Heraclea
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Posts
2089 -
Joined
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Quote:An awful lot depends on the perceived needs of your characters that have them.Originally Posted by OneWhoBinds
So how should I go about trading these merits for something useful?
As noted above, inf is not helpful if what you desire simply isn't available, or isn't available at a price you can afford to pay. The first thing I look at is --- would this character's play be sharply improved by adding something scarce and expensive that can be bought with merits --- like the Luck of the Gambler Recharge, or the Miracle +Recovery, the Numina Regen/Recovery, or one of the Stealth IOs. Buying them straight up requires up to 250 saved merits.
Since you get to set the recipe level when you buy this way, this is another advantage. When buying a proc or unique invention, I almost always aim for the minimum level it's available at. By this art, the invention stays useful when exemped down.
It's only after I have a character's special needs taken care of that I even consider random rolls. Conventional wisdom is to roll 35-39, since more useful recipes are available then. I usually roll 30-34, because some very useful sets like Eradication, Basilisk Gaze, and Shield Breaker cap at 30, and will not turn up if rolled at the higher level. -
Quote:Now I realize --- I should have named the character "Knock-Knock Joke".....Originally Posted by Asha'man
Once you get past the KB jokes....see above.... Storm/Energy is a viable set but it takes alot of skill to play (play well).
Being a habitual player of tankers, I think I can figure out how not to use the character. I keep things cornered; in some ways, the character plays like a tanker; she attempts to sweep stray mobs back into the group.
I'm a bit less sure how to handle outdoor maps, though. A character that doesn't run ITFs is probably going to stall fairly early. -
Quote:I routinely take Salt Crystals .... on Willpower tankers. The sleep is useless, the large AoE, small defense debuff, and ability to aggro stuff in a 30 foot radius are valuable.Originally Posted by Miladys_Knight
Salt Crystals comes to mind.
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No new 50s for me. But.
Pomba Gira (Fire/DB tanker) 43 > 48
Mayahuel (Electric/Mental blaster) 41 > 47
Wolf Witch (Ice/Cold controller) 41 > 47
Whiskey Woman (Pistols/Ice blaster) 0 > 27
Katie Chaos (Storm/Energy defender) 0 > 24
Decided that most of my lowbie villains will be rerolled come Going Rogue. -
Quote:Of course. One thing I like about this character is that, although she can't defeat anything, she can't defeat anything in perfect safety.Originally Posted by Westley
You are of course going to have Gale on as your auto-power right?
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One thing I often do on 2XP weekends is to start characters I normally wouldn't dream of playing to see if I like them.
Now, the power sets that usually cause me the greatest dismay are Storm Summoning and Energy Blast. So I decided to make a character that combined them, just to see if I could find some value in them.
This is the non-set build I've devised so far. Your thoughts on power selections and order are invited. Theme of the character is "Fusionette joins the Cabal" so having Fly is more or less dictated by the concept.
Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.621
http://www.cohplanner.com/
Click this DataLink to open the build!
