JuryDuty

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http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showf...part=1#2591650

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Can I get some advice on some of the slotting for Total Focus and stuff like Bonesmaher and the Ancillary pools.. Thanks much

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What's the goal with those powers?

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SnipeFu hit it on the head--what is it you want to do?

What you have is very close to the build I made, except I had Power Push instead of Bone Smasher. I preferred to fight from a distance as much as possible and keep the enemy at bay. But if you like a little up-close scrapping, Total Focus + Bone Smasher can be lethal. Just keep in mind that both work much better slotted well for damage, so make sure you have the slots.

Yep, what SnipeFu said. It's a GUARANTEED knockback. And if you hover above an enemy, like a Fake Nemesis, it's a guaranteed knock-down, which is even better. Just keep them on their back and finish them off. I used it all the time in my later career.

Also, there are definately times when you suddenly find yourself with nothing but a sliver of health left and you need to fly out fast...but you can't have them firing at you either. That's when I knockback with Power Push, take off, heal up, then come back to finish them off. I wish I could withstand more sometimes, but I'm a blaster. :P

Just a note, that's why I loved Energy Torrent, too. It was a pretty good knockback for when you're suddenly getting cornered.

Just wanted to add another post to say THANK YOU for this guide. I've played an Energy/Energy Blaster to 50 and had a ball...but after starting my Fire/Fire Tanker, I'm enjoying it so much more! It's really given the game new life for me.

I also appreciate you giving us ideas of where to hunt for max xp. So far they're spot-on (I'm lvl 16 now) and I plan to keep following them.

I changed your suggestions only slightly to match with how I plan to play, but still it's mostly the same. I couldn't have created this great build without your guide! You can see it by clicking on the appropriate link in my sig for anyone who cares...

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It's my opinion that the power "Power Bolt" and "Power Push" are not really needed. I have an Nrg/Nrg Blaster now that, at level 21, has never taken any of those 2 ( My level 35 Energy/Dev still doesn't have any of them ).

It frees up two powers ( for something that provides either more defense or attack power ) and the slots that WOULD have been used there can now go to something more meaningful. With all the knockdown/up and single target damage that will be going on in this set you really do not need to worry about the knockback from PP and the damage from PB.

Just my playtested opinion

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I put off Range and Power Push until the late 40s...and was VERY sorry I hadn't taken them sooner. Once you get into the habit of using them, you'll wonder how you did without. VERY great powers for a blaster, they are.

You bet, Airhammer!

I hit 50 with Barlow Girl a couple weeks ago and had a blast (pun intended) getting there, largely with thanks to SnipeFu's guide and the community here.

Glad you took Power Push. Man, I waited until my 40's to get that one--big mistake. I used it ALL the time once I got it.

My favorite power was Energy Torrent, which I don't think you took because you don't like the AoE, but I did enjoy that one. I rarely used Total Focus until the late 30s. It's great on the Peregrine Island docks and in the late 40s by the Portals in PI. Lots of single baddies there you can stun with TF and then kill with no effort at all.

Incidentally, I took Range Boost at 49 and wished I'd taken it a LOT sooner. It's great if nothing else because it extends Power Burst, one of the "too short of range" powers, imo. Many times I hit Range Boost, stunned a guy with TF, hit a guy pretty far away with Power Burst, then returned to the stunned guy to finish him off.

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Seriously no build critiques? I would love to hear what you guys think of the build, how I could improve it and what epic pools would work best with my powerset.

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Well, since my build is based for a large part on your suggestions, our builds are about the same.

What is your thinking behind putting an interrupt red in Snipe instead of another damage? What are the numbers on that?

Otherwise, you'll see we're about the same. Click on the link below for my build...

PS The best recent advice you gave was to take PowerPush. Geez, I don't know how I ever lived w/o that. :P

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I used Nova for the first time in real combat the other night against a swarm of monkeys bothering my controller teammate wih their psi attacks.

BOOM!! "Yes, Houston, we have no bananas!"

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LOL you're going to begin to LOVE Nova...except for the times you fire it against 10 reds and one survives...and you suddenly realize you have no blue pill...and you forgot to push Conserve Power beforehand.

I use it all the time though and LOVE it!

Just as before, VERY awesome, SnipeFu! I have pointed so many people to this thread and I'm very proud to do so!

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Presence. This is not a pool for blasters unless you really like going to the hospital.

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Rethinking Power Boost...

Pulsewave made a very interesting point iun another thread:
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[PB] is +100% of the BASE disorient duration. If you have enhancements in then it wont be double your current duration.

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Since I ONLY use PB before TF (which I only use in boss situations), why not drop PB altogether and put in a couple Disorient SO's to make up the difference? Yhen I'll free up a slot to get something like PowerPush which I'd use all the time.

