BlueRidger

I wanna say that boxing is about on par with most other Tier 1 attacks - 2.5 second recharge, 33.81 dmg, 4.42 end cost. Seems more or less about the same as most of the others. I've really used it only once as part of an attack chain, but the animation is so unimpressive and the sound so terrible, that I just never want to do it again. That said, I think it's viable if you have a slow attack chain and want to use it to fill.

Ok, it's unimpressive and it left a really *really* bad taste in my mouth after seeing a blaster using it as part of his attack chain. Seriously... the guy was shooting once or twice then would run in and box a bad guy. It was a really long time ago, but I've never gotten over it.

In response to the OP: I thought that video was pretty interesting and look forward to see how the devs will continue to address power creep.

To the OP: (I didn't bother reading any other responses because I don't really care what they have to say) No. Don't stack Granite with the other armors. On my Stone/Mace tanker, I'm well above soft cap in S/L/E/Ne/Psi and about 50% fire resist as well as decent S/L resist (43%). Those who run perma-granite are gimping themselves and seem to enjoy doing nothing but soak damage for the team. The individual defense types of Rock Armor and Crystal Armor could be increased, sure, but I don't agree with the school of thought that seems to see Granite Armor as the only viable power in the set. I have Granite Armor, sure, but I use it as was intended - an oh sh*t button. I don't relish the prospect of running around in Granite 24/7, so don't advocate as though all Stone/ tankers do.

I came back from a CoH vacation, and turns out that EA is still pretty! and WM is vry storng!!!

I like my Electric Melee/Energy Aura brute... don't think I've seen another one.

Though toxic has no specific defense, I was under the impression that most (read: not all) toxic attacks use lethal to-hit values. Correct me if I'm wrong...

The proc still works. I've also had it proc on multiple mobs simultaneously.

That's a good point. I hadn't thought of that.

I have a couple of Invuln/ tankers that have the perfect zinger proc in their invincibility from ages past, and I'm perfectly happy with their builds (Inv/SS and Inv/DM respectively), but my question is: is it worth not respeccing and keeping the damage proc slotted or would you respec and keep playing with builds? As I said, I'm happy with their current condition, but there are a few things that I could tweak to perhaps improve on their survivability.

The only thing I find Ice Melee lacking in is damage against robots. It does have decent single target damage - not Dark Melee or Stone Melee, but it is pretty good if you compare Frozen Fists, Ice Sword, Greater Ice Sword, and Freezing Touch with comparably tiered attacks. I also like the AoE with Frozen Aura and Frost. Others will quibble and say that it sucks, but in my opinion it's a pretty good set. There are better sets out there, to be sure, but it's still a good set. The only reason (in my view) that Super Strength may win out is Rage... though I hate the crash, so my Inv/SS tanker sees very little playtime.

Eat a little purple pez. Boom! Soft cap.

I'd love to get spines ported over as much as most, but really... a mobile nova would be a little OP. I'd love it, and I'd surely roll up a Spines/Dark to match my Scrapper, but I really doubt it'll ever happen.

Any speculation on whether or not Follow Up will be changed? I recently got my Claws/SR scrapper to 46 and just love that power. The reason being the whole "Brute+Perma Follow up+Fury". Honestly, I don't think that it's a very good reason to change it at all, but you never know.

[/ QUOTE ]Oh please. If you felt that way you'd be posting in the 2 ELA threads. I'm guessing you solo alot.

Electric Armor is great for solo fighting. Unlimited endurance, medium resis to all, a strong Tier 9 for EBs and a nice damage aura that saps endurance from the baddies once PS does it's diligence of draining most of their end.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ah yes... here we have one of the many "Talking Heads" that are so infamous on the forums that are under the belief that Brutes cannot tank. To you, I can only say... well, nothing really. It's not worth the effort to try to convince you. I do frequently play on large teams with my WM/Elec Brute, however. As for "mediocre resists"... if you consider roughly 80% S/L (with tough), 55% F/C, 90%E, 55%Neg, and 50% Psi resist (rough estimates, mind you) to be "mediocre", then I don't know what to tell you. They're better than most other tanks' resistances.

As for tanking Hamidon on a LGTF... why on earth were you jumping when all you need to do is taunt? You did have teammates, right? Let me guess.. you don't have taunt on your Brute because Brutes aren't Tanks.

Suffice to say, I have no problems tanking for large teams on my /Elec Brute. Maybe it's a matter of playstyle, maybe it's a matter of mitigation via my primary (WarMace); regardless it's pretty shortsighted to say that /Elec (Elec/ for Tankers) is poor for large teams. Many people have demonstrated time and time again that pretty much any primary/secondary combination in the game can be made viable. If you don't like Electric Armor, please don't play it.

[ QUOTE ]
Wait till you play it. Brutes don't shun it for no reason

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They shun it because they have no clue. I love my WM/Elec brute. Then again, I love my Elec/EA brute as well. Maybe I'm just strange.

