Metatron_NA

Sleeping them and then killing the baddies one at a time seems (and please tell me if this isn't so) a very safe but much slower approach. It seems like the XP/min on that would be less impressive than an option that include AoE strategies.

However, I had an Archer once before and very much liked his RoA - loving the lack of crash. So an Archer/NRG IOed for softcapped defense and max recharge could work.

Question: If I have softcapped Defense, how often will a +1 hit (say, a boss) hit me compared to a +2, a +3, and a +4? Just curious if going after higher baddies makes me a lot more squishy, or just a little.

Will a Fire/Fire/Fire faceplant *that* much if he has softcapped Def? If I do a little, its not the end of the world - and Rise of the Phoenix doesn't help much coming so late in that build.

I wonder if its possible to get Softcapped Def *and* softcapped S/L Resists on Fire/Fire/Fire. That could mean that little hits me, and what does isn't likely to do much damage.

Course Archery/Fire might also be the best of both worlds with RoA being up so much.

Also, the idea of combining Archery and NRG and using Boost Range to ain down death from afar is interesting.

But /Mental also has its perks - too many choices. How do I narrow them down?

Looking at Fire/ and Archery/ with /Fire, /Mental, and /NRG. What the best combo of those options that gives me softcapped Def, possibly softcapped S/L, and a crap ton of dps, not just at 50, but al throughout the journey?

Drilling down deeper, Fire/Fire is an option, as is Fire/Mental. Both of those probably outperform Fire/NRG for the goal we are talking about here.

Archery/Fire, Archery/Mental, and Archery/NRG seem toall work, albeit differently.

So with Fire/Fire, you have a lot of offense, with plenty of AoE, and the newly improved Burn. Your survivability would come almost entirely from softcapping Def and S/L Resists, but that may be enough.

Fire/Mental gives you Drain Psyche to bost both Recovery and Regen, which helps not only with End but Healing and survivability. Shockwave is a good late game AoE, Scream a decent Cone. Perhaps even World of Confusion can mitigate incoming damage.

Archery/Fire losing the extra secondary amage Fire/Fire would have, but replaces it with nuke that is ar more useful (I would skip Inferno on Fire/Fire.) Not sure which outperforms the other, but possibly Fistful of Arrows, Explosive Arrow, + Rain of Arrows does more damage than Fire Breath + Fire Ball. Or maybe its close. If all the Fire/ attacks without the skippable Inferno performed about the ame as all the Archery/ attacks with RoA, given both being equal I would probably go with Fire/ as I love the look and sound of using he power set. However, if the Archery/ set significantly outperforms Fire/ due to RoA, I would go with Archery/

Archery/Mental would I think trade off a lot of the /Fire extra damage for mroe survivability in the form of DrainPsyche and World of Confusion. Still, the Aoe damage in /Mental is no slouch, but am I correst in thinking that /Fire beats it in terms of dps? Between Blazing Aura, the fixed Burn, Hot Feet, FSC, etc?

Finally Archery/NRG would I think use a very different strategy of using Boost Range with RoA, Explosive Arrows, and Fistfull to deplete the baddie group right off, and then jumping the in the middle of the group to finish the higher baddies off with some of the /NRG heavy hitters. Still, /NRG is a pretty loose build, with lots of skippable stuff in /NRG. Plus you get the survivability bonus of depleting most of the spawn at crazy range.

We have five contenders now it seems: Fire/Fire, Fire/Mental, Archery/Fire, Archery/Mental, and Archery/NRG.

Can we eliminate any? Are there any glaring flaws in any of the above 5 combos? Or does one of them make another pointless - for example, can we rule out Archery/Fire because Fire/Fire does the same job only better? (Or the other way around?)

Thanks.

While I was leveling up my last (and 18th) level 50, I discovered something – something that doubtlessly many of you have been aware of for some time, but was new information to me. Using this character (an Illusion/Kin Controller) I was actually able to solo +2/x4 missions – albeit slowly. (By the way, I probably spent around 2 billion inf on that Controller all told)

So I started thinking. I had heard that it was possible to softcap Defense or Resistance or both on many different Archetypes, so it occurred to me that it might be possible to create a character that could solo +2/x8 – or maybe higher. After poking around on some of the forums around here, that was confirmed.

So while I will be using my next new character to explore Going Rogue, and probably start in Praetoria, I also want to explore the idea of creating a character that is so highly effective. I am calling this attempt The Paragon Project.

However, I have very specific design goals and play limitations. Here are the ones I can think of, more may be added as they are discovered.

First, it is my policy to play each character from 1 to 50, and then upon hitting 50, retire them, permanently. So the idea would be not to build towards achieving this effectiveness late in the game, but to frontload this effectiveness at earlier, as possible. For example, a build candidate that hits its stride at 32 would be preferred over one that hits its stride at 42 – with the former, I get to enjoy it for 18 levels, with the latter I only get 8. Ideally, the character starts really being able to solo and gain quick massive XP in the 20-30 region.

Also, ‘effectiveness’ boils down two metrics really: The speed at which XP can be generated solo, and the risk of death (which obviously cuts into XP in several ways.) Ideally, I would prefer to make death be a rare occurrence, even if that moderately reduces XP – faceplants enrage me. However, within that safety zone, I would like to focus on characters that are able to achieve max XP/minute rates – whether that means running at +0/x4, or +3/x8, or anywhere in between. Again, not locked into any particular mission setup, simply looking for the build that with the right mission level and padding choices results in superior xp/min solo.

Now, because this project (and character) get shelved at 50, that makes buying purples, which can only be slotted at 50, pointless. Therefore, no suggested build should use them.

