BrandX

Originally Posted by Zortel

IIRC, the first was the last page of the Blue King Comics, which also had Apex referring to his level, and the second from the Top Cow ones was self-referential I think.

And personally I'm not one for using the AT terms in character, and when it comes up it often rankles me a little. Zortel isn't a Blaster. Zortel is a woman in a suit of powered armour that fires energy blasts. Rushmore isn't a Tanker, Rushmore is a patriotic hero who uses his mastery of stone both take and give out heavy damage. Nachtbrecher isn't a Scrapper, he's a former Axis supersoldier who after a trip to Thule gained the magic and technology required to bend darkness to his will.

Though if anyone ever calls Alraune a Dominator, she's going to reply 'I'm more of a switch, actually.'

Originally Posted by Hyperstrike

Okay, will try this again.

Ranged hoverblaster with defense cap.


Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.803
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Ranged Tankmage: Level 50 Magic Blaster
Primary Power Set: Dual Pistols
Secondary Power Set: Electricity Manipulation
Power Pool: Fitness
Power Pool: Leadership
Power Pool: Flight
Power Pool: Fighting
Ancillary Pool: Mace Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Pistols -- Thundr-Acc/Dmg:50(A), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx:50(3), Thundr-Dmg/Rchg:50(3), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:50(5), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:50(5), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:50(7)
Level 1: Electric Fence -- Thundr-Acc/Dmg:50(A), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx:50(7), Thundr-Dmg/Rchg:50(9), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:50(9), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:50(11), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:50(11)
Level 2: Dual Wield -- Thundr-Acc/Dmg:50(A), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx:50(13), Thundr-Dmg/Rchg:50(13), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:50(15), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:50(15), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:50(17)
Level 4: Empty Clips -- P'ngTtl-Acc/Slow:50(A), P'ngTtl-Dmg/Slow:50(17), P'ngTtl-Acc/EndRdx:50(23), P'ngTtl-Rng/Slow:50(27), P'ngTtl-EndRdx/Rchg/Slow:50(27), P'ngTtl--Rchg%:50(29)
Level 6: Swift -- Run-I:50(A)
Level 8: Swap Ammo
Level 10: Bullet Rain -- P'ngTtl-Acc/Slow:50(A), P'ngTtl-Dmg/Slow:50(29), P'ngTtl-Acc/EndRdx:50(31), P'ngTtl-Rng/Slow:50(31), P'ngTtl-EndRdx/Rchg/Slow:50(31), P'ngTtl--Rchg%:50(33)
Level 12: Suppressive Fire -- Lock-Acc/Hold:50(A), Lock-Acc/Rchg:50(33), Lock-Rchg/Hold:50(33), Lock-EndRdx/Rchg/Hold:50(34), Lock-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg/Hold:50(34), Lock-%Hold:50(34)
Level 14: Health -- Numna-Regen/Rcvry+:50(A), Mrcl-Rcvry+:40(50)
Level 16: Build Up -- RechRdx-I:50(A)
Level 18: Maneuvers -- LkGmblr-Rchg+:50(A), LkGmblr-Def:50(19), DefBuff-I:50(19)
Level 20: Hover -- Zephyr-Travel:50(A), Zephyr-Travel/EndRdx:50(21), DefBuff-I:50(21), DefBuff-I:50(23)
Level 22: Stamina -- P'Shift-End%:50(A), P'Shift-EndMod:50(50)
Level 24: Boxing -- KntkC'bat-Acc/Dmg:35(A), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx:35(25), KntkC'bat-Dmg/Rchg:35(25), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:35(48)
Level 26: Executioner's Shot -- Thundr-Acc/Dmg:50(A), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx:50(36), Thundr-Dmg/Rchg:50(36), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:50(37), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:50(37), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:50(37)
Level 28: Piercing Rounds -- P'ngTtl-Acc/Slow:50(A), P'ngTtl-Dmg/Slow:50(39), P'ngTtl-Acc/EndRdx:50(39), P'ngTtl-Rng/Slow:50(39), P'ngTtl-EndRdx/Rchg/Slow:50(40), P'ngTtl--Rchg%:50(40)
Level 30: Thunder Strike -- Erad-Dmg:30(A), Erad-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:30(40), Erad-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:30(42), ExStrk-Dmg/KB:20(43), ExStrk-Acc/KB:20(43), ExStrk-Dam%:20(43)
Level 32: Hail of Bullets -- ExStrk-Dmg/KB:20(A), ExStrk-Dam%:20(45), ExStrk-Acc/KB:20(45), Erad-Dmg:30(45), Erad-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:30(46), Erad-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:30(46)
Level 35: Fly -- Zephyr-Travel:50(A), Zephyr-Travel/EndRdx:50(36)
Level 38: Tough -- S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+:30(A)
Level 41: Weave -- LkGmblr-Rchg+:50(A), LkGmblr-Def:50(42), DefBuff-I:50(42)
Level 44: Scorpion Shield -- LkGmblr-Rchg+:50(A), LkGmblr-Def:50(46), DefBuff-I:50(48)
Level 47: Power Sink -- P'Shift-EndMod/Acc:50(A), P'Shift-Acc/Rchg:50(48), Efficacy-EndMod/Acc/Rchg:50(50)
Level 49: Assault -- EndRdx-I:50(A)
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- Hectmb-Dam%:50(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Clrty-Stlth:50(A)
Level 2: Rest -- RechRdx-I:50(A)
Level 1: Defiance
Level 2: Ninja Run
------------
Set Bonus Totals:

