Lorax

With the new movie out, I wonder what that'll do to people's impression of my handle.

Miss y'all.

I've got to find time to log in.

Good luck this weekend, everyone!

My first 50 is a Spines/Regen scrapper who spent most of his life pre-ED. Now, with so much more endgame content, I was considereing dusting him off and taking him back out. Thing is, most of his slotting and power selection is pretty out-dated.

Basically, I don't know what power to center my regen focus on. Pera-instant healing is no more, but should it still be a focus - or is cranking my HP as high as possible and counting on panic buttons better? MoG - champ or chump?

What is the most effective PvE /Regen strategy now, what with IOs, ED, and the fact /regen only has a few +resistance powers and no +def powers?

Of course, I'm not completely sold on remaking this guy into another PvE toon, I am considering remaking him into a PvP toon. Not enough funds for the PvP sets currently, but "normal" IO sets should still be able to make a pretty solid fighter.

Lots of questions, lots of thoughts, and of course "depends" is always in the mix. Central point: Just what is /regen's greatest strength?

Any thoughts or comments would be welcome. Some mids code would be awesome, of course, but with less and less /regen folks active (seemingly), that may be a bit too much to hope.

Thanks

Noticed something when I was looking at a TW Scrapper in chargen:
"5% chance...only against minions & underlings"

Didn't there also used to be a "10% chance...only against LTs and Bosses"?

I may be mistaken, but I thought Scrappers had better chances of critting against tougher foes. Maybe it is still there and the description is incorrect. Power details in game for other sets have the same thing - a 5% chance on minions, nada on LTs & bosses.

List of powers requiring Momentum would be nice.

I've made up for my signifficant lack of gaming time lately by publishing a new AE Arc: Aftermath of the Furies, # 528962
It is pretty straightforward, has some stealthable missions, custom baddies, and is kind of simple (no triggered ambushes or the like). I was inspired by replaying First Ward a few weekends ago. Range is only 30-34, so it is a bit limited. Anyway, if anyone has a chance, I would really appreciate some feedback.

Hope to be back on more after the New Year, darn work cutting into my gaming time. Have fun everyone.

The damage. The satisfaction. The challenge.

Damage: Blasters hand out damage like nothing else in the game. The more I attack, the more the damage grows. No tempermental scourge on a Corruptor, nor still not enough solo buff on a Defender; just pure Blaster damage goodness.

Satisfaction: I can keep shooting through most mez. Oh no, I got held – BOOM! You’re still dead. No extra toggles, no fiddly IO, just being a Blaster means I will keep firing.

Challenge: Solo, I approach every mission with a kind of “Challege Accepted” smirk on my face. Just what is it going to take to stop my toon? Could be a mob of 10 that I missed the LTs, could be an EB that reaches me just as all my attacks are on recharge. Without HP/DEF/RES etc, it is about my skill to win. Anybody else remember when Blasters did more damage the lower their HP? Why? I imagine because the best Blasters were always on an edge, taking absurd risks, and then still managing to survive.

I Blast because it is a hell of a lot of fun.

Some fun with mids on a theme-based toon that I made over the weekend. Sharing for fun. Not at all an uber build.

Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.952
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Level 50 Technology Blaster
Primary Power Set: Radiation Blast
Secondary Power Set: Darkness Manipulation
Power Pool: Flight
Power Pool: Teleportation
Power Pool: Concealment
Ancillary Pool: Soul Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Neutrino Bolt

• (A) Decimation - Accuracy/Damage
• (7) Decimation - Damage/Endurance
• (7) Decimation - Damage/Recharge
• (9) Decimation - Accuracy/Endurance/Recharge
• (11) Decimation - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
• (11) Decimation - Chance of Build Up

Level 1: Penumbral Grasp

• (A) Dampened Spirits - To Hit Debuff/Recharge
• (34) Dampened Spirits - To Hit Debuff/Endurance

Level 2: X-Ray Beam

• (A) Devastation - Accuracy/Damage
• (37) Devastation - Damage/Endurance
• (37) Devastation - Damage/Recharge
• (40) Devastation - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
• (43) Thunderstrike - Damage/Endurance
• (50) Thunderstrike - Damage/Recharge

Level 4: Irradiate

• (A) Eradication - Damage
• (43) Eradication - Accuracy/Recharge
• (46) Eradication - Damage/Recharge
• (46) Eradication - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge

Level 6: Electron Haze

• (A) Force Feedback - Damage/Knockback
• (50) Force Feedback - Damage/Endurance/Knockback

Level 8: Aim

• (A) Adjusted Targeting - Recharge
• (9) Adjusted Targeting - To Hit Buff/Recharge

Level 10: Hover

• (A) Luck of the Gambler - Recharge Speed

Level 12: Proton Volley

• (A) Sting of the Manticore - Accuracy/Damage
• (13) Sting of the Manticore - Damage/Endurance
• (13) Sting of the Manticore - Accuracy/Interrupt/Range
• (15) Sting of the Manticore - Damage/Interrupt/Recharge
• (15) Sting of the Manticore - Damage/Endurance/Recharge
• (50) Sting of the Manticore - Chance of Damage(Toxic)

Level 14: Fly

• (A) Flight Speed IO

Level 16: Soul Drain

• (A) Obliteration - Damage
• (17) Obliteration - Accuracy/Recharge
• (17) Obliteration - Damage/Recharge
• (34) Obliteration - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
• (34) Obliteration - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge

Level 18: Cosmic Burst

• (A) Devastation - Accuracy/Damage
• (19) Devastation - Damage/Recharge
• (19) Devastation - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
• (25) Devastation - Damage/Endurance
• (25) Range IO
• (33) Range IO

Level 20: Touch of Fear

• (A) Glimpse of the Abyss - Accuracy/Recharge
• (21) Glimpse of the Abyss - Endurance/Fear
• (21) Glimpse of the Abyss - Accuracy/Endurance
• (23) Glimpse of the Abyss - Fear/Range
• (23) Glimpse of the Abyss - Accuracy/Fear/Recharge

Level 22: Afterburner

• (A) Luck of the Gambler - Recharge Speed

Level 24: Recall Friend

• (A) Interrupt Reduction IO

Level 26: Neutron Bomb

• (A) Positron's Blast - Accuracy/Damage
• (27) Positron's Blast - Damage/Endurance
• (27) Positron's Blast - Damage/Recharge
• (33) Positron's Blast - Damage/Range
• (33) Positron's Blast - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance

Level 28: Dark Consumption

• (A) Efficacy Adaptor - EndMod
• (29) Efficacy Adaptor - EndMod/Recharge
• (29) Efficacy Adaptor - EndMod/Accuracy/Recharge
• (31) Efficacy Adaptor - Accuracy/Recharge
• (31) Efficacy Adaptor - EndMod/Accuracy
• (31) Efficacy Adaptor - EndMod/Endurance

Level 30: Grant Invisibility

• (A) Luck of the Gambler - Recharge Speed

Level 32: Invisibility

• (A) Luck of the Gambler - Recharge Speed

Level 35: Dark Pit

• (A) Stupefy - Accuracy/Recharge
• (36) Stupefy - Endurance/Stun
• (36) Stupefy - Accuracy/Endurance
• (36) Stupefy - Stun/Range
• (37) Stupefy - Accuracy/Stun/Recharge

Level 38: Midnight Grasp

• (A) Touch of Death - Accuracy/Damage
• (39) Touch of Death - Damage/Endurance
• (39) Touch of Death - Damage/Recharge
• (39) Touch of Death - Damage/Endurance/Recharge
• (40) Dampened Spirits - To Hit Debuff/Endurance
• (40) Dampened Spirits - To Hit Debuff/Recharge

Level 41: Night Fall

• (A) Positron's Blast - Accuracy/Damage
• (42) Positron's Blast - Damage/Endurance
• (42) Positron's Blast - Damage/Recharge
• (42) Positron's Blast - Damage/Range
• (43) Positron's Blast - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
• (46) Positron's Blast - Chance of Damage(Energy)

Level 44: Soul Tentacles

• (A) Positron's Blast - Accuracy/Damage
• (45) Positron's Blast - Damage/Endurance
• (45) Positron's Blast - Damage/Recharge
• (45) Positron's Blast - Damage/Range

Level 47: Dark Embrace

• (A) Impervium Armor - Resistance
• (48) Impervium Armor - Resistance/Endurance
• (48) Impervium Armor - Resistance/Recharge
• (48) Impervium Armor - Resistance/Endurance/Recharge