However, have been playing this game since pre-launch, and across more than two dozen characters (18 of which are 50s) I have countless billions of influence/infamy. So please, in any build you suggest, feel free to load up on the most expensive IOs that make the build work – from LotG’s to Numina to Hamis to *anything*.

I also have several Vet awards, which may or may not affect suggested builds. I have the ability to select my travel power right at level 6, I have the ability to pick up Sand of Mu, Nemesis Staff, and the Blackwand all at the start, I also start every character with 4 or 5 built-in respecs, not counting the alt build faux-respec. Point is, I can (and frequently do) build a character one way until a point, and then another way after. Case in point, on my last character, I built one way pre 20, NOT taking the Fitness pool, respecced at 20 INTO the Fitness Pool and Stamina, then at 36 respecced back out of Stamina when I got Transference.

Other factors to know are that I do not PvP, do not like the form switching that Khelds do, and do not care for characters which take the baddies out by indirect methods – Masterminds and Traps, I’m looking at you! No, *I* want to be the one kicking the baddies butts, not my pets or summoned devices.

By the way, I am not saying that I will *never* team up with folks in playing this character, but that’s not the point of the Project. The point of the Project is to see how fast a build can solo from 1 to 50 by kicking butt in missions even if no teams or friends can be found.

Also, I don’t care ultimately if this is more of a ST or AoE build – whichever gets he better xp/min + safety metrics – which I am guessing may be AoE more than ST, but whatever.

Now, if I am going to be running a character that does good XP/min, it will obviously have to have excellent damage capability, with I would imagine some AoE. Given that and all of the above, I am considering the followings AT have potential strengths and weaknesses:

• Brutes. I have 2 @ 50 – a Fire/Fire that used to be a farmer from CoV’s release, and a SS/Inv from around the same time. Brutes can take a pounding, but unlike Tanks, they can dish out a fair amount of damage as I recall. And if I am soloing, all the attacks are pointed at me – which builds Fury faster, I imagine – plus the faster I rip through the mish, the more my Fury stays high. Maybe Fire/Fire with Softcapped Defense and lots of hasten?
• Corruptors. Not only damage, but a synergistic secondary. Maybe Fire/Fire with the new buffs to /Fire would be the key, or maybe Fire/Kin with the ability to Fulcrum Shift myself would rock. Downside is, unlike Blasters, there’s no BuildUp.
• Blasters. Upside: BuildUp. Downside: It’s a single trick pony of damage. However, maybe a Fire/NRG, for example, with softcapped defenses/resists, could hit high XP/min solo. Maybe.
• Scrappers. Both /SR and /Shield look promising, and their crits seem like a good trick when soloing large groups. Or maybe /Fire with Burn and Fiery Embrace changes?
• VEATS – Soldiers of Arachnos. Haven’t tried one of these yet, but I hear good things that suggest that these are the jack of all trades. But are they also the master of none?

My next character is likely going to be one of the above 5 ATs. And so I am posting this request in each of the 5 AT subforums, to ask the experts in each AT what specific builds you would suggest.

Again, the design criteria are:
• Designed to be effective as early as possible, knowing that this character will be shelved @ 50
• Therefore, no purples
• However, as far as IOs, the sky’s the limit, price is no object. Usually I slot for sets as soon as I can, say around 22 or 28.
• No PvP use
• Goal: most xp/min in a solo padded mission of +A/xB where A and B can be any numbers that work
• Little or no dying, possible ways to ditch and restart without dying or riding the death line too closely
• Probably taking advantage of softcapped Defense and/or Resistance
• Not a pet or device character, but a kicking-a$$ character.

So, what do you guys in the Scrappers Forum think the best answer to this puzzle is using a Scrapper?

PS. Whatever AT and build I wind up going with, I am almost certainly going to be doing so in Paragon City, *not* the Rogue Isles. After Praetoria, that is.

While I was leveling up my last (and 18th) level 50, I discovered something – something that doubtlessly many of you have been aware of for some time, but was new information to me. Using this character (an Illusion/Kin Controller) I was actually able to solo +2/x4 missions – albeit slowly. (By the way, I probably spent around 2 billion inf on that Controller all told)

So I started thinking. I had heard that it was possible to softcap Defense or Resistance or both on many different Archetypes, so it occurred to me that it might be possible to create a character that could solo +2/x8 – or maybe higher. After poking around on some of the forums around here, that was confirmed.

So while I will be using my next new character to explore Going Rogue, and probably start in Praetoria, I also want to explore the idea of creating a character that is so highly effective. I am calling this attempt The Paragon Project.

However, I have very specific design goals and play limitations. Here are the ones I can think of, more may be added as they are discovered.

First, it is my policy to play each character from 1 to 50, and then upon hitting 50, retire them, permanently. So the idea would be not to build towards achieving this effectiveness late in the game, but to frontload this effectiveness at earlier, as possible. For example, a build candidate that hits its stride at 32 would be preferred over one that hits its stride at 42 – with the former, I get to enjoy it for 18 levels, with the latter I only get 8. Ideally, the character starts really being able to solo and gain quick massive XP in the 20-30 region.

Also, ‘effectiveness’ boils down two metrics really: The speed at which XP can be generated solo, and the risk of death (which obviously cuts into XP in several ways.) Ideally, I would prefer to make death be a rare occurrence, even if that moderately reduces XP – faceplants enrage me. However, within that safety zone, I would like to focus on characters that are able to achieve max XP/minute rates – whether that means running at +0/x4, or +3/x8, or anywhere in between. Again, not locked into any particular mission setup, simply looking for the build that with the right mission level and padding choices results in superior xp/min solo.