Katie Chaos: Level 50 Mutation Defender
Primary Power Set: Storm Summoning
Secondary Power Set: Energy Blast
Power Pool: Fitness
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Flight
Power Pool: Teleportation
Ancillary Pool: Electricity Mastery
Hero Profile:
Level 1: Gale -- Acc-I:50(A), Acc-I:50(5), EndRdx-I:50(23), EndRdx-I:50(31), KBDist-I:50(40), KBDist-I:50(50)
Level 1: Power Bolt -- Acc-I:50(A), Acc-I:50(3), Dmg-I:50(3), Dmg-I:50(17), Dmg-I:50(34), RechRdx-I:50(50)
Level 2: O2 Boost -- RechRdx-I:50(A), Heal-I:50(5), Heal-I:50(19), Heal-I:50(43)
Level 4: Energy Torrent -- Acc-I:50(A), Acc-I:50(7), Dmg-I:50(7), Dmg-I:50(19), Dmg-I:50(46)
Level 6: Hurdle -- Jump-I:50(A)
Level 8: Freezing Rain -- Acc-I:50(A), Acc-I:50(9), DefDeb-I:50(9), DefDeb-I:50(15), RechRdx-I:50(25), RechRdx-I:50(37)
Level 10: Hasten -- RechRdx-I:50(A), RechRdx-I:50(11), RechRdx-I:50(11)
Level 12: Hurricane -- EndRdx-I:50(A), EndRdx-I:50(13), ToHitDeb-I:50(13), ToHitDeb-I:50(17)
Level 14: Snow Storm -- EndRdx-I:50(A), EndRdx-I:50(15)
Level 16: Health -- Heal-I:50(A)
Level 18: Fly -- Flight-I:50(A)
Level 20: Stamina -- EndMod-I:50(A), EndMod-I:50(21), EndMod-I:50(21)
Level 22: Steamy Mist -- EndRdx-I:50(A), EndRdx-I:50(23)
Level 24: Power Burst -- Acc-I:50(A), Acc-I:50(25), Dmg-I:50(27), Dmg-I:50(27), Dmg-I:50(29), RechRdx-I:50(31)
Level 26: Aim -- RechRdx-I:50(A), RechRdx-I:50(29), RechRdx-I:50(31)
Level 28: Super Speed -- Run-I:50(A)
Level 30: Recall Friend -- RechRdx-I:50(A)
Level 32: Lightning Storm -- Acc-I:50(A), Acc-I:50(33), Dmg-I:50(33), Dmg-I:50(33), RechRdx-I:50(34), RechRdx-I:50(34)
Level 35: Explosive Blast -- Acc-I:50(A), Acc-I:50(36), Dmg-I:50(36), Dmg-I:50(36), Dmg-I:50(37), RechRdx-I:50(37)
Level 38: Nova -- Acc-I:50(A), Acc-I:50(39), Dmg-I:50(39), Dmg-I:50(39), Dmg-I:50(40), KBDist-I:50(40)
Level 41: Thunder Strike -- Acc-I:50(A), Acc-I:50(42), Dmg-I:50(42), Dmg-I:50(42), Dmg-I:50(43), RechRdx-I:50(43)
Level 44: Shocking Bolt -- Acc-I:50(A), Acc-I:50(45), Dmg-I:50(45), Dmg-I:50(45), Dmg-I:50(46), RechRdx-I:50(46)
Level 47: Power Sink -- RechRdx-I:50(A), RechRdx-I:50(48), EndMod-I:50(48), EndMod-I:50(48), RechRdx-I:50(50)
Level 49: Tornado -- Dmg-I:50(A)
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Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Vigilance
Level 4: Ninja Run
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Tankers redside intrigue me more than blueside brutes. One of the reasons I have relatively few villains is on account of repetitive and excessively frustrating (or "challenging") content. Taking the AT designed to get past frustrating content without frustration might make the content more entertaining to me. Tankers will probably be in reasonable demand for such things as the Recluse and Barracuda SFs.
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Congrats! Very well done piece of work there.
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Masterminds are OK as bosses IMO, but mastermind summoning sets should never, ever be given to minions.
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My favorites are the Killjoys from the "Lesbian Hellion Liberation" arc. The Amazons that currently appear in "Death by Snoo-Snoo" are also particular favorites, although most of them are slightly modified versions of my own characters.
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I don't see Weaken as all that bad a deal --- at least not for tankers. Reducing incoming damage is a worthy goal, and that combo also applies its debuff on an attack that's a 360 PBAoE.
I am currently working on a DB tanker that's now 47. I plan on taking all the combos except Sweep. That said, DB probably works best on a relatively undemanding primary like Fire, Stone, or Dark Armor. -
I've also noticed that if you mouse over the icon, it will call the story either a Major Arc or a Mini-Arc.