• 6% DamageBuff(Smashing)
• 6% DamageBuff(Lethal)
• 6% DamageBuff(Fire)
• 6% DamageBuff(Cold)
• 6% DamageBuff(Energy)
• 6% DamageBuff(Negative)
• 6% DamageBuff(Toxic)
• 6% DamageBuff(Psionic)
• 6.75% Defense(Smashing)
• 6.75% Defense(Lethal)
• 4.25% Defense(Fire)
• 4.25% Defense(Cold)
• 33.9% Defense(Energy)
• 33.9% Defense(Negative)
• 3% Defense(Psionic)
• 4.88% Defense(Melee)
• 40.5% Defense(Ranged)
• 5.5% Defense(AoE)
• 3.6% Max End
• 7.5% Enhancement(RunSpeed)
• 7.5% Enhancement(FlySpeed)
• 2.5% Enhancement(Held)
• 7.5% Enhancement(JumpSpeed)
• 55% Enhancement(Accuracy)
• 22.5% Enhancement(RechargeTime)
• 7.5% Enhancement(JumpHeight)
• 26% FlySpeed
• 18.1 HP (1.5%) HitPoints
• 26% JumpHeight
• 26% JumpSpeed
• MezResist(Held) 10.5%
• MezResist(Immobilize) 2.75%
• MezResist(Sleep) 8.25%
• 8% (0.13 End/sec) Recovery
• 30% (1.51 HP/sec) Regeneration
• 26% RunSpeed

Originally Posted by Umbral

Are you suggesting that the devs make an EAT that doesn't have a backstory even though they've explicitly stated that the "epic" in "epic archetype" refers to the backstory of the AT rather than the capabilities of the AT? If it doesn't have an overarching backstory and it doesn't have a real role on a team, what's the point of spending all of the effort to develop it in the first place? And, even more, why would the devs want to arbitrarily make a DP/Armor EAT when they've shown no special proclivity to making EATs that aren't multitaskers of some kind (and a DP/Armor AT would definitely be a monotasker unless it was designed to alternate between ranged damage and ranged tanking) or are using powers largely unique to that EAT (which it wouldn't really do because you're asking for the EAT to explicitly use an existing blast set)?

You still haven't tackled the issue of "what is it supposed to do on a team" either. Just saying "make it an EAT" doesn't deal with that issue. Khelds were intended to be JOATs that could flit between roles (blaster/scrapper/tanker and blaster/controller/tanker) and SoAs are designed to be damage dealers with low maintenance support capabilities. If it's going to be made into an EAT, there would still need to be some justification for it within the confines of the game.

Originally Posted by Streethawk

Well both in regards to the OPs and in regards to your stalker, it is easy to reach "soft-cap" with the Super Reflexes set (either scr, sta or bru) even with use of Weave. My issue with doing it without Weave is a I don't like simply acheiving soft-cap when there's so many mobs like to debuff defense. I like to go a little above and beyond.

Plus there's the perspective of doing a doing concept toon. I usually tend to play a toon more if it's a concept I create from the beginning and I really flesh it out including bio and level progression that fits within the CoH mythos/universe. But the question always is.. how much are you willing to sacrifice for a concept? If your concept is a "natural" fighter, then I'm almost always willing to skip the travel power. Makes it a pain for going zone to zone, especially on a tf/sf. But like I said, how much are you willing to sacrifice to maintain both your min/maxing and concept for certain easiness of mobility and such.

Maybe posting what build you currently have might help us where we can "trim the fat" to drop Weave and pick up Physical Perfection for you.

Originally Posted by Silverado

I did specify "PvP Scrappers"

Originally Posted by Arcanaville

At the moment, the -DEF is not enhanceable. This is deliberate, as the devs did not want to change the sets slottable in CAK (which would have required more testing and design review before being able to release the change into the beta). It might become slottable in the future; its less that I think anyone thinks its bad to be slottable, and more that I think no one is sure its ok.

Originally Posted by Donna_

How do these changes effect MA in pvp ?