Now, because this project (and character) get shelved at 50, that makes buying purples, which can only be slotted at 50, pointless. Therefore, no suggested build should use them.

However, have been playing this game since pre-launch, and across more than two dozen characters (18 of which are 50s) I have countless billions of influence/infamy. So please, in any build you suggest, feel free to load up on the most expensive IOs that make the build work – from LotG’s to Numina to Hamis to *anything*.

I also have several Vet awards, which may or may not affect suggested builds. I have the ability to select my travel power right at level 6, I have the ability to pick up Sand of Mu, Nemesis Staff, and the Blackwand all at the start, I also start every character with 4 or 5 built-in respecs, not counting the alt build faux-respec. Point is, I can (and frequently do) build a character one way until a point, and then another way after. Case in point, on my last character, I built one way pre 20, NOT taking the Fitness pool, respecced at 20 INTO the Fitness Pool and Stamina, then at 36 respecced back out of Stamina when I got Transference.

Other factors to know are that I do not PvP, do not like the form switching that Khelds do, and do not care for characters which take the baddies out by indirect methods – Masterminds and Traps, I’m looking at you! No, *I* want to be the one kicking the baddies butts, not my pets or summoned devices.

By the way, I am not saying that I will *never* team up with folks in playing this character, but that’s not the point of the Project. The point of the Project is to see how fast a build can solo from 1 to 50 by kicking butt in missions even if no teams or friends can be found.

Also, I don’t care ultimately if this is more of a ST or AoE build – whichever gets he better xp/min + safety metrics – which I am guessing may be AoE more than ST, but whatever.

Now, if I am going to be running a character that does good XP/min, it will obviously have to have excellent damage capability, with I would imagine some AoE. Given that and all of the above, I am considering the followings AT have potential strengths and weaknesses:

• Brutes. I have 2 @ 50 – a Fire/Fire that used to be a farmer from CoV’s release, and a SS/Inv from around the same time. Brutes can take a pounding, but unlike Tanks, they can dish out a fair amount of damage as I recall. And if I am soloing, all the attacks are pointed at me – which builds Fury faster, I imagine – plus the faster I rip through the mish, the more my Fury stays high. Maybe Fire/Fire with Softcapped Defense and lots of hasten?
• Corruptors. Not only damage, but a synergistic secondary. Maybe Fire/Fire with the new buffs to /Fire would be the key, or maybe Fire/Kin with the ability to Fulcrum Shift myself would rock. Downside is, unlike Blasters, there’s no BuildUp.
• Blasters. Upside: BuildUp. Downside: It’s a single trick pony of damage. However, maybe a Fire/NRG, for example, with softcapped defenses/resists, could hit high XP/min solo. Maybe.
• Scrappers. Both /SR and /Shield look promising, and their crits seem like a good trick when soloing large groups. Or maybe /Fire with Burn and Fiery Embrace changes?
• VEATS – Soldiers of Arachnos. Haven’t tried one of these yet, but I hear good things that suggest that these are the jack of all trades. But are they also the master of none?

My next character is likely going to be one of the above 5 ATs. And so I am posting this request in each of the 5 AT subforums, to ask the experts in each AT what specific builds you would suggest.

Again, the design criteria are:
• Designed to be effective as early as possible, knowing that this character will be shelved @ 50
• Therefore, no purples
• However, as far as IOs, the sky’s the limit, price is no object. Usually I slot for sets as soon as I can, say around 22 or 28.
• No PvP use
• Goal: most xp/min in a solo padded mission of +A/xB where A and B can be any numbers that work
• Little or no dying, possible ways to ditch and restart without dying or riding the death line too closely
• Probably taking advantage of softcapped Defense and/or Resistance
• Not a pet or device character, but a kicking-a$$ character.

So, what do you guys in the Corruptors Forum think the best answer to this puzzle is using a Corruptor?

PS. Whatever AT and build I wind up going with, I am almost certainly going to be doing so in Paragon City, *not* the Rogue Isles. After Praetoria, that is.

While I was leveling up my last (and 18th) level 50, I discovered something – something that doubtlessly many of you have been aware of for some time, but was new information to me. Using this character (an Illusion/Kin Controller) I was actually able to solo +2/x4 missions – albeit slowly. (By the way, I probably spent around 2 billion inf on that Controller all told)

So I started thinking. I had heard that it was possible to softcap Defense or Resistance or both on many different Archetypes, so it occurred to me that it might be possible to create a character that could solo +2/x8 – or maybe higher. After poking around on some of the forums around here, that was confirmed.

So while I will be using my next new character to explore Going Rogue, and probably start in Praetoria, I also want to explore the idea of creating a character that is so highly effective. I am calling this attempt The Paragon Project.

However, I have very specific design goals and play limitations. Here are the ones I can think of, more may be added as they are discovered.

First, it is my policy to play each character from 1 to 50, and then upon hitting 50, retire them, permanently. So the idea would be not to build towards achieving this effectiveness late in the game, but to frontload this effectiveness at earlier, as possible. For example, a build candidate that hits its stride at 32 would be preferred over one that hits its stride at 42 – with the former, I get to enjoy it for 18 levels, with the latter I only get 8. Ideally, the character starts really being able to solo and gain quick massive XP in the 20-30 region.

Also, ‘effectiveness’ boils down two metrics really: The speed at which XP can be generated solo, and the risk of death (which obviously cuts into XP in several ways.) Ideally, I would prefer to make death be a rare occurrence, even if that moderately reduces XP – faceplants enrage me. However, within that safety zone, I would like to focus on characters that are able to achieve max XP/minute rates – whether that means running at +0/x4, or +3/x8, or anywhere in between. Again, not locked into any particular mission setup, simply looking for the build that with the right mission level and padding choices results in superior xp/min solo.