Personally, I haven't found Dark Armor a difficult thing to manage. You just need to frankenslot for some endurance recovery. War Mace offers you a good solution with the Stupefy Set. It has an Acc/End and Acc/Rec that you can easily slip into four of your attacks (Bash, Pulverize, Clobber, and Whirling Mace) and you can even get another 2.5% recovery by using 2 slots of Impervium Armor in one of your Armors. That's also a good catalyst to get close capping out your Psi Resistance, if that suits you. It's a difficult ride until stamina-like most other tanks, but after that you won't have many problems if you slot correctly. This is just my perception of Dark Armor (after getting both a tank and scrapper to 50 pre MA and without farming), so YMMV.

Although it is needed for the Born in Battle accolade, for some reason the damage that I receive is not always registered on the badge tracker. Is there a reason for this, or is it bugged?

Here's my Dark/Ice build. Some (most) will question the use of things like Air Burst and such but hey... I don't really care. It works for me, and is incredibly tough. As an aside, if you don't want to slot up Oppressive Gloom, I'd say at least take the proc from Absolute Amazement. I have really noticed it during fights even when it's not stunning anything.

Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.401
http://www.cohplanner.com/

[u]Click this DataLink to open the build![u]

Stygian Sleet: Level 50 Natural Tanker
Primary Power Set: Dark Armor
Secondary Power Set: Ice Melee
Power Pool: Fitness
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Fighting

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Death Shroud -- Erad-%Dam(A), Oblit-%Dam(3), Sciroc-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(3), Sciroc-Dmg/EndRdx(15), Sciroc-Acc/Dmg(15), Sciroc-Acc/Rchg(27)
Level 1: Frozen Fists -- TmpRdns-Acc/EndRdx(A), TmpRdns-Acc/Dmg/Slow(9), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(13), Mako-Acc/Dmg(36), Mako-Dmg/EndRdx(37), Mako-Dmg/Rchg(37)
Level 2: Ice Sword -- TmpRdns-Acc/Dmg/Slow(A), TmpRdns-Acc/EndRdx(9), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(13), Mako-Acc/Dmg(36), Mako-Dmg/EndRdx(36), Mako-Dmg/Rchg(37)
Level 4: Dark Embrace -- ImpArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(A), ImpArm-ResDam/EndRdx(5), TtmC'tng-ResDam(5), TtmC'tng-ResDam/EndRdx(11), TtmC'tng-EndRdx(11), ImpArm-ResPsi(31)
Level 6: Obsidian Shield -- ImpArm-ResDam/EndRdx(A), ImpArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(7), TtmC'tng-ResDam(7), TtmC'tng-ResDam/EndRdx(31), TtmC'tng-EndRdx(48), ImpArm-ResPsi(48)
Level 8: Swift -- Run-I(A)
Level 10: Taunt -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 12: Combat Jumping -- Winter-ResSlow(A)
Level 14: Super Jump -- Zephyr-ResKB(A)
Level 16: Murky Cloud -- ImpArm-ResDam/EndRdx(A), ImpArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(17), TtmC'tng-ResDam(17), TtmC'tng-EndRdx(23), TtmC'tng-ResDam/EndRdx(23), ImpArm-ResPsi(34)
Level 18: Health -- Numna-Regen/Rcvry+(A), Numna-Heal(19), Heal-I(19)
Level 20: Stamina -- P'Shift-End%(A), P'Shift-EndMod(21), EndMod-I(21)
Level 22: Acrobatics -- EndRdx-I(A)
Level 24: Dark Regeneration -- Nictus-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(A), Nictus-Heal/HP/Regen/Rchg(25), Nictus-Acc/EndRdx/Heal/HP/Regen(25), Theft-Acc/Heal(27), Theft-Acc/EndRdx/Heal(31), Theft-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(46)
Level 26: Ice Patch -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 28: Frost -- AirB'st-Acc/Dmg(A), AirB'st-Dmg/EndRdx(29), AirB'st-Dmg/Rchg(29), AirB'st-Dmg/Rng(48), Posi-Acc/Dmg(50), Posi-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(50)
Level 30: Boxing -- Acc-I(A)
Level 32: Tough -- ImpArm-ResDam/EndRdx(A), ImpArm-ResPsi(33), S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+(33), S'fstPrt-ResKB(33), Aegis-ResDam(34), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx(34)
Level 35: Oppressive Gloom -- Amaze-Acc/Stun/Rchg(A), Amaze-Stun(40), Amaze-ToHitDeb%(43), Amaze-Stun/Rchg(50)
Level 38: Frozen Aura -- FtnHyp-Acc/Sleep/Rchg(A), FtnHyp-Acc/Rchg(39), Sciroc-Dmg/Rchg(39), Sciroc-Dmg/EndRdx(39), Sciroc-Acc/Dmg(40), Sciroc-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(40)
Level 41: Greater Ice Sword -- TmpRdns-Acc/Dmg/Slow(A), TmpRdns-Acc/EndRdx(42), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(42), Mako-Dmg/Rchg(42), Mako-Dmg/EndRdx(43), Mako-Acc/Dmg(43)
Level 44: Freezing Touch -- Lock-Acc/Rchg(A), Lock-Acc/Hold(45), Mako-Acc/Dmg(45), Mako-Dmg/EndRdx(45), Mako-Dmg/Rchg(46), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(46)
Level 47: Cloak of Darkness -- EndRdx-I(A)
Level 49: Soul Transfer -- RechRdx-I(A)
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Gauntlet



Like I said. YMMV, but this is the build that I've grown to love. And yes, I do have all those procs in Death Shroud and I love them.

