Doctor_Xaxan

I just wanna throw this out for everyone's consideration. I've only been playing for a few months, so I have a relatively new perspective on the game.

I really like the "brown bar" mechanic -- I actually think every AT should have one. That said, I have two ideas, both of which are similar to the Dominator's inherent:

A) Some kind of "power boost" mechanic for non-damaging power effects like stun (duration), DoT (duration), etc, based on attacks withstood (not damage taken). This could either be proportionate like the Brute's damage bonus, or "KAPOW" like the domination inherent.

B) A massive damage boost which would be activated with a Domination-like inherent click power. Obviously this raises the concern over "perma-dom" attainability, but I really don't think that should even be possible for them, regardless of how much money they spend on IO sets. I consider it an outstanding issue.

The reason I like option B (although A would be fun) is that it would fill its own niche -- scrappers do higher sustained DPS, brutes have a "momentum" factor to their DPS, and tanks would have a "burst" factor, which would be in keeping with the "let loose" and "throw down the gauntlet" feel that a lot of people seem to be looking for in this thread.

Thoughts?

Sadly, I tried to do a Victorian-themed steam/magic SG over on villain side, but it just didn't catch on. Consider this a bump -- if there isn't one on hero side, there -should- be.

Thanks for the input, guys. Sorry it's taken me a couple days to get back here.

A couple hours after posting this thread, I found out about the Virtue LFG Alpha channel, which proved fruitful five minutes after I joined it -- I then got invited to a Statesman Task Force team. That was a lot of fun. I had no idea there were complex encounters like that in this game.

(I TANKED LORD RECLUSE 8D)

I spent that evening doing high-level radio missions in Peregrine Island on Fedor's advice. Made some good cash, and it was varied and decidedly un-AE-like.

Been having a lot more fun since. Thanks for the advice, those of you that gave it.

Well, in my defense, I do know how to play the characters. On red side I did everything from patron arcs (at the appropriate levels, not grayed out) to treespec task forces to the occasional contact story arc. Not exactly end-game stuff for hardcore heroes, but learning the game mechanically isn't the problem. That's not the impression I meant to give in my post. I did have enough presence of mind to do proper game content every so often to test my characters against something other than massive alpha smashing damage. XD

So the issue is really -what- to do, if that makes sense.

That said, I am leveling a couple of characters in what appears to be the old fashioned way. although I have to tell you, soloing or even duoing dev content as, say, a blaster or a defender seems like an exercise in futility -- and mostly what I see are LFMs for radio/paper teams.

Hey everyone.

So, yeah. I joined CoH three months ago, when the AE/slammer craze was at the height of its powers. I wasn't really familiar with it for the first month -- I leveled my first character to 32 largely solo, doing paper missions.

Then, peer pressure. I have to admit, being able to fully realize various powerset combinations with easysauce XP wasn't a bad experience. I wasn't exactly -enriching-, but it was a fun indulgence.

Thank god it's over.

Now that it is, I realize that I have absolutely no idea what to do with my in-game time. I'm on hero side now, for the most part, but I've no idea how to get involved in task forces, where to hang out to find level 50 teams to do cool stuff, how to go about making influence and getting recipes outside of AE, etc. The list goes on.

So, my fellow virtuers -- help me out here. Please?

I'll even tank for you. Pick your poison. Shield defense? Dark armor? Willpower? Futa? Okay, I won't do futa, but seriously, give me a hand. AE farming broke my rudder.

Mako's bite is doing the trick for ranged defense (I'm working up a new build in Mid's).

However. If I drop weave and maneuvers (two really big endurance hogs that I'd like to ditch), I end up short on melee and AOE defense. And that's if I slot every AOE attack I have with Multi-strike.

Any suggestions?

Thanks foreverything so far!

Hm, looking at set bonuses -- where's a decent place to find +Ranged Defense from a set? I got melee and AOE for dirt cheap from Multi-strike, but I'm not finding anything by way of ranged defense.

Thanks for the tips!

I actually do have active defense slotted for 3x recharge. I was probably zoning out while throwing the build together in Mid's (I did it without having my character in front of me).

So, I have this tanker that I busted to 50 during the Season of Slammer Madness, and he's turned out to be my favorite. So much so that I find myself wanting to play it more than fiddle with new colors and powersets, which is saying something.

Anyway, he does amazing in teams. Rock solid. But if I want to solo or even duo during off hours, the cracks begin to show. Namely, endurance issues and a pathetic lack of damage. Bosses at +0 difficulty take a laughably long time.

I looked around fairly extensively for guides on SD/DM, and went back a few pages in this forum, but couldn't find anything.

Any advice or linkage you all can provide would be hugely appreciated.

