DrkAvalon614

Here's my current and favorite build right now. I'm so glad I was able to respec, finally, and get fearsome stare. It does cause mobs to occassionally run, but most of the time they just cower.

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Exported from Ver: 1.7.1.0 of the CoH_CoV Character Builder
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Name: Dark Avalon 3
Level: 35
Archetype: Mastermind
Primary: Necromancy
Secondary: Dark Miasma
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01) --> Zombie Horde==> Acc(1)Acc(3)Dmg(7)Dmg(9)Dmg(11)Heal(34)
01) --> Twilight Grasp==> Acc(1)Acc(3)Heal(7)Heal(9)Heal(11)Rechg(15)
02) --> Tar Patch==> Rechg(2)Rechg(15)Slow(21)
04) --> Darkest Night==> TH_DeBuf(4)TH_DeBuf(5)TH_DeBuf(5)EndRdx(21)
06) --> Enchant Undead==> EndRdx(6)
08) --> Hasten==> Rechg(8)Rechg(19)Rechg(19)
10) --> Swift==> Run(10)
12) --> Grave Knight==> Acc(12)Acc(13)Dmg(13)Dmg(17)Dmg(17)Heal(34)
14) --> Super Speed==> Run(14)
16) --> Shadow Fall==> DmgRes(16)EndRdx(33)
18) --> Soul Extraction==> Rechg(18)Rechg(25)Acc(25)Acc(31)
20) --> Health==> Heal(20)
22) --> Stamina==> EndMod(22)EndMod(23)EndMod(23)
24) --> Fearsome Stare==> Acc(24)Acc(27)Fear(27)Fear(33)Rechg(33)
26) --> Lich==> Acc(26)Acc(29)Fear(29)
28) --> Assault==> EndRdx(28)
30) --> Tactics==> TH_Buf(30)TH_Buf(31)TH_Buf(31)EndRdx(34)
32) --> Dark Empowerment==> Rechg(32)
---------------------------------------------
01) --> Sprint==> Run(1)
01) --> Brawl==> Dmg(1)
01) --> Supremacy==> Empty(1)
02) --> Rest==> Rechg(2)
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-Dark Avalon 34 Necro/Dark Miasma (Champion)

Nature's Wrath 12 Plant/Thorn Dominator
End Game 14 Assault Rifle/Radiation Corruptor

Nite Tremor: 37 Earth/Radiation Controller (Victory)

[ QUOTE ]
I don't understand how you can love debuffs and not get Howlling Twilight. The res is secondary in my opinion.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, like I said, it's just a guide and some folks won't agree with me.

To answer your question though I'll give you two reasons.

1) I haven't had it and I've had no problem without it so far.

2) Its base Endurance cost of 32.5 (1/3 of my endurance bar) and recharge time of 3 minutes doesn't make it a great debuffer considering the duration of the debuff effects only last 15 seconds. And most battles I've been in last way longer than 15 seconds.

Fully slotted with SOs, I can get the endurance down to 16.67 (which is very acceptable), but the recharge remains a minute and thirty-two seconds. One minute and eight seconds with Hasten.

Not bad, but that's 5 slots toward a power I'm doing well without. I'm still debating back and forth and will now likely take Fearsome Stare over Petrifying Gaze. Although someone said it might be buggy.

And I've seen a number of people with Dark Miasma around my level and I have yet to see anyone employ the Howling Twilight Debuff tactic. Now, this does seem to be a very good plan for PvP.

I will say this though, it's something I've never really considered, but I have given it more thought lately. Several recent battles I've had in a few story arcs have led me to believe that Stamina really is a must, at least for my playstyle. So I don't have many powers I could do away with.

Anyway ... maybe one day if I get a couple respects I'll play with the concept.

-av

I gave a lot of thought about Stamina and Hasten and came up with this alternative training plan. It appeals to me, but I wouldn't want to respec to this until I had 2 respecs, that way i could change back if I didn't like it.

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Exported from Ver: 1.6.9.0 of the CoH_CoV Character Builder
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Name: DA Proto
Level: 41
Archetype: Mastermind
Primary: Necromancy
Secondary: Dark Miasma
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01) --> Zombie Horde==> Acc(1)Acc(3)Dmg(7)Dmg(9)Dmg(11)
01) --> Twilight Grasp==> Acc(1)Acc(3)Heal(7)Heal(9)Heal(11)Rechg(17)
02) --> Tar Patch==> Rechg(2)Rechg(21)Rechg(23)
04) --> Darkest Night==> TH_DeBuf(4)TH_DeBuf(5)TH_DeBuf(5)EndRdx(21)
06) --> Combat Jumping==> DefBuf(6)DefBuf(36)DefBuf(36)EndRdx(36)
08) --> Enchant Undead==> EndRdx(8)
10) --> Maneuvers==> DefBuf(10)DefBuf(33)DefBuf(33)EndRdx(37)EndRdx(40)
12) --> Grave Knight==> Acc(12)Acc(13)Dmg(13)Dmg(15)Dmg(15)
14) --> Super Jump==> Jump(14)
16) --> Shadow Fall==> DmgRes(16)DmgRes(17)DmgRes(25)DefBuf(34)DefBuf(34)EndRdx(34)
18) --> Tactics==> TH_Buf(18)TH_Buf(19)TH_Buf(19)EndRdx(37)
20) --> Fearsome Stare==> Acc(20)Acc(23)Rechg(29)Fear(37)
22) --> Soul Extraction==> Rechg(22)Rechg(25)Rechg(31)Acc(31)Dmg(33)
24) --> Assault==> EndRdx(24)EndRdx(40)
26) --> Lich==> Acc(26)Acc(27)Dmg(27)Fear(29)Hold(31)
28) --> Petrifying Gaze==> Acc(28)
30) --> Acrobatics==> EndRdx(30)
32) --> Dark Empowerment==> EndRdx(32)
35) --> Howling Twilight==> Rechg(35)
38) --> Dark Servant==> Empty(38)Empty(39)Empty(39)Empty(39)Empty(40)
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01) --> Sprint==> Run(1)
01) --> Brawl==> Dmg(1)
01) --> Supremacy==> Empty(1)
02) --> Rest==> Rechg(2)
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Keep in mind, according to the character builder, the Endurance used per second with all toggles up, except super jump, is 1.60 per second, and recovery is onl 1.67. So not in the negative, but you ain't exactly overflowing with endurance recovery. Without
Darkest Night up, the recovery is .31 per second.

A second alternative plan would be to go Teleport versus Leaping ...

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Exported from Ver: 1.6.9.0 of the CoH_CoV Character Builder
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Name: DA Proto 2
Level: 41
Archetype: Mastermind
Primary: Necromancy
Secondary: Dark Miasma
---------------------------------------------
01) --> Zombie Horde==> Acc(1)Acc(3)Dmg(7)Dmg(9)Dmg(11)
01) --> Twilight Grasp==> Acc(1)Acc(3)Heal(7)Heal(9)Heal(11)Rechg(17)
02) --> Tar Patch==> Rechg(2)Rechg(21)Rechg(23)
04) --> Darkest Night==> TH_DeBuf(4)TH_DeBuf(5)TH_DeBuf(5)EndRdx(21)
06) --> Recall Friend==> EndRdx(6)
08) --> Enchant Undead==> EndRdx(8)
10) --> Maneuvers==> DefBuf(10)DefBuf(33)DefBuf(33)EndRdx(37)EndRdx(40)
12) --> Grave Knight==> Acc(12)Acc(13)Dmg(13)Dmg(15)Dmg(15)
14) --> Teleport==> EndRdx(14)EndRdx(36)EndRdx(36)
16) --> Shadow Fall==> DmgRes(16)DmgRes(17)DmgRes(25)DefBuf(34)DefBuf(34)EndRdx(34)
18) --> Tactics==> TH_Buf(18)TH_Buf(19)TH_Buf(19)EndRdx(37)
20) --> Fearsome Stare==> Acc(20)Acc(23)Rechg(29)Fear(36)Fear(37)
22) --> Soul Extraction==> Rechg(22)Rechg(25)Rechg(31)Acc(31)Dmg(33)
24) --> Assault==> EndRdx(24)EndRdx(40)
26) --> Lich==> Acc(26)Acc(27)Dmg(27)Fear(29)Hold(31)
28) --> Petrifying Gaze==> Acc(28)
30) --> Howling Twilight==> Empty(30)
32) --> Dark Empowerment==> EndRdx(32)
35) --> Teleport Foe==> Acc(35)
38) --> Dark Servant==> Acc(38)Acc(39)Immob(39)Hold(39)Fear(40)
---------------------------------------------
01) --> Sprint==> Run(1)
01) --> Brawl==> Dmg(1)
01) --> Supremacy==> Empty(1)
02) --> Rest==> Rechg(2)
---------------------------------------------


You'd be better at recovering endurance, but your defense wouldn't be as good as the first setup.

