Kitty_Hellfire

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very quiet on the forums today. Am I the only one in work?

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I have all this week off, but it's not started well, i can't set foot outside without breaking into fits of sneezing, my eyes water and i can barely breathe Don't usually suffer from hayfever, but as it's my week off, fate has made a special exception for me

On a slightly lighter note, i juast has to DL a patch and it's taking ages to apply...could this be it? Soon see.

An Earth/Storm build as requested;

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Exported from Ver: 1.7.6.0 of the CoH_CoV Character Builder
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Name: Earth/Storm
Level: 50
Archetype: Controller
Primary: Earth Control
Secondary: Storm Summoning
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01) --> Fossilize==> Acc(1)Acc(3)Hold(3)Hold(5)Rechg(5)Rechg(7)
01) --> Gale==> Acc(1)Acc(7)
02) --> O2 Boost==> Heal(2)Heal(9)Heal(9)EndRdx(11)EndRdx(37)
04) --> Snow Storm==> EndRdx(4)EndRdx(11)Slow(43)Slow(45)
06) --> Swift==> Run(6)
08) --> Combat Jumping==> Jump(8)
10) --> Steamy Mist==> EndRdx(10)EndRdx(13)DmgRes(13)DmgRes(15)DmgRes(15)
12) --> Stalagmites==> Acc(12)Acc(17)DisDur(17)DisDur(19)Rechg(19)Rechg(21)
14) --> Super Jump==> Jump(14)
16) --> Freezing Rain==> Rechg(16)Rechg(21)DefDeBuf(37)DefDeBuf(40)EndRdx(48)
18) --> Earthquake==> Rechg(18)Rechg(23)Rechg(23)
20) --> Health==> Heal(20)
22) --> Stamina==> EndMod(22)EndMod(25)EndMod(25)
24) --> Hurricane==> EndRdx(24)EndRdx(27)TH_DeBuf(27)TH_DeBuf(29)TH_DeBuf(36)
26) --> Volcanic Gasses==> Rechg(26)Rechg(29)Rechg(31)EndRdx(46)
28) --> Aid Other==> IntRdx(28)
30) --> Aid Self==> Heal(30)Heal(31)IntRdx(31)IntRdx(33)Rechg(33)EndRdx(33)
32) --> Animate Stone==> Acc(32)Acc(34)Dmg(34)Dmg(34)Dmg(50)
35) --> Tornado==> Dmg(35)Dmg(36)Dmg(36)EndRdx(37)
38) --> Lightning Storm==> Rechg(38)EndRdx(39)Dmg(39)Dmg(39)Dmg(40)Range(40)
41) --> Power Blast==> Acc(41)Acc(42)Dmg(42)Dmg(42)Dmg(43)EndRdx(43)
44) --> Temp Invulnerability==> EndRdx(44)EndRdx(45)DmgRes(45)DmgRes(46)DmgRes(46)
47) --> Power Boost==> Rechg(47)Rechg(48)Rechg(48)
49) --> Conserve Power==> Rechg(49)Rechg(50)Rechg(50)
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01) --> Sprint==> Empty(1)
01) --> Brawl==> Empty(1)
02) --> Rest==> Empty(2)
01) --> Containment==> Empty(1)
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I'm having a blue peter moment, heres one i made earlier. You can swap out rez for hasten if you want, but i think you'll burn endurance fast enough as is. Slots weren't as bad as i thought they would be.

