Master Zaprobo

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Question - how does Placate work on players? I never got a chance to test that in beta.

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I got Placated during the US Beta (was playing a Tank in one of the PvP Zone tests). You are literally unable to target the Stalker (even if you can see them!)

Prestige and SB Badges are earnt for the SG, not for an individual. Imagine the blackmail you could get away with if you could "withdraw" your Prestige. Worse, if it belonged to a player who went inactive... I can think of any number of nightmare situations!

Nope, much better the way it is.

Well, since Assault ZR-Beta (follows the same naming scheme as MZ's Robotics henchmen) is a robot I have the following...

/macro Assn "say Assassination Target: $target Confirmed"

And for Placate (when I get it...)

/macro Plac "say Assassination Target: $target Supressed"

I have them on macros so I can choose to use them or not (handy for PvP when you don't want to alert a target when you're in the buildup to Assassin Strike).

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Are the no epic powers like in CoH?

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There's no L41-50 yet. So no Epics. Reportedly, Epics will be based on which of Recluses Lieutenants you work for.

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So you dont FF your henches then? Dont know about anyone else but upgrading then bubbling my 4 pets + bf takes all my end. Then with tactics and dispersion field I'm not exactly regening fast, as soon as I've got my end back its time to rebubble
A few more slots and a full set of SOs and I'll be fine but until then its going to be exhausting. FWIW I dont plan on putting more than 1 recharge redux in upgrade, I have bubbles to do in between.

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The endurance drain during the setup period of a Mastermind (at L32, three summons, 12 upgrades, plus whatever other buffs) is fairly unsurmountable. It'll happen. You need to get to a mission first, or have an understanding team!

During the buffing period (in beta when I was a respectable L33) I ran no toggles, and concentrated on the buffs. Equip Robot was two-slotted, Upgrade Robot was four-slotted. Defl/Insul Shields had no recharges.

I would open by Equipping and Upgrading the Assault Bot. I could then Equip every other robot (that's five more buffs) before Upgrade Robot had recharged. I could then double-bubble almost all the robots again before I got Upgrade Robot recharged. I would be out of End at this point.

However, if I was then waiting for Upgrade Robot so I could top off all my Drones (the Full Auto Laser is great!) I would fully recharge all my endurance before the off. If I wanted to do the remaining Upgrades on the fly I'd just fire off a CaB or two and I'd be ready to run Assault, Tactics and Dispersion Bubble. Plus Group Fly when needed for difficult navigation.

While I appreciate a lot of people will feel they have to take Stamina, I don't see the need with a AT that does not spam out attacks constantly themselves. If you are going to be using a lot of your own Secondary (Dark, Trick, Poison are fairly notorious for this) or the Primary attacks then you may feel the strain.

Certainly interested. Will try and put my Stalker down and get enough levels on MZ

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Just speak for yourself, my END bar was dry most of the time before i got stamina, still can drain it in tougher fights.

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Of course you can always spam your bars dry I'm speaking in comparison to other AT's - our primary attacks come from our henchmen who after summoning do not draw on our own endurance bars.

We can afford to even do nothing endurance-draining in a fight as our henchman will still be doing damage. Slot for endurance reduction and you can do without Stamina, meaning you can take more Primary/Secondary powers.

Of course, Stamina is a valid choice of a power, but I'd avoid it as it means I can take more directly useful powers (plus ED means I can use End Rdx where I previously had something else to make up the shortfall).

You can, so long as you gather the right Teleportation Beacons. And craft a Personal Transporter. And can generate enough power and control.

You're slotting as per pre-Enhancement Diversification. As a general rule of thumb, no more than 3 enhancements of the same type in a power. Four at the absolute outside.

Only 1 Rchg Rdx in Dark Empowerment? You'll be hurting during your initial upgrade phase - up it to at least 3, if not 4.

You're playing a Mastermind, we do not use that much endurance. Consider dropping the Fitness line (perhaps keep Swift to counteract the slow of Shadow Fall) and slot an End Rdx or two instead.

Consider taking some of the Leadership Pool - especially Assault and Tactics. They're practically must-haves (but not at the expense of your Secondaries) and work much better with MM's than Fitness.

Consider taking Ghost at L18 - he's a very powerful henchman and can turn the tide (he's got a Hold and he's not afraid to spam it).

Villains only currently go up to L40. Plan your slots acordingly.

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Any power gained through an upgrade is currently unaffected by Enhancement slotting in the summon power itself. Upgrade-gained powers only work at their base damage, accuracy, etc. The devs are aware, can fix this, but are currently testing that it does not overbalance the AT.

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By way of an update, Positron has stated in a Private Message to a player that this will be fixed as soon as possible. If the fully enhanced upgrade powers are overpowering for a MM, they will simply tone down the base values.

As such, I suggest slotting as if the powers are enhanced once you get to Single-Origin enhancements. Saves buying a different layout later.

The Mastermind Index
This index is intended to link to all the numerous resources available, across both the US and UK Forums that make controlling and playing your Mastermind simpler and more fun.

Mastermind Guides
These contain information specifically organised to make more sense to a starting player. I recommend you read the Guides first.

MZ's Guide to the Modern Mastermind v1.1 (UK)
Mastermind Notes v2.1 (US)
Positron and Pohsyb's Guide to Masterminds v2.0 (US)

Henchman Power Names and Upgrades Guide (UK)
Mastermind Tactics (UK)

Macros and Keybinds
These are methods that varying players have used to make controlling their henchmen simpler or more in-depth.

