Blackshake

This morning I was playing one of my own arcs ("Serpent People", Arc ID: 87226) with a level 38 toon. It is a story focused arc, I try to make it playable at any level.

Snakes have a gap from level 35 to level 45, and I get (randomly?) level 34 and 46 enemies... How can I fix this?

My priority is Recharge, you need to cap it to make your Dark Servant almost perma. Hasten and recharge bonus from sets will help, of course.

Other enhs are your choice. I do not have Tactics in my current build, so I go for accuracy (I want its heals hit as often as possible). To Hit debuff is a good choice too, because it affects most of DS's powers.

If you can afford it (and have enough slots), I suggest you to add a Dark Watcher's Despair -Recharge Proc.

I frankenslotted my Necro/Dark this way (quite cheap, all but DWD proc):

Paralytic: Acc/Rech, Acc/Hold/Rech
Essence of Curare: Acc/Rech, Acc/Hold/Rech
Enfeebled Operation: Acc/Rech
Dark Watcher's Despair: Chance for Recharge Slow

I would like to try a Rad/Sonic Corruptor, just for PvE. Is it a good combo?

I do not want an AV killer, but I do not want to roll a useless toon neither.

Thanks in advance for your answers.

The tread on US boards is very useful, thank you!

I don't know if it is a bug, I have wrong settings, or it is just WAI, but...

My toons on the character selection screen are usually ordered at random. I try to order them the way I like more, but they change everyday. Weird?

Thank you for your answers.
I am still at 20s, and soloing is still boring, but possible.

Primary Power Set: Earth Control
Secondary Power Set: Storm Summoning
Power Pool: Flight
Power Pool: Fitness
Power Pool: Speed

Hero Profile:
------------
Level 1: Fossilize Acc(A), Dmg(3), Dmg(3), RechRdx(5), RechRdx(5), RechRdx(21)
Level 1: Gale Acc(A)
Level 2: Stone Prison Acc(A), Dmg(7), Dmg(7)
Level 4: O2 Boost Heal(A), Heal(11)
Level 6: Quicksand RechRdx(A), Slow(11)
Level 8: Air Superiority Dmg(A), Dmg(9), Dmg(9)
Level 10: Swift Flight(A)
Level 12: Stalagmites Acc(A), Acc(13), RechRdx(13)
Level 14: Fly Flight(A), Flight(15), Flight(15)
Level 16: Freezing Rain RechRdx(A), RechRdx(17), RechRdx(17), Slow(21)
Level 18: Earthquake RechRdx(A), RechRdx(19), RechRdx(19)
Level 20: Health Heal(A)
Level 22: Stamina EndMod(A), EndMod(23), EndMod(23)
Level 24: Steamy Mist EndRdx(A), EndRdx(25), EndRdx(25)

Should I slot Freezing Rain for damage?

I have an Earth/Storm controller, mainly aimed for teaming. However, sometimes it's hard to find a team, and I have to solo, but my damage is terribly low.

Any advice to build a bit soloable earth/storm? I don't want an 'uber' char, I just need to be able to solo some missions a bit faster than a rooted snail

[ QUOTE ]
As for necro and the BU proc, it'd probably work best in knights, but the force feedback +rech proc is quite desirable there as well.

[/ QUOTE ]

+Rech works on pets? Do they attack faster, or it just buffs me?

[ QUOTE ]
My mercs all have achilles heal, the chance of res debuff and it really doesnt trigger that often compared to my AR blaster, dispite 6 pets nonstop shooting -def powers.

[/ QUOTE ]

My Grave Knights have Achille's Heel PROC too, but I never see it to trigger. However, my Lich has a Slow Rech PROC and it fires quite often. Is -Res effect invisible or bugged?

I am planning to buy a Soulbound Allegiance: Chance of Build Up recipe. AFAIK, it only buffs the pets where it is used.

I must choose: Zombies or Grave Knights? My two Knights are my main damage dealers, but Zombies are three and have AoE attacks (better chances to fire BU on them?).

Related question: How does it work? How is BU chance checked? By time, by attacks, by hits...? Does BU buff just one attack, or lasts time enough to buff other hits?

I use BF + Attack Vitals. Add 1KCuts (or Sweep combo if avaliable) for damage mitigation (Knockup) or Brawl (it does not break combos) to keep Fury up if your recharge is not fast enough.

Why not?

Wrong concept? Claws are OK for a villain (and Axe and Mace too...) To hit anyone with a claw, an axe or a baseball bat is not very 'kind'.

Only-One-AT-Power? I always found that reason quite silly. I think most melee sets should be adapted to all tankers/scrappers/brutes/stalkers, as Dual Blades are.

My DB/WP Brute is now level 41, and I doubt about my last powers...