Comments?

Oh, one more idea--love to see you continue with the Energy theme and cover the Epic Energy Powers.

Go SnipeFu! I'm so envious!!!

Well, suffice it to say, this is a GREAT guide already and you wouldn't have to add anything. Nonetheless, here are some ideas off the top of my head (the stuff I'd ask you if we sat down for coffee in Paragon City)...

--Include the damage numbers from my post above.
--Include information on all the Energy secondaries, similar to how you do for the primaries.
--Include when each power is first available.
--Include which powers should "definately" be taken when (ie Stamina at 20, Conserve Power at 30 then Nova at 32, PBoost at 35 then TF at 38)
--Maybe include your own template and alternative templates for various types of gameplay (long range, melee, AoE blaster, single target blaster, etc).
--A brief note about travel powers which serve energy blasters best and why.
--Best strategies for an energy blaster depending on the villain.

I dunno, just brainstorming here. Feel free to take/leave what you want.

Congrats again!

Pretty much my build there (click below) except I have Torrent instead of Push.

Airhammer--consider getting Conserve Power right before Nova. It comes in REAL handy to start that and then Nova--it will help you get that much needed endurance back right away.

On the other hand, You really don't need Power Boost until right before Total Focus--but then it doubles TF's ability.

So I did:
30-Conserve Power, then
32-Nova, (first available) then
35-Power Boost, then
38-Total Focus (first available)

Hey SnipeFu--We were talking about damage points in another thread and I thought it might be good to post this here. You may want to add the info to your guide. Taken from Ian of Moore's thread.

For the NRG/NRG Blaster, here are the Primary and Secondary Powers in order of overall base damage (Energy Damage + Smashing Damage):

Nova 12.48 (2.77+5.55+4.16) -- Area AoE
Total Focus 9.8 (2.7+7.1) -- Stuns
Sniper Blast 7.6 (5.5+2.1)
Bone Smasher 7.2 (1.66+5.55) -- Not Ranged
Energy Punch 5.3 (2.66+2.77) -- Not Ranged
Power Burst 5.2 (3..1+2.1)
Power Blast 4.5 (2.77+1.77)
Power Bolt 2.7 (2.2+.5)
Energy Torrent 2.6 (1.8+.8) -- Coned AoE
Explosive Blast 2.4 (1.1+1.38) -- Targeted AoE
Power Thrust 2.2 (1.1+1.1) -- Not Ranged
Power Push 1.1 (.55+.55) -- Knockback
Stun 0.6 (.4+.2) -- Stun

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So is Epic Unstoppable just not that great? Is that why you left it out?

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Unstoppable became Force of Nature.

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Oh, duh--yeah, I knew that. I must be indulging in too much egg nog.

So is Epic Unstoppable just not that great? Is that why you left it out?

PS Here are the Epic Power Pools with descriptions. Not sure if all are accurate anymore. Would love to hear people's real-life experience with them as we create our builds for January.

-Force Mastery:
*Personal Force Field - Cannot attack or effect others with this running but provides very high defense bonus - not total protection (Force Field Defender / Controller)
*Repulsion Field - Force shield that knocks back enemies. Each knockbacked enemy steals endurance. (Forcefield Defender / Controller)
*Temp Invuln - Possibly a 25% resistance to Smashing / Lethal (Invulnerability Tank / Scrapper)
*Unstoppable - Not quite the same as the Scrapper / Tank version. Base Resist is 50%, Base Recharge is 13 minutes (Invurnerability Tank / Scrapper)

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Total Focus allows you to stun a boss for 10 seconds. Build up increases that stun by another 10 seconds.

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Wow--seriously? Guess I missed that memo. OK, won't be getting rid of Power Boost then lol. Yeah, that's a big difference.

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Jury do you have Explosive Blast as well.. I am looking at the free respec and seeing that Explosive Blast is kind of a let down.. I still think ET is a viable attack especially for those who dare to run in my face but then I am rarely on the ground.. I am an air based fighter...I even use my melee attacks from the air.. ( cant wait till I six slot hover )

Do you have both and do you see yourself getting rid of one ??

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You can see my build up to lvl 41 by clicking on the link in my sig. I only have Energy Torrent because I thought Explosive Blast left a lot to be desired and I didn't want to waste the slot on a so-so power.

On the other hand, I LOVE Energy Torrent--even when fighting from the air. I usually attack a small group by using Aim+BU+Snipe against the highest lvl baddie, then Energy Torrent, which knocks everyone back. That allows me to finish off most everyone with Power Blast and Bolt before they even get up. I love that combo.

SnipeFu and MSKnight swear by Power Push--especially when fighting from the air as it knocks them down. And Bone Smasher seems to be getting more popular. I think I'd like it except I rarely get THAT close.