Robotics Control Binds (UK)
Khaiba's Numeric Keypad Pet Controls (US)
The Mastermind /petsay thread. MM Binds (US)

Fun and Games
These are not essential to the understanding of the Mastermind AT, but are well worth reading nonetheless!

Naming Minions (UK)
What are you going to name your MM and pets? (US)
New Emotes (UK)
Pet Pics (UK)

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is the ghost power worth getting then?

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Yes - look up my Upgrades and Powers thread - they get a Hold (Necroplasmic Grasp) out of the box, as well as decent resists, flight and other nice toys.

Succinct and to the point We are indeed great!

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Going to try this tonight anyway but does anyone know if you can dismiss a zombie/knight/lich and use the corpse from that to get a ghost?

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If you can then it's an exploit. Plus, you'd probably have to use /releasepets as /petcom dismiss leaves no corpse to use the power on.

Master Zaprobo looked at his journal log carefully. It appeared that it had been externally accessed, via the network link to the facility that Arachnos had provided for his research. Steepling his fingers, he watched the log traffic flashed across the monitor.

It seemed that someone had earmarked him as an Acolyte of Arachnos.

"That's going to mean trouble...", the elderly scientist thought to himself.

Stealth is fine, as it means you still impart Supremacy to your henches. Invisibility will cut off any PBAoE buffs including Supremacy to them.

Henchman can still follow you, and you can still order them when stealthed.

Have a look at my Mastermind Guide for all your basic MM concerns

1, 6, 12, 18, 24, 26 is the brief version though!

It can't fail. It doesn't have an accuracy check, it will always reliably apply so long as you have an upgraded henchman selected.

What you may be experiencing is an issue of lag, where the upgrade icon doesn't appear next to the henchman in the pet window. Was very common in the US Beta.

Check your henchmans costume, it will have changed to show the upgrade. Grave Knights get more armour, Zombies get noxious breath.

Oh, and Ghosts can not be upgraded - they come with all their powers from the outset.

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1. How do you handle the constant rebuffing with Dispersion Field and Insulation Shield? When I look at the Duration of 120 Seconds I can imagine you start rebuffing the first Pet when you finished with the last

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Where are you getting your numbers? Deflection and Insulation both have a four minute duration. Dispersion Bubble is a toggle that is up constantly if you slot right (1-2x End Rdx)

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2. Are there any Powers in the FF Set (besides Repulsion Bomb) which can be skipped? All those Powers beside the Bomb seem to be very usefull .. Repulsion Field with Mercs together looks especially good since the Mercs are pure Ranged with the exception of the Rifle Headsmash

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I will not be taking PFF and Detention Field. I will be taking Repulsion Field and Repulsion Bomb. Make of that what you may

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3. Can FF be run without Stamina? I see all this toggles and when Leadership is also be considered

06) --> Assault==> EndRdx(6) EndRdx(7) EndRdx(7)
14) --> Tactics==> EndRdx(14) EndRdx(15) EndRdx(15)
20) --> Dispersion Bubble==> EndRdx(20) EndRdx(21) EndRdx(21) DefBuf(23) DefBuf(23) DefBuf(25)
28) --> Repulsion Field==> Acc(28) Acc(29) EndRdx(29) EndRdx(31) EndRdx(31)
38) --> Force Bubble==> EndRdx(38) EndRdx(39) EndRdx(39)

Running those toggles, with the EndRdx Enhancements leave the Stamina Regeneration at -0.05 without Stamina.

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Again, where are you getting numbers? Very many of the old planners are severely outdated. There's be an across the board Endurance Discount. Things like Force Bubble have had their endurance use cut.

In CoV Beta I had Assault, Tactics and Dispersion Bubble running all with only one SO End Rdx and was able to still use Repair, Force Bolt, Pulse Rifle Burst and re-shielding as needed. Seldom had endurance problems. I did not have Stamina at all.

http://www.genericvillain.com/beta/index.htm

Darn I love whoever did this! These are a series of some of the most useful posts from the US CoV Beta Forums. The Masterminds and Base ones are very, very good reading!

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Let me tell u from experience i had with my MM...(i had ZOMG Greek level 36 3 bars away from 37 Bots FF MM)

Drop maneuvers and get assault for that little extra damage and dispersion field asap...photon grenade and the attacks u have from primary u need drop as they only waste endurance and not really good damage plus unwanted aggro...try take the medicine pool asap for that extra heal to your bots and PFF asap...PFF is a multi tool with it u can even tank AV's if u get the trick how to do it effectively and fast enough....

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Solid advice (ex-L33 Robotics/FF MM, CoV US Beta)

Mind you, I never took PFF myself

My personal method of making a Mastermind...

- Take the summons as soon as you can
- Take the henchman upgrades as son as you can
- Take only the second single-target attack
- Take the Hench Support (Smoke Flash, Repair, Ghost, Serum) power as soon as possible
- Fit in a travel power pre-req at L8
- Fit in the Travel power at L14
- Take Secondary Powers wherever else possible
- If there is no secondary you can or want to take, take Assault, Tactics, or Aid Other instead from the Power Pools.

Instant playable MM!

Pah, the US Forums are linking to here for my Mastermind Guide They love me *g* (I was fairly well known in the Masterminds forum in US CoV Beta).

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so I can imagine you could one shot Controllers, Defenders and maybe Blasters. Two Shot Scrappers. Ignore Tanks.

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No, team up with three other Stalkers and hit the Tank with a multi-shot AS!

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Ok.. so where i can i buy the toilet?

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They're a Miscellaneous Decorative Item I believe (it places a Gents, Ladies, and Huge toilet door set!)