[ QUOTE ]
I took an EM/EA back at launch to 39, but that was ages and an old account ago.

I am really, really trying to get back into CoV, but the negativity (a STICKIED thread about how suxor /EA is? Good grief!) about them has made me wary.

In fact, I wanted to try something fun and different, so I rolled and Elec/Elec.

Then I hit the boards for build advice and was stunned. Could all of the negativity be true? It seems like nothing but negative posts about it, the most recent guide was from I7 and now I'm thinking, either I'll run this to 50 just to show them or I'm wasting my time.

Is it just that since I bought a VW bug, all I notice is VW bugs or is it that Brute's need some serious Dev attention?

Any advice for the Elect/Elect Brute noob?

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I've taken my WM/Elec to 50 and am currently 48 with my Elec/EA, and I really enjoy them both. I think WM/ on any brute will just serve to crush anything in your path. There's so much AoE knockdown that nothing is on it's feet long enough to do real damage. That said, start it all off with Power Sink (as others have said) and it'll really help. Resists are pretty good on /Elec as well. I'm at over 60% S/L which really helps with overall mitigation. I'm still hoping beyond hope that they port Electric Armor over to Tankers. Energy Aura is also much better than it used to be. Mind you, it's a tough ride to the upper levels, but at 48 I'm already soft capped on everything but Psi (which is at 20%). Aid Self is a good investment, fwiw. Anyway, I really like both sets. Slot them correctly, and you'll love them as well.

[ QUOTE ]
I'd have posted this in the feedback forum, but for some reason I am unable to... so I'll post here since it's my defender that I first noticed it on. The issue is: Pet attack rate
/break
Was this in some previous patch that I failed to see, or did they simply think that it wouldn't be noticed? If it's the former, then okay - "My bad". If it's the latter, then I look forward to seeing if Champions will be a bit more forthright in their nerfs (despite the presence of Mr. Emmert.)

[/ QUOTE ]

It's good to see that the defender forums are full of such thorough readers. I wasn't here at the launch of I14 - I frequently take time away from the game, like many players do. It's good to see that the defender forums are full of such happy, pleasant people that are ready to explain something as opposed to jumping down someone's throat for a simple misunderstanding. Very impressive, I must say.

I'd have posted this in the feedback forum, but for some reason I am unable to... so I'll post here since it's my defender that I first noticed it on. The issue is: Pet attack rate

No pets - NONE are affected by any kind of recharge now. Where before, one could make a voltaic sentinel worthwhile or lightning cloud more powerful by increasing it's attack rate, recharge will not affect it any more (attack rate, anyway). The same thing happend with my Dark Servant on my various /dark(s). I would have no problem with this (read: I wouldn't like it, but I'd accept it) if the devs had just been forthright about this in the first place and put it in the patch notes, but I read nowhere that pet attack rates were normalized. Was this in some previous patch that I failed to see, or did they simply think that it wouldn't be noticed? If it's the former, then okay - "My bad". If it's the latter, then I look forward to seeing if Champions will be a bit more forthright in their nerfs (despite the presence of Mr. Emmert.)

Quicksand on my Fire/Stone works very well with burn. Between Quicksand, Fault, and Tremor the mobs don't go very far.

I really enjoy my Dark Armor/Ice Melee. It's a very unusual build (have yet to see another on my sever) and really fun.
Pros: Lots of control/survivability between ice patch and oppressive gloom (I skip cloak of fear) not to mention the slows inherent in ice melee. GREAT self-heal with dark regeneration. Good mix of aoe damage and single target. Overall great resists (save energy) and easy to cap Psi resistance.

Cons: No inherent knockback protection. Weak damage against robots (they're very resistant to cold). Low energy resistance.

Note: Some say that ice melee is a low damage set. While it's true that some sets do more damage (fire melee) this is an uneducated statement. Look at mids (if available) and check the numbers out yourself. It's also worth mentioning that it uses smashing, lethal, and cold in it's attacks as opposed to a limit of one damage type (lethal, for instance).

Another great combo is Inv/dark melee
Pros: Inv... you know the pros. Also, siphon life is a GREAT self heal. It's not huge (mine heals my tanker for about 370 or so) but it recharges fast enough that it doesn't need to be. Not to mention you've still got dull pain to fall back on. Really nice single target damage. Also note, I took Air superiority in my build rather than hover and it has worked out wonderfully. The extra knockdown makes for some very nice extra mitigation. The resulting attack chain (Smite, Shadow Punch, Air superiority, Midnight grasp) makes for some solid single target damage.

Cons: Inv... you know the cons. Also, not amazing aoe damage. Shadow maul is very nice, and can get down to about 3.8 seconds to recharge, but it's still a short cone. Dark Consumption and soul drain are nice, but I wouldn't really consider them aoe attacks (mostly due to the long recharge).