Lacrymosa

My first tank was an Invul back when you could perma hasten and unstoppable.....I miss those days, but I digress. I still use him for everything. Mostly he was what "scranking" was all about, and he could hold aggro with Whirling Pom Pom's. These days I still do heavy dmg thanks to TF and ET. Overall I solo quite well. With EM speed kills and total focus. I also enjoy the stun, but I respect out of it about two years ago. As even though it could stun a boss, it was never pivotal in my build. Fun to stun was back in the day, now big teams devour mobs, but I suppose it'll find its way into my build one of these days.

I understand its not liked much currently, but I have no real problem doing big damage. And the strength and speed at early levels is very comfortable. On that note , thinkg of energy melee as a colorful super strength, with more disorient, and an AoE that recharges faster and does damage, with two K.O blow replacements.

Thugs are human obviously, so they will suffer from mez and common types od dmdg like fire and psionic. While Bots are more durable and suffer no mez whatsoever they are slow coming out the gate. With Thugs you get gang war which is very nicem it beats the repair bot power you get from Bots.

Basically, if you want more dmg go with Thugs, if you want more survivability with your pets and superior sniping go with bots.

I hate "Need this" TF's especially when I'm trying to do an all Scrapp Reich, but in general the guys is far too powerful. To say he's stronger than Romu and Tyrant, is an understatement. On that note, you will NEED a -Acc specialist, Dark def, or obviously /Rad anything. If you can't find either...prepare for a very long fight.

On Fire tanks in general, I don't like wasting 60 mil just to "get like" other tanks in the game, it kinda kills the class for me, when I know I will never match up. I've done it with my Granite and lived mostly due to the fact that I had the Kins drop about 4+ ID's on me throughout the whole fight. Four or more, is the rule when applying Mez prots. My Invul survived as well. My friends fireball, got obliterated lasted a little longer than two shots but we all felt his pain. But hey "Its the most offensive tank AT's! " Take comfort in knowing, that if you could live through most things, you would be doing the most DpS.....if thats at all comforting...

Lastly you would think IO's wouldn't make a difference. yet they do for anything gimped on def or res. Take a while and make some inf, my best advice....And yes Acro sucks....till it gets fixed, Steadfast Protection is your best friend.

My Golem would agree I love whacking foes with K.O. Blow. And while I don't "hate" the animtion, the winding fist was kinda corny, but the end justify the means. Would I like a better/different animation? sure, but its not as serious as with Energy transfer's "girlie push" animation.

On that note, I find it funny B.A.Bs getting all defensive, we all know he ain't gonna change it. Thats like asking for a 1 hour positron TF....very mother Fawking unlikely.

It's not that white and black Alt. Some of us like both. I can spend hours playing TF's and random radio missions and or bank jobs. But I also like getting passed those annoying low levels. Though even then , doing a few Sewer runs doesn't bother me that much. And I actually like Kings Row, but I digress.

I know many will go the AE route, but I still see Sewer teams being formed and TF's still being ran. So while it may be "annoying" that many do the ae, many others still do the "normal" game. Combine both those pills and make room for us Purple pills .

Well Scott you gotta understand. Most farmers or AE teams have been on the game for a while. Been here since beta on and off. And while playing missions is fun, and unlocking story arcs nice, I literally know every mission like the back of my hand. Now don't get me wrong, that doesn't stop me from doing them again. I love the replay value of a good arc with smart team members. But, some of us want to get passed the very slow 1-22 run for SO's levels. Atleast I do. I think its nice to just do some farms and come out and do some missions. The dichotomy is slightly teetering to the farm side obviously, but that doesn't stop me from finding non AE teams.

Secondly, I understand what your saying, this doesn't help "newbies" who want to learn more about their class or the game. I had one Tank ask "whats striga" at lvel 43. It happens. While I'm always willing to help anyone new to the game out, they just don't say anything, they don't ask for help, and they don't seem to want it. My best attempt is to point them toward the forums for info, but in the end its up to them.