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Because whiskey and pistols just belong together. -
Quote:It probably should happen that way. But I do think that the treatment of Statesman in semi-official lore, and especially the comic book, does show evidence of some cross-contamination there. For this game, the character Statesman has ever been something of a blank slate. This contrasts with the persona of Defender, who came with a backstory before Jack Emmert stepped into the role.Originally Posted by Golden Girl
It's important to keep the dev and the character separate
The character cross pollination seems fairly obvious in the official comics. It's hard to say how much. Some writers just aren't fond of Superman-style heroes, and hang "kick me" signs on the backs of any such character they write; think of Superman by Frank Miller. I suppose we could just ask Troy Hickman.
Edit: that particular issue was Wohl's, not Hickman's
Statesman seems relatively inert in the game itself. He was not a permanent fixture of the actual game world until i9, while Recluse has been in game since the villain level cap went from 40 to 50, and villains are sent to him on several story arcs apart from his strike force. No content currently requires you to interact with the Statesman character other than the STF. His current location isn't particularly inspiring, either; he probably ought to be hanging around the AP city hall, or Portal Corps, or maybe Galaxy City, which needs to be buffed somehow anyways. (Removing a section of Galaxy NW of the train and turning it into a grand Freedom Phalanx HQ would do minimal harm IMO.) Apart from that, Statesman appears only as a victim in need of rescue or a villain from several evil alternate dimensions.
I do think that the developers who write in game content probably ought to rehabilitate the Statesman character, and integrate him better into the game world. He's center stage in the loading screen; he ought to be a bit more prominent in game. -
Perspective is important. I don't have extensive blaster experience. So I am strongly enjoying my Electric/Mind blaster, and now my DP/Ice blaster, even if those combinations are not the mightiest in the game. So long as they seem to have more damage than a tanker and some control or debuff for team utility I will enjoy them.
And besides ----
Whiskey and pistols go together! -
This build is the current version of Heraclea's traditional / farming build. It is not so much targeted at hitting the defense softcap as it is at being fun to play, but it makes a quite adequate team tanker nevertheless. This probably means that this is currently easier to make than a softcap build. When the IO system came out, defense bonuses were not quite as powerful as they are now, so I focused instead on recovery and hit points.
Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.601
http://www.cohplanner.com/
Click this DataLink to open the build!
Heraclea: Level 50 Magic Tanker
Primary Power Set: Invulnerability
Secondary Power Set: Super Strength
Power Pool: Flight
Power Pool: Fitness
Power Pool: Fighting
Ancillary Pool: Energy Mastery
Hero Profile:
Level 1: Temp Invulnerability -- RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx:40(A), RctvArm-ResDam/Rchg:40(7), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg:40(13), RctvArm-ResDam:40(15), RctvArm-EndRdx/Rchg:40(46)
Level 1: Jab -- Stpfy-Acc/Rchg:50(A), Stpfy-Acc/EndRdx:50(21), Stpfy-EndRdx/Stun:50(36), Stpfy-Stun/Rng:50(36), Stpfy-Acc/Stun/Rchg:50(37)
