_Kara__EU

Try Rad/Dark - awesome debuffs / buffs and dark's teneborous tentacles make taking down AV's easy (it stops them running away but has more chance of getting them than a true hold), damage output is pretty low until you get to the epic group so it's a team build.

Of course I'm not biased *hides signature* =)

On the other mmo's I play smacktalk is seen as being something highly negative to engage in and if you do it you are seen as being an amateur and deserving of no respect.

It's quite effective at keeping it to a minimum.

Welcome back

I've a use for the 'chillin with aerie costume' once more!! (highly recommended)

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I'll just think you're lame if you do. Capiche?

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No smacktalk please.

I love whirlwind - it's a major defensive power in pvp (noob stalkers will run into it and bounce off, more advanced players will stay just out of range so you have to keep moving if they are invisible, or make sure you stay as close to them as possible if they are visible).

In PvE as a defender it's a good 'emergency' power if the team gets in trouble.

PvP is playable as a defender although not in it's traditional team support role.

In PvP to keep alive it's imperative to move about a lot, being tied to a group would make you an easy target to stalkers (unless there's a hurricane you can stand in).

My usual tactic is to go looking for stalkers with tactics + goggles on, sometimes by following another sole hero (who doesn't know they have a gaurdian hero) and watch as the stalker circles, then give the villain a nice surprise by swooping down on them.

Once they are rad debuffed they are harmless, then it's a case of being lucky:

a) immobilising them to stop them running away
b) a hero coming along to finish the job,
c) no villain coming along making you have to scarper quick
d) or finding a villain that doesn't know what rad debuffs do and wonder why they can't hit anymore

One comment I heard in Siren's the other day was 'I'm leaving, the learning curve is a bit high'

Though lowering the difficulty rating of a PvP zone so it was fun to new players would make it not fun for experienced players.

Wouldn't want to be the one to try and come up with a way to meet the needs of both.

As long as it possible to change your powerset / tactics to restore the balance in 1 v 1 PVP I don't think the power should be nerfed.

E.g. If you add whirlwind to your powers it will give you some defence against stalkers (interrupts their assassin strike power), which is enough to make it balanced. As a defender whirlwind can be a useful PVE power if your team gets into trouble.

If you add teleport self it can help you get away from them quickly in the few seconds you have between their first attack (which has less chance of one shotting you with whirlwind) and the second (which if you're a squsihy will faceplant you).

If they start using team tactics against you (teleport foe to their team etc) team tactics can be used to even things up on that side (teleport friend, tp foe protection etc).

The way stalkers work at present is a lot of fun as it's fast paced whilst still able to have some balance, it would be a shame to see it nerfed.

A team with complimenting powers and good tactics / teamwork.

Telekinesis is good for keeping a storm controller w/hurricane out of harms way.

Just noticed Xironia has just made his 999th forum post, 1000 post party time =)

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I'm sure you can PvP an Empath. There's even an empath in the top ten duelers (MaXimillion). Although MaX's build is pretty offensive and I'm sure his whirlwind works pretty well defensively in there too.

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I spent many an hour teaming with max and I'd say the best tip to being an empath in PVP is 'SHOW NO MERCY!' (memories of max running in and blackstar'ing them all to smithereens)