Leo_G

I have no preference. It depends.

DP/Fire blaster: Likes lots of weaker foes. No mez to stack so don't bother with bosses. It's all about killing fast and bosses slow things down. +0/x4; no bosses

DM/WP Stalker: Works great on strong foes and can still throw out a Shadow Maul + Sand of Mu for multi-target. I've been tweeking his build so he can take out AVs but he runs out of endurance before getting them past a third of health. +3/x3; bosses; no AVs (yet)

Claws/EA Brute: I like him to feel like a predatory, picking off foes before their friends notice. He's survivable and can take on stronger challenge, but I honestly don't want to see him struggle as he scratches on resistant foes...that just ruins the feel. +1/x6; bosses

Fire/SD Brute: I'm still working on his build and he's got a crazy amount of AoE but rather anemic ST. He's also not that survivable yet but working on it. +0/x4

Elec/Regen Stalker: Another predator character but taking on lots of foes, while he can, is dangerous (one string of burst attacks while animating Thunder Strike might do him in). Varies: sometimes +1/x4 other times +3/x2

Kat/SR Scrapper: My main, is the only one that can actually take down AVs if they're not resistant. There are only a few types of foes that will completely bypass his defenses. +3/x8; AVs

I don't build all my characters to uphold some baseline standard, I just build them to do what they do. If I eventually improve them, I'll adjust their difficulty to compensate. So, I don't feel discouraged when I build a character that sucks at defeating bosses, or can't take down AVs or can't run well at over x2 and I won't force their build to. My characters have enough style to make all their settings a fun experience.

[Holiday Day 3]

It was a rather uneventful day for Spirit. He woke up, ate his greens for breakfast (with a tall glass of chocolate milk, of course), took a trip to the bookstore in Steel, ate lunch, sat in on a tutorial in the AE, hung around his Uncle Bart who was working on some kind of robot part and read comics until it got late.

Now he sat at one of the tables in the underground engineering wing of Golden Eagle, his hoofs propped up on a chair and flipping through one of his comics he had already read a few times. He had already eaten his supper of several freshly cut celery stalks, spinach leaf salad, sliced zucchini with baby carrots, an ear of sweet corn and some milk. Now he was finishing off a vanilla ice cream cone while his eyes watched the hands on the clock tic closer to 8 o'clock.

Bart was working on the intelligence chip of a certain project of his just a few feet from the satyr, the silence of the room occasionally broken up by the soldering tool of the monkey.

"Hmm, you look down," Bart said as he pushed up his goggles and looked up from his work bench. "You're not even reading your book."

Spirit blinked then looked down to the comic he had forgotten he was holding. "Oh...No, I'm just waiting."

"Waiting for what?" Bart asked, still staring at the ram.

"Upp...I mean I was just...waiting for you to get done. Then we can plan what missions you're going to take me on tomorrow."

Bart sighed and returned the goggles to their safety position. "I told you, missions are dangerous. I'm not going to willingly take you into such situations." The monkey continued his work like before. "Besides, anything I go on is classified covert ops stuff under Longbow. Boring stuff, really..." There was silence again as the satyr dejectedly cast his eyes down. "Oh, but how did that case you picked up turn out? Did you find the thief?"

Spirit looked up with a raised brow. He forgot he was actually trying to find some stolen items and was simply concerned with busting up a gang of baddies. "Oh...yes. I did. But there was a follow up mission from the client. Can you teleport me to Striga Island?"

Now it was Bart's turn to raise a brow. "Striga?" he repeated after pushing up his goggles again. "That's a hazard zone. What are you doing in that place?"

"I just met a friend there. I helped him out yesterday and just want to see if he's alright."

"But it's almost 7:30...don't you think it's a little late?"

Spirit grinned. "But you can teleport, Uncle Bart. Curfew's 9 and it'll only take me an hour."

There was an angry glare from the monkey. He wanted to put his foot down but the glare wasn't aimed at Spirit but rather through him. "Alright, but just make sure you don't loose your GETNet phone and teleport back as soon as you're done."

"Thanks, Uncle Bart!" Spirit gleefully smiled, swooping over to the working monkey and squeezing him in a warm hug yet careful not to spill any of his ice cream.

_______________

[Meanwhile, Striga Isle]

Several Red Inkmen were moving freight from a crane lift. The boxes being lifted came down into the staging area where several more muscle and tattooed men dollied them to their rightful place in a holding room. All the while, a bearded man in long robes from his waist and a coolie on his head oversaw all the work from a catwalk.

"Yeng, more attendees have arrived. We've almost got a full house for tonight," a voice echoed off the walls of the staging area. A burly ghostly form clad in ghostly armor faded into view just behind the catwalk. "Shall we begin the festivities?" his voice resonated through the air.