Now, because this project (and character) get shelved at 50, that makes buying purples, which can only be slotted at 50, pointless. Therefore, no suggested build should use them.

However, have been playing this game since pre-launch, and across more than two dozen characters (18 of which are 50s) I have countless billions of influence/infamy. So please, in any build you suggest, feel free to load up on the most expensive IOs that make the build work – from LotG’s to Numina to Hamis to *anything*.

I also have several Vet awards, which may or may not affect suggested builds. I have the ability to select my travel power right at level 6, I have the ability to pick up Sand of Mu, Nemesis Staff, and the Blackwand all at the start, I also start every character with 4 or 5 built-in respecs, not counting the alt build faux-respec. Point is, I can (and frequently do) build a character one way until a point, and then another way after. Case in point, on my last character, I built one way pre 20, NOT taking the Fitness pool, respecced at 20 INTO the Fitness Pool and Stamina, then at 36 respecced back out of Stamina when I got Transference.

Other factors to know are that I do not PvP, do not like the form switching that Khelds do, and do not care for characters which take the baddies out by indirect methods – Masterminds and Traps, I’m looking at you! No, *I* want to be the one kicking the baddies butts, not my pets or summoned devices.

By the way, I am not saying that I will *never* team up with folks in playing this character, but that’s not the point of the Project. The point of the Project is to see how fast a build can solo from 1 to 50 by kicking butt in missions even if no teams or friends can be found.

Also, I don’t care ultimately if this is more of a ST or AoE build – whichever gets he better xp/min + safety metrics – which I am guessing may be AoE more than ST, but whatever.

Now, if I am going to be running a character that does good XP/min, it will obviously have to have excellent damage capability, with I would imagine some AoE. Given that and all of the above, I am considering the followings AT have potential strengths and weaknesses:

• Brutes. I have 2 @ 50 – a Fire/Fire that used to be a farmer from CoV’s release, and a SS/Inv from around the same time. Brutes can take a pounding, but unlike Tanks, they can dish out a fair amount of damage as I recall. And if I am soloing, all the attacks are pointed at me – which builds Fury faster, I imagine – plus the faster I rip through the mish, the more my Fury stays high. Maybe Fire/Fire with Softcapped Defense and lots of hasten?
• Corruptors. Not only damage, but a synergistic secondary. Maybe Fire/Fire with the new buffs to /Fire would be the key, or maybe Fire/Kin with the ability to Fulcrum Shift myself would rock. Downside is, unlike Blasters, there’s no BuildUp.
• Blasters. Upside: BuildUp. Downside: It’s a single trick pony of damage. However, maybe a Fire/NRG, for example, with softcapped defenses/resists, could hit high XP/min solo. Maybe.
• Scrappers. Both /SR and /Shield look promising, and their crits seem like a good trick when soloing large groups. Or maybe /Fire with Burn and Fiery Embrace changes?
• VEATS – Soldiers of Arachnos. Haven’t tried one of these yet, but I hear good things that suggest that these are the jack of all trades. But are they also the master of none?

My next character is likely going to be one of the above 5 ATs. And so I am posting this request in each of the 5 AT subforums, to ask the experts in each AT what specific builds you would suggest.

Again, the design criteria are:
• Designed to be effective as early as possible, knowing that this character will be shelved @ 50
• Therefore, no purples
• However, as far as IOs, the sky’s the limit, price is no object. Usually I slot for sets as soon as I can, say around 22 or 28.
• No PvP use
• Goal: most xp/min in a solo padded mission of +A/xB where A and B can be any numbers that work
• Little or no dying, possible ways to ditch and restart without dying or riding the death line too closely
• Probably taking advantage of softcapped Defense and/or Resistance
• Not a pet or device character, but a kicking-a$$ character.

So, what do you guys in the SoA Forum think the best answer to this puzzle is using an SoA?

PS. Whatever AT and build I wind up going with, I am almost certainly going to be doing so in Paragon City, *not* the Rogue Isles. After Praetoria, that is.

While I was leveling up my last (and 18th) level 50, I discovered something – something that doubtlessly many of you have been aware of for some time, but was new information to me. Using this character (an Illusion/Kin Controller) I was actually able to solo +2/x4 missions – albeit slowly. (By the way, I probably spent around 2 billion inf on that Controller all told)

So I started thinking. I had heard that it was possible to softcap Defense or Resistance or both on many different Archetypes, so it occurred to me that it might be possible to create a character that could solo +2/x8 – or maybe higher. After poking around on some of the forums around here, that was confirmed.

So while I will be using my next new character to explore Going Rogue, and probably start in Praetoria, I also want to explore the idea of creating a character that is so highly effective. I am calling this attempt The Paragon Project.

However, I have very specific design goals and play limitations. Here are the ones I can think of, more may be added as they are discovered.

First, it is my policy to play each character from 1 to 50, and then upon hitting 50, retire them, permanently. So the idea would be not to build towards achieving this effectiveness late in the game, but to frontload this effectiveness at earlier, as possible. For example, a build candidate that hits its stride at 32 would be preferred over one that hits its stride at 42 – with the former, I get to enjoy it for 18 levels, with the latter I only get 8. Ideally, the character starts really being able to solo and gain quick massive XP in the 20-30 region.

Also, ‘effectiveness’ boils down two metrics really: The speed at which XP can be generated solo, and the risk of death (which obviously cuts into XP in several ways.) Ideally, I would prefer to make death be a rare occurrence, even if that moderately reduces XP – faceplants enrage me. However, within that safety zone, I would like to focus on characters that are able to achieve max XP/minute rates – whether that means running at +0/x4, or +3/x8, or anywhere in between. Again, not locked into any particular mission setup, simply looking for the build that with the right mission level and padding choices results in superior xp/min solo.