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Exported from Ver: 1.7.6.0 of the CoH_CoV Character Builder
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Name: Firescar
Level: 50
Archetype: Corruptor
Primary: Fire Blast
Secondary: Thermal Radiation
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01) --> Fire Blast==> Acc(1)Dmg(3)Dmg(3)Dmg(5)EndRdx(11)Rechg(13)
01) --> Warmth==> Heal(1)Heal(5)Heal(7)EndRdx(11)EndRdx(37)Rechg(37)
02) --> Fire Ball==> Acc(2)Dmg(13)Dmg(15)Dmg(15)EndRdx(17)Rechg(17)
04) --> Cauterize==> Heal(4)Heal(7)Heal(9)EndRdx(9)EndRdx(37)Rechg(40)
06) --> Swift==> Run(6)
08) --> Fire Breath==> Acc(8)Dmg(19)Dmg(19)Dmg(21)EndRdx(21)Rechg(23)
10) --> Recall Friend==> IntRdx(10)
12) --> Aim==> Rechg(12)Rechg(23)Rechg(25)
14) --> Teleport==> EndRdx(14)
16) --> Health==> Heal(16)
18) --> Blaze==> Acc(18)Dmg(25)Dmg(27)Dmg(27)EndRdx(29)Rechg(29)
20) --> Stamina==> EndMod(20)EndMod(31)EndMod(31)
22) --> Thaw==> EndRdx(22)
24) --> Grant Invisibility==> EndRdx(24)
26) --> Invisibility==> EndRdx(26)
28) --> Forge==> Rechg(28)Rechg(31)Rechg(33)TH_Buf(40)TH_Buf(40)
30) --> Power of the Phoenix==> Rechg(30)
32) --> Inferno==> Dmg(32)Dmg(33)Dmg(33)Rechg(34)Rechg(34)Rechg(34)
35) --> Heat Exhaustion==> Acc(35)Rechg(36)Rechg(36)Rechg(36)
38) --> Melt Armor==> Acc(38)Rechg(39)Rechg(39)Rechg(39)
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01) --> Sprint==> Empty(1)
01) --> Brawl==> Empty(1)
02) --> Rest==> Empty(2)
01) --> Scourge==> Empty(1)
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I don't think it's anything specific to being ASed, it's just like being 2 shotted by an ice blaster really. If i get ASed by a stalker then fair do's, it's just another jump back from the hosp. If, however, i get ASed by a pair of stalkers time after time after time then i get annoyed. Firstly because i know theres nothing in it for them. Secondly it then starts to feel like a deliberate attempt to greif me and ruin my time in the zone. All that will happen is i'll leave, meaning no-one wins. I play a lot of squishies so i know i'm an easy target for stalkers, but when it's the SAME one 10 times in a row i just end up feeling like i'm being well...stalked, in the nasty RL kinda way not the exciting PvP way.

I guess it's all down to the player. One of my best online friends plays, amounst other toons, a stalker. He does it for the challenge, he will try to AS the ice tank or the SR scrapper because it's exciting. If he wanted to just amass a huge rep in as little time as possible he'd camp by the hosp and murder the squishies every time.

Maybe this is a foolish and misguided thought, but i tend to approach PvP with a measure of honour i guess. If i see a lone dominator holding their own against a regen scrapper i'll leave them to it, if i see a person whos afk i wont kill them, if i see someone fall held into a group of nme mobs i'l leap in and hold them (when on my trollers) to stop them getting debt. This isn't because i'm the nicest most altruistic gamer ever to grace a computer game, it's because i was raised with manners and conscience and i take no pleasure kicking someone when they are down.

I think if more people aproached the PvP environment (actually it applies to PvE too) in the same way we wouldn't be arguing about powersets and AT advantages, we'd just be having a nicer time. Frustration and "whining" stems from bad experiences from other players and their attitudes, not from being a bad loser in a fair fight.

It's perhaps an unfortunate fact that these kind of people who go out of their way to grief will tend to stear toward playing an AT like a stalker with somewhat of a PvP advantage as they can't be bothered to learn how to make the most of an underdog. This gives the majority or perfecty pleasant and respectable stalkers a bad name.

It's the behaviour of the players that makes the experience enjoyable or not. When i was playing as my corrupter the other day i was twice in a row teleported by a controller into a group of longbow that inevitably decimated me in seconds. The zone wasn't swamped by villains, the troller didn't gain any rep or bounty, and i gained 65k debt that evening (not that the debt is the point). It was intended with the sole purpose of getting me debt and giving said troller a nasty little kick. Perhaps they couldn't find any kittens to burn that day and i was unlucky enough to become the focus of thier spite. Either way i quietly left the zone, no need to get into a slagging match, but my enjoyment was spoilt by a person looking to greif with no gain other than to enjoy my suffering.

