ForumSniper

I wouldn't presume to tell somebody else how to build their toon. I think that is arrogant in the extreme. Unless you are willing to pay their monthly subs, then keep your build nazi opinions to yourself.

Personally I don't really like being SB'd - I prefer to control when I want to move fast and when I don't. And I'm willing to sacrifice the extra recharge for it. I don't really care if it takes our group a minute or two longer to clear a map.

I'd like to see a Street-Fighting or Brawling melee set. Not every unarmed fighter is a martial artist in comics, and the Fighting power pool doesn't really cut it if you want Street-Fighting to be your main thing.

Other stuff:

- The ability to invite your own characters to your SG. I would have traded most of I17 for that functionality.

- Ability to sort base storage item displays alphabetically and/or some basic filters (rarity, level, tech or magic for salvage, etc). Digging through a dozen racks looking for one particular item is more painful than it needs to be.

- Make more information regarding story-arcs available to the player in-game. If there is a choice of 2 missions, have some symbol or notation (such as the book symbol used on the contact list) to show which one is a story-arc. Even if there is just one mission available, it would be nice to know if it starts an arc. Also, have the book symbol display something more useful than 'Story Arc in Progress' or 'Minor Story Arc in Progress'. Like the name of the story-arc in progress - possibly even how many missions have been completed and how many remain.

Then I take it all back. Aim *is* worthwhile for the damage alone.

I guess that's what I get for trusting the power description without consulting the actual numbers. The power description describes the damage bump as 'slight'. To me, slight means, oh I dunno, 05% maybe? 50% + is definitely not slight by my yardstick.

Was it always that good or did it get some love in a patch somewhere along the line?

I don't see Aim as being nearly as important as Build Up. When people talk about dealing massive damage with their Aim/Build-Up combo, the vast majority of that damage is coming from Build-Up.

Aim primarily buffs accuracy. A hit is a hit. If you are already hitting reliably, extra accuracy won't do you much good, and the damage boost from Aim is tiny enough that it probably isn't worth a power choice to get it unless you have nothing better to take. If you aren't hitting reliably, relying on a power like Aim for your accuracy is iffy - better to slot for accuracy and be accurate all the time IMO.

Build-Up, OTOH, is a blaster's best friend. Build-Up provides a pretty huge damage buff, and extra damage is ALWAYS useful.

Edit - Kelenar makes a good point about accuracy-debuffing mobs. I could see taking Aim just for that (although yellow insps also do the job).

Scrapper.

Well, it's not a crime to skip any power. As long as the character is fun for you to play, that's what matters most.

That said, I find ES to be the single most effective power in the set. It's DP's answer to the sniper shot that other blaster sets have. Slightly less damaging, but with numerous advantages over sniper shots such as being uninteruptable and having a quicker recharge time. I also LUV the animation and sound FX. Great power, IMO. I'd advise you to at least take it and try it out, then respec out of it if you decide you don't want it.

Also, don't neglect the standard rounds when soloing. I find the KB is often better mitigation when soloing than the -dam from chem rounds.

Sometimes swapping ammo in the middle of a fight is useful. Start out with standard rounds for a Built-Up AOE alpha, then quickly switch to fire rounds to pick off the one or two who don't get KB'ed, or chem rounds to debuff a boss.

I'm on Victory.

Thanks, I'll try to message you in a day or two, once I decide what new toons I want to make and get them created.

Thanks for all the helpful answers.

For Freedom! (Oh wait, that's Freedom Force...) :/

Thank you for the answers RL.

One more Q:

O4. What are Patrol XP (shown when you mouseover the XP bar)? Does that having something to do with the reduced debt in missions?

I really want to know the answer to S1 if anyone knows. I couldn't find anything about it on the wiki. I want to start a new hero, but if I can't invite my own toon into the SG without getting a 2nd account I probably won't.

Greetings.

I am a returning player to CoX. I decided to re-up when they sent me an email about double XP weekend. Since then, I've been enjoying the game again, but have accumulated a few questions. I'm hoping you good people can answer them.

SG QUESTIONS

Myself and two friends formed a SG a couple years ago (my character was the SG leader). The SG was just for the three of us, but we used it for all of our toons. Over time, all of us eventually let our accounts lapse. When I returned, I paid the outstanding base fees, and the SG still seems to be intact. However, neither of them are playing right now - it's just me - and I'm having trouble figuring out how to do some of the functions by myself.

S1. How can I invite new toons I create into the SG?

S2. How can I change ranks for toons already in the SG? Some of them are due for promotion, but it won't let me change their rank unless they are logged in?

S3. Is there any base item I can buy to allow community storage of recipes?


MISSION QUESTIONS

M1. If I outlevel a story arc, will I still get the XPs for it if I go to Oro and 'flashback' it?

M2. Where the heck is Jane Halloway (contact for 24 respec trial)? I checked vidiotmaps website and found where she should be in IP, but I couldn't find her in-game.

M3. Is the level 24 respec trial soloable? Are there multiple bombs to defuse that must be done simultaneously? How do trials scale for level/# of players?

M4. What task forces are soloable?


OTHER

O1. How often do they have double XP weekend? When's the next one?

O2. How is the best way to find a group? I've put my LFG flag on but haven't rec'd any invites except during a Rikti raid.

O3. Why are the hazard zones always empty? Don't people ever group to clear them for fast leveling anymore?

Buckshot is a power of contention. Some claim it's not that good - some claim it's pretty good. I like it, but may respec it out anyway.

M30 grenade - hmmm. Damage is a bit low, but a decent AoE.

Some peeps don't like the knockback of buckshot and m30. They think knockback has poor synergy with caltrops and other AR/Dev powers. I don't find it to be much of a problem, and AoE knockback also greatly reduces the enemies alpha-strike. My suggestion is to try out both these powers on the test server when you get your respec before doing your respec on your live server.

Ignite is better than it used to be when the guide was made. Most that have it swear by it.

Flamethrower and Full-Auto are the heavy hitters and are primarily the two powers that make and AR blaster a good AoE blaster. An AR blaster does not HAVE to be an AoE blaster - a formidable single target blaster can also be built with the AR set. However, both Full Auto and Flamethrower, fully-slotted, are the quintessential AoE AR blaster attacks. They do MUCH better damage than either Buckshot or M30 grenade. Ignite does good damage also, but it's radius is small and it is best used in chokepoints.

That's just my take - hope it helps.