The only thing I could possibly give up at this point, IMO, is Fly by 6-slotting Hover. But when I tried it, I thought 6-slotted hover was way too slow for my tastes. That's just my opinion--others love it. Anyway, in the end, I have one slot left which will either go to Boost Range or Power Push. Or the last Epic Power. Who knows.

Love your build MSKnight and probably similar to what I will have in the end.

I have to say though there's no way I'm giving up Energy Torrent. I love that power, if nothing else than because it knocks back enemies so much for me.

That said, I'm in a quandry how I can possibly add Power Push and Bone Smasher to my build. There's just no slots left! LOL Oh well. I need to try them on test and see if I like them as much as you guys say I will...then maybe I can give up something else for them.

I have ended up loving Total Focus as a good starting attack for bosses. Not sure if I really need Power Boost though.

So of the four Epic powers, which one are you missing and why didn't you take it? I'd also love to hear why you took the ones you did, including what they do and how they perform.

MSKnight--just wanted to thank you for your very detailed look at my build! I haven't responded yet because you gave me so much to think about. I've already made a few changes.

That said, I like your thoughts about TF and I'm going to try it out once I get it and see if I like it. I don't like Melee much, but I do love the idea of disorienting bosses.

I've never heard anyone promote Power Push the way you have...you're making me think it could be a good addition to my build!

What do you think of adding one range enh to Power Burst? Would it then be as long ranged as Power Bolt or Power Blast? That might be a nice addition to my ranged attacks, too, along with PP.

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I just posted my build in another thread, but I thought I'd post here as I'd love to hear SnipeFu and MSKnight's comments--and anyone else too!

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I hate to give "cookie cutter" advice, so can you tell me what you have fun doing and what you would like to do? I can offer my input then to you!

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Sure--I don't know how different this would be from anyone else, but here's things I think about when playing:

1. I HATE running out of endurance and having to wait for it to rebuild.
2. I HATE having to wait for powers to "come back up".
3. Having said that, I'm a VERY patient player. I take missions slow so I don't risk too much.
4. I like getting the best bang for the buck. I believe in balance, but not at the cost of quick xp.
5. I absolutely love the Energy Torrent AoE attack.
6. My favorite attack is snipe--I love one-shot kills.
7. Melee I don't like so much.
8. I love using SS and stealth to explore the situation, then sneak up on the unsuspecting--usually from the air--and letting them have it.

That help?

Excellent post, Majik! Thank you!

Like your thought about slotting Power Thrust with Accuracy. I hardly ever use it, but like you, when I do, it's just to get people off me and I don't want it to miss. I think I'll do that. Why didn't I think of that?!

Yep, I saw SnipeFu's thoughts on putting Accuracy in Snipe and I'm going to do that, too. I'm just waiting till I get to my next level. I should have changed that in my build. Definately need it there. Not sure about the interrupt enhancer...don't know if I want to waste a slot on it. Hmmm...think about it.

Well, I have to tell you, I LOVE SuperSpeed AND Fly. I have SS on permanently with Stealth to give me invisibility. I may end up putting a End Red in SS and Stealth to keep any of them from having an effect on me. I don't know how I'd live without that one.

You don't use Power Bolt?!? That one's my bread and butter, along with Burst and Blast. I don't think I can sacrifice it...

You gave me some great things to think about. Thank you!!!

I just posted my build in another thread, but I thought I'd post here as I'd love to hear SnipeFu and MSKnight's comments--and anyone else too!

I'm lvl 36 right now, but here's what I plan for my build to look like once I hit lvl 41. I haven't decided on my Epic pool yet. I'm still waiting for the numbers to come in. I've left 4 slots open for the Epic pool, just in case I want all four slots from a pool.

If I don't take all four, I'll add Boost range, Explosive Blast and/or Bone Smasher.

Click here to see my build.

P.S. This isn't necessarily the order I'd recommend taking these. This is my build after a respec, so the order wasn't as important to me.

That's really interesting. So basically, two damage slots are "wasted" during BU+Aim snipes, but they're very effective during regular shots. I can see why a good balance would be 5 damages and an aim for this one.

I can also see why it pays off to 4-6 slot BU with recharge enhancements! Wow...hadn't realized BU was THAT good.

Wow--i'd not heard before that Snipe is at the cap with only 4 slotted damage. Is it capped before you use BU+Aim or after? So essentially, if I 5-slot it with Damage and once with Aim, do I even need to use BU+Aim before using snipe?

Very much looking forward to your summary!

I know what you mean about not getting past the animations. I love the idea of some of those attacks, but I don't see Barlow Girl pulling a rocket launcher out of her cape. I'll probably go with Force Mastery just because of that. Nonetheless, I want to see your summary first. You and Snipe are the kings of the force...