Originally Posted by Kenshinhan

I'm looking for a secondary from either Blasters or Corruptors that provides the best ranged AoE damage compared to all other Blaster/Corruptor secondaries. (if this even exists)

Once I get enough opinions I'll make a decision and post a build. If you want to go ahead and post a build of what you have with Arch/ I'll definitely not mind.

Originally Posted by Umbral

The problem isn't making it balanced. The problem is making it balanced while still providing a reason for the AT to exist within the confines of the game (yes, it's a game; concept and theme are all well and good, but when it comes down to it, it's a game first and foremost before it's a superhero simulator). The only way to properly balance out the ability to have ranged capabilities and full on survivability is to drop damage or survivability. If that happens, then there isn't a functional role that the AT plays within the confines of the team beyond "soloer". Every AT fulfills some explicit role (or more than one): damage, support, and personal survival (each AT has some portion of each role to different extents).

If you trade away some portion of your damage or survivability for the ranged advantage (which you would have to do because otherwise you're getting something for nothing), there isn't a point to bringing the new AT because anything it does is done better by the pre-existing AT.

Every suggestion I have ever seen for a ranged/armor AT falls prey to this argument: if you create a balanced version of a ranged/armor AT (balanced both internally and against the existing ATs it would be competing against), there isn't a point in bringing one because whatever it brings to the party is brought more effectively by someone else. The only role it would really fulfill would be soloing, and the devs aren't likely to make an AT that pretty much only exists to solo.

It's because of this issue that whenever I see this suggestion (generally draped in the mantle of "we need it because I have a character concept" rather than anything resembling an actual reason that the game needs such an AT due to a role not being filled), I counter with a suggestion to create an AT that is assault/(armor + support). Even with damage low enough to justify an armored ranged attacker, there is a reason to bring them to a team because they're providing force multiplication coupled with a reason for the AT to actually have higher survivability (because it's designed to spend some portion of time in melee where the higher survivability is actually needed). There isn't a justification within the confines of the game (as a game, not as a superhero simulator) for there to be an AT with the ability to stay out of danger (ranged damage) coupled with the ability to stay in danger (survivability set) because they're both present explicitly to solve the same problem: how to deal with incoming damage.

Originally Posted by Sailboat

Hrm. Theoretically one could slot the Achilles heel -res proc into CAK now...although one should probably be careful not to hurt the overall enhancement values on the attack.

Originally Posted by UberGuy

Uh, you realize that with Build Up this would more than 1/2 of a +2 boss' life in one hit, right?

I'm all for the position that AS takes to long to wind up (as do ranged snipes), but that strikes me as excessive. I'd rather see the DPA improved by shortening the activation+interrupt time.

Originally Posted by Lurker Hunter

I could potentially see a mix between the Dominator, Blaster, Corruptor, and Scrapper secondaries to make a "red mage" of archetypes. The Dominator secondaries would become this AT's primaries because they contain a mix between melee and ranged attacks, yet lack the powerful AoE coverage and nukes blasters get.

The secondaries would be an amalgam of existing sets, containing dome defense, some control, some heal/buff/debuff, but at reduced power.

I can envision such a secondary set right now, a compliment to Fiery Assault:

1. Fire Shield (12.5% smash/lethal/fire DR, 5% cold DR)
2. Ring of Fire (control)
3. Temperature Protection (auto, 7.5% fire/cold DR)
4. Smoke (debuff)
5. Plasma Shield (17.5% energy/neg/fire DR)
6. Warmth (PBAoE heal)
7. Burn (control and immobilize protection)
8. Heat Exhaustion (debuff)
9. Melt Armor (debuff)

Combined with Fiery Assault, an archetype of this would be able to fill the red mage role, having a variety of attacks, defenses, and effect powers, but at the cost of not excelling at either one of those. It's a concept I've loved since I played the first Final Fantasy, and I would love to see it eventually happen.

Thoughts?

Originally Posted by Werner

I agree that you should be fine for the vast majority of AVs. Yes, Mako will likely be a little annoying, though I haven't done the math. I'm a big fan of Tactics, but if I was JUST after AVs, and if I didn't love the Gaussian set so much, I wouldn't bother.

Edit: I typically turn Tactics off while fighting AVs on Alexei. I'll only turn it on if I notice my last chance to hit dipping below 95%.

Originally Posted by Shred_Monkey

Stalkers should be squishy.. they need more damage to balance them. More health would just make them less distinct from the other melee sets.

Originally Posted by Umbral

Are you just asking to be trolled by bringing up a singularly pointless dead horse yet again?

Originally Posted by Quinch

So.... tankmages?

Originally Posted by Eva Destruction

This is probably it. They're trying to avoid portraying either side as "the good guys," so both sides have to do some not-good things. Your character personally has to do these things just to make sure you, the player, are paying attention and can't handwave it away as "oh, well my character doesn't know about all that stuff, I'm totally heroic."