Level 2: Dull Pain -- H'zdH-Heal/Rchg:40(A), H'zdH-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg:40(3), Numna-Heal/Rchg:50(3), Numna-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg:50(42), RgnTis-Heal/Rchg:30(43), RgnTis-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg:30(43)
Level 4: Haymaker -- C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg:50(A), S'ngH'mkr-Acc/Dmg:35(5), S'ngH'mkr-Dmg/EndRdx:35(5), S'ngH'mkr-Dmg/Rchg:35(11), S'ngH'mkr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:35(46), HO:Nucle(46)
Level 6: Air Superiority -- Acc-I:50(A), S'ngH'mkr-Acc/Dmg:35(7), S'ngH'mkr-Dmg/EndRdx:35(23), S'ngH'mkr-Dmg/Rchg:35(25), KntkC'bat-Knock%:35(34)
Level 8: Unyielding -- RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx:40(A), RctvArm-ResDam/Rchg:40(9), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg:40(9), RctvArm-ResDam:40(11), RctvArm-EndRdx:40(13)
Level 10: Swift -- Run-I:50(A)
Level 12: Boxing -- Stpfy-Acc/Rchg:50(A), Stpfy-Acc/EndRdx:50(31), Stpfy-Acc/Stun/Rchg:50(40)
Level 14: Fly -- Zephyr-Travel:50(A), Zephyr-Travel/EndRdx:50(15)
Level 16: Health -- Heal-I:50(A), Mrcl-Heal/Rchg:40(17), Mrcl-Heal:40(17), Mrcl-Rcvry+:40(50)
Level 18: Invincibility -- GftotA-Def/EndRdx:40(A), GftotA-Def/EndRdx/Rchg:40(19), GftotA-Def:40(19), GftotA-EndRdx/Rchg:40(37), GSFC-Build%:50(43), GSFC-ToHit/EndRdx:50(45)
Level 20: Stamina -- P'Shift-EndMod/Rchg:50(A), P'Shift-EndMod:50(21), P'Shift-EndMod/Acc:50(48), P'Shift-End%:50(50)
Level 22: Knockout Blow -- HO:Nucle(A), Lock-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg/Hold:50(23), Lock-Acc/Rchg:50(25), P'ngS'Fest-Dmg/EndRdx:30(33), P'ngS'Fest-Dmg/Rchg:30(33), P'ngS'Fest-Acc/Dmg:30(34)
Level 24: Resist Physical Damage -- ResDam-I:30(A)
Level 26: Tough Hide -- GftotA-Def:40(A), GftotA-Def/EndRdx:40(27), GftotA-Run+:40(27)
Level 28: Rage -- AdjTgt-Rchg:50(A), AdjTgt-ToHit/Rchg:50(29), AdjTgt-ToHit:50(29), AdjTgt-ToHit/EndRdx:50(31), AdjTgt-EndRdx/Rchg:50(34)
Level 30: Tough -- RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx:40(A), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg:40(31), RctvArm-ResDam:40(33), RctvArm-EndRdx:40(36)
Level 32: Resist Elements -- S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+:30(A)
Level 35: Taunt -- Mocking-Taunt:50(A), Mocking-Taunt/Rchg:50(37), Mocking-Taunt/Rchg/Rng:50(45), Mocking-Rchg:50(45)
Level 38: Foot Stomp -- C'ngBlow-Acc/Dmg:50(A), C'ngBlow-Dmg/EndRdx:50(39), C'ngBlow-Acc/Rchg:50(39), C'ngBlow-Dmg/Rchg:50(39), Sciroc-Dmg/Rchg:50(40), Sciroc-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:50(40)
Level 41: Conserve Power -- RechRdx-I:50(A), RechRdx-I:50(42), RechRdx-I:50(42)
Level 44: Physical Perfection -- P'Shift-End%:50(A)
Level 47: Weave -- GftotA-Def/EndRdx:40(A), GftotA-EndRdx/Rchg:40(48), GftotA-Def/EndRdx/Rchg:40(48), GftotA-Def:40(50)
Level 49: Resist Energies -- Aegis-Psi/Status:40(A)
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Level 1: Brawl -- Dmg-I:50(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Run-I:50(A)
Level 2: Rest -- RechRdx-I:50(A)
Level 1: Gauntlet
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Quote:Yes - and yours is pretty good too.Originally Posted by Jophiel
Haha... "Zoombie" cracks me up. That's just stupid enough to be funny
Erm, I mean that in a good way. -
I will admit, I quit playing regularly after i6 hit, and sat out most of i7-i8, and this game didn't really become my main game again until i12. Cimerora was a real motivator for me, mostly because of its obvious resonance with the back stories of most of my main characters. I felt quite betrayed when the global defense nerf was followed up by ED, and yes, I blamed Jack Emmert too. And my longtime suspicion is that this game would be more successful had all of this been handled differently.
