BrandX

Yeah, it was Innocuous Strike (as Kioshi said) that I didn't care for the animation. So seeing it go was no problem (imo).

As for Guarded and Eye of the Storm, I'd prefere the option of Eye of the Storm at lvl 6 over Guarded. Not all builds will want the +Defense Power in their final builds, and not all players care to build for a respec later.

Also, it's more damage I wouldn't mind the damage myself.

is that with or without incarnate powers?

My chain with KM is basically...

Build Up - BB - SB - FB - AS - CS - Repeat.

FB is more likely to give Assassin Focus than QS, my guess is this will even out the DPS between using FB and QS.

Between CS's normal Crit chance, and the Stalker Proc, I was getting BU to recharge so frequently, it was just as I said, part of the attack chain. When it didn't recharge, I just hit BB and continued on with the chain with very little if no noticable pause.

Now to start a fight when solo, I'd suggest going BU - AS - CS - then BU or BB depending on if BU recharged.

When teamed however, I usually started off with BU - CS - BU when I was in the hidden state, and the team was moving at a faster rate.

Some thoughts...

On Dark Melee, if one factors in the Stalker IO Proc, they'd be better off using MG after AS, as MG is the better DPS.

On Street Justice, you're wasting the Combo Points. Sweeping Cross does better ST DPS with just 1 Combo Point than HB, and Spinning Strike does better ST DPS with 3 combo points (might have been 2, but I think it was more a very close tie).

I think you'll be better off going HB - SB - HB (needs 320% RCH) - SC - HB - AS - CU. Stalker Proc in AS gives better odds of CU critting, SB can't reach the lvl of recharge needed to go ...SB - AS - CU. S HB use there. -Resist Procs and Purple Procs in SB and SC, and a Purple Proc in CU if you can fit it in (and I think you can). Now, depending on the secondary, the purple set could go into HB instead, with SB getting (likely) 5 Crushing Impacts slotted into it. But this depends on if you're building for Positional Defenses or S/L Defense.

With EM with 95% slotting, the difference between using EP and BS in your DPS is 4.01 DPS in the favor of EP. However, the EP chain requires 325% Recharge in TF, while the BS chain requires 270% recharge in TF. I think it'd be more practical to go the route of using BS. Using BS will also give better chances of building Assassin Focus, as it's a longer animating attack than EP, likely putting the BS chain ahead of the EP one, in the long run.

Also, I was giving AS a 152.9 damage in my calculations as the damage displayed in Mids seemed to match up with what I was seeing in game. *shrug*

I wouldn't feel sorry for Spines though. It went from 104.39 DPS (with just 95% dmg slotting, no use of procs or BU) to 126.8 DPS with the use of AS in the chain of IM-RI-TS-AS.

However!

Impale - Ripper - Assassin Strike - Repeat is a ST DPS chain for 136.04 DPS!

Ripper - Throw Spines - Assassin Strike - Repeat is 143.56 DPS!

Of course, the Impale Chain gets to make use of the Purple Damage Proc (Throw Spines Purple set only gets a KD Proc) which likely evens out the DPS between those two chains, while requiring less +RCH for the chain to become seemless due to Impales longer animation.

Add in Build Up, -Resist Proc in Ripper, Purple Proc in Ripper (the Purple Proc in Impale being used to even out Impale and Throw Spines) and it probably reaches at least 170 DPS.

It was quick math. So I could be wrong, but it is looking to be lower than NB, which gets the benefit of a whole lot of procs.

MA is limited to one purple set in it's DPS and no -Resist Proc. NB while lower without the procs, gets to move ahead with 2 Purple Procs, and 2 -Resist Procs.

EDIT: As for BS, I never figured out it's best DPS string, so I can't comment on it really. However, it does get the advantage of all the procs on it's side, plus it just got an insanely fast attack to put into it's DPS chain.

Discount it? I'm not discounting it. What I mean by that comment was I don't know how much Power Siphon helps out Scrapper KM, versus CS refreshing BU for Stalkers.

