Brimstone Bruce

Thanks, that makes sense. Especially about Brutes and Controllers.

I agree totally on accuracy, but I don't really understand slotting endredux in attacks over damage.

I'd rather cycle an attack 4 times at 60 damage and 6 end; than 6 times at 40 damage and 4 end to kill a critter. They're essentially the same DPE-wise, but you get to kill quicker (which means progress quicker) and be safer in the process. It's how I slot my lowbies, and I find it to be a far smoother experience.

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This is how I look at it.

I can spend $15 a month for a game that is always updating and has a lot to offer, or I can pay $60 a month for a game that takes me maybe 10 hours to play through and then I go spend another $60 for another game. I'll take the $15 a month as apposed to $60 a month.

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Yar. I was originally very hesitant to spend for a recurring monthly fee. I was so used to games that you'd beat in 6-20 hours, that it seemed impossible to justify such an expense. Then I bit the bullet, and have received more entertainment value for my dollar than pretty much anything else could provide.

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EDIT: And when did this turn into a debate on whether or not taunt was needed? That includes so many other variables that are far beyond the scope of the vids I made.


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It didn't, the guy noted he was Off topic. Still would be nice for it to be, given how the power is identical across all power sets.

Edit: Stop editing!!!!

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I think the question on Taunt was focsed on Lac's comment that because we can't hold Agro with Taunt Auras (which is blatantly false, as demonstrated by the recordings posted), a Tank needs to have Taunt.

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Yar, this. Wasn't directed at you Rinkoz.

And sorry for the editing... I can never seem to make my entire point at once.

*Double-post deleted... stupid work connection.*

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Brimstone's first vid proves my point. About 38sec's in you see the Granite tank loose aggro. He has to reestablish more than a few times, and the mob wasn't even that big. And this is with an Elec blaster. Imagine a fire blaster or an Ice.

On that note , I'd like to thank BrimstoneBruce for the vids and would loved if you kept them up as I wish to use them as further evidence.

Fact; Gauntlet is broken
Aura's arent as strong as most think they are.
If a Blaster can take aggro away, a scrapper should have no problem.
Taunt is needed.

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Kruunch's main point was
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Taunt Aura + Gauntlet effect will allow you to control agro very well in melee range. Taunt auras by themselves will not.

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Everything that was in range of Mud Pots was aggroed, and stayed aggroed. Everything that wasn't was anybody's guess.

EDIT: And when did this turn into a debate on whether or not taunt was needed? That includes so many other variables that are far beyond the scope of the vids I made. My vids were to address the question of whether or not aggro auras were strong enough to maintain aggro on the mobs they were affecting. In the case of my experiments, that was shown to be true.

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Okay, someone bring me up to speed. What are we debating here? The OP was asking which aspect of that taunt was enhanced, correct?

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That question was so five days ago. Since then, we've covered threat calculations, epeen measurements, aggro auras, and the game's internal clocks. Do try to keep up.

Not mine. Like I said, the 8600M GT is on par with the HD2600, but Nvidia tends to play nicer with this game. It also has a better processor than 3 and 4, and plenty of memory. The Go 6800 Ultra in #2 is similar to the 8600M GT, but it's two generations older. Usually better to go with the newer card.

I'd lean toward #5, personally. #1 has a pretty small screen, and the graphics card is kinda lackluster. Out of all the laptops listed, #5 seems to me to would have the best graphics and best overall performance.

EDIT: Found a neat little Heirarchy Chart over at Tom's Hardware showing the mobile chipsets. Looks like the 8600M GT and Mobility HD2600 are about on the same level, and the 9300M GS is significantly worse.

If only there was a way I could invite the OP along as a spectator on one of my SG's LGTF runs... the sheer fast-paced mayhem is mind-blowing.

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I can think of only one type of customization that would truly require an entire expansion and gobs of developer man hours to produce... especially if conversations at Comic Con last year still hold any water...

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Yep.
Given the weight of circumstantial evidence we have this far out I'll be shocked if power customization isn't a feature of GR.

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The Dev's read the boards... Their has been rampant speculation (Well founded in my opinion) about Power customization since the Going Rogue announcement. They can't have missed that and I'm sure they have gotten some PMs over it. Add to that the last paragraph of this dev diary definately points in that direction.

