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Motley_Cruel

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  1. Motley_Cruel
    Which one will do better at soloing on x8? Does CC suffer from being a cone when AAO is pbaoe based?
  2. Motley_Cruel
    I've always loved Fire/SD,it's got a great mix of single target DPS and AoE, and I always was of the opinion that it was probably the best all-around scrapper.

    But now War Mace has been ported...

    My final FM build runs the Incinerate-Cremate-GFS chain and has blaze mastery, so has Fire Ball, FSC, and Shield Charge for AoE,

    The best feasible Mace chain is Jawbreaker, Clobber, Shatter, and for AoE has Whirling Mace, Shatter, Shield Charge, and the incredible Crowd Control.

    So from what I can tell, Mace and Fire are nearly par in DPS, and mace seems comparable in AoE, if not better.

    So from what I can tell, fire's only advantage is exotic damage, while mace has a crap ton of mitigation, and feels no guilt taking the body pool thanks to recharge, allowing you to get its end under control with CP and PP.

    So is mace really this awesome? Or are the numbers misleading me?
  3. Motley_Cruel
    In all fairness, Invuln is pretty darn tough with minimal defense slotting. With one or two sets tops, you can get S/L/E/N/F/C defense to ~35%, enough that any purple inspie or a saturated Invincibility takes you to the softcap. Add onto that ~25% E/N/F/C/T resistance and nearly 75% S/L resistance, plus Dull Pain and Unstoppable, and frankly, you're friggin tough as nails.

    What about this then?

    Build 1 - Supertank (softcapped to either S/L/E/N or E/N/F/C with a fat psi hole)

    Build 2 - Oh crap, carnies and Arachnos (~35 S/L/E/N/F/C defense, + ~25 psi res and ~32.5 psi def)
  4. Motley_Cruel
    Two sets in particular, Invuln and Fire, have huge gaping holes to psi damage, and personally, I don't like that, so my question is this:

    Should I build for psi defense, resistance, both, or just suck it up?

    I figure defensively I'll start off with 3 (steadfast) + 3(glad) + 5.9 (weave) + 2.8 (combat jump) + 3.6 (maneuvers) = 18.3 psi defense. 3 slotting Impervium armor 5 times takes that to 27.7, meaning that a 6 slotted Apocalypse, OR a couple 6 slotted Scirocco's would be enough to take me to 32.5, which seems like plenty.

    Resistance wise, 3 (shield wall) + 3 (aegis unique) +15 (5xImpervium) is 21 resistance. 6 slotting DP with Doctored Wounds (vs. 5-slotting) and 3 6 slotted LoTGs (instead of 4 slotting, in Maneuvers, Weave, Invuln) puts me at 31.65 Resistance.

    Is trying to pull off one or both of these considered excessive?
  5. Motley_Cruel
    So from reading Paragon Wiki, it sounds like there is no longer a suppression period, and this works in the same way as the Achilles Heel proc (does not stack from the same power, does not stack from multiple powers, but any triggering will refresh the buff)

    Is this info accurate?

    Also, what effects could this have on knockdown heavy primaries?
  6. Motley_Cruel
    I feel like most of the time when I check out FA builds, they're tailored towards farming, and as a result mostly build for F/C defense. If I wanted to build a /FA toon for standard play (solo missions, TFs, iTrials, etc.) what should I build for defensively? I mean, with Shields its easy, 45 M/R/AoE and then whatever you can squeeze in of HP/Regen/Resists. With WP, shoot for 700+ regen, and then all the rest goes to Defense, either S/L/E/N or E/N/F/C depending on who you ask.

    I figure a standard Fiery Aura toon has around 50% S/L res (Tough), around 35% E/N res, 75 or 90% Fire res (scrap vs. Brute) and around 15-20% Cold Res. So my questions are these:

    Should I build solely for S/L defense?
    If so do I need 45, or is 32.5 plenty?
    Should I try to get E/N as well?
    If so, how much?
    What about psy? Seems like it would be an issue

    Remember, this is for a NON-Farming, standard play build.
  7. Motley_Cruel
    I've been working on a build for a month, and showed it to the scrapper board and got good responses.