Now, with a bit more perspective, and with the invention system to motivate me and take back at least some of what ED spoiled, I think Jack Emmert achieved something great.
He turned the character Statesman, the face of the hero side game, into an irresistable figure of mockery. When Dr. Aeon announced his second contest, in which you had to portray a hero losing his powers, there was no question at all about who I was going to depict. He did it to us; now we get to do it to him.
In the official comics, the Statesman character comes off as something of a pompous prat. In game, his role consists of being an adversary of the Lord Recluse SF, presiding over the Statesman TF from his base on a scow; and being kidnapped by Tyrant, one of his evil alter egos. He inspires not only one, but two evil alter egos, Reichsman and Tyrant, and both of those are (my opinion) more compelling characters than the original is. His other arguable alter ego is Imperious, who doesn't exactly cut an inspiring figure of competence. Lots of folks on the forums seem willing to declare their allegiance to Tyrant. How many would be willing to follow Statesman? I doubt there are many. -
Alas, I missed this one. I had already volunteered to run with a bunch of newly minted pistols defenders and blasters through Positron when I remembered.
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Quote:On the other hand, Quills can be combined with most other secondaries, including easier to optimize ones like Reflexes, WP, and Invulnerability. For me, this is a strong point in its favor; because I like things to "just work" and not require constant tending. You aren't going to get that kind of performance out of Fire or Dark Armor, not without spending a whole lot more than you'd spend on a WP or SR.Originally Posted by Desmodos
Even with crits, Quills can not keep up with the other damage auras when measured over time.
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Quote:This.Originally Posted by DrMike2000
Villain-side, Alchemical Silver and Sci Theories are often showing listings of 100,000+, even though you can get them cheaper. But I cna easily see someone looking at those prices for the first time and going "sod it, I'll just use SO's"
People are introduced to the invention system by recipe drops. Much can go wrong here. My first post-i9 encounter involved a pet damage Acc/Dam enhancement. It just so happened that I had the salvage to craft it, and could not figure out why it would not go in a power. Yes, ridiculous, but I had just gotten back into the game at that point. I figured, "accuracy and damage are good, I should make this."
You get a level 15 Accuracy recipe, and see what you need to make it .... then you look up the ingredients at WW/BM. The last 5 Luck Charms sold for prices that would fill several powers with DOs, and that's difficult enough to do with standard inf earned from mob drops. Therefore, the whole deal must be a manipulated scam. -
Another
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Some people's roleplaying characters have elaborate stories, and some character description writers complain that they exhaust the text field too soon. I like bios that are more in the character of flash fiction, and try to compress as big a story into a small space.
My newest character is an example, and gets a fairly complicated narrative into a very few words.
Here are some more of mine:
Now I want to see some of yours. -
Quote:My routine is for one of my AE focused characters to run some stories, roll the tickets into lowbie salvage, and create 10-20 level generic IOs, making high priority items (acc, dam, endredux, recharge) first. These are passed along to the levelling characters. I don't ever buy TOs, and DOs are only bought to fill in the holes that are left. Usually by the time the character is level 30 or so, they're slotted with generic IOs that are good enough to get to level 50 or until I decide what sets are most desirable. And in the meantime, their drops are being crafted and used as well. If salvage is missing to create drops, again my AE characters fill in what's needed.Originally Posted by SkeetSkeet
My routine for a new toon is to put about 5 mill on it at creation and from there just buy a new set of enhancements from the store every 5 levels (12, 17, 22, etc...). For me they're just placeholders... baby teeth if you will, for a fun, but relatively brief period until 47-50 where I then respec into "permanent" enhancements in the form of IOs.
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This is what I would covet:
