Feint_of_Heart

Remember dumpster herding in Perez and Boom? How about "farming" Gemini Park in Galaxy City - where most people actually started after running the tutorial (and teaming there to take down 100 Contaminated)?

Sigh...I will truly miss CoH!

My Illusion/Dark 'troller has been soloing AVs/GMs since level 38. I started with the Kraken and worked my way up. Of course, there are a few AVs that I had to drop back to EBs because of their horrid self-heals.

I had forgotten about the taunt aura. I'm used to taking brutes with damage auras, so I was a little concerned there. I guess I'll roll a brute ?/Regen. I'm thinking Kinetic Melee (mitigation) or Titan Weapons (AoE and bonus defense)...or SS (never played SS). Decisions, decisions...

Thanks for all the replies, guys! Have a safe and happy 4th!

That's what I was asking, though I phrased it poorly. Is it really worth it, or not? I like the fact that scrappers can pick up +DEF in their PPP (if you go that route), while brutes can't (I don't believe). Plus, scrappers hit their damage peak instantly, while brutes have to build up to it.

Thanks for the thoughts about HP cap, Adeon. That gives me something else to ponder. Now, as to my primary...

I'm thinking about making a /Regen character and was wondering if it was "better" on a scrapper or brute? I'm leaning toward a scrapper, but given the brute's higher HP level, it seems that a brute will benefit "much" more from Regen. I did a weak search on the topic...but I couldn't find anything informative. Has anyone looked into this in any detail? Or is it all a wash?

Thanks everyone!

I only took the "phasing" powers on my controller who was built specifically as a "Phasetroller". Of course, that was before they updated Dimension Shift. Yes, they are very situational powers, but when the situation arises and you need them, you either have them or you don't. Often times, the higher level missions have multiple ambushes in them. I would break off from the team and "prepare for the ambushes". That is when the Phasetroller really shows their abilities. Of course, most 'trollers have various means to slow or stop those ambushes long enough for the team to reorganize. And a tank can usually do it too...and...<sniff>...for a minute there I thought I was "special".

Take it if you think you'd ever really use it (or it fits your concept). Otherwise, do what most people do and skip it. That's my opinion. Take it for what it's worth.

While this isn't a guide, you might find it helpful.

PRIMARY:

Spectral Wounds - Get it and 6-slot it quickly. You want to put damage enhancements here, to help increase damage output (that isn't spectral and "heal" back).

Blind - Another great power, as this sets up containment for your Spectral Wounds.

Deceive - Another great power, as this is a "hold" when used on a solo enemy and a "help me while I defeat the group" power when multiple enemies are around. Also, it doens't produce any agro for you, so you can use it on enemies near glowies (interactive objects) and then stealth click the object!

Flash - While you can hold off or skip this power entirely, this is a nice AoE hold (on slow recharge) that combines with Blind to hold bosses. Since you'll probably build for recharge, this power only gets better in that combination.

Superior Invisibility - A nice "stealth" power, and a good place for a LoTG +Rchg enhancement. This is one of the best stealth powers in the game, but it only affects you.

Group Invisibility - Another nice stealth power, and this affects any teammates near you (your pets included)! While you might not want to take both invis. powers, your playstyle will dictate one over the other. Also, another place to slot a LoTG.

Phantom Army - Ok, this is your defining power. Take it and 6-slot it ASAP. You want damage and recharge! Add in accuracy and possibly EndRdx later (through IOs, preferably). This is also why you want your build to be focused on recharge!

Spectral Terror - Another great power, as this is your AoE fear. It will help mitigate incoming damage, and is a great opening power when PA is down.

Phantasm - Your final pet in your primary. Take it and slot it with 5 or 6 slots.


SECONDARY:

Twilight Grasp - You get it automatically, and it's a very powerful heal...when it hits. It also debuffs ToHit! And Regen! Slot it up as you work toward 50.

Tar Patch - If you skip this, why did you pick /Dark? This is your slow and Res debuf super power! And, with enough recharge, can be stacked on itself!

Darkest Night - A great power early on, and toward the end when you're fighting AVs and GMs. On teams, I only use it on hard targets. Ok, I only use it on hard targets even when soloing. You can put this one off for awhile if you'd like.

Howling Twilight - This power is both an AoE rez and a massive -Regen power (and it disorients minions and automatically hits!). Use it as such! Against large groups, it's great. Against hard targets, it's great. When you're PUG really isn't very good, it's great!