    Here's the thread:

    http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showthread.php?t=263224

    Feel free to modify as you desire, but I'm pretty proud of it.
  8. Motley_Cruel
    I'd highly recommend Fiery Melee/Shield Defense. While mine is a scrapper (and I think Shield is better for scrappers) this is a character that can literally do it all on one build. My current build uses blaze mastery and can solo AVs all day and farm all night. If you were to do it with a brute, you could take Soul Mastery for Gloom (in your ST chain) and Dark Obliteration (for a 3rd AoE)

    It's really a hard combo to go wrong with, and I could throw you a sample build if you want, brute OR scrapper.

    Fire/Shield FTW!!!
  9. Motley_Cruel
    Haha thanks for the responses, all! I suppose I should have mentioned that this build is intended to be a jack of all trades, and hopefully MASTER of all as well. That's why I was trying to get the top chain as well as fireball. I want to be an AoE (potentially farming) wrecking ball, and a single target AV solo machine all in one, and I don't know any set that does that as well as fire.

    As far as Aid Self goes, on my SR toons I felt like I needed it so rarely that the significant slots invested were a waste. Obviously once I hit 50 with this toon I'll have to get a feel for whether Aid Self needs more slotting or not.

    The slotting in GFS is because it already has ED Capped damage, is accuracy boosted to begin with, and recharges easily within the time required for the attack chain, therefore, the only thing left to do was improve end usage, seeing as it's the highest EPA attack of the 3.

    Active Defense and GC are there for DDR, that was spot on.

    Unfortunately for me, if I want a travel power, I'm gonna have to free up 2 picks, because I don't really care about travel powers except for the Winter's Gift Slow resistance, and I'd certainly fit in OWTS over super jump or speed.

    The Miracle Heal/End gives me additional HP and regen, and if I put it in Aid Self, it would enhance a very rarely used power at the expense of one which is on 24/7.

    Werner, I feel you on the attack chain switch, and I tried it, but I just can't do it, as a matter of principle. Yes the build would be tougher, and yes it would only lose about 10 average DPS, but I just really want the top chain here. Also, if I wanted to save a slot, I could drop cremate and enhance Fire Blast, which is another chain that with a purple proc does more than FS-C-I, but on this build, I just HAVE to have the top chain. My other idea was subbing in Mu mastery and Ball Lightning. It's only a tiny drop in performance against Fire Ball, and it would get me OWTS. In this case, it's a matter of concept. A guy walking around with a fire sword and a flaming shield, and then he suddenly throws lightning!?!?! Doesn't work for me

    And finally, the endurance thing. I think there's a common misconception about Fire's endurance use. I did the math and found the EPS of the top chain for every primary, and Fire was THE cheapest! Cheaper than claws! Somewhere in my room, I've got the math to prove it, but obviously I could be forgetting something. Anyway, Werner, with my current recovery, EPS of Attack chain + EPS of Toggles < Recovery, meaning I should be able to run the chain pretty much indefinitely, as the only things not factored in are Active Defense, Build Up, and Aid Self, none of which do much to my end bar.

    Thanks again everyone, and as always, if you see any glaring issues upon a second look, let me know
  10. Motley_Cruel
    I've been playing with Fire/Shield builds for months now, and this is (imho) the pinnacle of my attempts. Constructive feedback please!

    Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.94
    http://www.cohplanner.com/

    Click this DataLink to open the build!

    Level 50 Magic Scrapper
    Primary Power Set: Fiery Melee
    Secondary Power Set: Shield Defense
    Power Pool: Fighting
    Power Pool: Leaping
    Power Pool: Speed
    Power Pool: Medicine
    Ancillary Pool: Blaze Mastery