The Devs have to know this is the conclusion people will draw and I can't imagine they are going to keep making hints like that and the finally say. "Ohh, you get new auras and a new poodle purse option". They are going to end up with a lot of dissapointed fans if they keep up hints like these and don't nip power customization speculation in the bud. I just can't believe they would let the speculation go like this on such a majorly requested feature then not deliver it.

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I'm inclined to agree. People have been all but declaring as fact the presence of Power Customization in GR all over the boards for the last few weeks. It'd be a huge mistake for them to not publicly address this if it weren't coming.

I had another thought: what if not only could you change the color, and maybe even the animation... but what if you could tie them to certain costumes? I'm sure the devs would rather put their heads through a brick wall than try to take it this far, but imagine the possibilities! *Drools*

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also had trouble with contacting people, when i chat with someone, it didn't came up in my chat window somehow. anyway, i am gonna use up my trial period and then i make a descision if i gonna keep playing the game.

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Check out the wiki page on Trial Restrictions.
Specifically, trial accounts can't e-mail or /tell others (I think), and only have a few channels they can communicate in.

EDIT: *Shakes fist at Forbin*

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If you have Mids Hero Designer, use the "Set Bonus Finder" tool to help.

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Or the wiki:

Sets that improve run speed

Sets that improve movement speed

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Good call! I didn't know they had that cross-reference for set bonuses.

*The more you know*

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Slot acc till you're hitting consistently (shouldn't need much at lower levels thanks to Beginner's Luck), then slot damage. It's about as efficient DPE-wise as slotting endredux, but has the added bonus of adding mitigation through faster defeats.

The easiest ways to get a fast-moving stone tank are:
1) 3-slotting swift. Makes a huge difference on the cheap.
2) Gift of the Ancients: Defense/+7.5% Runspeed IO's. Usually pretty cheap at Wentworth's, IIRC.

I also recommend Teleport for a travel power. Helps a lot.

There are also many other set bonuses out there that increase movement speed. If you have Mids Hero Designer, use the "Set Bonus Finder" tool to help.

Well, yeah, I mean... if it worked, that could really hurt.

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Having said that, utilizing your other threat generating powers (Gauntlet / Taunt) is wise in a team situation because of the target cap of auras and the fact mobs won't always be sitting in your aura (due to mobs fleeing out of range, knockback, ambushes, etc). I don't think anyone in this thread would argue this point; I'm just making sure I'm clear that turning on a taunt aura and calling it a day won't cut it in large groups for the above reasons, but not because they're inadequate threat generators.

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Most definitely. The argument of whether aggro can be held with only our auras is largely moot IMO. We have attacks, silly not to use them.

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Actually, in that second video, you can see that the Chief Mentalist that turns on your blaster friend isn't being affected by your Mud Pots. The rest of them stay on you, but the one not currently being affected by Mud Pots turns.

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Yar, once I got back in range he was on me like glue. Couldn't get both he and the Comms Officer to move in range at the same time though, so I let the blaster deal with the lesser of two evils.

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5 bucks says that someone will come in and say something along the lines of 'but Mud Pots does damage, too!'

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LoL, and with no accuracy slotted in mine, and against +3 Rikti... it ticked a lot.

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How dare you provide evidence that backs up our dev fanboiism?!

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My God... I've become one of them! I'm a fanboi! *Throws himself upon his own Greater Fire Sword*

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Actually, in that second video, you can see that the Chief Mentalist that turns on your blaster friend isn't being affected by your Mud Pots. The rest of them stay on you, but the one not currently being affected by Mud Pots turns.

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Yar, once I got back in range he was on me like glue. Couldn't get both he and the Comms Officer to move in range at the same time though, so I let the blaster deal with the lesser of two evils.

Videos

I made two videos. They aren't the most scientific things in the world, but I think they suit our purposes well enough. I took my old shelved Level 50 namesake into the back corner of RWZ. I was accompanied by a friend on his 50 Elec/Elec blaster. Using only Mud Pots, I rounded up a group (usually around a corner) and let the blaster cut loose on them. For this, Mud Pots was slotted only with 2xEndredux. I used no other powers other than Granite.

Video 1
Group of level 51 Rikti. Corner pulled, then unleashed the blaster. The blaster pulled a couple mobs, but I think they may have been out of range of my taunt aura. The group got pretty large when the Comms officer started summoning. Although he nabbed a couple away, I was able to take them back by moving within range.