If I were to try either, I'd probably go with the first setup because of the increased defense. You could of course go fly too.

-av

Just a little pitch. If you're on Champion and looking for a VG, The ARES Group is recruiting. We got our on base, chat server and forums. Visit The ARES Group for more information.

Or you can send a tell to any of the folks on the website above the rank "Press Gang" for an invite.

-Dark Avalon 28 Necro/Dark Miasma (Champion)

Nature's Wrath 11 Plant/Thorn Dominator
End Game 10 Assault Rifle/Radiation Corruptor

Nite Tremor: 37 Earth/Radiation Controller (Victory)

You're right, I forgot to mention Fly. Hover would be another nice self-defensive buff, not to mention knockbacks/downs only cause you to do a roll in the air and you're able to act immediately. I guess I didn't mention it because I'm not happy with the speed of flight and haven't been since my Controller in CoH. It is good for all the reasons you said travel wise (the landscape of CoV is very jagged), but I find that I was **always** the last to arrive at a mission point.

As for Hasten ... yea, as I said in my guide, I don't feel it's an absolute. Honestly, the main reason I took this and stamina is because of twilight grasp. I find myself running around healing my minions and my group, a lot. You might be able to get by without haste, but I often find myself at 50% endurance or lower at the end of a good battle. Even with 3 slotted Stamina, the character builder I used predicts usage at 1.64 endurance per second. Without Stamina my recovery would only be +.03 edurance per second. Given the way I use heal, I didn't feel I'd be good without Stamina.

Now, if you don't take stamina ... you have 3 more powers you can pick up elsewhere. In that case I might go Fearsome Stare (although I HATE running mobs, so I'm not keen on making them run), Black Hole and who knows what else. No other power really appeals to me.

You might notice I have not picked Howling Twilight at all ... I am NOT a fan of this power. Some people argue that this spell is good ... often citing its use in invasion type situations ... my retort: How often do you REALLY anticipate raising 50+ people? The practical of it is, you might use it to raise a group member or two during a mission. And I've discovered people often carry 1 or 2 inspirations of the awaken line, so this spell is a wasted power IMHO.

One other thing ... about minions and teleport. I do not know how it works for Ninjas, Mercs, or Robots, but if I tell my pets to go to X-spot ... then run far enough ahead or get recalled by a groupmate, my minions 'teleport to me' by coming up out the ground. (Same animation as if you just got off an elevator) No need for recall friend here. If you are being teleported by a groupmate, make sure your pets are on 'follow me' before you get teleported (compared to 'stay' or 'go to' when you run ahead yourself) otherwise they won't do their fancy teleport thing right away and when you tell them to follow you later, they may just try to run to you. Stupid zombies.

I'll change the text color on the main post.

Dark Avalon's Necromancy and Dark Miasma Guide

-Dark Avalon 28 Necro/Dark Miasma (Champion)

Nature's Wrath 11 Plant/Thorn Dominator
End Game 10 Assault Rifle/Radiation Corruptor

Nite Tremor: 37 Earth/Radiation Controller (Victory)

OK, let me start this off by saying this right away ... I'm sure some MMs will disagree with me, but if you're playing your MM 'right', IMHO, you're going to be standing around, A LOT during a battle. Either waiting to jump in with a heal or some sort of debuff. My MM has *ZERO* direct damage abilities ... well, unless you count brawl.

This has occasionally made me a little bored, but you really are a support class ... you are there to support your minions (not the other way around) and your teamates. This sort of playstyle lends itself more to the people who liked being a controller in CoH.

Don't get me wrong, I very much enjoy my Master Mind, but when I went to get involved in the action, I'll play my Dominator or Corruptor. And of the three, I solo far easier with my MM, who's level 28 now.

With that said, if you really want to be active in doing the damage to a MOB and not watching your teamates or minions do the damage, I'd suggest another build for you. OK, now that that is out of the way.

Necromancy ... gotta love the zombies. I chose Necromancy over the other three sets ... well, because I like the idea of enslaving the undead. I picked Dark Miasma because it has an awesome heal (my AoE heal is better than any corrupters) has two great debuffs Tar Patch and Darkest Night, and will allow me to have 8, yes 8, pets at one time. [3 Zombies, 2 Grave Knights, 1 Lich, 1 Harvested Soul via Soul Extraction and Dark Servant]. If that sounds appealing to you, then this is the way to go.

