GreenBone

Yeah, my friend said that scrappers have no use for ST immobilize like with CAK, so he skips it in favor of Crane Kick, which I still am not looking forward to. Don't like batting guys around like a pinball.

But yes, I'm looking forward to running AAO, Shield Charge in, then Dragon's Tail. Shouldn't be much left standing, I wouldn't think. OOOooooo....sounds so fun!

Cool, thanks. I read Thunder Kick has a really high DPA, and I notice you didn't take Cobra Strike. You don't buy the stacking stuns at high levels, huh?

Sorry for being an idiot. Okay, so I'll work in Crane Kick sooner, will work on getting a temp travel power, and have shuffled things around to look like this:

01: Deflection
01: Thunder Kick
02: Battle Agility
04: Storm Kick
06: True Grit
08: Cobra Strike
10: Active Defense
12: Crane Kick
14: Swift
16: Health
18: Air Superiority
20: Stamina
22: Focus Chi
24: Fly
26: Against All Odds
28: Dragon's Tail
30: Hasten
32: Eagles Claw
35: Shield Charge
38: One with the Shield

Thank you all for the input so far. I reworked a few things, and it really feels like a tight build, but this is where I'm heading...keeping the same intention for the build.

I had planned to not take travel until later, and to instead buy a flight pack in PI, so I don't think my teammates waiting on me would be a problem. I've opted to fit in flight earlier, however.

I took some of the attacks late because with all the shields running pre-Stamina, I've seen some endurance issues. I opted into Air Superiority in this latest build, and will have an okay (though weakish) attack chain until post-Stamina. But it will be very safe.

I had taken Cobra Strike against the advice of a friend, not only for the early level reasons I already mentioned, but after reading a guide that talked about the stun stacking you can do to stun bosses (even AVs?) with Eagle Strike. Has anyone used it this way?

I am not a knockback fan, so originally didn't even have Crane Kick in the build (preferring the idea of Crippling Axe Kick), but put it in at the insistence of a friend. I know it seems late, but I couldn't work it in otherswise. The only other swap I can think of is putting it in place of Fly. I'll consider that, especially if I can pick up a raptor pack (haven't had luck doing that up to 16 so far).

+----------------------------------------------------------------
+ Built with SuckerPunch's Online Planner v5.0
+ http://planner.cohtitan.com/planner
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Archetype: Scrapper
Primary: Martial Arts
Secondary: Shield Defense
+----------------------------------------------------------------

01: Deflection
01: Thunder Kick
02: Battle Agility
04: Storm Kick
06: True Grit
08: Cobra Strike
10: Active Defense
12: Swift
14: Health
16: Air Superiority
18: Fly
20: Stamina
22: Focus Chi
24: Crane Kick
26: Against All Odds
28: Dragon's Tail
30: Hasten
32: Eagles Claw
35: Shield Charge
38: One with the Shield

+----------------------------------------------------------------

Any better? Any thought on Patron Pools?

I've never had so many problems deciding on a build. I don't know if it's because there are so many good options, or the exact opposite with my MA/Shield Scrapper. But I can tell you, FortKnocks has been a blast to play so far to 16. However, I'm already thinking of respecing into the following build.

Deflection 1
Thunder Kick 1
Battle Agility 2 (Ranged Vahz)
Storm Kick 4
True Grit 6 (Vahz toxic attacks, Hellion bosses)
Cobra Strike 8 (Tsoo sorcerers)
Active Defense 10
Swift 12
Health 14
Focus Chi 16
Crane Kick 18
Stamina 20
Against All Odds 22 (put off until less squishy)
Hasten 24
Dragon's Tail 26
Super Speed 28
Whirlwind 30 (sounds like a fun oh s**t button)
Eagles Claw 32
Shield Charge 35
One with the Shield 38

For min/maxers and IO specialists, I'm sure this won't look ideal. What I'm shooting for, though, is a build that can survive and flourish all of the way from level 1. I've found that tactics are good for that, yes, but for me, so is building to the kinds of enemies that are most troublesome. Nothing worse than having no toxic resistance and getting puked to death. Just sayin.

So I have a few questions:

1) Any unforgivable holes?

2) Is Whirlwind effective at all as an escape tactic or to protect squishies if you're ovewhelmed? Sure sounds fun.

3) I really can't figure out a good Patron Pool set to take.
- I'm a fan of Caltrops for many reasons (Weapon Mastery), but all the other powers do S/L damage, which is resisted and the only kind of damage MA does - I figure I need a secondary form of damage at higher levels.