Then again you could have gotten bad luck that day. I mean recently I found teams doing all the TF's (was going for TF accolade) and that was over the span of four nights. So it really all depends on chance. My best advice; join your Sever channel and broadcast TF's or arc's you want done. Theres always someone. Or you could join an SG and have some of your mates help you. Havent had a problem using both tactics on different servers.

Its bad in comparison to say WP, or dodge master SR. In general no one really likes the caltrops but they help for running away effectively, thought not really needed if your good. Overall it comes with a heal a -Acc and decent defense, Ku-jin Retsu matches Elude in every way, so think of Nin as SR with a heal and more "tricks". I would rather they completely removed caltrops as useless as they are, but it still synergizes with the whole set.

Lastly , if you think nin isn't for you try WP, comes with heal, a rez and a decent Tier 9. My best advice, is to go with anything with a heal and defense, resistance is nice for tanks and brutes, but as a stalker your better off dodging than taking the damage.

Playing a WS all the way to 50 is the game on uber easy mode. Stygian + Eclipse + Quasar + Unchain Essence = too easy. I find it more fun playing a Shade then I did a bringer. That said both are way more fun IMO than the villain counterparts. Maybe its the forms or the more versatility. When I play as a fortunata I feel like a weak psi blaster, when I play my Widow I feel like a stalker with toxic dmg, which I enjoy. The feeling of one shotting mobs is very fun, but it only gets really good when Elude is gotten. As for the Soldier, well being a blaster for the first 26 levels is ok...but switching to a stalker yet again isn't very diversed. The team buff's are nice but never really needed, just convenient to have.

Warshade:

Shadow Bolt: pretty much the same as the bringer animation.

Ebon Eye- Same as Kheld (X-ray beam, etc)

Gravimetric Snare- While looking very cool, it's basiacally a standard controller immobile, uses gleaming blast animation,

Dark Nova - see my first post

Shadow Blast - uses common blaster double hand push animation.

Starless Step- Tp foe animation.

Sunless Mire- See Dark melee , Dark Consumption.

Dark Detonation- Targetted Aoe, just like fireball.

Gravity Well- Uses single extended hand animation. Very common controller single hold animation.

Essence Drain - Dark melee's Siphon Life animation.

Unchain Essence. Uses controller pet summon (earth pet for one).

Dark Extraction - see above.

Quasar- Nova or inferno animation.

Shields as the bringer are FF duplicates.

Orbiting death. Original look. It can be seen as an oppressive gloom or death shroud clone (Dark melee) but its looks completely original.

Shadow cloak: Cloak of Darkness (DM)

Stygian Circle: Dark Consumption and Oppressive gloom combined, animation is that of invul's Invincbility, or WP's Rttc.

Inky Aspect : Soul Transfer (DM)

Stygian Return - Soul Transfer (DM)

Eclipse - Completely original, cool looking as well. One could argue it uses the same res boost as Ice Armor's energy absorbtion ability. By that example, yes it does use enemies for more defense/res.

Peacebringer: Gleaming Bolt; it can be seen as a stolen Ice blaster animation.

Glinting eye: By now this should be obvious, either X-ray beam from Rad or laser beam eyes animation.

Gleaming Blast; the animation is that of many blaster AT's.

Bright Nova - original, completely.

Radiant Strike: Uses the super strenth punch animation.

Proton Scatter: Original looking, but one could argue its a blaster cone attack.

Build up: Obvious here.

Luminous Detonation: blaster target AoE(see Fireball or Ball lightning)

Incandescent Strike: Has the total focus animation.

Pulsar: Has the flash animation from Illusion control. Or the Short Circuit animation from Elec AT.

Glowing Touch: Uses the heal other animation from Empathy, or the O2 boost animation.

Solar Flare: Uses foot stomp animation from Super Strength, or Stone melee's Fault.

Dawn Strike: uses blaster AT nova animation, or inferno animation.

All the kheld shields look like bubbles from the FF set.

Essence Boost: Dull Pain duplicate.

Group Energy flight: Group flight.

White Dwarf - Uses foot stomp animation for White Dwarf Flare.

Conserve Energy: See Tank energy APP

Light Form : Unstoppable from the Invul Tank AT. Including crash.

That idea is only made famous by high level IO users who either make a tough mm set (Robots/FF, or anything FF) or people who believe bodyguard can take all alpha's...which it can not. I understand the point of letting expendable pets take the dmg, but thats not why I made a Brute. This is the main reason CoH gets padded more. The roles are simple, and can become aggressive if needed(Illusion trollers tanking etc) but there is usually only one blueprint.

The problem here(CoV) is that either every other AT has low life points or no "real" tanking is done. MM's send pets in, low levels know this to be torture. Stalkers spam said AoE if they picked a defensive set like WP or SR. My main problem with CoV is the lack of knowing which role people play. Corr's are blaster with heals/buff/debuffs, yet obviously people rather blast than support. Stalkers are the ignored step child of WoW Rouges and have great survivability but again...not tanking.

And doms...Doms will always be the "off off way off" tanks mainly due to IO's which make players into soft cap squishies. Even then I would like more def or res on Brute secondaries. I hate that people try to change the idea of tanking....the one thing that has never been changed for decades. Thankfully second builds have been implemented which make switching from Scrank to all out tank, less of a problem.

To the OP: Make a Brute because they get taunt and taunt aura's, yeah they hit hard but they gave them health for a reason, treat it like a tank that hits harder. Every other AT, literally focus on dmg, on big teams play the role of tank for organized reasons.

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and frankly since you wont put me on ignore i think some of you are getting off on me..and frankly i dont swing that way so maybe taking your own advice would be helpful.

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People always need some form of way of showing off , or berrating someone for thrills. It's sad but its easier to hate then it is to like. It's funny, the same people who would tell someone to ignore you are the ones NOT ignoring you. Classic. Let it roll of your shoulder. So not worth it.

I can tell your personally, EM is just fine, hell , I can even show you. but thats a whole other story, go with Stone Melee, I love it on my WP tank, and this is with no fault or tremor (havent had any problems without). Its just a great secondary when it comes to pure dmg. Get the AoE's if thats your thing. Fire would seem what your aiming at though,especially if you want to solo, Combustion and spinning sword of fiery death should prove to be the best thing since sliced Recluse.

I still dont think it can be down with just scrappers, since GW will keep you busy, its a long fight with healers and buff's, so you can imagine. I have no doubt about the crazy DpS that will ensue, but Surviving Recluse alone seems impossible for a Scrap. Though, one big purple insp can take care of the damage he does. On paper it looks fine to me. But with no one to add clear mind's or (add mez prot power here), I don't see you getting passed GW. Her uber hold will get someone, if not all. And her heal will keep you face palming your way into oblivion.

Lastly, if you do manage to get it rolling please do record the session via Gamecam or Fraps.

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me personally i don't like the after effects on it. Personally think it should go like MOG

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False,

You do know that MoG is pretty damn useless in a fight lasting longer than 15 seconds.....Unstoppable beats it by hmm lets see... 3 minutes of nigh unkillable "god mode". I seriously don't think you have an Invul saying something as ridiculous as that. I on the other hand actually have an Invul/Enrg. And still use Unstoppable whenever needed. Unless your at full set Io's at lvl 32, I seriously doubt your "powerful" without unstoppable at those early levels, and even then your saying no to a "god mode" power....tell me your new to CoH....tell me you like scrappers more than tanks...

Your asking the very same question that was asked back in the I5 days before fire tanks got Burn. And later on when they decided to nerf burn. You can't expect crazy survivability with one of the more known gimped AT's. Typical advice; get tough and weave, and slot healing flames with recharge. I myself never understood how a person who controls fire can even get damaged ,but hey as Positron said "Its the most offensive of the tanker sets"....therefore its weakness is somehow justified by its "power". Thats ok I'll skip on the kool aid, but I digress.