Now onto the build ... now if you haven't disagreed with me after my above diatribe, perhaps you'll disagree here. Then again, this is just a guide so, to each their own.

Level 1: Zombie Hoard & Twlight Grasp: Two awesome powers. Your first minion and the heal that'll save you, your minions, and your group many, many times over.

Recommended Slotting: *Zombie: 2 Acc, 3 Dmg || Twlight Grasp: 2 Acc, 3 Heal, 1 Recharge Reduction

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Level 2: Tar Patch: Yes, I picked this over Gloom and Dark Blast. I recently read something about a person picking these two powers and slotting them for better damage than the Leadership Pool Powers. I don't agree with that mentality, and the very meager punch you get out of these two spells is compensated by the fact your Grave Knights and Lich cast them. To me, Tar Patch's slow and damage increase potential far outweighs either direct damage spell.

Recommended Slotting: 3 Recharge Reduction

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Level 3: 1 Slot for Zombie, 1 Slot for Twilight

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Level 4: Darkest Night: I cast this spell often, and I do me often. Throw it on a boss, kill everything around the boss, then kill the boss. All the while, watching the MOBs miss you and your minions over and over. It's a great accuracy and damage debuffer. Fully SOs, the accuracy debuff is supposedly 54.58% and the dmg reduction is 28%. Who wouldn't want this?

Recommended Slotting: 3 ToHit Debuff, 1 Endurance Reduction

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Level 5: 2 Slots for Darkest Night. Yep, so you have 3 ToHit Debuffs right away for this spell, that's how much I like it.

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Level 6: Enchant Undead: Give your minions a boost! As a side note, woo who, your second 1st tier pet! Two zombies are better than one.

Recommended Slotting: 1 Endurance Reduction

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Level 7: Same as level 3 ... 1 Slot for Zombie, 1 Slot for Twilight.

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Level 8: Hasten: Everyone knows the benefit of hasten ... activate your powers quicker. Not as appealing with Issue6, but I still like it. Now, as an alternative, you may want to pick combat jumping or recall friend. The point being, this power leads up to your travel power, which you definitely want by 14. I picked hasten for the faster regen of tar patch, pets (will elaborate later), and twilight grasp. However, I do not feel hasten is an absolute.

Recommended Slotting: 3 Recharge Reduction

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Level 9: 1 Slot for Zombie, 1 Slot for Twilight Grasp

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Level 10: Swift: A build up to Stamina.

Recommended Slotting: 1 Run Speed

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Level 11: 1 Slot Zombie, 1 Slot Twilight

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Level 12: Grave Knight: Finally! The second tier pet. These Knights are very good melee warriors and cast a couple of spells. They are a bit stubborn though, in that sometimes you'll want them to go into melee and they'll just stand back casting Gloom and Dark Blast. So you just order them to move up next to the mob and it's real cool-looking sword time! By the way, the best bind setup I've ever seen is Khaiba's Mastermind Numeric Keypad Pet Controls aka Sandolphan. Look it up, very helpful.

Recommended Slotting: * 2 Acc, 3 Dmg

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Level 13: 2 Slots of Grave Knight

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Level 14: Super Speed: Ahhh travel power! So nice to see you. In the alternative, Super Jump or Teleport.

Recommended Slotting: 1 Run Speed

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Level 15: 2 Slot Grave Knight

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Level 16: Shadow Fall: A good spell, not only for the defensive buff and damage resistance, but it also makes you almost invisible. As in, you can walk past MOBs without aggroing them ... just don't stand next to them forever ... they'll eventually see you if perceptive enough. Do NOT confuse this will "Hide" that stalkers have. The MOBs will find you.

Recommended Slotting: * 3 Damage Resist (first), 3 Defense Buff (resistance better than defense, imho). You might be able to dodge, but your minions who will be -1 to -2 levels below you will get hit.

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Level 17: 1 Slot Twilight Grasp, 1 Slot Tar Patch

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Level 18: Soul Extraction: Pet die? No problem, 'raise' them with this and get a very unhappy soul to do your bidding? Downside? Recharge time is painful and he doesn't really like your ripping his soul out, so he'll leave you high and possibly dry, after awhile. Another side point, hello additional minion. You get your third, and final, 1st tier pet. 3 zombies + 1 Grave Knight = now we're moving.

Recommended Slotting: * 3 Recharge Reduction, 2 Accuracy, 1 Dmg

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Level 19: 2 Slot Hasten.