The chi master looked up over the rim of his hat then nodded. "I shall find out. Keep watch on anyone else that comes. Anyone that even looks funny, you crush their skull in." The Ancestor spirit went invisible as Yeng evacuated the catwalk. The warehouse to host their auction was pretty standard in the back but closer to the entrance where everything would take place, was adorned with various eastern decor, lion and dragon statues, paper lanterns and the like to give the place ambiance. The chi master walked past a few skulls that had arrived early, only nodding to them as he past.

When he turned the corner, he was nearly caught off guard when a tall naga-like creature with black scales stood towering over him. Clad in shoulder and breast armor, the Snake stood alert with a large and deadly scimitar in his hand. "Everythingssss Sssecured."

Yeng nodded and passed him, glancing at the snake over his shoulder as he continued. One guard among many hired for this event but he really didn't know why they needed others to work guard duty when there was plenty of their tattooed warriors who could do the job. Perhaps their leader knew few could be trusted, even within their ranks. Even Yeng himself had ambitions of taking the prize for himself, but working so close with their leader forbid acting on such thoughts.

The chi master finally reached the office several more corridors within the building, no guards or other workers and the door was unlocked. As he neared his hand to the door to knock, a voice behind it sounded. "Come in, Yeng."

"Indeed, master," Yeng answered after letting himself in. "Master Tub Ci, we've got many eager buyers waiting for the auction to begin. What shall we do?"

Tub Ci had been resting on a mat with his hands on his lap. His back was to the door but he seemed to have no difficulty sensing the approach of Yeng. On a stand were an audience of swords that Tub Ci seemed to be focused on.

"These swords..." he said then letting silence fill the room again.

Yeng looked questioningly at his leader. He stood still, not daring to disturb him further. "These swords, I'm glad I managed to finally experience them first hand." He leaned forward on his knees then stood up one foot at a time then finally turning away and stepping toward the chi master.

"These nihonto, are their powers genuine?" he asked, the sparkle of ambition in his eye was barely hidden by his straw hat.

At first, Tub ci did not answer, crafting a proper response before replying. "They truly are finely crafted swords." That isn't the response Yeng wanted to hear. From all the stories of the original owner, Inou Ryjuta, these blades could sear the wind, split the earth, summon tsunami and even bring down thunderbolts on the heads of the unworthy. With the power these swords wield, Yeng could become one of the top leaders in the Tsoo, or even more! He had to know more!

"Begin selling some of our other wares, but save these swords for later tonight. They are our main attraction." Tub Ci left the room, leaving Yeng alone in the room, his heart thumping as he gazed longingly at the array of swords.

____________________

Spirit arrived in the docks of Striga, a few blocks from the ferry. It was nearly 8pm so he was rushing to the meeting place Jason indicated. Before leaving home, he threw on his black fabric windbreaker that had a Golden Eagle emblem on the back and put on a pair of worn and faded baggy navy blue jeans. His cell in his pocket and his spirits soaring heigh, Spirit leapt to the Warrior hangout, landing there in a few bounds.

The small group (around 5) of hardened fighters were all standing outside waiting for their minotaur friend to arrive with Jason sitting on the brick wall that enclosed their hideout. The others wore their normal clothes, still even dusty from their last tussle with some undead earlier that day while Golden Jason was sporting one of his better sleeveless armored vests and a metal gold plated shoulder guard on his left shoulder. As they waited, Jason spoke over his cell while the others kept a look out. One pointed up as a familiar figure came hurtling their direction.

"HEY GUYS!" Spirit shouted then landed with a subtle shake of the ground as his hooves pounded hard on the paved sidewalk. "I'm not late am I?" the satyr asked with a grin.

"Just in time, actually," one of the warriors answered and patted the taller horned boy on the back.

"Spirit. Good you made it. Let's get going."

I think the only problem would be animations. Carrying an injured victim, lifting up fallen debris, so on and so forth would need other animations.

That said, I always thought that our 'skills' as characters should be separate from our 'powers'. Our ability to lift heavy objects to help a civilian shouldn't require super strength (although SS would help) or just because we lack empathy powers that instantly bring the dead back to life doesn't mean you don't have first-aide skills or minor healing powers to recover the sprained foot of the injured to escape (but empathy would help too).

IMO, I think it'd be a fun addition to the game if a 'skill set/tree' you develop alongside your powers were added to the game. This skill set would have no direct link to combat and should affect your ability to do other stuff like rescue civilians, aid the injured, stop escalating accidents and maybe even other 'stuff' that would expand the customization of your characters.

Hmm, if a power just looks plain cool, so cool that any flaws it may have are overlooked, it's more likely to be used by others. I can't have 'my cool' being on everyone else's toons, it detracts from the coolness. The rarer the cool, the better, IMO.