Now, because this project (and character) get shelved at 50, that makes buying purples, which can only be slotted at 50, pointless. Therefore, no suggested build should use them.

However, have been playing this game since pre-launch, and across more than two dozen characters (18 of which are 50s) I have countless billions of influence/infamy. So please, in any build you suggest, feel free to load up on the most expensive IOs that make the build work – from LotG’s to Numina to Hamis to *anything*.

I also have several Vet awards, which may or may not affect suggested builds. I have the ability to select my travel power right at level 6, I have the ability to pick up Sand of Mu, Nemesis Staff, and the Blackwand all at the start, I also start every character with 4 or 5 built-in respecs, not counting the alt build faux-respec. Point is, I can (and frequently do) build a character one way until a point, and then another way after. Case in point, on my last character, I built one way pre 20, NOT taking the Fitness pool, respecced at 20 INTO the Fitness Pool and Stamina, then at 36 respecced back out of Stamina when I got Transference.

Other factors to know are that I do not PvP, do not like the form switching that Khelds do, and do not care for characters which take the baddies out by indirect methods – Masterminds and Traps, I’m looking at you! No, *I* want to be the one kicking the baddies butts, not my pets or summoned devices.

By the way, I am not saying that I will *never* team up with folks in playing this character, but that’s not the point of the Project. The point of the Project is to see how fast a build can solo from 1 to 50 by kicking butt in missions even if no teams or friends can be found.

Also, I don’t care ultimately if this is more of a ST or AoE build – whichever gets he better xp/min + safety metrics – which I am guessing may be AoE more than ST, but whatever.

Now, if I am going to be running a character that does good XP/min, it will obviously have to have excellent damage capability, with I would imagine some AoE. Given that and all of the above, I am considering the followings AT have potential strengths and weaknesses:

• Brutes. I have 2 @ 50 – a Fire/Fire that used to be a farmer from CoV’s release, and a SS/Inv from around the same time. Brutes can take a pounding, but unlike Tanks, they can dish out a fair amount of damage as I recall. And if I am soloing, all the attacks are pointed at me – which builds Fury faster, I imagine – plus the faster I rip through the mish, the more my Fury stays high. Maybe Fire/Fire with Softcapped Defense and lots of hasten?
• Corruptors. Not only damage, but a synergistic secondary. Maybe Fire/Fire with the new buffs to /Fire would be the key, or maybe Fire/Kin with the ability to Fulcrum Shift myself would rock. Downside is, unlike Blasters, there’s no BuildUp.
• Blasters. Upside: BuildUp. Downside: It’s a single trick pony of damage. However, maybe a Fire/NRG, for example, with softcapped defenses/resists, could hit high XP/min solo. Maybe.
• Scrappers. Both /SR and /Shield look promising, and their crits seem like a good trick when soloing large groups. Or maybe /Fire with Burn and Fiery Embrace changes?
• VEATS – Soldiers of Arachnos. Haven’t tried one of these yet, but I hear good things that suggest that these are the jack of all trades. But are they also the master of none?

My next character is likely going to be one of the above 5 ATs. And so I am posting this request in each of the 5 AT subforums, to ask the experts in each AT what specific builds you would suggest.

Again, the design criteria are:
• Designed to be effective as early as possible, knowing that this character will be shelved @ 50
• Therefore, no purples
• However, as far as IOs, the sky’s the limit, price is no object. Usually I slot for sets as soon as I can, say around 22 or 28.
• No PvP use
• Goal: most xp/min in a solo padded mission of +A/xB where A and B can be any numbers that work
• Little or no dying, possible ways to ditch and restart without dying or riding the death line too closely
• Probably taking advantage of softcapped Defense and/or Resistance
• Not a pet or device character, but a kicking-a$$ character.

So, what do you guys in the Brutes Forum think the best answer to this puzzle is using a Brute?

PS. Whatever AT and build I wind up going with, I am almost certainly going to be doing so in Paragon City, *not* the Rogue Isles. After Praetoria, that is.

While I was leveling up my last (and 18th) level 50, I discovered something – something that doubtlessly many of you have been aware of for some time, but was new information to me. Using this character (an Illusion/Kin Controller) I was actually able to solo +2/x4 missions – albeit slowly. (By the way, I probably spent around 2 billion inf on that Controller all told)

So I started thinking. I had heard that it was possible to softcap Defense or Resistance or both on many different Archetypes, so it occurred to me that it might be possible to create a character that could solo +2/x8 – or maybe higher. After poking around on some of the forums around here, that was confirmed.

So while I will be using my next new character to explore Going Rogue, and probably start in Praetoria, I also want to explore the idea of creating a character that is so highly effective. I am calling this attempt The Paragon Project.

However, I have very specific design goals and play limitations. Here are the ones I can think of, more may be added as they are discovered.

First, it is my policy to play each character from 1 to 50, and then upon hitting 50, retire them, permanently. So the idea would be not to build towards achieving this effectiveness late in the game, but to frontload this effectiveness at earlier, as possible. For example, a build candidate that hits its stride at 32 would be preferred over one that hits its stride at 42 – with the former, I get to enjoy it for 18 levels, with the latter I only get 8. Ideally, the character starts really being able to solo and gain quick massive XP in the 20-30 region.

