Cobra_Man

I have a Dark/Dark defender on the go at the moment, which is lev 37 now. I dont have much time do solo missions but will do the odd street hunt while I'm waiting on friends to log on.

I would have to say that mobs tend to fall very quickly indeed, with almost no damage getting through to me. This is usually mobs that con +1 to +3 to me.

I normally use the following opening debuff/attack chain;

Fearsome Stare > Tar Patch > Darkest Night > Tenebrous Tentacles > Nightfall

I have Fluffy slotted for Immob and deploy him only after the mobs are debuffed. This opening chain, with the addition of other Tentacles and Nightfall with some Dark Blast and Gloom attacks, works very nicely.

I should add that I don't have Moonbeam.

As for the Leadership pool.... I run Assault and Tactics. I don't have the numbers for you but running Tactics makes a noticeable difference. All of my attacks and acc based debuffs have a single acc enhancement only and with tactics I rarely miss, even on +3 enemies.

I should point out that I'm not saying this set is the best def solo set, but it is an effective one.

Oh... and it's fun to play as well, which for me is important if you are going to be spending a prolonged amount of time on the character.

Have a look at various defs sets but give Dark/Dark a chance, you might like it

Knockback/holds can certainly be an issue with ill/kin controllers. I took Hover/Fly, as I prefer the versatility of Fly as a travel/combat power. Hover negates the knockbacks and I keep 2 BF's in my tray at all times (prior to a mission) for holds.

I also agree that to miss out on Deceive could be counter productive to your effectiveness.

Deceive is excellent for negating those 'dangerous' enemies, like Madness Mages, Sorcerers, Sappers, Master Illusionists etc, and will probably be used right through the levels up to 50.

The ill/kin build is tight but I got around this by not taking Flash until much later on. Flash has a really long recharge time and you will use deceive a lot more than Flash.

I decided to respec Flash in to my build around level 41 and dropped Spectral Wounds, which I found myself not using very much at that stage.

Obviously if you intend to solo you might want to keep Spectral Wounds.

I think Under Control has pretty much nailed this question with this observation.

"Obviously it's also the player who makes the character, so as long as you do things effectively, you should be able to support your team no matter what you do."

I totally agree. All of the Controller sets can be highly effective in supporting the team. It's up to the player using the powers.

Yes... It's been a lot of fun

The Dark and Kinetic sets go rather well together. I'll be on with Obsidian Star around 8PM and we can get a large team up and running.

With a bit of luck SO's might be reachable tonight?

[ QUOTE ]
Id still have to say that Illusion is, in my opinion, weak at control.

It also has very poor AoE capability compared to the other control sets - single target powers of spectral wounds, blind, greater invisibility - with Pet and Spectral Terror - all pets with largely Single Target Ability (Phantom Army
should probably at a push be considered AoE due to taunt ability).

Guess what - easiest controller to solo (suprise suprise with all those single target powers)...

I think as MaX said, Mind has the best capacity of any controller for "Control" - i.e. stopping the enemy doing anything... with TK, Confuse x2, Sleep x2, Fear, Dominate x2. In fact, it really has only one non-control power - levitate.

In terms of pure "Control" one would have to say - literrally, that Illusion is weak and Mind is strong - IF you take a narrow and precise view of what control is.


If you are looking at AoE effects - actually neither come out particularly well. Mind slightly ahead.

[/ QUOTE ]


A couple of things... The OP isn't asking about the best "control" set. It was support he asked about.

As far as the Illusion set goes... Spectral Terror is not single target. It's an AoE and a good one at that, if deployed in the right position.

I also see no mention of Flash... another AoE power in the Illusion set that will stop a mob dead in it's tracks.

Of course I'm not saying that Illusion is the best 'control' set but it has good AoE qualities to go along with it's excellent single target attacks.

I'm not even counting the fact that Phantasm can (and does) summon up to 2 decoys of itself to further 'support' a team.

So..... With a deployment chain of Phantom army - Spectral Terror - Flash - Phantasm - Deceive and Blind.... I can assure you that the mob is going nowhere in a hurry, allowing your team mates to pick them off.

This is why stated that Illusion (particularly with Kinetics) was a good 'support' controller set.

It really depends on what you mean by 'support'.

If you want a powerset that causes absolute mayhem in the enemy ranks (Deceive, Phantom Army, Spectral Terror) - whilst providing great support (Transfusion, Transference, Fulcrum Shift etc) go for Illusion / Kinetic.

IMHO the most fun controller powerset to play

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Most defenders are empathy on Defiant.

[/ QUOTE ]

Are you playing on the same Defiant as me?

[/ QUOTE ]


Ah yes. I knew what you meant but your 'same Defiant' comment appeared to be a tad lost on samy.

As an aside, I'm also seeing a lot of non empath defenders on Defiant right now. I was in an 8 player team last night with my dark/dark and a kin/elec and had a great time.

I have to also admit not being able to enjoy playing my Empath these days (lev 29). I get far more enjoyment out of the other defender powersets.

No offence intended to other Empaths. Just my humble opinion.

[ QUOTE ]
There is only one Defiant.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well yes... but he knows that. He means that... um... er.

Ok. You win. There is only one Defiant

In a straight comparison between spines/reg and katana/reg, I would go for Katana. I find it to be a lot of fun for PvE - particularly when you want to pick out individual targets, such as bosses or Sappers etc... (those poor sappers must have hated the sight of me)

Spines is fun in it's own way but, in my opinion, you can really enjoy Katana due to it's 'up close and personal' nature.

When fully slotted your main attacks - Golden Dragonfly and Soaring Dragon - totally rock. High damage - with fast recharge.

Have fun

Please add Cobra Man Katana/Regen/Body