Microcosm

Emanation does not have knockback, but it does accept the enhancement in-game and has done so since i9. I'm not sure putting them in both AoE's is worth it, since they won't stack and should be going off frequently enough from just one; having at least one in there is definitely worth it, though, if you spend much time in nova.

Popmenu versions are in the guide listed by deevian as well. And actually, you do not have to separate the commands when using popmenus, as a popmenu does not have the character limit constraint that a bind does; it is therefore possible to combine all tiers in one command.

Small thing: that percent increase will give you 13.125% for a small purple, not 17.5% (I think you increased it by 50% instead of 5%). You would need 31.875% to be cappable with one small purple.

You aren't factoring in the activation time of the power. 48 seconds recharge plus 3.432 cast time (arcana) makes for 51.432 seconds, which goes into the 200 second duration 3.89 times. If I just divide the 200 seconds by 48, then yes, I could get 5 very briefly, but the activation time is eating into the duration a bit. I also used to run with some kins at the recharge cap and know from experience that 4 is all you will ever get.

Nope. The pet would die instantly against a pylon with its every-attack-aoe. I also have made a shambles of my build while stripping it to support other projects

Hrmm, I haven't experienced that, not that I bring people along often. I believe that thing about AE was changed; I remember reading something about it and I definitely remember inviting someone while inside an AE mission.

You can actually get some good defense numbers and still have your recharge with the very rare spiritual alpha. But WS defense builds are also really easy to mess up if you are not super comfortable with your powers and the dance. +HP will serve you well, though.

Why couldn't you do it with another person on a team?

Recharge is king for this, because, as you know, you don't have to worry about anything else: damage buffs, endurance and survival are all taken care of by massive recharge. Everything you have is dependent on recharge. I would tell you how much my build has, but I am at work right now... I know that it keeps 3-4 pets out all the time though. If you reach the point that you are getting ridiculously small returns on recharge, you could then focus on defense or +hp.

Generally you will get the best return with your shade out of no bosses. I have farmed with both my SS/Fiya broot and my Warshade... a lot. The Warshade, with enough recharge, puts out more aoe damage, but the brute is able to really whack those single targets between footstomp and burn. I usually do something like +2/x6-8 on the shade. The trick is keeping the aggro on your squid and off of the fluffies. And go with Spiritual Alpha.

You know, I have always felt the human shields were redundant with Lightform and Eclipse. To me, it would be so much better to just keep Lightform and Eclipse, but change the human form shields to a defense equivalent, making it actually useful to stack them. It would also relieve some of the suckage of no mez protection, as deflecting attacks means you are also less frequently mezzed. I don't think that would ever happen though.

Since they serve roughly the same functions, does this really break the rule? They could just alter the name to something like Essence Build Up or whatever. Admittedly, I'm a huge fan of rage, and since it should carry over to the forms I really like that idea. That alone would almost be enough to get me to play a pb

Ditto, it makes a huuuuge difference.

It makes Kat/BS more attractive as well, imo. If you do as you say and get DA to softcap you with one hit, when you face the new content just double stack it.

Option 1: Something is bugged.
Option 2: Your bane is slightly outside their perception radius when you go by them.
Option 3: Your defense is so high that when they attack you don't notice because nothing hits you.
Option 4: You go by so fast that they have time to target you but not attack.
Option 5: Someone else is picking up their aggro as you go by.
Option 6: You misremembered the situation.
Option 7: Your bane is magic.

Go with option 7

Taunt is not necessary, just something I like to have; helps keep aggro off of squishies and your pets. The pet res/def uniques will help a bit with keeping the fluffsters alive, and much more noticeably if you can get more than one in.