Also, ‘effectiveness’ boils down two metrics really: The speed at which XP can be generated solo, and the risk of death (which obviously cuts into XP in several ways.) Ideally, I would prefer to make death be a rare occurrence, even if that moderately reduces XP – faceplants enrage me. However, within that safety zone, I would like to focus on characters that are able to achieve max XP/minute rates – whether that means running at +0/x4, or +3/x8, or anywhere in between. Again, not locked into any particular mission setup, simply looking for the build that with the right mission level and padding choices results in superior xp/min solo.

Now, because this project (and character) get shelved at 50, that makes buying purples, which can only be slotted at 50, pointless. Therefore, no suggested build should use them.

However, have been playing this game since pre-launch, and across more than two dozen characters (18 of which are 50s) I have countless billions of influence/infamy. So please, in any build you suggest, feel free to load up on the most expensive IOs that make the build work – from LotG’s to Numina to Hamis to *anything*.

I also have several Vet awards, which may or may not affect suggested builds. I have the ability to select my travel power right at level 6, I have the ability to pick up Sand of Mu, Nemesis Staff, and the Blackwand all at the start, I also start every character with 4 or 5 built-in respecs, not counting the alt build faux-respec. Point is, I can (and frequently do) build a character one way until a point, and then another way after. Case in point, on my last character, I built one way pre 20, NOT taking the Fitness pool, respecced at 20 INTO the Fitness Pool and Stamina, then at 36 respecced back out of Stamina when I got Transference.

Other factors to know are that I do not PvP, do not like the form switching that Khelds do, and do not care for characters which take the baddies out by indirect methods – Masterminds and Traps, I’m looking at you! No, *I* want to be the one kicking the baddies butts, not my pets or summoned devices.

By the way, I am not saying that I will *never* team up with folks in playing this character, but that’s not the point of the Project. The point of the Project is to see how fast a build can solo from 1 to 50 by kicking butt in missions even if no teams or friends can be found.

Also, I don’t care ultimately if this is more of a ST or AoE build – whichever gets he better xp/min + safety metrics – which I am guessing may be AoE more than ST, but whatever.

Now, if I am going to be running a character that does good XP/min, it will obviously have to have excellent damage capability, with I would imagine some AoE. Given that and all of the above, I am considering the followings AT have potential strengths and weaknesses:

• Brutes. I have 2 @ 50 – a Fire/Fire that used to be a farmer from CoV’s release, and a SS/Inv from around the same time. Brutes can take a pounding, but unlike Tanks, they can dish out a fair amount of damage as I recall. And if I am soloing, all the attacks are pointed at me – which builds Fury faster, I imagine – plus the faster I rip through the mish, the more my Fury stays high. Maybe Fire/Fire with Softcapped Defense and lots of hasten?
• Corruptors. Not only damage, but a synergistic secondary. Maybe Fire/Fire with the new buffs to /Fire would be the key, or maybe Fire/Kin with the ability to Fulcrum Shift myself would rock. Downside is, unlike Blasters, there’s no BuildUp.
• Blasters. Upside: BuildUp. Downside: It’s a single trick pony of damage. However, maybe a Fire/NRG, for example, with softcapped defenses/resists, could hit high XP/min solo. Maybe.
• Scrappers. Both /SR and /Shield look promising, and their crits seem like a good trick when soloing large groups. Or maybe /Fire with Burn and Fiery Embrace changes?
• VEATS – Soldiers of Arachnos. Haven’t tried one of these yet, but I hear good things that suggest that these are the jack of all trades. But are they also the master of none?

My next character is likely going to be one of the above 5 ATs. And so I am posting this request in each of the 5 AT subforums, to ask the experts in each AT what specific builds you would suggest.

Again, the design criteria are:
• Designed to be effective as early as possible, knowing that this character will be shelved @ 50
• Therefore, no purples
• However, as far as IOs, the sky’s the limit, price is no object. Usually I slot for sets as soon as I can, say around 22 or 28.
• No PvP use
• Goal: most xp/min in a solo padded mission of +A/xB where A and B can be any numbers that work
• Little or no dying, possible ways to ditch and restart without dying or riding the death line too closely
• Probably taking advantage of softcapped Defense and/or Resistance
• Not a pet or device character, but a kicking-a$$ character.

So, what do you guys in the Blasters Forum think the best answer to this puzzle is using a Blaster?

PS. Whatever AT and build I wind up going with, I am almost certainly going to be doing so in Paragon City, *not* the Rogue Isles. After Praetoria, that is.

Quick question: I tried Warshades and Peacebringers many times, never really developed a liking for them. Are Spiders/Crabs equally annoying, as the villain VEAT? What is the 'downside' to playing a Villain VEAT? (Or technically, a VEAT - Villain VEAT is repetitive.) Do VEATs populate your missions with nemeses, the way Kheldians bring in Quantum thingys into missions?

Serious answers please, no "The downside is how unbelievably awesome they are!" replies.

Thanks.

Wow, so many ideas! Thanks.

I just hit 50 with my Ill/Kin Controller - had an INSANE recharge with that one when I was done, perma hasten, PA, IndomWill, FS/Tranference/Transfusion/Blind up all the time, triple and quadruple stacking Siphon Speed, Assault, Tactics - fun times.

But he is 50 now, so he goes on the shelf.

Which means it is now time for me to focus directly on the project mentioned here. What I think I may do is widen the field of possible ATs to Corruptor, Scrapper, Brute, Blaster, and Crab. What I think I will do is develop a project mission statement, and work with kind people in each forum devoted to the above ATs to make the best builds towards the goal in each AT, using the build posted in this thread as a starting point (and thanks for those.)

