Mezzosoprano

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  1. Quote:
    Originally Posted by SupaNerd View Post
    the only worthwhile thing for me to do as of late is repeat TFs/SFs for Merits (again, prefer to team... and I desire Merits for character progression). So, I question myself as how can "I" convince anyone outside the game (I have 9 friends unsubscribed) to try it out again? They're way too casual for TFs/SFs.

    What do I say? Ummm, come play the MMO to solo arcs because you'll want Merits if you don't TF/SF. You don't get Merits for partaking of someone else's arcs.
    You could invite them to join you in Oro flashback arcs -- shorter ones can be good, casual fun, and the merits are awarded to the whole team. (And with the new sidekicking rules, those under 50 can still earn XP while exemplared, etc.)
  2. They'll probably tweak the weightings in the ranges we've most tested, just for fun! :-)
  3. Mezzosoprano: On opening night of the Paragon Opera production of Carmen, mayhem errupted when the Circle of Thorns attempted to abduct the mayor. Struck by a stray bolt of mystic force, the young understudy suddenly found her voice powerfully transformed.

    Although she only held the cultists at bay for a few minutes, she bought enough time for the heroes of the city to arrive and thwart the scheme. She now patrols Paragon City as the Mezzosoprano.

    Originally on Champion, Mezzosoprano was a Gravity/Sonic Controller known for "Mezing" her foes....
  4. I'm encountering the same (or similar) issue on test today. I can't zone into missions nor into a SG base. The loading screen appears stuck for several minutes, then an "unable to connect to mapserver" error pops up.
  5. At the damage cap (and with one damage proc in each) RoA -> FoA -> EA would do about 1100 damage to +0s, 990 damage to +1s. With ~200% global recharge, RoA could have a 15.5s recharge. With the 4s RoA animation included, the cycle could be repeated every 20s or so.

    But without great personal defenses, the Kin/Arch defender could take a severe beating from +1/x8/no Boss spawns. Transfusion will help offset that, but it could be a high-stress farmer.

    Do you have a proto Mid's build?
  6. Mezzosoprano

    Cold/Ice

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Silas View Post
    For me personally, when I see a build with purples, pvp IOs and 7.5s I assume that the intention is to be more than just adequate.
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Kahlan_ View Post
    Silas is probably thinking of the same thing as me: the STF. +4 AVs, one of which has very high defense. Since it appears force has the money for a high end build, might as well build well for the one thing that would challenge such a build
    Aha! Despite having a couple of heavily-purpled characters, I've never once done the STF. I tend to assume that uber-expensive builds are targetted at rapidly mowing down large spawns of non-AV enemies.

    +4 AVs could be very tough to hit with his slotting:

    (1.7) * [ 0.39 + 0.125 - AVDEF] = 88% (if AVDEF = 0)

    If Mako's defense is at all significant, I can see that the chance to hit would go downhill fast, and why you'd want more accuracy. Thanks for the insight!
  7. Mezzosoprano

    Cold/Ice

    I agree with the previous comments, that you probably should rethink your build. However, the following comment jumped out at me:

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Silas View Post
    you've slotted your key cold powers really badly. +70% acc from bonuses is not enough to make Benumb and Heatloss hit when you really need them to.
    How much accuracy does he need? +70% global accuracy is over 2 SOs worth of accuracy in every power -- Would he really need more?

    Even against +3's, def debuff in sleet would still be at 65% effectiveness (~ -20% def). To hit against +3s:

    With Sleet: (1.7) * [ 0.48 + 0.20 ] = 115% (capped at 95%)
    Without Sleet: (1.7) * [ 0.48 ] = 82%

    Furthermore, he's taken Tactics for an additional 12.5% +tohit:

    With Tactics & without Sleet: (1.7) * [ 0.48 + 0.125 ] = 103% (capped at 95%)

    Is my math-fu inferior here, or am I missing a factor?
  8. I tinkered in Mid's to create a Cold/Ice Defender that could probably do very well against large spawns of minions and LTs -- hover/fly, softcapped ranged defense, ~185% global recharge, 7s downtime on Heat Loss, 16s recharges on Sleet and Ice Storm.

    If my math-fu is correct, then Sleet -> Frost Breath -> Ice Storm -> Frost Breath would do on-average 868 damage to +0s over a 22 second period (from activation of Sleet through the last tick of Ice Storm's damage. The entire chain could be fired off every 20 seconds, which would allow the defender to wipe large spawns of +0s quickly.

    I couldn't squeeze enough recharge into Aim to have it available on this same 20 second cycle, but it would be available every 25 seconds or so. With aim, the damage goes up to 1010 vs. +0s, 888 vs. +1s.

    Heat Loss would be up 90 / 100 seconds, and should easily cap +recovery, so she'd have the endurance to fight continuously. PVE invisibility, capped ranged defense, slows, and knockdowns should reduce incomming damage enough to get by on inspirations for healing.

    Of course, this build could be freakishly expensive -- but what else is virtual money good for?
  9. Quote:
    Originally Posted by Teeth View Post
    Creeper vines are proper critters. They attract aggro to themselves, rather than you.
    Sleet is a Knockdown, Slow, and -Res, so its effects are strongest if it starts the fight; this requires you to soak some aggro personally until Seeds goes out or isn't needed, but only when Creepers don't already have aggro. To start a fight with Sleet (or Freezing Rain) when Creepers aren't recharged and you don't want to use Seeds will almost certainly require you to use some purple inspirations, but if you're doing this solo you'll have as many inspirations as you want.
    Interesting. I've never really considered not opening with Seeds, largely because I love to watch the bad guys hit each other. :-)

    Because I usually throw Seeds, then FR, to start a fight, I also have not slotted Creepers for accuracy. (My slotting is three Dam/Rech IOs and three damage procs.) I've always assumed that the -30% Def in FR was enough to boost the Creeper patch's to-hit to 90% -- I'll have to check the math.

    Thanks again for an interesting read!
  10. Quote:
    Originally Posted by Darth_Vernon View Post
    I was doing this last night and allof the suddent he ticket cender wouldnt give me any more recipes. Said my inventory was full. So I go sell off my stuff and he still wont give me any recipes. Any type of roll (gold,silver,bronze). I can do salvage and enhancments, but not recipe rolls. friggin weird.
    I had a similar problem on one alt, where the ticket vendor would not redeem my tickets, giving me the "your recipe inventory is full" message. The issue appeared to be caused by being in the middle of the Midnighter Arc -- I had three of the four special salvage to craft the lost curing wand. Once I crafted the lost curing wand, I could redeem my tickets for recipe rolls.
  11. Thanks for an interesting guide. Some questions about your tactics suggestions:

    With my 50 plant/storm/stone, my firing sequence is usually Seeds, Freezing Rain, Roots, Fissure, Roots, etc. Opening with Seeds has two benefits: it diverts the spawn's alpha strike away from me, and it helps clump spread-out spawns together as the confused foes run into melee range of each other. What advantage do you see to using Creepers and/or Sleet first?

    Plant/Storm is very endurance-heavy, and even Stamina is not enough to keep my blue bar filled when I'm on a roll. Tinkering with a Plant/Cold build in Mid's, I'd hoped I could get the recharge on Heat Loss down to 95 - 100 seconds, which would be only 10 - 15 seconds of down time. Do you think stamina could be skipped on a high-recharge plant/cold build? (In theory, the build I worked up would have HL up ~90% of the time, and would recover ~6 eps with one target.)
  12. While we're suggesting Market UI improvements: I'd like to be able to click on a recipe in my inventory and automatically filter the salvage list to the requirements for the selected recipe.
  13. Mezzosoprano

    Plant/Storm

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by parabola_EU View Post
    I generally farm a plant/storm followed by a plant/kin so I'm cheating a bit but have run the plant/storm by itself on occasion. To echo the above; you can farm with it but need some kind of plan to manage end. Get that sorted and it's very effective.

    How it compares to another more famous farming build in terms of effectiveness is a bit difficult to say. Farming is as much about what you are mowing through as the make of lawnmower you are using. Match the enemies to the set/build and go to town.
    When farming standard content with my Plant/Storm, the only options are either popping blue pills or having a helper who provides recovery/endurance. However, in the AE you can give custom LTs Heat Loss -- you're going to alpha mez them with Seeds of Confusion, so why not let them buff your recovery to the cap?

    Of course, the downside is that you will miss 5% of the time. Too many debuffing enemies unconfused == a very debuffed/dead Plant/Storm controller.
  14. Here's another Mind/Cold build to ponder. I've used the Purple Sleep and Confuse sets, given that they are relatively cheap.

    Capped ranged defense (45.5%) and 51.25% global recharge (plus hasten). Probably very similar to one of the two builds you discussed above.

    What I like about this plan, however, is that it has 5 defensive powers that can be slotted with the LotG +recharge IO. Adding 5 LotG +recharge (and 4 LotG Defense) IOs boosts the recharge to an insane 88.75%, while keeping ranged defense capped. Obviously, LotGs are expensive. But they could be acquired and slotted over time for incremental improvement.

    Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.601
    http://www.cohplanner.com/

    Click this DataLink to open the build!

    Spellstone: Level 50 Magic Controller
    Primary Power Set: Mind Control
    Secondary Power Set: Cold Domination
    Power Pool: Speed
    Power Pool: Teleportation
    Power Pool: Leadership
    Power Pool: Flight
    Ancillary Pool: Psionic Mastery

    Hero Profile:
    Level 1: Mesmerize -- Thundr-Acc/Dmg(A), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx(17), Thundr-Dmg/Rchg(31), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(31), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(31), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(46)
    Level 1: Infrigidate -- EndRdx-I(A)
    Level 2: Levitate -- Thundr-Acc/Dmg(A), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx(3), Thundr-Dmg/Rchg(3), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(15), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(17), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(37)
    Level 4: Dominate -- Thundr-Acc/Dmg(A), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx(5), Thundr-Dmg/Rchg(5), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(15), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(25), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(40)
    Level 6: Confuse -- CoPers-Conf(A), CoPers-Conf/Rchg(7), CoPers-Acc/Conf/Rchg(7), CoPers-Acc/Rchg(13), CoPers-Conf/EndRdx(13), CoPers-Conf%(34)
    Level 8: Mass Hypnosis -- FtnHyp-Sleep(A), FtnHyp-Sleep/Rchg(9), FtnHyp-Acc/Sleep/Rchg(9), FtnHyp-Acc/Rchg(11), FtnHyp-Sleep/EndRdx(11)
    Level 10: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(25), RechRdx-I(45)
    Level 12: Teleport -- Zephyr-Travel(A), Zephyr-Travel/EndRdx(23), Range-I(42), EndRdx-I(42)
    Level 14: Maneuvers -- DefBuff-I(A), DefBuff-I(21)
    Level 16: Hover -- Zephyr-Travel(A), Zephyr-Travel/EndRdx(34)
    Level 18: Total Domination -- BasGaze-Acc/Hold(A), BasGaze-Acc/Rchg(19), BasGaze-Rchg/Hold(19), BasGaze-EndRdx/Rchg/Hold(21)
    Level 20: Recall Friend -- Zephyr-Travel(A), Zephyr-Travel/EndRdx(37)
    Level 22: Arctic Fog -- DefBuff-I(A), DefBuff-I(23)
    Level 24: Ice Shield -- DefBuff-I(A), DefBuff-I(43)
    Level 26: Terrify -- Posi-Acc/Dmg(A), Posi-Dmg/EndRdx(27), Posi-Dmg/Rchg(27), Posi-Dmg/Rng(29), Posi-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(29), RechRdx-I(50)
    Level 28: Glacial Shield -- DefBuff-I(A), DefBuff-I(43)
    Level 30: Fly -- Zephyr-Travel(A), Zephyr-Travel/EndRdx(42)
    Level 32: Mass Confusion -- Mlais-Acc/Rchg(A), Mlais-EndRdx/Conf(33), Mlais-Acc/EndRdx(33), Mlais-Conf/Rng(33), Mlais-Acc/Conf/Rchg(34)
    Level 35: Sleet -- Achilles-ResDeb%(A), LdyGrey-%Dam(36), ShldBrk-%Dam(36), RechRdx-I(36), RechRdx-I(37)
    Level 38: Heat Loss -- Efficacy-EndMod(A), Efficacy-EndMod/Rchg(39), Efficacy-EndMod/Acc/Rchg(39), Efficacy-Acc/Rchg(39), Efficacy-EndMod/Acc(40), Efficacy-EndMod/EndRdx(40)
    Level 41: Mental Blast -- Thundr-Acc/Dmg(A), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx(43), Thundr-Dmg/Rchg(45), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(45), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(46), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(46)
    Level 44: Indomitable Will -- DefBuff-I(A)
    Level 47: Psionic Tornado -- Posi-Acc/Dmg(A), Posi-Dmg/EndRdx(48), Posi-Dmg/Rchg(48), Posi-Dmg/Rng(48), Posi-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(50), FrcFbk-Rechg%(50)
    Level 49: Benumb -- EndRdx-I(A)
    ------------
    Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
    Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
    Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
    Level 1: Containment
  15. Plant/Storm: Confused villains shred each other during strange weather event.
  16. Most of my characters on Champion and Virtue, across both accounts, are related:

    My heroes are almost all members of the same grove of northern California dryads, and refer to each other as 'sisters'. They founded the group N.Y.M.P.H. (Nine Young Magically Powerful Heroines) when they moved into openly opposing the Circle of Thorns and other nefarious abusers of magic. Given that I have way more than seven heroes, they are considering changing the name to "Numerous...."

    The founding members all had one-word tree/bush/flower/shrub names -- Nutmeg, Mulberry, Althea, Linden, Chestnut, Myrtle, Sycamore, Redwood, Cedar. All have elven ears, the youthful head morph, generally slim build, and a magic origin.

    Even my Peacebringer was worked into the family backstory -- poor Isabelle just didn't have the family aptitude for magic. Once the kheldians revealed their presence on Earth, she volunteered to merge with one of the aliens so she could fight crime.
  17. [ QUOTE ]
    [ QUOTE ]
    MA in the Library with a Candlestick

    [/ QUOTE ]

    Now that was funny , I lol but Ma stole my laughter squeezed it and turned it to tears.

    [/ QUOTE ]

    The MA is powered entirely by tears. I read it on the interwebz, and so it must be true!
  18. Mezzosoprano

    IO'd Plant/Storm

    I finally acquired a couple of LotG +Recharge, and respeced my exceedingly purple plant/storm controller. The main change was to slot four LotG, and to 6-slot both Freezing Rain and Creepers. (Previously, both FR and CC only had the default slot.)

    Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.401
    http://www.cohplanner.com/

    [u]Click this DataLink to open the build![u]

    Fumina Hara: Level 50 Magic Controller
    Primary Power Set: Plant Control
    Secondary Power Set: Storm Summoning
    Power Pool: Fitness
    Power Pool: Speed
    Power Pool: Leaping
    Power Pool: Leadership
    Ancillary Pool: Stone Mastery

    Hero Profile:
    Level 1: Entangle -- GravAnch-Immob(A), GravAnch-Immob/Rchg(3), GravAnch-Acc/Immob/Rchg(3), GravAnch-Acc/Rchg(5), GravAnch-Immob/EndRdx(5)
    Level 1: Gale -- Acc-I(A)
    Level 2: Strangler -- BasGaze-Acc/Hold(A), BasGaze-Acc/Rchg(7), BasGaze-Rchg/Hold(7), BasGaze-EndRdx/Rchg/Hold(9)
    Level 4: Roots -- Posi-Acc/Dmg(A), Posi-Dmg/EndRdx(11), Posi-Dmg/Rchg(11), Posi-Dmg/Rng(13), Posi-Dam%(13), TotHntr-Dam%(36)
    Level 6: Spore Burst -- FtnHyp-Sleep(A), FtnHyp-Sleep/Rchg(9), FtnHyp-Acc/Sleep/Rchg(15), FtnHyp-Acc/Rchg(15), FtnHyp-Sleep/EndRdx(17)
    Level 8: Seeds of Confusion -- CoPers-Conf%(A), CoPers-Conf/Rchg(19), CoPers-Acc/Conf/Rchg(19), CoPers-Acc/Rchg(21), CoPers-Conf/EndRdx(21)
    Level 10: Steamy Mist -- ResDam-I(A), LkGmblr-Rchg+(25), S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+(29)
    Level 12: Swift -- Run-I(A)
    Level 14: Health -- Mrcl-Rcvry+(A), Mrcl-Heal(23), Numna-Regen/Rcvry+(48), Numna-Heal(50)
    Level 16: Freezing Rain -- Achilles-ResDeb%(A), RechRdx-I(17), RechRdx-I(31), ImpSwft-Dam%(31), Posi-Dam%(33), LdyGrey-%Dam(36)
    Level 18: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(23), RechRdx-I(40)
    Level 20: Stamina -- EndMod-I(A), P'Shift-EndMod(25)
    Level 22: Combat Jumping -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def(48)
    Level 24: Vines -- BasGaze-Acc/Hold(A), BasGaze-EndRdx/Rchg/Hold(27), BasGaze-Acc/Rchg(29), BasGaze-Rchg/Hold(34)
    Level 26: Carrion Creepers -- Posi-Dmg/Rchg(A), Det'tn-Dmg/Rchg(27), AirB'st-Dmg/Rchg(33), ExStrk-Dam%(33), TotHntr-Dam%(40), ImpSwft-Dam%(42)
    Level 28: Super Jump -- Zephyr-ResKB(A)
    Level 30: Thunder Clap -- Amaze-Stun(A), Amaze-Stun/Rchg(31), Amaze-Acc/Stun/Rchg(34), Amaze-Acc/Rchg(37), Amaze-EndRdx/Stun(37)
    Level 32: Fly Trap -- C'Arms-Acc/Rchg(A), C'Arms-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(34), C'Arms-Acc/Dmg(39), C'Arms-Dmg/EndRdx(39)
    Level 35: Tornado -- C'Arms-Acc/Rchg(A), C'Arms-Acc/Dmg(36), C'Arms-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(37), C'Arms-Dmg/EndRdx(42)
    Level 38: Lightning Storm -- Decim-Acc/Dmg(A), Decim-Dmg/EndRdx(39), Decim-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(40), Decim-Dmg/Rchg(43), Decim-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(45)
    Level 41: Fissure -- FrcFbk-Rechg%(A), Posi-Acc/Dmg(42), Posi-Dmg/EndRdx(43), Posi-Dmg/Rchg(43), Posi-Dmg/Rng(46), Posi-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(46)
    Level 44: Seismic Smash -- Hectmb-Dmg(A), Hectmb-Dmg/Rchg(45), Hectmb-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(45), Hectmb-Acc/Rchg(46), Hectmb-Dmg/EndRdx(48)
    Level 47: Rock Armor -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def(50)
    Level 49: Maneuvers -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def(50)
    ------------
    Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
    Level 1: Sprint -- ULeap-Stlth(A)
    Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
    Level 1: Containment

    Anyone have any suggestions to further tweak my build?
  19. Before the first patch, I gather many people were farming for pvp io drops while standing in front of the inspiration vendors in zone pvp? Die...pop rez...die...pop rez...die...pop rez...die...etc? If so, this would have generated way more kills per hour than arena farming.

    The change on test might actually coerce people to attempt zone pvp!
  20. An excerpt from the masterwork de clunibus magnis amandis oratio by the great Roman poet, Mixaloti equitis.

    [ QUOTE ]

    o consortes (quid est?) o consortes (quid est?)
    O colleagues [What is it?] O colleagues [What is it?]

    habent amicae vestrae magnas clunes? (certe habent!)
    Do your girlfriends have large buttocks? [They certainly have!]

    hortamini igitur ut eas quatiant (ut quatiant!)
    Encourage them therefore to shake them! [To shake them!]

    ut quatiant! (ut quatiant!)
    To shake them! [To shake them!]


    [/ QUOTE ]
  21. I've been playing with this myself ([u]example here[u]). Soft-capping ranged defense costs a lot of slots -- but with near-permanent hasten & eclipse, the WS could be a gunship of doom in nova form. And getting mezzed no longer causes nova to drop, right?

    On another note, how well does the Force Feedback +recharge special IO work in the two nova aoes?
  22. lol. Good point! Traps/AR it is....
  23. I'd rather get Thermal and Fire Blast, but I suppose AR/Traps will have to do for now.
  24. Overall, probably Mezzosoprano, my gravity/sonic controller.
  25. I remember writing my own version of the arcade game Joust on my TI90, laboriously coding in basic, saving the game to the cassette tape. Nowhere near as ancient as those who played Star Trek on the mainframe terminals, but old enough.