    Hero Profile:
    Level 1: Fire Sword -- Empty(A)
    Level 1: Deflection -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def(3), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(3), Aegis-ResDam(5), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx(5), Aegis-ResDam/Rchg(7)
    Level 2: Cremate -- Mako-Acc/Dmg(A), Mako-Dmg/EndRdx(7), Mako-Dmg/Rchg(9), Mako-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(9), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(11), Mako-Dam%(11)
    Level 4: True Grit -- Numna-Regen/Rcvry+(A), Numna-Heal(13), Numna-Heal/EndRdx(13), S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+(15), GA-3defTpProc(45)
    Level 6: Battle Agility -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def(17), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(19), HO:Enzym(19)
    Level 8: Boxing -- Empty(A)
    Level 10: Active Defense -- HO:Enzym(A), HO:Membr(21), HO:Membr(21)
    Level 12: Combat Jumping -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def(23)
    Level 14: Tough -- Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx(A), Aegis-ResDam/Rchg(23), Aegis-EndRdx/Rchg(25), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(25), Aegis-ResDam(27)
    Level 16: Against All Odds -- EndRdx-I(A)
    Level 18: Fire Sword Circle -- Armgdn-Dmg/Rchg(A), Armgdn-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(29), Armgdn-Acc/Rchg(29), Armgdn-Dmg/EndRdx(31), Armgdn-Dam%(31), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(31)
    Level 20: Phalanx Fighting -- Ksmt-ToHit+(A), LkGmblr-Rchg+(45)
    Level 22: Weave -- RedFtn-Def/EndRdx(A), RedFtn-Def/Rchg(27), RedFtn-EndRdx/Rchg(33), RedFtn-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(33), RedFtn-Def(43), RedFtn-EndRdx(43)
    Level 24: Build Up -- GSFC-ToHit(A), GSFC-ToHit/Rchg(36), GSFC-ToHit/Rchg/EndRdx(37), GSFC-Rchg/EndRdx(37), GSFC-ToHit/EndRdx(37), GSFC-Build%(50)
    Level 26: Incinerate -- T'Death-Dmg/EndRdx(A), T'Death-Acc/Dmg(33), T'Death-Dmg/Rchg(34), T'Death-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(34), T'Death-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(34), T'Death-Dam%(36)
    Level 28: Grant Cover -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A)
    Level 30: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(36)
    Level 32: Greater Fire Sword -- Hectmb-Dmg(A), Hectmb-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(39), Hectmb-Acc/Rchg(39), Hectmb-Dmg/EndRdx(39), Hectmb-Dam%(40), EndRdx-I(40)
    Level 35: Shield Charge -- Oblit-Dmg(A), Oblit-Acc/Rchg(40), Oblit-Dmg/Rchg(42), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(42), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(42), Oblit-%Dam(43)
    Level 38: Aid Other -- IntRdx-I(A)
    Level 41: Char -- Empty(A)
    Level 44: Melt Armor -- Empty(A)
    Level 47: Fire Ball -- Ragnrk-Dmg/Rchg(A), Ragnrk-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(48), Ragnrk-Acc/Rchg(48), Ragnrk-Dmg/EndRdx(48), Ragnrk-Knock%(50), JavVoll-Acc/Dmg/End/Rech(50)
    Level 49: Aid Self -- IntRdx-I(A)
    Level 0: Freedom Phalanx Reserve
    Level 0: Portal Jockey
    Level 0: Task Force Commander
    Level 0: The Atlas Medallion
    Level 50: Spiritual Core Paragon
    ------------
    Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
    Level 1: Critical Hit
    Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
    Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
    Level 4: Ninja Run
    Level 2: Swift -- Empty(A)
    Level 2: Health -- Mrcl-Rcvry+(A), Mrcl-Heal(15), Mrcl-Heal/EndRdx(17), RgnTis-Regen+(46)
    Level 2: Hurdle -- Empty(A)
    Level 2: Stamina -- P'Shift-End%(A), P'Shift-EndMod/Rchg(45), P'Shift-EndMod(46), P'Shift-EndMod/Acc(46)



    Code: 
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    My build goals were:

    -Run the top attack chain (check)
    -Be endurance sustainable (check)
    -Perma-Hasten (check)
    -Softcap (check)
    -90+ DDR (check)
    -35 percent S/L Res (check)
    -HP/Regen (good, want to improve this)
    -Aid Self (check, but underslotted)
    -Fireball (check)
    -One With The Shield (can't see what I could replace with it)

    Help me make this even better, if possible. As it is, I'm pretty proud
  11. Motley_Cruel
    So, I haven't played a Dark Melee toon since my DM/SR brute, who I got bored with due to pretty much being without AoE power. I'm looking for a new DM character who can put out some decent AoE as well, so my natural choices were Fire and Shields. Dark synergizes very well with both sets for obvious reasons, and I know DM/Shield is pretty much the FOTY, but I already have a Fire/Shield scrapper I absolutely love, and a SS/Shield brute on his way. So I'd like to try Fire, but is the squishiness gonna be too much of a pain? Dark adds a lot to toughness, and Dark/Fire just seems really cool, and the AoE damage will obviously be better, but is it worth losing the survivability?

    Thanks in advance

    P.S. As DM/Shield, obviously I'd be a scrapper, but with DM/Fire, would scrap or brute be better?

    P.P.S. I suppose DM/Elec is also an option, since it has a damage aura, and the infinite endurance would make it much easier to go after Fire Ball or something.