- Don't need Body Mastery, unless Physical Perfection is all that.

- Blaze is okay, but the big AOE Fireball divides its damage with Smash. Does Melt Armor make up for it and allow more of my MA hits to make it through?

- Dark just looks weak compared to the others.

Thank you. I appreciate your input.

Tavi is especially appropriate in the early levels where you're fighting all those freakin SNAKES!

I have a BS/SR and am often the only teammember left standing mowing the lawn of enemies while waiting for the team to res. If I ever get unlucky, I pop Elude, and keep mowing. It's a sight to behold. But I agree with the assessments here - it's overkill a lot of the time, which lowers your DPS compared to something like my new Claws/ brute. It also feels clunky to have a skinny sword that animates like I'm trying to swing a human. So, big damage, but not nearly as smooth as Katana. I like the previous idea of slotting Katana for +RECH, but can only imagine the END management involved in that. I may try it next, though.

In short, /SR is a fantastic choice, and lets you focus on the slicing. The fact that you can take out your most dangerous enemies first, and quickly, too, makes /SR more survivable throughout than with other sets, IMO.

<QR>

My new Claws/ brute seems to build fury much easier and faster than other brutes I've played. Maybe the math doesn't support it, or I'm fooling myself, but for my playstyle, it finally makes Brutes playable for me.

Hi all. I ran across a thread in the Controllers forum about this, and wanted to know what new creations you have realized with i16s power customization on your brutes. I, for one, was very impressed with the way my homage to Riki Tiki Tavi turned out - a Claws/Electric Armor Brute I started a couple days ago. His name is Ricity Tavi, reflective of the Electric decision.

Yes, I know to be literal, I should have chosen either /SR or /WP, but I wanted to try something new. I fully intended to build out the toon as /Elec and when I saw how he didn't represent my vision, deleting him and going with /WP or /SR. But with power customization, that didn't happen.

I used the "dark electric" theme choice, and color tinted his powers so they're a combination of his body color and dark blood red. The result is a toon that looks like he's coursing with "natural" electricity/quickness, and who appears to have an aura around him for his shields. Very HP Lovecraft, in a way, how tendrils of what looks like blood leap out from his body, as if the power is part of his being.

I was happy with the resulting look, which was only possible as a result of power customization, and ended up keeping (and so far loving) this new Brute. Has anyone else had good thematic success?

Hi all. I've seen several players in the game use the Cyborg pack self-destruct, and once they 'splode, they reappear in the same spot almost instantaneously. So my question is this - in the power description, it says you are taken to the hospital, but this appears to not be true. Do you just faceplant and can rez instead of hosping it? If not, how are these players doing this?

Thank you.

Thank you all for the advice. I ended up taking a Claws/Elec because I was able to use the new costume creator to tone down the electric look and stick close to my theme. The end result looks just fine, and I'm quite happy with it. He's a redress on "Riki Tiki Tavi" named "Ricity Tavi" (see how I did that?). Kinda Mongoosy looking. I'd like to get the Cyborg eye laser maybe for that final touch, but he turned out well.

The Lightning Reflexes will be good synergistically for his character, and right now the electricity coursing around his body was taken from the "dark electric" theme, and looks more like a guy bristling to jump into a fight.

I was on a three-man team last night and got him from 1 to 12 and am really enjoying him. I don't see too many downsides, and Claws/ is as I expected - rocks the Brute Fury bar. I don't know if it's to be expected or not, but the couple times I was on a bigger team, I hardly attracted any Fury - seems to be attached to aggro possibly less so than how much I attack, but no biggie.

I have heard that Taunt is actually good for building Fury as well - is it the power itself that builds Fury, or the fact that you start getting attacked more afterward?

Oh, and I must report that END isn't as MUCH of an issue as other Brutes, but I still run out. Started the Fitness pool at 12, and so far have taken every Claws/ attack. I don't see many I would skip.

Thanks again. See you in-game!

Thank you. I was asking about Brutes, now that we have CLAWS!!! Can't wait.

Really? Paragonwiki doesn't seem to say there are restrictions with Stone Armor. Where do you see this?

I am still investigating which secondary to take with Claws, and in researching Fiery Aura, saw that Fiery Embrace increases Fire attacks by +100%. Now, does that apply to any patron pool fire attacks as well? I would assume so.