Video 2
Almost identical results to video 1, except here we had level 53 Rikti. Held aggro well, lost a couple due to range issues, and was able to re-establish aggro through the blaster's attacks. (Oh, and have mercy on my Stone Tank... I wasn't paying attention to his health, and he's currently a tad underslotted defensively.)

There was a third group, but I forgot to turn on the recorder. That was a group of level 52 Rikti, and I did not lose aggro on a single critter throughout the fight.

Well, that's about the only evidence I have, since it's my only lvl50 tanker, and finding volunteers for something so boring is difficult. It wasn't purdy, I ain't teh uber, but there it is.

No, nobody plays the game anymore. Everyone who has a higher post count than someone else never plays the game.

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I click... a couple of SG-mates like to give me hell for it. :P

But then, I'm always moving in combat, jumping around or hovering like crazy. To the point that a friend got dizzy and had to stop watching my screen. I use a Saitek Eclipse II keyboard, and a Logitech G9 mouse. I play with the resolution on the mouse cranked to the max, so I don't have to move it more than an inch to traverse my entire 22" screen. Once I got used to it, I found I could click powers much faster than having to move my fingers off the movement keys to type them. I still have the occasional problem of switching trays, however.

As for power trays, every new character gets the three main ones open. Frequently used powers (attacks, controls) in top tray, ones that don't need to be used as often in the middle (toggles, buffs), and travel and such in the bottom. They also get a tray 4 above the inspiration tray, shaped like a square, for teleporters, portals, temp powers, and the like.

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I've completed all the Blueside TFs multiple times now (with the exception of the LRSF - have yet to get on a Team that can get past Ghost Widow); and this was in the Post IO, Pre Merits era; and I have YET TO SEE a single Purple IO drop.

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Just wanna clarify that, IIRC, you have to be in a situation where you can get a level 50 drop in order to get a purple recipe. So exemping down for most of the TF's precludes that possibility.

Personally, I've gotten three, and that's with probably a few dozen (level 50) ITF runs, LGTF's, STF's, and even the occasional Shard TF under my belt since purples were introduced. A buddy of mine seemed to post almost daily about the new purple he found. Rather than worry about it, I do what any reasonable person would: threaten him, call up nonexistent debts, things like that. I've been playing for 3.5 years, he's sitting at 5.

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I did not realize rooted remained active when granite is on. I thought granite offered those protections. It makes sense that it does not of course.

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Just wanted to clarify here, Granite does provide protection to mezzes, knockdown, repel, and defense debuffs. Rooted provides these as well to stack in tough situations, as well as granting substantial amounts of regen; and recovery debuff and endurance drain resistance.

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Gauntlet
City of Data shows that Gauntlet only has the -20% tohit on raid mobs, such as Hami:
Power: Clobber
* +13.5s Taunt (mag 4) Raid mob (like Hami), Must hit at -20%
* +13.5s Taunt (mag 4) PvE only, not Raid mob (like Hami)
Haven't tested this personally.

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The Tanker, while Taunting at range, as long as he kept Taunting , was holding aggro well enough. However, if he missed a Taunt cycles for even a little bit, aggro quickly fell my way. After I noticed this, I was trying to time when the Taunts would come by counting. Thus, when one was missed, I could tell right away that it was past time for it to have been applied. It was usually about a second or two after this that I would have the AV turn to me, who was in melee. now, according to my calculations above, the 5 second overlap should have had me covered on the aggro front. Even 2 * 1,000 should have beaten out 0.4875 *1,000 * Damage. But, for some reason, it wasn't.

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I guess it might be a combination of the tanker taunting from range, and the duration on his taunt winding down (modified by the AV's resistance).
Threat = Damage * Debuff Mod * AT Mod * AI Mod * Range Mod * (TauntDurationRemaining * 1,000)
Does this mean that threat is recalculated at certain intervals, like every tenth of a second or something?
Still seems strange that you'd be able to pull aggro... although I have no idea how strongly the Range Mod can affect threat levels.

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but I am to keep in mind that there could be a delay because they are dealing with a greater than average ticket volume.

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I LoL'd.

Best of luck; sounds like it's something they can work out pretty quickly once it actually gets in front of the right person.