Am new to these boards, so... Hi, everyone. *waves*
I've been playing (fairly casualy) for about 3 months now, but have only recently started visiting the forums. My main is a Energy/Dark Corruptor (Technopriest ^^), currently lv34 and progressing nicely, and I was a bit surprised that Energy primary so rarely gets mentioned, much less praised, in the Corruptor build discussions. Main complaints, seemingly, being that EB side-effect - Knockback - doesn't synergize much with the /Dark AOE debuffs. That and the comparable lack of AoE.
Now, since the limitations of Energy/ AoE became fairly apparent fairly early, I've built my char around pure and simple direct damage, and my playstyle about timing the main Knockbacks (Sniper Blast & Power Burst) so as to keep mobs unable to hit back. The /Dark provides enough crowd control (mostly through the incredible Fearsome Stare) to let me focus on one mob at a time, as well as ample survivability through Shadowfall and Twilight Grasp and Darkest Night - which have all been covered in other threads.
So far it has worked rather well, I've guessed, since I've only ever had trouble soloing one mission (Calystix the Shaper fight), and I now regularly solo on Ruthless (4th) difficulty, albeit carefully.
Post 1st respec (during which I've mostly just rearranged for Stamina to come earlier, and Aim and Tar Patch later, and also abandoned Energy Torrent in favor of the Power Bolt), my build is thus:
Lv01: Power Blast, Twilight Grasp
Lv02: Power Bolt
Lv04: Darkest Night
Lv06: Power Burst
Lv08: Sniper Blast
Lv10: Hover
Lv12: Swift
Lv14: Fly
Lv16: Shadow Fall
Lv18: Health
Lv20: Stamina
Lv22: Aim
Lv24: Fearsome Stare
Lv26: Howling Twilight
Lv28: Tar Patch
Lv30: Assault
Lv32: Nova
I expect to squeeze in the Dark Servant, Tactics, a hold or two (Petrifying Gaze, or a Patron Power) and a Patron Power shield by lv50...
The slotting is the usual 2xACC on everything that needs to hit, 3xDMG for the damage powers, 2xHeal on Twilight Grasp, 2xFear on Fearsome Stare, 2xRes on Shadowfall, rounded out with some Recharge Reductions (3x on Nova; I do so love Nova ^^) and Endurance Discounts... And Stamina is 3-slotted with EndMod, naturally (and as far as usual farming goes, I can't help feeling that 3rd slot was perhaps overkill ^^).
An average spawn fight usually goes like this:
1. Initiate the fight (thanks to Shadowfall) with Aim + Sniper to the Lt./Boss (Knockback -> less alpha from the heaviest hitter), or skip to the next step,
2. follow up with Fearsome Stare to get everyone except the main target nice and static,
3. apply debuffs (DN if Boss, Tar Patch if just Lt's) before the main target gets up,
4. quickly dispatch the main target, reapplying Fearsome Stare as soon as it wears off (2xFear, 1xRech = near-perma),
5. systematically clear up the minions, one attack chain (Bolt -> Blast -> Burst -> Bolt, or Sniper -> Bolt -> Blast) per minion being enough with Tar Patch softening them up.
If something goes wrong, Howling Twilight or Nova usually get me enough breathing room to escape. Also, all-Minion spawns occasionally get an Enrage -> Fearsome Stare -> Tar Patch -> Aim -> Nova treatment when I don't feel like rotating standard attacks. ^^ Should something be left standing, a quick CaB and some Knockback keep it down.
Carnival of Shadows bosses remain a bit of a pain. I expect that to change once I get some Holds (Petrifying Gaze or the Patron Pool powers).
Now, the boards have left me wondering a bit about whether the build, as functional in my experience as it is, has any future in the endgame, and also if other builds neccessarily outclass it. I'd especially like to hear critique from people who have taken a similar build to lv50, and especially those who have also tried other primaries and can directly compare the effectivenes.
Also, I've only done a bit of PvP, mostly in Siren's Call and Warburg, and I was less-than-overjoyed with how much trouble I had with heroes. Generally I found that I can outlive Blasters thanks to healing and Darkest Night, and Controllers usually just fled from me if I had a Breakfree (tho they pulverized me if I didn't; nowadays I bring a full tray of them into any PvP zone)... But anything that isn't squishy tends to outlive me relatively easy. Scrappers are especially quick about it, provided they can reach me while I'm Hovering/Flying (toggling the two, very handy; blessed be gaming computer mice and their extra keys ^^). I obviously need a boatload more real experience about it, but theoretical PvP advice would also be very welcome.
Oh, another thing... Any suggestions on Patron Powers I should look forward to? Based on what little theory I could find on ParagonWiki and such, I'm leaning towards the Soul Mastery (it also gets bonus points for fitting my character concept ^^), or maybe Mu Mastery...
Well, that's it for the intro ('Finally!', I hear you say), thanks in advance for any worthwhile info. ^^
