AoE DPS than Single Target/Burst DPS.

My DM/Regen rocks for ST damage and survivability. I've never played one, but the various Sword sets also seem pretty great, Katana in particular.

Was going to resurrect an old post since Staff is coming next week, but figured I would make a new on the general build area to get input from both the Scrapper and Brute communities. The consensus in my Scrapper post from a few weeks back was that Electric paired better with a Brute than a scrapper, so I am going to pose it this way:

Staff/Energy Scrapper

or

Staff/Electric Brute

Personally, I like fast action, little downtime, being able to survive on my own a lot, and lots and lots of END. For the build, I will focus plenty on +Def set bonuses with an eye toward layered Defenses. Money (ingame) is not an issue.

Discuss...