Blue_Centurion

Can you post a build like what you are talking about? May not be for me, I am very character concept driven. Still I would like to see what a Top notch defense build that scratches at ED cap on its attacks and has significant recharge looks like.

P.S., b4 we go off into tangents. This particular character is a PVE badger. The build is a "boutique" build that is just pushing the limits for the heck of it.

Now, the Strategy is what I am really asking about here. (I play chess a lot, and strategy is very fun for me) So, the merits of just building for damage/recharge are fascinating. Can you actually use offense as a defense? I have only been blasting a while, but it seems you might be able to.

You missed the stealth part I referred to in the OP. I run the full Concealment pool, including the panic button Phase shift, and I have +stealth I/O in flight. Not redundant since it gives partial stealth at full flight speed, and still allows attacking where invisibility does not.

I fly straight to the glowies and/or bosses in missions. You may be faster at killing your way all the way thru a mission, if you seriously want to solo farm the entire thing. That ain't my bag. I really just want to figure out the minimum I have to do, and hit that bad boy with a giant radiation mallet. For a boss fight at the end, a sup'd up EB posing as an AV? Take a bunch of purps to softcap, some reds, a yellow for good measure, have a breakfree on hand just in case. Uncloak and say Hi! If it is starting to looks bad? Hit the nuke, pop a sm blue, phase shift, and go recharge/rethink. Good chance you left the EB with no support at least, next round should go better.

then go back to AE or w/e, restock, head to next mish. That is solo, of course.

In groups, I let the leaders lead. then I make everything in the mobs feel that little tickle that says radiation is melting the meat from their bones. Good times.


P.S. Well written Obitus. You make good sense. As you said, no wrong way. It is a strategy that I am espousing, and a build that matches the strategy. I have 2 (working) strategies, one solo and one for groups. I have worst case scenarios for both, where I might lose some effectiveness, but am still working towards the goal. But the worst case is definitely not usual, it is rare. In general, I simply, beautifully, Blast! I stand (or hover) and deal a tremendous amount of pain. I do question your statement that chasing Def does not take away from damage dealing. I am new to blasting, but from what I have read on the boards a high Def blaster build eats tons of build resources. Maybe I'm wrong, but it makes senses. After building one as a tank with a headstart it makes sense. I would like to see a softcap Def blaster and see how it compares for damage to this guy. I know with my softcap tank it took a lot of build power to get where I was going, and the build lost major damage, recharge, etc.

Adeon: I couldnt get anyone to comment on my build, but the global +damage bonuses in it are really just the ones that happened to be the lowest hanging fruit. I chose to build purple heavy. Damage at (or very near) ED, then for recharge (again, the easiest only), and using the remainder of the build for Procs and such. It is an odd thing, but if nothing else it puts damage downrange.

To me this type of building characterizes the quote from Paragon Wiki "His best defense is a great offense!" Of course, my secondary mitigation is really more the years I spent on Brutes, and knowing when to start looking for panic buttons/exits/etc. My primary mitigation is of course do not get hit. the Orange Bot is a predator, always looking for the next easy meal. Built for burst damage. Planning those bursts is the fun part for me. I choose to build this way because of all the time I spent on Brutes/Tanks. I really do not want to chase that playstyle in the least, but want to see how far I can push the Blaster archetype in the direction it was going already.

I have run about 6 trials since i started this post. I had fallen into the habit of BU ST attack chain, Aim, ST attack chain, wait for build up again, usually just one chain down, maybe two. But it is really hard to read my damage effects in the mob. Maybe i should pop the Aim, BU, ST chain to ensure that big damage ST chain actually connects.

Wait, I play on lowest settings. there is no way I can run Ultra. Are you telling me if i dial up to what, max?, non Ultra settings these maps will run right? and PS, that stinks.