OneWhoBinds

I've done some playing on test, and came up with this:



This is Brass Armstrong, Super Strength/Willpower brute using his steam-powered pugilism chassis.

Not entirely satisfied - The Clockwork Chest piece doesn't quite fit in, I really wish I could do something more detailed for what he's wearing under the mechanical parts, and I am debating switching the Victorian boots for the Valkyrie boots...

Regardless, I see getting much mileage out of the costume parts introduced in this set.

I'd like to see some alternate forms of Stefan Richter. We've seen... four?... different versions of Marcus Cole, now. Good or evil, I'd like to see some alternate paths for Lord Recluse.

Several people on this board have brought up how insignificant origins are. This is true - the only things that origins do is dictate your starting bonus temp power, and restrict what DOs and SOs you can slot. (Okay, heroes also get their starting contact dictated by their Origin... if anyone even does those anymore...)

Mechanically, this was a smart move. If Origins actually translated to advantages or disadvantages in game play, it would make for a mechanics nightmare. Best to leave it as a mostly cosmetic aspect of our characters.

But that does lead to the Origins - something that is supposed to be a very important aspect of the game in general - feeling very flat and useless.

Then I remember playing Dean MacArthur's arc recently, and noting that he really did say something completely different to female characters than to male characters. And that is what I realized Origins needed.

Have some contacts seem reluctant to work with Mutants. Or refer to Technology characters as playing with toys. Have them seem in awe (or fearful) or Magic characters, or be extremely impressed by the Natural. All people have bias (more than we like to thing) and this is exactly the kind of place that Origin can have an impact without having a major game play change.

Of course, adding this to old contacts would likely never happen, but these little touches could go a long way to making Origins feel important.

Quick point -

Unless I am remembering incorrectly, doesn't the Gun Drone move very slowly? Would you really want it to be perma in that case?

Still, looking at it... it needs to be summoned faster, and it needs to either cost much less endurance, or do more damage when it is out, to make it worth the current End Cost.

/signed

I can appreciate what the devs were trying to do with the system, but the results have shown a clear bias against certain ATs and power sets.

There's a lot about CoX that I feel they did right, and (with the philosophy of "If it aint broke, don't fix it!") should be incorporated into a CoH2. Things like Archetypes, Power Sets, Power enhancements (instead of equipment) and traditional leveling.

But what I would like to change is how powers and enhancement slots are gained when leveling.

See, first, I'd have powers sets turned into trees, rather than route progression in CoX.

Then, instead of just choosing a power, or getting enhancement slots, characters are awarded "Ability Points" (or some other kind of name,) which they can spend on buying new powers (Along one of the branching paths in their power sets,) or purchase enhancement slots for their powers.

Ideally, this would allow two characters with the same Archetype, and the same power sets, to still be very different from one another. More options is good!

There are plenty of details I'd like to see (all powers having multiple animations, character's choosing a Tertiary power set at character creation, rather than just a Primary and Secondary, the inclusion of power sets that CoX just doesn't have, and isn't likely to get - like Staffs, Pole Arms, and water-based powers, etc...) but this alternative to the current design of leveling, would make for a much more in-depth and personalized method of character development, without being TOO complex.

(Of course, balancing the power set trees would be a tricky prospect...)

I'd be satisfied with Trench Coats that were closed in front. Would it really be that hard to do?

(Dis)Achievement: Back when Task Forces dropped Recipes as a reward, I was so excited to get the Numina's Regeneration/Recovery recipe I crowed about it to teammates and SG-mates. Then, the next time I log in, I accidentally sell it to a vendor. (cue the epic 5 minute "NOOOOOOO!")

Achievement: On my current brute, I have diligently acquired more than 30 temporary powers.

(Dis)Achievement: The reason I still have more than 30 Temporary powers is because despite having trays full of them open, I never remember to use any of them... even when they would have saved my bacon.

I think the main problem is going to be Oppressive Gloom. It isn't designed for an AT like Controllers or Dominators.

Perhaps a PBAoE Stun click power, instead? Something that won't half-kill a Controller without being particularly effective at its job? (Remember, Oppressive Gloom is a Mag 2 stun - it's not particularly effective on LTs or higher, but if it hits them, it will still drain health. I've accidentally killed my self with OG on a scrapper, I can only figure it'll be worse on trollers or Doms.)

I also think you may be expecting a bit much out of what the game is capable of with that Tier 9. I also don't think the Devs will give what is essentially both an AoE DoT attack, AND a Pocket Tank, a Recharge time as low as 90s. Figure 240 seconds at a minimum.

Some first look opinions...

Don't know about taking Beheader - that's up to you, but with Lightning Reflexes, I'm not sure you need another melee attack. If you have a pause in your attack chain, use Brawl. But that may just be me.

Remove the KB protection and the +3 Def enhancements from Static Shield. The +Def should be in Grounded. And as you don't have any attacks that take you out of Grounded, you don't really need the KB protection IO.

Similarly, Grounded is overslotted. Grounded is an Auto power - there is no endurance cost. The only reason you might want more than the base slot, is to put both of the +Def IOs here.

You don't really need the Performance Shifter +End proc, or the Numia proc, on an Electric Armor Brute. Pull one of the slots from the Health, and slot up the Stamina with EndMods. Similarly, even if you stick with Energy Mastery, you don't need those procs in physical perfection.

As mentioned above... you NEED Lightning Field. Not right away, but you are actually throwing away part of your protection by not having it!

The trick is to slot it primarily for End Mod over Damage. (Use End mod sets, or frankenslot if you want to enhance the damage, as well.) This way, anything that survives more than a few hits (Bosses and the like) are going to have little to no endurance left. It's Electrical Armor's secret to survival... this lack of endurance will keep incoming damage from bosses and higher to manageable levels

Don't take Maneuvers if you aren't going to run it. If you can't find the slots to make it worth running, find a different power! That +7.5% universal recharge enhancement is nice, but a power you actually intend to use will be better. (On that note, try to get at least one more slot in Hasten...) The Same holds true with Focused Accuracy.

Might I recommend Taunt? It's great with only the base slot, helps keep your Fury flowing, and the -Range in it is a great way to get enemies that normally fight at range close enough for you to get your axe to them.

Similarly, Power Surge might be a God Mode panic button, but it's great with only the base slot. (And it's another place that Resistance IOs can be slotted.)

Try to get one more slot in Conductive Aura - you generally need 4 slots in the basic shields to have good protection.

Good afternoon.

I'm looking to start a new Brute, so I can really run through all the new 20-30 content. But I'm frankly drawing a blank on what to make (is there a creativity block for character creation?)

As I said, this is primarily to run all the new content that has been added in the 20-30 range, so I want a combination that matures early enough to take these on - so not things which need to get to level 26 or 28 to really start working.

Anyone have suggestions for a good early-blooming combination?

Thank you!

I've had a couple of Radio missions spawn ambushes. However, I've only seen this on teams, and only when facing Arachnos...

Very much /signed!

I ended up DCing during my first real run of a BAF, and I ended up on a solo 4th team in the event. Since I apparently got locked that way (there's supposed to be an icon could be used to unlock my character, but I sure as heck couldn't find one... I don't know how I got 'locked' in the first place.) I ended up with next to nothing to show for the entire trial.

This is not really encouraging me...

I was participating in a BAF last night. I think I missed part of the cutscene due to lag, and then I DCed before zoning into the trial. From there, the entire game crashed, and when I came back, I was back in Pocket D. Not the best first impression for me...

Female pets are never going to happen.

Get over it.