Windy_City_Hawk

I think making all the AT's equal in the respect that they all have a designed stregth, and a weakness is the way it should be done. If Blasters are able to level faster, and survive better then everyone will want to be a Blaster, and the other AT's will become useless!

Someone mentioned earlier that they wish there were no AT's just super heros, and all where equal - WHAT!!! That makes no sense; what MMO is like that? Different classes is what makes teaming work, and it gives the game multiple aspects to the gameplay, and provides stratagy.

Here's a qoute from the manual:

"Blasters specialize in deliverying massive damage at range. They have VERY LITTLE DEFENSIVE POTENTIAL, other than the abaility to keep the enemy at arm's length.

A Blaster can solo successfully, IF HE REMAINS AWARE OF HIS SITUATION AT ALL TIMES, but this archtype comes into it's own IN GROUPS, where Defenders, Scrappers, and Tankers can take the brunt of the enemy attacks, freeing the Blaster to use his offensive potential to it's fullest."

It seems the devs are trying to stay as close to this concept as possible. It states Blasters deliver massive damage, not deadly damage! They have little defensive potential thus the need to utilize the pools (see more on this below). If Blasters are able to wipe out mobs before they can attack, or withstand the attact then why would they need Defenders, Scrappers, and Tankers?

The final point I want to make is about the Pool powers. My understanding of the Pool powers is that they are for travel, and to suppliment deficent areas in a characters ability. So I take this to mean that if you choose ANY AT; in order to be well rounded you would have to choose several pool powers to increase defense/offense, or make up for your short comings (because all AT's have 1).

One last thing. Cyclops is the classic example of a Blaster AT. He can do major damage at range with his optic blast, but he has NO defense, and minor melee capabilities (normal fighting skills). Alone he's almost nothing against multple foes, but group him with Wolverine (Scrapper), Collosis (Tanker), and Storm (Controller) then you have a TEAM that is well rounded, and can take on a mob much larger then themselves.

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"No it's not ridiculous that our melee attacks are the most damaging. considering the risks that we take using them. It's ridiculous that we have them at all."

Then what should their secondary be?

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It should be support like the set is entitled. I hardly see fire sword, or fire sword circle as "support" I see them as more damage.

Support is circle of fire.... an effective immobile that gives me room to breath.

Support isn't Blazing aura.... a low level DoT that equates to more melee range damage.

Support isn't Burn... a low level dot that equates to more melee range damage. If anyone tells you it's status protection... they've never used it in heavy combat. It's duration is to short to provide any meaningful status defense.

Support insn't combustion.... A low level DoT that equates to more melee range damage, and has a painfully slow activation time. (are we beginning to see a pattern here?)

And it's not Hotfeet. Yet another DoT... with a moderate slowing effect. the slowing effect is made largely useless by it's small perimiter area.... by the time the slow/fear effect has kicked in mobs have already attacked.

The fire secondary is overloaded with worthless DoT's... It's like the devs think that a fireblast dosen't work at close range.

Between fireblast, fireball, firebreath, and blaze I have all the close range fighting support I need.

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When it says support, I believe that it means that they SUPPORT the rest of your powers. It does not mean that they should provide DEFENSE.

It sounds like some poeple want their Blasters to be well-rounded, but that is why there are different AT's! None of the AT's are well rounded! I play a Defender, and though I have a Ranged secondary I cannot do what a Blaster does. I can't tank either (even though I am a FF Defender)! I was just playing today, and I ran into a single orange, and a white, and I put up PFF, and still died in a matter of seconds.

"No it's not ridiculous that our melee attacks are the most damaging. considering the risks that we take using them. It's ridiculous that we have them at all."

Then what should their secondary be?

I've been reading most of this thread, and I think you guys all have valid oppinions, and should DISCUSS (not argue) your points.

My opinion is that though I do not know much about Blasters, I do know that other AT's have short comings also! I think to expect to tackle large groups (more than 3 or 4) of mobs is unreasonable for any AT!

I also think that each AT (especially Blasters, Defenders, and Controllers) MUST use some tact, and strategy in dealing with ANY group that is above their level or contains a boss or multiple lts.

For Blasters (and any AT) to depend on their 2ndary powers was not intended. My interpretation was that the Blaster 2ndaries were ment to be used "defensively" when their primary powers were unable to prevent mobs from getting into melee range. To use a blasters 2ndary as a first strike was not intended.

That's like me trying to use my Defender's 2ndary powers to be a blaster! That was my original intent, but it doesn't work, adn it shouldn't! If it did then why choose a Blaster when you can have a psuedo-blaster with good defense? As such Defenders cannot use their secondaries to becoms Blasters, and Blasters should not be able to use thier secondary powers to be Scrapper. And the same should go for Scrappers using their secondary powers to be Tankers, and Controllers using their secondary powers to be Defenders.

The bottom line is that ALL the AT's have some weakness, and that weakness MUST be dealt with by the players inginuity rather than the devs. Superman could beg for his weakness to kryptonite be removed or toned down! He had to deal with it by being smart! The only devs have already provided the BEST way to deal with each classes short-comings, and that is to TEAM-UP!