Here's what my build currently looks like (it's a complete mess, I realize. I'm actually new to the game -- just got trench coats -- so be forgiving of noobish mistakes, please):

Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.601
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Level 50 Magic Tanker
Primary Power Set: Shield Defense
Secondary Power Set: Dark Melee
Power Pool: Fitness
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Leadership

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Deflection

• (A) Endurance Reduction
• (3) Endurance Reduction
• (3) Defense Buff
• (5) Defense Buff
• (5) Defense Buff
• (7) Resist Damage

Level 1: Shadow Punch

• (A) Accuracy
• (7) Accuracy
• (9) Endurance Reduction
• (9) Recharge Reduction

Level 2: Battle Agility

• (A) Endurance Reduction
• (11) Endurance Reduction
• (11) Defense Buff
• (13) Defense Buff
• (13) Defense Buff

Level 4: Smite

• (A) Accuracy
• (15) Accuracy
• (15) Endurance Reduction
• (17) Recharge Reduction

Level 6: Swift

• (A) Run Speed

Level 8: Active Defense

• (A) Endurance Reduction
• (17) Endurance Reduction

Level 10: Boxing

• (A) Accuracy
• (19) Accuracy
• (19) Endurance Reduction
• (21) Recharge Reduction

Level 12: Against All Odds

• (A) Endurance Reduction
• (21) Endurance Reduction

Level 14: Health

• (A) Healing
• (23) Healing
• (23) Healing

Level 16: Siphon Life

• (A) Touch of the Nictus - Healing
• (25) Touch of the Nictus - Heal/HitPoints/Regeneration/Recharge
• (25) Touch of the Nictus - Accuracy/Healing
• (27) Touch of the Nictus - Accuracy/Endurance/Heal/HitPoints/Regeneration
• (27) Touch of the Nictus - Accuracy/Endurance/Recharge
• (29) Touch of the Nictus - Chance for Negative Energy Damage

Level 18: True Grit

• (A) Resist Damage
• (29) Resist Damage
• (31) Resist Damage
• (31) Healing
• (31) Healing
• (33) Healing

Level 20: Stamina

• (A) Endurance Modification
• (33) Endurance Modification
• (33) Endurance Modification

Level 22: Tough

• (A) Endurance Reduction
• (34) Endurance Reduction
• (34) Resist Damage
• (34) Resist Damage
• (36) Resist Damage

Level 24: Combat Jumping

• (A) Defense Buff
• (45) Defense Buff
• (45) Defense Buff

Level 26: Shield Charge

• (A) Multi Strike - Damage/Endurance/Recharge
• (36) Multi Strike - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
• (36) Multi Strike - Accuracy/Endurance
• (37) Multi Strike - Damage/Recharge
• (37) Multi Strike - Damage/Endurance
• (37) Multi Strike - Accuracy/Damage

Level 28: Super Jump

• (A) Jumping

Level 30: Soul Drain

• (A) Multi Strike - Accuracy/Damage
• (39) Multi Strike - Damage/Endurance
• (39) Multi Strike - Damage/Recharge
• (39) Multi Strike - Accuracy/Endurance
• (40) Multi Strike - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
• (40) Multi Strike - Damage/Endurance/Recharge

Level 32: Weave

• (A) Endurance Reduction
• (40) Endurance Reduction
• (42) Defense Buff
• (42) Defense Buff
• (42) Defense Buff

Level 35: Dark Consumption

• (A) Efficacy Adaptor - Accuracy/Recharge
• (43) Efficacy Adaptor - EndMod/Accuracy/Recharge
• (43) Efficacy Adaptor - EndMod/Accuracy
• (43) Efficacy Adaptor - EndMod/Endurance
• (45) Efficacy Adaptor - EndMod/Recharge

Level 38: Phalanx Fighting

• (A) Defense Buff
• (50) Defense Buff
• (50) Defense Buff

Level 41: Taunt

• (A) Recharge Reduction
• (46) Recharge Reduction

Level 44: Maneuvers

• (A) Endurance Reduction
• (46) Endurance Reduction
• (46) Defense Buff
• (48) Defense Buff
• (48) Defense Buff

Level 47: Grant Cover

• (A) Defense Buff
• (48) Defense Buff
• (50) Defense Buff

Level 49: One with the Shield

• (A) Healing

------------
Level 1: Brawl

• (A) Empty

Level 1: Sprint

• (A) Empty

Level 2: Rest

• (A) Empty

Level 1: Gauntlet

This isn't 100% solid logic, but Virtue and Freedom are the two most populated servers. It's a safe bet they've noticed this on their end and are looking at it -- would be cool if they'd let us know one way or the other.

I'm on Virtue as well. It's happening there both on villain and hero side.

Having this issue as well, with both AE zoning and door mission zoning (but not going between zones).

It would happen occasionally before issue 16, but never with door missions. My friends have been experiencing it as well.

Oh, one more question: Are there other routes to achieving effecive immunity from stuns outside of the medicine pool?

Thanks so much for the advice, Fury!

Expect me to be back here when my initial efforts fail epically. XD

Totally new to blasters -- I generally play melee ATs, but I'm a sucker for hybrids, and the idea of pewpew + pow pow DPS has had me curious for a while. Hence what is probably going to seem like a silly request:

Is it possible to make a blaster build that can dish out respectable DPS, but has its bases covered as far as survivability and status resistance? In other words, if I want to be up close near the action without getting constantly aggrevated by AOE mezzes, etc, how would I go about doing that?