    Sound off for me!
  12. Motley_Cruel
    I currently have a level 50 Claws/SR, and I'm considering rerolling him as claws/elec. I'm assuming that on the same level of recharge, the elec will do more damage thanks to lightning field, but I'm wondering about survivability.

    SR:
    45% M/R/A def
    18% S/L res
    130+% HP
    280+% Regen
    Aid Self

    Elec:
    33% S/L def
    61% S/L Res
    38% N Res
    75% E Res
    55% F/C Res
    44% Psy Res
    569% Regen
    130+% HP
    Perma Energize

    Will the elec be tougher than the SR, and will it perform better?
  13. Motley_Cruel
    So, if I can only fit one of these into my build, which one should I take? GC will get me to the DDR cap (more or less), but survivability-wise is that better than having an oh crap power?
  14. Motley_Cruel
    I've been playing around with builds a lot today, and I'm having some trouble.

    Does anybody have a Fire/Shield/Blaze that pulls the following off?

    -Perma-hasten (within a second or two)
    -Incinerate>Cremate>Greater Fire Sword chain
    -Soft-Cap to all 3 positions
    -Sustainable endurance
    -OwtS (optional, but definitely preferred)

    The closest I've got was a more or less sustainable build that was 1.5 short of the AoE softcap. Anybody really think they've nailed this one and wanna give me some tips?

    Also, how much worse is a chain of Incinerate>(Ring of Fire OR Fire Blast)>GFS. My math said about 10 DPS less, any thoughts on the viability of this chain?
  15. Motley_Cruel
    Is your in game fireblast slotted for damage yet? cause the mids one isn't
  16. Motley_Cruel
    So, I know generally speaking, the mids damage numbers for ancillaries are about double the real numbers in game, but after dividing my numbers by two, it seems like ring of fire is really good (better than fire blast). Is there something else going on with the math, or is RoF a solid single target attack?

    Thanks in advance
  17. Motley_Cruel
    Which of these is the most survivable (in general gameplay)

    Electric Armor with perma-Energize, S/L softcap
    Willpower with F/C/E/N softcap
    Invuln with perma-Dull Pain, S/L softcap

    and why?

    Thanks in advance
  18. Motley_Cruel
    Does anyone know how to do this? Because as much as I like the animation for Vengeful Slice, ignoring the combo's bonus damage, BF-AV is significantly lower DPS than BF-VS-NS-AS
    (Which is a relatively high DPS chain which requires less recharge than the top chains, and gets the empowerment combo bonus, small though it may be.) So I guess my question is this:

    What does more DPS:

    BF-AV

    or

    VS-Empower

    Or if someone can explain how to calculate the AV DPS contribution myself, that works too.

    Thanks in advance
  19. Motley_Cruel
    I know it's much easier to softcap E/N/F/C on a WP than S/L, but if I COULD pull off the S/L softcap (instead of the E/N/F/C), is it more survivable?
  20. Motley_Cruel
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    My goal was to run the FU>F>Sl>St attack chain and snag 45% S/L defense. Can I get some build comments please? Likes, dislikes, etc. Thanks in advance
  21. Motley_Cruel
    Anybody have one of these? The two seem like they would be really synergistic to me, but I haven't really heard of this combo. Anyone wanna talk with me about the pros/cons, what it's good at, what it sucks at, etc? Maybe toss around builds. Thanks in advance
  22. Motley_Cruel
    Generally speaking, when building a resistance set, should I try to softcap S/L def or Melee def?
  23. Motley_Cruel
    I'd really like to do one of the sets with a damage aura, cause they seem pretty sweet with Follow-up, but which one to take. Name your favorite, and persuade me Thanks in advance
  24. Motley_Cruel

    Claws/SR vs. Widow

    POST-ACTION

    Hey Claws, can I see your build? I don't want to seem like I'm TRYING to disagree with you or anything, but I've been playing with my Claws/SR trying to max DPS for quite a while, and I really don't see a way for it to get much higher than my current build, so I'd just love to be able to compare

    For the record, my Claws/SR is my favorite toon.
  25. Motley_Cruel

    Claws/SR vs. Widow

    POST-ACTION

    I've spent quite a ton of time studying Scrapper Claws DPS... heck I could probably write a college thesis on it, and I'm pretty darn sure that Widows straight up out-DPS a Claws scrapper. I'd love to hear otherwise, but I'll need some numbers to back that up