Using the Stalker Proc, BU became a regular part of my attack chain. ^_^

OMG! I loved that link more!

I think the poster and others believe no one will pick MA or EM due to lack of AOE. Prefereing a set that will have high ST with AOE, instead of the highest AOE possible.

Now, MA and EM are the #1 set, and #2 sets (though should be noted, EM barely edges out DM as #2, and if memory serves required more +RCH to reach it) when it comes to ST.

At least where.

I have no idea where StJ for Stalkers sits since it arrived, and no idea yet where the sets sit with the changes (which will of course be changed up a bit more when all the AS's have their animation times normalized).

My guess is Ninja Blade is going to move a head of MA. NB was just a little more than 10 DPS under MA with just 95%ish damage enhancement in both sets. NB can slot 2 Purple Procs and 2 -Resist Procs, while MA can only slot 1 Purple Proc (they really should make it so CAK can slot Defense Debuffs Sets).

But there's other factors too...like MA putting Assassin Strike into the chain, slotting with the Chance for Hide Proc, then releasing a critical EC (may or may not be the best move no idea, but it's something to think about) after AS

Lots of factors still!

Oh, that chain for ELM, the thing with that chain, was it only worked with one combo, ELM/NIN. So while I see what you mean, I'd say at most that's just a hit to combo.

And worth it imo.

Still in Beta! There's still hope

I do wonder about why they took out the hold, as it wouldnt be the first secondary for trollers with a hold power in it.

I do understand the reasoning for Fearsome Stare however.

Then voice up and get them to get them to increase the effectiveness of HOs!

They're working as intended now, sure...but if they increase their effectiveness, you can keep the builds, but replace the Enzymes with Cytoskeletons for the same effect!

Maybe even better, since that would possibly mean more ENDRED.

I loved that scene! And it suprised me so much!

Watching the movie I kept thinking back to the *spoiler here so quit reading if that bothers you...quick...scroll down to next post...I MEAN IT* original movie where she shot a hole in the floor and dropped, and kept wishing she'd do a scene like that again...and then the elevator scene happened and I was all

As a parent, I think I can say, it comes down to the child. Just with my own daughter, I know one movie will be okay, and the next one which is at the same level, just wouldnt be.

She's watched transformers and been scared and then watched another movie, which I was like o.O when I saw how she easily took it all in.

truthfully with thoughts like this, I start to wonder if it'll even be a contest at all now.

Judge1: Okay first thing first, we throw out all caucassions and males*

Judge2: What about non caucassion males?

Judge3: Throw them out as well.

Judge2: Okay!

And sadly, with some of the posts I've seen in this thread...I just don't know if it's really a contest anymore :/

Oh yeah, that confused me too. I just went in thinking the OP meant ELM makes out like a bandit with the change

Spine's ST DPS is around (give or take...Id have to redo the math) ELM's before the change, with Ripper -> Impale -> Throw Spines -> repeat I figure they're both going to get about equal DPS increase with it.

Spines also gets to slot a -Resist Proc as well.

for people who want ST DPS and lots of AOE, Spines and ELM Stalkers will be nice for them.

Stalker ELM would get 106.44 DPS with just damage enhancement, and enough recharge to pull off it's best ST DPS. That means no +DMG bonuses, not using Build Up, and no Procs.

JL can take a -Resist Proc, figure at least two purple Procs, and now it gets to put Assassin Strike into the chain.

My guess is JL - CB - Assassin Strike - CI - Repeat will become ELM's best ST DPS chain.

Why do you think ELM will recieve any kind of nerf?

As to the OP...

ELM and Spines of course just recieved a nice increase to ST to go along with their nice AOE.

StJ made out like a bandit with Assassin Strike giving 2 Combo Points even when used as a regular attack.

DB's combo's just became more effective, with being able to use AS in combo's, but it's best ST DPS isnt tied to a combo.

Kin Melee really made out if you factor IO sets into it.

They were still new at that point

He did!

Idle Hands.