Bear in mind that I'm not looking for the best of both worlds here. But I'd really like to have an Iron Man-esque character who can dish it out at range and take a hit.

Thoughts? (or links, if this has been discussed ad-nauseum already)

Thanks for the help so far. Here's a question for you:

How much does unsupressed stealth hurt a brute's ability to tank?

Does it literally create situations where a ranged AOE (Dark Obliteration, for instance) doesn't get the attention of any NPCs aside from the ones hit by the power?

So, I've roflgrinded up to 37 with the Electric/Energy build, just to give you guys an update.

The issue I'm facing currently is this:

To get soft-capped defense, I'll essentially need to forgo Soul Mastery altogether, which I've found indispensable on other brutes for both maintaining aggro, dealing damage and surviving. I'm also having trouble figuring out how I'd fit Taunt into the mix.

Can the ToHit debuffs from Soul Mastery make up a gap of 5-10% defense?

Is defense capping an absolute necessity for /EA? (it comes with some resistance and the afforementioned self-heal, which makes me wonder if it's not meant to be a 50/50 situation)

I'm actually finding the self-heal build into Energy Drain to be enough to get the job done, in practical use (if one can call slammer farming practical use).

Spiritchaser, in answer to your question, I am prepared to IO the build. However, I'm relatively new to the game and the spammalicious Mid's exports people post on the forums make my eyes cross and well up with tears of confusion.

I have no trouble playing a "finesse-required" build -- in fact, I prefer it. My SS/WP brute is shelved at 50 because it's tiresomely easy.

That said, any advice on which sets to shop for and where to slot them would be -great-.

Thanks for the advice and input so far everyone. It's helped tremendously.

EDIT: Just to clarify - I haven't main tanked yet on this character. I've taken heat when the main tank has gone down and have had my full share of a two-group pull, but I've not been the dedicated tank yet. Waiting for some friends to be online so I have reliable support the first time I give this character a whirl as point man.

The two main questions I have (as I'm reading over these two older guides) are:

1) Is this a "Medicine pool required" set? I.e. Is the heal from Energy Drain sufficient to make the set reasonably survivable on its own, or like pre-i16 /electric, is medicine "mandatory"?

2) Can I "main brute" (take alphas in large teams) with this defense set? If so, what are some general tips you all can give to help me make that happen?

And thanks for your response, Twilight.

Oh, also: Soul Mastery loves you.

Open a fight with Darkest night > Dark Obliteration, and if you have Cloak of darkness running (along with combat jumping, minor though it is), you really won't get hit very often. When you do, Dark Regeneration will easily take care of it.

I'll throw a couple of things in here based on my experience with both sets (I have a SS/WP 50 and a Ele/DA 50)

For superstrength:
-----------------

- Keep in mind that as of right now, Brawl will have no endurance cost come issue 16. That will make it a great fury-builder. Nothing to worry about right now, obviously.

- As was suggested earlier, drop either punch or jab for one of the attack powers from your power pools.

- For your fury-building attack chain, you really should only have 3 attack powers. More than that, and you'll start to stretch yourself extremely thin on slots.

On my SS/WP Brute, I went with: Boxing > Punch > Haymaker

- What may hang you up is taking attack powers from both Fighting and Flight. Again, be wary of too many attack powers. If you're not married to Flight for your travel power, consider Leaping. You can pick up Combat Jumping (minor defense boost and immobilize protection, negligible endurance cost) and Super Jump, which is a fast and fun travel power.

Combat Jumping will allow you to skip Cloak of Darkness in Dark Armor if you want (see below regarding dark armor).

For Dark Armor:
--------------

- As mentioned above, slot 2 endurance reduction IOs/SOs before you start slotting for damage resist. These powers are endurance hogs.

- Skip Death shroud until after you get Stamina (also mentioned above). The end cost is 0.50/sec base, which is ridiculous.

- Cloak of Darkness is a great power if you want to have some defense in your build (I had good success with this), but bear in mind that it makes your character very difficult to see on your screen, even with particle effects turned up to max. It doesn't use the typical stealth effect -- it turns you into a floating cloud of shadowy dust, and you stay that way whether or not you're in combat.

- Oppressive Gloom and Cloak of Fear are not great for brutes. They will severely impact your fury generation, because they will prevent mobs from attacking you altogether, and maintaining high levels of fury without being constantly swung at is difficult, to say the least.

Additionally, they are magnitude 2 and 3, respectively. Which means that they will work reliably against minions but not lieutenants and bosses.




Hope some of that helped. Ultimately you're going to find your own way through the build through practical use and general knowledge of game mechanics, but the forum nerds are a great resource, all the same.

I'm currently leveling an electric/EA brute, and am wondering if there are any current guides I can reference to help me with the /EA side of things.

I'm totally confused as to where everything is after the forum migration, so any help here would be greatly appreciated.