Quick question: I tried Warshades and Peacebringers many times, never really developed a liking for them. Are Spiders/Crabs equally annoying, as the villain VEAT? What is the 'downside' to playing a Villain VEAT? (Or technically, a VEAT - Villain VEAT is repetitive.) Do VEATs populate your missions with nemises, the way Kheldians bring in Quantum thingys into missions?

Thanks.

I am playing a character with a bunch of abilities that I want to have firing as soon as they come up - Hasten, Indomitable Will, and others.

Would it be hard to code to be able to Ctrl-Click more than one power at a time? Or is the reason his feature isn't in the game because you think people would just ctrl-click all their attacks?

Apart from the above bogeyman, it would be very useful to have more than one autofiring power.

For that matter, what's everyone's take on the most kick-*** brute one can make? The one with the best chance for soloing +2/4+ or better? One that comes into his own in the 30s perhaps?

The WS seems more complicated to play than the other choices. I was never a fan of the form swapping.

I just saw some builds for Scrapper Fire/Shield that are purported to be highly effective - softcapped at 45% def, lots of damage, etc.

Anyone familiar with Fire/SD Scrappers that can chime in? One thing I read said that he was even handling +2/8-man solo missions! Realistic?

I have been reading all bout Popmenu's, and how to use them, unfortunately, I am a keyboarder, not a mouser.

What I would like to do is bind Popmenus to keys, and after trigerring a Popmenu, NOT click on it with Mouse and instead use a Hotkey to select the PopMenu item.

How do I set the Numeric Keypad to a hotkey in a Popmenu?

&1 set he hotkey to the number '1' above the 'Q' key on the keyboard, how do I set it instead to the '1' on the Numeric Keypad? '&numpad1'?

Thanks.

Wow. Thanks for all the ideas. Another thing I should mention I that I am not a huge fan of setting up stuff ahead of time - that is, not the way you seems to have to with /traps. I more like to move with the flow.

I had a Fire/Mental, it was fun - although it didn't feel like I was at the rageariffic build I was looking for.

I had a Bots/FF, that too seemed useful. However, I was looking more for a character where it feels like *I* am pounding on the baddies. (I also had a Fire/Kin controller - like everyone else - which was fun for a while.)

I guess it comes down to this: The most direct kick-*** ATs I can imagine from my years of playing have been Blasters, Corruptors, Brutes, and Scrappers. Are here any of those that can just rip through radio/paper missions lit a hot knife through warm butter, when the mission is spawned for +2 to +3 levels and for 4 or more teammates, even though I may be soloing? Ideally, I would love to see this happening in the 30s at least, so I can ride the tankmage train to 50.

Or is my Fire/Mental that I already did as close as you can come to that?

Some other thoughts. What about:
-A SS/SR Brute? (Or does the SR and not getting hit kill Fury too much?)
-A SS/Something Else brute?
-Any Scrappers? I could take a something/SR Scrapper, but looking over the Scrapper Primaries, it seems that even the AoEs are very short ange, under 20'.
-Fire/Something Blaster - IF I can get a ton of Def going so that I can rarely be hit - but you guys are making that sound less likely. On the other hand, I tend to fight mostly council radios now that we can recycle through the mishes fast.
-Fire/Kin Corruptor - IF the lack of BuildUp doesn't render a Fire/Something Blaster preferrable. Plus Blasters do more damage. On the other hand, Scourge can help finish off baddies that are close. Plus, /Kin give great options - heals, end, speed, etc. IS Fulcrum Shift worth giving up BuildUp for?

Or, quite possibly, perhaps what I want to build isn't possible - at least not under the four ATs I am really ocussed on now (Blaster, Corruptor, Brute, Scrapper.)

Further thoughts?

Before I begin, I should note some of my play habits:
-Only PvE
-I *immediately* retire characters at 50 - the game for me is to play the journey from 1 to 50, o that is the goal or this new char as well
-therefor I never use purples
-have been in the game since launch, i have all the vet awards - nice for respeccing and travel powers at 6
-My first goal with any character: not to die. second goal: kill/arrest everyone else
-Especially with GR coming out, I am looking at ATs on both sides
-I have over 20 level 50s
-I have billions upon billions of inf stored up, so pricey IOs are no problem

I had an idea, does this sound do-able?

A Fire/Kin Corruptor, focused on Def, so that solo, he can jump into the middle of a large group, hit Fulcrum Shift, and Start blasting the hell out of the baddies? He can use SiphonSpeed to boost his recharges (and possibly Hasten), Transference to regain End (especially after a nuke -pop blue, hit Transference), and Transfusion to pop the occasional heal for when an attack gets through his defense. Probably add in Weave and Tough, Hasten, Acrobatics?

To put this question another way, if I want to solo a mission filled with baddies, spawned for a team of 4-8, would this be my best bet? What archetype/build is the highest AoE damaging character that can solo this groups effectively?

I mean, would I be better off going with a Blaster, giving up Fulcrum Shift and the self heal and other tricks, but gaining BuildUp? Or is a Scrapper or Brute the best avenue to this idea? Which AT of the AoE Damage ones can reach the most PvE Defense? Or is there no point to going for high Def numbers on AoE Damage ATs if you are going to fight at +2 or +3?

Ultimately, I have noticed that when on a good team we are cranking through baddies at +2 or +3, and lots of them, and the XP is gushing in. I recently tried this idea out with my current character, an Illusion/Kin with crazy Recharge (usually over 200% global). Only problem with that character is that even with FS, I can't crank out the damage.

What is the best character and build to rip through huge groups of +2 or +3 baddies solo, with little chance of face plants?

Thanks.