For example, if we got a new awesome looking Scythe weapon set that sucked for sustained DPS but was at least adept at DPA, I'd bet there'd be swarms of people playing it. Meh, I'll pass. Then when people start whining they aren't the best with it and go back to their SS brutes and DM/SD scrappers, I'll pick up the set and love it.

So, for the most powerful power, if it's readily available/accessible players will flock to that (eventually) and leave the coolness for those that truly appreciate it.

We need both. Even if it's for that min/maxer that wants to look cool on every other weekend or the hopeless superficialist to grind some farms with their superior power to make their cool characters decent.

I personally like to be affected by mez every now and then. It's why I don't put Practiced Brawler/Active Defense on auto, I just bind them to a button close to my movement keys.

Kind of like on my Electric Armor Brute, it's nice to, every now and again, get thrown back by a KB power while you're jumping, if only to remind you that the effect is there and appreciate that you have said mez protection. With toggles, it's set it and forget it to the extreme. Makes you lazy, really. You switch to a squishy character and suddenly you feel overwhelmed

Ice Armor and Energy Aura are defense sets with toggle mez protection.

If you're asking why Super Reflexes, Shield Defense and Ninjutsu have click mez protection...So they don't have to run a separate toggle? I mean, SR already has enough toggles, as does SD. Ninjtutsu? I dunno.

Perhaps it's for uniqueness so they play differently? One advantage I find is, if you get drained of endurance (none of those sets have resist to -end/-recovery) and all your toggles are dropped, you can still run away because you won't get mezzed.

Maybe it has something to do with the concept? SR/SD/Nin might (thematically) have to actively dodge/break away from holds and immobilizes while sets like Invulnerability or Fire tend to simply immune/burn them innately with their powers.

I'm glad you're still interested in discussing the ideas, Deewe. Two things I'd like to say at first glance of the edit:

-Can you re-edit it? Perhaps bold the the set names so it's easier to read and maybe indent the powers under it (that little button with the lines and an arrow pointing -> way just before the insert link button). Maybe add some color to the heading to help separate the ATs visually.

-Your Aggressor AT has 2 Psychic Shockwaves. As fun as it would be to chain that wonderous power, I don't think it was your intention for everyone to go rolling that combo.

Eh, I don't use BU the second it's recharged. I'll save it for certain situations, i.e. when my ToHit is debuffed, the spawn is huddled for an AoE, I actually remember its there, etc.

Unless it's on auto (which, IMO, is probably as wasteful as just occasionally forgetting you have it) or you're constantly eying if its recharged or not, I find using it in a toggle to have its benefits.

I probably wouldn't try slotting it in Soul Drain. I think it checks per-target for the proc, but the animation of SD is rather long, you'd be wasting 2/3 of the buff most likely.

I find it fun in Follow up, which is probably the better power to but it in. In powers like Tactics or Focused Accuracy, I find putting the BU proc in there as an incentive to run the power. When you're already hitting the foe at max chance, you don't really need either...unless you want the occasional damage buff on top of that.

At the mere mention of the name 'Golden Jason', Spirit balled his hand/hoof into a fist. As he rose up from his crate chair, he looked rather natural, that is until he lunged forward and pumped his fist into the warrior's face. Jason was knocked off his crate and sent flying into a stack of several more which splintered from the collision.

"So you're Golden Jason!?" the satyr questioned, his amber eyes shown a fierce intense brightness that almost made them look copper-red. "Gimme those swords you stole! Now!!"

Jason stayed sprawled out on the pile of broken wood and heavy metal as the ram stood over him, both fist ready to pummel the thief until he gave up.

"Hold on there, horned dude."

"Spirit, ease up."

The other warriors tried to calm the enraged satyr, holding his arms back as he threatened to hit their leader again. Jason fidgeted then started to get up, his face showing signs of fear and distress. "We don't have them, really," he explained with a bit of fright to his voice. The other warriors looked at their leader a bit oddly. Why'd one punch seem to shake him so? "L-look, we don't want any trouble. We were lookin' for those swords just like you but we're gettin' beat and killed even though we don't got anything." Jason momentarily fell to his knees while trying to explain their situation, almost on the verge of sobbing. Had that attack hurt him that much?

Jason suddenly snapped out of it when he realized what he was doing, but not soon enough as Spirit broke free of the other warrior's grip and grabbed Jason by his shirt and nearly lifted the man up off the ground. "Then where are they?"

