Knight_Raven

[removed]

I have been thinking about this for a long time and it just occurred to me why my fire tanker doesn't need Burn.

It has been said before a thousand times: Your experience of this game will reflect your play style.

I never wanted a Burn tanker. I wanted a Super Strength tanker and Fiery Aura just looked cool. After leveling my new chracter to 22nd level I realized that for min/max purposes I should have played Invulnerability (shouldn't everyone?). I had Burn and didn't need more than one attack from my secondary (Knockout Punch). After Six levels of this I shelved the character. I could go through Invincible missions without a scratch and Taunt/Burn/Burn was getting stale.

After reading the I5 release notes I started to realize that the Devs wanted to “encourage” people not to rely so heavily on their one Uber power. So I respected out of burn – slotted up Blazing Aura and went to town (in this case I.P.) The character is now so much fun I have cleared two more levels this last week. Super strength is as I hoped it would be: a lot of people flying all over the place (including pre-acrobatics me). It really looked like a comic book fight, instead of a bunch of guys standing around literally melting in my presence. Can I take a +4 Boss? Yup. Is it worth it? Nope – takes too long. Can I tank for my team? Yup. So far

Now – I5 hasn't hit yet so my changes and impressions are premature. But as to getting by without Burn – it is not only possible – it has made my character more fun to play.

So here is a Balance Solution that States and the guys might want to consider: Give us more options on how to build our characters. Even these “less challenging” builds can be toned down if the player wants more of a challenge or even a different play style.

All this must be taken in the context of - “I don't herd and burn”. I don't find it fun.

Raising a toast to my favorite game ever,

Phoenix Fatale
Avatars of Justice
Virtue

As a Super Strength Tanker I have a suggestion that I would humbly offer to the Devs.

I have seen the number crunching and the many personal arguments going out on the forum. From the stand point of a former game devleoper and fan of CoH here is my recomendation.

Super Strength has always been an un-popular secondary. Conceptitually it is great: in practise the advantages don't make it a good choice for anyone.

As a Firey Aura Tanker, I would have been better off with Fire Melee if I was seeking DPS. As it was I was looking for a cool character who could punch out the bad guys. I found one. At level 20, Super Strength gets KO Blow which is nice but not set defining power.

Rage is the set defining power for Super Strength and an oppurtunity for the developers to get people really excited about the secondary again.

How to do it? Balance is important, but every set has its good powers, so -so powers and REALLY good powers.

Rage should be one of the better ones because Super Strength has got a reputation for poor performance.

Rage can change all that. It doesn't have to be Unstoppable, but lets face it - at level 28 Regen Scrappers get an AWESOME power in their Secondary - why can't the SS line get a decent pick?

Many Powers are balanced in relation to other similar powers in pool sets.

The relationship between Hasten and Rage is clear - both increase your combat effectiveness. Both last for 2 minutes. Both have a cost to be paid after the power has run its course.

But Hasten is an over used pool power and Rage is (or should be ) set-defining for Super Strength.

I would try something like:

Bonuses: +80% base damage, +25% Acc for two minutes
Cost: 20 End when the rage finishes to show the exaustion created by such intense... Ragin'

Period. One bounus and one cost. Just like everyone elses powers...

That is what I would do.

Now, Tankers will still have to manage their end because if Hasten and Rage dump your End at the same time, you lose your toggles and go to the Hospital.