Shadow Fall - Yet another team stealth power, and this one adds in +DEF and +RES (the others offer +DEF)! I took it at 22 and keep it running continually...unless I need to escort some poor NPC around. For that reason, I try and skip escort missions!

Fade - Another team +DEF, +RES power! Actually, this will work on anyone around you, even non-team players! I wouldn't skip this power either.

Soul Absorption - +Regen, +REC, and foe -ToHit PBAoE. I've seen several builds that skip this power. I took it, but it's possible to skip it. I usually use it after my PA or a tank has drawn all the agro, then I move in and fire it off. If you have a large group of bad guys, the buff is amazing. If you only face small groups, it is probably not very useful.

Black Hole - Feel free to skip this power. It's useful solo, but on a team too many people just don't understand it. They will burn all their END fighting a target that continually produces "UNAFFECTED" text when they attack...sigh!

Dark Servant - Take it, slot it, and love it! The only thing to remember is that you will need to resummon him every 4 minutes. While I don't understand or agree with this, it isn't nearly as bad as it might seem.


I hope this helps! I love my Ill/Dark 'troller! Of course, I've wanted one since I2!

Thanks Hopeling! I didn't even think about the /ah trick!

Ok, Focused Accuracy seems to have a -ToHit debuff resistance attached to it. Does anything else? Thanks again!

Is there any powerset that provides -ToHit debuff resistance? I did a quick look and couldn't find any. I was soloing through Night Ward and was simply amazed at all the -ToHit that was stacking up on me. It made it actually boring, as fights began taking too long. They couldn't hurt me much, but the same was true of me. I would eventually win the war, but the battles became frustrating after awhile.

Yes, I realize more accuracy would help, as would more DEF to keep the -ToHits from landing. I will be building for that, but I was wondering if there was another approach. Thanks!

As I mentioned in other posts (and not ashamed to keep saying it ), I'm not very good at building brutes. I've built Skittle to run PVE content, AE, DFB, etc so she is a jack-of-all-trades style toon. I've tried to increase both S/L defense and melee defense to leverage Guarded Spin's bonuses, plus keep my other defenses at a reasonable level. I've also aimed for high recharge, since I use Healing Flames as another layer of defense. Of course, working all this out made my head hurt! I've been called "scatter brained" before (in a positive way, I hope! ), and will be again. Thus, I am asking for all the help I can get. Thanks for everything, everyone!

Villain Plan by Mids' Villain Designer 1.956
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Little Skittle: Level 50 Natural Brute
Primary Power Set: Staff Fighting
Secondary Power Set: Fiery Aura
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Leadership
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Fighting
Ancillary Pool: Energy Mastery

Villain Profile:
Level 1: Mercurial Blow -- KntkC'bat-Acc/Dmg:35(A), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx:35(5), KntkC'bat-Dmg/Rchg:35(7), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:35(7)
Level 1: Fire Shield -- RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx:40(A), RctvArm-ResDam/Rchg:40(9), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg:40(11), RctvArm-ResDam:40(15), S'fstPrt-ResKB:30(23)
Level 2: Guarded Spin -- BrutesF-Rchg/Fury:50(A), BrutesF-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg:50(3), BrutesF-Acc/Dmg:50(3), LkGmblr-Rchg+:50(5)
Level 4: Healing Flames -- Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx:50(A), Dct'dW-EndRdx/Rchg:50(9), Dct'dW-Heal/Rchg:50(25), Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg:50(42), Dct'dW-Rchg:50(42)
Level 6: Blazing Aura -- Armgdn-Dmg/Rchg:50(A), Armgdn-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:50(11), Armgdn-Acc/Rchg:50(25), Armgdn-Dmg/EndRdx:50(27), Armgdn-Dam%:50(27), FotG-ResDeb%:50(40)
Level 8: Staff Mastery
Level 10: Temperature Protection -- S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+:30(A), S'fstPrt-ResKB:30(23)
Level 12: Eye of the Storm -- BrutesF-Dmg/Rchg:50(A), BrutesF-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:50(13), BrutesF-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:50(13), Erad-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:30(42), Erad-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:30(43), Erad-Dmg/Rchg:30(43)
Level 14: Hasten -- RechRdx-I:50(A), RechRdx-I:50(15), RechRdx-I:50(46)
Level 16: Plasma Shield -- RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx:40(A), RctvArm-ResDam/Rchg:40(17), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg:40(17), RctvArm-ResDam:40(21)
Level 18: Precise Strike -- KntkC'bat-Acc/Dmg:35(A), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx:35(19), KntkC'bat-Dmg/Rchg:35(19), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:35(21)
Level 20: Consume -- Efficacy-Acc/Rchg:50(A)
Level 22: Maneuvers -- LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx:50(A), LkGmblr-Def:50(34), LkGmblr-Rchg+:50(37)
Level 24: Tactics -- Rec'dRet-ToHit:20(A), Rec'dRet-Pcptn:20(46), GSFC-Build%:50(48), GSFC-ToHit/EndRdx:50(50)
Level 26: Vengeance -- LkGmblr-Rchg+:50(A), LkGmblr-Def/Rchg:50(37)
Level 28: Burn -- Oblit-Dmg:50(A), Oblit-Acc/Rchg:50(29), Oblit-Dmg/Rchg:50(29), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:50(31), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:50(31), Oblit-%Dam:50(31)
Level 30: Combat Jumping -- LkGmblr-Rchg+:50(A), Zephyr-ResKB:50(37), Winter-ResSlow:50(43)
Level 32: Sky Splitter -- Hectmb-Dmg/Rchg:50(A), Hectmb-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:50(33), Hectmb-Acc/Rchg:50(33), Hectmb-Dmg/EndRdx:50(33), Hectmb-Dam%:50(34), FrcFbk-Rechg%:50(34)
Level 35: Serpent's Reach -- Apoc-Dam%:50(A), Apoc-Dmg/Rchg:50(36), Apoc-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:50(36), Apoc-Acc/Rchg:50(36), Apoc-Dmg/EndRdx:50(40), FrcFbk-Rechg%:50(50)
Level 38: Innocuous Strikes -- Oblit-%Dam:50(A), Oblit-Acc/Rchg:50(39), Oblit-Dmg/Rchg:50(39), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:50(39), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:50(40), Oblit-Dmg:50(50)
Level 41: Boxing -- Empty(A)
Level 44: Tough -- RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx:40(A), RctvArm-ResDam/Rchg:40(45), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg:40(45), RctvArm-ResDam:40(45)
Level 47: Weave -- LkGmblr-Rchg+:50(A), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx:50(48), LkGmblr-Def:50(48)
Level 49: Superior Conditioning -- P'Shift-End%:50(A)
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Dash -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Slide -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Quick -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Rush -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Surge -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Fury
Level 1: Sprint -- EndRdx-I:50(A)
Level 2: Rest -- RechRdx-I:50(A)
Level 4: Ninja Run
Level 4: Swift -- Run-I:50(A)
Level 4: Health -- Mrcl-Rcvry+:40(A), Numna-Regen/Rcvry+:50(46)
Level 4: Hurdle -- Jump-I:50(A)
Level 4: Stamina -- P'Shift-End%:50(A)
Level 1: Combo Level 1
Level 1: Combo Level 2
Level 1: Combo Level 3
Level 8: Form of the Body
Level 8: Form of the Mind
Level 8: Form of the Soul
------------
------------
Set Bonus Totals:

• 10% DamageBuff(Smashing)
• 10% DamageBuff(Lethal)
• 10% DamageBuff(Fire)
• 10% DamageBuff(Cold)
• 10% DamageBuff(Energy)
• 10% DamageBuff(Negative)
• 10% DamageBuff(Toxic)
• 10% DamageBuff(Psionic)
• 24.88% Defense(Smashing)
• 24.88% Defense(Lethal)
• 3% Defense(Fire)
• 3% Defense(Cold)
• 9.88% Defense(Energy)
• 9.88% Defense(Negative)
• 3% Defense(Psionic)
• 19.56% Defense(Melee)
• 6.44% Defense(Ranged)
• 3% Defense(AoE)
• 1.8% Max End
• 4% Enhancement(Heal)
• 48% Enhancement(Accuracy)
• 82.5% Enhancement(RechargeTime)
• 5% SpeedFlying
• 168.7 HP (11.25%) HitPoints
• 5% JumpHeight
• 5% SpeedJumping
• Knockback (Mag -12)
• Knockup (Mag -12)
• MezResist(Immobilized) 8.8%
• MezResist(Stunned) 4.4%
• MezResist(Terrorized) 2.2%
• 20% PerceptionRadius
• 9.5% (0.16 End/sec) Recovery
• 46% (2.87 HP/sec) Regeneration
• 20% ResEffect(SpeedFlying)
• 20% ResEffect(RechargeTime)
• 20% ResEffect(SpeedRunning)
• 6.3% Resistance(Fire)
• 6.3% Resistance(Cold)
• 5% SpeedRunning
• 1 Null

While I am certainly not an expert, my Staff/Fire used the following attacks/powers during my last run - starting at level 31 and ending at level 38. I am not a min/max player, nor have I optimized anything. I simply love my Staff/Fire, and took her for a spin in AE just to see.