This is the post-36 Transference build I was talking about:

+10.5% DamageBuff(ALL)
+5% Defense(Energy/Neg)
+2.5% Defense(Ranged)
+2.25% Max End
>>>+101.3% Enhancement(RechargeTime)
+2.5% Enhancement(Confused)
+9% Enhancement(Accuracy)
+2.75% Enhancement(Terrorized)
+57.2 HP (5.63%) HitPoints
+Knockback (Mag -7)
+Knockup (Mag -7)
+MezResist(Confused) 12.5%
+MezResist(Held) 12.5%
+MezResist(Immobilize) 17.5%
+MezResist(Sleep) 14.7%
+MezResist(Stun) 12.5%
+MezResist(Terrorized) 12.5%
+12.5% (0.21 End/sec) Recovery
+6% (0.25 HP/sec) Regeneration
+2.5% Resistance(Smashing)
+1.26% Resistance(Fire)
+1.26% Resistance(Cold)
+3% RunSpeed
+2% XPDebtProtection

Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.707
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Level 50 Natural Controller
Primary Power Set: Illusion Control
Secondary Power Set: Kinetics
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Leadership
Power Pool: Concealment
Ancillary Pool: Psionic Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Blind -- BasGaze-Acc/Hold(A), BasGaze-Acc/Rchg(3), BasGaze-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg/Hold(3), BasGaze-Rchg/Hold(7), Hold-I(17)
Level 1: Transfusion -- Numna-Heal/Rchg(A), Dct'dW-Heal/Rchg(13), Mrcl-Heal/Rchg(15), H'zdH-Heal/Rchg(15), Acc-I(31)
Level 2: Deceive -- Mlais-Acc/Rchg(A), Mlais-EndRdx/Conf(5), Mlais-Acc/EndRdx(5), Mlais-Conf/Rng(7), Mlais-Acc/Conf/Rchg(31), Pplx-Acc/Conf/Rchg(31)
Level 4: Spectral Wounds -- Decim-Acc/Dmg(A), Decim-Dmg/EndRdx(34), Decim-Dmg/Rchg(37), Decim-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(37), Decim-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(40)
Level 6: Super Speed -- Clrty-Stlth(A)
Level 8: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(9), RechRdx-I(9)
Level 10: Siphon Speed -- Acc-I(A), RechRdx-I(11), RechRdx-I(11), RechRdx-I(13)
Level 12: Group Invisibility -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), Krma-ResKB(40)
Level 14: Flash -- BasGaze-Acc/Hold(A), BasGaze-Acc/Rchg(17), BasGaze-Rchg/Hold(21), BasGaze-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg/Hold(21), Hold-I(23)
Level 16: Assault -- EndRdx-I(A)
Level 18: Phantom Army -- ExRmnt-Acc/Rchg(A), ExRmnt-Acc/Dmg(19), ExRmnt-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(19), ExRmnt-EndRdx/Dmg/Rchg(23), C'Arms-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(25), C'Arms-EndRdx/Dmg/Rchg(25)
Level 20: Tactics -- EndRdx-I(A)
Level 22: Speed Boost -- EndMod-I(A)
Level 24: Superior Invisibility -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), RedFtn-Def/EndRdx(43), RedFtn-Def/Rchg(43), RedFtn-EndRdx/Rchg(43), RedFtn-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(46), RedFtn-Def(46)
Level 26: Spectral Terror -- Abys-Acc/Rchg(A), Abys-EndRdx/Fear(27), Abys-Acc/EndRdx(27), Abys-Fear/Rng(29), Abys-Acc/Fear/Rchg(29)
Level 28: Grant Invisibility -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A)
Level 30: Stealth -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A)
Level 32: Phantasm -- ExRmnt-Acc/Rchg(A), ExRmnt-Acc/Dmg(33), ExRmnt-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(33), ExRmnt-EndRdx/Dmg/Rchg(33), C'Arms-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(34), C'Arms-EndRdx/Dmg/Rchg(34)
Level 35: Transference -- P'Shift-EndMod/Acc/Rchg(A), Efficacy-EndMod/Acc/Rchg(36), Adrenal-EndMod/Acc/Rchg(36), Efficacy-EndMod/Rchg(36), Adrenal-EndMod/Rchg(37)
Level 38: Fulcrum Shift -- Acc-I(A), Acc-I(39), RechRdx-I(39), RechRdx-I(39), RechRdx-I(40)
Level 41: Indomitable Will -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), RechRdx-I(42), RechRdx-I(42), RechRdx-I(42)
Level 44: Mind Over Body -- ImpSkn-ResDam/EndRdx(A), ImpSkn-ResDam/Rchg(45), ImpSkn-EndRdx/Rchg(45), ImpSkn-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(45), ImpSkn-Status(46)
Level 47: Psionic Tornado -- KinCrsh-Dmg/KB(A), KinCrsh-Acc/KB(48), KinCrsh-Rchg/KB(48), KinCrsh-Rechg/EndRdx(48), KinCrsh-Dmg/EndRdx/KB(50), KinCrsh-Acc/Dmg/KB(50)
Level 49: Mental Blast -- Acc-I(A), Dmg-I(50)
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Containment
Level 2: Ninja Run

As you can see 101.3% GLobal Recharge, plus Haste (70%) plus at least two Siphon Speeds (20% each), plus say 99% IOed Recharge = over 310% recharge boost. That's just about as good as I have ever seen it.

I mean, Flash and PA every minute, Blind, Deceive, and a 40% Heal up every 2 seconds, Transference up in 7 sec, FS every 15 sec, perma Hasten and IndomWill. PLUS with SuperSpeed+Celerity I have invis (althogh I also have it with SuperiorInvis) and can also use GroupInvis to help stealth through mishes, I think this character is a jack of all trades swiss army knife - he can kin, he can control, etc.

Cool?