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Level 20: Health. Like swift, just a step power to get to Stamina.

Recommended Slotting: 1 Heal

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Level 21: 1 Tar Patch, 1 Darkest Night

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Level 22: Stamina: Great Power ... improves endurance recovery. I think this power is taken by 99% of the players I've ever seen.

Recommended Slotting: 3 Endurance Recovery Enhancer

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Level 23: 2 Slots for Stamina

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Level 24: Maneuvers: Some folks might argue this choice, but I say this will go a long way to help not just yourself, but your minions and your group mates. There isn't a single player out there who won't appreciate being on a team with a player who has some Leadership powers. Let alone be on a team when 2 or more folks have stacking leadership powers. My third sidepoint ... Grave Knight number two shows up. Now your running with five minions. Soloing is very easy now.

Recommended Slotting: 3 Defense Buff

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Level 25: 2 Slot Maneuvers

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Level 26: Lich: Your final 'true' pet. The Lich is pretty darn powerful. He has AoE spells, hold spells, can get fear spells later and can heal himself. As well as a bevy of dark attacks. I'm very happy with Mr. Lich, aka Life Reaper as I've named him.

Recommended Slotting: I haven't quite pinned this one down yet. I thought about 2 Accuracy, 3 Dmg. But when I get Dark Empowerment I know I'll change it for some Fear duration enhancer and Immobilization enhancers. The 2 Acc will always remain. I'm leanding towards, 2 Acc, 1 Dmg, 1 Fear, 1 Immob.

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Level 27: 2 Slot Lich.

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Level 28: Tactics: See above for my explaination regarding Maneuvers and partly Shadowfall. By this time your zombies will be -2 your level and your Grave Knights will be -1. Every Little bit helps.

Recommended Slotting: 3 ToHitt Buff

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**FROM HERE ON OUT, IT'S ALL SPECULATIVE. I HAVE NOT MADE IT PAST 28 ... YET**

Level 29: 2 Slot Lich

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Level 30: Assault: Once again, ever little bit helps.

Recommended Slotting: 1 Endurance Reduction

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Level 31: 2 Slot Tactics, 1 Slot Soul Extraction

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Level 32: Dark Empowerment. Yet another buff for your pet. * OK, you may have noticed I starred certain sections regarding "recommended slotting" I think at 32 or 33-ish, once I get this power, I will respec and remove 2 slots from Shadow Fall. I'm not sure about this, but I may put 1 Heal slot for my Zombies and Grave Knights as they will get Siphon Life with Dark Empowerment cast on them. My lich currently heals himself for 116 points, so I will not give him another slot for heal. Depending how much the Zombies and Knights heal for, and how often they use it, I may go this route.

Recommended Slotting: 1 Endurance Reduction

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Level 33: 3 Slot Shadow Fall

I haven't slotted shadow fall up til this point because I was waiting to have all other skills covered with SOs and only wanted an SO for this power.

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Level 34: 2 Slot Shadow Fall, 1 Slot Soul Extraction

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Level 35: Petrifying Gaze: No comments on this, but a hold spell is always good IMHO.

Recommended Slotting: 2 Acc, 2 Hold Duration

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Level 36: 1 Slot Petrifying Gaze, 2 Slot Soul Extraction

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Level 37: 2 Slot Petrifying Gaze, 1 Slot Soul Extraction

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Level 38: Dark Servant: No comments on this one yet either.

Recommended Slotting: He's a debuffer, so.... 3 Acc, 1 Immob, 1 Hold.

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Level 39: 3 Slot Dark Servant

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Level 40: 1 Slot Dark Servant, 1 Slot Grave Knight, 1 Slot Zombie (if I hadn't done the respect thing), or 2 Slot Shadow Fall. Who knows for sure.

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Once again, that's just how I see things working out for me, and so far, up to 28 it's worked out pretty darn well.

One last thing I would like to say is this, get over your fear of your pets dying, especially when you group. It's far better for your pets to die than to die yourself or have others die and get debt. You can always recast your pets or rip out their soul

I'd say I hope that helps, but that's not my style ... I'll say, if it doesn't help, maybe you should go back to being a hero.

-Dark Avalon 28 Necro/Dark Miasma (Champion)

Nature's Wrath 11 Plant/Thorn Dominator
End Game 10 Assault Rifle/Radiation Corruptor

Nite Tremor: 37 Earth/Radiation Controller (Victory)