Kins goes well with any troller build. Your a bit vague in what you wish to do with your secondary. Do you want to heal ? buff? , debuff?. Overal Kins covers everything I just posted, but some don't enjoy being SB bots. Rad is also a personal fav, though I did run into a Grav/Rad today in the mid 30's. Obviously debuffing and containment= deathless teams, but still which do you wish to do?

Stacked CM's(4 or more) or ID's (increased density). Also a Rad of any type should help with the -acc on his hold. Or one AM, 80% res to all holds, stuns, and Immobile's, more precisely 216.25% to all mez. Regardless I would still stack CM's or ID's on everyone. Get a good Emp or Kins. Not just a Heal other spammer and or a SB bot. You actually have to pay attention to player CM's.

I find having a rad or a dark emp very fun and easy. Kins come with ID so unless the player has no idea what ID does then your boned. Thermal's of course are always welcome, but they seem to be a dime a dozen these days.

Do you want AoE damage with your tank? and overall high dps?, Take /Fire. If you want single target strength, go Stone or EM. Stone is slow, but powerful EM is quick and strong. Also if your going to consider WM try out the Axe, its pretty much the same but stronger and deals with Knockup/Knockdown moves.

Nice going Kruunch, I'm a lil worried the red names might see this and go all zeus lightning bolt on those arcs....heres hoping they miss this little and not posted much on, thread. Either way tyvm.

Hold on kiddo, when did this become a scrapper forum?. Are we judging Tanks on their ability to Out damage!?. Are you serious?. If its like that, I'll just grab my Spines/fire. Your playing a TANK. See thats why it was all broken till i9. Every tank was either a scrapper who wanted attention in a group (no offense to the vets)or some Burn spammer. Lets be honest here, its a good set (EM), it does the job, if you want to run down mobs fine, but don't make it sound like a scrapper set.

I could care less how many tanks you claim to have, we are discussing if EM is still decent, and it is. You know, it being a secondary and all. What else do you want?. Is this what its turned into? /fire tanks claiming they do "crazy damage"?, how many kids are playing this game? cause last time I looked, thats a shield symbol on the tank AT. Show some respect kiddo, address me correctly or don't bother.

It's hard to believe people are saying EM is 'broken' or "decent". With those statements it's hard to believe they even have one. I have an Invul/Enrg that performs quite well with ZERO damage Io's. Its still powerful in stats alone. I've had him since Issue 3, and while the animation is longer for transfer, it makes zero difference , your not a DPS classe, but you can still out scrapp most other tank AT's with ease.

Again if you need me to show you, I'll PM you my global. I have no problems providing sufficient enough damage.

Thats just my point, their not rewritting code for character models or building textures. My comment was directed toward the power customization. My comparison using an FPS, was that the FPS in said comment was pretty diversed, far more diversed than DOOM. And it only took four programmers. I didn't say just ANYONE can program, but rather that those with years of experience can do it quite easily. Apparently I offended you and Starsman.

The fact is, no one on this board (red names excluded) has developed an MMO, so we can understand the premise of it being "hard", but what you fail to acknowledge, is that most if not all MMO devs have years of experience and can handle programming. What YOU deem as hard, isn't necessarily hard for others. I cant just pick up a rig and all of a sudden develop an MMO with zero overhead. Well I could but it would be City of Stickman5000. My point being, don't get all flustered in nerd rage and understand that somethings aren't that hard to PROFESSIONALS.

I think you took my programming in their sleep comment too literal or yout being obnoxious about it, either way it was a cheap way to insult me.

Secondly, you clearly havent heard of Insomniac studios which started with four programmers, their first game was a playstation success called Disruptor and then later Spyro followed by the acclaimed Ratchet and Clank series. FOUR programmers.... developed an ENTIRE first person shooter, with levels and all. Programming code is primarily easy to those IN THE FIELD. Dont act oblivious just to try and disprove me.