This is the reason people get overly upset on these boards, theres nothing WRONG with stalkers, or trollers, or scrappers or blappers or ANY AT. Unfortunately there is something wrong with a loud minority of PvP players and they will drive people out of PvP as long as it exists, regardless of nerfs, buffs, AT changes, lvl gaps and the like.

I for one will continue to PvP, as i refuse to let the actions of a few change the way i want to play the game. But then i'm a glutton for punishment sometimes and others aren't so defiant. These people who are driven out of PvP because of this behaviour are a loss to all of us who PvP in good spirit, and thats a sad thing.

I think you could not take stamina...will suit that new athsmatic wheezing emote

Seriously though, you will get nowhere without stamina, fire is a very end heavy set, which is well balanced for the huge damage.

I'd suggest grant invis and invis. Nice team powers.

[edit]: My main pain with the sheilds isn't the res bonus, it's quite nice, it's the horrible gfx lag and eye strain it gives me.

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Fitness

Swift
Hurdle (3 jump if you can spare)
Stamina 3 end mod

Leaping

Combat Jumping 1 jump
Super Jump 1 jump
Acrobatics 2end redux


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Just one little thing; CJ gives a greater jump boost than hurdle (8% to 6% i beleive) so you would be better off puting those jumps in CJ, esp as you'll be running it all the time anyway for the immob res and little def buff.

Acro only needs one end reduction, as the second saves you about the cost of CJ (basically nothing). However...a recharge can also be handy for PvP, if acro gets detoggled you want it back on sharpish. Personally though i'd consider it a slot saved and put it elsewhere.

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did normally use Power Boost (From Power Mastery) With Blackstar, so the damage and debuff was increased. Not sure if the info I have given is including this.. sorry!

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I'm afraid powerboost only boosts the debuff (secondary effect) and not the damage (primary effect). The problem with blaststar isn't helped by the fact that dark blast gets no aim power, instead we get the delightful siphon life, torrent and dark s**t

Ice control isn't really too well suited to soloing. It's possible of course, but will be slow going and not nearly as easy as some of the other sets. Storm gives you uber control but alot of the powers overlap with ice and it isn't the best for soloing. You will miss a self heal and lack of a +end power.

I'd say /kin or /rad for soloing. Good news is they are both also great in teams, as everyone loves speed boost and AM. They are also far more straight forward than storm, if you are new to controllers (you didn't specify if you have tried trolling before). It's quite an advanced set and when played well is exceptional, when played badly it's horrible.

okey dokey, and what are your thoughts on buffing? there are two sheilds in the thermal set, both are skippable if you wish, one moreso than the other.

The AoE heal, heal other, forge, thaw and the final two debuffs are essential thermal powers. The rez is nice but not essential. In fire blast take fireblast, fireball, firebreath, blaze and inferno. The snipe is optional.

Slot everything you can 1 acc 3 dam 1 end 1 rec and try for 3 heal 2 end 1 recharge in the heals (can go 2 rec 1 end but fire may be too end heavy on attacks).

Thats about all you need for a good build. travel power is pure preference, but if you want to go the ghosting/TPing route you will need more than stealth.

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fireball does less damage then powerblast

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That might be because the former is an AoE It's the only epic with a good AoE attack, and it's very good. Containment+fulcrum shift=damage cap, so base damage really doesn't matter. With my crazy recharge with siphon and hasten i can do this every 10 seconds, like a nuke

Also fire epic has a much better sheild than primal. Fire/kin is an AoE damage beast, my other trollers however - ill/storm and earth/emp are both getting primal, as powerboost for them will be very nice.

Also, as i stated in an earlier post, i've given up on speccing this toon into a PvP build, fire/kin is far too good at PvE to warrant it, i have other toons for PvP.

1) when your /kin you pretty much can have perma-hold

2) you don't need them held very long when a fulcum shifted containment fireball will wipe them out in seconds

3) concept, concept, concept

you'll have to post a build then...i'm at work atm so can't knock one up for you

Strong sets, may be slot tight though, you may have to decide whether your going more down the damage or heal route. Fire is the best AoE set in the game, and draws HUGE agro though, so personally i'd use another secondary set with more personal damage mitigation (like rad or dark) but it's doable.

Think the key problem with your build lady is a distinct lack of damage. Mind probe and subdue are the best attacks you get. Personally i would take crush instead of propel due to the long activation time. Great in PvP and a nice fast domination building attack in PvE.

Oh and whats with all you dominators with aid self?!?! Wimps!

If anyone was wondering where i was tonight (probably not ) i was out having a lovely dinner and seeing X-Men 3!! yay!! finally.

I thought it was really good despite some serious flaws that frankly can be overlooked for the cracking pace, great action and some really quite emotional moments.

If you dislike seeing your favorite-since-childhood characters die in suprising and horrible ways though...you might wanna stay away

Oh and yes there is a BLATANTLY obvious peice of atrociously bad editing where the scene goes from midday to nighttime in a second...don't know HOW that ever got through editing...or maybe it did and it was too expensive to redo either of the big action scenes that link the bad cut

Vinnie Jones - AWFUL
Halle Berry - not awful but she just isn't storm
Kelsey Grammar - the single most inspired peice of casting ever , simply perfect as beast

The rest - well the ones that get more than 2 seconds screentime all do just fine

Because if you cant 3 slot it and you have no defence, you will never notice health at all. I used to get it for the supposed "sleep resistance" which i don't know about anyone else, but i've never once noticed. As i play i a very blappery way i like the movement bonus of CJ and hurdle. It gives me great unsupressed vertical movement in PvE and PvP. This is a matter of taste but now i've tried it i rather like it

Oh and levitate is great, control AND damage all in one...yes please.

As for confuse, it's what makes mind control the greatest ST control set (IMO) and has saved my bacon many a time when one of my other holds has missed. Oh and nothing better than having a tsoo sorcerer healing you, or a FF generator sheild you or...(my personal favorite)...longbow -res feilds debuffing them to bits

You dont need acc in inferno as it had an inherant bonus and should be used after aim. Preferably Aim>Fulcrum>Inferno (awaken for when it all goes wrong )

I'd drop ID for hasten and slot inferno for 3 recharge 3 damage, making for some impressive nukage very regularly. As you plan to duo with a granite brute he will require niether the status protection nor the resistance from ID. More end mod in speed boost may benefit him far more.

Blapper: noun - a blaster with a debt-wish. A blaster who uses the melee attacks from their secondary sets to inflict damage primarily in melee range.

Name derives from the latin "blastae" and "scrapae", a combination of the two.

Asking for balance does not amount to whining, and dismissing other peoples opinions as simple whining gives the impression of a lack of respect for others. People do tend to get overly upset about things involving PvP because it is a competative environment and therefor provokes strong emotional reactions, but the argument that it's worse in other games isn't particularly valid. We're playing THIS game, and we all want it to be as good as it can be.

Unfortunately PvP in CoX will NEVER be balanced as the game wasn't designed for it, but that doesn't mean changes shouldn't continue to occur to make the best out of what we have.

As i stated before i totally agree that not everyone and their dog should be able to see a stalker from a mile away, that would defeat the object. It is clear however that something needs to be done to properly balance this AT as simple numbers of concerns/complaints about this one AT show that something is not quite right.

Unfortunately this is what happens when you introduce into a primarily PvE game a new archetype that is essentially custom made for PvP superiority. I'm not saying "stalkers sux at PvE" or "only stalkers can compete in PvP" but they have a serious advantage right from the start in a PvP environment.

Balance is needed certainly, perhaps even by increasing stalkers stealth capabilities so it takes more to see them, but this would have to come at the expense of something else otherwise it will simply be a huge buff to an AT that alot of people think (rightly or wrongly) is already overpowered in PvP.