Mercurial Blow
Precise Strike
Guarded Spin
Eye of the Storm
(Staff Mastery too)

I don't have a perfect attack chain, and I use Eye of the Storm usually after moving into a new group (while I have 3 levels of Perfection). After that initial smacking, I don't use it again in that group unless I feel the need to smack them again! I also have Blazing Aura and Burn going, so that's enough for me. After my last run, I'm torn about what to do - get more attack powers, drop Precise and pick up a replacement power, or something else. I "built" my brute to survive everything from DFB to AE to PVE, so I did focus a little harder on surviving and took powers at slightly "abnormal" times to fit my plan, but it works very well.

Ok, off to rebuild her...making her better, stronger, faster...

While I haven't made my final build, Staff/Fire is amazing. Having that early heal, plus FotM and consume, makes my toggle-happy build continue to fly through content. I am a little biased, though, as I've played several tanks using Elec/ and one brute /Elec, but never anything with Fiery Aura (well, not that I can remember playing for long). Once I really finish up my final Mids build, I will be able to speak to it better. Of course, I'm not a very good planner.

Thanks for all the input, everyone! I was going with a weapon set because I wanted to make a D.U.S.T-type toon. I paired FF with BR and began playing around. Unfortunately, I couldn't get the costume to work out the way I envisioned...darn you custom NPC costume pieces! Anyway, with that requirement gone (at least for now), I will probably pair FF with Dark Blast. I had tried that combination many years ago, but it never seemed to work right. Of course, now I have IOs and other nifty tricks.

Ok...now for my name...

Thanks, Hyperstrike! I don't really need any advice on hard core playing...I've died enough to learn some things! I read through a few additional posts that seemed to support the idea that FF/BR was a very nice pairing. I also appreciate your input on FF/Archery. I want FF to provide me with the defense I (and any teammates I have) need, so that leaves me with an unknown secondary.

I do like the secondary effects of DP, BR, and AR...which archery lacks. I also agree that the +ACC in archery is very nice, especially at the lower levels. Of course, the devs added the +ACC bonus for lower level toons now, too, so that compliments Archery nicely (and perhaps provides a little overkill). Also, since I am hardcore, I don't run +4/x8 or anything remotely as difficult. I actually play Prae a lot just to slowly enjoy my first 20 levels...and the nice storylines and different scenery. Anyway, thanks again!!!!!

I am toying around with a concept and want to pair a weapon secondary with FF. I like dual pistols and assult rifle (having played both off and on), though have no experience with either beam rifle or archery. I solo and team, and I typically play hard core (yes, I'm an Iron Eagle). I just don't know which weapon secondary would provide the best pairing with FF. I like the AoE and +DEF in Dual Pistols (ok, level 38+ for that), the variety of damage in AR, and the "untried" aspects of BR and Archery.

I can stack some -Regen and -Res in BR, but is the more single-target nature of it a liability? Archery has RoA, which everyone seems to love, but that doesn't come about until 38. Before that, does it offer something that surpasses the others?

Ok, I will keep rambling forever if I don't force myself to stop. Thanks for all your wisdom!

- Feint

I just loaded the 12.1 preview drivers late last night after suffering multiple lockups with the 11.11 drivers. I'm running a 6950 2 GB and will post my findings this weekend! I'm crossing my fingers on this one!

- Feint

As of today, I have started crashing (CoH not responding forever, forcing me to kill the application). Here is my information (with XXXXX meaning I removed it):

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.0.6002]
Copyright (c) 2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Users\XXXXX>nslookup cohlive.patcher.ncsoft.com
Server: resolver1.opendns.com
Address: 208.67.222.222

Non-authoritative answer:
Name: cohlive.patcher.ncsoft.com.hsd1.al.comcast.net
Address: 67.215.65.132


C:\Users\XXXXX>

Here is my most recent log file (NCApplicationLog.log):