Jason's look of intimidation began to fade as he was held face to face with the ram-boy which reminded him how young this creature probably was. Didn't mean he wasn't dangerous but that was besides the point. Perhaps they could help each other if they talked this out. "That I might be able to help with," Jason answered. Spirit's eyes lit up a little and he let the man down but still held him by the shirt. "The Tsoo have been going on about some type of auction. They've been making a big deal about some super powerful artifact they got but want to sell them." Spirit finally let go of his shirt and let him continue. "Now everyone's in an uproar about it. The Circle, the Family, even other members of the Tsoo are all looking to take out the other. It's like, even if you showed interest, you're a suspect of stealing the prize."

"What makes you think these guys have the swords I'm looking for?" Spirit's expression turned to one of perplexity.

"That swordsman guy come in town? His swords always come up missing when he does," Jason answered while pulling a recent newspaper from his back pocket and opening it up. There were lost of articles about how such-and-such hero rescued so many orphans from a burning building or how Ms. whatsherface stopped a some Devouring Earth from spreading blahblah mutation through the sewers, but there was also a little quip that Jason was pointing to. It read about a certain Inou Ryjuta, a famed hero from the east, had come to visit Paragon again to congregate with the Freedom Phalanx about certain world-wide threats. There were even other heroes from around the world that were joining the discussions. "When this guy comes into town, someone's always out to take his swords but he always manages to get them back. People say they have special powers so everybody's after them."

Spirit looked puzzled again. "If this Inou guy always gets his swords back, why try to steal them?"

Jason reached up and patted the satyr on the back. "You're here, right? Apparently, the Tsoo threw off this guy's trail. Whoever gets a hold of them will get off scott free."

"But..." Spirit frowned. "But I have to get them back."

"No problem. I'll help you find them but you have to help me too." The ram looked down on the shorter man with a curious blink of his amber eyes. "I'll take you to the auction when they have it in a couple of days. Not just anyone can get in so you'll be with me. But in exchange, I want you to help me teach those ninja-wanna-bes a lesson."

"A lesson?"

"Yes. Those guys always come in on our turf, beat us up, humiliate us. I just want the chance to try out the swords on those cretins and make a name for myself." Jason leaned in and pulled the satyr in by the shoulder, giving him a friendly pat. "You do this for me and I'll give the swords right back to you after we clean up that place, okay?" Spirit could feel his intent. Either this warrior boss was good at masking his intentions with lies or he was sincere.

"But...why would you do that if you finally get your hands on the prize?" Spirit asked innocently.

"Aw, come on. If I just took them and ran, you'd know I had them and that Inou sword-guy would be on my butt in no time."

The satyr paused for half a minute as he considered this. "But...you can always just kill me and then I couldn't tell on you."

Now it was Jason's turn to look perplexed. "Hmm, I never thought of that." But he soon grinned widely at the taller satyr. "But anyway, who could kill you? You're, like, undefeatable!"

It was easy enough to please Spirit and he just smiled and laughed at this as the Warriors started gathering around, laughing, shoving and socking each other and Spirit in the arm. "Okay okay, fine. I'll do it but promise you'll hand over those swords right after we bust that place."

He stuck out his hand which Jason gladly accepted. With a hardy shake, they agreed. "It's a deal. Just be back here the day after tomorrow, past 8pm. You, me and some of the rest of the gang will be going, so don't be late."

"Hmm, 8? That's almost my bed time...I'll have to sneak out...do the ferries run that late?"

"This is Paragon! When are the ferries not running?"

Just popping in to comment that I just read this last night. Most of this stuff seems common sense to me, though. But even then, I was still surprised.

That last rule kind of gave me the idea to look into crafting lvl 50 set IOs, so I search for which have decent set boni, which have demand greater than its supply (or no supply or demand) and at a rate that can at least break me even with craft costs/salvage. I ended up making some Curtail Speed and Stupefy sets just to test this.

Of course, with the going rate of salvage, some of the IOs cost over 3mil to craft and sell so I put them up for around 6mil. Over a nap, I sold all my Stupefys for 20mil each which just happened to be the going rates for those. I guess I could have made more but I'm not greedy, I just need the cash to get a few high-dollar enhancements. So thanks for the info

Yeah, but *that* is a bug. A ST attack is only suppose to 'hit' one target. Having procs checked when the effect of their set is used, especially something like a taunt set's proc in Gauntlet's case, should have the chance to take effect versus every viable target.

Lol, I didn't put all that much thought into them so they're probably not balanced at all. I'm just used to posting powerset suggestions. Mine usually have some sort of direction to them (like I tried making the water blast set 'weak' in that it doesn't have that many particularly damaging powers but it has a mechanic that tries to simulate 'more water around = more powerful').

Have you read the stats of your other tanker attacks? They all, technically, hit multiple targets, just not with damage. What you're hitting with is the power of Gauntlet, the Tanker inherent power.