Well i have a lvl 38 illusion/storm (as per my sig) and i find it works just fine. Took a couple of respecs to get it honed down just as i like it but i think it's a very interesting combination. It may not be a damage king like /kin but /storm is the most controlling secondary and really fills in the gaps where illusion is lacking.

Endurance is a bit of an issue and needs to be heavily slotted for but gets better with slots of course. In some ways you have a great synergy i.e. freezing rain, snow storm and phantom army, and in others not so much, i.e. phantasm knocking mobs out of rain.

I definately find it fun though and it is a VERY potent combination in PvP if thats at all your thang.

Edit: Teamed with a really terrific grav/storm troller last night, really made a difference to the team and used the difficult storm powers like a pro. Thing with storm is it's very potent, but also very easy to use extremely badly. I felt the need to highly praise this troller as theres few things you notice faster than a BAD stormy

Way i thought was that when i want terrify as a "hold" power rather than damage i can hit powerboost first thus doubling the duration. However, in CoV mobs tend to drop VERY fast in a half decent team with some good brutage, so i rarely see the advantage of longer AoE holds.

Luckily i have no problem with debt and i tend to team most of the time, so i figure having 3 AoE powers will be handy, if risky.

Oh, does anyone know if AoE attacks count for more domination built than ST powers? I really should know at lvl 40, but tbh i don't really watch my dom bar, i just do my thing and find it builds in a couple of minutes at full pelt.

I don't have a problem with stalkers being invisible, i've had to come to terms that on some of my toons there is NO protection from AS (without outside buffs). If you have no inherant +per power you can get tactics, but most stalkers will have stealth too for PvP, so i don't tend to bother, it's just a fact to live with. Even on my SR scrapper with my emp friend giving me CM, if someone hits the stalker with grant invis, still no defence. I could go on and on, more stealth>more perception>even more stealth etc.....*bored*.

I do however have a bit of a problem with placate, which i find terribly annoying. So the stalker has managed to sneak up on me undetected, ASed me to within an inch of my life if it hits (more often than not) and then is able to hit his "you can't hit me back" button. Yes there are ways around it like using a PbAoE, but then thats not going to kill them on it's own, and thats time you need to pop a heal or green insp in order to survive the second attack. I can also accept this, it simply annoys me. If they get to take 99% of my HP in one hit then i think it's fair do's they should have to deal with at least one counter attack without impunity.

I would also like to see AS changed so that it cannot be buffed with red insps or forge etc. The one-hit kill capacity of AS was removed (so you can only go down to 1 hp isn't it?) to give a little balance, at least long enough to pop a green if your fast, so being able to override this with one red seems an oversight to me.

Anywho, rant over, i don't hate stalkers and i wont jump on the "nerf stalker!" bandwagon, but i really don't think they need any buffing. If anything we need to buff the powersets that currently have no hope in PvP like TA and the like (thats not a snub to TA, it just simply underperforms in comparison).

It appears i have met my arch nemeseses...i shall not rest until i have defeated you both...best put the coffee on

Oh that is fabulous I want one!

lol nice try Zanj, but i'm afraid your kitten exlosive propulsion powers pale in comparision to my own! Muahahaha*cough**wheeze**dies...*

Just dinged lvl 38 now and have been soloing on invincible (when i solo) since my late 20s, so heroic will be no issue at all.

Once you get one end red SO in each toggle (and each attack) endurance will not be an issue. I must say though that the only time i have an end issue is when i run the third toggle (evasion - AoE/cone def) on top of my other 2 and CJ. It just tips the balance a little. Good news though is that when solo you really don't need to run it, and in groups there will almost always be some endurace powers going around, or just less to do on your own.

Running CJ perma makes no dent on endurance, it's like 0.07 eps so stick a def in it and forget about it

If you are not going to solo on higher than heroic then tbh you could just run through your missions without bothering with the toggles. An even con will rarely hit you (though when they do it will be 5 times in a row ) and you will be killing them fast enough not to worry.

On your average solo heroic mission you will be facing groups of 3 white/yellow minions and the odd yellow Lt perhaps. Jump in, dragonstail them all on their backs, and then cycle attacks...they should be dead before they get a chance to hit you