2011-12-15 19:01:01.5054 : 1 : Info : Rolling the log files...
2011-12-15 19:01:01.5264 : 1 : Info : Starting:
C:\Program Files (x86)\NCSoft\Launcher\_Launcher.exeC:\Program Files (x86)\NCSoft\Launcher\NCLauncher.exe /LaunchGame=CityOfHeroes
Full assembly name: _Launcher, Version=1.6.2.1, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=null
2011-12-15 19:01:01.5264 : 1 : Info : Windows version: 6.0.6002.131072 (Vista)
2011-12-15 19:01:01.5264 : 1 : Info : Starting _Launcher...
2011-12-15 19:01:01.5274 : 1 : Info : --- Parsing Command Line ---
2011-12-15 19:01:01.5384 : 1 : Info : --- Command Line Parsed---
2011-12-15 19:01:01.5384 : 1 : Info : --- Setting Up Application Data ---
2011-12-15 19:01:01.5394 : 1 : Info : --- Initializing Launcher App ---
2011-12-15 19:01:01.5394 : 1 : Info : --- Creating User Mutex ---
2011-12-15 19:01:01.5434 : 1 : Info : --- Setting up IPC Channel ---
2011-12-15 19:01:01.5434 : 1 : Info : --- Still Running and not allowing mulitiple copies ---
2011-12-15 19:01:02.1954 : 1 : Info : Exiting with code: 0
2011-12-15 19:01:02.2024 : 18 : Info : Patcher: BeginOp: Getting Current Version : () : 0%
2011-12-15 19:01:02.2034 : 18 : Info : BasicDownloader: Downloading 1 files for a total of : bytes.
2011-12-15 19:01:02.2034 : 18 : Info : BasicDownloader: Downloading from "http://cohlive.patcher.ncsoft.com/CityOfHeroes/Main/Manifests/CurrentVersion.xml" to "C:\Users\XXXXX\AppData\Local\Temp\tmp2B5F.tmp ".
2011-12-15 19:01:02.4634 : 18 : Info : BasicDownloader: Response Host "cohlive.patcher.ncsoft.com" IP 0 = 128.242.186.241
2011-12-15 19:01:02.4634 : 18 : Info : BasicDownloader: Response Host "cohlive.patcher.ncsoft.com" IP 1 = 128.242.186.249
2011-12-15 19:01:02.4634 : 18 : Info : BasicDownloader: Download of "http://cohlive.patcher.ncsoft.com/CityOfHeroes/Main/Manifests/CurrentVersion.xml" completed successfully.
2011-12-15 19:01:02.4634 : 18 : Info : FileVerifier: Verifying: 'C:\Users\XXXXX\AppData\Local\Temp\tmp2B5F.tmp' Expected Hash = '' Expected Length = -1
2011-12-15 19:01:02.4634 : 18 : Info : FileVerifier: PASS: File exists, and there is no hash or length to test against.
2011-12-15 19:01:02.4634 : 18 : Info : Patcher: EndOp: Getting Current Version : () : 0%
2011-12-15 19:01:02.4644 : 18 : Info : Patcher: BeginOp: : () : 0%
2011-12-15 19:01:02.4644 : 18 : Info : Patcher: EndOp: : () : 20%
2011-12-15 19:01:02.4644 : 18 : Info : Patcher: EndOp: Checking for updates. : () : 0%
2011-12-15 19:01:03.7114 : 1 : Info : Checking DirectX Version : 9.0c Or Higher (C:\Windows\system32\d3d9.dll - 6.0.6002.18005)
2011-12-15 19:01:03.7114 : 1 : Info : System meets DirectX reqs.


I hope this helps! I can't stand crashing every 2-3 mission zones.

Leaving one minion alive when engaging in the "final" battle, getting by just barely when the boss (AV, whatever) goes down, and then walking out the front door (mission still incomplete) and resetting it...knowing you can do it all over again and possibly better.

Or...

Getting to level 50 as an Iron Eagle! NO deaths [after level 9], PVE...and not AEing it!

Unless I know my melee teammates, I usually CM everyone initially. I've played every AT...well, all but Stalkers, and things happen. Sometimes you overextend your END and a toggle drops. Sometimes enough mezzes actually burn through your defenses. Sometimes you accidentally hit the wrong button. It's life. Honestly, it's usually easier to simply keep CM up on everyone than to pick through the 8-person team. Now, if they make it AoE, it would be golden!

Dreaming: When I can get my +460% recharge and make my RA's perma, I will be happy. ;-)

Ok, thanks everyone! I guess I will turn off XP and run the second Resistance arc in Neu for that badge as well as a Loyalist arc so I can claim that badge as well. Wow, now it's two badges instead of one! Thanks again!!!