+---------------------------------------------
+ Built with SuckerPunch's Online Planner
+ http://www.cohplanner.com
+---------------------------------------------
Name: N/A
Level: 44
Archetype: Brute
Primary: Dual Blades
Secondary: Willpower
+---------------------------------------------
01 => High Pain Tolerance ==> 1xEmpty
01 => Power Slice ==> 1xEmpty
02 => Ablating Strike ==> 1xEmpty
04 => Fast Healing ==> 1xEmpty
06 => Typhoon's Edge ==> 1xEmpty
08 => Blinding Feint ==> 1xEmpty
10 => Indomitable Will ==> 1xEmpty
12 => Combat Jumping ==> 1xEmpty
14 => Super Jump ==> 1xEmpty
16 => Rise to the Challenge ==> 1xEmpty
18 => Vengeful Slice ==> 1xEmpty
20 => Quick Recovery ==> 1xEmpty
22 => Mind Over Body ==> 1xEmpty
24 => Swift ==> 1xEmpty
26 => Sweeping Strike ==> 1xEmpty
28 => Heightened Senses ==> 1xEmpty
30 => Health ==> 1xEmpty
32 => One Thousand Cuts ==> 1xEmpty
35 => Stamina ==> 1xEmpty
38 => Strength of Will ==> 1xEmpty
41 => Web Envelope ==> 1xEmpty
+---------------------------------------------

I plan take Resurgence at 49 (for concept), so I ony have to powers more to choose. What would be better for survavility? Aid Self or Tough? What is better against EB, Heroes and AV?

Also I can forget them and go on for Patron pet, of course... is it any good?

Thanks for your answers.

(Edited: Just for PvE)

I want to get Stamina before level 40, so I have to drop 3 powers from DB/WP. Two of them will be, of course, Taunt and Resurgence.

Am I crazy if I drop anything more from WP?
Which attack could I leave? Probably Nimble Slash (losing Empower and Weaken combos) or Power Slice (bye bye to Sweep)?

Just for PvE, if it does matter.

Are Carrion Creepers buffed by AoE effects like Fulcrum Shift?

If I am buffed before throwing Carrion Creepers, are they buffed too?

When you use Ghost Extraction on your zombis you get a Spirit, when you use it on a Lich you get a Wraith. AFAIK, the only difference is their Health points. Am I right? Does Wraith have better holds, damage, accuracy...?

My Rad/Sonic has Power Build Up and it shines when it is used with EMP Pulse! It doubles EMP's hold and endurance drain (great on bosses). If you became Rad/Elec it would be even better (Power Build Up + EMP Pulse + Short Circuit).

Power Build Up does not buff your Rad (or my Sonic) debuffs, but it increases your end drains, holds (Chocking Cloud, Tesla Cage), Vengeance*, healings... I found it very useful.

(*)I am not 100% sure, anyone can confirm it?

Clicking Hasten and Accelerate Metabolism at same time makes them almost perma (maybe really perma with some IO sets).

Could I avoid Fitness pool with A.M. always on? Maybe with A.M. and some APP power?

I was fighting Arachnoss with my zombies (i am a Necro/Dark MM), and we found a Night Widow. She used a smoke grenade (or whatever she uses for hiding), and I could not see her anymore... but my pets still attacked her! (well... they attacked 'something invisible with orange numbers on its head' )

I watched the icons, and all we had a smoke icon (-acc, -perception). Have my henchmen better perception than me?

I will put +1 or +2acc, but what more?
Some people say +dmg. Only a few attacks have damage, but most have -def. Should I slot -def better than damage?

I know most people prefer Combat Jumping + SJ + Acrobatics, but I have a Plant/Thorns (PvE only) with Hasten + SuperSpeed. Hasten is very useful, as all we know, and SS gives some stealth that is very useful too. As long as I hit first, KB is not a big issue. Being immobilized is more annoying for me.

Later I took TP foe (for pulling) and Teleport for pure travel (it is faster than SS at Rogue Isles). Teleport makes immobilize harmless, and it is quite safe if you do not have lag.

I may use a respec and change TP for SJ+Acro... but I am level 39 now and I am fine.

I have done many solo mayhem missions being a MA/Ninja stalker, and it has been quite easy. I'm usually on vicious. If you play on villainous, the 'Hero' will be just a liutenant, so you can AS him/her easily.

I go straight to the bank, avoiding cops and longbow (hidden). Try not to get ambushed outdoors. Before 'cleaning' the bank, wait a bit, because some longbow will enter after you. Defeat them, and then go to the vault (hidden, ASing, or scrapping). Get the money, and wait the hero in a good spot, best places are doors and corners.

Remember: walls, corners and doors are not only decoration, take advantage of them.