Question #2. The power description says it increases "all other damage" as well, but the description in Redtomax says +80% Smashing. If I took Claws, which does exclusively Lethal, does that mean I don't get an increase in Claws damage? The descriptions seem to contradict each other.

Thank you for your help.

Thanks for these. I have a very cool concept in mind, and unfortunately, /WP or /SR would work best thematically. I have a /SR and love it, but am looking for something new. I've always been attracted to /WP, and it's a contender, but I'd like a second form of damage other than S/L, unless that's not worth selecting a secondary for because they are low producers.

Of the remaining discussed, /Stone also fits thematically, darn it. And I like the idea of mud pots for a slow around me while I slice and dice, along with minor fire damage. IF I chose to go that way (still a lot of convincing to do), does Superspeed overcome the major slows, or do I need to stick with TP for that?

I have /EA on other toons too, but seems to be a lot of skippable powers if I've already got a lower endurance consumer in Claws, especially by taking Fitness pool. And I've never been a fan of END leeching which never seems to make a difference.

I've only experienced the joy of being a brute in brief glimpses when I could actually maintain fury for single fights at a time. But with the advent of Claws/ for Brutes I feel things may change. What better way to build and maintain fury than lots of quick recharging, endurance-light attacks leading up to bigger AOE attacks once you're furious?

But which of the secondaries would help build and maintain fury best? /Fire maybe? I think armor and mitigation is fine - DEF, RES, all good discussions. But I get the biggest thrill in taking the baddies out as fast as possible. That's good mitigation.

Oh, and as an added wrinkle, of the secondaries that help build/maintain fury, are there any that are better than the others at protecting from ranged attacks?

Thank you in advance for the advice.

I find it "super" to drop a room quickly. More awe-inspiring, and giggle-worthy. My high level scrappers are single-target dwellers. By the time I've taken out a tough target, he's been whittled away by the AOE of the Tankers, Blasters, Controllers and Defenders on the team. I often can't run to the next hard target fast enough to participate in the carnage satisfactorily enough to keep the game fun on my scrappers at high levels. So, even though they're very survivable throughout, they just become less fun than teaming my controller with a fire blaster, let's say.

Yeah, I guess I'm a dork. Fire/ is not that AOE. The more AOE Scrappers are not compatible with /Shield. That either changes everything or nothing. I have enough Dark/ and have a couple Fire/ that seem to be good fun, so will likely try that. But if I'm going for real AOE potential, is Claws/Dark still the best?

Thanks.

So in navigating through the Tank and Brute threads, I can't help but think that /Shield has to rock as a damage buff and for AOE potential. Combine that with Fire/ and wouldn't the resulting Fire/Shield be a "safe-ish" AOE damage beast along the lines of a Claws/Dark, but with more DPS?

Has anyone played both or have commentary on how well Fire/Shield works together? I'd appreciate it.

Funny you should say that. I played my level 42 Ice/NRG Blaster Widdershins last night for a bit (was an embarrassing contribution to a Claws Scrapper duo, but I feel I did provide good lockdown by cycling freezerays), then jumped onto my NRG/Cold Corruptor Shadegrown (anyone see a pattern?), just to see the difference in playstyle. Not a fair comparison because my Corruptor is still only level 10, but he was good fun.

I'd like to hear more about how an Ice/NRG Blaster might max out ranged defense with IOs. Anyone?

Yeah, please don't take my message as an indication of laziness, or per my original post, not knowing tactics. I also don't want to just come across as whining. I wouldn't have so many blasters if I didn't love them. They are my second favorite AT (behind Dominators). So yeah, I'm a bit crazy.

The input I'm really seeking, I guess, is (a) am I just imagining things, or do they get significantly harder in the late game to play while every other AT is getting easier, and (b) what tips do you have for late game play with blasters to make them more survivable?

Great discussion so far, and lots of tactics I know about. It's not my preferred method of play, as mentioned, but I really am trying to figure out how to make them work.

Yeah, there are several posts mentioning the use of Inspirations, but to me (and only IMHO), any AT that requires the use of Inspirations, well.... nuff said. Too bad, really, as blasting is just so darn fun to have to be constantly peaking around corners, retreating, converting inspirations and using self rezzes. As said, too, at high levels the damage isn't so hot either - so I feel more like a wimpy wow character who can only take on one boar it's own level.

Soldier.

Of course, I haven't tried a Widow, so my opinion is invalid.