Level 49: Phase Shift

• (A) Recharge Reduction IO

Level 0: Freedom Phalanx Reserve
Level 0: Portal Jockey
Level 0: Task Force Commander
Level 0: The Atlas Medallion
Level 50: Musculature Core Paragon
------------
Level 2: Swift

• (A) Empty

Level 2: Health

• (A) Regenerative Tissue - +Regeneration
• (5) Miracle - +Recovery
• (5) Numina's Convalescence - +Regeneration/+Recovery

Level 2: Hurdle

• (A) Empty

Level 2: Stamina

• (A) Endurance Modification IO
• (3) Endurance Modification IO
• (3) Endurance Modification IO

Level 1: Brawl

• (A) Empty

Level 1: Defiance
Level 1: Sprint

• (A) Empty

Level 2: Rest

• (A) Empty

Level 4: Ninja Run

Question: 1 entry per person / team?
I've got several I could bring, including some duos with my wife.

And Mids just got us our Beam Rifle update last week.

Looks like people don't know, so they'd rather tell me I'm wrong that admit ignorance. If folks go kill a Malta Operational Officer Lt with the hand-held taser out they will see. Really, I just should have gone and killed one myself rather than asking. Should have known a bit of obscure grapics wouldn't in the knowledge base of the forums.

What's the brand name on the tasers that Malta operatives keep stunning me with? It isn't "Crey," but I don't remember, nor have a screenshot.

I think my next tech origin will be working for that company, rather than another Crey experiment.

Drinks:
Martini
2 shots gin
1/2 shot dry vermouth
Add all ingredients to a shaker
Shake with ice
Drain into a cocktail glass
Garnish with an olive
Suggested Gins: Hendricks, Tanqueray, Bombay Sapphire, Beefeater, Plymouth

Manhattan:
2 shots rye whiskey (or bourbon)
1 shot sweet vermouth
Add all ingredients to a shaker
Shake with ice
Drain into a cocktail glass
Dash of Angostura bitters
Garnish with a cherry
Suggested whiskeys: I like Bulleit rye, Maker’s Mark, or one of the Beam labels. Really, there are a ton of whiskeys in North America, so go with the one you like.

“Perfect” Margarita:
1 shot 100% blue agave blanco tequila
1 shot triple sec
1 shot orange juice
1 shot lemon-lime soda
1 shot lime juice
Add all to a shaker with ice (WARNING: adding carbonated beverage to a shaker means you gotta shake it a bit with the top off before closing it up so as to release the CO2, thus preventing the shaker flying apart mid-shake. That won’t impress anyone, as I can attest. I use lemon-lime soda rather than simple syrup or sour mix, both are traditional alternatives; use what you like)
Drain into a margarita glass or a tall tumbler over ice
Salted rim optional, but I recommend it
Optional: Splash of Grand Marnier on top
This is called a “perfect” margarita since all ingredients are the same measure.
Suggested tequilas: Hornitos, Cazadores & Herradura. The important bit is 100% blue agave.

Scotch:
1 shot Single malt Scotch in a low ball glass. Ice and splash of water optional.
Suggested scotches: Macallan (natch), Balvenie, Glenmorangie, Scapa

Some dishes I enjoy. I don’t do a great job measuring, nor know exact bake times.

Lemon Chicken – In a casserole dish (I use corningware)
1 whole boneless skinless chicken breast
Splash some olive oil and lemon juice into the bottom of the dish
Put chicken in dish and rub it around, coating it
Dust with lemon pepper (or if a real chef: fresh cracked pepper and lemon zest)
Flip, dust with lemon pepper
Bake at 350 for 35-50 minutes depending on how heavy the chicken is. More weight = more cook.

Pot roast
2-3 pound roast (I like chuck)
Put some minced garlic, canola oil & salt in a large pot or pan, big enough to brown the roast.
Brown that thing.
Put roast in a big dish or Dutch oven.
Rub in rosemary & tarragon all over the roast (Careful, its hot)
Flip roast, rub in with the herbs again
Fill bottom on dish with zinfandel or other such red wine
Optional: add carrots & diced potatoes around the roast. Me, I like cooking my veggies on the side rather than braising them in with the roast in the wine, but that’s me. I do sometimes add chopped onions or celery to add some aromatics to the roast.
Bake at 250 for 2-3 hours. More weight = more cook

Beer bread
1 can beer
3 cups self-rising flour
3 tablespoons of sugar
Mix everything, dump in a small, greased breadpan, bake at 325 around 45 minutes.
Smear butter on top when removed from oven

Skin-on creamy potatoes
Potatoes (whatever variety you like, I tend for the golden)
Heavy cream, sour cream & real butter
Scrub potatoes nice and clean
Seriously, potatoes grow underground – wash them again.
Boil with a little salt & canola oil until mushy.
By boil, I mean get the water boiling, add potatoes, then cover and simmer. Don’t roiling boil these things.
Drain
Stick ‘em back in the pot and tear them apart with a spoon or utensil of choice
Add creams of choice as you stir
This is a taste thing: heavy cream = creamy; sour cream = tangy & bit heavier.
Stop when a consistency & flavor you like
Put a little real butter on top before service

From the store simple chili
Not exactly gourmet, but a crowd pleaser. This one I actually do formal recipe style
1 pound ground chuck
1 can Bush’s Medium chili beans (or whatever pre-seasoned bean you like)
1 can dark red kidney beans
1 can black beans
1 small yellow onion (or half a big one, like a Vidalia which is what I tend to use)
1 packet chili mix (I use McCormick’s)
1 large can petit cut tomatoes
Brown the chuck in the giant pot you’re gonna use for the chili. I tend to dash it with red pepper and chili powder while browning.
Drain the beef, rinse the pot, dump beef back in pot
Add tomatoes, onion (chop the onion of course), and all the beans
Stir and let heat up on medium heat for about 5 minutes
Add mix, stir a lot
Heat & stir on medium heat until bubbling, turn down and let simmer for about an hour

I played through the first Signature Story Arc this morning, and when complete liked the choices except for the 4x Normal Reward Merit option. I don't know what 1x Normal Reward Merit is. It took me less than half an hour, so I'm gussing it is pretty light, especially when compared to that Hero Merit or some incarnate components.

But that darn 4X was stitting there all shiney. I wanted to press it, but I thought of the Mystery Box. I resisted and selected a Hero Merit, but I sure would like to know what 1x is so that I can feel better.

Anyone know what normal reward merit for this first Signature Story Arc? (I can do the 4x math myself)

I'll get some together. I'm just so glad to be able to post again. I was one of those hit with this bug:
http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showthread.php?t=271499

Happy Birthday!

I love the 'net.

First response answered my question - I don't have to do anything; each month NCSoft will automatically keep billing me and give me my VIP rewards, which is cool since I didn't want to have to log in and make changes to my accounts just to keep things as-is.

Meanwhile, we're on page 2 of how correct / incorrect, precise / imprecise, superfluous, or useful the other provided data is.

Thanks for the (over?) abundance of information.

I would suggest a Blaster or a Scrapper.
My wife’s main is a Controller, and after she finished all her Incarnate slots, she wanted a change of pace. We had a couple of paired teams, but the toon she kept wanting to play was her Blaster. Why? Because after constantly controlling the entire battlefield, team or solo, she just wanted to “make things dead.” It was relaxing to have just 1 task, but also fast paced and dynamic, because as a Blaster you are a bit squishy. Now if you’re going to be doing lots of soloing, Blasters can be a little tougher, so I’d suggest Scrapper. Again, you have to watch your health so things are dynamic, but the boss-killing fun is awesome. As for what sets, I say abandon any sort of Controller-eske sets and really focus on raw damage. Good luck, and have fun.

I missed TT. (Sigh)
This work thing is really getting in the way of my playtime, darnit.

I may have missed this in the official news blurbs.

As a current paying customer, am I automatically a VIP player, or do I have to change something at the NCSoft Store?

Corruptor.

Corruptors are Defenders with Damage. They are much more soloable OVERALL.

Dark/ Defender is the most soloable so it is possible to tweak things and do various machinations to make a strong solo Defender - and that right there should be your answer. Corruptors kill things out of the box, Defenders don't.

Aside: I'm speaking generally. Generally, Corruptors do more damage and are more soloable. This is not an invitation to "Please come up with a Defender combo with IO sets that is better at solo." OP has been playing for less than a year, let's speak simple.

"Depends" does not answer the question.